Just...Breathe: The Love They Had Always Wanted, and Now Try to Fight... (The Broken Series #1)

by Angela Fattig

  I pulled Jaden to her feet. “Do I have time to shower?” she asked.

  Without answering, I led her from the deck inside, up to her room, and into the bathroom. Before I turned away I answered, “We have time for a shower.” Before I turned, I saw her eyes grow dark.

  I adjusted the water temperature and turned back. Stroking her cheek I asked, “We really need to be on the plane soon. I need you real bad right now. I need to be inside you and I may get a little rough. Are you ok with that?”

  She licked her lips and nodded. My cock just about blew it then. I crushed her to the wall taking her mouth. She moaned ripping at my pants. I stepped back and stripped my pants off for her and her eyes widened.

  With one tug, she had her bikini top and bottoms off. I pulled her to me, taking her mouth again. Our tongues danced as I lifted her and she wrapped her legs around me.

  I stepped into the shower and pressed her against the wall as I lowered her down, ramming my cock in her. She screamed and arched her back, breaking the kiss. As I pumped in and out of her, I latched onto her nipple. I nipped, pulled, and sucked her deep into my mouth.

  “Chase, I’m coming,” she screamed grabbing my hair and ripping my mouth away from her breast. “Kiss me.”

  I took her mouth savagely and continued to ram my cock into her as I plunged a finger into her wanting ass. Her body rocked. God she felt so good. “Baby,” I tried to say but she pulled my mouth back to hers.

  Her walls began to close around me. With one finale thrust, I filled her, releasing my seed.

  I held her as we continued to kiss until the need for air took us and we broke apart. I buried my face in her neck while she stroked my hair. “So that’s what rough, loving sex is,” she said between breaths.

  I laughed. “Yea, something like that,” I said kissing her neck, “Time to clean up. Can you stand?”

  She nodded.” Yes, I think so,” she answered. I let her body slide down mine, making sure she was fine.

  “Are you ok?” I asked. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?”

  She looked up smiling. “I’m a little sore, but it’s a good kind of sore,” she responded. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if it’s too much.”

  I kissed her quickly as I didn’t trust myself not to take her again. “You use that showerhead and I’ll use this one,” I said. “Then we can pack, ok?” She nodded and turned away.

  Once we were clean, dried, and packed we headed back downstairs. “I wish you guys weren’t leaving so soon,” Lori pouted. “Chase, you just got here.”

  “I’m sorry, but duty calls,” I said. “Maybe we can do this again, soon.” Then I turned to Jaden. “What do you think? Wanna try this again?”

  She smiled. “I’d loved to, but seeing as my new boss is such a prick, I’m not sure if I can get away,” she joked.

  John and Lori howled with laughter, but my mouth dropped open and I just stared at her. I could see she was trying not to laugh. “You little minx,” I laughed. “You are going to be the death of me, you know that don’t you?” I repeated my words I had said in my office.

  She laughed and stroked my face. “Yes, I do,” she said. “But you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “As much as we are enjoying watching you two,” John said, “The boat is here.”

  We said our goodbyes and Jaden allowed John to hug her again and we left.

  As we were boarding the boat, she turned to look back at the house. “Back to reality,” she sighed.

  I didn’t say anything, but I was confused by her words. I decided to forget about it, but planned to ask her later what she meant.

  We pulled on to the strip and saw that she tensed up. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a bottle, and handed it to her.

  She smiled and took it. “How did you know?” she asked taking one of the pills inside.

  “After I left John I called Sandy.” I explained. “She said you seemed nervous when she mentioned flying. So I called my dad and he got them to me.”

  She looked at me in shock. “Your dad?” she asked.

  I nodded. “He and mom are doctors,” I said.

  She looked back at her hands. “So you told them about me?” she quietly asked.

  I took her hand and kissed it. “They know of you, not about you,” I assured her. “It’s not my story to tell.” She nodded. “You ready?”

  She looked up and smiled. “Yes, let’s get this over with,” she answered.

