No More Games

Chapter Eleven

Sue felt her heart jump to her throat as her gaze met Jack's. She couldn't explain the peculiar reaction to seeing him, though she supposed it very well could have to do with the way he was staring at her as she and Levi walked down the sidewalk.

Unexplained heat flooded her cheeks. His dark eyes felt like they were boring into her very soul from afar. She could only imagine what it would be like if she got any closer.

Suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious, she used her fingers like a comb as she tried to fix her hair. Her clothes felt wrinkled and she couldn't remember the last time she'd checked her makeup today. Oh what she wouldn't give for a mirror right about now.

His right hand rose slightly in the air as he waved at her. She smiled in return, but it wasn't a full smile. She was more worried about tripping in her heels and embarrassing herself in front of him to smile.

"You okay?" he signed to her.

Tears immediately started to sting her eyes and she had to laugh at herself. Just what was wrong with her today? And how could that one simple gesture—one that he had used a million times—affect her like this?

She had to pull herself together.

Finally, she nodded and asked him the same question.

He shrugged his shoulders and replied, "I'll live."

At that very moment, she lost all control of her body. Levi's leash slipped from her fingers as her legs propelled themselves forward of their own accord and launched her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest and hugged him tight while he just stood there, stunned.

Peering over the top of her head, he glanced toward the other three agents who still stood behind him.

Myles looked impressed while Bobby and D were grinning like monkeys. He just shrugged at them, not sure what to say or do.

"I think that's our cue," Leland finally said after a moment, his eyes shining with laughter.

D nodded. "We're all meeting back up at the bullpen. We still owe Sue a welcome back dinner." He surprised Jack with a wink and his grin grew wider as the confusion only increased on the younger man's features.

Bobby patted his best mate on the back and chuckled. "Good luck, Sparky. Don't mess things up this time."

Jack looked back down at Sue, her face still hidden from his view. She wasn't doing anything. She was just standing there, allowing him to hold her. There was only one problem with it. He didn't want to let her go. Ever.

He wouldn't mess this up.

"Oh, Jack, one more thing," D said as he reached into one of the pockets of his SWAT uniform. He produced a white envelope with Jack's name clearly scrawled on its face. "When I was briefing the higher-ups, they asked me to give you this the next time I saw you."

Jack's heart suddenly clenched in… what was it? Fear? Excitement? He couldn't decide. Perhaps it was a mixture of both.

Jack merely nodded at the senior agent because he was unable to find his voice. He knew what the letter contained. It was a response to a request he'd made to the Director at least a month or so ago. It had been right after his more than inspiring reunion with Joe Wolfe. All of the emotions he'd felt during that case were what propelled him to go to the men upstairs.

And now the time had come for him to know the answer.

He swallowed thickly as he thought of the woman in his arms. Did it really matter what the letter said?

Not anymore. Not really.

He was tired—so very tired—of running away from his feelings. He loved Sue and no matter what the higher ups had to say, he wouldn't—he couldn't—hide it anymore.

No more games, he promised himself with a sigh.

They stood there like that for a few minutes more. He'd waited for their teammates to disappear before he even thought about pulling away. There wasn't a single doubt in his mind that she would have been embarrassed by her own actions.

But why had she done it in the first place? It wasn't like he minded. Any excuse to hold Sue in his arms was as good as the next, but there had definitely been a reason this time. He could feel it.

Pulling way carefully, he looked down at her. A light pink tint dusted her cheeks and she tried to turn away from him. Clamping his hands upon her lower back so she wouldn't be able to escape, he smiled down at her, adoring the color flooding her cheeks.

"Feel better?" he asked.

She nodded and forced herself back a few steps. It had almost felt like he'd been reluctant to let her go. But that was certainly wishful thinking on her part. Flushing crimson, she shifted Levi's leash—the dog had contently sat beside her while she completely and utterly made a fool of herself—from one hand to the other.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Jack merely shrugged as he fought to keep his features neutral. "You can always come to me, Sue. You know that."

She nodded again, her lower lip finding its way between her teeth. Jack fought back the sudden groan of pleasure that hit him as he watched the luscious piece of flesh as it was ravaged by her own mouth. "I know. It's just that… after everything that happened today and your response to when I asked you if you were okay… I just…" She just… what?

"Lost control?" he offered. His hope soared when her eyes lit up in that way that made his heart skitter off its normal rhythm.

Her brow furrowed in thought as she looked at him. The look in his eyes caused her heart to flutter mercilessly against her ribcage. It was becoming more difficult to breathe by the second. If only she could pull her gaze away, she was sure it would return to its usual tempo.

She just couldn't do it.

"Yeah," she finally breathed, her eyes securely locked on his.

Jack's smile widened, and emboldened by Sue's unwavering gaze, took a step toward her. "I'm not complaining, Sue. You can lose control around me whenever you want."

She was speechless by his words. What exactly did he mean by that?

Swallowing thickly, Jack reminded himself—once again—of the promise he'd made to himself once again.

No more games.

Taking those words to heart, he allowed himself to drop his guard. He was finally ready to put his heart on the line, to show Sue that backpedaling was most definitely not an option this time.

With the gentlest pressure he could muster, he placed his finger under her chin, angling her mouth just the way he wanted it. "And I hope you'll allow me to do the same."

Her lips were just as soft as he remembered from that kiss so long ago. So warm, so sweet… so Sue.

He groaned against her mouth and pushed forward for an even bigger taste. And she didn't pull away. In fact, she welcomed it.

Clutching his shoulders, she allowed him to take the lead. The day had already taken such an emotional toll on her, so this was just icing on the already exhausting cake. It was a beautiful ending to a horrific nightmare.

The heat of his tongue brushed against her lips in warning, pleading for access. Sue could only comply, allowing the weight of everything to be thrust from her shoulders so she could enjoy the moment.

She let her arms wrap themselves around Jack's neck, pulling him closer, craving more contact. A simple taste of Jack Hudson just wasn't enough. She'd craved his kiss ever since Callahan & Merced and now that she'd been given the opportunity to have it again, she wasn't sure she could ever go back to not having it.

She wanted it. Fovever.

Jack smiled with manly pride as the way she held onto him as she matched everything movement of his lips and thrust of his tongue that he gave. She'd wanted this just as much as he had. He was just sorry that he'd waited so long to finally come to senses.

And he needed to tell her that.

He eased away from her lips… He tried to ease away from her lips…

But every time he tried, she would only press forward and silently beg for more. And she would get more—much, much more—after they talked. And why were they going to talk? Because they needed to.

"I'm sorry, Sue."