Rebecca Zanetti - Against the Wall

The kiss was all fire, depth, and strength. Desire speared directly south through her as one broad hand went to the front of her blouse and snapped the buttons free. She groaned as his mouth abandoned hers to trail hard, sharp kisses along her jawline and down her neck before both hands ripped her shirt apart. He roughly cupped her bra-covered breasts.

One quick flick of a finger and the front clasp opened, spilling her flesh into waiting hands. Into warm hands that instantly, expertly, molded her to him.

This was crazy. The road may be quiet this time of night, but anybody could drive by.

His head dipped. Liquid heat engulfed her nipple, and she cried out. How was his mouth so damn hot? His tongue flicked her even as his hands manacled her hips to hold her in place. Jake was all fire.

Suddenly, she was lifted into the air. Her shoulders smacked against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his hips as the rough wooden planks of the old house scratched her back.

God, she should be hitting him. But need—a dangerous, dark, primal need—had her in its grasp. Or maybe she’d jumped headfirst into desire. Either way, she was tired of thinking. Tired of being alone. Tired of taking the safe route.

She yanked his shirt over his head. Dark smoothness filled her aching palms. She ran them urgently over the tight muscles of his chest. God, he was hard. And strong. Everywhere she was soft. Even with her head spinning, she marveled at the differences between them. Wanted more. Wanted everything.

He’d hurt her at the hearing. A feminine part of her needed reassurance…needed to know she mattered. But even deeper, a hunger uncoiled inside her that only Jake Lodge could appease.

So he damn well would.

She stiffened when he snapped her thong in two. His hand found her, and she bit her lip. He cupped her, his index finger sliding easily into her heat. Mini-explosions rippled through her sex.

A soft gasp escaped her lips to echo in the night. She leaned her head against the ridges of the wall, her eyes fluttering shut. Her hairclip dropped to the floor, and her hair tumbled free. “Don’t stop,” she breathed.

“Didn’t plan on it,” he said, rough and amused.

She almost cried as his hand left her aching, needing more. Then she helped him make short work of his pants and boxers before he shifted and impaled her against the wall.

“Oh God,” Sophie whimpered.

He more than filled her. The vein in his shaft pulsed deep inside her. One hand seized her ass, holding her in place. The other hand threaded through her hair and twisted.

Her neck elongated, while she clawed his rock-hard shoulders.

His broad chest lifted as he inhaled slowly. Nearly nose-to-nose, he caged her in place, his body warming hers. A small scar near his ear gave him an even more dangerous edge. Even his ridiculously long eyelashes only served to enhance the hard angles of his face. The firm set of his jaw matched the determined glint in his midnight eyes.

“Now we talk,” he said very softly.

A shiver wound down her spine. Her sex gripped his cock, and her thighs undulated with the need to move. Fast and hard. “No. No talking.” Not while he was inside her, slowly killing her.

His absolute focus landed on her, gaze piercing hers. “I’m sorry if I upset you at the hearing.”

No way in hell. He did not get to slam inside her, until all she wanted was him to move, and then apologize. “Fuck you, Lodge,” she gasped out.

Amusement creased his cheek. “In a minute.”

She coughed out a laugh. “Don’t be cute.”

“I can’t help it.” He pulled out and then slid back in. Sparks of intense pleasure lit her from inside. “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

“If you truly hurt me, I’ll destroy you.” The damn man had just been doing his job—and he hadn’t really come after her, just the Charlton Group. She squeezed her internal walls around his shaft.

His nostrils flared. “I think that’s fair, sweetheart.” He started to move.

She tightened her hold, lifting her pelvis. Sensation after sensation rammed against her clit. Her eyes closed. Sparks flashed behind her lids.

He increased his speed, easily holding her in place. His strength impressed her; his hands entranced her. But the tension spiraling deep inside stole every thought from her mind. She wanted what he promised. It was the light at the end of a railroad tunnel—the final plunge of a roller coaster—the slash of yellow through deep gray clouds.

And it was so close.

Plunging even harder into her heated core, Jake gave her what she sought when his mouth took her nipple. With a sharp nip of his teeth, Sophie’s world spun away from her. From reality.

She cried out his name as the orgasm beat through her with merciless intensity, as she saw stars. Jake followed her into oblivion with a growl that sounded like her name. His head dropped to the curve of her neck, dripping cool rain down her back in contrast to the heated lips claiming the area between her neck and shoulder.

