Love Me Anyway by Jennifer Probst
Chapter Five
Julianna pushedthe covers back and climbed out of bed. Her nightgown stuck to her body, damp with sweat from her dream. The walls of the Cliff House closed around her, pulsing like in the Haunting of Hell House and drove her through the doors.
She stood on the pathway. A sliver of moon peeked behind the drifting clouds, and lights sprinkled down the walkway, past the ocean’s cliff illuminating a dim beacon that allowed her to pick her way along the cobblestone path. Instinct pushed her to follow the familiar route and avoid the sharp drops and hidden cracks until she perched by the heavy rocks.
Julianna gazed out at the night, her body burning like in fever. Her nightgown twisted around her bare legs and the cool breeze rushed between her thighs, inciting more heat. She swallowed a sob and cursed the man who’d dragged her sexual needs into the light of day.
She wanted him. Right or wrong, he was the first man who’d declared he wanted to claim her and bring pleasure. Her experiences were few and far between. She’d lost her virginity on a second date in a car. A few fumbling attempts and one thrust completed the experience. He’d never spoken to her again and she hadn’t cared. A brief affair with a man her parents hoped she’d marry had given her no gratification. He’d been proper in public and messy in private. Again, she’d been left cold and unsatisfied as he lay sated beside her. Her masturbation attempts were more satisfactory but only left her burning for more fulfillment, her fingers never quite able to soothe the wild beast inside.
The years caring for her parents finally took their toll and slowly stripped away her sexuality. Julianna wrestled those messy emotions into a cold, dark corner and the yearning finally receded.
Until Jack.
The waves screamed and the moon gleamed. Safe in the darkness, she cried out in frustration as her blood heated for a man’s hands on her body. She ripped the pins from her hair and let the wild waves blow in the breeze. Her hands cupped her breasts, massaging them through the thin cotton material, and with an animal moan she ripped down her bodice.
Her nipples ached and pebbled in the cool air. She pinched them and arched back, reveling in her brief nakedness. The crash of the waves against the rocks drove her on and she yanked up her gown, parted her legs, and slid her fingers inside her panties.
She was swollen and aching for something she couldn’t have. Her lips cursed his name as she parted her slick folds and rubbed the swollen nub, back and forth, the steady rhythm tightening the tension inch by inch until her orgasm rushed forth. Her cry echoed over the cliffs as she climaxed. Tears leaked down her cheeks at the release, even as she recognized the empty ache inside could only be filled by a man. She lay on the rocks for a while, legs splayed, and waited for the control to seep back into her body. Julianna pushed her nightgown back down and rose, a bit unsteady. With a determined breath, she picked her way back to the pathway.
Then froze.
He stood before her; a dark looming figure silhouetted against the rise of the cliff. Julianna sucked in her breath as waves of sexual energy hit her full force. He kept completely still, every muscle locked tight, yet there was a predatory aura in his stillness that tempted her to run. As if he sensed her impulse, he closed the distance between them and the moonlight lifted the shadow from his face.
“No.” The word broke from her lips in her last attempt to deny what he wanted to claim. She knew it was useless—knew in that moment she’d give herself to him and whatever he wanted from her. Her starved body took control and her brief denial drifted uselessly on the ocean breeze to disappear forever.
His eyes glowed hot and bright as he took in her bare feet, her wrinkled nightgown, and the gaping bodice which revealed one naked breast. He reached out and slowly lifted her hand to his lips. His nostrils flared as he breathed her in, and Julianna’s cheeks burned, knowing her fingers were still damp from pleasuring herself. A growl rose from his throat and he pulled her hard against his chest, locking her against him with an easy masculine power that shook her to the core.
“I came for you tonight, Julianna.” His voice beckoned and hypnotized; hot and creamy and slow as it dripped over her ears and naked skin. “I watched you touch yourself but it’s not enough, is it? You need me. Need me to slake the burn.”
He reached around and twisted his fingers in her hair, then tugged hard. Julianna gazed up at his face filled with determination and erotic promise. She tried desperately to make a last stand. “I don’t need anyone.”
His lower lip curled. “Liar. Are you afraid of me?”
