He had wanted her from the first moment he’d seen her. She was the first woman he’d felt anything for since Ella.
He’d believed once he slept with her the attraction would diminish, but if his hard-on was any indication how over Jolene he was, he hadn’t had nearly enough of her yet. It wasn’t only his body that wanted more of her. She was funny and smart and he loved being in her company.
If last night wasn’t enough to prove how much he was over Ella, what more could he do?
He clenched his jaw thinking about the woman who had ripped his heart from his chest and stomped on it. He didn’t care what Ella did any longer.
He needed Jolene to believe him. He’d been totally open with her because he wanted her to know. Didn’t that show Jolene she meant something to him?
Apparently not because her response was to tell him she was leaving and that this thing between them was only temporary.
He looked through the clear shower curtain and noted the bathroom door remained closed. Jolene wasn’t going to come to him.
He had a decision to make. And his gut told him, he’d better do it quickly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I watch him through a blurry haze. How can he sleep so peacefully, knowing Lia probably cried for her mama every day, especially at bedtime?
Every part of me aches to hold my baby. The pain is almost unbearable.
The bastard would pay for shipping my sweet, sweet little girl away. As if she was nothing more than a flawed item to be returned.
The welts on my thighs sting against the sheets and I wince. I need to find the strength to gain control before he kills me. I can’t bare to think Lia will never feel my kisses again. She will forget me. Like my father did.
I curl my fingers into tight fists, intending to lash out at him and beat him into submission, but I can’t. He is in control now and I can only voice my pain silently, to myself.
Lia was mine, damn it! I found her you bastard. Not you. I cared for her and loved her.
I swear on my mother’s life somehow I will get Lia back. Somehow. I will make you pay for all the years you made me suffer. I will teach you a lesson. I promise.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Jolene studied her bracelet’s every charm while she waited for Norris to come out of the bathroom. Among the many she collected over the years, she found the dragonfly. It had been from Stefan, her first real love. He saw her as carefree and filled with aspirations. The angel that was clasped next to it she had bought in Stefan’s memory.
Jolene sighed. Even if she removed the bracelet she would carry her past, like Norris did. Between them, they had too much baggage to make a stab at any kind of relationship.
The bathroom door popped open and Norris stepped out, followed by a cloud of steam. He wore a towel draped around his narrow hips and his thick wet hair was slicked back.
Jolene stood from the couch.
Norris frowned. “Where are you going?”
“I think I should go.” Jolene bent over and picked up her shoes and turned away from the sight of Norris’ bare torso. Her intention was to walk out the door before things became more complicated between them but he quickly crossed the room, snagged her by the wrist and yanked her back against his chest. Within a second, she found herself trapped in his strong arms again.
From behind, he pressed his strong thighs against hers. Her dress grew damp from the towel. She looked over her shoulder and met the hot flames dancing in Norris’ hooded eyes. Over the past week, they’d played a philandering game of cat and mouse. She sensed the game was about to morph into something more and both of them would walk away changed forever.
“Are you sure you want to get involved with me?” she asked, feeling the strong beat of his heart hammer against her shoulder blade.
“Yes.”
She had watched his full lips part with the whispered word. It was all he had to say in his deep, sexy tone to send her blood free falling through her veins. A week ago, having sex with him would’ve just been sex, but now, this time, the act would mean something. They had shared too much. Loving him would make saying goodbye nearly impossible.
His hand tightened on her wrist and her heart tripped over itself.
The Lynx tensed when his other hand rose to trace a finger along her jawline, under her chin and then circled up and over her lips. He made no move to kiss her. He made love to her lips with his finger, tracing them, playing with her V lightly, and gently parting them, and then his finger stilled.
Her breath caught in her lungs waiting for the moment he would relax his grip on her and back away. She didn’t want him to change his mind. She had never wanted a man more than she wanted Norris at this moment. And he wanted her. She felt his hard need nestled against her backside.
Then it occurred to her that he was waiting for her to make the next move. He was allowing her to make the decision which would cement their relationship.
Sometime over the last week this man had learned a lot about her, enough to capture her soul. She dropped her shoes to the floor. Parting her lips, she drew his finger inside her mouth.
Jolene felt his chest expand and knew her move had been the right choice.
Slowly she lapped at the rough pad, enjoying the salty flavor. With each nip and suck, she felt his need for her grow.
She released him and he immediately trailed kisses to her neck. His teeth grazed her life’s artery and nipped at her neck’s cord, sending electric charges to her center.
His arm held her in place and he ground himself against her.
She whimpered with pleasure and liquid warmth saturated her panties.
He pulled his finger from her mouth and wet both her lips before lowering his hand and slipping his hand inside her dress and cupping her lace covered breast. He circled her nipple with the damp finger. The roughness of the lace was slightly painful against her nub, yet the sting excited her. Her breast grew hard in his hand while the other ached for attention.
He pulled his hand free of her dress and stepped back.
Cool air rushed into the small space between them.
Jolene whipped around and laced her hands over his neck, pressing her wanting body against his and kissed him hard.
