by Joanna Blake
Before he knew it, he'd hauled her up off the bike and into his arms. He grunted as her tight little body pressed against the hard wall of his chest. Her breasts pressed into him as her eyes opened wide. His mouth was on hers before either one of them knew what was happened.
Dear God.
White hot lust pierced him as he plundered her sweet, willing mouth with his tongue. His hands were all over her, caressing, touching, feeling, until they settled on her bottom. He yanked her against his erection with tremendous force. She made a startled little sound beneath him and reality came crashing back in. He tore his mouth away from hers with a soft curse and climbed back onto his bike. He felt her hand on his shoulder but shook it off.
"Wait- your helmet."
"Keep it."
He didn't turn to look at her. He realized suddenly that he was afraid to. Afraid of what he might do.
"Jack- why are you angry at me? I- I like you."
Her soft admission sent an odd feeling to the pit of his stomach. He pushed it down as hard as he could.
"You don't want to mess with a guy like me."
"What if I do?"
"Trust me. You don't."
He drove away without a backward glance. He wouldn't see her again. If Dev asked him to escort her somewhere again, he'd explain that he didn't like the girl. That she got on his nerves with her flashy ways and girlish laughter. It was better that way. He drove away, satisfied that the matter was behind him.
There was just one thing that was bothering him.
She'd been kissing him back like she wanted him as badly as he wanted her.
**********
He knew where she lived.
That was the first thought Janet had as she watched him ride away. He'd known without asking.
But what did it mean?
Janet had a sinking feeling that she was in terrible trouble. Not just her life, which was a mess and damn if that wasn't a well known fact. But now she had a strong certainty that she wasn't going to forget Jack, his eyes, or his kiss any time soon.
If ever.
He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Of that she was sure. She could feel it in the way he held her, touched her, kissed her with an urgency that had taken her breath away. And yet he was the one who'd pulled back when they both knew she wouldn't have stopped him from going further.
She would have climbed on that bike and followed him straight to hell if he'd asked her.
Maybe it was a good thing he hadn't. Maybe he was trying to protect her from him, the lifestyle, everything.
But who was going to protect her from herself and her foolish wish to be near him? She stared down at the helmet in her hands. She'd loved riding with him. His confidence on the road had been incredibly attractive. Everything about him was appealing to her. Not just his strong masculine body or soulful eyes. Not just the way he smelled like leather and smoke. Not just his long hair or bad boy tattoos. Him.
All of him.
She walked into the house and straight into her room. She kicked off her shoes and crawled into the bed, still cradling the helmet.
She was in trouble.
But what was she going to do about it?
4
Janet leaned back on the blanket and thumbed through the brochure. In the back there were a few pages that had blank spaces for her to fill out. If she had the courage to.
'Application for Physical Therapist Program'
She sighed. It was a two year program at the State School. The same one Kaylie attended. It wasn't cheap and she wouldn't qualify for student aid. Not with her grades and her parents wealth. She wasn't sure her parents were going to help her at this point however. Her mother had already hinted that they planned to cut her off. They'd never been particularly affectionate, but they had been proud of her dancing career. Before the accident. Now they didn't seem to know what to do with her.
Or even care.
Janet rolled over onto her back and smoothed down her floral sundress to cover her knees. She'd just have to get a job and go to school. Maybe she and Kaylie could get an apartment together. She needed to get out of the house, that much was for sure.
"What am I going to do Kaylie?"
Her friend sat beside her, taking notes for her history exam. She put her book down and sipped some lemonade.
"You'll figure something out Jan. I'll help you."
"Yeah… but what?"
"You'll get a job and apply to the program and then we'll see. I believe in miracles you know."
Janet rolled her eyes and turned onto her side.
"Right. Just like that."
She snapped her fingers. Kaylie giggled and squirted lemonade at her through her straw.
"Hey! And I was going to ask you to move in with me!"
Kaylie sobered quickly and looked away. Janet's eyes widened.
"What is it? You don't want to be my roommate?"
"No. It's not that. It's just that- well, Dev asked me to move in with him."
Janet squealed and threw her arms around Kaylie.
"Oh my god! That's amazing!"
"I don't know. It's kind of a big step. And then my mother would be alone."
"Maybe I can move in with her instead."
Janet flopped back onto her back and stared up at the sky. Kaylie laughed.
"Sometimes I think I'm too young but other times… I love him so much you know?"
"I can tell. He loved you too. You are really lucky."
"Come on Jan, don't tell me you didn't find someone at school. You're gorgeous! I mean you always were pretty, but now, you look like a movie star!"
Janet rolled her eyes.
"Jack doesn't think so."
"Oooooh…. I knew something was going on!"
"Unfortunately that is not the case."
"Do you like him? I could have sworn I saw some sparks flying."
"I thought I did. But he has no interest in me whatsoever."
"I wouldn't be too sure. Jack's the most loyal person I know. He hides his feelings though. Still waters run deep."
