“But I’m not finished.”
“You are for now.” Tugging her up, he brought them face to face. He took her mouth almost violently as he yanked at the tie on her bikini top. He grabbed the red fabric and tossed it away, pressing his palms to her breasts, moving in gentle, teasing circles until her whimpers turned into one long moan. His hungry mouth and tender hands were a lethal combination that left her reeling.
He jerked her up to her knees and suckled her sensitive nipples. “God, Jack,” she groaned as his tongue lapped until the light throb in her center grew to a heavy pulsing. She clenched his shoulders, and he wrapped an arm around her waist as the boat dipped low again and thunder rumbled in the distance. The boat steadied from its dip, rocking more gently as the rain continued to pound.
Jack snagged her bikini bottom with his thumbs and tugged. Her bathing suit fell to her knees and he ran his hands up her waist, bringing her chest colliding against the hot, damp skin of his. She was ready. She wanted him now. “Lay back, Jack. Let me have you.” She pushed at his shoulder.
“There’s no rush.” He trailed his knuckles down her spine, and she shivered.
But there was. Her body craved to be fulfilled. She pressed on his shoulder again, but he lay her back instead and moved his mouth to her collarbone, nibbling and nipping his way to the valley of her breasts, prolonging the delicious agony of her wait. He traveled further down her waist and hips, bathing her in open-mouthed kisses.
“Mmm,” was her response as he spurned her churning desire and moved between her legs, caressing her knees, and then making his way up. His mouth heated her inner thighs with his breath, and she whimpered with the anticipation of what came next. “Jack,” she whispered as moist heat slid over delicate, tender flesh. “Jack.” She arched, gasping as her fingers flexed and kneaded in his hair, urging him to continue as his tongue stroked again and again. “Keep going. Keep going,” she begged as she pressed his face closer with a jerk of her hands. “My God, don’t stop. Don’t stop.”
His rhythmic caresses turned to gentle suckles, changing the pace, the pressure, the intense sensations, sending her soaring. “Oh, my…” The rest was lost on a rush of breath when he added his fingers. Sparks of heat radiated through her core as he increased his sinful rhythm. She reached above her, clutching at the pillows as she gasped his name mindlessly.
When she was sure she couldn’t take anymore, he journeyed up, met her lips, and crushed down with bruising heat.
She wrapped her arms around him and clung, utterly spent as they rolled and she lay on top of him. “The bag,” he said against her skin. “Can you grab the bag?”
“Huh?”
“The bag. I bought rubbers.” He snagged her ear, and she shuddered.
She looked over her shoulder at the bag still hanging and crawled forward on trembling legs as she grabbed the almost-empty canvas.
Jack yanked it from her hand and reached in. She watched him, struggling to stay on the bed as another tumultuous wave sent the boat in a deep dip. He pulled a wrapper free and sheathed himself before she had time to get her balance.
“Come here.” He hooked her around the waist, lifting her until her back collided with his chest, and she straddled him. His lips heated her skin, and she locked her arms around the back of his neck, resting her head on his shoulder as he reached around and sent her flying with a rub of fingers. She bowed up and cried out as the pulsing sensations of Jack and her orgasm overtook her. “Jack. Jack,” she repeated as she sagged against his sweaty skin. Before she fully recovered from the first onslaught, Jack gripped her hips and eased her down, leaving her no choice but to take him deep. Stunned, frozen in ecstasy, her arms gripped him tightly as another round of heat engulfed her, bringing her to flashpoint. “Oh my God.” Her loud moan filled the cabin as Jack tensed and sucked in a gasp. Her muscles uncoiled from their involuntary spasms, and she began to move, wanting more. Jack reached around, molding her breasts, playing as she set her rhythm. She moved slowly, teasing them both, enjoying the sounds of Jack’s staggered breathing close to her ear.
“Turn around, Alex. I want to see you.”
She stood on her knees and turned as Jack lay among the pillows scattered about the small bed. Straddling him once more, she sat back, and they both groaned. She rested her palms on his chest and began her easy pace once more. Leaning forward, she kissed him. The sweet, lazy moment spun out until the kiss grew urgent and his hands were everywhere, starting new fires. Alexa quickened her pace as the deep ache for fulfillment consumed her.
Jack clutched at her waist as his breath tore from his chest. His hips moved with her, pumping up, thrusting hard. She grabbed his powerful forearms and squeezed as she went soaring for the fourth time.
Jack’s head tipped back, and he tensed, exploding along with her.
Gasping, spent, Alexa sagged against him. She listened to the violent pounding of his heart over the rain still pouring outside. He wrapped his arms around her and held on. She closed her eyes, safe, content while the boat rocked much less violently than it had minutes before.
“This was so much better than Uno,” he said against the top of her head.
She smiled.
He wiggled his shoulder gently. “You pass out on me?”
She lifted her head. “No, just recovering.”
He reversed their positions, and she lay on her back.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting comfortable. I can’t have you recovering too soon. It’s still raining too hard to head home.”
She chuckled, and her heart kicked into high gear as his smile turned sly. “We just finished, Jack.”
