The Unidentified Redhead (1) (12 page)

I peeled myself off the Brit, looked at Holly and said, “OK, you heard the man. Dinner, right now, you two…at least three hours. If you come home before that, I make no promises that you won't see a little ass.” I turned back to Jack and said, “You and me, let's roll.” He grabbed my hand and started to pull me towards the front door.

Holly stepped in front of him. “Hey, can I be your manager for just a minute? It's not a good idea for you to be photographed with anyone and there could be cameras out there. Not to mention, you know, those girls are all watching you like a hawk. It'll be all over the internet tonight if you leave with Grace, especially holding her hand, which I personally think is sweet by the way.” She stopped briefly to flash a quick smile at me. “You should stay here for a few minutes, talk to them, let Grace get out of here. You can meet her at my house in just a little while.”

Jack looked back and forth between me and Holly, listening. He thought for a minute and glanced at me. I shrugged. I didn't care. I just needed the man so badly at this point, it didn't much matter how it happened.

“I'll do this your way, but then you have to do something for me,” he told Holly, winking at me.

“What's that?” Holly asked.

He pressed something in her hand. “Get dessert too. It's on me,” he answered. With that, he tapped on his watch, holding up ten fingers, staring devilishly at me. He bit down on that perfect lower lip, and as I felt my tummy go silly, he walked over to the first group of girls.

I didn't see Nick swooning. I didn't see Holly waving her arms across my field of vision, trying to get my attention. I didn't see the seething posse begin to squeal as he made his way over to them to sign a few autographs. I only saw him, and then the asphalt in the parking lot as I ran to my car.

Thank, God, you waxed.

***

As I drove home, I began mentally checking off what I might need for my little British tryst.

Sexy lingerie? Already wearing it.

Hot music for the background? Got it covered.

Clean sheets? April fresh.

Condoms?

Yep, and the pill too.

Wait, condoms? That was a trick question…are you sleeping with him tonight?

I put that question in the “Grace Will Make That Decision Later” box and focused back on the fact that yoga had made me very bendable and I knew someone was going to be very pleased. Then I would most likely be very pleased.

He would be all about pleasing me.

I let out a hyperactive little squeal as I thought about how thoroughly I was about to be worked. I had the top down and the stereo loud as I drove through the streets of L.A. on my way to Mulholland, singing Dramarama at the top of my lungs. I was driving up Coldwater Canyon when I saw the headlights behind me.

They came up fast and did not back off. I could see a car swerving in my rear view mirror and could hear the engine revving fast. I pressed my foot on the accelerator and maneuvered higher up the mountain. When I took a tight curve, I saw the car get even closer and I realized that it was an old beat up MG. It was Jack. He was driving like a bat out of hell…and gaining.

He was pushing me to drive faster.

I smirked in my mirror and put my left hand out of the window. I motioned to him with my hand, telling him to “Bring It!” I shook my hair out of the ponytail I usually wear when I drive with the top down and heard him honk in appreciation.

He was chasing me like Kelly McGillis chased Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Tires were squealing, brakes were being stomped, other drivers were yelling and pissed. I was already breathing heavily in anticipation of what was waiting for me when we finally got home.

He continued to chase me up the hill and when I got closer to the driveway of Holly's house, he swerved up next to me and sped ahead, getting into the spot first. He had parked, jumped out, and was halfway to my car before I had even killed my engine. Music from my stereo screamed into the night as he stalked over to the car.

“You're fucking nuts!” I yelled, watching him walk towards me.

“I thought you needed a little push,” he answered, closing the distance in three quick strides. I turned my keys off and didn't even have a chance to move from my seat before he had my hair in his hands, running through it. The music cut off sharply.

Silence.

“Get out of the car, Grace,” he commanded quietly, holding my face between his fingers, pressing the tips to my lips. I kissed them gently and slid from the car.

When I turned from him to shut the car door, he was on me. Arms slid around my waist, hands slipped under my shirt, lips pushed against my neck, hips pressed against my own. The breath was forced out of me with a rush, quickly followed by a moan. He was everywhere all at once.

