by Lori Ryan
“What charities do you work with?” Kelly seized on his charity work, happy to find out more about Jack.
“Well, right now, I’m on the boards of two. One that provides funding for children who need major surgery and don’t have the insurance or means to pay for it. That’s the one I do the most work for because it’s still growing. We’re trying to expand to offer assistance to more children, and to be able to offer assistance for cosmetic surgeries as well as medical surgeries so that we can help children with deformities or with scarring, that type of thing. I’ve been working to drum up funds from my investors.”
“Wow,” said Kelly. “That sounds like a great charity. What’s the other one?”
She was surprised to see Jack look a little hesitant, as if he didn’t want to admit what the other charity was. She seemed to be surprised more and more by him lately.
“It’s a rescue organization for dogs. It focuses on rescuing mixed-breed dogs and re-homing them. I’m not as involved in that one though. I’ve never really had time for a dog of my own, so I wanted to do something for dogs. I guess I keep thinking things will slow down and I’ll adopt a dog, but they never seem to. Slow down, I mean. Probably my fault,” he said grinning. “I tend to be a workaholic.”
“You aren’t too bad about work,” Kelly said, looking at him across the now empty appetizer plate. “I mean, sure, you go in early, but you’re home every evening by a decent hour.”
“Oh, that’s new. I’ve only started doing that since you moved in,” Jack said.
Kelly frowned. “You don’t need to change things for me, Jack. I never meant to keep you from your work.”
He grinned at her over the table. “I like it, Kelly. I like coming home at a normal hour and having time for dinner with you. I think it’s a good change.”
“Oh,” she said, the surprise on her face likely clear to him. “Oh,” she said more quietly to herself, and Jack laughed as she processed his confession. She didn’t really know how to feel about it.
After they enjoyed their meal and several glasses of wine, and split a dish of chocolate mousse, they decided to walk around the green before going over to the theater. Jack took Kelly’s hand in his, causing a flood of warmth through her body.
She liked that he didn’t seem to need to fill the silence as they walked. If they ran into a lull in the conversation, they could just leave it there, comfortable not to fill all the gaps with nonsense or babbling.
They talked more about Kelly’s plans for law school and her hope to work in appellate law after she graduated. Jack also updated her on some of the more interesting projects at work.
They laughed at Aunt Mabry’s blatant efforts to investigate their marriage, and Jack told her how Andrew nearly choked when Jack told him about Kelly’s big entrance the day they got engaged at his office.
Chapter 34
Jack and Kelly stopped to look at a church that sat along the edge of the green. It was an old stone church with one whole wall filled with stained glass windows. There were five tall panels in striking blue and teal, with reds mixed throughout and a circle above the panels in matching colors.
Even from the outside of the building it was breathtaking, and Jack wondered what it would look like from the inside with the sun streaming into the building. A small marker told them that the shape of the window was known as a chrysanthemum window.
As they stood looking up at the church windows, Jack wrapped his arms around Kelly from behind and pulled her close to him, resting his chin on the top of her head. He dipped his head to her neck and nuzzled her soft skin, enjoying the feel of her softness against him and the sweet smell of her.
She always smelled so good, and he wondered if it was a perfume or just an exceptional combination of her shampoo and innate sweetness.
Kelly tilted her head and opened her neck to him, and he kissed a trail across the back of her neck as he slowly enjoyed the feel of her skin on his lips. Her skin was soft and warm and it made him linger to feel her more.
He leisurely worked his way up to one ear, where he tugged her earlobe with his teeth before he caressed the same lobe with his lips to soften the bite. Kelly moaned and dipped her head.
He turned her in his arms and kissed along the soft line of her jaw, then slowly worked his way to her mouth, with sweet, soft kisses. When he got to her mouth, he abandoned the gentleness and covered her supple mouth with his.
Kelly responded to him, rising up on her toes to get closer to him. Her small fists closed in on his shirt, and she gripped the fabric over his hard chest the way they had when he kissed her under the tree in her parents’ yard, but this time she didn’t stop, but kept pulling him closer, sending Jack’s body into overdrive.
His tongue swept into her mouth, first entering to play with the tip of her tongue, then plunging deeper. Kelly pressed her body against the hardness of Jack’s chest and torso, and he felt her nipples brush against him sending a rush to his groin. He wanted to lay her down in the grass and feel every inch of her heated skin on his, to bury himself in her curves.
Jack ended the kiss, but held his forehead to hers as he caught his breath for a minute. “Sorry,” he said, his voice raw. “I forgot for a minute that we were in a public park.”
“Mm hmm,” said Kelly as if she didn’t trust herself with words.
He chuckled. “Maybe we should skip the show? I can always get us tickets for another time.”
Kelly nodded, and they turned to walk back to the car.
Neither of them noticed the dark sedan pull out from the curb as they walked away.
Chapter 35
The thirty-minute car ride seemed to Kelly like it took forever. They rode in silence but it was a comfortable silence, and she laughed as he pushed the speed limit, trying to shave off the minutes to get them home and up to their room.
