The Tower (The Tarot Series Book 1)

by Rhylee Davidson

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kat stirs as her senses spring to life. Her ears fill with the gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore and a seagull’s musical call. From an open doorway, a gentle breeze washes over her bare skin and the smell of salt water hangs heavy in the air. Eyes still closed, she stretches her long limbs, thinking to herself, How I love living on the beach. Her skin prickles with goose flesh, and the white hot spark of electricity crackles in the air as she opens her eyes to find Gage, propped up on one elbow, staring down at her. His long, lean, muscular, and very naked body is stretched out beside her, and his index finger teases and tempts as it glides down the full length of her body. She shivers at his touch, and smiles up at him.

  “Good morning,” she manages in soft a whisper.

  In one fluid motion, Gage dips his head to press his soft lips to hers in what starts out as a slow gentle kiss, but quickly ignites into a frantic taking of her mouth, and mingling of tongues. Capturing his bottom lip, she gently grazes it with her teeth before suckling it slowly. Running her fingers through his hair and lacing them at the base of his neck, she draws him closer, drinking him in.

  “Morning. God, I want you again so badly, Katrina.”

  Inside, she grows heavy with desire. Pulling him on top of her, she seductively teases, “I’m right here. Take me.”

  Leaning in and kissing her, he groans, “Don’t tempt me.”

  “What’s stopping you?”

  “It’s noon. I’d like nothing more than to stay here with you in bed for the rest of the day, but I need to take care of a few things before I head back in to work. Unfortunately, the club doesn’t run itself and I gave one of the bartenders the night off. So tonight, I’m filling in.”

  “Well, you must be starving. I know I am. Can you stay long enough for me to fix some coffee and eggs?”

  “No, I can’t, but I made you some coffee. It’s on the nightstand. I don’t know how you take it, so I left it black so you can fix it the way you like it. I also left you my number so you know how to get ahold of me.”

  Getting off the bed, he picks his jeans up off the floor, slides them over his long legs and tight ass, buttons them up, and buckles his belt. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he puts on his shoes, then turns and leans over, kissing her senseless.

  Throwing his shirt over his shoulder, he stands up and looks down at her. “You are beautiful. Are you going to come into the club tonight?”

  “And run the risk of pissing off the owner and getting thrown out again?” she asks with a smile on her face. “No, not a chance. Besides, you’ll be busy behind the bar.”

  As she starts to rise and climb out of bed, Gage instructs, “Don’t get up. I can find my way out.”

  “I have to get up anyway. I need to walk Max. It’s so late in the day he must be walking around with his legs crossed.”

  “Lie back down, I already took care of it. He got me up earlier. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake you, so I walked him before he could get you up.”

  Kat is shocked and surprised by his kindness. “Thank you.” Leaning over to give her one last kiss, he says his goodbyes and walks out the door.

  While Katrina lays in bed listening to Gage start his bike and ride away, she thinks through the night’s events. How did she end up sleeping with Gage? And not just one time, but several times throughout the night. She doesn’t know how she feels about what she’s done. The sexual tension between them is almost tangible. The sex is incredible and when they are together, neither of them can keep their hands off the other. He is unpredictable — exciting, but unpredictable. Does she have feelings for him? Besides animal attraction, rage, jealousy, and lust that is…that answer, she doesn’t know. And what about Tony? She has feelings for him. Tony is kind, gentle, giving, sexy, a passionate man. And also her best friend’s brother.

  Oh great, what am I going to do? I love Tony. I love him as a friend, as a man, and as a lover. Is it more than that? Am I in love with him? I don’t know! And what about Gage? I can’t say I feel the same way about him, but then I don’t really know him and I’ve known Tony since we were kids. Oh god, what have I done? I just made my life complicated. After years of not being with anyone, not being able to get over losing Derrick, I have two men in my life. And slept with both of them. Oh yeah, I’m fucking brilliant. And what’s worse? I feel something for both of them. I can’t breathe, I feel like I’m drowning. I was supposed to change my life, rebuild it, become a new Katrina, no not Katrina, become Kat, whoever she is. I’m supposed to live for myself, not answer to anyone. Do what I want to do and damn the consequences. Then why am I in my own head again, stressing? Because right now, you’re being the old Katrina. The one who analyzes every little thing. The one who lives too much in her head. The one who needs a damn shrink…oh get a grip! I…am…not…that…person…any…more! I have my freedom now. Remember that.

