He’d done everything in his power to get her there. Jordan sat at a round table of twelve attendees, some couples, and some singles. To his left, an empty chair taunted him as the seconds grew into minutes of Selena’s no-show. He kept a calm demeanor and tried not to show his frustration, but inside melancholy, unlike anything he’d experienced, tussled with his soul. Never before had he been stood up, and he hoped Selena would make his day. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Jordan scanned the room again, taking in the royal blue and white colors. The banquet hall was designed beautifully all the way down to the details in the napkins that sat wrapped around the silverware on top of China dishes. The man on stage had given out two awards, and now he was giving out a third. Jordan clapped along with everyone else, oblivious to the name that had just been called. It was when a room full of eyes turned his way, and Phoebe nudged him in the shoulder did Jordan realize it had been his name.

Snapping out of his reverie, Jordan boasted a strapping smile and rose to his feet. On the way to the stage, he shook hands with a few attorneys and nodded at others who were too far out of his reach. He took the three steps onto the stage and shook the hand of the presenter.

“Thank you.” Jordan accepted the plaque.

Straightening his shoulders, he stepped in front of the podium as the host stood off to the side and everyone watched, waiting for his words of appreciations and recognition.

“Thank you,” he said into the mic. “Honestly, I never expected to get the Leonard Jay Schrager Award of Excellence. There are so many great firms in Chicago, a lot of them are undermanned, and if I could share this honor, it would be with all of you.”

Claps surrounded the room, and Jordan’s gaze continued to scan.

“To the Chicago Bar Foundation, I…”

Jordan’s words died on his lip as a buzz crawled down his thick neck. There standing in the far-right corner of the room was his dream come true. Jordan blinked to make sure he hadn’t envisioned her only to be disappointed later. There she stood. Although her face was dressed with a soft smile, from his place on the stage, Jordan saw it just as if Selena was standing right under him. He exhaled, soft, long, and slow. He’d elaborately picked out the royal purple gown because he knew the color would make her stand out in the sea of blue and white. And that was his intent, to make sure no one missed the beautiful angel she was while delighting in the fact that she was there for him alone.

Someone cleared their throat, and Jordan blinked and made his speech shorter than he planned. He didn’t even remember what he said. All Jordan cared about was getting her back in his arms, in his life, in his bed. When the crowd erupted with cheers, Jordan was satisfied that he’d said enough, and without giving the host another look, he sauntered off the stage with his gaze burning a blaze right over to her.

“Selena…” his thick voice drummed.

She grinned and stared up into his debonair profile. The Roses and their strong genes were muscular, sharp, and keen. It was the thing that put the icing on an already perfectly baked cake.

“Jordan…” she responded.

His hand slipped to her face, his fingers fiddling just across the curve of her chin. “You’re so beautiful. I’ve missed you terribly.”

Selena’s pulse quickened, and she was sure her eyes dilated.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not the person who ran out on you. I know it may be hard for you to see that, but...”

“I know, Selena. Are you okay?”

Selena exhaled and nodded. “Yes, and I have you to thank for it.”

He stepped closer to her. “If you really want to thank me,” Jordan glanced over her shoulder and leaned closer to her face, “let’s get out of here, and we can talk about it on the way upstairs.”

His words were layered and thick with concentration, causing a storm to rage in Selena’s stomach. Her lips curved just as her nipples retracted.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to be rude or interrupt.”

“Unless you want to stay and listen to everyone else give their speech.”

“What if you get another award?”

Jordan smirked. “Then they can send it up to my room.”

Excitement took over Selena, and she bit down on her lip as a pathway of heat cruised down her belly. She squirmed. “Let’s go,” she whispered with a giggle.

Jordan took Selena’s hand, and together they left in a hurry. The simple connection of their fingers tingled with sulfuric awareness. When they wrapped around the corner and headed down a long corridor, neither of them could stand it any longer. In an abrupt stop, Selena turned to Jordan and fisted his collar in her hands, pushing his strong body against the wall. On her toes, she lifted to meet his protracted height just as Jordan clutched her wrist and held her arms above her head. With precision, they switched positions and now Jordan locked her in.

A wicked growl trekked from his vocals as his hands slipped down her outstretched arms. The moment went on in slow motion; both of them breathing each other in as they stood with no gap between them.

With his mouth just above hers, Jordan’s heavy lids coasted over her face as his grizzly voice spoke, “Marry me, Selena…”

Her entire body stilled immediately. Had she imagined the words? Was it just the moment? Selena’s eyes followed Jordan, and he crouched down to one knee. His head fell into the apex of her thighs. Selena’s eyes widened, and she pinched herself, had to, just to be certain.

Jordan lifted his head and produced a glass box that housed a diamond that sparkled through. Selena’s mouth dropped, and a rain of chills poured down her skin in a web of heat.

“Jordan!” she screamed and trembled, her hands flying to her mouth.

“I love you, baby,” Jordan’s voice drummed. “Marry me.”

Tears sprang from Selena’s eyes, and she hurriedly nodded. Jordan popped the box and slipped the diamond on her finger.

“Oh my God, what the fuck!” Selena said, staring at the size of the rock. “Oooh baby, I love you, too!”

Jordan lifted her as he stood to his feet, and they crushed their mouths together. With the speed of a cheetah, they were out of the hallway and inside the elevator, ripping their clothes to pieces.

“Ah!” Selena shouted as Jordan pinned her arms and face against the wall, taking her hard from behind. “Aaaah! Baby!”

His ravenous mouth took in her ear as he thrust in and out of her sanctum in long propelling wet strokes.

“You turn me into a monster, girl.”

Jordan lifted her leg and dissolved inside her while his other hand took in a mound-full of her breasts.

“Aaah shi-it!” Selena shouted as they rocked the steel cables of the elevator shaft.

Jordan sucked in her earlobe, and his nibble caused a waylay of heat to shoot down Selena’s spine. “I love you,” his thick voice growled. “Forever.”

A single tear cruised from Selena’s eye. “I love you, too,” she panted. “Forever…”

 

The End

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