Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
Jasmine
M uch to my relief, I didn’t see James after talking with Eric. A few days of looking over my shoulder just in case I was being followed when I left my apartment, then a week passed and…nothing. Eric never said explicitly that he would keep James away from me, but he hadn’t had to for the fact that James hadn’t come by my place or cornered me in any of the other businesses that I frequented, either.
I hoped that maybe the whole entire thing with James had been a false alarm. A misunderstanding between two men—one a narcissist, and the other incredibly protective of me who clearly wanted to make sure I was aware of my surroundings at all times. Just in case.
I sat in the spare room I’d tuned into my art studio, happily inspired as I immersed myself in my newest painting, set up with everything Eric had bought me. I had several easels out with paintings drying from the last few days, and a dozen more propped against the walls. It seemed my creativity knew no bounds and I was delighted that my return to art was so effortless.
Eric had said he was busy with office work for the week but wanted me to relax and enjoy myself between our next meetings. So I did just that, content to be surrounded by color, by texture, by the things in my imagination made real by the pigments, brushes, and tools that transferred them to canvas.
This was the first time in years—since before my parents’ death, actually— that I felt this kind of peace. My ease came so naturally, and I chose to revel in it, really let it sink in and settle in my bones. Music played in the background and I absently hummed along with the songs. There was a pep to my metaphorical step and I knew, for the most part, Eric was responsible for that.
So caught up in what I was doing, I almost didn’t catch the fact that my cell was ringing. I heard it, a faint sound under the music. I cursed softly, setting my brush absently into the mason jar of paint water and jumped up to get the phone before I totally missed the call.
I smiled when I saw Eric’s name on the display. I was also surprised because he didn’t normally call during the day and I had that moment of wondering if everything was okay. A part of me hated that ours wasn’t a normal relationship, one where I could pick up the phone and call Eric just because I wanted to hear his voice, or I had a funny story to tell him, or anything else.
Despite the fact that I’d been with Eric for over four months now still didn’t give me those privileges that I wanted more and more with each passing day. It didn’t help matters that the previous weekend, after attending an event together, we’d headed back to his place and after a round of hot sex when I’d teased him about his age and stamina—which the man truly had no issues with—the topic had somehow turned to the age gap between us. Twenty-two years to be exact.
It had been a playful conversation at first, then more serious. I never really considered Eric’s age as any kind of deterrent, but he clearly considered mine one. The fact that I was so young, and he was…seasoned clearly bothered him. A man in his forties who was used to living a certain way, did not see marriage or children in his future, and had even had the nerve to say to me, if you ever want to end our contract to pursue someone younger, I understand .
Yeah, that stung. He wasn’t letting me go, but it was clear that he had no intention of keeping me forever, either. There was still an expiration date to our arrangement, while I kept falling deeper in love with him. And even though I knew that someday I was going to end up with a broken heart, I couldn’t bring myself to end things before he did. I wanted to cherish every single moment I could get with Eric, even while a foolish part of me hoped that maybe, somehow, he’d realize that despite our age differences, we really were perfectly matched.
The phone rang again, jarring me back to the present. Swallowing the knot in my throat, I connected the call. “Hey, Eric,” I said in a neutral tone. “What’s up?”
His answer was a heavy sigh. “A lot. I know that this is last minute and unplanned, but may I come over?”
There was a weight to his tone that I didn’t expect. Granted, things seemed a little more tense these days after the run in with James—or maybe just more tiring with the amount of work Eric had on his plate.
I checked the time. He’d be going to lunch by now. “Uh, sure. Will you have time to get back to the office if you do? I can come to you—”
“No. I’m taking the rest of the day off,” he interrupted. “I just—I would like to see you.”
The slight desperation was another surprise, and I didn’t hesitate to agree. There was nothing in my universe more important than any time I could spend with Eric. “Of course.”
Seeing that I had enough time to clean up around my projects and get a shower in before Eric came over, I did both. About forty minutes later, I was out of the bathroom, drying off, when a knock sounded at my door.
I knew that it was Eric by the way that he knocked. The cadence was the same every time, and I opened the door in just my towel wrapped around my body. He pushed inside, closing my door behind him. Before I could say a thing, he had his mouth on mine.
There was no stopping my moan, or the way I responded to this man, but I was very aware that something was off. He seemed frazzled even in the way that he kissed and held me. His hands tightened on my body like he expected me to slip through his fingers like sand. I breathed hard, taken off guard by the combination of lust and concern.
Before he completely distracted me, I put my hands on the sides of his face, pulling him away and looking into his eyes. “Eric, is something wrong?”
He shook his head, denying whatever had put that furrow between his brows. “Just let me have nothing to think about for a little bit, alright?”
When Eric kissed me again, I didn’t stop him. Instead, I let my towel fall to the floor as he grasped my ass in his hands and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and kept our lips joined as he carted me to my room and set me on the bed while he quickly stripped out of his own clothes.
