“Um, Jack?”
“Yeah?” He looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Almost done, this will warm the place up fast.”
“Oh, it’s fine, I love it. I was just wondering, I know it’s very late, but…”
He stood and looked at her, and she was mesmerized, watching him. He almost seemed to glow as the flames started to leap up in the background, and she licked her lips.
“I am feeling pretty achy, and was wondering…”
He shot her a huge grin.
“Ah, the bath. Absolutely. No one ever resists that for long once they’ve seen it. Help yourself. I’m serious, Raine, that I want you to treat this place as you would your own home. You want something, you don’t need to ask.”
She nodded, still staring at him standing in the firelight, and felt her insides melt, and she wasn’t thinking about the tub now.
“But you may want to get in there now, before you get too tired. I’ll show you your room so you can just hit the sheets if you want. You’ve had a tough night.”
She nodded, then followed him into the foyer again and grabbed her bags, walking behind him up the stairs and past the magnificent bathroom to a room at the end of the hall. He opened the door, and turned on the light.
“I’m afraid it is the smaller of the two bedrooms, but I hope it will be comfortable. It has a nice view in the daylight.”
Raine caught her breath. The room was smaller than hers at home, but the high four-poster bed covered in white and blue linens looked like something out of a dream.
Jack walked to the window and gazed out.
“Actually, the moon is so full tonight you still have a nice view—the snow makes it so bright.”
She joined him by the six-over-six, square-paned window that looked out over wind-bent trees and dunes. The corners were edged with snow, like something out of a postcard. The room had the same homey feel as the rest of the house.
Someone cared very much about this old place. A lovely old waterfall-style dresser and full-length mirror filled one corner of the room by a closet and a quilt stand. The walls were a pale green, and ink drawings of seabirds and flowers were on every wall. She sighed, turning back to the room.
“You may never get me to leave.”
He smiled, wondering why that thought caused his breath to come up short for a moment, and walked back to the doorway.
“It’s yours for as long as you want it, Rainey. I’ll be downstairs. Enjoy your bath.”
And he was gone. Raine sat on the bed, which she practically needed a stepstool to crawl up onto, and tested its mattress. It was just right. Of course. She gathered up her bath necessities and headed back to the bathroom, her thoughts on the tub and her aching muscles.
JACK SAT BY THE FIRE, exhausted but unable to sleep. He had been badly shaken when he had received that message, Raine’s voice, tight and panicked, telling him her phone was dead and pleading with him to please call back on her cell. He ran a hand over his face, reminding himself that he had her here now, with him, safe and sound. He wouldn’t let his imagination torture him with what ifs.
He barely remembered the mad drive from the highway back to her house. He was glad he was still so close by. After leaving work, he was too restless to go home alone, and had stopped for some food, then for a few drinks. A pretty brunette had flirted with him at the bar; she had received his polite but clear “not interested” message quickly and left him alone.
His mind was consumed with thoughts of a particular blonde. Who was upstairs naked in his tub right now. Who would be sleeping just yards away from him tonight. He felt his body react to the thought and tried to stem his desire. That wasn’t what Raine needed right now. She’d had a nasty day followed by a nastier night, and though his mind swam with images of what could happen between them here in his house for an undetermined length of time, he primarily wanted to make sure she was safe and taken care of.
But he also knew that he had not mistaken the flash of desire in her eyes when she had looked at him in the entry hall. That had spoken to him loud and clear. He stared at the fire for a long while, sipping a cognac and sinking into his dreams.
RAINE PADDED DOWN the stairs; the house was amazingly silent. She had sat in the bath until the water had turned tepid and she was in danger of drowning by falling asleep. But then when she had gone and crawled into the huge, soft bed, she’d laid there wide maddeningly awake. So she went in search of some reading material to try to take her mind off things.
When she went into the den, she was surprised to find Jack stretched out on the huge burgundy sofa, slumped down in a half sitting position that didn’t look very comfortable, but he was sleeping deeply nonetheless. She sat carefully on the opposite edge, in front of the fire, watching him sleep.
