Page 20 of Stalking His Target

Taylor comes over and sits beside me on the bed. He pulls the sheets aside, exposing my legs, and places his hand on my thigh. He squeezes gently, but firmly, which is precisely how I would describe his overall personality.

Firm yet gentle.

“Let me tell you something, baby.” His voice is low and loving as he looks at me. Have I just been making a mountain out of a mole hill? “Youare way more gorgeous than Brandy.”

“Oh, stop!”

“I’m serious,” he says, slipping his hand up my shirt to cup my breast. “You just don’t see it.I do.”

“And that’s why you’re with me?” It’s a bratty response, but I’m feeling pouty and exposed right now. I just don’t know what to do or what to say.

“Yes.” He nods, obviously joking as he slides his other hand up my shirt to grab my other breast. “I’m with you because of this perfect rack you have.”

I burst out laughing. “Okay, mister! That’s enough.”

He chuckles and covers my mouth with his. I kiss him back, tracing his lips with my tongue. All this tension has made me hornier than I can remember being in a while. But why is he doing this now when just a few minutes ago he said he had to be at work early?

Is he just trying to get me to stop with my line of questioning?

A chill runs up my spine, and I pull back and look up at him.

“Can I ask you something?” Oh my God, I’m repeating myself now.

“You just–”

“The phone call you took last night,” I interrupt. “You’resurethat wasn’t Brandy?”

For the first time, Taylor nearly rolls his eyes at me. I’ve never seen him like this before. I’m supposed to be the one on edge, not him.

“I’m sure it wasn’t Brandy,” he replies firmly. “It was work.”

“Work,” I repeat.

He nods. “Telling me I have to be there early this morning. I took it in the living room because I didn’t want to bother you.”

His eyes are filled with care. His face is sharp and handsome, and his smile goes right into my heart.

But somehow, at that moment I know that Taylor does not work construction.

The realization nearly knocks me over like an avalanche.

“What can I do, baby?” he asks. “To prove myself to you? To make you feel better?”

My God, he’s putting an act on for me. And he has been this entire time. But why?

I pretend I need to resituate myself on the bed so I can get his hands out from under my shirt. If this bothers him, he doesn’t show any signs of it.

I have goosebumps all over my body.

“Your uncle’s birthday party,” he says. I’m suddenly confused.

“What?”

“Down in Mexico. I know you said I didn’t have to come because of the pain of traveling, but why don’t I come with you? That way you can introduce me, and I can show you that I really want to make this work. Be part of your family.”

He leans closer and wraps an arm around me. Despite the fact that he’s just showered, I get a fresh nose full of his pheromones, which I have absolutely no defense against. I can feel his pulse, strong and heavy, beating against the back of my neck through his thick bicep. He’s like a drug to me. Every time he wraps me up in his embrace, or even just places one of his rough hands on me, I become helpless.

He pushes my hair to the side and kisses me just beneath the ear and whispers, “I love you, Layla. You don’t have to worry about Brandy or any other woman ever stealing me away from you. My heart beats for you. My soul aches for you whenever I’m away. And it kills me to see you doubting that, sweetheart. I know you’ve been betrayed in the past, but so have I. Let me be there for you. Let us be there for each other.”

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