He moved his mouth and she held up a finger by her head.
“Don’t lie to either one of us. Why would you hide who you truly were?”
The kitchen door opened. She put her forehead to his and turned her head to see who it was. His mother, who smiled and backed out. Ariel put her gaze back on Jackson.
“My parents wouldn’t ever understand. How did you know?”
“Don’t worry about how I knew.”
Jackson looked at her as if she were about to out him to the entire world. She could understand his fear—at least she wanted to—but her main goal was to get his trust.
“Is he the one?” She returned to her seat and picked up the rest of her sandwich.
Jackson pushed his plate closer to her and moved his stool so their knees almost touched when he sat once again. She chewed as she waited for an answer. It took a bit, for Jackson ate some of his own food, sitting there with his shirt open, exposing his dark skin.
“Yes. I met him in Europe and we hit it off. He was one guy who didn’t seem to give a damn who my father was.”
“I need his full name.”
“Going to check him out?” There was more bitterness in his tone.
“I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t.”
“He’s a good man, Ariel.”
“I hope so. I’m still running him.” She spoke matter-of-factly then finished off her lemonade.
There was quiet for a bit until Jackson had eaten most of his sandwich. “So where does that leave us?”
“Did something change?” she asked.
“Besides my sexuality?”
“That didn’t change.”
“Are you one of those who believes they can spot any gay person?”
“Gaydar?” She laughed. “No, not even close. I am, however, observant. I don’t see why things would change between us. You will need to come clean before my time here is done, though. I don’t know who is coming to take my place and you need to make sure they know. It’s not easy to guard someone with secrets.”
He made a face. “We’ll see.”
She let it go. It wasn’t her place to tell anyone when it was the right time to put their sexual preference out there for the public to know it.
* * * *
For the rest of her allotted time there, she and Jackson had a ton of fun, going to many different events and having a blast all the way around. She sat with him as he came out to his parents and even met Eric, his boyfriend.
However, when the time came for her to pack it up and take herself back to San Antonio, she found herself ready to be home. Standing outside her driver’s door, she paused and thought about those things for a moment. Home.
When did I begin thinking of that place as my home?
She exhaled sharply and climbed in. She’d just started the engine when Jackson came running out to see her. She lowered the window and waited.
“Damn, woman, you get up too early,” he said with a smile.
“Shouldn’t stay up so late and you’d be able to get up early as well.”
His grin turned wicked and she shook her head.
“Don’t want to know. Really don’t.”
“I’ll spare you all the lewd details. This time.”
She laughed. “Thank you.”
“I just wanted to say thank you.”
She reached through the window and placed her hand along his cheek. “You are an amazing man, Jackson. Don’t ever let anyone tell you differently. Thank you.”
He leaned close and kissed her, one of his own hands sliding to settle along her face. “Take care, you.”
For a moment they sat there eyes closed, forehead to forehead. She opened hers first and saw Eric walking closer. “I’ll miss you.”
“Likewise.” After one more brief kiss, he stepped back. “Drive carefully.”
She waved as she put the car in gear then drove away. Before she left the drive, she stole a look back in the rear-view. Jackson and Eric stood there, watching her. She stuck her hand out again and waved one final time before getting on her way.
Ariel pulled into her parking spot at the apartment building about two in the morning. Fighting off a yawn, she got out and stretched. At the back of her SUV, she opened the hatch and withdrew her luggage, which had tripled in size. Jackson had insisted she keep the dresses she’d needed for the outings with him, so she had those garment bags as well.
“I’m so taking the elevator,” she muttered after grabbing her weapons case and making her way inside.
On the ride up, she wondered what had possessed her to take only one trip and not split it up. “Oh that’s right, I’m exhausted and didn’t want to go back down to finish carrying it in.”
The door slid open and she stepped out, juggling the things in her arms to get the key to fit. Inside, she kicked the door shut with the heel of her boot then stumbled to her bedroom. There she let it all fall to the floor with a groan.
After another yawn, she picked up the garment bags and hung them in her closet. She stored her gun case in the safe she had then, ignoring her other bag, went to the bathroom to get ready for bed.