He was an incredibly beautiful man, something she hadn’t fully appreciated before. His face was softened by sleep, and she longed to reach out and touch him. Instead, she curled her feet up underneath herself, and opened the book she’d chosen from the bookcase against the far wall.
Jack was awakened by the familiar scent of citrus and flowers filling the room. He opened his eyes slightly, looking around, and saw Raine sitting on the sofa, legs curled beneath her, staring at a book. The flickering light played off her face, and he took in her long hair, damp and curling, pulled up on the back of her head, exposing the graceful length of her neck.
She was dressed in flannels—green, blue and white check, and white, fuzzy socks. Baggy pants and a button top, cinched modestly. It should have been more cute than sexy, but he remembered her telling him about her flannels once before, and he felt himself go hard.
“Raine.” His voice was barely a whisper.
She lowered the book and looked at him, her face freshly scrubbed, glowing in the firelight, eyes sleepy.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to wake you, but I just didn’t…well, I couldn’t sleep. I came downstairs and saw you sitting here, and thought I would just sit with you, and…”
She was babbling and couldn’t stop. He was looking at her, sleepy, relaxed, and with undisguised desire in his eyes.
“Come here.”
His command was simple, and quietly spoken, and she never in a million years would have thought of not following it. Sliding over, she placed the book on the table, and sat on the edge of the sofa, in front of him, snuggled between the heat of the fire and the heat of his body. He reached up and slid his hand over her cheek, traced a finger down her neck, and she shivered, but not with cold.
He drew her to him, sliding his mouth gently over hers. Then, he drew back, muttered something into her mouth, and kissed her again. Heaving himself fully up onto the long, lush sofa, he settled back against the pillows. His look invited her to join him. She did so, bringing her legs up and stretching out along the length of him, nestling her head in the crook of his shoulder.
A wave of heat washed over her skin when she felt the hardness of him against her hip. He kissed her hair, and made soft comforting sounds, drawing her more intimately against him.
She worked her arms around him as well, and nestled in closer. Slowly, she heard his breathing even, and felt her own eyelids fall. She fell into dreamless sleep, more safe and secure than she ever remembered feeling in her entire life.
THE FIRE HAD DIED DOWN a bit and the room was cool but not uncomfortable. She had no idea what time it was. Feeling relaxed for the first time in ages, she didn’t care. She could feel Jack’s breath stirring against her cheek, and smiled. He slept like a rock. That bit of knowledge felt…intimate. She saw springy chest hair curling in the V where he’d loosened the buttons of his shirt; he was still fully dressed.
Sliding her fingers out from under his arm, she touched the spot tentatively. She was curious about his tastes and textures, wanted to memorize the geography of his body, learn what he liked, what he wanted.
She was surprised at her thoughts, but he was sleeping, they were alone. Her thoughts and desires were hers, and she
wanted to indulge in them.
Tilting her head backward she memorized the sinewy muscles of his neck, the angle of his jaw, and marveled at his skin. It was manly, a bit tanned even in winter, and just rough enough. He had the beginning of a beard that had miraculously appeared overnight. Running a finger over the stubble lightly, she wanted to know how it would feel scraping over her skin.
Her finger continued its journey along the shallows of his throat. She pushed herself up slightly, and holding her breath, turned her face into his neck, and let the tip of her tongue just touch him, ever so lightly, delighting in his salty, manly flavor.
Jack was having a difficult time keeping his eyes shut and body still. He had buoyed quickly into consciousness when she’d been touching his chest, and every part of him was becoming fully aware and awake more quickly than he had control over.
Finally, he gave up the pretense of sleep when she nipped the sensitive skin beneath his ear. He released a long groan, gathering her more fully against him and burying his face in her fragrant hair, which had somehow come loose in the night. His voice was gruff, and he felt surprise in her body as she realized he was awake.
