Weird.
Jack refocused on the group now dancing on the deck with the moonlit sky as their backdrop. Sitting near the railing, he held his untouched drink and watched Matthew release Danni to take Brielle into his arms.
If he hadn’t had that conversation with his brother earlier, he might’ve been jealous of the way they laughed and smiled at each other. Hell. Jack set his glass down and sat up straighter, gut tightening. Who was he kidding? He was jealous. His hands should be the ones circling Brielle’s waist, sliding up her back…
It was his own damn fault.
Jack jumped to his feet. He needed air. So what if he was already outside.
Turning his back on the dancing couple, he headed for the other side of the ship. Rodriguez stood guard by the door leading inside the yacht. He could keep an eye on things. Besides, they were going to call it a night soon, anyway.
Strolling to the stern, his heart forced him to confront the words Brielle had seared into his brain that fateful night.
It’s more than bullets you’re dodging, Jack.
Coming to a halt, he glanced up at the moon and exhaled slowly. Was she right? Had he been dodging relationships? The fact he hadn’t had anything remotely serious since Caroline more than proved it. She was nearly three years ago.
Fingers encircling the smooth rails, he squeezed. He’d worked hard to rebuild his company into the reputable business it now was, and he’d accomplished this by not allowing any woman to interfere with his job.
But Brielle wasn’t just any woman. A slow smile formed on his lips. No. She felt more like the woman. His smile faded. Just because she might be the woman, didn’t mean she wouldn’t break his heart and trash his name in the process.
But what if she didn’t?
Jack stood straighter. He’d already established mistrusting her had been a mistake. What if Brielle Bennett was the genuine article? The way he’d screwed things up the other night, he may never know. His gut clenched tight. At the very least, he had to apologize for his inexcusable behavior and hope maybe she’d give him another chance at the conclusion of this job.
“Jack?” The sexy voice his body knew so well brought his head around.
“Brielle? What are you doing here?” He peered past her. She was alone. Fear accelerated his heartbeats. “Where’s Rodriguez?”
“He went back to the others once he saw you here.” She leaned against the rail next to him. “Jack, is everything all right?”
“Yeah, well…actually, no it isn’t.” He turned to face her, shoving his hands deep in his pockets to keep from reaching out.
“What’s wrong?” Concern glowed in her moonlit eyes.
“I owe you a big apology,” he said, tautness easing from his chest. “I’m sorry I was such a jerk the other night. I was out of line.”
His words brought the most amazing smile to her face and softened her chocolate gaze. For the first time in days, his heart didn’t tighten with fear or pain. It swelled with longing.
“Thank you, Jack. I know how hard that was for you.”
He smiled. “How is it you know me better than I know myself?” Shaking his head, he gazed out at the ocean. “I’ve been thinking. Maybe you were right. Maybe I have been dodging relationships. I don’t know, but it’s something I need to figure out once this job is done.”
“I agree.” She patted his shoulder, then dropped her hand when he turned toward her.
His breath disappeared. God, she was beautiful. And there was so much he wanted to say, but was this the right time? Maybe he should wait until after he closed this case and he could just focus on them. If there was a them.
He searched her face. Uncertainty swam in her eyes, and when she opened her mouth, his gaze locked onto her lips like a missile to its target. Arousal ripped through his groin, demanding action. He needed to taste her again. To feel those gorgeous curves writhing beneath him again. It took all his restraint to stand down. He didn’t want to blow things with her a second time.
“Well, I’d better get back before Rodriguez comes looking for me.” With a small smile, she turned and walked away.
Jack closed his eyes and exhaled. Discounting his unfulfilled desire, he felt better. Much better. She hadn’t thrown his apology in his face, despite having every right. He opened his eyes and rubbed his chin.
She was unlike any woman he’d ever known. Brielle was no mouse. She didn’t cling. Hell, she all but called this culprit a coward, daring him or her to act.
