Savannah smiled at the surprise in Jack’s eyes. She supposed it had been cruel to tease him the way she had, but as she’d seen with her brother, she thought perhaps there was a kinder, gentler man who lay beneath the anger. She wasn’t Jade Johnson, and there was no family feud to contend with. The only thing holding her back from wrapping her hands around his beautiful, hard body and kissing him until she cracked that armor away was the memory of what it felt like to be hurt by Connor. Savannah had to believe that just because Connor hurt her didn’t mean all men would.
Jack cleared his throat. “Right.” They crossed the campsite and entered the forest on the other side. Savannah was aware of every breath as she walked just behind Jack, a little embarrassed that she had to pee at all, much less that she needed a babysitter while she went.
“See that rock over there?” Jack pointed to a large boulder. “I’m going to scope it out. Stay put.”
“I’m not a dog, you know.” Why did he have to speak so rudely?
He took a step forward and stopped, then turned to face her. He opened his mouth to speak, then looked to the side, as if he’d changed his mind. “I’m sorry,” he said a little less grumpily. “Please wait here.”
Feeling vindicated, Savannah grinned. “Okay.” She watched as he disappeared around the boulder with one hand on the leather sheath hanging from his belt. Then he came around the other side and motioned her over.
“Need anything else?”
He was still so curt that her nerves tightened. She held up her biodegradable wet wipes and wiggled them before his eyes.
“I’ll wait over there.”
Savannah felt her cheeks flush.
After she was done, she found him with his back to her. In an effort to crack the walls he had constructed around himself, she tiptoed to him and wrapped her hands over his eyes.
“Guess who?” she teased. She didn’t feel his cheeks lift in a smile or his back jump with a stifled laugh. Instead, she felt the tiny muscles at the edge of his cheekbones contract as he clenched his jaw. Savannah dropped her hands, her hopes at levity deflated. “Sorry.”
He turned to face her again with the same irritated look he’d given her enough times since they’d arrived that it was already etched in her mind.
“Why are you doing this?” he growled, grabbing her wrists.
His eyes had gone almost black, and the word danger floated through Savannah’s mind again. She wondered if she had misjudged him after all. Maybe he didn’t have that softer side. Maybe she’d imagined it.
“Why, Savannah? I’m an angry bastard,” he said in a harsh whisper.
She could barely breathe. His eyes were still black as night, but as she looked closer, she realized she hadn’t misjudged him. It was restraint that she read in his clenching jaw, the muscles straining in his neck, but it was desire, thick and lustful, in his eyes.
“I don’t know,” she managed. Her legs weakened and her pulse sped up at the flames igniting between them. “Maybe…I…”
“I’m broken, Savannah. I may not be fixable. You’re better off going back to your high-rise cement city and using your goddamn sexy charms on one of the men there.” His nostrils flared with each heavy breath, and Savannah could tell that he was at his breaking point.
“I’m here now.” Savannah touched his ripped abs with her fingertips. She felt him shudder beneath her touch, and she looked at her hand in surprise. He released her wrists, and she placed her palm over his hammering heart and stepped closer. He smelled like the earth and sheer masculinity, and as he stared down at her, she reached up and touched his cheek. It felt just as she’d thought it might as she was lying in her tent earlier in the evening, remembering every line of his striking features. Her finger trailed the edge of his clenched jaw, lightly touching the muscles as they rose and eased repeatedly, and Savannah couldn’t keep herself from stepping on her tiptoes and planting a soft kiss on the center of his chin, then running her finger over the swell of his lower lip.
He growled a dangerous indiscernible warning that only further stimulated her desires before whispering, “Savannah.”
His plea landed in her ears as an invitation. Without any conscious thought, she lifted up on her toes again and ran her tongue along the lip she’d just touched.
“Jack,” she whispered, hoping he heard the invitation in her voice, too.
