by Diana Gardin
“Rayne…what are you doing?”
Instead of answering him, I grab him by the belt and yank him toward me. I pull his shirt up over his chiseled abs and rock hard chest, tugging until he finally grabs ahold of the collar and jerks it over his head. Taking a second to feast on the expanse of his golden skin, accented by a smattering of curls over his chest and the winding lines of his ink, I finally lift my eyes to his once more. And that’s where they stay as I drop down to my knees.
Jeremy’s pupils dilate, his tongue darts out to lick his lips but he doesn’t say anything, just watches me with fiery heat building and surging in his gaze. My eyes drop to watch my hands work as I undo his belt and flick open the button on his pants, dragging the zipper down and shoving them down his legs. He helps me, stepping out of them and then his hands settle on my head.
“Rayne.” His voice is hoarse. “If you feel like you have something to prove—”
“I do have something to prove.” I interrupt him, grasping hold of his firm, erect cock and giving it a stroke.
His breath hitches, and as I glance up at him his head has dropped back and every single muscle in his body has gone taut.
“I’ve never gotten down on my knees for any man, Jeremy. I’ve never taken another man into my mouth. Not even you. If you had told me a year ago, hell…even a few months ago that I’d be doing this, I would have called you a damn liar. This…this is trust. I know you’ll respect me. I know you’ll protect me. And I know that no matter what happens, I can trust you with our son.”
Leaning in, I lick him. From the base of his cock to the swollen tip, my tongue blazes a path of the sweetest skin I’ve ever tasted, with just a hint of salt. He groans, his hips jerking with the feel of it, and I take him fully in my mouth with pleasure.
“Fucking…hell…yes.” He grunts out each word, punctuating it with a gentle thrust of his hips. Even now, he’s being careful not to hurt me.
This is a brand-new experience for me…something we never did back when we were teenagers. And although I never engaged in a serious relationship with anyone in Phoenix, it’s something I never even would have considered doing with a casual date.
I never expected it to feel so…empowering. Jeremy’s fingers flex in my hair and he’s quivering—quivering!—under my touch. It’s heady and wonderful and intoxicating.
His feet are planted wide, his thick and corded thighs bulky, and I grip the backs of them. Releasing him with a popping sound, I swirl my tongue around the lush head. Then, plunging him back inside my mouth, I suck and taste until I find a steady rhythm, working my hand on the base of him to make up for what I can’t reach with my mouth.
Over and over again, I take him deep, loving the taste and the feel of him in my mouth. Who knew I could love this? Who knew I would relish the feel of him thrusting against my pumping sucks, his fingers tugging on the long strands of my hair, his guttural groan as I bring him so close to the blink of erotic pleasure?
I never did.
“Damn, baby. I’m gonna come…you might want to pull back for this.” The strain in his voice as he tries to hold back is evident, and I take it as a challenge.
Removing my other hand from his thigh and lowering it between his legs, I caress his supple sac in my fingers, rolling them before squeezing with intention.
His choked-off cry of release, flowing hot and steady into my mouth, doubles as my shout of triumph.
As I swallow, I pull back from him with a smirk. Glancing up at him with nothing but sincerity, I grasp his outstretched hands and hop to my feet.
“I trust you, Jeremy. With everything I have.”
His answering groan is lost somewhere as he pulls me into his arms and crashes his mouth to mine.
Hoisting me into his arms, I wrap my legs around his waist. His cock stiffens again in response and he groans, tossing me onto the bed and climbing over me. His mouth devours mine like a man who’s been starving for weeks.
Kissing Jeremy is familiar because I’ve known him before. But kissing this older, more mature, more experienced Jeremy makes my heart beat fast and twists me up into a tangled knot of desire. My hips thrust of their own accord, searching for the relief that my body craves. Tingles of exhilarated pleasure radiate from my core to my limbs, and I squeeze him tighter with my legs.
Breaking free, he glances down at me before he dips his head to my neck. “Easy, baby. I’ve got you.”
