Fire and Ice (Guardians) (33 page)

A cobblestone driveway began off the main road and curved and widened in front of the house before narrowing to lead back to the main road on the opposite side of the brick wall. It was a beautiful property befitting a real-estate mogul.

Frances and Robert were already waiting in front of the house when they arrived. Jack had called them when he got off the Route 288-exit.

"Maia!" Frances almost squealed when she saw her. Jack's mom hugged her while Jack shook his dad's hand and gave him what Maia called a man-hug.

"Is that a bruise on your face?" Frances shrieked as she quickly looked at Jack.

Jack rolled his eyes as he kissed his mom on the forehead, "I hope you're not thinking what I think you're thinking, Mom."

"Of course not!"

Maia touched her face self-consciously, "Oh no, I think the concealer faded. I got banged up in the last job."

Frances tutted at her and dragged her into the house. "You should think about changing your job."

Jack had explained what Maia did for living after she had saved his parents and Brett from the assassins.

"What I said," Jack muttered behind them as Maia shot him a glare.

Robert, who was normally more an observer than a talker said, "Maia, sweetheart, it'll probably be better for everyone's peace of mind if you um, find a desk job."

Maia sidled up to Jack and said sweetly, "I hope you didn't get your parents to gang up on me."
 

"Of course not, sweetheart," Jack smirked.

"I'm putting you in the gardener's cottage so you two lovebirds can have some privacy," Frances said coyly.

"A cottage?"

"There's a cottage behind the main house connected by a portico," Jack said. "It used to be
 
gardener's cottage but it's used now for guests who have children."

"We have a full house. Most of the guests should be arriving soon. Why don't you two freshen up? I'll have someone bring your luggage over."

"Mom, we can take care of that," Jack said. "Seriously, relax and don't worry about us."

"It's just that ..." Frances broke off as she got teary-eyed as her gaze fell on Maia.
 

Maia felt like a rabbit caught in a trap. Jack noticed her reaction and quickly grabbed their suitcases and nudged her out of the living room and out the back door.

"See you later Frances, Robert," Maia mumbled as she followed Jack to the exit.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Jack left a sleeping Maia on the sprawling brass bed at the gardener's cottage. She had been sleeping a lot during her recovery, but he thought that this time she just wanted to avoid his mother.

He sauntered through the connecting portico and found his mom directing the caterer who had arrived early to prepare some of the dishes for the following day. Derek and his Aunt Nat were sitting around the large kitchen island drinking pre-dinner cocktails.

"And here is my favorite nephew," Aunt Nat cooed as she held her cheek out for the obligatory kiss.

"Don't let Brett hear that," Jack replied as he thumped Derek on the back in greeting. Looking at his mom, he said. "By the way, where is Brett?"

"He'll be in time for dinner," Frances replied. "Where's Maia?"

Aunt Nat stilled and listened attentively.

"Taking a nap before dinner. I think the drive wore her out," Jack said. "Mom, can I talk to you for a sec."

Frances shrugged and followed her son to the sitting room.

"What is it dear?" Frances asked.

"Listen, Maia and I are still very new in our relationship. This Thanksgiving dinner kind of spooked her and she's uncomfortable with you talking like you're already planning our wedding," Jack said. One had to be blunt with his mom otherwise it was like pulling hair.

"You do want to marry her, though?"

"Mom," Jack said in exasperation. "I don't know. I haven't even thought that far. We haven't even talked about how we feel."

"Jack, it's obvious that you love her."

"Well, if it is, she isn't ready to discuss it," Jack said bitterly, then exhaled in resignation. "But I'm ready to wait patiently. And I'm hoping you don't scare her off before I get the chance to tell her how I feel."

His mom touched her chest as if she had heard something very profound. "Oh Jack, I'm so happy." Her eyes filled with tears. "After Claire, I wasn't sure you'd find someone again. But seriously, son, did you have to find someone so complicated?"

Jack chuckled as he wiped his mom's tears and slung his arm around her to walk her back to the kitchen.
 

In the brief moment they were gone, more guests had arrived, one of them being Stephanie Locke.

