Taken: A Real Man, 21 Read online

  We’d been caught in the supply closet, and I’d heard her laughing softly behind me. That in turn had made me chuckle after the momentary shock had subsided. I hadn’t been embarrassed but instead felt a fierce need to protect her, to shield her from any prying eyes.

  Because she was mine and her nudity was for my eyes only.

  But on the other hand, I didn’t care that anybody had seen us. I actually found it a little bit arousing that we’d been caught. And I felt like maybe Penny had felt the same way.

  The young man who’d caught us had sported wide eyes and red cheeks. He mumbled his apologies and shut the door promptly, and then we were left alone again. I’d turned around and adjusted the top of her dress, pushed the skirt of it down, and then tucked my still semi-hard dick into my slacks. Fuck, I could have taken her again right then and there.

  All I had been able to think about was my cum slipping from her tight little virgin pussy in that moment. I grew possessive as that image slammed into my head.

  Then I’d smoothed my fingers through her hair and just stared at her. She was it for me. There was nobody else in the world I’d rather be with, and I wanted her to know.

  And I felt that way even after this one moment in time with her. But we couldn’t stay in that supply closet forever, so when we left, when I took her hand in mine and lead her down the hallway and back to reality, I had no intentions of letting her go. The feeling of my heart racing and pleasure still filling me told me being truthful with how I felt for her and what I wanted was what I had to do.

  Even if she’d say she didn’t want anything more.

  But I wouldn’t accept that answer.

  So I didn’t know how I’d found—let—myself getting pushed back from Penny, watching as she grew even more distant from me, literally. I had been engulfed by the crowd as soon as we found ourselves back in the ballroom, surrounded by people. And all the while, I felt this tug in my heart, as if the farther away she went, the more I lost something.

  I’d kept looking back at her, feeling panic fill me. I had to get to her. Then that panic turned into anger at these motherfuckers keeping me from her.

  But the people swarming me were like hungry sharks, refusing to back down. And it had been like I was in the ocean, these bodies the current taking me away from her. I should have fought everyone back.

  But everything went into slow motion, the noise around me fading, the only thing I could hear was the beating of my own heart pounding in my ears.

  And then I couldn’t see her anymore as people filled the space between us, as I felt them crowd me. But their words fell on deaf ears. My mind was too consumed with the “what ifs” and the “if only” thoughts.

  I felt like the thing I held most dear had been stolen from me.

  And then I couldn’t find her again. Oh, I’d tried, searched. It was like she’d been a mirage, a fantasy I’d conjured up.

  Had there been this many people to start with? People were shoulder-to-shoulder, suffocating me. Or was I just now realizing how alone I truly was? Was I just now realizing that the one person I connected with, the woman who I knew I couldn’t let go, was now lost in a sea of money-hungry assholes?

  And here I was now. Alone, regretting that I hadn’t tried harder, fought for her and our stolen moments. She’d disappeared, escaped the party like Cinderella escaping her destiny.

  She was my destiny. That, I knew for certain.

  And I also knew I’d find her. I’d search until she was in my life again. And then I’d make her mine.

  Chapter Nine

  Everett

  One week later

  It had been a week.

  It had been seven long fucking days since the charity event ended, we’d been caught by the staff… and I’d been stupid and let Penny walk out of my life. But what she didn’t know was that it was only a momentary absence. As soon as I got home, I’d contacted the heads of the charity event and had gotten all the information I could on Penny. I might not have known her last name, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t find out who she was. Anyone who had been at that event had been vetted.

  I’d found out there had only been two guests named Penny at the event that night. Penelope “Penny” Vanguard, seventy-year-old heiress who was most definitely not the woman I’d fallen for. The only other one who had come up was Penny Sterling, a twenty-two-year-old plus-one guest accompanied by her sister, Claire Sterling, who was engaged to Stewart Ronaldo, millionaire and owner of Ronaldo Law.