“No.” God knows, she was more afraid of herself. The primitive reaction of her body; the dark lust pumping through her veins.
“Good.” His grip on her tightened. “I’m going to give you what you want tonight. What we both want. You don’t even have to say yes, or no.” He leaned over and his breath struck her lips. “All you need to do is say my name.”
She paused, staring into his glowing, fiery eyes. A thrill shivered down her spine. He was giving her a way out. A way she could keep her pride and still win. And God, how she wanted it, how she craved to be overtaken so she could finally surrender her body without limits. Julianna licked her lips.
Raw hunger flickered over his features. “Say it,” he growled.
“Jack.”
His mouth crushed hers. She clung to him as he plundered her lips like a primitive warrior intent on crashing down her defenses. His tongue thrust, his teeth bit, and she couldn’t help crying out, craving every dark and dirty thing he wanted to do to her. He bent her backward over his arm and held her off balance while he ravished her mouth with no mercy and little gentleness. A flame flared to life and burned bright, pushing her to meet him halfway. She gave it all back to him with an animal wildness that exploded. Her nails dug hard into his shoulders and her tongue tangled and battled, until she gasped for breath and felt as if her very sanity slipped away.
He ripped his mouth away from her, bent down, and lifted her over his shoulder. With long, easy strides he walked back to the house, down the hallway, and into her bedroom. He shut the door with a quick kick and dropped her on the bed.
“Take off your nightgown.”
Julianna blinked. Her initial shyness faded under the hard glitter in his eyes that commanded her to do it and do it quickly. Her heart pounded as she pulled the fabric over her head and tossed it on the floor.
“Now the panties.”
Wetness pooled and dripped between her legs. Her fingers shook and she paused.
“Do it.”
Julianna swallowed hard and slid the fabric down her legs, lying completely naked on the bed. The abandon of letting a man see her vulnerable made excitement race her heart and heat her blood. Her nipples hardened and her breath came hard as she waited.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous. Now, lie back and spread your legs.”
She blinked at him, torn between years of restraint and her need to give him everything he asked for. As if he knew the inner battle that waged, he took a step toward the bed and loomed over her.
“Let yourself go, love. I’m not going to hurt you.” A wicked glint danced in his gaze. “Unless you want me to.”
A primal thrill speared her belly at his threat. She sensed the erotic dominance and ached to surrender. Julianna lay back on the pillows and spread her legs wide. He murmured his approval and took off his clothes. She felt his dark, hungry gaze probe every inch of her naked body, and then he was lying on the bed next to her.
“Very nice.” His approval flushed her skin a dark red as she let him drink his fill. He fanned her long dark hair out on the pillow, then coasted his hands lightly down her body. She flinched as her nipples pushed against the gentle touch for more, but he kept moving downward, caressing her soft belly, thighs, under her knees, all the way to the soles of her feet. Then back up his fingers glided, to rest on her inner thighs. She tightened with need and anticipation, but he only pushed her legs apart wider, so her pussy opened. Julianna moaned and felt her juices drip, and her clit throb for attention.
“You have a beautiful pussy,” he whispered darkly, taking one finger to part the folds of her lips to reveal her clit. “Pink and wet, perfect for my tongue to massage. But you didn’t wait for me tonight, did you, Julianna? You took your own fingers and pleasured yourself, so you have to be punished first. You’re going to have a long time to wait before I give you satisfaction.”
“Jack—”
“Shhh, no talking. Do what I say. Now, let me suck on these gorgeous breasts.”
Keeping her legs wide open but avoiding her center completely, he eased to the side and gave her breasts full attention. His breath teased one crown while his fingers massaged the other one. Julianna sank deeper and deeper into a pit of hellfire, every inch of her body sensitized and waiting for his touch. He used one thumb to flick her nipple back and forth, while his tongue circled and played gently with the other. She arched upward, desperate to grind her pussy against his hard thigh for some relief, but he used one muscled leg to lock her in place. Still, he played with her breasts, taking the tight tips into his mouth to suck hard, scrape his teeth, and then soothe with his tongue.
