23. Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
Tessa
W hen I wake up the next morning, I find Jake’s side of the bed empty. Stretching my sore muscles, I slide out from beneath the warm comforter and pad to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
I decide to take the time to go through my skincare routine before I brew myself a cup of much needed coffee.
Hot beverage in hand, I follow the low timbre of Jake’s voice to his office, where he sits behind the mahogany desk like a king.
His hair is in disarray like he’s run his fingers through it a dozen times already, and even though the day has barely begun, he already looks exhausted.
When he spots me lingering in the doorway, he motions me forward and holds up a finger to let me know he needs a minute to finish up his call.
I lower myself into the seat opposite him and bring my knees up under my chin, sipping my cappuccino while I watch my man in action.
The longer I sit and listen to him take care of business, the more turned on I get.
His take-charge attitude, along with the deep authority ringing in his voice, makes me squirm in my seat, and I don’t fight the vision of falling to my knees in front of him.
I get lost in the fantasy while I blow over the top of my steaming mug and watch him from beneath hooded eyes.
I imagine unzipping his pants. Slowly freeing his hard length from his jeans before dipping my head to take him into my mouth.
All while he yells at whoever’s responsible for his foul mood.
“So, what you’re telling me is that I placed the order six weeks ago, and you’re just now realizing that you won’t be able to deliver? Are you going to break the news to my client since you failed to communicate with me and kept me from sourcing the materials elsewhere?”
He sounds like he wouldn’t mind choking the person on the other end, giving me a look that clearly displays his intolerance for incompetence. He listens intently for several moments before he pinches the bridge of his nose and screws his eyes shut.
“I’m not upset that you’re out of stock.
It happens all the time. What I’m upset about is that it took you guys six weeks to get back to me, and now I’m the one who has to deal with the fall-out.
This is unacceptable.” Jake’s eyes flash with annoyance before his brows jump all the way to his hairline, making me wish I could hear what’s being said.
“Let me help you out, so we can both get back to our busy schedules. You can tell Bradley, if he doesn’t call me back by 5 p.m. today and offers me an acceptable solution to my problem, our business relationship is a thing of the past.” Another round of tense silence.
Then, “Yeah, you do that. Have the day you deserve,” he snaps and slams the phone onto his desk so hard I’m surprised the screen doesn’t crack.
He leans back in his chair and releases a slow breath, shoving the fingers of both hands into his hair before he pulls himself together and gives me a tight smile.
“I sure as fuck hope your morning started off better than mine.”
“Well,” I drawl, sliding my feet to the floor and depositing my half-empty mug on the desk. “I had an amazing sleep because someone wore me out last night, and I’m about to head to Austin for the mother of all shopping sprees with my best friend. I’d say my day is looking pretty darn good so far.”
“Lucky you,” he says, rummaging through the scattered papers on his desk before settling on a thick manila folder.
“I’d tell you I’m sorry I can’t go with you, but we both know that’d be a lie.
I don’t mean to be harsh, but dealing with scheduling delays and catching up on paperwork sounds a hell of a lot better than following you through the mall for hours on end.
You, my love, get a little carried away, and you’re kinda bossy. ”
“That’s not true.”
Jake glances up from the document he’s looking over and cocks a brow.
“Babe, the last time we went shopping, my arms hurt for days from lugging your bags around. I vividly remember begging you for a break. My stomach growled so loudly people gave me the side-eye. An elderly gentleman took one look at me and mouthed, ‘Hang in there, son. It’ll be over soon.’ Your blatant refusal to take care of my basic needs bordered on abuse. ”
A manic cackle bursts from my throat before I rise and close the distance between us. Jake swivels his chair toward me and widens his legs to make room for me, flashing me that lazy smirk that never fails to make me a little weak in the knees.
“Seeing as Caleb is a much more suitable shopping companion, I’ll grant you a reprieve.
Unlike you, he doesn’t groan like a dying animal the second the mall entrance comes into view.
But, before I go, I’d like to give you a little something to remember me by.
Something that might lift your spirits enough to get you through the rest of the day. ”
“Oh?” Jake’s pupils dilate as he wraps his palms around the back of my thighs to pull me closer. “And what might that be, Miss Davidson? ”
Deciding to turn my earlier vision into reality, I sink to my knees and slowly lower the zipper of his jeans, never taking my eyes off his.
