Vandervilles: Book 1 : When Beauty Met The Beast Read online

  Good. Wade felt good about this. It felt like things were finally starting to come together.

  Chapter 5

  Taylor

  Richard kissed his way down Taylor's neck leaving a trail of fire as he worked his way down towards her breasts. He undid the straps she'd tied together across her back to hold up her top.

  "I thought you said you had to get to work," she cooed as he continued to kiss her.

  "You are too tempting, Taylor Vanderville."

  "If I were, you wouldn't be leaving me to go anywhere," she teased, moving away from him. She slipped off his bed, allowing the straps to fall down her shoulders, and appreciated the way he watched her. She didn't mean to be selfish and outright seduce him, but couldn't resist. This always happened when she was with him.

  "I have to." He rested his hands behind him, emphasizing the defined ridges of muscle on his abs.

  "Do you?" She undid the other strap, allowing the top to drift down to her waist, revealing her sheer bra that was practically see through.

  "Come here." He straightened up and reached for her, but she playfully stepped backward out of his grasp.

  A whole week had passed, and he hadn't proposed. She was going crazy, and while she knew she couldn't rush these things she was still eager.

  "Babe, you're killing me here. Come on, we can fit in one more session before I go."

  She giggled, wanting nothing more than for him to make love to her, but anxiety had her under its spell. She wanted to have some clue of what he was thinking and an idea of when he would propose.

  "I wanted to talk to you first." She gazed at her amazing dream man and moved back towards him slow and purposefully.

  "What do you want to talk about?"

  "We haven't been away in a while." Vacations were always a good setting for a proposal.

  "Away? You want us to go away?" He smiled, revealing his gorgeous dimples.

  "How about a getaway somewhere amazing like Bora Bora?"

  She'd been there once by herself when she needed to escape everyone. It was just after Wade left and she was feeling unsettled in her mind. She'd always had him in her life to rely on, and she'd felt lost with his departure. Bora Bora had offered her the peace of mind she'd needed, and she thought if she were ever in love it would be somewhere she'd like to return with her boyfriend. Or fiancé.

  Or, better yet get married there.

  Richard whistled and gritted his teeth together. "Bora Bora. Taylor. I don't have that kind of money." He looked a little uncomfortable at the declaration. He always got that look when the subject of money came up.

  The bottom line was she would always be wealthy. She was born into wealth and couldn't help that that was how things had worked out for her. Richard worked extremely hard, and she knew that if he had the means, he'd give her everything.

  "Richard, my money is our money." It was as simple as that to her. That was how she saw it.

  "I like that you think like that, but I want to be able to take you wherever you want and pay for it all myself. I want to take care of you, and make you happy." This was what she loved about him. He wasn't with her for her wealth or for what he could gain from his association with her. Richard wanted her, and it was a wonderful feeling to know you were loved just for being you.

  "You do make me happy. And you do take care of me." She lowered to his lap allowing him to slip his arms around her waist while she pressed her hands on the cool skin of his chest. "Bora Bora is a great place for special occasions."

  "It is. Is that where you really want to go?"

  She nodded. "Just think. We can have our own beach house and be away from everyone. We don't even have to leave the room."

  "I like that." He ran his hands down to her legs and stroked her thighs.

  "Good, then say yes."

  He took a moment to contemplate then sighed. "Yes."

  "Yay. Now kiss me."

  He kissed her gently, caressing her lips as he tugged against her bra straps, then resumed his fiery trek down her neck. His phone started to ring as he got to the edge of her shoulder.

  "Damn, that'll be work." He was already an hour late. "I'm going to have to take this, baby."

  She got up so that he could get to his phone.

  "Richard speaking," he said into the phone and motioned to the corridor as he backed out of the room.

  She nodded and smiled with understanding. When he left she lay back on the bed and sighed.

