“Jane,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes and he was all up in her personal space. “Declan.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I like you better as a brunette.”
Jane tilted her head. “Not your usual flavor.”
“I can expand my horizons.”
That voice sent a shiver of desire down her spine. “I’m sure you can, but for now, we go with what works.”
He grabbed her sunglasses by the bridge and slowly pulled them off of her face, then stuck them in her hair. “I usually like blue eyes too, I’m glad to see you didn’t wear contacts. Your eyes are like apple jade.”
She didn’t have a snappy comeback, so she just gave him a smirk. “Let’s get on with show so we can get inside.”
“I like that you’re so eager.”
She forced herself to smile. “Go with that.”
He took a sidelong glance at the photographers snapping pictures at them. “How do I want to play this?”
“Lay one on me and let’s go inside.”
“Do I want to make it look good or make it feel good?”
She planted her palm on his chest right over his tight nipple. Heat radiated on her hand. “Declan Shaw can’t do both?”
“If that’s what you think will work best.”
Jane smiled playing for the cameras and leaned into him. “Are you going to talk me to death?”
His nostrils flared and he pinned her against the car with his body, thrusting his groin into the apex of her legs. “Nope I have way too many things in mind for you.”
He had a boner and he was touching her with it. It was impressive. She could feel the heat of his dick through her overpriced skinny jeans. I am in control of my vagina. I am in control of my vagina. Who was she kidding she could have the big O right there and he hadn’t even kissed her yet.
He cradled her cheeks in both his large hands then leaned in and touched her lips with his.
She expected him to go buck wild on her and thrust his tongue in her mouth and start doing the mambo and then hump her leg. But no, he was gentle and soft, nibbling her lips and slowly swirling his tongue on her bottom lip. She just stood there like a doofus until she remembered that this kiss had to appear as if they were long time lovers.
Jane moved her other hand to his upper arm and slowly glided her hands up until she touched his broad shoulders. He had very smooth skin, and he was all hot and sweaty. He smelled so good, like musk and sandalwood. He was intoxicating. Her nipples hardened and she could feel the heat of his skin through her thin silk blouse. She wanted to touch every inch of him. Her legs opened and he settled his girth between her thighs. In her stilettos they were almost the same height. Her toes were curling in the ridiculous shoes.
There was a spot in her brain that was telling her to push him back or punch him, but the thought wasn’t traveling to her hands. She could kick this guy’s ass and not even breathe hard, but damn she was enjoying this. She hadn’t been kissed like this in long time. She hadn’t wanted to be. She tried to force her eyes open and get control of this situation, but again she was not in control.
She heard him sigh and then a second later he pulled back, but not before nipping her bottom lip and slowly dragging her lip between his teeth.
“You good?”
Jane forced herself not to drag the back of her hand over her scorched lips. “I told you to kiss me not impregnate me.”
He smiled showing even white teeth. “I’m in the moment.”
“You and I are going to have a long talk about how this is going to work.”
“No problem. Let’s get you inside you’re a little flushed.”
She couldn’t say anything. Her head and the rest of her body were still in Declan Shaw-land.
Before he turned to head back into the house, he tucked his finger into the waist band of her jeans and led her into the gate and up the sidewalk.
The only thing in her vision was his perfectly sculpted back adorned with a massive tattoo. She’d seen that symbol before. It was the Celtic tree of life. Except the trunk of the tree was shaped like a woman’s body her arms extended into the air and her fingers and hair stretched out and became the branches reaching toward a sun etched into his shoulders. The art work was sublime. She liked it, it was a symbol of hope and regeneration. She let her gaze travel down his back and just above the waistband of his sweats the words “Stand In The Sun.” He certainly did. He was golden and beautiful and he was whistling.
She’d heard the song before. “Sweet Jane”, by The Cowboy Junkies. Jane rolled her eyes and then she spotted the rest of the band on the second story balcony. They were all smiling. Great. At least they weren’t staring at her, they were looking at Declan. She didn’t even have to try hard to imagine the smirk on his face. At least Malcolm Elliot looked embarrassed. Points for him. The other members of the band were laughing. Fuck this she thought. She and Declan were going to have a long talk. She couldn’t have him touching her like this. It was wrong. It was obscene. Jane my girl, you are totally screwed.
* * *
MALCOLM WAS IN PANIC MODE. Declan was going to bed his bodyguard and he was going to die. Declan wrecked women. Hell it was bad enough when he did it to groupies, but Jane Peterson was supposed to protect him. What happened if she got mad at him, would she stand in the way of whoever was coming after him? Oh hell no. She’d let him get hurt and then he'd be without his best friend. Or even worse she’d hurt him herself.
He started to shake. He had to stop this. He could talk to his mom and have her fired. They could find someone else. All they needed was a warm body to stand in the way of a crazed stalker.
“Malcolm, are you okay?”
Fuck did he look okay? He was in melt down mode. His best friend was going to die and Xena Warrior Princess was going to be responsible. “No.”
“What’s up?”
“Declan is going to sleep with Jane.”
Gavin’s hazel eyes widened. “We’re surprised?”
“She’s supposed to keep him safe.”
