Her Desert Treasure (Entangled Ignite)

by Larie Brannick

  “Oh Jake.”

  “She of course refused any treatment while she was pregnant. But nature took the decision out of her hands. She miscarried, and they went after the cancer aggressively. She was in the hospital on and off, and Dad worked a lot to make up for all the time he had to take off. Jared and I did our best to care for the house and even Mom, but Jenny latched on to me, and she became my responsibility.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret helping my family, but I’ve spent my entire life taking care of people I care about. It’s hard for me to see myself any other way. I had never failed anyone—until Carolyn.” And if that hadn’t been an epic fail, he didn’t know what was.

  Meg cupped his face in her palms. “Jake, you are a good guy. A remarkable man with the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. But you aren’t responsible for anyone but yourself.”

  “But, Carolyn—”

  “You weren’t responsible. Nobody could expect you to save her from herself.” Meg slid her hands to his shoulders, her touch warmed him. “Did her sister give you a reason?”

  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Hesitated. “She told me Carolyn felt bad for worrying me, and she was fine, but she thought it would be too awkward to see me. I guess she was embarrassed.”

  “So she took responsibility for her actions.”

  What could he say? She was right. But there was more he had to get off his chest. “I said Carolyn was like you. I cared about her. But not the way I care about you. I don’t think I could bear it if anything happened to you, Meg.”

  His touch was light, but his voice was filled with passion.

  The look of trust in her eyes did Jake in. He dipped his head and took her mouth in a rough kiss. All the emotion of the day and the pent up sexual frustration he’d been feeling was finally too much, and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

  Meg kissed him back, her small hands roamed over his chest and down to his abdomen. She pulled at his shirt, freeing it from his jeans, and pushed it up to bare his skin. The heat of her hands sent ripples of pleasure through his belly. When she scraped her fingernails across his hardened nipples, Jake growled into her mouth and lowered his hands to cup her ass. He pulled her closer, pressing the ridge of his erection against her belly as he ground into her. Reaching for the hem of her dress, he pulled it up, moving away from her long enough to tug it over her head. He tossed the dress aside and stood still for a moment, taking in the sight of her in her bra and lacy panties.

  His breath caught in his throat when he tried to speak. He swallowed. “God, you’re so beautiful.” He slipped his fingers into the waistband of her panties and worked them down, letting them fall to the floor. His hands caressed her waist and moved to her hips. Meg sucked in a breath, and her body tensed when his fingers touched the scar that started a couple inches above the hip bone and ran downward at an angle about six inches.

  “What happened here, honey?” He saw the flash of apprehension before she answered.

  “I told you I went to California with a friend after school.”

  He nodded.

  “Troy was my boyfriend. He pursued me all through college, and we finally started dating senior year. I thought he was The One. He was so attentive, so interested in what I was doing.” She shook her head. “What I mistook for devotion was actually obsession. Over time, he managed to draw me away from my friends and convinced me that my grandparents were smothering me.”

  Jake’s stomach clenched with dread. His fingers continued to stroke her hips softly, trying to reassure her with his touch.

  “Once we’d moved and were living together, his behavior changed dramatically. He handled all the money, kept the only cell phone with him. If I didn’t wear what he approved of, he’d criticize my clothes, accuse me of being promiscuous. He even returned any mail I got from my family or friends. I felt completely isolated.”

  “Oh, babe.” She was shaking in his arms now, and Jake pulled her a little closer.

  “My grandpa called the school where I was teaching to let me know about Gram. Troy didn’t want me to come back for the funeral, but he knew I was devastated, so he came with me. He didn’t let me out of his sight the entire time. When we got back to San Diego, things got worse, and I knew I had to get out. One night, I finally found the courage to tell him I was leaving, and he went ballistic, started throwing things and yelling. I was terrified but also angry. I stepped between him and the china cabinet, and he knocked me down. I landed on a piece of a broken crystal bowl. I had to have surgery and ended up with a nasty infection.” Though she’d stopped shaking, her voice gave away her sadness and—fear. “The school where I worked went through some changes, and they found they could get by without me.” She drew a deep breath. “I think that hurt more than the actual injury.” She raised her head. “But the scar is a reminder for me to be brave. A symbol to prove that I can take care of myself.”

