She playfully tugged at his coat. “That’s not a hint. That’s a given.”
“Is it?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. His hand trailed the length of her bent leg from her boot to her thigh as it rested on top of his.
Madi moaned lightly and his eyes sparkled in reflection of her excitement.
“Do I really have you all to myself for the next three days?” she asked.
“I’m at your disposal,” he replied.
“I hope I can find a way to keep you entertained,” she said, narrowing her eyes in thought.
He smiled as he licked his lips. “I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about.”
She lifted her hand to his face and gently skimmed her fingers across his stubble.
“Should I shave it off?” he asked.
“No,” she quickly responded. “I like it. It’s you. I’ve only ever seen you without it once or twice. It suits you.”
“It doesn’t scratch your face?”
“It’s not scratchy,” she replied. “It’s soft. Like your lips.”
“Hmm,” he responded. “You like my lips?”
“Um hmm.” She nodded. It was all she could do.
“What else do you like?” he asked as he pulled her leg back up his and held it there, pressing his fingers into her thigh.
“What else?” she asked. “About you?”
He smiled. “Who else?”
“Let’s see. Things I like about Jake Morgan…” He watched as she pressed her finger to her lips before laying her head on his chest, turning her face into him. “There’s the way you smell.”
“Hmm. Yeah, I seem to remember that having an effect on you.”
“It always affects me. You smell yummy.”
“Yummy?” he laughed. “Like a donut?”
“Like a buffet,” she responded. “Of all the things I love to eat.”
“Now that’s an image.”
“You smell like you. I’ve never smelled anything better in my whole life.”
“I see,” he nodded. “So you like how I smell….”
“And how you taste.”
He smirked.
“And how you look at me with those eyes of yours. I love your eyes,” she said as she gazed into them. “I love how you make me feel when I’m around you. How you consume my every thought.”
“I do, huh?”
“Most definitely,” she replied as she fiddled with the buttons of his coat once again.
“I love the way you sing. How your lips move and how your eyes fill with so much emotion. I love how kind you are to every single person you meet and how special you make them feel. I love this energy that radiates all around you,” she said, moving her hand over an invisible force field. “It’s like you’re a planet and we all revolve around you.”
He huffed. “I’m fairly certain I revolve around you. You’re my sun. You have a brilliant mind and a gift for making me feel things.”
“Like what?” she asked.
“You make me feel more. More of everything,” he said, closing his eyes briefly before staring back at her. His eyes searched every aspect of her face. He traced her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
The limo slowed and made a turn, pulling in front a large building.
Madi stirred and pulled back from him to see where they were. “This is Trump Tower,” she said, glaring at him. “We’re staying here tonight?” she asked excitedly.
“That we are,” he replied.
She bounced in her seat. Jake leaned forward. “Have them take our bags to our room, please.”
The driver nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Jake opened his door and moved around the car as the driver opened Madi’s door. Jake held his hand to her and she lifted her eyes, first to him, then to the lights at the entrance. “Don’t we need to go in separately?” she questioned, suddenly concerned.
“No.” He shook his head, smiling.
He led her through the doors held open for them by a bellhop. “Good evening, Mr. Morgan.”
Jake nodded his head, grinning.
“They know who you are?” Madi asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Of course they do. Who doesn’t?”
As they walked through the lobby, a man pushed a button and the elevators opened. He pressed 67A.
“You rented a room?” she asked.
He didn’t respond. He simply brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
She stared at him expectantly, waiting for a response, which he didn’t offer.
“Jake?”
“Shh…” he said. “Just wait.”
The elevator doors opened and they turned, approaching the door to the room. He produced a key from his left pocket and opened it for her. He pushed buttons on the panel near the entrance and the silent alarm was deactivated.
The lights were already on inside. She gasped as she took in the view. Jake followed her gaze. The windows were floor to ceiling, and the lights and buildings of the city outside created an impressive view. To the right was an expansive seating area with beige couches, a baby grand piano, and a fireplace, blazing and lighting the room.
She turned to see a massive kitchen and dining area. She gasped and turned to him, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“I hope you like it,” he said, closing the door behind them.
Madi opened her mouth to respond when she heard a panting sound and the click of nails coming closer. She turned in time to see Murphy bounding toward her.
She gasped and fell to her knees. Jake joined her as Murphy attempted to jump from him to her and lick both their faces.
“He’s here?” she laughed.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“Are you kidding me? I’ve missed your sweet little mushy face,” she said as she held his head in her hands. He licked her face and she giggled. He darted off from her as his back legs raced up to his front and scooted around the room excitedly, like a puppy.
“I didn’t know they allowed dogs in hotels like this,” she said.
“We’re not in the hotel,” he responded.
She turned to stare, confused. “What do you mean we’re not in the hotel?”
He stood and held his hand out to help her up. He unzipped her coat and pulled it from her shoulders before removing his jacket and placing them both by a chair near the door. “Come with me.”
