Chloe spun around. “I heard that!”
Both brothers lifted eyebrows, feigning innocence. With another huff of irritation, she walked out of the room, ready to save her children.
Jackson waited until they were alone before turning to Jake. “Seriously, she’s…”
“Don’t,” Jake cautioned, holding up his hand. “I don’t know what’s going on with Megan, so don’t ask.”
Jackson’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
Jake considered his words carefully, looking out through the window at the afternoon sunshine. “I mean, I should have figured out what happened years ago. I should have figured out why she just disappeared. Now that she’s back, she’s…different, but still the same. I don’t know what it is, Jackson. But something about her just doesn’t add up.”
Jackson crossed his arms over his chest. “Like what?”
He shrugged slightly. “Like the fact that there are gaps in her resume that don’t make sense. And the fact that Martin can’t find out where she worked or where she was during that missing time period. If she’d traveled during those years, he would have found a trail. If she’d worked for someone, even under the table, he has the resources to find that out.”
Jackson was intrigued. “Top secret government job, you think?”
Jake shook his head. “I don’t think so. Martin has contacts everywhere. He would have found out if she’d had a top secret position.”
“The fact that he hasn’t found anything means…” Jackson paused, letting the sentence hang in the air between them.
Jake finally grasped where his brother was going. Nodding, he started working the possibilities out in his mind. “We’re not thinking outside the box.”
“She might have…”
“But it could have been…”
Both brothers spoke at the same time.
“Stop finishing each other’s sentences,” Chloe groaned, walking into the room at that moment. “It always freaks me out.” She nodded towards the kitchen meaningfully. “Mom made chocolate chip cookies and, if you two don’t get in there pronto, my little monsters will eat them all.”
Entering the kitchen, the brothers spotted two small kids sneaking around the kitchen island, heading for the plate of cookies. “Is someone trying to steal all the cookies?” Jake roared.
Two excited squeals echoed through the kitchen. “Uncle Jake! Uncle Jackson!” Della and Danny launched themselves into their uncles’ arms.
“I heard that there were cookies here!” Jackson declared, leaning over the plate of still-warm chocolate chip cookies. “I think there are just enough for me and Jake!”
“No!” Della yelled, giggling hard enough to burst as Jake scooped her up so she couldn’t protect the plate of cookies. “You can’t have them! Gramma made them for me!”
Suddenly, another deep voice interrupted the chaos. “Is someone stealing my cookies?” Sebastian Hughes roared, giving both of his grandchildren mock glares.
Jake tucked Della under his arm and reached for a cookie, as his brother did likewise with Danny.
“Grampa! Uncle Jake and Uncle Jackson are eating all the cookies!” Della shrieked.
Danny stretched, trying valiantly to grab a cookie, but he was just…too…far…away! “Tell them that they can’t have them!” he pleaded to his grandfather.
Sebastian looked at his twin sons, shaking his head. “Like my sons have ever followed any order I gave them.”
Jake offered a bite to his captive niece. “There was that time you told me to wash your car.”
Sebastian grumbled, shaking his head at the memory. “You mean the Porsche that you two drove through a swamp?”
Jake angled his head as he took another bite of the cookie, then fed the last bite to Della. “Swamp is such a harsh word. It was more of a…”
“Mud bath,” Jackson offered helpfully.
Jake nodded. “Yeah, I’d agree with mud bath. That fits.”
“And we did wash the car, Dad,” Jackson pointed out.
Sebastian wasn’t having any of it. He took one of the cookies, took a big bite, then offered a bite to Danny, who happily gobbled up the rest while dangling upside down in his uncle’s arms. “You only cleaned it because you wanted to use it to take that girl out on a date.”
“It wasn’t really a date,” Jackson corrected.
“Don’t go there!” Chloe snapped, spinning around as she grabbed something else out of the fridge. “Little ears.”
Della and Danny perked up eagerly, unaware of the chocolate splotches covering their faces, wanting to know what their uncle had done that wasn’t really a date.
