“So you’ll be OK?” Jim asked.
“Oh, sure.” She gave him a quick smile. “Thank you, Jim. For everything.”
“It was no problem.” He picked up his backpack and hauled it over his broad shoulder. “You need anything, you let me know, OK?”
Kat nodded. He went to the door, turned the handle.
“Wait.” She didn’t recognize the voice that came out of her: it was small and tentative. Almost afraid.
Jim turned, surprised. “What?”
“Wait.”
He shut the door again. “Why?”
“Please don’t go.”
Jim froze. He was immediately thrown back to that day with the guys, when he’d stood right where Kat was now. He’d been the one begging her not to go, and it had been her seconds away from walking out the door forever. Jim remembered exactly what he’d been thinking and feeling at that moment – he knew that if she left, his heart would be broken.
So what’s she thinking right now?
“Why not?” he asked, echoing the words she’d spoken that day.
“Because,” she said, then faltered before finding her courage again. “Because if you do, we’ll just go back to our lives, and I’ll never again have the chance to tell you how I feel about you.”
He set down his bag, watching her carefully. “How do you feel about me?”
“I – I…” She fell silent. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Come over here, Kat.”
Her feet felt like concrete blocks, but she walked over to him. He stood there, so big and gorgeous, all bulging muscles and hard edges, and her stomach clenched up tight at the heat in his eyes.
“Now,” he said softly. “How do you really feel about me?”
Kat looked up at his face, saw the tension in it, and she wished hard for the right words. But she’d never been good at saying what she felt, or thought, or meant. Whenever she had to talk, she just fucked everything up.
I don’t want to fuck this up.
Without giving herself a chance to think about what she was doing, she reached up, pulled his face down to hers, pressed her lips to his. He inhaled sharply, then he pulled her tight and close, kissing her hard. Right away, she melted, her whole body going limp and almost boneless at his touch.
Jim kissed her again and again, forcing himself to stay in control. She was so small against him, so soft, and he was terrified of breaking her or scaring her. But holy fuck, did it feel good to kiss her, to taste her.
I want her. I want all of her.
“Jim,” she moaned. “Please don’t go…”
“No way, baby.” He held her face in both of his hands, his thumbs tracing the curve of her perfect lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He spun her now, pushed her up against the wall next to the door. His arms were raised above her, his hands flat on the wall, and he lowered his head to kiss her, slow and hot. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he almost groaned to feel those hands on him.
“Kat,” he said against her mouth, his voice hoarse with want. “I need you.”
“I need you, too,” she breathed. “Do you have anything?”
It took him a second to think about it, then he remembered. “Yeah. In my wallet.”
“Get it. I want you inside me.”
“Oh, God.” He fumbled and dropped his wallet and she giggled as he knelt down to retrieve it. He looked up at her, a smile crossing his face. “I’m smooth, huh?”
“You’re amazing.”
His heart stopped at her words, and he felt a wave of tenderness just wash over him. Nobody had ever told him that, not in the whole of his life, and he was moved, touched, stunned by her simple openness. He believed what she said, without question, and he was grateful that she’d said it.
Jim stood up and set the condom on the small table next to the door. She pulled his t-shirt up and over his head and gasped at the sight of his chest. She thought her knees might give out with lust.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said in wonder, her fingers running over his muscles. “Just – just perfect.”
His eyes turned pure gold at her touch, and he fought to keep his hands on the wall above her. He let her explore his body, kiss her way across his chest, rub the tattooed muscles in his arms, trace the hard curves of his stomach. Her fingers drifted lower, stopped at the snap of his jeans.
“OK?” she said.
“Oh, yeah, sweetheart.” He ghosted a kiss on her forehead, breathing in her scent. “So OK.”
Kat undid his jeans, pulled them down his legs. Now she knelt in front of him, helping him to kick off his boots and yank the denim down and off. She stood up again, gently stroking him through the material of his boxers. Jim sucked in a breath and closed his eyes, loving the feel of her slim fingers on his hardness.
