When Petals Fall: A Cowboy, Second Chance Romantic Suspense (Chance Creek Book 1)

by A. L. Mercier

  Here they were again. Though now they were older. They were different. Their relationship was different. Yet so much of being here with Jake was exactly the same as it had always been. Anticipation for the unexpected. Eagerness to be touched, tasted, taken. Ardor to do the same in return.

  Enough thinking. It was time to get to doing.

  "Let's get to our picnic, Cowboy." She opened the door and hopped out of the truck. Grabbing her tote she turned to find him already behind her with the picnic basket in tow. He lifted the basket and took a deep sniff. His stomach growled and she grabbed hold of his free arm. "Let's go feed you."

  They walked down the path to the pond and came to a fork in the trail. If they went to the right, they'd go directly to the swimming area of the pond. If they went to the left, they'd end up in seclusion at Archer's Cove. She headed left. He reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. Their eyes met and held for a few fleeting seconds but so much was said without a single word spoken.

  When they reached the opening of the cove, her breath caught at the beauty before her. Tall, green grass rippled in the breeze and scattered wildflowers bloomed in a colorful array. Behind it stood a backdrop of trees that spread into the rise of mountains, closing the inhabitants of the cove off in perfect seclusion. She looked at the clear, sparkling water of the pond through the small clearing and smiled. Jake wrapped an arm around her from behind. Only one coherent thought floated to the surface: She was finally home. "It's still so beautiful."

  "Yeah, it sure is."

  At the husky tone of his voice, she turned to look at him over her shoulder and found him looking at her with an intensity that made her heart pound and thighs clench. He was so sweet, so handsome, and, for now, all hers. She pressed her lips to his.

  Lizzie pulled back and out of his embrace before she completely lost herself.

  "Alright. Enough kissy face."

  "I was enjoying the 'kissy face'."

  "Don't you want to eat?" The expression on his face was priceless. He was torn between needing food and wanting sex. Lizzie nearly laughed. "I know, it's a tough decision, so I'll make it for you. Let's eat now and kiss more later."

  When she turned to walk away, he grabbed her hand and stopped her. "Just so you don't forget."

  Oh please. Like she could forget when that was all she could think about. Kissing him. Licking him. Jumping him.

  "You could have your way with me now if you wanted to."

  Oh, Lord. "Did I say that out loud?"

  "Hell yeah."

  If she had been with anyone but Jake, she would probably have wanted to crawl in a hole and die. But she was with Jake, and she wasn't embarrassed. So she just said, "We'll do the ravishing later. For now, let's go eat." She grabbed Jake's hand while he used his free one to pick up the basket, and then she led him to a spot beneath a tall weeping willow. "Perfect."

  She reached in her tote and took out a large quilted blanket and spread it out over the ground. She heard his stomach growl once again. She patted a spot next to her. "Come, sit. I'll get the food ready before your stomach caves in."

  He sat down and removed his hat. He took his boots off along with his socks and then stretched out on his back to enjoy the peace and quiet.

  Lizzie rummaged around in the basket, pulling out the contents and then handed him a wine bottle, "Would you mind pouring the wine?"

  He sat up. "I can do that." He took the bottle. "Is this some of the stuff that your dad makes?"

  "Yep, the Raspberry Rapture."

  "I've been telling your dad for years he ought to sell the stuff, but he doesn't listen. He could make a fortune."

  "Yeah, well, I think Daddy is going to try to take it easy now. He and mama were talking about going on a cruise."

  "You're kidding?"

  "Nope, not kidding."

  "I'd never have thought Margaret could pry the old man away from here, but she must be luring him with something pretty tempting to get him to agree," He wiggled of his brows.

  "Ick. That is so not an image I want in my head."

  Jake laughed. "Well, they are pretty passionate towards one another, so you have to realize that they do have…"

  She raised her hand. "Stop. My parents are innocents."

  "And you were what? The product of immaculate conception?"

  "Damn straight and I'm not hearing anything to the contrary."

