Mine to Crave (9 page)

“I don’t understand.” 

The woman’s eyes could bring a man to his knees.

But Drake bowed for no one.

“Good thing your bag is packed, princess, because we’ll be leaving for New Orleans soon.” 

Her jaw dropped. “You’re taking me with you?”

“I wouldn’t dream of leaving you behind.”

Fear flashed in her eyes. “You should, though. You need to leave me.”

“No.”  Because he had plans for Jasmine.  So many plans. “I’m not letting you go.”

***

No one takes what’s mine.

Drake’s words echoed through Jasmine’s head. He’d sounded so fierce and determined.

But Drake was wrong. This wasn’t just about his casinos.

It was about his life.

Maybe…maybe if she played things just right, she’d survive what was coming.

Perhaps they both would.

Then Drake would think that she was worthy enough, then he’d help her. He’d—

“Coming?”

She schooled her expression before she glanced up. Drake was back in the doorway. The guy hadn’t gone far at all.

“You really should leave me behind.”  She was trying to be fair.  “I told you that before. You don’t want the kind of trouble I can bring to your life.”

“Ah, Jasmine, you don’t know the kind of trouble that
I
am.”  He flashed her a tiger’s grin. “But you’ll be finding out. Very, very soon…”

A shiver slid down her spine. 

***

He slipped into the Arrow. Headed inside as easily as could be.  The security guards at the front of the place didn’t notice him—mostly because they thought he
was
one of them.  Getting the guard’s uniform had been too easy. 

He made his rounds, like a good security guard would. Then he went to the area that interested him the most.

“Heard there was some action here last night,” he murmured when he saw the two uniformed men near the vault.

One guard grunted. “Damn smoke bomb.”

This time, it wouldn’t just be about smoke.

But the guard to the right frowned at him. “You aren’t supposed to be here. You’re not part of the usual rotation.”

Ah, so security had been stepped up.

“Let me see your credentials,” that guard barked. “Because I don’t know
you.
”

Now both guards were eyeing him with suspicion. 

He raised his hands. “You don’t know me because I’m the new guy on the team.” He flashed a friendly smile. “But don’t worry, I’m getting out of here. Just wanted to see where all the cash was kept. Curious, you know.”

His smile and easy attitude should have reassured them. But one of the guards was pulling out his radio. Dammit.

“I need the chief,” the guard snapped. “There’s some guy down here who won’t—”

“I’m already leaving,” he murmured as he edged away. Hell. This wasn’t part of his plan. 

He turned his back, intent on getting out of there.

But one of the guards grabbed his shoulder.

He stiffened. “Wasn’t supposed to go down like this,” he murmured, but a smile pulled at his lips.

Sometimes, violence was the best answer.

He turned around and attacked.

Jasmine had her nose pressed to the window as the plane landed. 

“First time in New Orleans?” Drake asked her, curious. This woman carried so many secrets.

“First time on a private jet.” Her right hand was tight around the armrest. “And this plane is lush.” Her tone was admiring.

The plane bounced a bit as it landed.

Jasmine glanced his way. He wondered if she’d be afraid or if—

A wide smile winked her dimples. “And, yes, this is my first time in New Orleans, so I want to see
everything.
”

That smile was going to cause serious problems. Carefully, Drake shifted his position. A smile shouldn’t make him
that
aroused, that fast.

But hers did.

When they were clear, he unhooked his belt.

Jasmine began, “My bag—”

“It’s being taken care of.” Everything would be taken care of now. 

Jasmine nearly skipped down the runway. An interesting trick, considering that she was wearing stilettos. 

“I’ve heard this city is magic.”  She was tugging on his arms. “I want to see the Quarter. I want to eat beignets at midnight.”

He pulled her to a stop. “It’s close to midnight now.” But New Orleans wouldn’t be sleeping. The jazz music would be drifting in the air, and the place would be alive with people filling the streets. 

That smile was still on her face. The one that made him want to think she wasn’t a thief. That she was just a woman he desired.

But I know better.

He also knew how to get her to lower her guard.