Jake leans back in his chair and lifts his hips to help me lower his pants just enough to get to the goods.
He’s rock hard by the time I free him, and I don’t give him a second to think before I swallow him down.
He releases a sinful groan, white-knuckling the armrests of his chair, before he draws in a shuddering breath.
“Fuuuuuck, baby. That feels amazing.”
I have no intention of drawing this out, reveling in the power I hold over him at this moment and wanting him to lose control.
I swirl my tongue around the head, squeezing his pulsing length with just the right amount of pressure before I work him with steady, vigorous bobs.
It takes less than a minute for his hand to find my hair, and his hips punch up, pushing himself deeper into my mouth.
My gag reflex kicks in, providing us with added lubrication, and I stroke him faster while simultaneously sucking him so hard my cheeks hollow out.
“Shit, Tessa, I’m so close. If you don’t want a mouthful of cum, you need to pull off.
Now.” My wanton moan is all the answer he needs, and his grip on my hair tightens a split-second before his whole body goes taut and his cock erupts.
Hot spurts hit the back of my tongue as he shakes and whimpers for what feels like forever.
When he finally sags back into his chair, I take my time licking him clean while he recovers.
Chest heaving, he says, “Jesus, woman. That mouth is going to kill me someday.”
Satisfied with what I’ve already accomplished at such an early hour, I hoist myself off the floor and haul him close, giving him a toe-curling kiss that coerces another moan out of him.
“Alright, I’m up and in desperate need of a Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.
So, if you could pull yourself away from Jake’s magic disco stick and get your butt in gear, that’d be amazing,” Caleb calls through the closed door.
“It’s not like they didn’t screw like rabbits all night.
Now I have to listen to them go at it before I’ve had my caffeine fix.
Is it too early to start drinking?” Jake and I burst out laughing before he tucks himself away and pulls his pants over his hips, buttoning up and ready to get back to work.
“Thanks, sweetheart. You have no idea how much I needed that. I promise to return the favor when you get back. If you don’t exhaust yourself at the mall, that is.”
“I’ll never be too tired to get it on with my man. Have a good day, baby. And don’t work too hard.”
“I’ll do my best. I’m meeting everyone for wing night later. Join us if you’re back in time,” he says, already engrossed in whatever document he was studying before I treated him to my special little pick-me-up.
“We’ll be there.” Hovering in the doorway for a few extra seconds, I simply take him in, unable to believe that he’s truly mine again, before I close the door behind me and go in search of my caffeine-deprived friend.
When Caleb and I arrive at the diner later that night, everyone’s already seated around our regular table. Jake spots us first and waves us over, gesturing for Anna to move further into the booth to make room for us. Grateful to rest my aching feet, I drop onto the bench next to him with a sigh.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart? You’re looking a little worn out,” he drawls, flashing me a knowing smirk.
Keeping my expression carefully blank, I say, “Nope, not worn out at all. In fact, I feel elated. Satisfied. Exhilarated even. You should see the bargains we found. If you’re a good boy and stop gloating, I might even give you a private show later.”
Caleb and Anna groan in unison .
“I swear to God, if I have to listen to another second of you two doing the nasty, I’ma drown myself in the tub.”
Carter chuckles, slinging an arm around his wife before he gestures to the unholy amount of appetizers sitting on the table. “Help yourselves, guys.”
“Holy guacamole. Are we expecting the United States Army to join us?”
“Jake’s had a frustrating day,” Anna explains. “He was cussing up a storm in his office all morning. And when he’s stressed, he tends to eat his own body weight in food.” Jake rolls his eyes as he stuffs a jalapeno popper into his mouth, pretty much proving her point.
“Aw, poor baby,” I sing while I pour myself a glass of cold beer from the pitcher. “What’s going on?”
Jake waves a hand in the air. “Everything’s fine.
It only took me all day to get some things straightened out.
I hate dealing with shit that could’ve been avoided if people would just take their jobs more seriously.
Makes me wonder about the hiring process in this country.
But it’s taken care of now, so let’s enjoy the rest of the evening. ”