At the top of the stairs I noticed that the crowds were starting to thin. “Are we too late? Is it closing time?”
“I think so.” Jake started walking toward the gem and precious stone section.
“Would you rather see the dinosaurs? I feel like I took up all our time downstairs.” I pulled him to a stop. The entrance to the Fossil Lab was behind us.
“We’ll make time.” He smiled and kept walking.
“But—”
“Come on, Maddie. We live here, we can come back and see the dinosaurs another time.”
“You’re awfully sure we’re going to have a second date.” I couldn’t help but poke a little at his ego. “What makes you think I’m having a good time?”
“Well, I’m having a good time.” He looked at me from the corner of his eye. “And I’ve got an ace up my sleeve.”
“An ace up your sleeve?” I frowned.
He smiled down at me. “I might not make good pasteis but I have a few other tricks.”
We rounded the corner and I was surprised to see an extra detail of security. Several men in business suits and a woman wearing a polo shirt stood in front of a glass case.
“What’s going on?” I frowned and looked around the room. Had someone made a threat against us? It wouldn’t be the first time I’d been rushed by a bunch of guards to be herded into a corner so they could protect me.
“Remember when I said that I knew someone that worked here?” Jake’s eyes shined in the special lighting.
“Yes?”
“This is my ace.” He steered me toward the glass case where a large blue diamond stared up at me.
The woman in the polo shirt smiled brightly while she went through unlocking the case.
“Are you serious?” I turned to look at Jake.
“If you dare with the curse looming.” He wiggled his eyes brows.
I laughed and threw my arms around his neck. “You’re really something.”
“Hopefully it’s something good.” His smile widened.
“I’ll let you know.”
“Miss McGuire?” The woman standing at the case was wearing gloves and holding a pair out for me. “Would you like to hold it?”
“Yes,” I breathed. I handed my purse to Jake and took the offered gloves.
“I’m Sharon.” The woman held her hand out to me. I shook it, feeling funny about the gloves. “Are you a jewelry fan or a history buff?”
“History.” I looked at the necklace lying on the velvet blue stand in front of me. “Definitely a history buff.”
“Then you know all about the curse,” she stated.
I looked up to see her smile. She didn’t believe in the curse either.
“The curse only affects the owners so I have nothing to worry about.” I let my eyes roam over the glistening facets. “Can you imagine what all this diamond has seen?”
“It would certainly have a lot to say.” Sharon motioned for me to move closer. “Go ahead. It’s heavier than it looks though.”
I looked back at Jake before turning my attention back to the gem in front of me. With shaky fingers I lifted the stone from its perch and lifted it to eye level. The diamond definitely had more heft to it than I expected. The stone was a gorgeous deep blue that seemed to go on forever. It had imperfections, but nothing that could hurt the awe it induced.
Unearthed in India, this very stone had once graced the neck of Marie Antoinette, before making its way to Britain, and then the United States. I could only imagine what it had been witness to over the years.
“It’s fantastic.” I held the necklace up to the light. “I can’t believe I’m holding a piece of history.”
“Try it on.” Jake stepped close to me.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I looked over at Sharon. “I think I’m lucky to just be holding it. There aren’t many people in the world that can claim that now.”
“You’ve got your hair pulled up, so it won’t be difficult to put it on and take it off.” Sharon held her hands out for the necklace. I passed it over with gentle fingers.
I looked at Jake in question. Was I really going to get to wear the Hope Diamond?
He pulled the gloves from my fingers before slipping them on himself. He stepped behind me and I heard him murmur something to Sharon.
Before I could ask what he was doing I felt the solid weight of the necklace settle around my neck. I let out a long breath and looked down at the stone lying against my collarbone. There was the sound of a clasp clicking and I had to concentrate to keep my hands from drifting up to the glittering jewel and all of the gold that surrounded it.
I turned around to look up at Jake. He was watching me with fathomless brown eyes that seemed even deeper than the blue of the diamond.
“It suits you.” His deep voice was barely above a whisper.
“I feel so . . . I don’t know. Decadent.” I smiled up at him and put my hands on his chest to keep me from touching the diamond. “Thank you.”
“So, am I getting a second date?”
Someone chuckled behind us and I smiled.
“I think so.” I laughed. “I’m not sure how you’re going to top this though.” My hand fluttered up toward the necklace and I managed to keep from touching it. “I can’t believe I’m wearing the Hope Diamond.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“My phone?” I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my cell phone.
He took a step back and lifted my phone. “Pictures or it didn’t happen.”
Chapter 12
Jake
I deserved a fucking medal. It should be big and it should be blue. Just like my balls. I hadn’t laid a hand on Maddie since our good-night kiss in front of the White House a few days before. We’d worked side by side on the house for Cyrus and his family, while flirting shamelessly, but I hadn’t done anything where other people might see us. I’d been dodging my mother’s phone calls since she called after our picture had shown up in the Washington Post.
The media shit storm generated by our kiss in the museum was like being swept up in a hurricane. There was no way we could go anywhere and do anything that wouldn’t lead to a million more pictures and speculation. Not to mention the constant picture taking. Some website had a picture of me with my eyes half closed and my mouth open as its front page.
