Chapter 17
Jensen
Iwas accustomed to wearing a mask. Even slight changes in behavior, body language, and speech patterns could produce the desired effect. Hide who I really was. Conceal my true intentions.
Those masks were easy to slip on and off. Except one.
My real self.
Sitting on the couch with Natalie and her family, dressed in the gaudiest Christmas pajamas I’d been able to find with a Santa Claus hat on my head, I felt more like myself than I had in ages.
We ate pizza until we were stuffed. Watched Annabel put on a little Christmas show, singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” And played a board game.
A bloody board game. And it was fucking delightful.
When Nina told Annabel it was time to get ready for bed, the crocodile tears commenced. I had a feeling the situation would be easier to manage if I left, so I said goodbye to the small child and asked her to be a good girl for her mum.
Natalie rose from the couch and walked me to the door as Annabel’s despondent wails disappeared up the stairs.
“Thank you,” Natalie said.
“You’re welcome.” Leaning down, I pressed my lips to hers, and I realized one of the reasons I felt so at ease. I didn’t have an agenda.
Maple had referred to Natalie as an asset, and in a sense, she was. But that had nothing to do with why I’d spent the evening with her. I wasn’t trying to get anything from her.
I didn’t need to play games.
“Come have a drink with me,” I said.
Rubbing her lips together, she searched my face. “I don’t know if I should.”
“No pressure. I very much enjoy kissing you, but this is not a ploy to get you naked.” I brushed her lips with another kiss. “You’re safe with me.”
She hesitated another moment before answering. “Okay. I’ll come over.”
I retrieved the rest of the wine while she put on a pair of boots, then we walked through the freshly fallen snow to the flat.
Inside, we took off our shoes. I invited her to sit and brought the wine to the kitchen where I found wineglasses in a cupboard. I poured and brought our drinks to the living room.
“How are you feeling?” I sat next to her on the couch.
She shifted, and a spasm of pain crossed her features. “Like I was hit by a car.”
The desire to ease her hurts was almost overwhelming. I still wanted to ruin the idiot who had hit her. But more than that, I wanted to make her feel better.
“What can I do? Do you need ice?”
“No, I’m okay. I iced everything a lot this afternoon.” She took a sip of her wine. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why did you have to leave so suddenly?”
“We received intelligence about an art thief I’ve been chasing for years. There might have been an opportunity to catch him.”
“Then why did you come back?”
“I wanted to finish what we started. And call it instinct, but I knew I needed to get back to you.” I reached over and caressed her cheek. “I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye.”
“It’s okay. It all worked out.”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “Did you miss me?”
“I was a little busy getting in a car accident.” She smiled. “But yes. Kind of.”
“Kind of? I’ll take that.”
“Who’s the art thief you’ve been chasing?”
“His name is Archer Prince. He’s been operating for decades. Always manages to elude us.”
“Is there a lot of money in this kind of thing?”
“Oh yes, millions. But I have a theory about Archer. I don’t think he does it for the money. Maybe he did at first, but now I think he does it for the challenge.” I took a drink. “Speaking of thieves, we still have work to do here.”
Her eyes lit up. “You’re right, we do. I want to know more about Julian.”
“As do I. I’d love to get a look inside his house.”
“You aren’t planning to break in, are you?”
“No. Not yet, at least. Usually, I’d contrive a way to be invited, but I suspect that isn’t going to work. It’s possible he recognized me.”
“You think he knows who you are?”
“I can’t be certain. But it’s why I thought he might have gotten to you.”
She shook her head. “I haven’t seen him.”
“We’ll have to do some reconnaissance.”
“Do you mean spy on him?”
I lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “Essentially. But only if you’re feeling up to it. You need to rest.”
“I’ll be fine. Although if it involves running to make a quick getaway, I might have regrets.”
“We’ll see how you feel tomorrow. How’s that?”
“Probably smart. Although I don’t want to hold you up.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m not in a hurry to leave. Besides, I made a certain little girl a promise I’d be here for Christmas.”
“About that. The pinky promise is a big deal in our family. Annabel’s going to take that very seriously.”
“It’s a good thing I plan to keep it.”
She smiled. “You’re very good with kids.”
My brow furrowed. “Am I?”
“Yeah, you’re so sweet with Annabel. Doesn’t it come naturally?”
“Not at all. Until my niece was born, I’d never really been around children.”
“Well, it seems very natural. The Santa hats were a nice touch.”
I grinned. “I’m glad you approve.”
“At the risk of stroking your ego, tonight was probably the best date I’ve ever been on.”
Normally, I would have said something like, “Of course it was, darling, it was with me.” But the cocky retort died on my lips. It was the strangest thing. Hearing that felt good, but not because I was pleased with myself. I liked that I’d made her happy.
Instead of ruining the moment with a stupid line—or worse, by giving words to the inexplicable feelings trying to work their way to the surface—I put our wineglasses on the coffee table and leaned in to kiss her.
That first kiss in the hospital had awoken a craving—an insatiable hunger for more. I’d been holding back all evening, but alone in the flat, I could finally indulge.
Careful not to hurt her, I ran my fingers through her hair as my tongue slid into her mouth.
She tasted like red wine and smelled like vanilla and sugar—like Christmas cookies.
Delicious. I kissed her deep and slow, savoring her like a good meal.
Enjoying the softness of her lips and the warm wetness of her mouth tangled with mine.
