The Chauffeur

  I finish packing my bag and clean up my mess. Could it work? Could I work here and have a relationship with him? I’ll need to think about this, but first I need to get Jason on the road.

  “Hi, Sue. Is Jason ready to go?” I ask, adjusting my tote in my hand.

  “I’m not certain he’s still going. He’s pretty pissed that they still can’t locate his fuselage. The shippers say it was delivered and signed for, but the signature is so illegible, we don’t know who is in possession of it. The delivery address is accurate, but the shipment is gone.”

  “That’s weird.”

  “Yeah, Jason is furious that they won’t take responsibility for it. They’re claiming that they shipped it, that it was delivered at the plant and someone signed for it. Neither party is claiming responsibility. This is a major setback.”

  I knock lightly on Jason’s door, and he looks up from his desk. “Are you still planning on going to Romeoville today, Jason?” I ask, quietly.

  “Yes. I’m meeting with the contractors. They’ve installed a lot of the equipment, and I want to see how it’s progressing. Would you like to tour it with me?

  “Sure. I’m fascinated with the manufacturing process. I’ve always wanted to visit the Crayola factory, or Hershey’s.” I’m rambling. Crap.

  He comes around his desk to stand mere inches from my face.

  “Good to know, April,” he says lowering his mouth to mine but snaps back when Sue comes barging in and looks at us, her eyes bouncing back and forth between Jason’s and mine.

  “I knew it!” she exclaims.

  “I’m afraid I can’t hide this from her, April. I’m sorry,” he whispers in my ear. He motions toward her.

  “Come in, Sue. Close the door.” You can tell she’s giddy for the gossip.

  “I know I can trust you to keep my confidence. April and I are exploring a possible relationship. That’s all it is right now. It’s new, and I don’t want you to make anything more out of it than it is. We’re just finding out where we want this to go. Right, April?”

  If I ever wanted to cut this off, now is the time. “That about sums it up.”

  What the hell did I just say?

  Sue beams at us. “So, you two are going to the Literary Guild dinner together then?”

  “Um, no. I have other plans that night that I can’t break,” I say, looking at Jason. “Plus, Jason has a commitment that evening, as well, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I guess I do.” His hand flies to the back of his neck, and his shoulders visibly drop.

  I’m not sure how I should feel about him being with another woman next weekend. I can’t say anything because I have a date that night, too, but my date isn’t scheduled to end up in bed as his is.

  “Just … just use a damned condom,” I mutter for only him to hear. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” I think I may have slammed the door behind me. I’m not sure.

  I don’t know why I’m so mad, but I am. So mad that I back that car out of its space with a little more power than I should have and as soon as I drive around to pick up Jason, I get out and open the door for him. Instead of getting in the car, he takes me by my arms and pulls me into a hug, holding my head tight against his chest.

  “I’m not going to, baby, I promise,” he says sweetly into my hair.

  “Thank you,” I whisper, and he sighs.

  ~.~

  After receiving a first-class tour of the MileHigh manufacturing plant, Jason makes it a point to stop by the shipping and receiving department. “Why wasn’t the name of the individual, who apparently can’t write his or her own name, written down somewhere?” I ponder, giving my unsolicited input. “I mean, there has to be a manifest or a bill of lading, right? Where’s the paperwork?”

  “The strange part is how suddenly their ‘impeccable’ procedures weren’t so impeccable,” Jason says, as he escorts me toward the exit.

  “The driver who made the delivery should explain what happened. I mean it had to have been in several crates, right?”

  “Yes. Where are you going with this?” he asks, interested.

  “Well, it had to have been delivered on a flatbed truck, right?” He nods. “The driver can tell you where he took the crates, and who signed for them. I mean, you can’t just write off the costs and shipments. It sounds like they plan on charging you because they claim it was delivered. You have the right to track that shipment and have them explain all that to you, for god’s sake!”

  “Farmer’s already looking into that. I think Sue is right,” he says as we walk through the plant to the offices located in the front of the building. “Kathryn told me she was going to hit when I wasn’t looking and get me where it hurts the most. I think the subtle note on your door was her doing, too.”

