Stealing Carmen

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Stealing Carmen ISBN 9781419914034 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Stealing Carmen Copyright © 2007 Gail Faulkner Edited by Mary Moran. Cover art by Dan Skinner. Electronic book Publication December 2007 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 443103502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

STEALING CARMEN

Gail Faulkner

Acknowledgement Thank you, J. You’d think I could come up with some simple, moving words to express that. Thank you, Mary, Goddess of the Corned. Every writer should be so lucky as to know you. And to the amazing friends who inspired Jack and Carmen, hope you enjoy this flight of fancy.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Batman: DC Comics The general partners of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. Fleet: Blain Pharmaceuticals Hummer: General Motors Corporation Jeep: DaimlerChrysler Corporation Superman: DC Comics The general partners of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. X-men: DC Comics The general partners of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.

Stealing Carmen

Chapter One “These books should come with a freaking warning. Reading may cause insatiable urges to submit. However, only one real dominant per zip code permitted.” She laughed at herself and continued. “I’ve only met one guy who might be a real Dom and that’s discouraging. What’s a needy woman supposed to do?” The phone to her ear, Carmen was totally relaxed on the lounge, eyes closed, face turned up to the lateafternoon sun. He’d never seen Carmen in a bikini. Jack’s eyes moved with greedy intensity over the undulating expanse of flesh. Sweet Mother of God! He’d imagined this body over and over. Usually while trying to block his ugly surroundings in some revolting location. Looking at the real thing, he could see he’d been mistaken. She was actually blindingly fuckable. He’d always called her damn fuckable. But a man could indeed go blind beating off to that vision. She paused and laughed softly at the response from her phone. Jack wasn’t paying attention to the conversation but the breathy laugh sank into his bones. Neighbors for the last two years, they shared a duplex. Sorta shared a duplex. He was only here for downtime. The location wasn’t exactly remote, it did have a small airport. However, deep in mid-America, it was ideal for escaping his life when he had the time. Carmen moving into the other side of the lone duplex had added to the charm of standing on his back patio. Or looking out his front window, or pretending he was going for a walk in the woods. The cold beer in his hand was forgotten. He hadn’t expected her home from work at this time of day. She obviously hadn’t heard him arrive twelve hours ago. His entrance was all she would have heard. He’d crashed and been out ‘til five minutes ago.

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Creamy curves were a light gold and told him she almost never lay out. His eyes prowled over plump breasts that nearly spilled out of the stupid little top, bulging in glorious natural abandon to the side of her body. Carmen was not slender. Her figure was opulent and she usually covered it with way too much clothing. He’d bet she’d never worn that bikini anywhere but this backyard. The beer went absently to his lips as his eyes moved lower over a softly smooth belly and down to rounded hips. Oh sweet Jesus. The scrap of material between her legs molded a naked pussy. He’d put money on the fact that shy, sweetly nervous Carmen shaved her cunt. Absorbing that knowledge required he study the evidence. Her legs were slightly parted and the material strained, hugging the intimate details of her pussy with no springy curls holding it off. Jack stared at her with a freedom he’d never indulged before. Carmen was a sensible woman, she kept her distance. That had been fine. He didn’t want to date her in any sense of the word she’d recognize. He wanted to fuck her. Possess her in every way a man could take a woman. She picked up his intense lust on some level. That sensitive second sight read it in him. So for the last two years their relationship consisted of one introduction then nods and smiles as Carmen kept her distance. Jack respected her good judgment and let her skitter away. He knew what she saw. At six feet three inches he was intimidating to a regular person. Heavily muscled with a face that had the evidence of a dangerous life written all over it. His nose had been broken. There was a scar marking his left temple and he had to keep his hair relatively long for undercover work. Looking like a lowlife was required. He knew his features were average, a plus in his line of work. So he was the tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed man who often scared her. He tried not to, but sometimes there was no disguising the aura of combat when he was fresh from a mission. She would have felt that a few times but he’d stayed away after the bad ones.

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He couldn’t afford her anyway. Fucking Carmen would take more time than he usually had. Rushing an assignment so he could get back and fuck her some more could be dangerous. Mistakes were deadly in his line of work, even little ones. Nope, she was an expensive package and that was gospel. Was she dating someone? Probably. Jack frowned darkly. She had to be seeing someone who would get to enjoy pulling that sweet, naked pussy down on his cock. The bastard would politely pay for that pleasure with dinner and a movie then a quick go at it in the sheets. This was the Bible Belt and that was how people did things. Jack grimaced. Spending hours doing the dinner and movie crap to see if he wanted to fuck a woman made no sense to him. Most of his life he’d only spent recreational time with a female for the purpose of sex. It wasn’t as if he were a sparkling conversationalist. Usually the woman wasn’t either. Carmen was different from his usual. Looking at her now, he could sort of understand how men amenably went through the motions society called dating. But that didn’t mean it would be a good idea for him to try. Carmen would not be a onetime pleasure. He’d want more and he couldn’t ignore that. Until overhearing this conversation, he wouldn’t have thought she’d even heard of the D/s type of relationship he needed. He’d been almost content to simply give her the one thing he was good at, the safety she was enjoying right now. It was a gift given anonymously and freely. Her being able to lie nearly naked in her backyard showed him every reason he did the ugly job. She was safe to do exactly what she was doing. That was how it should be. The backyard ended in a cornfield and beyond that was the woods. It was an incredibly private setting if he wasn’t home. She was totally safe in it. Well, she felt safe. Someone could watch her from a distance. Jack’s eyes flicked to the surroundings. His highly honed awareness didn’t sense a watcher. That didn’t mean shit. There could be someone. But she was safe this afternoon. He was there.

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Blood moving south picked up speed as he leaned against the short dividing wall and ogled the woman he’d wanted since the first moment he’d seen her. She’d been bending into the trunk of her car pulling out groceries. Generous ass up, even covered by the hospital scrubs, had been a nice way to look at this woman. When she’d turned, he’d been just as impressed with her beautiful face and surprised smile. Her conversation caught his attention. “No, not the doctors. At least not any I work with. They’re good at having temper tantrums. I want a man not a brat. Tall, dark and Domly is my neighbor. He’s hardly ever here. Disappears for months at a time. Probably does something horrible like drug dealing, but damn, Tara, he’s got to be a Dom. Always so cool and in control. I think I stuttered last time I said hello to him. He makes me so hot I’m an idiot. “Oh right. You can laugh. I’m serious. His eyes look deeper than they should and I feel naked every time they land on me. Sometimes, right when he arrives, I think I can sort of feel danger pouring off him, but he’s always in complete control. Scary as hell and so sexy. Makes my vagina contract and I’m always afraid he’ll know. He’s a badboy mystery and I’ve spent way too much time imagining him doing all sorts of nasty things to me. It’s embarrassing but I still hurry outside if he’s around and then I hurry back in. How pathetic is that?” She laughed again and Jack put down the beer. He wasn’t concealing himself, standing on the edge of his portion of the patio. The short wall went to the end of the concrete slab. After that there were no dividers. Made it easier to mow and there’d never been a need for them. Her lawn chair was on her side but if she opened her eyes, she’d see him. She didn’t and continued talking. Jack considered coughing and then her next statement removed the thought from his head. “Yeah, the package came yesterday. You’re so wicked and that little toy is so good. Were any of the other girls shocked? No?” A gentle chuckle. “We’re all naughty women. I’ve never seen a travel-size one like that. So cute. Well, I have it in, the remote right here and fifteen BDSM books loaded on my e-reader. I’ve got a long weekend of

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nothing to do but read and see how fast I can use an eight-pack of double A batteries one at a time.” Her hips shifted, round thighs rubbed together as she tensed. Thin material over that bare pussy wrinkled. A hard blast of heat rushed through Jack as he realized she was clenching down on something inside. Baby girl had a dildo shoved up her cunt. A vibrating dildo with a remote! She was reading BDSM books, fifteen of them! In that instant his cock sucked all the blood from his body into itself and Jack had to grip the short dividing wall to remain standing. Holy fuck! He couldn’t do more than stare at the triangle of cloth as she relaxed a bit. Her lawn chair was facing his side. If she opened her eyes, she’d see her fierce, dangerous neighbor with his eyes glued to her pussy. “I know,” she agreed with her caller. “I’ll get the reviews done on Monday. I’ll be off and able to do them all. Stop obsessing.” There was a brief silence. Carmen reached up with her free hand to grip the lawn chair above her head. Her body stretched and her hips shifted. Jack bit back a groan as her body moved and rolled in sensual abandon. “Stop pushing, Tara. I know. If I had a real life, I’d be out enjoying it. Since the only man I’m interested in looks as if he could kill with his little finger, I’ll content myself with putting his face on each one of these heroes and flicking on the Diver when the story gets good.” This had gone far enough. Jack stepped into the grass to get around the wall, unintentionally making his approach silent as he strode to the short table beside her and picked up the small remote control. Time to let her know he was here and had been for a while. He had no intention of acting politely ignorant. She’d been the luxury he couldn’t afford but listening to her lust after him to her friend was more temptation than any man could be expected to resist. Fuck it! He was done window-shopping Carmen. Time to do some shoplifting. Choosing the lowest setting he flicked it on. 9

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Carmen nearly jumped out of her chair. Her eyes flicked open and Jack held the remote up so she could see he had it. He smiled down at her stunned face. “Say goodbye to your friend, Carmen,” he instructed as she stared at him standing over her, the phone still clutched to her ear. “I gotta go, Tara, bye,” she said obediently, obviously in shock as she took in his appearance and possession of the remote. The cell phone flicked shut. “No, do not put that down,” Jack instructed as she reached to place it on the table he’d removed the remote from. “You need to feel free to call for help while we chat. Keep that phone in your hand. You have to know you can end this encounter at any time.” “What?” Carmen stammered, her legs clenching together as the low hum emanated from her pussy. “I mean, ah, Jack?” “I’m not a drug dealer. I’m a law enforcement officer. That’s all you need to know right now,” Jack continued. “I’ve been standing here since the part about what’s a needy woman supposed to do. So let’s not pretend.” His eyes bore into her as she gasped again. There would be no deception between them. He wouldn’t allow it. She was obviously curious about what a D/s relationship would feel like. He was more than willing to give her a little taste. See if it was what she’d thought. No deception was a huge part of D/s. There wasn’t any hiding behind inhibitions. “Oh my God!” Heat rushed up Carmen’s face. “You heard…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her hands shook as she gripped the side of the chair with one, the phone with the other. She stared at him and then glanced down her body. “Oh my God.” “No, don’t move. Relax right there while we discuss a few things. I need you to be very honest about this. Were you lying to your friend? Just kidding around about being needy?” His face was stern as he looked into her wide eyes. Amazing green eyes that were such innocent mirrors of her soul. Her eyes didn’t waver as she gazed up at him. “No.” 10

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Jack smiled. “Good girl. That was very brave. It’s important for you to be honest. I’ll know if you’re lying. It’s my job and I’m very good at it.” “What are you doing?” she asked softly. Her breath was coming out in short pants as the flush intensified on her cheeks. Other than the movement of her chest that jiggled those large breasts, she didn’t move. He legs were tightly clenched together in an attempt to ignore the vibrations tormenting her from deep within. Jack looked at the remote in his hand and back to her eyes, ignoring her question for the moment. “Is it true that you have a dildo buzzing in your pussy?” Carmen nodded and glanced away as embarrassment intensified. “Very good girl,” he approved softly, and her eyes shot back to his face. Carmen gulped and gave him a tremulous smile. Jack steeled himself against it. He knew how vulnerable she felt. How needy for his approval in this moment. He was letting her feel all of that. She needed to see if she wanted it. Discover if being sexually dominated was what she’d thought it was. He didn’t expect her to like it. There is often a huge difference between fantasy and actually experiencing the intense emotions called up in submission. Shoplifting Carmen was supposed to be a very short event. One he’d savor, but its real mission was to ensure she didn’t go looking for the experience from some stranger and get into real trouble. Watching as she worked through her feelings was eating away his control. She wasn’t shrinking from him. Beautiful Carmen opened her soul like a rare flower seeks the sun. Letting him be the sun in her sky was all a dominant could ask for and Jack had to brace himself. Going slow was painful but still a pleasure. After a moment he continued. She had to know where they were before either of them went further. The no-deceptions part went both ways and he wanted to be sure she knew it. “I have a dangerous job. You know I’m gone for months at a time. I’m not looking for a woman who needs a man to get through her days. But I don’t want casual,

