Chapter Two
Taylor
There’s something between Jack and me, an attraction that has my body singing.
Every time our arms brush, I feel the pressure deep in my core.
Though he’s a stranger, everything between us tonight has felt electric.
He’s easy to talk to and we have things in common, like our close families, charities, and football.
Not to mention, I find him sexy as hell with his dark brown hair and unique, navy-blue eyes.
His thumb grazes the top of my hand as he waits patiently for me to decide.
I think I already have. I need this time out to forget that my life is a tangled mess.
I discovered my ex-boyfriend, State Senator Chandler Cross, is a slimy, corrupt politician, and in my work with donors on his campaign, he’s managed to embroil me in a situation that makes it look like I’ve helped commit campaign fraud along with him, something he told me when I tried to break up with him.
If I go to the authorities, he’ll disclose certain emails that make me look guilty.
The revelation would cost me my job with the charity, my reputation in the community, and hurt my family in the process.
Not only are we at a stalemate, but he still has me acting as his arm candy, on call when he needs me.
And if my cousin, David, who works for him, saw me with Jack back at the café, he no doubt reported what he’d seen to his boss.
Which is why I’d rushed out. Because no matter how innocent sitting with Jack happened to be, Chandler would turn it into something sordid in his mind and to the public, I’m supposed to be his dutiful girlfriend.
“Taylor?” Jack asks in a gruff voice, taking my mind off my troubles, something he does easily.
“Yes,” I tell him. I deserve a night that’s special, just for me. And right now, my hands are in Jack’s and as I look into his eyes, I nod. “I’ll come up to your room.”
Relief flashes across his face and a smile pulls at his sensual lips.
We walk hand in hand to the hotel, through the entry opened by the doorman, and take the elevator to Jack’s room.
Nerves flutter in my belly, but that’s because I’m not a one-night stand kind of woman, not because I want to change my mind.
He waves the key card over the reader, and my real life fades into the background.
We enter his hotel room, the door slams shut, and his mouth comes down on mine.
Everything around me narrows to his lips, warm and insistent as they rub against mine.
His tongue slips inside my mouth, causing my body to melt into his, and the hard ridge of his cock presses against my stomach, causing my sex to grow wet with desire.
This man knows how to kiss, and each slide of his tongue and brush of his lips brings me deeper into a state of arousal.
I wrap my arms around his neck and thread my fingers through his silky hair, while rubbing my chest against his. My nipples pucker beneath the fabric of my clothing and desire pools deep in my belly.
He reaches behind me and unzips my dress, breaking the kiss long enough for me to raise my arms so he can pull the fabric over my head and toss the garment to the floor.
His gaze lowers to my breasts encased in a nude lace bra, then lower to the heels I’m still wearing, and he lets out a low groan of appreciation. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
I blush, feeling the heat from my cheeks down to my chest. I’ve never been with a vocal lover. It’s always been more grunts and groans until the man gets off.
Jack’s fingers brush over my nipples through the lace and I suck in a sharp breath, his touch zinging straight to my clit.
With a grin, he once again reaches around my back, unhooks the clasp, and before the bra even drops to the floor, his big hands cup my breasts, his thumbs rubbing the tight buds until my hips are moving of their own accord.
I revel in the sensations he elicits from me and when he draws one tip into his mouth, my pussy pulses with need. He moves from one nipple to the other, his mouth warm, his tongue teasing, my body clenching and finding an emptiness only he can fill.
“I want you,” I say, as I reach for the waistband of his pants, unhook, unzip, then slide my hand inside and cup his long, thick shaft. His skin is hot as I grip tighter and draw my hand up and down the length until I feel precum on the tip of his cock.
“Fuck, Tay. That feels so good,” he says in a gruff, rumbling voice.
Nobody calls me by a nickname and I like the intimacy of it, even if I barely know him. Without warning, he grasps my wrist. “If you don’t stop, this will be over before it begins.”
“Heaven forbid that happens,” I say teasingly, and remove my hand.
“I’ll be right back.” He walks away and returns with a condom in his hand.
“I like a man who’s prepared,” I tell him, and his answering smile is sexy as sin. I’m also grateful for his thoughtfulness. I’m not on birth control because I am not sleeping with anyone and most forms give me problems of one kind or another.
He kicks off his shoes and undresses the rest of the way while I do the same, shimmying out of my panties.
