Page 41 of Serial Love

She threw her head back against the mattress, unsure of anything in her life except this man, his body, this minute in time, and her need. Her nipples were on fire as he licked, nipped, and sucked his way from one to the other. Her arms grasped around his neck, holding him in place as though he might vanish at any moment.

Jack had no plans on vanishing…ever. He thought her lips were nectar, but her breasts were divine. Sucking on her hardened buds, he could feel her sex clench tighter on his fingers. Twisting his hand once more, he knew he found the spot that would take her over the edge.

She cried out as her body bucked once more underhis ministrations, the sparks flying from her core outward in every direction. Her body exploded and she could not breathe as she rode the wave of ecstasy. Drifting on her mattress cloud, her eyes closed, she did not care if she ever moved.

“Breathe, beautiful,” Jack whispered.

Her eyes flew open as she sucked in a deep breath. Finding him gazing down at her as he slid his fingers into his mouth, repeating the action from his deck that morning, was mesmerizing. She watched his grey eyes focus on her and his smile pierced her sadness.If only I could have this every morning.But she pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the here and now.

He saw the change in her expression…from happy to guarded. He rolled onto his back, pulling her body over on top of his. She peered down in confusion until his lips latched onto hers, carrying her away with his kiss once more. One of his arms was wrapped tightly around her waist while the other cradled the back of her head.

Finally pulling back, he said, “This goes no further until I know that you understand what’s happening.”

She whispered, “I’m not a virgin, Jack. I know exactly what’s happening.”

She tried to take his lips again but found herself halted by his large hand cupping her cheek.

“Nope, you’re not getting it. This,” he said, giving her waist a squeeze, “means something. It’s not a casual fuck. I’m not the consolation prize for your grief.”

At that, her lust induced haze dissipated instantly and she jerked against his tight hold. “Let me go, youjerk. I thought this was what you were doing here. Making me feel something besides sadness for a few minutes.”

“Nope.”

She glared down at him. “Nope, what?”

Suddenly, he rolled, and she landed on her back with his large body covering hers. Keeping his chest from crushing her, he held himself up on his forearms while cupping her face in his hands. His hips lay on hers, his eager cock straining to have the conversation over with.

“Nope, to all the screwed-up shit that’s going on in your mind right now,” he growled.

Her glare turned icy but before she could say anything, he continued, “I told you I messed up. I let my fears of not being able to give you what you needed take over the fact that I’ve never backed down from a mission in my life. Well, darlin’, I’m here to tell you that my new mission is you.”

At that, her glare melted…but only slightly. Seeing her questioning expression, he continued. “I don’t have a job where I’m home every night but that doesn’t mean that when I am home and lucky enough to have you there waiting for me, I won’t make every minute count.”

She blinked slowly, the iciness leaving her glare completely, but the guarded look remained. Plunging ahead, he said, “And my job has me seeing the underbelly of society, the part no one wants to know is there and sometimes living in that world can steal a man’s soul. But you’re in my life, then you’re in my soul and there’s no room left for that shit to take over. You’d be the reason I could go out every day and try my best tokeep that world from ever coming into your world full of cabins and flowerbeds, and making others have a sweet vacation.”

At this, her guard came down completely and she tried to lean up to kiss his lips, but he held her head fast.

“Not yet, baby, because this is what you have to take down deep. I messed up. I pussied out when I decided that I wasn’t worth the risk. It was never you, beautiful. It wasn’t that I didn’t want you. But I gave up on me and I’ve never done that before and I sure as shit won’t do that again.”

Holding her gaze as she peered intently at him, he said, “This is the start of you and me. My screwup caused you to be alone when you needed someone to lean on and that shit stops here and now. This,” he paused to gently press his cock onto her, “is the start of us. Not casual. Not incidental. Not friends with benefits. And sure as hell, not a consolation prize.”

Touching his lips to hers in a whisper soft kiss, he leaned back, seeing nothing but warmth oozing from her gaze and said, “But I have to know that you’re getting this. That you’re with me. I have to hear you say it.”

His words wrapped around her heart, squeezing it until she thought it would burst. Not with the sadness and grief that had surrounded her for weeks, but with the feeling that all was finally right with the world. Sucking her lips in to quell their quivering, she fought the tears, but one escaped in spite of her efforts.

He wiped the lone, wet trail with his thumb, his heart pounding until he heard her response. Her blueeyes, now shiny with unshed tears, held him captive. “So, what’s it going to be, baby?”

She nodded slowly, saying, “I was always willing to take a chance on us, Jack. That’s never stopped.” Sucking in a shaky breath and letting it out haltingly, “I choose you. Us. This. I know there are things we will have to work out, but from the first time I saw you…well, maybe not the first time,” she smiled, remembering her fright at the huge man that captured her and held her when she was trying to get to Gram. “But as soon as I saw you so carefully taking care of Gram in the bathroom downstairs, you filled my thoughts. And dreams. And hopes.”

He smiled at her, his fear receding for the first time in weeks. He pushed himself off the bed and bent over to grab his boxers. Catching her confused expression, he said, “Not going any further today, beautiful. We’re not doing this now.”

She leaned up on her elbows, her glare returned as she watched him.What now?Her thoughts in a whirl, she opened her mouth to ask, but he bent over placing both hands on either side of her as he kissed her forehead.

“I’m taking you on a date.”

“Jack, I’m confused. I’m lying here naked, and you’re leaving my bed after telling me that you want this?”

Chuckling, he admitted, “Yeah. Maybe the craziest thing I’ve ever done and it’s sure as shit the hardest.” His eyes roved down her body and it took every ounce of control to keep his dick from ruling his mind. “You’re no fuck, beautiful. I’m going to take you on a real date,treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Find out what all’s been going on. Work to make you realize I want to be in your life.”

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