“I’m going to kiss every part of you.” He lifted her up. Her breasts squashed against his broad chest and with her toes barely touching the floor, he carried her to the bed.
Dawn sliced through the room and across the bed and provided a romantic ambiance to the room. Over his shoulder, she noted how sparsely furnished and tidy his space was. She wondered if he spent any time there at all. He certainly hadn’t since she met him a week earlier.
As he released her, he grabbed the hem of her dress and peeled it from her body. Then he reached for the towel.
She slapped his hands out of the way and while holding his gaze loosened the towel and flung it to the floor. With her palm flat against his hard abs she slid her hand along his hot skin and until her fingertips reached the mass of course curls surrounding his manhood. Then she twisted her wrist and oh so slowly laced her fingers around his shaft.
Norris seemly wobbled and Jolene took control of the situation much like he had initially.
He kneaded her ass cheeks through her panties and she slowly increased the speed at which she pumped her hand up and down, up and then down, letting her pinky brush across its base. She couldn’t believe it possible, because Norris was well hung and standing quite erect when she gripped him, but his erection grew larger and harder in her fist. The feel of his heat radiated up her arm and into her blood escalating the urge to have him inside her.
Norris’ chest rose and fell.
She arched her back, wanting to press her mound against his shaft, but her hand was in the way, so she pressed against it. Little charges of electricity shot through her womb. She grew hotter and wetter. Fighting her own climax, her knees quaked.
She pressed against his hungry hands and sought relief from the sensation causing h
er vision to cloud over as if she moved toward a higher level of awareness. She circled his head and drew the hot sticky precum over his thick shaft.
“Woman, you’re...going to make me...cum.” His growl was more than primal this time. It came from deep inside his being.
He leaned into her at an angle that wouldn’t obstruct her movements.
Jolene bit down on her lip.
He was nearly at the ledge of ecstasy and as much as she longed to go down on him and take him over the edge, she wanted to feel the breadth of him stretch her throbbing muscles and push inside her.
She pleasured him with her hand for a few seconds longer and then at the right moment she released him and pushed him away. “Condom. Now.”
Coming back from the edge of bliss, he blinked. It took a second to register the words she’d spoken. He nodded and reached for the nightstand.
Inside the drawer, she saw alongside the box of condoms a TV remote, a flashlight, a box of chocolate Junior mints and a switchblade. Norris was a man prepared for anything.
Holding the foiled wrapper between his teeth, he slammed the drawer closed. His Jeep keys fell to the floor with a jangle. Cursing at the delay, he scooped them up and tossed them into the drawer with his wallet before he ripped open the foil package and slipped the condom over his erection.
Matching his urgency, Jolene peeled off her bra and panties and tossed them on top of Norris’ clothing on the chair.
Norris turned; his erection jutted toward her. His gaze drifted over her body. “You are so damn beautiful.”
All the hours in the gym and the pain of overworked muscles were worth it, she thought, stepping toward him.
Norris gripped her by her waist and lifted her up and gently placed her on his bed. The sheets felt cool against her skin.
Then he walked near the foot of the bed and stood there admiring her. He reached out and, lifting her foot, kissed the inside of her ankle.
Jolene gasped and involuntarily lifted her bottom off the bed at the sensation of his lips on the sensitive skin. He was taking control again and she was more than willing to let him. So long as he gave her what she needed.
Slowly he placed butterfly kisses up her calf. She gripped the sheets, stealing herself against the pleasure.
When he stopped at her knee, she pleaded, “Don’t stop.”
“I have no intention of stopping.” He laid her foot down where her legs were spread wider apart. Then he did the same to the other foot and leg.
Her nerves sang as she waited for him to climb on top of her, but instead he only reached forward and flicked her clitoris. She cried out with pleasure. “More.”
“Patience. You must learn patience,” he answered without any urgency in his voice and for a second Jolene wished she had brought him to his knees before giving up control. He could’ve gotten her off with his tongue until his cock was ready for the next round. She had no doubt there would be more lovemaking in her immediate future.
“Fuck patience. I’ll work on my patience later. I want you inside me, now,” she growled.
His sly grin told her she wasn’t going to get what she wanted until he was ready. “Soon enough.”
Without pulling his gaze from hers, he rounded the bed and lowered his face to her nipple. He blew across the hard nub and she shuddered. Then before the sensation dispelled, he captured her nipple with his mouth. He made a meal of one and then the other while his hand drifted over her flat stomach.
Jolene arched up, wanting more of his mouth, tongue and fingers, and he obliged. He played her body like it was a cherished instrument, tweaking, stroking, nibbling until she thought she’d go out of her mind. When he sucked on her clit, she felt herself waver on the edge of bliss. When he pushed his fingers inside her the white wave crashed over her thoughts without warning. She shuddered against his hand and mouth and felt any power she possessed seep from body through her toes.
Before she fully recovered, he climbed between her legs and pushed inside her.
“Oh my! What the hell took you so long,” she cried out. She trailed her hands over the strong muscles of his back and then dug her nails into his tight buttocks, prompting him to probe deeper inside her. Jolene rode Norris until he cried out and shuddered to release.
