Jax
“Come in.”
Hesitantly, I pushed past Liz's office door, peeking into the surprisingly cluttered space.
Well, that wasn't the word she would probably use for it. Maybe curated?
There were multiple paintings hung throughout, even photographs on the back shelf that seemed to have been taken by Sloan’s wife. Though they were more safe for work than the ones she did for the club, I had seen so many there that it was hard not to make the connection.
The light overhead was dim and probably on its last life. The lamp sitting on her desk was some sort of glass flower that radiated warm light mixed with yellow and blue.
The rest of the gallery was extremely well kept. Not a speck of dust inside, and it all followed a very obvious and specific organization I was sure Liz knew like the back of her hand.
She seemed like the type. Always knowing what she wanted, always the boss, never losing her grip on control… until my tongue was licking her cunt.
Liz was at her desk, her computer pushed to the side as I came in. She had put her hair up and was now wearing glasses, a hand-knitted shawl wrapped over her.
She's so beautiful.
I felt like I was seeing a part of her that I shouldn't. The one she reserved only for the people closest to her.
When she raised a brow at me, I cleared my throat and lifted the box in my hands, showing her all the security cameras I’d taken down for her.
Get your head in the game, Jax.
“These are shitty. I'm not sure who recommended these, but they're easily hacked. I mean, most cameras are, but at least with us you’d have full-time coverage so—”
“I only said I would take your quote for Claire. I want nothing to do with you.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. Acting quickly, I made sure to shut and lock the door behind me.
“Jax, whatever you’re planning to—”
“I’m sorry,” I said, quickly placing the box of security cameras on the ground. I walked slowly toward her desk, scared that if I moved too fast, she would bolt. “Can I explain, please?”
She looked at me for a hard moment before motioning to the seat across from her. I sat up straight, so on edge that my hands were balled into fists.
“You're right. I knew who you were.”
She let out a sigh, took off her glasses, and pinched the bridge of her nose before looking back up at me.
“And you decided to spend two million of your hard-earned dollars on me. Don't you think it would've been beneficial to remind me that I was your best friend's mother?”
I wasn't fast enough to bite my tongue.
“If I did, you wouldn't have slept with me.”
She reached over and slammed her computer shut.
“Of course I wouldn't have. It's inappropriate.”
She was getting ready to leave. Just as she stood from her seat, I grabbed her wrist.
“We're both consenting adults. There's nothing wrong with what happened—”
“Then are you going to tell her? Or should I?”
I paused, dread filling my stomach. Her gaze made my eyes fall down to the desk.
“Come on, Jax. Someone as smart as you… don't tell me you didn't think that far?”
My heart fluttered at her compliment.
“So you think I'm smart?”
I looked up at her with a smile pulling up my lips. For a moment, she looked like she might smile too, but then she pulled her wrist away.
“And that’s why I don't want to talk to you about this anymore.” She gathered her stuff, putting her laptop in an oversize tote bag. “I won't be accepting your services. And I'm going to be the one to tell Claire.”
She walked past me, heading straight toward the door, and by the time I gathered my wits, she was already opening it. Quick as lightning, I got up and pushed it close.
Her breath hitched when my front brushed against her back.
I slid my hand down on the door so my arm was right next to her. So close but not yet touching. Not if she didn’t want me to.
“Free. My services will be free as… payback.”
She stood there, unmoving. “Payback?”
“An apology,” I corrected. I couldn't help myself.
My other hand was placed on the wall, inching closer to her body.
Fuck, I want to touch her so bad. It was almost impossible keeping my hands to myself.
I leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Keep this between us. Everything. For now. And let me apologize like a real woman.”
I didn’t know what I was trying to do. I just knew that I needed to keep her here. Keep her interested. I knew that if I let her walk out without doing something, I would lose my chance.
My chance of what? The voice inside my head had way more sense than I did. It was pushing me. Asking me why I wanted her so bad. Asking me what I would do with her after I had her.
But all I knew was that one taste of her would never be enough for me.
Sloan gave me one last chance by sending me here, and I knew I had to repent if I wanted any type of future with Liz.
“I don't want an apology.”
“A punishment, then?”
The sound of air escaping from her lungs had my heart soaring.
My skin started heating as I thought of all the ways she would punish me. In a single selfish moment, I let my front rest against her back, laying my head down in the crook between her neck and shoulder.
