Addiction (31 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY

TAYLOR

I sit up on the hotel bed and look out the two windows that show off the beautiful city. I can see the sun start to rise in the distance. I’ve only been in bed for about two hours and haven’t had the chance to fall asleep yet. My mind is full of Case. He turned me down. Even when I tried to make him feel sorry for me, he called my bluff. What has happened to me? I’m trying to get pity sex.

I fall back onto the purple pillow and sigh as my body sinks into this bed. It feels like a cloud. Amazing! I wish he were in here to share it with me. But in a way, I know he was right. My body isn’t ready for sex with him. And there’s no way we could sleep in this bed together without me trying to jump his bones.

I close my eyes, but they immediately spring open when I hear my cell phone ring. I reach over and cuss when I see Blane light up my screen. Fuck! I didn't come home last night. Of course, he wants to know where in the hell I am. What can I tell him?

“Hello?” I answer trying to sound like he woke me from sleep.

“Taylor!” he growls. “Where in the hell are you?” he demands.

I go to open my mouth when the door to the bedroom swings open. “Who is calling you?” Case demands with thinned lips. I can tell by his heavy eyes that he really was asleep.

“Who was that?” Blane demands. “Are you at a man's house?”

“No!” I squeal sitting up. “I’m over at Jenna’s house, and that was her brother.” I lift my finger to my mouth and start to chew on my nails.

“What the hell are you doing at Jenna’s?” he questions but sighs as if he’s relieved.

“A few of us went over to her house after work. I had a few drinks so I decided to stay here.” Please buy it.

“I see,” he says after a long second. “Are you going to come home tonight?”

I sigh in relief. “No. I’ll probably come back to Jenna’s. I wanna give you and Savannah some time alone.”

He snorts. “Since when?”

“Blane,” I groan tired of him always being so protective. “I’m an adult. I’ll be home when I get home.” I pull the cell away from my ear and press end.

I look up just as Case closes the bedroom door. I fall back down to the bed once again and close my eyes. I’m all of a sudden tired and just want some rest.

***

Do you ever wake up and realize you’ve slept the entire day and night away? I didn’t know I could be that tired. But when I wake, it’s the next day. I slept like a baby, and I can tell by the way that my body feels that I needed it. I stretch and only feel a little tightness in my limbs. I get out of bed and make my way to the bathroom. My bladder feels like it’s about to explode. Once done, I slide Case’s sweatpants back on and slip into his t-shirt. I think he left his suitcase with the other pairs he brought me in the living room.

I open the door to the bedroom and come to a stop as I hear Case in the living room on his phone.

“No!” he growls. “The shipment was supposed to be in tomorrow.” He sounds mad, but he’s trying to keep his voice low. “Well, that’s not good enough!”

I pull myself back in the bedroom and shut the door only allowing me a little peek so I can still hear but run to the bed if I hear him coming this way.

“Well, that will just have to work, won’t it? Fuck!” he hisses. “It’s not all right. We had a plan, and you’re fucking with it.” There’s a long pause, and I hear him sigh. “Yes. But I didn’t really have a choice in the matter, did I? You sure as hell didn’t care what happened to her.” My eyes widen. Is he talking about me? “What I do with her is none of your business. I keep telling you that, but you don’t seem to listen.” I pull back a little back as the sound of his voice nears the hallway. “We’re getting off topic,” he snaps. “As far as tomorrow goes, have Blane go and do the exchange.” My heart speeds up. I forget what Case really is. What he really does.

But he saved your life!

I’m not saying he’s not a good guy; I’m just saying I forget how I met him in the first place. In the middle of a drug deal with my brother.

“Yes. She’s doing better,” I hear him say. “She’s been asleep for almost ten hours now.” I hear him sigh. “We will stay here one more night and then be back tomorrow.” I hear his voice getting louder, so I turn and run to the bed. I jump on it and bring the covers up to my neck just as I hear the door open. I suck in a deep breath as I get an ache in my side from jumping into bed. But I quickly forget about it as I pray I pulled the covers up high enough so he can’t see that I’m dressed. “Yeah!” He sighs heavily. “What about that video? Did Jones get it taken care of for us?” I hold my breath as I wait for an answer. “Perfect! That’s one less thing I have to worry about.” Then the door shuts.

I shove the covers off me and let out a long sigh as I look up at the ceiling. He proved me wrong and kept his promise. Why is it every time I get mad at him about something, he comes along and does something that makes me smile.

I lay in bed another thirty minutes before I choose to get up and walk into the living room. “Hi,” I say softly as he looks up at me from where he sits on the couch.

“Hey.” He places his phone on the couch next to him. “How do you feel?” he asks placing his left arm over the back of the couch.

I sit down next to him. His arms wrap around my shoulders, and he pulls me to his side. “I feel better,” I say, and he leans down to kiss me on the forehead.

“Good,” he says happily. “Are you hungry? We can order room service,” he offers, and I nod.

I sit quietly in the living room as he orders room service and then I sit on the couch flipping through the TV channels as I wait for it to arrive. After Case had ordered room service, he left the room saying he had to make some phone calls. I have a feeling one of them has to do with calling Blane. I hate that I haven’t thought more about what he’s doing. That I haven’t stayed on top of him about doing drugs. I allowed myself to get too caught up with Case that I’ve let everything else fall to the side.

I get up and walk my way back to the bedroom. I pick up my phone and let out a sigh as I pull up his number.

Me:
Sorry about this morning. Was just tired. I hope that you have a great day. Love you.

I press send and then place my phone into the pocket of Case’s sweatpants that I’m wearing. As I walk back into the living room, the door to the hotel room opens and in walks Case. I sit down on the couch and let out a long breath. I have a feeling today is gonna be a long day.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask looking down at my hands in my lap. I hate that I always have to ask him if I can ask him a question.

