by Paige Stone
“At first he wasn’t very cooperative in answering my questions,” the bounty hunter shrugged, “but he finally came around.” He scanned the room and smiled. “I see you have this one under control.”
“And where is the partner now?” Jake asked quickly knowing the High Priestess wanted these two alive. Jake had given her his word.
“He’s in the trunk.” Lochlan answered with a straight face.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Would you mind taking this one too?” Jake asked as Brian squeezed his eyes shut in protest. “You can deliver them both to the High Priestess,” he suggested. “I’m sure you’ll be compensated well.”
“I may just take you up on that.” In two strides Lochlan crossed the room and grabbed Brian from Jake’s grip. “These are for your safety,” Lochlan muttered as he threw a couple of zap straps around Brian’s wrists before ushering him to the door. “Trust me on that.”
“By the way,” Lochlan stopped at the open door and turned back to Jake. “The guy in the trunk finally did admit that their experiments had failed.”
Lochlan gave Brian a little shove as he passed along the information he’d finally been able to gather. “Apparently they were close to developing the mowart, but not complete.”
He watched as relief washed over Jake’s face. “Isisa will be happy to hear that. Thanks, buddy.”
Lochlan nodded towards his friend, “It was nice working with you again, Jake.” He turned to Emily and said good night as he walked outside, his words trailing off.
Emily leaned against the wall then melted down to the floor. “That was just another night for him, wasn’t it?” She, on the other hand, was still trying to absorb what had just happened.
“It was.” Jake answered her quietly then joined her on the floor. “He’s a good guy to have on your team.”
She agreed. She’d have to remember that, if ever the need arose again.
“Will you be okay for a few minutes?” He rested his hand on her thigh. “I just need to make a couple of phone calls.”
“Of course,” Emily knew her aunt would need to be informed of these latest developments. “She’ll be very pleased with how things have turned out.”
“It’s nice knowing we can all rest a bit easier.” Jake got up from the floor and started to make his necessary calls.
After relaying the information to the rest of the team and a jubilant High Priestess, he focused his attention back on Emily. With an extraordinary day almost behind them, he was now eager to move forward.
He stood in front of her and offered Emily his hand. “How you would like an evening at the Santa Monica pier?” His eyes burned with need now that the immediate danger had passed.
Emily thought about the dunes of sand and beautiful palm trees that awaited them at Jake’s office and could think of nothing she would enjoy more.
“I’d love that.” She silently took his hand as Jake helped her to her feet.
He wrapped a protective arm around her as they left her townhouse and walked to his car. The drive to his office might have been quiet, but the inside of the car was filled with electricity. When they finally parked; Emily didn’t bother waiting for Jake to open her door, instead she scrambled out herself.
“Take me to Santa Monica,” she whispered when Jake opened the door to his office building.
He clutched Emily’s hand and led her down the hallway, back into the room at the end filled with sand, palm trees and magic. He stopped quickly to grab a large towel from the closet.
As soon as the door opened, the room was alive with the lights of the pier once again. “It’s so beautiful,” Emily whispered as she stared at the Ferris wheel on the wall then took in the handmade beach one more time.
Her memories now firmly restored, she could truly appreciate the beauty of the room Jake had replicated for her. Just for her, she thought to herself. Knowing he had created the entire scene to help her to remember made her heart hammer wildly in her chest. Emily’s body, flooded with desire, tingled in anticipation of his touch.
Jake eyed Emily as he arranged the large towel on a dune of sand. He easily and swiftly lifted her in to his arms then gently placed her down under the palm tree.
“It’s crazy, but it feels like I’ve waited forever for you to return to me.” Jake shook his head at the intensity of his feelings for Emily.
“No more waiting.” She pulled him closer and arched herself into his hard body. The dizzying connection they shared was electric. The hot current of need that coursed through her was almost more than she could stand.
Jake let out a muffled moan as he held her close, her body molding to his. He lifted the bottom of her shirt and caressed her skin as he slowly, eagerly began to devour her. His teeth scraped her bottom lip as his tongue probed the depths of her mouth while his fingers deftly undid her blouse.
The ache he felt for her grew as the mounting passion became more intense. He pushed open her shirt to expose her flat, supple stomach. He traced his fingers gently along her skin until he came to her breasts. Wrapping his arm behind her, Jake easily unhooked her bra. Emily’s breath caught in her chest when he finally cupped her breast in his hand, and teased her nipple with gentle strokes of his thumb.
She felt desperate to have her hands on him. In a move that surprised even her, she maneuvered him onto his back then straddled him in the sand. Her open blouse slid off, followed quickly by her bra.
The control was hers as she sat on him, shirtless with her tousled hair and racing pulse. Emily took her turn as she lifted Jake’s shirt up and over his head.
