by Tasha Fawkes
Jase.
What’s he doing here?
Shit. What if he thinks I followed him here? That I’m stalking him? I’m about to beat a hasty retreat, when it happens. As though he can feel my gaze upon him, Jase raises his eyes to meet mine. I watch the emotions run through them – joy, lust, surprise – but his expression quickly freezes over into a look of indifference. It’s a look that cuts deep. To my horror, my eyes begin to fill with tears as I stumble back in the direction I came.
I make it through the gaming tables and into the maze of machines before I allow the tears to break free. The noise and lights along with the tears disorient me. I wish the floor would just swallow me whole.
Just as I’m ready to crumble, as my knees tremble and threaten to give out, a strong arm wraps around my waist. I know the feel of it, the smell of him. What I don’t understand is why he’s here.
“Shhh, Daniela.” Jase holds me close and whispers into my ear, “I’m sorry, baby.”
This incites a full on sob-fest from me. “What are you doing?” I manage to get out.
He pulls me even tighter against him. “Come with me, and we’ll talk.”
Despite my sobs – or maybe because of them – I let him lead me. In a few moments, I’m standing in front of what looks like a service elevator. I don’t care because it’s empty of others. The fewer people to see me crying, the better.
I don’t pay much attention as Jase ushers me off the elevator and into what I’m sure is the most lavish penthouse in the place. He seats me on a comfortable sofa and soon places a glass of water in my hand.
“Drink,” he instructs. I do. “Better?”
I nod.
Jase takes the glass from me and replaces it with a tissue. I dab at my eyes and try not to get my hopes up. This is pity, plain and simple.
“Daniela,” Jase begins, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I never got ahold of you, and I’m sorry for snubbing you downstairs.”
His words shock me. I squelch the small bit of hope that forms in my gut. “It’s fine, Jase.” I lift a shoulder. “I get it.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “You get what?”
“I get why you did it,” I explain.
“I doubt that,” Jase says with an almost dark humor. “Try me.”
I take a deep breath and prepare to admit the humbling truth. “You’re too good for me, Jase.” I stare at my fingers. “You’re from a different class. One I have no place in.”
Jase shakes his head. “You have it so wrong, Daniela.”
It’s my turn to stare in confusion.
Jase drops to his knees on the floor in front of me so our faces align. “You’re the one who’s too good, Daniela. You. You’re too good for my world. I don’t want to infect your purity with the likes of me, but God, I’m only a man, and I want you so badly.”
My eyes fall at his use of the word “want.” He wants me all right, my body…but it’s all of him I desire.
“Daniela,” Jase says softly. “Please look at me.”
My gaze meets his.
“Daniela, since I met you my life has changed.” He blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair. “In a very good way, in a way I’d given up hope of ever having. You’re not only beautiful and sexy, but smart, kind, and real. You make me feel things I didn’t think I was capable of.”
I digest his words and that stupid bit of hope blossoms again.
“Daniela, I really care about you. So much that I’m willing to walk away.”
“Jase, that doesn’t make any sense. If you care so much about me, why would you walk away?”
“Because I don’t deserve you. I’d ruin you. You’re innocent and sweet. I’m the exact opposite.”
“The only thing that would ruin me is you walking away. Don’t you see? I have feelings for you.” It’s not a romantic declaration of love, but it’s a damn good start.
“You have feelings for me?”
I nod.
“Enough feelings that you might consider a real date? With me? Now?”
“I think I’d like that.” I manage a smile.
“Yeah?” Jase asks, a return smile playing at his lips.
I nod. “Yes.”
Jase’s mouth claims mine in a victory all its own. All rational thoughts, worries, and anxiety fly out the window as my body becomes a slave to the sensations he provides. Just as I begin to think that we are going to skip the date after all, he pulls away and holds out his hand.
“Shall we?”
My heart squeezes at the tender look in his eyes when I link my fingers through his. He kisses my forehead and leads me toward the door. “Hungry?”
