Dealing Double Page 16

  “I was kidding.” He laughed. “God, you’re so adorable.” He released her hands and then leaned down and nibbled on her neck.

  “See?” She poked him in the ribs. “You can’t be serious more than nineteen minutes in a row.”

  “Good thing my time starts right now.” His mouth moved to her collarbone, nipping and teasing until she shivered. Then his lips moved lower, and she hoped he’d do—

  Yes. That. Her breasts were so heavy with need. His lips and tongue teased and aroused until she nearly cried out, but then he’d back off and lay gentle kisses on her sensitive skin, before he’d start all over again. Driving her nuts, but in such a good way. Her hands fisted in the sheets to avoid running her palms over his scarred back or through his thick hair.

  When his rough hand covered a breast, and he gently kneaded, she writhed underneath his heavy weight.

  She whispered, “Can I touch you? Please?”

  His mouth moved lower, to her belly, and he mumbled, “You’re in charge, Gabby.”

  In charge of what? Lying underneath him and letting him please her beyond reason? Not that she had any complaints so far.

  But he kept heading south, farther out of her reach. He hooked his arms under her knees, lifting them up.

  Gently, he nudged her knees aside, exposing her fully to him. Rather than dive right in as she’d hoped, he softly kissed her inner thighs, taking his time to get to the good stuff. Jeez. At this rate, nineteen minutes of serious Jake might not be enough. She wanted to tell him to hurry and put her out of her misery, when something dawned on her. Was going downtown his way of avoiding her touch?

  When he finally hit the bull’s-eye, her hips bucked, and all thoughts about touching Jake were replaced with the intense focus of the methodical, lovely torture of his tongue. Then he curled his thick fingers inside her and made her whimper for mercy. His steamy breath along with the flicks of his tongue drove the warm simmer in her belly into a hot roar.

  His fingers began to move slowly in and out in long strokes while his tongue stoked the fire inside.

  She was almost there. The pressure inside maddening, the primitive need for release overwhelming. He laid a hand on her stomach to hold her jerking hips in place before his tongue and busy fingers intensified their assault, taking her to a whole new level. She wasn’t sure she could’ve stood all the sensations building between her legs another minute. On the brink, she’d wanted to beg him to make it stop. Or start. She hadn’t been sure. “Jake.”

  When he lifted his head, then crawled beside her body, the storm inside her lessened a fraction but still raged on. Her chest heaved with all the pent-up desire inside. Desire to find elusive release.

  As she lay on her back panting, Jake fumbled for a condom from his sweats. Her eyes tracked the motion of his hands rolling the ribbed latex down his length. The idea that a fancy condom could give her more pleasure than Jake already had seemed impossible.

  Then he gently rolled her over and grabbed a pillow to place under her hips. He knelt behind and nudged her legs aside with his knee. He pressed himself inside her, going slowly at first, allowing her to adjust to him, before his rhythmic strokes began.

  She absorbed all the fantastic sensations swirling inside, but she was sad that he’d probably picked this position so she wouldn’t touch him again. Not that it didn’t feel incredible. Her body thrummed and pulsed around his.

  She had a choice. She could close her eyes and enjoy the steady buildup of desire again, or she could be in charge. Like he said she was.

  She wanted to kiss him. Wanted to run her hands all over him. Feel every scar, every dip and valley his lean muscles formed on his chest. And she would. The next time they made love. If there was a next time. For now, she’d let him please her in a way that pleased him.

  As Jake increased the pace and intensity, she placed her hands against the soft headboard to steady herself as her body clenched his in time with him, faster and faster, until he groaned, “Gabby.”

  The absolute need in his voice only added to the insane power built up inside her, like a rough ocean thrashing her back and forth, teasing, tempting her to let go and let the powerful rush of the waves overcome her.

  When she couldn’t take another second, she gave in, let all the sensations waiting to burst wash over her, and let herself go.

  Jake followed right behind, moaning with each of his last thrusts, finally stilling inside her.

