by D. Camille
His hand went to her breasts. “Here?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He replaced his hand with his mouth and she arched into him. His hand slid over her tummy and downward.
“Here?” he asked again.
“Oh yes.”
“I think you have too many clothes on my Goddess.”
She nodded. “You may remove them and when you are done, I want you to ready my Black Stallion. I feel like taking a long ride today,” she ordered.
“Your wish is my command,” he whispered removing her clothes.
Seven days flew by for Sage. She could have stayed on this island with Jordan forever. Jordan had not taken any more calls during their stay and he'd been attentive in every way imaginable. They'd walked on the beach, ate tons of delicious food and made love beneath the stars. On the plane, she sat looking out the window.
“What are you thinking pretty girl?” Jordan asked watching her.
“I don't want to go home,” she said wistfully.
Jordan smiled at her. “But your gallery is there.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“And your brother,” he reminded her, then frowned. “Bad example.”
“Jordan,” she warned.
He smiled. “I'm just teasing you. Ray and I are cool.”
“For now,” he added. “You do know that he's crazy as hell?”
She smiled and he moved over next to her taking her hand.
“Seriously baby, whenever you want to come back, just say the word and I'll whisk you away,” he promised.
He brought her hand to his lips and she looked up at him.
“Okay,” she smiled. “As long as I'm with you Jordan it doesn't matter where we are.”
He winked at her. “And wherever we are, I'm going to make sure you're happy.”
Sage cuddled against him watching the clouds.
The car pulled up in front of the house and Jordan waited for the raps on the hood. He exited and helped Sage out. He walked her to the door and opened it. She walked inside and stopped. She looked around and then back at Jordan with shock on her face. Looking back at the room Sage brought her hands to her face.
The entire room had been redone. The colors on the wall were more like her gallery and her photos had replaced all of the expensive artwork. Over the huge fireplace in the great room now hung her favorite photo she had taken of her and Jordan. It was a day they had gone out to the ocean and he was watching her with those dark eyes and she was smiling at something.
Jordan led her into the kitchen that had been redone completely with new cabinets and lighter counter tops. She walked through the house, all the furniture in all the rooms had been replaced with furniture more like what she'd chosen for her apartment. In the media room the brown oversized sofa had been replace with a more comfortable one in a brighter color.
“Jordan.”
He shrugged.
“You changed the entire house?” she asked amazed.
He nodded.
“For me?”
“Of course.”
He took her hand and led her upstairs to one of the empty bedrooms on the opposite end of the master. The room was now almost an exact replica of her bedroom at her old apartment except twice as big. Sage gasped and held her belly.
“Jordan!”
“This is your room Sage. Just for you. Whenever you just want to get the hell away from me, you have your own spot,” he explained. “You have your own bathroom attached and your own walk-in closet.” He threw his hands in the air. “And I swear I won't put any of my clothes in it,” he said smiling.
Sage walked around the room in disbelief. Jordan had made a room just for her. She looked at the bed and recognized the comforter from her bed in Senegal. She ran over and touched it.
“Is this...?” she asked.
“Yes, I asked your Aunt Ruby to send it to you.”
Sage ran to him wrapping her arms around him. “I don't deserve you Jordan.”
He returned her hug, rubbing her back. She looked at him with those big brown eyes and his heart zinged.
“I don't always agree with you baby, but I always hear you,” he told her. “There is nothing I won't do to make you happy.”
Sage thanked the Universe for this man. Jordan was far from perfect but he loved her perfectly.
Sage loved having her own room in the house. It made her feel as if she truly belonged here. Although she had yet to sleep in it, she did spend time there reading or tinkering with her cameras. She absolutely loved the new look of the house. It was done in a way that was extremely pleasing to her eye. Jordan told her he had hired a decorator who'd visited her gallery, and he'd also shown her pictures of Sage's old apartment and she'd come up with the new design. To Sage it looked like a brand new house and she couldn't have asked for more.
Sage lay in bed as she heard Jordan returning from his morning run. She watched him walk through the door with yogurt and graham crackers in his hand.
“What are you doing up so early?” he asked coming over to the bed and sitting the items on the nightstand. “Did I wake you?
“No I just woke up,” she said sitting up. Her belly was growing and was clearly definable now. She was not eating as much and Jordan had become concerned. He'd started bringing her food to the bedroom so she wouldn't have to go all the way down the stairs to eat.
Jordan leaned down and kissed her. “I brought your snack,” he told her.
“I see. Thank you Jordan.”
He winked at her and went to shower and Sage reached for the crackers. She wasn't sure why she wasn't able to eat. The doctor had told her not to be alarmed but instead to try to snack until her full appetite returned. She did feel a bit more tired, but she still had things to do at the gallery even with Lily's help.
Later, Jordan stepped out of the bathroom and into his closet. Sage sat back against the pillows staring out of the window. A short while later he emerged from the closet fully dressed and absolutely handsome.
She smiled at him. “You look very handsome.”
He winked at her. “Thank you and you look very delicious.” he said coming to sit on the edge of the bed. He glanced at her snack.
