Page 33 of Jacqueline's Quest

“Shh...” Luca tugged her into his embrace. “Breathe, just breathe. Some of us have it and some of us don’t. You’re submissive through and through, so finding the spark you need to become who you must is harder.”

“I can’t give up. I can’t be worthless,” she murmured against his chest. The spicy scent of his cologne enveloped her, grounded her.

“You’re not giving up.” Luca glanced down at her. “You’re becoming someone else. The added pressure of being on a mission doesn’t help either.”

“I don’t want to be anyone else, but me.” She pulled from his embrace and backed away from Luca. “I’m... I’m sorry. I can’t. This isn’t me. I’m the wrong person for this mission.” She opened the door and, without hesitation, fled.

Jaqueline was an emotional basket case. She went from heartbroken to angry to fearful to guilty. She’d left Murray on the floor. She was supposed to protect him and instead, she failed—miserably. What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she let go for one minute and act like a normal human being? What was it about the mission she couldn’t grasp? Christian, Hannah, and Scotty were counting on the team to save them and yet, she couldn’t pull her head out of her ass for five minutes and play a game. Because, to her, that was all any of this was, a game.

“Hey?” Murray came up behind her. “Talk to me. Tell me what you’re feeling?”

She gave a derisive chuckle. “Aren’t I supposed to be asking you those questions. Shouldn’t you be pissed off at me because I left you hanging back there.” Jaqueline crossed her arms. “I’m not cut out for this, Murray. I think it’s time we both face the facts. I’m going to fuck the mission up. You need to find a new partner, stat.”

"That's where you're wrong." He came around her, blocking her quick exit. "We're perfect together. You need to get out of your head as Luca said. I'm not sure how yet, but we'll get there."

Jaqueline snorted. “We’re running out of time. Before we know it, the auction will be here and we’ll still be floundering.”

“Which means we still have time to fix this. I believe in you, Jaq. I’m all in with you. Now, I just need you to be all in with me too.” Murray bent his head and brushed his lips over hers.

A hungry moan of need passed her lips, and Murray took advantage. The kiss was startling and passionate. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the ground and into his arms. She hissed as her back came in contact with the cold wall behind her. Murray muttered a curse as he flexed his hips, rubbing himself against her. She whimpered his name, her fingernails digging into his skin.

“Fuck,” he grunted. “I want inside you so bad.”

She wanted the same. The minute her mind quieted, all of her worries and misconceptions fled. “Me too.”

He groaned. While holding her with one arm, he used his free hand to unlace his pants. His movements were frantic. His blue eyes were wild with lust. They were explosive together when there wasn’t any pretense. He glanced up at her as he pushed her underwear to the side and rubbed his tip along her wet slit. Jaqueline’s heart lodged in her throat. She held her breath.

“Are you sure you want to do this out in the open?” Luca’s voice of reasoning cut through the lust-filled haze surrounding Jaqueline. “I don’t mind, but she might when she realizes what you’ve both done.”

Murray buried his face in her neck. “So close to feeling your pretty little pussy wrapped around me.”

She couldn't speak. Dazed and more than a little confused, she held onto Murray, not sure what to do next. "I'm—I'm sorry. This shouldn't have happened." Before he could say anything, she extricated herself from his embrace then righted her clothes. "I'm sorry." She hurried down the hall back to the main area of the club. She could breathe there. Think there. As she sat on one of the empty barstools, she contemplated her next move—finding her replacement.