Take Me: The Complete Series (Power Play #1-4) (17 page)

“Uh oh. Something happened. Tell me everything.” Her voice is serious.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Come on, I know you better than that.” She gives me a look. “Now, spill…”

I let out a sigh, resigned to the fact that she won’t give up until I answer her, then I tell her everything. I start with how Declan showed up at the club and then took me to one of the private rooms so we could talk. And then I tell her about how I ran off to Isaac’s place, and how I discovered that he’d been lying to me the whole time I’ve known him. By the time I’m done telling her how I rushed out of his hotel room, her jaw is practically on the floor.

“That sonofabitch!”

I nod my agreement.

“So he knew all about you the whole time?

“Apparently.”

She lets out a sigh, shaking her head.

“And you found out all of this after Declan had already told you that your company was having problems?”

Another ripple of anxiety rolls through me at this reminder. I’ve been doing a good job of not thinking about it so far. It’s just another problem on top of everything else. No, not just another problem. It should be the big one, the
real
one. But for some reason it just doesn’t seem as important as everything going on with Isaac.

“I don’t even want to think about it.”

Tawny gives me a soft, comforting look as she squeezes my shoulder, gently. Her touch is a simple thing, but it’s comforting all the same. It’s funny how sometimes the smallest things can make us feel better. But there’s still a lingering sting from learning about Isaac’s betrayal.

Tawny sits with me for a little while before she finally has to get ready for her shift at the hospital. I still can’t bring myself to do anything but sit on the couch and flip through bad television. I have no motivation for anything else. Trying anything else means that I might start thinking about Isaac. And that’s the
last
thing I want to do.

Tawny turns to me before heading out the door, giving me one more look.

“You’re sure you’re going to be okay, right?”

I give her a quick nod.

“I’ll be fine. Really.”

I know I’m lying as soon as the words leave my mouth.

“Okay. Well, call me if you need anything.” She gives me another sweet smile as she disappears out the front door.

My head sinks back onto the couch as soon as I hear the door click shut. What am I doing with my life? Why did I have to be so distrusting of Declan? It’s obvious that he was only looking out for my best interests, just like he’d always done. Declan has been there to watch over me ever since I first met him. He didn’t deserve all of the distrust I’d shown him in the last week. If I’d only listened to his warnings about how dangerous the city could be then I might not have gotten into this mess in the first place.

Tawny isn’t gone for more than a minute before three loud knocks rattle the door. I sit up, startled, staring at the door as if I may have imagined the noise or something. Another burst of three knocks comes again, moments later. Tawny must have forgotten her purse and locked herself out or something. It sounds like she’s in a hurry.

As I crack the door open, I say, “Forget your keys or some…”

My voice dies in my throat when I see who’s standing in the doorway.

“Isaac. What are you doing here?”

Isaac’s wearing his black, leather jacket and his white riding helmet is tucked under his arm. His brown hair is tousled in just that right way—it drives me crazy even though I want nothing to do with him. There’s something different about his face, though. It’s tight, with lines of concern creasing the corners of his bright, gray eyes. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days even though it’s only been one night since I last saw him.

“What are you doing here?” I repeat, straightening myself under the weight of his weary stare.

His look hardens a little as he sizes me up. His stare is so intense I wonder if he’s trying to look straight through me. I hold myself firm, refusing to show any signs of weakness. How in the world did Tawny not see him in the hallway? Did he wait for her to leave before he came to the door?

“
Well
?” I repeat.

“May I come in?” His voice sounds just as weary as he looks.

For an instant, I almost open the door for him. It’s a subconscious reaction, but I’m quick to get it in check.

“Whatever you have to say can be said right there.”

“Come on, kitten. Can’t we talk like adults?”

My eyes flash.

“Do
not
call me that. I am
not
your
kitten
.”

