Forbidden Kiss: Carson Cove Scandals Read online

  Taylor

  “We should probably go to our seats now…” I felt like I was rooted in place, and my head was still spinning from the kiss.

  “Yeah…” Bryant exhaled sharply and nodded.

  We stared at each other for a couple of seconds before we finally walked to our seats. My thoughts were jumbled, and I couldn’t even focus on the first piece of art when it was auctioned off. I used Alexis Devereaux’s arrival as an excuse to do what I had wanted to do since Bryant walked me to my car after the art show. I convinced myself that I could be his date for the auction and that would be the end of it—but I let my imagination get away from me. I wasn’t a little girl crushing on my best friend’s hot-dad anymore—it had turned into more than that—especially when I saw how he looked at me. Just being close to him made my pulse race, and my heart beat out of control. Kissing him made me quiver—and I was tingling from head to toe when he reached over and took my hand once we were seated.

  I need to get these thoughts out of my head—it doesn’t matter if I’m attracted to him. That kiss needs to be our last…

  The auction appeared to be a fashion show for the Carson Cove privileged, just like the art show. I felt like the most underdressed woman in the room, but it was hard not to feel that way with so much privilege surrounding me—some of the dresses I saw probably cost more than my entire closet. There were a couple of waiters in tuxedos walking around to top off drinks. Even the auction paddles we got at the door were fancy—they were crafted from mahogany with the Wellington’s logo burned into the front and the date of the auction on the back.

  “I’m going to bid on this one.” Bryant winked at me when Mr. Wellington’s assistants rolled the Picasso to the middle of the stage.

  “Good luck.” I looked at him and smiled.

  Mr. Wellington went through a brief description of the painting, and then he asked for the first bid. Bryant didn’t raise his auction paddle immediately. He kept it in his lap and waited until a couple of others started to bid—then he made his intentions known. All he had to do was raise his auction paddle to scare off several of the other people who thought they were going to take the Picasso home with them. It seemed like they admitted defeat immediately—Bryant simply commanded the room to cower when he made his first bid. Seeing that was kind of hot—I had never seen that many wealthy people wilt before my eyes before. A couple of people bid against him, but he quickly raised it out of their price range. It looked like the Picasso was his—until I saw a paddle that hadn’t been raised before lift—and the icy glare of Alexis Devereaux focused on us.

  “Fuck…” Bryant muttered under his breath and raised his paddle. “She’s going to drive the price up and make me spend way more than I expected…”

  “What a bitch.” I narrowed my eyes and met Alexis’ icy glare with the best one I could muster—I don’t know if I actually looked intimidating or not.

  “I’ll make her pay for it, don’t worry.” Bryant raised his paddle to continue his monetary war with Alexis.

  Alexis and Bryant traded bids until she finally turned around in a huff and let him have the Picasso. It was wheeled to the side, and then they auctioned off a few pieces that weren’t quite as valuable as the one he was taking home. Alexis didn’t look happy that she was forced to back off—she kept cutting her eyes over at us. I responded by leaning against Bryant—playing with his hair—letting my finger drift along the side of his neck and up to his ear. It might have been just for show, but I could sense his breathing getting heavier, and I could see the hairs standing on end when my finger caressed his ear. It was enough to get another icy glare from Alexis—and then I felt Bryant’s hand on my thigh—moving to the edge of my dress—teasing the inside of my thigh. Nobody could see what he was doing to me—it wasn’t just for show.

  I may have started something I can’t finish—oh god, what was I thinking?

  “There’s the bait I was waiting for.” Bryant pulled his hand away and leaned forward.

  “The Rembrandt?” I looked at him in surprise. “I thought you didn’t want that one…”

  “Alexis doesn’t know that.” He gave me a quick wink.

  Bryant had explained that the Rembrandt was just a decoy—he expected people to bid high on that painting if they truly wanted it because they knew he would be raising his paddle in response. I noticed that a few high rollers—people that had the same clout as Bryant—start bidding immediately. Bryant let them cast a few bids, then entered the fray, which immediately drew the attention of Alexis Devereaux.

  For a woman who wanted to marry a rich husband and take him for half of his net worth, she seemed to already have plenty of money to burn. I wasn’t an expert, but I had a pretty good idea what a Rembrandt would sell for, and they passed that figure quickly. Bryant studied Alexis while she bid against him, and when her paddle wavered, but still rose up to stop him from winning—he immediately backed off.

  “Oh god…” I watched Alexis immediately go from confident to bewildered—and then she looked around the room like she was trying to find the nearest exit. “She didn’t expect to win.”

  “No,” Bryant chuckled under his breath. “She was just running the price up—and she thought I would keep going until I won.”

  “Now she has to actually pay for it.” I leaned back, and a smile spread across my face. “That’s genius.”

  “Yep.” Bryant nodded. “Even if she wants to unload it, she’ll still take a hit—it’s not worth that much.”

  “I think she’s officially done with this auction…” I watched as Alexis gathered her things and started walking towards the door.

  “She’s probably going to call her accountant and figure out just how bad she got screwed.” Bryant grinned. “Serves her right.”