  I didn’t care about anything else aside from the fact that I’d found out who she was.

  Then I’d contacted my IT guy, gave him the information I had on her, and told him to find her for me.

  I found out where she lived, even what her hours were at the florist shop where she worked. I was going overboard, I knew that, even heading into stalker-like behavior. But I was a desperate man, and for the first time in my life, I’d found someone who made me feel like I was living again, like if I didn’t keep her in my life I wouldn’t be able to breathe.

  And that was not a feeling I was going to give up without a fight.

  I found myself walking up to her house, a small bungalow that was quaint and cute… looking like a home. It was a far cry from my penthouse apartment, one that was void of a woman’s touch, had no warmth, no life aside from a few pieces of designer decoration I had. And every time I walked into my apartment, I felt that emptiness. I felt the loneliness. I hated it, and I wanted to change.

  And I wanted to change with Penny.

  Would she want that with me?

  As I walked up to her front door, my heart was racing, and never in my life had I felt as nervous as I did right now. What would I say? What would she say when she saw me?

  No doubt she’d think I was some kind of stalker, finding out who she was, where she lived. But I had to tell her, explain what I felt for her, that it had started out as an instant, physical attraction, but as I sat there and talked to her, gotten to know her personality, I’d fallen hard and fast.

  And over the last week, all I’d been able to think about was Penny. She was all I wanted. Ever.

  I held the bouquet of two dozen roses in my hand, my other one curled into a tight fist at my side. Maybe the flowers were cliché, but I didn’t want to come empty-handed.

  How would she feel if she found out that what I really wanted to do was throw her over my shoulder all caveman-esque and take her back to my bed to fuck her senseless?

  Fuck, I was already starting to get hard.

  I stood at her door for long moments, trying in vain to get my mind out of the gutter. I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’d prove to her that she was mine.

  I wanted to look into her face when I told her what she meant to me, how she made me feel. I wanted to see her expression, her reaction. I just wanted to see her.

  These past seven days felt like a lifetime of me thinking about her, picturing her in my mind, jerking off to the memory of how she felt pressed against me, my cock deep in her pussy. I wasn’t ashamed to say that I wanted a repeat performance, every day, every night for the rest of my life. Hell, I wanted to fuck her raw, make it so she couldn’t walk comfortably because she’d still feel my dick in her.

  And fucking hell, I wanted to fill her up, make her take every last ounce of my cum like I had in that closet.

  Maybe this was fast, a little bit crazy. Maybe I was fucking obsessed. But if I was going to be addicted to something, I wanted to be hooked on Penny.

  I lifted my hand and brought my knuckles down on her door, rapping on it three times, then taking a step back. I held my breath as I waited, praying she was home so I could see her, so I could look into her blue eyes and get lost in them all over again.

  God, she was perfect for me in every way, and I wanted to spend my life getting to know her. I wanted to spend the rest of my days knowing what her favorite food was, if she liked coffee or tea in the morning. I wanted to know the little things like what her favorite c
olor was, if she liked dramas or mysteries, if she was a horror fan. I wanted to know what she hated, what annoyed her. I wanted to know all of that, and I wouldn’t leave until she gave me a chance.

  I couldn’t.

  And then the next several moments happened in slow motion as the front door opened, and I saw her for the first time in seven days.

  God, it felt like an eternity that I hadn’t seen her strawberry-blonde hair and big blue eyes. It seemed far longer than a week since I’d tasted her plump, juicy mouth, but I sure as hell remembered how she tasted, how she smelled and felt pressed up against me.

  I couldn’t help it as my cock started to harden, an immediate reaction to the sight of her. I had to hold in the groan of pleasure and relief knowing that she was in front of me, just a couple feet from where I stood, her eyes wide, clearly shocked that I was standing here on her doorstep.

  “Everett?” Her voice was soft and feminine and sent electricity through my body, settling in my fingers and toes, racing up my spine.

