The Billionaire's Temporary Bride (Scandal, Inc #3)(48)

As she looked into Jack's eyes, she saw something that hadn't been there before. Tonight he had been angry, hurt, upset and frustrated, but this was something else. He needed her. She had looked into his eyes before and seen desire. She had seen attraction, but she had never seen this vulnerability.

Jack needed her, and she needed him. She tried to kiss him on the cheek, but Jack turned to meet her lips, pressing firmly against her, holding his mouth against hers like they could live off each other's breath.

"You don't know how lucky I am to have you," he said. "I don't know where I'd be without you."

He kissed her again and ran his hands down her sides. With each motion, Charlotte's desire grew stronger. She could hear the excitement rising in Jack's hurried breaths.

"I believe I promised you I was going to finish what you started earlier tonight," Jack teased, leaning Charlotte backward in his arms to nibble at the soft skin of her throat. "Are you sure this is something you want to do?"

"I wouldn't have started it if I didn't know what I was in for," she replied. She rolled her head to the side to let Jack continue planting kisses in a row down her shoulder. His hands found their way under her shirt to squeeze at the top of her hips.

Jack unbuttoned the front of Charlotte's blouse with one hand and slid it over her bra, cupping her breast in his hand as he kissed her neck. Each tiny motion of his tongue against her skin made her want him more. While his mouth moved its way to her collarbone, Jack unhooked her bra and slid the straps off her shoulders.

Charlotte gasped as Jack's lips worked their way down her bare breast and found the sensitive skin of her nipple.

"You're a little too good at that," she said. She tried to laugh at her own excitement, but a quick motion of Jack's hands around her waist sent another wave of bliss through her body and she gasped again.

"Would you rather I stop?" Jack asked.

"God, no," Charlotte moaned.

"Good. I'm glad that this didn't turn out to be a one-time thing. Charlotte, everything about you is exactly what I need right now."

She needed him too. She slid her hand beneath his boxers and wrapped her hand around his length. As she stroked, she didn't know if she could wait another second before throwing herself on top of him, but Jack took his time running his hand over her thigh and between her legs. As he rubbed, Charlotte closed her eyes and whimpered softly. She felt like her legs were going to give out from under her. Then, with another quick motion, she felt like the floor dropped away.

Charlotte squeaked in surprise as she felt Jack lift her off the ground and carry her over to his bed. He slipped his fingers beneath the straps of her panties and pulled them down around her knees. He sat down on the edge of the mattress and leaned back, pulling her to him. He held Charlotte's hips and helped guide her into position above. She could feel the heat of his erection pressed against her. She was delirious with anticipation.

"Oh, Jack," Charlotte said.

She trembled as he pressed himself against her and slid inside. That first wonderful motion made her heart lose its rhythm for a second, and a pulse of excitement crashed through her body. She flexed her hips and pushed Jack deeper. The pleasure took her breath away, and she barely managed to let another cry of delight pass her lips.

As Jack worked against her, he passed his hands up and down her back, caressing her shoulders, then smoothing his hands back down until they roamed over her thighs and legs. It was like he wanted to possess her, like he wanted to touch every last inch of her in this moment.

She felt radiant, powerful and desired, but most of all, she felt the overwhelming, mind-numbing excitement that wracked her body with every thrust. She knew she couldn't last much longer. Her breaths echoed through the room, and hair stuck to her face as she clenched her eyes shut and tried to hold on for just another moment. She pulled herself tight against Jack, and he kissed her neck again as the pleasure grew too incredible to bear.

Charlotte stifled her cry as climax surged sweet and strong through her body. A thin layer of sweat clung to her skin, and she felt the dazed contentment of having everything she wanted. She kissed him, savoring the way he pulled her body down against him as he returned her kiss. She could still feel him inside her, and his slow thrust of his hips sent new tremors of pleasure from her toes to her chest.

If this is what he's like when he's upset, I need to get him into fights more often, she thought.

Jack traced his hands back over her body, slowly rubbing against her curves, stoking her lingering desire into something more. She ground against him, sealing her lips against his again and kissing him as she felt him swell inside of her.

Except for the last time she had been with Jack, it had been such a long stretch for Charlotte without a man to please her, she was genuinely surprised when she felt the thrill welling inside of her again.

Jack locked his fingers in hers as she rode out a second peak of her pleasure. His hands squeezed hers firmly as they shared their completion. By the time they were done, Charlotte collapsed next to Jack, exhausted by euphoria.


As she laid in his arms, Charlotte stared up at the cathedral ceiling of his bedroom.

"It really is beautiful here," she said. "I can't imagine what it was like to grow up in a place like this."

"I'll bring you back in the summer. There's nothing like falling asleep to the sound of the waves. It's one of the things I really miss."