Chapter 14
Chapter
14
He wanted to crush his mouth to hers. Her
scent was intoxicating, the slender curves against him seemed to fit
perfectly. His mind was dulled, his senses alert and filled with her.
One hand came up to cup her neck, the fingers massaging the satiny
skin. His eyes bored into hers as if wanting to see past the
golden-brown irises and into her soul.
"Jack."
The whispered sound of his name coming from
her lips sent heat roaring through his body.
"I want you," he ground out as if
the words had been torn from him. "So damn much." It was as
if he had not been able to help himself, to contain the words that he
would never have spoken in normal circumstances. But everything was
happening swiftly.
"I'm here." Her hands drifted
over his chest and felt when his muscles quivered. His eyes darkened
as she moved closer, pressing herself against him.
"Kiss me." The plea was in her
eyes and voice and still he hesitated. He wanted to think, to
rationalize, to draw back and take the control that seemed to slip
away whenever she was near him.
Taking the decision away from him, she
leaned in and simply brushed her lips over his. His breath shuddered
out and it was all he could do not to accept the blatant invitation
and ravage her. He wanted to swallow her whole.
She nibbled on his lower lip, teasing him
with the faintest touch before pulling back ever so slightly, her
breath mingling with his. A low growl rumbled from deep within his
chest, a primal sound that spoke volumes more than any words could.
Sliding her hands around his neck, she
pressed even closer, molding her body against his.
With a muttered oath, he captured her
teasing tongue, deliberately keeping the kiss light. He knew without
a doubt that any minute now, he was going to lose control. Any minute
now, he was going to sweep her into his arms and bury himself deep
inside her. The need was racing through him like a volcano already.
His hands roamed down her back to cup her
derriere. Swallowing her gasp of awareness, he rubbed himself
suggestively, capturing her moans as the evidence of his arousal was
felt.
A balmy breeze had sprung up, seeping
through their clothing, but even that was not felt. Somewhere, a bird
was calling out, with several others responding, but it all went
unheard by the couple clinging to each other.
Zuri was exhilarated and flushed with
desire. She had fallen in love with him and wanted him to know it.
Not with words, she thought dazedly, as her mouth was plundered, but
with her reactions to his touch.
Tearing his mouth from hers, Jack gulped in
air, his chest expanding with the effort to breathe. His body was on
fire, his blood boiling. The desire for her was so great, it was
beyond anything he had ever experienced before.
Cradling her head against his chest, he
stared out in the distance, expression bleak. His heart was thudding,
his hands shaking.
Closing her eyes, Zuri reveled in the feel
of his strong arms wrapped around her. She realized what he was
doing. He was fighting her, or rather, fighting the emotions churning
through his body.
Lifting her head, she looked up at him,
admiring the strong chin with the slight indentation and the stubble
on his face. His eyes met hers and held, expression harsh and taut
with passion.
"No promises," he finally spoke,
voice hoarse with feelings.
She merely lifted a tapered brow and waited
for him to elaborate.
Hissing out a breath, he tore his eyes from
her moist lips to look over her head.
"I don't do relationships." When
he looked back at her, his expression was grim as if he was
determined to make it clear.
"Okay." Tamping down the hurt his
words had evoked, she tilted her head back and gave him an amused
look that cost her. "And you're under the impression that's what
I want?"
"Isn't it?"
She shrugged. "Perhaps. But I am not
going to burden you with my wants and desires. We're just having fun,
aren't we?"
His gaze narrowed as he continued to stare
at her. "And you're fine with that?"
"I am a big girl. If you're under the
misguided notion that I am going to be clingy like that blonde you
were with at the gallery, you would be mistaken. I have too much
pride to give any man that kind of power." She forced her lips
to curve seductively as she slid her hands around his neck, fingers
toying with the fringes of his hair.
"Don't you want to know why?"
"Why what?" she asked, genuinely
puzzled.
"Why I am not into relationships."
"I suppose you have your reasons."
"I do." His hands tightened on
her small waist. "It's something I do not want to get into right
now."