“VP’s Drunken Son Mauls First Daughter.” Had to love the sensationalism.
So here I was, trying to cook dinner for us. I didn’t know how to cook, but how hard could it be? Dinner at home seemed like the perfect plan. We wouldn’t have a million people looking at us with speculation and best of all, we’d be alone.
Unfortunately, my plan for our second date had exploded into a mess in my kitchen. Apparently frying foods wasn’t as easy as the directions in the book made it sound. It certainly wasn’t a tidy venture. The housekeeper was going to kill me and Puz was busy licking everything he could reach with his tongue. Nor was it safe. I had welts up and down my arms. I’d yelped more than I had when they’d picked shrapnel out of my arm. Those little bits of oil stung like a motherfucker.
The doorbell rang and I groaned. Apparently I’d run out of cards up my sleeve.
Darting to the window at the back of the kitchen I threw it open and waved the tiny dish towel in my hand around in the air in an effort to dissipate some of the smoke. The doorbell echoed through the house again and I threw the towel on the counter before making my way to the foyer.
I opened the door and a cloud of smoke poured out into the crisp D.C. air. Maddie waved her hand in front of her face before smiling up at me.
“Ah, honey, you cooked.” Her gold-flecked eyes smiled up at me and my heart gave a dangerous thump. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair was pulled back in one of those ponytails she favored. Like usual she was wearing very little makeup and no jewelry.
She was gorgeous.
Puz ran out from between my feet and she picked him up before kissing him on the nose and tucking him a
gainst her chest. A man shouldn’t be jealous of his dog, but I wish she’d kissed me hello instead.
“Well, I tried.” I held my hand out to her and pulled her inside. “It didn’t go so well.”
“Dare I ask what you were burning?” She went straight to a window that faced a brick wall at the back of the house and threw it open. Puz danced around her feet in excitement.
“Country fried steak and mashed potatoes.” I grabbed the other window and threw it open. “Well, steak for me. I tried to fry the portabello mushrooms for you.”
“You fried mushrooms?” She choked out a laugh. “You didn’t try to fry the mashed potatoes, did you?”
“You’re not supposed to fry those?” I widened my eyes.
“Jake . . .” She turned to look over at me before narrowing her eyes. “Har, har.”
“Give me some credit. I know you have to beat the potatoes with a spoon before you boil them in a big pot.” I reached out and pulled her to me. She chuckled and pressed her hands to my chest.
“Maybe we should order out. ” Her fingers spread across my chest before tightening a little. It reminded me of a kitten pawing something interesting.
Puz gave up on getting attention and disappeared. Good man. I wanted some time alone with this woman.
“Unless you only want mashed potatoes that would probably be a good idea.” I leaned down and nuzzled her neck. She made a sound of pleasure and my dick jumped in my pants.
“I don’t care what we eat,” she whispered. Her hands on me tightened and I got the inkling that I wasn’t the only one dying to be alone again.
I could think of a few things I wouldn’t mind putting in my mouth but I kept that thought to myself. Instead I lifted her chin and claimed her mouth with my own. I’d been dying to do that for days and I groaned with the taste. I pulled her a little closer and let myself take what I wanted. She melted against me, one arm around my neck while her fingers clenched in my shirt.
I pushed her against the wall between the windows and pulled her shirt up so I could touch her soft skin.
She gasped and the sound lit a fire in me. I grazed her sides with my fingertips before stroking her stomach.
Her mouth on mine was just as hungry. She nipped my bottom lip between her teeth before soothing it with her tongue. Maddie poured everything into her kiss and I loved it. There was no holding back, no patience. It was how Maddie treated everything in life.
It was exactly what I needed.
I let myself drink her in, drown in her. She was like a spring day after a painful winter. With Maddie I felt good—I didn’t have to keep myself in check. For everything I took, she gave freely. There were no games, no maneuvering to see what the other person was after.
It was just Maddie. Because Maddie was what I wanted and it seemed that I was lucky enough to be what she wanted.
That truth scared the shit out of me, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me now. Instead I blundered forward blindly, consuming as much of her as I could. She was my water after being in the desert for so long.
Running my hands up her back I traced her bra clasp before running my hands back around to the front where I brushed my thumbs along the bottom of her breasts.
She sucked in air which gave me the chance to plunder her mouth even more. The taste of her, the feel of her, and the sounds she made curled around my brain like an enchanted fog. I couldn’t think straight.
When she pressed toward me, her back arching, I filled my hands with her tight breasts. She groaned into my mouth and I lost all sense of reality. The only thing that existed was Maddie and how she made me feel.
Needing more I shoved her bra up so I could touch the delicate skin hidden underneath. I kneaded the plump flesh with my fingers as fire tore through my blood. Her head thumped back against the wall and I used the opportunity to yank her shirt over her head and remove the frustrating material of her bra.
Once I had her exposed I looked down at her and felt the blood drain from my head. Her pert breasts were capped in soft pink tips that made my mouth water. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me toward her, slamming her hungry lips against mine. With one hand I reached up and cupped one perfect peak before brushing my thumb across her tender flesh. She shivered and I did it again.
