by M. S. Parker
Heart now hammering against my ribs, I slowly met his eyes as he straightened. The air between us began to crackle, all but sizzling now. I didn't want to dare to hope.
“What are you saying?” I asked. I had to know, I had to be sure.
“The engagement is over. I was only marrying her because of the baby, and lately, I haven't even been all that sure it was the right choice to begin with. But now? Hell, no.” He cupped both sides of my face with his hands. “You've never been the other woman, Allie. She was. You’re all I've been able to think about pretty much from the moment we met.”
I searched his eyes for some hint that he was lying. Maybe it would be easier if he was. If he were lying, it would make it easier to push him away next time.
Next time…
I was crazy. That’s just all there was to it.
But, still...
Slowly, I reached up and curled my hands in the front of his shirt. “The engagement is off?”
“Yes,” he said, the relief in his voice clear. “It’s off. And not just the engagement. She and I are done. Over with. Forever.”
Jal nuzzled my neck, his breath hot against my skin. I arched my back, shuddering. I told myself I needed to think, figure out what all of this meant, but how could I possibly think when he was touching me?
It was then I realized that, for the first time, he was touching me without a shadow between us. No fiancée. No ring. No Paisley.
“You’re not engaged,” I said. Hearing the words again sent a rush through me.
“No.”
“It’s over?”
His hand slid under my shirt, his fingers shockingly hot against my skin. Why was he so hot? I whimpered as those fingers skimmed higher, over my ribcage.
“Yes, baby…it’s over. Now…” He closed his teeth around my earlobe and bit down gently. “Can we stop talking? I’ve got other things I want to do. Namely, you.”
I groaned, partially because I wanted him, but mostly because I knew we needed to stop. “I’ve...Jal, I’m at work.”
“Your boss said you had forty minutes.” He made a dramatic show of checking the pricey watch on his wrist. “We used eight talking already.” His eyes narrowed, but the heat in them was all lust, not anger. “Now be quiet.”
His voice came out harder, stronger, and the command in it surprised me enough that my mouth snapped shut. His mouth took mine in a fierce, quick kiss that was over all too soon. Before I could catch my breath, he spun me around and grabbed my hands, bringing them up and pressing them to the wall.
In a matter of seconds, he had my pants down to my knees, the cool air shocking against my bare skin. I heard the familiar sound of a condom wrapper tearing, and anticipation twisted inside me. Nudging me forward, he canted my hips, and then thrust, shoving halfway inside me. My shocked, startled cry was caught against his hand as he covered my mouth. He moved closer, forcing my body to straighten as he pinned me between him and the wall.
“Fuck, I want to hear you scream so bad.”
I bit down on the fleshy part of his palm instead as he withdrew, groaning as he thrust back inside. It was excruciating, how aware I was of him. I could feel everything. The hard plane of his chest. His muscular thighs. The thick weight of him filling me.
Hot shivers of sensation raced through me as he reached up and caught my wrist, dragging my hand down, urging it between my pinned thighs.
“Play with yourself.”
Mindless, I did as I was told as he moved his hand to my hip, my fingers falling into the familiar rhythm I'd perfected over the past couple years.
“I’m going to let go of your mouth, but you can’t scream.”
I wanted to, felt like I had to as his strokes became faster, deeper. He hit all those places inside me that only Tao had been able to find before, and only with practice. Jal instinctively seemed to know where they were, and all the right ways to play them.
“Don’t scream, Allie,” he reminded me.
I nodded, mindless answering a command that I wasn't sure I could follow. Circling my fingers over my clit, my body rocked under the motions of his, but it wasn’t enough. Moaning in frustration, I shoved back against him, needing something more.
Jal muttered something harsh and raw under his breath. Then, a moment later, he pulled away. I cried out, my pussy throbbing in protest, suddenly and achingly empty.
“Quiet,” he said against my ear as he dragged me to the ground. On my hands and knees, I swayed backward, all but ready to beg him just to be full again.
But it wasn’t necessary. He gripped one hip, and the blunt head of his dick probed at my entrance. Then he was driving inside me again. Deeper, harder, faster.
Over and over.
My head fell forward as I bit my lip to keep from crying out. He pressed his thumb against the entrance to my ass, and I shivered, chills rushing through me, threatening to dissolve my very bones.
The climax blindsided me, and I gasped, desperate for oxygen as the orgasm raged and tore through me. My entire body spasmed, shook. He swore, and I felt his cock jerk and throb inside me as he came too. The head of his thick shaft pressed against my G-spot, setting off a series of mini aftershocks as he emptied himself into me.
Blood roared in my ears, and I shuddered. His fingers tightened on my hips as he ground against me, milking out every last drop of pleasure. Another shudder went through me, and my arms gave out. The only thing holding me upright was the solid strength of Jal’s hands as he gripped my hips, his cock still rigid inside me.
Jal smoothed a hand down my back as I straightened up over the sink. Our eyes met in the mirror as he came closer and slid an arm around my waist. It was crazy how completely natural the move felt, as if he'd been doing it for years.