  Jake’s grip tightened. “Please tell me the son of a bitch is in prison.”

  Meg’s lids dropped, hiding her eyes. “No. He spent the night in jail, but I’m ashamed to admit, I didn’t press charges. I was so scared. I was relieved to be away from him while I was in the hospital, and I just wanted it to be over.

  The rage Jake felt at that moment was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. If there had been any way he could get to the bastard who’d done this to Meg, he would have tracked him down and beat the shit out of him.

  Meg must have sensed his tension. She cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. Needing to diffuse his anger, Jake took control and kissed her until she was breathless. “Are you sure about this, Meg? I don’t ever want to do anything to hurt you.”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

  His hands moved upward to cup her breasts, loving the fullness and the feel of her stiffened nipples against his palms. Lowering his head, he drew one nipple into his mouth, lace bra and all, and sucked gently, flicking her with his tongue. His dick hardened at her shudder of pleasure.

  Meg’s hands slid back down over his torso and didn’t stop until she reached his cock straining against his zipper. She stroked him up and down, squeezing him harder each time. Jake tore his mouth from her breast and looked down at her, her violet eyes burning with desire for him. In one fluid motion, he lifted her and carried her to his bed, settling her gently on the edge. He grabbed the edge of his shirt and pulled it over his head, throwing it across the room. Meg reached for the waistband of his jeans and pulled him closer, her small fingers working at the button then gently lowering the zipper over his straining cock. She started to pull them down, but Jake took her hands and shook his head.

  “Not yet, sweetheart.” On his knees in front of her, he pulled her closer to the edge of the bed, then draped her legs over his shoulders. He kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thigh and smiled when she squirmed against his lips. Jake kissed his way up until he reached her hip then slid his tongue along her scar until he met her moist curls. He stopped to look up into Meg’s eyes. “So beautiful and so wet. I need to taste you.”

  She met his stare, licking her lips in anticipation as he lowered his head. He inhaled her scent deeply and parted her with his fingers, then licked her with one long stroke. Her thighs trembled. Sliding his tongue up and down, Jake lapped at her, swirling around her clit before finally thrusting inside her hot pussy.

  He sucked and licked and ate at her while she writhed on the bed, her fingers running through his hair as she pulled his head closer. Sliding one finger inside her, he stroked slowly in and out while he continued to drive her crazy with his tongue. She was so tight around him, he slowly worked another finger in, stroking faster until he felt her inner muscles tighten. Then he closed his lips around her swollen clit and sucked hard, flicking her with his tongue. She gasped and called his name as she came, bucking against him. Holding onto her hips, Jake stretched out her pleasure as long as he could, using his tongue and fingers. He felt her s
hudder as she lay back on the bed and then she went totally lax. Withdrawing his fingers, he stood and removed his jeans and boxers in one push. At the same time as he kicked them aside, he yanked open the drawer of his nightstand and said a silent prayer of thanks when his fingers found a foil packet.

  Meg had pushed herself back on the bed, legs bent at the knee, seductively spread. Jake quickly sheathed himself, need burning through his veins as he positioned himself between her thighs. Her eyes were wide, her gaze firmly locked on his erection. She tensed at his touch. Was she frightened? Jake knew he was well-endowed, but the look on Meg’s face pumped his ego to new heights. She reached for him, but he bent down and kissed her gently, slowly pushing his tongue inside her mouth, stroking softly before he lifted his head.

  “God, you are so sweet, so sexy.” He nudged at her opening, and she parted her legs wider for him. He pushed into her, just the head of his cock, and she gasped. “Honey, you’re so tight. We’ll go slow, okay? Just relax for me.” He pushed in a little further. She was wet from her climax, and it was all Jake could do to keep from thrusting himself into her clear to the hilt. Instead, he eased back out a bit and pushed in again, this time going deeper when he felt her relaxing. “That’s it, honey. A little more.” She took a deep breath, and he felt the last of the tension slip from her body as he eased out and slid into her again.