His brow pinches a little lower as I glare at him. But that’s the only reaction he displays. His breathing is still soft and even. What in the world does it take to rattle this man? Doesn’t he know how pissed off I am? Why won’t he show some damned emotions?

“Fine, no kitten talk. But can we at least be civilized?”

“
Civilized
? Lying to my face…is that what you consider
civilized
?”

I’m practically shouting at him.

“Bloody hell woman, there’s no need to shout, I’m standing right in front of you.”

He gives a quick glance up and down the hall, as though concerned one of my neighbors will overhear me causing a scene.

“
Now
you’re worried that someone might notice us? Convenient how that didn’t occur to you when you decided to have your way with me out there a week ago, isn’t it?”

I shouldn’t have brought it up. My body lurches on the inside at the thought of what we did out in that hallway. It was still one of the craziest, hottest things I’ve ever done, and my body has been craving more of the same ever since.

I quickly try to reel my emotions in. I have to keep them in check. I’m already vulnerable enough, if they get away from me then who knows what I will do.

Isaac’s eyes flash dangerously when they reconnect with mine.

“Don’t you play all helpless,” he spits back at me. “You wanted that every bit as much as I did. You can’t go blaming me for everything.”

My pulse is racing—I just wish it were for the right reasons.

“What about all of the lies? What about the fact that you knew exactly who I was before we ever even met? What about the fact that every word out of your mouth since I first met you has been a lie? I sure as shit can blame you for all of
that
!”

With every word that I speak his mouth gapes more and more. By the time I’m done, he’s giving me a wide-eyed stare of disbelief. Even with the outrage roaring through my chest, and with that stupid look on his face, I can feel my body still craving him, still wanting to do things to him right there in the hallway, again.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“What do you want me to say, Hannah?” he asks, after taking a moment to compose himself. “Do you want me to tell you that I knew everything about you? Is that what you want to hear? Because if it is, then I’ll say it.”

I glare at him hard.

“I want you to tell me whatever the truth is!”

He takes a step closer, I can feel the heat coming off of him.

“Do you want me to tell you that I just got you into bed so that I could take advantage of you? Is
that
what you want to hear?”

My stomach lurches.

“Is that what you’re saying?”

He takes another step closer. He’s too close. I should shut the door, lock him out. But I can’t.

“I’ll say it if that’s what you want to hear… Is that what you want to hear, Hannah?”

I shake my head. A swirl of emotions rolls through me so quickly that everything is starting to get jumbled together. Is that really what he had done? Had he really been playing me for the fool the whole time?

“I just want you to tell me the truth!”

He takes a final step closer. We’re practically standing chest to chest at this point. I want nothing more than to get away from him, but at the same time I can’t see myself doing anything but jumping into his arms right then and there. Everything is just swirling too fast in my head to make sense of anything.

He gives me a hard look, then shakes his head.

“No, Hannah. I don’t think you want to hear the truth. You’ve already decided what the truth is, haven’t you? You’ve already decided that I’m the bad guy.”

‘“What do you mean?”

“You’re scared. You’re just using this as an excuse to try and get away from me. You don’t want to hear the
real
truth.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re afraid to let me in.”

As he says it, his finger comes up and taps me on the chest right over my heart. I can feel the swell of emotions inside of me beginning to come out, whether I want them to or not. I give him a pleading look. There’s no way I can keep my strength up for long. I can already feel all of the walls I’d started to rebuild crumble away.

“Please tell me the truth. I have to know.”

Isaac studies me for a few, long moments. My mind is racing, hoping that he’ll answer me before I lose control over myself.

“The pictures and files were a part of my company’s background check on BMG. It’s standard procedure before we get into serious negotiations with any company.”

This makes sense to me. But it doesn’t answer the question that I really want to know.

“Did you know who I was before we met?”

Isaac’s gray eyes are intense as they take all of me in. He fixes me with a hard look, and then gives a single shake of his head.

“I had decided not to go through with the deal before I even got them. So I never looked.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, even as it spreads throughout the rest of my body.
 

