Force (The Force Duet Book 1)

by M. Malone

  JJ shrugged. “It was right after Rafe died. Lucia was a mess and I was, too. I’d never known anyone who died before. I had no idea how to process it. Then I met D—then I met a guy.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long time, and suddenly JJ was slammed with a sense of foreboding. Why had she told him any of that? It never went well when guys found out about her past. They either went into hero mode and felt like they needed to save her from her damaged past or they were overwhelmed and got distant. The thought of Jonas distancing himself from her hurt.

  “Never mind. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand gently in his. She was so shocked that she jolted before her eyes flew up to meet his. JJ relaxed slightly when she saw no judgment in his eyes.

  “I want you to tell me anything you want to. I want to know you, Jessica Jones. Inside and out.”

  Jonas scooted his chair over to her side of the table so he was mere inches away from her. He didn’t move at all, as if afraid to distract her from talking.

  “I’m sure it seems stupid to you that I didn’t just kick him to the curb.”

  “No, it doesn’t seem stupid at all.”

  Her head tilted slightly at his statement. Suddenly, Jonas pulled her closer. She went still as a board at first but then slowly relaxed, resting her head on his chest with a sigh.

  “When I was a little boy, I didn’t understand that my family was different.”

  JJ looked up, her attention drawn by the soft, vulnerable tone of his voice. She didn’t dare interrupt, though. Even though he’d told her that his mother had been murdered the first time he’d taken her to his apartment, he’d never mentioned it again. It wasn’t the kind of thing she’d ever ask about, either. Jonas was such a closed book sometimes, but she’d always sensed there was a reason he was so closed off.

  “My father was well liked in our neighborhood. He was good with cars, and anything with an engine actually, so he was always helping everyone out with repairs. Everyone thought he was a great guy.”

  He was quiet for so long that JJ thought he wasn’t going to continue. Tears stung her eyes.

  His mother was murdered. Oh God.

  “He wasn’t a great guy, was he?” she murmured. “Not to you and your mother.”

  “No, he wasn’t. It was a hard lesson to learn so young. That people can be so charming in public and then be a monster behind closed doors. But I learned.”

  Her arms tightened around his waist. “I’m so sorry, Jonas. And here I am telling you about my situation when you’ve lived through so much worse.”

  “I’m glad you told me. Pain isn’t a competition. I just wanted you to know that I’m not going to ever judge you for the decisions you’ve made. Because I understand how hard it is to walk away from someone you care about, even when they’re hurting you.”

  “That’s just it. I wasn’t strong enough to walk away. He left me. Just vanished. I still don’t know exactly why. Maybe I have a guardian angel out there or something.”

  Jonas pulled her forward and kissed her hair. “Thank God for that. My mother never had that. If she had, maybe things would have been different. I wonder about that every day.”

  “She would be so proud of you. You help people all the time. All those women who come to Blake Security for protection, you make them feel safe.”

  Jonas shook his head sadly. “The one thing I couldn’t do for her.”

  She had no idea what to say to that, so she pulled him close for a hug. After a moment of hesitation, Jonas grabbed her and buried his face in her neck. They stayed like that for a long time, until Jonas suddenly coughed and wiped under his eyes discreetly.

  JJ took a sip of wine to give him a moment of privacy. Finally, he let out a deep sigh.

  “Thank you. I needed to say that. I haven’t talked about her in so long. For years it was just too difficult, and then I thought that it was better to just focus on the future instead of the past. But I don’t want to forget her. I won’t let him take that from me, too.”

  JJ could understand that. Even though she wasn’t as close to her family as she’d like, she couldn’t imagine life without her mother to hover over her or her dad’s gruff encouragement. They were very different people and hadn’t understood her flighty, artistic ways, but they’d loved her the best they could.

  “Tell me about your mother. What was she like?”

  Jonas smiled and the sight of it took her off guard. He looked so young and carefree when he smiled. JJ was filled with a deep longing to see that look on his face every day.

