Stealing Carmen (7 page)

“Yes, I know,” she breathed as a shudder rippled the water around her.

Jack reached under the sink and pulled out a Fleet enema. Placing it on the cabinet, his eyes leveled on her. “Think you can use this on your own? Need help?”

Her eyes went from the box to his face. “I’ll be fine.”

“Good. I’m going to raid your fridge for breakfast materials. I’ll expect you in thirty minutes.”

Jack left the bathroom before he got himself in trouble. He’d been pushing her again. The house thing, damn it. It was too soon. What the hell was wrong with his head? He was fucking up the simple plan.

Jerking on jeans, he stamped his feet into boots and grabbed a jacket. It was colder than a witch’s tit but the trip from his door to hers was short. He’d have to pick the lock again. He’d locked it after himself last night.

Thirty minutes later he had bacon, scrambled eggs and toast on his kitchen table. He’d even swiped the Christmas tablecloth from her kitchen. Movement in the door made him turn.

In one of his flannel shirts and a pair of his tube socks, she hesitated. Jack was in jeans and nothing else. He stood there with arms slack just looking at the woman. She smiled and glanced at the table.

“It smells good.”

“You’re beautiful.”

Soft and slow a smile bloomed across her lips. “You’re a very good thief.”

“It’s a talent.”

Carmen walked into his body, her hands traveling up his bare chest then around his neck. “It is an awesome talent. You have something of mine I think I need right now.”

He wasn’t touching her. Figured she deserved some food before he fell on her again. She wasn’t helping though. She leaned up into him, her perfect face glowing at him as her fingers sank into his hair. He’d needed a haircut a month ago. Now it sort of fell in his eyes.

“What do you need right now?” he asked as she smiled.

“I need my kiss. The one you give me on Christmas morning. The sexy, driving, possessive one that curls my toes and makes me want. The one we are always going to have on Christmas mornings.”

Jack remained still as he looked down at her. “Every? We’re talking the kiss you’re planning on having every Christmas morning in our new house?” He needed this clarified.

“Mmmm…yes. That one. In the new house that looks normal but is sorta large. Not some overdone, five-million-dollar money pit that I can’t clean in a week.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed. His complete focus on her face, he processed her meaning. “Sounds nice.” He didn’t know what else to say. He’d already pushed her. Not once, twice. He’d never made the same mistake twice until this woman let him in her life. Now he was at a loss.

“You need to eat,” he stated gruffly.

“Kiss me then I’ll eat.”

“Topping from the bottom?”

“No. You said I should ask for my pleasures. I’m asking.”

Her breath feathered his face. Fresh and clean. Her taste would be his toothpaste and he hadn’t known that was a sexy scent.

His mouth was on hers in exactly the kiss she wanted. Not because she asked for it. Because it was the only type he was capable of. He held his hands at his sides, letting her lean into him, stroke him as much as she wanted. If he put his hands on her, it’d be all over. Breakfast would get cold as what went into her mouth became hot. So the fierce, driving kiss that bruised her lips and left a mark on her was all he’d give her.

Breaking the contact, both of them were panting. “Time to eat, baby,” his voice was low, rasping with control.

Carmen peeled off him slowly and took a chair. “Do you have something against Christmas?” she asked, picking up a fork. Her plate was full, as was his.

“No. Why?” Jack sat and took a forkful of eggs.

Carmen took a small bite and chewed a moment. “You haven’t said one word about it. No Merry Christmas, nothing.”

“Guess I don’t do Christmas. Sorry. Merry Christmas.”

Her eyes remained thoughtful as she ate in silence.

Fuck! That was pathetic. Problem was, he didn’t have a clue as to what she wanted. He tried thinking of what people said in Christmas movies and realized he’d never watched one.

“You mean you’re not a Christian?” Carmen asked.

“If I am, it’s an accident. I’m not anything, baby.”

She frowned. “So you—”

“Look. I grew up mostly in an orphanage kind of place. Not exactly though. Christmas wasn’t much commented on, nothing extra for it. They weren’t bad people. Was smart enough to finish high school and then enlisted. After that, Christmas was the day to get drunk if I was off duty. Later it became an optimum day for covert activities so I was always working.” Jack paused to eat and noticed she was simply staring at him.

Finally putting down his fork he frowned. “Did I say something offensive?”

“No.” Carmen continued staring at him.

“You done eating?”

“I think so. Jack? You’ve never done Christmas at all?”

“Nope. I brought the tablecloth over though.” His plate was clean. He picked up both dishes and went to the sink.

“Do you think you can break into the pound like you did my house?”

Jack’s head whipped around to frown at her. “The pound? You mean the dog pound?”

Carmen nodded, her face glowing again.

“Why would I break into the pound? It’s a government building. What do you want in there?”

“A lost puppy. Giving someone a forever home is Christmas. If this is going to be your first Christmas, I want to do it right.”

