Standby (Open Skies Book 4)

by Becca Jameson

  “That bad?” Zip asked.

  “Worse. Now, on top of the fact that she’s self-conscious and she’s been through hell and back, I have to worry about erasing what that asshole did to her while she’s in my bed. And—not that this matters in the grand scheme of things of course—but I’ll never be able to spank her sweet ass, and I was kinda looking forward to it.” He forced a smirk to lighten his words.

  The guys all winced.

  “I’m sorry, man,” Sweets muttered. “It sucks that fucker got ahold of her. I’m certainly glad she no longer has to worry about him harassing her. She didn’t deserve that. No one does.”

  “She wasn’t the only one he harassed, was she?” Shooter asked.

  Jake shook his head. “No. At least three others. Another flight attendant and two airport employees. There could be more. That’s just the previous three.”

  “Jesus. What a dick. And this guy was a senior captain?” Hornet asked.

  “Yep. He was leading two lives.”

  “Well,” Zip said as he started dealing the cards, “I’d say you give her this one night with her posse and then you go after her.”

  “What if pressuring her only makes things worse? It’s like she doesn’t trust herself to take a chance.”

  Hatch shook his head. “I saw her that night in Washington, man. She’s head over heels for you when her head doesn’t get in the way. I don’t think you should leave this up to her. Confront her. Tell her how you feel. Make her choose to go all-in. I think if you look her in the eye and give it to her straight, she will realize you’re not fucking around.”

  Jake nodded slowly. He certainly wasn’t fucking around. He wanted Shayla. Not halfway. He wanted her all the way. Even with their weird deal, he’d loved having her in his home. It was too quiet and too lonely when she wasn’t there.

  He wanted her in his damn bed too. Fuck the bruises. They wouldn’t be there forever, and he had no interest in waiting two weeks for them to fade before he had her. He also had no interest in letting her mull things over that long and talk herself out of trusting him with her heart. Because he truly believed that was the crux of the problem. He knew she was into him. He hoped she was in love with him. But she wasn’t used to being in a committed relationship, so she was scared.

  It was time to shake things up and take control.

  Jake had worked very little in the last two weeks, checking in every day and making sure no one needed him, but not spending his usual ten hours a day in the office managing the business he owned. His employees understood, and hell, they were all at poker last night encouraging him not to come to work for the rest of the week.

  So, now he was standing outside Shayla’s condo, wiping his hands on his jeans and giving himself a pep talk before knocking. He’d rehearsed what he wanted to say about a dozen times this morning. Not to mention he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. Now, he had to hope Shayla would hear him out and then take him up on his offer. He couldn’t imagine the alternative. He refused to consider her breaking up with him.

  He took a deep breath and was just about to knock when the door suddenly opened. Shayla stood there, nearly walking right into him as she was leaving her condo. “Oh.” Her eyes went wide and she took a step backward. “Hey.”

  “You were leaving?”

  “Yes. But not now.” She smiled and stepped back. “Come in.”

  He stepped inside as she backed up and then she shut the door and dropped her purse on the edge of the couch. “Am I keeping you from something?” he asked.

  “No. Coffee?” she asked as she headed for the kitchen area.

  “Sure. If you’re having some.”

  She headed for the Keurig and popped in a K-cup.

  He followed her and leaned a hip against the counter. “How was your girls’ night?”

  “It was good. Everyone was able to come. Heather joined our group. I’m glad. I think she and I will be good friends. We have a strange mutual connection.”

  He smiled. “True.” He glanced at the overflowing trash. “You gals put away a lot of wine last night,” he teased.

  “Indeed. I’m kind of surprised I don’t have a hangover, but I forced myself to pace and ate plenty of snacks.”

  “Good.”

  “You played poker with the gang?”

  “Yep. I guess everyone in your posse knew that.”

  “Yep,” she mimicked. How the fuck had things gotten awkward between them?

  The first cup of coffee finished and she handed it to him before starting another.

  He headed to the fridge and found her favorite creamer before returning to set it next to her.

  She stared at it for a moment and then pursed her lips. She was trembling. What the fuck?

  He reached out and cupped her face, tipping her head back to meet her gaze. Her eyes were watery. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

  “You’re so nice,” she murmured.

  He frowned and then pulled her into his embrace. He needed to hold her. He needed his arms around her. He also needed hers around him. He couldn’t breathe right until they were connected, like two puzzle pieces.

  After holding her tight for several moments, he kissed her forehead and then lowered his lips to kiss her mouth.

  He was relieved when she sighed into him and returned the kiss with as much passion as he felt. She held on to him with both hands fisted in his shirt as if he might get away if she let go. That was a good sign.

  When he finally broke away, he only gave her an inch, keeping their gazes locked. “So, you think I’m nice?”

  She shrugged. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

  “Oh, I think I’ll remember it and remind you often if you forget.”

  She giggled, a sound he loved. “So, what are you doing at my condo at ten o’clock in the morning on a workday?”

  “Took the day off so I could spend it convincing you that we belong together and talking you into coming home with me so I can demonstrate how strongly I feel about that.”

  She didn’t shove him away. Good sign. “Is that so?” She smiled.

