The Negotiation

by Sandi Lynn

  “Me too, Mr. Caine. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

  “You too.”

  After ending the call, I pulled up Dylan’s number and sent him a text message.

  “Friday night, seven o’clock, Per Se. Oh, by the way, it’s Emily.”

  “My favorite restaurant. Looking forward to it.”

  When I was standing on the corner trying to catch a cab back to the shop, a black limousine pulled up and the passenger side window slowly rolled down.

  “Hello again.” Jackson smiled. “Need a ride?”

  “I do. I can’t seem to get a cab to stop.”

  “Then climb on in.” He opened the door for me. “Where are you headed?”

  Sliding into the backseat next to him, I spoke, “Back to the shop.”

  “What are you doing over this way?” he asked.

  “I had a doctor’s appointment.”

  “Are you okay?” he voiced with concern.

  “Oh yeah,” I waved my hand in front of my face. “Just my yearly gyno checkup and a refill for my birth control.”

  His brow instantly raised as his sexy chocolate eyes stared into mine.

  “You’re on birth control?”

  “Yeah. I have been for years.”

  “Why didn’t you mention that before?”

  “Why would I? It’s not like I would let you fuck me without a condom.”

  “Ever?” His brow raised again.

  “Not unless I had proof you were clean and disease free.” I cocked my head.

  “I see.” He smirked.

  “Anyway, I have to call Per Se and make a reservation.” I pulled out my phone.

  “I already did.”

  “Really?” I smiled.

  “Yes.” He placed his hand on my knee, and instantly, the unbearable ache was back.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. How much time do you have right now?”

  “For what?”

  Grabbing my hand, he placed it on his rising cock.

  “For this.” The corners of his mouth curved upwards.

  “I have a few minutes,” I replied as I bit down on my bottom lip.

  “So do I.” He pushed a button and the privacy window went up.

  His hand reached under my flowy dress as I scooted towards him and our lips locked tightly together. His fingers pushed my panties to the side and dipped inside me, causing me to gasp mid-kiss. His lips traveled to my neck as his fingers moved in and out of me, causing a flood of wetness to emerge. Taking my hand, I stroked his hard cock through the fabric of his suit pants.

  “I do believe you’re ready for me.” He smirked as he pulled out his fingers and unbuttoned his pants, sliding them off his hips. “Get those panties off and get up here,” he commanded.

  Reaching under my dress, I slid down my panties, kicked off my shoes, and looked at his manhood, which I’d thought about one too many times.

  “Condom?” I raised my brow.

  “Oh yeah. Sorry. Can you grab my wallet out of my pants?”

  Reaching down, I pulled his wallet out and handed it to him. Taking the condom, he tore it open, rolled it on, and grabbed my hips, pulling me into his lap. Slowly, I lowered myself onto him until he was buried deep inside me.

  “Fuck, Emily,” he moaned as he threw his head back.

  While I moved my hips back and forth, he grabbed my hair and pulled my mouth to his. Our kiss was as deep as he was buried inside me. I could feel the buildup happening as I grinded him. He could feel it too as his hands gripped my hips and he moved with me.

  “Tell me you’re going to come. I can’t hold back anymore,” he groaned.

  “I am. Just don’t stop,” I panted.

  A couple more movements was all it took as I buried my face into his neck and muffled a moan as an orgasm erupted for both of us. The limo stopped and I lifted my head and looked at Jackson.

  “We’re at your shop,” he spoke as he brushed a strand of hair out of my face.

  “Perfect timing.” I smiled.

  Climbing off of him, I grabbed my panties from the floor and put them on as he removed the condom.

  “Would you like me to dispose of that for you?” I asked.

  “What are you going to do? Walk in your shop with it?”

  I reached into my purse and pulled out a couple of tissues and held them in the palm of my hand.

  “Just place it in here and I will discreetly dispose of it in my trashcan.”

  His grin widened as he dropped the condom into the tissues.

