The green light flashed on the lock, and the door swung open. Joss stumbled inside, pulling me with her. We didn’t bother with lights. I tossed the bag onto the coffee table and ripped off her sweater.
“This dress...has been driving me crazy all night.” I muttered the words against her ear, sucking the lobe into my mouth as my hands slid beneath the silky material.
“Then—ahhhh—you better get rid of it.” Joss wriggled just enough that one sleeve drooped down her arm. I tugged it down further and did the same on the other side, so that her arms were pinned and her breasts were freed.
And dear God in heaven...what breasts they were. I wasn’t a total boob guy in that those were all that drew me to a girl, but I liked them as well anyone. But Joss...she was glorious. That was the only word that came to mind. I lowered my mouth to kiss one pink tip, swirling my tongue around until it stood stiff. Jocelyn moaned and arched her back as I moved to the other side, using my mouth on one and my fingers on the other.
We were both panting when I licked my way back up to her lips. I forced her mouth open and plunged my tongue inside, stroking against hers, giving her a preview of what I intended to do eventually...elsewhere.
Thinking about that made me move toward the bed. I backed Joss there slowly, and when her legs hit the mattress, I lowered her until we were both horizontal.
“I can’t move my arms,” she murmured against my jaw.
“And I’m okay with that. Just lay back and feel.” I found the edge of her dress and eased it up to her waist, exposing a tiny pair of lacy pink underwear. With one hand still cupping her breast while my thumb teased the nipple, I used the other hand to skim along the top of the lace, darting just underneath it again and again, while never quite touching her core. I slid down her body until my head was between her legs and glanced up at her, pausing a moment to make sure she was cool with this.
Her head was back, eyes closed. Her chest heaved with short breaths, and one of her hands groped to clutch at my hair, caressing. I took that as a go sign.
I covered the lace with my mouth, nipping gently and using my tongue to probe. She was wet beneath the barrier, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out. But I went on anyway, torturing both of us, until she was writhing under my lips. Then I used one finger to ease the panties out of my way and let my tongue touch her bare for the first time.
At the first thrust, she shrieked, calling my name and gripping my head even tighter to her. As if I planned to move away...no, I don’t think so. I ran my tongue to the tight little center of her nerves, just letting the tip circle it, and then sucked, hard.
She fell apart, crying out and raising her hips off the bed, her hands clutching at the bedspread beneath us. I took advantage of her position to pull off her underwear completely and unbuttoned my pants as I kissed my way back up to her face.
I just reached her neck when Joss turned, throwing me off balance and onto my back. She sat up on her knees, red curls swirling at her shoulders and over her breasts. One small wriggle set her arms free, and she tossed the dress off into the darkness. My eyes had adjusted so that I could see the predatory smile on her face.
“My turn,” she whispered, and grabbing the top of my shirt, she pulled so that buttons went flying. Any protest I might have made was lost when her nails skimmed over my chest, down my stomach and beneath the waistband of my new gray pants.
“Lift up.” She leaned over to kiss my cheek, her nipples teasing against my chest. I complied, and she shimmied the pants and boxers off me completely, raising her eyebrows as she saw the clear evidence of my want.
Joss slung one leg over my waist, straddling me. She bent to rest her elbows on either side of my arms, kissing me with the same wanton passion I’d felt just a little earlier. I reached up to palm her breasts as they swung over me, and she shifted to bring the nipples closer to my mouth.
Pleasuring her while she sat on top of me was a new sensation for me, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold back. I didn’t have to ask, though; she straightened and moved her hands between my legs.
Her grip was light but firm as she ran her fingers up and down my length, circling the head and cupping me beneath. My vision tunneled, and I gripped her waist.
“I know.” She shifted again, this time so that she just poised above me. “I want you inside me just as much as you want to be there.”
“Condom—my pants.” I managed to get the words out against every instinct that screamed NOW.
“I’ve got one.” She reached to the bedside table and pulled out the small paper packet. Once she had me covered, she didn’t hesitate again, lowering herself onto me until I filled her.
Her tight sheath pulsed against me, and then she began to move, rocking back and forth for a moment. She raised her hips until I was nearly out of her and then slammed back into me. Twice more of that, and I was gone.
“Joss—oh, God—I’m—” My body tensed as every sensation centered there, where our bodies joined. She cried out, too, and I felt her orgasm explode around me. She fell onto my chest, both of us damp and breathing hard.
I rolled over so that Joss lay next to me, both of us on our sides, and smoothed her hair away from her face. It took a few minutes before I could breathe enough to speak.
“Do you think that bread pudding is still good? I’m hungry again.”
She laughed, her body quivering against mine. “Pretty sure it is. Want me to go get it?”
I eased away. “No, stay here. I’ll do it.” I stood and stretched, aware of her eyes on my body.
“There are plastic forks in the bag, and I have bottles of water in the mini-fridge if you want one.”
I opened the container and unpacked the forks, nabbed us water and climbed back into bed. Joss plumped the pillows up and scooted to sit against them.
We ate in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, I couldn’t remember feeling this relaxed with a girl since—well, since I didn’t want to think about when. Joss shook her hair back, to keep it out of the whiskey sauce, and I felt desire stir again.
