Instinctual (16 page)

Chapter Thirty-Two

When the three men reached the top of Vernazza they stopped and looked out across the town and down to the inky water. They were each wondering what the next plan of attack was after fruitlessly searching every street they came across on their ascent.

Robert and The Gladiator were exhausted but neither were willing to give up until the entire town had been searched. Neither had eaten for hours and as Robert ran a hand over his weary face, he made a decision.

“We need to re-fuel quickly and grab a coffee. It’s going to be a long night so we’re going to need our energy. I spotted a café still open down in the Piazza. Let’s head down there and then we can search the Doria Castle and surrounds. I haven’t heard from the Italian police so I’ll check in with them while we are down there.”

The Gladiator agreed. “Sounds like a good plan, sir.”

***

Jake didn’t need anything. Food and drink weren’t necessary. What was necessary was finding Kate’s body. He hoped Robert and The Incredible Hulk standing beside him were fast eaters.

His thoughts were fixated on Kate. She was all he could think about. Even needing to now stay focused, it was impossible to forget the way he had felt when they’d kissed. Her touch. God, what he wouldn’t do to be back in her arms right now. It had nearly killed him to pull away. He’d wanted nothing more than to give in to his deepest desires. She’d wanted him just as much. He’d never felt so alive, even though physically that couldn’t be further from the truth. Their bond would never die. It was greater than both of them.

As the men were descending down the mountain of steps towards the Piazza, Jake stopped abruptly, as if hitting a brick wall. A sensation washed over him, causing him to inhale deeply and crane his head sideways, as if that would reveal what it was that had him immediately on alert.

Robert and The Gladiator led on but Jake couldn’t bring himself to follow. He closed his eyes and let the giddiness seize him. There was a familiarity about the pull. The scent. The complete inability to resist the captivating allure. He shook his head as if to try and shake the feelings that had started to inch him slowly forward. It wasn’t possible.

Having lost his allies around the next sharp turn, Jake focused on connecting with the heady spell that had taken over him.

He came to a crossroads and wasn’t sure which way he should go, but as soon as he started down one long, thin alley the spell wore off and he knew he needed to turn around. As soon as he picked up the scent in the other passageway he knew he was onto something.

He felt like a sniffer dog on a trail but it didn’t matter because he knew it was imperative to keep following it.

“Find me, baby!”

What the heck? Why did I even say that? Kate’s dead.

He’d seen her vanish with his own eyes. Her spirit had disappeared into thin air. He knew what that meant.

Jake stopped near the entrance to the piazza and leaned up against a ruddy wall, grasping at the broken stonework on a small souvenir shop that had closed hours earlier, trying to gather his fragmented thoughts. A slow throb vibrated through him. It felt like blood surging through his veins, spurred on by adrenalin, but that wasn’t possible. It was something else. His hands were clenched into the wall so hard that a piece of stone crumbled off in his right hand like chalk.

Faintly floating on the fresh breeze was a sound that spoke to him. Anyone else would have missed it. He was thankful for his enhanced senses that being out of his body brought.

“Jake! Where are you? Jake!”

He stood erect, eyes wide open in shock, not waiting to see if he had been imagining it. If his heart had been in his body it would have been palpitating. Instead his energy pulsated almost to the point of self-detonation.

“Kate?”

Dare he fuel the flicker of hope?

Without another moment to overthink it he was off in a blur into the piazza, almost crashing into the wall that framed the small harbor. He held onto it, turning his head left, then right, watching and waiting, quelling the urge to climb up on the wall like some raving lunatic, hollering until he had nothing left.

He screamed out once, knowing no one alive could hear him but praying with everything that he had that Kate would be able to.

“Kate! Kate, where are you? Can you hear me?”

Fuck! Where is she?

“Jake!”

He was spinning around and around, trying to determine where her voice was coming from. It was hard to tell with the wind blowing in off the shore. It sounded like he was surrounded by her voice. No direction in particular, but through him.

He grabbed at his hair in frustration. “Kate!”

Could she possibly be trying to connect with me from the other side? To tell me she’s safe? It sounded more like an urgent plea. A cry for help.

Jake felt helpless. Should he stay put or should he keep searching, hoping that her voice found him again?

