by Lexy Timms
His car glided into the driveway. He hit the remote and raised the garage door. It was just a garage, but it was kind of ominous parking in it. It felt like rolling up into a coffin. Sasha parked and jumped out to open the door for her.
For the first time, Sasha led her into the town home from a different entrance. They climbed the stairs to the living room level. “Can we just talk for a minute? Then I’ll go.”
She faked a yawn that turned into a real one. “Fine,” she clipped.
“I’m not sure exactly what set you off tonight,” he stated calmly. “I thought everything was going well and now, it’s obviously not.”
“Are you trying to make up?”
He smiled, but he didn’t really seem to be amused. He was dead serious. “Usually, if something happens, adults have a discussion. I know I don’t know you well, so I don’t know, maybe this is the way you operate. But you came out swinging at me. If I’ve done something to upset you, I’m asking you to tell me what it was.”
“This blow-up was a blessing in disguise.”
“I asked you a question, and I’d like an explanation.” Sasha’s eyes narrowed. “You called me a pimp. And, basically, a gangster. I want to know how I went from a guy you’d sleep with, to a criminal.”
“You’re the one who knows the woman who’s a prostitute,” she snapped, the words sounding silly to her own ears. That was her reasoning? He knew a hooker?
“You know her, too,” he reminded her. “You and I live in the same town, though you came from a different part. That woman’s just someone who happens to be from my neighborhood.”
She put up her hands. “I think we should just stop. You and I are far from obligated to each other. You’re cute. We had a thing. It was hot. But we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot and I think we should just part ways. I’ll gather whatever I have here and call a cab.”
“To where?” he asked. “It’s two o’clock in the morning. I meant when I said the house is yours to use. Tonight, tomorrow, however long till you find your different direction.”
Kallie didn’t want to spend another night in the house. She trusted Sasha less than when she didn’t know him. She didn’t need his permission to call a cab. She’d get her stuff together and leave after he left. “Fine. Whatever.”
He relaxed, probably thinking he’d won the battle. “I’ll stay away. Unless, of course, you need something. And if you ever want to talk about what the fuck just happened, please do, because I still don’t know what the hell happened. I’ll be happy to talk to you about it.” He stood and kissed her on the forehead, despite the tension between them.
She didn’t move and hated the fact that her blood raced from his touch. She should be hating his touch.
“It’s a shame. I really liked you,” he said mournfully.
Chapter Thirteen
Kallie almost blurted out that she didn’t like him talking about her in past tense, but managed to keep her mouth shut. Don’t be an idiot. She’d been the one to break it off, so the thought didn’t even make sense. Then again, none of this did.
She’d tried running away from her life. Tried hiding somewhere dark. Gone and fell for a guy who wasn’t her type. Pretended he was better than Jeremy. Blew up because he wasn’t perfect. Moved into his house, got robbed, shot at, and a whole bunch of other shit in a matter of a short time. And now she was thinking she wanted to stay? What the hell is wrong with me?
Sasha leaned over. “If you want to hit re-set on all of this, you have my cell phone number.” He stared at her a moment longer and then left her in the living room.
She listened as his car pulled out of the garage and drove away.
Alone. Finally.
Or, alone…again.
Why did she feel so depressed about it? She was supposed to be scared. To run away now and never look back. Even go to another city. Who would stop her?
Except…why go now?
She could be set. Really. Set without having to feel lost. At least for tonight. Instead of running she could sleep one more night here, where she felt slightly safe. Scratch that: she knew she was safe here. She didn’t need to go anywhere else in the house actually. If she stayed the night, and decided against the cab and hotel, she’d camp out on the couch. Go nowhere else.
She turned on the television so she’d have some company. Then broke out her laptop. She surfed for hotels and checked prices. She resigned to booking a room in one for the following night. She checked the time. It was super late. And I’m all alone.
There was one other person she could call.
She didn’t have to be alone.
It was a toss-up whether she’d be receptive or angry to hear from Kallie at this time of night. The best thing to do would be to pack up everything and just show up. If it didn’t work out, Kallie would just come back.
She stepped into the shower to wash the smoke out of her hair. She tossed everything she had into her cases. She called a cab and the dispatcher said it’d be there within ten minutes. Kallie gave it enough time and hauled her stuff out to the curb.
Grief flared as she carried her two pieces of luggage, the containers she’d reduced her life to. At one time, she’d had a beautiful condo, a Lexus, and a huge savings account that went with her nice life. She thought she could just start over, be someone else, do something else rather than face anyone she’d known before, when she thought she’d had a legitimate business. The dropping out idea was a bust. She’d have to just suck it up and go back to work. Go back to her place in Baltimore. Face the heat and the ridicule that her fiancé had turned her employment agency into a brothel.
Kallie checked the app on her phone for the status of the cab, when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She quickly glanced around. There were two shadows cast beside her own from Sasha’s brilliant security light.
With shaky hands, she quickly texted the security code and sounded the alarm. Sirens screamed, and Sasha’s front lawn was flooded with lights so bright it was like daylight.
The men, whoever they were, whatever their intentions, scattered.
