Rude Awakening

by Veronica Chadwick

  Ronald hesitated, but only briefly before he released Jaimee and lifted his hands into the air, dropping his weapon as he did. “Okay, I’ll take the deal.”

  Jaimee took two steps forward and found herself floating. No, lifted. Lucas had her in his arms, carrying her out of the barn and into the waning sunlight. She moaned and turned her face away from the brightness of the daylight and inhaled the warm masculine scent of Lucas. He was murmuring to her, dropping sweet, gentle kisses on her forehead. The sound of vehicles pulling up, car doors opening and closing couldn’t distract her from where she was right now.

  The nausea began to subside though she was riddled with various aches and pains. Not to mention the fact that she had to pee like crazy. But being in Lucas’s arms was like heaven and she didn’t want it to end. “Thanks, Butler,” Lucas said hoarsely as he sat her in the warm plush passenger seat of someone’s car and knelt down beside her. He didn’t seem to notice her sigh of disappointment.

  “Not a problem. EMTs on their way,” Butler answered.

  Lucas nodded, stood, then knelt again and handed her a bottle of water. “How you doing, James?” His voice was soft, husky, as he wiped at the smeared blood on her face.

  “Oh peachy.” She tried to smile.

  He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. “You scared the shit outta me.”

  “Sorry.” The cold water was soothing to her lips and throat. “Thank you for carrying me. I know I’m not exactly petite but my legs are really wobbly.”

  “Sweetness, having you in my arms is a pleasure. You’re not heavy.”

  “Hey, Grayson!” Adrian Robinson called out. Lucas straightened. All Jaimee could see was his torso as he stood to answer Adrian. “They’re takin’ them in now. You wanna call Ms. Sinclair or should I?”

  Jaimee sucked in her breath as her heart flipped in her chest. Alice. Alice was okay? She grabbed Lucas by his belt loop and tugged. “Alice Sinclair?” The question came out a whisper. She loved, and had all but mourned, Alice since this whole thing began unfolding.

  Lucas grinned and nodded. “Yes. She’s fine. And as soon as we have Edward Zachary in custody she’ll be able to go back to her life. She’s getting pretty antsy. Giving poor Robinson here a hard time.”

  Taking a deep breath she relaxed back against the cushion of the leather seat and asked the question she didn’t really want to know the answer to. “Lucas. Is it over now?”

  “Yeah, baby. It’s over.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  This was it. The end had come and Jaimee wasn’t prepared, she wasn’t ready to let go yet. She kept her eyes trained on the road in front of them as they turned onto her street. At least the baby was fine. It had taken a feat of great strength and determination to get Lucas to leave the room while she talked to the emergency room doctor. Thank God for the female doctor and her willingness to lie by omission to Lucas about the ultrasound machine being rolled into her room. Nothing was wrong that wouldn’t heal. The baby was safe and sound and healthy. She’d heard the strong heartbeat and she knew that it was all worth it. Even though he was leaving her now.

  Lucas had consumed her—heart, body and soul—and now he was going to leave her wanting. He had given her the love and passion she’d always craved but never believed she could have. The love, the passion, had been real and tangible to her, even if he’d been acting. Funny thing was it never seemed like an act. Whatever, it was part of her now and he was on the brink of ripping it away from her. Forever.

  As soon as the car stopped she got out and headed for the door. Her emotions were so raw she just might shatter, fragment, fly apart into nothing. She didn’t want him to watch that. Maybe he would just leave without saying a word and she could go into her home, back into her cocoon and hopefully the need would dull and muffle as it had been before Lucas. Maybe the love would fade and die. Maybe she could go back to the mechanical day-to-day reality she’d lived in just fine before he showed up and ripped it all to hell.

  Fumbling with her key, she tried to steady her shaking hands long enough to get the door unlocked. Lucas seemed to materialize behind her and laid a hand gently but firmly on her hip. The heat from his body so close infused her, made her hot, her mind and thoughts gave way to the searing lust he inspired in her. She swallowed the pain that bubbled up and closed her eyes as he took the key from her. He opened the door and guided her through it.

