Take Me: The Complete Series (Power Play #1-4) (14 page)

“He didn’t ruin anything.”

He reaches across the table and wraps his hand around mine. He holds it there, confidently.

“Well, still, it would have been nicer if he hadn’t shown up at all.” A nervous feeling runs through me. “I can’t believe the way he talked to me. Monday morning is going to be very interesting at work.”

“He’s very possessive of you.”

 
Isaac’s tone is flat.

“We have an… interesting relationship. He’s like my big brother.”

“I doubt he thinks of you as his little sister.”

I shrug. “He means well. He’s just used to getting his way, is all.”

Isaac gives me a light squeeze of the hand.

“I’m used to getting my way, too.”

I grin at him.
 

“Are you going to get all possessive and pissed off if you don’t get what you want?”

“I will, if that’s what turns you on.”

“You’re what turns me on.”

“Tsk, tsk,” he says, wagging a finger at me. “You’re coming dangerously close to breaking Rule Number One.”

I cock an eyebrow, glancing down at his hand cupped around mine.

“It looks like you’re breaking some of the rules, yourself.”

He gives me a slight roll of his shoulder.

“I made an exception.”

My mouth opens in a look of mock outrage.

“Well, that’s not fair. You get to make the rules
and
break them whenever you feel like it?”

He gives me that charming, cocky grin of his.

“I told you I’m used to getting what I want.”

His eyes are subtle as they sink down along my body. A shiver envelops me as his gaze slides over my breasts and down to my legs. My mind explodes with thoughts of what Isaac and I could be doing right then instead of sitting at a coffee shop.

I quickly try to push those thoughts away. If I start letting myself think things like that then I’ll definitely start breaking
all
of his rules.

“Is he someone I should worry about?”

I frown, suddenly nervous.

“What do you mean?”

His response is unflinching and to the point.

“Have you fucked him?”

My eyes widen in surprise at the abruptness of the question.

“Oh, God no. Nothing like that has ever happened between us.”

My mind is still racing from the thought of it when a satisfied smile rests itself on Isaac’s face.

“Good. Because I don’t like to share.” He squeezes my hand again.

I give him a questioning look.

“Are you trying to tell me that I belong to you?”

His head tilts to the side, his gray eyes are intense.

“Tonight, you do.”

A grin spreads on my face. Normally, a guy saying something like that would piss me off. I make no secret about the fact that I’m my own woman. I carve my own way through the world. But, for some reason, the idea of belonging to Isaac doesn’t seem quite so bad.

“Slow down, mister. Remember, this is only a
first
date.”

He leans forward, fixing me with that charming smile of his.

“You’d better be thankful for that, because the Second Date Rules are
much
more interesting.”

My breath hitches in my chest as my mind explodes one more time with vivid thoughts of all the things Isaac is suggesting. He says things in such a way that instantly puts my mind in the gutter. It’s like when he’s around I turn into some brunette version of my horny roommate.

“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” I say, finally managing to speak.

He holds my gaze for a long while. There’s something curious in the way he’s looking at me.

“So why do you think of Declan as your brother when it’s obvious he thinks of you so differently?”

My insides curdle at the question. Not from fear of answering it, so much as just being reminded that things between Declan and I have taken a decided turn for the worse.

“I’ve known him since I was just beginning high school,” I say, reflecting back on that time so many years ago. “Come to think of it, he probably wasn’t much older than I am now…”

“How did you meet?”

I wave a hand, smiling at the memory.

“He worked for my dad. They quickly became close, and before long it was like Declan was just another part of the family. My dad saw something in him. Something that made him feel like he needed to take Declan under his wing, show him the ropes, mentor him.” I shrug. “Declan really did become the son that my father never had. And when we found out he was sick and that he didn’t have long to live, he made it so that control of his company would fall to Declan after he passed away.”

Isaac’s brow furrows as his neck cranes away from me. He studies me, thoughtfully.

