She Belongs to Me (32 page)

She looked up at Jordan, and he grinned widely. “Do you like it?”

“I love it;
it’s perfect. How did you? When did you? Never mind…” She shook her head. He was always full of surprises.

His fingers lifted the little heart around her neck. “I noticed you only wear the same charm around your neck, and I wondered
…
” He didn’t continue with what he was saying, but she knew what he was suggesting. He
was
jealous.

“Jordan…my stepsister gave me this. She wasn’t my stepsister long; she was the daughter of one of my dad’s passing marriages. You thought…you actually thought I would wear something my ex gave me?”

He looked down sheepishly before speaking. “I wouldn’t begrudge you, if that were the case. But yes, I did wonder, and yes…I admit it, I
am
insanely jealous, and I have never felt this way about anyone. I don’t like to even imagine, the thought of you—” He stopped speaking as pain filled his eyes. He sighed then continued. “When I think about you with someone else, I feel things I don’t want to. When I even think of him or anyone else who has ever….wounded you, it makes me want to hurt them, and I know that is not a very Christian attitude, but—”

“Well then,” she cut him off. “Don’t think about such things. I am here with you, and I love you more than anyone else in the world.” She rested her hands on his clinched fists resting against his sides.

His hands encircled hers. “So you are not angry that I am acting ridiculous
and
jealous.” His eyes were concerned, as though he’d admitted a great weakness.

She pulled her hands away and reached behind her neck to unhook the latch of her necklace. “No, it is rather flattering.
As long as it doesn’t get out of control.
As long as you understand you have no
reason
to be jealous.”

Noticing what she was doing, he moved to assist her, but she’d already unlatched the chain. He held out his hand to accept the necklace from her and removed the heart placing it in her hand, proceeding to put the cross on the chain. She threw the heart across the room as further proof it meant nothing. She’d have to remember to find it later and dispose of it properly.

“Allow me,” he said, draping the chain around her neck, fastening the latch and then straightening it until the catch was behind her neck and the cross rested in the center of her chest. “Perfect.
Happy birthday, my bride.”
He leaned forward to kiss her but then pulled her down onto the bed and gathered her in his arms. “I love you too, more than you can comprehend.”

They lay together in silence; just their breaths filled the air. She could feel her eyes fill with water at the overwhelming emotions. Just lying next to her husband, she could feel the love he held for her and the love she undeniably felt for him. He was everything she had ever hoped and dreamed of in a companion. She couldn’t see her feelings ever changing and could only hope it was the same for him. Tomorrow, he’d return to being a police officer, and that made her anxious again, worried about his safety.

What would she do all day? College wouldn’t start again for more than three months. She could write…lengthen the story she was writing. She could add a love interest, something she hadn’t contemplated before, it was a depressing story. There had only been the love between a divorced mother, her father and her son. But now, she could envision it, there could be another character. A love interest who would accept her heroine for who she was, despite her preceding difficulties, a gentleman who could offer her character hope to love again. Yes, she could visualize it and knew exactly how it would fit into her story.

Jordan reached up and touched her face. “What are you thinking about?”

She rolled over on her side, facing him.
“You…always you.”
She traced patterns over his chest and down his side. With her fingers, she outlined the strong muscles of his
lats
and felt consumed with a hunger for him. “Make love to me, Jordan.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” he said casually, but then moved with indomitable speed as he flipped her to her back. She gasped at the suddenness of his attack but felt overcome with excitement as she searched his eyes. They burned with desire. “You’re mine, Jaynee, forever,” he said with vehemence.

She wondered if his words, rather his claim, should annoy her. She felt engulfed by his statement, wanting only to drown in his fervor, but she hoped his possessiveness wouldn’t inundate her.

63

Chapter
Twenty-Four

(December 2009)

Jordan called his mother and asked her to come to Jaynee’s room.

After hearing the news from the doctor, she had been on the phone telling everyone that Jaynee awoke, even if for only a couple seconds.

Dr. McMullen had explained to Jordan that the hospital had to inform the detectives that Jaynee had woken up.

It was the perfect time then. Not that he wanted to leave Jaynee’s side, but he was a detective too, and it wasn’t often things slipped his notice. He had been too distraught the last couple of days to pay attention, but something had been eating at him. Something he planned to resolve permanently.

When Pat walked in the room, her eyes widened. “What is it, Jordan? What happened?” She must have discerned his look. She knew him well.

He shook his head and huffed. Now was not the time to calm down. It was time to prepare. “Nothing, Mom, I just need a moment, and I don’t want to leave Jaynee alone. Do you hear me; don’t leave her side. I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said firmly, walking out of the room with determination. He looked first into the
undersized waiting room designated for the ICU unit and then descended the stairs to the main waiting area when he didn’t find who he was looking for.

As he exited the stairwell, he saw him, leaning back in a chair, looking a little too composed as if he had just received good news.

He sucked in a deep breath and attempted to control his tone.
“Hey, Brian!”
He’d caught the loser off-guard.

Brian’s chin turned up instinctively. An expletive escaped his mouth. It was all Jordan needed. He crossed the floor in seconds, jerked him from the chair by his jacket and proceeded to drag him outside, as onlookers gawked in disbelief. Brian was taller than he was, by about four inches, but Jordan was larger and angry. He had the man by at least twenty pounds he estimated, even with the difference in height
.
It was cold outside, but Jordan couldn’t feel anything but fire pump through his veins as he held the scumbag up. “Who the hell do you think you are, and why are you here?” Jordan exploded, not waiting for an answer. He gripped Brian by the collar with his left hand and cold-cocked him with his right. The degenerate struggled to stand erect while Jordan pounded another punch into his mouth. His face turned blood red under his hands. “She doesn’t belong to you! You had your chance, and you blew it
.
She Belongs to Me,
” Jordan seethed. “Now you want to return, and take what’s mine?” He punched him again but then pulled back. “She almost died because of you.” He released a breath. He needed answers, and a crowd had started to surround them. Jordan released Brian’s collar, allowing him to plummet to the concrete.

