When she walked by his chair Trevor spoke up. “Where are you going, Jae?”
“To my room. Besides, it looks like I interrupted you anyway.” She tilted her head toward the laptop sitting on the desk.
“I was reading medical journals plus, you didn’t use the entire hour and I don’t do thirty-minute sessions.”
Jae made a face. “You’ve got to come up with a better pick-up line than that, Doctor.”
“Oh. I wasn’t aware that could be used as a pick-up line, but then I have been out of touch for a while. So give me a good pick-up line.” When she snorted and rolled her eyes dramatically, Trevor held back a chuckle as he waited expectantly. “Come on,” he said, spreading his hands.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes, I’m very serious. If I don’t get killed and I get my life back, I want to start dating again and promptly if you get my drift,” he said, encouraging her to sit back down. “You’re a beautiful woman. What pick-up lines work for you?” Trevor picked up a notepad and ink pen both bearing the hotel name and logo, then poised to start writing.
“Well…how about a simple, ‘Hi, my name is, um…” Jae said, shrugging when she saw him jot that down on the notepad. “Whatever.”
“Okay, easy enough. Give me another one.” Trevor glanced at her.
“How about something like, I think you’re a really nice looking lady and I’d like to get to know you better.” She frowned. “Actually, that sounds flaky to me but it might work for a guy like you.”
“Hmm, what if the lady wasn’t nice looking, or she was much taller than I am?”
Jae smiled at his eagerness. “Then I think you should find something you like about her, something that draws you to her initially, you know, like her smile.”
“So I guess saying I thought the lady was cute and sexy comes off as nerdy, huh?”
She laughed. “Yes, but from you, it’ll come off as honest, too.”
“Wow, Jae, you seem to know this stuff,” Trevor said with a bemused smile as he jotted on the notepad again. He had to smile otherwise he would forget this nonsensical wordplay and kiss her, only to finish what was started back at the motel before they were interrupted. Despite their obvious attraction he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. He wanted her to want him, come to him on her terms.
“I work with three single males and they ask me these types of questions also.”
“Then I’ll work on my pick-up line, otherwise I’m destined to stay single and childless.”
“Oh, you want children…a family and all of that?”
“Sure, boys and girls,” Trevor said. “What about you, does your future include children and all of that?”
Jae seemed caught off guard by his question. “I never gave it much thought because of the work I do. It’s a nice picture in my head though.”
“So, back to my pick-up line. I’d like to make it universal so that I don’t offend a lady.”
“What?”
“My line, what could I use, let’s say, on someone like you?” Trevor held her wide gaze.
“Oh, well, your lines wouldn’t work on me.”
“But you said I should find something I liked about a woman and I would prefer a nice lady and you’re nice…well, sometimes,” Trevor said, grinning.
“I’m not into White men. I don’t date them, I mean, y’all.”
“But you kiss them and knock their socks off.” He watched her eyes narrow dangerously and was quick to add, “What about a lunch date?”
“Why not dinner?” Jae asked.
“Well, in my experience, a dinner date often leads to a breakfast date. And I’m not sure you’re ready for that.” He winked at her.
Meeting his teasing eyes, she said, “Well, you got me there. Maybe you should pick up a men’s magazine for additional pointers. Look, I should get going.” When he stood up and tossed the notepad back onto the desk it tapped the laptop and disengaged the screensaver. A picture filled the screen, one of his sisters, brother, and father from the cemetery along with Trevor when he was younger. Jae moved closer to the computer. “Your family?”
“Yes.”
“The plastic surgery must have been specific to restructuring the jaw and chin.”
“And very painful, but nothing compared to the pain if I’d lost my family in some planned hit to get to me.”
“Earlier, you said you lost your lover, too. Did you mean she died?”
“No…I had to leave her behind as well.”
Jae briefly looked away from him before meeting his eyes. “I’m sure that was also painful.” He didn’t respond. “Have you tried to find her?”
