Addiction (11 page)

I nod. “Give me a second.” I step into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I need a minute to calm myself before I have to get in my car with her brother.

“Shit!” I curse softly as I place my hands on her sink and drop my head. I am so fucking hard right now after seeing her flawless body. I knew I should have had Blane come to me at the club, but when he asked me if I wanted to pick him up at his house, I couldn’t resist. The urge to see Taylor again was too great to turn down.

Now, I have a hard cock, and my mind is in the gutter. I take a deep breath to calm myself, but it just makes my desire for her harder to tame as the scent of vanilla fills my nose.

My cock twitches and I close my eyes. I see her standing in front of me; she’s naked and her body is trembling with my hands on her shoulders. Her skin was so soft and smooth. Her lips parted, and I swear I heard her whisper
kiss me.
Fuck, how I wanted to. I let myself look at her without shame. My gaze devoured her perfectly round tits, flat stomach, and smooth pussy. I wanted to drop to my knees right then and there and wrap her legs around my head as I fucked her till she was shaking for a different reason than her being cold.

A knock on the door makes me jump. “One sec,” I grind out.

“Come on, man,” Blane says as he pounds on the door again. “We need to get going.”

I lean over and turn on her sink. I throw some cold water on my face as I take a few calming, deep breaths. “Coming.” I reach over, grab a hand towel, and dry my face.

I readjust my very painfully hard cock behind my zipper and open up the door. I may be a fucking man, but she’s just another woman. I can keep myself together, for fuck’s sake. I have to!

Blane stands there staring at me with a smirk on his face. If he had any idea what I am thinking about, he wouldn’t look at me like that. “Did that spider scare you too?” He laughs.

I roll my eyes and slap my hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

I throw one last look over at Taylor’s door and imagine her lying on her bed, naked and ready for me to take her …
Fucking stop, Case!
I berate myself.

I look over at Blane, and I hear Taylor’s door start to open. I don’t even turn around. I just walk to the front door because, all of a sudden, I need out of this house.

As I drive down the highway with Blane, I feel like I left my mind back at their house with Taylor. I can still smell her, and thanks to my stupid decision to go into her bathroom, now my clothes and car smell like her. I have literally fucked myself, yet I’m not getting to reap the benefits. Just the blue balls.

I growl, my hand tightening on the steering wheel. “Dude, what’s wrong?” Blane asks looking over at me.

“Just a little tense.”

“Are you going to be okay to do this?” he questions. “Maybe we can reschedule …”

“You don’t reschedule something like this,” I interrupt him. “You don’t want to do anything that makes you look suspicious,” I inform him. “Rox already doesn’t trust you.” Rox doesn’t know him.

He runs a hand through his hair nervously. “Why not?”

“Dealers are very territorial. And in order for you to get the information that I need, you’re gonna have to cross over into what we call gray areas.” And now I have to create an excuse for that.

“What the hell is a gray area?”

“It’s an area that I don’t control.” I get all my drugs from Rox, so the fact that I am now buying from Cricket looks odd. But in all honesty, Cricket’s product is better. “If someone sees you selling or buying in an area that I don’t run, then you get your ass beat.” I look over at him quickly. “Do you wanna get your ass beat?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.

He shakes his head quickly. “No. So what do I say?” he asks nervously.

“I’ll do the exchange. You just sit there and keep your mouth shut,” I inform him. “Open the glove box,” I order as I pull off the highway. “Hand me the baggie.”

He sighs nervously as he reaches for the bag of cocaine and then hands it over to me. “He’s going to offer you some.”

He inhales sharply. “I don’t do drugs, Case,” he says as his voice grows frantic. “I’ve never done a drug in my life.” I remember Taylor telling me the same thing. “What am I gonna do? I can’t do cocaine …”

“Stop,” I say loudly to get his attention as he rambles. I’m already annoyed by my hard cock in my jeans, so I can’t handle a grown-ass man acting like a little bitch. “I don’t allow my guys to do drugs while on the job,” I inform him. “But it’s also impolite to turn down when Rox gives you something.”

“So what am I gonna do?” He sounds just as frustrated as I feel.

“Whatever you have to, Blane. Whatever you have to.” I like this guy, and I have the hots for his sister. I’d hate to get him killed because he refuses to prove his loyalty. “Loyalty trumps any morals you have at the moment.”

