Chapter Ten

There was a long debate between them but finally Dezarae won. She would be sleeping on the couch quite comfortably while her handsome guest was in her bed. As they went their separate ways for the night, Jeb hadn’t pushed her into surrendering to what they both wanted.

As he stood in the doorway bidding her goodnight, his eyes burned with a passion she knew would affect her like no other ever had. The decision was hers; he wanted her, but it was her call. When she said goodnight and backed away from him, he smiled a smile that should have warned her he wasn’t giving up on her, just allowing her this victory tonight. He gave her a small nod and walked into the bedroom without a second look at her.

So now she was lying on her comfy couch, unable to sleep, images of the man who had crashed into her life floating around her mind. His body was full of muscles, all of them hard and honed, with those beautiful gray eyes that saw more than she wanted him to see. He was a beautiful work of art.

“Gorgeous,” she muttered to the dark as she pulled her blankets up higher and tried to fall back asleep.

***

“I’m going to miss you too. Always remember that I love you.” The man leaned down and kissed the slim brunette gently.

Those big brown eyes glistened with tears as her arms slid around his neck and returned the kiss. “Bye,” she whispered in his ear.

“I love you, Charmane.” One more kiss and he was off running towards the van that had arrived to pick him up.

“Love you too!” The feminine yell reached him as the door slammed shut behind him.

“Charmane,” he rasped to the room. Sitting up, covered in sweat, Jeb fumbled for the light. As the glow filled the floral room he realized it had been a dream. A memory, really.

“Who is Charmane?” Dezarae asked from the doorway, her features emblazoned with worry.

“I don’t know,” Jeb swore, as he couldn’t even see her anymore, couldn’t recall her.

“Must be someone important to you. You’ve been calling for her a while now.” Dezarae entered the room and walked towards the bed.

“I don’t know who she is!” he shouted as his frustration spilled over.

Patiently, Dezarae sat beside him on the bed. “Don’t push it; you are getting your memory back.”

Dragging a hand through his hair, he flopped back on the bed. “I feel helpless. I feel fucking helpless!”

Unsure of what to say to that, Dezarae grabbed his hand and laced their fingers, giving silent support but not stopping him from ranting. Immediately calmer from her touch, Jeb tugged her back on the bed to lie beside him.

He placed her head on his right shoulder, her thick hair tickling his skin. He placed their joined hands over his heart and the tattoo. He put her hand over it, palm down, and then covered both with his hand.

“I hate feeling like this,” he admitted.

“I kinda figured that one out myself there, Johnny Reb,” she said, smiling softly.

“What are the chances of pursuing those feelings now?” His right hand rubbed her back.

“About as good as the snow being gone when we wake up.”

“That’s what I thought.” He paused for a moment. “Will you stay with me?”

“Yes, I’ll stay,” she said immediately.

“Thank you,” he whispered, jerking the covers up and turned off the bedside light.

They both slept easier for the remainder of the night. Nightmares were held at bay; memories kept their distance, allowing them both to find the rest they needed. When morning arrived they were still in the same positions as when they fell asleep.

Jeb woke first and lay there content to watch her sleep. Her breathing was deep, even, and soothing. Those thick lashes of hers rested against her dark skin. Moving his head, he looked at the difference in their skin color.

With the hand that was on top of hers, he inserted his fingers between hers. Dark, light, dark, light. They made a stunning combination. It was beautiful. She was beautiful.

Lifting her hand, he stared at her fingers. The nails were short but clean. No polish or shine on them. Natural. Her hands were strong from working on cars her whole life. He ran his thumb over the calluses he’d felt when her hand had rested on his chest.

“You deserve a pampered life, Dezarae. You shouldn’t have to work this hard,” Jeb spoke softly to the room.

“I like the work; it relaxes me, but thanks for saying that anyway,” her voice, husky with sleep, answered him.

“What are you doing awake?” he asked as he moved back a bit so he could look her in the eyes.

“I need to get up, shower, and get ready to go to town.” She blushed as she realized they were still in bed together.

“You are very adorable when you blush, Firebird, very adorable.” Jeb wanted to kiss her so much but settled to touch the tip of her nose instead.

“I need to get going,” she muttered and left the bed without a backwards glance.

Two hours later Dezarae led the way into her garage. It was time to go to town.

