Access Granted (11 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Sabrina couldn’t believe it as she stood outside getting soaked. She stared at her keys locked inside her car. How could she forget to take them out? Now, she had two options for getting help. Either she could call Brent for help, but he was about an hour’s day from the shopping center, or she could swallow her pride and ask Zander for assistance since his office was only about twenty minutes away. The choice was already made the second the rain started coming down even harder against her bare arms.

Dropping her bags down on the ground, she pulled her cell phone out of the side pocket of her purse and dialed Zander. She prayed he wasn’t in a meeting or anything and his phone wasn’t on mute.

“Sabrina, what’s wrong?” he asked, answering on the first ring.

She was momentarily taken back by how he knew something was wrong with her. “I need you,” she answered.

“Sweetheart, tell me what’s going on.”

“I was out shopping and I locked my keys in the car. I’m standing out in the rain. Can you come and please help me? If you’re busy I can call Brent or maybe Sean instead.” She grabbed her bags and rushed away from her car and stood underneath the roof of a closed department store as lightning flashed across the sky.

“Don’t call either one of them for a damn thing. I’m coming to help you. You don’t even need to think about them when you’re in trouble. Just tell me where you are and I’ll be there.”

She gave Zander directions to her location. After hearing his comment about her calling another man for help, she knew that was no longer an option.

“Sabrina, I’m close to where you are. Get out of rain and I’ll be there to help you, sweetheart,” Zander assured her before hanging up.

Closing her phone, she placed it back inside her purse and stepped further underneath the building’s tiny roof. She crossed her arms around her waist as she tried to block out the rain while she waited for Zander to get here.

She couldn’t help but think, every time she was in some kind of trouble the first person she instantly thought of helping her was Zander. Whenever she tried to push him out of her life, something always happened that brought him back to her like a boomerang.

No matter how far she tossed him away he never held it against her. Zander never let her outbursts bother him. She truly had a good guy in him.

Brent and Sean weren’t interested in being her friend. They wanted something from her and she was smart enough to realize the difference. While she could ignore their advances, she found it harder to fight off the aura that surrounded Zander. He just made everything seem more and more alive when they were together like she had been waiting her entire life for only him.

A flash of lightning lit up the sky making Sabrina jump and ease back as far as she could against the building. Why hadn’t she tried to leave when she first noticed the clouds rolling in when she glanced out the shop’s window?

No, she had to ignore all of the signs of a bad storm coming and continue shopping. Now, she was out here in the rain and damp, waiting on Zander’s help. She wondered what was taking him so long. He acted like he wasn’t that far away from the shopping center.

Stop it
, her mind scolded. Why am I complaining about him going out of his way to help me? Be happy he was able to do it.

Sabrina rubbed her hands up and down her arms trying to warm up. The roof of the building wasn’t providing much protection against the continuing downpour.

As another roar of thunder shook around her, she noticed a black truck coming down the highway in the distance and her heart jumped inside her chest from excitement the second she realized the vehicle was Zander’s work truck.

Minutes later, he parked beside her car and got out running through the rain over to her. “Are you okay?” Zander asked, his eyes worriedly searching her face. “Sorry, it took me so long but I got held up by a train.”

Sabrina smiled at the genuine concern in his voice. He came across like he was upset about the woman in his life being stranded instead of his best friend.

“Besides being embarrassed as hell, wet and a little cold I’m doing fine,” she answered. “I want to thank you again for coming out of your way to help me. I know you stay busy with new clients all the time.”

Stepping closer to her body, Zander brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. The slight touch sent a jolt of warmth through her chilled body before he cupped her chin in his large hand.

Titling her head back, Sabrina continued to stare into Zander’s eyes. “Do you think you’ll be able to fix my problem?”

“Baby, I can and will do anything that you need. Now, let’s get you into my truck and I can find a way to get your keys out of your car.”

He removed his hand from her face taking his wonderful burst of warmth with him. “Come on, darling. Let’s get you inside some place dry and warm.” Bending down, he picked up her bags and rushed her back to his truck.

Zander helped her inside and waited while she slid across the passenger seat. She watched as he opened the side door of his truck and placed her bags in the back. He closed it and then came back to her.

“Stay inside the truck and just wait for me. This shouldn’t take too long,” he promised, shutting the door.

Relaxing against the heated seat, Sabrina watched Zander through the passenger side window. She noticed how the elements didn’t seem to distract him at all. He almost acted like he wasn’t feeling how the rain plastered his clothing against his well-muscled body. There wasn’t an inch of him left to her imagination and Sabrina realized she liked watching how Zander’s body moved with such an easy grace while he worked.

Resting her neck against the headrest, Sabrina allowed her body to relax as the dampness slowly evaporated from her bones. She was only going to do this for a few minutes before she got out of the car and offered Zander some help.

