Jamie (22 page)

Until Faith caught his hand, and said, “Jamie, I'm confused.”

He pulled his attention away from her breasts and looked into her dark blue eyes, clouded with worry. “Confused about what? You want me. I want you. It doesn't get much simpler than that.”

“You're still reading me.”

Jamie trailed his free hand down to her hip, then nudged her thighs slightly apart. He wanted to see her, all of her. There wasn't much on this earth prettier than a woman's body. “Your thoughts are a turn-on.”

“But ... I thought ...”

Her hesitation struck him, and Jamie felt his guts tighten. Faith wanted declarations from him. She wanted him to expose himself. She wanted control.

But he wouldn't give in to her. “What? That I can't read people I care about?”

She nodded.

So Faith wanted to know if he cared for her? She thought one fuck and he'd be swearing undying love—just as he'd done with Delayna?

Jamie retreated, both physically and emotionally. Joe had said to stay in control, and he intended to do just that. If he admitted to Faith that in the last hour she'd become crystal clear to him, would she understand that he already cared too damn much?

What would she do with that information? Spilling his guts sure as hell wouldn't help maintain his control. Just the opposite. Even if Faith didn't plot against him, she was a woman—and women always wanted that type of information so they could use it.

Easing close to her again, Jamie put his hand high on her thigh, curling his fingers inward, near her dewy sex. He deliberately wiped all inflection from his tone. “What makes you think I'm reading you? ”

Faith was so easy that already her skin flushed and her nipples tightened. She glanced down at his teasing fingers, then bit her lips. “You know what I want, even before I say it.”

“Sexually, you mean?”

She met his gaze. Her chin firmed. “Yes.”

Regardless of her bravado, Jamie knew her heart beat fast and her blood rushed through her veins. He felt it, the same as he felt his own.

“So you want this?” Wedging his hand between her thighs, he encountered the stickiness of his come, with the slipperiness of her release, and he breathed harder.

He easily sank in two fingers, began a slow, gentle rhythm, and felt the clamp of her body, the shudder that ran through her.

Faith closed her eyes, but Jamie said, “No. Look at me, Faith,” and he continued to finger her as their eyes met, hers liquid, his fierce. He wanted her bad, almost as much as he had an hour ago.

Fingers tightening in the sheets, Faith moaned and arched her back, lifting her breasts toward him.

With a smile, Jamie bent to draw her nipple into his mouth, tonguing her, nipping with his teeth. “I don't need to be a mind reader to know you're turned on, Faith.”

He straightened and heard her indrawn breath, saw the way her thighs parted to encourage him. “You see? It may have been a hell of a long time since I've had a woman, but some things a man doesn't forget.”

Breathless, her hips beginning to lift beneath his hand, Faith asked, “What do you mean?”

With her eyes so heavy and her lips trembling, she looked beautiful to Jamie. Beautiful and sexy and ready.

“You have an expressive face and an even more expressive body. The way you move, the sounds you make, let me know what you want. And right now, you're close to coming.”

He pressed his fingers deeper and heard her gasp. Pleased with her, Jamie taunted, “Aren't you, Faith? ”

She bit her bottom lip, hesitated, and finally gave one jerky nod.

The flush on her face was only part embarrassment, but mostly lust. Jamie whispered, “Do you want me to make you come, Faith?”

“I don't understand you.”

He counted his blessings on that one. “No, but you still want me, don't you? Tell me.”

She swallowed hard and turned her face away. “You're being deliberately cruel.”

“Cruel?” Jamie worked his thumb through her curls, found her clitoris, and gently pressed. “Is that what I am?”

With a broken moan, Faith's hands tightened more, until Jamie thought she might rip the sheets. Her chest rose and fell on labored breaths and her legs stiffened, her heels pressing into the mattress.

“So close.” Jamie forgot about control and the repercussions of giving it up. “So beautiful.” He bent to her breast again, circled her nipple with his tongue. “Will you come for me, Faith?” And then, more insistently, “Come for me.”

“
Jamie.
”

Her back arched, and he pressed his fingers deep, worked her with his thumb. “That's it.” He sucked at her nipple, hungry for her, and she broke, crying out, moaning and twisting, her inner muscles clamping down hard on his fingers while the orgasm rolled through her.

