In the Still of the Night:Sexy Romantic Suspense (Book 2 The Blonde Barracuda's Sizzling Suspense Series) (32 page)

“It’s okay, Jake. You just lean back against the wall and relax. Let me do all the work.”

He huffed out a snort, then growled when she worked his pants over his hips and freed his burgeoning cock.

Lexie never ceased to be amazed at Jake’s formidable erection. Of course he’d gone commando, but just getting his jeans over his jutting erection was a task, an exciting one. Her heart leapt at the sight of him and moisture flooded her core. Oh God, he was beautiful. Frighteningly so.

Seeing the desire on his face warring with his overwhelming need for control, she crooned.

“It’s okay, big man of mine. You don’t
always
need to be in charge. Most of the time, mm, hmm. But every once in a while—just to keep you on your toes, I get to do this.”

Biting on her lower lip, she reached out for him. Her voice shook with need.

“God, you are beautiful Jake. I… I’m going to lick you—and suck on you—and drive you crazy. Just like you do me.”

She took his staff in her hands marveling at how thick it was. One hand wasn’t enough to encircle it. And God, just thinking about having that full length inside of her sent another flood of moisture to her already slick folds.

He groaned and closed his eyes, his fists clenched at his sides.

Grasping his cock and bringing it close to her mouth, Lexie ran her tongue around the bulging head, nipping at the sensitive underside that she knew made him wild. Guided by his gasps for breath and soft moans she licked at the slit wet with salty pre-come. She reveled in the taste and smell of him. At his helpless groan, she licked up and down the length of him then took as much of him as she could in her mouth. Setting up a driving rhythm, she began to suck him, rejoicing in his gruff warning.

“Damn, Lexie, you’re gonna have to slow down, baby. I… I… don’t know how much of this I can take.”

She laughed, letting the vibrations shudder over his sensitive shaft. Leaning back, she tossed him a saucy grin.

“Oh, Jake, this is only the beginning. You are going to take so much more before I’m done with you!”

Yanking at his jeans, she pulled them down to his feet. Tugging at one boot and then the other, she appealed to him.

“Help me get these off of you, Jake. I need full access to your gorgeous body.”

When he was bare from the waist down, she leaned back on her heels, marveling at the sight of him. Tapping the inside of his foot, she ordered, “Spread ’em soldier. Wider.” With a soft laugh, she reached for his balls. “I need to get at these as well.”

Delighting in his fierce growl, she nudged his legs apart, then cupped his scrotum in her hand. Lifting his penis aside for the moment, she took his sensitive sac into her mouth. She gently, relentlessly, sucked on one hard ball then the other, the way he had taught her, and that she knew drove him crazy.

She wasn’t disappointed. With a harsh guttural groan, his control snapped. He held her head between his hands. Weaving his fingers in her hair, he pulled her head back and met her gaze. His eyes were dark blue black, gleaming with lust. He grasped his fearsome cock in his big hand, stroking up and down its length. Pressing the bulging tip against her lips, his voice was harsh, commanding,

“Open. Open for me, Lexie. Take me, baby! Take as much of me as you can. As deep as you can.”

Although it was a command, she saw the strain flushing his face, the overwhelming need in his eyes.

Joyfully she took him deep in her throat, one hand cupping and massaging his balls, the other at the base of his prodigious staff. As she moved her mouth up and down, sucking and releasing, his groans became deeper, harsher. When she felt him tighten even more, she licked her finger, then slipped it inside his rear entry, reveling at his sharp gasp.

“Fuck, Lexie! Damn, baby, I don’t think I can—” His protest became a hard moan. Stroking in and out of the tight hole, Lexie felt for the sensitive gland that she knew would push him over the edge. He cried out, a rasping sound, harsh with need. Pulling back, he held her at a distance.

“No. Lexie. Not like this. I gotta be in you, baby. This whole fucking night, I kept sane knowing that somehow, someway, I’d be on top of you driving into that sweet body of yours.”

His grip tightened as he warned her, “Lexie, I gotta have you. Now. I can’t wait. I’m gonna take you baby. Like I never have before.”