His eyes opened wide and then narrowed again, and in the next second, he grabbed her hips and pulled her close, taking her in the same deep, passionate kiss that he had the first time they’d kissed. His tongue moved forcefully through her mouth as he took a fistful of her hair and wrenched her neck back, opening her mouth wider to him. The pleasure and pain was so intense that Savannah moaned as his teeth found her neck, his hands slipped beneath the waist of her jeans, under which she was naked, and he brushed her bare skin. His eyes opened wide and he slid his hands around her hips and grabbed her ass.
“Jesus, Savannah.”
He pulled her to him and ground his hips into hers, feasting on her mouth like he’d been waiting for her his whole life. Savannah drew air from his lungs, clawing hastily at his shirt, pulling it from the confines of his jeans and grabbing the hot bare flesh of his scarred back. She lifted his shirt and bent to his chest, flicking his nipple with her tongue until it was peaked with arousal. Then she sucked, swirling circles around the pebbled skin with her tongue. He yanked her head back again and took her in another rough kiss. They both came away panting.
“We should stop,” he said.
He didn’t wait for a response. He lifted her sweatshirt up and groaned at the sight of her bare breasts before cupping them in his hands and running his tongue over the sensitive skin between. “You’re so beautiful.”
He took her right breast in his mouth, grazing her nipple with his teeth. Savannah gasped as he moved to the other breast. His hands were rough and sure against her as together they stumbled backward toward the boulder. He pressed her against the cold, hard rock. Every inch of his thick length ground into her hips as he lifted her sweatshirt over her head, then reached one arm over his back and pulled his own shirt over his head. The shock of cold air against her already heated body sent her hands reaching for him again. And—oh God—his chest was so dense and powerful as his hands gripped her ribs and kissed her neck. He touched the button of her jeans and drew back, piercing her with a hot stare—a fierce lion ready to take his lioness. She reached down and unbuttoned her jeans, then stepped from them, shivering with desire as much as from the cold. She’d never been that bold with a man before, but Jack was just that—all man—and she wanted every inch of him.
He trailed his eyes down her hairless body, swallowing hard, his Adam’s apple jumping in his thick neck. His eyes landed on the little skin-colored patch on her lower abdomen.
“Birth control patch,” she whispered quickly.
He kissed her again. “Thank you. I didn’t even think about protection. It’s been so long.”
Jack unbuttoned his jeans, then drew the zipper down slowly, holding her against the rock with nothing more than his hungry stare and a silent promise of animalistic sex. He stepped from his pants, and Savannah raked her eyes over his incredible body, feeling the swell between her thighs, the ache of need simmering to a boil, and knowing as his powerful hands clutched her rib cage that he was tortured with the same burning need. He lifted her to the boulder and forced his body between her legs. She leaned down and kissed him as his hand found her moist center and stroked her into a frenzy of lust. He pushed several fingers inside of her and probed her hard and fast while he devoured the curves of her mouth with his tongue. Savannah moaned against him. It wasn’t enough. She needed more of him. He made her feel so good, but she needed to feel more, to experience every pleasure she possibly could.
He drew back and looked down at his hand buried inside of her. “I have to taste you.” The command could not be heard as anything else.
She spread her legs wide. “Taste me.
” Savannah closed her eyes as his tongue caressed her swollen sex. He withdrew his fingers and she groaned, surprised as the guttural sound vibrated through her throat. She gripped his shoulders with her fingernails as he dipped one finger inside her and then moved it lower, rubbed the sensitive pucker of skin she hadn’t ever let any man near.
“Yes, Jack,” she whispered, arching her hips up, opening to him even further.
He slid his finger in, penetrating her where she’d never been penetrated before. She gasped a breath at the titillating mix of pleasure and pain. He thrust his finger deeper inside her bottom as his tongue found her clit and lapped eagerly. Then his teeth took over, and a shock shot through her entire body.
