Chapter Sixteen

 

Gemma followed Jack up the stairs, barely aware of the photos that lined the wall, her attention centered on the man in front of her. He held her hand and she liked the way her hand was swallowed up in his large grip.

Jack made her feel safe.

He also tapped into everything feminine inside her. He didn’t ooze sex appeal the way his partner T.J. did. With Jack, the attraction came from his strength, his sense of honesty and justice.

When they reached the landing, she leaned into him, unable to resist rubbing her cheek against his shoulder. He let go of her hand and wrapped his arm around her. They continued along a hallway until they reached the door at the end of the hall. He opened the door and turned on the light.

Gemma stepped forward and delight coursed through her at the sight. The room clearly spanned the width of the house, offering views of both the front and back yards. A large window seat with built in bookshelves on each side had her itching to go check out the titles. “What a wonderful room,” Gemma exclaimed.

“It was my parents’ room and my grandparents’ before them. When my folks moved down to Florida, my mom insisted that I move in here. I think she believed that I’d get lonely in such a big room and big bed and finally find a wife.” He fell into silence.

She shied away from thinking of Jack with a wife, but one look at his face and she knew his thoughts were much farther away.

“We’ll find your parents, Jack. You have to stay positive.” She took his hand in both of hers and caressed her thumb over his skin.

“Thanks.” He drew her into his embrace and held her, his chin dropping down to rest on the top of her head.

The thing about being in Jack’s arms, Gemma realized, was that she fit, like she’d been meant for him all along. And, on the heels of that thought, came the subsequent realization that it didn’t take long being in his arms for the temperature to go up.

His hands made lazy circles on her back, easy and slow. She hooked her hands around his neck and toyed with the ends of his hair, enjoying the feel of those short tresses between her fingers.

“I think we’re overdressed,” Jack murmured.

“Definitely,” Gemma agreed.

Jack broke the embrace and moved to the bed where he turned down the blanket and turned on the bedside lamp. He picked up a remote control and the overhead light clicked off.

“Convenient,” Gemma said, as she stepped out of her heels.

He smiled, making her heart leap. “I’ll tell you what isn’t convenient. You’re over there and I’m over here.”

Gemma shot him a smile. She needed tonight, and so did Jack.

“You know,” she said in a playful voice, “I always wanted a window seat.” As she walked towards the seat she unbuttoned one button of her suit jacket and another. She bent over to look out the window into the dark back yard. She wiggled her butt, knowing the green pants molded her form.

She straightened and turned, her hands continuing to work the buttons of the suit jacket. Jack had his arms crossed over his chest, but the way his gaze tracked her movements told her she had his undivided attention.

The last button slipped through and she allowed the jacket to slip off her shoulders, revealing the lacy ivory camisole she wore underneath. She sashayed towards him, at the same time undoing the hook and lowering the zipper of her pants. She stopped when she stood at the foot of the bed. She held the waistband together to keep the pants from slipping down.

“Off,” Jack growled.

Gemma laughed. She loosened her grip and shimmied the pants down her legs and stepped out of them. She stood before him in a light green thong that matched the strapless bra she wore underneath the camisole. She crossed her arms in front of her and grabbed the bottom of the camisole. With one movement, she lifted it over her head and tossed it to the floor to join her pants.

“Turn around,” Jack said, twirling his finger in the air.

Standing in only her sexiest lingerie while Jack stood dressed proved to be an unexpected turn on. She liked the feel of his eyes on her, the way his chest rose and fell with each breath he took, and she especially liked knowing he desired her. The bulge at the front of his pants proved that.

“Woman, you’re killing me.” His arms dropped to his sides and he stalked towards her. Before she could guess what he intended, he lifted her off her feet and dropped her in the middle of the bed. Then he joined her, positioning himself above her, his arms braced on either side of her head.

“Game’s over,” he murmured as he began kissing her ear and nibbling at her lobe.

Feeling breathless and sexier than she’d ever felt, Gemma caressed his neck and the side of his jaw.

“Were we playing a game?” she asked.

He began placing kisses along her jaw. “Doesn’t matter. I make the rules and I always win.”

“That’s unfair,” Gemma, laughingly protested.

He paused to stare down into her eyes. “Yeah, but at least you get to share the winning prize with me.”

“Well, there is that.” But his mouth moved lower and she couldn’t have said more to save herself. The moment his lips met hers, electricity sparked.

She’d thought their last kiss was hot. This one melted her down to her toes. Her hands tightened around his shoulders, pulling him down upon her, needing him to get closer.

He wore too many clothes. She wanted skin to skin contact.

She broke the kiss and began attacking the buttons of his shirt. “Hang on,” he said, pushing her hands away, but she followed with her mouth kissing and sucking at his neck. He groaned and she continued to lick and nip, soothing the area with more kisses.

Then, in a sudden move, he rolled over so that she was on top and he was beneath her.

