by J. L. Perry
Finally I see her sitting under the cabana, smiling as she watches the people in the pool. It kills me that she looks so happy when I feel so fucking miserable. Damn her and this whole situation to hell.
I greedily drink in her luscious body. I hate that she’s so skimpily dressed in front of all these men, and I hate that I have to control my urge to take off my shirt and cover her up. Of course that babe in the red bikini earlier reminded me of her—it was her. Knowing I was drawn to her before I even knew who she was really messes with my head. What is it with this woman?
If what Josh says is true, she probably gets around in far less far more often. That thought fills me with rage. I move towards her and stop only when I’m standing beside her chair. She’s so engrossed in watching the others she doesn’t even notice me. I take a few more seconds to drink in her beauty before I clear my throat. Her head immediately snaps in my direction.
‘I need to talk to you. You can come willingly, or I can make a scene. Your choice.’ No more Mr Nice Guy. That ship sailed the minute I got off the phone with my brother.
‘About what?’ she asks hesitantly.
I don’t reply. Instead I turn and walk back to the house. For her sake, she better be following me. I meant what I said. I’ll make a damn scene if I have to. I need to know the truth.
When I enter the house, I spot a small corridor leading away from the main thoroughfare, so I head in that direction. Rubbing my face with my hands, I come to a stop at the end of the hall and turn around. I’m relieved when I find her approaching me. Smart girl. She stops when she’s about a metre away, looking unsure of herself as her arms snake around her torso. How could this sweet woman be a whore? I just can’t see it. Josh must be mistaken.
I try to think of the right words to say. I need to be careful how I put this, just in case I’ve got it all wrong. Unfortunately my brain and my mouth don’t seem to be connected today, because what actually comes out shocks even me.
‘You’re a hooker?’ I step closer and grab hold of her arm as I back her into the wall. Her pretty eyes widen. When her face drops and her mouth gapes open in shock, there’s no need for a reply. I already know the answer. Disappointment floods me.
I’m gutted. The woman of my dreams is a fucking prostitute.
Letting go of her arm, my hands rake through my hair as I look at the ceiling. Devastation consumes me. I knew there was something about her, something she was hiding from me, but never in my wildest dreams did I entertain the idea it would be this. If anything was stopping her from being with me, I would’ve guessed it was a strict family. Her family—do they even know their daughter sleeps with strangers for a living?
‘I can’t believe I’m hung up on a fucking hooker,’ I mumble to myself.
‘I’m sorry,’ I hear her whisper. Sorry. She’s fucking sorry.
I feel my temper spike. ‘I guess I was one of the lucky ones?’
‘What?’
‘I got a freebie. Or is my invoice for services rendered in the mail?’ The second those words are out of my mouth I regret them. I feel like a prick for what I’ve just said. In my defence, I’m upset. I think I have every right to be, but I’ll admit those words were spoken purely in anger.
Am I hurt by this revelation? You better believe I am.
Does is it lessen the feelings I have for her? Surprisingly not in the slightest.
I’m so focused on the tears that are now pooling in her beautiful jade green eyes that I don’t even see her raise her hand until it connects hard with the side of my face.
A small sob escapes her as she sidesteps me and runs down the hall. My shoulders slump as my hand comes up to rub my stinging cheek. I need to go after her. At the very least, I need to apologise for my outburst.
‘Jade!’ I call out, as I follow her.
She runs up the main staircase and I’m hot on her heels. I need to make this right. I don’t understand why she’d choose a profession like this, and I don’t think I ever will. She has so much going for her: she’s beautiful; she’s smart.
And who am I to judge? I sleep around too, a lot. The only difference is I do it for free. Morally, I suppose that’s no better.
‘Please, Jade,’ I call out again.
She glances over her shoulder before speeding up.
I don’t think so, sweetheart. You ran away from me once. This time you’re not getting away. I take the stairs two at a time, quickly closing the gap. I follow her down the long hall. She stops at one of the doors before opening it and darting inside. My hand reaches out just as she closes it in my face.
