Jordan's Justice: A New Adult Sport Romance (Tessa and Jordan Book 2)

by T Christensen

  That was until she heard Jordan say, “I’m happy you had a good day. I’m going to help Mommy with dishes. Why don’t you go pick out the story you want me to read tonight?”

  Tessa stiffened. There was no way she was going to talk to him anymore tonight, not until her emotions were back under control. A little too brightly, she called out, “No worries, Jordan. I got this. Why don’t you and Jordis get her bath going? Maybe there will be some time for the two of you to watch Paw Patrol before storytime.”

  She could practically feel Jordis’s excitement. Tessa kept washing the clean pan in the sink and praying they would leave.

  “Go start getting ready, Jordis. I’ll be up in a minute.”

  Tessa tried to gather the numbness she’d had at the table, but it wasn’t working. Jordan wasn’t moving, but she could feel his anger. She just continued to scrub the pan, ignoring her shaking hands.

  “You can’t avoid me forever, Tessa.”

  Don’t respond. Don’t respond.

  Part of her wanted to yell, yes, I can! The other part wanted to scream, listen to what I’m telling you!

  Finally she heard his retreating footsteps and slumped over the sink. She was emotionally spent. It had been a day from hell. Tessa quickly finished the dishes, grabbing her phone and heading to the last place Jordan would look for her.

  Tucked into the corner of the closet, she curled up in the blankets she’d dragged with her. Tessa clung to the phone and prayed her call would be answered.

  “Hey, chica!” Lindy’s warm, enthusiastic voice settled over her.

  “Lindy,” she breathed out in relief. “Do you have time to talk?”

  “What’s wrong, Tessa?” Lindy asked softly.

  The tears came, and this time she let them flow. Tessa settled into the corner and poured her heart out. Lindy knew she’d gotten married to Jordan, but she hadn’t told her she’d been blackmailed into it. There was no holding back this time. She told her everything, finishing by telling her that Jordan still thought she was petty and manipulative.

  “How can he not see that it’s his bitch of a mother who is petty and manipulative?”

  More of the tension coiled in her released at having her thoughts validated, but Tessa needed to own her part in it. “I did take the money, Lindy. He does have a reason to think the way he does.”

  In her head, Tessa could see Lindy throwing her arms up before she declared, “That bitch manipulated you even back in college, Tessa. She knew you loved Jordan and didn’t want to destroy his future. You were young and scared, and you told him straight up what you did. Why does he think you would own up to the money part and deny the contract? What would you have to gain?”

  “Who knows what he’s thinking. Whatever it is, I’m sure it doesn’t put me in the best light.”

  “Tessa, why didn’t you tell me all of this before you got married?”

  The hurt in Lindy’s voice brought the tears back to her eyes.

  “Because I knew you would’ve come to try to stop it. You can’t afford the flight, and you need to stay in New York. You need to be done taking care of me and my problems. You need to think about yourself.”

  “Tessa, you’re like my sister. We’re always there for each other.”

  She dropped her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. Tessa missed Lindy.

  “That’s why I called. I need to have someone on my side.”

  “Oh sweetie, I’m always on your side. Do I need to come home?”

  Tessa smiled faintly. “No, I just needed to hear your voice.”

  “Call me whenever you need to.”

  “I will.”

  “Love you, Tessa.”

  “Love you, Lindy.”

  The call ended as exhaustion swept through her body. Tessa still wasn’t ready to face Jordan. Hiding was the coward’s way out, but right now, she needed to be a coward. She curled up into a ball, cocooning herself in the blankets and closing her eyes.

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  Chapter 30

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  Light seeped into her closed eyes, and Tessa lazily stretched. Squinting open her eyes, she saw that it was morning. She was in her underwear and T-shirt with her bra was still on. Why wasn’t she wearing her pajamas?

  The last thing she remembered was hiding in the closet. The urge to hide under the covers was strong, but she’d had her moment of cowardice and now it was time to face the music. In this case, time to face Jordan, since no one else could’ve moved her to their bed.

