Reaching For Emeralds

by Lacee Hightower

  “I should have put two and two together on what your second favorite relaxation technique was,” she said, brushing her succulent lips over mine. “You are so smoking hot in those photos in your bedroom. Especially the one where your fabulous ass is up close and personal. You put these guys to shame. You look so much like David Beckham. It’s crazy … in a good way.”

  “My ass is fabulous?” I raised my brows, ignoring the statement about Beckham. I’d been told that for years, though I didn’t really see the resemblance.

  “Are you kidding? Your ass is freaking legendary-like, mind-blowing, hot as hell.”

  I reached for her hand, lifting it to my lips. “Mind-blowing, huh? I like that,” I responded, her cute smile and description of my ass shooting straight through my dick. “Maybe I’ll let you have another piece of my mind-blowing ass a little later.”

  “I look forward to a piece of your ass, Mr. DA.”

  “And now, since you think I never relax and eat greasy foods or drink cheap beer, I’m going to leave you with thoughts of my ass for a minute, before I take you and have my way with you.” I leaned in, cupping her face for another quick kiss. “I’ll be back soon, bearing unhealthy food and cold, skunky beer just for my beautiful girl.”

  “Awesomeness,” she smiled, as I stood to go stand in line for standard ballpark food, instead of partaking in the gourmet buffet also offered to VIP seating.

  The game already beginning to look like a loss as I finally got back to our seats, I handed Layla Globe Life Park’s renowned two-foot long hotdog, along with a Coors Light. They had all kinds of premium beer at the ball park, but if she wanted cheap, we’d have cheap.

  “Holy shit, Jackson. This thing is massive. How on earth am I supposed to get this huge thing in my mouth?” Covered in mustard and ketchup, I didn’t even know what she liked on a hotdog, so I just went with my own choices, confident she couldn’t care less. My mind was filled with all kinds of filthy responses to her question. I leaned over, licking into her ear, “If my recollection is correct, I don’t think you’ll have too many problems sliding this little ole thing between those sweet lips.”

  “Jesus, Jackson,” she answered, giving me everything I wanted and more - a sweet smile that I felt from the inside out. Fortunately, the elderly couple next to us were in what seemed to be a heated conversation, so they weren’t listening to ours. I personally didn’t care if they did or not.

  “Dig in sweetheart. And don’t ever say I don’t eat junk food.” I winked, mustard covering her top lip as she bit into the huge two-footer.

  “Come on, Blackburn,” I yelled, as the Angels belted out a triple. One of the Rangers’ hardest opponents, the Los Angeles team had always dominated us. It was one of the best and most physical games to watch, regardless we were currently getting our asses embarrassingly whipped.

  “I kinda like Cole Hamels. He’s super-hot.”

  “Is that a fact?” I asked, wondering how the hell she knew who he was.

  “Didn’t realize you were a baseball fan. You never cease to amaze me more every day.” Her eyes soft and docile, she giggled, throwing back the last bit of her beer like a champ. “My dad was a Rangers fan. I’ve never watched an entire game, but I sure know who Cole Hamels is.”

  ****

  After what seemed like an eternity, four hours later we were home. Baseball was my favorite sport by far, but the ass-kicking tonight was brutal. Hard as hell to watch, Blackburn was miles away from being on his game and we’d left before it was over, a Cole Hamels jersey in Layla’s hand.

  Not a minute too soon when we reached my bedroom, my hand cupped her neck under her hair, my mouth licking into hers. Tasting and touching like the two desperate lovers we’d been since day one, I’d never felt like I did right now.

  “I’ve never needed you like I do right now, baby.” I was giving my entire heart and soul to this woman. I never wanted to wake another morning without her by my side.

  I was so hard right now that my entire lower body ached.

  “Jackson,” she breathed against my lips. Please … just love me.”

  I couldn’t hide my smile, bringing her closer. Every cell making up my existence loved this woman. She had no idea just how deeply.

  “My deepest pleasure, sweetheart.”

