JACKED (3 page)

“Nope.”

“And you’re going to pay for everything?”

“Yes.”

“Can I pay you back when all is said and done?”

Well that was something he hadn’t expected. She wanted to pay him back? On a teacher’s salary? Lurid images of what his
preferred
payback might entail drifted into his mind. Savannah sitting on his lap in a negligee, asking how she might pay him back. Savannah sinking to her knees in front of him or Savannah first thing in the morning, stepping into the shower.

“Yes you can pay me back,” he managed. “If you insist.”

“I would
totally
insist.”

He coughed and took a swallow of his coffee. “Okay. I’ll keep a tab for you.”

A smile spread across her lips. Her eyes sparked with mischief. She leaned forward and whispered. “This is crazy.”

“It’s not crazy. You’re helping me and I’m helping you.”

“We’re going to do this tonight?”

He reached across the table and wrapped his hand around hers. She flinched and tried to tug it free at first. The look of caution returned to her eyes. He took the ring from his pocket and slipped it on her finger.

She looked down, her blue eyes wide with shock. “Jack,” she breathed. “That’s beautiful.”

The elderly couple at the next table murmured some words of surprise. He glanced over to find them watching and smiling.

He turned back to Savannah. “Whenever you’re ready. Judge Walton is waiting in the presidential suite with his assistant.”

“Okay,” she said softly. “I’m ready.”

The fire crackled in the grate, the flames were mesmerizing. She turned to look at him sprawling across the other half of the bed. He was fast asleep and it allowed her to admire his handsome profile. That morning she’d woken in the cottage, alone. Tonight she was sleeping in a luxurious hotel room next to Jack.

Married.

To Jack.

He’d even given her a ring. With a diamond.

No one stood up for her. Not ever. Not once in her life. Not until Jack. Why, she wasn’t sure. If she could, just once, get her bearings around him she could try, just try to tell him how much it meant to her.

Finally she had a chance to do something in return, help him with this new project. She imagined the time they’d spend together and imagined the bond they’d have.

He slept in his jeans and boots as if the whole five minute ceremony with the judge took everything from him. His body spanned the entire length of the bed with his boots hanging over the edge. She smiled at him aware of the rush of warmth in her chest. Sometimes he intimidated her, but seeing him fast asleep just a few inches away erased all that angst and replaced it with a sweet yearning. He stirred and growled, opening one eye and then the other. His gaze was deliberately menacing, but the curve of his lips gave him away.

“Why are you sleeping in my bed?” she scolded softly. “Pretty sure that’s sexual harassment.”

He lifted on his elbow, his wavy hair mussed and his lids hooded. “There was a reason I asked the judge to add the
obey
part to your vow.”

She smiled. When they returned to the room, after the hasty and awkward wedding ceremony, she’d changed into a nightgown and he’d come to her room and offered to build her a fire. The whole evening had been a parade of crazy and unlikely events, but if it ended with him kindling a fire in her bedroom it was all worth it.

She gave his shoulder a gentle push. “What does that mean anyway?
Obey
?”

“Darling, if you don’t know the meaning of that word, that would explain a lot.”

“I do, but I want you to clarify.”

“It means you don’t sass your husband.”

She waited for him to add something to that, something about the two of them being married and living as husband and wife. It had been on the forefront of her mind all night, if he might actually reach out for her.

“Why are you doing this for me, Jack?”

He said nothing for a moment. Finally he spoke. “Most of the people who board my planes are fine, upstanding people, but just like anywhere, there’s the asshole, and I don’t want
that
guy harassing the woman I care about.”

She knew he’d been furious anytime a passenger gave his crew a bad time. Privately his employees called him names like
Ultimate Threat Marshall,
it was a name they borrowed from a famous MMA fighter who liked to pick up his opponents and toss them across the ring. Not that Jack ever went after anyone, but when he was angered, he was pure menace. The passengers who got black-listed were all happy to get off that easily.

His words made her feel cared for, but still she couldn’t imagine how they got to this point. Married!

“You’re not mixed up because of the altitude are you,” she teased. “A few days from now you’ll come to your senses and our quickie marriage will get a quickie divorce. In Vegas or something.”

His reaction was immediate and he was up, across the bed and crouched over her in an instant.

“You think I’m not sincere?” His voice was soft.

“No, that’s not what I meant,” she stammered. “I just wondered. What’s going to happen?”

