Irrefutable (Tortured Love Book 2) Read online

  “Did you get the job?”

  “No.”

  “Do you have a job?”

  “No.”

  “Why not?”

  She rolled her eyes. “No one will hire me. I’m an ex-con, like you.”

  The PO must not be trying very hard. “Where do you get the money to live on?”

  “It was left to me when my uncle died.”

  That made sense to him. He closed the laptop and placed it back in her bag. “Okay. But if you cross me, all bets are off.”

  “So you’ve indicated, multiple times now.”

  “Let me show you the guest room.” He decided to ignore her sarcasm.

  “You mean I don’t have to sleep chained up in the dungeon?”

  The image of her chained up and helpless made his dick hurt. “Not tonight.” Something about what she said sparked a memory. It was her use of the word dungeon, but within seconds the image was gone. Jagger decided it was his hormones working overtime because she was so fucking sexy.

  “Holy shit…” She gawked at his apartment as he led her toward the stairs. “This place is fucking gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What does a place like this cost you in rent?”

  “A lot.”

  “How much space do you have?”

  “Just over five thousand square feet.”

  It was impossible not to picture her spread out on his bed, that hair draped over a pillow, as he led her to the second floor and past his own suite. But that’s not why she was here. Having sex with Tony’s niece was a complication he couldn’t entertain, though the temptation not to would be fucking difficult.

  “This will be your room. You’ll find everything you need already in here. Feel free to eat or drink anything in the kitchen. There’s a stocked pantry and a full bar in the great room. Cable is on in here so watch TV to your heart’s content. I’ll give you my WiFi password, but like I said, if you break my rules, all bets are off.”

  “I have a MiFi device.”

  “That’s fine. If you need the password, though, just ask for it. Internet is pretty fast in this building.”

  “What if I need to leave? I mean to go shopping or see my PO?”

  “I’ll escort you. I’m not giving you a key to my place, Carolyn. If you leave without telling me, I won’t let you back in.”

  “What happens when you need to go somewhere? Are you going to leave me here alone?”

  “I don’t go out that often.”

  She gazed at the floor for a second, and when she lifted her head again, her face was slightly flushed. “What about dates? What if you want to bring someone here? Won’t that be awkward?”

  It was difficult not to be flattered by the obvious. She wondered if he was seeing anyone. Maybe she wouldn’t mind him seducing her?

  Stop that! She isn’t here for that reason!

  “I don’t date much. You can probably understand why.”

  A shadow of annoyance crossed her face. “Yeah. I get that one. As soon as they find out your history, off they go. At least, the ones you wish would stick around leave. The others I want no part of.”

  So she’d had the same bad luck as he had in that area. “You should get some sleep. It’s been a long day for both of us.” She looked a bit lost, but that couldn’t be helped. He had to figure this out, and she was the key. “Do you need anything right now?”

  “No. Thank you for asking.”

  “Don’t thank me for forcing you to stay here, Carolyn. This isn’t a vacation. You’re here because you have information I need. Sleep well. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  Jagger allowed himself one final, lingering look at that body, all that hair, and those incredibly beautiful eyes. Once he’d had a good look, he turned around and closed the door behind him before he did something really stupid, like kiss her into next week.

  No doubt about it. He’d be jacking off tonight to images of fucking her silly before he finally fell asleep.

  Chapter Six

  The city lit up at night was an amazing view, especially compared to Carolyn’s view of the elevated train she had grown used to. She stood at the window for a long time, soaking it in. It was so damn quiet up here, too. That would take some getting used to as well. Not that she expected to be here long.

  A desperate need to get in touch with Uncle Tony had filled her now, but he stayed off the grid. No email, so social media, no credit cards, and no cell phones that he couldn’t pay for month to month. She was a prisoner here. She didn’t even want to risk posting anything on Facebook right now because Jagger might be watching for her to do so.

  Why the hell had she gone to the police in the first place? This was crazy. What was she doing here?

  A quick email to her PO contained a lie about what had happened to her phone. Carolyn felt guilty telling him she’d lost it, but she couldn’t very well tell him the truth. She asked him to keep in touch via email until she could get another one. It would have to do for now. As long as she made her appointment next month, she’d be fine.

  After she took a quick shower, only because the bathroom rivaled any she’d seen in a long time and it would be fun to pretend she lived here, she put on a clean tank top and shorts. Carolyn walked down the hall, but she didn’t hear any noise from behind the door to Jagger’s room. Was he asleep already?

  Ever since Jagger had kissed her neck and asked those questions in the elevator, her imagination had been working overtime. Sure, he was a very sexy man, but fucking him would end up as nothing less than a disaster of epic proportions. She wasn’t here for that. She was here to find out what her uncle was really up to, so she could get out from under this damn mess he’d put her in.

  When she returned to the guest room, Carolyn lay down on the bed, but after a few moments of tossing and turning, she knew it would be a long time before she was able to sleep. Instead she went downstairs and walked around the apartment, gawking at everything a second time.

  The kitchen was larger than her entire apartment. There was even a butler’s pantry, but she didn’t believe anyone else lived here. The place was immaculate. Did he take care of it himself, or did he have a housekeeper come in?

