by Jacob Chance
“If there were stages of love, I’d be past crazy and moved onto batshit crazy,” he informs me.
“So, what’s the verdict?” I ask.
“About what?”
“Are we taking things slow or not?”
“If I say no, can I sleep over?”
“Nope. No doesn’t mean we’re going to rush into sex or sleepovers.”
“Damn, that’s too bad. I was hoping for sex and sleepovers.”
“Nash.” I roll my eyes. “Seriously, we have to be practical. We have work in the morning and spending it together would only be asking for a sleepless night. I’m still in my probationary period. As one of my superiors aren’t you supposed to be a good influence on me?”
“I guess it depends on your definition of good.” The corner of his mouth angles up adorably and my hand raises so my fingertips can trace over the shape of his bottom lip. He playfully bites the tip of my index finger.
“Don’t get me going again, woman. Unless you want to be thrown over my shoulder and taken to my place.”
“Hmm, maybe some other night. I really do need a solid sleep. Gotta be sharp and impress the boss.”
“Karyn’s already impressed by you, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Yeah, I know she is, but I want to make her proud. I need to earn my right to be FBI and show her she made the right decision bringing me in.”
He raises my chin with a knuckle. “This attitude of yours is why you are the right person for the job. Karyn’s seen this quality in you from day one and so did I.”
“Thank you, Nash. Coming from you, that means a lot. No matter what we’re doing,” I wave a hand between us, “I know how seriously you take your job. I hope I can make you proud too.”
“Zoe, you’ve made me proud dozens of times already. You were the bravest young woman I ever met and now I can’t wait to sit back and watch you kick ass in the Bureau.”
“Sit back, huh? Is that what you do these days?”
His face lowers, lips moving closer and closer. “I’m not going to answer that. I’ll let you decide for yourself.” He presses his mouth to mine, brushing it back and forth, before sucking on my bottom lip. It’s all I can do to restrain myself from inviting him inside and from the way he’s rocking his pelvis into me I know he’d answer with an emphatic yes. He gives my lip a final nip and backs away with a growl.
“I need to get out of here before I fuck you against this door.”
Yes Please. My knees tremble from his blunt words. I don’t reply. I stand there with my mouth hanging open and wait to see what he’ll do.
“Get inside.” He raises his chin and rakes a hand through his hair ruffling the thick strands. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He grins mischievously. “Sweet dreams.”
“Boo,” Natasha yells as I come around the corner to the kitchen.
“Shit.” My hand goes to my chest, resting over my racing heart. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” I question, flipping the overhead light on.
“Ugh.” She covers her eyes with a hand. “I had a little too much vodka and my head already hurts. I was hoping some tea would settle my stomach and the ibuprofen I took would stop the pounding, but so far no such luck.”
“Can I do anything for you?” Pulling out the chair across the small table, I sink down onto the seat with a relieved sigh. A smile teases my lips as I recall some of the better highlights of tonight.
“What’s that shit eating grin for?”
“Huh?” I shake the fog from my head, glancing Tash’s way.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?” She snorts. “Get it? Hard? Please tell me Nash and you got to know each other a lot better.” She places her palms together like she’s praying, pouts her mouth and bats her long eyelashes at me.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. We had dinner.” I shrug, hoping she can’t see what I left unsaid.
“And?”
“It was delicious.”
“Come on,” she yells, and grabs her temples, before continuing in a softer tone. “Tell me what happened. It’s part of being my best friend. You know there’s no such thing as secrets with us. Invasive is my middle name. I’ll just push and push and push some more, until you cave. Give me the dirt, before I explode from curiosity. You wouldn’t want my death on your conscience, would you? I mean think about it. How would you live with all the guilt? It would eat away at you slowly. Day by day festering like an infected sore until it…”
“Okay,” I shout. “Jeez. Shut up already.”
Tash leans back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest, an enormous smile spreading across her cheeks. “I could totally be an interrogator for the FBI.” She flips her hair. “I gots mad skillz.”
“Yeah, you could annoy the suspects into a confession for sure.”
“Hey, whatevs gets the job done, right?”
I shake my head. “It’s a little more involved than that.” I place my index finger and thumb close together. “Just a little bit.”
“Don’t be a hater. It’s not easy being good at so many things.”
“And being so humble about it must be extremely challenging,” I retort.
She sighs. “You have no idea. It’s practically a full-time job.”
Grabbing a napkin from the holder in the middle of the table, I ball up the square in my fist and throw it at her face. The paper lands on her chest, tucked between her breasts.
“And there’s another one of my many attributes,” Tash jests, referring to her large chest size. We both laugh as she plucks it free and flicks it my way. The napkin missile misses its mark, falling short to the tabletop.
“Anyway, where were we before you got us off on this crazy tangent?”
I roll my eyes. “Yep, it was all me.”
“I remember.” She leans forward, arching a brow. “You were about to tell me how your date was. Literally.” She smirks.
“I don’t recall any such thing.”
“Come on. Don’t make me drag it out of you.”
“Look I had a great time. You were right. It was a date and not a catch-up dinner.”