“I have to get moving.” My forty minutes had shrunk down to nineteen, and I still hadn’t gotten the coffee.
“Yes.” Jal continued to stand there, his face buried in my hair, his arm holding me snug against him. He didn't seem like he was in any particular hurry to go anywhere.
Realizing I was going to have to move first, I pulled away from him and slid out of the minuscule bathroom. I’d managed to clean up fairly well, although I had a bad feeling everybody I worked with would be able to take one look at me and know what had happened up here.
“What now?” I asked as he followed me out of the bathroom.
“Now, we go get that coffee.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not what I meant.”
As he edged around me, he shot me a look. “I guessed as much, but we can talk about that on the way. We’ve already been up here much longer than what it would take to get some money. Speaking of which…” He bent over and picked something up from the floor.
When he turned, I saw it was the money I’d gotten from Alistair’s desk.
I scowled and snatched it away, spinning on my heel. I was suddenly annoyed at him, at myself. “A bit late to think of that, isn't it?”
I tossed the words at him over my shoulder as I hurried down the steps and straight toward the back. I might be in luck, and nobody would be in the break room. No one would have to know that I'd gone out the back way long after I should have already been gone. They'd think the line at the coffee shop was just long.
Jal followed me out into the cool spring air, catching up with me easily, his long legs eating up the distance between us.
“I want to see you again.”
That calmly uttered statement almost made me stumble.
Keeping my eyes straight ahead, I clenched my jaw and remained silent for a few seconds before responding. “And you’re telling me this…why?”
“Seems to be the polite thing to do.” He sounded slightly surprised that I was asking a question. “I’m asking you on a date.”
This time, I did stumble. He steadied me, his hand going to my elbow. I shot him a quick look before easing away, checking the traffic before darting across the street.
“Playing chicken in the middle of the mor
ning isn’t the best way to avoid giving me an answer,” Jal said, irritation evident in his voice as he caught up to me again.
“I’m not playing chicken.” Glaring at him, I checked the time. “I’ve got twelve minutes until my appointment shows up, and I still haven’t gotten the coffee.”
“Or given me an answer.” He settled a hand low on my back as I reached for the door to the coffee shop.
There was no line.
When the barista saw me, she waved. “Want your usual?” Her eyes strayed to Jal before returning to me, and I managed not to laugh when she wagged her eyebrows at me.
“Actually, I need everybody’s usual, Cathy.” I named off the girls who were working and then added, “And one for the boss too.”
“You got a nice boss, kid. Lucky you.”
Cathy’s boss smacked her on the back of the head as she walked by, but it was a friendly gesture, not a harsh one. “Your boss is going to leave you a coffee shop one day, so don’t complain.”
Cathy turned her head and stuck her tongue out.
“I saw that!” The older woman called over her shoulder.
“Moms.” Cathy was still rolling her eyes as she got to work on the list of drinks. One of the other baristas came in a few seconds later and started working alongside her. Both of them kept shooting Jal and me sidelong looks.
“You still haven’t given me a yes or no,” he said, keeping his tone neutral.
I sighed. “For crying out loud.”
He dipped his head, pitching his voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear. “Well, crying out loud is one of the things I plan on making you do a lot. If you’d say yes, we can set a date and time.”
Heat rushed to my face.
“Whipped cream?”
“What?” My voice cracked.
Cathy eyed me, a hint of a smile on her lips as she repeated herself, “Whipped cream on yours, Allie?”
“Um, no. No, I’m good.”
Like hell I was. Now my heart was racing all over again, my thoughts scattered. Every nerve in my body felt like it had electricity racing across it. I was overly aware of every inch of him, the sound of his breathing, the unique scent of him.
“I knew I should have steered clear of you,” I said under my breath.
Jal shot me an amused look. “What?”
I just shook my head and checked the time. Down to seven minutes now. I’d need three of those minutes just to get back to the salon. Alistair wouldn't fire me if I were late, but it wouldn't be good either, especially if he figured out that the reason was because I'd been having sex in his office instead of getting coffee like I was supposed to have been doing.
“Relax.” Jal dropped a kiss on my head.
I stiffened in surprise, and he slid a hand down my back, then back up before closing his fingers around my neck and massaging at the tension gathered there.
“If you’re a few minutes late, what will it hurt?”
“Seriously?” With a roll of my eyes, I checked the tray of drinks. Only one left. I might make it. “Let's put it this way, Jal. If your mother was kept waiting by her hair stylist, would it go over well? I've never met her, but I doubt it. And who do you think would pay for it? The stylist.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw him grimace. He shouldn't have been surprised that I could accurately guess his mother's behavior. I might have been from different social circles, but I knew how the upper class worked, how they thought.
“Point taken.” He nodded at Cathy. “If you can rush that, I’ll make it worth your while.”
In another forty-five seconds, I had Alistair’s double espresso mocha latte steaming in the tray, and Jal passed several bills over. I heard the startled gasps behind me as he hustled me out the door, taking one of the trays. Remembering how well he tipped me the first time we met, I had no doubt he'd just made their day.
