I shook my head and pushed Jared away from me gently as I clambered off of the bed. Grabbing my robe, I headed for the bathroom.
“Is that a no?” he yelled after me.
Standing in front of the mirror, I smiled at my reflection. Thoroughly fucked and with an afterglow that resembled radiation poisoning, I looked like a woman with a purpose. And with my day all planned out, I did have a mission. I had a date with Manhattan and all its finest stores.
Poking my head around the door with my toothbrush in one hand, I smiled at him.
“Rain check? I was thinking that with this trip back to L.A, I could head into town and do some shopping.”
Sitting bolt upright as though I had just fired a gun into the room, Jared gawked at me.
“Shopping? Really? You want to shop? Who are you and where is my Layla?”
I tilted my head to the side and stuck my tongue out at him.
“I just think it would be nice to have some new clothes to go home with. After all, the weather must be pretty good right now. Maybe I’ll get some new bikinis.”
His eyes widened and he was immediately on his feet and striding over to me. “Screw the meeting. I’m coming with you today. I think my expert services are of far more use to you, your hot body, and those tiny bikinis you’re going to model for me, than they are at the office.”
I rolled my eyes. “You mean you’ll actually allow me to buy a bikini?”
He shook his head, brushed past me, and began looking through the bathroom cabinet for his razor. “I never said I’d let you buy one. But I’m certainly in favor of a fashion show. Privately, of course.” Winking at me in the mirror, he started his morning grooming ritual. Shave, run fingers through hair, and somehow come out of the bathroom looking like he’d been made over by a stylist. Jared was simply, naturally handsome and it required very little effort to keep him looking that way. That panty dropping, heart stopping, and breathtaking way.
On the other hand, I would spend at least an hour just taming my hair. But with a day out with Jared on the schedule, it was worth every minute!
* * * *
Collapsing onto the couch, I groaned loudly. Casting my eye out to the hallway, I watched as Jared directed people carrying my mountain of shopping bags left, right, and center. My small shopping trip had turned into an all-out, no expense spared spree at the hands of my sweet, but infuriating, boyfriend.
After expressing how much I adored the new Donna Karen line, Jared had insisted on dragging me into the store and having a personal shopper dress me from head to toe in several different outfits. I would be wearing DKNY for the next year based solely on the amount of clothes I now owned. From gym wear to evening dresses, I was completely decked out. I’m sure the whole trip gave him more pleasure than me though, especially after we spent two hours and over a thousand dollars in Victoria’s Secret.
He insisted there were better stores, but I liked my small comforts, and I’d been buying my panties from there since I was sixteen.
Waltzing over, he loosened his tie and flung it on the coffee table. “I’d say that was money well spent. Not only did I finally get the opportunity to lavish you with the things you deserve, but watching you parade around that dressing room in various sets of underwear was the highlight of my day.”
I rolled my eyes. “You realize we are probably banned from that store for life. Paying them a thousand dollars to close the store is one thing, but screwing me in the very expensive looking dressing room is probably where they draw the line.”
He let out a loud chuckle. “There are many things I did to you in that store today, but screwing wasn’t one of them. I never screw. With you, Miss Jennings, I love, caress, and worship your hot little body. After all, those tiny black lace things were practically begging me to tear them off.”
I couldn’t hide the smile that was slowly spreading across my face. Catching my eye, Jared grinned with satisfaction. “See, you’re just as kinky as I am. I’ve created a monster.”
Getting to my feet, I silently made my way to the kitchen; knowing full-well that he would be right on my heels. I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and sighed heavily as I leaned my back against the cool steel door. Raising an eyebrow at me from across the room, Jared smiled.
“Out with it,” he demanded.
Taking a breath, I shrugged. “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking how I have to say goodbye to you in two days. I know it’s not for long, but spending the day with you today made me remember all the reasons I love you, and I hate the idea that I won’t see you for a week.”
He reached out his hand for mine, and as I placed it gently in his palm, his fingers closed tightly around mine. “Stop, Layla. It’s not forever, and the more you think and pine over it, the worse it feels. I don’t like the prospect of being so far away from you, either, but I have to go, and you need some time with your family and your friends. Which brings me on to something that’s been bothering me all day.”
I held my breath. I knew this would come up. I mean, how could it not? I had hoped that we could have avoided a conversation about him, but the way Jared was gazing at me, told me that I wasn’t running away from this. No matter how painful it would be. We were going to have the Ollie talk.
“I know what you’re going to say, Jared, and we really don’t need to talk about it. He hates me, and I’m sure that I’m the last person on Earth he wants to see again. Please, let it go.” I made a move to walk away, but his grip on my hand tightened.
“I can categorically tell you that he doesn’t hate you. No one can hate you, Layla, and the fact that he was completely in love with you so much that he begged you to go to Utah with him, doesn’t give me the impression of a guy who will forget that very quickly. I want you to promise me that you won’t see him. I can’t take the risk.”
I almost choked on a breath. “Risk? What risk? You can’t tell me who I can and cannot see, Jared. Have we both learned nothing about trust? We have been over this again and again. I chose you. I left everything and everyone to be here with you. When is it going to be enough? What do I have to do?”
