Page 17

Taylor

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I’m not completely drunk. I feel a little buzzed, that’s all—not enough to lose consciousness or fail to sense every cell in my body springing to life when, five minutes later, I see William walking toward me.

Unlike every other time we’ve met, he’s not wearing a suit. He’s dressed all in black—shirt, pants, and shoes—and he looks even sexier than usual.

I really must be out of my mind to think I have any chance with a man like that. Especially since, right now, every delicious muscle of his, as well as his eyes, are giving off a vibe of pure danger.

“You came,” I say breathlessly when he pulls me by the waist against his rigid body. I doubt there’s a single ounce of extra fat on him. He’s hard and well-defined, like concrete.

“Why’d you drink?” he growls into my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“I could say it’s none of your business. But the truth is I’ve missed you, although that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how things ended last time.”

“Don’t tease me, Taylor.”

“I’m not teasing. I’m angry with you.”

“I know. But you still want me, or else you wouldn’t have told me where you were. You knew I’d hunt you down.”

Hunt me. Yes, I want that. Hunt me, Mr. Delicious.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“How much did you drink, Taylor?”

“One cocktail. But I’m a lightweight.”

“You know who I am?”

“Yes, I do, Dr. William Randolph Marshall the fourth .”

He pulls back just enough to see me properly. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll take you home.”

“Oh no you don’t. If you just came here to ruin my night, you can turn around and leave. Jackie said she’d wait for me on the dance floor if you acted like a jerk.”

“Who’s Jackie?”

“My friend. She’s having fun, and she told me I could go back to her if you didn’t treat me right. But for the record, you moved up in her estimation by coming after me,” I finish, laughing.

He steps in closer, and I feel a wall behind me. “You wouldn’t find my showing up so amusing if you knew I intended to seduce you.”

My heart pounds even harder. “Seduce me? There’s nothing between us. You don’t trust me. You hinted that I let your father come on to me.”

“I don’t trust anyone but Maryann, so it’s nothing against you specifically.”

I both hate and admire his candor. “But you still want me,” I say, basically echoing his words.

He lowers his head and grazes my earlobe with his teeth. “I want you like I’ve never wanted another woman. But when I do finally eat you up, you’ll be sober. You’ll remember it—and more importantly, you’ll feel every inch of my cock claiming you.”

A delicious pressure builds deep in my lower belly, and I clamp my thighs together in an effort to keep some control. Otherwise, I might end up jumping into his arms. “For someone so powerful, you’ve got a filthy mouth.”

“For someone so young, you enjoy my filthy mouth—or you wouldn’t be squeezing your thighs together. You’re dying of desire.”

I lick my lips, feeling like I’m parched. I know it’s not from the alcohol I drank—I’m thirsty for him.

“Go on. Do what you want to do,” he says.

“I don’t want to do anything.”

“You’re a lying drunk.”

“I’m not drunk. Not really.”

“But you are lying.”

I shrug, pretending his warm breath and intense gaze aren’t making me soaking wet between my legs. “You do kiss well. It was the best kiss I’ve ever had, but that’s not saying much,” I lie.

“Not saying much? You’re hungry for me too, Taylor,” he whispers, pressing his lips to mine. “You really want my tongue inside you.”

Good Lord, this man has a gift for making me think dirty thoughts.

He doesn’t wait for my answer and lightly licks my mouth.

The softness and heat of his lips make me surrender in the blink of an eye. I part mine, and when I feel his tongue teasing mine, I let out a sigh and give in completely.

William’s kiss isn’t the harsh kind; it’s seductive. Possessive and firm. As dominant as he is in every other way.

Everything his tongue does in this simple kiss has me moaning, wanting more—wanting everything.

I stand on my tiptoes and grip his hair, showing him the only way I know how just how affected I am, that I wouldn’t deny him anything at this moment.

I feel feverish, silently praying he won’t stop kissing me. But then someone bumps into him, sending his body crashing into mine, and he breaks our connection.

“Come on, let’s go upstairs,” he says.

“I thought you wanted to leave.”

“You want to have fun. I’ll give you that, but you’re going home with me afterward.”

“You said you wouldn’t do anything to me while I’m drunk.”

“No, I said I wouldn’t fuck you drunk. But you want to have fun, and it won’t be with anyone but me. Then I’m taking you home with me.”

I should tell him to go to hell for all this arrogance, considering how he acted like a jerk the last time we were together at his grandmother’s house, but he’s taken a step toward making up for it by coming here after me. So I decide to cut him some slack too.

“I’m going home tomorrow morning,” I say as he starts walking with me, his hand resting just above my butt to guide me—probably toward the VIP lounge he mentioned.

“We’ll see.”

“You’re awfully sure of yourself.”

“I’m not a kid, and I don’t like games. You can tell me what you want right now.”

“And then what?”

“I’ll stick to the plan: you’ll have your fun tonight, and then I’ll have my driver take you home.”

“You’ll stop hunting me?”

“Not until I get what I want.”

“My body.”

“You.”

I know I have to make a decision. For a few seconds, I weigh both options.

I’m twenty-three, with little experience. Maybe someday I’ll meet the love of my life—or maybe not. I don’t want to look back and forever regret missing my chance to be with the only man who’s ever made me feel like this.

Still, I have to keep my guard up so I don’t fall too fast.

A crush? Okay. But love?

No, that’s out of the question.