by Lori Foster
A lot of feminine complaints ensued as Casey and Emma disappeared around the side of the house.
Georgia sighed. “I really adore your nephew.”
Morgan laughed. “We’re rather fond of him, too.” Under his breath he added, “But what the hell is he up to?”
“You two should get going,” Gabe said. “But I’d take the long route if I was you. Casey’s not the only one with disgruntled females hunting for him.”
Georgia frowned over that, looking around the yard with an evil glint in her eyes. Jordan appreciated her mild show of jealousy; she’d admitted to wanting him and now she was acting possessive. All he needed was a quiet spot to show her how much he cared.
Morgan suddenly laughed. “Too late. You should have fled when you had the chance.”
“What are you talking about?” Jordan demanded, not in the least amused by the possibility of yet another delay.
“She’s here.” Morgan tipped his head toward the backdoor of the house. “And you know there’s no way in hell she’ll let you slink away.”
Georgia’s frown turned ferocious. “She who?”
Gabe, too, looked at the house, then started to laugh. “Our mother. Prepare yourself, Georgia, she’s making a beeline this way.”
All three brothers smiled and started forward; Jordan pulled Georgia along with him. They met Sawyer on the path and before Megan Kasper could descend off the back stoop, she was enveloped in masculine hugs that kept her completely off her feet for a good five minutes.
CHAPTER TEN
“YOUR CHILDREN are wonderful.”
Georgia smiled at Megan as she stroked Lisa’s hair. “Thank you.”
Lisa sent Megan a big grin, worshiping her. Of course, she and Adam had both been amazed by this tiny woman who ruled her gigantic sons with an iron fist. The men jumped at her slightest whisper, and did so with grins on their faces.
Georgia had heard so many stories about Megan’s stubbornness, her strong will, she’d certainly expected someone…bigger. But while Megan was small in stature, she had an enormous smile and an innate gentleness and she loved to laugh.
It tickled Georgia to see how her sons fawned over her. When Megan had first arrived several hours ago, she’d been passed from one strong set of arms to another. How such a small woman could mother such colossal men was beyond her. When one of the neighbors had commented on it with a smile, another had said that Megan always gravitated to the “big guys.” Seeing her husband, Georgia understood.
Brett Kasper had stood there looking pleased and smug and adoring over everything Megan did. He resembled his son Gabe quite a bit, in that they were both drop-dead gorgeous, they both liked to pet on their wives, and they were both strongly built. Once the brothers had finished with Megan, Brett had been treated to a round of bear hugs himself, with no preferences shown. He was, obviously, very well loved.
“I’m going to skin Casey when he gets here.”
Georgia laughed at that, knowing Megan was anxious to see him again. Georgia leaned forward and said, “He went off with a girl.”
“I never doubted it for a moment.” Megan frowned at Jordan, sitting beside her in a lawn chair, and said, “He’s far too much like his uncles not to be with a female.”
Lisa thought that was funny and giggled, but when she saw Adam go by chasing the dog, she ran after them. Georgia watched her go, feeling so incredibly at peace.
Jordan shrugged. “He’s a little like Gabe, with the girls after him. And a little like Sawyer, being so compassionate. I’m just not sure what’s motivating him today.” As he spoke, he lifted one of Georgia’s feet, pulled off her sandal, and started another foot rub. She gawked at him, but Megan only smiled and Jordan didn’t even seem aware of what he was doing. “I think Emma has him on the run.”
Both Megan and Jordan ignored Georgia’s struggle to retrieve her foot. “Jordan…”
He smiled at her, then said to his mother, “Georgia’s a dancer, you know. In high heels.”
“Ah.” Megan did her best to hide her amusement as Jordan caught her other foot also. “I suppose that explains it.”
Georgia thought she might die of embarrassment, but instead she ended up groaning. Everyone talked about Jordan’s magical voice; why hadn’t anyone warned her about his magical hands?
Megan stood. “I see Ruth and Misty calling the kids in. Sounds like they’re going to make popcorn. I think I’ll help.”