‘Leave me alone,’ she cries, trying to push the door closed the rest of the way.
‘Let me in!’
‘Why, so you can insult me again?’ Her force on the door strengthens as she puts her whole body weight behind it. She’s strong, but not strong enough. I managed to force my way inside, just in time to see her cover her face and slide down the wall in defeat. Sobs rack her body as she breaks down. My chest aches to see her like this. Even more so knowing I’m the cause of it.
‘Come here,’ I say as my hands reach for her, pulling her to her feet. The second she’s standing, I pull her into my arms, crushing her to my chest. ‘I’m sorry for what I said.’
She doesn’t speak, so I continue to hold her. It’s the only thing I can do. I can’t take those awful words back.
The minutes tick by and eventually she settles. ‘I knew you wouldn’t understand,’ she whispers into my chest. ‘That’s why I couldn’t tell you. Don’t think for a second I’m proud of what I do Brock, because I’m not.’
‘Then why do you do it?’ I ask as I pull back, cupping her face in my hands. Her eyes are red and puffy, but she’s still as breathtaking as ever. ‘Tell me, Jade.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Are you in some kind of trouble? Let me help you.’
She shakes her head. ‘There’s nothing you can do.’
‘Do you need money?’
‘No. I have plenty of that. It’s not about the money.’
‘Then what?’ I plead. ‘Help me understand.’
‘I have my reasons,’ she mumbles as she looks down at the floor. I know in that moment I’m not going to get the answers I so desperately seek. I’ll let it go. For now.
‘Hey. Look at me,’ I say softly. I don’t speak again until her eyes meet mine. ‘Is that why you ran?’
She nods. ‘I never would’ve left you if I didn’t have to, please know that.’
Her hand comes up to gently stroke the side of my face but I need to feel her lips on mine again. I suddenly don’t care what her reasons are. All I care about is that I found her again. I won’t be letting her go this time without a fight.
My heart starts to race the moment our lips connect. I can feel her body shaking as it melts into mine. My arms slide around her waist to pull her closer and her hands move up to my hair as she moans into my mouth. All the emptiness and uncertainty I’ve been feeling since New York vanishes and, for the first times in weeks, I feel alive again.
Reaching behind her, I click the lock on the door before I back her against the wood. I swear I can feel her heart beating against mine. This woman awakens something inside me whenever we’re together. My hands run lightly over her skin before they cup her arse, and I lift her off the ground. I groan when she wraps her long legs around my waist.
I need her more than I’ve ever needed anything in my life.
‘I’ve missed you so much,’ I whisper against her skin as my mouth makes its way across her jaw and down her neck. ‘I thought I’d lost you forever when you left me.’ I’ve never been the type of man who expresses his feelings, but in this moment, I feel compelled to tell her how I feel. She’s the first woman to ever make me feel.
‘I’ve missed you too. Walking away from you that day was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Those few days we spent together were the happiest moments of my life.’ Her words touch a place deep inside as my lips curv
e into a smile against her skin.
I untie one of the bows that holds her bikini bottoms together. Her hands move from my hair and go to work on the buttons of my shirt. Within seconds she has it undone and pushes it off my shoulders. I tilt my head back and groan when her lips make contact with my chest.
Looking over my shoulder, I see a large bed behind me. ‘Whose room is this?’
‘Mine,’ she replies.
‘Yours and Theo’s?’ I need to know before this goes any further.
‘Just mine,’ she says, as her eyes meet mine. ‘Theo is my friend. I’ve never been with him like that.’
That’s all I need to hear. Smiling, I turn and lay her on the bed. I let my shirt fall down my arms and onto the floor. Sliding out of my shoes, I undo my jeans and pull them down my legs, taking my boxers with them. Kneeling on the mattress, I place my lips on her toned stomach as my fingers untie the other side of her bikini bottoms. I toss them aside as I go to work on the top. The second that’s off, my lips are connecting with hers again as I position my body over her.
