Claimed (For Her 3)

I’m cut off when his lips come down on mine. He softly brushes his mouth against mine but doesn’t deepen the contact. I close my eyes and feel myself start to calm down as I relax into him. Letting everything else melt away as I fall into him. Just enjoying the closeness of him.

“Do me a favor, little bird. Keep the blazer on. I’m going to have a hard enough time keeping my hands off you as it is,” he says against my lips.

“She’s not kissing him back, so that’s definitely still in the friend zone.”

My cheeks warm as I remember we’re in the lobby of our office building. I look over to see three men standing just a little ways away from us. I’ve never really met them, but I know their names are Sheppard, Grant, and McCoy. I try to know everyone who works for Miles.

Jordan growls, sending a look that could kill their way. They all chuckle, completely unfazed, before walking off.

“You growled,” I tell him, as if he didn’t know.

The deadly look drops from his face as he fixes his attention on me again. He finishes placing the red rose in my blazer pocket.

“I promise you, Jay. This is the best date I’ve ever been on and we haven’t even started. Now come on.” He grabs my hand and pulls me from the building.

I stop in my tracks when I see what’s parked right outside. A horse-drawn carriage is there, waiting for us. I gasp at how pretty it is. I’ve never seen one like this in Central Park before. The whole thing is completely white, from the carriage to the horses; even the suit the driver has on is a snowy white. Both horses are wearing white feathers on the tops of their head, and I feel my face hurt from how big I’m smiling. I look back to the carriage to see thin rods radiating toward the top, forming a ball around the carriage itself. Lights are wrapped around them, creating Cinderella’s perfect fairy tale.

“Oh. My. God,” I whisper, stepping closer. Jordan helps me up into it, taking the seat next to me. He pulls a soft white blanket over our laps, and I see a picnic basket under it. “You’re right. This is the best date ever.”

I look up at him. His face is soft, and I never get why people think he looks scary. I don’t see it. He always looks sweet to me. Handsome.

I drop my head to his shoulder, and he pulls me closer. “Not that I really had a lot of dates to compare this to. Have you ever done this before?”

I don’t know what pushes me to ask the question, but sometimes things pop right out of my mouth when I need to know. I ask without thinking, and I’m not sure that’s how you’re supposed to do dating.

“Well, I’ve never had a girlfriend,” he tells me. I glance back up at him as the carriage begins to move.

“Isn’t that different? We’re dating.” I don’t know why I want this to be clear. I know dating is more casual. I think people even date multiple people at a time. The idea of Jordan dating someone else makes my stomach turn. But if I was his girlfriend that would mean he was only mine.

He tenses a little next to me. Maybe I spoke wrong. Maybe he’s thinking I’m pushing to be his girlfriend or something. Moving too fast. But Skyler’s words about him being my man linger in my mind.

“I don’t mean we have to label this or anything, I was wondering, you know, because—”

His mouth comes down on mine again, but this time it’s not as soft as before. My body melts into his, and I moan when I feel his tongue trace the seam of my mouth. Just as I open to touch mine to his, he pulls back fast. I want to chase after his mouth and make him put it back on mine.

“I love how soft you become when I put my mouth on you,” he says.

His mouth is still close enough that I can feel his breath on my lips, but not close enough that I have the courage to move in and take control. Definitely not after the whole girlfriend comment. My train of thought totally slipped my mind when he kissed me, and I got all flustered.

“There you go again,” he laughs. I’m so close to him his laugh moves though my body. “Thinking too much. I don’t want you to think I’m moving too fast, Jay. I’m terrified I’m going to scare you off. It’s taken me a while to get you here.”

“How long has it taken?” I ask, truly puzzled.

He stares at me for a moment, as if he’s debating his words. “Since the moment I saw you, I wanted you to be mine. And only mine.”