Rules of Love (7 page)

Chapter Fifteen

After speaking with Sean and Charlotte, Jason returned to checking his emails and sending out correspondence. The doorbell rang.

“I got it,” he heard Amber say from the hallway.

Jason disregarded her comment and went to see who was at the door himself. “No, I got it,” he said to her.

Amber stood to the side as Jason opened the door.

A deliveryman with boxes of groceries on a dolly greeted them. “Delivery for Jason Lewis.”

“Yes, that's me.”

The delivery guy gave Jason a clipboard with a sheet of paper on top for him to sign. Jason signed it.

“Where do you want these?” the guy asked.

“Baby, show them where to put the groceries. I need to get something real quick.”

The delivery guy followed Amber to the kitchen. Jason went upstairs to grab some money out of his wallet.

The delivery guy was still unloading the groceries when Jason returned downstairs.

Afterwards, Jason walked him to the front door. He handed him the money. “Thanks. We'll probably be using your services again.”

The driver smiled when he saw the fifty-dollar tip Jason had given him. “I hope I get the call to deliver it when you do.”

Jason returned to the kitchen to help Amber put away the groceries.

“You have some of everything,” Jason noted.

“I thought you said I could order what I wanted.” Amber stopped what she was doing and looked at him.

“Oh no. That's no problem. I just didn't realize I was out of everything.”

“All you needed was a woman's touch.” Amber winked and went back to putting away the groceries.

“If you need me, I'll be in my office.”

“I'll call for you when dinner is ready.”

“You don't have to cook. I can order Chinese food or something.”

“Nope. This is my first night here.
Our
first night together at your place, and I want to cook.”

Jason held his hand up. “Who am I to argue with a woman who wants to cook me a meal? Let me get out of your way.”

Jason smiled as he left and returned to his home office.

* * * * *

Amber whipped up a quick meal for Jason and her in pots that looked like they'd never been used. She cooked shrimp fettuccine Alfredo and placed it on two plates. She took garlic bread sticks and wrapped them up in a basket.

She set the dining room table, then looked through the cabinets in the dining room and found a bottle of white wine.

Once she had everything set up, she called out for Jason.

He walked into the dining room. “I could smell the aroma down the hall. And it looks great.”

“Let's eat.”

Jason sat at the head of the twelve-person table. Her place setting was right next to his.

Amber watched with pride as Jason devoured the food in front of him.

“Where did you learn to cook like this?” Jason asked.

“My mom. She's from Louisiana. Whenever she wasn't out working, she would cook. I would be in the kitchen with her. I was her assistant. It was our favorite thing to do together.”

“This tastes better than any restaurant I've ever been to, and I'm an expert on restaurants.”

Amber laughed. “Being the bachelor that you are, I'm sure you are.”

“You mean were. I'm no longer a bachelor. I got you now, baby.” He winked.

She blushed. “Flattery. You keep building up those points, don't you?”

Jason wiped his mouth with a napkin. “You're going to spoil me cooking like this.”

“My mom always said the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.”

Jason held his hand over his heart. “You got mine.”

Amber wished that were true. She not only liked Jason, she was falling in love with him. She cooked the food with love because, in less than seventy-two hours, he'd turned her world upside down. She'd experienced several firsts being with him, and that was very special for her.

If she'd known Jason and she would get along this well, she would have been more open to pursuing more than a business relationship months earlier. Maybe they didn't need an annulment after all.

Chapter Sixteen

After dinner, Jason insisted on cleaning up the kitchen since she had cooked.

“Okay, since you insist. I'll be upstairs,” Amber said.

Jason washed the dishes and went straight to his bedroom afterward. Amber wasn't there, but he saw that the master bathroom door was open.

He stepped inside and saw Amber leaned back with her eyes closed in the spa-like tub with bubbles overflowing.

Jason smiled. He started removing his clothes. “Would you like some company?” he asked.

Amber tilted her head to the side and opened her eyes. “Only if you want to.”

It didn't take Jason long to discard all of his clothes. He eased himself into the water behind her. The hot water soothed the muscles in his body.

His back was against the hot tub, and her back was on his chest. She leaned back. His nose caught a wisp of the rose scent in her hair.

“Amber, what if I told you I didn't want to get an annulment?”

“Jason, I know you're only remaining in this to please my father, so you don't have to pretend.”

“I like you, Amber. I really do.”

“Liking someone is not enough reason to stay married.”

Jason moved Amber's hair and kissed the nape of her neck. “If I was pretending, there's no way I would make love to you the way that I do. I wouldn't kiss you the way that I do.”

