Enemy Mine (Unseen Enemy Book 3) (13 page)

“Jenny? You doing OK?”

She nodded, tears suddenly running down her cheeks.

“Oh, baby.” He wiped them away. “These good tears or bad ones?”

“G – good,” she managed. “But – I can’t seem to stop them.”

“Hold on to me. I’m right here,” he said. “You’re safe. Just let yourself cry, Jenny, if that’s what you need to do.”

She sobbed then, and he held her, stroking her tumbled hair. He rocked her back and forth, waited for her to calm. It didn’t take as long as he’d thought it would: she came back to herself after just a few moments, and she raised her face to his.

His gray eyes were soft and warm, and she reached up to kiss him. He tasted her tears on her lips, and he licked them tenderly. He felt her smile against his mouth and he held her away from him.

“Better?” he asked, brushing her hair back off her face.

“Much.”

“Come here, then.” He pulled the covers up over her naked body and tucked her in to his side. “Stay close to me, Jenny. Relax.”

They lay together, her breathing slowing and steadying. Then Chris sat up.

“I’ll be right back.”

She nodded, feeling sleepiness start to creep up on her.

He went in to the bathroom and came out with a washcloth. He drew the covers back, and tenderly, carefully, washed her pussy. The warmth was comforting and calming, and his act was so sweet, so intimate, she felt tears start again.

“OK?” he said.

“Yes.”

He took the cloth to the bathroom, came back to her. She nestled in to his body, and sighed deeply.

“Go to sleep, Jenny.” He ran his hands up and down her back. “I’ve got you.”

She closed her eyes. Two minutes later, she was asleep, and her dreams that night were sweet.

Chapter Ten

“But that’s amazing, Jenny.” Emma was stunned. “And when did you guys first do this?”

“Three weeks ago,” Jenny said. “That was the first time that he – he touched me that way. Made me feel good.”

“Three weeks?” Liv said. “And you’re just telling us
now
?”

Jenny twisted her hands together. “Yeah, well…”

Emma and Liv looked alert.

“Well, what?” Liv said.

“Well, it feels… different now. Like, what’s going on is just between me and Chris. It’d be like you two going in to detail about what you do with Dean and Dallas, and that’s private, right? That stays in your beds, in your relationships.”

Emma cocked her head. “So, you feel that you and Chris are in a relationship?”

“I – I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.”

“Honey, you need to,” Emma said gently. “This is the time to have that conversation, right? The one that I mentioned way back in January, about developing romantic feelings for each other, and what you’re going to do with those feelings. Remember?”

“Uh-huh.” Jenny took a sip of coffee. “But – what if he doesn’t feel the same way? What if this was all just…I don’t know. Something he did to help me, because he’s a good guy and I’m a friend?”

“That’s why you need to ask him,” Emma said. “That’s why you need to be honest.”

“I guess so.” Jenny sighed. “But let’s change the subject, OK? Any more interest in your apartment, Em?”

“Yeah. We had the second Open House last weekend, and Meredith said that she’s received three offers.”

“Really?” Liv asked. “Any worth accepting?”

“Yep. I think I’ll have Meredith call the one couple back tomorrow… say yes.”

“Wow,” Jenny said. “And you’ll move to Dean’s?”

“Well, I’ve already mostly moved there,” Emma admitted. “I’ll sell most of my furniture and give lots of my clothes to Liv’s shelter, and that’s it, really. My books can go in to storage, at least until I can get back to work.”

“Actually, Em, I wanted to talk to you about going back to work,” Liv said. “I have kind of a proposal for you.”

“OK,” Emma said. “What’s up?”

“You guys know that I’m basically unemployed now… my modeling days are over, and that’s that.”

They nodded quietly.

“So I’ve spent the past five months just sorting things out, right? Selling that house, and collecting my money from the various clients and agencies because they released me early from my contracts, and seeing Francine twice a week for therapy. And Dallas, too… working on that relationship, getting comfortable with my body again.” She grinned. “And now planning a wedding…”

“Yeah,” Jenny said. “You’ve had your hands full.”

“So, I didn’t say anything about this part, because I wasn’t sure it would all work out, but now I know it has.”

“What part?” Emma asked.

“I applied for a series of grants, from the city and the state, for the shelter for victims of domestic violence, and I got two big ones.”

“Liv!” Jenny said, delighted. “That’s amazing!”

“It is. It also means that I can now start to work with the shelter full-time, for a salary. And I can expand some services, so I want to hire a second therapist who’s worked with abused women and kids before.” She smiled at Emma. “You know anyone qualified who may be interested in working fifteen hours a week, at least for now?”

“For now?” Emma said.

