Dominant Deception [Black Ops Brotherhood 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (33 page)

“Jack…” Anna started.

“Kiss your bride, Captain,” the Reverend reminded.

Forgot about that.
Jack turned to Anna as if seeing her for the first time and gently cupped her face in his hands. He meant to give her a quick peck. Instead he found himself kissing her slowly, savoring every second, realizing he never wanted to be without Anna again. Jack smiled as he comprehended the significance of what had just occurred.

“
Check
,” Anna whispered with a smile.

Anna had eased his tension with her playful petulance. Much like a few weeks before when she almost died, they had managed one more hurdle,
together
. The next one would be much higher and harder to get over because of their stubborn personalities. Now it was time to figure out how to build a life together. Jack felt positive about this new twist in their little game of
chess
.

“No, this is just getting interesting,” Jack whispered back.

Rivercenter Mall

El Paseo del Rio, San Antonio, Texas

September 3, 2008/0948 Zulu

“You can’t go back there! Do I need to say this in a different language?” Jack yelled again.

“What language do
I
have to use to make you understand I have nothing? I went to the hospital in an ambulance! All I’m asking for is five damn minutes!” Anna demanded loudly.

“
No
! That’s final, this conversation is over!” Jack said loudly.

“Then what the hell am I supposed to do about clothes? This is all I have!”

Fuck! Is this married life?
“Fine! Where can we go get damn clothes
and
get you off my back?”

“Rivercenter Mall, it’s down the street.” Anna settled back into her seat.

Jack held the door open as they entered the mall from garage parking. There were way too many people here for his liking. The major argument had started when Anna wanted to go back to her house for some
personal
things. He couldn’t figure out what part of
you can’t go back there
she didn’t understand. They’d gone through this whole exercise all afternoon just so she wouldn’t go home! So, here they were.

Anna walked into one of the department stores and started fishing in her purse for her wallet when Jack stopped her.

“No, don’t use any of your credit cards,” Jack said.

“Then what do I do for money?” Anna asked sarcastically.

Jack dug out his wallet and handed Anna his credit card. He saw the spark that made her dangerous and so very sexy. He could almost visualize little horns growing out of that pretty little head of hers. She took the card and smiled wickedly.

“What’s my limit?” Anna asked.

“Ten minutes. I’ll be waiting right here.
For ten minutes.
If you aren’t back in said ten minutes, I will go find you, and you don’t want me to find you. Remember one thing. I don’t give a shit what people think. I’ll drag your sexy ass out of here kicking and screaming.”

Anna turned and waved the card at Jack as she made her way through the store. He smiled. She was such a brat.

As he walked around, Jack found himself in the jewelry section of the store at a large display that had attracted his attention. As he studied the pieces inside, an unusual ring caught his attention. He located a salesclerk.

“Can I help you, sir?” the clerk asked.

“That ring in the display, the band with the diamonds. Is it for sale?”

“Yes, sir. The pieces in the display are unique and one of a kind.”

“Is it a ladies’ ring?”

“Yes, sir. It’s an anniversary ring. It runs about average size for a lady. It was designed by Alberto Mendez, a local artisan who recently passed away. Are you interested in seeing it?” the clerk asked.

“Yes.”

“It would make a lovely gift for an anniversary. Say, twenty-five years…” The clerk opened the case.

“How about twenty-five minutes,” Jack said under his breath.

“Excuse me?” the clerk asked.

“Sorry?”

“Anyway, if it needs to be resized, bring it back and we can get it done for you. The total carat weight is one and one-half carats. The price is 3,800 dollars.”

“American money or pesos?”

“Sir?” the clerk asked, bewildered.

“That’s more than I paid for my first vehicle!” Jack exclaimed.

“Well, we have some other nice anniversary rings, right over here, that are much more economical,” the clerk said with a knowing smile.

“No…I’ll take that one in the display.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure, unless you don’t
want
to sell it.”

“All right, sir. How will you be paying for this?”

Jack realized that Anna had his credit card and then wondered what kind of damage she was managing to inflict on him.

“I guess I’m paying cash. You take debit cards, right?” Jack asked.

“Uh, yes, sir. We do take debit cards.” The clerk retrieved the ring.

Anna came and found Jack when she was finished. She didn’t want to sign for the purchases. The saleslady was waiting for them to complete the sale. Luckily, this section of the store wasn’t that busy. He started to sign the signature pad, looked at the total, and then looked at Anna.

“Damn it, woman! Four hundred eight dollars and change for
personal
stuff! I haven’t spent that much on
personal
stuff in ten years,” Jack said.

“I’ll gladly pay for it myself,” Anna countered.

Jack shook his head and signed for the purchase. The saleslady handed him two large bags. They made their way to ground level and found a nice restaurant to rest and take a meal before they went to his house. They were out on the River Walk and he quickly understood how this place was such an attraction in San Antonio.

Jack looked around at the lush green foliage and cobblestone walkways that lined the banks of the peaceful, historic river. The river seemed to thread its way through the city one level below the hustle and bustle of city streets. River cruisers lazily traveled past them. He decided that he would make Anna take him around and explore the rest of what he couldn’t see. The San Antonio River Walk was a very romantic place in the setting sun. He looked at
his new wife. She was watching him take in the sights.

“You owe me a tour of San Antonio,” Jack commented.

“I do?”

“I took you around San Diego, so you need to take me around San Antonio.”

“We’re married—all that dating stuff is over with,” Anna teased.