Hell yes I’m hungry, but not for food.
I’m about to tell him that, but my stomach rebels and growls loudly.
He laughs. “Let’s get you fed.”
Minutes later, we’re seated in a private room, its walls covered in silk that reflect the lights from the sparkling chandelier. It’s beautiful and decadent, and more than a little overwhelming. Our waiter speaks with a thick French accent, and Jase orders for me. I offer up a silent prayer that I won’t soon be facing snails or fish eggs or some equally disgusting delicacy.
Silence grows thick between us after the waiter steps away, and we simply gaze at each other, as if no words are needed.
But they are. I have so many questions.
There’s so much I need to know.
“Earlier, you said you’d ruin me by having me in your life,” I began, my heart picking up speed. “Why would you think that? Ruin me how?”
I watch him carefully, witnessing an array of emotions run over his features as he clearly struggles with his words. “I have trust issues, Daniela,” he finally says and takes a long sip of his wine. “In my experience, people only want to be in my life for what I can give them – money, sex, their fifteen minutes of fame.”
“So you push people away before they get too close,” I supply, beginning to understand. “But why would that ruin me?”
“I don’t do this, normally.” He motions his hand around the restaurant. “This…dating. Courting. Relationships. I don’t do any of that. And you deserve it all.”
He swallows and drags his hand through his hair. “And then there’s…sex. A past girlfriend called me a sadistic bastard because of my preferences in bed.”
I squirm in my seat. “What are your preferences?”
He leans forward, his voice lowering to a sexy grumble. “I want to push women past what I think you can tolerate. I want to hear the moment pain morphs into pleasure. I want to watch you beg for more. Beg for mercy. Beg for me.”
It becomes hard to breathe, and I press my thighs together, trying to imagine what all of this means. I’d had rough sex before, but I’m thinking his preferences go a little bit further than that. “So, you want to hurt me? Spank me?”
“Yes, but in a safe way, of course. We’d use a safe word.”
“Safe word?”
“If anything goes beyond your comfort zone, you say your safe word and we go no further.”
I lean forward. “I think I would like to try that.”
His nostrils flare. “Be careful what you wish for.”
I smile. “Because I might just get what I want?”
He blows out a breath, and for the first time, I realize our conversation has made him nervous. Seeing this very human side of him is endearing and my heart squeezes again.
Jase opens his mouth to say something, but the waiter returns with our food. To my relief, it’s a crusted Filet Mignon with some delicious looking purée, accompanied by caramelized carrots and the flakiest bread I’ve ever seen.
As much as I want to continue our conversation, I also want to eat and leave so he can show me his preferences instead. I dive into my meal, groaning when the filet hits my tongue. I look up to find him watching me, a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
I swallow and point to his plate. “Hurry.”
The smile grows
larger. “Why?”
“Because I can’t wait until you’re begging for me too.”
I laugh when he stabs a piece of steak with his fork and pops the large bite into his mouth. We’re both laughing as we practically gobble our meal, enjoying being silly together.
“Dessert, monsieur?”
Jase doesn’t look at him as he answers. “Send a selection to the penthouse in two hours, along with a bottle of your finest champagne.”
“Yes, monsieur, very good.”
In moments, Jase is scrawling his name across the check and pulling me from the room. The elevator ride is a blur of lips and tongues, neither of us caring who does or doesn’t board.
In his room, his hands roam freely as his mouth plunders my own. One palm finds my breast and slips down my shirt. Jase alternates between cupping my breast and squeezing my nipple. I gasp into his mouth when the slight erotic pain makes me damp.
I push at his shirt. “Jase, you have too many clothes on.”
“Mmmm, so do you. Let’s fix that.”
In one fluid motion, Jase lifts me and carries me into the bedroom. He lays me on the bed gently and begins to slip off my clothes before his own. Jase stands before me gloriously naked, and the light seeping in through the windows defines the contrast of his muscles. I know his power because I’ve felt it.