"Understood." She nodded as if
she was taking everything in stride. "Now that we have cleared
the air, there is still half a bottle of champagne sitting in the
bucket. Why don't you show me the bedroom?"
He studied her for a few seconds as if
trying to decipher what was really going on inside her head. Praying
that she could keep up the charade, she leaned in and brushed his
lips with hers. With a muttered oath, he swept her into his arms and
carried her inside.
The door closed behind them with a soft
click, enveloping them in the intimate dimness of the room. She
glanced around briefly, her eyes settling on the plush bed adorned
with silken sheets. When she turned back to him, it was with a
teasing smile.
"Champagne first," she murmured,
reaching for the bottle and pouring them each a glass. The bubbles
fizzed gently, a prelude to the tension that crackled between them.
She handed him a glass, her fingers brushing his in a lingering
touch.
They clinked glasses lightly, the sound a
delicate echo in the room. She took a sip, savoring the crispness on
her tongue, her gaze never leaving his. "To no promises,"
she said softly, raising her glass slightly.
"To no promises," he echoed, his
voice a rough whisper that sent shivers down her spine.
As they drank, her mind raced, plotting her
next move with calculated precision. She set her glass down and
stepped closer, the heady aroma of champagne mingling with the scent
of his cologne. Her hands reached out, tracing the lines of his chest
with a feather-light touch. "Now, where were we?" she
asked, her voice low and provocative.
He needed no further prompting. With a
fluid motion, he set his glass aside and pulled her into a fervent
kiss that consumed all rational thought. His hands roamed her body,
exploring every curve, every contour as she melted into him.
In the haze of passion, she knew she had to
maintain her facade, had to keep the walls up even as they threatened
to crumble under his touch. As his kisses deepened and his hands grew
more insistent, she whispered against his lips, "Don't hold
back."
With a hoarse growl, he complied, and
together they tumbled into a night of reckless abandon, where words
were unnecessary, and promises were forgotten.
His hands were shaking as he undressed her.
Standing in front of her, he studied her upturned face, the parted
lips, the tumble of dark brown curls with the tips dipped in gold and
the desire deepening her golden-brown eyes.
And he discovered that he wanted to take
his time. For the first time in his life, he wanted to prolong the
moment. Was invested in giving her the greatest pleasure. He had
never been a selfish lover, but neither was he a selfless one. In the
past, with other women, it had been just sex. A meeting of the bodies
– on his part it had been calculated. A precise and controlled
movement, where the boundaries were maintained. But now it was
different. He was involved in every way. And no matter what he tried
to tell himself, this was not the usual order of things.
Ending the potent kiss, he wondered if it
was the champagne that he tasted on her lips that was making him so
heady, but he knew better. His hands curved at her neck, massaging
the skin with his thumbs before sliding down to unbutton the shirt.
His voice hummed inside his throat as he
gazed at the stark black lace cupping her breasts. The bra was
cleverly designed with a deep plunging front with the material barely
clinging to the already rigid nipples. With a flick of his fingers,
the clasp sprang open. Sliding the shirt and bra off at the same
time, he covered her breasts with his palms, eyes meeting hers as he
rubbed circles around the skin.
Zuri held her breath and stared at him,
body vibrating with need.
"I intend to take my time," he
promised, voice raspy and hoarse with need.
"I don't mind," she whispered.
"As long as you get it done."
A smile touched his lips briefly.
"Oh, I will." Lifting her into
his arms, he laid her on top of the cover while he set to work,
taking off her shoes. This was also a first for him, he thought in
wonder as he slid his hands up to take off her pants. He had never
undressed a woman before. Never felt the inclination to do so. But he
found that he was enjoying himself. He was so caught up in the moment
that it took him a minute to realize that the material covered bare
flesh.
His eyes flew to her face, heart thudding
when she smiled slowly. "I wanted to save you the trouble."
"Christ!" he whispered hoarsely,
hands moving over her smooth thighs and up to her stomach. "It's
a good thing I didn't know you were bare assed under your clothes."
"What would you have done?"
"Take you right there on the balcony,"
he rasped. Rubbing his hands up and down her thighs and relishing the
smoothness of her skin, he took a moment, before rising to get rid of
his clothes.
