Julie’s own body warmed along with Jackson’s as she stroked over his seeping slit then laved a trail around and under the rim. He stiffened with a low curse when she touched upon one spot, so she pressed her tongue against it again, and again. Her core throbbed along with his shaft and heated along with his flesh. Pumping his length, she savored every lick that coated her tongue with his seepage and each low groan her tightening lips pulled from his throat.
She dared a swift glance up at his face and shivered from the granite hard expression blazing down at her, his glittering, midnight-blue eyes burning with near savage intensity that set her blood to pumping in a scalding torrent through her veins. Her nipples beaded as she lowered her gaze and reached between his legs with her other hand to cup his large sac. Jackson’s bulging thighs contracted when she rolled his balls and lowered her head to engulf his length.
“Fuck, baby.” Lust swamped Jackson; the sight of her dark head bent over his straining cock, the feel of those pouty lips suckling him and her moist tongue tormenting the one small spot sure to ignite a firestorm inside him threatened his control. The silken heat of her mouth and hot clasp of her hands almost undid him. Gripping the bar counter behind him, the hardest thing he’d ever done was resist the temptation to clasp her head and take over. “Remind me to punish you for this later.” Her low laugh reverberated straight up his root.
Those sinful lips slid down his length and that wicked tongue circled his width as she settled her hand at the base to hold him steady for her onslaught. Her blue-black hair swirled around her shoulders as she bobbed her head, taking slow, suctioning pulls up followed by tongue exploring glides down as his balls contracted in her palm. She traced over the bulging veins pumping blood faster, hotter into his thickening cock, then shocked the hell out of him when she followed with a small nip on the sensitive tissue.
“Son of a bitch!” This time, Jackson didn’t hold back from the urge to take over. “I never knew you liked playing with fire, baby.” Clasping her head, he held her still and jabbed his cock in and out of her busy little mouth. Alternating between short, shallow dips and deeper, throat bumping thrusts, he caved to the lust she kindled. “That’s it, Julie,” he crooned when she lost her grip and was forced to grab hold of his butt to steady herself. “Squeeze my ass, tight, fuck yeah, like that.” Sweat dripped down his brow as her small nails dug into his cheeks, the pricks of pain spurring him on. “Prepare yourself, I’m ready to come,” he warned with another low, guttural curse.
Julie gripped his buttocks tighter, enjoying his rough possession, his ground out words spurring her on. Who knew how exciting a blow job could be? She hadn’t expected to get turned on herself, but as soon as he’d taken control, her nipples beaded into tight, aching pinpoints and her sheath swelled and dampened with familiar need. She heard Dax’s hoarse shout of pleasure, reminding her of their audience. A swift rush of excitement added to the boiling arousal begging for release. Before succumbing to Jackson’s sexual control, she’d never imagined she would get off on either voyeurism or exhibitionism, but wow, what a freaking turn-on!
Jackson’s thickening flesh jumped in her mouth, bumped her throat as he quickened his thrusts and released the first spurt of his climax. She inhaled, preparing to swallow his release, but he surprised her by pulling out, one hand releasing her head and grabbing his cock as the other shifted to her shoulder to steady her teetering balance. “Why—”
“Touch yourself and come with me, now.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. Mimicking his hold, she kept one hand on his buttock as she slid the other between her legs. Closing her eyes, she slipped two fingers between her swollen folds and gasped at the instant, gripping pleasure.
“Eyes on me, Julie.” She flushed at his order but obeyed, not wanting to draw his displeasure. “Much better. Work fast, baby, I’m right on the edge.”
With his hand pumping his straining cock right in front of her face, the purple cap inflamed and ready to erupt with his seed, her body jumped on board to join him. A few deft strokes through her slick channel was all it took to have her muscles clamping around her plunging fingers. Prickles of pleasure rippled up from her toes as she grazed her clit over and over then burst with the bright fanfare she’d come to expect and relish when with him when she rolled the small nub between her fingers. Jerking her hips against her plunging hand, it was only his tight grip on her shoulder and hers on his buttock that kept her upright and kneeling before him as he decorated her chest and stomach with his spewing climax while she writhed with her own pleasure. By the time she shuddered with the last spasms, he was smiling down at her, his face now suffused with sated warmth and his eyes holding a hint of strong feelings she ached to hear him express in words.
