by C L Green
Surprised that Jake thinks nothing of this after the conversation we had just a few days ago, I feel a moment of remorse for Emma. And then it’s over because I realize this is for the best. Those two getting involved seems to create predictions of a train wreck from everyone.
Jake turns the car engine off and pulls the keys from the ignition. I hand him back his phone as I look around and realize we’re in the front entrance to a high-rise hotel. “Where are we?”
“I’m supposed to be meeting Jim at the restaurant here tonight. We may as well get a room. If you wanna head home after I’ve met with Jim, we can. If you wanna stay, we’ll make good use of the room.”
Watching the valet arrive at Jake’s door ready to take the car keys, I shift my eyes to the luxurious entrance to the reception area of the hotel and realize it’s a high-end hotel. “Let’s stay,” I decide instantly. Why not? There’s no rush. I don’t plan to come back to Sydney in the immediate future so I may as well make the most of at least one night here.
Jake’s eyes suddenly soften and he reaches out his hand to rub his thumb across my left cheekbone and then straight away he moves on and does the same to the other. “You okay, my little raccoon.”
Fuck.
“I have raccoon eyes?” I ask annoyed that I’ve been sitting here and hadn’t even thought about the fact that my make-up has been running all over the place.
“Yeah,” Jake says softly. “They’re so fuckin’ beautiful though.”
Batting his hand away, I reach for the rear vision mirror as I knit my brows. “Raccoon eyes are not beautiful,” I snarl. “The valet’s gunna know I’ve been crying.”
Grabbing my hand on its way to the mirror, Jake tugs me towards him. Flopping me across the center console of the car, he slides his other hand around my back and pulls me to him. “Who cares what the valet thinks? I don’t. The only thing I care about right now is setting your world straight again. I’m gunna fix this. You’re done with all this shit. It ends this weekend. There will be no more shit with your family. There will be no more shit with your past. You don’t need any of it, you only need me.”
Tipping my head back, I find myself staring into his bright green eyes. His brows knit and I can see he’s focused fully on me. He’s not looking out the window, he’s not looking anywhere except straight at me. I realize that he’s so focused he can be nothing but dead serious.
“I only need you?” I whisper.
Jake nods. “I may not be perfect, and I’m most likely gunna attract my own brand of trouble just doing what I do, but there’s one thing I can promise you. I won’t use you as a fucking pawn like all the others have. What you see with me is what you get and I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Are you clear on that?”
God I love him.
The words echo through my head and if the look in Jake’s eyes is an indicator, the words must have fleeted across my eyes as well. I realize this because he nods and lowers his lips to mine. Pressing them firmly to mine, he murmurs, “Valet’s looking pissed. Let’s take this conversation to a room.”
Stuck for words, I can only nod to agree as he pulls away and turns to open his car door.
*****
Jake checks us into the Hotel and hurries us to our room. We arrive to find our bags from the car already waiting for us inside our suite. Ignoring our luggage, Jake tows me straight across the suite and towards the bedroom.
Glancing around as we cross the main room of the suite, I take in the luxurious furnishings surrounding us. Decorated in dark browns and pale cream shades, there’s a large leather couch facing a huge flat screen television on one side of the room. The television is at right angles to the wall-to-wall glass windows that offer a stunning view of Sydney Harbor. Knowing we’re about twenty stories up, I wonder if I we can see the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from our view.
Something to check out later.
Entering the bedroom, I round my eyes at the massive king-sized bed crowded with huge pillows and the tastefully set furniture around the room. Not slowing for even a second, Jake continues to tow me straight through the bedroom and direct to the en suite.
Stepping through the double doorway that joins the bedroom to the en suite, my eyes bulge at the sheer size of the bathtub centered in the room. Already full to the brim with water, rose petals lie scattered across the water surface. Another huge flat screen television is mounted on a wall facing the bath. Another wall of the room consists of glass doors enclosing a double shower setup with more showerheads in it than my local swim center change room.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmur pulling my hand from Jake’s to walk over and dip my fingers into the bathwater. Still warm from having only recently filled, I turn to Jake. “Spoiled, much.”