  Oh fuck it! I’m going to do what I want. What makes me feel good, what makes me happy! And whoever can’t deal with it can step off.

  Feeling better after the psychobabble she just ran through in her head, Kat gets up and hits the shower. She lets her hair dry naturally, and throws on a bathing suit. Picking up her cell, she dials Tony and invites him over for a day of sun and fun.

  When Tony arrives and knocks on the door, Kat runs to the upstairs railing and hollers down, “It’s open, come on in.”

  Stepping inside, he can hear Kat in the bedroom.

  “I’m upstairs. Come up while I finish getting ready.”

  Entering her room, he stops in the doorway and leans seductively on the doorframe, watching her apply a pale shade of peach lipstick to her perfectly shaped, full lips. Walking to her dresser, she grabs a thin t-shirt out of a drawer, slips it over her head and lets it gently glide down her body, where it stops just below her hips. When she turns around, Tony is there, taking her in his arms while passionately kissing her. Reaching up, she runs her fingers through his hair and pulls him closer. When they finally separate, Kat has to catch her breath.

  “What was that for?”

  “I just can’t take my eyes off you. You’re so beautiful, I just had to touch you. Do you mind?”

  “No,” her words are a mere whisper. “I’ll be ready in a minute. I have something fun planned for us today, okay?”

  “I’m always ready for fun.”

  Backing up slightly, Tony takes his first real view of the room. It was still beautifully decorated in pale creams and blues, but it was also a mess compared to the last time he was up here. Her clothes were either strewn about, or dropped oddly by the wall. Her bed was in shambles, a top sheet missing, blankets and pillows all over the floor, and near the bottom of the bed was a man’s black leather bike jacket. He’d seen that jacket before at the track, with its red and gray design work and the word, Ducati, stitched through it in white. Damn. She’s been with him.

  Kat reenters the room from her walk-in closet with a beach bag in hand. She smiles up at Tony, but before she can speak, he dips his head and kisses her as if it might be the last time. She immediately responds, letting a small moan escape her throat. He breaks the kiss and rests his forehead on hers. They were so close; face to face, eye to eye. “Are you alright after last night? Did he hurt you?” he asks gently.

  A slight sadness moves through her crystal blue eyes as she realizes he knows. “He didn’t hurt me. I’m fine. I promise. Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. I can handle it, Kat,” is all he says. Nothing more is mentioned of the night before. Instead, they put it behind them.

  “Come on, let’s take my new toy out.” Kat’s eyes sparkle with her surprise.

  “Toy? What toy?”

  “I bought a boat.” Tony just grins at her, shaking his head. “I haven’t had it on the water since it was delivered and today’s a perfect day for it.”

  They walk across the street and open the gate to her dock. At the end sits a brand new, twenty-nine foot Baja 278 P
erformance speedboat in blue, silver, black, and white. It may have been impulsive, but it was the first thing she ordered when she got into town. She had even named it. Seas the Day is scrawled down each side and the name represented her new motto in life. Kat loves her new boat. It is magnificent.

  “Damn Kat, she’s awesome.”

  “Thanks! Come on!” Like a little kid at Christmas, Kat runs down the dock with Tony on her heels. Lowering the boat into the water, they remove the cover, tie it to the dock, and disconnect it from the davits. Grabbing the cooler and climbing aboard, Tony unties it from the dock as Kat gets it started, and off they go.

  Cruising along the Intracoastal for miles, they navigate out of the channel and open it up to see what she can do. The boat was built for speed and it flies through the water like a rocket. With their hair blowing as the wind whips across their bodies, and the hot sun beating down on them, the feeling of freedom courses through Kat’s veins. It is a perfect day and she feels exhilarated, happy, free, and alive — more alive than she’s ever felt in her entire life. She shuts the engine down before they get stopped by the Marine Patrol, and they find a nice spot off of Egmont Key, anchoring there.

  Opening the cooler and tossing Tony a drink, Kat shouts, “Heads up!” He catches the beer in his hand, pops the top, and takes a long pull.

  “That hits the spot.”

