Sapphire (17 page)

That last thought had Sapphire rummaging in her bureau drawers determined to find an outfit that would dispel any thoughts her nemesis might have about what would happen next. She clearly needed to get them back on an equal footing. She needed to confirm
again
that she was his partner and a damn capable one at that. That she was not some hooker available for the asking,
or
for the taking. She snorted disparagingly. Let’s face it, given Jase’s behavior last night, his taking what he wanted was much more likely than his asking for it.

Yanking out a pair of well-used sweats and a matching tank, Sapphire slipped them on. Seeing what even the shapeless tank did when confronted with her burgeoning breasts she quickly took off the tank and put on a bra. Shrugging off the sweats, she added panties, reminding herself that just because Jase liked her without the protection of underwear didn’t mean that she couldn’t or shouldn’t wear them. Although, glancing at the lacy lingerie as she tugged on the sweats she had to wonder which was worse, her naked body or the enticing scraps of lace and satin that comprised her lingerie collection. With an aggrieved sniff she reminded herself that what Jase thought of her underwear wasn’t an issue. Because he wasn’t going to see them tonight, that was for damn sure.

Marching out into the living room, Sapphire sucked in a deep breath. Jase was standing with his back to her, a bottle of her prized
Glenmorangie
Scotch in his hand, two tumblers on the bar top. Each glass held a generous amount of the amber liquid. Torn between the desire for a hearty swallow of her favorite Scotch and the need to shoo him out of her house, Sapphire took a deep breath.

“Making yourself at home, Agent Malone?” She added with an impatient wave of her hand, “Why am I not surprised?”

Jase turned toward her with a slightly sheepish look. “I don’t know about you, Sapphire, but after what we went through tonight, I thought we both could use a little liquid comfort.”

Shoving at her untoward urge to take him up on his offer, Sapphire pressed her lips together in a determined line and clenched her hands in tight fists at her side.

“Yes, Agent Malone. You’re right. That is exactly what I would like. But I would prefer drinking it by myself.” Seeing his surprised start, she pressed for an advantage. “Besides, I’m tired. It’s…it’s time for you to go.”

Jase frowned slightly then leaned against the counter and crossed his feet at the ankles, his arms across his chest. The causal pose heightened the swell of his biceps and framed the hard muscles of his thighs through the expensive trousers he was wearing. Sapphire couldn’t suppress a soft sigh at the sexy picture this overwhelming man presented.

He looked her up and down, his eyes twinkling, confirming that he’d noticed what she was wearing. A grin quirked the corner of his mouth. As if his full lips weren’t sensuous enough, the amused twitch made them even more inviting. The memory of those lips on hers the night before, and the way he’d driven his tongue into her mouth demanding that she give him access, shook her reserve. Her voice rose.

“Look, Jase. I am tired. But even if I wasn’t, I want you to go. I’ve had all I can take of your macho, king of the hill, attitude. You’ve made it more than clear that you are in charge of this operation. I get it. What I don’t get and won’t tolerate is your diminishing me in front of our client and his minions.”

Jase’s frown darkened but before she could tell him to stop, he walked toward her and handed her one of the glasses. He studied her for a moment through narrowed eyes. When he spoke, his tone was lacking its usual amused arrogance.

“Hmm, that accusation bears discussing, Sapphire. But first, be a good girl and don’t make me drink alone. The least we both can do is enjoy your excellent Scotch before we rehash the evening.”

Feeling her hackles rise at his insulting reference to her as a girl, Sapphire couldn’t resist reaching for the glass he was holding out to her. She took a large gulp, relishing the burn of the potent liquor in her throat, then raised her chin and glared at him.

“I mean it, Jase. I want you to leave. Now. I’m too angry to discuss what happened tonight.”

When she turned and started toward the door, he reached out and caught her arm. Pulling her next to him he shook his head.

“Uh uh, Agent Shaw. That isn’t how this works. If you have a problem with something that happened tonight, this is when we will discuss it. Do you understand?” Taking her glass from her and putting it on top of the bar next to his, he reached for her arm again and added in a more conciliatory tone. “Look, Sapphire. This mission is too fucking dangerous as it is without anger mucking up our relationship.”

