Taken by You (Killer Next Door #2) Read online

  TAKEN BY YOU

  Killer Next Door Series,

  Book Two

  By Carlie Sexton

  TAKEN BY YOU

  Copyright © 2016 by Carlie Sexton.

  All rights reserved.

  First Print Edition: May 2016

  Limitless Publishing, LLC

  Kailua, HI 96734

  www.limitlesspublishing.com

  Formatting: Limitless Publishing

  ISBN-13: 978-1-68058-638-1

  ISBN-10: 1-68058-638-6

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  To my wonderful readers.

  Thank you for loving my stories!

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Roger

  Pulling into the In Cahoots parking lot, Roger noted it was just past midnight. The parking lot was full and the bar overflowed with drunk and boisterous people swaying their hips and moving their feet in time to the acoustic tunes blaring from the speakers. The nightly line-dancing party was in full swing.

  Roger walked up to the bar and ordered a Corona with a twist of lime; a drink was necessary to calm his mind. He took a long pull, downing about half of it before setting the bottle down.

  He was still reeling after finding out Kate was gone. Declaring his love for her during their lunch date had been the wrong move; he just hadn’t known it at the time. She hadn’t rejected the idea of seeing each other when he returned, so her disappearing act didn’t make any sense.

  Perhaps she was afraid of commitment, or maybe he’d overwhelmed her with his feelings. She certainly couldn’t be afraid of him. There was no way for her to know what he was or what he was capable of doing when he wanted something. He’d covered his tracks well for all of these years, and only his victims had seen the monster inside of him.

  Regardless, Kate was gone and he had no idea where she was. But he knew where she worked, and he’d track her down in no time. His hunting skills would come in handy now; she wouldn’t be able to hide from him for long. If he couldn’t find her at Nordstrom, where she worked in the children’s department, then he’d follow her roommate Charlie home from her office. He had Charlie’s work address on file with their lease agreement. He figured they’d still be living together. Otherwise, he would have to set up surveillance at San Diego State University.

  It would take longer to track her down at school, but she was worth the effort. He’d make her understand they belonged together. Losing her wasn’t an option—he’d already done too much to try and make her his. If somehow the police had poisoned her mind against him, then he’d make her understand everything he’d done was for her, so they could be together.

  From the bar, Roger scanned the room, looking for some poor shmuck he could use as a punching bag. Surely he’d be able to find someone to alleviate his anger. It’d be easy to pick out a guy who’d had too much to drink—and even easier to beat him up with his senses dulled. Walking through the crowd, he saw a few possibilities—skinny, average-looking losers who looked like they’d blow over in a stiff wind. But then his gaze snagged on a beautiful woman sitting at a high-top table, and her stunning looks seemed to beckon to him. She was short and slim, with long, curly brown hair, green eyes, and a skintight purple dress that shimmered with sequins. She was one of the most captivating women he’d ever seen—next to his Kate, of course.

  He noticed the guy talking to her…drooling all over her, rather. He couldn’t blame the guy; she was definitely drool-worthy. But her posture was stiff, her arms folded as she angled her body away from him. Clearly, the guy couldn’t take a hint. Roger’s gaze locked on hers, and the beautiful siren mesmerized him even further. She seemed to be calling out to him, and he was eager to save her. She smiled at him, then, and Roger knew that was his cue to swoop in and save her. Roger strode over and kissed her on the cheek, hoping she’d play along.

  “Baby, I’m so sorry I’m late,” Roger said confidently. “The gig ran way longer than expected.”

  “That’s all right,” she said. “This nice man has been keeping me company.”

  Roger nodded at the man and sized him up. Nothing to write home about. He patted him on the back. “Thanks for looking after my girl,” Roger said. “I was worried about her being here alone.”

  The man looked slightly disgruntled. “No problem.” They shook hands and he stumbled away to find another woman to hit on.

  Roger offered the woman his hand, and with a smile, she reached out to shake it. “Hi, there!” he said. “I’m Roger Wilkins. You looked like you needed to be rescued.”

  “I’m Rose Hatfield.” She smiled. Hearing her name knocked him off balance for a moment. Another woman named Rose? “Yeah, I definitely wanted some rescuing. He wouldn’t leave me alone even after I lied about having a boyfriend.” The coy tone in her voice intrigued Roger even more.

  What are the odds I’d meet another beautiful woman named Rose? This was a strange coincidence…or was it? Maybe this was just what he needed right now. It looked like fate had stepped in and provided for him. Kate was nowhere to be found and this beautiful woman was right in front of him. She was the most intoxicating of distractions.

