Chapter 41
Shannon
“Don’t worry, love,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. “I’ll call my guys at the track and see if anyone handed it in.”
As he made the call, Shannon watched him take control with a growing sense of awe. He moved around the kitchen, the overhead lights shadowing his broad shoulders, giving him a magnetic energy.
His voice held authority as he asked questions, a contrast to the gentle way he always spoke to her. That effortless confidence of his always impressed her, and disarmed her at times, even now.
Jamie ended the call and tapped out a message. “I’ll have a new phone waiting for you in the morning, love.”
Shannon straightened.
“I really appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to sort my phone contract out myself, Jamie,” she said, her voice clear and resolute. “I’ll figure it out in the morning. ”
Jamie’s gaze flicked to hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
“I’ll handle it, love,” he repeated, his voice full of authority.
Those simple four words had her heart skipping a beat. The way he took charge made her skin tingle.
She’d entered his world now, falling headfirst into it. And despite her fierce, independent nature, she secretly loved how he wanted to take care of her.
He turned the gas down under the pan and in a few brisk steps, he joined her again.
“Come on, love,” he said, holding out his hand, his expression soft but a little distant.
Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t say it. Instead, he took her hand, his grip firm as he pulled her to her feet. “Let’s go upstairs for that shower.”
He linked his fingers with hers and led her back into the reception hall, guiding her toward a set of bone-white concrete stairs that floated up the wall to the upper level.
Framed sketches of charcoal horses lined the wall, visible with each step she took, their powerful forms frozen in motion. The way the horses seemed to leap off the page, wild and untamed, stirred something deep inside her.
“You like black and white…and horses,” she said, the significance of their presence here, in Jamie’s home, a shock to her system.
“You like the pictures?” he asked. “I had them commissioned.”
“I do. They’re beautiful. ”
He gave a small nod, as though appreciating the sentiment.
“My designer styled the house in black and white, but each room has an element of grey, too. Nothing is ever straightforward, right? Everything worth having is in the grey.”
Shannon thought his decor complimented Jamie exactly. Powerful yet tender, assertive but quietly introspective.
Everything about him was bold, even in his master suite. The soft, dove-coloured carpet contrasted with the slate grey walls, white cornices, and accents of deep black.
Dark, sleek furnishings framed the centrepiece, a solid four-poster bed with bolster cushions and a masculine wooden headboard, giving the room an undeniable presence.
As she wandered into the room, moving past the bed, she rounded a corner where a white couch faced a bay window with far-reaching views.
The guy had a sitting area in his bedroom that doubled the floor plan of her loft.
Jamie walked beside her, his fingers still tangled with hers, his gaze fixed on her with an unwavering intensity.
“Think you’ll be okay sleeping in here with me?” he asked.
She angled herself around to face him.
“This room is like a hotel. I’m guessing you don’t do the cleaning yourself. What exactly do you do for a living, other than owning The Fitz Hotel with your brother? I mean…this is?—”
He looked away for a beat, a shadow passing behind his eyes as he considered an answer.
“I buy and sell.” He shrugged.
“What? Human organs?” she scoffed. “Jamie, this house must be worth a fortune.”
His back straightened at the comment.
“Surely the fact you like it outweighs the cost?” His tone was a little sharper now, as if he was trying to protect something about himself.
“I just didn’t expect it.” She backed up and let go of his hand to trace the couch’s buttery leather. “Your home is off the charts awesome, Jamie, but then again, so are you.”
“Holy fuck, you actually think I’m awesome?”
She padded her lips, stifling a smirk. “Well…maybe that’s a bit over the top. Wouldn’t want to feed that enormous ego of yours.”
When Jamie lunged forward to grab her, Shannon darted sideways, her laughter ringing out as she dodged him.
She sprinted toward the perfectly made bed, throwing herself onto the duvet to scramble to the other side.
In an instant, he was on her, his hands around her waist, and his body caging hers. The weight of him pressed her into the softness of the bed, his chest a solid wall of muscle against her spine as he pinned her there .
“You’re one unpredictable woman,” he said, chuckling. “That’s what makes you awesome, too.”
Before she could even catch her breath, he shifted his weight and manhandled on to her back, still trapped beneath him. He loomed over her, his gaze drilling into her face, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Wow, you think I’m awesome?” she teased, her laugh playful and dripping with mockery.
Jamie’s eyes darkened, and he leaned in, his lips brushing the tip of her nose in a quick, possessive kiss. His voice dropped to a rumble as he spoke. “Baby, you know you are.”
He hovered close, his breath warm against her skin. “You’re more than awesome.”
His lips parted again, as if to continue. But then he just sighed, the corner of his mouth curling up, his cheek dimpling in that irresistible way.
The warmth of his body disappeared when he pulled her up from the bed, his hands cuffing her wrists, tugging her to a stand.
In one smooth motion, he spun her around to face away from him, her back to his chest, her breath catching at the speed of it.
With his hands at the zipper of her dress, he slid it down, the gentleness of his fingertips skimming her spine, sending a shiver everywhere.
He paused for a moment, the temperature scorching, before stepping back, his hands falling away.
The sudden absence of contact had her panting, hungry for more .
“The shower’s through there,” he said over her shoulder, as he pointed to the door she hadn’t noticed. “Take your time, but don’t keep me waiting too long. I’ll grab a shower in the guest room and get dinner ready. I expect you to be ready when I get back.”
Shannon frowned, disliking how the energy between them faded as he walked away.
“Sure,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.
For a moment, he lingered by the bed, his amber eyes dark with something unreadable. Then he gave her a tight smile before leaving.
There was something different about him now. His charm remained magnetic, but it came across restrained, as if he’d braced himself for rejection again.
