Chapter 15

15

J ake watched Claire sleep for several minutes before drifting off himself. Having her fall apart at his hands was heaven on Earth. He had needed it as much as she had, and now that he had a taste, he knew he wouldn't survive without her.

They woke up the next morning, still wrapped in each other's arms. The bus was parking near the hotel, and everyone was getting out of their bunks and grabbing their items to check-in.

Jake and Claire waited for the commotion to settle before peeking out. The coast was clear, so he hopped down before helping Claire. Ben walked into the bunk area only a few seconds later.

"Oh hey, I was just coming to get you. Apparently we have separate rooms? Celine said she thought it might be best if you had your own room for the night so you can get some rest," Ben said. "Would you feel better if we shared? I can have the reservations changed if you prefer."

No way.

Jake looked at Claire, who looked just as surprised as he felt.

"Oh, no, my own room is good. If that's what she thinks is a good idea, then that's fine," Claire said.

Ben waited for Claire and Jake to gather their items. Then the three of them got off the bus and into a black SUV that would take them to the back entrance of the hotel about five minutes down the road. The other guys had already been brought there. It was easier for the security team to split the group in half to make it more manageable if a crowd approached them. Lonnie sat in the front seat with the driver, while the rest of the security team waited at the hotel.

The ride to the hotel was quiet, and Jake tried his hardest not to look at Claire, who sat next to him. Their thighs pressed together, and Jake couldn't help spreading his legs more to increase the pressure. He craved her touch.

She snuck a glance at him, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She knew exactly what he was doing. Jake drummed his fingers on his thigh, only an inch from hers.

The security team ushered them inside without incident. No fans were lined up, and Jake was thankful the added stress had been eliminated. He didn't normally mind the crowds, but now that he knew about Claire's situation with Charles, he preferred to keep her out of danger.

Not that he had a say, but he suspected everyone felt that way.

The security team checked the guys in prior to arrival, so they were quickly moved into an elevator and taken up to the floor that had been completely reserved for the guys and the crew. A security guard stood just outside the elevator, checking IDs for everyone who got off on the floor. He nodded to them as they stepped onto the floor.

Lonnie handed each of them a key card for their rooms, and Jake eagerly watched Claire to see which room she was in. Claire glanced at him briefly before following Ben down the hallway, throwing a look over her shoulder to see if Jake was following.

He smiled. She was just as eager as he was to see which rooms they were in.

Lonnie cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow. The look said, "Stop being so obvious."

Jake chuckled and followed Claire and Ben. He was in room 1414. Ben stopped first at room 1410. Then Claire stopped at 1412. Jake's heart jumped. Their rooms were all right in a row, with Claire's room being between them.

He could kiss Celine. He wasn't sure if she had done it on purpose, but he would bet she had.

"You guys have three hours before you need to get to your interview," Lonnie said.

Claire unlocked her room, and Ben deposited her duffel bag inside before going back to his own door.

Before he entered his room, he stopped and turned toward Claire. "You good?"

She nodded. "I'm good."

"Then I'm going to get a nap before we go. I couldn't sleep last night." He gave them a small wave before disappearing into his room.

Claire and Jake exchanged a look.

The last thing he wanted to do was sleep when he knew Claire would be in the empty room beside him.

He glanced down the hall to only find Lonnie chatting with the other security guard at the elevator. Then he stepped forward, took Claire's hand and pulled her into his room before closing the door behind them. He dropped his duffel bag and took her key out of her hand, tossing it on top of the dresser beside his own.

"Jake," she breathed just before his mouth descended on hers.

He flicked his tongue against her lips, and she widened them enough for him suck on her bottom lip. A low moan filled the room.

"Jake," she whispered.

He pulled back. "Do you want this? Tell me now if you want me to stop."

He stared into her eyes, which flicked between his. Then she nodded.

"I want this. I just want you to flip the privacy lock."

He chuckled and knew she was remembering the time they had been in bed together sleeping when housekeeping keyed into the room. Despite Jake hopping up and telling them the room was occupied before they even saw Claire, it still had them both horrified, knowing it could have been someone from the tour with a master key.

He stepped over to the door, turned the privacy lock, and flipped the latch lock for good measure. No one would enter that room unless he let them in.

When he turned back to Claire, she smiled shyly at him. Jake stepped toward her and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"You okay?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded, casting her eyes down. He hooked a finger under her chin and tipped her face toward his.

"We don't have to do anything."

"It's not that," she whispered. She wrapped her arms around her middle. "I'm just not as skinny as I used to be."

Her eyes flicked to his before casting down again. His throat tightened. She was worried about what he would think of her body, and that twisted his heart.

