Page 66 of Jack of Hearts
And he did. While he kept her arms captive above her head with the strength of one hand, his other hand explored and caressed her breasts, her stomach, her thighs, and finally, came to rest on her bottom, where he dug his fingers into her skin. Because her hands were held against the tile, and because he’d brought her to a crazed state like he was so talented at doing, she lifted a leg and wrapped it around his thigh, trying to climb him.
“Madison. Damn,” he gasped with his mouth pressed against her ear. He let go of her hands and pulled both of her legs around him so that the only thing holding her up was his body and the wall behind her.
“Now, baby. Now.” His mouth crashed down on hers, his tongue tangling with hers when she parted her lips on a gasp as he thrust into her in a frenzy, their bodies slapping together.
Pinned between Alex and the wall, she could do little more than hold on to him. He lowered his mouth to a nipple, sucking it, then nipping it with his teeth. The water rained down on them, making their overheated bodies slick, and she scraped her teeth across his neck. She curled her fingers into his hair and pulled. “Alex.”
“Hell, yes,” he said, his voice raw and rumbling.
Pleasure blazed a burning fire through her, every nerve ending in her body sensitive to his touch, to the water sluicing down her skin, and she screamed his name as he thrust deep into her. Her heart slammed against her chest, robbing her of breath and vision. His body, a coiled mass of muscles, stilled, and he buried his face against her neck as a great shudder rolled through him. She closed her eyes, loving how he filled her.
“Breathe,” she whispered.
He laughed. “I don’t think I can.” He lifted his head, looked searchingly at her for a moment, and then kissed her.
“I love you, Alex,” she whispered against his lips. The words had slipped out, leaving her mind as soon as she thought them, surprising her.
Alex froze as the words he wasn’t ready to hear echoed around them. How could she love him? She didn’t know him. The man she thought she loved wasn’t real. He wanted her to love him with a need that ran so deep he wasn’t sure where it ended. But he wanted to hear her say those words when she knew the real him.
The happiness that had been shining in her eyes waned as the seconds ticked by and he didn’t respond. He had to say something, but his mind had gone blank.
“I didn’t say that so you’d say it back.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Actually, I didn’t mean to say it at all, so don’t stress over it, okay?”
He brushed her damp hair away from her face. “Okay, I won’t.” And he’d just piled another lie on top of the others because he was definitely stressing over it. “It’s late, beautiful girl. Let’s get some sleep.”
If she only knew what was in his heart, she wouldn’t be looking at him with those wounded eyes. He dried her off, then himself, the silence between them killing him. Once in bed, she turned her back to him, and he pulled her against his chest, holding her as he called himself every name in the book.
I love you, too, Grasshopper.But it would be wrong to tell her when the words would come from a man she didn’t truly know. Soon he would arrest her uncle and cousin, and she would learn that he’d been lying to her from day one. She would see it as a betrayal, and it would be.
The only right thing to do was to let her go. What was the saying? If you love someone, let them go and hope they come back? That wasn’t right. Hell, he couldn’t remember, but he had to do it for her.
If she would let him, after everything was over, he would try to explain the reasons for his lies, and if he were a very lucky man, she would agree to start over. Whatever her decision, it would be her choice. If he lost her, he would only have himself to blame.
Alex stayed awake long into the night, holding his girl, memorizing her scent, how she felt in his arms, and how her silky hair tickled his chin. Although he wanted to sneak out like a coward so he wouldn’t have to see her tears when he told her he wouldn’t be back, he stayed. Would she cry? If she did, he might confess everything.
At dawn, he crept out of bed and quietly dressed. He sat in a chair for the next two hours, watching her sleep. She was on her stomach, her small hands disappearing under the pillow, and one beautiful leg outside of the covers.
Just go back to bed and hold her like you want to. She’ll learn who you are soon enough.Alex crushed the voice, although he wanted to be selfish and do just that. It was because he loved her that he refused to listen.
She pulled a hand out from under her pillow and, even in sleep, reached for him on his side of the bed.His side.Would he ever sleep beside her again? He rubbed his chest. Damn ache.
“Alex?”
Her voice was soft with sleep, and sexy as hell. “I’m here.” He gripped the arms of the chair to keep from going to her.
She sat up, her hair falling messily over her shoulder, also sexy. “You’re dressed. Did I oversleep?”
He’d never hated himself more than he did at this moment. “Madison—”
“If you’re dressed, I guess you need to leave early? You have time for breakfast? I’ll go start the coffee.”
“Madison, no coffee. I need you to listen for a minute.”
“Okay.” Those green eyes that he loved turned wary, and she sat back against her pillow, pulling the sheet up, covering her beautiful breasts.
Any other time, he would have smiled, even teased her about her modesty. She was everything he dreamed of finding someday—beautiful, kind, funny, intelligent. He cleared his throat, swallowing the lump that had lodged there.
“Ahem ... I’ve been thinking.” He scrubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin. Christ, he hated this, for both of them. For a brief second, he almost gave in to the voice that said he didn’t have to do this. He could take what he wanted and gamble that she would understand when she learned the truth.