“It all makes more sense now,” he says. He smiles at me like he’s just figured something out—some kind of puzzle. “Hannah Barnes, of the Barnes Media Group. Your dad was Old Billy Barnes, wasn’t he?”

My insides clench at the mention of my father’s name. Even more so because of the way Isaac says it.

“The one and only,” I say.

His smile widens for a moment before pulling back down into a frown.

“I’m sorry for your loss. I really am. I can’t imagine what it would be like to lose my old da’. Especially at such a young age.”

My heart pounds in my chest. I wave my hand, trying to dispel any of Isaac’s sympathies. I’ve been living the last few years with everyone giving me sympathetic looks, pitying me and my situation, and I’m sick of it. I don’t want people to keep looking at me like I’m defective just because my dad got sick and died.

I’m not damaged goods.

“Anyways,” I continue. “Declan really watched over me in those early years after Daddy passed away.“ A soft smile tugs at the corners of Isaac’s lips when I refer to my dad. “He made sure I was doing well in school, and that all of the financial stuff was taken care of. He didn’t pay for it, he just made sure that the trust Daddy setup was making all their payments on time and everything.”

I fall silent. After a time, Isaac bobs his head, grinning.

“And now little Hannah is all grown up, and she’s come to reclaim what’s rightfully hers.”

I let out a laugh. “I’m just happy that I get to be a part of something that Daddy built, is all. I’m forever grateful for everything Declan’s done.”

Isaac gets a puzzled look on his face. His head tilts to the side.

“What about your mum? Didn’t Old Bill marry some rich socialite here in New York?”

If my insides had twisted around before, now they’re in a free fall. A wave of nausea threatens to overcome me when Isaac mentions my mother. My face tightens as I stare at him, and the smile on his face disappears immediately.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

I wave my hand again, not wanting him to say anything more. He doesn’t know everything that went on, I can’t blame him for bringing it up.
 

“I don’t really like talking about her,” I say, honestly. But a question does nag at the back of my head. “But how do you know who she is? Did you know my father?”

He holds my gaze for a moment, the amused look on his face slowly hardens. When he speaks, his voice is tight.

“I’ve been in the business for a while,” he says. “A lot of people know all about Old Billie Barnes…”

A grin creeps across my face.

“He could be a stubborn man.”

Isaac nods. “That’s what I’ve heard.”

I take a deep breath, leveling a contented smile at him.

“This is some pretty deep conversation for a first date, don’t you think?”

He leans forward, drawing himself closer to me.

“Depth is what pulls us together,” he says. “The shallow end of the pool is boring. I’ve always been one to go diving in face first.” He holds my gaze a moment longer, his eyes turning thoughtful. He wraps his hands around mine again, squeezing them gently. “When you talk to me I want you to bare your heart. I want you to trust that I won’t let anything bad happen to it.”

My mouth dries. I shake my head.

“I’m not very good at opening doors and letting people in.”

I don’t let people in. That’s not me. Daddy let someone in and I saw exactly what happened to him. I made a promise that I would never let that happen to me.

That smirk tugs at the corners of Isaac’s lip.
 

“You may not know it yet, but I think you just cracked that door open a little.”

I feel myself getting emotional as I nod my head, slowly.

He’s right, and I know it.

I may have promised myself that I would never let anyone in, but I’d made that promise before I knew there was an Isaac Drake somewhere in the world. I made that promise before I knew there was someone out there that has the keys to all of my locks.

Isaac’s bulging cock presses into the side of my leg as my arms wrap around him, trying to pull him on top of me. His tongue is delving deeper and deeper into my mouth, exploring every inch it can reach.

But it’s not enough. I want more. So much more.

His hand slides up my waist until it’s fondling my breast. I let out a soft moan as he squeezes, gently. My legs want to spread even wider than they already are, to give him everything that he wants, but the way I’m seated in the back of the limo doesn’t allow me any more room.

“This is definitely breaking the First Date Rules,” I say, between kisses.

“Rules were made to be broken.”