  “This must be my lucky night,” Roger said. He couldn’t contain his smile. “I once had an amazing girlfriend named Rose. But she went and disappeared on me. She moved and we ended up drifting apart. Long-distance relationships never work out for me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but it looks like her loss could be my gain.” The sultry look on her delicate face caused Roger’s heart to beat faster. “I was named after my grandmother. And I’m really glad about that, right about now.”

  A slow song came on, giving Roger an excellent opportunity to have her in his arms.

  He extended his hand again. “Would you like to dance?”

  “I’d love to.” She grabbed onto his forearm and stood from the bar stool.

  They made their way to the dance floor. Since she seemed so receptive to his advances, he decided to pull her as close as he could. She didn’t seem to mind, and he liked the way her body felt pressed against him. He was hoping to feel a whole lot more of her before the night was over.

  “Are you dating anyone now?” she asked over the music. She swiveled her hips expertly, and Roger followed the movement with his eyes.

  “That depends,” he said.

  “Depends on what?�
��

  “On whether or not you’re available. If you are, then I fully intend on dating you.” He held his breath, waiting for her reaction.

  The smile on her face told him everything he needed to know. She was interested.

  “What do you do for a living?” she asked.

  “I own a window-tinting business and I play in a band a couple nights a week.”

  “Where do you normally play?” she asked. “I go out a lot. I don’t remember seeing you before.”

  “I usually play near SDSU at Maco’s. It’s a college bar.”

  “Oh, I’ve never been there before. I’ll have to check it out. What nights do you play?”

  “Thursdays and Sundays.” He pulled her close and buried his nose in her hair. Her name may have been Rose, but she smelled like gardenias.

  “So I could watch you play tomorrow night?”

  “Yes, you could. Let’s plan on it.”

  “It’s a date.” Rose stared up at him through her thick eyelashes. Roger was ready to pick her up and take her home right now.

  The song ended and they walked off the dance floor.

  “What would you like to drink?” he asked, leading her toward the bar.

  “I would love a Sex on the Beach.” Rose smiled suggestively. “It’s my favorite.”

  How fitting, Roger thought. He was planning on fucking her as soon as possible. He preferred to take her back to his place, but he’d do her at the beach if that’s what she wanted.

  He ordered their drinks and suggested they sit outside on the patio to drink them. It would be somewhat quieter and they could get to know each other.

  After making their way outside, he spotted a small table and grabbed it.

  Rose sat down and shivered. “It’s a little chilly out here.”

  Roger pulled her chair close to his and put his arm around her. “Is that better?”

  She leaned her body into his. “Yes. Thank you.”

  They each sipped their drinks. What a turn of events. He’d stopped in hoping to take out his aggressions on an unsuspecting drunk and instead had ended up finding a stunning woman who wanted to be in his arms. Sometimes he was such a lucky bastard.

  “What type of music does your band play?”

  “Mostly stuff from the ’80s and ’90s.”

  “That sounds like fun. How long have you been performing?”

  “I’ve been with a couple of different bands since high school, but I’ve been in this group for about five years.”

  Rose placed her hand on Roger’s leg. “Do you want to go someplace quieter so we can talk? I live just five minutes from here. You can follow me home.”

  Fuck, yeah. Roger knew a good invitation when he heard one. He also knew she wasn’t inviting him over to talk. This night had turned out better than he’d expected. Relieving his frustrations in the sack with this brunette hottie was a much better option.

  “I’d love to.” Roger stood up. “Ready?” She stood as well. He put his hand in the small of her back and began to guide her toward the parking lot.

  Rose pulled into the garage of her ranch-style home. Roger parked in the driveway right behind her. She motioned for him to follow her in through the garage. Once they made it through the door, they walked into her bright yellow kitchen, which opened into her living room.

  “Would you like another drink?” she offered.

  “Sure, what do you have?”

  “I have beer, rum, and vodka. I was going to make myself a Screwdriver.”

  “Sounds good. Make it two.”

  “I’ll have it ready in a minute. Please make yourself comfortable.” Rose pointed to a blue sofa in the living room area. Roger ambled over and sat down, glancing around the room. He noticed her motif was beach inspired. The throw pillows on the sofa had shells on them, and she had a net draped on one wall with an assortment of items from the beach woven into it.

  Roger leaned back, sinking into the plush fabric. “This is a cute place. Have you lived here long?”

  “I’ve lived here for the last three years. I inherited this place from my mom when she passed away. She’d saved for years to buy it, but died only eight months after moving in.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.” Roger spotted a picture of Rose with her mom on the entertainment center. It looked like a graduation photo. “You must miss her very much.”

  Rose walked in with a drink in each hand. She sat next to Roger. “I do miss her. She died way too young.”

