They were just getting started. She didn’t want it to end.
Not yet.
“Look at me, Becca.” She propped herself up on her elbows, eyes meeting his. “I want to see the look on your face when you’re screaming my name.”
“Liar,” she challenged, with a crooked grin. “You want to make sure I know who it is that makes me feel so good.”
When he lowered his mouth to her again, his tongue massaging her in deliriously perfect ways, a sob wrenched from her lips. Her hips bucked off the mattress. “I can’t take it, Jax. It’s too much.”
He looked at her with fierce determination. “You can, and you will.” Then he resumed his exploration, slipping his tongue inside of her and sucking hard. Stars exploded behind her eyelids, and she wove her fingers through his hair, seeking purchase as her muscles contracted with ecstasy. He worked her until the last shudder, wringing every last drop of pleasure from her body.
Then he kissed her, slow and deep, his hands skimming over her hips, sending aftershocks to her boneless limbs. He stretched out next to her, his erection teasing her as it nudged her belly.
“Have I told you,” he asked, sucking on her neck, “that you have…” He moved south, licking her nipple and sucking it into his mouth. His tongue skated across the peak, sending a fresh wave of arousal crashing through her. “The most…” His lips crept lower, creating a trail down her abdomen. “Amazing body.” He plunged a finger inside of her, and she cried out, needing more.
She’d never had two orgasms before, but she had a feeling Jax would have no problem delivering.
“Condoms are in the nightstand.”
He opened the drawer and paused.
Blood rushed to her cheeks.
“You like toys?” he asked, holding up her hot pink vibrator. “I’ll keep that in mind. But today? You’re all mine.” He replaced the vibrator and grabbed a condom, tearing open the foil wrapper and rolling it over his length.
He buried himself deep on the first stroke, filling her completely. His body tensed, the muscles in his back rippling under her fingers. “You feel so damn good.”
She wrapped her legs around him, loving the way they fit together so perfectly. “Don’t hold back.”
His lips collided with hers, kissing her hard and fast in concert with his thrusts. Their hips crashed together in harmony, both moving toward the explosive grand finale. When he threw his head back, calling her name, she was right there with him, her body racked by her own shattering release.
…
Jax woke with a start, and checked his watch. It was just after noon. He rolled over, finding the other side of the bed empty. No surprise there. It was exactly why he hadn’t meant to fall asleep. He’d just been so damn tired. And having Becca wrapped in his arms in that big comfy bed, after two nights at the station? It was bound to happen.
Throwing back the covers, he climbed out of bed and began searching for his clothes before remembering they were in the living room. Good thing he wasn’t shy. He padded down the hall and found Becca in the tiny kitchen.
“I’m making omelets,” she called over her shoulder. “They’re almost ready.” She turned around, her eyes going straight to his cock. “And apparently so are you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you eat first.” He scooped up his clothes, keeping his eyes fixed on the tiny robe she wore. It was short, thin, and sexy. “After? I make no promises.”
“Duly noted,” she said, waving her spatula and returning her attention to the cooktop.
He watched her work, knowing their next conversation would set the tone for…whatever it was they were doing. She hadn’t kicked him out yet, and that was a damn good sign. He didn’t want to push too hard, but he also didn’t want to go back to the way things were before. In the time they’d spent together at the station, they’d made a real breakthrough. Maybe it was time for another.
“Here you go,” she said, dropping a plate and fork in front of him at the bar. She pulled a quart of juice from the fridge and poured them each a glass before joining him.
They ate in silence, each of them presumably lost in thought. If it had been anyone else, he’d have been twitching, but it wasn’t awkward. In fact, it was comfortable, as if they didn’t need words to fill the space between them.
When they were finished, she reached for his plate.
“Wait,” he said, taking her hand. “There’s something I wanted to ask you.”
“Sure.” Her smile faltered. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to see if you had plans Saturday night?” Hoping to set her at ease, he smiled. “I’d like to take you on a real date.”
“Jax,” she said, doubt clouding her eyes. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Really?” he asked, refusing to give up on her. “Because we’ve tried staying apart, and that hasn’t exactly worked. For either one of us.”
She chewed her bottom lip.
“Look, Becca. I came back to Brooklyn to find you and make things right. Not because of some misguided teenage guilt, but because I’ve never ever connected with anyone the way I connected with you. And nothing you say or do is going to make me feel differently.”
“We fight all the time,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear with her free hand.
“Fighting, foreplay.” He squeezed her hand, looking her square in the eye. “Tomato, tomahto. You can keep on trying to push me away, but it’s not going to work. I’m not the same kid I was before. I’m a different man, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to prove it to you. You can trust me. I will never ever hurt you like that again.”
“I want to believe you,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “I just…I don’t know.”
“One date,” he said, holding up a finger to emphasize the singularity of the proposal. If it went well, and he had every confidence it would, he’d worry about date number two. Baby steps beat rejection all day long. “Give me one date, Becca Mancini.”
“Okay. One date.” She flashed him a challenging smile without a trace of doubt. “You’ve got one date, Jackson Hart. Better make it count.”
