Wandering through the quiet halls, he passed Mario’s office. The door was open and the office dark. The memory came back of the noises he had heard earlier coming from behind the door. The taste of bile filled his mouth as he attempted to shed the reminiscences.
His cell phone rang from one of the pockets of his suit jacket. Locating it, he answered. “What is it Kelly?”
“Where are you? The sewer in the basement is backed up again. Should I call a plumber?”
“I’m leaving the office now and will take care of it when I get home.”
“Okay. Will you be here soon?”
“I have a stop to make first, so don’t bother anything in the basement or call anyone.”
“Fine, Dillon. Maybe I’ll go out too since you aren’t coming straight home again. You can deal with the mess in the basement.
“I don’t care. Do whatever you want, Kelly,” he replied clicking off the phone and not giving her a chance to respond.
*****
The intruder closed the unsecured basement window softly. Taking a flashlight from a pouch, the beam of light sprayed across the dark basement. The intruder bent down to retrieve the clothing that fell to the floor after crawling through the window.
The intruder sifted through the silk bras and panties in a palette of colors returning them to the dryer after removing a pair of red panties and the matching bra from the pile. Taking a sniff of the freshly laundered underwear, the intruder stuck them inside one of the pockets of the brown canvas pouch dangling at hip level.
The flashlight beam returned to the floor to travel along the length of the basement until it reached the stairs. The first step creaked under the pressure of weight. The intruder paused to make sure the sound went undetected. The next step taken was gentler, followed by another short pause to listen for movement overhead.
The kitchen dimly lit, appeared recently vacated. The intruder surveyed the area. Two dirty plates and a skillet sat on the sink counter. The gloved hand picked up the empty bottle of chardonnay. Two frost wine glasses sat half-full on the table, also. The intruder drained the remaining wine from the glass with traces of burgundy lipstick lining the rim. The empty wine glass disappeared inside the pouch to join the other heisted memento.
The glow of the flashlight stayed low to the floor as the intruder advanced through the dining room and living room making sure to keep away from windows. A second set of stairs to conquer came into view. Testing the first carpeted stair for firmness, there was no surrender. The wood was sturdy under the carpeting. The landing and hallway leading to the bedrooms were clear of any clutter making the progression there, easier.
Pulling the mask down to remain anonymous, the intruder spotted a soft light seeping underneath a door not completely closed. Turning off the flashlight, the intruder’s motion to the door was cat-like. Peering through the slight crack, the lungs of the intruder ached from holding the sharp intake of breath.
On the large antique bed, two naked bodies, making passionate love under the soft sparkle of candlelight, came into view. The suspected lover appeared to be Caucasian by the color of his skin. It was hard to tell—the light from the candle did not give off much in the way of identifying anyone other than Taylor’s darker-colored skin fleshed against her lover’s muscular body.
Highly aroused, the intruder inched away from the door bracing against the wall to regain composure. The voyeurism not planned, was a welcomed treat. It was good Taylor James had an active sex life—it would come in handy when the time was right to confront her. The intruder’s vitals returned to normal, allowing the observation to resume.
The intruder grinned wickedly, slipping a hand inside the pouch to retrieve a small electronic device. A videotape was the perfect souvenir—a valuable keepsake to watch repeatedly.
The lens of the small recorder focused on the couple unaware of the videotaping. Taylor lay on her back with her legs wide and the man on top of her. The intruder did not expect this. To capture Taylor James with her lover and get it on tape was priceless.
The intensity of their moans filtered the room as her lover pumped his body in a steady motion above her. The grind of his hips drove into her with force. He made her cry out when her body arched against his. Her lover’s groans overpowered hers as he grunted. His buttocks squeezed tight then relaxed. His body lifted to roll Taylor on top on him. She willingly straddled him. Her firm breasts bouncing as she rode his bucking body.
The intruder watched as Taylor’s hands grasped the thick thighs of her lover, her back bowed as his hands covered her full breasts then lowered to take hold of her hips. He took control of her to meet his tempo. The intruder could not see Taylor’s face, but the way she was grinding her body on his sex organ, proved she was enjoying what he was doing.
The lover switched to a sitting position bringing Taylor closer to him. Her arms closed around his neck, and her legs looped around his waist. The intruder’s eyes strained to recognize his face but it remained hidden by Taylor’s hair and the dark shadows caused by the low candlelight. Their breathing increased as Taylor’s raspy voice dared her lover. She dared him to reach deeper. She dared him to go harder. He must have answered her dares as Taylor’s throat released quick pants of breaths as he guided her hips with his hands. Rapidly, gliding her hips back and forth, on his lap, she dropped her head back, her body jerking as she reached an orgasm. He released a satisfying animalist growl soon afterwards.
The bed quieted with the finale of their lovemaking. They lay side by side. Her lover had large hands but seemed tender. He used a tender finger to trace along the feminine curve of Taylor’s hip to rest his hand on her narrow waist. The faint sounds of mouths and lips meeting together ensued.
Mumbled voices and weight shifting on the bed indicated someone was making a move. The intruder turned off the recorder to make an escape and hurriedly tiptoed down the stairs to exit the house.
