Chapter 4

Four

Piper

B ack in my room, I lay in my bed, fuming. And horny. So horny.

How was it possible that great orgasms with Tyler could make me hornier? Because I wanted him to make me totally his.

I had assumed my biggest hurdle would be getting Tyler to see me as a woman. As it turned out, that wasn't my problem. Tyler desired me but getting him to act on that desire was more difficult than I expected. Tyler was duty bound to a frustrating degree.

It didn't make me love him any less, but it was sure difficult to get him into bed with me. From hearing my girlfriends' talk that usually was not the problem. Then again, they weren't dealing with our particular problems. Tyler was a lonely man. I heard it in his music. He was also deeply private. He was determined to lock himself away from love or just a passionate night. I'd take that and go from here.

Fucking idiot! The sensations Tyler introduced me to were all too new and too stimulating to be forgotten. Holy fuck he had really had his mouth on me there . I'd never be able to see him stand on stage again without thinking of how he'd had my girl-cum covering his lips.

It had been amazing. And hard to imagine that any man did that out of sheer politeness.

My skin itched under my cast. I checked my calendar on my phone. Today was the day it could be removed! Hot damn. I was more than ready to reclaim my drawing hand.

Plus I was tired of being scared. I was tired of being treated like a burden. And most of all I was frustrated. Something had to change. Yes, Will was out there but I hated that he was keeping me from living my life. If I had my own apartment, Tyler would see I was independent. It was time for me to act; otherwise, I was going to break some kind of record as the oldest living virgin in Los Angeles.

By the time the sun rose, I was almost finished getting ready. From Instagram, I'd seen how dressed-up women in LA were. It wasn't surprising in a city full of actresses and models. It was like New York in that way.

In light of that and as a declaration of my own independence, I decided to wear my favorite creation—the white satin slip dress. Checking my reflection in my bedroom's full-length mirror, I was pleased with what I saw except for the damned cast, but I'd be rid of that soon enough. Otherwise, I loved the way the satin flowed as it ended right above my knees. I'd even hand embroidered some daisies along the trim.

When I made it, I'd sewn a liner inside the dress.

That plus having cut the silk on the bias meant the dress skimmed my figure nicely. I left my long hair loose, letting my curls play off the elegant simplicity of the dress. I added my signature red lipstick and red sandals with gold ties that laced up my calves. My only jewelry was a simple gold chain that dipped low between my breasts. I gathered my phone and my portfolio.

"Good morning, Tyler." I greeted him coolly in the kitchen. He was sitting at the counter with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. His ratty tee shirt and shorts were a dead giveaway he'd just worked out. My heart rate picked up just like it always did when he was around. But I was determined to set my own path and not get drawn into his masculine good looks.

Tyler glanced up when I entered the kitchen. His coffee cup was stopped halfway to his mouth. His eyes widened slightly looking at me.

I turned my back, opening the cupboard. I could feel his eyes on my ass as I reached up for a cup.

See how you like it, Mister. Not fun wanting something you can't have right?

"I need to see a doctor today," I said, helping myself to the coffee.

Immediately Tyler stood up. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. My doctor has a colleague out here who will remove the cast for me. All I have to do is get to the office. Can I get a ride into the city?"

I turned around and contemplated him over my coffee mug.

His eyes narrowed. He wasn't happy about me leaving the house, but I was sick of sitting around. I understood the dangers still lurking. I wasn't an idiot, but I needed to keep my life moving forward. That was not happening waiting around here while Tyler wrestled with his conscience.

"I have meetings all day. But the security team will take you and bring you right back."

I didn't share I'd pulled up several available apartments on my phone earlier. I'd selected ones with significant security, I wasn't going to give Will any opportunity. I was pretty sure I could get the security guy to do a little scouting with me.

"Thanks, Tyler. Have a good one." I kept my voice cool. I could feel his eyes tracking me around the kitchen.

I slipped Hercules a doggie treat, pausing to stroke his velvety ears.

Suddenly Tyler was behind me, trapping me against the kitchen counter. I could feel the heat of his body enveloping me. His scent, even post workout, made me dizzy with need. He didn't touch me, but he was as close as possible without making contact.

"What kind of panties are you wearing?" His heated growl sent shivers down my spine.

