CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JADE
I woke to Brock’s handsome face between my legs, which was a pleasant surprise. We barely slept. I’ve had the most amazing time here with him. I wish it never had to end.
‘Morning beautiful,’ he breathed against my sensitive flesh. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I was hungry.’
I let out a small laugh as I ran my fingers through his hair. ‘You’ll get no complaints from me,’ I said breathlessly. ‘None whatsoever.’ I’d love to wake up like that every morning.
Saying I’m feeling a little tender between the legs would be an understatement. I love that I’ll be feeling the effects of being with him long after I’ve left here. After Brock had me for breakfast, he took me up against the tiles in the shower, but it was wonderful.
Now we both have sombre looks on our faces as he carries my bag downstairs. After placing the suitcase by his feet, he pulls me into his arms. ‘I wish I didn’t have to let you go.’
Tears sting my eyes, but I don’t reply. I’m scared if I do, I’ll cry.
‘I’m going to swing by M’s on my way to work this morning. I need to see you again, Jade. Is that okay with you?’
He cups my face in his hands as he awaits my reply. I still can’t bring myself to speak, so I smile and nod instead. His kiss is so sweet that I have to clench my eyes shut to stop the tears from falling.
‘Look at me,’ he demands when he pulls back from me. My watery eyes open to meet his. ‘This isn’t goodbye, sweetheart. We will be together again. I promise.’
My arms tighten around his waist as I hold him. I hope he’s right. I’m not sure how I’d cope if I never saw him again.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. ‘I bought this for you. It’s a phone. Do you have somewhere to keep it where M won’t find it?’
‘You bought me a phone?’
‘I did. I’ve programmed all my numbers into it. Home, work, mobile. I’m going to go out of my fucking mind if I can’t communicate with you.’
‘But M—’
‘Don’t worry about her. Everything is registered under my name, so there’s no way it can be traced back to you. The last thing I want is to get you in trouble.’
‘You’re sweet.’
‘Can you call or text me sometimes to let me know you’re okay?’
‘I can definitely do that,’ I reply as my mouth meets his. ‘Thank you.’ I’m so overcome by his gesture. I miss him so much when we’re apart. I can’t say how many times I thought of calling him after he gave me his card at Theo’s, but it was just too risky. M checks all of our phone records, and I saw what she did to poor Anna the day she found out some guy from the university she attends had called her phone. It turned out to be something innocent, but M still flipped her lid. M slapped Anna’s face and threatened her in front of all of us. It was awful.
‘You’re welcome,’ he says tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The look he gives me melts my heart. Apart from Rupert, nobody has ever watched out for me before. ‘I’ll wait impatiently to hear from you.’ I let out a small laugh when he says that. ‘I don’t want to risk calling you in case she’s around. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardise this arrangement and keep us apart.’
The second I climb into the back of the limousine after my inspection with M, I tear open the white envelope that contains my schedule for the next few days. I smile when I see I’m attending a function with Theo this evening and my smile widens because I have tomorrow night off. My gaze moves down to Wednesday and my heart sinks. Frank Agostino. Great. He’s one of my clients that always expects sex. Bye-bye lucky streak.
A few weeks ago that wouldn’t have bothered me. It would’ve been just another job that I’d suffer through as best I could, but things are different now. Now that I’ve reconnected with Brock, I’m going to feel like I’m being unfaithful to him. I know that’s stupid because we’re not what you’d call an item, but he’s more than just a client. I’ve never felt this deeply for a man in my life—for anyone, for that matter. And it fills me with hope.
I pull out the phone I’d hidden under the seat of the limo before we arrived at M’s. Removing it from the box, I turn it on. The first thing I see is Brock’s beautiful face: he’s put an image of himself as the screensaver. I gently run my finger over the glass.
Opening the messenger app, I type him a short message.
Jade: I miss you already. xx