Primal Force (20 page)

“Jori.” She backed up a step as he took one toward her. “It's over.” He took another step. This time she didn't retreat. “You're safe. It's over.”

“Don't think I'm feeling sorry for myself. I'm just so damn angry!” She gasped in a breath of icy air as she stared up at him. “I don't know what to do with all the anger.”

“Get even.” He said it calmly as he reached out and caught a strand of her hair flailing in the wind. He brought it back to tuck behind her ear but it wouldn't stay. Poor ear. It was red with wind and cold. He covered it with his big palm, fingers diving into the hair behind to cradle her head. He didn't know about a woman's pain. Or the death of a lover's dream. But he did know about evening the score. That had been his job all his life, protecting the innocent and getting justice for victims. He was a great avenger.

She still stared at him, but something was kindling behind her eyes. Hope.

“How?”

“We can begin by finding out what really happened the night Rogers died.”

“Can you do that?”

“I can.” The only way he knew how to seal that promise didn't have words to go with it. He brought her in so that he could cradle her head against his chest. “I'd really like a chance to ask Erin Foster a few questions.”

She didn't fight him as he held her close. She was shivering in his arms so he tightened his hold, wanting to give her as much of his body's surface heat as possible. If it was too much, she didn't protest.

“What kind of questions?”

“Erin's affidavit says that Rogers left you and went to see her. You thought she was a little too flirtatious for an ex. Maybe that's what they both wanted you to think. That she was jealous. You said she was always hanging around, trying to get his attention, drag him away on some pretext. Maybe he was her dealer. Or perhaps they were dealing together.”

“I never thought.” Jori lifted her head and looked at him. “But Erin's married to Luke Tice now.”

“Mr. Clean. I wonder. It certainly ties things up in a neat bow.”

He watched the scenario play out behind her bright gaze until the pieces began to lock together in a new design. “You want to meet Erin? I know how to make that happen.”

“I thought you weren't in touch with your former friends.”

“I'm not. But I have an invitation to the biggest social event in northwest Arkansas this weekend. It's happening Saturday in Eureka Springs.”

“What's that?”

“My brother's wedding. I told my parents not to expect me.” Her expression sobered. “I didn't want to spoil it with my presence.” She told him briefly about the call from Erin a week earlier. “But now I see why my presence might make certain people uncomfortable for a very different reason. I'd be a reminder of all the lies they told.”

Law was moving ahead with different calculations. He knew that if they were about to tangle with the Tices, there would be consequences. “Are you sure about this? You've moved on in your life. Nothing they did or are doing can hurt you anymore.”

Jori nodded, letting the heat and strength of him shear into and through her fears, making her feel stronger than she had in a long time. She knew not to rely on this feeling between them to last. The one that said they had crossed some barrier between a one-night stand and friends. They had a mutual interest. When that was gone, he might be, too. But for now, when she needed him the most, Law was here smiling down at her. And it was like standing in a spotlight. “Let's do this.”

Law saw again the glimmer of admiration and awe that had been on Jori's face after he chased down Hoodie this morning. It felt so good his chest expanded in determination. He wanted to be every single thing he saw reflected in her gaze. He wanted to be that guy. He wanted to be her hero.

Law kissed her with a fierce determination to stamp out, for the moment, every other thought in her head but him. He was pretty sure he was succeeding when he felt her sigh into his mouth and then her tongue slide forward to tangle with his. He could feel hands creeping up under his shirt onto his back, exposing his lower spine to the chill of the wind. Everywhere else in his body the heavy thick tide of desire was rolling through, pumping him up in every vital spot.

When they finally paused to breathe he asked, “What was your college major?”

“Criminal justice.” She slid a hand down into the back of his pants and gripped a naked butt cheek. “I wanted to be an attorney. Do something for the greater good.”

He hissed in a breath as she slid that hand forward. “And now?”

She smiled against his warm mouth. “I just want to be bad.”

He could definitely help with that.