Twice was unprecedented for me. Usually, I felt trapped and claustrophobic the minute it was over, and I did what I had to do and got out of there fast. But now I dipped a finger into the pooled sauce and trailed it between Jocelyn’s breasts.
A smile curved her lips. “What was that?”
I leaned to touch my tongue to the dripping sauce. “Something sweet and sticky. Can’t just leave it here, can I? I’ve got to take care of it.”
She leaned back and rested a hand on my head. “Absolutely.”
I woke in the half-light of early morning. We hadn’t bothered to close the heavy drapes, and I could see the outline of the city against the gray sky.
Joss lay next to me, red hair spread across the white pillow. Her eyelashes fanned against the paleness of her cheeks, and her lips parted as she breathed deeply in sleep.
I had never stayed this long. And I had never had such reluctance to do what I needed to do. Part of me wondered...did I need to make her forget? She wasn’t the typical needy girl I screwed and then erased. I didn’t know for sure, but I sensed Joss wouldn’t cling, wouldn’t cry when I didn’t call. If I didn’t call.
No. This was as much for me as it was for her. Last night had been so incredible that I might be tempted to repeat it. And then eventually something would get fucked up, and someone would be hurt. I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t risk it.
So I climbed carefully out of bed and pulled on my boxers and pants. My shirt was kind of beyond help, but I put it on anyway, tucked it in and hoped for the best.
Once I was ready to leave, I stood near the door and faced the bed. I closed my eyes and reached into her mind, past the slumber. I took the memories of the past twenty-four hours and made them disappear. She would never recall losing her wallet, meeting me or anything else that had happened between us.
And then, before I could change my own mind, I left, closing the
door silently behind me.
***
I MISSED MY regular breakfast at Café Du Monde for the first time that morning. By the time I got to sleep again in my own hotel room, it was nearly dawn, and I didn’t open my eyes until mid-afternoon.
My stomach was growling. The bread pudding I’d eaten over twelve hours before had been delicious, but I’d expended a lot of energy since then. There was a small diner on the edge of the Quarter that made amazing burgers. I decided to head that way, grab a meal and then hit my favorite bars hard. Drink the memory of Joss out of my system. Find some girls who were in town for a good time and give them what they were looking for.
I pulled on jeans and a black polo. My pants and shirt from the night before were still crumpled at the end of the bed, and I picked up the shirt. Running my fingers over the missing buttons, I remembered the look on Jocelyn’s face when she ripped it open. I swallowed hard and rolled the material into a ball before I tossed it into the trash.
The halls were deserted except for a few lingering housekeeping carts, and I had the elevator to myself. It slid down and opened to the lobby, where I blinked into the light from gleaming marble floors and huge crystal chandeliers.
I took one step out and almost tripped. In front of me, seated on one of the round cushioned benches between two huge white columns, was Jocelyn.
Her hair was pinned up into some sort of deal on the back of her head, smooth and sleek, not at all like the tumbling curls from last night. She wore a white shirt tucked into black pants, matched with shiny black heels, and she looked very professional.
She smiled up at me, amusement and understanding dancing in those brown eyes.
“Hello, Rafe. Good morning. Or should I say, more correctly, good afternoon?”
I knew my mouth was hanging open; for one rare time in my life, I was well and truly surprised. Rooted to the spot, I could only gape at her.
“You look as though you didn’t expect to see me here.” Joss uncrossed her legs and tucked her feet under the bench. “Now let me see, why would that be? Could it be because you thought I wouldn’t remember you? Wouldn’t remember last night? You don’t give yourself much credit. I thought our time together was fairly memorable.”
I moved at last, stepping just close enough to lean over her. “What are you doing here? How—” I clamped my mouth shut. From what she’d said, I suspected she already knew much more about me than I could have guessed.
“The hows and the whys are a little complicated. And I’ve noticed that this lobby is pretty cavernous. And it has an echo. I can hear what that couple way over are talking about. So maybe we should go some place a little more private.” She glanced around. “I’d be happy to invite you back to my room again, but yours is closer.”
I pivoted back toward the elevator and spread my hand in a be-my-guest gesture. Joss’s heels clicked as she joined me, waiting for the doors to open again.
“Not as quick as my elevator was last night, is it?” She smiled again, and I caught the tease in her eyes. I was still too far into shock to appreciate the joke.
I recovered a little by the time we were in my suite with the door closed. I turned the deadbolt and turned to face Joss, hands clenched at my sides.
“Okay, enough with the games. I want to know who you really are and what you’re trying to do here. What do you know? Who sent you?”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes, moving across to the sitting room. “I hope you don’t mind if I sit down, Rafe, even though you didn’t invite me. I’d suggest you take a seat, too. This could be a little involved.”
I gritted my teeth before heaving a sigh and following her. She sank into the overstuffed chair, kicking off her shoes and folding her legs beneath her. I perched on the edge of the sofa, facing her, my back straight.
