“Adeline.” She could hear someone say her name, and even in sleep she turned towards the voice. In her dreams, she was back in the alley, too afraid to move, too afraid to make a sound.
“Adeline, wake up.” With a start and a gasp, she opened her eyes, and found Jay’s meltingly dark gaze inches from her own. A wave of some sweet, dark emotion rolled over her. Something she’d never felt before, and it had Adeline reaching out to him before she had the chance to second guess herself.
“Jay.” Her voice carried a hint of the ache that that had started pulsing across her skin. A thrill coursed through her at the rough groan he couldn’t quite contain.
“You were having a nightmare. I just wanted to…” Jay paused, unwilling to finish the sentence. He knew what he wanted, and the desire panting in her soft whisper had him so hard he had to shift his feet, trying to get comfortable in the confines of the tight denim he was still wearing, only allowing himself to strip off his shirt before laying on the couch.
“Jay. Come here.” Adeline’s hushed words pulled at him excruciatingly.
“You don’t need this, you don’t need me. Not now, not after…everything.”
“You’re wrong.” Her voice was soft, but strong in the darkness of the motel room. “I do need you. I don’t know why, it doesn’t really make sense. I should be terrified, but…I’m not.” Jay could just make out the brief shake of her against the pillow, the blond waves rustling at her movement.
“You make me feel whole. Like I’ve been living with a part of me missing. I know that sounds crazy…” Adeline trailed off as she turned her head away from him on the pillow. Cautiously, he reached out a hand, cupping it around her incredibly soft cheek, and gently tilted her back until her blue eyes glittered inches from his own.
“No, that doesn’t sound crazy at all. I…” Jay cleared his throat, about to say that he felt the same, “I think you should try and go back to sleep.” That was definitely not what he wanted to say, but he didn’t want her to get hurt any more than she already had. Rushing into a new relationship after dealing with that asshole Blake might just be more than she was ready for.
Adeline felt a prick of irritation at the tone of his voice. She could see he was trying to take things slow for her benefit, but slow was the last thing she had on her mind. For the first time in a long time, she knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted Jay.
She reached for him, simultaneously pressing her mouth flush to his, not giving him a chance to pull back. Angling her head for better access, she slowly traced the seam of his lips with her tongue. He fought back a moan under her patient attach, but refused to open his mouth and give her what she wanted.
Adeline pulled back just enough to speak, her words whispering against his lips.
“I don’t need to go back to sleep. I need you.” She stared up at him solemnly. “Please.” Like a dam bursting, Jay was on top of her. His hands framed her face, fingers diving into her long waves. He held her head still as his mouth came down on hers. His kiss was deep, patient, and devastating.
Adeline could feel her arousal grow even sharper as moisture pooled at her center, the empty feeling driving her crazy as she pushed her hips up against his, desperate for closer contact.
The slide of his tongue against hers had her writhing anew, tangling the sheets between her legs. His hands were everywhere, creating and stoking flames of sensation wherever he touched. She felt like a live wire.
She pushed against his shoulders, and he instantly stopped, pushing himself away with his arms braced on either side like he was doing a pushup.
“Is everything…”
“Turn over.” She demanded breathlessly, her intent clear in her deep blue eyes alight with lust and something warmer, softer. Jay hesitantly flipped onto his back, obviously used to being the one in charge, but willing to let her do whatever she wanted to him.
She wasted no time, reaching for the fly of his dark denim jeans. She needed to see all of him. The chiseled muscles of his stomach jumped as she brushed her knuckles back and forth once, twice, finally getting the zipper down.
As he lifted his hips to help remove the offending material, she tugged hard on the belt loops, and soon it was slide off his legs to be discarded on the beige carpet next to the mattress. Jay was left wearing a tight pair of dark blue boxer briefs, and she caught her breath as she drank him.