I turned around, letting my breasts press against him. His eyes dipped down to my cleavage. Intensity radiated through him. My knees felt weak. It was only ever going to be this man for me forever.

I bit my bottom lip.

His thumb came up to stroke it and I couldn't stop myself. I widened my mouth to capture his thumb, sucking it like I would his cock the previous night.

A groan escaped his lips. His cock grew stiff in his shorts, pressing against my belly, teasing me with what he refused to share.

I released his thumb from my mouth with a juicy pop and I leaned back away from him, breaking the contact between us. I gave my head a slight shake, my curls danced.

"You don't have the right to know if I'm even wearing any ."

Leaving him standing in the kitchen with a massive erection pained me, but karma is a massive bitch. Things could be so beautiful between us, but Tyler needed to realize that on his own. I was tired of chasing him.

The morning was blissfully uneventful. The sun was out and a warm breeze scented the air. The security guard was a bulldog of a man aptly nicknamed Rocco who expertly maneuvered us through LA traffic. The doctor who removed my cast was a nice young woman who had trained with my doctor in Vermont. My arm had healed nicely. It was a wonderful relief to be able to scratch my elbow if I wanted. Before leaving the doctor's office, I located the ladies' room for the floor. The LA traffic and my tiny bladder were not playing nice. Rocco moved to inspect the restroom.

"Rocco, I'll be fine. It's a ladies' room. If I get in trouble, I'll call you. I'll meet you back out in the lobby, okay?" I pushed the restroom door open and nearly collided with a male janitor. "Sorry! Is this open?"

He nodded, keeping his head down as he gathered his mop and bucket.

I went about my business, hearing the bathroom door open again. That better not be Rocco listening to me pee.

Minutes later I emerged from the stall, ready to plot how I was going to maneuver Rocco into apartment hunting with me. At the sink, I decided food was the route for a man built like a Sumo wrestler. And Italian food was a safe bet.

Life was finally on the upswing for me. With my cast off, I felt hopeful. I'd get my own place out here, and hopefully Tyler would come around to acting on his feelings for me.

A shadow moved behind me as I washed my hands. The hair on the back of my neck rose. The shadow had a familiar shape.

My eyes widened in the bathroom mirror, shocked to see a familiar set of eyes looking back at me.

The janitor.

My heart beat rapidly against my ribcage; so hard I thought it would break bone. "What are you doing here?" I gasped.

I opened my mouth to scream, but Will's large hand clamped a white cloth over my mouth and nose, sending my world into darkness.

It was like a nightmare that I couldn't wake up from. I was unable to move my body, but my brain was awake. Fire filled my veins but not the kind Tyler stirred inside me. This was pure terror. I worked my mouth, trying to scream, but nothing worked except the thoughts inside my head, which were no real use to me.

Will had found me.

"Don't worry, Piper. I have you. Everything is alright. We'll be together forever now. Just you and me."

I wasn't worried. I was terrified. I was fucking panicked. The last thing I wanted was to be anywhere near that lunatic. Not only was he kidnapping me, but I also wasn't able to alert anyone to help.

Was I bound up in a closet or a cupboard? Oh God, I couldn't feel my legs or hands.

My body jostled left, then right and the sound of a squeaky wheel coming from below puzzled me. Was I still in the bathroom? Surely Rocco would find me.

Bleach and lemon cleaner burned my nostrils and something scratchy rubbed against my cheek.

Oh fuck. Lord, please save me.

Tyler, where are you?

Tears streamed down my face and I could do nothing to stop them or the mad man stealing me away from my life.

I longed to cry out for Tyler, but nothing worked. My body nor my voice.

Then as if I conjured him from thin air, his voice thundered.

"Where is she?" Tyler demanded, his voice booming with the power of Zeus's rage.

Was he really here or was I imagining it?

"She went to the bathroom and ran away," Rocco said, breathing heavily. "I looked everywhere on this floor, but there's no sign of her."

"Piper did not run away, that asshole has her. And I'm going to kill him when I find him and then you're next on my shit list."

Tyler's voice moved farther away.

I'm right here! Will's disguised as the freaking janitor!

A dirty bag of towels was dropped on top of me. I could smell the stale odor though soon it was replaced by the scent of flowers and the heat of sunshine.

We were outside. One step closer to my death.

If Will took me away from this building, Tyler would never find me.