  “I’m sorry she’s messing with you, Jason.”

  “It’s all my own doing. I bought this property out from under her, and she’s angry about it. The strange thing is, she pulled the rug out from under me in a deal I had going a few years back, but I didn’t react like this. There’s something else going on here, and I plan to find out what it is.”

  As soon as Jason finishes his meeting with the plant manager, we head back to the office. He gets on his phone to Sue before I even pull out of the parking lot.

  ~.~

  After a long day, I text Emily and Kyle telling them I won’t be joining them tonight. I’m finally free to enjoy my first quiet weekend night at home.

  I open the balcony doors to allow the fresh air and cool breeze inside. According to my watch, it’s close to the dinner hour, but considering I’m not that hungry, I take a hot shower instead. After dousing my body with a generous amount of lotion, I slip into a silky chemise enjoying the feeling of it against my naked body. Indulging myself, I pour a glass of wine and snuggle up with a good book in my favorite chair. After reading three chapters, I take a sip of my wine when my phone pings a text.

  I almost spill my wine when I see it’s from Jason.

  Open your door

  I hurry to the door and peek out to see him standing there with his hands full, and I let him in.

  “What’s this?” I ask, looking at the bags.

  “Dinner. I was lonely with the love-fest going on at home. You would think in a house that size, my parents could find a place to snuggle without me having to witness it.”

  “I think it’s sweet. I hope that my husband would want me like that after all those years. They’re very lucky to have that.” I open the cupboard to grab plates for us.

  “April, any man that is fortunate enough to have you love him would be crazy not to want you every day of his life,” he says, looking me over from head to toe. “Especially when you wear little things like this.”

  I feel the butterflies flutter in my stomach when he looks at me this way.

  I know I’m in trouble when he traps me against the kitchen counter and his hand slides around to my lower back to fist the material of my chemise. My eyelids become heavy as he glides his nose alongside mine, and I focus on his parted lips, wanting to kiss them. When I feel his hand trail across my bare bottom, I sigh at his touch. As soon as he realizes I have nothing on underneath, he begins to gather the material until I feel the cold air on my skin. I giggle when he peeks around me to look.

  Only then does he use his other hand to examine the contour of my hips, feeling where my cheeks meet my leg. He gently presses me into his erection.

  “April …” he moans against my skin.

  He smothers my response with his soft lips, and his hands tighten across my hips as the need intensifies. I get goose bumps from the heat of his fingers as they slowly trail up my body, pulling the thin material with them. Almost powerless, I raise my arms as he slips the thin shift off my body. He wraps both my arms around his neck as his lips touch mine again in a kiss full of desperation and need. Wrapping my hair around his hands, he tugs, opening my mouth for him.

  In the quiet room, my whimper can be heard when his hand returns to smooth
over my bottom. He uses his knee to slip between my thighs, spreading me.

  “Oh, god, April,” he growls into the curve of my neck as his fingers slowly slide inside me then up across my sex. My eyes flutter open when he pulls his fingers away only to suck on them … to taste me.

  “That’s it,” he growls, lifting my legs around his waist, then hurrying down the hall to my room. “I’m having my dessert before dinner.”

  Chapter 10

  ~Jason~

  From the moment I tasted her, I wanted more. After carrying her to her room, I lower her onto her bed. My gaze never leaves her body, and I lick my lips at her perfectly formed breasts, eager to suckle their lovely pink tips. My fingers slowly roam down her trim waist, across her flat stomach, stopping to play with the ruby stone adorning her navel. I wonder why I didn’t notice that last night, grinning at the fond memory. My eyes involuntarily narrow when they land on hers, and that’s when I see it. She’s needy—her lips part, and her breathing is sporadic and labored. Her eyelids are heavy.

  Wasting no time, I nearly rip my shirt as I pull it over my head. After kicking off my jeans and briefs, I slide my hands under her thighs and open her, exposing her wet center. I place an open mouth kiss on her, and fucking love the lustful look in her eyes. My cock throbs with need when I feel her warm velvet skin on my tongue. I can’t take it anymore when her essence finally hits me.

