Chapter 24

Back in my seat, I try to right my dress, pulling the skirt back down my body awkwardly, my face hot. I’m sure I must be several shades of pink and red; my skin is glowing.

Despite the tight confines of the car and invasive controls around us, Jake somehow managed to make good on his promise and made love to me in his car, on his lap facing me forward to the front windshield, with his arms around me, glad of the heavily tinted windows. It was awkward but erotic, and I ended up sprawled over his steering wheel, gasping in the afterglow. Only then did I become self-conscious about our surroundings, relieved when I saw he had pulled into an empty alley shaded by tall buildings on either side. He’d known he would have sex with me as soon as he turned the car. The appearance of the condom was a huge hint, his naughty wink, and grin confirming he’d pre-planned my surrender to his way of thinking. I have no chance with him as a lover; I will never have any say in this life ever again.

“So…guess we’ll be going to your place to pack a case then, right?” He grins at me, leaning over to clip my seatbelt back on, always obsessed with taking care of me as though I’m incapable. He looks completely unaffected by what we’ve just done. Even his hair is still in place.

“Is this what life is going to be like? You decide something, then use your ‘sexpertize’ to make me agree?” I gaze at him, shaking my head and trying to look unamused, but I can’t stop smiling.

“Like you thought it would be any different?” He grins back, righting himself in his seat and pulling his seatbelt on. “Now, make sure you pack a lot of bikinis. We’ll be solo this time, so I doubt you’ll need any actual clothes.” He winks, and for some reason, I know he means it. Bikinis or naked, I can be sure that’s how I’ll end up if the last thirty minutes are anything to go by.

“Maybe I’ll have a three-week headache, darling,” I reply haughtily, trying to keep the humor from my face.

He has us back in traffic now, and he shrugs, his face animated. “Bambina, the best way to get rid of a headache is to have your hot Italian boyfriend sweat it out of you in various energetic positions.” He throws me a serious look with a raised brow.

Arrogant sod! His ego is big enough for both of us.

Who am I kidding? His confidence and directness make him who he is, and he knows it. Damn you, Carrero!

***

Sarah is home when we get to the apartment; she looks frantic, and I’m instantly guilty. My phone died late last night, and I’ve been so absorbed in being with Jake that I haven’t even thought about her being worried. She looks us over in surprise, then grins knowingly. I guess I still have that flushed, ‘just been screwed’ look, and with Jake’s arm around my waist possessively, it tells her all she needs to know.

“Emma? Thank God! Well, I can call off the search party!” She grabs me in a hug and points the finger at Jake. “You better be treating her right this time, stopping all this nonsense and bullshit evasive behavior.” She waggles it at him, bringing her tiny frame up to his in an overly aggressive manner. Jake raises his palms and tries not to smile.

“Like she’s my queen. She was a little too busy to think about phoning home, ‘mom.’” He darts out of the way of her playful slap, and she turns to me instead.

“I was worried about you,” she says, turning to me. “Next time, how about a text to say, oh, I don’t know, ‘My boss stopped being a schmuck and finally hooked up with me.’?”

I smooth back her stray hair and try to fix her baggy shirt. She’s obviously been in her nightshirt all day and pacing erratically. Our old relationship would have never seen her worry about my absence this way; it’s a little cute, and I feel awful.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t think you would even notice. I won’t do that again. Promise.” Despite never being one, I hold up a Girl Scout salute and try for an apologetic smile. She glares, then shakes her head and gives me another hug.

“Marcus said you would probably be away trying out some guy’s bedsprings,” she snorts.

“Hey! Less of the ‘some guy’ stuff,” Jake cuts in, a frown creasing his brow as he moves to lasso an arm around my neck, pulling me close and linking his hands in front of me. “There’s only one guy Emma will ever test bedsprings with, and that’s yours truly. She’s a lady, a ‘one guy’ kind of girl,” he says a little grumpily.

“Marcus is an idiot,” I retort and look around for signs of him but find none. He’s obviously at work.

