Jagger’s movements became even more urgent. He ground into her, his body straining to be closer, deeper. Strong fingers raked down her hips, over her slick skin, pulling her against him, matching the rhythm of his thrusts.
“Jagger!” Fireworks seemed to erupt in her body and send her spiraling out of control. Zee ground upward as she held tight to the headboard. Her body shuddered as wave after wave of a shattering climax lifted her off the bed. “Ahhh!” She tore at the sheets.
An agonizing moan erupted from Jagger. He pushed deeper, over and over. His body curled into hers. Every muscle in him tensed as he drove toward his own pulsing climax.
Jagger tried kissing her between gasps for breath. Zee’s hands stroked his dampened skin as she laid her lips against the rapid beat along the side of his neck. She licked at the saltiness there before nipping at his collarbone.
He growled low in his throat and rolled next to her. The chill without his body was a shock to her superheated skin. She followed his heat and draped over his body. His arm encircled her, holding her tight against him. His heart pounded in his chest. It matched her own.
Zee reached for a blanket, but the bed was in complete disarray. She laughed as she groped and discovered most of the bed clothes had joined their clothing on the floor. Her hand finally found the comforter and tugged it over them.
“Come back here.” He pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deeply. “Bloody hell,” he whispered. Zee fit herself into the crook of his shoulder. Their legs intertwined. Zee felt safe and sated in his arms.
Even hating to think of Ed, she couldn’t help but compare what just happened to her few awkward times with him. He’d never brought her to orgasm. He screwed her. Done his business and left, letting her believe she was unattractive, frigid, and he was somehow doing her a favor.
But not with Jagger. Everything felt new this time. She may not have been a virgin in the true sense of the word, but she’d been ignorant to how amazing it could be. Tonight she knew what it meant to feel like a woman, to arouse a man, to truly make love, and to feel beautiful. She snuggled closer.
“Mmmmm, you feel so good in my arms,” Jagger murmured.
Zee smiled against his chest and kissed him there. Jagger held her for a long time stroking her back. He hummed a low melody, soft and gentle against her hair, and lulled her to sleep.
****
Zee awoke alone. The dim blue glow from the clock said it was 3:12. Had she dreamt it all? She ran her hand along the space next to her, remembering. They both slept for a time, and woke around midnight and made love again, wildly, desperately, with them both crying out together as they brought each other to crashing climax.
But she was alone now. Had Jagger left? She leaned over and turned on the bedside lamp. She blinked against the onslaught of light. Her room looked like an orgy had taken place. The bed was a mess, clothing strewn everywhere. Unless Jagger left naked, he was still there. His jeans were on the floor by the foot of the bed. Zee grabbed for her robe and went to find him.
She found him standing naked at her sink, elbow-deep in soapsuds washing the dishes. Zee leaned against the doorframe to watch.
“So, darlin’, are you going to stand there looking at my arse all night, or are you going to offer to dry?” He winked over one shoulder.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so damn sexy before. What do you think you’re doing?”
“Just cleaning up. We were a bit preoccupied with other things last night. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Jagger turned away from the kitchen sink and wiped his hands on a dishtowel.
“Do you always do the dishes in the nude?”
“Yes. Do you always look so bloody cute at three in the morning?”
“Only when there are gorgeous naked men in my kitchen.”
“So tell me, what’s the rule for the kitchen?” He moved closer, tossing the dishrag onto the counter.
“What rule?”
“The kissing rule. No for the living room, Yes for the bedroom. What’s the rule about kissing a naked man in your kitchen?”
He was edging closer to her causing a tiny thrill to run through her. She pretended to frown in concentration. “Let’s see, ah yes, the rules. Well the living room rule was made before I knew all the useful, and to be honest, amazing things you could do with your pants off. I’m not sure if that rule still applies. Of course there are some hard…and fast rules that can never be broken.”
“Like?” Jagger reached out and released the tie of her robe.
“Like never wearing white after Labor Day. And no miniskirts after forty.”