Sapphire tossed her head and managed to free her arm.

“May I remind you, once again, that we do
not
have a relationship, Agent Malone. But just so you know, I don’t care if you are in charge of the world and the five nearest planets. You are not in charge of me. Moreover, if you think for one moment that I would wear your collar you are seriously deluded.”

Jase nodded as if he understood. “Ah, I see. So that is what has your panties riding up that enticing crack of yours. My assertion that you aren’t
yet
wearing my collar.”

Horrified at him referring to her ass, and at the same time implying that her wearing his collar was a given, Sapphire jumped back and practically spit at him. “Not
yet
and not ever!”

Done arguing with him Sapphire strode to the door preparing to show him out. Before she’d made it two steps away from him, as swift as the panther he resembled, he was at her side. He caught the sweep of her long hair in one fist and pulled her back. His voice lowered dangerously.

“Not so fast, Sapphire. I told you we are going to discuss this and we are. As for the collar? Yes, under normal circumstances that might be considered diminishing. But in this case, given that we are entering a fucking BDSM dungeon, a collar is the one way I can protect you from all those assholes there who think you’re available for the taking. If you recall, the only man we want to go for you is Roberto. And that fucker will be even more determined to take you if you are wearing my collar.”

Incensed by his claim that he needed to protect her, Sapphire ignored his deluded assumptions about the collar.

“Damn it, Jase! When will you get it through your head that I don’t need you to protect me? I can take care of myself!”

Jase tightened his grip on her hair and pulled her closer. His angry breath was hot on her cheek. He bit out his words carefully, attempting to control his anger.

“And when will y
ou
get it through
your
head, Gabriella, that I am quite aware of all of your skills? That I know that you can take care of yourself and of me as well? That’s why I allowed—no, why I
wanted,
you on this mission.”

Wrapping her hair around his fist he jerked her up hard against him. Sapphire gasped at the tsunami of sensation that rocketed through her, feeling his hard erection pressing against her belly. Horrified by the moan that escaped her lips she tried to pull away but he was fierce. His voice was dangerously low. His lips pressed against her ear.

“Do you know how much it took for me not to break his hand when that fucking prick touched you, Gabriella? Do you? You thought I was
diminishing
you? Goddamn it, I was declaring, in every way that I could, that you are my woman. Because, sweetheart, you are.”

Pressing her against the wall, his voice was rough, raspy.

“As for you wearing my collar, let me elucidate, Agent Shaw. If I want you to wear my collar or any other damn thing I decide you should wear, you
will
wear it. Do you understand that, Gabriella? Do you? I hope you do, because, my hot-tempered, irascible agent, both of our lives depend on it.”

Sapphire wanted to push him away. She knew she should. There was no question what would happen next if she didn’t. At that moment, he used his boot to spread her feet apart. Pressing his knee between her legs, he wedged his muscular thigh against her intimate folds. Sapphire cried out at the invasion, the pressure against her tortured clit that she knew she couldn’t resist.

His voice was harsh, guttural. Wrapping his big hands around her waist he lifted her higher up his leg, pressing his burgeoning erection against her vagina.

“Ride me, Gabriella. Damn you. Ride me. Now!”

To her horror, Sapphire gave in to the storm of passion that overtook her at his harsh command. With a wailing cry, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and jerked his head down. She wanted his mouth on her neck, her breasts, anywhere he could touch with his lips and teeth. She was wild, hot with need. She arched up against him and rode him hard, writhing against his thigh as if her life depended on it. She was close, so damn close and was sure she
might
die if she didn’t get release. Gasping for breath, Gabriella rode the waves of passion that were stealing her mind and her body, trying desperately to reach that elusive pinnacle of pleasure that was closer than it had ever been.

