The Yearning (27 page)

He straightened. The air rippled over her nipples, molded by his tongue into hard, moist peaks. Looking down at her bared breasts, he lifted her skirt above her navel jewelry. “Keep your dress up so I can touch you. And don’t close your eyes.”

She studied his arousal, which was no greater than hers, her gaze on him as he demanded.

His hand sauntered past the dangling diamonds to between her legs. A muscle in her belly jumped. Blood scalded her throat. Thumb on her clit, he drove three fingers inside, eliminating her ability to think, to breathe.

Her head fell back, lightly bumping the trunk. Above, long leaves shifted with the breeze, partially obscuring the moon. Here, Mike’s fingers moved inside of her, stretching, preparing, owning.

“I told you to keep your eyes on me,” he said.

She heard the challenge in his voice. The authority. It thrilled and warned her to yield.

Her gaze dropped to his. “I won’t look away again.”

“If you do, you won’t get this.” With his free hand on her ass keeping her still, his thumb rubbed her clit.

Her hips jerked. A flood of torment gathered between her legs. His thumb made small, lazy circles. He regarded her to see their effect. She hid nothing—not her delight, arousal, or love. It enriched the act as no fantasy or spell could, his embrace and passion purging every constraint. She came effortlessly and harder than all the times before. Her mouth hung open, liberating a coarse grunt. Though her eyes were still on him, they were unfocused. At last, her mind was at ease. She didn’t care who saw. All that mattered was Mike.

He thanked her with a deep, prolonged kiss. During it, his hand moved to his fly. She heard the scrape of metal as he lowered his zipper. Next, his rigid shaft brushed the inside of her thigh, his skin silky and hot.

Impatient, his mouth abandoned hers. He snapped out his orders. “Put your arms around my neck. When I lift your ass, wrap your legs around me. Lock one ankle over the other. Don’t worry, I’ll have you.”

Her arms wreathed him, just as he’d instructed. “I’m not worried. With you beside me, how could I be?”

At her trust in him, a wave of pleasure and pride passed over his face. “Tell me again that you love me.”

Tenderness and adoration hushed her words. “I love you, Mike.”

He swooped down and kissed her neck, simultaneously cupping her buttocks and pulling her up. Without hesitation, Jasmine clasped his lean hips with her thighs, folding her calves over him, holding her right ankle with her left.

His strength impressed her. More easily than she believed possible, he lodged her between the trunk and himself, which allowed him to guide his cock inside, the angle enhancing his stiffness and length.

Marvelously impaled, Jasmine closed her eyes at his assured thrusts. His short puffs of air competed with the noise of the stubborn wind and lapping surf. She whispered what was in her heart, her desire for him and her love, uncertain whether he heard, untroubled because there would be other opportunities to tell him.

She wasn’t alone any longer.

The truth of it freed her even more than Desiree had, allowing her to be wanton and playful. She gave him a lover’s bite on his neck, squeezed her inner walls around his cock and groaned loudly at their climax that came within seconds of each other.

Her vagina beat fiercely around him.

Head dropping to her shoulder, he wheezed out his words. “How do you feel?”

Beneath her elation, a calm she’d never known ran through her. Prior to the curse, she’d been self-conscious and unsure after sex, wondering if she’d responded appropriately to her few boyfriends. Not with Mike. He’d given her the confidence to be herself. For him, and for her, the real Jasmine Dante was good enough. “Content. Satisfied. At peace.”

His shoulders moved with his jarring breaths. “Because it was as good as before or was it better?”

Surprised at his question and obvious uncertainty, she moved her lips to his ear. “Better. Nothing came between you and me this time.”

“I hope nothing ever will. Not even when we go back.” He heaved one last breath and tottered. “I have to put you down. My legs are kind of shot.”

She lowered her feet. Pulling the top of her dress over her breasts, she moved away from the palm so he could lean against it.

“Wow and whew.” With an unsteady grin, he slumped into the trunk, clawing his hair away from his face. The wind blew it right back.

Jasmine gentled a thick strand behind his ear. He chuckled as she eased his limp penis into his underwear and zipped his fly carefully. “Good job. I may let you dress me from now on.”

“I’d rather undress you.”

“That’s a given.” He yawned.

