Take Me Series (COMPLETE BOX SET)

by Masters, Colleen

  Slowly, I push open the door. Andy looks up and smiles, just a little sadly. He rises to his feet and crosses the room, laying a comforting hand on my arm.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” he tells me. “I’ve been sitting with him since they got him stabilized after the wreck. He was asking for you, before he fell asleep. Don’t worry, nobody heard but me.”

  “How is he?” I ask Andy, sidling into the room and closing the door behind me.

  “Well. He’s been better,” Andy says, managing a small laugh, “Smacked his head pretty good, but the safety equipment held up, for the most part. He’s sitting the next race out with your brother. I guess they really don’t take kindly to horseplay on the track. That should be enough time to heal, at least anyway. Any sprains or bruises will take care of themselves.”

  “But no permanent damage?” I ask.

  “Not unless you’re including the blow to his ego,” Andy says.

  “Could I maybe...have a minute with him?” I ask.

  Andy’s face clouds with indecision. “Someone could see you,” he tells me, “It doesn’t seem like the best idea, Siena.”

  “I know,” I say, “But I have to talk to him. If someone happens upon us, I’ll say I’m here to apologize from Team Ferrelli for Enzo’s behavior.”

  “Not sure if anyone would believe that Enzo Lazio was apologizing,” Andy scoffs. “After that stunt he pulled today, I’m not sure why anyone would give him the benefit of the—”

  “Be careful. That’s my brother,” I say, “He may be a hotheaded asshole sometimes, and he might be the most stubborn man to have ever walked the earth, but he’s still family.”

  “Don’t worry, I know a little something about that kind of loyalty,” Andy says, eyeing Harrison pointedly. “I’ll leave you two alone. Make it somewhat quick, though. I’ll stand guard at the end of the hallway, make sure no media types wander in here. Only doctors and nurses, I promise. OK?”

  I nod as Andy makes his way out of the room. Stepping lightly, I cross the space and settle into the chair beside Harrison. For a moment, I simply let my eyes rest on his gorgeous face. By now, I know the sight of him sleeping so very well. He usually looks so peaceful when he’s at rest, like a Greek statue in repose. But now, even as he lies still, I can sense that he’s in pain. Unbidden, so many memories starring this beautiful face come to mind: the first time I laid eyes on him, the first time we fell asleep beside each other, the first time he told me that he loved me. We’ve been through so much already—I refuse to let this be our last memory together. With a deep breath, I lay my hand on his muscular, tattooed bicep and give a gentle little squeeze.

  “Harrison?” I whisper, “Baby, can you wake up for me?”

  His eyelids flutter just a bit, and I can’t help but smile.

  “Harrison, it’s Siena,” I go on, “Please wake up.”

  With much effort, he manages to crack open his eyes, peering up at me in the bright fluorescent light.

  “Siena...Am I dreaming?” he asks groggily, “No...You’re not wearing a rubber nurse’s uniform and carrying a whip. This must be real life, after all.”

  “Always with the jokes, this one,” I say, brushing the blonde hair off his forehead and planting a kiss there. He winces a little as my lips brush the skin beside his cut.

  “Got a little banged up, I guess,” he says.

  “No kidding,” I reply, “Are you in a lot of pain?”

  “Not too much, actually. They’ve got me on pretty good painkillers. Hope I didn’t scare you too badly back there.”

  “I may have passed out for a minute,” I tell him, “It wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world to watch. But right now, I’m far more worried about you.”

  “You kidding?” he laughs, “I’ve been in bar fights that’ve messed me up more than this.”

  “Remind me never to frequent bars with you again,” I say dryly.

  “I hope that’s not a serious suggestion,” Harrison replies, “You know how much I enjoy taking you out on the town.”

  “I don’t know if it’s a real suggestion,” I tell him, taking his hand in mine, “Harrison, what happened this afternoon...it was my fault. It was all my fault.”

  “What do you mean, Siena?” he asks, “That’s crazy. How could it—?”

