Page 44 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

EVA

G iggling, I stumbled out of the bar. Jareth traversed the sidewalk as if he hadn’t drunk a drop, which was super fucking unfair in my opinion. He grinned at me, which made his dimples show.

“Admit it,” I teased, nudging him as we turned down a quieter street. “You had fun tonight, Detective .”

“More fun than I thought I would.” His hand brushed mine as we walked, and I felt the tiniest flicker of something—not quite electricity, but a warmth that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

“That’s because you were drinking,” I countered, laughing as I tilted my head back to look at him. He was taller than he had any right to be, and his stupid face was too handsome in the glow of the streetlights. He had absolutely no right looking so good with his wig back on. It was annoying.

He had made the night exponentially better, and I didn’t want to admit it. Was this how it felt to bring a partner to social events?

“No argument there, though the drinks don’t have quite the same effect on me,” he said, his grin widening. “Your lawyer friends are… interesting. Especially that guy with the football tie. What was his deal?”

“Greg? He’s harmless. A little too into his fantasy football league, maybe, but harmless.” I waved it off, though I didn’t miss the way Jareth’s mouth twitched at the corners.

“Sure, he’s harmless now. Get a few more shots of tequila in him, though, and he’ll be challenging me to arm wrestling.”

“You’re just mad because he kept calling you Detective Handsome.”

“Is that what he said?” Jareth’s voice was full of faux disbelief, but there was a flush creeping up his neck that gave him away. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t hear that.”

“You’re such a bad liar. Speaking of… how were you so convincing back there? You had everyone eating out of the palm of your hand with that whole detective persona.”

He shrugged, the motion fluid and lazy in a way that made me wonder just how much practice he had at this sort of thing. “You learn to lie when you have to go undercover as often as I do. Comes with the territory.”

“Noted,” I said, arching a brow. “That’ll come in handy when you’re trying to pull one over on me.”

“Don’t worry, Eva,” he said with a sly smile. “If I were lying to you, you wouldn’t know.”

Before I could come up with a witty comeback, a glow in the park a block from my building caught my eye. I’d forgotten they regularly held movie nights here.

“Oh my god,” I whispered, grabbing Jareth’s arm. “That’s Casablanca !”

“And?”

“It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. We have to stop and watch.”

“It’s almost midnight,” he said, but he didn’t seem particularly against the idea.

“So? It’s Casablanca . And we’re celebrating!” I was already pulling him toward the lawn where people were sprawled out on blankets and lawn chairs. Ingrid Bergman’s voice carried through the night.

“You’re really going to drag me into this?”

“Yes. Consider it part of your cultural education,” I said, glancing around for an empty spot. Of course, there wasn’t one. “Ugh, great. There’s nowhere to sit.”

“What about that?” He pointed to a small log shoved to the very back corner of the lawn. It looked uncomfortable and precarious, but it was better than standing. He dropped onto it with a satisfied sigh, folding his arms across his chest. “Problem solved.”

“Where am I supposed to sit?” I asked, crossing my arms.

He patted his lap without hesitation. “Right here.”

“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered, though I stayed standing for a good thirty seconds longer than I wanted to, just to prove a point.

“Suit yourself,” he said with a shrug. “You can stand. I’m not moving.”

Making sure he heard me sigh, I relented and sat down gingerly on his lap, trying not to lean back too much. It wasn’t awful. His arms came up instinctively to steady me, and he was annoyingly warm in the cool night air.

I let myself get lost in the movie, only half aware of Jareth shifting behind me.

“I’m going to grab some popcorn and something to drink,” he said after a few minutes as he nudged me off his lap. “Stay here.”

I nodded, watching him head toward the concession stand at the edge of the park.

When he came back, he handed me a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a bag of popcorn before sitting back down on the log. This time, I didn’t even argue when he pulled me onto his lap again. It was easier, and the log wasn’t exactly built for two.

We sipped our hot chocolate and shared the popcorn. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest behind me, and when he pulled me closer, I didn’t fight it. The cool night seemed to press in around us, but he was warm and solid and… nice. Too nice.

For once, I didn’t feel like running from the moment. Jareth didn’t seem to mind either, and when I glanced back at him, his face was softer than I’d ever seen it.

“What?” I asked, my voice low.

“Nothing. Just watching you watch the movie.”

“That’s weird,” I said.

“Maybe. But you don’t seem to mind.”

I didn’t answer. I wasn’t sure I could.

The warmth of Jareth’s lap combined with the cool breeze lulled me into a state of complete and utter comfort. I hadn’t allowed myself to relax this much in days.

I wasn’t sure when Jareth’s hand shifted, but I noticed the gentle press of his palm on my thigh.

