Obsessed(41)

"This view is breathtaking," I whisper as I follow him across the room.

"It is." His eyes jump with happiness. "But you haven't seen the other views."

"The others?"

He reaches for my hand and guides me across the barren space to another bank of tall windows. The view from these is even more spectacular as my eyes settle on the Empire State Building. "It's so close. It must be beautiful at night when it's lit up, "I say in wonder.

"Soon you'll know." His hand brushes against my back as he moves closer to me.

"Soon I'll know?" I repeat back while my mind works to connect the dots. "You're moving here?"

"No." His breath caresses my neck. "You're moving here, beautiful."

My eyes quickly scan the space and I finally drink it all in. It's immense, open and stunning. The walnut floors are warm and rich in tone. The walls are a stark white just waiting for inspiration and the ceilings must be at least ten feet tall. "It's perfect," I say under my breath. "But…"

"No, Ivy. No buts. We're going to figure out a way for you to live here. It's ideal. Come, let me show you."

We move through the space, Jax leading me smoothly by one hand while the other rests on my back. He steers me past the quaint kitchen and through a long hallway. We stop to glance at a bathroom finished in light marble tones. As we pass one bedroom his hand slides lower until it's touching the bare skin at the bottom of my back. "This will be your room."

I turn towards the last doorway and I'm instantly immersed in a lovely inviting space. This is the only furnished room in the apartment. There's an elaborate king sized bed, a gorgeous antique dresser and a large walk-in closet. "It's amazing. It's so big."

"It's perfect." He moves to sit on the edge of the bed, guiding me so I'm standing directly in front of him. "It's your new beginning."

I sigh as I look down into his eyes in the dim light of the room. The blinds are drawn and just one small sliver of light bounces through the corner of the adjacent bathroom window. He's incredibly handsome and I shiver at the thought of being alone and this close to him again. I place my hands on either side of his face, relishing in the soft touch of his skin. His hands move farther down my back and he gently pulls me towards him. I sigh the moment my lips touch his and I'm greeted by the hunger of his kiss.

I fall onto the bed, one of my shoes sliding to the floor with a vacant thud. The noise breaks my focus and I sit up abruptly breaking free of his kiss. "Should we be doing this?" I run my hands over the skirt of my dress desperately trying to compose myself. "I don't think the broker would appreciate us having sex on the bed if they're trying to sell this place." I stand and I'm instantly unsteady. I bend down scrambling to find my shoe which I seem to have inadvertently kicked under the bed. Shit. Now I have to crawl around on all fours to find my shoe? Jax will surely find that sexy.

"Ivy, stop." I feel his hand on mine. "I bought the bed. I had it delivered yesterday."

I sit next to him again, pushing the wayward hairs that have fallen into my eyes back into place. "Why?"

"Beautiful." He sighs deeply as he wraps his finger around a few strands of my hair, playfully pushing them back behind my ear. "You told me that Mark and Liz were together in your bed. I know that has to hurt. I wanted you to have a new, fresh start in every way."

I'm struck by how compassionate and thoughtful the gesture is. I feel tears rising to the surface but I push them back. I don't want him to see me as overly emotional especially, not now. "That's incredibly thoughtful of you." I manage a weak smile. "But, Jax, we need to discuss this. How we can make this work. I won't be a bought woman."

He lets out a hearty laugh as he pulls me down on my back into the softness of the duvet cover. "We'll work out an agreement."

"An agreement?" I tense at the sensation of his finger on my jaw. I know that he's about to kiss me and when that happens I'll be lost to him again.

"Stop talking." He leans closer until his lips brush against mine. I taste his breath and I'm instantly lost in the rush of desire for this man.

I reach for his suit jacket, pushing it boldly off his body. He complies and shifts slightly so I can access the buttons on the light blue shirt covering his chest. I stop once I realize that he's wearing cuff links and he breaks our kiss to skillfully remove them, tossing them on the bed behind us. I run my hands down the length of his chest. My fingers lightly graze the toned skin. I feel him fidget under my touch and I glance down to see his erection straining against his tailored slacks.