“Don’t worry,” Annie responded before he could get a word out. “I’ll have something sent over from the deli.”
He acknowledged Annie’s plan with a wave, not really caring.
“It’s a liquid that makes a perfect seal over skin so medics can dress wounds faster and better.”
Hurrying down the stairs, he was halfway to his table before he realized Merri had stopped at the bottom of the stairs and was looking around.
“Wow, Jimmy.”
He smiled. Yeah, he thought the same thing. He was a lucky son-of-a-bitch. Not many scientists, crazy or otherwise, could boast running their own lab at his age. And he’d been running it since he’d completed his doctoral work in chemistry at MIT.
“I can see why you’d never want to leave. Your parents built this for you?”
“Yeah, after the second time I nearly blew up the house downtown. I’d been working out of the basement there.”
“So why aren’t you working at Livermore or Southwest or teaching at MIT?”
He paused but not because he had to think about it. He’d been approached by both highly respected laboratories and several others, but he’d still been reeling from Barbara’s attempted suicide. His parents had encouraged him to come home, take a few months, and give his decision time.
“Because I don’t have to. Because I’ve got everything here I need to do what I want and no one to answer to.”
No one to get hurt when he didn’t call her for five days because he was buried in work. No one to drown him in regulations or argue with him about why his theory was shit.
When he made mistakes, they were his own, not some other idiot’s.
No, he didn’t play well with others and he knew it. But at least he didn’t kid himself about it or make other people’s lives miserable because of his failings.
Yeah, he was fucking lucky as hell that his parents had been able to subsidize him until he’d gotten his business off the ground. And he made damn sure he repaid them. Not in cash, which they refused, but in services.
That was another good thing about working for himself. He could work on as many projects as his brain could process.
“Don’t you get lonely?”
He laughed at her obvious, genuine confusion. “No. It’s not like I never come up for air. I’ve got friends. I go out. I’ve got a family I actually enjoy hanging out with.”
“So are you… Do you have a girlfriend?”
He leaned back against the table, wondering what that look on her face meant. “Do you think I’d be kissing you if I had a girlfriend? No, I’m not seeing anyone.”
Her expression lightened immediately and he shook his head. He didn’t get a chance to say any more though because she began to close the distance and he lost that train of thought in her smile.
The only thought that stuck was that he wanted to wrap his hands in those curls and pull her close enough for another kiss.
When she was only inches away, he wondered if she’d freak if he just did it.
Turned out he didn’t have to wonder.
She didn’t stop until only centimeters separated them. And when her hands curved around his neck and tugged him down, he didn’t hesitate.
Their lips met harder than he’d expected, but her mouth opened immediately. Her tongue flicked against his upper lip and made him groan at the heat that exploded over him like a down draft.
His arms wound around her and closed the remaining space between them. She came willingly, letting him take over the kiss and devour her.
His hands spread across her back, one moving up to cup her head, the other moving down to curve over her ass and press her hips to his.
His erection thickened as she moaned and rubbed herself against him.
Maybe no one would notice if he locked the access door and they didn’t emerge for a few hours.
Then he remembered that Annie had ordered him food.
No need to worry about that yet though.
Not when she kissed like she was starved for him.
When she broke the kiss, he had one hand beneath her shirt, stroking the soft skin of her side, and the other tugging on those curls, forcing her head back so he could kiss her deeper.
“Jimmy. Either your phone’s beeping or something’s about to explode.”
That last would be him, though he knew she wasn’t talking about how close he was to coming. But she was right. Annie was calling from upstairs. That was her tone.
He asked the question on the tip of his tongue before he decided it was a stupid idea. “Would you like to skip dinner with Janey and Mal tonight and head out on our own?”
She barely hesitated. “Sure. I’d love to.”
Chapter Six
“I can’t believe that last pin didn’t go down.” Merri continued to shake her head. “I swear it defied the laws of gravity. Maybe you have some secret invention that turns bowling pins into Weebles. They never go down.”
Jimmy laughed, the sound sending shivers down Merri’s back, even though she figured she should be desensitized to it by now.
“Trust me. I’d be a hell of a lot richer if I had made one of those. Bowlers take their game seriously.”
Jimmy didn’t seem to take anything seriously. She’d spent most of dinner laughing, whether he was talking about his family or his work. For Jimmy, both were pretty entangled.
When they’d gotten to the bowling alley, they’d talked bowling. Jimmy knew a lot about it, which kind of amazed her until he’d told her he’d worked on a polymer that made the actual bowling surface as slick as glass but didn’t have to be polished.
He’d created that one about ten years ago, after he and Nic had argued about how the unpolished surface made Jimmy lose the game.
Jimmy didn’t like to lose almost as much as he liked to laugh. But he hadn’t seemed to mind that she’d nearly beaten him because most of his attention had been focused on her.
Even though she’d chickened out on wearing the dress, the new form-fitting tan cargo pants and collarless blue top with three-quarter-length sleeves and colorful embroidery had made her feel pretty.
