“We can.” He rolled her sweatpants down, pulled off her socks. Licked his way up her belly and between her breasts. “And we will.”
“You don’t understand,” Rose whimpered. “There’s no time.”
“That’s the way I want it.” He hooked his thumbs into her panties and pulled her against him, skin to hot, wet skin. He tugged on the thin elastic waistband, pulled the panties up hard against her crotch, and slid the fabric back and forth across the quivering flesh from her clit to her ass. Rose moaned.
“I like it hot.” Jack breathed in her ear, and his tongue flicked in and out. He pushed her against the Italian tiles and licked a trail down her neck to her throat. “And hard.” He ripped the narrow elastic and let her underwear fall. “And fast.”
Okay, Rose thought, fast is good, and then I can talk sense into him. She reached for his penis.
“Not that fast.” Jack took her breasts one after the other, a hungry suckling and biting, pain and pleasure at war. Rose dug her nails into his shoulders, and each time he raised his head to kiss and lick, she thrust her breasts once again, turn by turn, into his mouth, between his teeth, need and exquisite pleasure overwhelming the pain.
One hard hand ravished her hair while the other possessed her hip, then her belly, its weight sending a brief, heavy glory though her mound before he delved between her legs. Fingers, urgent and sure, slipped into her and out, in and out, spreading the slickness of her arousal up and around, lavishing it this side and that, torturing her into quivers of delight. He dipped inside her again and lingered on her clit, trailed up her belly. He freed her breast and tongued his own fingers, then ran them across her lips and came down for a harsh, demanding kiss.
Rose gripped his hair and responded with so much passion it hurt. Oh damn, she thought, this is not what I wanted, not at all—
He ended the kiss, and for a terrifying second their gazes locked. Rose groaned again and closed her eyes because she couldn’t bear it: the pleasure, the wanting, the pain, the peril! Finish this. Get it done.
She raised a leg, locked in onto his hip, arched toward him. He gripped her ass and lifted her, and the tip of his penis nudged her opening…and stopped.
“Come on!” She reached for him again, but he shifted away from her seeking hand. “Hurry up!” she cried, grabbing his ass, pulling him to meet her.
His every muscle was rigid. What the hell was going on here? In anyone else, it would look like teasing, it would be fun, but—
She opened her eyes again. Jack’s were shut tight, his teeth clenched, his face a battleground of agony.
“Forget it,” Rose said furiously. “This wasn’t my idea.”
Jack pinned her to the wall and plunged inside her.
She cried out as he filled her, filled her full, filled her tight. She squeezed and savored that blessed fullness, wrapping her legs around him. Hard, he’d said. Hot. Fast. If he hated her afterward, hated himself, it didn’t matter. If she hated herself, that didn’t matter, either. She dug her nails into his back and thrust again and again, making every contraction, every movement count. He shuddered, one hand on her hip, the other gripping her ass, love and hate twisted together, hate and love. Stroke for stroke, they met one another and withdrew, fierce and frenzied, over and over again.
Her fangs ached as the pressure rose. Time to bring him. Rose sank one hand into his hair and tugged his head back. “Now,” she breathed. She opened her eyes again.
Jack gasped and arched his neck for her, eyes shut, lifeblood open to her in abandon, and she almost died of sorrow and love. She sank her fangs into him, drinking his pleasure and his blood, and came hard, and hot, and fast, and Jack exploded inside her.
Jack set Rose gently onto her feet. The aroma of sex unfurled between them. He inhaled deeply, unable to suppress a murmur of utter satisfaction. Rose’s eyes were closed, a tiny smile quivering on her mouth.
He shouldn’t look at her, and yet he couldn’t help feasting on her flushed cheeks, on her parted lips with the tips of her fangs still showing. He pulled her under the shower. He didn’t want to think about what he’d done.
He wanted to do it again. Do her again. He cupped the soft swells of her buttocks, teased her waist, let kisses fall on her throat. His prick stirred; he’d be ready again before long. Please, just once more before he started thinking.
“Jack!” Rose opened her eyes and stood away. “Thank you, that was great, I really needed it, but you have to go. Now.”
