Stealing His Heart (12 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Tara rose on her tiptoes more, deepening the kiss. The fact that he seemed to be giving her control twice in one day came as a bit of a surprise, but she wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth, thank you very much. She rolled her tongue over his, her stomach clenching when he moaned and released her.

Holding her firmly, he slanted his mouth over hers. She knew she could break free if she wanted to, but she didn’t. Not in the slightest. She ran her fingers over the harsh lines of his shoulders, memorizing them He was so hard and muscular everywhere she touched. Perfection in human form.

And soon, this would all be over.

The thought left her…empty. She’d be alone again, and she’d miss him. Way too much. She should be angry with him for putting her in this position, but he was only doing his job. Just like she was only doing hers. They were no different, and she couldn’t punish him for that without being a hypocrite.

No matter how much she wished she could.

She wasn’t giving in, and she wasn’t running away like a coward. One way or another, tomorrow? This would all end.

Breaking off the kiss, she grabbed his shirt and lifted it—baring his chest and abs. She hadn’t gotten a good enough view of them last night while he’d been on top of her, but now she had all the time in the world to get well acquainted with that portion of his body. He had a six-pack.

An actual six-pack.

And all that ink…

He was a serious danger to all women everywhere. She cupped his erection, as she had in the safe. Only this time, she wasn’t going to stop. She massaged his hard length through his jeans, and he moaned. Rising up on tiptoe, she caught his mouth again. When he held her in his arms, she felt so small. So vulnerable, and yet protected all at the same time.

Dropping back to her normal height, she undid his pants. They hit the floor. Next went the boxers, and he stood there gloriously naked. So. Freaking. Hot.

Too bad he’d be the end of her.

She took in every inch of his lean toughness. After falling to her knees, she raked her nails down his chest and abs. “My turn to taste you.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed and he fisted his hands at his hips. “Tara, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I—”

He broke off with a gurgle when she leaned in and closed her fingers around the base of his penis. Without warning, she flicked her tongue over the head of his shaft and sucked him into her mouth.

Threading his fingers in her hair, he urged her closer. “
Fuck,
don’t think about stopping.”

Deep in the back of her throat, she moaned. He tensed more, and she took him in deeper. She ran her tongue over the head as she sucked, not letting go of the base. She worked him, pumping ever so slightly, and scraped her teeth against him gently. He groaned and tightened his grip on her, pressing her closer.

The wetness between her thighs soaked her panties, and she shifted to ease the ache. Pleasuring him with her mouth was driving her as insane as it was him, she was sure of it. He massaged her scalp as she sucked. “Fuck, Tara. That perfect mouth of yours is pure pleasure, isn’t it?”

She increased suction, hollowing her cheeks out.

“Enough.” He flexed his jaw. “The sight of you fucking me with your mouth is going to send me over the edge.”

He tried to pull her off, but she shook her head. “Mm-mm.”

“Fine,” he growled out, flexing his biceps. Not forcing her to stop. “You’re in charge…”

She tasted his pleasure on her tongue, and knew he was close. And she really wanted to make him come with her mouth. Wanted to give him that.

Something to remember her by.

“
Tara
,” he warned, his muscles tense and his voice tenser. “If you don’t stop, I’m going to come.”

She nodded as best as she could, trying to show him that’s what she desired without stopping, and rolled her tongue over him again, pumping faster. He let out a strangled groan, then pumped his hips into her mouth, his entire body going tight.

The rush of his semen on her tongue was heady. Empowering.

She sucked every bit of him that she could get, swallowed it all, and didn’t release him until his tremors stopped.

He collapsed against the wall, his breathing harsh. “Fuck, Tara. I’m going to need a second.”

She swiped her hand across her mouth, her gaze locked on his still-hard penis. “I want to do it again.”

“Shit.” He groaned and ran his hot gaze over her. “Your fun is over. I’m in charge again. Get naked
now
.”