“What about you, Carrero?” Sarah narrows her eyes and hunches forward to scrutinize Jake’s face, “Are you a ‘one girl’ kind of guy now?” she interrogates almost menacingly. I stifle the urge to laugh at her protective, mother-hen routine.

“Scouts honor.” He holds up his fingers in an attempt to make a scout’s salute and fails. He was obviously never a scout either; something else we share is a severe inability to get scout salutes right. He leans over to tweak her face and gets his hands batted away aggressively.

“I swear, you better treat her like a queen. She doesn’t tolerate side chicks or any of that nonsense, you got that? You hurt her, and I’ll cut off your family jewels. I’m a chef! Trust me; I have big sharp knives and a lot of skill.” Sarah looks convincingly scary, so much so that even I blanch at her in alarm.

Where the heck has this little psycho been hiding?

“Look, tiny scary person, I love her,” Jake responds with conviction, “I told her so many times last night, and I’m telling you now, no side chicks. I’ll be looking after her from here on in. You can stow the knives elsewhere, possibly in the back of the next guy who insinuates my girl has been sleeping around.” Jake flashes Sarah one of his Hollywood smiles and kisses me on the top of the head. Sarah seems satisfied. Her manic expression drops and is replaced by a welcoming smile, and I sigh with relief and pull myself out of Jake’s arms, still a little wary of the crazy girl.

“I’m going to get out of this dress and pack,” I say, lifting the skirt from the floor, so I don’t trip, and start heading to my room.

Jake moves to follow me, but Sarah’s raised eyebrow and come-here finger-wiggle stops him. She hasn’t done talking to him yet, and I throw him a supportive smile and gesture for him to stay. He looks like he might refuse, and I don’t blame him. Sarah has the air of “Gestapo and torture methods” exuding from her in droves. At a glance, I can tell that he wants to come with me and continue what we did in the car.

I’ll need to get my stamina up living with him; I’ll never get through a week at this rate. He’s insatiable. I may not be the most experienced woman on the planet, but even I know his hunger for sex isn’t normal, or the ability to go at it so much. I wonder if this is his Italian blood or just Jake’s blood that makes him a sex addict with stamina second to none. I can’t complain; since finding out he loves me, I have become just as greedy, and it still shocks me. I never knew I had it in me or that it was even possible.

***

I start packing up my case, my phone on charge in its dock by my bed, as I take my time and some breathing space from Jake so I can think. He’s like a tornado that devours everything in its wake when he’s with me, and sometimes I need time to process things more slowly.

I’ve put on jeans, a T-shirt that skims my figure, Converse sneakers, and a denim jacket. This is probably the most casual he’s ever seen me other than my gym attire, but for some reason, I feel comfortable being this way around him. I’m far removed from the Emma he met a year ago, who didn’t even own jeans. He must see how much he’s changed me. I want him to see how different I want to be with him.

My hair alone is a huge deal. Changed from long, sleek, always immaculately tied back to short, highlighted, wild waves hanging loose just below my jawline, making me seem young and carefree. I catch sight of myself in the mirror, free of makeup. He’s seen me this way, in hotels early in the morning and late at night, but I look different. My skin is rosy, my eyes a softer blue, and my lips stained pink from being kissed endlessly. I am happy and almost beautiful.

Even for me to see, it’s amazing.

Love really changed me.

I pick up my phone, now charged, and call Wilma Munro, knowing this must be done.

“Emma, darling, I didn’t expect to hear from you today.” She sounds overjoyed, which makes my heart sink because I like this woman. I’ll miss working beside her, even though it’s only been a couple of weeks.

“Wilma…hey…” I sound as awkward as I feel. “I need to tell you something,” I hesitate, knowing I should get straight to the point.

“I already know, and I’m really happy for you, honestly. The sixty-fifth is getting a great asset back.” She beams down the phone, and I hesitate as I catch my breath.

“How?” I’m confused as hell.

