by Laura Pavlov
But were we really going to act on it? I mean, we already had just two nights ago, or at least I had. And I couldn’t get it out of my head. Talk about a fantasy come to life. Jack Montgomery was my living, breathing fantasy. But where could this go? The guy didn’t date, he was an infamous playboy, and he also happened to be my brother’s best friend. Not that I was worried about Miles. I wasn’t. I was a grown woman, and my brother needed to respect that. My concern was that Jack was allowing it to be a huge factor, which made me apprehensive. I didn’t want things to get weird when all of this came to an end. Which it would.
I was a realist. I wasn’t disillusioned into believing this could actually be something. It couldn’t. We’re talking about Jack freaking Montgomery, after all. He was every woman’s fantasy. And he lived up to the reputation. He was gorgeous and charming and sexy as hell. But he definitely wasn’t mine. At least not long-term. But maybe that was okay. The ache between my legs sure wanted to believe so. And after what he did to me just two nights ago—it left me wanting more. As shameful and desperate as that sounded, it was the truth.
I knew it would hurt when he tired of me, so I was going to force myself to live in the moment. Be present. Enjoy this and not overthink it. At least that was the plan.
“Are you kidding? He wouldn’t allow you to drive yourself.” Big Tony stepped out of the car and came around to open my door.
“So, you just run around and pick up all his ladies, huh?”
He offered me his hand. “You’d be the first. I probably shouldn’t say this, but in all the years I’ve worked for him, I’ve never brought a woman here for dinner.”
I laughed. He obviously felt obligated seeing as I was Miles’ sister and all. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
His doorman assisted me to the private elevator and typed in a code. I made my way to the top floor. The elevator opened into his apartment, and I was immediately hit with the smell of garlic and lemon and my stomach rumbled with anticipation. There were candles lit around the space and pretty pink and white floral arrangements caught my eye.
An oversized cat moseyed over to me. Wow. He was large. He rubbed up against my shin and I laughed.
Me and cats… we were one.
I hadn’t believed that Jack really had a cat, so he was already proving me wrong.
“Hey there,” I said before I leaned down to scratch the top of his massive head. He purred, and I scooped him up into my arms. He nuzzled his nose beneath my chin, and I chuckled.
“Dear god. You’re holding him? He doesn’t usually allow that. And wow, you look gorgeous.” Jack’s gaze studied me with concern. The air left my lungs at the sight of him. Dark jeans that showed off his long legs, and a white button-up exposing just enough skin to tease me. His hair was damp and tousled on his head, and cedar and citrus engulfed me at his nearness.
“Thank you. You look nice too. You didn’t have to do all this.” I bit down on my bottom lip and glanced around the room at all the bells and whistles. We were about to cross the line. It wasn’t about flowers and candles, but about going in knowing what we were doing. We were going to have sex. And I’d agreed to come here, so obviously I was on board with the idea.
“You don’t like candles and flowers?” he asked as his cat poked at me to continue rubbing his belly.
“Of course, I do. But it’s not like you’re trying to date me. We’re sort of doing this backward, right? We fake dated first, and now we want to have sex. You don’t need to make this more than it is.”
He walked toward me, and his cat surged upright and hissed. “Jesus. Put the fat bastard down, would you?”
“Please tell me that isn’t his name.” I glanced down at his collar and my head fell back in laughter before I set the big guy down on all fours. “You did not name your cat Pussy?”
“Of course not. I rescued him, and he came with the name. Come here,” he said, leading me to the large gray velvet sectional surrounded by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. It was breathtaking. His penthouse was classic and elegant with black and white prints on the walls and modern décor.
He faced me as we dropped to sit, and he took both of my hands in his. His whiskey gaze locked with mine. “You told me you don’t do casual sex, remember, Blue Jay?”
“Yet here I am.” It was the truth. I couldn’t resist him. I didn’t want to. So, I came here with my eyes wide open.