  “Do you have a problem with it?”

  “I don’t think so. I’m certainly interested in the demonstration.”

  He tugged her closer. “It’s a really long demonstration. Do you have time?”

  “It just so happens I’m not returning to work for at least a week. Is that enough time?”

  This was going better than he’d expected. He shrugged. “It’s a start.” He slid a hand up to the back of her head. “Shayla, if you have cold feet, talk to me.”

  She eased out of his arms and turned to fix her coffee. After taking a sip, she drew in a deep breath. “I’m just scared. It’s a big step for me. At first, it seemed so simple. I like you. You like me. I thought we were going to go on some dates, have amazing sex, enjoy ourselves.”

  “And then…” He stared at her in confusion.

  “And then I fell in love with you,” she stated point-blank, looking right at him. He would have responded if he hadn’t been shocked speechless by her bluntness and if she hadn’t continued speaking. “That changed everything. It happened so fast. Now it’s not so simple. When I’m with you, I feel like I’m on top of the world, even in a full crisis. When I’m not with you, I miss you. I can’t wait to see you again. It was fucking difficult to keep my hands off you that week. I didn’t like it. I was already in love with you.”

  His eyes popped out and he swallowed.

  She glanced at her coffee. “So, it’s a great risk to my heart to go all-in with you. It’s not casual. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll be devastated. And I hate being so vulnerable that I have to admit that. But that’s how I feel and the reason I’ve been a bit cold. I’m just scared.”

  He reached out, took the coffee from her hands, and set it on the counter. Moments later he had her in his arms again. “You are not alone. I’m in love with you too and I’ve been nervous as hell watching you pull away from me. I can’t s
tand when you’re not in my house. It’s too quiet and lonely. I pace, wondering what I used to do before last Saturday when you came home with me.

  “Shayla… I love you, sweetheart. Please, let me prove it. I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life showing you if you’ll let me.”

  A tear ran down her face. “I love you too.”

  “Good. Now, would you please come home with me and let me make love to you finally?”

  She chewed on her bottom lip. “Can we do it in the dark?”

  “No. Why the hell would we do that?” He frowned.

  “Because I don’t want you looking at me with pity when we have sex. I’m covered in bruises you can’t ignore.”

  “Do they hurt?” He frowned in concern. He didn’t want to hurt her.

  “Not bad. As long as you don’t poke at them. I just don’t want you thinking about them.”

  “I promise I’ll be careful around them, but I won’t let them get in the way of me ravaging your body. Today. Not tomorrow. Not two weeks from now.”

  She shivered in his embrace. “Okay. But just so I’m clear, have you declared yourself some sort of victor in our bet?”

  He chuckled. “Absolutely, but it never mattered. In the end, the result was always going to be the same no matter what.”

  She swatted at him playfully. “That’s not fair. You think you’re going to go all alpha dominant on me?”

  “I know I am.”

  “Then I should get a turn too.” She jutted her chin out defiantly.

  He tugged her closer again and planted another kiss on her. “Not a chance in hell. Nice try.”

  She rolled her eyes, but he didn’t think she was disappointed in his proclamation.

  “So, we’re going back to my place now?”

  “Don’t you want to finish your coffee?”

  “Nope. No interest. If you need coffee, I’ll make you some at my house. Or put it in a travel mug. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”

  “I might need a few more than ten minutes to get my shit together.”

  He gave her a last squeeze and then released her. “Clock’s ticking.” As she started to rush up the stairs, he stopped her. “Hey, where were you going when I got here?”

  She grinned wickedly. “I was going to look for you. Thought you might like to know I was in love with you and done being a fool.”

  He didn’t stop smiling the entire time she was upstairs.

  Chapter 27

  Shayla packed a significantly larger bag than she had last time she’d gone to Jake’s house. He made it clear he wouldn’t be letting her go back to her condo anytime soon. He had plans for her that didn’t involve leaving the house, and he also didn’t care if she brought anything with her or not because wearing clothing wasn’t on the list.

  She was giddy as she followed him. Finally, they were going to have sex. It seemed like they’d been together for months instead of less than two weeks. Partly because they’d spent so much time together. She rationalized it was like they’d gone on ten dates without having sex.

  When they arrived at his house, she followed him inside. He immediately took her bag out of his hand and dropped it on the floor. Without another word, he took her hand and nearly dragged her through the house to his bedroom.

  “What, no foreplay?” she joked.

  He reached for her shirt and pulled it over her head. “Oh, there’s going to be foreplay all right. Just not the kind that includes small talk over coffee. I told you to drink it in the car,” he teased.

  His hands were on her jeans next, unbuttoning them and then shoving them down her legs.

  She kicked out of her shoes so that she could step out of her jeans. When she glanced up, he was staring at her, his gaze roaming up and down her body. “I didn’t realize you were wearing such sexy lingerie under those clothes.” He fingered the edge of her lace bra. “The pink is so feminine and perfect for you.”

  “Like I said, I was heading out the door to find you. I’d hoped we’d end up in your bedroom.”

  He turned her around and urged her toward the bed. “Climb up. Crawl to the center. Lie on your back,” he demanded.

