TWENTY-FIVE

Harry Potter

 

 

I was pounding hard into the tightest woman I’d ever had. She was dripping wet, soft like silk, and tasted sweet like honey.

“Jesus, you’re tight, never felt anything like it,” I hissed as Jenn’s back arched, and I covered her mouth on the moan escaping her. Swear to Christ I’d never had a woman like her. I could bury myself deep all night and never get tired. I’d brought her to orgasm twice already and wasn’t finished.

“You like it rough, baby?” Jenn whimpered her reply like I knew she would. I was playing her body like the priceless instrument it was, and the rougher I was, the more turned on she got. Her breathing was accelerated; her moaning was getting louder, and I knew she was moments away from exploding. I was holding off; I wanted her putty in my hands. One leg wrapped around my back, the other tangled around my thigh, I thrusted hard again and felt her tighten and then spasm around my cock, milking me. I watched her eyes roll back, and that about sent me over the edge. She’s fuckin’ beautiful when she comes.

The male instinct to claim kicked in and my thrusting became more brutal, neurons were firing, and they said one thing only: Mark her, claim her, and make her mine.

“Jack, honey, I’m gonna go again, oh, God.”

That hit me in the balls, and I squeezed my eyes shut, concentrating on not losing it before she came. My thumb found her clit, and I rolled it. She ignited again, and that was it; I couldn’t hold off another second. I thrust twice more, and then buried my cock deep in her walls and emptied myself into her as if it was the first time I’d ever come. I moaned deep in my throat as my mouth found her neck. I had to mark her. Teeth sinking in where her neck joined her shoulder, I rode out my release, thinking I could die now and not regret my life for one second. Christ, but I was gone for this woman.

Nuzzling her neck, tasting and kissing my way back to her mouth, needing to taste her one more time, I took it and tangled my tongue with hers while I slowly finished thrusting into her heat.

“Wow, that was unreal,” she whispered, and I grinned on her mouth.

Every fucking thing about this woman turned me on, turned me inside out, hell, turned me on my fucking head.

“You better believe it,” I smirked.

“Full of yourself and bossy,” she giggled.

“Confident in my abilities is more like it.”

“Where I’m from it’s called arrogant.”

“Where I’m from it’s called being a man.”

“Lucky me,” she sighed, and I rolled to my side, tucking her into me. Then I remembered I owed her a swat for disobeying me, so I smacked her ass, and she yelped.

“That will leave a mark,” she cried out.

“You’re lucky I didn’t smack both sides.”

“You take your job as my oppressor too seriously.”

“I take my job as your man extremely serious and the sooner you start listening—”

She cut me off, grinning huge and rolling her eyes, “Jack, it’s cute you think you’ll ever be able to tell me what to do, really. It entertains me daily,” she laughed.

I sighed and shook my head. Her inability to see that I would win, I always did, was almost as cute as her trying to ignore my orders. And for some damn reason, I wondered if her dead husband had the same problem.

“Why are you scowling?” Jenn whispered in my ear. I looked down at her and for the first time realized she’d loved another man. I knew she’d been married, but we’d never really talked about it, so I’d forgotten. Now I remembered, and it was like a punch in the gut that someone else had held her heart.

“Did you love him?” For some insane reason, I needed an answer to that question.

“Who?”

“Your husband. I know you had to get married, but did you love him?”

She paused; her eyes unfocused as she thought about the question, and she smiled.

“Yes, I loved him. He was my best friend.”

That sucker punched me, and before I could recover she continued, “I don’t think I was in love with him like you’re supposed to be when you marry someone, but he was funny and easygoing and a great father. It was no hardship being married to my best friend.”

The breath I’d held since she’d spoken released, and I breathed deep. Relief for some inexplicable reason coursed through my body and I knew right then that I’d fallen in love with her. The thought that another man might have held her heart the way I wanted to had gripped mine until she released it with her words. Christ, I sounded like a damned Hallmark card at the thought of possessing her heart.

I rolled into her and ran a finger down her jaw until it found her lips and pressed into her mouth to keep her from talking.

“You’re mine now. I’m sorry he died, sorry Bailey lost her dad, but I’m not sorry it brought you here to me.”

It was a shit thing to say, but I didn’t care. She belonged to me now, and if he rose from the dead tomorrow, I’d kick his ass back to Kansas.

Jenn stared at me for a moment, the wheels of her mind turning, and I wondered what she was thinking. She opened her mouth and then closed it, hesitant to say something, then, like always, she came right out with it.