In his frantic state he barely felt a couple walking hand in hand pass through him and stand against the low wall, looking out over the water. It wasn’t until a strange energy overtook him that he realized the female’s emotions were inside him. Terrible guilt, mixed with sadness. The smile the woman had on her face masked deep emotions that her partner knew nothing about. She was in great turmoil over something she had done that she could never tell anyone about. Jake quickly stepped back, releasing himself from the grief of the stranger, instantly freeing an added weight from him that he didn’t need.

He struggled to understand the insane world he was now existing in. Ghosts had never been a topic he’d believed in and now he was one, trying desperately to track down his beloved Kate, who was also one. It was insanity at its best.

Looking over towards a late night trattoria, Jake could see Robert and The Gladiator huddled in discussion while Robert keyed in a number onto his cell phone. Probably the police. He was fighting a losing battle trying to save his precious daughter. They’d searched everywhere but to no avail. Robert still thought his daughter was alive but Jake knew different.

As he turned towards the northern end of the piazza he was struck heavily with an image of Kate. Flickering visions of their special place. She was standing near the tree with their initials carved into it. Her fingers were tracing over the bark. Her mind was calling to him, trying to connect using their bond. It was as if the tree was linking their minds together as she touched the inscribed initials. Something tangible that they’d shared.

He could see her clearly. Dear God! She’s back
.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Kate knew the moment Jake appeared without having to see him. The change in her energy had her grabbing the tree for support, soaking in the amazing change in atmosphere that was becoming an addiction.

Everything south of her shoulders pulsated to a rhythm that wasn’t hers. Heat pulled at her nipples, making them instantly full and hard. Wonderful sensations of need coiled in her belly, urging her to fight the stubbornness in her head and give in to temptation. It was a hard call. It took her a moment of mental arguing before she composed herself somewhat, trying hard not to give away how he affected her so.

Jake looked taken aback, as if stunned to see her. She wondered if her leather body suit had him at a loss for words. Her libido did a little happy dance at the victory while Kate turned to find out why Jake hadn’t said a word yet.

He appeared to be paralyzed, standing rigid like an ancient Greek statue. His eyes were wide with shock, yet laced full of lecherous need. His hands were balled at his side.

In a low, carnal voice he managed to growl out, “Kate?”

A self-satisfied smirk eased onto her face as she kept trying to play it cool. “Jake. You came.” The words drizzled out like warm honey. She didn’t have to be psychic to know how she affected him.

Jake was stunned into silence again, pleasing Kate no end as she faced him fully now, giving him an eyeful of what he’d been missing since they’d broken up. A hand eased down her side and rested on her thigh in a teasing gesture. She cocked her head to the side and licked her lips, reveling in the power she had over him. She was playing with fire but it felt so good to have him at her mercy. To let him suffer for a bit.

The moment her tongue came out and slowly moved across her lower lip Jake’s expression changed from a look of shock to dwindling restraint. His eyes morphed from wide saucers to hooded and half closed in an instant. His lips parted and he stepped forward. Kate took a step back. It was enough to make Jake stop, his rigid posture straining to remain in the one spot.

“You’re alive!” Somehow he had managed to find his voice again, although it was somewhat shaky and unsure. “I thought you had died!” His fingers were clenching and unclenching.

Kate turned back to look at the tree while she fingered the carved initials to try and distract herself from Jake’s piercing stare as she thought about his words. So, he thought he’d lost her, did he? Well good! Now he might understand what she had gone through.

Was this the payback she’d been seeking? To hear the hurt in his voice? To feel it inside her?

“What if I am dead?” She couldn’t resist, squeezing the vise that little bit tighter.

Jake grimaced and closed his eyes to shield his emotions from her, but even as he tried to hide the river of grief, Kate could feel it. He took a step back and staggered as if the weight of her words was too much to bear.

Kate looked around at the sound of Jake nearly falling over, realizing it was too late to take the words back.

His eyes opened and burned into hers with so much regret that Kate felt the makings of guilt start to build. His face was an open book of pain, his roar hitting her in the chest, causing her to jump.

She could feel his soul breaking through the eternal link they shared and it should have pleased her no end but instead, she found herself feeling sorry for him and sorry for herself for letting him believe she was dead. Revenge wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Not when the person you were trying to hurt was the other half of you. Jake’s pain was Kate’s pain.