I heard the music of Los Angeles—the angry honk of car horns, and the smell of smog. The cart Will pushed me in, jostled across the uneven pavement, probably the parking lot.

"There he is!" Tyler called. "Hey you, stop!"

"That's the janitor?" Rocco said.

"I put a tracking device in her purse before she left with you. She's in that fucking cart!"

The cart's bumpiness picked up speed, I was rattled around so hard my teeth clacked together.

"Get down! He's got a gun" Rocco yelled.

Then it sounded like a car backfired loudly.

The cart stopped moving.

"Get away, she's mine." Will screamed like a pussy. If I ever got a chance I would tell it to his face, too.

"You sick fuck. She's mine ." Tyler roared right before the loud, sickening sound of bone crushing.

Nausea roiled through me, knowing that sound too well.

Oh, God! Was Tyler injured? Where was Rocco? Where were the police? We were in downtown LA for Christ's sake. Where was everyone?

Just then, I heard the sound of police sirens drawing closer.

"She's in here." Tyler's voice was near, digging in the cart to find me. Strong hands pulled me out of the cart and against a large chest. He held me so tightly I was dazed with relief and whatever sound bag drugged me with.

Without releasing me, Tyler carefully removed the duct tape over my mouth. He gently put me on my feet. I felt woozy and swayed.

"Breathe deeply. You need to walk around and get that crap he drugged you with out of your body." His arms around me felt like heaven.

Will was laying on the ground, not moving about six feet away from me. His nose pouring bloody.

Good!

I paused by him. Blood splattered down the front of his uniform. A handgun lay on the pavement out of his reach. What had he been planning? I shuddered to think about his intentions.

"Is he dead?" I asked shakily. I never wanted to see his face again.

Rocco was kneeling next to him. He looked up at me and smiled. "Nah Miss, he's just taking a little nap. Your man here has a great right hook."

"Thank you, Rocco," I said. "And thanks, Tyler."

Tyler molded me to his side, taking most of my weight without actually carrying me and moved us back toward the office building. Off to the side of the office building, security guards were busy pushing back the crowd who had their cell phones out recording everything.

"Isn't that the lead singer of The Kings ?" Someone asked.

"Tyler, is she your girlfriend?" A voice in the crowd called.

Oh shit. Tyler had been recognized.

He ignored the pleas to turn around for better photo ops, but I glanced back to see the throng staring at us.

All at once it hit me how little privacy he had. No wonder he was so guarded.

Once back inside the building, Tyler stopped to examine me. He carefully felt my head, arms, and legs for any breaks.

"I'm fine. Just a headache from that stuff he drugged me with." It had a sickeningly sweet smell.

"Rocco thinks it was chloroform, but I'm taking you to the hospital for a check-up just to be sure."

The last place I wanted to be was around more prying eyes. The hospital would be a zoo. I was fine. Well, I would be fine when we got home. I was ready to be away from all the stares.

"I just want to go home."

The only place I could think of that meant home was with Tyler.

I looked up into his eyes. His jaw was tight, and a muscle ticked. His blue eyes blazed. "Stay right here." He sat me in a lobby chair then stalked away to talk to the police. He kept his body, so I was in his line of sight.

West waved to me crossing the lobby. "Hey! You ok?"

I waved back weakly; glad I was sitting down.

"Yeah, Tyler umm, stopped the guy who was stalking me."

West crouched down next to my chair. "Holy fuck! He left the meeting saying he had to see you. Something about a bad feeling. He drove us here as fast as he could. Trust me, his driving skills are not what they should be. When we got here, he left the car with me. You never can find parking in LA."

"How did he know where I was?" I asked.

"You sure you didn't knock your head?" He chuckled. "Tyler was in constant communication with the security guy. That, and he put a tracking device in your purse."

My jaw dropped. "You're kidding."

West shrugged. "I don't want to freak you out, but I think Tyler has a crush on you."

"You're wrong. He's not very happy with me."

"What's happy got to do with Tyler? He's not an easy-going guy. He's a driven possessive beast. Don't get me wrong, I love him like a brother but light and sunny, he is not."

"Telling stories about me, West?" Tyler folded his arms across his chest as he approached us.

"Never," West stood up. "How about I get you guys home?"

"Give me the keys. I'm driving Piper home." Tyler held out his hand. "Where's the car parked?"

