The Lab Test

by Chris Taylor

  “Honey, I thought we’d already been over this,” he said quietly, keeping his tone mild. It had been a long day and he was ready for bed, but he saw that Dani needed him. Swallowing a sigh, he tried again.

  “I understand how difficult it must be for you to accept Sabrina wasn’t a saint. She was fallible, just like the rest of us.” He shrugged. “She had an affair and got pregnant. It happens. It doesn’t make her a bad person. We all make decisions we might live to regret. You know that better than most. It’s life. It’s just the way it is.”

  Dani’s expression turned mutinous and she marched toward him with anger in her eyes.

  “No, Jett. You don’t understand. This was Sabrina. She didn’t do that kind of thing. She’d never hurt someone that way. And now I have proof.”

  He frowned again. “What are you talking about?”

  “I repeated the paternity tests. I got a profile of Franklin’s and Marnie’s DNA. He’s her father, Jett. There’s no doubt about it. The other lab made a mistake.”

  Her words registered in his brain and he gasped aloud at the implications. “They made a mistake? Are you sure?”

  She moved even closer and crossed her arms over her chest. She glared at him. “Yes, of course I’m sure. I know how to run a DNA test. Marnie was Franklin’s daughter. Only… Only, he didn’t know it. The other lab sent him the wrong results.”

  All of a sudden, the anger went out of her and she seemed to crumple before his eyes. His head was still in a spin at her announcement, but without hesitation he stepped forward and took her in his arms. With tears glinting in her eyes, she looked up at him. Her voice broke on a sob.

  “He-he killed them and it was all a mistake! Sabrina hadn’t been unfaithful to him at all. He killed them for no reason. No good reason at all.”

  Her sobs turned into howls of anguish and he drew her up against him, holding her through her pain. Her hair had come loose and fell around her shoulders. He stroked it with a gentle hand. She opened her eyes and stared up at him and then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

  A lightning bolt of electricity went through him at the feel of her soft lips on his. His heartbeat leaped into overdrive, but he wasn’t sure she was in the right state of mind for this. He loosened his arms about her and tried to set her away, but she would have none of it.

  “I want you, Jett. Please, kiss me, love me. For just a little while, I need to forget.”

  She reached for him again and he groaned in an agony of indecision. He wanted nothing more but to give her the solace she craved. His body was hard with desire and need. But what about his decision to remain a virgin until he married? Did that mean nothing when faced with making love to the woman in his arms?

  He was already well on the way to falling in love with her, but he didn’t know how she felt. She wanted him, that much was clear, but she’d wanted plenty of guys. Was it different for her when she was with him, like it was when he was with her? Or was that just wishful thinking?

  She didn’t know about his vow of celibacy, of wanting to save himself for marriage. If he rejected her now, she might think he didn’t want her at all and that couldn’t be further from the truth. She was hurting so badly. She needed the escape he could give her, if only he was willing. The thoughts spun around inside his head until he didn’t know which way to turn.

  Gradually, her kisses became less frantic until finally, she pulled away. She stared up at him, her expression filled with confusion.

  “What’s the matter, Jett? Don’t you want me anymore?”

  She spoke the words in a tiny voice and wouldn’t look him in the eye. His heart broke.

  “Of course I want you,” he said softly and tried to take her back in his arms. But she moved away.

  “No, there’s something wrong. I can feel it. One moment, you were there with me, consumed by the same fire, and the next, you were gone, withdrawing…” She shook her head. “I don’t know where. Something happened to change your mind and I want to know what it was. Is it me? Are you remembering all the other men who’ve gone before? Is that the problem? Am I not good enough for you?”

  “No!” he cried, tortured. “It has nothing to do with you. You’re good and kind and beautiful. You’re everything I could ever want.”

  She stared at him, bewildered. “Then what? What just happened, Jett? And don’t you dare tell me it was nothing.”

