CHAPTER 14
Lia was still riding the adrenaline high when they arrived at Jimmy’s apartment shortly after. Feeling like they were two kids who’d just snuck out of the prom to fool around, she jumped him just inside the front door, crashing her mouth against his.
Kissing was good, but she was bubbling over with too much energy thanks to her victory to remain quiet long.
She pulled back and said, “I still can’t get out of my head the expression on the senator’s face when I introduced you as my boyfriend.”
He slid his hands down and gave her butt a squeeze. “You enjoyed telling him that, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. Immensely. And so what?” She scowled. “He deserved that and more after he called me naïve today in front of all those men at your farm. And you should talk about enjoying things. You nearly crushed John’s hand when you shook it. Tell me you didn’t love doing that.”
“Can I help it if I don’t know my own strength?” Jimmy shrugged. “And in my own defense, he was trying and failing to crush my hand first.”
She laughed as started to unbutton his jacket. “Why don’t you show me how strong you are right now?”
“Gladly, darlin’.” He groaned, deep and low in his throat. Taking over with the buttons, he got his uniform jacket off and then scooped her up into his arms.
Jimmy carried her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed. Under the moonlight streaming through the window, he finished taking off his uniform, then moved on to undressing her.
Once they were naked on top of the covers he pulled her close and held her tight. She fit perfectly against him. It was strange. They’d only been together the one night, but being in his arms again felt like coming home.
Tempted to rush things thanks to the overwhelming need about to explode inside her, she reached for and grasped the hard length of him. He grabbed her hand with his. Raising it above her head, he held it there as he took his time exploring her face and throat with his mouth.
Admittedly, she enjoyed every sensation as he kissed her inch-by-inch, but she needed so much more.
“I want you now.” She wrapped one leg around his hip and pulled him closer.
Jimmy nipped at her earlobe. His warm breath against her skin sent a tingle straight through her. “You’ll get what you want, when I want.”
“You are an extremely frustrating man, James Gordon.”
He covered her pout with his lips, soothing her bad mood with the thrust of his tongue.
Angling her body, she managed to press just the tip of him against her entrance. She felt him laugh against her mouth as he kissed her, even as he pulled his pelvis away far enough to break contact.
Finally, he raised his mouth from hers. “I couldn’t get you off my mind, not for even a day, the whole time we were apart all those months.”
His confession brought tears to her eyes. She tried to joke them away. “Neither could I, and believe me I tried. It really pissed me off.”
He released his hold on her hand and stroked her face. “You don’t have to try anymore because I’m right here.”
“Yes, you are, and do you think you could make love to me now? Please? I’ve waited a very long time for you, James Gordon, and I don’t usually have to wait for anything.”
He smiled. “I bet you don’t. I guess I could see clear to giving in to your request, since you asked so nicely and all.”
After donning a condom he got from the bedside table drawer, Jimmy slid inside her. They’d already had a night of wild, passion-filled sex six months before. She could honestly say this time felt even more wonderful.
His gaze stayed locked on hers as he loved her. They moved together as one. Slowly. Tenderly.
It was so different than their first time together. That had been sex. This was definitely making love. Lia hadn’t truly known the difference before. She did now.
Her body tightened around him. Jimmy drew in a sharp breath in response and pressed closer against her.
She clung to him as she felt the climax coil within her until it snapped, sending spasms of pleasure through every part of her body.
Jimmy’s breath and pace quickened as he came right after her. He shuddered with the last of his orgasm and with his face pressed against the pillow next to her head, he said, “I love you.”
Her eyes flew open. She couldn’t help the reaction. His unexpected post coital confession had come as a total shock. Jimmy looked as surprised that he’d said it as she was hearing it.
He groaned and tried to roll away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It just slipped out. Please, forget I said it. I take it back.”
Tightening her arms like a vise around him, Lia prevented him from moving farther away.
“Don’t you dare take it back.” She squeezed him hard until he let out a pain-filled wheeze. “Oh, my God. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? How could I hurt you? You’re so big and strong.”
He let out a short laugh and pulled her arms from around his rib cage.
“It’s all right, darlin’.” He blew out a slow, controlled breath. “There’s some stuff I have to tell you and I think now is as good a time as any.”
Now that the time had come for him to clear up all the mysteries of the past six months, she wasn’t sure she could handle hearing it.
She nodded anyway. “Okay.”
As Jimmy talked, Lia lay silent next to him and listened. He told her everything that had happened over the past six months—at least everything he was allowed to. He explained there was a lot that was confidential, but she didn’t care about that part.
It didn’t matter to her exactly where in the world he’d been or why he’d been there. What was most important to her was that there was a very real reason why he hadn’t been able to be with her before.
Even more touching was his confession that he had wanted to be with her each and every day they’d been apart. That thoughts of her kept him going when he thought he couldn’t go on any longer.
Listening to his voice in the darkened room as he sat propped up against the headboard with his arm around her shoulders, she could barely comprehend all he said.
He talked about atrocities with a distance that belied the events that had happened to him. She was certain he was giving her only the tip of the iceberg.
For what he told her, for what she knew he still hid from her, her eyes brimmed with tears. She cried over how he’d been hurt and tortured. She cried out of guilt because she’d hated him for not contacting her even though he’d had no choice in the matter. And she cried that he hadn’t felt he could call her when he’d finally come home to heal.
“That’s pretty much all I can tell you. I didn’t want to start off with secrets between us.” He reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek.
More fell in its place as she said, “I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “None of it’s your fault, darlin’.”
“But I wish I could have been there for you.”
“You were. Every day. I thought about you constantly while I was there and afterward when I was home. I made love to you thousands of times in my mind.” His laugh held a touch of embarrassment. “And quite a few of those times I imagined telling you I loved you.”
“Which is why you said it before.” Lia felt her heart ache.
He was in love with the image of her in his head, the one he had clung to during the horrors he’d been through. He wasn’t in love with the real her.
Jimmy pulled her closer and touched his lips to each of her eyelids. “Maybe.”
It didn’t matter. He’d grow to love the real her. She’d make sure he did.
Lia moved over him, straddling his thighs with her own. She grabbed his face in both hands and kissed him hard. She felt his growing arousal beneath her. “Make love to me again.”
Groaning, he rolled her onto her back. “My pleasure.”