CHAPTER TEN

BLANE

I’m being a little bitch, and I know that. Believe me, if there was a way to turn it off, I would. I’m trying to be like the man sitting next to me—all tough and a hardass. But now, the fucker has me terrified. I can’t snort a line of cocaine. I’ve seen what one hit can do to someone. It only takes that
one time
to depend on something for the rest of your life.

I was once that sixteen-year-old who woke up at all hours of the night and ran to my father’s room to see if he had made his way home from a party. I was that kid who when he was home, my first instinct was to check his pulse as I prayed he was still alive. I can’t do that to myself. And I sure as hell won’t do it to Taylor.

I lower my head and run my hand through my hair as Case pulls into a parking lot. I look to see the word Fusion written on the side of the white building and I swallow nervously. He pulls his Corvette right up to the back door. He shuts off the car and gets out. I watch as he places the baggie of cocaine into his back pocket. “Just relax,” he says to me as my stiff body gets out of the passenger door.

“Easy for you to say,” I snap. “This is your life.”

He doesn’t respond to that; he just walks up to the back door and knocks on it. I let out a long breath squaring my shoulders as the door opens. A very beautiful woman answers the door. Her long black hair is pulled up into a high ponytail. Her dark eyes are lined with a black liner, and her lips are painted a color that could pass for chocolate. She’s stunning. She has a tight dark brown dress on that dips low in the front showing off a great set of tits that must have been paid for. A cream belt sits high on her thin waist, and I can’t help but look at the slit that runs up her long legs to her hip. Clearly, she’s not wearing anything underneath it.

“Case,” she says excitedly with a bright white smile. It looks like a million bucks. “It’s been a while.”

He nods his head. “It has.” She looks him up and down as if she is about to pounce on him. Surprisingly, he seems unaffected. “I have an appointment with Rox,” he says lacking the excitement she had for seeing him.

Her smile doesn’t falter, but you can see the disappointment in her dark eyes. “Of course. He is expecting you.”

She holds the door open for us and then closes it after we enter. I follow behind Case as he trails after her down a hallway. I don’t bother looking anywhere except straight ahead at Case as I follow them. I don’t know much about this Rox guy. Case kinda keeps me in the dark about certain things that he does, and I don’t blame him. I find I prefer to be in the dark on the deeper shit. I don’t need to know where the drugs go or where they come from, but I guess this guy is pretty important. Case called me earlier and told me that Rox had called him asking questions about me. He said I needed to make an appearance. When I asked why, he said it was unavoidable unless I wanted my ass beat. So here I am.

“He’s already in there waiting for you,” she announces as we come to a stop in front of a door.

Case surprises me as he leans in and gives the woman a kiss on both sides of her cheeks. “Thanks, beautiful,” he says giving her a flirtatious smile.

“Don’t be a stranger, Case,” she says with a wink before she turns and walks off. Swaying her hips a little more than usual, I’m sure.

“Case.” An older looking man stands in the middle of a room. I’m guessing this is the Rox guy. Case enters, and I follow him. “Nice of you to call.” He comes up to him and gives him a tight hug.

He pulls away. “Yeah, I thought it was about time we have a meeting,” he says cheerfully. He steps out of the way and gestures to me. I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves once again. Try to think about the beautiful woman you just saw who is wearing no underwear. “Blane, meet Rox.” It doesn’t help.

I wipe my right hand on my thigh and then reach out in order to shake his as we say our hellos, but he pulls me in for a hug. I actually let out a laugh to try to cover up my nervousness. I look over at Case, and he’s smiling in satisfaction. Maybe this means Rox likes me. That’s good because I would hate for him to hate me. I hear that he is a ruthless motherfucker!

“I thought you should meet Blane. He recently started working for me.”

“What exactly is he doing for you?” he asks Case as if I’m not even here.

“He is buying from Cricket,” he says simply.

“Cricket?” His eyes widen. “Trying to throw him to the dogs already?” He smiles wickedly as he arches a brow in question.

Case chuckles at that. “I have total faith in Blane. He can hold his own.”

“I’m sure he can,” he says slowly as his eyes turn to me. His gaze returns to Case. “And why exactly do you have him buying from Cricket? I thought we had an understanding. You get your drugs from me. Am I wrong?” If he’s mad, his words don’t show it. He sounds genuinely curious.

Case shakes his head. “You are correct. You are my supplier, but it never hurts to test the competition.”

Rox smiles widely, and it makes him look like the Grinch. “Test the competition,” he repeats with amusement. “Did they pass?”

Case reaches down into his pocket and pulls out the baggie of cocaine. I suck in a deep breath. “You tell me.”

