by Lara Swann
She nodded, and to my surprise her face lit with a small smile.
“I’m gone, the moment I can be. I promise. I want to get out, too, Jason - it’s getting hard to bear.”
I stroked her face, one finger gently moving over the swollen area, watching her for any hint of pain, but instead she moaned gently against me, pulling me closer and burying herself in my embrace.
“And there’s something you can do, Jason. I want you - I want to feel you. Kiss me, touch me, take me…wash everything about him away. I just want to feel you.”
The words speared through me, igniting that primal desire I’d pushed away and enveloping me in need. It was the most she’d ever said about the way she felt about me, but I’d always known. It had grown between us without either of us acknowledging it - and now I suddenly had no idea why we’d refused to. Ignoring it didn’t change anything.
My hand slid behind her head and she melted into me as I leaned down to kiss her deeply, taking her mouth in mine and twisting my tongue with hers.
“I promise, baby. Just me. I’ll give you everything.”
It was more than I’d ever said to her, but somehow it felt so lacking.
My hands ran down her body as I nuzzled at her mouth, along her jaw and down her neck, feeling the pulse speed up under me as I determined to show her just what I meant.
We stumbled backwards towards the bedroom but unlike the other times we’d done this, our touches weren’t frantic and hurried. We didn’t rip at one another’s clothes, instead holding onto each other and touching and kissing slowly. I wanted to draw this out and give her exactly what she’d asked for: me, all over her.
By the time we were standing next to the decadently large bed, the need inside me was more powerful than any I’d ever known. I wanted her. I wanted her all for myself, and even admitting it just in my head was enough for that urge to claim her to take over.
“God, Jason…”
My hands found the buttons of her blouse and within moments it was hanging down from her shoulders, exposing the pretty bra she had on that framed her breasts invitingly. My mouth wandered down even as I felt her working at my clothes just the same. The cool air on my burning skin was a welcome relief as our clothes fell around us and I guided her down to the bed.
I stood back for one moment to take second to look at those beautiful curves - open and exposed for anything I wanted. Her thick brown hair curved around her shoulders and my eyes were drawn to the strands playing around her breasts. As if she knew what she was doing to me, her hands wound down that body, touching and caressing in the way I wanted to do and making me want to take small perfect nibbles along every toned muscle.
I groaned and she grinned at me, mischief and light in her eyes. I took in everything she was - the fading bruise on her cheek, along with the way she didn’t let it touch her - and my heart felt full to bursting. I couldn’t imagine anything else. I couldn’t imagine looking down at anyone else, or wanting anything but my perfect fiery girl.
That thought took my breath, but I was moving before I could take it back, before I could regret anything.
I did exactly what I’d wanted to - touching, caressing and nibbling at every inch of skin I could find as I worked my way along her body, reveling in the feeling of her writhing and squirming under me. We’d spent endless evenings exploring each other, pleasuring each other in more ways than I could count, but this felt so different. It took me a few moments before I could pinpoint it, but when I did, I looked up and stared at her.
Then my hands tightened on her, stroking those delicious curves while a predatory gleam ran through me.
“This is mine, Lottie. You wanted me to wash away anyone else, and I’ll do that tonight. I’ll take you so far that you can’t even imagine anyone else, let alone think of them touching you.”
She shuddered under me, moaning, but I wasn’t done. I lowered myself on top of her, pinning her under me and watching as her eyes widened and I took her lips in mine, mouths meeting in an explosion of heat. I nipped at her bottom lip as my voice became a growl.
“Mine, Lottie. I mean it. This is mine. Whatever fucked up shit we’re living with now - I want you, and I’m not letting anyone else touch you. Not ever.”
My hand inched behind her head, holding her tight as one finger caressed that tender spot on her cheek. Leaning forwards, I kissed it, moistening it with my breath as she nodded and clutched at me tightly.
“Yes. Yes, Jason, I want that. Mine, too. I want you. I need you…make me whole again. Make me forget them all.”
I groaned and kissed her harder, pressing against her waiting entrance and finding it wet and eager for me. I wanted to hold back, to wait and take my time, but she pressed up against me.
“Take me. It’s yours. I’m yours. Take me, Jason.”
Her breath was hard against me and I couldn’t resist. I didn’t want to resist her ever again.
I couldn’t believe how strongly that reverberated through me as I shifted and positioned myself. I’d spent so long ignoring it, and now that was the last thing I wanted to do. I didn’t care what it meant, or how screwed we were because of it.
Lottie was worth it.
I must have murmured something like that, because she gasped and threw her legs around me.
I took her mouth at the same time I entered her, and it felt like we were joined at every level as she adjusted quickly to my size and I started thrusting. She flexed around me and I couldn’t remember anything that had ever felt better. Warmth flooded through my body and I groaned in raw need.
My mouth latched onto her firm, round breasts as I pressed deep inside her, making her gasp with every movement while my tongue played with those sensitive nibs.
“Feel me, Lottie - every thrust, every stroke. It’s for you. It’s yours. Nothing else matters.”
