“There is no book, Meg. I trashed the whole thing. I have to start over, and it’ll be a while before I have anything for you.”
“You what?” She huffed out a breath. “I never expected this kind of behavior from you, Emily.” Meg launched into a second profanity-laden attack, this time aimed at her.
And Emily had enough. “Meg!” she shouted into the phone. When Meg stopped talking, she lowered her voice and continued. “Look outside your window.”
Stunned into silence, Meg recovered quickly. “What? Why?” The squeak of Meg’s chair and the clicking of her heels assured her that Meg was going to the window.
“Because I want to confirm that where you are the world is not only still turning but that the sun is up and people are going about their day. My missing a deadline hasn’t changed that. I understand the severity of the situation, but you calling me into your office to yell and curse at me won’t change the fact that I have to start over. I know I don’t have to remind you what happened.”
“Well, it’s about fucking time.” Meg’s voice was filled with relief.
Surprised, Emily mumbled, “About time for what?”
“You can ask Tea. I was taking you to the Hamptons today if you didn’t snap out of it.” The sound of Meg plopping into her chair had an image popping into Emily’s head. Meg with her feet up on the desk, smoking a cigar. Which was crazy, because Meg would never risk her Manolo’s like that. “You really had me scared, kiddo.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kidnapping, of course,” Meg said, in such a way that implied Emily had gone dense. “As soon as you got here, I was sending Tea out to your place to pack a bag.” She took a sip of something, and knowing Meg, it could be whiskey. “Emily, in the four plus years you’ve been writing for us, I’ve never needed to get on your case about deadlines. You understand, it’s my job. But when you said you’d be here today, and you didn’t even argue with me, that scared me. I expected you to tell me to go to hell, that after what that bastard did you needed time. You had me scared shitless.” Meg sighed. “You didn’t even sound like yourself on the phone.”
“You wanted me to tell you to go to hell?”
“Emily, you’re one of my best authors, not just because you write some of the best books I’ve had the privilege of editing, but the readers love you. They would love to see more books from you. We get emails all the time asking when your next book is coming. Not to mention the nominations—”
“I’ll get to work on a new outline soon. I know I put you in a bad spot, and I appreciate your concern. But, I’ll be okay, eventually.” She’d said it so many times in the last three weeks, but for the first time, Emily believed it.
Jack hugged her to his chest. She turned to tell him to stop, but before she could speak, he kissed her.
Meg was talking again, so Emily tore her lips away from Jack’s.
“Emily, where are you?”
Shit, shit, shit, shit. “Out.”
“Out where?”
Emily elbowed Jack in the side and mouthed, “This is your fault.” Bastard just smiled. Needing to change the subject, Emily returned her attention to her phone. “Why were you going to kidnap me to the Hamptons?”
“To screw hot guys, you know, have tons of revenge sex.”
And there it was. “Meg, how’s having sex with random guys getting revenge on my ex, who, for all intents and purposes, dumped me? I know he doesn’t care who I sleep with.” Emily sniffled.
“Emily, I’m sorry. Look, whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. You sound more like your old self.”
Jack leaned in and whispered, “I think that’s excellent advice. Get off the phone so we can get back to doing what we’re doing that makes you more like your old self.”
“Who was that?” Meg asked, her tone smug.
Emily elbowed him again, but not too hard as she didn’t want to damage the goods. She wasn’t done with him. “Bye, Meg.” Emily disconnected the call and stood.
“Let’s eat,” Jack said as he hopped up.
Before dropping her phone on the bed, Emily checked her texts. Still nothing from Nicki. Maybe she should call her. No. If Emily could just get through the day…
As they walked into the living room, Emily stopped short and Jack plowed into her. She turned, hugged him, and rested her head on his chest.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Emily lifted her head so she could look him in the eyes. “I need you to know that spending the night with you had nothing to do with revenge.”
“No? Why then?”
“I wanted you.” Emily turned but looked back over her shoulder. “Still do.”
