Part 21 (2/2)

He closed the distance between them and took her by the shoulders. ”It wasn't all your fault.”

”Mostly my fault.”

”You held the wand, but I provoked you to use it. Nothing happens in a vacuum.” He hadn't been willing to admit that until now, hadn't been willing to take responsibility for his present situation. But he'd arrogantly a.s.sumed that she wanted him even though he'd lied to her. Now that he'd lived with her and knew her better, he understood that he'd pushed her into reacting.

She took a shaky breath. ”I appreciate your saying that,” she said. ”It helps.”

”Good.” He gazed into her blue eyes and then, out of habit, his attention moved down to her plump lips, which looked so kissable right now.

She could use a kiss, and he knew that as surely as if he'd been reading her mind. But if he started kissing her, he would never accomplish anything he'd promised himself he would do with his time.

He'd tucked a condom in his pocket to replace the one he'd had there Tuesday night. No doubt the cleaners had thrown that one away. Just because he had a condom handy, though, didn't mean he had to use it now.

”I have some work to do on the computer.” He ma.s.saged her shoulders and watched her eyelids droop. ”But you must be tired. You haven't been getting much rest.”

Her eyes opened, and her gaze was definitely not sleepy. ”Adrenaline's kicked in.”

”Oh.” It would be so easy to say to h.e.l.l with his program and take her to bed. But tempting as that was, he had a plan and he would stick with the plan. ”Did you mention coffee?”

”I'll make some.” She stepped smoothly away from him and walked into the kitchen. ”How do you want it?” she called over her shoulder.

”Strong and hot.”

”Don't flirt with me, Danes. Not unless you're planning to take your clothes off.”

He was glad to hear the sa.s.s coming back into her voice. ”I'll take my clothes off.” He'd turned on the computer the minute he'd transformed, so now he was able to walk over and pull up the animal rescue site. ”But not yet. The way I have it figured, we have until two thirty in the morning. We should pace ourselves.”

”Speak for yourself, wimp.” She bustled around in the kitchen, talking trash as she put the coffee on. ”If you have no stamina, just be a man and admit it.”

He clicked the donation b.u.t.ton and gave the organization another two thousand bucks. If he was right about good deeds being the answer, it was a cheap price.

Then he stood and walked into the kitchen. Plans were made to be broken. ”You shouldn't taunt a man who's packing a condom in his pants pocket. Especially when you promise him counter s.e.x and then welsh on the deal.”

She gave him a saucy look guaranteed to get her laid. ”Don't you have something to do on the computer?”

”I'll get to it.” He swept the cat food bowl out of the way and lifted her up on the counter. ”I have until two thirty in the morning.” He fished the condom out of his pocket and handed it to her. ”Open this.”

Her breathing quickened. ”What happened to pacing ourselves?”

”See how you like this pace.” Cupping the back of her head with one hand, he began kissing the daylights out of her while he undid the b.u.t.tons on her sweater with the other hand.

She kissed him back with a very gratifying moan and then antic.i.p.ated his next move by unbuckling his belt.

He lifted his mouth a fraction. ”Have you had counter s.e.x before?”

”No. You're my first.”

”Then you must be a natural at it. Just keep working on that project.” He hoped she'd hurry. His c.o.c.k was not happy trapped inside his pants.

Once he had her red sweater unb.u.t.toned, he was overjoyed to discover her bra had a front clasp, almost as if she'd known he'd undress her tonight. Good guess, he thought as he flipped open the catch of the bra. The earlier he started showing up in the evenings, the less likely he'd find her running around in a nightgown or a towel.

This sort of clothing challenge worked for him, though. Thrusting aside her bra, he fondled her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and felt his d.i.c.k jerk in response. She'd managed to unzip his pants but his knit boxers were holding up progress. Ah, but a man appreciated something more if he had to work a little harder to get it, and Jasper appreciated the h.e.l.l out of ma.s.saging her warm skin and gently pinching her nipples until they were rock hard.

Then she coaxed his bad boy out of his briefs, rolled on the condom, and it was showtime. Hiking up her skirt he moved between her thighs, and her booted feet nudged his bare b.u.t.t. Kinky. The feel of leather against his skin inspired him.

He'd never ripped up a woman's clothing until the night he'd torn her nightgown down the middle, but that had turned out well. Might as well reach up under her skirt and rip the crotch out of her panties.

He happened to be kissing her at the time, and whether on purpose or by accident, when he ripped her panties, she bit him. Breathing hard, he lifted his head and gazed into eyes burning with a blue flame. ”Did you mean to do that?” he murmured, tasting a drop of blood on his lower lip.

”Did you mean to rip my panties?”

”Yes.”

”Then I meant to bite you.” Her voice was low and urgent, rich with barely restrained l.u.s.t. ”Bring it, Danes. Bring it right now.”

”Oh yeah.” Sliding her to the very edge of the counter, he lifted her hips slightly, found her sweet spot, and drove home. ”Happy now?”

”Marginally.” Wrapping her legs around his waist, she locked him in tight as she looked into his eyes. ”I've missed you.”

”Me or this?” d.a.m.n, where had that come from? Wasn't he the one who wanted to keep this strictly s.e.xual? ”Silly question.” He began pumping slowly.

”It is a silly question.” Her fingers dug into his shoulders.

He reached between her thighs and pressed his thumb against her c.l.i.t as he continued to thrust. ”Forget I asked.”

”You keep that up and I'll forget my own name.”

”So we'll go for mindless s.e.x.” He felt her clench her muscles. She was close.

”Sure.” She began to pant. ”Mindless s.e.x it is.”

He moved faster, watching her eyes. His vocal cords thickened as his climax neared. ”Not enough mindless s.e.x in this world.”

”Right.” Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s quivered with every jolt of his body against hers. ”Good. Very . . . oh, please . . . Jasper . . .”

”That's it. Let go.” He moved his thumb in a rapid circle, wanting her to come soon, because the longer he looked into her eyes, the more he craved release. With her. With Anica.

”Yes . . . ah . . . yes!” The spasms. .h.i.t and her eyes darkened with pleasure, but she didn't close them, didn't look away.

What a gift, to witness the powerful emotions he stirred in her. In a rare moment of openness, she'd let him see all the way down to her soul. The rush of that was all it took to send him over the edge with a growl of animal satisfaction wrenched from deep in his gut. He didn't look away, either. He wanted her to see the effect this surging, desperately sought climax had on him. He wanted her to see inside his soul, too.

Mindless s.e.x. Yeah, sure. He'd never been so mindful of another human being in his entire life.

Chapter 20.

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