“What we’ve done is fuel the reporters’ frenzy,” Megan said. “It will be impossible to go anywhere without a tail.”
“We’ll help,” Saber said. “Don’t worry. Your few days away will be private unless one of you suffers from foot in mouth disease.”
The press pursued them home, but Gerard closed the gate at the end of the long driveway, halting their chase. Megan wanted to cheer as the gate shut behind the last of their vehicles. The childish part of her wanted to poke out her tongue, but she restrained the urge.
“The first time we’ve ever shut the gate,” Gerard said.
They’d arrived back at the house together. Henry had ridden with them while Gerard and London drove in their own vehicle. Leo and Isabella Mitchell, Gerard and Henry’s friends, arrived soon afterward. Leo was lending Jacey his SUV for the next week and returning her rental car for her.
They were a friendly bunch, and apart from the reporter situation, Megan had enjoyed herself. She’d arrived with low expectations and had a ball. None of them gave her the celebrity treatment or treated her as if she were an exotic creature. It was…nice, she decided.
“So, where are you and Jacey going?” Isabella asked. The blonde wore an edge of determined intensity, yet Megan didn’t think she meant to use the information for her own gain.
“I don’t know. He won’t tell me.” Megan couldn’t believe how calmly she was taking this organization. Normally, she liked to keep tabs on her schedule and give herself an exit strategy. With Jacey, she didn’t worry about him doing anything underhand, but she wasn’t one-hundred percent sure why she trusted him. It was a gut thing, yet she’d never trusted her instincts to this extent. Weird, but she could envision a time when she might even confess she wrote torrid paranormal romances under a penname in her spare time.
That had never happened before.
In the large kitchen and dining area, London dispensed glasses of wine and bottles of beer. She pulled two containers of homemade dip from the fridge plus a plate of vegetable sticks and crudités. From the cupboard, she grabbed a large packet of crisps and dropped them into a bowl.
Megan’s phone vibrated, and she pulled it out of her pocket to glance at the screen. She’d left it turned off during the matches. When she’d powered it back up again, it was full of messages and texts from colleagues and other media contacts wanting to know the gossip. Those she ignored. This latest call, however, she didn’t want to consign to her trash.
“I need to return this call,” she said to London. “I’ll be back soon.” She headed to Jacey’s suite and locked the door after her, not wanting any interruptions. Not that she thought any of them would try to eavesdrop, but she didn’t want to take chances. Commonsense told her to take this slow even if her gut told her this was right. Stupid gut instinct.
“Hi, Janet. What’s up?”
“You remember we were talking about ghostwriting? I have a job for you. It’s not ghostwriting He wants someone to write his biography for him. Doesn’t have the time or the patience to do it himself.”
Excitement burst in Megan. “Okay. Who is it?”
“Strangest thing,” Janet said. “The guy was born in New Zealand but didn’t hit it big in pop and country until he moved to the States. Dillion Grieves. Have you heard of him?”
Who hadn’t? Extraordinary songwriter with a type-A personality. “Didn’t he have a recent stay at rehab?”
“A wake-up call, he told me. He wants to write his life story to prove anyone with a dream can achieve the same success with hard work. His purpose is to let young people know it is a mistake to rely on drugs and alcohol to get through dark periods. He said if he can save one person from making the same mistakes he did, it would be worth it. Guy sounded sincere, and even better, he’s in New Zealand for several concerts next week. I told him about you and he wants to meet.”
“Sounds good. I’m not sure what is happening at work yet and won’t know until after my holiday, but it won’t hurt to speak with this guy.”
“Good. I’ll arrange it and get back to you. Evening meetings work best for you?”
“Yes, either that or breakfast meetings.”
“Done. Oh, you need to keep quiet about this. He wants no one to learn about this project before he is ready.”
“No problem.”
“How is it down in the country? Did you get to plan B yet?”
Megan grinned. “I did.”
“Oh? Tell me more.”
“No. Not right now. I don’t want to spoil things.”
“Should I check the online gossip for your part of the world?”
Megan shuddered. “No.”
“Ah!” Janet sounded delighted. “That means I should. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to.”
Megan groaned. “Let me know about the schedule, and I’ll make it work.” She hung up to Janet’s delighted laughter.
The phone rang again. Rowena, her job replacement. No. She refused to speak to her. Megan sent the call to voice mail and left her phone on the bedside table. While she couldn’t in good conscience switch it off right now because her sister might call, she could ignore her calls and check on them periodically.
Megan made her way back to the kitchen and found that the party had moved to the lounge. A fire burned in one of those modern fires that looked as if logs were burning but it was all an illusion. The heat was welcome though, since it had rained as they left the sports grounds.
“Everything okay?” Jacey asked, his face brightening when he saw her. He stood and came to meet her, his good manners giving her the warm tinglies.
“A work thing,” she said, keeping her answer vague. “It’s a meeting I need to attend after my holiday.”
Jacey guided her to the couch where he had been sitting. “Is wine okay for you or would you prefer something different?”
“I can control myself around wine, you know.”
“That’s good to know,” Henry said from across the other side of the room. “I’d hate to fend you off again, or worse, face Jacey because he caught us kissing.”
