“Are you gonna eat some of this with me?” He held up the healthy chunk on the fork and balanced it as he moved it in her direction, hoping it would be enough of a distraction she’d drop the subject.
She shook her head. “No, indulging in that kind of decadence this late is a bad thing for me.”
He held the fork in front of her mouth, trying to tempt her, but she politely declined again. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of these women who can’t enjoy a piece of cake because she’s worried about her figure? You’re gorgeous.”
A soft chuckle left her lips as a spark of something bright flashed in her eyes. “You’re right. I am. Me not wanting cake this late in the night has nothing to do with me keeping my fabulous figure.”
She waved a hand down the length of her sexy lady lumps for emphasis, making it hard for him to chew and swallow his cake without choking.
“I’m happy in my size-sixteen skin. And that’s not me hating on my size-two sistren, but if God intended for us all to be the same, he wouldn’t have made us different. My desirability is not at all tied to my dress size, so there’s nothing to watch.”
On that he could agree. He was sitting in front of her eating one of the most decadent desserts he’d ever tasted, and yet hunger still ravaged his body with a need that contorted his insides into impossible positions.
“So if you’re not watching your girlish figure, why won’t you indulge with me?”
She raised her eyebrow as if silently asking if he’d meant his words to sound as provocative as they had. The truth lay somewhere in the middle.
He liked the flash of interest he saw turning her chocolate-brown eyes to a warm amber. He also didn’t miss the delicious way her knowing smile spread across her thick, full lips.
It was an invitation to keep the double-entendre game going as far as it concerned him. But even with their heightened wordplay, the fact was the cake was good.
“If I give in to something that sweet this time of night, it would keep me up all evening long.” She leaned closer to him, and his pulse sped up. His body responding to her nearness, his length already thickening under the soft material of his sweats. She glanced down, noting his delicate predicament, and her mouth curled into the perfect bow as her smile widened. “As much as I want it”—she looked up, her voice dropped to her lower register, the sultry sound pulling him closer to her without conscious effort on his part—“and believe me I do, tomorrow is an early workday.”
His fingers tightened on the fork, and he figured he’d best put the plate and the cutlery down before he mutilated himself accidentally. He quickly made sure the plate, the fork, and the remains of his cake didn’t end up on the floor. When he turned around, his eyes locked with hers.
She slid her hand from its perch on her lap and reached for his face, wiping a thumb across his mouth. “You had a bit of icing there.”
She went to pull her thumb away, and he couldn’t quite explain what happened next. His tongue darted out of its own volition, because there was no way in hell he told it to do that. It curled around her digit, licking the icing from her fingertip as if it were the secret ingredient to life. And with that one move, something changed in the air.
“If we were in court, I’d submit this as evidence to my claim I’m more than confident I can turn a man’s head.”
“If we were in court, we’d both be held in contempt for what I’m about to do.”
Chapter 13
Aja had walked into this room offering Jackson a sweet treat as a reward for his kindness. Now, the way he stared at her—as if she were the only thing in the world that could bring him satisfaction—made it clear her cake wasn’t the lone sugary delight on his mind.
He grabbed hold of her hand as she tried to lower it from his mouth. “Are you okay with this, Aja? Is this what you want?”
She was sitting so close to him that she could smell the scent of cake on his breath. If he didn’t recognize she was all in, he wasn’t as good an investigator as he believed. But then the strong grip he had on her hand gentled. He slid his digits down and made soft circles where his finger met her racing pulse, as if he were trying to coax an answer from her.
Understanding fell over her like a delicate mist tickling her senses. He wasn’t unsure of her desire for him; he was giving her the opportunity to decide how tonight would end.
God, can you be any more sexy than you are in this moment?
“I want this, Jackson. Do you?”
It was a question she needed to ask. The weight of his powerful gaze on her, the way he breathed as though it was a struggle to focus on their burning connection and fill his lungs with air, the way his manhood hung heavy and full against his clothed thigh were all indicators he wanted her. But the way he wore integrity like it was imbedded in his DNA would mean crossing this line could be painful for him.
This wasn’t smart. Her conscience echoed the same. It sure ain’t. But we both know that won’t stop you from jumping on this fine-ass man who’s holding you like you’re something precious.
He didn’t respond, a fact that made the first kernels of disappointment crackle in her chest. She took a deep breath and pulled away from him slowly. No need to make a big deal of it if he wasn’t willing to risk complicating their already tenuous connection.
“Don’t.” His proclamation was a whispered command that made every nerve ending tingle with need.
“But you didn’t answer.”
He laced his finger with hers and kissed the back of her hand with a barely there press of his lips. “I’m where I want to be, Aja. My only concern is that you’re all right.”
Spending so many years as a lawyer made Aja decent at reading people. On any other man, there was no way she would believe this was anything more than a calculated ploy to get her out of her pretty La Perla panties. But the struggle to be good while wanting nothing more than to indulge in his need was painted across every straining muscle in his body.
“No pun intended, but literally and figuratively, I’m a big girl. How are you going to hurt me?”
