She raised one finely arched brow. “You only think?” He released her to rake his fingers through his hair. Damn, the woman was infuriating. Jack wished she’d make up her mind. First she wanted her space and now she was upset because she didn’t like how he worded his statement. Mixed signals like the ones Sydney was giving out were elevating his blood pressure to dangerous levels.
“You’re right. I’m generally not a wishy washy person.” He took her hand and placed it over his heart. “We’ve only known each other for a short while, but what I do know about you I admire.”
“Like what?”
“You’re intelligent, giving, and loyal to those you care about. You try to mask the softer side of yourself behind a nonchalant façade, but your true self always shines through.” What Jack really wanted to do was kiss her but he knew it would go against their pact.
She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Her dark soulful eyes looked at him with such wonder. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, except that you’ll give us a fair chance.”
“I can do that, but you have to be patient with me. I’m new to all this love stuff.”
“And I’m not? I’ve never told a woman I was in love with her.” She plucked her hand out of his, and backed away from him. “I believe you, Jack.
I guess this is all pretty hard for me to wrap my head around.”
“Why is that?”
“I feel we don’t have a right to a relationship when there’s already so much going on with the group and invading the city.”
“It hasn’t seemed to stop your friends.”
“Their situations are a little different from ours.”
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“I don’t think so. They all seem to be making their relationships work somehow.”
“I guess, but I’m not them. I’ve already told you before I’m not wired for the romance thing.”
“Maybe you believe that because you’ve never found someone to be romantic with.”
A small smile curved her full lips. “And you think you can be that man?”
“Most definitely. And I think if you allow yourself to love, you’ll find it’s not as hard as you think.”
“Okay, but you have to stop being so damned overprotective. I’m well aware of the dangers involved with these missions. All I ask is you treat me as you would any other team member. Yes, we may be more than that, but you’re going to have to separate business from pleasure.”
He opened his mouth to protest but the quelling look she shot him made him bite back the retort on the tip of his tongue.
Sydney softened her expression and took his hand in hers. “Please, Jack.” When she looked at him with such longing, it was hard to deny her anything, even though his heart screamed no. “Okay, but I don’t have to like it.” She smiled, baring white even teeth. “I can live with that. Shall we continue our walk?”
He nodded, not wanting their time together to end any time soon. They continued the rest of their walk in silence, holding hands.
“I can’t believe you embarrassed me in front of everyone like that. People were actually snickering behind their hands.” Holly loved Chase dearly, but right now she wanted to strangle him. Though she thought it sweet of him to want to protect her, it was unfair of him to make such a big deal about it in front of a room full of people.
“Did you expect me to smile and pretend I’m okay with you risking your life?”
“You’re my lover, Chase, not my father. And yes, that’s exactly what I believed would happen. If you had any objections, we should have talked about it in private.” He raised a dark blond brow. “Isn’t that what we’re doing now?”
“Ugh!” Holly threw her hands in the air, her frustration making her heart rate speed up. “You’re missing my point. Why in the world would you make your objections known in front of the rest of the team the way you did? You made me look like some incompetent ninny.”
Chase moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. She wanted to push him away, but even in her fury she couldn’t deny herself the chance to enjoy his nearness. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way, but you have to look at it from my perspective. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Do you think I’m prepared to lose you? It works both ways, you know. You may think you’re some kind of invincible macho man, but we all need help sometimes.
And I won’t back down. I
will
go with your team, Chase, and there’s nothing you can do about it short of chaining me to a wall.”
A slow smile curved his lips. “That concept has possibilities.” Holly smacked him on the chest. “I’m being serious.”
“So am I.” He lifted Holly off her feet and carried her the short distance to their bed.
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She squirmed and wiggled, trying to break free, because she knew once he began making love to her she’d be completely lost. “Put me down.” Chase’s throaty laughter filled the room. “If you insist.” He dropped her onto the bed and immediately fell on top of her. He grabbed Holly’s wrists and held them over her head. “Mmm, I think I like you like this, all helpless and quivering in anticipation for what’s to come.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Let me up.”
“No.” He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his before she could protest any further. His kiss was hungry and demanding.
Holly didn’t bother to resist the sensual assault of his tongue. With a sigh she welcomed him to explore her more deeply, passionately. She loved the salty, slightly musky taste of him. His scent filtered to her nostrils, leaving her high off the very scent of him.
Chase turned her on more than she’d ever thought possible, and the fact that he loved every inch of her voluptuous frame gave Holly the confidence to give as good as she got. For so long she’d been self-conscious of her plus-sized frame, often ashamed of being naked in front of her previous lovers, but not with Chase. It seemed as though he was unable to keep his hands off her and whenever she disrobed, his eyes devoured her. No man had ever made her feel as beautiful and desirable as Chase did.