“You are magnificent,” she gushed as she lowered her lips to his chest. She kept his hands at bay while her lips ran across his chest and down to the band of his jeans. Jake held his breath as she undid the button, slid the zipper down, then reached beneath and took hold of him.
He nearly exploded with desire. “You wicked, wicked witch.” He grabbed her arms, sat up and rolled on top of her once again.
He moved his hands slowly, tracing sensual lines down to her waist. He slipped his thumb under the band of denim, rubbing it back and forth, watching the need build in Emily’s fiery eyes. He unbuttoned her jeans then peeled them away. He gently opened her legs and ran his fingers around the edge of her sexy lace underwear.
Emily closed her eyes and pushed her hips closer to him as her body broke open with longing. Jake tucked his fingers under the fabric and found her velvet mound, wet and waiting for him. He leaned over and gently kissed her stomach as he plunged his fingers into her. She arched herself against his hand as she cried out in pleasure.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders as she tried to pull herself even closer into him. Her need was so overwhelming Emily thought she would burst.
She reached between their writhing bodies and found his erection. Currents continued to shudder through her as she sought his eyes; the eyes that mirrored her own desperate desire. She stroked him, gently at first then faster as he continued to probe her with his magical fingers. When she thought she would climax right there, she moaned and pushed him to the side.
Trembling with need, Emily’s words were choppy and demanding. “I need you...now,” she reached up, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. “Now!” Her voice was confident as she watched Jake strip away the rest of his clothes.
As the last of the clothing barriers fell, Jake pulled her close. He needed to be in her. Matching her desire with his own, his mouth seeking hers, he thrust his erection into her warmth that welcomed him.
Currents rocketed through her. The throbbing was immeasurable in its intensity before they climbed together to the peak, then Emily felt herself explode over the edge into what felt like a million tiny pieces. Still thrusting against Jake she watched him go rigid as he burst, spilling into her.
After a deep breath, he smiled, cupping her breast in his hand once again. He peppered her with soft kisses across her belly. Gone was the urgent need to consume her. He pushed a stray hair awa
y from her face. “You are breathtaking,” he whispered as he softly touched her lips with his.
With their wildly intense needs satisfied, she curled in closer to him, his skin still hot and damp. “So this is what we could have had in Santa Monica if you hadn’t run off to be with my aunt?” She pushed herself up onto one elbow and smiled.
“Your aunt?” Emily saw the shocked looked on Jake’s face.
“You didn’t know?” She smiled at his surprise.
“The High Priestess is your aunt? No I didn’t know!”
“She will be very grateful for what you’ve done to help me.” Emily smiled as she gently caressed his chest.
“Maybe,” Jake was starting to have trouble concentrating. “But let’s leave some of those details to ourselves.”
“I wonder what she’ll think of Lochlan when he drops those two off.” Jake smiled at the thought. “He can be a bit rough around the edges.”
“Hmmm,” Emily wore a wicked smile. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Well, I certainly don’t regret having to wait,” Jake rolled on his side as he began to trace random circles over her hip. “I didn’t mind the chase.”
“I did not make you chase me!” Emily said in mock horror.
“I know,” he admitted. “But I would have. Chased you, that is.” The words came easily. He felt such comfort with Emily. Need and comfort and longing all rolled into one perfect package.
“Stay.” He played with her disheveled hair while his eyes devoured her beautiful naked body. All it took was a look and he could feel his need growing again.
“You want me to spend the night with you in the sand?” She teased even as she felt his erection pushing against her thigh. “After you created all of this for me,” her eyes swept around the room again.
“Of course, I’ll stay.” Her smile lit up the room. She didn’t care about sleep or beds or comfort. All she wanted was Jake.
“Good.” He whispered, “but I actually live upstairs.” His smile was cocky; he was pleased to know Emily was willing to stay curled up on the sand with him all night long. “You might be more comfortable in my bed.”
Her smile was all the answer he needed. “There’s a private stairway to the loft.” He stood then offered his hand to Emily.
She grabbed it with both of hers and smiled once again as the electrical surges swirled through her from his touch. Emily wondered if she’d ever get used to that. She shivered at his touch and hoped that never disappeared.
“My opinion of Santa Monica will never be the same.” She laughed, “I think it’s now my all-time favorite city!”
“Oh, it is definitely my new favorite.” Jake replied. “I think we should visit there again tomorrow, and the next day.” He paused for just a moment, then added, “And maybe the day after that.” He laughed as he chased Emily up to his loft.
“I think we need to visit Santa Monica every day!” Emily squealed as he caught up to her. He easily scooped her into his arms and carried her to his bed where they continued to create magical memories of Santa Monica in the heart of San Francisco.