“Excuse me? Can you repeat what you said, please?”
“Screw you. I’m not repeating it. I had to say it once and that’s bitter enough to swallow.”
“One of these days you’re going to listen to me without arguing. When it comes to guys, I know what makes them tick.”
“Yeah, yeah. Gloating isn’t becoming on you.”
“Sure it is.” She frames her face with her hands like she’s a picture. “Being right makes me feel fantastic and does great things for my complexion. My cheeks are pink, and my eyes are all sparkly, right?”
“I’m going to hit the sack now. I’m tired.” I start to rise, and she stops me.
“Hold up there. Not so fast sister. Sit your little self down.” She points to the chair and I ease onto the seat. “I’m still waiting for you to dish the dirt.” She drums her bright yellow polished nails on the wooden table and clears her throat while staring at me with narrowed eyes. “Still. Waiting. Zoe.”
“Fine. We had dinner in a gazebo on his aunt and uncle’s farm and then we kissed. Are you happy?”
“Yep, I am, but the question is, are you happy?” She stretches her arm across the table as if she’s holding a microphone in front of me. “Did Nash deliver in the kissing department?”
“He sure did. Can I go to bed now, mom?”
“Yes, you may, dear, but we will discuss this in more detail tomorrow. Now give your Mumsy a proper kiss,” She replies in a British accent and taps her cheek.
Rising, I push the chair back and step around the table. I bend down like I’m going to comply and then raise my middle finger in front of her face.
She places her palm on her chest in a dramatic fashion. “Oh, you horrid, ungrateful child.”
Shaking my head, I spin around and walk from the room holding in the laughter. I can’t give her the satisfaction o
f knowing I find her antics amusing. That would only be inviting her to take it up a notch and I’m not ready for that. I don’t think there’s a person alive who’s ready for that. If anyone was made for a life in the theater, it’s Tash. I’ve seen her in a dozen shows and her stage presence is astonishing. She’s a natural. All she needs is her big break, and then the world better watch out because she’ll own it.
“Seems familiar,” Nash suggests, circling me and searching for an open spot to make his move as I do the same. It does feel like old times, except we’re in the workout room at my home instead of the back room at the safehouse. And this time no one’s trying to kill us.
“Does it?” I reverse direction, forcing him to react and pushing him back. “Guess I didn’t notice.” Now I’m chasing him.
With his lean, muscular frame and the way he moves with confidence and a hint of the ferocity just below the surface, Nash is making it difficult for me to concentrate. I can’t help but notice that somehow, he seems to have only gotten better looking since we first met. I’ve never been more attracted to him than I am right here, right now.
He slips forward and drops down to one knee, shooting in for a quick single leg takedown and trying to overpower me. His sudden aggression instantly pulls me back to reality. I don’t yield or try to avoid and misdirect like he’s expecting. Instead I step straight in and fire a punishing knee directly into his sternum, knocking the wind out of him and dropping him down onto all fours.
I descend on him like a boa constrictor, wrapping my legs around his waist from behind, I pin one of his arms tight against his neck as I roll us over on to the mat. Before he can react, I cinch an arm triangle choke and begin slowly squeezing my legs tightly around his waist.
Having his body pressed against me has my mind shifting in a different direction. One where Nash is bare chested, and my lips are leisurely tracing over his muscles. What would his skin taste like? The need to know has my center tightening and my nipples aching for his touch. I’m tired of waiting and wondering. It’s time to be bold and take charge of this situation.
Chapter Nineteen
Nasg
“Nash,” she whispers against my neck, sending fingers of electricity walking up and down my spine. “I want you.”
My only reply is an animalistic growl as I flip over in her hold, pressing her back to the mats. Rising to my haunches, I deftly grip her leggings. She raises her hips and I peel them down her long legs. She sits up, dragging her t-shirt over her head and I lose my breath when I see her in only a black sports bra and panties for the first time. She falls back to the mat, arms over her head in surrender. I’ve never seen anything so fucking sexy in my life.
What’s only been a dream until now is about to become reality. My hands shake with a combination of anticipation and nervous energy as I tear my t-shirt over my head, chucking it behind me. I lower my torso until her taut nipples graze my chest. I’ve been dying to be skin to skin with her. I trace the tip of my nose along the length of hers. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment for six years, Zoe. Tell me it’s real. Tell me you’re here.”
“I’m here, Nash. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“This will change things between us.”
“I don’t care. I want to be yours. I’ve been waiting forever to be yours.”
“Fuck.” Fingers gripping her panties, I tear them down her legs while she tugs her bra off. I barely catch a glimpse of her bare pussy, before she’s lying back down, revealing her perfect tits and I’m instantly on them. Her fingers bury in my hair, urging me closer as my face presses in the deep crease of her cleavage. Skating my lips across an ample curve I suck a nipple into my mouth. She tastes honey sweet as I swirl my tongue around the pink tip.
Shifting to the other side, I flick my tongue over a taut peak and then gently rake my teeth against the softness.
