by Rainey, Anne
That quickly, her laughter dissipated. If he came over, she’d let him make love to her, she just knew it. She wouldn’t be able to tell him no. She was more than a little bit shocked at how strong her feelings were toward him. He was so dangerous to her well-ordered life that it frightened her. She didn’t want him to wield that much influence.
“Are you in your jammies?”
Marquetta contemplated lying to him, but her inner vixen chose the truth instead. “Actually, I sleep in the nude.”
Silence came over the line, then finally, “Are you playing me?”
“Of course not,” she replied, feeling a little insulted. “I’m not a child, Jensen.”
“I know you’re not,” he was quick to reassure. “You’re all woman, and I’m about to explode, imagining what you must look like right now.”
“Ah, my poor baby,” she crooned. “Too bad you aren’t here.”
“I do know where you live,” Jensen warned, his voice turning dangerous. “Be very careful what you say, girl.”
She laughed, feeling impetuous and brazen for the first time in years. “Since you’re already in bed and I’m already naked, I think it would be a pity to waste such an opportunity, don’t you?”
“Hm, what’d you have in mind, beautiful?”
“If I were with you right now, I think I’d like to climb on top of your gorgeous body.”
Ah hell, now that was a pretty picture. “Ride me, you mean?” he asked, needing clarification.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” she confirmed, and Jensen could tell their conversation was getting to her.
He liked that she sounded a little unsteady. He could all but feel her mounting desire. “If you were on top and I was buried deep inside you, I wouldn’t be able to be gentle.”
“You wouldn’t?”
Her voice got husky and low, turning Jensen on more. “I’d want it quick and hard. I’d want to fuck you so damn good, sweetheart. I want to pound my cock into you over and over again.” He gave her a minute to let his words sink in. “Does that scare you, or do you like the idea of driving me crazy?”
Nothing.
Silence.
“You’ll have to tell me,” he coaxed. “I don’t want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. Not ever.”
“Yes.”
Her quick one-word reply made him grin. “You don’t want me to stop right now?”
“I really don’t want you to stop,” she answered.
“Let’s be sure we’re thinking the same thing here.” His tone deepened with arousal. “Tell me, Marquetta, do you want me right now? Do you want me hard and fast and so damn deep that it’s unclear where you leave off and I begin?”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She groaned. “But yes, I do want that. So much it hurts.”
His cock hardened. Her breathless words turned him on something fierce. “Touch yourself, sweetheart,” he softly ordered. “Right now. Stroke your pretty nipples and play with your clit. If I can’t be there, then caress that pretty body for me.”
“I already am,” she murmured.
He stiffened. “What are you doing? Give me something to think about until I see you again.”
“I’m playing with myself.” Her breathless reply had him going ramrod stiff. He waited to see if she would say more, and he wasn’t disappointed. “I’m doing what you said. I’ve got my breast in my hand, and I’m massaging my pussy.”
Damn, he wanted to go to her. Just drop the phone and go to her house and make love to her until the sun came up. But Marquetta wasn’t ready for that, not yet. She was only comfortable letting herself go right now because she felt safe in the quiet confines of her bedroom. He would honor that if it killed him.
Jensen reached down and took his dick in his fist. If he truly couldn’t have her underneath him, then his own hand would have to suffice. “I bet you have the prettiest tits too. I would love touching you there. Are your nipples sensitive?” He stroked himself, thinking of what she was doing to her own body. Imagining the creamy swell of her breasts, her delicate fingers teasing and stroking. Her dark-pink nipples would be puckered and erect, begging him.
“Can you feel my mouth on your nipples? I can almost taste you.” He heard her breathing grow rapid, and he continued his onslaught. “I would suck you first, and then bite you. Just tiny bites, enough to make you grab at my hair and get all wild.”
“Oh God, I need you.”
His voice turned hoarse with his own need. “Soon, sweetheart,” he promised. “For now, just touch your clit. I need to make you come. I want that pussy well satisfied before you let yourself slip off to sleep.”
