Chapter 54: Even when love wasn't what you were looking for (part one)
Emma was pacing around the living, waiting for Jay to finish getting showered and dressed. He was up to something, Emma knew he was up to something, but Jay wasn't giving her any hints. Having nothing else to do, Emma checked herself over in the mirror for the umpteenth time. She was dressed in low-rise boot-cut jeans that have a grey tint, and a deep red foil flower screen top with an attached shrug, giving her top a trapezoid neckline. Running her fingers through her naturally wavy hair, Emma sighed.
"Don't look so nervous," Jay spoke as he came down the stairs, "You look incredible."
Emma turned away from the mirror and waited as Jay fully descended the stairs, "What scheme do you have planned?" She queried, folding her arms under her chest.
Jay took a moment to stare before answering, "It's my first attempt, so if you give me lip, you won't get the surprise," Jay warned, "Now, come on." He took her hand, walking with her out the door.
"We're walking?" She asked.
"Yes, that is what we do with our legs," Jay responded, trying to hide his smirk.
"Hey, if I can't give you lip then you definitely cannot give me lip," Emma replied. "I should have brought a hoodie," She muttered to herself.
"It's not a long walk," Jay said to her as he wrapped his arm around her.
The two walked in an almost comfortable silence for the next fifteen minutes, with Jay sneaking glances at Emma. She was confused, and she showed it, which gave her this irresistible, cute pout.
"I love the beach," Emma whispered as they got to the spot of the beach that the two had been to when they first moved here.
"I know," Jay replied as he came to a stop, "And I thought you'd like to come here before it starts getting too cold." Emma looked at Jay with big eyes, almost taken back by how sincere and sweet he was being. "Come on," Jay tugged lightly on her waist, pulling her towards the little picnic he set up.
"Oh my," Emma whispered as she put her hand to her mouth.
"Now, this is how it's done in all those corny romance movies," Jay smirked as he sat down next to Emma on the blanket, "And I know you like those romance movies."
"Oh my," Emma repeated in the same soft voice.
"Green," Jay faced Emma, with one hand in his pocket, "I know that something is going on with you, and I get that you don't want to talk about it, believe me I do," Jay paused as thoughts of his past surfaced, "But I'll wait until you're ready to tell me," Jay pulled his hand out of his pocket.
(Part two)
"Jay," Emma interrupted softly.
"No, I gotta get this out before my sarcastic side kicks back in," Jay told her. Emma laughed softly until Jay revealed what he had in his hand.
"Oh my," She whispered for the third time.
"We started off different, although not exactly on the wrong foot," Jay smirked as he thought about the first time they had sex, which had started their relationship. Pushing him playfully, Emma snapped Jay out of his thoughts. "We should continue with this the right way, or at least the way normal people follow," Jay halfheartedly rolled his eyes, not quite a believer in 'normal' people.
"But," Emma started, but stopped.
"But what?" Jay asked, trying to hide the nervousness he was beginning to feel.
Emma looked away, staring off into the ocean instead of Jay's deep blue eyes. She couldn't allow herself to get lost in them this time. This time Emma had to hold back.
Jay watched her stare into the ocean. The waves were splashing calmly, but Jay hardly felt calm. His insides were conflicted, confused, yet the scenery was calm, peaceful. Deep inside of him, Jay always knew that Emma's problem was bigger than she let on. He didn't know how, but he could just tell.
Back in the day, back in high school, Emma was always the strong one, always had something to say, always had to be helping someone, but it was almost as if she lost that spark. It seemed as if she had lost a part of herself. Emma lost a bit of her 'Greenpeace'. As ironic as it was that the nickname Jay had given to her to make fun of her in high school had turned into his term of endearment for her, it was his little pet name for her, something only Jay was able to call her.
If Jay believed in fate, or destiny, Emma's coming to work for him, without knowing it, meant something greater than what it was at the time. In honest truth, the only reason Emma ended up at Jay's mansion was because she happened to be living in New York, working for an agency that dealt with maids and nanny's, and her boss asked her to work as a maid until they found another person who was white, spoke clear English, and was competent.
That fact that it evolved into something more, way more than both Jay and Emma had expected, made it that much greater to be apart of. So, as the two sat on the beach together, each in their own heads, each thinking about the things that led them to New York, they realized something, they realized the same thing. Their past held them back. Their past kept poking at their brains, reminding them of what had happened.
The only difference was that Jay's past really was in the past and was unlikely to revisit him. Emma's, however, was still a struggle, still an issue, still a major problem every day. It was something Emma had told few people, very few people, and the only reason she did tell anyone was because she was in dire need. It was part of the reason it was still so hard to deal with; Emma hadn't told anyone. She still couldn't tell anyone.
"Jay…"
(Part three)
"What?" Jay asked softly, matching Emma's tone.
"What if you realize you don't like me?" Emma questioned. Her voice was so low, so soft, that Jay didn't think he heard her correctly.
He just stared at her for a couple moments. "Why would you ask me something like that?" Jay queried. Emma looked away as she fidgeted with her hands. "Greenpeace, I'm pretty sure I've showed you more than a couple times how much I like you," Jay smirked, trying to lighten up the mood. He could see a faint smile on Emma's face. "Green, if I didn't want to be with you, I wouldn't be here," Jay assured her.
"I know," Emma sighed, "But what if you get sick of my mood swings?"
"Then I'll get out of the house, like I do now," Jay shrugged.
"I didn't pressure you into this, did I?" Emma turned her head to face Jay.
