“Getting your Christmas gifts. They’re in my bag downstairs.”
“Oh no,” he said sliding off the bed. “If it means you getting dressed again, I’ll be the one to bring your bag up. Besides, I have to get yours from under the tree as well.”
“Okay then, mister, get to it!” Jordan said, laughing as she fell back on the bed, naked as everything and making him forget all about those damn presents for a good hot second.
He two-timed it down the stairs, not bothering to get dressed himself. Already he was eager for round two of what they had just done.
There was only one present under the tree. The only family he would be likely to buy presents for usually took off for warmer climates during the holiday season, all expenses paid by her loving son.
He saw Jordan’s suitcase by the front door and recalled that he hadn’t set the alarm. After completing that task, he grabbed his present and her suitcase and hurriedly carried both upstairs.
He’d had the present wrapped professionally with a thick, white on white, flocked brocade paper. There was a wide, black velvet ribbon tied around each side, meeting right beneath a large bow in the middle which held two silk roses.
“It’s beautiful, Carter!” Jordan exclaimed as soon as she saw it. She hadn’t got dressed, but she had pulled the sheets up to cover her chest as she leaned against the headboard.
“Well, there’s more to it than that,” he said, laughing as he sat on the bed near her, handing it over.
She reached over to give him a soft punch, then examined the box again. “I can’t rip this open. It’s like a work of art.”
“Remind me to keep that in mind next year. It’ll save me a few bucks.”
She gave him a scolding smirk, then carefully removed the roses and untied the bow. It took her almost five minutes of gently peeling the taped paper, all while Carter groaned and moaned, before she finally got to the box underneath.
Inside was a black leather briefcase. As Jordan ran her hand over it with awe, even he had to admit it was impressive looking. It was sleek and sophisticated, with two handles to carry it on the arm. There was an attachable shoulder strap as well. She fingered the gold embellishments and clasp as she opened it.
“I had no idea what to get you so—I just know you want to be a lawyer. I hope you don’t mind it being practical instead of romantic.”
“This? This is better than any sappy romantic thing,” she gushed, then reached over to hug him.
She pulled away and looked at him, beaming.
“Your turn,” she said, getting up off the bed and running over to her suitcase.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I had to wrap my own gifts. Blame my dad, he likes corny wrapping paper.”
He smiled as he looked down at the green paper covered in multicolored Christmas stockings. “I’m too curious to be considerate of your wrapping,” he said.
She shrugged and waved a hand telling him to have at it.
He ripped the big, store-bought bow off the small flat present and shredded the paper to pieces. He was truly curious. When he got to the white box beneath, he looked up with a grin.
Jordan was biting her lip anxiously as she watched him. He found it oddly endearing.
“I had a star named after you. I figured out too late that it’s only symbolic—in fact I think maybe even fraud on the part of the company I bought it from, but the little certificate looks nice. You mentioned you had a telescope in your room so now, when you look up through it, you can pretend it’s yours.”
She was rambling. It made him smile. The gift made him smile even more. He knew only NASA had the right to officially name stars but the certificate was nice and—more importantly—she’d remembered his love of space. He was genuinely touched and looked over at her with a smile.
“It’s terrific,” he said.
He placed the certificate carefully on the side table next to the bed so that she would know he actually cared about it. Then he moved on to the next gift. Before he could finish opening it, she was at it again.
“It’s the DVD set, Cosmos? With Neil deGrasse Tyson. It’s supposed to be really good and, well, I thought you’d like it. Although in retrospect you probably already have it. What to get the guy who has everything, huh?” She smiled and shrugged.
He reached a long arm around her head and brought her in for a kiss. “It’s perfect,” he mumbled into her mouth. He could feel her smile underneath him and he moved in closer.
“So, what now?”
“Well, I do have the perfect gift and a big TV right in front of us to enjoy it with. And I recall you saying something about staying in bed forever, which is fine with me.”
Jordan laughed. “Sounds like a plan.”
They watched Cosmos until they fell asleep again.
19
The blackout shades were open. The late morning sun that still lingered behind downtown Houston cast a hazy glow through the room as it filtered through the light curtains that were still drawn.
Jordan was facing away from the window, curled in a tiny bundle at Carter’s much larger side. As the light permeated the room, the brightness eventually found its way to her eyelids and they squinted tighter, before fluttering open. She did that sleepy morning grimace as she adjusted to waking up, then her eyes found his face looking down at her.
“Morning, sunshine,” he said.
She gave a lazy smile in return and reached up to rub her eyes.
“So, that was a nice cozy little night,” she said, her smile getting bigger as she snuggled further into him.
“Yeah. Something I could get used to” Carter replied.
Jordan left that one alone for the moment but didn’t miss the happy little thrill that went through her.
“What time is it?” Jordan asked.
He reached over to pick up his phone from the nightstand. “A little after 10:30.”
“Hmm,” she said nodding. She looked up at him with one eye squinted shut. “Hungry?”