“You’re dead!” His hand reached out for her in one last attempt to hold onto her before she vanished for good. “You really are dead!”

Gone was the strong, heroic, optimistic Jake. Kate saw a small, frightened boy who didn’t know how to go on. Someone who looked lost and afraid.

She couldn’t keep up the charade any longer. It was hurting them both too much. She couldn’t hurt him without hurting herself.

“Jake.” Kate moved a step closer, offering a sympathetic tone. “I’m not dead. Not yet. I disappeared, probably from the shock of discovering that I’m out of my body.”

“But—”

“I’m sorry if you believed I was gone for good. I wanted you to feel something close to what I felt when you left me.” Kate waited for Jake’s anger as she bit her bottom lip.

It never came. Instead she was met with a stark expression of understanding as Jake nodded. Realization dawning on him. His hand rubbed the back of his neck as if trying to remove some of the obvious tension. Kate could see that he suddenly got it.

“I deserved that.” Jake looked to the ground and kicked a small stone with his boot. “I know I can never expect your forgiveness. If you want to stay angry with me, that’s fine. I’m just so happy that you’re still here.” He put both hands in his pockets, watching the stone roll away.

Kate wanted to stay angry with Jake until her own pain subsided, but having him this close, feeling his remorse, it was hard to keep holding a grudge. He looked defeated.

She wasn’t a hurtful person by nature, even though in the past she had imagined stringing Jake up by his testicles from the very tree she was now standing in front of. It had been a way to deal with the abandonment.

“Jake, I’ve grieved for so long. When I knew you were back, I wanted to make you pay for hurting me the way you did. I was trying to think of a million different ways to do it. That’s not me. I’ve never been that person. You leaving changed me. It made me think horrible thoughts.” She crossed her arms in front of her, frowning at the thought.

Jake looked up, an expression of helplessness crossing over his face.

Before he could say anything, Kate continued. “I don’t know when or if I can ever forgive you, Jake, but I’m not going to waste any more time trying to think of ways to hurt you, either. Seeing that look in your eyes moments ago when you thought I was dead and feeling your emotion is enough for me. To know you understand what the grief feels like. The ruin. Maybe that will be enough.”

“I’ll take whatever you dish out to me, Kate. Nothing will hurt me as much as never seeing you again. Never experiencing this feeling that is coursing through me this very second.” His eyes flitted over her from head to toe, leaving a burnt path in their wake. A low masculine noise escaped from his mouth in approval at her slick attire. Oh how the air could change from tense to tantalizing so quickly. It was like Jake could manipulate it at will.

Kate put weight on one foot and then the other, not knowing what to say to that. When he sounded like a dark, dangerous predator it did certain things to her.

“You’re changing the subject.” It was all she could come up with in response.

“I’d much rather talk about something else.” Topaz eyes had turned dark. An animal on the hunt, ready to pounce.

“Such as…” Her voice came out a little too high as Jake cut her off. A switch had been flicked. She could see it written all over his face.

“What are you wearing, Kate?” The beast within growled out as he moved forward, his lean hips swaying with just enough swag to have her tense up slightly.

Kate’s eyes had found his ripped chest and arms that moved provocatively under his tight tee.

“This little old thing?” A girly giggle escaped as Jake’s approach had her in nervous anticipation. Her body buzzed with desire. It was hard to hold back and play innocent when he had
that look in his eyes that melted her like hot chocolate. And just like chocolate, Jake was her addiction. One she thought she had broken. Maybe it was like being a recovering alcoholic. One may be off the bandwagon but when temptation arose there was always the risk of a relapse. His lithe body inched forward, silently like a sleek jaguar hungry for a feed. Need written all over him. Oh, he needed her. Yes, that she was sure of. He needed her more than she’d ever known before. His eyes were glazed, like he’d lost himself to some dark force the moment he’d found out she was still alive.

Maybe she’d overdone it with the leather. She’d known it would affect him but not the way it had in that instant. She shuddered as he came closer. He never took his eyes off her and she found it hard to hold such a commanding gaze.