  A glance at the indented pillow next to hers meant that Jordan had slept with her. She ignored the twinge of disappointment that she’d missed a night with him. Nights were always a ray of hope.

  As soon as the lights were off and they were laying side by side, she became hypersensitive to his presence. She held her breath with every move he made, and her body throbbed. He had to feel the same way. It was usually only a couple of minutes before he pulled her to him and frantically discarded her pajamas.

  Their connection at night was something she held dear, praying that it would someday translate into the daylight hours. Tessa shook her head to rid herself of the memories and disappointment and got into the shower.

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  With a towel wrapped around herself, she froze at the sight of Jordan in the sitting area of their room scrolling through the TV channels. He eyed her wet hair and then examined the rest of her nearly naked body.

  She hauled in some breaths as soon as he turned back to the TV. Just as her body started to come down from the high of Jordan’s examination, he said, “Get dressed, and let’s talk.”

  With a churning stomach, Tessa headed to their walk-in closet. She suspected Jordan wanted to talk about last night, but she couldn’t tell from his tone of voice what his mood was.

  Since she didn’t have any plans, Tessa threw on yoga pants and an old University of San Jose sweatshirt. During the short time she was in the closet, she lectured herself about not letting him get under her skin while taking deep breaths to control her rapid breathing.

  Tessa walked back into the room and sat in the high-back chair at a ninety-degree angle to the couch Jordan was on. He turned off the TV, and he eyed her sweatshirt with raised eyebrows. She looked down and swallowed. It was the basketball sweatshirt she’d stolen from him years ago.

  In a higher than normal pitch, she asked, “Where’s Jordis?”

  Jordan flicked his eyes to hers. “She’s with my mom.”

  “What!” Tessa exploded up and took two steps to the door.

  “They aren’t here.”

  Those words knocked out any chance there was of a civil discussion. Her entire body filled with anger, and she was ready to explode. She stalked over to him with her hands clenched into fists.

  “No.” Her voice trembled from the depth of emotion she felt, and she took a breath. “Jordis is never to be alone with your mother.”

  Jordan steepled his fingers underneath his chin. “If you hadn’t walked away when I was trying to talk to you and then hidden from me, I wouldn’t have had to call my mom. Now that Jordis is gone, you don’t have a shield. There isn’t any reason why you can’t talk with me.”

  Her entire body pounded as she tried to contain herself. She couldn’t stand there and listen to his condescending assholeishness. Tessa spun away, collected her purse, and then went into the closet to get her phone.

  She marched back out, stopping at the bedroom door and demanding, “Where are they?”

  Jordan stood up and stalked over to her. “You aren’t going anywhere until we talk about what happened last night.” Then he put a hand on the bedroom door, holding it shut.

  Tessa craned her neck up and shot fire at him with her eyes. “We’re not doing anything until my daughter is back home.”

  She didn’t know how long the stare-off continued, but she didn’t feel the satisfaction she should have when Jordan pushed away from the door and grabbed his ph
one. Unsure what he was doing, she remained with her back to the door and waited.

  He lifted the phone to his ear and stared straight at her while he talked. “Mom, can you bring Jordis home in an hour?”

  Tessa opened her mouth to argue, but Jordan had already hung the phone up and thrown it onto the couch.

  He moved back over to her. “We have one hour to resolve whatever your petty problem is. If you don’t talk to me, I’ll call my mom back and tell her to keep Jordis the entire day.”

  The thoughts swirling in her head could no longer be contained, so they spewed out.

  “Never use our daughter as blackmail. Jordis will never be around that two-faced bitch alone. That is absolute. And if you want to have a rational discussion with me, then you shouldn’t call me petty and manipulative. News flash, Jordan, I don’t like to be called names. You came in yesterday after talking to your mother and assumed she’d told you facts and not her opinion of what happened. I can assure you that what happened was not how she presented it!”

