Chapter 11
11
ZARA
My head throbs.
I open one eye. Shit. This bed is smaller than expected, and I’m so close to Jobe. Hesitantly, I lift my head and suck in a breath. His eyes are wide open, watching me. “Sorry.” I lift the arm that was wrapped around his chest to wipe the drool off his shoulder before wiping my mouth.
“You snore,” he states.
“I do not.”
He pats my leg, which is a dead weight over his hips. “Regardless, I need to go to that ghastly bathroom.”
What’s wrong with the bathroom? I pry myself off him and feel the cool air that separates us.
His body was so warm.
I watch him tug up his trousers, and he turns to…
… oh.
I watch as he struggles with his erection, and I can’t take my eyes away. Then, with the zipper undone, he walks out of the room, grumbling something about morning.
He has a great dick, maybe the best dick I’ve ever seen.
And with that thought, I’m back to thinking about Friday night after dinner when I heard a door bang, and I got up to investigate. I went toward his room to make sure he was okay, and that’s when I heard him moaning. Of course, I checked. His door was slightly open, and he was naked on the bed, giving himself a hand as I suggested. I watched him as he pumped his hand up and down his length, the action mesmerizing. Then, when he whispered my name, I assumed I was hearing things.
I ran back to my room before I did something I’d regret—a second time. I convinced myself I didn’t hear him right, as he wouldn’t be having sexy thoughts about me.
I annoy him. Everything he does for me is because it’s part of his business plan or Penny asked him to do it.
But last night… he stayed for me.
He rushes back into the room and clicks the door shut. “I need to sterilize my feet.”
“What?”
“That bathroom.” He grabs his shirt and slips it on, buttoning it. “Fucking mortifying in the morning with an audience outside the door.”
I lift the sheet and pat the space beside me. “Come back to bed for a while.”
His hands still, and his eyes lock with mine. “You know that’s not a great idea.”
I roll onto my back and let out a long sigh. “I miss spooning. And now the bed’s cold.”
He glances up to the ceiling. “I need to leave and do some work.” He says it so matter-of-factly, but then he pulls back the sheet and climbs into bed with me, fully clothed. Surprising me further, he wraps an arm over my stomach. “This is as close to spooning as we’re doing, and I’m only here if you tell me what’s really troubling you?”
I take another deep breath and let it out slowly. Jobe wants a D and M. I must be stuck in a dream. Yet the more time I spend with him, the more layers I uncover. He’s not the stuck-up suit I once thought him to be. And he cares about me. “Sometimes I miss home. I miss my friends.”
Jobe kisses my shoulder, and I’m starting to enjoy all the little kisses he offers to console me. “It’s natural to feel that way.”
“I love the adventure of being here, but I miss the closeness of my friends. Being able to speak my mind without judgment and the good times with Penny.” I glance sideways at him. “I also miss spooning.” He stills but doesn’t look at me. “I haven’t been with anyone for a long time, and it’s not a London problem but a Zara problem. I need the physical touch that my vibrator doesn’t offer.” This gains a look, but his poker face is set in stone.
“You need sex,” I state as the idea strikes me. “I need what comes before and after sex. I like to hold onto those moments for as long as possible. It’s why I was never great with one-night stands when they up and leave.” I watch the accusation sink in on his face. Yeah. I’m talking about you too. At least he has the decency to look away.
“You’re the girl who wants breakfast cooked after you fuck.”
I roll my eyes. “And lunch and a stroll together and dinner and perhaps another date.” He doesn’t say anything, only stares at me. “I know I sound crazy, but maybe we can help each other.”
His brow tightens. “Careful, Zara.”
“I saw you,” I whisper. “Giving yourself a hand.” He pulls back, but I keep hold of his arm around me. “I enjoyed watching you. Maybe I could help. I have hands and a mouth and?—”
He flies out of bed. “No.” He finishes doing his shirt buttons.
“And you could cuddle me.”
He won’t look at me as he slips into his designer leather shoes.
“I thought you liked me touching you,” I whisper as he shoves his shirt inside his trousers.
“Of course I liked it. But there was a point where we knew we had to pull back and not cross. If that’s taken away…” His eyes lock with mine. “You don’t know me,” he says in a darker, dangerous voice.
“Yeah, I remember. I don’t know why you were out of sorts last night when you’d have preferred two or three women in your bed. Because that is what you like, right?” I roll over so I don’t have to look at him.
“I don’t sleep with just anyone,” he says quietly behind me as he walks past the bed, stopping near the door. “I’ll see you back in London later this evening. I’m heading out for dinner with a client.”
