Stealing His Heart (11 page)

Her mouth dipped down, and she bit down on her tongue. She looked…sad. “You’re so much more than that, Jake. Don’t you see how wonderful you are?”

He gave an uneasy laugh. “No. I don’t.”

“But
I
do. You’re more than you think you are.” Playing with the buttons of his vest, she made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat. “I care about you, Jake. I know it’s crazy, and stupid, but I want…I want
you
. I want to be with you.”

No way she could care about him. Not after everything he’d done to her—and everything he still had to do. He should tell her there was no hope for them in the future, because there wasn’t. He wasn’t good enough for her, but he wished he was.

Fuck, he wished he was.

He kissed her.

Chapter Eleven

Tara clung to his hard forearms, taking everything he gave her, and yet still needing more. When his lips moved over hers, her stomach clenched as the familiar scent of his cologne teased her senses, the taste of his tongue drove her wild.

All too soon, he pulled back. “You have to fig—
shit
.”

Bending down, he rubbed his thigh, a grimace etched on his face. She swallowed hard and glanced down at his leg. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Without replying, he turned away. He let go of his thigh quickly, as if he just now realized he’d been rubbing it in front of her. “Yeah. Especially when it’s going to rain. But it’s not a big deal. I’ll be fine. It always goes away.”

Her heart twisted tight. “Does it help if someone rubs it?”

“I have no clue.” Lifting a shoulder, he glanced back at her. “No one has ever rubbed it before, except for me.”

“But…” She nibbled her lower lip, a pang of sadness stabbing her in the throat. “Not even Christine?”

He didn’t meet her eyes. “I won’t let her.”

“Well, then…” After taking a deep breath, she knelt at his feet. “Let’s find out.”

Stiffening, he captured her hand, the vulnerabilities he usually hid beneath his hard, steely eyes achingly defenseless. “
Tara
.”

“Trust me. I only want to help you.” She met his gaze, hoping he’d see the truth in her words. Showing him he wasn’t alone in the world anymore. Not if he didn’t want to be. “Please?”

He didn’t release her right away. He held her fingers still, locking gazes with her. Then, after a few seemingly endless moments, he let go of her. She sucked in a deep breath, her mind spinning in circles. Lifting his pants up, he revealed his scars. Even in the shadows of the safe, she could make out the pattern of the zigzagged scars all across his thigh and knee.

When she tried to move it higher, she realized there was no way she could possibly get his pants high enough to do what she wanted. Sure, she could leave them on and massage him through the fabric, but she wanted to show him that his scars didn’t scare her.

That she wasn’t disgusted or turned off by them in the slightest. It was really important to her. She hesitated, her fingers resting on his knee. “Can you take these off for me?”

He shifted uneasily. “That was easy. I didn’t have to seduce you with my smoldering stares and bedroom eyes first.”

“It’s my turn to be bossy.” Even though he was cracking jokes, she knew this wasn’t a joke to him. Not at all. She tugged at the hem. “Take them off.
Now
.”

Mouth tight, he stood, undid his pants, and let them hit the floor. She didn’t count on the fact that with him standing in front of her, and her kneeling at his feet, she was right at crotch level. Yeah, she was staring his erection in the face, and he was hard.

Really,
really
hard.

All she could think about was leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the tip of his erection before rolling his boxer briefs down and taking him in her mouth, inch by slow inch. She swallowed a huge gulp of air and forced her attention north.

His gaze was on her, and she knew he was thinking the same thing. Thinking about her closing her mouth around him and…no. That was not why she’d told him to remove his pants. “S-Sit down. I’m in control this time.”

“I’ll allow it…for now.” He tugged on a piece of her hair, then dropped it. He sat and straightened his injured leg on the floor in front of him. “But only for a little while, and only till I tell you to stop. And when I take control, I’ll bend you over that box in the corner and fuck you till you can’t breathe anymore.”

Oh, God. That sounded hot. So, so hot. But she wouldn’t focus on that. Not yet. Right now, she had to concentrate on him. He needed this, too, even if he didn’t know it yet. “We’ll see,” she said, her voice thick with desire.

He clenched his fists at his sides. “Yes. We will.”

Reaching out, she grabbed some lotion out of her purse and lathered her hands. He’d smell fruity and girly, but he’d feel a heck of a lot better. “I’m going to rub your leg. If it hurts, let me know.”

He stiffened. “You probably don’t want to touch it. It’s all raw and rough and—nasty.”

She raised her brow, then clutched his ankle. Slowly, she massaged the muscles, going a little higher as she went. His head dropped back on the wall, and he let out a strangled groan. His hand fisted tighter on top of the floor, and he closed his eyes.

She couldn’t stop looking at him.