“I don’t wear miniskirts.” He ran a fingertip between her breasts.
“No, no you don’t, but, there’s the ‘don’t wear a bow tie if you have a mustache’ rule. Or ‘never serve red wine with fish.’”
“All fine things to remember.” Jagger gripped the lapels of her terry cloth robe and dragged her against him. He leaned down and kissed the side of her neck.
“Always R.S.V.P. and never go to someone’s house emptyhanded.” Zee gave a small whimper as he pulled her earlobe into his mouth and sucked. “N-never wear sandals and socks. Always…wear clean underwear…in case you get in an accident.”
“Mm umm.” He was making her knees watery.
“N-never run with scissors.”
“No, never.” Jagger slipped one side of her robe off and laid a line of kisses along the top of her shoulder. “No scissors. Anything else?”
Zee was having trouble thinking. “Ummm… Ah!” she gasped as he brought the edge of her robe lower and put his mouth to her breast. “Ah, um, mmm, yes….y-you should never…no, always.”
Jagger slid the top of her robe aside and lavished attention to each of her breasts before lowering to his knees before her. She cradled his head to her while he teased the dent of her belly button with his tongue. His hands slipped inside her robe and caressed her behind, as his kisses moved lower.
Zee’s mind was lost to the desires of her body. Jagger’s hand skidded up the inside of her thigh. Her knees nearly buckled when fingers and tongue met to part her heat. She gripped his shoulders to keep from toppling over. His mouth sucked and licked as strong, thick fingers drove her wild. She was going to scream. Her fingers dug into thick muscles as violent shudders jolted through her body. The next thing she knew she was kneeling on the floor with him, kissing his mouth, tasting herself on his tongue, nearly weeping with the power of her release.
Jagger’s arms wrapped about her beneath her robe and pressed her chest close to his.
“New rule,” she gasped.
“On top of all the others?”
“Ahead of all the others. The number one rule.”
“Okay. What’s your number one rule?” He caressed the roundness of her behind.
“Always. Always kiss me when you’re naked in my kitchen.”
“Best rule ever, darlin’.” Jagger began to straighten her robe. His finger traced along the underside of a breast. “Lovely.”
It took all Zee had not to snatch her robe closed. “Most men prefer something a bit larger, don’t they?”
“Who told you that?’ Jagger shook his head and looked at her. “They’re perfect. And sweet. They’re like those wee cakes.”
“Cakes?”
“Those wee cakes with the frosting on top.”
“Cupcakes?”
“Yes, that’s it. Cupcakes.” His thumb teased a nipple to peak. He looked at her seriously. “Were you afraid I wouldn’t think so?”
Zee shrugged. “I was a tiny bit worried.”
He kissed her. “You really don’t know how beautiful you are, do you?”
“I know how beautiful you are.” Her hand skimmed over the well-formed ridges of his abdomen. Jagger stopped her hand as it reached lower.
“Diddling with my donger isn’t going to get me to change the subject. We were talking about you.”
“I’d rather diddle with your donger.” She couldn�
�t believe how bold she’d become.
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. “And that made the little bugger smile, but I’d rather finish telling you how lovely I think you are.”
Zee shook her head. “Little bugger? I hard-ly think so—pardon the pun.”
Jagger laughed. “You are one cheeky sheila.”
“Now that I believe.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jagger left early. He wanted to go back to his place to shower and change. They’d both slept briefly on and off all night, but Zee felt anything but tired. She found her tank top amongst her other clothing strewn about the room. How did the fitted sheet get behind the headboard?
Everywhere Zee looked flooded her with memories of the last several, amazing hours. In the early light of the morning, Jagger had discovered the painting. “When did you do this?”
She’d come up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “A week or so ago. I reworked one of your one-minutes.”
“How?”
She kissed his shoulder. “It was after that day I bent my knife.” Zee splayed her hands across his chest and abdomen. “I used my hands.”
Jagger stepped out of her embrace and lifted her hands to his mouth. He kissed their backs and their palms. The tenderness of the gesture made her tremble. Just remembering it now weakened her knees.
