by Nicola Marsh
“No, but I will be when you’re yelling my name in another ten minutes.” He almost slammed open the fridge door in his haste to get the mousse.
“Reckon it’ll take you that long?” She tsked-tsked. “Must be losing your touch.”
He straightened, holding a glass dish filled with a delicious looking chocolate/raspberry mousse. “You know I’m going to make you pay for this, right?”
“You’ll have to catch me first.”
With that, she slipped out of the sliding door opening onto the patio and headed for Jack’s villa.
She didn’t run.
She knew Jack would be right behind her and whoever made it first was irrelevant.
They’d both get their fair share of orgasms tonight.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Burlesque Bombshell Basics
The infallible motto of a Burlesque Bombshell: glamour, all day every day.
“What do you reckon? Dead heat?” Jack opened the door to his villa and gestured Jess ahead of him.
Surprisingly nervous now they were here, Jess nodded. “Sounds fair.”
He laughed at her reticence. “Relax, babe. Surely after last night you know I’ll take care of you? Many times…”
“I know.” She placed the wine and strawberries on the nearest table, took the mousse out of his hands and did the same.
“That needs to go in the fridge—”
“Not with what I’ve got planned for it.” She grabbed the lapels of his open-necked shirt and tugged, hard, sending buttons pinging on the floor.
His eyes widened and she grinned. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”
“What if it was my last shirt?”
“I’ll buy you another.” Her gaze dipped to his glorious chest, big and bronze, covered in a smattering of dark hair. “On second thoughts, maybe not.”
She leaned forward and kissed him over his heart, dipping lower to lick around his left nipple before moving across and nipping his right.
“You’re frigging killing me…” He grabbed her arms and hauled her up, their gazes locking for a wild, loaded moment that signaled the point of no return.
“Get the towels and the condoms,” she murmured, cupping his cheek for a brief, tender moment that made her realize just how dangerous this game was.
No matter how many saucy quips they traded, how many sultry looks, what they were about to do wasn’t purely sex.
Which meant Jess was in too deep.
Uh-oh.
Jess had no idea if the panic clogging her lungs and making it difficult to breathe showed on her face and Jack caught a glimpse, for he didn’t say another word but headed for the bathroom while she stood there, unable to move, her body trembling with need, her mind reeling from the fact she was about to have sex with her fantasy guy.
“Do you have another of those?” He pointed to her black chiffon cover-up as he returned, before spreading the towels on the floor.
She glanced down at what she was wearing. “Yeah, why?”
“No reason.” He emptied his pockets, spilling countless foil packets onto the floor, before reaching for her.
He slid his hands into the neckline of her cover-all and ripped it in half from top to bottom. “There. Much better.”
Jess had envisaged this very scenario when she’d gone to the kitchen tonight. Hell, she’d even imagined a little spicy kitchen sex if Jack had wised up and slipped a condom into his wallet. Being naked beneath the flimsy but artfully layered cover-all had been about making him hot for her but right now, with his hungry gaze devouring her, she was the one in danger of going up in flames.
“Don’t move.” He unbuckled his belt, undid the top button of his khaki shorts and lowered the zip with torturous slowness.
Saliva pooled in Jess’s mouth and she swallowed, unable to tear her gaze away as the shorts fell to the floor, Jack stepped out of them and kicked them away.
Black cotton boxers. Designer. Very nice.
But nothing compared to the impressive bulge in them.
“I’ve been fantasizing about this moment for so long,” she said, the words slipping out as a trickle of perspiration ran down the back of her neck. “Let me see you.”
The corners of his mouth kicked into a sexy smile. “Only if you say please.”
“Goddamn it, Jack…”
“Well, seeing as you asked so nicely.” His thumbs hooked into the waistband and tugged the elastic down.
Unaware she’d been holding her breath, Jess made a strange hissing sound that echoed in the silence as Jack’s hard-on sprang free.
She stared at it, fascinated by its length and width, feeling incredibly short-changed by Max.
“It’s not polite to stare,” he said, scooping a handful of mousse and crossing the short distance between them.
“Can’t help it,” she said, licking her lips. “It’s pretty damn amazing.”
It twitched in response. “You’ll give it a big head.”
“I think you’ve got that covered all by yourself,” she said, gasping as he smeared mousse over her breasts.
“Flattery will get you everywhere, sweetheart.” He spread the mousse down her stomach and across her mound, kneeling before her. “I’m starving.”
“Don’t let me stop you from eating…ooh…” He started at the bottom and worked his way up, licking the mousse from the top of her bikini line before his tongue cleared her belly in long, slow sweeps.
He half-stood, reaching for her breasts, pressing them together with his hands before feasting, laving and sucking and swirling his tongue repeatedly over her nipples until she couldn’t stand.
She sank to her knees, her muscles quivering, her skin burning from the inside out. Grateful he knelt too, she clutched at him for support.
“As much as I’m loving the foreplay, I had hours of it last night.” She captured his face in her hands and eyeballed him. “I’m on the verge of coming every time you look at me, so can you please…”
She stalled, as the enormity of what she’d been about to say hit. No way could she say to Jack can you please make love to me.
