A Question of Marriage
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Authors: Temari James
A Question of Marriage
B
y
Temari James
A Question of Marriage
By
Temari James
Copyright © 2014 Gideon
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law
This book is dedicated to Dez Burke, Shyla Colt, Bill Lindau, Ja'niece Todd, Gynger Fyer and my family. Without your belief in me
, this book would have never seen the light of day, thanks so much.
The sound of pounding on the door woke Payton Hollister out of
a deep sleep. Reaching out from beneath the covers she flicked on the lamp. Sitting up disoriented and groggy, her eyes growing accustomed to the brightness she eyed the clock, twelve thirty who would be at her door at this hour?
Tossing the blankets aside, sli
ding her feet into her slippers she grabbed her robe and shuffled into the hallway flipping on the light as she walked. The pounding continued.
“Payton open the door.”
“I’m coming, hold your horses,”
Turning
the locks, she opened the door and burst of cold night air rushed in.
“What took you so long, it’s freezing out there
?” Jordan Cain asked, as he brushed passed her and stepped inside.
“I was sleeping,” Payton muttered s
hutting the door then following him into the living room.
“It’s after midnight Jordan
, what are you doing here?”
“I didn’t know where else to g
o,”
Removing
his gray wool coat, he tossed it on a nearby chair then turned to face her.
“Oh my
god, what happened?”
A black eye, split lip
, several bruises and a cut marred his handsome features.
“I had a fight.
”
“I guessed as much
, but with whom?”
“Edgar Whitfield.”
Payton frowned, stifling a yawn. “Why were you fighting with that weasel?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Uh-huh,” Payton eyed him suspiciously. “Don’t tell me it was over some woman.”
Six foot five, jet black hair peppered with gray, cobalt blue eyes, strong jaw and a straight nose, he had a body that would put Michelangelo’s David to shame.
A Corporate Attorney and notorious playboy, Jordan was constantly cavorting around town with models, starlets and heiresses on his arm. He’d even been rumored to have dated a princess, she later learned the rumor was false.
Jordan leveled a stare her way.
“No, it wasn’t over a woman. Why do you always think the worst of me?”
“Because you’ve never given me a reason not to, besides you’re the biggest whore I know so why would I think otherwise?”
“Whatever,” he responded annoyed she had such a low opinion of him.
“I’ll
get some antiseptic for that cut and an ice pack for your jaw, when I get back you can tell me all about this fight.”
When Payton returned with the first aid kit s
he found him standing in front the bookshelf thumbing through one of her first edition classics.
“You always
did like old things,” he said returning the book to the shelf.
Payton snorted
“Which is why we get along so well, have a seat,”
She sat
down beside him and grabbed a bottle of antiseptic and a cotton ball.
“This is going to sting a little.”
“Shit, that hurts,” Jordan complained dodging her efforts to treat the cut on his cheek.
“Stop being a ba
by and sit still, you should have blocked that punch.”
“Very funny,” h
e grumbled.
“There
now it won’t get infected,” she told him applying a band aid then closing the kit and handing him an ice pack.
“Tell me how this fight started,”
“You know how Edgar likes to brag….”
While
she listened to Jordan, Payton’s thoughts went back to the day they met ten years ago. She’d been concentrating on rearranging a layout for the next issue of The New York Beat, a magazine where she was editor when her office door burst open and he stormed in. He demanded she print a retraction of an article that featured him and a starlet caught skinny dipping in a park fountain. She refused saying he was a person of interest and therefore fair game.
When threats against the magazine hadn’t worked
he proposed the idea she do a feature on him to take the focus off the negative publicity. She agreed only because she wanted the magazine to be taken seriously and not be regarded as another tabloid. He then caught her off guard when he decided to seal their deal with a kiss although she’d enjoyed it she knew it could never happen again. During the weeks they spent together working on the story they became friends.
“Why would you e
ven come here instead of going to the hospital?”
“I was surrounded by reporters and
paparazzi I knew they’d follow me home so I came here instead.”
“
What makes you think they didn’t follow you?”
Jordan frowned
. “Why would they, you’re one of them?”
Payton rolled her eyes
as she stood. “Whatever, I’m going back to bed. You’re welcomed to stay if you’d like. The bed in the spare room is already made. Well, good night.”
Shutting o
ff the lights and checking the door, Jordan headed down the hallway towards the bedroom.
******************
The next morning Payton was surprised to walk into her kitchen and find Jordan standing in it. He was drinking a cup of coffee.
“Good morning.
”
“Hey.
”
Sitting his cup on the counter Jordan filled another cup and handed it to her.
Taking a sip Payton briefly closed her eyes relishing in the warm liquid sliding down her throat.
“What are you still doing here I thought you’d
be gone by daybreak?”
“Well since it is Sun
day, I decided to stick around, besides I owe you an apology for disturbing you last night.”