“Mike.” Eyes lowered to his tattoo and scar, she stroked both. “What did you mean when you said you hoped nothing would come between us, not even when we go back?” Her gaze darted to him while her mind recalled the last few days, events that seemed far removed from the present and too troubling to keep as memories from the past. “If you mean Ben, you don’t have to worry.”

“I’m not concerned about Ben. Are you?”

“No.” Her cheeks and throat went hot. “What happened that one time won’t be repeated, I promise you. I’ve already told him as much.”

“If you hadn’t, I would have. I’m not sharing you with him or any man.”

She smiled at his possessiveness, awed by it. “You never did.”

His hand went to her hair, using it to bring her close. She inhaled deeply as their thighs and bellies touched. He asked, “What about your sisters?”

“You mean coming between us?” She hadn’t thought about that and wanted to assure him that wouldn’t be the case.

“Violet likes you. She thinks you’re hot.”

“No shit?” His embarrassed smile said he hadn’t expected to hear such a thing. He kissed her shoulder. “Remind me to thank her.”

“Oh no, don’t. She’d be so embarrassed if she knew I told you—wait, are you putting me on?” She slapped his hard belly. It didn’t stop his drowsy laughter.

He let go of her hair. “Violet’s all right. One helluva cook and not a bad designer, either.” He trailed his forefinger between the cleavage Jasmine’s dress exposed, sending new tingles throughout her body. “I want her making all of your clothes from now on.”

Her brows lifted and an edge of unease gripped her belly. “Without the curse, you expect me to wear stuff like this in public?”

“I’m hoping you won’t mind. I sure as hell don’t. You’re a beautiful, sexy woman, Jasmine. Can’t you see it? Why are you trying to hide it?”

“I’m not. I just never thought of myself that way.”

He shook his head. The wind snatched the ends of his hair. “Haven’t you seen yourself in a mirror recently? You’re freaking awesome.”

She laughed at his turning her earlier words on her and did the same to him. “Damn, you’re right,” she said, just as he had when she’d told him to look at himself in the antique mirror.

He smiled. “Has Violet ever thought of designing lingerie?” His finger skimmed her nipple.

“You want me to start wearing underwear?”

“If it’s anything like that corset you put on, yeah.”

She snuggled closer. “It’s her design. She’s coming out with more in the fall—eighteenth-century undergarments for a twenty-first-century woman.”

His head dropped to her hand cupping his fly. “I can’t wait. I want you to model them for me in our bedroom.”

Our bedroom. How wonderful it sounded. “At my house?”

His hesitation returned. He lifted his face. “It makes the most sense since you operate your business there and my place isn’t large enough for me. We’ll share expenses, just like other couples do, if you have no objections.”

“Not even one.”

“Think Lily will?”

Jasmine’s stomach sank. Her youngest sister had always been too obstinate and vocal. When their parents had been alive, it seemed she couldn’t get enough of their attention. After the accident, she’d made no effort to hide how she resented losing them and her oldest sister taking charge. At the same time, she competed with Violet for Jasmine’s love, although it hadn’t been necessary. Jasmine would have gladly died for either of them.

But Lily didn’t like to share. She feared change. At twenty-six, she was still the frightened thirteen-year-old at their parents’ graves.

Jasmine’s sigh said it all. She couldn’t bring anyone new into their home unless both of her sisters approved. “I don’t know. We’ll have to ask. We might have to win her over. Do you mind?”

Mike held her close. “Not at all, I’d do anything for you.”

He already had.

At Jasmine’s house, they had just reached the gazebo when the kitchen door flung opened. Lily, Violet and Ben rushed as one onto the porch. There they stayed, staring, obviously fearing the worst. That Desiree hadn’t showed and if she had, she hadn’t lifted the curse.

Mike released Jasmine’s hand. “Go on and tell them. I’ll wait here.”

“No. You should be there too.” Not only had he saved her life, he’d given her a future she’d never dreamed possible.

“It’s all right.” He brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “Tell them what they’ve been waiting to hear. Once they know what happened, I’ll join you and we’ll ask them about my moving in.”

Reluctantly, she left him. Her sisters and Ben looked so stricken and loved her so much tears ran down Jasmine’s face. “I’m okay,” she said, climbing the steps. “It’s over.”

“It’s not,” Lily argued. “You’re crying. What the hell happened?”

Jasmine gathered her youngest sister into her arms with confidence and care she hadn’t known in too long. “There’s no need for you to be afraid any longer, Lil.” She lifted her head and spoke to the others. “Desiree lifted the curse.”