  He didn’t collapse on top of her like other men did but gently pulled away and then crawled beside her on the bed. He laid his head next to hers on her pillow and whispered, “That was amazing, Gabby.”

  She nodded, as she slowly reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. “Except I wanted to touch this. And you.”

  One eye squinted for a moment, as if he’d bitten into a lemon. He whispered, “Sorry. It takes time for me to . . .” He leaned closer and kissed her. Gently at first and then more urgently, slipping his hand along her face and softly caressing her cheek with his thumb.

  While his tongue danced in harmony with hers, she carefully scooted closer and ran her hand up and down his back, his muscles quivering under her light touch, but he didn’t shy away. Her palm gently explored the rough, hard, and occasional smooth parts. Even with all the scars, Jake’s back was incredibly sexy, all tight muscles and damp skin.

  When they finally had to stop their kiss for lack of air, he said, “That’s why you can’t ditch me. I need more time. To be able to make love to you the way you’d like me to.”

  Her heart melted into a big puddle of goo in her chest. “This time was pretty amazing. But that’s something worth sticking around for.” As her fingers gently caressed the back of his neck, her desire to disappear from her father’s enemies warred with wanting to be with Jake. If even for that month in the cabin. She’d do anything to be able to have at least that, before she had to go back to her normal life full of secrets and hiding.

  Jake rolled out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. “But when we run out of these fancy condoms, you have to buy the next round.”

  She glanced at the clock beside the bed, then rolled onto her back and smiled. “You’re slipping, Jake. You just went a whole thirty minutes without joking.”

  He returned and slid under the covers. “Bet I could go even longer this time.”

  “Prove it.”

  “Done.” While he kissed her, she couldn’t have cared less about their bet. His mouth and lips did magical things to her, took her to new heights she’d never felt before. He slowly leaned away. “You want to be in charge of the touching this time?”

  “I do.” She straddled him and then placed both hands on his chest. “I promise this won’t hurt a bit, Jake.”

  He cringed, then nodded. “What’s the record for being serious?”

  “Thirty-one long minutes. And I plan to use every bit of it to enjoy your incredible body for my own pleasure.”

  “I’ll probably live. Let’s do it.”

  Smiling, she leaned closer and kissed his full, soft lips. She’d taken his mind off his claustrophobia. And fallen a little bit more in love in the process.

  Chapter Twelve

  Gabby blinked her eyes open, orienting herself. She was on Annalisa’s plane, still in bed, naked. With Jake.

  She smiled and rolled over. She’d finally spent the whole night with a man she’d had sex with, and she looked forward to the morning-after routine she’d only read about in books or seen in movies.

  But the bed was empty. Jake was nowhere to be found. Figured. Her one and only opportunity to experience morning sex was not to be had. But the night before made up for that. The first time had been great, all about her, but then Jake let her make love to him. When she’d touched him at first, he’d fisted his hands in the sheets. But after a few minutes, he’d smiled and relaxed a little, so that had been progress. And a whole lot of fun to see how much pleasure she’d given him. Her new goal would be to get him to agree to both of t
hem touching at the same time, not just one or the other. That is, if they ever got the chance to make love again. Who knew what the days ahead would bring?

  She threw the covers back and headed for the shower. Annalisa’s plane was the nicest she’d ever been on. And her bathroom, if still a tad small, didn’t skimp on luxury. She looked forward to using the salon hair products she’d seen earlier in the shower.

  She checked the time, amazed she’d slept so long, and then opened a shade to see where they were. Still over the ocean with the lowering sun shining off the waves below. Beautiful. But she needed to hurry and get ready. They’d be landing in a little over an hour.

  When she stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in jeans and sneakers, Jake was at the desk in the main cabin, studying the computer screen intently. He looked so handsome, dressed in his button-down shirt and jeans, but weirdly she missed his cowboy boots.

  Still so happy about the night they’d shared, she wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and give him a hug but didn’t want to push his boundaries. She’d done plenty of that the night before. “Good morning.”

