She listened carefully and marked his progression through her apartment. He put on his boots and coat and closed the front door behind him, making sure it was locked. She sighed, knowing she should get up and wash off her makeup. At the very least, she should straighten out her nightgown and turn off the light.
She did neither. She lay there a long, long time, her mind awash with emotions and possibilities. Sapphire recognized the dark and controlling nature that drove Jake and made him the man he was, but she also saw the gentle man who iced her bruises and brought her to sexual satisfaction with no thought for his own.
There would be no easy path for them, no easy solution. Only time would tell what would become of them.
Chapter Five
Jake strode up the sidewalk toward the four-apartment brownstone he co-owned with his brother. John was probably home, but Topaz was more than likely with him. The last thing Jake wanted was to run into Sapphire’s older sister.
He hurried up the front steps and let himself in. Bypassing the first floor, he went up to the second floor, which was all his. John’s apartment took up the entire top floor with the two smaller apartments they rented out occupying the first.
He knew he was still way too keyed up to sleep, his body tense and aroused. Swearing, he pulled off his coat and hung it on a hook by the door. Without bothering to turn on any lights, he headed for the bedroom. What he needed was a shower—preferably a cold one.
Sapphire’s taste was still on his lips and he could almost hear her sweet cries of release echoing in his ears. “Fuck!” He emptied his pockets, tossing his keys, phone and wallet on the dresser. With an economy of movement, he stripped off his clothes, dumped them in the hamper and headed to the master bath.
The tile was cool beneath his bare feet, but his body still felt overheated, his cock hard and hurting. He wanted Sapphire so much it made his teeth ache, but since that wasn’t happening, it was up to him to take care of the problem.
He flicked on the overhead light and squinted until his vision adjusted. His face appeared grim in the mirror, tough and unforgiving. He looked away and started the water running in the shower, letting it flow cool, but not quite cold.
He stepped beneath the spray and sucked in a breath as it flowed over his skin. The water didn’t dim his lust one little bit. He grabbed the soap from the built-in dish and rubbed the bar over his arms and chest, working up a thick lather. Tossing the soap aside, he ran his soapy hands over his belly and then lower.
Gripping his dick in one hand, he closed his eyes and pictured Sapphire as she’d been earlier this evening. Skin flushed a delicate pink, hair wild and tangled across her pillows, neck arched, mouth parted, those lush lips wet and welcoming.
Oh yeah, he could remember every last detail. They were etched on his brain for all eternity. He worked his hand over his cock, hard and fast.
Her breasts swayed when she moved and they were topped with tight nipples, like juicy berries. He licked his lips and kept pumping.
And, man, did she have killer curves. A waist that dipped inward and hips that flared out. And her ass was first class all the way.
His balls drew up closer to his body and the water continued to rain over him, slightly colder than it had been a minute ago.
Her sleek thighs parted in welcome, exposing her wet, pink pussy to him. He licked his lips again, tasting her sweet musky flavor. He could still hear the little noises of pleasure she made when he touched her, licked her, devoured her.
He increased his speed, his hand pumping faster up and down his turgid length. So good, but not nearly enough. It wouldn’t be enough until he was buried balls-deep inside her sweet pussy again.
He gritted his teeth and pictured her orgasm, the sweet cry she’d made, the way she’d abandoned herself totally to it, to him. His cock exploded and he came all over his hand and belly. He kept stroking, kept milking his dick until there was nothing left.
Lungs working hard, he slapped one hand on the tiled wall and let his head fall forward. The water poured over him, like little stinging needles now. He raised his head and embraced the cold, letting it cool the pounding need that still had a stranglehold on his cock. He grabbed the soap and cleaned himself up, not lingering any longer than he had to.
The silence seemed deeper than before when he turned off the water and stepped out. He grabbed a towel and quickly dried off, tossing the wet towel over the bar to dry before padding naked into the bedroom.
The bed beckoned but Jake knew he wouldn’t sleep, not yet. He had too many other things on his mind. He tugged on a pair of faded gray track pants, but didn’t bother with a shirt or socks. Leaving his bed behind, he walked silently down the hallway and into his office. Usually, he found the masculine space relaxing with its dark-green walls, wooden bookshelves and comfortable leather desk chair, but it would take more than that tonight to make him relax.
He was wide awake and figured he would be for hours yet. But that didn’t bother him. He didn’t need a lot of sleep and had long ago learned the art of taking combat naps. He thought about making coffee, but decided it would take too long. He wanted a shot of caffeine and he wanted it now.
Jake sat at his desk, flicked on the lamp and turned on his computer. While he was waiting for it to boot up, he reached into the mini fridge that sat next to his desk and pulled out a can of cola. He popped the top and took a long swallow, enjoying the cold beverage as it flowed down his throat.
Sapphire was still foremost in his thoughts and he glanced at the picture propped up on one corner of his solid oak desk. It was one he’d taken last year, the first time he’d been her bodyguard. She was standing in the park on a beautiful sunny day, wearing a flowing dress with small printed flowers all over it, her long, curly hair blowing in the breeze. But it was the smile on her face that always captured his attention. It was intimate and mischievous, as if she knew a secret that the rest of the world wasn’t privy to. He gently touched his finger to her cheek and then settled in to work.
