20. James #2
I shoot Alex a sympathetic smile, but she just shrugs. She walks over to the boxes, picks out a slice, and settles in the far-left corner of the couch.
Ryder frowns at me and points at the screen where the dirt bike pre-races are happening. “It’s … race day. You want me to watch it alone?”
I sigh, caving like I always do when it comes to his sad eyes. I walk over to Alex and snuggle in close to her. “Fine. But after the race you’re going home.” Alex giggles then tries to hide behind her pizza when I look down at her. I bop her on the nose. “What are you giggling at?”
“Even she knows that’s ridiculous. We will be having a game night after the race,” Ryder says as he stares at the television, avoiding the daggers I’m shooting at him.
I finally have Alex in my apartment and he wants to be a giant cock block.
“I already texted Alester and told him to bring snacks.” He munches on his pizza, completely oblivious, so I launch a pillow at his face.
His head rebounds, and he almost drops his slice of pizza.
“Dude, not cool.” He finally looks at me. “Ew. What’s your problem?”
Alex laughs harder. “I think game night sounds fun.”
My eyes ping-pong between them. The sound of the front door swinging open locks in my fate.
I lean back and put my arm around Alex. “Fine.”
“I brought a couple bags of chips and fresh cookies from the bakery.” Alester tosses the snacks next to the pizza then plops down in his spot on the opposite end of the couch. “Hey, Alex. Fancy seeing you here. ”
“Super fancy,” she says before diving for a cookie. “So, this is what you guys do all the time? Couch surf with snacks?”
“Pretty much,” I respond before Ryder jumps in.
“Unfortunately. If I want to go out, I can usually drag Alester, but James is an old man already and hates the club.” He dodges the next pillow I throw, and it hits Alester.
“Dammit. Ryder, quit being annoying or we are going to make you watch the race by yourself.” Alester reprimands before taking a slice of pizza.
Ryder and Alester start taking bets on who’s going to win tonight’s race while teaching Alex the ins and outs of motocross racing. Through it all, Alex can’t stop laughing and I love the sound. Even if Ryder being obnoxious is most of the cause.
I like having them all together. It feels right.
When the races end, it’s late and Alex is asleep on my chest. “Alright,” I whisper. “No game night. I’m taking her to bed. You’ll have to play poker at your place.” Before Ryder and Alester can respond, I scoop Alex into my arms and walk to my bedroom.
As I lay her in the center of my bed, she stirs. “I can play poker. I’m awake.” Alex props herself up on her elbows.
“Shh. You can play another night. Tonight, you’re mine, and I’m going to enjoy cuddling you again.”
“Just cuddling?” She pulls her sweater over her head, so she’s just in a white lace bra.
“Alex,” I growl in warning.
She slowly slides her yoga pants down her legs. “James.”
I stand frozen at the side of the bed. “You need to rest. You’ve been through a lot.”
Alex crawls across the bed towards me in just her underwear. I clench my hands trying not to reach out to her. She slides her hands up my sweater and across my abs. I flex involuntarily, and my resolve is starting to crack. “I think I’ll rest after. I’m wide awake now.”
She waits. Batting her eyes up at me. “Fuck it.” I pull my sweater over my head with one swipe. The grin that takes over her face is electric.
I scoop my arm behind her legs and flip her onto her back.
She squeals and giggles, but it quickly turns into a gasp when I drop to my knees and pull her to the edge of my bed.
I run my tongue from her ankle to her thigh, nipping and sucking all the way up.
I scrape my teeth next to her center, so close but not quite where she wants me.
Her hands fly into my hair as a moan escapes her lips.
It’s late and I’ve missed this, so I’m going to take my time.
I drag her panties slowly down her body before I make my way back to her.
She’s ready for me, but I want to devour her like she’s my favorite dessert.
Slow and torturous. At the first swipe, my sweet Alex is wriggling under my tongue.
Her endless moans make me never want to stop.
I can feel her muscles contracting around my fingers with each thrust, and when she finally crests the top I ensure to milk every last drop. I could taste only her for the rest of my life and die a happy man.
Her eyelids are heavy as she tries to reach for me, but I dodge her. “You’re exhausted. I’ll clean you up then we are going to sleep. End of discussion.” I go to my connected bathroom and get a warm washcloth before kneeling between her legs and gently wiping her clean.