  As soon as the door was closed behind them Jaimee turned and gazed up at him. “Thank you, Lucas.” Unshed tears burned her throat, making her hoarse. Don’t let him go! Her heart entreated. Just hold him one last time, her mind cried. One more taste, one more firestorm of sensation, emotion and need.

  “Jaimee.” He said her name softly, and it sounded like a promise. Reaching for him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and nearly sobbed as he pulled her close. Just one more memory. The words whispered through her mind. A good memory to hold on to. Her fingers speared into his hair and fisted as she pulled him to her. Her lips, tongue, teeth devoured his mouth. Desperation gave way to impetuous determination. She would have him, one more time she would love him.

  Her body pressed eagerly against him and knew he wasn’t immune. His hands gripped her hips, his fingers flexed in response to her voracious kisses. Her mouth moved down his jaw, nipping, licking. She wanted to taste all of him. She released his hair and gripped his shirt. With a hungry growl that even surprised her she ripped it open. A few buttons pinged as they hit the hardwood floor. She pushed his hands from her hips and freed his arms from the torn shirt.

  Without trying to hold it back this time she whimpered in frustration as her fingers found the cotton T-shirt, keeping her from his flesh. She wanted his skin against hers. She needed him naked. Lucas tried to hold her arms but she fought him off. It was otherworldly the way she craved him. It seemed her body was on fire, ready to combust. She tugged at the shirt, pulling it from his pants. She sighed as she ran her hands over his smooth hard stomach, up to his pierced nipples, ignoring the gentle grip he had on her wrists.

  “Jaimee,” he whispered roughly. “Slow down.”

  She shook her head as she tasted him, running her tongue up, over the contours of his chest. Her tongue swirled around one flat disk before her teeth closed over the ringed nipple and tugged just hard enough to make him groan, hissing in pleasure or pain, she wasn’t sure.

  “I need…” Her voice sounded animalistic, like it came from someone, something, else. She was losing herself in the hunger, the lust and she didn’t care.

  “Okay,” he breathed, “okay.” He pulled his shirt over his head. “Take what you need, baby. Anything you need.”

  Panting, she lifted her eyes and met his. Her fingers rubbed over his nipples, played with the rings. Her entire body felt like it was pulsing, glowing. Her fingers trailed downward as she watched him watch her. She unbuckled his belt and yanked it from his pants with a snarl. Somewhere in her mind she was shocked at her own aggressiveness but she ignored it. She was running on pure animal desire, she let it reign and savored the incredible pleasure such freedom gave her. The corner of Lucas’s mouth lifted sensually. “My wildcat.” He reached for her.

  She slapped his hands away. It wasn’t that she didn’t want his hands all over her, she did, just not yet. It would go too fast if he touched her. She watched his eyes darken, his lips part, as she pushed his pants past his hips and then took his rock-hard cock in her hands.

  Every pulsing vein, every ridge and curve was so hard, so soft. Her head tilted as she watched him clench his teeth, the muscle in his jaw tighten and release. Hot arousal flowed from her body, making her slick and ultra sensitive. With one hand she cupped his balls as she circled the velvety head of his cock with the thumb of her other hand. He was so beautiful, generous, she loved him violently and for these last moments she was going to pretend he loved her too.

  The power of her arousal was devastating. Her body trembled, screamed for his touch. He took her mouth wit
h a hunger of his own, his hands fisting at his sides. His tongue undulated against hers.

  Lucas watched her as she released him and stepped back. His breathing was labored, biceps bulging with an effort to give her the control she wanted. His cock jerked in rhythm with his pumping heart, cream pearling at the tip. Jaimee pulled her top off over her head. He was looking at her breasts now and she could feel her nipples tighten further against the rough white lace.

  His eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as she unzipped her slacks and let them fall to the floor. Her lace panties emphasized her wide hips but she didn’t care. She smoothed a hand over her tummy as she stepped out of her low heels and away from her discarded clothes.