“I told you I wanted to give this a try. For real. This is not about just having sex for me. You don’t believe me?” His voice was gravelly, and something in his gaze pulled at my heartstrings. He appeared hurt? Vulnerable?
I shook my head. “You don’t need to tell me what I want to hear. I know who you are. And you need to remove Miles from the equation. I think you feel like you need to do all of this out of obligation. I’m never going to tell him about what happens between us, if that’s what you’re worried about. We’re two consenting adults.”
Without warning, he pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me close to him. “You think I’m doing all of this for Miles? This is for you. I wasn’t just saying I wanted to give this a try to get you in bed. I really want to give this thing between us a chance. Our fake relationship was better than anything real I’ve ever had. That’s why I wanted to talk to Miles. To tell him how I feel about you.”
My heart raced and my mouth went dry. I wanted to jump in the deep end with Jack, but I knew better. This man could wreck me, and I needed to proceed with caution. I turned in his arms and faced him. His warm breath tickled against my cheek and I reached up to brush back the dark flock of hair that tumbled down his forehead. “How do you feel about me, Montgomery?”
A wide grin spread across his handsome face, and my stomach fluttered.
Damn traitor.
We came here for sex, nothing more.
“I like you, Little Bird. I like you more than I ever knew I could. I like being around you and I miss you when you aren’t there. Hell, I miss you every time we say goodbye. So, all of this,” he said, holding his arms out and staring at me. “This is my way of telling you that I’m crazy about you.”
I sucked in a long breath and shook my head. “You’ll tire of me. You can have anyone, why even go there?”
“Because I only want you.”
“You’re confusing your feelings. You want to have sex with me. There’s a difference.”
He studied me, moving his face closer. His lips grazed my ear as he spoke. “What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid of what everyone’s afraid of. Getting hurt. I’ve had a lifetime of hurt, I’m not looking for more.” My words surprised me. My voice was hoarse and raw, and the truth floated between us like an invisible barrier.
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt. I trust you.”
“That’s because you’ll be the one doing the hurting. Look at your track record. Why do you think my brother was worried? You’re a playboy through and through. One woman will never keep your attention.” I closed my eyes as his lips teased mine.
“Wrong, Little Bird. No woman has kept my attention before, because I was waiting for you,” he whispered.
I pulled back and my breath caught in my throat. I needed to clear my head. My gaze locked with his. My fingers found his jaw and slid across his peppered scruff, loving the rough contrast against my skin. “How do you know?”
“Because I know. I wouldn’t bullshit you. I’ve been feeling it for a while. I’m just asking for a chance.” His finger circled around one of the diamond stud earrings that he’d given me for my birthday, and he smiled.
Gold flecks sparkled in his gaze as the moonlight flooded his grand living room. I leaned forward.
Wanting and needing him in a way I’d never known before.
These feelings of desire were so foreign I didn’t know if I could mak
e a rational decision.
My lips found his and this time the kiss was slow.
Cautious.
Curious.
His hand tangled in my hair and he pulled me closer as his tongue explored my mouth. “I’ll never tire of you, Little Bird. You’re all I think about.”
I was lost in the moment. Lost in this man. This need. This burning desire.
He pulled away, and the loss hit me like a freight train slamming against a brick wall. He held my shoulders, keeping me just a few inches from his face. “Let’s have dinner.”
Dinner? I forgot he’d invited me here for a meal.
“Oh. Um, okay.” I pushed to my feet, my face flush with embarrassment. What was it about Jack that made me lose control? Every. Single. Time. This wasn’t me. I didn’t even like sex with Thyme. In fact, I used to dread it. But Jack… he was different.
He linked his fingers with mine and led me to the dining room. “Don’t be embarrassed. I feel it too. But I want to show you that there’s more here than just an intense attraction.”
I nodded as he pulled out my chair. “So, you feel it too?” I whispered.
