Enraptured Read online

  “I do want it, sir.” Jessica smiled up at him, and he placed it around her neck, locking it.

  “It looks good on you.” He pulled her up and onto his lap, encircling her with his arms.

  “If anyone at school asks what it is, I’m going to tell them it’s a gift from Roman Chase, and I wear it to show how much I care about him.” She paused. “Is that good? I was thinking about the right way to word it in public, without overtly getting into the whole BDSM thing.”

  Roman nodded. “That’s fine. But what if we’re at WhipperSnapper, where everyone already understands our lifestyle?”

  “Then I’d love to say, ‘I belong to Roman Chase.’ ”

  “Fuck yeah, you do.” He growled playfully, and kissed her deeply.

  She ground her hips against his lap, making his cock swell.

  “Don’t start that just yet, Jessica,” he warned. “We have dinner reservations.”

  Jessica blushed and stopped moving around. “Sorry, sir.”

  “Don’t be sorry. We’ll fuck in the car.”

  Jessica served Roman his breakfast, a bowl of fruit, before sitting down at his side to join him.

  “Are you excited to see your parents?” he asked.

  “Not really, sir. They’re going to be so rude to you, and I’m already horrified about it.”

  Roman laughed. “I can handle it. Any suggestions?”

  Jessica paused with a strawberry halfway to her lips. “Suggestions for dealing with my folks?”

  “I want them to like me.” He shrugged, as if it were no big deal, but Jessica grinned. She loved that he was going out of his way to make a good first impression on her parents, simply because they were her family.

  “Um, don’t tell them you own me and that I’m your slave, probably,” she teased.

  “I won’t say a word. I’ll even lock the dungeon door.” He called into the kitchen. “Mrs. Marsh?”

  The old woman came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on her apron. “Yes, dear?”

  Jessica could tell that Roman trusted his cook implicitly. She’d been working for his family since he was a child, and when she grew too old to care for the entire house, Roman hired a group of housekeepers to come in and clean every other day.

  And Mrs. Marsh loved to feed her Roman, that was for sure. She seemed to take his tall, muscular build without an ounce of chub on him as a personal affront to her cooking. If she had her way, Roman would be pleasantly plump instead of a hardbody.

  “Before I forget, please have the girls lock the basement door and figure out a way to cover my headboard before Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn arrive.”

  “I can have the handyman switch the headboard to one of the . . . simpler ones from the guest rooms, and move your custom one to the basement for the week, if you’d prefer,” Mrs. Marsh suggested.

  Roman nodded. “Very well.”

  Jessica blushed. At least when she gave her parents a tour, she wouldn’t have to try and explain the hooks and cuffs covering her and Roman’s bed.

  “And the east wing has already been cleaned and aired out for their arrival, sir,” Mrs. Marsh said. “I stocked up on that fiber cereal Miss Jessica said they liked.”

  “And nonfat yogurts for my mom, right?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes, dear.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Marsh,” Jessica said, and followed her back into the kitchen on the pretext of getting more coffee. “I appreciate all of your help,” she whispered. “My folks would be upset if they learned the nature of my relationship with Mr. Chase.”

  Mrs. Marsh smiled, revealing sparkling white dentures that stood out against her thin, wrinkled face. “You’re good for him. I’ve never seen him in such high spirits since he was a child.”

  Tears inexplicably filled Jessica’s eyes, and she blinked rapidly so they wouldn’t spill over. “Thank you, ma’am. He’s good for me too.”

  Jessica brought out a fresh cup of coffee, sweetened with artificial sugar and lightened with skim milk, a complete destruction of the expensive hand-ground coffee beans he’d carefully selected. Roman liked his coffee like that, and he had no interest in drinking the cream and regular sugar Jessica enjoyed. Something about a personal trainer from years ago. Apparently Trevor and Marc did the same thing.