  He stared back at her for a long moment and at last, breathed out on a heavy sigh. His shoulders slumped. He had to tell her. It wasn’t fair to keep her in the dark. Taking her hand, he tugged her in the direction of the sofa. With reluctance dogging her every step, she followed.

  * * *

  Dani perched on one end of her faux leather couch, as far away from Jett as possible. As if she hadn’t already suffered enough blows today. Now the man she was falling for didn’t feel the same way. She thought she’d read the signs correctly. She thought he was as into her as she was into him; that amidst the turmoil and tragedy of the double murder investigation, somehow, they’d found each other.

  But he’d withdrawn from her right when things were hotting up and his attitude had most certainly cooled. What else was she to think? She’d as good as begged him to make love to her and he’d all but turned her down.

  He threw her a look of helplessness, like he didn’t know what to say. She braced herself for his rejection and then decided to spare him the trouble.

  “Don’t worry about it, Jett. Save your awkward explanation. I get it. You like me a little, but not enough. Now that the investigation’s winding down, let’s just shake hands and agree to be friends. We need never run into each other again.” She risked a glance in his direction. “What do you think? Does that sound all right to you?”

  The helpless expression on his face was quickly replaced by a scowl. “No, it isn’t all right with me,” he retorted. “I’m not sure where you got the idea I don’t like you enough, but you’re way off base. The problem is, I like you too much.”

  She stared at him and her pulse picked up its pace. Could she have been mistaken? But then what the hell were the last few moments about? Earlier, at the oval, he’d matched her kiss for kiss. Now, he couldn’t have appeared less interested. And yet, he said he liked her—too much, in fact.

  Anger stirred in her belly. She was too old for stupid games. She’d worked hard to get where she was and she was damned if she’d let a man interfere with the reasonably stable mental status she’d managed to achieve.

  “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded, her tone probably a little harsher than she intended.

  His gaze remained steady on hers. “I’m sorry, Dani. I’m not explaining myself very well,” he said quietly. “I… I don’t know how to say this. I—”

  “Don’t you dare tell me you’re gay,” she interrupted, glaring at him. “Because I flat out won’t believe it. I felt every hard inch of you back at the oval. I know you were turned on as much as me. I—”

  “I’m not gay. I like women fine enough. It’s just that…I was raised in a loving Catholic family with parents who practiced their faith. I grew up believing it was a sin to have sex before I was married. Then, later, as I grew older, I realized what a special, beautiful gift it was and I wanted to save myself for marriage.”

  She stared at him without speaking, her mouth gaping open. If he’d told her he’d been born a woman, she couldn’t have been more shocked. “You’re… You’re a virgin?”

  “You don’t have to sound so surprised,” he replied, his voice dry.

  She blushed, a little embarrassed, but how the hell was she to know? He looked close enough to her age. He must be nearly thirty. As far as she knew, thirty-year-old virgins were only the stuff of corny Hollywood comedies. She had no idea there were still men out there who felt the way he did. It was…sweet and refreshing and…oh so sexy.

  A rush of feeling surged through her and her heart filled with tenderness and love. Love? Did she love him? She was su
ddenly sure that if she didn’t already, it wasn’t far away.

  He was the kind of man she’d dreamed of, like the heroes that had filled her romance novels. The duke, or prince or knight who always managed to win the fair maiden’s heart. But if he were a prince, where did that leave her? She was far from the innocent girl. He was aware of her past and he said that didn’t matter to him, but what if later, it did? He was a virgin and she’d slept with more men than she could count. How would it ever work between them? Was there any point in even trying?

  “Say something, Dani,” he said quietly. “I’m dying over here. Does my virginity matter to you? Do you think I’m weird?”

  Despite her misgivings, she scooted along the couch to reassure him. Her bare leg brushed against his. She reached for his hand and pressed it between both of hers.

