“Better than ever, chérie,” his deep voice threaded.
Claudia turned to face him. “You should take these off then,” she tugged at his pants. “I want to return the favor…”
A groan fled his lips at her naughty retort, but Claudia mistook it for something else.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?”
His gaze found hers. “I wouldn’t lie to you, chérie. Nothing could be better than this moment we’ve found ourselves in.”
Jaden’s words and actions didn’t link up, and Claudia was severely confused.
“If you don’t mind, I’d just like to hold you for a minute,” his lips met hers, and he nibbled around her mouth, tracing the curves of her lips with his tongue. Claudia shivered and smiled, kissing him back. His response had calmed her spirits, and she’d gotten comfortable. Not too long after, Claudia was yet again sleeping like a baby. But Jaden was awake with thoughts of happily ever after assailing his mind. With his fingers, he walked them down her face and basked in the comfort of their cocoon.
Could he do it, be committed with her, forever? The notion didn’t terrify him like it usually did. It confirmed what he’d been feeling and thinking over the last several days. Jaden wanted Claudia to bear his surname. To have an extended stay in her life seemed paramount. No other woman would do, now that he’d known her. And even though this was something that sat heavy on his heart, Jaden didn’t want to scare her away. Nor did he want to give the impression that their relationship didn’t go past the physical.
A plan began to formulate, and a grin spread across his lips. If it were up to Jaden, he would take his time. But the force that tied them together was stronger than he’d given credit. No matter what them being together entailed, Jaden would never let her go.
Chapter Sixteen
When Claudia’s eyes drifted open, she was underneath a thick layer of cover. She rolled to find the other side of her bed vacant. A closer look revealed a note neatly folded with a chocolate rose on the pillow top. Sweet treats early in the morning. I could get used to that. Claudia reached for the note flipping it open.
Good morning, chérie. We have a full day ahead of us, so get dressed. Your clothes are laying across the chair next to the door. DON’T step out in a sexy ass dress like the one you had on last night or we will never see the Las Vegas sights.
Claudia couldn’t help but roll her face into the sheets and laugh. It was true, they never made it shopping last night, and there were plenty of sexy dresses where that last one came from. She peered over to the clothes on the chair. A pair of jeans was the first thing she saw. Another wave of giggles bubbled from her and Claudia tossed the covers over her head and sighed. It didn’t get past her that they never made it to round two, but she would solve that little problem soon enough. Her cell phone chimed with an incoming text message. Claudia’s arm shot out of the cover and felt around for the device. Pulling it underneath the sheets, Claudia opened the message from Samiyah.
Having a good time, I suppose, since I never received a call from you.
Claudia typed back.
Seeing as how I was ambushed you shouldn’t be looking for a call from me.
The response came fast.
Oh please, don’t act like you wouldn’t rather be with him instead of me.
Claudia giggled.
True. But you still wrong for setting me up. I wasn’t prepared to see his sexy ass. I was looking regular girl.
Another bing.
Ha! I’m sure you were fine. You can thank me later.
Claudia twisted her lips.
I probably will. Lol.
Claudia sent a smiling emoji behind her last text and tossed her phone to the side. Peeling back the covers, she slipped out of bed and strolled to the bathroom. “Okay,” she said to herself, “Let’s try this again.”
Jaden and Claudia didn’t have to venture out to go shopping. The Palazzo Hotel held the Grand Canal Shoppes; a destination on the Las Vegas Strip. The Venetian inspired shopping center provided 160 trademark stores and prime luxurious brands with more than a dozen five-star restaurants. As they strolled down the brick lamented pathway, Claudia wondered how she’d missed this part of Las Vegas on her girls trip. But then, they couldn’t afford to stay at a hotel like this, and she wouldn’t dare take a trip into the high-end emporiums.
“This canal is beautiful,” she said.
“Would you like to take a ride?” Jaden pointed to the gondola. “We can window shop and relax if you’d like.”
“That would be blissful, but I probably should grab some clothes, since I only packed enough for a day.” She turned to him stopping their forward progress. “You didn’t say how long we’ll be here, what did you have in mind?”
Jaden traced the outline of her face with his fingertip. “How long would you like to stay, chérie?” His voice was mellow and inviting.
“I supposed we couldn’t stay forever?” Claudia gave a sheepish grin.
Jaden laughed out loud. “Unless you’re willing to relocate your family and sell your part of S & M Financial Advisory, then I don’t think we can.”
Claudia pushed her lips out turning them up.
“What?” he said.
“I’m thinking about how long it would take to move.”
Jaden laughed. “I could have your things packed and ready within three days.”
Claudia’s brows shot up in surprise. “Three days, huh?”
“Three days,” he repeated.
“How would you pull off such a feat?”
“I have the means to do whatever you want.”
“But it wouldn’t be the same without you here,” Claudia groaned.
“Who said I would be going anywhere?”
Claudia stared at him for a minute, a smile lifting her lips. She burst into laughter.
“Why do you find that funny?” He said; amusement in his eyes.
“I appreciate you living that dream with me for a moment. It was really nice of you.”
“Dreams can become a reality, when you wish.”