“Yep. When I get the grants extended in six months, I’ll be able to offer full-time hours.”

“That timing is perfect,” Emma said. “I was hoping to start slow, and go back full-time in the winter.”

“I know.” Liv grinned. “But you need to think if you’d like to go back to the clinic at all, or if you’d like to work with the shelter. You can’t do both, right?”

“OK, I’ll think about it.” Emma took Liv’s hand. “Thank you for the offer. Can I let you know next week?”

“Sure,” Liv said. “The fifteen hours would start in May, so you have a little less than two weeks to let me know, alright?”

“Yes.”

The two women smiled at each other.

“It seems like things are going well for all of us,” Jenny observed. “But what about Kat? I’ve barely seen her lately. How’s she doing?”

“Actually, I don’t know.” Emma looked worried. “I’ve tried to call her a few times, and she never answers or calls back.”

“Yeah, same here,” Liv chimed in. “I thought she was just busy.”

“Well, I invited her over here for breakfast this morning,” Jenny said. “Left her a message and she didn’t even respond.”

“Is she alright?” Liv asked. “This isn’t like her at all, is it?”

“No,” Emma agreed. “Not in the slightest. I think I’ll drop by the salon tomorrow morning, see if she’s there. If she is, I’ll take her for coffee and ask her if she’s OK.”

“And let us know?” Liv said.

“Absolutely.” Emma nodded. “I’ll send word when I’ve seen her, and made sure she’s alright.”

**

After Olivia and Emma left, Jenny had the whole day to herself. Chris was at work, but she’d taken the day off, to get ready. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Tonight, I’m going to ask him to make love to me
.

The physical part was easy enough – shaving her legs, trimming her pussy hair, painting her toenails. Mentally, she was pretty OK: she knew that Chris would make her feel good, and he’d go slow, and he’d stop if she panicked. But she was sure she wouldn’t have an attack – she was so primed for this, after living with him for four months, and sleeping next to his body for two months.

No, it’s getting ready
emotionally
that needs a bit of work, huh?

What she’d told Liv and Emma was true: she
did
feel that what was between her and Chris was private now. And if she really felt that way, then that meant that something had changed in her. Somewhere, at some point, he’d stopped being a guy who was helping her get used to a man’s body and touch, and he had become
the
man that she wanted to be with and touch. Chris had become important to her, not for what he was able to offer her, but because of who he was.

OK, none of this was a shock. She and Zoe had talked many times about how women became emotionally attached to their sex surrogates, even when the surrogates were paid professionals. It was impossible to do the things that she and Chris were doing without becoming emotional about him. How could
any
woman kiss a man, sleep in a man’s arms, trust and feel safe with a man, have a man slip his finger inside her body until she came, and
not
start to have feelings for him?

So, fine. She had developed feelings for Chris. She could accept that. And if she’d come to this point, was it so crazy to think that maybe Chris had
also
started to move beyond friendship with her? He’d started out that way, and he’d been nothing but strong and supportive through the whole thing, but what was he thinking, really? Feeling?

Then Jenny remembered that blonde woman, the one in Chris’ apartment that day she’d gone over to ask him for his help. She knew that Chris had one-night-stands, that he’d had lots of them, and that he’d had them for a long time. For years. So, if he found a woman attractive enough, then he was able to touch her, kiss her, have sex with her, all without emotion or commitment. Certainly without love.

Is
that
what he’s doing here with me? He’s attracted to me, so he’s able to get in to bed with me? Is
that
all it is to him?

Jenny pondered that for a while, turning it over and over in her mind. Then she shrugged. OK, well, so what? She hadn’t asked Chris to be her sex surrogate in the hopes of ending up in a relationship with him, had she? No.

She’d asked him to help her because she trusted him. The plan all along was for him to get her to the point when she could accept a man’s attention and touch without fear. Then, they were to go back to their lives. He’d go home, she’d be open to dating men without trauma or panic. And they’d be just friends again.

Don’t mess this all up, girl. The whole point was to make love with a man who wouldn’t scare you… then you go out and find a man to date for real. This whole thing is artificial. Temporary. Enjoy it, enjoy him. Then move on.

Her head on straight again – for the most part, anyway – Jenny carried on with her preparations, and waited for Chris.

**

Chris shrugged off his jacket and took a deep breath. He was happy to be home.

“Jenny?” he called. “You here?”

“Yeah.” Her voice drifted down the stairs. “I’m in the bedroom.”

My favorite place for her to be.

He stood at the bottom of the stairs. “You want me to come up?”

“Oh, definitely.”

He heard it in her voice, and his whole body responded. He was hard before he took the first step, and he was almost panting by the time he reached the bedroom. He wanted to touch her. Right now.