Rox’s black eyes light up. “A gift? I love gifts.” The smile on his face reminds me of a child on Christmas morning. Case hands him the baggie and takes the few steps that separate him from a couch. Case plops down and I find myself sitting down as well. “Oh, please join me,” he says looking over at me as he sits down in a chair across from us. My body stiffens, and I pray they can’t see it. But I gotta do what Case told me to do in order not to give ourselves away.

I swallow nervously and hold my breath as I nod quickly.
Fuck!
I let out a long breath as my hands shake while resting on my thighs. I give him a shaky smile as I look him in the eyes. They’re so dark they’re black. I don’t know why, but the devil comes to mind—soulless. I lick my dry lips and speak. “I would love some …”

“You know how I feel about that.” Case interrupts me, and my head whips to the right to stare at him. Is he gonna save me from having to do it?
Thank you, God
! “I don’t allow my men to do something at that caliber when he has a job to do for me later tonight.” Case slides his eyes over to me, and then back at Rox. “That’s how shit gets fucked up.”

Rox nods his head quickly. “Yes. Yes.” He looks up at the ceiling as if in thought. “I have had to get rid of many guys who fucked up some very important exchanges for me,” he muses. And I have feeling
get rid of
means kill.

He stands and digs into his pocket. Case smiles when Rox pulls out a pipe of marijuana. “Well, how about this?” He raises a dark brow to Case. “This way the man can get a little something and still be able to do his job later.” He then looks at me and nods his head. “Yes?”

I return his smile, but it’s a little shaky at best. When he looks away from me, I let out a long sigh. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I sure as hell don’t wanna get high, but I guess it’s better than snorting a line of cocaine.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

TAYLOR

Two hours later, I’m sitting on the floor in my room in front of my floor-length mirror drying my hair thinking about what happened earlier with Case. He looked at me as if he wanted me. His hands felt so hot on my skin that I wonder what the rest of him would feel like on top of me. I almost begged him to kiss me. I’m pretty sure I voiced that out loud. I almost threw my arms around his neck and begged him. This is bad. So bad! I can’t be around him anymore. I can’t do this to myself. My stomach has been in knots since he left. Not because he almost kissed me, but because he didn’t. I would have rather he kissed me than made me look like an idiot. Then he had the nerve to laugh.

I turn off the hair dryer and lay it on the floor next to me.

I jump when I hear my cell phone ringing. I reach over to see it’s my brother calling.

“Yes?” I ask with a sigh. He left with Case right after I gave him the free show. I’m hoping Case didn’t tell him what really happened.

“Hey, sis,” he says, and I can hear music blaring in the background. He must be up at Seven Deadly Sins with Case.

“You need to get ready and get up to Seven Deadly Sins,” he informs me.

I allow my head to fall forward and let out a heavy sigh. No doubt this was Case’s doing. He’s trying to screw with me. “Pass. I don’t want any part of your drug deals,” I half growl.

He chuckles, and I frown. How was that funny? “I promise this has nothing to do with drugs. Just fun. Drugs don’t control my life,” he adds seriously.

“That’s nice,” I reply dryly, not believing him, but then add, “I’m staying here.” I’ve had enough humiliation today.

He sighs heavily. “Case reserved us our own private room. And I have other friends coming. Dillon and Lance will be here in a matter of minutes. So finish getting ready.”

“How could you invite Dillon?” I demand. “You know he gives me the creeps.”

“He swears it was a misunderstanding.”

“How is kissing me a misunderstanding?”

I hear a door open and close on his side of the line and then he speaks. “He’s been my friend for years, Taylor,” he says softly. “He knows not to touch you. Can’t you for once relax and have some fun?” he snaps.

Whoa. What’s up with the mood change so quickly? What is wrong with him tonight? I wonder if Case told him the truth once they left the house. That I have the hots for his drug dealer. I should be ashamed, but that’s what makes him hot, right? The fact he’s what Savannah calls a
bad boy
.

Savannah chooses this time to walk into my bedroom wearing a black mini dress and red high heels. “Get dressed. I’m not gonna be the only girl with all the guys tonight.”

I guess my brother had called her before he called me. “We’ll be right there,” I inform him then I hang up. If Case wants to play a game, then a game we shall play.

Thankfully, Dillon and Lance were meeting us at the club, which was a silver lining of my day considering how bad it has been so far.