  Jordan’s jaw became more rigid with every word she yelled. At this point, she couldn’t care less about his reaction or keeping the peace. If this marriage was going to work, she was not the only one who was going to have to give.

  His head blocking out the light was the only warning she registered before his mouth slammed down on hers. It took her half a second before her own aggression responded back. Tessa stretched herself onto her toes and clasped his neck.

  Jordan lifted her up and pushed back against the wall. She levered herself farther up his body and wrapped her legs around him, shuddering at the friction her core received.

  Her blood-boiling anger moments before was forgotten. Now her only goal was to rid herself of this pent-up emotion inside of her. Being in Jordan’s arms was the one place Tessa felt like what they shared was real and equal.

  Jordan turned, still carrying her, and lowered her to the bed. Her body sang when he laid his weight on her. She tilted her pelvis, trying to connect with him. When there was nothing but air, her eyes flew open.

  She shakily exhaled as she found him standing and discarding his jeans. Hastily he reached down and got rid of her yoga pants and panties. For once they weren’t under the cloak of darkness, and Tessa’s body trembled in appreciation of his fit, muscular body.

  He kneeled at her feet on the bed and palmed his hard, leaking cock. As soon as Jordan saw he had her undivided attention, he wrapped his hand around himself and pulled. The shudder that racked his body made her core pulse and leak in anticipation. Transfixed by him, Tessa reached down to give herself some relief.

  As soon as her fingers touched her slick lips and aching clit, she threw her head back and moaned.

  Jordan rasped, “Fuck no.” Tessa’s eyes flew open and immediately connected with his blazing ones.

  “Stop,” he growled. She stilled her fingers, and Jordan lowered himself over her. Taking her limp wrists, he placed them on either side of her head.

  Jordan lined his cock up with her eager entrance and declared, “This is mine.”

  He plunged into her. Tessa’s body bowed from impact, and she raised her arms to grip the headboard.

  “More,” she demanded.

  Jordan gripped her hips and gave her the frantic pace she craved. She closed her eyes and reached for the stars she could see on the horizon. With each aggressive plunge, Tessa’s body became more and more desperate for the release gathering. Finally her body tensed, and then she screamed out with the most intense, soul-shattering orgasm she’d ever experienced.

  Tessa wrapped her hands over Jordan’s shoulders when he collapsed down on top of her. These were the few moments they were both at peace together.

  As soon as his breathing regulated, he tensed. Tessa knew they were back to reality as Jordan pushed himself off her.

  She threw her arm over her eyes to hide the hurt at his rejection after what had just happened. Tessa heard him pulling his jeans on and then felt his stare, but she stayed hidden behind her arm. He finally walked away and pulled open the door. Before he left, he clipped out, “A good fuck didn’t make me forget what we need to talk about. You have thirty-five minutes left.”

  She flinched and turned to her side. Jordan’s come was still leaking out of her, and he was gone. Her battered and bruised heart urged her to curl up and never leave this bed, but his warning replayed in her head. She didn’t want Jordis with Christina all day, so she found the courage to piece herself together.

  The reflection staring back at her in the bathroom mirror made her cringe. She felt like the whore Jordan had subtly accused her of being. Her hair was mangled, her eyes dead, and her lips swollen. Her sweatshirt was still on, but her bra had been pushed up and out of the way, and she stood with no pants or underwear on as come dried between her legs.

  Stuffing all the pain down, Tessa drew the numbness around her. She threw all of her clothes into the garbage and stepped into the shower, not allowing herself to think about anything other than what she needed to do before meeting with Jordan. First, dry off, then find new clothes and a baseball hat. She needed something to cover her hair, so there would be no visible reminders of what had just happened.

  Next, walk downstairs and find him. After checking several rooms, Tessa realized he must be in his office. Not allowing herself any time to think, she knocked on the office door and waited.

  “Come in.” Jordan’s deep, booming voice could be heard clearly through the door.

