Her Secret Thrill (14 page)

She looked stunned. “And you say
I'm
formidable?”

“I told you I wasn't playing by the rules. I'm a troubleshooter for an international company and not with out some research abilities of my own. Unfortunately, none of this answered any of the real questions I had.”

“What the hell else did you want to know? My bra size?”

He grinned. “That I knew.” He tightened his grip on her hand, when she went to yank it away. “I'd say we both did some digging and came up short of our real goal. Which was to get to know each other better.” He leaned forward now and tugged her forward, too. “I want to get to know you better, Natalie. I don't want to play by these stupid rules. I want us to see each other beyond just the occasional meeting in a hotel. I want to be part of your whole life and I want you in mine.”

Tears sprang to her eyes, but they were not the tears of joy he'd hoped for. “Jake.” She pulled his hand to her mouth and kissed his fingers, then gently disentangled hers. “If this were another time in my life, I might try to make this work. But right now, I don't see how we can. Your life and mine, especially now, are so different. I think it would just be too frustrating and too difficult, and we'd both end up suffering for the attempt.”

“Natalie—”

“No, listen to me. I've thought about this a lot. Nonstop it seems. I was going to just send a note here, but I couldn't do that to you. No matter what you felt for me, you'd become too important to me for me to just walk away without a word. You deserved—we both de
served—a personal goodbye. You've meant more to me, shown me more about myself, than anyone ever has.”

“Then, don't do this. Whatever the situation is, we can find a way.”

She shook her head. “I don't think so. And even if you could, I don't think I can. Not right now. My life is completely upside down. For how long, I have no idea.”

Jake wanted to argue with her. But words would be wasted. She was as stubborn about things as he was. So he'd go about it another way. Just as he'd shown her sides of herself, he'd show her how it could be for them if she'd only try.

“How long are you in town?”

His question seemed to catch her off guard. “My flight goes out tomorrow at noon.”

“Then, we have almost twenty-four hours.”

“Jake—”

“We started this relationship as a means to escape from reality. Your reality doesn't sound too wonderful at the moment. If you're not willing to give me more, at least let me give you twenty-four hours away from it. Let me give you—us—this.”

“I don't know.” But it was clear from the leap of excitement in her eyes that while her mind might not be sure, her heart definitely was.

He stood and pulled her into his arms, thanking God and every other deity he could think of, when she didn't push him away this time. “Please, Natalie,” he said, brushing her lips with his. “Give yourself this. We can say goodbye tomorrow.”

Unless, between now and then, he could convince her otherwise.

He kissed her then, taking her mouth and reveling in her instant response. “Say yes.” She was breathless, and he could feel her heart pound against his chest. He nipped at her mouth, trailed his lips along her chin, then kissed that tender spot just beneath her ear. “Say yes.” He didn't care if he seduced it out of her. He was a desperate man. He ran his hands up along her back, then down her sides, brushing his fingers alongside her breasts, then cupping her to him. She gasped as he pushed against her, and he had to swallow the deep groan of satisfaction in his throat.

“Say yes, Natalie. Stay with me one last night.”

And every other night I can convince you to give me.

“Say yes.” He turned and leaned against the railing, pulling her between his legs. “Say it.”

“Yes,” she said, trembling hard against him. “Yes. Now, can we please go inside?”

He grinned and wrapped her up in his arms. “Oh, yes.”

N
ATALIE'S BODY
was on a rampage. She wanted all of him, right now. Her mind was so clouded with need, she couldn't think straight and didn't bother to try. She had until tomorrow to regain her sanity and her strength to walk away from his man.

But for now, his mouth was on her and nothing had ever felt so damn good.

He tossed her so she landed in a fluffy heap of duvet and pillows atop the high double bed that dominated one end of the room. The muslin draping fluttered shut behind him as he climbed up on the bed after her. She distantly realized he'd left the balcony doors sitting open, but she didn't care. The sultry air filled the room, making her clothes stick to her skin. As Jake moved toward her, she didn't think that was going to be a concern for very long. And she was right.

He moved his hands to her sweater top, but something made her stop him. “No, let me.”

She crawled to her knees and pushed him against the headboard. “There,” she directed.

If this was truly to be their last time together, then
there was more exploring she wanted to do. She'd intended to take the upper hand in Chicago, when it had been her turn, but it hadn't ended that way. They'd both been too hungry for one another. Well, her appetite hadn't abated, not a bit, but she was nothing if not determined to have her way this time.

Jake smiled at her, pushed some of the multitude of pillows up against the headboard and leaned back against them, propping his head on his hands.

“And keep them there,” she said, nodding to his hands.

“Anything you say.”

She couldn't help but notice the formidable bulge pressing against the front of his jeans. The same sweet bulge she'd felt against her out on the balcony. She almost lost her nerve right then, the ache between her legs intensifying.

She looked to his face instead, and there she found what she needed. He wanted her, badly, but he was also willing to let her do what she wanted. It was this trust between them that would be the hardest to walk away from.

