Chapter One
Alex stiffened when she heard Tag enter the bedroom. Usually, on the nights when he did pro bono work, she was asleep long before he arrived home, but tonight she was restless. It was hard to sleep when the man you loved and wanted to spend the rest of your life with thought you were good enough to fuck and do his laundry, but not good enough to marry.
He’d never come right out and said it, but what else could it be? Wasn’t she everything he needed? She cooked, cleaned, supported him, and was an ear for him when he wanted to unload about his day. Alex didn’t do things just because she was looking for a ring but she did it mainly because she loved taking cared of Tag. She loved him and that’s one of the ways she showed that she cared.
Alex figured she was already performing the duties of a wife, so why the hell wouldn’t he make things official? She knew he’d had reservations about their age difference, and though he never mentioned it, Alex often wondered how much race played a factor in his decision, too. Tag claimed that had nothing to do with anything, but it didn’t stop her from thinking otherwise. It was frustrating loving someone so much yet being uncertain about her future with him.
Even now, just thinking about him made her pulse race. Her mind roamed back to the time they’d first met. When her then five-year-old niece, Tiffany, had been bitten in the face by the neighbor’s rottweiler, the child’s appearance had been dramatically altered. Alex’s sister, Olivia, was just going through a divorce and money had been tight. Tiffany’s medical expenses should have fallen under her father’s insurance, but Bill had removed both her and Olivia from his policy.
Through a friend, they’d heard about a plastic surgeon who took on a handful or pro bono cases a year. These cases usually involved children who suffered facial deformities and whose parents were dealing with financial hardships. Olivia had sought him out in hopes that he could possibly help Tiffany. Alex had gone to the appointment with her sister and niece for moral support. And met Dr. Taggert Webster. The attraction was instant. When he’d smiled at them, revealing perfect white teeth, Alex had fallen head over heels. A quick scan of his left hand had thankfully revealed no rings or a telltale tan line.
He wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. He wasn’t even particularly handsome, but something about him had attracted her and made him appear sexy as hell. Though he didn’t possess what most people would call classically handsome features, he had the type of rugged appeal that would make women give him a second look. The beard didn’t hurt either. Alex had always been a sucker for a guy with a full beard.
As far as Alex had been concerned, he was a tall, powerful, rawboned work of art. A crop of short, blue-black hair had fallen carelessly over his forehead, as though he couldn’t be bothered with a comb. On most men, it would have looked unkempt; on him, it worked. The harsh lines of his face and intensely black eyes gave him a menacing, but compelling appearance, and his sharp blade of a nose rested over a pair of full, wide lips. Separately, his features were forceful, but together they made a devastating combination.
His body was lean, with the look of time well spent in a gym. And his air of cocky self-assurance was somehow appealing, and likely garnered more than one glance from the opposite sex wherever he went. All in all, Tag Webster was the kind of man who could walk into the room and command all eyes on him without saying a word.
That first meeting had impressed Alex a lot. That a reputable plastic surgeon with a successful practice would do charity work for underprivileged patients spoke of his great character. And she’d really liked the way he had handled Tiffany. It seemed that he had quite a winning way with children.
At the time, she could tell by the way he’d looked at her that he wanted her, too, but Alex instinctively knew she’d have to be one to make the first move. She’d taken his business card and called him the very next day. They’d had an instant rapport and had started initially with talking nightly on the phone. Then the calls had turned into lunches, which had transformed into real dates. Pretty soon, their relationship had progressed to sex, which hadn’t been what she’d expected at all.
It had been even better.
No one else made her body sing, stroked her to a frenzy, or made her pussy so damn wet she soaked the sheets. After four months of dating him, Alex knew for certain that her feelings were based on more than the physical and was sure that Tag’s were as well. When he’d asked her to move in with him, she’d jumped at the chance, giving up her cozy apartment over the beauty salon where she worked as a hair dresser.
She’d thought, of course, that by moving in with him he’d really wanted marriage, but a year later, she was nothing more than a glorified mistress and housekeeper. It galled her to think of all that she did for him while still holding down her job at the shop. Though Tag had told her that she didn’t have to work if she didn’t want to, quitting her job would really have made her feel like a kept woman.
It was humiliating to go to family functions and be asked when they were going to tie the knot. It had been even worse when Tag had responded by stating in no uncertain terms in front of her entire family that he wasn’t interested in the institution of matrimony.
Maybe if she’d known before moving in how he felt about getting married she wouldn’t have done so, but now Alex was in too deep. She loved Tag so much it hurt. Other than their difference of opinion on wedlock, he was a wonderful man, a considerate lover, a great listener, and the best cuddler ever. He always had a way of making her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. In his field, he saw gorgeous women who were obsessed with their looks on a daily basis, but he always came home to her.
Really, he was perfect in almost every way. It was his outlook on marriage that soured everything. Something else that bothered her a lot was that she’d never met his family. Was he ashamed of her? Every time Alex brought up the topic of meeting his relatives, he’d blown her off.
She sighed as she listened to him move around before he came to their room. The pretense of happiness was getting harder to maintain.
