The Exception

Chapter 24

Sutton

I didn’t hear from or see Jagger again for the rest of the week.

I was disappointed, but I understood. The office had been abuzz about the lawsuit, so I knew he’d flown down to DC to meet with the lawyers at the DOJ.

The man had a lot going on. It wasn’t realistic to think he’d have time for me in the near future.

I was at the gym Saturday morning when my phone ringing interrupted me watching him walk out of a government building last night on today’s news. I didn’t recognize the number but picked up anyway since it was a New York City area code.

“Hello?”

“Are you out of breath?” Jagger’s deep voice sent a shiver up my spine.

“I’m on the Peloton at the gym.” I kept pedaling even as I spoke.

“You might want to save some of your energy for later. You’re going to need it.”

I started to sweat, and it had nothing to do with my exercise. “Is that so?”

“It is indeed.”

“I wasn’t sure we were still on for tonight. I just watched you on the news. You’re a very busy man. I thought you might be too tired.”

“For anything else, I would be. But not for you.”

Warmth filled my chest. “That’s sweet of you to say.”

“Don’t confuse sweet with my need to fuck you senseless, Sutton, or this isn’t going to work.” He paused. “I’m still in DC. I’m meeting with my attorneys again in a little while before I head back. I just called to say I’ll pick you up at seven.”

I was so excited to see him tonight that I managed not to let his callous warning ruin my mood. “Okay.”

“Mr. Langston?” I could hear a woman’s voice in the background. “Mr. Finley is ready to see you.”

His response was muffled, like he’d covered the phone. “Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.” He came back on the line. “I have to go. But stop by the doorman on your way into your building. He has a package for you.”

“A package?”

“Wear it tonight. And no underwear. I’m not going to make it through dinner without touching you.” He paused. “Until later, Ms. Holland…”

The line went dead, and I stopped pedaling, yet my pulse raced faster than ever. It didn’t matter that I’d programmed forty minutes into the bike and only twenty-two had gone by. I was out the door as soon as I could grab my gym bag.

The doorman smiled as I approached my building. He opened the door and gestured for me to walk through. “Good morning, Ms. Holland. I have a package for you.”

Nestor went behind the desk and opened a locked drawer, pulling out a small black bag with a silver logo I didn’t recognize.

“Do you know who delivered it?” I asked.

“I can check the log. Everyone who comes in and out of the building is supposed to sign in, even Uber Eats guys.”

He found the clipboard that contained the sign-in sheet and scanned down, tapping when he came to a name. “Sam Grover.”

Sam Grover? It took a few beats, but then it hit me. Sam was Jagger’s driver’s name.

“Any chance you noticed if he was driving a silver Maybach?”

He nodded. “The Zeppelin model. It’s a beautiful machine. Pretty sure that car has been here before.”

“Thank you.”

I managed to make it into the elevator car before digging into the bag, but there was no way in hell I could hold out until I walked into my apartment.

Inside was a small box. I opened and found a beautiful anklet.

Unlike the first one Jagger had sent me, this one wasn’t full of sparkling diamonds.

It was small and delicate, with tiny pearls strung every half inch of the thin, shimmery gold chain. I loved it.

Underneath the box was a small envelope. I ripped it open and read the card, which I was surprised to find in Jagger’s own handwriting since he was out of town.

The beauty of a pearl is inherent in the way it grows. When a grain of sand or some other irritant infiltrates the oyster’s shell, it fights back and secretes a substance to protect itself. Over time, layers build up and form a pearl, making something beautiful out of adversity.

You’re a pearl, Sutton.

X Jagger

My hand covered my heart. The man could tell me he wasn’t sweet all he wanted. But actions spoke louder than words.

***

“Hang on. I need a picture of that one.” Miles flicked his wrist, gesturing for me to step back while we were on FaceTime Saturday evening. “Perfect. Got it.”

“I guess you like this dress?”

“No, Mrs. Gutterman’s cat keeps waiting in the hall and scaring the shit out of me when I walk in. I need something to scare him back. That frock is hideous. Remove it immediately.”

I narrowed my eyes and leaned to the camera. “A simple yes or no would have been sufficient, drama queen.”