She didn't think about that now; she reached for the hem of her sweater and slowly pulled it over her head. She had to smile as she realized what she had on. Plain bra and panties, no lace, no frills. “Not exactly the siren apparel I'd have worn if I'd known we'd end up like this.”

“You're just fine,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Fine.”

Right then, she'd never felt finer.

She straightened on her knees and slowly unbuckled and unzipped her trousers, sliding them down her hips. Then she turned and laid on her back across the bed,
lifting her hips and undulating as she pushed them down her legs, along with her hose and shoes, until they fell off the bed to the floor. She rolled toward him then, wearing nothing more than her panties and bra. She had no idea where her boldness came from. Actually, she did. As long as she looked him in the eyes, she had the power to do anything.

She rolled to her back and lifted her chest so she could unhook her bra from the back, then she slowly peeled the soft white cups over her breasts. She sighed as she covered them with her own hands, letting the straps trail down over her arms. A sudden groan from Jake made her jerk her eyes open. She hadn't even been aware of closing them.

“You're breaking the rules,” she said on a stunned whisper. He was stroking himself through his pants.

“Sue me,” he choked out. “Just don't stop.”

Natalie had never done this before, had always thought it would feel somehow demeaning to…perform like this, for a man. Only now did she realize it was the exact opposite. The power was heady, in fact. And seeing him like this…she wanted to see him stroke himself for real. He'd done it once, one stroke, but she wanted more. Just picturing it made her entire body blush and heat at the same time.

“Take off your pants,” she instructed.

His eyes widened a bit at the harsh command. But she was so needy now, she didn't care. As long as he complied.

And he did.

Not as slowly as she had, but no less provocatively. He all but ripped them off—jeans, briefs, socks shoes, everything.

“Shirt, too.”

Gone.

She was shuddering with need. He was rock-hard for her. “Don't—” She had to gulp air. “Don't stop what you were doing.”

He grinned now, and there was something almost primal about it. “I won't if you won't.”

Could a person faint from pleasure overload when she wasn't even being touched? She wasn't sure, but she might find out.

He touched himself, watching her as he did so. She swallowed hard as he wrapped his fingers around the pulsing length and slowly moved his hand up, then down.

She raised her hands to her breasts. His deep groan as she fingered her own firm nipples was one of the most gratifying sounds she'd ever heard.

She somehow managed to climb to her knees again, the trembling in her limbs so strong, she felt almost clumsy with it. His smile was bold, encouraging, the desire in his eyes so wondrous a thing that she almost climbed on him right then. But this wasn't over yet.

She turned her back to him and slowly slid her panties down over her hips. She bent forward just slightly and heard him gasp. It made her bolder, so she slid them down to her knees, then kicked them away, affording him a complete view of her most intimate self. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen up close and personal before, but somehow, displaying herself for him this way made it seem far more intimate…far more erotic.

His stroking increased and his hips were moving, as she peeked over her shoulder at him. And somehow her hand ended up between her own legs. She wanted
to push him further, harder, higher. She let him watch her stroke her fingers along herself.

“Dear…God…Natalie.” His groan was more a growl this time, his jaw clenched so hard, his throat so tight, she thought he was about to burst. And perhaps he was.

She crawled to him, moving between his legs.

“Oh,” he grunted as she replaced his hand with hers. “My,” he managed to say as she lowered her head. “God,” he finished on a long, satisfied groan, as she took him deep into her mouth.

His hips rocked hard against her, but she didn't care. She'd never felt so strong, so sure, so…sexual.

Then his hands were on her shoulders, pulling her up. “Now, Natalie, for the love of Christ, now.” He all but plunged her on top of him.

She shrieked as he filled her, thinking she'd never felt such a rocketing sense of pleasure in her whole life.

“Hold on.”

She gripped his forearms, and he gripped hers as he moved beneath her. She wasn't even sure who rode who, and she didn't care. Moans filled the air—hers, his, she lost track. She was panting, screaming, writhing. Her climax was right there, just beyond her reach. He'd move her back, then pull her up tight, knowing just where to rub and just what to do to prolong it.

Until she couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed his hand and shoved it between them, pushing his fingers where she wanted them. Her climax was so powerful, she swore she saw stars.

She fell against his chest, mind and body swimming. But he wasn't done yet. He rolled her to her back so she was beneath him.

“Roll over,” he said, his voice barely more than a rasp.

Her body was still clenching from the aftereffects, and he was still deep inside her, setting off sparks with every breath. She didn't understand what he wanted—hell, she couldn't have told him her own name at that moment.

So he did it for her. She whimpered when he pulled out. “But—”

Then she was on her stomach, and his hands were on her hips. “You liked being on your knees before.”

She almost came again, just hearing him say that.

Then he pulled her back onto him, and she shuddered so hard she thought she might come. He pushed into her, again and again. God, he was so deep. Then his hands were sliding up her waist as he bent over her. She braced their weight on her hands, then cried out as his fingers rubbed her nipples. “Oh God, oh God.” She'd thought herself wrung out, but Jake always seemed to realize there was one more waiting.

