Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One) (27 page)

“What are you doing to me?” She sounded awed as her hips began to shift.

“Making you want me.”

“I do! Are you ready for more yet?”

He was hard but since she wasn’t able to see that, he replied, “Soon,” wanting to continue watching her.

“I don’t understand how you do this.”

“Do what?”

“Make me feel like this.” She trembled. “Oh my God, each time is more…better…Jordan!” Kiley gasped his name when he made her come again.

“You do like this, don’t you, sweet?” Jordan asked softly.

“Yes.”

“Good. I love watching you come. You’re gorgeous, Kiley. You make all those hot, little noises like you’re really enjoying it.”

“I am. Because of you. I never felt like this before.”

“Me either.” He tugged until she was sitting in front of him. “I can’t seem to get enough of you. Even though we only started this today it feels like I’ve known your body forever. I knew we’d be incredible. Somehow though, I suspect we’ll be even better with more time together.”

“Me too.” Kiley leaned toward him and kissed him. “Part of me can’t believe I’m really here with you. I keep expecting to wake up and discover that this is just a dream.”

“I’ve been dreaming about you too. This is better.” He kissed her back. “I love you, Kiley. Forever.”

“I’m scared, Jordan,” she said truthfully. “I have feelings for you too but…”

“Sh. Don’t say anything until you’re ready. There’s no need. You’re here and that’s what matters most.” Jordan framed her face and kissed her tenderly. “Come make love with me, Kiley.”

She nodded, accepting his hand and letting him lead her upstairs. In his bed, Jordan continued to shower her with kisses until Kiley was clinging to him. When he finally entered her, Kiley could see everything he was feeling on his face. She hadn’t questioned his declarations of love before but now that she could almost feel the emotions flowing from him, she was overwhelmed. Slowly, his body coaxed hers to share a new sense of pleasure. It held a sweetness that hadn’t been there before. And the entire time Jordan never stopped kissing her.

Kiley felt her heart expanding within her chest. Jordan’s actions were filling it with a love so strong and sure that it was too much for her. When her passion exploded it was even more intense and meaningful than the other times. Feeling his warmth filling her, Kiley’s emotions shattered.

Jordan rolled to his side and gathered her in his arms, holding her while she cried. “What’s wrong, love?” he asked when her tears slowed.

“Nothing. Everything. That was too much, Jordan. I can’t take it.”

“Sh, it’s all right.”

“But I could feel what’s in your heart. It’s overwhelming.”

“It doesn’t have to be. There’s no need to cry. Just let me love you. I’m not asking for anything in return.”

“But…”

“Sh, no buts. As I said, you’re here and that’s enough. I won’t ask for more.”

“You’re too good, Jordan.”

“No, I’m still just me. Let me hold you. Take comfort from me even though I upset you.”

“It’s not that I’m upset. It’s just…you’re… I mean… I-I don’t know how to say this so it makes sense.”

“Then don’t try. Add this to the things you need to think about.”

Kiley snuggled into his arms and relaxed. Was that how it would always be between them if she could let it? For now, she decided that she couldn’t permit Jordan to be that tender again. There was simply too much emotion. She’d have to make sure there was an element of playfulness involved at all times.

“What are you thinking?” Jordan asked.

“Honestly, I think I can’t handle you being like that again. Or at least not for now.” She met his eyes. “Will you help me? If you won’t, I think I need to go.”

“You’re that afraid of me?”

“Yes.”

Jordan was silent for a long time. “All right, Kiley. I’ll be less serious when we make love.”

“It’s wrong of me to ask that. It’s not fair.”

“I told you earlier that I’d let you set the pace for us. If that includes this, then it does. For the rest of the weekend, we’ll have fun. We’ll talk and get to know each other. If you have doubts, then we won’t pursue our physical relationship.”

“Wait. This is starting to be you making all the compromises and I take and take without giving. All I’m saying is that I can’t handle so much tenderness. We’ll just have to stick to lusty sex for now. Even if you’re willing to go back to a platonic relationship, I’m not. I still have lots of experimenting to do. And then I want to start all over again. I think, by the time we get back around to loving and tender, I’ll probably be ready for it.”

“Thank goodness,” Jordan sighed. “I was a bit unsure how strong I’d really be if you said I couldn’t touch you anymore.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s get cleaned up and have dinner early. We can compare notes on Shane and Alyssa and figure out if Brett’s right about them.”

“You’re not going to touch me in the shower this time either, are you?”

“Nope, not this time.”

“That’s cruel, Jordan.”

“Haven’t you ever heard of anticipation? Besides if I touch you so soon, even in the shower, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my word.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Think of what I have to look forward to.” They were about to step into the shower when Jordan remembered Artie’s gift. “Hop in. Artie sent you a present. I’ll be right back.”

He put the bag on the counter while they showered. “What is it?”

“I didn’t quite see it. All I know is that it’s small and green. I thought that maybe you should check it out first. Why don’t I wait for you downstairs?”

Chapter Eighteen

“How can you take a day off like this?” Kiley wondered. “What if something happens?”

“I have an intern who works with me. If anything had needed immediate attention, I would have heard from him.”

“Where is he? I thought interns worked with you.”

“He usually does. But I also have him set up with a laptop for when I don’t want interruptions. If I’m out like today or over lunch I can forward everything to him if he’s not here. He knows to call if something’s urgent, email if it can wait.”

“But you haven’t checked you computer since this morning. Shouldn’t you? It’s after four, Jordan.”

“Well,” he hesitated. “If you’re sure you don’t mind?”

“Go. What you do has to be time-sensitive.”

