Jason leaned over and kissed her on the nose. “I think it can wait until morning.”
He liked the way she blushed and smiled as she caught his meaning. “Me too,” she said.
Fifteen minutes later Beth slipped into his room and closed the door behind herself. She’d changed out of her black dress into jeans and a baggy tee shirt. “In case Anderson sees me coming out of your room tomorrow, I won’t be in the same clothes.” she explained.
Jason nodded. “Good thinking.” He opened his arms. “Come here.”
She came to him, lifting her face for a kiss. He’d been wanting to do this all day. He bent his head to tease her mouth open with little licks. He probed inside, his tongue dancing with hers. She tasted minty fresh, like she’d just brushed her teeth. It felt so good to just hold her like this, kissing, after having to keep a discrete distance in front of half the town. The sensation of her pressed against his bare chest was wonderful.
He slipped his hands up under her shirt and stroked her back. Her skin was soft and smooth under his touch. He was hard already, but he was going to go slow with her this time, make it last.
Beth’s hands were on his waistband, undoing his button, unzipping his pants. When she bent to shove his pants and briefs down in one motion, his erection sprang free with enthusiasm. She gave it a peck on the tip and looked up at him with a glint in her eyes.
“Hold on,” he said, kicking free of his pants. Then she took him into her mouth. Heat hazed his mind while his fingers riffled through her short hair. So much for going slow.
She sucked him, taking him deep, caressing him with her tongue until he had to stop her. “Enough for now. It’s too good.”
She smiled and gave him one more peck before rising to her feet. She was still fully clothed. He had to do something about that. She apparently was thinking the same thing, because she quickly pulled her shirt off over her head. She winced a little as she did. The bruises on her chest and waist were starting to fade from deep purple to green but they were still obviously painful. He hoped he hadn’t hurt her last night. He’d tried to be careful, and she hadn’t complained. Then his attention wandered to her beautiful breasts. Small and high, they were just right. Marie Antoinette was supposed to have had breasts like that, breasts that inspired the shape of a champagne glass.
Beth shucked her jeans while he was staring, and tossed them over the chair. Her nipples puckered as she stood there, and she blushed all over, but she didn’t look away or act embarrassed. He grinned.
She smiled coyly, then pushed him backward with her fingertips. When he came up against the bed she ran her hands over his chest and sides. He shivered, his skin super-sensitive to even her lightest touch. Then with one finger on his breast bone, she gave him another delicate shove and he sat down.
There was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes, but her voice was firm. “Scoot back,” she commanded.
Jason obeyed, willing to let her take control. He moved more fully onto the mattress and propped himself up on his elbows. “Now what?”
“Now this.” She crawled up over him, straddling his hips as she bent to kiss his neck just under his ear. Her heat teased his erection. Desire crackled over him, racing from his hair to his toes. She sucked his earlobe into her mouth and bit it gently while her hands roamed over his shoulders and chest. She rubbed his nipples with the barest touch and flame streaked down to his groin.
She was pushing all his buttons as if she’d read some secret users’ manual.
Jason’s hands roamed over her, savoring the feel of her skin, caressing the long line of her back, squeezing her thighs and rear. She was so soft, so smooth under his fingers, like something fine and precious. The way she pressed her breasts against his chest as she kissed him was a tease unto itself.
Beth licked her way down to his collarbone, and nibbled her way to his navel. Each brush of her lips tingled like tiny electric shocks, heightening his awareness of her every movement. Every touch stoked the need growing in him. She licked into his navel and the belt of flame around his loins tightened. He started to roll her over, but she pulled away and shook her finger at him. “Bad boy. I’m not done with you, yet.” Then she leaned over him for a kiss, but he pulled her up so he could capture one nipple with his mouth.
Beth’s laugh was deep and throaty, but it soon changed to a breathy moan. He stopped kissing her breast only long enough to move to the other one. When her hips were writhing under his hands and he was sure she was feeling as anxious as he was, he let her go.