His voice is nothing but a rasp as he finds the sensitive spot above my collarbone, the one he used to spend so much time licking and sucking when we were younger. My nails dig into his shoulders as I buck against him.
Jeremy kisses a hot path down my body. His tongue meets parts of me that haven’t felt the touch of a man in so long: my breasts, my stomach, each of my hip bones. When his warm breath blows against the wetness of my tightly coiled heat, I cry out. I don’t know whether to beg him to stop or pull him closer.
But my body does…my hands tangle in his hair as I urge him toward me. “Please.”
His eyes, darkened with his own frantic desire, meet mine. “Absolutely.”
With one deft finger, he parts my folds, his skin sliding along my wetness. I push my hips forward, begging, pleading. He obliges. His tongue meets my clit, and my fingers dig into the soft bedclothes beneath me.
Oh, God. It’s a very real possibility that I might explode. My hips jerk and buck with each lick, and when he inserts his finger inside me and curls it upward my mouth falls open on a deep moan.
Has anyone ever died from a freaking orgasm? Because I can feel mine building, and I think it’s going to make me implode.
“Jeremy…please!”
He pushes my knees apart even wider, burying his face against me. When he hums against my heat, the vibrations from his mouth combined by the furious lashes with his tongue push me over the edge and I fall. My entire body trembles as the pleasure washes over me, and I reach for him.
“God, Jer…I need you inside me. Please.”
With a low humming sound in the back of his throat, he swipes my neck with his tongue before reaching over to the nightstand and pulling out a shiny packet. Tearing it open, he sheathes himself.
Impatient, I grasp him in my hands, causing his eyes to close tightly.
Leaving him there and waiting for the explosion of deliciousness I know is about to come, I close my eyes.
And wait.
I can feel Jeremy at my entrance, but he doesn’t push inside and my eyes snap open as he teases me. He rubs the head of his cock over my clit and I moan and push myself against him.
Drawing back, his eyes are dark and mischievous. “Impatient?”
With a sound that’s half irritated and half amused, therefore rendering it ineffective, my hips rise again.
But he continues to tease me, his measured strokes against the tiny bud of pleasure pulling me into a vortex of sensation. Then, with his other hand, he reaches and pinches my nipple between two fingers. I gasp, my hands flying above my head in helpless defeat as my orgasm rolls through me. The one that was brought on by a cock that wasn’t even inside me.
Then, when I’m still spiraling, he enters me, plunging deep and his lips are at my ear.
“That might be the sexist thing I’ve ever seen.” His whisper is intense, and I shiver in response. “What you just did for me was amazing, and the only thing I want to do right now is return the favor.”
With that, he draws back, so slowly it creates an ache somewhere deep inside. My walls are clenching with the need to keep him close and make him move faster.
When he slides back inside, his teeth clench, and as he stares down at me the expression in his eyes is sinful. “God, darlin’…you feel amazing. I can’t…fuck, it’s so good.”
Unable to help himself any longer, he begins to slam into me like a man possessed, and I’m meeting him thrust for thrust, my body responding to his in a way that I never thought was possible.
I’ve never thought of myself as a sexual
person, because who has the time? I was a mom. That’s it. But now…now I’m like a tigress in the bedroom with Jeremy. I can’t get enough, and I want him to give me everything he’s holding back. Harder, stronger, and more intense.
“Yes…oh, God yes!”
In response to my pleasure-filled scream, Jeremy places a hand over my mouth and continues to pound me until my body stiffens around him with my impending climax.
“That’s it, Rayne…fall. I’ve got you. Always.” He’s breathless, his skin slick with sweat as my hands grip his shoulders hard enough to leave a mark.
But I do. I fall. Because that was always going to happen with Jeremy.
It was inevitable.
Above me, he trembles. His mouth is tight, his forehead creased with the strain. But he doesn’t drop eye contact while he releases into me. Instead, he brushes my matted hair out of my face and gently touches his lips to mine.
His sweetness nearly breaks me.
