“What’s he talking about, Alex?” I whispered at him, not trusting my own voice.
“It doesn’t matter, Charlotte, just remember that,” he took a deep breath, “That I love you, Charlotte. I’ve never loved anyone more. Please remember that.”
He loves me? He just told me he loved me. Even in the middle of our current predicament, my heart soared and I saw fireworks behind my eyes. The man I loved just admitted he had the same feelings. Holy shit, Alex loved me. The evil laugh in front of my pulled me from my impromptu, ill timed daydreams.
“Oh I’m sure he loves you, alright,” Robert laughed again. “Tell her, Porter, tell her, or I will”
I could feel the tension and indecision vibrating through Alex and I told myself whatever it was he needed to tell me, we would deal with it. We loved each other and nothing he said was going to change that.
“I SAID, TELL HER!” Robert roared, scaring me and making me grip Alex’s hand tighter.
“No, Nelson, and neither will you!” Alex yelled back. “Take your ten million dollars and leave her alone.”
I needed to know this big secret Alex was hiding. If we left this room, I knew in my heart he would never tell me and the curiosity got the better of me. I needed to know, so we could move on.
“Someone, just tell me what the fuck is going on?!” I yelled, surprising even myself with the demanding tone in my voice. I watched as Alex ran his fingers through his hair, but didn’t open his mouth.
“Fine, you want to be a pussy, Porter, I’ll tell her,” he sneered, before turning his eyes back on me. “Did you know Alex was my roommate in college? From your shocked expression, I can tell you didn’t.” He laughed.
He continued his tale while I stood stock still, absorbing his words and fighting back the nightmares and tears, “The night of the frat party, your darling boyfriend was there, in our room. I bet he was even watching.”
“I had no idea what was happening, Charlotte, I swear!” Alex pleaded with me, begging me to believe him.
This time, when the bile rose in my throat, I didn’t force it back down. The tears were nowhere to be found. All I could see was red. My head screamed at me to calm down and look at the bigger picture, but my heart was collapsing in on itself.
“You were there?” I screamed at him. “On the worst day of my life, you were THERE! When I told you everything that happened to me? When I cried in your arms, and retold my horrid story, you already KNEW!?” I waited a few seconds before i lowered my voice, “You betrayed me?”
“No, Charlotte, no, I—” I held up my hand to cut him off.
I needed to get out of this room. I was suffocating. My heart was breaking. I couldn’t breathe. I walked past him and headed for the door. If Robert or Alex or Bracks tried to say anything to me, I couldn’t hear them. All I could hear was the blood pounding in my head and the shattering of my most precious organ.
Chapter 34
When I stepped into the cool night air, I took a breath and looked around. I had no idea where I was, but I saw Bracks’ chauffeur car in front of me and headed towards it. In his rush to get in the house, he must have decided that he would leave the keys in the ignition. I jumped in and started the car, putting it in drive and slamming down on the gas.
Getting as far away from Alex and Robert was my top priority. I steered through an old neighborhood, taking as many turns as I could, before pulling over and programming the GPS on the dashboard to get back to the hotel. Bracks was clearly very organized, because it didn’t take me long to locate the address and start my route.
When I pulled up to the hotel and handed the key to the valet, I had to ignore the look he gave me. I was wearing my running gear, my hair was a tangled mess, and my eyes were undoubtedly puffy and red, and, of course, I was driving a chauffeur’s car. I was probably a sight to behold.
When I got upstairs, I rushed from the living area to the bedroom, grabbing anything I could. If it wasn’t something I needed, I left it. I didn’t have time for luggage and material things to slow me down. I changed into jeans and a tank top, grabbed my purse with my money and ID, and my phone, and turned towards the door.
I don’t know what stopped me, but I felt an invisible pull halt my forward progress and make me turn my feet back towards the bed. A new wave of tears formed in my eyes as memories from the night before assaulted my vision.
“Oh Alex, thank you for an unforgettable evening. Dinner was delicious, and Wicked was spectacular.” I said, leaning against his chest, with my arms wrapped around his torso, my heels dangling from my fingers.
