Love Left Behind (14 page)

Claire looked upset so
I discreetly elbowed Jackson. He grunted and then nodded at Claire in
agreement, but not before giving me a rueful look.

"You're probably
right," he said agreeably. "At least he didn't make me walk around
clucking like a chicken."

Claire's peal of
laughter lightened the mood. "Emma, you should've seen the acting teacher
we used to have. He told Jackson that he epitomized the essence of a
chicken."

Jackson smiled wryly.
"If I remember correctly, he said your interpretation of a goat gave him
chills."

Claire bit her lip, her
eyes dancing. "I drew the line when he brought in some hay he wanted me to
graze on."

I kept silent as I
walked in between them, feeling a little left our by their shared remembrances.
I tried to not let it bother me. Claire and Jackson had been friends for a long
time and it was only natural that they had a lot of memories together. Besides,
I owed Claire a lot. Not only had she given me a place to live, but she had
also taken me into her circle. Most importantly, she had introduced me to
Jackson.

Jackson grinned and
looked down at me. "I'll give you a private showing later. I don't do my
chicken imitation for just anyone. I wouldn't want to give away all my
tricks."

I smiled in return.
"I'll remember that promise."

Claire stopped in front
of an entrance. "Here it is."

We stepped into the
lounge and the dark coolness was welcoming. Even though it was nighttime, it
had been a little muggy outside. We were just a few days away from June and the
humidity was steadily increasing.

We snagged a table next
to a couch and settled in, sinking into the depths of the leather cushions.

A waitress came over to
take our order.

"Vodka
tonic?" Jackson asked, looking at me. I nodded and he ordered my drink for
me. I was quickly getting used to his chivalrous ways. He glanced at Claire,
indicating that she should order. After Claire asked for a dirty martini,
Jackson ordered a beer.

I raised my eyebrows
after the waitress had walked away. "What, no scotch?"

"I like savoring a
scotch," Jackson replied in a low voice so that I could only hear him.
"I can down a beer quicker and then we can go back to my place."

"One track
mind," I muttered, although I was pleased at his eagerness to get me
alone. I cleared my throat, turning back to Claire. I didn't want to be
obnoxious with our infatuation with each other.

"How much longer
will
Choosing Matthew
be
running?" I asked her.

"I'm not
sure," Claire answered. "I would love it if we could get into a
larger theater so that we can get a bigger crowd in. We're normally sold out
every show so I don't think it would be a problem filling a larger venue."

"I kind of like
having it in a small theater," Jackson countered. "It gives it an
intimacy that I think we'd lose in a larger space."

Claire frowned. "I
don't agree. Besides, even if that were true, it's worth the tradeoff of having
a bigger audience and more ticket sales. I don't want to spend my career in
some dinky theater."

The waitress returned
with our drinks and I used the opportunity to change the subject. Claire seemed
a little on edge tonight and I didn't want to aggravate the situation.

"I'm excited for
Nathan's art show on Sunday," I said brightly. "Where's the
gallery?"

"It's in the West
Village," Claire replied. She leaned forward so that she could look at
Jackson since I was sitting in the middle. "You're going, right?"

Jackson nodded and
looked at me. "I was actually going to see if you wanted to go
together."

"I thought we
could all go together," Claire said, taking a sip of her martini.

"It'll be fun if
we all go together," I agreed, giving Jackson a smile.

"Sure," he
replied, nodding agreeably. He looked at Claire. "We can swing by and pick
you up on our way there."

"What do you
mean?" I asked confused. "Wouldn't you be picking the both of us up
at our apartment?"

Jackson had a sly glint
in his eye. "We'll discuss sleeping arrangements later."

I flushed at Jackson's
provocative statement, a little embarrassed that he was being so obvious in
front of Claire. I turned to Claire with a strained smile, but she just raised
an amused eyebrow.

"So what's the
story on Nathan and Mia?" I asked, clearing my throat. "Are they just
friends or something more?"

"Strictly
friends," Claire responded. "Nathan answered Mia's ad looking for a
roommate when he first moved to the city five years ago and they've been like
brother and sister ever since."

