Looks like Trouble to Me (Bad Boys Need Love, Too #1) Read online

  Zoé opened it, looking as captivating as usual.

  “Hey,” he said, in weary greeting, before sweeping his eyes up and down her beautiful body.

  “Hey,” she said, concern in her pretty eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  This time it was his turn to deflect. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

  “Sure looks like something.”

  “Can I come in?”

  “Oh! Where are my manners? Yes. Please.” She stepped aside to let him enter. “Do you want to go out to eat breakfast? Are you hungry?”

  “No, baby, not hungry, not for food anyway. I only want you.” He took her in his arms, tightly embracing her. “God, you feel good,” he said into her silky brown hair. “Whenever I’m with you, I feel all right. Like I can make it.”

  Zoé hugged him close, quiet, allowing him space to feel, think, breathe…not rush around in a panicked fury trying to keep it all together. He leaned back, an unexpected grin starting to form. “You make me crazy. I come here, feeling like a train wreck, and look what you do to me.” He reached for her hand and placed it on the front of his jeans.

  “Oh,” she said, smiling, looking at him through a dark fringe of lashes. “We can take care of that, you know.”

  “Yeah?” he said.

  She bit her lip, cocked her head and nodded slightly. “Yeah,” she said, her voice silky smooth and tender.

  “God, baby, you melt me,” he said. “You turn me into butter.”

  “I like butter,” she said coyly. “I like to spread it all over my toast in the morning and chomp it down.” She snapped her teeth together. “Or, turn up the heat, making it sizzle before adding the ingredients for deliciousness.”

  “Fuck,” he said. “Just when I thought I couldn’t get any harder.” He widened his stance and guided her backwards toward the wall.

  She blinked, resisting his forward movement. “Uh, wait a minute. Shit. I just remembered something. We have to stop.”

  “What?” he asked, perplexed. “Now?”

  “It will only take a second,” she mumbled into his chest.

  “Later,” he murmured, pushing her backward.

  “Wait,” she said, making him hesitate. “We have to talk.”

  Jace stiffened and came to an abrupt halt. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “You. And me.”

  “Not yet,” he said, resuming his stride. She grew limp in his arms. He released her and stepped away. “Okay. What?”

  “I saw Billy last night.”

  His jaw grew rigid. “Fucking hell.”

  “He said he came to warn me about you. He told me to ask you about what you did on his yacht.”

  Jace tensed. That fucking prick.

  “And this came after my good friend Tanya yammered at me yesterday about how I needed to demand answers from you. She said you and Billy have to be more than work mates.” She rubbed her eyes, wearily. “I’m not in the best mood today either, Jace. I didn’t get much sleep. But I figure the only way I’m getting through it is by you and me sorting things out.”

  Jace considered her, thoughtful, wary. His thoughts pinged between wanting to torpedo Billy and wanting to bury himself inside his woman. “I told you, not until I’m ready.”

  “The door’s right there, stud,” she said, in a cool voice. “Maybe I’ll still be here when you reach that point.”

  His mind whirled in a messed up panic. “I don’t want to tell you,” he said again.

  “That’s not fair, Jace. I’ll be an open book to you. You haven’t asked me much about my life but I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  “Okay,” he said. He dropped into a nearby chair. “Sit.”

  She made her way to the sofa, sitting opposite him.

  He leaned forward on his thighs and clasped his hands together “Tell me something.”

  “You first. You told me you don’t have someone at home waiting for you.”

  He fished around in his head, searching for a way to answer without lying. “I have no other lovers. Only you.”

  One eyebrow raised on her delicate face. “So why can’t I call you when you’re home?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Are you doing something illegal?”

  “No. Absolutely not.” He ran a hand over his chin. “When I’m not otherwise engaged, I’m thinking of you.”

  “What’s the otherwise engaged part?”

  “That’s the part I’m not ready to talk about. Ask me something else.”