His heart hit the deck. Shit. And she’d just walked back to the others by herself. What if her dare caused an attempt? He straightened his shoulders. Hell no. That was not an option.
Retracing his steps, he found the lido deck empty. Relief washed the rigidity from his shoulders. The others should be safely tucked in their rooms. He poured himself a fresh drink at the outside bar and held it up to the night sky. “Here’s to making it through another day.”
With a smile on his lips and drink in hand, he headed downstairs to check in with his men before retiring for the night. He only had the morning to worry about. After lunch, they were sailing back to port.
He stepped onto the cabin level and paused. Music—faint and enticing—hit his ears. Now what? Frowning, he detoured to the disco and stopped dead. His glass hit the carpeted floor and went unnoticed as the lone occupant continued her bare-footed dance.
Brielle.
Heart hammering its own tune, Jack glanced around the empty room and swallowed. What the hell was she doing here on her own? Where was Rodriguez? Where was her cameraman?
Observing from the doorway, knowing he should send her to the safety of her stateroom, he hesitated. The soft love song washed over him, and as he watched Brielle, he experienced the music anew in her movements. Her dance held no gyrations or sliding on poles, but his arousal was decidedly more intense. Eyes closed, feet bare, she moved across the floor with a grace that stole his breath. She was ethereal, incredible, awe-inspiring.
Jack saw—hell, he felt—Brielle’s heart.
It was sweet, pure and strong and exactly where he ached to belong. The dance was an open book to her soul, and he connected to it like stars to the night sky. Unable to stop himself, he crossed the room and reached the edge of the dance floor.
As if she knew…as if she could feel him, her eyes opened, and when she stumbled to a stop, he nearly cried out in protest. He wanted the connection to go on forever.
“Don’t stop.”
She swayed to him, eyes full of emotion and warmth, and as happened whenever he looked at her, something deep inside him cracked wide open.
“Dance with me, Jack.” Taking his hands, she walked backwards, her gaze riveted to his as she led him to the center of the floor.
Twisting around, she positioned her back against his chest and melted into him. Heat fused them together. Jack closed his eyes, locked hands with her, holding them crossed in front of her…and they began to sway, letting the rhythm of their heartbeats—their bodies—control their movements as he embarked on an emotional journey more powerful than anything physical he’d ever known.
When the song ended, he opened his eyes, and she slowly twisted around. Her brown gaze smoldered, reflecting every single, fierce feeling that shook within him.
“Jack.”
His name sounded like a plea on her parted lips. Trembling under his hands, she stepped closer. God, she felt great. She placed a palm on his chest; her warmth seeped into him, mingling with the blaze her nearness had already started. Her other hand crept up to his neck, playing with his hair, lightly stroking his skin. Pleasure rippled through his gut.
That was his undoing.
Crushing her to him, he brought his mouth down on hers, needing to continue the unspoken connection flowing between them. She let out a shuddery sigh and flung both arms around his neck, plastering her mouth-watering curves against him. He was gone. This was what he wanted. She was what he wanted. He took her lips in a long drugging kiss that ope
ned a path to his soul.
Standing on tiptoe, she answered his demanding mouth, sliding her tongue over his while her fingers dug into his scalp. His stomach felt strange. He was out of control and Jesus, he wanted her, had to have her…had to be in her. Now.
But now wasn’t good.
With a strength born from training, he opened his eyes and reluctantly pulled away. “If we don’t stop—”
Panting, she pressed her finger to his mouth. “I don’t want to stop, Jack.”
His pulse misfired. Damn, neither did he. But there was still so much left unsaid between them. “Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Yes, I do.” Her smile grew wickedly delicious.
Already fully aroused, his erection jumped. Ah hell, he wanted her, too. His fingers tightened around her waist while his gaze made swift appraisal of the room. Too public. Anyone could walk in, including those damn cameramen. He refocused on Brielle and frowned.
“Where’s your cameraman?”
