“I actually just brokered a deal with Brice Henderson’s brother, Dean. West Oil is focused on the future and creating new relationships.”
“Dean is making a go of his family’s business. I hope your working with him went well. Did you find Dean to be accommodating?”
Mathew felt as though she were fishing for information on a child’s behavior, as if she’d circle back at some point and scold someone who was acting a fool.
“Accommodating yes, friendly not very. But that’s not really a requirement in business these days,” he said with a shrug.
Sophie stifled a laugh but nodded nearly imperceptivity in agreement. “A perfectly sad observation, but true. It makes me grateful I don’t have to deal with all the headaches. It never ends. Hopefully you find Asher more cordial.”
“I haven’t crossed paths with Asher yet, but I’ve been meaning to. He’s a tough guy to get hold of.” He nearly interjected that his reputation was not leaning even slightly in the direction of cordiality.
“That’s by design. I swear there are times I worry my phone call might get screened, but he knows better than to do that. If you’re looking to reach him maybe I can help.”
“I wouldn’t want to put you out,” Mathew said, his heart thudding at the prospect of finally being able to make the contact West Oil desperately needed. “I know he has the wedding coming up. I’m sure he has his plate full.”
“Always,” she laughed. “Though he is smart enough to leave most of the plans to Emily. I think we can still arrange something. I force him to slow down often enough for social events and family time occasionally. We just had most of the family together at the house, and it was certainly eventful. I think I can manage putting you two in touch. What he does once you get his ear is out of my control. But you two seem like such a lovely couple with kind hearts. I want all my children surrounded by that as often as possible.”
“I’d be so grateful,” Mathew said, squeezing Jessica’s hand even harder under the table. If it were appropriate he’d shout I told you so. Instead he settled for something that might sound less insane to Sophia. “May I pour you both some wine? This looks like an excellent bottle.”
“That would be wonderful. I’m anxious to start talking details with you, Jessica. But I won’t keep you too long. Mathew mentioned you were off for a vacation together after this. Where are you headed?”
“We’re headed for a tiny island in the Caribbean. No better way to recharge than some sun and sand.”
“Too hot for me,” Sophie said as she cleared her throat nervously. “But I’m sure a lovely couple like you two will have a wonderful time. Let’s toast to that.”
“And to new friends and opportunities,” Jessica said, raising her glass and warmly smiling at Mathew. He no longer wanted to remind her he was right, he just wanted to shout he loved her.
Chapter 31
Jessica’s toes were buried deep in the hot white sand. Sun-kissed skin drew in the warm rays as ice-cold bottle sweat cooled her leg. “Mrs. Kalling, can I bring you another drink?”
“Yes,” Jessica choked out sitting up quickly. “But I’m not Mrs. Kalling. Miss Thorne. We’re not married. We just started dating really, and then we were fighting for a while. So I’m not even really sure how long you’d say we’ve been dating.”
“Make hers a double,” Mathew interjected, nodding his gratitude to the beachside waitress who looked suddenly shell-shocked.
“Too much information?” Jessica asked, already knowing the answer. “She caught me off guard.”
“Because you don’t want to be Mrs. Kalling?” Mathew asked, raising a thick dark eyebrow at her challengingly.
The heat of the sun had nothing on the blazing embarrassment she was feeling now. “Are you asking me to be Mrs. Kalling?”
“Didn’t I just work my ass off to show you how well I understand you? Why would I go and blow that by doing something as stupid as proposing marriage? I think you’d run in the ocean and swim home.”
“You make me sound far more dramatic than I am,” Jessica argued. “But seriously don’t. That would be the worst.”
“Being married to me would be the worst?” Mathew asked, sitting up from his lounge chair, his tan muscles tightening as he rose. Her eyes were drawn to the chiseled ridges of his stomach.
“I’d enjoy the honeymoon,” she said through a bright smile, running her eyes over his red swimming trunks, settling on the spot she knew was growing with excitement.
“I promise not to propose to you,” he said as he dropped down on one knee. “At least not today.”
“You can carry me over the threshold of our suite.” She reached out a delicate hand, still decorated with an array of shiny cheap rings, and waited for him to take it prince style and escort her to their room.
“Too traditional,” he said with a scowl. “I think you are the type of woman who prefers caveman treatment.” He jumped to his feet and slung her over his shoulder with ease. Her ass was in his hands as he folded her body over his shoulder and jogged up the beach toward their room.
The laughter flowing from her was so effortless, made wild by his occasional tickle and pinch. Kicking open the door to their room, he charged in and flopped her onto the bed. The lush down mattress cradled her body, and she suddenly wished to stay there and never get up.
“Honeymoon time?” she asked, pulling seductively at the string that held her bikini top in place. Libby, who packed her bag for this trip, had picked the sexiest one in the drawer, and Jessica had to remember to thank her for it.
“Caveman time,” he said with a growl as he took a handful of her sandy wind-blown hair into his hand. Clamping his fist closed, he tugged, exposing the soft skin of her neck.
“I like it,” she purred as she wrapped her legs around his body and pulled him to her on the bed. “Primal.”
“You have no idea,” he rumbled and flipped her over in one fluid motion. “You are going to slip back into those red heels,” he instructed forcefully.
“Did cavewomen wear heels?” she asked, turning her head up to see if he liked her joke.