“Mmm,” Amber said. “Jason, come on. You're not playing fair.”

Jason eased his fingers inside of her and twirled them around. “This is not a game,” he whispered.

Amber's head fell back on him. He continued the circular motion with his fingers until she came. He took those same fingers and placed them in his mouth.

She shifted her body so that she was now face-to-face with him. She leaned near him and kissed him. She spread her legs wide and sat on top of him.

“Oooh,” Jason said when he felt her insides.

“Ohhh, Jason,” Amber said as she rocked her body on top of his.

She leaned her head back and Jason bit on her neck.

He cupped her breasts with his hands. He placed one of her stiff brown nipples in his mouth as she continued to bounce up and down on him.

They both moaned in pleasure. Jason couldn't get enough of Amber.

“Ohhh. Yesss… That's it, baby. Ohhh, yessss,” Jason moaned.

Amber caught his moans with her mouth as they kissed intensely. He couldn't tell when his breathing started or when hers stopped. At this moment in time, they were as one, breathing the same air. Jason felt Amber completed him.

Jason held on to Amber as tight as he could as they climaxed together. He filled her with his seed. Her head fell to his chest. They stayed in that position long after the lovemaking. Neither one seemed to want to move. The jet of the hot tub stopping was the only reason they exited.

They took turns drying each other off. Jason loved every curve of her body. Jason wanted to personally thank each one of Amber's past boyfriends. They were fools to have let this beautiful woman go. Her beauty not only stemmed from her physical beauty, but her spirit. Her kindness showed in so many ways. How could he not love her?

He'd gone all these years without truly being in love. Now that he'd found the woman his soul desired, he would do whatever it took to hold on to her. There was no way he was getting an annulment, given the way he felt now. Amber belonged to him, and he would not let her go.

Amber could hear Jason's heartbeat as she lay across his chest. They were under the covers in his king-size bed. Jason was sound asleep. She'd dozed off earlier but now she was wide awake.

She was still on an emotional high after not only their hot tub sexual encounter but also the one that followed when they returned to the bedroom. She had never known sex could be as good as it was with Jason.

Her last boyfriends had complained about her being sexless, but Jason didn't seem to have any complaints. In fact, he called her a sex kitten, which put a huge smile on her face. It wasn't her fault the other guys weren't skilled enough to bring out that side of her.

She carefully got out of the bed without waking Jason. She put on her satin robe and went downstairs to get something to drink.

She fumbled her way through because she wasn't familiar with the layout of his house yet. She located the light switch in the hallway and made her way to the kitchen.

“There you are,” Jason said from behind her.

“Where did you come from?” she asked, startled.

“I heard some noise and you weren't next to me, so I had to come check it out,” Jason said.

“Sorry. I wanted something to drink. It was dark down here, so I had to feel my way to a light switch.” Amber opened up the refrigerator. She pulled out a bottle of water. “Do you want one?”

“No, I'm good,” Jason responded. “I'll have to remember to keep the hall light on for you.”

“Yes, please do. Or get a nightlight. I forgot to tell you, I don't like sleeping in complete darkness.”

“I'm here. I'm not going to let anything happen to you.”

“When I was a little girl, someone hid in my room in my parents' house and tried to kidnap me. Ever since then, I've slept with a nightlight.”

“I've read a lot about you, but I never heard that story.”

“That's because they were able to locate me quickly. The lady who kidnapped me was a fan obsessed with my dad. She didn't get that far down the road before being pulled over by the police for speeding. I screamed for help and the officer immediately apprehended her. My parents had no idea I was missing until the police woke them up with me standing next to them in my pajamas.”

“This definitely was before social media, because there's no way something like that could happen today and remain a secret.”

“Social media can be a good thing but also a bad thing when it comes to people wanting to be in other folks' business.”

“It keeps me busy and in business. Although I now see how my clients feel. I don't like being part of a story.”

“Neither do I.” Amber looked at the clock. “It's three in the morning. I didn't mean to wake you up, and now I'm talking as if it's the middle of the day.”

“I couldn't sleep after hearing that noise. I wasn't sure if it was a robber or you. I had to check it out.”

“I'm glad you did. I feel safe around you.” Amber looped her arm through Jason's and they headed back to bed.

“Good night.” Jason kissed her lightly on the lips before closing his eyes.

She watched him fall asleep before drifting off to sleep herself.

Chapter Seventeen

Jason wasn't expecting to smell the aroma of breakfast cooking from the kitchen. To his surprise, when he woke, Amber wasn't lying next to him. She'd left a note saying she was downstairs.

He took a shower and got dressed.

