Playing Jax [Wylde Shore 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Jan Graham

  Every time her gaze rested on him, she focused on his bare chest and stomach. Her tongue would immediately flick out, moisten her lips, and quickly disappear. Then she’d take a deep breath and avert her eyes once more. God, she was adorable.

  “Are you all right, Rhia? You seem nervous, anxious or something. And your coffee is going cold while you stand there.” Poor little bunny was as horny as he was. No wonder she hadn’t slept.

  “Well, I’m not sure. I think it might fall into the something category. Apart from retuning the jacket, I wanted to see if you could help me with…um, you know…what the something might be.”

  What a delightful turn of events.

  Steve’s cock flinched. So much for stalled conversation. Now things were going to become really interesting.

  “Talk to me, Rhia. What’s wrong.”

  “Well, it started last night. I felt a little scared when you first came over, and I started feeling…you know I suffered some nervous reactions until I realized you were Angel’s brother.”

  “And then you felt okay again, once we sat down and started talking?”

  “No. I mean I had a big shock. You surprised me in the dark. Those nervous reactions take a while to go away. But once I cleaned up and got into bed, I felt better. My heart wasn’t pounding as hard and I could breathe easier, so I relaxed. My legs were sore from clench…well, it doesn’t matter what my body was doing. You know the effect of a fear reaction…or whatever it was.”

  Oh yes, Steve knew the indicators for a fear response. He also knew them for a woman who was so turned on she ached with arousal.

  “So, the symptoms eased after I left the house. Interesting, go on.”

  “I decided to read, and the book mentioned something…of course it was just a coincidence that Rose had similar feelings to me. But as I was reading, I started to react again.”

  “I assume Rose is a character in the book? Did she experience a fright as well? Did someone scare her, too?” Steve raised his coffee to his lips. He needed to cover the smile fighting its way onto his face. He’d seen the romance novel on her coffee table— Harley’s Rose. If it was anything like the ones his sister read, then it would be full of erotic sexual encounters.

  “Not exactly. She experienced something else.” Rhia fiddled with her dress. “She and Harley were being friendly with each other, and she became…um…well she—”

  “Became horny, got turned on…Harley sexually aroused her.” Steve didn’t see the need to make Rhia say it.

  “He did.” The blush that spread from Rhia’s face, down her sensual-looking throat to her plump breasts rivaled the red in the flowers on her dress. “Oh, this is so embarrassing. I know I should probably ask Angel or Meg, but since this involves you…well that’s why I’m here. Anyway, there were similarities to what I felt, and then I woke up after the dream and the symptoms were back…but worse…the p–pillow was d–damp…I did the washing…tried to sleep…you are the only man I’ve…I don’t understand…why now? I mean it doesn’t make sense.”

  Steve blinked in surprise as the gush of words filled the room. He tried to complete each unfinished sentence in his head. She’d gotten horny again while reading before she went to sleep and had a dream. She’d woken up horny, did some washing because she couldn’t sleep, and he was a man…that didn’t make sense.

  I’m missing something.

  “So, I’m here to find out what it is. And the minute I saw you, the symptoms started again, so there is something about you, and I need to find out what it is.” Rhia appeared to be making a heroic attempt at pulling herself back together.

  “Well, you’re either scared of me or you like me. Only you can decide which it is.”

  “I’m not scared of you, Steve. I really enjoyed our conversation, and I think you’re friendly and helpful—”

  “So you like me.”

  “Yes. As I said—”

  “No, your body likes me. We just need to know how much you like me so we can hopefully make you feel better. Less tense, so to speak.”

  Rhia stared at him in shock. At least this time she made eye contact. Her tongue still swept across her lips, but he’d fix that before she left.

  “How do you feel now? Tell Doc Steve your symptoms.” He stood up straight and faced her front on. He rubbed his hand on his bare abdomen and watched her closely.

  “I have butterflies in my belly, I can’t seem to breathe deeply enough, my dress feels too tight across my chest and I feel hot. I’m sure I’m blushing.”