  “She liked to cook. And to embroider pillows. She was always making something. They didn’t always come out the way she wanted, but she didn’t care. I think she just enjoyed the process of creating something beautiful from nothing.”

  “That’s how I feel about fashion,” JJ commented. “My parents never really understood where my love for it came from. But I love the idea that you can find beauty all around. Color can make people happy so easily. But I think my parents wished I was more practical. You know, responsible.”

  “You are responsible,” Jonas said.

  “I am. But I meant in a more general sense. My parents wanted a child more like you. Someone using their life to be an advocate for people in need. Doing things to make the world a better place.”

  JJ shook her head bashfully at Jonas’s intense look. She definitely didn’t want to rehash all the ways she’d been a disappointment to her parents.

  chapter 13

  Jonas studied JJ. “Do you have any idea how strong you are? I know you don’t feel it, but I see that strength in you every day.”

  “Sometimes I just need a reminder that I’m not that girl anymore.”

  He pulled her closer and lifted the wine glass out of her hands. “Let me take that. And I’ll remind you that you are sexy, sassy, and can bring a man to his knees.”

  “Wait, I’m not finished ye—”

  “Don’t worry. You can sip it off of me later.”

  Her lips formed an O. He tugged her into the bedroom, closing the door behind them. “You all right with this? We can stop at any time if you’re not.”

  “Y-yeah.” She licked her lips.

  Jonas set the wine glass on the bedside table. When he turned to pull her toward him, his hands shook a little. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d already been with her once. Were his hands freaking shaking? Like he was a rookie or something? Because this time you know what’s going to happen. You know how explosive this can be.

  Stepping in front of her, Jonas let his hands span her waist, bringing her flush against him. She gasped, and her eyes snapped to his. The thundering of his heartbeat was all he could hear as he focused on her parted lips.

  He dipped his head, kissing her softly. Immediately, she sighed into his mouth and wound her hands into the hair at the nape of his neck. She sucked his tongue into her hot, wet mouth, and Jonas forgot for a moment that he was supposed to be taking things slow. Focusing on drawing this out. He only wanted to keep tasting her.

  While she tried to wrestle control of the kiss from him, his hands fisted in the material of her skirt, and he tugged it up. Her sudden shocked intake of breath was all he needed to take control again, and he lifted her up until she wrapped her legs around him, but he didn’t deposit her on the bed. Instead, he turned them to the door and braced her against it. “Just relax. I’m going to take care of you, JJ.”

  She used his shoulders as leverage and arched her body so that her slick heat met the bulge in his slacks. She worked her hips in a figure eight, and Jonas’s eyes crossed. She knew how to move her body. Knew how to work him over.

  “JJ.” Her name was more grunt than English, but lust chased desire along his nerve endings, and the part of his brain that focused on the finer points of language had long overheated.

  He had to find a way to gain control again.

  He reluctantly removed her hands fro
m the nape of his neck and lifted them above her head as he encircled them. He licked at her lips, and very deliberately, he slid his cock against the satin undies that blocked his path to bliss.

  She hissed. “Jonas. Hurry please.”

  No. He was not rushing this. Tonight he wanted to take his time. “Look at me, JJ.”

  Her lids fluttered open, and her pupils were dilated. As he kissed her again, his body rocked against hers, and she met every movement of his hips with her own. “You want me to take you like this? Hard and fast and up against the wall?” Fuck the idea made his skin burn.

  “At this point I could give two shits how you take me just as long as you’re inside me. I’m not going to be picky.”

  “Hmm.” He nuzzled her neck as he slipped his hand under her blouse. When his palm closed over the full globe, they both moaned. Her breasts were so full and firm. So soft and responsive.

  “Jonas, please.”

  He kissed her again deeply, savoring the flavor of the wine on her tongue and sucking on it until she moaned and her body started to rock into his in a steady rhythm.

