A Question of Marriage

by Temari James

  Jordan stared at his father in disbelief, as anger began to build inside him. “So this is about money, you don’t give a damn about whether or not I’m happy or not, you just want to add to the firm’s financial portfolio.”

  “Listen to reason son, not only would this union be beneficial monetarily, it would provide the right connections, This firm needs to stay on top. Payton Hollister is the daughter of a retired cop and a school teacher, her background has no benefit to you socially or professionally.”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation, I knew you were rigid when it came to certain things but never in a million years would I have guessed you were a snob.”

  “I’m merely looking out for your best interests,” his father reasoned.

  “I know you don’t expect me to believe that, do you? And for the record Payton Hollister has more class in her little finger, then Allison Ashmore has in her whole body. She speaks several languages, has interviewed presidents and dignitaries and not only that, she’s won a Pulitzer. Her father is a highly decorated Gulf War veteran, whether Payton has the right pedigree or not is none of your concern. I fully intend to make her my wife with or without your approval.”

  His father’s expression remained passive, his opinion unchanged. “If that’s your decision you leave me no choice, you’re disinherited and you’re fired. You have a week to clear out your office.”

  Jordan stared at his father for a few moments then he turned and walked out.

  ******************

  When Payton unlocked the door of Jordan’s apartment and stepped inside, she was greeted with the soft glow of candlelight and the scent of fresh flowers. Placing her purse and keys down on the table, she made her way through the living room, calling out to him as she walked. She found him standing out on the enclosed terrace speaking with the man from the restaurant that often delivered his meals, when his cook had the night off, once the man had departed, he walked over and greeted her.

  “Hey, how was your day?” He asked wrapping his arms around her kissing her.

  “It was long. What’s all this?” Payton asked gesturing towards the table.

  Jordan walked over to the elegantly set table and removed a bottle of champagne popped the cork. Then poured two glasses, handing one to her.

  “It occurred to me that we never properly celebrated our engagement.”

  Taking a sip of the champagne, Payton gazed around the area, she hadn’t noticed that there were candles and flowers all over.

  “This is nice, so what else do you have planned?”

  “Dance with me first and I’ll show you.”

  Taking the glass out her hand, he sat both their glasses on the table. Then pulled her into his arms. Payton’s head rested on his chest as they swayed to the soft jazz that surrounded them. They danced to two more songs then they sat down to eat.

  “When did you have time to plan all this?” Payton asked picking up her fork.

  “The idea came to me today as a matter of fact,” he admitted.

  “Your father dropped by my office yesterday, to see me.”

  “Really, what did he say?”

  “He wanted to know, how much it would take for me to break off our engagement, naturally I declined the offer.”

  Anger surged through Jordan. It was just like his father to do something that dirty and underhanded just to get his way. He was determined to split him and Payton up by any means necessary. Well he wasn’t about to let him get away with it. Whatever he had to do to put a stop to the old man’s plans, he would.

  “I can’ believe that he would stoop so low.”

  “Well he did, when he took out his checkbook and offered me two million, my jaw hit the floor.”

  Jordan chuckled. “I bet, so what else happened?”

  “He launched into this spiel about how he was only looking out for your best interests. Then I told him a story about a bully, naturally he was put out about the whole thing, but I didn’t care. Maybe he’ll get the message and leave us alone.”

  “That’s highly doubtful, my old man can be pretty relentless when it comes to getting what he wants.”

  “Jordan, are you sure you want to go through with this plan of yours? I mean it’s beginning to be more trouble than what it’s worth.”

  “Don’t worry, everything will work out, trust me.”

  “I don’t know Jordan so many things could go wrong.”

  Seeing the look of doubt on her face Jordan knew he had to do something to take it away. Pushing his chair away from the table he stood up, walked over to her and held out his hand. She looked at it, then up at him before she pushed her own chair away from the table stood up and accepted his hand. Then he lifted her up in his arms and started walking.

  “Jordan what are you doing? What about our dinner?”

  “Later, right now you need a little convincing.” He told as he headed in the direction of the patio door.

  Once inside Jordan carried her into his bedroom and sat her on her feet framed her face with his hands and kissed her. Both breathless from the kiss, still holding her Payton gazed into his eyes seeing desire in them.

  “I need you Payton, you and I together as a team we can do anything, please don’t back out on me now.”

  When his mouth came down on hers, a breathless moan escaped from her throat, his tongue parted the seam of her mouth rubbing and stroking hers in an erotic rhythm, that made her throb with sweet sensual fire as her fingers tangled into his thick dark hair, she pressed herself against him.

  His hands swept possessively down her back, molding her against him, she could feel the evidence of his desire for her and all she wanted to do was to feel and taste him. Her body aching with a need that only he could satisfy. Jordan’s lips nipped and teased hers and she protested the sweet torment with a small moan, until his mouth came down on hers, once again and she saw fireworks. His tongue plunging into her mouth rubbing and stroking hers, making her body burn. She clung to him, trembling in response to their passion.