When it comes to Jeremy Teague, why did I ever think I’d outgrown him? Why’d I ever think the love we shared so long ago, the love that created Decker, would have faded away?
25
Jeremy
When Rayne follows Jacob into the conference room the following afternoon, I catch her eye and shoot her a reassuring smile. She glances around the table at the members of the team, minus Ronin and Grisham, with a nervous smile before sitting down in the big leather chair beside mine. Reaching for her hand under the table, I give it a small squeeze to let her know that I’m going to make sure everything will be all right.
Every member of NES will.
“We’re ready to take action on your case, Rayne.” Jacob indicates the screen, which displays the findings in my and Sayward’s report.
Rayne’s body goes tense and rigid in her chair. I stoke her leg, trying to surge warmth and reassurance from my body into hers. “What are you going to do?”
Jacob aims a pointed glance at me, and I point to the screen. “As I told you yesterday, Sayward and I were able to find a way into the Horton Tech server. And this morning, we found what we needed. We tried not to leave a trail, but time isn’t on our side here. We don’t want Horton to catch on that we have what we need before we pick him up. We want him neutralized before we call in the authorities, for your safety first and foremost.”
Her big blue eyes are blinking rapidly as she processes what I’m saying. “You did it? You found the proof?”
Nodding, I smile. “Yeah. You were absolutely right in what you saw. He’s a slimeball thief, and there’s proof there in the system. We downloaded what we needed this morning, and we can hand it over to the SEC when we’re ready. I also want to pass on the threats he used against you to the police so he can also be charged with stalking and attempted kidnapping. The asshole is going down, darlin’.”
Relief breaks across her face and her smile curves softly on her lips. “That’s…oh, my God.” She glances around the table. “All of you are so amazing. Thank you.”
Jacob offers a tight smile. “Don’t thank us yet, Rayne. The bastard’s still out there. Ronin and Grisham are out right now, tailing the P.I. guy to see if he’ll lead them to Horton’s hideout. When we get him, we’ll let you know.”
She glances at me, and the worry is back on her face.
“I’m staying by your side, Rayne. Until this is over.”
And for a lot longer after that.
“And Decker? He’s unprotected at school.” The anxiety bleeds through in her voice.
“We’ll have someone situated outside the school within the next few minutes. Our son will be safe, Rayne.” That’s something I’ll always make sure of.
Relaxing, she nods. “Sounds good to me.” She glances around the table once again. “Is there anything I can be doing to help?”
Dare shakes his head. “Nah. This is what we do. Your man there is the brains behind the tech. He loves gadgets and all the things that make a mission fun. Makes sure we’re outfitted with the most up-to-date materials. Ghost is practically a tactical genius. I can fix and drive just about anything…better than most stuntmen can.”
He swivels his chair to face me at my snicker. “What’s that, Teague? Something to say?”
Clearing my throat, I flick a hand at him. “No, of course not, Wheels. Carry on with your descriptions.”
With a confident, crooked grin, Dare smoothes his dark hair back from his forehead and continues. He gestures toward Jacob. “Boss Man here is the best there is. He’s seen it all, and he’s taken down monsters worse than Horton. Dude picked the wrong woman to mess with when he came after you, Rayne.”
Rayne has been listening to all of this with an amused expression, rapt with curiosity. She places her elbows on the table, leaning forward. “And what’s Ronin’s…I mean, Swagger’s specialty?”
I roll my eyes skyward while Dare mimics her position, leaning in. He keeps his face completely deadpan. “Swagger? He’s an interrogation expert. He excels at all the ways to torture a man without killing him.”
Rayne’s quick intake of air has me pushing back from the table. “Are we excused, Boss Man?”
Jacob nods, and I pull Rayne up from the table. I keep her hand wrapped up in mine as we walk back to the lobby.
Standing in front of Rayne’s desk, I wrap my arms around her. She settles into me, her sigh muffled against my chest.
“This is all really going to be okay?” Her voice is full of uncertainty that rips through my insides like wildfire.