  “Enzo found out about us,” I say softly, “Someone sent him those pictures. He got them just before the race started. I found out too late to stop him. Honestly, baby, I tried to talk him out of racing. I knew he wouldn’t be able to control himself if you got too close. You have to know I did everything I could.”

  “Shit,” Harrison growls.

  “That’s why he went after you,” I tell him, “That’s why you both almost got killed. And he told my dad before I could stop him. I just came from talking to them both in his room.”

  “Your father knows too?” Harrison asks.

  I nod silently, letting the dire nature of our situation sink in.

  “They told you not to see me again,” Harrison says, “That’s it, isn’t it?”

  “That’s exactly it, yes,” I tell him.

  “And yet...here you are,” he continues, “So, what does that mean, Siena? What’s our next move here?”

  “It means that I’m...I’m at a loss,” I tell him, “I have no idea what I’m doing, Harrison. All I know is that today, the two people I care about most in the world were put in grave danger because I don’t know how to make a goddamn decision. And I’m not OK with that. This can’t go on, whatever feud there is between you and Enzo. But whatever I do next, I’m going to end up hurting someone I love. Hell, I’ve already done that. I’ve hurt all of you, everyone I care about. I just don’t understand why I keep fucking everything up. ”

  “Don’t say that,” Harrison says, resting his hand on my cheek, “You’re not some inconsiderate fuck up, Siena. You’re the most brilliant, compassionate, responsible person I’ve ever met. You live for the people you love, everyone can see that. Whatever you decide you want going forward, just remember—only you can decide what to do next. Not me. Not your brother or your father. It’s your life to lead.”

  “But Harrison,” I tell him, “The life I want to lead...is ours. Not just mine. I need you to help me, here. I need us to come to a decision together.”

  “Is that really what you want, Siena?”

  “Yes,” I tell him, “Like it or not, you’re on my team now. I need someone else to be on this crazy ride with me. And I need it to be you.”

  “I...I’m so glad...” Harrison trails off.

  “Is that how you feel too?” I ask, taking his big hand in mine, “Do you want to come at this together Harrison, as a team?”

  “It could ruin you, a scandal like this,” he says.

  “It could ruin you too,” I remind him, “But it could also be the one thing worth dashing our careers for. Don’t you think so?”

  “Oh, I certainly do think so,” Harrison grins, “I don’t quite know if I’m the get married and settle down type—”

  “I’m not asking you to be,” I tell him, “I’m not asking you to throw in the towel, resign, any of that. All I’m asking is that you stand beside me. Can you do that, Harrison?”

  “It’s all I’ve wanted to do from the start,” he says, “I’d be proud to be yours, Siena. Proud for the world to know.”

  “Well, that makes two of us,” I smile.

  “It’s going to hurt like a bitch when the rest of the world finds out,” Harrison tells me, stroking my hand with his thumb.

  “Not if we do it on our own terms,” I say hopefully.

  “Even then,” he insists, “The media can be ruthless. You know that. When my dad started to lose control of his life, they were merciless. I’m sure they’d give me the same treatment, should this get out of hand.”

  “Then we’ll make sure it doesn’t,” I tell him, leaning in close to his bedside. My curls fall down over my shoulders, brushing against the crisp white sheets.


  “And your family?” Harrison asks.

  “They have to learn to respect me as a person,” I insist, “It doesn’t surprise me that they’ve never learned, to be honest. I’ve never demanded it of them. I’ve always done what they’ve asked and required of me. I’ve never opposed them, never told them that they’re wrong. Of course they don’t know what to do with me, now that I’m standing up for what I really want. But they’ll learn. They have to learn. I just hope...I just hope it doesn’t come too late.”

  “For your father, you mean?” Harrison asks.

  “Yes,” I say softly, feeling the hot prick of salty tears once more, “If he passed away furious with me...I don’t know what I’d...”

  “Hey, hey—” Harrison says, reaching up to brush away my sudden tears, “That’s not going to happen, baby. Come here,” he says, patting the hospital bed beside him.

  “Really?” I laugh through crying.

  “Sure,” he says, “No better medicine than being in each other’s arms, right?”

