Chapter Three
Leah couldn’t think. Her breasts ached for him, and that was nothing compared to her core. Adrenaline roared through her body, and electricity sparked every nerve beneath her skin. Too late? Her body agreed completely. Her brain tried to take over. Control. This came down to control, and she needed to find some.
Her body seemed to be winning since she’d widened her legs and let him settle more comfortably against her. His cock pressed insistently at her sex, heated even through their clothing.
It had been so long.
This kind of craving couldn’t be healthy. The hunger gnawing at her felt like it was devouring her from the inside out. “Jasper, think.”
He kissed her again, his lips firm and determined. “I am thinking. I’m thinking this is exactly where we both belong.” His breath heated her mouth while his body warmed hers. “I’m tired of waiting, aren’t you? Tired of wanting?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her hands on his smooth skin again. But didn’t she have a job to do? She hadn’t finished taking down the trafficking ring yet. There were two more names to cross off, and then she’d be free. “I won’t let you lock me down.”
“We’re not talking about that right now.” He partially leaned on one elbow and flattened his hand on her chest, caressing her torso and barely missing her nipples. His calloused fingertips and hands claimed every inch he touched and ignited flames of raw need everywhere he missed. He played her as if he’d spent centuries learning her body instead of just one night so long ago.
She shifted into his touch, wanting more. “Okay, but just this night. Take the edge off. Then, we continue our jobs.”
“Tell yourself whatever you need to, Leah. But this isn’t just one night.” His low voice hinted at the brogue from long ago. All Scottish, all wild. He tweaked both of her nipples hard enough that she came off the bed. Liquid spilled between her legs, and she gasped.
The one time between them, in that cold and dark forest, had been gentle and quick. Oh, she remembered every touch and sigh perfectly, as if he’d imprinted them on her mind forever. Even injured and in the chilly wilderness, she’d enjoyed three orgasms and cried out his name.
Now, she was healthy.
He tore off her jeans, and his hand flattened over her abdomen. Shyness suddenly overtook her. His wicked grin made her tremble, and then he shifted down her body, his mouth instantly finding her sex.
She’d never done this. Oh, she’d read about it, but this was new. There hadn’t been time their last time.
His tongue was rough to the point of being abrasive, and he knew how to use it. Along with his teeth, lips, and then his fingers. It was too much. Or not enough. She didn’t know.
Her head thrashed on the pillow as he slid two fingers inside her.
“Sorry we have to make this quick,” he said, nipping her clit.
She rocketed into space, whispering his name, riding sharply edged waves down into a spectacular climax. So, her memories of their one night together were accurate—it was that amazing.
He slid up her, shucking his jeans. “That’s my foreplay for now since I only have about twenty minutes left. I promise you, the next time, I’ll make you beg first.” Then his erection pressed into her, hard and ready.
She sucked in a breath and ran her hands down his arms, widening her thighs. Need careened through her.
He slowly penetrated her, allowing her to adjust to his size, a drop of sweat marring his brow. “God, you’re tight.”
It had been decades upon decades. Of course, she was tight. She bit her lip from the pain.
He kissed her, taking her under, and she started to move against him. Hunger built inside her.
A loud knock on the door had them both jumping.
“Five minutes,” Klyde called out cheerfully.
“I’ll kill him,” Jasper said, pushing all the way inside her.
She cried out, digging her nails into his arms. Then, pleasure smothered the pain. So much she could barely breathe.
He slid out and then gently pushed back in, being so careful.
“I’m okay.” She slid her arms down his flanks to sink her nails into his butt. Live wires started uncoiling inside her as the mark on her lower back began to burn. “Don’t slow down.” If he ended up leaving before she reached that pinnacle, she would murder him.
He kissed her again and then pulled out, setting a hard, hammering rhythm that had the whole bed rocking.
A quick thought about contraception filtered through her head, but he’d told her last time that there was no contraception for immortals, and that it was incredibly difficult for most immortals to procreate.
Then she forgot all about reason.
Tingles started inside her, melding with the sparks. She climbed fast, and he let her until she finally fell over with a sharp cry. The explosions inside her were so intense she had to shut her eyes and let them take her away.
He powered inside her even stronger for much longer than five minutes. But nobody pounded on the door. Finally, his fangs dropped and sank into her neck, his body jerking with a powerful climax she could feel beneath her skin. He retracted them, having drunk her blood, and swiped his rough tongue across the wound to seal it.
Moments later, he stilled and looked down at her. Then he gently kissed her nose. “Stay in bed. I’ll be back soon. We’re nowhere near done.”
* * * *
Leah ignored his command and quickly dressed as Jasper did the same. She pushed her hair into some semblance of order and followed him into the hallway and down to the front door, her cheeks burning so badly they might stay red forever.
“Status?” Jasper barked.
Klyde glanced at his watch and then tossed a gun at his brother. “We just received notice that Wallace and Vester were spotted in a bar known to most immortals, a place called Burnt Tree on the outskirts of the city.”
Leah perked up. She was looking for a Wallace. It couldn’t be the same guy, could it?
Jasper tucked the gun at the back of his waist. “We don’t have anybody on this penthouse, do we?”
Dax shook his head. “No, all of our scouts are out, and most of our soldiers won’t arrive for another couple of hours. We don’t have anybody here.”
“That’s okay,” Leah said cheerfully. “You guys go ahead and complete your mission. I take it you need to meet with Wallace and Vester?”
“Yeah, meet,” Jasper said darkly. “That’s exactly what we need to do.”