  I dropped to my knees, wrapping my arms around her narrow hips and resting my head against her, listening to her breathe out my name as she dragged me even closer.

  I loved the hell out of this woman.

  And more than that, I needed her in my life. Her voice. The beautiful smile that made all in the world seem just a little better. Her sweet taste that I wanted to feast on for hours. The green eyes I could get lost in for days.

  I reached for the zipper on her jeans, dragging the denim and her panties down her legs as my fingertips brushed her satiny smooth skin. “Take your shirt off, baby. Touch your beautiful breasts.”

  She lifted the tank top over her head and removed her bra, her hands going straight to her nipples without hesitancy. I licked my way up her inner thigh, my hand sill wrapped tight around her waist, looking into her gaze as I ran my tongue through her wet opening, giving her a low moan to let her know just how much I wanted her. Her body was grinding against my mouth as I licked and speared into her in slow and deep, then rapid thrusts, before slowing back down. Her hands still worked at her puckered nipples as we both disappeared into the moment. God, I loved she way she tasted. I wanted inside her so badly that I ached.

  “Only for me,” I said, my mouth still against her skin.

  “Jackson,” she whimpered.

  “Tell me you’re mine, Layla,” I growled with another wild fury of deep spearing plunges.

  “I’m only yours, Jackson,” she breathed. “I’ve never belonged to anyone else.”

  “Tell me what you want, beautiful. Show me what makes Layla feel good.” I teased the inside of her thigh, easing my hand back toward her tight butt cheeks and trailing a finger against the small puckered hole that I knew no other man had touched. Every time we’d had sex, it had been the most amazing of my life, but still, I needed and wanted her in every way, her tight virgin ass no exception.

  “Tell me what you need, baby. Let me make it good for you, Jackson.”

  I slipped just the end of my finger inside her puckered hole. “This is what I need, sweetheart. Give me this.” I placed a hard kiss against her thigh. I wanted her to know I didn’t expect this and wouldn’t force anything on her she didn’t want.

  She blinked down at me as I rimmed the edge of her ass, her body tensing as my mouth trailed up and down her creamy thighs, her taste lingering on my lips. Her eyes were all I needed for my answer. She was going to give her sweet ass to me.

  Still dressed, I rose and quickly removed my clothing, standing still for a moment afterward as she looked up and down my physique. My dick was on fire, my self-discipline hard to maintain. I reached for my shaft, running my fingers over myself, watching her climb up onto the bed and compliantly settling on her stomach.

  I crawled in behind her, my tongue disappearing between her wet folds and easing toward her tight back entry. I shifted her onto her side, her body writhing. Her tight, untouched asshole was beautiful. Seconds from losing my damn mind, I wanted to take my time with this, unlike the first time I took her pussy. I didn’t want her to remember this as being painful.

  I lowered my hand, the tip of my finger running through her wet arousal and gently slipping inside her ass, readying her for my size.

  “Umm … Yes,” she moaned, pushing back against my probing finger, the tone of her sweet-sounding pleasure music to my ears, my cock aching to get inside.

  “I can make this feel so good, baby. I promise I’d never hurt you.”

  “Then do it,” she whispered.

  I leaned over and kissed her hard as she returned every bit of my intensity. I pushed off the mattress, using every bit of my self-control to take this slow and easy. I reached for the small tube i
n the bedside drawer, rolling a small coat of lube over myself. I draped an arm over her back and caressed her breasts. “You belong to me, Layla. Every square inch,” I demanded in a soft tone.

  “Every square inch, Jackson,” she repeated in a way so sensual that I knew her words were true.

  I pushed her lower leg forward just a little as I kissed around the back of her neck, lingering for a few minutes to let her sense the need in me. I reached for her tight clit, rubbing my thumb to relax her more. “You tell me if I hurt you, baby. I want this to be good.”

  “I’m ready, Jackson. I want you inside me.”

  I squeezed out a good amount of lube, easing it around her backside and sliding one, then two fingers inside, before reaching for her clit again.

  “Jackson,” she breathed.

  I kissed her neck again. “Relax, sweetheart. I love you.” I stroked her damp folds as I tried to ease her tensing body a little more.