  As soon as the bidding on the next painting started, Bryant’s hand returned to my thigh. There was no reason for it to be there. Alexis was gone—not that she could have seen it from where she was previously sitting anyway. I started to tingle from head to toe again when his hand moved along my inner thigh—his touch practically set me on fire. I could feel my panties getting wet—and the further he moved up my thigh, the wetter they got.

  I finally had to push his hand away when my thighs were exposed, and I was afraid someone would actually notice. I didn’t really want him to stop, but I was terrified that someone would look over their shoulder and see his hand underneath my dress. I was blushing and quite flustered when I pulled my dress down, and if he had tried again—I don’t know that I would have been able to resist his touch.

  “I’m going to bid on this one.” Bryant leaned forward and waited for Mr. Wellington to open the bidding.

  I barely paid attention when the bids started. My wine glass was empty, and my throat was dry, but I didn’t think I could stand—I was afraid my knees would buckle. I had no idea what I would do when his hands found their way back to my body when we were alone. A war was being waged inside me—on one side was the understanding that anything between us was wrong. On the other side was a virgin with a very wet pair of panties that was craving his forbidden touch. Something that taboo shouldn’t have felt that good—it shouldn’t have been so confusing. I was no longer crushing on my best friend’s father—I was lusting after the hottest guy in Carson Cove—and I knew his desires mirrored my own.

  How will I ever be able to look Victoria in the eyes again if I let this go any further? It’s already gone too far…

  “This is the last piece.” Bryant motioned to the stage. “Then we go somewhere that doesn’t have an audience.”

  Oh god…

  The auction came to a close, and people started filing out of the room. Bryant stood and offered me his hand, which I took. I caught a glimpse of Gina in the corner of my eye—she had her phone out and was furiously texting someone. I assumed Alexis was still getting a play-by-play, even though she left the auction early. It seemed pointless for her to still care—we had put on enough of a show that she should have u
nderstood she had no chance of turning Bryant into her latest victim—but deep down, I knew what happened between us wasn’t just for show.

  “Are we supposed to return these?” I held up my auction paddle and looked at Bryant.

  “Nah, they’re a souvenir.” Bryant shook his head back and forth as we walked towards the exit.

  I was scared to ask where he planned to take me because I didn’t think I would be able to tell him no. The side of me that understood how inherently wrong everything that was happening between us was just didn’t have the willpower to resist his charm—or his touch. I was in over my head and sinking fast. There was no way that I was going to be able to come up for air if he kissed me again—and I found out how true that realization was the instant we were in the car. He didn’t just crush my lips—he devoured them.

  The tint on his windows was dark enough to hide what was going on inside the car, especially in the darkness, but I don’t think I would have been able to push him away—there were plenty of people in the parking lot that had already seen us kiss.

  “Would you like to come back to my place?” Bryant moved his lips to my ear, and I felt the heat from his breath. “I’ve got plenty of wine—bottles that are much better than what they were serving at the auction.”

  “Bryant…” I exhaled sharply and managed to start forming thoughts that resembled something rationale. “I can’t…”

  “Are you sure?” He teased my ear with a gentle kiss and moved his lips down to my neck.

  “I’m sorry…” I sighed and fought against the side of me that didn’t want him to stop. “You should probably just take me home.”

  “Okay.” He leaned back, and our eyes met—then he kissed my forehead. “Same time tomorrow—for our next date?”

  “I doubt you’re going to have worry about Alexis anymore…” I felt a lump rising up in my throat and quickly tried to swallow it.

  “I don’t give a damn about Alexis.” He narrowed his eyes. “I just want to see you again. Can I?”

  Yes? No? I don’t know…

  I didn’t give Bryant an answer. He must have seen the conflict, and maybe he was waging a similar war because he didn’t push for one. He drove through Carson Cove, and I watched the scenery zip by—mainly because I was afraid of looking over at Bryant—I was terrified of the connection we shared. A sense of dread started to get tangled up with my desire when we reached the Mandalay Subdivision, and both feelings got more intense when his car turned on Cherry Street. I didn’t want the night to end—I definitely wanted to see him again—but it was too complicated for me to give in to either one of those desires.

  “Wait…” I finally turned towards Bryant. “You should probably stop a couple of houses down.”

  “Why?” He looked over at me as he removed his foot from the gas pedal and let the car start to coast.

  “My mom should be home by now. She’ll ask questions if I get dropped off by someone driving a Maserati.” I looked down and sighed.

  “Okay.” He nodded and brought the car to stop.

  He didn’t question that. We both understand how wrong this is…

  “I had fun tonight.” I lifted my head and forced a smile.

  “Me too,” he sighed.

  “Thank you for taking me to the auction.” I reached for the door.

  “Hold on…” Bryant reached over and put his hand on my arm.

  I turned back towards him, and I already knew he was going to kiss me before I saw him moving towards me. Bryant’s lips crashed into mine—devoured them—and it made every single complication fade away for a moment. I felt his hand on my left breast. He gave it a gentle squeeze, and the nipple turned into a hard nub against his touch. His hand drifted down my dress—and I felt the fire start to sizzle inside me again.

