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He tipped up her chin until their gazes collided, the question in his eyes promising more depending on her answer. A grin slowly spread across his face, and when she smiled back, he lowered his head and kissed her, silencing any objections her cautious brain might offer.
A moment later, Travis pressed her down on the sofa, his body landing in the V of her parted legs, and took their kiss to a deeper level. His tongue sparred with hers, the comfort of his weight holding her in place while he explored her mouth. Sliding fingers beneath her shirt, he teased her hardened nipple through her lacy bra and sent tingles to her girly parts, even as the evidence of his arousal aligned with her core.
When she rocked against his hips, he broke the kiss, leaving them both short of breath, and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ve never wanted anyone as bad as I want you.”
Jordan pulled back far enough to look into his eyes. “What should we do about that?”
A groan rumbled from his throat. “Shit, you’re killing me here.”
“Well, in case you didn’t recognize it, that was more of an invitation than a question.” Jordan teased him with a grin as she felt herself blushing at the boldness he brought out in her.
Travis exhaled a sigh. “The night we met, I thought you were just about the most gorgeous woman I’d ever met. Damned if I could take my eyes off you. Once we talked for a while and danced, I learned you were just as beautiful on the inside. I wanted you then too, but I didn’t want it to be just about sex. I wanted to see you again. See what it was between us without rushing to sleep together.” He shook his head, a self-conscious expression crossing his face. “Hell, my buddies would think I’d lost my damn mind if they knew. This has never happened to me before. I’m not the guy who passes on an attractive woman. Until you. It’s no wonder I screwed up so bad I had to kidnap you to get another chance.”
His words left Jordan speechless. A man had never said such sweet and sincere things to her. She’d grown up with a wonderful, kind, and caring black father in a small town where not everyone was kind or caring. Some people believed she was adopted, while others accused her oftrying to be white. At a young age, Jordan had learned to ignore the hurtful things people said and refused to let them define her, but when other girls were going to dances and football games, her social calendar had included few dates and even fewer second dates.
In college, the boys who persevered often said goodbye once she’d made it clear she wasn’t sleeping with them or when she introduced them to her father. She’d never been sure which event was the deal-breaker, but the idea she was beautiful or desirable had no place in her reality. Travis, lying to convince her otherwise, only earned her ire.
Jordan pushed against his chest and struggled from beneath him. Once standing, she blinked hard to banish the tears that threatened to escape her icy resolve. She’d be damned if he saw her cry. “That’s twice I’ve offered, and you’ve refused. Are you trying to make me feel like a slut, or are you so self-righteous it just comes naturally?”
Travis’s eyes widened as he scrambled to his feet and caught her arm. “What? Wait. Jordan, that’s not—.”
She heard something the same instant Jake’s growl shattered her illusion of safety, and she jerked away from Travis, stumbled back, and faced the door.
Jake brushed against her leg as he placed himself between her and the danger. She heard it again—the creaking of the rickety porch steps. Travis swung around, reaching for the gun that should have been in his holster strapped to his body instead of hanging on the back of a chair ten steps away.
The door flew open and slammed against the wall. Jordan’s heart lurched into overdrive as a half dozen men surged into the room, the shallow light of the lamp reflecting off the weapons they carried. Kyle leered when he saw her, and fear tickled along her spine. Beside him, Brody’s features twisted with unmistakable rage.
Travis straightened to his full height, and his expression grew dark and veiled. The men nearest the door parted to allow Alex into the room.
Thank God. A friendly face.
Jordan’s relief evaporated at the hatred in his glare. No hint of recognition or spark of compassion surfaced in his cold eyes. Loathing soured his face as he swept his gaze between her and Travis. The man in front of her was a stranger, and he hadn’t come to save her.
I should have known Travis was telling the truth.
Chapter Twelve
“It’s about damn timeyou showed up.” Travis broke the tense silence. “I thought I’d have to hike back too, dragging this bitch.” He assumed his cover without missing a beat, forcing a confident grin. The only way he and Jordan were walking away from this was if he could convince Alex and Brody he hadn’t double-crossed them.
A few men shifted, easing their ready stance, and lowered their guns.
Alex’s gaze slid to Travis and regarded him warily. “Did you now?” He glanced around at the fire and the garbage from their meal on the low table. “How long were you going to wait?”
“Til morning. We were just starting to have fun.” Travis snickered, inclining his head slightly in Jordan’s direction. His response elicited lewd comments and laughter from Kyle and a few others. Should he worry that it was so easy to slip back into the vile role he’d been playing?
