Liz
“I don’t need to come down there, do I? You got everything under control?”
Getting a call right when I walked into the gallery from the notoriously elusive owner, Stefan, was a shock, to say the least, especially since it had been days since the break-in.
In the end, we were just another source of income for him. As long as he got a paycheck at the end of the day, he didn’t care what I did here.
It was a good thing for me. It allowed me the freedom to work with whatever artist I wanted.
“Nope, it’s all under contro—”
It was only then that I noticed the window that had been smashed had been replaced, complete with the gallery’s logo in the middle in a shade of blue that fit the walls.
“Liz?”
There was a bright yellow sticky note in the middle. I walked toward it, my fingers hovering over the hand-written note.
Take this as my apology. Enjoy <3
“Liz?”
“I’m here,” I murmured. “Sorry, lost connection for a bit. You don’t have anything to worry about, Stefan.”
When my eyes fell back to the logo, my heart skipped a beat in my chest.
It’s the same shade of blue as her eyes.
Slightly lighter, actually, but close enough that whenever I looked at it, I would be reminded of her.
Did she choose it on purpose? Does she know just how much my mind is overrun by her? Is this just a coincidence?
The sane part of me regretted what I let happen in her apartment the first night I was there, but another part—the one I tried to shove down—wanted more.
I had never been so turned on before.
And it scared me.
It had been three days since then, and we had been like ships in the night. She left early, likely because of work, and came home late. I was on my usual schedule and we just didn’t match.
She did mention that she wouldn’t be around a lot…
But what if I wanted to bump into her? What if I was tired of biting my pillow while I finger-fucked myself to the thought of her?
“Are you busy or something?”
I cleared my throat.
“One more time, sorry?”
“There is a visit next Wednesday. I have a few prospective buyers I need you to show the royal collection to, okay? You still have some of those?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Who are the buyers?”
“Just some friends,” he said casually. “Not a problem, right?”
I turned and headed straight to my office, mentally making a to-do list to prepare for it.
“Nope,” I replied and slid into my desk, turning my computer on so I could start writing everything down.
“Good. Let me know how it goes and… let’s try to keep a handle on everything else, yeah?”
His nonchalance about the whole situation had me clenching my jaw.
It’s not like I wanted this to happen. But instead I just said, “Of course.”
“Good. Have a good day then.”
He hung up before I could say anything else.
The warm and fuzzy feelings from the note felt long gone now.
The royal collection was a set of paintings from a lost kingdom, likely a small European country that ceased to exist in the early 1800s. They’d been dubbed that way after an inscription was found on the back of one of the frames, which read “For my beloved daughter, Princess Theodora.”
Some believed they’d been lost somewhere along the way and then passed from hand to hand until they got to Stefan. My hunch was that they were stolen, which made me hesitant to trust anyone with them.
I didn’t really expect a random royal to show up at my doorstep and ask me to give them back… But who knew?
Computer now ready to go, I should get working on planning this visit, but my eyes got caught on the yellow note again, shifting my thoughts to Jax.
She’s always gone so early… I never even see any dishes. Does she even eat at home? Is she even eating at all?
I hung my head in my hands.
“Not my business. We are just roommates.”
She also comes home late. Is she sleeping enough?
I quickly did the math and realized that she likely wasn’t.
Looking up at the ceiling, I groaned, trying to focus on the cracks that I had yet to get someone to fix, but it was no use. My mind wouldn’t let her go.
I could do something nice for her. An olive branch.
At least then she wouldn’t think I’m mad at her for her… lack of restraint. Though mine hadn’t been any better.
Just one meal. I could go to the small store on the ground floor and buy some fresh fruit and vegetables. Maybe I was overstepping, but I wanted to make her something.
It means nothing. And it’s also a nice way to thank her for the window. Right?
“Yes. The window,” I told myself with a sigh and started typing on my computer.
I only stayed on task for three minutes before I was searching social media for a new recipe to cook that night.
“Welcome back! I wanted to make you… What’s wrong?”
I placed the tray on her dining room table and walked toward her with hurried steps as soon as I caught sight of the forlorn expression on her face.
I stopped in front of her, immediately wanting to touch her. To ease whatever it was as she looked down on me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.
“Liz, I… I don’t really want to talk about it.”
My stomach twisted with unease.