This was working out far better than she’d imagined. She plastered on a smile and tried to ignore the fact that her inner thighs were whisker-burned, and everyone looking at her right now knew that. Or something close to it. “All right. I’ll do my work, and you do yours. We’ll meet up later.”
“I don’t think so,” Jasper said. “I’ll be right back.” He lowered his body and tossed her over his shoulder, leaving her staring down at a myriad of smashed toys as he walked farther into the penthouse. He opened a door, and she suddenly flew across the room to land on the now very messy bed.
The decidedly feminine room smelled like cinnamon, and a welcome basket overflowed on the dresser near the marble-filled bathroom, complete with a wide tub she could see from her perch. How had she not noticed those before? Oh, yeah. She’d been too busy reaching a couple of orgasms.
“Stop carrying me places, damn it,” she said, her heart rate kicking into high gear. Just being in his presence made her sensitized skin feel stretched too tight. Adrenaline and a boatload of pheromones overtook her body. She cleared her throat to sound normal. “Really, Jasper. Go get your work done. Obviously, you have a meeting.”
“I have more than a meeting.” He reached into his back pocket and drew out what appeared to be zip ties.
She tried to scoot back on the bed, but he grabbed her ankle before she could move. His touch spiraled through her, peaking her nipples and increasing her breath. She should be satiated, but she wasn’t even close. They couldn’t be in such close proximity. Her system couldn’t take it. Need lowered her voice. “Why do you have zip ties?”
“For this.” He quickly shoved one loop over her left wrist and then finished with her right, drawing them tight. His voice sounded gravelly.
“Hey,” she said, trying to ignore her suddenly damp panties. “That hurts.”
He slipped a finger between the black tie and her wrist, his intense gaze watching her face. He dropped his focus to her lips. “You’re fine.”
“I find this unnecessary.” She glared down at her secured wrists. How dare he? They’d just had sex.
“We both know it’s more than necessary.” His nostrils flared like those of a stallion in heat.
She shook her head. “You know this is a bad idea.” They’d managed to live normal lives by staying out of each other’s way all these decades. Being near him actually hurt. Not touching him bordered on the impossible. “Jasper.”
His eyes morphed to a startling green and then darkened with possessiveness. “This is your new reality, baby. You and me. All-in.”
Panic fought with the desire flowing through her veins. “I’m not ready.”
“Too bad. I am.” He opened the bedside table and drew out a thin rope. “Sorry about this.” Not sounding the least bit sorry, he wound the rope between the ties and secured it before wrapping the other end around the bedpost and creating some sort of elaborate knot.
Leah blinked. Yeah, she might’ve fantasized a time or two about being tied up by him. Not like this, though. “There’s no need to be kinky.”
He ran his knuckles across her cheekbone. “You haven’t seen kinky yet. But I promise you will.”
Think. She had to think. “You were prepared to keep me prisoner?” How in the world had he tied her up so quickly?
“I’ve learned to be prepared for you at all times,” he said dryly. “I thought we might be called out on a job, and I don’t want you going anywhere. You have enough freedom to reach the bathroom.” He reached into the drawer of the bedside table and brought out a remote control. “Feel free to watch whatever you want.” He nodded his head toward a large-screen TV fastened to the wall, a noticeable bulge in the front of his faded jeans. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, and we’ll settle this for good.”
For good? That could only mean one thing. He was going to plant that mark back on her body—nice and dark. Her body sprang wide awake with a hell yes , while her brain tried to shut it down. She had to get out of there. “This is improper.”
“Sorry about that. Proper isn’t in my vocabulary.” Pressing a quick kiss to her forehead, he strode out the door, shutting it quietly behind him.
Desire trembled through her, and she nearly doubled over from need. Even now, his smell of wild forest and dark spice filled the air around her, as if even his scent wanted to claim her for all time.
She flicked on the TV to see if anything interesting was happening and waited, patiently counting the minutes.
When no noise remained in the penthouse, she carefully looked at the zip ties. For some reason, people thought zip ties were difficult to remove. She’d trained with a group once on how to get out of any bindings. Zip ties were easy.
She lifted one leg, put both arms down until the tie sat against her shin—one of the hardest parts of the body—and then slammed the ties down as hard as she could. They didn’t give. She tried again. Nothing.
She tried a third time, and they snapped open.
Did he seriously think a couple of zip ties would keep her in place? He’d underestimated her for years, and it was somewhat amusing. With the ties loose, the rope sprang free, as well. She’d waste time on an eye roll, but she really had to get going.
Gingerly, she opened the door and looked out. Nothing. Taking a deep breath, she hurried toward the outside door, careful not to step on any toys. She’d heard of Benjamin Reese, and he was the last vampire she wanted to piss off.
She opened the door to the vestibule and walked easily to the elevators to press the down button. It arrived, and she shook her head again. That man really had to stop underestimating her, but it was a problem she’d deal with at another time. Or perhaps she could use it to her advantage. Again.
Once she reached the ground floor, she walked out and smiled at the two security guards behind the front desk. They were human and didn’t know her. They nodded back. She sprinted outside into a summer day. She loved Paris.
Hailing a taxi, she paid in cash with money from her boot. Jasper really should have searched her. The cab dropped her off at her temporary flat, and she ran inside, hurriedly changing into a long, sparkling blue gown that set off her eyes. Her hair took a bit longer to tie into an intricate knot, and then she tucked her three-inch, sequined heels into her overlarge bag and wore her flats as she bolted out of the apartment.
She had a ball to attend, after all.