149
I stretch out in my chair and arch my back; my desk is littered with papers, files, my laptop, and an overwhelming amount of random crap. The past few days have been hard, not made any easier by my oversexed boss-lover and his attempts at dragging me into his storeroom at every opportunity. He’s succeeded more times than I want to admit, making that couch almost like a bed away from home.
He has finally settled into some work routine and left me alone today. I can see him through the open door with his head down as he types, focus intent, his old Carrero frown in place, showing he means business. I watch him for a few seconds with that familiar swell of love inside of me. I can’t stop it; every time I look at him, I have to pinch myself that this is real, that I’m really here. He senses my eyes on him and glances up, throwing me a knee-weakening smile, his boyish ‘I’m way too hot to be legal’ smile. I beam back and turn away, not wanting to give him too much encouragement. It doesn’t take much to send that libido of his spinning my way lately, and I’ve only just managed to get absorbed in my work.
I hear his phone ring, and he sounds agitated when he answers; I know it’s her again. He’s refusing to sit down with the lawyers until they can reach some middle ground on where I fit in with this whole thing. Ever since our return, they have argued non-stop.
I’ve told him so many times that I shouldn’t be a factor in this, that I’ll step away and keep my distance until the baby is born for the sake of peace. He’s adamant he won’t let her dictate his life, and I know that stubborn streak too well; he will never back down. He’s incapable of backing down when he’s got the bit between his teeth. That determined side of him won’t let him.
I tune out and focus back on what I’m doing, trying to ignore how his tone and anger are rising slowly and how my stomach aches at the thought of her.
* * *
A little past noon, I get up and take him the files I’ve gone through, some contracts he needs to check, a new start-up he’s interested in investing in, and some minor publicity suggestions from Wilma. He’s glaring at a document in front of him, obviously unhappy with something contained within, and it makes me smile. Despite loving him as a boyfriend, the Jake I missed most was boss Carrero and his multitude of facial expressions when he was absorbed in something mundane. He has a face that can say a million things without opening his mouth when he isn’t maintaining his poker face, that is.
“Hey,” I mutter softly, and his chin lifts to look at me.
“Hey,” he replies with a smile, getting up and coming around the desk to pull me against him. I glance back to see if anyone is watching through the open door and catch Rosalie turning away quickly. I try to push myself away, but he only tightens his grip.
“Stop caring about what people will think or say.” He nuzzles my neck, making me melt against him too readily. I have no willpower when it comes to his touch.
“It’s easy for you to say that; you intimidate everyone. No one would say a thing about you for fear of your wrath. They all think I’m some gold-digging whore who’s bedding the boss to get my job back,” I sigh. He brings his face to mine, and it’s glaringly obvious he doesn’t like what I’ve said.
“I’ll fire anyone I catch saying that,” he growls seriously, his tone a tad harsh, and sadly, I know he means every word. I push away from him and straighten my clothes, making it clear that I need to go.
“I’ve got to go to Queens to meet Sarah,” I remind him. “I need more clothes and things from the apartment and sit down and talk to her properly before she goes to work.” He steps forward, closing the gap between us again, and kisses me on the mouth, taking a moment to linger with his lips against mine. He has one hand on my face, holding me steady, and slowly grazes my lips with a brush of his tongue. It’s hard not to react when he kisses me this way; the urge to grab and kiss him harder makes my fingers twitch. He finally steps back.
“Jefferson is already waiting,” he says as he straightens my jacket and smooths down my blouse, lingering over my cleavage with a naughty smile that gains him an indulgent one back.
What am I to do with you?
“I have a meeting with my lawyer while you’re gone; we’ll eat when you’re back, dolcezza.” His fingertips touch my lower lip tenderly, his eyes focused on mine.
“She isn’t going to be too pleased when I tell her you’ve asked me to move into your apartment full-time,” I add. We briefly talked about this last night, him adamant, and even though I want nothing more than to curl up in his bed every night, a part of me knows the thought still terrifies me. Sarah will be upset, too, at the speed this is all progressing. It’s all happened so suddenly; we are moving so fast. He shrugs that infuriating mannerism of his when he couldn’t care less about someone opposing what he wants.