“I’ve watched you these last few days. You’re a fighter, someone who champions the downtrodden. You’re rebuilding Restoration for more than profit. You want its people to prosper, not you. A person who gives that much of themselves deserves every happiness. You deserve a man who will give you forever. I’m not built for that, Aja. And if that’s what you’re looking for, this won’t work.”
She gave the fingers still entangled with hers a playful squeeze. “Who says I’m looking for forever? I’m thirty-nine years old, Jackson. I’ve had plenty of chances to settle down and build the perfect picture of domestic bliss. But I haven’t because it’s never been what I wanted. Like I said earlier. Sometimes physical connection is simply about feeling good. Beyond that, I have no further expectation of this moment. So now that we’ve cleared the air, Jackson Dean, are you down?”
“Hell yeah.” He sealed his mouth against hers, pressing her backward into the sofa cushions as he devoured her mouth. Last night’s kiss had been about discovery. Tonight, as he nibbled at her bottom lip until she opened to him and gave him the opportunity to slip his tongue inside her mouth, was all about conquering her. And with the way her untouched clit vibrated with need, she was all for this man climbing to the top of Mount Aja and posting his flag.
He tasted of sweetness and desire, a heady mix that made her mind fuzzy with want and her body instinctively buck under his, searching for contact.
“Steady, sweetheart. I promise I’ll make it better.” This wasn’t Aja’s first romp with a prime piece of meat like Jackson. But the simple way he spoke to her had her thighs shaking and her opening dripping wet without the benefit of at least a simple stroke.
He settled himself between her legs, the sweet pressure of his body touching all the right spots. Dammit, he hadn’t even gotten her naked and the feel of him against her brought her so close to the
brink of satisfaction, she could hardly think.
“You do not understand how much I’ve dreamt about being right here like this with you.”
Oh yes, she could. That had pretty much been her favorite pastime since she’d laid eyes on him.
He slid his hand from her thigh to her hip, until it reached the hem of her tank. When his rough callused fingertips caressed the sensitive flesh there, a tremor of desire shook loose any doubts she might’ve held about crossing this line with him. Not that there were many. Well, she knew he still suspected her ladies, but she told herself she could handle that. What else could she say?
If she’d been thinking about anything other than how good his body would feel on hers, there was no way she could let this happen. But it had been so long since her soul had felt anything but the crushing despair and guilt that seemed to walk with her every moment of the day and follow her into her dreams. Like a relentless stalker, those twin emotions hid in the shadows, making certain she always knew they were around, even if she couldn’t see them.
Tonight, though, while his hand crept up the soft flesh of her side, lifting the hem of her tank with each measured inch he gained until her shirt was above her breasts and his fingers were cupping the aching weight of her flesh in his palm—as his hips began simultaneously rocking his heavy length through her covered slit—the only thing Aja thought about was how fast they could get naked and end this torture.
He must have sensed her desperation, or perhaps the heavy musk of her arousal clued him in to how much she needed relief, because he took her exposed nipple into his mouth, scraping it gently with his teeth, then soothing it with his tongue until it peaked into a turgid pebble. When she shivered, he made certain to do the same with its twin and drove her need a few more notches up the drive-Aja-crazy-with-your-hands-and-mouth meter.
She was so out of her mind with desire, so overwhelmed by the heightened sensation of his skin on hers, that by the time he repositioned his body to the side and dipped his head to reclaim her mouth, she was in danger of peaking before he even touched her sex.
She broke the kiss, gasping for air as she moaned, “Close.”
“Shhh, darlin’. I’ll give you what you need.”
He slipped his hand beneath the waistband of her sweatpants in a slow but steady motion. The anticipation almost broke her, but she refused to give in to that ache to fall into release before he delivered what he promised. And when she felt his thick digits slide between her slick folds, it was like a match set to gasoline—explosive, dangerous, and too brilliant to turn completely away from.
He rubbed slow, firm circles around her clitoris until her hips chased his fingers’ rhythm. The pressure built until his touch was almost painful. And when his ministrations made her muscles clamp down with blessed tension and the beginnings of her orgasm spread from the tiny bundle of nerves his thumb rotated over, he pushed two fingers into the wet depths of her opening, and her body exploded in spasms that racked her entire being, stealing her ability to draw life-giving air.
She grabbed his upper arm, needing something strong to anchor her to the couch; otherwise, the convulsions taking over her body would land her in an unsexy heap on the floor.
“That’s it, baby. Ride it out.”
God, why did he have to say that? Why couldn’t he simply let her enjoy her destruction? But he didn’t. He kept whispering sweet nothings in her ear while his fingers played her like an instrument, and her pleasure peaked again, sending her into another frenzied fit of spasms, screams, and pleasure she could easily overdose on.
When the last tremor of satisfaction traveled through her body, he removed his soaked fingers from her quivering body and held them to her lips. A wicked snap of mischief flashed in his eyes before he painted her mouth with her release, then kissed her. He used his tongue to lick softly inside her mouth, letting her savor the delicious mix of her on him.