His hand lingered on her thigh and his thumb brushed back and forth sending small shivers through her body with each teasing movement.
Kelly couldn’t believe that Jack had been telling the truth. She could feel his attraction for her as much as she could feel the pull of temptation to him. When he had her in his arms, she felt beautiful, desirable and wanted—beyond words.
Jack pulled his car into the driveway and came around to open her door. He offered her his hand and pulled her into his arms for a kiss before he turned toward the house without releasing her hand.
Minutes later, they walked into their bedroom and Jack pulled her into his arms.
“Have I told you how incredible you look tonight?” he asked.
Kelly laughed. “You mentioned it once or twice, but I don’t think you can overdo that. Have I told you how handsome you are tonight?” she asked as she ran her hands up the hard muscles of his biceps and onto his strong, broad shoulders. She could feel the power of his body beneath the soft, textured fabric of his shirt and she felt fragile in his arms.
Kelly pressed her palms flat against Jack’s shoulders and ran her fingers down his chest. She luxuriated in the feel of him and spread her fingers to try to feel more, to feel it all. Touching Jack made her hands tingle, sent a rush of heat through her body, sent a tightening ache down her belly and through her thighs in anticipation of what would come.
Jack looked into her eyes until he didn’t think he could stand it anymore, then dipped his head to capture her lips. Kelly gasped and sank further into him, pressing her body to his.
He reached behind her, unzipped her dress and it fell in a puddle at her feet. He let out a long, low groan at the sight of her, as his eyes traveled from her breasts down the smooth skin of her belly to her thighs, and all the way down her sexy legs, marveling at the creamy texture of her skin.
Jack dropped to his knees, his hands on her hips, mouth brushing softly on her belly, worshiping her as she let out a soft moan. He looked up to find her watching him, and the image of her eyes on him as he kissed her sent new waves of arousal through him as more blood rushed to his insistent erection.
Jack watched her small hands work the buttons of his shirt. But when she finished and reached in to touch his chest, it felt as if her fingers would burn him. He scooped her up and brought her to the bed, then stood watching her as he removed the rest of his clothing.
“I’ve never seen anyone as gorgeous as you look lying in my bed, Kelly,” he said. He brought his body down on top of hers and pressed lightly down on her as he kissed her lips once more before moving to the bottom of the bed.
“So beautiful.” Jack kissed her ankles.
“So sexy.” He traced kisses up her calves, along her thighs, all the while running one hand up her hips and into the curve of her waist and back down the full length of her legs.
“So soft.”
Chapter 36
Jack made Kelly feel cherished and treasured. Her body tingled as he touched her and she wanted so much more.
He left her legs and moved to her breasts. She sighed as he undid the small clasp in the front of her bra to cup her breasts in his hands. He let the skin on his palms play across her nipples, teasing them and bringing them to life for him.
He pulled her right nipple into his mouth, circled it gently with his tongue, and then sucked and nipped at it with his teeth before moving to the left breast, causing heat to pool in between Kelly’s legs.
Kelly pulled Jack up and kissed him. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, pulling him closer, needing to feel him pressed against her. She needed him closer still. She pressed her body into his and arched her back, desperate to feel all of him.
“Please, Jack,” she begged softly, and she felt his smile against her lips in answer.
“Not yet, Kelly.” His voice was low and raw, and his words sent shivers of anticipation up and down her spine as she writhed and moaned beneath him. Her body felt like an instrument that no one had known how to play before Jack. As his hands played over her body, she came alive.
Jack slid his hand between her legs to slip his hand under the silk and lace of her panties. She was wet and ready for him, swollen and hot.
“Jack.” His name slipped from her lips as if on a prayer.
He peeled Kelly’s panties down her hips and off her legs then returned to the head of the bed once again. He pinned her wrists above her head with one hand and continued his torturous, slow exploration, this time between her legs.
Kelly writhed beneath his hand and pressed herself into him, whimpering with desperate need. He teased her until she bucked under his hand and begged him to relieve her aching need.
He moved his fingers over her faster, giving her the speed and pressure she needed to reach her orgasm, and didn’t let up until he felt her break into pieces in his arms.
Jack held her while she caught her breath, then reached into the bedside drawer for a condom and quickly put it on. He lay on top of her and pressed himself against her, not entering her yet, but teasing, taunting, building her up again.
Kelly was wide-eyed with surprise as she arched against him and strained to get him to enter her, to end the torture.
With one swift stroke, Jack slid inside and they both cried out at the sensation of her wrapping around him, gripping him. He held still inside her for a moment, but she could only stay still for so long. She started to move her hips in tiny circles, pulling forth another groan from Jack as he began to slide in and out of her, slowly burying himself deeper within her.
Kelly tightened her legs around him and moved as he did. She pushed toward him and brought him deeper still. Jack wrapped one arm around her waist as he felt her body tense—coiling as if ready for release.