  I kick off my race day boots and gingerly lower myself onto the bed beside Harrison. I settle into the crook of his arm, curling up against that hard chest of his. Even here, in this sterile and harsh setting, I can’t help but let my hands run over his firm pecs, his sculpted biceps. The power his body has over mine, that mine has over his, can’t be muted by even the most extreme circumstances. I rest my cheek against the tattooed skin of his breastplate, listening to his steady, even heartbeat.

  “It’s on me now,” he says, his chest vibrating with every word.

  “What do you mean?” I ask, throwing an arm across his defined abs.

  “You’ve done your part, trying to convince your family that I’m not a scumbag,” he goes on, “But from me, all they have is evidence to the contrary. I need to step up and be your partner in this. I’ve never let anyone fight my battles for me. Why should I start now?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.

  “If we want this to work, if we want your family to accept your being with me, then I need to show them who I really am. All your family knows of me is that I’m the son of an alcoholic asshole, a hot shot racer who came out of nowhere, and the guy who’s trying to take the championship from your brother and steal Ferrelli’s crown princess from under their noses.”

  “Watch who you’re calling princess,” I say.

  “You know what I mean,” he replies, “What I’m saying is that I need to...God, I hate to even say this out loud...I need to play nice with your brother, be the bigger man, no offense.”

  I let an uncomprehending laugh slip out of my mouth, “Do you honestly think you’re capable of that?” I ask.

  “For you, I would try anything,” Harrison tells me, “I have to go to your father and brother. I have to tell them, somehow, that I’m not what they see me as. They have to know that I’m a good person. Beneath the boozing and the smoking and the unfortunate chain of girlfriends in my wake is a man who wants to do the right thing. You can see that, Siena. Now I just need to make them see it, too.”

  “How do you plan on doing that?” I ask.

  “I managed to charm you, didn’t I?” he grins, “Maybe all the Ferrelli’s will be susceptible, in the end.”

  “You didn’t charm me, asshole,” I smile back, “You were just yourself. I fell in love with you, but that doesn’t mean I tripped.”

  “Tell me what I have to do to get them to like me,” Harrison urges, “Coach me. Help me to make them see.”

  “And then, once they’re convinced, we’ll go public?” I ask.

  “I think we’d better,” Harrison says, “But if your family’s already won over, it won’t be a scandal. It’ll be a human interest story.”

  “Harrison Davies, you are full of surprises,” I say, a broad grin spreading across my face, “You’re really willing to put on a happy face and make nice with my brother?”

  “I’ll do my best,” he says, “That’s all I can promise.”

  “Then that’s all I’ll ask,” I tell him, bringing my hand to his sharp, stubbly chin.

  He turns his head and plants his full lips against my palm. A snaking spark of sensation runs up my arm at once. Even the most chaste of kisses from Harrison sets me off. I turn my body toward his, pulling myself up until I’m looking straight into his gorgeous blue eyes. How I could ever tear this man from my life is beyond me.

  “I was afraid you’d died,” I whisper, pressing my forehead to his.

  “Are you kidding?” he says gruffly, circling his strong arms around me, “What business would I have dying with you here? I’ve only just found you, Siena. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I warn him.

  “Fair enough,” he says, “Then how’s this? I’ll love you for as long as I live. That’s something you can hold me to.”

  I haven’t a single word of reply for so huge a phrase. The only thing left to do is kiss him. I run my hands through his sandy blonde hair, making sure not to graze his stitched-up skin. Slowly, gently, I bring my lips to his. His mouth meets mine, and we connect as we have so many times before. How many kisses have we shared in our few short weeks together? Hundreds? Thousands? And each one feels distinct, new, revolutionary.

  A low groan rumbles through his chest as I let my tongue slide against his. The flavor of him dances across my taste buds, sending deep pangs of longing rippling through my core. I bear down, kissing him as deeply as I can.

  “Easy Siena,” he breathes, holding tightly onto my hips, “I’m a little bit busted up, remember.”

  “I’ll be careful,” I tell him, bringing my eager lips to his stubbly throat, “I promise. I just want to make you feel better.”

