by Ashlyn Chase
She leaned away and stared into his eyes. “That’s exactly what I mean. I couldn’t see anything except the sky in front of me. Did you notice anyone staring out their windows or grabbing their cameras?”
“I don’t think so.” He gently rubbed her arms up and down and then escorted her to the couch.
Kristine sank down, and he sat opposite her on the coffee table, holding her hands. “So what happens now? Do you wait for the kidnapper’s instructions, or do you already know what he wants you to do?”
“I’m supposed to wait for him to call.” She bit her bottom lip and avoided his gaze.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Jayce asked.
“Nothing!” Kristine took a deep breath and let it out. She let go of his hands and flopped against the back of the sofa. Closing her eyes, she mumbled, “I didn’t tell you this before, but they said they were watching me. That makes me nervous as far as what they’ve seen. Like…have they seen you?”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know.” Kristine sat up and faced him. “If they have seen you or they saw the little stunt up on the roof, I imagine I’ll hear about it.” She rubbed her temples, as if she had a headache.
Just as Jayce was about to say something, her phone rang. She dug it out of her fanny pack and answered with a nervous “Hello?”
“Did you get it?”
Kristine straightened and seemed to be pulling herself together. “Yes, I have it. It’s in the murse. How do we exchange this for my mother?”
After a brief hesitation on the other end of the phone, the monster said, “Not just yet. We’ll talk about that in the morning.”
Kristine shot to her feet. “Tomorrow? Do you mean to tell me you’re going to hold onto her another night?”
Jayce watched her pace past the windows. If anyone was watching, they’d see she was obviously upset.
The voice on the other end of the phone just said, “You’ll receive instructions tomorrow.” And the click on the other end signaled he had hung up.
Kristine threw the phone on the floor. Fortunately, it hit the thick rug and not the hardwood.
Jayce rose and approached her slowly, until he remembered he had to stay away from the windows. “He didn’t say anything about seeing you with a bunch of birds and sheets.”
“That’s right, but he didn’t say where my mother was either.”
Jayce stood with his hands in his pockets, unsure if he should reach out and comfort her or stay back. He waited a few moments, and eventually her posture sagged. She picked up the phone and returned to the couch. When she sat in the middle, she left enough room for him to join her. So he snuggled next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I just wish this would end.” Kristine laid her head on his shoulder.
“I agree. You’ve done what he asked you to do. There must be a reason they have to wait until tomorrow.” He began rubbing her arm, trying to soothe her.
“I can’t imagine why. What if something’s wrong with my mother?” Kristine leaned over and dropped her head in her hands. “I feel so awful. The last words I said to her were not very nice.”
“You had a fight?” Jayce asked.
Kristine frowned. “You could say that. I was demanding to know something she’s always refused to tell me. I thought she was keeping it to herself just because I was young and she didn’t think I would understand. All these years later, as an adult, I figured she could tell me anything. But she still refused. I blew up at her and stormed out.”
Jayce rubbed her back gently. “You couldn’t have known that this was going to happen. You’ll see her again, and I’m sure you’ll be able to forgive each other and get past it.”
“I hope you’re right.” She leaned into him, and they shared a hug.
Jayce ran his hand over her loose light-red waves, planting little kisses along her jaw. “I’ll be right here if you need me. It will be all right,” he whispered.
Kristine hugged him harder. “I wish I didn’t have to wait until tomorrow. The suspense is killing me.”
He cupped her face between his hands “I can think of a way we can pass the time and release some tension…” He held her stunning turquoise gaze. He didn’t know how open she’d be, but he’d never know if he didn’t broach the subject.
She snorted. A tiny curl of smoke rose between their faces. “Are you one of those guys who thinks you can fix everything with sex?”
At least she was smiling. Jayce smoothed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “No. Did I say anything about sex?”
She laughed. “Don’t pretend that’s not what you meant and that I’m the one with a dirty mind.”
“Sex isn’t dirty. Not between two people who care about each other.”
Kristine hesitated. She seemed to be mulling something over. At last she rose, holding his hand in hers until he followed.
She led him to the second door on the left at the end of the hall. Opening the door, she allowed him into a very girly bedroom. It wasn’t teenage girly—maybe he should call it womanly or feminine. One wall behind the queen-size bed was painted lilac.
The main thing that stood out was the bedding. The top blanket was like a sumptuous cream-colored fur from some animal that didn’t exist…or if it did, it would have to be about ten feet tall. He had to conclude that it was faux fur, not the hide of the abominable snowman.
Lots of unnecessary pillows rested against the shabby white headboard. She closed the door behind him, and he wondered why. They were alone. Perhaps it was just out of habit. That made him wonder if she’d brought men here before. The look she gave him as she came closer was a little shy, so if she had entertained in this room, it hadn’t happened very often.
She caressed his chest, and his arms enveloped her automatically.
“So, what were you thinking we should do to blow off steam?” she asked and leaned forward to nuzzle his neck.