And surprisingly enough, she hadn’t gotten anything on it.
So when Jimmy asked her to come into his house for a drink when they got back to his place, she jumped at the chance.
She wanted to continue that kiss from this afternoon. Hell, she wanted to do more than kiss.
She wouldn’t be here forever. Sooner rather than later she’d head back to Fort Meade and her life. Her real life.
And she wanted to have sex with Jimmy before she did.
“Hey, Mare, you want a beer?” Jimmy called from the kitchen. He’d left her in the living room, staring at the bookshelves. “Oh wait, I do have amaretto. Ever have it with Coke? Tastes almost like cherry soda.”
“Sounds good.”
Would he turn her down if she just flat-out asked him to take her to bed?
Would he think she was a slut?
Hell, the guy had a hard-on every time she kissed him. That had to mean he wanted her too. Right?
Only one way to find out.
She moved to the couch, making sure she left enough room for him. When he returned seconds later, she bit her lip to stop from smiling when he slid onto the cushion next to her.
Taking a sip of her drink, she arched her eyebrows. “Ooh, this is good. I can’t believe I’ve never had one of these before.”
“Glad you like it. If I’m in the mood for something sweet, this is usually what I go for.”
“So you have a sweet tooth?”
Jimmy’s grin made the bottom fall out of her stomach. “Yeah. A big one, actually.”
She took a fortifying swallow of alcohol then put it carefully on the coffee table. “So Jimmy, I think I’d like to change the terms of our deal.”
His grin faded, and she swore she saw disappointment in the creases on his forehead before he wiped it away with bland curiosity. It gave her the courage to blurt out wh
at she wanted.
“I just want to go to bed with you.”
He blinked and his lips parted as if he were going to say something, but no sound emerged.
She didn’t want to give him the chance to say no.
Leaning forward, she put her hands on his cheeks and pressed her mouth against his, putting every ounce of desire she had for him into that kiss.
He froze but she wasn’t going to let him say no. He wanted her. She knew he did—
With a ragged groan, Jimmy kissed her back.
But he still kept his hands to himself.
So she kissed him how she’d been dying to all night. Tasted him and the smoky sweetness of the amaretto on his lips and his tongue.
It felt decadent to kiss him, almost forbidden. But soon it wasn’t enough.
She wanted her hands on his naked body, wanted to stroke all that smooth skin she’d seen that morning.
And even though she wasn’t in the habit of asking men to take off their clothes, she did know how to order them around. She’d gotten pretty good at that.
She pulled away just far enough to look him in his eyes. “Jimmy, I want you to take your shirt off.”
The smile that lit his face made her sizzle inside. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
Her stomach flipped at the tone of his voice when he called her sweetheart. And that smile…
Reaching behind him, he grabbed his shirt and pulled it off in one smooth motion. Gleaming, tanned skin. That broad chest. Those strong arms corded with muscles.
She wanted to sigh but locked down the urge. She had to be strong if she was going to get what she wanted. Even though Jimmy didn’t seem at all inclined to deny her.
“I’m going to touch you now.”
Though she hadn’t phrased it as a question, she paused, giving him time to say no.
His smile only grew as he laid his arms across the back of the couch. “Why would I ever say no?”
She didn’t wait for an engraved invitation. With her hands on his shoulders, the warmth of his skin seeped into her body, making her suck in a sharp breath at the sensation.
He echoed her response, his lickable abs tightening and becoming more defined as his hands gripped the cushions.
His gaze locked onto hers and she found she couldn’t look away as her hands began to explore his upper body.
His blue eyes darkened and his lips lost their smile, but she knew he liked her touch. When she circled his nipples with her fingers, his breath hissed between his teeth.
She explored every inch of exposed skin, her own body becoming achy, longing building in her lower body.
“Jimmy.”
“Yes.”
That sounded like an answer to a question she hadn’t asked. And it gave her the courage to ask the question on the tip of her tongue.
“Do you want to take off my clothes?”
“Absolutely.” His tone held a distinct hunger. “But only if you ask nicely.”
A smile caught her by surprise, though she didn’t know why. Jimmy always made her smile, whether he was talking about his projects or his family or they were discussing superheroes and the implausibility of Superman’s ability to fly.
“Would you please take off my clothes so we can be naked and have crazy monkey sex?”
There, she’d gotten him to smile too. But there was so much heat in that grin, she thought her clothes might just spontaneously combust and fall away.
He didn’t hesitate to reach for the hem of her shirt and lift it over her head.
“Is this one of your purchases from today?”
His voice had lowered and so did his gaze, watching as his hands traced the straps of the pink camisole with the built-in bra.
She shivered at the fiery sensation that spread through her and knew her nipples had tightened into hard points he could probably see through the silky material.
“Yes.”
He brushed a knuckle over one of those sensitive tips, making her suck in a sharp breath.
“I like it. But I think you better remove it so I don’t accidently rip it off you. And while you’re at it, take off the pants too.”