He grabbed a pillow off the bed and shoved her down on her back onto the floor. Stuffing the pillow under her bottom, he knelt between her legs, using his strong thighs to spread her legs wide apart. His body was shaking with need. With one hard thrust he drove into her so forcefully, she cried out. He lifted her legs up over his shoulders, folding them back against her chest, opening her even wider. Wildly excited by his shocking entry, Lexie gripped his hips, wanting him inside of her deeper, harder.

Making good on his promise, Jake didn’t hold back. Rather, he pounded into her over and over. His deep guttural groans egged her on. A volcano of sensation coiled between them, rising higher and higher. When he roared a harsh animal cry, pumping into her, she was helpless to hold back. With a loud scream she came violently, reveling in the shocking, terrifying waves of pleasure swamping her.

~~~

Throughout the night he took her, again and again. And she took him. On her knees, deep in her throat, not letting him stop, insisting that he let her drive him as crazy as he did her.

When morning finally came, Lexie lay tangled in Jake’s strong arms, chastened, remembering the hideous events of the evening. They all could have been killed, violently, viciously. In her heart she knew that much of what happened was her fault. If only she had told Jake about the notes, asked for his help. Ming might not have been taken. As it was, they’d left twelve dead bodies at the scene. Most of dead she didn’t know by name. What she did know was that they were evil men—and she reminded herself, one very evil woman. She took some comfort in the fact that they’d made a small dent in a hideous operation. But most of all she was thankful that they were alive, and she and Jake were laying together, in each other’s arms, where they belonged.

~~~

Lexie left Ming sleeping soundly in the care of the Chinese healer who assured her that the battered young girl would sleep most of the day and night. Lexie made her way to the

to the driveway where Jake was standing by his impressive black and silver Ultra Glide, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Wait until you see all the goodies Madam Juen made for us,” Jake crowed, as he strapped the picnic basket on the back of the bike.

Lexie harrumphed, tossing her head in mock annoyance. “You are so spoiled, Jake. Madam Juen is the model of decorum. But she calls you ‘that blue eyed devil’ and
giggles
when she says it. God, even seventy year old women are gaga over you!”

Jake laughed his infectious laugh. But, when he turned to her, a slight frown creased his brow. “I dunno, Lexie. I think she spoils us both. You just might find a lot of teardrops in that basket. She told me in her broken English that she was worried sick about us both. When I left she was tossing both sugar
and
salt in the doorway and was so deep in her incantations she didn’t say good bye.”

Lexie smiled. “She never does. She’s afraid if she does, you won’t come back.”

Lexie’s breath hitched and a streak of pain shot through her, remembering that Madam Juen’s odd habit began when Anthony died.

Jake’s frown deepened when he looked at her, a glimmer of understanding flickering over his face. Lifting her chin, he tipped her head back and gazed deep in her eyes.

“Darlin’, the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and I’m about to put the most beautiful women in the world on the back of the hottest bike known to man. And, hell, honey, against all odds, we’re both alive!”

He strapped on her helmet and lifted her on the back of the Ultra Glide, his prized possession. She snorted derisively when he ran his fingers lovingly over the shiny surface as he reached for his helmet.

“Humph. I think you like this bike better than you do me, Jake.”

He grinned at her, her eyes twinkling. “Well, I do see some similarities… I… uh like riding you both….”

She punched his arm, pretending disgust.

Jake laughed. “Don’t deny it baby, you like it too.”

She flipped down the protective shield but not before she gave him a saucy shrug.

“Sleek, hard and I have to straddle it to ride it—what’s not to like?”

Jake roared. “Oh baby, you’re asking for it, aren’t you?”

He hopped on the bike and kicked it into gear. As the engine roared to life, he leaned over, his voice was a low rumble, mimicking the sound of the bike. “Don’t worry, Darlin’. Neither the bike nor I will leave you hanging.”