The sight of him pairs with my thoughts and causes me to squirm in anticipation. His eyes fixate on my breasts as I move, so I help him out and remove my bra. As it drops to my waist. my nipples spring out, already pert from my excitement.
It feels as though every nerve ending in my entire being is hyperactive. Jase removes his boxers and that magnificent cock of his springs free. It’s already hard and points at me as if it knows where home is.
“Jase, I need your dick in my mouth. Now.”
He groans and quickly complies. He so thick and firm, rock hard under a satin layer of skin. He still tastes incredible. I use my tongue to lap around the head of his cock under his crown. Jase rewards me with a dew drop of cum on his slit. I lap it up greedily.
My mouth is familiar with Jase’s large member now and knows just how he likes it. I take my time, until I gradually increase my pace and begin to take all of him down my throat.
Jase groans and pulls away. “This isn’t how I plan to come…at least not the first time tonight.”
Before I realize what happens, Jase has me on the bed below him. He kisses his way from my neck to my torso, stopping to nibble on each nipple on the way down. When he reaches my abdomen, he reaches under my hips and props them up. My legs fall open, leaving only a small piece of lace between him and my center.
“Keep those hips up.” Jase almost growls the words.
I do as he asks while he uses one hand to tug my underwear off.
“Good girl. Don’t stop.”
In the same instant Jase buries his face in my wet pussy, he thrusts a finger inside. His free arm wraps around my waist and supports me now. The sensations don’t stop. His soft velvet tongue as it strokes my clit, his strong wide finger as it pumps in and out of me. It only takes a few moments before I come hard into his mouth. This doesn’t stop him, though. Jase pushes further. Soon another orgasm crashes into me, on top of another. I’ve heard of this but never experienced it before. It’s absolutely fucking mind blowing.
Jase stands and rolls on a condom before shoving my legs farther apart. Seconds later, his huge cock plows into me. I arch up off the bed from the fullness of him. We pause together for a second before Jase begins to thrust in and out. The tip of his hard cock finds a spot deep within my center, and he hits it again and again. I use the muscles deep within me to contract around Jase as he pulls in and out. Finally, I can’t hold on an instant longer, and my world explodes. My muscles contract around Jase in delicious spasms, and his cock twitches deep within me. We collapse together in a pile while visions of the last time we laid like this begin to seep into my thoughts.
Jase gets up and pulls back the blanket, causing me to worry. Except this time, he crawls underneath them and holds a hand out to me. I smile and lie next to him. Just as I get comfortable, my phone goes off. “Shit, Aria.” I go to retrieve it, unable to believe I’d forgotten all about my friend.
I send her a text explaining who I ran into and that I’d call her later before I curl up in Jase’s arms.
“This is new,” I comment, kind of intentionally.
“I like it,” Jase admits and pulls me closer.
“You mean, this could become, like, a thing?” I tease.
Jase tickles my side, causing me to squirm. “Yes, this could become, like, a thing,” Jase throws back at me.
I roll over to grin up at him. “Good. You’re not the only one who cares, Jase.” My bold confession surprises me.
A smile lights up his handsome features. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“Now, about that safe word. I’m thinking ‘Rose’ might be good.”
“Rose is perfect,” he says and kisses me. “But right now, I just want to lay here with you. We got plenty of time to explore each other.”
My phone pings again, and I pluck it up, expecting to see Aria’s response. Only it’s not Aria. It’s my dad asking me to call him, which I do immediately.
“Dad?” I can hear the panic in my voice when he answers.
“Dani-bean, thank you for calling so quickly.”
“Is everything okay?” My heart picks up speed as worry seeps through me. “Are you hurt? Is something wrong? How’s Mom?”
“No, Dani, no. Nothing of the sort.” He laughs, the deep chuckle that has always made me smile. “You’re so worrisome. You get that from your mother, bless her soul.”