And when she went into the kitchen for her tea, she nearly came again. Naked Jagger, standing at her sink, washing dishes. She’d never forget that sight. It was possibly the hottest thing she’d ever seen. Not to mention what he’d done to her body after scrubbing the pots and pans.
“You’re happy.” Nana’s perfume was strong this morning.
“Yes, I am. I can’t remember when I’ve felt like this before.”
“When are you going to tell him about me?”
“Soon.”
“You’re afraid he won’t understand.”
Zee snorted. “Wouldn’t you be? I can hear the conversation now… ‘Oh, Jagger, darling, I need to tell you something. I hope you’ll just think I’m quirky, you know, a cheeky sheila, but here goes. I talk to my grandmother. We’re very close.’ ‘How nice for you, lovey, I can’t wait to meet her.’ ‘Oh, but you can’t. You see she died when I was ten.’ Yes, Nana, I can see that conversation now. Do you think he’ll hurt himself racing down all those stairs?”
“He’s head over heels in love with you. He’ll love this about you, too.”
“How do you know he’s head over heels?”
“I just do.”
The conversation with Nana nagged at Zee as she got ready for class. Maybe she just wouldn’t tell Jagger about any of it. No, that wasn’t fair to him or to Nana, or to her for that matter. She wouldn’t taint this relationship with a lie. But she would wait until she felt surer about things. Everything was so new and wonderful. She’d shelve the worry for a bit and just revel in the joy of being with him.
As she rounded the landing to head for the first floor. The familiar yip of a poodle greeted her.
“Cee Cee!”
“It’s Zee Zee, Mrs. Ogalthorpe. Good morning.”
Mrs. O. was a picture this morning with a housedress littered with giant fuchsia and orange flowers. She wore purple socks, frosted white lipstick and more blue eye shadow than should be allowed by law. Her ancient poodle, Casanova, was dressed for the day in a huge yellow bow.
“Honey, who was that scrumptious man I saw this weekend? So polite. Said ‘Good Day’ to me and Cassie just like that crocodile guy.” She sidled up to Zee and lowered her voice. “Saw him leaving this morning looking like a cat with a bowl of cream.”
Zee felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “Um…that would be Jagger Jones. He…he’s a friend.”
Mrs. Ogalthorpe elbowed her in the ribs and Casanova barked at the sudden movement. “Friend, my tuchis.”
Visions of another tuchis filled her mind. Zee’s cheeks blazed. Now even her ears were hot. “Yes, Mrs. O., he’s a good friend.”
“And not too hard on the eyes, if I should say so. Not like that other one. Never a kind word. Always barking at me to open the door, like I’ve got nothing better to do with my time.”
“Ah, yes, that would be Ed Zeigler. I wish you wouldn’t let him in. I’m having problems with him and he keeps showing up at my door. Tell him you can’t let him in. If he gives you any trouble, tell me and I’ll take care of it.”
“I can let the hunky one in, right?”
Any time he wants. “Um, yes. That’s fine.”
“You’re looking a bit flushed, Cee Cee.” Mrs. Ogalthorpe bumped her with her elbow again. “And kinda like you got a bit of that cream yourself.”
“I gotta go, Mrs. O. Can’t be late for class.”
“You go, honey. Me and Mr. Cassie here got a date to watch the Price is Right.”
Zee scratched the decrepit dog behind his raggedy ears. “Bid high.”
“No. Bid low plus a buck. That’s the ticket.”
****
Zee made it to school in record time. She smiled as she gathered her things to go into the building. Jagger’s shirt sat on top of her brush roll. She lifted it and breathed in the scent of him. She couldn’t believe he forgot it again. But then he was too busy giving her a good-bye kiss that should have gone down in history as the most amazing good-bye kisses on record. She zipped up her sweatshirt and headed up to class.
