When she was sure she was going to burst from frustration, he replaced his touch with his mouth, and time froze. As soon as he flicked his tongue over her, she cried out. So close to completion that she couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please?”
He shook his head, but didn’t cease his torment.
She squeezed her lids shut, trying to think of anything that would stop her from coming. The threat of jail. Soltese killing her. Never seeing Jake again.
None of it worked.
“Jake!”
“Now,” he rumbled against her.
He licked her, thrust two fingers inside …and she exploded. She arched her hips up, freezing as pleasure rocked her so hard she could barely remember how to breathe. He let her hips fall, then rolled a condom over his thick shaft.
Flipping her onto her belly, he hauled her hips up and positioned himself at her entrance from behind. He fondled her ass, his touch gentle. “Ask me nicely.”
She fisted the comforter in her hands, trembling with need despite her recent orgasm. She needed him inside her. Filling her. “Please fuck me, sir.”
He didn’t move. “Call it what it is. We’re not fucking. Not tonight.”
“M-Make love to me,” she begged, moving restlessly beneath him. “Please.”
He didn’t reply, but he thrust into her all the way with one smooth stroke. Straining against the sheets, she met his movements. Each time he pulled out, she was ready and waiting for more. He stroked her hair, his touch gentle, and whispered soft words in her ears.
As he thrust inside her, deeper and harder, she came so close to the precipice that she shook. But then he pulled out and flipped her over. “I want to see you when you come. I want to watch you. To see…to feel…you. I need you, Tara. I need you so damn badly.”
Her heart wrenched and she nodded, opening her arms to him. “I’m yours.”
He covered her body with his, moving inside her again. The whole time he made love to her—because that’s totally what he did—he kissed her, never breaking contact. It was so tender and sweet. So perfect. She blinked back tears, knowing this would probably be their last time, and not liking it at all.
Not ready to let go.
He cupped her cheeks in his palms, increasing his pace. Going faster and faster until the pressure grew to be unbearable. He shifted his weight so that each time he drove into her, he rubbed against her clit. His tongue dueled with hers, and he deepened the kiss, claiming her in ways she didn’t fully understand.
When he groaned and thrust harder, his entire body going tight with his release, she came, too. The whole time, he was right there beside her. Holding her in his arms. Kissing her. Whispering soft words in her ear that made her want so much more with him. That made her want to stay with him for…well, forever.
When she came back down to earth, he was lying on his side next to her, and he cradled her in his arms. She took a shaky breath and stared up at him, not certain of what to say or how to act. “Jake…”
He watched her, his own face open and vulnerable and uncertain. So, she hadn’t been imagining things, then. He seemed as affected by tonight as she did. But what did that mean? “I know.”
“I wish I could stay here with you,” she admitted, her heart thudding hard the whole time. “I wish we could lock ourselves in here forever, and avoid the real world.”
“You could stay with me, if you cracked the code.” He ran his fingers over her mouth, his eyes somber. The lights from deep within that usually shone at her appeared dull. “I don’t want to send you to jail. Don’t make me do it, sweetheart. Please.”
And just like that, her heart plummeted. He’d asked her nicely, but she couldn’t give him what he wanted. She just couldn’t. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that.” He sat up, shrugging her off. “You’re not.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “Now you presume to know how I feel better than I do?”
He stood, his hands fisted at his sides. “Yes. Because I’m trying to save your ass.” He stepped closer, his gaze soft and pleading. “Don’t do this to us, Tara.”
Us? Was there an us?
She shook her head, the panic rising up and choking her. She didn’t know what to do, because she really wanted there to be an us, but not at the cost of her values. In the end, she’d only resent him for making her choose him. For making her cooperate. It was better this way. She couldn’t give in. Not this time.
“It isn’t your job to save me. I’m fine on my own,” she said, blinking back tears. “I don’t need you crashing in on your white horse. I don’t need you.”