  I close my lips against his neck, and feel his fingers grip my hips even tighter. My eyes dart toward the hospital room door, but there’s no one to be seen. Andy promised to keep watch, after all. There’s no one here but Harrison and me.

  “Siena, what are you doing?” he asks as I slip under the hospital blanket beside him.

  “Just relax,” I tell him.

  “Will this hurt?” he asks, as I lay my hand against his thigh.

  “Maybe,” I tell him, letting my touch wander up along his leg.

  He keeps those brilliant blue eyes trained on me as my fingers brush against him, finally finding his manhood. I gasp as I feel that he’s grown hard just from kissing me. My fingers find their way around the surprising girth of him.

  “You're insatiable,” I whisper, nibbling on his earlobe. “Here you are in the hospital, and still you can’t wait to have me again.”

  “Can you blame me?” he groans, as I work my hand down the stiffening length of him.

  “Not at all,” I say, pivoting on the bed.

  I come to standing on my knees above him, keeping everything below our waists covered by the thick hospital blanket. But I don’t give up my grip on Harrison's manhood. I let my thumb glance against the tender of tip of him, feeling a shudder run through his entire body. His hands close around great fistfuls of bedding as I work him closer and closer to the edge.

  “Am I hurting you?” I ask breathlessly, tightening my grip ever-so-slightly.

  “Not at all,” he breathes, reaching for me.

  His hands have my jeans unbuttoned in record time, and I lean over him, steadying myself with one hand as the other strokes him with abandon. He slips his strong hand down the front of my jeans, pushing aside the thin fabric of my panties. I stifle a cry as his fingers move against the wetness of me, sliding up inside of me at once.

  We lock eyes as we send each other spinning up into the dizzying heights of bliss. I bring my lips to his once more, feeling his tongue slip into my mouth just as his fingers move within me. I want to feel as much of him as I can, everywhere.

  As if reading my thoughts, Harrison moves his hand away and yanks me toward him. I plant my hands above his shoulders on the bed as he pulls me against him. My eyes cl
ose blissfully as his manhood parts the silky flesh between my legs, driving up inside of me where I want so badly to feel him. I lean back, taking him even further inside of me. My fingers bury themselves in my hair as we move together, slowly and gently. I have to fight not to let myself get too revved up by every pass. We have to go easy on each other now. The forced evenness of our lovemaking only serves to turn me on even more. I would stay here for hours, if I could.

  I let my head fall backward as Harrison sinks deeper into me. Steadying myself on top of him, I force my eyes to focus. I have to keep my wits about me, even now. My gaze falls upon the far wall, just above the sink. For the briefest second my eyes linger there, and a bright, brief glare of light catches my attention. I can’t place the strange sight at first. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was...

  A camera flash.

  Chapter Twelve

  Getting Him Back

  I whip my head around wildly and freeze as my gaze locks onto the most unwelcome sight imaginable. There, framed in the narrow window of the hospital door, is a face I’ve never seen before: a young man, wearing a white coat and a broad grin, has a smart phone poised before the glass pane. The device is pointed straight at us, capturing Harrison and I in the act. For a moment, I’m too shocked to even move. I can’t take my eyes off the person who’s been making our lives a living hell for weeks. Stalking us. Setting us up to crash and burn.

  “Siena?” Harrison says, placing a hand on my waist, “Baby, what—?”

  Scrambling off of Harrison, I jab my finger toward the door. Harrison’s gaze follows, and his eyes turn to stone. I watch his strong jaw tighten furiously as he takes in the sight of our blackmailer, here in the flesh. I can feel his every muscle rallying, ready to go in pursuit of this horrible person. But I can’t let him do that.

  He’s just gone through a terrible wreck. His body is more fragile than it’s ever been, and any little strain could put him out of even more races. Right now, this is up to me. I press Harrison’s shoulders back against the bed, forcing him to sit down as best I can. It isn’t easy, given the white hot fury pulsing through his every ripped muscle. Hurrying to dress myself, I come to standing and square my shoulders.