by Lori Foster
Her lips parted.
With her direct gaze, her lush lips, the way she tilted toward him, Briana begged for a kiss. Jax knew he couldn’t start yet, because once he started, he wouldn’t want to stop. “With the power out, your hot water won’t last so if you want to wash up, I suggest you make it quick.”
She blinked, regaining her aplomb. “I wish I had something to change into.”
“No problem.” He peeled off his flannel shirt and held it out as an offering. “You’re welcome to it.” In fact, he’d love to see her in it—and nothing else.
“Won’t you get cold?”
Alone for the entire night with Briana? “Not a chance.”
She lifted the shirt to her nose and inhaled. “All right.”
“While you’re in there, I’m going to move your area rugs in front of the fire. We probably won’t get much sleep—” not that sleep was his priority now anyway “—but it’ll be better than the cold floor.”
They heard a snore and both leaned around the wall to see the dog, sprawled in front of the door, half on the towels, half off, sound asleep.
“That is,” Jax clarified, “unless you’re a big wooly dog.”
Still with his shirt held to her face, her eyes closed, Briana nodded. “I’m glad he’s comfortable and out of the cold, but I’m not a dog and I’m already cold. I moved the old rugs that were here into the laundry room if you want to get them, too. They’re clean. I just didn’t like the color.”
“All right.” He started to turn, but she stopped him.
Lowering the shirt, she tried for nonchalance and suggested, “We could share the water.”
Jax inhaled a sharp breath. Visions of showering with Briana, her naked body slick with water, had him fighting off a boner.
She forged on, saying, “I also have a toothbrush here that you’re welcome to use.”
He searched her face, so damned tempted.
She jumped in before he could figure out the right words. “I know you don’t want to get involved, and I swear, I understand. But I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. Since that first day I saw you at my parents’ house, I’ve wanted you nearly nonstop.” Stepping closer, she laid a small, cool palm on his chest and even through his T-shirt, it jolted him.
Covering her hand with his own, he moved closer, too. “It’s been the same for me.”
She gave a tremulous smile. “Then...this is our chance, right? We have an opportunity to do whatever we want. No one has to know, so there won’t be any entanglements for you.”
He’d know—and once he went down this path, would there be any going back? Hell, even without having her, after only a few kisses, he knew the answer was a resounding no. He wanted Briana, wanted her for his own. Today, tomorrow.
Now and forever.
Forget staying uninvolved. She’d tied him up in knots from the start.
The timing sucked, but when would it be better? After he, Owen and Ella suffered their first Christmas together in a few months? After they’d spent a year without their parents? When Ella went off to college in two years?
No, he didn’t have it in him to wait that long. If he did, he’d probably lose Briana and he already knew he’d never find another woman like her.
Her silky hair felt warm as he gently tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek, down her throat, cupping behind her head and drawing her up.
With a soft sound, she went on tiptoes to meet him halfway, her lips already parted, her body moving flush against his.
It wasn’t the time to get carried away, not with their limited options. As difficult as it proved to be, Jax kept the kiss brief. “Grab the flashlight, then take a quick shower. I’ll get things set up in front of the fire and wash after you’re done.”
It took her a second to catch her breath, but she eventually got her hands unknotted from his shirt. After a heavy swallow and a deep breath, she agreed. “I’m going to be fast.”
He smiled. “Same.”
A minute after she closed the bathroom door, he heard the water come on. Making quick use of the time, he got the rugs and spread them out before the fire, adding as many as he could to create a cushion on the cold wooden floor. They’d have to stay close together, but that wouldn’t be a problem.
The dog didn’t stir except to open one eye and watch him, then close it again and go back to snoring.
Jax checked his jacket and found it was now dry, so they could use that and his coat as blankets. This close to the fire, it wouldn’t be too bad. Hell, he was damn near burning up just thinking about what he wanted to do.
The bathroom door opened and he turned to see Briana wearing his blue-and-gray flannel shirt with thick white socks—and nothing else.
The flashlight dangled loosely in her right hand, sending more light over the floor than on her. In her left arm she held her discarded cardigan.
Jax stood, his chest constricting, and allowed his gaze to track down her legs. He’d seen her in less. Bathing suits in the summer. Miniskirts and shorts. But this was different, because now he knew he could touch. “I like the socks.”
Her mouth twitched. “I can take a lot, but not cold toes.”
“It’s sexy.” Not a lie. Always, every time he saw her, it struck him anew that Briana was the sexiest woman he’d ever known. She could wear burlap and make it mouthwatering.
“Jax?”
His gaze kept roving over her. “Hmm?”
“Make it fast.” Sauntering forward, she murmured, “I’ll be by the fire waiting.”
With the provocative way she said that? It took him less than three minutes, including cleaning his teeth. Good thing because the hot water lasted only two.
He left his discarded clothes folded next to hers on a bathroom shelf, emerging in unbuttoned jeans and, like her, he wore his socks. Briana had stretched out on her side, her head propped on a palm, the cardigan over her hips and thighs.
Over by the door, the dog ignored them. He considered that another stroke of luck. The animal could have been needy. Afraid. He could have wanted to cuddle.