There was a lot he had to learn about Ivan Gregor. He didn’t trust the bastard, not one bit. He’d seen the way the guy had looked at Sapphire before he’d left. He was angry, but more than that, he’d felt deprived, as though he was entitled to have her simply because he wanted her.
Jake had run across his kind before and knew Gregor wouldn’t stop until he felt he’d gotten what he deserved. Wasn’t going to happen. Sapphire belonged to him and Jake knew how to protect what was his.
He had friends in high and low places too, probably more trustworthy ones than Gregor had, and would call in whatever favors were owed him to keep Sapphire safe. But there was a lot he could do on his own. The authorities might be constrained by the law, but he wasn’t. “Let’s see what you’ve been up to, Ivan.” Jake hunched over his keyboard and went to work.
The sun was rising when he leaned back and studied the screen in front of him. He had pages of research that his printer had spit out in a neat pile. Gregor was definitely working the shady side. There had been questions about some of his land acquisitions and developments from concerned citizens groups, accusations of bribery, complaints from other developers, but no charges had ever been laid.
He’d have to dig into Gregor’s finances to find out more. It was illegal as hell, but Jake didn’t care. His only concern was keeping the bastard away from Sapphire. If Gregor stayed away from her, he wouldn’t have any problems. If he approached her again, Jake wanted the ammunition ready to turn Gregor’s life into a shit storm. Neither the politicians nor the mafia would take kindly to having their laundry aired in public. If Gregor wasn’t careful, he could end up in jail or worse. Some of the boys Gregor was alleged to have done business with didn’t exactly play nice.
He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a disposable phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. It was to another disposable phone that would be tossed once this job was done. Then his friend would send him his new number.
“Yeah.” The voic
e on the other end was gruff, but alert.
“I’ve got a job if you’re interested.” He’d known the other man for years and trusted him to do the job right. Neither of them used names, and wouldn’t. They were both careful as hell. Some would say paranoid, but those folks didn’t know what they did—the government or someone else was always listening.
“Go.”
“Ivan Gregor. Stockbroker. Dirty, but there’s no concrete proof I can find, not yet.”
“You want him taken out?”
Jake almost smiled. His buddy had a very simple view of the world. If you had a problem, you got rid of it, permanently.
“No. I want you to follow him. I want to know where he goes and who he sees.” Jake paused before adding, “This is personal.” He rattled off Ivan’s home and work address. “I’m sending you a picture of him and one of a woman. If Gregor gets anywhere near her let me know right away. Her safety is top priority.”
“I’m on it.” There was a click and then the line went dead. Jake hung up, knowing that end was being handled. His job was to keep Sapphire safe.
He pushed out of his desk chair and stretched his arms over his head. A bone snapped and his muscles protested. He rubbed his hand over his jaw and figured it was time to have a shave and get dressed. He could catch a nap later if he needed one.
But first, he needed coffee and fuel. He ambled out to the kitchen, which was large by New York standards. The granite countertops and the stainless steel appliances gleamed. The coffeepot was new and fast. He might not cook much, but he needed his coffee.
When he had a pot brewing, he wandered over to the dining room window and peered out over the city. He wondered if Sapphire had slept at all last night. On impulse, he went into his bedroom, grabbed his phone and punched in her number. It was just past six, but she’d always been an early riser.
“Hello.” Her sleepy, sultry voice had his cock rising to full attention in a heartbeat.
“Hey.” He wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to say, he only knew that he needed to hear her voice.
“Are you okay?” He could hear rustling in the background and knew she was still in bed. He swallowed hard. She would be tousled and warm, surrounded by her soft sheets and comforter, still wearing that sexy-as-sin nightie she’d worn last night. His cock stirred and he wished he were there with her.
“I’m okay. Just called to make sure you were.”
“I’m good.”
The conversation was stilted, which wasn’t like them at all. They’d never lacked for something to talk about before. “I probably shouldn’t have called this early.” He should say goodbye and hang up.
He went back out to the kitchen, took down a large black mug and filled it almost to the brim with the fragrant brew.
“No, that’s okay. I was awake anyway. Just trying to convince myself to get up.” More fabric rustled in the background. He could easily picture her silky nightgown falling over her legs as she climbed out of bed. He could hear her walking now.
“What are you doing?”
She gave a little laugh. “Going to the kitchen to put on coffee. I can’t think before I’ve had coffee.”
“I’ve got some at my place.” He took a sip and made a sound of satisfaction.
“Beast.” She ran water and then he could hear her pouring it. A few more seconds of silence and then she gave a satisfied sigh. “That won’t take long.” She paused and he could almost see her trying to figure out how to broach the subject of what had happened last night.
“I want to see you today.” Better to take the bull by the horns and state what he wanted. If she said no, he could try to work around her objections.
“I have a meeting this morning and I really need to work this afternoon.”
“Tonight, for dinner. We can go out or I can pick something up and we can eat in.”
Sapphire paused. “Okay. Call me later and we can decide then what we’d rather do.”
