Alluring (22 page)

Steph turned to Alexis.  "Listen, I don't care what Mr. Beefcake over here thinks," she pointed an exaggerated thumb at Smith (Steph was obviously still drunk).  "Jack has eyes everywhere, and I bet they're all pointed at you.  Also, I bet if you called him, he would be here in one minute flat."

"Let's not test that theory, shall we.  I'm sure we can work this out, by ourselves, without involving Jack."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Too late."  Alexis heard Jack's voice behind her as she felt his hand clamp the back of her neck.  "Take your hand off her,
now."

God he sounded menacing.  She tugged at Steph's arm to bring her near as she inched herself closer to Jack. 

Smith looked evenly into Jack's eyes.  They were the same height, but Smith was bigger than Jack, more muscular.  She didn't want Jack getting into a fight with him.  She wasn't sure if Jack would win. 

She craned her neck up and around.  "Let's just go."  Jack's face was just as menacing as his voice, as he stared at Smith.

"I'm giving you one more second to let go of her arm.  One."

Jack was so quick, Alexis didn't see it happen, but she blinked, and Jack had his hand wrapped around Smith's wrist.  He squeezed it tight, releasing Smith's fingers from her arm.  A second later, Jack had shuffled Alexis and Steph behind him. 

He released Smith's wrist with a small shove.  "Are you going to leave peacefully?"

Smith held his hands in the air and took a step back.  "Can't blame a guy for trying.  You of all people should know why that is."

Alexis had no idea what the guy was talking about, but she saw Jack give him a slight nod, as if acknowledging his statement. 

Smith's friend walked up to him.  "Let's get out of here Trey."

Smith looked over at Alexis one final time.  "Remember the name Trey Smith, darling.  If anything should happen," he nodded his head Jack's direction, "know I'll always be interested in hearing from you."

Jack gave a growl at which Trey tipped his head back and laughed as he turned and walked away.  Jack watched him go out the exit before ushering Alexis and Steph off the dance floor and to a table.

"Sit down.  I'll get some water." 

Alexis watched Jack as he made his way to the bar.  She turned to Steph and with big eyes asked, "What the hell just happened?"

Steph laughed.  "Little fish swimming in a pond.  Big fish comes and eats the little fish.  Big fish swims away with the girl."  Steph laughed again.  "That whole scene was so caveman."

Alexis looked at her friend as if she had grown two heads.  But, before she could say anything, Jack returned carrying three bottles of water.  He set them down on the table then sat himself.  He ran his fingers through his hair, a sure sign of his frustration, gave a deep sigh, put his elbows on the table, and cradled his chin in his hands.  He closed his eyes.

Alexis started to feel antsy.  He still looked pissed.  His jaw was clenched and he was breathing heavier than usual.

The silence was maddening.  She needed to end it.  "I didn't encourage that."

Jack took a calming breath but didn't open his eyes.  "I know."

Alexis kept talking.  "I told him I didn't want to dance.  I don't know why he wouldn't go away."

Jack opened his eyes and stared at her.  She flicked her gaze to Steph, but she looked at Jack.

He turned his attention to Steph.  "Does that happen, often?"

Steph shrugged.  "She never went out a lot but when she did, it did.  Just with different results, now that you're in the picture."

"Explain." 

"Well,
before
you, she would give them the one dance they were asking for then send them on their way.  They would give her their phone number. 
Try
to get hers.  She, of course, never called them.  End of story."

Alexis spoke up.  "What the hell are you guys going on about?
Steph rolled her head to Alexis.  "You, getting hit-on."                

Alexis looked outraged.  "They were just dances,
Stephanie
.  I was never hit-on."

"They all asked for your number."

Alexis shrugged.  "So."

"What about that Texan?"  Steph asked.

Alexis sighed.  "One time, then."

Steph continued.  "What about that Italian guy?"

Jack held up his hand.  "STOP," he barked.  "I don't want to hear any more of this conversation."

Steph giggled.  Alexis gave her an evil eye.

Alexis turned her glare from Steph to Jack.  "What's the point of this whole conversation anyway?" 

"The point is," Jack returned Alexis's glare, "that I'll be tagging along on future girls' nights."

For some strange reason, that comment made Steph laugh harder.

Alexis paced the length of Jack's office, fuming.  She had just gotten off work.  Jack was somewhere in the hotel, and Becky said she would find him.  After the craziness of Friday night, they'd had a nice, relaxing weekend, but the contentment was now over.  She was pissed.

He stepped through the door five minutes later.  "What's wrong?"

Alexis turned, hands on hips, eyes blazing.  "I was worried when I didn't get a bill from the hospital," Alexis started, anger lacing her words, "so I called them.  They said they didn't send an invoice because the account was paid in full.  Do you have any knowledge of this?"

She saw his body relax and a grin lit his face.  That grin pissed her off more.  "You had me worried.  I thought something bad had happened."

"Something bad did happen.  You paid off my medical bills."

"First of all, they're not your medical bills, they were your mother's.  It shouldn't be your responsibility to pay them off.  It should have been your father's."

"You shouldn't have gone behind my back to do it."

"Do you honestly think if I had asked you beforehand, you would have let me do it?"  He didn't give her time to answer.  "No, you wouldn't have.  And I would have done it anyway.  And you still would have been mad.  Any way I looked at it, you would have been mad."

"I wouldn't have been mad if you'd left it alone and didn't pay for it."

"Not happening, sweetheart.  And while we're on the subject, and seeing as you're already angry, I'll tell you now.  I paid your sister's tuition for next year."