  Taylor didn't like waiting for things she desperately wanted. Not only was she not used to it, but she just hated it in general. She'd never felt like this about anyone else before. Richard had captured her heart from the minute she first laid eyes on him at her dad's fundraiser two years ago. Richard was doing a presentation there for the project he was working on. The fundraiser was for the research facility, in aid of funding better treatments and medication for cancer patients.

  At the time she'd been so impressed by him. She still was now. He was a good man with a kind heart and a passion for helping others. She rolled over onto her side, looked at the skylight window and gazed ahead up at the bright blue morning sky. The sky was bluer in Bora Bora, brighter, too, with the effulgent rays of the sun beaming down on the scenic landscape. It would be so amazing to go there with Richard.

  As she turned her head, her eyes landed on the chest of drawers; on top of it was Richard's wallet. Taylor sat up quickly, instantly remembering last week when he said it was stolen. Was it the same wallet or had he gotten a new one?

  She got up and walked over to it. The minute she got closer she could see it was indeed the old one. She opened it and saw his work security pass, some cash, and all his bank cards intact. He never told her that the police found it.

  When he came back into the room, he stopped at the door when he saw her holding the wallet.

  "Hey, the police found your wallet." She smiled at him.

  "No, ugh, gosh. I'm sorry." He shook his head and brought his hand to his stubbly chin. "Sorry Taylor. When I got home from the trip, I found it and realized I left it here. I didn't say anything because I thought it sounded stupid. Plus, I broke our date for my own stupidity, thinking I got robbed." He laughed nervously and came over to her.

  "Why didn't you tell me? I was so worried."

  He looked guilty now. "I'm sorry. When I got back all I could think of was being with you."

  She was about to continue when she stopped herself. Recognition dawned on her, and she could have kicked herself.

  Maybe this was about her ring and the proposal. What if it was? It could be. What if he was going to propose last week and he'd forgotten the ring?

  That could have happened, right? And, maybe now he was trying to create the perfect moment again.

  Oh goodness. She thought back to the way he spoke about the date on the day she was meant to see him, and the fact that they went to that particular restaurant was a big deal in itself because it was her favorite. It all made so much sense now, and it brought tears to her eyes.

  "Oh my."

  He moved closer and kissed her forehead. "I try to hide my imperfections from you."

  "You don't have to. I love every part of you."

  "That's good to hear. I love every part of you, too, Taylor. Guess what?"

  "What?" She slipped her arms around his neck.

  "I have an extra hour. I said I'd work late. How about we go back to dream world?" He tugged on the clasp of her bra.

  "I'd love to." She kissed him.

  On that note, he lifted her up and carried her straight back to the bed.

  Chloe

  Wes glared at her and blinked several times.

  Chloe just finished telling him about Wade. Everything about Wade, as in right back to her little incident when she was eighteen, followed by all that had happened since he came back.

  This was his reaction. The blank stare, with his hand on his chin as he rested back against the chair.

  "Wes, please say something. I n
eed you."

  She was going through a whole new crazy here. She'd managed to rule out the possibility of Wade getting the job, but now she was worried about her unrestrained attraction to him.

  Her problem was she couldn't control herself when she was with him. Couldn't control her mind, body, feelings, or emotions. Everything was just so physical. All he had to do was look at her and her deepest desires would be unleashed.

  Chloe wasn't like this. It was most unnatural for her and uncomfortable. It felt like her mind no longer belonged to her.

  Wes leaned forward onto her desk, huffed, then looked through the window behind her.

  "Wesley," she hissed at him. She had a small window of time before everyone got back from lunch and the office would be full again. She didn't want to talk with everyone here. Of all her friends, Wes was the most levelheaded. She really wanted his opinion.

  Kelly would be useless for anything like this because she always said yes to a gorgeous guy, and if he happened to be super gorgeous like Wade was then there would be no thought behind it for her.

  Taylor was completely out of the question because Wade was her brother and Chloe didn't know how she would react to that. So that left Wes, but he wasn't talking to her.