A low whistle left Jeb’s mouth as he took in the other car in her garage besides her beat-up Land Rover. “Wow. Whose is this one?” His strides took him over to the vehicle that gleamed like a black pearl.

“That? That’s my baby. It’s a—”

“This is a ’67 Shelby Mustang GT500.” He stuck his head in the open window. “Four speed manual, V8 engine, I’d bet with two Holley four-barrel carburetors.” His gray eyes were wide as he walked around the car in awe.

“Would you like me to leave you alone with him?” Dezarae asked, amazed he had known what kind of car it was.

“Him? Hell, no, a car like this is a woman, needs a soft touch.” He was practically drooling.

“Look, buster, this is a he, okay? My car, my sex.”

His head shot up to meet her eyes. “Yours? This is yours?”

“Yes. Go ahead and sit in it if you want.” She hadn’t even finished offering before his large body was slipping behind the wheel. He must be in love if he didn’t respond to my sex comment.

“This is a work of art,” he praised.

“Thanks,” Dezarae said as she opened the passenger door and climbed in. “I wish he were done but I can’t spare the time. Most of my hours are in the shop. So he is kinda neglected.”

“This car is not a ‘he,’” Jeb insisted.

“Listen here, Johnny Reb,” Dezarae teased. “Men get to have their cars be women so why wouldn’t I want my car to be a man? If I’m gonna have an orgasm it sure as hell isn’t going to be because of a woman.”

That got his attention. “Keep up with that kind of talk and you will have an orgasm and I guarantee it will be by a man,” he warned.

“We need to get to town,” she rasped as she got out of the vehicle.

“Runnin’, Firebird?” he challenged, reluctant to leave the car so soon.

“No,” she purred in his ear. “I already know this man can make me come, so why would I run from you?” Her dark body moved closer to the car door. “And I am talking about the car.” Her lips were right by his ear as she delivered those final words, her warm breath teasing him.

He climbed out of the car and grabbed Dezarae’s arm, spinning her back toward him. Not giving her an opportunity to voice her opinion, he lifted her up. Her legs snaked around his waist as his strong hands gripped her ass. His mouth latched onto hers with a ferocity that, instead of scaring her, only inflamed her more.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she sucked his tongue deeper into her mouth. Pulling back, she held onto his lower lip, dragging her teeth lightly across it.

His hands clenched on her butt cheeks, causing her to let go of his lip with a gasp. “Tell me what male exactly in this garage can give you an orgasm?” Jeb’s tone was hoarse as he readjusted his hold so he could move one hand up under her shirt.

“The one with the stick,” she panted as his fingers teased her skin.

“Dezarae,” he growled low in his throat.

“Yes?” Her question was strained.

The smell of her desire was overwhelming. His free hand slipped from her shirt to the waistband of her pants and over her soaked panties. Her whole body shivered.

“You seem awfully wet. Did your car do this to you?” he asked, deceptively calm.

“No,” she admitted. “It was the other male in my garage.” Her whimpers grew in volume as his fingers slid under the wet edge of her underwear.

“Tell me,” he ordered before his mouth adhered to one of her breasts through her shirt, sucking until the moisture from his mouth was palpable to the tender skin of her full breast.

“You,” Dezarae barely managed to whisper. “It was you.”

“And don’t you forget that, Firebird.” He slid one finger inside her welcoming heat.

“Oh, God!” she wailed and her body spasmed with an orgasm.

Slowly removing his finger, he said in a guttural tone, “Let’s see your car do that.” He sucked his fin-ger clean before whispering, “You taste like candy, Firebird.”

Eyes closed from the intensity of her orgasm plus a bit of mortification at her response to his touch, Dezarae said, “I…we need to get going.”

“Kiss me first. Taste yourself on me. Come, Firebird, kiss me.”

Dezarae couldn’t ignore him. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes to see nothing but affection in his return gaze. Tenderly, she put her lips on his and began the kiss. Soon it intensified and she closed her eyes in pleasure.

She could taste herself in his heated kiss. Her body pressed harder against his as she felt that need begin to build up inside her again. Dezarae wanted all he could give her.

The kiss ended as he pulled his mouth off hers. Those eyes of his were dark with desire and it was plain to Dezarae as she looked into them. “What?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t have that much self-control. We have to stop now, or I won’t be able to.” With great reluctance, he put her on her feet. “Unlike you, Firebird, I’m only mortal.” He brushed his lips against hers one more time. “Let’s get going.”