Chapter 10
Ten
A bout an hour later, they arrived at his family’s home. Anticipation left Lani feeling out of sorts but strangely calm. She should be on edge, but for some reason, this felt completely normal to her. He unlocked the front door and stepped inside first to turn off the alarm.
“Did you want to change?” he asked.
“Do you mind if I jump in the shower?”
He blinked. It was a slow movement, almost as if it was some kind of movie slow-motion sequence. Or maybe it was her. Maybe she had lost her damned mind, and she was actually imagining it. Either way, those long lashes, and his mesmerizing eyes held her captive for the moment. In the next instant, his cheeks flushed. The look was so cute. Was he actually blushing because she asked to take a shower?
“Of course. The bathroom downstairs doesn’t have a shower. You can use the master’s upstairs.”
“I don’t want to take your bathroom.”
“No worries. I can get changed in another room.”
He motioned with his head toward the open staircase that led to the upstairs. She followed him up the stairs, trying her best not to concentrate on his ass. Seriously, did the man work out every freaking day? Even in dress pants, it was impressive. Definitely could bounce a quarter off of it.
She blinked. When did she start thinking things like that? Well, since that kiss…but if she were truthful with herself, she had always thought that way about Jakob. From the moment she’d met him, her hormones seemed to be in tune with him. Lani always had to fight the urge to jump his bones. For years, it had been easy because he always acted like he didn’t want her around. Now? Yeah, now that was a problem because he was being nice to her, kissed her twice, and they were alone in his house.
She had never seen the master bedroom, but the moment she stepped into it, her entire body sighed. It was large and airy, with a massive king-size bed. Jakob walked over to the French doors. After unlocking them, he pulled them open, and her breath caught.
Lani had been born and raised on Oahu, but she would be forever in awe of the beauty. It was dark out, but she could hear the surf down below. She set her bag on the bed and walked to the balcony. When Jakob moved away from her, she wondered about it but pushed the thought aside for now. Instead, she kept her attention on the landscape.
The balcony overlooked the lit pool. It wasn’t a massive house with much land, but the view. Nothing could compare, not for her. She had been all over the world, but nothing spoke to her like the sound of the surf, the smell of the ocean, and the feeling of belonging. Only Hawaii did that for her.
“I’m going to grab something to wear and get out of your hair.”
She turned to give him her attention. He was at the dresser, rifling through one of the drawers.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He bit off the word, and she frowned.
“Jake. It’s me. Don’t revert to your old self. Tell me what’s going on.”
He released a sigh that was filled with trepidation. “We’re in here, and you’re acting like it’s normal.”
He still hadn’t looked at her, not even in the mirror.
Worry set in her belly. Was he regretting this? Did he want her to leave?
“What’s not normal?”
His shoulders seemed to drop, and he turned to face her again. Even in the darkened room, the moon gave her enough light to see his expression.
“You. That bed. Everything.”
She was even more confused and opened her mouth to say just that. Instead, Jakob took two big steps toward her and grabbed her by the arms. Yanking her forward, he bent his head and slammed his mouth down on hers. For a moment, she didn’t react. How could she? Jakob Wulf, the man of all her fantasies, was kissing her like his life depended on it.
Then, heat blasted through her in one split second, rushing along her veins like an inferno. She slipped her hands up his chest and over his shoulders as she answered his kiss with everything she had. He pressed her closer, letting her feel the long, thick length of him. Her entire body lit up, her blood heating, her nipples hardening, and her sex flooding with liquid. Jesus, no man had ever touched her and set her off like a Roman candle.
Jakob slid his tongue along the seam of her closed lips. Without hesitation, Lani opened her mouth. He stole inside. A moan of pleasure filled the room, and she realized it was her. Just from a kiss, from the feel of his invasion, and she was ready to come.
He tangled his hands in the neat chignon the hairdresser had created, destroying it. He wrenched his mouth away from hers, but before she could complain, he attacked her neck. Oh, hell, the man was very talented with this tongue and teeth. Primitive need pounded through her, urging her to get as close as possible. He kissed his way up to her ear, taking her sensitive lobe between his teeth.
“Jake.”
Just that one little word had him pulling away from her. Cold air replaced the heat he had ignited.
“Sorry.”
She blinked, her eyes opening to take in his expression. His face was flushed, his eyes heavy-lidded, and his hair was a wreck, which she was sure was her fault.
