“If he had his way, this website wouldn’t exist.” Joan peered up over her reading glasses sounding as proud as any mother. “His publicists insist so they can continue to increase awareness for their causes.”
“I don’t think I know him at all.” She gave a weary breath. “He never said anything about what he does for a living. When you’re down at the shore, it’s like the real world doesn’t even exist. But here…”
“Love can blossom in unexpected places.” Joan gave her a sympathetic smile and patted Zoe’s hand.
“Maybe,” Zoe murmured, but even as she said it, she wasn’t convinced.
Love wasn’t something Jack was willing to give.
Chapter 25
Jack smiled when he found Zoe in the kitchen, bent over her laptop, typing in a focused frenzy.
“I missed you.” He leaned over and inhaled her essence. She let out a soft sigh. When he nibbled the top of her ear, she turned and all but devoured his lips. She stood, and melted into his embrace. “How’s my mate?”
“I’m better now.” Her eyes flickered with a surge of desire, then clouded over. “How’s Erina?”
“She’s safe.”
Zoe cocked her head and pursed her lips into a little frown.
“I made a promise. Nothing will happen to her.” He kissed her nose and pulled away. “I’ve put a team together to research how we can best help girls like her.” He walked to the stove and uncovered the blue ceramic saucepan. “I’m starving.”
“You’re setting up a new charity?” Her voice broke with emotion and her eyes grew misty.
“You said it’s important to you.”
For a moment, he glimpsed the pain and nightmares that she had held inside herself for far too long. He forgot about his rumbling stomach and pulled her towards him, and enveloped her in his embrace. He brushed his lips against hers and infused her with a gentle blast of heat. He dug in for a deeper kiss and his tongue met hers playfully.
He couldn’t believe how she affected him.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, when her stomach rumbled.
“For you? Yes,” she said, nipping at his bottom lip. With a wince she looked at the pot on the stove. “I’m allergic to tomatoes, but I didn’t want to hurt Joan’s feelings.”
“What else are you allergic to?” Jack cursed himself for not asking sooner.
“I love strawberries, tomatoes and chocolate but they make my face break out into icky acne. Something about histamines. And some red wines give me a migraine.” She let out a soft moan as he kissed his way down her neck. “Red food dye can, too, and anything with sodium nitrate.”
She conversed as if she had no idea how hard he was for her. His erection pressed solidly into her abs and she pretended not to notice. So that was her game tonight. He played along, ignoring the fact her eyes dilated and her cheeks flushed.
“That’s quite a list. How did you figure all that out?” His hands helped themselves to the soft skin at her waist and he teased her with an index finger just under her bra band.
She closed her eyes for a second, whimpered, and then kept talking as if they were in the middle of a crowded mall. He had to give her credit. She was good.
“I just kept a diary. I really hate migraines.” She made a little mewling sound when his thumb brushed over her taut nipple. “How about you? Any allergies?”
“Just shellfish.” Jack smirked and blew warm breath into her ear.
She moaned, put her hand to just above where he ached for her, and sent her energy into him.
Oh God.
She smirked. “Any shellfish?”
Another blast of energy left his balls tightening painfully, and his cock straining against the fabric of his slacks.
“Shellfish…Blow up like a balloon.” He clenched his teeth. She was winning this game hands down. His hands found his favorite curves. Her hip bone, the round curves of her breast.
“Okay, no shellfish.”
“What else don’t you like?” He alluded to something quite different than food with his tone.
“That’s a pretty long list.” She snuggled closer but he knew it was because her legs were giving out. Her hands were in his hair and he could feel her trembling against him.
“I want to know.” He cupped his hand between her legs, felt the heated warmth through the denim. “What don’t you like?”
“Peas. Brussel sprouts. Rhubarb–” She tiled her head back, closed her eyes and sucked in a sharp breath when he infused her with another blast, this time between her legs. She rocked against him. “Mmmm. And arrogant men.”