He drew his finger down her jaw. Her heartbeat thundered. Her breathing grew faster as adrenalin put every nerve on high alert.

“We’re going to stay here for the week. Then we’re flying home and you’re registering for your last class and starting school after the New Year.”

“So this is like…a honeymoon?”

He tilted his head and studied her, his brow furrowing. “Why do you ask? Are you planning on seducing me?”

She gave a breathless laugh. “Not this minute. But what if I wanted to?”

“Why Savannah, this is so unexpected,” he drawled. “I don’t know what to say.”

His eyes were soft and the hint of a smile tugged the corner of his lips. Heat drifted down her spine and she wanted to grab his shirt and pull him down for a kiss.

Shoving his shoulder, she laughed. “Quit teasing me.”

He lowered, pausing a fraction of an inch from her lips. “I’m going to be teasing you a lot, Mrs. Marshall.”

Her breath stalled and she curled her hands into fists to keep from reaching for him. She waited but he didn’t come any closer. Instead he rose and crossed the room to the fireplace. He added some firewood and stirred the coals.

“In the morning I’m going to take you hiking to a cabin. It’s beautiful there. The land is adjacent to the hotel and I want to put a bid on it,” he said. “It would be a good investment.”

Real estate. He wanted to talk about real estate on his wedding night. She gritted her teeth at his matter-of-fact tone. He played a game she didn’t understand, pulling her close then nudging her away. He wanted to tease her? Well two could play that game. She’d tease him twice as much – not that she knew exactly how to do that. Her only experience consisted of a few sloppy kisses with boys from school. Not men. When Jack had pushed her against the wall and given her a hard, hot kiss, she’d had a small taste of the vast difference.

Turning her back to him, she closed her eyes. She wanted to taste his seductive kiss again, wanted to fly a little closer to the flame. What would it be like to give herself completely to him? What would it be like if he looked upon her with something more than sympathy? She pushed the painful yearning aside and soon she fell asleep.

Jack grinned as he listened to Savannah grumble. They’d spent the morning shopping for hiking boots and warm weather clothing, enjoyed lunch in town and then set out for the cabin. On foot. His wife of eighteen hours was not a fan of hiking.

The path to the cabin wound along a stream and had been cleared just for this hike. He’d arranged that with the hotel grounds keepers. The hotel staff also stocked the cabin so it would be ready for them. Fire wood, provisions, everything they might need for a three or four night stay. He’d also had the hotel deliver their luggage.

“This is beautiful, Savannah. How can you not love this?”

“Jackson Hole is my favorite place in the world. But just because it’s beautiful doesn’t mean I want to hike through it.”

She trudged along the path, just a few steps behind her, his gaze fixed on the curve of her ass. How he’d kept from tearing off her gown last night and sinking into her was beyond him. She’d flirted with him and teased him not even trying for first base. He knew if he kissed her all hell would break loose and what he needed was to wait till they were at the cabin. Then he’d have her all to himself. No hotel staff. No cell phone. Nothing. Just the two of them.

“What’s not to love about hiking?”

“Two words, Jack,” she said over her shoulder. “Bear. Spray.”

When they’d gone to the outfitters in Jackson, he’d purchased several cans of bear spray and the look on her face was pure panic. It was just a precaution. Early November was past there bedtime.

“I’ll protect you, sweetheart,” he said.

She turned to face him. The look of irritation was gone from her eyes and she looked at him with unrestrained gratitude.

“Jack, that’s
sweet
.” A smile spread over her face, lighting her eyes, making him want to pull her close. Maybe even get to first base. But the sun was sinking in the west and he wanted to reach the cabin.

He swatted her ass. “You say that like it’s a surprise. I can be sweet, gentlemanly. Come on, keep moving.”

She muttered something under their breath and continued on the path. They walked another half hour along a ridge and below them the Snake River wound its way past, mostly frozen over, but with some parts still moving swiftly. A herd of moose were grazing near the water.

They stopped to watch.

“You’re right, it
is
pretty here,” she said softly. “I love the hotel too. I woke up early this morning and read about it on my laptop. There was an actress, Dorothy Whitson-Franklin, or Franklin-Whitson, I’m not sure. She starred in some of the early silent movies. She lived at the hotel in the late forties and early fifties. A recluse, she never left her apartment on the top floor.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I found out something else too. The architect who built the Montgomery, Hilmar…he had a German last name. He built a hotel in Aspen.”

