Page 39 of Cream
“Yes.”
“Then you’d have to propose to me. Someday. Preferably not right after a showdown with a crazy ex of yours.”
“He’s not even an ex. Even so, I’m sorry about that, Jamie.”
He sighed. “I’ll live.”
I decided then and there that my Jamie would be on the receiving end of the most romantic proposal ever.
Ideas were already running amok in my head. He liked beaches, but it would be winter soon, so I’d have to take him somewhere south. On a train. Wouldn’t it be symbolic to propose on a train? We were going back in a few days. I could buy a ring here in the city and propose on the train ride back…
I tightened my grip on Jamie’s back and kissed his temple.
At the hotel, I drew him a bath and ordered room service. The recovery symptoms must have been worsening because he was pale and had dark circles under his eyes. But he gave me a happy smile as he submerged himself in bubbles.
“I hate to kick you out, Mr. Hartley, but you have work to do.”
“My omega is more important.”
“More important than the future of renewable energy in our country?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Jamie quirked one eyebrow. “I call bullshit. Besides, this omega wants a livable climate for future generations. The conference starts in twenty hours. Go. Work. I’ll join you in a bit.”
“No way. I’ll go, but you’re not doing anything while you’re recovering. You’re on paid leave until the end of the week.”
“Really? Was HR notified?”
“Don’t make me fire you,” I shot back.
Jamie squinted. “You wouldn’t dare. You’d be lost without me.”
That was true in more ways than he realized. I pressed a kiss to his nose. “Rest, darling.”
“Okay,” he murmured, sinking deeper into the bubbles. He must have been more tired than he let on because he would have never given up so easily otherwise.
I did my best to keep my nerves at bay as I went through my notes for the keynote. The real decisions would be made behind closed doors, in meetings held after the main presentations, but the Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources would attend the keynote address. Mistakes were not allowed if I wanted to be taken seriously in the subsequent negotiations.
Jamie appeared after a while, wearing a terrycloth robe. His wet hair curled at the tips, and his cheeks were pink. He stepped behind the armchair, put his hands on my shoulders, and kneaded my muscles.
“Do you want me to go through the Q&A with you?” he asked.
“You should be resting.”
He walked around and settled on his side on the sofa facing me. “I’m rested and a little bored even. We could come up with another reward system.”
Against my will, I perked up. “Yeah?”
“You answer all fourteen questions, and I’ll suck your cock.”
He winked, and I burst out laughing. “We really threw the ethics of this work relationship out the window.”
Smiling, Jamie shrugged. “Yep. Around the time you impregnated me. So, do we have a deal?”
I handed him my laptop with the questions and my notes. “We have a deal.”
He pointed a finger at me. “Before we began, a reminder, Mr. Hartley. Simple words, short sentences. Politicians are not climate scientists.”