“Go and fuck them and see if I care,” I snap when he closes the door. Because I was so bad the first time, he doesn’t want round two with me.
Knock. Knock.
“Zara?” echoes behind the door.
“Come in.”
Piper strolls into my room in her pajamas. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, deflated.
“Did you two fight? I saw Jobe leave, and he looked pissed.”
“Our first one,” I lie .
Why do I expect it to be different now? We have clashed since the day I met him.
It’s late Sunday night when Piper drops me off. Upstairs, the penthouse is dark, empty, and hot—a freaking sauna. I turn the temperature down and head to my room, stripping out of my jacket as I go. It’s not enough. It feels as though I might melt.
Opening the freezer, I frantically search for ice cream, anything to cool me down. Is the heating faulty? I take a bowl of ice cream out to the terrace as I wait for my room to cool down. It’s cold out here, but I don’t care because it’s better than being inside when Jobe comes home.
There’s no way I can sleep in there. I’ve left the windows open so the cool night air will waft into my room and hopefully make it tolerable.
Settling into the padded chair, I stare across the Thames at the twinkling lights. It’s a beautiful view, but it’s not home. It’s another moment where I feel homesick, missing being able to drive over to see my friends and have a good cry.
I check my cell. It’s around lunchtime in LA, so I open up my contacts and call Penny.
“Hold Summer, it’s Zara,” she says, and I hear Summer cry in the background, then rustling. “Zara. Is everything okay?”
“Hi, Pen. Yeah, I’m good. Is this a bad time?”
“No, no, Summer has gas, and we’re trying to make her comfortable. She’s three and half months and grown so much.”
I smile into the phone. “I can’t wait to see her. See both of you.”
“I’ve missed you,” Penny says in a high, sad voice .
“I’ve missed you too. Tell me, what else have I missed?”
“There’s not a lot to tell. I spend all my time with Summer, and we split our time between Frank’s penthouse and the beach house. Mom and Dad are doing well. Have you spoken to Hugh recently?”
“Not yet. I wanted to check in with you first.”
“Poor Sienna has been sick almost the entire pregnancy. She is huge. Retaining fluid too. They are monitoring her blood pressure.”
“Oh, he never mentioned it.”
“It’s been a difficult pregnancy, but she only has eight more weeks until her due date.”
“Wow, a Christmas baby. How are you, Pen?” I don’t want the entire call to be about babies. “Honestly.”
“Tired. Sad that I can’t see you like we used to.”
“I’m sad for that too but even if I were there, it wouldn’t be like old times.”
“No, I guess not. But babies grow, and life will be easier soon. Anyway, enough about that. Tell me about London. What are your new friends like? Jobe told Franklin you’re thriving.”
Thriving.
“He said he has caught up with you a couple of times, and you’ve met at a pub for drinks. You introduced him to some of your friends.”
“We did. They are my work colleagues and are younger if you know what I mean. We all stayed at a beach house over the weekend at a place south of London. It was fun, but… I’ve kind of outgrown the things they were doing for entertainment.”
Penny giggles. “We’re old, babe.”
“We are. But they’re fun to be around too. We eat together most lunch breaks and meet up on weekends, so it helps with homesickness. ”
She remains quiet. “Will you be back for Thanksgiving?”
“I hope so. And also for Christmas as the company closes for the holidays.”
“Yay, I’m excited.”
“I no longer have a place to live in LA, Pen. So I’ll probably stay in San Diego with my parents.”
“You can come here and stay with us for as long as you like. The penthouse and the beach house have spare bedrooms.”
“Thank you. Maybe for a couple of days because I can’t wait to cuddle Summer.”
“I can’t wait to hug you. I’ve missed you, Zee.”
Lowering my head, I smile as I feel her love. “We’ll talk soon, okay?”
We end the call, and I hold my phone to my chest. I’ve missed my friends, and it will be great to see them, but I made the right choice coming here.
Crap, I didn’t tell her about my promotion. I’ll wait until it happens so I don’t jinx my luck. Instead, I decide to send her a photo, knowing she won’t know where I am.
I take a photo of the bridge and the river at night, the sparkling lights on the other side. Then I add a text saying how much I love the view.
I head back inside, noting it’s still hot as hell. I can’t bear it any longer. The heating must be broken as it doesn’t feel any cooler. I hit the cool button several times, then head to my room to read a book before bed.
What the hell is happening?
I wake up unable to breathe.
Tossing the covers aside, I yank off my top. I’m dying here .