*****
Mario walked into the hallway to use the bathroom across the hall. His bare foot stepped in a wet spot on the carpet. He looked out the window at the end of the hallway; it was not raining therefore the ceiling would not be leaking.
Taylor joined him in the hall nude. “What are you looking for?”
He folded his foot across his knee. “Something wet is on the carpet; smells like wine,” he said.
“We must have spilled some,” she said dismissing the incident and capturing his mouth in a passionate kiss. Dragging her lips away from him, she pressed her cheek against his ear, saying, “We have work in the morning so no more loving for you tonight. We’re going to shower and go to bed.”
He picked her up in his arms. “We can sleep in late,” he said, whisking her to the bathroom to shower.
*****
Dillon waited in the doctor’s office with Kelly by his side. He couldn’t take the blinding headaches anymore and finally decided to see a doctor. He sat quietly with his head propped in his hand.
Kelly caressed his arm. “It’s going to be okay, baby. The doctor will give you something for the migraines and suggest you take it easy; you’re under too much stress.”
He didn’t lift his head and thumbed the sore spot above his forehead. “These headaches are not caused by migraines. It’s something wrong with me. I’m having a hard time remembering things and the headaches are coming too often unlike before when I would only have one or two a month.”
“Whatever it is, we will work through it together. I’m here for you.”
He looked at her feeling foolish for acting the way he had towards her lately. She was willing to see him through an illness and yet all he wanted was to get as far away from her as he could. “Why are you staying with me?”
“Because I love you. I’ve always loved you. My family loves you too. If you could get over Taylor, we could be happy together, Dillon.”
“Taylor doesn’t want me and you know it.”
“Then why do you want her? She is not good for you, baby. She deserves a
man like Mario Infante. They are both arrogant and high-maintenance; you aren’t that way. When I saw her….” She stopped talking.
Dillon raised his head and sat up straight. “When you saw her what? What did you see Taylor doing?”
“At breakfast. When we had breakfast I saw that she wasn’t interested in you; that’s what I was going to say.”
“I’m glad you’ve come to terms with that.”
“So are we okay? Should I call mom and ask her to come for a visit?”
“Please put it off for now. Until I know what is wrong with me, I’m really not up to entertaining relatives.” He said as the door to the doctor’s office opened.
Dr. Miller came in his office closing the door with a grim expression on his face. Walking behind his desk, he sat down opening the chart. Dillon’s head began to throb to the beat of his heart sensing whatever is wrong with him would not be simple to cure. “Dr. Miller, what is it? What is wrong with me?”
Chapter 10
Taylor rushed around her bedroom dressing for the Mayor’s ball. Mario would be to get her in less than an hour, and she was nowhere near ready. She removed the towel from around her naked body. Sitting on the bed, she tipped the bottle over squeezing the thick liquid in the palm of her hand to apply to her body; starting with her legs.
The eyes of the intruder watched as Taylor rubbed creamy lotion on her skin. The motion of her hands stroking her body electrified the senses of the intruder who sat glued to the computer screen watching her unscripted.
The intruder had watched her perform tasks such as talking on the telephone and paying bills. But none of those actions was as exciting as the sex between Taylor and her lover. Those would be the videos to get her attention. The series of videos the cameras had captured so far was not of good quality since the room was dark. That correction would be made once entry into her home was attainable again and a better camera installed in the bedroom.
The intruder zoomed in on Taylor wiggling into and adjusting a black thong around the shape of her full hips and then her dress. The red formal dress with glittery sequins decorating the bodice was strapless, floor-length and form fitting. She slipped her feet into high-heel red satin shoes and admired her look in the mirror. The intruder’s eyes followed her to the dresser where she attached a diamond necklace around her neck. She was beautiful as usual with her hair styled atop her head to show off her slender neck and the teardrop diamond earrings she attached to each earlobe. The intruder sighed wishing for such grace and elegance.
Taylor disappeared out of view. The intruder picked up the live feed of her in the living room, then in the dining room where she switched purses. She had a small red clutch purse in her hand stuffing items from the big purse inside of it. The feed lost her again. Switching to a four-block frame on the computer, Taylor was back in her bedroom standing at the dresser spraying perfume behind each ear and on her wrists. She then went to the closet and removed a travel bag, and began stuffing it with clothes and shoes.
The intruder watched as she hauled the bag off the bed and walk out of view back to the living room again. Her running back and forth was tiring the intruder watching her. The doorbell must have ringed because she hurried from the bedroom where the camera caught her opening the front door.
The Hispanic man who the intruder now knew was Taylor James’ current boyfriend, entered. Dressed handsomely in a black tuxedo immediately gave Taylor a hug and kiss. She then handed the man the travel bag and covered her hands with long red satin gloves that ended at her elbows.
The two were laughing at something the boyfriend was saying as she held out her right hand for him to clasp a diamond bracelet around her wrist. The feed did not have sound so the intruder could not pick up their conversations. The feed ended when she turned off the lights, and they left the house. The intruder closed the lid of the laptop to plot the next move.
*****
Sebastian stood on his front porch leaning against the post with Thor lying at his feet. He waved at Taylor as she descended the stairs of her porch holding the arm of the man accompanying her. “Hey, Taylor; you all look great….where you off to all gussied up?”