“So all of this time…”

His finger hooks under my chin, stopping my head from falling away, his eyes holding my gaze. His voice is soft and warm.

“Hannah… kitten… I’ve been crazy about you since the moment I met you.”

Before I realize it, I’m wrapping my arms around Isaac’s neck and pulling him into a deep kiss. My heart is pounding so violently in my chest that it’s hard to even hear anything else around me. The jolt of energy that runs through me when our lips connect reminds me that kissing Isaac is the last thing I expected to happen tonight. But still, there’s something about it that feels totally right.

Isaac doesn’t hesitate to react. His arms wrap around my waist, steadying me as we stumble our way back into the apartment. His strong arms clutch me tight to his bulky frame, so I don’t lose my balance as our lips remain locked together. Within moments my hands are clawing and tearing to get his shirt off. I want to have him naked in my arms.

No.

I
need
to have him naked in my arms.

But there’s a dull little ache already in the back of my mind. It’s doubt that I’m just getting myself into more trouble, and it’s gnawing at me as I tug the bottom of his shirt up.

“Should we slow down?” I ask, between kisses.

“That’s not our style,” he says.

He pulls me into another deep kiss. Feeling his tongue exploring the interior of my mouth, feeling it glide over and around my own tongue, is all it takes for most of my fears to be washed away. I can still sense them there in the background, but they won’t stop me from taking what I want.

My groping hands tug at his shirt more furiously, until Isaac raises his arms high overhead, letting me pull it off of him. The muscles in his chest ripple and flex as he leans forward, wrapping his arms around my waist, once again. I let out a squeal of delight as he hoists me into the air. My legs wrap around his taut frame as I run my fingers through the back of his tousled brown hair.

Isaac carries me to my bedroom, stepping around all of the furniture and navigating the hallway without ever looking where he’s going. He’s getting entirely too good at doing that. How many times has he carried me this way in the last week? He slides onto the bed next to me. The weight of his body presses into me, giving me an odd sense of comfort. His gray eyes are beaming at me while he runs a finger along the side of my cheek. The tiny, satisfied smirk tugs at the corners of his lips.

“I’m such a wanker. I can’t believe I almost lost you over something so stupid.”

“Let’s not talk about it…”

Isaac’s bulge is straining to be released, and my fingers sink down to the top button of his jeans to assist it. There’s a snapping sound as the first button pops open. The bulge stretches outward, forcing the zipper down its first few tangs. His cock is revealed beneath the denim—I’m finally beginning to get used to the fact that he doesn’t wear any boxers or briefs. I take him in my hand and release the thickness fully.

Isaac lets out a groan. The pleased sound encourages me, and I tug even harder, even faster. More pleasured groans roll deep within his chest. A satisfied grin spreads across his face, sending my heart racing even faster.
 

“Is this what you wanted when you came over?” I ask.

I lower myself along the bed until I’m able to take the tip of his cock into my mouth. I can taste some of the precum that has already escaped.

Isaac lets out another groan. His hand wraps around the back of my head, threading his fingers through my hair. He pulls me down, sliding his cock even further into my mouth. The muscles in his legs tense as I suck harder and harder. Another tiny groan escapes him. Then his strong hands go from pushing me down onto his cock to pulling me away from it.

“Hannah, not so fast. I want to enjoy you, too.”

I grin and roll back on the bed. A little rush goes through me with the knowledge that I almost brought him to orgasm that quickly. I must be getting a lot better at giving him exactly what he likes.

Isaac wastes no time taking my pants off. After I’m stripped bare, he eyes me hungrily. My heart races even faster when he looks at me that way. Taking his cock in his hand, he leans in close to me and starts rubbing it in tiny, little circles around my soaked center.

“Don’t tease me,” I whine.

“Oh, I’m not teasing you, kitten. I’m just enjoying myself.”

“It feels like you’re teasing me.”