He chuckled against her lips. “None?”
“Maybe one.” She nipped at his bottom lip, then wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and deepened the kiss.
She made him so damn hard that he physically ached for her. His cock throbbed in demand and his muscles tensed. He gripped the material of her shirt and pulled it over her head.
“What about Joan?” Zoe whimpered.
“Gone home.” He ran a hand over her breast and squeezed gently.
“Good.” She cupped him in her hand through his pants and sent an electric pulse of energy through his groin.
His hips jerked and his entire body quivered for her. He growled low in his throat, pulled back from her kiss and buried his mouth against her neck. “I can’t get enough of you.”
He needed her in a way that terrified him.
Clenching his teeth, he removed the last of their clothes. He raked his gaze of the soft lines of her body. Fuck, she was stunning. Standing in his kitchen naked, hunger in her eyes, he swore he’d never seen anything more perfect in his entire life.
He knelt before her, and ran his tongue along the soft skin, kissing a trail down her stomach, hips, inner thighs. She moaned when he parted the warm folds with his tongue, sliding against the entrance.
“Intoxicating,” he whispered, against her damp heat. “So fucking beautiful.”
“Jack,” she cried out hoarsely, arching against his mouth. Her fingers threaded through his hair. She gasped when he slid a finger inside of her. Her body shivered and jerked in response to his touch. She gripped the edge of the counter, and he felt her legs tremble.
“What do you need?”
“More,” she panted. “I need more of you.”
In a swift movement, he scooped her up and carried her to his bedroom. He placed her on the bed, and she arched for him, whimpering in need, her eyes closed. Her legs parted and she gripped the base of his cock.
He held himself above her until she opened her eyes and met his gaze.
“You’re mine.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Say it.”
“Yours,” she whimpered.
Heat wrapped around him and he let out a moan of pleasure as he sunk into her. Pleasure sliced through his senses. God, she felt good. There was nothing better than the feeling of being inside her.
His tongue rolled against her nipple and her head arched back. He thrust deeper, harder, until she cried out his name. Her legs tightened against his hips. She gazed up at him, face flushed, eyes dark with hunger.
With deep, furious strokes, he buried his cock inside her. He found himself spiraling completely out of control. He felt her orgasm rising, and thanked the Goddess above. He wouldn’t last much longer.
Her flesh convulsed and rippled around his cock. She clamped around him and cried out. Ecstasy rocked him to the core, tightening his muscles and stealing his sanity. He let out a harsh cry as he thrust one last time, then erupted in heavy spurts of mind-blowing pleasure.
There wasn’t an ounce of energy left in his body when he collapsed beside her. She snuggled against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, drawing her closer.
His eyes closed and he started to drift off. He could hear Zoe’s steady breath. Feel the beat of her heart against his chest.
“I love you.” The words were a whisper, so soft he almost didn’t hear them.
Jack cringed inwa
rdly at the words he knew she desperately wanted him to return.
But what was love, other than a fleeting emotion that could destroy a man’s sanity? He’d given into it once. Never again.
Why complicate what he had with his mate?
Zoe wanted to be loved. He didn’t fault her for it. But what she didn’t understand was that his oath, their bond, was worth more than three silly little words. Jack would protect her, and their child, so long as there was breath in his body.
Chapter 26
Jack was surprised that Zoe stayed put all week. Maybe he’d throw some more work to that little internet company she worked for. She seemed to be happiest when she was busy. Lying on his king size bed, with her wrapped in his legs, he didn’t think he’d ever felt happier.
“I going to hit the gym.” She glanced at the time on the phone, then tried to get untangled from the sheets and his legs.
“There’s one in the building. Third floor.”
“It doesn’t have what I need.” Naked, she stood and stretched.
Jack would have her back underneath him if she stretched like that again. He cleared his throat. “What kind of machine do you want? I’ll have it delivered tomorrow. This afternoon if you like.”
