by Angi Morgan
She hoped that the curtains were still closed or the ranger on the porch was going to get an eyeful.
* * *
JESSE CAUGHT AVERY’S chest to his as they left the kitchen. He protected her from the window, locked lips, then realized he’d frozen that way while walking around the corner and into her bedroom.
They broke apart and laughed when he set her on the bed. He tilted his head to the porch. “You’re going to have to keep the wildness down. Remember, there’s someone listening for trouble.”
Avery was wide-eyed innocent. He had no idea how much that “little experience” that she’d referred to actually meant.
“You know, I’m usually good with words, but around you it’s like there’s no connection to my brain.” He unbuttoned his shirt as she tugged the sheet loose from under the pillows. He had no intention of letting her cover up the perfection he was gazing upon. But he was also so dang nervous he didn’t know how to prevent it.
His mind was blank of ideas. He got to the last button and dropped his hands to his sides, totally in awe. That was what he should tell her.
“You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever known, Elf Face. Completely beautiful all the way through.” He leaned on the bed and feathered her hair away from her jade eyes.
He stretched out next to her, kissing every inch of skin he could reach. Gently pulling the sheet to the side, he lightly drew circles and skimmed her breasts with his fingertips.
“Jesse?” She tugged his shirt off. “Why in the world do you call me Elf Face?”
There was no rush as their hands explored the other. “Remember when you got your hair cut?” he whispered. “Your mom was having fits, but my mom said it fit your elfin-shaped face. I thought it was cool...at least at the time. I might have been into a couple of movies that had elves. I know the nickname irritates you.”
“No it doesn’t. I could never let you know, but I sort of liked it.”
His circles continued across her flat stomach to the top of her jeans. They were loose on her hips, enough that he could get the button through the hole one-handed.
“You sure about this?” He paused with his hand on the zipper pull.
“I swear, Jesse. If you stop...you won’t walk out of this room alive.”
Sexual frustration was something he was familiar with. He didn’t question what they were doing any longer. This was right for them both. He unzipped her jeans and she unzipped his, hesitating only a second with what was hiding behind the cloth.
He brushed his hands up her thighs to her hips.
Skin to skin. Finally. He’d been dreaming about this since they’d crept into the dorm after a late-night party. There had been something about that night. Something different in the way she’d looked at him all bright-eyed and ready.
The same way she was looking at him...right now.
“Well?” she whispered.
“I can’t stop looking.”
“But you’ve seen it before.” Her fingers searched for the edge of the sheet.
“No, ma’am.” He shoved the cover away from her. “I want to remember this. Broad daylight. No alcohol involved. And no regrets for either of us.”
“I can go with that.” She skimmed a fingernail on the outside of his thigh, mimicking in her own way.
Jesse stretched out next to her, loving that she matched him inch for inch. No one ever had. She was the only woman he’d ever looked at eye to eye when he was standing. The only woman he wanted.
Kissing her was something he should have been doing all his life. He shouldn’t have avoided their attraction. He shouldn’t have listened to Garrison all those years.
Part of the hesitation came because Avery was important to him. No second-guessing now. They had an instinct when they worked together. They meshed even when they were angry at each other.
The slow burn of kissing soon built into a wildfire of sampling every part of her. Touching her brought her to life. He loved seeing how skimming her skin sent shivers throughout her. Kissing her skin and tasting her made his blood run hot.
Intimacy with her was taking him to a new level of sensuality. He didn’t want to rush, but waiting was infinitely painful.
“I swear, Jesse, I’m as flammable as I was days ago. Dammit, do something.” Her nails dug into his arms.
He reached for the nightstand. The first night he was here, he’d seen the condoms. A small discreet unopened box shoved in the back.
“What are you grinning at?” she asked when he paused.
“The box is open.”
“Would you do whatever you need to do and get this over with?”
“Believe me, Elf Face, this isn’t going to be over for a long while. No matter how much I want it to be. I’m going to make certain of that.”
Powerful and concentrated. That was how he would describe the way Avery watched him. But before he could move to join her, she took him in her hands.
He could die right there in her bed. Maybe he did a little. He shuddered with her gentle caress and almost made a fool of himself. He’d had no idea that her feeling the weight of him would be his undoing. If he was going to make good on...
He slid the condom into place with shaking hands. Caught himself breathing deeply in an effort to slow his blood. This was Avery. His Avery. She might think that she wanted quick until he showed her slow. Their lips met for a second or two and then he kissed her jawline, up to her ear and then down the column of her neck. She was trying to tug him on top of her, using those long legs to lock her ankles behind his back.
Jesse found Avery’s wrists and, in one motion, pinned them to the bed above her head. “There’s no rush, babe. We’ve got nowhere to go.”
Avery bucked underneath him. “Please, Jesse, no more waiting.”
His lips skated to the pulse beating at the base of her throat and continued down her rib cage. It was difficult to stay focused when Avery was hell-bent on fast and furious. Her hips thrust upward, trying to make contact with his.