“Why are you guys eating cookies? We’re having burgers!” Deni announced as she stepped back into the kitchen. Taking the plate away, she put it on a high shelf. She pulled a bowl from the fridge, shot the five of them a warning look, and headed for the patio.
Jackson waited until their mother was outside and out of earshot before he turned to Jake. “Does she think we can’t reach up there?”
Jake turned Della upside down, holding her by her ankles and lifting her up so that her face was even with his. “Gramma knows that we’re a foot taller than she is, right?”
Della laughed so hard, she couldn’t speak. She flailed wildly, her face turning pink and her hair danced around her ears.
Jackson lifted Danny up higher. “Since Gramma decided to deny me her world famous chocolate chip cookies, I’m just going to have to eat you!” and he curled his arms up so that the boy’s tummy was closer and he tickled the boy with his mouth. Danny grabbed Jackson’s ears, laughing hysterically.
Deni walked back into the house, rolling her eyes as Jake turned Della right side up. She grabbed plates, and left again. Jake and Della waited until she was gone, then they looked at each other, nodding. A moment later, Jake lifted Della high enough to reach the plate of cookies. She grabbed four cookies, hiding them under her shirt. She handed one to Jake, one to Jackson, and even gave one to her brother. They gobbled up the cookies and tried to look innocent when Deni returned.
Of course, their mother knew that they were up to something nefarious. “What did you do?” she demanded, fisting her hands on her hips. She glanced at the cabinet where the cookies had been stowed away.
Shaking her head, she moved closer and brushed crumbs off Danny’s cheeks. “You know, payback is…” she hesitated and glanced at her grandchildren, then at her sons, “a pain in the neck. Chloe is going to get back at you two for filling her children up with sugar.”
“No I’m not,” Chloe said as she walked in. “I’m just going to dump my monsters off at their house and let them run wild,” and she kissed each of her “monsters” before moving over to the fridge to grab the milk, bringing it out to the patio where lunch was almost ready.
Jake and Jackson looked at Danny and Della, then high fived each other. “Bonus!”
The afternoon was a good one. They ate burgers and chips with cole slaw and watermelon, then Jake and Jackson took Della and Danny into the pool, splashing around with them and having a ball. By the middle of the afternoon, the kids were wiped out and more than ready for naps. Jake and Jackson helped Chloe put them into their car seats and waved as she pulled away.
Jake watched for a few moments, then pulled his own keys out of his pocket. “Got things to do.”
“Don’t forget the meeting Monday morning.”
“Right,” Jake called back. He stopped by his own place and showered, changing into jeans and a tee-shirt, then hit the grocery store for dinner supplies. He figured since he’d messed up her dinner last night, he owed her.
As he loaded the groceries into the car, he texted Megan and warned her that he was coming over for dinner.
How long until you get here? She texted back.
Why? He replied.
I need time to hide the bodies.
Jake laughed, remembering their quips back and forth from college. He didn’t respond, just jumped into his car
, thrilled that she hadn’t said no. He would have respected her wishes if she had, but…
As Jake drove, he wondered if Martin had discovered anything more about the gaps between her school and work periods. He knew that she was hiding something, but he wasn’t sure what. And at this point, he didn’t care. He’d learned his lesson the last time and would keep his emotional distance this time. Just not distance from a sexual relationship. They could both handle that this time around, he assured himself.
As soon as he pulled up outside of her house, he saw her sitting on the front porch wrapped in a blanket with a glass of wine in one hand.
Stepping out of his car, he walked slowly up to her, aware of a strange mood surrounding her.
Taking the glass of wine, he took a sip. “Good wine.” Thankfully, it wasn’t that sweet stuff she usually drank. Instead, this was a nice, full burgundy with fruity undertones and a smooth finish. Crouching down, he looked into her eyes, trying to gauge her mood. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she replied, a small smile playing across her lips. Lips he wanted to kiss, but…he didn’t understand why she was out here instead of inside where it was warmer. The summer was fading quickly, the days warm, but the nights had a bit of a chill to them now. Soon, the humidity would be gone completely and the nights would become more bearable.