She took her time, letting herself get comfortable with his body, its strength and size. Despite not having been with anyone since she’d left Foxburg Falls, she felt no fear at all now. She knew that Jim wasn’t that asshole who’d raped and beaten her, and she trusted him. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her; not for the world.
He seemed to be thinking the same thing. He opened his eyes, lifted her chin to meet his intense stare.
“You OK?”
Kat nodded.
“You haven’t done this for a while, have you? Not since – since him?”
“No. Not since him.”
He kissed her. “I’ll be gentle, baby. Slow. Careful. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I know.”
“And we stop if you say so. You hear me? You just ask. I’ll do anything you say.”
Her eyebrow lifted. “Anything?”
“Yeah.” He grinned down at her, catching her playful mood. “Anything.”
“Well,” she said. “You did say that you take direction well.”
“I do. You want me to do something for you?”
“Hmmmmm.” She blinked up at him. “Maybe you can take off my shirt?”
“I’d be delighted to.”
“Go on, then.”
His rough hands worked their way under her t-shirt, caressing her skin as he tugged it up. When he saw her breasts in the simple white bra, his eyes darkened, turned almost amber. Slowly, watching her eyes, he lowered his head to her chest, kissing, nibbling, licking. She stood, trembling and trying to remember to breathe, as Jim blazed a trail of heat over her skin. When he pulled down the cups and sucked her nipples, she gave a small cry.
He looked at her. “Kat? You OK?”
“Don’t stop… please, Jim.”
“Oh, baby.” He pressed her breasts together, gave them another slow, wet kiss. “We’re just getting started.”
He unhooked her bra and she let it fall to the floor, not giving a damn about anything except being naked with this gorgeous man. Jim ran his hands down her body and stopped at her waist. They stared at each other now, the unspoken question hanging between them.
“Yes,” she said.
He almost growled in response, his fingers unsnapping and unzipping, pulling her jeans down and off. And there she was, so curvy and creamy, flushed and hot, up against the wall. Jim’s cock strained towards her, desperate to be inside this amazing woman.
Her fingers shook as they slid under the waistband of his boxers and he smiled at her. “Whatever you want, Kat. No more than that, and you can stop this any time.”
“I don’t want to stop.” She lowered his boxers. “I want it all.”
He lowered his forehead to hers, gasping as she stroked him, up and down, around the head, back to the shaft. Her touch was sweet and sexy, and it took everything he had to not come within seconds. Jim pulled back a bit.
“Let me see you, baby. Let me touch you.”
Kat nodded. Her breath caught as he pulled
down her panties and knelt in front of her, those incredible eyes level with her pussy. His fingers touched her knees, moved up slowly. He touched the inside of her thighs, paused where they met at her pulsing, throbbing centre. He looked up at her again.
“Kat? Is this OK?”
“Yes.” She clutched his shoulders as his hands slid up another inch, another two. “Please… touch me.”
“You’re certainly clear when you give direction,” he murmured. “Makes things much easier for me.”
Jim stroked her lower lips, and she arched in to his touch with a moan. He traced her slit slowly, feeling her heat and wetness rush out to meet his fingers. Never in his life had he known a woman so hungry, so starved for touch. Kat was soaked and primed from the smallest contact, and the musky scent of her arousal filled his senses.
“Can I?” he said. “With my mouth?”
“Oh,” she gasped as her pussy opened even more to his fingers. “Oh, God. Yes.”
Jim brushed his fingers over her again, and Kat twisted in pleasure, her back pushing in to the cool wall. He held her green eyes as he leaned forward, parting her lips, his tongue just skimming her wet heat. She stopped breathing, every nerve in her body tensed in anticipation.
Kiss me, Jim. Oh, God. Kiss me.