“Can we get beignets?” Jasmine asked him quickly. “At that place along the riverfront? I’ve heard people talk about it.”

He nodded.

Her smiled beamed even more.

He didn’t speak again until they were in his car and his driver-slash-security detail-was leading them through the city. 

“You know,” Drake finally mused as he carefully watched her, “most women get this excited over diamonds, not beignets.”

“I’m not most women.” And she was back to having her nose pressed to the nearest window. She stared out at the city as if it were the most amazing sight that she’d ever seen.

He kept his eyes on her.

His driver, Matthew, dropped them off near the riverfront.

“I hear jazz!” Jasmine exclaimed excitedly.

That was because a man was playing a saxophone less than ten feet away.

Jasmine hurried through the crowd and stopped near the man. Then she just listened, apparently spellbound, as he played.

Drake kept watching her.

She was a puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out. What was real with her? The enthusiasm and happiness she was showing now? Or the tricks she’d shown back at the Arrow? The lock picking. The seduction. 

He put money down for the musician and led Jasmine toward her beignets.  When she bit into one, powdered sugar slid over her upper lip.

His gaze locked on that lip.

Jasmine moaned. “Incredible.” She devoured the beignet, licking her lips, savoring the sugar.

“Sweet,” Drake muttered.

Her gaze slid to his. “You should…have a taste.”

He leaned toward her and licked away the soft powder near her upper lip.

Her breath caught. “Drake…”

He pulled back. Stared at her.

“Thank you.”

Drake didn’t like it when she thanked him.  He didn’t want her gratitude, not for buying her a simple beignet. He wanted…
her.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Her head turned at the sound, and she stared out at the river.

“We should go,” he told her, aware that his voice sounded gruff. “A storm’s coming.” He could smell it in the air.

“I’ve never minded a storm.”

No, she wouldn’t.

They stood there, staring at the water, as the raindrops began to fall.

Then, because he couldn’t help himself, because he
wanted
her and he was going to take exactly what he wanted, Drake turned Jasmine in his arms. He kissed her. Tasted the sweetness on her lips. Tasted the rain.

Tasted desire.

Her hands wound around his neck as she leaned into him.  She was kissing him eagerly, seeming to hold nothing back.

Good. Because from that moment forward, there would be no stopping or holding back.

Not for either of them.

He had a house in the French Quarter, one away from the wildness of Bourbon Street, and he took her there. His driver was close, and he picked them up quickly. Within minutes, they were heading down the lane that would take Drake to his house.

Then Jasmine is mine.

Jasmine…Now that they were in the car, She was back to staring out the window. And he was watching her. Drake…liked watching her.  

Her hair was wet around her shoulders. Her clothes clung tightly to her body.

He wanted her naked.

He’d have her that way.

When they reached his house, he hurried from the car.

“It’s incredible,” Jasmine whispered as she stared up at the house. Illuminated by faint porch lights, the Victorian stood strong in the surrounding darkness. “Gorgeous.”

He caught her fingers with his. The rain was still falling, but Jasmine didn’t seem to care. She was laughing as they hurried inside.

For a moment, he almost wanted to laugh, too.

He took her upstairs.  Pulled her against him. The wet clothes let him feel every inch of her body. Tight nipples, pebbled hard.

From the cold?

From need?

He stared into her eyes. “I’m going to fuck you.”

Her lashes flickered. “You could try making love to me.”

His jaw locked. “This isn’t about love.” Emotions didn’t enter into the equation for him.   

Sadness swept over her face for an instant. He wondered if she’d pull back.  If she’d try to play him.

Instead, her hand slid over the stubble that lined his jaw. “Maybe one day, you’ll change your mind. Maybe one day, you’ll love someone.”

He caught her hand. Held it in a too tight grip. “I want to fuck you.
Now.
” He couldn’t be more clear.

Her wet hair slid over her shoulders. “Then what are you waiting for?”  The sadness was gone, and he wasn’t sure if it had ever really been there. He just knew he had the woman he wanted in his arms, and Drake wasn’t going to wait any longer. 