  “I want you to take a long, deep breath, baby.” She did exactly as I said and I pushed my slickened length past the uncomfortable tight ring, my dick hard and anxious. It felt so fucking good. I had to fight taking her too roughly like I’d done the first time. This needed to be perfect. It was gift. I wanted it to have meaning.

  “Jesus, you’re so beautiful this way, Lay.” My hands sliding over her breasts, I tugged at her nipples, pressing my hips against her and sliding in deeper with each thrust, claiming her most private body part. Her breath hitched before she relaxed into me, my finger lowering to circle her clit.

  “That’s it, baby. Relax into it. I promise it’ll feel good.”

  “It already feels good,” she whimpered, lowering her hand onto mine that still caressed her sex. She sighed, pushing against my finger and increasing the pressure against her tiny nub, already close. A climax was building inside me just as quickly, my balls tightening at thoughts of filling her ass with my load.

  “Fuck yes, Lay,” I groaned as I intensified the speed of my thrusts, taking long, deep strokes as she met me with every powering, sensual move. Whimpering every time I pushed harder, our bodies worked together, slow, fast, then slow again, reaching that plateau we were both so close to. Fuck, I was deep. She had every inch of my body in the most intimate way a woman could.

  “Jackson,” she cried out. “It feels so good. Come inside me.” Breathless, her face ground against the pillow as she uttered my name again.

  I pinched the tip of her hardened peak then sunk my finger inside her, my balls tightening as she trembled, convulsing around my hand. My dick unloaded inside her and I felt emotion I’d never experienced. Now she needed to know just how important she was.

  “I love you so much, Lay,” I said, knowing she already knew the depth of my feelings.

  “And I love you, too, Jackson.”

  Still inside her a few seconds later, my front to her back, we fit together perfectly. Spooning for quite possibly the first time, what I was feeling was exactly what I’d avoided all my life. I knew this was forever. What I craved. What I needed. And demanded.

  Long minutes after she succumbed to sleep, I lay beside her, conflicted with my demons and a way to keep her happy … and safe.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Layla

  My alarm came to life, arousing me from some of the best sleep I’d had in … maybe forever. Shinedown was serenading me with How Do You Love as I belted out every word, my butt still pleasantly stinging from the sexual experience of my life.

  Who would have known how much fun Jackson could be once he was in his element?

  “Dress casual,” he’d said. So I did. Skinny ankle jeans topped with a sleeveless, white tank top and black ankle boots, when I’d answered the door half expecting him to be coming straight from work, he’d blown my mind. Rocking a pair of acid-stained jeans with a long-sleeved black Henley, he had the sleeves pushed up all sexy-like, giving me a good look at the smooth hair on his arms that strangely enough, turned me on. Then, to top it all off, he had on square-toed western boots. All I could do was stare like a blithering idiot. My man looked sexy as hell.

  Today was my last morning to wake up in my apartment, a glow on my face that even I didn’t recognize. I was moving in with Jackson and couldn’t keep from smiling. I’d never felt happier.

  ****

  I spent the first hour at work eating a McDonald’s breakfast hidden in my desk drawer while I typed a letter for William. Jackson didn’t like my boss, but I couldn’t help it. He was a nice guy.

  “Today’s the big day, isn’t it?” Jana walked up with a donut in hand, knowing we weren’t allowed to eat anywhere besides the breakroom.

  “Yep. It’s the big one all right.” The sudden sound of my phone dinging reminded me I hadn’t turned down the volume.

  “You have time for a quick break? There’s donuts in the break room.”

  “Give me a second. I’ll meet you in five. I need to drop this letter off to William.”

  Once I printed and proofed the letter I knew he’d change at least two times, I walked into William’s office, an extra swing to my step. I set the one-page document in front of him, glancing up at the sports memorabilia lining his walls. “Letter’s ready for you to proof.”

  “Have a seat, Layla.”