Jackson helped her to her feet, and she had no choice but to lean against his strength, too overcome with lingering sensation and escalating emotion to stand on her own. Tears pricked her eyes as she thought about what she knew she had to tell him and the fear of losing him again that always caused.
“You enjoyed yourself today,” Jackson said an hour later as he helped Julie dress before joining the others on the deck as they docked. Julie kept her face averted, that telltale sign hinting she was either uncomfortable with her actions, or was trying to keep him from seeing something on her face she didn’t want him to see. The first he could understand and even enjoy, since it would mean she hadn’t much, if any, experience in giving blow jobs or masturbating in front of someone. The second threatened to sour his good mood.
“Noticed that, did you?” she quipped, her voice light as she pulled her top over her head.
“Hard not to. On the way home, you can tell me what about today you liked best, and what made you uncomfortable.” With a finger under her chin, he pushed her face up to his. “And you’ll be honest. I’ve given you enough examples of my preferences when it comes to sex. Now, I need to know what works for you, and what doesn’t, or if there’s anything else I need to know about your fears and nightmares that might trigger a negative reaction in you.”
She hesitated, but her eyes remained clear when she gave him a simple answer that told him nothing. “I know, Jackson.”
“Come on. We’ll be docking in a few minutes and I need to get back.”
CHAPTER 9
“I f you had to pick a favorite, which one would it be?” Jackson glanced over at Julie who was trying to get out of a kennel without the two dogs jumping around her feet darting out the gate.
“That’s easy.” She smiled, latching the kennel door and skipping two cages down. “Betty. She’s such a sweetheart.” Stooping, she scratched the timid dog’s nose through the bars and set her long tail to wagging.
“Sucker.” He joined her at the wiry-haired mixed breed’s cage shared by a hound Jackson spent a lot of time working on behavior issues with. He’d been hoping some of the male’s exuberant friendliness would rub off on Betty. “But I concede she’s a heartbreaker. She’s yours, if you want her.”
Speaking of heartbreakers. Julie’s eyes filled with unshed tears, the only other time he’d seen such pleasure on her face was when he’d driven her to orgasm. Every night this past week she’d tossed and turned, waking with dark circles under her eyes and more evasive answers to his questions. The adolescent girl and young woman he’d befriended and protected had never been so insecure, but the trauma she’d lived through and his defection had stolen her confidence in herself, and in his welcome and forgiveness for what she perceived as an unforgiveable cowardice on her part. His temperament in dealing with her vacillated between anger driven dominance and regret induced passivity, which led him to stand idly by and do nothing. That needed to change.
“Really? Can I bring her up to the house? I’ve never had a pet.” She unlatched the door and slipped a lead over Betty’s head. “You’ll help me, won’t you?” she asked, bringing the dog out of the kennel then bending to drop a kiss on her head.
“If you’ll quit kissing her,” he r
eturned with an amused quirk to his lips. “I happen to be a bit possessive of those lips. Come on.” Slinging an arm around her shoulders, he ushered them both outside and up to the house. “I have some calls to make this afternoon. Bring her in, but take her out about every hour and walk her around. If she relieves herself, give her a lot of praise or a dog treat. Any inside messes are your responsibility.”
“Of course, and I’m going to pay for all her supplies and food. While you’re gone, I’ll pick out a bed and some toys from the shelves.”
Jackson fished his keys out of his pocket. “What do you know, right where I put them. Get what you want for her, Julie, we’ll discuss the cost later.” With a hand behind her head, he urged her face up to his and took her mouth in a deep, tongue probing kiss. “See you in a few hours.”
