Playing With Trouble (Desire Bay)

by Joya Ryan

  She peeked out her window again.

  She shouldn’t care. Jake could do whatever he wanted. He was a single man and could date. Especially since Laura had told him she’d never date him. A fact she was kind of regretting. Granted, she hadn’t thought he’d go out with a she-demon like Vicky frickin’ McPhee, but whatever. Still, Laura knew it was smart to keep her focus on the shop and her own growth.

  The sound of big truck tires coming up the driveway made her perk up.

  Jake.

  In his truck.

  Alone.

  And she wasn’t feeling very smart at the moment.

  He parked and climbed out of his Chevy just as Laura threw open the camper door to stomp toward him.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she yelled, closing in on him.

  He walked around his truck and faced her. “I’m coming home.”

  “I mean tonight. You touch me, tease me, then watch me leave with Gabe and you go to Vicky’s or something as if I won’t care? What do you think is happening here?”

  He closed that last few steps between them and threaded his hand in her hair at her nape.

  “I think I’m getting you to reconsider your no-dating policy with me.”

  He didn’t let her respond or even fight that comment. He just kissed her. Hard. And Laura was so mad, so hot, that she shoved her tongue between his lips and took a deep draw of him.

  He growled.

  She bit his lip.

  He growled louder.

  “Vicky McPhee?” she said with disgust between angry kisses. “How cliché to take the head cheerleader out to make me jealous.”

  “Says the prom queen who showed up with the quarterback,” he countered.

  He tugged her hair and dived in for another punishing kiss.

  “And I knew you were jealous,” he said between nibbles on her lower lip.

  “So were you.”

  “Damn straight I was,” he gruffed. “I want you, Laura. I’ve never denied that.”

  He kissed down her neck. That amazing mouth sent tingles through her body and lit up her skin like the Fourth of July. She didn’t know if it was the pent-up aggression or the way Jake bit her earlobe, but she breathed the one thing that was the honest truth.

  “I want you, too, Jake. So much.”

  She hugged him close, and he picked her up. She instantly wrapped her legs around him. Her dress was rucked up around her waist, and she felt his jeans-clad cock press against her core. She really did need him. Now.

  “I won’t be second to Vicky McPhee,” she said and kissed him hard.

  “I dropped her off and said good night. I was anxious to get back to you,” Jake admitted.

  And Laura had been anxious for him to get back.

  “Then prove it,” she said with a smile. With one hand reaching between their bodies, she unfastened his belt. “Now.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he said.

  She had no idea how Jake did it. He was either part magician or incredibly strong, because he balanced Laura in one arm while he managed to get his jeans down far enough for his cock to spring free, and covered himself in a condom.

  He turned and put her back against the truck.

  “Now?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she begged, clawing at his back and shifting her hips, trying to take his length inside her, but he just continued to slide along her wet folds, which only drove the heat—the need—higher.

  Using his cock, he moved her panties aside and surged deep.

  “Oh God! Jake!” she cried out as he withdrew and pounded back inside.

  “All night, you in this dress . . . ,” he said between breaths and thrusts. “This is what I was imagining.” He fucked her hard, her ass banging against his truck, and Laura’s grip tightened as her whole body tensed with the need for the release she’d been dying for all night. Because like Jake, she’d thought about it, too. A lot.

  “Tell me,” Jake said. “Tell me I’m the only one that gets to see you like this.”

  Laura barely registered that Jake needed his own confirmation that she’d sent Gabe packing tonight. If only he knew how uninterested she was in the deputy.

  “You’re the only one, Jake.”

  She felt his smile on his lips. With a quick swipe of his hand, he tugged down the front of her dress, exposing her breasts. Her nipples beaded hard with the cool summer air, but Jake’s mouth was right there to suck her.

  She whispered his name again as he pumped in and out of her body while sucking her breast. The pleasure was too much, and Laura had no choice but to thread her fingers in his hair and let the tingles of her orgasm climb up her spine.

  “You like this, don’t you, baby?”

  “Yes,” she said. “So much.”

  “Then prove it,” he said, using her words from earlier on her. “Come for me.”

  With her nails digging into his scalp and her teeth clamping down on his neck, she did.

  White-hot lights flickered along her skin and melted every ounce of blood surging through her veins. She shook and trembled and begged for more. For Jake.

  “I love my name in your mouth,” he said.

  And she believed him, because she felt him swell even harder inside her. His big muscles tensed. With a heavy groan that sounded like her name, he exploded.

  Even with the condom, she felt him come hard and deep, and the movement of his impressive cock just spurred her own release to continue.

  She’d never been so crazy, so needed before.

  There, again, against his truck with her clothes in disarray, she clung to Jake, trying to steady her breaths. Because if she wasn’t careful, she just might develop a pattern for attacking the sexy foreman at any given moment.

  “One of these days, I’ll get you to a bed,” he said around a deep breath against her neck.

  And that was what she was afraid of. Because at this rate, there was no place she’d rather be than in Jacob Lock’s bed.

  Chapter Eight

  Snap, snap, snap!

