Jenna sat astride Seth and laughed at the serious concern in his face. “Do you think I’m dumb enough to think badly of a man who likes sex as much as I do? Your sex drive is not a problem for me—or at least it’s not a problem yet. It thrills me every time I climax to have you practically begging for a chance to give me another one. I’d stay now, but if I don’t go back to Lauren soon, everyone I know will think something is wrong and come looking for me.”
Seth let her hips go and helped her slide off him, having to catch Jenna when she wobbled as she stood. Knowing being with him had made her legs weak brought him a dark, dark pleasure. And Seth wanted nothing more than to make it worse for her. If he thought about it too long, he’d be hard and aching again.
“This was not just wedding sex in a closet for me, Jenna. You have no idea how badly I want to throw you over my shoulder and just leave with you. I want to go someplace I can do what I want to you as often as I want until neither of us can even walk. I want to exhaust you, feed you, sleep with you, and then wake up and do it all over again. I’ve never felt like this with anyone else. I mean it when I say that I need you. I’d do a lot to keep you in my bed,” Seth told her.
“Fortunately for me, and my duties to Lauren, you are not a cave man,” Jenna teased, smoothing her dress back into place.
“Cave man. Metro man. Hell—I don’t know what kind of man I am anymore,” Seth said honestly, making her laugh.
“Cave man about sex. Metro man about everything else. Not a bad combination,” Jenna said sincerely, tugging on her dress until it felt almost normal again.
“The only thing I’m sure about is that this longing is about you,” Seth told her, but inside he was thinking he knew it exactly what it was. He was finally getting to express some of his love for Jenna, even if it was just the physical part. Problem was—he wanted a hell of a lot more.
Jenna closed her eyes. “Can I come by your house later tonight?”
“Yes. I’ll be in to the reception in a few minutes to dance with you,” Seth told her. “That should keep everyone from asking too many questions.”
Jenna nodded and slipped quietly out the door.
Seth finished his own clothing adjustments and slipped out close behind Jenna, closing the door to the storage room with a soft click behind him. He looked around and sighed in relief when he didn’t see anyone. But hearing swearing from a few doors down the hall, Seth followed the sound until he walked into a room and found Stedman with his head in his hand.
“Damn it, Carter—a fucking storage room? I ought to beat the crap out of you,” Allen said.
Seth hung his head and put his hands in his pockets. “Let me guess. Casey’s testing a new camera system.”
At Allen’s abrupt nod, Seth took out one hand out and ran it through his hair.
“It wasn’t—it wasn’t our first time. I would never treat Jenna that way. What happened just now was mutual and consensual—and damn necessary for both of us. You’re just going to have to take my word on it,” Seth explained, feeling a need to defend himself and Jenna.
“Glad to hear that at least. I didn’t see either of you go in there, but I saw Jenna come out. At first I didn’t think anything about it, even when she adjusted her breasts inside her dress as she walked away. Then you come out less than two minutes later, and what you two did is all over your damn face,” Allen said, glaring at Seth.
“So are you pissed or—what?” Seth asked, wishing Allen could have found out in a less sleazy manner, but it was too late for wishful thinking.
“Pissed—yes, but I guess I’ll live. I’m still trying to decide if you get to or not,” Allen told him.
“If you kill me, Jenna’s going to be disappointed tonight when I’m not at home waiting on her to show up for round two,” Seth told him.
“Stop your damn bragging before I decide to kill you after all. So what’s the deal?” Allen demanded. “Are you two dating again?”
Seth pulled out the chair next to Allen and sat. “No. She says she doesn’t want to date me. Jenna is just using me for sex and I’m letting her.”
“Hell, Jenna could have used me for that,” Allen said, bragging himself this time, irritated and not sparing Seth the truth of it. He finally calmed and ended up wanting to laugh when he saw the stark disappointment on Seth’s face that the woman he wanted had potentially wanted someone else.