Naked, his cock fully erect, he climbed on top of me, and I eagerly spread my legs to make room for him in between. Without preamble, he lined himself up and drove into me with a long, hard, deep thrust that fused us together completely.
I gasped in pleasure, and he groaned in relief—as if just being inside of me was enough to calm whatever chaos he was currently dealing with.
Sex with Eric had always been intense. He had this way of completely eclipsing every feeling, thought, the very experience, with himself. This time was no different, but there was a crucial need in him that underpinned those sensations. He stretched my arms above my head, holding my wrists to the mattress, shuttling his cock in and out of me in a hurried, almost frantic rhythm.
I let him have all the control, which he seemed to need. I let him wreck my body with his deep, rough thrusts I knew would leave me sore and raw later. I cried out when he dragged his teeth along the side of my neck, and bit down in that delightful way that I loved, knowing it would leave his mark of ownership.
His body ravaged mine, eliciting a torrent of pleasure as he slammed into me, again and again, like his life depended on my moans, my walls tightening around his cock, and eventually, the orgasm that completely and utterly consumed every part of me before he finally allowed himself the same release.
A guttural growl ripped from his chest as he shuddered long and hard against me, lodging himself so deep I couldn’t do anything but accept the way that the length of his cock pulsed and filled me up with his cum. When there was nothing left for me to take, he collapsed on top of me.
We laid in silence as our breathing returned to normal and he eventually moved off me and settled against the pillows, tucking me close to his side as he looked up at the ceiling, his finger absently massaging my scalp—which, admittedly, felt amazing. Now, at least, he seemed calmer, more relaxed and less agitated—I was certainly exhausted after that vigorous fuck.
I rested my hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palm. I didn’t know if I should ask him again now—what was wrong? Because as good as the sex was, I knew for a fact that something had happened to ignite this man’s need to get all his aggression out of his system.
But what?
Finally, he exhaled a long breath, seemingly releasing the last of his stress. “Sorry for barging in like this.”
I laughed as I drew lazy circles around his nipple with my finger. “It’s hardly barging in when you called and asked if you could come over and I said yes. But I have to say, you seemed a bit tense when you arrived.”
“I was, and I’m sorry that I took it out on you, so to speak.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with the fingers of his free hand. “It was a rough morning at the office, and I just feel foolish, letting some petty nonsense get me so riled up.”
“Well, you didn’t hear me complain about the way you fucked me,” I assured him, then pushed a little more. “Care to tell me what happened?” It wasn’t my place to pry but asking left it up to him if he wanted to share. Though I hoped he would.
Eric hesitated, seemingly reluctant to say what it was that had driven him here. I wished that it was easier for him to let me in and share those burdens. Men could be so stoic sometimes—especially this man—to their detriment.
“It’s work,” he said, very broad and vague. “Got a lot going on. Shit getting in the way.”
“Hey.” I lifted my head and reached up, turning his face toward mine so that he would look at me. So he could see how sincere I was. “You can tell me anything, Eric. You know that, right?”
Eric’s gaze held mine. It was an intense stare, like he was boring into my soul. After a moment he exhaled a deep breath and turned his gaze toward the ceiling again, contemplating. “I don’t want to worry you.”
“Unfortunately for you, I already am.” That wasn’t a lie.
For the first time since arriving, he gave a soft chuckle. “Fair point,” he relented, and shook his head. “It’s James. Again. He’s been more of a thorn in my side than I would like to admit.”
My hackles immediately rose. I could only imagine what James has been doing or saying. I didn’t like the anxiety that tightened in my chest, threatening to burst out like some kind of grotesque Hollywood blockbuster monster.
“Oh,” I said quietly.
My wobbly response prompted Eric to glance back at me, a reassuring look in his eyes. “Hey, it’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s all business related and directed at me.”
I wasn’t sure if that was the entire truth, but I had no choice but to believe him. “What is he doing?”
He paused, as if considering how much to share. “Suffice to say he’s a little closer to my business than I would like him, and I’m doing my best to deal with it.”
Yeah, that didn’t tell me much at all. Eric was edging me out—at least when it came to this, and I had no choice but to let him handle whatever the issue was, in his own way.
Instead of pushing any further, I let it go, trusting him. “Okay. I can respect that.”
The corner of Eric’s mouth turned upward, into a charming if not teasing smirk.
“What?” I said, having no idea what had prompted that playful look on his face.
“I just remember a time where you’d probably flare up and fight me on this,” he said, reminding me of that night at the gallery and my contentious, push-him-to-his-limits attitude. “It’s quite adorable. I almost miss the argumentative fire.”
I rolled my eyes, nudging at him. “I could give that to you if that’s what you’re really wanting,” I griped.
An easy laugh erupted from his chest. “No,” he said, and abruptly rolled on top of me, pinning me beneath his strong, solid body with his knees wedging between my legs to spread my thighs wide for his stiffening cock. “No, I think what I really want is a round two.”
I couldn’t argue with that.