Chapter 15
DORI
What do I say to that?
Moving to Miami with Jami would be a dream come true, but I loved working at Efron Worldwide. I worked so hard to get there, and I don’t want to just give up on it working out in my favor.
A mixture of guilt and excitement fill my insides. “Hunter, if you could get me my job back, I would take it in a heartbeat. I loved that job.”
“So you’re saying you would stay here?” His gaze jumps with hope.
“I’d love to have my job back. I’m ashamed that I lost it. My embarrassment is so bad I haven’t told anyone other than Melanie. And I didn’t tell her. She heard it from the rumor mill.”
“We haven’t posted the position yet, so the vacancy is there. All I have to do is wait for my dad to explain things to Gerald and Douglas, and they’ll back you again.”
I sigh. “But that’s not enough.”
“That only leaves two more board members my dad needs to sway. I don’t think it will be a problem once they see you aren’t trying to get money or take down the company. ”
A thought comes to me. “About the money.”
He nods. “I was wondering if you were going to bring that up.”
“Well, while checking my bank accounts, I was confronted with an unexpected and substantial surprise. It wasn’t something I could ignore.” Unease pokes at my nerves.
“You knew that money was yours if you were terminated for breach of contract. I never hid that from you.” He absentmindedly turns his glass in a circle.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know it would automatically be deposited in my account.” I swallow. “Having fifty million dollars in my account isn’t something I’m comfortable with.”
“Don’t do anything with it yet. If you get your job back, we can talk about what you want to do with it.”
I raise my brows. “I’m giving it back, no matter what.”
He rests back in his chair, his green eyes shining back at me. “I’m in awe of you.”
“Why?”
“Because most people would take the money and run. You don’t even have your job and you want to return it. That says a lot about you.”
I cross my legs and fold my arms, trying to hold the nervousness flowing through my veins. “You know I’m not about the money.”
“I know. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
We remain in a heavy stare. The room seems to get smaller as if we’re the only two in the restaurant. Memories of our time together fill my mind.
He tried hard for me.
I wish I wasn’t hurting him.
He takes a deep breath and slowly releases it. “Other than taking care of Jamison, what have you been up to?”
I laugh. “Therapy. What else?”
“You haven’t gone out or taken a day to pamper yourself?”
“No. I’ve spent most of my time at the hospital. ”
He picks up his drink. “You should go get a massage or something along those lines. You’re under a lot of stress and it could help.”
“It could, but that reminds me. I have spent some time with Melanie. She’s leaving in a week and a half. We’re going to have a going away party at the place across the street from work.”
“When?” He takes a sip and then places his scotch down.
“Next Friday. Will you be in town?”
“I will be.”
I reach over and pat him on the arm. “Good, then it’s settled.”
“What’s that?”
“You just RSVP’d to join us for the evening. And while you’re at it, bring Jonah.”
Hunter grimaces. “I’ll do my best, but…”
“I know. Just try to get him to go. It would mean a lot to her.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t you believe that?”
“The way she ended it with him is why.”
“Yeah, but she knew she was moving. She doesn’t have much experience with a man she truly cares about, so try to get him to understand. I’d like it if he were there.”
He taps the table a couple of times. “If it will make you happy, consider it done.”
Jami enters his apartment, his gait stiff and methodical. “Mondays suck.”
I carry all his bags in behind him while our security team checks out the apartment. Once they deem it safe, they go wait outside our door.
“Honey, you need to get a grip on this cranky attitude.” I scurry to the living room area. “Sit down and try to get comfortable. I’m going to put these bags in your room.”
I leave to organize his room while he tries to relax. The fact that he’s home relieves me more than I’m willing to admit. Every time I think about how I almost lost him for good, my insides flip.
If he would have died, I wouldn’t have been able to face a life without him in it. That’s what allows me to be okay with my decision to be with him and not Hunter. Even my therapist seems good with how I came to this conclusion.
If only breakups weren’t so painful for everyone involved.
