Last Call (12 page)

“What do you want, Jason? I’m tired and need to get home,” she says with conviction.

“I missed you. Did you miss me?” Okay, my stomach is aching, and I feel incredibly vulnerable right now. I haven’t felt like this since I was a child. What the hell am I saying? And what is wrong with me?

“Cut the shit. What do you want?” Her icy glare snaps to me, raising my anger, as well. Too many emotions are circling the air inside my car. I can’t grasp a single one because they’re all flying around me at once.

“Not amused with formal pleasantries, then? I want you,” I say, trying desperately to get my frustration under control. This is not how I wanted to start this conversation at all. Fuck!

She looks at me, dumbfounded, and then starts to release a huge, belly-rumbling laugh. Okay, that’s not the reaction I want, either, although at least she doesn’t want to cut my balls off. However, the sight of her laughing at me pisses me off and makes me feel really stupid for approaching her with this idea.

“Jason thanks for the laugh. I’ve gotta go.” She attempts to leave the car, but I pull on her arm, not allowing her to leave. “Let go of my arm.”

“No, not until you hear me out.”

She turns her body and shuts the door again, her expression one of annoyance, and I once again have to control my temper.

“When you came to my place and tossed that money in my face, you did something no one has ever done—”

“And what’s that, Jason?”

“You refused me. Since I’ve become the man I am today, I have never been refused anything. Not in business or in my personal life. Everyone always does what I want them to do.” I am treading in uncharted water. I know what I will be asking her to do, and I’m not prepared for her response if she says no. I’d never force myself on her, but I don’t think I can handle the rejection.

“Well, newsflash, cowboy. I’m not a whore. I fucked you in the bathroom, yes.” To hear the work
fucked
come out of her mouth stirs my dick awake. Goddamn, she’s so unexpected and hot. “I did it because I wanted to, though. So when you gave me a thousand dollar tip, it didn’t sit well with me.”

Now we’re getting somewhere. “So that’s why you broke into my club? Huh, I had no idea. I was just trying to be nice because I took you away from your work. I figured it was the least I could do.” Man, I’m really doing a shit job right now. I’m sitting here, justifying my dick move as something chivalrous.

“Wow, really?”

“Really what?”

“You had no idea how insulting that was? You fucked me then gave me a thousand dollars, not to mention the lovely note you left me. It’s not rocket science, Jason.” Mariah fidgets with her purse straps, and for a brief moment, I believe I might have cracked her tough exterior. I may have hurt her feelings.

“Well, usually, when I throw money people’s way, they have no problem taking it from me. Like I said before, I’ve never been refused… by… by anyone. So you’ve left me thinking these past few weeks.” I take a deep breath and offer my proposal, “I’d like you to be the only object of my affection.”

M
ariah

“You want me to be your girlfriend?” I am completely thrown off guard by this. Here is this outrageously sexy, rich man who can have anyone he wants, and he wants me to be his girlfriend. My head is spinning and I’m overwhelmed. I don’t think I’m ready for a boyfriend, especially one who is so frustrating and demanding. However, the desperate romantic inside of me swoons at the idea of being Jason’s girlfriend.

“What? Hell no!”

Yeah, ouch, that’s a blow to the ego.

Then he laughs. “I just want you to be my only… well… partner.”

“How many girls are you bedding at one time?” My gut sinks to the ground, knowing I probably wasn’t the only woman he had the night of my birthday, or the night we fucked in the bathroom. He’s a man-whore and, until this little proposal, he has been a very active one.

“Look, I don’t do monogamy. I never have, but there’s something about you that my body craves. It only wants you and I can’t shake it.” As he grabs my hand, I am stunned where I sit. I have no idea what he’s asking me to do; yet I can’t keep the possibilities out of my mind.

“The night you tossed the money in my face, I’ve never wanted to hit a woman so much in my life. Then it got me thinking. You’re different than all the girls I’m with. I don’t have to be someone else or the mogul they expect me to be. I don’t have to play the chase game. Normally, I take them out to dinner or to a function before I fuck them, but not with you. I had to do neither. You simply took our interaction for what it was, unadulterated pleasure; nothing more, nothing less. And I realized that’s exactly what I need in my life right now. The only thing you want from me is just…
me
. Not money, lavish gifts, or expensive trips, you only want me.”