Jack groaned and tried to grab her, but Emily anticipated his reaction and darted away.
His stomach growled. “Okay, this is just a small reprieve, eat first then we reconvene here, where I will undoubtedly catch you, and then I’ll have my way with you.”
“Okeydokey,” Emily said as she sashayed to the table, wearing only Jack’s T-shirt and a sexy attitude.
“That’s not going to work.”
Without turning around, Emily grinned to herself. “Of course, it’s working.” She shook her ass at him for effect.
“That’s just mean. You’re a cock tease.” He pulled out a chair for her.
“I’m only a cock tease if I don’t plan on fucking you again. Which I do.” Tucking his shirt beneath her butt, Emily sat. “Jeez, how many people are joining us for breakfast?” There were five trays of food, coffee, orange juice, fresh fruit, and croissants.
“Just us. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I ordered a bunch of stuff.”
Jack sat across from her. Damn, he looked good. If she weren’t so hungry, she’d skip breakfast and go right to dessert. Her stomach growled.
They spent the next few minutes uncovering the trays and filling their plates. Spying the coffee pot, Emily poured herself a cup, added cream, and sipped. “Mmm, delicious. Coffee?”
“Please.”
She poured and handed him the cup. He added two teaspoons of sugar and cream.
She sipped her coffee and then dug into her food. They ate in a companionable silence. Emily poured herself orange juice and offered some to Jack.
Jack helped himself to a second plate of food. Emily sat back and sipped her second cup of coffee.
“You’re not done?” Jack asked. “You had one pancake, one piece of French toast, eggs, and two strips of bacon. You’ll need to keep your energy up, so eat.” He took a bite of croissant as he waggled his brows.
“That’s what the coffee’s for.” She helped herself to two sausages along with another piece of French toast and syrup.
She took a bite of the French toast. It melted in her mouth. “Mmm.” Jack watched her every time she lifted the fork to her mouth. “Do I have something on my face?” Emily asked, trying not to smirk.
“No. Why?”
“You’re staring. I thought maybe I had a glob of butter on my chin or something.”
Jack looked down at his plate and resumed eating. “Your face is perfect.”
chapter
EIGHTEEN
Jack stifled a groan. Shit, caught staring. She was so damn beautiful. Every time she brought the fork to her mouth, her pink tongue peeked out from behind naturally rosy lips. He wanted to feel her lips and tongue on him. He broke out in a sweat. Abort this line of thinking. Jack tried to adjust himself without calling attention to it.
“Everything okay over there?” Emily asked, smirking.
“Fine.” Stop looking at her, she’s just eating breakfast.
Emily picked up a sausage and brought it to her lips. Her mouth opened, but she didn’t take a bite. Instead, her tongue darted out and licked the tip. Her eyes met his. “There was a tiny bead of syrup on the end.” She smirked as she bit off a piece of sausage and smiled as she chewed. “Delicious.”
He was sur
e she was trying to elicit a reaction, so he obliged. Pushing back from the table, his fingers went to his zipper and lowered it.
She stood, grabbed a pillow off the couch, and knelt in front of him.
He needed to get these jeans off before they’d have to be cut off. Lifting his butt, he slid them over his hips. Emily grabbed them and pulled them off. Better. His cock was at full attention. Spreading his knees, Emily moved in closer.
She was about to take him in her mouth when she paused and looked up. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable on the bed?”
“I’ll be more comfortable when I’m in your mouth.” He lifted his hips. So close.
She took his cock in her mouth all the way to the base, and it felt fucking incredible. She placed one hand on his thigh as the other cupped his nuts. She withdrew and blew on him, immediately taking him back into her warm, moist mouth. A jolt of electricity shot throughout his body. “So good, baby.” She hummed. If she kept doing that…
Suddenly, she sat back. She looked to be admiring his erect cock that glistened with her saliva. He was. Her smile was both wicked and innocent. Needing to touch her, he stroked the back of her head. Jack shifted, trying to get more comfortable. They should’ve gone into the bedroom.
