Everything You Want: Everything For You Trilogy 2 (36 page)

I smile because I got my way. And because I remembered Lenuta’s words of wisdom. Don’t give him everything he wants.

“But only because I let you,” he whispers in my ear, scattering my illusions but sending a thrill chasing across my skin in every direction.

I allow him to have his way with me for the rest of the night. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever been so sweet, docile and compliant. At one point I think I may have let it go too far when he pulls back and stares at me for ages with that familiar frown between his brows.

“Is there something you want to tell me, Tabitha?”

“No.” I say it far too quickly.

I distract him in the only way I know that ensures he can’t turn his mind to the problem. It may be my hands and mouth and tongue super-busy at their devious designs but it’s his heated brain that refuses to focus on anything beyond what I’m doing to him in that moment.

We doze afterwards to regain some energy and then I challenge him to a race to the kitchen to see what delights the thoughtful Lenuta has left for us starving mortals.

“Loser loads the dishwasher,” I laugh and jump the starting gun.

He catches me easily on the kitchen threshold and uses his unfair physical advantage to fly me backwards, screaming, through the air, landing behind him. He blocks my struggles to pass him through the doorway, fending off my attempts to pinch him for ages by tickling me until I’m a weak, seething mass of hysterical laughter.

“A draw,” he declares. “You load. I’ll supervise.” He thinks he’s so clever.

“Not on your life,” I counter. “You load, I’ll find a good film for us to watch later.”

“Never going to happen.”

We throw each other mock glares, their severity ruined by our playful manner.

“Both load?” I suggest a compromise.

“Done.” He holds out his hand to shake on the deal.

By now I’m far too wary of his rule-breaking to take it so he grabs me and we kiss on it instead.

When he lifts his lips from mine he gives me another puzzled look. “Are you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”

And I thought I’d got away with it. “Always so suspicious, Jack.” Please don’t ask me.

“Where you’re concerned? Always.”

I wonder what he means by that. It’s Amanda he should be suspicious of this time.

“What is there to eat? I’m starving,” I say.

He pulls me back out the door. “Let’s look later.”

I don’t have to wonder about his reason for that. It’s growing right before my eyes. “Again?”

“It’s your fault.”

I think I accused him of the same thing once. “How do you work that one out?”

“You’re irresistible.”

“Okay.” I grin. “I’ll give you that one,”

He grabs me and slams me hard into his body. “But you’d better only be irresistible to me.”

I like that even more. “Cave-troll.”

He hoists me over his shoulder making Neanderthal ugg noises and runs me round the living room, climbing over furniture. I scream and laugh hysterically and pound on his back until he puts me down. It hasn’t done anything to dampen his arousal. I stare at him in astonishment.

“Seriously, I can’t get enough of you.” His lips tease at my neck trying to coerce my will to his. “I’m thinking of seeing a shrink.”

I push him back. “Jack. If you don’t get some food inside me PDQ, the only shrink going on around here will be me. There won’t be anything left of me for you to pick over.”

“Noted,” he concedes on a sigh, dragging me back to the kitchen. “But I know what I want for dessert.”

“Only if you’re good and eat all your vegetables.” I read Lenuta’s instructions. “And load the dishwasher afterwards,” I mutter, grinning.

He hears me and slaps me on the rump. “Devious witch.”

“Blame yourself. You’re the one who taught me to broker a deal.” I give him a triumphant smirk.

“Then I still have work to do on that area of your education. You forgot to secure the exact details of my side of the bargain.”

I stare at him widening my eyes at my naivety. “What does that mean?”

“You’ll find out.” He waggles his eyebrows. “You’d better sit down though. While you still can.” He laughs at his threat, whistling a tune as he closes the oven door on a Le Creuset dish full of lasagne and turns up the heat.

“I’ll make salad dressing while I still can, too.” Our eyes spot the brand new bottle of olive oil on the counter top at exactly the same time and we look at each other. I blush remembering what happened to the last one. “Don’t even consider it,” I tell him.

He shrugs and raises an eyebrow. I think I might be too late.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening to make things this way but Jack and I seem to have fallen into a comfortable co-existence. He seems as happy about the current situation as I am. If I could have one wish right now, I’d wish that nothing ever changes. I’ve finally come to accept my existing relationship with Jack instead of always wishing it could be so much more; content to enjoy whatever part of having me, makes him happy too.