Her eyes danced as she stood to hurry to the door. “I’ll be dressed in five minutes. Will you be ready to break and enter by then?” Her hand on the front door, she looked back at his frowning face.

“Hey, you can’t go out there. It’s freaking cold. I am not entering a life of crime for you, woman!”

“Yes you are. You need to.” The door closed behind her.

Jack swore as he strode into the bedroom to yank on socks and find a shirt. When had he lost control of breakfast? The minute that look of joy crossed her face was when. He’d stood there all dazzled by it and let her out in the snow with just socks on. She’d get a spanking for that. She could get sick, damn it.

Forty minutes later he was damn sure he’d lost his mind. He had a delighted Carmen huddled on his back as he picked the dog pound’s simple lock. There were no alarms. No one expected this place to be a security risk.

In the building they found rows of cages but only two dogs. A young-looking Shepherd mix that was barking his head off as his tail wagged and an older Hound that simply lifted his head and regarded them. Carmen was going back and forth between the cages petting noses and making baby talk.

The shepherd quit barking and began whining back to her. The hound got to his feet and pressed his head to the cage for her to scratch.

“Aren’t they adorable?” Carmen breathed almost reverently.

“Those are beasts not puppies, you know. One is already a horse and the other one will be.”

“Aw, how cute are you guys?” she crooned to the dogs, completely ignoring Jack’s beast statement. “Look at them, Jack. Such good manners already. And so handsome.”

She wasn’t talking to him, not after the first statement. Jack had to admit the look on her face was worth jail time. Certainly any fine involved in this crime spree.

“Make up your mind, baby. I don’t know what the sentence for dog-napping is but I’d rather not be serving it this evening.”

“I can’t.” She turned to him and big green eyes pleaded with him in ways only a lover could. He’d never experienced such a swift, effective takedown. The woman had skills and she wasn’t even moving.

“Are you going to force me to leave one?” Carmen asked softly.

“What? Both?” He glanced at the canine eyes watching him as if they knew he was the one who would make the decision. The shepherd didn’t wag or whine. He seemed to stand taller, pricking his ears, making himself look less mix, more purebred. The hound promptly sat down as if given a command.

Carmen just stood there looking at him. She didn’t need to do anything else.

Jack regarded her and marveled at how sure he was that he’d just seen how the rest of his life would work. Her eyes asking for her heart’s desire was his price. Every man had a price. He’d never known what his was. That’s all it took to get him doing all manner of criminal activity.

“Find some leashes, baby,” he sighed in surrender. Hadn’t even put up a fight. Next thing he knew she’d have him taking her out to dinner and a movie. It’d be after the sex though, that was for damn sure.

Pulling out his checkbook, Jack went to the desk. Writing the check, he left it on the computer keyboard with a short note.

Thank you for keeping my dogs for me
.
Hope this covers your trouble
.
My address is on the check if you have any questions
.

Jack Jones

The check was for two thousand dollars.

Around eleven that night Jack surveyed his surroundings. They were in her half of the building tangled on the couch with just a blanket over them. The room was lit by a multicolored Christmas tree and the TV.

Two large dogs slept on the floor having eaten a mountain of the dog food he’d driven an hour to find. It seemed that despite wolfing down the food as if they hadn’t been fed in a week, both beasts were eager to please.

The shepherd mix was still mostly a puppy. His paws said he’d be eating double soon. Even though he was young, he grasped a good thing when he had it. The hound was a mature dog and displayed a keen sense of opportunity too. Strays recognized each other, Jack mused. They all had a home as long as the woman was in it. She made them a family.

Carmen was snuggled in his arms, asleep and smiling. His hands on her warm body contracted a fraction and she mewed softly in response. The news was coming on TV because the Christmas movie she’d wanted to watch was over and he was a happy, naked bastard.

Jack smiled. She’d given him Christmas. He sincerely hoped she realized both he and the dogs were counting on her doing it again next year, for as long as they lived.

About the Author

Hello everyone. If you’re reading this, I hope it means you’ve enjoyed reading one of my books. If you have some other opinion of them, feel free to lie to me anyway. I hereby absolve you from all possible guilt and consequences for flagrant, adjective, saturated lying to the author.

I’m a chronic fantasizer. Every good romance novel ended too soon. After a while, I started making up stories when I had a few minutes to while away. So now, instead of sitting around with a blank look on my face, I’ve taken to writing them down.

Because of my father’s job, we moved every three years in my early life. My first memories are of Bermuda, and then we were in several African countries. It was a wonderful childhood. I gained a rich cultural background in the world community, but never learned to spell. As an adult, I avoided writing at all costs, embarrassed over my limitations.

But the writer will not stay silent forever. She broke out, and insisted on learning the mystical world of grammar and spelling. Haven’t mastered all of it yet, but they let me write for you anyway. Bless every editor on the planet. They give dreamers a place to send fantasies and save us the embarrassment of owning our shortcomings.

Gail welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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