Well, what had he expected? She didn’t really want him. Didn’t even like him, for that matter. She’d fucked him because he was naked and aroused. She’d needed sex and he’d delivered. He’d gone into the shower thinking about her, and when his fantasy had charged into the bathroom in solid, delectable flesh, he’d lost his wits.
He blew out a breath. “What’s going on?”
She pulled him out of the shower and grabbed a towel. “Biff works for Constantine. I heard him talking to Violet. He’s in big trouble because he messed up yesterday. Constantine’s furious at him, and Biff sounded terrified. Violet’s probably told him about you by now, told him where you live, and he’ll be here any second.” She dragged her fingers through her hair, tugging at the tangles. “I can’t believe I forgot even for a second, but sex does that to me if it’s really good. It’s like I temporarily lose my mind.”
It was that good?
“I let the air out of one of Biff’s tires, but it won’t take him long to put on the spare. You’ve got to get out of here right now.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Jack said. Rose’s breasts heaved as she spoke and jiggled as she moved.
“Stop staring at my boobs, you idiot!” She wrapped the towel around herself. As if he really were an idiot, not just an infatuated, lust-intoxicated, screwed-up male animal, she said, “Biff. Is. Coming.” She paused and drew breath to holler, “To kill you!”
“I don’t think so.” Jack hoped he sounded soothing. “But even if he is, he won’t find me now that I’ve been warned.”
Rose stared. “You’ll make yourself disappear. How convenient. I’m the one who should leave, then. I’m putting you in danger.” She stomped into the living room and bent to unzip her suitcase.
Jack didn’t even try to avert his eyes. He licked his lips. Already he was hardening again.
Rose extracted clothes from the suitcase. She threw him her towel and a look of disgust. “I can’t believe I ran all the way over here to warn such a dumbass. I’m going back to Violet’s, where people pay attention to what I say. You’ll be much safer when I’m gone.”
Jack got a hold of himself, sort of. He wrapped the towel around his waist. “Before you go, we need to talk.”
Rose zipped the suitcase and picked up her clothes. Her ass quivered as she walked to the bedroom. So did her voice. “I’ve said what I came here for.”
Jack followed. She tried to shut the door in his face, but he got in the way. “Rose, this is a lousy moment for a temper tantrum.”
Rose swiveled to face him. “This is not a tantrum!” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Do you have any idea how scared I was the whole way over here? How scared I still am? And yet you act as if it’s nothing that they might shoot you again.” She turned away, stifling a small, forlorn sob.
Oh, hell. “Rose, I’m sorry. I’m an idiot and an inconsiderate jerk, anything you like, but please listen to me.”
“No, damn it, you listen to me!” Rose stumbled as she yanked her underpants on. They were much more tasteful than the stuff sold in Blood and Velvet, but he preferred her without them. “I’m not going through this again. If you want to die, fine, but I’m not going to wait here for them to come and kill you.”
“They won’t come to kill me.” Don’t put on that bra.
“That’s what Lou always said.” She fastened the bra, but that didn’t take his mind off her breasts. It merely gave him the opportunity to anticipate taking it off again. Rose shook out her sweatpants. �
�He said nobody would have the guts, but they did.”
“Lou,” Jack repeated, temporarily at a loss. “Your mobster boyfriend?”
“Yes.” She pulled on the sweatpants.
“You loved him?”
Rose gave him a bleak look. “I was with him for over six years. I cared about him.”
“Were you in love with him?” What a dumb question.
Apparently Rose thought so, too. “He was old enough to be my father. He was a criminal who killed people without batting an eye. But he took care of me, and we had some good times together.” She turned away. “I don’t know anything about love. Where’s my shirt?”
“Oh, Rose.” Jack wrapped himself around her from behind, pinning her arms at her sides. He buried his nose against her warm flesh and nuzzled the junction between her neck and shoulder. His prick nudged her ass. “You know everything about love.”
“Sex is what you mean.” Rose squirmed in his embrace. “I’ll screw you again later if you’re still alive.”
