“Good. Pregnant. Special sandwich.”
“Umm, don’t go to any trouble,” she whispered, feeling like she’d turned a corner into the Twilight Zone.
He just grunted.
Jacey backed out of the room. She needed to find Derrick. Now.
She let out a screech of surprise as she backed into something hard and unyielding. She turned. Ice-blue eyes stared down at her, analyzing her. Her heart in her throat, she could only stand there, staring back.
If she were smart, she’d be running the other direction right now. But she had a feeling she wouldn’t get far.
“Derrick’s looking for you,” the entirely too scary man said. “Come into the living room.”
He turned away as though fully expecting her to follow him. “Who are you?” she whispered.
“Hunter,” he said over his shoulder as though that explained everything.
With a shake of her head, Jacey followed him down the hallway toward the living room.
“Jacey!”
She turned to find Derrick walking toward her, a look of intense relief on his face. He drew her into his arms.
“Christ, when you weren’t upstairs in our room, I almost had a heart attack,” he told her.
“Sorry, I woke up hungry so I thought I’d come down for something to eat.”
He ran his hand over her hair. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she told him.
“Good. Come into the living room. I want you to meet some people.”
“Umm, yeah, I think I’ve already met a couple of them. Are you holding an annual bad-ass meeting or something?”
Derrick let out a surprised laugh. Tension drained from his body just as she’d hoped.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say the word ass before.” He placed an arm over her shoulder, bringing her closer to him as he led her to the living room.
As they entered, Hunter sat beside another large man who was working on a tablet. A third man sat hunched over a computer that was set up on a table in a corner of the room. He didn’t bother to look up.
“She doesn’t obey very well, does she?” Hunter said with disapproval, searing her with those icicle eyes.
“Depends on who’s doing the ordering,” she replied angrily. No way was she going to be bullied by him, no matter how scary looking he was.
Hunter raised a brow, his eyes flickering over her again as though reassessing her. “Well, you’re going to have to learn how to follow my orders, and quickly, sweetheart.”
She glanced up at Derrick in confusion. Who were these guys?
Derrick took her hand, leading her to the sofa across from where Hunter and the other man sat.
“Jacey, this is Hunter Black. He owns a security firm. I’ve hired his firm to help protect you and to investigate Stephan.”
“That was fast,” she said.
“I owed Roarke a favor,” Hunter said.
“You’re friends with Roarke?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t exactly call us friends,” Hunter replied.
“They’re as friendly as anyone gets with Hunter,” the man sitting next to Hunter said.
“This is Jaron,” Hunter said with a nod to the dark-haired man beside him. “The guy glued to the computer is Connor, our tech expert.”
Connor glanced up briefly and nodded.
“Nice to meet you both. Umm, what about the man in the kitchen?”
“That’s Tiny. He’ll be in shortly. I also have other men stationed outside the house.”
Tiny? She didn’t see what was so tiny about him.
Before she could ask any further questions, Tiny entered carrying a large platter full of sandwiches.
“Here.” He sat the plate down on the coffee table between the two couches. “Yours.” He pointed to the top sandwich, then looked at Jacey.
“Thank you,” she replied, picking up the sandwich, not daring to do anything else. She took a bite, her eyes closing at the bliss that crossed her taste buds. “Wow, this is really good.”
Tiny just grunted.
“Is your business located in Austin, Mr Black?”
“No,” Hunter replied. “We’re based in Dallas. We have two teams, though, that operate throughout the country. We’ll soon have everything we need on this guy,” Hunter said to Derrick. “He’ll be running scared once we’re through. Won’t know what hit him.”
“Be careful not to underestimate him or Evan,” Jacey warned, the sandwich sitting heavily in her stomach.
“Oh, don’t you worry, we know all about Evan Sanders,” Hunter said. “It’s another reason we took this job. We’ve been after him for a while.”
“Really?”
“He’s a psychotic bastard,” Hunter told her, his eyes growing colder. “Everyone will be safer when he’s gone and I’ll be a lot happier.”
Somehow she couldn’t quite see Hunter as ever being happy.
“Jacey, I want you to tell us everything you know about Sanders and his brother.”
By the time Jacey was finished answering Hunter’s questions, she felt completely drained. She leaned against Derrick’s shoulder, trying to ignore the throbbing in her head.
“Headache.”
She looked over at Tiny who had spoken.
“Just a small one.”
Derrick turned her head gently so she was facing him. He ran his thumb across her cheek. Then he turned to face Hunter. “I’m taking her upstairs to rest. Any more questions can wait.”
Hunter narrowed his gaze, but didn’t say anything as Derrick stood then scooped Jacey up into his arms. He walked from the room.
“I just got out of bed,” she complained as he walked into their bedroom and placed her on the bed.
“The doctor said you needed rest and little stress. This situation isn’t exactly stress-free, but I can make sure you rest.”
“Do you really think they can help?” she asked after he’d tucked her in.
He ran his hand over her hair. “If anyone can, it’s Hunter and his team. I’d put my money on them any day.”