“Did you eat?” he asked concerned.
“I'm going to eat it Jordan,” she turned her face away from him.
He turned it back. “The doctor said you need to snack until you get your appetite back,” he reminded.
“I know. I'm trying,” she said looking at him.
Jordan studied her. “I know baby.” He kissed her gently. “I'll be back to take you to lunch today.”
She smiled then. “Okay.” She rubbed his face. “I'll be ready.”
“Hmmm....you're the best baby mama in the world,” he teased her.
“I told you not to call me that,” she said sternly.
He shrugged. “I can't call you my wife, because you still won't marry me. So the next best thing...” He stood. “You’re carrying my baby and you'll be his mama. So...,” he said laughing.
“Don't make me hurt you Jordan,” Sage warned.
“Okay,” he said smiling. “There's fruit and all kinds of stuff downstairs when you get up.”
“Thank you Jordan.”
He leaned and kissed her again. “See you in a little while.” He turned and walked out of the room. “Bye baby m-”
“Jordan!” she shouted.
“Baby! Bye… baby,” he said laughing down the hall.
Later Sage finished her yogurt and got out of bed. She went downstairs and decided to have another one so when Jordan arrived she could tell him she'd eaten more than enough. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she heard the alarm announcing someone at the gate. She frowned wondering who it could be. Walking over to the table she picked up the phone that was programmed to the gate.
“Yes?”
“I'm here to see Jordan.” A woman's voice came across.
Sage's head snapped back. “Uh, Jordan's not here right no
w.”
“I'll wait.”
Now Sage was curious. Who was this woman who felt she could come to this house and wait for Jordan? Oh I have to see her, Sage thought. She pressed the button and opened the gate. Sage went to the door and watched the airport taxi come up the driveway and stop in front of the house. The trunk opened and the driver got out and retrieved a suitcase. Sage raised an eyebrow? What the hell?
Sage continued to watch as the driver opened the door to an elegant woman who looked to be in her forties. Jordan dated older women? The woman walked up the stairs and instructed the driver to leave her bag at the door. Sage was standing behind the door with just her head poking out watching as the woman entered with her suitcase.
“Honey take this and put it away for me,” the woman instructed Sage.
Oh hell nah! Sage closed the door. “I'm not the maid,” she told her.
The woman now got a good look at Sage. Her hair was down and she was wearing a nightgown that hugged her pregnant body. “Oh, and who are you?” she asked continuing to look Sage up and down stopping at her rounded belly.
Sage put her hand on her hip. “Since I'm the one who answered this door, I think you should tell me who the hell you are!”
The woman looked surprised then said. “I am Joanna Black-Harrison.”
“I am Jordan's mother.”
Chapter 23
Jordan's mother? Sage was in shock.
Joanna looked into the great room from the foyer and saw the huge picture of Jordan and Sage. In the picture his love for Sage clearly evident in his dark eyes.
Joanna turned back to Sage. “And you are?” she asked lifting a perfect brow.
“Sage. Sage Parker,” Sage managed to answer.
Joanna's eyes went back to the picture then slid over to Sage's stomach.
“Sage Parker is that Jordan's baby you're carrying?”
Before Sage could respond Jordan came through the door. He stopped when he saw Sage and his mother in the foyer.
His dark eyes turned thunderous towards his mother. “What are you doing here Joanna?” he asked in a low tone.
“I need your help Jordan,” she replied.
Jordan turned to Sage who was watching the whole scene with questions in her eyes. The last thing he wanted was for her to be upset.
“Take a seat in the living room until I come back,” he instructed Joanna.
Taking Sage's hand he led her upstairs. In the room Jordan took a seat on the bed with Sage next to him. He sat staring straight ahead.
“Is that really your mother?” Sage asked.
Without moving he answered. “She is the woman who gave birth to me.”
“I don't understand Jordan.”
He stood. “Sage you once asked me, who was the woman who broke my heart and made me mistrust everyone,” he began.
“She's sitting downstairs.”
Jordan removed his suit jacket and went to hang it in his closet. When he returned Sage was standing next to the bed holding her arms open to him. He came to her and she held him pouring her energy and strength into him. Jordan picked her up and sat her on the bed taking a seat on the edge while Sage touched his face gently.
“What did she do?” she asked softly.
Jordan rubbed her belly making small circles.
“She left,” he told her.
“Why?”
Jordan decided to tell her the story.
“Joanna was married to my father. She became discontent and started having an affair with his best friend and business partner. My father found out. He divorced her and I never saw her again until she showed up at my college graduation when I told her I never wanted to see her again,” he finished.
“How old were you when she left?” Sage asked.
“Seven.”
“You didn't hear anything from her...for all that time?” Sage asked amazed.
Jordan shook his head. “Not a word.”
“Why is she here now?” Sage questioned.
“I don't know but she's not staying,” he said firmly.
Sage looked at him. “She said she needed you Jordan,” she pointed out.
“Where was she when I needed her?”
Sage grabbed his hand. “What if she's in trouble or something?”