Jamie waited until the climax receded, until she went limp and soft, before moving between her legs. He lifted her hips in his hands and drove into her, hard and fast.

Faith whimpered, clutching at his shoulders, holding him like a lifeline. Little aftershocks of pleasure still rippled through her.

Connected to her, falling into a deep carnal void, Jamie closed his eyes. He felt Faith's mouth on his chest, moving over his burning skin. He felt her body welcoming him, milking him.

He felt her sadness and acceptance. And he felt her love.

He doubted himself, knowing it was too damn soon for anything remotely close to love, but still it filled him up and drove him wild.

“No,” Jamie groaned in denial, even as he ground his teeth together and exploded. The pleasure went on too long, until he was drained from the combination of pulsing release and tender emotion.

As his strength gave way, he collapsed onto Faith, breathing hard, trembling like a virgin, shaken to his soul.

She hugged him to her, and Jamie could do no more than accept the kiss she pressed to his shoulder and the flood of affection that she didn't even try to conceal.

Chapter Twelve

Faith didn't know what to say or think when Jamie suddenly rolled to his back, drew in two long, shaky breaths, and thrust himself away from the bed. He walked like a drunk at first, clumsy, his footfalls heavy, until he managed to straighten.

Sitting up, Faith stared after him as he headed for the ladder. “Jamie?”

“Stay put.”

Hurt, Faith frowned, then flopped back on the bed and covered her face. Good God, what they did together couldn't be called mere sex. It was so much more than that. And she knew damn good and well, despite his closed expression and distant attitude, that Jamie had felt it, too.

“I did,” he yelled, sounding annoyed. “Now be quiet.”

Faith sat up again and resisted the urge to shake her fist at him. She took a few calming breaths, then shouted back, “I didn't say anything.”

“You don't have to, damn it!”

Oh. That left her even more confused, and when she heard Jamie returning, she scrambled for the sheet and quickly covered herself. The second his head cleared the landing, she grilled him. “So you can read me still? Is that it?”

He didn't answer, but he had a damp washcloth in his hand, and that alarmed her enough that she didn't bother asking again.

Jamie stopped by the bed, frowning like a villain, and looked at the way she clutched the sheet to her chin. He rolled his eyes. “Let it go, Faith. ”

She shook her head. “No.” Then she looked at the washcloth. “What are you going to do?”

He followed her line of vision to the washcloth. “With this? I don't know. Maybe murder you with a scrap of terrycloth. Or perform some barbaric ritual on your body using damp material. Maybe something perverted—”

“Stop it.
”

“Then don't be ridiculous.” Before she could draw another breath, Jamie ripped the sheet away and dropped it on the floor. “I'm going to clean you, and then we're going to go downstairs and eat soup and try to have a civil conversation that doesn't include me molesting you or you hiding secrets.”

Faith wrapped her arms around her breasts. “I don't want to.” Not until she knew what he had on his mind—which she considered only fair.

Jamie sat beside her on the bed. “Which part? Going downstairs or talking to me?”

All of it, really, but Faith nodded at the washcloth. “I can clean myself. I don't need you to do it, and I don't want you to watch.”

Those awesome eyes of his sparked with annoyance. “Why so modest all of a sudden?”

“I've always been modest.” And now she knew he'd read her thoughts, and she knew he knew that she cared so much for him and—

Jamie held up a hand. “That's far too convoluted for me to figure out on an empty stomach.”

Her empty stomach roiled with distress. “I was blocking you, damn you!”

“Yeah, well.” Smiling, Jamie bent and kissed her nose. “I don't think you can anymore, but you're welcome to try.” One hand landed heavily on the inside of her thigh, and he moved her legs apart. “Now be quiet and hold still.”

Frozen with mortification, Faith watched the intense concentration on Jamie's face as he visually examined her. He frowned, and gently began wiping away the residue of their lovemaking.

“Are you sore?”

Humiliation rippled through her. Faith thought about lying, but knew it'd be no use. “A little.”

Jamie glanced up. “I'm sorry.”

He looked remorseful, and tender. Faith's heart tripped, and then promptly softened. “Don't be. I'm not. Not about that.”

Something darkened in his face. His shoulders tensed, and Jamie closed his eyes as if counting to ten. “This is ridiculous.”