  Oh, she was hot. Damn, she was hot, and if she wanted to undo the buttons on the front of the dress then he’d be happy to assist.

  “Come over here. Come and sit down at the counter.” Rhia took a few steps toward him then stopped. “Closer please, and tell me if you feel better or worse.”

  “This is a bit embarrassing. I don’t know if I can…maybe I should just leave.”

  “You came to me for a reason Rhia, I’d like to help but you need to trust me to do that. Can you trust me Rhia?” He watched as she fidgeted with the front of her dress.

  “I do trust you. I’m not sure why but…well you are a cop and Angel’s brother and…you’re nice, well, except when you answer the door, and…” Rhia paused, drawing in a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m rambling. Yes, I don’t understand it but I trust you.”

  “Good girl, thank you for your trust and your honesty. Now tell me did moving toward me make you feel better or worse?” Steve’s heart pounded hard in his chest. Having her trust was a gift he didn’t expect to receive. If she were a sub, he’d be the proudest Dom in the world at the moment.

  “Worse, I feel uncomfortable when I walk, and my bra is annoying me for some reason.”

  “Come closer then, and this time…don’t stop walking until you’re standing in front of me.” Steve walked out from behind the breakfast bar and realized he needed to do something to prevent her from looking at the tent peg rising under his sweats. He instructed her to maintain eye contact, which she did.

  By the time she was standing in front of him, she seemed to be gasping for air. He looked down at her chest and fought back a groan as he glimpsed the top edge of her lacy black bra peeking out from under the low neckline of her dress.

  “Better or worse,” he asked quietly while he ran one hand down the side of her face. She shivered, her eyes flickered closed for a brief second, and she drew in a quick breath.

  “W…worse, and when you touch me, I tingle.”

  Steve’s fingers trailed down across the pulse beating frantically in her neck.

  “Where do you tingle?” He leaned in close to her and whispered against her hair while allowing the backs of his fingers to ease down toward the upper curve of her breast.

  “All over, I tingle all over, but it’s worse between my…oh God.” Rhia arched toward him as his knuckles brushed over the swell of her breast, brushing up and down against the little point beneath the material. She placed her hand on his chest and stared at him, her eyes big as saucers. He placed his free arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his body.

  “I think you and Rose might have more in common than you realize, sweet Rhia. But we need to be completely sure.” His hand returned to the delicate fall of her neck, fingers entwined her hair, and he dipped his head. The softness of her lips against his made him feel heady. He gently tugged her bottom lip with his teeth, causing her to open her mouth slightly as she gasped. He glided his tongue between her lips and softly stroked at her mouth. Rhia’s fingers brushed through the light mat of hair on his chest and found their way to his neck. The stroke of her hands sent an immediate pulse through his cock. He pulled her further into him and deepened the kiss. A growl rumbled in his throat when Rhia pressed her tongue against his, and he encouraged her to kiss him back. Her tongue lapped at him tentatively, growing in confidence the more he allowed the exploration of his mouth.

  He couldn’t let this get out of control. This was a measured exercise in helping Rhia
realize what it felt like to be aroused. At least that’s what he told himself. He had to stop now. The point had been made. She was aroused. He eased his mouth away from hers and spoke softly against her cheek.

  “What about now, sweet Rhia, better or worse?”

  “It’s much, much worse. I’m hot and aching and—” Steve captured her mouth once more. He should be the one to stop this. Hell, he should never have started it. Instead of letting her go, Steve angled her around until she abutted the breakfast bar. When he lowered his hand from her waist to palm her butt, her reaction blew him away.