“Oh God, Jensen,” she moaned.
“Mm, yeah, that’s so good.” He loved hearing the desperation in her voice. “Now tell me how hard you want me to fuck you. Do you want it slow? Or would you plead for me to go faster?”
“Yes,” she gasped, “I want it fast.”
“Tell me,” he growled as he pumped his cock faster. “Give me what I crave.”
“Damn you,” she cried. “I want you. Please, I need you to fuck me!”
“Christ, yes.” A drop of precome appeared at the tip, and Jensen pictured Marquetta bending over him and licking it off. “I’m so goddamn mad with lust right now.”
In his mind, Marquetta was on her hands and knees; his strong hands were holding her hips still for his powerful thrusts. Her pussy would squeeze and milk him dry. Suddenly, he felt his release coming, and he reached out to Marquetta. Jensen needed her to be with him. He was desperate to take her over the edge. “Come, beautiful,” he ordered.
“I-I’m close,” she whispered. Marquetta had been barely holding on when Jensen issued the softly spoken order. Suddenly, she was there, shattering into a thousand pieces as her orgasm swept over her like a monsoon. Never in her life had she felt anything so magnificent. It was so different from Sheldon. Jensen was different, and she was different with him. Hell, she barely recognized herself as she lay sprawled out on the bed, totally spent and more relaxed than she had been in too many years to count.
As she came out of the haze, Marquetta noticed how quiet Jensen had suddenly gotten. “Jensen?”
“I’m here, sweetheart,” he replied in a low, gravelly voice.
In that moment, it became imperative that she have one very important question answered. “Did you…did you come?”
“Fuck yeah,” he groaned. “Right along with you, beautiful.”
Marquetta was entirely too pleased by his answer. A stupid smile lifted the corners of her mouth, and warmth seeped into her heart. “I’m glad. I’d hate for this to be all one-sided.”
He chuckled, and the sound sent butterflies flitting through her stomach. “Not a chance in hell of that happening.” He yawned, then added, “Now rest up. You just might need it.”
She had a feeling he was right. “Sweet dreams, Jensen,” she said as exhaustion began to drag her under.
“Of you,” he murmured. “Sweet dreams of you, beautiful.”
As they hung up, Jensen thought of one last thing. Not once had she whipped out a single sarcastic comment. Damn, she was beginning to warm up to him. About time too, because he’d sure as hell warmed up to her. A fucking volcano about to erupt wouldn’t be able to compete with the blaze burning inside him. Something had to give, and soon.
Chapter Six
Jensen shoved a hand through his hair and stood. He’d been nursing the same cup of coffee ever since he’d arrived at Jason’s house that morning. To hell with it. Clearly, they weren’t going to get a damn thing accomplished on the new business today. They’d gotten the startup loan from the bank, and they were supposed to check out some real estate later in the afternoon. There were a couple of offices that appeared promising for the home of Man-Maid Cleaning Service, but all he’d gotten done so far was thinking about Marquetta. He kept replaying their phone call from last Friday night in his head. Christ, she’d been hot enough
to fry his brain, but a week had gone by, and all he’d gotten from her was a few text messages. He’d even sent her flowers. A bouquet of orchids with a card that simply stated:
To my beautiful guardian angel. Thank you for saving me.
J
Talk about a lovesick chump. He missed her like crazy. It was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon, but it could’ve been storming for all he’d noticed. He was useless as shit.
Jason cursed. “Dude, what’s it going to take to get your head in the game here?”
Jensen didn’t want to get into Marquetta with his brother. Until he figured out what to do about her, the topic was off limits. “What are you talking about?”
Jason pushed away from the counter he’d been leaning against. “Ever since you met her, you’ve been steadily losing focus. I’ve never seen you like this with a woman. What gives?”
Jensen knew his brother spoke the truth. He’d always been able to keep it together when it came to women. Now, he knew his actions were those of a lovesick kid. “It’s complicated,” he hedged.