  “You’re right.” He flashed back to the day he’d been placed in foster care and how abandoned he’d felt. He’d lost his entire family. He frowned. “I know it’s hard to lose your parents.”

  “Yes, it is.” Rose seemed a million miles away as she gazed off into the distance.

  The evening had taken a depressing turn. Roger tried to change the subject to something a little happier. “What about the rest of your family? Are you close to them?”

  “I don’t have any other family to speak of.” Rose’s eyes glistened. “My dad died when I was three and I’m an only child.” She pressed her lips together. “Both of my parents were only children too. So, it’s just me.”

  This Rose couldn’t have been more perfect if he’d created her himself. She had a hot body, was sweet, and she was completely alone and obviously starved for love. No one would miss her if anything happened to her. I’ve hit the jackpot.

  Roger sipped his drink. “So, tell me more. I want to know everything about you.”

  “Well, there’s really not too much to tell. I’ve lived in San Diego all of my life. Like I said, I’m an only child and I’ve been married once.”

  “How long were you married?”

  Rose looked down at the drink in her hand. “We were together for four years.”

  Roger placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed it gently. “When did you get divorced?”

  “Right after my mom died. I had to spend a lot of time taking care of her. She had cancer and suffered for a year before she died. My husband felt neglected, so he decided to find someone else. I came home one afternoon unexpectedly and found him with her. They’re married now.”

  Roger knew he needed to muster a little empathy right now. He hated this part of relationships. She’d just shared something very painful with him. It was always difficult when people opened up. He never knew what to say, so he went with his typical answer.

  “Sounds like a really difficult time.” Putting on the sad face he’d practiced for occasions like this, he hoped it was enough to get into her panties.

  “Yes it was, but it’s in the past now.” Rose licked her lips. “I believe everything happens for a reason. He wasn’t a great husband. I mean, obviously, he cheated on me when I needed him the most. I’m glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore.”

  Roger nodded. He really just wanted to get to the sex, but he knew she needed him to listen to her before they could get to fulfill his needs.

  “Let’s see, what else?” Rose glanced up toward the ceiling, gathering her thoughts. “I’ve worked for the DMV for about seven years. It’s a pretty good job.”

  This was easier territory for him. “Oh, what do you do for the DMV?”

  “I mostly help people renew their license. It can be tedious working with the public, but it suits me. I enjoy helping people.”

  Roger looked at her, waiting for more, but she didn’t say anything else. Maybe that was all there was to her. No parents. Loser ex-husband. Lame job. He smiled. Well, at least she was hot. She didn’t have to be interesting, except in bed. Plus, quiet women were his favorite type. They typically let him be in control, which was what he liked.

  “Sounds like you’ve been through some tough times,” he said in an effort to break the silence, which was bordering on the state of awkward.

  “Yes, but I try to keep looking toward the future. I have a feeling things are looking up for me.” Her coy smile told Roger everything he needed to know.

  He figured now
was as good a time as any to make his move. He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Well, I couldn’t help but notice you tonight. You have a radiant glow about you.”

  “I noticed you too the moment you walked into the bar. You’re very handsome.” Her thumb caressed his hand.

  “Thank you. I’m glad you invited me over. I’d really like to get to know you better.”

  With that, he leaned in, kissing her on the lips. He was granted access readily. Rose not only allowed him to kiss her, but she also kissed him back with passion. Clearly, she was starving for attention and affection. He was more than willing to meet any of her physical needs. Knowing their first time needed to be really good for her or there might not be a second time, he’d have to pull out all the stops.

  After a few minutes of making out on her sofa, she offered to move things to the bedroom. He was delighted to receive the invitation. He’d been counting on that since the moment he saw her.

  Taking him by the hand, she led him to her bedroom. Once inside, she turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Roger kissed her as he walked her backwards toward the bed. She fell onto it, and he followed her down, keeping his mouth covering hers, his tongue scouring every inch of hers. He hovered over her body, and she unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his smooth chest. Her hands were electrifying. After tugging his shirt off, she began running her hands all over his upper body.

  He found the hem of her skirt and slid his hand up under it. The silky skin of her thighs was alluring. Sliding his fingers under her panties, he took them off. Then he moved between her legs and slipped his finger into her, finding her soaking wet, eager for him. She moaned as his finger went in deeper.

  “Mm,” he said, lifting her skirt and moving his mouth toward her clit. “I want to taste how sweet you are.”

  She writhed beneath the onslaught of his expert tongue. Devouring her soft folds, he slipped his finger in and out of her. She kept telling him how good it felt, but he wasn’t convinced until he heard her moaning loudly and felt the pulsing sensation of her tight slit. He could only imagine what Kate would sound like when he brought pleasure to her body. Even though he was with another woman, Kate still came to mind.