Jack of Hearts (Aces & Eights Book 1)

by Sandra Owens

  As Alex led them into the room, she kept her hand in his. He didn’t have to worry about her leaving his side. Two men approached, one she recognized as his brother Court, and the second, even though she’d never seen him before, she knew was also Alex’s brother. She’d not paid much attention to Court the other night because Lauren’s pissiness had distracted her, but now, with the brothers together, she was struck by how much they looked alike.

  “You’ve both met Court, and this is our big brother, Nate,” Alex said when the men reached them. “This is Madison.” He smiled at her. “And her friend Lauren.”

  Madison smiled. “Nice to meet you, Nate, and good to see you again, Court.” Neither man seemed overjoyed to see them. Nate’s gaze zeroed in on her with an intensity that made her want to hide behind Alex’s back. Her smile wavered when he didn’t return it.

  “Ladies, if you would stay here with Court, I need a minute with Alex.”

  Alex knew what was coming, had expected it. He squeezed Madison’s hand before letting go. “Be right back.”

  “What the hell were you thinking bringing them here,” Nate demanded as soon as they were out of earshot.

  “They wanted to see the place, and apparently Lauren threatened to show up by herself if she didn’t get an invite. I thought it better to control the visit.” Wednesdays had somehow evolved into what the hardcore bikers called the wannabes night. The customers here tonight were non–club members, and the gangs didn’t like mixing with them, so they stayed away.

  “And you didn’t think you should tell me you were doing this?”

  Alex shrugged. “Actually, I thought I probably should, but I also knew you’d refuse.”

  “Damn straight I would have. Take them home.”

  Alex put his hand on Nate’s upper arm. “Nope. Deal with it.” He chuckled when his brother growled at seeing Spider spill his beer on the dude next to him at the bar. The man—a new face—squared off against Spider, who had grabbed a bar towel and was trying to dry the big guy’s leather vest.

  Nate sighed. “Idiot’s gonna get himself killed one night.”

  “Guess you better go save him. Again.” Alex headed back to Madison, leaving Nate to deal with the fight about to happen. He arrived at the same time as Trapper John and Hawkeye, two friends who had served together in Iraq. Alex respected that they were former military, but he didn’t like them, having seen how they treated women.

  “What do we have here?” Trapper said, winking at Madison. “Let me buy you a drink, sweet thing.”

  “I get this one,” Hawkeye said, pressing up to Lauren’s side.

  Alex stepped behind Madison and wrapped his arms around her waist. “She’s my woman. Get lost.” He gave Court a glare that said, “Step up to the plate, man.”

  Court narrowed his eyes, letting Alex know he was going to owe him big, before putting his arm around Lauren’s shoulder and pulling her to him. “And this one’s my old lady. She’s off-limits to you, dude.”

  Trapper grabbed his crotch. “You girls get tired of playing with boys and want a real man, let me know.” He and Hawkeye laughed as they walked away.

  “Old lady?” Lauren jerked away from Court’s hold. “What are you, a Neanderthal?”

  “I was saving your pretty ass, sweetheart.”

  The two of them glared at each other, and Alex wondered if he should get Nate to come break up another fight, or if he should find them a bedroom. He’d never seen a woman twist Court’s boxers like this one was doing, and he swallowed a laugh. It was about time someone stood Court’s ordered world on its head.

  He took Madison’s hand, pulling her away. “Let them be. They’ll work things out,” he said when she resisted.

  She craned her neck as he led her off. “They’re going to kill each other.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” He knew that, left alone with Lauren, Court wouldn’t leave her to the resident vultures circling around the sexy new woman. “As far as I know, Court hasn’t killed an aggravating woman yet.”

  “There’s always a first time,” she grumbled as they walked into the poolroom.

  “Do you play?”

  “No, but I’ve always wanted to. Will you teach me?”