“But what about you?” she whispers.
The nervousness flitting across her eyes about breaks me.
I tip her chin up and get an inch away from her little nose.
“Babe, I’m a grown man. I can wait forever for you if I have to.
One night isn’t going to hurt me.” I kiss her slowly like we have all the time in the world before I lay next to her and pull her naked body flush against mine.
I plant one last kiss on her head before I whisper, “Good night, beautiful.”
“Good night, James.” Her voice is soft, her breathing getting deeper. I think she’s asleep, but then I barely hear her mumble, “I think I love you.”
“Alex, baby? ”
She doesn’t respond. She’s definitely asleep.
This woman has me wrapped around her finger, and I don’t think she fully understands it.
I slide my phone off the nightstand and type in an order to be delivered in the morning bright and early.
Then I send a reminder to Thomas that we need to leave at six in the morning for the meetings to ensure my clients don’t go anywhere.
I set my alarms, toss the phone back on the nightstand, and wrap my arm back around my girl.
Everything is going to be perfect. It has to be.
A few hours later, I silence my alarm that’s buzzing next to me.
Alex is so exhausted she doesn’t even stir.
I carefully untangle my limbs from hers as I slide from the bed.
She’s mumbling in her sleep again, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.
Her hair is splayed across the pillow. I could stand here all day and watch her sleep, but I have to prep things for when she wakes up later and gets dressed.
I take a speed shower. I have an hour before I told Thomas to be ready .
I make my way to the entry way of my apartment and open the door. On the other side, before the elevator, is everything I ordered. “Perfect.” I move it to the kitchen then get to work setting up my girl’s surprise.
My phone buzzes in my pocket as I’m closing the door to one of my spare rooms.
Thomas: Out front.
Shit. I race through the kitchen and grab my briefcase off the counter before throwing my shoes on. I’m in the elevator within two minutes, but still slightly later than I wanted to be. Good thing I always plan on being early, so I’m never late.
Thomas has the back door open and ready by the time I step out of the building.
The second I’m in, he shuts the door and walks around to the driver’s seat. “Good morning, sir. Where to first?”
“Family Farms headquarters. Jake will be up working on the farm already.”
Thomas maneuvers the car out onto the road, making his way out of the city. Headquarters is literally Jake’s family farm. They raise cattle along with tilling farm land that they’ve had for generations.
Thomas locks eyes with me in the mirror. “Are you worried, James?” All I can see is fatherly worry.
“Not at all. But it is always good to reach out directly to the people you work with. Remind them that they are more important than the contract they signed. Jake is level-headed. He will be able to see what games Taylor is playing. I just need to make sure he’s still confident in us.”
It’s true. I’m not worried. I have a plan, but Jake took over from his grandparents two years ago. He’s young. Level-headed but young, so I need to make sure our deal is still desirable. Thomas doesn’t ask any more questions as we make the trek to the farm.
When the SUV crunches across the gravel road, I slide my laptop and notes back into my briefcase.
Farmers like to do business differently than city businessmen.
It’s not about the paper and pen. It’s personal.
Everything is a conversation and keeping your word with the legal documents coming in last.
Thomas turns down Jake’s long driveway, and I scan out the window at the miles of land Jake owns. Thousands of acres for farming and cattle. It’s not something an average person gets up and starts. You have to be born into it or have a shit load of money and resources, which isn’t common.
Jake spots us from the field and turns his horse in our direction, galloping to the vehicle.
“Stay in the car, Thomas. This shouldn’t take long.”
Jake isn’t the type of person who understands letting a driver open doors for you. I don’t really enjoy it either, but Thomas has been a driver forever and likes to stick to the old ways .
I step out of the SUV and wait for Jake to reach me. His black horse is massive the closer they come.
“Whoa.” Jake stops the horse then pats his neck before dismounting. “James. It’s been a long time. I didn’t think we had a meeting scheduled.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I know you’re a busy man. I just wanted to come check in with you.”
Jake laughs as he walks the horse to the gate near us and loosely ties him.
“Let’s take a walk.” He turns before making sure I’m following, which I do.
We make our way to his main barn where he likes to conduct business.
His cowboy boots echo off the ground as he walks.
He set up an office out here, so his home can stay private.