“Why are you apologizing?”
“I jumped the gun. I don’t want to push you.”
“You can push me as much as you want as long as it is down on the mattress.”
He rolled his shoulders and opened his mouth to say something else stupid. She was sure, but Lani had had enough. The long months of working hard and losing a relationship with her brother…that all added up. But Jakob had said he wanted her. He had kissed her like his life depended on it. Now this?
She stepped closer and drew in a deep breath. The sweet, night air tangled with his masculine scent, leaving her more than a little lightheaded. Using her index finger, she trailed a path down his chest along the row of buttons of his dress shirt.
“I think I know what I want. I’m not underaged. In fact, I am well past the age of consent. It’s not like I’m a virgin.”
He drew in a deep breath, and she looked up at him.
“I don’t want to hear about that.”
“Only fair since I’ve seen things about you in the rag magazines for over a decade. And besides, please don’t tell me you’re one of those guys who expects a woman to stay pure.”
“I’m not. I just?—”
He broke off his words and looked away.
“You just?” Lani asked, using a light, teasing tone. It was hard to do because her heart was beating out of control. While she wasn’t a virgin, she wasn’t usually the one who seduced. It seemed Jakob forced her out of her comfort zone once again.
The heavy sigh filled the space between them, and she wondered if she had read him wrong.
That is until he answered her.
“I just don’t like thinking about you with other men. Especially that asshole, Rick. I know it’s not the right way to behave, but I need to punch him every time I see him.”
She bit back a smile. “That’s something we have in common, at least.”
He chuckled, giving her the courage to rise up to her toes. Without hesitation, she pressed her mouth against his, crowding as close as she could to him. This time, she was the one who slipped her tongue between his lips. She moved her hands over his shoulders again as he slid his arms around her waist…then lower.
The next second, he took over the kiss, his mouth slanting over hers. She didn’t know how it could go from hot to a blazing five-alarm fire, but that’s the way it was between them.
When he pulled away from her this time, he spun her around.
“This dress has got to go. Did I tell you that you look gorgeous in it? Well, you do, but it just…I need to feel your skin.”
Lifting her hair, he put it over her shoulder so it was out of his way. She thought he would yank the zipper down from the way he had been talking, but instead, his slow, steady movements left her a mess. If she thought her nipples were hard before, she had been mistaken. She shifted her weight and felt the dampness of her panties.
He’s barely touched me.
He kissed the back of her neck, tongue, lips… teeth. That little nip had her moaning.
“Oh, love, that’s one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.”
She wanted to tell him he didn’t have to say things like that. Little lies lovers told each other didn’t need to be between them, but she wanted the fantasy. If she was truthful with herself, she’d been infatuated with him for a decade. So, for this one night, she wanted…no, she needed the fantasy he was creating.
He slid the zipper down, the backs of his fingers trailing down her spine, his mouth following along. She felt him fall to his knees behind her.
“Let it fall, and take off your bra.”
Usually, she didn’t like anyone telling her what to do, even in the bedroom. But when that lazy tone dissolved into an order…she shivered. The man was killing her with each comment, each kiss, each touch. Once she rid herself of her bra and dress, he slipped his fingers beneath the waistband of her panties and slid them down her legs.
“Fuck me, this ass. Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to touch you just because of this ass?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. Jakob was looking up at her like she was a goddess.
“How many times?”
His eyes seemed to darken. “Too many to count.”
Then, he leaned forward to kiss first one cheek, then the other, his gaze never leaving hers. He bit one, and she gasped. It didn’t hurt, but it sent another blast of longing racing through her blood.
Unexpectedly, he rose and turned her around to face him. Before she knew what was happening, she was flat on her back on the mattress.
She opened her mouth to insist he get naked, but she was left gasping once again when he dropped to his knees and yanked her forward. Her legs were dangling off the side of the bed.
He set a hand on each of her thighs, pressing them further apart.
“Yes,” he growled. He reached out and looked up at her. “So wet, baby.”
Oh, damn, the way he said baby…she could die happy now.
Again, without breaking eye contact, he leaned forward and licked her, his tongue slipping just a little inside of her sex.
“Heaven…fuck.”
He closed his eyes and did it again, humming as he continued to lick her like she was his favorite treat. She didn’t think she could get any more aroused until he slipped his finger inside of her, then took her clit between his teeth.