“Was that a date?” Jack asked innocently.

“Wasn’t it?” Anna asked with a smile.

Jack leaned forward and looked at Anna intently.

“What?” Anna asked.

“I have something for you,
Mrs. O’Malley
.”

“The bill from my shopping spree?” Anna quipped.

“No. Something else.”

Jack took the small box out of his pocket and handed it to Anna. She accepted the box without a word but with a puzzled look. She slowly opened the box and gasped. She glanced at him and then looked at the ring once more.

“I can’t take this, Jack,” Anna said quietly.

Anna closed the box and handed it back to him. He took the ring from the box and reached for her left hand.

“It was made for you.” Jack slid the ring on Anna’s finger.

* * * *

Anna lay in Jack’s bed as the TV was lowly playing in the background. It was indeed a bachelor’s house because it was sparse on furniture. She would’ve normally been asleep by now, but she was too nervous because she was thinking about her wedding night with Marc. Obviously it wouldn’t be the same. The nervousness was getting to her as panic started to rise. She hardly knew Jack, and now she was married to him. She wondered when he’d quit messing around downstairs and decide to come to bed. She was after all in
his
bed. She lay staring at the TV but not really seeing it. She was sleeping before she knew it.

* * * *

Jack put his papers aside and stretched. He was hesitating going upstairs to his room because Anna seemed to be really tense when they walked inside. He showed her to his room and allowed her some privacy but finally decided he was too tired to wait anymore. As he made his rounds, he thought about the events of the day. This was certainly not a course he’d envisioned taking in his life. He was married now.

What the hell did I just do?

As Jack reached his bedroom and peeked around the door, he saw Anna’s silhouette in the darkened room. He watched her breathe a deep, slow rhythm and knew she was sleeping as the glow of the TV cast her shadow on the blinds. Jack knelt down next to the bed and watched her sleep. Anna looked so peaceful and calm. He would often watch her sleep in the hospital. After watching her for a while, he seemed to be able to rest. Being around her calmed him. He looked at the ring on her finger and smiled because she’d kept it on.

Jack remembered how soft she was when he’d kissed her earlier after Reverend Landez married them. And damn it! If he didn’t feel it again, that tremor when he touched her. He was fighting it, but for the first time in a very long time, he was falling for someone and it was a hard fall. He’d always had a very powerful attraction to Anna that was undeniable.

He changed quietly and crawled into bed next to his new wife.

“Good night, Mrs. O’Malley,” Jack whispered before he shut his eyes.

* * * *

Anna woke slowly to the feel of Jack’s body next to her. She pulled the sheets around her and caught a glimpse of her wedding band. Anna lifted her hand slightly and looked at the diamonds in the band glinting in the dim light that flowed into the bedroom. She felt Jack shift and take her hand. He pulled closer to her and enclosed her body in his arms as he planted a slight kiss on her shoulder.

“Are you okay, Anna?” he asked.

Jack’s deep, sensual voice vibrated through her as she closed her eyes and lay still, letting the comfort of Jack’s embrace enfold her. It felt so good, so perfect. She took a deep breath and sighed.

“Anna…baby?” Jack questioned.

“I’m okay.” Anna snuggled closer.

Anna turned around, and without thinking, reached for him. Jack took his time, lips caressing hers and hands moving over her body. No one had ever touched her like that. And she’d never touched a body like his, so lean and muscular. She inhaled and slid her hands under his shirt to the warm skin of his chest. It felt so perfect, so right, just lying there with him. Jack cradled Anna’s face in his hand as his free arm slipped around her waist, drawing her closer. She leaned in and pressed her body to his. She closed her eyes and just held on, kissing him slowly.

Jack removed Anna’s clothes as well as his own. She marveled at how slowly he moved, not wanting to break the spell that was being cast between the two of them. He held her tenderly but securely as he turned on his back and pulled her on top of him. Lying across his chest, Anna continued exploring his mouth with her own, learning and tasting him. Anna brought her fingers up to see his face through touch. Jack leaned his face into her hand as if he understood her unspoken need. He wanted her to know him.

Anna straddled his thighs and reached down to feel Jack’s cock. She leaned forward as she stroked has hard cock and smiled against his mouth because he wanted her so badly. She wanted to feel the sensation of fullness that his cock gave her. She tried to position herself to start giving him the sex he seemed to enjoy so much the first time. He stopped her and slowly eased her onto her back.

“Nice and easy, baby, lay back and let me do this my way,” Jack whispered as he kissed the tip of Anna’s nose.

Jack’s fingertips slid over Anna’s body, caressing and exploring, burning a trail she could still feel long after they had left the spot. She’d never known any man who could touch her as if he’d always known her. He kissed her deeply, slowly, and passionately. He made his way down to her breasts and started his slow rhythm of licking the tips of her nipples, nipping at them with his lips and then suckling. She felt the flick of his tongue against her nipple jolt down to her pussy.

Anna arched her back and pressed against Jack, feeding him. His hand slowly massaging the other breast that wasn’t receiving the attention from his mouth. He would alternate between her breasts, first making love to one and then the other. Jack was making Anna understand he was in no hurry. She arched once more, wanting to be one with him. He kissed his way down her ribs and to her belly. The carnal stimulation Jack was giving Anna was almost enough to make her lose consciousness. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he would stop and move to something new. He touched her clit and started rubbing tight little circles.

“Ahh, Jack,” Anna moaned.