Emily stood, extended her hand, and smiled. “The floor is hard even with the pillow. Why don’t we go to the bed?”
Taking her soft hand in his, he stood. “Excellent idea.”
“I heard a song at Nicki’s once, thought it’d be great to fuck to.” Emily tapped her pointer finger on her chin. “I think it was called ‘Tempers Flare.’ Do you know it?”
Jack’s brain wasn’t fully functioning since most of the blood in his body resided in his dick. He heard “song,” “fuck to,” and “Tempers Flare.” Of course, he knew it; he’d written it. She wanted to fuck him to it—quite possibly the hottest thing ever. He grunted and pointed to the nightstand. Emily picked up his cell and handed it to him. Jack queued up the song.
She walked to the foot of the bed. He was naked and spread-eagled. If she didn’t finish what she started soon, he might fucking die.
She crawled up the bed and settled between his thighs. “One more thing, shirt on or off?”
Jack nodded.
“Is that a yes to shirt on or off? Hmm, well, if I take the shirt off, you have a nice view of my tits as I suck you off, but if I leave it on, then you can remember this the next time you wear this shirt.”
Grabbing his cock, he shook it.
“Okay, okay, I’ll decide. Shirt on.” Then her mouth was on him.
Holy fuck. Emily swirled her tongue around the head before slowly taking his full length into her mouth. One hand grasped the base of his cock while the other cupped his balls. He tangled his hands in her hair. “Em…”
She eased up, releasing him, and then licked upward like an ice cream cone. She took his left nut in her mouth and massaged it with her tongue, all the while stroking his cock. As his balls tightened, he fisted her hair, but he was careful not to direct her movements. She didn’t need help. She took him into her mouth and hummed.
The vibrations were his undoing, and he managed to groan, “Gonna come.”
She didn’t let up, and he exploded in her mouth as his hips bucked wildly. As the last shudders of his orgasm racked through him, his head dropped back on the pillow.
His eyes shot open. He was pretty sure he’d passed out when he’d come.
She sat up and moved to get off the bed, but he needed her warm body next to his. He reached in the air for her, and she lay next to him, snuggling into his side. Still unable to speak, he kissed the top of her head but managed, “Mmm.” When he finally had command of his body again, he pulled her closer. Holy. Fucking. Shit. Best blowjob ever.
His eyes drifted closed. Emily was amazing, and he had a hard time believing any guy could be so stupid as to cheat on her. She was the type of girl you grabbed on to and never let go. Whoa. Jack was getting ahead of himself here. So what? He was crazy about her. So she wasn’t ready to be all in in this relationship, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying to stay connected to her until she was.
The blowjob coma slowly faded.
Emily lifted her head and smiled, and his heart thudded in his chest. He lifted his arm to touch the top of his head.
“Something wrong?” Her smile grew.
“Just making sure.”
“Of what?”
“I was concerned that when I came I blew the top of my head off and my brains splattered everywhere.” Jack rested his arm over his still intact head.
She reached up to the top of his head. “No, you’re good. No brains.”
“Funny.” He kissed her, tasting himself.
She rubbed her hand up his chest, and he covered it with his other hand.
“You okay?” Emily asked.
“Mmm.”
“Verbal skills still impaired. My work here is done.”
She tried to sit up, but he didn’t let go. “Don’t leave.”
“Relax, I just need a shower.”
“Give me ten minutes, and we can shower together.”
“If we shower together, we’ll never get out of here. You still want to show me something, don’t you?”
Jack scowled but released her. She dropped a quick kiss on his lips and was gone. Temptress. They’d have an amazing day together. He drifted to sleep, just a catnap.
J
Emily smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She looked thoroughly fucked: hair messed up, no makeup, and wearing Jack’s T-shirt. She brushed her teeth and stripped out of his shirt, folding it and placing it on the vanity.
After she stepped into the shower, the warm water surged down on her. Her leg ached; she hadn’t done yoga in over three weeks, and now she was paying for it, but no sense in looking backward.
