Stern Desire Love Redeemed (24 page)

"It's Nate's birthday. What do you have planned?"

"The party is this weekend. I told him we would celebrate on Thursday. We are very short staffed tonight. I can't call off."

"I'll take him out," Jared offered.

"You don't have to. I know you're very busy."

"I've made time. We are going to ride ATVs..."

"No!" I shouted. "Have you forgotten what happened the last time you were on one?"

"Baby, I'm kidding." He laughed. "We're going to play laser tag."

Jared was amazing. He was super busy opening up a new office, buying a hospital system, and dealing with numerous other demands
placed on him, and yet he still found time for us. My heart was heavy with guilt. I felt so lucky and blessed to have him in my life.

"Babes, are you there?" Jared's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Did you hear what I said?"

"No, I'm sorry."

"I said I worry about you driving home from work in the mornings, so tired and all."

"Stop worrying, Jay. I've been doing this for
years."

"Don't you think today would be a good time to tell Nate about the adoption?"

There he went again with his limitless generosity. We had not discussed this any further since Monday, and although I had said yes, I was
still having reservations about the idea of him adopting Nate. It would be capricious of me as a mother to allow a man I'd only met a few months ago to adopt my child, a man with secrets that had yet to be revealed, and that would
potentially end the relationship.

"I know it's his birthday and all, but this is something that we should do together."

I was trying to buy more time.

"I'll keep you company until you get home," Jared offered.

"No need. I have to call work to remind them about something."

"See you soon."

"Bye." I lied; I did not have to call work. I
turned up the radio and jammed to some Latino music, trying to stay awake. A red light caught me. I must have dozed off because it was the blaring horn from the black Dodge behind me that startled me. I looked around and there were no
cars next to me. The light was green and I was holding up traffic behind me.

"Holy shit!" The light changed to amber. I stepped on the gas and sped off down the road. I hoped Jared did not hear about this.
"Thank God I made it home." I opened the garage door.

The drive home in the mornings could be a challenge. I usually had to find ways to distract myself so I did not fall asleep at the wheel. I'd run into my garage door twice, not aware of how close I was to it.
I'd broken the garage wall - didn't stop in time. I'd even fallen asleep in the car in the garage after I'd parked and turned it off. It was Aunt Maggie who found me there after coming home from taking Nate to school.

I took my scrubs off in the laundry room like I usually did. I was standing there in my undergarments when I heard unfamiliar footsteps on my marble tiles, coming toward the laundry room. I peeked out the door and
there was Jared with a robe in hand, looking ravishingly handsome in a dark blue, well-tailored suit.

"What are you doing here?" I was so happy to see him.

"Visiting the birthday boy and his beautiful, sexy
mom." He kissed me on the forehead and helped me into the robe. Then he disappeared down the hall.

J.C. and Nate were sitting at the counter in the kitchen, helping themselves to a breakfast feast laid out before them.

"Happy birthday, baby."

"Thank you, Mom." I pulled my little blessing into my arms. He was eleven and almost as tall as I was, and getting more handsome by the day.

"Thanks for the cool gift, Mom," Nate said,
jumping up and down and squeezing me even tighter.

"iPhone," Jared mouthed so Nate could not hear.

"And you should see what Jay got me," Nate said,
all excited.

"Let me take my shower first. Then you'll show me."

I wouldn't be able to take one of my long, hot showers this morning.

Nate and Jared were waiting on me. I found them in Nate's
room. Jared pulled me into his lap.

"Look, Mom," Nate said. "A 3D 40 inch TV! We can have movie nights in here, and look, Mom, the newest MacBook."

Nate was bouncing off the walls with excitement. Smiles were
plastered over my and Jared's faces. Nate came over and hugged us.

"Thank you, guys," Nate said. "I love you both."

He jumped back into bed and picked up his new phone.

"Nate," Jared said. "There is something your mom and I would like to talk to you about."

"You're getting married?" Nate looked up, just as
excited as earlier.

Jared looked at me. He was going to let me answer that one. I couldn't believe he was going to tell Nate now about the adoption.

"Mom?" Nate asked. They were both waiting on my
answer.

"No, Nate, we are not getting married. Not yet."

The excitement disappeared from his face.

"How do you feel about me being your dad? I would love to have you as my son. Your mom and I have discussed it, and if it's okay with
you, I would like to adopt you."

The excitement returned to his face. He looked at me. The look on his face was priceless. He was surprised beyond words.

"It's up to you now," Jared said.

"Finally," Nate said and threw himself into our arms.

"Thank you, Jay. This is the best birthday present ever." Nate said, "Thank you, Mom. Can I call you Dad?"

