Page 20 of Winter's Heart
Her eyes clouded with angry tears.“Why?Why don’t they want me testifying?”
He didn’t know why.And he wasn’t completely sure what was happening here.They might still let her attend the court case.Their non-answers had been evasive, but not conclusive.He had a few ideas about why they would try to control her access to things like computers and phones, but none of them were good, and so he didn’t air them in front of Nikki.Not until he got more of a grasp on what was going on.His hand moved from her face down her shoulder, then slipped around her narrow waist, drawing her in closer.She felt so good in his arms.Even with two agents standing guard on the other side of the door only a few feet away, he couldn’t ignore the way her body molded to his; every one of her curves seemed to fit into all his hard edges perfectly.
“It could be temporary,” he hedged, not fully concentrating on what he was saying anymore.The feel of her thighs pressed against his was sending tingling shocks of electricity through him.He tried to focus on their conversation.“They might just be checking that everything is legit.Then they’ll return our items…”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?”
He shook his head.Something about the sly look on Sabitino’s face, and the smooth calmness of Linstead’s assurance both screamed deceit to Jacob.If only he could contact Mårten.His levelheaded partner would have this figured out in no time.And even if he couldn’t, he’d know who to call to help them out of this pickle.
The tears in Nikki’s eyes glistened but didn’t fall as she drew in a fortifying breath.“Oh, well, we’ll just have to find a way out of this.”She stood a little straighter, the movement pushing her pert breasts harder into his ribcage; he could feel them even through the layers of their winter jackets.His cock responded immediately.Did she realize what she was doing to him?He should step away, end this before it went any farther.
“I’ve got a landline.Could we use that?”she asked hopefully, widening those big, blue eyes at him.The urge to kiss her was just about unstoppable.
Jacob shook his head.“If it’s even working, they’ll have tapped it for sure,” he murmured.The place was probably bugged as well, but he didn’t tell her, not wanting her to freak out.But that thought slipped from his mind almost instantaneously when she tilted her head to the side and her face softened as if realizing how close his mouth was to hers.Her tongue darted out to wet her lips, and he stared, fascinated, at their slick, cherry-pink plumpness.He’d already tasted that sweetness, but now he wanted more.He couldn’t remember lowering his head, all he knew was that the allure of her mouth was drawing him in.
Oleg had interrupted their last kiss before they’d even had a chance to explore each other.But their chemistry had been undeniable.And now they were alone in her house, with nothing and no one to interfere.His mouth crushed down on hers, letting her know how much he wanted her, not withholding anything this time.
She moaned and tipped her head back, allowing him full access to those delicious lips.Without breaking their kiss, she drew down the zipper of his jacket, and slipped her hands inside, underneath the layers of jumper and T-shirt to feather her fingers up over his lower abs then around his ribs to knead the muscles on each side of his spine.His skin pebbled at her touch, wanting more.
“My bedroom is the first door on the right,” she said, pulling her mouth from his, voice ragged.
“I’m not sure…” He could barely speak; the sensual pull of her eyes, her lips, her swaying hips beneath his hands was almost too much to bear.But someone needed to be the sensible one here.There were a million reasons they shouldn’t do this.The first being the four FBI agents standing guard outside.
Her pupils dark with desire, she whispered, “I need this, Jacob.More than anything right now.”
Did he do this?Did he drop all pretense of protocol and professionalism and follow his cravings?
She took him by the hand and led him down the darkened hallway.And he gave no resistance; he followed willingly behind.At least it was warm in here; Nikki must’ve left the heat on while she was away.Or else the FBI had turned it on while they’d been searching the house.Because he had no doubt the agents had been in here to make sure there was no way for them to escape, and no other way for them to contact the outside world.
When she closed the bedroom door, she dropped his hand and tugged impatiently at her clothing as if in a fervor to rid herself of all encumbrances.He was so fascinated watching this amazing woman reveal herself as she stripped off her jacket and jumper, then boots and jeans, he dared not move.Until she finally stood naked in front of him.His mouth went dry at the sight of her.Nothing in this world was more beautiful than Nikki Winter.Skin pale and smooth in the sliver of light leaking in around the drawn curtains.Long hair left to fall over slim shoulders unimpeded.She was magnificent.
“Do you need some help?”she enquired, quirking one eyebrow up as he continued to stare, mesmerized.
