Urban Renewal (Urban Elite Book 1) (23 page)

Jack

From my vantage point here in the shadows, I watch and wait. I’m nursing three fingers of bourbon, my large frame draped over my father’s old leather club chair that I keep in the corner of my room. I could easily doze off here and am contemplating the merits of doing so when I hear her key in the lock. My lips press into a hard line as Valerie enters the room.

As I take in her curvy silhouette, my cock surges insistently against the confines of my tailored pants. The light floral scent of her perfume fills my nose and soothes me as I breathe her in. But that’s not the scent I crave tonight. It’s been one hell of a day and I’ve spent the last hour second guessing my plans, thinking maybe I should just retire to a tropical island somewhere. No, what I want – what I need -- is to fill my lungs with the musky scent of her arousal. I intend to spend the rest of the night between her legs.

 “Where have you been?” I growl as she works the light switch by the door.

“Damn it to hell, Jack!” she protests breathlessly, her body recoiling instinctively. She spins around and glowers at me with her hands fisted on her hips. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!”

I toss back the last of the bourbon and step over to the dresser for a refill. My tone is deceptively calm as I raise the glass to my lips. “I asked you a question.”

“Well, 
you’re
 in a foul mood,” she mutters, setting her briefcase and purse down in the wing chair by the door before sliding her blazer off and draping it over the back of the chair. I take another sip, letting the liquid heat soothe my battered soul even as it burns the back of my throat. Old insecurities settle over me like a shroud. I try to breathe easy but just the idea of her ever being with anyone but me has me seething. But more than that, the thought of a life without her makes a dull ache settle in my chest.

I set the glass down on the dresser with enough force to prompt her to take a step back. Her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath as she moves tentatively toward me, as if she’s approaching a frightened animal. 
She’s so fucking beautiful
.

As she runs her hands over my chest and shoulders, I tilt my head back and close my eyes. Her long, supple fingers trail lightly down my arms, pressing firmly into my skin as they return to caress my shoulders and neck. With my shirt sleeves rolled up, her perfectly manicured nails leave faint red tracks on my forearms.

She nuzzles my neck and murmurs tenderly, “You know I’d never screw around on you, Jack. Why do you do this to yourself?”

It’s a valid question, one I don’t have an answer to. I don’t want to talk right now anyway. With the team’s first case consuming my every waking moment and threats being leveled against this woman, tonight I just need to keep her close to me. I fist her hair at the nape of her neck and hold her head still as I kiss her slow and deep, claiming her mouth with broad sweeps of my tongue. I tug her bottom lip between my teeth just hard enough to elicit a gasp. I smile triumphantly against her mouth as her curves melt against me, surrendering to the scorching heat that threatens to consume us. As much as I need to take her tonight, she needs to be taken.

“Show me,” I rasp against her lips. “Prove to me you need me as much as I need you.”

Her fingers make quick work of my belt, releasing it and letting it slide to the floor as she turns her attention to my zipper, walking me backwards until I’m leaning against the wall next to the dresser. Anticipation hums in my bloodstream when she drops to her knees. I reach for my drink, tilting it back and grimacing as I swallow it down.

She slides her hand inside my pants, laying claim to my rock hard length, working me with slow, steady strokes. I glare down at her in challenge as she tugs my pants and boxer briefs down in one swift move. My shoes and socks follow, joining them in the corner as she slides out of the way. The sight of her tending to me this way, all while kneeling before me, drives me out of my mind.

Her tongue flutters along my shaft, stroking the sensitive skin along the underside of the crown. My breath escapes in a hiss from between bared teeth. Her lips are clinging to my shaft, forming a snug ‘o’ as she takes me to the back of her throat. My knees nearly buckle when she angles her head back and relaxes her muscles to allow my cock passage beyond the back of her throat. I groan with pleasure, her nails digging into my bare ass as she pulls me toward her, relentlessly, until I’m fully seated in her mouth.

I’m riveted by the nearly miraculous sight of her full, red lips sealed around the base of my shaft. As I struggle for control, wanting this to last for-fucking-ever, she raises those mischievous blue eyes to mine and starts swallowing rhythmically. Her silky smooth channel pulses around my cock, sending waves of searing heat down my spine. 
Fuck me, she’s jacking me with her throat. This woman...

I slam the glass onto the dresser, unconcerned as amber liquid sloshes over the rim. I’m hell bent to give as good as I’m getting, so I reluctantly slide my length from her throat, clasping her jaw in my hand as I leave her mouth. Ignoring her playful pout, I pull her from the floor and steer her roughly over to the bed. I give her curt instructions to strip as I toss my shirt onto the floor.

I look my fill at her flawless, creamy skin, weighing my options as I decide where to start. Her husky voice pulls me from my thoughts.

“Lie down, Jack. If you want me to show I need you, then do as I say.”

I rarely relinquish control in any aspect of my life, especially when it comes to sex and particularly since Valerie came into my life. I’m curious to see where her sexy sense of initiative takes us tonight. More than that, I’ll do whatever I need to do to have that sweet little pussy of hers sheathing me. She straddles my hips and I savor the anticipation of finally getting inside her. But my woman has other plans.