When I enter the living room, Jami is sitting on his couch, glaring at the ceiling.
I can’t help but laugh. “Jami, what’s wrong with you now?”
He moves his gaze to mine. “I don’t think you want to know.”
“Try me, stud.” I join him on the sofa.
“Stud?” He shakes his head. “Whatever.”
I bite back my smile. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
He growls under his breath. “Why does it seem like you’re enjoying my suffering?”
“I don’t enjoy it, but you’ve never acted like this, so I find it kind of cute.”
“Cute?” He groans. “I’m losing all my game.”
“No, you’re not.” I lean over and kiss him on the cheek.
He turns his head. His blue eyes rage with passion, causing me to pull in a breath. In an instant, our magnetic connection snaps, setting the room on fire.
I love him so much.
My breathing speeds up as he moves closer and reaches behind my neck with his good arm. My heart goes wild. I’ve wanted him to kiss me like this for days, and I’m done waiting.
He closes his eyes, and our mouths brush against one another. I swipe my tongue over his lips and he opens wider. It’s a gentle kiss because I don’t want to hurt him.
His minty breath mixes with mine as he strokes my tongue with his. I haven’t been with him like this since before Christmas and I forgot how good it is.
An ache low in my belly erupts and spreads wetness between my thighs. My nipples steeple and press against my lace bra. I move against Jami, and he grunts.
He’s not ready for this, Dori.
I pull away. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
His smoldering gaze pierces mine. “Fuck the pain, Dori.”
“But I don’t want to make things worse for you.”
He sighs out his annoyance. “This is the exact reason I’m grumpy.”
My brows crease together. “Because I stopped kissing you?”
“That, and I’m frustrated.”
“About?”
He turns slowly and deliberately to face me head-on. “You being at my side these last couple of weeks has been meaningful to me.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
“Dori, you’re taking time off work to help me. You’ve committed to me, and you’ve been helping me recover. But I can’t do anything for you. I’m defeated by being so helpless.”
My insides warm and turn to mush. “Oh, babe. Please don’t feel that way. You wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for me.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But it is.” I push off the couch. “I started this mess by being immature and blocking you. Then I got involved with my boss. If I hadn’t broken the rules and started dating Hunter, none of this would be happening.”
Jami takes a second to reposition himself, grimacing as he does. “This conversation is annoying.”
I stop near his sliding glass door and face in his direction. “Why?”
“Because you can’t change what happened and every time we start to get close, it gets brought up. I’m over you beating yourself up for the past.”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“You asked me to be open and communicate better with you. I’m doing that now. That means I want to stop talking about Hunter. If this is going to work between us, he can’t have any space in our relationship.”
Jami’s right, but I can’t help but feel guilty about his troubles.
My shoulders fall forward, and I trek to the kitchen. “I’m going to get you something to eat. You need to take your medication soon and it’s better if it’s not on an empty stomach. What do you want me to make?”
He doesn’t answer me, so I turn to figure out what he’s doing.
He’s slowly making his way across the room. “I’m not hungry right now. Not for that anyway.”
“Jami, the doctor said, if you get behind managing your pain, you’ll be chasing it. I don’t want that for you.”
He stops right in front of me and takes my hands in his.
“I may not be able to move well, but I’m not completely out of commission.” His sexy tone speaks of promises of my wildest dreams.
My stomach somersaults. “What are you saying?”
He presses his forehead against mine. “I’m saying I’m cranky because I want to be with you. I’ve been trying to figure out a way for that to work and I’ve been hitting brick walls. But now that we’re here, I have a few ideas. ”
My breath hitches. “Really?”
“Yes, temptress, but I need your help.” His voice simmers with fiery possibilities.
“Just tell me what you need me to do.”
He pulls away from me and smiles with a sinful twinkle in his eyes. “That’s my good girl. It makes me so pleased you haven’t forgotten who’s in charge.”
“Oh.” Every cell in my body explodes with desire. I’m wet in a few beats.