“Oh, honey, you and Jake are the talk of the building. Apparently, his storming over and kissing you passionately in front of a few hundred people will do that,” she gushes. “Besides, he called me about twenty minutes ago.” I can almost hear her smiling, and I resist the urge to facepalm at my dumbness.

“He did?” I’m beyond speechless. I don’t want to start contemplating the public display we put on and what gossip will be doing the rounds about it right now.

Why do these things always shock me? I know him; I should have known he would have already called Wilma in his endless, domineering boss mode.

“Yes, he told me that you’re being rehired as his PA effective as of this morning, and you’ll come to see me when you get back from a little trip.” She sounds positively ecstatic, despite losing an employee.

“Right,” I say, floundering, heat in my face. I’m lost for words that he’s always one step ahead.

I need to get my man to stop doing this crap to me.

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you on my return…right?” I reply softly. There’s so much more I want to say; she deserves more after listening to my woes and being my shoulder to cry on. I want to say more, but I can’t find the words.

“Just tell me, Emma, did he tell you he loved you yet?” she asks cheekily, and I blush and smile despite myself.

“Endlessly.” I laugh, and she joins me.

“Good. Thought he might. It was pretty obvious by the way he stormed into my office a couple of days ago, demanding to know where you were. Just remember to invite me to the wedding,” she laughs again. “I’d better go, dear; I’ve some irate man in a suit glaring at me.”

We say our goodbyes, and she hangs up. I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or be angry at Jake; either way, I am relieved that Wilma isn’t upset about my departure.

My door opens, and Jake strolls in like it’s the most natural thing in the world. All anger dissipates when I see him; his jeans, tight white T-shirt, and leather jacket make me weak. He’s effortlessly Hollywood. I bite my lip as I try not to fall into a daydream about the things he does to me.

“Ready? You’ve been ages, baby.” His all-too-perfect smile flashes my way. Spying the case, he moves forward to pick it up and checks for my passport and iPad inside. I stand watching him, bemused. He walks over to my bedside table and lifts a couple of books I’m in the process of reading, and then slides them into my case along with my phone, which is now on the bed.

“Need any help there?” I ask with a laugh.

Fairly sure he could have packed my clothes too, at this rate.

“Toiletries?” He raises an eyebrow, ignoring my sarcasm as I steadily watch him with the overwhelming desire to sigh at him.

Nothing he does should surprise me.

“In the case,” I reply blandly.

“Sexy lingerie? You know that corset thing I spied back when I helped you clear out your clothes?” He looks me up and down. I guess it’s been on his mind since then, and that thought pleases me, the fact he still remembers, and I’ve never actually worn it.

“In the top drawer.” I point to the dresser and move past him, but I halt as he yanks it open and empties the contents into my case.

“What are you doing?” I ask, laughing at him in surprise as he attempts to push everything down to fit.

“I think, as your boyfriend, I should know every piece of your underwear intimately…for future gift buying.” He smirks and closes the case, pushing its sides to try and conceal the bulge. “You can model it all for me when we get to the yacht. I think I should get a job as your un-dresser.”

I sigh this time and can only shake my head.

What the hell am I going to do with him? I don’t think I’ll get much of a tan on this yacht break. I’m starting to think keeping me in bed as a sex slave has been his plan all along. And he said he wanted to take me away so our relationship would be more than sex!

I’m starting to wonder if he’s capable of that at all.

He stops by my oversized bear and frowns at him.

“You won him for me in Las Vegas, remember? I named him Joey,” I remind him, following his death glare with amusement.

“You’ve been sharing your bed with this fella?” he asks seriously. I can’t see any humor in his eye, but he’s not being serious.

“I have.” I smile demurely and wink at Joey for added effect. He picks the bear up by the throat rather aggressively.

“By the time we come back, buddy, I want to find that you’ve moved back into the wardrobe, or there’ll be hell to pay. I share her bed now; I’m the only guy she’ll be cuddling up with.” He grins at me and throws the bear across the room at my door in grand fashion, and I watch as it slumps ungracefully into an unloved heap.