Her hands tightened in his hair, and he heard her silent plea. Jim closed his eyes and settled his whole mouth on her, his tongue moving on her clit, slow and gentle. He rolled the hard bud between his lips, teasing and loving it, then licked her full length, lapping at her sweet moisture, greedy and wanting more. He was down on his knees in front of her, worshipping her, cherishing her, and she knew it. She felt it.
His tongue moved inside her now, thrusting in and out, and Kat gave a cry of want, of need. Jim looked up at her.
“How do you want to come, baby?” His voice was guttural, his finger slipping inside her, stroking her slick channel. “Tell me what you want.”
“Inside me,” she panted. “I want you inside me.”
He got to his feet, cradled her face in his hands. “I’m going to make this good for you, Kat. I promise.”
“I know.” She kissed him, running her tongue along her lower lip. “I trust you.”
He rolled on the condom and then in one strong movement, he lifted her. Without a second of thought, she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around her neck, her back pressed hard against the wall. Holding her gaze, Jim rubbed his cock against her entrance, his other hand under her ass, holding her steady.
“I’m coming in now,” he said. “Slow and easy… you tell me if it hurts, OK?”
She nodded. He slid inside, no more than an inch, and she froze. That stopped him, and he kissed her closed eyelids.
“Kat? You with me?”
Her eyes opened now, and he stared at the heat and desire shining out of them. “Yes. More… I want more.”
He grinned. “More I can do.”
Kat groaned as he moved deeper, stretching her in the most delicious way. He was so hot, so hard, and her insides burned and ached as he slid in further, closer. He kept pressing until he was all the way inside her quivering body, then he paused, giving her time to get used to the sensation of being so filled, so taken. He held her carefully, his large hands supporting her as she fought to calm her breathing.
Jim kissed her, loving being so close to her. Her whole body was shaking, and she was warm and soft under his hands. When she started to move on him, he groaned aloud. Kat rode him slowly, and he let her take the lead, knowing that she was still relaxing in to his body, his size. When she started to speed up, he pulled back and out, then thrust in to meet her downward stroke. Her eyes widened, and he did it again.
“Jim…”
“I’ve got you, honey. Let me take control now… let me take you there.”
He started to plunge inside her, gently, then more roughly as her hips rose and fell in rhythm with his. Kat watched his face, loving how good it felt to love this strong, tender man with her body. She felt her muscles tensing and releasing on him, a wave of pleasure starting to swell, and she gave a low moan.
“I’m close… I’m so close.” Her pussy throbbed, and she gasped. “I’m almost there…”
“Oh, God.” His eyes squeezed shut as she started to tighten on him, and he struggled to hold off until she came. “Kat, you’re so beautiful. You feel so damn good.”
She pulled his face down to hers, kissed him. Then she drew back, not more than an inch, and whispered against his mouth, “Beth.”
Stunned, Jim leaned back to see her face. She was crying now, but these weren’t tears of pain or fear; they weren’t even tears of sadness. They were more like a baptism.
His fingers trembled as he gently touched her lips. “Beth.”
Hearing her name spoken in his husky voice, feeling it flutter across her cheek on his breath: Beth had never expected these things to happen. She smiled at him, and his heart almost split in two with love for her.
She’s just given me everything.
Jim kissed her, then started to move again, more deliberately. She cried out as he made love to her hard, slow, deep. He took total control of her body, making sure she felt every inch of him. Her head fell back and rested against the wall, her fingers dug in to his thickly-muscled shoulders.
“Come for me, Beth,” he said, his voice dark. “Come hard, baby.”
At his words, the coiled tension deep inside her started to unravel. Her body was reaching, straining, fighting to release the taut, agonizing need. Her climax approached fast and huge, rising and growing with his every plunge, and she couldn’t do anything except feel Jim in her, all around her.
He felt her whole body trembling, right there on the brink of orgasm, and he drove in to Beth harder, pushing her mercilessly closer and closer to completion. She went over now, screaming and convulsing around him, and he let himself follow her over the edge of bliss. She heard his groans, felt his massive body shudder against hers as he started to come. And when Jim finally released deep inside her, he lost the ability to breathe: he felt dizzy from pleasure.
