Lex (Unconventional Hearts) (39 page)

Clasping a tired hand on my shoulder, he
clears his throat. “I get it; you need it to be known.
But
…
Lex isn’t a chew toy to fight over,
Gage
. She’s a pretty
flower that needs to be handled with care. You’re right, I do love
her, and yes, it’s hard for me to be in love with her and see her
in pain. To see a man who claims to love her, snap at her, when she
brings him a sandwich.” He raises a brow at me and I cower. Yep,
I’m the world’s biggest jerk. I want to apologize; instead, I let
him continue.

“Everybody knows my reputation, that I’m a
Dom. If it wasn’t for my need, I would have sought her out long
ago. Loving someone isn’t just about you; it’s about how it affects
the other person. Could I have convinced her to
try
to be
with me? Yes, probably. Would I? No, absolutely not. I’m not what
she needs. I can’t be selfish with her. I see the way she looks at
you. She’s falling. And if you fuck up, I’ll be there to pick up
the pieces of her heart and ultimately your face that I’ll bash in.
This
isn’t
a competition. I know you’re a man and we all
have that need to protect and claim what’s ours. Lex, has been mine
since the day I saved her from Brian. Just not in the same way
she’s yours. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. I’m not leaving
her life. Yes, you belong with her and I honestly think you can
make her happy. If you get your head out of your ass long enough to
realize she’s already yours. She’s claimed you, even if she hasn’t
said it to you or admitted it fully. It’s true. Now don’t screw it
up.” Giving my shoulder one final squeeze he stands, and walks
across the hall to Emma’s room.

I follow behind him and stand in the doorway
as he approaches my girls, who are both, fast asleep. Leaning over
the side of the hospital bed, he kisses Lex’s forehead and a potent
jealous sensation fills me with a deep thirst to kick his ass. What
is my problem? The guy has told me twice now that he isn’t
interested in pursuing her and I like Linc, I have for years. But
when I feel threatened or worried that something or someone is able
to come between the one thing I want and need, I can’t help but
reiterate my devotion. Even if in the end it makes me sound like a
jealous dick. I am a jealous dick. I can accept that flaw.

Between Tank this morning, my brother Maxwell
and Linc, I’ve had my fair share of heart pangs of possessiveness
today. Maxwell, as soon as he laid eyes on Lex, couldn’t stop
staring quite literally. That’s why, when we rode to the hospital,
I made him ride with us and her with Lincoln. I couldn’t let him be
in close quarters with her. My brother never, and I mean never,
takes interest in women. Now that he’s gawking openly at mine, it
pisses me off. I’m used to women being that way with me, flirting
with me, checking me out. What I’m not used to is being with a
woman who evokes the same reaction from men. It shouldn’t surprise
me Lex draws that kind of attention. I just never thought it would
bother me as much as it does. Maybe it’s the high level of emotions
that’s making me this way. I can’t be sure.

“Later.” Lincoln pats me on the shoulder and
exits. I see Lex awake smiling at me from the hospital bed. Guess I
didn’t notice he’d waken her.

“Hi sweetie,” I walk next to her and give her
a kiss on the forehead, cheek, nose and a lingering one on the
lips. Inhaling her delicious scent and savoring her taste.

Pulling my lips from hers, she says, “Hello,
handsome. Are you okay? I was worried about you.”

God I love this woman!

Kissing her lips again, I smile down at her
and run my hand across her cheek.

“Yes, Angel, I’m fine. Promise. Sorry I kind
of lost it. Did Linc wake you?”

She hazily nods, batting her sleepy eyes to
stay awake. “Yes, he wouldn’t leave until I said so. He’s a dork
like that.”

Yeah it’s because he’s in love with you.
That’s why, Lex. Lincoln would whisk you away and marry you and
you’d let him if he wasn’t a Dom. Fuck, I hate that I feel this
way. But it’s true. He came way before me, only because Melissa got
pregnant with Emma. I wouldn’t ever change that, but I hate that
I’ve waited so many years to finally stake my claim. Having to
share the spotlight with a bigger man, who’s just as dominate and
protective as I am, sucks. And it doesn’t help that standing next
to Linc I feel like a puny child. I’m not skinny or fat. I’m medium
built and I’m tone. But he’s a thick piece of meat and about three
inches taller than I am. To say he’s massive is like saying a Great
Dane is comparable to a cocker spaniel. Not that I’m the
cocker.