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throwaway sex. I want you. What I want is not fair. I’m gone a lot but I want a woman who’s faithful. And I’m a real dominant. Are you afraid?” “Yes.” “Of what?” “That you’ll change your mind,” Carmen informed him, a new strength entering her tone. Jack raised a brow in surprise. “About which thing?” “That you want me.” Carmen licked her lips nervously. Her entire body was trembling now. “I’ve never been with a real dominant. I’m fat and I just confessed a whole bunch of embarrassing stuff on the phone. It’s difficult to believe that you want me. You’re perfect. You could have anyone.” Jack cocked his head as he listened to her. The courage to be a submissive, a real submissive was written all over that little speech. She was stunning. He worked at keeping his face a serious mask for her. She needed to know he matched her. She could trust him to take care of all the things she was asking without words. “I don’t lie, baby. If this were a line, I’d have stopped talking five minutes ago. Talking is pretty much the last thing I want to do. As to your fat statement, have a look at my crotch. I’m working on having exactly who I want. And I’m not looking for a onetime thing. So if we get involved and I ever hear you call yourself something ugly again, I’ll feel compelled to correct your attitude.” Her eyes dropped to the hard bulge between his legs and she swallowed. Reading her face, there was no fear in that reaction. There was something much more greedy and Jack nearly growled with frustration. He was damn sure she wasn’t lying about never having been with a dominant, but her natural reactions were so purely sensual submission, she was effectively eating away the last shred of his resistance. When they reached this point, civilians plunked down half the retirement fund on a ridiculous car or some other equally foolish item. A lifetime of looking at the other side of the fence brought a man to this. Investing more than he could afford in something 12

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he’d always wanted. For Jack it wasn’t the cash. Stealing Carmen came at a dangerous price. One he hadn’t realized he was willing to pay. Jack had known it was time for a change. He’d been lucky a long time. Carmen was a risk he couldn’t afford to trust luck with. She would be his weakness, the way to get to him. That meant it was time to eliminate the risks he’d bring to her life. If he couldn’t remove the danger, the enemies he’d collected in the ugly life he lived, the next time he left he wouldn’t be coming back. Even knowing that cost, there was no turning back. Time to get over it. Life was about to be different and, hell, he wanted it bad. This was going to be so damn good and he wasn’t about to let her down by giving in to her hungry little soul. Nor would he damage the incredible submissive in her by falling on her and fucking her raw in one go. But he might have to blindfold her in selfdefense. She’d think it was for her and he’d never admit any different. He walked to the foot of her lounge chair. Standing with legs wide, hand on hip, the other holding her remote, he smiled. “I see you’re getting the picture. Next time you think I’m lying we’ll have a long discussion about it. Right now I want you clearheaded. Look at my eyes.” Slowly, reluctantly her eyes dragged over his belt buckle and up his chest. Her mouth was open in light pants as sweat beaded her entire body. “Do you want to move on from here and see if we’re interested in more than a weekend? It’s not casual, but if we don’t get along, it’s not binding. I want you. It’s up to you.” “Please, can we turn off the Diver?” Carmen asked huskily. “No. This is what you’re agreeing to. I’m a dominant. I don’t believe in beatings. Public humiliation is only required in extreme cases when the submissive needs it. It has to be for the submissive, never the dominant. If a man needs public proof of what he is, he’s not a dominant. However, your sex and your body are mine if you agree. I will not allow you to be harmed. I will not allow you to hide from the incredible submissive you are.” 13

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Jack paused, letting her absorb the information she needed to make a choice. He wasn’t playing fair. He didn’t give a damn. Carmen wanted this too much to let her off the hook. Quick thinking was what kept him alive. Taking the available facts and putting them together into possible outcomes made him good. Knowing which of those outcomes was the subject’s most likely choice made him the best. Carmen was a natural submissive. One that was so needy she’d be compelled to seek relief for her submissive soul soon. She didn’t seem to know how close to the ragged edge of dangerous need she was. There were no local outlets for her. She’d have to travel at least an hour and a half to the big city to find anything at all. A submissive out of their town, visiting a fetish club was the most likely to be taken advantage of by predators. He wasn’t about to let her go find relief from some stranger. What he deserved was his ass handed to him. He should have been paying more attention. Just watching her from a distance and mooning over that ripe ass and those soft tits had been all about him. He’d already failed her by not recognizing her need and seeing that she was coming to a crossroads. It wouldn’t have been this weekend or next. But he’d bet within a month she’d have taken her beautiful self up to the big city to investigate a lifestyle club. That shit was not going to happen. “You will have a safe word. Everything stops anytime you want. Using it is not a failure. You will not be afraid to use it. If I suspect you should have used it and didn’t, I’ll spank your ass. Understand?” Jack waited for her to nod. “I have to leave in less than twenty-four hours. If we enjoy this, you’ll have time to make up your mind after I’m gone. So are you willing? Want to know what it feels like to be a submissive?” Carmen bit her lip as she stared up at him. Then she nodded. “No, baby. You need to say the words. Say my name and ask to be my submissive. Then tell me your safe word,” he commanded calmly. There was no way he would ever let her feel he’d taken something she didn’t want to give.

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Carmen opened her mouth and closed it again. Her legs clenched as a shudder ran up her body. Jack enjoyed the evidence of her excitement. Having to voice her submission while the wicked device buzzed in her cunt was going to make her desperate. His natural submissive was losing her mind. Yep, he was a very bad man. Knowing this, he did nothing to relieve her. He wanted her to associate her submission with sexual pleasure she couldn’t control. Carmen tried again. “Jack, I want to be your submissive.” She had to stop as her eyes fluttered shut and her knees came up, still pressed together tightly. “My safe word is…is… I don’t know. Help me please,” she begged as her body clenched uncontrollably. “Of course I’ll help. All you had to say is please.” Jack smiled and walked around to drop to his haunches by her head. Her body was undulating on the lounge. She’d already given up trying to hide her reactions from him. Tenderly stroking dark wisps of hair back from her face he leaned into her. “Your safe word is peach, like your golden skin,” he whispered across the lush lips, drinking in her panting breaths. Petting her head, he prompted, “Now spread your legs and say it all together.” His other hand reached down to the apex of her legs. With sure knowledge he placed two fingers on the cloth over her clit and circled lightly. He was barely touching her but the contact was fully intimate and completely possessive. His intention was to show her how a dominant had every right to touch her wherever he pleased no matter how rude it would normally be. Also that she was expected to follow commands while he did. Deliberately his fingers came up to the rim of her bikini bottoms and then slid inside. Still using a light touch he stopped at the apex of her slit. Just two fingertips softly pressed on her clit in wicked circles. The outcome was a sure thing. Her complete surrender mentally and physically would drive her into release. Even with only the light touch, her acceptance of his control would take her pleasure to a new depth.

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The cost to him was a whole different thing. Touching this sweet pussy and keeping it light took a mental hard lock on the big picture in his head. Focus on the mission wasn’t new. It’d never been this difficult. Breathing harshly through her mouth, her eyes clinging to his, she tried again. “Jack, please take me as your submissive. My safe word is peach.” “Good girl.” At his words her body arched, her head kicked back and she convulsed into orgasm. Jack stayed at her head, stroking her hair with one hand but lifting the other from her crotch. He wanted her to feel this orgasm on her own. Watching his gorgeous woman come apart gave him satisfaction along with lusty, possessive pride. She couldn’t control herself. Her legs fell completely open. She dropped the phone and both hands shot down to clutch the dripping material between her legs. Carmen dug her fingers into shuddering flesh. She stroked herself and then howled when his thumb pushed the remote button up to medium. Her feet were planted on either side of the lounge chair and her hips bucked off the seat. Helplessly her hips pumped into the air as her fingers franticly rubbed the intensified fire originating there. She was so beautiful. Damn, he’d been a fool for way too long.

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Chapter Two Jack flicked the remote off. Slowly the shudders passed and her body relaxed on the padded chair. Still panting, her eyes opened to look at him and he saw the exact moment she processed the fact she’d just had an orgasm for him. Her feet moved first, lifting from their wide stance. His hand on one knee, he held her leg down. “No. Remain as you are.” She relaxed and glanced away from him, obviously debating whether or not to lift her hands from clutching the damp cloth between her legs. His hand moved to her forearm. “You have been told to remain still, Carmen. That means no moving without permission. You may ask for anything you want. There is no silence command, but you are not to move until permission is given when you’re under command. Do you understand?” “Yes,” Carmen answered softly. He wanted her frozen in place. The embarrassment of remaining in such a lewd pose was a test. He needed to know if it excited her as well as using the moment to fully impress her with what they were about to do. “Good. Tell me what happened. Do not try to hide your reactions. I’ll know. Tell me why you just had a screaming orgasm without permission and could not keep from fingering the body you had surrendered to me?” “Oh! I’m sorry. Oh damn, I’ve failed already!” Her soft voice shook as tears sprang to her eyes and she lay there perfectly still. “You cannot fail, baby. I will not allow it,” he assured her in firm tones. The truth of his words would have to be built on actions. Her faith in him would grow with experience. Through it would come complete freedom, even though she didn’t

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understand that yet. Soothing her with the safety of his control was the best he could do for the moment. “If there needs to be correction, I’ll take care of it, but that doesn’t mean you failed. The only way you can fail is to willfully disobey without using the safe word. I will not tolerate being bad out of spite or a mean spirit or to get a punishment you enjoy. Believe me, if that were the case, you would not enjoy the punishment you’d earned. Now answer the question.” Sniffling slightly, Carmen nodded. “I came because you were here watching me, wanting me. It turned me on. The Diver stimulation was keeping me excited but then you touched me and that pushed me over the edge. I was embarrassed and that made it worse. Um, better, ah, more. It was you,” she ended softly. Jack smiled again. “Yes, baby. It was submission.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers in a caress. Her head lifted but he moved away, subtly showing her he would control her touches. His choice. “First point we need to get clear is direction from me is a command. You will comply with it immediately. If I have to repeat myself to get your attention, we will have to deal with correction. Do you understand?” “Yes,” Carmen agreed without hesitation. Her responsive soul needed the control. He wasn’t sure she knew why her answer had been quick and affirmative, but he did. “Now put those busy hands to use. Take off the top and drop it beside you,” Jack directed. His face was rigidly stern, though not harsh, he hoped. He wanted her to understand that display commands were serious. Slowly she reached up to the clasp between shuddering breasts and unsnapped it. Pulling the cloth off, Carmen kept her eyes down as if she were watching what she was doing. Lifting her back she slipped the arms off and dropped the top beside her. Relaxing her body back, her hands gripped the chair edges but her eyes remained lowered.

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“How does that feel?” Jack asked softly. Still beside her head, he trailed a single finger down her neck, caressing the fluttering pulse. “I feel…I feel exposed. Excited. Unsure. I don’t know… I’m shivering inside,” Carmen confessed as his finger slowly traveled over her collarbone and down to the rise of her breasts. “You have beautiful breasts, Carmen. Natural and heavy.” His finger caressed soft skin to the puckered dark areola around her nipple. There he circled lazily, letting her become used to the gentle touch, but more importantly to him, watching his hand on her intimately. Touching her casually in places she’d normally have covered. Enforcing his right to her in any way he wanted. “Look how pert your nipple is. How it stands, begging for attention,” he encouraged softly. His hand cupped her, lifting the weight, feeling soft flesh move between his spread fingers. Resisting the urge to squeeze and mold both hard-tipped globes as he watched her reaction to his dark, rough hand holding her sensitive body. He had yet to really kiss her or in any normal way confirm their relationship. He wanted her very clear that there was nothing regular about this. Handling her as he chose eased her into submitting. Letting her feel the slight sting of embarrassment as his eyes and hands enjoyed her. If she could admit the dark pleasure this gave her, she’d have come a long way for a first encounter. Carmen bit her lip and looked from his face to her breast and back again. Jack’s hand let go of her breast to rest on her trembling belly. Malleable under his fingers, her heated flesh almost made him forgot what he meant to do next. “Hold them up for me. Offer your nipples, baby,” he directed softly. “They’re swollen and sensitive. That sensitivity is mine. What I choose to do about them is mine. Feel the surrender of knowing I can choose to ignore them or not.”

