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“He must have been proud of you both.” What grandfather wouldn’t be proud of such brave, wonderful men? She didn’t know Jake nearly as well as she did John, but she couldn’t imagine him being much different in his core values. Sapphire liked him and that was enough for Topaz to know he had to be a good man. Her sister had a keen nose for sniffing out phonies.

  “I guess. He expected us to make something out of our lives.” John’s hand squeezed her hip, kneading her curve before floating back up to her waist.

  “Is he still alive?”

  John snorted. “Oh yeah. He’s eighty-two years old and still lives in the apartment in Brooklyn. Jake and I wanted him to move into one of the apartments in our building, but he informed us he liked where he was living and was staying. Stubborn old goat,” John muttered.

  Topaz couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. “Takes one to know one,” she managed to get out between bouts of laughter.

  A slow smile curved his lips. “You think I’m stubborn?”

  She pressed her finger into the slight cleft in his chin. “I know you are.”

  “Honey, I’m positively laid-back compared to Granddad.”

  “I’ve got to meet him.” He sounded like a fascinating man and she’d bet he could tell her all kinds of stories about John when he was a boy.

  John’s arms tightened around her. “I’d like that.”

  It was only after she’d said it she realized that spoke of them having some kind of a future together, at least in the short-term. She nodded but said nothing more, not wanting to commit herself further, not yet. Still, she wanted to meet the man who had such a hand in rearing such a wonderful man like John.

  “What about you? What was it like growing up in the Jewel family?”

  They’d talked about her family some. More the facts than how she actually felt about it. “In many ways it was the perfect childhood.” She sighed and rested her head on John’s shoulder once again.

  “But not always?” he countered.

  “No, not always. There were always photographers and reporters hanging around outside the family estate hoping to get a shot or a story, especially when we were younger. We couldn’t go outside the gates without at least one of them chasing us.”

  “That must have been tough. And having the reporters hounding your family again this past year must have brought it all back.” Topaz wasn’t surprised by John’s swift and accurate assessment of the situation. Having to deal with the paparazzi had brought back all those negative memories.

  “You’ve had a taste of it since taking the job as my bodyguard, so you know what it’s like. It certainly has added to the pressure. When we were kids, all the attention eased off when Mom and Dad stopped touring. The media hounds eventually lost interest in our family and went away. The times have changed, though, and things move faster now. Thankfully, it won’t be long until we’re old news.”

  She offered him a smile. “I don’t want you to think I had a miserable childhood. Quite the opposite, in fact. My sisters and I were always close. We didn’t go to regular school often. We were mostly homeschooled.” She laughed as one memory jumped to the fore. “We never knew when Dad would take it in his head to do something crazy.”

  “Like what?” John relaxed, settling back against the sofa cushions. The fire crackled in the hearth, warming them both.

  “Like waking up one morning and deciding we should go to Italy. We were on a plane by just after lunch and spent a month touring the country.”

  “That must have been exciting.”

  Topaz smiled at the memory. “It was. We ate so much pasta.” She laughed. “Sapphire decided she wanted to swim in one of the fountains in Rome. Instead of trying to stop her, my dad joined her while Mom took pictures of them.”

  She traced circles on the front of his shirt, lost in the past. “It really was special. We were always going somewhere. We never knew from one moment to the next what might happen.”

  “And that made you want a quiet, stable life.” There was no judgment in his tone, but Topaz felt herself growing defensive.

  “I suppose so.” She really couldn’t deny it. John was an astute man. She should have known he’d see beyond the fond memory to the effect it had on her adult life.

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting stability. I want it too.” He brushed his hand through her hair. “And you have it whether you realize it or not. Your family is your stability. I’ve watched you and your sisters together. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for one another.”

  He was right. She knew she would never be alone in the world, never have to face life by herself, not as long as she had her sisters and her parents.

  “It’s like that for me and Jake,” he continued, his fingers massaging her scalp before moving lower to her neck. Muscles she hadn’t realized were even tense began to loosen under his tender touch. “Granddad might be a tough son of a bitch, but we always knew we could depend on him. I could call him right now if I needed him and he’d climb in his 1968 Camaro and come as fast as he could. Which would be pretty damn fast in that car.”

  John was making her look at her life in a different way. It was strange to take what she’d always seen as a chaotic childhood and turn it on its head so she could see the bedrock of support, the stability that was there. Deep down, she’d always known she could count on her family, but she’d never translated it to the security she’d craved. No, her life wasn’t normal, would never be. But that was okay. What was normal anyway?

  She moaned when his fingers dug into a particularly stiff shoulder muscle. “Babe, you need to relax.”

  “I know,” she groaned. She fully realized she was a type A personality, always needing to be in control of a situation. It was what made her excel at business. It also led to the downfall of many relationships. Not to mention the tension headaches and stress.

  He lifted her off his lap. “How about we play a game?”

  Her eyes widened and her interest grew. “What kind of game?” Was that her own voice so low and husky? They’d only had sex an hour ago in the woods, for crying out loud.

  “How about Monopoly?” He grinned at her as if he knew where her thoughts had gone. “I figure you’d like that game. You can try to whoop my butt by stealing all my property.”