  I kissed her knuckles and smiled. “That’s my girl,” I said and she giggled.

  We boarded the plane, took her to a seat, and strapped her in. I kissed her nose and sat next to her.

  “This isn’t John’s plane,” she said.

  I shook my head. “No, it’s mine,” I said pulling papers out of my briefcase. “Is something wrong?”

  “When I was small dad let me fly with him once,” she said in a strained voice. “His plane looked just like this one on the inside.”

  I saw her fingers digging into the arm of the chair and looked up to her face. It had gone ghost white.

  “Jaden close your eyes,” I instructed. She blinked, but then closed them. “Now take a deep breath and let it out slowly.” She did. “Good girl, again, keep doing that slowly until I tell you to stop.” She nodded and continued to breathe. I reached over and took her hand and she placed a death grip on me. “Jaden ease your hold up.” I stroked her fingers as her grip lightened up.

  Once we were in the air I whispered, “Ok, baby. You can open your eyes.”

  She slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Jaden never be sorry for what you feel,” I said.

  “But you have more important things to do than to babysit me,” she said indicating the papers I had abandoned on the table.

  I waved it away. “Just details,” I said. “And I don’t call it babysitting; I call it taking care of you.”

  She gave me a shaky smile. “I’m fine now,” she said. “Read your file.”

  I eyed her for a second longer, and then I shrugged and picked the file up.

  Thirty minutes later, I was staring in confusion at the numbers in front of me. Something was not right. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked from beside me.

  “Apex Drilling and their numbers,” I answered. “Their financial statement looks funny, but I can’t seem to put the pieces together.”

  “Would you like for me to have a look?” she asked with her hand out.

  I handed the file to her and sat back, rubbing my eyes.

  “Well, there’s your problem,” she said two minutes later. “The numbers don’t match. Give me a pen and paper.”

  A little stunned at how fast she found the issue, I handed her what she asked for.

  She released her belt and slid forward. She shifted through page after page as she wrote things down. This lasted twenty minutes before she sat back.

  “Well, there it is,” she said, pointing at the paper.

  I looked, but I had no idea what she was talking about. “What am I looking at?” I asked.

  She rose up smiling. “Apex Drilling is on the verge of bankruptcy,” she answered. “Cross checking receipts and their spreadsheet shows all the discrepancies for the last six months. If the last six months are anything to go by, then they have been in trouble for at least the last five years.”

  I looked at her, stunned by her intelligence. I shook my head to clear it. When she explained it, I could see it now. “Damn, you’re right,” I said. “You’re amazing.”

  She laughed. “Well, you didn’t hire me for my looks, did you?” she joked.

  I smiled. “Nope, I hired the whole package,” I said quickly kissing her. I grabbed my cell. I needed to call Sandy.

  “So, do you think I can do the job now?” she asked.

  I turned and looked at her. There was a sad look in her eyes. “At first, no,” I said. “I was just being a prick and I�
��m sorry. I should have given you more of a chance to talk. You are a very intelligent, beautiful woman. I have no doubt that you could do anything you put your mind to.”

  She smiled shyly. “Thank you,” she said.

  I kissed her again. “You are very welcome,” I whispered. “I need to make a call and then I’m all yours, ok?”

  She nodded. “Ok,” she answered.

  “Good afternoon. CSD, how may I help you?” Sandy answered.

  “Sandy, have the finance department on standby,” I said. “Jaden found a problem with Apex’s numbers and we need to have another look when we get in.”

  “Sure Chase,” she said. “So I take it you’re bringing her back with you?”

  I laughed. “Yes, I am,” I said. “She’s also going to sit in on the meeting today and the one with Apex on Friday.”

  She laughed. “I believe she has impressed you then,” she said.

  “Yes she did,” I confirmed. “She impressed me a great deal. Without her, CSD could have been screwed. We’ll see you in a few hours.” I hung up.