“I think I like this,” she said. She began unbuttoning the buttons of his shirt, her fingers making quick work of it. She shoved it down his arms, but given their positions, it wasn’t going far.

“Scoot back,” he ordered.

She scooted back until she was seated right over that interesting bulge. She wriggled and he bit out a curse. Heat and little bolts of energy zinged through her body. She shifted again, loving the way his body leaped under her.

His hands clamped around hips stilling her motion. “Do not move or the show might be over before we even get started, which is a feeling I haven’t had since I was fifteen.” He yanked the dress shirt down his arms and threw it over the side of the bed. Next, he pulled his white T-shirt over his head, leaving that yummy expanse of chest for her exploring hands. He had just the right amount of hair, with a line spearing down until it disappeared behind the waistband.

“I think you’ll have to get off me if you want these pants to come off.” He leaned back on his elbows, a grin on his face.

Gemma shook her head. “Not yet. I’ve got lots more I want to do to you. Think of it as the appetizer. Lie back.” She gave him a light shove and watched him fall back to the mattress. “Put your hands under your head.” He did as she instructed. “That’s it.”

She’d never had a man so completely at her disposal. A girl could easily lose her head. And she intended to enjoy every minute of the experience.

She bent over and began with kisses that followed the path of that line of hair until she reached the waist of his pants. She wasn’t ready to unwrap that particular present yet. Instead, she kissed her way back up to the top and took one nipple between her lips.

He jerked and let out a moan. “Like that?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah, but you know there’ll be payback.”

She kissed her way to the other flat nipple and laved that as well. “Counting on it,” she said after she came up for air.

She caressed his chest, loving the feel of his muscles beneath her fingers and the way he reacted to her touch. She glanced up at his face to find him watching her, with a desire palpable enough to get her pulse rocketing.

She licked her lips. “I think it’s time to take these trousers off. What do you think?”

Jack laughed, though it sounded almost like a groan. “I think I’m giving you thirty more seconds and then all bets are off.”

Gemma grinned and slid downward so she could work on unhooking the clasp at the top of his dress pants. When she’d worked the clasp free, she curled her fingers around the waistband along with the top of his briefs and tugged them both down and off his legs.

She eased back on her heels and enjoyed the view.

“Ten seconds,” Jack growled.

“Appetizer is over. Time for dessert.” She had to admit if this were a restaurant, it would be five stars. Jack was the filet mignon on any menu. She leaned forward and took his engorged sex and laved the head, enjoying the taste of him and the feeling of power the intimate act gave her.

Jack let out a hiss of sound. “We’ll call it overtime for now.”

“Mmm,” Gemma agreed as she took him fully into her mouth, sucking and stroking with her tongue.

“Time,” Jack called in a strangled tone, then he was hauling her up and turning her onto her back. He stared down at her with an intensity that made her nipples peak and her womb clench. “My turn.” He sounded husky and the note of passion in his voice sent her pulse leaping

He took her nipple into his mouth, suckling on the taut peak. His hand massaged her other breast, taking the nipple between his fingers and tweaking it.

Electricity arced through her body, like lightning bolts that left her wet and wanting.

He burned a trail of kisses down her stomach and she felt like she was burning from the inside out.

And then he was there, his fingers probing her most private part. A moan slipped from her lips.

“I guess you like that,” he said. He slipped one finger inside her and then two, stretching her.

Sensations cascaded through her. She was so close.

She’d visited a beach in Rhode Island one summer as a child. The ocean waves had rolled in one after another, seeming to grow bigger each time they returned. She’d laughed in delight and when one large wave knocked her down, tossing her about, she’d retreated to shore and safety. This time Jack became her safe haven as wave after wave threatened to take her under.

She felt the heat of his breath on her inner thigh, but there was no way to prepare herself, nothing to hang on to. At the first stab of his tongue, she came apart. She was being sucked down and under into a whirlpool that threatened to drown her.

“I’ve got you,” he said, his voice a lifeline she clung to because she could trust Jack to do as he promised.

“It’s too much,” she moaned. The crash of waves washed over her and through her and then she was floating with blue sky and white clouds above, sunshine bursting from within her and bathing her from head to toes.

“Sweetheart, we’ve barely started.” He reached over and grabbed something from the nightstand. He ripped open a foil wrapper and she was grateful he’d remembered protection

At this point, she could hardly remember her name. Then he was pushing into her and all thoughts disappeared as she focused on the feel of Jack inside her, stretching her, filling her.

Once again those waves were crashing through her, building and building to the point she was going to be sucked into that whirling vortex again. This time, she knew to hang on even as she intended to repeat the experience. She hooked her ankles behind his hips, drawing him deeper inside. He thrust in and pulled out slowly before thrusting forward again.

She glanced upward, her gaze settling on Jack’s face. His jaw appeared rigid and his muscles taut. His nostrils flared, as a groan slipped from between his lips.