Memorizing every detail, laid out for her to see, since she wouldn’t be able to do so for much longer. She loved the way his five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw, much like his lowered lashes did his cheeks. And how he held his breath as she rubbed him, not moving a single muscle, as if he was scared he would send her running.

He should know better. She didn’t run scared of anything.

Especially not him.

Looking at her from beneath lowered lids, he shifted his weight. “You have no idea how good that feels. But you don’t have to touch the scars.”

“You know what I see when I study you?” She moved up his leg more, reaching mid-calf. “I see bravery.” Moving higher, she lowered her mouth to his, stopping an inch from him. “I see heroic actions and I see
you
. But I don’t see ugliness.”

A broken sound escaped him, and he gripped her. “Tara…I…”

“Sh.” She flipped her wrist, entwining her fingers through his. Leaning in, she kissed his chin dimple. “You don’t have to say anything at all. I wanted you to know.”

Crawling over his injured leg into the empty space between his thighs, she massaged his thigh, dipping her fingers under his boxer briefs. His muscles tensed, and he arched his hips. The vulnerability in his gaze, and the motions of his body, made her want him more than ever.

Another inch higher…

She closed her fingers over his shaft, squeezing gently. He thrust into her hand, gripping her hips tightly. “
Tara
.”

“Yes?” She cupped his balls, tugging ever so slightly. “What do you want, sir?”

“You. Only you.” He swallowed. “I know how hard it is for you to give yourself over to me, to submit. So…I’m giving you control. This one time.”

She froze. She knew, more now than ever before, how hard it was for him to say that. To submit to her. He was giving her something huge. He was giving her his trust.

And she wouldn’t let him down.

“Good.” She lowered her head and nibbled on his ear, biting just enough to sting. He shuddered. “My first order? Touch me.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gripped her sides, closing on her breasts. “Like that?”

She moaned when he palmed her, rolling her nipples between his fingers. Even through the fabric of her shirt and bra, she could feel his skin burning her. “Yes.”

He arched his hips up. His cock pressed against her, teasing her. Making her want more. She scrambled to undo his vest, needing to see him naked. To feel his skin. To admire his tattoos, and study them up close for once.

Last night, he’d tied her up so she couldn’t touch him, and in the supply closet, he’d been fully clothed. This time, they would do it right. He tilted his face up, letting her take control of the kiss, as he’d promised. When she undid the first button, he tensed.

“Shit.” Catching her hand, he said, “I hate to say this, but you need to stop.”

“You’re not the one in charge of this. I am.” She leaned in so her mouth was barely touching his. “Why would I stop now, when I’m starting to have fun?”

He grasped her hips, holding her still. “Because in one minute, my boss Cooper will be opening that door, and I’d rather have my pants on when he does. And he damn well isn’t going to get to see you bent over, ass naked and in the air. That’s for my eyes only.”

Heart racing, she jumped off him and tugged her skirt back down. As far as ways to dispel heated lust went, hearing that his boss was about to open the door was right up there with an ice-cold bucket of water. “How long till he’s here?”

“Not long enough.” He slipped his pants back on and watched her the whole time. “And he’s going to expect me to have answers that I don’t have.”

She clenched her hands in front of her, the guilt choking her again. He wouldn’t actually get in trouble because of her inability. Only
she’d
suffer. “I can’t help you.”

“Can’t?” He turned her way again. “Or won’t?”

She didn’t answer.

When he realized she didn’t intend to, he balled his fists at his sides. “I want to save you, and I wish you would let me. Why won’t you let me?”

She opened her mouth to say…what? She had no clue.

But the safe door opened, and the man she could only presume was Cooper Shillings stood silhouetted in the doorway. He had brown hair, green eyes, and was hot as hell. Almost as hot as Jake.

He leaned on the doorframe. “So…since I’m rescuing you both, I take it the code hasn’t been figured out yet?”

“We’ve got nothing,” Jake said, his cheeks flushing as he did up his button. “I thought locking us in would help, but she still can’t figure it out.”

Cooper eyed Jake’s hands. “I see. I’m not going to lie. I’m disappointed.”

“It’s not his fault,” Tara said quickly, watching Jake out of the corner of her eye. It wasn’t Jake’s fault she refused to help Soltese, and she couldn’t let him get caught in the cross fire because of her. “He’s been trying his best to help me, but I can’t remember how I did it. Arrest me now if you have to, but don’t blame him. It’s not his fault.”

Cooper cocked a brow. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. Give me your word he won’t be punished for my shortcomings.”

“Tara, stop it.”

“No.” She gave Cooper a pointed look. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you, but he’s been the perfect employee to you.”

Cooper nodded. “I believe you.”

“Tara, stop defending me,” Jake snapped. He glared at her. “He knows I’m doing my job.”

Cooper cleared his throat. “Look, we need to get Tara to—”

“I know.” She sighed, wanting to get this over with. “Are we going straight to the jail from here?”