Zee looked at the painting she’d been working on Friday. It was good, but it was missing something now. Yes, she’d captured Jagger’s body well enough, but it had no emotion. So much had changed in the last few days. She felt alive now. Excited. Passionate.
One by one her fellow artists arrived in their usual Monday morning grumps. Zee was anxious to see Leah and ask her if she had fun on her romantic weekend. She wouldn’t tell her about Jagger quite yet. Was it wrong to want to keep him to herself for just a little longer?
Leah entered like a storm cloud. “Effin’ rain. I just ruined my shoes. You know that huge puddle by the west ramp? Stepped up to my ankle in frigid, curb-crap water.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Leah scowled at her. “You don’t look sorry.”
Zee laughed, sobered, and attempted to stick out her lower lip and give Leah her best pouty face.
“Save it.”
“You are not my happy Leah this morning. Get up on the wrong side of the bed? Or maybe…” Zee moved conspiringly close and lowered her voice. “Maybe you spent this weekend having mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex and are so exhausted it’s making you cranky.”
Leah kicked at a stubborn easel. “The last thing I want to talk about is this weekend.”
“I thought you and Ted were going away to Maine for a romantic escape?”
“We did.”
“Didn’t you have a good time?”
Leah turned and glared at her. She pointed to her face and circled it with her index finger. “Does this look like I had a good time?”
“Frankly no, but…?”
“Do you want to know what Ted’s idea of a romantic weekend was?”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“We went ice fishing.”
“Isn’t it a little warm for ice fishing?”
“Not when you drive twelve hours to some godforsaken speck on the map just this side of the arctic circle.” Leah threw her hands in the air.
“Oh.”
“Right. Oh. You know how excited I was about this weekend. He told me how wonderful it was going to be just the two of us in a little, secluded cabin. Nothing but him and me and peace and quiet. Well, the secluded cabin turned out to be a two-man bob house! And we were alone. You better believe we were alone. There wasn’t another human being for miles. The bridal suite was a musty pair of World War II army cots crammed into a shack with a tin can wood stove and a giant screw to keep the hole in the ice from freezing over. We had one lantern, a camp stove and a rubber bass on a fake wooden plaque that came to life and sang
, ‘Take Me To The River’ when you pushed a button. Ted thought it was hysterical. He wants one for our bedroom.
“I expected a romantic weekend so I packed next to nothing. I froze my ass off! I’ve never been so cold. Don’t you think it would have been nice of Mr. Great Outdoors to tell me to pack something more than a negligee? No. He wanted everything to be a surprise. He’d take care of everything, he said. I didn’t have to worry about anything, he said. He had it all figured out. Every detail.”
“Well, if you’re sure you don’t want to talk about it.” That earned Zee another glare.
“I was expecting a lovely candlelight dinner at some rustic lodge nestled in the woods with one of those dead moose heads hanging over a roaring fireplace, with wine and steak and lobster dripping with butter.” Leah slammed down her paint box. “But NO! What do I get?” She turned and planted her fists on her hips. “Do you have any idea what we had for dinner our first night in ‘Camp Craptastic’? SpaghettiOs! Cold! In the can!”
Zee bit her lip to keep from laughing.
“That’s it, go ahead and laugh.”
Zee did. “I’m sorry. SpaghettiOs?”
“SpaghettiOs!”
More laughter. “I’m really sorry.”
“What could he have been thinking? Romantic weekend, my lily white ass.”
Just then, Jagger arrived. He came straight over to Zee and gently pulled her to one side. “Good morning, again,” he whispered.
“Good morning, again.”
“I saw George in the parking lot. I thought you were going to park on the street.”
She put a hand over her mouth. “I forgot.” She tipped her head toward him and lowered her voice. “You see, I was terribly distracted this morning.”
Jagger smiled. “What do you think they would all do if I started kissing you right here?”
“I couldn’t care less,” Zee whispered.
He chuckled. “Did you remember the remote?”
“Yes, I did remember that. It’s in my pocket, and I set the alarm.”
Picture Me Naked (Stoddard Art School Series) Page 14