As Jake moved to within two feet of her, she realized it was going to take more than will-power to stay focused. The heat between them was like standing too close to the sun. One more inch and they’d both burn to a crisp. Kate moved back and placed a hand firmly on the tree to keep her upright.

Jake’s fiery eyes finally left hers for a second journey over her body.

“Baby…” For the second time that night, he appeared speechless. She literally took his breath away as they now stood facing each other. His lips were plump and moist. Kate stood transfixed, unable to move, waiting for whatever it was that was going to transpire in the next second.

Very gingerly Jake drew his fingers to Kate’s face. They both gasped in unison at the little sparks of electricity that shot off their skin at the point of contact.

Kate flinched and pulled away slightly.

“Kate, don’t,” Jake begged not letting her pull away again, his hand at her jaw.

“What?”

“I. Crave. You.”

Kate could see him actually shaking with restraint as he slowly drew the words out, jaw twitching.

She was torn between wanting to do the right thing by Carlos and needing Jake more and more with each passing second. Her earlier plan of hurting him was now in tatters. Shredded to pieces. This was playing right into Jake’s hand. How could she be so weak as to resist? God! She was putty in his hands. She always had been. The ridiculously hot man in front of her was giving off some serious sexual energy and now her body was betraying her again by the craving that drowned her rational thoughts. She only had to look into his eyes and she was gone. This thing between them was more powerful than she.

Jake didn’t hold back any longer. Before she knew what had happened his mouth was crushing hers, open and on fire, tongue searching. That was the only invitation she needed as the remainder of her restraint crumbled away. She surrendered. Weak and desperate.

Her hands forcefully grabbed his neck, pulling him closer, as if that were even possible. Jake groaned into her mouth as he worked her lips like there was no tomorrow. One of his hands found her butt, lifting her so that her legs were wrapped around him as if she weighed but a mere ounce. He moved them against the tree for support, the bark digging into Kate’s skin. She didn’t even care. His hands were doing far more damage, and as for his lips, well, she was sure they were bruising hers.

The recklessness of the moment had Jake move his lips to Kate’s throat as she threw her head against the tree, giving him greater access. If he were a vampire she would have let him sink his teeth into her smooth succulent flesh, sucking her life force into his own to sate the acute necessity to be a part of each other.

“Fuck, Jake!”

“Mmm. Yes, please! Here and now!” It was a low snarl.

Kate ground herself against Jake’s rigid bulge, causing him to almost pierce her skin with his teeth as a husky sound let go from the back of his throat.

For a long couple of minutes Kate let herself feel again, forgetting all else. Jake was enough in that moment. He felt so good. More than good.

She cried out as he ripped her leather buttons apart to reveal bare breasts.

“Touch me, Jake.”

As if in one fluid motion his mouth made its way from her neck to one of her breasts that was already swollen with desire. When Jake’s sculptured lips hit her nipple she arched her back and pulled on his hair.

“Yeeessss,” she hissed.

He was making suckling noises with his torturous, hungry lips and guttural exhalations
.

It was nearly her undoing as he bit her nipple almost to the point of pain. She was tingling between her legs, or was it more of an ache?

His expert hand worked the other breast, which filled his palm perfectly, his thumb and forefinger twisting and pulling the sensitive bud.

He knew exactly what she needed and where she needed it as he moved his hips so that he was positioned perfectly against the responsive spot in Kate’s folds that was screaming for release. If he didn’t stop she knew she was going to plummet into the pleasurable abyss her body was searching for.

And then as if to dampen the moment, a little voice in her head piped up, forcing her abandonment away so that reason could take hold. She hated that little voice that instantly broke the spell.

What were they doing? Was she ready to cheat on Carlos? She wasn’t that type of girl. Jake was taking away all her sane thoughts. It had to stop and not go any further.

“Jake?”

“Mmmm, baby. You feel amazing.”

“Jake. No. Stop!” Her hands pulled his head away from her tingling breast that was telling her to shut the hell up and let Jake get on with it.

If Kate had ever seen what pure desire looked like it would have been when Jake’s eyes met hers in that moment. They were heavy, the black pupil having swallowed any color, still lost to lust. His breathing was rattled, mere gasps. His lips were swollen from their assault and she could barely stop herself from pulling his mouth to hers to savor the delicacy.