This casual, almost indifferent offer didn’t hold much appeal. Or much weight. Or much hope, but he didn’t want to think about that. He just wanted to have her again. Right here, right now.
“Let me go,” she said.
Jack tightened his arms around her. “Rose, you do everything because of love. You took the costume to save your boss’s business. You saved my life and then got me out of a jam even after I treated you like scum. You cooperated with me to keep Juma safe, even though I was being a complete asshole. You did your damnedest to help Linda Dell. You were sweet to that poor fucked-up guy at the bookstore. You were loyal to Violet in the face of threats, and now you’re here to save me again.” He splayed a hand across her belly. “All this love, in spite of a mother who rejected you. You put me and my lousy relationship with my father and my petty rescues to shame.”
Rose squirmed again, but he sensed her soft, smooth skin heating under his touch. Breathlessly she said, “You’re idealizing me, Jack. Because I’m perfect for sex, you want me to be perfect in other ways.”
You are perfect. For sex, for love, for everything.
He didn’t want to think about that, either. His nasty voice piped up helpfully. She’s right. You’re deluding yourself. He ignored it and licked Rose’s ear.
She trembled in response but kept on talking. “Everything I do has a selfish motive. I wanted to have sex with you from the moment I saw you. Who knows how I would have reacted if some other guy had been shot?”
“You would have helped him.” Jack cupped her breast and rubbed his thumb across her nipple. Rose murmured her pleasure but tried to pull away. No. Jack abandoned her breast to tighten his arms again.
Rose hurried on. “Of course I don’t want Miles to go bankrupt, and sure, I didn’t want to disappoint Violet, but…” She shook her head impatiently. “I’m just as selfish as the next person, and none of this matters right now. You’re in danger.” She shoved hard with her elbows.
Jack hissed in pain and let go. His arm was bleeding again. With a sigh, Rose turned to lick the blood away. Jack took the reprieve to think fast. “Let’s go into the secret room. Nobody knows about it, not even Gil. We’ll be safe in there. Rose, we really need to talk.”
She left off licking his arm long enough to glance at his now-tented towel. “Right,” she said dryly, and flicked her tongue down his arm, then let it drop. “Fine, let’s talk. You knew I wouldn’t be in any danger at Violet’s. She’s a bit crazy, but her daughter’s a great kid, and Tony Karaplis is wonderful. In fact, your coming along would have made things worse, since Violet is understandably upset with you.” She folded her arms across her chest. “So, Mr. One Chance, No Lies. Why did you try to keep me here?”
Chapter Sixteen
“The truth,” Rose demanded. She tightened her arms, trying to shut off the arousal. His erection was distracting her like crazy, not to mention the pheromones drifting out from his armpits and beckoning her toward him. “Get dressed, will you? We can’t have sex again right now.”
“I didn’t try to keep you here. I suggested you wait until a reasonable time to visit Violet and then let me accompany you. I knew Stevie was back in town, so I assumed the same about Biff.”
“There’s no reason to suppose I couldn’t deal with Stevie and Biff just fine on my own. There was no danger at all, and you know it.”
“There was plenty of danger. There still is.” He took a breath. “I don’t want you falling afoul of Titania.”
“Ah.” Rose hoped she sounded light and aloof. “Why didn’t you mention that this morning?” She tapped her foot; she couldn’t help herself.
“I didn’t want to frighten you. She doesn’t attack Violet directly because Violet’s support system is very strong, and Titania doesn’t want to risk reprisals. As far as she knows, you have no support system at all. Does she know you’re a vamp?”
“Not yet,” Rose said. “I refuse to be afraid of her.”
“If you want to survive, you’d better be afraid of her,” Jack said. “You upset her plans, you laughed at her, and you had the gall to say she doesn’t scare you. She won’t be able to let that go. She’ll be even worse when she finds out you’re a vamp.”
Rose scowled. “How do you know?”
“I just know,” Jack said. Reluctantly, Rose let it pass. His affair with Titania was none of her business. The past was done and gone.
“She will stop at nothing to get back at you,” Jack said. “You must stay out of her way.”