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Soft hands cupped her breasts, holding them off her body. Two rose peaks of need were offered by a panting woman whose hips were gently shifting in eager jerks. Now was the time to reward surrender, celebrate it. Let her know how pleased he was with her offering. Besides, some things a man couldn’t be expected to resist, and he’d been looking at those tempting breasts for two years. His mouth swooped down, sucking the nearest nipple in hard. Taking her roughly with his mouth was a compromise. What he wanted, how he needed to touch her and what she could take were worlds apart. Clamping down on the animal who wanted to roll her over, grab her soft tits and use them to pull her back on his cock as he fucked her, Jack settled for the small pleasure of using his mouth aggressively. Carmen’s back arched off the recliner as a moan escaped her. But she didn’t let go, holding both breasts up as he roughly sucked then laved the glistening peak with his tongue, ending with gentle nips that left little red marks. Leaning over, he did the same with her other breast. The hard suck and nips were a calculated move to increase her sensitivity, lighting her breasts on fire. He wanted her burning. He also wanted her to know he’d mark her. He enjoyed seeing the pink spots on her breasts. Later the marks would not be so light. Not from nipping her, from sucking on that delicious flesh and leaving hickeys wherever he wanted. Some dominants marked women in much harsher ways and Jack had never gotten that. With Carmen he suddenly understood it to a certain extent. Marking was basic, primal. Males are visual creatures and it was pleasing to see her pale, soft skin accept his marks. Damn, it was sexually addictive too. A guy with shaky self-control and a willing woman could easily get out of hand. Another thing his nature had never understood in the past. Now he totally identified with the urge to see his mark on her permanently in some erotic way. Would she accept a piercing? Shit. He needed more control. This was no time to even think that. Sitting back, he watched her hands gripping the soft flesh, squeezing rhythmically. “That feel good?” he asked, wanting her to acknowledge her need for this surrender.

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The sooner she became comfortable with the fact she was a highly sexed woman, the quicker they could move on to the other fun stuff. She wasn’t ready yet, but he was amazed at how quickly her body responded. Her mind was not putting on the brakes as far as he could tell. “Yes. Please more.” Carmen arched up at his face, shameless in her request. “Such a good girl, but no. Let go of those needy tits,” Jack directed, purposely using a word that reduced them to pleasure centers while carefully watching her face. He kept his features calm. She couldn’t handle harsh commands, but damn, she’d want them at some point. Stern commands were a tool to focus her on a sensation and this angel was eating up her sensations. She’d need it, the feel of her dominant controlling her. Her eyes were trained on him. Her lips trembled as if she were about to say something and then thought better of it. Jack nodded in approval, letting her know he was aware of her correct choice in not arguing. “Do you want to stop?” he asked. Giving her the out was his responsibility. Part of the control he owed her as a safe, sane dominant. He’d rather take a bullet than let her go though. “No, oh no. Not yet.” Jack nodded again. “Then pull those bows on your hips and get rid of the panties. You will no longer wear a cover over that cunt when with me. When I’m gone, you will never go without panties. Understand?” “Yes. Thank you,” Carmen responded in her naturally submissive voice as she quickly reached for the side ties of her bikini bottoms. Jack stood and walked around to the bottom of the lounge again. Part of the reason was to look at her in a very direct way. That was for her. For him, it was to get his hands off her. She was damn fragile right now. He wasn’t. “That’s it. Now flip the front down and pull it out from under you,” he directed calmly, his eyes on her crotch. She couldn’t mistake his intention of looking at her most 21

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intimate flesh. Her legs were spread on either side of the chair, but he wanted more as she flipped the material down and her gloriously naked folds came into view. “Spread your knees, baby. Show me what you’re offering.” Carmen gasped but her knees fell open wider, her hands resting on them to pull them farther than they’d naturally go. Jack stood still and simply looked at her. She glistened in the sun, her recent orgasm making her damp and yielding, so sweet. As he watched, her little opening contracted in reaction. Her thighs were trembling as he studied her. “Very nice,” he approved softly, and looked into her eyes. “Now get up and go in my back door. Stepping through that door makes you completely mine, Carmen. What we’ve done here is simply submissive display. If it’s too hard for you, you need to be honest about it now.” She managed to blush and smile at the same time as she quickly stood and turned to hurry around through the grass to his door. Jack stayed where he was, curious to see what she’d do with herself once she’d stepped through the door. He needed a moment to gather himself. Had he ever seen such a natural, beautiful submissive? There was nothing broken or lost about her. Excitement glowed from her but it was not a replacement for a deficiency. It was pure sexual pleasure. She was feeling the nip of embarrassment. The scintillating flavor of surrender and the little witch wanted more. Glancing down at his hand, he realized he still held the remote for her wicked toy. Oh yeah, the lady would get more. He flicked it on to the medium setting and chuckled darkly. He wasn’t playing fair. It was too important. Employing any means available to reach the goal was his intention. At this point his mind was made up. He would have her and wasn’t above stealing Carmen if he had to. At least emotionally. There was no question he was gonna be a bastard about this and bind her to him before she knew what he was doing. 22

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Taking Carmen meant it was time for him to get out of the danger game. He was burnt-out and he knew it. He’d never expected to be free to indulge his obsession with her. Now there was no other choice and this was an opportunity he had no intention of fucking up. His back door opened to his bedroom. Jack stepped through the door and found her kneeling in a tense submissive pose. He frowned. She was holding position perfectly. Her knees were as wide apart as she could manage, her back straight with hands clasped behind her at the small of her back to present breasts with her shoulders thrown back. Her chin up, eyes down. Baby did know a thing or two she hadn’t mentioned. If he caught her in a lie this early, it didn’t speak well for the future. “Wait position,” he commented darkly. “You’ve been trained?” She was trembling, trying to keep the vibrator up her stretched-open cunt as he stood over her with his arms crossed and a fierce frown on his face. She was slick with her own excitement and the tight clench required to keep the dildo in couldn’t be easy. Not about to help her, he waited for her response. “No. I read BDSM books all the time. I’m a reviewer for an online review site,” she quickly explained. “I’ve read about this position many times. It seemed appropriate. You didn’t say how you wanted me to wait for you.” “Oh? So you know a lot about BDSM?” he questioned darkly as he moved around behind her so she couldn’t see his response. Something in him had been way too damn ready to kill someone just now. What the hell was that about? He’d looked at her there in spread submission and been mad as hell thinking some bastard had taught her that. Seen her like that. “No. Well, sort of. Only from books. I’ve never… I mean I was sort of thinking about it, but I haven’t ever actually been to one of the clubs or stuff.” She said that as if she thought of it as a failing. Jack scrubbed a hand down his face as he eyed her arched back and round ass. Have mercy.

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The only thing wrong with the pose was she was on the floor and he couldn’t reach her without a foolish contortion. He supposed if he needed some sort of superiority confirmation, the kneeling thing would be nice. He’d never needed such. Kneeling was of little interest to him. If he used it, it was because the submissive needed it. “Um, Jack?” “Yeah?” “It’s, ah, it’s going to come out. I can’t…” As she said it, he realized the dildo was about to appear. Strolling around in front of her he frowned for her benefit. “Then we fix the problem. Stand, keep your knees straight and put your head down on the end of the bed. That should tilt you far enough to keep it in,” he commanded calmly. Carmen bit her lip and scrambled up to adjust position. In place with her ass pointed up, he could see the cap of the dildo was too near her entrance to remain in her, even in this position. Profuse amounts of her juices were easing out of her as the buzzing instrument tormented sensitive nerves. “I see that’s still not helping,” he commented. Jack controlled the knee-melting lust he was experiencing. God, this woman was so damn beautiful. Looking at her flushed pussy with a dildo slipping out of her as she spread for him was so sharply erotic he had to breathe deeply. Her excitement permeated the air. He could almost taste her with every breath. He would have those sweet folds on his tongue, but not yet. This was for her. She craved submission and he’d damn well give it to her. Slipping the remote in his pocket, Jack used two fingers of one hand to spread pink lips with clinical disregard. He grasped the end of the dildo with the other hand. Manipulating her to spread her even more wasn’t really required, but she needed to feel his touch that way. Mentally she wanted to feel this. The submissive was both turnedon and reassured to have him handle her with the blunt directness of ownership.

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Knowing he wanted to lick her with reverent worship as he rubbed his face in her stunning pussy wouldn’t do a thing to make her feel safe. He pulled the little dildo out so only the tip was clasped by her cunt lips. It was such a sexy sight, her body so reluctant to give up its toy. Pushing the little thing back in, he chuckled darkly and gave her pussy a gentle smack. The unexpected touch would light a fire in unsuspecting nerves. The smack also introduced her to the mix of excitement and surrender she craved. He wanted her to understand that he knew she enjoyed the stimulation but what she loved was the fact he could dispense it without hurting her while keeping her firmly focused on her submission. “Please! Please!” she gasped. “What are you doing?” And yet she remained exactly where he’d told her to be. “What does it feel like I’m doing?” Jack countered. Jack’s hand had remained on her, his fingers strumming soft folds and lightly brushing her clit with each pass. He carefully grasped the sensitive bundle of nerves between thumb and forefinger, rolling it with firm pulls. Her ass bounced as sharp little whimpers escaped her. “I asked you a question,” he repeated. His attention to her pussy was consuming her with new sensations. He wanted her mind on who was giving that to her. “Fingering me,” she whispered. Immediately he let go of her clit and pressed his middle finger into her cunt. He pushed the dildo in farther. “This is fingering your pussy,” Jack informed her with studied calm as he gave her several strokes with the one digit. Pulling out, he again grasped her clit, giving it the rolling stimulation again. “So what is this?” “I…I don’t know. Playing with my clit?” she moaned. He let go and gave her another little pussy spank. “Correct. You will learn to identify what you like, what you need. I will hear you ask for your pleasures, Carmen.

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And you do like all of that. Don’t you? You are so hot knowing your ass is turned up and I’m looking at you. Manipulating your needy pussy and watching you respond. The buzz in your cunt is more than that dildo. Isn’t it?” Jack pulled out the remote and flicked it off as he dropped it to the floor. Reaching in her he grasped the end of her toy and began easing it out as she answered. “Yes. I…I want to come again. Please, Jack.” “No. Not without permission. The first time you couldn’t help yourself. You’ll learn and I’ll enjoy the hell out of showing you how much better it is to wait,” he informed her silkily as he drew the small instrument from her cunt. “Now this little thing is hardly a toy, baby. We’ll have to get you something more substantial for when I’m away. You’ll need it.” “It’s big enough,” she mumbled from the bedspread. “What was that? You think it’s big enough? Hmm, perhaps if used properly. Hold still,” he commanded. He laid the dildo across the top of her ass and then grasped her clit again in a firm clamp as the other hand’s long forefinger sank into her tight cunt. Pulling it out he dragged her body’s natural glazing up to paint it around the puckered opening above. Carmen jerked, her body clenching down as she felt his intentions. “No. Oh. Ah…” “Careful, baby,” Jack warned, giving her clit a little tug. “Are you refusing the dominant? Are you saying you’re not more excited right now than you’ve ever been in your life? Remember your safe word.” The last admonition came as he picked up the slippery little dildo and circled her opening with the tip. Holding her clit to control her body’s movement was such a nasty trick. Releasing the tight clamp on it, he was suddenly rubbing it with perfect pressure, sure strokes and maddening timing. Carmen told him exactly when the bundle of nerves lit on fire by naturally pressing down with her pelvis to get more of his touch. The move relaxed her ass and tilted it to an even more accommodating angle. His other hand was ready,

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breaching her ass with a swift plunge, seating the dildo in her little hole but leaving the base out to stretch her sphincter around its modest girth. “Now that is a pretty sight,” he told her softly. “Such a good girl,” he crooned as she reacted to the intrusion. He held it there, not letting her body’s involuntary attempts to eject it work as she humped back into the air. His other fingers continued stroking her clit. At first she’d be consumed with the foreign object in her ass. The burn as it remained there. Then would come the burn in her mind. Feeling him taking her ass, holding the object in her while his fingers strummed her clit. She would be forced to acknowledge his control of her openings while he watched her struggle. Just to be sure she had the picture, he inserted his thumb in her vagina and stroked along the thin membrane between cunt and ass, ensuring she felt the tool in her in as many ways as he could. “Do not come,” he commanded as he manipulated her. Saying those words would make her think about coming. Either it would force her out of her rejection of her ass’s use and into pleasure or she’d say her safe word and leave.