Julie watched him drive out the gates, her mouth, and other body parts, still tingling from his kiss, making her wonder if she’d ever not react with a rush of heated longing when he touched her. One thing she knew for sure, she’d have to get up the nerve to tell Jackson what had transpired earlier that day in Montana. By the time she’d accepted that contract from her agent, she had already been formulating changes in her life to get back to the person she used to be. But, like Maci and Candace, she’d allowed the exalted welcome from the small town of Clover Hill to go to her head. The twenty-four-hour pampering had been reminiscent of the early years of her modeling career, when the fashion world vied for contracts with her and her friends.
None of that excused their behavior that afternoon when they’d been goofing off in the park and had come across Evan Daniels picking up trash for the city. Julie’s heart had ached for the shy, physically deformed young man, which didn’t explain why she’d stood by then walked away without interfering when her two doped-up friends decided to have some fun at his expense. Jackson’s forgiveness would only extend so far, and her biggest fear now wasn’t the dark, but of losing him again.
“Come on, Betty.” The poor dog shook like a leaf as she led her upstairs, reminding Julie of herself, too hesitant and fearful to give over full trust, even to the one she was closest to. “I’ll make a deal with you,” she told her new pet as they entered the kitchen. After removing the leash, she held out a biscuit. “As soon as you stop backing away from me, I’ll come clean with Jackson. Deal?”
The next two days were trying on everyone’s nerves. The clinic was busier than usual. Betty was not acclimating to the house, which made her even more timid and ramped up Julie’s stress level. Jackson’s never-ending patience with the dog put all her efforts to shame, adding to her frustration the same way his tossing another letter from his mother into that desk drawer without looking at it or commenting did. By mid-afternoon on Friday, the reception room had finally cleared out and she could breathe a sigh of relief. Pushing back from the counter, she stood and stretched, pleased to see Betty perk up from her bed in the corner and wag her tail.
“Well, that’s a good sign. Would you like to play with your buddies for a bit?” By the time Julie put her in the play area with a few other dogs and returned to the office to close up, Jackson had finished with the last patient and looked as relieved as she felt when she entered the exam room.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for a quiet, boring weekend.” Jackson noticed Julie shied away from glancing toward the mirror on the wall, like she did every time she came into this room, which was hard to do given the small space.
He’d already contacted Ryan to let him know he and Julie would be out tonight when the three of them arrived, and wouldn’t be back until late. His plan was to treat Julie to a night out, dinner and a show, a fun, relaxing few hours away from the demands of his place and a different venue than the sex-charged atmosphere of the yacht. If he was ever going to convince her he wouldn’t turn away from her again, he needed to prove there was more than the physical, Dom/sub compatibility between them. Sharing the chores around the rescue and working together with amiable efficiency hadn’t done the trick, so maybe an old-fashioned date would. But seeing the way she still refused to look at herself prevailed upon him to initiate one more scene before leaving.
“Me too. What’re we going to do?” Her eyes lit up with expectation, which he’d take advantage of before telling her about the reservations he’d made.
“Right now,” he said, coming around the exam table and pulling her back against his front, facing the mirror, “I want you to tell me why you avoid looking at yourself.”
She shifted her gaze off to the side and he reached around and pinched a nipple, hard enough to feel the sting through her shirt and bra.
Her eyes swung back to glare at him through the mirror as she rubbed the abused tip. “What was that for?”
Jackson hardened his voice. “For trying to evade my question. Keep your eyes on the mirror and tell me what you see you don’t like.” He watched her watch him as he pulled her top over her head and flung it and her bra onto the exam table. Reaching around her again, he cupped her breasts and pressed his thumbs against her already turgid nipples, intending to seduce the truth from her.