She’d barely got her hair pulled back into a braid before she fell onto her mattress and grunted as the remnants of her rapidly depleting energy left her. There was a light on in the living room but she didn’t care. It was time to sleep.
When she stirred, something had changed. Alert, she tried to sort through the muddled state of her mind to discover what that was. When she shifted again, she figured it out. There was someone out in her main area.
“I’m just saying, Tuck, let her sleep.” Steve’s voice carried back to her, despite his attempt to keep it hushed.
“She could sleep with me beside her. She’s been gone, Steve.”
“Oh, grow up. Stop pouting like you’re a little boy. Put that there so she sees it when she gets up.”
Rolling soundlessly from the bed, she made sure she wouldn’t be walking out there naked then stepped from the bedroom and leaned against the frame, arms crossed. “Good morning, guys.”
Steve stood with a watering can in one hand and Tuck was messing with her mail more than anything.
“Shit. We didn’t mean to wake you,” Steve said. “I didn’t know you were home until he came in and told me.”
“It’s fine. Thanks so much for taking care of everything for me.”
“Not a problem, Ariel, you know that.”
Tuck put down the envelopes in his hand and moved towards her. She focused totally on him. He wore a pair of his ‘drop to your knees and give praise’ jeans. His dark blue T-shirt clung to powerful arms and that muscled torso she enjoyed being pressed against so much. His brown gaze burned as he strode towards her and she slipped her tongue out to dampen her lips. Christ, it was nearly too much just watching him move in her direction. Beautiful. Masculine. Hers.
Whoa. Where’d that thought come from. He’s not mine. We were even broken up before I left.
Her brain didn’t seem to agree. He was hers. Belonged to her.
Apparently her body agreed as well, for her exhaustion slipped away and her body began preparing itself for him. The feel of his thick length sliding between her legs and filling her. How it was to be under him as he drove in and out of her wetness. How possessively he held her as he made love to her gently. Or rough. Either way, it didn’t matter.
Good thing this doorframe is holding me up.
He approached her, closer now, swagger fanning the heat pumping through her veins. Wanting his caress, touch, and more. Tuck paused in front of her, hooked his thumbs in his pants pockets and stared at her.
“Have fun?” His tone was cautious and she lifted an eyebrow.
“I had a blast if you must know.
He
,” she said, stretching like a cat, slow and as if she had all the time in the world, “was a lot of fun.
His gaze narrowed. “Was he now?”
The man’s jealous.
Her grin widened. “Definitely.”
“I don’t believe I’m needed for this conversation,” Steve interjected. “See you.”
“Bye, Steve. Thanks.” Ariel never took her eyes from Tuck. The sound of her door closing spurred her—or was it him—into action.
They met in a clash of lips and limbs. She purred and met his invading tongue with hers. He cupped her ass with his large hands and lifted her. She immediately wrapped her legs around him, grinding against his defined erection.
She wasn’t wearing much since she’d been sleeping but those few clothes went flying and she moaned as his thick cock slid into her.
“Oh, God! Yes!”
His jeans abraded her sensitive skin and with the wall at her back, he fondled her breasts with calloused hands.
“I’ve missed you, Ariel.” He plucked at her turgid nipples yet still wouldn’t move inside her.
“So move already,” she demanded, frustrated.
“Tell me you missed me.”
She tried moving on him but he held her immobile with his larger body. He leaned in and took one nipple in his mouth. She whimpered.
“Tuck…”
“Tell me,” he rumbled around the tip. The sensation vibrated through her and tugged at her clit, shooting more moisture to her pussy.
She gripped his hair and yanked it. “Missed you,” she panted. “Now would you fucking move!”
“Patience.” He tweaked her skin before soothing it with the rasp of his tongue. “Is a virtue.”
“We…we both know I’m far from being anything remotely virtuous. Now,
move!
”
His chuckle was decadent. Then—thank the good Lord—he began to move.
Ariel groaned and sank into the wall as he drew back then thrust forward, beginning slow before working up in speed. She closed her eyes and held on.
He buried his face in the side of her neck as one hand dropped to fondle her clit. Fireworks exploded through her and she screamed as she orgasmed. Hard. Her internal muscles flexed and rippled around his shaft as he continued to drive into her.
Hard.
Fast.