“Adian Cole is dead,” Trevor said, with an edge of cynicism in his voice.
“Right. Good night, Trevor,” she said, walking to the door and leaving.
Trevor watched her hasty retreat before walking across the room to close the door. With her scent still lingering in the room, he closed his eyes and inhaled. It was nice and it stirred him on a physical level. He wished she’d wanted to stay with him longer, maybe talk some more, or watch TV—allow him to hold her in his arms. Despite trying to keep his feelings at bay he found himself watching her and wondering what she’d been thinking about when she watched him so intently. He thought it was sweet it was of her to come and apologize to him, although he didn’t think she needed to since he was the one so callous with his words. But in doing so he’d witnessed vulnerability in her eyes before she’d been able to rein in her hurt.
It wasn’t any of his business regarding the dynamics of her family life, but he was glad she’d confided in him about the obvious feud between her and her sister. It could serve as a bridge to forgiveness, that is, if she pursued it. He hoped so and now he couldn’t help thinking about his own sisters and recalling how they’d bickered over what he believed was nonsense and trivial issues. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that they loved each other, just as he was positive Jae loved her sister despite the tension between them.
Just then, he thought about his father and stepmother. He’d give anything to hold them and in return let their arms take his pain away. He missed sharing family meals and holidays and birthday celebrations. All of the things he knew Jae had because he’d seen it in the collection of family photos stored in her digital picture frame. Like a voyeur he’d studied the photos and saw the love and laughter beaming up from them. There were also videos that had him laughing out loud at their playful antics and off-key karaoke singing.
The photos of Jae and her crew revealed they spent a lot of time together, inside and outside of the office. He was also feeling jealous seeing pictures of her smiling with Special Agent Mighty Mike. He noticed she didn’t deny that Mike had feelings for her. Trevor wondered just how far their relationship had gone.
Trevor wanted a life with laughter and conversation. He wanted kids, a dog, and that white picket fence. He was tired and didn’t want to live in fear anymore. He wasn’t so proud that he couldn’t admit that he also wanted to love and be loved. Sex was great, but he wanted more.
Glancing at the door connecting to Jae’s room, Trevor frowned and wondered why Jae hadn’t just tapped on that door instead of coming down the hall in her nightclothes barefoot. Instantly, he knew. She’d walked the hallway for the same reason he did earlier…because she must have felt the same sexual magnetism that he did and the connecting door served not so much as a barrier, but rather a reminder of the ramifications of crossing it.
* * * * *
Jae was back in her room, in bed and staring at the ceiling again.
Suddenly she remembered the globe she’d found in his desk drawer with the birthday greeting tucked inside the box and as her earlier parting words reverberated in her head, she now knew the gift had been for his deceased brother. She remembered the blue and white sailboat inside and once again felt the enor
mity of the pain and isolation he must have suffered.
She was also trying to push away the longing of how much she wanted Trevor. She was a strong woman and had convinced herself that she wouldn’t allow her confusion to cloud her judgment. Doing a bit of soul searching, she’d come to terms just how baffled she was by her reaction to him. She was certainly attracted to him. She saw Trevor as intelligent, confident, and definitely sexy, yet she also admired him and understood the sacrifices he had made to protect his family.
Jae also guessed that Trevor was aware of the underlying sexuality that flared between them whenever they were together. Sure, she fought it but had Darius’s commanding voice not crashed over her like a bullhorn, she was fairly certain she would have let Trevor get to second base. Hell, third, if he’d had on a pair of those boxer briefs that she found incredibly sexy on a man.
When she heard a tap on her door, she got out of bed. Glancing through the peephole she squinted.
On the other side of the door Trevor was holding a sheet of paper under his chin. He then stood back when she opened the door and turned the sheet of paper around for her to read it.
Jae’s mouth dropped open as she read what he had written.