He wanted to touch her breasts but couldn’t trust her to keep her hands to herself. “Jess—ee.” She said his name on a groan as his lips grazed her nipple.
He loved hearing the catch in her voice. Loved knowing that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He licked one nipple before gliding his tongue across her chest to taste the other one. Her legs loosened from around his waist.
“I need to touch you,” she said. “Not fair.”
He nearly laughed, but knew it would break his concentration. If he thought too much about how he could have taken her, could have satisfied both their needs in less than two minutes, he’d already be inside her.
But this wasn’t just sex. This was his chance to explore every inch of her body knowing she wanted him just as badly. Her chest arched against his lips and he released her hands. Wanted to feel her touch against his skin.
Wanted her. Now. “Avery.” Her name felt like a prayer and he wasn’t sure if he was saying it out loud or only in his head. He found her lips, kissed her as her hands gripped his arms.
He entered slowly and made her completely his. They quickened their pace with even strokes. None of their past would get in their way. Her hands gripped his arms as their bodies became one. Their bodies burned, climbed and met thrust for thrust. She wrapped her legs around his, opening to him, keeping him meshed with her.
With a few frenzied moments, they both cried out in fulfillment. Shuddering for real, he made a connection he’d never had. One that Avery might not understand.
The woman, the girl, the best friend, the partner-in-crime... She was his lifeblood. His for keeps. He loved her with his heart, body and soul.
Convincing her, on the other hand, was going to take careful planning. Or maybe for once he shouldn’t censor himself, because it never seemed t
o work with her anyway.
Chapter Twenty
Avery flung her arms wide, one falling on Jesse’s chest, patting him with the back of her hand. Totally, 100 percent exhaustingly satisfied...that was her.
“Oh. Wow.” She had never experienced anything so complete. “That was better than amazing.”
Who cared if she inflated his big ego? It didn’t really matter. The truth was the truth. “I think I’m going to regret every minute we spent not doing this while we were stuck inside this house. Wow.”
Avery finally caught her breath and propped herself up on one elbow. Jesse remained flat on his back, his chest still visibly rising and falling. She drew circles in a perfect amount of chest hair and fell silent. She’d been the only one talking. He hadn’t mentioned anything about it being the best sex he’d had.
Or how good she was.
Looking at him, at the sheer power she’d felt with each thrust of his hips, she wanted him all over again. Then the awkward “after” moment began. She rolled to her back, reaching for the sheet to cover her nakedness. And maybe his if she could manage it.
His arm crossed over her body, stopping her from moving.
“You taste like sweet tea,” he finally said.
“That’s because you spilled it all over us with the first kiss in the kitchen.” That was all he could say?
Here she was, sharing from her heart about how wonderful he was as a lover, and he wanted to talk about the tea on her skin? He laced his fingers through hers, then pulled their hands to his chest.
“I love you.”
“Is that normal pillow talk? It’s really not necessary if you want to do this again.” Did he think she needed to hear that to feel better about herself or them together? She didn’t.
If the words had been true, he would have picked a better time to let her know. Or even looked at her when he told her.
“I thought—”
“Stop thinking.” She moved her lips to his chest. “You taste a bit like tea, too.”
She’d ignore this lie. It was probably just the heat of the moment. Something he thought she needed to hear. Jesse was just like every other guy. So what? They were still stuck here together and should enjoy the time.
“Avery, I—”
This time she raised a finger to stop his words. She was a grown woman and didn’t need them. “Shh. There’s only one thing I need to know. How soon can we do this again?”
* * *
THE FLOOR WAS clean from the tea and broken glass. So was her skin after a long shower. Jesse seemed sort of quiet, though...even for him. They’d made love again. She’d imagined feeling this way.
Life had a strange way of making things happen. She and Jesse had been so close all these years. She’d been head over heels for him on so many occasions that she’d let other guys and opportunities pass her by.
Now this.
She was putting the mop away and heard banging on the door. Before she could run to the front, Jesse answered wrapped in a towel from his shower.
“What now?”
Kayden handed him a phone. “Major Parker’s been trying to reach you.”
The phone was up to his ear. He stood in the open door for all her neighbors to see his bare-chested glory. Not to mention the look on Kayden’s face that said he was slightly embarrassed.
Thin walls.
“I got it. We’ll leave immediately.” Jesse returned the phone, acknowledged Kayden with a nod and shut the door. “Ready to get out of this town?”
“They’re going with our plan?”
“Sounds like it. There’s a plane waiting to take us to Fort Worth as soon as possible.” He didn’t look at her.
In fact, he frowned, covered his eyes with his free hand—the hand that wasn’t wrapped in the edge of the towel, keeping it in place. Was he worried about her seeing something? Hadn’t they—
“Avery, about what I said earlier.”
“Don’t think a thing about it. I didn’t take you seriously, so we’re good. Really. Don’t waste any more time on it.”