She knew he told her to stay put; however, she felt bad he was out there probably catching a cold because of her carelessness with her car keys.

****

Zander breathed a deep sigh of relief when Sabrina succumbed to his mental coaching. She had a very strong will and was able to block out his suggestive thoughts for longer than he expected her too. But he couldn’t allow her to see how easily he could open her locked car.

Using his mind, he made the latch unlock from the inside then opened the door. Sliding his body behind the wheel, he tried starting the car several times before he finally determined the car battery was dead. She wouldn’t be able to drive home tonight. Since his house was much closer than hers, he would just grab her stuff and take Sabrina to his place for the night.

Glancing into the backseat, Zander picked up everything he saw there and got out of the car then made sure the car was completely secure. After that was accomplished, he raced back through the rain and got into his truck with a sleeping Sabrina.

For a minute, he thought about waking her up to let her know what was going on, but he quickly decided against it. She wouldn’t agree to spend the night at his house for anything in the world which did hurt him a tiny bit, but he understood how Sabrina was battling her attraction to him.

A
Unique
woman was a rare occurrence in his world. So, when Jax found Sahara and then Sabrina came into his life understanding how to deal with them without scaring them off was hard. Nevertheless, he had all the patience in the world to wait for his mate to come around and see things his way.

Reaching over, he picked up a strand of Sabrina’s soft hair twirling it between his fingers. The light brown color complimented her smooth caramel complexion to perfection. He could stare at her for the rest of the day and never get tired of it.

Someone had made Sabrina completely for his love and pleasure and no one else’s. He wasn’t about to make the mistake of not knowing what was in front of his face like Jax almost had done.

Zander started his truck and pulled out of the deserted parking lot. He turned left at the corner and drove towards his house. He was excited about the night ahead. He wanted another date with his mate and he would get it, just not the way he had planned it out in his head. All he hoped was she wouldn’t try to rip his head off or threaten to end their relationship again like she usually did when she felt like she was being backed into a corner.

Chapter Twenty

The sound of someone talking woke Sabrina out of her sleep. Cracking open her eyes, she spotted Zander’s wide back turned away from her, his cell phone against his ear. Glancing around the bedroom, she instantly knew this wasn’t her house. Disbelief filled her body as she listened more closely to the conversation.

“Yes. Mrs. Watley. Sabrina is with me and she’s fine. She just got locked out of her car. I’ll take good care of her. No, I didn’t take her back home since my house was closer. I’ll make sure she calls you.”

She wasn’t going to stay here with Zander. Not after the dreams she’d been having about him for the past few weeks. No way... No how! He was going to take her back home as soon as he got off the phone. Damn the storm!

Sitting up on the bed, Sabrina tossed the covers off her body and gasped when she noticed she was wearing a long t-shirt without anything else underneath it..

“Where are my clothes?” she hollered at him.

Zander spun around and winked at her before getting off the phone. “Sleeping Beauty has finally decided to wake up. Supper is almost ready. I was planning on letting you rest until I was completely finished.”

Getting out of the bed, Sabrina stormed over to Zander who was smirking at her. In her bare feet, she barely came to the middle of his chest but she didn’t care about that at the moment. “I don’t want anything to eat. I want to know where my clothes are, so I can put them on and then you’re going to take me back home.”

He shook his head at her as a smile tugged at the corner of his firm, kissable mouth. “I really wish I could take you back home, but I’ve a phobia of being out in bad rainstorms.”

She saw the way his eyes were shinning at her and she knew he was lying to her. God, she didn’t have time for this. She was already trying to stay calm with being half-naked and alone with Zander inside of his bedroom. Yes, she had been to his house before but never this far.

It was just too
intimate.

“Zander, you aren’t scared of anything. We both know it. So, stop pretending because I won’t ever believe you,” Sabrina told him.

Chuckling, he reached out, grabbed her by the arms and pulled her against his chest. Shock waves of excitement burned its way throughout her body settling between her thighs. “At least, you know that much about me because the way you come off sometimes, it’s like you don’t care to learn more about what makes me tick.”

Her heart caught in her throat as Zander leaned down until his lips were mere inches from her. The warmth from his mouth tickled hers.

“Do you want to know more about me, Sabrina? I’ll open up to you in more ways than you could ever have thought possible? I mean I won’t keep any secrets from you. All you have to do is show me that you want me.”

She started to get a little lightheaded the more she got lost in the beauty of Zander’s eyes. The longer Sabrina looked she noticed how they flickered and then grew darker right before her eyes.

“I can’t know more about you than I already know. You’ve told me so much. Is there something I don’t know about you?” she questioned, trying to focus as Zander’s eyes drew her in even more.