“Yes, I know she could have used you. Thanks for not—you know I’m in love with Jenna, right?” Seth asked, watching Allen’s laughing mouth settle into a smirk.
“Yes. Everyone knows—even Jenna, who may never admit it. Is she still mad at you over your work?” Allen asked back.
Seth nodded. “And afraid of what we can be to each other. I don’t blame her for that. I’m afraid myself, but I want her more than I’m afraid. It was bad before. Now being without her would be fucking impossible—and that’s not a joke.”
“Being in love with her, you know that sex-only shit is going to get old soon. You’re going to have to have it out with the woman,” Allen informed him. “I don’t envy you that fight. Even her mother isn’t as stubborn as Jenna. Alexa likes you, in case you didn’t know. She’s been rooting for you over me.”
Seth shrugged. “Yeah, I know. I probably don’t deserve Alexa’s affection, but it’s good to know she’s going to be okay with me when I marry her daughter.”
“Marry Jenna Ranger—the woman who doesn’t want to date you? And how are you going to manage that miracle?” Allen asked. “Jenna’s already getting what she wants from you for free. She’s not going to necessarily want to buy the cow—well, bull in this case.”
“I don’t know yet,” Seth said easily, laughing. “Every idea I come up with makes me sound more and more like Casey. He actually said he considers me a metro male. I’d hate to shoot his male-female paradigm in the ass. Casey might not recover if he finds out I’m like some yuppie version of him.”
Allen laughed and nodded. “I wouldn’t be too offended by Casey’s opinion. He probably thinks the same about me. I’m still designing clothes and working for Alexa. When I mention the designing, Casey cringes. I haven’t even told him Sydney is thinking about adding my designs to his line of clothes. Gunny’s not going to like it, but hey—it’s what I trained for as much as this.”
Seth snorted. “I used to blame the military for Casey’s thinking. Truthfully, the older I get the more I see his ideas of what’s manly probably came from our parents. Our fathers were brothers. Both were beat-your-chest and scratch-your-balls men. I never thought of myself as much like them, but I’ve recently discovered one area where I’m just as macho as Casey.”
Allen cocked his head and smirked. “I’m intrigued as hell, but I still don’t want to watch you scratch your balls.”
“I’ve staked my claim to a woman, and Jenna Ranger is mine,” Seth said, not laughing at Allen’s comment even though it was damn funny. Instead Seth held Allen’s gaze until the man looked away.
“You know I could snap your skinny ass like a damn toothpick,” Allen threatened.
“Yeah, you could. Wouldn’t change a thing, dude,” Seth told him, never blinking.
Allen laughed and shook his head. He could see Gunny’s influence in Seth’s stance. Not that Jenna felt any differently about him, she was just too stubborn to admit it yet.
“Hell, I knew you loved her from the beginning. That’s why all I did was kiss her. You got nothing to worry about from me,” Allen told him, finally able to both say it and mean it. “But if you’re going to take the most beautiful woman I’ve dated so far and keep her for yourself, then you owe me one in return—dude.”
Seth laughed. He wished he could get off so easy. “Sure. You know I make a living at finding the impossible, don’t you? I’m good at my job. I’ll let you know when I find one that’s suitable. Any special requests?”
“I have a completely open mind about looks and body types, so long as she’s romantic. Not long dresses and brooches,
but candles and bubble baths—I like that kind of thing. I guess I like a lot of feminine in my females,” Allen said.
Seth snickered. “Finding the feminine in Jenna is like mining for gold. It’s rewarding at the end, but you got to dig like hell, walk through sawdust, and wear a hardhat to find it. Then when you do, you have to be half cave man to get your way.
“Stop your damn bragging. I don’t want to know how you got a woman who held me off for two months,” Allen said, laughing himself. “You owe me more than you’ll ever realize for not pressing her.”
“Oh, I realize what I owe you. You can trust me Stedman. I’ll find you a woman, but you’re on your own after that. It will not be my fault if you strike out again. I’ll keep you posted on my search,” Seth said jokingly as he stood. “I have to go dance with Jenna now and pretend we’re just friends. Do you have to tell Casey you caught us on camera?”