He stood in the doorway and gazed at her. She was in bed, the sheets pulled to her chin. Her blue eyes were warm and sparkling as she stared back at him.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey yourself.” His eyes gleamed. “You wearing anything under there?”

“Why don’t you come and find out?”

“Sure thing,” he said, his voice husky.

He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached under the blankets and found her ankle. Chris made his way up her leg, his large hand skimming over her soft skin. He stroked her knee, then pressed on it until her legs fell open for him. She bit her lip and shifted under his touch, then gasped as his fingers moved higher. Higher again.

Chris watched her face as he found her hot centre and parted her drenched lower lips. She gasped as his finger slid inside her.

“You’re naked, baby,” he said. “Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Were you imagining what I’d do to you?”

“Yes.” The word ended on a moan as his thumb circled her clit.

“Were you touching yourself?” He withdrew his finger, slipped it in again. “Getting ready for me?”

She gasped again. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t,” he growled. “I just hoped.”

“Oh!” Her hips jerked under his hand. “Oh, Chris…oh,
God
…”

“Already, baby?”

“Yes…”

Her back arched and he lowered his head to her breasts. He rolled her nipples between his lips as his finger moved in and out of her, loving her total abandon. She had her hands fisted in the sheets beneath her, and she was open to his touch, his mouth. Her whole body stiffened under him, and he knew she was almost there.

He plunged two fingers inside her now, and curled them, extended them, closed them again. She gave a sharp cry as he massaged her inner walls, stroking her most intimate, most tender places. It was unlike anything she’d ever felt or experienced before and she closed her eyes.

“Jenny?” He raised his head. “You with me?”

“Yes.” She arched more. “Please don’t stop.”

He grinned. “No way. Not until you come for me.”

When her orgasm hit, she screamed his name, over and over. He watched her beautiful face, felt her amazing body shuddering under him, and he thought he’d never see anything so gorgeous in his life ever again.

“Oh, God, baby.” He lay down next to her and gathered her in his arms. “You are so incredible.”

Jenny opened her eyes. “Chris?”

“Yeah, hon?” He stroked her tumbled hair off her flushed cheeks. “You OK?”

“Yes. I wanted – I want…”

“What? What do you want, Jenny?”

“I want to make love with you. Tonight. Now.”

He stared at her, totally stunned. “Like… really make love? All the way?”

“Yes.”

“Jenny…”

“You don’t want to?” she asked.

“Of course I do,” he said. “This is what we’ve been working towards all this time, isn’t it? And if you think you’re ready, I’m ready.” He kissed her forehead. “You sure you’re ready?”

“Uh-huh.” She swallowed. “Just – just a few things.”

He propped himself up at one hand. “Tell me.”

“I need to see your face the whole time… I need to know it’s you.”

He nodded. “What else?”

“If I panic with you inside me, this time you have to let me go.”

Chris searched her eyes. “I don’t try to hold you?”

“No.” She looked down. “If I – if I go back there this time, then I need for you to get away from me. I won’t be able to take having anyone touch me right at that second.”

Chris took a breath to stay calm. “I promise. I’ll let you go if you panic, and I’ll let you come back to me when you’re ready.”

“OK.”

They stared at each other and Chris smiled at her.

“You look scared to death, baby. Come here, OK? Let’s take it slow and easy. No rush, right? We have all night.” He stroked her cheek. “And you can always ask me to stop. You can change your mind any time you want to.”

She moved in to his embrace again, relaxed on his broad chest. She closed her eyes and ran her fingers over his huge biceps, over his strong forearms. He clasped her fingers in his, raised them to his lips. She watched as his eyes sparked with desire, and she responded.

Jenny grasped the bottom of his t-shirt and pulled it up his body, dragged it over his head. Then she moved down, undid his belt buckle. His cock was already straining hard against his jeans, and she carefully unzipped him, took him in her hand. Now he moaned and closed his eyes, arching in to her touch.

Slowly, she undressed him, taking her time. He lay on his back, watched her through hooded lids, fighting to stay in control of his body. When she crawled up between his legs and climbed on top of him, he felt his cock twitch. The sight of those full breasts swinging above him, of her generous thighs spread over his hips, of her stunning face alight with pleasure, was all almost too much.

OK, man. No screwing this all up. You have to last, you have to make sure this is good for her.

She gazed down at him, at his gorgeous face, and saw the heat in his gray eyes. She leaned down and took his mouth, her hands on his muscled shoulders. Almost without any conscious thought on her part, her hips started moving on him, rolling in small circles, grinding on his hard body. He grasped her hips gently, encouraging her.