“Banging and bodyguarding aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“How long have you known Declan?”
Gavin ran a hand through his shaggy, blond hair. “Since I was like four.”
He wasn’t even thirty and he was going to drop dead of a heart attack. “You’ve seen what he does to women. You don’t think after he’s done with Jane she’s going to shoot him?”
“Maybe she’ll just wing him.” He snorted.
“You think this is funny?”
Gavin poked him in the chest. “I think you’re funny.”
“This has the potential to be a major cluster fuck.”
“Or the best time ever.”
How come his brother didn’t understand disaster looming ahead. “This shit is serious.”
Gavin grabbed his arms. “Calm the hell down.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down.”
“You’re just freaked out because you are afraid for Declan. I get that. I’m scared too, but Declan isn’t going to do anything that is going to jeopardize his life. He’s too egotistical for that. Jane is going to keep him safe. She’s very good at what she does.”
“How do you know?”
“You remember Kenny Sax?”
He did, he was one of Gavin’s buddies from back in the day. They’d been busted hacking the DOD when they were kids, and he was surprised Gavin was able to keep in contact with him. If he remembered correctly it was part of their probation agreement. “He’s not in jail?”
“Well he did do some time, but now he’s working for an alphabet agency.”
That’s all he needed, his brother going to jail for some hacker shit. This damn album would never get done. It’s not like he’d been able to write a decent song. Hell if Travis hadn’t found Charlotte and his muse again, the band would be at square one with getting this record done. “Are you allowed to be in contact with him?”
Gavin
smirked. “Dude we are so off probation it isn’t even funny.”
“So?”
“I called him about Jane--”
“Are you supposed to do that?” Jesus Christ Gavin liked to push the line.
“It was a conversation, I asked him about Jane. You know to see if she could keep Declan safe. I wasn’t committing a crime, I’m protecting a friend.”
He hated himself for asking but he did. “Well?”
“He couldn’t find out a lot about her.”
“How is that a good thing?”
Gavin slipped an arm around his shoulder. “If she has a small digital footprint, she’s good at what she does.”
“Use small words.”
“She’s into some covert shit and she's still breathing.” He had this exasperated look on his face. “She’s worked for the government doing things that you read about on Wikileaks, the kind of things that have code names. She’s no bullshit. She’s a hot sexy Kevlar vest and she’s all over Declan. Makes me want to have a stalker.”
Okay he got it. “Until he fucks it up. Then she’s going to kill him.”
“When did you become Mr. Paranoia?”
When Andy died. If Andy could die of an aneurysm were any of them safe? He was so fucked up he couldn’t write, he could barely think, he just wanted to be left the fuck alone. “I’m not paranoid.”
“You are.” Gavin smiled trying to look reassuring.
It wasn’t working. “Nothing about this is right. I don’t know her and Declan is putting his life in her hands, and now his dick is engaged. That’s not a bet I want to take.”
“My money’s on her. So calm down.” Malcolm didn’t trust that. That woman had an agenda. He didn’t have the all the pieces of the puzzle, but his gut told him she was here for more than just a job. His best friend was in danger and if he really thought about it his baby brother was giving him sage advice. The world as he knew was going to end.
Chapter Four
DECLAN HELD the door open for Jane, slipped his finger out of her jeans and let her pass by him. Jane was a cool customer. She didn’t seem mad, but he knew she was. Because the second she turned around and focused those icy green eyes on him he knew he’d over stepped his bounds. Good he wanted to shake her up. He wanted her to unleash all the passion … and direct it at him. She was going to be wild in bed. He could hardly wait.
“Where is your bedroom?”
“Why?”
“I need to store my gear.”
He stopped himself from rubbing his hands together. “In my bedroom?”
“That is where I’m sleeping.”
He had her in his room, he was half way to the promised land. “Follow me.” He lead her up the stairs thinking this wasn’t going to be as hard as he thought it was going to be. As they made their way upstairs all the of the band was waiting on the landing.
Gavin waved. “Hi Jane.”
“Gavin.” She winked at him.
Declan wasn’t sure but he thought Gavin giggled. Like a little school boy. Seriously he thought a giggle? He opened his bedroom door and let Jane pass and he took one longing glance at that perfect ass and sighed.
She put her purse on the dresser near the bathroom and scanned the room. Her mouth squished up, but she didn’t say anything.
“So you and I are going to sleep in here?”
“I’m the nightshift.”
“Why?”
“Because your stalker has already gotten into the house once. If she gets in here again, I’m going to stop her.”
Well that made sense and according to Charlotte there were secret passage ways throughout the house and no one really knows how the stalker got in so it would make him feel safer, but … “There is only one bed.”
“Yeah.” She put her hands on her hips.
“I’m sleeping in it.”
She took a deep breath. “So?”
Her round breasts rose and he was mesmerized by her creamy golden cleavage. “Are you going to sleep in my bed?”
She shook her head. “I have a sleeping bag. Your virtue is safe.”
He didn’t want his virtue to be safe. He wanted to be all up in her danger. Could you take advantage of the willing? It was a question he was going to have to ponder. There was no way she could take advantage of him. “It’s a big bed.”