At first, I thought he was just getting comfortable and maybe trying to keep me from slipping off his lap, but then his fingers started tracing idle patterns on my skin, delicate arcs that made me shiver.

My heart fluttered. The night air might have been chilly, but my body temperature seemed to climb steadily with every slow caress.

I shifted a little, trying to maintain focus on the movie, but it was nearly impossible with his hand sliding under the hem of my skirt.

Jareth’s breath grazed my ear. “Don’t move,” he whispered so softly I almost missed it beneath the movie’s soundtrack. “And don’t make a sound.”

My pulse leapt at the command. Instinct told me to look around and make sure no one was watching, but the very idea of turning my head seemed risky, as though even the slightest gesture might draw attention.

Instead, I forced myself to keep my eyes trained on the flickering screen.

My vision was fuzzy at the edges—my mind consumed with Jareth’s fingers creeping higher up my thigh.

His fingers halted. “I can’t stop thinking about your bare legs under this skirt.”

A tremor zipped through me, and I had to clamp my lips shut to keep from making a sound.

The rational part of my brain screamed that this was too public, and we’d get caught.

But an equally strong part—the part that was fueled by curiosity, longing, and the growing ache between my thighs—urged me to stay still and let him continue.

I couldn’t decide whether to push his hand away or open my thighs more.

Most of the people were focused on the screen. Some were whispering to each other, a few others stifled their laughter. Nobody seemed aware that Jareth’s hand had just slipped under my skirt. My heart rate escalated, pounding so loud I half expected the person on the next blanket over to hear it.

Then Jareth’s fingers slipped under my thong, finding proof of my arousal. He sucked in a breath as he dipped his finger into my soaking wet folds.

I gritted my teeth, determined not to make a sound, even though the impulse to gasp or moan rose in my throat. He moved painstakingly slow, teasing the sensitive area that was desperate for his touch.

I tensed and pressed my palms against my knees, trying to appear casual. The glow of the screen in front of us illuminated other people’s faces, but from our vantage point at the back, it was dark enough that no one would notice anything unless they were looking directly at us.

He traced his fingers in lazy circles over the tip of my clit, building a slow, smoldering heat that pulsed through my body.

The once chilly breeze now felt like a whisper against my feverish cheeks.

I leaned back slightly, allowing him more access, even though a little voice at the back of my head told me this was too risky.

Every muscle in my body coiled tight, bracing for a release I both feared and craved.

It took all my willpower not to move my hips in time with his hand.

The friction was maddening in the best way, each stroke sending a spark of electric pleasure up my spine.

I could hear my own ragged breathing, though I tried to keep it under control.

If anyone turned around, if anyone heard even a hint of what was going on, we’d have some serious explaining to do.

“Keep watching the movie,” he teased.

I tried to swallow, my mouth unexpectedly dry. My gaze zeroed in on the screen, but the dialogue was just a blur of sounds. My entire consciousness was centered on the sensation of Jareth’s fingers, the subtle shift of his lap beneath me, and the powerful ache building inside me.

My thighs quivered, and I dug my nails into my skirt.

I was worried I might accidentally cry out.

I bit down gently on my bottom lip, determined to stay silent.

Jareth’s free arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer so that my back was firmly pressed against his chest. The warmth of him seeped through my shirt, each breath he took stirring strands of my hair.

My eyes fluttered closed as the tremors hit.

A moment later, the climax took hold—a rolling wave of pleasure that spread from my core out to my fingertips.

My toes curled, and I had to consciously remind myself not to arch too obviously.

A light shudder coursed through me, and I exhaled, letting the intensity crash over me like a silent storm.

As the last echoes of my orgasm pulsed through me, Jareth moaned softly against my shoulder.

The deep sound vibrated through my body.

He buried his face in the crook of my neck as his erection pressed firmly into my backside.

My breath came in quick, shallow bursts, and for a moment, we stayed like that— still, quiet, both of us stunned by what had just happened in such a public setting.

I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse of his face, though I could only see his jawline in the faint lighting.

He still looked composed, but I could feel the tension radiating through him.

Affection and desire surged through me. I’d never have guessed we’d do something like this—especially not outdoors with a crowd mere feet away—but I couldn’t deny the thrill.

Couldn’t deny how alive I felt at the moment.

“I want more,” I whispered.

He let out a tight breath, his grip on my thigh tightening. “Are you sure?”

Heart hammering, I nodded, my lips brushing the shell of his ear. “Yes.”

We lingered like that for a moment, as though neither of us wanted to break the spell.

Then, slowly, I started to rise from his lap.

My legs felt unsteady, still trembling from the aftershocks, and the cool air against my inner thighs reminded me of just how exposed I’d been moments ago.

Adrenaline still coursed through me, mingling with the lingering pleasure in my veins as I pulled Jareth to his feet and led him to my building.