Chapter 26 #2
“You can go whenever you’re ready. And when you do, I’ll be right beside you. And if I know everyone I work with, there will be a band of helpers as well.”
“I couldn’t ask them to do that,” Steff protested.
“I don’t think you could get away without them not pitching in. They want to help.”
“That’s so…unexpected.”
Silence fell between them, and Jag didn’t do anything to break it, enjoying the quiet moment with her.
It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his arms. Most of his past liaisons had been…
almost clinical. Both him and the woman he was with were only slaking a desire.
Neither one of them seeking anything deep and meaningful.
It had been what he’d wanted at the time, with his focus on his job, and nothing else.
Now though, after one night of having Steff sleep in his arms, he wanted more of it. Considering she hadn’t tried to bolt from his hold the second she woke up, he hoped she wanted it too.
The trill of his phone in the kitchen shattered the peace between them and, once again, Steff stiffened in his arms. “I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
He extracted himself from Steff and strode toward the kitchen. He’d set his phone to ring for as long as possible before switching to voicemail.
Fox’s name flashed on the screen, and he swiped to answer it. “Hey man, what’s up?”
“Checking to see if you’re okay. We were getting a bit worried something had happened for you not to be in yet. If you hadn’t picked up, we would’ve headed over there.”
Jag loved how much his teammates cared and worried about each other. “All good. Just had a sleep in. Steff is fine too.”
“Okay. Good.”
Jag sensed there was something Fox wanted to say. He glanced toward his bedroom, but couldn’t hear or see any movement to suggest Steff was up and about. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just come out and tell you. Someone fucked with the building’s security system. The feed is nothing but a blue screen, from around five in the afternoon, until two in the morning when the forensic team walked out.”
“Fuck me. This is not a coincidence. Someone deliberately fucked with it.”
“Agreed. Cass is checking the surrounding cameras to see if they picked up anything.”
“She shouldn’t waste her time. Like before, whoever we’re dealing with knows how to keep themselves out of the line of cameras. They’re fucking professionals.” Frustration filled him. “None of this makes any sense. Why Steff?”
“I wish I knew, but you know we’ll get to the bottom of it. We’re going to find out who and why.”
No way could he leave Steff alone today. Not after hearing this. “I know. Listen, I’m not coming in today. I need to stay with Steff.”
“I get it. If something like last night happened to Cynthia, I’d want to be with her. I’ll let Ox know. I don’t think he’ll have an issue with it either. If we find anything with the footage, we’ll let you know.” Fox paused. “Do you think you’ll head to Steff’s place today?”
It was the last place Jag wanted to visit, but if Steff wanted to go back to her home, he’d take her. “That’s up to Steff. I’ll let her decide what we do.”
“If you do decide to go, call me. I’ll come to help if you need it. I’m sure Cynthia will too.”
“Thanks, man, appreciate it.”
“Talk later.”
“Later.” He disconnected the call and stared at the wall.
“Is everything okay?” Steff placed her hand on his shoulder, and he immediately covered it with his own.
“Fox called to see if everything was good.”
“That’s nice of him.”
Jag turned and pulled her close. She offered no resistance, and he loved that she was a lot more comfortable with him now. “I’m taking the day off. We can do whatever you want to do.”
“Can you do that at such short notice?”
“Of course, after what happened to you, no one would expect me to come in. I’m sure if I did, most of the guys would stare daggers at me and tell me to get the fuck out of there.”
Steff laughed and took a step back. He wanted to haul her close again, but reined the urge in. “I think you exaggerate, but, then again, maybe not. You guys are all intense.”
“We are and we’re especially protective of those we care for.” Had he taken a risk by exposing himself in the way he just had?
“I’m not complaining; in fact, I like it. It’s been a long time since someone cared about me,” she finished quietly, her gaze darting away from his.
Her parents had been dead for a few years, but was she saying that prior to her kidnapping and the last few weeks with him, there’d been no one else?
It didn’t matter what happened in her past. All that mattered was the here and now. And right this second, she had him, and he wasn’t going anywhere.
Not ever if he had his way.
“Steff, look at me?” He wanted her full attention when he said what he was about to say.