After their previous encounter, Jack didn't quite know how to act around her. Judging from Stephanie's attire she had every expectation of picking up where they had left off.

She was wearing an indecently short dress, no tights and tall boots. What was she thinking wearing that to a family dinner? Aunt Nat was already giving her the stink-eye.

"Aunt Frances, Jack!" She trilled as she sashayed towards them. She gave his mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Then she pressed her entire length on him, wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a wet kiss on his mouth. Jack unhooked her arms and tried to extricate himself from Stephanie but she ignored his attempts, and tucked her arm through his so that his arm was pressed against her breast. He glanced over at Derek for help. His friend was silently laughing. Damn him.

"Steph, um do you want a drink?" Jack offered. He was very close to being rude to a long-time family friend.

"Later, Jack," she breathed. She led him to a bar stool away from everyone else's and made him sit down. He realized soon why she had done so. "We need to catch up," she went on, whispering in his ear while reaching down to rub his crotch. "We could have a quickie before dinner." She straddled one of his legs and rubbed her heat against him. "Feel that, I'm hot for you."

Jack was shocked at Stephanie's unusual brazenness. He wasn't able to move, but could just stare at the blatant invitation in her eyes while thinking of a way to turn her down gently. He wasn't even turned on; he was disgusted.

He heard Derek clear his throat—that familiar throat clearing his friend used to warn him of something whenever they were out tomcatting about town or negotiating in the boardroom. Jack didn't need to look up to know that Maia had just entered the kitchen.

He turned his head to look straight into icy blue eyes that glared straight at Stephanie who was straddling his thigh in her very short dress and at her hand that was rubbing his crotch enthusiastically.

Fucking great.

***

Maia stretched out on the luxurious bed. She must have dozed off after showering. The clock showed 6pm. Where was Jack? After figuring out that he was not at the cottage, she quickly pulled on a tunic sweater over leggings, stabbed her feet in soft slinky tall boots and headed out to the main house. She left her hair loose. She wasn't sure what the dress code was for dinner and she wished Jack had told her or left her a note.

It was getting dark and the kitchen was surrounded by windows so it was easy to see that most of the guests had gathered in the kitchen. She spotted Derek and frowned when she saw Jack being led around by a blonde-haired woman.

Maia's mouth tightened. Figures. What was the saying? A leopard can't change his spots? She entered the kitchen with the errant pair in full view. The blonde bitch was wantonly straddling Jack's thigh and rubbing his crotch with her hand. And Jack seemed more than content to let her do it. Rat bastard!

Derek looked panicked. Frances, thankfully, was too busy with the caterers to notice and another older woman was staring at Maia with interest.

Derek cleared his throat to warn his friend and Jack twisted his head around
 
to receive the full blast of her arctic stare. He shot out of the chair so fast it almost sent the blonde bitch sprawling on her ass.

His face was etched with guilt and horror. If Maia wasn't so furious, his expression would be laughable.

"Maia, babe ..." Jack began carefully.

Aware that they had an audience, she stalked over to the sitting room. Jack followed.

She spun around, her clear blue eyes sending sparks of fury so intense that Jack flinched. "You bastard, you can't help it can you?"

"Maia, I can explain. It happened so fast and with your perfect timing you walked in before I was able to push her off," Jack whispered, his eyes pleading with her to believe him.

"So it's my fault? Should I have given you what, five minutes more? You think that's enough time for her to get you off?" Maia spoke in a low angry voice.

"That's enough," Jack thundered starting to get pissed off. "What you did with Lee was worse."

"I can't believe you brought that up. That was a job. So what is this, payback for Lee?"

"No, god damn it," Jack replied in a raised voice. Switching back to an angry whisper, he continued, "You are making too much of it. I'll admit she wanted to hookup but I only want you, Maia. Only you."

"You certainly didn't look like you wanted only me. She was all over you," Maia hissed. "She was rubbing herself ... ugh!" She threw up her hands in disgust.

"She caught me by surprise, I didn't know how to react without hurting her feelings," Jack explained further.

"So you'd rather hurt mine?"

