The Closer You Come

He freed his erection from his jeans and, using her wetness on his hand, stroked himself up and down, an easy glide.

“Touch yourself,” he commanded. “Let me watch you, see what you like.”

She had never before pleasured herself in front of a man, but this was Jase. Sex made flesh. Her fingers walked a path to the apex of her thighs, and his hot gaze remained riveted on their every move. She showed him what she preferred, how hard and how fast, perhaps harder and faster than he would have guessed, all while he stroked his erection.

“I’m ready for you,” she panted. “Please, get in me.”

“Don’t stop, angel. Don’t you dare stop.”

“But I’m going to...don’t want to...not without...” Oh!

Pleasure had been building steadily inside her, pulling her as taut as a bow, and seeing this feast of male aggression and carnality experience the same sensations at last pushed her over the edge. She cried out his name, her back arching. And then— Yes, yes! Her eyelids popped open. He’d put his face between her legs, was licking her up as she came and came and came, the rapture never ending, her entire body convulsing with satisfaction as he lapped and lapped.

He groaned deeply with his own satisfaction and spilled all over the bed.

Panting, she said, “You didn’t...we didn’t...”

When his shudders ceased, he straightened his spine. His hair was disheveled. His lips were red and swollen. Underneath his scars and tattoos had to be a thousand scratch marks.

He wouldn’t look at her. He’d purposely come outside her, hadn’t he?

“Why did you do that?” she asked quietly.

He fell to his back. “I just...I...” He ran a hand down his face.

Jase, at a loss for words. That was new. And somehow, it doubled her hurt.

She swung her legs to the side of the bed, standing to shaky legs. Motions clipped, she swiped up her clothes and dressed. She slipped her feet into her sandals, saying, “I’ve got to go.”

A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Don’t leave. Stay.”

“Why?” They hadn’t had sex and clearly wouldn’t. What was it, exactly, that he hoped to do with her? Confuse her to the point of insanity?

Too late.

“You’re upset,” he said. “I don’t like to see you upset.”

So...it had nothing to do with his feelings for her—him wanting her nearby—and everything to do with guilt. Tears welled in her eyes.

“Good night, Jase.” She marched from the room, head high.

* * *

JASE FOLLOWED BROOK LYNN to her car, though he never said a word, and she never acknowledged his presence.

When she disappeared down the road, he returned to his bedroom and paced like a caged animal. He’d handled things poorly. Could he really be blamed, though? He hadn’t been thinking clearly. He’d had her in his bed, naked, open and willing, tasting like melted strawberry ice cream, flushing so beautifully. The sounds she’d made...purrs of pleasure his ears would forever crave. She’d gone wild for him, and he’d been desperate to make sure she continued to enjoy it.

And she had. She’d begged him for a kiss, begged him for more, and he thought he would have killed to give her everything. Problem was, when it had come time to do the actual deed, he’d remembered her gift, her offer of one time only. If he’d taken her then, that would have been it for them, the end. He wouldn’t get to take her tomorrow...or the next day...or the next.

Once wasn’t going to be enough. He realized that now. He wanted her countless times in countless ways. Underneath him. On top of him. Beside him. On her hands and knees. Her mouth on him, his length down her throat. His mouth on her, making her go wild again and again and again.

More than that, he wanted to do everything on her fun list. The two of them, together. When she “danced for a hot guy,” it would be him. No one else.

But after the way she’d stormed off, he wasn’t sure she’d agree to that.

He switched off the music and heard a knock at his door. “What?”

“Everything okay in there?” West asked.

“Yeah,” he croaked. “Fine.” Might never be fine again.

“Glad to hear it. But next time, if you don’t want us to know you’re giving your employee a little strange, tell her not to scream your name.”

Smart-ass. Jase threw a pillow at the door.

“I’ll pretend that was a hug.”

“Oh, goody. Is it hug time?” Beck asked, joining the Torture Jase game.

“Go away before I remove what’s left of your balls with pliers,” Jase told them.

The boys’ laughter started off strong but faded as they ambled away.

Jase fell on his bed and peered up at the ceiling. He had to protect himself from future hurt.

But...he didn’t want to protect himself from her.

He needed more of Brook Lynn, not less. I can’t let her go. Not just yet.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BROOK LYNN HAD the next day free—though she would be on call—her first break in forever. To be honest, she wasn’t sure what to do with herself. Also, it was odd, knowing she wouldn’t be doing any non-wife wifing unless Jase had one of those casserole emergencies he’d mentioned. Odd...and freaking awesome. But mostly awesome. And okay, a little awful. She’d spent last night squirming in bed, remembering the way he’d touched her, desperate for everything she’d been denied.