Taylor waved back, answering, “Thanks for the compliment; we are attending the Mayor’s ball tonight.”
“You all have fun,” he said. He took a sip of coffee listening to the purring engine of the expensive Mercedes make its way down the street and out of his view. Sitting on the porch, he watched a van with the lights approach drive slowly down the street as it passed Taylor’s date car. As the rusty white van passed his house, the driver looked in his direction and suddenly increase in speed and sputtered down the street.
*****
They arrived at the grand ballroom of the Ritz Carlton hotel. Taylor took in the sights and sounds of the elegant setting. These types of events did not normally include associate level attorneys. The exception to that rule would be fundraisers since money was welcome from all sources willing to give.
Her parents didn’t have money. They were day laborers who lived a modest life and did the best they could to help their children financially with college. But, she received a scholarship that paid part of her way through school and used student loans for balance. She’d finally paid off the last student loan three years after graduating.
Mario patted her gloved hand. “There are a lot of people here. Are you ready to rub noses with the upper crust?”
Taylor rolled her eyes. “The only crust I want is on pizza. Seriously, Mario, I have not attended this type of event before. I’m used to the wine and cheese socials and annual holiday dinner parties. I don’t know any people here.”
“You’ll recognize more people than you think once we make our way through the crowd. What I hate is how the mayor thinks he can sucker us in with alcohol and food and then pick our pockets to back him or some other flunky of his that may be running for an office.”
She bumped his shoulder teasing. “Why don’t you say what you really feel?”
He looped her arm through his. “Was I not clear I hate politics,” he grinned.
They made their way down the grand staircase. Mario stopped handing his invitation to the man dressed as a head butler in a black tuxedo with long tails and high shirt collar with a neat satin black bowtie. They followed behind the man as he escorted them to an elegantly dressed table filled with crystal glasses, gold-rimmed China plates, and polished silverware atop a pristine white linen tablecloth.
Mario pulled a chair out for Taylor to sit. “The table is beautiful,” she said placing her clutch bag in her lap. She didn’t feel it appropriate to lay it on the elegant table.
Mario winked and said, “The table is nice but not as beautiful as you are in that dress.”
She blushed. Lucky it was only the two of them seated at the table for several. “I had you in mind when I picked it out. Sweetheart, what are you going say to Allyson if she is here tonight? She wanted to be your date for this shindig.”
“I will tell her the truth.”
“That could cost you. Are you sure you want to do that?”
“Sometimes you have to lose allies to get a piece of mind. With Allyson, I have been dodging her for years. She has been looking for a way to get me alone from the day we met. I did not connect with her on a personal level, so it never happened.”
“She seems old enough to be your mother,” Taylor joked.
He laughed. “She is older, and overly-aggressive for my taste. I like to pursue the woman who has tickled my interest.”
The waiter stopped at the table offering to pour champagne. Mario accepted the champagne and held his glass up to her for a toast. “To the woman who has tickled my fancy and captured my heart…salute.”
Tipping her glass against his, she took the first sip. The tiny bubbles went directly to her nose to burst into a flavorful bouquet as it traveled down her throat. “To the man that has captured my heart and may get me fired if my boss is here tonight.”
�
�Taylor, don’t worry about that tonight. We are here to enjoy ourselves and not worry about Anderson Cartwright.” Mario scooted his chair away from the table and said, “I guess I should mingle and make my face known since I was invited.”
Taylor swallowed another sip of the champagne. “Go ahead. I’ll be waiting when you get back.”
He shook his head looking down at her. “Taylor…”
“I know—I have to do this with you.” She placed her gloved hand in his standing up. “I may not be a social butterfly, but I know the rules of the game. So who do we kiss ass with first?”
“Taylor, this could benefit you so don’t think of it as kissing ass.”
“Wait you practically said this is what these parties are about.”
“They are but, you could use this forum to network and get your name known. If you want to open your own firm, these people could be potential clients. So instead of benefiting the mayor tonight, we will do a little schmoozing of our own.”
Taylor put her hands together bowing her head. “Teach me, Master Infante. For I am an eager student and you’re the great fountain of knowledge for who I must drink.”
He put his arm around his waist leading her to the floor. Tilting his head next to hers, he whispered. “Remember that when we are alone tonight.”
She crinkled her nose. “Stop being naughty.”
“I will when you stop being so damn sexy,” he teased as he threaded his fingers through her gloved ones.
Taylor quickly grew tired of making rounds and was ready to return to the table to sit and watch the crowd until dinner was served. After meeting senators, council members, and various religious dignitaries, she wasn’t nearly as thrilled as she assumed she would be. Some of them were exceptionally nice while some were as phony as two-headed coins.
Standing off to the side people watching, she plucked another glass of champagne from a passing waiter and observed the room waiting for Mario to return from the restroom. Across the dance floor, she spotted him. Dillon was laughing and talking with Anderson Cartwright and a group of men she did not recognize. Kelly was with him and looking proud to be a part of the glitz.
OBSESSED WITH TAYLOR JAMES Page 14