He covered his eyes and waved his hand at the camera. “Seriously. Take it off. I’m feeling queasy looking at that pattern.”

I gave him the finger, but peeled the dress off. “I should’ve asked how fancy the place we’re going is. I have this royal blue silk two-piece set with a long skirt and halter top. It’s really pretty but dressy.”

“What time is he picking you up?”

“Seven.”

“It’s only six thirty. Ask him now.”

“Okay, yeah. I’ll do that.” I swiped to my contacts and shot off a quick text while still on FaceTime with Miles.

Sutton: Hi. What’s the name of the place we’re going? I’m trying to figure out what to wear.

The little dots started jumping around.

Jagger: Le Jardin. And I can help you with that. Open the door.

I felt my forehead wrinkle.

Sutton: What door?

Jagger: The one I’m standing in front of. Yours.

My eyes widened, and I swiped back to FaceTime. “I just asked him, and he said he’d help me pick something out because he’s at my door! But it’s only six thirty!”

“Was he joking?”

“I have no idea.” I grabbed my black silk robe and slipped it on, tying it at the waist as I rushed to the front door.

Pushing up on my toes, I peeked through the peephole and gasped, then ducked down.

Why did I duck? I have no damn idea. I whispered to Miles while still crouched. “Oh my God. He is here!”

“How did he get past the doorman?”

“I left his name with Nestor because the buzzer is hard to hear sometimes.”

“At least your hair and makeup are done.”

“I know but…” I rushed over to the mirror in the entryway and smoothed the mess my hair had become from trying so many outfits on. Then took a few deep breaths before opening the door.

“You’re early?”

He looked me up and down. My skimpy robe barely covered the tops of my thighs. “I think my timing is impeccable.”

“You said seven, didn’t you?”

“I did, but our reservation is at seven thirty, and it will take us at least twenty minutes to get there. We haven’t discussed your limitations yet, so I figured it was best to make you come in the privacy of your home rather than in a public restaurant.

” He tilted his head with a mischievous smile. “Invite me in now, Sutton.”

I blinked a few times and stepped aside. “Uh, right. Come in?”

Jagger kissed my forehead as he entered. He looked around the living room while I tried to figure out how to close the front door. Limitations? Make me come? This man did stupid things to my brain. My hand was still on the doorknob when he turned back to face me.

“Are we alone?”

I nodded.

“Excellent.” His eyes sparkled. “Take off that robe.”

“Wow. This is fucking hot!” a man’s voice said.

Oh my God! Miles! The phone was still in my hand, and he was still on FaceTime.

“But I’m hanging up now, cookie,” he said. “I’d say have an exciting evening, but I’m pretty sure your date has that covered already. Toodle-oo.”

Jagger’s eyes narrowed on the phone in my hand before meeting mine. He didn’t say a word, yet I heard his questions loud and clear.

“It was Miles. He was helping me pick out an outfit.”

He nodded, then lifted his chin toward the phone still in my hand. “Is the call ended? Gay or not, I don’t like the thought of him seeing you naked.”

I glanced at my phone. “He’s gone.”

Jagger slipped his hands into his pockets.

“Good. Now take off the robe.” His words were so calm.

He seemed so in control of the situation.

He stood waiting while I wrapped my head around the moment.

What did I feel about him telling me what to do?

Considering my nipples could probably cut diamonds, and between my legs felt like an eye twitch was going on where there was no eye, I’d say it worked for me.

Yet I still felt like I was supposed to push back and not take orders.

“It’ll get easier once I earn your trust,” Jagger said. “Look at me, Sutton.”

My eyes moved to his.

“I will never make you do anything you don’t want to. That’s not what I’m into. Try not to get too in your head, and focus on listening to what your body wants.”

That was easier said than done, but I managed to stop judging myself long enough to redirect that energy to feeling the changes in my body.

It liked it when he told me what to do, and I didn’t try to figure out why or if that was right or wrong.

Instead, I went with it and took a deep breath, untying my robe.

One of the outfits I’d tried on for Miles was strapless, and I hadn’t put a bra back on yet.