She cried out as I started moving harder and faster, my own need beginning to overtake me. I could feel her tightness around me, the way I was stretching her, and I hoped I was leaving her with something to feel for the next few days. I couldn’t help that desire to mark her and claim her as mine.
My tongue worked its way up her collarbone until I was kissing and nuzzling at her neck, feeling her shudder with the pleasure of everything I was doing. The feral grin came automatically, and I stopped to look at her, to watch the pleasure flickering across her face, even in the midst of my own pressing need.
I’d always let myself get lost in the pleasure and heat of it all before, deliberately not letting myself think about what I was doing - or who I was doing it with. Now, I marveled at the beauty of the intense, infinitely strong woman under me. The things she could do and be without hesitation, without compromise. The inherent goodness that still twisted me in knots - the kind that was hard fought for and won, not born of innocence. I found it almost impossible to believe that she was here with me. That we were doing this. That she wanted to be mine.
Her eyes opened and she blinked hazily at me as I dipped to kiss her gently, still holding that beautiful gaze, my burning need both intensifying it and making it hard to focus. Curiosity seemed to flick across her expression, and as her hands lifted from my shoulders to curl in my hair, that strange feeling that had been building in me all evening suddenly relaxed and released and…
“I love you, Lottie.”
Her eyes widened, then a deep happiness washed across her face, the light that came with it chasing the last remaining shadows from that intoxicating gaze. She smiled up at me, wide and uncontrolled as her grip on me tightened.
“I love you too.”
Her voice was a whisper, almost a sigh.
“I loved you from the first moment I saw you, Jason.”
At the dubious expression that crossed my face, she laughed, light and free.
“I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it’s true. I loved you then, deep inside - it just took time to work out what it was.”
Her smile was infectious.
“And when did
you work that out?”
True to form, she tried to answer honestly, and gave me greater insight into my own thoughts than into hers.
“I don’t know. But the first moment I thought it…that was when you said it.”
She shifted on top of me, and gave me an almost impatient look as she captured my mouth again.
“Show me, Jason. Fuck it. Show me you love me.”
If there was ever a challenge I wanted to answer, that was it. I groaned hard, then pinned her under me as I started to move with all the power and strength my military-fit body was capable of. She gasped immediately, moaning while my mouth and tongue lavished her, the sweet warmth of her core closing around me again and again.
I could sense the pleasure and need building within her as I drove towards my own release, wanting to make sure she felt nothing but this. With those three words, everything within me had been released and there was nothing left to deny. I loved her. She was perfect. She was mine.
And in this world we’d built together, out of the ashes and pain of everything around us, there was nothing we needed but each other. Anything else could wait. This was for us.
“Oh god…”
Her muttered exclamation fired my blood and I growled her name as I pushed us closer and closer to that edge. I knew her tells now, could track the slow fire building within her and sense when she was ready to burst. Taken by my own rushing desire, I still leaned forward, my mouth hovering at her ear as I gave one last thrust…two…
“I love you Lottie. My Lottie.”
She screamed as she flew over that edge, crying out my name in such an ecstatic, soaring voice that my own climax rushed through me, her sweet core flexing and drawing it out as we flew together.
My mind saw white as shudders ripped through me and I caught her up in my arms. It took several moments before the fierce pride and joy finally started to fade and I could bring us down gently, shifting to lie next to her.
I wrapped her in my arms and pulled her back close to my chest as I nuzzled at her neck again. I couldn’t get enough of her. No matter what I did, I was never satisfied. I muttered something to that effect and she sighed, shifting back against me.
Even after what we’d just done, my spent cock twitched in interest as it settled against her ass, and she laughed lightly. My hands were still exploring - ever exploring - those delicious curves that I’d made mine tonight. That feeling, more than anything, left me with a satisfaction I’d never felt before.
After a few of the most peaceful moments I could remember, she shifted against me, her head half turning as she spoke into my shoulder.
“Should we…?”
It was a reluctant, resigned question, and I determined then that I was never going to let her feel that way again. I pulled her closer against me.
“No. Tonight, you’re staying with me. Here, in my arms. I’m not letting you go, Lottie. Not ever.”
She sighed with such blissful content it made me curse all the times we’d wasted being too careful, when we could have been doing this.
I didn’t have a clue how we were going to face the real world again after this night, but that was a concern for the morning.
Chapter Sixteen
Lottie
“Whiskey Island. That’s what Dexter said.”
“…three weeks from now?”
I barely caught the muttered response, my heart beating too loudly in my head, and I wished like hell I could keep calm - but I finally had a place. And even a time.
Thank you. Oh god, thank you. Finally.
It had only been a few days since that perfect night with Jason, but they had crawled by, becoming more and more uncomfortable as I found it harder to tolerate being around Jorge’s gang and unable to see Jason every day. Since we’d finally acknowledged what we meant to each other, it had been unbearable knowing I had to come here each day. If it wasn’t for that need to finish it - to know that all the time and sacrifices I’d already made would be worth it - I wouldn’t have gone back after that night.