  He looked up from the computer and grinned. “Hey. ’Bout time you woke up. Ready for breakfast? I’m starving.” Without waiting for her answer, he called out. “We’re ready to eat now.”

  Monica appeared. “Be right out.”

  When the attendant disappeared into the galley, Jake stood, slowly lifted his hands, and then laid them on her shoulders. “Last night was fantastic, Gabby.” He gently squeezed.

  “Best night ever.” She’d have preferred the hug, but if that was the best Jake could do, she’d take it. Dani had warned her that he wasn’t good at expressing himself physically. He’d probably snuck out of bed so she wouldn’t roll over and accidentally cuddle with him. “You didn’t have to wait to eat.”

  “A little credit here, please. I patiently worked on my waiting-for-women skills the whole time you slept and then primped.”

  “My hero.” She never primped. It’d taken her all of twenty minutes, and her hair was still damp, although it smelled lovely. Like flowers and exotic spices.

  She headed for the bin where her backpack was stowed and sat. “I need to check my e-mail. Hopefully, everyone got back to me while we’ve been in the air.”

  “Yeah. We need a plan.” Jake sat in a big club chair across from her and stared out the window, his knee jiggling up and down.

  She laid a hand on his leg to still it. “We’re almost there. You’re doing great.”

  He took her hand and weaved his fingers through hers, probably because it was bugging him to have it on his knee, and then laid a soft kiss on her knuckles. “Being with you helps.”

  That made her heart soar. “You’re a pretty good time, too.” She’d miss him terribly after their month in the cabin was up. But one problem at a time. She needed to focus on the task at hand.

  She shook off her sadness and powered her phone on, then quickly logged in to her e-mail account. Her father had left a message. But not the information about Dean, as promised.

  Tires slowed us down, but on the way now. Drive from Paris to give me time to catch up, please. I’ll fill you in on Dean after you tell me where you’re staying in London.

  She wasn’t sure she should tell him. “Jake. Remember the stuff I couldn’t tell you last night about my father?”

  He whipped his attention from the window to her. “Yeah.”

  Cindy appeared with their breakfast. “Would you like it here or at the dining table?”

  “Here, please.” He lifted their tables from the sides of the big leather chairs for her to set everything out. “Thanks.”

  Gabby waited until they were alone and then said, “I ran into my father last night at the airport. He wanted to take me home, but when I resisted, he let me go. I can’t figure out why he’s allowing us to chase Dean when he thinks it’s so dangerous for me to be involved. He’s going to be in London later and asked if we’d drive, so he can catch up. He said he’s going to be nearby and watching us.”

  Jake dropped his fork filled with cheese omelet onto the china plate with a clatter. “He was thirty yards away?” He stood and paced the cabin back and forth, muttering something about criminals needing to be behind bars.

  She waited for him to have his moment and then said, “It doesn’t add up. Right?”

  Jake leaned down, put his hands on the sides of her chair, and opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if reeling his temper in, then sat beside her again. “No, it doesn’t make sense your father would let you go.”

  Jake shook his head, picked up his fork, and stuffed his mouth full of eggs. Evidently, that was all he was going to say on the subject, so she took a bite of her eggs and checked her phone.

  “Oh. Will left me a voice mail.” She hit the speaker and laid the phone on her tray.

  “Gabby, so glad you called. Dean’s in trouble. I’m in London trying to decipher a crazy map to find a statue and trade it for his life. I need your help. Please call me as soon as you can!”

  Jake’s right brow spiked as he dug into his hash browns. When he began calmly buttering his toast, she wanted to scream.

  “So? What do you think?”

  He added some jam. “Heard from your friend from London? Charlie, wasn’t it?”

  “Let me look.” She hadn’t checked her regular e-mail. She’d been avoiding it, but now that her father knew her plans, it wouldn’t matter. She called up her account and scrolled through the junk until she found what she was looking for.

  For time’s sake, she read the e-mail out loud.

