Page 62 of Black Jack (Advantage Play 5)

His laughter hits me in all the right places as he raises himself onto his elbows and shakes his head back and forth. “You never answered my question.”

“And what question is that?”

“Have I managed to get under your skin the same way you’ve gotten under mine?”

“Hmm,” I hum, feigning indecision. “I might have to think about it for a bit.”

He gasps then digs his fingers into my sides. Tickling. Me.

Wiggling away from him like my life depends on it through bouts of laughter, I beg, “Stop! Stop!”

“Then answer the question, Mrs. Connelly.”

I grab onto his wrists, but it doesn’t do me any good. The bastard is a master tickler, and I’ll probably wind up with a grass stain on my ass if I don’t give in soon. “Fine! Fine! Yes! Okay? Yes, you’ve gotten under my skin.”

His torture ends instantly before he falls back onto the grass and pulls me against him while we both catch our breath. And it’s comfortable but filled with a sense of awe that leaves me reeling. I lick my lips before looking up at the sky blanketed in darkness.

The twinkling lights battle with the bright stars in the sky as the easy silence envelops us both.

When I spot a shooting star a few minutes later, I can’t help but make a wish.

That we could both stay here forever.

I learned a long time ago that wishes have never come true for a girl like me, though. Why would they start now?

18

Jack

We didn’t stay at Matteo’s. She didn’t want to, though she wouldn’t tell me why. Instead, we drove home in silence. When we got to our place, she led me to the master bedroom, and we had sex all over again before she fell asleep curled up on my chest. Then I woke up to find her missing, only to stumble upon her a few hours later in the gym.

“Hey, you,” I greet her.

She smiles, then closes the distance between us while dabbing at her glistening skin with a white towel. “Hey. I was just finishing up.”

“Looks like it. How was your workout?”

“Good, I think.”

“You think?” I laugh.

“It helped me clear my head.” She gives me a quick peck against my cheek, then murmurs, “I’m going to go shower.”

“Okay. I’ll be up in a––” I pause, distracted when my burner phone starts buzzing in my hand.

She looks down at it, then smiles stiffly. “I’ll let you get that.” Wagging her fingers in a silent goodbye, she leaves me to drool over her round ass as she steps into the elevator.

Once she’s out of sight, the buzzing against my hand finally registers again, and I swipe my thumb across the screen.

“Yeah?” I murmur, scanning the empty gym for listening ears.

“How was the wedding?” Kingston returns.

My mouth curves up toward the ceiling. “Good.”

“Ace said I missed your call a while back.”

“And you’re just getting around to returning it?” I laugh. “What’s the real reason you called?”