One hand stayed on her breasts, his thick fingers moving from one nipple to the other until she was begging him to finish her. From this position there wasn't the right friction, wasn't the right—

And then his other hand slid down over her belly. His hips were like pistons now, the entire bed was rocking. Her body seized up, every muscle tightening, as she silently begged his hand to get
there.
Now.

“That's it,” he said, panting himself. “Hold on.”

“Now,” she begged. “Now, dammit.”

And damn him if he didn't laugh. Breathlessly and with a little groan of his own. “God, you are so tight, so wet, so mine.”

Yes,
she thought.
God help me, I am.
“Jake.” She was pleading.

“I want…to be…together…this time.”

“Just…touch…me.” They were both panting in the rhythm of his thrusts.

“Come for me…Natalie,” he said in a rush. “Now!” And he slid his fingers over her just as he pushed as deeply into her as he could. He shouted as his climax finally thundered through him. Her shout was muffled by the bed as they fell forward, burying him more deeply into her, his fingers pushing into her pulsing wetness, both of them shaking and shuddering, until finally he rolled off her.

Natalie couldn't move. Wasn't sure if she ever would. Their heavy breathing filled the room, as did the sultry smell of their bodies. The air was heavy with it. She saw the muslin flutter and remembered the open balcony doors, but was so satiated she didn't care.

“That is possibly the most satisfied smile I've ever seen,” Jake said, his voice gravelly and wonderful.

She turned her head to find him propped up on one elbow, looking at her. “Yours is pretty damn satisfied, as well.”

“Appropriately so,” he said, then sighed and rolled to his back.

“I'm surprised we didn't get a cheer from the street.”

He laughed. “Are you sure we didn't? It was so loud in here, we might not have heard it.” He moved. “I could go check.”

Her hand came out to stop him. “Jake.”

He laughed even harder, making her finally move enough to prop herself up on her elbows. She'd been with this man now in every way she could imagine, but
not until now had she felt so perfectly comfortable in her own skin around him. What she'd done today, taking control the way she had, at least in the beginning, had changed her. Them. Again. As they seemed to change and grow every time they were together.

Sadness threatened to overwhelm her, as the reality of the fact that this was their last time— No, she wouldn't do that to herself. Not now. Nothing had changed. Just because everything felt like it had didn't mean it had.

“What's so funny?” she asked, forcing her mind back to the moment.

“You.”

“Me?”

He rolled to her and kissed the tip of her nose, then tugged her closer and kissed her mouth. It was a lingering kiss filled with such tenderness that it made her eyes water.

“What about me is funny?” she asked, rolling to her back and pushing her hair from her face, giving herself a moment to clear her eyes.

“You are this unbelievable siren one moment, then so proper the next.”

“What, because I didn't want you parading onto the balcony in your birthday suit, I'm a prude?”

“Trust me, this street has seen far more provocative displays.”

“I don't even want to imagine.”

“See?” He laughed again.

But she truly didn't mind his teasing. In fact, she liked it. Too much. She laid her head down and let her eyes slowly shut. Maybe if she just drifted off to sleep, when she woke up she'd have her sanity back, along with
the strength she'd need to walk away from him. Because right at this moment, she simply couldn't imagine it.

 

J
AKE HELD HER HAND
as they walked through the French Market. He was surprised they were both walking and not limping.
Explosive
didn't begin to describe what had taken place a few hours ago.

Then Jake had seen the clouds shadow her eyes and decided it might be best to get them up and out. Besides, his plan wasn't to make love to her until she couldn't walk away from him. Although, he wouldn't have minded her using that tactic on him. Except, she didn't have to. He wasn't going anywhere. He certainly wasn't walking away from her and what they might have together.

But he wanted them to spend time together outside the bedroom, the way they had that morning in the museum. He ignored the fact that their trip to the museum had led them directly back to bed. They were combustible. He wouldn't be surprised if they were still dragging each other off to bed fifty years from now. If he were that lucky.

He tucked her hand more deeply in his and let her set the pace. She enjoyed the vendors, sampling the food in some, examining the artistry of the wares in others. He simply enjoyed her. He'd heard it said that falling in love opened your eyes to a whole new world, but he'd never believed it. Until now.

He'd always thought himself very aware, but it was as if everything was amplified now. He smiled. Life in Dolby stereo. But that was how he felt, and he was be ginning to understand where the feeling came from. Now when he saw something, felt something, even
smelled something, he thought of her, wanting to share the moment with her. So yes, everything was in fact amplified. By two.

His stomach chose that moment to growl.

She looked sideways at him, blushing a little because they were standing at a booth where she'd been trying on bracelets, and clearly the artisan had heard the rumbling sound, too. Jake just shrugged and grinned. “I'm a growing boy.”

They were at the end of the market, and the lady pointed up the block. “You might want to try Otto's on Decatur.” She beamed. “My nephew's place. He makes the best muffelattas.”