“Really?” He tried to picture where the hotel might be located. It would be worth looking at it to see if it might be a good investment. To own another hotel just like the Montgomery would lend a sense of history and permanence to the company.

“Where did you find that?” he asked.

She shrugged a shoulder and squinted at him. He knew immediately she was trying to suppress a smile and the next thing coming out of her mouth was going to be a smart-assed comment.

Her pretty eyes sparked with amusement. “There’s this thing on the computer. It’s called google.”

“Thank you, Savannah.”

“Sure, Jack. Anytime.”

Turning, she began trudging back up the path. He eyed her ass but resisted the urge to smack it again.

The cabin sat on the ridge and overlooked the valley below. Smoke came from the chimney. Glowing lanterns in the window made the cabin look inviting in the waning sunlight.

They climbed the porch steps and paused at the door.

She looked up at him, pushing her hood back, letting it fall. “Shouldn’t you carry me across?”

“I should.” He opened the door and lifted her in his arms.

She yelped. “I didn’t think you’d really do that. I’m heavy.”

“You’re nothing. I could have carried you all the way from the hotel. You’re not heavy. You’re perfect.”

He narrowed his eyes to emphasize his meaning. She
was
perfect. Sweet, sexy with curves in just the right places. He needed to work hard to keep his self-control in check. Especially now that they were all alone. He carried her across the threshold, setting her down inside. With his boot he slammed the door behind him.

The stone cabin was a single room but it was spacious. A fire place took up one corner, the fire blazing cheerfully. Their suitcases sat on the chest of drawers on the far side. A king sized bed dominated the room and off to the side was a galley kitchen.

He watched her look around and saw the worry seep into her eyes. Slipping out of her coat she bit her lip. She remained silent. Slowly she took off her boots and when he uncorked a bottle of wine and poured her a glass, she took it.

He tapped his glass against hers, and she spoke. “What are we drinking to?”

“What do you want to drink to?”

She swallowed. “First base?”

With a smile he nodded. “Is this part of your seduction? Talking about bases.”

“Pretty smooth, don’t you think?”

He was overcome with something more than just the desire to claim her. He wanted to slide the bolt across the cabin door and forget everything for a good long while. Forget about work, hotels, poorly behaved passengers and Weston. The next few weeks might be a massive shit-storm and he wanted to shield her from what he alone had created.

She was beautiful, smart and made him smile. He craved her body, wanted to seduce her, but he wanted more.

He took a swallow of wine, and then took her glass from her, setting it aside. “Okay, I’m ready for first base. Just promise to be gentle.”

She snorted. “Why are you such a-”

“Quit talking. Show me this first base.”

Suddenly she had her arms looped around his neck and her lips were on his. Kissing him. His response roared to life, like some sort of savage beast. Her soft lips on his made lust claw at him. She rose on her tiptoes and he battled the urge to back her to the bed and rip her clothes off. When she stroked his lips with the tip of her tongue he groaned.

He hadn’t expected
her
to pounce on
him.
Wrapping her hair around his hand, he angled to deepen this kiss. His tongue tangled with hers. When she was anywhere near him, his cock was always in a state of semi-arousal. Her kiss made him rock hard. He needed her naked. Needed to sink into her.

Breaking the kiss she whispered. “That’s the idea. I
knew
you could do it.”

“You’re such a good teacher,” he said, his voice a rough rasp. “Maybe you can show me where babies come from.”

She buried her face against his neck and laughed, her shoulders shook. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Lifting her head, she gazed down at him in surprise. He walked her to the bed.

She glanced at the bed directly behind her. “Where babies come from…”

Color rose along her neck and spread across her skin. The image of her tiny and perfectly feminine form swollen with his child gripped him. She always reduced his needs to the most primitive.

Before he knew her, he never even wanted kids, and had taken great pains to avoid having them, but something about Savannah made him imagine, hard, unprotected sex. He wanted her in the most primal way a man wanted a woman. He wanted her in his bed, naked and vulnerable. He wanted her bearing his child and bound to him. Completely. Irrevocably.

“This is for show right. Even if we have wild sex, which by the way, I would like. Very much. You’re just going to do this little sympathy-marriage-thing a few months and then we get an annulment and you’ll have scored some points somewhere.”

“Think I’d do that to you?”