She lifted her head, her teeth worrying her bottom lip again. Jag reached out and gently released the skin, brushing his thumb across her pinkened flesh. Desire swarmed him. and he pushed it back. “You’re not alone now. You have me. Always.”
“I know. I don’t know what I did to have you come into my life, but I’m very thankful. And lucky.”
That wasn’t what he expected her to say, but it gave him hope for a future with her. If his intensity didn’t have her running away, then he liked to believe nothing would. “I’m the lucky one.”
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. A light touch to cement what he’d told her. A confirmation that he wasn’t saying words to make her feel good. That he meant it all.
Jag went to break the kiss, but Steff’s hand came up and clasped the back of his head, keeping him in place.
Her teeth nipped his bottom lip, and he got the message, adjusting his stance so she was closer, and he deepened the kiss.
Cognizant of what happened the last time they got serious, he tempered his movements, controlling the desire to scoop her up and stride to his bedroom so that he could lay her down and worship her the way she should be.
Eventually they broke the kiss, both panting hard. Steff’s blue eyes were cloudy with desire. They fixed on him, and he held his breath, waiting for what was to come next.
“I want you,” she whispered, and the pink in her cheeks from their kiss deepened.
He blew out the breath he’d been holding. He wanted this so much, but he didn’t want to rush her. Didn’t want her to think she needed to take the next step with him, because if she didn’t, he wouldn’t want her.
Which was so far from the truth it was hilarious.
“Are you sure?” he questioned.
“Very.” She played with the fabric of the T-shirt he’d pulled on.
“I wanted you last night, but then…” She shrugged, not needing to say anything else; he got it.
If he was being truthful with himself, he’d hoped that after the dinner with Fox and Cynthia, when they’d gotten back to her place, things would’ve progressed with them.
He wasn’t going to question her anymore about her decision. If he did, it would be like he didn’t trust she could think for herself. That wasn’t the type of relationship he wanted with her.
They were equal partners.
“I wanted you too. That dress drove me crazy during dinner.”
“I can put it back on if you want?” she teased, and he loved seeing her this way. Moving forward at the pace she wanted.
“As much as I would love that, I happen to think what you’re wearing is even sexier.
” He’d given her one of his T-shirts to wear to bed.
It skimmed the middle of her thighs, and the baser part of his soul wanted to pound his chest in ownership.
Which was so caveman-ish of him that if he said it out loud to any of the women he worked with, they would quickly knock it out of him.
“This old thing?” She waved her hand down her body.
“Yes, that old thing.” Their banter had his dick hardening with every word they spoke. If she looked down she’d see how much he wanted her.
“Dalton,” she whispered his name, as if she didn’t know what to say next.
He groaned and acted on what he’d been wanting to do for so long—he bent and lifted her, so she was curled in his embrace, and rested against his chest. Her arms hooked around him, and she buried her face into his neck, peppering tiny kisses along his jaw.
He grit his teeth, praying that he didn’t lose control and come in his pants. He shouldered his way through the door and gently placed her on the bed. Her hair spread across his pillow, and damn, it looked so good.
She looked perfect there, like she belonged.
He whipped his shirt off, her eyes widening as her gaze raked down his body. Her tongue came out and swiped across her bottom lip; her attention fully on his erection. It bobbed against the confines of the sweatpants he’d slept in.
The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her with the intensity of his need. What was about to happen between them was a big step for Steff, and he wanted to make it perfect for her.
He lay on the bed next to her, not touching or crowding her. Whatever she’d gone through in the past, her choices had been ripped from her. He wasn’t going to do that to her, she would be in control.
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “I don’t want to do something that seems silly or makes you roll your eyes.”
Jag took her hand and placed it over his heart. “Nothing you will ever do will be silly or make me roll my eyes.” He repeated the words back so she understood he meant them. “Whatever you do, I’ll love.”
He meant that too. He was glad they were together. That they had these moments to share.
Her fingers twitched against his chest, and he let go, allowing her the freedom to touch him or pull away if she wanted.
Her movements were a little shaky as she explored his exposed skin. Jag remained still, even though he itched to touch her.