The minute he slid into bed, she knew he wanted to make love. He always did, but if he thought he was getting some black tail tonight, he had another think coming, especially after he’d told her earlier today to get off his back and stop nagging him about forming a permanent union.
Tag moved closer to her, a hand landing on her shoulder.
Alex forced herself not to respond. She wouldn’t let him do this to her. He’d have to learn that he couldn’t always have his way.
“Alex, I know you’re awake, so stop pretending you’re asleep. You’re not even breathing like someone sleeping,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her ear. She held herself tightly to keep from shivering.
“I’m not in the mood, Tag,” Alex hissed through clenched teeth. She knew without looking that he was already naked. He never wore anything to bed.
“Oh, I can change that.” She heard the amusement in his voice and wanted to punch him. He captured her earlobe between strong teeth, the slight sting of his bite making her gasp in surprise and pleasure. Damn him. Tag knew how nibbling on her ear drove her wild with desire.
“Tag. Please don’t. I told you I’m not in the mood.” She groaned, and her pussy starting to tingle. He continued to nip at her sensitive flesh like he hadn’t heard her. “Tag,” she moaned, knowing that she was on the verge of giving in.
“Yeah, babe?” He turned Alex onto her back. She looked up into his twinkling black eyes.
“Why do you always do this to me?”
“Because you like it. What’s up with the nightgown?”
“I told you --”
“And I told you that if you ever wore a nightgown to bed, I’d rip it off.” The feral gleam in his eyes told her that he wasn’t kidding. Before she could protest, Tag ripped the covers away, gripped the front of her nightgown in his hands, and tore it down the front.
“Tag, stop it!”
“Never. You knew the consequences. I bet you even wanted me to do this -- you knew it would be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. Well, you’ve messed with the bull and it’s time for the horns.” When Tag went into Alpha-mode, Alex knew there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to change his mind. Besides, he was right. Hadn’t she secretly wanted to him to do this?
He continued his task of stripping her with urgent movements before sliding on top of her and burying his face against her neck. He pressed hot kisses into her heated skin, such that there was only one thing she could do.
Surrender.
Her fingers dug into his thick, black hair, holding his head against her. The warmth of his breath sent pulses of ecstasy down her spine. Tag’s kisses were making it hard for her to think, but at this point, Alex didn’t care. The angry words of this morning’s argument no longer mattered. The only thing worth thinking about at this moment was the pure, unadulterated lust coursing from her head to her toes.
“Oh, Tag.” His tongue grazed the hollow of her throat.
“That’s more like it,” he growled.
Tag nudged her thighs apart with his knee, rubbing the length of his cock against her moist slit. The rock-hard shaft pulsed and rubbed, teasing her. She wished he’d hurry up and move it into her, but she knew he’d only give in when she could no longer articulate her desires. That was one thing that made him an excellent lover. He always took her body to the heights of passion, making her so hot she could barely breathe before he screwed her senseless.
He shifted to the side of her and trailed a finger down the center of her body.
“Tag,” she moaned helplessly, the way she did every time he touched her. His finger didn’t stop until they reached her throbbing cunt. “Touch me, please,” she begged, arching her hot sex against his palm.
“You want it bad, don’t you?” A knowing grin lit his face.
“You know I do, dammit. Don’t tease me!” Alex grabbed the hand cupping her and mashed it against her pussy. She felt certain she’d die if release didn’t come soon.
“Eager, aren’t you, babe?” he taunted, and if she weren’t so damn horny, she’d knee him in the nuts for torturing her like this. “I thought you weren’t in the mood.”
“Shut up, and fuck me!”
“No dice, babe. I want to play with you a little first.” His middle finger slid between her folds, grazing the sensitive button nestled at the top.
She gasped from the delicious delight of his touch. “Oh, God, Tag.”
“That’s it, baby. Moan for me.” His lips brushed against her cheek causing his beard to tickle her already sensitized skin. Her body was hot, scorched by the heat generated from Tag’s flesh rubbing against hers. Only he could push her to this burning need for fulfillment. Another finger joined the first and Tag squeezed her clit, eliciting a soft moan from her throat. Her hips ground against his hand. Highly aroused and wanting more, she said, “Tag, you’re a bastard. Do you know that?”
He chuckled, seemingly unconcerned with that statement. “Maybe so, sweetheart, but you want this bastard, don’t you?”
She didn’t want to say the words, but knew Tag wouldn’t let up until he had his way. “I do, dammit.”
“Not good enough.” His fingers clamped down tighter on her sensitive bud, sending shockwaves of pleasure soaring through her body. A thin line of sweat ran down the side of her face. Lord, she was burning up.
“I want it bad, Tag. Really, really bad.”
White teeth appeared. “Very good,” he said before lowering his head to take one taut nipple between his lips. His mouth was hungry, hot, and savage like a wild man as he suckled and nibbled.
“Ouch!” Alex yelped when his teeth clamped on the tight bud. She’d cried out more from surprise than anything else because the pleasure far outweighed the pain. She loved it when he got a little rough with her. Nice, sweet lovemaking was great, but sometimes a little bit of low-down, dirty fucking was the only thing that would do. Alex didn’t want to be made love to right now. She wanted to fuck.