He couldn’t help chuckling. “I’m sure we’ll think of something.” He walked her backward until they both fell onto the bed, and he rolled her on top of him. Their lips found each other easily. This time the kiss wasn’t as much passionate as tender…loving.
A gentle agreement.
“Kristine, are you sure you want to do this? And please don’t joke around by asking what I mean. I need to know.”
She took a deep breath and held his gaze. “Let’s play it by ear. I could use the closeness. I don’t know if I need the whole shebang. Yes, it would relieve tension, and I have plenty of that. But I don’t want to force anything.”
He nodded. “Got it. No she-bang.”
Jayce just held Kristine, letting her take the initiative. She knew he wanted her. But did she know how much he desired and craved her?
Her lashes fluttered, but she let him kiss her eyes. Holding and stroking what he could reach, he hoped his touch soothed her. At least it seemed to. He could feel her relax in his arms.
She brushed his hair out of his eyes. His stubble had grown, and he hoped it didn’t scrape her. Little nibbles and tastes of his neck and jaw didn’t seem to put her off.
He wanted to explore and worship her body, leisurely, and perhaps this was the best time to do that. He would just have to be sure he didn’t drown in his own desire.
She parted her lips and let him feast on her tongue. The flood of passion eventually consumed them both, and she sucked his tongue, reveling in his attention as if it were what she needed to breathe. He tried to hold himself back so he didn’t just ravish her. But the restraint he was showing was about to kill him. He caressed her rib cage, swirled his tongue with hers, massaged her shoulders, and snuggled. Eventually he cupped her bottom and nuzzled her neck.
“I’m not wearing granny panties,” she whispered.
“From what I gathered, you’re not wearing an
y panties.” Jayce trailed his finger down her abdomen. Her black jersey had ridden up to her midriff without any help from him. Pausing at her belly button, he gave it a little swirl and then found the snap to her jeans and popped it open.
He waited to let her continue if she wanted to. She opened the zipper with one hand and at the same time yanked open the tie of his sweatpants with the other.
It seemed that they were going to do this. He whispered words of adoration in her ear. She began to inhale deeper, and as he moved her jeans over her bottom, she raised it, allowing him to strip her down and reveal her precious secrets to him. “Do we need protection?”
“Not on my end,” she said.
“Nor mine.”
She wiggled out of the black jeans and moved his sweatpants over his hips. It was all he could do not to let out a growl when she touched him. She grasped his member and teased his erection. He almost choked, begging her to stop for a moment until he could get rid of the offending garments—all of them. Soon her top and his sweatshirt hit the floor, and they were finally able to romp without clothes in the way.
He trailed his tongue around her nipple and she gasped. When he took her breast between his lips and sucked deeply, she arched and moaned. He didn’t wish to torment her with long, drawn-out foreplay, but he knew she needed the maximum release he could give her. When he had thoroughly suckled that breast, he moved to the other and teased it just as thoroughly.
Eventually, he moved down her torso, trailing kisses along her heated skin. She hissed and gasped as he bestowed his loving attention on her sweet spot below. He instinctively knew how to touch her. And she touched him the same way, skyrocketing the electrified sensations to his cock.
He wondered if she knew how torn he was. His erection swelled even further, if that were possible. The strain of holding himself in check was difficult. But he didn’t want to succumb to his lust until she was right there with him.
He leaned back to pull out of her hand and moved down beside her legs. He bestowed little kisses on her upper thighs as his finger trailed down her abdomen. Her thighs trembled. He glanced up at her face, which was flushed. When he reached her clit and flicked his tongue right there, she jerked and then grasped his hair and tugged.
“Do you not want me to do this?” he asked.
She laughed and let go of his hair. Instead she grabbed his shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “No, I don’t want you to stop. I was just holding on for dear life.”
He chuckled and relished watching her enjoy the pleasure he was giving her. When he knew she was close, he eased up. He really wanted her to tumble over the edge with him. He was confident in the feelings he could elicit because she was so responsive.
“Don’t stop,” she rasped.
Okay…we’ll go for two.
He flicked her bud rapidly and repeatedly while she thrashed and convulsed, bucking and arching—almost lifting right off the bed. She screamed as she clenched the sheets and vibrated.
He didn’t stop what he was doing until she shoved him away. Her body melted into the mattress as she panted.
As much as he wanted to just drive into her and pound her with his steel-hard cock, he still held himself in check, crawling up beside her slowly. He kneeled at her side, brushed her sweat-soaked hair aside, and kissed her forehead, her nose, and finally her lips. She cupped the back of his head and crushed him to her as she drove her tongue into his mouth, and then, just as abruptly, she let go. Her arms fell to her sides, and she gazed at him with a look of wonder.
“How did you manage to do that?” She breathed heavily.
“Do what?”
“Take me right out of my body,” she said. “I felt like I was floating above the bed. That’s never happened to me before.”
“Maybe you just needed the right guy.”
She smiled up at him and parted her thighs in invitation. “I can’t promise to do anything that monumental for you, but it’s your turn, and I want you to take it.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Just to be perfectly clear,” Kristine said, “I want you to fuck me silly.”