Each time he pushed inside her, she felt the penetration, deeper until once more she was caught in the whirlpool and going down.

Only this time, she wasn’t alone.

***

Jack dropped his forehead to Gemma’s forehead. “That was more amazing than I could have imagined.”

Gemma brushed his lips with hers. “I think we caused an earthquake. I’m still feeling the aftershocks.”

Earthquake was a good description and Jack chuckled. “Yeah, me, too.” He separated from her. “Give me a minute.” He went into the bathroom to get rid of the condom and took a moment to look at himself in the mirror. For a guy whose world had just been rocked off its axis, you’d think there’d have been some visual change, some difference.

And that was dangerous thinking. That way led to a relationship and commitment.

It was sex.

Great sex. Spectacular sex.

But he wasn’t falling for a reporter. Sure, Gemma had all the qualities he wanted in a woman. She was funny, smart and loyal. Her job, though, was still a big negative in his book. They’d needed each other tonight. Neither of them should read more into it.

Unfortunately, the guy in the mirror wasn’t buying it.

With a sigh, Jack left the bathroom and returned to the bed.

Gemma had climbed under the sheets. She searched his face. “Regrets already?”

“Hell, no. I’m just getting started.” He sat down on the bed beside her and fingered one of her curls. “You know, I wasn’t paying attention so well the first time. I’ve a burning need to kiss every one of these freckles and see how far they go.” He dropped a kiss on her nose and then several more on her cheek.

Her arms came up to wrap around his neck. This time they made love leisurely, exploring one another’s bodies until the passion once more consumed them and they came together again with an explosiveness that shocked him.

He must have dozed because he woke up to find his body spooning Gemma’s, one of his hands cupping one of her breasts. From her rhythmic breathing, he knew she slept.

Gemma had asked earlier if he had regrets. He didn’t live life regretting his choices. Instead, he lived it cautiously. His father’s experience with Internal Affairs and the press had taught Jack to think before he spoke and to weigh his actions.

Taking Gemma to bed might have scratched an itch, but it wasn’t one of his most brilliant moves. Come morning they were both going to have to deal with this detour to the bedroom.

Then again, IA was making noises to see him.

Jack rolled away from Gemma and lay flat on his back. Putting his arms behind his head, he stared up at the ceiling and contemplated his future. IA could destroy his career. They’d nearly done so to his father.

Sure his dad had stayed on the force until he took retirement, but he was never the same after.

Where the hell was his father?

If his dad was in hiding, then why hadn’t he tried to let Jack know what was going on? He had to realize how worried Jack would be.

The sound of sheets rustling made him turn his head to see Gemma now facing him. She reached out with one hand and caressed his jaw. “You’re thinking too much.”

“I’m not thinking enough,” Jack retorted. “We’re in a hell of a mess.”

Gemma sighed. She gathered the sheet around her and pushed into a sitting position. Jack shifted so that his back was to the headboard and he tucked her against his side.

“The answers are out there,” she said. “We simply have to find them.” She rubbed his hand softly as she spoke. “I’m a damn good reporter. Mud sticks over time and I’ll find a way to prove the Chief is dirty and that he was involved in the death of my mom and sister. The killer is going to make a mistake. When he does, you’ll be there to catch him.”

She leaned up and softly kissed the underside of his jaw. “We’ll find your parents, too. But, you can’t give up or assume the worst.”

“Cops usually see the worst,” he pointed out.

“When I lost my mom and sister it was like the lights had gone out in my world. I could barely breathe and I didn’t know how I was going to get up in the morning.” Her words contained pain and a depth of emotion that wrenched at something deep inside him. Jack instinctively hugged her closer, but he knew he couldn’t protect her from the wounds and scars inside her.

“Then I walked into a hospital room. Dana was buried under tubes and bandages and the doctors didn’t know if she’d wake up and even if she did what kind of condition she’d be in.”

She sniffled and a splash of liquid landed on his arm.

“Hey, you don’t have to tell me this.” He didn’t want her reliving memories that caused her pain.

Gemma shook her head. “Yes, I do. I looked at Dana and I realized that I didn’t have the luxury of burying myself with my mom and sister. Dana needed me, living, breathing and fighting for her.”

Gemma twisted away from him, coming up on her knees to face him. “You have to fight with everything in you to save your parents.”

At that moment, Jack lost the battle he’d been fighting. He’d been so certain that he could keep a respectable distance between them. But right from the start, Gemma had chipped away at his defenses, inserting her way in until he’d forgotten all the reasons why they were bad for each other.

Gemma had faced tragedy not by running away from life, but by bulldozing her way through it.

When Jack’s world had fallen apart, he’d turned into a turtle, pulling his head inside and wrapping himself up in a protective shell that kept others out. He didn’t much care for the image.

“I think there’s been enough talk.” He speared his hand through her curls and pulled her closer for a kiss.

“What do you suggest?” Gemma murmured against his lips.

“More of this.”