In the Crease (Assassins Book 11) Read online

  Don’t get a hard-on, don’t get a hard-on.

  And God, she smelled like heaven.

  “Don’t cry,” he whispered through tight lips.

  “I hate fighting with him. He’s such a tool, thinking he’s right and shit.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. But he’ll stop, I promise.”

  She shook in his arms as her own came around him. “He said I’m using you. You don’t think that, do you?”

  Shaking his head against her, he dusted her forehead with kisses. “Of course I don’t think that, Wren. I would never assume you could do that to anyone.”

  She nodded against his lips as she held him closer, her tears wetting his chest. “I couldn’t, but especially not to you.”

  “I know that.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay, now, shh. Calm down, it’s fine.”

  She nodded once more as her nose nuzzled his chest, and his eyes fell shut. Her hair was tangled around his fingers, and he swore she wasn’t wearing a bra through that thin tee, but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t ready for him. Though, he was very, very ready for her. It was pure torture to hold her and not strip her bare to taste every single inch of her.

  “Jensen?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you been with anyone recently?”

  His breath caught. “No.”

  “How long?”

  “Almost a year.” He rested his chin on her head as he asked, “You?”

  “Seven months.”

  He swallowed hard. “He was the last guy you slept with? The father, I mean.”

  “Yeah,” she whispered before stillness fell over them. He thought she was asleep, but then she whispered, “He really messed me up, Jenny.”

  His eyes drifted shut. “Give me a name, and I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

  She smiled against his chest. “I never took you to be violent.”

  “For you, I can be.”

  Tipping her head back, she gazed up at him, her eyes dark and sinful as she whispered, “Were you serious about the making love part?”

  She was going to drive him insane. Swallowing hard, he nodded. “Yes.”

  “So you’re sexually attracted to me?”

  He almost choked on the word. “Yes.”

  “Can I tell you something and have you not laugh at me?”

  “Of course,” he whispered back, his whole body fighting to restrain him from kissing her and taking her to oblivion.

  She’s trying to talk. Get it together!

  “He made it to where I didn’t even want to be naked in front of anyone.”

  Well, that was a straight dose of cold water. “What? How?”

  “By saying the stupid shit he did. He always made comments about my weight, and that’s probably why I haven’t been with anyone else. I don’t know. It’s stupid.”

  He was flabbergasted. “Wren, that is stupid. Because of that dumb fuck? Just ’cause he doesn’t appreciate a beautiful, curvy woman doesn’t mean there aren’t other guys out there who would.”

  Her eyes fell shut a bit as she moved her lips up his chin to the spot below his mouth. “Like you?”

  Wetting his lips, he swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Yes.”

  When she took ahold of his lip between her teeth, his fingers bit into her back as he gulped harshly. “Good.”

  Then her lips were on his, feverishly, and he wanted to laugh.

  He really thought he could resist this girl?

  The one who starred in all his dreams?

  He wasn’t sure he was that strong.

  Wren swore she had never kissed someone like Jensen.

  And she had been through her fair share of men.

  But he kissed with a certain kind of something. She couldn’t place it, but when he kissed her, it was as if he did it with his whole body. His legs tangled with hers, his hands threaded through her hair as his lips devoured hers. She had been the one to kiss him first, but somehow, he had taken over. It was as if each kiss was his last with her, and his caresses left her utterly breathless.

  Sliding her center along his leg, she gasped against his lips, and she knew this was it. The moment when she’d get him naked.

  Praise God.

  But just as her hand slid down from the small of his back into his boxers, he pulled away, exhaling as he met her gaze. Nothing but heat and lust swirled in his chocolate depths, his whole body almost vibrating against hers. Or maybe that was hers, she wasn’t sure. “Well…”

  “Yeah, come here,” she breathed as she moved against him, but he held his head back, his breath rasping harshly against her lips.

  Swallowing hard, he bit out. “You need rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”

  “A big day? I have work.”

  “And shopping. We both hate that, so I’m sure it will be just so much fun.”

  “And I’m good. Promise,” she insisted, but he moved away from her, detangled himself as he rolled to his back, running his hands down his face.

  “Yeah,” he said, blowing out a breath as he stared up at the ceiling. “But I’m tired.”

  “Too tired to do me?”

  “Yup,” he said with a simple nod, still not looking at her.

  “Jensen, I’ve seen you play ninety minutes of hockey without batting an eye—”

  “This is true, but I’m out of shape.”

  Lifting the blanket, she took in his hard as ice abs and perfectly toned chest. “Out of shape?”

  “It’s all a ruse. Don’t look at that,” he said, putting the blanket back down and holding it tightly against his chest. “Yeah, so goodnight.”

  He rolled over, and she just stared at the middle of his back. What in the world was happening? Did he just turn her down? Was it the sweat pants? She knew she should have come out in a thong, but she was nervous about her legs. They were so dimply since she had gotten pregnant. At least under the blankets, he wouldn’t see them. But he apparently did not want to see anything. Hadn’t he said he was attracted to her? What the hell?

  “You’re serious?” She found herself asking. But she was answered with very exaggerated snoring. “Really?”

  “Sleeping,” he said then, and she sputtered with laughter. “You should too.”

  “Okay,” she drew out, sighing out a breath before she cuddled deeper in the bed. “Not sure why we’re not doing it.”

  When he didn’t answer her, her brows pulled in even more as she chewed on her lips. Hadn’t he said he wanted to make love, or whatever the hell he called it? If that was the case, why weren’t they doing it? Maybe he was having second thoughts. Maybe he was just lying to her. Crap. No, wait, that was good. Right? Shit. Why didn’t it feel right? Why did she feel like curling up in a ball and crying? She thought he wanted her. She heard him on the phone with Wells, how he stood up for her when he didn’t have to. And the way he kissed her… It felt like he wanted her. Did her breath stink?

  Blowing on her hand, she thought it smelled like toothpaste, so she wasn’t sure. Looking back over at him, the low-lit lamp the only source of light on his back, she furrowed her brow more. It didn’t make sense. But what didn’t make sense most of all was the fact that she was annoyed by this. If he didn’t want her, good. That meant when the six months were over, they could walk away with no ill feelings. Maybe he was realizing that, and his silly terms were no more.

  That should be good.

  They’d raise a kid, together, as friends. That was it.

  She’d get more than she wanted, and that was good.

  But then why did she feel so fucking shitty?

  Staring back at his perfectly sculpted back as his shoulders rose and fell, she narrowed her eyes.

  Stupid Jensen.

  Stupid feelings.

  Stupid her for doing what she didn’t want to do.

  Right?

  She didn’t want this.

  Why didn’t that feel right?

  Crap.

  Why was she such a fuc