Hoping I don’t combust on the spot, I shift to release the building pressure between my legs and shiver in anticipation. “Does that mean…”
“It means go to my bedroom and strip for me. We’ll take it from there.” His eyes grow dark and fill with lust. “What are you waiting for?”
“Um…nothing. You.” I blink as I try to compute what he’s asking for. “I mean, do you want me to go in there first?”
“Dori, get in my room and strip. Don’t worry about anything else.”
I nod. My heart beats erratically.
Holy shit.
I finally get to be with him again.
I’m out of the kitchen and hurrying down his hall to his bedroom in seconds.
I enter his room and go to his king-size bed. There’s exposed brick behind his headboard and a dark gray duvet thrown over the top of the bed.
This room screams, fuck me hard and good.’ The thought has my mouth watering.
Jami’s heavy footsteps come to my awareness. I turn and gaze at the sexiest man alive.
“Why are you just staring at me, temptress? I’ve already told you what I want.”
“I know. It’s just… Are you sure you’re good to do this?”
“Take off your clothes. Now. ”
Whoa. Being stuck in a hospital bed has obviously made Jami a little tense.
I pull my shirt over my head. As soon as it’s off, I find his hooded gaze. His eyes drop to my breasts, and he licks his bottom lip.
“Jami, I just want you to know two things before we do anything. I had a checkup last week and got tested for STIs while I was there. I’m clean. And if you need to stop at any time during this, I’m fine with that.”
He cocks his head and runs his hand over his stubbly chin. “Thanks for thinking of me. You’ll be rewarded for that.”
Oh my god.
What am I supposed to say to that?
His words alone are a reward.
“Thank you,” I breathe.
He dips his head in recognition. “You’re stalling.”
“You just want me to strip?”
His eyebrows rise, and he nods. “Now.”
This side of him is so erotic.
Why did I wait all these years?
I unbutton my jeans and unzip them, then lower them over my hips and down my legs as my eyes stay locked with his. I step out of them and throw them to the side.
“Fucking perfect.” He rakes his teeth over his lower lip. “Keep going, temptress.”
My blood heats as I reach back and unhook my bra. Jami’s smoldering expression has me on fire.
I remove my bra straps one by one, let the black lace fall beneath my breasts, and then let it flutter to the floor. His eyes focus on my hard nipples and then trail to my panties.
He gestures to my hips with his chin. “You’re not done yet.”
“But you’re still in all your clothes.”
“I know. Don’t worry about that for now.”
My chest rises and falls as I take in this raw, sexy man. The fiery passion coming off him makes me want him like I’ve never wanted anyone before.
I hook my thumbs into my panties, pull the material down, and step out of them one leg at a time. I toss them on the floor as I stand straight and naked before this commanding man I’m desperately in love with.
“You’re fucking gorgeous.” His eyes roam over every inch of my body and he steps toward me. “Do you remember that naughty little text message you sent me?”
“The one from the night we had sushi?”
“That’s the one.” He stops a foot before me. “You’re going to do that for me now.”
“But—”
“Now. Get on my bed and lie back. Spread your legs and show me how slick you are for me.”
His words take my skin to a burning level as if it’s on fire. I back up and scoot to the center of his bed, but I stay close enough that he can touch me if he wants.
My blood’s about to boil over. “Is this good?”
“Perfect.” He shuffles to the edge of the bed and looks down at me. “Show me how much you want me.”
I spread my legs and rest back. “See how wet you make me? You haven’t even touched me, and I’m dripping.”
“Absolutely fucking perfect.” He runs his palm over his mouth. “Show me how you like to be touched.”
I swallow my reservations and give the man I love what he’s asking for. I reach between my legs and rub my clit in a soft, circular motion.
His eyes dilate and stay fixed on my every move. I relax into my touch and rock my hips back and forth to entice him.
With his uninjured arm, he reaches out to my leg and runs his hand down my inner thigh. “Your pussy is beautiful.”