by Ava Alexia
Jaime left the stage after a final encore performance.
“Another encore. I can’t believe it,” she said to the stage manager.
“Get used to it, Miss Harrison. You’re fabulous and folks love you,” he replied cheerfully.
Jaime lifted the hem of her long, deep blue dress and trotted back to her dressing room. She closed the door and stood before the full-length mirror. She grinned at her reflection and twirled around. She loved the strapless, shimmering dress. She felt like a princess in it. She stepped out of her silver high heeled sandals and released the side zipper. The dress fell to the floor. She scooped up the dress and hung it in her garment bag. She packed away her shoes then dressed in jeans and a yellow sleeveless blouse with a ruffled collar. She was sliding her feet into her tan sandals when a knock sounded on the door. She assumed it was Jules.
“Come in,” she called out. “I’m almost ready. I just—
She stopped mid-sentence when she turned and saw who stood there.
“Cory!”
“I take it you were expecting someone else. Well, our business shouldn’t take long…..if you’re cooperative,” he smiled.
He closed the door. Jaime saw his fingers turn the lock.
“Get out!” she ordered.
“Jaime! That’s no way to treat a former lover. You and I go way back. How about a kiss of welcome? It’s been a long time,” he said.
He moved toward her. Jaime backed away from him.
“I said: get out,” she repeated. “Get out or I’ll scream.”
“Just a friendly kiss for old times’ sake. If I recall correctly, you used to like to kiss me,” he chuckled.
He moved closer. Jaime backed up until she felt the vanity table against her thighs.
“That was before I knew that you were married. I wanted no part of you after I found out,” she spat. “You were a lying, deceitful jerk then and I’m sure you still are now.”
Cory grabbed her waist and yanked her to him.
“I bet I can still make you burn for me,” he muttered.”
His lips crushed hers in a painful kiss. Jaime turned her face aside and pushed against his chest.
“Get away from me!” Jaime yelled.
She kneed him and Cory doubled over in pain. Jaime ran to the other side of the room.
“Get out of here!” she yelled.
Cory looked at her contemptuously.
“Not until we come to an understanding,” he sneered. “You got a good thing going with that new boyfriend. And I’m pretty sure he knows nothing about your past.”
“Leave him out of this. He’s no concern of yours,” Jaime snapped.
“Oh, contraire! He’s the key to me getting what I want. I don’t think you want your new boyfriend to find out that you were once hot for a married man and ready to jump his bones. It would mess up that saintly image you got going.”
“You and I are over. There’s no reason for him to know about you,” Jaime exclaimed.
“I agree. I’ll happily keep my mouth shut if you give me the sum of money written on this piece of paper,” Cory said.
He handed her the paper. Jaime gasped.
“You’re crazy. I can’t raise a million dollars. You’re out of your mind,” Jaime cried.
“You’ll get it if you want me to keep my mouth shut. How much is happily ever after with Mister Hunk worth to you?” he goaded.
Jaime stared at the piece of paper in shock. She didn’t realize that the top buttons on her blouse had come undone. Cory could see her full creamy breasts rapidly rising up and falling in her agitation. He remembered how close he had come to popping her cherry before she discovered that he was married. He had intended to have sex with her that very night but his phone rang and Jaime had answered it. His wife had been on the phone and had identified who she was. He had tried to lie out of it but Jaime would not believe him. She had been furious him with about his deception. That opportunity had slipped through his fingers but this would not. He would get his money and her pussy as well. He moved toward her quickly to slam her against the wall.
“It’s about time to finish what we started a few years ago. I know you still want me. And I sure as hell want you,” he said.
Cory covered her and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Jaime screamed. She kicked and twisted trying to get away from him. He threw her on the floor and came down atop her. Jaime continued to fight him and scream.
“Jaime!”
There was pounding on the door.
“Jaime!” Jules shouted.
Jaime screamed again as Cory pushed her legs apart and cover her mouth with his hand. Jaime bit down hard on his fingers. He yelled and slapped her. Jules began to ram the door with his shoulder and kick it. The door gave way under the tremendous pressure. Jules took in the situation and roared in fury. He grabbed Cory by his collar and threw him against the wall like he was a rag doll. The Jules began to punch him like he was a punching bag. Jaime sat up and looked at what was happening. Cory was no match for the muscular, powerful Jules. Jules was well on his way to beat Cory to death.
“Jules, stop! Stop,” Jaime cried.
Jules wanted to murder this piece of shit that would hurt Jaime. His mighty fist crashed into Cory’s face.
“Jules! Please stop. Please,” Jaime begged.
She tried to pull Jules away from Cory who was practically unconscious. Eddie ran into the room along with the bodyguard. Where was Kevin Costner when she needed him earlier? The two men pulled Jules off of Cory. Cory fell limply to the floor. Jules turned to embrace Jaime.
“Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Jules asked anxiously.
“No. I’m fine. Just a bit shaky,” she said.
The police then ran into the room and handcuffed Cory.
“Who is he?” one of the officers asked.
“Cory Larson. An ex-boyfriend,” Jaime answered soberly.
“And he attacked you?” the officer asked.
“Yes,” she replied numbly.
“We’ll need an official statement to press charges. You’ll need to come down to the station,” the officer said.
Jaime nodded.
“Does she have to do this now? We’ll come tomorrow,” Jules said sharply.
“She needs to come now,” the officer stated.