Chapter Seventeen
Becca stripped off her halter top and tossed it on the mountain of clothes covering her bed. She eyed the discarded shirts. None of them felt right for her first date with Jax. Which was ridiculous. Clearly he didn’t give a damn what she wore, or even, based on their tryst at the warehouse, if it was clean. She sighed and trudged back into the closet, the butterflies in her stomach rioting angrily.
Just pick something already. Close your eyes if you have to, but for the love of God, just pick something. Two dates from now, it won’t even matter.
After all, a three-date max was her MO. But calling it quits with Jax? The very thought of it made her queasy. No, he definitely wouldn’t make it easy for her. The man had made it quite clear he wouldn’t go down without a fight.
On the other hand, the idea of anything more scared the crap out of her. With her photography business coming together, the last thing she needed to be worried about was nursing a broken heart. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.
Quit being a spaz. It’s one date. One. No big deal.
The buzzer sounded.
Shit.
She pulled a black-and-white striped tank from the hanger and tugged it over her head, slipping her feet into a pair of red ballet flats. Good enough.
Clutching her purse, she hightailed it downstairs, stopping at the intercom to let her date know she was on the way down.
Her date.
Talk about a strange turn of events. Never in a million years had she imagined Jackson Hart would ask for a second first date. Or that her answer would be yes.
At least he’d shown up this time.
Forgive and forget, remember?
Jax was waiting dutifully when she stepped out into the cool spring night.
“You look great.” His eyes raked over her body, sending a flash of heat straight to her
core.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Total understatement. He looked like walking sex in a pair of dark jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged his body like a second skin, emphasizing the drool-worthy perfection of his physique. “So where are we going?”
“Somewhere we should have gone a long time ago,” he said, opening the passenger door with a smug grin. God, she loved those dimples. “I think you’re going to like it.”
Unable to weasel any more clues out of him, she climbed in and sat back, resigned to her fate. Wherever they were going, she’d know soon enough.
He hopped on Ocean Parkway and drove south.
“How’s the new piece coming?” he asked, glancing over and turning the radio down. “Ready for consumption yet?”
“I should know in a couple of weeks,” she admitted, twisting the hem of her shirt. “I think it’s ready, but that’s really up to the professionals. I submitted it to ten galleries for consideration.”
“That’s amazing.” He covered her hands with one of his own. “But I’m sure it’s not easy waiting for a decision.”
She forced a laugh. “I swear I’m so nervous, I can hardly function. I’ve been checking my email obsessively for a reply.”
“Does the piece have a name?” he asked.
“I’m calling it Corner View.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I worked on it, the more I realized the city means something different to each of us. The people, the places, the dreams. It wasn’t just about capturing life, it was about capturing life through my lens.”
He squeezed her hand. “I can’t wait to see it.”
Twenty-five minutes later, Jax turned onto Surf Avenue, finding an open parking spot on the street.
Coney Island.
Tension laced her muscles, and those damn butterflies started acting up again. The date may have been ten years overdue, but her nerves hadn’t gotten the message. They were on high alert, wreaking havoc with her body. She wiped her palms on her thighs.
Jax shut off the car and removed his seat belt, turning to face her.
“What are we doing?” She bit her lip. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I want a do-over.” He touched her chin, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat. The look in his eyes was pure devotion, as if his very happiness depended on her answer. “I was an immature, selfish son of a bitch, and I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m asking for it anyway. I want to start fresh and do things right this time. I want to take you on the date we should’ve had ten years ago.”
Well, crap. What could she say to that? It was the sweetest damn thing any man had ever said to her, and her ovaries wholeheartedly agreed. But he was wrong. He did deserve a second chance. They both did. Why had it taken her so long to see that?
Because you’re a stubborn ass. Obviously.
“What do you say?” he asked, his face hopeful.
“I say…” She drew a steadying breath, praying she wouldn’t go down in flames. “I’ve always wanted to make out on the Wonder Wheel.”
He leaned forward, brushing a feather light kiss on her lips. “I think we can make that happen.”
They walked through the park hand in hand, bypassing the carousel and heading straight for the fifteen-story tall wheel. The lights and sounds of the park were just as she remembered them from her childhood: loud, colorful, and completely Coney Island. She drank in the briny sea air, letting it wash over her and calm her frayed nerves. It wasn’t like she’d committed to anything more than making out on the Wonder Wheel like a couple of teenagers. Besides, Jax wouldn’t hurt her. Not again. She wouldn’t let him.
But what if he’d actually changed?
She sneaked a peek at him, loving the cool confidence that rolled off him like a summer breeze. While she was a complete stress ball, he was perfectly at ease, as if he knew he’d planned the perfect date. Sweet. Romantic. Symbolic. Warmth spread through her body, fanning out from her belly. When he’d asked for a do-over, it hadn’t occurred to her he meant it quite so literally.
Jax bypassed the open sliding car and chose a stationary one when it was their turn to board. He held the door and let her climb in first.