“She has her live-in boyfriend, and you two rarely see each other because of your work schedules.” He moves back around his desk, sits in his chair, and picks up the file he’d thrown down. “It’s going to happen, Emma, whether now or in a month or two. You think I will be happy living apart for very long?”
“You don’t think this is moving too quickly?” I query. I tried to talk this through sensibly last night, but he closed me down every time, stubborn and set on what he wanted. Typical Jake, it’s always how he wants things, and I get no say unless it is to agree.
“Nope,” he responds quickly, “We practically lived together when you were just my PA. Why is this suddenly something scary? If you don’t want to do it, then just tell me.” He sits back in agitation, a childish pout-face appearing, indicating I’ve hurt his feelings. He pushes away the file, almost like a mini temper tantrum.
Little boy Carrero.
“I do want this,” I retort quickly, trying to smooth the ruffled feathers of my man-child. “It’s just … it’s serious, Jake. What if spending all this time working and living together makes you feel caged in … restless? I want to be sure that you’ve thought about it. I mean, you went from serious man-whore to a one-woman man overnight.” I move to the chair beside his desk and sit down, leaning closer so outside ears won’t be able to hear us. “I’m just worried this is so full-on so quickly that you’ll start missing being free and single.” I look away from him to the view outside the window, cursing myself for letting Miss Insecurity show face again. He sighs, then leans forward, so our heads are close; his hand comes to find mine and pulls it between us. He starts playing with my fingers between his thumb and forefinger, dwarfing my hand.
“You’ve got to stop thinking that way. And you’ve got to stop pinpointing the start of our relationship from the night I told you I loved you. I’ve loved you for a lot longer than that; I’ve wanted you for months. Our relationship started over a year ago, Emma, not a few weeks ago. There’s nothing rushed about where we are now; if anything, I’ve had the patience of a saint to wait this long to ask you.” He smiles his killer Casanova Carrero beam, and I return it; he knows how to play me so easily.
“I don’t want you to get fed up with me. Constantly being together can’t be healthy,” I add gently.
“It won’t be like that. We’re still enjoying being together in ways we never allowed ourselves; this is the honeymoon period. When we get comfier, we’ll do some things apart, like you and Sarah, Leila … Sophie. I still want to go out with Daniel. I have other friends that you probably wouldn’t be comfortable around, friends I really wouldn’t trust near you. I’ll still have to take solo business trips when things are hectic and you’re needed here. There are no rules; we make them up as we go, il Mio Amore.” He strokes my fingers, voice low and sincere.
I know he’s not saying it, but he also means trips to LA once a month, too.
“It makes no sense to me having you beside me at work, then you going home to Queens at night. I want you home with me to kick back and unwind. Here, we’re starting to get back into our roles as boss and PA. I want my girlfriend when we’re not working.”
“Sarah’s going to try and talk me out of it,” I sigh, watching him play with my fingers one by one, enjoying the sensation. “She’ll think we’re rushing things.” I look up at him and shake my head when he shrugs, his answer to everything. It’s so infuriating.
“I’m not going to force you, Emma. Go see her, collect what you need for this week anyway, then let me know what you decide. I won’t be mad if you decide not to, but I want you to know that it will happen eventually.” He moves forward and kisses me quickly before letting me get up to leave. I ruffle my fingers lightly through his hair, smiling at how he looks up at me, and our eyes instantly connect.
A face that could melt icebergs. And it’s all mine. Stubborn to a fault.
I turn and walk off, grabbing my bag as I pass my desk. I can sense his eyes on me, but I don’t look around. I like torturing him subtly; it makes me feel good to know I have a little power over him, too. Probably more than I realize; besides, he can be so commanding sometimes that he deserves it.
I want to move in with him, but I’m terrified. It’s a huge step for me, depending on someone else: his apartment, his things, his money, his furniture, his way!
I’ve always stood on my own two feet, and what if it all goes to hell and we break up? I can’t go crawling back to Sarah, and I’d have nowhere else to go.
I go into overdrive, thinking this all through as I make my way down to the underground car park to find Jefferson, with one of Jake’s four-by-fours, parked and waiting.
* * *
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