And deep down, she couldn’t blame the guy for being guarded. He deserved more than what she’d thrown at him.
Entering the adjoining bathroom, Shannon took in the vastness. The floor-to-ceiling marble walls were a striking contrast against the deep charcoal accents of the fixtures.
A freestanding bathtub sat beneath a wide, frameless mirror, reflecting the room’s minimalist design.
She sighed, the weight of the financial gap between them settling in.
Stripping off the dress, she flicked on the water and stepped into the grand shower cubicle, reaching for the shampoo.
As she worked the suds through her hair, her mind drifted back to the events of the day. Her body, heavy with exhaustion, reflected the constant stress she’d been carrying.
Tonight, Jamie wanted answers, and she was ready to give him full disclosure, but how would he react?
Dread settled heavy in her empty stomach. Water poured over her body, splashing her face, and a thick blanket of white foam slid down her forehead, covering her eyes like a mask.
She snapped her eyes shut, a second too late, and the sting hit hard. Her fingers pressed against her closed eyelids as she turned her face toward the jets, trying to rinse the suds away, but it only made it worse.
The relentless burning still lingered.
“Damn it…” she mumbled, stumbling toward the glass door, desperate for a towel.
The door slammed against the wall as she lost her footing, slipping and skidding, her body colliding with the vanity.
“Fuck!” she gritted through clenched teeth as the pain intensified, the heat in her eyes unbearable.
“Shannon?” Jamie’s voice grew louder as he entered. “What happened?”
“Suds… suds in my eyes,” she groaned, now on her knees, naked and shivering.
Large, powerful hands gripped her arms, hauling her off the floor and within a racing heartbeat, she was back in the shower, Jamie’s solid presence a constant at her side.
He cupped her jaw, tilting her head back, and directed the water over her closed eyes .
“Keep your head back, love,” he commanded, his voice unmistakably authoritative.
She couldn’t move, his grip on her face inflexible, his body crowding her. The soothing stream washed away the soap, easing the pain behind her eyes with each drop.
The moment stretched until he finally released her. “Open your eyes. Slowly.”
She blinked, her eyelids fluttering as steam swirled around them. The heat of the shower mingled with Jamie’s damp skin, his body just inches from hers.
His fresh white t-shirt and grey sweatpants were both drenched, clinging to his body, highlighting his muscles and the hard-earned planes of his abdomen.
His brow furrowed, his gaze searching her face. “Can you see me?”
“Yes...” she whispered, embarrassed. “Best view ever.”
A slow smirk curled on his lips, and his eyes, dark and intense, roamed over her body with a quiet hunger. “So the shower wasn’t as relaxing as it could’ve been.”
Her head shook, the words caught in her throat, desire firing through her veins.
“You’re one of a kind, Shannon Colter.” His voice was rough, a hint of something possessive as his hand ran through his damp hair.
His biceps flexed, the muscles rippling under his wet t-shirt as beads of water rained over him, playing with the sexy dimple in his cheek.
“Let’s get you dried off and fed. It’s been a long day.”
He placed his hand on her back and walked with her, exiting the cubicle together. He reached a fluffy towel from the heated rack and wrapped it around her, kissing her forehead.
When he stepped back, peeling off his damp clothes, she just stood there, staring—utterly captivated.
Fuck, she was a mess, and he looked like a god.
“I can’t believe that just happened.” She palmed her face, a rush of heat spreading up her neck, the burn of embarrassment and desire flooding her.
When his gaze settled on her dripping hair, and red eyes, a hint of amusement curling his lips, her heart skipped.
“You’re not having much luck today, are you, love?”
“Maybe my luck has changed.”
“Oh really? What makes you say that?” He prowled closer.
“Being here with you seems pretty damn lucky. Maybe you can kiss it all better.” Her words came out in breathless gasps.
Jamie’s forefinger tilted her chin upward.
“I don’t want you to push me away again. So I’m taking my time with you, love. I’ve left out one of my t-shirts and a pair of sweatpants. When you’re dressed, come downstairs for dinner.”
She folded her arms, disappointed. “Is that what you really want? To slow things down?”
“I feel like I should, Shannon. It’s like I can see the darkness hidden in your eyes, like you’re lonely and broken, and I have this intense fucking need to find all your scattered pieces to put you back together, stronger and happier than you’ve ever been.
I want you to smile from the moment you wake up to the moment I kiss your eyes closed. ”
He tilted his head, then pressed his lips to hers. Their bodies didn’t meet, his distance a deliberate restraint. The heat of his quick kiss lingered on her skin, a featherlight promise of something more.
“I don’t want to take it slow. Please don’t look at me like I’m fragile, like something you have to tiptoe around in case I break.
I’m not that person. And you should know how much I appreciate you for being you.
What I need right now is that guy who showed up at my loft and let me fall asleep on his chest. None of this—” She waved her hand at the marbled bathroom, “—matters to me.”
As he stood there, staring back at her, she couldn’t tell whether he would kiss her again or walk away. But after a beat, he took a step closer, his chest bumping into hers.
His mouth crashed over hers with so much hunger that she groaned in a willing surrender.
Jamie was an unrelenting wave of adrenaline that built inside her, more intense than even the thrill of being in the saddle. Her passion for riding had always been unrivalled… until now.
He rivalled it.
“Do not push me away this time,” he warned, nipping her bottom lip before pulling away.
She smiled up at him, her lashes fluttering as she whispered, “I won’t.”
He tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear, his gaze serious.
“You’re going to tell me who gave you those bruises, or this ends here. And I need to know why you told me to back off and why you fainted earlier. No more secrets.”