Page 36 of Jack

Chapter Fourteen

It had taken allher best intentions to sleep beside Jack the previous night without climbing him like a tree. She’d seen him without a shirt before. But wet from the shower and his feet bare, he was relaxed, and those joggers hid nothing, and there was a lot to see. A tingle ran through her, and she tried not to squirm in case she woke him but God, she wanted to. First though, she needed to process things and make sure he’d meant what he’d said.

She’d gotten her mind around it just being sex, but before she could indulge in all that deliciousness, he’d changed the goalposts on her, and she was thrown for a loop. On top of the man taking a damn bullet for her, it was a lot. A relationship with Jack was what she wanted, but it was more of a risk. He’d shown her sides of himself she hadn’t expected. He was funny and kind and thoughtful and so sexy she could hardly think straight around him, and that was a huge draw, but it also made it so much easier to fall for him.

She eased out from under his arm, which was thrown over her belly, and was almost free when he opened an eye.

“Running away, firefly?”

Her spine stiffened. “No, I just have things to do.”

Jack eyed her and rolled to his back, the expanse of his sexy torso on display. “What time is it?”

“It’s early, only five-thirty.”

Jack groaned and sat up on one elbow. “I need to meet Fitz in an hour and give him an update.”

They had got word from Lopez late last night that Frederick Granger was linked to the dead shooter. It was a short-lived relief to know it wasn’t because of her, but the pain it caused Jack made her want to get her hands on his father and kick his ass.

“Can I take the bathroom first?”

His sleepy eyes moved over her in a slow perusal, and she enjoyed seeing the predatory look in his eye. “It’s gonna cost you.”

Astrid placed her hands on her hips over her pyjama bottoms as she straightened away from the game of cat and mouse, causing a squirm in her belly. “What?”

“A kiss.”

He was too much temptation lying in that bed like sin on a stick. “Fine.” Astrid leaned in and pecked his warm and firm lips. It would be all too easy to sink into him.

She raced to the bathroom, grabbing her clothes on the way and locked the door. Jack was probably the deadliest man she knew under all that control, and it was his constant vice-like hold on his surroundings that had drawn her to him. She wanted to see him lose his cool, to show her the lethal hurricane she knew was beneath the veneer he showed the world, but that would take time. Luckily, thanks to him and his now wounded shoulder, she had that.

She took a quick shower, dressed in plain khaki trousers that were elegant and comfy and added a cream sleeveless blouse and a khaki jacket. She towel-dried her hair and plaited it before tucking it into a chignon. Ready to face Jack now she had her armour in place, she opened the door and almost jumped out of her skin when she found him on the other side, leaning against the jam as if he had all the time in the world.

“Jesus, Jack, give a girl some space.”

He moved until his body was pressed against hers in the doorway. His steady blue eyes were boring into hers as he cupped her cheek. “I haven’t changed my mind, and I’m not going to, so stop running.”

His lips found hers, and he tasted of mint as if he’d brushed his teeth already. He kissed her thoroughly, his one hand curving over her hip and pulling her hard against his body, igniting the promise of more before he released her and pushed into the bathroom.

“Breakfast is on the way.”

He shut the bathroom door leaving her to consider his words. Was she running? And could she trust his word? He’d never lied to her unless she counted him keeping the details of where Iago and his men were taken from her. But after her initial butt hurt reaction, she’d unpacked it in her head and come to realise that things were too new for him to just spill all of Eidolon’s secrets to her. He had men he needed to keep safe, and caution was a good thing. Maybe her own caution would’ve stopped the shitstorm she was in right now.

Breakfast was delivered just as Jack came out of the shower, thankfully dressed in his usual suit and white shirt, at least usual for this tour. She couldn’t deny he looked hot in a suit, but he looked hotter in full tactical gear in her opinion. They ate eggs and bacon with fruit and drank coffee, both knowing that the day would be long with the travel and they may not eat again until that night.

Astrid glanced at Jack over the rim of her coffee cup as she crossed her legs at the small table overlooking downtown Toronto. “So, I was thinking maybe when we get to the next hotel we could share a room.”

“You ready to believe me now?”

“I guess.”

Jack reached for her across the table, pulling her to her feet then down to sit across his lap. His hand fisted in her hair, knocking the chignon free. “That’s fucking fantastic news, and I promise I’ll always be honest with you, Astrid. I can’t promise work won’t be an issue or that I won’t fuck up, but I want this. For the first time in my adult life I want more. I want you.”

“Me too, Jack.”

“One day you’ll tell me who hurt you.” His jaw was like steel, and a tic in his eyebrow showed his anger, but his voice and touch were gentle.

“You gonna hunt them down, Jack?”