“Jack,” she cried out, then covered her mouth as the sound drifted into the night and the most powerful orgasm she’d ever felt gripped her body. She bucked against his mouth, arching back, completely open to him in ways she’d never been to any other man. The sensations tore at every nerve, strumming them into a fever she couldn’t control as they pulsated hard and tight around him. Jack withdrew his finger and dragged his whole tongue over her now overly sensitive skin as her body shook with aftershocks. Savannah didn’t know or care why she’d allowed Jack Remington to touch her in that way, but she knew she needed more.
TOUCHING SAVANNAH WAS nothing like Jack had imagined it would be. He’d been with only a handful of women before marrying Linda, and their sex life had been fulfilling. He’d never felt like he was missing out on anything. But when he touched Savannah, the animal in him came out, and his desires went way past making love every Wednesday and Saturday night. The nagging guilt in the back of Jack’s head silenced the moment he’d put his lips to Savannah’s breast. And everything afterward was fueled by pure visceral need. He’d never have touched Linda in the way he’d just touched Savannah. He’d always thought it was too dirty. Wrong. But with Savannah, it was neither of those things, and as her body trembled in his grasp, he knew he wasn’t going to stop there. He was powerless against the desires she’d unleashed. In one quick move, he lifted her off the rock, clenched fistfuls of her hair, and took her in another deep kiss. Every part of her was delectable. The need to possess her was so strong that he didn’t realize how forceful he was being, and as her back hit the rock, she mewed.
He drew back, releasing her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m—”
Her eyes were at half-mast as a grin formed on her lips. “It was a good hurt,” she whispered.
“Jesu—” His mouth found hers again. His tongue thrust hard and fast, stroking the roof of her mouth before he pulled back again. He didn’t want to hurt her or take advantage of her. “I’m sorry I…” He dropped his eyes to keep from taking her luscious mouth again.
“I’m not.” Her words were like a sweet summons.
A groan came from deep in his chest as he spread her legs with his feet and pushed his hips to hers. His erection was hot and hard against her skin. He rested his forehead against hers.
“Savannah, I haven’t been with a woman for two years. I’m surprised I’ve made it this long. The minute I enter you, I—”
She held him close as he tried to pull away. Goddamn it. He wanted her. Hell, he needed her. He hadn’t been this hard in years, and it wasn’t from making out with just any woman. He could have dozens of women if he’d wanted them. It was because of Savannah. Smart, sexy, sensual Savannah Braden, the woman who challenged everything he believed about himself.
“It’s okay,” she said.
The need in her eyes rivaled his, and when she reached down and cupped his balls it took all of his focus not to come. She slid down his body and licked him from base to tip. He shuddered. His hands fisted as he fought the urge to take her right there and then. She lowered her mouth over the tip and swirled her tongue, then drew away, exposing his wet skin to the cool air and sending a fury of carnality raging through him. She came back up to her full height and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, pulling his ear to her mouth. She took his lobe between her teeth then licked the tender spot and whispered, “I’ll turn around. Maybe you’ll last longer without my breasts against you.” She turned around, put her palms flat on the boulder, and spread her legs. Then she cast a look over her shoulder at him, her hair tumbling over her face, leaving only one eye to look at him with the most seductive gaze Jack had ever seen. He put his hand flat on her lower back to quell the nervous tremors that ran through him.
“Savannah,” he whispered. He rested his head on her back and wrapped his hands around her belly, feeling her racing heart against his cheek. He cupped her breasts, and the feel of her milky skin in his hands and her bare ass against his hips was almost too much for him to take. He gently turned her to face him and put his cheek to hers. “You don’t need to do that,” he said. He didn’t care if she thought it made him less of a man. Truth mattered to Jack, always had, and Savannah’s hazel eyes mirrored that truth.
She sank down again and licked him, then took him in her mouth and sucked, stroking him with her hand until he had to pull her off for fear of exploding. He kicked her legs out with his; then he pushed gently into her tight warmth. Savannah curled her fingers against his shoulders with a loud inhalation.