  Roman smiled when she gave him his coffee exactly the way he liked it. Breakfast gave them the opportunity to get to know each other, still in the glow of the previous night’s sexcapades, but with the morning light to cement them in reality. Not that the dim breakfast room offered much in the way of natural light.

  “Sir, there’s something I really would like, and of course if you aren’t on board then forget it.”

  “I’ll give you anything,” Roman said immediately.

  He’d been saying that a lot lately. As grand a statement as it was, it made her worried that he thought she’d only stay with him as long as he kept paying for whatever she wanted. But he didn’t need to give her anything, didn’t he see that?

  “Please don’t take this as a complaint, sir, because it’s not. Your house is dark, and cold. I don’t mean metaphorically. I mean physically. I’m learning in my psychology classes at NYU that the immediate environment can play a significant role in a person’s psychological reaction to a situation.”

  Roman set his coffee down and looked at her with interest. “Tell me more. I love hearing about what you’re learning.”

  “You have so many amazing windows in this mansion. With your permission, sir, I’d like to let some light in. Brighten the place up a bit.”

  “This isn’t just for your parents, is it,” he asked. But it sounded more like a statement than a question.

  “No, sir. It’s for me, too, I suppose. Every time I pass a window I want to open the heavy drapes, but I stop myself because I don’t want to upset you. It wasn’t until I started reading about the effect a lack of natural elements in a home can have on the psyche and mood of the inhabitants that I realized why I have that urge.”

  Roman took her hand. “Mi casa es su casa. You can do what you’d like. As long as I’m not sweating buckets in my own home, then I’m fine with it.”

  Jessica brought his fingers to her lips and kissed them. “Thank you, sir.”

  “One thing I must insist on, this time,” Roman said.

  “Of course.”

  “You need to buy whatever you’d like for the house, and actually use my credit card, to make it more . . . however you want it to be. I want you happy here.”

  “Really, sir?” As much as she felt strange using his money to buy things for herself, she could get on board with buying things for his home. “Would you object to a wishing fountain in the foyer? It’s such a large, empty space, and I think the natural sound of water flowing would give it a focal point. And we can toss our loose change in there for wishes.”

  Roman laughed out loud. “Wishes? Bought with pennies?”

  “Those are the best kind,” she grinned. “Trust me, sir.”

  He handed her his Black Amex. “If we’re going all out, then you might want to hire an interior designer to come visit.”

  “We only have two more days, sir.”

  “You’d be amazed what can be accomplished in two days if you throw enough cash around,” Roman said dryly.

  Jessica’s mind raced with all of the things she could do to bring the Chase estate to its full potential. “Thank you, sir,” she said, holding the card in her hand as if it were a loaded weapon. “What if you don’t like what I’ve done?”

  “It’s you. I’ll like it. Besides, I’m getting sick of people asking me if my power is out.” Roman smirked and went back to his coffee.

  As soon as Roman left for a meeting in Manhattan, Jessica got straight to work. The interior designer she’d called, the one with a three-month-long wait list, agreed to make an immediate vi
sit when she discovered it was for Roman Chase’s estate. The woman, an organized lady with a brown bob and a funky turquoise necklace, was currently wandering the home with her clipboard and taking notes.

  The fountain would be delivered and installed that evening. Jessica texted photos of her three favorite options to Roman and asked him to pick. He chose a simple white marble piece with a cup overflowing at the center, the water cascading down on all sides into the bottom. Jessica couldn’t wait to fill it with pennies and wishes.

  A wish for Roman’s happiness.

  A wish for her own.

  A wish for friendship.

  A wish for her family. World peace. An end to poverty and hunger. Gosh, she was going to need a lot of coins. Perhaps it could be a gratitude fountain as well. A coin for each thing she was grateful for. There was so much now.

  While the interior designer walked through the wings of the home, Jessica went through each room and threw open the drapes.

  Entering the living room, she smiled at the thin ray of sunlight already streaming in. Roman hadn’t closed the curtains since she’d opened them that tiny bit her first day. With a laugh of relief, she pulled them open all the way.