Her eyes danced when her gaze drifted south to his arousal. “No machine. Zumba class. I’ll grab a cab.”
“I can’t let you out of the house.”
“Not negotiable.”
“You think that creep gave up following you?” Jack jumped out of bed and stood directly in front of her with his arms crossed.
She walked around him and into the bathroom. “I’m not changing my life to that extent. I’m going to Zumba.”
She exited a few minutes later. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing a pair of skimpy shorts and workout bra.
Blood rushed south. “What about the baby, Zoe? You’re going to play roulette with its life too?”
She met his annoyed gaze. “If you’re worried about our safety then come with me.”
He let go, pulled on a pair of boxers, followed her into the kitchen, and grumbled, “I’m not doing fucking Zumba.”
She shrugged, tossed her head, and found her sneakers.
“Okay, fine.” Jack sighed. He was just getting her to accept him into her life. Going to her gym was a small concession. He picked up the phone to call his driver and alert security.
Less than an hour later, Jack watched through the large plate glass window that separated the classroom from the rest of the gym. Zoe gyrated and humped to the music with the others. He was shocked. There were ladies older than his mother shaking their boobs and jamming their hips into the air.
“Holy fuck.”
Another man using the machine next to his heard his oath. They both faced the glassed-in classroom. “You said it. I wouldn’t mind bein’ under any of those ladies if they would shake it like that over me.”
Jack’s first inclination was to hit the man with a burst of energy that would double him over with a stomachache for life, but the man wasn’t being overly lecherous. He was only speaking what every man in the gym was thinking. The dance should be fucking illegal.
With an irritated sigh, Jack took a machine within viewing distance and tried not to ogle. Dammit, though, he was only ogling his own mate. He watched her sexy dancing emulate what she could do in bed and worked his way over to the weights. There was too much going on in his gym shorts to stay on the treadmill.
Finally, the music slowed to a sexy Latin beat. Even though the class was full, and the lights low, she was easy to locate. Tall, lots of leg, and long dark hair. Minutes later she exited the room, laughing with her classmates, all sweaty and high on endorphins. She waved goodbye and spotted him by the weights.
She sauntered over to him covered with a sheen of sweat and smelling of strawberry musk. Her face positively glowed and her eyes sparkled.
Jack placed the barbell in the rack and put his arm possessively around her shoulder. “You know every male eye in the gym from fifteen to eighty is on you right now?”
She hit him gently on the shoulder. “You’re not jealous are you?”
He shrugged and tightened his hold. “Do you do that dance thing often?”
“Whenever I can. Why?”
Jack shook his head in response and walked her towards the juice bar. “Want something to drink?”
“It’s way too expensive in here.”
“Humor me.” Jack bought her a three dollar bottle of water and then continued to lead her into the seating area where a huge plate glass window overlooked the expansive gym. He stood with her in full view of the glass and gave her a full body heated kiss.
“What was that for?” She smiled and caught her breath.
“Staking my claim with the sexiest woman in that heathen dance class.”
“Heathen?” She smirked.
“It looked like you were practicing humping.” Jack scowled at her.
“Heathen humping?” She broke into laughter. The sound pealed through the refreshment area with a high pitched ring. It was the first time he had heard her just let go and be joyous with no inhibitions. It was so infectious he couldn’t help but join her. Even the young man at the juice bar smiled.
“You should do that more often.” Jack gazed into her deep brown eyes. He never noticed before how the light caught in them with flecks of gold.
“Heathen hump?” She grinned mischievously.
“No. Laugh like that. It’s amazing.” He moved a silky strand of hair away from her ear, then leaned and whispered, “You’ve tortured me long enough. I want some of what you were doing in that room. I want to feel that over me. Now.”
He grabbed her upper arm and led her quickly towards the change rooms, opened the door marked ‘families only’ and then pushed her into the room. He turned and locked the door. “Show me.” He pushed her against the wall, right next to the changing table, and put his hands on either side of her head.