"I would like that. Thank you, Nate," Jared said very fervently.

"I love you, Nate, and I love your mom. I admire your independence, your charming personality, how you take care of your mom. I
admire your caring nature, and you're well-mannered, a perfect gentleman, and you leave such an impression on everyone you meet. You are a blessing and I would be honored to have you as my son."

"Thank you for taking care of my mom. She's much more fun since she met you."

"I wasn't fun before?"

"Mom, listen. I said much
more
fun," Nate clarified. "So, when are you guys getting married?"

Jared looked me in the eye. "Nate, you'll be the first to know when we have made that decision."

"Hope it's soon. You two are not getting any
younger," Nate said. Jared and I laughed.

"Nate, you are too much. I'm going downstairs. I'm starving."

.

J.C. was sitting on the sofa watching the local news. Aunt Maggie was cleaning the kitchen. She stopped and placed a cup of chai tea, a
bowl of fruit, and a bagel in front of us.

"How is everything, J.C.?" I asked.

"I'm doing great, Kyra. How are you?"

It suddenly occurred to me that I did not see their car in the driveway.

"How did you guys get here?"

"The helo."

"And where did you land the helicopter?" I looked
through my window into the backyard to see if I had missed something.

"In the lot next to the tennis court."

A news brief on the television caught my attention. A
reporter stood at the entrance of St. Mary's South. "There have been speculations that one of our largest hospital systems has gone private. Sources says that St. Mary's Healthcare System was brought by an unknown investor for a whopping $4 billion dollars..."

I jumped as Jared wrapped his arms around me from behind. He buried his nose in my hair.

"You need to get some sleep." He came around and stood in front of me. "Nate is spending the day with me, and we'll meet up
with his friends later for laser tag."

"Baby, are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Remember, he has school tomorrow."

"J.C. will pick you up in the morning."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want a repeat of this morning."

"You heard about that already?"

"Do you really drive home in that condition every morning?"

"No."

"J.C will pick you up." He kissed me gently. I grabbed the lapel of his jacket and held him against my lips. He knew what I
wanted and kissed me deeper.

Jared had asked me countless times to move into his apartment and make it our home, and just as many times I had refused. I was certain by now that the word "no" was no longer foreign to him. Then
one night after some raging hot, amorous sex - his face so close to mine his breath caressed my face - he asked again. With my mind still not lucid, and floating in the clouds from our lovemaking, I answered yes. His persistence
eventually wore me down, or maybe he caught me at my weakest moment.

I agreed to weekends only. Even though that was not what he wanted, he had no choice but to agree. Then the real negotiations began on the day and time. My terms were through Sundays, but that was too vague for him. As
usual he ended up coming out on top by suckering me to agree to Friday mornings to Monday mornings.

I greatly anticipated our weekends together and hated when they came to an end, but for now that was the arrangement. I did not want to
totally give up my life, my home, my independence. The days when I was at home, it was freedom and normalcy. When I was with him, his world was reserved, guarded, and sheltered. Why did it have to be so difficult? Why couldn't he be
a normal guy? I loved being with him and yearned for that, but I loved even more my simple, normal life.

.

Shai was an attractive woman with dark brown hair pulled back in a bun. She had a decisive, confident air about her. Deep in her dark
brown eyes was a determined, killer look. A woman who could kick ass and look good doing it: someone who could take a man twice her size down in the blink of an eye.

"Kyra, this is Shai," J.C. said. As I exited the
hospital, they were standing next to the same black Dodge that had been following me all week and waiting to take me to Jared's apartment. Jared did not trust that I would follow our agreement of me going from home to work.

"Miss Harris, nice to finally meet you." She smiled.

"Please call me Kyra."

"As you wish, ma'am."

"Please, do not call me ma'am either."

"Can I have your keys?" J.C. asked, his hand outstretched.

"I can drive," I said clutching the keys.

"Do you want to get me in trouble?"

"No."

"It's safer if I drive."

I handed him the keys to the Benz that Jared insisted I drive to work. "You heard about that incident at the light?"

Without a response, he opened the passenger side door for me to get in.

"So was it Shai who has been following me all week?" I asked J.C. when he got in the car.

I looked back and the black Dodge was behind us.

"Yes, she is your bodyguard."

"My bodyguard! I told Jared I didn't need a bodyguard."

J.C. was silent.

"Where is she from?"

"She's Israeli."

"Israeli?"

"She is ex-Mossad, and very good at what she does. Don't let her size and demeanor fool you. She is the best, very lethal, and
will protect you at all cost."

"Why do I have an ex-Mossad as my bodyguard? Aren't they like spies and assassins, trained to kill?" I was flabbergasted.

"As I said, Kyra, she's the best at what they do."

