Touch Me (6 page)

“Oh, don’t make it sound so exciting,” he said. His tone was sarcastic, but when she looked at him, he was smiling.

“Okay, so nothing bad happened. But I didn’t say it would. What I said was it was a bad idea because you lived right next door.”

He nodded. “True, but it doesn’t mean it’s all bad.”

If he only knew.

“So, I want to thank you for dinner.”

There was scratching at the door and she knew Hercules had heard them.

“Great.”

“What’s the matter?”

“He’s going to be upset when I come in the house alone.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to make up something to get me to come in. I’m happy to.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please. I know that.”

“Oh, do you?”

Before she could think of what that meant, he had her turned around and pinned up against the front door. Her pulse quickened and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. He put a hand on either side of her face caging her in. Normally, this would make her mad…or scare her. With him, the only danger she had was to her heart.

Wait. No. She wasn’t falling for him. That would be beyond stupid.

“Now, want to tell me what you think you know?”

The demand was uttered in a deep, dark sensual tone that had her heart racing and her head spinning.

She licked her lips. His gaze followed the movement. When she pulled her tongue back into her mouth, he looked up to make eye contact.

“Got nothing to say?”

Drawing in a deep breath, they both groaned when her breasts brushed against his chest. Her nipples were already painfully tight. Just that little touch had heat racing along her nerve endings.

Hercules saved her. He jumped against the door and barked.

“Great, now he’s definitely heard you. I better go in.”

He did nothing but stare down at her.

“Jack, you have to move.”

He waited, then he stepped back from her.

She turned and unlocked the door. Hercules practically pushed her out of the way to get to Jack. He wasn’t ready for it. They both went tumbling back onto the lawn. Hercules landed on top of Jack, who smacked his head against the ground. Thankfully, he landed in the grass so the blow wasn't too bad.

"Hercules!" she ran toward them. Hercules was lying on top of Jack, licking his face.

"Oh, stop, that's gross."

"Hercules, get off him right now."

Her dog ignored her. Instead, he continued to lick the Marine.

"Hercules, get off me."

Jack said it with as much command as she had, but this time, Hercules listened.

She leaned down to help him up, but he waved the help away.

He stood, slowly with his hand to the back of his head. When he looked it, they both noticed the blood.

"It was grass," he said, irritation threading his voice. Of course he was irritated. He was a man.

"Come on, Jack."

"What?"

"You need that cleaned and it'll be easier for me to see if it needs stitches."

He opened up his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut.

"Okay."

The complacency made her wary, but she ignored it and led him into the bathroom. She would fix him up and send him on his way.

And that would be the end of it.

*  *  *  *

Jack was going to have to buy that dog a big ass bone. He knew that without the attack, Hannah would have never invited him into the house.

"Take off your shirt," she said.

"You're bossy."

She rolled her eyes as he pulled his polo shirt up and over his head. She took it from him and then motioned with her head for him to follow.

He still couldn't believe he was bleeding. Hercules walked behind them, apparently aware he had done something wrong and acted like he was in charge of the services.

"Sit there," she said, after pulling down the lid to the toilet. He did as she ordered and noticed that Hercules was sitting just outside the door.

"Why do you think he attacked me?"

"He didn't attack you. Not in the way you think." She bent over giving him an excellent view of her cleavage. He should really be paying attention to it, but there was no getting away from the fact that it was there for him to see. She pulled out cotton balls and a bottle of what looked to be antiseptic.

"Sure felt like he attacked me."

She poured some of the cleaner on the cotton ball then put it on his head wound. The sting was a shock at first and he muttered under his breath. She laughed.

"I told you, he misses his first owner."

"Ah." He didn't buy it, but he would take it. It got him into her house, which, was kind of sad if he thought about it, so he decided not to think about it.

"He does. I know it's hard for a dog to understand when something like that happens. Sergeant Joseph was a good guy. Barely old enough to drink, but he loved Hercules. It about killed him to leave him behind."

"Why did he leave him with you?"

She shrugged. "His parents didn't have the space and I think they are a little older. Hercules is a lot of dog to handle. Plus, I think he was worried about if he didn't come back."

"Like he had a premonition?"

"I don't know if it was that, or that he had one or two close calls when he was deployed before. He said if something happened, it would make his parents sad to see the dog every day. I thought differently, but he probably knew his parents best."

She continued to clean his wound as he looked at the dog. Hercules was keeping watch on him as if he was worried he had really hurt Jack.

"Doesn't look like you need stitches and there wasn't any dirt or anything. Do you have any kind of antiseptic at home? You need to make sure you clean it out so you don't get an infection."

"I think I do."

She threw away the cotton ball and put the top back on the bottle.

"That was really nice."

"My dog attacked you, so I figured it was the least I could do."

"No. I meant about Hercules. I mean, thank you for helping me, but not everyone is going to take on a task like you did. Like you said, Hercules is a lot of dog to handle."

She looked down at him and they were so close he could feel her body heat.  Was it his imagination or did her pulse kick into overdrive.

"Anyone would have done it."

"No, they wouldn't. But you did because you know how it feels, don't you?"

She drew in a breath and nodded. "I hated being the one left behind. I was an adult, but it's still hard to pick up those pieces and go on.”

There was sadness in her voice that touched him. He had felt that. Being so young and losing his mother…that had been hard. Their family was never the same after that and his father changed. He had become a workaholic, destined to be general, and somewhat of an absent father. But, the two people who had always been there for her, gone, just like that.

“But you did well. In fact, you thrived.”

She gave him a small smile. “How would you know that? You just met me a few months ago.”

“You have one of the fastest growing clinics in Oceanside. That’s saying a lot since you’re not from here. Plus, you care about the animals. Like taking in Hercules, and being worried about the dog the other day. You care. It’s not a quality everyone has.”

