by Alexis Gold
“Okay…” I said softly and Jeffrey breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“Okay. So I’m picking you up tonight and we’re still going out, right?” Jeffrey asked to make sure and I told him we were still on for that night. We ended the call and then I got a text message from Vanessa wanting to take up on our nail date.
I did have a few hours to kill so I texted her back that I would meet her at the nail salon in East Village. When I arrived at the little nail shop, which was packed with people, no less, I found Vanessa waiting inside. I had to laugh as she was taking up two seats in the waiting area that had limited chairs for people to sit and wait. People were sending her dirty glances, but she looked like she could care less.
I made a beeline for her and when she saw me approaching, she smiled and moved her legs from the other seat so I could sit before someone took the chair. “Thanks for holding the seat for me, you’re amazing,” I said and Vanessa laughed.
“It’s all in the attitude, plus this place is the only nail salon that gets things right, even with an appointment, the wait is ridiculous.”
I took in the packed salon and nodded, she definitely wasn’t exaggerating.
“So how are things with you and Jeffrey?” Vanessa asked me almost knowingly. I wondered if she knew that Roxanna had re-entered Jeffrey’s life.
“Well, we agreed to be sort of exclusive, I guess, but the infamous Roxanna has wiggled her way back into his life somehow…” I said distastefully. Vanessa made a face and she shook her head.
“That bitch, she’s only after his money. They had been friends ever since college but that was it, completely platonic. Then she learned that Jeffrey wasn’t just studying to be an engineer to work at Stargate, but that his father owned the billion-dollar company. That’s when their relationship became romantic, sort of. This is all according to Victor. I joined Stargate when the bitch left him high and dry.”
I smiled, Vanessa was a bit caustic, but I liked it on her. She was blunt and to the point. She continued to fill me in on Jeffrey and Roxanna’s history. “So when she found out that Jeffrey’s father owned the company and that Jeffrey was well off, she was ‘in love’ with him. But then, when Jeffrey showed no interest in running the company as a whole, Roxanna realized there was no future for her and an engineer so she just left him without a word or reason as to why she left.”
“Wow…” I took all that in while Vanessa nodded sagely. That was seriously messed up of Roxanna, how could she play with Jeffrey’s heart like that and be so cold? I simply shook my head and hoped Jeffrey cut off whatever contact he opened with Roxanna, it didn’t sound like she led to blue skies.
“I just wish she’d disappear, honestly,” I said truthfully and Vanessa snorted, fully agreeing with me.
“Yeah, Victor hates her. So by association so do I.” Vanessa cracked a smile and then we both started laughing.
“So how long have you and Victor been together?” I asked.
Vanessa hesitated and then she sighed.
“Well…for a while now, but we only just recently told Jeffrey about it. Or Victor only recently told Jeff about it, I should say,” Vanessa amended.
“Why’d you guys wait to tell Jeffrey?” I asked curiously and Vanessa pursed her lips.
“Victor was afraid he’d freak out and fire me, since at the time we first started actually dating was right when I was hired, pretty much. Victor didn’t want me to lose my job.” Vanessa smiled fondly and I could imagine her relationship with Victor must have been great.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey and I were getting off to a really rocky start. That couldn’t be good for our future could it?
“Uh-oh, what are you thinking about over there?”
I sighed, everyone always knew when I was mulling something over in my head, maybe I was too expressive.
“Nothing…it’s just, things with Jeffrey and I are intense and I worry, you know?” Vanessa nodded and her eyes seemed far a way for a second.
“Yeah, that’s how it was with Victor and I at first. We were mad for each other and completely wrapped up. But that just means you’re right for that person and your bond will last. Roxanna will fade to grey, trust me. Jeffrey is crazy about you and it’s obvious for anyone to see.
She’ll get the picture soon enough,” Vanessa assured me and I hoped like hell she was right.
By the time Vanessa and I got our nails done, we decided to have a drink at a local happy hour. I really liked Nessa, she was fun and witty, and told it like it was.
I got home just in time to shower and get ready for my date with Jeffrey. Seven o’clock came around and Jeffrey hadn’t shown up. He was only a few minutes late, twenty minutes past, and I figured something happened with Carl his driver. I sent Jeffrey a text, but there was no reply. I got a bit worried and called his cell, but he didn’t answer, so I left a message.
“Hey…I hope everything is okay. I’m worried, so let me know you’re alive.” With that I hung up and wondered if he really wasn’t hurt and did I really want to face the possibility that he stood me up. Once eight thirty came around, I changed into my fuzzy pajamas and simply crawled into bed feeling really low.
* * *
I woke to the sound of my phone ringing loudly and I floundered to answer it. I had it underneath my pillow for some reason. Great, I possibly had a brain tumor by that point.