“Oh, please, Jack, please—”
He gave a low laugh of pleasure, then shifted his weight and moved downward. “Oh, I will. You taste like vanilla ice cream. I’m going to lick every last inch of you but not your pussy. You’ll have to wait.”
Sanity began to fade as he tasted the sensitive curve of her neck, dipped his tongue into her navel, nibbled on her public bone. Still, he kept her legs splayed and gave her no relief, just his hot breath stirring her swollen flesh as he explored her thighs and ran his tongue close to her aching heat.
“Tell me what you want,” he demanded, as he kept her bucking hips down in a punishing hold.
She stumbled over the words. “Please lick me.”
He lifted his head. His lip quirked in a sexy smile. “You can do better. Let yourself go and tell me exactly what you want.”
Her verbal and physical constraints burst forward in a flood of erotic need. “Make me come, oh, God, Jack, please.”
“Very nice.”
He took his fingers and held apart her swollen lips. Bent forward. Breathed hard on her engorged folds. Then dipped his head.
His wet tongue surged forward and licked her clit. She cried out as he used a steady pressure that slowly increased, swirling his tongue around and around as his fingers thrust hard and deep. The pressure on her clit and the driving force of his fingers drove her mad, and her head thrashed from side to side in an agony of pleasure. Suddenly, the orgasm ripped through her and she screamed, her hips bucking against his mouth as he kept the pressure on and kept kissing her through the convulsions.
Her body jumped and shook in the aftershock, and then she heard the sound of ripping as he sheathed himself with a condom. He rose over her like a wild stallion, his erection pulsing between her wet thighs. Julianna squeezed her eyes shut and waited, but he made no further moves. She panted in sheer frustration and arched up.
“Ask me.”
Oh, she burned with such shame and hunger, aching for all of him. Her eyes flew open. “Please,” she whispered, not caring any longer.
The tip of his cock teased her entrance. Suddenly, his hands roughly cupped her cheeks, forcing her to meet his gaze. Those eyes shone with hunger. “Say it the way I want.”
Need wracked her body. “Put your cock inside me now,” she urged. “Take me hard.”
With a satisfied murmur, he surged forward and buried himself to the hilt. Julianna gasped at the tightness and her body struggled to accept him after all the years without a man. She instinctively tried to push him away, but he soothed her with gentle caresses and waited for her body to release. Soon, her inner muscles softened, accepting the enormous size of him, and she relaxed, his body pressing her deep into the mattress.
He moved slow at first, getting her body used to the fullness, but Julianna felt the pleasure steadily build again as her body milked him with her juices. He cursed under his breath, something dirty, and she arched, her feet hooked tightly around his hips. He slid completely out of her, caressed her sensitive nub, then surged back. The pace built until Julianna was again at the edge of orgasm, desperate for the relief only his cock could give her. She urged him for more, but he laughed low and kept teasing her, wringing strangled cries from her lips as she strained for release.
His hands tweaked her hard nipples. His cock drove harder and harder. He reached between them and pinched the sensitive bud, and then she was coming hard, screaming his name. He muttered in satisfaction, and she heard a hoarse shout as he joined her. Sated and exhausted, darkness edged her vision. He pulled her close, his skin warm and damp. The earthy scent of sex and man drifted to her nostrils.
Even though she craved his closeness, Julianna pushed against his chest but he ignored her, pinning her against him with one heavy thigh until she was surrounded by blistering heat and hair-roughened skin. The comfort burned through her protests and she surrendered.
She drifted to sleep, his name still lingering on her lips.
Jack stared at the naked, sleeping woman beside him. He tamped down on the sense of pure triumph and possession streaking through his testosterone system. Always logical and able to sort out a situation, he admitted last night had been a mistake. Erect and uncomfortable, he’d sought a brisk walk along the cliffs to ease the tension. When he found himself at her window, he turned and saw her on the rocks. Half-naked, head arched up to the sky, pleasuring herself. He knew in that moment he had to claim her body, despite his disgust for everything she was. His primitive instincts roared through him and civilization had no chance at survival. Jack made a quick decision to sleep with her and wring her out of his system. Then go on with his search for a real wife.
