N. Walters - Stroke of Sapphire

He slid two fingers into her tight sheath, parting them to stretch her. Sapphire knew it wouldn’t take much more for her to come. As much as she wanted it to happen, she didn’t want this night to end.

But it was too late to stop the impending explosion. Like a runaway train, her orgasm couldn’t be stopped. Jake flicked her clit at the same time his fingers filled her again and she exploded. Lights flashed behind her eyes. She tipped her head back and arched her hips, crying out as tremors shook her entire body.

How long it lasted, she couldn’t say, but she became aware of her surroundings when she shivered. Now that the moment had passed, the perspiration on her skin was cooling.

Jake released her and pulled the covers up around her shoulders. He kissed her and she could taste herself on his lips. She shivered again and Jake grabbed a throw from a nearby chair and spread that over her as well.

He brushed his hand over her hair and frowned when he touched her hammered silver hairclip. Most of her hair had escaped from the clip, leaving it half down and half up. He removed it and ran his fingers through the thick mass. “That’s better,” he murmured. He set the clip down on the bedside table and reached for his shirt.

She watched him pull it on and button it. He was going to leave, as he’d promised, even though a hard ridge ran down the front of his jeans, leaving no doubt that he was aroused. It would be easy for him to talk her into letting him stay, but neither of them was ready for that yet.

He’d exposed himself emotionally to her and she’d exposed herself physically to him. They both needed to step back. If he was feeling anywhere near as raw as she was, he needed some time alone.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She had a lot to think about between now and then. He looked as though he might say something more, but simply nodded instead.

She listened carefully and marked his progression through her apartment. He put on his boots and coat and closed the front door behind him, making sure it was locked. She sighed, knowing she should get up and wash off her makeup. At the very least, she should straighten out her nightgown and turn off the light.

She did neither. She lay there a long, long time, her mind awash with emotions and possibilities. Sapphire recognized the dark and controlling nature that drove Jake and made him the man he was, but she also saw the gentle man who iced her bruises and brought her to sexual satisfaction with no thought for his own.

There would be no easy path for them, no easy solution. Only time would tell what would become of them.

Jake strode up the sidewalk toward the four-apartment brownstone he co-owned with his brother. John was probably home, but Topaz was more than likely with him. The last thing Jake wanted was to run into Sapphire’s older sister.

He hurried up the front steps and let himself in. Bypassing the first floor, he went up to the second floor, which was all his. John’s apartment took up the entire top floor with the two smaller apartments they rented out occupying the first.

He knew he was still way too keyed up to sleep, his body tense and aroused. Swearing, he pulled off his coat and hung it on a hook by the door. Without bothering to turn on any lights, he headed for the bedroom. What he needed was a shower—preferably a cold one.

Sapphire’s taste was still on his lips and he could almost hear her sweet cries of release echoing in his ears. “Fuck!” He emptied his pockets, tossing his keys, phone and wallet on the dresser. With an economy of movement, he stripped off his clothes, dumped them in the hamper and headed to the master bath.

The tile was cool beneath his bare feet, but his body still felt overheated, his cock hard and hurting. He wanted Sapphire so much it made his teeth ache, but since that wasn’t happening, it was up to him to take care of the problem.

He flicked on the overhead light and squinted until his vision adjusted. His face appeared grim in the mirror, tough and unforgiving. He looked away and started the water running in the shower, letting it flow cool, but not quite cold.

He stepped beneath the spray and sucked in a breath as it flowed over his skin. The water didn’t dim his lust one little bit. He grabbed the soap from the built-in dish and rubbed the bar over his arms and chest, working up a thick lather. Tossing the soap aside, he ran his soapy hands over his belly and then lower.

Gripping his dick in one hand, he closed his eyes and pictured Sapphire as she’d been earlier this evening. Skin flushed a delicate pink, hair wild and tangled across her pillows, neck arched, mouth parted, those lush lips wet and welcoming.

Oh yeah, he could remember every last detail. They were etched on his brain for all eternity. He worked his hand over his cock, hard and fast.

Her breasts swayed when she moved and they were topped with tight nipples, like juicy berries. He licked his lips and kept pumping.

And, man, did she have killer curves. A waist that dipped inward and hips that flared out. And her ass was first class all the way.

His balls drew up closer to his body and the water continued to rain over him, slightly colder than it had been a minute ago.

Her sleek thighs parted in welcome, exposing her wet, pink pussy to him. He licked his lips again, tasting her sweet musky flavor. He could still hear the little noises of pleasure she made when he touched her, licked her, devoured her.

He increased his speed, his hand pumping faster up and down his turgid length. So good, but not nearly enough. It wouldn’t be enough until he was buried balls-deep inside her sweet pussy again.

He gritted his teeth and pictured her orgasm, the sweet cry she’d made, the way she’d abandoned herself totally to it, to him. His cock exploded and he came all over his hand and belly. He kept stroking, kept milking his dick until there was nothing left.

Lungs working hard, he slapped one hand on the tiled wall and let his head fall forward. The water poured over him, like little stinging needles now. He raised his head and embraced the cold, letting it cool the pounding need that still had a stranglehold on his cock. He grabbed the soap and cleaned himself up, not lingering any longer than he had to.

