“We didn't wash our hair.” Isabelle pouted
Jess leaned in and pulled the plug. “You're done for tonight.”
***
Kayne felt like he'd just run a marathon. He'd always been the one to give his kids their baths, even when they were tiny babies. He'd seriously considered putting the girls to bed without one, afraid of the memories doing so would conjure. He hadn't imagined it would be this difficult, but he'd done it. Mostly.
Kayne read the girls a story once they were tucked into bed, then kissed them goodnight, thanking whatever powers that be that he had these precious moments. Together, he and Jess checked on Ash, who was patiently awaiting his own story, though he preferred to read to Kayne.
Maddy simply wanted to be tucked in and left to read on her own. So independent. But then, according to Jess, she always had been. At five, she'd managed to keep her infant brother alive for over a week when their crack-head mother had abandoned them. Regrettably CPS separated the two well before Maddy came to live with Jess and Jarred, and though Jess had tried, she'd never learned what had happened to that baby brother. It explained why Maddy was so much older than her years and so fiercely protective of her siblings.
Once they stepped outside Maddy's room, Jess turned to him. “Who was here tonight?”
He was surprised by the question. “Just me and the kids, why?”
“I saw the black car, Kayne.” She crossed her arms defiantly. “It sped out of here the second I pulled in.” She held up her hands to stop any response he would have made. “You know what, never mind, I'm sorry. I promised you I wouldn't ask any questions about your relationships, and I won’t.”
That got his attention, more than the presence of the strange vehicle. When she turned to walk away, Kayne captured her arm. Jarred had been a class-A prick for cheating on her, but dammit he wasn't going to pay for his sins.
Fuck! He shouldn't have to justify himself. It's a learning curve, Dobrescu, roll with it.
“I didn't have anyone here, Jess. Maybe it was a nosy reporter. We've been too lucky so far. Did you get a plate, see the driver?”
“No.” She refused to make eye contact, looking everywhere but at him.
It was time they dealt with this head-on. He pulled Jess into a deep alcove off the back hallway and pressed her against the wall. “I've kept my distance, because every time I get close to you, I get hard.” He pressed the proof of that against her belly. “I knew you weren't ready, so I've been forced to dream about you and take a hell of a lot of really cold showers.”
She looked at him. “I thought I'd done something wrong.”
“Oh, baby, no. No. I don't want to rush this, Jess.” He might not have wanted this marriage, but he was here, and he was determined to make the best of it, and hoped to hell they could make it work somehow. For everyone’s sake.
Kayne reached out, his intent a gentle caress. He hated seeing the hurt in her eyes. His knuckles brushed her cheek, and her eyes fluttered shut, her lips slightly parting.
“So responsive,” he murmured.
His will to take this relationship slow was slipping away by the second. She tilted her face to his, seeking his mouth. His fingers tangled in her silky tresses, cradling her head as he leaned into her. Her lips were soft and warm against his, and her lushly curved body felt incredible cushioned against his hard planes and angles. Her delicate fingers kneaded his chest like a content kitten. He groaned in response. His calloused hands caressed her ribs, his thumbs brushing the underside of her breasts. She shuddered in response.
When her arms slid up to entwine around his neck, he growled in approval and was rewarded with the feel of her fingers gently stroking the base of his neck. His good intentions were now all but a fleeting memory. He stroked his hands up her thighs, pushing her skirt up until he palmed her ass, petting, lifting, holding tight as he rocked his steely arousal against her belly. With little urging, she willingly wrapped her legs around his hips, her heat cradling his as he pressed her against the wall. He felt her smile against his lips.
“What are you smiling about?” Kayne grazed open-mouthed kisses across her jaw, trailing slowly down her neck and back up to the hollow behind her ear, where he nuzzled and inhaled her scent. Soft, delicate. Heady. God, he needed to fuck her. “You find my state of agony funny?” He rocked his hips, creating a delicious friction.
Jess's giggle strangled into a moan as Kayne thumbed a pebbled nipple.
“I need to touch you,” he whispered. He pulled away to search her face. Her expression was answer enough. Thank you, Jesus, she wanted that too.
His eyes never left hers as he made quick work of her blouse and then the front clasp of her bra. “You are so incredibly beautiful,” he murmured as he palmed one breast. “I have to taste you.” He stroked the distended peak with his tongue. Suckled her nipple.