  He raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

  "It just so happens that I have something special planned for tonight and if I have any further images of my parents and—ewww—doing the horizontal mambo, those plans will definitely be ruined."

  "Tell me more, baby." He reached for her. "Better yet, show me."

  She slapped his hands away. "I thought you were hungry."

  "I am," he said with a leer. "For you." He reached for her again and this time he caught her. "Gotcha."

  19

  Jake

  He pulled her down so she lay beneath him. She was so damn beautiful, and he wanted her. He'd never get enough of her.

  She smelled like flowers, tasted like temptation, and felt like sin.

  He leaned down and her lips parted. It was all the invitation he needed. His tongue slid against hers and he couldn't hold back a groan. She tasted cinnamony-sweet and all his. She pulled back and he raised his head.

  "More."

  "With pleasure." This time when he kissed her, he no longer tempered the passion burning inside of him. She needed him as much as he needed her, and the fact that she said so added fuel to the inferno already burning inside him.

  He reached up to cup her breast and her nipples were already hard, beaded pebbles beneath the thin cotton of her dress. When he rubbed his thumb across the tight buds, her breath caught, and he did it again. Then again.

  "I've got to feel you." He reached up to her shoulders and untied the knotted straps of her pale green sundress, then slowly lowered the top to uncover the treasure he sought. "You're so beautiful." He cupped one high firm breast in his hand and lowered his mouth to capture the rosy-pink nipple of the other breast between his lips. She cried out as he drew her deeper into his mouth. He flicked his tongue across the tip of her nipple, the way he remembered she liked, and she arched against him. "Still like that, huh?"

  "Yes."

  "Want me to do it again?"

  "Please…"

  "What, baby? You need this?" He flicked his thumb across the other nipple which hardened further beneath his touch. "Or this?" he asked, curling his tongue around it and then tugging gently. "Tell me. I'll give you whatever you need."

  "Your mouth. I need your mouth."

  He wanted to give her as much pleasure as possible, and if he remembered correctly, just licking her nipples could bring her to orgasm. He hadn't tested that theory in the weeks they'd been together again, but he wanted to see if he could bring the memory to reality.

  He once again captured the tight bud of her nipple between his lips and he quickly, lightly, and continuously flicked his tongue across the tip. She moaned and wiggled beneath him. He lowered his hand and slid his fingers across her clit through the fabric of her dress and panties. On the first pass, she whimpered. On the second, she panted. On the third, she cried out.

  He slipped his fingers beneath her panties and worked the sensitive bundle of nerves with his fingers, teasing it, milking it, then lightly pinching it before giving her what he knew would set her off. He ever so lightly skimmed his finger across her clit, delving into the heart of her, spreading her moisture as he pulled back. He rubbed the throbbing nub in circular motions, softly, pressing harder as the pressure built within her until she cried out his name.

  He ground his erection against the blanket to try to relieve some of the throbbing pressure building in his cock. She was so fucking hot and so responsive, and when he pushed his fingers inside her, she clamped onto them like a vise. Her release dampened his fingers. He wanted nothing more than to bury his cock deep inside her spasming sheath
and join her in her ecstasy. But not just yet. He'd get there, but he'd bring Lizzie a whole lot more pleasure before he'd take his own.

  He brushed his lips against hers. She sighed but it didn't sound like a contented sigh. Shit. She was thinking again. He brushed her hair back from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "What is it, baby?"

  "Nothing."

  Somehow, he just didn't believe that. "Open your eyes, Lizzie." When she didn't comply, he told her more forcefully, "Open them."

  She finally opened them, and he was surprised to see that she actually looked embarrassed. "What is it?"

  She sighed again and flung an arm across her eyes. "I can't believe I did that."

  "What? Why?"

  "I'm so easy."

  Easy? There was nothing easy about Lizzie Thomason. He laughed. "Darlin', I'd say you are a lot of things, but easy is not one of them."