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Chapter Three Carmen stilled beneath him. Sweat dripped down her back and he could hear the air hissing in and out of her as she gasped into the bed. Jack kept stroking her clit and felt her cunt contract around his thumb. Oh yeah, baby girl was not about to say her safe word. She might have thought about it for a moment, but no more. “That’s my girl,” he approved with a caressing tone. “Show me, Carmen. Show me,” he encouraged her as her pelvis started rocking again. This time she was pumping in time to his fingers on her clit and his thumb rubbing the wall of her cunt against the dildo in her ass. “Does the fire in your ass own you, baby girl? Can you feel how vulnerable that makes you? How hot it can be?” He wasn’t expecting an answer. She was beyond that already. Her eyes were glazed with submissive haze. He wasn’t sure if it was the mental submission doing it for her or the physical. Bent and spread beneath a man using her ass and cunt was a deep plunge into submission. Acknowledging her pleasure in so vulnerable a situation revealed the heart of a stunningly sexual submissive. Her complete surrender as she let need sweep through her, giving up any natural rejection of his hands and eyes on her body was driving him near an edge he couldn’t pull back from. Right now he should be explaining her response to her. Helping her to understand now that she knew something in her ass would not kill her, wouldn’t injure her, she could prepare herself for pleasure in this submission. That wasn’t happening. His cock was thick and pulsing, straining the old jeans wrapped around his hips. His balls were full and heavy. The smell of her excitement was drugging him.

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“Knees. On the bed,” he commanded, his voice dipping to gravelly harshness. Lifting her forward he forced her into the position he wanted. She scrambled willingly to comply but not fast enough. “Stay.” Jack tore at his jeans, ripping them down as he stood behind her, his eyes on her stuffed ass and dripping cunt. The globes of her ass trembled, thrusting up in tiny movements as she turned her head to watch him. Hard and long, his cock fell out of his pants. He ripped open a condom from the top drawer of his dresser, pulling it on with efficient movements. Not bothering with his boots, just shoving his jeans below his knees, he was on the bed behind her. Holding the base of his cock, he aimed the weeping head at her little cunt. This was going to be tight, especially with the dildo up her ass. His other hand gripped her hip to hold her still. He gritted his teeth as he watched the wide head of his cock sink into her. So hot and tight. Everything about her was much more than he’d known before. The need to fuck her was too harsh. He couldn’t hold it back and that wasn’t like him. There was no time to question it as he firmly pressed into her body. She was ready and he was way past willing. His cock was a length of pig iron at this point, which was a good thing. Her body strained to accept him. He was forcing her, taking her hard. It wasn’t that she was dry. No, she oozed around him, but she was small. Animalistic grunts rumbled up his chest as the length of him rammed into her. She answered them with mindless kenning cries. Her body pressed back on the thick impaler, forcing its way deep into the dark center of her. Both his hands held her hips, ensuring there was no evading him. This was rushing her even if she wanted it. For the first time in his life he didn’t know what would happen if she used her safe word now. It wouldn’t be good. This wasn’t casual. He’d known that to begin with, but the hard drive to possess her was a feeling he’d never experienced. As if she were the only woman and he had to claim her.

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The hot, wet channel wrapped around him in tight surrender. Fucking his dick into a woman had never been this urgent. This was elementally base and so much more than the physical act. He’d never wanted a woman the way he’d wanted this one. Fierce emotion swept through him. Possession melted into hard demand. This woman was his. She would be his in every way he could make her. Fate had seen fit to drop her under his nose and he’d given her every chance to reject him. That time had passed. Finally seated to the hilt in her, he paused. Not for her. For him. He needed a moment to gather the shreds of his sanity. Damn it to hell. She was burning him up. Squeezing him from head to hilt. Contracting down on him with involuntary muscle responses. This was the fuck that rolled a man’s eyes back in his head and he wasn’t even moving. He needed to get control somehow. The answer came to him as his grasping hands kneaded her ass globes. Oh yeah, it was the only way to do it this first time. Harsh and base, he hardly recognized the voice rumbling out of him. “All right, baby, fuck that cock.” His hand landed on her pale ass with the command, forcing her to jerk off him just a small amount. His other hand jerked her back on him, showing her what he wanted. His hand landed again, leaving a new pink mark and Carmen let out a garbled animal sound that was part hiss, part bark, but this time she thrust back on his cock. “Yeah. Do it. Fuck the cock, Carmen. Show me what this cunt can do,” he encouraged her in harsh gasps as he continued the spanking smacks, alternating hands since he didn’t have to pull her back on him. “That’s it. Louder! Let me hear it.” Her head came up in a horse cry as she threw herself back on him with gathering speed and force. Her body adjusted to the pipe his cock was as she forced it into her, rubbing along the dildo holding her ass open.

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“Look at you,” Jack continued. “Your ass stuffed full. Your cunt taking it hard and deep while you throw yourself back at the hands spanking your ass. A woman getting her kicks while her man works her hard.” Sweat was rolling off them both. His words only made her pound back on him harder. Driving him into her with sharp, short pumps that would soon rob him of reason. But before that could happen, the amazing bitch on his dick had to come. That was one thing he couldn’t give up. Wouldn’t sacrifice to the mind-melting sexuality she demanded from him. “Show her to me. Give her to me, Carmen. Come. Come on the cock. Let it go.” Carmen’s head snapped up with a guttural scream as her channel contracted on him in a shattering orgasm. He came on the next thrust, pushing in hard and deep, losing all control and pounding her with short thrusts. Mindless fire consumed his soul. Then there was nothing but the bellowing roar of the beast in him. It felt like a long time later when an insistent ringing roused him. He was lying on her collapsed body, still semi-hard and buried deep in her cunt. At first he thought he’d burst a vein in his brain and the ringing was the result. It didn’t stop. He raised his head and looked over at the bedside table. His cell phone was ringing. Looking down at her sweat-soaked back, stringy hair and basic lethargy he automatically checked her pulse. Gingerly lifting his hips and slowly pulling out, the woman he was suspended over mewed softly, pushing her bottom up as if to keep him in her. Reaching down he withdrew the dildo from her ass as well and she groaned. Jack grinned a goofy sort of expression he was glad she couldn’t see. Grinned until the damn phone interrupted his thoughts again. Looking up and glaring at it as if that would make a difference, he rolled himself off the bed. T-shirt still on and pants around his knees with boots below them. He’d fucked her clothed. Shaking his head, he hitched the pants on his ass and ambled into the bathroom. Jack got rid of the condom and dropped the little dildo in the trash with it 31

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before kicking off boots and stripped down to face the sink. He rinsed face and neck, washed his hands and took a clean washcloth from the cabinet by the tub. Baby girl needed some care and the damn phone could wait. Back in his bedroom, she hadn’t moved. Surveying her splayed form, Jack glanced down at the small washcloth in his hand and shook his head. She’d been rode hard and deserved more than the little square in his hand. Turning back to the bathroom he flipped on the water. When he had a tub of warm water, he returned to the bedroom. Scooping up her lifeless form seemed to wake her. “Hey. What?” Carmen asked groggily, and looked around as he strode to the bathroom. “Wait. You shouldn’t carry me. I’m too heavy. You’ll hurt your back.” Jack looked down at her and raised a brow. Standing in front of the tub he regarded her worried face. “I will? Damn, you should have told me sooner so I could fake a good pull and get out of what they’re calling me for.” Carmen smiled her embarrassed, blushing grin. Jack stepped in and sat down. In the tub, curtain closed, was as far as he could get from the world reaching for him through the phone. He wasn’t ready to face the future just yet. Figuring how to make his future safe for her to live in it was a complicated operation. He needed to simply hold her a few more minutes. “Relax, we’ll just rest a while.” He leaned back, arms along the back of the tub and Carmen melted all over him in hedonistic abandon. He closed his eyes and smiled. Damn, she felt good. Sexy and soft, her body caressed him, conforming to his ridges and angles. Resting on him she brought him a peace he’d not known existed. Perhaps it was the trusting way her body molded to him. Or it could be her complete lethargy that covered a quietly bubbling sexuality. Whatever it was, it was damn good. However long they stayed there like that was difficult to tell. Water cooled and he pulled the plug. They stood and he turned on the shower. Gently taking her hands he placed them behind her neck. “Lace the fingers,” he instructed. 32

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He took the washcloth and set about cleaning her, caressing every curve and crevice. Requiring she bend as he took the showerhead on a hose down and rinsed her ass carefully, inserting two fingers to hold her open. After she straightened, he did her hair. When he was done, he had her sit on the edge of the tub and wait for him to finish his own quick rinse. The slight hitch in her breathing was noted and he turned to her. Her mouth was at his crotch and he stepped up, placing his legs on either side of her knees. Holding the base of his cock he looked down at her seriously and presented the head to her lips. Carmen’s hands clenched beside her on the porcelain. Her mouth opened and her eyes shot up to his face as he fed her as much of his tool as she could handle. His member swelled in her mouth and she had to pull back, stroking him. Jack reached above him to grip the shower curtain rod with both hands. Looking into her eyes he slowly probed her mouth. “You wanted that, baby?” he asked softly. Her head nodded as her lips sucked the head, licking around the rim, flattening over his slit to take in the drops that escaped there. Jack gazed down at her, soaking up the sight as her mouth ate at him. “We don’t have time,” he stated flatly to cover the clawing need in him. The sight, the feel, everything about this moment drew him with more than just the sexual. He was already backed on his heels emotionally. She kept being more. More than he’d known, more than he could handle and remain in control. Withdrawing his cock he turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. Taking her hand he stood her before him and dried her damp body. The phone was ringing in the bedroom again. “You know who’s calling?” Carmen asked as he dried himself. “Yeah,” Jack grimaced, and turned so she wouldn’t see it on his face as he put the towel on the rack. Looking at her almost hurt. She was an angel of mercy, both personally and professionally. The man stealing his way into her life could be called an 33

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angel with a much darker mission. The type who ran in the company of four horsemen. He didn’t want to face his ugly world for a few more minutes. “If I pick up that phone the world ends in seventy-two hours for one reason or another. I’ll have to run. I don’t want to. Not yet.” “Superman’s cape getting heavy? Have you trained your replacement yet?” she wanted to know. They strolled into his bedroom. The bed was a mess. Sex hung heavy in the air and Jack went to pick up his phone then led her into the living room. “No. I don’t have a replacement. I should see to that,” he agreed. “I don’t mean to pressure you, Jack.” Carmen hesitated as he lay down on the couch and pulled her down with her back into his chest, wrapping himself around her soft body from behind. She fit him. All sloping curves and soft skin. There was nothing hard or ugly about this woman. She snuggled into him as if they’d been doing this for years, totally relaxed while one of his hands cupped her breast and the other rested on her hip stroking it absently. “But as a citizen of Metropolis, I’m damn grateful Superman is up there in the sky. Until the sidekick gets some skills, I need him there.” Jack chuckled and nuzzled her neck. “You sending me off, woman?” His fingers pinched and rolled her nipple as he said it. Giving her a little tug at the end. Handling her as they relaxed was necessary. His response to her didn’t seem to be abating. The length of his hard cock pushed between her ass cheeks and he loved the feel of that. “No.” Her neck arched for his lips as he nibbled. “I’m telling you I don’t know what you do or how you do it, but it doesn’t sound as if you like it anymore. Your heart isn’t in it if you can ignore that phone again.” It had started ringing on the floor beside them where Jack had dropped it. “And I’m not staking a claim or doing any other needywoman thing. When you leave, I’ll still have a responsible job, lots of friends and my

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everyday frustrations. Only thing that will be different is I’ll have an amazing memory of Superman in his prime.” Jack insistently shifted her so she lay on her back looking up at him. His back was to the couch as he loomed over her, his hand cupping a breast, thumb stroking over the reddened nipple. “And if Superman comes back? Will be you be off scrapping with Wolverine?” Carmen reached up and stroked his cheek, her smile soft as her eyes caressed his face. “No, Batman is more my kinda guy. You know. Dark, tortured and a superhero. I go for those mysterious men who blink in and out of my world with no warning.” Jack slowly lowered his lips to the plush velvet of her mouth. Their first real kiss and she was busy being sure he knew there were no strings attached. Two years ago he’d have been thanking his lucky stars and beating feet outta the house, eager to face the next challenge. Always on the hunt. Her mouth opened under his. Her tongue shyly met his and he slid around it, sinking into her. God! She was sweet. A damp mystery and a hot flame in his hands. Kneading her breast as he ate of her soul, his hand slowly slid down her shuddering chest, around her side to slide over hip and back across her belly to cup the apex of her legs. Nothing more. He just held the gate to paradise as the wolves howled at his door in the form of his phone. Reaching for the phone as he lifted his mouth from her, he couldn’t take his eyes off the peace in her face as he flipped the phone open. The conversation was short. The result exactly what he’d said it would be but with an unexpected twist. The closing line being his promise to be “there” in an hour. “You can’t be anywhere from here in an hour,” Carmen accused softly. “Sure I can. Remember the cape? It’s industrial size on the tarmac at the community airport.” “Oh.”