  Jake put the last three nails in the new siding of his sister’s house and set the nail gun down on the grass, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

  “Are you really done?” Erica asked, walking out with a glass of water.

  “Yep, your new siding is up and ready to go,” he said.

  “No, I mean are you done avoiding your house and the warehouse?”

  “I’m not avoiding anything,” Jake said. “I’ve gone on a ton of drops and orders. And I’m helping you now.”

  “Oh, please. You live to work. And dropping off gravel keeps you out of the warehouse and away from the flower shop. Which is where Laura is. And you’ve spent the last two days nailing God knows what on my house for no reason.”

  “This is premium siding that helps with the elements of sea air and rain. You’re welcome,” he said. Erica just raised a brow, once again seeing right through him.

  “Just go talk to her,” she said.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jake said, grabbing the water and taking several drinks.

  “You like Laura. Good! About damn time you liked something more than work.”

  “Even if I did”—he did—“she won’t go out with me.” And hooking up had been amazing. Hell, he had a lot of pent-up feelings for her. And seeing her with Gabe the other night, only to be the one that got to see her at home, love on her, had been incredible. But Laura was holding firm on no dating, and Jake just felt like he was getting closer and closer to a woman who was keeping one hand on the door.

  “Maybe it’s time you start going after what you want,” Erica said.

  “I go after what I want,” Jake replied.

  “No, you don’t. You sit and wait. Let things happen or let them go. You just . . . wait.”

  Jake couldn’t exactly argue with that. He wanted Laura but wasn’t jumping in entirely. He was still trying to be responsible. Find some way to make everything work. But every m
oment he spent with her, feeling her, seeing the woman she was and all that spirit she had, he just wanted to be more a part of her world.

  Responsible or not.

  He’d heard she’d been working hard at the shop the past couple of days . . .

  “Maybe it’s time I drop in to the flower shop,” he said, and he didn’t wait for his sister to say “duh” before he was already in his truck.

  “Holy shit,” Jake muttered as he walked into the office, which today looked a hell of a lot more like a flower shop. The coolers were filled with flowers, the smell of roses and lilies was pungent, and . . . was that new furniture in the waiting room?

  “Oh, welcome to Baughman Home Goods. How may I help you?” Laura said sweetly, walking from the back room into the lobby. She looked pressed, pretty, and powerful. Three things he liked on her.

  He’d gone out of his way to give her space the last two days. But with the weekend approaching, he couldn’t keep busy staying away much longer or take on odd jobs for his sister. He’d had no idea she’d been up to something on this bigger scale in the office—flower shop. Clearly the woman could get a lot done in a limited time.

  He also liked that she seemed to have an affinity for those skirts. Even though it was usually overcast here, she was her own special brand of sunshine in a big-city outfit. And Jake had to do a double take every time she walked in front of him.

  Today she wore a silky cream top that looked like it could be see-through if he squinted hard enough, paired with a black leather skirt that hugged her hips and hit her knees, so he was doing more of a triple take. All the way down to, yep, bright red high heels.

  Man, he liked that red on her. And she seemed to have a thing for the color, too.

  “You did all this?” Jake asked.

  “I like to jump in and get things accomplished,” she replied with a smile. “Perhaps you just don’t understand how to move quickly.”

  Oh, she was baiting him now. And, okay, he was impressed. He had no idea how much this must have set her back. A few grand, at least. Because she hadn’t once come to him to ask for money from the business. She was putting her money where her mouth was and looking like she was following through on staying. But he still liked their playful chats.

  “I can be quick. Start and finish before you even know I was around.”

  “Yes, I’m aware,” she said drily and glanced at his cock then gave him a challenging scoff. Oh hell no. She had not just gone there.

  “Despite my skills at quickies,” he said, knowing she was thinking the same thing, “I still leave everyone involved satisfied. Even though it’s not my expertise.”

  “Oh no? Then what is your expertise, Jacob?”

  “Thoroughness.” He took a step closer, because his jeans were getting tighter and she was just standing there looking lush and sexy, and damn, he’d missed her smart mouth over the past couple of days. He also seemed to be missing his brain, but he didn’t care at the moment.

  This woman’s confidence, tenacity, and strength were getting to him. She was also easily the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. She might not be willing to date him, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying. And in the meantime, she was doing something with him. Not Gabe. Not anyone else. Just him. And that was something.

  “Well, I suppose you better get back to the warehouse,” she said.

  Jake had other plans. Ones that involved the woman in front of him.

  “I’m in no rush to get back just yet,” he said, creeping closer. He was locked in a stare down with Miss Baughman, and she wasn’t backing down, either. Just circling, keeping her eyes on him until her perfect ass bumped against the edge of the desk.

  “You’re all set up here,” he said, crowding into her space until she had no choice but to lean back. He heard the squeak of her leather skirt pressing against the edge of the desk. “I’m impressed.”

  “I’m not looking to impress you,” she said. Her words had a bite, but the small shudder in her voice was enough to make him grin.

  “Intentional or not, you are impressive,” he said and dropped his chin enough to look in her eyes. She was staring up at him. Those big doe eyes and thick lashes were making his chest tighten.

