In Too Deep (24 page)

Chapter 51

Taylor is
asking me to do something I cannot do. How does she expect me to ask my father to leave his own company? And she thinks he’ll just go willingly? I knew when she discovered my connection to McAllister, I’d lose her. I try to remind myself of that. My relationship with her had been doomed from the start. It doesn’t mean I don’t feel like shit for how she found out. If I was better at this relationship stuff, I would have figured out a way to tell her before now. And then maybe we’d still be together.

McAllister came back today and even thought there were a million things I wanted to say to him, to scream at him, I knew none of it would matter. He wouldn’t change who he was.

I’ve heard thought the grapevine that she’s going home. And tonight’s her going away party. I watch her leave with MJ, climbing inside some guy’s SUV, wearing a tiny skirt and a revealing tank top. I don’t like it.

Jealously spikes up inside me. It’s not an emotion I’m used to and it takes me a second to recognize it. Then I realize what this means. Taylor is mine. I just need to find a way to show her that.

I consider getting in my car to follow them, but I force myself back inside.

I shower and shave, dress
quickly, then head off to find Logan.

He’s in the rec room playing video games.

“Hey man.”

“Oh, hey.”
He glances up at me.

When I don’t move h
e pauses the game and turns to face me, his expression not particularly friendly. “I need your help tonight.”

Logan’s glare is icy and cautious
. “And why would I help you?”

“I have some things I need to say
to her before she leaves.”

He sighs. “Okay.”

I have no idea what he must think of me, the way I hurt Taylor, but I’m thankful he agrees to help me. I learn from Logan they’ve gone to Taste, a dance club in the next town over.

Logan
hesitates beside my car. “I won’t be able to get into the club. MJ and Taylor brought fake IDs.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you in.” I get in the car, waiting for Logan to follow.

When we pull up in front of the club, I opt for the valet parking, wanting to get in to see her as quickly as I can. I don’t like the idea that she’s out with another guy.

A kid who barely looks old enough to have his license grins from ear to ear when he sees my BMW.
Logan and I exit the car, and when we reach the front door, I slip the bouncer a fifty, ensuring he doesn’t ask Logan for an ID. He lets us in without any fanfare.

Inside the club i
t’s stuffy and hot. People grind rhythmically to the loud music thumping from the speakers. I scan the club, searching for Taylor. My eyes flick past girls scantily clad and dancing in groups. But I don’t see Taylor or MJ, or those two frat boys they came with.

I turn to Logan motioning to the top floor. “Go look upstairs. I’ll look down here
,” I shout above the music.

He
nods, and sets off through the crowd.

I make my way deeper inside the club, and spot MJ and the two guys sitting in the VIP area, which is little more than a few tables and plush bench seats in the corner of the club.

MJ spots me and her face falls. She jumps up to meet me before I reach their table. I don’t see Taylor anywhere.

MJ grabs my
arm, leading me away from the guys. “What are you doing here?”

“Where is she?”

“She went to the bathroom. Chill.”

I turn and head off to the bathrooms. Didn’t girls usually go in groups?
I don’t like that MJ’s left her alone.

I navigate my way around the half dozen girls waiting in line for the bathroom and do a quick check of the stalls. I recognize Taylor’s sandals from underneath the stall door on the
far end.

I knock on the door. “Taylor? Are you okay?”

No response. I knock again. “Taylor? It’s Colt. Open up.”

A second later, the lock turns and she’s standing in front of me, p
eering through the cracked door, tears streaming down her beautiful face. I push open the door and take her in my arms.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” I hold her at arm’s length, inspecting her. If someone
’s laid one fucking hand on her, I’ll end them.

She shakes her head. “Nothing
happened,” she hiccups.

I pull her to me again, relief washing over me.
She puts her arms around me too, weeping into my neck. “Please don’t cry, baby.” The word slips from my lips and instantly she stiffens in my arms.

She frees herself from my
embrace and backs up, stumbling until she’s against the far wall, away from me. I hate the distance between us.

“What are you doing here?”
she asks.

I reach out and grip her arms, holding her steady. She’s clearly been drinking. “How much have you had to drink?”

“I don’t know,” she says, rubbing her temples with her fingers.

Someone pounds on the door. “Can you guys get a room? There are people waiting
out here.”

“Just a second,” I
shout over the top of the door. “Are you okay to go out?”

She nods
weakly, her blue eyes locked on mine. When she looks at me, it’s like she can see all of me, everything I am, not just what I want her to see. It scares the hell out of me.

I give her some tissue to wipe her eyes, and when she’s ready
I lead her out of the bathroom. We stop near the VIP area where her friends are sitting, Logan included.

I take her elbow, stopping her from going
any farther. She turns and looks at me, her eyes searching mine.

“
I’m taking you back.”