Yeah, that’s what she thought too.
“I have something for you.” He stood and walked over to his nightstand. Pulling open the drawer, he drew out a jewelry box.
Her hands shook as she took it. It was too large to be a ring box. Opening it, she saw a gorgeous locket made from rose gold.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I want you to wear it all times, promise me.”
She gazed up at him and saw the intensity in his face.
“I can’t marry you, not yet. But I can claim you. You are mine, Jacey Reynolds. I don’t ever want you to forget it.”
“I won’t,” she whispered. “I could never forget that, I never want to.”
He grinned and slipped it around her neck, doing up the clasp at the back.
“All mine,” he said with satisfaction.
Jacey placed her hand on his chest. “You know, you could also claim me in another way.” She couldn’t quite believe she was being so bold with the house filled with strangers, but she needed him desperately.
Derrick shook his head, a look of intense need on his face. “As much as I would like to take you up on that, you need to rest. Plus, I want to check with the doctor before we have sex.” He placed his hand over her stomach.
“I feel fine, Derrick.”
He shook his head. “I won’t take the chance of hurting you.”
She knew his mind was made up and it was kind of nice to have someone put her health first.
“Okay,” she agreed. “How are we going to get to the doctor’s, though?”
“Don’t worry, Hunter is coming up with a plan. You just get some rest, baby girl.”
He sat with her, running his hand over her head until she drifted off into sleep.
Chapter Seventeen
Jacey smoothed down the sexy, babydoll nightgown she was wearing, nervous anticipation filling her.
It had been fiv
Sure, there were a number of men in her house, but their bedroom was well away from the commandeered living area. She’d grown used to having the guys around; it was going to be quiet when they left.
If they ever left. It had over a week since they’d nearly been run off the road and nothing more had happened.
Hunter seemed to think that Stephan and Evan were biding their time, waiting for the right moment. Jacey just wanted this over and done with. She was starting to think that the only way to end this was to set a trap.
With her as the bait.
But she hadn’t quite worked up the courage to suggest that yet.
Sighing, she sat on the side of the bed. What was she doing? She wasn’t good at seduction. Even though Ava and Holly had assured her that this outfit would rock Derrick’s socks off, she still wasn’t sure.
She nibbled at her thumbnail. But she wanted him to touch her, to take her, hell, she’d give anything for him to threaten to spank her at the moment. He’d been treating her like a china doll and that had to stop.
As Jaron liked to say, all you needed was a good plan and the rest would fall into place. Jaron had turned out to be the most talkative of the bunch. Connor was pretty much attached to his computer, while Tiny still spoke in one or two word sentences. Hunter spoke, but most of the time it was to tell her what to do or not to do. The man was a regular grouch.
Out of all of them, though, it was Tiny who had grown on her the most. He was constantly trying to take care of her in his gruff way, cooking her favorite foods, guilting her into eating when she didn’t think she was hungry. She was even starting to put on some weight and the baby was becoming more pronounced, which made her so happy.
Standing, she turned from side to side in front of the large freestanding mirror.
The girls were right. She was going to knock Derrick’s socks off.
***
Derrick walked up the stairs to their room long after he knew Jacey would have gone to sleep. He felt slightly bad about staying out of their bed until she fell asleep and then rising before she woke. He knew she didn’t understand why he hadn’t made love to her since the car crash, and he hated the confusion and hurt on her face when she looked at him.
But he was simply too frightened of hurting her. He didn’t know if he had it in him to be gentle right now. He was feeling too primal to go slow and easy.
If he took her, it would be hard, his walls would come crashing down and all the dominance and fear he’d been holding back would come pouring out.
There was no way he would ever risk hurting her, so it was best that he didn’t touch her at all. She would thank him in the long run. Even though the doctor had given them the all-clear to enjoy sex, Derrick was certain the doctor wouldn’t approve of the things Derrick wanted to do to her.
Like tie her to the bed, spread-eagled and at his mercy. He’d then feast on her pussy, driving her over the edge into orgasm over and over until she was limp with pleasure, completely satiated. Then he’d fill her ass with a plug, driving it into her, thrusting it into her tight hole until she was begging him to take her.
But he would hold off, taking her nipples into his mouth, playing with them, toying with them until neither of them could take any more.
Then he’d take her. Over and over. Rough, hard and fast.
No. He shook his head. She was pregnant, fragile. He had no business even thinking about taking her this way. Taking a deep breath, Derrick turned the door handle and stepped into the bedroom.
Finally, Jacey thought as the door opened and Derrick walked inside. She’d almost given up on him and gone to sleep. But as she watched his eyes widen, the way he stilled and just stared at her, she was glad she’d stayed awake.
She’d propped herself up on the bed, some pillows behind her back and her legs spread out wide.
She wasn’t wearing any panties.
His gaze roamed over her stiffening nipples, easily visible in the see-through teddy, down to her shaved pussy. She wished she could have waxed it, but wasn’t about to ask Hunter if he could arrange a trip for her to a salon for that.