“Wait… does he need to go out?” Madi asked.
“No. I have someone who takes care of him for me when I can’t be here.”
Madi nodded as he took her hand and led her down a hall that seemed to flow in a half circle. Her head twisted and turned, taking in every detail as she followed him. “There are three additional bedrooms, an office and four baths,” he said, pointing as they walked.
“Why do we need so many rooms,” she asked. “Are you feeling adventurous?”
He smirked as he led her toward the back. He opened the door to a gigantic bedroom, the likes of which, by her reaction, she’d never seen.
The bed was most definitely a king. There was a purple and grey comforter on it that appeared to be down, and similar accents throughout. There was a sitting area that overlooked the city, with a view that caused her to gasp. He watched her eyes as they took in every detail excitedly. “This is unbelievable!” she shouted.
Jake laughed as he watched her. He took a deep breath, suddenly nervous and excited at the same time. “If there’s anything you don’t like, say the word, and I’ll change it.”
Madi shook her head. “Why would I want you to change it, and how could you? I know you’re you, but I’m pretty sure these rooms come as they are. I’m sure they’d get pissed if you changed something.” She laughed as she glanced into a closet, and it lit up immediately. It was a huge walk-in. “My gosh! Who could possibly need that much space?”
Jake played with the key in his hand and stared after her as she walked into the adjoining area. The light flicked on and Madi ga
sped.
It was another closet. This one was his.
She turned to him in shock, pointing. “There are clothes in here!” she whispered.
He nodded.
She stared at him and walked into the space, glancing around. “These are your clothes,” she stated, her eyes widening.
“Yes,” he nodded as he flipped the key in his hand.
“Why would you bring all your clothes here for three days? And how did you get them here?”
“Ang brought my clothes and Murphy for me,” he said, inching closer to her as she stood frozen. “And I don’t just need them for three days. I need them for the next month, at least.”
“The next month?” she asked, her brows furrowing as she tried to understand.
“I didn’t rent this, I bought it. This is ours. Yours and mine. I don’t like being away from you, so I bought this so we could be together.”
Jake stared into her immobile face as she attempted to process his words. He turned his head as he waited for a response. Any response. He got nothing.
“You bought this?” she gasped.
He nodded.
“You’re staying here?” she asked. “For a month?”
Again, he nodded, wondering what she was thinking.
She turned in a quick circle and her eyes met his, her mouth hanging open.
“What do you think?” he asked.
A slow smile curled at her lips before spreading across her face in the most beautiful display he’d ever seen. She flew into him, wrapping her arms around him and laughing as she jumped up and down.
He expelled a deep breath from his lungs as he closed his eyes and held her. Her body shook with laughter and trembled with shock. He pulled her back to see her face.
“Do you approve?”
“You really bought this? How? Why? For how long? What were you thinking?”
One question immediately followed the next, not giving him a single chance to respond. “I bought it before you agreed to move to L.A. I’d hoped that you’d see how serious I was about you. I hoped I could convince you to move to L.A. with me. I wanted you—and us—to always have a place to stay when we returned to Chicago to visit your family. There’s plenty of room for them to stay here, and Kendra too, for that matter—if you’d like.”
Madi stared at him as he spoke.
“I can’t live in Chicago permanently. I hope you understand. I need to be in L.A. most of the year.”
Madi nodded as she seemed to process his words.
He reached for her hand and opened it, placing a key into her palm. “This is for you. I want this to be your home. I know you live at school, but I want you to come here every chance you get, or whenever you want. There are sixteen restaurants downstairs and twenty-four-hour room service. There are multiple stores downstairs, each with my room on file. Charge whatever you like. Everything you need is within walking distance. The security is top notch. There’s a code when you enter, as well as a private elevator that separates residents from guests.”
Madi stared at him.
“Say something. You’re too quiet. I need to know what you’re thinking.”
“You’re staying in Chicago until Christmas? Until we go to L.A.?”
“We still need to talk about Christmas and whether or not it’s safe for you to come to L.A. like we’d planned. I have a couple of meetings and things I need to take care of in late December. I rescheduled my concert in Boston for early January, but I plan on coming back here after and as often as possible when I’m not recording, doing performances, or attending fundraisers. That is, if you want me to.” He eyed her inquisitively. He desperately needed to know what was going on in her head.
She turned and wrapped her arms around herself, hugging herself as she glanced out the window. Jake suddenly worried she hated the whole idea of it all.
She quickly pivoted and rushed to him. Her lips pressed into his with fierce urgency. He cupped her hands in his face as he kissed her and held her to him.
“I can’t believe you. You did this for me? For us? I have you for a month?” she asked as she stomped her foot. “For an entire freaking month?” she shouted as she held his arms and jumped up and down.
He laughed. “If you want.”