Her stomach clenched at his demand, and she ripped her shirt over her head without hesitation. As she stepped out of her skirt, she stared at him. His cheeks were still flushed, and his breathing ragged. And
he
was watching
her
with that darkness that promised revenge for her misbehavior. She grew wetter with the anticipation, squeezing her thighs together. “I’m almost ready, sir.”

He pushed off the wall and closed his arms around her. “Keep the rest. I like you in thigh-highs and underwear—but nothing else.”

She lifted her face and laced her fingers behind his neck. “Whatever you want.”

Letting out a soft sound, he kissed her gently. As his mouth worked over hers, he backed her toward the bed, one step at a time. She couldn’t help but notice the difference in the way he held her.

As if she meant something to him. As if this was more than a quick lay.

And she
liked
it.

As he lowered her onto the mattress, his elbows keeping the bulk of his weight off of her, his mouth worked over hers. He rolled his hips against her, his still-hard erection teasing her. “May I touch you?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said, nibbling on her ear. “Touch me.”

She closed her legs around his waist and ran her fingers over every inch of his body. At the same time, he traced the curve of her hip before creeping up her stomach. When he reached her bra, he undid the front clasp. As soon as her breasts were free, he slid down and captured one hard nipple in his mouth, scraping his teeth against her. She cried out and arched her back, needing more.

Needing all of him.

Releasing her nipple, he fisted her panties and tore them off. Once they were gone, he dipped his hand between her thighs, slipping two fingers inside of her. When he crooked his fingers, she dug her heels into the mattress and rocked her hips up.

“
Jak
e,” she begged. “Harder.”

He stopped immediately. “You forgot to beg me.”

She threw her head back against the pillows, the frustration and need
killing
her. “Please,” she panted. “Please let me come.”

He wiggled his fingers again, sending a jolt of pleasure through her. “Remember to ask nicely next time, or I’ll walk right out of this room without making you come.”

“I-I will. I promise.”

He moved again and clamped down on her nipple at the same time, sending a bolt of need coursing through her veins at lightning speed. She pumped her hips in tune with his movements. She was close.
So close
.

He released her nipple. “I can feel your pussy getting tight. I can feel you getting closer and closer, but I didn’t give you permission to finish. Ask me. Ask me now.”

Digging her nails into his shoulders, she asked, “May I come?”

“Nope.” He lowered himself down her body. “Not yet.”

Curses sprang to her tongue, but she bit them back. Insubordination would get her nowhere with him. He nipped at her hip bone, his fingers still buried inside her. Still driving her insane with want and need. Still torturing her, since she couldn’t come.

When she was sure she was going to burst from frustration, he replaced his touch with his mouth, and time froze. As soon as he flicked his tongue over her, she cried out. So close to completion that she couldn’t stand it anymore. “
Please
?”

He shook his head, but didn’t cease his torment.

She squeezed her lids shut, trying to think of anything that would stop her from coming. The threat of jail. Soltese killing her. Never seeing Jake again.

None of it worked.

“
Jake
!”

“Now,” he rumbled against her.

He licked her, thrust two fingers inside …and she exploded. She arched her hips up, freezing as pleasure rocked her so hard she could barely remember how to breathe. He let her hips fall, then rolled a condom over his thick shaft.

Flipping her onto her belly, he hauled her hips up and positioned himself at her entrance from behind. He fondled her ass, his touch gentle. “Ask me nicely.”

She fisted the comforter in her hands, trembling with need despite her recent orgasm. She needed him inside her. Filling her. “Please fuck me, sir.”

He didn’t move. “Call it what it is. We’re not fucking. Not tonight.”

“M-Make love to me,” she begged, moving restlessly beneath him. “
Please
.”

He didn’t reply, but he thrust into her all the way with one smooth stroke. Straining against the sheets, she met his movements. Each time he pulled out, she was ready and waiting for more. He stroked her hair, his touch gentle, and whispered soft words in her ears.