  It felt incredible listening to her voice, hearing her say my name. The memories of having her at the event played through my mind over and over again like a broken record, one I wanted on repeat until the day I died.

  I wanted her in my bed, spread out on my sheets, her hair fanned out over my pillow.

  “What are you doing here?” Shock was laced in her words.

  I felt fucking insane as I held out the flowers. She glanced down at the bouquet before taking them from me, her fingers brushing against mine. Fuck, that felt good.

  “How did you find me?” She had the flowers now and looked up at me with her eyes still wide.

  I could have lied, made something up, but I didn’t want to. I wanted her to know I was an honest man and always would be that way with her.

  “I asked the heads of the charity event, found out you came with your sister, then had my IT guy find where you lived.” I swallowed, wondering if she’d slam the door in my face, maybe call the cops, because I’d just told her I stalked her to get that information.

  But she didn’t move, said nothing for long seconds as she stared at me.

  “So… you illegally hunted me down?”

  I lifted my hand and rubbed the back of my neck, knowing I looked guilty as fuck. I stared into her pretty blue eyes. “Yeah.” I cleared my throat as I waited for her to answer. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not, because I had to find you, Penny.”

  “Why?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “Because I think I’m falling in love with you.” There, I fucking said it, couldn’t take it back, and didn’t want to. I needed Penny to know the lengths I’d go to make her mine, even if they were questionable.

  She said nothing as she turned from me and my heart plummeted to my stomach. I thought she’d shut the door in my face, but instead she set the flowers on the little table by the door and faced me again.

  “You’ve taken my heart, Penny, and even if you say no, that you don’t want me, nothing can change the fact that it’s now yours. Forever, just how I want it to be.” I heard her inhale sharply, as if my words had almost sucked the air from her lungs.

  I stood there for long seconds, an eternity seeming like it passed before she said a word. Penny glanced down, the fall of her hair slightly obstructing my view of her gorgeous face.

  “And you feel like this after one week, after one passionate, heated exchange in a supply closet?” Her voice was so soft I almost didn’t hear her. She finally glanced up and my breath caught at the look on her face.

  Hope.

  “Yeah. I felt like that and more after our fated run-in, our small conversation, and a few stolen moments in a supply closet.” I took a step closer. “And that feeling has only grown in these seven short days until I knew without a doubt you’ve always been mine. Even if I didn’t know it, even if it took us literally running into each other for me to experience it, I’ve never been more certain of something in my life.” I reached out and cupped her cheek in my hand. I couldn’t help myself. God, her skin was so warm and soft. “I want to see where this goes, Penny. I want to get to know you, for you to get to know me. I can’t walk away from you. And in my heart, I don’t think you want me to.”

  I stared into her eyes and waited for her to respond. Anxiety filled me, an expectancy that was as if I was running a race and desperately needed to be first place.

  But she didn’t verbally respond. Instead, she rose up on her toes and wrapped her arms around my neck, bringing her chest flush with mine. She kissed me, and I groaned in pleasure, wrapping my arms around her and keeping her close.

  “I want that too. I want that so much, Everett.” Her words were murmured against my lips, and I swallowed the sound, taking it into my body, wanting to keep those words in me always.

  “I’ll never let you go,” I declared... demanded. “You’ll always be mine, Penny.” I felt her smile against my lips.

  “Good, because that’s what I want too.”

  I might not be able to tell the future, but I knew my own destiny, and that was forever entwined with Penny’s. Of that, I was fucking certain.

  Epilogue One

  Penny

  Two years later

  Oh my God. Was this real? Was this my life?

  I played those words over and over in my head, unable to believe it, even as I stared down at the proof in my hand.

  My hands were shaking, my heart thundering. All I could think about were the what-ifs, how Everett would feel. I knew this was what he wanted, because we’d talked about it plenty of times over the last two years. But now that it was a reality, would he be happy?