  There was a service entrance that led to the freight elevator. She glanced up and realized there was a camera pointed toward that elevator as well, and quickly looked away. Next to the kitchen was a short hallway leading to another full bathroom and a workout room.

  “Wow,” she whispered, walking through it. At least this explained all those muscles he had. There was also an office downstairs, but she didn’t linger inside it for long. Carolyn didn’t imagine he’d be happy to find her snooping around in there.

  The entire place featured soaring windows, incredible views, and sparse but tasteful decorating. Where the hell did he get the money to live this way? His book? Money from prior jobs that the Feds had never found? A combination of both?

  After returning to the kitchen, she found bottles of very expensive wine in the bar, so she poured a large glass from one of the open ones. It was a Pinot Grigio unlike any she’d ever tasted, but now she was hungry as well.

  While sipping the wine, Carolyn rummaged in the fridge. He had a lot of takeout in there from the Grand Lux Café, which was too pricy for her budget. Now was her chance to finally taste the food.

  After warming up one of the sandwiches in the microwave, Carolyn added avocado dressing to a small side salad. He’d told her to help herself, after all. She took her snack and a second glass of wine into the great room, taking care not to spill any of it on the furniture. He’d probably make her pay to have it cleaned if she did.

  A leisurely click around the TV channels finally revealed one that showed old movies, so she settled back to watch To Catch a Thief. How appropriate was that? She laughed at the irony, but she did love this movie. Sure, it was old-fashioned and corny, but she identified with Francie because of her fascination with Cary Grant’s character.

  Francie was dr
awn to the bad boy in John Robie, as much to his sense of adventure. But Robie wasn’t the kind of man who usually sniffed around women like dogs. No. He was a gentleman underneath his criminal exterior.

  Kind of like Jagger Tyrell, who had a soft side in there, somewhere. She was certain of it. She’d caught tiny glimpses of it already. He’d kept his word in the park when he hadn’t hurt her, and he’d made her feel at home here, even though he had threatened her.

  She tried to understand this from Jagger’s point of view, and it helped that she wasn’t entirely sure now her uncle had told the truth. Jagger was potentially being framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Under the same circumstances, Carolyn knew she’d do everything she could to prove her own innocence.

  The more she watched the movie, the more she fantasized what it would be like to have a relationship with Jagger. A real one, where they both accepted what the other had done in the past, and moved beyond it to find common ground and let themselves fall in love.

  Or at least in lust. She wasn’t so sure the concept of real love actually existed. She’d never seen any evidence of it in her own relationships.

  After Carolyn’s third glass of wine, the lust part was beginning to sound pretty damn enticing, despite her earlier reservations. If him kissing her neck in the elevator for show had felt that good, what would his lips on hers feel like?

  As the movie ended, she finished her food and wine, but she still wasn’t sleepy. Carolyn turned off the TV and walked around the apartment again until she realized she’d seen all of it, so she wandered back upstairs.

  Soft noises inside Jagger’s room reached her ears as she passed his door. Maybe he couldn’t sleep either? She was fairly buzzed from the wine and that made her bold. He’d asked her a question earlier that she’d never answered.

  “Do you want me to seduce you, Carolyn?”

  This was as good a time as any to finally answer him.

  ****

  After leaving Carolyn in the guest room, Jagger fell asleep, only to wake an hour later, still conflicted and hornier than ever. The thought of her in his apartment, just down the hall, was too much for him. What the fuck had he been thinking, forcing her to come here? Now he was stuck with her, and he had no idea what the hell was going to happen.

  Convinced a long shower would make him sleepy again, he took one, but all it did was shove yet more erotic images into his head as he pictured Carolyn in there with him. When he finished, he took her phone out of the wall safe in his closet where he’d stashed it earlier.

  The private number had called her again, but still had not left a message. Jagger found it odd that the man wasn’t leaving her messages. Was he watching her and knew where she was? If he called the number back, would he recognize the voice that answered? Whether he did or not, what would he say to the man?

  That might be dangerous. For all he knew, this guy could be a cop. Jagger needed more information before taking a leap like that. He had no idea who or what he was dealing with, and he’d already done too many rash things for one day.

  The sound of the TV drifted up the stairs as he opened the bedroom door. She must be in the great room downstairs. The urge to join her was strong, but he closed his door and poured a glass of wine instead. He’d read for a while and pretend she wasn’t in his apartment.

  Right. That should work.

  Ten minutes into a book he normally couldn’t put down, Jagger gave up that idea and instead reached into his sweatpants to pull on his cock. He closed his eyes and pictured Carolyn’s hair, blowing softly in the wind. He imagined what that curvy body looked like naked, and what it would feel like to kiss her full lips and hold her tits in his hands.

  Did she have a full bush, or did she shave? Didn’t matter to him. Either way he’d lick her pussy and suck her clit until she was juicy wet and begging him to fuck her. Once he had her where he wanted, he’d turn her over and spank her sexy, round ass until it was good and red. Only then would he plunge his dick into her pussy, and fuck her slowly until she came a couple of times.

