by Pepper North
Ember stared up at him. Struggling to find the right thing to say, she just wanted him to touch her again. She tugged her hands against his grip and reveled in his control. She could feel her panties dampening and squeezed her thighs together. Finally when he continued to look at her as if waiting for a response to his question, she searched her befuddled mind and gasped, “Yes!”
“Good girl. Thank you for showing me what you like. I think you might like this as well. Let’s see what you think.” Again, Jax lowered his mouth to her shoulder to kiss her. This time, he followed his heated kiss by gripping that sensitive spot between his teeth and biting down firmly.
The mixture of pain flaring through the pleasure forced an immediate response from her lips as she moaned loudly into the quiet room. Instantly, Ember was embarrassed by her lack of control as he lifted his head to look at her. Looking away, she bit her lip to silence those desperate sounds as she tugged her wrists against his grip. She wanted to touch him more than anything. She needed to touch him.
“Never hide your responses from me, baby.” One finger traced her lower lip, focusing her attention on his actions. “I need to hear your sweet sounds.”
Meeting his gaze, she swallowed hard at the heated desire reflected in his green eyes. Ember nodded eagerly and chased his fingers with her mouth, trying to nip at his fingertips. His laughter drew her attention back to his face. Those eyes that revealed the level of his arousal were darker than she’d ever seen them. Reassured that he was as into their intimate explorations as she was, Ember dared to ask, “Please! Touch me, Jax.”
“Yes, baby. I need your touch, too. Let’s get rid of this pretty bra. I want to taste your nipples.”
The visual image of his head bent over her brought an instant reply. “Jax, please!”
He released her hands to trace fingertips down the underside of one arm and over her ribs. Rolling them slightly onto their sides, he reached a hand around her body to unhook her bra. His fingers trailed over the imprint of the band on her skin, sending tendrils of sensations in their wake. Reaching the swell of her breast, he slid his hand under the support cup of her bra to wrap around her delicate flesh.
“You fit perfectly in my hand, baby. Like you were made just for me.”
When she shrugged her shoulders to rid herself of the straps, Jax corrected her, “Tsk, tsk, baby. Daddy is in charge.”
“Daddy?” she echoed, searching his face.
“You will call me Daddy when you’re ready, baby. There’s no rush. You’ll know when it’s right for you,” he soothed. “Let me take care of you.” Jax moved to glide her strap down her arm and slowly tugged the bra from her body.
Ember could feel her nipples contract desperately under his watchful gaze. When he dropped the lacy garment over the side of the narrow bed without taking his eyes from her body, she arched her upper back to present herself to him. Her eyes drooped closed as his mouth lowered to her taut nipples. He treated her to an array of caresses: slow laps of his tongue followed by a sharp nip of his teeth, a gentle draw of his lips around the peak contrasted with a strong sucking sensation.
Not knowing what was going to follow, each caress escalated her desire. She was wetter and more turned on than ever before. Ember pressed her pelvis against his hard form. “Please, Jax. I need you,” she pleaded.
His mouth captured her in a blistering kiss. Rewarding her desire, Jax showed her just how much he wanted her. “No rushing, baby. Let’s get this pretty skirt off you. I want to see all of you.” His fingers hooked into her waistband and dragged the elastic over her hips. He sat up to pull it over her feet.
In a quiet display of his strength, Jax dragged her to lie flat on her back in the center of the narrow mattress. As Ember tried to memorize the view of his body displayed before her, Jax moved to kneel between her thighs. He hooked his fingers under the lacy sides of her panties. “I owe you a pair of panties, baby.”
Before she could react to his words, Jax ripped the delicate fabric from her body. He gathered the thin material in his hand. “So wet, baby.” Lifting his hand to his nose, Jax inhaled her sweet scent. “Mmm!”
Ember curled forward to reach for him. “Please, Jax. Make love to me.”
“I want to taste you so bad, baby. Next time. I need to be inside you now.”
“Please!” Her hands ran over his broad shoulders and down his muscular arms.