Okay, that sounded like a good plan. As long as she got what she wanted as well.
“If I take off mine, you need to take off yours.”
His grin broadened. “Deal.”
With his hands on her hips, he set her on her feet, biceps bulging in mouthwatering ways.
And when he stood, so close she swore she felt heat rising off him, and reached for his pants, she had to swallow hard and remind her fingers to move.
She fumbled around the simple task of unbuttoning and unzipping her pants while she watched him do the same.
As his pants fell, they revealed tight boxer briefs that didn’t do much to hide his straining erection.
Wow. Just…wow.
“No fair,” Jimmy said. “I’m standing here mostly naked and you still have most of your clothes on.”
Her gaze lifted, though it took a long time to get from his hips to his face, considering all the pretty fantastic scenery between. “Maybe I need help.”
“Then I’m the guy for the job.”
He reached for her pants, put his hands over hers, and helped her shove them down. They were tighter than the pants she normally wore so she had to wiggle a little to get them to move.
Jimmy must have liked that because she heard him groan and his smile had disappeared, replaced by blatant desire.
She felt almost light-headed, as if all the air had been knocked out of her lungs as her heart pounded with excitement.
When his lips came down on hers, her brain shut off and all she could process was his kiss.
He’d taken over. And she couldn’t care less. In fact, she welcomed it.
Her arms rose to wrap around his shoulders, but he grabbed her hands before she could and held them down at her sides.
Then he ran his hands up her arms to her shoulders, hooked his fingers in the straps of her camisole, and dragged them down.
When he pulled away, she stared up at him. The intensity of his stare made her shiver.
“Are you cold?”
His voice held enough heat to start an inferno, and she shook her head but couldn’t get her mouth to work.
Apparently he didn’t need her to speak. “Good. Because I like the view.”
Yeah, she did too. But she didn’t have long to admire it because Jimmy kissed her again, cupping her now naked breasts in his hands. She melted against him.
Though they both still wore their underwear, the thin barrier of cotton wasn’t enough to shield her from the heat and hardness of his erection.
Her back arched, pressing her hips against his, pressing her mound against that rigid length.
She wanted to climb him, to wrap her legs around his waist and grind her clit against him until she came.
Wanted to—
She shoved her hands into the waistband of his briefs and shoved them down. Felt him suck in a breath as she stroked his firm butt before moving her hands so they could wrap around his cock. God yes. She wanted.
His groan this time was sharper. His kiss became harder, more demanding. His hands molded her breasts, fingers pinching her nipples, making her writhe.
A second later, her feet left the floor and she found herself being set on the edge of the couch as Jimmy went to his knees in front of her.
With his mouth still on hers, he spread her legs so he could kneel between them. After another drugging kiss, he released her mouth and started pressing his lips in a string of kisses down her neck to her breasts.
He spent endless minutes playing with her nipples, licking them, sucking. Making her fall into a languid state where desire made her drunk.
Her hands spread across his shoulders, clutching at him, trying to bring him closer, but he held fast, his hands on her waist keeping her where he wanted her.
The power had shifted but she couldn’t care less as long as he continued.<
br />
And he did, until she thought she was going to hyperventilate before they actually got to the sex.
Who knew a geek would be so…intensive about sex?
Then again, the man spent hours at a time working with flammable materials that could blow up in his face. Obviously he needed a way to decompress.
He definitely had this method well in hand.
Slowly, she sank back onto the cushions, body on fire for him. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his shoulders, holding on so he couldn’t get away. His teeth nipped at her skin, his hands smoothed away the hurt.
She felt like she was sinking farther and farther under his spell until she found herself sprawled on her back on the couch with Jimmy above her, his cock nudging at the entrance to her body.
When had he stopped to put on a condom?
And did she really care?
No, not really.
He teased her lower lips then stopped. She moaned, her eyes flying open to find out why.
“Merri.”
Ah. This she knew was a question. And she had the perfect answer. “Yes.”
His grin had her sex clenching even before he started to push inside. It made for a tight fit. And damn, that felt so good.
As he slowly sank deeper, her knees lifted higher, her ankles locking at the small of his back.
When he was all the way in, he planted both hands beside her shoulders and stared down at her. “Okay?”
“Absolutely. Move, Jimmy. Please.”
He didn’t smile again but she knew he would have if he could. Instead, he started to thrust, long and deep. No fussy, tormenting little jabs. No, this was full-out sex.
And she loved it.
She met him thrust for thrust, unembarrassed by her moans, by the way she clenched down on him.
Each time she did, he groaned and thrust harder.
Her orgasm hit her hard as he ground the base of his cock against her clit.
She arched into him, felt his cock begin to jerk inside her.
And thought, I could get used to this.
*
Holy hell, she’d worn him out.
It hadn’t exactly been monkey sex, Jimmy thought as he scooped up Merri from the couch and shambled toward his bedroom without waking her. They hadn’t swung from the ceiling or anything, but his heart still raced like he’d been chased for miles by zombies.
Blown Away Page 9