  “Okay.” She looked away from him, thinking, biting her lip.

  He imagined the cogs in her head whirring and stirring. This wasn’t the way he’d hoped the day would go. “Tell you what.”

  Her head whipped back to face him. “What?”

  “You get one question. I’ll answer one more question. I need to be inside you, baby. After that, you get another.”

  “That’s not fair.” She seemed to squirm, conflicted.

  She wanted him, too, he knew it. “What’s not fair is you being so far from me.”

  Her nostrils flared slightly. She huffed out a rush of breath. “What did you do on Billy’s yacht?”

  “We partied. A lot. I’d gone through a horrible, painful breakup and I needed to get her out of my head.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad,” she said, frowning. “Who was she?”

  “That’s two. I told you I’d only answer one.” He got to his feet, watching her lean back slightly, legs parting ever so slightly. Good, he thought.

  “Come on, Jace, who was she?”

  “What does it matter who she was? She’s no longer in my life.” He took a step toward Zoé.

  “What made it a horrible breakup?”

  He took another step. “For someone who’s already used up her one question, you’re awfully persistent.” He crouched before her, spreading her legs wide, placing his hands on her hips. “Mmm, you smell good,” he said, inhaling her lovely scent.

  “Stop, Jace, I need more answers,” she said, threading her fingers into his hair.

  “And I need to get these pants off you.” His hands reached for the zipper.

  She fell back on the couch. “Not fair.”

  “It’s totally fair. We made a deal, baby.” He tugged the pants from her beautiful legs. “Love the sexy lingerie, babe. You have incredible taste.” His fingers pushed under the elastic, skimming along her hips.

  “Jace,” she said in a breathy voice. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m making you feel fantastic. That’s my guess. Lift those hips so I can slip these off.”

  She complied, without protest. “You said you wanted me to tell you something.”

  He paused. “I did, yeah. But now we’re doing this.” He ran his hands down the outside of her legs.

  She made a soft moan. “Ask me something. Before we do this and I forget how to think.”

  He brushed the inside of her tender thighs, making her shiver.

  “Ask me.”

  His breath came out in a rush. “Okay. Tell me something you love.”

  “It’s not a thing, it’s a person.”

  His eyebrows shot up. A surge of possessiveness shot through him like a rocket. “Do I really want to hear this?”

  “I don’t know,” she said, her eyes wide, apprehensive.

  “You’re mine, Zoé. If you tell me you’re still in love with…”

  “It’s you. I’m falling in love with you.” She spit the words out, like she wanted them as far away from her mouth as possible.

  “It’s me? You’re falling in love with me?” His heart began to pound.

  “Yes, Jace Savage. I feel like a complete idiot, but I am.”

  “Why, Zoé? Why?”

  “Because you’re you. Because you make me laugh. You make me think. You’re passionate, intelligent, and wild. You make me do things I never dreamed I’d do, like have Hollywood sex on a motorcycle. I’m completely addicted to you. Tanya keeps telling me you
’re bad for me, but I don’t feel it. I know we barely know each other but…you asked me if I knew what’s right. This…” She pointed back and forth between him and her. “This is right.”

  Jace studied her, incredulous.

  “I tossed and turned all night long thinking about you.”

  “Baby…” he began, unsure what to say.

  “I love you with all my fucking heart.” She looked as if being in love with him was reprehensible.

  He opened his mouth, the phrase dirty mouth about to roll from his tongue, when she held up her hand.

  “Don’t say it. I’m not in the mood. I’ve been waiting for you, Jace Savage. I’ve been looking for you. Longing to find you. And now you’re here. And you won’t tell me about your troubles. You won’t let me in. I must be some kind of masochist.” Tears filled her lovely brown eyes.

  “I’d say it’s you denying access,” he said, his gaze burning into hers.

  “Come on, Jace.” One tear dripped down her face.