Janet just snorted. That's one way to put it. Kaylie nudged her in the shoulder.
"What happened? Tell me!"
Janet sighed. She might as well tell Kaylie. At least then she might feel like it really happened, instead of feeling like some sort of dream.
"He kissed me. And then he told me to go to hell."
Kaylie started laughing uncontrollably. Janet stared at her, annoyed.
"I'm pouring my heart out and you think that's funny?"
"I'm sorry- it's just- oh my gosh - the fact that he said anything to you is kind of amazing. He never talks. Especially not to girls!"
"Well, he didn't say much. Just told me to stay away from him."
"That's interesting. Because it doesn't look like he's staying away from you."
"What?"
Janet sat up hastily and pulled the straps of her sundress back into place. Kaylie hadn't been kidding. Devlin and Jack had just parked their bikes out front and were walking around the side of the house toward them. She closed her eyes, willing her heart to slow down. Then she laid back down on her stomach and stared blindly at the application. She picked up a pen and started filling out the paperwork. Well, she filled her name in anyway.
"Hey babe."
"Dev!"
Kaylie was on her feet and leaping into Devlin's arms. The squeals of happiness behind her made Janet cringe. She pretended to be engrossed in what she was doing. A pair of enormous boots came into view. Jack was standing beside her, looming over her.
That put all sorts of illicit thoughts into her head.
"What are you doing?"
She rolled over to her side so she could see him. She scowled. Two could play at that game.
"It's an application."
"For what?"
"School. What do you care?"
He just grunted and walked over to a lawn chair nearby. He sat down and stared at her moodily. She sighed audibly and t
urned back to her papers. Behind her she knew that Kaylie and Devlin were watching the exchange. She could tell from Kaylie's muffled giggles that they were finding the whole situation vastly entertaining.
"Jan, there's a party tonight at the clubhouse. Devlin said we can go!"
She rolled to a cross legged position and smiled at Dev. He was nice to her at least.
"I thought you didn't go to the parties, Kay."
"This is a cookout so it starts early. Things start getting a little crazy after ten or eleven."
Janet chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"I doubt my folks will let me out. It was hard enough to get them to let me out of the house in broad daylight."
She sneaked a glance at Jack who was still watching her. Frowning as usual.
"But I'll ask."
Kaylie sat back down on the blanket with her and threw her arms around her.
"Come on, it'll be fun! Dev says they make the best homemade barbecue sauce."
Kaylie's mom came out with more lemonade and a couple of beers for the guys. She seemed to like Jack almost as much as Devlin. Janet ignored them all and tried to finish filling out her application. After twenty minutes she'd only gotten through one page. She was about to give up and leave when she glanced up and saw that Jack was staring at her again.
He looked… Jesus! Damn if he didn't look like she'd hurt his feelings! He caught her looking at him and abruptly stood up. The next thing she heard was the sound of his bike tearing out.
He'd left without a word to anyone.
**********
Jack was staring at the door of the clubhouse bar. He was watching to make sure Janet didn't show up and ruin his night. He really was hoping her parents had told her to stay home tonight.
God, he was such a liar.
He'd been in a tailspin all day. First he'd walked into Kaylie's yard to see Janet looking like a barefoot princess. With no makeup, and her flaming red hair loose around her shoulders, she'd looked like something out of a fairy tail. Jesus, who knew a sundress could be so arousing. He'd finally decided he was going to have to do something about this insane attraction he was having to the girl. She'd chosen that moment to be a complete brat and ignore him!
He sipped his ginger ale and stared down at it disgustedly. What he needed was a real drink. It was getting late and Dev had already left with Kaylie. Nobody needed him for anything. It had been a long time since he indulged in more than an occasional beer but he wanted to numb himself to these unwelcome feelings the girl was bringing out in him.
To hell with it.
Jack strode across the bar and put his empty glass down in front of Donnie, who was lazing around back there while the prospects did all work as usual.
"Tequila."
Donnie quirked his eyebrow at Jack but didn't hesitate to pour him a shot. He held up a cold beer chaser and Jack nodded. Donnie watched him as he downed the shot and the beer in less than a minute.
"Another?"
Jack nodded again. It was going to be a long night.
**********
Janet stared at her open window. She'd been stuck in her bedroom all night. Her mother had been especially annoyed that she'd gone to Kaylie's house without asking, not caring that they'd been studying. She's sent Janet to her room immediately following dinner. Without her phone.
She'd read a magazine, she'd finished her application, she'd looked in the back of the supermarket circular for jobs. She'd even found a few places that might be interesting and made a neatly written list of the names and numbers. But nothing could keep her mind from wandering to Jack. She wanted to be at the club tonight. To see him and be near him. She didn't care if he didn't like her. She'd make him like her if it was the last thing she did!