"Do I need a bodyguard, J.C.? Is there something I need to know?"

"Kyra, I know Jay better than anybody else. We go way
back. He protects the ones he loves, and if he thinks you need protection you do."

"Do you think I need protection? Maybe he's overreacting."

He silently stared at the road ahead.

"Please, J.C. I won't say anything."

"Yes, you do need protection, and Jared trusted me with this task."

"Is Nate in danger?"

"No, he's not, Kyra." He stared ahead.

I did not believe he answered me honestly. I remember Jared once said that his business dealings had left him with his share of enemies. Did my relationship with him place me and my son in danger?

We drove the rest of the way to Jared's apartment in silence. I'd just have to find a way to get the truth out of Jared.

Jared's apartment was quiet. He had already left for work. Shai followed me in and then disappeared down the hallway. Anxious to get out
of my work uniform and take a long, steamy, hot shower, I made my way across the living room.

"Good morning," Aunt Maggie said from the top of the stairs.

"Aunt Maggie!" I exclaimed. "What are you
doing here?"

"Jared asked if I could come and take care of you and Nate."

"Aunt Magg, you didn't have to."

"I'm happy to be here. Where else do you think I'd want
to be?" she asked as she made her way down the stairs.

"Nate is at school?"

"We took him."

"We?"

"Jared and I."

"Did anything happen that I need to know about?"

"No," she answered certainly. "We were both heading out at the same time and he offered to take us there."

Nate's school was an hour away in the opposite direction from Jared's office, so I was skeptical. I needed more info, yet I could not make Aunt Magg suspicious.

"So, how did Nate feel about Jared taking him to
school?"

"He was thrilled at the idea and even more so when Jared offered to walk him in."

Why would he walk him in?

Aunt Maggie looped her hand through mine and we climbed the
stairs together. At the end of the hall, she opened a door. The once empty room was now Nate's room. He definitely would not miss his room at home when he was here on weekends. He had everything he wanted and more. Next to Nate's room was
Aunt Maggie's. I wished Jay had told me these things. He took everything from my life and placed it right in his without consulting me first.

"I'm happy you're here." I hugged Aunt Magg. She
had never had kids of her own, never been married. We were her life.

I placed a call to Jared as I made my way back downstairs to take the shower my fatigued body desired.

"Good morning, my love," Jared answered his phone.

"Are you busy?"

"Not for you."

"Can you imagine how surprised I was when I got to your apartment and Aunt Magg was there?"

"Our apartment, and that was my intent. I wanted to surprise you."

"And I was, Jared, but it's decisions like these I wish you would discuss with me first. Don't get me wrong. I'm glad they're here and
I know you meant well."

"Then it wouldn't have been a surprise if I had told you first. My home is yours and Nate and Aunt Magg are welcome there. Home away from home."

I did not want to argue with him. Instead, I decided to pay
him a visit. My first time at his office.

I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I got dressed in an ivory corset bodice dress with a tiny, pink jeweled belt. A very sexy, fun,
flirty dress. The skirt was pleated and caught me a few inches above my knee showing plenty of leg, and the pink Louboutin pump defined my calves and did wonders for my legs.

"Kyra, are you going out?" J.C. asked. He and Shai
were huddled over some paperwork at the kitchen counter.

"I would like to pay Jared an unexpected visit."

"I'll take you, Miss Harris," Shai said and strode toward the door.

Shai and I took the elevators to the 15
^th
floor of the Onyx Building. The receptionist at the desk smiled and welcomed us to Stern Enterprise. Shai waved and I followed her to another elevator, discretely hidden away from the others, where she punched in a code, scanned her palm, and
the door opened. We took the elevator up an additional four floors. We exited the elevator and at the end of the hall was a huge glass wall with a smartly dressed, middle aged woman behind the desk. The glass door quietly slid open.
She stood up and came around the desk with her hand extended for a handshake.

"Miss Harris, I'm Jess. I'm so glad to finally meet you."

I shook her hand. "Please call me Kyra."

"Certainly. J.C. called ahead and told me you were on the way."

"It's a surprise. Does Jared know I'm coming?"

"Oh no," she replied. "I think he's on the
phone."

"Can I go in?"

"Certainly."

"Thank you. It's a pleasure, Jess."

"Likewise."

The huge double door with the signature "S" carved into it opened silently, and I gently closed it behind me. I leaned against the door watching him, admiring his office. Jared was standing facing the glass wall that overlooked the city and the Bay. He was on the phone.

"Jack, I saw the income statements, cash flow, allocation of revenue, profit projection. I saw it all and I know right now it does not look good, but we have to do this, and liquidation of St. Mary's South
assets is not an option."