Claudia blushed, sliding her hand into the palm of his. Their fingers joined and Jaden held a light squeeze on them. I need to snap out of it, Claudia thought. But she didn’t want to. Jaden wasn’t making the plunge she was surely taking any easier. In fact, he made falling in love with him unpretentious. Just get through this trip Claudia, and you can gradually separate yourself from him.
“We should probably go inside.”
Claudia tugged his arm pulling him along, ignoring the penetrating gaze he held on her. They strolled into Barney’s and browsed around.
“Oh, this is nice.”
Claudia held up a one-piece jumpsuit. The material felt like silk against her skin. She twisted her lips as she judged the piece of clothing.
“Maybe too tight on my hips though.”
Jaden grabbed the jumpsuit out of her hands, “Only one way to find out.” He scanned the retailer looking for signs of a changing room.
“I don’t know…” Claudia whined.
“I’ve got a feeling I know exactly how it’s going to fit.”
“Do you?”
Jaden wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I do.”
Claudia giggled. “Maybe we should wait until I have more items or this could be an all day, trip. Have you ever shopped with a woman before?”
“From what I was told when I was about nine years old with my mother.”
Claudia twisted her lips. “That hardly counts.”
“No?”
She shook her head. “No baby, I don’t think it does.”
Jaden didn’t miss the endearment that left her mouth. It settled warmly inside him, and unable to resist, he reached out and touched her lips. The warm pad of his thumb caused Claudia to shudder, and the need to suck it in her mouth became immense. But as soon as the thought entered, Jaden dropped his hand and took a step back. His nostril flared, and he took his vision everywhere but her. Claudia peered at him
, confused, then looked away. She moved along the aisles pretending to be absorbed in the catalog. But her mind was on him and what she would do about the flames that arose when being around him. After an hour of browsing and picking out clothes, Claudia made her way to the dressing room.
At the entrance, Jaden paused, and she turned to him. “Are you coming?”
“Inside the dressing room with you?”
“Yeah, I may need help with a zipper or two.”
Jaden’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. In a husky voice, he spoke, “I don’t think that’s such a good idea, chérie.”
Claudia loved it when he called her that, and she wondered if he called every woman he held up with the same.
“Why not?”
The unadulterated lust she saw in his eyes made her quiver and bite down on her lips.
“If you need help with,” he paused, “with a zipper, step out and I’ll assist.”
Claudia pursed her lips. “Have it your way,” she pivoted on her heels and sauntered into the dressing room.
Outside, Jaden patted himself on the back for declining her invitation. It wasn’t easy and keeping himself in check was becoming impossible with every waking moment. Shit. He pulled his hand down his face. Why did Claudia get under his skin so bad? The chemistry was something he’d never felt before. When she exited the dressing room in the one-piece jumpsuit, it became apparent that keeping his hands to himself wasn’t plausible.
“I told you this would be too tight on my hips.”
Jaden’s gaze roamed from her luscious lips down the length of her neck to the silk material that held up her breasts. They sat high as the jumpsuit squeezed them together and her hard nipples protruded through; beckoning him to suck them. The torch she’d certainly lit didn’t diminish as his examination fell to her flat belly and audacious round hips.
“Take it off,” his rough voice barked.
“Excuse me?”
Jaden cleared his throat. “I said,” his eyes moved back to hers, “take… it… off.”
Claudia squirmed under his fiery gaze. She swallowed as a tingle led a dance down her spine.
Dangerously, Claudia turned slowly, now exposing her derriere, “But you haven’t had a chance to see the back yet.”
Her voice was half vixen half purr. If Jaden didn’t feel like a savage before, he felt it now. She was toying with him. Inside this store, prancing her little sexy ass in that suit.
“Do you really want to do that, Claudia?”
Claudia was feeling herself, and she was tired of him running from her. While she had the bravado, Claudia placed her arm against the wall and arched her back like a centerfold. She turned to look at him giving him the sexiest pose he’d ever seen in his life.
His feet moved, and Jaden was on her assembling Claudia into his arms with the viciousness of a lion needing to get to his lioness. He slammed his lips to hers, and they stumbled back into the dressing room. With his leg, Jaden closed the door. Once inside, he pulled Claudia by her ass off her feet to his pelvis. Her legs wrapped around his waist as her arms coiled around his neck and his fingers dug into the curve of her behind.
“Mmmm,” she moaned as he kissed, sucked and pulled at her lips hungrily. Her breathing became bated, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Jaden pulled away from her lips to kiss down her jaw and neck. Every spot his warm wet mouth touched stirred a flame that burned through her flesh.
“Oh my God,” she breathed, delighted in the absolute animal he’d become. Jaden sank the sharp edges of his teeth into her skin. The grip he held on her ass was tight and possessive. He’d tear her apart if given the chance and somehow Claudia knew in Puerto Rico, Jaden had held out on her. Their lovemaking that night had been soft and slow, but this Jaden was downright ravenous, and she wanted everything he had to offer.
It didn’t help that the bulge pressing firmly into her crotch had soaked her panties and every second he held her she fell for him even harder. Someone entered the dressing room pulling them out of their erotic haze. Jaden didn’t pull away instantly. His lips softly danced across her skin over the spots he’d bitten just moments before. Claudia closed her eyes and exhaled. Her libido was on fire, and she needed him so bad it was making her ill. When Jaden pulled away from her neck; their eyes met.