She glanced at her clock. It was almost 11. Kaylie might not be at the club anymore. She shrugged and pulled on a mini skirt and halter top, dabbing some lipstick on. She yanked on a pair of old cowboy boots and quietly slid open the window. It wasn't the first time she'd snuck out of her bedroom window, and it wouldn't be the last.
Five minutes after she'd made her decision, she was running through the cool grass across her neighbors lawn to the street. Only fifteen blocks to the club. She'd be there in no time.
5
Jack was leaning against the bar considering the wisdom of another shot when he heard it.
"Hey Red!"
His head snapped up and he saw her, looking tentatively around the bar. She looked nervous. She should be. A couple of guys were already trying to offer her drinks. She was doing her best to decline them, he could see, but that wouldn't last for long.
Women did not come in here at this hour looking for a drink. Especially not looking like her. She should have known better.
Damn it.
He strode across the bar and shouldered aside two Spawns who were leaning over her. Her big aqua eyes widened as he closed his hand around her arm and pulled her with him to his spot at the bar. He lifted her up and deposited her on a stool and went back to sipping his beer. His tenth. He thought it was anyway.
Hell, he'd lost count after 7 shots and chasers. He slid his eyes sideways and watched as Donnie brought her a sea breeze without her asking. She sipped it daintily and tried to continue ignoring him. It was impressive, considering he was standing right next to her and staring at her. He turned his body toward her and tilted his head to the side, letting his eyes wander all over her. He wanted to look at her. He was a man, she was a woman. Why should he hide it?
She finally glanced at him and tried to smile. They both knew she was attracting unwanted attention from every corner of the bar. She was hot and she was new. Everyone wanted a taste.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I was- looking for Kaylie. I guess she left already?"
He didn't say anything, just looked her over, considering what kind of trouble he was about to get himself into. She crossed her legs nervously, revealing a long smooth thigh.
Screw it.
Jack grinned suddenly. She caught the look on his face and blanched. She thought he was laughing at her. But really he'd just decided to stop fighting it. He was going to have her beneath him. Maybe even tonight.
She crossed her arms over her chest, accidentally pushing them closer together. He stared at the luscious mounds where they pressed against each other, creating a deep cleavage.
Definitely tonight.
He tore his eyes away from her chest and looked at her beautiful face again. She looked absolutely mortified. He could see tears welling up in her eyes.
"I think I should- go home-"
He lifted her off the bar stool and set her on the floor, inches from his body. She looked up at him, utterly confused. He couldn't wait to take her home. He'd denied himself too long already. He took her hand and dragged her through the bar room. But not to the front.
He was taking her to the back.
**********
He held out his hand for her, his eyes willing her to obey him. She was about to toss her head and ignore him, like she always did when someone told her what to do. But there was something urgent in his eyes that made her pause. Before she knew it he had somehow dragged her out of the club and into the back alley. He leaned her body against the brick wall. Then he boxed her in, standing incredibly close to her. She could feel waves of heat coming off of him as she stared up at him.
He was always so calm. But he didn't look calm now. He looked angry. And something else… hungry. His eyes flicked to her rosebud lips and she felt her heart jump in her chest.
He wanted to kiss her. Again.
She swallowed nervously. She had been waiting for him to kiss her again all week. Would he? He hadn't been pleased to see her walk into the club tonight. Maybe if she apologized, he wouldn't be so angry with her.
"I'm sorry if I made you mad. I know now I shouldn't have come."
He just looked down at her, doing nothing. His body was so close to hers. She couldn't help it. She wanted it closer. Su
ddenly a smile flitted across his face. But it wasn't a friendly smile. It was menacing, like a wolf smiling at a lamb he was about to devour. He lifted his hand to her face, cupping it gently. She gasped as his thumb brushed her lips.
"No, you shouldn't have."
Then he was kissing her. There was nothing gentle about it at all. He was kissing her hard. She moaned and opened her mouth under the assault, allowing him in. His tongue swooped in and twirled against hers, taking her.
Claiming her.
Sweet Jesus he was a good kisser!
He kissed her endlessly, far past the brief kiss of the other night. He'd left her wanting then. But now he was holding nothing back.
Not with his mouth anyway.
His hands were balled into fists, pressed against the brick wall above her. He was restraining himself somehow. She knew it. She felt it. And then everything changed.
She moaned as one hand found her body, and then the other. He didn't hesitate now. One hand grabbed her hip, pulling her against his obvious arousal, the heat of it burning her through their clothes. The other hand slid up from her waist to her chest, kneading her breast firmly before sliding his thumb over her sensitive nipple.
She felt the world tilting as he angled her backwards against the wall. He bent briefly to pull one leg up and around his waist, opening her femininity to his pleasure. He grunted and started grinding himself into her groin, fucking her through her panties and his jeans.
Oh God!
She was mindless, circling her hips against him, not minding as he pulled her top to the side and lowered his mouth to her bare breast. His lips closed over her nipple and flicked his tongue against it repeatedly. Her hands tangled in his hair as she realized she was getting close.