So when I slipped the black silk from my shoulders, it was just me and a black, lacy thong.

Jagger took his time tracing every inch of me. I watched as the rise and fall of his chest grew faster, and his tongue ran along his bottom lip. “Thank you.”

He closed the distance between us and ran his thumb softly over one shoulder.

“I have not been able to stop thinking about you all week—the way you looked standing in my office with my fingers inside you, the sounds you made... Someday soon, you’re going to sit on my desk while I feast on you.

” He dropped a kiss on my shoulder, then moved his mouth to the shell of my ear.

“My fantasies are so fucking torn between wanting the world to watch me own your body and the desire to punch any man who looks in your direction.”

Jagger stepped back and shook his head. “You didn’t listen to me about the perfume I told you to stop wearing. You have it on now, and you had it on in the office the other day.” He locked eyes with me. “Did you forget?”

I probably could’ve recited every word this man had ever said to me. Still, I could’ve lied and said yes. But a part of me was curious to find out what would happen if I didn’t follow his orders. So I shook my head.

Jagger’s eyes lit with fire. He reached down between us and slipped his fingers into the side of my panties. Stroking through my wetness, he made a tsking sound. “You know what happens to bad girls who don’t listen?”

Oh God. I hope they come, because one of his fingers had dipped inside me, and I felt desperate for more already. “What?” I breathed.

A wicked smile curved along his face, and I immediately regretted not lying.

“They don’t get to orgasm.” He pumped once, twice, and on the third time he pulled away.

Jagger lifted his hand to his mouth and sucked the fingers that had been inside me.

His eyes closed, and he groaned like he was in pain.

“Damn it, Sutton. I’ve been salivating to lick your cunt for days. ”

Oh God. No. No. No. No. He could not leave me like this. “I’ll stop wearing it,” I said. “I promise.”

His response was to rest his hands on my shoulders and push me down. “You might not believe me, but this is not my first choice of things to do with you at the moment.” Once I was on my knees in front of him, he brushed a lock of my hair behind my ear. “Suck me, Sutton.”

Even through his trousers, it was evident that he was already rock hard.

Fifteen seconds ago, I’d been desperate to come, but gazing up and seeing the way he looked down at me, that desperation changed.

I shifted from ready to be pleased to wanting to do everything in my power to please him.

Between my legs still throbbed to be touched, but it became secondary to satisfying this man.

I reached for the button on his slacks, pulled down the fly, and slipped my hand inside in a frenzy.

Jagger groaned as I wrapped my fingers around him and squeezed hard, then he bunched the back of my hair into a tight fist. “It doesn’t look like you’re feeling very punished at the moment.”

Fearing he might decide I didn’t deserve even this, I forwent the teasing in favor of lunging forward and taking him deep.

Jagger let out a string of curses. “Fuck. You love it, don’t you? Look up at me while you suck my cock.” His hand at the back of my head pulled hard, causing a burn at my scalp, and he slipped out almost to the tip before pushing me back down. “Just like that, baby. Take me deeper.”

With every bite of pain, I grew needier and needier. The ache between my legs intensified, and I reached down to touch myself.

“No coming means no coming.” Jagger spoke with a stern voice. “Now lock your hands behind your back and keep sucking.”

I whimpered but did as he’d instructed and clasped my hands together above my ass. Jagger’s gaze took in my new position and his eyes shut. “God, you look so damn perfect. I could come just from seeing you like that.”

The strain in his face told me he was telling the truth.

I’d been bobbing my head, meeting his thrusts, but now he abruptly stopped me from moving and took over.

One. Two. On the third stroke, he buried himself deep and let out a guttural roar.

It matched the intensity of the gush that rushed down my throat, nearly choking me.

We were both breathless after he pulled out. Jagger bent over with his hands on his knees like he’d just run a marathon while I unclasped my hands and leaned forward with my palms to the floor.

“Jesus Christ,” Jagger mumbled. “I can’t make you wait to get off after that.”

I smiled. “It’s okay. That got me off almost as much as you getting me off.”

He shook his head with a laugh and scooped me into his arms, cradling me against him. “We’re going to have to find a new punishment for disobeying.”