  Finally fully inside her, he stopped to take a breath, his entire body shaking with restraint. Instinct told him to let go, to take her, claim her. But he wouldn’t do anything to spoil the perfection of her body cradling his, the absolute exquisiteness of her inner muscles grasping his cock as if she’d never let go. He began moving, a slow, steady rhythm to let her get accustomed to his size. Cupping her ass in one palm, he increased the speed and pressure of his thrusts, blown away when Meg wrapped her legs around his waist and joined him in the dance, moving her hips in time with his.

  It was as if they had been lovers forever, the way they knew each other’s bodies, the way they fit so perfectly together. Meg’s inner muscles tightened around him, and he knew she was close. He pounded into her then, harder and faster until he felt himself teetering on the edge. He held himself back, waiting for her to go first. Meeting her passionate violet gaze, he urged her on. “Come with me, Meg. I want you to come with me.”

  “Oh, Jake. I can’t...oh, God—!” Her body tensed, the waves of her orgasm broke, her own pleasure rippled through him.

  Pleasure, sharp, more intense than anything he’d ever experienced before washed over him, and he lost control. Pounding into her, over and over until, with a low growl, his body tensed and he came, pulsing, emptying himself inside her.

  He’d never felt like this with any other woman, and he knew without a doubt that he would never feel it again with anyone else. He thrust one final time and collapsed, holding himself to one side so he didn’t crush her, but he didn’t leave her body. When his breathing was finally somewhat back to normal, he kissed her neck and raised his head to look at her. Meg’s head was turned away from him, so he gently held her chin as he turned her back to face him. He leaned forward to kiss her lips but stopped when he saw her tears.

  “Oh, God, Meg, did I hurt you? Was I too rough? Honey, I’m sorr—” Jake started to ease out, but Meg placed her fingers on his lips and shook her head.

  “No, you didn’t hurt me. You were incredible.”

  “But why are you crying? What’s wrong?”

  Meg tried to put some distance between them, but he pulled her back. She took a deep breath. “It’s just that I’ve never...I mean, that’s never happened for me before. It’s a little overwhelming, that’s all,” she said with a shaky laugh.

  Jake was confused. “What’s never happened before?”

  Meg drew another breath. “I’ve never had an orgasm, you know, during before. I didn’t think it was even possible for me.”

  Jake’s eyes widened with understanding. “Never?”

  She shook her head. “Never. Um…Troy wasn’t really interested in my…needs.”

  He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, his heart so full of emotion he almost couldn’t bear it. He had marked her as his, had given her something no one else had ever been able to.

  “Jesus, that guy’s a bigger douchebag than I thought.” He brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. “I’m glad I was the lucky one to give it to you then.” He grinned. Wanted to pound his chest and swing from a vine.

  Meg must have read his mind because she grinned along with him. “Don’t look so smug, mister.” She pushed at his chest. “Unless you think you can do it again.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Meg stretched lazily and smiled at Jake’s whisper in her ear. “Can I interest you in a ride this morning? Or we could find other ways to stretch our muscles.” Jake traced circles on her bare stomach with his finger, stopping now and then to dip into her belly button. The sensations racing through her made it hard to think.

  “Aren’t they the same thing? Though, I doubt I can even make my legs work today.” She still felt a little shaky from their third round of lovemaking.

  Jake had woken her only a couple of hours ago and taken her again with a gentleness she had never experienced. There had been no rushing, no urgency. Just the exquisite pleasure of their bodies joining, of him filling her and her accepting him. Her climax had been the most intense that time, and she shivered at the memory. She knew in her heart she would never feel that with another man. Sex with Jake was amazing. People composed songs, penned poetry, wrote steamy novels after experiencing sex like that.