He glanced away from her and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck breaking the spell that had wrapped around them. “Sweetheart, there is so much about me that you are oblivious to because you like having blinders on. Yet, when you’re truly ready I will tell you why I have wanted you from the very second I laid eyes on your beautiful face.”

Sabrina wondered what Zander was keeping from her. He was coming off so mysterious and that wasn’t like him. He was usually an open book.

“Tell me what I don’t know,” she pushed.

Zander stepped back and looked at her then shook his head. “Sorry, I can’t do that. You have to work to find out what my secret is. Now, get yourself together, so we can eat,” he said, making his way towards the bedroom door.

She wanted to argue, but she didn’t see any point in it. When Zander decided to dig in his heels about something, it was hard to change his mind, so she would try a different tactic.

“I thought you wanted us to get closer and become more than friends. Why are you keeping the best part of yourself locked away from me?”

Pausing in the open doorway, Zander glanced back at her. “Nice try, Ms. Court Reporter, but you aren’t getting anything out of me until I’m ready to tell you. Now, get washed up for dinner and head on out here for tacos.”

“Oh, I love your tacos,” Sabrina gushed.

Once Zander had made some for a Super bowl party and brought them over to Avery’s house. They had tasted so amazing that within twenty minutes the entire tray was empty.

“I know you do which is why I made them for you. Don’t keep me waiting too long or the food will get cold,” he said and then continued on out the door.

Sabrina twirled around making a mad dash for the bathroom. She couldn’t waste a second because she didn’t want to not bite into a warm, meat filled tortilla shell with a huge pile of extras on the top. It was probably the only thing that would satisfy her huge hunger right now.

Chapter Twenty-One

Taking a bite of the overstuffed taco, Sabrina couldn’t stop her eyes from rolling into the back of her head at the spicy taste. No one—not even her mother—could make tacos taste like a parade in her mouth the way Zander’s did. He just had the right touch when it came to food.

“Should I be jealous my cooking puts that look on your face?”

Cracking open an eye, she saw him grinning at her from across the table. “I mean I have never seen you look so exultant.”

“Sorry, I can’t help it. I’m a woman who loves her Mexican food.”  Placing the shell back down on the plate in front of her, Sabrina wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“Did I thank you again for coming to my rescue?” she asked. “I can always count on you.”

“Yes, you did thank me and no matter what happens between us, I will always be there for you. How are things going at work? Is Sean still trying to get you to go out on a date with him?”

She wasn’t fooled by the sudden change in conversation. Zander was constantly making sure no other man was getting too close to what he thought was his. He was very possessive of her and she knew it.

“Work has been going pretty well lately. I’ve been keeping busy so I don’t see much of Sean like I used to in the past.”

“Good, maybe the talk I had with him finally got through his thick skull. I don’t ever share,” he confessed, shocking her. She wasn’t even going to waste her breath lecturing Zander because he probably wouldn’t pay attention to a word coming out of her mouth.

Picking up her food, Sabrina took another bite wondering when she ever agreed that she belonged to him. He loved doing this to her putting on the spot.

“You don’t have to share me. We are always going to be close. You should know that by now.”

“Baby, your close and my close are on two totally different levels. We both know this, so how about we not get into another argument over it?” he suggested.

Zander was right. She would constantly toss the ‘friends’ relationship back at him because she was apprehensive about falling for someone as intense as he was. She wasn’t around Zander’s brother and his wife a lot, but on the rare occasions she had been everything about Jax and Sahara was so passionate from the way they looked at each other down to their arguments. She wasn’t sure if she could handle something like that with Zander.

“Okay, you’re right. I’m having a good time here with you and I don’t want to fight. I miss how we used to laugh and play around with each other, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. I always have an excellent time with you, sweetheart.” Grabbing their plates off the kitchen table, Zander carried them over to the counter next to the sink. “Why don’t you see if there’s anything on television for us to look at? I’ll do the dishes.”

“Are you sure that you don’t need any help? I want to do something since you were nice enough to cook for me twice,” Sabrina said.

Getting up out of her seat, she walked over to Zander and stood next to him.

“I’m sure I can clean this up. Besides, you’re my guest and I’m not about to put you to work.” He scraped the plates into a trash can underneath the sink then placed them back on the counter.

“Come on Zander. I know you must want me to do something for you,” she insisted.

Sabrina gasped as Zander moved with lightning speed trapping her body between the sink and his hard body.  Her heart pounded against her ribs as Zander brushed the back of his knuckles against her cheek.

“Sabrina, are you up to giving me what I want? You know how much I’m determined to be a part of your life. You can’t tempt me with something I’ve craved for a while.”

“Zander, I─”

The rest of her words got cut off when he placed a finger against her lips. “No more trying to push me away with another useless friend’s comment. I’m not going to stand by and let you deny what has been between us for awhile. You know that we’d be so hot together. I can feel your skin burning as I stand this close to you,” he whispered against the side of her ear.