“It is.” I pull back, holding her out from me a little bit so I can get lost in the dark blue ocean of her eyes. “I told you that you and Decker were safe with me, and I meant it.”
Her tongue runs across her plump lips as she nods, and there’s a dark, sweet stirring in my chest. I let my hands slide down her shoulders, caressing her arms. Her smooth skin is exposed thanks to her sleeveless top, and I catch her hands in mine.
“Hey,” I murmur. “Call Macy. Let’s go out for a little bit after work today. Not too late, just something to help take your mind off of this while the guys are rounding things up.”
Her face lights up. “Really? You want to take me on a date, Jer?”
Chuckling softly, I rub my head. “The fact that you sound so delighted and surprised about that means I’ve been doing something wrong. So yes. Drinks after work to start making up for the lack of dates so far.”
Her smile turns coy. “Well, things have been complicated. And hectic. And I mean, maybe taking your baby mama out on a date…”
Spluttering, I pull her against me. “Please do me a favor and don’t ever call yourself my baby mama again.”
She smirks. “I want fancy drinks. Like ones in glasses that’ll break if we drop them and that have snazzy names I’ve never heard of.”
“Snazzy?”
She gives a firm nod. “And then you have a deal. I won’t call myself your baby mama anymore.”
“God…it’s like negotiating with a terrorist. Deal.”
The restaurant, a classy establishment located just steps from the beach, is close enough to NES for us to walk. In the warm orange glow of the dusky sun, I hold Rayne’s hand, and I can’t remember the last time I felt my stomach shifting with nerves.
It feels just the way it did the first time I ever took her out, back in high school. And that’s probably the last time I was so ripe with nervous energy. Everything is so different now—we’re adults, we have a kid together, and I’ve been all the way around the world and back again more than once. But yet, staring down at her with the backdrop of the ocean behind us, my vision is filled with everything I ever wanted and never thought I’d get.
Holding the restaurant door open for her, I place my hand on the small of her back and guide her inside. Strolling up to the bar, I pull out her stool and signal the bartender that we’d like to order a drink.
“What do you want?” I ask her as she peruses the wall of liquor bottles before us.
The glass-toppe
d bar is sleek, just like the rest of the place, and glancing around I take in our surroundings with meticulous precision. Date or not, I haven’t forgotten that Rayne was almost snatched out from under me once already. I need to make sure every aspect of her life is safe until the bastard Horton is brought in. My fingers twitch, itching to grab my phone and check in with Ghost and Swagger, who are still staking out the sleazy private investigator.
When I glance back at Rayne, she’s holding a cocktail menu in her slender hands.
“Hey. What sounds fancier? A sloe gin fizz, or a Delancey?
Deciding that all the patrons in the bar area seem unsuspicious enough, I focus on her. “Definitely the Delancey. I mean, from the name of it, you can’t even tell what kind of alcohol is in it. That’s the true trademark of a fancy drink.”
She nods, solemnity on her face. “Absolutely. And what will you have?”
The bartender appears in front of us, tucking a towel into his black slacks. “What can I get you two?”
Inclining my head toward Rayne, I smile. “A Delancey for my lady. And a Yuengling for me.”
Rayne gasps. “Um, excuse me? We’re going fancy, Mr. Teague.” She zeroes in on the bartender, her hair swinging over one shoulder. “He’ll have a Bowery Fix.”
I bite my lip around a groan. “Darlin’, I don’t even know what’s in that.”
She shoots me a devilish smile. “Exactly. Live a little, Baby Daddy.”
The bartender’s eyes bug a little, but he smiles and turns away to fix our drinks.
I clear my throat. “I thought we had a deal?”
Rayne nods. “We sure did. I agreed that if you took me to a fancy place for drinks I would not call myself your baby mama anymore. But I said nothing about calling you my baby daddy.”
Gripping the back of her neck, I pull her toward me until I can taste her. Moving my lips against hers, I nip and suck until the bartender returns and sets our drinks down in front of us, disappearing discreetly. Glancing down at them and then returning my attention to Rayne, I take her mouth once more.