She studies me for a second, like she’s considering it. Then she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, clearing her head. “
I don’t think that’s a good idea, Colt.”

“
Well I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to stay here with guys you don’t know when you’ve been drinking. Please, let me take you back, Taylor.”

Her face
softens; her resolve to say no crumbling away. “Okay,” her voice is shaky, barely above a whisper.

She goes to tell MJ she’s leaving while I stand at the edge of the lounge waiting. MJ’s eyebrows dart up and she regards me with disgust.
Nothing new there. She and Taylor exchange a few tense words. Whatever Taylor says to her next works, because MJ nods and gives her a hug goodbye and then Taylor’s at my side again.

“Logan can get a ride with them, right?”

“You brought Logan with you? Why?”

“I had to find you.”

Her eyes light up, studying mine.

I nod to Logan and he tips his chin, signaling he’s okay.

I grip Taylor’s hip, holding her by my side and lead her out of the club.

Chapter 52

I don’t know what prompted Colt to come after me tonight, but Lord help me, I will need
all the strength I can muster not to go crawling back to him. Despite his relation to McAllister and his indifference toward the crime I was coerced into committing, I find I’m still captivated by him. And the alcohol coursing through my system is giving me an unhealthy dose of courage. Coupled with the way my body still responds to him, this isn’t going to be good.

He bustles me to the door, his touch possessive as if telling everyone in the club I’m his.
His eyes stay on me, like I’m the most fascinating thing in the room. That has to be my imagination, right?

He’s stays silent on the drive back, looking thoughtful as he concentrates on the road.
Once we reach the academy, Colt leads me straight to his bedroom. And I don’t argue. It’s where I want to be too.

He flips on a lamp in the corner
and dim light floods the room. I head straight for his bed, my legs feeling shaky. I remove my sandals and lie back on his bed. The room spins when I close my eyes, so I open them again. “I don’t feel so good.”

He’s beside me in an instant, caressing my hair back from my forehead. He leans closer, his spicy cologne making my stomach tingle and presses a kiss to my for
ehead. “I’ll get you some water. Stay here.”

As if I could move.

He gets me a glass of water and two Tylenol. “Here. Take these.”

I sit up to swallow down the pills and finish the glass of water.
The water is refreshing and I begin to feel better, more clear-headed almost instantly. “Thank you.”

“Better?” he asks softly, sitting down next to me.

I nod.

He takes my hand, lacing his finger
s with mine. The spark between us hums, definitely still there, I note.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, leaning near my ear.

Is he smelling my hair? I shiver.
God that’s hot.
“I’ve missed you too.” My mouth is working independently of my brain again.
Filter, Taylor.

Suddenly
he’s kissing me. His lips are on my mouth, his warm palm pressed against my cheek, then he’s tilting my jaw, moving his mouth against my neck, pushing my hair off my shoulders as he ignites a damp, tingling path across my throat. I gasp and grip his shoulders, melting at his touch.

Just as suddenly as he kissed me, he stops. “I’m sorry. I…” He runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know why I did that.”

I scoot over closer,
climbing into his lap. “It’s okay, I want you to.” I run my fingers through his hair. His eyes fall closed at my touch and my heart dances in my chest. This feels so right. I don’t allow myself to think about anything other than Colt, Colt’s touch, Colt’s mouth, Colt’s hips moving against mine.

I hold on tightly around his neck while h
is hands roam under my shirt. He expertly caresses me, his fingers running across my stomach and ribs, before slowly making his way north with feather-light fingertips.

I let out a ragged moan, and Colt instantly mirrors my response, groaning his desire for me near my ear.

My brain snaps into action. “Wait Colt.” I pull back from his kisses, looking into his eyes. The distance is just enough to clear my head. I pull a few ragged breaths into my lungs, concentrating on what’s happening between us. It strikes me that despite our eager reunion, I don’t know where we stand. “Does this mean we’re back together?”

He moves to my neck, kissing his way to my collarbone.
“Of course baby. If you want me still.”

My body clenches, shouting
yes!
I do want that, but something tugs in the back of my mind. After everything that’s happened, can I trust Colt? And what about McAllister? “Shouldn’t we talk about what we’re going to do about McAll..I mean, your dad?”

He strokes my hair back from my face.
“I told you there’s nothing we can do.” He continues kissing my neck. “Shh, baby. No more talking.”

I place my hands on his chest, pushing him back.
“Stop.”  Tears spring to my eyes. I realize this is a package deal for me. I need someone who’s strong enough to stand up for me, to fight alongside me. And this – the physical stuff between us isn’t enough. I want more. I’ve always wanted more. “If that’s how you feel…then I need to go.”

“Taylor, wait.” His hand encircles my wrist.

I close my eyes, steeling my nerves. “Let me go.”

He releases my wrist, and I tumble from his bed
on shaky legs and make a dash for the door.