by Lee Wardlow
She looked up and watched the numbers as they rose to the top of the hotel. The penthouse? She whistled between her teeth and he chuckled.
He swiped his card and the doors opened. Nova’s mouth fell open as Jamie pushed her forward into the open space. A wall of windows overlooking D.C. met her eyes. She gravitated to the windows and looked down at the bustling city below. It was ten p.m. and the red taillights of cars could be seen everywhere. The view itself was simply amazing.
She heard him approach. “I put your things in your room,” he whispered in her ear.
Nova turned. Her back was against the wall of glass. The coolness of it penetrated her cotton shirt. He leaned into her. “You were trying to guess if you were sleeping with me weren’t you?”
She nodded. Her eyes were wide-set and round. She had such an innocent look about her that appealed to Jamie. He pressed his lips to her throat and she titled her head back to give him full access.
Jamie pressed soft kisses along her jaw. His tongue tickled her ear and she moaned.
“I brought you here,” he told her, “with no expectations.” His tongue then traced the shell of her ear causing a shiver to race up her spine. “Cold?”
“No.” Nova’s hands slid down over his pecs. She could feel the outline of his cut muscles beneath the shirt that he wore. He covered her hands stopping her from going any further.
“Want a bubble bath?” He asked.
She quirked her eyebrow at him. “Are you planning on joining me?”
“Remember, no expectations. I would scrub your back if you wanted me to though.”
She couldn’t decide if she was disappointed or relieved. She allowed him to take her hand in his and guide her to the bathroom. “That is your room and that is mine. We’re close enough if you get scared in the night, you can always come get in bed with me.”
“I’ll remember that.” He flipped on the lights in the bathroom. The tile was gray, white and black. The room had a soft glow. The tub was big enough for an army of people. He walked across the room and turned on the tub; pouring soap beneath the spigot letting it bubble for her. He turned around sitting on the edge.
“This will be ready in just a minute.”
“Thank you,” Nova told him.
He pulled her between his legs and held her. “You’re welcome. I like doing things for you Nova. I don’t think you’ve been nearly spoiled enough.”
Nova’s fingertips danced across his jaw. She caressed the back of his neck with her soft touch. Then she pressed her lips to his forehead.
“I’m going to get out of here and let you enjoy your bubble bath.”
She glanced over her shoulder when he stepped by her. She smiled at him teasingly. “Sure you don’t want to join me?”
“An offer I can’t refuse but I will. I want this weekend to be perfect. I want what is happening between us to be perfect as well so as much as I want to crawl into that bath with you. I want to wait. I don’t want to rush things.”
She nodded. Was she disappointed? She was but she liked what he was saying to her. She liked Jamie and wanted to get to know him better too. She wanted to take her time getting to know all about the man Jamie Stone was.
After her bath Nova was relaxed and sleepy. She kissed Jamie on the cheek and went to her room. She hung up her things in the closet so the wrinkles would fall out of her clothes.
She was looking at the black, silk dress she brought with her for the black tie event tomorrow night and hoped he liked it. It wasn’t that expensive. It wasn’t designer but it looked good on her. She couldn’t wait for him to see it.
She was about to crawl into bed when he knocked on her door. “Come in.”
He was in his boxers. Jamie appeared uncertain. “I’m asking for trouble but I wouldn’t mind holding you if you’re game.”
She liked that idea very much. “Which side of the bed do you want?” She asked.
“Left,” he told her.
She crawled across the bed and slid beneath the luxurious blankets. What should she have expected? They were in the penthouse after all. Jamie laid down beside her and snuggled her against his side. Her hair spread out across his shoulder like a silk cover. He caressed her shoulder lovingly until he knew from her breathing that she was asleep. He stared at the ceiling for a while just as he had the first time he held her; content that she was in his arms.
Chapter 9
The next morning Nova woke with half of Jamie sprawled on top of her. She turned so she could look at him while he slept. His face was squashed into the pillow. His left arm across her back pinning her to the mattress. His left leg across her legs. She almost laughed at the sight of him sleeping so close to her.
She propped her head in the palm of her hand and ran her finger down his face. He didn’t budge. Didn’t open an eye. Didn’t flinch. Nothing.
Nova tickled his ear. He still didn’t move. She got a little closer and blew gently in Jamie’s ear. He growled at her then and moved even closer.
“What are you doing?” He grumbled.
“I want to get up. Go sightseeing.”
Jamie rolled to his back and groaned. “Can’t I sleep for ten more minutes?”
“No way. What time is your event tonight?”
“We have to be there at eight.”
“So I’ll need time to get ready. Come on Mister. Let’s go.”
He rolled his big body to the edge of the bed and sat up. He rubbed his eyes for a few minutes before he rose to his feet. He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Are you going to get ready? I’m going to shower.”
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes,” she promised.
She put on jeans and comfortable shoes. A light cotton, long sleeved shirt that was pale blue. She had a sweater to take with her if the day was chilly. She put on lipstick and that was it. A soft rose color that she tucked into her small bag. She sat in a chair to wait on Jamie.
She had text messages from Tyler.
