Why would she offer to let him hit her? Why would she forgive him? Why would she stay? The questions were infinite and the answers were enigmatic. He’d caused pain to the one person who took his away. Glancing at his watch he thought of two skipped meals and Jillian’s petite body that couldn’t keep fat on it for anything.
Twenty minutes later he knocked on her door, holding the biggest bouquet of flowers he could find in a ten mile radius. It was pathetic and an ocean short of the grand apology she deserved, but it’s all he had at the time.
She opened the door, her face stone … her lip swollen. The dagger of regret twisted. Without a second thought he fell to his knees. Jillian had said she’d bring him to his knees and for the second time that’s where he landed.
“The flowers are overkill for a slap on the cheek.” Jillian rolled her eyes. “And get up off your knees unless you’re proposing, in which case the answer is no.” She grabbed the flowers.
“It was more than a slap and your face shows it. And you’re the only woman in the history of the world that would say that to me.” AJ stood and followed her inside the room.
“Yeah? Well, women can be sensitive and a bit persnickety. You had a moment … everyone has their moments.”
AJ tried to smile through the anguish. “What happened earlier, that wasn’t me. It’s not a moment I’m proud of.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed while closing his eyes. “Or maybe it was me. God! I hope not, but … I just don’t know anymore. It’s so damn frustrating—the unpredictability. One minute I’m in control, in the next … agitation at the whole fucking world rips through my body like a tornado.”
AJ rested his palm on her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. “I’m so damn sorry. It will never—”
“Shh.” She rested her hand over his. “Never’s a long time. But next time—”
“There won’t be a next time.” He sat on the bed and pulled her between his legs, resting his forehead on her chest while cupping her ass.
“As I was saying … next time put some balls behind it.”
“My God, woman. You have a knack for verbally castrating men. If I spend much more time with you, I’m not certain I’ll still have a pair.” He bit at her nipple through her top.
Jillian moaned bringing his dick to attention.
“Let’s go.” He smacked her ass.
“Go where?” She climbed up on his lap, perching her crotch on the bulge in his jeans.
“I’m taking you to dinner for some real food.” His fingers dug into her hips to still her efforts of dry humping him.
Jillian kissed his neck as if food wasn’t even close to being on her radar. “I think if I tied you up again and sucked on your cock that would tide me over until morning.”
“No way in hell.” He lifted her from his lap and stood, adjusting his erection.
She laughed. “I don’t think that’s a normal reaction to a blow job offer.”
AJ cleared his throat and held open the door for her. “I don’t think you know how to give a ‘normal’ blow job.”
She waltzed past him with a smirk. “You mean boring?”
“Boring’s not always bad,” he grumbled to himself, letting the door slam behind him.
“Yes it is,” she called from twenty feet down the hall.
The woman had the hearing of a dog.
“My tongue will keep you young, Sarge. You don’t want your ball hair going gray yet, do ya?”
Jillian had impeccable timing. AJ turned at the giggling sound behind him. Three doe-eyed teenagers froze, holding their breath while covering their mouths. His piercing glare sent them scurrying in the opposite direction.
*
Their dinner at the hotel’s tavern was two cloth napkins short of a real date.
“We had drinks, appetizers, a main course, and dessert. It was a real date,” AJ argued in the elevator on the way back to their rooms.
“Sorry, no cloth napkins.”
“But I brought you flowers.”
“That was an apology.” Jillian stepped off the elevator.
As she unlocked her door, he smoothed her hair off her neck and brushed his lips along her skin. “It was a shitty apology,” he whispered.
Goose bumps bloomed along her flesh as she shivered from his touch. “Good night, AJ.”
“Wait.” He hooked his arm around her waist as she pushed open the door.
“Just like that? No kiss goodnight or—”
She turned and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Sweet dreams.”
He tightened his grip as she began to pull away. “I think my ball hair is going gray.”
She laughed. “About that … I think you should just wax that whole area. I’d be happy to do that for you when we get home.”
AJ released her, buckling over like she just kicked his junk. “Guys don’t do that shit.”