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Neither of them moved. He remained over her, looking down into her eyes. “I have to go.” “Yes. You do. Should I be packing sandwiches or something? I don’t know what Lois Lane is supposed to do.” He cupped her face, gently kissing her eyes shut. “You’re supposed to lay here and let me look at you ‘til I leave,” he informed her as he shifted over her and stood. “You’re a romantic,” Carmen marveled softly as he stood by the couch gazing down at her. “Now you’ve just turned mean, woman.” Jack was smiling as he sparred with her. “There isn’t another living soul who’d call me a romantic.” Carmen chuckled and stood. “I thought you were going to lay there ‘til I left,” Jack objected mildly when she grabbed his hand and led him into the bedroom. “You were having a hard time finding your clothes,” Carmen stated as she went to the bed and began stripping off the sheets. Jack pulled on clothes. She didn’t ask where clean sheets would be, there was a linen closet in the hall, just like on her side of the building. She had the bed remade by the time he was arming up. She sat on it and solemnly watched a small gun go in one boot. A closed blade in each front pocket, a dagger in an ankle holster. A gun on his hip and one in a shoulder holster. Last the baseball jacket. “What airport is going to let you out of your plane?” Carmen mused as he gathered up the last items—wallet, phone and change. Jack glanced at her as he finished. If she were a spy trying to pump him for information, she’d done a damn good job of not appearing interested for two years. He was pretty sure the lady was exactly what she seemed, but he still couldn’t tell her details about his life. They would be burdens that could get her killed.

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“I’ll be the mostly unarmed guy when I land where I’m going.” He strolled over to his naked baby girl sitting on the edge of his bed and gazed down at her. Carmen’s pretty eyes looked up at him with calm clarity. She really wasn’t going to get all girly about him leaving, but then why should she? It was one incredibly short event. She’d enjoyed submitting but what did he know of how she thought? “Carmen, about what happened,” Jack started seriously. Carmen held up her hand. “You don’t have to explain. I understand you have to leave. What happened between us was great. The most amazing experience of my life. It doesn’t bind you, Jack. I’m a big girl. I can handle it. All that stuff you said at the beginning was nice though.” “Oh yeah?” he asked softly as he pulled her up into his arms. “You’re okay with it being kind lies? You’re doing better than me. I want this. I want you. This connection doesn’t happen often and all dominants are not like me. I’m trying to impress on you that there are a lot of bad guys out there who would hurt you. Not just physically.” His arms around her naked body tightened. “I wasn’t lying when I said what I did. The phone call changed everything. I thought I’d have more time before this one came up. More time with you. This mission is different and I don’t know when I’ll be back. I can’t ask you to wait around.” “I’m not a flighty teenager, ya know,” she informed him with a smile as she looked up at him. “No, you’re not. But I’ll be gone a long time. No idea when the cape will land here again and I can’t say anything about what you do next. I’m concerned though. Experimenting, exploring that amazing submissive in your soul could get dangerous, baby. I’m feeling remarkably possessive of her.” “I haven’t seen Batman buzzing around the place. Seems a sure thing the submissive will be here when you get back,” Carmen mused softly.

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Neither of them were making promises, they couldn’t, but Jack was uncomfortable with leaving her. Damn, he wished he’d had time to imprint himself on her in a much more permanent way. Logically it was a good thing for her that he hadn’t. She didn’t deserve to wait as long as he suspected this would take. It was the one hunt he’d been after his whole career. He couldn’t tell her any of that. Leaving her wondering if he was dead or alive would be cruel. Not even he was that selfish. He had to go. Had to leave her to her normal life and that shit was eating at him. She was so vulnerable right now. A brand-new natural submissive who was just beginning to explore her needs. She didn’t realize how strong this lifestyle was. It pulled at a person like a drug habit. The needs would build and some day she’d look for what she needed. That scared the hell out of him. Who would she meet? What sort of bastard? There was nothing to say. He captured her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss while one hand held the back of her head, controlling her. The other spanned the small of her back, holding her soft belly against his cock. Even with pants, belt and everything on, her flesh moved him. Wrenching his mouth off her he turned to the door and strode out. Leaving her in his bedroom was the best he could do. A memory was all he had a right to take with him.

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Stealing Carmen

Chapter Four

Seventeen months later Sleet was icing the runway. They didn’t want to let him land. Jack swore viciously as he circled. “Look, buddy. I put this bird down on wheels or you’re keeping the entire fire rescue team up all night picking pieces of me off a field. Those guys are gonna be mad as hell at you for wreckin’ their Christmas Eve like that.” The lone traffic controller finally flipped on landing lights. “I’m not calling the emergency until you’re a smudge on the runway,” he threatened in exasperation. “You’ll never make it to the hospital in time.” “Fine. It’s on me,” Jack snarled. He knew he could land the damn plane and he wasn’t flying another two hours away to do it. Two hours’ flight time would mean four or more driving back up in these conditions. He had a much better chance of surviving one landing than that many hours on the road in a rental. He’d spent way too many long hours getting his ass here from the other side of the planet and he wasn’t stopping now. He really was a fucking romantic. Carmen had seen right through him. Who arrives on Christmas Eve and expects the little woman to be waiting when she hasn’t heard from him in seventeen months? Jack concentrated on getting the plane on the ground. It was a near thing but he eventually came to a skidding halt, the nose protruding way off the runway. The voice in his headset had been yelling useless instructions as he skidded in. Jack hadn’t minded. The guy needed to feel as if he were doing something useful while he watched a near crash. Now the man in the tower was silent. “What? Disappointed?” Jack asked as he gingerly turned the plane and headed to the tie-down areas. Being both alive and on the ground improved his mood.

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“You took a fu—freaking year off my life, bast—buddy,” the voice responded. “I don’t know who you are, but next time you crash into an airport, do it somewhere else.” “Well, you’re new here or you wouldn’t have Christmas duty. You’ll get used to me,” Jack reassured the flight controller. “Don’t tell me this is your home field.” “Yep, it is now.” “Fu— nuts.” “If I’m lucky,” Jack responded with a chuckle to what the guy really said, though not quite how he meant it. “Right. In that case give me her name so I can call her and let her know how near death you came. Any woman worth her salt will take your head off for attempting that landing.” “Not a chance, buddy. Thanks, by the way. The landing lights helped.” The voice laughed. “Go away so I can lock up. This place is officially closed ‘til the weather clears.” Jack was already about done shutting down. “I’m gone. Just have to tie down and then my taillights are outta here.” He kept the Jeep in the hanger with the battery on a charger, he was pretty sure it would start. Time to go see if she was still his. That was a damn optimistic thought. Even if the woman was living next door he couldn’t expect anything. The time he’d been gone had been more than seventeen months in terms of who he was. Coming back to her might have been his motivation in those moments when nothing else would do it but that didn’t make it her responsibility to take what he was now.

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There were new lines on his face, more gray in his hair and fresh scars on his body. His soul had paid a price for victory. Being the victor didn’t make him the winner if he didn’t get the girl. Her wanting what was left of him was the gamble. He’d be shocked if she was in tonight. Christmas Eve was a time for family, friends and warm fires. Still, he needed to get back. Even if it was dark on her side of the building he needed to be there. What he didn’t want to see was blank windows or a new vehicle over there. If she’d moved, that would be a clear sign she wasn’t interested. He’d still track her ass down anyway. Pulling in the drive there were definite signs of life. Cheery-colored lights were strung across the entire front, both his porch and hers. The windows were all dark though. It was only eight-thirty but the winter night was vicious and dark. In his garage at last, Jack grabbed the duffel from behind his seat and entered his cold house. Dropping the bag he looked around with distaste. He knew he was going to do it. It was illegal. It was arrogant and certainly rude. Jack took the flat leather case out of his duffel and exited his front door. At least he’d knock. Just in case someone was home. No answer. Handy little case came out and her door opened easily. Her lock sucked. Her front room was dark except for a single electric candle. The type that usually sat in windows was in the middle of her dining room table sitting on top of an oblong box. There was a note with its corner secured under the lamp. Her scent had welcomed him as he opened the door. It was still her home. But she was leaving notes for someone she expected to come in that front door. There was no hope of his not reading it. Dearest Superman, This is a Christmas wish. You’ll never read it but I needed to do this for me. Tonight I’ll be at the Christmas party on the children’s ward. It’s from seven to ten. In the box is a new cape. Wish I’d see you there. Lois Lane 41

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P.S. Batman just moved to town but I’d rather be wrapped in red on the flight home. Jack stared at the note in shock. She’d left it for him. How did that woman know he’d break into her house if he came home and she was out? Damn. He carefully put the candle lamp and note down beside the box and pulled the cover off. The contents of the box seem to glow in the dim light. Neatly folded with the giant S on top was a Superman costume. Jack jerked back in surprise. No! The woman could not be serious! Then his eye flashed to her note. He stared at it hard as his mind churned the facts. The note was much more literal than he was taking it. She’d written a Christmas wish. She didn’t expect him to show up at all. Batman just moved to town. Those two facts told him she was trying to close the door he’d opened. Carmen hadn’t heard from him in seventeen months. Any sane woman should have moved on long ago. She didn’t want to wait for him any longer. Or better said, she didn’t want to want him anymore. This was a gesture. An action meant to force herself to move on. After tonight she intended to get to know Batman, whoever he was. The fuck she would! Batman was about to get his ass handed to him. Jack looked at his watch. No time. Not bothering with another light he started stripping. Superman would be making an appearance at the hospital children’s party. The suit mostly fit. He’d lost weight but the thing still didn’t give him anywhere to hide his cock. Not quite what the kids needed to see. He pulled on a pair of blue shorts and a long overcoat as he passed through his place on the way to the Jeep. Turning up the heat to a normal temperature in the house was an afterthought. The streets were empty. Sleet had turned to snow and to him the snow pelting past Christmas lights as he drove to the hospital was surprisingly beautiful. He’d never noticed how nice that looked before.

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Finding the children’s ward was easy with the help of a smiling nurse. Standing well back in the hall he watched a few minutes as the party wound down. It was almost over. Time to fetch his elf. She’d lost weight too. Jack frowned. He hoped she didn’t think she needed to. She was amazingly beautiful in the little green outfit but he’d like to see the luxurious curves back on her body. He’d correct that. They would have time to take care of it if he could get his ass in there and take what was his. Shedding the overcoat he ignored the sigh from the nurse who’d showed him where to find the party. Damn, this was difficult. He thought he’d faced danger and killed all the fucking dragons already. Missions he’d barely survived were nothing compared to stepping in that door and reading her face when she saw him. The note said she still wanted him but several hours had passed since she wrote it. Perhaps that Santa dude was her Batman. He seemed fucking friendly with his elf. Maybe the guy was a fast worker and emotionally she’d already moved on. Jack took a deep breath and threw open the door. Best make a big entrance. It would give her a chance to hide her response from everyone else in the room if she wanted to. No one would be looking at her; all eyes would be on him. His entrance was indeed big. The kids went nuts, Santa scowled and Carmen froze. Then her hands slowly rose to her face, holding her own cheeks, she disguised the tears. A shy smile trembled on her lips. She was still his. Jack couldn’t stride across the room and scoop her into his arms. There were little broken bodies clamoring for his attention. Apparently Superman had a huge following at this hospital. It was twenty minutes before he could even stand next to her as they waved to the children being returned to their rooms. Carmen had composed her face and Santa was forced to leave so the party could end. Fortunately Superman could hang around and assist the beautiful elf. 43

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“You’re mine,” Jack murmured in a toneless whisper only she could hear. He couldn’t force his mouth to say any of the other stuff he knew women wanted to hear. This is what he needed first. Desperately. Carmen was helping a little boy pile his big present on his lap so the nurse could wheel him back to his bed. She straightened, coming up in Jack’s space as if it were unintentional. “First I’ve heard of that for over a year,” she responded, and turned to help the next child. Jack was right beside her, gently teasing the little girl as he lifted her, pretending to struggle with her weight and making her laugh. He put the little waif in her wheelchair and responded in Carmen’s ear. “Say it,” he commanded. Carmen laughed with the little girl and waved her on her way. Her eyes met Jack’s and a brow rose. “I can’t. I don’t trust it,” she told him softly, knowing anyone who could hear them would have no idea what they were talking about. The last child left. Housekeeping staff was already there cleaning up. Jack didn’t give a damn what those people saw at this point. His hand gripped her arm in a steel hold. He wasn’t marking her but she was in his control. Carmen frowned down at the hand on her forearm and looked up directly into his eyes as if that would get him to release her. This time Jack raised a brow. “Not likely, baby girl,” he responded to her unspoken demand that he let go. “We discuss this here and now. I don’t give a shit who hears or sees us.” Abruptly Carmen turned her body into him, bringing them in contact from knees to chest. “Then make me believe it,” she challenged softly. Her beautiful face radiated strength and determination. This was no melting response to his command. The air sucked out of the room and Jack was sure there were angels singing the Halleluiah chorus somewhere. Perhaps it was the piped-in Christmas music. The only reason he knew the name of that one was because they said the word so many times and right now he appreciated the sentiment. 44