He looked like a Greek god, all sculpted muscle and perfect skin. She had never been totally comfortable with her curvier figure, but next to him, she felt like she was the perfect size. Her soft against of his delicious hard. Adeline had to stop herself from licking her lips.
Quickly shedding the light green tank top, she had worn to bed, she reached for the little matching shorts but was stopped by the sound of his ragged gasp. His eyes were like burning coals as he took in her body. His look made her burn even brighter, and before he could make another sound she was naked, and moving to straddle his thighs.
She hooked the tips of her fingers around the elastic of his boxers and pulled them down, releasing an impressive erection. Her pussy throbbed in anticipation, out of control lust raging through her like a wild fire. She had never felt like this in her entire life.
Jay braced his hands on either hip, about to tell her to slow down, but before he could open his mouth her soaking heat was enveloping him and his brain completely shut down. Heaven.
The thought repeated over and over again at the torturous pleasure of her sinking oh so slowly onto his length. Setting a steady pace that had him panting in seconds, he felt like a horny teenager worried he wouldn’t last long enough to please her. He held back his orgasm with sheer will, the friction of her snug heat the most incredible sensation he had ever felt. Paradise.
The animal inside him howled in a wave of ecstatic possession. This woman was touching every single part of him, leaving nothing unturned as she rode him wildly, unabashedly.
He thrust his hips up, rewarded by her husky moan as he hit that spot deep inside. Again, he moved his hips up as she moved down, and this time when they met, they both released a groan at the amazing feeling. Before long, she was losing her rhythm, slamming her lush body down on his, and he bit his lip to keep from coming, searing the look on her face into his memory as she finally broke apart, crying out as she came around him.
He couldn’t hold back any longer, the sight of her climax sending him over his own peak, body tensing as waves of pleasure so intense they took his breath exploded over him. Jay released a deep sigh as Adeline collapsed bonelessly on top of him. Heaven.
Chapter 6
They lay back on the bed, her head pillowed on the substantial muscle of his chest. Adeline smoothed her hand over the line of hair that curled from the center of his chest all the way down, pointing like an arrow directly at the part of him that had just wrung the most excruciating pleasure from her body.
She gazed down, trying to see as much as she could, but the edge of the white cotton sheet denied her. She sighed, at least she’d always have her memories. And what memories they were. Adeline burrowed closer as her mind replayed the amazing scenes, remembering the feel of her entire body going up in flames.
What was truly seared into her brain was the look in his eyes. He had stared into hers, and she had seen…everything. Every desire, every fear, the attraction, affection, and something even deeper that had seeped into his dark chocolate gaze. It had made her breath catch, her chest tighten painfully as some of the walls she had built up around her heart had crumbled.
Damn. She was in trouble. She’d gone and fallen for him, and she still hadn’t had the courage to bring up the whole weird animal thing she thought she had seen in the alley when he had saved her. How do you bring up something like that? Hi, yes, do you happen to be a bear?
She chuckled to herself, nearly convinced she had just made it up in the trauma of the moment, but she could remember it happening, if a little hazy. Jay cleared his throat, drawing her attention back up his body. His
mouth was turned down in a frown that had her sitting up, before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and guided her back to his shoulder.
“I need to tell you something.” The seriousness of his voice had her pulse kicking in her chest. “I just ask that you listen to everything I have to say before you respond.” He quirked a questioning brow at her and she hastily nodded, wondering what was could have put that fierce scowl on his normally calm face.
“You know what I do. I’m a private investigator.” Adeline nodded again, he had told her about himself when she had talked to him about her trouble with her ex. He inhaled deeply before releasing an anxious sigh.
“A few weeks ago, a new client came to see me. He was real upset about his wife who had went missing. Said the cops weren’t doing anything, and he was desperate. So he hired me to find the woman.” Her stomach dropped, a denial ready on her lips, but he laid a gentle finger over them, stopping her words.