  “Thank you.” His lips brushed against mine.

  “That was fun, but I have to go,” I spoke as I put my hand on the door handle.

  “Indeed it was. I’ll see you on Friday night.” He smiled.

  “Looking forward to it.” I climbed out of the limo and walked into the shop.

  “How did it go?” Katie asked.

  “Well.” I set my purse down and grabbed a piece of chocolate from under the counter. “You are never going to believe what I have to tell you.”

  Katie set down the pile of sweaters she had in her hand and walked over to me.

  “You’re not pregnant, are you?” Her eyes widened.

  “Oh for fuck sakes, no. Dr. Grey was at the hospital delivering a baby, so I had to see the new associate he hired a few months back.”

  “And?”

  “His name is Dr. Dylan Williams and he’s really hot.”

  “Lucky you.” She grinned. “You didn’t have an orgasm while he was examining you, did you?”

  “No! Remember the email I told you about this morning? The one from Match and the guy was a gynecologist?”

  “Holy shit on a cracker, Emily. Was it him?” Her jaw dropped.

  “Yep. It sure was him.” I nodded my head.

  Suddenly, she busted out into laughter. “You haven’t even gone out on a date and he’s already seen you naked!”

  “I know. Talk about awkward. But anyway, we’re going out Friday night.”

  “What?” She laughed.

  “I’m setting him up with Evelyn and we’re going on a double date.”

  “If it’s a double date, who are you going with?”

  “Jackson. Who else would I go with?”

  “Hmm.” She twisted her face.

  I popped another piece of chocolate in my mouth. “What?”

  “Nothing. What did Evelyn say when you told her?”

  “I haven’t yet. She said she’d be in around four o’clock today, so I’m going to tell her then.”

  “You set up a blind date for her and she doesn’t even know it yet?”

  “Yep.” I grinned. “She won’t mind. I really think they’ll hit it off.”

  “And you don’t think she’ll be a little weirded out that he was all up in your privates?” She laughed.

  I bit down on my bottom lip as I thought about it for a moment.

  “I didn’t think of that. Oh well. If she likes him, she’ll have to get over it.”

  I spent the next hour putting together the information for my online boutique, and I needed to find a warehouse fast and hire some help to run it. As I was ringing up a customer, Evelyn walked in.

  “Thank you for shopping with us and have a wonderful day.” I smiled brightly at Mrs. Franks, who just spent over three hundred dollars.

  Evelyn walked over to me and sighed as she placed her arm on the counter and rested her head on her hand.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Remember that guy, Brent, I told you about? The one who I met through a mutual friend?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He cancelled our date for tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “Something came up at work. He said he’d call to reschedule.”

  “This was your first date, right?” I asked.

  “Yes.”

  Stepping out from behind the counter, I hooked my arm around her.

  “Guess what?” I smiled.

 
“What?”

  “We’re going on a double date Friday night.”

  “Who’s we?” She narrowed her eye.

  “Me, you, Jackson, and Dylan.”

  “Who’s Dylan?”

  “He’s a gynecologist and he’s hot.”

  I could hear Katie snickering as she walked past us.

  “And how do you know him?”

  “He’s an associate at my OB/GYN’s office. He’s single and looking for someone to go out with.”

  “How do you know this?” she asked in a suspicious tone.

  “Well, I was at the office for my exam and refill for birth control and we got to talking. I think you’d really like him, Evelyn.”

  “Why would you talk to an associate there just out of the clear blue? And what doctor just randomly tells you that he’s looking for someone to date?”

  “You might as well come clean, Em,” Katie spoke as she stepped behind the counter.

  “Come clean about what?” Evelyn placed her hands on her hips.

  “Okay, fine.” I put my hands up in the air. “I got an email from him. He’s on Match and wanted to meet me. When I went to see Dr. Grey today, he was at the hospital delivering a baby, so Dr. Williams, Dylan, performed my exam, and we started talking.”