“Rafe, please. Look at you. You’re tense, and you’re frightened. There’s no need. I’m not here to hurt you or to blackmail you or any of those other things that are running through your mind right now. I’m here to offer you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity.” I repeated the words. “Well, of course you are. That makes perfect sense.” I leaned back against the cushions. “How much is this opportunity going to cost me, Jocelyn? If that is your name.”
“It is. I haven’t lied to you, Rafe. Well, except just a little yesterday at the café. I knew my wallet was back in my closet. I’m sorry about that, but I needed to do something to get on your radar.”
“My radar, huh?”
“Yes. We’ve been following you for some time now, waiting for a good chance to make contact. You’ve been cutting quite a swath across the city, you know. All those girls. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to work myself in between your conquests if I didn’t finally take drastic measures.”
“You’ve been following me? For how long?”
She took a deep breath. “Let’s start at the beginning. My name is Jocelyn Pennell, and I really am a recruiter for a consulting firm. It’s just that we offer consulting of a sort of unusual nature. We find people with particular talents, and we match them with our clients whose needs fall into their special categories. We facilitate that relationship, so that our extraordinary people can put their gifts to good use, helping others and making money, too.”
She leaned forward and laid a thick, cream-colored business card on the coffee table between us. I picked it up and examined it.
Carruthers Institute Initiative
“Carruthers? What’s that?”
“That’s who I work for. And they are very interested in you, Rafe. They’d like you to consider working with us.”
I dropped the card and leaned back again. “Start at the beginning and tell me how you found me. How long you’ve been trailing me. I want to know everything.”
“Sure.” Joss looked completely relaxed as she cast her eyes toward the ceiling as though she were thinking. The fact that she was so calm only infuriated me more.
“The truth is, Carruthers has been watching you, in some capacity or another, since you were born. They tried to recruit your father when he was in college, and he turned them down. So they kept their eyes on you, since we know that with King families, the gift is usually hereditary.”
“You knew my dad?”
Joss shook her head. “Of course not. But other people at Carruthers did. I’ve only been working for them a little over two years. I told you, I didn’t lie about anything. I’m just nineteen, like I said.”
I looked at her, my eyes narrowed. “And how did you end up working for this company?”
“You really want to hear that now? I thought you wanted me to start at the beginning and tell you about our interest in you.”
I shrugged. “I changed my mind. Humor me.”
“Okay. Well, I told you, I was kind of a prodigy. But what I didn’t say was that my other, um, talents impacted my life. And how I ended up here.”
“What can you do?” I looked at her speculatively. I was usually pretty good at detecting supernatural gifts in other people, at feeling power, but I hadn’t noticed anything extra in Joss.
“I’m a mixed bag. I’m a perceptive, so I can see very easily when other people have abilities. That’s what landed me in talent acquisition. But I also can broadcast, sometimes, under the right circumstances. Like your cousin Lucie.”
I frowned. This chick really had done her homework on me, and on my family.
“And I can do a little telekinesis. Again, only under the right circumstances. It’s tied to emotion, and that makes it...unpredictable.”
“And other people’s powers don’t work on you?”
“What? Oh, your mind altering stuff. No, it can, but I’ve learned to block and protect. I knew what was coming last night, and I was prepared.”
“Hmm.” I’d never known anyone who could block me. Even Tasmyn...no, I wasn’t going there. Not now.
“Anyway, I started being able to do things when I was about nine, and it scared the hell out of my family
. They weren’t as supportive as yours. And between that and everyone at school thinking I was a freak, because I couldn’t really control it, my pre-teen years were pretty much hell. I was on my way to juvie or the psych ward when Carruthers rescued me. One of my teachers knew a recruiter, and they came to my parents, offered me a full education. My mom and dad didn’t think twice. They jumped at the chance to get me out of the house, and I wasn’t unhappy to leave, either.”
Despite my fury at being played, I felt a pang of compassion for Joss. I’d hated how my stepfather treated me, but I always knew I had a place to go, family who accepted me.
“So they put you through school?”
She nodded. “Yep. Found out I was smart enough to go through an accelerated program, and I started working for them part-time in the last two years of college, went full-time after graduation. We’d hoped I could learn to develop and control my other talents better, but even working with their best people, I couldn’t do it. Not well enough to be useful, anyway.”
“So that brings you to me.”
“Yes.” She had the grace to look a little uncomfortable. “Carruthers was monitoring you after you left Florida. But they didn’t have anyone on the ground until it became clear you were going to stay here for a little while. That’s when they sent me in.”
“Do you usually seduce the people you’re planning to recruit?” I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice, but it didn’t work.
“No.” She grinned at me, and I noticed she didn’t bother to deny the seduction part. “That was just a really nice fringe benefit to this job. It has nothing to do with work.”
“So you won’t get in trouble for sleeping with a potential co-worker?”
Joss lifted one shoulder. “Nah. I mean, it’ll definitely go better if you decide to work with us. Cathryn will just shake her head and say, ‘Oh, Jocelyn,’ but there’s really not anything she can do.”
“Who’s Cathryn?”
“Cathryn Whitmore. My boss. Kind of. Anyway, I don’t want to say anything else until you’ve made your decision. You can understand, the Institute has to protect itself and its clients.”
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