Page 53 of Jenna's Protector
“Take your time. We’ll be here.” The corners of her lips curl into a soft, sleepy smile.
As I close the bathroom door, I glimpse my reflection in the mirror. For the first time in days, I feel relaxed, the lines of tension around my eyes and mouth smoothed away.
Jenna’s presence affects me in more ways than one. The sight of her in those soft, silky pajamas, the domesticity of getting ready for bed together—it’s left me with a rather insistent problem straining against my briefs.
“Damn it, Carter, get it together.” The last thing I want is to make Jenna uncomfortable, especially when she’s vulnerable.
I take a few deep breaths, trying to will my body into submission, but the more I try not to think about the gentle curves of Jenna’s body, the way the silk clung to her in all the right places, the worse it gets.
With a groan of frustration, I turn the shower tap to cold, twisting it as far as it will go. I strip off my clothes and step under the icy spray, gritting my teeth as the frigid water hits my overheated skin.
Wincing at the shock of the chilly water, I grip the shower wall for support and let out a shuddering breath. The intense chill seems to help momentarily, but my arousal doesn’t abate. As I wash my hair, I try to focus on anything but Jenna—the feel of her body against mine, her familiar scent, her soft whispers in the darkness.
But it’s no use; my mind keeps drifting back to her.
I close my eyes tightly and try to picture something else, anything else—a waterfall cascading down a rockface, a babbling brook in a lush forest—but all it does is remind me that I’m about to spend the night in her bed.
My cock twitches and throbs in response. Damn this stubborn hard-on.
With a growl of exasperation, I give in and reach down. Needy and insistent, my cock twitches, eager for release even as I struggleagainst it. Gritting my teeth, I stroke myself, determined not to rush this. The water drips onto my skin, tickling and cooling the sensitive skin beneath my fingers as they glide over my shaft.
I lean against the tiled wall of the shower, trying to find some semblance of pleasure amidst the swirling chaos of desire and discomfort. Moaning softly under my breath, I stroke myself harder, imagining Jenna’s fingers wrapped around me instead of my own.
Suddenly, it’s as if she’s with me, whispering dirty secrets in my ear that drive me wild with need.
The icy water streams down my body, sending tingles up and down my spine that only heighten the sensations coursing through me. Each slide of my hand along my shaft feels like her velvety tongue caressing every inch.
Despite myself, I groan low in my throat at the intensity of feelings flooding into me.
My movements become more urgent. With each stroke upward pushing into my palm, parts of me that hadn’t hardened before now begin to throb in time with each downward pull back down again—like she’s pulling me deeper inside her than ever before…
Even though she isn’t here.
I close my eyes and let myself get lost in the fantasy, feeling her lips on mine, her hot breath against my skin as she whispers my name.
The pleasure builds within me until I can no longer hold back. With a low growl, I come undone, my release spilling over my hand and mingling with the cold water cascading down my body.
Panting heavily, I lean against the shower wall, trying to catch my breath and steady myself as the last waves of pleasure wash over me. But even as my heartbeat slows and the fog of lust clears from my mind, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of emptiness.
It’s because Jenna isn’t with me.
With the edge taken off, I turn off the water and get out of the shower. I brush my teeth quickly, splashing some cold water on my face for good measure. I catch my reflection in the mirror, giving myself a stern look.
“She needs you to be her friend tonight, Carter. Nothing more. Get your head on straight.”
Quickly drying off, I return to Jenna, where she’s already waiting for me in bed. She looks up at me, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and something else, something tender and trusting that makes my heart clench.
Max is curled up at the foot of the bed in doggy heaven. Jenna took all the pillows from her bed and made him a decadent doggy bed. As always, his presence is a comfort.
I slip into bed beside her, careful to leave a respectful distance between us.
Jenna rolls onto her side, facing me. In the dim light, her features are soft and vulnerable, the mask of strength she wears during the day stripped away.
“Thank you.” Her hand finds mine under the covers. “Thank you for staying.” Her fingers thread through mine, and my heart stutters at the contact. “I don’t think I could face the night alone.”
“I’ll always be here when you need me.” I squeeze her fingers, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.
She smiles, a real smile that reaches her eyes, and my heart stumbles in my chest. I want to kiss her, to taste that smile and make it mine. Unfortunately, tonight is about comfort and safety. It’s about being the rock she can cling to in the storm.