“Oh, damn.”
She was lifting up against him as he tasted and teased her. Tension gathered in her stomach, then slipped lower. So close…then all of a sudden, she broke free as pleasure rolled through her, leaving her gasping for air and shouting his name at the same time.
“Beautiful.”
He stood and started to pull off his clothes. She used the little bit of energy she had left to rise to her elbows and watch. She had seen a lot of pictures of him over the years. He had gone from a fit young adult to a solid man with sculpted muscles and broad shoulders. Her gaze slipped lower. Oh, wow. She guessed the rumors were accurate in that regard.
She licked her lips.
“You look so decadent right now.”
It took some effort to raise her gaze to his again. “And don’t worry. I’ll have you on your knees soon, but right now, I want inside you. Move up.”
She didn’t have to be told more than once. He went to his nightstand and pulled out a condom. Tearing it open, he rolled it on with what looked to be shaking hands. Then he was pressing her into the mattress. He rose to his knees, then notched his dick at her entrance. His entry was swift, fast.
“Lani…fuck me…”
“I am,” she said.
He looked down at her, his mouth twitching. “No. Well, yes, you are. It’s just that all of the fantasies I’ve had for years didn’t prepare me for just how amazing you are,”
He dropped his mouth to hers. Lani could taste herself on his tongue as she pulled it deeper into her mouth. Groaning, he lifted his head as he started to thrust. Each time he entered her, she felt her need build once again. She wasn’t a woman who had multiple orgasms, and definitely not with a man or during sex.
But each time Jakob drove into her, the tension inched closer and closer to another explosion. He dipped his head to take one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking and nipping at the tip. She barely registered the sound of the headboard smacking against the wall as his rhythm increased.
He rose to his knees, dragging her up by her hips. Each powerful thrust pushed her closer and closer to the pinnacle, but it remained out of reach.
Jakob thrust deep, then held himself still inside of her. He pressed his fingers against her clit…once…twice…
“Come for me, baby. Let me feel all those muscles on my cock.”
He pressed hard with his thumb, and she was falling into a million pieces, shouting his name once more.
With that, he started to move.
“Fuck, yes, so good.”
He groaned her name as he followed her with one last hard plunge back into her.
A few moments later, he fell on top of her. Both of them were still breathing heavily. Lani’s entire body was still sensitive when he finally roused himself to pull out of her.
“Sorry, I fell on you like an oaf.”
“No worries, Jake.”
“Be right back,” he said, leaning down and giving her a quick kiss.
She felt cold without him on top of her.
So, all the gossip about Jake being a fantastic lover was not fiction. Her entire body was still vibrating with tiny little sparks of pleasure. He had been right. The years of fantasies were nothing compared to the real thing.
Now, she had to live in the moment because she knew that Jakob Wulf was a walking heartbreak. She just needed to enjoy him while she had him.
Jakob trashed the condom and paused to look at himself in the mirror. Even in the darkness, he could tell he didn’t look any different, but he felt different. His entire world had shifted. He’d had plenty of good sex. Raunchy, fun…all kinds. But this was different.
Lani was different.
Pushing that aside, he returned to bed. She immediately rolled over and snuggled. Usually, he hated that. He had issues, but with Lani, it felt normal…perfect.
How did he keep her and not lose her because of her brother?
“What is happening there in your head?”
Her voice was sleepy. Her head was on his chest. In that instant, he knew he wanted this. Forever. Oh, Jesus, he had known he wanted a relationship with her, but he never prepared himself for that kind of thought.
He had never called a romantic partner love before now. Jakob knew precisely why. He was in love with her.
Lani lifted her head. The only light in the room was from the moon, but he had always had pretty good night vision. “What’s wrong?”
He forced himself to relax, unable to reveal what he’d just realized. “Just…”
She sat up and pulled the sheet with her, hiding her magnificent breasts. Dammit. “You regret it, don’t you?”
When he said nothing, she sighed and slipped out of bed. Panic set in, and he reacted, leaning forward and pulling her back into bed.
“Argh!” she said as he rolled them over the king mattress. Once he was on top of her, he settled an arm on each side of her head and looked down at her. Damn, she was beautiful. Her dark hair fanned out over the white sheets, and her eyes were in angry slits.
“Get off me. I want to go home.”
“You can go home. But I want to clear something up first.”