  She picked up her mug and sipped at the cooling chocolate. “You’re on. And I promise I won’t have any mercy.”

  He gave a theatrical groan and clutched his heart. “Don’t be too rough with me.”

  She looked at his crotch and licked her lips. It was gratifying to watch his cock flex and grow beneath his jeans. “I won’t be too rough. Just rough enough.”

  This time his groan was real. “You’re killing me, babe.”

  “You’re the one who wanted to play games,” she pointed out.

  He leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “So I did.” He straightened and went to the almost empty bookcase and pulled the game off the bottom shelf. “Loser makes dinner.”

  “You’re on.”

  * * * * *

  Hours later, John put a perfectly grilled cheese sandwich in front of Topaz. “Hope you like it.” He’d already dished up the canned tomato soup to give it time to cool.

  “I’ll love it. Nothing tastes better than a winning bet.” She lifted one golden triangle and bit into it. “Mmm, nice and gooey. Just the way I like it.”

  John was pleased that she appeared to be totally relaxed and content, which had been his plan all along. She’d been so uptight when they’d returned from their walk, he’d half expected her to pack her bags and demand to be taken home. She needed some time and breathing space so he’d made a tactical retreat. Now he was sneaking closer again and planned to catch her off guard.

  “I should have known better than to play a game of business against you.” She was as sharp at the game as she was in real life. And lucky too. “Tactics are more my speed. That and strength. Maybe we’ll play touch football next time.”

 
“Maybe we will,” she grinned. “I think I can take you.”

  He wouldn’t mind her taking him. Not at all. His dick flexed in agreement. He’d been hard all damn afternoon, ever since she’d looked at his cock and licked her lips. The tease. She’d known darn well what she was doing to him.

  They’d skipped lunch and munched on chips instead. Neither of them wanted to stop playing long enough to cook, so they were having an early supper. It was already getting dark outside, making the cabin seem cozy and warm.

  He’d learned a lot about her this afternoon. They’d chatted as they’d played the board game, both of them sharing memories from their childhood. It had pleased him when she’d asked personal questions about his life, something she’d refrained from doing up until now. Whether she realized it or not, that was a major victory for him. She wouldn’t ask if she wasn’t thinking about taking their relationship to the next level.

  Topaz was a very complex woman, on one hand so courageous and independent and, on the other, she was uncertain and needed to feel secure. He could have told her there was no such thing as security, not really. Life happened and you dealt with what it handed you, for better or worse.

  What she didn’t seem to realize was she had the inner strength to deal with whatever came her way. If building a business from scratch with her sisters hadn’t taught her that, the turmoil from the past year should have.

  John wanted to be the one she leaned on when things got tough. He wanted to be the one she turned to when she was feeling insecure or needed to talk, the one who held her through the night, who was beside her for better or worse.

  He already knew she was the one for him. Being with her made him feel as though he’d finally found his place in the world. He’d been content with his life before he’d met her. But when he was around her, he felt happy, as though a missing part of himself had finally been found.

  They ate mostly in silence, only making the occasional comment. John felt the weight of the coming morning, knowing he would have to take Topaz back to the apartment she shared with her sister. Sapphire would already be there waiting for Topaz. He knew them well enough to know they’d want to talk about everything that had happened since they’d last seen one another. He had to try to secure his place in her life before they left.

  He set his spoon down and stood. Topaz glanced up at him, her gaze widening. He wasn’t sure what she saw when she looked at him, but he knew how he felt—aroused and territorial. “Come with me.” He held out his hand to her and waited.

  She wiped her mouth with her napkin and pushed away from the table. Triumph filled him when she took his hand. He led her down the hallway to the bedroom, leaving the messy kitchen behind them. He shut the door and turned to her, determined to make love to her so well she’d never forget this night for as long as she lived.

  Chapter Nine

  The intensity surrounding John, the tense set of his shoulders and the muscle twitching in his jaw should have frightened her. Instead, she relished it. He wanted her. And, God help her, she wanted him with a passion that kept growing.

  A sense of desperation crept into her. What would happen to them when they returned to their everyday lives? Would John’s job keep him away from her? She knew he’d told her he was mostly involved in security systems now and helping out businesses, but she worried about him. Would he choose to work as a bodyguard again? If she agreed to give them a chance, would she be enough for him?

  That was the real question. She wondered if she was enough to hold a man like John’s attention. She frowned, not liking where her thoughts were headed. It wasn’t like her to be so insecure.

  “Hey. Where did you go?” John captured her face between his large, warm hands and stared into her eyes. There was worry in his blue gaze.

  She shook her head. “Nowhere.” She didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. “Where were we?” She wanted to make love with John once more. For that’s what it was for her—making love.

  Topaz had known last summer that John Knight was a very special man, one who could shake up her well-ordered life if she allowed him. He’d gone away for a while, but come back again, this time rocking the foundations of her world.

  He’d done what no other man had done before. He’d made her fall in love with him.