  “Of course it matters! But in a good way. I’ve never known a man who was a virgin. I’m intrigued and…incredibly turned on. Which doesn’t help either of us, seeing as you’re saving yourself for marriage. But you’re into kissing, right? We were kissing earlier today.”

  His eyes flared with emotion and he stared at her with desire flooding his face. “Oh, yes, we were kissing all right and it felt…amazing.”

  Her hand stole up his thigh and then moved across to the bulge that filled his suit pants. She squeezed the firm flesh and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath.

  “So, kissing’s okay,” she murmured, hitching up her skirt so that she could straddle his lap. “What else are we allowed to do?”

  Bending her head, her lips glanced off his and then returned to taste him over and over again. He groaned and encircled her hips with his hands, pressing her against his erection.

  She sucked on the soft skin of his earlobe and then flicked her tongue inside his ear. His hold on her tightened and she smiled.

  “Do you like that?” she murmured and laved him again with her tongue.

  “Yes,” he growled. “Do it again.”

  She complied with his order, rocking back and forth in his lap, loving the feel of the hard evidence of his desire against her butt. Emboldened, she loosened his tie and tossed it to the floor. Releasing the buttons on his shirt, she slipped her hands inside, gratified when she came in contact with his bare skin.

  Chest hair tickled her fingers. She splayed her hands wide and caressed the flat planes of his pectorals. Firm and well-muscled, she yearned to see them finally bared to her gaze.

  As if reading her thoughts, Jett tugged off his shirt and it went the same way as his tie. She stared at his broad chest and need burned deep inside. He was bronzed and perfectly proportioned, with dark chest hair shadowing his pecs. She buried her fingers in it and was surprised to find it was as soft as goose down. Her hands moved further apart. Her fingers grazed his nipples.

  She smiled at the sound of his indrawn breath, pleased that he was enjoying her attention. He might be determined to remain a virgin, but she was going to do all she could to drive him wild and let him know just what he was missing.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  With her gaze locked on his, Dani slid off Jett’s lap and knelt on the carpet between his legs. She reached for his belt. His eyes flared with heat and excitement and blood raced to her core. Her nipples tightened in response and her clit ached. She needed to be touched. But this wasn’t about her. No, tonight would be all about him.

  Tugging the belt out of his pants, she undid the button and slid down his zipper. Stealing inside his cotton boxers, her fingers closed around his warm, silky erection. She squeezed the firm flesh and his breath hissed. She stared up at him.

  The desire that glinted in his heavy-lidded gaze sent another wave of need surging through her. Never had she touched a man so intimately without being fondled in return. Having the focus so squarely on him only highlighted the exquisite sensations that coursed through her and filled her with wanton need. She thrust the torturous thoughts away and took him in her mouth.

  Her lips stretched wide around his erection. She sucked him in as deep as he could go. He made a low sound in the back of his throat and she glanced up. He lay back against the couch, his eyes closed, his face tense.

  She wondered if this was the first time he’d had oral sex and all of a sudden, she wanted to know.

  “Has anyone done this to you before?” she murmured.

  He opened his eyes and she was stunned at the level of heat that burned from his gaze. “No,” he rasped. “I’ve never been with anyone I wanted to do this with before.”

  A sense of power and exhilaration rose within her at the knowledge she was his first. It was a heady feeling and she vowed to make the experience something he’d never forget. Bending over his engorged cock, she renewed her efforts with her lips. Her tongue also joined in, swiping around the rim of his head and pausing to dip into his shallow slit. He groaned and thrust his hips toward her and she sucked him as hard as she could. With one hand, she reached down to cup his balls and fondle their taut weight. Her other hand stroked the length of his erection, keeping up the rhythm of her mouth.

  “Dani, you’re killing me!” he groaned. She merely smiled in satisfaction and increased her efforts.

  His breath came faster, harsh in the stillness. He reached down and clasped her head between his hands, holding her in place. His hips bucked off the couch, his efforts becoming more frantic. His cock thrust hard. She kept her lips tightened around him.

