Mind Games (Games Thriller Series)

by J. E. Taylor

  Jessica nodded. “We knew that would happen.”

  “Talking about it and seeing it are two very different things,” Chris said and ran his hand through his wet hair.

  “You saved me.” She took another step toward him.

  He took a step backwards. “You need to go,” he said and the need to take her in his arms became unbearable.

  Jessica took another step toward him, pulling the straps of her sundress, untying them and letting it fall to the floor. She smiled.

  “Jess,” he whispered staring at her perfect body and a burst of pent up energy escaped. The bedroom door slammed closed, making her jump. He stepped back into his nightstand. “You don’t understand,” he pleaded.

  “Enlighten me,” she said again, taking another step closer.

  “If...if...” Chris stuttered as she stopped in front of him.

  “If what?” she said, placing her hand on the one that held the towel.

  “Jess, if...” He closed his eyes and she kissed his chest. “Jess, I won’t be able to let you go,” he said with his eyes closed. “Not again.” He opened his eyes and looked down at her. “If we do this...” he trailed off and she pulled the towel away.

  “I want you,” she whispered looking up into his eyes.

  His resolve melted away.

  “Don’t you want me?” She pouted and knelt in front of him, slipping his hard cock into her mouth.

  He sat back on the nightstand, and gripped the edges with his hands, his breath coming in short bursts. “Jessie,” he whispered as she sucked him gently. “Jessie.” He closed his eyes and ran his hands into her hair, pulling her away from him and up onto her feet. Trembling, he leaned over and kissed her.

  He broke the kiss and looked into her eyes, searching as the passion threatened to sweep him away. “I would give my life to be with you.” Chris ran his fingers over her lips. “But you need to know, if we do this, I will never let you go.” He paused for his words to sink in. “Tom can’t have you back, even if he wants you, there is no going back after this.” He looked at her intensely. “Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I do understand. Do you?” She ran her hands up his chest.

  He smiled a little. “Enlighten me,” he whispered giving in to her completely.

  “I’m here. I made my choice. Now make love to me.” She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

  “Say it,” he whispered, pulling away from her lips.

  “I love you...Chris.”

  His heart soared and he smiled. “About that miracle...” He placed his hand on her lower abdomen. “You are carrying my child,” Chris whispered.

  Her hand flew to her mouth and then she flew into his arms, squeezing him in a hug that expressed her outpouring of joy.

  He picked her up in his arms and lay her down on the bed, making love to her slowly with his hands and mouth, savoring every inch of her as she whispered his name over and over and over again.

  “I love you,” he whispered and finally slid his aching shaft inside her.

  Epilogue

  Chris pulled up to the studio and glanced at Jessica. She covered her mouth for a second, willing back the nausea. He smiled. “CJ causing trouble today?”

  “CJ?” she said from behind her hand.

  “I’d like to name my child after Chris.” He looked down at his hands and then over at her. “I figure if it’s a boy, we can name him Christopher James, if it’s a girl, Christina Jo. Either way we can call the baby CJ. What do you think?”

  She smiled. “I like that,” she agreed. She hadn’t said much since he picked her up at the doctor’s office. “I’m carrying twins, Chris. I wish you had been there to see them with me.”

  “Oh, babe.” He slowly smiled and put his hand on her stomach. No wonder she popped early. “I thought it was just a routine visit this time?”

  She nodded. “It was supposed to be, but when he saw the size of my belly, he decided to do a quick ultrasound to make sure things were ok. The babies aren’t identical twins. Each one is in their own little amniotic sack. It was amazing to see their heartbeats on the monitor.” She smiled again; she knew what they were having.

  He lifted his eyebrows. “Are you going to tell me?”

  “Boys. We are going to have two boys.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “Did you have another name in mind?”

  “What about calling him Ty?”

  Chris shook his head. “No. I want that name behind us.”

  “Okay, then how about Thomas Patrick?”

  Chris tried not to wince visibly but didn’t say anything. “We could always name him John Patrick.” Chris joked knowing she was a big Tom Clancy fan. He got out, grabbing the umbrella and walking over to help her out of the car.

  “Very funny.” She smiled as the late August wind blew their jackets around them and they ran into the studio together to get out of the rain. “CJ and Tommy, I like those names,” she said and the door closed behind them.

  * * * *

  Tom watched from across the street in the rental car. He looked down at the divorce papers and took a deep breath. This was going to be more difficult than he thought; he hadn’t seen her since that evening in New York when he asked her to leave. With a sigh, he put the papers in his jacket and pulled his car into the lot, stepping out into the cool August rain.

  Chris froze with the hanger halfway to the rack when Tom entered. Tom felt the blood drain from his face as he looked at her protruding belly, his jaw going slack and the papers in his hand momentarily forgotten.

  “What are you doing here, Tom?” Jessica asked, causing both Tom and Chris to snap out of their momentary paralysis.

  Chris finished hanging up the jackets and walked behind Jessica.

  “Divorce papers,” he said as he held them up. “How?” He nodded toward her and licked his lips. “How far along are you?”

