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I dazed for a few seconds. He was being quite specific, but I assumed this was part of the companion agreement. So formal, like a business plan.A sexy business agreement,I reminded myself. I exhaled and went over to my closet, taking out my college backpack as well as my silvery V-wrap around dress. I also grabbed the black faux wrap shirt and one of my business skirts, bringing them over to my bed. Then, I picked up a pair of black yoga pants and V-neck T-shirt from my dresser.
Jonas stared at each item and a soft smile appeared on his lips. “I like your choices. Now your undergarments.”
My cheeks warmed. I exhaled as I brought over the black lace and pink satin sets that were the best I had, and reluctantly walked over and placed them down on the bed. “I don’t really wear that much—”
“I wouldn’t want you to wear them with me,” he said evenly. “But I’d like to see them on you at times.”
Hot!I thought as a smile broke across my face and a tingle went through me. He was being sexually direct, though with a bit of charm and I was finding it intriguing. Every innuendo was making my pulse race. This gorgeous man on my bed wanting me was more than I had time to think about. I left the room and quickly collected my toiletries, brushes and placed them in the backpack once I returned back to the bedroom. Jonas was walking around perusing my Star Wars and Star Trek posters and video games with an amused grin on his face.Well, this is who I am,I thought.
Stopping in the doorway on my second trip, I found Jonas seated on my bed holding my hardcover ofPeter Pan. He was smiling and shaking his head.
“You need a proper bag.” The left corner of his mouth turned up.
I shrugged and zipped my backpack. “I can dress casual at the office, and it would be a waste to over-pack for a couple of nights. I’ll carry a garment bag for the dress and skirts.”
He chuckled. “Ever the vagabond, Tiger Lily,” Jonas read aloud. The inscription was from my father to me. Their nickname for me. I faltered, swaying a little on my feet and biting my lip hard as memories surfaced.
Jonas crossed the room and wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Come here.” He guided me to the bed and held me in his arms, “Talk to me.”
I took in a ragged breath as I struggled to stay focused and not give into the pain arising in me.Why is this happening?I had managed so long without faltering, but with him, I was having a difficult time doing it. Maybe it was because he seemed genuine in his query about me.
Taking a deeper breath, I closed my eyes and settled in the warmth of his arms. “Tiger Lily. My dad loved J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan stories and would read them to me over and over again. My parents told me I was a beautiful princess like her. They treated me like a princess.” He stroked my back and waited for me to continue.
I struggled to talk through the ache in my throat. “I wanted to be her, braiding my hair, trying to dress like her. So my father gave me research projects and taught me to study Native American culture. That led to more study projects and ultimately, my passion for cultural studies in college, and the Perchance to Dream, that art exchange program I worked on with my mother until her death. Well, I still help run it now, but they renamed it to ‘Salomé’ Legacy of Love.’”
“Salomé’ Legacy of Love. Tell me about it.” He positioned me to lay in the crook of his arm, as if he had all the time in the world to listen to me.
I nodded. “I know it’s a small piece and all the negative stereotypes and biases in the work, but for my parents, for us, it meant something different. My mother encouraged me to be carefree, and my father encouraged me to be brave. Both great qualities of a Tiger Lily princess, they told me.” I choked. He wiped my eyes with the back of his thumbs.
I licked my lips. “Well. It’s an art week where artists around the area come to teach their art to students in our teaching district. The proceeds help students that can’t afford to get art supplies and instruments. It also links them to mentors that periodically check in to give them encouragement. I had expanded it to satellite groups in Kenya and Brazil. My dream is to make it a real cultural exchange, where we can send students and they can send artists for a week. With ongoing social media contacts, I’m hopefully raising enough money for scholarships… I don’t know.”
His lips parted. “Tiger Lily’s life bloomed quite brightly in you.”
My heart contracted. “I don’t really like anyone calling me that anymore.” I swallowed as he gripped my hand. “They were the last words I heard from my parents, as they left the night they were killed. It’s a reminder of what I had and lost. I won’t be a Tiger Lily again.”
Jonas didn’t say a word, but reached for me and held me against his chest. Tracing small patterns along my back, I drank in the comfort of his arms. I don’t know how long we stayed like that, but he didn’t seemed concerned. As my heart settled, I eased out of his arms, with a slight tug. Had he wanted or needed the same comfort?
I smiled at him. “Thanks, Jonas,” I whispered.
He cleared his throat, “Send me some information about your project.”
I frowned. “It wasn’t my intention to pitch it to you I just thought… well, companionship is sharing… right?”
“It is what we make of it.” He lifted his chin. “I find you interesting and therefore what catches your imagination, also interesting.”
I shrugged. “Okay. I guess.”
We brushed lips. He tasted of Scotch and mints. Our kiss slowly grew more passionate and I opened my mouth and he slipped in with a hard tongue. His mouth explored me, smooth, firm, tangling with my lips.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried to pull him down on me. He stopped me, pressing me down on my back.
“We keep this up, and I won’t be able to keep that promise of waiting,” Jonas said.
I didn’t make that promise.Jonas must have read the reaction on my face and chuckled.
“I’m glad you’re finding it difficult, too.” He cupped my chin up to him. “There is something I want.”
I smiled up at him. “Yes?”