“Doug was a good man. He gave me Bailey, and I will always love him for that and miss his gentle spirit and sense of humor.  But I’d be lying to myself if he knocked on my door tomorrow—I’d be thrilled he was alive, of course—but it would be a lie to go back to him…. Since I’ve met you, I realized I was settling.”

“Are you saying you’re not settling now?” Her hand came to my face, and I kissed her palm.

“No, I’m not settling. What can I say, I have a thing for bossy.”

“Then I guess we’re made for each other, baby. ‘Cause you don’t listen for shit, and that turns me right the hell on.”

She giggled, and I felt that in my bones. How this tiny woman could bring me to my knees baffled me, but I sure as hell was gonna enjoy finding out why she did.

***

It was Sunday morning. Jack had the day off and was making pancakes. With Mandy’s help, I’d hauled most of my clothes back up to my cabin two days earlier. Bailey was staying until Halloween. She’d decided to spend the holiday with me when she heard about the fall festival and costume party they put on each year. Jack was going to drive me up to my cabin after breakfast so I could settle in and relax before I jumped back into work tomorrow, so Bailey and I spent the morning browsing the internet, deciding on which costumes to wear.

“Mom, you should go as a sexy pirate or vampire. You’ve got the tits and ass for it.”

“Bailey, I was thinking more along the lines of something scary.” She looked at me in horror and shook her head.

“No way. It’s the one time of the year you can almost go naked in the streets and get away with it, Mom. You have to do something sexy…You know, to hold Jack’s attention.”

“I don’t know, Bailey. Oh, wait, show me that Harry Potter one again.” Bailey rolled her eyes and scanned back; but then her smile grew.

“I like it, Mamacita…Very you.”

“You think Jack will like it?”

“I think Jack will hate it.”

“Good, then it should do its job.”

Bailey burst out laughing as Jack walked into the room, took one look at us, and narrowed his eyes. How he could tell we were up to something I’d never know, but in the short time he’d been around us, he’d learned to read us like he’d known us for years. I’m so not seeing good things for my future.

***

Breakfast over, dishes washed, it was time to head back home. After a week at Jack’s, it would be great to be home, but I’d miss waking up to him. Bailey was meeting me there after she headed to the costume shop to pick up what we needed for the party in two days’ time, so it was just Jack and me heading up the mountain.

I was watching the scenery pass by when Jack’s phone rang.

“Gunnison.” Jack answered. I was half-listening when I heard Jack cuss. Seeing as he cussed a lot, I didn’t pay attention until I heard him say, “Did you contact Buckley?” Buckley was the last name of the man I’d met that fateful day when Gerry’s life ended. Mine almost did, and our town was rocked by the news that one of their own beloved members was a killer. So I listened, but couldn’t figure out what was happening.

I’d no sooner given up when Jack said, “Was the mine tour a total loss?” I watched as Jack’s jaw tightened and then wondered what had happened at the Ghost Mine. “Roger that, I’ll be there in an hour. Just dropping off Jenn at her place.” Jack hung up, dropped his phone on the seat, and turned to me.

“Somebody set fire to the mine tour. Total loss. Fire department's there now.” I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel hearing this, so I said nothing.

“You ok?” Jack asked.

“I think so; it wasn’t a place I wanted to go back to, but it’s a shame for the Buckley’s after all their hard work.”

“Was planning on spending the day with you, but I have to head back and handle this.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve got a ton of laundry and work I need to do before tomorrow.”

Jack grinned at me, and I thought that was odd, so I asked him, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, just not used to a woman who doesn’t throw a fit when I get called out.” Score one for Jenn!!!

“Oh, well then, smile away.” And he did. He also grabbed my hand and held it on his lap the rest of the way to my cabin. Nice.

***

“Mom, they only had that costume in a size smaller than you wanted,” Bailey shouted as she entered my cabin.

“Did you get me something different?”

“No, I got it. It will just be shorter and show more cleavage than the larger one.”

“I don’t know, Bailey. That might be pushing it for someone my age.” She actually snorted when I said that, then pulled out the costume and threw it at me.

“Try it on. I got my legs from grandmother, but yours are smoking hot. I say if you’ve got it, flaunt it.”

Looking down at the scrap of fabric that constituted the costume, I had second thoughts on the whole plan of making Jack burning mad, which equaled him taking it out on me in the bedroom. I’d still have to go out in this, which meant be seen in it, and I was thinking my butt hanging out wasn’t worth my reward.

“Just try it on, Mom. You’ll see.” I looked at Bailey and figured “what the hell?” So I headed to the bathroom and put it on.

Yup, I’m gonna wish I’d kept my mouth shut.