“You’re a bad one, aren’t you?” she said, panting a little. “That merits a serious punishment.”
He didn’t have time to come up with a witty response. She slid to her knees beside him on the bed, and took him into her mouth again. He sucked in a sharp breath as the moist heat enveloped him. It felt so good. Too good. His hands fisted in the sheets as he tried not to fall into paradise too soon, but she had her hand cupped around his balls and she was doing something incendiary with her tongue. He was going to lose it if he didn’t do something. The best defense is a good offense.
His fingers found her mons and teased inside. Her tongue faltered, but didn’t stop. Jason concentrated on stroking her delicate folds and some of his urgency lessened. Beth moaned as her tongue fluttered over him. It was a heavenly tease, but no longer threatened to push him to the edge. He played his fingers over her, into her wet depths. Knowing she was so ready for him made him even hotter. She rubbed against his hand, pressing to take him deeper, pulling back so he could touch her most sensitive place.
Her mouth left him as she arched her back in pleasure. He didn’t think it possible, but her soft keening made him even harder. He loved that his touch made her shiver and moan, and her heated response drove his own need higher. A second later she was astride him again, guiding him inside her.
It felt like coming home. Two short days ago he’d thought Beth was gone from his life forever. Now she was in his arms, loving him. There were no words profound enough to express his gratitude and joy.
Then she was riding him. Her motion set his blood afire, and he met her stroke for stroke. The rest of the world vanished. There was only him and Beth and where they came together. A moment later she was exploding around him, and he was blown apart with her.
She collapsed against his chest and he gathered her close, wrapping his arms around her and drifting into a blissful haze. Mine.
Long moments later, awareness floated back to the surface. Beth’s slight body was still on his chest. He was still in her. It felt so right to be inside her, to have her there, joined to him.
Inside her. Without a raincoat. Shit! They hadn’t used a condom. He had no idea if she was using any other form of birth control. She hadn’t said anything last night. Damn. Damn. Damn! This was a conversation you were supposed to have before you had sex. What had he been thinking?
That was the problem, he hadn’t been. He’d let the dumb guy do his thinking for him.
“What is it?” Beth asked in a drowsy voice. “Is something wrong?”
He hated to ruin the mood, but there was no point dodging it. “We didn’t use a condom.”
Beth stiffened and abruptly pulled free. He felt bereft.
“What an idiot!” She slapped the bed.
“I’m sorry, Beth. I—”
“Not you! Me! I did bring one. I’m just no good at this seduction thing.” She rolled off him, onto her back.
“You were entirely too good at it, or I wouldn’t have forgotten.”
She lifted her head to look at him. “Really?”
He felt himself stiffen again as he remembered what she’d done to make him lose his mind. “Really.” He flexed his member.
Some of the tension left her face, and the corner of her mouth turned up. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Yeah.” They could be facing life changing consequences here, and all he could think about was how much he wanted her. Again. He rubbed a thumb over her nipple and she
closed her eyes. He loved it that he could distract her, that he was putting that blissful expression on her face. Jason leaned over her, replacing his thumb with his mouth. He flicked the tip of her breast with his tongue and she arched into him. A moment later he was nudging her thighs apart, pressing his eager erection against her moist heat.
Beth pushed against his shoulders. “Condom?”
The single softly spoken word fell like a slap. He jerked back. Where is my head? Unfortunately, the answer to that question was all too obvious. “God, I’m sorry Beth. It’s just …” It’s just that when you’re naked in my arms I can’t think of anything else besides getting as deep inside you as I possibly can, and all I want is to make you spasm tight around me as you come and come and come.
Beth’s eyes twinkled as if she knew what he was thinking. “Never mind. It probably doesn’t matter now. I’m pretty close to my period, anyway.”
She was right: The damage was done. Most of his swimmers had already jumped ship. But he wasn’t going to take any more chances. He reached into the night stand, retrieved a foil packet and handed it to Beth. “Cover me, I’m going in.”
