Jaded Hearts (16 page)

Me: Rise and shine

JB: All rised out J

Me: lol crazy

JB: About you... miss you already

Me: You don't miss me; you just miss my
doggy-style

JB:??? Snoop Dogg is that you?

Me: Lmao j/k Muah!

JB: Lunch?

Me: Aww babes I have plans with D today

JB: I can afford to feed you both, I
swear

Me: We're working in so be here with grub by
11:45

JB: She's Bossy!

Me: BYE!

JB: Muah!

I had another table set up in my office for
working lunches since I couldn't always expect a conference room to
be at my disposal. I was finishing up a conference call with a
modeling agency that had a couple of models that we used for the
fashion show and wanted to use on a regular basis for the upcoming
photo shoots we were doing for La Carra. I had to meet with Edward
at some point to bring him up to speed on my plans for the
boutique, but I had been putting it off, not wanting any reminders
of Julian. Jackie had been relaying everything to him thus far.

John walked in with what smelled like the
most delectable Chinese cuisine. He closed the door behind him and
I glanced at my clock to see that it was 11:40 am. This meant we
had a couple of minutes before Donna would be strolling in to join
us. I smiled and motioned for him to come to me. He walked over to
me and leaned into me for what I thought would be a quick peck, but
I got a whiff of his usual Burberry scent and couldn't help
slipping him a little tongue. He must have had the same thought in
mind because he was already steadying my face for more. I clicked
my mute button even though I doubt my contact would have heard
anything over all of her rambling.

I wrapped my arms around him, curling my
fingers into his hair, as I pulled him closer. He captured my
tongue in his mouth as he slowly sucked on it. I moaned in approval
as I returned the favor. With one hand planted firmly on the arm of
my chair, he skillfully fondled my breast with the other hand. Our
hard pants and strained whimpers flooded my quiet office.

There came a light tapping at my door and we
pulled away from each other reluctantly. John went to the door to
let Donna in and I turned back to my call to wrap it up for lunch.
She was still blabbing.  Donna crept in with that look that
said she knew she had interrupted something.

Lunch was delicious. After we ate, Donna
laid out her to-do list for the party and John cleared away our
lunch plates as we began to discuss and cross of all of our tasks.
She was having two different restaurants cater since we would be
serving both American and Jamaican dishes. She had worked it out
that the event staff would be picking up the food and setting up
the tables and decorations for the party. We wanted everything set
up by noon, as the start time of the party was scheduled for 1:00
pm, and we left a window for any possible setbacks. John tapped
away on his Blackberry intently while we worked, so he didn't
notice when I picked up my phone.

Me: look mom one hand!

JB: I like to leave one free for....

He looked up and returned the sly grin that
I was flashing him.

Donna: Behave!

We both glanced up at her suddenly and we
all burst out laughing.

After we wrapped up a call to Jackie to fill
her in on the details, Donna left us to have some private time
before we both got back to work. John was free until 2:00 pm so we
had a little while to chat. We both leaned back in our chairs, I
suspect to keep a safe distance from each other to stay out of
trouble. John took out his phone and shot me a question after
reading something on his screen.

"So I was thinking that I need to revisit
your doggy-style, as you mentioned earlier, to see if it's really
you that I am missing, and I think the sooner the better."

I laughed.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to
indulge your request so maybe we can find out if you really miss me
after all."

He frowned in exaggerated disappointment.
"Please expound on the reason for the delay?"

I shook my head as I got up to sit on his
lap. I knew he had to leave soon so the lack of time would keep us
safe from naughtiness.

"You do remember that my brother is coming
into town tomorrow so I have to go home and get my place ready for
him."

He played with the ruffles of my chiffon top
as he listened to my explanation.

"Baby, your place is always visitor ready
and you haven't been home in days, so what could you possibly need
to do?"

I leaned against him with a sigh.

"For starters I want to put fresh fabric
softener smelling linens on his bed, and I have to put groceries in
the refrigerator so he can actually eat while he is here." There
was a slight pause as he nuzzled my neck seemingly lost in my
scent. I could feel the small shivers slicing through me.

"OK, so how about I meet you after work and
help you. I don't know why you feel the need to do everything by
yourself. Unless you need some space ... then just tell me
that."

I flicked his nose at that suggestion and he
flinched.

"If I wanted my space I would tell you that.
I'm just used to doing things alone that's all. I would love your
company as I do my chores."

A victory smile spread across his face.

"Good. Now watch yourself, I don't like
being abused!"

I flicked him again and he grabbed my hand
before I could do it again.

"Puhleez, you know you like it!"

He kissed my hand. "Oh yeah baby, abuse
me!"

I just shook my head.

Freak!  

The rest of the day flew by, and before I
knew it my phone was buzzing with a text from John saying his car
would be here in ten minutes. I grabbed all the printouts for the
BBQ, and checked in with Donna before I left. I bumped into Roland,
another Jr. Agent who had been with Emerge about a year longer than
I had. He had gotten his invitation to the party and wanted to know
if he could bring his daughter. He and his wife didn't get out much
and he didn't have a sitter lined up.

Awl!

I assured him it was a family event and to
feel free to bring them both. Apparently the BBQ was the buzz of
the office and no one wanted to miss it.

Kewl!

The car ride to my house took longer than my
usual train ride because traffic in the city sucked until about
9:00 pm. I felt like a visitor to my own place, since I truly
hadn't been home since Sunday. John was engaged on a call with a
client who was on the West coast, and needed some documents
reviewed and faxed back by COB. He, of course, had every portable
office gadget known to man in his brief case so this was no sweat
off his back.

I waved at Manny as we walked in the
building, who noticed the quizzical look on my face and he informed
me that he had to fill in for Donovan the last couple of days.

I hope everything is OK.