  Gabs, the love of my life! Too long since we’ve had a chance for a chat. Or had a fun sleepover. What the hell are you doing mixed up in this steaming pile of shite? Everyone is after those statues. Especially some blue bloods, second or third cousins to the queen. They claim both statues belong to them. Some gift from the king of Spain in the day. They thought they’d lost them during the war. Call me the minute you hit town. Can’t wait to catch up, gorgeous!

  Both of Jake’s brows lifted as he finished his toast. “Fun sleepover?”

  “Seriously? After the barrage of new information, that’s what you comment on first?” Jeez. She and Charlie were just friends. “My dad said he’d send what he knows about Dean but asked where we’re staying first. What do we do?”

  “The love of his life?” Jake frowned as he finished off his eggs.

  “Focus, please.” She shook her head and dug into her eggs and hash browns, nearly groaning with pleasure. She’d been starving, too, but hadn’t realized it.

  Jake wiped his mouth on his linen napkin and then set it down. “Don’t want to drive to London. Paparazzi know it’s Annalisa’s plane landing and will follow us. We need someone else to book us a ride. Would your boyfriend send a chopper for us? That is, if I’d be invited, too?”

  The scowl on his face made her smile. Jake was jealous. She shouldn’t love that so much, but she was only human. “I can ask. Or we could always tell him you’re my butler or something.”

  “Your butler?” Jake stood and stalked down the aisle to the bedroom. The door closed firmly behind him.

  Pissy Jake was new. But she couldn’t blame him. One of the most wanted men in America had been yards away. The cop in him had to be struggling with that. Charlie’s e-mail hadn’t helped.

  She’d give Jake a few minutes to get ready and then talk to him. In the meantime, she finished her breakfast and then sent an e-mail to Charlie, asking for the chopper. She wanted to call Will back but didn’t want to do that without talking to Jake first. She stood to find him just as Cindy announced they were starting their descent into France and should be on the ground in forty minutes.

  She slowly stepped inside the bedroom and, when she didn’t see Jake, headed for the open bathroom door. Jake stood in nothing but a towel, shaving. The view was incredibly sexy, so she leaned against the frame to watch. “Charlie’s not my boyfri
end. I haven’t seen him in years. We’re e-mail buddies.”

  “Good.” He glanced her way. “Have a seat. Here’s what I think we should do.”

  Seemed his jealous moment was over.

  The only seat was the toilet lid, so she squeezed behind Jake, squelching the urge to give his nice butt a pat—she didn’t want him to flinch and cut himself—and sat. “Shoot.”

  For Jake, being in a chopper was about as fun as being buried alive. Thankfully, it was almost over. The airport lights were in sight. He reminded himself to breathe. And to be nice to the Charlie guy who was picking them up. “When are we meeting Will?”

  Gabby, annoyingly calm, smiled as she stared out the window at the English countryside below. “He’ll meet us at Annalisa’s home in Mayfair after we get back from dinner. Charlie suggested going to our favorite place to eat whenever we were in town on university breaks.”

  Our favorite place? “Maybe we should just go to the house. Keep a low profile? I’m sure Annalisa’s chef will whip something up for us.”

  She tore her face away from the view she’d been admiring and blinked at him. “No one knows we’re coming or who we are . . . yet. I think we’ll be fine, don’t you? Besides, it’s a really fun place. I think you’ll like it.”

  He decidedly would not like Gabby beaming those big brown eyes at another man. But they had to eat, and Gabby seemed excited, so he’d go along with the plan. “Fine. But no messing around. We eat and then we’re out. Got it?”

  “It’s called ‘messing about’ here. And I’m going to ignore that bossy tone and hope it improves. Looks like we’re here.”

  The chopper took a final spin and then landed on the tarmac. Thank God. He wiped the sweat from his upper lip and willed the big guy approaching the chopper to hurry and open the door so he could breathe again.

  When the door finally opened, Gabby let out a yelp. “Charlie!” Her body flew into arms that could be mistaken for tree trunks covered by leather. The guy was rich according to Gabby, so he probably didn’t have anything else to do other than going to the gym.