“Christina…” Jeffrey’s voice brought me to awareness, he sounded remorseful and as if he was about to give a million and one excuses. I simply hung up on him and refused to cry myself to sleep. Instead, I stayed awake for a long time before exhaustion took over.
The next morning when my phone alarm went off, I woke with the all too familiar morning headache and it was back with a vengeance. I groaned and went to take a couple of Motrin before getting ready for work.
When I went downstairs to walk to my car, I saw the all too familiar black Audi SUV parked behind Ol’ Betty. Jeffrey got out with a single rose in hand and I felt tears threaten at the back of my eyes. I started shaking my head before Jeffrey even made it all the way over to me.
“Please, please, please hear me out, Christina,” Jeffrey begged and I shook my head again.
“No, I can’t do it, Jeffrey. I’m not strong enough for this and you know it. I don’t think we’ll work out…” I said quietly and Jeffrey closed the short gap between us with one stride before he pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips against mine, feverishly. My body recognized his instantly and I melted against him. Jeffrey broke the kiss so he could whisper against my lips.
“I’m so sorry…”
I looked down and took a deep breath before stepping away from him.
“I am too, Jeffrey,” I said before getting into my car and driving away.
I left my heart with a rose on the sidewalk that morning and the feeling was unbearable. Work lifted my spirits a little bit. The guys picked up on my mood, I thought, and they were particularly funny. Austin gave me work to focus on and I appreciated any and all distraction from how shitty I felt inside.
“Hey, how about we all go for lunch at that great pizza place down the street, Giro’s?” Tristan suggested as we all sat at the collaboration table outside of Austin’s office. Austin was sitting with us, too, and Trent had just rejoined our table.
“Aw, man that sounds so good right now. Christina, have you ever tried Giro’s?” Trent asked.
I shook my head, my expression was curious and Caiden made a big deal of my needing to try the pizza there.
“It’s a lifetime goal, you have to try it,” Bryce commented and Trent pounded his fist lightly on the table.
“It’s settled then, team lunch at Giro’s, let’s go.”
Everyone got up to leave and I fell to the back of the group as the guys talked. Trent hung back with me and touched my chin briefly. I realized I had been staring at the floor. I looked up at him with a small smile.
“Sorry, in my head a lot today,” I said sheepishly and Trent tilted his
head at me curiously. I felt as if he could see right through me.
“It’s that other guy isn’t it?” I sighed and then nodded. Trent shook his head and I saw his jaw clench.
“If it were me lucky enough to date you, which I hope you haven’t passed on my offer by the way, I’d treat you right. No other women, you’d be my princess.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“No offense or anything…but are you just saying that?” I asked. He probably told all the girls that just to get them into bed or something.
Trent looked at me in all seriousness and shook his head no.
“Not at all, Christina. If I like you enough to want to date you and you express interest in return, you’d be my number one focus,” he said sincerely.
I wondered then if it would be so bad to date Trent. I smiled at him tentatively and he seem satisfied. We had fallen behind the group as we walked the busy sidewalks of the city and caught up with them just before they walked into the restaurant.
“There you guys are, we were worried we would have to plaster your faces on the side of milk cartons,” Bryce quipped. Both Trent and I snorted at the same time. We looked at each other and started cracking up. It’s highly unlikely that either of us would end up with our faces on a milk carton.
Lunch was better after Trent cheered me up a little. I was able to really laugh and joke around with the guys. The pizza at Giro’s was amazing and the guys were kind of surprised that they liked hanging out with me. I wasn’t “afraid to eat like a normal person” according to Caiden, and they invited me for drinks after work. I glanced at Trent and wondered if he was going, he looked at me, seeming to read my mind, and nodded. I smiled and told the guys that I’d love to join.
I wasn’t completely over Jeffrey; I wasn’t over him at all. But I was at least living my life without him. Well, for a day so far, who knew how the weekend and next few weeks would pan out. I already missed his carefree attitude and constant joking around.
His need for me was also something I missed like crazy. I was just starting to see just how much he really had feelings for me. Of course, now that I cut things off with him, it all made freaking sense. I sighed, maybe I should call him…
“There you go thinking again, where’s that cute little dimpled smile of yours?” Trent nudged me and I smiled almost reluctantly. “There she is,” Trent said, a smile echoed on his face.
Work went on from there, it wasn’t too bad, the guys kept me laughing and after work Trent walked me to my car and I thought for a moment that he was going to kiss me goodbye. He was standing very close to me and he leaned forward to place his hand on the roof of my car.
“So, I’ll see you tonight then?” Trent asked hopefully. I nodded and smiled tentatively.
“You will, I wouldn’t miss hanging out with those guys…and you,” I said.
I caused Trent’s smile to grow and he leaned forward to press a soft kiss to my lips. I was surprised, I didn’t think he would actually do it.