  Slowly, he backed away from the kiss. Releasing her hands, he steadied her by the waist and set her feet back on the floor. Her eyes went wide with questions, but she didn’t say anything. She merely followed his silent command, and he turned her around. Skimming his hands over the flesh of her arms, he positioned her palms against the door. He took his time, caressing her. When his hands reached the buttons on her blouse, she stiffened.

  Slowly, he popped each button from its tiny loop. With each one he released, she puffed out a small breath, then finally exhaled completely when he had her blouse fully open. He peeled the fine silk off her shoulder, kissed the soft skin of her back as the material fell away. Her skin was satin smooth; he could do nothing but touch it and never get bored.

  “Jonas, what are you doing?”

  “I’m taking care of you.”

  When he unhooked her bra, she groaned. He didn’t let her bring down her hands so he couldn’t remove it. Instead, he skimmed his hands up her torso, palming her softly, then gently massaging. Her legs started to quiver when the massage turned from relief to sensual tease. Gently, he plucked the pebbled tips, and she dropped her forehead against the wall.

  “You’ll have to forgive me, but I’ve had a mild obsession with your breasts since I first saw you. I have no doubt spent countless hours thinking about how they would taste, what the weight of them would be like in my palms, how sensitive they were, if you would mind me using my teeth.”

  Her breath came out ragged and sharp. “Jonas. I can’t. You’re killing me.”

  He plucked the tight buds again. “If you want me to stop, all you have to do is say so.”

  He continued to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses across her shoulders and the back of her neck as he played.

  When she started to rotate her hips back against him, he swore and gritted his teeth at the red haze of lust clouding his vision. Dropping his hands to her hips, he stopped them. “Just relax, sweetheart.” He’d always known it would be like this between them. A fight for control. And he didn't mind it. But tonight, he wanted her to know that she could trust him. That if she gave just a little he would never hurt her.

  “This is torture.”

  “Tell me about it,” he mumbled.

  Jonas helped her step out of the skirt. Smoothing his hands over her slender calves and skimming over the backs of her thighs, he hooked his fingers into her panties and tugged them down over the expanse of her honey-brown legs. She shuddered when he kissed the backs of her thighs. “Can you part your legs for me, sweetheart?”

  She parted her legs a little.

  “Wider.” It came out as a harsh command.

  She sucked in a breath and planted her feet about shoulder width apart.

  Jonas trailed kisses up the backs of her legs, pausing only to nip at the backs of her knees. When he reached the top of her thighs, he ground out, “Lean forward for me.”

  It took her several moments to do as he instructed. When she did, he rewarded her with a soft kiss on her slick lips, and she shivered. Kneeling, Jonas lapped at her cleft and savored the unique spicy flavor that was JJ. With a hand on her firm ass, he massaged the skin as he teased her by sliding a finger inside her slick channel.

  She cursed softly, but he continued his licking, and stroking, working his tongue over her clit while he slid two fingers inside her. The slick walls of her core milked at his fingers, and he felt them quicken. Kissing her inner thighs, he encouraged her. “Come on, JJ, come for me. You’re safe. It’s okay to let go. I’ll catch you.”

  But she held on. She writhed against the door, and her slender hands balled into fists as she fought orgasm. She tensed as if she tried to fight one off, but then she went limp, and tossed her head back. Jonas continued to lick and stroke her until her whole body shook.

  With a whisper of his name in the moonlight, she finally let go.

  JJ shook as Jonas picked her up and laid her on the bed. Orgasm aftershocks rolled through her body, leaving her languid and foggy. What was he doing to her? And could she take more? If she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall in love with him. Then where would she be?

  He shed his clothes as if he was in no hurry at all, carefully unfastening his cuff links, then slowly unbuttoning his shirt. His slacks and boxer briefs came next. All the while, he kept his burning gaze on hers. Unable to take the intensity of his stare, she let her eyes drift closed.

  His voice was soft, but authoritative. “JJ, look at me.”

  She shook her head.

  His touch was soft on her cheek. “Shh, look at me.”

  She peeled her lids open to look up at him. “Jonas, I—”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here with you. All you have to do is keep your eyes open to see it.” He slid into bed beside her, and she had to scoot over to make room for him. “You with me?” He asked as he drew her close.