Jared’s eyes burned, and his jaw tightened as we engaged in a standoff, each too stubborn to back down first.
“It’s not about trust. It’s about you still being in love with him.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he stopped me with a stern look and shake of his head. “Do not try and deny it, Layla. You love him more than you will admit to, and I’m not too blind to notice. You think I don’t see you smiling when certain songs play? Or how you get lost in thought when you’re reading your psych books? Or how about the way you ask your friends about him every time you make a damn call?”
Whipping my hand from his, I glared at him. “I care about how he is! Is there a crime in that? He was my friend first and I want to know that he’s okay. I broke his heart, Jared. Shouldn’t I show him some sort of fucking compassion? Even if it is a little too late.”
Throwing his head back, he gave a sarcastic laugh. “Compassion? That’s what you think it is that you’re feeling? Well, then answer me this, why do you say his name in your sleep?”
My mouth fell open as I stood in front of him completely lost for words. Surely he was making this up. He had to be. Right?
“I …I …” I stammered and stuttered. I had no words. No explanation to offer. Running his fingers through his hair, Jared growled before sighing heavily.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t go off on you like this, but this whole situation turns me into a jealous, irrational asshole, and I hate it. It’s not who I want to be when I’m with you. I hate this feeling that I could lose you to someone else. The feeling that you’re not completely mine.”
I could see the regret in his deep and gorgeous blue eyes. I wanted to reassure him that he was wrong and that I felt nothing for Ollie, but it would have been a lie. I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder, but he turned away. Gripping the edge of the kitchen counter, his wh
ole body became visibly tense.
“Jared, I … I don’t know what to say.”
He shrugged. “I need to pack and you should think about doing the same. We’ll talk about this some other time. Anything we say now, we’ll only regret later.” Never making eye contact with me, he silently walked away and headed for the bedroom. I stood completely floored in the empty kitchen. Did I really say Ollie’s name in my sleep? How could Jared be so upset over something I have absolutely no control over? Okay, granted, if this were the other way around, I would be furious. All I did know was that whatever it was I was feeling for Ollie, it was tearing Jared and our relationship apart.
Chapter 8
Mile High
The ride to the airport was deadly silent. You could have cut the tension in the Mercedes with a knife. Jared and I hadn’t spoken much more than the polite pleasantries we passed across the dinner table since our argument in the kitchen. Two days had passed and our physical contact was limited to a small kiss on the cheek before he left for work. He would leave early and return late. I got the feeling that this was to avoid any more uncomfortable silences. This was clearly something Daniel had become aware of also because as we drove along, he frequently tried to engage us in some sort of conversation … any conversation to be honest. But Jared simply gave short or one-word answers before continuing to gaze out the window and brood.
When we finally pulled up outside JFK, I was more than ready for some distance. Jared’s mood was beginning to grind on me. It wasn’t as though I were cheating on him. I had only said a name out loud in my unconscious state of sleep. He was punishing me for something that wasn’t my fault. Without waiting for Daniel to open my door, I flung it open, stepped out and hauled my case from the trunk. I gave Daniel a quick wink and smile before storming into the airport with my case dragging behind me.
I had just stopped to check my flight number and terminal when I was grabbed by the elbow and pulled forcefully toward the restroom. Growling, I tried to free myself from Jared’s tight grip, but he was clearly not in the mood for games. Throwing open the men’s room door, he glared at a teenager who was checking himself out in the mirror. “Would you mind?” Jared asked with no intention of accepting any answer but a ‘no.’ The boy clearly thought so, too, as he quickly scurried out of the bathroom. Pushing me inside, Jared closed the door and turned the lock.
“What are you doing, Jared? Not satisfied with guilt tripping, silent treatment, and outright ignoring me, you’re adding kidnapping to that list?”
I went to walk past him, but he swooped quickly and grabbed me around the waist before sitting me on the bathroom counter top. Panting and furious, I glared at him. His lips parted slightly as he stared back at me, his mouth inches from mine. My chest rose and fell heavily. Having him so close after so long without so much as a bite, was like being a starving man at a buffet. Jared was a feast, and I was ravenous.
“It’s only kidnapping if you don’t want to be caught.”
My tongue flicked over my bottom lip that had become dry from panting. Jared’s eyes darted to my mouth and a smile spread across his face. His cocky and confident expression irked me. I was still angry with him, and the proximity of his body to mine was weakening my resolve.
“It’s not about being caught, it’s about you and your ego. Why don’t you go and board your plane, and I’ll board mine. In silence, the way we’ve been for the last two days.”
His hands glided gently up my thighs, lifting my dress to my hips as he did so. My heart thundered in my chest. His lips brushed softly against mine, close enough to taste but far enough to withhold his delicious kiss. My desire and hunger for him was unravelling me. I reached for him, desperate to have him close but he caught my wrists and halted me. Holding them tightly, he leaned in to my ear. His warm breath on my skin sent shivers down my spine.
“Have a good flight.”
