FlakJacket

by Nichols, A

  The report from Chicago had not yet come back. He climbed out of his car and walked up the stone walkway to Mr. Hull’s front door. He pushed the buzzer, and the door swung open to Thomas himself. “Mr. Lassiter, come in. I got your message that you wanted to see me.”

  Thomas led him back the hallway and into a door on the right. It was obviously his office. “Sit down. Would you like something to drink?” Jordan shook his head no, but he sat down. “What can I do for you? Have you come to tell me you’ll take on my account? I’ve been after your protective services for years.”

  “I’ve come to ask you about Madison Kelly. It was your man that was her assailant two days ago; he is refusing to cooperate with the police, and your lawyer is planning his defense. Do you have a horse in this race? Would you like to explain?”

  “It was a mistake; it never should have happened. Sam heard me mention the young lady and mistook what I said.”

  “What did you say?”

  “It was nothing. I just said I wanted the girl to stop her crusading, that it was interfering with my business deals. That’s what Sam heard. I added that I wanted her to come back to me, but he didn’t hear that. He acted on what he thought I wanted.”

  “And he thought that you wanted her to be shot? Would he have killed her?”

  Thomas looked at him. “No, I don’t think so. He was just trying to help in his own way.”

  Jordan watched the play of emotions on Thomas’s face. “But you MIGHT have wanted her hurt?” Thomas’s face paled. “You seem to have a long history with Miss. Kelly.” He paused, thinking about what he wanted to say. “What was your relationship, if I may ask?” Jordan watched as Thomas’s body straightened as he wondered what Jordan knew.

  “I heard you had taken an interest in her. I hope it’s not a personal one. She has visions, and she has healing in her hands—there’s great power in her. You’d best be aware of all of that. Oh, and she’s very sensitive about her person. Touch is abhorrent to her.”

  “And your relationship with her?” Jordan asked, pulling at his tie and opening his top button as he sat and waited. The man got up and moved about the room; his thoughts were obviously troubling.

  “That’s private.”

  Jordan stood gracefully from the chair, but his voice when he spoke was glacial. “You incite loathing in her for some reason; I was hoping you could tell me why, but I’ll ask her instead. She received your message, and she doesn’t want to see you. That’s her answer. No more messages, Thomas. In the meantime, stay far from her. Do you understand me?”

  “Look, Jordan. Don’t believe everything she says. I didn’t...I never forced—never mind.”

  “I’ve upset you. Does it have to do with the land you are attempting to lease in Jordan, or did you hurt her? It better be the former.”

  Thomas’s eyes darted to his. “What do you know about the land?”

  “Not as much as I want to know, but I’m very good at gathering information. Remember my Jordanian descent. I suggest you watch your step in that arena and especially with Ms. Kelly.”

  “The word on the street is that she’s more than your client. She’s staying at your home, I believe.”

  Jordan smirked “That’s private.” He moved to the front door as Thomas followed. “Goodnight. If you have anything else you want to talk to me about, let me know.” As he walked down the steps to his car, his mind was in overdrive. Thomas was afraid of Madison, and she was terrified of him?

  CHAPTER 8

  Madison was entertaining questions from a group at the foot of the stage where the discussion had been held. A government official was asking for her help in getting legislation passed to help the refugees of the area resettle. Her mind was filled with numbers, but she sensed when he entered the room.

  Jordan’s eyes caught hers as he came up beside her. “I’m sorry, Miss Kelly, but your car is here. Perhaps you can meet with this gentleman later.” She acknowledged Jordan’s presence and his comment.

  “George, could we meet to talk about this later this week, preferably towards the end? It is something that I am very much interested in, but I’m very pressed for time right now Call and we’ll get together.”

  “I’ll be in touch.” She nodded and turned as she felt Jordan’s hand at her back.

  They walked together towards the car, and he helped her inside, following her in. As the car sped off into the night, Jordan handed her his phone. “Your father is on the line.” She shook her head no, but Jordan persisted, wrapping her hand around it. “Yes.”