From her.
Dimly, Beth was aware that Jim had dropped his head to her shoulder, and his harsh breathing was hot against her throat. His one hand was braced on the wall, keeping him from collapsing to his knees, the other arm curved under her ass, holding her up. She stirred and started to unhook her legs from his waist so he could set her down and relax.
His fingers tightened on her hip and he held her in place. “Don’t move,” he whispered. “I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”
She smiled and cuddled in close again. “OK.”
They stayed like that for a few minutes, their heartbeats slowing down. Beth had never felt so safe in her life, so protected and encircled by love. She sighed deeply, wishing she could stay right where she was forever.
When he felt like he could walk without bringing them both crashing to the ground, Jim carefully moved away from the wall. Still deep inside her sweet body, he carried Beth to her bedroom, and he sat on the edge of the bed. She held him closer, and he ran his fingers through her hair before finally pulling out of her, hating to leave her heat.
“Tell me how you’re doing,” he said quietly.
“I’m – happy.” She smiled up at him. “You make me happy.”
Jim touched her cheek, marveling at her. “Beth… my God, it’s so good to meet you properly.”
She started to laugh from relief and joy, then all of a sudden, her laughter changed; to her surprise, it turned to sobs. She panicked, trying to stop her crying, but she just couldn’t. She was feeling so many things all at once, and she wasn’t able to hold them back any longer.
Jim held her tightly. “Shhhhh, baby. I’ve got you, you’re OK now.”
“I – I don’t want to cry,” she said, her voice breaking. “I don’t know
what’s going on. I’m not upset…”
“I know. Just let it go… you need to let it all go, Beth.”
And there in Jim’s arms, she finally did.
**
Beth was curled up against Jim, her head on his chest. She was relaxed and drowsy, but she was fighting going to sleep: he felt too good to want to leave just yet. He stroked her back and she glanced up at him.
“You doing OK there, Beth Harper?” he asked.
“Better than OK. I’m great.”
Those golden eyes gazed at her, warm and soft. “You want me to stay tonight?”
“I want you to stay every night.” Beth ran her fingers over his powerful upper body. “And I don’t mean on the sofa-bed. You never have to stay out there again.”
“Thank Christ for that,” he said. “That thing damn near brought me to my knees in agony.” His eyes flared. “Unlike you, baby, who brought me to my knees for a different reason altogether.”
Her breath caught. He saw her response and slowly, he pulled her up to his mouth. Beth moaned softly as he kissed her, and Jim grinned against her lips.
“I thought you were sleepy,” he teased.
“I was.” She gasped as his hand traveled down the curve of her stomach and started to stroke between her legs. “But now I’m not.”
“No?”
“No.”
Beth finally crashed in to sleep two hours and three orgasms later. Jim held her close, watching her beautiful face and listening to her calm breathing, before surrendering himself.
She’s really going to stay here, with me. My God… I can keep her, safe and close.
Chapter Twelve
For Beth and Jim, May passed in a blur of hot pleasure and sweet moments. She didn’t know what she liked better: coffee with Jim in her living room every morning, or making love to him in her bed every night. Jim knew what he liked best, though: he loved waking up at dawn and holding her as she slept, knowing that she was safe and close.
Nobody is going to hurt this woman again. Not ever, not if I can help it.
When they told their friends about their relationship, the reaction was a combination of non-surprise and delight. The girls thought that Beth was one hell of a lucky woman – they knew, after all, just how great this group of guys was, in every sense of the word. On the first night that she met them for wine and a chat, they talked and laughed until two o’clock in the morning, exclaiming at how their lives had changed since the men had suddenly appeared in them, all tattooed muscles and ferocious stares.
Enemy From The Past (Unseen Enemy Book 4) Page 12