  Jagger moaned softly as his dick grew rock hard. He imagined Carolyn on her knees in front of him, licking it and sucking it. He’d shove his balls in her face and demand she lick those, too. He’d rub his cock all over her face and her full tits before he pushed his dick into her mouth and held her head still while he fucked her mouth raw.

  Would she swallow his cum, or would she fight him, not wanting to do it? He’d love to hold her down and make her take it. He wanted to see the look on her face when she finally had to admit she was enjoying it.

  When he came in his hand, he cried out softly, picturing that cum spurting on Carolyn’s face and her nipples. A soft gasp startled him, and he blinked a few times. Dim light from the nightlights in the hallway illuminated his room, but he hadn’t left his door open. What the fuck?

  Slowly, he realized Carolyn stood in the doorway. How long had she been there? Jagger wiped his hand on the towel he’d brought to bed and grinned. “Enjoying the view?”

  “I’m sorry … I … sorry.” She took a step back.

  “No apologies necessary.” He rolled off the bed, adjusted his sweatpants, and crossed the room. He’d expected her to leave, but she was still there, looking very seductive in a tank top and shorts. Her nipples were taut and her face flushed.

  This was like every fantasy he’d ever had come true, and he’d be an idiot not to run with it. Fuck the consequences. “Come on in. I couldn’t sleep.”

  “Me either.” Her voice was all breathy and smoky, and his dick twitched again. “I had something to eat. And some wine. Hope that was all right.”

  “It’s fine, but I wish you had let me know. I would have joined you.” Jagger took her hand. “Come in. Would you like more wine?”

  “I’ve had three glasses already.”

  “How drunk are you?” If he seduced her while she was buzzed, she might accuse him tomorrow morning of taking advantage of that fact.

  “I’m not.” Her gaze cut to his groin. “Not anymore.”

  Once he closed the door behind her, the room was darker than the hallway, but he’d left one small lamp on. In a few seconds, his eyes adjusted. “Okay. Since more wine is out, we’ll have to think of something else to do.”

  No point in spending time musing about it. Jagger pulled her into his arms and kissed her, hard. She made a surprised sound and struggled for a few seconds, but that only made him draw her further against his body.

  When she shook her head, it forced him to release the kiss. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Seriously, Carolyn? You’re going to play coy virgin? You just watched me beat off. Don’t pretend you don’t want me as much as I want you.”

  No sound escaped her open mouth. Jagger grabbed her hair, tilting her head up so she had to look him in the eyes. “Tell me the truth. You do want to fuck me, don’t you?”

  “We can’t do this. It’s insane.”

  “Is that your answer?”

  They stared into each other’s eyes before he kissed her again, probing her lips with his tongue until she parted them. She moaned softly into his open mouth, but when her hands pushed against his chest, she broke the kiss again and shoved him away from her.

  “Carolyn, what the hell?”

  “Oh, right. Just because you kiss me, I’m supposed to fuck you?”

  “You’re so full of shit. You want this as much as I do.” Jagger grasped her hair again and kissed her once more, sliding his tongue in and out. Her moans intensified, spurring him on.

  Kissing her was everything he’d imagined it would be, plus more. She tasted like wine and the avocado dressing from the Grand Lux Café, which was just fine with him. His dick was so fucking hard now it was painful. He ground it against her abdomen, but her damn hands came up again, pushing him away one more time.

  “Oh, this is bullshit.” He forced her head up again. “Look me right in the eyes and tell me you don’t want to fuck me.”

  “We ca
n’t do this.”

  “Carolyn, do you want to do it? Yes or no?”

  “We can’t!”

  “Why the hell not? We’re adults. We can do whatever the fuck we want.”

  “It will complicate everything.”

  Even though he agreed with her, they’d gone too far to stop now. Jagger stroked her hair, gazing into her eyes. The lust in them was unmistakable. “How long were you standing there watching me?”

  A small sound, almost like a plea, came out.

  “You watched the whole thing, didn’t you?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Tiny whimpers escaped her throat as Jagger brushed his finger along her collarbone. The sound sent shivers down his spine. When he ran his thumb across her left nipple, she cried out softly.

  “Please … please don’t.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  “No. I mean I do like it, but this is wrong.”

  Even through the tank top, he could see how swollen her breasts were. He was dying here. Jagger flicked the other nipple. He had to see them and taste them. “Why is it wrong?”

  “Because … because of who we are.”

  “We’re just people. A man and a woman who are hot for each other. Tell me you don’t find me as attractive as I find you.”

  “You’re gorgeous. And sexy. Not the point.” Her voice betrayed the fact that her willpower was caving fast.

  “It is exactly the point. You’re fucking beautiful, and I want to fuck you. You want to fuck me. We might as well have some fun while we figure this out.”

  When he brushed both hands between her legs, Jagger grinned as he realized how soaking wet her pussy was. “I knew it. Can’t fake that, Carolyn. You do want me.”

  Her eyelids fluttered as he rubbed her clit. She sighed. “Oh … please…”

  “Please what?” Jagger nuzzled her neck. “Tell me what you want me to do.” He pushed harder on her clit.

  “Oh fuck…”

  “You’re close, aren’t you? I can smell it on you.”