Page 81 of Wanting More
And she wasn't disappointed with the results. Actually, she more than liked it. The stylist, Mary Ann, was able to add back the honey blond highlights to her natural summer brown hair, leaving her with the perfect blend of dark and light golds.
"I'm just wondering how much debauchery this couch has been subjected to," she informed him.
Joel's eyes cut from the laptop's screen to her. "I’ll admit that it used to see its fair share," he admitted with a lift of one shoulder before his expression changed to a wry, almost thoughtful expression. "Though, to be honest, it hasn't seen much from any of us in quite a while. The main perpetrator, Vic, has been so busy dealing with his asshole dad who is sick with some sort of cancer and that fucking farm, he hasn't had time to debauch it as you call it."
She noticed how he conveniently left out himself or Hayden in that admission. A pang reverberated in her chest like a ricocheting bullet. When was the last time either one of them took some girl by the hand and led her to this couch?
Sapphire's frown deepened, and she turned on her heel and marched out of the room.
She could not believe she was actually feeling jealous right now. She didn’tdojealousy. Never had. Never had a reason to. In the past, when guys she dated tried to make her jealous, she dropped them. She would watch them demand and whine and try to explain that they only did it to get a reaction out of her. To get a sign of caring from her cold face. It went without saying that their justifications only made the icy walls of her exterior thicker.
Juvenile behavior disgusted her. So why the hell was she feeling it now?! A part of her wanted to march back into the office and make Joel swear to throw the couch away and to never look at another woman again, for good measure.
Groaning, Sapphire rubbed her face, willing the mortifying thoughts to disappear.
Looking up, she stared unseeingly at the jukebox for a few minutes, her thoughts slowly pulling back in from the spiraling doubt, and she smiled. Fishing in her jean pockets, she pulled out her wallet and unzipped the little pouch. Digging around the loose change, she pulled out a quarter.
The machine was done in the old school style she had seen in old movies, with its bubble tubes arching over the machine glowing in iridescent pinks and yellows against its lacquered blond oak finish. It was beautiful. Instead of the row of CDs she expected to see, she was kind of surprised to see a completely digital screen on the front. Pressing the button, Sapphire combed through the vast selection of country and classic rock until she found what she was looking for. With a devious smile, she made her selection and waited as Kenny Loggins' voice began to play over the large speakers.
It didn’t take long for him to react.
"Dear God, noooo," Joel's voice howled from the back room, making her bite her lip to keep back the laugh.
Joel appeared at the doorway of the hall. Each arm was outstretched and gripping the sides of the frame, barely restraining himself as his bright blue eyes met hers.
"That's it," he rasped, taking a step forward. "I can't take it anymore."
His eyes, bright with wild intensity, narrowed toward her, and Sapphire's pulse spiked.
Stepping back, Sapphire gave him a wry grin as he stepped closer. "What? I thought you liked-"
Her laughing words were cut off as Joel lunged forward.
Sapphire yelped in surprise and skirted a table putting it between them.
I'm alright..
The lyrics to the song played around them, and Joel's smile bordered on maniacal as he edged left on the other side of the table, forcing her to shuffle right.
"Come here, goddammit," he yelled as she darted around the table toward the back office. "I'm going to put an end to this torture right now."
Sapphire let out a scream as she tried to close the office door, but Joel's hand was already there, slapping hard against the wood, barring her from closing it all the way. She stumbled back as Joel easily pushed the door back.
His eyes practically glowed with chaotic victory as he backed her up into the room. Satisfaction settled into his expression as her back hit the desk behind her. Realizing her mistake coming in here, Sapphire nervously watched Joel kick the door shut behind her drowning out Kenny Loggins's voice.
Joel took a step toward her, and Sapphire lifted her hand, her words rushing out with nervous crackling energy. "Wait. Just wait."
His gaze narrowed, but to her relief, he did stop. He gave her a waiting look as she shifted restlessly on her feet. She wanted to run, to skirt around the desk and somehow back to the door, but it was impossible. The office, while a big square, did not have the proper layout for avoiding one's pursuers. With one desk at the immediate wall and another matching desk catty-corner to it, the rest of the squared space was lined with fuck-couch and filing cabinets.
With no ideas of escape springing forth, she gave him a pained smile. "The real question is…why can't you enjoy one of our nation's timeless singers?"
She could see his control snap in his eyes as he lunged for her, covering the short distance between them with two long strides.
Strong fingers clasped her around her waist, and Sapphire let out a scream as they strummed the sensitive nerves along her flanks. She tried pushing back from the riotous feeling, but Joel only stepped in closer, crowding her against the desk, boxing her in as his fingers tortured her. Laughter verging on, tears spilled from Sapphire's mouth as she tried to wiggle free from his arms.
"Joel, stop!" she shrieked as she doubled over in his arms.
Grinning broadly, Joel happily ignored her, moving his fingers upwards. As if hitting just the right spot, sending furious charges of chaotic energy through her nerves, Sapphire seized with a clipped scream in his arms, tears glistening in her eyes. Her knees buckled.