Jake stood in front of her, blocking her from Cooper. “No. Your time isn’t over yet. We have tonight, too.”

“Will a few hours help?” Cooper asked.

She shook her head. “Probably n—”

“Yes,” Jake said, his tone hard. “Maybe later tonight, it’ll come back to her.”

Cooper lowered his brows. “I hope so. After what you discovered about this Soltese guy…I’d hate to be on his bad side.” He gave Tara a meaningful look. “More so than you already are, that is. Word has it he’s heading back here tomorrow. I suggest you remember, and remember fast.”

Well, crap.

Chapter Twelve

Later that night, Jake stood under the shower stream, letting the water slide down his aching body. It had been a hell of a long day, and it wasn’t anywhere
near
over yet. He needed to get her to tell them the code, no matter what. Had to get her to tell him how she did it, or tomorrow morning…

She’d go to jail.

No matter what he did from this point out…he’d lose her.

When she’d rubbed his leg earlier and called him a hero, something inside him had broken. He’d wanted to be a hero, for her. And some part of him had actually believed her words. Believed
her
. Believed that maybe, with her help, he could be a complete man again. One who deserved love and happiness and…yeah, maybe even her.

But those were the foolish thoughts of a foolish man.

He shut the water off and glowered down at his scars. They were more pronounced than ever in the bright fluorescent overhead lights. As if from a distance, he could hear his ex telling him that no one could love a lame man. That no one would want him. He slipped the shower curtain back and froze. “What. The. Hell?”

While he’d been washing up, his bathroom had been completely redone. It now had pink towels. And a pink rug. And a fucking pink toilet seat cover. No.
Hell no
.

This had to stop. She had to stop playing these stupid little pranks on him. Stop trying to make him laugh or smile. Stop…

Being her.

Yeah, he didn’t want that. Leaning back against the wall, he surveyed all the pink, his lips tilting into a smile. No, he definitely didn’t want her to change.

He liked her just the way she was.

Reaching over, he picked up a pink towel, shook his head at the dainty size of it, and dried off. He wrapped it around his waist, holding it at the side since it didn’t quite meet, and opened the bathroom door. Mumbling under his breath, he paused in the hallway. It smelled like…strawberries. Fucking A. Had she lit a candle, too?

As he walked into his bedroom, he called out, “Nice change in the bathroom. I kinda like it.”

No smart-ass remark came back to him. The house remained quiet.

Too
quiet.

Son of a bitch, had she actually run away from him? Or had Soltese discovered where she was? Had she been taken against her will? The thought of her in danger sickened him. If Soltese dared to injure one hair on her head, he’d kill the fucker. He strode across the room and ripped his top drawer open.

Grabbing the first things he touched, he stomped into boxers and jeans. As he descended the stairs, he yanked a gray cotton T-shirt over his head and grabbed his spare keys off the hook. His main set was missing, which meant she’d left of her own free will.

And she’d stolen his car.

He threw the door open and froze. Tara stood there, holding a bag of takeout and a bottle of moscato wine. She watched him with amusement, her gaze dipping low over his body. “Going somewhere?”

His speeding heart slowed down to more human speed. She was back. She was safe. She hadn’t left him. “You were supposed to stay here,” he rasped. “Where the hell did you go?”

“I was hungry, and you were in the shower. So I ordered takeout and got some wine for us.”

“You have to be careful. What if Soltese was out there, waiting for a chance to—”

“He wasn’t. And he won’t be.” She shut the door behind her. “Do you think he’s the first tycoon asshat I’ve pissed off? Because he’s not. In fact, he’s a baby compared to some of them.”

He gritted his teeth. Fucking fabulous. That meant he had a numberless amount of angry men out in the world wanting to kill
his
Tara. And she didn’t
care
. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“Well, suck it up, Buttercup.” She brushed past him. “It comes part and parcel with my job.”

He bit back a sarcastic remark at the loose meaning of
job
in this instance. But he had to know something. “You left, and then came back. You cracked my code.”

She laughed. “It was easy.”

He took the heavy bag from her. “You could have run this whole time, but didn’t?”

“Yep.” She lifted a shoulder. “What of it?”

He stepped closer to her. “Why did you come back?”

“Running would be dirty. Wrong,” she said, not quite meeting his gaze. “It would make me no better than the men I steal from. If I have to go to jail, then I’ll go. But I won’t run from my punishment like them. I won’t
be
them.”

His chest tightened. She was so damn brave. Too brave for her own good. He almost wished she had run, because then he wouldn’t have to turn her in. He wouldn’t be forced to do something that made him want to hurl just from thinking about it. “There is another choice.”

“Yeah. I know. Helping you.”

