Fragments (The Broken Series Book 2) (2 page)

After following Jack along a dark corridor, we stopped by a door I’d never noticed before. The key was in the lock.

Jack opened the door, revealing a dark, narrow wooden, staircase. We stepped inside, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Jack kept his hand firmly wrapped around mine, and he led me up the stairs. The old wood creaked beneath our feet as we climbed upwards.

When we finally reached the top of the stairs, I turned in a slow circle, taking in my surroundings. We were in a circular room with a wooden floor and a low ceiling. The room was empty of furniture except for an old sofa which sat next to a large old-fashioned telescope.

“It was my father’s,” Jack said. “It was something we had in common. He taught me all the constellations, and I used to love the days when he came back from his business trips, and we would spend the evenings staring at the stars.”

I smiled. Jack and Alexander didn’t talk much about their family, and so it was nice to hear his memories about his father.

Jack gave a twisted smile. “That was pretty much all we had in common.”

“You weren’t close to your father?”

Jack shrugged as he let go of my hand and started to adjust the position of the telescope. “I’m not sure I was really what he hoped for in a son.”

Jack moved to the wall and started turning a handle that I hadn’t noticed before. As he continued to the crank handle, there was a creaking sound above us. Warily, I looked up.
 

Holy crap. The ceiling was moving.

My eyes widened as the ceiling continued to disappear, exposing us to the night sky.

“Oh my God,” I said, staring up at the moon and the stars.

“That’s nothing,” Jack said, swiveling the telescope so it pointed up at the sky. “Come here.”

He wrapped his arms around me as I stood behind the telescope. He rested his chin on my shoulder and whispered in my ear. “Take a look.”

His breath tickled my cheek, and I let my body relax back against his.

I had never seen anything so beautiful. The stars seemed brighter than I’d ever seen them. They glowed.

We took turns looking through the telescope, studying the craters on the moon, and Jack pointed out more constellations.

Finally, I turned away from the telescope. “It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen something so amazing…”

I couldn’t describe how looking at those stars made me feel, but their constant presence relaxed me.

Jack moved closer and leaned down so his forehead was touching mine. His arms wrapped around me, and the touch of his fingers made me shiver. He lowered his head further as if to kiss me, and I knew that this moment would determine my future. I could leave now, knowing that Jack was safe. Or I could stay and let him kiss me and leave myself open to future heartache when he grew tired of me.

I sighed heavily and closed my eyes. It wasn’t fair that he could make me feel like this. That he could affect me so strongly.

“I don’t understand what you want from me,” I whispered. My voice was so quiet it was barely audible.

“I want you,” he said and then crushed his mouth over mine.

I couldn’t help responding. His mouth was so hot and his tongue sensuous as he parted my lips.

I put my hand against his broad chest, feeling his tight muscles beneath my fingers. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice of reason was telling me I could push him away. I still had a chance to escape and protect my heart.

But I didn’t push him away. Instead, my hands ran across the surface of his chest, up to his shoulders, and behind his neck. My fingers fisted into the thickness of his hair.

He groaned and clasped my hips firmly with both hands, pulling me hard against him, so I could feel his erection behind the zipper of his jeans.

A breathy moan of pleasure escaped from my lips as I ground myself against him.

In one smooth movement, he scooped me up and carried me to the old sofa.

It was hard and lumpy, but I barely noticed.

His hands were all over me, stroking and teasing until I was beside myself with need.

He shifted his weight until he was on top of me, and he lowered his mouth to my neck, kissing and licking my skin.

“You taste so good,” he said as he peeled off my tank top.

My breath was coming hot and fast.

His eyes darkened with desire as he stared at the swell of my breasts. He raised my hands above my head and held them there. It felt incredibly erotic to be trapped beneath him.

He reached around my back and unfastened my bra, freeing my breasts from the lacy cups.

“You’re so beautiful.”

I squirmed beneath him, feeling self-conscious, but my nipples stood erect, desperate for his attention.