Sure enough, Amber led the way with Lisa and Adam following, trailed by the dog and cat. Misty held Shohn in her arms while Ruth kept the door open for the parade. Georgia was amazed at how the kids were so accepted by everyone. They didn’t deliberately take turns that she’d noticed, but somehow it worked out that way. Earlier she and Jordan had taken them all on an expedition to the lake where they’d lifted stones along the shore and found not only crawdads, but minnows and rock bass. Amber, strangely enough, had been the most daring at grabbing for the creepy-crawly creatures. But then Jordan explained that she’d been in or near the water since her birth, thanks to Gabe. Adam and Lisa professed to love it, too, so Jordan had promised to get Gabe to take them to the dam very soon.
They were all so giving and so accepting. Her children had found a family here. And that made her full to bursting with happiness.
Since Georgia couldn’t stand, given that Jordan had both her feet held firmly in his lap, Megan bent down to her instead. After a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek, she said, “I’ll be in town for awhile this trip. Do you think we could get together for lunch or something? I’d love to visit more.”
Georgia glanced at Jordan, saw his small smile, and agreed. “I’d enjoy that. Thank you.”
Next Megan clasped Jordan’s face between her hands and said, “I love seeing you so happy.”
Jordan chuckled. “I’m rather fond of the situation myself.”
She kissed him soundly and then took herself off. She’d barely gone ten feet when a rubber-tipped dart hit her in the backside. Megan jumped, whipped around, saw Gabe hiding behind a tree and started after him. Gabe ran for his life as Morgan and Sawyer, standing together at the back door, doubled over in laughter.
Georgia couldn’t help but laugh, too. Then she looked up and locked gazes with Jordan. He looked…serious.
“Jordan?”
His fingers continued to work over her feet, only now his touch felt more sexual, more exciting. She let out a small, breathy moan, imagining those hands in other places.
“Do you know,” he whispered, his eyes so hot she felt scorched, “that I’m about to die from unsated lust? I want you so bad right now I’m close to—”
“Ho!” Sawyer slapped him on the back, nearly knocking Jordan out of his lawn chair. “Hold that thought until I’m a safe distance away.”
Jordan’s growl was feral. “Damn it, will you guys stop sneaking up on me!”
Sawyer bit back a laugh. “Mom has decided to do a sleepover, just like she used to when we were young.” In a stage whisper he added, “It’s possible she’s hoping to give you a helping hand.”
Then to Georgia, “Honey’s already dragging the family-room furniture around, making space for the tent, but Mom said she wants your permission to invite Adam and Lisa to spend the night, too.”
Jordan closed his eyes and ignored Sawyer.
Georgia, a bit shaken by the interruption and her own repressed desire, said dumbly, “A tent?”
“Yeah. Kids love making tents out of blankets and stuff. They’ll sleep on the floor and Mom and Brett will sleep on the couch.” He shrugged. “It’s her way of giving everyone a night off. Except me because Honey is still breast-feeding, but we’re claiming tomorrow afternoon.” He grinned shamelessly with that admission.
Jordan came to his feet in a rush, cupped the back of Georgia’s head, and gave her a hard kiss. “Say yes.”
She looked into his eyes, saw all the promise there, and nodded. “Yes.”
Jordan’s eyes flared with satisfaction
. “Let’s see if I can keep you in such an agreeable mood,” he murmured.
Ten minutes later Georgia found herself being hustled across the yard to Jordan’s apartments over the garage. Her kids had kissed her goodbye and good-night without a qualm. They knew she’d be close if she was needed. Ruth had been invited to ‘camp out’ with them and had accepted, especially when Mr. Malone had done the same.
Jordan paused beside the steps leading to his front door.
“What is it?” Georgia asked, a little breathless from the idea of what they were about to do.
“I thought I heard something.” Jordan frowned, looked around the yard, then shook his head. “Nevermind. It doesn’t matter.” He put his arm around her shoulders and together they practically ran up the steps. No sooner did Jordan have the door closed than Georgia found herself in his arms.