“It was my pleasure, Charlotte, I just hope I could give you a few hours of peace from the shit you’ve had to go through the past few weeks,” he said, his voice low.
“It was everything I needed and more.” I groaned when I shuffled my feet a little closer. I was accustomed to wearing heels, but I wasn’t accustomed to the amount of stairs we had to climb to get to our box seats.
“Charlotte, what’s wrong?” Alex asked, his voice conveying concern.
“My feet are killing me. I just need to sit down for a while.” I dropped my shoes by the bedroom door and sat on the bed, pulling my feet up, and rubbing circles into the arch of each foot. I moaned low in my throat, closing my eyes to savor the feeling.
A moment later, I felt the bed dip and my foot was being dragged away into Alex’s lap. He continued the massage on my feet, allowing me to stretch out on the bed and lean my head against the headboard.
I felt as he worked my foot, my ankle, and my calf, up to my knee, before setting it down and working on the other sore limb. My whole body relaxed under his touch and I reveled in the sensations.
I didn’t know when his massage had turned heated, but suddenly, I was flat on my back with him looming above me, kissing his way up my squirming body. I was instantly hot and wet and wanted him to devour me, and the look in his eye promised that’s exactly what he would do.
His kiss was demanding and urgent, pushing past my lips, invading my mouth with his tongue, and filling my senses completely. I moaned into his mouth, licked across his teeth, and wrestled with his tongue. My hands found the hem of his shirt and pulled up, needing skin to skin contact with him. Our mouths disengaged just long enough for me to throw his shirt away.
In one swift move, my dress joined his on the floor in a puddle of silky fabric. As he reached for the buttons on his pants, I reached up and felt the plumpness of my lips. My rapid breathing pushed past my swollen mouth, breathing warm air on my outstretched fingers. My heart burst in my chest with love for this man and I’m sure my eyes sparkled with love and lust.
When he returned to my body, completely naked, his body pressing against mine, I rubbed my entire being against him, like a cat against his owner’s hand. A few months ago, that motion would have left me embarrassed and shamed for acting like an in heat animal, but now, I felt differently. I felt wanted and sexy.
His attack on my senses continued as he kissed every visible inch of my body, licking occasionally and biting playfully. I moaned and writhed under his grip, needing him deep within me. As he moved down my body, I closed my eyes, desperately pleading with him silently to end my torture. When I could no longer control myself, I let him know.
“Alex, please, it’s too much, I need you,” I begged.
He licked a tender bit of flesh on my belly, blowing cool air on my skin, bringing goosebumps to the surface. “Patience, my beautiful Charlie,” he whispered into me.
He gently peeled my panties aside, looking directly into my core. Embarrassment flared within me, staining my cheeks in pink, and I whimpered. When his finger found the source of my arousal, my embarrassment evaporated, careening me into bliss.
He licked me then, stealing my breath from my lungs, and my body bowed up, but his hand splayed across my belly kept me pinned down. I screamed out with pleasure at his second lick, and, with his third, my tight band snapped, shoving me into a tornado of pleasure, swirling me around in i
ts wake.
He made his way up my body, kissing me and leaving a trail of my own arousal along his path. When he reached my lips, I tasted myself on them and felt the spark of arousal start again within me. I couldn’t believe I could shatter so completely one minute and the next, be hiking up the cliff towards another fall.
When I felt him press against my wet entrance, the moan that escaped me was loud and guttural. I wanted everything this man had to offer and beyond. He pressed all the way into me, filling me up with his—”
I shook my head, my vision blurry with tears. I don’t know how long I stood staring at the bed, but if I wanted to be gone before Alex and Bracks made it back, I needed to leave now. With a tear filled sob, I closed the door the the hotel and walked away. When I got into the elevator, I dried my eyes with a tissue from my purse and lifted my chin. I would wait till I was home before I fell apart.