He shrugged. “Not my problem.”
She touched his face. “Jordan...”
He shook his head. “No Sage. No.”
“Jordan. Will you just hear her out?” Sage asked.
“No. Not at all.”
Sage sighed. “Jordan.”
“Don't worry about this baby. I'll handle it.” He touched her face. “Get dressed so we can go to lunch.”
Jordan kissed her softly and left the room.
Downstairs Joanna looked around the room. She took in the furnishings and the excellent photography on the walls. The picture of Jordan and Sage still struck her. While Jordan was the spitting image of his father, Justin Black had never looked at her the way Jordan was looking at Sage. It was clear that he was completely in love with her. Jordan walked into the room.
“What do you want Joanna?” he said entering the room.
“You sound just like your father,” she remarked.
“I'm not him.”
Joanna looked at the picture above her head again. “I see,” she said softly.
Jordan's patience was running low. “Why are you here Joanna?” he asked pointedly.
“I have no place to go Jordan,” she confessed. “Carl and I are no longer together.”
Jordan watched her “That means nothing to me.”
“You'd turn me out to the street?”
“This isn't a hotel.”
Joanna looked around the room. “Surely you have a room Jordan,” she commented. “I need a... safe place to stay.”
The two watched each other silently until Sage entered the room. She was wearing jeans and a maternity top with wedge sandals. Her hair was braided and she was carrying her bag. Sage walked over to him and Jordan placed his arm around her.
“Ready baby?” he asked looking down at here.
She nodded looking up at him. His gaze shifted to Joanna.
“It's time for Sage to eat,” he informed her “I can drop you at a hotel on our way to the restaurant.”
“You really aren't going to let me stay here?” she asked looking at him.
“No. I'm not.”
Sage looked between Jordan and his mother. Joanna sighed and went to the foyer to retrieve her suitcase. Sage grabbed Jordan's arm.
“Jordan what happened?” she whispered.
“It's fine,” he told her. “Let me get my jacket.” As he headed upstairs Sage headed to the foyer and Joanna looked up as she approached.
“Do you really need Jordan's help?” she asked arching a brow.
Joanna shook her head “I really do. More than he knows,” she answered.
“Why don't you join us for lunch and you can talk to him?” Sage suggested.
Joanna looked relieved. “Will he allow that?”
“We'll see,” Sage said looking toward the stairs Jordan appeared with his jacket on and met her in the hall.
“Jordan, I've invited your mother to have lunch with us,” Sage informed him.
His eyes narrowed. He looked from Sage to Joanna and back to Sage. She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at him.
“Just lunch Jordan,” she said softly. “I promise I'll try to eat my whole meal.”
Jordan couldn't deny those beautiful brown eyes plus he wanted her to eat. He knew what she was doing but it wasn't going to work. He'd have lunch with Joanna but there was no way in hell she was sleeping under his roof.
“I'm holding you to that,” he murmured kissing her softly.
He turned to Joanna. “We'll put your bag in the car.” He grabbed her suitcase then opened the door and allowed the women to exit.
At the restaurant Jordan requested a private booth. He and Sage sat on one side with Joanna
on the other. He placed an arm around the back of Sage and his gaze slide across to his mother.
“You two make a beautiful couple,” Joanna remarked.
Jordan frowned and Sage looked over at him. “Thank you,” she said looking from him to Joanna.
Jordan was determined to know why Joanna had suddenly popped up on his doorstep. While he'd been upstairs retrieving his jacket, he'd sent Sean a text. He should have the information he sought by the time he and Sage returned home.
“This lunch isn't going to last forever Joanna. You should tell me why you're here.” Jordan said pinning her with the dark gaze so much like his father's.
Joanna looked at both of them. “I don't have anywhere to go Jordan,” she said sadly.
Jordan remained silent and Sage looked at him. She lifted an eyebrow.
“I'll put you up in a hotel,” he offered grudgingly looking at Sage.
Joanna looked at them both then glanced out the window.
“Someone is trying to kill me Jordan,” she said looking back at them.
Jordan heard Sage gasp and his hand went to her neck to gently massage her.
He stared at Joanna. “How do you know that?” he asked.
“There have been threats,” she said reaching into her purse and pulling out a piece of paper. She slid it across the table to Jordan. He glanced at it but didn't pick it up.
“And you thought I'd want to protect you?” he asked incredulously.
Sage turned to him but he didn't look her way. His gaze was locked on Joanna.
“Do you want me dead Jordan?” she asked.
“You've been dead to me for a long time Joanna,” he stated.
“Jordan!” Sage interjected.
Jordan continued. “Take it to your husband Mrs. Harrison.” He slid the paper back across the table.
“I told you we are no longer together,” she reminded him.
“So now I'm supposed to become your hero?” he asked.
Joanna lowered her head. “I'm asking for your help Jordan.”
“I'm not offering it.”
Sage watched Joanna look out the window. She felt sorry for the woman but decided this was Jordan's affair. She could feel the anger and pain emanating from his body so she placed her hand on his leg and began to massage it gently.