Page 41 of A Kiss at Midnight

What in the hell is wrong with me... and how in the world am I getting attached to this man? I’m a fool and an emotional wreck, that’s how. Sleep takes a while, but when it finally comes, I sigh as peace fills me.

Chapter Review

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jewel

My muscles are sosore, I’m barely able to climb out of bed. I somehow manage to stumble into the bathroom. After showering, getting dressed, and putting on makeup, I painfully make my way to the kitchen and head straight to the coffeepot. The apartment is quiet, and I’m relieved to be alone.

I polish off my first cup of coffee and immediately pour another. I have to hurry to get to work on time. I hope Blake is out on a job site today. We’ve been at each other’s throats more than not lately, and I need a break. How much longer will we do this? It’s crazy.We only seem to get along when we’re in bed together. Do people live years of their lives like this? I couldn’t.

I leave the apartment with no time to spare, walking into the large building along with a group of other employees. Everyone’s chatting like usual, and I hardly contribute to the conversation as I make my way to my floor and immediately head to my desk.

I’m here for less than a minute when my phone buzzes... and I grimace. He must be here and saw me come in. Maybe approaching my boss for a torrid affair hadn’t been the wisest decision in my life if I wanted to have some independence.

I need five more minutes, maybe an hour, to fully wake up and get my armor in place before speaking to Blake. Please, I beg, please. But it dings again almost immediately. I can’t avoid him forever. I have some defiance, though, so I fire up my computer and pull out a file before I look at my phone after a third message.

Good morning, Jewel, I hope you slept well.

This message confuses me. He’s been such a jackass; why is he sending something civilized like this? It makes no sense. Maybe the man’s bipolar. Or he suffers from multiple personality disorder. That wouldn’t surprise me.

Be ready right after work. You’ll be leaving with me.

My stomach tightens. I don’t want to spend the evening with him. It’s going to be awkward and unpleasant, and I’ll end up hating myself... again. I sigh. It could be a lot worse. Blake could be into some seriously sick and twisted games. At least I’m not being tied up and flogged, or being forced to have sicko sex in front of an audience.

Get over your tantrum, Jewel, and acknowledge you’ve seen my messages.

Tantrum? What freaking universe does he inhabit? Or does he own a special cyber helmet that makes every jerky thing he does look and smell like roses?

Fine!I punch in each of these letters in my one-word response with savagery, then drop my phone in a drawer, delighting when it bounces. I look up to one of the cameras facing my desk and give a mocking salute as I firmly close the drawer.

I’m not sure what we’re doing tonight, but what I’m wearing will have to do. It’s a simple skirt that comes halfway down my thighs, and a decently modest blouse. I get to work. The day passes surprisingly fast as I work diligently, take a lunch break with my co-workers, then continue my work for the rest of the afternoon.

I don’t see or hear from Blake again, not that I check my phone often. It’s unprofessional, and I want a good reference when I leave. I’m leaning more and more toward Alaska. Sure, it’s cold, but it’s far away, and no one will know my story. I don’t care where I land just as long as Justin is with me. We’re all each other has in this world now.

Five o’clock comes before I know it. Everyone leaves their desks. I grab my coat and purse and look at my phone. There are no new messages from Blake. Maybe he’s changed his mind. I’m not going to message him to ask. If he’s not there, I’ll head home, put on my pajamas, and eat ice-cream for dinner. That sounds pretty good.

Blake’s waiting outside when I come down. I want to deny the extra thud in my heartbeat, but it’s there, and I can’t stop it. I’ll never be able to stop my reaction to Blake. I can tell myself all day long I hate being with him, but my body calls me a liar.

“Hello, Jewel. You look lovely today.”

I stand before him, utterly dumbfounded. He’s behaving so differently than he normally does around me. Is this a trick? I have no clue. He smiles as if knowing he’s confusing me. He approaches with the confidence I’ve come to expect from him.

“When a person says hello and offers a compliment, the correct response is usually to offer a greeting in return.”

He pulls me against him, and before I’m able to say a word, he kisses me. It isn’t a greedy assault on my lips, but a soft, drugging kiss that makes my legs tremble in weakness. When he pulls back and looks in my eyes, I’m too stunned to speak.

“Let’s get going,” he says with a smile.

I’m surprised with the attitude change. He’s treating me like a human being instead of his plaything. I’d do best to remember that this isn’t typical, and things can change on a dime.

We go to where his driver, Max, is waiting. I say nothing as he helps me into the backseat, then joins me. We drive for over an hour, chatting about nothing of importance, and I finally start relaxing. I don’t care where we’re going. When the driver stops and quickly comes around and opens my door, I’m surprised to see we’re at a vineyard.

“We’re going to a fundraiser tomorrow night, so I thought I’d give you a sampling of good wines while we stretch our legs.”

Blake obviously thinks I’m a newbie to wine that needs a corkscrew to open, but I’m not going to get huffy about it... well... because he’s pretty much right.

Soon the two of us are moving through the vineyard. We stop at several stations to taste the local wines from each variety of grown grapes; some leave a sour taste, and some I want more of.

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