  He needed a taste of her. To feel her. Whatever battle he’d been fighting against the prom queen, he was losing. And judging by the way her breaths were shortening and her body trembled, Miss Baughman was on the brink of losing herself, too. He just hoped to God it was to him.

  Laura couldn’t think past anything but Jacob’s mouth, which was hovering right over hers. He thought she was impressive? As much as she told herself she didn’t care . . . she did. Because he sounded genuine. Like he really was . . . proud.

  And that made her stomach flutter. Made her want to reach out and beg him to say it again. And again. But that was the opposite of what she should do. Should feel.

  Should . . .

  She should be strong and walk away. But she was currently pressed between a desk and wall of man, and she wasn’t going anywhere. And she had missed him. Missed the way he could take her body with his like he owned it. Made her feel alive and wanted and strong.

  She . . . liked him. A lot.

  But he was also a pain and stubborn and so responsible he could be the Yachats High hall monitor for the rest of his days.

  “Tell me the truth,” Jacob said, his big hands cupping her waist and slowly trailing down her hips to her thighs. “Have you thought of me?”

  “Of course I have,” she said, wishing her voice wasn’t so raspy. “You irritate me regularly and I’m forced to see you every day.”

  He smiled, and that was her tipping point. With a day’s worth of scruff lining his jaw and that megawatt smile, she couldn’t resist him. Her chest tightened like she couldn’t get enough air, and her core flooded with the need to feel him again. Like the night he’d taken her against his truck. Or after her not-date date with Gabe. Every time Jake ravaged her body, it was better than the last.

  “Forced, huh? Well, I’m sure sorry that my presence is such a struggle for you,” he whispered, those big hands of his going even lower until he found the hem of her skirt right above her knees. “Let me see if I can give you a more pleasant memory.”

  Without warning, he slid his hands beneath her skirt and shoved it up her thighs as he picked her up and sat her on the desk.

  “What are you doing?” She fidgeted to hike down her skirt, which was now bunched around her waist, but Jacob just hit his knees and tugged her legs open.

  “If you don’t know, then you’re going to find out real quick.” He tossed her legs over his shoulders and yanked her toward him. His face was buried between her thighs, and he kissed the insides of them as he tugged hard on her panties, ripping them clean off.

  His mouth was hot against her skin, and her hands instantly threaded through his hair, tugging him closer. Wanting him to touch her, taste her, where she needed most. But he was teasing her. Running the tip of his nose along her folds, softly blowing on the heated flesh. And driving her crazy.

  Her eyes snapped wide, and she realized where she was. Which was spread out on the desk with a wicked sexy foreman between her thighs.

  “Someone will see!” she said and tried to squirm again.

  A husky chuckle came from Jacob, and he gently bit the inside her thigh. Effectively stopping her poor excuse to get away. Because she didn’t want to get away. She wanted to stay. Right there. With him between her legs.

  “No one comes in here,” he said.

  “Hey!” she snapped. “I have a customer now. And the shop is open. People can come in at any time.”

  “Well, if you’re that worried about it . . .” He flicked his tongue against her clit. Hard and fast, but enough to make her see stars and moan. “Then I can stop. It’s your call.”

  That made her glare at him. Because they still didn’t see eye to eye on things. But she might as well enjoy what she could, because she was so worked up, not even a bu
cket of ice water could cure this kind of heat.

  Only Jacob could.

  She pulled his hair hard and scratched his back with the sharp point of her stiletto. “Don’t you dare stop,” she said.

  She felt his teeth scratch along her skin. His big, brawny arm wrapped all the way around her waist, and he pulled her onto his waiting tongue.

  “Oh God!” she cried out and clung to the top of his head. She was almost falling off the side of the desk, but Jacob held her tight. Gravity was weighing her down and forcing her to take his stiff tongue deep.

  He hummed, and Laura thought she’d instantly come just from that.

  She rocked her hips, fucking his tongue and clawing at his scalp, searching for the release that was on the brink of taking her over already.

  But he backed off just enough to lick her entire sex and suck hard on her clit.

  Now this was impressive. “Please, please, please more.”

  She was panting. Begging. Needing him. And the way his mouth worked her over, flicking and eating at her like she was made of caramel, had her skin buzzing.

  “Say it again,” he rasped.

  “Please, Jacob,” she said. “Please give me more.”

  He gripped her tighter and plunged his free hand between her legs, thrusting one finger deep while he battered the sensitive bundle of nerves with his masterful tongue.

  “Yes!” Her entire body lit up like a Christmas tree. Bright white lights twinkling behind her eyes and pleasure so hot and intense, she could feel the color red. Her sheath spasmed uncontrollably. Milking his finger and wanting even more of him with every lash of her release.

  She was twisted up and concentrating on breathing, because her chest was too busy heaving from the intensity of pleasure to take full inhales.

  She barely registered Jacob kissing her thighs as he rose. She leaned back on the desk, scooting just enough to keep her balance, because Jacob was still standing between her thighs.

  He grabbed a condom from his pocked, ripped it open, and had his belt unfastened and himself covered in record time.

  “Still want more?” he asked, running the head of his cock along her drenched folds.