Instead, he just seemed exhausted and was glad to be warm and dry.
Good boy, Jax silently praised. Now with any luck, the dog would stay content for the rest of the night so he could enjoy Briana without interruptions...
An additional concern suddenly struck him.
Protection.
He wasn’t a bastard, so he kept his distance rather than tempt either of them by getting close. How they proceeded was a decision she had to make with a clear head. “I don’t have a rubber.”
He wasn’t one to take chances, but there’d been no reason to carry one on him since he hadn’t planned to sleep with anyone. Now, with Briana, he knew he wouldn’t be able to turn away—unless she told him to.
Just as matter-of-factly, Briana replied, “I got on the pill as soon as I knew I wanted you, which was pretty much within five minutes of seeing you again.”
Relief coursed through him, urging him forward until he dropped down to kneel beside her. “It was the same for me.”
She sat up. “But you’re a lot tougher than me, Jax. I’ve chased after you, I know. I tried not to be too persistent, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.” Her smile flickered. “Guess I’m greedy.”
“You’re perfect.” Perfect for his battered determination, his worried mind, his exhausted psyche. Briana had come along at a time when he’d badly needed a boost. Working nonstop, no time to deal with his grief and concerned for his siblings, life had seemed overwhelming. Then she’d stepped in, flirted, teased, and easily lightened his load.
He cupped her face. “I’m so damn glad you didn’t give up on me.”
Again her eyes widened, but he didn’t give her a chance to draw back. No more talking. No more shared concerns. For this one night he could put aside his
new reality and just enjoy life—by enjoying Briana.
Tomorrow, he’d figure out his next move.
When her lips met his, he meant to take it slow, to make it last, but Briana had other ideas. Holding on to him, she reclined onto their makeshift bed, drawing him down over her, wrapping her arms and one bare leg around him.
Clear thought fled at the feel of her soft curves cushioning his body. He devoured her mouth, his tongue tasting her, licking deep, hot and wet. It had been so long, too long—and never with a woman like this. Like her.
He covered her breast with his right hand, loving the way she pressed into his palm, the hungry sound she made. He could feel her nipple puckered tight, an irresistible temptation.
The dog grumbled, making them both freeze. Jax twisted to look at him, but the dog only rolled over, giving them his back. A reluctant smile tugged at Jax’s mouth.
Turning back to Briana, he whispered, “Try to be quiet.”
She drew in a shuddering breath and nodded. “Seems impossible, but I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll help,” he said and took her mouth again.
Already the flannel shirt had ridden up, so when Jax reached for the hem, his hand encountered a bare hip. He freed his mouth to look at her face as he explored her silky thigh, up and over her hip bone. His shirt swam on her, making it easy to get beneath it, to glide his palm over her narrow waist, her rib cage—and to her naked breast.
The shirt caught on his wrist, rising with his hand. Levering back, he looked at her. Other than the socks covering her small feet and the shirt bunched around her throat, she was bare.
And stunningly beautiful.
“Damn.” He stroked his thumb over her darkened nipple, seeing her stomach muscles tighten, hearing the catch in her breath. He lightly pinched, tugged, rolled, encouraged by her gasps and the way she tilted back her head, lifting her upper body toward him.
Wanting more.
Wanting him.
He took her nipple into his mouth—and she cried out, but quickly used her forearm to muffle the sound, and with her other hand, she tangled her fingers in his hair.
This time when he tugged, teasingly, insistently, Briana went a little wild. Instead of passively accepting, she began her own out-of-control explorations, over his chest and shoulders, down his spine—and straight into his loosened jeans.
Jax freed himself long enough to shuck them off, stripping away his socks at the same time. Briana tried to grab him, but he wanted her naked, as well.
Pretty sure neither of them felt the chill in the air anymore.
Undoing the buttons of the flannel shirt in rapid order, he spread the material wide and gazed at her.
Every sweet, soft, pink inch of her. Mine.
Didn’t matter that it was a possessive attitude. Didn’t matter that it was too soon, or that there’d be complications galore. He’d never be able to give her up.
“Jax,” she breathed softly. “Now, okay? I can’t wait.”
But she could. She would—because he wanted all of her.
Leaning down, he kissed her other breast, sucking and licking until her breath turned ragged and her hips lifted against him in a frantic rhythm. He kissed her ribs, the slight rise of her belly—
“Jax?”
Pressing her right leg out to the side, he nuzzled against her heated flesh, breathing her in, holding her close, trying to get his fill of her fresh, hot scent.
“Ah... God,” she whispered.
Jax was almost too far gone to hear her. Parting her gently with his thumbs, he licked over her. In her. Sliding his tongue deep, gathering her dew, wanting every drop. So sweet.
With his right hand, he opened her and slid a finger in.
With his left, he held her breast.
With his tongue...he circled her small clit, teasing, flicking, and then he sucked her in and she lost it.
Loving the way she moved against his face, how she bit her fist as she cried out over and over again, the way her inner muscles squeezed his finger and the slick essence of her climax.
