“Take off your clothes, now.”
A smirk played along her lips. She loved it when Luke went all alpha on her. Even she’d been shocked how much she loved submitting to him. Some days it felt like a need, a confirmation that he was the one person she could trust with every part of her being. He promised surrendering to him would give her the greatest sense of control. And he was right, but not on that particular day.
When her clothes were nothing more than a pool of cotton on the floor, she stepped toward him, shoving him back on the bed. His eyes grew wide for a second before narrowing into dark pools of blue ink. He started to sit up as she straddled his legs.
She shook her head, shoving him back again. “You know I love every inch of your hard, lean, muscled flesh. And your mind … God I love your mind. But you know what I’ve come to love most about you, Dr. Jones?”
He swallowed hard as she positioned her knees on either side of his head.
“Your mouth.”
Luke dug his fingers into her hips, pulling her down to him.
“Fuck,” she yelled as he parted her with one slow stroke of his tongue. Who was she kidding? It had been too long and she wasn’t going to last long with his greedy tongue spearing into her then lapping over her clitoris. The goal was to take what she needed then leave him. Desperate. Blue-balled. Angry.
She was on top in a place of control, yet every ounce of it began to slip.
“Pinch your nipples,” he said with each word vibrating against her hypersensitive sex that felt seconds from exploding.
“No.” She shook her head. He wasn’t in charge, she was. Her terms. Her control. It was his lesson, not hers.
He turned his head and bit the inside of her leg.
“Ow!”
“Pinch. Your. Fucking. Nipples.”
Like a dog chasing a rabbit, all she could think about was the orgasm. It was so close yet just out of reach. He wasn’t going to win, but as a trade for the release she needed so desperately, she cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples. It felt good but not enough to push her over the edge.
“Luke …” She couldn’t remember when his hands left her hips, but it didn’t matter. She lowered to his face again, but he just kept kissing and nipping at her inner thigh. “Luke …” Begging was not part of the plan. He would pay for making her beg—just as soon as he put his mouth back where she needed it. One more slow lick and she’d be there.
“Oh … fuck … fuck … fuck …” His eyes rolled back in his head.
“What the …” she stilled, staring at him. Luke had the look, made the sound. Jessica looked over her shoulder.
“You did not—”
“Oh you bet your sexy ass I did. Now up you go.” He lifted her off him and sat up, wadding the front of his cum-covered shirt before pulling it over his head and tucking himself back into his jeans. “I’ll grab a clean shirt and give you a few minutes to … finish up.” He smirked while zipping his jeans.
Jessica’s urge to make Luke bleed had been in remission until that moment. A broken nose and busted testicle seemed like the most fitting punishment.
“Oh…” he stopped at the door after shrugging on a clean shirt “…you have my permission to tell my mom that you’re pissed at me because I wouldn’t let you ride my face to the finish.”
“Asshole.”
“I adore you too.” Luke shut the door.
Chapter Twenty-One
Knight
Lilith respected Jillian’s wish to not talk about AJ, yet she knew if—when—he died she’d know. Even if Lilith and Dodge didn’t say anything, Jillian knew Cage or AJ’s parents would contact her. Missing two men who were still alive felt like a knife continuing to carve at the empty cavity that once housed her heart.
Luke. She imagined him with someone else by then, maybe even in love. He deserved that. The part of her that wanted that for him felt equally loving and masochistic.
AJ. No news was good news, unless he suffered. Jillian couldn’t go there.
Radiation.
Seizures.
Migraines.
Memory loss.
It was too much—until she received a text that crippled her emotions to the point of questioning her own will to survive.
Sarge: Fly to Portland and rent a car. Then wait for my instructions. But DO NOT come to my parents’ house.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Jackson said as he climbed the last step, flinging his sweaty towel over his shoulder.
Jillian nodded, eyes fixed to her phone.
“Shit. Not another message.”
She shook her head slowly.
“Then what?” He slipped her phone out from her hand. “No.” He handed it back to her then brushed past her to the kitchen.
“I have to go,” she whispered, feeling dazed and maybe a little in shock.
“No way. Need I remind you what happened the last time you made a trip to the West Coast?”
“He needs me.”
“So do I.” Jackson chugged back a glass of water.
“Then come with me.”
Jackson shook his head.
“Because of Ryn?”
“Because I have students, and a house, and a life here now. Because we’re not supposed to leave this state without notifying G.A.I.L, because—”
“Because you’re in love.”
“No.” He glared at her, continuing the adamant shake of his head.
“I don’t blame you for staying for her, but don’t blame me for leaving for him.”
“Not the same thing and you know—”
“You’re right, it’s not! You’ve been here with Ryn and I’ve been a fucking miserable mess for weeks, but you wouldn’t know it because I’ve done what I do best—ignore the worst Goddamned hand of cards anyone has ever been dealt.” She sucked in a shaky breath. “But I’m tired of missing him and wondering why he’s there and I’m here.”
Jackson sighed. “Fine, then call McGraw and if he approves your little trip then you have my blessing.”
“I’m going and you’re not going to say anything to McGraw,” Jillian said each word with slow precision.
“You can’t do this to me again.”
Jillian drew her brows together. “Again?”
“Claire.”
“Don’t,” she warned.
“You told me you were going to San Diego with Claire and I wasn’t supposed to say anything to anyone.”
“That’s not—”
“What?” Jackson rested his hands on his hips and leaned forward. “Fair? Is that what you were going to say? Because you’re right, it’s not fair. It’s not fair that you make me feel responsible for everybody’s fucking life. It’s not fair that I have to keep your secrets and keep you alive.”
He was right and every cell in her brain knew it. A downside to being Jillian Knight was the tendency to ignore all reason. She did everything one-hundred percent or not at all. AJ was unfinished business.
“I absolve you of your brotherly duties because I’m going. I have to.”
Jackson looked at the ceiling. “You’re so fucking stupid.”