Her theory was accurate. She knew it was now, but she needed the help of Doctor Seth. His card was in her wallet, along with his cell number for emergencies with Ram. She decided that what she was going to propose was a type of emergency, so she punched up the number.
"Jace?" he said tiredly, realizing it was her from the name display on his phone.
"Sorry to wake you, but I need to run something by you."
"Is Ramsey all right?"
She cleared her throat to get rid of the tightness there. "Yes, well he's basically the same. But I have an idea of why his bones are the way they are."
"Well, I thought I covered everything. I was very thorough."
Understanding his sensitivity, she covered it by saying, "I know you were. Your work is always great. But with his bone pain and headaches, I can't help feeling he has a parathyroid tumor. Do you remember what his calcium labs were?"
"Right off, I remember it being slightly elevated. But, when I think about it, it may be an obvious cause for the osteoporosis, even though the calcium wasn't high enough to worry anyone. Let me check into it tomorrow and I'll call you right away."
They hung up and Jace just sat looking at the beautiful dress on the bed, and her eyes filled with tears again, as she said softly, "At least I can finish my research for him before I leave."
Ram knocked and reminded her it was time to go to the party. But when she walked out of the bedroom, his breath caught in his throat.
Her dress was a sleeveless, low cut, sparkling bright red figure-hugging to the floor number, with a long slit up the front. She wore matching lipstick and heels, with her hair worn loose around her shoulders. "Are you ready?" she asked.
What a question, he thought. He really was. But, not for a party, but for her, with or without the red dress. And he found himself wondering whether she wore panties or not.
"Yes," he finally managed to say.
On the way down to the ballroom, he thought the ruby ring he bought for her, the one she'd rejected, would match just perfectly with the dress. It was still in his suitcase.
His eyes met hers in the mirrors heatedly, as they stood side by side. It was all he could do not to press the 'off' button and settle this thing between them once and for all. But, in the end, his pride wouldn't let him do it and they walked off on the second floor.
Music filtered in from the ballroom, and the place was crowded with people all laughing and chatting as they entered.
Char Boyette waved to them, and Jace sat with her and her husband, as Ram worked the room, saying hello, greeting, chatting, before he sat down with them again.
Jace sensed Char knew something was amiss with her and Ram, but the woman was polite enough not to say anything as they just chatted about dresses.
However, with the next slow dance played, Ram took Jace's hand. Not wanting to make a scene, she followed him hesitantly onto the dance floor.
His left hand reached and pulled her close to him, while he held her right hand close to his chest. As the song played, his hand at her back drew her even closer still. His lips whispered some unknown entreaty in her ear, with the sound causing havoc with her senses along with the scent of his aftershave. And she quickly found out it was useless to try to pull away, he would have no part of that. His arms just tightened more with his hardness pressing against her.
Finally, the song ended, and she pushed herself away from him and walked quickly to the restroom.
Char followed. "What's going on, Jace?" she asked, with a concerned look, as she sat next to Jace.
But a voice interrupted, "Trouble in paradise, dear?" Victoria said sweetly.
"Trouble?" Char responded evenly, looking up at the busty woman, "We have no trouble here, Victoria. You must be thinking of Marley, he was looking for you earlier."
"Ask me if I care," she replied.
Char sniffed. "I know what you care about, and you're never going to get Ram, so quit playing around. You can't win." Then, looking back at Jace, she said, "It's getting too warm in here. Let's go for a little walk around the hallway, shall we?"
The two left, and Victoria scurried back into the ballroom as fast as she could go. Spotting Ram sitting staring moodily into space, she sat down. "Ramsey," she cooed, "how are you darling?"
He smiled at her sardonically, before he said, "I've been better. I see you paid off another photographer to put our picture in the paper. And, by the way, y'all keep your hands off me."
"Why Ram, I don't know what you mean."
"Then you're not as smart as I thought." And, his eyes left her and gazed again into space.
For some reason, his remark just inflamed her more. "I could touch you in ways you've never had before."
He laughed at that. "I don't think so, Victoria, you're not that talented darlin.'"
But, by that point, he'd tired of the verbal jabs, and excused himself and went to look for Jace. Walking down the hallway, he rounded the corner and saw her chatting animatedly with Char. His breath escaped in a rush as he watched her. Something deep inside him longed for her, an ache that was familiar to him. He thought of the loss of Susan, and the feeling was so similar. But that was not preventable, and, he thought, this was.
Limping now, due to his leg pain, he made his way down the hall towards her.
She looked up to see him coming, and a concerned look flashed across her face.
"You are having pain?" she asked him in a level professional voice, while Char stepped back and discreetly left them.
"Yes," he answered huskily, before he took her in his arms. Holding her face then, he kissed her soundly, before he teased her lips with his own, sucking first the bottom one, then the top. "I miss you, I miss talking with you, being with you," he whispered. But he barely gave her time to reply, before he plundered her mouth with a second deeper kiss, one so sensual, he could feel her shaking.
"You can't-" she began.
"Yes, darlin,' I can."
