A Forbidden Tryst (A Taboo Tale #1) Read Free Page B

golden and fresh. She looked even more beautiful with
the makeup gunk scrubbed from her face. Her yellow hair was piled
into a messy bun on top of her head, showing off a neck that begged
to be kissed. She'd exchanged her slinky lavender number for a
plain white tee and shorts. He could tell from the swell of her
breasts that she wasn't wearing a bra and it made his heartbeat
quicken. "I, uh, didn't know you'd have company."
    "Well since I'm," she made the quotation
marks with her fingers, "grounded, I figured Clay could come hang
out over here. I hope that's fine."
    "Yeah, of course," Davis said, forcing a
smile. "I just, uh, brought a pizza."
    Jess grinned as she breezed over and opened
it.
    "White pizza!" she gushed. "This one won't
eat anything but pepperoni," she said, cocking her head at Clay.
She pulled out a slice and let out a moan that made Davis clutch
the counter to steady himself.
    "This was really nice, Davis," Jess said,
dabbing her mouth. "You know exactly what I like."
    Feeling like his desire was written all over
his face, Davis steered toward the foyer. "I'll give you two some
privacy."
    He headed to his downstairs office, trying to
ignore the jealousy burning in his gut. He powered on his desktop
and tried to remind himself that this was a good thing. Jess
deserved to be with someone her age. She deserved happiness, not
secret trysts.
     
    He pulled up Outlook and started drafting an
email, a new game plan for the Waterbrook case. But every keystroke
just reminded him that someone else's hands were stroking Jess.
    He gave his head a shake and tried to focus
again when he heard a commotion, followed by a crash.
    He moved from the desk, his heart thundering
in his chest as he burst back into the kitchen.
    He saw Clay standing over Jess, his chest
heaving. Jess was crouched on the floor, practically cowering.
    Without a second thought, Davis was on Clay,
his hands tight around his throat. The boy's green eyes were wild,
bulging out of his head as Davis continued to choke the life out of
him. His midnight hair was splayed around his head like a dark
halo.
    Jess was on his back, pounding him futilely,
crying for Davis not to hurt him. After a moment, Davis released
his hold. Clay sunk like a bag of potatoes to the floor, upending
the bar stools.
    Now Davis was the one whose chest heaved as
Clay gasped for air, wheezing and coughing.
    Jess just stood behind Davis, sobbing
softly.
    "Get the hell out of my house," Davis
growled.
    He didn't have to say it twice. Clay
staggered to the door, swiped his keys and kept lumbering, not even
bothering to close the door behind him.
    Davis moved like a zombie, mechanically
pulling the door closed and flicking the lock.
    When he turned back to Jess, she crumbled to
the floor. "He's not usually," she sobbed. "He's never..."
    Davis fell to his knees beside her, rocking
her back and forth. "It's okay Jessica. It'll be okay."

 
    Chapter Six
    A Lover, A Doctor
     
    Jess took the bag of peas from him, wincing
as she put it on her tender neck.
    "I know what this looks like," she said, not
meeting Davis' eyes.
    "Jess," he said gently, tucking a strand
behind her ear. "What are you doing with a guy like that? You
deserve better."
    "He's not usually like that," Jess insisted.
"I mean, he has a temper, but he always gears it toward his friends
or swimming or biking, whatever." She swallowed. "He's never HIT
me. I never thought he would-" her words failed her as she let out
a sob.
    Davis rose to his feet. "We're calling the
police right now."
    "No!" Jess gasped. "I just wanna forget this
ever happened."
    Davis shook his head. "I'm not gonna let that
prick get away with putting his hands on you."
    She pulled off the makeshift ice pack and
finally met Davis' eyes.
    "I'm not one of
those Lifetime ,
stand by your man types. But I'm not one of your clients either.
You stopped him before it got bad...and that's the end of it.” She
gripped the side of the island and pulled herself up. "I'm