But tonight, the air felt good, if a bit crisp. “Why are you out here instead of inside?” he asked her, his fingers touching the blanket.
“Because I like the chill in the air. I love feeling the cold, seeing the stars. In a month or two, the stars will be gone, hidden behind the clouds as the fall rain moves in.” She pulled in a deep breath. “So I like to come outside so that I can enjoy…everything. I love feeling every sensation possible.”
He didn’t understand, but smiled regardless. “You’re cute.”
“I’m alive,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling even in the fading light. “And it feels wonderful to be alive.”
He thought that was an odd comment, but he couldn’t disagree. “What else do you do to feel alive?” he asked, his voice lower because the covering darkness made everything feel more intimate.
His body reacted intensely when her smile widened. “I feel alive when I’m in your arms,” she admitted.
That was all it took. Jake stood up, and lifted her into his arms, carrying her inside to her bedroom. “I’m going to make you feel alive, Megan,” he vowed. And then he proceeded to slowly peel her clothes away, kissing every inch of skin he revealed.
Megan sighed, her body aching for him to speed up the process. But even this, the drawn out tension, the intense need that stretched out time…she loved it all. She hadn’t been lying when she’d told Jake that he made her feel alive. When he kissed her breasts, sucking and teasing her nipples, she wanted to scream, begging him to stop. But she didn’t. She loved it. She wanted more. Every touch, every kiss reminded her that she was alive and healthy. When he touched her like this, with reverence and eagerness, Megan knew that she was okay. She could also forget, at least for a while, that she might not be okay tomorrow. The cancer could come back any time. These moments, these short periods in her life, had to be savored. Because she didn’t know how many more she’d have.
“I love it when you touch me like this,” she whispered, sliding her fingers into his hair. She sat up, kissing him, showing him through her kiss, how much he meant to her. She might not be able to tell him, keeping the words to herself. But Megan knew that she loved Jake. Almost from the first moment she’d met him, she’d loved him with her entire being.
As he kissed his way down her body, she gasped and hissed, writhing under his urgent ministrations. She wanted these moments to last forever, and yet, she also wanted him to stop tormenting her and give her what she craved. When he kissed lower, she shook her head. “No, Jake. Enough!”
She tried to pull him back up, but he wasn’t budging. Not even a little. Because he was stronger, she couldn’t stop him. And as soon as his mouth moved lower, teasing her there, she didn’t want to stop him. Not anymore! With his mouth and his fingers, he teased her, taking her higher and higher until…!
Megan arched her back as the waves of incredible pleasure poured over her. She wasn’t aware of her fingers pulling at Jake’s hair or her legs wrapping around his body. She was only aware of the mind-blowing happiness that spun a web of pure pleasure throughout her body. It was wonderful and amazing and incredible!
As her body deflated, here lungs sucking in air, Megan felt more small kisses along her stomach as Jake moved higher along her body. With a smile, she rolled over, pushing against his shoulders. “I think it’s time for a bit of payback,” she teased. He allowed her to push him over so that he was on his back. And over the next several minutes, she repeated the process that he’d done to her, but this time, she was the one kissing a path lower. And lower! She heard him chuckle as her fingers wrapped around his erection, his fingers tightening in her hair, but she ignored all of it because she wanted to taste him. She wanted to feel him inside her mouth.
Unfortunately, she heard the expected groan and his hands tightened on her hair, pulling her mouth away. But she clung to him, teasing him more, tormenting him with her mouth and her hands even as he tried to pull her away.
“Megan!” he snapped, his body taut with need. He won the tug of war, of course. But she beamed as she looked up at him. “Oh, you think you won that round?” he growled.
She laughed as he tossed her over, tumbling her backwards so that he was once again hovering over her. His legs shifted hers, pressing her knees wider and, with a swift thrust, he entered her, his eyes watching her face as he pressed deeper and deeper into her tight sheath. “Damn, Megan!” he groaned, his head bowing slightly when he shuddered as her heat surrounded him.
