Pieces of Broken Time (25 page)

The grin on Jennifer’s face made him pause, and the image of her and Matt crept through his mind. It took a tremendous amount of restraint not to scowl.

Don’t go there, Connor.

“Hungry?” Blake asked, watching her lithe movement with narrowed eyes.

She’s even walking better.

“Yes. What are we having?”

“I’m grilling some steaks.” He pointed at the papers she’d left on the coffee table. “What are those?”

“The contract I signed.”

“Oh.”

“Need any help?”

“Just the plates and stuff. The steaks are done.”

They had each fixed a plate and settled at the table before Blake gave in to his curiosity.

“Tell me about the contract.”

Jennifer finished chewing and took a big gulp of her soda. “Well, before I do that, let me tell you about my house. Officer Cortez called. The fingerprints they found matched some from break-ins in the area. They caught the guy, so he said it should be safe for me to go home, and Mr. Smith has taken care of the window and the locks.”

He couldn’t seem to swallow the big lump in his throat. “What are your plans?”

“I’m going to go back tonight so I can clean up and pack some of my things.”

I knew this was too good to be true.

His gut twisted with dread. “Then what?”

“The contract demands I spend time with the client’s models, and I have to find a place in the city during the week so I don’t have to drive back and forth.”

He didn’t even try to hide his dismay.

Chapter 21

“What?” he asked, clenching his teeth until his jaw shook. He’d heard her, but couldn’t process the ludicrous idea.

“I have to find a place in LA before the week is over.”

And just like that, Jennifer was walking out of his life.

Suddenly, the steak tasted like plastic, and he found it difficult to swallow the darn thing. With disgust, he dropped the fork and knife, and his appetite went AWOL on him. All he could do was stare at her, knowing that he had failed on so many levels. He’d driven her to leave, and now she was moving away. Who knew if Pretty Boy would be warming her bed at night?

Damn it!

Jennifer’s hand wound up on top of his that was clenched on the table. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m not hungry anymore.” He stood up and gathered his plate. Looking at the rare meat, he threw the uneaten scrap to Drew, who gobbled the thick piece with gusto.

“Where are you going?”

“To my room.”

Blake grabbed the dusty tequila bottle from the counter on his way to his room. He pivoted while unscrewing the lid, but Jennifer had followed him and closed her fingers around the bottle, trying to pry it away from his grasp.

“What are you doing?” He flared his nostrils and tugged the glass jug back in his direction.

“You’re not going to drink. You will tell me what’s going on. Just remember the last time you turned to alcohol.”

I wish I could.

“Stop telling me what to do! You’re going to leave, and I’m going to do what I damn well please.”

Jennifer took a step back, pulling the bottle from him. “Where is this coming from, Blake? You can talk to me.”

“What do you want me to say? That I’m fucking jealous? That I don’t want you to go? C’mon, Jennifer, I know damn well you’re going to do what you want, no matter what I say.” He gritted his teeth. This talking shit was not his style.

I’m scared. Can’t you tell? I’m scared shitless of losing you, of the things I can’t control.

A smile graced her lips, which only added to his aggravation. “I can’t believe you’re jealous of Matt,” she whispered.

Blake groaned with exasperation and fled to his room, but Jennifer trailed right behind him.

And now you’re laughing at me. Great!

She placed the tequila on top of the nightstand, walked up to him and placed her palms on his chest.

“I think this is what we both need.”

She lifted her mouth to his and caressed his lips.

Confusion battled with desire, and he was powerless to stop himself from the deluge of warmth she elicited. He returned her kiss with fervor and applied pressure on her back to draw her closer.

Jennifer closed her eyes.

Tremors rocked him as her body rubbed against his, prepping him for action.

“I like being close to you.” The words came out rough, sounding shaken.

“Me, too, Blake. Me, too.” Her voice was low and seductive, and she threaded her fingers through his hair while his tongue pushed its way into her parted lips. The warmth of her mouth was inviting.

Mixed with her pleasing feminine scent, his senses were caught in a whirlwind of desire.

Jennifer circled her tongue in his mouth, stroking the insides.

He pressed her body closer to his. Tracing his hand on her thighs, he worked its way up to the curve of her body. He was aching for her.

“I want . . . to . . .” She moaned softly and gasped. “. . . ah, Blake . . . I want to make love to you.” Jennifer clenched her hand tighter in his hair while she arched her body harder into his.

Blake stiffened. There was nothing more he would rather do at this moment than to make her his.

Can I risk it? Should I?

He couldn’t very well consummate their love fully clothed. This was Jennifer, not some woman that he could just jerk around. He wanted to pleasure her in every way possible, but the thought of revealing his disfigured body to her made him want to run and hide.

She deserves better than me.

He pushed her away and raked his fingers through his hair then turned away to hide his frustration.

“No. Don’t do that! Don’t pull away from me.” She was still breathless from their kisses.

“There’s nothing else I would rather do . . .” His voice sounded pained and defeated, and pathetic. He faced her. “I want it more than anything in this world, but I—” He couldn’t say the words.

“I don’t understand.” Jennifer furrowed her brows and confusion marred her beautiful face. He longed to smooth the lines away.

