Chapter Nine #2
As usual, as they made their way down the sidewalk, he tucked her into the shelter of his arm. This nearness further stoked the flames that burned in her veins.
She wanted him. In spite of his bouts of coolness, despite his occasional gruffness, she wanted her body naked against his and his hot mouth consuming hers. She wanted to feel him caress her, and she wanted to run her hands across his broad chest and down his perfect body.
She tried to tamp down these emotions. What happened to just wanting him as a friend? Maybe they could be friends with benefits. That would be absolutely perfect. She could have his friendship and his body.
By the time they reached the line for the Ferris wheel, she had successfully managed to shove her desire for Jacque to the back of her head.
They didn’t speak as they waited for their turn to get on the big wheel. He kept his arm around her, and she was aware of his gaze going to the left and right of them. Her bodyguard was on duty.
They were next in line when George Trahan approached them. It was fairly obvious he had been drinking throughout the day.
“Hey, Jacque… Monique.” He offered them a loopy grin as he slurred his words. “Monique, it’s so good to see you up and around.”
“Thanks, George,” she replied.
“I was so damn sorry when I heard what happened to you. You three sisters have really had a rough time lately,” he said. “Is Daniel hot on the trail of who beat you up?”
“He’s working the case and eager to find the person responsible,” she replied.
“So how long do you think you’ll be staying in my man’s shanty?” He clapped Jacque on the back. “Or are you two a real romantic couple now?”
“No, it’s not like that,” she replied quickly. “Jacque is a good friend just helping me out until I completely heal.”
“And she’s going to be with me for quite a while,” Jacque added firmly.
Then it was time for them to slide into one of the Ferris wheel’s benches, and George wandered away. The safety bar clicked into place, and then they were lifted up so the rest of the seats could be filled.
Up and up they went. “Look, you can see the swamp from here,” she said when they reached the very top. She grabbed hold of his hand in excitement. “And you can see the whole town.”
She turned to look at him. The bright reds and blues and yellows of the lights flashed on his features. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
His eyes glowed with neon green flames, and the fire there had nothing to do with the carnival lights. They were on the top of the world when his lips took hers.
The kiss only lasted a minute. Still, it was long enough to shoot hot desire through his body. It was enough to make him realize just how badly he wanted her.
When he drew back from her, he released a forced small laugh. “Chalk that up to carnival madness,” he said. He’d not been able to stop himself from kissing her. She’d looked so beautiful with the lights of the carnival coloring her features and her eyes glittering so brightly.
Her gaze held his. It was so soft…so inviting. “I like a little carnival madness in my day.”
“You’d better enjoy the view because this ride won’t last forever,” he replied as he released her hand.
Around and around they went, but all too quickly, the ride came to an end. “Is there anything else you want to do?” he asked. Although this whole carnival thing wasn’t his cup of tea, he wanted to make sure she had a good time. She deserved it after all she’d been through.
“I think I’m ready to go home,” she said.
“Why don’t we grab a hot dog to eat before we leave so we don’t have to worry about making dinner?” he suggested.
“Sure, that sounds good to me,” she agreed.
It didn’t take long for them to find a vendor who was selling grilled hot dogs. He got her one and he got two for himself. They both got chips and a drink. Directly in front of the vendor was a picnic table so they both sat to eat.
The music from the band was audible, and a light breeze made it a pleasant evening. He tried not to look at Monique. He was particularly vulnerable to her loveliness tonight.
She was in a pink two-piece outfit that heightened the silky fall of her dark hair and her medium skin tone. The makeup she wore was just enough to enhance the pink of blush on her cheeks and her eyelashes were darkened with mascara even though he didn’t think she needed it.
There had been far too much closeness between them all day long. Her scent had invaded all his senses and the warmth of her body when he pulled her against his side had stirred him to the very depths of his soul.
They finished eating and then headed back to All That Jazz where his car was parked. Once they were in the car, all he could think about was his need to distance himself from her. The sweetness of the kiss still lingered on his lips, a guilty pleasure for sure.