I’ve never been in such a rush to get to the main event before, but there’s never been a Jack in my life, either.
With his dark brown hair and facial scruff, he’s by far the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on.
And when I step back and take in his naked form, I discover just how spectacularly built he is. His biceps are strong, and his chest and abdomen are solid muscle. I take a soft inhale of breath at the sight. I meet his gaze to find him studying me and his eyes grow dark with desire.
He rips open the condom, drops the foil packet, and rolls the protection over his cock.
Then, stepping forward, he lifts me into his arms. I wrap my legs around his waist to steady myself as he backs me against the wall.
Once again, our lips meet and the kiss that follows is deep and sensual, his tongue gliding against mine.
His erection is stiff against my belly and arousal trickles between my thighs.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Beyond,” I tell him as he positions himself at my entrance and thrusts deep, filling me completely. I take a second to adjust to his width, then squeeze tight around him.
“Shit,” he mutters. With a shift of his hips, he begins to thrust, and God, he feels so good, so thick, as he moves inside me.
I have so many heavy issues weighing on me but everything scatters as I focus on Jack.
With a groan, he picks up his pace, driving into me over and over.
I slide my hands to his shoulders, digging my nails into his skin, holding on while pleasure overwhelms me and I come closer to an explosive climax.
Closing my eyes, I let the rising need take over and he slams up and into me until my breath catches in my throat. “Oh God, I’m—I’m coming!” My core clenches and releases, waves of pleasure washing over me.
“That’s it, baby. Come on my cock,” he says, taking one hand and sliding it between us until he’s rubbing my clit and I see stars.
He pinches the tight bud, and I fall over the edge—again? Still? I can’t tell. I’m just one ball of bliss, my vision a blur, my ears ringing. I’m soaring and my climax lasts so long I’m afraid I might pass out.
Just as it ebbs, Jack groans and thrusts hard once, twice, and he stills, his own orgasm slamming into him, his hips making small jerks as he comes.
When I come back to earth, I’m breathing heavily, only to find him staring at me, a sated yet pleased smile on his handsome face.
He presses a long kiss to my lips before lifting me off him and for the first time during sex, I feel the loss.
The thought rocks me to my core because no matter how good this is between us, there can’t be a second opportunity for Jack and me.
No more get-to-know-you time for us. This was an escape and unfortunately, it’s over. I need to leave soon.
He ties off the condom and walks back to the restroom, obviously to get rid of it, and I watch his back and spectacular ass as he retreats, returning with a towel in his hand. He strides over and kneels down to clean me.
“A gentleman,” I say to cover the awkwardness I’m feeling.
He rises to his feet. Taking my hand, he leads me to the bedroom, pausing to put the towel in the bathroom, and instead of telling him I should leave, I go along willingly.
I slide into the bed beside him, and he picks up the portable hotel phone. “I’m hungry,” he says.
I laugh. “Again?” He devoured a burger and fries a few hours earlier.
“Again. Are you going to join me?”
A smile pulls at my lips. “Fine. You decide what we should eat.” What am I doing? I should be getting dressed and going home, not becoming more involved with the man who just gave me the best orgasm of my life.
Dessert arrives not long after and we eat a variety of treats, some with our fingers, others off each other’s bodies before showering together and getting back into bed.
Despite knowing it’s smarter not to get to know him, he tells me more about his big family, his sister and twin brothers, and his partners and their significant others.
After we talk, he tackles me to the mattress for another round of earth-shattering sex, then falls asleep while I lie awake, waiting until he’s out cold and won’t notice when I slide from beneath the sheets.
I don’t want to sneak out and leave him without saying goodbye, but it seems easier this way. I can’t bring anyone into my life because Chandler will go out of his way to destroy them by whatever means necessary. He’s not just my ex, he’s my current blackmailer, a man with power and influence.
In his mind, I’m still his significant other, on call whenever he needs me for an event or whatever else he deems important.
My family is well-connected in this town, and that, too, makes me the perfect Stepford wife on his arm.
But I can’t wait to get him out of my life, and I’ll never stop trying to find an escape that won’t destroy me in the process.
I step closer to the bed, memorizing Jack’s face so when I’m feeling down, I can think about him and have a reason to smile. Then, I tiptoe into the outer area of the suite, picking up my clothes and dressing before quietly letting myself out the door.