James (Members From Money Book 34)

by Katie Dowe

  She shrugged a little bit and avoided his eyes. “You came into my life and bombarded me with your kindness and showed me something different. I just wondered if—”

  “You're wondering if you are really in love with me,” his voice was soft and the tone sent a shiver down her spine. “Why don’t I give you a couple of days to think about it?”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To the gym to work out my issues,” he told her coldly. “I've treated you with kid’s gloves because of what you've been through. I've been through a lot of issues myself and you never one day make allowances for that. Work out your feelings Kennedy and let me know where I stand.” He walked out and closed the door behind him.

  The closing of the door felt like a finality that rang inside her heart. She'd hurt him. She was constantly hurting him. She was making a wonderful man hurt because of what she had been through, she was doing it because she refused to let of the past. But she couldn't go and find him because there was still this small voice inside of her wondering if she was with him because of the way he made her feel. It had been swift. This union between them had swept her off her feet and she'd had no time to process it. She wanted to be sure, not just for her but especially for him. He deserved the best. Not just some woman who would discover down the road that she didn't love him. “Oh God!” she put her hand to her mouth. “Please let it not be like that. I couldn't bear to hurt him!”

  *****

  James had been in the gym for the past half hour and had yet to pick up a single weight or pommel the bag hanging from the ceiling. He sat with his hands clasped between his legs. She had doubts about them. He'd never thought that was something he would hear from her. He'd poured everything into loving her. He'd lacked love his entire life except for the sense of protectiveness he felt for his sister. He'd poured his love into her and had probably swept her off her feet, giving her no choice. His hands clenched into fists as he stared off into space. He loved her so much that it hurt. If she told him that she couldn't go through with it he would have to let her go but he would never survive the pain.

  He buried his face into his hands and prayed that she would come to him. Even if she didn't say anything, just come and find him. He waited and when she didn't show he slid to the floor, curling up into a ball, his expression anguished.

  *****

  “Call your boyfriend!” James said coldly as he marched into Julia’s office. He hadn't slept the entire night and he felt as if every bone in his body was unhinged. He'd walked into their bedroom quietly and stood there staring at her as she slept before he got dressed and left.

  “What?” Julia looked up at him. She was in the middle of a conference call with a client and he'd interrupted.

  “Call your damned boyfriend now!”

  “Let me call you back,” she told the client and hung up. “You better have a damned good reason for storming into my office and behaving like an ass!” She walked past him and closed the door. “What the hell is the matter with you?”

  “Did he tell you that he made a pass at Kennedy?”

  Julia stared at him in shock. “He wouldn’t!”

  “Call him, dammit! Ask him what he said to her.”

  Julia walked over to her desk and made the call. “Hi Michael.” She listened for a moment. “Yes, I'm all set for tonight. I have to ask you something. Did you say something to Kennedy?”

  “Put him on speaker,” James said tightly.

  She did and they both heard the silence as the man didn't respond.

  “We need an answer,” James told him coldly.

  “I never meant to hurt you Julia, but the moment I saw her something clicked. I'm sorry man, she's a beautiful woman and I had to try. You have nothing to worry about because she's totally devoted to you.”

  “You think I'm worried?” James asked him softly.

  *****

  Julia looked over at her brother and felt fear for Michael. “We're done Michael.”

  “I am sorry—” She cut him off and turned to stare at James.

  “He's not worth whatever you're thinking,” Julia wanted to cry but she had to convince her brother not to go and find Michael and destroy him. “Kennedy loves you—”

  “She's having doubts about us!” he shouted.

  Julia stared at him. “She is not,” she said slowly. “She loves you very much. I've seen you two together and I wish that I could find something like that. Whatever it is, work it out and don’t allow anything to get between you.”

  He stepped back and raked his fingers through his hair. “She's having doubts and it's killing me. I love her so much and her having doubts about us is killing me. Maybe I forced her into this, forced her into thinking that she should love me. I forced her into feeling what she feels about me.” He bit off and stared into space. He looked as if he hadn't slept and was going to fall any minute. Her strong and super confident brother looked as if he had nothing left to live for. She approached him and he straightened, stopping her with one look. “I have to go.” He walked out of her office and closed the door behind him. She stood there staring at the closed door for a moment and then went to make a call.

  “You need to fix it!” she said coldly. “I told you that if you hurt him you're going to answer to me. Fix him!”