Hi, my name is…whatever. I think you’re really nice looking and I’d like to get to know you better.
As if a match had been struck, an instant spark flared in Jae’s chest and traveled through her. Suddenly, Jae found herself leaping into Trevor’s arms.
Trevor threw the sheet of hotel paper up into the air, and crossed the threshold as his lips descended on hers in a soul-searing kiss. After several seconds of exploring the velvety warmth of her mouth, he set her down. She protested softly as he reluctantly eased out of her arms. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered against her lips.
Jae watched him go back out into the hall and scoop up the sheet of paper. Her heart was thundering with excitement when he came back inside and closed the door behind him.
At her questioning frown, Trevor leaned forward, lowered his husky voice, and asked, “Jae, have you ever just gone with your gut on something that felt so incredibly right…something you were very sure about?” When she smiled and bobbed her head, Trevor flashed a brilliant smile and said, “In that case, I’m keeping this because one day I’ll need proof to show our children that I had a fantastic pick-up line.” He placed the paper on the smaller desk before picking her up in his arms again.
Kissing him with total abandonment, Jae wound her legs around Trevor’s waist at his silent command of grabbing her thigh and hitching her up higher. Only then did his words echo in her head, forcing her to break off the kiss. “Wh-what did you say?” she croaked over the huskiness of her voice and staring into his beautiful blue eyes. The same eyes that always seemed to study her were now full of mutual attraction, seduction, and longing.
“Joking,” he said with a hint of laughter, walking toward the bed. Reclaiming her lips he eased her back on the bed. His mouth covered hers with a hungry passion and then slowly the kiss became gentle and tender. Trevor showered her mouth with kisses that mounted her passion into a burning desire. When she tightened her bare thighs around his waist, he reached down to caress them. His touch felt so good, she wanted more, arching her back toward him.
Jae slid her hands down his body and massaged the length of his back then lower. She explored his back, buttocks, and thighs.
Dragging her lips from his, Jae kissed Trevor’s chin. His kisses and his touch were a combination of sweet, gentle, fiery, and sexy and all had a drugging effect on her.
“Trevor, how will you know if your pick-up line worked?” Jae managed to ask as his hands went under her nightshirt and caressed her breasts.
“I’ll know if we have a breakfast date,” he said, his lips touching the base of her throat before kissing a path down to her breasts.
“But I don’t date White men, remember?” Jae gasped when the heat of his mouth connected with her breast and sent a series of hot currents racing through her.
Trevor paused to whisper hotly in her ear. “I remember and I don’t care.”
Jae could only ponder on what he’d said for a brief moment because all thoughts flew from her head when he started to kiss every inch of her body. She relinquished herself over to that which had been brewing for quite a while, since she’d spotted him in that jazz lounge. The air became tangible and her heart took on a beat she didn’t recognize. It was an adrenaline rush, unlike anything she’d ever experienced.
When Trevor lifted her nightshirt off, she shivered at his tender touches. He didn’t immediately grab and squeeze her breasts as she’d initially thought he would. He was taking his time and that was just fine with her though it didn’t stop the uncontrollable quivering of her stomach that was almost painful to control, and when his mouth followed the movements of his hands, her breath halted and she reached for him. He was solid and fit, but she already knew that. Yet touching him intimately put a different spin on how she viewed his body. Everything was different now and the thought of having sex with him only enhanced his appeal. It was a big turn-on. He was a turn-on and she bit her lip to stifle a cry of pure delight.
Trevor’s eyes were on her, his appraisal slow and seductive. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against her breast, one then the other. When she moaned softly, his tongue explored and teased them as his hand massaged their fullness.
Jae couldn’t take it any longer. Her body was on fire as she squirmed beneath him. With a quickness she only used when turning a suspect around to slap on a pair of metal handcuffs, Jae reached down and yanked on the hem of his T-shirt. Ignoring his murmuring as he caressed her right breast, she pulled the shirt over his head. He returned to what he’d been doing, pushing her through a floodtide of ecstasy.