Because that would imply too much, would give away too much.
And if he twigged this was more than sex and reneged…no, she wouldn’t be satisfied with anything but going all the way this time.
“Please what?” He slanted his lips across hers, teasing an answer out of her.
So she said the one thing guaranteed to keep things strictly casual between them.
“Fuck me,” she whispered, the harsh plea sounding incredibly erotic to her inexperienced ears.
Thankfully, Jack didn’t need to be asked twice. He picked up a foil packet, ripped it open and sheathed himself in record time.
She whimpered as he slid a finger between her folds.
“You’re so wet.” He circled her clit but didn’t touch it and she pressed her hips forward.
His low chuckle was the sexiest thing she’d ever heard, as he rubbed the head of his dick against her clit.
His length slid against her slickness, repeatedly rubbing her clit until she couldn’t stand it any longer.
The tension spiraled too quickly, her inner muscles spasming as she came, clutching at his hips, desperate for him to drive into her. Now.
She spread her legs a fraction wider, all the invitation Jack needed to plunge into her.
Her muscles convulsed around him, adjusting to his width.
“Babe, you feel so good.” He thrust up as she sank down, straddling him, filled by him. “So fucking good.”
Words failed Jess as a riot of sensation overwhelmed her. It felt like every inch of her body was being zapped by electricity, like she was on the verge of shattering.
She couldn’t control her responses to Jack any more than she could control her feelings and as his hands spanned her waist, guiding her up and down, faster and faster until the pleasure bordered on pain, Jess knew that after this nothing would ever be the same.
“Jess…bab
e…” His head fell back, exposing his neck as he pumped into her harder.
Mindless with the escalating tension, Jess nipped his corded neck muscle.
Jack roared and thrust upward a final time as Jess’s insides convulsed in an orgasm so intense she couldn’t breathe.
She had no idea how long it took for the exquisite ripples to subside, but as Jack wrapped his arms around her and her head sank onto his shoulder, a persistent thought intruded on her hazy bliss.
How the hell could she walk away from this?
“Bad news, hun. The minister Dorian insists on using to marry us has his first grandchild being delivered by C-section on the weekend and his wife’s insisting he be around.” Zazz pressed her thumb to her forehead. “Yeah, he’s under this but what can you do? It means we’re getting married in two days instead of next week.”
Jess stared at the laptop screen in horror. “So you’re saying I need to wrap up the plans by tomorrow?”
Zazz nodded. “I’m really sorry to do this to you but the whole gang’s arriving on the island late tomorrow evening and we’re getting married the night after.”
Jess shook her head. “No way. There’s still so much to do—”
“Hun, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”
Jess gaped at Zazz, stunned at the thought of pulling the rest of this wedding together in two days.
Zazz laughed, the complete antithesis of a bridezilla and way too calm while Jess was freaking out. “Dorian’s already called the resort and let them know, so the setting up will be fine. We’ve already approved everything, along with your cake table suggestions, which we loved by the way.”
Jess couldn’t comprehend the speed at which this was happening but by the bride’s unflappability, this wedding was definitely going ahead sooner rather than later. “But the flowers—”
“Taken care of. I’m going with striped orchids, they’ll fly in with us.” Zazz crooked her finger but Jess didn’t need to lean closer to the screen. She may just put a fist through it. “I know I said I was keeping the dress secret ‘til the big day but I need you to make some adjustments to the aisle because of it.”
Feeling increasingly clueless, Jess sighed. “Just tell me what needs to be done.”
“The dress is pale pink, ivory and black. Pale pink and ivory corset laced at the back with black satin ribbons, fitted fishtail skirt, with three flounced layers at the bottom edged in black satin. Black lace bolero overlay fastened at the neck in a bow.” Zazz beamed and little wonder, the dress sounded divine. “With a matching fascinator. Wait ‘til you see it.”
“Sounds gorgeous. So why the aisle adjustment?”
Zazz clapped her hands together like an excited child. “Because I’m doing a surprise dance down the aisle. No classical da-da-di-da slow steps for me. It’s burlesque all the way, baby.”
Despite her stress levels, and the amount of work she’d have to do over the next forty-eight hours, Zazz’s excitement was infectious and Jess found herself confounded yet captivated. “This wedding is going to be amazing.”
“Thanks to you, hun.” Zazz blew her a kiss. “I’m going to bump and shimmy down the aisle so let’s hope Dorian’s cronies pack their heart medication.”
Jess laughed. “You’re crazy, you know that right? And I’m crazy for taking on a job of this magnitude with minimal experience.”
Zazz’s serious expression surprised Jess. “I could never have done any of this without you. You’ve been amazing and don’t you forget it.”
The bride’s praise meant a lot, considering her mom couldn’t pick up the phone to say the same. Sure, Pam had sent a few emails checking on proceedings, but Jess’s updates were met with silence rather than encouragement.
A small part of her wondered if her mom was jealous that Jess had stepped into the role of wedding planner and done a good job. And she knew being confined to a rehab center would be killing her vibrant, active mom.
Not that Jess needed the praise. The fact she’d done this, and enjoyed it, proved what she’d suspected for a long time now.
