Page 46 of Beneath the Hood

That thought is the last conscious one I have, my mind letting go completely, giving in to the sensations as they blanket every single cell.

His mouth leaves mine, lips trailing down the expanse of my throat, laving kisses along my collarbone as he bends me further backward until the ends of my hair graze the ground.

My hips move under his command, the pressure building until it feels like I’m on the verge of an explosion. I grapple at his chest, finding purchase on the metal chain around his neck, the beads digging into my palm as I hold on, a helpless bystander to his control of my pleasure. Submerged in the solace that’s found from the absence of thought.

There is no anxiety.

No panic teasing my insides.

No obsession over what pose I’m in, or what angle may be captured from the cameras. All that matters is the certainty I feel in my bones, knowing Jackson will keep me safe and give me what I need.

“Come for me,” he whispers against my skin.

His words sear into my brain and I detonate into a thousand pieces, waves of euphoria crashing through my body. Copper floods my mouth from my teeth biting through the skin of my lip and I swallow the tangy flavor, my core clenching and releasing, desperate to be filled as my body collapses further into Jackson’s arms.

His hold is strong and sure and as the pleasure ebbs and flows, I faintly recognize the feel of his hand petting my hair, smoothing over the strands. Closing my eyes, I lean into his touch, a suspended type of bliss skating along my skin.

It could be minutes or it could be hours later when I finally come back to Earth, realizing at some point he shifted us so my head is in his lap. Opening my eyes, I meet his grassy green gaze and my heart jumps, slamming against my chest.

No one has ever looked at me the way he is right now.

Like I’m the only thing he can see.

“That was...” I trail off, a dopey sensation making my brain fuzzy.

He grins, his hand coming up to brush the hair off my forehead. “Beautiful, Blake. That was beautiful.”

I smile up at him, a sleepy haze rolling through my limbs, making them heavy. My body relaxes further into him as he smooths his palm over my hair, again and again.

My phone vibrates somewhere in the distance, but I pay it no mind. Instead, I close my eyes and fall asleep in Jackson’s arms.

Not a single worry in my head.

24

Jackson

Ihear the engine before I see the car. I don’t think anything of it because even though we’re on a secluded beach, it’s nottechnicallyprivate. I assume it’s just people driving by, or maybe someone wanting to enjoy the serenity of the ocean, the way I often do.

Still, now that the blood has redistributed to my brain, I realize how stupid it was to get so lost in each other where anyone could have seen.

But I can’t say I regret what happened. Being witness to Blakely as she came apart in my arms was by far the most intense sexual experience I’ve ever had, something I’ve been reflecting on while she sleeps in my lap—trying to figure out why I react so strongly to everything she does.

Maybe it’s because when she looks at me, it feels like I’m the center of her universe. I’ve had plenty of amazing one-night stands, but there’s never been a woman who’s given me their complete surrender and seemed so relieved to be free of the burden.

The slam of a car door shakes me out of my reverie and as I watch Lennox stalk over the sandy hill directly toward us, my chest pulls tight, and I’m reminded of exactly who she is and all of the reasons why we aren’t supposed to work.

When we’re together, it’s easy to forget.

Shit.

Glancing down, I rub my fingers across Blakely’s cheek. The beats of my heart wax and wane like the moon with the tide and a sadness sweeps through me, not wanting the moment to end. It’s been oddly peaceful having her in my lap while the waves of the ocean lap against the shoreline.

Finally brushing the back of my hand against her skin, I lean in close to her ear. “Blake.”

She stirs, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks before she blinks slowly, opening her eyes.

“Hi.” I smirk, my stomach flipping at her stare. “Lennox is here.”

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