"You what!"  Alexis shrieked.  "I can
not
believe you."  She started pacing angrily again.  "This is ridiculous."

"No, what's ridiculous, is me having the money to pay for these things while you don't, and you getting mad at me for doing it."

"I'm not a freeloader, Jack."

"I never said you were.  Did you ask me for these things?  No, I just did it.  I'm the man in this relationship and it's my job to make your life easier and to take care of you."

"Then what's my job?  Because as far as I can see, I don't contribute anything."

Jack looked at her in stunned silence.  "Do you honestly believe that?"

She folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot.  "Yes."

"Waking up with you in my arms, every morning, so I can happily go about my day knowing you'll be falling asleep in my arms at night, is your contribution."

"That's not a contribution." 

"Love and devotion are," he countered.

"You contribute that, too."  She threw up her arms in exasperation.

"Okay then how about this."  He walked to her and put his hands on her waist, pulling her close and looking down at her.  "I'm arrogant, overbearing, controlling, and possessive, and you put up with me and love me despite that.  If I were to put a monetary value on that, it would come nowhere near what I paid for medical bills and tuition.  Ask Becky if you don't believe that.  She has to put up with me, too and her salary is obscene."

"Jack, I'm being serious."

"So am I. "  He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.  "I would pay any amount of money just to be in your presence on a daily basis and gladly go poor doing it.  I know you don't see the full scope of all that is you, but I do.  You are the most important thing in my world, and I take my job of protecting you, even from yourself, very seriously.  I know I've said all this before, but I'll say it again and keep saying it until it sticks.  I love you.  Taking care of you makes me happy.  So stop fighting me at every turn."

Alexis relaxed in his arms and squeezed him tight in return.  He made it so damn hard to stay mad at him when everything he said was so damn sweet.  "I can't promise not to fight with you about this in the future, but for today I'll let you win."

She felt Jack chuckling.  "What's so funny?"

"You are the most stubborn person I know."  He took a step back, speared his fingers threw her hair, slightly tilting her head and rubbing the sensitive skin by her ears with his thumbs.  "And although you frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, I love every part of you and wouldn't change a thing.

Jack's words made her bristle.  Her lips thinned and her eyes narrowed.  "I am not stubborn.  Anyone would balk at the extravagance you throw at me."

"No, sweetheart, they wouldn't."

"Okay fine, anyone with a shred of decency would."

Jack shook his head, chuckling again.  "No, sweetheart, they wouldn't."

"Then you must know some pretty crappy people."

At that, Jack started laughing.  "Maybe you're right."  He gave a swift kiss on the lips.  "Now let's go upstairs and have some make up sex."

Alexis gave an exasperated sigh but on the inside she was smiling.  "Oh, alright," she huffed.

Jack smiled, "Come on, admit you want me."

"I said,
alright
, didn't I," she said flippantly.

"Quit being so sassy, or I'll bend you over my knee when we get upstairs."

Alexis sauntered across the office exaggerating the sway of her hips.  She pulled open the door, turning her head to give Jack an impatient look.  "Are you coming?  Or, are you all talk."

He gave her a cocky grin.  "I'll be coming alright, but not until you've come a least three times."  He reached her in three long strides, pulled her from the door, closed it, and locked it.

"What are you doing?"  she asked, as she watched him shut the blinds on the front window.

"I've changed my mind.  That sassy mouth has gotten you into trouble.  Now I can't wait until we get upstairs."  He picked her up and started walking.  "Now I'm gonna take you on my desk."

He set her down in front of the desk, facing away from him and leaned her over.  With his hand pressing on her back between her shoulder blades he whispered in her ear, "You move, sweetheart, there will be a consequence.  Nod if you understand."

Her cheek rested on some papers and they crinkled in her ear as she nodded.

"Good."  He reached under her skirt and pushed it over her hips.  His fingers traced lightly over her ass and she wiggled in response.

He slapped her lightly on one cheek.  "Still."

He slipped his fingers under the elastic of her panties and slowly drew them down her legs.  He tapped her left ankle.  "Lift."

She raised her foot and felt him slide her panties over the heel of her black pump then over the toe.  She set her foot back down.  She felt his hands move slowly up the backs of her legs, stopping at the junction behind her knees. 

He softly caressed the skin there.  "Open wider."  She moved her legs apart a few inches.  "Wider."  He put his hands between her knees and pushed out until her legs were spread wide.

God she felt so exposed.  She started to say something, but he stopped her.  "Talking will also have a consequence."

He traced his tongue along the back of her knee and she knew he must be squatting behind her.  Her face flushed at the thought of the view he would have if he looked up.

Almost as if he read her mind, she heard him utter softly, "Beautiful."  Her face flamed hotter at the thought of what he saw.

One hand moved up her leg to rest lightly on her left ass cheek while the fingers of his other hand entered her.  His warm breath hit her core and she squirmed again earning her a light smack.  His tongue replaced his fingers as they moved through her folds, stopping to rub at just the right spot.

Alexis was finding it difficult to keep still when all she wanted to do was lean back into him.  She felt her pleasure mounting, and she was breathing out in harsh pants.  She heard him mutter, "Come for me."  Right before she exploded on his fingers. 

He was back at her ear, when she heard him say, "That's one, but I think I promised you three."  As he stood her up, the paper she had been leaning on, stuck to her face.  He chuckled as he plucked it away, and she was embarrassed by the large drool mark she left behind.  "I think I'll have this framed and hang it where I can see it every time I sit at my desk."

Alexis didn't doubt for one minute that he would do that.  "Please don't.  I would be embarrassed every time I came to visit you."