  Alex immediately had visions of pressing against her back as he showed her how to hold the cue, and his dick stirred awake. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat, the damn thing suddenly gone raspy. “Here you go,” he said, chalking a pool cue before handing it to her. She took it, and he put his hand on her shoulders, turning her toward the table. They had four pool tables in the room, two currently being used, and when the dudes playing eyed Madison, he sent them a death glare.

  Once satisfied they got his message, he stepped up behind her, putting his arms around her and his hands over hers on the stick. “I’ve been thinking of having my body wrapped around yours all night,” he said with his mouth pressed against her ear. “Come home with me.” If she wouldn’t come to his place, he’d be at hers, either in her bed or standing sentry on the sidewalk all night, guarding her door. He’d much prefer to guard her while in bed with her.

  “Okay.”

  He laughed, couldn’t help it. “You’re so easy, Grasshopper.”

  “Can’t deny that where you’re concerned.” She wiggled her ass against his erection. “I’m thinking you’re a little easy yourself, Grandfather.”

  “You watched Kung Fu without me?” He tried to sound affronted, but it pleased him that she’d wanted to know why he’d given her the nickname. “And I’m far from your grandfather,” he said, punctuating his words by snatching the cue stick out of her hands. “We’ll have pool lessons some other day.”

  “Will Lauren be okay?” She pulled him toward her friend.

  “Court will make sure she gets home safely.”

  “Okay, but let me tell her I’m leaving.”

  After the friends said their good-byes, he tucked Madison under his arm and led her to the car. On the way to his condo, he tried to think of something to say that didn’t have anything to do with sex. Specifically, sex with her. Nothing occurred to him.

  “Are you sure he’ll see that she gets home safely?”

  “Hmm? Who?” He put in his code to lift the gate.

  “Lauren. Will Court make sure she stays safe? I shouldn’t have left her.”

  At his parking space, he turned the key, switching off the engine. “My brother might be acting like a jerk for reasons I can only guess at, but he’ll make sure she gets home without harm.” Surprising him, she leaned across the console, put her hand behind his neck, and pulled his mouth down to hers.

  God, yes. Getting a head start in the car hadn’t been on his agenda, but who needed a plan, anyway? She pushed her tongue into his mouth, sighing against his lips, and the only thing stopping him from tearing off her clothes was the sound of another car pulling into the underground garage.

  “Let’s go upstairs. I have a bed that’s been dying to meet you.” He got her out of the car, up the elevator, and into his condo, barely managing not to drag her at a run. Had he ever wanted a woman as much as he wanted Madison? Not that he could remember.

  “Can I get you anything?” he asked as soon as he’d locked the door behind them. “Wine, water, beer, a bed?” Suddenly, he was nervous. Was he pushing her too soon? From the day she’d walked into Ramon’s billiard room, he’d wanted her. He’d had erotic dreams of her, waking up as hard as a steel rod. He’d often found himself staring off into the distance, thinking of her, wondering what she was doing. Wondering if she ever thought of him.

  He had it bad.

  “I’ll take the wine and bed, please.” Amusement flickered in her eyes, and one side of her mouth twitched as if she was trying not to smile.

  He raised a brow. “Wanna share?” That got him the smile she’d been trying to hide.

  “You’ve been vibrating with sexual tension all night. I thought within seconds of walking in you’d have me up against the wall. Instead, you politely of
fer me something to drink and a bed.”

  “Are you disappointed?” Please say yes.

  She shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Have I told you how hot you look tonight?” He prowled toward her. “I was sure I’d end up in a fight before I got you out of there. There wasn’t a man in that bar who didn’t want you, but not one of them as much as me.”

  He stopped in front of her, and trailed a finger down the valley of her breasts. “This red lace playing peek-a-boo every time you move and this bit of skin have been tantalizing me all night. I’ve been fantasizing about licking you from here”—he touched her bottom lip—“to here.” He slid his finger down the opening of her blouse, and couldn’t stop his satisfied smile when she shivered. “That’s just for a start, Madison. Before the night’s over, my mouth and tongue will know every inch of you.”