  She swallowed, but she took the phone. “Dad. I’m fine. Really, I am. I left you a message telling you that.” There was a pause. “No, I’m not coming home. I have hired protection as you asked, and I’m being well taken care of.” Another pause. “Yes, yes, I will. I’ll keep in better touch with you, I promise, and no, I don’t want you to come here. It would just complicate things for me.” She listened attentively. “Yes. I’m giving the phone back to Mr. Lassiter.” She handed it back to him, her eyes furious as they met his.

  “Yes, sir. I’ll be in touch.” Jordan disconnected, and then he dropped the bomb. “Your father wants to hire me to protect you.”

  “NO! I will do it.”

  “It’s almost a done deal, the contract is being written between us.”

  “Well, tear it up, or I will leave. You have no control over me unless I sign, Mr. Lassiter. I’m of age. Remember that.”

  “I’m the person you said you wanted, Madison. What difference does it make as to who pays?”

  She started to say something to him, but then couldn’t do it. Flashes of him filled her mind, his coming role in her life, his body next to hers. She shut them out and turned her body away from him, staring out the car window, ignoring him and fuming. She muttered under her breath, “Tear it up.”

  “Such a prickly little thing.” She could hear laughter color his voice.

  “I still have a few cards up my sleeve to keep all the men in my life off my back—including you, Mr. Lassiter. I’ll be leaving you at the end of the week; I’ll find somewhere else to stay and let you know the address.”

  He was surprised at her need for control in her own life. “Thanks for the warning.”

  “I’ll have the check on your desk tonight; you no longer report to my father. Do you understand me? I don’t want him involved with this.”

  He watched the personal war inside her unfold, and then he nodded. “Then sign the damned contract.”

  They pulled up in front of his house, and he came around to help her out. She took his hand and pulled herself up, walking quickly onto the porch. He put in the code and unlocked the door.

  “I’m going to bed.” She trounced up the stairs as he watched her retreating body.

  Yes, run, Witch. It is your best means of protection. Keep space between us, he thought heading towards his office. He pulled off his coat and got to work. He looked up seconds later to watch her walk in and throw the signed contract on his desk. “There’s your damned contract.” And she was gone.

  Jordan thumbed through his calls finding several more warnings not to help the red headed witch. Who was threatening him? He needed to get his arms around that. He sighed deeply and picked up the folders of papers on his desk. It was the story of her crusade. He sat down to read it, a glass of whiskey at his side and a legal notepad beside him, scribbling down the names of those who were violently opposed to her positions.

  Jordan looked at the clock. It was going on three, and he was bleary-eyed from the reports; he had consumed way too many glasses of whiskey as he became enmeshed in her life, breathing the very air she did. Madison’s defense of the disputed lands in Jordan was moving and well researched. But there had been more attacks on her person than he knew. There was also a report that she had been detained and beaten to within an inch of her life by several men in Chicago over two years ago. She had been found along a highway, nearly dead. The press buried the incident; Jordan had to wonder why th
at was so. There was report after report of her healing prowess—she had gifted hands. Damn, was she a saint, and if so, what was she doing with HIM? He rubbed his eyes again, trying to stay awake.

  He heard a soft movement in the kitchen, alerting him, and he crept to the doorway. None of his alarms had gone off, but he was still suspicious. He peered out to find Madison making a cup of tea. Her body was barely covered by a T-shirt and short shorts, her long legs showing. When she turned, he could tell she was also braless, and his mind went a step further to ask if perhaps there were no panties. There should be a law about her running around his place half-undressed, but he had invited her into his home. The onus was all on him. He walked out of his office and into the kitchen on silent feet.

  “Miss Kelly.” She jumped as she heard his low voice and spilled her hot tea all down the front of her. She screamed as the hot liquid hit her chest and abdomen. He was spurred into action. “Damn, woman.” He ran to grab a towel and blot it, but his hands felt every inch of her upper body as he soaked up the liquid, and his eyes rested on her peaked breasts through the dampened material.

