Chapter Six #4
I kissed the inside of her ankle.
Jade’s fingers tightened in the sheet. “That’s a dangerous place to be with sore ribs.”
“I’m not worried about my ribs.”
“You should be worried about my temper.”
“I like your temper.”
“I know. It’s a problem with your judgment.”
I moved up her body, hands on her calves, her thighs, the worn denim of her shorts. “My judgment brought you here.”
“No. My sister’s criminal boss brought me here. Your judgment followed late.”
“Fair.”
She touched my jaw. “But you showed up.”
My throat went tight.
I covered her hand. “I showed up.”
Her eyes shone before she pulled me down and kissed me hard.
I helped her out of the overshirt, then the tank. Her bra came next, black and plain and shoved off with impatient hands because Jade apparently hated clasps in every crisis. I took my time once she was bare from the waist up.
She drew breath to talk. “If you’re about to be noble again, I’m leaving a bad review.”
I put my mouth to her breast, and the rest of the review came out as a gasp.
I smiled against her skin. “You reorganizing?”
“Shut up.”
“Not a chance.”
I licked her nipple, then drew it into my mouth. Her back arched. Her hand went into my hair, fingers tightening enough to sting. I welcomed it. Every sound she made in this room belonged to her; none of it had to be strategy, escape, or a weapon unless she wanted it to be.
Her hips shifted under me.
I slid one hand down, opened the button of her shorts, and paused.
Jade lifted her head. “If you ask me whether I’m sure, I’ll respect you and resent you at the same time.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her voice softened. “I’m sure.”
I pulled her shorts and panties down together.
She lifted for me, then hooked one heel against the back of my thigh as if I might get too far away. The sight of her bare on my bed almost took me out at the knees.
I spread her thighs with both hands and took her in.
Jade’s chin lifted. “You planning to admire your life choices all morning?”
“Yes.”
Her laugh shook on the end because my thumb brushed over her clit.
She was wet, hot, and already swollen.
She grabbed my wrist. “Dex.”
I lowered my mouth to her inner thigh. “I want to hear my name like that again.”
“You’re enjoying this too much.”
“Yes.”
I put my mouth on her.
Jade’s whole body bowed off the bed.
I didn’t race her the way I had under Pine Shadow’s green neon. I took my time in my own bed, with sunlight on her skin and her hands free to shove me away or pull me closer. She chose closer.
Her fingers tangled in my hair. Her hips moved against my mouth. She swore when I sucked her clit, then laughed breathlessly when I lifted my head because apparently even pleasure had to argue its way out of her.
I slid two fingers into her and curled them slow.
The laugh broke.
“There,” I said. “That’s my girl.”
Her thighs tightened around my shoulders. I worked her with my mouth and fingers until her breathing turned ragged, until her hands stopped trying to steer and started holding on, until she said, “Dex,” with nothing clever around it.
She came with a sharp cry, hips lifting, pussy pulsing around my fingers, one hand fisted in my sheet and the other locked in my hair.
I stayed with her until she trembled and pushed at my shoulder.
“Too much,” she said, breathless.
I kissed the inside of her thigh. “I know.”
“You’re smug.”
“I’m accurate.”
She pulled at me until I came up over her. She kissed me and tasted herself there without flinching. Her hands went to my jeans.
“My turn,” she said.
“My ribs are going to make anything athletic complicated.”
Her eyes flashed. “Good thing I’m creative.”
She shoved at my shoulder until I sat back, then climbed into my lap, bare and warm, with my jeans still open under her hands. She freed my cock and wrapped her fingers around me with a slow stroke that made me drop my head back.
Of course Jade watched my face while she did it.
“You’re easier to read in daylight,” she said.
“I’m choosing not to find that insulting.”
“Personal growth.”
I gripped her hips. “Condom?”
She stilled, then softened. “Same answer as before. I have an IUD, I’m clean, and I’m still sure.”
“I’m clean, and I’m still sure too.”
Something in her face flickered at the word still.
I caught it and held her gaze. “Not because of Pine Shadow. Because of now.”
Jade swallowed. “Okay.”
She rose on her knees and guided me to her.
I held her hips but let her set the pace.
She sank down slowly, taking me inch by inch, lips parted and eyes locked on mine. The heat of her closed around me, tight and wet, and every breath I had left went useless. When she settled fully in my lap, both of us stopped moving.
Her forehead touched mine. She was Jade, and she was here because she chose to be.
“Jade,” I said.
She moved.
She moved slowly at first, careful of my ribs.
“Stop treating me like glass,” I said.
“Fine.”
Then she smiled, sharp and beautiful, and rolled her hips in a way that turned the room white around the edges.
I caught her ass in both hands and helped her ride me.