Jackie sat curled beside Eddie, who only wore a pair of shorts. Thankfully, her shorts and top didn’t cover much, allowing her to enjoy the warmth of Eddie’s smooth skin. Brent had put on some ridiculous action movie, but Jackie was content in Eddie’s arms while his fingers combed through her hair.
She jumped and sat up when the doorbell rang. A groan left her lips. Dealing with Stefano was the last thing she wanted to do. But who else would it be?
Brent drew a long breath and gave them both a look. “Put an appropriate distance between you two and play nice. We should probably hear what he has to say.”
Jackie gave Eddie an apologetic look before slipping into the chair to keep Stefano away from her. Whatever he thought they might have, he was dead wrong. She wanted nothing to do with him.
Stefano followed Brent in, hands shoved in his pockets, head down. He sucked in a breath and slowly met her gaze. “I’m sorry, Jacqueline. For everything. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be a target.”
His apology sent a jolt of anger through her. Remembering Brent’s request, she tempered her tone. “If they’re targeting Others, I would have eventually made their list.”
“I was wrong at Brent’s house. I’d like to call you a friend.”
“That’s going to take time. I don’t trust you, Stefano. I don’t understand you.”
He nodded. “I came to tell you what Tiana and I found in the Seattle Underground.”
“What?” Brent asked.
“Their lair. But it appears they’ve moved somewhere else. There was no trace of Jared. Only evidence of Sidra and Clive, as well as several victims.”
“So what do we do?” Jackie asked.
Stefano turned to her. “Tiana called the Silver Council. There’s a mage who may be able to track them. Seems likely they took up somewhere deeper, beneath the city. The question is where.”
A small smile graced her lips. “Thank you.”
Moving in front of Jackie, Stefano lowered his voice. “Maybe I can prove I’m worthy of being your friend. One who accepts your decisions and independence.” His eye twitched toward Eddie.
She bit back a snarl and managed a calm tone. “We’ll see.”
He dipped his head slightly. “Goodnight, Jacqueline. Goodbye, Brent, Eddie. I’ll take my leave.” Stefano disappeared in a swirl of shadows.
A shudder travelled down her spine. Jackie stood and moved to the liquor cabinet. Every muscle tensed. She needed something to dull the edge.
Eddie came up behind her as she pulled the bottle of Jack Daniels out. He whispered against her ear, “Let me take your mind off Stefano, and everyone else.”
His warmth enveloped her, chasing away the chill. She set the whiskey aside and nodded. “Please. I want to feel something real.”
“Everything I feel for you is real.” He nibbled her earlobe.
She sighed softly. “Brent, do you need anything before we turn in?”
He chuckled. “Nope, I’m covered. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Eddie took her hand and pulled her down the hall. “My room, or yours?”
“Mine. No one’s been in my bed but us.”
His eyes closed briefly. “Didn’t think of that.”
Jackie shrugged. “I have a bigger bed anyway. Come on.”
The weight of someone’s gaze landed on her. There was a darker smudge against the shadows outside, in the shape of a man. Jackie walked to the window and closed the blinds.
Turning to Eddie, she swallowed hard. “Tell me I didn’t misinterpret your intentions.”
Eddie shook his head as he closed the distance. “No. If you’ll have me, I want you—need you.” His chest rose as he reached out to caress her face. “Tell me you want this.”
“You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Eddie.”
His lips met hers and everything fell away. She welcomed him and his tongue swirled around hers in a sensual dance.
Moaning, she pushed his shorts down to wrap her hand around his thick length.
Caressing down her sides, he took the hem of her shirt and pulled the thin fabric over her head. She scooted her shorts down her legs and kicked them away in time for him to grip her ass. Her arms and legs wrapped around him as he turned to take her to the bed.
Every barrier melted away as his body met hers, skin on skin. Eddie was her haven, the place she wanted to be. “So right,” she whispered.
“Hmm?” He leaned back to look into her eyes.
“We were always right. I feared you couldn’t see me this way.”
“Very right. Can’t lose you.”
“You won’t,” she vowed.
“Want to taste you,” he groaned.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as he laid her down, leaning over her. She kissed him hard, craving him all over her, inside her. Strong hands moved up her body while his lips left a wet trail of kisses to her breast. His eyes met hers as he licked around her areola.
“Eddie,” she moaned, rubbing her legs together to ease the ache. “Please,” she panted.
“Gonna savor you.”
“Hurry. Need more,” she pleaded.
Chuckling, he sucked her tip, biting down gently. “Tell me what you want.” He kissed to her other breast, and gave her tight peak the same attention while teasing down her body with a light touch.
“Eddie. I need—need to come. Make me come, or I’m taking over, and I won’t promise slow.”
He chuckled against her ribs as he crawled down her body. “Your wish is my command.” He pushed her thighs open and her head fell back when he blew on her slick folds. “Jackie,” he murmured, “you’re fucking perfect.”
She went up in flames as his tongue swept through her core. She grabbed a handful of hair, and held his mouth to her, as he alternated between flicking his tongue over her clit and sucking.
“More,” she pleaded.
He pressed two fingers deep. Her back arched as her body responded, taking her over the edge. His tongue replaced his fingers, thrusting in and out as he drank down her essence. With his thumb, he rubbed her clit as he made love to her with his mouth.
“Yes!” she cried, over and over again, as he drew out her pleasure until she could hardly see, let alone think.
* * * *
Sweet like peaches. He was going to lose his damned mind with the way she responded to every touch, every caress. Fantasies couldn’t compare to having her to himself.
No more guilt. No more fear. Just the woman he’d loved for as long as he could remember.
When she finally fell back, her eyes glazed over as her chest heaved. He crawled up her body, placing kisses as he went.
Her fingers wrapped around his head, dragging him back up faster.
Eddie settled over her as she stared into his eyes.
He breathed deep, a smile on his lips. “How did we wait this long?”
She shrugged, her eyes dazzling. “Never thought we could have this.”
“Don’t ever forget I’m yours.”
“Never. Now make love to me. Claim me, forever.”
“And ever.” He sucked her bottom lip as he slid into her. Her body welcomed his, wrapping tight around him.
“Nothing better,” she moaned, rolling her hips to take him deeper.
Pulling back, he slid in slowly as she claimed his mouth again. Her hands traveled down his back, caressing as they went. He couldn’t get enough of her taste, her body, her touch.
Jackie didn’t hold back. Every delicious sound she made rolled over him, a song urging him toward climax.
“Tell me you’re close,” he panted.
She looked into his eyes. “There.”
Jackie pulsed around him, pushing him into release, her body milking his until he collapsed, rolling to her side, and pulling her into his arms.
Tears filled her eyes.
Eddie kissed them away. “Tell me you’re happy. Please.”
She clung to him, her aquamarine eyes full of emotion. “Very. Never let me go. I can’t go back to how it was. Don’t want to live without you.”
“Never. Now that you’re mine, I won’t let go. I wouldn’t survive losing you, Angelfish.”
She curled into his embrace. “Hold me tonight, please.”
“Every night,” he promised.