  “You have no right—”

  “Kennedy so help me God if you do not make this right I'm going to break every bone in your body! I had to hear from my brother that my boyfriend has the hots for you and I had to see him look like he has nothing left to live for. He's been through abuse from our father and faced all that for years and I never saw him look the way he does right now. Fix it, dammit!”

  *****

  He didn't come home until very late. She'd been calling him ever since she got the call from his sister and he hadn't responded. She'd left several pleading messages and some angry ones. “Dammit James! Please call me back and let me know you're okay. I love you! Do you hear me? I love you and I know that because of the fact that I can't be without you. I don’t want to be without you. Please call me back baby. I'm worried.”

  He came home after twelve and saw her sitting in the living room. She jumped up as soon as he came in and launched herself at him, her fists battering his chest, her eyes red from crying. “You bastard!” she cried as she hit him over and over again. He stood there and let her until she crumpled at his feet, crying. He reacted then, bending down to lift her into his arms and carrying her to their bedroom.

  *****

  He held her in his arms as he sat on the sofa and held her close as she sobbed into his chest. He felt drained and heartbroken as he listened to her sobs. He'd been at the club drinking steadily as he decided what to do. He'd finally listened to her many messages and had come home.

  He waited until she'd stopped crying and eased her away from him. “I'm sorry,” he told her wearily. “I'm sorry.”

  “You can’t do that again,” she said hoarsely. “You cannot just take off and leave me, I won’t let you. We were supposed to work it out and I'm sorry for what I said to you but it was what I was feeling. I don’t want you treat me like I'm something that will break. I won’t. He didn't break me and I'm not broken. I love you James, not because of the fact that you swept me off my feet. It’s because of the man that you are and you've shown me that you're the only man for me. I love you so much that it hurts in here,” she took one of his hands and placed it over her heart. We're not perfect and we're going to have arguments but we cannot walk out on each other. That is not allowed.”

  “You still want to marry me?” he asked her huskily.

  “Are you serious?” she asked in exasperation. “More than anything in the world!”

  *****

  She made up for hurting him in a spectacular way. His birthday fell on a Saturday and she went all out. She'd thought about booking the most expensive restaurant (one of his) and taking him to dinner but she'd decided against it. She figured they both needed time alone together to h
eal what had happened between them a week earlier. The wedding was two weeks away and everything was underway.

  She'd ordered the perfect outfit online at Romano’s. She'd persuaded him to go to the club for the afternoon and come back later and he had. “What are you planning?”

  “It’s a surprise,” she'd told him softly.

  She stepped back and looked at the table with satisfaction. The candles were lit, the meal was something simple: Mongolian beef and spring onions and a bottle of Costa Rose´. She'd also bought him a hammered silver bracelet with the words: ‘To the love of my life and the man of my dreams’. It was wordy but she wanted to show him that she loved him and him alone. She knew he wasn't much for jewelry but she knew he would wear it. She heard the door open and stood by the table, waiting for him to come in.

  *****

  He stopped short in the doorway and stared at her. The peignoir was gold silk and hugged her slender body, outlining every curve. It had rich lace at the bodice and revealed the flesh of her breasts. The material glowed against her flawless skin. Her hair flowed freely around her face and past her shoulders in waves. He came slowly into the room and stood just in front of her, looking down at her, afraid to touch her in case she was a figment of his imagination.

  “I thought that this would be a perfect birthday celebration for the man I adore,” she told him huskily. “I hope I made the right choice.”

  His hand cupped her cheek and caressed. “How can you be so beautiful?” he asked her thickly. “How can I not love you and want to give you everything?”

  “I feel the same way.” She went on her toes and looped her hands around his neck. “I never want you to be in doubt about who you are to me. You are my man, my best friend, my lover and everything that is good. I just want you to know that.”

  His eyes were suspiciously bright as he pulled her to him. “Thank you,” his head bent to her and he took her lips with his. The touch was feather light and Kennedy felt her body tremble as she returned the touch. He kept it light, his lips just moving over hers, his tongue darting into her mouth hesitantly. Ever since that night he'd held something back and she'd wanted it back but understood that she had hurt him so much that he had to shield how he really felt, but tonight he was letting go! He lifted her up against him and she felt the hardness of him. The meal was forgotten for the moment, everything else was second place to what they were feeling, what they were experiencing. The intensity, the passion and the pain of loving so much! He made love to her right there against the wall, his penis sliding into her slowly, languidly as he delayed the inevitable. Kennedy cried openly as he took her to unbelievable heights of love and transported her to a place she had never been to before. He held her gently in his arms as he kissed every last teardrop from her cheeks.