“Nowhere near enough,” Jake announces moving towards me, his eyes locked on mine. Moving with intent, he crosses the room and slides his hand around the back of my neck before twisting his fingers into my hair and tipping me towards him. Pressing another firm kiss to my lips, he snakes his tongue out and seeks entrance to my mouth. Softening instantly, I let him in.
Overwhelmed by all that is Jake, I buckle at the knees and plaster my front against his. Responding with all I have, we’re suddenly a storm of hands, tongues and fingers. That is, until with a loud groan, Jake pulls away.
“I have to make a couple of calls. One of them to Jim,” Jake murmurs tilting his head to watch me with molten green eyes and a look of regret on his face. “I’ll only be a few minutes, but he needs to know we’re here.”
Pouting and rolling my eyes at him, I reluctantly let him go. “Go ahead and get in,” he says pointing to the bathtub. “I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”
Leaning across to press a button on a panel, the bathtub starts to bubble and froth. Grinning at me, he pecks me on the lips once more and moves towards the door. Stopping in the doorway, he turns to watch as I undress and slide into the water. His eyes black as ink, I can see his reluctance to leave painted all over his face. “Hurry up and make your calls, I’ll be waiting.”
Nodding solemnly, he pulls the doors closed and disappears.
*****
Thirty seconds later, Jake…
Walking back through the bedroom, I enter the living room and cross straight to the far side of the room. Cocking my hip and leaning up against one of the massive windows, I turn my eyes back towards the bedroom and the double doors that are now firmly closed so Arianna can’t hear my conversations.
Scrolling quickly through my contacts, I find the number I’m looking for and hit send. A few short seconds later Stephen Bradford’s voice sounds in my ear. “It worked. She put herself straight on a plane to Melbourne.”
“Good,” I find myself smiling as Stephen’s words ring like music in my ears. “Now you just need to send the flight details and some pictures to the mobile number I gave you earlier and the guys will take care of the rest.”
“Promise me this is going to fuckin’ work,” Stephen growls into my ear. “I’ve been trying to solve the problem of my sister for over thirty fucking years and I’d hate to think that after all this time, I finally find my daughter only to lose her again because of that warped bitch.”
“If Elizabeth Bradford does exactly what you think she’s gunna do, it’ll work. Cross your fingers, sit tight and send the details to the number provided. I’ll call you tomorrow night.” Taking the phone from my ear, I’m about to hit end on the call when I think better of it. Putting it back to my ear I add, “Oh, and for the record Stephen, don’t for even one second think I’m doing this to help solve your Elizabeth Bradford problem. I am only doing this to help solve Arianna’s Elizabeth Bradford problem. We clear?”
“Very,” Stephens voice echo’s down the phone at me. “Now I must go. I have a staff member to fire and some unwanted surveillance cameras to remove from my patio.” Not waiting for me to reply he ends the call.
Staring intently at the double doors, I will them to stay
closed as I pray that Arianna is still in the bath and can’t hear a fucking thing. Scrolling through my contacts again, I find the listing for Towball and hit send. He answers my call within two rings. “She’s on her way,” I inform him straight up. “Pictures to show what she’s wearing and who she’s traveling with, along with the flight details are on their way too.”
“Gotcha,” Towball’s raspy voice scratches back through the phone to me. “The mother’s a skank.”
“I figured as much,” I muse with my eyes still pinned firmly on the doors across the room. “Even if we’re missing something here and she turns out to be her biological mother, it’ll be no loss.”
“Fuck no,” Towball agrees instantly and I hear the sound of a cigarette lighter clicking and the crackle of a cigarette lighting before he inhales deeply.
“Call me when you’re done.”
“Gotcha,” Towball rasps back and the connection goes dead.
Pushing away from the window, I scroll through my contacts one more time. Finding the number I’m looking for, I hit send as I start walking back towards the bathroom.
“We’re here,” I announce as soon as I hear the call connect.