As he thrust inside her, deeper and harder, she came so close to the precipice that she shook. But then he pulled out and flipped her over. “I want to see you when you come. I want to watch you. To see…to feel…you. I need you, Tara. I need you so damn badly.”

Her heart wrenched and she nodded, opening her arms to him. “I’m yours.”

He covered her body with his, moving inside her again. The whole time he made love to her—because that’s totally what he did—he kissed her, never breaking contact. It was so tender and sweet. So perfect. She blinked back tears, knowing this would probably be their last time, and not liking it at all.

Not ready to let go.

He cupped her cheeks in his palms, increasing his pace. Going faster and faster until the pressure grew to be unbearable. He shifted his weight so that each time he drove into her, he rubbed against her clit. His tongue dueled with hers, and he deepened the kiss, claiming her in ways she didn’t fully understand.

When he groaned and thrust harder, his entire body going tight with his release, she came, too. The whole time, he was right there beside her. Holding her in his arms. Kissing her. Whispering soft words in her ear that made her want so much more with him. That made her want to stay with him for…well, forever.

When she came back down to earth, he was lying on his side next to her, and he cradled her in his arms. She took a shaky breath and stared up at him, not certain of what to say or how to act. “Jake…”

He watched her, his own face open and vulnerable and uncertain. So, she hadn’t been imagining things, then. He seemed as affected by tonight as she did. But what did that mean? “I know.”

“I wish I could stay here with you,” she admitted, her heart thudding hard the whole time. “I wish we could lock ourselves in here forever, and avoid the real world.”

“You could stay with me, if you cracked the code.” He ran his fingers over her mouth, his eyes somber. The lights from deep within that usually shone at her appeared dull. “I don’t want to send you to jail. Don’t make me do it, sweetheart.
Please
.”

And just like that, her heart plummeted. He’d asked her nicely, but she couldn’t give him what he wanted. She just couldn’t. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that.” He sat up, shrugging her off. “You’re not.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “Now you presume to know how I feel better than I do?”

He stood, his hands fisted at his sides. “Yes. Because I’m trying to save your ass.” He stepped closer, his gaze soft and pleading. “Don’t do this to us, Tara.”

Us? Was there an
us
?

She shook her head, the panic rising up and choking her. She didn’t know what to do, because she really wanted there to be an
us
, but not at the cost of her values. In the end, she’d only resent him for making her choose him. For making her cooperate. It was better this way. She couldn’t give in. Not this time.

“It isn’t your job to save me. I’m fine on my own,” she said, blinking back tears. “I don’t need you crashing in on your white horse. I don’t need
you
.”

The second she said the words, she wanted to snatch them back. It wasn’t true. She did need him, but she couldn’t give in. Not even for him. Not even for herself. She couldn’t go against her principles. Couldn’t give in. Never again.

He flexed his jaw, his pleading expression fading away to ice. “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. You obviously don’t give a shit about yourself.”

He stared at her, silently begging her to tell him the answer to the code. To save herself, and maybe him, too, in the process. After a short moment of silence, he gave up. He probably gave up on her too. He walked out, shutting the door behind him with a firm click.

Flinching at the soft sound, which seemed more powerful than a slam, she knew, just
knew
, that it was over. Because this time tomorrow…

She’d be in jail.

Chapter Fourteen

Jake leaned against the wall in the corner of his bedroom, the early dawn sun slipping in between the cracks of the blinds. For God only knew how long, he’d been standing there, watching Tara sleep. She’d tossed and turned for hours last night, but he hadn’t gotten an ounce of sleep. Hadn’t even tried.

There was no point.

He was going to lose his Tara.

As he watched, trying to quell his inner turmoil, she stirred. He walked to her and smoothed a curl off her face. He trailed a finger down her cheekbone. “Rise and shine.”

“Hmm.” She blinked at him, losing the soft traces of sleep within seconds. Clutching the blanket to her chest like a shield, she sat up. “Is it time?”

“Yes.” He gave her his back, keeping his voice even. “It’s time.”

