4. Chapter Four
“Forty-eight hours”, she muttered to herself as the door to the men’s formal wear store opened. She greeted the doorman politely as she scanned the room, spotting Jackson steeping out of a fitting room.
Holy Moly. What the hell?
Maya shifted her messenger bag onto her other shoulder, feeling a warm heat making its way from her face to her chest.
Is this a hot flush? I’m too young for menopause.
Jackson looked over and smirked. “See something you like?”
Hot damn yes!
Maya snorted as she stepped further into the room, taking the glass of wine that was offered.
“Pretentious much,” she answered, angry at herself that her voice came out breathless. A male assistant directed her to one side of Jackson as he stood in front of wall of mirrors. He caught her eyes in the reflection and smirked as she started coughing as the wine went down the wrong way.
Get it together girl.
“Don’t you own enough suits already?” Maya asked as she pulled her notebook from her bag, trying to maintain professionalism as her body screamed at her to touch him.
“I wanted to give you the full experience of what it is like to get ready for the fundraiser.” Maya’s head snapped up as Jackson squeaked out the last word, her full lips twitching as the female tailor pinned some loose material around his inside leg.
“Don’t move,” the assistant demanded as she continued pinning.
Jackson grunted as Maya took her camera out and snapped a photo.
“That is not going into the article!” he grumbled at her.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do. This is my article and I have full control.” Maya smiled back sweetly. “And stop being a douche.”
“I am not a ….douche.”
“Well, this isn’t you.” Maya said as she gestured around the room. “Are you trying to impress me or something, because it’s not working. It only makes you look like you are trying to be something you are not.”
“How do you know this isn’t what I’m like now. I might like the finer things and being pampered. A lot has changed since we knew each other.”
“Maybe. But besides you being unable to count time still, you’re still a country boy at heart. The whole idea of this article is to raise the profile of the fundraiser so you can get more money for the shelter. Remember I’m selling you. You’re being auctioned, so you need to let me see the real you so I can do the article justice, and get more money when you are actioned.”
Jackson groaned. “You make me sound like a piece of meat on the chopping block.” He said as the assistants stepped away so they were alone. “Wait. I need to change.” He said as he gingerly stepped into the fitting room and removed the now pinned pants.
Maya stood and leaned outside the changing room door. “Let’s start with a simple question then.” She said to him through the door. “Are you boxers or briefs man?” she grinned knowing she was making Jackson uncomfortable. Her smile vanished as the door was opened and she found herself pulled into the room with him. Jackson pushed her back against the wall. A half-naked Jackson loomed over her and Maya’s hands instinctively grabbed onto his strong forearms, her fingers feeling the tight muscles flex underneath her grip.
Do not think about his forearms. Do not think about his forearms, her mind chanted as her she internally groaned at the thought of Jackson’s hands on her. Maya felt the heat from his body press into her flesh. Then she looked at his forearms.
“You have some new tattoos?” she squeaked out as Jackson grinned at her, his knee separately her legs slightly as he pushed forward more.
“You always did have a thing for forearms,” Jackson said he ran his nose up the column of her throat. “Now let’s clear up some questions,” he said, his breath hot against Maya’s neck as he leaned down into her. “I wear briefs. Today they are black. Did you need to see them?”
Maya shook her head, as she looked into Jackson’s eyes.
“Okay. The next question was about the suit.”
“You don’t have the suit on anymore.” Maya whispered as she bought one of her hands to Jackson bare chest, her fingers playing along his tattoos and muscles.
“No darlin’ I don’t, and I agree with you. I need to be more myself, but I’m still getting this suit for the night.” Jackson said as Maya shivered against him, her hands starting to run over his chest as her arms wound around his neck as she pressed closer to him her lips parting slightly.
Kiss. Me. Now.
What? Where did that come from. Did I say that out lud?
“Oh. And one more thing Maya.” Jackson whispered to her as Maya wantonly pressed her full body into his hard chest. “I can count, and it was forty-five seconds Peaches.”
Maya could feel the smirk in his voice as she pushed back against him, her hands feeling empty as they left his chest.
“Don’t call me Peaches.” Maya huffed as she reached round him to open the door to step out. “You’re such as dick.”
“But now I know I’m a dick you still want,” she heard Jackson say as she shut the door on him.
“Yes, I do. But I’m going to make you work for it, you dick,” she muttered as she picked up her bag and left.