“Oh, hell no. This camera tape is going to be wiped and restarted due to an unfortunate malfunction. You’re telling Gunny about this, not me,” Allen said laughing. “I get enough drama working for Alexa and Sydney.”
“Thanks, man. See you in the gym this week,” Seth said, walking out the door.
“Yeah, okay. Invite me to the wedding,” Allen called after him.
“You can be my best man if I get that far. Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Seth laughed and headed back to the reception for a dance.
“Carter, I am always going to be the best man,” Allen called, laughing as Seth walked down the hall.
*** *** ***
“Okay Dr. Body-Language-Tells-The-Truth, what’s going on? Jenna and Seth are not fighting for once. They’re also smiling, but being very careful not to touch each other while they dance. Damn it, are they really becoming friends?” Alexa demanded.
Regina laughed. “Probably. This would disappoint you, Alexa?”
“Yes,” Alexa said stiffly. “Don’t ask me to explain myself. I can’t help rooting for Seth to get her into bed.”
“Well, I can’t tell you for sure one way or the other what’s happening,” Regina said regretfully. “You’re definitely going to have to wait for the movie to come out now.”
“Why?” Alexa asked, surprised Regina wasn’t willing to guess, and then it hit her. “Oh, damn it, Regina. Don’t even tell me which one of them is your client. I’m just going to take my worrying mother ass elsewhere and throw a quiet fit of frustration.”
Regina laughed and hugged Alexa as hard as she could. “Let go of the outcome, Mama. Enjoy the show.”
Alexa said something in Regina’s ear that only she could hear and stomped off to the echo of Regina’s laughter.
“What was Alexa so mad about?” Lauren asked, coming up to stand next to Regina.
“She’s worried about her baby getting hurt,” Regina said, snickering still.
“I’m a legally married woman now. She can relax,” Lauren said easily.
“Her other baby, honey—Jenna,” Regina said, thinking how nice it was that Lauren was so totally focused on herself today.
“Why is she worried about Jenna? I thought she’d be happy that Jenna and Seth were finally sleeping together,” Lauren said, shrugging.
Regina looked at Lauren with new eyes. “Well, aren’t you the oracle. What makes you so sure of that? Did Jenna say something?”
“No—of course not. They don’t want anyone to know. I sneaked a peek at the X-Rated text message Seth sent her earlier, or at least my money is on it being him. I just wonder where they snuck off to do it. I’d like to use that hide-away myself and consummate my marriage here. It seems like just the thing a notorious woman like me would do after the board accused me of it and kicked me out of my job here,” Lauren said boldly, grinning at Regina’s laughter.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you said that out loud in this place,” Regina told her, hugging Lauren. “I swear I like you so much better now. I never know what you’re going to say next.”
“Me neither. Don’t tell my husband, okay? If I embarrass him too badly, I’ll have to apologize. I’m not in the mood for that today. I want other things,” Lauren said, eyes glazing over with her carnal thoughts.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but you know, I’m actually okay with that for once,” Regina said, laughing.
Regina watched Jenna and Seth glide around the floor and saw Seth whisper something in her ear. Jenna blushed, pulled away and looked up at the man with so much longing Regina wanted to cry. It was even worse when Seth looked back like he wanted to drag her off somewhere.
Damn, I’m good, Regina thought.
Not that it meant what they felt would last, but at least they weren’t taking their passion for each other to other people. That kind of betrayal was damn hard to fix, as Regina well knew.
But just like Alexa, all Regina could do now was sigh and hope they continued to work things out. Happy endings required a lot of work from both people involved.
Chapter 10
The contract builder her firm worked with freed up unexpectedly. The next thing Jenna knew the foundation was poured and the forty-eight-hundred-square-foot mostly ranch home she planned was being framed.