The sheets rustled, and her feet hit the floor. He wanted to turn around and look his fill, but he resisted the urge. If he saw her naked right now, he would be late for work. It was bad enough he was desperately racking his brain to figure out a way for Tara to stay out of jail, but he wouldn’t be late, too.

Not today.

She walked toward her bags. “I’ll just need a few minutes.”

“Tara…” He hesitated, wanting to offer her some form of comfort, to assure her that she would be fine and he would keep her safe, but he wouldn’t make promises he couldn’t keep. So he shut the hell up before he did. “I’ll be downstairs waiting for you.”

He closed the door behind him, still not looking at her. His stomach balled up into a tight fist, and he paced at the bottom of the stairs, checking his watch every few steps. While he was waiting, he shot Cooper a quick text. When he received a confirmative reply, he took a shaky breath.

This was his only option.

After about fifteen minutes, she came down the stairs. She wore dress slacks and a button-up shirt. He could barely make out a thin line of cleavage from the neckline of her blouse, and yet it was the damn sexiest thing he’d ever seen before, because it was
her
.

He wanted to remove every piece of her clothing so he could make slow and passionate love to her. Keep her hidden from the real world so he didn’t have to do this.

So he wouldn’t lose her.

“Does this outfit meet your approval this time?” she asked, her voice lifeless.

“Yeah. It’s good.” He held his hand out. “Let’s go.”

Without even the slightest hesitation, she slid her fingers into his, holding tight. They walked out into the bright sunlight, and she slipped a pair of big shades onto her nose. He opened the car door for her. “Tara, I—”

“Don’t. Don’t tell me to run, and don’t ask me to help you for the millionth time. I can’t.” She sat down, her entire body stiff and unyielding. “Let’s just get this over with.”

He closed the door and crossed around the trunk, staring at the spot where she had put the stickers yesterday—had that been only yesterday? It felt like months.

When he slid into his seat, he stared straight ahead, gripping the wheel. He didn’t start the car. Why did it have to be like this? Why couldn’t she, for once, give in without a damn fight? He wished she would save herself, so he didn’t have to do it for her.

So she wouldn’t hate him.

“Fuck, Tara,” he snarled. He turned to her, anger and frustration fueling him. Feeding him. “Would it really be worse than going to jail?”

Her fists worked on her purse strap. “Yeah, it would be. I refuse to help someone like him,” she said so softly he almost missed her words. “I won’t do it, not even for you.”

“Damn it. I can’t save you if you won’t help me.” Jake gripped the wheel so tight it hurt his knuckles. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

She nodded stiffly, staring straight ahead. “Yep. Loud and clear.”

“I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re just doing your job,” she said, her voice hollow and empty. “We had sex, but it’s over and now you have to do what you told me you’d do all along. Turn me in.”

He wanted to take her dark shades off her face and make her
look
at him. Wanted to see her damned eyes as she rejected him—because that’s what she was doing. She was killing everything they had going on between them. There would be no recovering from this. No happily ever after—not once they were finished.

“But I want to help you. So damn bad,” he admitted, still white-knuckling the wheel. “I can’t
do
this to you. Don’t make me.”

She finally moved, turning her head toward him. “Your job was to get me to help, or to send me to jail. Since I didn’t help, that leaves one option. Get it over with, and stop worrying about me. I’m no longer yours to worry about.”

The hell she wasn’t.

He turned onto the road, and the rest of the ride passed in silence. What more was there to say, really? As he led her through the lobby, she clung to his hand. It killed him that she was going to hate him when this was all said and done.

He walked to Cooper’s door, raised his fist, and knocked.

“Come in,” Cooper called out.

Jake took a deep breath, glanced at Tara, and opened the door. They walked inside, and Cooper focused on their joined hands. “We’re here.”

“I see that.” Cooper leaned back in his chair, his brown hair perfectly in place. “What’s up?”

Jake flexed his fingers on Tara. “I have news.”

“I figured. What’s it gonna be?”

