Sloan watched Norah nudged him and hissed “Don’t tell her that!”. They both chuckled which made Sloan want to vomit. So they already shared private jokes. She felt her face set in distaste.
“Well, I’m sure Jay will be happy to…mentor you. I hope you’re ready, we have a huge amount of work to do.”
If she was hoping Norah Quinn would be insulted by her inference about Jay’s mentorship, she was disappointed. Norah’s eyes glittered with excitement.
“Can’t wait to get started.”
After they’d left her office — she could hear them laughing as they walked down the corridor — she felt like the butt of some joke that she didn’t know had been made. She realized the pain in her chest wasn’t because of Norah Quinn’s beauty, or her obvious intelligence and spirit. It was because Jay had never looked at her the way he looked at Norah.
Like he was falling in love.
***
The care home was serenely quiet when Norah walked through its halls much later that evening. Just the occasional murmur of conversation or the soft beep of machinery gave away that the place wasn’t deserted.
Norah, her body, her brain exhausted from the day, let herself into her mother’s room to find her mom sitting up in her chair, gazing out into the evening gloom. The window was open, a warm breeze blowing in from the Louisiana night, occasional breaths of the bayou that lay on the care home’s grounds. Her mother looked over at her with watery eyes.
“Hello, dear. Are you the new nurse?”
It never stopped being painful.
“No, Mom, it’s me. Norah, remember?”
Her mom merely smiled and nodded. “That’s a pretty name.”
Norah sat on the edge of her mom’s bed and took her hands in her own. They were cold and Norah rubbed them to warm them. Her mom went back to looking out of the window.
“How have you been, Mom?”
“I’ve been just nifty, dear. I wish my girl would come visit me but she’s always so busy, she works so hard. She’s at Harvard, you know?”
There was a reason they called it The Long Goodbye. Alzheimer’s was the cruelest joke nature could play. A lifetime of love, life, experience gone. Wiped out. Norah swallowed the lump in her throat, felt it settle in her chest. “I got a job today, Mom, a really good job. And I think I met someone. A guy.”
She told her mother all about Jay, knowing that she wouldn’t remember anything. But it felt good to talk about him, the way he’d introduced her so kindly to everyone at the office. They’d all been so welcoming — with maybe the exception of Sloan Farmer but Norah couldn’t worry about her tonight.
When she’d told her mom about Jay, staring blankly out of the window, just seeing his handsome face, his boyish smile, the feel of his hand resting on the small of her back, she jolted herself back into the present and found her mom had fallen asleep. Norah closed the window and covered her mom with a blanket then slipped out quietly.
She caught the night bus back to her apartment and grabbed some cereal straight from the box as dinner. She switched on the t.v., found nothing she wanted to watch and flicked it off, sitting in the dim light of the light from the window. A hard tension had settled in her chest that way it always did when she saw her mom and she knew the only way to get rid of it was to bawl her heart out. Heartache and guilt. Heartache over her mother and guilt for feeling, the last two days, happier than she’d felt in years. Because of Jay. As her sobs subsided, she wiped her eyes and grabbed her phone. There was a message from him on it she hadn’t seen.
You rocked your first day, baby girl.
Norah smiled through the tears. All thanks to you, boss. I mean it, thank you.
A reply came back almost instantly. It was my pleasure and my good fortune, beautiful. Sleep tight, see you in the morning, J x.
She read it over and over until finally, exhausted, she fell asleep.
***
Jay McKittridge was feeling smug. Very, very smug. Sloan glanced at his face and groaned. “Just say it, whatever you are dying to say, just get it out.”
Jay flopped into the couch opposite her. “Come on, Sloan, you have to admit, Norah’s amazing.”
Sloan sighed. “She’s doing…well.”
Jay made a sarcastic noise and she shrugged. “It’s been two months, let’s not get too excited. Yes, she’s made a good start but…”
“Come on. I know you, you’re not that ungenerous. She’s completely taken the strain off us both. There’s a giant brain behind that beautiful face.”
Sloan sat back and jabbed a finger in his direction. “That. That right there is my problem. Are you sleeping with her?”
Jay had been expecting the question. No-one could have missed the chemistry between him and Norah, even when they were just discussing a business project. So far their relationship had been strictly business — friendly business, for sure, but Norah had made it clear she wanted to be judged on her merits — not as the CEO’s latest fling.
Except the more he got to know her, the more they worked on projects together, the closer they got. She could finish his sentences, know what he wanted before he asked, and their shared sense of humor — silly, irreverent— meant whenever she said goodnight, it felt like a bereavement.
“No, I’m not sleeping with her.”
Sloan looked away for a moment and he was surprised to see something in her eyes he hadn’t expected. Relief.
“Sloany…” He reverted back to his childhood name for her, wanting her to open up to him. Sloan met his gaze, something in her eyes hard and unfriendly.
“She never works late Tuesdays and Thursdays. Even if she does stay a little late, it’s never as late as other days. Odd, don’t you think?”
Jay shrugged. “I hadn’t noticed, actually.” Because every moment he was away from her was like a torture.
