She smiles when I lift her up and set her on the kitchen table.
“I want to do everything to you, but I want you to tell me what you want.”
“I want it like it was before. Everything… I want to do everything with you too.”
A smile inches over my lips, and I take a step back to look at her properly. “Everything?”
“Everything.”
“So, I can tie you up and pleasure you?” Us playing around with chains and bondage is nothing new. We were that couple who did all kinds of wild.
She nods. “Yes. I want to do that.”
I remember her saying something the other day that stayed with me. “You said you come here a lot. Did you ever do any of the things we did with anyone else?”
When an uneasy look crosses her face, I know she has.
“Some, not all.”
“Like what?”
She gives me a breathy laugh. “Paul, I’m not going to tell you about my sexual encounters. You were the first man to touch me, and we did things I’ve never done with anyone else… Don’t worry. I won’t ask you what you’ve been up to.” Although she has a smile on her face, I can see it’s not something she’s okay with.
I landed myself in that one. It was idiotic of me to pry like that. There was a time we belonged to each other, and I want that again.
“I’m all yours now,” I tell her.
“Are you?”
“Yes… and you’re mine. Here’s what we’re gonna do: we’ll be here as often as we want. I have the room booked.”
“You did that?” she beams.
“Yes. So, how about we eat and get started on those fantasies?”
“I’d like that.” She nods, and the twinkle comes back to her eyes, but the caution returns to her face. “Paul… it’s not about the building. I mean, I’m floored that you would go to such lengths to try to win me back, but… it’s not about the building. That’s not why I’m here.”
She touches my chest, and her hands tremble. Guilt sweeps through me, and I take her hand, covering it with mine. I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“I thought you should know,” she adds. “I guess, though, it got my attention big time. Of course, I had my plans for the building, and I’ve been focused on those plans for months, but I’m here because I’m… trying.”
I know her… Jia’s not the kind of woman to share her feelings so openly. Not even with me. So I know what it took for her to tell me that. I also know that it’s outside of her nature to accept an offer like the one I made, and that’s why she’s explaining her reasons for accepting.
“I know, baby. You aren’t wired that way, and I guess I did want your attention. Mostly I wanted you to see I’m not about to bullshit my way around this time with you. I mean it though. I appreciate you telling me it’s not about the building, but that’s part and parcel of my offer. It covers the problem of what we’ll do with it.” I smile.
“Paul, you don’t want a spa. I don’t want you to miss out on something you really wanted. Dad told me you’re the reason why he bought Montrose Place. I never knew that. It was just coincidence that saw me loving the place too.”
“It’s okay.” I can make my way around what I have and look for other opportunities. What I don’t have yet is her. “Maybe that was a good coincidence that brought us to this point. Now it’s on me for the next thirty days to work hard.”
Trust… that’s the thing that I destroyed. I have to get it back.
Thirty days. I hope like fuck I can do it. If it doesn’t work, then I got no more aces up my sleeves.
“Me too,” she says and leans forward to brush her lips over mine.
She gazes deeply into my eyes, and I cast my mind back to how I felt when we broke up.
It still bothers me. Everything about my father still bothers me, but I have to try and push it to the back of my mind.