Jason glances down to his hands, looking very vulnerable. I am blown away, but then I really think about what it must be like for him. Everyone knows who he is. They know he has money and mansions, and they are looking at him to offer them something. Wow, for the first time, I get it. I get the rough exterior and the asshole move regarding the tip. He was just doing what has always worked for him. It’s quite sad and maybe a little lonely.

However, as quickly as he exposes the real him, Jason morphs back into the man everyone knows. He breaks my thoughts and asks, “Let me ask you something. Did you like what we did?”

I can’t deny it. He’s been on my mind since we’ve had sex and it’s all I can think about. He’s starred in my fantasies when I use my vibrator, so yeah, I’d say I more than liked it. My response gets choked in my throat because my mind is wandering, so I simply nod.

“And I’m assuming from your reaction, you more than liked it?” He smirks, making me want to slap him. Yep, the arrogant ass is back again. “Well, then how about it? You, me, and all the nakedness we can stand.” Damn, the sound of his voice is getting me hot and bothered, but that damn look on his face makes me want to kill. He is such a conceited dick.

“So, you want to be fuck buddies?” Okay, this conversation may have promise. There is something deep down telling me to believe in him a little bit, yet there’s something else telling me I could get tangled into something I may never recover from. After the night in the bathroom, I’ve despised him. I’ve even imagined slugging him in the face or slashing his tires because of his outright rude response that night. However, this is different.

“Uh… sure, fuck buddies. Monogamous fuck buddies, Mariah. I will not have some wannabe douchebag trying to stake his claim.”

“Considering you’re the only man I’ve slept with in the last seven years, I think it’s me who should be giving that speech,” I snap back, starting to get really pissed again. There he goes, treating me like a whore again.

“You haven’t had sex in seven year—”

“I’ve been busy, jackass!” I interrupt, not wanting to feel even more embarrassed.

“Well, that makes me feel better. However, I think we should establish some boundaries or rules.” Jason pulls out a fast food napkin from his center console along with a pen. He runs his hand over the paper, smoothing out the wrinkles. “What do you think?”

“Okay, like what?”

“Well, for starters, this not a relationship. Well, not a traditional one, anyways. We are not boyfriend and girlfriend, nor will we announce ourselves as such. This is something we keep between the two of us.” Jason writes a number one and then jots down the rule.

“I agree,” I say, knowing I don’t want anyone to know we are fucking, the least of all Royce. This is not the type of man I want to introduce to my son, and I need to keep the fact I have a son private. I don’t want to get him involved in any way because this isn’t the type of relationship where you remain happy. Sooner or later, this will end, and I don’t want my son to mourn a relationship that was never his to begin with.

I look back at Jason and look him dead in the face. “Rule number two, our private life stays out of
this
relationship.” I motion between the two of us. “You’re not looking to get to know me better and vice versa. We only get together to keep each other company every now and then.”

“I agree to that. However, I need it more than every now and then, Mariah. Maybe we should establish that now. When should we get together? When would work best for you?”

I feel like I’ve entered a business deal. Jason’s voice is deep, his face serious. I imagine this is what he looks like when he’s building his empire, all sober and professional.

When would work best for me? Well, nothing that would cut into my time with my son. The only lengthy free time I have is on the weekends I have to work. Royce is usually sleeping over at Maggie’s and stays there until Sunday morning. However, that is once a month. Otherwise, I don’t really have time to be with him unless I share with him that I have a kid.

“Well, the only major free time I have is when I work the weekend shift. Otherwise, I’m pretty tied up,” I say and Jason looks completely somber. “We could meet sometimes before I go in to work or when my shift is done, but not all the time,” I offer, knowing I could have a quickie in my car or his before or after my shift.

“Okay, that should work. It’s not like I need to spend every night with you, only when the time is right. Don’t you agree?”

I nod my head.