  I stared at the positive pregnancy test in my left hand, my fingers shaking, my wedding ring catching the light from the slight tremors.

  When I couldn't stay still any longer, I stood and started pacing, that pregnancy test still in my grip. I lifted my head and looked around, staring at the things Everett and I collected for our home over the last two years, the things I’d brought from my home, the things he’d already had here. We complemented each other, fit perfectly together, yet I was still worried, scared he’d be against the idea, that this was too fast, that he wanted more of “us” time.

  I stared down at my wedding ring. We were blissfully married, having moved in together a month after we’d first met then marrying six months later. And a year after that, we’d bought our first home.

  Crazy? Sure. Fast? Yeah. The right thing to do? Absolutely.

  Then.

  And now I was pregnant.

  When I looked at the clock, the time seemed to stand still. He’d be home any minute.

  And then I heard the sound of his car pulling into the driveway.

  I knew he loved me, so much that he told me it hurt his heart at times. And he took care of me unconditionally. I knew he’d be the best father in the world. But this terrified me. It was real and life-changing. For both of us.

  I went over to the living room window and pulled aside the curtain to stare at him. I watched as he climbed out of the car, his big body turning me on instantly. Even in his suits, he was a power to be reckoned with, his muscles pronounced, his male prowess evident.

  I watched as he headed toward the house then heard the front door open. I closed my eyes and breathed out.

  “Penny? Baby, where are you?”

  I held my breath.

  “Thought we could go to Angelo’s for dinner. I know you’ve been craving their lasagna.”

  He had no idea why those cravings had risen up like they had.

  He called for me again, but I was almost in a trance in that moment, unable to move or speak as I held that pregnancy test still.

  “Penny?”

  I snapped my eyes open, not realizing I’d still had them closed, not realizing he was only a few feet from me.

  “What’s wrong?” The worry in his voice was evident.

  My throat tightened, my mouth went dry, and panic settled in as I lifted the test, not
bothering to say anything. This certainly wasn’t how I’d envisioned telling him. But I was on autopilot right now.

  “Um,” I whispered as he took the test out of my hand and looked down at it. I was trying to be calm, trying not to seem like I was freaking out, but the truth was, I was so over being tense that I wouldn’t be surprised if everything in me snapped.

  He finally looked at me again, his expression stoic. He still held the test, maybe waiting for me to say something.

  “So. Yeah. A baby.” God, had I really said it like that?

  “You’re pregnant.” He stated it, his voice neutral, even.

  Was he in shock? It would seem appropriate, given the fact that I was there too.

  All I could do was nod. “Yeah,” I whispered, my throat tight. “A baby.”

  For long seconds, we didn’t speak, didn’t even move. The air was thick, I felt tense, and sweat beaded the valley between my breasts. How would he feel about all this?

  “A baby,” he murmured. And then he grinned at me, his straight white teeth flashing, his happiness clear.

  And at that moment, I felt the fear and worry, the tension and stress just fade, evaporate from me. He put the pregnancy test back on the table and had me in his arms, holding me close, murmuring sweet things against my hair.

  He pulled back after long moments, not saying anything, and instead kissed me. The kiss was gentle, loving. He rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing the same air, feeling the same things.

  “Damn, Penny. Baby, this is fucking fantastic news.” He pulled back then, the grin on his face making me smile even wider.

  My heart melted at how excited he was over this.

  I cupped his scruff-covered cheeks. He chuckled and kissed me again, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on to him, feeling him lift me off the ground effortlessly. I felt so small, so fragile in his arms.

  I felt so feminine.

  He set me down after a long moment, my lips pleasantly sensitive from his kiss. And then before I knew what he was doing, Everett was on his knees in front of me, pushing my shirt up and resting his forehead on my belly. He started murmuring things I couldn’t quite hear, and I lifted my hands and smoothed my fingers through his hair. He pulled back slightly and kissed my belly before looking up at me.