And now…finally…I could leave.
Pay attention damn you!
I forced myself back to their discussion, feeling horribly exposed listening at the doorway of the next room. But no one came in here - this was my place. Why Jorge had insisted on moving the medical supplies to the room next to his self-appointed office, I had no idea, but it had finally given me the opportunity I needed.
“Time to get ready, Alfonso - the biggest deal we’ve had, and it needs prep.”
Alfonso muttered something again, and I strained forward to catch it. I couldn’t distract myself with what this meant for me - and Jason - now. I had to get everything I could from it.
“I’ll say…really think Xero will keep his word?”
That had my eyes widening - it was the first time I’d ever heard about Xero directly. And that implied…more planning than I liked to think about. My initial guess looked even more likely now - these guys knew Xero, and even more - they were counting on his return.
There was a scuffle, and when Jorge’s voice came again it was almost chilling in its intensity. Out of everything I’d heard and seen from him, I couldn’t remember that.
“Never say that name. Fuck it, you know the rules.”
I heard Alfonso sputtering, almost in time with the skipping beat of my heart, and then he obviously gave in.
“…sorry…”
There was a pause, enough that I almost wanted to edge away from the door, just on the off-chance that they were coming to check whether they’d been heard. It wasn’t likely, but I felt alarmingly paranoid now. My mind was racing with possibilities, and in the brief silence I wondered whether Jorge and Alfonso had been involved with Xero’s gang before…thoughts of Jason’s family flicked through my head before I could stop them, and my own loathing supplied the images of those sinister faces standing over them, even if I was almost certain it couldn’t be true.
Then Jorge’s voice came back and snapped me out of the brief horror, his tone light hearted and easy-going as if it hadn’t been menacing seconds before - those same mood swings that often caught me off guard.
“Stop worrying, Alfi - who knows, maybe you’ll even get a go at one of the girls, eh?”
The good humor of his tone contrasted with those sinister words and I froze.
What the hell were they planning?
I heard Alfonso grunting, then movement, and I retreated quickly. I’d heard everything I needed to, and I wasn’t going to risk this information in trying to hang about for more.
God, what were they doing?!
I couldn’t help the horrific images that flashed through my mind - girls - and I wanted nothing more than to retreat to Jason, tell him everything and get the hell out of here. Leave Jorge for good. I could almost taste the relief of it.
The rest of the day dragged by slowly as I tried to act normal and do everything that was expected. I still liked the chance to help those I could, but what we were doing was more important than that now - and, even if it was selfish, I was done with this. When Jorge’s gang finally broke, I hoped more than anything the small comforts and care I’d shown to some of these kids would give them a hint of better things they could live for. But for those that didn’t, there was little more I could do, and I knew that now.
My father’s debt had been paid a couple of months ago, I had my experience, I’d helped some of these guys, and most importantly, I’d found enough information to end their choke-hold over my home. It was everything I could have hoped for, and I just had to deal with another few hours of it. Then I was done.
I thought briefly of the book I’d stashed away at home, and finally made a decision about it. I’d give it to Jason. Let them do what they would with it and end Jorge’s operations for good. I trusted him, and with that, I was sure Valentini could end this for good.
By the time my work was finally done, I was smiling to myself at the thought, heart lifting as I packed up for what would be the
last time. As I glanced up, I met Jorge’s eyes, surprised to see the man standing in front of me. He returned my smile with a sleazy one of his own, and I got goosebumps down the back of my neck as he looked me up and down.
“Come with me, Lottie. I need you for something.”
My heart sank as he looked at me, two of his more trusted thugs behind him, and I tried desperately to think of a way out. I’d been so ready to leave that even the idea of a few more hours following him to some dump where his guys had taken an unexpected hit was almost too much.
I bit my lip and watched as he started to frown.
“Okay.”
The last thing I wanted to do was raise suspicions. I simply wanted to get out of here - calmly and easily. If that meant another few hours in Jorge’s company, well, I could do that. I’d never said no before, and now seemed like a bad time to start - not if I wanted to call it quits the next day without him thinking anything of it.
I knew better than to ask where we were going or what he needed me for as we left, all four of us piling into a car together. Jorge slid over next to me and my pulse sped up as I tried to keep as far away as possible. His hand landed on my knee and I glanced at him, clear distaste on my face. He only grinned at me, not moving his hand.
I was still trying to think of excuses as we stopped and emerged from the car to a rough looking motel. It was the kind of place Jorge would use for meetings with some of his less reputable contacts, but I was suddenly getting a strange feeling about the whole thing. I gave him a sidelong glance, but he didn’t even look at me as he walked forward, his two thugs following - Gary and Jacks, I vaguely recalled.
Following uneasily, we took the stairs to one of the rooms without even talking to the guy at the entrance. I tried to remember details that might be useful later, the butterflies in my stomach were growing too distracting.
Jorge opened a door and the two guys peeled off outside as he gestured me in. Taking small breaths in the dim, musky space, I stepped through and looked around for whoever needed my help.
