"Do you have peppermint?" she asked, fanning herself.
"Definitely," he said. He opened a cupboard and Jamie caught a glimpse of rows and rows of tea. He smiled when he saw her look. “I like tea.” He shrugged. “It’s one of those few facts that everyone knows about me, so they always give me tea gift sets when they need to buy me a present.”
“I see,” she said, trying not to laugh. “Well, there are definitely worse presents to get.” She looked at a photograph on the wall. Alex was in it with another man who had the same eyes and nose as him, as well as an older couple. “Is that your family?”
He followed her gaze. “Yes.”
“They all look very kind.” Really? That’s your comment about them? She swallowed, trying to push her embarrassment down.
"They are." A shadow passed over his face.
Apparently Alex Reid had secrets too.
He handed her one of the tea mugs and the relaxing scent of peppermint wafted up from the cup.
"Thank you," Jamie said automatically.
He sat down beside her, staring at his own mug. "You know you can't just keep changing the subject, Jamie. I realize I have no jurisdiction over your personal life, but I’m still concerned.”
“I’m fine.”
“You need to warn Christine, then."
She sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“No it’s not. The guy’s a dick.”
“We used to date.”
“Oh shit. You’re not still sleeping with him, are you?”
Jamie shot him a look.
“Okay, don’t kill me here!” He held his hands up. “It just popped out. Sorry.”
“We were dating and then he met my sister. Now they’re engaged.” She shrugged, now really wishing she had a drink in her hand, not tea. This was so embarrassing.
“He’s an idiot. It sounds like him and your sister are perfect for each other.”
Jamie took a sip of the tea to stall for time before answering. "He was drunk. He would never do that in his right mind."
"That doesn't matter. If he makes drinking a habit, then there's a good chance Christine will be in danger."
"She wouldn't believe me," Jamie said. "She loves him. Or thinks she loves him.” She waved her hand. “If I say anything she'll just think I tried to seduce him or something." She hated how true her words were.
Alex must have known they were true as well, because he didn't say anything for a long time. "I'll talk to Stephen," he finally said. "We've known each other for a very long time and I think he'll listen to me. He had better if he knows what's good for him."
Jamie shivered. She had no doubt he would make good on his threat if Stephen ever behaved indecently again. "You really don't have to.”
"I need to," he said. "Someone needs to look after you.”
Jamie's mouth went dry. "Why are you doing this?" she whispered.
"You know why," he said, looking away again. "Don't make me say it."
"But I don't know," she said, her impatience rising slightly. "If you went to such lengths for all of your employees, you wouldn't have the energy to run your company."
"No," he said. "But you're in danger, and I can't have that."
Jamie took another sip of tea, knowing her cheeks were flushed. "Thank you for talking to Stephen," she said. "I really don't want Christine hurt and I know she won't listen to me about this. Her judgement has always been a little cloudy when it comes to her man."
"I had a feeling that’s the case," he said dryly. "Among other things. But why do you care so much for her when she’s so rotten to you? I'm not sure if I've ever seen family members as vicious and vile as yours are."
She laughed. “She’s family, aren’t we all like that at times?" She laughed again at the look on his face. "Even if she manipulates me, I still love her." She shrugged. "It's complicated. But families are always convoluted, right?"
He nodded. "That is definitely true." He glanced at the photograph of his family on the wall. He looked back at Jamie. "Whenever it gets too complicated, you can always talk to me. If that makes you uncomfortable, though, then I'm sure Ms. Campbell would be willing to listen. She seems to like you pretty well. And I think your healthcare plan covers therapy—"
Jamie laughed. "You think I should be in therapy?"
He smiled, catching on to her teasing tone. "All I'm saying is you should talk to someone. You don't have to do everything alone."
"I know," she said. "Thank you, Alex. That’s very sweet of you. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me."
He smiled at her and then blushed slightly, making him look endearing as well as incredibly sexy.
"What?" Jamie asked.
"I was right about you calling me by my first name."
Jamie blinked. "Pardon?"
“Nothing.” He squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Nothing. Sorry.”
“Finish it, Mr. Reid. You can’t say something loaded like that and then try to hide behind nothing.”
“It’s incredibly sexy.” His cheeks turned red and he stared down at his mug.
“What is?” Her heart sped and its beat pounded against her ears.
“I was right about you calling me by my first name. It’s incredible sexy.”
She giggled. “Really?”
"You have no idea."
Chapter 14
The conversation halted suddenly. She knew he was trying to be kind after everything that had happened.
“All rightie,” he said, standing up. “I need to cancel that meeting going on in…” He checked his watch. “Shit! I need to call the company now.”
“It’s too late to cancel. Just go to the meeting. I’m fine.” She stood and walked to the kitchen, setting her mug by the sink. “I’ll head down to my apartment.”
“I can cancel.”
“Why? I’m fine.”
“I don’t think you should be alone.”
“Mr. Reid. I’m fine. I’d like to finish up what I need to do. I’ll do it from home, but that’s it. I’m back in work tomorrow. I am fine. Seriously. I’m not lying.”
“You can work from my place. Please?”
She inhaled a long breath. “Fine. But only because I left my tablet and laptop at the office.”
