JON

I sit on the edge of my bed, hand pumping my cock, and replay India's video feed. I stop it so I can look at her spread pussy while I finish, groaning while I spill, wishing I was buried deep in her body instead of in my hand.

I recover, clean up all the evidence of my solitary confinement, and then lie back on the bed and watch some late news before I turn off the flat screen.

When I finally can't keep my eyes open, I switch the TV off and lie in the darkness, wondering what India's doing and expecting that Marina will be staying until at least three o'clock my time. I have to get up early and meet Chris for a run before the final session at the convention. Otherwise, I might consider calling her back once I think she's alone.

Instead, I fall asleep soon after the light goes out and wake up to my alarm.

When I do finally open my eyes, the sun is streaming in from the cracks between the curtains and I can see motes of dust floating in the air. I roll over and wonder what India's doing now.

When Marina texted me to ask if I was coming to the party, I was shocked to learn that Blaine was back in town.

I read over our texts from earlier.

MARINA: Why would he locate an office in San Francisco of all cities? It must be because of India. I think he still has a thing for her and realized it after being separated from her this past year.

JON: Or it might be because he wants access to Silicon Valley's finest techies?

MARINA: I have it on good authority that the first thing he did was go to Pacifica's office to see India. I think she was the reason he came back. I think he's going to make a play for her.

JON: Well, he broke her heart so I don’t think she'll take him back.

MARINA: That was her choice. She could have gone with him, but she didn't because she knew he couldn’t commit to the relationship. She didn't want to go all the way across the country with a man who couldn't say the word, let alone commit to it.

JON: Exclusive?

MARINA: Yep. It's India's bottom line with men. Exclusive or nothing. I had a great choice for her tonight but she turned it down. I wonder if she wasn't hoping to hook up with Blaine again and that's why she turned her MATCHED date down.

JON: Maybe she thought your latest match was a wash. Like the other three…

MARINA: Maybe she's hoping Blaine will see the light this time. To come all the way back to San Francisco to open an office to be closer to her… That's a pretty big commitment.

JON: You’re reading too much into it. There's no proof he came back because of her.

MARINA: There's more proof that he did.

JON: Whatever. I gotta go. Meeting some colleagues for drinks. Later.

MARINA: Have fun with your buds. I'm sure India is having fun with Blaine. He said he was going over to her place for a visit.

JON: He's going to India's place?

MARINA: Yeah, he said that's where he's going now.

JON: Okay. Talk later.

MARINA: Later.

I don't want to think Blaine returned to San Francisco because of India. If she truly isn't over him, she might be tempted to think things could work out between them. Marina seems pretty convinced that Blaine wants her back.

The bastard...

I sit in my chair at the desk in my hotel room and debate with myself whether to stay in Washington for the rest of the day and return home tomorrow as planned, or whether I should just catch the next flight out. Being out here while Blaine is there with India is going to drive me crazy.

I check out the available flights to San Francisco and decide to pack up and go back today. I know I wouldn't enjoy myself, thinking of India and not being able to be with her. It's probably stupid of me, but it's taken years for the two of us to get together. I don’t want to blow it by playing paintball with some old Army buddies I haven't seen for years when I should be with India.

I send a text to my buds indicating there's a personal emergency back in San Francisco that I have to deal with and I have to take a raincheck on the day. They send their regrets and hope that everything works out, without asking for any details. They'll have a great time without me anyway.

I quickly pack up and take an Uber to Dulles airport, go to the ticket counter at Virgin to get my ticket changed. I'm able to get a first-class ticket to San Francisco. There's a non-stop flight leaving in an hour so I'm good to go.

I sit in the lounge and wait for my flight, reading some news headlines and eating breakfast while I wait for my flight.

When it's just about time to leave, I send India a text, just to check in.

JON: Hey, how are you today?

There's no response and so I figure she's in the bathroom or maybe still asleep. It's only six a.m. back in San Francisco. While she's an early riser like me, she probably stayed up late last night with Marina watching movies.

I give up waiting and collect my bags and head to the departure gate when our flight is announced. I'm one of the first people on the flight and get set up in my seat, which is nice, a window seat. There's a screen and remote, plus ports for computers and phone charging. I'll be able to focus on work for five hours straight and keep my mind off India and what's happening with Blaine, and hopefully get up to speed on a few projects Pacifica's working on.

I don’t get a text from India during the flight and wonder what's up. The time passes slowly, but finally, our flight lands and we disembark and I catch a taxi to Pacifica's offices. It's now almost one o'clock and when I climb the stairs to the office, I expect to find someone there, but it’s not who I expected.

