Five Ways 'Til Sunday Read online

  Holding Gus’s amused stare, Jackson bent toward her ear. “Check two off that list, baby.”

  * * *

  Jackson caught up with Craig the next day for lunch. “How’s the canvassing goin’? Anyone see anything?”

  “Nope. And forensics came up with nada as well. No prints. Video from both places caught the thief, but he was masked before entering. And last night, he hit again—that voodoo shop just around the corner from the tavern, right at closing. They’re worried that he’s escalating. This time he knocked the store clerk out after he tied her up.”

  Disgusted, Jackson shook his head. “I’ll be sure Marti tells her staff to watch for any strangers who linger at closing time.”

  “Speaking of your girl…” Craig’s grin stretched. “Heard Gus had a fine ole time.”

  Jackson growled deep in his throat. “The point is that Marti had a good time.”

  “Bet she did,” Craig said, chuckling. “Gus is…impressive.”

  Jackson planted his fists on his hips and glared.

  His friend held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man, just yankin’ your chain. You know, we’re all invested in this thing now. Gonna have room in the wedding party for four best men?”

  A rueful smile tugged at Jackson’s mouth. “I think we’ll elope. I don’t want any help with the honeymoon. That is, if she ever says yes. You do know that list was a crock.”

  Craig nodded; his expression turned serious. “Think she was hopin’ you’d balk?”

  Jackson sighed. “Yeah. If I caved, we could keep things like they are. She’s happy with that.”

  “But it’s not enough for you.”

  “No, I want kids with her, Craig. I want the white picket fence and to wake up with her blue hair in my face every morning. I want her under me every night.”

  “And sharing her with us? What’s that buyin’ you?”

  “I’m showing her I won’t tie her down. That she’s still free to be herself.”

  “Seems extreme. Sure you won’t be bothered by the fact we’ve been all over her by the time this is done?”

  “That’s my problem to deal with. And it’s why it’s you guys. I’d trust you all with my back. I sure as hell will trust you with my girl.”

  Craig nodded then rose. “Time to get back to my beat. See you later, bro.”

  “Make sure that back seat smells fresh.”

  It was a short walk to the bar. He ducked inside, inhaling the scent of lemon oil and cleansers. He nodded to Grady, an ex-cop, who was polishing the bar. “She in back?”

  “Just be sure to lock the door behind you, hot shot.”

  Jackson grinned and gave him a two-fingered salute before heading toward the office. He opened the door quietly then locked it behind him. Not that he planned on doing a thing, but he never knew what would happen when the two of them were alone. They were a volatile mix. Like kerosene and an open flame.

  Marti was at her desk, her eyebrows drawn into a fierce frown as her fingers clicked on her computer keyboard.

  He cleared his throat. “Hey, sweetheart.”

  Her gaze darted up. A blush colored her cheeks a pale rose. “Hi there, yourself. What are you doing here? I thought you’d be busy planning the next installment of Bang My Girlfriend.”

  Her voice crackled with irritation, but he didn’t put any pass on it. He’d gotten to her last night, and now she thought she had to shore up her defenses again. “I ate lunch with Craig. He had some news about the robberies.”

  Marti’s cheeks billowed around a deep exhale. “That’s all anyone’s talking about.”

  “You takin’ extra precautions?”

  One brow arched. “Do you really think he’d have the balls to rob a cop bar?”

  “Just be careful. Make sure you always have someone around. And you might consider lockin’ this door when you’re in here by yourself. If he’s local, he might know the safe’s here.”

  She nodded slowly then narrowed her gaze. “Is that the only reason you came by?”

  “I was hopin’ for a kiss. I know you’re busy, and you might be a little sore…”

  Her hand shot up. “Not going there. It’s hard enough to look you in the eye without you bringing up what happened.”

  “What happened?” he asked, grinning because she was blushing brighter pink.

  “So long as that’s how we keep it,” she muttered.

  “The guys won’t tease you.”

  Her gaze fell away.

  “You disappointed they won’t?”