“God, I need you,” he whispered and his rough velvet voice stroked over her as surely as his hands were doing. “Let me love you all night.”
She would have said yes, but his mouth covered hers and his tongue thrust inside, hot and wet and hungry and all she could do was moan. Jordan must have understood; one of his large hands settled on her breast, softly kneading, and the other curved around the front of her thigh. He pressed into her, all hard, tensed muscles and trembling need. She felt his erection against her belly and rubbed herself against him.
In that instant, he lost it.
CASEY CHUCKLED as he saw the light go out in the rooms overhead. Jordan was a goner—and Casey had never seen him happier.
He was behind the garage in the darkest shadows, Emma clinging to his side. Very gently, he eased her away. “We should join the others.”
“No.” Her hand, so small and soft, stroked down his bare chest, but Casey caught it before she reached the fly to his jeans.
It took more control than he knew he had to turn her away. “Emma,” he chided, and hopefully he was the only one who heard the shaking of his voice. He’d started out befriending her, but Emma wanted more. She was so blatant about it, so brazen, it was all he could do not to give in. But more than anything Emma needed a friend, not another conquest. And beyond that, Casey didn’t share.
“Are you a virgin?” she taunted, and Casey laughed outright at her ploy.
“That,” he said, flicking a finger over her soft cheek, “is none of your business.”
She shook her head in wonder. “You’re the only guy I know who wouldn’t have denied it right away!”
“I’m not denying or confirming.”
“I know, but most guys’d lie if they had to, rather than let a girl think—”
“What?” Casey cupped her face and despite his resolve, he kissed her. “I don’t care what anyone thinks, Emma. You should know that by now. Besides, what I’ve done or with who isn’t the point.”
“No,” she agreed, her tone sad. “It’s what I’ve done, isn’t it?”
He repeated his own thoughts out loud. “I don’t share.”
“What if I promised not to—”
“Shhh. Summer break is almost over and I’ll be leaving for school. I won’t be around, so there’s no point in us even discussing this.”
Big tears welled in her eyes, reflecting the moonlight, making his guts cramp. “I’m leaving too, Casey.”
“And where do you think to go?”
“It doesn’t matter.” He could see her soft mouth trembling, could smell her sweet scent carried on the cool evening breeze. Boldly, she took his hand and pressed it to her breast. She was so damn soft.
With a muttered curse, Casey pulled her closer and kissed her again. It didn’t matter, he promised himself, filling his hand with her firm breast, finding her nipple and stroking with his thumb. He was damned if he did, and damned if he didn’t. And sometimes Emma was just too much temptation.
But it wouldn’t change anything. He told her so in a muted whisper, and her only reply was a groan.
“I WANTED to go slow,” Jordan ground out as he jerked Georgia’s T-shirt high, pushed her bra aside and bared one breast. He had very large hands, but even for him she was lush and full. “I wanted to make this last.”
“Don’t you dare go slow,” she gasped, and gripped his head as he closed his mouth over one taut straining nipple. “Jordan.”
He pulsed with incredible need, his heartbeat wild and uncontrolled. She tasted even better than he remembered, ripe and hot. With a low groan, she parted her thighs and she pushed against him, using her body to stroke his erection, her movements sinuous and graceful, making him think of all the fantasies he’d had when watching her dance.
He sucked her nipple deep, drawing on her while with his other hand he teased the crease of her behind. “Do you know what I want?” he growled, and switched to her other breast. The nipple he’d just abandoned was wet and so tight he ached just seeing it. He pinned her against the wall, knowing if he didn’t slow her down he’d be gone in under three seconds.
Georgia gave a breathy, barely-there laugh. “It’s obvious what you want.” Her small hand pressed between them and curled around his hard-on. “This is a dead giveaway.”
Jordan squeezed his eyes shut and concentrated on holding back his orgasm. “Don’t do that.” He stepped away, putting an arm’s length of distance between them, staring at her through a haze of lust. “I’m not sure how you manage it, but you set me off and I don’t want to end this too quick. Not for me and not for you.”
