Thrill of the Chase (Dangerous Love) (8 page)

W
hat are we going to do?”

Paul scratched his head and looked at his sister, his inspiration in what could be a very cruel and dark world. He had hoped that the rapist would have either succumbed to his injuries or slithered back into the hole from which he had come, leaving Paul free to avoid the consequences of his own involvement. But apparently he had survived and was making himself known.

“You are moving back in with me, for starters,” Paul said.

Erin shook her head. “No. If I do that, he wins…again.”

Paul didn’t want to scare her, but the sick bastard had proved that he could get to her. He had drugged her and then had the balls to send her get-well flowers the morning after. “Where did you say you spent the night?”

“My friend Tori’s house…a girl from work.” Paul noticed that she didn’t look at him and immediately gathered that she was lying about something. He would explore that later.

“What is important is that you’re protected. We need to go back to the police. I know they came up empty-handed last time, but…”

“No. We’re not involving them again. You heard them, just as I did, that this…shit is a ghost. No physical evidence was found during the rape kit. And the blood they discovered in the cemetery didn’t belong to any perp in the system.”

Paul sighed. He had hoped the piece of shit had suffered and experienced a slow and agonizing death. They had left him in excruciating pain and bleeding out amongst the tombstones. When the police had come back and told him that the man he admitted to beating was not in the cemetery he himself had identified, Paul panicked. Erin had been in no condition to travel that night, but her safety trumped caution, and upon her discharge from the hospital, he packed their things and fled to New York. But he knew even then that he would always be looking over his shoulder, that he had failed to give Erin the peace she deserved. The fact that he hadn’t removed the mask and identified the bastard would always haunt him.

“Okay. You can stay in your apartment. But you leave me no choice but to assign a bodyguard to you,” Paul said.

“You’re not serious?” she asked.

“Very.” Paul crossed his arms and stared down at her.

“I will not be followed around all day. How will I explain that when I go to work?”

As much as he adored his sister, she could also frustrate him like no one else. Erin had a stubborn streak a mile long, and it seemed that he had the unfortunate ability to bring it out. “You could work from home. Your qualifications are unique and in demand. It wouldn’t be too difficult to find a job that would enable you to…”

“Be a prisoner in my own home?” Erin interjected.

His heart ached for her.

“This is all my fault. I should have finished him off when I had the chance.” Paul’s nightmares were still consumed with that missed opportunity. He had dreamt of killing the shit in multiple ways, some slow and agonizing. Other times he envisioned himself killing the rapist swiftly.

“Just stop. Don’t go down that road again. We can’t change what did or didn’t happen.” Erin stood from her chair, and he noticed how tired she looked. Coupled with her casual attire and messy bun, it appeared she’d had a long night.

“Alright. No bodyguards. But there is no harm in reporting this to the police, Erin. At least agree to that?”

She sighed, but nodded.

Although he was the lawyer, he rarely felt like the victor when they argued. She had a way of getting what she wanted. He looked at Erin and said firmly, “Good. I will escort you to and from work every day. You will also promise me that you will never go anywhere alone. And I mean anywhere…lunch, bathroom, to the gym. Understood?”

Erin smiled. “Yes.” She walked over and hugged him. Erin reached for her purse and then started for the door.

“And it starts right now,” Paul said.

She raised an eyebrow.

Paul phoned his secretary and told her that he was taking an early lunch. “Shall we?”

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“We are going to the police station to make a report and then I’m taking you to Monty’s for lunch. After that, I’m escorting you home. Trust me when I tell you that you could use a greasy sandwich and some rest.”

Erin playfully elbowed him in the gut and then latched on to his arm. Smiling she said, “You are such a pain in my ass.”

“Right back at ya, love.”

He had waited for nearly two hours, but there was still no sign of her. Thankfully, the brazen and very eager waitress who had practically thrown herself at his feet must have gone on break or something, because he hadn’t seen her for some time.

