by D. Camille
“Uhh...I need my panties.”
“Okay.”
“Can you find them for me?” she asked not moving.
“Is there a reason you can't find them?” he asked confused.
She gave him a look. “Ummm...because I'm naked.”
“And you've been naked all night. I don't understand.”
“It's light out Jordan,” she said in explanation.
Jordan was now thoroughly amused. “And that means?” he asked smiling.
She pulled the sheet around. “It means you can see me,” she clarified.
“Sage I saw you, felt you, and tasted you last night. What are you talking about?”
Sage narrowed her eyes. “Jordan I don't want to just get up and walk in front of you naked.”
“Are you serious?” he asked still confused. “Were you the woman in this bed last night screaming my ears off butt naked?”
“Yes! Just please find my panties for me Jordan.”
Jordan looked around on the ground and found the scrap of lace.
He stood at the foot of the bed. “Here you go,” he said holding them in his hand.
“Thank you. Can you hand them to me?”
Jordan shook his head. “You have to come get them.”
“Jordan please don't play games,” she said seriously.
He walked around the side of the bed. “Why don't you want me to see you Sage?”
She dropped her face into her hands. “It's crazy.”
Jordan sat down on the bed next to her. “Tell me.”
She looked at him. “It's just when we share physical love for the first time I want you see me completely for the first time...I mean I know you saw me last night. But you didn't see all of me because it was kind of dark and I kept myself covered at first and I stayed in the bed.”
Jordan wondered where in the hell her logic came from. He'd seen every incredible inch of her body and then some. She was right. It was crazy. He shook his head.
“Okay baby. Here are your panties.” He handed them to her. “Do you want me to step outside while you put on your dress?”
“Yes. Thank you Jordan,” she said relieved.
Jordan walked outside the tent and watched the ocean shaking his head. He'd touched and kissed and licked every part of her body last night and she thought he didn't see her? Since she was crazy, he was crazy in love with her, because only Sage would think that not seeing her completely naked beforehand could make making love to her better. She never ceased to amaze him.
Sage came out of the tent fully dressed. Her hair was a wild mane on her head since she hadn't even attempted to do anything to it. She walked up to Jordan and put her arms around his waist. “Thank you Jordan, for everything.” She smiled up at him.
“Thank you Sage, for being my everything.” He took her hand and led her to the waiting car.
Inside the limo Sage sat next to Jordan with her hand in his. “I can't wait for you to see my apartment Jordan. I love it!” she said excitedly.
“I'm glad you love it baby,” he said looking at her. “Ah Sage....umm I have something to tell you, but you can't get mad at me.”
Sage looked up at him. “Then it must be something that's really going to make me mad,” she said simply as he toyed with her fingers. “What is it Jordan?”
“Remember, you can't get mad at me,” he started.
Her eyes narrowed. “I'm getting mad right now Jordan.”
“I've already seen your apartment,” he confessed.
Sage looked confused. “But how?”
Jordan tightened his grip on her hand. “I saw it before you moved in because I wanted to check it out and make sure it was good for you.” He paused.
“And?” Sage said pointedly.
“And I saw it again after you moved in. I just wanted to see if you had everything you needed.”
“How in the hell did you get into my apartment Jordan?” She snatched her hand away.
Jordan sighed. “I own the building.”
He reached for her hand again. “But baby I'm telling you now so down the road you won't say that I lied to you.”
Sage again pulled her hand away. “You and that damn Sean. You're like Hocus and Pocus with all of your tricks.”
Jordan shook his head. “It wasn't a trick Sage. You picked that apartment and you paid the going rate for the rent.”
“So did you own all the buildings where Sean showed me apartments?” she asked deducing.
Jordan looked at her confused. “Of course, why would he show you apartments in buildings I don't own? That doesn't make any sense.”
“See Jordan, you've already broken your word about not interfering in my life this way.”
He shook his head. “No. No. I didn't promise that until last night. This was weeks ago, so I'm good.”