I quickly finish getting ready and then Savannah drives us over to Seven Deadly Sins. As soon as we walk into the club, she goes in search of the private room Case reserved for us. I find myself going straight to the bar. I have just ordered a Peach Bellini when a hand lands on my shoulder. 

I jump as I turn my head to look over my shoulder. Case is standing behind me looking down at me. “Have you thought about my offer?” he asks with a smirk on his face. My first thought is I hate that he’s seen me naked. I hate how he can act as if it didn’t affect him like it did me.

“It’s not gonna happen,” I reply flatly. Don’t let him see that it bothers you. He’s like a bully. If he knows it bothers you, then he will continue to use it against you.

“I beg you to reconsider.” This time, when he speaks, his mouth is right by my ear, and my body breaks out in goosebumps.

I spin around and place a finger on his hard chest. I feel his muscles flex underneath it, and I bite the inside of my lip. “Let’s talk about what this is really about, shall we?”

He arches his right eyebrow, the one that has the scar above it, and I find myself fascinated by it. I wonder how he got it. It adds to his mystery and makes him seem much more interesting. He then crosses his arms over his chest. I can’t help but look at his dark blue tattoos that cover his forearms. The skull looks even brighter against the sleeves of his rolled up button-down white shirt. It’s hot, and he looks mouthwatering good. The muscles pull against the fabric as if it’s screaming to the point it will explode under the tension.
I know how it feels.
“Okay.” His smirk grows to a full-on grin as he catches me staring. “What do we need to discuss?”

“The fact you saw me naked,” I say loud enough so he can hear me over the screaming music.

The older man standing beside me at the bar turns to look at us with wide eyes but allows himself to look me up and down before returning his attention back to the bar. Of course, I would say that loud enough for someone to hear in here.

“I did,” he says as his blue eyes darken. “And you’re not fooling anyone.” He uncrosses his arms from his chest and reaches out to tug on my overly large shirt. I slap his hand away as I push my back into the bar. “Trying to hide that amazing body under those baggy clothes.”

Did he say amazing body? My face heats up. No, stay on topic. I only dressed this way half because of him. The other fifty percent was for Dillon’s benefit. I don’t want any man to approach me tonight. I only came to prove a point to my brother. I’ll show him that I’m not a stuck-up bitch and I know how to have fun. “If you think inviting us here tonight will get you somewhere with me, it won’t happen …” I pause when his dark brows raise to his forehead. What did you just say, Taylor? And why does he look so amused about it? Maybe I am overthinking this. So what if he saw me naked? I’m sure he has seen tons of women naked. He’ll forget it by tomorrow. “Why did you invite us out here tonight?” I decide to settle on.

Thankfully, he moves on from my previous train of thought. “To recruit you, of course.”

Uh …
“What do you mean?” I ask stupidly.

He looks around the already busy club. “I need another waitress. And you need a job.” He shrugs.

“I can’t work for you,” I say shaking my head.

“Is that because you wanna sleep with me?”

My knees almost buckle at that question. Dammit. “Are you crazy?” I gasp. “Me sleep with you?” I laugh but only to cover up my uneasiness.
Please kiss me!

He smiles. A beautiful smile that makes my already weak knees start to buckle.
Don’t embarrass yourself more than you already have today, Taylor. Have some dignity.
I look into his dark blue eyes as the club lights bounce off them, and I imagine what they would like look while he made love to me. Would they still look so dark? Would they lighten as my hands ran up and down his back, pulling him into me ...?

“No worries. If that is the issue,” he hollers, pulling me out of my thoughts. My body stiffens as he reaches up and places a hand in my hair. I start to breathe heavily as he leans down and places his lips next to my ear. Closing my eyes, I inhale his spicy scent as his body presses into mine. I should pull away, but I can’t. My back is already up against the bar, but even if it wasn’t, I’m not sure I could. “That won’t happen,” he whispers, and I suck in a deep breath as I try to control my thought of his body being on top of mine. “I don’t fuck women who are related to my friends,” he says matter-of-factly. Even though he speaks the words softly, I hear them loud and clear over the music.

I bite my inner cheek.
Fuck?
Did he just say fuck? Legs buckling and heart pounding now! “I wouldn’t ... fuck you,” I say back quickly, and he pulls away from me. I open my eyes. “Because you sell drugs,” I add trying to think of another reason why I wouldn’t touch him. But is that even really an issue at the moment? I don’t see why it is. It would just be sex. I don’t have to do what he does.

