Hijacked (6 page)

* * * *

Sharon planned on going to work—the only reason she had for leaving Kyle’s the night before— but when she woke, she was exhausted and called in for the first time in over a year. She’d spent the day lounging in her cotton pajamas, alternating from the sofa to her bed, carrying with her the romance novel she’d been trying to read when Kyle Phillips showed up at the café and flipped her world upside down. She didn’t feel about him like she did the other men she’d been with…he was different, and she didn’t want to play games with him. She didn’t want him for the sole purpose of fucking, although granted, he was the best she’d ever had. There was a connection between them, an undeniable passion that gave her a high when they touched and left her craving him when they weren’t.

She glanced at the clock on her DVD player and groaned. It was a little after three. She’d successfully wasted an entire day by staring at pages, trying to focus on the story only to be interrupted by thoughts of him. She tossed the book aside, grabbed her phone from the charger, and went outside to smoke.

There were six missed calls from Kayla, and double that in texts—all of them asking if she was okay. She replied, explaining she was all right and apologizing about her phone still being on silent from when she was at work Saturday night. Kayla wouldn’t be off work at the factory for another hour so Sharon didn’t expect to hear from her until then. She snuffed out her cigarette and went back inside.

After her shower, she blow dried her hair, pulled it back in a loose ponytail, and applied her mascara. She rummaged through her closet and found her favorite cotton slip dress, sliding it over her head. The pale yellow would show off her tan. It was casual enough she wouldn’t appear dressy, and it went perfect with her bamboo, wedge sandals.

With one destination in mind, she grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

She had to see him.

* * * *

The car idled at the end of his driveway. On the trip over, she’d felt brave, confident that what she’d felt for him had been mutual and he would have the same need to be with her as she did him. Being a few minutes away from him though, the excitement of having him in reaching distance was overshadowed by fear of refusal, and she thought she might vomit from nervousness. Closing her eyes, she relived every time he’d looked in her eyes, and what it felt like when he’d brushed her hair away from her face. She concentrated hard on how wonderful her name had sounded rolling over his lips.

Oh God! What if it was all in her head? She was sitting at the edge of his driveway like some
Fatal Attraction
stalker…shit!

She popped her eyes open and threw the car in reverse, screaming and slamming on her brakes when she looked in her rearview mirror and saw Kyle sitting on a huge palomino horse.

Busted.

Fuck!

She gnawed on the inside of her bottom lip and watched as he steered the horse to the driver’s side of her car. He was wearing worn-out jeans, scuffed boots, and a faded, denim button-up shirt with the sleeves cut off at the shoulder. His arms—tan and toned—glistened with sweat, the stubble on his face showed no signs of shaving, and his barely brown hair was damp and ruffled. Was it possible for him to look bad? Hell, no! He was hot as hell even grimy and sweaty, and she found herself wanting to pull him off that horse and ride the life out of him right there on the ground.

“Wow!” he said as she rolled the window down. “You almost took us out.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Where were you going anyway?” He crossed his arms over the saddle horn and readjusted in his seat. His perfectly crooked grin lit up his face.

“I don’t know…driving.”

“I’m glad you’re here. After you left yesterday I realized the only way I had to contact you was to find you at
Night
.”

“It’s closed on Mondays.”

“That’s good to know. I was prepared to go over there later and wait for you to show.” The horse fidgeted, and he pulled on the reins, turning her in a circle. “I’ve got to get this saddle off her. If you want to go down to the house, I’ll be there in less than fifteen minutes. It’s unlocked, so go on in.”

Sharon steered the vehicle down the driveway, admiring the way he handled the horse as he rode off in front of her and cut across a pasture beside his house. She parked the car next to his truck and walked in. Not entirely comfortable sitting in his house alone, she went straight through to the patio out back and sat on the edge of one of the chaise loungers by the pool. Her phone beeped and she picked it up and checked the text. It was from Kayla, telling her it was about time she responded but that she was glad she was still alive. Sharon laughed and replied that she would see her tomorrow at work, then set the phone back down beside her.

“God, you look good.”