She opened and closed cabinets, probably looking for utensils and cups. He strode across the kitchen and grabbed them for her. Without missing a beat, she took down two wineglasses. She walked over to the table and plopped herself down in a chair, giving them both a glass.

“Is helping me so hard?” he asked, tightening his grip on the plates.

“No. It’s not
you
I don’t want to help. You’re a good guy,” she said. “Even though you’re an asshole sometimes, too.”

He blinked at the off-the-wall comment. “By your definition, you steal from assholes. Does that mean you’re going to take something of mine?”

She cast a glance around the room. “I already have. You don’t know what it is yet.”

“Seriously?”

She lifted a shoulder. “You’ll see eventually.”

What could she have stolen from him? He shook his head. “You didn’t take anything.”

She smirked. “If you say so.”

He didn’t reply.

After a few minutes of silence, she wiped her mouth and asked nonchalantly, “How’d you like the bathroom?”

“I like it. Pink’s always been one of my favorite colors, but I never thought of doing the bathroom in that scheme. It’s delightful.”

She choked on her wine. “
What
?”

“It’s true.” He deadpanned, forcing himself to act completely blasé when he wanted to bark with laughter at her expression. She couldn’t have looked more shocked if he stripped naked in the streets and did the electric slide. “I love pink. Don’t you?”

“Uh, sure.”

“It looks great with my skin tone.”

Her mouth twitched. “You’re fucking with me again.”

“If you say so,” he echoed back to her.

They ate the rest of their meal in companionable silence, ignoring the giant elephant in an orange jumpsuit in the room. Once both of their plates were empty, he leaned back and entwined his fingers in front of his stomach.

She startled at his movement, wariness humming off her body. “So, it begins again? The questions, followed by the reminder that I’ll be going to jail in the morning?”

“Is there a point?” Shaking his head, he turned her palm up on the table. “Tell me the truth. Do you know the code?”

She tensed and tried to pull away from him. He didn’t let go, but focused on the way her pulse leaped at his question. Oh, she knew it all right. “No.”

He squared his jaw. “You’re lying to me.”

“Look, I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. Sorry to disappoint you. It’s not easy for me, either.” She stood up, her chair scooting on the floor loudly. “But no matter how many times you ask me if I know it, no matter how many times you threaten me with jail, I won’t help you. Can’t you
see
that? So cuff me up and beam me up, Scotty. I’m done.”

He grabbed her and hauled her sideways on his lap. It was the first time she’d said she
wouldn’t
help him, as opposed to being
unable
to help him. Unfortunately, he’d gotten the confirmation he’d needed. “If I cuff you, it won’t be to bring you to jail. It’ll be so I can fuck you mercilessly without interference.”

Her mouth parted, and she pressed her thighs together. “I should hate you for doing this to me.”

He captured her chin and tilted her face to his. Tenderly, he smoothed his thumb over her quivering lip. She watched him, her blue gaze open and soft. “But you don’t, do you?”

She shook her head slowly.

Satisfaction rushed through him, and he closed his mouth over hers, kissing her hard and deep. She curled her fingers into his shirt, whimpering into his mouth. He broke off the kiss, buried his hands in her mahogany hair, and dropped his forehead to hers.

Before he fully thought them through, the words came tumbling out of his mouth. “I don’t hate you, either. The opposite, actually. Spend the night with me in my bed.
All
night. Be mine again, before it’s all over.”

He waited for her answer, knowing that she held too much power over him, but beyond caring. Truth was, he needed her, plain and simple.

Her harsh breathing stopped, as if she was holding in her breath. Or her words. Then she nodded. “Yes. One last night.”

Standing up, he cradled her in his arms protectively. His leg protested the extra weight, but he refused to listen. He didn’t want to let go of her, not for a single second. If only he could hold her in his arms forever, he’d be a happy man.

When he cleared his bedroom threshold, he set her on her feet and smoothed her hair. “You’re so fucking gorgeous. And you’re mine. All mine.”

Reaching up, she ran her fingers over his biceps and down his forearms. “I am. And I want to touch you
everywhere
. Can I please touch you? Do what I want to you?”

He grinned. She’d remembered the rules and asked nicely, so she would be rewarded. “Yes. You can be in control for now.”

“Thank you.”

Raising on tiptoe, she kissed him. Her soft lips moved over his, and something in his chest squeezed tight, grabbing hold. He clung to her fingers, letting her lead the kiss. Every other time that they had been with each other, he hadn’t given her the chance to really do anything besides be ravished. Tonight would be different.

Hell,
he
was different tonight.

Because of her.

He didn’t feel the need to dominate her or remain in control. After two short days in her company, he was already a changed man. He wasn’t sure what to make of that, but there was no going back now. He sensed that, even if he didn’t fully understand it.

And worse?

He didn’t give a fuck.