Page 67 of Above ’N’ Beyond

Jimmy cleared his throat, his expression sobering. “I can’t believe he actually made you pay for half the meal. Sounds to me like the guy was a real pussy.”

A quick snort of laughter erupted from Bella’s mouth. Laughter that was short-lived, as he leaned over to clasp her bottom and haul her on top of him. “No pussies here,” he whispered against her lips as he slowly lowered her, inch by inch, until he was fully sheathed inside her. With his powerful arms raising and lowering her again and again, friction between their bodies soon had her writhing and keening as he brought her closer and closer to the edge.

When she couldn’t hold it in a moment longer, she cried out. Jimmy surged upward, holding her down as he tensed, then groaned.

“Bella, look at me!” His nostrils flared wide, and he sucked in air through his open mouth. “You. Are. Beautiful,” he breathed. Then he pulled her down for a kiss so hot, so searingly filled with passion, it stole the very breath from her lungs, leaving her boneless and limp in his arms. And feeling like she didn’t care who or what Jimmy Santoro was.

Somehow, she had to find a way to reconcile her moral crisis because, whatever he was, she wanted him. All of him, and not just for one night.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Warm. Wet. Urgent. Raspy?

Jax. Specifically, Jax’s tongue on Jamie’s face, urging him to wake up.

Reluctantly, he cracked open his eyes. Three things immediately became apparent. First, the sun was in full blast mode, blaring at him through the window. Second, Bella lay draped across his chest, her short hair tickling his chin. Third, Jax sat beside the bed, his furry face barely an inch from Jamie’s.

Looking over the mattress, Gnocchi, too, stared up at him from the floor. Not the subtlest of wakeup calls.

A faint buzzing came from somewhere in the house. His cell phone. He’d left it on the coffee table in the living room when…

He grinned.

…Bella had used him like a popsicle and driven him absolutely out of his mind.

“Okay, okay,” he whispered, not wanting to wake Bella, who’d fallen soundly asleep after they’d made love for the third time last night.

As gently and quietly as possible, he slipped from beneath her. She sighed, then wrapped her arms around the pillow. When Jamie stroked his fingers down her bare back, a tiny smile lifted the corner of her mouth.

She’d known just where to touch him and just how to make his body light up like a warehouse full of fireworks, and he had lit up. Several times, as he recalled.

Still naked, he padded into the living room and picked up his phone. It was nine o’clock and— He’d missed four calls. Special Agent Jenkins; one of his best friends—Kade Sampson; Jamie’s sister; and Tony, who’d called twice. Prioritizing, he returned Tony’s call first.

“Where you been?” Tony shouted so loudly Jamie had to hold the phone from his ear.

Having the best sex of my life with your cousin.

“Sleeping. Had a few too many last night.” When Tony and the rest of the Mancuso goon squad had switched from chugging wine to tossing back shots of whiskey, Jamie had managed to fake it, occasionally dumping his shots beneath the table onto the floor.

“We’ve gotta get to the airport. Get your ass out of bed and swing by to pick me up in thirty minutes. Bring Jax. We can use him if anything goes wrong.” Tony hung up.

Half an hour didn’t give him much time. Another round of amazing sex with Bella was definitely off the morning’s activity list.

Jax spun then bolted to the door. He lowered his head, peeling back his lips to reveal sharp white incisors. Gnocchi raced to Jax’s side, mimicking his dog and loosing with a high-pitched version of Jax’s warning growl.

Outside, an engine cranked over, followed by the sound of a vehicle driving off. Jamie looked out the window in time to see a silver Escalade turn the corner. Too far away for him to catch the tag or see the driver.

Last night, Marco had been driving a silver Escalade. Jamie had made sure he wasn’t followed, but Marco could have pulled up after he’d gone inside. Had he been parked outside all night?

“Easy, Jax.” He rested a hand on Jax’s head, feeling the tension in his dog’s body. Tension he was starting to feel, too. If that had been Marco, it could mean only one thing.

The man’s suspicion about Jamie was escalating. Possibly along with his hatred.

When he returned to the bedroom, Bella was still asleep. He dressed quietly, wishing he didn’t have to leave, but going with Tony up to Stewart Airport came first. Whatever—or whoever—they were picking up was the next step in gaining critical intel on Paola’s big plan.

Before heading out, he sat on the edge of the mattress. Not saying goodbye wasn’t how he operated. He leaned down to drop a kiss on the back of Bella’s neck, and as he did, he inhaled her sweet scent. Not to be outdone, Jax craned his neck to press a wet kiss on her cheek.

She moaned, then a slow smile crept to her lips, and her eyes opened. “Good morning, Jax.” She reached out to scratch Jax under the chin.