Turning on his side as soon as he faced
her, one hand drifted through her soft curls, watching in fascination
as the light from the unadorned window touched on the golden
highlights. "Is it difficult to deal with?" He did not
realize he was having a conversation with a woman in bed for the
first time in his life.
"A little bit, but I have gotten used
to it."
Twisting a fat curl around his finger, he
pulled at it and watched as it sprang back as soon as he let go.
"It's lovely." The compliment
surprised both of them and had her staring at him.
"Thanks." Her fingers curled into
his chest hairs, marveling at the play of muscles as she toyed with
his flesh. His hand moved to cup her face, and she watched with bated
breath as his head descended. When his mouth touched hers, she
sighed, her hands coming to wrap around his neck. Somehow she sensed
that his resistance was crumbling. His mouth was gentle, his hands
cradling the back of her head, fingers wrapped in the strands of hair
as he held her steady for his kisses.
Shifting so that his body was covering
hers, he tangled his tongue with hers. She tasted of champagne and
honey, her potent sweetness tumbling through him like an aphrodisiac.
He could go on kissing her forever, he thought in wonder. The taste
of her swirled, hot and heavy, the kiss drugging and drawing him in
until he was completely lost.
As he kissed her, his hands roamed her
body, exploring every contour and curve. His touch was gentle, yet
possessive, making her shiver with anticipation. The soft moans that
escaped her lips fueled his desire, driving him to deepen the kiss,
to lose himself in her taste and her scent.
Sensations exploded inside her body,
causing her to arch towards him. She needed more, would die if she
did not get more than she needed.
As if sensing her unspoken plea, Jack ended
the kiss, trailing his mouth along her smooth cheeks and then kissing
the sides of her mouth. He was lost in her. The taste, the scent of
her perfume, the lingering taste of her mouth.
Edging down, he tongued the hollow of her
throat, his teeth nibbling on her satiny flesh. Pleasuring her was
giving him a heady sense of power and he wanted her writhing and
mindless with desire for him, only him.
He wanted to make an impression that would
wipe out every other relationship she ever had. He wanted to be the
only one on her mind.
Zuri clutched at him, fingers driving in
his hair. Her body arched and his name escaped her lips as he covered
her nipple with his mouth. His tongue teased and tortured, until she
thought she was going mad. Her fingers tugged at his hair as if to
urge him on, but he was determined to take his time.
But she was dying.
"Jack, I can't."
Lifting his head, he gazed at her, body
jerking as he noticed her storm-filled eyes and parted lips.
"Please," she gasped, hands
reaching for him. His control broke. With a low growl, he drove into
her.
Arching her body to meet his thrusts, she
wrapped her legs around his waist, hands pulling him down until he
was kissing her with an abandon that drove them wild.
The climax was explosive and had them
clinging to each other as the storm raged and buffeted at them until
they were left weak and drained from the aftermath.
Burying her face in his chest, she clung to
him, her limbs going lax.
Jack felt the blood roaring in his ears,
and it took a few minutes for him to get back feelings in his legs.
His entire body felt as if it had been hit by a ton of bricks. His
heart was still pounding, and he felt as if he was in the middle of a
hurricane. And he did not want to break contact with her.
When she stirred, he reluctantly eased off
her onto the side, gathering her against him until she was cradled on
his chest.
For several minutes, neither of them said
anything, the only sounds in the room their labored breathing. His
hand was slowly and rhythmically rubbing up and down her back as he
tried to gather his thoughts. It was plain that this was not going
away. That the desire for her was not something he could simply turn
his back on.
He was violently attracted to her and did
not see himself being without her for any length of time. He had told
her his rules. It was not a relationship. Then what the bloody hell
was it? He wondered angrily. No matter how much he tried to convince
himself that it was just sex, it was not working. Because he had
never been one to lie to himself before and he was not going to start
doing so now.
She nestled closer, her breathing starting
to even out. He felt the weight of his own emotions pressing down on
him like a heavy shroud.
Jack knew he had to address the situation.