“She can’t help us with the code.” He gripped Tara tighter when she tried to pull free. “No matter what we do or say.”

“I suspected this might happen.” Cooper sighed and set his pen down, his gaze still locked on Tara. “I did my research on you. A woman so set in her values isn’t going to bend for someone who goes against her own beliefs, now is she?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do it. No matter the consequences,” Tara said, her voice trembling on the last word. If not for that, she could have been discussing the weather for all the concern she showed. “Send me to jail. Give me to Soltese. I don’t care.”

His boss stared at Tara, his expression completely unreadable. Jake couldn’t tell if he was plotting to arrest her or looking at her with admiration. Maybe both. “There will be consequences. There’s nothing I can do about it. I promised, and as a business owner, I have to follow through…no matter how much I don’t want to.”

“Yes. Of course.” Tara nodded. “I understand.”

Cooper pushed back from his desk and stood. “I’ll take you in myself and let them know how much you cooperated with us—”

“No,” Jake said. “You didn’t let me finish.”

Both Cooper and Tara turned to Jake in surprise.

“Yeah?” his boss asked.

He stepped closer to the desk, knowing it was now or never. It was the only way to save her. “You’re not taking her anywhere because she’s innocent.”

The other man raised a brow. “What?”

“You heard me.” He pulled Tara behind him. She must’ve been in shock, because she let him. “Arrest me. I’m the one who stole the vase.”

Tara gasped. “What are you doing?”

“Coming clean.” Jake took his ID out of his pocket and threw it on the desk, followed by his office keys. “She’s innocent. I blackmailed her into taking the fall for me, because I didn’t want to go to jail. Hell, she doesn’t even know a damn thing about codes. That’s why she can’t help us—because she’s clueless.”

Tara gasped. “He’s lying. He’s so obviously lying.”

“I’m not. You know I used to be a thief too, just like you know I’m telling the truth.” Jake locked gazes with his boss, refusing to look at Tara. It might break his resolve to do what had to be done. “I’ve been trying to control this situation the whole time. I planted Tara’s name in your lap because I didn’t want to get caught. I knew with a little blackmail and a few kisses, she’d be putty in my hands. She was.”

“What?” Tara stiffened behind him, tore free of his hold, and came to his side. “No.
No.
He’s lying to protect me. Don’t believe him. He had nothing to do with this.”

Jake’s chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. This was it. The moment when he ruined everything they had, simply because he couldn’t send her to jail. Wouldn’t. “It’s not a lie and you know it, man. How do you think she could have ever gotten the code from me? She’s good, but she’s not that good. This was all me. An inside job.”

The look Tara gave him ripped his heart out of his chest. The panic and worry in her eyes crippled him. Sickened him. She looked…broken.

He’d done that to her.

Fuck, he hated himself.

“I am too. I am that good. I did it—not him.” Tara curled her hands into fists. “Arrest me, not him. He had nothing to do with this. He’s been clean for years.”

Cooper rubbed his jaw, frowning at them both. “I don’t know. He’s been acting different lately. It would explain a lot of stuff. I never really believed that you could have gotten in so easily, when no one else has before. I have no idea how I could’ve missed all the signs. It’s clear he’d been playing me all along.”

Tara shook her head frantically. “No. I got in because I’m that good. That’s it. He’s innocent. I take full responsibility. Leave him out of it.
Please
.”

Jake swallowed hard at her plea, wanting to put her out of her misery. But he couldn’t. There was only one way for this to end, and he had to see it through.

He had to play his part.

Snorting, he crossed his arms. “Cooper. It was my idea and you know it. She was someone to blame, and a welcome distraction in my bed. But nothing else. She doesn’t know how to get the code. I’m the one who needs to be locked up.”

“Hell no. This is not happening. Arrest me and ignore him.” She held her wrists out to his boss. “Let’s go. Now. Lock me up.”

Cooper held his palms out. “I can’t. He’s admitting his guilt, so he needs to go in. If you knew the code, you would have given it to us. You’re clearly being set up.”