Gerard and London cackled.
“Embarrass me again, why don’t you?” Megan chided. “I was having an atrocious day.”
That set the tone for the rest of the evening. There was joking and teasing and she learned about local gossip and about the various neighbors and family members.
“Do you have family in Auckland?” Isabella asked.
“My sister and her husband live just out of Auckland. I don’t see them as much as I’d like because of my work commitments. Tessa is having her second child any day now. That’s why I can’t turn off my phone.”
“You don’t want to spend your holiday with her?” Jacey offered her a guarded smile, as if he dreaded the answer.
“No, Tessa doesn’t expect me to hover. She says she has several sisters-in-law for that. I’ll visit once the baby arrives and send a welcome baby present.”
“Hey, Isabella,” Leo said. “It’s time for us to head home. Do you need help to confuse the press tomorrow morning?”
“Yes please,” Jacey said. “Thanks for lending me your vehicle. Once I get back, I’ll purchase one of my own. I can’t keep borrowing vehicles.”
“There’s no hurry to get it back.” Leo stood and held out his hand for his wife. “We’ll get to wave at the reporters as we drive past in Megan’s flashy rental. They might take our photo.”
“I hope not,” Isabella said. “Last thing I need is more women chasing after my gorgeous mate.”
With thanks and goodbyes, the couple left. London cleared empty bowls and glasses, a big yawn stretching her jaw.
“I can tidy up for you,” Megan offered.
“I’m not intending to do more than rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, but I wouldn’t mind an extra set of hands to cart them out to the kitchen.”
Megan helped London, then poked her head back into the lounge where the men were discussing a Super Rugby match. �
��I’m off to check my phone, so I’ll say good night.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Jacey said, his blue eyes lighting with heat.
“Good night, Megan,” Henry called.
“See you in the morning,” Gerard said.
A blush crawled across her face at the accompanying wink from Jacey, the act hurling her back into the past and her relationship with Charlie. They’d been so happy together. High school sweethearts. They’d planned their future. Decided to wait for the kids. Then he’d gone to Afghanistan and hadn’t come home. Her smile stuck to stiff lips as she turned away.
Things would’ve been so different if Charlie had lived.
She entered Jacey’s suite and walked through to the en suite. They’d stopped to pick up her clothes and to check out from the cottage, and her cosmetics and toiletries mingled with Jacey’s. Something she’d never had with Charlie. A simple thing that shouldn’t make her weepy, yet it did.
The outer door opened and Jacey’s reflection appeared in the mirror with her. His initial smile faded.
“What’s wrong?”
She turned to face him and gave him a watery smile. “Do you think about your wife sometimes?”
“Of course I do. We had a good marriage. Henry reminds me of Moira. His smile. He smiles, although you wouldn’t know it. The way he tilts his head.”
“I became engaged to my high school sweetheart when I turned twenty. He’s been on my mind today, since I met you.”
“What happened?”
She swallowed. “He died in Afghanistan. He was a soldier.”
“Aw, Megan.” Jacey took her into his embrace and wrapped her in a sympathetic hug. “It’s natural to think about your fiancé, especially since you’ve landed feetfirst in a relationship with me. You went through a lot together with your fiancé. What was his name?”
“Charlie.”
“And?”
“You.” She hesitated then went with honesty. “I’ve never clicked with anyone as well as I did with Charlie, not until you. It’s put me off my stride, made me doubt myself.”
“Instead of worrying about the future, why don’t we enjoy our time together?” Jacey brushed a fingertip over her cheek, then traced it around her lips. A tingle sprang to life and frisked her body in a visceral reaction, pulling her nipples tight. Her gaze lifted to connect with his, and the heat in his strange eyes weakened her knees.
He wanted her. Her.
Not her public persona. Her fame and well-known face didn’t seem to impress him at all.
“We’ve known each other for mere days. We have five more days to spend together, to see if we fit and want to aim for more. There is plenty of time to talk and get to know each other.”
The urge to bite her lip became too strong for her, and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, worrying it as she attempted to calm her racing fears. She wasn’t sure if she should trust her instincts about him. That was what it came down to—a difficulty to trust this man who was essentially a stranger. Charlie’s death, the other men in her life who had disappointed her, leaving her alone.
She’d wanted children at one time. Now it was too late because she didn’t want to be that elderly mother waiting at the school gate.
“Megan.” Her name was whisper-soft, yet held a tinge of order. “One day at a time. Please, give us a chance.”
She nodded. “I’m normally more decisive.”
“We all have our moments.” Jacey kissed the tip of her nose, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “All I ask is you keep an open mind. Don’t decide that this is wrong between us because it’s happening so fast. If you want to walk away, do it now. Please.”
A lump filled her throat, making her swallow and swallow again. A chill prickled her arms and legs. Fear. It stood up and howled through her mind—a mournful howl that sounded like a wolf.
She shook her head and the despondent cry ceased. Her gaze rose to meet his again. “I can’t leave. If I walked away now, I’d always wonder about what might have been. I’d be a coward, and the last thing I want to do is be a scaredy-cat full of regrets.”
“Which means?”