Chase had called his housekeeper and asked her if she remembered who had delivered the flowers that morning. According to Charlotte, a young boy, no more than seventeen, had hand-delivered the flowers. When she tried to tip the boy, he refused and said that it was not necessary. Charlotte said he left on a bike, never asking her to sign for the flowers.

Chase had just finished his call to Charlotte, which turned out to be a dead end, when he saw Erin pull up in a cab with her brother. Chase had never seen Paul Whitley in person. However, a quick internet search had provided Chase with a photo of the young attorney. He watched the pair enter the apartment building and then gestured to a young man, who may or may not be serving as his waiter, for the check.

W
atching Paul search each nook and cranny of her apartment for an intruder or anything suspicious made everything seem frighteningly real. He secured the locks and checked the windows, a common practice of his when they had lived together, but now that the threat was upon them, Erin thanked God for Paul’s inclination to smother her. He gave her a quick kiss good-bye and told her that he would be coming by later with her favorite takeout.

Paul wasn’t gone for more than five minutes before Erin’s phone started to ring. She looked down at the display and saw that it was Chase. She dismissed the call. Erin instantly felt guilty about her childish act of avoidance. But she needed time to gather her thoughts…and to get her story straight. Right now, Chase was under the impression that she had an ex-boyfriend who apparently wanted back in her life. Erin would have to hone her skills in deception, providing Chase with just enough detail to convince him that her fictitious ex, though persistent and obnoxious, was completely out of her life.

And if hiding her past weren’t challenging enough, Erin had other things on her mind that were also weighing in. Her thoughts instantly went to the encounter in Chase’s shower. She had never been more exposed or bared to anyone, at least not willingly, than she was with Chase that morning. She remembered his hands running along the curves of her body and how all she wanted to do was please him. She stepped into the bathroom and was horrified at the reflection in the mirror. Paul was right, she was a hot mess.

As the bathroom gathered steam, she was again reminded of the most erotic morning of her life. Erin needed to clear her head. She took a quick shower, knowing it was best for her body and mind not to linger and think of him while she was covered in suds.

Safely out of the shower, Erin threw on some yoga pants and a tank, and decided to veg in front of the TV, to allow some mind-numbing movie to lull her to sleep. But before she could drift off, her cell phone chimed, signaling that she had received a text:
“Can I see you?”

It was a simple text, one that Erin shouldn’t read into, but Chase seemed concerned, and again she felt bad for how she had left things. He had taken care of her last night, asking his own personal doctor to make a house call. But equally important, he never once took advantage of her or the situation. And she had returned the favor by leaving abruptly, but not before screaming for him to take his hands off of her. Erin wouldn’t be surprised if he was wondering if she suffered from a mental illness, a split personality perhaps.

Erin had a feeling that Chase’s texts would just continue if she refused to answer. She sat back on the couch and decided to keep her side of the conversation short and simple:
“I’m home and very tired. Sorry about this morning.”

His response came within seconds:
“Can I come up? We don’t have to talk about this morning, at least not right now.”

He was being incredibly sweet, which made Erin want to cry. The truth was that she wanted him with her, here in her apartment, here in her bed. This realization gave her hope. Despite her freak-out prior to leaving Chase’s apartment, she still wanted him and longed to be in the safety of his arms. But she needed to get her head on straight and there were too many emotions in play. Reluctantly, Erin responded:
“Not right now, okay? I just need the weekend to recoup.”

This time he took over a minute to answer:
“Do you still want him?”

Erin cringed at the five little words. The thought of wanting the man who had sent her those flowers, the piece of filth that had stolen everything from her, made Erin want to throw up. She didn’t know if it was out of anger, impulse, or just plain honesty, that she texted back:
“No. What I want is to finish what we started in the shower. I’ll see you at work on Monday.”

Erin pushed the
SEND
button and laid the phone back on the coffee table. After several minutes, she received one last text for the night:
“Forgiven.”