“Poor Joey, he never did anything wrong…a perfect gentleman every night.” I pout. “I never took you for the jealous type.” I poke him, but he drops my bag, grabs my hand, and pulls me into his embrace.

“I’m not the jealous type. I wasn’t. But with you…maybe.” He kisses me firmly, my body melting into his.

“Just don’t turn cray-cray on my ass. I don’t mind ~jealous~ as long as you don’t take a lighter to my teddy bear.” I giggle, only his face turns serious momentarily, leaning back to look at me with a mock deadpan focus.

“Don’t put ideas in my head.” He catches me with a swift kiss, then turns me in a twirl and pats my butt to get me moving before scooping up my case.

“You don’t need any encouragement,” I say, fluttering my lashes back at him. Catching my face in his free hand, he squeezes my cheeks slightly so my lips pucker up.

“You’re just so freaking cute. I could eat this face.” He leans in, nibbles my lip, then kisses me on the nose amid my giggles and protests.

Having been brought up to speed by Jake about our little vacation, Sarah meets me in the hall and gives me a huge cuddle as she showers me with all her departing advice: be safe, don’t drink too much, don’t sleep in the sun, send her updates. I smile and peck her on the cheek, a little overwhelmed with the speed at which this is happening. Such is life with Jake; I should be used to the whirlwind he is by now.

“Don’t let Marcus sleep in my bed when you have a fight; Jake may take a blowtorch to him. I think he just killed my teddy bear.” I pass her with a pat on the head and move toward the front door.

“What can I say?” He shrugs at Sarah, leaning down to plant an unexpected kiss on her cheek. She looks surprised and flushes. “The dirty fur-ball had been sleeping with my girl.” She waves us off amid a flurry of giggles as I roll my eyes at him. I lead the way out the door and pull it closed behind us.

“You can stop torturing girls wherever we go, Casanova. I know you get your kicks out of the reaction, but your new ‘girl’ might have reason to start feeling jealous too,” I say light-heartedly. Still, somehow it comes out more serious than I intended, insecure Emma clawing free, and I hate that I just momentarily doubted my best friend. He pushes my bag under his arm with one hand and grabs me with the other, catching my wrist and hauling me back to him for a deep kiss.

“Sarah gave me some good advice while you took about three hours to get ready. I wasn’t trying to get a reaction, dolcezza; I was grateful. I’ll never make you jealous, either. I’m sorry, baby.” He kisses me, breaking away to rub his nose against mine, a little show of affection I’m fond of. “I am not interested in getting reactions from other women…only you.”

I smile up at him shyly. He always knows just what to say to me. My inner anxiety fades away, replaced with a sudden desire to curl around him and squeeze him tightly.

“What advice did she give you?” I question softly, my arms finding his waist, even though we’re still standing at the top of the stairs in my apartment building, his mouth staying close to mine.

“To remember how easy it is for you to hide behind that wall when you’re scared and never to let it stand between us again.” He kisses my forehead softly. “She reminded me that, despite seeming like you’re always in control and capable, deep down, you’re that same kid from Chicago who learned to keep people out. No one protected you, but I’m here now, and I’ll always look after you, il mio amore.” He kisses me again slowly, more deliberately, sending my heart into a fluttering mess as I become putty in his hands.

“I know you will,” I answer honestly, my mind casting back to Ray Vanquis and Jake’s admission that Ray was gone from my mother’s life for good. He smiles at me, locking eyes, before guiding me down the stairs to the car in the street below.

Some teenagers have gathered around, admiring it, and they stand back in awe when he opens the door and throws my bag into the tiny rear seat. Jake thanks the kids for watching his car and hands them some cash with smiles and high fives. One of them whispers loudly that he knows who he is, and they all seem to flush. I notice he’s given each of them a fifty, and I almost balk at it. Kids from around here aren’t exactly well-off; he probably just made their month. What a way to spend a few hundred bucks. Something I don’t think I’ll ever get used to with him is his complete disregard for money.

They stand back in admiration to watch us drive off.