“I’ll stop,” he offered. Tears pushed at his eyes—not because he thought he hurt her, but at the beauty of what he felt as his heart opened to her. It was a miracle that he felt anything other than anger or guilt—and this was so vastly opposite.
“Don’t,” she said with a heated stare. She grabbed his hip, urging him deeper.
He pushed deeper, and they both stifled cries as his hips met hers. Savannah used the boulder for support as she met each of his careful thrusts. Jack was base-deep and still he needed more of her. He reached around her thigh and touched her ass, slipping his finger into her, inciting another delicious moan from her as she lifted her knee against his hip, allowing him to penetrate her deeper.
“I need more of you,” she said, breathing hard and fast. She moved his free hand to her breast.
He lowered his mouth to her neck and tasted her saltiness, nipping at the delicate skin, then dragged his teeth along the ridge of her shoulder and settled his lips over the arc of the muscle, running his tongue in circles over her silky skin. The sensations of her hot wetness cocooning his throbbing erection, the tightness around his finger, and her full breast in his palm brought him up, up, up to the peak of an explosive orgasm that ripped through him and rocked him to his core. He gritted his teeth, grunting with each shuddering shock, feeling Savannah rise to her own release, engulfing him with fast, hard pulses of pleasure. She arched her neck back, shivering against him. The forest noises fell away, and all Jack could hear was their breaths coming fast and hard, and eventually, easing to a single sated rhythm.
Chapter Nine
SAVANNAH WAITED FOR embarrassment to find her as she pulled her sweatshirt over her head and settled it over her body. Her nipples were still overly sensitive. She shivered as the warm cotton touched them. She never thought she’d let a man touch her in the place she’d just let Jack, much less want him to. She shot a glance at him, leaning naked against the boulder, his eyes trained on the ground, and she wanted so much more of him. Everything about him was complex. He was a striking combination of hard masculinity and, Savannah was sure, a big, loving heart buried deep inside. A man without a heart wouldn’t look like he did after doing what they’d just done. A man without a heart would be gloating.
She leaned against the boulder beside him. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, and when he looked up at her, his eyes were damp.
Savannah’s heart stopped. “What’s wrong?” Oh God. He regrets it.
“Nothing and everything all at the same time,” he said softly.
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“Savannah.” He reached his arm around her and pulled her close. “I haven’t been with a woman since my wife died, and before her, well, there weren’t many. But never—ever—have I d
one what we just did, and I just want to be sure I didn’t hurt you. You know...” He ran his hand over her rear.
And there it was. His soft heart. “Jack, you didn’t hurt me. I’ve never felt this close to anyone before, and I’ve never let anyone touch me there. I really don’t know why I wanted to tonight, but”—she shrugged—“I couldn’t get enough of you. No matter how much you touched me, it wasn’t enough. It’s still not enough,” she admitted.
He nodded. “It scares the shit out of me.”
She didn’t know how to react to that. Me too? That would be a lie. It didn’t scare her. In fact, she wanted to do more. She moved in front of him and stood between his legs.
“You didn’t promise to marry me. We shared our bodies. We shared emotions. Why does it scare you?” She saw the answer in his eyes as he furrowed his brow and swallowed hard again. Guilt.
He shook his head, and his dark eyes glistened with tears. “It’s late, and it’s hard to explain. Let’s get towels and go wash up. We can talk some other time.”
The way he shut her down stung, and as they finished dressing, Savannah wondered if she’d made a mistake. He came to her side and looked at her with such pain in his eyes she regretted feeling so put off. Complex didn’t even start to explain Jack.
“Savannah, I’m not good at any of this,” Jack admitted. “Right now I want to reach up and touch your cheek. I want to brush your hair from your shoulder and feel you in my arms, but I’ve just touched you in every private place imaginable, and I don’t know you well enough to put my dirty hands on you again. We don’t even have a proper shower where I can help bathe my memory away from your body.”
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