E
rin spent the weekend wondering what Monday would bring. The last time she had seen Chase, they had been rudely interrupted by a bouquet of flowers while enjoying breakfast/lunch in his bed after the most incredible orgasm of her life. She didn’t know what to expect when they saw each other. As Erin stepped onto the elevator at work, she felt that same heat, that dark gaze fixed on her, undressing her in front of the five other people who occupied the space. Erin felt her face grow hot, and she looked down to keep anyone from noticing that she had turned ten shades of red.

The elevator stopped at three more floors, causing the elevator’s occupants to get very cozy. That was when Erin felt something very hard, something very determined, nudge her from behind. Erin’s breath hitched and she felt that familiar throbbing between her legs intensify. Erin felt his hands on her waist and she silently begged him to press into her. The elevator stopped at the next floor, allowing one more person to enter and giving Erin the excuse to back into him even more. She felt his hand travel from her waist and beneath her black, flowing skirt. A small cough escaped him as his hand reached her garter. Erin looked at the dozen or so people around them, but nobody seemed to notice that the CEO’s hand was up her skirt and now making its way between her legs.

Her heart was beating so quickly Erin was certain that the woman in front of her could hear it. And then she felt him slip one steady finger inside her. She embraced the intrusion, but she wanted more. She didn’t want him to stop, nor did she feel the need to control his fingers with her own. She wanted him to touch her. And that thought made her feel strong and empowered. Erin bit her lip so hard that she thought she drew blood. She let out an audible whimper, though it was muffled by the ding of the elevator door opening to the next floor. He gently removed his hand and smoothed her skirt to its original position as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn’t nearly come just a moment ago.

The withdrawal of his hand made her suddenly feel empty, craving his greedy touch. She looked at the floor number and was thankful that they had reached her destination. Even if they hadn’t, she had already decided that she would get off and hit the stairs. She could use a moment to cool down. But before Erin could hustle out of the elevator, he leaned in, his lips dangerously close to the back of her neck, and whispered, “A word, Ms. Whitley?”

Erin knew she was flushed and was very grateful that he was behind her, unable to see the expression on her face, what he was capable of doing to her. Her voice low, but clear enough for him to hear her, Erin said, “Um…of course.” She felt his hand on her elbow as he escorted her out of the elevator and led her in the opposite direction from her lab.

He didn’t speak while they walked down the hallway. Erin was just about to ask him if everything was alright when he pulled her into the stairwell. He pushed her up against the wall, the cool concrete a direct contrast to the warmth emanating from between her legs, and covered her mouth with his. She felt his tongue enter, and Erin instinctively began to suck and nip at that very talented part of his body. She heard him groan, which encouraged her even more. He took her hand and pressed it against his hard cock. Chase bit her lip gently and then whispered, “This is what you do to me, Erin.”

And before she realized it, Erin heard herself not asking, but
telling
him to touch her. Complying immediately, Chase lifted her leg, exposing the strap to her garter belt. She felt his fingers fondle the material. “This is dangerous,” he said, tugging at the strap, “and very naughty.”

His hand released the strap and Erin felt two fingers caress her clit through the thin silk cloth of her panties. Her back arched and she knew it wouldn’t take long to find her climax. Erin moaned shamelessly, which made one of those smug smiles take form on that perfect face of his.

“God, you’re so wet for me, so ready.” His words only heightened her need and within seconds, she felt the pad of his thumb stroke her clit in a motion that could only be achieved through ample experience. Erin pushed that troublesome thought aside, along with those pangs of jealousy she had no right to harbor.

His finger lingered at her entrance and she felt herself leaning into him, wanting him to come inside. Erin heard him chuckle, and if she wasn’t so turned on, she probably would have been embarrassed by her obvious lack of self-control. Only one word escaped her, but it was enough to make that smile on his face disappear. It was replaced with something much more delicious.

“More,” she demanded. Erin felt the heat of his gaze. A finger slipped inside her silky warmth and she moaned his name.