The question immediately made his stomach grumble. They hadn’t even eaten last night, at least not as far as food went.
“Yeah, I guess I am. So, should we scramble up something?” he asked.
She shifted so her head was lying back on his chest as she looked up at the ceiling. “Actually, scrambling is about the only thing I’m capable of. I’m not the world’s greatest cook. It’s my one fatal flaw.”
“Wait, what?” he exclaimed.
“Sorry,” she laughed. “I’d make a terrible wife.”
“So we’re already having that discussion are we?” he teased,
Jordan’s face winced with embarrassment. “You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, hugging her closer playfully. “But, this presents a problem, because I sure as hell don’t cook. I suppose we could go out somewhere.”
“Hmm, but that would mean getting dressed,” she mused, pursing her lips.
“Yeah, scratch that,” he said, and she watched his eyes slide down her cleavage as she pressed up against him.
“Perv,” she said, twisting his nipple lightly.
“Ow!” he yelped, twitching in response. “So, I think between the two of us, we can manage something…without suffering the torment of you covering those lovely legs of yours.”
“Well let’s get at it, I’m starving.”
“Mind if I borrow a shirt?”
“I insist,” he responded.
She ran over to his closet and picked a t-shirt that probably normally clung to his muscles like a second skin. On her it looked like a short nightgown, reaching just past her behind.
“Mmm, I hope you’re not wearing anything underneath that,” he insisted.
“Oh, maybe,” she said raising her hands in a stretch, her arms rising high enough over her head that she easily gave him proof of her strict adherence to that order. She smiled as she leaned against the wall to watch him. “As for you, I wouldn’t mind you just the way you are.”
<
br /> “You want me to cook naked?”
She looked at him speculatively. “Hmm, you’re right. I wouldn’t want my favorite part of you out of commission.”
“So you admit you’re just using me for my body then,” he said, stretching out on his massive bed.
“Well, it’s such a nice body,” she replied walking over and crawling over the covers to straddle him. She walked her fingers up his chest as she smiled down at him. “But no, you have my temporary permission to cover your naughty bits.”
“On second thought.” He reached up and grabbed her around her waist, lifting both himself and her off the bed. She yelped in surprise as he swung her easily around and carried her sideways against his hip out the door and around the walkway to the stairs.
“Put me down!” she screamed, her fists pummeling his lower back and firm behind. She could feel the shirt sliding right up past her ass, giving him quite the view. It was oddly thrilling in a humiliating sort of way. She hoped he couldn’t see too much because it was making her wildly wet.
“Keep that up and you’ll get a spanking,” he warned as she continued to slam her fist against him while he carried her down the stairs.
The thought sent a spasm of pleasure through her.
Spanking, huh? I’ll show you, Carter Fox.
She gave him a nice little pinch on his right cheek
“Ouch, woman!” he yelped. He gave her quick, sharp pat on the ass.
Jordan yelped in surprise, but kind of enjoyed the lingering tingle from that first sting.
She gave him another pinch in response.
“Keep it up, Jordan,” he warned. “You have no idea how much I love the feel of your ass on my hand,” he said as he gave her another little slap.
She wriggled in his arms, knowing exactly what she was doing to him. She’d never been manhandled like this. Of course, she’d never dated anyone as big as Carter. It was embarrassing having her entire lower half completely exposed and on view for his pleasure as he carried her like a sack of potatoes down the stairs.
It was also incredibly erotic.
But she wasn’t about to let him get off easy without at least a little bit of putting him firmly back in his place. When he reached the kitchen he finally set her down and she quickly pulled the shirt back past her lower half with a frown on her face.
Just as she was about to go into attack mode, she stopped and stared and laughed.
He followed her eyes to his cock which had reached about 9 o’clock already.
Now, it was his turn to frown. “What the hell is so funny?” he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jordan saw his expression and stopped laughing, knowing full well what fragile egos men had when it came to their junk. Still, she couldn’t keep the grin from her face.
“I don’t know. It’s just so in your face, sticking straight out like that. Not that I’m complaining,” she said coming closer to him with enticing eyes. “It’s very impressive.”
She pulled away, remembering her priorities. “Wait a second. I’m supposed to be mad at you.” She crossed her arms and gave him an evil look, but couldn’t hide the glimpses down toward his “in your face” dick.
“How about you let me make it up to you?” He picked her up to place her on the island.
“Hey!” she yelped. She was silenced as he parted her legs, his rough fingers sliding down her inner thighs.
Oh…this I can tolerate.
“Carter” she breathed, laying back to accept what was about to happen
He grabbed her legs and slid her forward so her ass was right on the edge of the counter. He pressed his face forward and she could feel his hot breath against her wide open wetness. It sent a painful shudder through her body.
He reached his thumb up to stroke the hood of her clit away and reveal the tiny pink button. A gasp and a shudder went through her. She sighed a moan as he circled it with his lips, his tongue darting out to flick and swirl around it.
That’s when the doorbell rang.
20
Carter was the first to react. He angrily pulled his head away in startled frustration.