  He didn’t look up from his computer as he gestured for her to sit. On shaky legs, she slid into the chair he indicated in front of his desk. Her hands knotted together and rested on her stomach.

  The air between them was stifling, but she wasn’t going to be the first to speak. Tessa was battered and bruised and simply focused on surviving this encounter. She studied her hands and concentrated on the part of her heart that belonged to Jordis.

  “Tell me what happened at the furniture store.”

  Wearily, she debated what to say. He would never see things her way, so trying to tell him what had been said and how it had been said was useless.

  “It doesn’t matter,” she said with no emotion.

  It was true that it wouldn’t matter what had happened. Jordan would always take his mom’s side. What did matter was Jordis, and she would not back down about them not being alone together.

  “I was serious about your mom never being alone with Jordis.”

  “You need to let this vendetta with my mom go, Tessa.”

  She closed her eyes and prayed for strength. It would always be his mom and never her. When she slid open her eyes, he stared indifferently at her.

  “I have moved out of the only home I’ve ever known. I’ve cut back on the number of hours I spend at the Center to help our daughter adjust. I’ve signed a prenuptial agreement. I’ve married you. I’ve even been cordial whenever your mom is around. I will not give in on your mom being alone with Jordis.”

  Jordan studied her with a blank expression and then coolly counteracted each of her statements. “I’ve moved you from your apartment to a house. Our marriage has allowed you to spend more time with our daughter, and the prenup was beneficial for you. It hasn’t been a sacrifice.”

  Jordan was serious. He didn’t get it. She tried one more time.

  “You don’t think uprooting Jordis’s and my life, the only ones we have ever known, required some fortitude? I’ve done all the giving, and I’m only asking one thing of you.”

  “You’re asking me to deny my mom a relationship with her only grandchild.”

  “No. I’m asking that Christina is never alone with Jordis.”

  His jaw ticked. “No deal.”

  Tessa hadn’t really expected a different answer, but she was still defeated. There wasn’t anything she could say that would change Jordan’s mind, so without another word, she calmly got up and walked out.

  It was up to her to make sure that the woman who was out to destroy her was never
left along with her daughter. Tessa called Laura and gave her resignation. She couldn’t take the chance that while she was working, Christina would take the opportunity to be with Jordis. The last piece of herself was gone, but it would be worth it to protect her daughter.

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  Chapter 31

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  The NBA season was in full swing, and Tessa was more isolated than she’d ever been. She had thrown herself into designing their home with the help of a long-distance Lindy. It’d been overwhelming at first, but they’d decided to tackle one room at a time. The result had been the exact opposite of Jordan’s penthouse.

  The tans with pops of fall colors gave the house a warm, cozy feeling. Ironically, considering it was what had driven a wedge between her and Jordan a couple of months ago, it gave her a sense of accomplishment and joy.

  He was rarely home. Usually, Jordan played three games a week, and there were at least a couple of days of travel during that time. If he wasn’t at a game, he was training or practicing. Tessa had to admit that he worked hard for his insane paycheck. If she had to guess, she’d say he put in seventy to ninety hours per week. That didn’t leave him much free time, but when he had some, he made sure to spend it with Jordis.

  She was definitely a daddy’s girl. Tessa had never seen a now four-year-old girl sit and watch sports so attentively. Jordan got four tickets to every home game, and Jordis always sat in her seat with her eyes glued to the court and yelled for her dad every time he made a basket.

  At first Tessa had been excited to go to a game. It was a chance to meet people and an opportunity to get out of the house. However, it turned out to be a grown-up sorority where she didn’t fit in.

  For the first game Tessa had worn jeans, a California Wolves jersey, and sandals. Jordis had been her twin with the addition of mini pom-poms. As soon as they’d walked into the players’ suite, all eyes had turned to them. Everyone had looked them up and down and gone back to gossiping in their small cliques gathered around the room. The women had looked like they were dressed to go out clubbing, and the men like they were going to a business meeting. The room had had no children.