“I didn’t believe it at first but even your mother told me you don’t do commitment.”

He had to admit he wasn’t one for long-term relationships. Take a woman away for a weekend and say goodbye when he dropped her off Sunday afternoon. “Not until now.”

“Anyway, I’m fine with it. I’ve never had a relationship because there was never anyone who would stand up to my dad. So you’ve already got some points there. Don’t you?”

Points? She thought this was about scoring points? She wriggled free of his grasp. He put her down and forced himself to release her.

Stepping into the bathroom she turned. “I’m going to get out of my jeans. They’re wet from the snow and I’m freezing.”

Little liar. She was probably trying to hide from him. The cabin only had one room and there weren’t many places to get away. He stalked across the room.

She closed the door partway. “You should get out of your clothes too.”

“Should I?”

“If you want me to tell you where babies come from.”

She shut the door and a moment later he heard the water start. He stared at the closed door in disbelief. Had shy, awkward Savannah just invited him to take a shower with her? Offered to tell him where babies come from? How had the evening gotten away from him so quickly?

Clearly she didn’t think he’d take her up on her offer. A jolt of lust hit him and he pulled his sweater over his head, tossing it aside. He took off his boots and shed his jeans. He locked the front door, bolted it, and drained his wine.

When he stepped inside the bathroom, he deliberately shut the door with extra force and the slam echoed in the bathroom. Wearing only a pair of boxers he waited just outside the shower door. It opened a few inches.

“Ohmigod, Jack.”

He forced himself to keep his gaze fixed on hers and held up his hands in mock surrender. “This is some kind of seduction. I can’t really help myself. I’m powerless.”

“We’re going to shower together?” she asked softly.

“It was your idea.”

“Okay…” Her gaze drifted down his body. “You have to take those off.”

He pulled the door open and stepped in, keeping out of the stream of water. “You want them off. You take them off. That’s the way it goes.”

Steam swirled around them, but he could still make out the look of astonishment on her face.

“Okay…”

But she didn’t move. Instead, she stood still, the only movement was a small nervous dart of her eyes across his chest.

“Go on,” he said. “Next time I’ll undress you.”

She looped her fingers in his waistband and tugged his boxers down, lowering as she went. When she rose, she handed them to him. He took them from her noting her stricken expression.

“Holy shit,” she whispered. “The pictures girls showed me in my sorority didn’t look like that.”

“No?”

She shook her head.

He smiled and dipped down to whisper in her ear. “Want a picture of me?”

“Nasty thing, you,” she giggled and smacked his shoulder.

“You have no idea.”

He cradled her face, kissed her lips, softly, gently. She looped her arms around him. Backing her into the stream of water, he deepened the kiss, stroking the seam of her lips with his tongue. She parted her lips and he growled his approval. Everything about her suggested her sweet submissiveness.

Water cascaded over them, drenching them, and he let his hand slide down her wet skin to cup her breast. Savannah was perfect, her breast filling his hand and making his cock twitch. She giggled.

“I felt that,” she whispered.

His cock was pressed against her stomach. She felt incredible in his arms but he wanted more and he didn’t want to wait. He lowered to suck her nipple. She gasped, threaded her fingers through his hair. Her breathing grew shallow. She moaned softly.

He licked her taut nipple and cupped her ass, squeezing it. Lowering to his knees, he brushed his mouth over her stomach and lower.

“I’m going to kiss you everywhere, baby.”

With a small nudge, he coaxed her back to the wall and then lifted her leg over his shoulder.

“I don’t know about this, Jack.”

He growled softly and licked the seam of her pussy, tracing a slow wicked line with the tip of his tongue. She was swollen, slick with desire and when he brushed across her clit she dug her fingers into his shoulder. Heaven. Her taste, her scent, her response, all of it was fucking addictive. He’d definitely be giving her more of this.

“Please,” she breathed. “I can’t…”

Her words faded and she began making soft sounds, small mewling cries each time he licked her. She trembled and he looped his arm around her hips to hold her. No other man had ever kissed her sweet pussy. He was her first. Her last. And that filled him with primitive satisfaction.

Soon her cries grew louder and desperate. He pressed his finger into her and groaned. So fucking tight. He could feel her innocence. He was going to claim that too. Gently he stroked her and sucked her clit between his lips. She arched and wailed as she came. He lapped her sweet nectar, feasting as she shuddered. His sweet little untouched bride.