“Did you have fun today?” he asked as he pulled out on Main Street.
“I had a lot of fun,” she replied. He felt her gaze on him, but he kept looking at the road. “Thank you, Jacque.”
That made him cast her a quick glance. “Thank you for what?”
“Oh, where do I begin?” she said with the light tone he loved to hear. “Thank you for spending your entire day at the dress shop and for protecting me. I also appreciate you smiling at the customers who came by. Thank you also for the Ferris wheel ride.”
“Smiling was a tough job, but I managed to summon up a few, so I didn’t scare all the women away,” he replied. All he wanted to do now was get home and distance himself as much as possible from her.
He was grateful that the day had been a success for her business, and he was glad she was happy. He liked seeing her happy. Thankfully nobody had come after her with ill intent, and for now all was right in the world.
“Are you tired?” he asked and shot another quick look her way.
She caught his gaze and smiled. “Not really. In fact, I still feel rather energized by the day. What about you?”
“I’m a bit tired,” he replied. It wasn’t true. He was energized as well. But the best thing he could do was go straight to bed as soon as they got home.
It was seven thirty, and a false darkness had fallen due to the cloudy skies. It was a perfect night for an early bedtime, and hopefully by morning he would be able to put away the fierce desire that had simmered through him the entire day.
They reached his shanty, and the first thing he did was turn on several of the lanterns in the room. He then unfastened his holster and set it and his gun in his bedside table.
Monique slung her purse onto the sofa, but she didn’t sit down.
“I think I’m going to head on to bed,” he said.
She walked over to where he stood and stopped just in front of him. Instantly her body heat wafted toward him, along with the heady scent of her. Tension tightened his stomach. Flames fired through him as he waited for her to speak.
“Jacque,” she whispered his name as her eyes lit with a light that could only be a wealth of desire. “I want you.”
Those three words dizzied his brain. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he should step back from her. But he remained frozen in place as he felt himself drowning in the desire he’d felt for her for so long.
She reached out and took his hand. “Jacque, I know you want me, and I want you so badly.” She gave his hand a tug. “Please, come into my bedroom and make love to me.”
She took another step toward him and now stood so close to him that her breasts touched his chest and her breath was warm on his neck.
“Kiss me,” she said softly. “Jacque, kiss me and then come to my room and let’s make love.”
Heaven help him, but he could do nothing but comply. His mouth took hers in a fiery kiss that weakened his knees and nearly stole his breath away.
Her lips plied his with a heat that was intoxicating. When she opened her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss, he did just that, swirling his tongue with hers as a wealth of pleasure rushed through him.
The kiss finally ended, and as if in a daze, he watched as she grabbed one of the lanterns and then he followed her into the bedroom. She set the lantern on the nightstand and turned back to him. Gently he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her once again.
It had been so long. It had been so damn long since he had held a woman in his arms, so damn long since he’d kissed a woman with such fiery desire and intent.
It was another blazing kiss that fully aroused him. She was sweetness and heat as she pressed her body against his, making it impossible for any other thoughts to enter his head. There was just Monique and him and these moments in time.
When the kiss finally ended, she took a step back from him and began unfastening the buttons of her blouse. He mirrored her movements and started unbuttoning his shirt.
As she shrugged off the blouse, and it fell to the floor behind her, his breath caught in the back of his throat at her beauty. Although she was petite, her breasts were full in the wispy white bra she wore.
He shrugged off his shirt and then unbuttoned the fly of his slacks. All he could think of now was holding her naked body against his own.
He kicked off his shoes and took off his socks and his pants, while she took off her sandals and the pink pants she’d worn that day.
Finally, he was in a pair of black boxers and she wore only her bra and a matching pair of wispy panties. As he climbed into the bed with her, the sheets smelled of her scent and her eyes glowed with a wealth of pleasure and the simmer of her desire.
He pulled her back into his arms, reveling in the feel of her near nakedness against his own. Her skin was so soft and warm, as if fevered by his very touch.