It seems the more we’re alone together, the more Amanda’s influence recedes. I try not to think about the part I’m going to play in her plans though. Anything to do with her makes me uneasy. I know I’ll have to find an excuse to abandon Jack tomorrow and he won’t be pleased. What did he tell me once? When you’re with me, you’re with me.

I console myself with the knowledge that when he finally discovers my little deception, he will completely understand.

And forgive me.

Chapter Sixteen

“Hey, kitten.”

“No Jack. Not now.”

I hear him chuckle. “Wake up, baby.” His voice is low and morning sexy, rousing me from sleep.

“What time is it?” I croak, stirring, gathering in my sleep-splayed limbs. My eyes remain firmly shut against the light.

“Six fifteen. Time to hit the water.”

“Ugh. It’s Saturday.” I pull the duvet over my head to block out daylight and the encroaching thoughts of having to get out of bed. I’m exhausted. Jack didn’t let me alone last night until really late and his sexual athletics have worn me out completely. “Where do you get all this energy?”

“From you, baby.” He laughs at me and slowly draws back the duvet again. “I left you sleeping for as long as I could but time and tide and all that.”

I turn my back on him and curl up hoping he’ll let me go back to sleep. His fingers gently massage the back of my neck and my shoulders.

“I’ve brought coffee. Drink it. It’ll wake you.”

I smell it. And Clive Christian. They both seep into my sleepy brain becoming too enticing to ignore. I roll onto my back again and crack my eyes open, straight onto beautiful blue ones.

“Good morning, kitten. You look like you’ve had one busy night going on there.” His smile is so affectionate I can’t take offence at the implication I look a hot mess.

Instead I allow a beam to break out. “Well, I have this awfully demanding stud to satisfy.”

“And how often do you service this greedy male?”

“He’s so bossy, I’m sure he’d let me know if I was failing in said duty.” I chew my lip to prevent myself laughing out loud.

“Duty?” He sounds mock appalled.

“Responsibility. Obligation.” I define it for him, losing my battle and smirking.

He moves in and drops gentle kisses on my mouth. “Pleasure too, I hope.”

I curl my arms round his neck and kiss him sleepily back. “The first three times are always a pleasure with you, sir.”

“Only the first three!” He hauls back the cover, flips me over and gives me three light swats on my backside while I struggle to crawl away, laughing. I think I’ve unleashed a spanking monster.

He leans over, kissing the small of my naked back causing me to still as he trails them gently right the way up my spine to my neck. I moan sleepily. He freezes for a second, groans and jumps to his feet.

“You’re using your magic charms on me again, Tabby. Today’s dutiful pleasures will have to remain on hold if we don’t want to miss high tide. Up. You’ve got thirty minutes to shower and dress and we’re leaving.”

He stands in faded jeans and crisp blue and white striped button-down shirt with a chunky navy jumper tied around his shoulders. His bare feet are pushed into pale blue deck shoes and he has a pair of Chopard sunglasses sitting on top of his head. He looks so sexy I lie back and will him to return to bed. But he’s taking me out on the Thames today in his boat. It’s his birthday and he wants to spend it alone with me on the water. I think I must have woken up in heaven.

I don’t mention the date is special any more than he does. That way when I have to play my little trick to get him to his party, he won’t equate the two. I find myself resenting the fact I have to do it at all. I’m getting to spend the day with Jack anyway and by his own choice. All I’m helping to do later is allow Amanda to celebrate with him as well. I must be a fool.

“Bring a warm jumper. It can get blowy on the river. And flat shoes with soles that grip. I’ve prepped the boat for launch already, this morning, so we just need to get you on board. Thirty minutes, tops.”

“Aye, aye, Cap’n Jack. Livestock ready for loading.” I sit up and give a nude nautical salute making him groan and shut his eyes as he leaves.

“I can still see your naked body,” he complains even though he’s out of sight.

“I’ll
bare
that in mind,” I quip and giggle.

He’s happy. Being with me makes him happy and that makes me happy too. It’s going to be a great day. I can’t wait to see how Jack handles his
cailín álainn
.

After the shower I put on a pair of tight, low-rise black jeans and buckle a wide studded belt around my hips. My short neon t-shirt shows a little slash of bare belly but I’m saving that for later. I hide it under a thick hooded sweatshirt. I don’t exactly have deck shoes but my lime green Skechers are perfect anyway.

