Jake had remained silent on the long stroll back through the Quarter. He’d held her hand as they walked, as lost in his thoughts as she was in hers. He’d seemed surprised by her questions earlier, about his work. If her head hadn’t been pounding, she’d have laughed at the two of them. Here they were in one of the most decadent cities in the world and all they could think about were their respective careers.
How pathetic was that?
Her smile faded. Yeah, Natalie, just how pathetic was that? Had she given too much of her energy and dedication to this big career she’d dreamed of? She’d always had some vague image that it would all be worth it in the long run. Dedication and sacrifice now, for the big payoff later. But what if the payoff was just more of what she was doing now? Do you enjoy it?
She glanced up at Jake. What if the payoff wasn’t what she thought it would be? Was she walking away from what would make her truly happy?
And what the hell difference did it make? She couldn’t pick either one. Right now, her priority was her dad’s health and general well-being. No matter what might be in store for her down the road, at the moment she didn’t have a choice.
A sudden blast of music had her looking around in sudden awareness of where they were. At the other end of Bourbon. Their guest house was several blocks ahead. And between here and there, it looked like one huge party.
The street had been blocked off and it was swarming with people. Clubs and shops lined the street, and music literally thumped in the humid evening air. People were dancing, laughing and drinking on the sidewalks, in the streets, even up on the balconies above. Strands of shimmering Mardi Gras beads were sold in every store and looped around everyone’s neck. More of them were being flung by young men and women on the balconies in hopes of seeing a bit of skin flashed below.
Natalie’s eyes widened at the bewildering number of men and women who were more than willing to comply.
“Did she really just pull up her shirt?”
Jake grinned. Apparently the sight of bare flesh had pulled him from his thoughts, too. “She sure did.”
Natalie elbowed him, but she was laughing in disbelief.
“You want some beads?” he asked her.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Hey, I wasn’t thinking about you.” His hands went to his belt, and there was an immediate roar of approval from the women—and some men—on the balcony directly above them.
“Sorry, ladies,” Natalie called out, placing her hand firmly over Jake’s. “And gentlemen. The only show he’s giving tonight is for me.”
There were general groans, but the throng quickly moved on to encourage their next hopeful. One of the girls did fling a few strands of beads, which Jake deftly caught in one hand.
“For your private show,” the young woman yelled down.
Jake just laughed and pulled Natalie onward through the throng. “So, it’s a private show you’re wanting, is it?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
She didn’t know what had come over her back there—only that if he was going to take his pants off for anyone, it was going to be for her. At least, this one last night.
Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought, and she ruthlessly shoved it away, along with the rest of her angst. She wasn’t going to waste the last night they had beating herself up over things she couldn’t control.
JAKE LED THE WAY up the stairs of the guest house and barely managed to get the door closed behind them before pulling her into his arms. He felt her pulling away from him, and he didn’t know what else to do. But this was what had started it all between them, and if this was how they were going to finish, he intended to go out with a bang.
He pushed her toward the bed, lifting her up so her hips made it to the mattress. She went to pull him down on top of her, but he stepped back. “I believe someone said something about a private show?”
Her brows lifted in surprise, but that was quickly followed by a grin. “Why, yes, I do believe someone might have mentioned something about that, as I now recall.” She scooted up to the headboard and relaxed back on the pile of pillows. “Do we require music for this particular show?”
Jake had only been teasing her, but her playful mood was infectious. What the hell? He strode to the balcony doors and pushed them open. A cacophony floated through the door, jazz mixed with zydeco mixed with the blues and plain old rock and roll. He turned back to Natalie and actually had a momentary attack of modesty.
It was one thing to tease, it was another to willfully put on a display. Visions of the display Natalie had put on for him earlier today sprang vividly to mind. He supposed he owed her. And she’d seemed to actually enjoy it, once she got started. Maybe he’d feel the same.
She was laughing now.
“What?”