When the elevator doors opened I was
immediately aware that something was amiss in my hallway. There was
a large box leaning up against my apartment door. I looked up at
John who was still on the phone.  He was eying the package and
was now regarding my reaction. I wasn't expecting anything and the
pit of my stomach started churning at the thought of who this was
from. Usually packages were picked up from the doormen. I was
struggling to fight a feeling of dread for this moment that I knew
was coming.

After I settled into the apartment and put
my bags down I went to open the box. It was a large vase with a
dozen long stem lavender and pink roses. My heart stood still since
it couldn't sink and soar at the same time. There was no note, but
I knew who they were from. I put them on the counter and went to
the fridge to grab a water bottle silently offering one to John who
was wrapping up his phone call. He headed towards me accepting the
water and eying me expectantly.

"Sooo, who is your admirer? That is one heck
of an arrangement."

He was so hard to read sometimes, but common
sense told me there was some jealousy and concern to be dealt with
here.

"I would love to tell you, but there wasn't
a note." I gulped my water hoping the chill would help cool my
internal stirrings.

"No note? Well, shouldn't it has been left
with the doorman?"

No amount of water was going to help me.

"Um. Yes, packages are usually left with the
doorman."

There was an awkward silence as he pulled
away from me and loosened his tie.

I watched, really in suspense, because I
didn't know how he would react. I didn't want to lie but I knew my
evasive answers weren't going to cut it either. He picked up the
box examining the exterior.

"Well, there is no label, no note, and it
wasn't left with the doorman which is usual protocol. Pink roses
mean happiness or romance, and lavender roses mean adoration or
love at first sight. So, Jade, either you have a stalker or you are
not telling me something."

He put the box back down and walked over to
the chaise, lying back with his hands supporting the back of his
head.

Grow a pair and have this conversation
already!

I followed him over to the couch.

"I think it's the Dark Knight."

There I said it.

I didn't do anything wrong and needed to
stop acting like I did. He nodded in satisfaction that his hunch
was correct and that I told the truth.

"Are you still seeing him?"  There was
no expression in his tone.

"Really? When would I be doing that? I
haven't seen him since the last time you saw him so this is equally
weird to me. As far as I knew he was out of the country so.” I
replied.

He didn't ask any more questions so I walked
back to the kitchen to unpack my groceries so that I could get
started on dinner and my light housework.  My thoughts raced
as I wondered if Julian was really back. I felt the stirrings of
panic at the thought of one of his emotional confrontations.

Would I be strong enough to resist?

As I was putting my eggs and bacon into the
fridge, John came up pushing the door closed from behind, pinning
me up against it. Lost in my own thoughts I jumped at his sudden
presence behind me. I didn't even hear him approach me. I could
feel the intensity of his emotions and it made me tremble as he
played with the loose tendrils of my up do.

"Jade, I asked you if he was your guy and
you said he wasn't. If there is something more going on please tell
me. I hate finding things out," he finally spoke.

I shuddered from both the soft touch of his
fingers as they lightly caressed my neck and the strange darkness
that lined his words.

"John, there is nothing going on that I am
hiding from you. I met him before you and he was interested in me.
Very interested, but for some unexplained reason he had to go away
for business and I haven't seen him since; nor have I heard from
him."

My voice sounded like a small child. I
turned around to face him not being able to stand the torture of
being cornered anymore. He placed his other hand on the fridge
trapping me in his prison. We stared at each other wordlessly, me
because I didn't know what I should say and him because he wasn't
sure what he could say. He had to trust my words and any further
questioning would indicate a lack thereof. He also had to know that
I couldn't stop another man from wanting me.

I anchored my hands onto the side of his
navy blue dress shirt wanting desperately to break the silent
impasse between us. It was almost as if he didn't want to take off
the armor that he just put up but I didn't want him to slip away
from me.

"John? I love you."

He leaned down pressing his forehead against
mine. His body trembled and I knew he had to be afraid because I
was too. Even if it was for different reasons.

I turned my face up to his in an offer,
leaving it up to him to decide how far he wanted to go, and rubbing
my cheek against his. His eyes were closed tightly as he slowly let
his lips find mine. We both whimpered with the need to make things
right between us and he began to kiss me hungrily. I curled my arms
around his neck grabbing onto the hair that barely grazed it. His
breathing heightened as his kiss became more aggressive and his
hands grasped at me as if they couldn't decide where to touch
first. I felt so fragile as if I could shatter at any moment.

Surprisingly John began to pull at my
clothing tugging my shirt out of my high-waisted skirt and sliding
his hands underneath so that he could roam across my bare skin, his
thumb heavily massaging my diamond hard nipples. I sagged against
the stainless steel door trying to undo his clothing but he just
grabbed both my hands pushing them back down to my sides. I
whimpered against his lips as I was suspended in anticipation of
his actions. His kiss was so demanding and overwhelming that I had
to turn away at times to catch my breath.

Oh God!

He pushed my shirt up over my thin pushup
bra and began to suck first one then the other nipple out of their
padded housing.

"Please John!" I panted my pleas on deaf
ears.

"Shh." was his only response.

I alternately arched and sagged away from
him. I could hear his harsh ragged breathing as he continued his
silent onslaught. He kissed and nipped at me, and when he couldn't
reach where he wanted he pulled the crease of my top ruffle and
ripped my shirt open. I gasped in shock as I heard the buttons of
my top falling on the floor around my feet. He covered my
half-hearted attempt at a protest with his ravaging kiss.

His militant hand found the zipper of my
skirt pulling it down to reveal my pale green panties and garter
which he pulled to let snap against my skin. My leg was pulled up
around his waist so that he could grind against me. Again I had to
turn away from his kiss and his heavy breathing against my neck
made me convulse against him.