Page 35 of Jack

Astrid dumped her bag on the floor in the middle of the room and turned, flopping on the bed. “What do you want to eat?”

“Not bothered as long as it has meat.”

Astrid cocked her head. “Neanderthal.”

Jack laughed. “No, I just like my protein and it’s good for healing.”

“Is that a scientific fact or a Jack fact?”

He sat beside her, his shoulder bumping hers. “Is there a difference?”

“Um, I’m thinking not in your world.” She grabbed the room service menu from the table across the room and paced towards him as she looked through it. “How about steak and fries?”

“How about steak and new potatoes and we can share some chocolate cake?”

“Jack, something you should know about me before this, whatever this is, goes any further and it’s that I do not share chocolate cake. Ever.”

He tugged her hand until she was standing in front of him, wincing when his shoulder protested but not caring, he wanted her close. Her scent teased him, and he knew the only reason he’d let Aubrey leave that damned scented candle at his place last time she visited was that it reminded him of Astrid.

“Good to know, but I feel I need to set things straight about my expectations from you.”

Astrid shook her head. “No, you don’t, Jack. I get it. You made it clear it’s just sex, nothing more, and I have no expectations of anything else.” She tried to put space between them by pulling away, so they weren’t touching, but he wouldn’t allow it.

“Will you let me get a word in edgewise?” He ran his hands up the back of her firm thighs, the skin supple and warm as her hands rested on his shoulders.

Astrid squinted her eyes and glared at him, and he knew he needed to be quick, or he’d see some of the fire he loved directed towards him. “I don’t do relationships. They take too much time. Invariably one wants more than the other, and someone ends up getting hurt or at the least, disappointed. I love my work. I enjoy what I do and in the past that’s caused me issues, so I just stopped. In the last few days, I’ve found myself wishing work wasn’t getting in the way of me spending time getting to know you better.

“I’m not proposing marriage or that we buy a house together, but I want more than sex, Astrid. I want time together having fun, doing nothing, talking, eating, and yes. Definitely having sex, especially as I know it will be mind-blowing.”

She was silent, and he didn’t know what else to say.

“Maybe we should discuss this after you eat? I don’t want you making promises that you regret in the light of day, Jack. You’re so much more than a pretty face and sexy body and I could easily let my heart get involved and end up hurt.”

“I won’t change my mind, Astrid, but if you need time, I’ll give it to you.”

She smiled the fake smile he hated and pulled away to order their food, including the cake. He wanted to get his hands on whoever had hurt her and wring their fucking necks. He didn’t doubt in his mind some asshole had broken Astrid’s heart, and the thought made him rage.

“Here, let’s get you out of that shirt.”

Her hands unbuttoned his shirt, and he willed his body to calm down, but it was no use. The picture in his head of her doing this for a very different result filled his mind. Her lips parted, and he could see she was feeling it too but now wasn’t the time to move things any further. As much as he wanted that he also wanted her to feel secure with him, to know he wouldn’t hurt her or allow anyone else to either.

His hand rested over hers, and he stilled the movements. “I’ve got it. You listen out for the food while I take a quick shower.” He disappeared into the bathroom and locked the door, not sure if it was to stop her coming in or him getting out and taking her up on all she offered. He took a quick shower, making sure to keep his shoulder dry before he dried off and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Exiting the bathroom, he saw Astrid sitting at the foot of the bed. Her eyes skimmed over him, slowly taking everything in as she did. It took everything he had not to go to her and lay her back on the bed and finally taste her sweetness.

Instead, he crossed to his case, which was already packed ready to go and drew out a pair of grey sweats. Turning his back to her, he dropped the wet towel and pulled the joggers up his legs. He left his torso bare, not wanting the hassle of trying to get a shirt on when his arm already ached.

When he faced her again, a full flush of pink tinged her upper cheeks and he wanted to follow the line it took and see if she was that colour all over, but he resisted. “Want to watch a movie?” He rubbed the towel over his head, getting most of the droplets before he dropped it on the chair.

“I was going to do some research on the laptop and see if I can find out anything by going back and looking into my sister’s early time before the Farm.”

“Okay. Anything I can help you with?”

Astrid shook her head. “No, not really. I can do this in my own room if you like and let you rest.”

Jack padded towards her on bare feet, and her eyes roved over his chest, stopping lower where the joggers rode his hips. His lips twitched with delight. “Eyes up here, firefly.”

She looked guilty as she glanced up and straightened. “I’m not dead, Jack, and you can’t walk around with all that on display and expect me not to look. How would you feel if I walked around half-naked?”

That mouth was going to get her into trouble one day, but he loved that part of her that had previously driven him crazy. “Firstly, don’t mention you and dead in the same sentence again. It makes me rage, and secondly, if you walked around half-naked, I’d be walking around with my tongue hanging out and in a much worse state than I am now.” He looked down to emphasise the boner he was now sporting and groaned when she sucked in a breath.

“That looks painful. You should probably fix that.”

He looked at the ceiling. “God give me strength.” A knock at the door was his salvation from making a move he shouldn’t yet. “Can you get that for me, please?”

Astrid rolled her lips between her teeth, and he could see her trying not to laugh at his expense. “Sure.”

“Payback is a bitch, firefly.”