India and Blaine are in her office. The door's open, so it's not like they were trying to hide or anything, but I get a total shock to see him there, standing in front of her desk. She's sitting behind it, her laptop open.

When she sees me, she looks totally shocked. Of course, I didn't text her to let her know. I felt a bit stupid for coming back early because of my concerns.

"Jon," she says, frowning. "You're here."

"I am," I say and lean into her office, giving Blaine a nod when what I'd really like to do is punch his lights out. "I came back early. We've got that meeting on Tuesday with Baker and his group. I wanted to make sure I was prepared."

She nods, but the expression on her face suggests she doesn't believe my story, which I made up on the spot. I'm totally prepared for our meeting with Baker and his group. I've been ready for two weeks and India knows it.

"Hey, Blaine," I say and nod again in his direction. "What brings you to San Francisco?"

"Setting up an office just down the block, actually. I missed San Francisco."

"Are you moving back?"

He shakes his head. "Part time. I'll spend half my time here, half in Manhattan until things get set up."

"Cool. Good to see you." I point down the hall. " I got some work to do." I raise my eyebrows at India. "Come to my office when you’re free."

She nods and then turns to Blaine. "Blaine was just leaving."

"Don't leave on my account, if you two want to catch up." I don't mean it, of course, but I want to appear charitable even if I want to kick his ass down the stairs and out of the building.

Then I walk across the hall to my office and put my things down, then sit behind my desk, opening my laptop so I at least appear to be working. In the corner of my eye, I keep track of India's office and see her stand up and talk to Blaine. He stands close to her, his arms folded, and talks to her. She's standing with a frown on her face and I wonder if she’s mad that I've turned up unexpectedly.

Was she planning on getting some afternoon delight with Blaine in the office? There's no one else here, so they could have been fucking like bunnies. She didn’t expect me to show up – that's for sure.

Something like jealousy roils in my stomach. It's the first time I felt like this since… since the night at the convention when Marina invited a date to our team function.

I'm jealous.

I hate the idea that India might consider getting back with Blaine.

I want her to myself. All of her for me and me alone.

I don't want to even think about her with someone else.

Finally, Blaine leaves and India comes into my office. I remain seated behind my desk and let her lead the way.

"So, why are you back?" she asks and sits at the chair across from me.

"Disappointed?" I can’t help but say, my tone a bit too acid.

"Why would you say that?" She frowns, crossing her arms.

"Well, you and Blaine were…"

"We were what?"

"Alone in the office. On a Sunday. With me out of town…"

She stands and I wonder if I've gone too far.

"Are you insinuating that there's anything happening between Blaine and me?"

"Not insinuating. Asking."

"There's nothing between us except ill-will on my part and arrogant assumption on his."

That makes me feel better. It also makes me feel like a bit of a heel.

I lean back, exhaling, not realizing that I was holding my breath and was so tense.

"So, you're not happy to see him?"

She shakes her head. "Not even a bit. In case you forgot, he left me."

"He asked you to come."

"As a business partner. And a fuckbuddy. Nothing more. It wasn't good enough for me."

I nod. I already knew that. I wanted to hear her say it.

"I came back because I was worried that you were getting back with him."

"What on Earth gave you that idea?"

"Marina said—"

"What did Marina say?"

I take in a deep breath. "Marina said that she thought Blaine realized what he lost when he left you. I figured if you still felt the same way about him, you might want to get back together with him."

"You figured wrong. I despise him."

I get up from behind my desk and go over to where she's standing, clearly upset that I would consider the idea.

"I'm sorry. I felt insecure because you asked Chris about cashing in. Then Blaine shows up and I was worried that you were planning on leaving Pacifica and going with him instead."

She sighs audibly. "I wanted to know what would happen if we did this thing and it ended badly. That's all."

"It's not going to end badly, India. This is what both of us have wanted for years."

She frowns, so I pull her against me, my arms around her waist. She rests her hands on my chest and looks up into my eyes.

"Is this what you've wanted all these years?" she asks, her voice soft.

"It is. I just didn't know it. I didn’t know if it was possible. I always wanted you. But I wanted Pacifica to succeed and I was afraid that if I pushed you, you and I would end badly and both the relationship and the business would suffer. Now, I'm not worried anymore. We've known each other for five years, India. I feel like I know your mind."

"And yet you worried that I might get back with Blaine?"

"That's just natural male jealousy."