Suddenly, they all wanted their turn to hug her, with their questions interrupting each other.

“Where’s she now?” Violet asked.

“How’d you convince that freaking witch to free you?” Lily wanted to know.

“Will she be back?” Ben questioned.

Jasmine pulled free of them. “Mike should tell you. We owe all of this to him. He was unbelievable.” She motioned for him. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”

Jasmine and her sisters sat at the table, Ben stood by the door, Mike near the sink as he relayed what had happened tonight.

When he’d finished, Lily pushed her chair back, scraping the legs over the wood. “How do we know we can trust your friend Erica to tell us if Desiree gets loose?”

Jasmine answered for him. “Mike trusts Erica. That’s good enough for me.”

“And me,” Violet said.

Lily crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring them in favor of grilling Mike. “While you had the chance, why didn’t you kill Desiree? What’s the matter with you?”

“Lil.” Jasmine stood, hands on her hips. “That’s enough.”

“It’s all right,” Mike said to her. He spoke to Lily. “If she had tried to harm your sister further, I would have done anything to stop her. Desiree didn’t want to die, so she removed the curse. To have harmed her after that would have been the coward’s way out.”

“And murder,” Ben said.

Lily’s head swung to him, then back to Mike. “But she’s still out there. As long as she’s alive, my sister won’t be safe.”

“That’s not true,” Jasmine said. “Mike will protect me.”

All eyes went to her, including his. In his dark gaze was love and gratitude for her confidence in him.

Unconvinced, Lily frowned. “How’s he planning to do that?”

He drawled, “The usual way.” A recognizable buzz filled the room.

Violet’s hands flew to her mouth, Ben choked on his swallow, Jasmine tried not to laugh. Lily’s brows met her hairline as Mike’s power lifted her from the chair. “Pull your arms and legs in,” he instructed.

She gaped at the empty space between her and the floor. “Why?”

“Because I said so.” He spun her in a loose circle. She snatched her legs and arms tight to her body. He accelerated the spins until she was a blur, like a figure skater on ice.

“Ready to come down?” he asked.

“Hell no.” She squealed, “This is so freaking cool!”

Smiling, he gave her a few more whirls and put her back on the seat. “Dizzy?”

“I can handle it.” She gripped her chair so she wouldn’t fall off and lowered her head to the table.

He grinned and spoke to them all. “Nothing’s going to happen to Jasmine. I give you my word.”

Violet’s and Ben’s heads bobbed in stunned agreement. Jasmine cleared her throat, ready to make her announcement or plea. “Mike and I are going to be together from now on.”

Lily’s head lifted from the table. The others looked at Mike.

“I love him,” Jasmine announced, “and he loves me. I’ve asked him to move in here—if that’s okay with all of you.”

Evidently surprised, Ben advanced a step. “I get a vote?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Mike looked at the boy. “You were here first.”

His expression said he hadn’t expected the consideration and wasn’t certain how to handle it. “Right, well, I guess it’s okay.” He shifted his weight.

“You’re sure?” Mike asked.

Ben’s embarrassment grew. He straightened his shoulders and tried to sound casual. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? Hey,” he said, without giving Mike a chance to answer, “do you know how to repair stuff? The plumbing in this place is a fucking nightmare. I could use some help with it.”

“I’m no plumber, but I’d be happy to do whatever I can.”

Ben nodded, then crossed the room and offered his hand.

As Mike shook it, Violet said, “I’m okay with this too. Lil?”

She rolled her forehead over the table’s glass top.

Jasmine’s heart clenched even as her aggravation grew. “Lil?”

“I don’t know.” Her sullen tone indicated how much she hated the idea. “It’s already crowded with all of us.”

Mike started to speak. Jasmine put up her hand to stop him. “If that’s how you feel, I understand. I’ll pack a few bags tonight and come for the remainder of my stuff tomorrow afternoon.”

Her sister’s blonde head rose slowly from the table. “What do you mean? You’d actually move out?”

“I wouldn’t have a choice, Lil. I won’t leave Mike. We’ll find a new place together.”

“No, you can’t,” Violet said. She grabbed Jasmine’s hand. “I won’t let you. You belong here more than anyone else. You kept us together after Mom and Dad died.” Turning to Lily, she hissed, “What is the matter with you?” With her free hand, she slapped her younger sister’s shoulder.