“Looks like he picked curtain number two,” Jack says to Ray.

    Ray gives him an evil grin. “I always like curtain number two. Gets them warmed up for the big event.”

    I hear a scream and then a shout and breaking glass. The bouncers race over to the bar, and Ray pulls Adam up and shoves him toward the back door.

    “Out of the way,” Jack shouts, grabbing Adam’s other arm with one hand and covering his mouth with the other. “He’s had too much to drink. He’s gonna puke.”

    People scramble out of the way as Ray and Jack half-drag, half-shove a struggling Adam out the back door.

    “Wait.” I run up to them, my glass in my hand. “He forgot his drink.” I dump the glass of beer on Adam’s head, and he splutters and curses as they take him away.

    “We’ll meet you at your hotel,” Jack shouts over his shoulder.

    “How do you know where we’re staying?”

    “Ray.”

    A breathless Cora runs up to the table. “Let’s go. Distraction in progress, but it’s best if I’m not around for the fallout.”

    “What did you do?”

    “The handsome doctor at the bar got the impression I was going home with him. Jimmy wasn’t pleased. Punches got thrown. I don’t want to be around when the best man wins.” She looks to the rapidly disappearing trio in the back hallway. “You got a lot of love happening there.”

    My heart gives a little squeeze. I hope I can find some forgiveness, too.

25

    Oh Jack, my lord and master

    PENNY

    Waking up with Jack’s mouth on my pussy, his tongue licking me hard, is not a bad way to greet the dawn. Throw in his naked body and the throb in my clit that means I’m about to peak, and it’s damn near perfect. Lucky for me I got a hotel room with a super-king-size bed. Even luckier Jack insisted on staying with me last night.

    He cups my ass with his broad hands, and I whimper. He was wound up tight after his drive with Ray, and doling out a little Redemption justice to Adam pushed him to the edge. So I let him release a little tension, sadist style. And now I’m paying the price.

    “Shh.” His gentle caress soothes my abused skin. “I’m not going to hurt you this morning. I’m going to love you slow and gentle.”

    “Do sadists do slow and gentle?” I fall back on the pillow as his tongue glides up the side of my clit.

    “They do after they’ve acted like an ass.”

    His hair is soft and thick in my hands, and I tug his head back so I can stare into his eyes. “Is that your way of saying sorry?”

    “Best you’re gonna get.” He spreads me apart, massaging my labia with his thumbs as he plunges his tongue inside me.

    “Oh God.” I arch my back, moving against his mouth, wanting more.

    “Oh Jack is what you should say.” He lifts me, squeezing my sore flesh as his tongue delves deep. “‘Oh Jack, my lord and master, love of my life, man who is going to make me come so hard I’ll beg for his cock.’”

    I spread my legs wider to accommodate his broad shoulders, offer him more, everything. “How about ‘Oh Jack, if you don’t make me come right now, you’ll be sleeping in the hallway’?”

    He laughs softly, the sound vibrating against my slit. “I want to taste you while you come.”

    I tug on his hair, pulling him closer. “I want to come while you’re tasting me.”

    He traces his tongue over my clit and drives his fingers inside me. So deep I can barely breathe. So hard I’m afraid to move. With measured strokes, he moves his mouth and fingers together, nudging me closer and closer to climax but always drawing back before I fall over the edge.

    “Please.” I rock against him, hovering on the brink of pleasure, so desperate to come I am panting.

    “The sadist in me is tempted to keep you on the edge,” he murmurs. “But I can’t wait to taste you when you come in my mouth.” He thrusts his fingers deeper, licks me harder, moves faster. Finally, I shatter, throbbing against his mouth as he draws out my orgasm with little pulses of his fingers and gentle licks of his tongue. I come for what seems to be forever, trembling, groaning, and praying Cora and Jimmy in the room next to us aren’t awake.

    Jack rubs his fingers over my wet pussy, and my muscles tighten. How can I want more when I’ve just come so hard I can barely see?

    “I like this sexed-up look.” He sheaths himself and then stretches out on top of me, taking his weight on his elbows. His erection is thick and heavy against my stomach, but he seems in no hurry to find his release. “I’m gonna fuck you every day so you always look all soft and sexy.”

    “You don’t even know if I’ve accepted your many apologies,” I tease. “Maybe I’m still pissed at the way you treated me.”

    He gives me a warning look. “Maybe I should spank some sense into you.”

    “Actually, I’m glad you reacted like you did. It gave me a chance to see my cutting was as much a habit as it was a true emotional release. I was upset, but now I know other ways to deal with the emotional pain. I even threw the box of blades away, along with Adam’s ring. It felt good. Liberating.”

    “I’m proud of you, darlin’.” He shifts his weight and slides his shaft between my thighs, pressing the head against my entrance.

    “That’s how you show me you’re proud?” I give an indignant sniff. “You give me your cock?”

    “That’s how I show you I’m horny.” He crushes my lips in a passionate kiss. His mouth softens, grazes against mine. “That’s how I show you I’m proud.”