  She bit her lip as she watched Lucas watch her with a hungry gaze. It was obvious that he wanted her and she relished in that fact, soaked it in. The way he watched her emboldened her. Her hand moved down, over the damp lace, as she braced her legs apart. Her fingers rubbed over the smooth, lace-covered lips of her sex, careful not to touch her clit. She was so wet, her fingers came away glossy. Lucas grasped her wrist and brought her fingers to his lips. His mouth closed over them with a groan. She blinked and fought to breathe as she pulled them free. Her thighs quivered with need.

  She kissed his mouth hard, slapping his hands away again as she moved down his throat. His body, damp with sweat, tasted salty, musky, erotic. She nipped at his clavicle, the tough skin at his chest, his nipples. He trembled as her tongue trailed down his stomach. She kissed and nibbled at his body, trying to devour him, trying to memorize his taste. When finally she took his thick cock in her mouth she sucked hard, drawing a hoarse moan from him.

  Her tongue massaged the head, swirling over it as she took him deeper, sucking him in. She couldn’t hear anything but his rough breaths and her blood pumping hard and fast in her ears as she swallowed him, relishing the textures against her tongue, her hands caressing his thighs, his balls.

  “Ah, Jaimee.” He groaned tightly, his hands gripping her head.

  She released him and lifted her head to meet his gaze. Before she could make her next move, she was lifted from the floor, the sound of ripping lace amping up her arousal. Lucas grasped her hips and walked her backward into the living room as he took control. He bent and flicked his tongue over her throbbing nipple then gently sucked.

  Jaimee cried out, she couldn’t help it. She wanted to fight him, take back control but she’d lost it.

  Lucas spun her around and bent her over the back of the couch before she could think to resist. Not that she would have resisted. She gasped as Lucas spread her open with both hands. His hot breath caressed her swollen pussy and her body shuddered as, incredibly, even more liquid heat eased from her.

  Then he tasted her, groaned against her sensitive wet flesh, his tongue stroking the inner folds of her body. Any minute she was going to combust into a fireball. If his talented tongue so much as grazed her clit she’d be lost. There’d be nothing left of her other than a quivering puddle of liquid and she didn’t give a damn. The way he teased her pussy was making her insane, building the need but denying her release. Consumed in the heat, the hunger, she needed to move. She tried to wiggle away.

  Lucas slapped her ass. That one firm fiery strike sent her over the edge and she cried out. Lucas was there. His lips closed over her clit and sucked, his tongue raking it painfully, giving her orgasm a brutal edge. Jaimee’s breath left her body as she screamed, her knees gave way but Lucas supported her. Waves of savage pleasure crashed over her. Just as they began to subside Lucas rose and drove into her. Her vagina contracted hard around his rigid cock. He groaned as he pulled from her and thrust hard, unrelentingly, into her again, and again. Jaimee sobbed as another climax raged through her, claiming her body and mind. Lucas’s roar of release, his hot semen filling her in pulses matched her softening undulating aftershocks.

  Still inside her, Lucas lifted her against him, his arms enfolding her as he kissed her neck and nuzzled her ear. Jaimee melted like hot butter. She lacked the strength to move, to speak. There was so much she wanted to say. Sadness threatened to descend over her but she pushed it back. Later, when he’d walked out and was gone forever then she’d give herself over to it. Now she was going to soak up every second of warmth, every tender gesture.

  Involuntarily, she shuddered as he left her body. Silently he turned her in his arms and kissed her softly. His hand smoothed over her cheek. She didn’t look up at him, she couldn’t stand to see the pity there in his eyes. Instead she lay her head against his chest. Without a word he lifted her effortlessly into his arms, carried her up the steps and into the bathroom. He sat her on the bench beside her wide garden tub and began running a bath.

  It was too much. He was being too gentle. “Lucas, I can bathe myself.”

  She gasped as he lifted her again and set her carefully into the steamy water. “Too hot?” he asked, ignoring her declaration, his voice hard but anything but cold.

  Jaimee shook her head and closed her eyes as he began washing her hair. No one had ever done this for her, taken care of her like this. Her sigh was ragged. “You don’t have to—”

  “Jaimee.” He waited until she lifted her eyes to his. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. Relax.”

