At Your Mercy (VIP The Pink Collection, #1) (3 page)

I can't believe during our five-hour flight
that Jax was a gentleman. Not once did he flirt with me. I actually
was anticipating his flirting and secretive glances.
How screwed
up am I?

***

We arrive at the hotel and decide to settle
in our lavish suites. The suite is large enough for ten other
people to stay in here. My cell phone rings; Jax's name pops up on
the screen. I think about not answering, but then change my mind.
"Yep."

"Is this how you always answer your business
phone," he asks with laughter in his voice.

"Yep, when I know who's calling." I
laugh.

"So I was wondering if you would like to eat
dinner with me at the restaurant in our hotel?" I say nothing, but
he continues, "They have an American cuisine and seafood restaurant
here."

I want to be around him, but I also know I
need to keep this trip strictly business. After an uncomfortable
silence, I decide to say something. "I'll order room service. It
has been a long day with traveling. All I want to do is take a
shower, eat, and sleep. Plus I made an appointment in the morning
for services at the luxurious spa."

He makes a humming noise and exhales loudly
enough for me to hear. "All right. Dinner will be lonely without
you." He pauses. "I'm getting quite used to you being around."

What the hell should I say to that? That I
feel the same way.
In all honesty, I do. And that is why a
separation is necessary tonight. "I'll see you tomorrow evening,
Jax."

"What about breakfast?" he asks hastily.

"Um, sure. We can do that … I guess. My spa
appointment is at nine a.m. Will eight o'clock work for you?"

"Thanks, Ivy. I'm looking forward to seeing
you. Bye."

"Goodnight." I lie down with my arms sprawled
out on the gold satin quilt of the king-size bed. As I'm staring at
the ceiling, I can't help but think about giving Jax and me a
chance at happiness.

***

Sitting at the vanity brushing my hair, a
knock at the door makes me jump. When I open the door, the first
thing I see is a bouquet of flowers. He must have the wrong hotel
suite. "Hi. Who are these for?"

The delivery guy smiles. "The card reads
Ivory."

"That's me." My stomach is doing flip-flops.
"Thank you." I grasp the beautiful roses and shut my door. I pull
the card from the flowers. As I read the card, my hands start
shaking.

I do hope you like the flowers. I did not
know which your favorite was until I remembered as a child you
always liked to pick roses and orchids.

Roses with red edges remind me of sunsets. My
mom planted them. She enjoyed gardening and took pride in her
rosebushes. It was one of the few things that made her happy. And
the orchids I loved picking were from Jax's childhood home. They
were so pretty, covering the area in front of his porch.

As I lay my head on the pillow, getting ready
for bed, I reminisce about all the good parts of my childhood. My
mother's voice is the last thing I remember before I fall
asleep.

Being deeply loved by someone makes you
strong, and in turn, loving someone gives you courage.

***

We walk along the red carpet into the Grand
Ballroom, which hosts the gala dinner. Jax keeps his open hand on
the small of my back. I try to ignore the intimate touch, but my
body shivers whenever he moves his fingers. I hope he doesn't
notice.

"This event is buzzing with excitement," I
say to Jax.

There are servers circling around in tuxedos,
offering the typical high-class hors d'oeuvres. Women dressed in
evening gowns and men in their designer suits and ties express
there well wishes to one another. The usual greetings of men
shaking hands and women giving one another air kisses is seen in
every clique.

"Yes, it is. The only thing I'm excited about
is attending this event with you." He takes his thumb and lightly
rubs my cheek.

He is making it difficult for me to control
myself.

Stuck in a momentary fog, I don't notice Jax
has stopped walking. He looks at me, acting a bit uneasy. "Ivy, my
brother is approaching us. If you feel uncomfortable about meeting
my family, you may excuse yourself to the ladies' room." He doesn't
make eye contact with me.

I follow his gaze and notice a handsome blond
guy with the same physical attributes as Jax coming toward us with
arms wide open and a goofy grin on his face. His presence has
sparked my curiosity as to where he fits into the Sterling family.
At the cocktail party when Jax's brother, Andrew, became the topic
of conversation, I was surprised as I thought for sure he was an
only child. I don't remember him when we were kids.