  When she had first seen him naked, standing in the soft glow of the bedside lamp, she’d had the urge to run. Yes, he’d felt big when she touched him through the denim of his jeans, but he was…wow. She didn’t have a lot of experience in that area, but she’d never seen anything like him, and she wasn’t at all sure she could take all of him. But Jake was gentle, encouraging. He’d made sure she was comfortable and seemed to take great satisfaction in giving her pleasure. He was the perfect lover, the only man who had ever made sure her needs were met before his own. She sighed and felt Jake’s hand moving up to stroke her breast.

  “What are you thinking about?” He leaned over her and drew a stiffened peak into his mouth, sucking gently before raising his head. “It must’ve been good because your nipples are hard.”

  She smiled up at him. “Just considering the other ways we can stretch our muscles.” Jake leaned forward again, but Meg rolled away and scooted off the other side of the bed. “I think I’ll check on Rex. Are you up for it?”

  Jake stood up and sauntered toward her, totally unaffected by his nakedness. “Oh, I’m up.”

  Mischief gleamed in his eyes, and when Meg lowered her gaze, she saw that he was indeed ‘up’. She laughed as she made a run for the bathroom, but he caught her around the waist before she’d taken three steps. He pressed her up against the wall, his throbbing cock nudging at her abdomen. Moisture from the tip left a trail across her belly. Their laughter dissolved, and Jake lowered his head to capture her mouth. Meg turned her head at the last second.

  “Jake, if we start this now, we won’t leave the room.”

  Jake took advantage of her position and kissed her neck. “Is that such a bad thing?”

  Meg was breathless. “I can’t concentrate when you do that.”

  He slid his lips up her neck and took her mouth in a scorching kiss, sliding his tongue deep inside the moist heat before lifting his head. “Good. I like keeping you off balance.” He took both her hands in his and started tugging her across the room. “Come back to bed with me.”

  She resisted playfully. “What about the animals?”

  “I promise we’ll take care of them. After I take care of you.” He tugged a little harder.

  “What about your parents?”

  Jake dropped her hands. “Well, that’s certainly a mood killer.”

  Meg smiled and took his hands again. “Poor baby. I figured you’
d have plans with them this morning.”

  “We have the whole week to have breakfast with them.”

  “We? I can’t stay all week.”

  “You agreed to help me convince them we’re a couple. What are we supposed to tell them?”

  “Jake, I’ve slept here the last two nights. You don’t think that’s convincing enough?”

  “Not enough for me.” In one quick movement, he grasped her wrists and had her hands trapped behind her back. His large body pressed against her, loomed over her. “Gotcha.”

  Panic flooded her. Every muscle tensed, her heart pounded, and she couldn’t catch her breath. All of a sudden, she was back in her old apartment, Troy twisting her arms behind her, gripping her wrists painfully in one hand while the other formed a fist an inch from her face. “I’ve got you now, Meggie.”

  “Please don’t do that.” Her voice was a mere whisper, almost a whimper, and she hated herself for being so weak.

  “Meg?” Jake released her hands. “Oh, shit, honey. I’m sorry.” He pulled her into his arms, his movements careful, gentle. “I’m so sorry.”

  She stood rigid in his embrace. In her heart, she knew this was Jake, that he would never hurt her. But her brain wouldn’t let the old images go. The slow slide of his hands up and down her back helped ease her anxiety.

  “Hey. You okay?” Trembling, she stepped back, and he let her go. One finger under her chin tipped her face to meet his gaze. “Where’d you go?”

  Suddenly very aware of her nakedness, she started toward the bed to find something to cover herself with. “I…um.” She threw on the first piece of clothing her hand touched—Jake’s T-shirt. The worn material was soft against her skin, his scent a balm to her frazzled nerves. When she had herself together, she faced him. “Sorry about that.”

  “What? I’m the one who’s sorry. I was just messing around…didn’t even think—”

  “It’s okay, Jake. It’s my problem, not yours.” God, how embarrassing. When was she going to get over these panic attacks? Would she ever stop flinching when someone made a sudden move?