“If I can do it so can you.” He pulled himself free of his condom and within seconds protected them both again before he pushed deep inside her. She whimpered, still sensitive from her last orgasm.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.” He kissed her and looked in her eyes. “I used to dream about being with you like this. I would wake up and realize you were gone, had been gone for some time, and I wanted to die.”
His words touched her. How many times had she woken the same way? She brushed at the damp hair along his temple. “I love you.”
His fingers froze against her cheek. “What?”
She hadn’t meant to tell him, but she’d been powerless to stop herself while they lay together in a place they’d made their own so long ago. “I love you, Handsome Jack.”
He stared at her for several seconds, and then caressed her cheek again. “I’ve been waiting… I wasn’t sure…” He pressed his forehead to hers and she held on, treasuring this moment that was for the two of them alone.
“I never thought I would hear those words from you again.”
As he smiled at her with hope shining bright, it was suddenly vital to give him more of her heart. “I never stopped loving you. A day hasn’t passed that I haven’t thought of you and wanted you.”
“Alex,” he whispered as he touched his lips to hers. The kiss drew out with tenderness before he eased back. “I’m so glad we’re here again. I’m so glad we’ve been given this chance.”
She smiled. “Me too.”
“I love you.” He captured her mouth and began to thrust slowly. They clung together, stroking, touching, enjoying the simple pleasure of having each other back. The rain stopped as suddenly as it started, but she didn’t notice as sighs intermingled and breathy moans filled the disheveled cabin. He took her up and over and held her close as he followed.
Chapter 17
Jackson guided the cruiser to the dock as Alex hung up with his mother. “You ready to tie us off?”
“Yes.”
“Careful. The dock’ll be slippery.”
Alex jumped from the back of the boat to the wooden planks with ease.
“You
good?”
“Sure.”
He hurried to the bow and sent the sturdy rope sailing in her direction, smiling as she caught it. “Nice hands.”
“Just one of my many talents.” Tugging, she crouched and twisted the rope around the tie-down the way he’d shown her long ago.
“Great memory.” He walked to the stern as she secured the next tie in place.
“What can I say?” She shrugged and grinned, then held out her hand to him.
Delighted with the world in general, he helped her back on the boat and pulled her close, staring into her deep blue eyes. Alex loved him. He’d been waiting, hoping, but now that she’d told him… “How’s Olivia?”
“She’s fine. Grammy said they barely heard the thunder. The aquarium was pretty loud. Livy didn’t even know there was a storm. If she did, she didn’t say anything to your parents.”
“See? All that worrying for nothing.”
“Worrying’s a mother’s prerogative.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m going to get started on the mess down in the cabin.”
He ran his fingers through her soft hair, stalling, not wanting the afternoon to end. The time away with Alex had been everything he’d wanted it to be. Her eyes were bright again and her shoulders relaxed. They’d laughed and had fun. “I’ll give you a hand.”
“Good. It’ll go faster.” She stepped from his easy embrace. “I think everything spilled from the drawers and cupboards.”
He pulled her back, locking his hands around her waist, effectively trapping her in place. “What’s the hurry?”
She pushed at his shoulders. “Jack, your parents will be home with Livy in another hour or so. I want to get the mess cleaned up and dinner on the stove. Poor Grammy and Grampy are probably exhausted.”
“I had fun with you. I don’t want today to be over yet.”
Her eyes instantly softened, and her hands moved to frame his face. “That’s very sweet.”
He kissed her brow.
“I love you, Jack.”
Would he ever get used to hearing her say that? He’d taken her feelings for granted all those years ago, but never again. “I love you too. I want more days like this. I want us to laugh again. I love watching your eyes light up when you smile. You’re so beautiful.”
“Do you want a tear or two as well? Because you’re about to get a few.”
He smiled as she did. “No. I didn’t tell you enough before. There are so many things I didn’t do right the first time around. I don’t want to make the same mistakes.”
“Things ended badly. What breakup doesn’t? You’ve never been anything but wonderful to me.”
“Not always.”
“Yes, always.” She kissed his chin. “I’ve made my own mistakes and have my own regrets.” As she spoke, her fingers tensed against his skin and the bright light left her eyes. “I never want to hurt you, Jack. Ever. I want you to remember that.”
He frowned at her serious tone. “Okay. I didn’t mean to bum either of us out here. I just wanted to tell you I love you.” He pressed his lips to hers. “And maybe take advantage of our alone time,” he added with a wiggle of his brows, wanting the easy moment back.
She gave him a small smile, and then looked down.
“Hey.” He nudged her gently. “Hey.”
She met his gaze.
“Third times a charm you know,” he whispered next to her ear.
“So I’ve heard, but I’m pretty well satisfied with the first and second time.” She smiled fully.