"No, I'm fine. Are you requesting that I
leave?" Why would he think I would be bothered? Perhaps he doesn't
want his family to know he hired a Companion.
Great. Just
peachy.

Andrew grabs a glass of wine off a waiter's
tray. He gulps down every drop of it before talking to Jax.

"Well, well, if it isn't my big bro." He runs
his hand through his dark brown hair. He looks a bit
inebriated.

Jax glares angrily at his brother, no hint of
a grin on his lips. "I see you are taking advantage of the free
alcoholic beverages, Drew."

"As always. You know me so well, Jax." His
chuckle turns into a cough. He looks around, searching like a
predator. He catches his prey and yells at the waitress, "Here,
please. Ah, thank you, miss." He faces me and slowly appraises my
body from head to toe. "You are absolutely delicious. May I have
the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Ivory."

"Ivory, what a fitting name for you. I'm
Andrew. I have always had a thing for redheads. Is my brother
treating you like royalty?"

He definitely has had too much to drink.
"Your brother is always there when I need him." I tilt my head at
Jax, staring into his eyes.

"You make me sound like a white knight in
shining armor," he teases. "Andrew, please excuse us. We need to
find our table and get ready for the awards presentation." He
avoids looking at his brother as we move away.

Andrew calls out from behind us, "Nice
meeting you, Ivory. And, brother, an early congratulation to you on
all of the awards you will undoubtedly win."

I look over my shoulder and smile at him. Jax
throws his hand up in a thank you motion while continuing to walk
to our destination.

We reach our reserved table for eight. Jax
pulls out the teardrop-designed chair for me. "Ms. Montgomery." He
takes my hand as I sit down. Jax nods and mumbles hellos to a few
other parties at our table. Sitting down, he lays his arm across
the back of my seat and rhythmically rubs the back of my neck with
his thumb.
His touch makes me instantly wet.

"Ivy." Jax grabs my hands as he faces me.
"I'm sorry for how my brother spoke to you. He-he is a good guy,
but hasn't coped well after his mother died a few years ago."

"I was wondering how you two were brothers.
Then I just figured that was your younger brother that I didn't get
a chance to meet before my family moved."

"We share the same father. I was upset when
my parents split up, and for a while, Andrew was closer to my dad
than I was. Ivy, every family has its demons. You're not the only
one." Jax softly kisses my forehead.

I think about that for a moment. He's right,
but if you avoid heartache, it won't happen. Right?

Looking around our table, I realize that we
are surrounded by very important people. Categorically not actors
or rock stars, but CEOs and the filthy rich. I am feeling a bit
intimidated. Since many of the conversations at our table are
business related, in between taking sips—okay, maybe more like
gulps—of wine from my Bordeaux glass, I smile and nod when it is
fitting to do so.
This is so not my thing.

Jax and I have not talked too much at dinner.
And less when he is called to the front stage to accept his
numerous awards.
The best part of the evening for me is you.
Jax keeps his hands on me throughout the night. First, it is my
shoulder, next to my knee, and then my hand. When he keeps rubbing
his thumb on the side of my neck, it feels so good to be touched
that way. Jax sends shivers down my spine as his fingers lightly
make circles on my upper thigh. The pressure building up in my
belly makes me instinctively cross my legs and put pressure on my
aching clit. I just hope that I can make it through the rest of the
event before my heated sex explodes in front of a group of
high-class strangers.

"Congratulations on receiving all of those
awards," I say as Jax hands us our celebratory shots.

"Thank you, Ivy." We tap our drinks together
and swallow our After Five shots. He looks at me with mischievous
eyes.

What are you thinking, Jax?

"You know what's better than winning those
awards?"

"Um, what?" I tip my head to the side like a
dog who's trying to figure out what its master wants.

Jax leans in close to me. "Being around you."
His words come out in a lyrical tone.

"Oh." That is the only word I have enough air
to say. This man is breaking my resolve. The urge to give him all
of me is threatening to erupt at any moment. Our lips are a few
inches apart. We say nothing as I look into those blue,
tropical-ocean-colored eyes. The warmth of his body makes my body
quiver. Jax notices because the corner of his lips slightly lifts
to a half smile.