“
About that,” she said placing the cup on the table. “What makes you think I wasn’t alone?”
Jordan was silent for a moment, feeling a jolt
, of what could only be described as jealousy, at the thought of her being with another man. As their friendship grew he’d seen her through several relationships, one of which nearly led to marriage. Thankfully it had been called off, he thought the guy was a jerk.
He’d always thought of Payton as his
, although he’d never made his true feelings known. The fact was that he’d always been a little bit in love with her, and through the years his feelings had only grown stronger.
“You weren’t
, so what’s your point?’
Payton groaned shaking her head. “Never mind, how about some breakfast I’m starving?”
“Breakfast music to my ears.”
“You’re hungry, huh?”
She grinned opening the refrigerator, removing a carton of eggs and the ingredients they needed.
“Of course, I’m a growing boy.”
There’s nothing boyish about that body that’s for sure.
Payton thought to herself. Even rumpled and bruised, the man still looked like sex on a stick.
Through the process Jordan cracked a couple
of jokes that made her laugh, it was nice having him around if only for a day. Too bad things could never go beyond friendship, the Cain’s were old money and lots of it. Whereas hers, were blue collar, and she could never fit into that circle.
“Wha
t’s got you so deep in thought?”
“I was just wondering how you were going to handle
last night’s situation,” Payton said, the sound of his voice bringing her from her musings. “You in a fight. That’s big news. If we hadn’t called a truce I’d jump on this story myself,” Sliding the chair away from the table, she began clearing it.
Jordan looked up at her
. “Is that what this is between us, a truce?”
“Yeah, what else would it be?”
She responded, picking up their plates taking them to the sink to rinse them. When Payton turned around Jordan was standing in front of her, raising his hand, his fingers grazing the side of her face. Just that simple act, sent sparks shooting through her, sending her body off-kilter.
“I was actually hoping it was something else.”
Payton couldn’t help the laugh that spilled out. “You’re kidding right? Why on earth would I even think of having a relationship with you?
“I’ve thought of having one with you.”
Always have.
Her pulse beat wildly
, as he took her mouth in a kiss that was gentle at first, then intensified, filled with passion and need. He kissed her jaw and then dragged his tongue across her throat. Payton slid her arms around his neck and gave into the kiss. Her breasts swelled and her nipples tightened to aching points. Having his body flushed with hers she could feel his growing erection. His kissing her, was pure heaven, even better than the first time. His slow kisses made her feel dizzy, enveloping her in a heavy fog of desire. Just imagining his mouth-his teeth-and his hands on her body, and the things he could do, caused moisture to coat her panties. As much as she wanted him she knew it would be a disastrous move for both of them so she broke the kiss.
“We can’t do this.”
her voice low and breathless as she struggled to regain her composure.
Jordan
frowned. “This being sex?”
“Yes, I refuse to be added to your list of conquests.”
“Do you honestly believe if you and I were to take our relationship to the next step I would view it as a conquest?”
A brief silence passed between them before Payton spoke. “No, but I’m not willing to
risk our friendship just so you can slake your desire.”
Blowing out a frustrated breath
, Jordan eyed Payton, ever since the day he laid eyes on her, he knew he wanted her and once he’d gotten a taste of her, making love to her was all he could think about.
Over five feet, shoulder
length brown and red corkscrew curls that framed a flawless creamy mocha face her eyes were green with flecks of silver. Today, she wore a red t-shirt that outlined full breasts and faded jeans that hugged her voluptuous figure.
“Fine, I think I’d better leave, right after I do something about this.”
Her gaze drifted to his erection. “I’m sorry.
“Don’t be, I’m not,” h
e admitted shoving his fingers through his hair. “Next time, we’re going to give into what I know we both want and there’ll be no turning back for either of us.” Then he left the room.
Payton didn’t know how long she’d be able to resist Jordan, considering she’d been attracted to him from day one. At night when she was home alone she would try to ease her sexual frustrations, using her favorite vibrator but not even that did the trick. She needed the real thing, she needed Jordan and that’s what frightened her, the fear that once she gave into her desire, he’d break her heart. Releasing a sigh of resolution, she turned and loaded the dishwasher.
Jor
dan rode the elevator up to his father’s office. The moment he stepped out of it, his secretary informed him that J.D Senior wanted to see him. When he walked into his father’s office he wasn’t surprised to see his grandfather waiting for him as well, the old man was sitting on the couch reading the financial section of the newspaper.
His father looked up from his desk
and spoke. “Good, you’re here, have a seat.”
“I
f you don’t mind, I think I’ll keep standing.” Jordan said, looking from one man to the other. “Would someone mind telling me what this is about?”
“What this is about, is
your inability to remain out of the tabloids,” his grandfather responded folding the newspaper tossing it aside and standing up. “Fighting during a charity event, how could you embarrass yourself and this family?”