  Her eyes were locked on his, her pupils dilated, their color reminding him of a stormy green sea. She licked her lips, drawing his attention to them. He stepped forward, crowding her, and still keeping her eyes on his, she backed up. So, she wanted to play. Another step toward her, one back from her, and then he did it again and again, until she was up against the wall.

  “Where to now?” he said as he put his hands against the wall, caging her. When her gaze darted to the left, he laughed. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re not running away.” He pushed his body hard against hers, rocking his hips. “Feel that?”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Do you want it?”

  She nodded.

  “Say it. Tell me you want it.”

  “I do. I want it.”

  A moan slipped out of her when he rubbed against her again, and the needy sound almost sent him over the edge. He angled his head and covered her mouth with his. The taste of her exploded in his mouth as their tongues slid over and around each other. He could get insanely drunk just from tasting her. Trailing his thumb down the column of her neck, he kept going until he came to the top button of her blouse. He slipped his hand underneath the soft material, spreading his fingers over her left breast, caressing the silky skin above her bra.

  She lifted a leg, wrapping it around his thigh, and he reached down, pulling her other leg around him. He moved his mouth to her earlobe, nipping it with his teeth. “Now I’ve got you right where I want you, wrapped around me.” When she tugged on his T-shirt, he leaned his torso back, letting her pull it over his head.

  It didn’t take him but seconds to have her blouse off, and he took a moment to appreciate the sexy bra. “Beautiful,” he murmured. The creamy skin rising above the red lace beckoned him, and he lowered his mouth, skimming his tongue and lips along the top of the lace.

  Alex chuckled against her skin when she dug the heels of her boots into his thighs. “I never thought riding boots were all that sexy, but combined with this little skirt, and those beautiful legs of yours showing in between . . . I’ve changed my mind about that. But it’s time for them to come off.”

  “Okay.” She nestled into him, burying her face against his neck.

  “Hold on.” With her wrapped around him, he walked them into his bedroom. “Down you go.” He lowered her onto his bed. When she reached for a boot to remove it, he brushed her hands away. “Allow me.”

  After he’d taken off her boots and socks, she wiggled her toes. “Ah, nice.”

  “Yeah?” He danced his fingers over the soles of her feet.

  “Ack!” Laughing, she tackled him, landing on his chest and taking him down. As they rolled around on the bed, trying to tickle each other, giggling like six-year-olds, Alex realized two things. First, he was turned on, which made this the most unusual foreplay he’d ever participated in. Second, he was ticklish. Who knew?

  For a few minutes, he lulled her into thinking she was his equal as they wrestled each other, then he attacked, pinning her under him while he captured her hands in one of his, holding them above her head.

  “Now what you gonna do?” he said, pinning her legs under his.

  “Surrender?” Her grin said she had no problem with that.

  Her fiery red hair was spread over the pillow, and the laughter in her eyes faded, replaced by desire as they stared at each other. He didn’t know what it was about her that was different from the women he’d been with before, but whatever it was called to him in a way that made him want her in his life. Maybe forever.

  Unless the lie—the one that sat on his chest like a boulder—of who he was held so much weight that it would crush this thing growing between them. He knew by now that she wasn’t involved with her cousin, and he believed he could trust her. It was killing him, this keeping something so big, something she deserved to know, a secret.

  “Madison . . .”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Mmm?” Madison said when Alex hesitated. He hovered over her, holding his weight on his elbows, intensely staring at her, but she was having trouble concentrating with his bare chest in front of her face. She lifted her hand and trailed her fingers across his shoulders and down his arms, feeling his muscles flex under her palm. Lord, she liked touching him.

  He closed his eyes, breaking the connection between them, and gave a shake of his head. “Nothing.” His eyes blinked open, smiling. “I was just thinking that you still have too many clothes on.”

  “So do you,” she said, not pressing him, although she wondered what it was he hadn’t said. His expression had been too serious, and the way he’d said her name had been hesitant, almost as if . . .