  "I don't know what to tell you." He ran his hands across his face. "I hate that guy, a lot. Can't stand him one bit. He's a self-righteous bastard that made my life hell for years. He messed with every chance I had for a decent high school memory. Chloe, it's clear to me that you like him, you always have, and I'm not surprised by your outlandish eighteen-year-old-you stunt. I suspected something like that must have happened between you because the dislike that came from you was way above the rim." He released a breath and looked at her searching her eyes. He sat back in the chair again and removed his glasses, drawing her attention to the freckles on the bridge of his straight nose. "Chloe, you're my best friend, so I'm supposed to take care of you and try to push aside my bias. I think the question lies with what you want. You've known this guy your whole life. You've known him longer than me. You need to ask yourself what you want, and go with that."

  Chloe looked at him, quite surprised by his answer. Perhaps she was counting on Wes to warn her away from Wade and put her off. But Wes wasn't doing that at all.

  "Wes, it can't be good to feel like this. I feel out of control. And surely it's best to be careful."

  "Of course, especially with him."

  "Wes, he's the worst guy I know." Wade was without a doubt that. He was a bad boy to the max and oozed sex appeal in the most sinful ways that could corrupt even the purest of people.

  "Chloe, the man is terrible, and I hope he burns in hell," Wes added. "But that's not the point. I know you, and if you thought there was that much of a risk, and he was that bad, we wouldn't be having this conversation. You wanted my guidance and opinion, and that is it. Wade's bad news. We both know this, but something in you must want to be with him, so I think you should go with what you want. But for God sake, be careful, remember he's a Vanderville."

  She'd been waiting for him to say that. Wes had never held back on his opinions of the Vandervilles.

  Chloe couldn't protest. She'd grown up around the family, and to this day Benjamin Vanderville still gave her the creeps. It was probably why she referred to him as either sir or Mr. Vanderville. He had that air of authority that made her feel uncomfortable, mixed with something sinister she couldn't put her finger on.

  Then there was Wade, who was a category all on his own. It was like he'd inherited all the extreme traits and characteristics from his parents. He had Regina's drive to get whatever he wanted at whatever cost and to have things done his way. Wade also had that air of authority and controlling presence she'd seen displayed by his father.

  "Okay." She didn't feel any less conflicted than before she spoke to Wes, but she supposed she had his opinion now. "I'll remember. Thanks for talking to me about this."

  "Anytime. Call me if you need to, and please no more secrets. I know you may feel weird talking to me because I'm a guy but we've always been real with each other, and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."

  Wes stood up to go and pushed his hands into his pockets, tugging on the end of his Planet of the Apes T-shirt. He adjusted his headphones around his neck and came around to kiss her forehead.

  She smiled up at him. "I appreciate that, Wes. I'd do anything for you too."

  "Then be careful and jump ship at the first sign of trouble."

  She nodded. It was exactly what she planned to do. Jump ship if she had to save herself, or more specifically her heart.

  As Wes turned to go, they both looked at the entrance and saw Wade leaning against the door frame. He wore a black leather biker jacket and black trousers. Head resting on the edge of the frame, jacket slightly open to reveal a charcoal gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles. Wade was the unadulterated description of sexy. Chloe stood up and swallowed hard as Wes looked back at her and frowned.

  Wade moved from the door as Wes stepped away from Chloe. They walked towards each other then stopped when they met in the middle.

  She admired Wes, he was several inches shorter than Wade and didn't have much muscle on his lanky body, but he stood up, tall and proud, staring Wade down as if he were letting him know that she had him to look out for her.

  Wade smirked as Wes shook his head and placed his headphones on his head. Wes then strode away leaving Chloe to Wade.

  Her nerves spiked when Wade looked at her with those deep, penetrating, gray eyes. She almost felt like running away, running away from the magnetism that drew her to him, but she knew that if she could run she wouldn't get very far. The pull was too strong and would only reel her back to him.