Once I’ve downed my coffee I clean my teeth and tie my hair up in a high pony-tail. I put the habitual mascara and eye-liner on and forgo the lip-gloss. It wouldn’t survive Jack anyway. I catch up with him sitting at the dining room table working on his lap-top.

“You’re not bringing that are you?”

He taps a few more keys, closes the lid and smirks. “Wouldn’t dare. Let’s weigh anchor.”

“Very maritime.” We walk to the mooring in Chelsea Harbour. The sun is shining and it’s going to be a beautiful day.

He holds my hand as I step off the dock onto the diving platform at the back of the boat and he helps me to the top deck by placing his hands on my tightly-clad buttocks, pushing gradually upwards as I climb the ladder. I know he does it deliberately to provoke a response.

“Nice anchorage you have here, Mr Keogh.”

“You took the words right out of my mouth, Miss Caid.”

I glance back over my shoulder as I step onto the upper deck. He’s grinning at me. It’s going to be one of those days and I can’t wait to launch. My eyes survey his amazing boat.

I think about the meaning of her name. Beautiful girl. “She really is beautiful.”

“Yes. She is.” He looks at me so intently I could almost believe he’s talking about me. “I’m glad I brought the two of you together at last.”

I frown briefly at his remark but can’t take my eyes off the distractions of my surroundings.

He catches me admiring the boat. “A Cranchi Atlantique.”

“Cranchi?” It’s an unfamiliar name. Not that I know anything about boats.

“Italian.”

“Oh,” I nod. “Like your car. You seem to really like Italian design.”

“Perceptive. But I always had high hopes for you, babe.”

I roll my eyes. “So you keep telling me. Tell me about Cranchi instead.”

“Company started in 1866. Lake Como.” He holds my hand. “Would you like a tour before we get underway?”

“Sure.” I can hardly wait.

“I factored in time for it. It’s why I got you up so early.”

He never leaves anything to chance. I have a twinge of conscience about the little ruse I have to pull this evening. Even though I’ve thought it through I know it’s not going to be as easy as it sounds. Jack is far from stupid.

I look straight ahead. “It’s got a very pointy nose.”

He barks with laughter at my lack of nautical finesse. “That’s so she cuts through the water. Cruising speed, twenty-six knots.”

“What’s a knot?”

“Something you tie a rope into.” He smirks at me.

“Very funny.” I grin back, adoring my easy-going Jack. This is the Jack I fell in love with long ago. “What’s a nautical knot?”

“Which one? There’s a Rolling Hitch or a Figure Eight. How about a Double Overhand or a Short Sheep Shank?” His eyes sparkle with mirth as I swat him.

“Are you going to be like this all day?”

“Probably.”

“Stop teasing. You know what I mean. The speed she travels.”

He grabs me and hugs me to him. “I like teasing you, baby. A knot is just over a mile an hour. Twenty-six knots? About thirty miles an hour. She has a top speed of forty, although there are speed restrictions on the Thames here. We won’t be moving anywhere near that fast.”

“I like slow too,” I whisper. Now I’m teasing him.

“I’ve learnt that about you, kitten.” He’s practically smouldering, I’m ready to spontaneously combust and we haven’t even left the moorings yet.

“This tour you’re taking me on?” I remind him.

He kisses me swiftly and affecting a deep sigh, turns me about. “We’re standing on the flying bridge.”

“Why’s it called a flying bridge?”

“You’ll see when we get moving. There are two helms on board.”

I furrow my brow at him. I have no idea what he’s talking about.

He realises. “Two
steering wheels
.” He rolls his eyes at having to use layman’s terms. “One up here and one below so you can get out of the weather.”

“Funky.”

“Very. Even funkier is the bar, fridge and barbecue between the sofas.”

“Are we going to picnic?”

“Not today. I’m taking you to a pretty spot for lunch instead.”

I’m so thrilled at his thoughtful planning anyone would think it was
my
birthday. “What if it rains?”

“We head downstairs to the cockpit and saloon. Come on.” He leads the way swooping backwards down the ladder before me.

There’s lots of light pouring inside and the air conditioning blows through gently already. I start to appreciate his love of Italian design when I observe the cream leather seating and subtle mix of dark and light woods.

“There’s a good bit of headroom in here.”

I look up. Jack is tall but the ceilings fly above his head without him bending and they’re well over mine. It’s so incredible I could live here. I talk non-stop about it, trying out all the sofas and opening every available cupboard and door. I’d be a nightmare to take on a house buying trip.