“Why don’t you sleep on the couch in the
waiting room? Or go home? I’ll stay here, I’ve got her.” Lex turns
her head and kisses Emma’s hair and I suppress the need to cry,
like a little emotional bitch. My woman loving my daughter, there
isn’t anything more perfect or beautiful in all this world.

“No, sweetheart, I’ll sleep on the chair. You
go back to bed. I’m sorry again for my behavior tonight. I promise
to make it up to you.”

Locking her eyes with mine she says, “There
is nothing to forgive, Gage. Part of this is my fault. If I’d…”

I interrupt her, knowing where she’s about to
go and I won’t have her talking that way. “Stop it right now. This
is not your fault. This is Melissa’s. You didn’t hurt Emma, she
did. You’re just making up for lost time with her. She missed you.
I’m sorry I didn’t bring her back into your life sooner.” I grab
her hand and kiss her palm, and each pad of her finger I
tentatively press supple kisses, paying special attention to them.
Making sure, none of my Angel’s fingers feel left out. That would
be a shame if they did.

Lex’s eyes become fogged with lust as each
kiss is pressed to her fingers and she coo’s, drawling in a sharp
breath.

“Now rest, Angel. I love you.”

Releasing her hand, I comb her pretty hair
with my fingers, and she nearly purrs as I caress her head. Damn, I
love touching her soft hair.

Once I finish, I leave her bedside, and I sit
in the uncomfortable hospital chair. It’s time to catch a few hours
of rest. I hope.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Thursday

Lex

“Daniel can you please bring in the newest
files from Saks?” I yell from my desk.

Daniel and I have been busy busting our butts
this week, finalizing all of the work needed for the Saks fall
line. After missing work on Monday to be with Emma and Gage, I’ve
been working until nine every single night. I’ve hardly had a
moment to breathe. They’ve sent over fifty billion requests, one of
which is to add patchouli to the salt scrub for men, that we’re
manufacturing. They also want an amber tinted lip balm. It’s been a
mess trying to keep up with, and more requests keep filing in
daily. Among the other accounts, we already have. I’m only one
woman for cryin’ out loud. I can only handle so much.

On Monday, they released Emma at ten a.m.
Gage didn’t have a vehicle so Linc came and drove us both home.
Emma is taking off all week at school and Gage has already made her
see a shrink, twice. We’ve kept in constant contact. He’s been
working from home and taking care of Emma. I’ve been working. It’s
been impossible to see one another. Although he’s still charmed my
socks off, a time or two. Monday night Dolly’s Dairy Dream was
delivered to my home. Tuesday, I had a ridiculously large bouquet
of six dozen red roses personally delivered by my mother. The card
attached said.

“
We loved with a love that was more than
love”.

You are my all - XoXo – Your Suit Master

The quote is from Edgar Allen Poe.

Then yesterday, he had chocolate macadamia
nut biscotti with a caramel drizzle delivered, courtesy of Barbie,
who hand delivered them herself. We sat and chatted for about ten
minutes and drank a wonderful chai tea that she brought along.

Speak of the devil. My phone chimes and
Daniel comes strolling into my office. “Here, boss.” He drops three
blue folders on my desk.

“Are these all the documents?” My hand
gestures toward the folders.

He nods. “Yes, first are the requests, second
is a vast selection of concoctions that have been tested by our
chemist for you to pick from, and the third are approved packaging
choices.”

Gee whizz, it’s already one and I’ve yet to
take a chunk out of this workload. When it comes to crunch time
with a line your company formulates, it’s like you’re moving faster
than a freight train and still you’re not moving fast enough. There
is an extended process of lists and checklists that have to be
categorically completed. I’m so thankful to have Daniel to assist
me; he’s my savior.

A faint knock sounds at my doorframe, and
Daniel and I both look to see who’s here. I don’t have time for
idle chitchat. I’m on a roll today.

“I’m here with a delivery.” A man in a pair
of jeans and a white t-shirt stammers.

“Yes, yes, come in.” I wave him in, and get
back to flipping through folders. “Daniel handle that will you?” I
order, dismissively waving my hand, zoning in on another damn
request that must have been faxed over this morning.

