44. Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Three
Lisette
A swarm of butterflies take off in my lower stomach as Jackson wraps his arm around my waist, holding me close as we enter the charity event.
The hall is flooded with men in expensive looking suits. Women in even more expensive looking dresses at their sides. There’s a hushed piano being played in the center of the hall, but when I notice the art on the wall, I quickly turn to Jackson.
“The charity event is an art exhibit?”
“Yeah?” Jackson turns to me now. “I didn’t mention that?”
“ No, you didn’t mention.”
A smile touches his lips. “That’s why I wanted you to come. Everything that’s sold today is going to the All-American Sluggers. They have little league baseball teams in every state across the country and—”
“Sorry, I don’t really care about the team,” I whisper. “Who’s the artist?” I walk over to a piece that first caught my attention and he follows close behind, stifling a laugh.
“Nice to see you care about my interest the same way I care about yours,” he mumbles and I turn back to him, giving him a knowing look.
“You know I care about your interests, baby. Don’t pull that, I listened to you talk about how baseball trades work for twenty minutes before you ranted about stocks. We both know you’re not interested in a little league team .” A smile grows so big on his face, pulling my brows together. “What?”
He simply shakes his head. “Nothing.” He nods to the painting behind me. “The artist is Alexander Sinn.”
My brows shoot up as I turn back to the wall and just as he said, Sinn’s signature is in the corner of his painting. “Damn.” I nod in thought.
“Do you know him?”
“Are you kidding?” I let out a scoff. “Of course, I know him. Do you know how much controversy he is stirring in the art community right now?”
“No, tell me about it.” He steps beside me as I marvel at the piece and ramble on about the artist.
“Jones.”
We turn and Rome flashes a smile at us before he gives me a once-over.
“You brought the nanny.” His smile grows.
“She’s not—” Jackson shakes his head and I bite back a laugh. “Thank you for being on time,” Jackson says accusingly.
Rome’s brows furrow. “I was on time,” he argues, and for some reason, I believe him.
“You’re the one who was late, Dad ,” Rome teases and a laugh escapes me.
“I like you.” I nod in approval and a smirk touches his lips.
“Well, thank you, honey.” He takes a step towards me and Jackson swiftly stands in front of me.
“She’s off limits,” he nearly warns. “Go socialize and buy at least two paintings.”
Rome’s brows pull together again. “I don’t want any of this?”
“I didn’t ask you,” Jackson argues, his voice hushed.
“So why would I pay”—Rome looks over at the painting behind me and his eyes widen before his mouth hangs—“Twenty-five thousand for”—He turns his head to the side as he tries to study the abstract piece—“What the fuck even is that?”
I break into a laugh but quickly quiet down when Jackson turns his glare to me.
I clear my throat, trying to be more serious. “Art is subjective. It can be what you want it to be.” I try to keep a straight face, but I feel Jackson’s glare still on me. When my smile breaks through, he rolls his eyes.
“The money is going to kids who can’t afford to play baseball. I don’t care what you buy or if you want it. Just buy something.”
Rome rolls his eyes and Jackson doesn’t look any happier. “Can’t I just donate the money without taking the ugly art?”
Jackson walks away, pulling me with him and I break into another laugh.
“Stop encouraging him,” he mumbles and I tease him with a pout.
“Aww, is Dad upset because his rich brat doesn’t listen?”
He rolls his eyes again and I stifle a laugh.
“If he has enough money to afford these paintings, why is he trying to play baseball?”
Jackson turns his full attention to me. “Would you stop painting if you were rich?”
“Of course not.”
“Okay, same for him. Baseball is his passion. He’s not going to stop trying to achieve his goal to make it to the major league because he simply doesn’t need the money.”
“Touché.” I nod in thought. When I feel my phone buzz in my dress pocket, I pull it out. My eyes scan the screen before I feel my jaw drop.
“What happened?” Jackson steps closer.
I turn my phone to him. “That guy who offered me ten grand for the suicide painting just tripled his offer,” I whisper.
I watch Jackson carefully as his brows raise. “Wow.” He nods like he’s impressed as he reads the rest of the message.
I quietly squeal before hugging him. “My life is going great . I can’t believe I wanted to die last week.”
Jackson stifles a laugh, his arms around my waist. “Okay, I don’t think your depression is cured . It’s thirty thousand dollars.” He keeps his voice low, but I still pull away to look at him, my brows furrowed.
“I didn’t say it was. It’s not the money, it’s someone wanting what I created.”
“Right, but one good day doesn’t mean your life is going great.”
I remove my arms from around him now. “Why are you being so negative?” When his shoulders sag, I know exactly what this is. “Sire spoke to you.” I let out a scoff as I turn back to the art on the wall.
“Don’t be like that.” He tries to wrap his arm around my waist again, but I push him away.
“Stop touching me.” I take a step away. “I’m not having a high high day. I know what those are, trust me, I’m the one with depression. I’m just happy.”
“And I’m happy that you’re happy.”
I pull away when he tries to touch me. “What exactly did he tell you?” I watch him carefully, but he doesn’t say anything. “Whatever.” I walk off, his presence suddenly annoying me.
He calls out to me, but I keep walking, and since we’re in a room full of people, he doesn’t yell after me, but I hear his footsteps so I hurry mine. I walk into the first door I see which happens to be the men’s bathroom.