“No swinging?” she asked, scooting across the ancient metal bench. “You’re not afraid, are you?”
“You do know this thing is like ninety-years-old right?” He draped an arm over her shoulder, the weight a comforting presence on the terrifyingly ancient ride. “You’re crazy if you’re not scared. Besides, the only distraction I need is you.”
A familiar tension coiled low in her belly, reminding her just how badly she wanted Jackson Hart. How badly she’d always wanted him.
The wheel began to move, lifting their car into the air. A few more passengers were loaded, elevating them enough to see the ocean. Waves lapped at the shoreline, barely audible over the cacophony of noise coming from the amusement park.
Jax rubbed her thigh with his free hand, his fingers digging deep as he massaged the soft tissue, setting her nerves on fire. No wonder he was so good at his job. The man had a talent for locating hot spots.
Their car paused at the pinnacle of the ride, one hundred and fifty feet in the air, giving them a panoramic view of the beach. Although it was a clear night, the lights of the boardwalk left the stars muted against the inky night sky.
“Look. You can see the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s beautiful,” she breathed, trying not to let him see how affected she was by his touch.
Oh, who are you kidding? Odds are, he already knows.
“The view is nice,” he agreed, moving his hand from her thigh to her chin. “But it’s not half as beautiful as you.”
His lips descended upon hers with urgency, nipping and sucking with a gentleness he’d never shown before. The kisses were soft and sweet. Chaste almost. Like a first kiss.
It was exactly how she’d imagined her first date with Jax would be.
The ride began to move again, this time bypassing the busy loading deck and completing a full rotation. She didn’t care. There was only one thing she wanted—one thing she needed—and Jax was delivering, his kisses growing wilder and more passionate, like a fire blazing out of control.
She breathed in his scent, memorizing every perfect moment as his lips moved over hers, never breaking contact as the wheel spun round and round. When it finally stopped and the operator opened their car door, her cheeks were flushed, a telltale sign she’d been thoroughly kissed and loved every second of it.
They exited the ride, and Jax grabbed her hand, pulling her body flush to his, her breasts crushed against his chest. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he smoothed her wild curls. It was a pointless endeavor.
It was also not the point.
The way he was looking at her? With unabashed hunger in his eyes? She was his for the taking. He could ask for anything, and she’d be powerless to refuse him. Despite all the bickering and banter, despite her best efforts to extinguish this thing between them, she was falling for him.
Again.
No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Off-kilter. Excited. Special. Like she’d been made for him alone.
“So what did you think of the Wonder Wheel?” he asked.
“It was everything I expected. And more.” Stretching up on her toes, she fused her lips with his, giving him a not so PG-13 kiss. “Wanna go down to the beach?”
“Oh, no you don’t.” He separated their molded bodies and swatted her on the ass. “This is our first date. You’re not going to lure me down to the beach and take advantage of me.” He took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Not yet, anyway.”
She stuck out her tongue. “Spoilsport.”
“What kind of man do you think I am?” he asked, feigning indignation. She arched her brow, letting him know exactly what kind of man she thought he was. “On second thought, don’t answer that. At least not until I’ve proven my masculine prowess by winning yo
u a carnival teddy bear.”
“A carnival teddy bear, huh?” A grin tugged at her lips. “How very manly and romantic.”
“It’s tradition,” he reminded her, leading the way to a water game that promised a winner every time. “Besides, I have a strategy.”
“A guaranteed win?” she teased, pointing at the sign.
He scoffed and puffed out his chest. “Stick to what I know. All you have to do is spray the target in the clown’s mouth to inflate the balloon on its head. First one to inflate their balloon wins.” He slapped a ten-dollar bill down on the counter and took a seat next to a couple of kids. “How hard can it be? This is what I do.”
She covered her mouth, stifling her laughter. “You’re right. You definitely have an advantage.”
The cashier took his money and quickly made change for everyone at the counter. Then she sounded the alarm and five streams of water shot across the booth. Jax was right on target, his balloon inflating slow and steady. She glanced down the line, noticing the boy at the end had a slight advantage. His balloon seemed to be inflating at a faster rate. She swung her gaze back to Jax, smiling at the look of concentration on his face. It wasn’t quite as intense as she’d seem him on the job, but he looked pretty damn determined to win that bear.
Pop!
The boy at the end of the counter broke out in a celebratory cheer, and Jax groaned, realizing he’d lost to a ten-year-old.
“You do know I’m going to have to play again, right?” He raked a hand through his hair, as if his man card really were in jeopardy. “I’m not leaving without one of those pink, fluffy bears.”
The kids climbed down, and she took the empty seat next to him. “Looks fun. I’d like to give it a try.”
He paid the cashier as a new group of players joined them at the counter.
Becca positioned herself, ensuring she was on target and waited for the buzzer to sound. It had been years since she’d played a game like this, but if she was playing, she meant to win.
“Good luck.” She nudged Jax with her foot. “You’re going to need it.”
Seducing the Fireman (Risky Business) Page 13