“Morning—don’t stop on my account.”
Raine pulled back a little. He was wide-awake now, and ready to go, from what she could feel as he rubbed an impressive morning erection against her leg. He turned his face to slide his tongue along her ear. She caught her breath, feeling the zing from the subtle kiss travel straight down and land deep in her belly, the sharp bite of pleasure soaking her panties. She wished he would promise to never stop tracing his tongue over her skin—oh yes…. just like that.
Moving her legs apart, she rubbed the crux of her sex along his hard-on and moaned with need, seeking and finding his mouth with hers. She licked his lips into a wet kiss, wanting to lose herself in it. He slid his hands down and grabbed her derriere firmly, settling her against him, smiling into her mouth when she whimpered and strained, bunching her fingers in his shirt.
“We’re both overdressed for this.” She nodded and slowly, reluctantly, pushed away, standing by the side of the couch. Smiling at him, feeling free and bold, she slowly unbuttoned her top, and dropped it to the floor. She felt a blush steal up her cheeks when she saw him swallow deeply and clench his hands at his sides.
Sliding her hands down over her full breasts, across small, rosy nipples, and down her stomach, she eased her thumbs under the waistband of her pajama bottoms, lowering them slowly, until she stood before him wearing only a pair of scant, pink silk panties. He reached out, but she backed away, out of his reach, her voice coy.
“Uh-uh…your turn.”
Though he appreciated her show, he was impatient, and lost his own clothing quickly, tossing them on the floor behind the couch. He stood up next to her, drawing her against him, taking her mouth in a bruising kiss. Slipping his hands down her back, knotting his hands in the scrap of silk she wore, he pulled the crotch up tight, evoking a cry from her as he tugged the soaked fabric tight—and released—then did it again.
Biting his bottom lip, Raine absorbed the growl of his response, and pressed her thighs together tightly around his steel-hard erection, loving the feel of him rubbing against her skin. She dropped her head back and bent into him like a bow when he cupped both breasts in his hands.
He squeezed her aroused nipples sharply, but when he shifted, prodding against the barrier of thin silk, seeking entry, she made a sound of slight protest, and put her hands on his stomach, pushing lightly. He blinked, unsure of what she was doing.
He smiled, reaching his hand up to touch her face tenderly but still with a quizzical look in his eyes. She slid her hands from his stomach to chest to shoulders, and pressed him back to the couch, shushing his questions with her lips.
Her eyes were hazy with desire, but clear with purpose. His heart missed a beat when she smiled against his lips and whispered, “This time, for you.”
Then she was trailing kisses down his body, licking her hot little tongue across his stomach, and creating a ball of need so tight in his groin that he thought he would explode without her even touching him. When she bit the inside of his thigh, he had to protest, loudly; he was going to lose it before she went much further. She just smiled, and leaned back for a moment.
“Jack?”
“Hmm?”
“Move up on the sofa a little. I want you to watch.”
His limbs went so weak he didn’t think he would be able to lift himself, but somehow, he did. His chest was heaving with effort and anticipation as she tormented him by trailing her fingers lightly up his leg, and she made sure he had a clear view as she drew her luscious, pink tongue up the rock-hard length of him, and then back down again. She cupped his balls in her hand, stroking gently, her fingers finding the spot down between his legs that she knew would push him to near the edge. His head dropped back in ecstasy, and she scolded gently.
“No, Jack, look at me…look at me.”
God help him, he watched her descend again, wrapping her lips tightly around him and taking him to the hilt. Her eyes never left his. His head spun with pleasure, and he couldn’t have controlled the noises he was making if he’d tried. She sucked and nipped at him, lolling her tongue around him until he was crazed. Just as he reached the edge, she drew back, always making sure his eyes were on her. Sucking the pulsing head of his throbbing cock hard and sharp, she watched him lose control, his eyes blind with passion, but glued to hers. His breath heaved, he arched up under her, and he choked out a single plea that taught her a new kind of pleasure.