Her fingers followed the ridges of his six pack, getting dangerously close to the waistband of his shorts. There was no way she couldn’t see what her touch was doing to him. The more she explored, the more confident her touch became.
He groaned at the first touch of her mouth on his chest. Jag reached up and smoothed a hand of her hair, letting her know he liked what she was doing. He would willingly let her explore every part of him and he not touch her if that was what she wanted.
“You really are beautiful,” she murmured as she pressed another kiss against his belly.
His cock was rock hard, and he ached to bury it inside her warm heat. “Not as beautiful as you, honey.”
In a quick move, she was straddling his body, and he only had a second to register what she was about to do before her mouth captured his in a hungry kiss.
Jag curled his arms around her, wanting to haul her close, but aware the movement could trigger her, so he kept it light.
His T-shirt she wore had ridden up, and the lure to touch the creamy exposed flesh was a battle he was beginning to lose. He wrenched his mouth from hers. “I need to touch you, can I?”
It didn’t matter if she’d given him her permission to touch her before, this was different. This was going to lead to more.
“Yes.” She arched closer, and he shifted his hands from her back to her thighs. The flesh firm beneath his fingers.
“You feel amazing.” He kissed along her jaw line, down her neck. Steff’s head dropped back giving him more access. He smoothed his hands over her ass, squeezing lightly. Everything about her was addictive.
His dick ached, and he shifted in an attempt to provide himself with some relief. It didn’t work as Steff clutched him tighter. It was impossible to get anything between them.
Her pointed nipples jutted against his chest, tempting him to roll them between his fingers.
Jag moved so that they were laying on their sides, enabling him to rest his hard length between her thighs. Steff stiffened momentarily, but relaxed just as quickly.
Her fingers slipped between his waistband, perilously close to his erection. He wanted her to touch him with every fiber of his being.
She brushed his tip, and he thought of the worst thing possible to stop himself from coming all over her hand. Her touch was tentative at first, but became bolder as she circled her hand around him. She stroked up and down, and he groaned.
“That feels so good, honey, but I’m gonna need you to stop.” He nipped at her bottom lip.
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t, it’s going to become very messy.” Jag didn’t give her a chance to respond as he captured her lips with his. This kiss was far from gentle. Their tongues dueled, and he couldn’t believe how uninhibited she was becoming.
He prayed that her confidence would stay with her. That somehow tonight she would conquer her demons.
As she continued to torment him by lightly touching is cock, he bunched her shirt up until he found the undersides of her breasts. She gasped lightly and he stilled, giving her a few seconds to adjust to this next step in their intimacy journey.
When it looked like she wasn’t going to freak out, he found her nipple and rolled it between his fingers, like he’d wanted to do the moment he felt them against his chest.
They spent the next few minutes exploring each other’s bodies. Finding the places that caused both of them to moan out loud.
“Dalton?”
Jag stilled. Was she about to ask him to stop? Her body was still relaxed against him, which was a good sign. “Yeah?”
“I need more.”
If that wasn’t a green light to move forward, he didn’t know what was. “I’ll give you anything you want.”
“I want you. All of you.”
“That I can do.” He pushed her shirt up further, and she lifted her arms, allowing him to pull it off her.
Jag closed his eyes, imprinting the image of a naked Steff into his mind. He cupped her breasts, loving the weight of them in his hands. He bent and ran his tongue around her areola. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and squirmed against him.
“You have too many clothes on,” she muttered after he had worshipped her chest.
“I can fix that.” Jag slid off the bed and pushed his shorts down, his cock springing free. He immediately sought out Steff’s gaze. If there was any hint of worry or fear he’d shut things down, but there was nothing but desire darkening her eyes.
He opened the top drawer of his bedside table and took out a couple of condoms, placing them on the top. He got back on the bed and pulled Steff close. “You good?”
“More than good. I want this, Dalton. I want to make new memories. I know the old ones won’t ever disappear.”
He nodded, understanding what she was saying. “If at any stage you need …” She placed a finger on his lips, stopping whatever else he was going to say.
“I know.”
If she wanted to make new memories, then he was going to give her ones she wouldn’t ever forget.