“They want menthol in the lip balm for men?
Are you kidding me?! Do they want the woman who are kissing these
men, to think they taste like grandpa? No way. Why don’t they just
let me do my damn job and pick something women find pleasing, like
honey?” I grumble, talking to myself. Shaking my head and rolling
my eyes in agitation, as I tap my barefoot on the floor.

“Hey boss?” Daniel jerks me from my
infuriated fixation as I reread the paperwork, again.

“Yeah?” I glance up and Daniel places a
lavender candle on my desk and lights it. Then he opens up a fancy
red, large square box that he sat on one of my chairs. That’s what
the man must have dropped off. Out of it he carries a plate of
lasagna, salad, bread sticks and some sort of drink in a white
Styrofoam cup. Taking the folders from in front of me he lays down
my food, a napkin and a fork.

“There’s a note.” He explains lifting it from
inside the box.

“It says. To my Angel, sorry we haven’t seen
each other this week. Know that I miss you terribly and hope you
will accept this as a token of my love and agree to go to dinner
with me Saturday night, for our first official date. ‘Being deeply
loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply
gives you courage.’ All that is me, hugs and kisses, Suit
Master.”

I thoughtfully smile, and Daniel hands me the
card. Opening up my top drawer, I add it to the growing pile of
sentimental keepsakes that I’ve already acquired from my Suit
Master. I can’t bear to part with them.

“That’s one poetic man.” He admits,
discarding the empty box.

“That he is.” I reply and dig into my lunch.
I’m starving. All I had was my morning tea and biscotti after yoga.
Roni joined me for a few moments before being whisked away by Bob
for an early morning romp. I’ve been too busy to think about sex or
orgasms myself. I’ve masturbated every night thinking of Gage, but
my lady boners have stayed down completely during the day. I wake
up with them sometimes. It’s been such a busy week and after what
happened with Emma, I’ve been less turned-on. Which, to be honest,
is good. I need the hormone surge break anyhow. Or I can’t think
straight long enough to get what I need to accomplished at work
done.

Finishing my delicious meal, I toss my plate
in the trash and finish off my peach sweet tea. I’m not a huge fan
of it, but Gage was kind enough to provide me with lunch; the least
I could do is thoroughly enjoy it.

Flipping through my folders once more, I pull
out my phone from my desk drawer and read the text I know I
missed.

Gage:
Hey sweetheart, hope lunch was
good.

I text him back.

Me:
Some very sexy birdy had that
delivered to me. Some guy by the name of Suit Master. Hum… I wonder
who he might be. I think I sort of have a thing for him.

Gage:
Really? Tell me about this Suit
Master. Do I need to kick his ass?

I laugh at his playful banter, and recline
back in my chair, with a giant smile plastered happily on my
face.

Me:
Well, what can I say? He’s tall, so
sexy it should be a crime and is unbelievably romantic. You should
really be jealous. Every man should be just like him. Plus, he has
the biggest, sexiest and most delicious dick.

God, I’m awful. This is so much fun to tease
him.

Him:
Really? Big you say? What else can
you tell me? My jealousy is through the roof
.

Me:
Hum… Well he has this tongue that is
magical, it does so many naughty things to me. It makes my toes
curl and I can never get enough of him. Plus his ass, you could
bounce quarters off it. Trust me, you should be jealous because
he’s also sweet and kind and makes me swoon.

Him:
Quarters? No way! Now I’m very
jealous. I really should kick his ass. Or get some tips from him if
his tongue is that magical. He sounds like a real keeper.

I’m laughing so hard, my stomach now hurts. I
can’t believe he makes me smile this much.

Me:
Oh he’s a keeper alright. And yes
quarters, dimes, pennies, I’m sure most things. But don’t be too
jealous. Because I think he has a girlfriend.

Him:
He does? Tell me about this
girlfriend of his. Does she have long black hair, the bluest most
amazing eyes and the best body on the planet? And makes his mouth
water every time he thinks of making her come? I bet if he’s as
great as you say he is. His girlfriend has to be out of this
world.

Me:
I don’t know. I think his girlfriend
is the lucky one.

Him:
I love you, Angel. And you’re not my
girlfriend. You’re more than that. I miss you.