Jake smiled, feeling as though he could take on the world. “Sounds good to me. And Sapphire.” He waited until he was sure he had her full attention. “Thank you for giving me, for giving us, a second chance. You won’t regret it.”
“I hope not.” There was worry in her voice and he knew he hadn’t come anywhere near to winning this battle yet. But he was back on the playing field and that was all that mattered.
“Have a good day, babe.” He hesitated, not wanting to worry her, but his concern for her safety overrode all else. “And watch out for Ivan Gregor. I don’t trust him.” The fact he had a buddy watching Gregor gave him some peace of mind. The bastard wouldn’t get near her without his knowing about it.
“I’ll be careful. I don’t think I’ll be hearing from him again.”
Jake didn’t agree with her assumption. He knew men like Gregor a lot better than she did. “Call me if you get the least bit worried. Promise me.” His grip tightened around the phone and he had to force himself to relax before he broke the damn thing.
“I will. Coffee is done. Have a good day.”
“You too.” He waited until she ended the call before signing off.
He decided he was on a roll and hit another button. He picked up his coffee and strode into his living room. It was a masculine domain, filled with sturdy, comfortable furniture and a large flat-screen television. His favorite chair—a slightly battered brown monster—beckoned, so he sat down and put his feet up on the matching ottoman. The call was answered on the first ring.
“What in tarnation are you doing calling an old man this early in the morning?” The voice was gruff and as familiar as his own.
“You don’t sleep anyway, old man.” His grandfather had raised John and him from the tender age of six. A retired army man, Bernard Knight was rough and tough, but there had never been any doubt he’d loved his grandsons.
His grandfather laughed. “What are you doing up this early?”
“Working.” He took another sip of coffee and set the mug on the small table that sat next to his chair.
“Huh.” His grandfather was also an astute man. “Might be more than work, I’m thinking.”
“Might be.” But it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. Not yet. His grandfather had already met Topaz when John had brought her home to meet him and loved her, but he had yet to meet Sapphire.
“Anything you need help with?” That was his grandfather, solid as bedrock. Jake knew the eighty-two-year-old would jump in his ’68 Camaro and speed over from Brooklyn if Jake needed him.
“I’m good for now, Granddad. I’ll let you know.”
“You do that, boy.”
They talked for a few more minutes, discussing cars and the upcoming wedding. Neither of them was thrilled at having to put on tuxedoes, but they’d do it for John. After he ended the call, he got to thinking about Sapphire. If they got married, she’d want a fancy ceremony too.
He thought about making a commitment to her, of tying their lives together forever. Usually the mention of something like that would send him walking in the other direction. He’d never been serious about a woman before in his life.
But with Sapphire, it felt…right. More than that, it felt necessary. He wanted his ring on her finger to warn all other men away from her. Old-fashioned for sure, but he couldn’t help it.
First things first. He needed to win back her trust. And for that, he needed to tone down the dark side of himself. He would bury it forever if it meant having Sapphire in his bed for the rest of his life.
He’d discovered in the weeks he’d spent without her just how necessary she’d become to his life. Like air, he needed her to breathe. If that meant he had to change, then he damn well would. There really wasn’t any other option for him. He’d tried living without her and that was just plain hell.
He finished his coffee and set his mug by the pot, planning on another one once he shaved and dressed. His phone rang just as he entered the bedroom. He glanced at the number and answered. “What do you want?”
>
“Good morning to you too, brother. You wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Not that you seem to have a right side these days.”
“I love you too. Now what do you want, John?” He continued into the bathroom, staring at his face in the mirror, wondering if he could skip shaving. He ran his free hand over the dark stubble on his jaw. No, he definitely needed to shave, especially since he was meeting Sapphire later today.
“Breakfast. Topaz is meeting her sister at eight so she’s not eating at home. Thought you might like to hit Maloney’s for breakfast.”
So that’s who Sapphire was meeting this morning. Jake wondered why she hadn’t told him. It bothered him slightly, but he let it go. If she was with her sister in a public place, she was safe. He wondered if she’d tell her older sister what was going on between them. He hoped not. He liked his balls where they were and Topaz wouldn’t hesitate to bust them if she thought he’d hurt her baby sister. He liked that about her.
“Jake?”
“Yeah, I’ll be ready in a half hour. Come on down when you’re ready.” Maloney’s was a favorite of both of theirs. It was a greasy diner that made the best food in the world, if you weren’t worried about your fat intake and cholesterol. It was also loud and busy, not a place where they could talk about too much personal stuff. It was perfect.
“Will do.” John hung up and Jake tossed his phone onto the bathroom counter. He picked up his razor and turned it on. He wondered what Sapphire was doing and started counting down the hours until he could see her again.
Chapter Six
Sapphire loved Althea’s Bakery, but this morning she needed it like a drowning man needs a life preserver. Chocolate and coffee were a must after the night she’d had. Her life had taken a complete one-eighty in the past twenty-four hours. She’d gone from changing her personal style and lifestyle completely to deciding she liked herself the way she was and that the fast-paced dating life wasn’t for her. She’d gone from knowing Jake was no longer a part of her life, to having him come barreling back into it. Was it any wonder she needed a chocolate éclair?
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