  “No, it’s just…I don’t see how you can be all right about this. I had another man’s cock in my—”

  “Never happened,” he clipped.

  Her glance rose, locking on his face. “Sure it’s healthy to deny it?”

  “Which way do you want it? In the open or best forgotten? You can’t have it both ways, babe.”

  Marti sighed. “Forgotten. For now.”

  He sauntered closer, his hands itching to touch her. Just the mention of Gus and what had happened in the back seat of that borrowed sedan made him feel primal. He needed to leave his imprint on her mouth, her butt—fuck, who was he kidding? He needed to stake her with his cock and remind her who owned her sweet little cunt. “Come out from around that desk.”

  A faint smirk curved her mouth. “Thought you were worried I was sore.”

  “I’m not here to fuck you.” Liar. “I want a kiss.”

  Marti stepped around the desk with wary eyes. He let her approach, didn’t open his arms until she was within reach, but then picked up one of her hands and dragged her closer. With his free hand, he framed her face, thumb under her stubborn jaw, his fingers touching her cheek. Her skin was soft, her mouth still swollen from the previous night’s abuse. The pink tip of her tongue swept across her lower lip.

  Standing this close, he knew she felt vulnerable. Her blue eyes were wide, staring into his.

  “You know I love you,” he said softly.

  “That was never the issue.”

  “I’d like to understand.”

  “I don’t understand me. How can I explain it to you?”

  Jackson let the subject drop and bent to press his lips against hers. They were soft and giving, molding to his. Her eyelids fluttered down, but he watched her. Noted the renewed flush of warm color that crept across her cheek and nose, the way her nostrils flared.

  He tugged her hand and brought her flush with his body until his cock rested against her belly. Heat thickened it, and he gently pulsed against her, telling her how much a simple kiss could entice him.

  He broke the kiss and scooped up her ass, giving her a squeeze.

  Marti gasped, then laughed, snuggling her face against his chest. “Easy, tiger. You left marks there.”

  “How does it feel?” he asked, resting his chin on the top of her bent head.

  “It aches. But it’s impossible not to think of how they got there every time I shift on my chair.”

  “So it’s not all bad.”

  “No. I liked it.”

  Her whispered admission set a pulse throbbing in his dick. “Think you might like me using a flogger or a paddle sometime?”

  She chuckled. Her fingers clenched the soft fabric of his T-shirt. “A flogger. But something soft-ish.”

  “Soft-ish?” he asked, a grin stretching his mouth. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  She groaned again and snuggled deeper against him. “I wish I could leave now.”

  “What would you want to do?” he asked, swaying on his feet, rocking her against his hard-on.

  “Go home with you. Climb right over you.”

  “Would we be naked?”

  “Duh.”

  He nuzzled her ear. “What would you do with me? Tell me. The nastier the better, sweetheart.”

  A delicate shiver rustled against him. “Um, I’d slide right down that pole you’re sticking me with.”

  Jackson groaned. “The words, baby.”

  Her head turn
ed; her teeth tugged his earlobe. “I’d slide my pussy down your cock, then bounce up and down until I got hot.”

  His hands kneaded her ass. “Sounds sweaty.”

  Marti rubbed her cheek on his chest like a kitten. “Might have to start slow ‘cause I am a little sore inside.”

  “I’ll make sure to buy some lube for tonight.”

  A husky laugh gusted. “None of that warming stuff. I’d burn right up.”

  He chuckled against her hair. “I have to go.”

  “Really?” Her hand slid down one side of his body, then crept between them. Her palm cupped his erection. “You locked the door.”

  “You saw that?”

  “I was watching you out of the corner of my eye.”

  She squeezed and he groaned. He really, really liked her little show of aggression. “We should wait for tonight.”

  She raised her head and leaned back inside his embrace, challenge sparkling in her eyes. “I thought you might drop by. I’m not wearing panties.”

  His eyelids dipped. “And if you’d had to pick up something off the floor in front of Grady?”