Emily grabbed Jack’s shampoo and lathered her hair. Damn, she forgot the unscented body wash. Emily’s heart flipped. Was this guy for real? Who did that? A genuinely nice guy. He was normal, not very rock star at all. He cringed whenever she called him that. Better she kept some distance between them for his sake. He looked out for everyone else, but he needed someone to look out for him.
Emily needed to focus on moving forward, starting with today. She fell back on one of her mantras as she rinsed her hair. Focus. Mmm, Jack. Damn. What the hell, a little rewind was okay.
When Jack opened the door to the shower, she jumped. Emily had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard him enter the bathroom.
“Didn’t mean to startle you.” He held the bottle of unscented body wash. He soaked a washcloth and squirted it with body wash. Moving her hair over one shoulder, he washed her back.
Emily braced her hands on the wall in front of her as Jack washed her arms and legs. He paused on her right leg, adjusting the cloth and using less pressure.
When he turned her, she was treated to the sight of semi-hard, naked Jack. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips but didn’t linger.
When he’d finished, she took the washcloth from him. Adding more body wash, she took her time washing him. He was fit, his muscles sculpted, and she loved the contrast of the firm muscles under his soft skin. Jack washed his hair while she washed him. She suspected it was so he wouldn’t touch her.
He caught her smile and shook his head. “You’re not helping.” He tried for a stern tone but failed.
She rinsed and stepped out of the shower while Jack finished. Toweling off, she used the lotion and slipped into the luxury robe The Yorkshire provided. Jack must’ve hung it back up. Emily hoped he wasn’t a neat freak, but it didn’t matter, because after today, she’d never see him again.
Inside the vanity, she found the complimentary hair dryer. She finger-combed her hair and used the dryer. Better to get out of the bathroom before Jack finished his shower. She didn’t trust herself or him, and it wouldn’t take much to spend the rest of the day in bed together. Why were th
ey going out, anyway? Right, Jack wanted to show her something.
The shower shut off, and Jack stepped out, grabbing a towel. He rubbed his hair and then worked down his body. His eyes were closed, so she indulged in the show. Her head spun with the possibilities. When Jack cleared his throat, her head snapped up. She’d been staring at his groin. She shrugged and returned to drying her hair.
Emily went into the bedroom, but her clothes were gone. She was sure she’d retrieved them from where they’d discarded them last night. She turned to see Jack pulling on black boxer briefs. She cocked her head.
“I sent your clothes to the laundry. I didn’t want you walking around in rumpled clothing.” His lopsided smile was adorable.
“That was very thoughtful of you. When will they be ready?”
“Anthony was going to try to work his magic and get them back in two hours.” Jack glanced at his watch. “Best-case scenario in about thirty minutes.”
A knock on the door had her head turning. “Wow, even faster than magically possible.” Good timing. She could read Jack’s lewd thoughts on how to pass the time. Maybe it was bad timing.
“Probably not, four hours is the usual turnaround time. More likely, Plan B.” He pulled on black jeans and a gray T-shirt.
“What’s Plan B?” She followed Jack into the living room.
Jack paused before opening the door. “Don’t be mad.”
An older gentleman greeted Jack warmly. He carried two bags from The Yorkshire’s Amused Boutique, and stopping in front of Emily, he handed her the bags. “Miss.” She looked at the bags and then at Jack.
“Sorry, Jack. Laundry’s backed up, so I followed your instructions.” He smiled and left without further explanation.
Jack did that aw-shucks thing again, this time with his hands in his pockets. “Plan B. If the laundry couldn’t do two hours, I asked Anthony to pick up clothes from the hotel’s boutique.”
Emily took two boxes out of the first bag. The first box held a beautiful burgundy V-neck sweater, and the second box contained a pair of jeans. Nice.
The second bag held a smaller gold box wrapped with burgundy ribbon and a much larger red box. She opened the gold box. A note was on top of the folded tissue paper with the boutique’s name emblazoned across it.
With You: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 1) Page 16