He couldn't keep pretending that their connection was merely
physical. Yet, the fear of complicating things gnawed at him. He had
specifically told her that he was not interested in having a
relationship and he wasn't. Was he? He was no damn good at doing the
commitment bit. He was a loner and had been deliberate at that
aspect. He had no time in his life for that sort of thing. He could
never open his heart to another human being. He was too hardened, too
set in his ways. He could never make her promises.
Shifting so that he could look her in the
face, he realized with a jolt that she had drifted off to sleep. A
slow smile curved his lips and if he was looking in the mirror, he
would not have recognized the
expression on his face. His expression was softened and the cynical
curves that seemed to be etched into his skin had all but
disappeared. His eyes were twin glows of light that made the
resemblance to his son much more startling. Lifting a hand, he gently
brushed the hairs from her forehead, his touch lingering. Reaching
behind her, he pulled the sheets and covered them both. Gazing at her
exquisite features for several more minutes, he felt himself drifting
into sleep, arms unconsciously wrapping around her in a possessive
manner.
*****
Jack woke to the sound of birds chirping
outside the window. He blinked a few times, disoriented by the
unfamiliar warmth and softness against him. As his eyes adjusted to
the morning light, he realized Zuri was still nestled in his arms,
her breathing steady and peaceful. The events of the previous night
came rushing back to him, and he felt a pang of confusion mixed with
an undeniable sense of contentment.
Careful not to disturb her, Jack shifted
slightly and gazed at the ceiling. His mind raced with thoughts about
their situation. This was not what he had planned. He was a man of
structure and certainty, and Zuri's presence was unraveling that
carefully constructed life. He had always prided himself on his
independence, on his ability to keep emotions at bay. But she was
changing all of that, and he wasn't sure how to handle it.
Jack knew he had to confront his feelings
sooner or later. He couldn't keep hiding behind the pretense of a
casual arrangement. But the fear of vulnerability was paralyzing.
Opening his heart meant risking pain, disappointment, and the loss of
control. It was a terrifying prospect for someone who had spent years
building walls around himself.
Zuri stirred in his arms, her eyes
fluttering open. She looked up at him with a sleepy smile, and for a
moment, everything seemed right. Jack's heart pounded in his chest,
and he knew he couldn't keep lying to himself. Whatever this was, it
was more than just a physical connection. It was real, and it
deserved to be acknowledged, but not now. First he was going to have
to examine his feelings and then decide what to do about them.
*****
"You must be very upset with me,"
Jazmine murmured as she took a sip of the fruit punch she had
ordered. She had called as soon as Zuri returned this morning and
asked for a chance to explain herself. Zuri decided she could be
tolerant. Last night and this morning had turned out better than she
expected. Jack had lingered over her from the time she woke up until
a few minutes ago and he had seemed reluctant to leave. Very soon he
was going to have to come to grips with the fact that she was here to
stay.
Zuri had rushed in an hour ago and gone
straight to the office. She had been doing up the invoices when she
received the call from her friend. Zach had greeted her quietly, his
gaze searching as if wondering if they were still at odds. She wanted
it to end. He had blindsided her with the announcement that he was
involved with her best friend, but she wanted him to be happy. And as
soon as she gets a chance, she was going to tell him.
He had been through some rough times and
the last relationship had left him upset and miserable. She wanted
him to be happy. She wasn't certain the woman seated across from her
was the answer.
"I had to hear it from my brother."
"I wanted to wait to tell you."
"You just did not have any trouble
telling him about me and Jack," she pointed out. Seeing the look
of distress on the girl's face had her relenting with a sigh. "Look,
I want to be happy for you, but I don't want him to be hurt. He's
been through enough – the same goes for you."
"I am in love with him,"
Jazmine's smile bloomed. Zuri blinked at the look on her friend's
face.
"I know you're going to say it's too
soon after what I went through recently. But I love him, Zoo, and I
want you to be happy for us. If you aren't, he's not going to be
comfortable being with me. In case you don't get it, your brother
adores you."
Relenting with a sigh, she reached for her
friend's hand and squeezed. "Of course you have my approval. My
best friend and my brother." She shook her head. "I'm
thrilled."
*****