Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

glass of wine. He knew she always liked to have a fresh glass after she completed whatever she was cooking.
    She took a sip and let the cool sweet liquid slide down her throat.
    “Darling, everything smells wonderful, but you smell even better,” Jason murmured to as he snuggled into her neck to breathe in that vanilla-spiced scent that was uniquely Bella. She chuckled and turned to face him.
    He stroked his thumb over her cheek as he stared down at the woman he loved. “What did I ever do to deserve you?” he whispered in a silken voice that wrapped her in its intimacy.
    “I don’t know, but we both got pretty lucky,” Bella responded before his lips brushed softly against hers.
    “I love you.”
    “I know, baby. I love you, too.”
    “Geez, give it a rest, please, I’m starving!” Tony cried.
    Jason and Bella joined the rest of the gang, and he sat at the head of the table with Bella to his right. She leaned into him to whisper, “I like your family, Jason.”
    He was startled for a second before he looked around, and a slow smile spread across his face. It was like a family dinner, Jason thought. Why did he not see it before? These people had become his family. Bella had not only made this a home, she had given him a family.
    “Yeah, we put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional,” he said wryly, making Bella laugh.
    “What are we having tonight?” Rock asked eagerly.
    “ Costoletta alla Milanese , my famous lasagna, a new seafood pasta dish I’m experimenting with that has a creamy garlic cheese-based sauce, fresh bread, antipasto, and save room, we have tiramisu for dessert.”
    “Damn, I should have asked you to marry me ,” Adrian said with a wink.
    Jason’s face made Bella think that he was fantasizing about transferring Adrian to Siberia.
    “Please, everyone enjoy!" Bella announced gaily.

Chapter Twenty-Two
     
    Dinner was a whirlwind affair, and food was consumed at a massive rate, just like every time she had cooked a meal for these people. Conversations were loud and boisterous, with everyone talking over one another that only came when people were truly at ease. When everyone had left, Bella leaned back on the couch and watched Jason finish cleaning up. He had sequestered her in the living room, not allowing her to help.
    Watching his gorgeous form move around the kitchen was almost like foreplay to Bella. As he wiped down the counters, she watched the muscles of his arms and back under the soft material of his T-shirt that stretched taut with each movement.
    Bella knew they had to talk, but first she had other things on her mind.
    Jason looked up, and the full power of Bella’s sensual amber eyes had him ensnared, bewitched. They hadn’t made love since she had been poisoned because he wanted to make sure she was healed, but it had been killing him. Three days never seemed so long. It had been a lifetime for him, and he had been a walking hard-on without release, but he would be damned if he put his needs before hers. Or he could die trying.
    “Jason?”
    “Aye, love?”
    “I want you to…come…here.” Bella’s voice stroked over him like velvet, low and filled with sensual promise.
    Bella watched Jason’s Adam’s apple bob and his jaw clench. His fists tightened on the counter as he tried to control himself. “Bella, lass, we need to make sure you are well. You were poisoned—”
    “I know Jason, but I miss you. I miss your touch. I want you to touch me. I need you to touch me.”
    She seduced him with her words so his body tightened with need. Jason bowed his head, eyes closed, and took a deep breath, forcing his body to remain around the barrier of the kitchen counter.
    Closing his eyes had been a mistake.
    A huge mistake.
    When Jason’s eyes opened, his breath left in a rush. Jesus , he felt like someone had sucker punched him. His eyes blazed with possessive fire as he struggled against the need to leap over the counter and to take her. He wanted to devour her, to sate his need for her over and over. He wanted to pound himself into her until neither of them could move. He gritted his teeth as he felt his cock harden as all the blood in his head rushed downward. His erection was heavy and thick, pulsing, ready to tear through the fabric of his pants.
    Bloody hell, she was trying to kill him.
    While Jason had been struggling for control with his eyes closed, Bella had quickly stripped off her clothes and now lay on the couch, naked. Watching his reaction to her made her