Angelic

“Jackson, if this relationship is going to be nothing more than one big sexathon for you, we need to end this now!” I stared him down, waiting for his answer.

His bold laugh told me everything I needed to know. “Sexathon, seriously, is that even a word? If this were only about the sex, Angelic — mind blowing, toe curling, incredible sex, in case you forgot — you would not be standing here fully dressed.”

“Don’t laugh at me, Jackson.” I faked a pout. “You’re not the only one new to this relationship thing.” I took a step forward and laid my hand on his taut muscular chest. “I’m going to get my things and head out.”

I traced his soft tempting lips with the pad of my thumb. I glided my hand down his taut abs and cup his cock through his slacks. He groaned out loud. He was hard and I was already regretting the decision I was about to make.

“I need to think without this distracting me.”

“What's there to think about, Angel?”

There was something satisfying about knowing the smile on someone’s face was there because you put it there. It was equally upsetting knowing you were the reason it disappeared.

“Jackson, this weekend was incredible. I want to move forward. Like I said earlier, this is new to me, to both of us. Tomorrow, you show up at my door. You, not your driver.”

I poked him in the chest, “Why the hell do you need a driver in Tranquiltiy? It’s not like New York with it’s congestions and heavy traffic?”

He shrugged, “habit I guess. It’s comforting to know I don’t have to pay attention to the road. I can work or catch up on email.”

I snickered, this was the rich entitled side of Jackson I had not seen much of this weekend. It was going to be interesting to see how much of that lifestyle he was willing to let go of to be with me.

I took his hand, “for our first date, we are going to walk my neighborhood, stop at some greasy dive, then you walk me home.”

“Do I get to kiss you at the door?” His hands had made their way to my ass.

“A kiss at the door on a first date would be appropriate. Maybe a demonstration might be in order?”

He leaned forward and slanted his head, meeting my lips with a soft tender kiss.

“Like that?” he asked.

“Just like that,” I sighed into his mouth.

He deepened the kiss and coaxed my mouth open with his tongue. I gave him free range, knowing full well where this could lead. My brain wanted to be sensible. My body wanted wanton abandonment.

He pulled away and stared into my eyes. “Maybe I should save that one for our second date. I’ll help you get your luggage from upstairs.” He slapped me on the ass and turned away.

Yeah, I was going to make it until tomorrow without seeing him. Without touching him. Without fucking him.

Work, I would concentrate on work. Get my photos uploaded and edited for Wednesday’s meeting. First I had to get myself off this island and away from him.

Out of sight, out of mind, right? Because that had worked well for me the past eleven years.

I followed him upstairs and let him help me get my things loaded into my rental car. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. He opened the door like the gentleman he was. One day, twenty-four hours. I could go twenty-four hours.

Technically, it was more like thirty-six hours.

I reminded him, “six thirty, casual.” I reached in my camera bag and handed him my business card. He noticed my address on the card and gave me one of his alluring smirks and panty melting glare.

“Six thirty, casual,” he repeated in a sexy low growl.

I silently willed myself not to look in the rear view mirror as I pulled away. I was afraid if I saw him standing there, I would turn back and fling myself into his arms.

I tried not to let thoughts of the weekend distract me from paying attention to the road.

It was fairly early when I arrived home to the rented loft above my photography shop. I was fortunate the landlord mentioned it when I looked at the studio space. I dropped my equipment off in the shop, then headed upstairs with my suitcase.

I decided to return the rental vehicle. That would be one more task I wouldn’t have to worry about tomorrow. It was cheaper for me to rent a car on a as needed basis than incur the cost of owning one.

Arriving home, I wasn’t sure if I was pleased that Jackson listened when I told him I needed time to think, or disappointed that he didn’t ignore me. A part of me wanted to find him waiting on my stoop. Another part was pleased he hadn’t pushed me.

It was early afternoon and I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I grabbed a late lunch and headed downstairs to upload hundreds of photos. I needed to sort them into categories.

Wedding photos had to come to first. That was the entire purpose for the trip to the island. My reputation was on the line and not even my latest craving was going to derail that.

I mentally chastised myself. Could I not make it through one afternoon without Jackson seeping into my thoughts?

Was this what love was? Your every waking moment consumed by complex emotions?

Was this why my mother let my stepfather treat her miserably? Was her love that strong, that her own self worth meant nothing to her? Would I unconsciously push Jackson away because I was afraid I would turn into my mother?

I shook off that thought. I had already proven to myself I was nothing like my mother.

I had made a life for myself without a man in my life so far. Yes I admit I had help along the way. But I never allowed anyone to tell me what I could or could not do.