  "Well, I just…" she motioned with her hand.

  "You came?" She nodded and he smiled.

  She pulled her arm away from her eyes and glared at him. "Yes. And it sure didn't take much, either."

  "Which makes me a happy man."

  "I bet."

  He shook his head. "Before you go getting all annoyed, you might consider the fact that I've spent seven years imagining that very thing."

  "Oh boy."

  "It's a huge turn on to watch you come. Your face softens, your eyes glaze over, and your lips part as you cry out when you come. God, it nearly sends me over the edge every time."

  Her, "Oh," was a whisper.

  "You know, I haven't forgotten all the things that turn you on and get your body burning. I haven't forgotten where it is on your body that if I touch just so," he ran his index finger along the hollow of her throat and she shuddered, "your body tingles. Or the spots that if I kiss just right," he brushed his lips across the side of her neck and she sighed, "you let out a breathy sigh. Now, I do plan to see if I can find any new ones along the way, but I surely do plan on paying close attention to the ones I know." He trailed his fingertips up her inner thigh.

  "Th-that's good."

  "I know. Which is my point."

  His fingers touched the damp wisp of lace and he groaned. They didn't feel like they covered much but they felt like visual sin. He had to see her. He lifted her dress and saw the barely-there lacy mint green panties. He reached for the ribbon loops holding them together over her hips and gave a quick tug. He pulled the panel of lace back to reveal his prize, then gently rubbed his fingers along her feminine folds.

  He groaned when his fingers found her hot and wet. He swirled his fingers in her juices. "Damn, you're wet." He slid a finger inside of her and she moaned. "And hot." He pulled the finger out and added a second. "And tight." She was writhing beneath his ministrations leaving him feeling ten feet tall.

  "I can't help it."

  "I'm not complaining." He gently thrust his fingers in and out of her. She was so impossibly tight. It had been seven years, surely, she'd had other lovers in that time. He didn't think about it the two days they spent in bed, and he didn't want to think about it now either. It made him wild with jealousy and possessiveness, the thought of some other man touching Lizzie like this, and though he had no right to ask, he needed to know.

  "Darlin'?"

  "Hmm?"

  "I have to ask you something." He stopped thrusting his fingers and she whimpered in disapproval. "I need your attention."

  A frown puckered her brows. "What's so important that you needed to stop?"

  "I know it's none of my business, but I'm curious about something."

  Her brows pulled together in confusion. "What?"

  "Have you…" He cleared his throat. He really didn't want to know but he needed to. "Have you been with anyone else?"

  Her eyes narrowed in anger. "I've been home for how long, and you decide to bring this up now?"

  He sighed. He didn't know what brought on the thought or the need to know, actually yes, he did. "It's this place."

  "I see. Should we not have come here?"

  "No. I'm glad we're here." He continued to slowly slide his fingers in and out of her slick channel.

  "Okay. No."

  He spread his fingers inside her, and she moaned. "What? No?"

  She blew out a breath and closed her eyes. "No, there hasn't been anyone else."

  The air stuck in his chest and, when her eyes opened to meet his, he couldn't breathe. He saw the truth in her there. No one else. No one but him. No one else had ever gotten inside his Lizzie.

  He stilled his fingers inside of her. "Not that I'm complaining, but why, baby? You're so sexy."

  She shrugged. "There's never been anyone that I've wanted like that. First, because I didn't have time, and then when I went out with a couple guys, they just didn't do it for me, you know, pleasure-wise out of bed, so none of them ever made it in my bed." She sighed as she raised herself up on her elbows and he slowly withdrew his fingers from her body. "Since the moment is lost and my mind is on this topic, have you ever been with Amber?"

  He chuckled. Somehow, he'd known she was going to ask that. "No, I've never been with Amber. She wanted to but I've never been interested, and believe me, she tried many times to convince me that I was."

  "Good."

  "And if I had been with her?"

  She just shrugged. "You definitely would have slipped three… or a thousand, notches in my opinion."