She shifted closer, and I gently pulled her into my lap, her legs straddling me.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said between kisses.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Show me where it hurts.”
“Mostly my back and shoulder on my left side.”
I ran my hands up her thighs and caressed her hips. “What about here?”
“I might have some bruising on the left, but it feels okay.”
“What if I do this?” Gripping her hips, I slid her up my lap so my hardness nestled between her thighs.
Her answering moan was music to my ears, and when she spoke, her voice was breathy. “That’s good.”
“You like that?” I moved my hips, rubbing myself against her.
She gasped, and her eyes fluttered closed. Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I brought her lips to mine. Her mouth was hungry, and little whimpers rose from her throat as she rocked against me.
Still kissing her, I grabbed her hips and moved her up and down in a steady rhythm. As much as I would have loved to be inside her, I wasn’t in a rush. Although as good as she felt, I was a bit concerned she’d make me come in the Christmas pajamas.
How was she doing that to me?
She moaned into my mouth and moved her hands to grip the back of the couch.
“You want to come, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She stopped, breathing hard. “I don’t know if I can. It’s not easy for me.”
I kissed her neck. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m going to take such good care of you.”
Gently, I helped her take her clothes off and ditched my pajamas, tossing them on the floor. If she hadn’t been hurt, I would have happily done all kinds of dirty things to her on the couch. But she was, so I led her to the bedroom.
I laid her on the bed but didn’t climb on top of her and left my underwear on. I propped myself up beside her and softly kissed her neck and shoulder while my hand trailed down her body. She tipped her legs open for me, and I slid my fingers inside.
Her hips jumped, and she arched her back. She was hot—ready to burst.
I put my mouth close to her ear. “That’s it, beautiful. Show me what you want.”
She moaned as she moved against my hand. I found a rhythm she liked and kept going, relentlessly chasing her orgasm.
I grinned as I felt her start to spasm. She grabbed my hand with hers and closed her eyes, her mouth falling open as her climax overtook her. I watched her come with awe, listening to her breathy moans, feeling her body writhe.
She was so fucking beautiful, I could hardly stand it.
When she finished, I slid my fingers out.
Her eyes fluttered open. “How did you do that?” she asked, still breathing hard.
“I told you I was going to take good care of you.” I put my fingers in my mouth and sucked off her taste. “Mm. So good.”
“Do you want—”
“Shh. No rush. If you want me inside you, I’ll happily oblige. But if that was enough for you, I won’t push.”
“But you just—”
I touched my finger to her lips. “Darling, that was all for you.”
“Are you real?”
One corner of my mouth lifted. “I believe so.”
“And if I said I wanted to get dressed, you’d be fine with that?”
My brow furrowed. “Quite honestly, with everything you’ve been through today, I didn’t think you’d be in my bed at all. Watching you come was exquisite.”
She smiled. “It felt exquisite. It’s been a long time.”
Nestling in next to her, I pulled her close, facing me. I did want to be inside her, but she was hurt. And still so guarded. The orgasm I’d given her felt like a triumph.
She reached up and trailed her fingers along my jaw. Leaning in, I kissed her, and the taste of her mouth sent a pulse of heat through my veins.
“Jensen?” she whispered.
“Yes, darling?”
“I want more.”
“Are you sure?” I kissed her again. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.”
Her yes made my groin ache with need. I rolled off the bed and finished undressing, then got a condom and slid it on.
Back on the bed, I braced myself over her, leaning down to kiss her again. “Tell me how you want me to fuck you. I’d get on top and drive you into the headboard, but I’m worried I’ll hurt you.”
“What do you want?”
“Just you, Natalie. Any way I can have you.”
Sitting up, she smiled and nudged me onto my back. She straddled me, and it was all I could do not to come as soon as she sank down.
“Fuck,” I groaned, taking in the sight of her. “You’re so fucking beautiful. I’m the luckiest bloke in the world tonight.”
She moved her hips, and I groaned again. With a wicked smile, she stopped, then lifted herself up and sank down slowly. Her head leaned back, and she moaned.
The woman was going to be the death of me.
I grabbed her hips. “Can I hold you here?”
“Yes.”
“Brace yourself. I’m done waiting.”
She put her hands on my chest. Holding her hips, I thrust up into her. Her eyes rolled back, and her fingers dug into my skin. She was on top, but she gave me control.
I moved harder. Faster. Driving myself in deep as the pressure built. Our bodies moved together, increasingly frantic, and I growled with each thrust, loving every second. She was perfect.
Her moans intensified, and I could feel her start to clench around me. It was too much. I came unglued, exploding inside her with a groan. She threw her head back, rolling her hips against me as we came together.
She slowed as we both came down the other side. I slid my hands through her tousled hair and brought her mouth to mine, kissing her deeply.
“Wow,” she breathed.
“How do you feel?”
“Impossibly good.”
Grinning, I kissed her again. “Me too.”
And that was the strange thing. I did feel impossibly good.
She got up to use the bathroom, and I disposed of the condom, all the while wondering what was happening. I was no stranger to good sex, but that had been something else. Something different.
Something surprising.
Through a small gap in the curtain, I could see the snow falling outside. With no intention of letting her go anywhere for the night, I pulled her back into bed with me. Her body was soft and warm, and as I drifted off to sleep, I had a startling realization.
I wanted to keep her.