He paused listening to Jack. Frustrated, he ran his hand over his head.

"This is very important to me, Jack. The other hospitals in the system have carried St. Mary's South for years. We also have
the surplus. The hospital serves those who cannot afford insurance, and I don't want that to change because we are going private. We'll have to make it work, Jack," Jared said adamantly and then listened for the response.

"I don't have to report to anyone," he said crisply. "It's not always about the money. Send the paperwork."

He was less abrasive now. "Say hi to Julie and the girls for me."

Jay hung up the phone, but did not move. He stood motionless in front of the glass wall, his hand folded across his chest staring out the window deep in thought. His strong, masculine physique beckoned to me. I wanted
to rest my cheek against his powerful back and wrap my hands around him, stroking his well-built, muscular chest. He was fighting to save St. Mary's South to keep it the way it was, to serve the people it had always served. He was fighting for the poor, homeless, and uninsured. He was fighting because he
knew how much this meant to me.

My phone in my handbag rang. Jay turned and dashed toward me. He pulled me in his arms, and our lips met soft, warm, and tender.

"I like this surprise," Jared said. He stuck his
head outside the door and told Jess to hold his calls. Then he locked the door behind us.

"Nice office, nice view."

"Would you like the grand tour?"

"I did not come here for a grand tour, Mr. Stern." I took his hand and led him to his chair.

"Sit," I ordered. He smiled and immediately obeyed.

"Mr. Stern, I have a situation."

He lifted his thick, beautifully arched eyebrows. Any woman would have killed for those natural beauties.

"I'm here to get my fix. I've been going through
withdrawal...and let's officially christen your new office."

I sat on the desk in front of him and placed a foot on each armrest on either side of him. With my legs wide apart, my dress rode up to my mid-thigh.

"I get the christening part, but what fix are you
talking about?" He was feigning ignorance.

"Mr. Stern, I'm an addict and I'm going through withdrawal." I slowly opened and closed my legs. His eyes were transfixed
on my legs as they opened and closed; he was hypnotized by them.

"Withdrawal?" he asked absentmindedly.

"You are my drug, Mr. Stern. Now I personally know what it feels like to be an addict and go through withdrawal." I continued to
open and close my legs. His eyes traveled up my legs to the meeting of my thighs.

In a sexy voice I continued. "I can't sleep, I can't eat, I'm sweating profusely, very irritable and restless, and I'm having this
ache all the way down here." I placed my hand between my legs to the spot that had held his eyes captive.

"Mr. Stern, only you have the cure."

In a flash, Jared was out of the chair and I was flat on my
back on his desk, my legs held up in the air. My dress was above my waist and I was exposed.

"No underwear. I like...You never cease to amaze me, Kyra." He looked deep into my eyes. "Now how am I going to cure your
withdrawal? How can I stop the ache down here?" He slid his hand between my legs. I moaned and raised my hips as he continued to caress my clit.

"Do you want me to make love to you, or..."

"Forget the foreplay, Jared, and fuck me." I wanted him so bad it hurt.

"Kyra, baby," he said teasingly. "That's no language for a lady."

"I'm your perfect lady, except behind closed doors when
these two hot bodies meet and if Nikki Wild comes out to play. I'm that dirty tramp who will do anything to make you happy."

I grabbed his tie and yanked him down. "Kiss me."

He did hard and deep. Then he grabbed my legs and yanked me to the edge of his desk. I heard his pants fall to the ground, and he was in me forcefully. I welcomed him, all of him. The momentum built, the sweet pain, the
unbearable pleasure as he welded his powerful weapon in me deeper and deeper into an abyss of pure, unadulterated pleasure. I shivered uncontrollably, from the amazing, overwhelming ecstasy. I closed my eyes; my hand went to my belly, the baby. The thrusting stopped. He pulled me to my feet, his penis glistening
with my juices pointing majestically upwards. Jared turned me around and bent me over the desk exposing my butt. He lifted my left leg and placed it on the chair. He entered me again slowly. I pushed back on him meeting his thrust
eagerly, wanting him buried deep within me. He gave me what I wanted; his powerful hips plunged his manhood so deep within me, I felt a stinging sensation in the area between my v-jay and ass and I knew I had a tear or maybe
two. Stopping him never crossed my mind; I wanted to please him more than anything. Jared had taken me places sexually that I thought were impossible for me. Never had I imagined that I could have an orgasm, and feared that the sexual inadequacies that had plagued me would interfere with our relationship,
prohibiting me from reciprocating the passion he so willingly bestowed on me.

"Oh Kyra, you are so, so sweet," he moaned. "I love you, Kyra. This coochie is going to fucking kill me."