“No one’s hurt, right?”
Jax shook her head before slowly placing it in the crook between my neck and shoulder. She gave me ample time to pull away, but I couldn’t. Not when she looked like that.
Her hands came to my hips, but it felt less like she was pulling me to her and more like she was using me to steady herself. Like she was having a hard time standing on her own.
It would be a lie to say I didn’t want her. I thought I’d made the right choice by pushing her away. But now… All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and comfort her.
Hug her.
She was a girl I barely knew. My daughter’s best friend. My mind was conflicted. I didn’t know what to do.
But my body did.
I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, feeling her warm breath tickling my neck as she let out a sigh that sounded a lot like relief. Contentment.
“Tell me one thing,” she whispered as she finally pulled me closer, the deep rasp of her voice making my body react in ways it shouldn’t.
It took me a bit to answer, “Go ahead.”
Her hands traveled up my sides and to my back, pulling us flush. I could feel her lips against the column of my neck as she spoke.
“Do you still want me?”
“Jax—”
“Just the truth. Just us. Please.”
I paused, not wanting to let the words out. Thinking it was one thing. Even the occasional self-control slip-up was manageable.
But if I were honest and told her I did want her… It might push us into a situation there might be no coming back from. But did I really care right now? Something had obviously happened to make her this upset.
She needs this. Would it really be that bad?
My mind shot back to what Claire said.
I’ll approve. I trust you and your reasons for wanting to be with them.
It took a second for me to be able to get the words out.
“I want you,” I admitted softly. “I wanted you the whole time, from the first moment I saw you when I was up on that stage. Even though I know I shouldn’t. Even though it may not make sense. I just can't help myself.”
She pulled away, her sad eyes finally looking at me.
“Then give me one thing,” she whispered. “You can punish me later for even asking it, but tonight, make me forget.”
I started to nod, and then her lips were on mine, and I couldn’t find the strength to stop us. We collided. Her arms around me, mine around hers as she walked me back until my ass hit the table.
She was such a good fucking kisser. Her lips and tongue were dancing against mine, and I could feel her want, her need, as our bodies talked to each other.
She pulled up my shirt, and her mouth left mine just so she could leave hot kisses down my neck. With one hand, she unhooked my bra, and as soon as my nipples were free, her mouth was on one and her fingers were on the other.
“Jax,” I moaned.
Somewhere inside me was a voice telling me I should push her away. I tried to find the strength to tell her to stop, but it died on my tongue as a sharp burst of pleasure shot through me.
Instead of fighting her, something else slipped out instead.
“Good girl. You feel so good.”
“Please let me taste you.”
Fuck. Such a simple sentence. Such little touches. Yet I was already falling apart for her.
“This is supposed to be about you—”
“All I want is to please you. Please, Liz.”
She needs this. She needs you.
I started pushing my pants down, but she was already there, doing it for me before she grabbed my ass and sat me on the table. Her body came between my legs, opening me up, and she lifted one of my legs over her shoulder so she was face-to-face with my cunt.
She wasted no time licking me from entrance to clit, and my back bowed as my eyes rolled to the back of my head and my hips jerked in response.
“Fuck, I forgot how good you tasted.”
My hand went to her hair, but instead of grabbing it and pushing her face against my pussy, I ran my fingers through it gently.
“You make me feel so good,” I praised.
Pleasure coiled in my belly. She was so caring. So attentive. This was nothing like the uncontrolled fucking back in the club. This was sensual and slow. It made my chest tight when I looked down to see her watching me, taking note of every single reaction.
When she started sucking on my clit, I let out a whine.
“Good girl! Fuck, you eat pussy so well. You know just how to please Mommy, don’t you?”
At my words, she went harder, flattening her tongue and dragging it across my entire pussy. But I wanted more. I wanted to fuck her like I had back in the club. To watch as she fell apart.
“Yes, baby girl, just like that. Hurry and make Mommy come and I’ll reward you.”
She looked more fuckable than anyone I’d ever seen in my life before she went to town on me, her hands gripping my thighs so I couldn’t back away. Almost as if she couldn't get enough of my cunt.
Her expression alone sent me over the edge. I threw my head back, rolling my hips against her tongue as I came, drinking up every sweet moment of the pleasure that ran through me.
Yes. This is my pleasure. And I deserve it.