Being stuck in Craye Canyon, leading a sedate life, wasn’t for her any more. At least she could thank her mom for this, an opportunity to step out of her comfort zone and take a risk.
“Thanks, Zazz. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that, considering I’ve got a freaking wedding to pull together in two days!”
Zazz chuckled. “You’ll be fine. I have complete faith in you.”
“Okay then, guess I’ve got work to do.” Jess was about to end their Skype session when Zazz held up her hand to stop.
“By the way, I’m looking forward to shaking Jack’s hand again.”
“Why? Because you’ve busted his balls to finalize the menu and he’s doing it?”
Zazz’s cheeky smirk indicated an incoming zinger. “No, because any guy who can make you glow like that deserves congrats.”
With a quick wave, Zazz vanished from the screen before Jess could respond.
It was only then that she realized the implications of organizing this wedding in two days.
Not only would she be working around the clock, Jack would be chained to the kitchen. He’d be busy prepping and planning and ensuring the fresh ingredients arrived days earlier than previously ordered. He’d have a plethora of staff to instruct, meals to prepare, finishing touches on the cake…
She wouldn’t see him.
Ironic, that after the stupendous sex last night she’d envisaged several sultry evenings where they could connect on many levels.
She’d imagined them cuddled together, sharing thoughts and dreams, just like they had ten years ago.
She’d imagined maybe, just maybe, telling him the truth. That this had moved beyond sex for her. That she didn’t have definitive plans once this wedding was over. That maybe she could travel some more, come visit him in Sydney…
But the intimacy she’d imagined would never happen now. They’d be working their butts off with minimal down time, then the hordes would descend. Including her brother and guaranteed Jack would shut down and revert to being friends.
Frikking great.
With a shake of her head, Jess brought up her extensive to-do list. But as she scanned the dot points and added a few more, her mind drifted to Jack and what may have been.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Burlesque Bombshell Basics
A fur stole completes any outfit.
Jack had classic Aussie rock blasting from the speakers as he strutted around the kitchen. King of his domain. Ruling with a deft touch as every dish he created resulted in culinary perfection.
Egotistical? Maybe. But if there was one thing Jack knew well it was food and since Dorian’s early morning call outlining changes to the wedding, Jack had been in overdrive.
Jess had just left when Dorian rang and it had taken a few moments for the groom’s instructions to sink in. Post-coital confusion. His head had been filled with memories of Jess: how she’d tasted, how she’d felt, how she’d sounded minutes earlier as they’d fucked for the fifth time, that it hadn’t sunk in how much he had to do until Dorian had asked if he was okay.
Then reality had set in. He’d be working twenty-four/seven to get the food ready in time, which meant no repeat of last night with Jess.
The realist in him would say ‘it was good while it lasted.’
The optimist? ‘Damn, not nearly enough and I want more.’
After showering and dressing in record time, he’d hit the kitchen running and unlike yesterday, he created magic.
He’d tweaked some of the dishes until they were perfect; he’d placed ingredient orders with the locals; he’d marshaled the kitchen staff and outlined their tight schedule on a whiteboard.
They’d be working around the clock to ensure the gourmet meals for this wedding would be served on time. Nothing new, for Jack had worked under this pressure before. But what was new was the niggle of regret tempering everything he did, regret that he’d only had
one night with Jess.
She’d be just as busy as him and they’d both be pulling all nighters before the wedding crowd arrived tomorrow.
Including Reid.
Jack had already made up his mind to tell Reid about him and Jess in the wee small hours this morning, when she’d fallen asleep in his arms.
She’d looked so young, so fragile, and it had catapulted him back in time. Despite her saucy seduction act and feisty words, Jess wasn’t brash and bold. She was still the same warm-hearted soft touch girl who’d touched his soul a decade earlier.
It had scared him then and still terrified him now. Jack had spent a lifetime cultivating emotional barriers no one could breach, yet Jess was the only person who’d broken them, both times.
A smart guy would recognize that as meaning something. That maybe, just maybe, he shouldn’t shut her out this time. That maybe it was worth taking a risk on some people, like how Reid and Dorian had taken a chance on him.
“What’s that god-awful racket?”
He stopped whisking vanilla-infused double cream and glanced at the door where Jess had snuck in.
“There’s no other way to listen to hard core Aussie rock,” he said, sure his goofy grin matched hers. “Loud and proud.”
“Turn it off, I can’t hear myself think.” She covered her ears with her hands.
“Bossy and beautiful,” he said, dumping the whisk and bowl, and flicking the music off.
“And incredibly stressed.” She perched on a bar stool, grabbed a strawberry and popped it into her mouth. It reminded him they’d never got round to using the strawberries last night. “By the looks of everything in here, you’ve heard the news.”
He nodded. “Dorian called. We’ve got a wedding happening day after tomorrow.”
She winced. “They’re crazy.”
“And we’re crazy for agreeing to do this.” As far as morning after chatter, it wasn’t half bad. Casual. Without awkwardness. But they’d have to confront the obvious eventually so he went for broke. “You know what this means, right?”