“What is?”

“I want you again.”

Shocked, Faith looked at his lap, saw he was in fact semi-erect, and raised her objections. “I really think I need a few minutes. Maybe a shower. And I'm getting hungry, too.”

Cursing, Jamie stood in a rush, his hands clamped behind his head as he paced the length of the room.

Faith watched him with no idea of what to say. She had no idea that a guy could even—

“You're right, you know.” Jamie turned to stare at her. “I remember sex, and it wasn't ...” At a loss for words, he indicated her, the bed, something, and added, “This.”

Then he dropped his head forward and groaned. “Not that you'd know what I'm talking about really, because you were a virgin.”

Faith gasped. Oh no. She
definitely
hadn't thought about that. She was sure of it.

Jamie looked at her over his shoulder, his expression forbidding. “How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not an ignorant man. I knew right away you hadn't given birth, but to not even have had sex? That's bizarre, Faith. It doesn't make any sense.”

Faith opened her mouth, and he said, “No.” He strode toward her. “Let's go downstairs first and feed our faces. I've worked up one hell of an appetite, so I imagine you have, too.”

“Yes.” Thankful for the reprieve, Faith gingerly swung her legs off the bed and stood. The room spun around her, and she grabbed the nightstand. “Wow.” Her legs were shaky, her head muzzy, and she felt like someone had sapped all her strength.

Jamie stood close, but didn't touch her. “Yeah, I know. I felt the same way.”

He didn't show it. He looked strong and confident—and determined. And that worried her. Straightening and taking a cautious step forward, Faith said, “I'm okay now.”

He nodded. “Good. Let's go.”

Faith reached for the shirt she'd worn earlier, but Jamie ordered, “Leave it.”

Scandalized, Faith whipped around to see him again. She sputtered before finally getting out the words. “I can't eat naked.”

“Why not? I'm going to.” Jamie gave her body a thorough once-over. “I enjoy looking at you, and it's not like I haven't already seen everything.”

“Not while I'm eating!”

“What difference does it make?”

Faith had no idea, she just knew that it did make a difference. Scrambling for a good defense, she said, “It's cold.”

Jamie lifted one shoulder. “So I'll make another fire.”

He waited, expectant, and Faith gave up. If he enjoyed seeing her, what harm would it cause? She could handle it. Hadn't she handled everything else up to this point? “No. We don't need a fire. There's plenty of steam from the soup. The cabin is actually warm.”

“I know.”

Of course he did. He was in her head. Faith lifted her chin. “Fine, we'll eat naked like all civilized people do.”

Jamie moved closer to her, and Faith held her breath. But he only tucked her hair behind her ear and said, “Thank you.”

How could he melt her resistance so easily? Before coming to Jamie's cabin, she'd had a backbone. Now she felt like a jellyfish. “At least put something over the windows.”

“No one ever visits me, Faith. It'll be private enough.”

“What about Alyx?”

Jamie shrugged. “I always know when she's coming, and she's not going to be here tonight.”

“But ... I still feel exposed.”

Jamie smiled, and this time his hand trailed over her shoulder to cup her breast, where he gently thumbed her nipple before continuing down to her waist, her hip.

Scrutinizing her body, he murmured softly, “You are exposed, just as I like you to be.” He brought his attention back to her face and frowned. “But if it'll make you happy, I'll cover the windows while you serve the soup.”

“Thank you.”

Five minutes later, Faith sat at the table without a stitch of clothing, eating soup and buttered bread and feeling very jittery again. That had more to do with Jamie's nudity than her own. And the way he watched her, how his gaze strayed again and again to her breasts, and the heat in his eyes.

“This is good.”

Faith nearly jumped out of her seat. “Thank you. It seemed a waste to use a roast for soup, but I wasn't sure when you'd be back, and if a roast cooks too long it can get tough, and—”

“So.” He interrupted her rambling, and when she fell mute, he took a long drink of his tea before giving her his undivided attention. “You're a virgin.”

Faith held her breath. But ... Jamie didn't seem to be particularly upset about that, when she'd been half expecting the worst.

He shook his head. “No. Just tell me why, and how it is that you came to adopt Cory. She is adopted, isn't she?”

“Yes. In every way possible, other than by birth, Cory is mine. I got her the day she was born, and I've loved her as much as if I had given birth to her.”