  “What?! The guy who wanted to go on a date with you gave you a pelvic exam?”

  “Yes. And since he was my doctor today, I told him there was no way we could go out and he agreed. So I instantly thought of you and set up our date for Friday night.”

  “Do you know how crazy that sounds? So let me get this straight, you want to set me up with a man who’s been all up in your Hoo-haw?”

  “You’re making it sound dirty.” I pointed at her. “He’s a doctor. It’s his job. Oh, come on, Evelyn,” I whined. “It’ll be fun. Please. Remember I went to that wedding with you and that speed dating thing.”

  “How hot is he?” she asked.

  “Tall, dark, and handsome.” I grinned.

  “Fine. It’s not like I have any plans for Friday anyway.”

  “Great! Reservations are at seven, so come by my place around four thirty and we can get ready together. Jackson is picking us up.”

  Chapter 17

  Jackson

  Looking in the mirror, I straightened my tie and headed downstairs where my sister, Jules, was in the kitchen heating up some left over spaghetti and meatballs that Terrence prepared.

  “Look at you.” She smiled. “Hot date tonight?”

  “Yes. The woman I’m having dinner with is very hot.” I smirked.

  “So who is she, Jackson?”

  “Her name is Emily and she happens to be the owner of Emily’s Edge, that shop you like.”

  “Really? I was just in there the other day. What does she look like?”

  “She’s beautiful and blonde.”

  “I think she was the one that rang me up. Blue eyes, tall?”

  “Yes. That would be her.”

  “She’s gorgeous. Is this your first date?” She smiled.

  “No. I met her when I went in there and bought that dress for you. We ended up seeing each other at a wedding about a month later, got to talking, and we went out a few times.”

  She leaned over the counter and pointed her fork at me.

  “Sounds serious. Is there something you need to tell me?”

  “No, and it’s not serious. Come on, Jules, you know me. But, I will tell you this, she’s a very special woman. You want to know why?”

  “Why?” Her brows furrowed.

  “Because she doesn’t believe in relationships, marriage, etc. She’s a drama-free woman to date.” I smiled.

  “Interesting.” She bit into a meatball.

  “I have to go. Edward is waiting downstairs for me.” I kissed her forehead. “Make sure to lock up when you leave.”

  “I will. Have fun on your date.”

  “Oh, I definitely will.” I winked as I stepped onto the elevator.

  Knocking on the door of her apartment, I was surprised when Evelyn answered it.

  “Hello, Evelyn. You look lovely.”

  “Thank you, Jackson. Come on in. Emily will be out in a minute.”

  Stepping inside, I took a look around her apartment. It was nice and very cozy. It was the type of apartment that the minute you stepped inside, you felt at home.

  “So, do you know the man that Emily has set you up with?” I asked.

  “No. I’ve never met him, but Em says he’s tall, dark, and handsome. He’s a gynecologist.”

  I tilted my head and narrowed my eye. “Is he Emily’s doctor?”

  “No. He’s an associate at her doctor’s office. Her doctor was delivering a baby, so Dylan stepped in and saw her. Super weird that he had emailed her from Match wanting to go on a date. She had no clue it was him until she was on the table. I’m not too sure how I feel about him, knowing that he’s been all up in her space, if you know what I mean.”

  I swallowed hard at the thought and a feeling of uneasiness overtook me.

  “I heard that,” Emily spoke as she walked into the living area. “Hi, Jackson.” She smiled brightly. “He’s a doctor. It’s his job. We’ve already been over this.” She sat down on the couch and put on her heels.

  “So this guy has seen you naked?” I asked.

  “Not you too.” She rolled her eyes.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t mention it when I picked you up.”

  “I didn’t know I had to.” Her eye narrowed.

  “Considering you just had Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome all up in your space and then we had sex right after in the back of my limo. No wonder you were so horny.”

  “Wait a minute,” Evelyn interrupted. “You had sex in the back of his limo right after your gyno appointment?”