Her chin notched up. “Fine.”
God, she was magnificent. He was always attracted to strong women. At the exact moment, though, he wanted to protect her, physically and emotionally. He needed her to know there was more to this thing between them.
“I do not regret anything about tonight. Well, no. I do regret having to dance with that vapid friend of Royal’s. But I do not regret anything that’s happened between us. In fact, I hope to do that again very soon.”
“Then what are you worrying about?”
“It’s…well, guys don’t take their best friend’s little sister to bed.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Well, it’s a code.”
“It’s an asinine code.”
Lani’s voice had taken on a condescending tone. He laughed. Her frown seemed to lessen, and her eyes lit up.
“I love your laugh.”
“Right back at ya, love.”
“You don’t have to worry about Ben.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“No, it’s not. I’m an adult. He didn’t have a problem with Rick and me.”
“Don’t talk about other men while you’re lying beneath me naked, and I’m hard as a rock.”
“And what are we going to do about that, Jake?”
Jakob thought he couldn’t get any harder. He had been wrong. The moment he heard her teasing words in that seductive tone…well, he was lucky he didn’t come in his pants. He knew that he shouldn’t be doing what he was doing, but as she leaned up to take his bottom lip into her mouth to suck on it…Jesus. Every thought of being a good guy disintegrated and was replaced with need. He wanted to touch her, taste her, and he wanted that all to happen immediately. Again and again.
He rolled off her and slipped off the bed.
“Jake—”
He slipped his arms beneath her and lifted her off the mattress. “I think we need a shower.”
“Is that your way of telling me that I stink?”
She was smiling at him, and that was all he cared about. Screw his best friend. Ben would need to learn that his love for Lani was real.
Love. Yep, he wasn’t even freaking out thinking he was in love with her. But he knew she wasn’t ready to hear those words from him. Not yet.
He stopped by the light switch. “Can you get the lights?”
She flipped the switch, and he made his way to the counter. After setting her down, he headed to the shower. He turned it on then faced Lani. Her gaze had been down where his ass was, and he smiled. Her eyes widened.
“Yeah, that always happens when I’m around you.”
“It does not.”
“Eyes up here,” he said, amusement filling his voice.
Her cheeks were stained red when she finally looked up.
“And yes, it does. It has for years. I’d see you, and I’d get hard. Why did you think I’d been avoiding you?”
“Lack of taste?”
He barked out and laughed. “God, that is why I’ll always want you. You give me shit every chance you get. Well, and the fact that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
She rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to seduce me.”
“Yeah,” he said, leaning forward, pulling her bottom lip into his mouth just as she had done to his. He let it go. “You deserved to be romanced every moment of your life, Lani.”
And he planned on doing just that for the rest of their lives. He just planned on waiting to inform her because she might freak out and run in the other direction.
“Now,” he said, lifting her off the counter and into his arms, “I think we should see what fun we can get up to in the shower.”
He had spent the better part of the last hour looking for Lani. She seemed to have disappeared. As he hurried down the hall, he knew there would be hell to pay.
“Lose something?”
He stopped in his tracks and glanced at the open doorway. It was the conference room. His partner motioned him in.
“What the hell happened?”
“She’s disappeared.”
A roll of his partner’s eyes told him all he needed to know. “People don’t disappear.”
“Yes, they do.”
The anger on his partner’s face had him worried. “Have you noticed that the movie star disappeared too?”
He rolled his shoulders as irritation slinked down his spine. “No.”
“No? Do you mean that you hadn’t noticed or that they aren’t together?”
“I’m sure they aren’t together. In fact, she hates him.”
“Tsk, tsk. That’s odd that you’re ignoring that they have been seen together since he arrived. We might have a problem.”
“I heard her say more than once that the guy pissed her off.”
Pity moved over his partner’s expression. “We don’t have time for you to be this stupid. I would guess that the two of them are fucking or will be later. He was watching her all night.”
Something cold settled in his stomach.
“If you had done your job, this wouldn’t be a problem. Get your shit together, or I’ll find someone else to help me with this and share the money with him.”
With that decree, his partner turned and strode away from him. Not for the first time, he thought that if he had just walked away from the deal…to try to have an everyday life without all the plans and idiocy, he might have been happy. He could have explained it all to Lani, and she would have understood.
Now, though, he was probably damned to hell.