“Rule number three, no dates. I don’t want to waste my time wining and dining you if we are only going to be fuck buddies.” He smiles as he uses my phrase. “After my mishap with the large tip, I don’t want to give you the impression I am treating you like a whore.”

“Okay, I agree.” Yeah, that was really insulting. So, basically, I will be a slut. I’m not accepting anything for sex other than multiple orgasms. I can handle being a slut. After all, I was one for a while.

“Should we exchange phone numbers?” I ask then pull out my cell phone from my purse. I pull up a contact and think about a name I’d like to give him; something that explains who he is yet gives nothing away if someone else were to see my phone. Then it comes to me. I type it in and hand him my phone.

“Cock-a-doodle-do? What the hell?” Jason punches his number in my phone and hands it back to me. “I’d like to hear this explanation.”

I begin to laugh, knowing it’s pretty stupid but funny, nonetheless. “
Cock
for your um… you know... your giant cock. And
a-doodle-do
is your call to mate. It’s like your very own Batman signal.” I bust out laughing, thinking of him dressed up as a giant rooster.

The look on his face is priceless. He looks all offended and humored in one look. He’s trying to act annoyed by holding in his laughter, but even he can see the humor in it.

Jason lets out a little giggle and just shakes his head. “Lame, Mariah. Lame.”

I send Jason a text message with my phone number. He punches some buttons, programming it into his phone, and then tucks it back into his pocket.

“So what’s my name?” I ask, wondering if he chose something just as silly.

“That’s my secret, Mariah.” Jason kisses my hand, his look turning from all business to all-consuming passion in the blink of an eye. I can feel my body heat. I want to feel him inside of me. It’s been too damn long without his touch and I hate myself for being so addicted to it, but love the indulgence all in one.

“I have one last request.” As Jason’s eyes look down, the air in the car gets all-serious. “Don’t fall in love with me.”

I am thrown off when he says this. Why would it be a travesty to fall in love with him? Not that I want to, but what’s he so concerned about if I do? Hmm, there’s more to him than he will ever let on, and according to rule number two, I cannot ask about his private life. If I expect him to follow the rules, so should I. Then I really think about his question. Love, what is that?

I shrug my shoulders and answer him truthfully. “I don’t even know what that is.”

Jason looks a little sad for the tiniest moment when he says, “Neither do I.”

I decide to change all the weirdness in the air and take the first step by leaning over the center console to kiss him on the lips. My hand slinks around the back of his neck as I pull him deeper into the kiss. Jason moans deeply in return then pulls my body even closer to him, his palms cupping my face as he slowly kisses, nips, and sucks my lips. Our tongues meet, creating a sensual dance and igniting my groin.

I can’t control myself and don’t want to wait. If we are going to do this kind of relationship, we should be used to the quickie car sex, right?

I lean back and break our kiss, pulling my shorts and panties off, followed by my shirt. Jason begins to lean his seat back, but then looks where his car is parked. It’s pretty open, and the last thing he needs is to be caught by someone. That would be all over the evening news faster than an impending hurricane.

When Jason motions with his head for me to get in the back seat, I climb over the console and flop myself onto the leather bench. It’s not like a traditional back seat because, seconds later, Jason falls beside me and pushes a button. A glass partition slowly rises, completely enclosing us in this small space with every single window tinted black. I can barely see out and absolutely no one can see in.

I look over to him and he smiles. “I used to have a driver. When I needed privacy, I would roll this up. I had it custom installed,” Jason explains. I suddenly get really excited.

“You don’t have a driver now?”

“I fired his ass when I found out he was taking nips from his flask while he was supposed to be working.” Jason’s eyes seethe in anger, leaving no doubt how angry he was in that moment.

I am sitting in the back seat, naked from my waist down, ready and waiting to get this new relationship started. Seconds later, Jason pulls his shirt off over his head. I take a moment to run my fingers over his tattoo, just as I wanted to do that first time. It’s fascinated me from the moment I first saw it, and I was curious to know if they are real feathers. Of course they’re not—I’m not an idiot—but the detail is immaculate and very deceiving to the eye.