Sage turned to him. “You are so not good Jordan.” She folded her arms and sat back against the seat. “Oh we're definitely going to work on that. Yes sir. We are going to… Work.On.That!”
After a few minutes Jordan turned to her. “It's a really nice apartment. I like it a lot.” He smiled at her.
“You go too far Jordan,” she admonished.
He leaned down to nuzzle her neck. “I know., but you'll keep me in line,” he said kissing her softly.
“You can't do stuff like that,” she said against his lips.
“I know and I won't again,” he said pulling her onto his lap. “And you can't be mad at Sean either. He takes that stuff very seriously.”
“I'm not mad at Sean. Sean allows you to mix him up in your schemes. He's a sweetheart. Sean wouldn't hurt a fly.”
Jordan looked at her pointedly. “You think so, huh?” he said cryptically.
Sage had arranged to meet Lily at the gallery but was running terribly late due to her long night with Jordan. She'd had just enough time to shower and dress. She rushed into the Black Diamond Building to find Lily waiting in the lobby sitting on a sofa...with Sean?
Sage walked up quickly.
“Hey you two. Sorry I'm late,” she apologized.
Sean stood. “Hey Sage. I happened to see this beautiful woman waiting down here all alone so I stayed to keep her company until you arrived,” Sean explained.
Sage looked from Sean to Lily and back again. “Oh. Thanks Sean”
Lily stood. “Yes. Thank you Sean,” she said staring up at him. “I'm looking forward to the Museum Tour.”
“So am I Lily,” Sean replied.
Sage stood watching their interaction. While the three of them were standing there, Jordan exited the elevator...with Isabelle?
Sage noticed that the woman looked as beautiful as she did last night. Today she was wearing a turquoise sheath dress that complimented her light complexion. Expensive jewelry, shoes and handbag completed her polished ensemble.
Jordan spotted the trio and steered Isabelle toward their direction. Once they'd met up with them, Sean greeted Isabelle with a broad smile.
“Izzy, I didn't know you were here!” he said planting a light kiss on her cheek.
Isabelle looked up at him. “I just stopped by to see Jordan,” she explained. Then she turned to Sage. “Nice to see you again Sage.”
Sage looked from Jordan to Isabelle. “Thank you Isabelle. Nice to see you again too,” she said slowly looking back to Jordan who was watching Isabelle who was staring at Sean who was looking at Lily.
Lily thought it was time to break up this little tete a tete. She cleared her throat. “Well Sage, are you ready now?”
Her words brought Sean out of his trance. “Pardon my rudeness Lily. Please allow me to introduce you. This is Isabelle, an old friend. Isabelle this is Lily, a...new friend,” he said smiling down at Lily.
Sage watched as Isabelle's face fell. Although she quickly composed herself, Sage had seen the slip.
Isabelle, ever a woman of style and grace extended her hand to Lily. “It's a pleasure to meet you Lily.”
Lily too had picked up on
how the woman looked at Sean and could tell there were definitely some feelings involved. “It's a pleasure to meet you too Isabelle,” she replied shaking the woman's hand.”
Sean continued, “And I don't know if you've met Jordan.”
Jordan spoke up then. “No, I haven't had the pleasure,” he said smiling and extending his hand.
When Lily heard Jordan speak for the first time she knew why Sage had fallen head over heels for him. That smile combined with that abundance of charisma? No woman in her right mind could resist that.
She smiled. “Jordan, I've heard a lot about you,” she said shaking his hand.
He looked to Sage. “I won't even touch that one.”
Sage shrugged. “It wasn't all bad.”
Jordan laughed walking over to Sage and taking her to his arms. “Well now it's all good,” he said leaning down to kiss her.
“Well I've got to run,” Isabelle said quickly. “It was nice seeing all of you.”
“Let me walk you to your car Izzy,” Jordan said.
She looked over at him. “Oh. Thanks Jordan.”