“Oh...Nash...please,” she moans, in an invitation I can’t refuse. My fingers dig into her hips, gripping her fair skin as my lips trail a warm, wet path along the soft expanse of her stomach. I watch as she reacts to my kisses, her lean muscles tightening beneath her skin. Moving backward, I raise her legs over my shoulders and rest my chin on her mound.
Studying her, I take in her heavy-lidded eyes and flushed cheeks. “I can’t wait to see what you look like when I make you come.”
Fastening my mouth to her clit, I tug the swollen flesh between my lips and flutter my tongue, until her hips begin to rock. One hand clamps down on her inner thigh, holding her tight to my mouth while the other hand slides up to teasingly pluck a nipple.
“Nash, please,” she begs. “I want you.”
“And you’ll have me.” I growl rolling to my back and pulling her onto my face. I bury my tongue in her, groaning at her sweet taste. “Fuck you taste good.” My words are muffled against her hot, wet pussy. Hands caressing down over the supple curves of her ass, I squeeze both cheeks until I leave red marks all over them.
My tongue slides through her slit and circles her clit as I hook two fingers inside her tight entrance. She moans and rocks against my hand and tongue and I know she’s getting close. Her thighs cradle my face in a vise like grip as she leans back on her hands, bracing herself against my stomach. Her nails dig painfully into my skin and I hope she scratches me. Every time I look at the marks I’ll have a lasting reminder of this moment.
Gripping her hips, I watch her face as I grind her against my tongue. Back and forth I rock her until her thighs begin to twitch. Her head tips back, mouth drops open and a long, low moan expels from her parted lips. I don’t take my eyes off her as she trembles through her orgasm.
Her chin drops to her chest as she falls forward, palms landing on the mat above my head.
I stare up at her hovering over me and cup her cheeks in my palms. “Goddamn, I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as watching you come.”
Wrapping my arms around Zoe, I roll her over, settling my weight between her legs and smile rakishly. “You’re finally where you’re meant to be and I’m nowhere near done with you.”
My lips crash down on hers, ending all thoughts of anything, but our hot, wet tongues ravenously tangling.
She slips her hands around my back, sliding underneath my shorts and boxers and gripping my ass. Her palms cup my cheeks and press down urging me to apply more pressure to her clit. Her fingers grip the muscles in my ass with each flex as I thrust my hips. Fuck. I can’t wait until I’m buried inside her.
Pulling away, I rise to my feet and tear off the rest of my clothing in a matter of seconds. Zoe giggles as she watches my shorts and socks fly in different directions, before I sink down between her thighs once more. My cock is a thick, hot brand pressed against her wet pussy, driving away any last-minute doubts she might have about what happens next.
“I want you, Nash. Six years is enough time. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
I grip my length in my large hand and guide it to her entrance, rubbing the tip back and forth, teasing her.
“Nash, please.”
Clasping my hands with hers, I press them to the floor on either side of her head. My eyes stare down into Zoe’s as I push inside her for the first time.
“Fuck,” I groan, lowering my forehead to hers, before drawing my hips back and thrusting to the hilt again. “I’ve never felt anything as good as your pussy wrapped around my cock.”
Her legs tighten around my hips, heels digging into my ass, urging me on. Each rock of my hips grinds her clit.
I brush my lips over hers with airsoft kisses and then lock gazes as I make love to her. My eyes tell her so much more than words could. I never imagined it was possible to feel so connected to another person. Every inch of our bodies that can be touching is and the expression on her face makes no secret of how deeply she cares for me. I never expected her to reveal her feelings in any way or make herself vulnerable. She’s laying all her cards on the table this early in the game - only it’s not a game. Whatever this is between
us, it’s real and I hope it lasts.
My thrusts quicken, fingers squeezing hers tighter in my grip. “I can’t fuck you hard enough. I want to fucking climb inside you and stay there forever.”
“I want you to stay,” she moans. “Never leave me again.”
“Never,” I growl. My heart pounds at her words and my body feels weightless as I repeatedly slam my cock into her. Each flex of my hips drives her toward another release. Higher and higher she climbs lost on an emotional and physical high until she tips over the edge, unraveling explosively. Tremors shake her body from her toes to the top of her head. It looks like a full body orgasm.
“Oh...fuck.” My whisper is a hoarse groan in her ear. I thrust a few more times, before my hips jerk and my back goes rigid with my own orgasm.
Harsh breaths warmly bathe the side of my neck as I collapse on top of her. Releasing the hold on her hands, I wrap my arms under her, rolling until she’s lying cradled on top of me. My hand glides up her neck burying in the shoulder length tresses and massaging her scalp and the other one holds her close.
“Mm, I don’t ever want to move again,” she purrs.
“I’m okay with that.” My voice is a deep, content rumble, vibrating beneath her cheek.
Her fingertips trace over the puckered scar on my shoulder before moving down to the larger one on my abdomen. “I can’t believe you survived all of that. You were so brave that night. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Hey, it’s our job.” I shrug, downplaying it.
“Don’t say that like everyone would do the same. There are plenty of trained agents that panic and make poor decisions in a crisis. But not you.” She smiles.