When she finally went limp, he rushed up and over her. Holding her face, he kissed her parted lips—and thrust into her.
God, she felt good. He knew he wouldn’t last, but he’d love to have her with him again if possible. Little by little, as he metered each stroke and retreat, she revived, holding him closer, whispering softly, clenching, more and more—this time when she bowed beneath him, Jax let go and joined her. Tilting his head back, growling out his release.
CHAPTER SIX
THANK GOD the dog was a sound sleeper.
He actually snored, he slept so deeply.
The humans, however, didn’t sleep. They dozed in between sexual explorations, some bold, some subtle. At one point, thankfully while they’d only been cuddling, the dog sat up and whined, so Jax did the manly thing of pulling on jeans, a coat and boots, and took him out.
When he came back, the dog was once again covered in snow. He made a beeline for the kitchen, snuffling around the empty plate where she’d fed him lunch meat.
Knowing he might be hungry, that he could have been alone for a while without food, Briana got up and pulled on her cardigan, then opened a can of soup for him. He ate it quickly and once again retired.
Briana sat down beside Jax. “He’s not a pup,” she said, admiring the dog. He really was a beauty, and the way he slept in front of the door felt very protective.
“Probably eight or nine years old,” Jax agreed. He touched her knee, traced a finger along her thigh. Not to stir her, just because he could. Because he wanted to touch her. “Will you name him?”
“I was thinking about that.” Now that she was warm again, she discarded the sweater and together they crawled back into their makeshift bed. “How about Thor?”
Combing his fingers through her hair, Jax said, “Mmm. I like it.”
The heat of the fire combined with Jax’s warmth enveloped her. She felt lethargic but with overly sensitized nerves that sparked everywhere their bodies made contact.
His mouth... Lord help her, the man had such an amazing mouth, even more tantalizing than she’d imagined—and she’d imagined a lot. The ways he kissed her, where he kissed her, the gruff things he whispered and the raw sounds he made when coming.
She knew she’d never be the same after this night. Jax was the man she was meant to be with. He’d changed her irrevocably and ruined her for all other men—not that many men had really existed before him anyway.
Now, how could she convince him?
Briana peeked up at his gorgeous face. Yes, that face—and that mouthwatering body—had first caught her attention. However, it was the man himself, the responsible big brother, the concerned caretaker, the gentleman and the gallant manner that had really won her over.
He loved his brother and sister so much that he’d altered his entire life in an attempt to make their lives better. He had such internal strength that he could put aside his own grief in an effort to alleviate theirs.
Yes, the wrapping was gorgeous—but it was the prize inside that had really stolen Briana’s heart.
Curled against his side, the cardigan over her shoulders, his coat over their legs, she played with his chest hair while her mind wandered toward their future. He seemed too quiet, his gaze lazily flickering over the ceiling, as if he didn’t really see it.
Pressing against his warm skin, she offered a small caress. “You’re worried about Owen and Ella?”
His gaze slanted to hers, and his arm tightened in a brief hug. “Not really worried. I just hope they’re getting along. Owen can be so bossy these days. It’s his way of trying to control our situation.” Turning his head to see her again, Jax’s expression softened, warmed.
Oh, she knew that look.
He kissed the end of her nose, then the corner of her mou
th. “Owen’s bossiness wouldn’t be so bad, except that it clashes with Ella big-time. She’s sweet one moment, irrationally pissed off the next.” He let out a ragged breath. “At least they should be home, safe and sound.”
“Is there a chance they wouldn’t be?”
“I don’t think so. They’ve both gotten into the spirit of our schedule. Little conflicts remain, but nothing major. If they needed to be out, if either of them had a date, they’d have let me know before today.”
Briana crawled onto his chest and sprawled over him, letting her hair curtain their faces as she kissed him. Not a sexual kiss, but one of understanding.
His hands went to her backside and started a now-familiar slow massage. The man did seem to like that part of her anatomy.
She smiled. “I can tell you’re worrying, though. Will you talk to me about it?”
He considered her for a long moment before nodding. “The snow is a big reminder that the holidays are right around the corner.”
Dawning awareness hit, drawing her brows together in sympathy. “The first without your parents.”
He nodded. “It’s going to be rough on them.”
And you, she thought, but didn’t say it aloud. It seemed to her that Jax dealt with his grief by focusing on his siblings. As long as he thought only about them, he didn’t have to deal with his own sense of loss. She cupped a hand to his jaw, now bristly with brown whiskers. “Is there anything I can do?”
He turned his face to kiss her fingertips. “My parents used to go all out. Mom played holiday music all day long. Dad and I would put lights all over the house. Owen and Ella picked a tree. By Christmas morning, presents filled the living room.”
Her heart broke for him. “It sounds wonderful.” But how could he possibly replicate all that on his own?
Jax kept his voice soft as he reminisced. “Ella shopped with Mom nonstop. Dad always made a big production of his special fruit salad. Owen and I cleaned up the mess after all the gifts were opened.” His fingers drifted idly on her shoulder. “We all had our routine jobs—and now everything will be different.”
No denying that. Briana hugged him tight, saying, “Different, yes, but it can still be wonderful.”