  *****

  The large chapel was overflowing with people. The brilliant December day was a complement to what was about to take place. James Jian Zhang stood there with his hands folded together as he waited for his bride. He still had nightmares that she would decide that she didn't love him anymore and just leave him. The wedding party had started to come in. He watched without much interest as the large party came into the room. His eyes were trained on the doorway. Bradley Wellington was giving her away and when the music stopped and changed to the wedding melody, people got to their feet and turned to look at the doorway. There was a collective gasp as she made her appearance. The dress was ivory silk with subtle patterns all over it. It had lace off the shoulders, cap sleeves and molded her bosom and the rest of her shape. At the waist there was a detachable skirt that flowed behind her and revealed the underskirt whenever she moved. It was stunning! She was stunning! And there were murmurs of admiration throughout the chapel. Her hair was piled on top of her head, secured by jeweled pins. A tiara rested on top, glittering with diamonds. She looked unreal, like someone out of a fairytale. He went to meet her, nodding as Bradley released her to him, and had eyes only for her. He lifted one gloved hand to his lips and kissed it slowly before turning to take the walk up the aisle.

  The vows were said; the emotions bare and raw and evident for those seated there. Very soon Kennedy Chloe Clarke became Mrs. James Jian Zhang. Rings were exchanged and the promise of love everlasting was said. The kiss had to be cut short because both of them felt the fire of the passion uncurling inside them. Later! It had to be later in the privacy of their home.

  The reception was being held at the newly renovated hotel called Zhang Dynasty, a five star deal with an enormous ballroom. The food was sumptuous and the liquor flowed freely. Reporters mingled with the guests and snapped pictures of the happy couple and the others who held their loved ones close as they danced and reminisced about their own weddings and the lives they shared. Then it was time for them to leave. Kennedy had taken off the skirt and revealed the stunning form-fitting gown that had people staring again. Romano’s had outdone themselves and people would be talking about Kennedy’s dress for a very long time.

  The driver whisked them back to their apartment. The honeymoon would start officially tomorrow because now they just wanted to be together. It would be a week of plane hoping and staying nights in exotic places.

  He lifted her over the threshold and didn't set her down until they reached their bedroom. She'd spent the entire journey cuddled into his arms, still not believing that she was Mrs. James Zhang! He zipped her down, sliding the rich fabric over her ivory camisole. She stepped out of the dress and he picked it up placing, it carefully over the brocade chair. She'd slipped out of her designer shoes. He tilted her chin, his expression unbelievably tender as he looked at her. “Tell me again that you're my wife,” he whispered huskily.

  “I'm your wife for better or for worse,” she whispered. “We're in this together and no matter what happens nothing will tear us apart. I went through that hell so that I could reach right here where I am with you. I would go through it again if it means ending up with you. I love you James Jian Zhang and I will always love you.”

  “I'm holding you to that.” He gathered her into his arms and took her to the bed. The entire ceremony had lasted four hours and it had gotten dark. A light snow had been falling when they were leaving the hotel. He took the slip of material off her and passed his hands over her skin lovingly, feeling the texture of her. He'd taken off his black tuxedo and his crisp white shirt and was still wearing his undershirt and briefs. His erection was already evident, straining to get out but this was their wedding night and if it killed him he was going to do it right. He peeled it off her and dropped it to the floor. His fingers wandered over her skin, while his eyes held hers. “You are my life,” he whispered as he cupped her breasts. “Without you I am nothing.” His lips took the place of his fingers and his mouth made the descent all way down until she was a trembling mass of nerves. He didn't stop and Kennedy felt her body vibrating with need, with the desire that was threatening to erupt and claim her. She called out his name in a whisper and then a cry as he found the core of her. He spent his time, making his mark as he tasted and savored her. Kennedy sobbed, her body arching into his. He finally stopped and came over her, entering her with a swiftness that left her breathless and clutching at him. He stopped for a second, his breathing shallow, and his heart pounding as he stared at the woman who had captured his heart in her small hands. He moved again and this time his lips found hers, his movement tender as he showed her just how much she meant to him, how much she made his life a million times better.

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  Description:

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