Creating Merry Hell (8 page)

Merry made a strangled whimpering sound. Her body started to convulse, her mouth hung open and her eyes, already glazed, half closed. Harsh sobs were torn from her delicate throat and Jack nearly went cross-eyed when he heard her groan his name.

“Jack,” she cried out. “Jack, I need you.”

It was too much. He kicked the chair aside and within a heartbeat he was on his knees in front of her. Lifting her backside, he cupped it in his hands and dragged her closer to the edge before licking the length of her slit. Jack did this once, twice before he fastened his lips on the swollen bud of her clit and sucked.

Merry came again, harder than before, screaming his name.

Only when the tremors stopped did Merry dare to raise her lashes and look at him. She was rewarded with the sight of the glitter of her juice on his chin. All wet and shiny, Jack pressed his lips together, his tongue sliding slowly between them to taste her.

“We’re not done here.” Within seconds he’d stripped the dress from her hips leaving her completely naked for him. Just as swiftly he bunched his fists in the back of his shirt and hauled it over his head, then he unzipped his jeans and shoved them down his thighs. Unrestricted his stiff cock reared toward his stomach. Holding her hips, he tugged her closer to the edge, impaling her on the end of his cock. Surging forward, grunting in relief as she parted for him, welcoming him home, Jack filled her smooth and thick. The breath left
Merry’s
throat in an explosive gasp. All week she’d been kidding herself she could give him up, promising herself when the time came she’d do what she always did. Walk away. Walk? She should have
run
like hell after that first night. She’d known even then what a threat he was to her and yet she’d never felt safer or more cherished in all her life.

Leaning back on her elbows, Merry met his gaze. “Jack,” she panted, his name coming out shaky as her body trembled beneath him, needing the release that only he could give her.

The look on her flushed face and the sound of his name on her lips was too much for him. Jack knew what she needed, gripping her hips, he shifted angles so his cock stroked higher. He gave it to her hard and fast, his pace relentless, unstoppable, as he ground into her. Desperation rode him. He was close, too close. Reaching between them, he slid his fingers between
Merry’s
lips to find her clit, flattening his hand he pressed and rubbed in firm circles. Merry rocked wildly as her orgasm took her. Jack followed her seconds later, his body clenched, stiffening as he exploded inside her, collapsing over her still trembling body. His hands covered hers, their fingers entwined as his lips mumbled sweet nothings against her damp throat.

“Jack ? Jack. I need to get up. We have to talk.”

Jack’s body tensed, Merry turned in his arms and he lifted her onto the counter, “Before you say anything else, I’ve got something I need to tell you. I would have told you sooner but you’re far too distracting for my own good.”

Her face clasped between his hands, Jack gave her a lingering kiss. Reluctantly he let her go and pulled up his jeans but didn’t fasten them. Handing his shirt to Merry, he instantly regretted the gesture when she covered up those lush curves. Stepping between her thighs once more, he pulled her into his arms, her body soft and warm against him.

“I’ve got something to tell you too.” Merry said, her voice sounding almost shy. “But you go first.”

“Sure?”

“Hmmm, then you need to promise to feed me. I’m famished.” Happy just to be in his arms, she squirmed closer.

“It’s a deal, but you have to keep at peace. When you jiggle against me like that I tend to lose my concentration. What was I saying? Oh yeah, I went to see Rose the other day… I was going to tell you last night but things didn’t go exactly as planned…”

“I’m know, I’m sorry—”

Gently he placed a fingertip to her lips. “There was no spell,” he murmured.

A frown puckered
Merry’s
brow as she pulled back to look at him. “Yes, there was.”

He shook his head slowly. “Uh-uh, no spell.”

“Yes, Jack. There was.”

Jack couldn’t contain his chuckle, convinced she would fight him on just about anything given half the chance, “I’ve spoken to Rose, It was her way of matchmaking. Magic free.”

“I don’t understand. You’re going to have to elaborate for me—all that incredible sex has left me a bit slow on the uptake,” she huffed, pouting prettily.

“Incredible, huh?”

Merry poked him sharply in the ribs. “You were saying?”

“In a nutshell? I hate to say it but I was right.” Holding her chin, he kissed her gently on the mouth. “All this is just you and me.”

Merry squirmed closer to him, nuzzling into him. “I’m glad.”

“You are?”

“Yeah. Can’t imagine what Grace will have to say though. I expect she’ll be paying Rose a visit in the very near future.”