He didn’t disappoint. He moved down slowly and circled one of my tight nipples with his tongue.

I gasped with pleasure as tingles shot through my body.

He freed my hands and turned his attention to my other breast, nipping at the sensitive nipple.

I yanked at his T-shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine.

He laughed at my desperation and helped me peel off his shirt. I pulled him down onto me, feeling his hard chest against my sensitive nipples. I reached behind his back and raked my nails along his skin.

He buried his mouth against my neck and groaned. “I want you so much,” he said.

My hands went to the zipper of his jeans. My eyes had now become fully adjusted to the dim light, and the light of the crescent moon and stars shining down on us was just bright enough for me to see the contours of Jack’s body.

I licked my lips as Jack stood up and removed his jeans. I missed feeling the weight of him on me and was desperate to feel his hard body pressing into mine. But he didn’t resume the same position. Instead, he kneeled in front of me, beside the sofa, and reached up to pull off my jeans slowly. Inch by inch, the material peeled back over my legs, and he stared into my eyes.

I couldn’t wait for him to touch me again.

He looped his hands around the elastic of my lace panties and started to lower them. My pulse spiked. When he’d removed my underwear, his eyes raked over my body, and it was all I could do to stop myself covering myself with my hands. I was embarrassed, but I was also incredibly turned on.

He moved forward, slowly like a predator, until his head was between my legs, and I could feel his breath on the most intimate part of my body. He propped my leg over his shoulder pushing my thighs open.

“I can see how wet you are. Christ, that is so sexy.”

My cheeks burned scarlet. I wanted this so much, but I wasn’t used to this dirty talk.

My fists clenched at my sides as I fought against my need to cover myself.

He noticed my discomfort. “Relax, Kristina. Do you want me to stop?”

I shook my head frantically. That was the last thing I wanted.

He gave me a smile that sent butterflies shooting around my stomach.

“I want to taste you,” he said.

Holy crap.

“Uh, what if someone comes in? Someone could hear us.”

“No one ever comes up here. Just relax. No one will hear.”

As soon as his mouth touched me, I forgot all about the possibility of someone overhearing us. My hips bucked as his tongue delved between my folds. My fingers tangled in his hair. “Oh. My. God.”

I moaned as he slid a finger inside me. His tongue lightly flickered over the sensitive spot between my legs, driving me crazy. He kept up the pace, but held back just enough to keep me on the edge.

My whole body was humming with need.

As he moved his finger in and out and circled my clit with his tongue, the firm pressure sent pleasurable waves through me. I couldn’t take much more.

“Come for me, baby,” he said, and the deep vibrations of his voice sent me over the edge.

He slipped a second finger inside me as my body arched. I felt my internal walls clench around his fingers as the waves of my orgasm overtook me.

I closed my eyes as the last waves ebbed through me, leaving me limp and exhausted.

“That was amazing,” I murmured sleepily.

I felt the cushions of the sofa shift as he climbed over me. “It’s not over yet,”

I inhaled a sharp breath of surprise when I felt the tip of his erection between my legs.
 

I grinned up at him as I wrapped my legs around his waist.

He held himself above me for a moment, staring into my eyes. “I’m glad you came back.”

Before I could answer he kissed me deeply, and I felt him move between my legs, pushing against my inner thighs as the thick length of him entered me.

I was so wet that he entered me easily, despite his size.

“You feel so sweet and tight,” he said, with a husky rasp to his voice.

My nails dug into his back as he plunged deeper into me. With each thrust, I could feel the familiar sensation building. I bucked my hips to meet each thrust.

“Faster.”

He groaned as he crushed his lips to mine and thrust into me harder and faster.

“Oh, yes,” I moaned as he lowered his head to suck on my nipples.

It tipped me over the edge, and I cried out as my inner walls clenched, and I felt myself tighten around him. I couldn’t believe I was going to come again in such a short amount of time.

I clutched him to me and ground my hips into him as my orgasm ripped through my body.