  Her lips curved. “He’d tell you all about it, I’m sure. He’s old-fashioned. Thinks a man has to be in charge. That girls need mindin’.”

  “What do you think he’d recommend I do?”

  Her lips pursed into a kissable pout. “Maybe a little more of what you did last night.”

  Her tongue touched her upper lip, reminding him again of the blowjob she’d given Gus—and that was all it took. His arousal spiked, hot and urgent. He tugged up her skirt in the back and clasped her bare bottom. “If I’d known I coulda been touchin’ this…”

  She dropped her gaze between them and reached for his belt.

  “I don’t want to spoil tonight,” he said, although his tone was silky. No way would she take his caution seriously.

  Marti flicked back the tongue of his belt with a flourish. “Since you’ve been taking license with my dirty list, I can’t be blamed for not knowing exactly what I’m supposed to save myself for.”

  She unbuckled him then opened his pants, reaching inside to carefully pull his cock upright in the opening. She stuck a finger in her mouth and wet the head of his penis. “I like your cock best, Jackson Teague. I like the way it tastes and smells, but I especially like how well it fills me up.”

  At her sultry-voiced admission, he tossed in the towel. He’d locked the door, knowing he wouldn’t keep his hands off her or his dick from sliding up inside her wet hot heat.

  He shoved his jeans past his hips then held out his arms, waiting for her to grip his shoulders before he lifted her by her butt.

  She reached between them and centered him, then worked her way down his length with sexy little back and forth wiggles while he gritted his teeth.

  When he was finally root-deep, he walked to the door and pressed her back against it. “We’re gonna get loud,” he rasped.

  “Grady’ll turn on the jukebox. Don’t you worry.”

  With a sigh, he took her lips and pounded blissfully away.

  Chapter Six

  Marti gripped the top of the vinyl seat and bounced on Jackson’s cock, working up a fine sweat. She kept her gaze on the back window to make sure no one approached.

  Once again, her dream fuck fell short. Not that Jackson wasn’t putting everything into it. His foreplay while he’d kept her hands in cuffs behind her had been thorough. She’d come once already while he’d fingered her and sucked on her breasts.

  However, it was hard to forget she was the only one buck naked, or that Craig and Beau were both acting as lookouts and likely getting an eyeful. They might be in a dark parking lot, but the lights from the dash and the squad car’s computer had to be illuminating her ass. “It was nice of Craig to leave the AC on.”

  Jackson grunted then gripped her hips harder, forcing her movements to slow and deepen. “You haven’t shut up since we got into the back seat. Fucking in a cop car not living up to your expectations, baby?”

  He rolled his hips, forcing his cock deeper. Her pussy tightened greedily around him.

  Lord, they’d done it so much lately, she felt as though his cock was a permanent fixture, that her pussy wouldn’t feel complete without it plugging her vagina.

  Marti let go of the seat, dug her fingers into his dark hair and rubbed her aching nipples against him for relief. “Swear, it’s not you. It smells like Pine-Sol and pina coladas in here.”

  “Better than sweat and puke,” he muttered. His arms surrounded her, hugging her closer until they grew still in each other’s arms.

  Pressing her forehead to his, she sighed. “Sorry. Guess I’m just a little off. And I can’t help feeling bad. If anyone saw us, Craig’d be in deep shit.”

  “Yeah he would. So maybe we should hurry it up a bit?”

  “Maybe we should just go back to our place.”

  Jackson gave one of his sexy man-grunts. “It’s not midnight yet.”

  Her lips curved. “Nothing’s turning into a pumpkin here. And just think, I’ll give it to you any way you want.”

  Jackson smiled back. “Really? Will you bend over and grab your ankles while I fuck you?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You’d like that?”

  “Maybe not. How about I do you on the balcony?”

  “We’ve already done that. Ms. Dickerson enjoyed the show so much she asked when we’d be busy again. I think she wants to put us on YouTube.”

  Jackson chuckled. “Can’t have that. Don’t want the entire world to hear your bleats. They’re mine.”