“Excellent, dinner at seven?” Jim responds. “I’ll book the table and send you a suit.”
“See you tonight,” I reply as I hit the end button on this call too. It’s high time I took a break from all this shit to get back into that bathroom where I plan to spend the next three hours fucking my woman senseless.
*****
Five hours later, Arianna…
Leaning in close to the mirror I swipe one more brush full of mascara onto my eyelash before shoving the tiny brush back in its holster.
Swaying back to survey my work, even I have to admit I look hot. With heavily smoked eyelids, thick, black eyelashes and my hair flowing down in soft curls around my face, I’ve put in my best effort.
My dress is a crowd pleaser too. Short, black and covering my back fully to my neckline, it’s not until I turn around and present the front that the shock factor kicks in. A plummeting neckline at the front keeps on going and going almost to my belly button. Covering my back and displaying my frontal assets, it’s one of my best online buys yet.
Moving back to the bedroom and to my suitcase that now lies open on the bed, I can hear Jake out in the main room on the phone to someone. He sounds solemn but every time I look at him he grins at me and cocks an eyebrow so I figure all is okay.
Jake looks more than hot.
For the first time since I’ve met him, he’s in a suit. To say it was a surprise when a man arrived at our door to hand Jake a black suit with a light gray button down shirt and dark gray tie would be an understatement. Gawping as Jake had casually taken the suit and sauntered across the room to hang it in the closet, I was also rendered speechless when he gave me a cheeky grin and remained silent.
Now, mostly dressed (he has yet to put on his tie and jacket), I’m having trouble keeping my eyes off him. Peering back over my shoulder, I watch as his eyes darken and his gaze travels appreciatively from my butt down my now stocking covered legs. His eyes finish their trip by locking on my shiny black high heels and I watch as he licks his lips.
Deciding there’s no time like the present; I stand up straight and turn to give him his first glimpse of the front of the dress. Wondering if he’s going to like it, I watch his face.
His response is instantaneous.
Jake’s eyes flare, he hits a button on his screen and his phone flies across the room to land on the couch. His feet then start moving and in a blur of movement, he crosses the room. Keeping up his momentum, he grabs me by the elbows and flings us both backwards onto the bed. I land on my back with an, ‘oof’ and he comes down softly on top of me, most of his weight on his arms.
“We’re not goin’ out,” he growls as his lips hit mine and for about the tenth time this afternoon he kisses me senseless.
“Did Jim cancel?” I mumble against his mouth as he keeps kissing me.
Lifting his head away, he stares hard at me for a moment. “Nope, let me rephrase that. We’re not goin’ out till you change.”
Huh?
“Why?” I ask annoyed that I’ve gone to all this effort and now he wants me to change.
“Pretty sure you can feel why,” Jake growls looking at me with dark eyes.
And that’s when I realize I can feel why. I can feel a very hard why pressing up against my groin. Which is a surprise because I actually thought that after what we’d been up to all afternoon, it would need some down time.
Literally.
“How did that happen?” I ask innocently blinking up at Jake. “Don’t you need time to umm… recover.”
“Apparently not,” Jake chuckles as he thrusts his hips hard against mine sending a cold shiver down my spine.
“But why do I have to change? Don’t you like the dress?”
Dropping his head to press his forehead against mine, Jake sighs. He then lifts his head again and starts talking. “Arianna, I always figured you’d be a knockout in a dress, but fuck me; in that dress you’re spectacular. Do you really expect me to walk around with a boner all night?”
“You don’t have to walk around with a boner all night,” I correct him immediately. “We’ll be sitting for a good portion of the evening. You can hide it under a serviette or a tablecloth or something.”
“Don’t be a smartass, women,” Jake’s eyes darken dangerously as they move to my lips.
“I’m not,” I grin up at him. “I’m also not getting changed. I don’t have another dress.”
“Wear jeans.”
Rolling my eyes upwards as if I’m thinking, I pause briefly before saying, “I’m not wearing jeans to a fancy restaurant while you wear a suit. Get a grip.”