Galvanized into action, he began shedding his clothing just as rapidly as she had.But his efforts were seemingly not fast enough for her liking, because she came to him and undid his belt, her nimble fingers unfastening his buttons, and pushing his jeans over his hips.Then he was naked too, her hands running all over his body.Exploring, appreciating.Her touch heated his skin everywhere her fingertips landed until he could take no more.
Picking her up in his arms as if she were as light as a feather, he carried her over to the large bed in the middle of the room.The rest of her bedroom remained a mystery to him as he focused on her and only her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
A SMALL PART of Nikki couldn’t believe she was about to do this.To make love to Jacob.But like she’d told him in the hallway.She needed this.She wanted this.The past few days had been a nightmarish whirlwind.With only one constant.Jacob.Sexy as hell, badass cop Jacob, who protected her when no one else could.There were so many reasons she shouldn’t sleep with him, but she’d banished all objections from her mind and her heart for now.This might be their sole chance to be together, and she would not regret choosing him, even if it were only for this single perfect moment in time.This was just sex, she reminded herself.A way to release all the stress and fear and anxiety of the last several days.A way to celebrate life.
Jacob’s naked body lay heavy over hers, and she wriggled against him, savoring all his hot skin pressed against hers.He was devouring her mouth with his, and she let her head fall back against the pillow, pulling him down to follow her.His lips eventually left hers, but only to kiss her face, sink his tongue into the dip at the base of her throat, taste her.
Soon, his mouth was doing wicked things to her breasts and then her belly, then even lower down, and she lost awareness of anything that wasn’t Jacob.The intensity within built until she was whimpering for him to give her release.
“Condom.Second drawer on the right,” she panted, pointing in the direction of her nightstand.She didn’t know if he carried protection, but she wasn’t taking any chances, not even when she was this desperate to have him inside her.She watched him roll on the condom, and she lay back and beckoned to him.He lowered down, hovering over her body, biceps bulging as he held himself a few centimeters above, asking the question with his eyes.
“Yes,” she whispered her needy response.Oh, yes.This was everything she’d wanted and more, and so she arched her back, her hips colliding with his, pushing her core against his erection.He was so hot and hard for her, and she was so ready for him.Tantalizingly slowly, Jacob eased his cock between her legs, and she opened for him, like a flower to the sun.Until, in a rush of heat and sensation, he was inside her.Oh, the feeling was incomparable, nothing else on earth felt this good.
Together they moved in the slow rhythm of sensual pleasure until she knew she was close.Oh, so close.“Jacob,” she pleaded.“Jacob.”His name became a mantra on her lips, then soon turned to a moan as she could hold back no longer and tumbled over the edge, her climax fast and shockingly intense.She heard him utter a groan of his own, and then he shuddered and took his own satisfaction.
They lay entangled in each other’s arms for moments uncounted, her breathing becoming normal again, their skin slick with sweat where they were joined.
At last Jacob rolled off her, disposing of the condom, then lifting the blankets so they could both crawl underneath.She’d left the heating on low while she’d been away, so she didn’t have to come home to a freezing house, and while she hadn’t noticed the coolness of the air when they’d been making love, her skin welcomed the coziness of flannel sheets now.
They lay facing each other, not speaking, content to be cocooned in each other’s arms.Nikki admired the strong planes of Jacob’s cheekbones, his slightly crooked nose as she stared into his amazing hazel eyes.Jacob’s eyelids fluttered closed, even though he valiantly tried to keep them open.She didn’t blame him; it’d been a long few days and neither of them had slept much.Lethargy made her limbs heavy, but her brain was still too wired to shut her eyes just yet.Which left her an opportunity to study Jacob as he lay sleeping and try to untangle all the knots in her mind as to how she felt about him.
The sex had been amazing.And she’d discovered a lot about Jacob today in her bed.Over the time Nikki had known Jacob, he’d come across as calm and competent, radiating a don’t-fuck-with-me vibe.The man was intimidating.Even when he’d been outnumbered this morning in the driveway, she’d felt the brutality that Jacob kept hidden just below the surface ready to be unleashed; he’d been prepared to fight to the death with those agents if he’d had to.But now she had a unique insight; in bed she’d seen another side of Jacob.A tender side, vulnerable even.He was an attentive lover, compassionate and giving.She almost felt as if she were being worshiped as he’d stroked the skin over her hipbone, and kissed her collarbone so gently, intent on driving her slowly insane.He was far more committed to her pleasure than Bradley had ever been.
