Chapter Ten
Jason had finished the business call to invest in a new, up and coming company that wanted to change the way the adult business was seen. They were going to take porn by storm in the hope of bringing in more of a female market. Erotica was really storming the world, and more women were hoping to find romance with a steamy edge, that wasn’t all about the blessed cum shot, and more about the couples in general.
He still played the stock markets, and got a lovely profit every year to keep him comfortable. Once Jason sat down and really started to assess his financial situation, he’d seen that he’d not needed to spend the last ten years in front of a camera. He’d not spent his time blowing each of his paychecks on expensive clothes or wine. Jason had always been planning for a rainy day.
His website was still earning money. However, he’d posted that Bone Harder had decided to leave the industry behind to pursue other avenues.
Everything was coming together in his life. The only thing that remained was Sydney. He’d gone to the shop several times, and he’d looked through the window to see her working. Not once had he gotten the courage to actually enter. Rejection had never been a problem to him until now. He feared her screaming at him to leave.
Running a hand down his face, he made his way into the kitchen and put the kettle on. He was reaching for a cup when someone knocked at his door.
Leaving the kitchen, he went to answer, and was shocked to find Dawn waiting for him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I come in peace.” She held her hand up in surrender and winced. “And really bad alien film slogans as well.”
“You’re not an alien life force.” He leaned against the door.
“I don’t know. But sisters going crazy doesn’t seem to be a theme. I checked.”
“Then you’re just one of a kind.”
He moved away, giving her a chance to enter his space.
She stepped inside and turned to him. “I’m really sorry.”
“I don’t know why you’ve come he—”
“I saw the post you made a couple of days ago. I’ve been around Sydney, and I saw that post, and I talked to Richard. You’re both miserable.”
“So?”
“So, I think it’s time I came to have a talk with you,” she said. “Sydney loves you.”
“I love her as well.”
“You left the industry behind. Why?”
“I love her a hell of a lot more than I ever loved my job.” He moved toward the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”
“I’m hotheaded, and a bitch,” Dawn said, following him. “Syd, she’s my little sister, and I love her. She’s the world to me, and her crazy ass baking.” She chuckled. “I was worried about her, and I thought you were playing her.”
“I wouldn’t do that to any woman.”
“I know that now. I’m not a great judge of character it would seem.”
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“Go to her, please. Go and talk to her, see her. Do whatever it is that you do to make her happy again. I can’t stand to see my sister sad anymore. She’s a wonderful woman, and I hate the fact I did that to her.”
“You’d accept me in her life?” Jason lowered the spoon that he’d been using to put sugar into the cup.
“Yes. Don’t get me wrong. I was a little freaked out that I’d seen your dick, and you fucking a lot of different woman, and I’d even experienced an orgasm while watching you.” Dawn went bright red as she looked at him. “There you go. I can handle that if you can.”
“I love Sydney. I’m changing who I am for her, and I’m going to love her for the rest of my life, I promise you.”
Dawn crossed the distance and hugged him. “Thank you for making her so happy. I know with you she’s happy.”
“I hope she’ll take me back.”
“Sydney will take you back. She loves you so much.”
Jason nodded then finished off his tea, and handed her a cup.
“I guess this is to the future.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to have an ex-porn star in the family.” She giggled, taking a sip of her tea. Dawn winced. “I can’t drink tea though. I prefer coffee. I’ve got to go now and get to work before my boss fires me. I always push my luck with him.” She chuckled, leaving his apartment.
It was the strangest encounter he’d ever had with a woman.
****
“How are you?” Richard asked later that day when he stopped by after work. He looked exhausted, and Jason phoned for a pizza for the two of them.
“I purchased this,” Jason said, handing him the velvet box.
“You’re going to ask her to marry you?”
“I’m going to try. I’ve not actually spoken to her yet.” Jason sat down by his friend, opening the box to show the diamond ring.
Richard whistled. “I let Dawn know where you lived.”
“She stopped by. I think we’ll be okay with each other. She loves her sister, and that’s fair enough. I love Sydney.”
They were both stopped from talking by the sound of a knock at the door.
“That must be the pizza.” He handed the box to Richard then made his way toward the door. Jason opened the door without checking to see who it was.
Sydney stood at the door with her hand raised again.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hello.” His heart pounded as he looked at the woman he loved. She was so beautiful even though she looked a little pale. “I thought you were pizza.”
“I’ve been called a lot of things in my day, but a pizza is not one of them.” She laughed, and her cheeks heated.
Jason wanted to reach out and touch her to know that she was real.
“I couldn’t stay away another moment,” she said, taking him by surprise.
He didn’t say anything.
“I love you, Jason, and I really don’t care that you’re a porn star. I accept you whatever way you are. I love you, and I’m sorry.”
“I lied about being a PA, but everything else, that was the truth. I swear I didn’t lie to you about anything else.”
She rushed into his arms, and he closed his eyes, holding her close.
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too.”
“You’d really accept me for who I am?”
“Yes.”
“You amaze me, baby. I quit the industry,” he said, tugging her into his apartment.
“I think it’s time I left,” Richard said, coming to the door.
“Take the pizza on your way out. I don’t need it.” Jason smiled at his friend and closed the door behind him.
Jason didn’t let Sydney go as he held onto her. They moved to the sofa, and he cupped her cheek, amazed that she was back in his arms.
“I’ve never been so miserable in my life,” she said.
“Me neither. I love you, baby.”
“And I love you. You don’t know how much.” She closed the distance, pressing her lips against his.
He moaned, sliding his tongue into her mouth.
She pressed her hand to his chest and pulled back. “I went to the doctors to get checked,” she said.
Jason smiled. “I figured you would. You were hurt, and it was my fault.” He stroked her cheek, staring into her eyes. “You’re so damn beautiful.”
“You’re out of the business?” she asked, clearly confused.
“I’m out of the business. I’m investing my money, and I’m not going to be with another woman again. You’re the only one I want, and it has been that way for some time.” He pressed a kiss to her lips.
She smiled at him. “I would have accepted what you did. I wouldn’t have asked about your day or what you did, but I’d have learned to accept you for you.”
“God, I love you.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw the velvet box. “I know we’ve known each other a couple of weeks, but I really am in love with you, Sydney.” He picked up the box and held it up in front of him. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Sydney gasped and stared at the box then at him. “You’re proposing to me?”