  “Shit, that’s hot,” she breathed as he worked. She was moving from foot to foot, trying to push the material away and fan herself, but his hands were in the way.

  “Did you burn yourself?” He was upset for not warning her that he was there.

  “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I might have.”

  His intense eyes caught hers and waited as he tried to select the appropriate course of action from his whiskey-befuddled brain. She determined to help him along. It was time to test the waters; he clearly was partially inebriated, his guard down. Jordan was a beautiful man, and if her son took after him? Her sultry voice washed over him: “For once in your life, don’t measure your response, Jordan—just act on your need.” His eyes met hers as something inside him snapped—she was here, she was of age, and she was willing. What more could a man ask?

  It had been some time since he had been with a woman he had any kind of a relationship with. He grabbed her hips harshly and pulled her into his body, his lips finding hers in a searing and commanding kiss. His skilled hands moved up to her very wet top and slipped under it, caressing her and softly rubbing the area kissed by the hot tea; he pushed the T-shirt further up and planted small kisses on the heat reddened areas of her chest and the tips of her breasts, sucking gently on them to her soft sighs and clasping hands. Then he stripped off the offending garment and tossed it.

  His hands splayed to cover each breast as her own passion rose to answer his; she ground her lower body against him as her hands wound in his dark hair, tugging it hard, her hands then falling to his shoulders and encircling his neck. It was as if she couldn’t get close enough to him. Her vision was now her reality, yet she knew he had no deep feelings for her; she was merely a willing receptacle to his need. Would the child come as a result of this sexual liaison? She knew it would.

  “Finally,” she breathed as she captured his lips. He was almost out of control, and that’s what she wanted. He plundered her mouth, his hands slipping from her uncovered breasts to her hips, pushing his hand down into her short shorts. He had been correct; there were no panties to impede his progress, and he cupped her, his finger finding her wetness. There was a God, Jordan thought, even if he had disavowed himself of one, years ago. He could feel her wrapping around him, drinking him in, taking what he was giving, and charging him with unwelcome emotion. He had never felt passion like this before between two people; this would be no rape.

  Witch. “Tell me no now, or I will take everything that you are offering.” He murmured against her lips. It was her last chance to stop him.

  Madison nipped at him, and her voice rang out in arousal. “Do it.” Once again, that’s all it took. He swept her up in his arms and moved down the hall to his bedroom. His body was screaming for everything he could take from her. He placed her on the bed and followed her down, covering her body with his own. Alarms were ringing in the back of his head, but he ignored them, and for the first time in his life—he acted with very little thought.

  He cradled her head in his hands, his tongue busy in her mouth. They snaked down to her waistband, and her short shorts were gone as he slid them from her legs with her help; her naked body lay before him, and his mouth changed direction and went south, kissing her wherever he could find a new, sensitive spot. She managed pull him up and to unbutton his shirt and unzip his pants, but he had to help her to get them off. Her fingers skimmed his length, feeling his hardness in her grasp. His manipulation of her body stopped, bringing a cry from her lips.

  “Don’t stop.”

  His lips teased hers in a dance, and his whisper could barely be heard. “Just slowing a bit. I want to savor you.” Witch, and you are a witch. “I am completely out of my element.” He watched her and captured her yet again, his body now perfectly aligned on hers. He was a sight to behold, a warrior taking what was his.

  Her voice clutched at his soul. “I want you Jordan. Make no mistake about that—this is a not a taking—it is a joining.” She had never seen this part of her future, his body covering hers, his teeth and his lips claiming her everywhere; she could barely handle the gamut of feelings that rushed through her. Never had she felt like this in a man’s arms.

  His low voice growled back: “I’m not sure of anything right now.” His hands were on her hips, then on her backside, along her thighs and finally, they crept deeply into her body to her impassioned cry.