Brian gasped for air. “It’s not what you think,” he blurted out. “I just wanted to see her. I didn’t hurt her. I would never hurt Caycee.” He started to stand up but cowered under Jordan’s glare.

Brian lifted his hands to shield his face as Jordan pulled back to deliver another blow. “How did you know she was here? How long have you been seeing each other?” Jordan’s throat was raw with emotion. It was hard enough to believe something, it was another thing all together to have his worst nightmare confirmed.

Brian didn’t try to get up this time. “We weren’t seeing each other, but I was there Friday night. I saw her—” His words broke off as Jordan launched again.

He could see nothing but red, as he hurled his body at Brian. This sleazebag had been at his house. How could she? He heard the police sirens, but it didn’t matter, nothing mattered anymore.

“Listen!” Brian shrieked as Jordan encircled his throat with his hands, ready to squeeze the life out of him. “I wasn’t with Caycee. I was watching her. I know it was wrong, but you have to listen…there was someone else, a woman…”

Jordan stopped, but didn’t release his hands from his throat. “You weren’t having an affair?” He removed his hands from the man’s throat but grabbed a handful of his jacket with his fist.

“
I wish
,” Brian snorted, but obviously witnessing the fierce look in Jordan’s eyes, he recoiled. “Sorry, dude, it’s been a long time. I just wanted to talk, but she refused.”

So they had talked. He knew something was wrong, but was thankful it wasn’t what he thought. It still irritated him though, that Jaynee had withheld information.

A police cruiser screeched to a stop behind them. Jordan turned around, but continued to hold on to Brian, pulling him to his feet.

The officer jumped out of the car, but crouched behind the door, gun drawn. “Hands over your heads,” the officer yelled.

Jordan immediately let go of Brian and raised his hands, noticing Brian did the same. Jord
an knew to raise his hands. And
because of his lifestyle, Brian was certainly accustomed to the familiar drill.

The officer straightened up and walked toward them after assessing the situation. “What’s going on here, gentlemen?”

“A misunderstanding, sir,” Brian answered without a moment’s hesitation.

Jordan let his eyes wander from the officer for a second, glowering at Brian. Why would he let him off that easy? He’d just pummeled the guy. He should’ve wanted the officer to arrest him.

Another police car pulled up, this one an unmarked car. Out stepped two detectives, Nelson Williams and Len
Powe
.

“Hello, Jordan, having troubles?” Detective
Powe
drawled, smiling.

The uniformed officer glanced at the detective then jutting his chin toward Jordan asked, “You know this guy?”

“Yeah, he’s one of ours,”
Powe
responded. “Is everything okay, Jordan? We heard your wife woke up.”

Jordan lowered his hands after a glimpse to the uniformed officer, Brian followed. “Yeah, everything’s cool, but we need to talk.”

Detective Nelson walked over to the uniformed officer. “Officer, my partner and I need to interview Jordan. Is it okay if he comes with us?”

“Unless this man wants to press charges for assault,” the officer retorted, gesturing his chin at Brian.

“Like I said,” Brian repeated. “It was a misunderstanding.”

The officer turned and walked to his patrol car, shaking his head as he left. Jordan didn’t know how he felt that Brian was giving him a pass, but again, he was grateful. Of course, now a discussion needed to occur between the four of them.

Brian rubbed his chin. “Man, dude, you got a mean blow,” Brian complained, as he followed them into the hospital. “I think you knocked my jaw loose.”

Jordan couldn’t suppress a grin. He had been holding back, afraid to inflict too much damage and not retrieve answers. He had always wanted to do that for Jaynee’s sake anyway, so he was thankful to get the opportunity. He realized now why Brian hadn’t wanted to press charges. The loser was surely on parole. No matter who got the blame, it wouldn’t look good to be in a fight. He probably wasn’t supposed to leave Florida for that matter, so Jordan could use that against Brian if necessary.

“Williams!
Powe
!”
Jordan called ahead. They both turned. “Hey, take Brian to the cafeteria. He was at my residence the night Jaynee was shot. I’ll be there in a few minutes. I want to see if
my
wife is awake.” Jordan glared at Brian, and then turned his back on the men, bounding up the stairs two at a time, the elevator too slow for him
.

Jordan pushed through the heavy metal door making his way back to his wife’s room, hoping she had not awoke while he was gone but that she would wake the instant he returned. He
was
selfish he realized.

Pat was sitting by the bed, her nose buried in a novel, Jaynee’s hand in hers. She scowled as he entered the room. His mother missed nothing.

He ignored his mother’s glower. “Anything new happen?”

Pat shook her head and stood up to let Jordan take her spot. He shot a glance at the monitor at the change in the rhythmic beeps. Jaynee’s pulse had quickened at the sound of his voice. He felt triumphant. Jaynee had been upset, scared even, but she wasn’t having an affair with Brian. He didn’t know how long Brian had been harassing her, and for the life of him, he couldn’t fathom why she wouldn’t tell him about his stalking if she was aware of it.

He lowered his head to her ear and whispered in it the way he did when she would oversleep and he wanted her to
wakeup
. “Jaynee, I’m here. Please wakeup, darling.” Familiar feelings soared through him, feelings he hadn’t felt in months. She still loved him he assured himself.