“Lie back, baby.”
As she sank back against the mattress, he followed her until his body loomed over her. Ember stroked his hard muscles, following the ridges and appreciating the strength contained in his form. She’d never been with anyone in as prime shape as Jax was. His body was simply a well-honed machine. Clinging to his body as he leaned past her, Ember relaxed as she watched Jax open the nightstand and withdraw a small packet. He’s protecting me without even asking.
“Thank you, Jax,” she whispered.
Just as if he were privy to her thoughts, Jax seemed to know the reason behind her words. “I’m always going to take care of you, baby. You don’t realize it yet, but you’re mine.” Bending his arms, he lowered his mouth to hers in a tender kiss. Hovering close, he asked quietly, “Are you ready to be mine?”
“Yes, Jax. Make love to me,” she urged before leaning up to press her lips against his in a kiss filled with need and desire. Her tongue swept into his mouth to twist and twirl around his as she savored Jax’s unique taste, etching it into her mind forever. She never wanted to forget this.
With a roar of desire, Jax sat up and ripped the packet open. Guiding the condom over his thick shaft, Jax kept his eyes on her, his gaze roaming over her body until Ember felt claimed by this elite soldier. His hand lifted from his erection to glide over her slightly rounded abdomen and down over her pubic hair. He tugged slightly and the hint of pain drew a moan from her lips.
Eagerly Ember widened her thighs, inviting his touch. As his fingers traced the line between her lips, she watched his face, hoping to please him. To her delight, he lifted one hand to lick his fingertips, dripping with her abundant juices.
“Mmm,” he complimented. “So delicious. Just as I expected. My sweet little girl.” Lowering his hand back to her, Jax traced through her pink folds. He circled her entrance with his fingertip before moving his light touch to her clitoris. Brushing over that tight bud, Jax coaxed her responses higher.
When her hips lifted to meet his caresses, Jax grasped his shaft and pressed the thick head into her body. Prowling over her, he held himself in place before thrusting forward in a deliberate, slow pace to fill her. When Ember lifted her hips to hurry his possession, Jax slid a hand under her bottom to support her. “Wrap your legs around me, baby. Let me inside,” he coaxed.
As soon as her legs intertwined around his waist to support her weight, his hand released its hold and swatted her sharply. Ember contracted her muscles in surprise. Lifting up, she impaled herself on his thick cock. “Ahhh!” she cried, feeling fuller than ever before. Jax filled her tight channel completely. Her eyes became unfocused as the sensations bombarded her.
Taking his time, Jax moved deliberately within her. Pulling himself out until only the tip of his penis remained inside her, the disciplined man pressed forward to stretch her body. With each stroke, he glided a bit further inside. Her body opened to his sensuous invasion.
Unable to remain still, Ember moved. Lifting to meet each stroke, she rubbed her clitoris against him. Tingles gathered between her legs. She’d never felt like this with a man before. Her previous orgasms had resulted only from using her vibrator or her fingers. Now, experiencing this with Jax, she was eager to reach her climax with him. When the pleasure lurked just out of her reach, Ember exhaled in frustration. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders.
“Relax, baby. There’s no hurry. Just feel.” His hips pressed forward and rubbed against her body. As he withdrew, Jax’s fingers traced through her pink folds to brush over that responsive bundle of nerves. At her quick inhale of breath, he squ
eezed her clit in a brief tweak before releasing it. When her hips bucked against him, Jax repeated the action. Just as he was almost fully seated within her again, he pinched her one more time. This time that almost painful touch combined with the stretch of her body.
“Ahhh!” Ember cried as she contracted around him. She lunged upward to capture his mouth in a desperate kiss. As her lips dropped away from their fiery kiss, she searched his face. He watched her intently. Face etched with hunger, Jax focused on her. Mind-blown by their connection during sex, she felt closer to him than anyone before. Enjoying the pleasure, Ember knew it bonded them intimately together.