“Fuck, yeah.” He kissed my mouth and walked toward the kitchen just as Pussy came around the corner and hissed at him, lunging just enough to scratch his calf which was thankfully protected by the denim barrier. “Jesus. Why is he such a dick to me?”
I chuckled and studied his jumbo kitty who watched him cautiously. Jack walked out carrying two plates and I didn’t miss the fact that he walked a bit faster when he moved past Pussy this time. The dining room table was a sleek glass table with a modern crystal chandelier hanging above.
“Has he always been like this with you?” I asked.
He dropped to sit, leaning forward to fill my glass with a bottle of Montgomery wine. He set the bottle down before taking his seat.
“Um. Yeah. He’s never liked me.”
I knew it hurt him to admit because everybody liked Jack. He was that guy. I wasn’t buying it.
“Look at me,” I said, setting my fork down. “How long have you had him?”
He searched my gaze and sucked in a long breath. “A few hours.”
My head fell back in laughter and it took me a minute to contain myself. “What? You got him today?”
“Yep.”
“Why?” I asked, shaking my head.
“I wanted to impress you.” This man was causing all my walls to crumble to the ground and I was frantically trying to keep them in place.
I pushed my plate across the table and made my way over to him. He set his fork down and looked up at me. I moved to sit on his lap and tipped his head back to look at him. “That might be the sweetest gesture anyone has ever done for me. Thank you.”
“Wow. If I’d known getting that fat bastard would get you to sit on my lap, I would have brought the fucker home weeks ago.”
I chuckled, and reached for my plate, taking an oversized bite. I took my time chewing and savored all the flavors bursting from the white wine sauce generously poured over the pasta. He remembered that I was a vegetarian and made an effort to cook something that I would eat. No one had ever done that. With Thyme, I was used to just eating the sides of whatever he’d prepare. He’d never taken what I wanted into consideration, in fact, we always went to a steak house on our anniversary. I wasn’t used to a man being this thoughtful. Hell, he’d brought home a cat that clearly hated him, just to make me feel better about losing Mr. Boots.
That was sweet.
Jack Montgomery was sweet to the core.
Under all that charming sex appeal, was a warm, considerate man.
We sat this way for the next hour or so. Talking and laughing and eating. With me in his lap and him snagging bites from my plate once he’d finished his.
“So, who made the meal?”
His chest rumbled beneath me. “Damn, Little Bird. You don’t miss a beat. Sarah made it. She works for me, and she’s a hell of a lot better in the kitchen than I am. But I told her what to make because I know what you like.”
“I couldn’t quite picture you mincing garlic and lemon and making a homemade white wine sauce from scratch,” I teased, turning to look at him. His tongue swiped out and licked my bottom lip and my body heated instantly.
“You had a little sauce there,” he said, his voice gruff.
“Let’s go sit on the couch and introduce you to your cat.” I pushed to my feet, trying to control the ache between my legs.
I grabbed our plates and set them in the kitchen sink before we walked to the couch. Pussy followed me and lingered beneath my leg.
“I don’t know what his problem is. I didn’t take him on the helicopter, I drove his ass back so he wouldn’t freak out. And still, the dude hates me.”
Our knees were touching, and we sat facing one another. I reached down and pulled his gigantic cat onto my lap. “Cats sense fear. He knows you aren’t comfortable. He just needs to get to know you.”
“Kind of like you,” he said, a smile growing on his face.
“Did you just compare me to Pussy?” I covered my mouth to mask my laughter, as his cat settled on my lap.
“I think you hissed at me the first few times I tried to pet you too.” He smirked. The man was ridiculously sexy.
“Give me your hand.” I reached mine out for his and rested our hands on the cat currently setting up residence on my lap. My hand looked so small on top of his. I moved our hands slowly over the back of his head. My fingers laced with his, as I moved them across the soft fur.
Pussy purred and tilted his head into Jack’s palm for more love. “This is progress, but I’d rather have my hands on you.”
