by Nana Malone
“Jessa?”
The voice was familiar enough to have me frowning. “Yeah, who is this?”
“It’s Toby.”
Toby? “Adamson?”
“Yeah, listen. I need to talk to you about what happened, you know, at the bar. I’m really sorry—" As I was doing my walk and shiver dance, someone grabbed my elbow. I dropped my phone, cutting Toby off. “Hey, what the fff—“ A hand slapped over my mouth, squelching my scream.
Another arm wrapped around my waist and then picked me up.
Oh fuck! But with one calming breath, I remembered what my father used to tell me about staying calm in the face of certain madness. He always used to say, ‘You can’t think if you’re not calm.’ Except, he never seemed calm himself. He was always frantically muttering about something, keeping me safe, keeping people away from me. But maybe, just maybe once, he was right. I forced my body to still and my brain to go quiet for just a moment. And then I remembered all the things he taught me. The things I didn’t want to learn at the time. All the things I thought were way too intense and a little bit crazy. Things I’d practiced with Roone the other day.
As if in slow motion, my body knew what to do, and I quickly executed the moves. Backward headbutt, reach behind for the balls, grab, twist, yank. As soon as I was released, my elbow went back into his gut, creating space, and then my foot pounded on his instep. Hard. With heels on. My assailant howled and buckled to his knees.
I turned to face him and delivered an elbow, right on top of his skull. With my mouth free and my body now loose, I screamed bloody murder. “Help! Somebody, help me!”
It only took a couple of seconds. He stood and wavered, and I bolted for the door, yanking it open, screaming bloody murder. “Help me. Somebody, help!”
Ariel came running out of the bathroom. A security guard and a couple of men in tuxes ran down the hall toward me. Ariel quickly ran for the door. “What happened?”
“I don’t—" I sucked in a couple of deep breaths and planted my hands on my knees as I dry heaved. “I don’t know. There was a guy… I was on the phone. I couldn’t hear… no service and, and… he just grabbed me. And, and… I don’t know what happened.”
Ariel quickly wrapped an arm around me, gently soothing and rubbing my arm. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re fine. Listen to me, nice and calm. Do you remember how tall he was?”
I frowned. “How am I supposed to know that?” But somehow my brain knew, even if I didn’t. He’d been taller than me in my heels. Which meant, at least 5’11. Actually, more like six feet. “I think he was about six feet.”
“That’s great. What else? Do you remember anything? I know it’s dark outside, but what color was his hair? Dark? Blond hair?”
I shook my head. Think. Think. Think. And then as if sliding into a view finder, I remembered. “His hair was lighter. Light brown. Sandy blond.”
She nodded. “Any tattoos you could see? Any identifying marks?”
“Well, he has a cut over his eye, where I landed my headbutt, but there was nothing else I could see. Nothing like face tattoos or anything.”
“Good girl. Nice and easy.” She handed me to someone and then turned to say something to the security guard. I didn’t know who it was, but strong arms wrapped around me and cocooned me in warmth and sandalwood.
Roone.
I glanced up, and his green eyes were focused and intent on mine. “Are you okay?” His voice was more vibration than sound to me.
“I don’t think so.”
He nodded. “Okay, I’ll get you home.”
That was easier said than done though. All the hullabaloo had drawn lots of guests of the gala. My bosses being among them.
Evan shot through the crowd. “What the hell is going on here?”
Roone kept his arms around me. “Some asshole nut job outside just tried to grab her.”
Evan frowned. “What, like a mugging? Who the hell would have done something like that? This is a charity function.”
Roone shook his head. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take her home as soon as she’s done with the police.”
Evan opened his mouth as if to object, and then Rick stepped forward. “No, of course, we don’t mind. Take her home.”
Ariel came forward and gave me a squeeze. “Jessa, you’re having the worst luck.”
“Tell me about it. I’m starting to think I made a mistake waking up this morning and putting on those Spanx.”
Both Evans furrowed their brows. Ariel, on the other hand, chuckled. “I don’t know about that, but let’s have you give your statement then we can get you out of here.”