  She raised her hands, sliding them beneath his shirt and resting them on his chest. The muscle beneath her fingers was rock-hard, his skin supple. She went up on her toes and kissed him, letting her lips slide over his. He was still watching her with concern in his eyes and she didn’t want that. She wanted to see them glaze over with passion. She wanted to love him so long and hard he’d fall in love with her too.

  “Topaz.” He said her name, but she shook her head.

  “No talking. Not now.” They’d talked this morning and all afternoon. Now all she wanted to do was feel.

  She thought for a moment he might object, but he nodded and released her. He took her hand in his and led her to the bed. There was nothing hurried about his actions. He was acting like a man with all the time in the world.

  He reached out and carefully removed one of her earrings. A shiver raced down her spine as his fingers grazed the sensitive outer shell. Then he did the other side. He set both earrings on the nightstand and leaned forward, letting his breath warm her ear before catching the lobe between his teeth and gently tugging.

  “John,” she groaned. Her neck and arm began to tingle and the shivery sensation went all the way down to her nipples. They puckered, pressing against her bra.

  “What?” The puff of breath against her neck had goose bumps running down her arms. “Don’t you like this?” His tongue traced the whorls of her ear, his tongue flicking over the edge. She fought the urge to press her thighs together. Her panties were already damp and her pussy ached for his touch.

  She curled her fingers and used her nails to lightly rake his chest. He groaned and caught her hands, tugging them from beneath his shirt. “Not this time. This time I want to take my time and taste every inch of your body. I want to trace every lush curve with my tongue and taste the sweet cream between your thighs.”

  Topaz couldn’t speak, could barely blink. She was going to come just listening to him talk about what he wanted to do with her.

  He tugged at the hem of her sweater, drawing the turtleneck up and over her head. Then he removed her bracelet and set it alongside her earrings. He traced his thumbs over the curve of her breasts, following the outer lacy edges of her bra. “Your skin is softer than anything I’ve ever touched.”

  His fingers trailed up her arms to her shoulders and he caught the straps, slowly easing them down. She swallowed hard as he exposed her breasts to his view. He’d seen them before, several times now, but each time it felt new. The worshipful look in his eyes made her feel like the sexiest woman in the world.

  “My turn.” She grabbed his shirt and tugged it up. He took over and dragged the garment over his head, dropping it to the floor.

  John rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, causing them to pebble even more. Her skin felt raw, exposed, as if it was pulled too tight over her frame. His fingers slid along the band until he found the hooks at the back. Then her bra was gone and he lowered his head.

  She caught her breath as his mouth closed over one puckered nipple, drawing it into his mouth. He lashed his tongue over the tip and she clutched at his head to keep him there. John worked his way over to her other nipple and lavished it with the same attention.

  “So sweet,” he murmured. “Let’s get the rest of your clothes off.”

  Like a woman in a daze, she allowed John to undress her. Lost in a sensual haze she was flat on her back on the bed before she could catch her breath. John stood next to the bed, towering over her.

  He undid the button of his jeans and slowly lowered his zipper. Her mouth went dry and she licked her lips to moisten them. John sucked in a breath and swore. He quickly toed off his boots, and then dragged off his jeans and briefs. Once he was naked, h
e stretched out next to her on the bed, swallowing up most of the room on the mattress.

  His cock nestled against her hip, hot and pulsing and she reached down and caught his shaft in her hand, but he pulled it away. “I want you too much, babe.” He lowered himself over her, his hands on either side of her head, his legs trapping hers. “I want to touch you, to taste all of you.”

  She shivered at the intensity of his words. Was it possible theirs could be a relationship that would last? She caught his shoulders and pulled herself up, rubbing her breasts against the hard wall of his chest. “Love me, John.” Desperation tinged her words, but she didn’t care. She was feeling slightly desperate, her body coiled and ready for release, her mind counting down the moments until they had to return to their normal lives and her emotions scattered all over the place.

  He kissed her then, stealing her breath with the enormity of his need. His tongue swept in and claimed her mouth. She met him stroke for stroke, angling her head for better access. He tasted like strong black coffee and slightly spicy like the tomato soup they’d eaten. Delicious.

  His hands worshiped her body, stroking up and down her arms and torso, tracing her subtle curves. She touched him wherever she could reach, his chest, his shoulders, his back. He was so warm, so alive, muscles rippling beneath the skin wherever she touched.

  He tore his mouth from hers and left a trail of hot kisses down her throat. He paused at the sensitive spot where her neck met the curve of her shoulder and bit down carefully. Attention to that particular place was like lighting a match to gasoline and her hips jacked up, pressing hard against his erection. She thrashed her head back and forth on the pillow. She needed John inside her.

  “Now, John.” She dug her fingers into his taut butt, trying to pull him farther into the cradle of her hips.

  “Not yet.” He was panting hard, his skin growing slick with perspiration. “Need to taste you.”

  The next half-hour was nothing more than a blur of erotic sensation for Topaz. John used his hands and mouth on her, missing not an inch of her skin. He stroked her shoulders and arms before ending at her hands, where he proceeded to suck on her fingers one by one. His tongue swirled between them, teasing the sensitive web of flesh at the base. She had never realized just what an erogenous zone her hands were until tonight.