Julie shifted her feet in uncomfortable awareness, hating having to confront herself, yet loving Jackson’s commanding touch. As usual, her body sang with escalating pleasure heightened by the up-close view of his large, dark hands manipulating the soft fullness of her white breasts. If only her face wasn’t such a constant reminder of the person she’d been in New York. It was hard to remember who she’d been here in Florida, growing up next to Jackson and under his protective care, when for years she’d seen herself splashed on magazine covers everywhere she went and heard nothing but constant praise about her looks. There’d been times since she’d come to her senses when she’d seriously considered plastic surgery, anything to alter the face looking back at her that was a constant reminder of what a real failure as a decent person she’d been.
“Julie.” Jackson’s dark warning accompanied a dual twist of her nipples, the instant discomfort snagging her attention.
“Fine,” she snapped, not wanting to push her luck with his patience. “I finally realized why you wanted nothing more to do with me, and my looks are a constant reminder of what I allowed to happen, of why I lost everything, including myself, by letting fame to go to my head. Happy now?”
He shifted his hands to her waist and executed a slow, deliberate show of sliding her jeans and panties down her legs then instructing her to step out of them. After tossing them on top of her other clothes, he rested his chin on top of her head and settled his hands on her hips. “See, talking to me isn’t so difficult, is it? And look, I’m still here. You see nothing but your mistakes when you look at yourself, but know what I see?”
She shook her head, too afraid to ask but needing to know.
“I see a woman driven to turn her back on a lucrative career, strong enough to start over by returning home after a terrorizing trauma and brave enough to show up here unannounced. I’ve seen nothing of the shallow woman I left six years ago, only a frightened, but caring person willing to give of herself with unselfish appeal. Trust me, Julie, you’re as attractive on the inside as you are on the outside. Watch your face.”
With considerable difficulty, Julie raised her eyes to her face, thankful she could still watch Jackson’s hands, one moving between her legs, the other sliding up to cup her breast again. She jolted and went hot with the pressure he applied to her denuded folds and simultaneous swirl of his palm over her distended nipple. It was hard to remember why she didn’t like gazing into a mirror when the sensations he fired up with just a look or touch consumed both her mind and body. She thrust her hips against his hand, issuing her standard plea. “Please, Jackson.”
“I love hearing you beg.” His long middle finger slid with ease between her damp folds. “Love seeing your face flush when I do this.” A slow glide over her clit brought a rosy tint to her cheeks. “And I especially love watching you go over.” He pinched both her nipple and clit, hard
enough she jerked in his hold, then moved off those pleasure points to tease the flesh all around them. “Place your hands against the mirror and lean over.” His order was followed by a sharp bite on her neck that drew a low moan of surrender as she complied.
The glass felt cool under her hands, but her body still raged on the brink of unfulfilled need. Instead of seeing fear, remorse or guilt reflected in her eyes or on her face, Julie saw arousal only he could inflame, excitement only he’d been able to rouse and an ache only he could assuage. “More,” she whispered on a huffed breath when he dove deep inside her then retreated after scraping over the special spot sure to send ripples of pleasure shooting straight up her core.
Jackson chuckled, his eyes light with pleasure even though he made no move to free the erection pressed against her butt. “I think you’re insatiable. If I have no problem seeing the woman you are now, then you shouldn’t either. And if you’re worried about me seeing a side of you that you still regret, don’t be. We’ve all done things we’re not proud of. The key is to learn from our mistakes, and not repeat them.”
She could barely keep track of his words as he zeroed in on her clit and nipple again, this time circling both with just enough pressure to send shudders of escalating arousal through her. Then he shifted to her side and abandoned her nipple to land a solid whack on one buttock, the pain and subsequent burn so startling she cried out and gushed over his embedded finger. “Oh, God.” The volley of smacks that followed pushed her as fast toward orgasm as the way he milked her swollen bundle of nerves between two fingers. Heat encompassed her entire backside and filled her sheath before exploding into a raging conflagration with the deep ass thrust of two fingers that brought her up on her toes with a soft cry. The room went dark then exploded in bright lights of ecstasy that turned her legs to rubber and her mind to mush by the time she toppled down from the staggering high.