She shouted, “Do I want you? Do I want this?” she said, twirling around in a circle. “This is too much! This had to cost you a fortune!”
“I have more money than I know what to do with.”
“I feel like a princess! This can’t be real.”
She leapt back to him and held out her arm. “Pinch me,” she demanded.
He smirked as he pinched her arm. She jumped lightly and opened her closed eyes. “You’re still here,” she said.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
There was a loud chime and Madi jumped.
“It’s just the doorbell.” He strutted into the hall as Murphy barked by the door.
Jake flicked a button near the door and the built-in screen came to life. An image appeared of the attendant with the driver, who was holding their bags, outside the door. He opened the door and took them from him, thanking them both and tipping them generously.
He carried her bag into the bedroom and placed both his and hers on the bed. She exited the bathroom and pointed back inside. “There’s a bathtub big enough for four in there.”
He smiled. “We’ll only need enough room for two.”
Madi’s eyes darted to the floor and she blushed.
“Explain to me how the same girl who unzipped my pants and stroked my dick in her bedroom a few hours ago can suddenly be so shy when I tell her I plan on bathing with her?”
She bit her lip. “You want to take a bath with me?”
His eyes bore into hers as he shifted toward her. “I’m going to make love to you in that bath, that shower, this bed, those beds down the hall, on my piano, in front of the fireplace, the dining room table and maybe even the kitchen counter. I told you the last time I saw you that you wouldn’t have to ask me again. If you haven’t changed your mind, I’ll even let you pick what spot you want to christen first.”
Madi blushed.
“Would you like to unpack first, or would you like me to take you now?” he asked in a throaty voice.
“Do you know how nervous you make me?” she asked.
He grinned as his eyes revered her. “I make you nervous?”
She nodded. “You have so much confidence and charm. It oozes out of your pores. Have you always been like this with girls?” she asked.
“I’ve only ever been this way with you. I know you think I’ve been with a lot of girls, but being with someone and being in love with someone are different. There’s something to be said for being in love. It’s easy for me to tell you what I want, knowing that somehow you’ll give me what I need. I don’t want you to ever be nervous around me.”
“Maybe nervous wasn’t the right word,” she considered. “I’m not worried, I’m… ignited.”
A slow smirk lifted his lips. “I always want to light you up. If I don’t, then I’m not doing my job correctly.”
“I’m your job?” she laughed.
“When you’re happy, it does something to me. It fills a need. I need to be the one who ignites you. You don’t know how much I enjoy watching and touching you…” he said as he walked around her, glancing at her up and down. “Knowing you want me for who I really am, even with all my faults… It makes me want to be what you need even more. I want to fulfill every single one of your needs, starting with the most obvious one, by the way you’re trembling.”
Madi took a deep breath. His eyes were dark and smoldering. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you. Is this what I should expect from agreeing to live with you?” she smiled.
He leaned forward and pushed his forehead against hers. “This is what you should expect when you agree to love me.”
Madi sighed and closed her eyes. After a few moments, Jake watched them open with a new purpose.
“Give me a second,” she said. “There’s something I want to do.” She reached for her bag and carried it into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Jake smiled as he followed her with his eyes. His hands pressed through his hair and he rubbed the stubble on his chin.
Murphy stood at his feet, wagging his tail. He huffed as he bent and picked him up. “I missed you too, boy. Are you hungry?” he asked.
After feeding Murphy and giving him a fresh bowl of water, Jake roamed over to the window and stared into the city. He sat briefly in the chair and removed his boots and socks. He pulled his shirt out from his pants and unbuttoned the first few buttons. He leaned his hands on the window frame as he relaxed for the first time in months. He turned and ran his fingers along the piano. It was brand new and it needed to be broken in.
The lights dimmed in the room and he glanced up briefly. Madi stood by the light in the hall. Her long brown hair flowed over her bare arms to her cleavage. She was wearing a long, flowing black nightgown with tiny straps over her shoulders. It had a long slit up the side and a plunging neckline. Jake swallowed hard as he took in the sight of her.
“Thoughts?” she asked.
“I have several,” he responded as he folded his arms and gazed at her from her feet to her eyes.
“Let’s hear them,” she said.
“My first thought,” he said as he took a step forward, “is that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She smiled. “Any others?”
“My next thought is, ‘How in the fuck did I get her to want me?’”
“That’s easy. Next,” she said.
He took another step forward and she did too. “Does she have any idea what she does to me?”
“She might by the looks of the impressive bulge in your pants.”
He took another step toward her and reached out to touch her face. His head bent to see her body up close, and he blew the breath out from his lips. “I hope she knows how much I love her.”
“She does.” She nodded as she pressed her forehead into his. He smiled briefly before he bent and sucked her bottom lip into his mouth. Her breath hitched as she grasped his shirt in her hand.
“Tell me you want me,” he asked.
“I want you. I’ve always wanted you. I always will.”
Waiting to Lose Page 27