Releasing me, he stepped back and gestured at the locked door. Angry, outraged, and sexually frustrated, I huffed as I slid myself from the counter, stormed over and unlocked the door. Pulling my case behind me, I walked away refusing to give Jared even a final glance. His silence I could live with, but his cruel sexual teasing was simply torture to my aching body.
I sat in the departure lounge, mindlessly thumbing through the latest celebrity gossip magazine. The sound of people entering automatically caught my attention. Each time I would turn, hoping that Jared had come to make amends before we were an ocean away.
“Ma’am? They’re boarding first class now. You can go right through.”
The young, dark-haired, blue-eyed, and surprisingly orange-skinned flight attendant gave me a beaming white smile and gestured toward the plane. I glanced around once more, praying that he would still show. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t coming. Jared was still hurting, and I was being punished. The sting of tears forming in my eyes was a bitter reminder of the pain I had. Not by my love for Jared. It was my love for Ollie.
First class seating was a pure and indulgent luxury. With a glass of complementary champagne in my hand, I gazed out of the window at the runway. I wondered where Jared’s plane was. Was it close by? Was he also gazing out of the window and feeling the same ache that had settled in my chest. The doors of the plane closed, and I sat back in my seat, ready for the captain or flight attendant to address the passengers. Flying was something I was going to have to become accustomed to. Well, that was assuming Jared would still desire my company in Europe now.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. We are now ready to depart but have a final request before take-off. Please ensure that your seatbelts are fastened and that you remain in your seat during take-off. Please refrain from smoking, and finally, would Miss Layla Jennings please exit the plane via the nearest exit.”
What!? My mouth agape, I stared at the flight attendant as she practically glided over, unclipped my seatbelt and gestured at the door now being held open by the captain himself. Outraged, I strode over and yelled furiously.
“You’re kicking me off of the plane? Why? What on Earth could I have done to deserve it?”
Holding up his hands, the captain shook his head gently.
“I’m just doing what I’m asked.”
He pointed at something across the tarmac, and as I turned out of the door, my breath caught in my lungs. Standing at the bottom of the steps, was Jared. I stared down at him, confused, relieved, and anxious all at once.
“I forgot something,” he grinned.
I snorted a laugh. “Oh, really? And what might that be?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. His sexy and smoldering smile was melting my cool demeanor. Silently, he walked up the stairs toward me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. My breathing quickened and my pulse raced the closer he drew to me. He stood in front of me and took my hand in his own. Lifting it to his lips, he placed a chaste kiss on my palm and pressed it gently to his cheek. His eyes burned into me as he gazed deep into my own.
“I forgot to tell you how much I love you. You didn’t really think I’d let you go without kissing you goodbye. Did you?”
Tears slid slowly down my face. I bit my lip, trying desperately to control the sob that was trying to escape me.
“Oh, baby. Don’t. I hate to see you cry. It cuts me like a knife, and I can’t stand it. I’m sorry. I handled everything so badly, and you didn’t deserve it. I just can’t help how I feel. I love you so much, and the thought of you in his arms drives me crazy.”
His forehead rested against mine as his lips trailed small kisses across my cheek.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you, but the way you reacted was totally out of line. Whatever it is you think I have done or will do, it’s all in your head. I can’t just switch my emotions off like a tap. I can’t tell you that I feel absolutely nothing for Ollie but regardless of what I feel, I haven’t actually done anything wrong.”
Pressing his thumb to my lips, he silenced me.
“I kno
w, Layla. You can’t help how you feel, I know. But you are mine now, and I won’t share you. Go to L.A., see your friends, and come back to me. Take some time and some space to think about everything, and then come home. Come back to me, but come back mine and mine alone. I know you must grow tired of hearing it, but I do love you with all of my heart. And I want the same in return.”
I held my hand to my heart. “I do love you, Jared, and I will never be tired of hearing you tell me the same. I chose you. Please, trust me. I’ll meet you in Paris. I’ll meet you anywhere you want.”
A wide and genuine smile appeared on his lips, and I couldn’t help but grin myself. His hands cupped my face as he pulled me close. I held him tightly, wanting not a single inch between us. His hands slid down to my back and his lips pressed hungrily against mine. He kissed me, deeply, with a passionate need. He kissed me in a way that made my knees buckle and my head dizzy.
The sound of the captain clearing his throat caught our attention, pulling us from our heated embrace. Giggling, I blushed a dark shade of crimson as I realized we had an audience.
“I’m sorry to break this up but I have a schedule to keep to.”
Releasing me, Jared nodded and smiled. “Sorry, James. I owe you one.”
I shot the captain a questioning look.
“Nope. We’re finally even.”
“How is your lovely wife? How long has it been now? Five years?” Jared asked.
“Yeah, five years and two daughters.”
I shook my head in confusion. “Wait, you know the captain of my plane?”
The two men glanced at each other and chuckled.
“Garrett, here, introduced me to my wife. We were at school together, and five years ago, I was in Long Beach having coffee in his mother’s shop. My wife was working there at the time. She also happened to be Jared’s ex-girlfriend.”
I raised an eyebrow at Jared who shrugged. “Got a thing for picking up girls in that coffee shop, haven’t you,” I teased.
Burning Up Page 10