Before their euphoria had subsided, Norris’ phone buzzed on the nightstand. Breathless he answered it: “Stiles.”
“Chief.” Jolene heard a bit of eagerness in Pickett’s voice. “You okay?”
“Yeah. You woke me.” He looked down at her and smiled.
“Sorry, but I didn’t think you’d want me to wait until you came in,” Pickett answered.
Frowning, Norris pushed off Jolene and sat on the edge of the bed. He scooped up the towel and placed it over his lap. “What’s up?”
“I think you better come into the station right away.”
Pickett sounded both excited and apprehensive.
“Are we really going to play a game?”
“It’s Mackey. He says he’s seen the girl, Lia.”
Jolene’s nails inched up his spine and then down again, causing him to shiver. Her soft hand cupped his ass and it took all his willpower not to throw the phone out into the sand dunes. All he wanted to do was hold her for the entire day with nothing on his mind but how he’d pleasure her next. However, he was the chief of police with a huge case. He had to follow up on every lead until they got a break. “Is he drunk?”
“Yes and no.”
Norris clenched his jaw. “What the hell do you mean? Come on. It’s a yes or no question.”
“He walked in here on his own. Straight as an arrow, but he’d had a few... You can smell it on his breath.” Pickett spoke in a rush, apparently sensing Norris was losing his patience. “He had tonight’s paper in his hand. He told me he had information about the girl.”
“He’s probably looking for the reward money so he can buy more booze,” Norris said. He admired Jolene’s breasts when she stretched. He chuckled quietly when she winked and nestled under the sheet. With her short hair ruffled and her lips plump from kissing him, she was a sex goddess.
“He says not, Chief. He doesn’t want a cent.”
Norris’ attention jumped back to Pickett. “What does he want?”
“Justice for someone in this world.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Jolene parked her SUV on the street instead of pulling into the driveway. She didn’t want to wake anyone in the Gomez household. At this time of year, by six a.m. the sun already erased any coolness the night had provided. Carrying her heels, Jolene quickly tiptoed across the warm blacktop and scurried into the backyard. If she was lucky, she could be in her pajamas before her parents rose, thus avoiding any questions about where she’d been all night. She couldn’t lie and say she went for an early morning run since she was wearing the same clothing she had on yesterday.
“Where have you been?” Martina gave Jolene the condemning walk-of-shame stare before she shoved the filled tray into the coffee pot and hit the on button.
“Shhh.” Stepping into the air conditioning and softly closing the slider door behind her, Jolene felt like the rebel she’d been at sixteen. “You’re home?”
“I got home about ten minutes ago,” Martina answered in a hushed tone.
Jolene listened for any sounds of stirring before responding. “Are Mom and Dad still here?”
“They’re sleeping in my bed.” Martina opened the cabinet next to the sink. “They’ll be up soon. Dad has a doctor’s appointment in Norfolk at eleven. His hip has been bothering him. Mom’s driving him over. Last night I told Mom and Dad I’d be back to take over this morning. They were going to reschedule Dad’s appointment but I insisted they didn’t.”
Guilt slivered into Jolene’s consciousness. She was so out of the loop when it came to what had been happening in her family. “I should’ve stayed to help them.”
Martina waved her off. “Please. They’re pros at handling my gang. They babysit whenever I
need them.”
Feeling like an outsider to the family circle, sadness made Jolene frown. It would take time, but somehow she would make her way back inside the close-knit family.
Her sister looked exhausted and the guilt stabbing Jolene’s gut intensified. While her sister was experiencing probably one of the most stressful nights of her life, she’d been having the best sex of her life with a handsome lawman.
“Well, I can help out today and you can get some sleep.” She crossed over and dropped her purse on the counter top.
“What about Lia’s case?”
“I can take a few hours. If anything breaks Stiles will call me. How’s Simon?” she asked quickly, pushing the chief out of her mind.
“He’s good. Better than they expected.” Martina pulled two mugs from the cabinet, set them next to the coffee pot and then faced Jolene and leaned against the counter. “Doing fine actually.”
Jolene chuckled quietly. “He pissed you off, didn’t he?”
Martina’s lips curled upward for a second before her lower teeth trapped her upper lip. Her dark lashes shimmered with unshed tears. “Yeah. And then he made me laugh.”
Martina had thought she might lose Simon. Seeing her sister’s problem, Jolene rounded the bar and wrapped her arms around her. Martina had always been there for her, even when Stefan had been killed. Her sister hadn’t known about Stefan, but she hadn’t been able to hide her grief when she’d come home for a few days after she...
Jolene had never told Martina anything about Stefan, other than his name and that she had loved him. Her sister hadn’t pried her for information. She had only offered Jolene comfort. Now it was her turn to console Martina.
“He’s okay. He’s a tough guy. And before long, he’ll be one-hundred percent again.”
“I know,” Martina mumbled against her shoulder.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the hospital,” Jolene whispered.
Martina’s breath was warm against her ear. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
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