Next time. Together.
Does that mean sex with me isn’t just a fling for him? Will we continue dating when we come back to Los Angeles?
My head spins at that thought. I can barely stand, and I lean on Jack's shoulders for support.
He stops kissing me and looks into my eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asks, surprised, holding me tighter to keep me stable.
"Another time?" I ask with a shaky voice. "But isn't it…"
I can't. I can't confess how scared I am that this fairytale will be over the second Christmas is over.
"Isn't it what?" His voice is rougher.
He looks at me so intently, frowning in frustration.
I can't tell him.
I swallow.
"Don't you want to see me again, Crystal?" he asks. I'm frozen in a place like a statue.
"But how is that possible?" My voice is shaking as I speak. "We work together; how can we hide the fact that we’re sleeping together?"
"Why the hell should I hide anything?" Jack's hand travels from my waist to the back of my neck. "It's my company. I don't care what others think. In fact, I want the whole world to know that from now on, you'remine."
He emphasizes the wordmineso clearly that it leaves me in no doubt that he's telling the truth.
"I can tell the driver that we'll walk to the hotel," Jack continues, brushing his thumb over my cheek. "We can see the city better like that."
"I'd love that, thank you," I say quietly, still shocked from what he just said.
"But first, we'll go to Ralph Lauren to buy you warmer clothes, especially a scarf and a hat. It's around the corner, so it won't take long." Jack gives me a light, almost imperceptible kiss on the lips and then takes me by the hand and leads.
"I don't need Ralph Lauren," I protest, stopping and squeezing his hand in mine. "I saw hats and scarves at the souvenir shop."
I don't need him to buy me expensive gifts. Moreover, if we buy a funny hat and a scarf at the gift shop, I can give them to Sky later as a souvenir from New York.
I have to tell Jack that I have a daughter so I don't have to make excuses to buy souvenirs.
But how?
"You're so stubborn," Jack says with a smile, interrupting my thoughts, and pulls me to him again. "Why are you so stubborn, Crystal? Is it so hard to agree with me without arguing at least once?"
I smile, too, and my gaze travels from his eyes to his tasty lips.
Actually, I never argue with him when he gives me orders in bed.
His gaze is playful, and a slightly mischievous smile appears on his face. As if he knows exactly what I'm thinking about.
"Okay, we'll go wherever you want to," I say after a pause, and he starts laughing.
"I love…" he begins but stops.
His eyes round as if from both fear and surprise at what he was going to say.
What did he want to say?