“Kristina,” he groaned, and his whole body stiffened as he spilled his seed deep inside me.

Afterwards, he laid on top of me for a moment before shifting his weight and propping himself up on one elbow.

He smiled at me and stroked my face tenderly, and I felt my stupid heart flip flop in my chest.

In the past, it wouldn’t have been easy for me to leave Jack Harding, but I had a feeling that it would be impossible now.

The following morning I got up early to unpack. I had dumped the entire contents of my suitcase onto the bed and was putting my clothes back on hangers when I thought I heard angry voices.
 

I paused for a moment, but heard nothing except birds singing outside.
 

Shrugging to myself, I picked up the thin, white bra I wore yesterday and put it in the washing basket. I blushed as I remembered Jack’s fingers peeling back the delicate straps last night.

I bit my lip and wondered if things would be awkward today. It wasn’t going to be easy trying to act normally around Brian and Olga.
Especially
Brian. He was pretty perceptive when it came to Jack.

I took a deep breath and ordered myself to focus. I would never get finished at this rate.

I hated packing and unpacking. I’d never been any good at it. For my trip out here, Kate had insisted on helping me pack, showing me carefully how to roll certain things so they wouldn’t get too creased. But I hadn’t paid much attention, and I’d been in such a hurry the day before that I just crammed everything into my case.

As I began to fold my favorite sweatshirt, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. I walked towards the large window and looked out. Lauren and Alexander were standing on the patio. I couldn’t hear what they were saying from this distance, but it looked like an intense conversation.

Alexander towered over Lauren. He seemed to be very agitated, so feeling protective towards my friend, I leaned forward so I could see better.
 

But Lauren appeared to be holding her own in this conversation. She was angrily gesturing at Alexander, and when Lauren finally seemed to run out of steam, Alexander put a hand on her shoulder, but she wrenched herself free and turned away from him.

I moved closer to the window – so close my breath steamed up the glass – but I couldn’t hear anything other than some very muffled curses coming from Alexander.

I opened the sash window a little further, hoping it wouldn’t creak and alert them to the fact I was eavesdropping. I didn’t feel good about spying on them, but… dammit. He had better not be making her cry!

After a moment, Alexander spun around and stalked back towards the house. I let out the breath I’d been holding.
 

Jeez, what on earth was going on with those two?
 

I was really worried about Lauren. Alexander had always been very courteous to me. He seemed polite and helpful, but a little uptight, and I didn’t exactly think Alexander was a fun-loving kind of guy. Would someone like him really make Lauren happy?

Maybe this was just a quick fling between them. But then why was she so mad at him? It was none of my business, but I just didn’t want her to get hurt. Alexander didn’t really strike me as the steady boyfriend type.
 

I smiled and shook my head. Who was I kidding? I, of all people, knew you couldn’t control who you fell for.
 

I watched Lauren, with her shoulders slumped and head down, walk back towards the house.

When I lost sight of Lauren, I turned away and stuffed the last few items of clothing into the oak chest of drawers, smiling as I imagined the look of horror on Kate’s face if she could have seen my method of unpacking.
 

I shoved the overstuffed drawer closed on my second attempt after poking back an overhanging, crumpled T-shirt. Then I stood up. It was time to face Jack.

I couldn’t put it off forever.
 

I took my time walking downstairs, willing myself to relax. I inhaled a deep breath before I entered Jack’s wing. Inside, I paused in the sitting area. There was no one there, but I could hear noises coming from his bedroom.

I glanced at my watch. It would be time for Jack’s workout with Brian.
 

I cautiously poked my head around the bedroom door.
 

“Hi,” I said shyly.
 

I’d planned on trying to read Brian and Olga’s reactions. I wasn’t sure whether they would be angry with me or curious as to why I wasn’t around yesterday, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of Jack.

He winked at me and grinned. “Hi.”

I flushed beet red. I was pretty sure that Brian and Olga must know exactly what was going on between me and Jack. I mean, it didn’t take psychic powers to interpret my scarlet face.