Trent pulled back and smiled at me before he waved and then headed to his car or wherever he went after work. I was about to turn around and get into my car when Jeffrey came, literally, out of nowhere.
“Was that good for you?” He looked furious and all the breath left me as he backed me up against my car. There were people walking back and forth on the sidewalk, of course, but no one found this to be alarming in the slightest.
“Answer me, do you like him?” Jeffrey was just as beautiful as the last time I saw him. His undercut was styled into arranged disarray and he wore another business suit. It was pinstriped grey that day.
“I do like him, he’s normal,” I said after I regained my ability to speak.
Jeffrey’s eyebrows furrowed.
“You want normal? Or do you want me?” Jeffrey gripped my upper arms in his hands firmly. His green hazel gaze was locked on mine as if I was his lifeline.
“I want you Jeffrey, but…” Jeffrey shook his head and I fell silent as to why he was doing that.
“No, buts. You want me and I want you. So we’re together. There’s nothing going on with Roxanna and I. I was wrong for not telling you that I couldn’t make it last night…she—she showed up at my house with her crap and I made the mistake of opening the door,” Jeffrey was obviously still beating himself up over the fact that he messed up with me again, over something Roxanna did.
“Please, I’m trying like hell to get it through her thick skull that I don’t want her, that I’m taken. You are too, Christina, I swear—God I was going to beat the crap out of that guy for touching you.”
Jeffrey pressed his lips against mine and my entire body reacted.
It was almost as if my body recognized its mate. Jeffrey’s lips moved urgently against mine, I melded against him and deepened the kiss, our tongues met and my fingers pushed into his hair. It was like I was starved for him.
“Shit, Christina, we need to get off the street,” Jeffrey said after breaking the kiss so we could both catch our breath. The rest of the world quickly came back into focus and I stepped away from him a fraction. Jeffrey chuckled and then he took my keys from me.
“We’ll take my car,” Jeffrey said, his tone of voice was promising and full of heated intent. A shiver traveled down my spine and I followed him a short way up the sidewalk, directly in front of the building the Six Fountain offices were located.
I realized that I must have missed it the entire time I walked with Trent to my car. Jeffrey held the door open for me and I climbed in, he got in after me and shut the door, then slid the partition up so that we could have some privacy.
“I need to be inside of you, Christina…now,” Jeffrey said bluntly as his eyes traveled the length of my body. I was wearing a skirt that day so having sex in the car would have been easy. My body was flushed and I did need him, probably equally as bad as he needed me.
“Okay,” I said simply and Jeffrey lifted my skirt before he pulled me to straddle his hips. He unzipped his fly and pulled his already rigid cock out. I kissed him while I guided him inside of me, I was already wet for him. Jeffrey filled me up and once he was fully sheathed inside of my quivering sex, I began to ride him, slow while I kept him buried deep at first, and then I quickened my pace while his hands gripped my ass tightly and guided me up and down on his cock.
I tried to keep my voice down, but I couldn’t help the soft moans and whimpers that escaped my throat every time he filled me up. Soon, Jeffrey was guiding my hips with his hands, slamming me down onto him hard and fast. My thighs tightened on either side of his hips and my sex quivered with my impending orgasm.
“Yes, baby, come for me…” Jeffrey whispered and I shot off into a mind numbing orgasm. Jeffrey held me against his chest while he thrust into me hard and fast before his own orgasm emptied into me in hot spurts. We were both breathing hard, as if we had been separated for months rather than a couple of nights.
“I don’t want this to happen ever again, let’s not have anything separate us, okay?” Jeffrey asked me and I nodded my head. I couldn’t agree with him more.
Chapter9
Jeffrey
Christina was dozing off against my shoulder while we drove the rest of the way to her apartment. I wanted her to pack a bag of her necessities and then, when we were back at home, I’d ask her to move in with me. I did not like being away from her at all. It made me too unfocused, too short tempered and needy.
I tightened my arm around her and kissed the top of her head. Her hair smelled like some sort of exotic fruit, like passion fruit or mango, and something else. The car pulled to a stop outside of Christina’s building and I gently woke her.
“Hey, we’re here. Get some things before we go back to my place.”
Christina rubbed her eyes while she nodded. I got out with her and went up to her apartment. She packed a suitcase without my even having to ask and I smiled, at least I knew she missed me just as much as I missed her.
“Okay, I’m set for like a mont
h…at this point I should just move in…” she mumbled as she walked past me to the front door. I smiled and caught up with her to take the luggage.
“Why don’t you? I want you to move in, I was thinking about asking you for a while now,” I told her and she held the door open for me as I lugged the heavy bag out into the hall with us. She locked the door and we went down the stairs at the end of the hall to exit the building.
“I would like to live with you…but I’m just scared that we’re moving too fast,” Christina admitted.
I was excited about her telling me she wanted to live with me and then deflated when she brought up the “moving too fast” card.