“I might have doubts and concerns, but I want to relax and spend the next few days with you. That is my last word on the matter.”
“Do you have a bikini?”
Her brows rose at the change of subject. “I have a two-piece.”
“Close enough. We might have time to do a day trip to Tekapo. Have lunch overlooking the lake. Swim in the hot pools there. What do you say?”
“I’ve only visited the main centers in the South Island through my job—Christchurch and Dunedin. I’d love to see more.”
“Good.” He pulled away and held out his hand. “Want to share the shower with me?”
The quick punch of a memory—an old one where she and Charlie shared a tiny shower together. To save water, he’d said, but they’d groped and caressed and kissed, getting themselves off before they hit the bedroom. So long ago. A memory with so much hope for the future.
“Yes,” she said decisively. “You start while I clean off my makeup. I’ll be quick.”
“We won’t hurry,” he replied. “This shower might take time, and once we’re done, we’ll have a do-over in bed.”
A shiver worked through Megan. “Sounds like a plan.” She reached for her cleanser and started her evening ritual. Behind her, Jacey started the water running, and his clothes rustled as he disrobed.
Some of her worry dispersed.
One day at a time.
She wiped the cleansing milk off her face with practiced strokes of a tissue, then pulled off her clothes. She opened the glass door to the shower and stepped under the warm water.
Jacey grinned with approval. “You were quick.”
“You didn’t believe me?”
“Moira was never on time. Never. It was one of her charming quirks.”
Instead of the jab of mental pain, at the mention of Moira, she smiled. “Charlie was always early. Used to drive me crazy. Do you have any flaws you care to admit to?”
Jacey took his time answering, squeezing shower gel onto a washcloth. “I get cranky sometimes and need space before I regain my balance. I go for a run, and that clears away the blues. You?”
“I eat too much chocolate, and I have a fondness for the white stuff, which isn’t chocolate at all. When I have downtime, I pick up a book. These days my e-reader since I can carry my entire library with me. I have a terrible book habit. My office at home is full of bookshelves, all overflowing. I need more, but there is no space to put them.”
“Hmmm,” Jacey said. “I like books. Mostly nonfiction.”
“I read romance, but I’ll deny that if you repeat the information. I’ll deny everything.”
A rumble of humor shook Jacey’s frame. He pushed her wet hair away from her face and tipped her head up so he could kiss her.
And that was the last of the talking they did. They confined their communication to groans of appreciation, silken touches and erotic whispers. His mouth was hot and wet against her neck, and the lazy stroke of his tongue against the sensitive cords had her pulse racing. The gentle suction of his mouth and his skillful hands that skimmed with purpose, with skill that had desire stirring, tugging at her pleasure points.
Her nipples hardened beneath his questing fingers, and a hungry little noise rushed past her pursed lips as his hand cupped her mons. One blunt finger traced her seam and sparks of pleasure followed in the wake of that digit. Her breath caught, and she widened her stance.
“I enjoy the way you respond to my touch. It’s not practiced, as if you have a routine.” He nipped at the base of her neck. “Your reactions are real.” Jacey maneuvered her against his chest and whispered against her ear. “I want my cock inside you. Want to feel your snug warmth again.”
His soft words, erotic and blunt, had her inner walls clenching. “Yes,” she agreed.
“One problem. I forgot to bring a condom with me.”
Jacey chuckled. “I love the girl. She’s perfect for Gerard.”
“So what do we do?”
“We work around the limitation.” His finger circled her clit and a buzz of sensation had her catching her breath. He ran his finger lower and dipped it inside her. He licked the shell of her ear when her head fell back.
“Jacey,” she whispered. It normally took her longer to warm up, but this…this was something else. Breathtaking and decadent. And those sinful lips of his. His finger invaded and retreated, invaded and retreated while his other hand rolled a nipple. His lips and teeth continued to kiss and nibble. He cajoled and captivated and whispered to her in a husky voice.
“I want to feed my cock to you, see your lips wrapped around my girth. Want to do so much with you, to you, but most of all I want to shove into you until neither of us know where we begin or end.”
His voice was velvet rough, his finger continually moving, filling her, driving her pleasure higher. He nuzzled her neck, bit down lightly, and she exploded—a short, sharp climax that left her gasping and shuddering.
Jacey turned her to face him, his eyes that deep blue with the underlying amber tinge. She was learning that when his eyes looked like this, he wanted her. Her lips curved. As if she needed the additional info. His cock was a hard spike against her backside.
Jacey turned her around to face him. “I want a comfortable bed for my next move.”
Megan stared at him, her gaze flickering down to his erection.
“But first we’ll finish our shower.” He added shower gel to his washcloth and rubbed across her breasts, then her belly. The water poured down, cleansing away the fragrant suds. Megan lifted her face to the water while Jacey washed his own body.
“Done?”
“Yes.”
He flipped off the water and reached outside the cubicle to grab the two navy-blue towels waiting for their use.
Five minutes later, clean and much dryer, Megan sat on the edge of the bed, combing her hair. She glanced up to meet Jacey’s intense gaze.
“I want you.”
My Plan B (Middlemarch Shifters Book 11) Page 12