“Show me how you can move like that on me.”
She giggled. “In here?”
Jack slipped his hands under her stretchy workout bra. Her breasts easily slipped into his grasp and he caressed them, pinching the nipples. Damn he loved the way they hardened for him.
The moan that escaped her lips was filled with desperation. She raised her arms for him and pulled her wet top off. Her nails dug into his back, and she wrapped one leg around his calf, locking him tightly against her body. Jack cupped his hand to her ass, enjoying how she tied herself around him.
“I want you, Zoe. Don’t make me wait.” He released her leg, and slid her shorts off.
“Don’t wait,” she whimpered, tangling her fingers in his hair.
He conjured heat, a fireball of lust, and rubbed it into his fingers. He waited until she opened her eyes, then cupped his palm over the warm folds between her legs. When she arched and moaned, he released the energy–the full heat of his desire. She arched against him and let out a sharp cry.
Her legs opened wider and she wrapped them tightly around his waist until he gasped at her strength. At some point, his shorts had fallen to the floor, and lay around his ankles. His cock nudged greedily at her entrance.
With a playful smile, she produced a small vortex, and gave a triumphant laugh as it wrapped around his erection, then shot through his body. Lust tore up his spine and his muscles clenched. He sucked in his breath and nearly came. His cock was so damn hard it ached. A bead of cum escaped over the tip. That was all the play he could endure. He buried himself inside her, and she sank onto him with a frantic moan.
She bucked against him, hard, fast. He covered her mouth with a kiss when she cried out his name.
Suddenly, thousands of little muscles convulsed around him, sucking and pulling. Jack heard himself moan and he plunged into the abyss of nirvana, exploding his seed into her. The world receded for him and the lights in the room went out. A small neon-purple vortex hung in the air, then snapped to pop out of existence.
“Holy shit.” She rested her head against his chest. Her flesh pulsed around his cock and it throbbed back.
He was never going to let her go. She could screw him into oblivion and he would die a happy man.
Eventually, he untwisted her legs from around his waist and kissed her nose.
“We should go before someone needs this room. I’ll get the car. Do me a favor and wait right here until I ping you.” He put a new iPhone in her hand.
Zoe sighed, peeled herself off the shelf, and reached down to find her pants. “You think that guy is still close?”
“Until I know for sure, we’re not taking any chances.”
Chapter 27
Jack lay awake, not quite ready for sleep. Holding Zoe close, he listened to her soft breaths. She kicked his leg in her sleep and rolled away from him. Needing to feel her touch, he turned on his side and pulled her backside against his chest. She moaned and let out a blood-curdling shout.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed viciously, hitting and scratching at him.
Her voice didn’t even sound like her. What the hell?
“Zoe, wake up.”
A small fireball shot out from her right hand and blasted his dresser, which burst into flames.
Jack jumped out of bed, threw a blanket over the small blaze, and ran to the kitchen for the fire extinguisher.
When he moved back towards the bed, she was weeping into her pillow. The bed rocked with her movements.
“Hey, it was just a dream.” He tried to touch her gently but she slapped his hand away.
“Touch me again and I’ll scream.”
Jack swallowed hard. She was dreaming. Caught in the nightmare of the past. He was afraid to move, to make a sound, in case she zapped into her powers again.
“Get away. Please.” Zoe collapsed on the bed and sobbed inconsolably.
He watched her return to a more restful sleep and remembered with guilt how he had manipulated her into mating with him. If he’d known she’d been abused as a child, he would’ve gone at things a lot differently.
She’d mentioned wanting a therapist and now understood how important it might be. His blackened dresser stood out as a scary reminder. She might burn the whole building down around them, along with their baby. She could go to bed and never wake up. A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed hard. She was right when she said she was a walking, talking napalm bomb.
Dark Vortex: Mated by Magic Page 14