She could just imagine how that conversation would go.
“What are you doing?” Derrick asked, shutting the door behind him. “Anyone could have come in here and seen you.”
Okay, not quite the reaction she’d been hoping for.
“Everyone else knocks,” she told him.
“Where the hell did you get that?” he asked, gesturing at her teddy.
“I bought it the day I went out with Holly and Ava. Don’t you like it?”
His reaction was putting a damper on her arousal and she had to fight the urge to close her legs.
“It’s not exactly going to keep you warm,” he told her in a harsh voice.
That did it. Temper racing through her veins, she sat up.
“It’s not supposed to keep me warm. You are. Although I suppose if you don’t find me attractive anymore, I could go find someone else to keep me warm.”
His eyes widened. Reaching around behind him, he locked the door.
“Oh, baby, you didn’t just dare me. You don’t ever want to do that.”
Jacey gulped as he stalked toward her. This was more the reaction that she’d been hoping for, although now that she had his interest, she started to wonder at her sanity.
“I hope you’re fully prepared for what you just started,” he told her. “If not, say so now.”
She swallowed heavily. Part of her wasn’t so sure, but she wasn’t about to back down now.
She raised her chin. “I am. Are you?”
A wicked grin crossed his face. “I need to go and get a few things. While I’m out of the room you’re going to strip yourself naked. From now on, when we’re alone in this room together you will always be naked.”
Christ, what had she been thinking?
“I want you at the edge of the bed on your hands and knees, your legs spread nice and wide.”
Derrick unlocked the door and left the room, leaving her in a slightly dazed state. Sitting up, she removed the teddy. Well, that seemed like a waste of money. Always naked in their bedroom? Was he kidding?
She was pretty sure he wasn’t. Not in the slightest.
On her hands and knees, Jacey positioned herself at the edge of the bed then spread her legs wide. She blushed, realizing exactly how on show she was. Two minutes later the door opened and shut. The lock clicked into place.
“Beautiful,” Derrick told her. He ran his hand over her backside and she trembled in anticipation. “Very good. I find it extremely sexy when you obey me.”
Pleasure engulfed her. She liked pleasing him. This is what she’d dreamed of having with Stephan, only that had ended in a nightmare.
“What are you thinking, Jacey?”
“Nothing much.”
“Not good enough.”
His hand smacked down on her buttocks. He stopped before the stinging pain could morph into something more pleasurable.
“What were you thinking about, Jacey? And I suggest you answer me truthfully.”
She caught her breath, letting it out slowly. “I was just thinking about how much I enjoy pleasing you.”
He kissed one butt cheek then the other.
“Thank you.” He ran his hand between her legs, circling his finger around her clit.
He pressed on her shoulders. “Crouch right down, baby. I want this gorgeous ass sticking up.”
She did as he ordered, her breath catching as he ran his hands over her still hot butt cheeks, rubbing the heat in. He parted her cheeks and leaning in, licked her asshole.
Jacey groaned, the feel of his tongue against her asshole deliciously, darkly erotic. With two of his fingers, he circled her clit as he lapped at her asshole. Jacey bit her lip, trying to hold still, to keep her cries of need from escaping. But they fought their way free, filling the room as her breath came in hard, fast pants.
Her arousal grew higher, her need overwhelming… and then he pulled away.
“Derrick,” she groaned in protest.
A heavy smack to her ass. “What do you call me?”
“Sir?” she replied.
“Better, much better,” he said with satisfaction.
“Why did you stop, Sir?”
“Because you were about to come and tonight you have to earn your pleasure. Reach back and part your butt cheeks for me.”
Jacey turned her head to the side as she reached around and pulled her cheeks apart. It was silly to feel embarrassed, he’d just had his tongue on her asshole for God’s sake, but she couldn’t stop the heat from rising in her cheeks as she held herself open to him, putting herself completely on display.
“Very nice,” he told her. He prodded at her asshole with a lubricated finger, pushing it slowly inside her. In and out. Over and over.
Jacey fought not to move, not to thrust her hips back onto that single digit. Derrick pushed a second finger into her asshole, twisting them, pumping them inside her. He used two fingers on his other hand to tease her throbbing clit.
On the verge of coming, he withdrew both sets of fingers, patting her mound comfortingly as she cried out at the loss.
“Shh,” he told her. “Hold those cheeks wide open for me. Very good.” Something thick and foreign prodded against her asshole. “Open up. Relax. I’m just plugging you. It’s a bit bigger than the last one but you can take it.”
A bit bigger? He had to be kidding. Jacey took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly, forcing herself to relax as he relentlessly pushed the plug inside her.
“Damn, you look so pretty with my plug inside you.” He twisted the plug, making her breath catch in arousal. “Arms out above your head. Good, keep them there.”
Derrick ran his hands up her thighs, over her buttocks, pressing down on the plug, making her groan. He pressed against her back and she felt his erection, thick and hard, against her buttocks as he reached underneath her to massage her breasts.
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