He grinned. “I have one here connected to the office. I’ll get it sorted for you.”
“Thank you. Again.”
When Alex reluctantly left her to go to the meeting, she waited till his car had disappeared behind the gates before going down to her suite to shower and change her clothes. After the shower she stared at herself in the mirror. Three spots were showing on her neck that would probably bruise. She could wear a scarf for a few days and hide it. Since it had grown cool, long sleeves and jackets were the in-thing.
She stared at herself, surprised at how calm she felt. Everything was going to be all right. She was tired of being a doormat. She deserved more. Changes were going to start from this moment on. Stephen was going to apologize the next time he saw her. She wouldn’t put up with Christine’s whining or any pressure from her family. She’d let go of the few friends she’d had in college. Now she didn’t want to be on her own.
She loved her job, her apartment and she was even beginning to like herself again. What happened with Stephen sucked a royal big one, but, oddly, something good was going to come out of it. Her.
She smiled at herself in the mirror and stuffed her hair into a pony. She dressed into a stretchy pair of jeans that were too big around the waist now. “That’s why we have belts,” she muttered to herself and stared at the sparse walk-in closet. She’d been saving money so maybe it was time to buy a couple more work outfits. She grabbed a dark blue t-shirt out of her drawer and threw it on.
Back in Alex’s house, Jamie settled at the bar counter in his kitchen and worked on the laptop. She could totally picture Alex here doing the same thing. Without distractions from the office like ringing phones and people talking, she finished up her work quickly, le
aving her with nothing to do but wait for Alex to come back. “Then what?” she asked herself.
Jamie checked her personal phone, ignoring the texts from Christine and her mother. She did not have to deal with them until tomorrow. Alex sent a message on the business phone and she replied to let him know she was all right, just working on the laptop in his kitchen.
She glanced at his computer. It was his personal computer, not his work computer, even though he had access to everything at work. She wondered what he did in his free time. It would be so easy to look at his history.
No. That would be a terrible intrusion of privacy. He was her boss! She was his PA. He had explained a week or so ago that he would like to start incorporating more work at home and hoped she would be okay with working from the house. That had been one of the reasons he had redone the large suite apartment where she now lived. She didn’t mind at all.
She ran her hand over the mouse part of the laptop. She couldn't betray his trust by going through his history. But it was so tempting.
Jamie set the computer aside and made herself another cup of tea, checked her email, and pulled out the food Murray had prepared for them. He’d made some kind of delicious smelling pasta and chicken that she put in the oven to reheat on low. She set the salad back in the fridge and on a whim, set the bar table up for two for when Alex got back.
Her eyes drifted to the laptop again. He didn't have to know. If he walked in while she was on, then she could say that she was checking her email. He probably didn't have anything embarrassing on his laptop. She couldn't imagine him on hooker websites or hard-core porn. It would be the boring usual, she was sure. Email, social media, probably some work-related things, and maybe even some Buzzfeed videos. That would be it. Completely harmless.
She checked the oven, her phone to see if Alex had texted during the long drive. He still wasn't back. So she settled on the couch facing the window, her back to the kitchen, and opened the laptop. She was right about most of his history. It was the usual mundane things. He had looked up several websites on managing personal and professional lives, though, as well as articles about reconciling with family. She glanced at the picture on the wall. They all looked close and happy in that photo. Happier than Alex had ever looked at work. But when she looked closer she realized it was several years old. Alex couldn't have been older than twenty. Was it possible that they had become estranged over time? It wasn’t something she could bring up casually over dinner. This was none of her business.
She scrolled through a few more and then her cursor hovered over a website not like the rest. It was definitely a porn site. No doubt about that. She bit her lip. What did Alex Reid fantasize about in bed? Before she could think better about it, she clicked on it. Pictures of women being fucked filled the screen. Heart racing, she quickly scrolled down to see short videos and teasers. She couldn’t stop looking, her own body becoming aroused as she went through pictures of women sucking men's cocks and women spreading their legs as men slipped inside of them. She didn't dare turn on one of the videos, scared of coming right on Alex's couch, but looked through the pictures, moisture pooled between her legs.
"You are making it very hard to be a gentleman."
Jamie jumped and slammed the laptop lid shut. "I-I d-didn't hear you c-come in," she stammered. She’d never been so embarrassed in her life.
"I can tell." The tone of his voice giving away nothing.
She bit her lip and his eyes immediately went to her mouth. “Sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.
"I can honestly say I’ve never come home to a woman watching porn.”
“I am so sorry.” She wished the ground would open and swallow her up.
“Don’t be.”
“Excuse me?” She noticed a corner of his mouth curve upwards.
“That’s probably the coolest thing I’ve seen you do. And the highlight of my day.”
He hadn’t realized she had been going through his personal history. Another thought occurred to her. “Please don’t think I do this during work time. I’ve never…” She let her voice trail off, the need to defend only seemed to be making her look guiltier.
“Do you enjoy torturing me?"
Her breathing quickened as he took a step toward her. He came close, but not close enough for her to feel him. She desperately wanted him to do what she’d seen on the website to her. It was completely unprofessional, completely wrong and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about it. She’d apologize and deal with it in the morning if he would just force her to spread her legs so she could beg him to slip inside of her.
