Chapter Five
She arched her back and rode him. Hard. Bruising fingers dug into her skin as he moved with her, a bit of pain to add to the pleasure, something she never thought she’d enjoy. She fell forward and their mouths fused, tongues mating in unison with their bodies.
He tore his lips from hers and moaned. “Come with me.”
The command, gritty and sexy as hell, pushed her over the top. With a shout, he surged a final time and her own climax slammed through her, shutting everything out, consuming her. She melted over him, laid her cheek against his chest, felt the pounding of his heart, listened to his ragged breathing…glad he was no less affected by their lovemaking.
He ran an absent hand on her back. “Doing okay?”
She nodded. And squeezed her eyes shut against inexplicable and unwanted tears.
***
She woke before dawn, registering the fact a large, naked man spooned her, his hand grazing her breast. Wanting nothing more than to lie there, and knowing it would be both satisfying and dangerous for her heart, she eased away and slipped over the edge of the bed.
Sheets rustled and she glanced up from picking her dress off the floor. His eyes, dark and watchful, tracked her movements as she gathered up her bra and panties and searched for her shoes under the bed. Standing upright, she looked over when he lifted a hand.
“Come here, Leah.”
The last time he’d demanded that, they’d…what? Had sex…made love…fucked? Not that the correct term truly mattered. The night was over, morning had come and she’d gotten what she’d paid for. A one-night stand.
“I have to get ready for work.” Turning away before she changed her mind and joined him in the warm bed, she entered the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
***
Jackson listened to the patter of water as Leah showered, heard the shampoo bottle snap open and shut. Pictured her long hair flowing down her back as the water ran over her tanned skin. Wondered if her dainty hands cupped her breasts and she turned her face up toward the spray, her expression the same as the one she’d worn when she came....
“Shit.” Rock hard, he had to force his legs to stay still and not swing over the side of the bed, march his horny self right into that bathroom and join her in the shower. After a few deep breaths, he got up and snagged his pants off the floor. Yanking them up over his hips, he forced the raging erection into submission and zipped the pants shut. He’d just hung up the phone with room service when the bathroom door opened. Steamy air and the scent of hotel soap and shampoo followed Leah out. She smiled as she towel-dried her hair.
“It’s all yours.” She unfastened the towel she’d wrapped herself in and he stifled a groan. Pink nipples puckered in protest in the air-conditioned room, but were quickly hidden again by the lacy bra she put on.
Before he made a complete gawking fool of himself, he said, “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so ordered both coffee and tea sent up.”
She nodded her thanks and continued to dress. Not knowing what else to say to break the uncomfortable silence, he gave her a quick kiss and headed for the shower.
He wasn’t surprised to find the bedroom empty when he came out. He stared at the door for several moments before crossing the room and digging through the inside pocket of his suit jacket for his cell. Stabbing a familiar number, he waited until a sleepy voice answered and wasted no time issuing the order.
“It’s me. Get Bobby Murphy on the phone. Tell him I need a reservation.”
***
“The high roller in three B wants more champagne.”
Leah made a face. “Seriously? It’s five-thirty in the morning.”
“Sweetie, the night is still young for this guy.” The other flight attendant pulled a bottle of bubbly out of the cooler and poured a flute. He glanced over at her and raised an eyebrow. “You know you can tell me to MMOB, but you look like a woman who was up all night getting screwed silly. And details would be nice, if you care to share.”
Glad her back was to him so he couldn’t see the blush creeping up her neck and face, she nevertheless couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice. “Nice, Eddie. Say it a little louder so the entire cabin hears you.”
The little man peered around her shoulder, and gasped. “Oh, my gawd! I’m right!”
Punching the start button on a coffee pot, she cringed. “Don’t you have something to do?” Besides reminding me of an amazing man and the best sex of my life that was over almost before it got started?
Eddie snickered and left with the champagne, humming annoyingly. The coffee pot popped and stopped its perky gurgling. Turning it on and off didn’t fix the issue and she frowned. Hearing Eddie return, she said, “The coffeemaker is broken again.” When he didn’t reply, she glanced over her shoulder and froze.
“Hello, Leah.” Jackson stood in the galley entrance, carrying a boarding pass and a major attitude.
She turned away, every muscle group turning to jelly. With shaky fingers, she made busy work, clueless to anything but the unexpected presence of the very big, very angry man behind her.
She jerked when a warm breath feathered her ear. “Didn’t your mother teach you it’s rude to leave without saying goodbye?”
Her eyes closed. His body pressed against hers in the tiny space, his hands resting on the counter in front of her, anchoring her in place. His scent, already familiar, filled her head. Exhausted from the stressful anticipation of the one-night stand and then the erotic fulfillment of the night itself, she couldn’t stop the tears. But she’d be damned if she let him see them. “Go away, Jackson.”
He gripped her waist and spun her to face him. The fire died in his eyes, replaced by concern. She bent her head, not wanting him to know how undone seeing him again made her. He tipped her chin up to meet his eyes. “Why did you leave that way?”
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “At some point, we had to go our separate ways.”
He shook his head. “So you just left.”
Too tired to be anything other than honest, she said, “I never should have done it. Sleeping with you didn’t do what I’d hoped it would.”
He was quiet for a moment. Finally, he lifted a hand and touched her cheek. “What did it do, Leah?”
Damn it, the tears fell then, and he saw every one of them. “It made me feel alive again. And it frightens me.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Did he have to look so sincere? He couldn’t actually be suggesting they should see each other again. “Why wouldn’t I be afraid?” She glanced around him to make sure they were alone then lowered her voice to a whisper. “We had a one-night stand. Not exactly the foundation for a solid relationship.”
He scowled. “It may have started out that way, but it ended as more than that.”
“It was only sex.” God, she wished he’d leave before she started crying again. Which she promptly did anyway. “Please go away. You’re making this so much more difficult than it has to be.”
“Running away is more difficult than being with me?” He shook his head as though he knew better. “Don’t run from me, Leah.”
Her heart leapt at the sweet words. He was right. Running away was useless and exhausting. After a year of loneliness, she’d be a fool to deny his offer. He’d proven to be kind, intelligent and sexy. Maybe not such a bad foundation after all. When he continued to stroke her cheek, she leaned into his strong hand. “What do you want?”
“I want to see where this takes us.” He bent his head and gently kissed her. “Let me help you feel again.