The silence seemed deeper than before when he turned off the water and stepped out. He grabbed a towel and quickly dried off, tossing the wet towel over the bar to dry before padding naked into the bedroom.

The bed beckoned but Jake knew he wouldn’t sleep, not yet. He had too many other things on his mind. He tugged on a pair of faded gray track pants, but didn’t bother with a shirt or socks. Leaving his bed behind, he walked silently down the hallway and into his office. Usually, he found the masculine space relaxing with its dark-green walls, wooden bookshelves and comfortable leather desk chair, but it would take more than that tonight to make him relax.

He was wide awake and figured he would be for hours yet. But that didn’t bother him. He didn’t need a lot of sleep and had long ago learned the art of taking combat naps. He thought about making coffee, but decided it would take too long. He wanted a shot of caffeine and he wanted it now.

Jake sat at his desk, flicked on the lamp and turned on his computer. While he was waiting for it to boot up, he reached into the mini fridge that sat next to his desk and pulled out a can of cola. He popped the top and took a long swallow, enjoying the cold beverage as it flowed down his throat.

Sapphire was still foremost in his thoughts and he glanced at the picture propped up on one corner of his solid oak desk. It was one he’d taken last year, the first time he’d been her bodyguard. She was standing in the park on a beautiful sunny day, wearing a flowing dress with small printed flowers all over it, her long, curly hair blowing in the breeze. But it was the smile on her face that always captured his attention. It was intimate and mischievous, as if she knew a secret that the rest of the world wasn’t privy to. He gently touched his finger to her cheek and then settled in to work.

There was a lot he had to learn about Ivan Gregor. He didn’t trust the bastard, not one bit. He’d seen the way the guy had looked at Sapphire before he’d left. He was angry, but more than that, he’d felt deprived, as though he was entitled to have her simply because he wanted her.

Jake had run across his kind before and knew Gregor wouldn’t stop until he felt he’d gotten what he deserved. Wasn’t going to happen. Sapphire belonged to him and Jake knew how to protect what was his.

He had friends in high and low places too, probably more trustworthy ones than Gregor had, and would call in whatever favors were owed him to keep Sapphire safe. But there was a lot he could do on his own. The authorities might be constrained by the law, but he wasn’t. “Let’s see what you’ve been up to, Ivan.” Jake hunched over his keyboard and went to work.

The sun was rising when he leaned back and studied the screen in front of him. He had pages of research that his printer had spit out in a neat pile. Gregor was definitely working the shady side. There had been questions about some of his land acquisitions and developments from concerned citizens groups, accusations of bribery, complaints from other developers, but no charges had ever been laid.

He’d have to dig into Gregor’s finances to find out more. It was illegal as hell, but Jake didn’t care. His only concern was keeping the bastard away from Sapphire. If Gregor stayed away from her, he wouldn’t have any problems. If he approached her again, Jake wanted the ammunition ready to turn Gregor’s life into a shit storm. Neither the politicians nor the mafia would take kindly to having their laundry aired in public. If Gregor wasn’t careful, he could end up in jail or worse. Some of the boys Gregor was alleged to have done business with didn’t exactly play nice.

He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a disposable phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. It was to another disposable phone that would be tossed once this job was done. Then his friend would send him his new number.

“Yeah.” The voice on the other end was gruff, but alert.

“I’ve got a job if you’re interested.” He’d known the other man for years and trusted him to do the job right. Neither of them used names, and wouldn’t. They were both careful as hell. Some would say paranoid, but those folks didn’t know what they did—the government or someone else was always listening.

“Go.”

“Ivan Gregor. Stockbroker. Dirty, but there’s no concrete proof I can find, not yet.”

“You want him taken out?”

Jake almost smiled. His buddy had a very simple view of the world. If you had a problem, you got rid of it, permanently.

“No. I want you to follow him. I want to know where he goes and who he sees.” Jake paused before adding, “This is personal.” He rattled off Ivan’s home and work address. “I’m sending you a picture of him and one of a woman. If Gregor gets anywhere near her let me know right away. Her safety is top priority.”

“I’m on it.” There was a click and then the line went dead. Jake hung up, knowing that end was being handled. His job was to keep Sapphire safe.

He pushed out of his desk chair and stretched his arms over his head. A bone snapped and his muscles protested. He rubbed his hand over his jaw and figured it was time to have a shave and get dressed. He could catch a nap later if he needed one.

But first, he needed coffee and fuel. He ambled out to the kitchen, which was large by New York standards. The granite countertops and the stainless steel appliances gleamed. The coffeepot was new and fast. He might not cook much, but he needed his coffee.

When he had a pot brewing, he wandered over to the dining room window and peered out over the city. He wondered if Sapphire had slept at all last night. On impulse, he went into his bedroom, grabbed his phone and punched in her number. It was just past six, but she’d always been an early riser.

“Hello.” Her sleepy, sultry voice had his cock rising to full attention in a heartbeat.

“Hey.” He wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to say, he only knew that he needed to hear her voice.

“Are you okay?” He could hear rustling in the background and knew she was still in bed. He swallowed hard. She would be tousled and warm, surrounded by her soft sheets and comforter, still wearing that sexy-as-sin nightie she’d worn last night. His cock stirred and he wished he were there with her.