My dick was straining against my jeans, begging to be set free from the rough material. With each caress of her lips every cell in my body screamed to strip her down. Take her. Claim her. Make her mine.
My hand tightened on her soft skin before I gently pinched her nipple between my fingers. She groaned and pressed harder into my hand. I rolled the pebbled peak between my fingers before pinching it a little harder. She groaned so I did it again and she whimpered against my mouth. Her fingers on my chest dug into my skin through the material. I switched breasts, lifting the other one in my hand, enjoying the weight of it as it filled my palm. I let my fingers move over it, massaging it while I devoured her sexy little sounds.
She pulled at my shirt, trying to get it over my head. Grabbing her hands I pinned her wrists against the wall above her head with one hand and used the other to grip the back of my shirt and lift it over my head.
I tossed it behind me and let my eyes roam over her. Her jeans rode low on her hips exposing the planes of her stomach and the sweet little indentation of her belly button. I couldn’t wait to run my tongue there and much lower.
I still had her hands pinned above her head and her eyes were dark with desire.
“I swear I’ve never seen anything sexier than you looking at me right now.” I pressed my body to hers, enjoying the way her breasts strained between us. “I don’t want it to ever go away.”
“Then kiss me again,” she whispered. And I obliged. I wanted nothing more than to give her every reason to keep that heated look.
I didn’t let go of her hands, enjoying the way it made her breasts point forward, the hardened peaks scraping across my skin. Using my leg I spread hers so I could press closer to her hot center. She groaned loudly into my mouth, her hips straining forward.
Using my free hand I reached between us and flicked open the button on her jeans. Her little gasp of surprise went straight to my dick and I pressed against her, rubbing so she could feel my excitement. Without pause her hips strained forward, grinding against me and I dropped my head to her shoulder.
“I want you, Maddie. I thought I could be patient but I can’t.” I ran my nose up her neck as she shivered and I used my teeth to tug on her ear. “I want to touch you, taste you. I want to be inside of you. I want to watch you as you come. Can I have that? Can I have you?”
She groaned and her hips bucked against mine again, making my eyes close in pleasure. Heat speared through my body when I opened my eyes again to find her gaze.
“Then take me.” Her words were so sure, so strong, I didn’t think twice. I pushed her zipper down and slid my hand in the front of her pants. I was greeted with soft lace and delicious warm heat.
I traced the wet spot in her panties with my fingers before using my thumb to rub her hard little clit.
“Oh, fuck,” she groaned. She bucked against me, straining forward.
My cock was already harder than ever before, but hearing her curse while I touched her almost killed me.
“You like that?” I bit her ear again, her hands still trapped above her head.
“Yes.” She opened her eyes and looked right at me. “Don’t stop.”
I was nowhere ready to stop. Instead I dropped my head and captured one of those gorgeous tits with my mouth and rolled my tongue over the peak while she bucked against my hand.
“Oh, fuck.”
I looked up at her expecting her eyes to be closed, instead they were trained on me as I traced her sweet skin with my tongue. Christ, the woman was perfect.
I pulled my head back a little so she could see my tongue as I licked her and her whole body vibrated with pleasure. Carefully I moved my hand under her panties so I could slip a finger deep inside of her whi
le my thumb rubbed small circles along her sweet spot.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Her hips jammed forward, trying to get even more. I rewarded her with a second finger and her groan was like honey to my ears.
“You have a naughty mouth, Madeline.” I stood up straight and ran my lips over hers, all the while smoothly moving my fingers in and out.
“You—” She groaned and gasped for a breath. “Just. With you.”
“I like it.” I bent down and bit her shoulder and she swore under her breath. “Louder, Maddie. Tell me what you want, sweetheart.”
“Don’t fucking stop, Jake.” Her wet pussy clenched around my fingers. “I want more.”
I groaned against her skin, dying to be inside of her, but loving every moment of this torture. I’d drag this out as long as I possibly could.
Letting go of her hands I shoved her jeans and panties roughly to the ground before dropping to my knees. I let my eyes travel up along her exposed skin, over her breasts, to lock with her large fairy-like eyes. Slowly, so she knew exactly what I was doing I opened my mouth and trailed my tongue along the wet crease between her legs.
“Jake.” My name formed by those lips was pure magic.
Leaning forward I pressed my mouth to her skin, trailing my tongue over the spots she seemed to like the best. Her pants of pleasure and the whispered curses were my road map.
She was sweet, so sweet, and I couldn’t get enough. Everything about Maddie drove me crazy, but this, my mouth at her core was perfect. Her hips strained against me and she tangled her fingers in my hair while she demanded more from me.
“More.”
I lifted her leg and placed it on my shoulder, exposing more of her sweet flesh for my exploration. Her curses were getting louder and I slipped a finger inside to move in time with her thrusts. She threw her head against the wall and moaned loudly.
“Jake. Fuck, that’s so good. So good. Fuck. Fuck.” I loved hearing the dirty stream of words coming from that delicate mouth. The contrast was intoxicating. I’d put them there and had more than a little pride in that fact. “Oh God. Fuck. Jake, I’m so close.”
Bedmates Page 15