“It’s alright, Jules. I want to get it over with,” Jamie said.
“If you’re sure. You don’t have to,” Jules said.
“Yes, she does,” the officer said.
Jules looked at the policeman in harsh distain.
“It’s okay. I want to do this,” Jaime assured him.
The policemen walked Cory out of the dressing room.
“I’ll meet you at the limo,” Eddie said as he left the room.
The bodyguard left as well.
“A lot of help he was,” Jules sneered.
Jaime laid her head on his chest.
“You are the only bodyguard that I need,” she whispered.
He rubbed her back in long, smooth strokes.
“Are you ready to tell me what happened here,” he asked softly.
Jaime nodded. She led him to the couch and they sat down. She told him everything about her relationship with Cory and the events of yesterday and today. He was quiet for several moments.
“Why didn’t you tell me about him when you saw him last night?” Jules asked quietly.
“Because I didn’t want to see the disappointment and censure in your eyes when you heard that I was involved with a married man,” Jaime said in low tones.
“But you didn’t know he was married. I would have understood that,” he responded.
“I wasn’t thinking rationally. I just didn’t want to take the chance of losing you,” she said in anguish. “All I could see was you dumping me and wanting nothing to do with me. I couldn’t take that chance.”
He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes momentarily. The he pulled her to his side.
“Do
n’t ever be afraid to tell me anything, Jaime. I love you more than life itself and there is nothing you can say that will change that,” he said.
Jaime was stunned for a second time that afternoon; but for very different reasons. He had said that he loved her. Had she heard him correctly? Could her dream possibly be coming true this very moment?
“You love me?’ she asked in a small voice.
He looked down at her and cupped her face. His green eyes were glittering like a million stars.
“Yes, I love you. I probably fell in love with you the moment I saw you all grown up but didn’t realize it,” he said. “When I figured it out I knew I would never let you go.”
She looped her arms about his neck and hugged him tightly.
“I love you too, Jules. My heart has been yours since I was twelve years old. I loved you then and I love you now more than ever,” she sighed. She pulled back and he kissed her deeply. After a moment he pulled back and smiled.
“Let’s get out of here,” he suggested.
*****
The next day Jaime played in the water at the beach in abandon. She was happier than she had ever been in her life. She had a fabulous career and the man of her dreams. Life could not be any sweeter. Jules came up behind her and spun her around. Jaime cried out gleefully. Het finally set her down and gazed into her beautiful, glowing grey eyes.
“Have I told you today how much I love you?’ he grinned.
Jaime cocked her head to the side in thought.
“Not within the last thirty minutes,” she teased.
“Gosh! How remiss of me,” he laughed. “I’ll have to do something about that.”
“Like what?” she joked.
Jules put his hand in the back pocket of his white cargo shorts. He pulled out a small box. Jaime caught her breath in anticipation. Jules held the box before her and opened it. Jaime gasped.
“Oh my God. Jules, it’s beautiful. Exquisite,” she said in awe.
He went down on one knee and grasped her hand.
“My lovely Jaime. Will you marry me? Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?” he asked sincerely.
Jaime stared at him in disbelief then in total joy.
“Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you,” she cried.
He grinned as he slipped the ring on her third left finger. It was a five carat pear cut diamond surrounded by round cut emeralds. He stood up.
“It’s magnificent, Jules. I love it,” she grinned.
“It’s not nearly as gorgeous as you. But it’s a symbol of how much I will always love you,” he said earnestly.
“And love you, my darling. Always and forever,” she whispered.
They kissed as he lifted her and spun her around. The people on the beach cheered and applauded uproariously. Desire had met love.
Acknowledgements
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Here is a sneak peak of Desire - Part Two.
Maddie entered her office in a foul mood. Everyone she encountered was gossiping about the new boss. What was he like? When would he arrive? Would he clean house? And if so, who would be the first to go? Maddie didn't care about any of that. She was good at what she did and she would let her work speak for her worth.
She went into her office and slammed the door shut. She threw her purse in the visitor chair and began to take off her suit jacket.
"It's about time you arrived. Are you always late or will you use the sorry excuse of horrible traffic? Neither is acceptable."
Maddie quickly turned to look behind her. Standing in the back corner of her was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.....and the most irritating one as well. Maddie stared at him intently as he stood in the dim corner. He looked familiar. She knew she had seen him before.
"Get out of my office," she snapped.
He smiled slowly.
"It was your office. It's mine now. I am Whitman Langley. The new owner of Creative Concepts and your boss," he smiled smugly.
He moved forward into the light streaming through the large window. Maddie got a good look at him and gasped. She knew who he was; he was her sparring partner from Jaime and Jules' wedding. She disliked him instantly then and she absolutely detested him now.
"You!," Maddie exclaimed.
"Most people call me Whit," he said cheerfully.
His nonchalant attitude infuriated her. Yet she couldn't deny her attraction to him either. She wanted to kiss at him as much as she wanted to punch him. How was she going to handle a man who ignited such conflicting emotions in her?
About the Author
Ava Alexia loves to plot and create fun characters. Ava loves the easy going outdoor lifestyle and spends lots of time at the beach. She lives in California with her husband, son and dog. She loves music, traveling and shopping. You will find her running on the beach singing to the tunes on her phone!
Keep in touch with Alexia at avaalexia.com or facebook.com/avaalexiaauthor.
For even more romance, check out Brazen Romance