“I’m not ready to show . . .” He gestured to his body. “I can’t.”

 
“I won’t pretend it doesn’t exist, but it’s not what makes you special, Blake.” She jabbed at his chest. “The beating heart underneath is what’s important to me. Your scars mean one thing to me, that you’re a fighter. Can you trust me enough to share this moment with me?”

The T word was overrated, but the ache between his legs was dictating. If he threw caution to the wind just this once, he’d have the chance to hold the woman he’d loved for so long and a memory to last him a lifetime.

As if sensing the inner battle raging within him, Jennifer rubbed his back with her palm. Even with the layer of clothing that separated them, he felt her warmth.

“We go nice and slow.” The sincerity in her voice encouraged him to hope.

Giving in to his intense need to take a part of her with him, Blake carried her to his bed and ignored the warning signals in his head.

“Promise me you’ll stop me if you can’t bear it. I’ll understand.” His voice was barely more than a whisper. He was still unsure about the whole situation, but his self-control was hanging by a thread.

Blake dimmed the lights low, leaving nothing more than a soft glow of Jennifer’s silhouette. He could still see her face in the darkened room, but the less she saw of him, the better off she was.

He walked to the console that housed his CD player, and flicked the power on. “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” filled the room.

He sighed slowly, still unsure, and while the battle raged within him, Blake eased his body next to Jennifer’s. Tracing his fingertips along the softness of her cheek, he closed his mouth on hers with urgency this time, trying not to think of the outcome.

Jennifer returned his kisses with an enthusiasm that left him believing—in himself, in her, in the possibility of them.

Blake broke the kiss and moved his mouth down her jawline, caressing her neck with his tongue.

She arched her body in response, meeting his languid caress of her skin. She dug her fingers into the small of his back, gently scraping his skin with her fingernails. The sensation of her touch, coupled with the inviting sound of her whimpers, amplified his senses into a spiraling wave of lust.

Blake intensified his tongue’s teasing on her skin, intent on keeping her moaning with pleasure.

Jennifer wrapped her legs around his hips the moment he lowered himself on top, to meld their bodies together.

“I want to see you. All of you.”

Jennifer nodded, and he slid her tank top over her head, exposing a delicate pink bra edged with black lace.

“Can you be any more perfect?” With trembling hands, he proceeded to strip her jeans and reveal a matching bikini that showed off her breathtaking curves. Blake devoured her almost naked figure, running his gaze from her breasts down to the arch of her waistline. He unstrapped her bra, displaying a pair of supple breasts that took his breath away. A primal moan slipped between his lips as he lowered his mouth and caressed her nipple with his tongue.

The surge of pleasure manifested from Jennifer’s response when she curled underneath him, moaning in ecstasy. He let his tongue glide down her body, toward her belly button, while he held her waist with both hands and heaved his body onto hers. He felt her respond to his movement when she curved upward.

Jennifer tugged on his shirt. “Your clothes are in the way.”

Fueled by lust, he wasted no time discarding his shirt and tossing it on the floor and stood before her with a need he’d been suppressing for a long time.

The strong contour of his half-naked body took Jennifer’s breath away. She pushed to a sitting position and moved to the edge of the bed. His skin glistened with sweat in the glow of the modest light he had left for them.

Blake watched her while she traced her fingers from his jawline to his collarbone down to his chest muscles, where her hand rested. A tremor shook her body at the sight of him. Fear of scaring him away as she studied every dip and plane of his body guided her as she pounced into action before he regretted letting her in. She dragged her fingers across the expanse of his upper torso, and rested her eyes on the tattoo at the center of his broad chest.

“What is this?” She traced one finger along the shape of the body art.

“It’s Trent’s dog tag,” he whispered.

“Why are you wearing his name?”

“It is a tribute to a brave man and a friend.” His gaze was unwavering, so intense that she shuddered. When she didn’t say a word, his voice was filled with uncertainty. “Am I disgusting you?”

Jennifer shook her head and spoke in a firm voice. “I love everything about you. This . . .” She traced a finger on the raised skin. “Is what makes you you. I would never ask for anything more.” She lowered her mouth to kiss each scar, feeling his breath hitching with every touch of her lips.

He cupped her face and planted a kiss on her lips. “I want to be perfect for you.”

“You are.” She watched him closely as she pulled his jeans down to expose his boxers. She lowered her eyes to see the rest of him. Indeed, he had been wounded physically and was still dealing with the emotional aftermath. Her heart ached for him, but he was just as beautiful as she thought he would be. “You are perfect to me.”

“Not as perfect as you are.” Blake slid down on the bed next to her.

Emboldened, Jennifer pulled his boxers down. She settled on top of him and let her breasts rub against his skin as she inched down his body until she was face-to-face with his full arousal. Her breath quickened as she wrapped her mouth around the tip.

Blake gasped. “Sweet baby girl.” He inched his hips upward.

She gently scraped her teeth against the skin of his erection. He grabbed a handful of her hair, and she took him deeper.

“I want to be inside you when I go.”

She pulled away but not before she gave him a hard suck, unable to stop the bold smile when she heard him hiss in pleasure. “I’m all yours. You can do whatever you want.”