  As I savor her scent, I drag my tongue over her until she speaks.

  “Oh my, god,” she cries out in a strained whisper.

  Feeling how responsive she is makes me want to fuck her first and snack on her later, but I want her to come like this. I want to see and feel her body come alive. I want to feel and taste her as she comes in my mouth.

  Running my nose along the fold of her leg, I inhale her musky aroma before my tongue teases her by slipping inside her. Licking the fine line that protects the heart of her, I open her and gently suckle on her swollen sex. I know she’s mine when her back arches off the bed again, and she releases a strangled cry.

  Slowly, I repeat the action, inserting one finger inside, searching out her sweet spot. When her body shudders and suddenly stills, I know I’ve found it. Her hands fly to my hair, and her hips begin to move. A gentle flick of my tongue in sync with my touch and she screams my name, her chest rising off the bed and her thighs putting me in a headlock.

  The sounds coming from her are enough to make me lose my shit before I’m inside her and I fight the urge to wrap my fist around my cock. My hips move in sync with hers as she reaches her firsts orgasm of the night.

  I watch as her body responds in blissful agony as my mouth brings her back to me. After she settles, I kiss the soft inner skin of her thighs, needing to bury myself deep inside her. I give her sweet pussy one last tongue-filled kiss.

  “I’ve never tasted anything so sweet, baby,” I say, nuzzling her neck, teasing her entrance with my very hard cock. All I want to do is slide inside her —but I don’t. I pull the tip out of its resting place and regroup.

  “Is anything wrong?” she asks against my cheek while massaging my scalp. I love the way she plays with my hair.

  “God, no,” I groan. “I just need you so much.”

  “I want you, Jason,” she begs, wrapping me in the security of her limbs. In doing so, she opens herself, and my cock rests right back at her opening. “I want to feel you inside me. Fill me like you did last night,” she whispers, circling her hips.

  I can’t deny us any longer, and with one thrust of my hips, I’m planted deep inside of her, where I remain motionless.

  “Oh, fuck,” I moan. “Oh, fucking god.” I drop my head into the curve of her neck, trying not to lose it.

  “I wish you could feel this, baby,” I say, trying to stay focused.

  She patiently waits by running her fingernails along my back. She has no idea how much I love that.

  Trying to gather my wits, I finally begin to move, taking baby steps for fear I’ll come like a teenager.

  She bends her legs, pulling them closer to my side, allowing me to slide deeper inside her. Every inch of her is heaven.

  Keeping our bodies connected, I flip us over so that she’s on top and she wastes no time taking control. April moves her hips in a sensual rhythm, and my eyes are focused where we’re joined. All I want to do is thrust upward, but instead, I lie back, suffer under her spell, trying not to come before she does.

  “God, you feel so good,” she whispers. Those words are music to my ears.

  Closing my eyes, I enjoy the feel her grinding over and around my shaft, and then I feel it. She tightens around me like a vice, and I’m about to lose it.

  “I’m going to come,” she cries.

  “No, not yet, please,” I beg, not wanting to give up until we can’t take it a moment longer. I want us to hold on to this as long as we possibly can.

  Biting down on her bottom lip, she drops her head forward allowing her hair to cascade over me. I grip her hips, lifting and lowering her up over my cock as I thrust inside her, meeting her in tandem.

  “Let me hear you say it,” I say, my breathing more labored with every passing second.

  When she remains silent, it’s evident she’s trying hard not to let it go, but I still need to hear it.

  “Say my fucking name, April!”

  “Jason!” she cries as we reach that white hot place together.

  “Fuck … yeah,” I growl. My head burrows into the pillow, and as I take hold of her, pulling her tight against me as fire rages through my body.

  “Oh, god,” she sobs into my chest.

  “What?” I hold her away from me, and she has tears forming in her eyes. “What, did I hurt you, baby?” My arms fly around her. “Fuck,” I gasp.