“Don’t assume you know all about me, Jack. That would be a mistake.” She sounded so serious it almost broke his heart.

He shook his head as his heart squeezed tight.  “No. I don’t. But I want to.”

Everything stilled in the air around them as she continued to stare at him. “Jack…”

“What? We aren’t right for each other? It can get complicated?”

She nodded.

“Does that really matter in the grand scheme of things?”

Even he heard the need that clawing at his belly. It threatened to take over all rational thought as he tried to beat it back with a stick.

“It should.”

But even as she was saying it, she was leaning toward him. He slipped his hand up to cup her jaw. When their lips met, he felt as if his entire world shifted.  It wasn’t like their other kisses, almost stolen in the heat of the moment. This one was slow, easy and it spoke to his soul.

When she pulled back, he dropped his hand.

“Don’t say no, Hannah.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think I can say no to you.”

Tracing the edge of his jaw with the tip of her finger, she sighed.

“Don’t sound so sad. It’s a good thing.”

For a second, she studied him, her blue gray gaze roaming over his face. Then, slowly, her mouth curved.

“I know.”

In that moment, his heart turned over, once…twice, then fell at her feet. She wouldn’t be happy and Jack knew she would deny it. But, he knew and there was no going back to the way it was before this.

Before he realized he loved her.

Jack didn't give her time to rethink her decision. He rose to his feet and then kissed her. Walking her backwards out the door, he then realized he didn't know the way to her bedroom. He pulled back from the kiss and was happy when she tried to follow him to keep contact.

"Where's your room?"

"Oh." It was said in such a breathy voice, it sunk beneath his flesh. Lord, she looked cute. And delicious.

She took his hand and led him down the hallway, practically running.

"You don't have to hurry. We have all night."

She turned to face him when they reached her room. "No. I don't want to change my mind."

That worried him. He didn't want her having any doubts. Ever.

"We don't have to—"

The look she shot him told him all he needed to know. "We most certainly are and you aren't backing out of it now."

"I don't want you to have any regrets."

Then, her features softened as she looked at him. "No. No regrets. I don't want out of this. How can I when you're the one I'm sharing the night with?"

He barely noticed the room as he stepped inside and pulled her into his arms. She was small compared to him, all full curves and delicate flesh, but she fit perfectly. It was if she had been made just for him.

Lord, he was sounding corny even in his head.

He pushed that thought aside and bent his head to kiss her. Nothing in this world tasted like a kiss from Hannah. Sweet and tart, it was a multitude of tastes that always left him feeling heady.

He was already walking her backwards toward to the bed when she stopped him. Stepping back, she reached up behind her head and undid the tie at her neck. She let the dress fall at her feet, leaving her in nothing but panties and bra.

Lord Almighty.

If Jack had thought she was beautiful before, this just solidified it. Golden skin and ivory lace. One perfect combination.

She didn't hesitate. She undid her bra and tossed it behind her.

It was a bold move he wouldn't have expected from her, but it affected him no less. In fact, it pushed his lust to new level. When he looked at Hannah's face, he realized this wasn't something she was used to doing.

He reached her in two steps and took her back into his arms. Maneuvering himself in the right position, he cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple. It hardened even more and she moaned against his mouth.

Not wanting to wait, he led her to the bed to sit, then he kneeled between her legs. Leaning forward, he took the nipple into his mouth while he teased the other with his hand. She spread her fingers thought his hair, pressing him closer as her moans grew louder and louder.

Soon, it wasn't enough, he wanted more, wanted to taste the very essence of her need. He slipped her panties off and tossed them behind him. He pressed a hand on each thigh, urging them further apart so that he could have better access.

Her curls were already wet with arousal, the pungent scent of it filling his senses. Without any hesitation, he pressed his mouth to her sex. She jolted then relaxed against him as he tasted and teased, enjoying her moans. It didn't take her long before she was coming apart, screaming his name and bowing up off the bed.

He pulled back. His heart raced. Rising to his feet, he started to unbutton his jeans when he realized he hadn’t brought any condoms with him. It wasn’t like he was going out every night with hopes of getting a woman in bed. Fuck, he should have been prepared.

"Shit."

"What?"

"Condoms."

She gave him a sexy smile. "Don't worry, Marine. You forget, I'm in the medical field. I am always prepared."

He chuckled as she rolled over to grab the condoms out of her side drawer. She tossed him one.

"This isn't the only one is it?"

"Why would we need more?"

"Oh, baby, we're going to need a
lot
more than this."

Her face went comically blank, then she laughed as she sat on her bed. "We'll see about that."

Stepping out of his jeans, he ripped open the package and rolled the condom on. Then he joined her on the bed, covering her body with his.

"Hey, there."

She kissed his chin. "Hey, there yourself."

He bent his head and kissed her then, enjoying the feel of her beneath him, the need that had blossomed between them. He had never wanted a woman like this, not knowing exactly what he was getting into. Before, his body had been involved and a bit of his heart. Now, it was more about his heart...and his soul.

She sucked on his tongue, pulling it into her mouth. Just that little bit of sensuality sent his hormones into overdrive. The need to take her, to be deep within her warmth and lose himself took over.

Rising up, he took her hips and started to enter her. She was swollen but still wet from her release. Soon, he was thrusting in and out of her, need riding on his heels. Each thrust sent him deeper within her, and he could feel the telltale signs of her growing arousal. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he continued to thrust. The headboard bounced against the wall. She came again. Watching her eyes go blind with pleasure as she bowed off the bed, pressing against him, pulling him further into her sex. He couldn't hold back any more. His orgasm washed over him as he gave into the pleasure and followed her into bliss.