He chuckled, relieved that she could still find the light mood they’d traveled home with. “Let’s go to my room, then we’ll come back and clean. Promise. I’ll even help with dinner, because I think magical number three might take a while. I didn’t have a chance to do nearly half the things I wanted to. I have a lot of time to make up for.” His hormones were already raging as his imagination got to work on all the ways he planned to send Alex over the edge. Maybe it was caveman-like but there were few things—if any—that brought him the satisfaction he felt when he sent Alex over the brink. Watching her eyes go wide and hearing her call his name as she lost control was freaking amazing. He picked her up, and she gasped.
“Jack.”
“Let’s hurry.” He stepped from the boat with a wobbly hop, only stopping long enough to steady himself. “In about thirty seconds, I’m going to take you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a demanding promise as he walked up the small, grassy hill to his parent’s home. “If we don’t make it to my room, that’ll be too damn bad.”
She made a purring sound in her throat and attacked his mouth with teeth and tongue.
“Goddamn,” he puffed out as he rushed up the steps. “Screw the bedroom. I’m taking you in the entryway. We’ll get to all those things I plan to do in a few minutes. Looks like four is your lucky number today.” He set her down and leaned her against the door, kissing her, palming her small, firm breast with one hand as he reached in his pocket for the house key.
“Hurry up, Jack,” she urged as her hand snaked into his shorts, torturing them both.
He struggled to put the key in the lock as Alex revved him higher. “Oh my God, I’m going to—”
Without warning, Alex yanked her hand away as if he’d grown thorns. Their breath heaved out, mingling, and she clutched at his t-shirt. “Tucker’s home.”
Jackson glanced over his shoulder as Tucker pulled in the drive. “Fucking-A. I’m going to kick his ass.”
Tucker got out and shut the door. “Sorry for interrupting.”
“Is this payback for waking you up the other night? Go drive around the block a few times.” Jackson snapped out of his haze when Tucker didn’t smile or give some sort of crude comeback. “What’s up, man?”
“There’s been another kidnapping.”
Alex’s rosy cheeks paled, and her swollen lips trembled. “Livy? They took Livy?”
“Not Livy, Alexa. She’s with George and Carol.”
Alex sagged against him, and he wrapped his arm around her. “Where?”
“On the outskirts of Servena Park.”
Alex straightened. “Servena Park’s not that far from here.”
“There was a van involved. The victim was visiting with a friend. The friend ran in to her house to tell her mother they were heading to the mall. When the friend came out, two men were yanking the victim into the back. Just like that, they were gone.”
“Not again,” Alex whispered as her body tensed and her hands clutched together at her waist.
“Come on. Let’s get inside.” Jackson had no trouble sticking the key in the lock this time. He twisted the knob and let Alex and Tucker in.
“The media’s all over this one. Amber Alerts were blaring over every station on the way back from DC. I put in a call to Canon, but we won’t be hearing from him for awhile.” They hurried to the living room, and Tucker picked up the remote. “What’s the local news station?”
“Channel 12.” Jackson walked up behind Alex and settled his arms around her waist.
Her clammy hands clung to his forearms as Suzette Martin, Baltimore’s friendly anchorwoman, filled the screen. “—we follow this developing story. Again, fifteen-year-old Margaret Stowers was pulled into the back of a white Chevy work van by two unknown assailants at 3:09 p.m. today in the upscale suburb of Servena Park.” A picture of Margaret Stowers replaced Suzette Martin’s pretty face, and Alex gasped as Jackson’s stomach turned.
“Goddamn,” he muttered as he stared.
“No. No.” Alex tore herself from his arms. “This isn’t happening.”
“The girl from Club Jerhico… The picture you took,” Tucker chimed in.
Helpless rage iced Jackson’s veins as he nodded, unable to believe it. “I think we can officially
connect Timothy Monroe to the sex ring. It’s a pretty big coincidence he spotted this girl, talked to her, gave her a card, and now she’s missing. I want to get Ethan in on this. Let’s play this out and see if we can find a profile on Baltimore Dates—see if there might be a link. Kristen Moore snuck into clubs, had a profile, and disappeared. Let’s see if Margret did too.”
Tucker glanced at Alex as she stared at the floor. “I’ll get on it. Come up when you can. I need to talk to you.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Jackson struggled to relax his jaw as Tucker disappeared up the stairs. How many more young women’s lives were going to be destroyed before the taskforce found their connection?
He curled his fist, wanting to punch something, then flexed his hand. Destroying his parents’ wall wouldn’t fix the situation. He glanced at Alex and sighed. “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not.” She looked up from the floor with tears pooling. “Why aren’t the police taking this seriously? How many more girls have to disappear?”
“They’re taking this seriously, Alex.”
“How can you stand here and say that when we both know their only interest is in nailing Zachary Hartwell? There’s so much more to this than the damn CEO of Starlight Entertainment.” She turned away, took two steps, and whirled back around. “Margret’s just a baby.”
He jammed a hand through his hair, unable to deny anything Alex said. “We’ve got Ethan on this. If he finds something, we’ll go with it and get Miranda in on it as well.”
Alex scoffed and rolled her eyes.
Surprised, Jackson stared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She shook her head and went to the stairs. “Nothing.”
Forever Alexa (Book Four In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series) Page 27