“Give it to me, Tag! I need it!”
“You don’t get it until I say you do. This is your punishment for trying to deny me and yourself when we both know you want this.” He transferred his attention to her other rigid nipple, then released her clit. Fingers plunged into her slick channel, probing, digging, seeking.
Her nails dug into his shoulders, breaking skin.
He lifted his head, black eyes locking with hers. “You little wildcat,” he groaned passionately. His lips returned to her breast in a warm caress. She shivered. Desire pulsed within her body, matching the rhythm of her heart. She wanted to grab him by the cock and demand that he fuck her, but Tag had an almost superhuman amount of restraint.
He was the master of her body and secret desires, firing up her blood more than any man she’d ever been with. She was his slave, helpless against the passion he unleashed inside her.
Alex arched her back against his touch as Tag finger-fucked her with quick, steady thrusts. Moisture dripped down the inside of her thighs.
Lifting his head to look at her, he appeared slightly dangerous. “Moan for me again, Alex. You know how I love to hear you.”
“Tag!”
“Who do you belong to?”
“You. Only you.”
His hot tongue stroked the valley of her breasts. “Whose body is this?”
She trembled. “Yours!”
“And don’t you forget it!”
How could she, when he handled her body so deliciously?
“You’re so beautiful.” He groaned again, covering her mouth in a fervent kiss. Her mouth opened eagerly under the savage assault of his. Tongues pushed forward, tasting and exploring the recesses of each other’s mouths.
He sucked her tongue, dominating the kiss. When Tag finally lifted his head, they both panted for breath, although the intensity of his stare threatened to steal hers away. He straddled her once again, his arms holding him braced above her. She lifted her hips to meet his cock, but he shook his head.
“Uh uh, babe. I want you on all fours. I love fucking you from behind. That big beautiful ass of yours is just waiting to be spanked. You want that, too, don’t you?” A cocksure grin lit up his face.
She did. She wanted it more than anything. Alex answered without hesitation. “Oh, God, yes.” Before she could utter another word, Tag scrambled to his knees and flipped her over. She positioned herself on hands and knees, shaking with anticipation, and her pussy was so wet that she dripped.
Thankfully, Tag didn’t torture her further. She sighed with relief when the tip of his cock slid between her folds. Alex pushed her hips back as he moved forward, savoring the delicious length of him. He was so deep within her. They were one and she loved it.
Tag wasn’t the largest lover she’d ever been with, but his seven and a half inches, combined with an impressive girth, was enough to make her cream with each powerful thrust. He gripped her hips, digging his fingers into her skin. She wiggled impatiently when he paused.
“Hurry, Tag!”
“You took your pill this morning, didn’t you?”
“Of course I did. Why --”
His cock slammed into her before she could finish. What the fuck?! This was the third time he’d asked that question during sex, and now it finally dawned on her why. How dare he?! About to voice her displeasure with his words, Alex decided to forget everything just as his cock hit the right spot. Forget temporarily. She’d confront him over his words later.
His thrusts were hard and deep. She tilted her head back, fully expecting him to grasp a handful of her hair. She knew he loved to tug and play with its length. Alex had been thinking of cutting it for a while, but had kept it long for him. Besides, she kind of liked him yanking her hair during all the action.
She wasn’t disappointed; he grabbed a hold of her ponytail, pulling it roughly. She didn’t mind one single bit. That, combined with his pounding cock, drove her insane with lust.
“That’s it, Tag!” she cried. “Fuck me hard!”
Smack.
His hand cracked down on her ass. “God damn, you’re tight, baby. You have the tightest pussy I’ve ever fucked, and it’s mine. All mine. I’m not going to let anyone else fuck this pussy.”
Smack.
His hand came down on her tender rump again, this time on the other cheek. The pain was minimal, but the pleasure was immense.
“Yes! This pussy is yours and only yours. Harder! Faster!” she screamed, wanting it dirtier and rougher.
Tag surged forward, increasing the pace of their motions, his cock slamming into her sopping cunt. Alex knew she’d be a little sore in the morning, but this was well worth it. Only Tag could make her want it like this. She felt like a wanton, always craving more of his cock. She could sense a build-up in her body that slowly spread from the tips of her toes up her legs, then traveled along her spine. When the sensation reached her head, Alex thought she’d lose consciousness.
He carried her to an intense, frenzied peak. She yelled when she achieved her mind-shattering release. “Tag! I love you!”
His grip tightened on her hips for several more strokes until he came. “Oh, fuck, yeah!” He continued to grind into her, his balls emptying into her thirsty pussy.
When her arms would no longer hold her steady, Alex collapsed, with Tag following. He rolled onto his back and gathered her in his arms. She turned around until she faced him, resting her head against his broad chest.
They remained silent for several minutes. Alex wondered what was going on in his mind. As usual, he hadn’t said he loved her. Was this what their relationship was destined to be? Would he never utter the words she wanted to hear? Alex realized she should leave him, but the prospect of never seeing him again scared her.