  She bit her lip against the tears that his words induced. That statement was such a double-edged sword but she was confident he meant it.

  After he finished washing and rinsing her hair, he handed her a towel and added bubbles to the bath. She wrapped the towel around her head and turned around so that her back wasn’t to the faucet. Once again Lucas surprised her by sliding into the tub behind her and eased her back against him. He lathered the washcloth and began at her neck, massaging while he washed.

  Moving down he gently washed her breasts, letting the washcloth softly rasp over her distended nipples. He took his time making each stroke an erotic caress. Nuzzling her neck, he bit and licked, awaking every cell to the sensual assault. Her eyes fluttered closed as she laid her head back on his shoulder. “Jaimee,” he whispered near her ear.

  “Mmmm,” was all she could manage.

  “Are you still interested in that little adventure?”

  The thought of him taking her ass made her arousal peak. Her whole body quivered with anticipation. But her ever sensible and logical mind reminded her that this was the end. He’d said so himself. She couldn’t take this any further. She’d already taken it too far. Leaning forward she pulled herself up and stepped out of the tub. She wrapped herself up in her robe as he got out and snatched a towel from the rack. He didn’t bother hiding his arousal. She didn’t bother averting her eyes. They stood there assessing each other for moments before she finally opened her mouth to explain.

  “I want to.” She paused, trying to formulate a way to express herself without sounding like a crazy woman. “But since it’s over now, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I’m sorry that I…” She lifted her eyes to his fathomless gaze. The first of what she was sure would be thousands of tears slid down her cheeks. His frown deepened and he looked confused. With a deep breath she struggled to continue, to explain. “I know it’s over, I just needed you one more time before you go away.”

  Lucas dropped the towel and closed the distance between them. “I don’t want it to be over, Jaimee. We could start over and go slow if you—”

  “But you said it was over, in Agent Butler’s car you said—”

  “Oh God. No, baby, I meant the job. The job is over. Not us. Never us.” He cupped her face and kissed her.

  Jaimee’s breath caught on a sob as she tried to push him away. “But that’s just it, I am the job.”

  Lucas wouldn’t budge. “No, listen to me.” He held her face in his hands. “I had to lie to you about who I was and what I was doing in your life. I had no choice. But I swear to you the way I felt was never a lie. I fell in love with you at the very beginning.” He gazed down at her, a plea in his expression. “There were times I could have drowned in your wide e
xpressive eyes. Your every emotion is always clear and honest. You’re so real, so good. I wanted to be a part of you. You may have been part of the job when this all began but that changed very quickly. Now you’re my heart.”

  Jaimee stared up at him, her heart thumping hard. “You love me?”

  Lucas lowered his head, his lips a breath from hers. “I’m so in love with you.” He kissed her twice. “Marry me, James.”

  A yelp escaped her throat and her eyes went wide. “Marry you…”

  Lucas chuckled softly at her expression. “Mmhmm. Please, baby. If you say no you’ll break my heart.” His voice was a groan as he touched his forehead to hers. “And that would suck, because you are the one who made me realize I had one.”

  “Um…okay,” Jaimee said softly. “I won’t say no.”

  “You’ll marry me?” He kissed her mouth.

  “Yes.”

  He pushed her robe over her shoulders, his hands moving down her arms until the robe fell to the floor, and led her to the bed.

  From the top of her head to her feet she tingled, her nerves alive, begging to be stroked. Lucas rose over her, turning her onto her tummy, and ran his hands down her back, the slope of her butt. “Have I told you how much I adore this beautiful ass?”

  “I think you’ve been more than demonstrative of your feelings about that particular body part.”

  “Well let me reiterate.” Warm liquid drizzled over her rear.

  “What’s that?”

  “Baby oil. I dropped it in the tub with you so it would be warm.” Damn, he was good. She didn’t even notice that he’d snagged it from the side of the tub. While he stroked, kneaded and massaged her ass she held on to the pillow. His hand glided down her inner thighs, moving them apart to give him better access. Flames seemed to lick at her inside as his fingers brushed over her smooth damp flesh.