Jake stood in front of her, blocking her from Cooper. “No. Your time isn’t over yet. We have tonight, too.”
“Will a few hours help?” Cooper asked.
She shook her head. “Probably n—”
“Yes,” Jake said, his tone hard. “Maybe later tonight, it’ll come back to her.”
Cooper lowered his brows. “I hope so. After what you discovered about this Soltese guy…I’d hate to be on his bad side.” He gave Tara a meaningful look. “More so than you already are, that is. Word has it he’s heading back here tomorrow. I suggest you remember, and remember fast.”
Well, crap.
Chapter Twelve
Later that night, Jake stood under the shower stream, letting the water slide down his aching body. It had been a hell of a long day, and it wasn’t anywhere near over yet. He needed to get her to tell them the code, no matter what. Had to get her to tell him how she did it, or tomorrow morning…
She’d go to jail.
No matter what he did from this point out…he’d lose her.
When she’d rubbed his leg earlier and called him a hero, something inside him had broken. He’d wanted to be a hero, for her. And some part of him had actually believed her words. Believed her. Believed that maybe, with her help, he could be a complete man again. One who deserved love and happiness and…yeah, maybe even her.
But those were the foolish thoughts of a foolish man.
He shut the water off and glowered down at his scars. They were more pronounced than ever in the bright fluorescent overhead lights. As if from a distance, he could hear his ex telling him that no one could love a lame man. That no one would want him. He slipped the shower curtain back and froze. “What. The. Hell?”
While he’d been washing up, his bathroom had been completely redone. It now had pink towels. And a pink rug. And a fucking pink toilet seat cover. No. Hell no.
This had to stop. She had to stop playing these stupid little pranks on him. Stop trying to make him laugh or smile. Stop…
Being her.
Yeah, he didn’t want that. Leaning back against the wall, he surveyed all the pink, his lips tilting into a smile. No, he definitely didn’t want her to change.
He liked her just the way she was.
Reaching over, he picked up a pink towel, shook his head at the dainty size of it, and dried off. He wrapped it around his waist, holding it at the side since it didn’t quite meet, and opened the bathroom door. Mumbling under his breath, he paused in the hallway. It smelled like…strawberries. Fucking A. Had she lit a candle, too?
As he walked into his bedroom, he called out, “Nice change in the bathroom. I kinda like it.”
No smart-ass remark came back to him. The house remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Son of a bitch, had she actually run away from him? Or had Soltese discovered where she was? Had she been taken against her will? The thought of her in danger sickened him. If Soltese dared to injure one hair on her head, he’d kill the fucker. He strode across the room and ripped his top drawer open.
Grabbing the first things he touched, he stomped into boxers and jeans. As he descended the stairs, he yanked a gray cotton T-shirt over his head and grabbed his spare keys off the hook. His main set was missing, which meant she’d left of her own free will.
And she’d stolen his car.
He threw the door open and froze. Tara stood there, holding a bag of takeout and a bottle of moscato wine. She watched him with amusement, her gaze dipping low over his body. “Going somewhere?”
His speeding heart slowed down to more human speed. She was back. She was safe. She hadn’t left him. “You were supposed to stay here,” he rasped. “Where the hell did you go?”
“I was hungry, and you were in the shower. So I ordered takeout and got some wine for us.”
“You have to be careful. What if Soltese was out there, waiting for a chance to—”
“He wasn’t. And he won’t be.” She shut the door behind her. “Do you think he’s the first tycoon asshat I’ve pissed off? Because he’s not. In fact, he’s a baby compared to some of them.”
He gritted his teeth. Fucking fabulous. That meant he had a numberless amount of angry men out in the world wanting to kill his Tara. And she didn’t care. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“Well, suck it up, Buttercup.” She brushed past him. “It comes part and parcel with my job.”
He bit back a sarcastic remark at the loose meaning of job in this instance. But he had to know something. “You left, and then came back. You cracked my code.”
She laughed. “It was easy.”
He took the heavy bag from her. “You could have run this whole time, but didn’t?”
“Yep.” She lifted a shoulder. “What of it?”
He stepped closer to her. “Why did you come back?”
“Running would be dirty. Wrong,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze. “It would make me no better than the men I steal from. If I have to go to jail, then I’ll go. But I won’t run from my punishment like them. I won’t be them.”
His chest tightened. She was so damn brave. Too brave for her own good. He almost wished she had run, because then he wouldn’t have to turn her in. He wouldn’t be forced to do something that made him want to hurl just from thinking about it. “There is another choice.”
“Yeah. I know. Helping you.”
She opened and closed cabinets, probably looking for utensils and cups. He strode across the kitchen and grabbed them for her. Without missing a beat, she took down two wineglasses. She walked over to the table and plopped herself down in a chair, giving them both a glass.
“Is helping me so hard?” he asked, tightening his grip on the plates.
“No. It’s not you I don’t want to help. You’re a good guy,” she said. “Even though you’re an asshole sometimes, too.”
He blinked at the off-the-wall comment. “By your definition, you steal from assholes. Does that mean you’re going to take something of mine?”