  Bryant made it to my thigh and started to slide his hand underneath the fabric. I knew I needed to stop him, but I just couldn’t make myself do it. His hand went further than it had at the auction—so close to my panties that it made me squirm—then he moved his hand to my inner thigh, and before I could snap myself back to reality, I felt his finger gently caressing my pussy through my panties.

  “We shouldn’t do this…” My body tensed up, and I broke the seal that our lips had formed.

  “Do you want me to stop?” His finger found my clit and started to slowly make circles around the tight bundle of nerves.

  “No…” I shuddered and leaned against his shoulder.

  I was trapped in the pleasure—it destroyed every barrier I tried to put up between us. He was the first man that had ever touched me, and it felt amazing. His finger started to move faster. A pressure built up inside me. I had felt that before—when I was alone in my room—and there were a few times when those fantasies involved Bryant. Those fantasies were nothing like the real thing— his touch was incredible. It felt like my skin was sizzling. He kept his finger moving until I began to shake, and then he pulled my panties to the side, and I felt him without the silk between us. The sensation got stronger—I moaned and dug my nails into his shoulders. The pleasure quickly overwhelmed me, and I felt the orgasm begin.

  “Oh god…” My head rolled back, and the bliss surged through my veins.

  Bryant kept his finger moving as the orgasm peaked—he didn’t stop until it began to fade. His finger gently caressed my pussy lips, he rubbed the entrance, which was still spasming from the pleasure, and then he moved my panties back where they belonged. I didn’t wait to find out if he was going to kiss me again. I immediately grabbed the back of his head and found his lips with mine. The kiss was more passionate than any of the previous one we had shared. I finally found the strength to pull away and reached for the door. It was too late to escape, but I was afraid of what I would do if I stayed.

  “I’ll pick you up at six.” He put his hand on mine before I got the door open.

  “Okay.” I nodded and exited his car.

  I have no idea how to tell him no—I’m in serious trouble now.

  Chapter Six

  Bryant

  I watched as Taylor walked to her house—with a different gait than she normally had. The orgasm was over, but the lingering effects of it were still coursing through her system. I waited until she made it through her front door before I finally drove away. I had lost all willpower to fight against what we shared. I simply didn’t know how. She brought things to life inside me that I never thought I would feel again—desires that I thought had died the moment I signed my divorce papers. There was a certain aura to the situation—a lingering tease of forbidden fruit—but it was so much more than that. We had a strange connection that should have never existed. I was forty-five years old—Taylor was twenty-three. I was practically twice her age—yet she made me feel like the years that separated us simply didn’t exist.

  I have no idea how we’re going to make this work, but I’m too far gone to figure it out right now.

  * * *

  The next day

  “We’ve got a problem.” Cassie met me at the elevator with my morning coffee in her hand.

  “What kind of problem? Why am I just hearing about this now?” I took the coffee and looked around the office.

  “Because the problem just arrived—and she’s sitting in your office.” Cassie stepped to the side, and I saw what—or rather who—she was referring to.

  Why the hell is Alexis Devereaux here?

  “I’ll handle it,” I growled under my breath.

  I had no idea why Alexis was waiting in my office—she wasn’t the kind of woman that generally waited for anyone. She certainly didn’t have an appointment. I could tell that her arrival had left the employees rather tense—even Cassie, who normally wasn’t bothered by much of anything. I knew why—a year before Alexis set her sights on me, she was married to Sawyer King. He accumulated his wealth at the expense of others and had put a few companies out of business with one of his hostile takeovers.

  Some of the people that worked for me had been taken
to the brink of bankruptcy because of him. They lost pensions they had worked their entire lives for and had 401k accounts that were heavily invested in company stock become worthless overnight. Alexis wasn’t his wife anymore, but she was front and center when they watched their world crash before their eyes.

  This probably feels like a bad dream to them…

  “Good morning, Bryant!” Alexis looked at me with a smile on her face when I walked into my office.

  “Is it?” I walked past her and sat down at my desk. “Why are you here?”

  “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot the other night.” She uncrossed her legs—and re-crossed them—she probably thought it was sexy. “We were having such a good conversation before we were so rudely interrupted.”

  “My date was not an interruption.” I narrowed my eyes at Alexis.

  “I get it. She’s young and beautiful—but surely she’s nothing more than a distraction.” Alexis tilted her head slightly. “I’ve had my fair share of rebound-fucks after my divorce.”

  “Oh? Which divorce would that be?” I raised an eyebrow and hid my amusement when I saw her squirm.

  “Pick one—I always marry the assholes.” She looked down for a moment but quickly regained her composure. “That’s why I’m not sitting across from one right now. We used to have something—don’t you remember high school? You were so in love with me then, and I was just a foolish girl that couldn’t see what was right in front of my eyes.”

  “Why are you pretending, Alexis? High school was a long time ago, and you didn’t just suddenly have an epiphany.” I leaned forward and sighed. “I already know that you’re not interested in me—you want another rich husband that you can take to the cleaners when you file for divorce.”

  I’ll let her wonder how I know that—she has no idea Taylor overheard her conversation with Gina at the art show.