CHAPTER 10
Nicki glanced sideways at Jack and then back at the larger-than-life outdoor movie screen. She’d never been to a drive-in before. The experience was nothing like the eleven-movie multiplex theaters back home in New York.
Jack laid an arm around the back of her seat and shot her a grin. “Having a good time?”
She nodded and then had to stifle a yawn. Shocked at her own appalling lack of manners, she covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry. It’s no reflection on you or the movie. I’m just a little tired.”
And wasn’t that the biggest understatement of the century? She hadn’t really slept in a month. Not since she’d been on the run.
“That’s all right, darlin’. It’s late. They can’t start the movie ’til after sundown and that comes pretty late this time of year. You wanna go home?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m enjoying being out. I’ll be fine.”
“Come here.” He pulled her closer until her head leaned against the hard bulk of his shoulder. “Rest for a bit.”
As if she’d ever be able to rest this close to him? Since their little trip to the pond, every time she closed her eyes or even let her mind wander, visions of a naked Jack swam through her head.
Even so, she must have fallen asleep because the next thing she was conscious of was Jack brushing a soft kiss across her forehead before he said, “Nicki?”
She opened her eyes. “I’m sorry. I fell asleep. Is it over?” She saw the screen filled with an ad for the snack bar.
He smiled, his face close to hers. “The first one is over. It’s a double feature, but the second movie is some horror flick. I would have just driven us home, but you’re on my right arm and I need it to shift.”
While apologizing, she started to move away, but his arm around her shoulder stopped her from going too far.
“Don’t apologize, darlin’. I liked it. You’re so cute while you sleep. I hated to wake you up.”
He leaned in a little closer, or maybe she did. Either way, she found herself in the position where there was a choice to be made. Pull back and save herself from the temptation, or move forward and succumb to what she’d been thinking about so much lately, pretty much non-stop.
Jack.
His sexy, low voice washing over her body. His thick southern drawl that almost seemed to cling to her like molasses.
Jack, the man whose mouth hovered temptingly above hers. He truly was a southern gentleman. Their lips were just a breath apart, but he didn’t move in.
It was as if he waited for her to move first. But if the look in his eyes was any indication, he wanted this kiss as much as she did.
Licking her lips, Nicki dropped her gaze to his mouth, leaned in and then lost herself in his kiss.
She heard his quick intake of breath before his other hand moved to cradle the back of her head. Her hands found their way up his rock-hard chest, and then down the V to his narrow waist and hips.
He nipped at her lower lip before tilting her head and sliding his tongue inside her mouth.
She melted. Eyes closed, a small whimper of pleasure escaped her throat.
At hearing the sound, he leaned back and smiled down at her. Thankfully, he didn’t stay away long, but moved in again, this time to tease her earlobe with his lips.
His breath in her ear sent tingles straight to her core.
She wanted more from him. Wanted his shirt off. Her hands on him. His hands on her. His mouth all over her . . . then she remembered they were in a convertible in a public place.
Nicki drew in a deep, shaky breath and released it. “Jack.”
He pulled back enough to look at her with heavy-lidded eyes. “Yeah, darlin’?”
Swallowing hard, she gathered her nerve. “Take me to the river.”
His eyes widened for a second, before he dropped his hold on her, turned to face the steering wheel, and had the car started and on the road so fast she wasn’t quite sure how he’d done it.
Jack left his hand on her knee, only removing it occasionally to shift gears.
She tried not to let herself get nervous on the drive to this infamous parking spot. All too soon, they were at the river.
He pulled the car beneath a tree, put it into park and pulled up the emergency brake.
Before he turned off the car, Nicki touched his hand. “Put the roof up, Jack.”
Her heart thundered harder as he did what she asked. Then he turned in his seat and faced her . . . that’s when she attacked him.
There was a jumble of limbs, interrupted by car parts, punctuated by the bruising of limbs by car parts.
Somehow Jack wiggled into the passenger seat. He ended up beneath Nicki as he sat her in his lap facing him.
He tugged her tank top up and over her head—not an easy task since her head was pressed against the roof of the car.
Bare from the waist up, she felt the thick, southern summer press against her exposed skin. But the heat of the air didn’t scorch her the way Jack’s mouth did as he captured her nipple and worked it with his tongue.
Arching her back, she shuddered as his teeth scraped over her nipple. He ran his palms up her sides, burning a path over her skin with his touch.
His hands were so broad that his fingertips reached the center of her back while his thumbs brushed the sides of her breasts.
He released one heavily teased nipple and moved to torture the other with his mouth. He worked it until she pulled back and leaned low to crash her mouth against his. Her tongue tangled with his as he cupped her ass with both hands and held her close.
She broke the kiss long enough to yank his T-shirt over his head, then went back to kissing him.
Indulging a fantasy she’d had since meeting him, she ran her hands over his bare chest and finally got to feel the hard muscles beneath her fingers.
She’d been picturing his chest ever since their swim. The reality was better than the fantasy. He felt even better than he looked.
His tongue plunged in and out of her mouth in an erotic dance, making her wish he were plunging something else inside her.
Pressing closer, she tried to get as much of her skin against his as she could, in spite of the heat and the fact that they were both becoming slick with sweat.
He pulled her pelvis closer to his and she could feel the evidence through his jeans of exactly how aroused he was.
Shameless and well past the point of no return, she ground herself against him and moaned. His bulge pressed against the seam in her cut-off denim shorts and rubbed her just right.
Jack breathed faster. She began to tremble, craving the release that hovered just out of reach.
She rotated her hips harder and faster against him.
“Jack. Oh, God.” Nicki couldn’t get out any more words as the orgasm rocked her.
The thrusts of Jack’s pelvis match the rhythm of his cries before he clutched her tighter and groaned, the sound muffled as he pressed his mouth against her throat.
They clung to each other, Nicki still panting so loudly, still so thrown by what had just happened, she barely heard the tap-tap-tap on the windshield.
Then the sound repeated louder and she heard Jack mumble, “Ah, crap.”
Pulling back, she twisted to try and see what was making the noise.
Once she did, she had to agree with Jack. Crap.