West gave him a doubtful look. "You sure? Marty says?—"

"Fuck Marty. Give me the fucking keys now."

West fished them out of his pocket, handing them to Tyler. "It's in the fire lane. I never could find a parking spot."

Tyler directed his gaze on me. "You ok for a short walk?"

I nodded, standing up.

West reached out a hand to steady me, but quickly jerked it back when Tyler out right growled like a beast possessed.

Now I understood West's comparison.

"Easy, man. I was just trying to help."

"Fuck off, West."

"Tyler!" I sucked in my breath.

West winked at me. "Drive carefully, you two crazy kids." He headed out toward Rocco, whistling as he walked away.

"There's no excuse for that kind of rudeness." I scolded Tyler. "You may be a rock star, but you don't need to be an asshole too."

He guided me through the lobby to where the Porsche was parked right out front.

"I'm hardly going to take lessons from you on how to act." Tyler's arm was around me as we went down the steps. I was never so glad for a car to be parked so recklessly in my life.

"What's your problem? I was the one kidnapped by a maniac! It wasn't something I was looking for."

He opened the passenger door, carefully settling me in the front seat. He reached across and clipped my seat belt in.

His jaw muscle was tight with tension.

He was about to close the door when he leaned back in the car. His broad shoulders took up the entire space in the Porsche, I pressed myself back into my seat. Otherwise, my nose would have been buried in his chest. Not that I would have minded, but he was being super pissy.

"You think this was my fault?" I demanded. I was not in the mood for his stupid games and macho bullshit.

Tyler's face loomed so close I could see the faint lines of worry between his brows. "You were careless going into that restroom alone. And it could have gotten you killed."

"I had to pee! I didn't need Rocco for that."

"I could have lost you. That's un-fucking-acceptable."

He moved away, closing the car door and rounding the front of the car. He was soooo wrong if he thought that meant he was getting the last word in.

"I can start looking for an apartment immediately with Will in custody," I said, as soon as he opened his car door.

"We'll discuss that at home," he said tightly.

"That's the problem, it's your home. Not mine! And I'm not your "problem" anymore."

Tyler laughed and shook his head. "We'll see about that, Piper."

Will wasn't a threat any longer. The kidnapping charge would make sure he wasn't around to bother me for a long time. I was finally free after a year of looking over my shoulder. The drive back to Hollywood Hills passed quickly thanks to my dozing. The drug was still working itself out of my system, but by the time we pulled into Tyler's driveway I was wide awake.

All the security cars were gone too. It was just us. Well, us and Hercules who greeted us like we'd been gone for the day instead of hours. Inside, Tyler was still silent as he reset the alarms and got me a glass of water after settling me in at the kitchen counter.

He went to the bar in the living room and poured himself a drink.

"Thanks for rescuing me, Tyler. I guess if this music gig doesn't work out, you can go into saving damsels in distress."

He turned to the kitchen, setting his glass down. He glared at me from across the counter. It wasn't really a glare so much as a hungry look like he wanted to devour me, spank me, and fuck me. All in that order.

Ok, that was a bit intense.

"I've never seen you drink." When I was nervous, I chattered. I couldn't help it. A million thoughts were racing through my head. I fought against my own nature not to share every one of them.

"I don't often have days like today." Tyler drank some of the amber liquid. Whiskey from the sweet smell.

"Jesus, Piper do you know what I went through when I realized you were gone? When I knew he took you?"

West was right. Tyler was more worried than angry. That made me feel better.

"I'm here now. And I'm fine. Honestly." I blew out a long breath. "Will won't bother me anymore. Mostly that is to you."

"The police will want a statement tomorrow. They can come out here. If that fucker comes within a mile of you, I'll kill him and gladly do the time for it." Tyler was heated. Angry. Flushed. That might have been the drama. And the alcohol. But there was something else too. Hope stirred inside me.

"I'm sorry to have put you through that." I got up from my counter stool.

The second I was within reach, our arms went around one another.

I loved the solid muscular feeling of him. I laid my head on his chest, loving the beat of his heart under my ear. I rested one palm on his chest. "Thanks again."

"I almost lost you today. And it damn near killed me." Tyler kissed the top of my head, his arms tightening around me. He let out a long sigh. Then he tipped up my chin. "To hell with it, I'm taking what's mine. And you, Piper, are all mine."