  He captured it on his fingertip, sucking it into his mouth. “I gave you one answer,” he said. “And I’ll give you another. But only after we do this.” He pushed his nose into the coarse hair between her legs, taking a deep whiff. “I love the way your sweet pussy smells.”

  “You don’t love me, do you?”

  He paused again, lifting his eyes to meet hers, his heart jackhammering in his chest, a frenetic, frantic sensation filling his mind.

  “I’m crazy about you,” she said.

  “I’m crazy about you, too, baby.”

  “But you’re not in love with me,” she said flatly.

  “I don’t…I don’t know. I only know how you make me feel.”

  “Like you can get through your troubles,” she said in an even flatter voice.

  “No, baby, like I can get through anything. With you, I feel more like a man than I’ve ever felt in my life.” He stared at her and realized he was panting, his lips parted like a frightened mutt. His mouth snapped shut.

  “Really?”

  The way she looked at him destroyed him inside. Any chance he had of keeping it together flew out the window. “Fuck. You make me fucking crazy.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “When you look at me like that all I want is be inside you. Get you as close to me as I can.”

  “I want that, too. But I also want to be inside your mind. I want to be privy to your secrets.”

  “And I told you. I gave you one answer. I’ll give you another. After we do this.” He brought his lips to the tender skin inside her knee.

  “Damn you, Jace Savage,” she said, letting her head fall back.

  He kissed a trail up the inside of her thigh.

  Her gentle fingers found his hair, caressing his scalp. She massaged his shoulders, his neck with firm, even strokes.

  “I love the way you touch me,” he said. The words felt like a strange new experiment, like taking the L-word out for a test drive. The only other person he’d said it to was Kate and that had been a disaster. He drop kicked that thought, sending it flying out of the room.

  “You promise you’ll tell me more?” she said, breathing hard.

  “Shhh, baby.” He placed his hands along her thighs, spreading apart her folds. “Fucking gorgeous,” he said, before extending his tongue to explore. He made one long sweep of his tongue. “Mmm,” he said. “Perfect.”

  “Oh, God, Jace,” Zoé moaned.

  “You like this, baby?” Without waiting for an answer, he licked her again, the entire length. He found her swollen pearl. Circled it with his tongue, making her gasp. “I love the taste of your arousal.” He continued to spread her wide, framing her with his palms as he licked. “I love your beautiful pussy.” He licked soft and slow. Hard and fast, gauging her responses. Sensing she was about to orgasm, he slid one finger, two fingers, three fingers into her opening. “Come for me, baby.” He plunged his fingers deep while his tongue lapped at her. “Mm hmm,” he moaned into her.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned. “Jace! Jace!” She let out a long, deep, growling groan, pulsing around him.

  “Mmm, mm hmm.” He pushed his face back and forth, up and down, licking, nibbling, sucking, savoring her climax.

  “Okay, okay, stop, enough, I surrender,” she groaned. “Sweet Jesus, what you do to me.”

  He lifted his head, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gave her a wicked smile. “You like that, baby?”

  “God, yes.”

  “Ready for more?”

  “In a minute,” she said, panting.

  “How long do you need?” he said, removing his jeans. “About this long?” He stroked his hard heat, smiling wickedly.

  “Uhhh, Jace, you’re killing me!”

  “It’s mutual,” he said, climbing on top of her. He pitched pillows to the floor, laying her back on the space he created. Grasping his cock, he pushed it up and down her silky pink flesh. “Someone’s wet.” He brought his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. “Someone wants me inside her sweet, slippery canal.” He kissed her neck. “Who might that be?” he said, placing a trail of kisses along her jaw.

  “Me. I want you.” Her voice sounded husky and raw.

  “How much,” he said, drawing his soft head up and down between her legs.

  “Badly.”

  “Only me?”

  “Only you, Jace.”

  He brought his hand up and placed it around her throat and jaw.

  She twisted her head back and forth. “What are you doing?”