She cast a glance around the room. “I already have. You don’t know what it is yet.”
“Seriously?”
She lifted a shoulder. “You’ll see eventually.”
What could she have stolen from him? He shook his head. “You didn’t take anything.”
She smirked. “If you say so.”
He didn’t reply.
After a few minutes of silence, she wiped her mouth and asked nonchalantly, “How’d you like the bathroom?”
“I like it. Pink’s always been one of my favorite colors, but I never thought of doing the bathroom in that scheme. It’s delightful.”
She choked on her wine. “What?”
“It’s true.” He deadpanned, forcing himself to act completely blasé when he wanted to bark with laughter at her expression. She couldn’t have looked more shocked if he stripped naked in the streets and did the electric slide. “I love pink. Don’t you?”
“Uh, sure.”
“It looks great with my skin tone.”
Her mouth twitched. “You’re fucking with me again.”
“If you say so,” he echoed back to her.
They ate the rest of their meal in companionable silence, ignoring the giant elephant in an orange jumpsuit in the room. Once both of their plates were empty, he leaned back and entwined his fingers in front of his stomach.
She startled at his movement, wariness humming off her body. “So, it begins again? The questions, followed by the reminder that I’ll be going to jail in the morning?”
“Is there a point?” Shaking his head, he turned her palm up on the table. “Tell me the truth. Do you know the code?”
She tensed and tried to pull away from him. He didn’t let go, but focused on the way her pulse leaped at his question. Oh, she knew it all right. “No.”
He squared his jaw. “You’re lying to me.”
“Look, I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. Sorry to disappoint you. It’s not easy for me
, either.” She stood up, her chair scooting on the floor loudly. “But no matter how many times you ask me if I know it, no matter how many times you threaten me with jail, I won’t help you. Can’t you see that? So cuff me up and beam me up, Scotty. I’m done.”
He grabbed her and hauled her sideways on his lap. It was the first time she’d said she wouldn’t help him, as opposed to being unable to help him. Unfortunately, he’d gotten the confirmation he’d needed. “If I cuff you, it won’t be to bring you to jail. It’ll be so I can fuck you mercilessly without interference.”
Her mouth parted, and she pressed her thighs together. “I should hate you for doing this to me.”
He captured her chin and tilted her face to his. Tenderly, he smoothed his thumb over her quivering lip. She watched him, her blue gaze open and soft. “But you don’t, do you?”
She shook her head slowly.
Satisfaction rushed through him, and he closed his mouth over hers, kissing her hard and deep. She curled her fingers into his shirt, whimpering into his mouth. He broke off the kiss, buried his hands in her mahogany hair, and dropped his forehead to hers.
Before he fully thought them through, the words came tumbling out of his mouth. “I don’t hate you, either. The opposite, actually. Spend the night with me in my bed. All night. Be mine again, before it’s all over.”
He waited for her answer, knowing that she held too much power over him, but beyond caring. Truth was, he needed her, plain and simple.
Her harsh breathing stopped, as if she was holding in her breath. Or her words. Then she nodded. “Yes. One last night.”
Standing up, he cradled her in his arms protectively. His leg protested the extra weight, but he refused to listen. He didn’t want to let go of her, not for a single second. If only he could hold her in his arms forever, he’d be a happy man.
When he cleared his bedroom threshold, he set her on her feet and smoothed her hair. “You’re so fucking gorgeous. And you’re mine. All mine.”
Reaching up, she ran her fingers over his biceps and down his forearms. “I am. And I want to touch you everywhere. Can I please touch you? Do what I want to you?”
He grinned. She’d remembered the rules and asked nicely, so she would be rewarded. “Yes. You can be in control for now.”
“Thank you.”
Raising on tiptoe, she kissed him. Her soft lips moved over his, and something in his chest squeezed tight, grabbing hold. He clung to her fingers, letting her lead the kiss. Every other time that they had been with each other, he hadn’t given her the chance to really do anything besides be ravished. Tonight would be different.
Hell, he was different tonight.
Because of her.
He didn’t feel the need to dominate her or remain in control. After two short days in her company, he was already a changed man. He wasn’t sure what to make of that, but there was no going back now. He sensed that, even if he didn’t fully understand it.
And worse?
He didn’t give a fuck.
Chapter Thirteen
Tara rose on her tiptoes more, deepening the kiss. The fact that he seemed to be giving her control twice in one day came as a bit of a surprise, but she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, thank you very much. She rolled her tongue over his, her stomach clenching when he moaned and released her.
Holding her firmly, he slanted his mouth over hers. She knew she could break free if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Not in the slightest. She ran her fingers over the harsh lines of his shoulders, memorizing them He was so hard and muscular everywhere she touched. Perfection in human form.
And soon, this would all be over.
The thought left her…empty. She’d be alone again, and she’d miss him. Way too much. She should be angry with him for putting her in this position, but he was only doing his job. Just like she was only doing hers. They were no different, and she couldn’t punish him for that without being a hypocrite.
No matter how much she wished she could.
She wasn’t giving in, and she wasn’t running away like a coward. One way or another, tomorrow? This would all end.