“Something sure does smell good,” Jason said as soon as he entered the kitchen.

The sight of Amber standing behind the stove, with a kitchen apron on, excited him. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and have his way with her.

“I wasn't sure what you liked,” she said.

“I'll try everything,” Jason responded.

He sat on one of the stools by the aisle.

Amber placed a plate filled with sausage, grits, eggs, bacon, and toast in front of him.

Jason enjoyed every bite. He hadn't eaten a big breakfast like that in a while. He wouldn't be hungry until dinnertime. He was stuffed.

“I would have made some homemade biscuits, but I forgot to order some baking powder.”

“Oh my goodness, I've married a chef.” Jason laughed.

“Not quite. But I can work some magic in the kitchen.”

Jason drank his orange juice. “Do you need me to drop you off at home so you can get your car?”

“Probably. I also have to get some clothes. This was my backup outfit.” Amber wore a pair of purple jogging pants and a Los Angeles Lakers T-shirt.

“Finally, a team, you and I can agree on.”

“What?” She turned around and modeled her Lakers shirt. “I'm a Lakers girl.”

“I see. Well, I have some season tickets. You can go to some games with me.”

“Only if it's courtside.”

“Mine aren't that close, but close enough.”

“Maybe you can go to some games with me. My dad has courtside seats.”

“I should have known.” Jason put a “duh” look on his face.

“I do take advantage of some of the perks of being Max's daughter. Not all of them, but who can resist sitting courtside at a Lakers' game?”

“You're right about that.” Jason looked at the time. “We'd better get going.”

“I need to finish these dishes.”

“No worries. I'll have the maid service come clean up today.”

“But—”

“No buts. I need to get you to your place, and I have a morning meeting I can't be late for. And you know how traffic is.”

Jason was back in business mode, but it sure felt nice to have someone to talk to before heading out to the office.

* * * * *

“Looks like the coast is clear,” Jason said as he drove near her place.

Amber felt relieved. “To be on the safe side, drop me off here. I'll walk up through this trail and go inside my house that way,” Amber said.

Jason stopped the car. He removed a key from the dangling key rings coming out of the ignition. “Here's a key to the house. The alarm code is 1-9-9-9.”

“Oh, that's creative.”

“I like Prince, so that's easy for me to remember.”

“And any burglar could figure it out,” Amber responded.

“We can change it later,” Jason stated.

To Amber's surprise, before getting out of the car, Jason leaned closer and kissed her. The feel of his lips lingered as she walked to her house. She entered the back door and turned off the alarm. Since she was unsure of how long she would be at Jason's, she retrieved her big suitcase and packed some of her favorite items.

She smiled as she read text messages from Jason. He'd sent her several, letting her know he was thinking about her.

Maybe Jason's actions were sincere. How could a man be as passionate as he was and not be into the woman?

Amber needed a few files off her computer. She logged on and was surprised when a message flashed across the screen immediately. She forgot her instant message had been set up to indicate when she was logged on. A blast from her past popped up.

Congratulations are in order
, Anthony, one of her ex-boyfriends said.

Thanks. Do me a favor. Don't message me anymore
, she quickly typed.

Oh, it's like that?
he responded.

Yes
.

You're going to miss me
, Anthony typed.

Amber found a meme saying the words,
Boy, bye
, and sent it to him. She then blocked him. Anthony was someone from her past whom she wanted to forget. He was one of the guys who had called her Ice Princess.

Amber pushed the thought of Anthony to the back of her mind, and downloaded the files she needed to a flash drive before logging off. Although she had a laptop and an iPad, she preferred using her desktop when she worked from home.

Amber moved the curtains and saw a few paparazzi parked outside. Thankfully, her car was in the garage, so she packed her car with her items. She put on her big shades and a baseball hat.

She left the garage. The way the driveway was made, she would not be able to avoid the paparazzi. She saw a few flashes of light from cameras as she sped by.

Her cell phone rang. It was her brother. She hit the speaker button and his voice echoed through the car speakers. “Why did I have to hear about your wedding from everyone but you?” he asked.

“Well, little brother. Now you know how I feel when I'm reading about you.”

“I can't believe you're married. How long have you known this dude?”

“You know Jason Lewis. He's my manager. And I'm sure you've run into him at a few parties.”

“Oh, that dude. I thought he looked familiar,” he responded

Amber recounted to her brother all that had taken place. “So, that's how I ended up being married.”

He laughed. “What you did sounds like something I would have done.”

“I know. Can you believe it? I'm a good girl gone bad.”

“How does it feel to be naughty for a change?” he asked.

“It feels good!” Amber shouted, and she meant it.