  Sunlight soared into the room, filling it with light and warmth. The green landscaping outside seemed to become a part of the space, creating an energy that had been sorely missing before.

  Jessica looked around her, her mouth open. The entire wall was made of glass, but their privacy remained thanks to the high trees surrounding the property. It looked like a different room completely.

  Next, the breakfast room. She tossed the curtains back, reveling in the feel of sunshine on her face. Now that was a way to say good morning!

  It took her over an hour because the home was so large and had so many windows. By the time she was done, she realized she wouldn’t need to adjust his precious air-conditioning much since the sunlight made the house a degree or two warmer. Still, she raised the thermostat just a touch to keep the chill out of the air.

  “Wow,” Bree, the interior designer, said when she came back into the grand foyer. “Amazing, and I haven’t done a thing yet.”

  Jessica laughed. “What do you recommend?”

  “Well,” she said, “let me show you some color and fabric samples. Where would you like to sit?”

  Jessica led her to the living room couch.

  “Mr. Chase is a minimalist, which is lovely,” Bree said. “But the home needs a feminine touch. Too much leather, steel, and granite can make a house feel more sterile than welcoming.”

  Jessica nodded. “I agree. But whatever we do, we have to do it right away. There’s no time for any big projects because my parents are coming into town.”

  “I’d like to warm up some of the walls with earthy tones to bring in some of that natural feel you’re looking for. We can have painters come in today and use low-VOC paint, so it will be dry by tomorrow and not have that dreaded new-paint smell.”

  “Wow, really?” Jessica peered over Bree’s shoulder as the woman took her through her suggestions for painting the main living areas.

  “Currently, this living room is all black and white. Opening the curtains to bring in the green grass and blue sky does wonders, but I’d like to paint an accent wall in a warm, rustic orange to bring it all together. Does Mr. Chase like orange?”

  Orange. Like the sun. He’d once told her that he loved her hair because it was like she brought sunlight with her wherever she went.

  “He’ll like it,” she smiled.

  “Great! A few throw pillows in complementing colors and lush fabrics to finish it off and we’ll be good. Now, as for the master suite—”

  “Um, you should know that’s not our usual headboard. Roman had our headboard temporarily changed, but we’ll be putting the custom one back once my parents leave.”

  Bree raised her eyebrows. “How about we do something simple in the master suite. I suggest a plush area rug under the bed to remove some of the harshness of those gleaming hardwood floors, and a deep burgundy accent wall behind the bed. A black faux fur throw blanket will add a richness to the room.”

  “I don’t know if Roman will like it being faux fur. He always says he only wants the best.”

  Bree smiled. “This is the good stuff. Faux that looks like God made it. Trust me on this, he’ll never know it’s not real.”

  Well, she’d have to mention it to him anyway if he asked. No secrets, not anymore. Not even about silly things like bedspreads.

  “I’d also like to add a variety of blooming plants and foliage to certain rooms. Any allergies, hay fever?”

  “Not that I know of. I guess the housekeepers can water the plants when they come to keep them healthy.”

  “Absolutely. And you’ll love the scent of fresh, live flowers throughout the house.”

  Jessica smiled just at the thought of it. Who knew redecorating could be so much fun? “What about the guest suite in the east wing, where my parents will be staying next week?”

  “Oh yes, we’ll put some plants in there as well. Currently, it seems Mr. Chase opted for white walls in all of the rooms he doesn’t frequent often. The duvets are all white as well. While it has a nice clean look to it, and again that minimalist motif continues throughout—I’d like to soften the rooms with cream-colored walls, and bedcoverings and pillows in various shades of white, cream, and ivory, with different textures and feels. It will maintain the look of clean simplicity, while warming up the entire space.”

  “You’re good,” Jessica said, and handed her the credit card. “How quickly can we make this happen?”

