Designer Genes - The Boyfriend Cut (59 page)

"He must have spent his entire trust fund on this rock. Such a beautiful 'trap.'" I tried to pull my hand away, but Jesse's grip tightened.

"Let go, Jess."

"Of your hand or you?"

I chewed my lip, not realizing I'd curled my fingers around his hand.

"Is that a 'yes give me freedom, Jess'….or 'hang on tighter because I've really screwed up?' I can do both, you know."

"Stop with the games."

His hand skimmed my cheek. "Who's playing games, Mars? Me? You?" He eased his hand down my neck and drew a lazy line across my collarbone with his index finger. "Or Jordan?"

I slapped his hand away and he chuckled quietly, angering me.

"Jordan doesn't play games."

"You're right. He manipulates
.
"

Tears fill my eyes, but I forbade them to fall. "Why are you being cruel?"

"I'm being honest, something no one else is being right now." He pushed his mug away and leaned closer, dropping his voice to barely above a whisper. "Jordan loves you, I get that. I do too, which we all hate, but the fact is, I can give you what Jordan can't. Freedom."

"I'm going to marry Jordan."

"And then what? Have mind-blowing sex and pump out perfect babies for the fucking Program?" he hissed.

"Keep your voice down."

"Why? Are you worried there'll be another brotherly brawl and you'll really get hurt this time?"

Careful to remain out of Jesse's reach, I moved off the stool. "You're being a jerk. I'm going back to bed." I barely got two steps towards the door before Jesse attacked my Achilles Heel.

"You'll never go to veterinary school, regardless of what Jordan promises.
They
won't let you." He moved beside me when I didn't answer, his voice quiet. "Marli, you have no idea what pressure The Program will inflict on you, especially to get pregnant."

"Jordan promised no kids until I'm ready."

Jesse stroked the side of my arm. "I hate to be the one to pop your fantasy bubble, but that's not a promise he'll be allowed to keep."

The heartbeat I once felt vanished and fear settled in the empty chamber. Surely Jordan wouldn't let me down. He knew the importance I placed on fulfilling my dreams. I swallowed the lump bouncing in my throat.

"Why do you say that?"

Jess held my chin, forcing my eyes to lock on his. "Because my father wants a human successfully cloned before he leaves office and he wants that
clone
from his grandchild."

His lips hovered over mine and my breath stilled, but my body trembled. "Don't—"

The kiss felt sweet, tender…terrifying.

"Marry
me,
Marli. Not Jordan."

I pushed away when he leaned in for a second kiss. "Goodnight, Jess."

I didn't say "no" and Jesse caught my mistake by returning the sentiment through a wide, triumphant smile.

I checked the hallway, relieved to find it empty. I needed to escape somewhere to think. Dawn's lavender rays sprinkled the living room in ghostly shadows. I tiptoed to the entry and paused, my nervous heart clamoring for release. The blinking green light on the security panel assured me no silent alarms would sound when I opened the door. There was no escaping the magic floor, recording my bright pink footsteps as I bolted for the stairwell, avoiding the elevator. The chime announcing its arrival would also herald my departure.

Exiting through the back entrance and into the private gardens, I ran the winding path around gurgling fountains and fragrant flower gardens to the iron gates holding back the noise of the city. I waited until the security camera swept to the other side of the vestibule, then sprang forward, entered my pass code and slipped out. Once around the corner of the building, I hailed a taxi shuttle.

"Where to Miss?"

"The marina, but drop me a block away." He glanced in the rearview mirror, a curious expression on his face. I didn't want him to think I jogged the waterfront alone. "I'm meeting my running group." He dropped his gaze and whistled to the song playing out of the crackling speakers.

Remembering all the security codes in Jordan's life proved no easy task. When the dock supervisor walked away to make rounds, I fumbled three times before finding the right number sequence allowing my access. Another stupid keypad stumped me for a second before I gained entrance to the gangplank leading to
Her Majesty
. The high pitched whine when the gate opened repeated across the marina and I panicked I'd be discovered. I stooped below the rails until I could steal around to the stern of the boat and drop into the galley.