She sighed, taking him deep, gladly giving him what he needed. Sucking him hard, she gloried in his harsh cries of release but didn’t see the pleasure contort his face, focused on draining the last drop of pleasure from him as she tasted the hot, salty evidence of his ejaculation at the back of her throat.
He called out to her, but she kept him inside her until he softened, and lapped him clean, nestling her face into his stomach when she was done. Sliding up his body, and wrapping herself against him, she buried her face in his throat. She was very aroused, but also oddly satisfied.
His breathing calmed and he kissed her hair, holding her. He didn’t remember ever having such a wildly strong orgasm in his life; every muscle in his body felt like jelly. He wasn’t sure his arms worked, but he wanted to touch her. He could feel the heat coming off her body, and stroked her back.
“Rainey…you are, well…nothing I can say…”
She smiled and rubbed her cheek against him like a cat. “I liked it, too. I never…um, did that before, with anyone. I wanted to with you.”
His eyes became soft and dark; he was deeply touched that she wanted to give to him so deeply, and he stroked her hair. She kissed him lightly, trying to calm her own arousal. This had been perfect. She had gotten more from pleasuring him than she ever would have expected, and it was enough.
He shifted himself a little more solidly beneath her, bringing her fully on top of him, and buried his face in her neck, light kisses sending flares of desire racing across her skin. His hands stroked her back, moved down over the gentle curves of her bottom, pressing her against his thigh, and then moved back up over and over until she felt her heart pounding.
“Jack, it’s okay…I’m okay…” Her breath hitched as he wrapped his hands over the tender flesh of her rib cage, under her arms, and stroked the sides of her breasts. She raised her head to look at him. He was smiling, his eyes glinting with something like mischief, and she gazed at him warily. “What are you doing?”
His grin split wider.
“You know what I’m doing…you don’t like it?”
He licked a hot trail from her collarbone to her mouth. She pressed against him, her body leaving her brain behind and acting of its own accord. He pushed his knee up, positioning her on his hard thigh, urging her to ride him.
She shook her head. “No…” Her voice squeaked a little as she panicked.
“Yes.” He pressed he
r down, whispering lovely hot things as he felt her melt over him, and bit her ear. She relaxed and pressed against him shyly, reluctantly, and made those soft kittenish sounds he loved. After a few minutes he felt her starting to lose control, grinding herself against him without his help, her breasts pressing hotly against his chest as she moved.
“There you go…yeah…that’s it…let it go, sweetheart…take what you need.” He planted wet kisses on her ear as her thighs squeezed him and she cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulders. He felt the release of tension in her body as the orgasm rippled through her, smiled when he felt the flood of warmth on his leg. Slowly, he lowered her, holding her close. He stroked her back and felt her body shaking slightly.
He reached up and slid his fingers under her chin, lifting her face, worrying he would find tears, and instead saw her eyes alight with laughter, her neck and face flushed with pleasure. She shook her head, burying it in his neck once more. She spoke, her voice muffled.
“I can’t believe you made me do that.”
“What? Come? I like making you do that.”
She laughed, and sounded shy; it made him smile. Her voice squeaked, “Like that though—I mean…geez…Jack.”
“Hey, it’s about whatever works, Rainey. We have all these parts, it’s a shame not to experiment with them, wouldn’t you say?”
She nodded against his chest, and sighed deeply.
They stayed there for a while, lost in the warmth of each other, and Jack felt that he could stay in this position, wrapped around her naked body for a long, long time. He felt good. What they had shared had been even more intense than the last time, and he wouldn’t have thought that was possible.
But even though it had been damn near perfect, he missed being inside her, and was already wanting her again. He couldn’t escape the unceasing, and somewhat annoying, urge to connect with this woman in every way possible, and he needed time to think about that. He wanted more. He wanted it all. He sighed and rubbed her back, enjoying the feeling of her nestled against him, but forced his thoughts back to the day.
Virtually Perfect Page 15
