Black Hearted: Chapter 43

Solana tried to push the blanket off to cool her fevered skin. It wouldn't move.

Reluctantly, she tore herself from another delicious dream involving Jack and cracked opened an eyelid. Bright sunshine blinded her. Hand raised to block the light, her blanket moaned.

Hot breath fanned against her shoulder. Jet black hair tickled her chin. Jack. In the flesh. That wasn't a dream. An electric pulse zipped down her spine. He curled around her like a vine, one leg between hers, hand gripping her hip, chest pressed against hers.

She attempted to match his slow, steady breathing, but her lungs couldn't relax. Hand in his hair, she gently massaged his scalp. The accompanying nuzzle as Jack tried to burrow closer, his own hand slipping to her bottom and a hard line stretched against her thigh, caused a bubble of laughter to build in her throat. Jack was definitely an ass man, but the key to starting his engine seemed to be a few tugs on his silky strands.

Not wanting to disturb him, she let go of the hair that never seemed to get mussed. A peal of bells from his phone broke the quiet of the early morning. Jack's muscles tensed against her skin, and Solana covered his exposed ear, cursing the device. Eventually, it stopped ringing and Jack relaxed in her arms.

Then the chirps started. Another round of curses and Solana decided enough was enough. Gripping Jack as tight as she could, she rolled him onto his back. His head hit the pillow, his face untroubled and hauntingly handsome in the dawn light. She couldn't resist tracing the edge of his jaw, the sturdy bridge of his nose, the full lips that brought such pleasure, through touch and talk.

His words last night, his honesty stripped her to the bone, and she'd been unable to hide herself, spilling her own secrets. A lump in her throat formed at the thought of what the reality of daylight might mean. Last night had changed her world. But what did it mean for Jack?

She stopped herself from tracing the fine lines around his eyes, curbing the urge to connect with those brilliant blue eyes that never lied to her. Whatever his feelings, she trusted he'd give her the truth. Unlike Cassius and Lincoln, who'd shoveled sweet sentiments to hide their despicable lies, Jack was honest. Even with the hard stuff.

If this was only a casual thing for him, she'd find out soon enough. A knife slid in between her ribs at the image of Jack with another woman. Solana knew she couldn't stand the image of Jack with another woman. She couldn't do casual. Not where Jack was concerned. The knife twisted at the choice she'd have to make when he added her to his roster of hook-ups. Assuming this wasn't a one-night affair.

You're important to me. That's what he'd said in the living room. She closed her eyes and clung to those words. This was bigger than one night. Bigger than anything she'd ever experienced in her lifetime. The tug on her heart asked her to believe Jack was undergoing a similar shift.

She'd felt it in his touch. Yes, there was fire. And holy Hannah, his every thrust had branded her. Yet there was more. Much more. The way he pressed his forehead against hers, crushed him to her, dragged his knuckles against her cheek, teased her nipple with his teeth, stared into her soul as she came undone. In those moments, and a thousand more, there was a link neither of them could deny.

Another peal of bells and Jack jerked. Solana bounced out of bed, diving for his pants. She fished out his phone and hit silence. Blackhorne and Caldwell could do without their fearless leader for a few more hours this Sunday morning. The company would survive.

In the remaining silence, Jack clutched her vacant pillow, exposing a naked butt cheek, and she dithered between climbing back into bed and his warmth or letting him rest. If she got near him again, there'd be no leaving, so she inched away.

The dress from last night was too formal, so scampering down the hall, she reached for the robe from last night to cover herself. On top sat Jack's shirt and instead, she wrapped it around her naked body. Not half as delectable as Jack's touch, surrounded with the scent of him, the stiff cotton brushed against her sensitive chest, shooting tingles deep in her belly. Much better than that ancient robe.

Daylight didn't improve the impersonal appearance of Jack's penthouse. The blacks, grays and off-white stark and against darkened wood, clear glass and hard chrome. The paint set his uncle had thrown away came to her mind and a fire of indignation burned in her chest. Followed by determination. She'd replace the set, offer him a chance to add more colour to his life.

In the kitchen, she opened cupboards, searching for coffee cups. On her third try, a perfect row of matte black mugs greeted her. Some red cups went on her mental shopping list. His favourite colour, he'd said in her abuela's kitchen a lifetime ago. She placed two glasses on the counter and turned to what she hoped was the coffee machine.

It resembled a spaceship and only reminded her how she didn't belong in his stratosphere. Her world was plain Columbian drip coffee served in pots at Abraham's diner. Solana banged on the chrome contraption, denying her access. "Stupid machine. Open."

"What are you doing?"

Spinning to find the man who stole her heart leaning against the wall, one foot over the other, she groaned at how sexy he looked in his half-awake state. Bare chested, with loose black shorts hanging off his hips, she considered giving up on the task at hand and dragging Jack back to bed. "Trying to surprise you with breakfast in bed. But I can't even get the coffee started."

Jack slinked across the kitchen, put his hands on her hips and turned her to face the machine she'd been fighting with. With his warm chest against hers, he took her index finger in his hand and tapped the digit against the keypad. "All you have to do is select what you want." The machine whirred to life. "The coffee, water and milk are already stored inside."

His other hand snaked across her waist, sending sparks of desire through her body as it arched into him. She placed a hand on the counter to steady herself, an unnecessary move as Jack completely supported her. Warm lips landed on her neck and gently sucked on the spot he'd discovered last night, and she couldn't help the soft whimper that escaped.

Just like the water in the machine, at Jack's touch, the temperature of her body increased, racing towards boiling. His fingers pushed open the shirt she hadn't bothered to button, and caressed her breast. Cold air hit her neck as his nose nuzzled her ear. "Good morning."

"Now it is." She found his hand at her waist and entwined their fingers. The smell of coffee mixed with the musk of Jack as the dark liquid poured into the waiting cup. Her other hand sought out his face, grabbing his chin and twisting it to her, her mouth taking his. Coffee forgotten, she drank in Jack, twisting in his arms, stretching on tiptoes to take more of him.

Fingers dug into her butt and her feet left the floor as Jack picked her up, swung her around and placed her on the kitchen counter, the cold marble a shock on her skin after the heat of his hands. He nudged between her legs, running his hands up her spine as he tilted her backwards, deepening the kiss.

To support herself as she leaned back, Solana's palms wedged against the counter, offering herself to him. He greedily took the invitation, his morning stubble tickling her skin with the trail of kisses down her neck, over her shoulder, across her chest until he took an alert nipple in his mouth. A delighted gasp escaped her lips as he proved his tongue was useful for more than barbed comments.

"You left my bed without me." His teeth grazed the underside of her breast, the love bite pulsing through her.

"I... la hostia." Whatever his mouth did now, the sensation caused her body to hum and her mind clouded. How dare he make her feel this good? Her nails tried to dig into the hard marble, and she floated in bliss.

The draw on her breast eased. "I don't know what that means, but it better be Spanish for I'm sorry."

Hey all, DL here.  I know, I know. That was way too short and way too abrupt an ending. There is another half to this chapter but it just isn't good enough to post yet. I need to feel it, you know what I mean.

I'm working at the same time on some major updates to True Blue to submit it to the Watty's and have run out of time. I didn't want to miss today's posting though. Hope this wet your appetite so to speak.

Have a great weekend!