“Yeah?” I asked, continuing to move our hands in sync.
“Always. I want you to spend the night with me. No sex. I don’t want you thinking that’s what I’m after. We’ll take it slow.”
I pouted. “I thought I was coming over for my first booty call.”
“If that were enough for me, I’d take you up on it. But it’s not, and I’m going to prove it to you. Now get fat bastard off your lap, so I can have you on mine.”
“So bossy,” I said, moving the cat to the floor, and he whined a few times before walking away.
Jack pulled me on his lap and kissed me hard. He tipped me back on the couch and propped himself above. “I’m going to take my time with you, Little Bird.”
My breaths sounded like little pants, and I didn’t even care. I was well beyond hiding my attraction to him. “I thought we weren’t having sex.”
“We’re not. But I plan to worship every inch of you tonight. Make you cry out my name over and over from the earth-shattering orgasms I give you, just like the one I gave you the other night. I want you naked in my bed, in my arms, so I can touch you any time I want.”
I couldn’t speak, which was a first. My mouth hung open and his whiskey gaze locked with mine. This was too much. And not enough. I wanted more.
I wanted things I’d never wanted before.
I wanted everything.
Chapter Nineteen
Jack
I carried her to my room. I’d thought about Monroe Buckley naked and sprawled across my black silk sheets more times than I could count. I’d tortured myself for weeks every time I fantasized about her—torn between the guilt of betraying my best friend and the desire to make this woman mine.
Because she was mine.
There was no if, and, or but about it. Now I just had to convince her of that and then speak to Buck calmly and get him to believe that I wasn’t fucking around.
Because I wasn’t.
I understood why Buck would be concerned. I wasn’t this guy. I didn’t get invested in women. But I was all in. I barely recognized myself.
My need for her.
My desire for her.
I dropped her on my bed, and her petite frame bounced a little before she settled on the gray comforter. Her light brown hair spread all around her and she looked like some sort of goddamn angel lying there.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whispered as I propped myself above her.
She shook her head and chuckled. Monroe wasn’t used to being fawned over. She put on a tough front, but she was soft and tender beneath that strong exterior she portrayed.
“You’re too much, Jack Montgomery,” she said, reaching up to run her fingers over the scruff covering my jaw.
“Not too much. Just honest.”
I leaned down and took her sweet mouth. I wanted to explore every inch of her. I moved my way down, kissing her jaw, her neck, her shoulder. She moaned and arched into me, and my hand slipped beneath her shirt. I paused and sat back on my heels, reaching for the hem of her top and pulling it over her head. I’d been wanting to see her—all of her, for so long.
So, fucking long.
Too fucking long.
“You’re stunning,” I said, grazing over the lace of her pink bra with my fingertips. “Do you know how long I’ve thought about this?”
“Since this morning?” she teased, but I didn’t miss the hoarseness in her voice. The desire in her gaze.
“Since the day you walked through the door for your interview, and every day since.”
“Jack,” she whispered, squeezing her eyes closed. She was scared. Hell, I understood it. My track record sucked. But I’d never wanted anyone or anything as bad as I wanted this girl.
“I’m right here, Little Bird. I’m not going anywhere.” I leaned down and covered one lacy breast with my mouth. I reached behind her and unlatched her bra, tossing it to the side. “Too much fabric. I want to feel you. All of you.”
“Oh my god,” she whispered as I took turns licking and kissing and sucking her perfect tits. Jesus, I couldn’t get enough of this girl.
I made my way down her stomach, lavender and honey flooding my senses. “So sweet. Every goddamned inch of you. Pure goodness.”
I paused when I reached her skirt and she pushed up on her elbows so I could shimmy it down. Her matching pink lace panties the only thing between us. I used my teeth to pull at the edge of the lace, and she gasped. I tugged them to the side and buried my face between her legs and she tangled her fingers in my hair, urging me on.