I had to leave town for a few days. When I return could I take
You to lunch? Just to talk.
I don’t think that is a good idea. She texted him back. She had been ignoring him for days. That wasn’t working so she tried talking to him again.
Why? Nova, we had something really good between us.
Because I have something really good here. Jamie walked out of the bathroom in a towel. He was comfortable in his skin. She could tell that he wasn’t shy. She smiled at him hoping she was right; that she and Jamie had something really good starting because she was starting to like him.
“What? I forgot to take clean clothes to the bathroom with me.”
Her phone buzzed. She looked down.
Just give me a chance Nova.
“What’s going on? You look troubled.”
She glanced up from her phone. Jamie had moved closer to her chair. He sat on the stool by her leaning on his knees. He touched her thigh.
“Talk to me.”
“Tyler showed up at Beau’s the day after my accident. He took CeeCee home and came back to Goose Creek. Once Beau finished with his business he intervened.” She kept looking between her phone and Jamie.
“He wasn’t rude to Tyler. He knew I was uncomfortable and needed someone to help me with him. I’m not good at confrontation.”
“Was he confronting you?” Jamie asked. His hand still rested on her thigh. His fingers were tracing patterns across her jean clad leg.
“Trying to make his point. After I got home from Beau’s he started bombarding the apartment with my favorite flower. Zachariah was getting irritated with the number of flowers showing up.”
She noticed Jamie moved his hand away. Nova scooted to the edge of her seat. “Jamie, how do you feel about me?”
“What do you mean?”
She tilted her head to the side. He was going to make her go out on a limb and put it all out there before he would say anything about his feelings. “I like you Jamie. I like how careful you are with me. Not r
ushing me. I really don’t have a lot of experience with men. Tyler was only the second man I had ever been with. I’m so uncertain but I really want to see where this is going with us.”
He seemed somewhat surprised by that admission. Nova laid her hand on his thigh. He looked down where her hand rested on him and he covered her hand with his.
“I like how special you make me feel. I’m not going to do anything that would mess this up between us. I haven’t encouraged Tyler. If anything I’ve tried to discourage him completely but he’s not listening.”
He leaned into her. She met him halfway. Their lips touched tentatively at first. Then, his lips brushed across hers more urgently. His free hand cupped the back of her head, beneath her hair. He pulled back. He needed to stop or he was going to be embarrassed in the towel he was wearing. Their eyes were locked on each other.
“I like you too.”
Nova burst out laughing. “Took you that long to decide?”
“No, I knew how I felt. I needed to be sure how you felt about Tyler. I don’t want to put my heart out there and get it stomped on Nova.”
She touched his jaw with her fingertips. He turned his head and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I won’t stomp on your heart Jamie. I know what that feels like.”
“I’ll get dressed,” he said. His voice husky with need. “Then we’ll go on that sightseeing tour.”
He walked to the dresser in his room leaving the door open and dropped his towel. He yanked a pair of boxers up his body. His bare backside was facing Nova. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment. A tiny gasp escaped through her lips. Jamie glanced over his shoulder as he pulled his jeans up his body.
“It’s just my ass Nova.”
She knew her face was pink. He had seen it too. “What a fine ass it is,” she replied without thinking.
He shot her a look of surprise. Then he slipped a black shirt over his head. “We need to get out of here before we get into trouble,” he told her.
She rose to her feet. “Maybe trouble is what we need?”
“Not yet.”
He slipped on his boots making him even taller than her by an inch. Then he grabbed his jacket and her hand and led her to the elevators.
He took her to all the sights Washington D.C. had to offer. They stood in front of Pennsylvania Avenue. She just wanted to see the outside of the White House. They actually toured the Capital. She was amazed at the Washington Monument. The Lincoln Memorial.
He watched her run her fingers over the names of the dead at the Vietnam and the World War II memorials. She had tears in her eyes when she looked at him.
“I don’t know why I’m about to cry.”
“It’s an emotional experience seeing this the first time and the second and sometimes the third and fourth.”
“Do you miss it?”
“I do,” he replied. “I thought I would retire a Seal and not the way I did.”
“How badly were you hurt?”
“An explosion caused some brain trauma. I spent a whole year in rehab learning to do some things all over again.”
“You became a millionaire in two years?”
“I’m driven.”
“I guess.”
He watched him for a moment. “The money means nothing to you does it?”
She shook her head no. “It was nice when Beau first took us in; he made us go shopping so he could spoil us. We had never had that before.” She held out her arm. “This is my Target shirt twelve ninety-nine on special.”
“It looks beautiful on you.”
“Thank you.”
“I need to tell you something.” He took her hand. They walked along the sidewalk. People passing them. Oblivious to anything but each other.
“What?”
“Tyler could be at this even tonight. It is sponsored by the Senator. It’s an Arts fundraiser. Are you going to be okay with that?”
Nova glanced up at Jamie. “I will be.”
“I just didn’t want you to be surprised.”
Chapter 10
It was better that he had prepared her for the fact that Tyler could be at the event. She wondered if CeeCee would be with Tyler. He had never said he was breaking up with her. He just asked for a second chance with Nova. She wondered if he could be that low.