“Cat got your fly?”
“I’m…getting there.” He was not blushing. Not after all they’d done together.
She crawled to the side of the bed and motioned him over to her. “Do you need some help with that heavy buckle?”
“Ha-ha, very funny.”
She just grinned and gave him a provocative once-over. “I see. So you’re all tease and no fulfillment, is that it?”
“I think you know better than that.”
“Well, then, show us the goods.” She slid off the beads he’d put around her neck and dangled them from one finger. “If you’re good enough, I’ll throw beads.”
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you.”
“You have no idea.”
He couldn’t help it—he laughed then, and whatever inhibitions had come over him fled. Here, with her, was truly the one place he could bare all. And not just his flesh. Insecurities, doubts, worries, fears. All of them were safe with her. How in the hell was he supposed to let her walk out that door?
He resolutely shut that mental track down. A bang, he’d promised himself for them. And a bang he would deliver.
He lowered his head, then looked up at her from beneath his lashes, a slow grin spreading across his face. His hands went to his belt buckle and slowly slid the leather flap from the loop. His head came up as he ripped the belt through the loops, and he took immense gratification when her smile faltered and her throat worked.
Well, well. Maybe he could get used to this, after all.
He moved his hips, just a little. Then, when he noticed her eyes were riveted to that motion, he moved them some more. Slowly, sinuously. He unbuttoned his pants and slowly tugged the zipper down, making sure his fingers brushed over him as he did. The beads slowly slid from her fingers, and he felt a surge of power that wasn’t quite like anything he’d ever felt before.
He tugged his shirt from his pants and rotated his hips and body in full circle as he slid it up over his back and head, then turned to face her as he pulled it down and off his arms. He tossed it to her, and smiled when she snatched it out of the air. He swore he could feel her pulse pounding. Or maybe it was his. God knows, he was turned on.
He pushed off his shoes as his hands went back to the waistband of his pants. He ground his hips more deeply, moving closer to her as he did, then slid his pants over his hips and down his legs and stepped out of them, pushing off his socks at the same time, until he was left standing in front of her in only his briefs. Briefs whose limits were being sorely strained.
He moved closer to her, enjoying her visible swallow and the way she wet her lips. He pushed at the elastic band of his briefs as he moved right up in front of where she knelt at the side of the bed. She shifted, sitting with her legs dangling over the side. The height of the bed allowed him to move directly between her legs.
She groaned when he moved his hips so that he brushed against her. He slid his hands up and over his chest, reveling in the obvious pleasure she was taking from this.
“Take your clothes off for me, Natalie. I want you to feel me against you.”
Her pupils shot wide, and he did see the pulse leap in her throat as she scrambled back and undressed for him.
“Now, come sit on the side of the bed again. And bring those beads.”
She shuddered with pleasure, and he felt it ripple over him, as well. He only hoped he lasted long enough to do what he wanted to do. He moved between her legs again, rubbing against her until her hips began to move.
“Help me take these off.”
She lifted trembling hands to his hips and with torturous slowness, peeled his briefs from his body until he could kick them away. The feel of the humid air caressing him made him twitch with pleasure.
“I think I deserve some beads, don’t you?”
She nodded, still squirming as he moved up tight between her legs again, brushing her but not entering her. It was all he could do not to push her back and crawl up and into her. His own pulse was thundering now.
He reached out and toyed with one of the two strands she’d put back around her neck, twirling the emerald-green beads between his fingers. He pushed harder against her as he rolled the strand first over one nipple, then the next.
She gasped, the moan deep in her throat, and he couldn’t help it, he entered her, hard and swift. She screamed with it, immediately pushing her hips against him and tucking her legs around him to keep him from withdrawing. “No, don’t. Dear God.”
He pushed back into her, hard, and groaned himself. “Hold me, then,” he said roughly, and his knees buckled when she squeezed tightly around him. “Dear God is right,” he managed to say.