His hands moved up her thighs and came down, sliding her panties down her legs. All of her senses were heightened and in sync with his. She was in tune with him…just him. Her skin tingled and throbbed from his touch and once again she found herself chanting his name and clutching at his shoulders until he came up to cover his body with hers.
She couldn’t imagine what he must have been thinking, but she didn’t want to rush him, either. She was struggling to hold on. So when she eased her arms around his shoulders and held him tightly in a tender hug, she felt something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. It stilled her and shook her to the core. She felt safe and cared for, if only for the moment. She felt like a desirable, beautiful woman who was wanted and nothing anyone could say would change that. With him she felt free.
Trevor eased off the bed to remove his jeans. But for some unknown reason it became a difficult task for his awkward, clumsy hands.
Jae smiled, watching him struggle with his belt buckle.
Coming up onto her knees, she moved to the edge of the bed and brushed his hands aside. Meeting his heavy-lidded eyes, she unbuckled the belt and eased his jeans down his muscular thighs. Letting her eyes trail down his body and the boxer briefs she loved so much. He was absolutely gorgeous. Trevor pulled a condom from the pocket of his jeans lying on the floor.
“Did you run to the corner store to get this?” she asked, amused.
“No, but it’s practical to be prepared for all situations,” he said, kissing her.
With all traces of laughter gone, Jae pulled him back down on the bed, straddled him, then kissed him hungrily and passionately. Easing up just enough to cover himself, he continued the kiss her, eager to feel him deep inside of her.
She embraced him tightly, caressing him and seeking his warmth and his strength. He must have heard her thoughts and felt the straining of her body because he suddenly lifted her from the bed and held her in a tight embrace as he guided her down onto him. She welcomed him with a shudder and the excitement of her fantasies of him had finally become real. It wasn’t a dream as they moved in perfect unison. His mouth sought hers hungrily as
her passion mounted and mingled with his. It was flesh against flesh, mind-numbing sensation followed by another, and another. The friction of skin against skin sent ripples of pleasure coursing through her.
It was a thrill to watch his facial expressions and to feel the hardness of his body hit pleasure points she didn’t even know she had. With his large hands guiding her and moving her, Jae felt weightless. She didn’t think he had a clue as to how her world was spinning and spiraling. She didn’t think he could see the lights behind her eyes or know tears were collecting in a puddle and waiting to rush to the surface. She wanted him to see the pleasure he was giving her and she wanted him to feel it. When she cried out and tightened her thighs around his waist, he flipped her over and got as deep as her body could take him.
Jae never imagined anything could feel quite like this.
Chapter Sixteen
Randy stood in an empty parking lot.
He knew he was taking a huge chance meeting Otis there, but he couldn’t risk being seen going to the Pentford Institute during the day when the facility gates were guarded and monitored so closely. The last thing he wanted was for his identity to be recorded.
The Pentford Institute was where Randy and Otis housed and experimented on their test subjects, including Grainger. It was under the pretext of patients whom Otis was treating for behavioral issues. It was also the perfect cover to test out the mind-altering formula that he and Otis were desperate to perfect and sell to the highest bidder.
But tonight had been the only opportunity for them to move Grainger off the premises without rousing suspicion.
Since Randy was always one to avail himself of an opportunity, he was more than happy to inform Darius Hall and the rest of the team that Deputy Roberts was sending them to Baltimore to investigate a counterfeit money laundering ring. Great, he thought. They will be out of my way, so I can deal with this dead weight.
Chuckling because his plan was almost complete, Randy straightened when he spotted Otis’s vehicle slowly approaching the empty lot. As planned, he flicked a small flashlight three times. It was the same signal he’d used when he went to the back gate of the Pentford Institute. When the car came to a stop, Randy leaned over as Otis rolled down the passenger side window. “How’d it go, Otis?”
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