  What was he doing here? And worse, how long had he been standing there? She really hoped he didn't hear what Wes said.

  As he walked up to her, she caught the alluring scent of his aftershave. It was something musky and fresh, like what he wore that night at the club. It reminded her of the forest and mingled with his own scent, which was already paralyzing and will bending.

  He focused on her with his steely gray eyes and did that staring thing where she was left feeling like he was looking straight through her. Chloe couldn't keep her mind from racing.

  Exposed. That's how she felt, and it wasn’t a nice feeling. Those eyes looked right through her and she knew he knew the effect he was having on her because his sharp lips twisted into a grin.

  "Wesley," he began. His voice smooth and silky. "What's the story with you two?"

  She looked at him in disbelief, thrown by the question.

  "He's my friend," she replied and was again treated with his steady, unfathomable gaze.

  "What kind of friend?"

  This was the part where Chloe would normally tell him to go away and leave her alone, but he'd incapacitated her, put her under some spell where he controlled her.

  "The normal kind," she huffed. "What do you want?" Good, that sounded like the old her.

  "I don't keep women as friends."

  "Gee, you know, if there was one thing I knew it would be that."

  He chuckled and gave her that cheeky grin that tightened her chest. It didn't help that he was getting closer and stopped a breath away from her. When he bent down to kiss her, she instinctively tilted her head up to receive his delicious lips.

  His lips captured hers and transported her mind to a place where she'd abandoned reasoning and logic. The warmth of his hands smoothed over her waist and pulled her closer. It was only when his fingers brushed the underside of her left breast that she jumped back, fighting against the raw desire that stirred in her groin.

  "I'm at work. I can't. We can't." What the hell had this damn man done to her? Just imagine if Regina herself walked in and saw her kissing her son. Regina made the occasional visit here, so it wasn't entirely impossible. Or, never mind Regina, Taylor could have come in. Or anybody for the matter. It wasn't like people didn't know who Wade was.
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br />   "I can fix that. Come on, let's go." He tilted his head towards the door.

  "Go? What?"

  "Come with me." His lips slid up into a sexy smile.

  "Where are you going?"

  "You'll have to come to find out."

  "Wade, I'm at work. I have to work. I can't just leave. That's the kind of thing that could go against me."

  "Chill out, baby. Geez, you are stressed. Come with me, and I'll make you feel good."

  "No," she answered, although truthfully she wanted to say yes. Her stupid body, which wasn't listening to her anymore, wanted nothing more than for him to take her away and make her feel good, but if she went with him, she knew she'd lose her mind—or worse, herself.

  "Chloe, it's lunch time, and you're in here cooped up. Is that what you want?"

  "Wade…" Her voice trailed off as she thought about what she should say. She had a lot to do today, and she was busy. She couldn't go off with him.

  He walked around her and rested his hands on her shoulders. His grip tightened as he started working his fingers into her tense muscles, massaging the area. It felt good, extremely good, and she could feel the pressure drain away from her.

  "Good. Just relax," he whispered, leaning down to kiss the hollow in her neck.

  It was impossible to resist him, and it didn't help that she had no desire to. Weakly she crumpled against his chest and welcomed more kisses across her skin. At that moment, she felt so good that she didn't care who came in and saw them.

  "Come with me, baby."

  She turned her head to look up at him and saw the hunger in his eyes. It made her weaker, her whole body went weak, and she couldn't resist him. Her stomach clenched as a pulse of desire shot through her body.

  "Okay." It was the only answer.

  He took her hand and gave her a cunning smile, then pulled her along beside him as he rushed out of the building. Wade didn't seem to care who saw them together—and quite a few people did. Chloe didn't care either, all she knew was she was going wherever he was taking her. He led them to a sleek black Kawasaki motorcycle that looked like something out of a Terminator or Mission Impossible film. A helmet was hooked over the handle. He reached for it and held it out for her to take.