‘Good morning,’ I say.
‘Good morning, beautiful,’ he replies with a smile. ‘You’re dressed?’
‘Yes.’
‘You look gorgeous.’ The sincerity in his voice as he tenderly strokes the side of my face chokes me up inside. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Rupert will be here soon, I have to get going.’
‘What?’ he replies, shifting me to the side so he can sit up. ‘Already?’
I sigh when I see his face drop. I’d give anything to be able to spend the whole day with him. ‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t you wake me earlier? I could’ve spent more time with you before you left.’
‘You looked so peaceful,’ I reply, forcing out a smile. I hate that I’m disappointing him once more.
‘When am I going to see you again?’
I rest my forehead against his. ‘I don’t know.’ Saying that to him makes my heart hurt.
‘Can I get your phone number or something, so I can call you?’ The hopefulness in his voice tears me up inside.
‘I can’t give you my number,’ I whisper, as my eyes clench shut. I can’t bear to see the hurt on his face.
‘Why?’
‘She checks my phone, Brock.’
‘Who?’
‘My madam.’ This conversation is so humiliating.
‘Aren’t you free to do whatever you like in your spare time?’
‘No,’ I confess, turning my face away from him. ‘She controls everything … even my spare time.’ My cheeks heat up as I speak. I’m so ashamed of my life and my circumstances.
‘I want to see you again, Jade. No—I have to see you again,’ he says, crushing me to him. He holds me so tight, like he’s afraid to let me go.
‘I want to see you again too. More than anything. But I can’t see how. You have no idea how my life is—what she’s like.’
I stand when he finally releases me, straightening my dress when I do. Pulling back the covers, he rises too. He’s still naked and he’s utter perfection. I could stare at him all day and never tire of it.
‘I’ll find a way. I promise. I won’t let you get away again,’ he says before picking his jeans up off the floor. I watch as he removes his wallet, pulling out a business card. ‘Keep this. If you ever need me, just call. I mean it, Jade. For anything.’
‘Thank you,’ I say as my arms circle his waist.
‘We’re going to see each other again. We are.’ He draws me closer. I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince me or himself. We just stand there holding each other for the longest time. I hope he’s right. I don’t want this to be the last time I feel him in my arms.
When my phone rings he releases me, and I walk to my bag. I already know it’s Rupert alerting me he’s downstairs.
‘Fuck,’ I hear Brock groan from behind me.
‘What?’ I ask, turning around.
‘You look fine in that dress, and you’re wearing those damn shoes again.’
‘What?’ I feel my face screw up.
‘Those red heels,’ he says, pointing to my feet. ‘You were wearing them at the airport. The day I met you.’
I can’t believe he remembers what I was wearing on my feet that day. ‘I was?’
‘Yes, you were. I want to see you wearing nothing but those shoes one day.’
I chuckle as I retrieve the phone from the front pocket of my suitcase. Brock comes up behind me, grabbing hold of my waist and thrusting his pelvis into me.
‘Fuck, your arse looks sexy in that dress.’
‘Shh,’ I say as I place my finger against my lips. ‘Hi Rupert. I’ll be down in a minute.’
When I end the call, Brock turns me in his arms. ‘I miss you already.’
‘I miss you already too,’ I say, placing my lips on his.
‘Take care of yourself, Jade.’
‘I will. You too.’
‘Please call me if you need anything, or even if you just want to say hello.’
‘I will.’ I’m trying hard to fight back the tears. I’m not usually an emotional person. I’ve cried more times since I’ve met Brock than I have in my entire life. And believe me when I say there were plenty of times that warranted tears when I was a child. Maybe opening my heart to him has finally made me feel.
‘Until we meet again, beautiful.’ He gives me a sad smile as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
‘Until we meet again, handsome.’
He picks up my suitcase and passes it to me. ‘Bye,’ I say as I place my lips on his for the final time. I open the door, taking a backwards step as my eyes drink him in one last time. ‘You better put some clothes on before you go downstairs. I don’t want Theo checking out my man.’