It was funny, between her and Roone, I felt completely safe, secure, considering what had just happened. Ariel handled me and the police expertly. She kept the crowd at bay, kept me talking to only people that mattered. And then Roone squired me away from everyone.
Evan looked like he wanted to say something, or insist on escorting me home, but Rick said he was needed to run interference. They had guests in at gala they needed to attend to. After something like this, they needed to run their own PR, so I was left in the capable hands of Roone. Someone whose hands I wanted to be in. The car dropped us off and Roone escorted me to the lift, gently keeping his arm wrapped around me as he walked me to the door.
When we reached it, he merely stuck out his hand in silent request for the key. And just like he’d done the night of the break-in, he searched everywhere before letting me come in, and then he sat me down on the couch. “I’m going to make you a cup of tea.”
“Yeah, this is one of those times that I think tea might actually help.”
“I’m sorry this happened. It shouldn’t have, and we’re going to find out who did it, who’s responsible, okay?”
He leaned down in front of me, his eyes level and solemn, making sure to impart the seriousness of what he was saying. He wasn’t going to let something hurt me. I didn’t know why, but I absolutely believed him.
A few minutes later, my hands shook as they wrapped around a mug of tea. When was the last time that had happened? I didn’t even realize I was rocking into Roone, who was scooted right next to me. He took the mug out of my hand and set it on the coffee table. “Easy does it. You’re okay. I’m right here.”
“All my life, I thought my father was in-in-insane.” I couldn’t even get the words out.
He shushed me some more. “Your dad? What does he have to do with this?”
How could I even explain without looking crazy myself. “I know I sound crazy, but that guy, the way he grabbed me… it seemed like he was trying to take me somewhere. Not hurt me right there, ya know? My whole life, Dad insisted I needed to be vigilant. At first, I thought he was just extremely overprotective. He never let me go anywhere. Forced me into martial arts. Told me one day people were going to come for me and I needed to be ready. In the end, he made no sense. I had to have him hospitalized for a time because I thought he was a danger to others. But what if he wasn’t crazy at all?”
“Okay, easy does it.” He pulled me tighter, and I couldn’t help it. Stupid sandalwood was like a relaxation potion. The moment he held me firmly against him, I relaxed, even though I didn’t want to. “Look, maybe your Dad was right. Maybe there is some bad boogeyman out there. Let’s not discount that. But let’s stop for a moment and think it through. The most likely assumption is that the events are unrelated. But this is for the police to figure out. Not you. I don’t want you doing anything that’s going to put you in danger.”
I ran a hand through my hair. Goddamn it. I was losing my shit if I was going to start to think of my father’s ramblings and secret texts.
“No you’re right. I just – I don’t know what the hell is going on. I’ve worked hard for this gig. I have worked my whole life to get here. I’m finally stable, and now all this shit keeps happening?”
Roone kissed my forehead. “Just let me hold you, okay?”
I wanted to fight him. I wanted to insist that I co
uld take care of myself. But in all honesty, his arms arounds me, cocooning me against his broad chest, made me feel safe, though I knew that safety was relative and an illusion.
And maybe he was right, maybe the break-in and the incident at the gala were unrelated. But if they were, that was one hell of a coincidence, and I didn’t believe in coincidence.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
I didn’t want him to go. I felt helpless saying it, but I held on to his hand. “You stay.”
Roone pulled back, his gaze searching mine. “Yeah, of course.”
“Somehow, I figured when you finally said those words to me, it would be far hotter. This feels like a disappointment.”
He chuckled low as he pulled me to my feet. “Don’t worry. I’ll make up for it. First, you need to get some rest.”
“Leave it to me to get stuck with a gentleman.”
“There will come a time when I stop being a gentleman. When that time comes, we’re going to make sure this place is sound proof. Because there will be screaming, and it won’t be because you’re in pain.”
Oh, well then. “Careful now. I might hold you to it.”
“I’m counting on it.”