She had to be on site a good deal during the week it was being done as there were a few unusual aspects to contend with, such as allowances for skylights in all the bedrooms and baths. There was also a loft area above the great room that would eventually be outfitted for office and library space.
Each day Jenna was on site from 6 a.m. until dark, creeping home in the wee hours to sleep so she could do it all over again the next day. She’d been too tired to even think about calling Seth, but was perturbed that he hadn’t called her either. It made her wonder if the longing she felt was just on her end. Didn’t he need her? He said he did, but it had been almost six days now.
As if her thoughts had weaved their way to him, the phone buzzed with a message from him.
If you’re playing hard to get to make it HARDER, it’s working.
Jenna laughed, feeling relieved and several other emotions she wasn’t ready to deal with as she answered him.
Working 16 h days this week. No end in sight. Sorry.
She pressed send, and then immediately regretted not responding in kind to his sexy message. Jenna thought for a moment and then typed again.
So how HARD is it?
Jenna pressed send and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
When the phone finally buzzed, she almost dropped it trying to unlock the screen and see the message.
Against the door. On the floor. 3 more times in the bed HARD.
Jenna sighed, held the phone against her belly as she looked around to see if any of the construction workers were watching her face flush.
How about once late tonight? 11 or after. Best I can do.
Jenna closed her eyes. She would probably be too tired to participate, but what the hell. Let Seth do all the work if he was in such bad shape.
When his reply came, Jenna looked at it and laughed. The man was very honest—at least about sex.
Better than taking matters into my own hands. I need you.
Her question completely answered at last, Jenna returned to work hoping she could get away shortly after dark.
*** *** ***
At ten that night, Jenna got out of the shower and dressed in as few clothes as possible. She pulled on the khaki shirt she’d worn the first time they’d been together and a blue camisole with no bra, not that she ever needed much of one anyway. Over the camisole that matched the color of her eyes, she pulled a lightweight sweater of the same color and headed out to Seth’s.
He was leaning in the doorway of his condo still dressed in formal work clothes when she walked up the sidewalk to his building. Seth motioned with a hand for her to go inside. She got a whiff of expensive cologne and hot aroused male as she walked by him. It was a mouth watering combination.
Jenna heard the door close with a d
ecisive click behind her, and then Seth tugged her into his arms. Seconds later she was plastered hard against the door just like he’d threatened. She shook in his arms as she laughed at his enthusiastic greeting.
“I’m not wearing any underwear this time,” Jenna whispered boldly against Seth’s exploring mouth, which moved from her lips to along her neck and got even more insistent at her words.
“Great. Me neither,” Seth whispered back, holding on to his self-control as fiercely as he held on to her. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’m not letting go of you, so unfasten my pants.”
“What if I don’t want to yet?” Jenna teased.
Seth’s hands slid the skirt up to her waist, and then he used them to lift her legs firmly behind her thighs to spread her open for him without any choice in the matter.
“I let you fall and you take the consequences when I finally do get my pants off,” Seth finally answered.
Giggling, Jenna’s hands moved hastily to his pants, quickly freeing him from them. Pushing the very nice material off his hips, she let what she knew were the most expensive pants Seth owned fall to the floor in wrinkled heap.
Seth lifted her even higher, bent his knees, and impaled her with a single steely thrust.
“I warned you,” he said roughly, letting his inner Neanderthal speak for him as Jenna groaned and wiggled on him to take him in more comfortably. “I can’t help how hard I am. Wrap your legs around me.”
By that point, Jenna didn’t have the willpower to refuse him much of anything, so she simply did as he asked.
“Seth,” Jenna called, feeling him move inside her as hard as he had been the very first time they had been together. Weeks later now, she craved his fierce possession, craved it so badly that having him again made her want to weep with relief.
How had she stayed away from him so long this week? How had she come to need him so much?
“Baby, I can’t even feel myself inside you. I’m too damn excited,” Seth complained. “That’s enough of this. I’m sorry, but I need more control.”
Dating A Metro Man Page 9