She gave him another sinful smile, and a claymore went off in his gut. “He retired for the night. I went in my room and waited for him to leave the hall, then snuck down here. Which hadn’t been easy with that walking wall you had posted in the hall.”
Jack cupped her face and kissed her smiling lips. She needed no encouragement, pressing close, arching her hips into his throbbing erection while her hands ran up his chest and proceeded to blow his mind. The kiss went wild, as always seemed to be the case with them.
Mustering a tiny scrap of what was left of his control, he reluctantly drew back. “Brielle, I want you, but not in public.” He pressed his forehead to hers and caressed her cheek with the back of one hand. “The things I want to do to you don’t belong on television.”
“Then let’s find somewhere private.” Her eyes lit with fire, her voice low and needy. She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the dance floor.
“Wait, Brielle.” He stopped her at the door as his mind began to work. “Rodriguez is out there by our rooms.”
A wicked gleam entered her eyes as she brought his palm to her lips. “Get rid of him.”
Well hell. He had all he could do not to lift her dress, rip off her panties and take her against the closest wall like he had in her dressing room all those months ago.
Rodriquez was toast. The man was going overboard if need be.
Chapter Fifteen
Brielle paced her room, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. Where was he? It’d been ten minutes since she’d left Jack. What was taking so long?
She stopped and hugged herself. Maybe he changed his mind. No. No, she’d seen the emotions, felt the desire in his kiss, his touch. No. He would be here.
Her gaze collided with her reflection in the mirror. Excitement pulsed through her veins. It wasn’t Ariel that stared back, flushed and eager. It was Brielle Chapman—whose eyes showed her heart, who’s swollen lips hungered for more, whose body jumped in anticipation at the slightest noise in the hall.
Never had she felt such strong feelings like this before. Not even for Grant. She snorted. Jeez. That hadn’t even come close. Memories of the other reality show flooded her mind.
Five teams had competed for a priceless diamond by traveling the globe and solving riddles. Brielle had been in charge of the guards and was the only one with the combination to unlock the safe housing the jewel.
A security guard had accompanied each team as they traveled. Brielle had been assigned to a three-man team of entrepreneurs. Since each contestant had undergone extensive background checks and come up clean, she’d broken her no-involvement rule and had given into her attraction to Grant. But that had been a mistake, one that had cost her more than the combination that had disappeared from her room.
Humiliated by her unwitting role, she’d set him up and took him down, keeping the theft off-camera. The realization Grant never loved her, only used her attraction for him to get into her room, had kept her from compromising herself ever since.
Until now.
Until Jack.
The door clicked open, and the man who held her heart stepped inside the room. Her pulse tripped at his warm expression. He’d lost the jacket and was only wearing suit pants and a cobalt blue dress shirt, rolled at the sleeves, top two buttons undone. Yummy personified, and suddenly, she just wanted to kiss him and get him naked. In any order.
“I was worried you’d changed your mind.”
“Not a chance.”
He crossed the floor in two strides, his gaze direct, determined and heaven help her, just a little bit naughty.
“Nothing was keeping me from you tonight.”
With that delicious purpose ruling his movements, he cupped her face and devoured her mouth, nibbling and teasing until she trembled with a fierce need she’d only equate with Jack. His tongue grazed her lip, sending a jolt to her pulse before darting inside. He tasted hot and delicious with traces of scotch mixed with a searing passion she met with fervor.
Jack was different. He had nothing to gain by doing this. He had to truly want her as much as she wanted him. Her heart swelled, then knocked into her ribs, hard. She was treading new ground.
She was in love with Jack Anderson.
Unable to breathe, Brielle pulled back, then buried her face in his neck as he crushed her close, his ragged breaths stirring her hair.
How had that happened? They barely knew each other, and yet, she understood his soul. Jack was a good man with a good heart, and he matched her on every level. He turned her on. Made her smile. Challenged her like no other. And the biggie…her profession wouldn’t intimidate him.