“At times.” He sensed she was uneasy and guessed why. “Coming?” In his office, Jordan quickly scanned his emails, efficiently dealing with each. “Damn,” he sighed tiredly.

“Something wrong? If my staying today disrupted—”

“No, that’s not it. I’ve been having some trouble with an insecure CEO who has absolutely no business being in the position he’s in. He calls constantly for reassurance and it’s gotten to be a real pain in the ass. Last time I threatened to close his account if he didn’t quit.”

“If he’s that bad, why did you take him on in the first place? You said you investigate everyone.”

“I inherited him. His father was a very good man but he retired early. The company has a financial officer who is more than capable when he’s permitted to do his job.”

“What will happen if you turn him away? Won’t the company suffer? How many people work there?”

“If I cut him off entirely the ramifications would be disastrous. Since I have no desire for others to suffer because of his lack of common sense, I’m going to give him away. I had an intern two years ago that I’ve already made arrangements with. She’s the type who won’t mind coddling him constantly.”

“Aren’t you being a little harsh? What about his father?”

“I spoke to him when I first started considering this. He knows his son isn’t someone I would choose to do business with. No matter how hard I try, I simply can’t dredge up any patience for him.”

“But you have infinite patience.”

“Generally, yes. If he were a single father, fighting to move his kids to a better neighborhood, I’d talk to him every day it that was what he needed, without hesitation. But, since he’s responsible for the fate of one hundred and fifty people, I just can’t overlook his ineptness.” He shrugged. “Yet another factor that swayed my decision away from corporate accounts.

“I better get this over with.” He phoned his current intern. “Hey Dwight, it’s me…Yeah, I saw it…Go ahead and take the letter. Insist on waiting while he reads it and then make the call from there. I’ll let Sue know to expect you…Anything else? Okay. I like your suggestion for the Prentise account. Good job. I’ll let you set it up. Don’t work too late and enjoy your weekend.”

“Do you always have an intern?” Kiley asked after he hung up.

“Usually. I have a new one every semester if I can find someone suitable.”

“How do you get them? I mean, with who you are, aren’t there hordes of applicants?”

“Hardly,” Jordan chuckled. “I have the reputation of being very selective. Those who want the position merely for the line on their resume have heard not to bother since they’ve learned that I can always tell.”

“So how do you choose?” Kiley was fascinated.

“I have a deal with the college. Every semester I have a questionnaire available. If I like the answers, I observe a class that’s geared toward student participation, where they’re encouraged to ask questions and find the best solution for whatever situation I give to the professor to present. Again, I pick the best of the bunch. The ones that overlap with the few I’ve chosen from the questionnaires get interviewed. If there’s an individual who gives me the right feeling, they become my next intern. If not, I skip a semester. Two years ago I had two at the same time.”

“You’re always helping someone, aren’t you? It doesn’t matter if it’s a small business owner, a worried parent, a student who may not get chosen because he doesn’t have the highest grade in the class, a widow who needs a ride, me. If someone needs you, you help.”

“If I can.”

“You really are too good to be true.”

Kiley was walking around, studying Brett’s sketches. “Some of these are amazing.”

“Yeah, especially when you know Brett drew them soon after the event each shows. He’s captured our whole lives, from when we met until this afternoon.”

“Didn’t you say you met in first grade?”

“We did. Brett’s been drawing us ever since. Of course, he’s improved over the years but I could always tell what it was supposed to be. I kept every one he ever gave me. The ones that aren’t framed are in an album. I did the same for Brett and Shane too. I used to take theirs after they’d forgotten them and saved them along with mine.”

“You must have spent a small fortune getting them framed.”

“Not really. I did it myself.”

“No way!” She looked more closely. “You built all these frames?”

“Sure, why not? I also hung them all, mine and theirs. It was so great when they got home from work and saw them.”

“You made these frames?” she repeated.

“Oh, I get it. I’m in finances so that means I can’t use a saw and a hammer.”

Kiley blushed. “Well…I…”

“Don’t start acting like the rest of the world on me. My dad is the town Mr.-Fix-It, remember? He and Mom, not to mention Brett’s parents, made sure the three of us were capable of taking care of ourselves. I’ll have you know I also do my own laundry, cook most nights, know how to grow vegetables and redid the inside of this house, including the floors. I mow grass, shovel snow and can change the oil in my car. I do own my own tux and can tie a real bow tie. I can fix a flat on a bicycle, fish, hunt and pitch a tent. I can start a fire without matches and, last year, when Brett’s parents were on a cruise, I used his mom’s recipe and baked his favorite cake.”

Kiley didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. He was so vehement, listing his skills with such a fierce expression on his face. When he paused and took a deep breath, ready to continue, Kiley held up her hands in surrender. “Enough. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you couldn’t do normal things.”

‘Normal things!”

“I mean ordinary guy stuff.”

“Ordinary guy stuff! What am I, Kiley? I thought we’d already established that I’m just a guy.”

“Wait! Just wait. Please? I was surprised about the frames is all. I know not everyone can just do that and have them come out square, with the corners matched up perfectly. I never meant to offend you.” She looked slightly scared.

Jordan stood, staring at her. Eventually, he began to grin. “I’d say that’s what is called overreacting. Forgive me?”

“If you’ll forgive me for sounding like I expected you to pay people to do things for you just because you can afford to.”

“I guess I’m more anxious than I thought for you to see me for who I am, not what my image says I should be.”

“And I guess I’m more intimidated by your image than I’m letting myself admit. Do you think this counts as our first fight?”

“Absolutely not. This was a minor misunderstanding caused by the newness of us. We just need to get to know each other better. You’ll see.”