Lexie slid her arms around him, marveling at the strength of the six-pack abs striping his tight belly. She clung to him, drinking in his masculine scent. With a deep sigh, she gave into the throbbing roar of the bike, and the powerful man she loved more than anything in the world.

~~~

Lexie lay with her head on Jake’s chest, glorying in the sight of the city below. The remains of their picnic lunch was tucked away and they lazed happily in the dappled sunlight shining through the branches of the huge oak tree. The only sounds were the faint buzz of insects and occasional chirp of the birds nesting in the trees. They came often to this crest, high above the city overlooking the bay. They’d found it together and it was one of her favorite places. The contrast of the bustling city with the stunning natural beauty of the ocean was intoxicating.

Watching the ships arriving at the wharves spoke to other lives, and other times. Knowing that it wasn’t long ago that most of the victims in the sex trade came into this port in ships like those below, sent shards of pained fury through Lexie’s gut. She sighed. Even on a beautiful day like today, the challenges they faced were ever-present.

She forced herself to focus on the man lounging beside her. God, he was beautiful. His strong jaw and striking deep blue eyes never failed to take her breath. The dark beard shadow on his lean face matched his black hair, tousled in sexy disarray across his wide brow. The sun lines around his eyes spoke to the laughter that came gloriously often and freely. At that moment, he looked down at her. The smile she loved tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Tucking his thumb under her chin, he lifted her face up to meet his gaze.

“That’s much too serious a look, Darlin’ for a beautiful day like today. Hmm, wonder if there is anything I can do to put a smile on those sexy lips of yours?”

His lips were warm, gentle. He stroked his tongue across the seam of her lips, probing softly inside, tangling lightly with her tongue. Not wanting him to see the tears burning her eyelids, she pulled back, burying her face against his muscled chest.

Jake’s smile broadened. “Okay, baby. I can take a hint. Let’s hear what’s on your mind. I’m too cocky to believe that my kisses are the cause of those tears I see threatening to fall.”

He leaned up against the tree, then hauled her across his lap and rested her back against his knees. Unable to break his gaze, Lexie struggled. She didn’t want to spoil the mood of the glorious day, but she knew there was no way she could hide her feelings. But they were so mixed, so incoherent, she didn’t know where to start.

He sat quietly, gently stroking his thumb across the inside of her wrist. It was an intimate gesture, but a soothing one. Seeing that he was going to wait her out, she tossed her head.

“I know why you bought me here, Jake.”

“You do, huh?”

“Because this is where you asked me to marry you.”

He nodded.

She ducked her head, then forced herself to meet his eyes.

“And I said I would.”

A soft smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were dark, serious.

“You’re right, Lexie. That
is
what happened here.”

He frowned and pressed his lips together in a firm line.

“But that’s not why I brought you here.”

He ran his thumb across her cheek.

“I don’t think we should get married now, Lexie.”

Lexie gasped. If he’d stuck a knife in her heart, it wouldn’t have been more shocking.

“You… you don’t want to marry me, Jake? Because… of what happened last night? What I did?”

His frown deepened, and he sat up straighter, pulling her tight against him.

“Hold on there, Darlin’. Let’s back up. Take those questions one at a time. Yes, I do want to marry you Lexie. And, baby, get this through your head.
I will
marry you and we
will
live the rest of our lives together—hopelessly in love with each other.”

He lifted her off of him and sat her next to him. His eyes were dark, serious.

“And, yes, this is about what happened last night, but it is bigger than one night, and it isn’t only about what you did or didn’t do. Yeah, honey, you should have told me about the notes, and you should’ve asked me to help you. But I realize, I made it hard for you to do that. Part of the reason you didn’t bring me in was because we’d argued and were apart. We can’t ever do that again, Lexie. We gotta figure out how we can live together and love each other the way that we do, without compromising who we are.”

Lexie listened to him, and little by little the pain gripping her chest lightened and she could breathe again.

Jake continued. “It’s taken me a while to understand this. But we need time. Both of us have work to do. Honey, if we’re gonna work together I have to get over this god-awful fear I have that you can’t take care of yourself.”

Lexie’s heart leapt. Work with him? The thought was exciting—and scary. As if he’d heard her thoughts, Jake nodded.

“Yeah, baby. Work together. On the same team. Not always on the same case. But take Young-soo. He’s still out there, running his evil empire. With both of us after him—not to mention Peter and Brady and Dan—working together, not at cross purposes, the fucker doesn’t stand a chance.”

Lexie allowed herself to consider the possibility of being part of the team, something she’d always resisted. She’d told Jake repeatedly that she worked alone. Unlike him, she wasn’t a team player. She wanted to run her own show. But thinking about the horrific events of last night, she had to admit that her own show wasn’t good enough. Not with the kind of adversaries they were fighting. Seeing Jake quietly letting her consider the possibility, she thought for one heady moment how much they could do if they were fighting the bad guys, not each other.