“I can’t just leave. She’d find me if I went back to Chicago. Besides, I refuse to desert Violet and Juma—where is Juma, by the way?” She unfolded her T-shirt.
“She’s with Gil and a real-estate agent. Violet doesn’t deserve any consideration. She got you into this mess. Don’t put that on.” He grabbed the T-shirt and dropped it on the floor. “I like looking at your breasts. Naked is best, but that’s a very classy bra.”
Rose tried to glare, but she couldn’t prevent the tingle of desire in her belly. She halted it right there. “I didn’t have to steal the dress for Violet. I chose to. You may find this hard to understand, but Violet and her daughter, and Tony Kara-plis, too, are about as close as I’m ever likely to get to family.” A new fear washed over her. “That is, if I haven’t screwed up already by running over here. I don’t want Biff to come to harm, but I couldn’t let you be killed.”
She struggled with a wave of sadness. “I hope Violet understands. Zelda might, but she’s loyal to her mom—and I really love seeing that, don’t get me wrong. I would have loved to be loyal to my mother.” She bent to retrieve the T-shirt—anything rather than choking up. “And Tony’s hugely comforting, just what I would have liked for a dad.” Her voice trailed off. “I need them. I don’t know what I’ll do if they don’t understand.”
“If they don’t, they’re not worth your time.” She barely suppressed a snarl. “That’s all very well for you to say. You have a father, even if you don’t get on with him. I don’t even know who mine is. My stepdad was okay until I hit puberty, but then he started coming on to me. I don’t blame him for being attracted—men don’t seem to be able to control that—but eventually it got out of hand and I had to leave.” She sniffed. “Your mother loves you and gives you t-teapots.” A few traitorous tears escaped. “Mine says it’s my fault my stepdad couldn’t run for state senator, because his teenage stepdaughter left home to become a mobster’s mistress.”
“Your fault?” Jack clutched his head. “Unbelievable.” “It’s always my fault,” Rose said glumly. “Violet may be crazy, but at least she won’t shun me because I have fangs.”
A spasm of pure misery crossed Jack’s face. No camouflage, none at all. “Hell, Rose—”
“I’m sorry.” Rose sniffled. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Upset me? I insulted you. I should get on my knees and beg you to forgive me.” He eyed her. “But I can think of far more enjoyable things to do on my knees.” His di
mple peeped out, and Rose gave a wet little chuckle.
He put an arm around her. “I’m not saying you should give up your new friends or even run away. I’m saying that until we find a way to control Titania, you should stay with me. I can protect you, and I can call on other resources as well.”
She made a dismissive noise. “Money? Influence with the cops? That’s sweet of you, but I’m used to taking care of myself.” She pulled her T-shirt over her head. “You’re not obliged to protect me.”
“I want to.” He’d never looked at her like this before. Those eyes seared all the way to her heart. What the hell was that? Concern? Love?
No. Love? That was crazy. A little kindness, some hot sex, and she was plummeting into love.
He sat beside her, leaning in to kiss her, but she turned away. “Violet wants me to stay at her place while I make her a new gown. I’ll be safe there.” She unlaced one of her spare sneakers. “I appreciate the thought, Jack, but as I said before, you don’t owe me.”
He grabbed her shoes and tossed them into the secret room. “It’s nothing to do with owing you. That’s a load of crap to do with my relationship with my father. I always hated his generosity to me when he was so unkind to my mother, and her patience with him made me feel I should hate him all the more. Like someone had to do the despising, so since she refused, it fell to me.” He shrugged. “That didn’t stop me from letting him pay for everything, so maybe I should be despised instead.”
“No!” Rose cried. “Your parents’ relationship was none of your business.”
A smile flickered at the corner of his mouth. “Tell that to a seven-year-old. And yes, I know I’m not a kid anymore. I’m trying to shed the baggage.”
She went after her shoes, and he followed. “The thing about vampires started when a vamp broke up my parents’ marriage. It’s a long story, but they’re back together now.” He paused. “Trust me, I have a thousand reasons to protect you. To take care of you.”
He wanted to take care of her?
A Taste of Love and Evil Page 22