  Lifting her shirt from her, he let it drop, his hands covering her breast, he guided his thumb gently, purposefully over her nipple. Underneath the thin material of her lacy bra, the nipple tightened and hardened under his caress.

  “Do you want me, as much as I want you?” Jordan asked gazing into her eyes, his lips poised tantalizingly above hers.

  Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Payton could only nod in response to his question. As much as she rationalized with herself about why she shouldn’t have sex with him, the more her body screamed. Take me now!

  “I bet you’re dripping wet right now, if I stick my hand inside your panties, your cream would coat my fingers.”

  Undoing the button of her jeans, easing the zipper down, he shoved his hand inside her panties dipping his finger inside the seam of her pussy, removing his cream coated hand, licking the essence off his fingers.

  “Mm, you taste so sweet.”

  Then, his lips claimed her once again, the kiss became deeper, hotter and more intimate, as she wrapped her arms around him. She moved sensuously against him, loving the feel of his warm body against hers. It felt so good, so right, to be in his arms.

  Jordan kissed her with the hot, hard pressure she craved and welcomed his tongue into the moist warm depths of her mouth. She arched her body against his, wanting him to touch her, aching for it. When his big hand slipped beneath the cool silk, touching the round softness of her breasts, Payton sighed in satisfaction, his hands covering her breasts in pure possession, he murmured something dark and sexy into her mouth as he slid his hand inside her panties again. She moved provocatively against his hand, as he slipped his finger inside her again. A spiral of exquisite pleasure spun through her, as his thumb strummed her clit while he worked his fingers in and out of her. She cried out as the sensation rippled through her. She moaned his name, as he lifted her and carried her to the bed. He unhooked her bra and lowered his head, taking a nipple into hi
s mouth. His lips worship her nipples, licking, sucking, tasting and finally devouring until she was lost in the sensation. Leaning back Jordan removed her shoes then tugged off her jeans and pulled her silk panties down her legs.

  He gazed down at her nakedness, her arousal evident in the glistening moisture between the lips of her bare sex.

  He took her lips again in a deep, erotic, sensual kiss. Then, he ran his hands over her, from her shoulders down to her chest, then lower caressing her smooth, flat stomach. Dropping down on the bed, his hands spread her legs wider and his fingers move to stroke her pussy. As his thick fingers flick across her clit, her body jerked in response. Spreading her outer lips apart and leaning in, he draped her legs around his shoulders, sliding his tongue over her clitoris repeatedly sucking and swirling his tongue around it, at the same time, pushing her to a new level of arousal.

  Her hips buck against his face, lifting and lowering in an instinctive rhythm, until she thought she’d scream.

  Inserting two fingers in her vagina, he worked them in and out while he continued to suck on her clit, stroking her slowly at first then faster. Waves of pleasure began building until the biggest wave of all, crashed inside her and she screamed, as an orgasm exploded in a variety of colors and light.

  Standing, Jordan removed his clothes and Payton focused on his erection, that stood long, thick and proud amongst a nest of dark curls, pre-cum glistening at the tip. When she starts to move forward Jordan stops her.

  “Later, right now I just want to bury myself inside you.”

  Moving around the bed he opened a drawer on the nightstand and removed a foil packet sheathing himself, he leaned over and grasp her ankles pulling her forward, then sliding into her snug heat, one inch at a time. When his entire length was deep inside her, Jordan looked into her face, his eyes filled with passion as they found their rhythm. His breathing became shorter, as she met him stroke for stroke, until finally the convulsions of orgasm ripped through them, as they fell off the cliff together.

  Wrapping her in his arms, Jordan pulled her close. Their breathing becoming even and steady, as they both came down from euphoria and drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning, Payton woke up to the cool blue morning light, emphasizing the contours of Jordan’s back and legs, he was putting his clothes on.

  “Good morning.”

  Turning his head he smiled at her. “Good morning.”

  “You plan to work today?”

  “Actually, I’m going to clean out my office then I’m meeting with an old friend, why?”

  “Wait,” Payton began as she sat up pulling the sheet around her body. “You got fired?”

  “Yep, it seems my father took offense when I told him he couldn’t run my life,” he told her, then picking up his belt.

  Payton climbed out of bed picked up the shirt he discarded from the previous night and slipped it on. “It was because of me, wasn’t it?” She asked, gathering her clothes from the floor.

  Jordan stopped buckling his belt, walked over to Payton and placed his hands on her shoulder. “Let me make one thing clear, no one, not even my father, gets to dictate who I should and should not marry.”

  “You still want to get married?”

  “Yeah, why shouldn’t we? There’s nothing standing in our way.”

  “But there’s no reason for us to get married now.”

  Pulling her into his arms, Jordan kissed her deeply. Still holding her, he lifted his head. “I still want us to get married Payton, I love you.”

  Payton smiled. “I love you too.”

  “Then it’s settled, we’re getting married as planned.”

  Payton sank down on the bed and watched Jordan pick up his coat and grab his briefcase. Despite their declaration of love she wasn’t sure they should go through with their plans to marry. Despite Jordan’s confidence, she had a sinking feeling things wouldn’t go as planned for either of them.