My hands found his hair and I tugged his mouth towards mine, greedily kissing him with all that I had worked up in my head since the bar. He spun me, nudging me up against my car. My hands were wild, in his hair, on his face, gripping the back of his neck as he assaulted my own with his kisses. His hands moved to the front of my shirt, snapping two buttons almost instantly. I was suddenly reminded of where we were and I pulled back a little.

“Hey, let's take this inside, Hamilton.”

“That's the plan, Sheridan,” he whispered hotly against my neck, moving his hand down and applying pressure against my center. “I'm trying to get inside.”

“Oh. My. God,” I moaned, my words catching in my throat as my eyes rolled back in my head. I pressed into his touch, deliciously increasing the friction. I was literally panting and beginning to see stars. He continued to twist and turn his fingertips, finding more and more ways to make me moan.

I was a screamer…always have and always will be a screamer, provided it is done right. When it's off, I'm as quiet as a church mouse.

This man is going to make you lose your voice for days at a time.

I could feel myself beginning to build already, and I didn't want the first time Jack made me lose my mind to be in my best friend's driveway. My best friend's guest bedroom, where I was currently residing? That, I was OK with.

“Hey, mister, come on. Let's go in the house,” I directed, continuing to kiss whatever was closest to me. In this case, it was his ear.

“If you insist, but then you're all mine,” he snarled, pulling me off the car and toward the house. There was a frantic moment at the front door when I couldn't find my key, but once inside, my pants were damn near forcibly removed.

We raced towards the stairs, but as we climbed, our kisses slowed a little, becoming more and more tender, less frenzied. I walked him down the hall to my room and we stood in the doorway. The lights were on and we both hesitated in front of the door. Things were about to change, for the better, hopefully, but definitely change.

“This is my room,” I said quietly, almost shyly. I motioned for him to enter and he did. He looked around, checking the pictures on the dresser, the books on the shelf, the CDs by the stereo, finally settling on my iPod in its docking station.

“I'm dying to know what you have cued up.” He laughed, pressing play.

“No wait, don't!” I started across the room, cringing at the inevitable.

Jack burst out laughing as old school gangster rap screamed into the room and he sank onto the bed. The mood had shifted. There was still that smolder, that burn, but this was us after all. There would be laughing along with the loving. I stood in front of him, letting his hands slink up around me to hold my bottom as he nestled his face against my stomach. I could feel his hot breath on my skin and it tickled, pleasantly.

“Ah, jeez, Grace, you kill me. Only you would have this in your iPod.”

“Hey, man, I'm old school. Don't make me bust out the Eazy E and the N.W.A. I will go straight up gangsta on your ass. No one is more hardcore than a rich, suburban white girl,” I teased, pressing his face closer to me, running my fingers through his hair the way I knew he liked and scratching my nails through from the top to the bottom.

He made the sound, my new favorite sound, the “Jack's Happy Sound” that I'd been replaying in my head for the last week. He smelled amazing, again that mix of sun, chocolate, pipe tobacco, and pure unadulterated Hamilton.

He kissed my tummy, turning his face up towards mine as he sighed again, seeming to be completely at peace. I loved that I could do that for him--make him look so peaceful and content.

But hello, what was this? Was he not as peaceful as I thought? He was unbuttoning my shirt from the bottom up, gently pulling it apart as I watched him, then he opened his eyes to look at me and I smiled. Taking in my black lace bra peeking through the linen, he sighed again.

“Grace,” he whispered, kissing me through my bra, bringing me to attention immediately. I laughed when I realized this fabulous, but not very mood appropriate song, was still playing.

“Hey, I'm just going to go freshen up a minute. Why don't you find something else for us to listen to. Your choice.” I pulled away quickly when he frowned, and I could tell he wasn't pleased about letting me go, even for a minute.

“You're already fresh. Cheeky even,” he teased, giving me a playful swat on the butt as I turned to walk towards my bathroom.

“Cheeky? Are you going to say more British words to me tonight?” I teased back, once again only half joking.

“Nope, not until you come back,” he said, leaning back on his elbows, looking for all the world like a sex god.

“That's a deal. Now pick some music, Hamilton.” I swished across the room and just made it behind the door when he made a playful grab at me.