  She nodded against his chest as she inhaled. Sandalwood. She sighed and immediately relaxed. She loved that smell.

  Jonas pressed feather-light kisses along her temple, her forehead, her jaw line, the tip of her nose. When he reached her lips, he barely skimmed them with his own, and she whimpered. He angled his head and deepened the kiss and anchored her face in his hands as he devoured her lips. Desire spiked again as his expert tongue licked at the roof of her mouth, and he teased her tongue to follow into his hot mouth.

  As she kissed him, she writhed against him, brushing her nipples against his chest, turning them into hardened peaks. His muffled moan made his chest rumble, and the friction against the sensitive peaks of her breasts sent a pull of desire straight to her core.

  The length of his erection pressed into her thigh insistently, and she reached down to wrap her hand around the rigid length of it. Massaging.

  “Jesus, Jessica.”

  With sure fingers, she continued stroking him, running her hand over his cock, her palm over the sensitive tip. When she did this twice, Jonas’s hips jerked, and a drop of moisture escaped his erection to lubricate her palm. “Jonas. I want you again. I-I need you.” Fear settled into her bones at that moment. If she needed him it would be a recipe for disaster, because at some point he would let her down.

  “One of these days, you’re going to have to learn to be patient.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “It’s not one of my virtues.”

  He growled low and kissed her deep. “I might have noticed.” His fingers dipped between her thighs, and she shivered. When he slipped one impossibly long finger inside her slick heat, she moaned, parting her thighs to allow him better access.

  “God, you are so wet. So ready.”

  “Mmm, Jonas.” Lust rocked her body, and need chased the lust.

  Jonas trailed kisses along her throat to her collarbone, moving to her breast. With his mouth poised over a distended peak, he paused. His breath tickled her skin, and she writhed. “Jonas, plea
se.”

  “Please what?” His warm breath was a tease.

  “Please kiss me.”

  He placed a kiss right above her breast. “Right there?”

  JJ arched her back in frustration. “No. On my breast.”

  Jonas kissed the underside of her breast. “Oh, you mean here?”

  “Damn it, Jonas.” She threaded her hands through his hair. “Stop teasing me.”

  He kissed the underside of her other breast. “I like teasing you.” He kissed her again and hovered over the tip of her breast again. “You like it when I tease you.” Jonas used his thumb to circle her clit as he slid first one finger into her, then two. Stroke, retreat, stroke, retreat.

  He kept the pace nice and easy, no matter how much she angled her hips, moving against his fingers. Finally, he withdrew his fingers and shifted position, brushing his lips over her nipple. “Jonas!”

  “Yeah, JJ?”

  He settled his lips around her nipple, and a pull of lust pierced her core. Jonas suckled her deep, his cheeks hollowing as he drew her into his mouth. Blood rushed in her head, and all she could think about was Jonas. His lips, his fingers. Like everything else in the world had vanished and all that mattered now was this moment, this time with him.

  “I need you to fuck me. Please. I can’t—”

  “Who’s in charge?” He grazed her nipple with his teeth.

  “Oh, God. I—”

  Jonas’s fingers stopped penetrating her core. “Maybe I should ask you again. Who’s in charge?”

  “Jonas. Please. I—”

  He removed his fingers from her heated skin and rolled his big body over hers, bracing himself over her. His erection nudged her cleft, and he swore. “You’re so hot, JJ.”

  She rotated her hips, sliding her cleft along the length of him. “Jonas, please don’t make me wait. I need you.”

  Jonas dropped his forehead to hers and kissed her softly. “All you have to do is relinquish control for a little while. I promise I’ll give it back.”

  She chewed her bottom lip. The fear gnawed at her. The uncertainty eating her. He was too close. Could make her feel too much. He left her feeling open and vulnerable. He also left her feeling like she’d grabbed hold of a live wire. Like she could fly. Like she was beautiful. Like she was special. Worthy.