Just as I turn to leave, Jackson quickly walks in after me.
“Move.” I try to get around him but he steps in my way.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he coos and I roll my eyes at how damn sexy he sounds.
“You don’t get to call me that when I’m mad at you. Why can’t you guys just leave me alone? When I’m sad, you’re both overbearing. When I’m happy, it’s a fucking crime. What do you want?!”
“Lower your tone,” Jackson says cooly, his voice low.
“No, you—”
I don’t get to finish my sentence as he leans over, capturing my lips with his. His tongue slides into my mouth before his hand comes around my throat and I’m suddenly pinned against a wall.
I’m breathless as I kiss him back, but I make no move to pull away. Our tongues dance together as my arms come around his neck and through his curls.
When the kiss breaks, it’s him who pulls away. “Are you done being a brat?”
I try to catch my breath and a smirk grows on his face, his hand still around my throat.
“I’m not being a brat . I’m making very valid points.” I try to move his hand from around me, but as my hand touches his, I can’t bring myself to push him away.
“You are making valid points but you don’t have to storm off and yell to make them. I’m sorry for bringing your mood down. I’m happy that you’re happy. I just don’t want you to feel like all is lost in the world if you wake up tomorrow and you’re sad.”
I don’t say anything because this is the part where I apologize for yelling and I don’t feel like it.
He gives me a knowing look, but my eyes cut down to the floor. His hand tightens around my throat as he tilts my face up to meet his eyes.
“Say sorry.”
Two words should not make my stomach dip the way it just did.
“No.” I find myself saying, simply to push him and see where this goes. “How about you stop—”
“I don’t want to argue with you, sweetheart.”
“Oh, we’re arguing, and stop calling me—”
His lips meet mine again and I feel myself smiling against him before his hand tightens around my throat again. A moan escapes me as I hold onto the hand around me, but he doesn’t move to loosen his grip as his other hand pulls my dress up.
I pull him closer and when his hand finds my wet underwear, a breath of surprise slips past my lips. I’m practically begging for him as I spread my legs and as slow as humanly possible, he slips his hand in my underwear and rubs me in slow circles.
“JJ,” I whisper.
“Apologize for the attitude.”
“I’m so very sorry, Jackson Jones.”
He pushes my head against the wall again, forcing my eyes to meet his. “That didn’t sound sincere.”
“Jackson.” My eyes are on his lips as I mindlessly cover his hand with mine, guiding him to where I want him.
Painstakingly slow, he slides one finger inside me and I tilt my head back in pleasure just as his mouth lands on my neck.
“You’re so pretty when you’re desperate.”
New kink: Unlocked.
“Apologize,” he demands now and I will give this man anything he asked for if he asked in that voice.
“I’m sorry for yelling.” My head dips, catching his lips just as he adds another finger and I moan into his mouth this time.
“Well, look at what we have here.”
I pull away so fast my head slams into the wall. I squeeze my eyes shut as I rub my head and beside us, I hear Rome’s laugh.
“Get out,” Jackson bites out, rubbing my head gently.
“I’m in desperate need to relieve myself. Not like you’re relieving yourself, of course.”
I turn to him and when he glances down at Jackson’s fingers, he nods like he’s impressed. I feel my face burst into flames. Jackson holds his hand behind his back and Rome barks up another laugh.
“They like it when you lick your fingers after,” he whispers.
Oh my god.
“I clearly don’t need sex advice. Leave.”
Rome ignores him and turns to me. “I was planning our wedding in my head, honey. You said you liked me?” He pouts and I break into a laugh as I bury my face in Jackson’s chest.
“What was it you told me, Jones?”
I steal a glance at Rome and he leans against the door as he pretends to think. “I couldn’t bring a date because you didn’t trust my horny ass to not sneak off to the bathroom?” He shakes his head disappointedly. “I found three paintings that aren’t entirely ugly. I just bought them and I was looking for you to tell you. Are you proud of me?” He smiles cheerfully. “All jokes aside, this is actually fun.”
“Glad you like being a decent person.”
“I hope you kids are being safe.” He smiles at me now. “You look gorgeous, honey. I forgot to tell you earlier, but now that you’re all flustered from having him—”
“Booker,” Jackson bites out. “You have two seconds to walk out without another word.”
Rome’s brows raise in amusement, a smirk playing on his face. He pushes off the door, his hands in mock surrender as he flashes me a wink and leaves without another tease.
“If we get caught by anyone ever again, I’m going to kill myself.”
Jackson turns his glare to me and I’m suddenly afraid to speak. “Do not say that.”
I open my mouth but quickly stop myself from joking and simply nod. He keeps his eyes on me for a beat before turning to wash his hands.
“Come on.” He nods for the door.
“Can we just go?” I get on my tippy toes to kiss him, but he leans away, his arm wrapping around my waist as he guides me out.
“We have to stay a little longer, reina.”
I let out a disappointed breath as we walk out of the bathroom and I feel Jackson lean into my ear. “V has Belle.”
I turn to him now, biting back a smile.
“At her house,” he adds and my smile reaches my lips.
“Are you sure we can’t leave now?”
“I’m sure, walk and watch the attitude.” He nods forward and I roll my eyes as I turn around.