He stripped her. Peeled those wet clothes from her body even as she kicked away her heels. 

Her bra was a lacy temptation. Her breasts full and round, and when he tossed the bra away and those breasts spilled into his hands…
Perfect.

He threw aside her pants. Nearly shredded her panties. This time wasn’t about softness and seduction. This was about need. Want. Desire that was running unchecked through him.

Too long.

He needed to fuck. Hard and fast. More, he needed to fuck
her.
 

Her mouth called to him, those plump lips teasing him.  He took her lips and thrust his tongue deep even as he backed her up to the bed.

“Your clothes—” Jasmine gasped against his mouth.

Then he tumbled her onto the bed. He didn’t give a shit about the bed getting wet from his clothing. 

He needed to touch her.

His hands learned her first. He started with her breasts. Plucking the nipples. Loving the way they went so tight at his touch. He stroked her, cupped her.

She arched into him. Her breath came in little gasps that made his cock grow even harder.

Want in her.

His hand swept over the curve of her stomach. But when his fingers skimmed along the edge of her bandage, Drake froze.

What the hell am I doing? She’s hurt!
He tried to pull back.

“Don’t even think of stopping,” Jasmine said, her voice a sensual demand. “I need you, Drake. I. Need. You.”

Every muscle in his body ached for her. “I’m too rough. You’re hurt—”

“Pain…is the last thing I feel right now. Don’t stop.”

And he knew he couldn’t. “I’ll use care.”  Somehow, he would.  His hands slid down her body. Down…down…right to the heat between her thighs.

“Drake!”

He explored her.  Slowly at first, caressing the sensitive flesh, but when her hips arched against him, his touch became more demanding as he thrust two fingers into her.

She was hot and tight and he knew she’d feel fantastic around him.

“I want to touch you!” She was struggling with his wet clothes. “Get these off!”

He pulled away from her, just long enough to toss his clothes across the room and grab for a condom. He rolled it on, hissing out a breath because he wanted to be balls-deep in her
now.

She was splayed out for him on the bed.  Her nipples were pink, tempting. So very temping.

He licked her nipple. She jerked at the contact. He licked her again. Sucked that flesh. Scored her lightly, sensually, with the edge of his teeth.

His hand was between her legs and he felt the rush of arousal as she grew slick for him.

He kissed his way down her stomach. Her legs parted even more for him.  He blew lightly over her clit.  She tried to reach for him, saying that she wanted to touch him again, but he caught her wrists and held them tightly with one hand.

Then he put his mouth on her.

She came that way, with his mouth against her, his tongue in her, the first time. Crying out, Jasmine arched against him and he loved it.

Her body was shaking, quivering, and it was all for him.

Drake rose up quickly and drove deep into her, as deep as he could go—even as the climax still shook her.

Balls deep.

Her eyes were wide and dark with pleasure. Her cheeks flushed. She was beautiful and she was—

Begging for more.

“Please,” Jasmine gasped, her voice husky and desperate. “Drake,
please!”

He withdrew. Thrust deeper. He still had her wrists in his grasp and he lifted them up, pinning them above her head. He wanted the control, but he’d sure see to it that she had her share of pleasure. 

Enough pleasure to make her scream.

He plunged into her again, his rhythm giving them both just what they needed. Wanted. The wooden posters of his bed thudded into the wall. There was no restraint, no slow build up.

His cock sank into her, again and again.

Her legs lifted and locked around his hips as she tried to meet his thrusts.

It wasn’t enough.

He needed
more.

He withdrew from her.    

“Drake?”

In a flash, he’d rolled her over, positioning her on her knees. He wanted in her even deeper.

“Hold the headboard,” he ordered.

Her hands curled over the wood. 

“Hold tight,” he whispered into her ear as his body wrapped around hers. She shivered against him. “Is this…okay…are you hurting?”

He didn’t want to hurt those stitches—

“Only pleasure,” Jasmine whispered back.

He put his mouth on the curve of her neck. His hand slid under her, fondling her breasts, then moving down, down, and finding the tight center of her need.