Jordan glanced down at Sage. “I'll be right back.” He took off with Isabelle.
Sage watched Sean watch Lily. It was obvious that he was very smitten with her and it was also obvious that he didn't have clue about how Isabelle felt about him. Sage shrugged. As long as everybody knew who Jordan belonged to, it wasn't her problem.
She turned to Lily. “I'm ready. Let's get started.” She grabbed Lily's hand. “Bye Sean. Lily and I have work to do,” Sage teased.
Sean smiled. “Bye Sage. Bye Lily.”
He watched the two ladies enter the gallery still smiling. He turned as Jordan returned.
“So I guess congratulations are in order. Your plan worked?”
Jordan smiled. “Did you doubt me?”
Sean rolled his eyes. “Hell yeah. You did too. You were scrambling around here like a lost little boy.”
“Whatever man. I got my woman back and I'm good.”
“I'm happy for you man,” Sean said seriously. “You deserve someone like Sage. You deserve to be happy.”
“Thanks Sean.” Jordan gave him a look. “What about you man?”
Sean smiled. “My time is coming,” he commented rubbing his chin.
“Sometimes the perfect woman is right in front of your face,” Jordan replied.
He looked at Jordan. “You're right. Sometimes she is.”
Both men nodded.
“I'm going to check in on Sage before our meeting. I'll see you upstairs,” he informed Sean.
Sean nodded again and headed towards the elevators while Jordan headed towards the gallery. Inside the gallery Sage and Lily were going over preparations for the opening in a few weeks. Invitations were done, the food was ordered and now they were planning how to arrange the photography. Sage was so thankful to have Lily there to help her. Her eye for art and organizational skills were a godsend as Sage was trying to pull this whole thing together. Sage was standing at the counter with Lily when Jordan walked in and she smiled.
He came over to her. “Hey pretty girl. Can I see you in your office?” he asked pinning her with a dark gaze.
Sage sat down the paperwork in her hands. “Sure.” Jordan took her hand and they walked to her office. Once inside they came together kissing and hugging like there was no tomorrow. Jordan backed her against the wall pressing his body into hers. He grabbed her butt and lifted her off the ground. Sage wrapped her legs around his waist as they continued to devour each other’s mouths. Finally when they could take no more Jordan lifted his head.
“Hi Jordan,” Sage whispered.
He smiled at her. “Hi Sage.”
They stared at each other for a while. “Are you going to put me down?” she asked as he began kissing her neck.
“In a minute.” He continued kissing her neck and behind her ear.
“So do you have any more women friends who visit you at your office?” He stopped and looked at her frowning.
“No,” he said slowly watching her.
“Okay,” she said starting to kiss him.
He pulled back. “Okay? Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
He looked at her skeptically and raised a brow.
“I asked you. You said no. I believe you. There's nothing else to say,” she confirmed.
He kissed her again before she pulled back.
“So if I see you escorting another beautiful woman to her car...you’re going to need all that security you have out there.” He believed her.
“You know you turn me on when you talk about hurting me,” he said pressing closer into her body.
“You're so bad Jordan,” she whispered moving against him. “But I love it.”
“Mmmm...I know you do,” he whispered before capturing her mouth.
Chapter 14
It was the weekend two weeks before the opening of Sage's gallery. She and Lily were at her apartment working on final details. Lily was finalizing the guest list and RSVPs.
“Wow Sage! I can't believe all of the important people coming to your opening. You must be really well known.”
Sage flipped the papers she was looking through. “Actually Jordan is really well known and he invited all those people.”
“Well I can see why you're so in love with him,” Lily commented.
“Lily!”
“What?”
Sage shook her head. “I'm not with Jordan for what he can do for me.”
“No. You're probably with him because he's fine as hell, charming and sexy.” Lily responded. “But his money and power surely didn't hurt. Okay?”
“Oh, and whatever he did to you in your office last week? That probably doesn't hurt either.” she slid Sage a look. “Or maybe you like it to?” she laughed slyly.