Kallie’s whole body felt like jelly. Her hands shook so hard she could hardly hold her phone to text and shut off the alarm. She checked the app again for the cab. It now said there was no cab coming. Kallie went back to the door to let herself back in, but the security had shut her out. She had no choice but to text Sasha. I’m locked out, she wrote.
Despite feeling incredibly vulnerable before, with the lurking shadows, she sat on the front step, resting her head on her arms, and sobbed. When she heard the wheels and familiar rumble of Sasha’s car pull up, Kallie tried to dry her face.
Sasha didn’t lecture her as he got out of the car. He didn’t complain about the hour, or that she had her bags all packed and sitting at the curb. He just came back. He silently went and got her stuff and brought it to the porch. But when her eyes met his, she saw the scold. He then patiently texted something on his phone as he approached her.
Kallie heard the doors unlock. Without asking, he lifted her luggage with one hand and let her into the house with the other.
Kallie felt humiliated and exhausted.
Finally, he spoke. “Do you have a plan B you’re thinking about executing tonight? Or can all this wait until tomorrow?”
She’d become too emotional to speak.
He gently touched her arm. “I’m not your enemy, no matter what you think. You’re trying to make a new start, and I have no problem helping you.” His hand traveled from her arm to her back.
Warmth spread throughout her, and it was such a welcome feeling. Kallie turned and curled into his arm, pressing her face against the giant wall that was his chest, and broke down in tears.
His arms tightened around her in a soothing hug. Sasha pressed his phone to his ear. “Hey, I’m going to stay. Pick me up in the morning.” Kallie hadn’t even realized he’d had a driver. That he hadn’t come in the Jaguar. He pulled back from her. “I’m not expecting to stay in the
same bed—”
Before he could finish, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. He was as weak for her as she was for him, and so he kissed her right back. He was right. Whatever his life had in it, he had offered her to be a part of it. Not for a cost, or with strings attached. He hadn’t set out to hurt her. She’d been the one letting ideas in her head. He’s rescued her again.
His tongue entered her mouth, mating with hers. She couldn’t stop touching him, passionately exploring him, tasting him as his scent filled her nostrils. He smelled so clean, fresh, and masculine. There was just a hint of cologne, something really expensive; slightly sweet, yet masculine. It worked like an aphrodisiac on her, provocative and forever seared into her mind.
He lifted her. This was one the many perks of being the sexual partner of a physically powerful man, and it would never get old. Sasha carried her to the bedroom.
Such a strange thing passion could do to the mind. It felt like they were long-time lovers. In the moment, he was her man. She sat at the edge of the bed as he stepped back, and she took her clothes off for him.
His eyes glossed over as he watched. He mimicked her moves, taking off his shirt as she took off hers; taking off his pants as she did the same. When at last they were naked enough, he practically dove onto the mattress.
She giggled at his enthusiasm, but it did feel like he would never get there.
His hardness brushed her naked thigh. She squirmed with impatience, torn between making a moment like this last forever and a desire to explode with the ultimate pleasure. She was wet and ready for him. The drive was as old as time, and it demanded for her to feel him inside of her.
All the nonsense and drama evaporated as Sasha entered her. All she could think of was him, feeling him inside her, having him on her…Just Sasha, just her. He moved within her in steady, sure strokes. Kallie pulled her knees up to receive him more deeply. Wave after wave of erotic heat swept through her. Though she adored looking in his intense eyes as they meshed together with all that they had, she had to press her eyelids tight as their passion climbed to a new level.
“You feel so good,” he whispered into her ear.
Kallie had become too drunk with arousal to think straight, but she loved his talking to her. He moved his lips to her ear. That moment in the bar when she first heard him speak, she was thinking of a moment like this one where he whispered in her ear.
“I could fuck you forever,” he panted.
She melted, and crumpled against the mattress, paralyzed with a carnal force. No one had taken her where she was. It was the stuff of fantasy. Sasha brought it to life. On that day when she knew she’d lost everything, she’d never thought she would ever experience what she was experiencing in bed with this gorgeous man. No, she couldn’t have fathomed it. Even now, it was unbelievable.
Guttural sounds rose from his chest, so feral, so animal, as he had complete command of her body. She realized she was making the same sounds. He pushed up on his powerful arms, his muscles cut and flexing as he turned her to her side and drove into her that way. She could see more of him and he could see more of her. It was erotic, sensual, and exhilarating.
Balancing on one palm, he lifted her knee, fanning it gently up and down as he pumped. She took the cue and worked her legs. Sasha was a genius. The effect felt intense and almost too much to bear. She shook her head against the mattress.
He stroked her hair.
Kallie splayed her knees wide and touched herself. Sasha’s heavy-lidded eyes watched as she worked. Her other hand roamed along his magnificent body. With feathery touches, she teased the surface of his perfect flesh.
He flinched in a good way at her touch, setting off a chain reaction that sent the two of them tumbling over a cliff of erotic bliss. Kallie’s body seized from deep within, rolling with sweet pleasure, gripping Sasha in rhythmic spasms.
“Oh fuck,” he cried out.