What the hell?
He stood up and saw Jordan’s rapidly blinking eyes as she quickly pulled his shirt down to cover herself. She sat up looking at him questioningly. All he could do was shrug.
“I have no clue who that could be, but I fully plan on getting rid of them.”
Of all the damn times…. Whoever was on the other side of that door was going to regret making a house call this morning. There were only a handful of people who could get past the front gate on their own without him buzzing them in. He reached over to pick Jordan off the counter and set her down, as the doorbell rang again.
He was stomping toward the foyer when she stopped him.
“Carter, you may want to cover yourself first!” she yelled.
He looked down at his hard dick still sticking straight up, though it was rapidly deflating now, and felt frustrated all over again. He was tempted to answer the door anyway, just to give the intruder a good lesson in showing up at people’s homes unannounced. He thought of the headlines that would produce and instead sighed and jogged up the stairs to grab a stray pair of jeans to throw on. Jordan came behind him, realizing she was also in no condition to meet guests.
She was rifling through her suitcase and pulled out a pair of panties and skinny jeans to throw on underneath his shirt. The bell rang again. Whoever it was seemed to have no intention of giving up and just going away. He stormed down the stairs, Jordan followed more slowly.
He almost broke the door off of its hinges as he opened it.
“Ma?” he cried in shock as he saw Madison standing there.
She gave him a sweet smile—too sweet. She had a bag from Taco Cabana in one hand.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She was supposed to be in Palm Beach.
“What kind of greeting is that for your mother?” she asked, giving him a frown and walking in right past him. She stopped short when she saw Jordan standing at the bottom of the stairs.
His mother’s hand flew dramatically to her chest as she eyed her, then over to her shirtless son. “Oh my, I didn’t realize I was interrupting.”
“Maybe you should have called first,” he retorted.
She spun on him and glared. “Since when does your mother need to call ahead to visit her son?” she asked, putting her free hand on her hip.
“Since when does my mother visit me out of the blue?” he shot right back at her.
“Don’t be mean,” she frowned. “I come bearing gifts after all,” she said, smiling brightly again and lifting up the bag.
She turned her head to glance at Jordan. “Fortunately, I brought plenty of breakfast tacos. I know how much you like to eat.”
Jordan coughed a short laugh at that. Carter smirked, recalling the “breakfast” he had been in the process of indulging in before they were so rudely interrupted.
Madison looked back and forth between the two, frowning again. “Well, are you going to introduce me?”
“What are you doing here Ma?” he sighed.
“I’m Jordan Douglas,” Jordan said stepping forward with her hand out.
“Madison Grant,” his mother said, eyeing her up and down, then giving her son a glare.
“Well, shall we?” she said lifting the bag again.
“What are you doing here?”
“Of course we shall,” Jordan said chirpily, giving him a look of disdain.
The woman had no idea what a can of worms she was opening.
“Great, I’ll set up in the dining room,” Madison said making her way there. “Why don’t you get some coffee going.”
Not five minutes and she was already giving orders. Jordan took his hand and led him back toward the kitchen. She was most likely under the impression that this was some happy little coincidence. She had no idea what his mother was like.
“Well, I guess we don’t have to worry
about cooking now,” she said smiling at him as he pulled out the coffee maker and filled it with coffee grounds.
“Prepare to have your day ruined, sweetheart.”
“She seems nice enough and she even brought food. I don’t know why you’re complaining.”
“You heard that phrase, ‘beware of Greeks bearing gifts’?”
“Don’t you think you’re being a bit dramatic?”
He just sighed as he watched the coffee pot fill up. When it was finished, he reached up and grabbed three coffee mugs to fill up. Jordan looked in the fridge and found the half and half and brought it out. She took one of the mugs as he grabbed the other two and they made their way to the dining room where Madison had already laid out the breakfast tacos, salsa and napkins.
Naturally, she was sitting at the head, so the two of them sat on either side of her. They each grabbed a taco and began unwrapping them.
“So, Jordan Douglas,” she said looking up in thought. “You’re that woman from the…incident with the ball?” Madison gave her son a brief look before turning to inspect Jordan.
Jordan twisted her lips in a smile and nodded. “Yep, I’m the woman from the incident with the ball.”
“I had no idea you two had become so…close,” she said giving her son another look.
“And yet, here we are,” he responded.
Carter hadn’t bothered to keep his mother up to date on what had developed between Jordan and himself over the course of a semester. The rare visits he had managed to make to Austin had stayed conveniently under her radar. Now he was damn curious as to what had tipped her off.
There was no way this visit was a coincidence.
Carter eyed Jordan. She was slowly beginning to see the light.
“Yes, here you are,” Madison mused. “I can’t say I approve—”
“There’s nothing for you to approve or disapprove of,” Carter interrupted, getting heated.
“I’m just thinking of your career.”
“Really?” he said. “What exactly does my personal life have to do with—”
“Everything!”
“Don’t start, Ma!”
Home Run: A Texas Heat Romance Page 10