“So snug, so…” He groaned, unable to finish his thought.

Erin was wet, her slick heat ready and wanting so much more. Her hand was on his belt when Erin heard the distinct sound of the stairway door open just a few flights below. She inhaled abruptly, but he didn’t release her right away. With his hand still in between her thighs, he whispered in her ear, “Dinner. Tonight.” She didn’t respond; the fear of getting caught in such a compromising position with the boss left her in a state of frozen panic.

He pushed a second finger into her, stretching tender but wanting flesh. Erin bit down on her lip, muffling her obvious pleasure. She nodded, accepting what she knew wasn’t an invitation; it was clearly a command. Only then did she feel him release her leg from the propped and ready position it was in. Erin quickly adjusted her skirt and retreated to the stairwell door. She looked back to see him walk down the steps, toward the voices below. But just before he was out of sight, he returned the glance with a grin that suggested that although he had just enjoyed himself, it was only a precursor to the evening ahead.

Her desk was a welcome sight; the mound of paperwork was a healthy distraction from Chase and everything else in her life. Erin logged into her email and found that as of seven o’clock that morning, she had been officially assigned to the Cabraxol account. Erin would be presenting the drug to the board this coming Friday. She swallowed and felt a twinge of nervousness grab hold of her stomach. The anxiety wasn’t due to incompetence or a lack of knowledge about the drug she would be presenting; its source was much simpler. Chase would be sitting among the board, watching her with that heated stare, with the look that always left her wanting. She sighed, knowing that Friday would be a challenge.

Erin answered a few emails and then clicked on her calendar. She blocked out the next few nights, needing the time to prepare for the presentation. It had been over a year since she’d had to get up in front of a room full of people and present, which was kind of unfortunate since she had always been comfortable speaking to a crowd about a subject that she knew like the back of her hand. But it didn’t take a rocket scientist or a visit to her therapist to gather why she had gravitated away from more public forums. Erin knew the effects of the rape would linger. But for how long? That was the million-dollar question she would love to have answered.

Erin worked straight through lunch and would have probably continued if it wasn’t for the phone call. She picked it up on the second ring and melted at the sound of his voice.

“Erin, you skipped lunch again.”

Erin looked up at the camera and scowled. She spoke into the camera, though all he would be able to do was read her lips. “You’re stalking.”

“I’m watching out for your well-being…quite a difference.”

“Hmm. Not so sure about that,” she said, smiling.

“Let me take you to lunch.”

Erin shook her head, still looking at the camera. “I have a lot of work to do, preparing for Friday’s presentation, remember?”

“I can order in then, a quick lunch in my office and you’ll be back to work,” he said.

“We tried that before. I ended up pinned against the wall.”

He sighed, which only made him more sexy, if that was even possible.

Erin didn’t want to spoil the playful mood, but she had to ask him if he knew why the other research assistants in the lab had not shown up to work today. “Chase, you wouldn’t know where Tori and Jonah are? I haven’t seen them all day.”

“As a matter of fact, I do know. They have been transferred to another site.”

“And why is that?” Erin asked, though she had an idea why her two carefree colleagues had been shipped away to another lab, probably another state.

“I can’t be too careful when it comes to you. And according to your texts, your brother feels the same way. That’s why I answered his multiple texts when you were asleep the other night. I can imagine how concerned he was. As for Tori and Jonah, they were with you at the club. Though I doubt they were responsible for drugging you, well…I’m not taking any chances.”

Erin didn’t know if she should be appalled or completely turned on. He was demanding and possessive, two qualities she should steer clear of. But he could also be gentle, showing her concern and patience. Erin didn’t know what to say. On one hand she was angry over how controlling he could be, and on the other…well, her heart skipped when she thought about how he made her feel. Wanted…claimed.

“I’ll see you tonight,” she said. Erin hung up the phone, instantly regretting losing the opportunity for a midafternoon replay of their stairwell encounter.