But, as he pulled back to look at her, he ached for her, as he felt his pants straining with the weight of his desire. And the feeling was not a new one. Since he'd met her, he'd had this often; this strong desire, this need for her.
Her eyes had little golden flecks, and he watched them flicker, as her eyes moved over his face.
"Please," she whispered, "you're making this very difficult for me. I didn't even want to come here tonight."
Stepping back, he said stiffly, "Of course. I didn't want to come either. Let's go back up to the penthouse. I'd like a massage before I turn in. And I need to call Warren and find out when they'll get here. When I can set y'all free."
Taking her arm, they walked back to the table, collected her clutch purse, and rode up the elevator.
He left her standing in the living room and said, "Leave your dress on. I'm going to take a quick shower. I'll be right out."
Jace wasn't sure why he wanted her to leave her dress on, but she just set up her table while he was in the shower. He came out a few minutes later wearing a towel around his middle, limping, and looking very tired, she thought.
"Listen-" she began.
But he held up his hand, before he lay face down on the table. "I understand darlin' don't worry yourself."
She frowned. "Well you may as well take the towel off; I've seen you before, Ram."
He took it off and threw it on the floor.
She began to work on him, neck, powerful shoulders, upper back, and she saw him visibly relax. His breathing grew regular, and she thought he was asleep as she continued the rub.
Ram loved the feeling she brought out in him. With every massage, she seemed to release more and more of the tension which had built up in him over the past months and months. He was in a hazy world now, between sleep and wakefulness.
Soon, he felt her hands lighten, and a new sensation began for him. He realized she was kissing down his back, lingering on his buttocks, then down to his thighs, while her hair ran softly against his skin. Her hands drew lightly over his b
ackside, while she smoothed her lips over him everywhere, hair lightly brushing as she kissed.
And he thought it was the most sensual thing he'd ever felt in his life, as he tried not to gasp out loud.
But she stopped after a while, gently laying the towel over his midsection again, and he heard her shut the door to the bedroom against him, against his entry.
He let out a long sigh, as he rose heavily, and walked to the other bedroom.
Trying to clear his head, he picked up his phone and called Warren. "Hey, where are you?" he asked, not really wanting to know.
"Hey yourself, man," Warren answered, "I think we're halfway there. I'll call you when we get in. How's everything going, or shouldn't I ask?"
"You shouldn't ask. Worst case scenario, she leaves when you get here. Best case, you and Natalie will get a nice vacation on me."
Warren clicked his phone closed, and shook his head at Natalie. "It's not good, Nat."
She leaned back in the plane seat. "I know Jace. She can be stubborn as nails sometimes."
They were both silent then.
After a while, Natalie thought of the night before with Warren. The dinner went well at a steak house, but she'd wondered if he was as attracted to her as she was to him.
She didn't have to wait long for her answer. After dinner, as they walked out to the street, right outside the front doors of the place, Warren pulled her over, and trapped her with his two arms by her head against the brick wall of the place.
"Kiss me," he'd demanded.
A smile quirked her face at that. "What, you have to ask?"
"I'm always polite," he said, with his lips against hers.
"Damn," she breathed, "how boring."
At that, he'd pulled his whole body against hers, and she felt his erection. His lips fairly slammed against hers, tongue thrusting, as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
And, at her apartment, they couldn't strip off their clothes fast enough, helping each other, unbuttoning his shirt, unzipping her dress, pants, shoes lay in piles on the floor.
His hands roamed her body, while she tried to tame his eagerness by kissing him long and slow. It didn't work.
He backed her against the wall, feeling then sucking on her breasts with one hand while the other felt her wetness and fingers explored her, as she moaned at the sensations.
Soon, his hardness was at her opening. Whispering, he said, "I want you right now. I can't wait."
"You're still asking," she whispered back, "just take what you want."
As he plunged into her, she felt the hard wall against her back, along with his hardness within her, and she came immediately, pulsing against him, crying out.
She couldn't even count the times they'd thrust against that wall, before he'd come to his shuddering release.
"Damn," he gasped, still in her but not moving, "you are so fucking hot. Sorry if I wore you out."
The same smile came to her lips then. "It ain't over 'til it's over sweetie."
"Shit, there's more where that came from." He was still breathless, as he grabbed her around the waist, and fell with her on the bed, still inside her.
"Come to mama," she said, laughing.
Sitting on the plane, just thinking about it, turned her on. And she stole a look at him, realized he was probably thinking about the same thing, as he had a satisfied smile on his face as he gazed off at some unknown spot.
"Kiss me," she told him. "Just a little one. To last me."
Ram couldn't sleep, which seemed to be a constant condition with him lately. He roamed the living room of the penthouse, settling finally with a vodka on the rocks, as he sat naked on the sofa, brooding.
He gulped the drink down and sat staring at the moon peeking through his bedroom window.
A few minutes later, he carefully opened the door to Jace's bedroom. A beam of light from the full moon shined over her sleeping form, naked, uncovered.
Her hair flowed over the pillows gracefully and her face was illuminated in the dark of night.
He just couldn't resist her.