She couldn’t speak. She could only grip his massive, muscled form and hold on for dear life as they rode out their orgasm together, breathless. He was pure power, jerking and moving and bellowing out his ecstasy.
When their moment was spent, they crumpled atop the opulent bed and slept in each other’s arms.
Chapter Fourteen
It was such a perfect, content moment to be woken by the superbly gorgeous, wonderfully masculine Sasha bringing her fresh, hot coffee. He’d already showered and dressed while she slept.
Kallie sipped the coffee. It was over-the-top delicious. “Man!” she exclaimed. “How did you do that?” She should be apologizing for last night. Telling him what she’d thought. What had happened, but all she could think about was the heavenly taste of coffee.
He laughed.
A stab of jealousy flashed through her as she wondered if he made coffee for someone else. For now, at least, she wanted to be the only woman who knew Sasha had yet another gift. “You cook, don’t you?” she accused in a laughing tone. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“I do,” he answered pleasantly. He wore a very satisfied, content look on his face. “I’d love to cook for you.”
“I wouldn’t say no,” she said eagerly.
He was a very hard man to turn down. He was also a decent man in his own way. He stayed with her after she had her little disaster, trying to take off the night before. “I took you from something you were doing last night, didn’t I?” she said guiltily.
“I make my own choices,” he replied.
“So that’s a yes?”
“Do I seem disappointed to you?” he asked in a purring tone, firmly gripping her ankle.
Flashes of how he commanded her body as he made love to her played through her mind. Arousal pinged in her belly, practically paralyzing her. “No,” she rasped.
“I want to talk,” he said, and kissed her ankle before gently setting it down. “Come downstairs. Take your time, but let’s do this.” He left her alone.
Kallie sighed. Clearly pretending the events of last night hadn’t happened was out of the question. They did need to talk, though. As crazy as her life was, playing the psycho-woman needed to stop. Yes, she had trust issues. Yes, she’d jumped to conclusions. But Sasha had issues as well. The crazy needed to stop. So did the running.
She got up and headed into the bathroom to wash up. She brushed her hair out, wearing it long and straight. She threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then went downstairs to join him. She took her coffee with her. Jeremy never made her coffee, and she didn’t know whether she wanted to secretly stick the cup in the freezer and keep it forever or enjoy every bit.
She nervously joined him on the sofa. He helped her to sit. She should have placed her cup on the coffee table but, instead, she held onto it. “It’s really good coffee.”
“You mentioned that before.” He winked, reminding her she’d just told him as much. “What happened yesterday?”
No beating around the bush. “I got fired, Sasha. You said you were going to leave that up to me.”
He studied her. “There’s something else,” he said. “You were upset that Anya was at the bar.”
Anya! That was the bitch’s name. Now she remembered. “Yeah, she worked for Jeremy. High-end call girl. I lost my business because of her,” she said vehemently. It was just Anya. But that wasn’t the point.
Sasha touched her knee. “Tell me about that,” he said softly. “Tell me about what happened exactly.”
Did she want to tell him? Was she ready to rip off the bandage and check the wound? She took a sip of coffee and savored the taste for a moment. “I was engaged. We ran a business together,” she stated plainly. This was going to be one of those times when the subject of her losing everything hurt.
“Which came first? The business or the engagement?”
“Business. I started it. At first it was just me. Then it was me and some friends, hiring ourselves out, and it went like that until I started staying in the office to manage everything. The business kept growing and doing well.
Then Jeremy was a headhunter looking to place and so I hired him. We ran the show.”
Sasha tilted his head. “So, at one point last night, did you think maybe I had something to do with what happened? Like maybe I had a connection to Anya and…” he insinuated without finishing his question.
It was a hard question to process because the answer was yes. It might have been one thing to think what he asked and get away with it by not admitting it. On the other hand, she didn’t want to lie to him. She couldn’t. He was too smart, and she just didn’t feel like it was right. “Yes, I did,” she stated honestly.
“Because you think I’m a bad guy,” he said, not losing his cool at what she admitted.
“I came to this end of town to get away…” That sounded worse than it had in her head. “I think it’s possible you might dabble in bad things. But I don’t think you’re a bad guy.”
“Dabbling in bad things…” He kept his gaze on her. “And you’re okay with that?”
It dawned on her that he wasn’t sitting her down to talk about her so much as he intended to have a conversation about himself. She wasn’t going to be the only one revealing stuff. “I guess it would depend on what those things were and whether I knew about them.” Please don’t say you’re a hired killer.
“You don’t want to know, then?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m not sure I’m ready…yet.”
“Okay,” he murmured, thinking. He cut his eyes to her again, and it looked like he was summoning courage. “It’d be an amazing coincidence if you were trying to get away from a life you had on the other side of town to wind up in a job where you worked for the guy who made a shell out of your company, wouldn’t it?”
Kallie felt more than uneasy. Either the coffee was working on her or she understood what he was trying to tell her before he said it.
His gaze never left her face.
Nervousness rattled her. “Sasha?” she whispered.
“But it might not be a total coincidence, because I have a lot of businesses. You could have wound up in any number of them.”
