“I know the feeling.” Peyton sat down on the sofa and dragged her down next to her. “Start talking.”
“There’s nothing to tell. We met by chance at the airport and he offered me a lift on Stone’s chopper when the flight was delayed for two days.”
“Bullshit! Do I look like a nitwit, Taylor? Come on! This is me. I know you better than you know yourself. Out with it. Exactly how did a chance meeting morph into being a complete stranger’s submissive?”
“Damned if I know,” she muttered under her breath as she searched the room. Her gaze got snagged by the dark blonde head of the one she’d been looking for. Her lips thinned as she watched a tall and striking blonde woman rub her body against Zeke where he was dishing up a plate of food.
“Who the fuck is that woman?” Her eyes widened and her gaze swung to Peyton when her voice floated back to her and she identified the possessive jealousy coating every syllable. “Shit, Peyton, I’m in so much shit, aren’t I?”
“I know the feeling, my friend. I experienced the same thing with Stone.” She smiled as she covered her rounded stomach lovingly. She was thankful every day for the miracle of a new life growing inside her. “You might as well stop fighting it. Once a Sinclair worms his way inside your mind, it’s only a matter of time before he captures your heart and soul … not to mention what he’d do to your body along the way.”
“No shit, Sherlock.”
Taylor sighed as realization washed over her. The instant attraction she’d felt toward Zeke had blossomed to a desire for so much more in a very short period of time. She struggled to understand the myriad of emotions raging through her as she stared at the undulating woman who did her best to openly seduce Zeke.
“If she doesn’t fucking get her fake tits from out of his face, I’m gonna pop those implants; see if I don’t!” She glared at Peyton as she burst out laughing. “It’s all your fault. You should’ve warned me about the Sinclair potency!”
“Well, had I known you were heading this way, I might have.”
“Had you responded to my calls and messages you would have,” she muttered irritably. She sighed at Peyton’s frown. “According to Parker, there were periods of no connectivity while he was doing some technical stuff.”
Peyton’s brow twitched. Taylor was a brilliant attorney and her knowledge about property law was highly sought after but she was a complete novice when it came to any technical terminology.
“I do recall he mentioned it last week.” She smiled at the morose expression on Taylor’s face as she glowered at the tall blonde woman who seemed to have glued herself to Zeke’s side. “Truthfully, girlfriend, I can’t think of a better match for you than Zeke.” She gestured to the buffet table. “Once your agreement with Zeke is made known, no one will touch him.”
“Tell her that. She seems to be molding herself to his side.”
“Well, for now, he’s free game.” Peyton’s eyes twinkled with amusement at Taylor's obvious jealousy. “Especially since you publicly and rather loudly announced your only interest in him is to fuck him.”
“You know me. I tend to talk before I think.” She groaned and glanced at Peyton. “I’ve always been a free agent, Peyton, in charge of my own destiny. You know the Doms I scened with to date were specifically chosen because they were happy with me topping from the bottom. I have no clue how to deal with a powerful and demanding Dom like Zeke. I think I made a huge mistake agreeing to be his sub.” She sighed heavily. “There’s no way I’ll be able to keep my mouth shut and stay out of trouble.”
“If I were you, I’d be more worried about keeping my heart intact. Your ass will be able to handle the sting of his anger but once your heart becomes invested in him as your man …” Peyton squeezed her hand. “Suffice it to say, then my friend, you’re screwed.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
Peyton’s toe tap-tap-tapped on the floor. “I’m still waiting, Taylor. What happened between you and Zeke?”
Taylor cast an amused glance Peyton’s way. “You’re like a dog after a bone, do you know that? You’re not going to stop, are you?”
“I’m an investigative journalist, my friend, what do you think?”
Peyton laughed as she rolled her eyes like she used to when they were younger—a sign of her exasperation that she didn’t bother to hide.
“The flight was delayed for over forty-eight hours and I couldn’t afford to stay in DC for two more days. He overheard my discussion with the ticket agent and offered a lift on the chopper to Key West. I …” she squirmed in the seat, knowing full well what Peyton’s reaction was going to be, “also stayed with him in the penthouse apartment at the hotel.”
“Well, that explains a lot.”
Taylor snorted. “Wish I had the foresight.”
“So, I can surmise the two of you did the horizontal hokey pokey all night long?”
Taylor’s gaze drifted back to the dark blonde man who was now seated at a long table with his cousins. It pleased her that the blonde wasn’t glued to his side any longer. He was still pissed at her if the way his rigid jaw jutting forward and the dark expression on his face was anything to go by.
“Not exactly.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! Do I have to drag it out of you?”
“He didn’t fuck me, if that’s what you want to know.” She tsk’ed at Peyton’s disbelieving look and briefly explained what had occurred.
“Well, kudos for Zeke! It’s about time someone took you to task for your hang up about being naked.” This time she rolled her eyes when Taylor glared at her. “I know you’re comfortable with your body but be honest, when have you ever allowed a man to see you naked? You always have sex in the dark and cover every inch of skin when you go to clubs. Which, we both know you never take off during a scene either.” She leaned closer and whispered in her ear. “I’ve come to learn it takes away all the fun and enjoyment, you know.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You should try it sometimes.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not something that’s going to change overnight and definitely not because one man managed to coax me to see me through his eyes.” She wriggled her bum against the seat and winced at a stinging sensation against her still sensitive skin. The surge of heat shooting to her loins startled her. It was incomprehensible how highly strung and needy her body still was. How badly she wanted to feel Zeke’s hard cock slam into her and pound her like he’d promised not too long ago. Her eyes shot to him and found his gaze locked onto her.
She’d be damned.
“The bastard knows!” Her voice cracked and try as she might, she couldn’t drag her attention from him. The knowing smile curving his lips upward gave him a bad boy look—a highly self-satisfied one at that. “Damn it to hell, Peyton. I don’t like the feelings he’s stirred inside me. Not one bit.”
“I suggest you get used to it, girlfriend. What you feel now is only the tip of the iceberg.” She straightened as something Taylor had said registered. “Wait a minute. There’s more to this tale of yours. Why the urgency to get away from DC? You love the city and would never let an opportunity go by to roam all the historical places you love so much. Don’t you dare clam up on me, Taylor Banks,” she growled at the obstinate look crossing her face. Her eyes sharpened as she detected a twinge of paleness shadowing Taylor’s usual rosy skin. “You’re spooked! Something scared you, I can see it in your eyes. Out with it. What’s going on?”