I left Bracks’ car at the hotel and hailed a taxi. The entire trip from the hotel to the airport, I kept my composure and my cool. The knot that was sitting on my stomach grew larger and larger with each passing minute. As soon as I could get on the plane, I would feel safe.
I bought my ticket and passed through security with no incident. People stared at me as I continued, my mind numb to everything and everyone around me. If I opened my mouth to speak more than was necessary, I knew I couldn’t be accountable for my actions, so, on autopilot, I kept moving.
When my plane finally announced boarding, I picked up my ticket and headed into the first class area. I knew I shouldn’t have splurged, but the thought of having to share an armrest with a talkative stranger was more than I could bear.
I stuffed my purse in the overhead compartment along with my phone. I had to shut it off shortly after leaving ‘the house of nightmares’, (that’s what I was calling it), because of the amount of times Alex and Bracks were calling and texting.
As I laid my head against the seat and stared out into the dark night sky, I tried to stop my mind from replaying the incidents of the past few hours. I needed to wait until I got home. I closed my eyes and allowed the darkness to enter my mind and pull me off into a fitful sleep of boiling amber lava swallowing me whole.
********************
Turn the page to read the first Chapter of Just a Woman; the second installment of the Porter Trilogy!
Chapter 1
Alex
Thirteen days. Thirteen fucking days since she was kidnapped, tied up and made to suffer the worst kind of torture. Betrayal. My betrayal. For thirteen days I ignored her letter and called her a hundred times, left as many voicemails and texted until I felt like my fingers would fall off, and for thirteen days I got nothing back. I even went to her apartment and was greeted by her best friend Danny and his boyfriend Jerry who was also my employee, and was told to stay the fuck away.
But I couldn’t stay away. That girl had found a small, miniscule hole in my hard, darkened heart and burrowed in, lodging herself deep inside and no amount of mining was going to tear her out. I couldn’t think about anything else, I had a hard time eating since every thing I put in my mouth tasted like nothing, my tastebuds taking a vacation from my mouth. My nightmares of my past came back every time I closed my eyes, forcing me to relive every horrid detail of my fucked up life. I spent more time in my home gym trying to outrun my nocturnal terror, than I did in my bed.
My dreams ranged from my teenage life to the current situation. I had reoccurring thoughts about that night thirteen days ago where Charlotte walked out of that door and out of my life. I wanted to howl to the sky with my anger and lash out at anyone stupid enough to come within arms reach of me. Bracks, my right hand man, my bodyguard, and my driver was the only person I could tolerate. Unfortunately, owning my company and a small slice of the conglomerate technology pie, being alone wasn’t a luxury I would receive. I had to continue with meetings and business calls as if my personal life wasn’t swirling through the damn toilet.
I stood up from my desk and walked into the bathroom I had constructed in the corner of my office. This place was my sanctuary away from my penthouse home in downtown Los Angeles. Every facet of my office described me in a way no one but Charlotte has ever been able to understand. Not even my savior, Rachel Mansfield. My office was clean and homey, mahogany wood desk, floor to ceiling windows, a large white leather couch, and sporadic paintings decorated the interior. A flash of memory clouded my brain as I thought about the first time Charlotte had been in my domain.
She had been nervous, and rightfully so. I was being a dick and I knew it. Her eyes scanned the open floor plan, hovering on each photograph before moving on to the next. Her lips even turned up into a slight grin when she saw my bowl of fruit photo. I noticed everything about her right from the moment I saw her step into my lobby downstairs, and when she walked into my office, her neck craning to look out my windows and the view of LA below, my cock had gotten hard underneath my zipper.
I never lost control of my body, so the reaction to my unwanted growing erection flared my temper and I was a total asshole to her, calling her an arrogant child. I watched as that beautiful mouth quivered for just a moment before she stood up, gathered up her dignity and courage and marched to the door, apologizing for ruining the interview. I had felt instant regret over my behavior, and offered her the job even though she was highly over qualified.