Jayce chuckled. “I guess you can’t be clearer than that.”
He placed himself at her V. “I want you to come with me wherever I go. Be it out of body or just to a nice hilltop climax. We go together.”
“Like wine and cheese.” She chuckled.
He couldn’t help laughing, and perhaps he needed a moment to regroup, so he leaned back on his heels and said, “I’m going to bring you to the brink before I take my own pleasure.”
He let his hand roam while his lips kissed a path down to her curls. She wiggled when he got to her clit, but she didn’t squirm away. She twined her fingers in his hair and breathed deeply while he brought her close.
When she was trembling but hadn’t shattered yet, he pushed her legs open wider and positioned himself between her thighs. He plunged into her wet warmth and buried himself deep in her core. She sucked in a sharp breath.
“Are you okay?”
She sighed. “More than okay. Please…”
He didn’t have to ask what she wanted. He just rocked in the age-old rhythm, loving the feel of her warmth and sliding eagerly in and out of her tight, slick channel. Braced on one elbow, he didn’t lower himself completely. He left enough room between them to find and rub her sweet spot with his thumb. She immediately arched and moaned, grasping the sheets again.
As the tension built between them, he watched her carefully. The intoxicating rhythm was overwhelming. At last they both shattered. She screamed as the sensations took them somewhere indescribable.
Her muscles clenched his cock, and wave after wave of incredible release shook him to his core. He rode every last aftershock.
His own fulfillment was complete. He’d had a staggering orgasm. As soon as he’d floated back to earth, he embraced her and rolled onto his back, allowing her to decide if she wanted to withdraw and lie beside him or stay coupled.
She stayed. He couldn’t believe the beauty of that act. His hunger and longing for her were sated at last, which didn’t mean he didn’t want more. He would want this passion over and over again, whether it drove him to madness or ecstasy. When she gazed into his eyes, he saw sparkling pleasure and satisfaction, mirroring his own gratification.
There were no words between them. There were probably no words to express this euphoria—this elation. She turned her head to the side and laid her cheek on his heaving chest. They stayed like that for several long minutes. There was no doubt about his feelings for her. He loved this woman and would do anything to protect her.
She rolled up on her elbow and grinned. “Ready for round two?”
Chapter 6
After making love for a second time, Kristine lay in the warmth of Jayce’s arms and basked in the afterglow. She needed to know a little more about this guy. Who was he? What was he?
“Jayce?”
“Yeah, hon?”
Even the endearment was strange for her. She had been called Scott or Scotty for so long, it felt strange when anyone called her Kristine again. The only one who called her hon was her mother, and now…
“Jayce…”
“Mmm?”
“Can you explain what phoenixes are? You and your brothers are supernatural, obviously, but what are your unique abilities—exactly?”
Jayce caressed her hair and held her in his arms, breathing steadily. After a short hesitation, he said, “We have an advantage as firefighters, like you have. My kind may not be fireproof, but if worst comes to worst, we can reincarnate from the flames. We are known as firebirds. The phoenix is not as mythical as some people think.”
“So you call yourselves firebirds?”
Jayce turned her face so he could see into her eyes. “What my family and I call ourselves doesn�
��t really matter. What matters is what you and I call each other—I’m referring to what we have together.”
Kristine squirmed uncomfortably. What did he mean by that? She pulled away from his arms and sat up, using the sheet to cover her breasts.
Kristine wasn’t feeling shy, exactly. She just didn’t know how to respond. “What do you mean when you say ‘what we have together’? What do you want me to say?”
Jayce propped himself up on his elbow and tugged the sheet. “Please don’t be shy around me. After what we just shared, especially.”
Kristine let the sheet drop, watching as he appreciated her chest, which was a little on the small side—according to her mother. She was just as happy not to have huge boobs getting in the way of her active lifestyle. “All right. I’ll try not to be shy. It’s more like self-consciousness than shyness, anyway.”
“What do you have to be self-conscious about? I hope you’re not talking about your body. It’s beautiful, just like the rest of you.”
She laced her fingers with his and worried her lip. At last she took a deep breath and launched into it. “I have a hard time trusting men. I know that may sound ridiculous since I’m putting my life into the hands of my fellow firefighters every day, but that’s not an emotional thing.”
Jayce stared at her for a moment. “I think I understand what you’re saying. Of course emotions can run high during a fire, but those aren’t romantic feelings. I think that must be what you’re talking about as far as trust is concerned. Am I right?”
Kristine rubbed his knuckles with her thumb. “To an extent, yes. But it’s not just that. I think being abandoned by a father I never knew is part of the problem.”
Jayce’s brow furrowed as he held her gaze. “Explain, please.”
Kristine sighed. “Remember how I said I had a fight with my mother, just before she disappeared?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“The fight was about my father. I don’t know why he wasn’t in my life, and she won’t tell me. All I know is that she absolutely does know who he is because, in her words, ‘I’m not a slut.’”