When she opens her legs for me, I eagerly settle between them. I want to take my time with her, but at the same time I’m desperate. Not only for her, but for this. I pull her hands above her head and lace our fingers together. Our eyes are locked as I slowly slide inside her heaven. Her eyes slightly roll back in her head the moment I push all the way in. She feels even more amazing than I remember. I know she feels this connection between us too. Surely I’m not imagining it? It’s so strong.
I find myself wanting to freeze time. To freeze this moment. I want to stay buried inside her like this forever. I’m not sure where this is going, or what’s going to become of us, if anything, after today. All I know is that I want to enjoy every second of my time with her. I took our time in New York for granted because I thought there’d be more of us. Now I know better.
I don’t want to let her go.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
JADE
I shed a few silent tears when I got in the shower this morning, because again I knew this was the end of us. I can’t believe how emotional I’ve become lately. I still have one year, ten months and fifteen days until my contract expires. And yes, I am counting. I could never ask Brock to wait that long for me. It’s incredibly selfish of me to even consider it. It’s going to be even harder to walk away from him this time, I know it. He’s still asleep in my bed, but Rupert will be here shortly to collect me so I need to get myself organised. It will be both our heads on the chopping block if I arrive back at M’s late.
Brock and I had the most amazing night together. It even topped New York, if that’s possible. It was wrong of me to let this go further, but I couldn’t have stopped it, even if I’d wanted to. My heart and body needed him so much. I’ve fallen hard.
After dressing in a tight, red, sleeveless pencil dress, I dry my hair and apply my makeup. I need to look perfect when I reach M’s. It’s ridiculous, because I’ll only be stripping off when I get home before heading to the gym, but this is my life, always pandering to M’s ridiculous demands.
Once all my things are packed neatly in my small Louis Vuitton suitcase, I set it by the door. My heart is heavy as I go back to the bed where Brock is sleeping. I take a few minutes to watch him, before I kneel on the bed and place a kiss on his bare chest, just over his heart. My lipstick leaves a red imprint, bringing a small smile to my face. I wish I could leave my mark on him permanently.
My gaze moves up to his handsome face as my fingers skim lightly over his hair. He’s so beautiful. He looks so relaxed and peaceful when he sleeps. I close my eyes and try to capture the image in my mind, so I can remember it forever.
I don’t want to wake him, but I need to. I have to say goodbye. I never got to do that last time and it was one of my biggest regrets. Leaning forward, I gently place my lips on his. He groans as his arms encircle my waist, pulling me down on top of him. It makes me laugh.
‘Good morning,’ I say.
‘Good morning, beautiful,’ he replies with a smile. ‘You’re dressed?’
‘Yes.’
‘You look gorgeous.’ The sincerity in his voice as he tenderly strokes the side of my face chokes me up inside. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Rupert will be here soon, I have to get going.’
‘What?’ he replies, shifting me to the side so he can sit up. ‘Already?’
I sigh when I see his face drop. I’d give anything to be able to spend the whole day with him. ‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t you wake me earlier? I could’ve spent more time with you before you left.’
‘You looked so peaceful,’ I reply, forcing out a smile. I hate that I’m disappointing him once more.
‘When am I going to see you again?’
I rest my forehead against his. ‘I don’t know.’ Saying that to him makes my heart hurt.
‘Can I get your phone number or something, so I can call you?’ The hopefulness in his voice tears me up inside.
‘I can’t give you my number,’ I whisper, as my eyes clench shut. I can’t bear to see the hurt on his face.
‘Why?’
‘She checks my phone, Brock.’
‘Who?’
‘My madam.’ This conversation is so humiliating.
‘Aren’t you free to do whatever you like in your spare time?’
‘No,’ I confess, turning my face away from him. ‘She controls everything … even my spare time.’ My cheeks heat up as I speak. I’m so ashamed of my life and my circumstances.
