Free A Reason To Breathe by C.P. Smith

through, then without warning, he grabbed my face and kissed me. Sucking in my breath as his mouth connected with mine, I breathed in his scent of mint and coffee. I resisted at first; something about the kiss felt like he was trying to kiss me into submission. But there was only so much my body and mind could take of this man, so I melted after a moment and Jack felt it, and responded. He shoved one hand in my hair and jerked my head to the side, so the angle for the kiss got deeper. His other hand slid down my back and grabbed my ass, squeezing once, and then pulling me into his hips. I gasped as my front met the evidence of his attraction, and damn if I didn’t, without even thinking, rub myself up and down that man slightly. He moaned in my mouth as my hips met his and then deepened the kiss. Even his tongue battled for dominance, and I found I was inclined to let him win. Slowly the kiss ended, and Jack moved from my lips to my neck, nipping and kissing his way to my ear.
    “Jesus, what are you doing to me?” He whispered.
    “Nothing,” I gasped, when his tongue circled my ear.
    “Baby, if that’s nothing, you’re gonna kill me when it means something.”
    Moving his lips back down and nipping the spot where my neck meets the shoulder, the moment was suddenly broken when we heard a knock on the door, and before they waited for a reply, the door opened, and in walked Mayor Hall. I tried to pull back from Jack, but he held me in place; I looked down at the floor too embarrassed to meet the Mayor’s face. Jack had no problem looking at, and confronting this man, nor any problem holding me close, almost in possession. I needed to break free so I could get the hell out of there and escape, not only the embarrassment of getting caught by a man I was supposed to have lunch with this week, don’t ask , but also to escape the man holding me close. I should have faxed the damn lists. Why did I come here? To see Jack, I realized with clarity… I’m such an idiot .
    “You mind waiting for a reply before you walk into my office unannounced, John?”
    “My apologies, Sheriff, I was under the impression you were at work, not on a date.”
    “It’s after five, John, if I’m putting in overtime on my own dime, and my woman wants to pop in for a visit, she’ll fucking pop in for a visit. Now excuse me while I walk her safely to her car, since there’s a killer on the loose. Take a seat, and I’ll be right with you.” Jack grabbed my hand and led me out the door and back down the hall to the front. He didn’t stop till he had pulled the doors to the station open, and walked me to my Jeep.
    “Jack, I’m sorry if I got you in trouble with the Mayor,” I broke in, trying to break the silence and more than uncomfortable situation.
    “Sweetness, I don’t give a fuck if he’s pissed or inconvenienced, you kiss me like that again, and I’ll make the whole fuckin’ town wait.” Grinning at him, ‘cause how could I not after that, I giggled like the adolescent schoolgirl he’d turned me into, and for some odd reason that made him grin.
    “Ok, Baby, get your ass home and lock the doors and windows when you get there. Be aware of your surroundings before you exit your car, and call me and let me know you got there safely.”
    “Yes, sir, Sheriff,” I laughed as I saluted him.
    “Smartass,” Jack answered before he kissed me sweetly, then smacked my ass, opened my door, and deposited me in slamming my door shut. Stepping back to the curb as I started my Jeep, I gave him a smile and wave as I pulled out and headed towards the interstate.
    How the hell did I lose control again? I was supposed to walk in, hand over the lists, answer any questions he had, and then leave. Simple. So not simple, well-done Jennifer, Jesus that man is overpowering. I became a mindless idiot when he touches me. I needed to regroup and think this through. No, I needed to pack up and leave like I should have last night. Deciding before I made