Page 21 of He Is Jensen: Part One

“Hi,” I say softly, feeling ridiculously nervous.

“What did they do to you?”

I motion to the bags. “I was forced to shop with Tad on my heels the entire time.”

“They’re trying to seduce you into liking this place.”

“It won’t work.”

I blink, and he’s closed the space between us, his hand pressing to my face and his lips at my ear. “The cameras are gone, but I don’t know if I got all of the recording devices. They want me to seduce you into submission, but this isn’t for them. It’s for me.” He pulls back and stares down at me. “For us.” His mouth closes down over mine.

Chapter sixteen

Jensen

She is so damnsoft and yielding in my arms, and damn it, she tastes like sugar, and I’m officially an addict. If we die, and it’s possible we will, I am not going to leave this Earth without every part of her on my lips, at least once. I deepen the kiss, and she moans softly—the sound low and sexy—and I’m officially over the edge. I need this woman like I need my next breath.

Her hands slide under my shirt, soft and cool against my hot skin. I’m burning alive. I reach over my head, tug the tee up, and toss it away. My mouth is pressing to hers again, hungrily devouring her, my hand sliding over her hair and tangling into the silky strands.

I tug her gaze to mine. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to be inside you?”

“Show me,” she whispers, and there is something so damn hot about scientist Layla and her boldness, I can’t even explain it. Her geeky, schoolgirl persona has always turned me on. My hands slide under her leggings, and I cup her bare backside. Talkabout hard as a rock. I have wanted her sweet little ass in my hands for fourteen freaking years.

I scoop her up, and her legs slide around my waist—another fantasy of mine, so thank you, God. I walk to the bed, her arms around my neck, as I lay her down on the mattress and slide between her legs. She’s panting; her lashes flutter, heavy with arousal.

I kiss her and tug her tank and bra down, my thumbs stroking her perky nipples. She captures my wrist. “You’re sure they can’t see us?” she whispers.

“You’re for me, not them,” I promise, reaching down to catch the hem of her blouse, ready to have the barriers ripped away. I want her naked breasts pressed to my chest, her body next to mine, with nothing between us.

That’s when the buzzer on the door goes off, and fuck me! I yank Layla’s shirt into place, and I’m on my feet facing Tad as he steps into the small room. He smirks. “I see you wasted no time checking out the lingerie I helped her pick out.”

Anger bubbles inside me, and I’d lunge at him if Layla didn’t wrap herself around my arm. “He’s lying. He tried to watch me. I spit at him.”

The sour look on his face tells me that’s the truth. He holds up two vials. “ICE, baby,” he purrs to Layla. “Come and get it, and kiss your dealer goodnight.”

He’s trying to rile me up, probably testing me for Julian, finding out just how possessive I am, and I don’t even fucking care. I’m in front of him in an instant, toe-to-toe. “Kiss me, bastard. Let’s see how that goes. It’s a sick fuck that takes what a woman doesn’t want to give, but you were always a sick fuck, Tad.”

“Was I?” He smirks again. “I bet you have a little hiding in you, too.” He hands me the vials. “Dinner is on its way. After which,she should sleep, not fuck. We expect a lot of magic from her tomorrow.”

I don’t even want to know what that means. He backs out of the room and shuts the door. I don’t move until the light on the door buzzes red. I rotate as Layla steps in front of me. “I think they can still see us. I saw it in his eyes.”

“They can hear us,” I say. “Fuckers are listening, and Tad is the kind of guy who gets off on that shit. I once had to pull him off a woman in a bar in Germany. She was saying no. He didn’t care.” The buzzer goes off again, and I push her behind me, but instead of soldiers, there’s an older woman and two waiters to service us.

I pull on a shirt, and then, in silent acceptance, Layla and I claim the table, and we’re forced to endure the supervision as we’re served brown butter ravioli. We’re being treated for a reason. Julian wants us both on his side. He wants me by his side, and her fucked into submission. Maybe that means he’s trying to fuck me into submission through her, but it won’t work.

When we’re finally alone, Layla refuses to undress, expressing fear over being watched. We lay down on the bed, her curled to my side, lights on the floor ensuring we cannot hide in the darkness. Long seconds pass, and she speaks softly. “There are so many name-brand stores here. Are they all willingly supportive of the Zodius?”

“Most of those in power want to be converted, so yes. Yes, they are.”

“How do you win against that?”

I lean in and whisper, “We just do. I promise.” And then I fold her in close again, holding her close and silently promising not to let her go. And I don’t ask all the questions about her past or her family, who don’t seem to be near to support her cancer battle. I want to know everything, but I don’t want Julian to know.

I’ll find out when we’re out of here.

Soon, I promise.

Chapter seventeen

---