Julianna grunted in her sleep and smashed her face into the pillow. Unlike her ladylike tendencies in public, her private fantasies in the bedroom surpassed any of his expectations. He reached for her multiple times during the night, expecting her to fight him or tire. Instead, she took everything he gave and begged for more. Jack looked down at his rock-hard erection with dismay. His need for her wasn’t going away. Their time together had only increased it.
Jack knew she’d awaken confused and upset by her impulsive decision to take the gardener to bed. If he wanted more, he needed a plan. Something to disarm her defenses.
He still needed to look for his own wife, one who didn’t care about wealth and trappings. Julianna was a distraction he should walk away from, no matter how much his cock craved her. Yet, she called to him on a deep, primitive level he couldn’t deny. He wanted to initiate her into the world of sex and pleasure; to be the man who recognized the fire burning inside and set it free. Then, he could move on. He was positive she’d eventually bore him, and he’d be in a better place to meet someone who he could truly love and respect.
This was simply sex.
Jack left the bedroom and made his way into the fully stocked kitchen. He noted with amusement the organic whole bean coffee with a fancy espresso machine and got to work. He loved Americans and their joy for toys.
He made the coffee with quick, economical movements and brought in two cups. After his first sip, he grudgingly approved of the machine, since it was the best damn cup of coffee he’d ever had.
Jack watched with amusement as she lifted her head halfway up the pillow as the heady scent hit her senses. Slowly, one eye opened. She stared at him, perched half naked in the chair beside her bed. Jack watched the flicker of expressions cross over her face as the events of last night replayed in her mind. A chuckle strangled his lips when red-hot color flooded her cheeks. She sat up.
“Good morning. I made coffee.”
She didn’t answer, just took in his wardrobe of black briefs and a morning erection. Julianna ducked her head and reached for the cup. “Good morning,” she said, her voice a bit husky from sleep. “Thank you.”
He grinned with delight at her polite tone and wondered if she’d speak so properly if he had his cock deep in her throat. He pushed the thought aside and got to work before her defenses shot back up.
“I know you may be regretting last night. Probably thinking it’ll never happen again, it was a mistake, so on and so forth.”
She didn’t respond but he knew he’d snagged her attention. “So, before we make a mess of our morning, I’d like to offer you a proposal.”
One brow arched. He caught a glimmer of irritation from cocoa-brown eyes, which only made him want to slam her back on the bed and kiss the expression off her face. “What proposal?” she asked.
“You want to marry someone with money.” He put up his hands as she opened her mouth to snap at him. “I’m not judging, just noting what you told me. I may not agree, but I certainly understand. A wanderer isn’t in the cards for your mate. But if last night was any indication, you need to let off some steam before you explode.”
He spoke fast. “Who knows what type of husband you’ll decide to settle down with? This is an opportunity for both of us to satisfy ourselves sexually without any expectations. I’ll be leaving in a few weeks. We’ll keep our affair a secret, and I’ll only visit you late at night. You pursue your proper husband, and I’ll finish my work here and move on. We’ll keep out of the public eye, there’ll be no nasty gossip, and you won’t ruin your reputation.”
She sipped her coffee and stared at him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “How do I know you’ll keep a secret?”
He dropped his gaze to her naked breasts, hanging heavy and ripe. Her nipples hardened immediately and stood to attention, practically begging for his mouth. He gave a low, wicked laugh as she yanked up the sheet to cover herself. “Because I want you and it’s an arrangement that suits us both.”
She tossed a heavy tangled mass of chocolate curls over her shoulder and challenged him. “How do you know my cravings aren’t slaked? Maybe I got you out of my system last night. Maybe it’s time for you to leave.”
Lust speared deep and hard. God, she was gorgeous. All flushed, soft skin and wet heat. She wanted to play games with a master. Damn, she had spirit. She never let a man peek beneath her surface. He stretched out his legs in lazy abandon as she watched him from heavily lidded eyes, halfway cautious. He reached for her cup and placed it on the table. “Maybe we should find out.”