"According to
Nathan, he made a pass at her when he first moved in and Mia kicked him in the
balls. Ever since then, he's had a healthy platonic respect for her."

I laughed at Jackson's
assessment of their relationship. "I'm glad to hear they were able to work
it out."

Jackson took a healthy
gulp of his beer and then looked meaningfully at my glass. I rolled my eyes but
dutifully took a sip.

"I'll be right
back," Claire said as she stood. "I see a friend over there."

I watched Claire walk
over to the bar and tap a tall dark-haired man on the shoulder. He turned
around and smiled widely in recognition and they started talking animatedly to
each other.

"Do you have to be
so obvious?" I admonished. "It's a little rude to be so eager to
leave."

Jackson picked up his
beer and drained it in response. He set the empty glass on the table with a
grin. "It's just Claire. She doesn't mind."

"I mind," I
said exasperatedly. "I owe Claire a lot and the last thing I want to do is
hurt her feelings."

Jackson frowned.
"Why do you owe her?"

"Well, she gave me
a place to stay."

"She needed a
roommate. She found one in you. How exactly does that make you obligated?
Unless she's letting you live there rent-free."

"Of course not.
But I was grateful for the offer. It made moving here a lot less scary. Plus
she kind of took me under her wing. She could have treated me like someone she
just shared an apartment with, not a friend."

"I'm not so sure
about the 'taking you under her wing' part. Claire's a good friend but you've
got your stuff together way more than she does. I don't think you should be
looking to her for guidance."

"Well, she
did
introduce me to you," I said
with a placating smile, not wanting to argue about Claire.

"That's
true," Jackson replied, his eyes darkening. He lowered his voice, bringing
his head closer to mine, his lips brushing my ear. "That's one thing I'm
grateful for. I'd be even more grateful if we got out of here so that I can
bury my head in between your thighs."

I felt a flood of
wetness and I squirmed against the leather couch, knowing that my panties would
be soaked through.

"Jackson," I
hissed, my breath hitching unsteadily. "You can't say things like that to
me in public!"

Jackson smiled
wickedly. "So let's go somewhere private."

I picked up my vodka
tonic and drained the glass, the cold liquid doing nothing to dampen my desire.
Screw politeness. Jackson's words had me thinking of nothing else except getting
naked and sweaty with him as quickly as possible.

"I'm ready,"
I announced breathlessly as I set my glass on the table. Jackson threw some
money on the table, way more than I thought our drinks actually cost, but I was
in no mood to comment. He grabbed my hand and stood, pulling me up with him.

"Let me get Claire
in a cab home and then we can go to my apartment."

We walked over to
Claire who was still talking to her friend at the bar.

"Sorry to
interrupt," Jackson said when we approached them. "I'm beat, so we're
going to head out. I just want to make sure you get in a cab before we
leave."

"Sorry for the
abrupt departure," I added, feeling bad that we were abandoning Claire.
"We can wait a little bit while you guys wrap up your conversation."

Jackson gave me a
baleful look but I just ignored it. Claire looked unperturbed by our
announcement.

"Don't worry about
it. I'm going to hang out here for a while. I'll see you guys later."

Jackson frowned.
"I think we should make sure we get you in a cab first. It's late."

"I'll make sure
she gets home," Claire's dark-haired friend volunteered.

I glanced at Jackson,
unsure if it was a good idea to leave Claire behind with someone we didn't
know. Jackson didn't look too happy about it either. Claire caught the look and
laughed.

"Relax. Craig is
here with his boyfriend. He doesn't have any nefarious designs on my virtue.
I'll be fine. Go on ahead."

Jackson nodded,
seemingly placated by the clarification. "Alright, see you tomorrow."

Claire smiled and
nodded, turning back to her friend. Jackson and I hailed a cab once we got
outside, the ride seeming much longer than it actually was since I was taut
with anticipation. I felt tightly strung and about to snap from the desires
mounting in me. Jackson squeezed my hand, letting me know that he was feeling
it too.