  “No, no, you didn’t hurt me.”

  “Then what is it?” I ask again, bewildered. She rushes to climb off me and puts on a pair of shorts and t-shirt.

  “Jason, this … this thing between us,” she says, moving her hand between us, “is powerful. I felt it last night, and I felt again, just now. I’ll fall for you. It’s happening already.” Tears are threatening to fall, and when she picks up my clothes, she lays them beside me as though she wants me to dress and leave.

  “Please don’t regret what we’ve done, April.”

  “Didn’t you hear me? I’m already feeling too much. I know myself. I’ll turn into this … this stupid crazy person. I like myself when I’m organized and calm and … and …” She paces the room. “We can’t do this again.”

  My heart breaks when she sinks to the floor. I slide off the bed and pull her onto my lap.

  “Are you in love with me?” I ask quietly.

  “No,” she says, pushing her shoulder into mine.

  “Then why are you getting so upset? I mean, I know I’m irresistible and all, but why don’t you wait until you do fall for me before you freak out?”

  “Don’t make fun of me.”

  “April.”

  “I already have feelings for you,” she says, laying her head on my shoulder.

  “But I already have feelings for you too,” I reply. “You know this already. We can have feelings for each other together while we get to know each other. Why don’t we give it a try?”

  “You don’t get it. It’s the way I feel when you make love to me.” She nuzzles her face into my neck, and her warm breath gives my cooled skin goosebumps.

  “I can see myself falling in love with you, too. The way you make me feel when we’re connected is powerful, isn’t it? Doesn’t it make you feel full of hope and promise?” I ask, playing with her painted fingernails. “That feeling of elation and the need to be in each other’s presence? That’s what it’s all about, baby. That shit’s meant to be cherished and enjoyed.” I wait while she thinks up her next excuse.

  “That’s sweet, Jason,” she says, sitting up to face me.

  April takes a deep, inhaling breath and begins again. “Okay, if I hear you’ve had sex with another wom
an, I’ll get rabid.”

  “I’m not going to sleep with any woman but you. I promise you that. And I’ll murder any other man touches you, so tell Sam to back the fuck up.”

  “Jason, stop teasing.”

  “I’m deadly serious. I don’t want him to touch you again. I nearly took him out when he tossed you over his shoulder.”

  “No, I mean about all that other stuff.”

  I run my hand along her bare leg and hold her close to me with the other. “I’m not teasing. Not about this, baby. Since that first day you took me to the airport, dressed in that fucking skirt, you’ve been a constant in my mind. I will take this as slow as you want but never seeing you, or never being with you again, is not an option for me.”

  I lift her chin, resisting the urge to kiss her pouting lips. “Listen, my mother’s given us her approval to do this. I want to do this. But if you don’t, we need to stop this now.” Her arms fly around me, and her warm lips silence me.

  “See, I told you I get stupid,” she says, smacking her forehead with the palm of her hand. “God, I’m such a whiner.”

  I smile down at her and kiss her lips, “Don’t I know it! A whiner and a shrew is what you are.” She gives me a weak smile.

  “I’m sorry. This is how I get when I’m feeling insecure. I don’t want to share you, Jason.”

  “We’re in a relationship. That means we’re exclusive.” She melts into my arms, and we share the silence holding each other.

  “Come on, I’m hungry,” I say, wanting to lighten the mood. Prodding her off my lap, I slip back into my jeans.

  “Are we okay?” I ask while I dish Kung Pao onto our plates.

  “Yeah,” she replies. “Sorry for my outburst. This is all so new to me. It’s been a while since …” She doesn’t finish her sentence and lets it drop.

  I’ve long suspected April was hurt by someone and not willing to talk about it. But, there’s always Emily, and if she won’t spill, there’s Kyle. He can get blood from a turnip.

  ~.~

  I want to show April respect by allowing her some time to regroup a little. I hoped I would see her last weekend, but she left early on both Saturday and Sunday and didn’t get home until late. I didn’t question her, but I did miss seeing her around.