He kept pace with me as we hurried down the sidewalk. “Now. We’re outside. You didn't seem to want an audience to our discussion, so make it quick or I’ll just follow you back into the salon, and we can keep talking there. I'm sure your friends won't be too interested.”
When I watched for another gap in traffic, he remained at my side, ignoring the man in the Beemer who started honking at us when he had to slow down. He was tenacious, I had to give him that.
“Will you have dinner with me, Allie?”
Chapter Four
Jal
Wanting shouldn’t be like this.
Want was easy and shallow and simple to satisfy. A quick fuck. A physical release.
But the want I had for Allie was hard, gut-wrenching, and unending. There was nothing easy about it, and although I could still taste her, still feel her around me, I wanted to take her again…and again.
Still waiting for her to answer my question, I pressed the tip of my finger against her lower lip, the smooth, lush curve making me ache to kiss her all over again.
Would I ever have enough of her?
“The clock is ticking,” I said, keeping my tone light.
“You’re a nag.”
The words startled a laugh out of me, and I could see the corners of her mouth quivering in an answering smile. She reached up and caught my wrist, the touch scorching my skin.
“Fine. Dinner. When?”
I grinned. I would have demanded she just leave with me now, but I didn’t see that happening. Besides, I needed to get my head together. “Tomorrow.”
Once she disappeared inside the salon, I dragged my hands down my face and leaned against the rough brick of the wall for a minute. I had never gotten so stupid over a woman in my life. I’d never gotten so stupid over anything in my life.
I needed to focus. I had two meetings between now and three o'clock, and I hadn’t even gone over my notes. As I started for the car, my phone buzzed. Tugging it out, I checked the screen. My mother.
Fuck me.
I hit the ignore button and jammed the phone back into my pocket. I knew I’d have to deal with her, and sooner was probably better than later, but now wasn’t the time. I wasn’t sure if I could keep from exploding.
It took a lot to make me lose my temper, but after what she and Paisley had done? Yeah, that had pretty much done it.
Whenever I thought I could finally manage to talk to her without losing it, I would, but only so I could tell her to leave me the hell alone for a little while.
The drive to my office passed in a blur, and it wasn’t until Thomas said my name that I realized he’d parked in front of my building and was holding open the door. Offering him a crooked grin, I said, “Sorry. My mind is elsewhere.”
He gave me a polite nod.
I headed to the front door, and then stopped, turning back to him. “By the way, in case Paisley Hedges tries to call and have you pick her up for some sort of little surprise, you should know that we're no longer together.”
It may have sounded a little paranoid, but I knew it wasn't. Paisley had done the surprise thing once or twice before. Thomas knew I wasn't too fond of them, but Paisley had always been persistent. I didn't want that same quality to make things even more awkward than they already were.
“Oh. I’m sorry, sir.”
“Don’t be.”
I sure as hell wasn’t.
As soon as I stepped off of the private elevator, Janie Beck leaped out of her seat and came rushing in my direction. She held several multi-colored bits of paper in her hands, and she looked very flustered, which was strange for her because she was rarely ever flustered.
“Oh, my word. Jal, of all the days for you to come in late.” She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Not that you aren’t entitled to do whatever you want. You work too hard as it is. But this morning has been insane. The phone won’t quit ringing and if that girl Paisley–”
She stopped speaking, clamping her lips shut. She was usually good at keeping her personal opinions to herself, but she was clearly at her wit's end.
I slid her a look. “Y
es?”
“I apologize, sir. It’s just been a very hectic morning, and every third phone call seems to be her.” Ms. Beck flushed, the flustered look on her face growing more intense.
“It’s okay.” I kept my voice calm. “I take it Paisley’s called a few times?”
“A few?” She laughed, but it sounded strained. “She called a few times before nine-thirty. I’d say she’s called six times since, every twenty minutes, give or take. And her mother has called as well.”
Shit.
She pushed the notes into my hand. “Mrs. Hedges is quite adamant that she speak to you. Your mother has also called twice.”
Double shit.
“That should be it for personal matters. Then the Wheeling Group called, and Lester Wheeling is insisting you make room in your schedule for him this week. I told him that you’re very busy, and we could work him in next week for a half hour, but he wouldn’t accept that. He…” She stopped and pursed her lips. “Jal, I don’t like how that man speaks to me. How a person treats subordinates shows a person's true colors, and he treats everybody who actually has to be employed like pure trash.”
“Be sure you don’t hold back.” I patted her shoulder.
“Don’t tempt me.” She pressed her lips together so tightly, they went bloodless. “Otherwise, when he calls again, I’ll tell him where to shove his demands.”
While that would amuse me, and he definitely deserved it, having Janie go off on Lester would probably cause more problems than it'd be worth. Flipping through the messages, I said, “Why don’t you order us lunch? Pick the spot. My treat.”
“It won’t make up for this morning.” Her face softened a little. “But it’s a start. I’m afraid there were a few more calls though. A few were just reschedules or confirmations about matters later this week. We can go over them later, but your two-forty-five called. They need to know if you can possibly meet them at three. There was a family emergency.”