“I’m not thinking.”
“I can tell you are,” he said, kneeling on the bed in front of her.
“How?” she asked, as he leaned over her.
His finger skimmed over her lips. “They’re supposed to be soft.”
“And they aren’t?” her question released in a rush of air.
He slowly shook his head. “Let go of your control.” Jenna watched as Greyson kneeled over her, pinning her to her spot. His warmth seeped into her skin, his solid body against hers. His lips brushed against her neck, whispering in her ear, “Give me your control.”
Jenna swallowed. As for thinking, her brain had turned to mush. It was utterly useless. And as for control, it was slipping down a very steep slope.
This time when he kissed her, she kissed him back with the unquenchable need that had been growing on the sidelines for these past weeks, fighting with him, befriending him, and wanting just a tiny spot in his mind dedicated just for her.
It was only fair since he took up a majority of hers.
Jenna deepened the kiss, smiling to herself when Greyson moaned. His hand slid up her body, pushing her shirt up and off. She wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing his mouth back to hers.
Her hands wandered down his strong back, muscles tightening as her hand skimmed across, traveling lower until they settled nicely on his firm behind. Very nice, indeed.
He groaned.
Greyson rolled to the side, taking Jenna with him. “My shoulder hurts.”
Jenna was quick to move, but Greyson was quicker to capture.
“Stay right here,” he said in the demanding tone that now made her toes curl and her breath hitch.
She looked down at him from her position on top, him rigid between her legs.
“But your arm,” her voice drifted. She didn’t really want to stop.
“Is absolutely fine where it is,” he said, his touch drifting softly over the top of Jenna’s breasts which were pushed up by one of Mya’s lingerie choices. Thank you, Mya. “And you are absolutely fine where you are.” His finger hooked into the front, nestling between her cleavage. He pulled down, dragging Jenna with. Using the tip of his tongue, he followed along the top edge of the bra.
God, she was about to come unglued, and he was still fully clothed.
Something had to be done about that.
Jenna tugged at his shirt, raising it over his head as gently — and quickly — as possible. He let out a jagged breath as the shirt moved over his shoulder.
“Sorry!”
“I’m not,” he said, discarding her bra a second later. He gazed upon her with such adoration she felt the heat of a blush licking her skin.
In order to hide from his vision and regroup for just a moment, she leaned over and kissed him. His hand cupped the back of her head, deepening the kiss. Her breasts brushed against his chest. He moaned, sweeping his hand down her back and pressing her on top of him. Their bodies molded together as they continued their embrace, his tongue mating with hers.
With Greyson all around her, her senses frayed, sending her to a place she had never experienced before. Her control was no longer slipping but had kamikazied into oblivion.
Greyson, now dipping down, touching his lips to her breast, was still coherent, while she was a moaning, boneless mass, falling apart as his tongue teased with such intensity that she couldn’t even remember the alphabet.
Her hands worked to discard the remaining clothes that kept them apart.
“Jenna,” he moaned as she kissed down his neck and chest, teasing him as he had teased her. “Come back here,” he ordered, right before his back arched. He reached down and yanked her up so they were kissing again. “I can only handle so much,” he said, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“You seem to be doing just fine,” Jenna said.
“Do I?” he asked, rubbing his hard length against her highly sensitized spot.
Jenna could have sworn her eyes just crossed. “Better than I’m holding up,” she admitted.
Greyson grinned. “Do you think you can make it to my bedroom?”
“Why?”
For a brief moment he turned sheepish. “I didn’t quite think this through. The condoms are in my room.” Before Jenna could respond, Greyson’s hand moved down, cupping her, slipping a finger into her heat.
“But —” she moaned, not wanting to leave the cozy bedroom with his magical hands and tormenting tongue, which was now following the same path as his hand.
“It will only take a moment,” he said, sliding her over as his tongue traveled.
“But —” she whimpered.
“I’ll always protect you, Jenna,” he murmured. “Always.”
“But, can you –”
She felt his smile against the inside of her thigh. “I can do that too.”
Chapter 26
Greyson woke the next morning to find out Jenna was not only a blanket hog, but a bed hog. The petite woman had claimed the entire king bed as her own with limbs every which way, and him underneath it all.
He wasn’t complaining.
After last night, he had nothing to complain about.
He slid out of bed without kissing her as he wanted to. Not for fear of waking her, but because he had no idea where her face was in the rioting tangle of hair.
Still not complaining.
He walked to the bathroom and briefly looked into the mirror before opening a drawer. He took out his shaving kit and dug out a small pair of scissors.
He lifted it to his beard, pausing just a moment before sniping.
It was time.
When he said he would protect Jenna, he meant it in more ways than one. He was going to pay the Realtor a little visit.
A half an hour later, he was showered, shaved, and dressed. Jenna stirred in the bed, shifting a mound of blankets. Her head poked out.
“What time is it?” she murmured.
“About ten,” he said, adjusting his tie. He had forgotten how suffocating they were.