His fingers slide up and into my long, brown hair. He balls it around his fist and pulls my head back, exposing my tender neck to his curious lips.

I let out another moan, trying to rub myself against his cock even more. I can feel it yearning for me, crying out for release from its prison. I want to free it. I want to take it in my mouth until there’s nothing left for it to give me.

“Shouldn’t we be there already?” I manage, between gasps of pleasure.

Isaac kisses the base of my neck. His lips begin working down the center of my chest.

“We’ve been circling the block for ten minutes.”

He cups my breast again, lifting my exposed cleavage to his hungry lips. His tongue dips beneath the black fabric, searching for its prize.

“It’s getting late,” I say.

It takes every ounce of my willpower to not unbuckle his pants and take his hardness in my hand right then and there.

“Do you have a curfew?”

“All first dates have a curfew.”

A low growl rolls through his chest as he presses himself further into me. But then he slides back to his side of the seat. His eyes are hungry as they descend over the length of me.

“Damn those rules,” he says. But he doesn’t push things any further.

When we finally come to a stop outside of my building I give him a knowing look.

“We should probably say goodbye here.”

His brow pulls down.

“Don’t be foolish. What kind of heathen doesn’t walk his date to her door?”

I slide in close to him, feeling his body tense as I draw near. I run my fingers down the edge of his expensive sports jacket.

“I’m afraid that walking me to my door is going to turn into walking me to my bed.”

A devious little smirk spreads on his face.

“You’ve never complained about that before.”

I give him a playful smile that disguises the carnal lust rushing through me.

“You’ve never taken me on a date before. I’m pretty sure second base is farther than most guys get on the first date.”

He shakes is head.

“You bloody Americans and your bloody sportsball references.” A tiny giggle bounces up from my chest as Isaac gives me an intense stare. “Bloody hell, woman… fine! I’ll be a perfect gentleman, you have my word. But I
am
walking you to your door.”

He doesn’t give me much room to deny him.

Isaac is true to his word and keeps his hands mostly to himself until we get to my door. I turn to face him, and enjoy that charming smile he’s got on his face.

“I had fun tonight,” I say.

I run my finger down his sports coat again. He looks so handsome and sexy in it. My body craves to push the coat off of his shoulders, and then maybe rip the rest of his clothes off, too.

“You know, as soon as I leave here the date will be over.” My brow pulls together, giving him a curious look. He raises his fingers to my cheek and traces a tiny line along my jaw. Shivers go through me. “So, if you were to leave in a few minutes and go to my place, technically we wouldn’t be on a date anymore…”

I bite my lip as my body screams out for me to do it. Spending the night with him sounds amazing. But I can’t. I’ve already given him more of myself tonight than I ever expected to. If I stay with him tonight I’m worried I’ll give him even more. And I can’t let that happen.

I take his hand in mine and clutch it to my chest.

“It’s already been a fairy tale night. Let’s leave it at that.”

Isaac gives me a devious look. He presses me back into the wall next to my door. I can still feel his enormity, thick against my hip. He leans in and gives me a gentle kiss on the cheek before pulling himself away again. My body feels empty without his huge frame close to me.

“This
whole week
has been a fairy tale.” His intense gray eyes drink all of me in. “Sleep well, my kitten.”

My heart is pounding in my chest as he draws himself away from me. His watchful eyes stay on me until I’ve unlocked the door and slipped inside. He gives me one last devious smile before I shut the door.

My body is already aching and trembling for him as I slide the lock into place.

Addiction
is one of the newest, hottest clubs in the city. On Saturday night, it’s the place Tawny chooses for us to go. I’m excited to go out with her. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to really just hang out and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with her.

And despite how much my body is telling me that I need to be with Isaac tonight, I’m actually looking forward to just hanging out and having a good time without having to worry about anything.

Of course, once we get our first round of drinks and find an open table in the corner of one of the many intimate lounges that makes up the club, the first thing Tawny wants to know about is how my date with Isaac went.