Page 29

Jade

If my vagina could’ve cried, it would have. Sleeping so close to Red all night, it took all my restraint not to wake him up to give us what I figured we both wanted so we could sleep peacefully the rest of the night.

Obviously, I hadn’t. So, a fitful sleep it was.

Why? Because that scenario had a fifty-fifty chance of resulting in him talking about emotions getting involved again.

You know, like he had when we’d decided to dry fuck.

I mean, what was with this man? He worried far too much.

If I had to, I’d give a blood oath that if he plunged his cock deep inside me, I would not catch feelings.

Not that it mattered, I supposed. I’d survived night one with him, so that was something. The silver lining? He was already gone, and I finally had the bed to myself. I spread my arms and legs out wide like I was making a snow angel and ran my hands over the wrinkled sheets.

Note to self: tell Red that he’d need a king-sized bed if he planned on getting married.

That way the woman wouldn’t have a mere fraction of space in their bed all night.

Between his physique and hard-on, there weren’t many places to go.

Oh, and he was a sheet hog—did I say that before? —because he was.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand, so I grabbed it and saw a text from Red. Clingy much? We just spent the night together, what more did he want?

Reddington: Don’t miss me too much. I’m meeting Mark and some of the guys before the ceremony. But I left you a little something on the table by the window.

I looked over and spotted the box. Little something my ass.

Jade: No good morning?

If I was a more curious person, I might’ve gotten up to go see it, but between that and my immense laziness, I didn’t move and instead went to the group chat I had with my sisters.

Jade: On a scale of one to ten, how bad would it be if I wore a black dress to an outdoor, afternoon ceremony?

Maria: The vow renewal in Newport?

Jade: Yep. You guys know I brought something else, but I look great in black, so I’m thinking maybe the backup dress I brought could work.

Allegra: That’s not why we let you pack it. It’s not a funeral.

Jade: May as well be.

Bianca: Oooh, a wedding with the tagline love isn’t dead .

Maria: In October, with skeletons as the decor.

Jade: Who said love was dead, er, fake?

Bianca: I’m not feeling it.

Maria: Me either.

Allegra: As for the black dress, no. And if you’re going rogue, then remember, don’t wear white, either.

Jade: That I know.

How dumb did they think I was? I shook my head, pulling my legs up to me, curling my toes under.

Whatever, fine, I wouldn’t wear black. I also wasn’t going to talk to them anymore about this.

Really, I probably needed to get up and get dressed anyway, especially if I didn’t want us to be late to the ceremony.

Combing a hand through my rat’s nest, I was about to toss my phone on the bed when my phone buzzed again.

Ugh. Didn’t people know I was attending quite possibly the most important vow renewal? I chuckled to myself. Never mind. I tried it, but it didn’t sound right even to my own ears.

Reddington: Morning? It’s practically afternoon.

Jade: Yeah, well I finally had the bed to myself, so I slept like a baby.

Reddington: Have any dreams?

Jade: Just one. About you actually.

Reddington: A dirty one I hope.

Jade: It was arousing, that was for sure.

Reddington: Don’t make me get a hard-on in front of Mark.

Jade: Texting in front of the guys? Isn’t that rude?

Reddington: Tell me about your dream.

Jade: Well, the dream was of you. Are you ready for it?

Reddington: Yes.

Jade: Telling me this was finally over.

What did he expect me to say? I had a dream where I walked in on you touching yourself, and I stayed because nothing could get me to leave?

Reddington: Did you open the box yet?

Jade: No. I’ll open it later. Don’t know if I’ll make it as it is.

Reddington: Open it.

Jade: Bossy, aren’t we?

Reddington: Don’t make me come back to that room and make sure you open it.

Jade: You’re a handful.

Reddington: You’re one to talk.

Deciding I was done with this conversation and him, I finally ditched the phone on the bed, got up, and walked over to the box. “What’s in here?” I asked myself as I brought it to my ears and shook it.

Didn’t sound like a snake was living in there. Actually, could a snake live in there? Likely he would have had to poke holes on the top of the box. “All right, Red, so it’s not a snake. Then what is it?”

It was dire enough that I needed to open it right now. Was it a signed contract for his investment? Was this his way of telling me I was off the hook and didn’t have to go to the wedding? Vow renewal, whatever.

Unable to wait another second, I tore into it, removing the satin bow and discarding it on the floor along with the top of the box. A signed contract totally deserved a satin bow. Oh, yeah, I wasn’t going to have to—

Look at this silk peach gown.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat that threatened my ability to breathe.

It was beautiful. Legitimately beautiful.

Like I think it might have been the most beautiful thing I’d ever had the pleasure of looking at before.

And I’d seen a lot of cocks hanging between massive thighs.

Then I remembered what it’d felt like to wear the Regina.

Maria and Karoline were right—fashion did make you feel a certain way.

If it was the right piece. That was key.

I placed the box on the bed and delicately lifted the dress up, letting it unfold naturally. My eyes roamed over the gown as it came to life but was stopped when a card I must’ve missed in the box fell onto the floor.

I picked it up and read it aloud. “For you. Wear it to the ceremony.”

My cheeks burned like I was out in the sun too long as I beamed at the beauty. It was the nicest—and possibly most extravagant—thing anyone had ever done for me.

Laughing, I shook my head and laid the dress out on the bed. Boy, was I right, he was bossy. He even bought a dress and ordered me to wear it.

Not that I wouldn’t.

It would’ve been some sort of crime.

There was a cutout in the front, but no plunging neckline. Instead, it went into a bodice that was sculpted like a corset. I even had the perfect shoes packed that I could wear with this.

But it was too much.

I lunged forward and grabbed my phone, typing Red a message.

Jade: It’s beautiful, Red. I can’t accept it, though.

Reddington: Did you not read the card? It’s yours. Plus, it’s rude not to accept a gift. Have some manners.

Unbelievable. I tried to be nice, and this was what happened.

Jade: You had no right to gift it to me, asshat.

Reddington: I saw it and thought of you. I want you to have it. It deserves to be on your body.

Sometimes he knew just what to say, and it made my heart clench in my chest. Yes, I had one of those. It might have been cracked, but it still beat, reminding me it was in there.

Jade: I’ve never received a gift like this before.

Reddington: That’s a shame because if you were my girl, this is exactly how it’d be.

My palms grew sweaty, and my breath hitched.

Jade: I don’t need material things. That’s not what makes me happy.

Reddington: I know.

Jade: If it means that much to you, I’ll wear it.

Reddington: Good.

Jade: Red?

Reddington: Yeah?

What did I say? My fingers typed faster than my brain thought, and whatever I was going to say wasn’t a good idea. This was all fake. I couldn’t forget that.

Thank the heavens it was ending soon because at times like this, it was easy to see blurred lines when I thought about our situation. Another reason I was happy not to be his assistant anymore.

He’d get his investment, and I’d make a clean break.

Jade: If Lyons Enterprises doesn’t work out, you should consider being a date for hire. Women would kill to be treated like royalty.

Reddington: I already have my first reference.