25
Roone…
I heard Jessa’s bedroom door open and I sat up, shifting my gun from under my pillow to under the couch. Guns weren’t a thing in the UK. Police didn’t carry them, let alone private citizens. I’d have a hell of a time answering questions about it if it came to it. But I needed it. I had to be on high alert because I’d disabled the cameras.
I still wasn’t sure why I’d done it. Nothing was happening. Liar. But I just knew that Jessa had her pride. She wouldn’t want anyone to see her breaking down.
I’d been lying on her couch running through every moment of the night before, trying to find the holes. Because there was no way I was sleeping tonight.
First someone had tried to take her. Tried to hurt her. Second, she’d rubbed her body all over mine. No way in hell I’d ever sleep again. And having another wank wasn’t going to help.
I’d already had two in the shower and my cock was still ready to rumble.
Dick: Go on. Let’s do this. She wants you.
No. I wasn’t playing. Tonight of all nights, he didn’t get an opinion. She needed me, so I was going to be the bloke that was there for her. Not the bloke she hate-shagged because she was having a shit night… okay, a shit couple of weeks. Besides, she didn’t know the truth about who I was.
“Jessa? What’s wrong?” After I rubbed my eyes to adjust them, I immediately wished I hadn’t. The sight of Jessa in tiny, black undies and a cotton camisole that stretched thin over her breasts and barely covered her belly was not what I needed. Fuckin’ hell, I could see the dark areolas of her nipples. I wanted her so badly I could taste the essence of her on my tongue.
Dick: I concur.
Brain: Maybe what she really needs is your dick to feel better.
Fuck me. My brain had gone over to the dark side.
I ran my hands through my hair. I was tense. I couldn’t do this. I’d resisted for weeks. Even after tasting her, I hadn’t gone there and for that I deserved a fucking medal.
But now, my stupid brain was conjuring up all the reasons why this was a good idea. A couple of hours with her pinned beneath me, then on top of me, then in front of me would help take the edge off.
But it wouldn’t lessen my desire for her. I’d been living with it since I got here. And my need level was raging.
Her voice was soft. Husky. “Roone,” she whimpered, “Are you awake? I… uh… couldn’t sleep.”
“Bad dreams?” Why the fuck did it sound like I’d swallowed a frog whole? I simultaneously wished for and hoped she wouldn’t ask me to hold her.
She shrugged. “I’d have to be asleep first.”
I cleared my throat. As she strode closer, I picked up the scent of flowers, and my dick twitched. “What do you need, Jessa?”
“I—could you maybe sit with me for a bit?”
I scooted back to make room for her. When she sat, my arm went around her automatically, as if she belonged there.
I had no right touching her. She would feel betrayed when she found out. So would Sebastian. That didn’t stop me though. I could make all the excuses in the world about how I wanted to comfort her. Or about how being around her chased away that hollow feeling inside. I had more fun fighting with her than doing just about anything else.
But none of it mattered. Because at the base truth of it, I wanted her. I wanted her so bad my blood thickened and ran hot. Every word from her lips made me want to antagonize her so she’d say something else crazy.
“You weren’t asleep were you Jessa?”
Against my shoulder, she shook her head. “I need a little help getting to sleep.”
Dick: I volunteer as tribute. I’m a very good helper.
I struggled to hold on to control. “Princess…” My voice trailed because all the reasons why this was a very bad idea escaped me. My fucking brain had shut down.
She slipped under my arm and stood directly in front of me. “I don't know why I came out here. I thought I could…” With a deep breath she continued. “I was lying in bed freaking out, but also wanting you. I thought if I just came out then I’d be able to seduce you or something. But I have no idea what I’m doing.”
My mind blurred as she stood before me. With her sweet pussy directly at eye level, I couldn’t traverse the length of her torso to meet her eyes. Tearing my gaze away from my prize wasn’t an option.
I swallowed around the sawdust in my mouth. “Princess, is this what you want? There are things we should talk about. But if you’re saying you want me, I’m not saying no again.”