Once we got to
Jackson's apartment building, I barely registered Sam's greeting as we rushed
to the elevator. After Jackson pressed the button for his floor and the doors
closed, he wasted no time in grabbing me and lifting me up, pushing me against
the elevator wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist so I was intimately
pushed against his arousal.

"You drive me
crazy," he muttered before he slanted his mouth over mine, not asking for
my surrender but demanding it. Not that it was ever in question. I wanted
Jackson as badly as he wanted me. I clutched the back of his neck as he
supported me effortlessly, plundering my mouth with his. I could taste the beer
on his tongue and the bitterness of it heightened my arousal. It was as if I
couldn't taste enough of him, feel enough of him. Even though I was pinned
between the wall and Jackson's chest, I felt the desperate need to be closer to
him. I wanted to sink into him and lose myself inside him.

I heard the elevator
ding, signaling that we had arrived on the sixteenth floor. Fortunately, no one
had entered the elevator during our embrace. I wasn't sure if I would have even
cared at that point.

When we entered
Jackson's apartment and he closed the door behind me, I grabbed him by the
front of his shirt, more than ready to continue what we had started in the
elevator.

"Emma, let's slow
down a bit," Jackson said, even though I could tell that he was straining
to control himself.

"Why? I don't want
to slow down." I started unbuttoning his shirt, wanting both of us naked
as soon as possible.

Jackson grabbed my
hands, stilling them on his chest. "Sweetheart, I feel it too. Trust me.
It isn't easy for me to slow down, but I want you to enjoy this. I went way too
fast the other night."

I shook my head.
"It wasn't too fast for me. And it's an understatement to say I enjoyed
it. Both times. We can do slow and easy next time. Right now, I just want hard
and fast."

Jackson's face was
strained with desire but he seemed determined to pace himself. So I decided to
make it harder for him. I grabbed the bottom of my halter-top and pulled it
over my head. Jackson was silent as he watched me but I heard his breathing
grow more labored. I reached back and unhooked my bra, freeing my breasts that
were heavy with desire. Jackson's jaw tightened as he caught sight of my hard
nipples, rosy red and darkened with arousal.

Before I lost my nerve,
I unzipped my jeans and pulled them down, taking my panties with it. I pulled
them over my high heels and stood, completely naked except for my heels. I had
never acted so wantonly in my life, but Jackson Reynard was making me do things
I had never imagined.

I placed a hand on my
hip saucily, looking up at Jackson with a mischievous smile. "What were
you saying about taking it slow?" I reached out and slowly traced the
outline of his arousal through his jeans with one fingernail, pure female
satisfaction coursing through me when it jerked in response.

Jackson smiled, his
eyes glittering with desire. "Fuck slow. We can do slow tomorrow. Right
now, I'm going to fuck your brains out until you scream."

He grabbed me and
picked me up as if I weighed nothing. I automatically wrapped my legs around
him as he strode into his bedroom. Once there, he threw me onto the bed and
quickly discarded his clothes. My lower body clenched when I saw how hard and
large his arousal was, its head engorged with corded veins running down the
shaft, straining with his desire.

I remembered his
earlier comment about imagining me in my heels and black skirt and looked
around his bedroom. "Should I put on my black skirt?"

"Baby, I don't
want you putting on any clothes right now. I have you exactly how I want you.
Naked and wet."

He kneeled on the bed
between my legs and they fell open of their own accord. And just as he had
promised earlier, he buried his head between my thighs, lapping up my wetness
as if he had been starving for it. His tongue circled my tight bud and then
suckled on it as I cried out, the pleasure so acute it was almost painful. He
continued to manipulate the bud with his tongue while he pushed one finger
inside of me, then two. The sensation of his mouth flicking my most sensitive
spot combined with his fingers fucking me was too much for me. I couldn't
suppress the keens of pleasure as my powerful orgasm washed over me, my body
convulsing violently.

Jackson looked up at me
with a triumphant smile, eyes glittering with satisfaction. His mouth and chin
were covered in my wetness and I didn't think I had ever seen anything so erotic.