“Ten?” Jenna squeaked, scurrying out of bed. “I have so much to do. Why didn’t you wake me?” Her scrambling came to an abrupt halt as she stared blankly at Greyson.
“Greyson?” she asked, her mouth rounding when he nodded.
“You’re wearing a . . . your beard . . . you’re . . .”
“Mr. Miller CEO?”
“Holy crap!”
It wasn’t the reaction he was expecting, but she was visibly astonished, and he liked that.
“I have to head out,” he said. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. Maybe three if it gets ugly.” He smiled. At her puzzled expression, he shook his head. “Guess it only works when Remy says it. Anyway, I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you going?” she asked then slapped her hand over her mouth. “Not that I need to know where you’re going. Because I don’t. I was just curious. You’re wearing a suit. And your beard . . .”
“Jenna, relax. I’m heading over to the Realtor’s.”
“No, you can’t. I’ll fix everything. I promise.”
“You can work on the business while I’m out. I’ll make sure we don’t lose the house.”
“At least let me come with you. I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
“I’ll probably be back in ten minutes,” he said, swooping down for a kiss. “Plus, it’ll take at least ten minutes just to comb your hair. You look a mess.”
Her hand automatically rose to her hair, her fingers catching in the tangles. “Oh.”
Greyson had a deep desire to bedevil her more, or take her back to bed. He straightened, clearing his throat. “I’ll be back soon.”
If Jenna protested, he didn’t hear her. He fled the house and made his way to the Realtor’s office, not concerned with their claim. He knew of a way to appease them and to take care of Jenna.
His plan was simple.
His plan was perfect.
And two hours later, he walked out of the Realtor’s office, happy that everything wo
rked out according to plan. It wasn’t until he started the car engine that he wondered what the hell he had just done.
He had just effectively removed himself from Jenna’s life.
“Son of a . . .” His head fell into his hands, smothering his curse.
He could fix this.
He had to fix this.
But the only way to do it was if Jenna cooperated. If she didn’t, he’d have to walk away. He’d leave like he always said he would.
But if she cooperated . . .
Greyson groaned and let his head fall back onto the headrest.
There’d be no end to her little drill sergeant ways.
He’d suffer through it. It wasn’t as if he didn’t enjoy their clashes. He loved them.
He loved her.
Now it was up to her.
* * *
Jenna couldn’t stop smiling. She was being ridiculous, and her cheeks were beginning to hurt. Her fingers mindlessly tapped on the kitchen table as she sat in front of her laptop. It had slipped into sleep mode an hour ago, and yet here she sat, thinking of Greyson.
She had been doing that a lot lately, thinking of Greyson. Her face heated as recent activities came to mind.
She wasn’t sure about this new Greyson with his tailored suit and his clean-shaven face. He was sexy. Cologne-ad sexy. And way too handsome for the likes of her.
She thought she had wanted to see that side of him, but now she just wanted her scruffy gardener back with his gruff ways and his piercing gray eyes.
Why was he even bothering with her?
Jenna pressed her lips together, not coming up with a single reason. She was nothing but problems. She could never repay him, not even by opening the business and staying profitable for twenty years.
A noise in the backyard caught her attention. She peered out to find Frankie directing a large truck.
What in the world?
Jenna had a bad feeling. She raced out of the kitchen, slamming into Greyson, who seemed to be moving just as fast. Ricocheting off each other, they both fell to the floor.
“Why were you running?” Greyson groaned.
“Frankie has a truck in the backyard. Why were you running?”
“I wasn’t,” he said, slow to stand. “I was walking.”
“Your legs are too long. No one should be that fast while walking.”
Greyson smiled, reaching down to pluck Jenna off the floor.
“Thank you,” she said, dusting herself off, although there wasn’t a speck of dust to be found. “I should go see what’s happening outside.”
“Wait,” Greyson said. “I need to talk to you first.”
Jenna heard the seriousness in his voice. She panicked. “They didn’t let you out of the contract, did they?” Tears welled in her eyes. It happened. She finally killed her boss. Not with a weapon, but by bleeding his bank account dry.
“Come and sit down,” he said, leading her to the great room.
She shook her head. “No good news comes when you’re sitting down.”
“Jenna, I have good news.”
“Then why do I have to sit down?”
Greyson’s response was to pick her up with his good arm and drop her on the couch.
Jenna righted herself and crossed her arms. “That was unnecessary.” It was amazing how different he looked yet still acted like a bear. It made her feel better.
“Effective nonetheless.” Greyson dragged a chair close to her. He sat down and pulled papers from his breast pocket.
“What are those?”
“These are the papers from the sale of the house.”
“You said you had good news! How is this good news?”
“Read it. You’ll like it.”
Jenna warily reached for the papers. She unfolded the pages and read Greyson’s name as the seller. Her eyes scanned until . . .
The papers fell from her hand, cascading to the floor.
“The house is yours, Jenna,” Greyson said. “All of it is yours.”
“How is this possible? Why would you do this? How am I going to pay for the mortgage?”