  She did as he instructed, but she kept her gaze on him, watching every inch of his skin as it was revealed to her. He took his time stripping, but when he finally removed the last item of clothing—his boxers—his cock bobbed thick and heavy against his belly.

  She licked her lips. “I’d like a taste this time,” she stated huskily. “Last time I had the pleasure of seeing your impressive cock, I wasn’t permitted to taste.”

  He climbed onto the bed. “You’re going to have to be patient about getting a taste. I get the first taste. You might recall that I didn’t get to put my mouth on you either, naughty imp.” He straddled her legs, his hands going to her waist and smoothing up her body. “Next time you wear this, I want to know about it beforehand so I can imagine it all day and picture myself taking it off that night.”

  “Okay.” Her voice was weak. She didn’t need foreplay, it turned out. She was ready for him just from the expression of reverence on his face.

  His fingers came to the V of her bra and traced the top swell of her breasts, making her gasp.

  He smiled. “I can’t wait to hear all your little noises. That’s been the part I dreamed of most.”

  She bit her bottom lip. Did she make noises? Who knew? After all, she hadn’t really had great sex before. And she wasn’t the sort to fake like she was overcome with lust.

  When he slid his hands toward her back, she grabbed his wrists. “One request.”

  “Anything.”

  “Let me keep my bra on this time. It’s covering the bruises. And don’t flip me over, so you can’t see the ones on my butt. Just this once. Please.”

  He leaned down and kissed her gently. “Okay, sweetheart.”

  She blew out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

  He slid down her body, kissing a path down her neck and between her breasts. He lingered there, nibbling on the upper swells and then dipping his tongue under the lace to flick it over her nipples. He switched back and forth until she had trouble lying still.

  He finally continued, his hands gripping her waist to steady her as he kissed her stomach and then along the edge of her panties. Instead of removing them as she expected, he parted her legs and settled between them, kissing her inner thighs one at a time. He licked a trail from the inside of her knee to the edge of her panties, switching to do the same on the other side next before planting himself between her legs and tormenting the sensitive skin at the edge of lace and silk.

  It was maddening. She needed more contact. She wanted her panties off and his cock inside her. She set her hands on his shoulders and pushed against him while trying to squirm away from his tongue.

  He planted a kiss right over her clit and then grabbed her wrists and hauled them up over her head.

  The smile on his face was mischievous, making her shudder. “Jake…” She gasped when something suddenly wrapped around her wrist. She jerked her head to the side to watch him attach a Velcro cuff. Wetness rushed from her pussy to soak the silk between her legs.

  As he stretched her hand toward the corner of the headboard and then attached her securely, she writhed. Her heart was racing. He came back to center and kissed her briefly before doing the same to her other wrist. “Told you I was a fan of bondage.”

  “Yeah, but…” Her voice was breathy. “I thought you were exaggerating.”

  “Nope.” He slid back down her body, gripped her face, and kissed her again. His tongue teased hers before he sucked on it gently several times.

  When he released her lips, she was panting. “But I can’t touch you…”

  He smiled. “That’s the point. If you touch me right now, I’ll come. I’m not ready to orgasm yet. We’ll get to me after I’ve exhausted you. After you’ve reached a point where you’re begging me to enter you. After you’re convinced that you’ll never want to leave my bed.”


  Another tremble shook her entire body. Her breasts felt tight inside her bra. Her nipples rubbed against the lace. Maybe the decision to leave her bra on hadn’t been such a good idea.

  Jake resumed his path downward, spending a great deal of time suckling the upper swell of her breasts, his tongue dipping under the lace over and over to flick across her nipples.

  She was panting and writhing when he slid down her body again. He scooted back enough to grab the edge of her panties and remove them before spreading her knees wide and kissing her inner thighs again.

  Her head was spinning. So much sensation and he hadn’t touched her anywhere that mattered yet. Every time he got close to her pussy, he retreated to nibble along her sensitive skin.

  The moment he finally lowered his face directly over her pussy and sucked her clit into his mouth, she screamed. Her clit was pulsing, a small orgasm rushing through her instantly. She’d been so damn aroused that she couldn’t stop it.

  Her body shook as he continued to suckle her, his tongue circling her sensitive nub over and over as the orgasm subsided and then started to build again.

  She moaned when he parted her folds with both hands and then dipped his tongue into her channel, reaching as far as he could. Every time she tugged on her hands, she came up short, which heightened her arousal. She’d never been restrained like this before. He was right. It drove her mad with need.

  When he thrust two fingers into her tight pussy, she lost her breath. And then he started pumping in and out, his mouth on her clit again, his tongue flicking the swollen nub rapidly. She couldn’t slow down the climb to the peak, and lost the battle entirely when he flipped his hand over to stroke the upper wall of her channel at the same time he grazed his teeth over her clit.

  “Jake,” she screamed. Her pussy pulsed around his fingers with the force of her orgasm. Every muscle in her body spasmed, and he didn’t ease up until she winced from too much sensation.

  As she tried to catch her breath, he slid up her body, nibbling a path toward her mouth. With a hand on her jaw, he kissed her. Her taste was all over his lips, and she moaned at the intimacy.