  “Oh God, oh God.” He kept up his finger foreplay as her passion grew, and she became wetter, her womb weeping for him, beckoning him in. Her hips bucked under his hands and mouth. As his hands reached up to pinch the tips of her breasts, he straightened her legs and pushed her feet up to lie flat on his bed pushing her legs wide apart; she was open for him and trembling as he pushed her knees even wider to accommodate his body. He drove in hard, spearing her body with his own to her loud cry. A thin barrier met his thrust and ripped as he plunged in deeply.

  Fucking A. She had never been with a man before.

  His mind struggled to process the information, but she moved beneath him, and he forgot all about that as his own passion soared. He claimed her again, driving in and out of her tight body. Her cries became inarticulate, his moans joining hers. Her legs climbed around his waist as she pulled him tighter into her body and he slid further into her; she tensed as his thumb pushed hard on her sex, driving her into an intensive climax that went on and on. Her scream was his name. He emptied himself into the depths of her, his own climax rolling over him and spiking hers anew. He was in the moment like never before; she was physically his. Heartbeats slowed, muscles relaxed, and breathing became measured, his mouth still wandering over her flesh.

  They lay in a tangled heap of arms and legs and sheets and bodies, her lips on his chest, her hands sweeping softly over his abdomen. He had wrapped his body around hers in a protective stance, holding her to him. His lips continued to place teasing kisses on her forehead.

  “Madison?” It was a painful whisper as if he was unsure how she would feel about what had just happened between them.

  “Jordan. No post mortem now. I just want to lie with you and feel you around me. I am in a very happy place.”

  He hesitated, but he didn’t know what to say and her request seemed reasonable; she wasn’t going any place until morning. He would make sure she was with him this night. “All right.” He kissed her, nibbling a bit. Later, there were things to be said between them—and they would be said.

  She touched her abdomen, knowing the child was there and noting that in his sleep, Jordan’s hand completely covered hers where it lay. They were bringing someone new into the world.

  CHAPTER 9

  He woke to her gentle breathing on his chest, her leg over his as if to keep him in his place. He had no idea what had triggered the explosion between them, but now he would have to take care of it. His repressed emotions had exploded leaving him vul
nerable again—he already felt something for her sweet body, and he had opened himself up again to pain. He shut his eyes feigning sleep. He couldn’t blame the alcohol for what he had done; he had wanted her; It was time to admit it.

  Jordan felt Madison’s small body move from her place atop him; she planted several small kisses on his chest, and she slipped quietly out of the bed and went into the bathroom. She pushed the door almost closed behind her. He glanced down at the small amount of dried blood on the sheet. His fingers touched it—her maidenhood gone, thanks to him. What had happened to his iron control?

  He eased himself up and followed her silently to the bathroom door, inching it open and watching her lean gracefully to fill the tub with water and oils. Her hair cascaded to her shoulders in a riot of red curls and a soft smile played on her lips. As he watched her climb into the tub and sink slowly down into the warm water, he felt a jolt to his system; his sharp eyes noticed many fine white lines crisscrossing her lower back and backside. He picked them up for what they were—whip marks. Someone had severely beaten this woman in the past. There were healed lines at the very tops of her thighs as well. Why hadn’t he noticed? It was because she had hidden it well, and he hadn’t been looking. Who had done this to her? He tried to clear his head, imagining the pain of that whipping.

  And now, they had another tangled web to sort because he had used no protection, another conundrum. Perhaps she was on birth control; he fervently hoped so. Jordan almost went into the bathroom and demanded to inspect the rest of her body, but now was not the time. He bit his lips and went back to the bed, climbing in and sitting up against the headboard, rubbing his jaw, his rock hard body on display. He needed a plan, and he needed it now.

  Madison knew she had little time to bathe. She had two interviews with TV stations to do, and she needed to be ready by 9:00 AM. Jordan had told her he would see she was escorted by car to her destinations; there would be no lingering here. Jordan’s child was in her future—she knew it with certainly now, but her vision had not included the carnal way it would happen or even if the two of them would stay together.