My work was my salvation.

I prided myself in being a real photographer. As much as I appreciated the convenience of the digital age, I still believed photos from film had a certain quality you couldn’t capture on digital. It was why I used both method at each of my shoots. When I exited my dark room, the shop was dark as well. I had been working well into the evening.

I stowed away my equipment and headed upstairs. After a long hot shower, I checked my phone. I had left it in the apartment. I did not want to be disturbed and I would not had brought it into the dark room with me in fear of it going off and the light ruining anything I had processing.

I thumbed through my messages. A few inquiries about my availability. I grabbed my calendar and verified any double bookings or conflicts. I responded to a few emails, then checked my texts.

Jackson: miss u hope you made it home safe.

Jackson: back in the city.

Jackson: you’re probably working, did I mention I miss u :)

Three text all day. I tried to figure out if that was too much or too little. I knew I was over analyzing this. I should answer him, let him know I made it home.

Me: miss u 2, was working all day. Going to bed now. Alone:)

A few minutes later my phone vibrated.

Jackson: goodnight. Sweet dreams, of me ;)

Me: goodnight Jackson <3

I tried to sleep, but it eluded me. I’d taken wet dreams to a whole new realm. I debated getting up and taking a cold shower. I reached in my nightstand for my electronic boyfriend instead. Something to take the edge off.

I never realized how inadequate this little electronic toy was until the intimacy I shared with Jackson. It did the job, barely. If I hadn’t been so stubborn and refused Jackson offer to go home with him, I could have had the real thing. Not a substitute.

Feeling slightly less wound up, I finally fell asleep. Jackson’s touch haunted my dreams. I was pretty sure I took relief again at my own hand sometimes during the night. I woke, groggy, to someone banging on my door.

I threw on my bathrobe and answered the door, looking haggard and exhausted.

“Jackson, what the fuck?”

“It’s six thirty, we have a date.”

He was leaning against my door frame. Dark jeans hung low on his hips. His button up shirt was snug against his broad shoulders and muscular arms. Did he get better looking since yesterday, or was I still in a delirious dream?

I dreamt I wanted him here. That what was what this was. I was sleeping and Jackson was not standing there looking deliciously fuckable, his piercing blue eyes sending my insides girly part to mush, his luscious kissable lip, pouty.

I stepped up and kissed him. He responded wholeheartedly. I ran my hands up his shirt and felt his warmth radiating off his body. He cupped my ass and pulled my hip into his groin. His fully erect groin. Erect and hard.

Nope, not dreaming. Jackson was standing in my doorway at six thirty in the morning.

I pulled back. “Jackson, what are you doing here?”

“Good morning to you, too. That was one hell of a greeting. We have a date, remember?”

He handed me a coffee and a bag. I opened it to find a chocolate chip muffin inside.

“We have a date for dinner, six thirty pm.”

“No, what you said was, ‘show up at my door. We are going to walk my neighborhood, stop at some greasy dive, then I walk you home.’ Here I am. Now go get dressed. I have a lot planned for today.”

“Don’t you have a meeting with Richard today?” I motioned for him to come in as I took a seat at my small table and enjoyed the coffee and muffin.

“All Richard wanted was a basic concept plan. I e-mailed him the mockups my crew came up with. I reviewed it last night and sent it off this morning. There will be a lot of back and forth before a face to face is needed. Besides, I want to include some of your photos and we won’t see those until Wednesday.”

What he was saying made sense. He may not have to work today, but I did. I couldn’t spend the day lollygagging with him. If he wanted those photos for Wednesday, I needed to continue what I started yesterday.

“Angel, you’re overthinking this, I can see it in your eyes.”

“Jackson, I can’t play hooky with you today. You know damn well dinner means evening, even if that’s not what I said.” I was not sure my whiny tone convinced me, let alone him.

He prowled over and scooped me into his arms. “I know you meant dinner. I woke up this morning alone in my bed. It didn’t feel right. I wondered if it didn’t feel right for you, either?”

I wasn’t going to deny he was right. “No, Jackson, it didn’t feel right.”

“I thought if I came over, we could go back to bed and wake up together.” His sexy voice, low and needy. “Can we do that, go back to bed and wake up together?” He brushed the side of my cheek with the back of his hand.

I inhaled the scent that was him. Heavy with musk. Not the I just showered Jackson. The I tossed all night thinking about you and now I need to feel you Jackson.

God, I did wanted him in my bed. I was not sure if I would be able to sleep, though. Could I let him lie beside me, holding me and not want more from him?

Was I capable of simply sleeping while wrapped in Jackson’s arms?