She started at Kyle’s voice and looked up to see him standing in the doorway. Goose bumps raised on her skin with anticipation of touching him. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

He snorted. “I’m filthy. Give me a couple of minutes to shower. You don’t have to sit outside.”

“I know. I like it out here.” Sharon glanced around the private oasis.

“I’ll be right back.” He walked over and planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m taking you out tonight.”

* * * *

“Why did you just pull on to the interstate?”

“We’re going to Jackson.” Kyle hit the scan button on the radio console as if what he’d said wasn’t significant.

Sharon, on the other hand, was on the verge of freaking out. She couldn’t go to Jackson. “I have to work tomorrow.”

“Skip work. I need you tomorrow.”

“What! I can’t miss work tomorrow. I called in sick today.” Though, the idea of spending the day with him was tempting.

“Oh, really? Called in sick, huh?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“And you waited until late afternoon to come over?” He took her hand. “I’ve been in hell all day waiting to see you.”

She turned in the seat to face him. “Honestly, I thought about you all day. I was trying to see how long I could last without being near you.”

“Ah, masochist.”

“Ha, no.” She laughed. “Also, I didn’t know if you would be at work or not. Speaking of work, you know what I do for a living. What about you?”

“I have a cattle ranch. I run it.”

“How long have you had the ranch? I grew up in Pineville, and I’ve never heard anyone talk about a cattle farm.”

“I bought the land a couple of years back. I got the herd a few months ago.” He cleared his throat. “Back to you. I want you with me tomorrow.”

She shook her head. “I’m not missing work.”

“I’ll pay you twice what you’d make tomorrow.”

No, he didn’t. He couldn’t be serious. Sharon jerked her hand from his. Basically, he’d just called her a whore. Livid, she spouted. “I’m sorry. I think more of myself than a twenty-eight dollar an hour lay.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, he was slamming on the brakes, throwing her body forward. Thank God for seatbelts. “Sharon, that’s not what I meant.”

An eighteen wheeler whizzed by, shaking the truck. What was she doing? She didn’t know him. She’d set herself up. Let her guard down. “Get off the highway, Kyle.”

“Let me straighten out what I said.”

One after another vehicles passed by them honking. “Fine! Fuck it! You want to get killed on the interstate by a speeding vehicle. I don’t care. I’ll walk God damn it!” She unlatched her seatbelt, threw the door open, and jumped out of the vehicle, not bothering to close the door.

“Get in the truck, Sharon!” He pulled next to the shoulder, driving the same speed she was walking.

She refused to acknowledge him. Instead, she kept her sight on the rest area a few hundred feet away. Her phone was in the cup holder attached to the console of his truck, and she needed to call Kayla for a ride. There was no way she was riding with him. Not after what he’d said. Damn it! She’d left her cigarettes in her car.

Two more vehicles passed, laying on the horn as they did.

“Sharon!”

She turned to face the truck, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Leave. Me. Alone.”

Kyle reached across the seat and slammed the door she’d left open. He hit the gas, and she expected him to take off and leave her, but he pulled to the shoulder not far ahead. He bailed from the vehicle, throwing his hands in the air. “Jesus! You can’t walk down the side of the interstate.”

“You shouldn’t worry. Apparently I have plenty of practice walking the streets!” Sharon took a deep breath and tried to push past him, but he stepped in front of her and took her shoulders. She planted her palms against his chest to push him away. Instead, the sudden high from his contact hijacked her thoughts, and all she knew was that leaving him was not an option.

Her hands gripped his shirt, tugging him to her as he grabbed her ponytail, directing her mouth to his. Her frantic tongue searched his as her arms latched around the back of his neck. He grabbed her ass, picking her up, and she straddled his waist.

He carried her to the passenger side of the truck, away from traffic, and jerked the door open.

“Mmm. Are you gonna fuck me?” she asked, her mouth not leaving his.

“Hell yes, I am.” He sat her in the front seat and popped open the glove compartment. “Here.” He handed her a small, foil wrapper.

She tore it open with her teeth as he unleashed his cock. Her insides jerked at the sight, and her sex pulsed. She wasted no time covering him.

Kyle bent down to kiss her. “Panties?”

“Ah…none.”