Beth groaned at the old joke and carefully rolled the condom onto his cock. Donning protection had never felt so good.
BETH AWAKENED JUST AS the gray light of dawn was peeking around the curtains. She was snuggled against Jason’s side with her head pillowed on his shoulder. It was a wonderful, warm place to be. She felt safe and happy—except for the ache of grief in her throat. She’d had another restful night. Ellie had not visited her dreams.
Maybe I have to sleep in Ellie’s room. Maybe I have to be alone. Or Ell could still be worn out from appearing to Jason.
She held on to those thoughts. Ellie deserved to be with Chris, but Beth didn’t want to think that her sister had gone on to whatever awaited her without saying goodbye. The thought of being alone was too painful.
And yet she wasn’t alone. I’m here, in Jason’s bed with his arm around me, cozy and safe. And possibly pregnant.
Beth mentally kicked herself for forgetting the condom. She’d been on fire last night, and all she had thought about was getting Jason inside her. Her body heated at the memory, growing moist at the thought of him sliding home. And I called him incorrigible?
She thought of where she was in her cycle. Conception wasn’t likely, but it was possible. It was always possible.
And if she was pregnant? No need to panic. She could take the “morning after” pill.
The thought grated, but what was the alternative?
Raising a child by herself would be tremendously hard. She should be terrified of the prospect, but she wasn’t. Jason’s child. Beth smiled. Maybe something good would come out of all this horror.
Guilt rode in on the coattails of that thought. She shouldn’t be feeling so warm and fuzzy. Ellie and Chris and their baby were dead. It didn’t seem right to feel happy when she and Jason still hadn’t found their killer.
Besides, that happiness was an illusion. As wonderful as it was to lie here snuggled close to him, it couldn’t last. This wasn’t a baby makes three situation. She hated to admit it, but Jason was right. He had a dangerous job. Her hand traced the scar on his chest. He’d been shot for God’s sake! Could she take wondering if her child’s father would come home each day? Assuming she was pregnant. And they were together as a couple. Which no one had suggested.
Jason’s arm suddenly felt heavy where it lay across her waist. Beth carefully shifted away, trying not to disturb him. She couldn’t think while his scent promised warmth and pleasure. She needed to clear her head, and she couldn’t do that while lying next to him in a bed where they’d made love half the night.
Jason rolled over as she slipped out of bed, but didn’t wake. She dressed and left his room.
JASON OPENED HIS EYES when he heard the door click shut. He needed a few minutes to think. Even so, it had taken all his self-control not to roll Beth under him and kiss her silly this morning.
They hadn’t used a condom last night. It was only one time. But it only took once. What were the odds? She hadn’t said anything about another form of birth control, so he guessed she wasn’t using any.
He hadn’t given much thought to having kids. He’d assumed that someday they’d be part of his future, just not right now. When the time came, he’d quit undercover. He would be there for any child he had, do all those little things that were so important. The school plays. The soccer games. The things his so-called father had bailed on. No kid of his would wonder why he wasn’t there. A soft warmth stole over him as he imagined sharing those moments with Beth.
He forced himself back to reality. This is stupid. Why was he thinking about this? Beth probably isn’t even pregnant. But there was someone out there trying to kill her. That was what he should be focusing on.
BETH HEADED FOR THE kitchen with Ollie as company. That was where all her fondest memories centered. Before their mom had died, and no matter where their dad had taken them after, she and Ellie had found laughter and solace in the kitchen.
As she passed by the library, she noticed Bob was already up, engrossed in a book. Damn. She’d wanted some time alone to collect her thoughts. “Good morning.”
Bob lifted his head and blinked as if waking. “Oh, good morning.” He gave her a vague smile and lifted a cup from the table beside his chair. “I made coffee.”
Beth smiled back. “Thanks.” She looked around the room. Something was different. Yeah, Bob is here. He put his nose back in his book, and Beth continued on to the kitchen, relieved that Bob showed no interest in following.