He just smirks as he reaches up and runs a hand over the scruff that covers his jawline. I’ve never been a woman who likes facial hair on a man, but it looks so good on him. It’s not too much. Just enough to lightly cover his face as if he just forgot to shave this morning. I like it. What would it feel like between my thighs while he …?

I am just about to walk away and get myself out of a situation that can only end badly for me when a waitress with bright red hair walks up to the counter beside us. I watch her as she orders a handful of drinks and a bottle of something that sounded expensive. I can’t help but look wide-eyed as she pulls a wad of cash out of the back pocket of her white shorts. There are a couple of hundred-dollar bills along with a ton of twenties. Then some fives and ones.

I want to ask her if she has made all that tonight. And if so, what does she make on an average weekend? If it was as much as I just saw, then I could work all summer and go to weekends when schools starts and still have the free time to get my studies done.

I look back up at Case as the waitress takes off with a full tray of drinks, and I sigh heavily when he gives me a knowing smirk. He can see my mind working, and I hate that. But it’s just a try, right? It’s not as if it’s anything permanent. Nothing I can’t just quit if I don’t like. And he already informed me that he wouldn’t be having sex with me. It will be strictly business.

He holds out his right hand to me. “Deal?”

I chew on my bottom lip. I mean how bad can it get? The man has already seen me naked. I need a job, and I gotta pay to have my car fixed.

“Deal.” I sigh heavily. Did I just make a deal with the devil? And if I did, what is it gonna cost me?

CASE

I watch as Taylor walks into the crowd of people to make her way back to their private room, and I smile. I knew she would come around. It happened a lot quicker than I thought it would, but that just makes this even sweeter.

I can’t help but allow my eyes to rake over her; I still can’t get the fact out of my mind that I saw her naked earlier. The fact that her brother was there wasn’t a mood killer. I know exactly how she felt at that very moment; that’s also why I just told her that I couldn’t touch her. I want her to feel safe around me. Even if I do feel the tension rolling off both of us, I want her to understand it can’t happen.

But fuck, it’s gonna be hard. I wanted her skin to be slick with sweat from my body being on top of hers. I wanted her body to quiver from my cock thrusting into her. Even in this club, with sweaty people dancing, I can still smell the fresh scent of vanilla from when she ran into me after her shower. Fuck, I’ve been hard ever since. Too bad, she won’t be the one who relieves me tonight.

I immediately look around for another woman who may catch my eye. I can’t fuck her. She’s off-limits. Not only is she Blane’s sister, but I also have rules. Rules with major consequences if I overstep them. Forget the fact that she just accepted a job at my club. If my boss found out that I did that, he’d kill me. And he will find out, eventually.
But it’s easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.

Bright red hair catches my attention as Rachel comes bouncing to the bar to place another order. I take the opportunity and lean over, placing my hand on her lower back as I speak loud enough into her ear for her to hear me over the music. “You’re training tomorrow night,” I inform her.

Her head spins around as I pull back. “I’m not working tomorrow night,” she protests loudly.

“You are now. Oh, and you’re staying late tonight.” Might as well use her to get rid of this hard-on I have.

An hour later, I find myself up in my office, arms crossed over my chest as I stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling window looking down over the club. It’s in full swing, and the club is packed. The drunks are starting to feel their buzz, and the druggies are probably going to the bathroom to get their hits. The ones hoping to get lucky are seeking out that special someone who, come tomorrow, won’t even remember their name. And what am I doing? Searching for Taylor in the crowd. Of course, I can’t find her. She’s probably in the private room I gave them for the night. How stupid of me to place her where I can’t watch her.

Making up my mind, I turn on my heels and make my way down to the club level. Once I hit the bottom of the stairs, Miller gives me a head nod, letting me know that everything is going well tonight. I don’t usually come down to the club level unless I have business to take care of. The other times, I stay up in my office.

I round the bar and make my way down the hallway until I come to the door LUST. I smile as I open it up and walk in.

When I decided to make these separate rooms, I wanted then to give off the club feel yet still make them enjoyable for the people. I wanted them to have their own space to dance if they wanted yet not have music blaring in their ears while they tried to visit or talk business.

As soon as I close the door behind me, Taylor looks up from her spot on the couch. She looks away just as quickly. I guess she’s still embarrassed about what happened at her house. I wish I could tell her she has no reason to be embarrassed. She looks just as beautiful naked as she does with clothes on. Her tits look better than I could have imagined. My hands begged me to touch her in ways that would have had her calling out my name.
Off-limits
!