Sage gasped. “Okay Miss Nosy. What about you Sean? Huh? Going to the 'Art Museum'?” she made air quotes with her fingers.
It was Lily's turn to gasp. “We did go to the Art Museum!”
“Hmmm...so why was he dropping you off at the gallery at nine in the morning the next day? Huh?” was Sage's response.
Lily smiled. “Don't be mad at me girlfriend. You're the virgin. Not me.”
Sage hit Lily with her papers. “Lily I told you that in confidence.”
Lily looked around the room. “And I'm not saying it in front of anyone but you Sage,” she said stating the obvious.
“I can't believe you,” Sage whispered in shock. “You and Sean?”
Lily shrugged. “Sean is a very handsome, very sexy, very sweet man. We hit it off from the start.”
Sage turned to her friend. “But, don't you want to have a relationship with him that's not based on just physical love?”
“Sage, physical love is a natural part of life. It's a spiritual journey that you take with another person that transcends this dimension.”
Sage pondered her words. “So are you two dating?” she asked later.
“No. I didn't come here to start dating. I need to be focused on my painting,” she explained. “I don't mind hooking up with Sean every now and then until he probably goes and marries that Isabelle chick. The heavens know she's in love with him.”
Sage placed her face on her hands staring down at the table. “Damn, Lily how did you get so much worldlier than me? I feel like I'm living in the dark ages in regards to relationships.”
Lily placed her arm around her friend. “You've had that crazy, overprotective brother. I think you never wanted to disappoint him and you kind of followed what he wanted you to do. You didn't really want to get 'involved' with anyone because they would have to get past him and you knew no one would be able to that.” She paused. “Until Jordan.”
Sage looked at her friend. “Yeah. Jordan handled that.” She smiled.
“Honestly Sage, I don't know why you haven't shared physical love with that man. The fact that he's waited this long is a true testament of his love for you.”
> Sage looked away. “Yeah my ex said he would wait too.”
Lily smacked her lips. “That raggedy ex of yours is no Jordan Black girlfriend. Don't even waste your time comparing the two,” she admonished. “And you know damn well that Jordan isn't having sex with other women. He's at the gallery more than I am!”
“Yeah. He is.”
“Or he's over here. Or you're at his place. Or you two are at the ocean. Or -”
Sage threw up her hands. “Okay Lily. You've made your point,” she said laughing.
“Now you need to stay out of my business and get some of your own.” Lily smiled and went back to her list.
“Ase,” Sage said smiling and getting back to her paperwork.
************
Jordan and Sean were having lunch at a popular downtown restaurant. It was unusually crowded but Jordan didn't have a problem getting seated immediately. He picked up his menu and began reading.
“Wow Jordan I'm surprised you're not attached to Sage's hip today,” Sean teased.
Jordan lowered his menu. “Well she's meeting with Lily today to finalize some things for her gallery opening and speaking of being attached, how's Lily?” he asked slyly.
Sean shrugged. “She's fine,” he commented.
Jordan stared at him. “Hmmmm....” He picked his menu back up and began reading. “You do know that she's Sage's close friend. Almost like a sister,” he said with his eyes on his menu.
Sean paused. “Yes...” he said slowly watching Jordan. “And?”
Jordan put his menu down. “And if you're making her into a booty call, it affects Sage,” he said staring at his friend.
“Out of bounds Jordan,” Sean warned.
“Maybe so, but I'm just telling you. You know how I am about Sage.”
Sean looked over at Jordan. “You and Sage have your own relationship that has nothing to do with me and Lily.” He picked up his menu. “Besides, I don't do booty calls. That's more like you and Ray.” He opened it and started reading.
Jordan sat back staring at his friend as the waitress came to take their orders. After she moved on to place their orders Sean looked back at Jordan. The two stared across the table at one another.
“Listen, man, I don't want any static,” Jordan finally said. He didn’t want to lose another friend over Sage, but…