Love Like You've Never Been Hurt (18 page)

He finished slicing the sweet potatoes and mixed a little pot of
kosher salt, paprika and cinnamon with a few other sprinkles of
spice. Emma came to stand behind him and leaned against his back. She
reached around and ran her hands across his stomach, then up over his
chest. As she ran them back down again she slipped a finger inside
the top of his jeans and his cock sprang to life hopefully. Whoa!
Where had that come from? After last night he’d decided that
any physical intimacy could wait. Wait until she felt more sure of
him. The rest of her fingers joined the first and brushed against the
tip of him, sending a wave of desire coursing through him. He quickly
turned around to face her. She leaned against him, pressing him back
against the sink as she looped her hands around the back of his neck
and pulled his head down, kissing him hungrily. He returned the kiss
eagerly, then her hand was there again, stroking his erection through
his jeans. Man, that felt good. Reluctantly he covered her hand with
his own and brought it up to his chest. Undeterred she rubbed her
hips up against him, her heat more enticing even than the stroke of
her hand had been. Patience. Control. He needed them both as he
lifted his head from that kiss and held her at arm’s length.

“Wow!” He met green eyes gazing up at him.

“You don’t like?” she asked.

“Oh my God, Em. I more than like,” he smiled. “I
think you felt just how much I like.”

She returned the smile and started to reach back to the front of
his pants. He caught her hand in his and brought it to his lips.
Kissing her wrist he asked, “It’s, well, I thought we
were going to take this more slowly. Wait until you’re sure?”

“I am sure.”

“But, last night...”

“Last night I was stupid. I was still a little bit scared,
but I’m not now. I’m over it and I want, I want... I want
you!” she finished. The desire in her eyes confirmed the truth
of her words.

“You know I want you too, Em,” he said quietly. He
sure didn’t want to rebuff her advances, but he didn’t
want to go faster than she was ready to. When he finally made love to
her, he wanted her to be absolutely certain that it was right for her
and he intended to make damn sure she would never forget it. “I
want you so much.” He closed his arms around her, pulling her
against him so his bulging pants could prove his point. “But
there’s no rush, Baby, whenever you’re ready.”

“Jack, I am ready. I want you to make love to me.”

Damn! How he’d hoped to hear those words and now here she
was saying them and he was the one holding back. Resisting the very
real temptation to give her what she said she wanted right there in
the kitchen, he lowered his head and kissed her, a demanding kiss
that could leave her in no doubt. A kiss that left her clinging to
him.

When he raised his head, he smiled and asked, “Will that do
as a down payment while we at least have dinner? I told you I would
cook for you and I am a man of my word.”

She was still breathing a little fast from the passion of that
kiss. “I suppose I can wait, but that down payment will be
accumulating interest until you satisfy me.”

Jack was a little surprised and a lot turned on by this new
seductive side she was displaying, but he wanted to be sure, wanted
her to be sure, that it wasn’t just bravado in an attempt to
please him. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m more than
prepared to pay in full. And you will be satisfied.” He kissed
her again, lightly this time. “Now, are you going to let me
make this dinner?”

She laughed, “Yes, is there anything I can do to speed
things along?”

He shook his head in amusement. “Patience, Miss Douglas. The
best things in life are worth waiting for.”

“Yes, but not for too long, Mr. Benson!”

They sat out front again to eat. “This is wonderful, Jack,”
said Emma as she bit into the burger he’d made for her. “You
may well give me a run for best chef around here. And these sweet
potato fries are incredible. You have to tell me the combination of
spices you used. I know there was some salt and cinnamon, but what
else?”

“You really think I’m going to tell you my secret?”
he laughed. “I shall never tell and that way you’ll have
to come to me whenever you want them.”

She laughed herself, liking the sound of that. “And this
burger,” she took another bite, “I think it may be the
best I’ve ever had!”

“I aim to please. That one’s easy though, it’s
really only about making sure you buy fresh Angus and having them
grind it when you buy.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, “I saw you shaking some secret
ingredient in there too, Mister!”