“Cavewomen did anything they were told,” he replied with a punishing slap to her ass that sent her tingling with pleasure. “Heels on. Bikini off. Ass up. Legs spread. No touching. I’ll do all the touching.”
His abbreviated, direct demands were driving her mad with desire as she hurried to put on her high heels, get out of the bikini, and into the position he’d ordered.
“Can you imagine what I’m going to do to you?” he asked as he took her shoulders into his hands and rubbed his firm shaft against her as a tease. “Are you ready to be mine?”
“I’ve always been yours,” she said with a lusty slithering promise. “I was yours before you ever touched me. And I’ll be yours tonight.”
He drove inside her, so uncharacteristically fast that she gasped from the pressure. “Mathew,” she cried out but he didn’t stop, and she didn’t want him to. He was claiming her, in the most ancient and deep way a man could. One hand clamped to her shoulder the other reached for and found her sweet pleasure spot, rubbing it frantically with the beat of his thrusts. As if he were running a race, winning a contest where she was the prize, he charged forward with a wild pace.
Jessica knew him now. She could feel the way his body grew toward climax, and she understood he was close. “Come, Mathew,” she demanded. “I’m yours tonight.”
Mathew pulled out of her suddenly, leaving an ache from her body to be filled again. He flipped her to her back, crawled onto the bed, his desire for her still showing intensely in his eyes. “Not tonight,” he said, dropping his body over hers. “It’s not just tonight. You’re mine forever.” Mathew entered her again but with ease now.
“Yes,” she beamed, her hand on his cheek as his face closed in on hers. “I’m yours forever.”
Her words pushed him down the ramp toward combusting faster than any filthy phrase she might have come up with. Jessica’s agreement
that he owned her heart forever made his body break like a dam under pressure. It blew apart with pleasure, and she followed just a second behind.
When Mathew fell limp by her side, panting and winded, Jessica crawled against his large warm body and sunk into him.
“I’m not afraid,” she whispered as his arms closed around her. “Who could be afraid with a man like you? I’m just sorry I made you work so hard to convince me.”
“I’d rather be dead tired, completely exhausted, and beat down from the work it takes to have you, then well rested and without you,” Mathew promised as he pushed the hair out of her eyes and kissed her forehead, still squeezing her tightly. “And don’t think I’m foolish enough to believe the work is done. I have the stamina, Jessica. If you need to be shown every day you’re loved and you have nothing to fear, I’ll take that job.”
“You did say you love a challenge,” she remembered, thinking back on their time together in the last months. “But can you honestly say you’re not worried? Can you handle a woman like me?”
“I think I just did,” he snickered with another firm slap to her bare ass that sent her yelping then laughing.
“I’m being serious,” Jessica protested as she gathered her composure and tossed him a stern look. “What happens when I get spooked, when I get mad and irrational, and you try to give me answers using pesky things like logic and such? How do we survive that?”
“I’m going to go with the strategy that as long as you’re fighting with me, it means you have something to fight for. I won’t even worry until you get quiet.”
“With the infrequency of that, we might be all right. Quiet for me is never a good sign.” Jessica rolled her eyes but knew he was right. “I broke all my rules to be with you.”
“And you made me wear matching pajamas and eat takeout in the bed of a pickup truck. Everyone had to sacrifice.”
“You loved the pajamas,” she said, shooting up and showing how insulted she was.
“If you only knew how much I loved them,” he sighed, rubbing a warm hand up her bare back and guiding her back down to his chest. “How much I loved all the little moments that brought us right here.”
Her smile could have lit the room and her heart swelled with the idea that what she hoped to accomplish had happened. She’d managed to show Mathew that life could be made up of all the simple things.
“If you run again Jessica,” he said gently as he cupped her chin and drew her eyes up to his. “I promise to chase you. I won’t stop.”
“Chase me no matter what,” she begged. “Even if I’m right here, never stop chasing me. I always want to feel you wanting me. I never want that to stop.”
“You’re mine forever,” he reminded her as he brushed a kiss across her lips. “I found what I want, and I get what I want.”
“Forever,” she whispered, slipping her hand into his. “Chase me forever.”
The End
Books in the Barrington Billionaire World
By Ruth Cardello:
Always Mine
Stolen Kisses
By Jeannette Winters:
One White Lie
Table For Two
By Danielle Stewart:
Fierce Love
Fierce Love - Sweet
Wild Eyes
Wild Eyes - Sweet
Crazy Nights - August 2016
Books by Danielle Stewart
Piper Anderson Series:
Book 1: Chasing Justice
Book 2: Cutting Ties
Book 3: Changing Fate
Book 4: Finding Freedom
Book 5: Settling Scores
Book 6: Battling Destiny
Book 7: Chris & Sydney Collection – Choosing Christmas & Saving Love
Betty's Journal - Bonus Material (suggested to be read after Book 4 to avoid spoilers)
Edenville Series – A Piper Anderson Spin Off:
Book 1: Flowers in the Snow
Book 2: Kiss in the Wind
Book 3: Stars in a Bottle
The Clover Series:
Hearts of Clover - Novella & Book 2: (Half My Heart & Change My Heart)
Book 3: All My Heart
Book 4: Facing Home
Midnight Magic Series:
Amelia
Rough Waters Series:
Book 1: The Goodbye Storm
Book 2: The Runaway Storm
Book 3: The Rising Storm
Running From Shadows: Novella
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Wild Eyes (The Barrington Billionaires Book 2) Page 17