“Maybe you’re not the only man in her life.”
The jealousy and pain that ripped through him at her words made Jay flinch. “None of our business, Sloan.”
“Say that like you mean it, James.”
He stomped back to his office and slammed the door. He saw his secretary, Kirk, start and waved an apologetic hand at him through the glass. The thought of Norah with another man made his stomach hurt. She’d never said anything about dating someone else; in fact, they never talked about their personal lives at all. It was as if neither of them wanted to break the bubble of ‘them’ they had created with just that one kiss. God, he wanted to kiss her so badly it was painful; every time their fingers would brush, or she would lean across him to grab a pencil, anything. He would breathe in her scent and she would look at him, her cheeks pinking up and they would gaze at the other for a beat. He knew he shouldn’t pursue her but…He looked at his watch. Ten of five. She would be in the tiny office she’d seconded now, shoes off, legs tucked under her, hair spilling out of its clip messily.
He was at her door in less than a minute. “Hey, you.”
She looked up and her smile took his breath away. “Hey, boss. I was just going to call you…we have the data from the focus groups now and—”
“Have you eaten?” He interrupted her with a smile, and she blinked before shaking her head. “Good. Let’s go.”
She was about to object then shrugged. “Actually, I’m starving, thanks. But can I ask two favors first?”
“As long as neither have to do with you working late today.”
She smiled gratefully, reaching over to grab her shoes. “No…just, can I go home and change first…and can we grab something somewhere…how can I put this…not too exclusive? I need to slob out and relax.”
“You read my mind. Pizza and beer?” He held his hand up so she could high-five it. “Come on, let me grab some clothes and I’ll give you a lift home.”
***
Norah shoved the last piece of pizza crust into her mouth and sat back, chewing and moaning happily. Jay grinned at her as she rubbed her belly. “Good?”
She swallowed
her mouthful and sighed. “Very. Sorry you had to witness that feeding frenzy.”
“It was rather like watching Jaws with a bucket of chum.”
She giggles. “It’s how I maintain my sylph-like figure.”
Jay’s eyes moved slowly up and down her body in a way that made her cheeks flush and her breath hitch and falter. Abruptly, the atmosphere between them changed, became charged with electricity. The pizza place was emptying out now, the evening crowd moving onto the bars and clubs. Jay slid next to her and she began to tremble at the look in his eyes. Desire.
Jay pulled her body close, his huge arms wrapped around her waist, his fingers splaying on her back, tangling in her hair.
“God, I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he groaned and was rewarded by her arms tightening around him. His mouth covered hers hungrily, wanting to sink into her. She was breathless when they broke apart.
“Jay…”
He shook his head, locking his gaze onto hers. “Norah….don’t say anything except one word…yes or no. I want you to answer honestly and whatever your answer, I will respect that. I want to take you home, back to mine, and peel every piece of clothing from that glorious body of yours and take you to bed, kiss every inch of you, make love to you. Right now, Norah. Yes or no?”
Inside him, there was an explosion of emotion, want, desire, exhilaration as she looked up at him from beneath those thick, dark lashes, a deep pink flush in her cheeks, her lips dark crimson and sore from his kiss and said one word.
“Yes.”
***
Norah argued with herself the whole ride up in the elevator. You shouldn’t be doing this… But, the way he was kissing her, trailing his lips across her jaw down to her throat, murmuring her name, his hands cupping her face gently. She was pressed up hard against the wall of the elevator, his massive body towering over hers, his form chest hard against her breasts. Her hands were on his face then her fingers tangled in his short dark curls. A moan of desire escaped her and Jay almost growled as his kiss became fiercer.
“Norah, when you make that sound…”
Somehow, they made it out of the elevator, into his penthouse and into his bedroom. He was right about her clothes; in seconds they were on the floor and her trembling fingers were unbuttoning his shirt — trying to unbutton his shirt. She was so nervous that when Jay’s hands came up to cover hers, she looked up at him, almost teary. He smiled down at her.
“It’s okay,” he said, softly. “Don’t be scared.” He let go of her hands and pulled his shirt off over his head before gathering her to him. His large hands drifted down her back, cupping her butt, his long fingers stroking her gently. “You’re beautiful.”
Jay laughed softly and scooped her onto the bed, covering her body with his. He kissed her again, deeply, his tongue massaging hers, exploring her mouth until she was gasping for air. His hands moved lower and stroked her most sensitive parts. He pressed his lips to her throat, her collarbone then his mouth was on her breasts, tasting and sucking, making them unbelievably sensitive and tender. Jay looked up at her, his green eyes dark and heavy with desire.
“Do you want me, Norah? Because I want you, I’ve always wanted you…”
Her legs curled around his hips, seemingly of their own accord and she reached down to free him from his pants, already so ready for her. She stroked him gently, reveling in his groan of pleasure. She lifted her lips to his.
“Yes, I want you, Jay, I want you so badly.”