  “I’m in my fifteenth week,” she said. “Twins, go figure.” She smiled and shrugged as she felt Chris put his hands gently on her shoulders.

  Tom did the math in his head and stared at her. She was pale but radiant at the same time and he still felt that overwhelming pull, wanting her. He looked at the papers and back at her as the timeline clicked. “New York?” he gasped.

  “I assume you want me to sign those.” She pointed at the papers, ignoring his question.

  Tom looked at the papers again and went to hand them to her and hesitated. “Was it New York?” he asked again as the realization set in. He pulled his hand back. “You mean to tell me, they could be mine?”

  “No, they aren’t,” Chris spoke for the first time since Tom had come in.

  “Chris,” Jessica turned. “Do you mind? I’d like to talk to Tom alone.” She smiled a little at him. She saw a measure of uncertainty in his eyes as he nodded and walked away.

  “Tom,” she sighed and turned back to him, putting her hand out for the paper.

  “Could they be mine?”

  “I made my choice, Tom, so this conversation is irrelevant.” She put her hand out for the papers.

  He slowly handed them to her. “If...” he started to say and stopped.

  Jessica took the papers out of his hand and walked over to the counter, reaching for a pen. She signed all the entries on each designated page. She turned, handing him their signed divorce decree. “I understand you’re getting married,” she said bitterly as he took the papers.

  Tom closed his eyes and took a deep breath, nodding. It was splashed all over the tabloids and had been since Sharon began blackmailing him. “Are you carrying my child?” he asked again and looked down at her.

  “No, they aren’t yours, Tom,” she replied and kept eye contact. She knew one of them wasn’t because Chris had told her what he had done. But the second child, she wasn’t so sure about.

  Tom looked at the signed papers and then back at her. “I still love you,” he said quietly and leaned over, kissing her cheek. “Be safe, Jess,” he said, looking beyond her
at Chris who was watching them from the doorway to the office.

  Keep her safe, Chris, he thought and saw Chris nod in response.

  He turned to leave. “Goodbye,” he said over his shoulder as he went.

  “Goodbye, Tom,” she said. The sadness in her voice caused him to glance back.

  The last view he had of her before the door closed was a tear slowly sliding down her cheek and then she turned away, forever.

  The End

  ABOUT J.E. TAYLOR

  J.E. Taylor is a writer, a publisher, an editor, a manuscript formatter, a mother, a wife and a business analyst, not necessarily in that order. She first sat down to seriously write in February of 2007 after her daughter asked:

  “Mom, if you could do anything, what would you do?”

  From that moment on, she hasn’t looked back and now her writing résumé includes more than half a dozen published novels along with several short stories on the virtual shelves including a few within eXcessica anthologies.

  In addition to being co-owner of Novel Concept Publishing (www.novelconceptpublishing.com), Ms. Taylor also moonlights as a Senior Editor of Allegory (www.allegoryezine.com), an online venue for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. She has been known to edit a book or two and also offers her services judging writing contests for various RWA chapters.

  She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children and during the summer months enjoys her weekends on the shore in southern Maine.

  Visit her at www.jetaylor75.com

  If you liked MIND GAMES, you might also enjoy the other titles in the Games Series, also available in a boxed set:

  SURVIVAL GAMES (Book 1):

  Until he snatches sexy stock jock Jessica Connor, Ty Aris happily followed his stepbrother’s orders, producing some of the most coveted black market porn and snuff films on the street. But the day he grabs her in the parking lot, his life becomes a living nightmare.

  Jessica foils his plans, fires his passion, and frustrates the hell out of him. She never gives in to his demands, his pleas, or his desires, and yet a psychic bond claims his soul and melts the iron walls around his heart. His obsession sparks a fierce rift when Frank wants to start filming. Ty stalls with any and every excuse in the book, fueling Frank’s fury, but he knows it’s only a matter of time before he loses this game.

  With the clock ticking, he scrambles for escape options.

  Options that won’t land him in jail... or worse... a captive in Frank’s sadistic prison.

  “I rarely write a review, but this one kept me up nights. Nightmarishly delicious without a hint of shying away from the seductively scrumptious flavor from one page to the next. Horror, torture, hate, fear, and sensuality. This story has a little bit of everything in it with the grim intensity of eliciting these emotions in the reader.” Amazon 5 Star Review by Anna

  “I was a little hesitant getting this trilogy. I read all the time - Grisham, Koontz, Clancy, and many more authors. After reading the reviews, I decided I would give the books a try, partly because of the price for all three books. I was blown away! You definitely have to keep an open mind but loving and hating the villain is something that is impossible for an author to do. You want them caught, prosecuted - no matter what catch them - but the author made me hate him, love him, cry for him even laugh out loud. I couldn't put it down until I was finished with all three. If you don't read these books it's a loss - very much a page turner.” Amazon 5 Star Review by Hard To Please for the Games Trilogy(Survival Games, Mind Games and End Game).

  This book is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.