“Again, baby. Let’s get you there, again.” That growling voice revealed his passion.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and tugged slightly. “If you insist,” she whispered daringly, hoping that she could feel the powerful climax again. It was like he had given her a highly addictive drug. She needed more Jax.
“Minx!” he groaned and moved. His thrusts gained speed and force, driving a reaction from her. Where she had helped direct his movements to those spots that drove her crazy before, Jax stroked there automatically. Teasing her with short, slow glides before thrilling Ember with long, hard thrusts, Jax kept her focused on the sensation of their bodies moving together.
Even through the thin condom, she could feel his throbbing heat. Jax concentrated on her. She loved knowing that she had invoked this passion in him. A sense of feminine power hovered in the back of her mind, only overwhelmed by the approaching tingle of gathering pleasure.
“Jax, please. I’m almost there,” she begged, beyond self-consciousness. It was just the two of them, here in this narrow bed. Nothing else existed.
His movements increased. “Come, baby. I want to feel you tighten around my cock,” Jax demanded. He leaned down to trap one beaded nipple in his mouth as his hips erotically pumped into her. Those white teeth nipped at her taut peak.
“Ahh!” she shouted into the room as an orgasm seized her body, clamping around his thick shaft.
“Baby!” He leaned forward to capture her willing lips. Their kiss, hot and urgent, contained all the passion flowing through them. When he slumped forward onto his forearms, their bodies pressed together completely. Always considerate of her, Jax supported most of his weight.
Pinned happily under him, Ember caressed his heated skin. How had this man just appeared in her life? He was unlike anyone she’d ever encountered. When she met his gaze, the breath froze in her throat. He looked at her as no one ever had before—hot and adoring. A shiver went through her body in reaction to his unguarded expression. She knew without reservation that she meant something to him as well.
Stretching up, Ember lightly pressed her mouth against his. Tender and sweet, their kiss nurtured the budding feelings that already blossomed between them. Jax shifted to the side and pulled her body close to his, their lips tasting and touching softly as he rotated them. She lamented the loss of their connection as their bodies parted, but Jax soothed her, “Shhh, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
Cuddled against his chest, Ember wrapped an arm around his neck. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“I love having someone to come back to at the end of a mission. You know I’m never letting you go now,” he warned, leaning back to watch her reaction.
“Okay.”
“Okay, huh? Nothing else? You won’t run away?”
“I’m not running away, Jax.”
“Thank you, baby.” They lay together quietly, savoring being in each other’s arms. The churning thoughts that had tortured Ember were quiet. She clung to him, wanting to stay in his arms forever.
When his stomach growled ferociously, Ember pushed away from his hard body to look at him in concern. “You’re starving! How long has it been since you ate?”
“Too long. Let me make a sandwich and we’ll head to the party and chow down there,” Jax suggested, rolling to his feet and reaching a hand down to pull her up.
“You’re going to eat before we go to the party?”
“Yes. If I don’t eat something, I’ll nibble on you on the way,” he teased. “Don’t worry. There will be lots of food and I’ll eat again.”
“You’re going to eat before we go to the party to eat?” She revised her previous question slightly.
“And I’m going to stick the wings I made earlier in the microwave to thaw. Texas won’t let me in without those wings,” he joked. “Go shower. I don’t trust myself with you if we clean up together.” He waved a hand over his growing erection.
Ember’s face heated immediately. The warmth intensified when he laughed that low, knowing laugh. Her embarrassment didn’t keep her from responding when Jax dropped a hard kiss on her lips, nor did she resist watching him walk away.
Chapter Seven
After a short drive, Jax pulled up in front of a modest home outstanding in charm. Several vehicles were already there and the sound of people having fun drifted from the backyard along with an amazing smell. Ember hesitated to get out and watched Jax round the front of the truck. When he opened her door, she looked at him apprehensively.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here?” She wiggled slightly on the wide seat. Wearing the skirt without her panties felt naughty. Jax had tucked the tattered pieces of the ripped garment inside his pocket.
“I’m sure. You’re going to fit in just perfectly.” Jax helped her slide out of the tall vehicle and reached into the extended cab to pull out an insulated container. “As long as I have these, we’re golden.”