Chapter 18

J
ase shuddered at the lust racing through him. Damn, this was wrong on so many levels. He knew it and cursed himself for it. He was Gabriella’s commander. She was a member of his team. She was obligated to obey him or risk being bounced off the team. But hearing her wailing cry and feeling her riding his thigh, her breath coming in hard gasps, he knew it was impossible to turn back. For either one of them. Pressing her back against the wall he kneaded her ass with his big hands, then tilted her forward ensuring that her clit was rubbing against the swollen head of his cock. He groaned at the sensations shuttling though his iron hard shaft. Christ, if he wasn’t careful he might spill in his trousers before he got inside of her.

And dammit, he admitted, that was what he was going to do. He was going to bury himself in her hot pussy so deep, so hard, that she wouldn’t know where he ended and she began. He was sure she was wet. He could feel her juices through her clothes. A fiery stream of electricity ricocheted from his balls to the end of his staff. God, he needed to taste her. He wanted those juices on his lips, his tongue. He wanted to suck on her clit, her nipples, take her in every way possible. But first he needed to kiss her. Do with his tongue what he intended to do with his cock. Drive deep into her mouth and take her hard. He gripped her ass in one hand and held her head in place with the other anchoring her against the wall. He pressed his lips against hers, forcing them apart. He wasn’t easy, he couldn’t be. He wanted to lick her tongue, fight with her teeth, open her to him.

Tasting the burn of Scotch on her lips, he sucked her lower lip into his mouth and bit down. Her whimpering cry spiked his need. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he knew her lip would be swollen tomorrow. For some reason that made him even hotter. In some primitive way he wanted to mark her. Let her and the world know that she was his. Christ, the way he was going, a swollen lower lip wouldn’t be the only visible sign of his rampaging lust.

“Open for me, Gabriella. Now, baby. I gotta taste you.”

He wasn’t surprised that his throaty demand was close to a growl. Hell, he sounded more like an animal in heat than a man. But why pretend that he was anything other than a ravaging beast? His need was so intense, so primal, there was no way he could tamp down his lust. He wound his hand into her long hair and wrapped it around his fist. Tugging her head back, he raised her face to his and began to devour her mouth. Pressing her lips open, he thrust his tongue deep. Her breath was hot, tinged with the spice of the Scotch they had drunk. Her soft moans intensified. She reached up and tugged on his hair. Her sharp fingernails scraping his scalp shot fiery sparks straight to his cock.

Once more he groaned a needy animal sound. He could feel the waves of ecstasy that were cresting over her. Her shattered cries were a siren call to his dick. He knew a woman who was about to come. But somehow, someway he had to slow her down. He wanted her, all of her. As much as he would have liked to strip off her sweats, tear her panties off of her, and take her hard and fast against the wall, he needed more. He wanted to suck on her nipples, take them in his mouth and play with them. Make them long and hard. Make her cry out with need. And then, God, he wanted his mouth on her pussy. He needed to spread her swollen lips, drag his tongue through the moist folds and suck on her clit until she screamed for relief. The heated fragrance of her arousal stiffened him further. He didn’t know how much longer his raging staff could hold out.

Jase lifted her higher and wrapped her legs around his waist. He had to get her to a place where he could gorge on her. In his lust-addled brain he knew he couldn’t make it to her bed. The desk in the corner would have to do. He stumbled across the short distance holding her tight against his chest with one strong arm. She cried out begging him not to stop.

“No, darlin. Don’t you worry. I’m not going to stop. I need you, Gabriella. I need you like a drowning man needs a fucking life raft. I’m not going to stop until I have my cock deep inside of you and you are screaming to orgasm. But first, you luscious woman, I have to taste you. Feast on you. Every part of you, baby. From the hard points of your erect nipples to the swollen folds of your pussy.”

Jase swept his free arm across the top of the desk, sending piles of paper, files, and a flurry of pens and equipment crashing to the floor. Laying her back against the top of the desk, he bent her knees up to her chest. Grasping the waistband of her pants in both hands he dragged them, along with her panties, over her long legs and tossed them over his shoulder to the floor. Taking advantage of her bent knees, he pressed her feet against his shoulders, opening her trembling thighs to his heated gaze.