CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MCKINLEY

I’ve spent the last several hours trying to figure out what this surprise is, because I’m like a kid, and cannot handle the suspense. I even called Mia, and we spent an hour on the phone debating about it. I haven’t talked to her much lately, so it was nice to have some girl time, even if it was over the phone. She had to go to Paris for fashion week, but we made plans to meet up sometime soon, because I miss her, and she says we need to celebrate me no longer being with the abusive asshole.

The thing is, I never saw it as abuse. There wasn’t one time when I didn’t think I deserved it. I thought if I’d just lose weight, I’d be worthy of him. I knew I was overweight. Not by a ton, but I am not thin. He had a point, or so I thought. Now Jagger says my weight isn’t a problem, and it confuses me. Every time he looks at me, it’s like he’s perfectly fine with my appearance, but I have to wonder if he wouldn’t prefer me smaller. Like Mia.

I’m sitting in the living room of his current penthouse suite. It’s lavish as hell. There’s a black ‘L’ shaped couch I’m currently sitting on. The walls are painted dark gray, with a large painting of a wolf on one wall. It seems out of place, even though it’s beautiful. Across the room there are three steps to a room that features a black grand piano, and a few guitars. It’s funny because it seems like the room was designed for Jagger, but maybe they get a lot of musicians here.

The door opens, and Jagger stands there staring at me, for what feels like a long moment. He slams it shut behind him and charges toward me. Leaning down, he takes my face in his big hands and presses his lips to mine. Sliding his right hand in my hair, he holds my head in place while he tilts his, and moves his tongue with mine. By the time he pulls back, I’m nearly panting with need.

“That is one hell of a greeting, Mr. Wild.”

He winks at me. “Are you ready?”

I have no idea what I’m ready for, but I nod in agreement because, whatever he has planned, I’m fine with it as long as I’m with him.

We walk up the steps to the plane and I ask, “Where are we going?”

He said he didn’t have a show today, so I’m confused as to why we are stepping onto a plane. Mid-step he stops, and speaks directly into my ear, “Somewhere I plan to fuck you nonstop, filthy girl.”

He chuckles at my expression as we continue walking onto the plane.

“That could be anywhere, Wild.”

We make our way to the back of the plane, and he points to his favorite spot. It’s a section with lots of legroom, and I take a seat. He sits beside me. “Get comfortable, baby. It’s going to be a long flight.”

“To?” I ask.

He laughs loudly. “Nice try, filthy girl.”

With a grin, he says, “Let’s play twenty questions.”

“Why?”

He strums my leg like it’s a guitar, causing me to giggle.

“I want to know everything about you, baby. You get two passes, if there’s something you don’t want to answer.”

I swallow hard, but nod in agreement. Hopefully he asks easy questions, like ‘what’s your favorite color’. There’s a lot about myself I have not told him, and I’m not honestly sure if I ever will. I just want to leave the past in the past, because if I don’t, I will lose him.

“Ladies first,” he says, with a gorgeous ear to ear grin.

“Favorite book?”

“Hmm,” he says while he strokes his fingers on his chin, as if he’s in deep thought.

He laughs. “Alright. I have two answers, depending on who asks. 1984 by George Orwell is one of my favorites. That’s my answer, for the media, but my actual favorite book is The Velveteen Rabbit. ”

I look at him like he’s nuts, and he might be.

“ The Velveteen Rabbit and 1984 are two very different books, Jagger.”

He chuckles softly as he grabs my legs and pulls them onto his lap. Stroking his fingers down my leg, he explains.

“My mother read The Velveteen Rabbit to me at least a couple hundred times. When we have kids, I’ll do the same.”

I look away from him quickly. “Jagger, I don’t want kids.”

He doesn’t respond, instead he says, “My turn. Favorite song you’ve never heard me sing.”

“Well, I like all kinds of music, but my favorite non Dark Notes song is probably Cherry Popsicle by Jann Arden. ”

He looks at me with surprise. “A Canadian artist?”

I nod. “I really like Amanda Marshall too.”

“Alright. I know my next question. Your turn.”

“Nothing really happened with the girl on your lap? I feel like maybe you didn’t tell me the entire truth.”

He sighs audibly as he takes my hands in his.

“Jesus, baby, I swear to you nothing happened. Have I been with her before? Unfortunately, yes. That was before you. They were all before you.”

I squeeze my eyes tight, because while I don’t blame him for anything that happened before he met me, it still stings.

“Your turn.”

He clears his throat. “How did you find the Canadian artists?”

I say. “I lived there for a few years.”

“Why?” He asks, and I’m terrified this will lead to more questions about my parents.

Pulling on the bottom of my shirt, trying to disappear within myself, I answer him reluctantly.

“One of my mother’s many relationships. She fell in love a lot.”

Lifting my eyes to his face, I see the questions, but for some reason I don’t know, he doesn’t push for more. He nods to me, I think letting me know it’s my turn.

“Any brothers or sisters?”

Pulling my hand to his lips, he kisses my knuckles softly before answering my question.

“Only child, baby. They had the best in one go, and decided they were good with perfection.”

I roll my eyes. “Do you always have to be so cocky?”

“Part of my charm, sweetheart. I have one last question.”

Staring into his eyes, I spot a sinister look behind his, and he chuckles at my suspicious expression.

“Are you part of the mile high club?”

Shaking my head, I say, “No, but I’m guessing you are.”

“Actually, I am not, but I want to be.”

I cross my arms over my chest, and glare at him with obvious disbelief. “Jagger Wild, are you lying to me?”

He drags his fingers and makes a cross over his chest. “Scout’s honor, baby. I will never lie to you.”

“Do we have time?”

After undoing my seatbelt, he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me quickly. “We have time for at least fourteen times.”

Fourteen times? Where the hell are we going?