  "Well, I didn't." A mosquito landed on Lizzie's naked thigh and he swatted at it.

  "Ow! What was that for?"

  He lifted his hand and showed her the dead mosquito. "Mosquito time."

  "Oh damn. I should have thought of that."

  "I remembered. I'll be right back." He got up and headed to the truck, grabbed the gear he brought with him, and headed back to where Lizzie waited.

  She clutched her dress to her breasts and sat up.

  "What's that?"

  "Screen tent."

  "My hero."

  He chuckled and set up the tent in their chosen spot as Lizzie tied the straps on her dress. When everything was set, they went inside and sat down on the quilt again.

  Lizzie smiled. "Remember the first time we were here? God, I was so scared."

  "You were? You didn't show it."

  She laughed. "Are you kidding me? I was scared to death."

  "Of what?"

  "Of you. Of me. Of disappointing you. But it all turned out so perfectly. I'll never forget that day."

  "Me neither."

  "Well, can we get back to the touching? Maybe relive a little of the past?" He knew it would take every ounce of strength and restraint he had, but he was bound and determined to love her right.

  "It'll be my pleasure, Darlin'."

  And later he'd fill her in on the fact that she'd just lost the bet.

  20

  Lizzie

  She wanted him. Now. She was rushing. She knew it. But since Jake wasn't protesting, she was going to continue to hurry. She unbuckled his belt and reached for the snap on his jeans. She slowly unzipped his fly, the teeth clicking in a near silent rasp, her fingers rubbing against his erection. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her hand around it, straddle him, and guide him to her aching core. But she'd wait, just until she had a few seconds to tease.

  He was wearing black silk boxers. He was so sexy, too sexy for his own good. She wanted him so badly. So badly that she had gone off like a firecracker just from him suckling on her breasts and a few touches of his finger across her clit. She still couldn't believe it. She hadn't done anything like that since… well, since Jake. She had fooled around with other guys at college, but none of them were able to give her even a spark of pleasure, and here was Jake, bringing her to orgasm so easily. It was if he knew the secrets of her body.

  He removed his jeans and boxers and his erection rested hard, long, and proud against his abdomen. He lay on the blanket on his back, his hands tucked beneath his head. He had that knowing half-smile on his fac
e that said I know you want to touch me, so touch me any way you like. Not one to pass up such an opportunity, she reached out and slid her hands across the hard planes of his chest. When her fingertips skimmed across his nipples, his cock twitched. She wanted to see that again. She brought her index fingers to her lips then licked the pads. His nostrils flared, muscles flexed, and still he lay in front of her openly, with complete trust.

  The power that coursed through her veins overwhelmed her. She pressed her wet fingertips against his nipples and was rewarded with another leap of his erection. She leaned to circle the tightly beaded nubs with her tongue.

  "Darlin', you're driving me crazy."

  "That's the idea. To drive you as crazy as you drive me."

  A low growl of, "Well, it's working," was his response as she wrapped her fingers around his hard shaft. She gave it a squeeze before stroking the throbbing length. A drop of pearly fluid formed at the tip. She swirled her palm around the swollen head. Using his pre-come as a lubricant, she stroked him from base to tip a few more times before his hand covered hers.

  "Lizzie, honey, you need to stop."

  Why? She was having a good time, getting thoroughly aroused as she imagined how it would feel when he slid deep inside her. "But I like touching you."

  He laughed. "And I like you touching me, too, but if you touch me too much more, I'll come."

  "What's wrong with that?"

  He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm before placing it against his chest. "Baby, when I come, I want to be inside you."

  Oh. She could deal with that.

  He pulled her down to lie beside him. He spread her knees and slid his fingers against her. She knew she was hot and wet and more than ready for anything he wanted to give her. He rubbed his fingers along her clit and her hips lifted off the blanket seeking more. He slid one finger inside her wet channel, and the friction, the glorious friction felt so good. But she needed more. As if he read her mind, he sank another finger inside her.