  Marti scrunched her nose, then let her glance fall. “I’d let you fuck my ass,” she said softly.

  Jackson tipped up her chin to meet his narrowed gaze. “Really? That wasn’t on your list.”

  “Doesn’t mean I haven’t thought about it. The way you touched it before got me thinking it might not be so bad.”

  Jackson gripped her ass and rocked her forward and back on his cock. “Sure you don’t want to finish it here?”

  “This is nice, but really, the smell is a bit overwhelming.” She exaggerated. By his arched brow, he knew it too.

  Still, he gave her one last hug then helped her off his lap.

  Marti slid onto the seat beside him and reached for her clothes, dressing, but not looking his way. The thing she hadn’t been able to admit aloud was that she felt ashamed of herself. Not for what they’d just been doing or even for what they’d done last night, but because she’d written The List in the first place.

  Was she forcing him to jump through hoops because she needed reassurance of how much he loved her?

  For his part, she knew what he was up to.

  Jackson being Jackson, he’d taken her at her word and decided that if this was what it took for her to say yes, he’d blast through every last dirty little fantasy she’d described.

  If she were a stronger woman, she’d tell him The List was a bluff. Even if he did go through with every scenario, she couldn’t say yes. And lord, acting like a whore, blowing another man while he watched and doing it in a squad car were tame in comparison to the last couple of items on her list.

  Jackson finished putting his clothes to rights. She pushed her skirt down and balled her undies in her hand. “Jackson…”

  “Uh uh. No apologies.” He drew her across his lap and tucked her head against the corner of his neck.

  “It still counted,” she said, snuggling into his warmth.

  His cheek rubbed against her hair. “Even if we didn’t finish?”

  “It was the thought.”

  “I love you, Marti.”

  Tears filled her eyes, and she hooked an arm around his neck to hug him. The more he said it, the more she believed he really did. “I love you too.”

  “Got any plans for Sunday?”

  “I have inventory with Grady in the morning, but after that I’m free, I guess. Why?”

  “My mom’s having a barbeque…”

  She wiped
her eyes with her hand then leaned back to look into his face. “You want me to meet your family?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “Sure that’s smart?”

  Jackson gave her a quick smacking kiss. “They are going to love you. You don’t have a thing to worry about. Just be yourself.”

  “Why now?”

  “You know why.”

  She glanced away. “It’s getting late.”

  He reached beside him and tapped the window.

  Craig walked out of the shadows and opened the door. She slid off Jackson’s lap, standing with help from Craig, who gripped her elbow.

  “That was quick. You two okay?” he asked, glancing from her face to Jackson’s.

  Jackson shook his head as though warning him to drop the line of conversation. “We’re headin’ home.”

  “Take your time,” Craig said slowly, his gaze locking with Jackson’s.

  She thought it an odd thing to say given that their apartment was only four blocks away.

  Jackson took her hand and pulled her behind him as he started to move away. “We’re gonna walk back.”

  “Your car?” Craig called after them.

  Without turning, Jackson waved his free hand. “Will be fine until morning. We could use some fresh air.”

  The reminder of the overpowering scents in the car made her smile. She wrinkled her nose. “Good idea.”

  Jackson brought her close to his side.

  Marti leaned against him as they walked away from the parking lot and onto the sidewalk beside the street.

  A carriage, lit by colorful strings of Christmas lights, drew alongside them. “Can I interest you in a ride? Last one for the night…” the driver said, smiling amiably. He was dressed in German lederhosen, which exposed a pair of knobby knees. His long white hair was pulled back into a pony tail. His eyes, even in the dim light, sparkled.

  She thought he’d make a perfect Santa Claus and wondered if he put reindeer ears on his horse in winter.

  Jackson glanced down. “What do you say, baby? Tonight doesn’t have to be a complete bust.”

  “I don’t know. I was looking forward to a warm bath.”

  “Come on,” he said, pulling her toward the curb. “I promise I’ll scrub your back later.”