  He covered her mouth with his, and her thoughts slipped away. For a man, he had soft lips, but his kisses were a mix of gentle and demanding. It was dizzying the way he took possession of her mouth. His tongue slipped in when she parted her lips, and he explored every crevice before tangling their tongues.

  Their breaths mingled until she didn’t know which was his and which was hers. She slid her palms down his sides, doing her own exploring, his skin quivering under her fingers.

  He pushed away, settled on his knees, and stared down at her. “Too many clothes,” he grumbled, making her laugh.

  She loved that about him, the way he was both playful and intensely sensual. It was novel. Not that she had a lot of experience with men and sex, but the few she’d been with had pretty much dived in, got what they wanted, and then rolled over and gone to sleep. She thought Alex might be right when he said it was possible they could set his bed on fire.

  She also loved how her inhibitions faded away when she was with him, leading her to do things like put the sole of her foot on his crotch. “I’m not the only one with too many clothes on.”

  He grinned as he pressed his erection against the bottom of her foot. “Easily remedied, Grasshopper.”

  With lightning speed, he vaulted off the bed, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, and pushed them and his briefs down at the same time. When they got tangled up with his boots, he hopped around, drawing her attention to his erection, which seemed to be waving at her with each bounce. She couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. He stilled, narrowing his eyes, which only set her off more.

  “Not good for a man’s ego when the first time you see him in all his glory, you laugh, you know.” His lips twitched, ruining his scowl.

  Totally losing it, she pulled a pillow over her face. This was turning out to be one of the strangest preludes to sex, and she adored him for it. She could easily fall hard for this man.

  The mattress dipped, and his bare leg pressed against hers. Before she knew what was happening, he had her miniskirt and panties off. She peeked out from underneath the pillow, watching him as he tossed her clothing over the side of the bed. Her laughter faded away as she eyed his erection, which was pointing straight at her.

  She came out of hiding, pushing the pillow aside. “Impressive. Really, really impressive.” His eyes devoured her as his gaze roamed over her, her skin prickling as if he were actually touching her.

  “I aim to please, ma’am.” He danced his fingers along the inside of
her thighs, and when he reached the top of her legs, he paused. “No matter what happens in the future, I want you to know something.”

  Something like regret flickered in his eyes, and she didn’t know what to make of that. It made her nervous, and she had the urge to tell him to stop talking, that she didn’t want to hear whatever he was going to say. He glanced away, and when he faced her again, she added sadness to the emotions swirling around him.

  She reached for the hand he had resting on her leg. “What?”

  “If there ever comes a day when you wish me to hell”—he turned his hand palm up, linking their fingers—“know that I never wanted to hurt you. I think we have something special, and I’ve never felt this way before, but I’ll probably find a way to screw everything up. For that, I’ll be more sorry than you’ll ever know.”

  She didn’t know what to say. What was going on in that mind of his? For a moment, she wondered if she was in over her head. Already, he was working his way into her heart, while at the same time, warning her that he’d probably hurt her. She wasn’t supposed to fall for him. He was only going to be a bit of fun before marriage and children.

  She had imagined marrying a banker or stockbroker, maybe a doctor or lawyer. Someone with his feet planted firmly on the ground, a man who kissed her good-bye when he left in the morning, his briefcase in hand, and who returned home in time to share a glass of wine before dinner while they discussed their day.

  That had been her dream, but she suddenly felt like yawning. As she studied Alex’s beautiful face, his eyes watching her with that intensity of his as he waited for her to respond, she knew the smartest thing she could do was walk away this very minute before he stole her heart completely. But if she did, she would always regret it.

  She put her palm on his cheek. “Make love to me, Alex. Make me yours.”

  He put his hand over hers. “And I’ll be yours. If you believe nothing else, Mad, believe that.” He dropped her hand, rose onto his knees, and covered her body with his. Cupping her cheeks, he angled his head, lowering his mouth to hers.