“I’ve been a bad girl, Mommy. Teach me a lesson? Please?”
She stuttered against me, and then, ever so slightly, craned her neck to the side.
She’s inviting me.
And I was too weak to say no.
“Please,” I whispered against the skin of her neck and placed a kiss on the slender column.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
One hand slid to hers, and I intertwined our fingers. The other hand found her hip, forcing it back against me. Our bodies melded together seamlessly.
“Everything,” I admitted. “Let me show you what I can do for you. Let me be a good girl for you.”
My tongue ran up the side of her neck and to her ear before I brought her earlobe between my teeth. Her gasp was sinful.
I wanted to see her face so badly, but I knew just how careful I had to be.
“Let me make you feel good, then punish me. If you’re still not convinced of how sorry I am, I’ll leave and get another company in here to take care of security for you. Okay?”
I’m so close.
I moved my hand and slowly slipped under her shirt, but as soon as my fingertips hit skin, she gasped and pushed me away.
Panic ran through me as she turned to me with narrowed eyes.
Stupid. Keep yourself together.
“I'm returning the money,” she declared. “I want you gone.”
I raised my hands, showing her I meant no harm.
“I overstepped—”
“Again.”
“Again, I’m sorry.” She watched me with cautious eyes. “Keep the money. Let me do the job for free. It's my way of apologizing. Okay? I'll leave you alone. I'll only be here for security stuff, okay?”
Her gaze softened, and she brought that reddened lip between her teeth.
“I'm only agreeing because I'm in dire need of security, okay? It has nothing to do with you. And I trust Sloan. Even after all this.” The last part was said in a low grumble.
“Understood,” I said, a weight lifting off me. “No talk of punishment. Unless you’re still into that, then we could make an appointment at the club—”
She shut my mouth with a single look. Fuck, that look alone does things to me. I could see it now. Me on my knees for her. Me bent over with her hand slapping my ass until it bruised.
I couldn't help the smile pulling at my lips.
“Meet me back here tomorrow morning. Because of what happened, I want a team of men outside the gallery tonight. All night.”
I nodded. It wasn't an unreasonable request. “Of course.”
She turned and opened the door, but just as she was leaving, I finally got to the question that had been bothering me the whole time.
“Liz… Are you in some type of trouble?”
She froze but didn't look back at me.
“Not trouble, just… an annoyance.”
And then, without another word, she left me.
“I knew you didn’t like blueberry, so I got your lemon loaf instead.”
Liz looked at the lemon loaf in my hand with narrowed eyes. It was early, but she didn’t have a single hair out of place.
“It's seven in the morning.”
“A little early for you, isn't it? I’m pretty sure you don't open the gallery until nine—”
“How did you know I’d be here?” she asked, this time directing her glare at me. “And how’d you know I don’t like blueberry?”
“A hunch.”
I reached out with my other hand, which was holding a hot soy milk latte.
The street was mostly empty this early in the morning, though soon the area would be filled with people on their way to work.
In reality, I already had a security team set up around her, and they let me know when she was leaving her apartment. She might have told me she wasn't in any trouble, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
And as for the treats, I found out she would often have her assistant buy for her from the coffee shop down the street.
It wasn’t stalking… Per se. I just had my team check her habits so we could better protect her. That was all. The knowledge about our preferences just happened to… slip in there.
Sorry not sorry.
She walked past my offerings and walked toward the door of the gallery, opening it with a key that she kept separate from her house and car keys. It had a little fluffy character on it that I couldn't make out from my vantage point.
Liz didn't turn back as she walked in and straight to her office. I followed her, only stopping to shift the lemon loaf and coffee in my grasp so I could lock the door behind us.
“Jen’s coming soon, so don't lock it,” she called out.
I couldn't help but smile at her antics. A few moments later, I saw her assistant walk up the sidewalk. She froze when she saw me.
“Morning,” I said with a smile. “I'm installing your security system today.”
“Oh.” She let out an awkward chuckle.
“Jen, you can continue with the inventory and then prep for the show!” Liz ordered and Jen immediately jumped into action.
“Got it!” Just as she was about to leave toward the back of the gallery, she turned to me, looking at the stuff in my hands. “We keep food away from the art. Make sure it's in her office or the break room.”