“
No
.” Tara turned to Jake, shoving his shoulders hard. He could see tears swimming in her eyes, trying to escape. Fuck, she was crying. He reached out for her, knowing that he’d hate himself more than she would ever hate him, but she lurched backward. “Tell him you’re trying to protect me. Tell him the
truth
.”

He shook his head. “I already did. You’re free, Tara. Be happy I didn’t make you take the fall like I planned.”

“I’m calling this in.” Cooper grabbed his phone. Next to the black office phone was a picture of him and Kayla in England. They were so happy. So in love. Jake would never get that in his life. Not after this. “Jake, I’m disappointed in you. I trusted you. Gave you a second chance. This is how you repay me?”

Tara slammed her hand over Cooper’s. Cooper, for his part, seemed as if he wavered for a second. At least he wasn’t the only one who felt like shit over this plan.

“No.
Please
.”

Jake’s heart wrenched at the desperation in her tone. He was an ass of the worst sort, because though every instinct screamed at him to comfort her, he remained silent.

“I really am sorry.” His boss cleared his throat, freed himself from Tara’s grip, and dialed. “Yes, Officer Davis? I have a suspect in my possession. His name is—”

“Don’t do this.” Tara shook her head, her gaze darting back and forth between Jake and Cooper. “
Please
. I’ll do anything you want.”

Cooper avoided her gaze, his knuckles white on the phone as he continued to talk. He looked as if he was ready to throw it across the room. Neither of them had liked this plan in the first place, but it was working. Just as Jake had known it would.

“Yes. Jake—”

“I’ll give you the code,” Tara called out, leaning down and catching the other man’s gaze. “Please. Hang up, and I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll prove that I was the one who took the vase. You’ll see the truth. I swear it on my parents’ graves; I’ll give you the fix. This can all go away.”

Cooper covered the receiver, glanced at Jake, then asked, “Are you giving me your word?”

“Yes.
Yes
. And you know I’ll keep it, too. You checked into my past.” Tara gripped the edge of the desk. “Hang up the phone, and I’ll give it all to you.”

Jake flinched. “Tara, stop…”

“Don’t.” She glowered at him, fury humming off her like a visible thing. “I’m not letting you go to jail in some lame attempt to save me. I won’t let it happen.”

Cooper stared at her for a good long moment. “Yes, yes. I’m sorry.” He cleared his throat, and addressed the person on the other line. The person who was most definitely
not
a cop. “I was mistaken. Forget this call came through.”

Cooper hung up and handed a pen to Tara. She took it with trembling fingers, and quickly scribbled something down. Jake watched, feeling like the lowest of scum as she wrote. By the time she was finished, he thought he might hurl.

This wasn’t right. None of this was right.

Tara set the ballpoint down and handed the fix over. “This is everything you need to know to get rid of the issue. You address that, and I won’t be able to get in.”

Cooper took the paper. “Thank you for your cooperation. I’m sorry it had to go down like this.”

Tara nodded, her mouth pinched tight. “May I go now? Or am I still going to jail?”

“Yes, of course. The deal was if you helped us, you’d be free to go.” Cooper sat back down. “Jake can see you out.”

Jake grabbed her and escorted her to the door, not saying a word. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Not until he figured out how to tell her what had really happened here.

They were halfway across the office when Tara stopped, her arm stiff under his fingers. She turned slowly, looking first at Jake, then at Cooper. “Sorry it had to go like
what
? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cooper shoved the code into his safe and closed it. He looked at Jake, his cheeks flushing. “It was the only way we could think of to get you to—”

“Oh my God.” Tara pulled free from Jake’s grip, her cheeks flushed. “I’m such a fool. This was all some elaborate plan to get me to confess, wasn’t it?”

Jake’s heart dropped to the floor at his feet. He’d hoped to think of a way to break it to her gently. He’d hoped…too damn much. “Tara, it’s—”