“No, it isn’t. Call her. Invite her out.” Jason snapped his fingers. “Done.”
Jensen sighed. “I don’t want to pressure her. I get the feeling Marquetta’s been through a bad relationship in the past. I can’t go charging after her.”
A smile slid across Jason’s face. “Yeah, well, if you don’t get off your ass, someone else might just take your place.”
Jensen’s brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”
Jason rubbed his chin. “Just that she’s a beautiful woman. And a pretty amazing artist, going by what we saw in her portfolio. Also, she knows her way around a motorcycle. Those protective brothers of hers are probably all that’s keeping the men away. With a woman like Marquetta, you’re liable to miss your chance if you wait too long.”
Jensen knew his brother was right. A frenzy of possessive rage began to brew as he imagined her talking to some other man the way she’d talked to him. “Fuck,” he groaned.
“Yep.” Jason slapped Jensen on the back. “Get off your ass and call that woman.”
Jensen pulled his cell phone out of his shirt pocket. “I believe you might be right, bro.”
He pulled up her number in his contact list and hit the Call button. She answered on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, beautiful.” She sounded winded. Had he interrupted her? “Is it a bad time?”
“Jensen?”
“Have a lot of men calling you beautiful, do you?” he asked, unable to contain the riot of emotions running through him at the sound of her voice.
She laughed, and Jensen’s jeans suddenly felt very restricting. “No, just one very persistent man.”
God, he loved her laugh. It was music to his ears. “This persistent man would like to see you.”
The line went quiet for a moment, and Jensen thought maybe they’d been disconnected. Finally, she replied, “I’d like to see you too. And, again, thank you for the flowers.”
His heart sped up at her softly spoken words. “Are you busy tonight?” he asked, willing her to say no. “I can make dinner. Say around eight?”
“Eight sounds perfect.” She paused, then added, “Give me a second, and I’ll get a pen.”
After he gave her his address, they hung up. Jensen looked over at his brother and noticed him staring. “What?”
He pointed to the cell phone Jensen still had clutched in his hand. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what I feel,” he said, uncomfortable with the whole conversation. “All I know is I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met, and yet I can’t wait to see her again. Makes no sense.”
Jason whistled low. “Man, you’re falling for her.”
Jensen got to his feet and tucked his phone back in his pocket. “Whatever. This little heart-to-heart has been real touching, but I’d rather go look at that rental property.”
Jason let out a breath. “’Bout time you pulled your head out of your ass.”
“Come on,” Jensen said, heading for the door. “Let’s go check out those offices.”
Jason grabbed his keys off an end table. “I told the three musketeers we’d meet at Pete’s later.”
“Sounds good to me.”
After visiting both properties, Jensen and his brother sat in Pete’s Pizzeria with Ames and Seth. They were still waiting on AJ to show up.
“AJ’s on her way.” Seth checked the door for the hundredth time. “She got stuck in line at the bank.”
“Anyone want a refill on their drinks?” their perky brunette waitress asked as she approached the table.
Jason was the first to speak up. “I’ll take another beer.” He held up his glass and looked at the waitress’s name tag. “Emma,” he murmured. “A pretty name for a pretty lady.”
Oh Lord, was he flirting with her? When she all but ignored Jason, Jensen had to bite back a laugh.
“Did someone mention beer?” a female voice asked. “I’d love a Corona.”
Jensen noticed AJ striding toward them and watched as Ames stood to hold AJ’s seat for her. Once again, AJ seemed totally oblivious to the underlying currents arcing back and forth between Seth and Ames whenever AJ was near the two of them.
“Two beers coming right up,” the waitress said as she hurried off.
“Sorry I’m late, guys,” AJ said as she put her purse on the floor beside her. “I would’ve gone to the bank after our meeting if I’d realized how bloody long it would take to make a deposit.”
Seth wrapped an arm around the back of the chair. “You’re worth the wait, sweetness.”