She crawls up the length of my body, taking her time as she rubs her velvety skin against me, nuzzling me like a damn cat. As she grabs the headboard with both hands and plants her knees on either side of my head, I link my hands behind my neck and admire the slick pussy lips hovering over my face. 

“Do you want this pussy?” she purrs as she swivels her hips seductively, undulating above me with an erotic abandon that sets my teeth on edge and draws a bead of sweat down the side of my face. I grit my teeth and try to let her enjoy the illusion of having control. She obviously needs it tonight, so this is her show – for the moment, anyway. I finally get my wish as the womanly scent that I crave surrounds me and I breathe her in.

“Come here, baby,” I murmur as she lowers herself onto my hungry mouth. Her legs press my arms into the mattress and I’m sublimely content to be at her mercy as she takes her pleasure. Every swirl of my tongue over her clit, every open mouth kiss against her lush inner lips sends her higher, her hips grinding against my face as she begins to moan incoherently. I thrust my tongue deep inside her hot tunnel, rubbing against her sweet spot until she arches her back and comes apart, drenching me in her sweet cream.

She takes my breath away as she slides down my body and kisses me, lazily tasting herself on my lips. She pushes against my chest and sits up as I slide my hands down her body, squeezing her ass cheeks and positioning her wet, glistening slit over my shaft. I lower her slowly onto me until I’m buried so deep inside her that I groan when the sensitive tip of my cock rubs against her cervix.

“Look at you,” I whisper and she smiles lazily without opening her eyes. “I think you’re love drunk,” I observe with no shortage of male pride.

“Mmm-hmmm…” she murmurs dreamily as her head lolls to the side, sending a cascade of glossy hair over her shoulders. As she starts rolling her hips over mine, I meet her rhythm, thrust for thrust. My hips buck beneath her as she rides me with an urgency that signals her approaching orgasm. Dusky rose nipples tease me as she leans over me, cupping a breast and letting the tip graze my hungry lips. I clamp down hard on the pebbled flesh and roar my pleasure as her pussy clamps down on my cock. The orgasm rolls through me like a freight train. My body releases deep inside her only when I know she’s been fulfilled.

She drapes her supple body over me, our skin slick with sweat, her lips softly nibbling my neck. I stroke her hair, fascinated by the way the glossy strands slide through my fingers like water. Her hum is a soft rumble against my chest as her body shudders with a series of delicious aftershocks. In this moment, I’m reassured that she’s every bit as connected to me as I am to her. And it’s enough—until the next time I need her to convince me she isn’t going anywhere.

Max

Liam gave me a lot to think about tonight so I’m in a hurry to get back to Urban Elite and fire up my laptop while the conversation’s still fresh in my mind. The thing is, I’m no more certain about his guilt or innocence than I was before. I still have a hard time believing he’s capable of such deviant behavior when he has devoted his life to helping others. Despite his obvious interest in me – both professional and personal, it seems – I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off somehow. Every now and then, I’ll catch him eyeing me with an almost clinical detachment, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

The roar of Spider’s Harley behind me interrupts my thoughts and causes my heart to race. I was hoping to get to my room without having to deal with him, but no such luck.

He calls my name as he climbs off the bike but I keep walking. I stride briskly to my door, unlock it and move quickly to slip inside, but he’s right behind me pushing the door open and inviting himself in. He slams the door and backs me into the wall before I even have the chance to set my purse down.

“That didn’t look like a fucking business meeting to me, sweetheart. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when you were holding hands. Were you scared and needed doctor boy to protect you?” He presses his body against mine until there’s no space between us. “I’m supposed to protect you, not him.
Me
.”

“Then do your damn job and stop overreacting to everything,” I snap. He’s standing so close, making it impossible to ignore the delicious combination of his woodsy cologne and leather. He steps back and pulls his skull cap off to run his hand through his raven black hair as he begins pacing the floor.

“Why are you so mad at me?”

He ignores the question – and me – and instead sits down at my desk and boots up my computer.

“Gee, make yourself at home, Spider.”

“I’ll fucking protect you,” he mutters, narrowing his eyes at me. “Not him.”

“It was dinner. Just dinner, for God’s sake. We practically shook hands when we said goodnight.”

He growls low, nostrils flaring as he closes his eyes briefly and shakes his head. “Why are you leading the guy on?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not leading anyone on.”

He returns his attention back to the computer screen. “You sure about that, Max? And, yeah, I’m making it my business.” Then he mutters under his breath, “It officially became my business when I saw your tits.”

“You did
not
see my tits! I was wearing a bra! They were covered in lace!”

He shakes his head again, muttering, “They damn sure were.” He straightens and continues, “There’s no way I’m letting you get hurt on my watch. I’m still not convinced he isn’t tied in somehow with these murders. One thing I
do
know is he’s the only person who had access to those pearls. If he’s sick enough to steal something like that, what else is he capable of?”

I sputter and fume as I glare at the back of his head, but ultimately I can’t think of anything to say. A chill runs up my spine at the thought of Liam being involved. Maybe having this arrogant ass guarding me isn’t such a bad idea.