Taking her hand, Jax led her around the side of the house. With each step, the cheerful noises increased. Ember could hear male voices obviously ribbing each other while quieter female voices laughed and giggled. She couldn’t wait to meet his friends. Ember always learned a lot about people by who they hung out with in good times and bad.
As they rounded the last corner, a deep southern drawl announced, “I was worrying about my wings. Did you have to pluck them yourself?” An enormous man walked forward. A rounded Hispanic woman with shorter legs practically jogged by his side to keep up. Immediately, he slowed his pace and shot a smile her way as they came forward to welcome the newest arrivals.
The two military men greeted each other with man hugs, while the pleasant-looking womangreeted her, “Hi! I’m Rosie. I’m so glad you came with Jax.”
“Hi, Rosie. I’m Ember. Thanks for letting me crash the party.” Ember glanced over at Jax before adding, “I hope it didn’t cause you any trouble.”
“Ember. Now, that’s a great name. I’m Tex,” the man with the enchanting southern drawl introduced himself. Wrapping one arm around Rosie’s waist, he suggested, “Come on in. There’s lots of food. The girls rushed through dinner so they could make s’mores. You’re welcome to join them if you’d like to eat dessert first. We won’t tell on you tonight.”
“S’mores? I haven’t had those since I moved into the city!”
“Hooray! You got here just in time. Come on,” Rosie urged as she grabbed Ember’s hand and tugged her toward the other three ladies. “I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
Ember hung back a bit. She could tell these women were extremely good friends. It was tough to be the outsider. Rosie, however, wouldn’t let her lag behind. She linked her elbow with Ember and whispered, “They’re really nice. I was the newest before you and they even came to let me know that Texas was okay when the men deployed suddenly.”
They’d joined the others by then. A petite blonde jumped into the conversation, adding, “Duh! Rosie owns a bakery. Everyone likes cookies. Ohh! We could make cookie s’mores!”
“That sounds amazing!” Ember had to admit. Immediately her self-consciousness diminished. “I’m Ember.” She listened carefully as each woman introduced herself and pointed to a different muscled guy.
She was pretty impressed. Their names were easy to remember because they were different, like hers. River was a slender brunette with blue eyes. Remem
ber, blue like a river. She matched with Doniphan. Rosie and Tex were together. The pretty blonde with a sweet disposition was Hope. Sam with red hair was her husband. Finally, the most petite was Cricket. She was matched with the older man, Mark, who was obviously in charge. When Mark spoke, everyone listened.
By the time they’d finished all the introductions, each woman had armed a metal roasting stick with two marshmallows. They crowded around the fire pit and began heating their treat to the desired amount of char. Rosie was all in. She thrust her marshmallow into the flames and set it on fire. Holding it up in front of her, she allowed the marshmallow to catch fire on all sides before blowing it out to reveal a blackened mess.
“Rosie! You might as well eat charcoal!” River laughed as she carefully turned her long stick to toast the marshmallow a golden brown.
“You put enough chocolate and cookies on each side of this marshmallow and you’ll never taste a thing. Besides, I’ll have three eaten before you finish roasting that one.”
“Your daddy will never let you eat three s’mores,” Cricket protested before slapping her hand over her mouth. She looked at the other ladies and whispered, “Oops!”
Ember looked around the circle at all the guilty faces. This was her chance. She wanted to know as much as she could. “Jax called himself Daddy, too. We’ve talked a bit. He says he’s looking for his little girl.”
“He searched for a long time. Jax knew someone special was out there waiting for him to find her,” Hope verified the implicit question in Ember’s words.
“I’ve read some books where the men are called daddies. But that doesn’t really exist, does it?” Scanning their faces, Ember suddenly knew for sure. “It exists. You all are living proof.” She sat down heavily on one chair ringing the fire pit. As she shifted, her marshmallow dipped into the flames and caught fire. Hope immediately leaned forward and blew out the flaming treat. Ember never noticed.