  Rhia moaned as he squeezed her flesh through the cotton dress. He pushed her harder toward the counter—he needed to be closer—and melded into her soft body. He didn’t stifle the groan as his erection pressed between them…her left leg raised toward his hip. He automatically grabbed the underside of her thigh, pushing at the material to raise it away from her skin. He needed to feel her, had to touch her without hindrance. Soon both hands were under her dress, and both of her legs encircled his hips. He may not be inside her, but feeling the moist heat of her sex touching him was sheer bliss. Rhia moaned into his mouth, her body writhed along his, her nails pressed into his back and…

  Jesus fucking Christ, she’s grinding her pussy against me. I am so going to hell for this.

  Steve pulled back from kissing her and stared into her eyes. They were glazed a deep, smoky gray, filled with arousal. She pulled him back toward her mouth.

  “Rhia, sweetheart, we have to stop.” She nipped at his lips, swirled her fingers through his hair. He eyed her breasts, fighting the urge to rip each little red button away with his teeth, so he could get to the delight that awaited him underneath.

  “Stop the ache…” She continued to rub her body over his. “Steve, please make the ache go away. I don’t know what to do.”

  He knew exactly what to do, the only thing that would stop the ache, as Rhia called it. He needed to fuck her. She needed to fuck him. They needed to fuck each other and come until they were either sated or dead.

  Steve dragged her arms from around his neck and pushed her back so she lay flat across the counter. Her cold coffee spilled, and the mug crashed to the floor. He unlinked her legs from his hips and stepped away. He backed up to the kitchen wall, the coolness touching his back and stared at Rhia, splayed out before him. The black lace panties she wore pressed between her outer pussy lips, soaked. Moisture glistened on the soft black curls and exposed skin between her legs. Steve leaned forward and braced his hands on his thighs.

  “What happened?” He heard the rustle of her dress and looked to see her sitting breathless on the counter.

  “We had to stop. I’m not the man who should be doing this with you.” Steve straightened and attempted to look Rhia in the eye. To his amazement she was staring at him, well, part of him, eyes nearly popping out of her head.

  “Sorry, baby, it’s easier for a woman to hide their arousal or attraction to someone than it is for a man.” He glanced down at his sweats, his cock pressed so hard behind the stretched material that the outline of its engorged head was visible. The light gray material now darkened with moisture. He slid down the wall, until he sat in a squat position. It made the erection less obvious.

  “What do we do now? I’m so sexually aroused I ache, and you are, too.” She hopped down off the counter and began to approach, reaching out her hand as she did.

  The growl that escaped Steve was unexpected, for both of them.

  Rhia stopped mid-movement and then withdrew. “Did you just growl at me?”

  “Go home, Rhia. Once you’re at home and away from me, the ache will stop.” Steve’s raspy voice had Rhia watching him with caution.

  “But Harley and Rose didn’t feel like this when they…you know, there was more to it.”

  “I understand.” Steve pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration and stood up, moving toward her but still keeping a safe distance from temptation. “But you’re not Rose, and I’m not Harley.”

  Steve decided he hated romance novels. He hated them nearly as much as he hated himself.

  “But you’re…” Rhia gestured toward his groin.

  “It doesn’t work…” He tried to phrase his words so they wouldn’t hurt her. “Rhia, I can’t give you what Harley gave Rose. I can’t do it, Rhia. Do you understand?”

  He watched the wariness in her face dissolve into sadness. Damn it, he’d just hurt her feelings. He should have kept his hands to himself. Steve knew he was now standing in the middle of a perfect example of why he couldn’t be with her. She needed to be with a man who could give her more than an orgasm. She needed someone like Harley, who could sweep her off her feet and make her life a romantic and beautiful place.

  She didn’t need a man like him, a man who would hurt her, because he couldn’t keep his lust under control, and because he could no longer love.

  “I’m so sorry, Steve. I’ll go. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. And you’re right, when I’m at home doing everyday things I’ll be fine.”

  Rhia nearly ran out the door. What the hell? She was sorry, didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable. He expected she might argue, maybe cry. Not that he wanted her to cry, God forbid.

  He took himself to the bathroom, showered, wanked, dressed, and stopped off at Angel’s on his way to work. After niceties were exchanged and the kids had asked him twenty questions, Angel attempted to ask some of her own.