“What is it?” He sighs as he rubs his forehead.

I expected that. “How deep is Blane in your world? Do you know how often he does drugs?”

He surprises me by coming to stand in front of me. He bends down, and I lift my head to look at him. With both hands, he pushes my long hair from my face. “I’m only going to say one thing about Blane. And what I’m about to tell you, you will not repeat. Okay?”

I nod my head slowly confused by his hard tone. “Okay.”

“Blane works for me, and I will not fill you in on why or what it is I have him do exactly, but I will tell you this. Blane is not using drugs. He’s not getting high every day like you think. Does that help ease your concern?”

The way he says it makes it sound like he’s lying. That it was something he just told me to pacify me. And I hate that it worked. Blane isn’t doing drugs? I wanna smile at that, but it brings up another question. Why is he working for Case if he doesn’t do drugs? I go to open my mouth, but room service takes that moment to knock on the door. I watch as Case gets up and goes to answer the door. He didn’t give me the answer is was looking for, but it’s better than what I’ve been imagining.

CASE

Blue balls is a bitch! They literally feel like they want to explode. I need to fuck! I was locked up in a hotel room with Taylor for three days and didn’t have sex once. How in the fuck did that happen? I honestly have no fucking clue.

It’s not for lack of trying on her part. And I know I sure as hell wanted it. She just wasn’t ready. Normally, if I had been locked up in a hotel with a woman, I would have done nothing but fuck. But like I’ve known since the first moment I met her, she’s not like other women.

I wish that thought would make these blue balls go away. It fucking hurts to walk. I almost took care of it myself in the shower this afternoon before we checked out. But I heard her walk in and wash her face before brushing her teeth. So that option was quickly squashed. I almost shoved open the shower door, grabbed her by the arms, and pulled her into the shower. I wanted to push her to her knees while I fucked her mouth, but I’m not sure she’s ready for that. So I’ve endured it. The things we do for women.

I pull up in the back parking lot of Seven Deadly Sins. I get out of my car and walk around to help her out. She still wears a pair of my sweatpants and my t-shirt, and I’m afraid I’ll never get her scent out of them.

“Still feel okay?” I ask worrying about her.

“Yes.” She gives a small chuckle. “I feel much better,” she says placing her arm in the crook of mine as we walk toward the back entrance. I have to say she does look much better. I removed the bandage from her neck today and replaced it. The bruise on her face has lightened, and she swears she can cover it up with makeup.

I open the back door and hold it open for her to enter. “I don’t think you should work tonight.”

She comes to a stop and turns to face me. “Case …”

“I know you’re better, but I don’t like the idea of you working tonight. Just take one more night off?” She places her hands on her hips, and I beg. “Please?” A smile tugs at her lips. I take a step toward her and wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her to me. I lower my lips to her ear. “If you feel as good as you say … I thought that you could stay the night with me tonight?” I offer. “Wait for me to get off …”

“Okay.” She answers immediately, and I pull back from her as I laugh.

“Case …” We both look up as we hear my name called. Rachel rounds the corner. “Where have you been …?” Her voice trails off as she spots Taylor by my side. I can feel her shoulders stiffen under my arm. “Oh,” she says. “I see.”

I lean down and whisper into Taylor’s ear. “Go wait for me up in my apartment.” She looks up at me wanting to argue, but I remove my arm from around her shoulder.

“Okay, babe,” she finally says, and I watch Rachel’s eyes narrow on her. She watches as Taylor walks down the hallway and out of our sight. As soon as she is gone, Rachel turns to face me. “What the fuck, Case?” she snaps. “I thought you said you weren’t going to fuck her?”

I arch an eyebrow. “I thought you said I hadn’t.”

“I …”

“I know you already knew I was sleeping with her.”

She places her hands on her hips. “So she went and told on me?” she huffs.

“No,” I say simply, and her lips thin as she stares at me with hatred in her dark brown eyes. “But I’m only gonna tell you this once.” I take the steps to close the distance that separates us. And I lean down into her face. “Say one more thing about our past to Taylor, and you’re gone.”

She gasps. “You would kick me to the curb for you to play with a shiny new toy?” she demands.

I nod. “I already have,” I say simply and then walk away from her.

Three hours later, I stand in my office as I look down at the club. “So this is what you do all night?”

I turn around to see Taylor walk into my office. “Hey, sweetie,” I say as she walks toward me. I love that she still wears my clothes. I could have her go home and get some of her own, but I don’t want her to leave the club without me. “Pretty much,” I say wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “What are you doing down here?”

She sighs. “I’m bored up there. I’ve showered and watched TV. I even ate some food. I’m ready for you to come to bed. How much longer will you be?” I smile brightly down at her. I love the fact she wants to spend more time with me because I feel the same way about her. I can’t get enough.

“About another hour,” I say. “Maybe a little longer …”

“Fight!” I pull away from her as I reach for the radio on my desk when I hear Brecken’s voice on the other end of it.

“On my way!” I yell into it. “Go back up to my apartment,” I order her before I storm out of my office, not even bothering to look back at her.

I run down the stairs and onto the floor. I don’t need to ask where it is because I can see the commotion from here. It’s over in the far corner, and right in the middle of it, I can see bright red hair. Fuck! I shove people out of the way and as I come close, I can see Brecken and Miller pulling guys apart. Rachel now lies on the floor, blood dripping from her nose. I reach down and grab her hand, pulling her to stand roughly.

Once she’s up, I get a better grip on her hand and start to pull her to the back. She protests as I pull her out the back door into the alleyway. Brecken and Miller exit right behind us. Miller throws his guy down to the ground while Brecken shoves his guy up against the wall, his forearm pressed to the guy’s throat.