“I know.”

Over and over again, Jamie gave the same reply.
I know.
But this time, the inflection he put on the simple retort sent warmth all through her. Why had no one ever told her how his voice could affect her?

Hands shaking, Faith leaned toward him. “I love her, Jamie.”

“And you're here because you need me to protect her from someone?”

Faith sat back in her seat and drew a deep breath. “I don't really know—and that's the truth.”

Eyes narrowed, Jamie said, “Go on.”

“Cory sent me here. She said bad things would happen and I had to find you.”

Jamie stared at her while considering that, and finally nodded in acceptance. “Sometimes it's not easy to figure things out. You get only bits and pieces of what will happen, not the whole thing. It's like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Until enough pieces are in place, you don't know what the picture will be. It'd help if I could talk with Cory. Maybe together we could work through it.”

Looking down at the table to avoid Jamie's reaction, Faith said, “I imagine you'll be meeting her very soon.”

He jerked so hard, the small table shook. “How?” In the next heartbeat, he shot to his feet and planted both hands on the table to lean toward her, crowding her space. “Where is she, Faith? Who is she staying with?”

His reaction stunned her, and Faith pressed back in her chair, speechless.

In a fury, Jamie rounded the table and caught her arms just above her elbows. He lifted her to her tiptoes. “Answer me, damn it.”

“It's okay, Jamie.” She pressed a hand to his chest and felt the wild thumping of his heart. Fear for her daughter? Faith thought so. “Jamie, Cory is like you. She knows when bad things will happen, so she wouldn't make the trip if it wasn't safe.”

“Who's she with?”

“My mother, Tracy.” Faith tried to soothe him. “I love Cory, and I trust her. She's only eight, but her ability is astounding.”

Jamie didn't relax one iota. “I know. I saw her.”

“You did?”

He nodded, his face still hard with worry. “It was almost like she stood right there in front of me, with me. She saw me, too. ”Jamie released Faith and took a step away. “She ... talked to me. But ... not really.”

Faith had no idea what to say, not that Cory's actions surprised her. “She told me you would connect with her. She knew that. But she also told me that I had to get to know you before I could explain why I was here.”

Jamie turned away, and Faith eyed his broad back, the indention of his spine framed with long muscles, the tapering angles of his hips.

He jerked back around to face her, some heated emotion blazing from his eyes. His hands flexed, and then he opened his fingers, deliberately relaxing. Two deep breaths, and seconds later, Jamie returned to his seat. “Don't tempt me, Faith.”

“I wasn't—”

“Finish eating.”

Concerned, Faith pulled out her chair. “Jamie, are you okay?”

“You said Cory would be here soon. When?”

“I'm not certain. Maybe tomorrow.”

He gave a laugh that had nothing to do with humor. “Great. Just fucking great.”

Stiffening, her maternal hackles rising, Faith said, “You don't want her here?”

Jamie jerked his head up to face her. “No! I didn't mean that.” He fell back in his seat and locked his hands behind his head, his biceps knotted with frustration. “I look forward to meeting her.” He returned his hands to the tabletop. “The thing is, the others are coming soon, too.”

“What others?”

“All of them. Scott first, but then Joe and Bryan and their wives ...” Jamie shook his head. “Every-one.”

“Oh.” Faith didn't understand. “Why?”

“To check you out, and because they have some lame idea that I need their help.”

“With what?”

“You.”

“Oh.” She cleared her throat, tried a smile that didn't quite work. “Do you?”

“No. Maybe. Hell, I don't know.” Jamie growled, scrubbed his hands over his face, and then picked up his spoon and pointed it at her. “What I do know is that I'm nowhere near done with you. So finish eating and I'll try to be patient through a shower. But that's about as much as I can promise.”

Faith blinked at Jamie, but having him say it, so bold and blatant like that, made her want him again, too. Well, his nudity also helped. Seeing his body made her hand shake as she picked up her spoon. And once she looked at him, she couldn't look away long enough to get her spoon in her soup bowl. Jamie was just so gorgeous, such a fabulous model for male strength and sensitivity and—

“Faith?”

Swallowing a moan, she managed to drag her gaze to his face. “Hmm?”

“Eat. And hurry.”