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Jack didn’t need to hear another word. He ignored the shock at her challenge and took what was his. One arm went around her back, his forearm up her spine and his fist held her hair. The other hand came down on her ass and he had her bent back and taking his kiss hard and deep. Tasting her sweet mouth was like diving into fizzing soda. She made every neuron and nerve in his body explode in pleasure. There was no holding back as he drank her. He’d been feeling this kiss from about five minutes after he’d closed the door on her so long ago. He’d lived it when there was almost nothing else to keep him going. Getting back to this woman, this mouth, this soul had become the mission he’d complete at all costs. He’d moved the earth to make it safe for her if he were in her life publicly. At the time he’d told himself he was burnt-out and mopping up the job he no longer wanted. He’d probably committed murder for her. It was complicated, but if the man he’d been hunting his entire career had lived, Carmen would never have been safe as his woman. All of it was a thinly disguised effort to get back to her. This woman who’d dedicated her life to helping others. Her soul was so clean it sometimes hurt him to think about what she would see in him. It hurt, but not enough to keep him from her. Not enough to make him turn away from this. She needed to believe he wanted her? She would know it for a fact as soon as he got her somewhere he didn’t have to leave or couldn’t be arrested for stripping his woman and fucking her brains out. Dimly he became aware of hooting and whistling going on around them. Raising his head he happened to be facing the door. There stood Santa dude with his costume in hand. Jack pulled Carmen up with him as he straightened, never taking his eyes off the scowling man. He knew the other staff were laughing and carrying on about Carmen getting dipped and kissed by Superman. He’d like to enjoy the ribbing but the possible predator in the door was a greater concern. 45

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Letting go of her hair he rubbed her scalp where he’d held her, making sure it was obvious he’d done it and that he’d intended to. His attention remained focused on the door though. The man matched Jack at six foot three. He was perhaps thirty pounds heavier and most of it wasn’t fat. Jack was lighter than he should be. Lighter didn’t mean weaker, it meant fast in a fight. Both of them were hard men, only one a killer. Jack had an arm around Carmen. It tightened when she turned to see what he was looking at. The guy at the door smiled but he was looking at Carmen when he did it not Jack. The guy strode toward them. “Hello.” He nodded at Jack without extending a hand. “Jack, this is Dr. Harman Berrocko,” Carmen introduced them, but her eyes were swinging back and forth between them as she felt Jack stiffen. “Harman, this is Jack Jones.” “Are you sure, Carmen?” Berrocko didn’t take his eyes off Jack as he continued. He’d stopped a few feet from them. “Jack Jones is as invisible a name as John Smith. Your new friend is not what he seems, my dear.” Carmen sucked in a sharp breath at the obvious challenge. Her hand reached for Jack’s other arm, fisting on the suit sleeve as if she could hold him from reaching for a weapon as she stammered at Berrocko, “Oh no, no. I mean… I know but…” “It’s okay, baby,” Jack assured her in a private tone that Berrocko could hear with no problem. “I’m not spending my first night back home in jail. I promise not to hurt him.” Neither Berrocko nor he had broken eye contact. “You think you could take me? Seem significantly undernourished, Jones.” Berrocko laughed but it wasn’t a derogatory challenge. “But if she’s that worried, I guess I’d better pay attention. I’ve never known her to be wrong about anything.” “No, she’s not wrong,” Jack agreed, neither confirming nor denying what she was right about. Seemed Berrocko genuinely respected Carmen’s judgment.

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Berrocko turned his attention to Carmen. “Do you need a ride home? I’ve got the Hummer warmed up. We should have no problem with the weather.” Jack clenched his jaw. The question was directed at Carmen. He wanted to tell the guy where he could stick his Hummer. It certainly took brass balls to offer a ride home to the woman in another man’s arms without including her male companion. Berrocko was flexing in a civilized way. His challenge wasn’t the macho swords at sunrise. He was much more subtle about it with his urban smile and casual display of tail feathers consisting of expensive toys and implied plush lifestyle. “Thank you, Harman. I have a ride home,” Carmen assured him smoothly, her hand now resting on Jack’s chest, over his heart. He suspected she was keeping track of his heart rate. That wasn’t the indicator she needed to be concerned about but it was nice to have her hand on him. Jack relaxed, making sure she felt him do it. Her response was the correct one and he appreciated it. “Well, I’ll be heading out. You have my personal numbers if you need anything,” Berrocko stated boldly. Jack bared his teeth in a near smile. Bastard really was an idiot. Jack gentled his features and turned his attention to Carmen, ignoring the idiot. “Where’s your coat, baby? Time to go home.” Berrocko had the brains to turn and walk out the door. Carmen breathed an inaudible sigh of relief and smiled at Jack. “Thank you.” A real laugh rumbled up his chest as he looked down into the face of his woman. She was amazing. “I wouldn’t have killed him for being stupid. Just hurt him a little,” Jack assured her softly. She read him way too easy. Perhaps that was a good thing. “I have to work with him, Jack.” “No you don’t. Where’s your coat? We need to leave.” They were in the Jeep before she asked him what he meant. Jack was concentrating on the dangerous drive home, taking it a lot slower than he had getting there. Nothing

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was going to keep him from her a moment longer than it took to get her in his door. Certainly not an accident because she made him stupid. The club in his costume would have to put up with the slow drive. “You don’t have to work with him if you don’t want to,” Jack repeated patiently. “Don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but I’m not leaving this time.” He glanced at her. Her face in the dashboard lights was like looking at her in candlelight. She was stunning to him. He had to stop glancing at her and concentrate on the driving, damn it. “Not leaving? What does that mean? Not Superman anymore?” “Nope. Just Clark Kent, honey. Hung up the cape yesterday.” “So you’re unemployed?” she pressed. “Sort of. Mostly I’m free to do what I need to from wherever I want. You could call me a consultant.” He glanced at her again. A small smile lit her face. “You really came back to me, didn’t you?” she marveled in a whisper. “That’s a lot of pressure, Jack. What if this doesn’t work out?” He was pulling into the garage as she asked that. Shutting off the Jeep he turned to face her. His arm rested along the back of her seat. She hadn’t unbuckled and neither had he. “Baby, if this doesn’t work out, it’ll be my fault not yours. There is no pressure because I changed my operative classification. As your dominant it’s my job to learn you. To know what keeps you in my bed, in my arms and on my cock. If I’m so stupid as to screw that up, I deserve to be left.” Carmen’s bottom lip caught under her teeth as she looked into his eyes. Her eyes were huge and unblinking for a moment and he could see her chest expand in a deep breath. They were both silent as she looked at him. It lasted long enough for the garage light to blink off.

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“Made up your mind yet?” Jack prompted quietly. He’d let her take all the time she needed right now to think about it. Once they left the Jeep he didn’t think he’d have the control to let her think. “You’re not even denying it,” Carmen said. “I’ve never known a man who would change his life for me.” “Good. It’d get messy if I had to get rid of some other obsessed bastard.” Carmen laughed softly and released her seat belt. “Jack, please take me as your submissive. My safe word is peach.” The words were a whisper but they ripped across his world like lightning splits the night sky. “Do not move,” he commanded, and slid out of the Jeep. At her door he wrenched it open and scooped his woman into his arms. Letting her walk in the door would put too much distance between them. Clothes were already in the way.

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Chapter Five The door to the garage shut and he was ripping her coat off, kissing her mouth with deep thrusts of his tongue. Carmen kissed him back and gave him her passion. He was drowning in need as her coat fell to the floor. There she was in the cute little green skirt and turtleneck. Green tights and red ankle boots. She shoved his overcoat off and then started laughing. Jack froze, frowning. “Superman” was all she could get out. Looking down at himself he realized the suit was a one-piece thing. Getting it off would require letting her go. It also seemed to be a mood wrecker. Jack hefted Carmen over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold. His hand landed on her ass because he had to as he strode through the house into his bedroom. Her laugh turned into a moan as his hand remained on the green bottom, caressing and squeezing gently. Flipping her off his shoulder, he put her on the edge of the bed. “Stay,” he commanded, and stepped back. He wanted to rip the costume from neck to legs, but she’d purchased it for him. Gotten it before she knew he was coming back. This damn thing would be a treasured possession for the rest of his life. When he died, someone was going to get a good laugh when they found it. Only Carmen would know what it was. Pulling it off, he stepped out of his boots as well. “I’ve had a complete physical in the last month,” he told her calmly. “No STDs, no AIDS. I haven’t been with a woman since the last time we were together. I’m not asking you if you’ve been with anyone since I’ve been gone. Just telling you my situation. How about your health? I don’t want to wear a condom.” Carmen gulped. “Hospital yearly last month. Clean. But—” “Good.” 50

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He was naked and sinking to his knees between her legs. Carefully he pulled her turtleneck from her skirt, lifting it over her head. Sitting back on his heels he looked at her breasts. They were securely restrained in an unadorned bra. Not a garment a woman wore if she was planning to get naked for someone. At this moment he loved that bra but it had to go. Reaching around her he flicked the hooks with experienced fingers and pulled it down her arms in a single motion. It landed on top of the turtleneck beside him on the floor. “Jack, what about—” “I intend to get you pregnant,” he cut her off. “Oh!” Her shocked exclamation came as he unzipped and pulled off the cute little red boots. Immediately he reached up under her skirt and gripped the top of her tights and panties. “Lift up,” he instructed. She complied and he swiftly pulled them down. “Shouldn’t we discuss—” “Do you want children?” He dropped the green hose and grasped her knees, pushing them apart. “I like the little skirt. We’ll leave it a while. Now hold it up for me.” “I love children.” She pulled her skirt up, exposing herself with sexy hesitancy. “But what about—” “I’m not poor. I meant it when I said you don’t have to work with the jerk or anyone else.” Jack knelt there staring at her cunt, watching its naked folds flush and plump as excitement seeped out of it. He’d flipped on the overhead light because he wanted to see her. He wanted her to know he was looking at her. “This cunt is mine. I intend to fuck it into next week. There’s no way you’ll not be pregnant unless you just had your period. Then we’ll have to keep fucking ‘til you are.”

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Carmen was panting lightly as she watched him study her pussy and discuss fucking it into next week. Her bare breasts trembled, the tips hard and pointed. “I can’t get pregnant, Jack.” His eyes shot up to hers. Not even a second ticked by. “All right. We’ll adopt. That just gives us more time to fuck first,” he assured her. “Lie back so I can taste my pussy.” His hands left her knees. He gripped both her nipples as she reclined for him, twisting them gently. “Good girl. Look at you holding your skirt up. So pretty, so sexy. Damn.” His eyes ate her as her mouth opened to speak again. “You don’t have to explain, baby. We’ll talk about it later but that doesn’t change what we’re going to be, Carmen. It doesn’t change one thing about you being my woman.” “I’m on the Pill!” Jack stilled, his fingers gripping her nipples hard. “Something you want to tell me about that?” he asked cautiously. He didn’t want to hear about her past relationships or even ones she hoped to have. But he’d made several incorrect assumptions so it was probably a good idea to let her say whatever it was she felt she needed to. “For you. In case you came home. I’ve been on it since the week after you left,” Carmen panted. “The children issue is not on the table. You don’t get to decide that just because I can’t live without your cock.” Jack rose over her, his fingers rolling her nipples as he knelt on the bed straddling her hips and looking down into the face he would never get enough of. “Is that a limit?” “Yes.” “Why?” “You don’t love me.” “What? If you believed I loved you, you’d have my children?” “Eventually. When you’re ready.” Jack was breathing hard, controlling his instincts. “So how do you think you’ll know I’m ready?”