  He seemed like he was in a good enough mood. I took a seat, remembering I had a text. Hopefully it wasn’t Jackson, yet I suspected it was. He got so pissed when I didn’t respond to him in what he considered a timely fashion. My hot District Attorney was pushy and absolutely hated waiting … on anything.

  He also liked spanking me when he didn’t get his way.

  Maybe I won’t answer him for a little longer.

  William eyed the short letter I’d drafted, marking through it just as I’d anticipated.

  “Looks good. Just a few changes.”

  “No problem.” He handed me the letter and turned toward his computer screen without saying anything else.

  “Shit,” I whispered, ambling toward the break room for a quick visit with Jana and a second cup of coffee. William acted totally differently towards me after finding out I was involved with Jackson. But then, it was Jackson. Who wouldn’t feel intimidated?

  “Whew. Crazy morning,” I said, Jana already half-way into what looked like a fruit-filled donut. “I need coffee.”

  “William brought the donuts. Have one.” She gestured toward the two boxes beside the coffee maker.

  “I already ate McDonald’s. They look good, though.”

  “So how’s everything going with Jackson?” My eyes shot up at the unexpected question.

  “Really good. Just ready to get this move over and done.” I smiled, gloating. I couldn’t help it. I was damn happy.

  “When are you going to fix me up with his twin?” She smiled, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “No twin. Sorry. But hey, he knows a lot of attorneys.”

  “Well hey, that works, too.”

  I stirred a Stevia packet and heaping spoonful of creamer into my coffee.

  “What’s it like to date the hottest District Attorney known to mankind? Every time I’ve seen him on television, he seems like such a hard ass.”

  You have no idea.

  Her eyes were like saucers and it took all my willpower not to bust a gut laughing.

  “He’s hot as sin,” she said, sticking the last bite of donut in her mouth.

  “That he is,” I whispered.

  “How did you meet him?”

  My heart pounded with the twenty questions. The bank used a service to run backgrounds on potential employees, which I was confident they’d done on me. Still, they knew nothing personal about my family, other than the fact my parents were both deceased. I really didn’t think I’d ever tell Jana the real way I’d met Jackson.

  For a second, I sipped on my coffee, the Pumpkin Spice Coffee-Mate better than I’d expected. I still liked the chocolate flavor better.

  “I actually met Jackson through a mutual friend,” I replied, my ans
wer not a complete lie.

  Speaking of Jackson, I remembered the unread text, taking one last drink of coffee and placing my mug in the sink. “I gotta get back to my desk … but I’ll work on the whole attorney thing.”

  “Here. I’ll walk with you. I’ve been screwing around all morning so I better get started too. William’s all crabby today. He’s worse than a woman with PMS.” She rolled her eyes as we walked out of the small kitchen.

  Back at my desk, I pulled out my phone to check the text from earlier. There were three. Shit, he was probably pissed. I clicked on the first one.

  Hartley’s in the hospital. I’ll be late getting home.

  Was the baby coming already? I thought she had a couple of more months yet. I clicked on the second text.

  Respond to my fucking text, Layla. It’s important.

  Uneasy, I didn’t bother reading the third as I hit his name on speed dial.

  “Layla…”

  “I’m sorry. I was in William’s office. Is Hartley having the baby?” His reply was slow to come. “Jackson? What’s going on? Is everything okay, baby?” Thick tension streamed through the phone. Something was terribly wrong.

  “Jackson?”

  “She’s hurt. She was attacked in the church parking lot this morning after dropping the twins off for daycare.” My mind was suddenly full of questions but I didn’t want to pressure Jackson when he was clearly distraught.

  “Is the baby okay?”

  “No. She’s lost the baby, Lay.”

  “What?” Dread coursed through my body. My eyes began to sting as I thought about asking for specifics, but decided against it. “Jackson, I’m so very sorry. Please tell me what to do.”

  I could hear him swallow. For some reason, I could feel there was something else he needed to tell me. He was holding back.

  “Baby? Can I do anything?” I asked, an unplanned fear dragging through my voice.

  “Yes, Layla,” he finally said, so much consternation in his voice that a cold shiver inched down my spine.