  I turned to look at Jaden. She was curled up against my side fast asleep. I tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “To think, you didn’t even need your music to fall asleep,” I chuckled.

  Her face wrinkled and she mumbled, “Please Chase. Don’t leave me. I need you.” She shifted. “No, don’t. If you go so will the dream.”

  My heart rate picked up and my breathing became labored. “Could you be falling for me?” I asked aloud. “God, I hope so because I have already fallen for you.”

  I stood and picked her up and took her to the planes bedroom. I placed her on the bed and kissed her lips and she moaned. “I love you Jaden,” I whispered. She stirred and opened her eyes. My heart caught in my throat. She mumbled something I couldn’t hear and fell back to sleep.

  I kicked my shoes off and joined her. She turned and cuddled into my chest. “Yes, reality is good,” I said as I drifted to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Reality is a Bitch

  I had dreamed that Chase had said he loved me. I blinked, trying to get my bearings. I saw I was lying in the planes bedroom and Chase was asleep beside me.

  I needed the bathroom so I slipped out of bed and through the door.

  “Ms. Smith,” a woman said and I turned. “I’m Janet, your flight attendant.”

  “Oh hello,” I said. “Can I help you?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “I was about to wake you and Mr. Daniels,” she said, “We have an hour before we touchdown in LA.”

  “Ok, thank you,” I said. “Once I use the bathroom I will let Mr. Daniels know.”

  My stomach growled. “Would you like something to eat Ms. Smith?” she asked.

  I was starving. “Yes, please,” I answered. Then I remembered the wine. “Do we have some Luc Belaire Rose on board? I believe Mr. Daniels would love some.”

  She beamed. “Yes ma’am, we do,” she answered. “Shall I have a couple glasses ready?”

  “Yes, please,” I responded.

  “Very good Ms. Smith,” she said and walked away.

  I used the bathroom, went back into the bedroom, and quietly shut the door. “You handle the staff very well, Ms. Smith,” Chase remarked.

  I jumped and turned. He was sitting there with a smile on his face. I made a face. “You don’t think I was too rude?” I asked.

  He laughed, stood and walked over to me. He wrapped his arms around me and placed a kiss on my lips. “You did beautiful,” he said. “You always do.” He nuzzled my neck and I hugged him.

  “I have a question,” I said.

  He leaned back to look at me. “Ask away.” He said.

  “We’re together, right?” I asked. He smiled and nodded. “When I start Monday, how am I supposed to act around you? Do you want people to know? Do I call you Chase or Mr. Daniels?”

  He chuckled. “First, that was more than one questioned,” he joked. “Second, you are not a dirty secret, so yes people can know. The rest we’ll figure out as we go, ok?” He kissed my nose.

  I smiled, yet I was still unsure. “Ok, let’s go eat. I’m starving,” I said.

  “After you,” he said and opened the door.

  We were sitting there eating when Chase spoke, “You were quite right. I did need this drink.” He squeezed my hand. “Oh, you start today, not Monday.”

  I choked on my wine. Chase began rubbing my back. “I’m fine,” I said a little too loudly. “What do you mean today?”

  He shrugged. “You found the issue,” he said. “I need you to explain it to the finance department. I will also need you at the meeting with Apex on Friday.”

  “I’m not ready,” I whispered.

  “Jaden, you’ll do just fine,” he said. “Just pretend it’s me you’re talking to. Besides, I will be right there with you and you will need to get used to this anyway.”

  Janet walked up then and removed our empty plates. “Mr. Daniels, Ms. Smith, it’s time to buckle up,” she said.

  “Thank you Janet,” Chase said as he snapped his belt. He went to reach for mine.

  I slapped his hand. “I can do it myself.” I snapped and he yanked his hand back. “Janet, may I have another glass?”

  She smiled. “Yes Ms. Smith.” She answered and walked away.

  “Baby…” he started to say, but I glared at him and he shut up.

  “Don’t baby me,” I said. “I don’t like things being dropped on me at the last minute. On top of that, I have nothing to wear.”