Gulps of cool water slithered down my throat from the bottle I stole out of the refrigerator. I deposited the empty bottle into the recycling tube and eased a hip onto a barstool. Yesterday still seemed surreal. Nevertheless, the large diamond on my left hand reminded me it did happen. Jordan and I were officially engaged.

Marli, what have you done
?

This morning when I woke, dread swamped me. All the confusing feelings I thought had settled, resurfaced. After Jesse cornered me in the kitchen earlier with his formal proposal of marriage—of a life outside of The Program, confusing thoughts swirled in my brain.

Could he be right about Jordan giving me an empty guarantee to keep The Program at bay and not force me into an unwanted pregnancy? Would he bend to his father's pressure? Damn, did I make the wrong choice by accepting Jordan's proposal?

Marriage to Jesse wouldn't be awful. We shared something, only somewhere along the way, Jesse's feelings turned to love where mine never grew beyond lust
.
Over time, surely my feelings would deepen…wouldn't they?

Regardless of whether I came to love Jesse or not, I'd always love Jordan. Suddenly, I realized life with Jesse would be anything but
free.
Our relationship would be forever haunted by my feelings for Jordan. He held the key to my caged heart.

I jerked at the sound of screeching metal from further up the marina. Someone walked—no
ran
down the boardwalk. I peeked out a small porthole. Jesse! Damn! He found me.

I hustled down the dark hallway, banging my shoulder against the door jamb when I turned into Kate's old cabin. I locked the door and childishly hid in the corner, hoping he'd go away. A couple of light taps sounded on the door.

"Mars? It's Jess. Please open up."

He cautiously pushed the door open when I unlocked it, gathering me in his arms. My nose pressed his warm neck and the scent of his cologne, the same as Jordan's, filled my senses. Overwhelming guilt rushed me, acknowledging the crossroads I faced.

We returned to the galley where Jesse managed to scrounge up some instant coffee that didn't taste half bad. The morning air held a slight chill and he draped his jacket over my bare shoulders when an involuntary shiver rolled over my arms. He pulled his receptor out of his pocket and I grabbed his arm.

"No, please. Not yet."

"You know Jordan probably has the FBI looking for you."

A sudden thought popped in my head. "Why are you here and not Jordan?" The touch of anger surprised me. Jordan should be my hero, not Jesse.

"Jordan saw you in your jogging suit on the security camera and figured you'd gone for a run. Nice
pink
floor by the way. He was in the shower when a call came regarding a possible stowaway on the yacht. When Jordan asked Meg if you'd returned yet, I put two-and-two together and figured you were the stowaway
.
"

His brow arched, "I'm just curious why. Having second thoughts?" Jesse leaned closer. "Reconsidering my offer?" His lips pressed my cheek lightly, but I didn't turn my face to accept a kiss in return. My lips pressed my coffee mug instead.

"Sort of," I confessed. Another sip warmed my throat and bought me a couple of seconds. My heart clanged in my chest. I faced Jesse, taking his hand. "I needed someplace quiet to sort through the confusion."

Jesse's fingers wrapped my wrist and he drew me closer, but I pulled back.

"No more seduction tricks, Jess. It's important you listen to me."

"Okay, you have my attention. What?"

"This morning I realized something. I care for you Jess, yes, but nothing close to what I feel for Jordan." I placed my hand to the side of his face to keep him from turning away. "I did consider your proposal, more seriously than you think"

"What changed your mind back to Jordan?"

"The other night you told me to choose my happy-ever-after with my heart. Jess, Jordan holds my heart. He always has. I don't care who holds the strings to my future, as long as he shares it with me."

Water pooled in Jesse's chocolate eyes. "But is love enough, Mars? When you wake up someday not having realized your dream, will that love for Jordan be all you need?"