She could sample her flavor anytime. But with the spice of Jackson added to it, it was a powerful substance, one she would more than likely crave like an addict going through withdrawal. She didn’t care though. She could not concern herself with how problematic walking away from this would be when this was over. She’d been foolish enough to think a night of Jackson Dean would be enough. But if a man could make you come like a geyser from a kiss or two and a few strokes of his finger, chances were one night would never be enough.
She pushed her hand between them, cupping him through his sweats, smiling at the girth and length, and licking her lips in anticipation of watching it stand tall when she pulled it free of its cotton prison. “Let me return the favor.”
He smiled down at her, dropping a quick peck on her mouth. “Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled. “I fully intend to.”
He hooked a thumb in the waistband of his sweatpants and pulled down enough that she got a glorious glimpse of his stretched, domed cap. Her mouth watered. As she was about to push his hand away to get to her bounty, the chimes of a phone ringing cut through the air.
His body tensed alongside hers, and not in a good way. He shifted in an awkward rocking motion until he was sitting upright, pulling his phone from his pocket. One look at the flashing screen and his head dropped.
Disappointment fluttered in her belly. She really wanted to see how many licks it took to get to the cream inside his chocolate pop. But the strained lines of frustration marring his features didn’t give her hope for that happening right now. “I gotta take this. It’s the office.” When her bottom lip poked out, he gave it a quick kiss and a nibble. “Go to your room and wait for me. This should only take a sec.”
She pouted for a second more and stood on noodle-like legs, adjusting her clothes, then left the room. A quick glance over her shoulder and the sight of him righting his clothes made her the tiniest bit sad. Whatever the hell his office wanted at this hour of the night, it had better be important. Because knowing what that man’s manhood felt like as she slid it inside her mouth was something Aja desperately needed to experience before the rooster crowed.
Chapter 14
Jackson jabbed his phone’s dancing accept button with more force than necessary to answer Kade Jennings’s call.
“Whatever this is about, it better be important.” He knew Jennings didn’t deserve to be growled at like an angry animal, but having the image of Aja coming on his fingers forever burned into his memory, Jackson didn’t want to entertain much of anything that would keep him from discovering more of her secrets.
“Did I wake you, Boss? I hear life on a ranch is tough.”
“Something like that.” He cleared his throat, trying hard to remove all traces of the lust running through every cell of his body. Professionalism, Jackson. Try to at least act like you remember what that is. “What do you need, Jennings?”
“Gleason and I spent the day interviewing the townspeople of Fresh Springs. Ms. Everett isn’t imagining things when she says the townies don’t support her and her people much.”
Jackson straightened on the couch. “Any of it seem more serious than townie chatter, like they’d try to actually hurt her?”
Jennings let out a long whistle. “Honestly, they seem more afraid to talk to us about the ranch than anything else. We didn’t get wind of any kind of malicious behavior, though. Everyone we mentioned it to seemed to be looking over their shoulder for some invisible boogeyman to jump out at them. Can’t say for sure what’s going on, but something’s got this entire town spooked about Aja, her people, and that ranch.”
Jackson scratched his head in frustration. Would it be too much for a lead to pop up and save him the complication of mixing his business with Aja’s pleasure? He knew the answer to that question. Of course it would be. Cases were never solved in such a brisk way. Only on television could a case be solved in an hour. If Walker: Texas Ranger were anything like his actual job, this situation at the ranch would’ve been finished two days ago. But
because this was real life, Jackson was walking a close line that could end badly for all of them if shit went sideways.
“Anyone have anything to say about Eli Bennett?”
Jennings blew out another long breath. “Same reaction. Too afraid to say anything about him. We tried to meet the man at his office, but his secretary said he was too busy to meet with us. Without any tangible evidence, we can’t really force the issue. We’re still in town at the local hotel. We’re gonna head to his spread first thing in the morning and try to get an audience with him before he leaves.”
Jackson chewed on his bottom lip and tried to think of any angles he could’ve missed. He wasn’t getting anything from the normal channels, and Aja’s safety was in question as long as this mess continued to play out.
“Keep digging, Jennings. This lowlife is out there somewhere. We need to track him down.”
He hung up the phone and headed toward Aja’s room. If he couldn’t bring her closure on this matter, he’d at least bring her comfort in this moment. Like she said, sometimes comfort was the best you could do in any situation.
He made it halfway up the stairs before something niggling in the back of his mind kept pulling at him. A beautiful woman waited on him upstairs, so why was he stuck with one foot planted on the step? Maybe if you weren’t so eager to play naked footsie with Aja, you might remember to do a routine perimeter check around the house.
“Shit. How the hell did I forget that?” You know exactly how.
Jackson grumbled for the angel on his shoulder to shut the hell up and went about the business of checking all the doors and windows on the first floor, making sure all the locks were in place and the house was safe.
He dragged himself up the stairs. Their lack of progress on the case and his absentmindedness about the security check still bothered him, but he was determined to keep his disappointment to himself.
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