  “Oh, Jesus, Dani. I’m gonna come.” He loosened his hold and tried to pull away, but she didn’t release him.

  “No, I want to suck you to the end,” she told him and then followed through.

  He groaned again and his hips moved faster. Her hand tightened around his cock. A moment later, he gave a triumphant yelp and rocked and shuddered against her.

  Warm jets of fluid filled her mouth and she sucked and swallowed until it was over. Panting hard, he collapsed against the sofa. A moment later, he opened his eyes and stared at her in wonder.

  “That was…” He shook his head. “Amazing? Unbelievable? The most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced. I can’t find the words to describe it.”

  She smiled and was filled with warm satisfaction. Never before had she cared how her partners felt about her performance. It was all about finding a few moments of mutual, mindless pleasure and an escape from her troubles.

  But with Jett, it was different. She was falling in love with him and that made all the difference. He wasn’t just a nameless stranger she’d picked up in a bar. He wasn’t someone she had no desire or inclination to ever see again. She wanted to get to know him better. She wanted more than just a few moments of physical pleasure. The truth was, she wanted to be part of his life.

  But what if he didn’t feel the same way? He liked her well enough and he’d certainly enjoyed their lovemaking, but was that as far as things went? Could he see her as something more? She didn’t have any answers and the not knowing how he felt and where she stood was killing her.

  Jett stared at her and his forehead creased into a frown. A hank of hair had fallen into his eyes and he brushed it away. “What’s the matter, Dani? Did I say something wrong?”

  She pressed her lips into a thin line, guessing that he’d seen something of her turmoil in her face. She wanted to reassure him, but she didn’t know what to say. It was their first time together—way too soon to be talking about a future and yet the very thought of sharing a future with him, all but consumed her now.

  And then, he sat forward and with his hands around her waist, lifted her to her feet and settled her in his lap. His eyes were a dark cobalt, deep and fathomless. His head lowered and her heart skipped a beat.

  With a gentle hand, he cupped her cheek and kissed her softly, tenderly, taking his time to discover the shape and feel of her mouth. He kissed her like she mattered and the knowledge brought tears to her eyes.

  Without pause, he kissed her closed eyelids and then kissed his way down her face. Her nose, her cheeks, her earlo
be and then he nuzzled the side of her neck. Fire trailed in a sizzling path behind his heated mouth. Her hands clutched at his shoulders, at the soft warmth of his bare skin. Her heart pounded a rapid staccato in her chest and a pulse beat frantically in her neck. And still he kissed her.

  Releasing his hold on her head, he reached out with fingers that trembled and released the buttons of her blouse. One by one, they opened to reveal another patch of creamy flesh until at last, he spread her top open and exposed her to his gaze.

  She wore a white lacy bra beneath her pale blouse and her E cup was overflowing. His eyes flared. He stared like he couldn’t look away.

  She made a move to cover herself, becoming embarrassed under his prolonged steady and silent gaze, but he made a sound in the back of his throat and reached out and stayed her hands.

  “Please,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “Please, let me look at you. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.”

  She blushed under his praise and her tension eased. She was happy to let him look his fill. Men had always been fascinated by her breasts, but she’d never before cared much what they thought. They were her breasts, larger than most, but nothing very special. It had never mattered that men thought differently.

  But with Jett, she cared a great deal what he thought, just like she cared how she made him feel. Being half in love with the man she was being intimate with, put everything in a completely different dimension. The feelings were new and confusing. She wasn’t sure what to do. All she knew was that she wanted more of it.

  Intimacy had never felt so good.

  * * *

  Jett reached out an unsteady hand and traced a hesitant path across Dani’s breasts. He could feel the beat of her heart beneath his fingers, even through the lace of her bra. Though he’d been to second base before with other girls, those occasions hadn’t been often and he’d never been there with someone he cared about as much as he cared about Dani.