  His fingers closed around her jaw, preventing her from moving. “Fucking you,” he said, thrusting into her. “Exclusive rights, yeah, baby?”

  “You’re restraining me. You’re not trying to choke me, right?”

  “Why would I do that? You’ve granted exclusive rights, yeah?” He dragged his fingers down to the hollow in her neck.

  “Exclusive rights.” The words sailed from her mouth breathlessly.

  He pushed inside, delighting in the sigh she made as he entered. “I belong in here.”

  “You do,” she whispered.

  “This is my home base.” He stilled, deep inside her, making small circles with his hips. “Fuck. I want in deeper. I’m not going to last, baby.” He pulled back and plunged deeper. “Fuck,” he said again. “You’re destroying me.” His hips pumped, immersing into her core. “Fuck!” he groaned, as his pleasure coursed through him. He shuddered, growled and groaned, filling her with his desire, before collapsing on top of her. “Not enough skin,” he said, lifting up. “Off, off, off.” He slid the t-shirt over her head, flinging it to the floor. “No bra, baby?”

  “I figured it would come off soon,” she said with a smile. “Take your shirt off, too.”

  He complied, settling onto her warm skin. “You melt me, baby.”

  “You melt me,” she said.

  “We melt each other,” he murmured. “Exquisite, superb combustion yields liquid heat.” He shifted to the side somewhat, giving her room to breathe. “This is perfect. This is where I belong,” he said, nuzzling her graceful neck. He relaxed, his breathing deepening. “You comfortable?” he murmured.

  “Very,” she said, running her fingers softly along his back.

  His mind began to drift.

  “Jace?” she said softly.

  “Mm hmm, baby,” he said, eyes closed.

  “You promised me another question.”

  A deep sigh left his lungs. “I did. What do you want to know?”

  Chapter 17

  Zoé tugged her panties over her hips before settling next to Jace. “So I get one question,” she said.

  “One.”

  “Can I ask for elaboration on the answer? Can the question be an umbrella and then I get a few details?”

  He considered for a moment. “Depends on the question, I guess.”

  “It’s going to be more about the yacht.”

  He chewed the inside of his cheek, sighed, and laced his fingers with hers. “Okay. May as well get
this over with.”

  “Okay. So you said you partied a lot on the yacht.” Her eyes sought his and she quickly added, “That’s not the question, that’s a summary of facts.”

  “Understood. What’s the question?”

  “Who was the girl who broke your heart that made you party so hard?”

  “Kate. Kate Bethlehem.”

  “Was she beautiful?”

  “Yes.”

  That didn’t feel good, but I asked for this. “And you loved her?”

  “Very much.”

  “Is that why you can’t love me yet?” A small twist of jealousy lanced her gut.

  “That’s veering off topic. I said I’d answer questions about the yacht topic.”

  “Okay,” she said, biting her lip. She snuggled closer to him, angling her body so she could see him better. “You’re beautiful, you know, even when you look serious.”

  He gave her a small, warm smile, his eyes lighting up. “Thank you. I can say the same.”

  Her lips curved upward and she gazed at him affectionately. “So. If you had to party a lot on the yacht to get her out of your system, you must have really loved her and she must have done something fucked up to hurt you so badly.”

  “Dirty mouth,” he said.

  “Answer the question.”

  “It seemed like a statement.” He stroked the inside of her palm with his thumb.

  “So what I said is true, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “How long were you with her?”

  “Five years. Since I was twenty-four.”

  “That makes you twenty-nine?”

  “Thirty. I just turned thirty.”

  “Happy birthday.” She smiled.

  “Thank you. Best year of my life, with you in it.”

  That phrase reassured her, making her heart sing. She smiled broadly. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.” She looked away, gathering her thoughts. “How did you meet her?”

  Jace chewed his lower lip. “She was one of Billy’s back burner babes.”

  “Like me.” A stab of solidarity with Kate ran through her brain.