She clung to him. Arched her back giving him better access. Whimpered when he latched onto her other nipple and gave a hard draw, before letting it pop out of his mouth.
“What was that you found so funny?” Kayne kissed his way back to her other breast, greedily sucking, lightly nipping, gently tugging. Rolling. Softly blowing.
“This...is so...cliché.” Jess panted. “Against...the wall…and...spread ’em...Officer... Dobrescu?”
Her nipple slipped from his lips as he gave an involuntary chuckle. He leaned in and flicked the tip of his tongue across that sexy dimple, just like he'd been dying to do since the day he'd met her, and was thrilled when she hissed in a surprised breath.
“I love that dimple,” he murmured and did it again. He nuzzled her neck, his breath raising goosebumps across her body as he fought for control of his own. His fingers caressed the cleft of her ass, working their way deeper between her thighs. Searching and finding her dripping wet. His cock throbbed with each pulsing beat of his heart as she slowly ground herself against him. He had to have her. He could tell she was close to the edge and wondered what it would take to push her over.
“Just wait and see how good I am at cavity searches.” Kayne dipped one long finger beneath the edge of her panties, easing them aside. He stroked through her slick wet folds. Brushed across her clit once, twice, and again, before he pushed into her tight, hot, honey-coated core.
“Oh God,” she moaned.
He fed her a second finger, sinking deep.
Jess shuddered as he withdrew and pressed in again. His rigid cock rubbed against her clit as he pumped his fingers in and out and back in one more time.
Her whole body tensed, her back bowing. Her inner muscles clamped tight, and she released a soul deep moan as she came. Jesus Christ! His balls tightened painfully. It took every ounce of self-control he had left not to come with her.
She was so goddamned beautiful. How could she have ever thought she would disappoint him?
Kayne rested his forehead against the wall, trying to gain some semblance of control. “I need to be inside you, baby. Right now.” Right. Now.
He felt Jess nod in response.
“I need to hear you say the words, baby. Tell me if this is what you want.” And mean it! As badly as he wanted her, he needed to know this was truly consensual.
***
“I want this,” she whispered. And she did. She wanted to be claimed by him. To be marked. She wanted all those hot erotic clichés she'd only ever read about.
Jess reached down and fumbled with the snap and zipper of Kayne’s jeans, not waiting for him to make a move, afraid he'd change his mind. She heard and felt the rending of her silk panties, felt the tug as he ripped them away—that turned her on more than she wanted to admit—then he was there, throbbing against her. Long and too thick for her to close her fingers around. She squeezed, gave an experimental stroke, and he growled, “I can't wait, baby. I'm sorry. I'm not going to last.”
Slowly, inch by glorious inch, he rocked into her, stretching her right to the very edge of pain. It seemed almost appropriate because she felt like a virgin in his arms. Regardless that they were vertical, she still felt like she was making love for the first time.
“God, baby, you're so tight.” He panted, sweat rolling down his back. With one last thrust of his hips, he seated himself to the hilt, and they both moaned.
***
Kayne held perfectly still, the tip of his cock pulsing against the entrance to her womb, trying to give her time to adjust to his size. Knowing by her own admission that she hadn't had sex since well before her first husband had died. “Am I hurting you?” he rasped and prayed to God she wouldn't ask him to stop. But then those honey-coated muscles contracted, milking his shaft, and her sweet lips parted as she relaxed, bringing him a little deeper into her. He was lost.
With a feral growl, Kayne's mouth slammed down on Jess's and plundered. He withdrew almost to the tip before plunging back into her velvety sheath again and again. God, he knew he was out of control, knew he needed to rein himself in so he didn't hurt her, but he couldn't escape the lusty haze that cocooned them. Couldn't ignore the way Jess's heels dug into his ass, her nails clawing his back and shoulders as she sought purchase. Lifting as he withdrew, then impaling herself on each of his upward strokes.
Jesus Christ! She was as out of control as he was, which turned him on all the more, if that was even possible.
Again and again she met his thrust and drag, accepted his body’s demands, sought her own in return. And when he reached the precipice, when he was sure he couldn't hold on a second longer, he felt her fall. Kayne threw back his head and roared her name as he dove over the edge, letting the waves drag them under.
And in that earth shattering moment, he knew he'd never be the same again.