Jesse shook his head. “I need to get dressed.”
Had she said something wrong? What was bothering him? She’d forgiven that he’d spoken honestly about their relationship before he became a ranger. She’d forgiven that he’d misspoken in the heat of passion.
She wanted to play it cool. She didn’t expect anything from him.
“Are you upset because you broke your word to Garrison? I promise I’m not ever going to tell him.” She raised her voice a little so she could be heard through the door.
His reply was several curse words at himself. Not her...definitely himself.
“I have no idea what to do.” She wasn’t certain he’d heard her or not. She walked away to sit on the arm of the couch. Her bag was packed. Things were put away.
The little house was perfect for her. Her life in Dalhart was good. Without Jesse living here with her, it would feel big here again. And lonely. But she’d manage.
Jesse was dressed this time and clean shaven. There was a nick on his chin where he’d cut himself. Probably the source of his four-letter-word vocabulary. He grabbed his bag and the files, pausing at the door.
“You really bringing your dad’s shotgun?”
“You can transport it on the plane. Right? I’d really like it there.” If the State’s Attorney’s Office had approved the plan to try to trap Snake Eyes, she was a much better shot with her daddy by her side.
“That’s not a problem.” Another simple nod to Wyatt and Kayden and they were on both sides escorting her to the car. Then they were the armed escorts on the drive to Amarillo.
After their afternoon, Avery was full of energy—exhausted, good energy. Why was it so different for Jesse? He put his hat over his eyes and pretended to sleep for the hour to Amarillo.
There was no way he’d stay asleep without relaxing a little. She’d witnessed it over and over during the past week. Nap-time features were totally different than the closed-off, tightly wound man next to her.
The newly topped road was smooth and steady. She made notes of things that could go wrong. Possible scenarios. The one thing that would help would be to know the location of the safe house. Then variables would be limited and she could present a finalized plan.
They arrived at a private hangar. Jesse even yawned a couple of times for show. Smile. Please. She wanted him to confess what was wrong. If he withdrew like this every time after seeing her naked, she was going to end up with a complex.
Calling on the fact that they were lifelong friends, she decided to speak to him before they boarded. “Stick out your tongue.”
“What?” He looked at her almost as strangely as after getting the call from Parker.
“Just do it.”
He hesitatingly obeyed.
“Dab your finger and wipe the dried blood from your shaving nick.”
He obeyed. “Why didn’t you just say that to begin with?”
“You’re welcome. Now are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.” They leaned on the car, waiting for the crew to tell them to board. “Drop it, Avery. You want to talk about Dalhart, your job, the long drive to nowhere... I can accommodate those subjects. But right now everything else is off-limits. Do you understand?”
“Of course. I understand English. I also understand that we’re not supposed to talk about particular plans in a public venue or even on this private plane. I get it. What I don’t understand is how you went from a very cool friend with benefits to a complete a—”
“Good evening and thanks for flying with us.”
The flight attendant had interrupted her at an appropriate time. They sat. They belted up. They took off and landed in silence.
&n
bsp; * * *
JESSE’S THOUGHTS SHOULD be occupied with their plan. Details, how to act, potential pitfalls. But no. He was staring at the woman across the table from him. In a room with some of the best law enforcement in the state—he could hardly hear them.
One hand mindlessly spun a ballpoint pen on the oak table. The other propped up his head, sort of like being exhausted from a long stakeout. Neither was true.
Maybe the answer was a very exasperating woman.
“Have we had any luck tracking down a mailing address for the contacts?”
“We have our people looking, but it’s a long shot. Some of the companies are overseas. The field is so wide. We can’t even narrow it down to one state,” Avery said.
They had been invited to participate in a planning session. A secret meeting in Fort Worth in some law offices he’d never heard of—a friend of one of the men barking out orders. Jesse half listened, slumped enough in his chair that he looked like an uncaring slouch.
He knew this was a time he should be impressive with knowledge and skill. If he hadn’t known it when they walked into this conference room, the darting glares from Avery were stressing that he appeared like a kid who didn’t want to be in church.
The chatter at the front of the room became more and more about the traditional way to fend off an attack on witnesses. Escorts. Routes. Secrecy. Limited resources.
“The hell with this.” The pen bounced across the wide table right into Avery’s breakfast roll.
“Do you have something to say, Ryder?” the lead prosecuting attorney asked.
“It might get me kicked out of this room, but this isn’t the plan I was told we’d be executing. You’re asking Avery—Deputy Travis—to put her life at risk again for—”
“Hold on, Jesse. You don’t speak for me.” She spoke on top of him, even after his own glare at her to keep quiet.
“—for nothing. We’ve already been toe-to-toe with this bastard. Don’t you think we know a thing or two? You had a profiler look at some pictures. I gave Snake Eyes a bloody nose and stabbed him with a rake.” He pushed the rolling chair a little too hard when clearing the table to stand.
