Page 60 of Degrees of Control
“Let me undress you,” I say, slowly unbuttoning his shirt. I slip my hands beneath it at his shoulders, sliding the material over them and down his arms. He is taut with sinewy muscle and I kiss the tip of each erect nipple as I let his shirt fall to the floor, watching the color of his eyes turn from light hazel to dark molten green. My fingers release the hook closure on his dress pants and then his zipper, sliding it down slowly, while he watches me with a passionate intensity. My hands slip under his waistband and he steps out of his pants as they join his shirt on the floor. He is gloriously male, powerful and erect, and the way he is watching me takes my breath away.
“I want to feel your body against mine,” he says, pulling me down with him atop the large white fluffy rug at our feet. We are mere inches from the floor to ceiling stone fireplace. The fire is gently blazing, crackling and popping with the sounds of real burning hardwood and the warmth engulfs our nude bodies. He curls my body against him and his powerful thigh separates mine, entwining my legs with his own, while cradling my head in the crook of his arm.
“Do you know how much you have come to mean to me?” he says, pushing my hair out of my face.
“I feel the same, Chase,” I say, kissing his lips lightly.
“You enjoyed the holiday?” he asks.
“It just dawned on me tonight how much they can mean. My mother and I have always celebrated them, but you know- it’s just been the two of us. It’s hard to explain how I feel right now,” I say, curling into his chest.
“I want nothing more than to make you my wife, start a family and traditions of our own,” he says.
“Even if I was serious about four children?” I ask.
“I’d be more than happy to oblige, but perhaps some practice is in order,” he says, rolling over the top of me, sealing my mouth with his own as he begins to make slow and unhurried love to me.
CHAPTER TWENTY
In the morning, the securityguards escort us to the helipad where the pilot is on standby ready to take us to Prestian Towers. It is the same bright blue helicopter we rode in New York, with larger, more spacious accommodations and a custom, sound-proofed living area.
“I thought you were leaving this parked at LaGuardia?” I ask.
“I purchased two. This one will remain here and we’ll keep the other one at the airport in New York,” he says.
I shake my head still trying to wrap my head around the magnitude of his wealth.
“It’s only money. Don’t let it bother you, Baby. I’d like to avoid the reporters if we can and right now the Prestian Towers helipad is secure,” he says.
The pilot lands on the rooftop and the security guards who have been in the cabin behind the flight crew assist us out and onto the roof. I am prepared for the paparazzi, dressed in a short professional skirt, blouse, blazer and Louboutin heels since the announcement of our wedding plans for Christmas Eve has hit every tabloid in the United States and rumors from unplanned pregnancy to it was always planned for Christmas Eve abound. As we approach the private elevators that go directly to the penthouse suites the doors open and Jay steps out.
“What are you doing here?” Chase asks, bursting into a wide smile as he shakes Jay’s hand.
“Can’t keep me down for long and besides can’t let Sheldon have all the fun,” Jay says, nodding to Sheldon. I know that even though Chase has given him time off until the end of the year with pay, he will not be taking it.
“Do you mind if we look around the Torzial floor? Jenny texted me last night and wants us to see how they set up the space,” I say.
“Let’s stop by then,” Chase says, pushing the button for the private entry to the new Torzial space which now comprises an entire floor of the Prestian Corp towers. Jay seems to have recovered nicely, and he, Chase and Sheldon converse on the way down in the elevator.
As we walk into Torzial I gasp at the sprawl of employees and their stations that have been created. All of the hard work and our plans are finally becoming a reality. “I’m so excited,” I say to Chase.
“You and Jenny should be proud,” he says, pulling me close and kissing the top of my head as he guides me toward the administrative areas and into Jenny’s office. As you walk into the space there is a panoramic view overlooking the sky-rises and lake below. She is working on her Mac when we arrive and squeals in Jenny fashion when she notices the two of us, jumping up from behind her desk and catching me in a large hug.
I can barely control my laughter at her exuberance. “Jenny, it’s amazing. We walked through the floor and everything is perfect,” I say.
“Well, you helped develop the structure. The rest of it was just logistics,” she says, shrugging off her part in the creation of the space. “All the employees are moved in, but a few aren’t slated to start until next week. Design and maintenance are still working to get their space prepared before they start,” she says.
“Jenny, you have done an incredible job with the space. We’re going to need the entire team onboard, very quick. If Katarina hasn’t told you already we’ve got the two facilities here in the city, two in southern Illinois, and we’re in negotiations for two in New York.”
“She did, and while they are going to be larger than the one here in Chicago, we’ll gain a lot of productivity efficiencies utilizing what we’ve learned from Texas and Chicago. The hospital in Houston is not only reducing readmissions, but they’re at the point now of preventing the admission from occurring in the first place,” Jenny says.
“Yes, quality is increasing and the cost of healthcare is going down. I couldn’t be more pleased with where we’re headed,” Chase says before his phone vibrates and he looks down at the message. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I’m sure you need time to catch up. Brian just arrived upstairs and we need to discuss a few things before our next meeting,” he says, kissing me soundly on the mouth before he and Jay head toward the elevator.
Sheldon stays behind with me and I know there are a multitude of security men surrounding the building and keeping us safe from afar. Jenny pours three cups of coffee, giving Sheldon a cup to take back to the space he’s claimed outside of her office as we settle in to discuss the Torzial expansion.
“Everything is going according to the plan we developed before we left for Brazil. As you can see everyone seems to be settling in nicely to their new roles here in Chicago. We still have a lot of work to do in New York though, especially since they are already negotiating contracts. I didn’t anticipate that happening until next spring,” Jenny says.
“I didn’t think the requests for other healthcare organizations would come in as quickly as they did either, but the clip from the Houston design and the impacts to quality and service scores are most likely driving some of that. Chase and Brian received multiple national requests after that video went live. Health care organizations can’t afford to wait, and everyone wants to get ahead of this before the reimbursement models change,” I say.