  “Yup, works for me. Now you have to admit…this is the life. Let’s get some sun and then we can go bar hopping later. Whatddya say?”

  “Whatever you want, Kat. I’m up for it.”

  “Great! Come over here and lay next to me. I have some sunscreen so we don’t get too fried.”

  Kat squeezes a handful of sunscreen into her hand and begins smoothing it over her face, neck, down her arms, her chest and stomach, and finally her legs, making sure not to miss a spot on her front side so she doesn’t end up looking like striped wallpaper when they return home. Holding out the bottle of lotion, she shakes it at Tony, “Want some?”

  Raising a brow and giving her a seductive sideways grin, he smirks, “Now that’s a loaded question. Yeah, I want some.”

  Kat giggles. “Just take the sunscreen, silly.”

  “Well, I can’t help myself. Watching you rub that lotion all over your body makes me feel like Squints from the Sandlot movie. Ya know, the pool scene where he’s staring up at Wendy Peffercorn, the lifeguard and says: ’I’ve been coming here every summer of my adult life, and every summer there she is oiling and lotioning, lotioning and oiling…I can’t take it anymore!’” Both are laughing now as he continues, “Well Kat, that’s exactly how I feel. I can’t take it anymore.” Leaning over, he kisses her.

  After a few hours of sunning themselves on the boat, it is time to take a swim out to the island to explore. Once there, they spend time holding hands and visiting the remains of the old fort, the Battery McIntosh, walking along the historic tails, and following the brick covered road that leads to the 1850’s style lighthouse. Before returning to Seas the Day, Kat spends time skirting the edge of the shore gathering seashells, while Tony sits back, admiring her. When they decide it is time to head back, they make plans to take the boat to a waterfront restaurant to grab a bite to eat, then spend the rest of the day doing a little bar hopping.

  Docking in Sarasota at Marina Jack, they hit the Deep Six Lounge & Patio Bar. They order raw oysters, steamed prawn, and a pitcher of beer. Thoroughly enjoying themselves, they take their time eating, drinking, and relaxing at the bar. But, just as they are heading down the dock to leave for their next stop, a little beach bar on Siesta Key, a tall blonde stops them before they board the boat.

  “Excuse me. Is she yours?” the blonde asks as she stares at Tony.

  Turning towards Kat, he smiles, gives her a sly look, then turns back to the blonde.

  “Oh, she’s mine, but the boat’s hers.”

  Kat rolls her eyes and smiles. Addressing the blonde, “Yeah, the boat’s mine.”

  “It’s a beautiful boat. A Baja, right?”

  “Right! It’s the 278 Performance.”

  “Well, I’ve been looking at different boats to buy and I haven’t seen the Bajas in person yet. I just received the catalog I ordered off their website. It’s definitely a beautiful looking boat, do you mind if I ask how it runs?”

  “Not at all. Actually, I just bought the boat and this is her maiden voyage. We opened her up a little while ago. She runs great…and fast, she’s beyond fast. Best decision I’ve made. I love it. What do you think, Tony?”

  “Have to agree, she’s awesome and I love her,” he says as he winks at Kat, never breaking eye contact.

  Kat shakes her head, smiling and mouthing to Tony, “What’s up with you?” He just grins and gives her a smoldering look.

  “That’s great. I’ll have to check them out in person, then.” Extending her hand to Kat she says, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m being rude. I’m Taylor.”

  “Hi Taylor. I’m Kat and this is Tony,” she answers, shaking her hand in return. Suddenly, like she’s being sucked into a vortex, Kat’s skin turns pale. Head spinning, she becomes lightheaded and is overcome by a wave of nausea. Totally off balance, she drops Taylor’s hand and starts sliding to the ground. Before she hits bottom, Tony is there to catch her.

  “Kat, baby, are you okay? What’s wrong? Talk to me, sweetheart,” he exclaims, cradling her in his lap.

  “I’m alright. I just got a little dizzy.” Taking a few deep breaths to clear her head, she turns to Tony and smiles up at him. “I feel better, help me up? I think I can stand now.”

  “Alright.” Tony stands and picks Kat up in his arms. He gently places her down on both feet, but doesn’t let go of her. He keeps an arm around her waist to steady her. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good. Really.”