  “Are you all right?” He didn’t have time for a deep and meaningful discussion with his sister right now, but he did intend to ask her about Rhia’s unusual reaction to being told “thanks, but no thanks” this morning. He simply didn’t have the time or emotional energy to do it now.

  “I’m fine.” Steve slapped the key to Rhia’s house down on the kitchen island. He may have used a little too much force because Angel jumped, as did his niece and nephew who were sitting eating cereal.

  “What’s that?”

  “The key to Rhia McCabe’s house, I’m returning it.”

  “Maybe you should keep it in case she ever gets locked out.”

  Steve closed his eyes and shook his head, his hand resting on the bench, still pressed against the key.

  “What is wrong with you this morning? You look like s-h-i-t, and you’re acting strange.” He hated the way she spelt words in front of the kids. He understood it, but hated it all the same. He drew in a breath and let it out slowly as he spoke.

  “Nothing’s wrong, I didn’t sleep.” He lifted his hand away from the key, kissed the kids good-bye and started to leave.

  “Take the key. I want you to have it for safe keeping.”

  Steve turned back to face his sister. She was holding out the key in offering.

  “I don’t want it. I don’t need it. It’s more trouble than it’s worth. It should be given to someone else for safe keeping. I’m not the man who should hold that key.”

  Nor am I the man who should hold the woman who lives behind the door that the key opens.

  Chapter Six

  Being aroused wasn’t a pleasant experience. Well, it had been when Steve was kissing and touching her. When his lips first brushed against hers, she’d nearly fainted. Her whole body buzzed, and she went weak in the knees. Mercifully Steve had wrapped his arm around her waist at exactly the right moment, keeping her upright. Rhia’s vagina pulsed.

  Darn it, stop thinking about him or you’ll never be able to sit down again without leaving a wet spot.

  She was about to run out of non-wet underwear. Just when she thought everything had calmed down, and her female channel was nearly back to its normal moisture level, he’d flood her mind again. Rhia had never seen a live penis before, but the thing poking around under Steve’s pants didn’t seem regular, it appeared huge. Not that she had a concept of what regular was.

  Poor Steve…it must be difficult for him. She would never have gone over to see him if she’d known what would happen. By the time she left the house, she
realized she’d been totally selfish, consumed with her need to know what was happening to her body. Selfish—it was all about her. She didn’t even think what it might do to him. She should never have put him in the position of telling a complete stranger, or close to one, he couldn’t have sex with her. Rhia wondered if she’d ever be able to look him in the face again.

  Well, she’d learnt a valuable lesson today. Actually she learnt a few. She understood what it felt like to be sexually aroused. She discovered to never assume sex was a given between a man and a woman. Having worked with married couples before, she should have known that lots of things got in the way of people having sex. And finally, she needed to remember to consider other people’s feelings, before opening her mouth. Rhia usually practiced the last one. She just needed to remember to apply the knowledge to a situation that could involve sex.

  After her third cold shower, it appeared her moisture problem was finally under control. The fact she was terrified about her job interview was clearly beginning to have a restraining effect on her arousal.

  Rhia dressed in lightweight black slacks and a floral cotton shirt. She threw a spare pair of knickers in her bag and headed off with Angel to the local high school. Getting a car was going to become a priority. Until then, Angel or Meg had agreed to drive her to interviews.

  The interview went well. The headmistress seemed friendly and she appeared genuinely concerned about the welfare of her students. She informed Rhia that her status as a member of the local community aided in her being chosen for an interview. Her previous vocation also suggested a woman of high morals, another plus on her side. Rhia prayed the pluses added to a positive outcome and a phone call telling her you’ve got the job by the end of the day.

  It turned out Rhia didn’t have to wait for day’s end. Not long after she’d left the interview her mobile rang, the headmistress asked her to come back and complete all the necessary paperwork, take a tour of the school and collect her work schedule…Rhia had the job.