He grinned. “Don’t know what you mean!”

Emma was glad now that he’d insisted they eat instead of
moving straight to dessert as she had planned. She was determined
that tonight was the night. She was going to sleep with him, no more
running scared, but this was good. They had laughed and teased while
he cooked and the food really was wonderful.

“You look gorgeous in that dress, the green matches your
eyes.”

She smiled, pleased by the
compliment. She wasn’t about to tell him why she’d chosen
the cream colored halter neck dress with the little green swirls. The
back was open and the top tied around her neck – no bra! She
wasn’t going to repeat last night’s mistake and freak
herself out over something so silly as a bra strap. By wearing this
dress she’d sidestepped that issue completely. The full skirt
flowed as she moved and felt very feminine, so much so that when
she’d put it on earlier she’d felt emboldened and removed
her panties too. No bra, no panties; she’d never done that
before. She’d been acutely aware of it all evening, the fabric
against her bare skin, the fresh air between her legs. The sensations
were adding to her arousal and to her determination that this evening
would end with Jack in her bed.

No rush though, like he’d said. She’d enjoyed every
moment of his company. She was surprised by how powerful she felt,
knowing how much he wanted her, and she loved that he was restraining
himself, making sure it was right for her, that she really was ready.
That in itself told her how very wrong she’d been in her first
impression of him.

“How about dessert?”

She looked at him with a coy smile. “Are you ready for me
then?” She felt the tingling heat spread through her at the
hungry look that crossed his face.

“I was thinking of the food variety... for now.”

“OK then, spoilsport. What are we having?”

“Well, I don’t bake, but I do have something I think
you’ll like. He returned a few minutes later with two large
dishes. Sliced bananas and dainty little scoops of vanilla ice cream
were drizzled over with warm caramel sauce.

“Oh my. You can cook again.”

“I am truly honored.”

“You have no idea,” she laughed.

After dinner they walked along the beach, searching for pretty
pebbles, showing each other their finds. Jack looked so relaxed and
at ease, she reached up and kissed him. “Thank you for making
me dinner.”

“Thank you for letting me,” he smiled. He ran his
fingers across her bare back, making her shiver. “Are you
cold?”

It was heat not cold that ran through her. She really didn’t
want to wait any longer so she nodded and took him by the hand,
leading him back up the path to the house. Instead of heading back to
the kitchen, she held his hand tightly and led him straight up the
stairs. At the top he stopped her, so she held him close and kissed
him.

“No more excuses, Mr. Benson.” She put her arms around
him and slipped her hands in his back pockets to pull him against
her. He took out his keys and cell phone, placing them on the little
table that stood on the landing. “That’s better,”
she returned her hands, stroking his butt.

He returned the favor, cupping her cheeks in his hands pulling her
close as she rubbed up against him. He claimed her mouth with his in
one of those deep kisses that left her senseless. When she came up
for air she started leading him into her bedroom.

Jack stopped. Part of him still didn’t want to rush this
although that part was losing fast. “We can wait, Em,” he
said, the pounding of his heart and the straining in his jeans
rebelling against his words. That part of him sure didn’t want
to wait.

“Jack, I’ve waited long enough. I want you. Now.”

The way she emphasized that last word melted any hesitation he had
left, until he remembered. Dammit! “I want you too, Em, but we
can’t.”

She looked at him, ready to do some more convincing.

“I don’t have any protection.”

She looked confused for a moment, then realization dawned on her
face. “You mean condoms?”

“I mean condoms,” he repeated. How could it be such a
turn on to hear that word on her lips?

She met his eyes. “I’m on the pill.”

That surprised him. It must have shown because she explained, “I
had bad periods as a teenager and I’ve been on it ever since to
help with that.”

That made sense.

She hesitated, then added, “I was checked for nasty diseases
after Rob and there’s no way I’ve acquired any since
then.”