She shakes her head and plays with my collar. "I don’t want Blaine. He couldn't commit to me but he expected me to be his fuckbuddy and business partner and upend my life for him and his business plans." She looks into my eyes. "I'm willing to give you and us a chance. I've already given my all to Pacifica."

"You have. We've both given our all to Pacifica. The thought of losing you to Blaine—"

"Was a fantasy all of your own concocting."

"And Marina's doing," I say. "The thought of losing you to Blaine made me realize that I couldn’t stand it. I want you, India. I've wanted you for years. I'm sorry I've been such a dick and have never told you how much. And I'm not going to make the same mistake that Blaine did and not commit to you."

I bend down and kiss her, and the kiss is passionate from the start and only gets more intense.

My body responds to the feel of hers against me, the soft mounds of her breasts, her belly and her buttocks beneath my hands.

I break the kiss, because I have more to say.

"I know I've been hesitant to say the word ‘exclusive,’ but I'm not any longer. I realize I don’t want you to look at anyone else, be with anyone else, or even think of anyone else. I want you and you alone. I love you. I want us to be exclusive."

She smiles, and there's moisture in her eyes. "I love you."

We kiss again, her arms slipping around my neck. I feel a swell of emotion, realizing that this is what I really wanted all along, but didn’t want her to say no to me. If we did nothing, and just kept imagining being with each other, what we have wouldn’t be put to the test.

Now, we're willing to put it to the test and I know what I want – I want it to work. More than anything.

If she needs me to say the word, I can say it with no hesitation.

We break our kiss and she pulls out of my arms, and I'm surprised, but I wait for whatever it is she's going to do. She goes to the door and closes it then turns the lock.

When she comes back to me, my body is ready for her, and I know what she wants by the expression in her eyes.

She wants me and I want her.

Of course, it's at that moment that India's cell rings. It's in the pocket of her hoodie and she pulls away from me and groans when she pulls it out and checks the caller ID.

"Marina," she says, her voice exasperated.

"Man, she has the absolute worst timing."

"Should I answer it?" she asks, holding the phone to show me.

"Go ahead, answer her. That way we can get back to our regularly scheduled programming."

India grins. "I was thinking what's happening is more like a special Breaking News report. India and Jon love each other."

I laugh. "No, that's old news. I just didn’t realize it until now."

She answers.

"Hello, Marina…"

She listens to Marina for a moment.

"No, Blaine just left. I'm at work and Jon's filling me in something he's been working on."

She listens some more.

"No, I don't think anything's going to happen with Blaine. That was over a year ago. He made his choice and I made mine."

There's another pause and so I pull her against me, against my hips so she can feel my erection. She closes her eyes for a moment, and grinds against me.

"Yeah, Jon came back early. He wanted me to help him with a big project he's been wanting to give me for a while now."

I have to hold back a guffaw at that and lean closer to nibble on her shoulder, pulling down the hoodie neck as far as I can. She stifles a giggle and makes a face.

"Sure," she says and checks her watch. "Yeah, I’ll be there in an hour like we planned."

I squeeze her, not wanting her to leave. "Hey," I whisper.

She waves me off. "Talk later. Bye."

India ends the call and puts the cell on my desk. Then she slips her arms around me again.

"I'm meeting Marina for coffee. We made plans with the girls earlier. Sorry."

"Aww," I say and pull her back into my arms so she's resting on my body. "I was hoping I could eat with you tonight. Eat you," I say, grinning. I'm disappointed that India is going to leave, but at least we have this thing between us settled. I can wait. "Remember, I have this big project to give you."

"Oh, yeah?" she says and rubs herself against me in a very erotic way. "What can you give me in, say…" She checks her watch. "Thirty minutes?"

"A lot," I reply and grab the bottom of her hoodie before pulling it over her head. She's wearing a lacy bra with a front closure. I unfasten it and her beautiful breasts fall out, her nipples hardening in the cool air. "A lot."

I bend down and take one nipple between my lips, sucking it into my mouth while my hands stroke down her back to her butt. She moans softly and that's all the reward I need.

I pull back and look in her eyes. Nothing and no one has ever felt like this for me. This is more than lust, although it is that as well.

"I love you," I say to her, my chest tightening with emotion.

"I know," she says and runs her fingers through my hair before slipping them around my neck again.

"I want you to be mine, and no one else's. I can't imagine not being with you. Not now. Not ever."

Then we kiss again and the emotions are roiling inside of me – love, lust, need, want, possession.

This is love.