For the first time in what felt like forever, he had hope, and that scared the hell out of him. But he was going to make it right for her. Because he could.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I'll stand here with you all night if that's what you need, Jori. But my balls are turning blue. Can we take this indoors?”

*   *   *

“Just so you know. There've been no other women. Since you.”

Jori frowned at him. They were back in the cabin, in that moment between decision and deed. “You don't need to say things. Just don't lie to me.”

“I'm not lying.” The look on her face made him blush. “I tried. Okay? I picked up a woman but—it didn't feel right.”

Jori just folded her arms and waited.

Law shook his head. ‘Try to tell the truth.” He should have kept his big mouth shut.

He went toward the fireplace. He'd meant to light it when they came in but his stump was hurting something fierce. He'd had to take the prosthesis off. Now he wanted to set the mood.

The wood was all laid out. He often preferred a real fire to the more efficient central heating. All he had to do was reach down and get the electronic starter. He shifted both crutches into one hand and balanced on one leg as he bent down.

Sam came running. She saw what he was reaching for and swooped in and scooped it up and turned to him, tail-wagging proud.

Law felt his face go red a second time as he snatched the starter. “I can light my own damn fire without help!”

“Sam! Come here, girl.” Jori clapped her hands. Sam's tail drooped as she turned toward the female.

Jori bent down and gave the dog some long heavy strokes that began at her head and reached all the way to her tail. It was a comfort rub, much as Sam and her littler mates would have gotten from their mother's tongue. “Good girl, Sam. You're such a good doggy. Yes you are.” Over the top of Sam's body she aimed an arched gaze at Law. “A fire is a nice idea. But won't we be spending the evening under the covers?”

Law had been leaning against the mantel, willing the kindling to catch fire. He looked up and caught her gaze. It was he who combusted. Grinning, he reached down and grabbed the pail of sand he kept for emergencies. In about ten seconds, the kindling was out.

When he looked up, Jori was gone. But there was a vest lying on the floor that led to the bedroom on the main floor. He grinned. Thank goodness he wasn't going to have to haul himself up the spiral staircase again.

She was already under the covers when he got there. He could see the straps of her bra. Her boots and jeans were on the floor. Shirt? He didn't give a flying flip where it was. It was off her.

He shucked his Henley and reached for his waistband.

“Wait.” He looked up.

She was watching him very intently. “You still go commando?”

He froze. What was the right answer? Hell, he couldn't change it now. “Yeah.”

A very naughty smile spread very slowly across her mouth. “Then I want to do that.”

He grinned like a man who'd hit the jackpot. “Oh, hell yeah.”

He dropped the crutches and dived for the bed.

Jori came up on her knees to meet him in the middle.

He didn't kiss like other men. There was no smooth seduction. No playful interest. No hint of weighing this kiss against the memory of many others. There was something fierce and hungry in Law's kisses. It was like having the front seat on the Batman roller coaster. The overpowering sensation was that of being swept up by a primal force and taken for a ride.

That didn't mean he didn't care about arousing her. He did that, with every urgent stroke of his tongue. In the way he fit and refit their mouths together as if they were a puzzle he was trying to work out.

He drew in a breath, sucking in her lower lip as his tongue swept into the canyon behind the fullness. She, in turn, bit his upper lip, tiny little nibbles that sent shivers through the powerful heavy body under her hands. They weren't movie lovers, trying for the right angle, the perfect cinematic kiss. They were raw and hurried, a little uncoordinated. They were bumping noses and swirling tongues as they each vied to get enough of the other.

Finally, both breathless, they pulled back for a second of air. Jori opened her eyes first. His were still closed. He kissed with his eyes closed! That moment of knowledge broke her heart. He looked beautiful. Gorgeously male. His mouth glistening with the succulent loving of her own. And she knew, with certainty, that he could break her heart if she weren't very careful, and very smart.