  “You two,” she pointed her finger at us, “are being idiots. Now let’s go before Dylan thinks we stood him up.”

  “Wouldn’t want Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome to think that now, would we?” I mumbled.

  “I heard that, Mr. Caine.” Emily grabbed her purse and walked out the door.

  I was usually a pretty laid-back guy, but this piece of information that she neglected to tell me really made me mad. Knowing that he saw the woman that I had sex with in that way, plus wanted to date her, made me already hate him. Where the fuck was this coming from?

  We arrived at Per Se precisely at seven o’clock and the hostess led us to the table where the guy was already seated.

  “Dylan.” Emily smiled. “This is Jackson Caine, and this beautiful woman is Evelyn.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jackson.” He held out his hand.

  I was hesitant to shake it, but being the nice person I was, I did anyway. We took our seats at the round table and I ordered a bottle of champagne for the four of us. Dylan and Evelyn were engaged in a conversation, so I leaned over and whispered in Emily’s ear.

  “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me. That’s kind of fucked up, if you ask me.”

  “Oh my God. Will you drop it already?” she spoke through gritted teeth.

  “No. He wanted to date you.”

  “So what. Lots of guys want to date me, just like a lot of women want to date you.”

  “But you aren’t sitting across from someone who has seen me naked.”

  “Give it time, Jackson. I’m sure my time will come. I’m pretty positive you’ve slept with half, if not more, of the women in this city.”

  “Are you two okay?” Evelyn asked.

  “We’re fine.” Emily smiled.

  After finishing off the bottle of champagne, dinner, and dessert, I paid the bill and we stepped outside. Evelyn and Dylan seemed quite attracted to each other and decided to go off and spend the rest of the evening alone.

  “I think I just made a match.” Emily smiled as she slid into the back of my limo.

  “They seemed to hit it off. Am I driving you home now or did you want to go somewhere else?” I asked.

  “We can go
back to my place.” She grinned. “I have chocolates and wine.”

  “Sounds sexy.” The corners of my mouth curved upwards.

  I had done nothing but think about fucking her all night. In fact, it was all I seemed to think about, even when she wasn’t around. She radiated sexiness and my cock couldn’t seem to get enough of her. There was something I needed to talk to her about, but I’d wait until after sex. I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

  ****

  Emily

  We barely made it through the door and my dress was off and Jackson had me pinned against the wall, devouring my body in an animal-like manner. I didn’t mind because it was all I thought about all night. He put on a condom and thrust inside me, my arms above my head with his hands gripping them tight. As I wrapped my legs around his waist, his free hand encircled my body and held me up as he pounded into me, causing me to orgasm with only a few pumps. A loud moan rumbled in his chest as he slowed down and then halted while he came.

  Letting go of my wrists, he kissed my lips, pulled out of me, and went into the bathroom. After slipping back into my panties, I walked to my bedroom and grabbed my silk robe from behind the door.

  “Nice place you have here,” he spoke as he came out from the bathroom.

  “Thanks.” I headed towards the kitchen and he followed.

  “There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he spoke with seriousness.

  “Okay.”

  I reached up into the cabinet, grabbed two wine glasses, and poured some wine in each.

  “Don’t drink that yet,” I spoke as I handed him the glasses. “I still have to get the chocolates out.”

  He chuckled as he took our wine over to the couch while I grabbed a box of Godiva truffles and took a seat next to him.

  “What did you need to talk to me about?” I asked as I turned my body and faced him.

  “We’re both business people, right?”

  “Last time I checked.” I smiled.

  “And we’re both used to dealing in negotiations. I do it on a daily basis and I’m sure you do it with clothing vendors and such. Correct?”

  “Yes. You are correct. I negotiate all the time.”

  “Good, because I want to negotiate a deal with you.”

  A light laugh escaped my lips. “What kind of deal?”

  He inhaled a sharp breath. “You and I are a good fit. Wouldn’t you say?” His finger ran down my hair.