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Carmen had dropped her skirt when Jack moved up over her. Now her hands rose above her head on the bed, clasping there in self-bondage. Her back arched into his handling of her breasts and a small smile played around her mouth. “When you need me to tell you I love you. Then you’re ready.” There it was, the one thing he’d never require of her. He could want it ‘til his body ached with the need but he’d never ask for those words from her. If she didn’t offer them willingly with no prompting, they would be worthless anyway. He let go of her nipples and gripped her breasts, kneading them as he stared down at her. Damn it to hell! He’d been ignorant enough to assume her still wanting him was about deeper emotions. Commitment. Did she think it was just sex to him? He let her go and sprang off the bed to pace to his back door. The window showed snow coming down sideways. It was a bitter night. Her panting on the bed was the only sound. All right. Baby girl was no fool. She wanted to know who was in charge and she was pushing the important buttons. It was his fault. He shouldn’t have shocked her with the baby issue. It was more than that. He wanted his seed in her. Some part of him possessing her at all times. She was right. That was no reason to bring kids into the world. But it wasn’t the only reason and she’d jumped to conclusions as much as he had. It was still his responsibility to read her and he’d scared her. Babies were a huge deal and she had no way of knowing he’d spent several months naming them. Envisioning them, envisioning her heavy and pregnant with his child. He’d told her he wasn’t poor but also that he was mostly unemployed. A woman couldn’t know she’d be financially secure enough to support a baby with that little bit of information. Women needed security before they thought about babies. Time to fix it. Seduce her. Fuck her brains out. Buy her a house and then propose. It wasn’t a complicated plan. He’d masterminded complex operations that had to run in three time zones. Surely he could accomplish this without fucking it up. The problem 53

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was the issue of telling her he loved her. She’d never believe it now. She wasn’t looking at the big picture. He hadn’t touched another woman in seventeen months. She’d made him her Christmas wish. If those two people didn’t love each other, he didn’t know what the concept meant. Jack crossed his arms and regarded the night, letting her lie there and think. She’d challenged him as her dominant. Challenged him with her trust issue. She didn’t realize his every action was a declaration. A pledge. That was all right. She’d learn. He turned to her. She’d wisely gone back to the last position he’d required, holding her skirt up. “Good girl,” he approved softly, and strode back to her. Standing between her legs his eyes examined her exposed pussy with slow deliberation. “So we agree that we need some time to get to know each other?” “Yes.” Jack nodded. “Drop the skirt around your waist and pull on your nipples,” he directed as he again sank down between her legs. “You have permission to come as much as you want,” he told her as his hands skimmed up her thighs ‘til deeply tanned fingers framed her pink cunt. Then his mouth descended on her and Jack took what he’d been wanting. The tang of her taste in his mouth. Her scent engulfing him and no time limit. Letting her come whenever she wanted meant he didn’t regulate her endurance. Baby girl would know what a man obsessed with her body was capable of. If she didn’t want to think he loved her for several days, that was fine. He really hoped she wasn’t scheduled for work anytime soon. If she was, she was about to lose her job. Licking up her plump folds, he enjoyed the texture of her as he went back to dip his tongue in her and then licked up the other side to slowly slide down the interior crease, circling her opening again, delicately lapping just inside her exquisite vagina. Barely stimulating the sensitive nerves there and then moving away to suck her outer lips 54

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between his and lave them with attention one at a time. At the apex of her slit he stroked her hood until her little clit protruded. Then he concentrated on it. Eating her, sucking it gently, licking it hard with his flat tongue then blowing across it to watch her jerk and hear her moan. She came in short order but he paid it no mind, relentlessly continuing his consumption of her private flesh. The second time she came she screamed. The third time her hands shoved his head away. He’d been waiting for that. He let her do it, standing up and walking around to his nightstand. “Need the bathroom?” he asked. Carmen shook her head no. “Come on, baby, scoot up.” He put a knee on the bed for balance as he bent to grasp her limp shoulders and help drag her body up the bed. Carmen let him move her, her body still trembling from the orgasms. When she was positioned in the middle to his satisfaction, he lifted her head and pulled the pillow out from under it. Her eyes closed and he smiled. Taking a moment to get what he needed from the dresser he returned with a length of silk rope and a few items he dropped into the nightstand drawer. “Hands above your head, wrists crossed,” he murmured with the rope in hand. Her eyes popped open but she did as told. He secured her wrists to the oldfashioned iron headboard. It was very masculine and extremely handy though he’d never had another woman in this bed. This was where he lived. Carmen was the one he wanted here and he’d never had the urge to prowl the local talent. He kept supplies here but they were for packing when he knew the mission would involve some downtime. His needs were specialized and it was his nature to be prepared. Assuming his sexual partner would ensure health and safety was not possible for him. So home base was stocked even if he never expected to use anything here. “Comfortable?” he asked seriously. 55

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Carmen tugged on the binding and then nodded. She was panting again. Her excitement in the bondage was an excellent sign but he didn’t comment on it. “Turn over,” he instructed calmly, and lifted her onto her stomach. Her hands above her head, the move was quickly complete. His arm then went around her ass and hips. Lifting them easily, he slid the two king-size pillows under her. Ass elevated, her legs had to fall open as her body bent over the pillows. “Oh!” Carmen exclaimed in surprise. Jack swiftly unsnapped her short skirt and skimmed it off, dropping it on the floor. He grasped her knees and pushed them wide. Reaching into his nightstand he came out with a small bottle. Swiftly moving up on the bed behind her, his cock lined up with her cunt as he leaned over to reach her shoulders. The movement pressed cock in cunt. His weight forced the thick intrusion, sliding in fully as his large hands came down on her back. His hands slick with the oil, he began a deep-tissue massage. His cock only moved as his body did in the performance of the massage. Pushing into her deeply when he leaned up to her shoulders; pulling out as he dragged his hands down her back. She was tight and hot. He ignored her pussy’s demanding contractions as he moved in her. Slowly with careful concern for every inch of her back, hips and butt, he rubbed the oil into her. She stared humping back at him and he enjoyed the hell out of it but didn’t respond with the pounding relief she wanted. By the time he was done, she was sobbing in frustration. “Please, Jack,” she finally wailed as her hips thrust back. “Please what, baby?” “Please fuck me! I’m dying. How can you stand it?” “Mmmm…I like being in your pussy. I can stand it because I know it brings you pleasure.”

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“Fine, enough pleasure. I want a screaming orgasm,” Carmen demanded shortly as he kept rubbing her back and stroking the walls of her vagina with erratic touches that never let her build the sensations to a peak. He leaned down to her ear, pressing into her so deeply that Carmen yelped. “There can never be enough pleasure.” “Oh God. You’re using pleasure!” she exclaimed in shock when she finally got it. His cock still pressed deep, he sat up on his haunches, his hands framing her hips as he looked down. “Have you learned a lesson?” “Yes!” Tears streamed down her face and she turned it into the mattress. “What did you learn, baby girl?” Carmen sniffled and rubbed her face on the sheet, answering him from that position. “Even when you’re mad at me, you will not hurt me. I should trust you more.” “Very good. I wasn’t mad at you but you do have a right to expect me to build trust, honey. I want you to understand that. I rushed into a place you were not comfortable with. I need to practice control. I’m sorry. I apologize for letting you down like that.” Her head turned to the side as she listened. “If I accept your apology, do we both get off the hook and you’ll fuck?” “Like a man whose cock has been in his woman for an hour without fucking,” he assured her in deep, strained tones. “Apology accepted!” His hips jerked his cock out of her and slammed it back in with the power of his body behind it. Then he was jacking into her in short, hard thrusts, one hand holding her hip while the other snaked around to strum her clit with fast, hard fingers in time to the thrusts. Carmen shot into orgasm and he pounded into it, keeping her there as he took his pleasure. Her body jerked and thrashed in the extended release as she screamed.

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“Yessss,” he hissed in gasping growls. “Good girl. That’s my baby. Keep coming. Show me where you belong. Right there on that cock screaming.” His approval thrust her to another level. She was sobbing in gasping, jerky breaths as he kept fucking her. Driving her to that place where pleasure rode the razor’s edge of pain and her soul had no idea what do. His deep voice surrounded her and she clung to it. It held her in the place he wanted her to be. His praise turned her screaming body into the instrument he played and she was lost in him. In his will. In his control. Finally the hot blasts of his release exploded in her and his hand fell away from her clit. He was still fucking her hard, giving into the instinctive need to press his seed into the very center of her. It was Jack who controlled her return to earth. As his body relaxed, he took her with him down the warm slide of satisfaction. Jack reached up and undid the restraints, freeing her wrists. He slowly pulled her arms down. They shouldn’t be too sore since he’d spent most of the time massaging her, ensuring circulation to them. But he still needed to take care of that before he passed out. Rolling off her, he let his body pull him out of her. Carefully he removed the pillows from under her hips and dropped them on the floor. Gathering his exhausted woman into his side, he turned her under his arm and pulled one of her legs over his hip. Her head on his shoulder, he reached over and grasped the comforter from the other side of the bed and flicked it over them. The world went dark and they slept. The world was still dark when his eyes opened and he looked down at the woman on his shoulder. It was Carmen. Not a dream. Not some figment of his imagination. She was there—naked, wet and available. Gently he let her shift to her back. Her eyes opened as he moved over her. There was no talking. Her legs spread in welcome as she stared up at his face and his cock pushed into her slick cunt. She was wet. It was his cum, hers. Perhaps she felt what he did in this moment. It didn’t matter, her body was welcoming him and he needed her to know how much he wanted her. 58

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The fuck was slow for a few strokes as he greedily indulged in the tight clasp of her cunt. She was so fuckable. Then he simply took her. Fucking her hard. She shuddered around him and he came. His elbows on the bed beside her, he’d had her missionary but not missionary at all. No kissing, no foreplay. He’d fucked his submissive in the middle of the night because he wanted her. Because he couldn’t sleep with her in his arms and not take her sex. Rolling to the side he rearranged her in his arms, kissed the top of her head and went back to sleep. It was a deep, dreamless sleep. Again in the dark his thick cock slid into her. Lying on her side facing away from him, he’d elevated her leg over his arm. Long and hard he entered from behind and fucked in short, sharp strokes. He came quickly, jetting his seed into her as Carmen moaned. This time she was asleep before he finished arranging her so he rolled on his back and lifted her over him to sleep across his body, her legs bracketing his hips. The morning was winter white when Jack opened his eyes again. Carmen lay on him exactly where he’d put her. Warmth, sex, contentment wafted around him and a smile touched his face. He wanted her again. This time he resisted. She needed some care and it was his job to provide it. He’d taken her over and over in the night. She wouldn’t be able to walk today if he didn’t address that problem soon. Sliding out from under her body didn’t wake her. Patting her pink ass in satisfaction, Jack turned to the bathroom. There was little in the way of supplies in his half of the duplex but he did have all the items needed to assist in healing sore muscles. Shortly he was lifting his sleeping baby. Her eyes opened as her body was set down on the toilet. He held her, unsure if she was awake enough to stay on. Looking into her surprised eyes, he ordered, “Pee. I know you have to. It’s a natural thing, baby. If you’re awake enough to take care of it on your own, I’ll leave you to get some coffee. But you’d better be in that bath when I come back.” He indicated the steaming tub behind him. 59

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Carmen nodded mutely and Jack stood, gazed down at her a second and left. A few minutes later he returned to the bathroom and she was still sitting on the toilet. “I can’t move, Jack. I can’t get up.” “It’s okay,” he soothed. Putting the coffee mugs on the cabinet he scooped her up and lowered her into the steaming water. “This will help. The soreness will pass and you’ll feel better.” “What did you do to me last night?” Jack couldn’t resist using that moment to reach between her legs and spread her, his fingers massaging away the slick evidence of his possession last night. Carmen’s mouth opened in a breathy gasp as he manipulated her. “We were catching up,” he explained as his finger entered her gently then came out and moved up to circle her clit. “I can’t. We can’t,” Carmen moaned. Jack chuckled as he looked into her responsive face. Even though she could hardly move, her cheeks flushed as his finger moved on her sweet pussy. “We’ll not be fucking pussy for a while, honey. There are other ways to enjoy each other.” Carmen swallowed as her eyes clung to him. “We’re okay after our disagreement last night?” “I think so. We’re learning each other.” His finger left her clit. He reached for her coffee cup and set it on the side of the tub. “I guessed no creamer, one sweetener. There was one empty packet by the coffeemaker in your kitchen.” “When did you go through my kitchen?” “I glanced in from the dining room when I was putting on Superman’s cape. It’s my job to see details, baby. So was I right?” “Close enough, I usually do two sweeteners. I ran out yesterday.” She reached for the mug greedily.

