Heart Matters Read online

  ‘Heart Matters’ by Tanishq Sheikh

  Copyright © 2015 Tani Shane

  All rights reserved

  Cover illustration: Pooja Betrabet

  Author’s note

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, locations and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons (living or dead) and events is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

  To my husband and soulmate

  Thanks for making this book happen.

  Dear Reader,

  They say there’s always a first time. Well, this is my first book and the first in many more to come. I wrote the first draft of this romance almost 20 years ago. Then, it was on paper with my favorite pen. A few years later, I had the fortunate foresight to type it out and mail it to myself. It lay there in my mailbox for almost fifteen years before I discovered Kindle and I realized getting my book out there can be easy.

  I read somewhere that self publishing almost makes you lose respect for yourself. You feel like you possibly weren’t good enough to be published but I beg to differ. I was just too lazy to offer my book to a publisher and then I found one in me.

  So sit back or lay back or be in whatever position you feel comfortable in and enjoy ‘Heart Matters’. I hope you like it and find it in your heart to give me a good review and stars to match it. Criticism is welcome but please do be gentle. If it’s severe, I don’t want a nervous breakdown just because I thought I could entertain you and failed miserably.

  Nah. Joking. Thanks a mil for taking your precious time to read it up.

  Warm regards,

  Tani Shane

  Reach me on: www.facebook.com/tanishane

  PROLOGUE

  Eight years ago

  Mark Sebastian whistled a vague tune drumming his fingers to the beat on the steering wheel. He glanced at his watch and almost groaned in dismay. Not even nine thirty; Jessica had been in the club less than an hour. He disliked this part of his job the most; waiting for her like an idiot while she partied. Damned if she wasn’t the most maddening client ever thrust upon him. What was it about rich little girls that made them so headstrong?

  He sighed, running a hand through his thick brown hair. He had a lot of answers to that question but then Jessica wasn’t like most rich girls. She was an innocent soul. Add to it kind, fun-loving, down to earth, gentle and guileless. She was one of those pure individuals that you came across perhaps once in a lifetime. And he had come across her in the one of the most bonded of relationships.

  Three years ago Jeff Cantrell had appointed him as his sister Jessica’s personal bodyguard. Heiress to half of ‘The Cantrell Residency’, Jessica was at the time a sweet sixteen and Mark a mature twenty eight. When he first set eyes on her, he felt his breath leave him. She was in one simple word; stunning. Her heart shaped face was framed with chocolate brown hair that hung in waves below her back, her huge gray eyes were flecked with deep emerald slivers, her nose was tiny but elegant, her full lips sensual with a ready smile and her skin was like porcelain, shining with health and radiance. She stood at five foot six inches and when she looked up at his six foot three, she would tilt her head and pout. “You’re taller than you should be, Ty!”

  That’s what she called him; Ty, short for Tyson, the nick name she had given him with the reason that he always stood with his arms crossed as though he was a boxer posing for a photo shoot.

  Jeff Cantrell, her older brother, was the President of ‘The Cantrell Residency’, an exclusive chain of five star resorts around the world. He was saddled with the responsibility at the young age of twenty two when both his parents were killed in an air crash. Added to that was the responsibility of his baby sister, Jessica. She was barely twelve then and Jeff her sole guardian. Due to the suspicious nature of their parents’ air crash, both siblings were put under heavy protection. It was several years later that the board members agreed to reduce the security cover to all but one bodyguard.

  That was how Mark Sebastian got appointed as Jessica’s personal bodyguard. He was an ex-marine. He had taken a bullet to the chest on an undisclosed mission and was discharged with honor from the Marine corps. It agitated him to be chucked off but medically he couldn’t clear some crucial tests after being shot. So he came home and took up a silly job at a security company that provided bodyguards to high-profile clients. He actually hated the job but till he found something better, it was better than nothing.

  Then he was assigned to Jessica and his whole world changed. To say he was fascinated by her would be an understatement. He worshipped her. Period. She was unlike most rich people he had come across and treated him more like a friend and confidant than an employee.

  The attraction between them was undeniable but it was also an emotion that was not an option he could explore. He was entrusted with her well being and if required, he would easily give up his life for her. He knew that Jessica was also painfully aware of their relationship but he could never cross the unspoken limits of their association.

  ***

  Jessica Cantrell gyrated to the music with Jake Wallace, her on and off date from college. Having met a mere six months ago, Jake had pursued her relentlessly from the start till she had given in and agreed to date him. She enjoyed that casual first movie and dinner date with him and later they went out several times.

  However Jessica couldn’t bring herself to take things beyond their casual friendship. She was too enamored with Mark to even think of being with anyone other than him.

  Mark ‘Ty’ Sebastian. She had fallen for him hook, line and sinker the day he had entered her life. Too tall for his own good, he was someone a girl just couldn’t ignore. His dark brown hair was trimmed to perfection, his deep, chocolate eyes were always alert and looked at her as if he could see through her soul, his handsome face held a straight nose with some stitches where his brows met and his stern lips that rarely smiled, hid perfect white teeth. He was muscular all over and his chest was so broad that she wished he would hold her against him forever.