  “Is there anything I can get for you?” inquires Taylor.

  “No thanks. This is so embarrassing. I don’t know what came over me. I guess I spent too much time in the sun, combined with too much to drink. Never a good mix.”

  “Well, I won’t keep you. Get some rest. Hope you feel better.”

  “Thanks.”

  Taylor nods to both of them and walks away.

  Tony helps Kat into the boat. “Sit, I’ll get us out of here, but first,” he hands her a bottled water from the cooler, “drink this. You might be a bit dehydrated.” Kat gratefully takes the water from Tony and drinks it down.

  “Are you sure you’re alright?”

  “Yes, I feel great right now. I don’t know what happened. I was perfectly fine, then out of the blue, the dock started spinning and I felt nauseated. As quickly as it started, it subsided. I really do feel fine, so let’s get out of here. I’m still up for a good time.”

  Tony maneuvers the boat away from the dock and out into open water. Kat stands up, and walks over behind him, slipping her arms around his waist. Standing on her tippy toes, she whispers in his ear, “So, where did that come from?”

  “What, you almost hitting the deck or the blonde? Beats me.”

  “No, not me, and not the blonde. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

  Taking her arms and moving her so she is in front of him, he leans in and gives her a peck on cheek, then on the lips. “What? You mean this?” He kisses her again, more deeply, “What can I say, I like the boat a lot Kat, I just like you more.” Katrina blushes and kisses him back.

  Instead of heading to the next beach bar, Tony anchors the boat when they are about fifteen minutes from Kat’s house. Grabbing them each another drink out of the cooler, he takes Kat’s hand and leads her to the bench seat at the back of the boat where they sit together. Placing his arms around her, they watch the sun slowly dropping into the Gulf on the horizon as it begins to set.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gage awakens in the early predawn hours, restless with his mind on Kat. He’d invited her to come into the club while he worked the bar last night. She’d refused, stating he would be bus
y and she didn’t want to piss him off again. He watched for her all night, hoping she would change her mind and come in anyway. She didn’t.

  His thoughts drift to the night they spent together. Memories of their bodies intertwined, slick with sweat, and how perfectly they fit together keep playing over and over in his head. The way they react to each other is almost frightening. It is like getting caught out in the open during a summer thunderstorm and being struck by lightning. There is nothing you can do to outrun it, and once struck, all you can do is feel the burn.

  He feels out of control when she is around. He doesn’t even recognize himself. His base instincts and desires seem to have control over him when she is near and he doesn’t like it. In my line of work, I can’t afford to be out of control…ever! The way she yields to him, the things she lets him do to her; the way her skin feels and her body reacts to his touch is almost more than he can bear.

  Now, not only restless, but sexually frustrated, Gage gets up, throws on a pair of sweats, an Under Armour shirt, socks, and a pair of Nike running shoes, and heads out for a run. At five in the morning, the sky is still dark. He wants to change, to run as an animal, a panther, but doesn’t, since the sun will be coming up before he returns. The air is heavy with moisture; dew clings to each blade of grass and to the leaves of the trees and shrubs that keep his property hidden from passersby on the street.

  Gage begins his run along the centuries-old, red-bricked road that weaves its way in front of his property. He follows the uneven brick for miles until it stops and melds with the modern streets of ugly asphalt. As if proving the city is coming to life, he inhales, capturing the scents of freshly baked bread and cake as he runs past the historic bakery and little specialty shops that line his route. The sun now up, he returns home only after he’s run just over six miles.

  Dripping with sweat, he grabs a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and walks down the hall, stripping off his damp clothes. Turning on the shower, he steps inside. Gage had hoped that the long run would take his mind off of Katrina. It hasn’t. Standing beneath the steady stream of hot water as it caresses his body, his mind goes right back to their night together. They had showered together after making love in the ocean and on the sand. He’d used his bare hands to soap and lather her body, and she’d happily returned the favor. Touching turned to probing, then tasting, and finally fucking. Gage had picked her up and she’d wrapped her lithe legs around his waist as she slid all the way down on his long, hard cock, letting it fill her. Christ, now I can’t even take a shower without getting a hard on…Reaching for the hot water control, he turns it completely off and finishes his shower under a stream of cold water.