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Jack watched her drink. His heart would not let him leave the room. Well, not yet. Going to the sink he figured a shave was in order. Behind him he could see her close her eyes and relax. They were comfortable. This was where he wanted them to be. Domestic comfort. Who the fuck would believe that was the desire of his wicked heart. To make her happy enough that she wanted to stay. Fucking her raw was probably not the way to ensure that, but it was a good indication that her man wanted her. She’d been concerned. Swiftly done, he turned around and leaned his butt on the sink so he could just look at her. Carmen relaxing in his tub. Her eyes didn’t open as she asked, “Why are you staring at me?” “You’re beautiful. I always stare at you, before I did it so you couldn’t tell.” “You did? You used to stare at me?” “Oh yeah. I loved watching you come home with groceries. If I weren’t so selfish, I’d have gone out there and offered to help carry them in. I couldn’t because I wanted to watch that luscious ass as you bent to lift bags. Then those jiggling breasts as you carried them in. I stare at Carmen. It’s one of my favorite things when I’m home.” “So, um, what do you think of the new Carmen?” she asked shyly. “You mean the woman I fucked all night long?” he asked with a dark smile. “I want her. But, baby, if you thought you had to lose weight to be beautiful, you were wrong. If being this size makes you happy and you can maintain a healthy body, then it’s okay with me for now. In a couple years I might insist on a little more Carmen. You need the reserves to handle me.” Carmen’s features darkened into a confused frown. “So you wouldn’t mind if I gained the weight back?” “Nope, as long as you’re not going up and down as a habit. I read somewhere it’s bad for woman to diet all the time. I will not let you do that.”

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Carmen laughed. “And if I said I want to be a size two and will eat nothing but cabbage greens?” “I’d have to change your attitude on that one, baby. Size two would not be healthy and I need those heavy breasts in my hands when I pull you back on my cock.” Jack grinned as he gave her the wicked visual. “Fucking a skinny ass is painful. Can’t tolerate it. I want that sexy jiggle in your walk. The plush padding as I pound into you, and I need you happy. A starving woman is never happy.” Her head rested on the back of the tub as she listened to him. Her smile was a little dreamy and Jack suspected she was happy. Even though her body ached and her pussy was sore inside and out, baby girl was happy being a thoroughly fucked woman. He was more than willing to keep her that way. “Move in with me.” Carmen’s eyes popped open. “I want you in my bed every night. We’d have to build a house. Say yes.” “Build a house? Where?” “Anywhere you like. I figure the house budget should be about five million. That way you can have a house in any state you want. I’d like to stay in the U.S. though,” Jack told her. “You okay with that?” “No. Five million is excessive. Can you really afford that? And if you can, we are not wastin’ money like that.” “I can afford it and I need to keep you comfortable. If you don’t want to move, we can tear the duplex down and build right here. I own it and the fields for about a mile in any direction around it. Kinda like the idea of having you sunbathe naked out the back.” “Humph,” Carmen growled from the tub. Jack grinned. “Take your time to decide. I’m willing to find other things to amuse myself with while you make up your mind.”

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Carmen glared at him from the tub. “Is Jack Jones your real name?” “It’s my legal name. My real name is Carmen’s Man. Say yes, woman. I need to relax over here. All the stress is going to drive me to fucking your brains out again and then we’ll have to do this all over.” “Really? That isn’t actually incentive to say yes, Jack. The fucking my brains out part is not a deterrent.” “You’re not pissed that you can hardly walk?” he asked softly. “No.” She was already flushed with the hot bath, but her blush was in the tone of her admission. “I’m going to explore your mouth and your ass today, Carmen,” he informed her with a low growl. “In that order. I’m nowhere near done with fucking you.” “Yes, I know,” she breathed as a shudder rippled the water around her. Jack reached under the sink and pulled out a Fleet enema. Placing it on the cabinet, his eyes leveled on her. “Think you can use this on your own? Need help?” Her eyes went from the box to his face. “I’ll be fine.” “Good. I’m going to raid your fridge for breakfast materials. I’ll expect you in thirty minutes.” Jack left the bathroom before he got himself in trouble. He’d been pushing her again. The house thing, damn it. It was too soon. What the hell was wrong with his head? He was fucking up the simple plan. Jerking on jeans, he stamped his feet into boots and grabbed a jacket. It was colder than a witch’s tit but the trip from his door to hers was short. He’d have to pick the lock again. He’d locked it after himself last night. Thirty minutes later he had bacon, scrambled eggs and toast on his kitchen table. He’d even swiped the Christmas tablecloth from her kitchen. Movement in the door made him turn.

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In one of his flannel shirts and a pair of his tube socks, she hesitated. Jack was in jeans and nothing else. He stood there with arms slack just looking at the woman. She smiled and glanced at the table. “It smells good.” “You’re beautiful.” Soft and slow a smile bloomed across her lips. “You’re a very good thief.” “It’s a talent.” Carmen walked into his body, her hands traveling up his bare chest then around his neck. “It is an awesome talent. You have something of mine I think I need right now.” He wasn’t touching her. Figured she deserved some food before he fell on her again. She wasn’t helping though. She leaned up into him, her perfect face glowing at him as her fingers sank into his hair. He’d needed a haircut a month ago. Now it sort of fell in his eyes. “What do you need right now?” he asked as she smiled. “I need my kiss. The one you give me on Christmas morning. The sexy, driving, possessive one that curls my toes and makes me want. The one we are always going to have on Christmas mornings.” Jack remained still as he looked down at her. “Every? We’re talking the kiss you’re planning on having every Christmas morning in our new house?” He needed this clarified. “Mmmm…yes. That one. In the new house that looks normal but is sorta large. Not some overdone, five-million-dollar money pit that I can’t clean in a week.” Jack’s eyes narrowed. His complete focus on her face, he processed her meaning. “Sounds nice.” He didn’t know what else to say. He’d already pushed her. Not once, twice. He’d never made the same mistake twice until this woman let him in her life. Now he was at a loss.

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“You need to eat,” he stated gruffly. “Kiss me then I’ll eat.” “Topping from the bottom?” “No. You said I should ask for my pleasures. I’m asking.” Her breath feathered his face. Fresh and clean. Her taste would be his toothpaste and he hadn’t known that was a sexy scent. His mouth was on hers in exactly the kiss she wanted. Not because she asked for it. Because it was the only type he was capable of. He held his hands at his sides, letting her lean into him, stroke him as much as she wanted. If he put his hands on her, it’d be all over. Breakfast would get cold as what went into her mouth became hot. So the fierce, driving kiss that bruised her lips and left a mark on her was all he’d give her. Breaking the contact, both of them were panting. “Time to eat, baby,” his voice was low, rasping with control. Carmen peeled off him slowly and took a chair. “Do you have something against Christmas?” she asked, picking up a fork. Her plate was full, as was his. “No. Why?” Jack sat and took a forkful of eggs. Carmen took a small bite and chewed a moment. “You haven’t said one word about it. No Merry Christmas, nothing.” “Guess I don’t do Christmas. Sorry. Merry Christmas.” Her eyes remained thoughtful as she ate in silence. Fuck! That was pathetic. Problem was, he didn’t have a clue as to what she wanted. He tried thinking of what people said in Christmas movies and realized he’d never watched one. “You mean you’re not a Christian?” Carmen asked. “If I am, it’s an accident. I’m not anything, baby.” She frowned. “So you—”

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“Look. I grew up mostly in an orphanage kind of place. Not exactly though. Christmas wasn’t much commented on, nothing extra for it. They weren’t bad people. Was smart enough to finish high school and then enlisted. After that, Christmas was the day to get drunk if I was off duty. Later it became an optimum day for covert activities so I was always working.” Jack paused to eat and noticed she was simply staring at him. Finally putting down his fork he frowned. “Did I say something offensive?” “No.” Carmen continued staring at him. “You done eating?” “I think so. Jack? You’ve never done Christmas at all?” “Nope. I brought the tablecloth over though.” His plate was clean. He picked up both dishes and went to the sink. “Do you think you can break into the pound like you did my house?” Jack’s head whipped around to frown at her. “The pound? You mean the dog pound?” Carmen nodded, her face glowing again. “Why would I break into the pound? It’s a government building. What do you want in there?” “A lost puppy. Giving someone a forever home is Christmas. If this is going to be your first Christmas, I want to do it right.” Her eyes danced as she stood to hurry to the door. “I’ll be dressed in five minutes. Will you be ready to break and enter by then?” Her hand on the front door, she looked back at his frowning face. “Hey, you can’t go out there. It’s freaking cold. I am not entering a life of crime for you, woman!” “Yes you are. You need to.” The door closed behind her.

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Jack swore as he strode into the bedroom to yank on socks and find a shirt. When had he lost control of breakfast? The minute that look of joy crossed her face was when. He’d stood there all dazzled by it and let her out in the snow with just socks on. She’d get a spanking for that. She could get sick, damn it. Forty minutes later he was damn sure he’d lost his mind. He had a delighted Carmen huddled on his back as he picked the dog pound’s simple lock. There were no alarms. No one expected this place to be a security risk. In the building they found rows of cages but only two dogs. A young-looking Shepherd mix that was barking his head off as his tail wagged and an older Hound that simply lifted his head and regarded them. Carmen was going back and forth between the cages petting noses and making baby talk. The shepherd quit barking and began whining back to her. The hound got to his feet and pressed his head to the cage for her to scratch. “Aren’t they adorable?” Carmen breathed almost reverently. “Those are beasts not puppies, you know. One is already a horse and the other one will be.” “Aw, how cute are you guys?” she crooned to the dogs, completely ignoring Jack’s beast statement. “Look at them, Jack. Such good manners already. And so handsome.” She wasn’t talking to him, not after the first statement. Jack had to admit the look on her face was worth jail time. Certainly any fine involved in this crime spree. “Make up your mind, baby. I don’t know what the sentence for dog-napping is but I’d rather not be serving it this evening.” “I can’t.” She turned to him and big green eyes pleaded with him in ways only a lover could. He’d never experienced such a swift, effective takedown. The woman had skills and she wasn’t even moving. “Are you going to force me to leave one?” Carmen asked softly.

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“What? Both?” He glanced at the canine eyes watching him as if they knew he was the one who would make the decision. The shepherd didn’t wag or whine. He seemed to stand taller, pricking his ears, making himself look less mix, more purebred. The hound promptly sat down as if given a command. Carmen just stood there looking at him. She didn’t need to do anything else. Jack regarded her and marveled at how sure he was that he’d just seen how the rest of his life would work. Her eyes asking for her heart’s desire was his price. Every man had a price. He’d never known what his was. That’s all it took to get him doing all manner of criminal activity. “Find some leashes, baby,” he sighed in surrender. Hadn’t even put up a fight. Next thing he knew she’d have him taking her out to dinner and a movie. It’d be after the sex though, that was for damn sure. Pulling out his checkbook, Jack went to the desk. Writing the check, he left it on the computer keyboard with a short note. Thank you for keeping my dogs for me. Hope this covers your trouble. My address is on the check if you have any questions. Jack Jones The check was for two thousand dollars.

Around eleven that night Jack surveyed his surroundings. They were in her half of the building tangled on the couch with just a blanket over them. The room was lit by a multicolored Christmas tree and the TV. Two large dogs slept on the floor having eaten a mountain of the dog food he’d driven an hour to find. It seemed that despite wolfing down the food as if they hadn’t been fed in a week, both beasts were eager to please. The shepherd mix was still mostly a puppy. His paws said he’d be eating double soon. Even though he was young, he grasped a good thing when he had it. The hound

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was a mature dog and displayed a keen sense of opportunity too. Strays recognized each other, Jack mused. They all had a home as long as the woman was in it. She made them a family. Carmen was snuggled in his arms, asleep and smiling. His hands on her warm body contracted a fraction and she mewed softly in response. The news was coming on TV because the Christmas movie she’d wanted to watch was over and he was a happy, naked bastard. Jack smiled. She’d given him Christmas. He sincerely hoped she realized both he and the dogs were counting on her doing it again next year, for as long as they lived.

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About the Author Hello everyone. If you’re reading this, I hope it means you’ve enjoyed reading one of my books. If you have some other opinion of them, feel free to lie to me anyway. I hereby absolve you from all possible guilt and consequences for flagrant, adjective, saturated lying to the author. I’m a chronic fantasizer. Every good romance novel ended too soon. After a while, I started making up stories when I had a few minutes to while away. So now, instead of sitting around with a blank look on my face, I’ve taken to writing them down. Because of my father’s job, we moved every three years in my early life. My first memories are of Bermuda, and then we were in several African countries. It was a wonderful childhood. I gained a rich cultural background in the world community, but never learned to spell. As an adult, I avoided writing at all costs, embarrassed over my limitations. But the writer will not stay silent forever. She broke out, and insisted on learning the mystical world of grammar and spelling. Haven’t mastered all of it yet, but they let me write for you anyway. Bless every editor on the planet. They give dreamers a place to send fantasies and save us the embarrassment of owning our shortcomings. Gail welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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