"Jordan
is
my dream. He's the prince charming I've fantasized about my whole life. We've already survived enough drama for me to realize that together, we're strong. Our love grows with our problems…not fades. I know life holds no guarantees and believing otherwise would be foolish. But I want the chance to prove the odds wrong…with Jordan. I love him, Jess. Not you.

Tears dripped from Jesse's eyes and my heart wanted to hurt for him, but too much joy filled it. I threw my arms around him and he crushed me to him.

"Damn this hurts."

"Like hell," I validated. "But I can't take it back, Jess. I don't want to."

He pulled away and heaved a couple of large breaths. "I won't believe it's over until a preacher says so." He handed me his receptor. "I think there's someone looking for you." He brought my hand to his lips, softly kissing my knuckles. A tear splashed and rolled off my wrist, its origin unknown. His or mine. "Be happy."

He trudged down the boardwalk, his hands stashed deep in pockets, head hung low. He never looked back.

I leaned against the bar, closing my eyes against the golden rays bending into the galley and warming my face. The forgiving voice answering on the other end of the receptor sent my heart racing.

"Hey, baby, I miss you. Are you all right?" Jordan asked, pensive.

"I will be as soon as I'm in your arms. Come get me?"

The voice suddenly sounded close. "I'm already here, but until I'm holding you, I'm not complete."

I drank in the faded jeans riding his hips in such a way my mouth parched, my gaze following the lines of the narrow waist to the broad chest testing the threads of the heather gray Cornell University T-shirt, up the tanned neck where a hard swallow rolled, then over the square chin to the heart-shaped lips that knew how to turn bone marrow to hot liquid. Dimples framed the corners when they tweaked upward and when my gaze locked on eyes the color of a deep, still pond, my heart leapt with excitement. Every nerve ending in my body pinged.

Jordan lifted me onto the counter, hands firmly on my hips and moved his six foot three inches of unbelievable gorgeousness between my legs in an extremely intimate embrace.

I locked my hands around his neck. "What are you doing?" I asked unable to mask my needy tone.

He pulled me tighter and I sucked my lower lip against the surge of excitement rocketing through me. Jordan took my chin in one hand, pulled my lip from my teeth with his thumb and settled his mouth gently on mine.

"Research for a future project."

I blushed hot enough to combust. "You're terrible."

He kissed me again and laughed lightly against my lips. "Let's hope not."

I threw my head back with a wicked laugh and Jordan bathed my neck with tiny nips, turning my laughter to moans. My fingers twisted into his silky bronze locks, still damp and smelling of mango scented shampoo. I circled my legs around his hips, keeping the sensuous feel of him pressed against somewhere soon to be only his.

Jordan's fingers skimmed my face, trembling, and his secret weapon lips claimed my mouth hard, possessive, and greedy. One arm slid up my back and he released my hair from the twisted bun, tangling his fingers into the loose strands. His other hand pressed my lower back, pushing out any molecules of air remaining between our bodies. I swam deliriously in the intoxicating kiss, relishing the rush of feelings awakening more frequently and stronger, chipping away my self control.

Jordan broke the kiss, rested his forehead against mine and struggled for air through ragged breaths. The torture I put him through mirrored in his blackened eyes. I ran my thumb slowly over his lips watching them dilate further.

"Marry me?" I whispered.

He kissed me again, slower, softer. "You're really going to make me wait, aren't you?"

"I believe page four of our contract says we're sworn to celibacy," I teased, knowing full well from this moment on all laws would be broken, boundaries crossed, and the only limits that mattered were those Jordan and I set ourselves. To hell with The Program.

"Marli, when I'm with you there are no rules. Everything and everyone fades away. It's only you and me. What do you say? Want to fool around?"

I bit his bottom lip…hard.

"Damn, girl."

Turn the page for a glimpse into Book Two of the Designer Genes Saga.