Chapter 96: Jarek’s gift.
Leilani.
I spent most of the day working on tons of projects with Jarek without break, and by the time I was done with the finishing touches for our ongoing project with the Landry group, it was already late in the afternoon.
I sighed, stretching in my seat as I glanced at Jarek whose face was still buried between a cloud of papers. And from here, I couldn’t help but smile at the frown creasing his forehead, and the way his lips would twitch whenever he found something difficult.
And whenever that happens, his lips would twitch and then he would immediately turn to me with a small frown, saying; "Sweetcakes, see this," which was his way of asking for my input.
It was adorable. He is adorable.
My heart fluttered in my chest at the thought, but deciding to shake off these crazy thoughts twisting my lower belly into a knot, I turned away and stared out at the snow-covered street ahead.
We were fast approaching the end of November, and by this time, the amount of snowing had increased drastically. But I loved it.
I loved the smell of Christmas in the air. I loved the colorful lights now hanging in the streets and the decorations here and there... and I hoped to the goddess that I’d have a decent Christmas this year.
For as long as I could remember, my Christmases were bad. Back when I still lived with my then family, I was never allowed to join the dinner table because according to father, I wasn’t cultured enough to share a table with his prominent guests.
So in his words, he would say; "Chalice is better suited for things like this. So remain in your room and do us a favor, don’t make a sound."
That was the kind of Christmas I had every year, and even four years ago, after I left, I couldn’t bring myself to celebrate it... nor could I celebrate my birthdays...
"Earth to, princess!" Jay snapped his fingers in front of my face, snapping me out of my depressing thoughts and I blinked up at him with a smile on my face.
"Are you done?" I asked, pointing at his still full table.
He shrugged. "I’m not."
"But I’m hungry." I cried, dramatically holding my stomach.
Jay looked like he was about to say something but stopped when his eyes darted between my face and stomach. He sighed. "Okay then, let’s get you fed first then I’ll come back to this."
He didn’t argue, and you can call me selfish, but it was one of the many reasons I liked him so much.
Jarek never made me feel like I was doing too much. He never even complained whenever I made demands. And right now, he simply turned away from me, cleared his table and picked up his coat. "Let’s go." He said.
My smile widened as I picked up my own coat, whilst draping it around my body. However, I’d just finished fastening its buttons into place when suddenly I felt a strange warmth on the side of my face.
My breath hitched and warmth crept up my face when his fingers glided over the skin of my cheek. He drawled; "You feel cold to the touch. You should use a scarf too."
And without waiting for my response, he brought out a paper bag from his drawer, ripped it open, and I gasped when I was greeted with the sight of a beautiful red scarf.
"Oh, Jay!"
"Do you like it?" He asked, but I was lost for words. I nodded with tears in my eyes.
"Yes! Yes, I love it so much!"
All my life, gifts were luxuries I never experienced and it wasn’t until I began to earn some money that I began gifting myself with little things here and there... but besides that, no one ever put thoughts into getting me things.
I smiled. "Thank you so much!"
"Merry Christmas in advance!" He murmured with a smile, whilst wrapping the smooth thick fabric around my neck.
While he did so, his fingers lightly grazed my skin again, sending small sparks flying across my flesh. And goddess, I couldn’t help it this time, I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch.
I felt his warm breath on my face before the softness of his lips against my forehead. But I wanted more. I needed more.
Without a thought, I tilted my head and tiptoed, catching his lips in mine and the minute my lips met his, whatever restraint he had left broke. His hands cupped my face firmly and like a savage, his mouth claimed mine.
Jay’s kiss was urgent, like he’d been holding back for so long, but beneath the urgency, there was something more, something deeper. It was crushing yet sweet. It made my toes curl with want. Made my body ache with need. My body spasmed as I leaned into him, fisting my hands into his hair as I kissed him hard— just as hard as he was kissing me.
His tongue teased mine, sending a shiver down my spine, and I could almost feel the emotions he wasn’t saying, pouring into every movement. This wasn’t just passion; it was need, longing, everything we hadn’t spoken.
His hands slid up my back, pulling me close, as though he couldn’t stand the thought of even an inch of space between us.
I pressed into him, completely lost in the intensity of his hold, my heart pounding in my chest with raw want and something more... I had no idea what it was but I knew I needed more.
His mouth ravaged mine in a punishing manner, his tongue in perfect sync with mine as he pushed me against his large mahogany table.
In one clean swoop, he dusted everything off the table, placed me gently atop it and claimed my mouth one more time. And this time, he deepened the kiss. He kissed me like there was no tomorrow, like he wanted to melt whatever barriers remained between us.
His hands left my face, and while one was firmly wrapped around my neck, the other traced patterns along my body. Goddess, I was clothed but I felt it. I felt him... and it was exhilarating.
A small gasp left my lips when he took out the scarf around my neck, and without preamble, he began to trail sloppy kisses on my exposed neck.
I tipped my head back, moaning with my fingers still tightly wrapped around his hair...
And then suddenly...
His phone began to ring loudly.
We froze.
At first, he tried to ignore it. He turned away from it to continue kissing me, but by now, I was out of it— whatever trance I’d been in earlier. I shimmied out of his hold and kissed his nose, smiling as I whispered; "Pick it."
His eyes darkened with longing, and the sounds of his erratic breath filled the air as he pulled away from me.
I watched him as he picked the phone up, and then put it on speaker phone.
A deep male voice called out; "Alpha?"
"Orion, what is it?" Jarek rasped. "Is there a problem?"
"Keisha is awake. She just woke up." Orion answered, and as soon as he did, silence settled between us.
Something heavy settled in my chest, and Jay... he looked like he’d just seen a ghost.