  But Mark was off limits. He was her employee and she, his boss. They belonged to different worlds, a fact that he time and again reminded her of through gently dropped hints. But she was a growing woman; one who was forced to spend too much time in the company of an overwhelmingly attractive man in his prime. Mark filled her senses with his presence. She was so keenly attuned to him that she could sense him around her without having to turn.

  She was also quite properly infatuated with him by the time she was seventeen and had firmly made up her mind to seduce him. That was easier said than done. Simply put, it was like trying to seduce a boulder. As long as she was speaking with him about her friends, her studies, her shopping, having lunch, going to movies; Mark was the best friend she could have wished for. But try and up the romance and Mark would all but bolt from her.

  At such times, sensing her mood, Mark was clever enough not be alone with her for long and even when he was, he sported a perpetual frown and watched some nonsensical sports channel rather than so much as glance at her. She could strut under his nose naked and he wouldn’t notice. And then there was Jeff, her overbearing older brother who traveled a lot but somehow always managed to pop up when he was least expected.

  But now she was finally in college. She was nineteen and she felt confident she would succeed to melt her boulder. Jeff hadn’t allowed her to stay at the dorm and she had an apartment all to herself. Mark had to naturally be around her and he had an apartment right next to hers. Yet she hadn’t managed to draw him to her. But tonight, she had a plan
that couldn’t possibly fail.

  ***

  Mark reached for his phone as it buzzed on the dashboard where he had placed it. He swiped the screen and saw it was a message from Jessica. He opened it with a frown that grew deeper when he saw it was blank. Now what the hell was this girl up to? he wondered and placed it back on the dashboard.

  Fifteen seconds later, the phone buzzed again and he reached for it, a small anxious flicker flaming his heart. Even as he opened the next blank message from Jessica, two new ones followed it. That was his breaking point and he was out of his car in a split second racing towards the nightclub she had entered.

  He waved a hundred dollar bill at the bouncer and entered almost immediately. Mark pushed through the crowd near the entrance heading for the dance floor. It was next to impossible to find anyone in the darkness that flashed randomly with disco lights. It was also too crowded. Mostly college kids graced this club and right now they packed the entire club with their swaying bodies. Some made out in the corners or against the wall and Mark swore under his breath. Young blood! He was sure most of them had met each other for the first time here and were just interested in a quick lay.

  His eyes scanned the club quickly. Damn it, Jess! Where are you? Almost as if she heard his silent question, he felt rather than heard her gasp. He spun to his right and not ten strides away was Jessica, allowing a guy to nuzzle at her neck.

  A bolt of raw desire shot through him as he saw her suck in her breath sharply with her eyes closed. He curbed it as fast as it had risen and drew in a deep breath. What the hell was he supposed to do now? It was obvious she wasn’t in any danger; then why had she messaged him?

  As if once again answering him, he saw her brace her hands on her partner’s shoulders to push him away. Her eyes opened; bleary and dazed and immediately found his. Her hand rose towards him in a beckoning gesture and it was enough to have him cover the distance and haul her partner away from her.

  With Jake gone suddenly, Jessica all but fell into Mark’s arms. She collapsed against the wall of his muscular chest where he held her in a safe cocoon. He peered down at her in concern. “Are you okay, Jess?”

  Jessica reveled in the warmth only Mark could give her and nodded dizzily. Luckily, a slow number was going on and she didn’t have to shout to be heard. “I’m sorry…had too much to drink.”

  He nodded his acceptance. “Do you want to go home?”

  “Yes,” she whispered but stiffened, when Jake came up behind Mark. She saw his simmering anger and shifted out of Mark’s arms to stand before him. “Jake, I’m sorry…everything was happening too fast.”

  Jake glowered at her before his eyes shifted to Mark. “So you called your dog? I thought we had something going Jessi.”

  Jessica felt her temper rise at Jake’s insult. She glanced at Mark’s face that held his customary unreadable mask. Unfortunately her head spun again making her stumble back against him. He held her up, his strong arms around her waist. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  He made to move but Jake came to stand before them. “Nice set up you got there old man. Screwing on duty should be illegal!” Jake guffawed, jabbing at Mark’s rock hard chest.

  A muscle twitched in Mark’s jaw as his teeth clenched. “Get out of the way and don’t make a scene,” he warned, trying to steer Jessica away from the younger man but strangely she held back.

  She placed a sympathetic hand on Jake’s chest leaning in to kiss his cheek much to the surprise of both men. “Sorry Jake. Maybe some other time,” she whispered in his ear.

  Jake’s sky blue eyes betrayed his genuine shock but he grinned and grabbed her to place a long, noisy kiss on her lips. “Cool, babes!” With that he raised a mocking brow at Mark before sauntering away into the crowd.

  The door slammed hard enough to rock the car and betray Mark’s anger. He settled in his seat before turning to glare at Jessica. “Care to explain what that was all about?”