Breaking off the kiss, she grabbed his shirt and lifted it—baring his chest and abs. She hadn’t gotten a good enough view of them last night while he’d been on top of her, but now she had all the time in the world to get well acquainted with that portion of his body. He had a six-pack.
An actual six-pack.
And all that ink…
He was a serious danger to all women everywhere. She cupped his erection, as she had in the safe. Only this time, she wasn’t going to stop. She massaged his hard length through his jeans, and he moaned. Rising up on tiptoe, she caught his mouth again. When he held her in his arms, she felt so small. So vulnerable, and yet protected all at the same time.
Dropping back to her normal height, she undid his pants. They hit the floor. Next went the boxers, and he stood there gloriously naked. So. Freaking. Hot.
Too bad he’d be the end of her.
She took in every inch of his lean toughness. After falling to her knees, she raked her nails down his chest and abs. “My turn to taste you.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed and he fisted his hands at his hips. “Tara, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I—”
He broke off with a gurgle when she leaned in and closed her fingers around the base of his penis. Without warning, she flicked her tongue over the head of his shaft and sucked him into her mouth.
Threading his fingers in her hair, he urged her closer. “Fuck, don’t think about stopping.”
Deep in the back of her throat, she moaned. He tensed more, and she took him in deeper. She ran her tongue over the head as she sucked, not letting go of the base. She worked him, pumping ever so slightly, and scraped her teeth against him gently. He groaned and tightened his grip on her, pressing her closer.
The wetness between her thighs soaked her panties, and she shifted to ease the ache. Pleasuring him with her mouth was driving her as insane as it was him, she was sure of it. He massaged her scalp as she sucked. “Fuck, Tara. That perfect mouth of yours is pure pleasure, isn’t it?”
She increased suction, hollowing her cheeks out.
“Enough.” He flexed his jaw. “The sight of you fucking me with your mouth is going to send me over the edge.”
He tried to pull her off, but she shook her head. “Mm-mm.”
“Fine,” he growled out, flexing his biceps. Not forcing her to stop. “You’re in charge…”
She tasted his pleasure on her tongue, and knew he was close. And she really wanted to make him come with her mouth. Wanted to give him that.
Something to remember her by.
“Tara,” he warned, his muscles tense and his voice tenser. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to come.”
She nodded as best as she could, trying to show him that’s what she desired without stopping, and rolled her tongue over him again, pumping faster. He let out a strangled groan, then pumped his hips into her mouth, his entire body going tight.
The rush of his semen on her tongue was heady. Empowering.
She sucked every bit of him that she could get, swallowed it all, and didn’t release him until his tremors stopped.
He collapsed against the wall, his breathing harsh. “Fuck, Tara. I’m going to need a second.”
She swiped her hand across her mouth, her gaze locked on his still-hard penis. “I want to do it again.”
“Shit.” He groaned and ran his hot gaze over her. “Your fun is over. I’m in charge again. Get naked now.”
Her stomach clenched at his demand, and she ripped her shirt over her head without hesitation. As she stepped out of her skirt, she stared at him. His cheeks were still flushed, and his breathing ragged. And he was watching her with that darkness that promised revenge for her misbehavior. She grew wetter with the anticipation, squeezing her thighs together. “I’m almost ready, sir.”
He pushed off the wall and closed his arm
s around her. “Keep the rest. I like you in thigh-highs and underwear—but nothing else.”
She lifted her face and laced her fingers behind his neck. “Whatever you want.”
Letting out a soft sound, he kissed her gently. As his mouth worked over hers, he backed her toward the bed, one step at a time. She couldn’t help but notice the difference in the way he held her.
As if she meant something to him. As if this was more than a quick lay.
And she liked it.
As he lowered her onto the mattress, his elbows keeping the bulk of his weight off of her, his mouth worked over hers. He rolled his hips against her, his still-hard erection teasing her. “May I touch you?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said, nibbling on her ear. “Touch me.”
She closed her legs around his waist and ran her fingers over every inch of his body. At the same time, he traced the curve of her hip before creeping up her stomach. When he reached her bra, he undid the front clasp. As soon as her breasts were free, he slid down and captured one hard nipple in his mouth, scraping his teeth against her. She cried out and arched her back, needing more.
Needing all of him.
Releasing her nipple, he fisted her panties and tore them off. Once they were gone, he dipped his hand between her thighs, slipping two fingers inside of her. When he crooked his fingers, she dug her heels into the mattress and rocked her hips up.
“Jake,” she begged. “Harder.”
He stopped immediately. “You forgot to beg me.”
She threw her head back against the pillows, the frustration and need killing her. “Please,” she panted. “Please let me come.”
He wiggled his fingers again, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. “Remember to ask nicely next time, or I’ll walk right out of this room without making you come.”
“I-I will. I promise.”
He moved again and clamped down on her nipple at the same time, sending a bolt of need coursing through her veins at lightning speed. She pumped her hips in tune with his movements. She was close. So close.
He released her nipple. “I can feel your pussy getting tight. I can feel you getting closer and closer, but I didn’t give you permission to finish. Ask me. Ask me now.”
Stealing His Heart Page 12