An Appetite more than Hunger

Emily studied his reaction and wondered why he felt so threatened by what she had just said. "We made love times without number and—"

"Love?" Just saying the word brought a bad taste to his mouth, why will she even mention 'love'? After Sarah, he wasn't sure he was ready to get to that point with anyone else, after her any other relationship was flings or just a nightstand.

"Not love. I didn't say anything about love."

"Sex…" He stepped closer to her. "It's an appetite, like hunger or thirst. An urge to be satisfied." And there is no commitment with that, nothing to fear.

Something flickered in her eyes. "Sex." How stupid of her to think he felt something for her, his stupid gestures and the flowers almost got her fooled. Not that she wanted him to feel anything. But the words that came out of his mouth and expression right now stabbed her heart, maybe she wanted him to feel something. Or rather she was feeling something. She wanted to ask him if he meant that.

But staring into his eyes, it was cold and emotionless. "Whatever you call it, it's over… and I'd appreciate it if we don't cross paths." She said trying to sound as cold, but wasn't sure it worked.

She pushed past him and head for the door.

"Cross path?" He scoffed mocking, "That's my expertise… I could crash my car on purpose so I can wind up in the ER as your patient, I'm sure you wouldn't let me die. We could get into some kind of doctor and patient role play afterward, you know."

"I'd appreciate it if you were dead before you even get there." She said sarcastically, " By the way, thanks for the flowers, it was beautiful. I know how hard it must have been for you." she said over her shoulder and left his office.

Women. He thought, why did she have to ruin all the fun? Her words were clear but her eyes read differently.

After she left, Kieran went around to see how The Bold stone engineers were doing. It was quite more than he expected, he nodded impressively and walked past a crew, Miss Alice Grimes and her team Were at the other side of the wide hallway before the lobby, he flashed her one of his briefest smiles as he walked past.

Alice caught the slightly approving smile that curved Mr. Davis' lips as he headed for the lobby and she almost exploded in excitement, it was a pleasure that he approved their work, and that smile was a treasure. Now she could shove, peter Reyes; her rival's ego up his ass.

Although She saw Emily asking to see him earlier, she wondered if she was here as a doctor or a friend, cause she happened to be a mutual friend with Collette Jones Benz and they met once or twice at the sauna. And Emily didn't see her when she'd walked in.

Emily stopped by the club after she left work, the club wasn't having a full night, it was kind of mellow. She sat by the bar brooding as she nursed a glass of white wine. Not a single thought of Jackson or the engagement crossed her mind, all she kept thinking about was Kieran, and his reaction back at his office.

Come on girl, stop! She told herself, get him out of your head.

"Penny for your thought, darling," Jackson said as he sat on the stool beside her. He'd sighted her immediately after he came down from the elevator.

"Hey," she smiled wistfully and she turned to look at him, cupping his cheek, she kissed him. "where were you?"

"I was up, at the penthouse—Are you ok? You look concerned… what's on your mind?" He asked as he signals the bartender to pour him a glass of whiskey. He noticed the tears glistening in her eyes.

"Nothing—just thinking."

"About?"

Oh God

She sighed. "A patient died today… she overdosed—her death just… I don't know, got me somehow…I feel like I could have done more… how could I let her die?" and as she said it bitterly, a tear escaped her eyes.

"Oh sweetie, it wasn't your fault… okay!" he caught a tear from her eyes and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I should have done more."

"You are an amazing Doctor… you did your best, you tried okay! Don't beat yourself up about it."

She nodded slightly with a sniff, and Jackson kissed her forehead.

That wasn't a lie though… She told herself… at least it happened months ago.

"You know what? You need this more than I do." He said taking away her drink and replacing it with his whiskey. She chuckled and took a gulp.

"Enough about me, tell me about you… how was your day?—You haven't told me how your trip to Vegas went, did the hotels agree to buy your coffee?"

"Yes!—yes they did, in a way, it's a good thing you didn't come along… it was too busy for me, meeting upon meetings… you wouldn't have enjoyed the trip."

"hmm, I guessed so too," Emily said emptying the glass.

Apart from the club, Jackson had his coffee company, which sold to restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets across the country. And yes it was always his perfect cover-up for the illegal trips too.

After a few more drinks, they went up to the penthouse together, ordered Chinese takeouts and Jackson made love to her.

They lay side by side breathless afterward, and Emily rolled over even closer to him and looked into his eyes. "What was that?" she whispered. Whatever it was, she wanted more of it again, she just needed him to get Kieran out of her head, she was sick of making up stories for her absent mind. Sex with Jackson was nothing compared with Kieran though. Their lovemaking is always peaceful and comfortable. But with Kieran, it was earth-shattering, hard, and passionate; the world would turn upside down and bells would go off in her head.

"I think, my darling Emily," he whispered back, "that was amazing... That was love."

Anyways that was all that mattered, 'Love', something Kieran didn't have, couldn't give, and wouldn't want to hear... Even if he did, was she going to leave Jackson for him? One question she kept avoiding in her mind.

She nodded like a five-year-old and burrowed deep into his arms, and then with all the gentleness of his tender emotions for her, he made love to her again. And they slept in each other's arms.