  Jessica’s sigh was deep as she slid into her seat to rest her head on the back. Her pretty head turned to show the pout on her luscious lips. “What do you mean?” she asked innocently. She could hardly tell him she had been trying to make him jealous. Mark always did a good job of hiding his reaction to her but when she was with someone; his guard was at its weakest. Tonight she had clearly seen it in his deep eyes as they had first shone with his desire for her and then burned with resentment towards Jake.

  His glare turned into a scowl before he abruptly turned away to put the car in motion. Her hand shot out to stop him. “It was going too fast,” she explained, her cool hand covering his against the gear stick. “I sent you the messages so that you would come get me.” Her gray eyes revealed a darker color and a warm smile. “And you did.”

  A hundred different emotions coursed through Mark. He was torn between wanting to kiss her senseless and spank her bottom raw. He recovered quickly enough to frown at her. “It’s my job.”

  His statement was too casual for her liking but she refused to let her disappointment show. After all, Mark Sebastian had no idea what was in store for him tonight.

  ***

  He accompanied her right up to her apartment door and ensured she had locked it before striding away to his own apartment. He showered, then pulled on his jeans and left his shirt off before taking a beer can and settling before the television. When she came knocking on his door an hour later, he opened it and stood gaping at her in shock.

  She had taken a shower and her hair hung wet and loose over her back. An expensive short silk robe ended at her long, slim thighs. It was dotted with wet patches where it had absorbed the water from her shower highlighting her taut nipples straining against the flimsy material. He went instantly hard wanting nothing more than to throw her on the floor and make mad, passionate love to her.

  When she almost tripped on him, he steadied her catching the smell of alcohol on her breath. He took in her flustered face, his dark eyes blazing at her in anger. “What are you doing, Jess?” he growled harshly, holding her hands as she braced them against his bare chest.

  Her legs buckled under her and he cursed as he wrapped his arms around her to hold her up. He kicked the door close drawing her to the lounge. When he attempted to sit her down, she wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a lopsided smile.

  “Ty, I love you,” she murmured innocently, tracing his lips with her finger.

  He caught her hand, scowling at her even as his eyes shone with unbidden desire. “This can’t happen between us, baby girl, you know that.”

  Her head shook stubbornly. “I don’t care, Ty, I just don’t care anymore! I love you and I want you; I want you so bad I feel I’ll die!”

  Mark sighed heavily. He cupped her face, peering into her teary eyes. “I’m not the one for you sweetheart. You’re just confused…”

  “No!” She leaned into him and kissed his collar bone causing him to entangle his fingers in her hair and jerk her head back. Her eyes shone with her desire for him and her rosy lips quivered as she ran her tongue across the lower one. “Ty,” she whispered, her head titling back to take in his handsome features, “You don’t know how much I want you.”

  Mark caught her hands mid-air as she tried to once again touch his bare chest. He backed her against the wall, restraining her hands on both sides of her head. “Jess, baby, you’re drunk; you’re not in your senses.”

  A moan escaped her lips while she shook her head trying to release her hands from his vice like grip. When she couldn’t succeed, she gazed up at him with a mocking smile. “You’re taller than you should be, Ty.”

  Mark felt his restraint break at those words and he left her hands to pull her roughly in his tight embrace. He lowered his head towards her. “Stop me, baby girl,” he whispered, his lips lingering a breath away from hers.

  For an answer Jessica sank her fingers in his hair and drew his lips to hers. A bolt of pure lust zapped Mark as he kissed Jessica with a passion that threatened to destroy them both. Her
incredible scent of wild flowers enveloped him and when she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss, he felt he would go mad with desire.

  He devoured her with years of pent up passion while she returned his kiss with equal aggression. Their tongues dueled relentlessly, trying to get as much as they could from each other. Mark’s hands roamed over her back, sliding over the silk, while hers explored his strong muscles that rippled with hidden strength. He cupped her hips and held her against his arousal making her moan in his mouth.

  He left her lips to rain kisses to the side of her neck while his hands came up to part her flimsy robe. When his palms skimmed her flat stomach, he felt he would come right there like an out of control teenager. Her robe fell to the floor and he leaned back breathing heavily to drink in the sight of her naked body. Her pink nipples were taut and proud, beckoning him to worship them.

  Mark groaned and crushed her to him, kissing her once again while drawing her to his bedroom. They fell together on the bed with Jessica under him. He touched her breast gently before bending his head to bring his lips to her nipple. When his tongue licked it, she moaned, writhing with a need that she couldn’t control. “Ty, oh, Ty, I need you, I need you so much!”

  Mark began sucking at her breast and Jessica felt desire shooting through her veins and pooling between her legs. She brought her legs up around his waist and rocked against him, wishing to be rid of the jeans that he still wore. She reached down to unbutton his jeans but he caught her hand and placed it on his shoulder. His head rose to gaze into her dilated eyes as he smiled wryly. “This is about you, baby girl. I’m going to give you what you want. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Her stormy eyes couldn’t decipher the meaning of his words but she nodded in agreement. She watched as he began sucking at her other breast and moaned desperately, sinking her fingers in his hair. “I can’t bear it, Ty! Please!”