“You have only as much time as it takes me to pick something out and you better have some good shagging music on this thing,” I heard him say as I shook my head in amusement.

I looked at my reflection. My hair was crazy and full, blown out by the wind from the drive. My lips were kiss swollen and rosy. My shirt was open and I looked good. Good enough to seduce a twenty-four-year-old? Oh hell, I sure was going to try. I wanted to make this last.

I quickly checked my breath, ran my fingers through my hair once more, and readjusted the girls, cinching my cleavage up just a little more. I felt confident in saying that Jack was a boob man, and really wanted to make sure that he was happy. So, I began to formulate a plan in my head on how to make sure that he, um, well, that he…first…oh hell.

Just say it, Grace…

I was dying to get him off.

Even thinking this thought brought the color back to my cheeks as I imagined what he would look like when I brought him to where I was craving to bring him.

Thank God, that song was off. He must have been choosing the music. I still had a few minutes. Maybe I could just go for it. Yeah, guys like aggressive women. I would just go out there and make sure to get control of the situation and I could dictate how things would roll. Yeah, I could maybe…wait a minute…what song was he playing…was that…

He had chosen one of my favorite and one of the most infinitely sexy songs from my iPod.

All thoughts of him “going” before me left my head as I heard the music, and I opened the door to see him standing there, smiling and waiting for me. Psychedelic Furs filled the room, and the first words of “Until She Comes” rang out.

“Nice choice,” I allowed, leaning against the doorframe.

“I thought you would approve,” he answered, holding out his hand to me and winking. I went to him. Willingly. Wantonly. Wickedly.

Prepare yourself, Grace. This will likely be earth-shattering.

The_Unidentified_Redhead

Chapter Eleven

Jack gazed at me as he slowly slipped my shirt from my shoulders, letting it drop to the floor. He ran his hands down the length of my arms, his fingers entwining with mine. He crossed our hands behind me as he kissed me long and deep, while pressed so tightly against me I almost couldn't breathe. In a really good way.

As soon as he released my hands, they found their way to their new home, tangled in his hair. He feathered kisses down my neck to my collarbone and I heard my breath catch in my throat. Jack smiled against my skin, knowing this was my sweet spot. I felt his hands as they unsnapped the clasp on my bra, adding it to the pile at my feet. He bent his head and left a trail of kisses across the tops of my breasts, his hands traveling up to cup them gently. His thumbs grazed my nipples and I almost came out of my skin.

“That feels amazing.” I sighed, watching him attend to me. His eyes flicked up to mine, his mouth never leaving my skin. He winked.

“Oh my,” left my mouth, as I dropped my head back to enjoy. His tongue flickered across my right nipple and his mouth zeroed in, taking me between his lips. His teeth gently encircled me, biting gently. I cried out, letting him know that this was exactly what I needed. His teeth nibbled more insistently and his left hand began to move towards my legs. I ran my hands up and down his back, beginning to feel the slow build that was going to quite possibly bring down this mountain.

We moved together across the room while I struggled to remove his shirt. He refused to break contact with me, so I had to maneuver it between us and finally throw it over my shoulder. I took my first look at him, shirtless, and it was a good thing he was holding on to me so tightly, as I felt my knees shake.

He was so mother flipping beautiful. I managed to push him away just enough to take him in, and as I held him at arm's length, I let my eyes travel up and down. He was long and lean, strong and handsome. He had a scattering of pale, almost strawberry blonde colored hair on his chest that gathered into a blessed happy trail low on his tummy. I planned to take that trail as far as I could. He noticed me staring and he grinned.

“What are you staring at?”

I heard at least five witty comments run through my head at the same time, but I could only say, simply, “You. You're beautiful.” I ran my fingertips lightly across his chest, lower onto his stomach and he groaned.

“Nuts girl, you're the beautiful one in this room,” he answered, mimicking my movements with his own. We stood about a foot apart, just letting our eyes roam over each other and our fingers explore. I felt a sudden burst of shyness as I realized my much older body was on display and being scrutinized. I tried to cross my arms over my chest, and he caught them, holding them out to the side so he could continue to let his eyes roam across my skin.