Boobs showing, ass covered by a half inch of fabric, but at least there was a cape. I walked out to show Bailey, and she was standing there talking to Mark. I was shocked to see him. I’d been so busy recovering from my own injuries I’d forgotten about him. Bailey was flirting per usual, and before I could turn around and duck back into the bathroom, he looked up and grinned.

“Well, looks like I came by at the right time.”

“Uh, hi, hi…Sorry, I’m just gonna go change this.”

“Don’t change on my account,” he laughed. Seeing my robe hanging on the dining room chair, waiting to be washed, I grabbed it and threw it on.

“Mark, what are you doing here?” Realizing that was blunt and rude, I apologized. “Sorry, that was rude. I’m just surprised to see you. I figured you’d have gone home by now.”

“Got discharged a few days ago and wanted to come by and see how you were doing.”

“How did you find me?”

“Googled you.”

“I’m on Google?”

“Good lord, Mom. For a reporter your computer skills are severely lacking.”

I ignored Bailey and moved toward them.

“So did you heal, any lasting injuries?”

“Yeah, nothing permanent except a broken heart.” Shaking my head at his ridiculous remark, I laughed. He was extremely charming, and he knew it. I guess that’s why I’d enjoyed his company that night at The Nickel.

“I’m sure you’ll recover just fine. Are you heading home soon?”

“Yeah, in a couple of days. Have some things to take care of first, and then I’ll head home.”

“You want to stay for some coffee or hot chocolate?” Bailey jumped in, and I realized I’d forgotten my manners.

“Sorry, do you want some coffee?”

“No, I can’t stay. I just wanted to pop by and say hi. I’m glad to see you’re doing ok.” He turned to make for the door, and I followed him out to the porch.

“Thanks for stopping by, Mark. It was nice to see you again and know you’re doing well.”

He turned to me and studied me for a brief moment and then said, “Oh, what the hell,” and he grabbed my face and kissed me.

I was stunned and frozen, my eyes open and eyebrows up in shock. I didn’t even move my hands, and since my non-movement didn’t say stop, he tried to wrap me up in his arms; of course that was the moment that Jack decided to pull into the driveway.

I heard the crunch of rocks made by his tires and then Bailey said, “Oh, shit,”

I tried to push back, but Mark had my arms wrapped up against me. But then he heard the truck door slam, and was pulling away from me when he was yanked back, and then shoved into the side of my cabin.

“You got two seconds to explain why you had your lips on my woman,” Jack seethed.

“Jack, he was saying goodbye, and he wasn’t thinking. He’s leaving, just let him go,” I begged. Jack looked at me with fire in his eyes.

“Who is he to you?”

“This is Mark, the man who got stabbed by Gerry.”

“Why do I get the feeling you left something out about what happened in the bar?”

Before I could answer, Mark jumped in, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to step on any toes. I’m leaving in a couple of days and just wanted to say goodbye, honestly,” he wheezed out.

Jack’s forearm was pressed into his neck; then he moved it to Mark’s shirt and spun him from the side of the house to the steps and gave him a shove. Mark spun around as he walked to his car and apologized again.

“I’m sorry, Jennifer. I meant no harm. I just had to know if there was anything there.”

“Just go, Mark. I’m glad you're fine, take care.”

He moved to his car, and Jack watched him the whole time. I didn’t know what to do, so I stood there and waited. When Mark pulled out, Jack turned to me and looked down. I held my breath, waiting for him to bellow at me, but he just studied me for a moment. His hand came up and cupped my face, his thumb moving across my lips like he was trying to smear the kiss off them. I didn’t know what else to do so I bit his thumb. His eyes narrowed and went dark, then he sucked in a breath and laid down the law for the millionth time since I’d met him.

“No one touches these lips but me, do you hear me?”

“Ok.”

“I don’t want to see that guy within ten feet of you again.”

“Ok.”

“I find out he’s been around when I’m not here, I’ll find him and beat the shit out of him.”

“Ok.”

He looked at me again for a moment, studying me, then he continued, “And from now on, you do as I say, no arguments.”

“O…hey, nice try, but I’m not that—” Jack swooped in and kissed me. His hands were in my hair, then running down my back, pulling me closer. He deepened the kiss, his tongue staking his claim and that kiss took away any lingering memories of another man’s lips. Jack pulled back and scanned me from head to toe, while my head spun, and then he tilted his head amused.

“Knew you were trouble the first day I laid eyes on you.”

“I knew you were bossy the minute you opened your mouth,” I responded.

“Babe, answer me one thing.”

“What?”

“What the hell are you wearing?”