Chapter 29: In Love

JAMIE

I was watching him from the bed, watching the way he moved his spotless white shirt up his arms and began to button it up.

Seeing how it hugged the muscles on his arms had me gnawing my bottom lip for him.

Already, I know, but the man is gorgeous and I just can’t get enough of him.

Mason Knight certainly knows how to blow my mind!

Damn it, I’d told myself not to fall in love with him, given everything…

But you can’t just pick and choose who you love. It doesn’t work like that.

What the hell am I going to do?

Definitely not tell him—that would have been emotional suicide. And it wouldn’t end well.

He’s still scared. Still holding back from me.

“Jamie,” Mason called, snapping me out of my thoughts, “I recognize that face. Are you okay?”

I smiled. “Sure, I’m fine.”

In some sense of the word. It wasn’t a total lie.

I feel like an idiot for wanting more of him, wanting this to mean more ~to~ him.

I’ve had more of him than anyone else ever has.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

He was sitting on the gray fabric chair in the corner, doing up the laces of his expensive shoes.

“I know I can be a bit rough, but you did ask me to go harder.”

A bit rough?

Understatement of the century.

“You didn’t hurt me,” I chuckled, “but thanks for your concern, Mr. Knight.”

I got up from the bed, bringing the sheet with me and wrapping it around my body.

“I should get going. Mr. Blair will be at the office in fifteen.”

Mason pulled me to him and removed the sheet from my grasp.

“Let me see you one more time before I leave.”

His hands moved up my body before cupping my tits.

They were tender now after the rough encounter—in the midst of it all he hadn’t exactly handled them with care.

He kissed me again, giving himself a hard-on to deal with on the way out the door.

“You’re going to be late if you don’t get going.” I pulled away, as hard as it was.

“Ah, Jamie, you’re a good girl. I have every intention of changing that.”

He picked up his suit jacket from the chair and placed it over his arm.

“You have plans tonight, right?”

“Speed dating with friends.”

I turned and opened the closet door. Totally packed full of clothes, both mine and Carmen’s. We shared frequently.

“Speed dating? I don’t like that,” he admitted, so casually, like his opinion was supposed to change my mind.

“Oh, relax, I’m just there for support.” I pulled a pair of underwear up my legs and turned to face him while I clasped a bra. “You don’t like the thought of that, Mr. Knight?”

“Not one bit!” He folded his arms across his chest. Even calling him Mr. Knight didn’t stop the sulk.

I walked to him, placed my hands on his shoulders, and kissed him.

“Tough. I’m making my own choices. Please don’t try to make them for me.”

“You’re quite a handful, you know that!” Mason shook his head with a smirk.

I was sure he was hating that I was going out among other men, but at the same time liking the fact that I was challenging him.

~Well, sir, if you think I’m a handful, you haven’t met most women.~

“Somehow I think you like that.”

I turned and walked toward the closet again, and pulled out some comfortable clothing. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere until tonight.

“I should go.” He pulled his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. “See you later, beautiful.”

“Bye, Mason.”

I stood in my lingerie and watched him leave my room.

I really hope he doesn’t break my heart. I don’t think I could take it.

After dressing, I left the bedroom in search of some refuel after the appetite I’d just worked up.

A coffee would be nice, and a bagel smothered in cream cheese.

Just the thought alone had me drooling a bit.

I walked into the living area/kitchen, feeling on cloud nine.

Carmen was sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar, shoveling a spoonful of Special K Red Berries into her mouth.

I passed her with a smile. “Good morning!”

“Yes, it is.” She set her spoon down in her bowl.

“I’ve made coffee, figured you would need it. Because, you know, you’ve spent the morning fucking.”

My cheeks were a bit flushed. I hadn’t thought it was loud enough for her to hear. I knew she was home.

I’d heard her with a guy plenty of times, but it was a bit embarrassing for me.

“I didn’t think I was that loud.”

I reached up into the cupboard and grabbed my favorite cup. It’s taken a couple of chips over the years but it’s always been my favorite.

“Well, more him than you! I could hear the grunting.” There was a gleam in her eye. “I should hope he’s the best you’ve had.”

“Sure is. I’ve done things with Mason that I’ve never done with anyone else.”

I poured the boiling water into my cup, and steam rose.

I love the smell of coffee in the morning!

“You mean anal?”

She was smirking as I turned to look at her.

“I know everything about you, Jamie. I’m your best friend.”

I don’t know why I expected her not to know. She knows I was never keen to try it before.

“Okay, yes, we tried anal.”

So weird even talking about it, but Carmen was the sort of friend you could talk to about anything.

“Mason asked and I said yes. I expected it to be a lot different than what it was.”

“Was it good?” She wiggled her perfect eyebrows at me and leaned forward with folded arms. “It sounded pretty amazing from where I was.”

I slapped her arm playfully. “It was amazing, that’s what I’m saying. I expected it to be very uncomfortable, but that was only the first few minutes. Maybe it’ll be a thing now.”

“Jamie Harris, what has gotten into you? Oh, wait—Mr. Fucking Knight.”

She grinned at me, and I grinned back.

Of course, I’d been trying not to rub it in her face about me sleeping with a man that everyone wanted. Besides, she was as single as a cucumber, as Jake liked to put it.

“We have speed dating tonight, and I think you’re going to get lucky.”

“I hope so. I just want to find someone decent.” She crossed her fingers.

I picked up my coffee, warming my hands.

“You’re just lucky Mason is letting me go. He has so much control over everything. I can’t let him have control over me too. I love the guy, but come on, a woman needs to have a life.”

Carmen’s brown eyes went huge. “You what?”

Oh, shit, did I just say that out loud?

“What? No, I mean—I like him. I said I like him—”

“Ohhhhhh no, I heard what I heard. You said you love him.”

She looked at me, a bit freaked out. Granted, I was too.

I guess it’s too late to pretend now!

I sighed and murmured, “Fine, you win. I’m in love with that man.”

The question is: Does that man love me?