“I expect she’s used to her mother’s antics by now. I doubt this will come as too much of a surprise.”

As for Merry, how could she be mad? She suspected that even without Rose’s none-too-gentle push she and Jack were on a collision course. She’d never stood a chance against him. She’d fallen for him, hard, and what’s more she was done fighting it. After only a week she couldn’t imagine her life without Jack in it. “I should be mad but for some reason I just can’t seem to work up the energy.”

“That’ll be all that incredible sex.” Jack cupped her bottom in his hands and pulled her closer to the swelling in his jeans. Nuzzling her neck, he said, “Your turn now.”

Hating to stop him, especially when the thing he was doing with her ear and his tongue felt so damn good, she wouldn’t be distracted until she said her piece. Reaching behind her back, she took his hands in hers and drew them to her lap. Feeling as though she were standing at the edge of a great cliff, Merry prepared to take the first step, trusting Jack would be the there to catch her. “Last night, you said you loved me.”

“I did.” Jack kissed the tip of her nose. “And I meant it. I do love you. And I want everyone to know it.”

Taking a deep shuddering breath, Merry stepped over the edge by uttering the words she’d never before wanted to say to another man. “I love you too.” Somehow, somewhere along the week she’d given her heart to him.

His blue eyes blazed into hers. “Tell me again.”

Bolder this time. Stronger. “I love you.”

Grinning at her, he said, “Christ, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that. Sometimes you make it as hard as hell, but I love you, Meredith Lewis.”

“I know I haven’t made this easy but I’m scared Jack—no, make that bloody terrified—but I want to give us a chance. You’re the one I don’t want to run from so I’m trusting you with my heart.”

“We’ll make this happen,” he vowed. “Your business in Edinburgh—all of it—between us we’ll work it out. You won’t regret it. I’ll never hurt you. I give you my promise.”

Merry smiled then. It was wobbly but the love in her eyes sparkled up at him. “You better not. In case I need to remind you my best friend’s mother is a powerful witch? One word from me and you’re a toad.”

Scooping her up, Jack threw Merry over his shoulder and headed for the bedroom. Merry yelped in protest. “Hey, I thought you were going to feed me. Jack. I need food.”

“Later.” Jack dropped Merry down on the bed where she bounced, laughing. But when she looked up at his face her breath caught in her throat. It was all there in his eyes. The love he felt for her pouring out. It terrified her. It exhilarated her.

“Stretch your arms behind you and grip the headboard.”

Her skin still flushed from their earlier lovemaking, Merry arched her body, wrapped her fingers around the spindles and waited for him to make his next move.

On his hands and knees, Jack crawled up the bed until his body caged hers. His fists on either side of her face, he lowered his head and clasped her lips with his. His tongue met hers with a slow rasp. She kissed him back, their tongues tangling together, the desire building until she was on fire for him.

Merry rolled her hips in an effort to get closer to him and Jack lowered his body on top of hers. With a groan she spread her thighs. Using one hand, he lifted her bottom and slid his cock inside her as she wrapped her legs around his hips and they began to rock gently together.

Merry let go of the headboard to thread her fingers through his hair, holding his head, her fingers caressed his scalp as she gazed adoringly at him. She loved him. She wanted him to look inside her and know. To truly see the way he made her feel, to share it all with him.

In no hurry they held each other, their hips thrust and parted until they were sweating and breathless. Jack changed the angle of his hips and she tightened her legs around him until they came together in a shattering release.

Collapsing on top of her, Jack nuzzled her shoulder, feathering gentle kisses up her throat until he found her mouth and gave her bottom lip a playful nip. He pulled back to look at her.

“I know this has all been fast, but eventually I want it all. Marriage. Kids. The lot. Think you can handle that?”

A slow, satisfied smile spread across her face, her gaze never leaving his. Merry nodded. “I love you, Jack.” Already she couldn’t imagine her life without him in it. The past was behind them. This was all that mattered, the two of them together, creating new memories. Her heart pounded in anticipation when she thought of their future together.

He leaned down and claimed her lips. It was a long, deep, lingering kiss that went on and on. They had all the time in the world.

* * * * *

On the other side of the island, high on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, an old woman sat quietly in her garden holding her husband’s hand watching the sun set. Giving a gentle squeeze to draw his attention, she nodded to the rose bush tumbling over the wall at the bottom of the garden as it suddenly began to unfurl its buds to display a wealth of scarlet blooms. The husband lifted his wife’s hand to his lips and gently kissed the back.

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