“Then we’re not going out,” Jake says as if it’s final.
“Are you fucking serious?” I start to hear the screech in my voice as I take a more serious look at his face. “You can’t possibly be serious can you?”
Shifting his eyes from my lips and back to my eyes, I see Jake’s face soften. Sighing, he rolls sideways and off me. “No, I’m not serious but shit woman, try to keep the full frontals to a minimum until we get back to our room.”
Grinning I roll sideways and press my lips to his. “Sure. So you like my dress?”
Mumbling against my lips he gives me the answer I was fishing for. “I love your fucking dress.”
*****
Walking into the restaurant, Jake keeps me close.
Real close.
So close in fact that I start to wonder if he’s actually trying to use me as a human shield and we can expect his friend Jim to pull out a machine gun and start shooting at us.
“Are you okay?” I decide to ask because seriously, he’s acting wired. Not only is his jaw tense, but his hand is clamped down so hard on my elbow I think I’m going to bruise.
“I’m fine,” he grunts out as he continues to guide me through the restaurant and towards a table on the far wall.
“Jake!” I hiss and stop suddenly. “You’re starting to hurt me.”
Looking instantly mortified I feel his hand drop from my elbow. “Fuck. Sorry.”
“Seriously,” I ask him again. “Are you okay?”
Chewing at his lip for a moment he seems troubled. Then he sighs and takes me by the elbow again. Softy this time. “To be honest,” he murmurs, “I saw more boners in the lift on the way down here than I’ve seen in my entire lifetime. I think I’m gunna go blind.”
“What?” I screech turning to face him as I see several patrons turn their heads to stare at us. Ignoring them I lean in close to Jake’s ear and whisper. “Are you fucking with me?”
Pushing my elbow to start propelling me along again, Jake scrubs a hand across his face and rumbles an annoyed, “Unfortunately, no.”
“Shit,” I mutter softly as the weight of his words finally sink in.
Dear Lord.
Grinning l
ike a fool, I lean forward as we walk to whisper in his ear. “Best dress, ever.”
Not stopping to respond, I hear Jake let out an unhappy growl just as an elderly man in a well-tailored gray suit lifts from a table directly ahead of us. His eyes lock on Jake and he starts smiling broadly. His eyes then shift to mine briefly before they start traveling straight down my front.
“Not you too Jim,” Jake growls angrily as he propels me straight past his friend and pushes me into a seat at the table. “Sit. Cover your front with a napkin and fuckin’ stay.”
“That’s no way to speak to such a magnificent woman my friend,” Jim chuckles amused at the reason behind Jake’s bad manners and foul mood.
“I told her take the fuckin’ thing off,” Jake grumbles as he turns to embrace his friend in a huge man style bear hug.
“Personally, I’m glad she left it on,” Jim replies winking a crystal blue at me over Jake’s shoulder.
I decide instantly that I like this man. Even knowing he’s Victoria’s father, I can immediately sense that he is nothing like his daughter and that he cares deeply for Jake.
“He wanted me to wear jeans,” I roll my eyes at Jim and he smiles back at me, his smile lighting up his eyes with amusement.
Finishing their man hug, both men separate and Jake slides into the seat next to me. Jim lowers himself slowly into the seat opposite mine and I notice he looks stiff and perhaps a little uncomfortable in his own body. Leaning forward conspiratorially, his words leave me speechless. “My daughter could have walked in here nude and he wouldn’t have cared less. You must be a keeper.”
Mortified, that he’s already mentioning his daughter, now Jake’s ex-wife, I gasp.
“Jim,” Jake growls a heavy warning.
Leaning back and grinning like a fool, Jim shrugs. “It’s true. Heard the divorce went through. Congratulations!”
Now aghast that Jim seems overjoyed that his daughter has divorced Jake, I widen my eyes as my mouth drops open and I stare.
Leaning forward to grin at me, Jim places a finger under my jaw and pushes my mouth shut. “There’s no love lost between me and my daughter my dear. Stop looking so shocked.”