Jay kissed her again and he shifted so he could enter her, easing himself deep inside as she tightened her legs around him. His fingers entwined with hers as he pressed her hands down onto the bed, his gaze locked onto hers. Norah gasped as he slid inside her; his sex perfectly proportioned to his massive frame and a wave of certainty flooded through her. This is where I belong. In Jay’s arms.
She stared up at him as they made love, wanting to drink everything about his gorgeous face in; the deep green of his eyes, so intense, so fierce with passion, the finely honed features, the scattered pattern of freckles and moles on his cheek, the full mouth which molded so perfectly to her own. Jay was kissing her, rubbing his nose against hers so lovingly she wanted to cry.
“Norah…stay with me….” Norah felt her orgasm building, her skin on fire as Jay began to thrust harder, faster, deeper. She came with a long moan of pleasure as he did, shuddering together to a halt and collapsing into each other’s arms. They lay, limbs entangled, catching their breath.
After a while, Jay pressed his lips to hers. “Wow.”
Norah laughed, her cheeks turning scarlet. “You can say that again.”
Jay pretended to consider. “Okay, I will. Wow.”
Norah kissed him quickly, firmly. “Loon.”
He shrugged. “If you like but hey, this loon thinks that was amazing.” He let a fingertip drift down her cheek. “You kept me waiting two months, Norah Quinn.”
She smiled. “To be honest…I was beginning to think you’d lost interest.”
“You really have no idea, do you? Norah, I’ve wanted you from the first moment you threw yourself onto the hood of my car.” He grinned and was gratified by her smile.
“Those stuntwoman classes really paid off then,” she quipped and kissed him but he could see she was still unsure of him, of herself.
“What is it, Norah? Just ask.”
She drew in a deep breath. “Did you give me the job because…”
Jay smiled, having already guessed her question. “Yes.”
Norah paled and he quickly took her face in his hands. “Kidding. Do you honestly think I run a billion dollar corporation on the whim of my cajones? No, you got the job because we needed someone exactly like you; bright, motivated, articulate. And I was right. Even Sloan thinks so.”
Norah wriggled onto her side. “Sloan thinks we’re sleeping together.”
“We are.” He grinned as she rolled her eyes.
“I meant before. And we’ve only slept together once.”
Jay pushed her gently back onto the bed. “I don’t care what Sloan thinks. And we’re about to make that twice.”
She sighed happily and wound her arms around his neck. “That’s fine by me, boss.” Jay kissed her then smiled again.
“And just so you know, business talk is banned from our bed from now on.” He kissed a line from her throat, down the valley between her breasts to her belly. He traced the deep hollow of her navel with his tongue then grinned up at her. She stroked his face.
“From now on?” Her voice was, loving, intimate and he nodded, his eyes soft.
“You bet, sweetheart, because from now on, it’s you and me.”
***
Norah carried her overflowing cup of coffee to her desk. She was tired but for once it was a good feeling. She and Jay had made love for most of the night. They forgot about work, forgot about the rest of the world. The ecstasy of being together was overwhelming. When they weren’t making love, they were talking about the future. Jay told her his plan for buying a new home in the French Quarter and asked if she would come with him to look at some land. At three o’clock in the morning, famished, they made toast and sat in the kitchen, grinning at each other. When she got up to wash their plates, he had stood behind her, kissing her neck, running his hands under her robe, between her legs. She had melted at his touch and they fell to the kitchen floor, tangled limbs, laughing. She straddled him and he smiled as she took charge. She moved on top of him until Jay was helpless under her touch, his big hands circling her waist, his thumbs stroking her belly.
A knock at the door woke her from her reveries. Sloan, dressed in a short turquoise shift dress, half-smiled at her. “Morning. You get my email about the presentation this afternoon?”
“Just getting to it.” Norah looked at Sloan and smiled. “I love that color on you.”
Sloan looked surprised. “Thanks. You too, you look…” She stared at Norah and Norah was suddenly aware of the high color of her own cheeks, the
glow that still shone from her eyes and knew what Sloan was seeing. Her boss’s expression seemed to shut down and Norah frowned.
“Is something wrong?”
Sloan shook her head. “No. I didn’t realize you and…never mind, none of my business.” She turned to leave then turned back. “It’s just…be careful, Norah. People are already talking and what with Jay’s reputation…”
Norah met Sloan’s gaze evenly. “I’m a big girl, Sloan. I think I can handle it.”
Sloan smiled bitterly. “You’ve known him two months. I’ve known him thirty years. That’s all.”
After she’d gone, Norah realized Sloan had managed to burst her bubble of happiness. She chewed her lips and answered her phone absentmindedly.
“Hey, beautiful.” Jay.
“Hey, yourself.”
“Are you free this evening?”
She smiled down the phone but sighed. “I can’t. Not tonight. Raincheck until tomorrow?”
There was a long pause. “What do you do every Tuesday and Thursday?”
Norah’s eyebrows shot up. “You been spying on me?”
Jay laughed, the sound warm and amused. “No, just when someone does something so regularly, it gets noticed.”
Irritation flickered through her. “Sloan. Do you get her to do your spying for you?”
ROMANCE: THE SHEIKH'S GAMES: A Sheikh Romance Page 52