Suddenly, his head whipped up and he stilled.
“What’s wrong?” she demanded, her legs tightening around his waist.
“I didn’t…” he stopped, muttered a curse and pulled away from her. “Condom!” Quickly, he grabbed protection and ripped open the package.
Megan started to sit up. “Will you let me…?”
“No!” he groaned, closing his eyes briefly. “Lay back down and let me look at you.”
Megan was startled by his vehement reply, but smiled that special, sultry smile at his words. Slowly, she leaned back against the soft quilt, watching his hands as he rolled protection down his impressive length.
“Megan!” he snapped, tilting his head in silent command.
Megan pulled her gaze away from his hands and looked into his eyes. There was an urgency there that had her heart pounding even harder. With a slow, sensuous smile, she leaned back. Because it turned her on to make him even more desperate, she let her fingers skim over her stomach, teasing the sensitive skin there. His eyes never left her hands as his own wrapped around his erection. His breathing was labored and she reveled in her ability to do this to Jake, who was always so strong and powerful, always in command. Not at this moment, she thought, her pulse pounding as her fingers moved lower.
“Damn it, Megan!” he snapped, then he jerked her hands away from their tormenting and he pulled her arms up over her head. “Now you’re in trouble!”
She laughed, and held her breath as he pressed himself into her heat. Deeper and deeper, she arched her body, lifting her hips up to meet his gentle thrusts. “Yes!” was all she could say, her eyes closing as he filled her completely, making her feel complete. “Oh Jake!” she sighed softly.
“I love it when you say my name like that,” he groaned, shifting his legs before beginning that age-old dance.
Megan opened her eyes, her mouth falling open as she stared up at him. His thrusts were gentle initially. But as she squeezed her muscles, her hips taking him higher with every thrust, his movements became more frantic. She knew the moment when he started struggling to control his body and, because she’d already climaxed, she tightened her inner muscles even more, making him groan. Bu
t then he opened his eyes, suddenly realizing what she was doing.
“Oh, hell no,” he warned her with more thrusting. “You’re coming with me.”
And with that, he slowed his movements slightly, one hand moving under her hips and shifting their positions just slightly. Megan gasped, shocked that this new angle hit her exactly right on that nub. Over and over again, he thrust into her, taking her to new heights and she couldn’t hold back. With a gasp, her body shuddered into a climax that was so hard and intense, she wasn’t aware of Jake finding his release right after her own. All she could do was hold on as the climax continued, seeming to go on forever.
A long time later, the chill in the room brought her out of the pleasure-induced stupor. Jake’s fingers stroked back and forth across her bare back and she lifted her head to find him staring down at her with a look in his grey eyes that made her laugh. He looked so…victorious!
But before she could tease him, his eyes shifted, looking startled.
“’What’s wrong?” she asked, lifting up onto her elbows.
He looked slightly embarrassed. “I brought dinner.”
She hesitated, not sure why he would be embarrassed about a considerate gesture like that. Tilting her head, she looked at him carefully. “That’s very sweet of you. Where is it?”
He chuckled and the deep, husky sound made her body tighten with need once again.
“I left it in the car,” he explained. A moment later, he grabbed his jeans, pulling them on without bothering with anything else. Walking out of her bedroom, he looked like a conquering hero and Megan sighed with happiness.
Jake pulled the grocery bags out of the backseat of his car.
Because of the chilly night, the food looked unspoiled and he closed the door to his vehicle, then looked up at the small house. Megan was there, stepping out of her house as she tightened a belt on the robe she’d pulled on. He couldn’t see her features well because the porch light backlit her so he could only see her silhouette, but he was startled by the ethereal quality of her. She’d lost so much weight, but she was still one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. There was a delicacy to her, like she might flit away like a butterfly at the least provocation.
Inconveniently Tempted (The Diamond Club Series Book 10) Page 8