“Dad? Want to tell me what’s going on?” I prod, anxious to hear what he has to tell me.
“I have great news, sweetheart. The doctor’s office called and told me they have a donor match for my kidney. I go into surgery tomorrow afternoon for the transplant. It’s some sort of miracle.”
Tears spring to my eyes as relief washes over me. “Dad, that’s amazing! I have to get there so I can be with you.”
“You don’t have to come. You have work and responsibilities and–”
“Are you crazy?” I laugh through the tears now streaming down my face. “Of course I’ll be there. It’s such great news, Dad. I’m so glad to hear it. I love you.”
“I love you too, Daniela,” Dad says, the low timber of his voice warming me. “Talk to you soon.”
As I drop my phone to the bed, I turn to Jase, still in happy disbelief. I smile when he wipes a tear away with his thumb. “I take it that was a happy phone call?”
“Yes,” I tell him with a sniffle. “My dad has been in need of a transplant for a while. He finally has a donor and goes for the procedure tomorrow.”
“Ah, now I see why you want to be there,” Jase says and wipes another tear away. “Where is ‘there’ by the way?”
I tell him the name of the hospital and how Mom and Dad have been living in the nearby assisted living facility the past few years.
“Well, I’ll get in touch with my pilot so the jet can take us there tomorrow morning.”
I stare at him. “Us?”
“Yes.”
I grin. “You want to go with me?” I ask, incredulous.
“I’m not about to let you sit through your dad’s operation and worry alone, am I? That’s not what boyfriends do.”
For a moment, time freezes. Jase just called himself my boyfriend. I give him a loud kiss on the cheek and bounce up. “I need to let Aria know what’s going on and grab my stuff. I’ll be back up soon.”
“Sounds good. I’ll take care of the travel arrangements while you get your things.”
I finish dressing and walk back over to Jase. He stands and wraps his strong arms around me. We stay like this for a moment, enjoying the feel of one another.
“I’m happy you followed me,” I tell Jase.
He wiggles his eyebrows. “I c
ould say the same to you.”
I laugh. “You know what I mean. And for the record, I didn’t follow you. I had no idea you were here. This trip was Aria’s idea.”
“Well, I’ll have to remember to thank her.” Jase grins and releases me after one more kiss. “Now go, woman. Get your things.” He gives me a smack on the ass.
I give my now stinging derriere an extra wiggle before I shut the door. I’m not sure how I got this lucky, or this brave, but I’m happy. I found that missing piece. I’m not sure how smooth our sailing will be, but the fact that he’s willing to try is all we need. We’ll keep trying together until we get it down.
Chapter 14 – Daniela
As I sip my mimosa the next morning, I feel as if I’ve woken up in the middle of a fairytale. Jase is holding my hand, and Aria hasn’t stopped smiling, especially when she looks at me. We’ll all three be heading home soon, where my dad gets his chance for a longer life.
As if it is tuned into the celebration in my mind, the Bellagio fountain comes to life, drawing all of our attention. The cascades are mesmerizing, and I fall into their trance as they dance to the music. I smile as Jase leans close and kisses my ear.
“The plane is ready,” he says, his breath tickling my neck. “My driver is outside.”
I glance over at him. “You have a driver? Like full time?” His smile grows bigger, and I shake my head. “Of course you do. What was I thinking?”
Taking the last bite of my omelet, I finish my drink and stand. I watch the women watching Jase as we exit, jealousy filling their eyes at how possessive he is of me. I only smile at them with a “he’s all mine” grin.
A shiny black limo is waiting at the front entrance as instructed, a man standing by the back door, looking very dapper in a dark suit and cap, the hat pulled unusually low, nearly obscuring his entire face.
He glances up, and I freeze.
I know that face.
I’ve seen this man before.
He’s the British butler at the club. That means Jase must be…
“What’s wrong?” Jase asks, looking down at me, then his face pales, and I know he knows.