“I can see that.”
He raised his gaze to her eyes noting the humor in her depths. She thought he was funny. Nice. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Your compassion humbles me. I’ve slept in worse places.”
He walked over to the bed and sat down, leaving plenty of room for her. “Such as?”
“Caves, barracks, bombed out buildings, ditches. Those are five star resorts for soldiers.”
Declan rubbed the spot on the white comforter beside him. “I’ll sleep on the floor you take the bed.”
Her eyebrow rose. “That’s very gentlemanly of you.”
Her tone told him she didn’t believe him. “I can be a gentleman but if we both sleep in the bed we’ll both be comfortable.”
“I’m sure you can be, but I’m not going to sleep in that bed with you.”
His lips pouted all on their own. “Don’t you trust me?”
“Do you have to ask?”
Declan lay down on the bed. “Sometimes I’m naughty, but I’m never really bad. We can put some pillows down the middle. I’ll stay on my side. We won’t even touch. These are big beds, this used to be a brothel.”
“If these beds could talk.”
“If you have a bad night because you’re uncomfortable, I could be hurt. Think about my safety.” He sat up.
“I am.”
“Am I annoying you?”
“Do you usually have that effect on women?”
He touched his chest. “Women love me.”
“So much one wants to kill you.”
Damn she was fun. “You hurt my feelings.”
“Your feelings are the least concern of mine.”
“I thought you were supposed to pretend to like me. I’m not feeling the love.” Declan planted his hands behind him and leaned back.
She sat on the bed next to him. “I think you’re a smart guy. I think you cover up a lot of what’s going in your head with this bullshit rock star swagger. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to let someone else be in control. It doesn’t make you a victim. If acting like you want to seduce me makes this easier for you, I’m cool with that, but it’s not going to work. You’re a client, not my buddy.”
That almost popped his balloon, but he got the sense that she was more attracted to him than she wanted to be. He could work with that. “I thought you were going to play my girlfriend. I’m a method actor, I need inspiration.”
“Think about how much you enjoy breathing. That’s always inspired me.” She smiled. “I have to get my gear and I want to get the lay of land.” She got up and left him alone.
He was getting to her. Good. Although he wasn’t sure why he needed to get a reaction out of her. He wanted to get under her skin. He wanted to find out what she was made of. He wanted to get to know her. Although it had only been a few hours there was something about Jane that fascinated him. With her face and body she could have been on the screen or some rich man’s play toy. There was something about her that was so seductive. She was beautiful but did a man’s job. From what he’d been able to pick up from the rest of the bodyguards she was driven, relentless, and the word brave came up often too. God knows she was smart. It had been a long time since he was interested in a woman for more than sex. He couldn’t remember. Well that’s not true. He adored Charlotte, they were becoming better friends every day. He didn’t even think about her as anything but a friend. He’d seen what she’d done for Travis and a part of him longed for a woman he could be comfortable with and have sex with. Whoa he thought, where the fuck was this going? Damn he just scared himself. Okay maybe what he needed to
do was stop thinking about chicks all together for a while. Because somehow some way, everyone thought it was his dick that got him into this situation and it certainly wasn’t going to get him out of it.
Jane’s sensual scent lingered in the room. Jasmine and woman. His dick got hard again. All this introspection was making him horny. Until his stalker was caught all he had was his hand and when was the last time he did that. He laughed. Last night. Fuck he was totally screwed.
* * *
JANE TOOK Declan’s extended hand and stepped out of the limo. She murmured a quick thanks as she prepared to walk her first red carpet.
Declan Shaw had not been her first celebrity principle, but he was her most famous. He was a bigger star than the actors in the indie film they were going to see tonight. The word got out that he would be here and there were a ton of girls here shouting his name. She wasn’t sure if he was testing her or just a guy who paid attention to his fans, but that man stopped and took pictures signed autographs and about four sets of tits all while keeping his hand on her ass.
A businessman or a politician knew people had them in their crosshairs, but fans they just want a piece of the object of their affection. Literally, the way they grabbed at Declan seemed like they wanted to rip off his arm and take it home to hang the over the fireplace. They looked at him like he was a god. It’s not like he was Gandhi, he could sing. He didn’t end a civil war or find a cure for something.
With all of these people taking pictures, Declan must have posed for about eighty gazillion of them. Jane had to avoid as many photos as she could. She didn’t look like herself, but you never know when you get caught on facial recognition by some hacker fan.
Then came the reporters. The New Orleans press sent a ton of people here to cover the event. She watched him handle the press like a pro, answering questions about the band, the new album and even one asshole asked about the dead band mate. She felt him tense up, but he answered the question with grace. Points for him, she thought. After that he broke away from the press and they went into the theater.
In the darkened theater, she scanned the people around him, searching for any signs of his stalker. All she knew was that she was hunting for a woman. DNA from her hair pegged her as white, blonde, and from the drug test on the hairs, a regular user of psychotropic drugs. She had enough anti psychotics in her system she should be in a coma. Crazy long haired blonde, yeah that narrowed down the field.
I Hate Myself For Loving You (Scorned Lovers Book 2) Page 4