He leaned in to kiss her neck, and drove into her again and again as she began to shatter and pulse around him. Kelly fisted her hands into Jack’s hair and cried out his name as wave upon wave of sweet release rolled over her.
He continued to move slowly inside her, and she could feel the sweet, aching pleasure as it built in her again. She ran her hands up and down Jack’s chest.
She wanted to feel every ounce of him as she tightened her muscles around him and marveled at the feel of him tight inside her, hard and smooth and filling her. She brought her mouth to his and kissed him, then bit his lower lip before she gently soothed the hurt with her tongue.
Jack moved inside Kelly, marveling at the feel of her muscles wrapped tightly around him sharing her every response with him, her arms grasping him for more.
He tried not to think about the fact that every moment with her was better than the last, that everything about making love with Kelly was so much different, so much better than it was with any of the women he had taken to bed in the past.
She whispered, “Deeper, Jack,” into his ear and the sound of the whispered demand in her soft, sweet voice pushed him right over the edge. She fell along with him and rode the waves of her orgasm until he collapsed on top of her, both of them completely sated.
Chapter 37
Kelly smiled to herself as she realized where she was and whose arms were holding her. She could feel Jack stirring, and his hands began to slide over her body as she pressed greedily up against him. She stretched the length of her body against Jack, trying to feel more of him, all of him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispered as he trailed kisses along her shoulder. She had no idea that sensations on her shoulders could be so erotic, so sensitive, and if she were forced to pick a favorite spot at the moment, her shoulders might just be it.
Jack rolled her to face him and moved down her neck to the hollow between her breasts, and she thought briefly that she might need to change that assessment. When he took one nipple into his mouth and swirled his tongue over its peak, she knew she would never be able to choose a favorite. Everywhere Jack touched her, she felt on fire.
Kelly pressed against him, wanting to feel him inside her again. She ran her hands down his chest and around to his back and marveled at the feel of his muscles, the smooth coolness of his skin under her hands, the hard tautness of his muscles rippling under the surface. It only took a small touch of his body to have her not only ready for him, but willing to plead with him to take her.
With one swift move, Jack flipped them over so that he was lying on his back and Kelly straddled him. She laughed and smiled down at him.
“Good morning, Jack.” She began to rub herself along his hard length, but she didn’t take him into her yet.
Jack groaned and tried to pull her down onto him, but she laughed and pulled back.
Kelly thrilled to the feeling of power, her ability to bring this incredible man to his knees. She rocked her hips back and forth and enjoyed the slick, wet, hard feel of him between her legs slipping back and forth in her folds.
Jack watched Kelly’s face as she writhed above him. It was sheer torment not to slide inside her, but he could see now that she was close to the brink and he watched her face, in awe of her beauty as she brought herself closer and closer to climax on him.
It was incredible to see her so powerful, taking what she wanted from him, and he gritted his teeth to hold out long enough for her as she suddenly cried out and came crashing down.
She pulsed with pleasure, and Jack held her as the waves rode through her. When her body finally relaxed, he put one arm around her waist and flipped her underneath him in one quick motion.
She let out a giggle, but that quickly turned to a moan as he slipped on a condom and entered her in a swift thrust, and plunged into her depths, again and again until he found his own release with Kelly wrapped around him, holding him as he buried himself deeper inside her than she’d thought possible.
Collapsing in a heap, he pulled her tight into his arms, and they fell asleep once again.
Chapter 38
Jack cradled Kelly as they lay lazily in bed, her head on his
chest, while one of his hands drew languid circles on her shoulders and neck. He had never much cared to snuggle with women in the past, but he couldn’t seem to get enough of Kelly. He was compelled to hold her and touch her in whatever way he could until his body had recharged enough to take her again.
He loved the feel of her skin on his hands, the brush of her breath on his chest, the way their legs tangled together or her hair tickled his skin and teased him to life again.
He closed his eyes, content to hold her in his arms as long as she would let him.
“Jack?”
“Hmm?” Jack’s hand didn’t stop its exploration of Kelly’s soft skin as he answered her.
“Why is your aunt so dead set on having Chad in charge?” she asked, not lifting her head from where she was snuggled into Jack’s side.
“To hurt me.” He paused before adding, “There was a time when she was the happiest woman you’ve ever seen. Hell,” Jack said on a laugh, “she used to be as happy as Mrs. Poole.”
Kelly raised her eyebrows at that but waited for Jack to continue.
“Our families used to be so close. Chad and I were both only children, so he and I grew up more as brothers than cousins. We went on family vacations together, saw each other all the time. In those days, Aunt Mabry was so much fun. She was like a second mom to me. Then, one day, my uncle left her. He left, and we hardly see him. Even Chad hardly hears from him. He didn’t leave for another woman or anything like that. Chad said she felt like she wasn’t good enough, that he thought being alone was better than being with her. I thought he was a selfish prick, but what do I know?”