"No, you didn't," Jay told her, reaching for her hand, "Whatever you're feeling, you either have to tell me, or," Jay paused, trying to find something to finish his sentence with that made sense. He knew Emma didn't want to reveal whatever it was that she had gone through, and he was trying not to press that issue. "Look, I know you don't want to tell me, and I won't make you, but how are we supposed to move forward if you keep holding back?" Jay looked at her, trying to spit what he had to say out, "And I want to move forward."
Emma's expression softened. Leaning towards Jay, Emma kissed him softly. As she pulled back, intending for that to only be a kiss, Emma realized just how much those words Jay had said meant to her. Kissing him again, Emma moved closer to him. Lips parted and the kiss deepened. Emma was feeling that hunger that she usually felt when she was with Jay. It was the only time she didn't mind not having full control. It was the only time Emma felt safe; that safe feeling only certain people can provide you with, the safe feeling Emma hasn't felt in years.
Jay placed his hand on Emma's cheek, tilting her head a bit for a more comfortable kiss before letting his hand move down her body. Moving one hand to the side of Jay's neck, Emma used the other hand as leverage to push Jay down onto the blanket. She moved with him, never breaking their kiss. Jay moved his hands to her back, holding Emma to him as the kiss intensified even more. Almost out of breath, Jay rolled over so he was on his side.
Staring into Emma's eyes, Jay caught his breath. "I don't know what it is about this shirt," Jay paused as he looked at Emma's shirt, "Maybe it's the neckline or something, but it makes your rack look amazing," Jay used his free hand to gently graze Emma's exposed skin.
Chuckling softly, Emma sat up, "Well wasn't that a Jay Hogart comment."
Smirking, Jay brought himself up until he was resting on his elbow, "Hey, it was a compliment."
"Jay," Emma spoke, her voice softer now, "I want to."
"Want to what?" Jay asked, donning a quizzical expression.
Turning her upper body, Emma reached behind her, and brought the object back as she faced Jay again. Sitting up, Jay took the ring from the velvet box and slid it on her finger.
(Part four)
Staring at the ring on her finger, Emma was momentarily stunned by what just happened only moments ago. On her finger sat a 14k white gold ring with a three-stone diamond. "How much was this?" Emma queried, keeping her attention on the ring.
"Don't worry about it," Jay told her.
Emma looked at Jay, "Come on, how much did you pay for this?"
"Babe, I know you," Jay took her hand in his and looked at the ring, "I know you don't like bringing attention to yourself, and I know you don't like gaudy things. I thought you would like this ring, are you telling me you don't?" Jay looked at Emma.
"No, I love it. It is me," Emma gave Jay a warm smile, "I just… how much did you spend?"
Jay chuckled, "I'm not telling you."
"Jay," Emma whined.
"Greenpeace," Jay mimicked.
Pouting, Emma gave Jay a sad look. She didn't like that Jay wouldn't tell her how much this engagement ring cost. Playfully rolling his eyes,
Jay put his hand on the nape of Emma's neck, "Come here," He told her, bringing her to him, initiating a lip-lock.
The two moved back down to the blanket, lying on their sides. Emma rested her hand on Jay's neck, letting her thumb brush over his cheek. The kiss intensified, and Emma leaned her body onto Jay's, wanting to be closer to him. Jay's hand moved down her body, lightly gripping the back of Emma's thigh, and bringing her leg over his. Emma giggled into the kiss as Jay's hand tickled her thigh.
Smirking, Jay rolled over, positioning himself in between Emma's legs before breaking the kiss. His lips caressed her neck, all along her collarbone, and down her chest. Jay nipped at her skin, tickling her some more.
"It's cute how ticklish you are," Jay whispered into Emma's ear, blowing warm breath onto her.
"You can't do that," Emma cooed with her eyes closed.
"Why not?" Jay asked, even though he knew that whispering and blowing in Emma's ear drove her crazy.
It was one of her sensitive spots. It was one of the things that always made her shudder with pleasure. Jay nibbled on her earlobe before placing his lips back on hers. Emma wrapped her arms around Jay's neck, knocking his hat off so she could run her fingers through his hair. Their kiss continued to deepen, leaving the two out of breath, but neither wanted to pull away.
"Jay," Emma said breathlessly, unable to hold off her need of oxygen any longer. They were breathing heavy, staring into each other's eyes, with a smirk on Jay's face. "Maybe we should continue this at home," Emma suggested.
Jay's smirk widened, "I'd love to, but I don't think I'm able to walk home right now."
Cautiously, Emma looked around. Once she was sure that no one was around them, Emma pushed Jay off of her and down on the blanket, "I can help you with that," She replied as she unzipped Jay's jeans.
Carefully, Emma pulled Jay's stiff cock out of his pants, stroking it softly. Jay groaned softly as he felt Emma's warm breath on the head of his dick. Opening her mouth, Emma licked the head, swirling her tongue around before lowering her mouth. She began working her lips over his shaft, getting closer and closer to getting his whole dick into her mouth.
"Fuck," Jay breathed, clenching his teeth a bit as Emma managed to get most of his cock into her mouth. Jay could feel his head at the back of her throat. "Oh baby," Jay moaned softly, putting his hand on her head.
He tried to let her work at her own pace, suppressing his urge to slam himself into her mouth. Emma quickened her pace, relaxing her mouth to suppress her gag reflex, since she knew Jay liked when she deepthroated him. Humming softly, Emma worked more of his cock into her throat.
"Em, I'm gonna cum," Jay told her, pulling on her hair just a little, though not enough to hurt her. "Oh fuck," He breathed as his cum shot into her throat.
Emma had to pull back a little, to stop herself from choking as Jay flooded her mouth. She made sure she swallowed his whole load before gently removing her lips from his cock. Wiping her mouth, Emma gave Jay a small smirk before she carefully put his semi-hard cock back into his pants.
"It still amazes me how good you are at that," Jay complemented her.