Her stunned realization lasted only a fraction of a second. Then his burning gold-black eyes blazed blowtorch-hot on her face.

Afraid to think about her feelings, she kissed him hard and reached for his waistband.

She heard him groan in relief as his erection was freed. She looked down between them. She'd seen him before. But this time was different. She could barely breathe. He was so hard. Gorgeous, proud, and all hers.

“Condom. Left pocket.” Law wasn't a talker. He just went with the basics. He pulled her in, palmed her butt to haul her closer, and returned to kissing her like his life depended on it.

His hands were at her back, releasing her bra, and then he was dragging it off the ends of her fingers. He stared at her so long she began to shiver. Then he looked up at her and the things most men say were all in his eyes. She didn't need the sound. And then he was on her, pushing her back onto the bedding, pushing his knee between hers as he balanced himself over her on his hands.

He paused. “I'm going to need a little help here.”

“With what?”

“Your panties.”

Jori looked down her body and then up into his face just inches from hers. “Use your teeth.”

She didn't think his gaze could get any hotter or his breath harsher. But every muscle in his body flexed as he hovered above her and then he was back crawling on hands and knee down the bed, using his tongue to leave a long wet trail down the middle of her body.

He took her waistband in his teeth and pulled. It was the sexiest sight she'd ever seen. But his actions didn't get the job done. He released the waist and looked down. “Spread your legs. Wider. A little more.”

He dipped his head and grabbed the seat of her panties in his teeth. He jerked it to one side and then again. The third time she heard something rip. And then she forgot about the panties. His tongue, hot and wet, was sliding up into her folds. Her eyes fell shut then opened again as she gasped out his name.

After that she pretty much forgot to do anything but breathe. He was in charge. Without laying a finger on her he pushed and pulled, teased and nibbled, surged and retreated until she was dancing, hips off the bed, on the tip of his tongue. She came so hard it almost hurt. She was gasping and crying, sipping hiccupy breaths of air as she rode his mouth through the climax.

As soon as Law felt the last hard ripple flow over his tongue, he surged back up the bed, gliding every hard inch of his torso over her body. The room was chilly but her skin was hot. Almost as hot was he was. He reached for a condom and held it up. “My turn.”

He didn't ask for her help. He slipped into it faster than she could have managed and then he scooped her up and flipped them both over. He set her upright, astride his lap and then let go.

For a moment Jori felt self-conscious. She had been on top before but the lights were out. Not now. She could see every gorgeously muscled inch of him. His mouth glistened with her essence. His belly rose and fell like a bellows. The dark smoke of hair that arrowed from his groin out over the sculpted mesas of his chest glistened, too, where he'd rubbed himself over her on his path up her body.

He stacked one hand and then the other behind his head. He looked perfectly at ease. Except for the hard demanding pressure surging between her thighs. And the hot look in his dark eyes. He was exerting all his will, waiting on her decision of how to proceed.

She wanted this as much as he did. She needed to own that for both their sakes.

She leaned forward, one hand pressed to his chest, and lifted her hips up a few inches. She watched his eyes widen and then stretch more as she reached back between her spread thighs and gripped him. He was full and hard, a pulsing, alive thing in her fist. Smiling into his eyes, she rolled her hips, just grazing his tip. She watched him draw a quick breath between parted lips and smiled. Oh yes, two could play this game.

She rolled her hips in the opposite direction, sinking down a little this time so that he moved into her entrance. His eyes were black, the pupils obliterating all the gold. With each roll she sank down, inch by inch, seating him a little deeper before rising again.

An arm slipped from behind his head and he flung it across his eyes as a sound of torment groaned out of him. She repeated her actions more slowly, drawing out the plunge and the rise. This was a test of wills she wanted very badly to win.

“Jori.” Her name was nothing but a gust of need. And then he moved so quickly she didn't have time to react. His arms came forward and gripped her waist as he levered his hips off the bed, forcing her down on his full length. He slid in, deep and hard, all the way until she was filled to the limit.