Laying next to her back, his hand came around her stomach and pulled her to him.
She stirred slightly then settled against him comfortably. He was immediately hard, with just the scent of her light perfume, and hesitating momentarily, his hands couldn’t resist moving on her.
They moved softly over her generous breasts, over her stomach, over her mound then her thighs. She moaned and moved against him. His fingers found her wetness, roving in and out of her opening, as she gasped.
"Sugar pie," he whispered, "my sugar pie," and he entered her from behind as he rubbed her bud softly, "I love you sweet pea," he whispered, loving the feel of her, her sounds, her fragrance, just the essence of Jace.
She woke a bit more, and a sigh escaped her, before she moaned again. "You're making this hard, so hard," she whispered, breathless, but still moving with him, still allowing him the intimate access.
"It doesn't have to be difficult, darlin' just stay with me, stay with Ram." His movements were hard against her, giving her all of him, as she relished the feel of him inside her.
She was giving more and more to him, as she leaned forward to arch her back, with his hands on her arms, holding her firmly, not letting her go.
He thrust into her, moments passed, and she couldn't suppress a cry of delight as he lasted longer, while she cried out again and again.
"Ram," she whispered breathlessly, "I love you."
He was speechless, and finally whispered back, "You'll stay with me, sugar pie? You won't leave Ram alone?"
Still moving against him, she breathed, "I'll stay."
That night, Ram dreamed of Jace's hair flowing across his legs, but when he woke up in the morning, it was actually happening. And he realized what she was doing while he lay on his side.
"Oh, you sweet thing," he drawled, as he cradled her head.
Looking at him quickly, she said, "Thought I'd give you something to remember me by," and continued stroking him with her tongue, and sucking his morning hard-on. Then she started to laugh, "Just kidding."
He sighed with contentment. "Believe me, darlin' I don't need this to remember you by. How could I ever…" and his voice trailed off, as her tongue worked its magic, licking the length of him, with her mouth taking all of him seemingly at the same time.
Her hands stroked him, like the night before, rolled gently across his thighs, then his buttocks, and back between his legs again. Meanwhile, her hair flowed delicately across the both of them.
The movements became surreal to Ram, like he'd gone to a place he'd never been before, a sensuous place where he just felt softness and no pain. "Sweet baby," he gasped finally, "come back up here."
But she shook her head, and continued stroking, sucking him, while her hands came back around to push him forward into her mouth and down her throat.
He tensed with the feel of it, once, twice, feeling the thrill of Jace being her most intimate with him, and he flung his head back to gasp.
Then as her hand suddenly was on him, rubbing him, "Come for me," she whispered, "come for me, Ram."
He touched her head gently, stroked her hair, while he felt her again, taking all of him, licking and working her magic.
"I love you, Jace," he whispered urgently, "love you, sweet baby," while his orgasm shook him to the core.
Chapter 13
Warren clicked his phone shut. "Still no answer," he said to Natalie as they walked out of the airport building at Nassau.
He hailed a cab and the driver threw their bags in the trunk
While they drove to the Nassau Manor House, he said, "This could be good or bad, I don't know. Ram is seldom away from his phone."
She nodded, nestling closer to him. "I could say the same about Jace. Guess we'll have to wait and see."
Looking down at her he said, "Have I told you yet that I'm attracted to you?"
She laughed and smoothed his shirt. "Yes, that was readily appa
rent, and I do mean readily."
Jace smiled at Ram as he walked out of his room, already dressed casually for a meeting.
"God, you are so beautiful," he breathed, as he watched her move to get him coffee. She wore a gold robe and nightgown. "It's what you don't see," he added, "and even what I don't see, I love."
Handing him coffee, she turned towards the other bedroom. "Isn't that your cell?"
"I know. I've been ignoring it. I'm afraid it's Warren."
"What do you mean? I'm looking forward to seeing Nat again. You said yourself they'll have a little vacation on you, right?"
He sat on the couch sipping his coffee. "Did I say that?"
She sat next to him, eyeing him curiously now. "Yes, Ram. You said it last night, remember?"
But he just sat, sipping his coffee, staring off into space.
A few minutes later, they heard a knock on the penthouse door.
Jace ushered Warren and Natalie in, crying as she saw Nat, and hugging her.
"My man," Warren said to Ram as he shook his hand then hugged him briefly. "So, how is everything?"
"What do you mean?" Ram asked him.
Natalie and Warren watched him then looked at Jace.
"It's okay," Jace said quickly, "everything is fine, so now you can have a vacation on Ram."
There was silence, as the three of them looked at Ram, who sat down again, sipping his coffee.
Warren pulled Jace to one side. "What's going on?" he whispered.
"I don't know," she said softly, "he seems muddled today. I'm calling his doctor right now. Something is just not right."
Ram heard whispering, voices from far away; he heard Warren's voice, then Jace, then Natalie. He tried to think of what he was saying and thinking, but he was confused. Jace. She was staying, with him. She stood in front of him now, a cell phone held to her ear. He looked up at her, smiling, before he lost consciousness.
Romance in Dallas - Tycoon! Page 11