Unrelenting.
Her breath was hard to catch but she tried. Tuck nipped her neck and roared his own release there. The heavy spurts triggered another climax within her.
“Hell,” she gasped, holding him hard.
“More.” He captured her mouth and carried her to the bed.
“Yes.” She undulated against him.
“Welcome home,” he muttered punctuating each word with a driving thrust.
* * * *
Tuck rolled over, sat up and stared at the woman who lay slumbering beside him. It was late afternoon now and they were still in her bed. Ariel rested on her stomach, arms under her pillow and the pale yellow sheet drawn up over half her ass.
As tempting as it would be to tug it down and fully expose her firm globes, he refrained. She emitted small snores as she continued to sleep. He knew she had to be exhausted. He’d been nearly insatiable.
He’d also missed her. And now that she was sleeping, he could admit that. These past few weeks without her around had been hard. She muttered and he dragged his knuckles along her cheek, smiling when she settled beneath his touch.
Tuck closed his eyes then opened them when a feathery-light touch landed upon the back of his hand. Her beautiful brown eyes waited for him.
“Hello,” he whispered.
“Hey.” She rolled to her side and, disappointingly, drew the sheet up to hide her breasts from him.
“Did I wake you?”
“No.” She yawned. “I woke up because…” She shrugged. “Just did.”
He wasn’t too sure about that but let it go. “Hungry?”
“Later. Want to tell me what that was all about?”
He stretched back out beside her and propped his head upon his hand. “What? That was good—no, great sex.”
“I may be exhausted, Tuck, but I’m not a fool. Don’t treat me like one.”
Her gaze was sharp despite her sleepiness. He stashed some hair behind her ear and smoothed his thumb along her cheekbone.
“We had broken up before I left. That, while great, was unexpected.”
“I didn’t agree to breaking up.” He clenched his jaw until he realised what he was doing and relaxed.
“That’s the thing about breaking up—you don’t both have to agree. I have no time in my life for a jealous man, Tuck. I just don’t.”
She rolled away from him then climbed from her bed. Afternoon sun caressed her skin as she grabbed some clothing from her dresser. He watched in silence as she swiftly hid her body from his hungry gaze.
“I already work in a mostly male-dominated profession and I’ve busted my ass to prove myself. I did the same in the Corps. I make no excuses for what I do, nor will I ever. I go where the job sends me without complaint. If you can’t accept that then this”—she gestured between them—“is right back to where it was before I left. With us over.”
He sat up, frowning.
She gathered her hair into a haphazard knot on her head and stretched again.
“Over?”
“Yes. Over. I won’t put up with it, Tuck.”
“You want me to be okay with my girlfriend posing as another man’s wife-to-be?”
“First off, that was changed. I went in as his girlfriend, not that it matters. You would have to be okay with it. Cops do it all the time going undercover. Second of all, I’m not sitting on my ass at a flower shop, Tuck. I protect people and their businesses. If Slater called me right now and said I had a job to do over in the Middle East, you can bet your fine ass I’d be suited up and ready to go before time of wheels up.”
He could see her agitation growing and beckoned to her with one hand. “Come here, Ariel.”
Her nose flared slightly but she moved to stand by where he sat on the bed. He swung his feet over and drew her close, inhaling the mixture of their scents on her body. Face in her belly, he shut his eyes and just held her there for a moment.
“I’m not going to apologise, Ariel, for being a possessive man. It’s not in my nature. I’m easy-going but I’m not a pushover and when something bothers me, I’m not going to hide it.” He pulled back and looked up at her. “Especially when it’s something that concerns you.”
“What’s the point in bringing it up, Tuck? I get you feel the need to be possessive, that’s you. Fine. But why do you feel the need to argue with me about my job? Do you have any idea how demeaning that is to me? Like you think I can’t handle it, or because I don’t have a dick that I’m going to be succumbing to a man’s charms the instant I’m out of your sight. I don’t jump everything that moves with a cock. Never have, never will. And I’d appreciate a bit of respect when it comes to my job. I’m not going out just to be some piece of eye candy and hang on a man’s arm. I’m working. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, I’m working. And for you to think that I’m doing this to get into someone’s pants…” She began to step away from him.