  MIND GAMES (Book 2):

  Chris Ryan doesn’t understand why he’s alive. By all accounts he should have died in the prison he and his step-brother created. Dying screams and the ring of gunshots still haunt his dreams and to make matters worse, five years hasn’t erased his passion for Jessica Connor.

  She left him bleeding on the cold concrete floor, escaping the prison that held her for close to a year. Semi-conscious and close to death, his gaze fell on an apparition of her son and white light filled his skin, healing his wounds and giving him a second chance... and to this day that power still rages within him.

  Haunting visions of her daughter’s death drive him out of hiding and he shows up at her doorstep with the intent of giving her the power he safeguarded all these years. But his good intentions fall short when they realize he led the vengeful spirit of his step-brother straight to her.

  Cancer is no longer their biggest worry, now Chris and Jessica must battle a ghost hell bent on destroying all of them.

  This book is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.

  END GAME (Book 3):

  Chris Ryan has everything he's ever dreamed of: the love of a beautiful woman, two amazing children, an obscene amount of money and mystical powers beyond his wildest dreams.

  His perfectly planned Valentine’s Day proposal hits a speed bump when Jessica receives a call from her ex-husband and agrees to attend the premier of his movie in New York City. A movie Chris isn’t so sure he wants to see, especially on the same night as his wedding.

  Sharing the spotlight with her ex becomes the least of his concerns when three thousand miles away on the sunny coast of California, a scorned woman activates a contract on Jessica.

  He lands in the cross hairs between an endless trail of assassins and his wife, fending them off and vowing revenge on the crazy bitch who set them loose. But his valiant efforts crumble in a near fatal hit, leaving him on the brink.

  In the dark plane between life and death, Chris is given a choice: Save his family or save his soul.

  This book is for sale to Adult Audiences Only. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes, graphic language, and violence that may be considered offensive by some readers.

  Coming Soon – Fallen – the Prequel to the Games Series

  Ty Ryan’s downward spiral started the day his mother met Jacob Aris.

  An unexpected romance between the emergency room nurse and the multi-billionaire plunges Ty into the wealthy world of entitlement, secrets and lies.

  When tragedy strikes, leaving Ty and his siblings at the mercy of Jacob Aris, Ty is powerless to defend against the old man’s rage. Each random beating chips away at Ty’s sanity, leaving him vulnerable to his stepbrother’s master manipulation.

  If you liked THE GAMES TRILOGY, you might like the Steve Williams Series (available in a full boxed set as well as individual titles):

  DARK RECKONING (Book 1):

  A sadistic killer stalks the secluded college town of Brooksfield, New Hampshire. With bodies piling up and rumors of the murders being part of sacrificial hazing rituals, the FBI plants Special Agent Steve Williams in a fraternity at Brooksfield University. His investigation takes a ninety degree turn into the bizarre when he’s introduced to Jennifer, a clairvoyant co-ed who swears the killer isn’t human.

  Steve considers the plausibility of the extraordinary, the unspeakable, even the inconceivable, when his notebook starts bleeding cryptic messages. Messages that indicate Jennifer is at the heart of the darkness in Brooksfield.

  When she describes her latest vision, a trail of violent deaths, including his, Steve asks the million-dollar question:

  Is Jennifer trying to help... or is she actually the one responsible?

  “J E Taylor writes a thrilling and engaging paranormal horror, “DARK RECKONING”. The absorbing, fluid plot builds slowly towards its divergent terror-driven climax. I do love a great horror story, so I’m adding this beauty to my ebook collection. Marking it for a repeat read too.” Pamela Jenewein – Romance At Heart Reviews

  "J.E. Taylor has penned a tale of terror worthy of Lovecraft. The strong characters, edgy atmosphere, and unflinching narrative
hooked me from the first and kept me riveted all the way through to its horrifying conclusion - a solid piece of storytelling!" Ty Drago, Editor of Allegory and author of PHOBOS

  “I loved DARK RECKONING - always had a soft spot for demon type horror/thrillers and this is fabulous. Just the right mix of terror and calm so I didn't have a heart attack while reading but came close! Excellent read for anyone who loves horror and a good love story.” Cat Connor author of killerbyte and terrorbyte

  VENGEANCE (Book 2):

  Living large in New York City as a corporate lawyer for the most savvy drug lord on the East Coast, Special Agent Steve Williams carefully plots Charlie Wisnowski's downfall. His plans go to hell when his wife Jennifer survives an attack by a serial killer. With her life in jeopardy and his undercover guise threatening to unravel, he orders Charlie’s arrest. But the sting goes woefully wrong and Steve becomes the target of a mafia assassin hired by the biggest crime boss in America.

  Escaping from the city, Steve and Jennifer settle back into their quiet life on the banks of Mirror Lake. Their peaceful existence shatters with a crippling loss and Jennifer’s visions escalate, forecasting a brutal assault on their family.

  Armed with scant details from her dreams, Steve trudges through a litany of past connections, searching for the key to stop the course of fate.