Sophie came down from bliss to the smell of rain, pine, and man. She lifted heavy eyelids and masculine satisfaction met her gaze without apology.

She shivered as the cold wall along her back and buttocks permeated her fog. Jake lowered her to the floor, then pulled her skirt back into place. Sophie stood motionless as big, gentle hands fixed her bra and straightened her shirt. The sweet kiss he placed on her swollen lips shot tears to her eyes.

“I’m not letting you go, Sophie.”

“Yes, you are.” There was no half loving Jake Lodge. He was an all-or-nothing type of guy. She couldn’t take the risk. She pushed back with both hands.

This time, he moved. “Meaning?”

“This is over.”

A raised eyebrow met her declaration.

“I mean it.” Her mind spun as her heart ached. “I am leaving. We just had sex on a porch, without protection. Again.”

Jake straightened. “We did.”

“At this rate, there’s no way I won’t get pregnant. We’re done. You said it yourself—we’d have some fun until I left.”

“You’re not leaving yet,” he said slowly.

“I don’t care. It’s wild and exciting but…I don’t want to get hurt. I’m not made for this.” It was way past time to protect her heart. Though something told her that it was too late. Way too late.

Jake’s eyes softened in the dim light. “You might be pregnant.”

“I know. But we’ll deal with that if and when.” She felt small and vulnerable in the dark night.

“It’ll be all right, Sunshine.” Promise whispered through his deep voice as he turned her toward the door, shielding her from the storm. “I promise.”

Preston’s phone call woke Sophie from a dead sleep the next morning. She blinked at the early morning light as it hazed through gauzy curtains. She reached for the cell, her mumbled “Hello” nearly a growl.

“Hi, Sophie.” The sounds of traffic and people filled the background. Preston raised his voice. “We’re at the airport on the way back to San Francisco and I just wanted to call and let you know.”

“What’s the plan?” She sat up and placed her back against the brass bedrail. Curls tumbled forward and she swatted them out of her eyes.

“We have a late afternoon meeting with the rest of the Charleton Group. Niles wants to discredit Jake Lodge before the commissioners make up their minds.”

Unease folded Sophie’s hand into a fist. “Do you think he’ll be able to do it?”

“No,” Preston said flatly. “I researched the guy. Lodge is solid.” He paused for a couple of beats. “He seems like one of the good guys.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” she murmured.

“If you need anything, and I mean anything, promise you’ll call. And until you give me a definitive answer, I’m keeping the booking on the cruise. Things will look better once you’re home where you belong.”

“I will, thanks.” She clicked her cell phone shut and got out of bed. The sooner she finished with Willa’s Garden, the sooner she could get home. She grabbed her toiletries and headed for the shower.

An hour later, Sophie crept quietly down the hall, not wanting to wake Mrs. Shiller.

“Hello there, dear.” Mrs. Shiller poked her bespectacled face out of the kitchen at the bottom of the stairs. “I have huckleberry pancakes and fresh coffee coming up.”

Sophie inhaled the sweet aroma of the purplish fruit filling the air as she descended the steps. She walked into the kitchen and took a seat at the large wooden table. Five places with delicate Prince Edward floral china perched atop linen placemats.

“Are we getting more guests?” she asked while pouring herself a cup of coffee from the old blue cast-iron pot.

“Just some friends coming for breakfast.” Mrs. Shiller bustled around the kitchen. “I hope that’s okay? I’m kind of known for my hotcakes.” A pretty pink blush filled her papery face as she placed butter and syrup on the table.

“The more the merrier,” Sophie said. Nothing like coffee and pancakes to brighten a girl’s day.

Voices filled the entryway in the other room. “Oh good, here they are.” Mrs. Shiller smiled as Commissioner Milston and a tall, slender woman entered the room. “Sophie, you know Commissioner Milston, and this is our friend Juliet Montgomery.”

“Call me Madge,” the commissioner said with a soft smile as she took a seat at the table.

“Okay, Madge,” Sophie agreed slowly. “I’m not sure we can really talk until you render a decision.”

“Oh, of course we can talk. Just not about your golf course proposal.” Madge helped herself to some coffee. A black silk tank top sat comfortably over black silk shorts and red sandals. She looked more like the sexy type of retired librarian than the stodgy one.