“You make me crazy.” With a shudder, he nudged the hem of her dress above her waist. Grabbing the backs of her thighs, he pulled her to the edge of the seat and slipped his thumb into her folds.

She tilted her hips against his hand, moaning low. “Please…fuck me.”

“God, I’m throbbing too hard. It’ll be fast.”

“I don’t care.” And she didn’t. She just wanted to feel him inside her. She had to satisfy the craving she’d had all day.

“Lean back.”

She did, and he grabbed her hips, dragging her off the seat until only her upper back and shoulders were against the warm leather of the truck seat, then he slammed into her, taking her breath away.

* * * *

“What are we doing here?” Sharon stared out the window at Donovan Suites, the most expensive hotel in Jackson, maybe all of Mississippi for all she knew. What she was certain of was that it was too rich for her tastes. Never one to pay extra for all the bells and whistles, she thought a lot of people went overboard with it, throwing money around. It seemed senseless.

Kyle steered the truck to valet parking. “Eating.”

“At
The Blue Ivy
?” She’d heard about this place...the restaurant located inside Donovan Suites. The cheapest thing on the menu, other than water, was the side salad and it was twenty-five dollars. She shook her head. “No. I’m a mess.”

“I don’t see a mess. I see your beautiful green eyes and blonde hair.”

She shook her head. “I’m not going in, Kyle.”

“Fine, then. We’ll have it delivered.” He hopped out of the truck, tossed the valet his keys, and jogged around to open her door. He laughed. “Come on. What do you care how these stuffed shirts see you?”

“I don’t. I just know I won’t be comfortable in there.”

“Like I said, we’ll have it delivered.”

“You’re not making sense.”

“And you’re being stubborn.” He grabbed her waist and lifted her from the truck. “Trust me.”

Sharon, holding Kyle’s hand, followed him through the lobby of the grand hotel. She tried her best to keep her mouth closed, as she was in awe of her surroundings. The floor was shiny, black marble. The walls were creamy beige with black, metal artwork hung precisely to allow the recessed lighting to highlight the features. Huge pillars sectioned off sitting areas where the furniture was steel or aluminum, she didn’t know which, but the cushions were dark, brown leather. A table in each area boasted a crimson and vanilla colored flower centerpiece…by the fragrance in the vast room, the flowers were real.

“Mr. Phillips.” An older man behind the marble and wood counter of the front desk greeted Kyle with a nod and handed him a key card. “Your room.”

He was getting a room? Not that she was surprised they were staying in Jackson—she did agree to stay with him and call in to work, but she didn’t expect to stay
here
. And how did that man know Kyle’s name anyway?

Sharon caught a glimpse of Kyle looking at her from the corner of his eye. “Thanks, but I’ll need something smaller. Please,” he said as he returned the card.

The man shot a quick look to Sharon. She was positive he was silently disapproving of her, and the thought crossed her mind to flip the guy off, but she held back, instead opting to step closer to Kyle. Being against him would be one hundred times more satisfying than giving the bird to a judgmental stranger.

“Room 614, Mr. Phillips, and I hope it’s more satisfactory.” He passed the key card back to Kyle. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Just one minute, Charles.” Kyle leaned his head down to Sharon’s. “What do you want to eat?”

“I don’t know what they serve.” Finally she realized what he meant when he said ‘we’ll have it delivered.’

Kyle kissed her on top of the head and put his arm around her waist, squeezing her closer. “Anything you want.”

Chapter 6

Kyle watched as Sharon moved her half-eaten plate of spaghetti to the bedside table and stared at the fire. Her green eyes were beautiful as the flames reflected from them. They had their supper sitting on the king-sized bed, directly across from a stone fireplace. The room was smaller than the Presidential Suite Charles had handed him the key for, but it was not lacking in luxury. None of the rooms at any of the Donovan Properties were short in splendor.

Kyle moved his plate from the down comforter then released the hair tie from her hair, enthralled as her golden locks fell against her back. He ran his hands through the flowing mane, and the tips of his fingers grazed her back, making him shudder. She was quiet, had been since they entered the lobby. He knew she was uncomfortable about eating at the restaurant downstairs, but staying in the hotel—for him it was like being home, for her though—it may have been too much.