  He let a breath out. “Jaden in this line of work you have to be ready for things to be dropped in your lap,” he said. “Besides, if you hadn’t fallen asleep, you would have known before now.”

  I sat there looking at my hands and thinking about what he had said. Maybe I am making this more of a big deal than it was. I just can’t shake the dream I had.

  “Does this contract mean that much to you, to the business?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he answered. “Without Apex, CSD can’t move forward. This contract is everything.”

  “Ok,” I said. “Give me the file and call Sandy. Have her use my expense account and have me an outfit to change into.”

  He handed me the file, leaned over, and kissed me. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  I nodded. “You’re welcome,” I said. “But I’m still upset with you.”

  He chuckled, pulled his cell out, and called Sandy.

  By the time we landed and pulled into the underground garage, I had several sheets of notes. “Chase this is worse than I first thought,” I said.

  His brows shot up. “Really, how so?” he asked.

  “Their financial issues go further back than five years,” I explained. “It would appear as if someone inside is stealing money from the company. The last six months show issues with their profit/loss with the receipts, but going further back… Well, they should have been making a shitload of money, yet it isn’t shown on the ledger.”

  “Damn,” he said.

  “Although, it will take some time, it can be corrected,” I said. “We need to get a surveillance team inside and start monitoring the emails. Once we know who is responsible, we can remove them and pick the pieces up.” I looked up and saw him smiling. “What?”

  He reached over and stroked my cheek. “I just liked the way you keep saying we,” he answered.

  I felt a blush fill my face and I shrugged. “You do employ me now,” I reasoned. “So I am a part of the company. Saying we feels right.”

  He chuckled. “Keep telling yourself that baby,” he said. “Ready?”

  I was speechless. What did he mean? I shook my head. “Yea, let’s do this,” I answered.

  Charlie opened my door and I stepped out. Sandy was standing there with a garment bag.

  “Jaden, you’re beautiful,” she beamed, “Such a golden tan.”

  I smiled. I couldn’t help it. There was just something so motherly about her and very familiar. “Thank you Sandy,�
� I said. “Is that for me?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “Seeing as Chase changed on the plane you can come with me. I will deliver you once you’re ready.”

  I nodded and started to follow. I felt Chase grab my hand. I stopped and turned. “What?” I asked.

  He tilted his head and smiled. “Do I have to beg again?” he pouted.

  I laughed. “You, Mr. Daniels, are a hopeless romantic,” I said.

  “Only for you Ms. Smith,” he said.

  I went up on tiptoe and intended to just give him a peck, but he had other ideas. He snaked his arms around me and crushed his lips to mine. I gripped his shoulders to steady myself and kissed him back.

  He pulled back smiling. “Still mad at me?” he asked.

  I smiled as well. “No,” I answered. “You do know that at some point I will need to leave you during meetings and such, right? I can’t always kiss you goodbye, no matter how long I’ll be gone.”

  He pulled me closer. “Then I guess I will have to make sure you don’t need to,” he joked, but I could see in his eyes how serious he was.

  I pulled back, handing him my notebook and the file. “Take my things and I will meet you in a minute,” I said.

  He nodded, taking what I handed him. “You did buy a brief case, right?”

  “I did,” I answered as I quickly pecked his cheek, turned and followed a smiling Sandy from the garage.

  When Sandy and I were in the private bathroom, I asked, “Sandy do you really think I can do this?”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind.” She answered. “I’ve always thought you were a very bright and beautiful girl.”

  “Always thought?” I repeated and she gasped. “I knew it. I do know you from somewhere.”

  “Yes Jaden, you do,” she confessed. “I was just hoping you wouldn’t figure it out yet.”

  I finished dressing and stepped from behind the curtain. I studied her for several minutes. I gasped and covered my mouth. “Aunt Sandy?” I asked as tears formed in my eyes.

  She nodded. “Yes dear,” she answered and touched my cheek. My tears flowed free as I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her close.