“Let me finish. The client’s name was Blake Newcombe.” Her body tensed, and she couldn’t help the involuntary move to put distance between them, his eyes filling with regret as she pulled away to sit up on the bed.
“As soon as I met you, saw you, I knew something was wrong, that he hadn’t told me the whole truth. Or maybe not any of it.”
“What about the alley?” Sudden horror filled her eyes. “Was the attack some sort of…of…set up or something? To get me to trust you?” Adeline choked on the words, and relief crashed over her as he grabbed her shoulders, rushing to set her mind at ease.
“No! No, that was pure coincidence. And pure luck. If it had been anyone else walking past that alley instead of me, I don’t know what would have happened.” He shook his head at the image filling his mind of all the what ifs.
He had to do something about Blake. He knew his type. Obsessive, Jealous. Dangerous. He would never give up, never leave her alone.
The plan that had been slowly forming in the back of his mind ever since Adeline had told him the whole story started to coalesce. Jay shot her a quick, assessing glance. The plan would depend on her. He took in the straight line of her back, her shoulders thrown back, neck straight. The gentle strength and fire in her blue eyes were undeniable.
Jay took one of her hands in his, lacing their fingers together. This woman was so incredible, and she was his. There was no way around that fact, or the masculine surge of pride the flooded his veins at the thought. She was more perfect than he could ever have imagined.
“I’ve been thinking.” Her eyes widened on his in mock severity.
“Uh oh.” He chuckled, his heart squeezing at her brave show of humor in the face of so many tragedies.
“Listen, Blake isn’t going to just go away.” Her expression closed, and he hated the fact that he was causing her any more pain, even inadvertently. “I’m supposed to check in with him in a few hours. I think I have a way we can deal with him for good, but you’re going to have to trust me.” Adeline nodded without hesitation. She knew in her bones that she could trust this man with her life, and her heart.
“Okay, so here’s the plan.”
Chapter 7
The motel room was still dark, despite the afternoon sun shining cheerfully outside in direct opposition to the nervous tension filling the small room. The heavy drapes were pulled closed across the window, and silence was the only sound. Adeline sat on the bed, now made, her pulse beating a too fast rhythm that she couldn’t do anything about.
Jay had called Blake a few hours earlier to check in, letting him know he had found her, and accidentally letting slip the motel she was staying at. It wouldn’t take Blake longer than a trip to the front desk to find out which room was hers.
Adeline shivered despite the afternoon warmth, taking a deep breath to try and calm her rattling nerves. She didn’t know if she could do this. Suddenly standing, pacing back and forth in front of the foot of the mattress. She glanced at it, picturing her and Jay, their bodies tangled there just hours before.
The thought of him calmed her, gave her the strength she needed to go through with this. A scrape at the door had her jumping, spinning around, and adrenaline surging through her. No, she had been right before. She really couldn’t do this. Only, it was too late to back out now.
The brass doorknob rattled angrily, then a pressure against the door. Adeline tried to take a deep breath, but couldn’t. Panic closed her throat, and left her mind completely blank as the rusted lock finally gave in and the door swung open to bang back against the wall.
She tried to scream, but couldn't make a sound as Blake stepped into the room, and casually shut the door behind him. Fear had her paralyzed, frozen to the spot. All she could do was watch as Blake arrogantly sidled closer, the look on his face all conceited pride and self-impressed cockiness as if he knew she wouldn’t put up a fight. As if he’d already won.
“So, I found you, you bitch.” His sneer twisted his face as the rage and hatred that boiled just under the surface were exposed for a second, before hidden again over his pleasant facade.
“I’m going to take you home, and teach you a lesson you won’t ever forget.” His words jolted her out of her stupor.
“I’m not going with you.” Adeline hated the weakness in her voice, but at least she’d said the words. She had been worried she wouldn’t be able to do even that.
Blake’s eyes widened in outrage at her refusal.