I forced myself to shift my gaze up. She nodded, and I smiled up at her. “I need the words, love.” God if she gave me the words, there would be no going back. I wanted her too much. The last part of me that was able to think wanted her to say no, to walk away. It would be safer. The larger part of me could give a fuck about consequences.
“This is what I want.”
Fuck. Also, hell yes.
She hesitated. No need to be shy, princess. I know exactly what to do. I reached up to her neck and pulled her down for a kiss. I wasn’t slow. I wasn’t gentle. I took her smart mouth like it belonged to me. I did what I’d been dying to do since I saw her at the party at the bar. I kissed her like she belonged to me.
Yeah, I’d kissed her before, but I’d been holding back, convinced I could stop myself from wanting her too much. I was a fool, clearly.
I slid my tongue over hers, trying to absorb every single flavor. Trying to sear myself on her memory.
When I pulled back she panted, and her eyes were glazed. I slid my hands to her ass, gently testing with a light squeeze before dragging her down to straddle my hips.
With soft hazel eyes, she searched my face then shifted her hips ever so slightly, bringing her heat right up against my straining cock.
I fucking throbbed. The only things that separated us was the flimsy scrap of material she called underwear and my boxer-briefs. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I wanted to slide into her so deep I couldn’t find my way out ever again.
I wasn’t supposed to have her. But she was mine now. I needed to take care of her. Which meant getting my shit under control. I needed to go slow.
When she placed a soft kiss on my lips, my whole body tensed. The scent of her lotion intoxicated me. The way her soft fingers brushed against my bare chest made me tingle.
Jessa bit her bottom lip, then slanted her lips over mine again and kissed me. Hard. As if I could hear the steel snaps of my control break, I slid my hands up her back and into the nape of her neck. Taking control of the kiss, I angled her head so that we fit better. I used the tip of my tongue to tease the seam of her lips until she opened for me again. Once she did, I took.
Frustration and need boiled out in that kiss. I demanded that her tongue meet mine. I teased an
d sucked on her tongue in a sensual rhythm that spoke of how I was going to ride her. Soft hands caressed my back and clung to my shoulders as her hips rose and descended over me.
Shit. And I’d thought dry humping as a teenager was frustrating. Clamping both hands on her hips, I held her still and continued to devour her. When she came, I would be inside her. When her orgasm hit, it would be with the slick walls of her sex around my cock.
I broke the kiss and traced a path of open-mouthed kisses along the column of her neck. My hands controlling the movements of her hips now, I eased her moist heat against my throbbing erection in a pace that I could manage. I tucked her close, then tilted her away, tucked her close again, and away. Over and over I set the new pace, letting her know that I was in charge.
She tasted sweet and spicy. And her hair smelled like heaven—summer strawberries. With a growl, I shifted our positioning, flipping us over and tossing her beneath me on the couch. With too rough hands, I tugged at the fabric of her panties, and a small tearing sound echoed in the quiet of the flat.
Jessa moaned at the sound, and if possible, I felt more heat pouring off her already wet center. Her fingernails dug into my back, scoring the skin, and she called out my name. Fire burned where her nails tore flesh.
Taking the cue from her, I reached for the hem of her camisole and shredded it from belly to neckline, baring her breasts to my view. Her nipples were dark chocolate tips and fuck me, did I ever have a sweet tooth.
I sucked one pebble into my mouth and grazed with my teeth. I tugged gently and used my fingers to pinch and pluck the other puckered nipple. When I’d had my fill of one, I moved to her other breast and laved at her like she was ice cream on a hot summer day.
“Roone, please.” Her hips rolled up, and my dick insistently twitched against her. Her eyes flared. “God, of course you’re big.”
I grinned against her nipple. “I was telling the truth about that.”
She reached between us and with one stroke of her delicate hand, she had me on the brink of orgasm. Fuck. Lust raged in my veins, and I couldn’t for the life of me remember why I was supposed to go slow. I was on fire, and only she could put me out.