I starfish in my undies, tossing and turning. Ugh, it’s unbearable. I get up, open all my windows, and cold air blows in. Then I open my bedroom door. All lights are off, and Jobe is either in his room or not home yet. I cover my breasts with one hand and tiptoe out to the control pad on the kitchen wall. I hit the temperature button several times until it’s a cool level. This damn air conditioner needs a technician.
“Zara.” I jump and turn with one arm over my boobs. Jobe is standing behind the kitchen counter, his bare chest glimmering in the dim light. “Leave it, please.”
“Are you serious? It’s a fucking sauna. I thought it was broken.”
“Not broken.” He taps on his cell. The fucker is adjusting it from his cell. He tosses his cell on the marble and leans with two arms on the counter. He looks pissed. “I set it high so you wouldn’t have the desire to spoon .” The air crackles with the tension between us.
“Oh, smart ass. You fixed that.” Blood rushes to my head as anger flares. “I’m on the bed like a freaking starfish.” I throw my arms out wide for emphasis. “Kill me now because I asked Jobe Hendricks for some emotional support. To spoon me with fucking clothes on.” I slam my fists onto my hips.
His eyes travel down my body, taking his damn time until his eyes lift and his heated gaze meets mine.
“Yeah, take a good look, fucker, because you had your shot and blew it. You won’t get a second chance.” I storm back to my room.
“You have no idea, Zara,” he shouts, but it’s more of a roar.
“Stop messing with the controls,” I call back before slamming my door.
At five thirty, I was up and out of that hellhole.
I’ve been sitting in the café across from the office block for what feels like hours, and there’s still another hour before I start work. I keep checking the time, hoping Piper will arrive soon.
I peer up, and she walks in smiling, her long, blonde ponytail swinging behind her. “Hey, how was your night?” I make a face, and before I answer, she adds, “Oh, he’s still mad?” I nod, and she slides into the chair opposite me. “Do you want another coffee?” She glances down at the two empty mugs in front of me.
“If I could drink alcohol, I would.” I sigh. “I’ll have a tea that you all rave about.”
Her eyes light up. “Earl Grey?”
“Yeah, whatever,” I say and laugh.
Piper orders our beverages and then returns to the table. “So what happened?”
I shrug a shoulder, not knowing how to explain our fake relationship fight. “He was pissed that I didn’t leave with him yesterday morning, and it escalated last night.”
“Ugh, no one likes a bossy control freak, except…” she cleans closer, “… I find it focking sexy in bed.” I smile at the way she cusses in her accent. It doesn’t stop me from imagining Jobe in bed, telling me what to do.
Taking a deep breath, I consider that maybe we’re not meant to be. Last night, I told him that he wouldn’t get a second chance when it was me who didn’t get a second chance.
“Ladies,” George says as he takes a seat beside Piper. He’s wearing a trendy tie with his shirt in an array of pastel colors. “I come with news. Today’s the big announcement. What else will be revealed?”
“Then we must go,” Piper adds. “I need to sort my emails before the morning meeting.”
We head across the road to our office block and take the elevator to the third floor. The staff is talking amongst themselves as we stride past the rows of office cubicles to get to ours.
“Hey.” Anna stands from behind her table and joins us. “Did you hear?”
“Hear what?” Piper asks as she unpacks her bag onto her table.
“About the merger. It’s happening this week. We are supposed to be meeting the new CEO today.”
“Oh. Is this a surprise to everyone?” I ask in curiosity.
“ Yes, ” Anna emphasizes. “Everyone is talking about our jobs and redundancies or a company shake-up. I spoke to Carissa from IT on the entire train ride about what the tech team are saying.”
“What are they saying?” Piper folds her arms.
Tim enters the room and remains at the front, where we can all see him. “Can I have everyone’s attention?” Everyone takes a seat behind their desks, and the room falls into silence. An anxious anticipation of what comes next fills the air. “While some of you are aware of the announcement today, unfortunately it will have to wait another week or two as there has been a setback, and the new Executive Director of the Board could not make today’s meeting. While many of you have questions, please send them in an email. Otherwise, today is work as usual. And please don’t start any rumors to make your coworkers unsettled. If you want answers, send your questions my way. When I know more, then you’ll be the first to know. We’ll speak more about it in the weekly meeting. ”
“I don’t think anyone will lose their job,” I whisper to Piper. “The company cannot afford to have unfair dismissal law cases during a merger.”
Piper smiles at me. “Right. I already promised myself I wasn’t going to stress about it.”
“Changing the topic. Are you still looking for a roomie?”