"Stop twisting my words!" Jack grabbed her shoulders, looking frustrated beyond measure. "Maia, babe, please don't be like this."

He did look like he was telling the truth. Deep in her heart, Maia knew Jack wouldn't cheat on her. But that didn't mean she would make it easy for him, so she continued to stare stonily at him.

"Maia please..." Jack pleaded as he lowered his head to kiss her tentatively. His tongue shot out to lightly brush her upper lip. When she opened her mouth, Jack groaned and crushed her to him, kissing her deeply and hungrily.

"Oh my God, would you guys get a room!" someone shouted from across the room.

Brett!

Jack tore his lips reluctantly away to grin at his brother. "Hi bro, how was the drive?"

Brett rolled his eyes. "Bloody long. How's my favorite girl," he said giving Maia a hug and kiss.

"Hey, back off, that's my woman."

"Maia, why are you still with this loser? What happened to your cheek!" Brett exclaimed, aghast.

"Great to see you, Brett," Maia said, breaking through the brotherly banter. "Got tossed around on my last job."

"You should seriously look for a different profession," Brett declared.

"So I've been told," Maia replied dryly. "One too many times."

Frances showed up in the sitting room, hugging her youngest son in greeting. "You just arrived in time. We're serving dinner in a few minutes."

Maia awakened to the sound of labored breathing and warm probing fingers seeking the moist heat between her thighs. Jack's face was buried in her hair and nuzzling her neck, the hardness of his erection pressing against her butt. When it was apparent that she was awake, Jack whispered in a strained voice, "I want you. I need to be inside you. Now."

"Okay," Maia whispered as she felt a surge of moisture in that special place.

Jack immediately flipped her on her back and pulled her nightshirt off, leaving her in her underwear. His hands immediately palmed her breasts as he lowered his hips between her thighs and took her mouth in an urgent kiss.

"I dunno if I can go slow," Jack muttered and then groaned as the tip of his cock hit the heat between her legs through their clothes. He trailed kisses down her neck to her breast, sucking her nipple so hard and letting it go with a pop. "But first I want to taste you, it's been so long."

She whimpered in response, her own desire surging at the thought of his talented tongue between her legs. And just like that her underwear disappeared and his head was between her legs, his tongue and mouth driving her towards an explosive finish.

The sound of rapid knocking jolted them out of their lust-filled morning.

"Jack, rise and shine!"

Brett.

"I'm gonna kill him," Jack said in a manner that made Maia think he really meant it.

"Go away!" Jack growled loudly.

"We have a problem with the turkey fryer, mom's freaking out."

"Fucking damn it!" Jack cursed. Looking remorsefully at Maia he said, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."

She was frustrated beyond belief, but what could she say? "That's okay, go."

"Jack," Brett hollered again.

Not bothering to put a robe on to hide his condition, Jack went to the front of the cottage and opened the door.

"I'll be there in five minutes."

Brett burst out laughing. "Did I interrupt something?"

Jack didn't answer, but merely slammed the door shut in his brother's face.

***

"I can't eat another bite," Derek groaned into his plate.
 

To feed fifty people for Thanksgiving, there were an assortment of appetizers, three roasted turkeys, three baked hams, and all the fixings and desserts provided by the caterer. Aunt Nat's husband Bert had fried a turkey, and had been the cause of the emergency that morning. The fryer he had brought had a faulty valve which Jack was able to fix to save the day.

By now everyone was in turkey day coma, lounging everywhere in the house watching football or in the study with Robert smoking a cigar and drinking brandy.

"I don't think I can either," Maia said as she released a very unladylike burp.

"Ew, does Jack know you do that?" Derek chortled as he nearly choked on his beer.

"No, too soon in the relationship," she retorted and Derek laughed harder.

On his way for a second plate, Jack was dragged into the study by his dad to discuss business with the other corporate types who had been invited to the festivities. Frances was busy fleeting from huddle to huddle, acting the consummate hostess and making sure everyone had everything they needed.

As for Maia and Derek, they were partners in crime, demolishing more than their fair share of Thanksgiving dinner.

"You know, I always wondered how a little thing like you could eat so much," her friend said as he eyed her trim figure.