The plane begins to shudder, and our shot
glasses jostle on our trays. At first, I don't understand what is
going on.

Jax takes his finger and lifts my chin. "We
must have entered some turbulence." We just stare at one another
wordlessly, his manicured finger still positioned under my
chin.

"Holy shit-" I grip the leather arms of the
plush lounge chair as another more intense turbulence occurs.
Before I can say another word, our bodies smash together, and Jax
grabs me hard by the arms and brings me in a straddled position
onto his lap.

"You are so beautiful. Every moment of the
day I see your face. Your fiery red tresses and hazel eyes are the
last thing I think about before I go to sleep at night."

I don't want to fight my attraction anymore.
I want to give myself to Jax.

Ivy, baby, if you continue to search for
what happiness consists of, you will never be happy.

"I want you, Jax."

He stares up into my eyes, searching for
confirmation.

"Please," I whisper, assuring him.

He starts with slow light kisses on my
collarbone, then begins trailing his fingertips along the sensitive
skin right above my breasts. You wouldn't believe that such a mere
touch could have you gasping for air. I'm on the edge of
hyperventilating. My hips begin rocking back and forth, dry humping
his thick erection.

"I want more," I say in a sultry voice that
sounds like a 1-800 date. I pull down the top of my olive green
dress, exposing my firm, busty, size C breast. My nipples go rigid
from the cool air. "I want your mouth on these." I grab hold of my
ripe breasts. "Taste me."

"At this moment, there's nothing I'd rather
do." Jax latches on my right nipple with such strong suction. I
holler out his name. He chuckles and repeats the same attention to
my left breast.

"More, I want so much more …" I whine in his
ear as my hands slide down his sports shirt, attempting to unbutton
it. He releases my now tender nipple and plunges his tongue between
my lips and invades my mouth. I reciprocate and explore the insides
of his cheeks. As I enjoy our tongues intertwining, I feel the
smooth surface of his perfect white teeth. Jax makes a deep animal
growl and begins to bite on my bottom lip.

"We need to take this off." I make another
attempt to get his shirt off. My panties are soaked, and we haven't
done anything below the waist … yet. I need more.

Jax pulls back to look at me. "Ivy, I want to
take my time with you, but you are making this very tough." He
smiles.

"Who said anything about taking it slow?" I
finally see his bare muscular chest with just enough hair to play
with. He is ridiculously hot.
This man could be all
mine.

I get off his lap and kneel between his legs.
"May I?" I look away from his eyes to the rock-hard lump
threatening to rip through his dress pants. Jax nods slowly, giving
his permission. As I unzip his black slacks, I release his long,
pulsating manhood.
The word "gag" comes to mind.
"Lift up a
bit, and then I can get these Calvin Klein's down." He complies. I
begin inching his underwear down. My eyes never stray away from his
cock as I take my thumb and begin rubbing his pre-cum up and down
his rigid shaft.

Jax groans, "Ivy-"

Now I have a fistful of his huge erection,
pumping my hand up and down in a fast repetition. "Shh, let me
explore you." I lick my lips in preparation for the next step.

As I move my tongue up and down his cock, he
runs his fingers through my hair in a rhythmic motion. As I take
one of his balls in my mouth, I swear I just lost a few strands of
red hair because Jax's grip keeps getting tighter every time I suck
and release his sack.

"Damn it, Ivy. I'm going to cum in that
pretty plump mouth of yours." He puts both of his hands on my
cheeks and pulls my face up to look at him. "Do you hear me? I'm
close to shooting in your mouth."

All I can do is smile at him. The power women
can have over men in bed. Huh, I wish that were the case outside of
sex. I remove his hands, tilt my head down, and cover his dick with
the ninety-eight-point-five-degree heat of my mouth.

"Oh, fuck," he screams.

Jax's reaction just makes me horny as hell. I
suck harder and faster, gagging a bit trying to get all his
hardness in my mouth. Jax's hands are on the side of my head. He
pushes down and pulls up in time with my sucking.