He settled his hands on her hips and dipped his head to catch her eyes.

"You are even more beautiful than I remember. Especially now that you're carrying a baby. I don't know what it is, but it's incredibly sexy."

She giggled. "You're just saying that."

He smoothed his hands over her baby bump. "No, I'm not. Call it a new kink, but you are sexy as fuck."

Her smile widened.

Jake dipped his head and captured her lips with his as his hands wandered under her shirt and smoothed over her soft skin. Claire moved her hands under his shirt and pressed them against his stomach. He groaned. It had been a while since someone who mattered had touched him, and his body was letting him know. Just that small touch was driving him wild.

He walked them backward toward the bed. While he wanted nothing more than to fuck her against the wall, he didn't want to risk hurting her. No. It needed to be gentle, and he needed to touch every inch of her skin.

Once they reached the foot of the bed, he broke the kiss and eagerly pulled his shirt over his head, discarding it on the floor before dropping his pants off his hips. She giggled. "That was quick."

"It's been a long time since I've been around you. And I would be lying if I said I didn't miss you."

He clenched the hem of her shirt before helping pull it over her head. His eyes roamed over her body, taking in the soft cotton bra she wore, the leggings that came up over her belly, leaving only a small strip of skin showing.

He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her leggings and slowly lowered them over her baby bump and off her hips. Jake leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her neck, slowly working his way down and to the strap of her bra. She kicked her pants to the side as he lowered her bra strap, kissing every inch of skin exposed as he went.

"God, how I missed you, Claire. I've missed you so much."

Her hands moved into his hair and massaged his scalp, and he continued to pepper her skin in kisses.

"Mmm… that feels good."

He unclasped her bra, and the fabric sagged between them, showing off her full breasts and small pink nipples.

Jake only looked up into Claire's hooded eyes once before sucking her taut nipple into his mouth. She gasped and tightened her hold on his hair, which only encouraged him to suck harder.

The days and nights he had gone without her in his life had felt like forever, but now that she was finally back, he couldn't let her go. This felt right—having her in his arms, at his control—him coaxing moans out of her.

She gasped when he moved to her other breast.

"Jake, please. I need you."

He pulled back and hooked his fingers into her panties, tugging them off her hips quickly where she quickly kicked them away.

"You don't have to ask twice, darling."

He helped her onto the bed before crawling over the top of her, taking care to keep all his weight off her body. He hesitated.

"This won't hurt the baby, right?"

Claire shook her head. "No. The doctor told me it's completely fine."

Jake pressed a kiss to her lips, and she threaded her hands back through his hair. He caressed her hip and nudged her legs apart and then paused.

"I need a condom," he whispered.

Claire laughed. "I don't think that's necessary." She gestured at herself. "You can't exactly get me more pregnant."

He chuckled. "That's true." He continued to stare down at her. "I just want you to know that I've been tested, and I'm good."

"I have too, and I'm also good. I trust you," she whispered.

He captured her lips with his again. She was intoxicating. Her taste, her scent. Everything about her had him craving her touch. The feel of her lips against his could relax him in an instant. She was his everything. His love.

His love.

Damn. He never stopped loving her, and he never would.

He brushed his cock at her entrance before slowly easing himself into her. Her breath caught, and he pulled his head back to watch her expression as he worked himself in. Her eyelids drooped, and she stretched her head back as if his length was straining her.

"You okay?"

She let out a low moan. "Perfect."

They moved together, slowly at first, before they became more frantic. Being inside her was unlike anything he had ever felt with another woman. It felt right. And his body was chasing the high that being with her could only bring.

"Claire, baby, I need you to come."

He reached between them and rolled his fingers over her clit, just how he knew she liked it.

A cry tore from her lips, and her body rolled in unison with him, until her eyes were rolling back and a flush worked its way up her chest and into her cheeks.

Her body clenched his, pulling his pleasure from him. He groaned and dropped his face into her chest with his last thrust as he emptied inside her. With the last of his energy, he moved off her and dropped onto the bed beside her.

They lay there for several minutes, neither of them moving.

"Jake," Claire said.

He lifted his head to look at her, their hands intertwined.

"Yes?"

Claire tipped her chin to a spot across the room. "What's that?"

He looked and his eyebrows shot up. "No way."

"Is that what I think it is?"

"I think so."

A door on the opposite wall had them both staring in silence for a long beat.

"Did Celine orchestrate us having an adjoining room?" Jake finally said out loud.

"That woman deserves a raise."

They laughed.

"Damn. I wish I had noticed that earlier. We need to get you back to your room without anyone seeing, so we can unlock it."