“Do you want to talk about it?” she murmured against his chest.
“No.”
“Do you want to have some hot sex instead of getting into a cold cab and driving away?” She looked up and grinned. “I’m awake. You’re awake. We’ve only gone three rounds. Why not make it an even four? I’m already undressed.” She took his hand and drew it down between her legs. “You don’t even have to waste time with foreplay. This is what you do to me. I’m all ready to go.”
“I shouldn’t . . .”
“Don’t tell me you don’t want to.” She ground her hips against his cock, now rock hard beneath his boxers. “I simply won’t believe you.”
Jay groaned. “I do, but . . .”
“But what?” She dropped to her knees in front of him and drew his boxers down to his ankles. His cock, thick and hard, bounced gently in her direction. “You don’t like soft wet lips, firm hands, and skills honed by years of beer funnels.” She flicked her tongue over the swollen head of his shaft. “Say yes. Say you’ll stay long enough for me to chase your demons away.”
His hand dropped to her head and he swallowed hard. “Yes, but I’ll do the chasing.”
Moments later, she was back on the bed, her brain still trying to process how quickly he had moved and what kind of man would turn down what she’d just offered. And then she wasn’t thinking because his fingers were deep inside her and his face was above her, his gaze fixed on hers as she drowned in sensation.
“I think someone has control issues.” She arched her back when he drew his fingers away. “Lucky for you, I can handle that sort of thing.”
He gave her a slow, sensual smile and released her long enough to grab a condom and sheathe himself. “Open for me, sweetheart.” His voice deepened, husky and low, with a delicious hint of rough.
She did as he asked, anticipation curling in her belly. Jay knew what he was doing in bed and she liked him taking the lead. Instead of wondering what came next and where she should touch and what he might like, she could just let go. Feel instead of think. Calm the frenetic activity in her mind.
He kissed his way down her body, his heated breath sending ripples of electricity over her skin. His hand touched between her thighs and he spread her moisture, gently teasing. When his finger brushed over her clitoris, the spark of sensation sent a flush of heat through her veins. She lifted her hips in invitation, but Jay pushed himself up and straddled her body instead.
“Not yet.”
“That’s very unkind.” She mocked a frown. “I have been very hospitable. The least you could do is give me some loving.”
With a chuckle, he leaned over and drew her nipple into his warm, wet mouth, licking and sucking until every tug tightened her core. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he turned his attention to her other breast and then feathered his lips up her throat and teased open her lips.
He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, sweeping inside her mouth to touch, to taste, to own every part of her. His hand slid down between her legs, finger stroking her clit. Demanding and teasing. Together the dual sensations left her blazing with need. Relentless, his fingers spread her moisture, circling around and around the place she desperately wanted them to go, until her muscles were tense and quivering and she was shaking with desire.
When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he pushed back, shoving her legs apart, and positioned himself at her entrance. “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” She liked to be his sweetheart. Even if it was just for the night. But talk was cheap and her body was hot and aching. She’d been ready for him since the moment she’d jerked awake.
Bracing himself on her headboard, he thrust inside her. Stilled. Shuddered. Only then did she realize how badly he needed this, needed her.
She opened her mouth to speak, but he pushed deeper, filling her completely. His muscles quivered with every thrust. Faster. Harder. Her mind calmed and she gave herself over to the frenzy of passion, meeting his every stroke with a rock of her hips, riding the tidal wave of sensation until it swept her up and carried her away.
He followed her with a guttural groan and then collapsed beside her on the bed.
“Do you still want to go?” she whispered.
Jay rolled to his back and pulled her over his chest, settling her against him. “Not yet.”
* * *
• • •
“Well, look what the cat dragged out.” Zara looked up from her coffee when Jay walked out of the bedroom with Marmalade in his arms. He had stayed in the shower after they’d made use of the soap and the warm water and the fact he was strong enough to hold her up against his hips.
“We’ve come to an understanding.” He sat at the kitchen counter and took the coffee she offered. “I’m the alpha of the bedroom and he can be alpha everywhere else.”
“Very sensible.” She pulled out a bag of bagels and offered it to him, unsure what to do. Now that they were both dressed, everything seemed too civilized. She still couldn’t believe he’d stayed the rest of the night, sleeping deeply and peacefully until she’d woken him in the morning. “I’m not much of a breakfast person. I usually pick something up on the way to work.”
“I can cook,” Jay said. “I have excellent breakfast-making skills.”
“I have excellent breakfast-eating skills, but I have a rehearsal for a community theater production of The Pirates of Penzance in an hour and I can’t be late.” Although tempted, she didn’t know what this was and she didn’t want him to get any ideas. A night of sexy times was one thing. Morning breakfast was something else entirely, and she was suddenly desperate to be alone.
“I would be a formidable pirate,” he said, musing. “I have a gift with swords, as you well know.”
Laughter bubbled up in her chest, easing her tension. “I think someone is overly pleased with himself this morning.”
“You’re still here. I take that as a marker of my success.” He added cream and two sugars from the tray she’d left on the counter. Clearly, he wasn’t in a hurry to go.
“It’s my apartment, Jay. Even if your performance was subpar, it’s not like I could go anywhere.”
“Subpar?” He choked on his coffee. “That word and my name should never be used in the same sentence.”
“Are you some kind of cat whisperer?” she asked when Marmalade purred, rubbing his head against Jay’s chest. “He doesn’t like strangers.”
“I’m hardly a stranger. I’ve been here all night.” He sipped his coffee with his free hand. “Cats love me. I made friends with a stray cat at a base in Afghanistan. He followed me everywhere. I said goodbye when we had to leave but he stowed away on our cargo plane. He came with me on every mission after that.” His face softened. “I named him Storm because there was a storm the night I found him.”