Remembering the shock on her face brought a smile to my own lips. She had been truly shocked. When she walked out the door, her tight redheaded bun disappearing behind the glass door, I flew out of my seat and rushed to the door. I needed to see this girl one last time before she became my employee. I opened the door, and watched her get onto the elevator and close the doors. She never even looked up.
Shaking away the memories of the day I met the woman who captured my heart, I looked up into the bathroom mirror at my reflection. The mirror taunted me. I looked every bit of business man I was. My charcoal gray suit was crisp, clean and immaculately pressed. My white shirt underneath starchy, with no wrinkles, and my emerald tie and gold tie clip winked at me. This was one of two ties I wore these days. This emerald one matched Charlotte’s eyes serving as a daily reminder of what I had let slip through my fingers. My other tie was my red and white polka dot one. It was Charlotte’s favorite.
Even though I looked the part of CEO, my eyes gave me away. They looked lost, and empty; dark pools of yellow mud, all life snuffed out. I had bags around my eyes, proving my lack of sleep, and I was pretty sure I had more gray strands in my hair than I had had two weeks ago. I looked like a mess and it made me angry. I prided myself on being a cool and collected boss, never letting emotions rule me in my board room, but I’d never been in love, and I didn’t know the havoc it could cause.
I splashed some cold water on my face and grabbed one of the fluffy emerald towels I had stocked in the bathroom, from the towel warmer and dried my face. I needed to talk to Bracks and see if there had been any development on Charlotte. I was keeping tabs and received daily reports of her well being, which at this point I hadn’t received diddly squat that was worth a damn, but it was the only thing that kept me sane enough to function on a day to day basis.
Heading back to my desk I grabbed my cell and plopped into my chair, dialing Bracks. In one ring he picked up.
“Boss?” He answered.
“Bracks, I need you upstairs.” I told him, my tone clipped and formal.
“Yes sir.” He said, disconnecting the call.
Bracks was the only person I trusted with my life. There were no frilly emotions back in forth between us in our conversations.. I was his employer and him my employee, but we had each others back like we were brothers. He was the closest thing I had to a brother.
Moments later the intercom buzzed. A voice I despised told me Bracks had arrived. I punched the phone button, “Let him in” and disconnected the intercomm.
Bracks walked in dressed all in black, as was his nature, and flipped his sunglasses up on top of his
head. I motioned for him to take a seat opposite my desk. Most people were frightened of him. He gave off a dangerous vibe, and I knew first hand what his two hands could do if the need arose.
The night of the kidnapping came swarming into my vision. Bracks stood inside the shattered door pointing the gun at Robert, He never took his eyes off of his target as Charlotte screamed at me for betraying her, her voice wrapping around my heart like a boa constrictor, squeezing my beating organ with every word. The memory made me involuntarily wince. Her walking out had stunned everyone. Robert stood there in all of his psychotic glory, knife waving around screaming at her to come back. Everything after that had happened in slow motion but I remember everything. Every minute detail was burned into my brain. The sickening color of the tobacco stained walls, the craze and lust flashing behind Roberts black gaze as he realized he was outnumbered, and the silent vibration of my heart splintering underneath my rib cage.
A full minute after Charlotte had walked out the door, Robert snapped. I had told Bracks prior to coming that he was not to shoot unless absolutely necessary to save Charlotte’s life, but now that she was not in the room I was ready to draw blood myself over what he had done to her. I took a step in his direction while he looked down at the bag of money by his feet.
A moment later, leaving the discarded cash on the floor, Robert launched himself to the window and crashed through, as a sickening shot echoed around the cigarette stenched room. I ran to the window to see if Bracks had hit him, but like a ghost, Charlotte’s crazy ex had vanished. Both Bracks and I shuffled outside, weapons drawn ready to attack but we found nothing but a few drops of blood outside the window amongst the shattered glass.
After a thorough search of the grounds, we gathered the large duffle of money and Bracks called a cab. It seemed Charlotte had been both resourceful and angry enough to steal our mode of transportation that had come to rescue her.
Just A Man (The Porter Trilogy Book 1) Page 27