By the time Bob came looking for another cup of coffee, she was calm again, had a half pound of bacon fried up, and a stack of pancakes made from scratch. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this with Maria doing all the cooking. If only Ellie were here.
A few minutes later Jason came into the kitchen, too. Despite all her doubts, she couldn’t deny the way her heart lifted when he sauntered in. Beth looked down at her plate, afraid if she looked at him, her expression would tell Bob more than she wanted him to know. Fortunately, both of the men had breakfast on their minds and were fairly oblivious.
“—and so Palmer is convinced that if only more of the population could be brought to God, most of their worldly problems would be solved as well. Food production would go up, HIV infection would drop, children would no longer be sold to the mines, and so on.” Bob shoved a big bite of pancakes into his mouth.
“Didn’t work in Europe,” Jason said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Ollie glanced at him, but didn’t move from Beth’s side where he lay on the cool tile floor, head lifted, waiting hopefully for a handout.
Anderson frowned. “Well no, not entirely, but then sometimes faith is weak. Or so Palmer says.”
“What are we going to do today?” Beth asked.
Jason caught her eye and glanced at Bob, giving his head a slight shake. “I’m going to take it easy today. Maybe make a few calls.”
Beth glanced at Bob as the man scraped syrup up off his plate with his last bite of pancake. Jason was being paranoid.
“It is the Sabbath. A day of rest,” Bob observed before popping the last bit into his mouth.
“I can make some of those calls. You don’t have to do all of it,” Beth said.
“Is this something I can help with, Ellie?” Bob asked around his pancake.
“No, but thanks for offering.”
Bob frowned. “I guess you won’t be attending services, then.”
“Ah, no,” Beth answered. “But there are several churches in Jimson Weed, if you want to go.”
“Yes, I believe I would.” He snorted. “Believe,” he said, chuckling again at the lame pun.
Beth smiled politely, and rolled her eyes when he wasn’t looking.
Bob looked at his watch, frowned, then up at the clock on the wall. “I forgot to reset my watch. I’d better get moving.”
“I’ll give you di
rections,” she said.
Fifteen minutes later Bob was out the door, and Jason was on his second helping of pancakes.
“I don’t see why we have to be so careful around Bob,” Beth said. “Palmer’s no longer a suspect. What could Bob tell him that would make the least bit of difference?”
Jason’s smile was a trifle condescending. “You’d never make an undercover agent,” he said. “You want to give too much away.”
She felt a flash of irritation. “And you keep too many secrets, whether they need to be kept or not.”
“I’m trying to protect you.” Jason pressed his lips together, then cut another bite.
Beth glared at him for a moment then bit savagely into a slice of bacon. Ollie sat up, his attention intensified. The man has no perspective. Keeping things to himself was second nature to him. She’d have to drag every little bit of information out of him for the rest of their lives. That was no way to live.
Jason set his fork down. “I admit, I haven’t been doing a very good job of it so far, but that changes here and now.”
His comment didn’t track. “What are you talking about?” Her voice was sharp.
“I didn’t take the threat to you seriously enough. I left you alone, and you almost died … I didn’t use a condom.”
Beth shook her head. Is he nuts? He almost drowned saving me. “You’ve got that backward. I didn’t use a condom. Whatever happens, it’s my responsibility, not yours.”
Jason’s fists clenched on the table. “You think I’d just walk away from you? From my own kid?”
“No, of course not.” The memory of him telling her about his childhood slammed her between the eyes. He had shared things with her, deeply private things.
Her anger melted. She almost wished she could stay mad at him. It would be easier to deal with than this warm squishy feeling that kept rising in her heart.
Beth got up and scraped what was left of her breakfast into Ollie’s bowl, then sat down again. She took a sip of coffee, then said, “Jason, you’re the most honorable guy I know—even if you do keep too many secrets.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words. “But let’s not talk about that now. Let’s just find Chris’ and Ellie’s killer.”
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