"If you don't want this to go any further, then I suggest you leave right now," he said, his voice low and husky.
Jamie didn't move. If she had any sense at all she would leave right now. But she was rooted to the spot. She wanted him so badly, more than she had ever wanted anyone else and she knew he wanted her. It’s just physical release. Nothing more.
"Jamie, if you don't leave, I will take you," he said tersely. "It’ll change everything."
"Fuck me," she whispered. “Please.”
He groaned and pulled her to him, his mouth claiming hers roughly. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he kissed her, forcing his tongue inside her mouth. Every part of her tingled as his hands roamed her body, sending trails of fire over her skin. She attacked him just as fiercely, slipping her fingers beneath his shirt to explore every inch of his hot, chiseled chest. He shivered beneath her touch.
"Please, Alex," she murmured. "Please."
He groaned and kissed her neck, grabbing her shirt and pulling it up so he could hold her breasts. “You have me," he whispered as he kissed each breast. “I want to fuck you right here.”
“Then do it.” She pulled her shirt off and reached for the clasp of her bra.
His hands covered hers and stopped her. “No, not here.” He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom. Jamie made no move to stop things as he set her on the bed. "You're so perfect.” His eyes roamed over her upper body and down her jeans, scorching her body as if he could set her on fire with just his gaze.
She wasn’t perfect. Far from it. “You have the perfect body.” She grinned wickedly as she grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his muscled torso. She bit her lip as his eyes pierced her and he moved toward her before claiming her mouth once again.
"You're mine," he said, his hands gripping her hips. "You're fucking mine, Jamie."
She smiled and then gasped as he kissed her neck again. She was completely his and that was perfectly fine with her. The boldness she had felt earlier after her shower returned. He needed to know how much he was hers as well. Jamie flipped him over onto his back deftly before grabbing his hands and pinning them above his head. She kissed his mouth and then worked her way down his torso. Every kiss she gave him made his mouth open in a silent gasp of pleasure. She sucked lightly on each of his nipples and kissed his stomach lightly, watching it twitch with every touch. When her lips reached the band of his pants she took her finger and hooked it on the inside of it gently, never taking her eyes off of his face. She was fascinated by the waves of emotions playing across his face as she slowly unzipped his pants. Lust, need, and ecstasy were all there for the picking
His swollen cock pressed against his boxer briefs and she slipped her hand around it. Alex’s eyes closed in pleasure. When she put her lips around it he yelped, and bucked under her. "Jamie," he said hoarsely. "If you don't stop, I'm going to come."
The power she had over him gave her a thrill and she licked him gently, feeling him squirm from under her. She wasn’t going to stop. She grinned wickedly, he might be a dominating force in the boardroom, but she was the dominating one in the bedroom.
When he started to shake as he trembled to control himself, she quickly let him go.
Alex looked at her, wide-eyed and gasping. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Jamie ran her tongue over her lips, tasting him. "Not yet." She slid h
er body against his so she could kiss his neck. "But I'm glad you liked it," she whispered in his ear. She waited for his heart rate to slow and his breathing to even out before reaching down and stroking him with her hand.
“You could kill a man with your touch.” He moaned softly into her hair and held her tightly. "You're so fucking sexy."
She brought her mouth to his and forced her tongue inside. Her hand’s rhythm increased and she could feel him grow harder. She desperately wanted it inside of her. To watch him thrust deep and lose all control.
In one quick motion he grabbed her hand and shifted so he was on top of her. "My turn." He gently kissed her neck and worked his way down, his hands roaming her chest and reaching for the clip on the front of her bra. His other hand slid down to her jean button. When Jamie realized what he was doing, she grabbed it and pushed his hand away.
"No," she whispered. “Not with the lights on.” She couldn't let him see the fat rolls and watch him try to hold back his disgust. It was courageous enough she’d thrown her shirt off. It lay in the other room so she couldn’t cover herself with it now. But the lights… if she lay naked on his bed and if she saw him recoil from her, she would die.
"I want to see you," he whispered, his eyes burning with desire.
"Not with the lights on.”
He sighed, his hand reaching down into her pants and fingering her gently. Pleasure rolled over her and she closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy his touch while growing wetter and wetter from it. He kissed her temple as one of his fingers played with her and another one explored inside her. The pressure inside of her built and she squirmed as he kept up his torture.
He stopped just as she was about to come. "Not yet," he whispered. "I want to be inside of you when you climax."
He rolled on top of her, his hips moving in a steady rhythm against hers as he reached into his dresser drawer and pulled out a condom. He slid it on his shaft, and before she could protest, he pulled down her pants, her body sliding to the edge of his high bed. He stood and spread her legs, burying himself inside of her. Jamie's climax came immediately and she cried out as ecstasy and pleasure filled her and left her shaking and quivering. Alex shuddered as his own climax came, leaving him breathless and thrusting inside of her as his passion filled the condom. He fell on top of her and lay there a moment before pulling out and taking off the condom.
Bad Boys & Billionaires: An Anthology Page 43