Jack’s mind raced. Was she really saying that she hadn’t
slept with a man since her marriage ended? And that they didn’t
need protection? In all his life he’d never had sex without a
condom. He preferred to control his own destiny. He’d never
wanted to risk having a woman come to him and tell him she was
pregnant with his child. He didn’t fear that with Emma.

“Well,” he said slowly, “I just had my annual
physical and I’m all clear, so...”

“So that settles it then!” She pulled him into the
bedroom and pushed him back against the door. Good God. She was
driving him crazy. She pressed the full length of her soft sweet body
up against him. Sandwiched between her and the door he swept her hair
away from her neck and placed slow open-mouthed kisses on her
collarbone. He was rewarded as a tremor rippled through her.
Encouraged he laid a trail of hot kisses up her neck to her ear.

“Easy, Tiger,” he murmured as her fingers tugged at
his shirt. She unbuttoned it and flicked his nipple with her tongue.
He ran his hands down her back and cupped her rounded ass, pulling
her against him, kneading her cheeks. Reluctantly he let go to help
her get rid of his shirt which she was trying to push off his
shoulders. Once the shirt was on the floor he brought both arms back
around her and held her close to his bare chest.

“Are you sure, Emma?” he murmured, hating himself for
asking, but having to anyway.

The desire in her eyes gave him all the answer he needed. In case
it hadn’t, her hands were now working on his belt buckle and
freeing him from his jeans. In a moment he stood before her in just
his boxers and he took great pleasure in the way her eyes widened at
the size of his desire. He held her close against him, running his
tongue along her bottom lip then thrusting inside her mouth,
exploring as she surrendered to him. As he kissed her, he circled her
nipples with his thumbs, her little moans reassuring him that she was
still with him, that this wasn’t what had frightened her last
night.

He couldn’t resist any longer and, aware that something
about this had shut her down before, he said, “One of us is
wearing way too many clothes.”

She giggled, “Well, perhaps you’d better get rid of
them then.”

Avoiding her top to start with, he reached down and stroked up her
legs, loving the feel of her breasts pushing up against him, her
whole body trembling under his touch. He brought his hands up the
outsides of her thighs to her hips – no panties. Oh man. He
stroked his hand across her stomach then let his fingers slowly walk
down into the damp curls that covered her. She bit into his shoulder
and let out a low moan as he stroked her.

“Please, Jack,” she whispered.

He took the hem of her skirt and lifted the whole dress up and
over her head. She seemed to flinch for a moment, but then stood
still, beautifully naked before him. He recalled the night she’d
stood like this in the cabin, only then she hadn’t known he was
there. Now, not only did she know, but she was begging him to make to
love to her. He lowered his head and took her nipple in his mouth,
circling it with his tongue. That brought her hands into his hair and
she cradled his head, as if to make sure he wouldn’t stop. He
did stop, but only long enough to transfer his attention to her other
breast. His hand returned to her inner thigh, working its way up in
soft strokes until again he found her heat. She was so wet for him.

“Please, Jack,” she murmured again.

At that he hooked his arm behind her knees and lifted her. She
wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bed. He
gently laid her down and moved out of reach as she touched the front
of his boxers.

“Patience,” he murmured. Taking each of her hands in
his, he raised them up above her head and held them there. “Trust
me?” he asked.

She nodded as he kissed her neck and returned to her breasts. He
let go of her hands and she left them on the pillow above her head as
he kissed his way down to her navel. She gave a little yelp as his
tongue explored there. He reached up and placed her hands back over
her head before continuing on his southward journey. He held her hips
as he trailed his tongue down over her stomach. She tensed and her
hands came down again as he kissed her inner thigh.

“Relax, Baby,” he soothed, but feeling her tension
mount he came back up to kiss her lips. As he felt her surrender to
the kiss and relax he asked, “Is this OK?”

She nodded, “You don’t have to do that though, if you
don’t want to.”

“You don’t like it?”

Her cheeks flushed. “I don’t know… I don’t
know what to do.”

He couldn’t believe it. “You mean, you’ve
never...?”