‘I want to see you again, Jade. No—I have to see you again,’ he says, crushing me to him. He holds me so tight, like he’s afraid to let me go.
‘I want to see you again too. More than anything. But I can’t see how. You have no idea how my life is—what she’s like.’
I stand when he finally releases me, straightening my dress when I do. Pulling back the covers, he rises too. He’s still naked and he’s utter perfection. I could stare at him all day and never tire of it.
‘I’ll find a way. I promise. I won’t let you get away again,’ he says before picking his jeans up off the floor. I watch as he removes his wallet, pulling out a business card. ‘Keep this. If you ever need me, just call. I mean it, Jade. For anything.’
‘Thank you,’ I say as my arms circle his waist.
‘We’re going to see each other again. We are.’ He draws me closer. I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince me or himself. We just stand there holding each other for the longest time. I hope he’s right. I don’t want this to be the last time I feel him in my arms.
When my phone rings he releases me, and I walk to my bag. I already know it’s Rupert alerting me he’s downstairs.
‘Fuck,’ I hear Brock groan from behind me.
‘What?’ I ask, turning around.
‘You look fine in that dress, and you’re wearing those damn shoes again.’
‘What?’ I feel my face screw up.
‘Those red heels,’ he says, pointing to my feet. ‘You were wearing them at the airport. The day I met you.’
I can’t believe he remembers what I was wearing on my feet that day. ‘I was?’
‘Yes, you were. I want to see you wearing nothing but those shoes one day.’
I chuckle as I retrieve the phone from the front pocket of my suitcase. Brock comes up behind me, grabbing hold of my waist and thrusting his pelvis into me.
‘Fuck, your arse looks sexy in that dress.’
‘Shh,’ I say as I place my finger against my lips. ‘Hi Rupert. I’ll be down in a minute.’
When I end the call, Brock turns me in his arms. ‘I miss you already.’
‘I miss you already too,’ I say, placing my lips on his.
‘Take care of yourself, Jade.’
‘I will. You too.’
‘Please call me if you need anything, or even if you just want to say hello.’
‘I will.’ I’m trying hard to fight back the tears. I’m not
usually an emotional person. I’ve cried more times since I’ve met Brock than I have in my entire life. And believe me when I say there were plenty of times that warranted tears when I was a child. Maybe opening my heart to him has finally made me feel.
‘Until we meet again, beautiful.’ He gives me a sad smile as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
‘Until we meet again, handsome.’
He picks up my suitcase and passes it to me. ‘Bye,’ I say as I place my lips on his for the final time. I open the door, taking a backwards step as my eyes drink him in one last time. ‘You better put some clothes on before you go downstairs. I don’t want Theo checking out my man.’
His face breaks out into a huge smile. ‘Bye.’
I blow him a final kiss before turning and walking away. I have a huge lump in my throat. I only make it a short distance before Brock calls my name. Halting, I glance at him over my shoulder.
‘For the record, I like being your man.’
*
BROCK
After washing my face and getting dressed, I head downstairs. I’ll shower and change when I get home since I don’t have any clean clothes with me. I’m hoping Theo is up so I can apologise for being MIA for most of yesterday. I also want to speak with him to see what he knows about Jade’s situation. I have to figure out a way to see her again.
When I reach the landing I hear the sounds of a vacuum, so I head in that direction.
‘Good morning, sir,’ the elderly lady says when she sees me standing in the doorway. ‘Is there something I can help you with?’
‘I’m actually looking for Theo.’
‘Last time I saw Mr James,’ she replies, ‘he was sitting out by the pool, having breakfast.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Here’s the man of the hour,’ Theo calls out as I walk onto the patio. ‘Come join me for breakfast.’
‘What do you mean?’ I ask as I take a seat opposite him and reach for a piece of melon from the large serving dish sitting in the middle of the table.
‘I walked Jade out to her driver when she left. She gave me a quick lowdown on you two. Should I be pissed off with you for getting it on with my girl?’