Desperately wanting to touch him, she managed to wrestle her wrists out of his firm grip and began to tear at his clothing.
Chase raised his head with a soft chuckle. “Easy, baby. If you wanted me to undress, all you had to do was ask.” He rolled off of her to stand beside the bed. He removed his clothing with quick precision, his brown gaze never leaving hers. Her mouth watered at the sight of his cock, so impossibly thick she shivered in anticipation.
When Holly attempted to take off her clothes, Chase held up his hand. “Don’t.
That honor belongs to me.” Sliding back onto the bed, he knelt beside her and slowly unbuttoned her top.
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With each inch of skin he exposed, Chase planted a kiss against it, sending titillating waves of delight along her body. He worshiped her flesh with his eyes, mouth, and hands. Whimpers and moans of pleasure tore from her throat as Holly thrashed her head from side to side. “Chase, that feels so good,” she sighed.
When he removed her last article of clothing, his gaze raked up and down the length of her quivering form. “You’re so damned beautiful.” Heat spread from the pit of her stomach to every part of her being. Her heart overflowed with lust and love. She reached up and caressed his hair-roughened cheek.
Chase caught her by the wrist and placed a kiss in the center of her palm and then worked his way up her arm, to her shoulder and then her neck. When she didn’t think she could take any more of his sensual torture, he turned Holly on her stomach and ran his tongue down her spine.
“Mmm.” Holly grasped the covers with her fists and gritted her teeth. The pulsing heat between her legs spread through her entire body, making her tremble and writhe beneath his touch.
He grasped her hips. “On your knees,” Chase softly commanded.
A jolt of fierce anticipation shot to her core. She loved it when he took her in this position, fucking her relentlessly until she thought she’d go insane. Holding herself braced on her forearms, she stole a glance at him over her shoulder.
Chase caressed and kneaded her bottom, massaging her flesh with his big muscular hands. Eager to have him inside of her, she pushed her rear back, silently demanding he take her.
He guided his cock against her damp sheath and slid the head along the slit.
“Don’t tease me!” she cried out.
With one powerful thrust he drove into her balls deep. He inhaled sharply.
“Damn, you’re tight, wet, and ready for me. I love being inside of you.”
“And I love you,” she whispered softly.
Chase grasped her hips and worked his way in and out of her with slow steady strokes. Molten waves of pure pleasure moved their way through her body. His cock
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felt good. So damn good. But she needed more. She pushed back, forcing him to move with her.
“Ah, so you’d like it rough would you?”
Holly felt the sting of his palm before she realized what he was going to do. She yelped, but more from surprise than pain. When he smacked her ass again, she was prepared for it. Heat raced to the spot he’d hit, but Chase immediately caressed the area with soothing strokes. He spanked her as his cock drove in and out of her without missing a beat.
The delicious hurt he was putting on her soon had Holly so hot she could barely stand it, yet she couldn’t get enough. “More!” she cried out, bucking against his pelvis.
She squeezed her pussy muscles around his dick, sucking him deeper still.
Chase anchored his hand on her back and grabbed a handful of her hair and gave it a healthy tug. His passionately savage act was the very thing to push her over the edge. Her orgasm started in her core and splintered through her entire being.
“Chase!”
“That’s it, baby. Don’t hold back,” he grunted, carrying on his sexual domination over her. He continued his powerful thrusts for several more minutes before he released a primal yell.
Breathing heavily, he collapsed onto his side and pulled Holly along with him.
Content to bask in the aftermath of their lovemaking, she snuggled against his warmth.
“That was wonderful.”
“I know. But everything is as long as you’re involved.” Her heart swelled with her overwhelming feelings for Chase. It still surprised her how deeply she’d fallen for him in such a short period of time. “I love you.” She kissed his jaw.
“I love you too.”
Holly raised her head to meet his dark gaze, a smile curving her lips. “I hope you know this changes nothing. I’m going with you on your mission.”
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Chase’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he started to speak, but Holly cut off any protests by covering his mouth with hers. He parted his lips beneath the pressure of her tongue.
Chase was putty in her hands.
* * *
Sydney was glad she and Jack had the opportunity to be alone together. That walk had actually made her feel closer to him and by the time they made it back to the base, she was sad it had to come to an end. She got to see a side of Jack she wasn’t accustomed to, his softer side.
His smile was easier, he was more relaxed, and he’d opened up to her about his life before becoming an outlaw. She’d even told him a little more about herself -- not as much as she could have, but it was still more than she was used to.