The buzz of the bedside telephone woke him. Jackson quickly Reached out and snatched up the receiver, not wanting Emily to be disturbed from her sleep. It had been a long night of the most sensual sex he had with her in months. He wanted her to stay in his bed as long as he could keep her there.

The clock radio read one minute past seven; It was Marcos, talking all over the phone as usual, since their last meeting he had kept tabs on him. He muffled the voice noise with his hand as he slid swiftly from Emily's side and strode out of the bedroom, quietly closing the door behind him. He took a deep breath to quell his sharp annoyance at being called this early on a Saturday morning. If it wasn't Marcos…

He lifted the receiver to his ear and couldn't quite keep an impatient terseness out of his voice as he demanded, "Marcos it's pretty early don't you think? What's the emergency?"

A blank silence, then, "Haven't you been listening, Baxter?"

"I'm barely awake," he said with an exasperated sigh as he opened the fridge to take a bottle of cold beer.

"Hmm… I see, guess you had a nice time last night, nice underwear by the way."

"What?" Jackson dropped the beer quickly and moved away from the window. "What the fuck dude! Are you watching me now?" He peeped out the window at the other skyscrapers.

"I've always watched you, most especially from up here… I guess she doesn't know she's not the only one who finds that bed of yours comfy—now get dressed and go to the park, Pope will like a word with you."

"Alright—" he said softly and rolled his eyes as the call ended. Of course, he knew they watched him, but not these close. "shit!" Jackson muttered as he rushed to the bedroom to put on some clothes and running shoes, then picked up his cell phone. He was quiet enough so as not to wake Emily. He snuck out of the bedroom again and took the elevator down to the club and left the building to the park.

When Jackson got to the park, a Mercedes Maybach was waiting for him. He got into the car and it Drove off.

"Tell me, How long are you going to stall?" Pope said as he sucked The Aniver Xario cigar in his hand and released the smoke slowly. His voice was croaky. "Don't make me do your job for you. You asked for Time, and I gave it to you."

"Pope, please I need more time."

"Time! Time!! Time!!!" He yelled banging the leather seat, "I keep giving you time Baxter, and yet nothing is done, you wouldn't like it if I get all this fixed myself… he shouldn't see it coming even if it bit him in the ass. I got you close to him in the first place, not just to clear off your debts and now you go all lovey-dovey with his daughter…remember, money can't pay off your debts with me. She could be the perfect bait— wait… speaking of lovey-dovey, I hear something about a party—An engagement party? I could have the place leveled, you know."

"look man, you got to trust me on this, It's Richard and his assets you want, not his daughter. Richard is a very careful man, no one would get close enough without being shot in the head. Trust me, I'm this close, leave Emily out of this… I just need some time. Please."

"Mmm… your thing with this girl seems serious…" Pedro groaned and sucked his cigar again. "You have 48 hours, Nothing more… And if You don't get me what I want by then, You'd be history." He said and the car pulled to a stop at the shoulder of the road opposite his club.

Jackson came down from the car and it swerved back to the main road, he watched it disappear in a turn before he crossed back to the building.

He drank a few shots at the bar before going back to the penthouse, frustration welled up in him; everything he was about to do, he was going to make sure it wouldn't hurt Emily. He went upstairs to the bedroom, only to be frustrated further by finding his bed empty of the woman he was trying to protect.

Or did Marcos come here?

Her clothes were still strewn on the floor.

"Emily!"

The ensuite door opened.

She stepped into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around her body, droplets of water still clung to her bare arms and legs, and her rainbow smile explained she was alright.

"Hi!" she stepped closer, with a hand on his chest, and kissed him. "I was drying off. Woke up, found you gone, thought I'd have a shower." Her gaze dropped to his mouth. "Daddy called."

Dad? It suddenly alerted his senses, "what did he say?" he asked quickly, sounding tense.

"Easy," she grinned wrapping her arm around his waist. "He spilled the beans—you planned to have our engagement on the Ellen tomorrow Evening? And you didn't think to discuss it with me first?—"

The Ellen was their family's huge luxurious yacht, her father had named it after their late mother, Ellen Washington Decker, who died after the birth of her sister.

"Oh—" absolutely not, I never planned anything like that. One of Richard's perfect daddy plans. *Scoff* "—yeah, I was going to tell you last night… it just escaped my mind," he smiled and kissed her head. "You know, this girl right here, is so hot, she makes my mind skip… forgive me?"

She giggled as he kissed her neck, "mm-mm, you're too cute, of course, I do... I should go, I'm meeting Collette."

"Do you need me to—"

"No…" she said tossing her towel aside to put on her underwear.

"You didn't even know what I was about to say."

"Of course I do," she chuckled as she dressed.

He grinned and shook his head. "I'll be going to the tennis club anyways"

"Collette's picking me up—so see you later in the evening… dinner at my place at nine?"

"Sounds good, but how about you skip the cooking? Let me take you out for dinner instead… hmm?"

"Alright, babe."

"I'll pick you up at eight." He said and she kissed him before leaving.

After she left, he sat down for a while thinking about how he was going to make everything work in less than forty-eight hours. The engagement party was at the right venue, thanks to Richard himself, there will be enough distraction to buy him time to look around.

Emily once mentioned her Father had a very private study on that boat. Well, that was the first place he'd be looking, before the mansion in Chadville.