Greyson chuckled but sobered at Jenna’s glare. “The house is paid for. You don’t owe anything. And I did it for you, and to appease the Realtor. It worked out for everyone.”
“But not for you,” Jenna said, tears sliding down her face and falling onto her shaking hands. “You don’t gain anything from this. You’ve lost everything.” She shook her head. “You can’t do this. I’ll transfer the house back to you.”
“I don’t want the house, and I hardly lost everything. In fact, I gained the one thing I wanted this entire time.”
“What’s that?” she asked, wiping the tears that streamed down.
“My freedom,” he said.
Jenna felt the air rushing from her. He had said he wanted to leave, and now he could. He carefully tied all the loose strings and could break free, taking her heart along with him.
She loved him, and he was leaving.
She didn’t want the house or the business if he wasn’t going to be there to enjoy it with her.
He reached over and squeezed her hand before standing.
“Where are you going?” Jenna asked. He wasn’t going to leave right now, was he? Oh, God. He was. He was leaving.
“I’m starting my new life, Jenna,” he said, heading to the door.
She followed in his wake, wanting to stop him, yet knowing she couldn’t. How could she deny him the one thing he wanted while she took all that he had? If she couldn’t pay him with currency, she’d pay him back with understanding . . . and her heart. He’d already stolen that.
Greyson opened the door and stepped outside, looking back at Jenna before he closed it.
He was gone.
He didn’t even say good-bye.
Suddenly the house that used to comfort her now felt cold and empty. She shivered as a steady stream of tears blurred her vision.
The doorbell rang.
Confused, Jenna opened it to find Greyson standing on the step.
“I heard you needed a landscaper,” he said with a shy smile. “I have some experience, but my last manager might say otherwise.”
Jenna sniffled. “I heard the manager didn’t know what she was talking about, and you don’t look like a gardener.”
“Just wait until you see me with a beard and covered in dirt.”
Jenna laughed despite herself. “What do you want, Greyson?”
“To begin my future.”
“You said that.”
“With you.”
Jenna hiccupped.
“I love you, Jenna,” he said, stepping inside. He wrapped his arms around her.
She stood there, stunned. When her senses returned, she pushed him away.
“You ass!” she snapped.
“Jenna —”
“I can’t believe you did this to me. You spout your need for freedom and then come back and tell me you love me. Are you going to leave again tomorrow or the next? Maybe in a year when you’re bored?”
“I never wanted to leave,” he said, worry etched on his brow.
“Then why did you give me the house?”
“I don’t care about the house. I care about you. And if you’re going to be here, then I want to be here.”
Jenna softened. From the worry spreading rapidly across his features, she knew Greyson was telling the truth. “I guess you can have the landscaping position. But there’s a ninety-day probation period.”
“I think you’ll like my work,” he said, closing the door.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
He moved closer, crowding her. His arms ensnared her, pressing her to him. His eyes trapped hers in a gaze that made her skin alight with tingles.
In that instant, the house became a home again. He made it a home just by being with her. The house itself was just a shell. It needed Greyson. Just Greyson.
But a thought nagged at her.
“What’s wrong?
” he asked, the back of his hand caressing her cheek.
She sighed. She would just ask and get it over with. That way, she’d know for certain, and she’d never bring it up again. Never. “Am I Nadia’s replacement? Am I the rebound?”
Greyson’s jaw clenched. His eyes turned to cold steel. Jenna broke free from his arms, backing away. She had her answer.
“Don’t go,” he said, his voice cracking. “Please, don’t go. I’m not angry with you. I’m angry with myself. I love you, Jenna. I love you so much that it feels like a part of me is missing when you’re not at my side. I’m angry because somehow I failed. You should never have any doubts about my feelings for you. You’re not a replacement or a rebound. You’re Jenna. You’re my life.”
Jenna reached out, hugging him to her. His arms folded around her. She had her answer, and it was better than anything she could have hoped for.
“I love you, too,” she whispered.
His lips found hers. They stood by the door, molded in their embrace until a series of coughing pulled them apart.
“Does this mean I can have my old job back?” Greyson asked.
Jenna nodded.
“And we’ll have to sleep in the same room,” he said. “For safety reasons, of course.”
Jenna smiled and nodded. “Of course.”
“Would you care to give me a tour? We could start on the second floor.”
“I’d love to.”
The coughing began again this time with added hacks and eh-hems. Jenna and Greyson turned toward the noise to find seven people grinning at them. Frankie, Mark, Mya, David, Mary, June, and Zoey all stood at the other end of the entryway near the patio door.
“It’s about time,” Frankie said. “The fountain is ready to be unveiled. Stop kissing and start walking.”
Greyson slipped his hand into Jenna’s. “This should be entertaining.”
Jenna held back a sigh. She was much more interested in the entertainment on the second floor.
They walked out to the patio overlooking the expansive yard that was marred by a fountain. With the round orbs at the bottom and the long shaft rising high into the sky, topped by a disco ball, it looked like a . . . Jenna gulped.
“Just wait until you see it in action,” Mark said.
Last Tailored Suit Page 21