“What are you doing to me girl?”
His dark voice vibrated through her core. They were so hyper aware of each other that they could feel every breath and tremor bouncing between them. Jaden could feel the quick beat of her heart and she, his. The air around them held thick and warm.
“Whatever it is your doing to me,” Claudia responded.
More people entered the dressing room, and children could be heard. Jaden set Claudia back down to her feet.
“Don’t try on anything else. Let’s get out of here before they put us out,” he said.
“But nobody knows we’re in here.”
“You think it’ll stay that way if we spend another minute behind these walls?”
Claudia swallowed visibly. “I suppose not.”
Jaden reached for the stack of clothes behind her and slid his large hand in hers, leading Claudia away from the dressing room. At the register, Jaden gave the cashier his American Express Black Card.
“Um, I was going to pay for that,” Claudia objected.
Jaden regarded her. “No you weren’t.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Yes, I was.”
Her feistiness just further turned him on. “Next time,” he winked, although he had no intention of letting her pay for anything.
Leaving Barney’s, they returned to Claudia’s suite briefly so she could leave the bags inside. Jaden made sure to stand outside while she went in which confused Claudia further, but her unspoken questions were never raised.
They left the Palazzo hotel, and Claudia was silent the entire ride.
“Everything alright?” Jaden asked.
Claudia gave him a small smile. “Sure.”
Jaden wasn’t convinced. “You can talk to me, about anything.”
Claudia shifted in her seat. “I could go on and on about whatever, so I’m sure you don’t mean that.”
“Then you’re mistaken.”
They held each other with their gazes. The mixed signals were becoming frustrating for her. Claudia decided to mess with him.
“Last week I had a hang nail that about made me scream, my big toe hurt so bad I ran to the nail salon to have it fixed. You should’ve seen it!”
Jaden threw his head back and roared a contagious laugh that made Claudia laugh in return. When his mirth whined down, a lazy grin replaced it. “I hardly doubt you had a hang nail.”
“No?”
“Nice try but that was a good story.”
Claudia stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes, and another deep laugh escaped him. Witnessing her sense of humor was a breath of fresh air. Most of the women he’d dated were poised but haughty. They came from wealthy families, so the need to be self-made didn’t interest them. It was endless. But Claudia was so refreshingly different he could see them together for all time. Thoughts of her loving and caring nature invaded his mind. With her being the youngest sister, Claudia had stepped up to take care of her mother when it was most needed, and ever since he’d known her, Jaden hadn’t heard Claudia complain once.
Her business savvy was an extreme turn on for him and being a beautiful, seductress was an A plus. But what could he offer her? Money and luxury? Those things were great, but Jaden wanted to give her the whole shebang. The emotional support that came with loving and caring for a person. The mental and trustworthy stability that came with being in a monogamous relationship. The physical ability to make her body crave him in her sleep. Jaden was confident he could have that last part down, but what about everything else?
Was he ready, truly?
“Where are we headed?” Claudia asked interrupting his thoughts.
“To grab something to eat. Are you hungr
y?”
Not for food, Claudia thought but said, “A little.”
Jaden reached over and touched her face. “Then we’ll get something to fill your little appetite.”
He had no idea that her appetite was anything but little. However, it involved him and the king size mattress back at her hotel room, but since he seemed to be playing hard to get, she’d leave him be, for now.
Chapter Seventeen
There was a light breeze in the Las Vegas atmosphere, and Jaden and Claudia managed to spend most of the day at a barbeque joint. Laughter and conversation had held them steady for what seemed like minutes but in actuality had been hours. Claudia had grown friendly with the manager immediately. It appeared that no man could resist her charm. She’d whispered something in the owner’s ear, and he’d perked up.
“I would be delighted,” he’d told her.
Puzzled, Jaden watched Claudia rise from her seat. “I’ll be right back, handsome.” She placed a tender kiss on his jaw and scurried off to the kitchen. When Claudia returned, she was skirted in a red apron with a bowl in her hand.
Returning with her, the manager sat down a rack of ribs that sizzled; holding a juicy moistness that made his stomach growl.
“This is my mother’s secret sauce,” Claudia informed him. She placed a piece of rib on his plate and doused it with the sauce. “If you like it, I’ll give you more.”
The thick honey smell assaulted his senses, and he immediately took a bite. Claudia watched him as he inhaled the fall of the bone meat. He made eating look like sex. Or maybe she was just horny. Either way, Claudia could watch him eat forever. When a single drop of sauce hit his chin, she’d wanted to lick it off with her tongue, but she held back.
“This is delicious. Your mother must be proud.”
Claudia sucked her lips in. “She doesn’t know I’ve learned it.”
Jaden stopped chewing then swallowed the remainder of the meat that sat on his tongue. “How does she not know, she taught you, right?”
“I watched her thoroughly, but my mom and sister don’t take me seriously, so I just kept it to myself. I have a habit of doing that.”
Enough (Falling For A Rose Book 2) Page 11