He moved quickly. In seconds, he ripped off the sheet and pinned her to the mattress. He caught her wrists and held them high above her head, while he held her down with one heavy thigh. She breathed hard, her mouth open, slightly in shock. He kept his hold firm as he allowed his other hand to lazily trace the outline of her body, flicking her nipples, traveling downward to dip two fingers in her pulsing wetness. Her eyes darkened and she arched away from him, trying to free herself.
“Let me go.” Her words caught on a pant as he used his thumb to work her clit in a gentle, steady rhythm.
“I’ll give you one more minute to make your decision. Tell me to go again and I’m out of here.”
He covered his mouth with hers and drank in the heady taste of her while he continued to arouse. Her tongue tangled and battled with his as he fought for possession of her mouth, then celebrated his victory by marauding every last inch of her slick, hot entrance. Her juices flowed freely against his hand and she twisted wildly underneath him, desperate for more. When he pulled away, he no longer felt like playing. Jack waited.
“Tell me to go,” he said.
She moaned, caught halfway to orgasm. His thumb paused on her throbbing clit. Her fingers clenched against his and she gave him the words. “I can’t.”
Victory surged in through his veins. “You agree to the bargain? You belong to me at night. You do anything I say.”
“What if I don’t like what you do?”
His grin was wicked and dirty. He liked when she challenged him. Beneath her prudish exterior was a wildcat who yearned for freedom. He intended to use his time wisely to spring open the cage. “I will never do anything you don’t want. I will never hurt you unless you ask for it. And I guarantee you will orgasm every time, multiple times.”
Her eyes grew glassy, and satisfaction roared through him as he sensed victory. “Yes,” she whispered.
“Say please.”
She groaned, and her cheeks turned bright red. “Please, Jack.”
The sound of his name on her lips made him want to mark her again. “Get on top of me.”
He ripped off his briefs and flipped her over so she straddled him. He fitted himself with a condom, then guided her down to take him, inch by slow inch. She gasped as he filled her, and his hands rubbed the ripe breasts as he urged her on. When he was buried deep, she wiggled to adjust, and he almost lost it. Jack gritted his teeth, cursed viciously, and held on to his control.
“Now ride me. Hard.”
She threw back her head and obeyed. He rubbed her tight nipples, then gripped her hips as she ground her clit against his cock, searching for release. He reached between them and worked his fingers over her throbbing bud, slick and swollen. Then he felt her juices running over his dick, as she clenched tight. She cried out as the orgasm took hold, and without a second thought, he followed her over the edge. His body shook as he let go, and then she slumped over his chest, breathing hard.
He remained quiet as he stroked her back, the skin pale and silky smooth. The luscious curve of her ass sat perfectly in his palm as he squeezed the tender flesh in a rough massage. She finally spoke.
“You drive a hard bargain.”
He laughed and gave her a quick slap, ignoring her yelp. “You’re too bossy. You need someone to take control sometimes.”
Julianna huffed out a breath and lifted her head. “I’m not bossy.”
“Woman, you’d scare the hell out of a lesser man.”
She nibbled at her swollen lower lip. “Do I come off as too intimidating? Maybe I need to be a little more approachable?”
Jack laughed. “Julianna, I’m not giving you husband-hunting tips. Consider yourself warned.” He disentangled himself and stalked toward the bathroom. “I’m going to shower, then get back to work. I’ll see you tonight.”
She sat on the bed in a tangle of sheets, looking a bit shy and awkward. “I’ll wait for you here?”
“Yes, I’ll come to you. Make sure you’re naked and ready for me.”
She winced but nodded. He made sure not to look back and reminded himself this was a game. He refused to soothe or comfort her. She knew the rules—hell, she’d laid them out personally. He still needed to find his wife, but Julianna would be a pleasant diversion while in Newport, and his deception regarding his identity could be kept secret. No one would get hurt. She had no need to know he was the heir to millions, along with a juicy title. His lips twisted in irony as he turned on the spray. Thank God he’d realized her true colors before he became enchanted with a woman who was, at heart, a liar. Still, she’d gotten under his skin and this was the best way to exorcise her demon.
Satisfied with his logic, he finished his shower and left.