  ********************

  Jordan tossed back the last of the bourbon in his glass, then signaled the bartender for a refill, while he waited for his friend, who was a private investigator, to arrive. Earlier he’d gone to the firm to clear out his desk and his father stopped by to try and convince him to see things his way. Naturally he refused saying he wasn’t going to let him control his life. That was when his father issued the ultimatum, end things with Payton or he would see to it that her life became a living hell, and he would make sure that she wouldn’t be able to get a position writing on candy wrappers. He knew he had to find a way to stop his father from carrying out his plan, so that was when he put in the call to Howard Walker. A former Navy Seal. Howard started Elite Investigations with a few of his Seal buddies. Jordan had often used them on his most difficult cases and got excellent results.

  He watched as the six foot blonde, who was built like a pro wrestler, made his way passed the tables towards him and stop.

  “You look like shit,” his friend said, by way of greeting extending his hand.

  “Fuck you, too!” Jordan responded gripping the younger man’s hand, in a firm handshake.

  “I haven’t heard from you in weeks, then this morning out of the blue you call, what’s up?” Howard asks, as he sat down on the stool beside him. He signaled for the bartender and ordered a beer.

  “I need you to do something for me, it involves my father.”

  Howard nodded. “What is it?”

  “Remember Payton Hollister?”

  “The reporter,”

  “Yeah, it seems since I no longer want to do his bidding, my father has decided to threaten her livelihood unless I agree to stay away from her. I need you to dig up whatever you can find so I can use it to stop him.”

  Howard blew out a low whistle. “You must really care about this woman, if you’re willing to go up against your own father. The man is pretty formidable when it comes to his enemies.”

  “I love her.”

  “I never thought I’d see the day when the ultimate bachelor, Jordan Cain, would fall hard for a woman.”

  Jordan chuckled. “Well stranger things have happened.”

  “Don’t I know it?”

  “How long will it take you to get back to me?”

  “Two, three weeks tops.”

  “Thanks for doing this I really appreciate it.”

  “We’ll see how grateful you are when you get my bill.” The other man said finishing the last of his beer and standing.

  After Howard had gone, Jordan stood and removed his wallet from his jacket pocket, extracted a few bills tossed them on the counter and left the bar.

  Chapter 7

  Three weeks later, armed with the information he needed, Jordan rode the elevator up to his father’s office. His father’s stern secretary informed him that he was in a meeting and couldn’t be disturbed. Confident that her words would be taken as law, turned her attention back to her computer monitor. Her high-handed manner usually worked to discourage further debate but it didn’t work with him. Her attention averted, he walked passed her and into his father’s office over to his desk ignoring the two men that sat nearby and tossed the envelope he carried on top of it, then turned to address his father.

  “I need to talk to you.” After a short pause he added. “Now!”

  “I don’t have time for this Jordan, can’t you see I’m in the middle of a meeting?” He said, and then turned his attention back to the two men in front of him. “Now as I was saying the law states…….”

  “I mean now!”

  The two men jumped in their seats as Jordan’s voice pierced the air. His father’s face flushed with rage, as he stepped from behind his desk, stopping a foot away from him.

  “Wait until I’m done, than we can talk.” J.D Senior said in a low voice.

  “I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say. If you want your friends here to listen in, so be it.”

  Knowing how relentless his son could be, J.D Senior addressed the two men. “Gentlemen, we’ll take
this up at a later date, my secretary will contact you.”

  Both men gathered their discarded jackets and briefcases and left the office. Once they had gone J.D Senior turned to face his son.

  “You’d better have a damn good explanation for barging in here, interrupting my meeting.” J.D Senior said icily.

  “Oh trust me I do,” sitting down on one of the black chairs facing the desk, Jordan carefully watched his father’s expression. “Why don’t you open the envelope on your desk?”

  “What’s this?” His father asked, picking it up.

  “Open it and see for yourself.”

  His father frowned. When he opened the envelope and saw it contents. “Where did you get this?” He asked angrily. “You had no right to spy on me.”

  Jordan clasped his hands on the arm of the chair, feeling the anger building inside him. “How long have you been having an affair?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “It is if it hurts my mother.”

  “Your mother and I haven’t had a real marriage for a very long time. Enid provides the companionship I need, simple as that.”

  “Does mom know?”

  “No, and she never will.”

  Jordan’s eyes narrowed. “How could you do this to our family?”

  “I’m not doing anything to anyone. This is none of your concern you need to stay out of it and keep your mouth shut.”

  “Or what, you’ll ruin me like you plan to do to Payton?” Jordan asked

  The phone rang, a welcoming interruption for his father who reached for it. Moving quickly Jordan sprang to his feet and grabbed his father’s hand.

  “No, damn you, no more delays, no more stalling. You’re going to talk to me now.”

  “Jordan, what’s gotten into you?” His father asked, unable to disguise the anger in his tone. “I’m your father, I don’t owe you or anyone, an explanation for my actions.”