“Haven’t you ever dreamt about me when you’re alone in that big lonely bed of yours at night? Do you really think Brent or Sean could make you feel as good as I could?”

Easing his thigh between her trembling legs, Zander brushed his knee back and forth against her damp underwear. “Sweetheart, I would strip you naked and kiss every single inch of that beautiful body of yours.”

Sabrina shivered as the image flashed right before her eyes. “Zander,” she whispered.

Taking her earlobe between his warm lips, he nibbled at it shooting shock waves throughout her traitorous body. “You shouldn’t talk to me like this,” she insisted, but then ruined it by moaning when Zander’s tongue licked her ear.

“Why not?” he questioned, running his mouth along her neck, “Neither one of us are involved with anyone. I haven’t had any qualms about telling you day in and day out how much I want and need you in my life.”

“Oh God,” she whimpered when his fingers eased underneath the back of shirt and stroked her skin.

She had to get away from Zander or she would lose her mind. His touch was so hot and his breath felt so warm and coaxing against her body. He could almost make her do anything without having any kind of remorse the next day. She would even do the walk of shame for Zander right now, but she had to get herself from under his allure.

She worked her hands between their bodies; however, she couldn’t get him to move out of her way. Subconsciously, Sabrina rubbed her fingertips across his wide, muscular chest stopping right above his nipple. Her thumb eased closer to it until the tip was mere inches away from the hard pebble.

“Touch it,” Zander’s deep voice encouraged above her head.

I’m nervous
, she thought. This wasn’t something she was used to doing with anyone especially her close friend.

“Don’t be nervous. Everything will be alright. I promise you,” he whispered softly.

How did he know what she had been thinking?

It was almost like Zander read her mind, but that was impossible. So, she shoved the idiotic thought from her head. Her eyes shot back to Zander who was staring down at her with an intensity she had only experienced one time before. It was the night of Avery’s birthday party and she caught him staring at her from across the room. Like he was staking a claim on her and it didn’t matter if she wanted it or not.

“I’m not scared,” she lied, standing up straighter without breaking eye contact with him. Sabrina would prove to him that she had an unwavering look as well as he did.

Bending down, he brushed his nose against her cheek. “I know you can do it. Small steps. I promise you that I won’t do anything that you don’t want me to, sweetheart.”

Sabrina wasn’t worried about Zander not stopping. She was more fearful of what would happen to her if she allowed herself to let go with the gorgeous man coaching her into touching him. Barreling past her fears, she flicked the tip of her fingernail back and forth over his nipple.

A low growl escaped from between his mouth as he threw back his head and ground his hips against hers. “God, baby I need more. Your touch is driving me out of my mind. I’ve waited so long for this,” he confessed, catching her eyes with his again.

Taking her hand he moved it down his muscular chest towards the hard erection she felt throbbing against her. “Touch me. I want you to feel how hard you make me. No other woman can do this, but you. You’re the only woman I want to put her hands on me.” His eyes peered into hers filled with an unrelenting need...no, desire.

Biting at her bottom lip, Sabrina slid her hand the last few inches until her fingers came into contact with what Zander wanted the most. She felt her own body began to pulse in response like it knew all of this was meant for her.

His cock felt thick, long and hard and she gasped as it jerked under her touch. Shockingly, he seemed to grow even thicker and longer right under her hand.

“Do you feel how much he loves your touch?” Zander asked, placing his hand on top of hers. He wrapped her fingers around him more firmly.

“Yes,” she whispered as the throbbing in her vagina got worse. She tried squeezing her thighs together to ease some of the ache.

“Baby, do you need something? Is your beautiful body aching for mine? Let me see if I can help you.”

Kissing the side of her mouth, Zander removed his hands from hers and eased it underneath the t-shirt he let her borrow, skimming his fingers over her bare skin until he came to her pussy.  She felt one of his thick fingers work its way into her, then he pulled out a little before thrusting halfway back inside.

Her hand tightened around his hard cock as she got lost in the sensations shooting through her. “Do you know how hard it is for me not to throw you on the table and shove my dick inside of you right now?” Zander demanded as his hot breath tickled her skin. “I’m fighting with everything in me not to make you mine.”

Sabrina wanted to answer, but she was too lost in shock of Zander pushing another one of his fingers inside of her. She only wanted to block everything out and just
feel.

“All I would have to do is spread this beautiful, shapely thigh of yours, take out my erection and I would be buried deep in a matter of seconds. Fuck. Just thinking about it gets me even harder than I have ever been before.”

Finding her clit, he toyed with it using his thumb.  “Sabrina, baby you are so wet. Do you know how happy this makes me? Now, I know you want me as much as I crave and hunger for you.”