Sydney could see herself falling in love with him and it was scary because it meant letting go, and trusting him as she’d done with no other man. They still had a long way to go before she could completely give over to Jack the way he wanted her to, but she was getting there.
She made her way to the designated location of their meeting. Squaring her shoulders, she walked into the room to see a few other people were already assembled.
Including Anna.
Dammit.
Sydney had hoped the blonde would choose another team, but no such luck. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Anna. That was the problem. From what she’d seen of the other woman, Sydney determined Anna was the kind of person she could easily get along with. Anna was intelligent, passionate about what she believed in, and didn’t take anyone’s crap. Members of their group seemed to have a great deal of respect for her and deferred to her opinion on a lot of issues.
Unfortunately, because of Sydney’s involvement with Jack, they seemed destined to remain enemies, no matter how much Sydney tried to change things. There was only so much she could take before she’d snap.
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The moment Anna’s blue gaze fell on her, a twisted sneer curved her lips before she turned her back to Sydney, making it obvious she wasn’t receptive to a conversation. Sydney, however, was not going to let Anna’s chilly reception get to her.
She had to try one last time to bridge the gap between them. How else could they work together on so dangerous a mission?
Sydney strode over to Anna and tapped her shoulder. “Anna, can I talk to you?” The blonde turned around with narrowed eyes and folded arms. “What do you want?”
Sydney clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides. “For one thing, I’d like for you to stop acting as if I’ve wronged you. Ever since I’ve been here, you’ve treated me with nothing but contempt. Whenever I try to talk to you, or ask a simple question, it’s met with some kind of sarcastic response.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but do you really think it’s appropriate to bring up your touchiness at a time like this? Lives are at stake and you want to talk to me about your hurt feelings?” Sydney silently counted to five, trying to hold on to her already thin temper.
“No, Anna. I figured since we’ll apparently be working together, we should probably air out our differences. I don’t see why we can’t at least be cordial with one another.”
“I doubt you really want to hear what I think about you, so let’s leave well enough alone, shall we?”
“Oh, I’m perfectly capable of handling whatever you have to say. Otherwise I wouldn’t have approached you. It’s obvious you don’t like me and I can’t figure out why when I’ve done nothing to you.” Sydney believed if they could at least begin a dialogue between each other, they could resolve their differences.
The blonde glared at her. “Fine. You asked, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. I think you’re a self-centered narcissist. You’ve created nothing but drama. You act as if everyone has to drop their plans to accommodate you.” Sydney’s mouth fell open. What was Anna going on about? Since she’d come here, she’d gone out of her way to be friendly with the other team members. The only
31
person she didn’t get along with was Anna. “Anna, you’re talking out of your ass. What the hell are you yapping about?”
Anna smirked. “Of course you wouldn’t see it. Just because you’re sucking Jack’s dick now doesn’t mean you’re better than the rest of us. He’ll get tired of you too.” Before she even realized what she was going to do, Sydney slammed her fist into Anna’s face. Anna stumbled backward and attempted not to fall, but ended up landing on her butt. Sydney had never hit another human being in her life and she was horrified at what she’d just done. Everyone in the room froze. Embarrassed at her actions, she turned and fled the room only to run into Jack.
He grabbed her by the shoulder, offering her a crooked grin. “Whoa. Where are you going in such a hurry? You were insistent on joining this team. Don’t tell me you’re bailing on us already.”
She wrenched herself out of his hold. “I’m so sorry. I-I…” Unable to finish, she dashed off, not stopping until she ran out of the house and she kept running until she was some distance away from it. Sydney couldn’t believe she’d lost control like that.
Her hand hurt like a son of a bitch. She’d embarrassed herself in front of all those people. Anna probably now had a legitimate reason to hate her and Jack probably thought she was a violent psychopath.
A hand fell on her shoulder. Sydney nearly jumped out of her skin. She whirled around to see her friend Bella. “Bella! I didn’t realize you’d followed me.”
“You ran right past me. You seemed to be in such a hurry I guess you didn’t notice me. Is everything all right?”
Sydney groaned. “No. I’ve just created a big mess.”
“What happened?”
“I punched Anna.”
Bella frowned. “Did I read your lips correctly? Did you say you punched someone?”
“Yes. You don’t have to look shocked. I lost control and hit Anna.”
“Wow, that isn’t like you at all. You’re the queen of cool.”
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“So I’ve been told.”
“What did she do to make you pop her?”
Sydney released a deep breath. “I tried to see if we could call a truce, and then she said some really foul things to me. She called me narcissistic and self-centered.” Bella crinkled her nose. “Is that what set you off? You know you’re neither of those things. Why would you let her get to you like that?”