She had fixed her hair so that it was tamer, pulled back into an elegant chignon at the base of her head. Tendrils of hair escaped the bun and framed her face. This time, she wore a brilliant red lipstick and a little eyeliner. She slipped into thigh high stockings that clipped to a garter belt she wore over a tiny pair of black lacy panties that were cut high on her hips. She couldn’t wear a bra with her dress. She had slipped on some red, sparkling pumps that looked good with the dress with a matching clutch. Then she stepped into her dress.
The round collar draped in the front and hung loosely at her waist. It was sleeveless and curved down in a U shape to the slope of her ass. Then it flowed over her hips in a straight line to the floor. She had a tiny train of maybe a foot. Red, fake rubies hung from her ears in little drops. She had on no other jewelry. Nova picked up her clutch and dropped her lipstick inside it. She went to the sitting room to see Jamie was ready.
He was standing at the balcony doors staring over the city. A drink in one hand, the other in the pocket of his tuxedo pants. He turned when he heard her coming. His eyes widened in appreciation and slow smile spread across his face.
“You look stunning.”
“Thank you.” She turned and gave him a back view of her dress. “It’s okay?”
“It is more than okay, love. You take my breath away.”
He sat his glass down on the table and walked to her. “I don’t want to mess your lipstick but I sure do want to kiss you now.”
She rose on her tiptoes and kissed his lips tenderly. Sweetly. A quick kiss that wouldn’t make a mess of her lipstick. Then he took her hand and guided her to the elevators.
“A car is picking us up tonight. It should be downstairs now.”
The car was waiting for them at the curb. A man in uniform held the door open. Nova sat on the seat and pulled her legs in as gracefully as she could. Jamie went to the other side of the vehicle to keep her from having to slide across in the long gown.
He held her hand as they drove through the streets of Washington. She was watching as the sites they had visited that afternoon went by.
“Are you nervous?”
“How did you know?”
“I’m starting to see your tells.”
“Tells?”
“A gambler has tells. What he does when he has a good hand or a bad hand. You look like you’re holding a bad hand.”
“I wouldn’t say that. Just something different that I’m not accustomed to is making me a little nervous. I don’t want you to be embarrassed.”
“You’ll be fine,” he promised her. “I’m right here with you.”
The driver pulled alongside the walkway of an exclusive hotel where the red carpet had been laid out for those coming inside to the event. It was an event for the arts that several Senators actually had their hands in.
By making a donation, an invite was issued. Dallas had talked Jamie into the big donation letting him know he expected him to be there.
Jamie got out with the driver on his side and came around to Nova’s side. He reached in for her hand to help her out of the car. Photographers were lined up along the sides behind ropes taking pictures. They began to yell at Jamie as soon as they saw him.
Jamie smiled and waved. He was holding her hand tightly. “Just smile,” he told Nova.
“Does this always happen to you?”
“Unfortunately,” he replied. “Millionaire Technology Expert arrives at Capital Hotel event with beautiful woman on his arm. That is news worthy.” He gazed at her for a moment. Then he winked.
Jamie guided her to the stairs. Nova lifted her gown so she wouldn’t step on it as ascended the steep staircase. “Do not let me fall on my ass Jamie
please?” She begged him. “Or the headlines will be millionaire, technology expert takes klutzy girl to a black tie event.”
“I got you,” he replied chuckling at her.
When they were at the top of the landing. She dropped her gown and smoothed the skirt. There was a receiving line they had to wait in; they stood at the end of the line. As they approached Nova could see Senator Danner also dressed in his tuxedo.
She took a deep breath. They were next. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing her. “Why Nova, you look amazing,” he told her. He kissed her cheek.
“Thank you Senator.”
“Best looking lady in the place,” Jamie told Dallas.
“I would have to agree.”
“That’s enough,” she told them both. She could feel her cheeks turn pink.
“Have a good time,” Dallas told them as they made their way into the ballroom.
They were sipping Champagne when she saw CeeCee, which meant Tyler wasn’t far behind. Jamie put his hand on her back and directed her away from that side of the room. She smiled at him gratefully.
He was standing close to her. He didn’t like these events any more than she did but occasionally he had to do them. After drinks and hors d'oeuvres the Senator took the microphone to make a speech. He saw Tyler over Nova’s head. Jamie slipped his arm around her waist. Possessing her? Letting him know that she was with him?
Nova glanced up into his face. Her eyes lit up with her smile that was just for him. She slipped her arm around him bringing a smile to Jamie’s face. He leaned in and kissed her temple. “You really do look beautiful tonight,” he whispered to her.
“Thank you.”
After the speech, Nova went to the ladies’ room. Jamie was talking to some big wigs from Washington. She stepped into a stall and closed the door. Maneuvering the dress so she could pee was a feat. She heard CeeCee’s voice. Did she know Nova was in here too? She was talking about Nova.
“She was Tyler’s whore for a while,” she was saying. “I had to turn my head and let him have his fun with her and now it’s over. He tired of her like I knew he would. Now she’s sleeping with Jamie Stone. He’ll tire of her too.”
