Page 72 of Fire and Ice

Jack got up and went after her, muttering to Derek, "Stay here and don't get in the way."

Derek leaned back in his chair. "Not moving."

***

Jack caught up with Maia at the bottom of the staircase. She was calling Richard Grayson. He grabbed her phone and threw it across the floor and then tossed her over his shoulder and went up the steps two at a time, ignoring Maia's screech of outrage.

"Jack, you fucking arrogant bastard. Put me down!"

"We're having this out now!"

"My ribs hurt."

Jack swore under his breath. In his anger he had forgotten about her bruised ribs. He lowered her at the top of the stairs but clamped down immediately on her right arm, giving her a look of warning not to try to get away. He dragged her into his room and slammed the door behind them.

"You are not leaving tomorrow and you are not moving your things out of my room."

"Oh, yeah? How are you going to stop me?"

As if to prove a point, Maia strode to the dresser and started picking out her things.

Jack walked over to her, pulled her away, shuffled her back against the wall and pressed his body down the length of hers.

He lowered his lips near hers. As usual, his anger quickly morphed into lust, but Jack squashed it down. They were going to goddamn talk and not just fuck their way out of this.

"Why do you constantly challenge me?"

"I do not. You keep bossing me around!"

"I'm just trying to do what's good for you."

"I can take care of myself, how many times do I need to tell you that?"

Jack noted the hitch in Maia's breath. Good. He was glad to know that he was not the only one affected by their closeness.

He leaned his forehead against hers.

"You drive me crazy," he whispered thickly. "I don't know what end is up any more. I don't want to let you go, Maia. You belong to me, can't you see that?"

Jack saw the panic in Maia's eyes. Fuck. He had said it, he was damn well not taking it back.

"Maia ..."

"Jack. Stop," Maia said, her eyes turning icy. Jack's chest constricted. He was losing her. He had come on too strong and now he was losing her. "We've been through very intense situations. It's natural to feel heightened emotions from this, but this will not last."

"Don't hand me that bullshit," Jack muttered through his teeth. "I've been through intense situations before. Navy SEAL here, remember?"

He brushed her lips lightly with his. "Maia, you undo me." He guided her hand to his growing arousal. "Feel what you do to me."

This time her eyes glazed with desire. From ice to fire. God, he can't get enough of her. He continued teasing her lips. "Tell me I'm not the only one. That you want me as much."

"Stop this," Maia breathed.

"Tell me, you're not leaving tomorrow."

"Jack, I know the sex is good," Maia admitted. "But in the grand scheme of things, my job is important to me and I need to get to Baltimore as soon as possible."

Jack sighed as he pulled back a little. "It's not just about sex and you know it. Stop lying to yourself, Maia. You know there is something special happening between us and you're scared to admit it. You're scared and you're running away from it."

---