Page 44 of Resisting His Target
“Oh my God, yes.”
Jessa turned to her daughter with an excited expression. “Are you ready to help Miss Jackie pick out a beautiful outfit?”
The little girl clapped. “Yes!” They joined her in front of the rack, and Emily tugged Jackie’s robe. “We do hair?” she asked, tugging on her own dark locks.
Jackie smiled. “I would love it if you would do my hair.”
Emily clapped again. “Yay!”
“She’s my own personal stylist,” said Jessa with a laugh, pushing a cerulean-blue suit-dress aside to reveal its tailored bodice. “Now let’s see what we have for you.”
The women chit-chatted as Jackie tried on clothes. Jackie told Jessa all about her time spent with Razorback and Sloan and their mountainous hike across the border. Jessa told her about Jax’s role with HERO Force and his recent campout in the living room with his daughter—complete with tent and a campfire made of candles.
Nearly an hour later, Jackie stood before the full-length mirror in awe of the woman staring back. Gone was windblown hair and the washed-out complexion, her features perfectly accented by expertly applied makeup, brows neatly shaped and arched. Her hair flowed in gentle waves that framed her face, the way it once had long ago.
They’d selected a jewel-green dress that clung to her in places, the collar making it an ideal combination of professional attire and formalwear, the color accentuating her eyes. Jessa had finished off the look with a pair of pearly heels that matched her skin tone, the effect elongating her legs and making her feel like a queen. “I can’t thank you enough, Jessa.”
The other woman stepped beside her, looking at Jackie in the mirror. “You’re very welcome. You look gorgeous. When I come back from the dead, I’m totally borrowing that dress.”
“It’s the lipstick that really looks terrific,” Jackie said, nodding at Emily, and the girl beamed with pride.
“Do you want me to come back in the morning, or do you think you’ve got it?” Jessa asked.
Jackie exhaled a shaking breath. “I think I’m good. Like riding a bicycle, I guess.”
“Well, one day when this is all over, you’ll have to come by the house and join us for dinner.” Jessa hugged her. “And bring Razorback.”
Jackie felt her cheeks heat. She hadn’t intended to give so much away in conversation, but there was no reason to deny it. “I’d like that very much.”
“He’s a lot like my husband, Jax. A man of few words, and not all of them kind. But he’s a good man, and I like him. I always have.” She gave Jackie a squeeze. “Now I need to get out of here and get little miss sweet cheeks to bed.”
Jackie thanked her and saw them out, then stood beside the door to Razorback’s room with nervous anticipation. She wanted him to see it—wanted him to strip it off her, more like—but she was keenly aware of the fact that he hadn’t knocked since they’d arrived. She reached for the knob and turned it. “Nothing to it but to do it.”
The second door leading into his room was already open.
26
“Can I come in?”
He was lying shirtless on the bed, a pair of sweatpants hugging his hips and legs, the scent of a shower hanging in the air. His eyes moved slowly down her body, following her curves and roaming back up again. “Damn.”
The tempting sight of his wide, muscular chest and trim waist led her to the prominent bulge just below his waistband. “Damn, yourself.”
“You look great.”
“Jessa helped me. She was really nice.” She spun around slowly. “Think I can wear this to a beheading?”
“You’ll be the prettiest one there.”
She moved to the bed, lifting the hem so she could put her knee on the mattress and crawl to him. “Are you going to sleep in here all by yourself?”
“Not if I can help it. Come here.” He kissed her deeply before gently tugging on her bottom lip with his teeth and sending a bolt of desire straight to her core. He moved to pull her down on the mattress but she pushed him away.
“Give me one second.” She stood, deftly unzipping the back of the dress and pulling the sleeves down her arms, then racing into her room to put the dress back on a hanger. Wearing only her underwear, she came back and kneeled on the edge of the bed. “I’m ready.”
He sat up with a roar, those arms of steel wrapping around her midsection as his mouth found the hollow of her throat. He pulled her down to the mattress, pinning her beneath his weight, and she squealed.
It felt so good to be under him, her legs quickly straddling his hips, his covered member fitted tightly against her heat. The first time they’d made love, she’d been reaching for something, desperate to hold on to what she barely understood and knew she couldn’t have. But this time was different.