As the waitress brought them their beers, then left, Jensen noticed Jason’s gaze unerringly went to the woman’s ass. Jensen punched his brother on the arm. “Dude,” he grumbled.
Jason rubbed his arm and glared over at him. “Ow, what was that for?”
“You’re all but drooling. Christ.”
He shrugged and said, “So what? She’s hot,” as he searched the restaurant for her.
“Now who can’t focus?”
An hour later, they’d not only chosen an office but a marketing plan as well. He was glad of the progress, but part of him could think only of Marquetta. By the time Jensen got home, his nerves were shot and his libido was in overdrive. He noticed the time on the microwave above the stove. In fifteen minutes, she’d be knocking on the door. If there was a God, Jensen would be feasting shortly after. It was still too early to tell whether he’d be feasting on the spaghetti and meatballs he’d made or on Marquetta’s delectable body.
Right on time, Marquetta stood at Jensen’s apartment door, shaking with nerves. Taking a deep breath, she knocked, then waited. God, she was strung as tight as strings on a guitar. “Get hold of yourself,” she muttered. An attack of nerves had bombarded her in the car on the way over. She hadn’t even recognized the feeling at first, but now here she was, about to have her second date in two years, and her throat threatened to close up.
Last Friday night, she’d let herself go, and it had been wonderful. Jensen had verbally loved her so thoroughly that she still felt the vibrations of it. Would he be a good, attentive lover in person as well? He’d woven a kind of magic between them, and she feared she was becoming entirely too addicted to him. Marquetta was way out of her depth.
Honesty forced her to admit Jensen scared her a little. No, that wasn’t right. It was the way he affected her. He so easily turned her body to fire. All he had to do was give her one of his wicked sideways grins… That kind of power frightened her, but she wasn’t the stupid wallflower she’d been with Sheldon. She was a confident woman now. She—no one else—was in control of her own emotions.
Now she couldn’t help wondering if he had a habit of talking dirty to women over the phone. She really, really didn’t like the idea. As a matter of fact, just thinking of him doing that with another woman made her see red. She wanted to be
special to him. She wanted him to care about her. Don’t go there, she ordered herself. She had to be level-headed about this. She’d lost her head with Sheldon, and that had led to disaster. Jensen wasn’t Sheldon, though. He deserved better than to be measured by the same yardstick.
Looking at the outfit she had chosen, however, made her cringe. Her mind might want to remain detached, but her body—and, more importantly, her heart—was telling her other things. The tight black miniskirt and formfitting red blouse were designed to send a man into a lust-fueled frenzy. Of course, the red do-me pumps were the final touch. “Okay, you can do this. Piece of cake, right?”
After a few seconds, the door swung wide. A shiver ran the length of her spine at the sight of him. The dark-haired, blue-eyed man had the looks of a charmer, only with a rougher edge. The harsh angles of his face gave Marquetta the impression he’d had more than his fair share of hard knocks and had come away with more than a scratch or two. His hair was the color of chocolate, shiny and cropped close to his scalp. Her gaze traveled around his face, noting every taut plane until settling on his mouth. Geez, she had the overwhelming urge to kiss him. Was she biting off more than she could chew with Jensen?
A sideways grin appeared at the corner of Jensen’s mouth. “Were you just talking to yourself, sweetheart?”
“Er, of course not,” she lied. Oh wow, Jensen sure was six feet plus of solid, gorgeous maleness. His jeans fly strained over a mouthwatering bulge, and he wore a pair of black biker boots. His chest was bare. Marquetta had a very hard time not staring at the eagle tattoo directly over his right pec. The razor stubble covering his chin tempted her to reach out and stroke it.
Instead, she resisted the urge and stood in silence, allowing Jensen to look at her. He was his usual bold self, she thought, hiding her smile. His gaze moved over her body like a lover’s touch as it drifted slowly downward, then back up again. The way he stared at her filled her with liquid heat, making her uncharacteristically shy and unsure.