Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(66)

Again, this was what Gladis meant about rich boys and poor boys. Poor boys would beg sooner than they would spend a month’s wages on flowers. Begging was easier to live with than being broke for a month. A rich man would sooner spend money than look a fool in front of his peers. Money he had, looking a fool he could never recover from—especially if you had a company to run, and one of the employees had your pride in his hands.

This was a huge leap for him. If I said ‘no’ then the whole city would know it. I could only say yes to redeem him, but he would still be under my thumb. The only win for him was me. I meant that much to him. This was him proving his love in a way that was the most risk to him.

I started crying like the sap I had turned out to be, and knelt with him. I hugged him savagely and he hugged me back.

“I love you Jessica. I am yours. Eternally yours. I meant what I said—I am in your hands.”

I kissed him. Deep and needful. I suddenly needed him. Right now. Right here.

How awkward.

He stood up with me. “Jessica, I truly thought you were sitting next to Lump in the corner of the limo. I even asked you if you were okay and Brad answered back. That is when I realized how stupid I was! I am so sorry! I am so stupid!”

I was crying and clutching to him. He walked me away from the dance floor toward the back. We passed the bathrooms and went outside. There were a couple smokers that nodded as we walked by.

“Nice work, man,” one of the guys said. “Inspirational.”

Poor guy, obviously. Bet he wouldn’t buy me twelve dozen roses with a different love poem on each.

We went around the corner, behind a plant, and he kissed me deeply and aggressively. I needed him as badly as he needed me. I kissed him back, touching and feeling every inch of the body I worried I had lost. He did the same to me, whispering he loved me urgently. He had my pants around my ankles before I knew what was happening. I was working at his, dropping them not long after mine.

I felt his hard shaft and pushed my hand up his snug shirt against his warm chest. I kissed him harder. He turned me around and put himself inside me with needful thrust. I quieted my groan so we weren’t overheard and reached back to him. He put me in a bear hug as he thrust himself over and over inside of me.

I swirled in pleasure, him close to me, touching me, together with me. I was aching at how close we came to not reconciling this issue. Such a small issue in the scheme of things, but the principle enough to finish us both.

We cl**axed quickly, me slightly before him. I vibrated in delight, he shook in ecstasy. When we were done he took himself out, turned me around, and hugged me close. He took a big, shuddering gasp and dug his face in my neck.

“I caused that. I deserved it. But please, please don’t ever do that to me again. It almost killed me. Why do you have such a firm hold on me? I am a puppy on a leash with you.” He shook his head.

“Not just you. I almost ran to you and begged you to forget what I said, but the girls were there to block me in. For support. It was necessary, though. I need to look after number one. Please don’t make me have to do that again.”

He nodded. When he pulled his head back his eyes were slightly glassy. I kissed him.

We pulled up our pants, held each other a little more then headed in. William got another thumbs up from poor guy. Apparently I wasn’t as quiet as I thought.

Embarrassing.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you—you look incredibly hot tonight,” he expressed.

“You also look incredibly hot tonight. Can you dress like that around me more often?”

“The girls like tighter shirts. They aren’t as comfortable, though.”

“Oh? Girlzz do, do they?”

He grabbed me and kissed the top of my head. “Girl likes tighter shirts. No more plural.”

“Tight isn’t as comfortable, no. Welcome to life as a girl.”

“But your tight pants look just right.”

We rounded the corner and were presented with Lump and Adam arguing again.

I sighed loudly. I grabbed William’s hand and walked up to the pair.

“What is so important to the two of you that you have to keep trying to battle?”

Adam looked at me, then at William. He shook his head angrily. Lump turned to look at me with just as much anger. It seemed as though Lump’s desire to get Adam to like her wasn’t working out. In fact, it was working negatively on her and him both.

“Look, Jessica, this woman is crazy. I--”

“I’m crazy?” Lump jumped in.

“Lump,” I tempered, “let him finish.”

She cursed me with her eyes. Then threw up her hands and walked away. She was frustrated. I had a feeling that she couldn’t make her mind up between ripping off his head or ripping off his clothes.

“Jessica, Willie—honest. I done tried to apologize 'n she got mad. I tried to apologize again, she got mad again. Every time I try to do the right thing, she throws a temper. I got no idea why. When she tries to explain it, then I get mad. I swear, if she was a man, I would...” He was reaching for control with every fiber of his being.

“William, do you mind if I have a word alone with Adam?”

William looked at me strangely, then looked at Adam. Whatever was going through his head soon passed and he nodded and walked away. I led Adam to a stool at the bar. We got two drinks and were quiet for a moment.