Slowly drawing back, she touched his cheek and gazed into his smoldering eyes. It was time to break another rule. She had to tell him about her involvement in the show. He deserved to know the whole truth.
“Jack…I have to tell you something.”
He put his finger to her lips. “I know. This feeling is a bit intense.” He brushed her hair off her cheek, then cupped her face again. “And I’m not dodging anymore.”
Everything she wanted to say, all the words, admissions, hell…even her ability to speak disappeared when his mouth found hers, and he opened his heart in a kiss both sweet and demanding. She leaned against him, taking the precious gift he gave and shared a part of herself she’d kept hidden—a part where her heart and soul met, waiting for the man she’d given up hope of ever finding.
His kisses were warm and sweet, each one a little longer and deeper. He took his damn time. But that was okay. She was on board. His lazy, mind-drugging approach was ten times hotter than their fast and furious embraces of the past. He kissed her again, and again, his fingers holding her head in place as he deepened the kiss, plundering, taking, pleasing them both with erotic, rhythmic thrusts of his talented tongue.
Without breaking contact with his lips, she tugged the shirt from his pants, working the buttons loose and freeing his muscled torso to her eager hands. Hard and smooth, his body heated under her touch. A moan rumbled deep in her throat. Damn, she was one lucky woman. Her fingers trembled as she slipped the shirt over his magnificent shoulders. Correction. She was one hell of a lucky woman. Still driving her mad with his delicious kisses, his hands released her face, and a heartbeat later, his finger drew a line of fire down her back while he slowly unzipped her dress.
When they broke apart and stepped back to allow their clothes to fall to the floor, Jack sucked in a breath and gazed at her standing braless with only a patch of lace for underwear. A thrill raced down her spine at the hunger her nakedness brought to his eyes.
“God, Brielle,” he murmured on a shaky exhale, his eyes so full of heat he stole her breath. “You’re so beautiful.”
His hoarse words filled her heart, echoing her sentiment as her gaze roved over his mouthwatering muscles and ridges.
Once upon a time, she’d touched those muscles, and kissed those ridges. And heaven help her, she needed to again. And again. She swallowed, trying desperately to keep
the lazy, smoldering pace he set. But she wanted him inside her, deep inside, filling her.
Her gaze rose and locked with his, and she recognized the same burning ache in his eyes. He let out a rough groan and reached for her, his hands warm on her sensitized skin. Chest to chest, her nipples pebbled into tight buds, and as he kissed her long and deep, the friction created a heat that shot to her core, momentarily robbing the strength from her legs.
“I got you,” he said, breaking the kiss, one hand around her waist, pulling her in tight.
Sensations from his velvety tongue on her skin and the five-o’clock shadow scuffing her shoulder blasted shivers down her body. His teeth grazed her neck while his free hand cupped her breast, thumb teasing her nipple until she felt the delicious tug between her thighs.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he said into her mouth, moving them until he pressed her back against something hard and cold.
She gasped, watching a slow smile spread across his lips still wet from her kisses, then without warning, he twisted her around to face the mirrored closet door. Their gazes met in the reflection, and her heart rocked against her ribs at the heat blazing in his expression. God, those eyes, so blue, so dark, they drew her in and she was lost. Gone. Whatever he wanted…it was his. He slung an arm around her belly while the other found her neglected breast and proceeded to tease her nipple as his mouth closed over the sweet spot behind her ear.
“Mmm….” She pressed back against him, lifting an arm up to hold the back of his head while reaching behind him with the other to grip his firm ass.
His hold tightened, then slowly, very slowly the hand stroking her belly began a pilgrimage south to the scrap of lace his fingers had no trouble sneaking beneath. Eying the contrast between her soft curves and the hard, sinewy muscles in his arms, she had the suspicion she was really going to enjoy this sensual journey. And when his finger touched her and confirmed her suspicion, she cried out and clutched his hip, grinding back in uncontrollable need.
She Does Know Jack Page 23