  “Immediately. A bit of paint, bringing in the plants and some new bedding and pillows is easy. The fountain is already on its way. Everything will be done in twenty-four hours.”

  Jessica didn’t want to know how much it would cost, but she couldn’t help but notice the estimate Bree handed her had a lot of zeros. “I really hope Roman’s happy.”

  “He will be. And if he isn’t, well, it’s not like we’re knocking down walls or redoing the kitchen. It can all be changed back if he desired.”

  That made Jessica feel better. It wasn’t a huge deal, really. Just a little feminine touch.

  “Thank you, Bree.” She laughed. “This is awesome.” Her phone buzzed, and she looked at it. Roman. “Excuse me,” she said to Bree, and answered.

  “How’s it going? Am I going to recognize the place?”

  Jessica grinned. “Everything can go back easily if you decide you’ve changed your mind. And they’re starting now, so it will all be done by tomorrow.”

  “Let’s go somewhere tonight to give them their space. I can’t stand being around the house with a bunch of strangers working on it. Sara said she could stay and supervise.”

  “Okay. Where will we stay, sir?”

  “Let’s go out to the club tonight. I want to show you off. Afterward we can stay at my place in Manhattan.”

  “You have an apartment, sir?”

  “Well, I bought an apartment building recently. You’ll see. One of the units is still vacant.”

  A vacant apartment in New York City? That was practically unheard of. He must have purposefully left it vacant.

  “Sounds great, sir.”

  “Have the driver bring you to Marc and Lauren’s, and I’ll meet you there in forty-five minutes. Does that work with your schedule?”

  “For you, sir, of course.” She giggled. “See you soon.” Jessica touched her collar with a smile.

  “You have it bad for him, don’t you,” Bree laughed.

  “I suppose I do. Yeah.” Jessica flashed her a grin and ran up the staircase to his—their?—bedroom and packed an overnight bag, including some of the sexier club outfits he’d gotten her, so he could pick what she should wear to WhipperSnapper.

  She couldn’t wait to go bac
k, not as the lemonade-pusher, but as Roman Chase’s collared submissive. No more standing behind the bar, watching the BAD Boys’ booth and imagining Roman inviting her to do dirty, sexy things. Tonight she’d be sitting with him in that booth and the dirty, sexy things would be real. How had she gotten so lucky?

  The men had arrived with the fountain as she was leaving. It was large but not ostentatious, and it fit perfectly into the space, adding a feeling of welcoming to what had previously been a cavernous, intimidating entrance. Even though they hadn’t yet hooked it up with the water, Jessica fished in her pocket for a coin and tossed it into the empty marble pool.

  I wish . . . to make Roman proud of me tonight. No matter what it takes.

  Chapter Nine

  Roman drank his scotch, neat, and watched Lauren tease Marc mercilessly on the couch in their spacious penthouse in Manhattan.

  “Don’t you worry about the other tenants in the building hearing you at night?” he asked Marc.

  Marc grinned and rubbed his shaved head, his tattooed biceps flexing. “I may or may not have soundproofed the bedroom,” he laughed. “Besides, what are they going to say? I own the whole building.”

  Roman laughed, running his hand over Jessica’s hair as she sat comfortably at his feet. While he had never asked her to do that, she always seemed to prefer to kneel instead of sitting next to him. It was part of her innate submissive nature that he loved so much.

  He coughed. Love? No. He loved her submission, not her. He couldn’t afford to fall in love again, and considering he could afford pretty much anything else, that was saying something.

  “What about your new building, sir?” Jessica asked.

  Lauren looked at them with interest. “You bought some Manhattan real estate? Has hell frozen over?”

  Roman shrugged. “Nothing fancy. I bought Jessica’s old apartment building.”

  Jessica frowned and looked up at him, an unasked question in her eyes. Why?

  “Why not?” he replied, even though she hadn’t spoken aloud. “It brings in enough profit every month to more than cover your tuition. I don’t just spend money.”