“I don’t think you heard me.” His voice was hard, an edge of something unstable made her skin crawl. “We. Are. Going. Home.” Adeline couldn’t believe she had once thought herself in love with this man. How could she have been so blind to his true, twisted nature?
“And I said no! I’m not going anywhere with you. Not now. Not ever!” She was proud of the new found strength adding weight to her words. She was even a bit surprised, the old Adeline would have never dared to talk to Blake like this.
A thrill of confidence had her standing straighter, facing him head on. A challenging glint entered her dark blue eyes.
“We are over. I never want to see you again, I’m going to file a restraining order. I’m through with letting you hurt me.” Blake’s nostrils flared as anger turned his features ugly, unable to stand her challenging him. He walked towards her threateningly.
“Hurt? Oh, you think I hurt you before, just wait…Agghhh.” His temper-laced threats were cut off as Jay locked him in a choke hold, Detective Jones slapping cuffs around his wrists as he read him his rights.
Jay and his friend, the detective, had been hiding in the bathroom, lights off, door cracked just enough to hear every incriminating word, not mention witnessing his breaking and entering. While Blake was being detained, Jay rushed to Adeline’s side, throwing his arms around her and squeezing so tight she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t complain either, there was no other place she wanted to be except in his embrace.
“I’m so proud of you.” His gruff compliment sent warmth shooting through her, helping to settle her still jangling nerves. She looked up into his eyes, her own shining with gratitude.
“Thank you.” She turned to watch Detective Jones walk Blake out of the motel room, out of her life, and into the unmarked squad car parked outside. She leaned into Jay, soaking in the feeling of his body, his strength, surrounding her. Adeline whispered again, so quietly Jay could barely hear it, but he felt it echo throughout his entire being.
“Thank you.”
Chapter 8
Jay sat back in the old desk chair, it creaked as it gave alarmingly under his weight, but soon stabilized. Rubbing his eyes against the headache that had been steadily growing all day, he glanced at the clock on his desk. Damn it. Almost seven already.
Another long day, and longer night stuck in the office had him feeling restless. As his reputation as a top Private Investigator had grown, so had the seriousness of his cases, and the file he had flipped open in front of him was one of the biggest jobs he’d had yet.
He was still waiting for a break, but his anim
al instincts told him to keep persevering. And his animal instincts were hardly ever wrong. They tingled now, the hair on the back of his neck rising just before the frosted glass door opened.
Jay could hear the soft click of high heels against the checkered linoleum floor as they drew closer to the back office, and where he was sitting. Her distinctive scent found him first, wrapping around him in clouds of Lavender and sweetness.
The door of his office opened, and Adeline’s shining blond curls peeked around the big slab of aged hardwood. It was closely followed by her wide forehead with furrowed brows slashing over the most beautiful blue eyes had ever seen. The sight of them still had him catching his breath, even after six months.
Her curved nose, full mouth, and pixie chin all followed in quick succession, but his eyes stayed fixated on her mouth. Oh, the things she could do with that mouth. Jay shifted, trying to ease some of the sudden pressure caused by his wayward thoughts, when the chair gave another ominous creak. He felt it give with a slight drop, level out, and then the back loosened completely, leaving him in an ungracious heap on the cold floor.
Peals of feminine laughter had him looking up, Adeline’s sweet face staring down at him with mirth and love shining clear and bright as she tried to control her giggles. She put a hand over her mouth, covering the inadvertent cause of his predicament.
“Are you okay?” She managed between chuckles, reaching her hands down to help him up to his feet. He took hold, but turned the tables on her by giving a quick tug, pulling her down on top of him instead, and inciting another burst of laughter.
“Hey, you better watch that bear strength of yours.” Adeline teased. It warmed his heart whenever she joked about his true nature. It had been a hard conversation a few months ago when he had brought it up, but it had turned out that she had known about him, and his other half, since the beginning.
HIGHLANDER: The Highlander’s Surrender Bride (Scottish Alpha Male Pregnancy Romance) Page 38