Georgia looked at him while using the wall for support. Her chest, bared from his petting, rose and fell with deep breaths and quick pants. Her legs were still parted, her hands flat on the wall beside her hips. She looked enticing and tempting and Jordan wanted to drag her down to the carpet and bury himself inside her until they both screamed with the pleasure of it.
Slowly she gathered her wits and a small, seductive smile curled that sexier-than-sin mouth. Her eyes were dark and inviting. “Tell me what you want, Jordan.”
He didn’t hesitate. “I want you to ride me. Hard. I want to lie on my back and watch you while you take your pleasure. I want to see all those sensual movements you make when you dance, only I want them for me and me alone.” Her lips parted, her breath came faster. He added in a whisper, “And I want it all while I’m deep inside you.”
She came away from the wall in a rush, grabbing him and kissing him—his mouth, his throat, his chest. Jordan palmed her backside, lifted her and started for his bedroom. When her legs wound around him he had to stop for just a moment and kiss her deeply, but he could feel his passions on the boiling point, ready to erupt.
He tripped over a pair of slacks on his bedroom floor, stumbled to the bed and dropped there with Georgia still in his arms. “Don’t move,” he rasped.
She ignored him, grabbing his shirt and trying to yank it off him. He did that for her, then wrestled her own shirt over her head, leaving it and her bra twisted around her arms to try to hinder her movements just a bit.
“You’re pushing me, sweetheart and I can’t take it.”
“Damn it, Jordan…” She struggled with the shirt and bra and by the time she had her arms free he’d already yanked her shorts and panties off.
Sitting back on his heels between her wide-spread legs, he whispered, “I could come just looking at you.”
She moaned.
“Don’t move now. I mean it.” And before she could ignore that edict, he caught her hips in his hands, lifted her, and stroked with his tongue. She was already wet and hot and he grew voracious in his need to take as much of her as he could. “You taste so sweet.”
Like a wild woman, she writhed and squirmed and cried out. Jordan loved it all, just as he loved her. His fingers bit deeply into her cheeks and he used his thumbs to open her further, stroking with his tongue and teasing with his teeth and breathing in her heady, musky scent.
His erection throbbed and strained against his fly, but he wanted her pleasure first because he wasn’t at all certain how long he’d last once he got in
side her. He’d meant to seduce her, but he forgot everything he knew about women and what they enjoyed. He acted solely on instinct, but it must have been enough. After several minutes of reacting to her moans and her small movements and her breathless encouragement, Jordan felt her climax start.
Her hips jerked, her thighs trembled and she groaned, long and low and real, pressing herself against his mouth to take everything he could give her. He held her closer, used his tongue to stroke her deeper, faster, and she came with all the energy she gave to her dance.
When she quieted, her harsh breathing the only sound in the room, Jordan rested his face against her thigh. Her completion, as if it had been his own, had helped to calm him. Idly, he traced his fingers over her slick flesh, her soft brown curls, making her twitch and moan.
He grinned. “This,” he whispered, softly stroking her swollen folds before slowly, carefully pushing one finger deep, “was worth the wait.”
She moved to his touch, lazy, sated movements. He loved seeing her spread out naked on his bed. When he pulled his fingers away, she heaved a long, shuddering sigh, and he decided he’d better not stall any longer or she was liable to fall asleep on him. And he knew firsthand how difficult it was to get her awake again.
Jordan stood beside the bed and stripped off his jeans. Georgia watched him through heavy, slumberous eyes—until he was naked. Then her cheekbones colored with renewed heat and her lips parted.
She took him completely off guard when she whispered, “I love you, Jordan.”
An invisible fist squeezed his heart. Every bit of calm he’d just achieved shot out the ceiling.
He barely had the sense or patience to find a condom and put it on, especially when the second he sat on the mattress she pushed him to his back. Jordan dropped flat, more than willing to give her control. Without hesitation she straddled his hips. For a brief moment she cradled his testicles, testing his long-lost control, her small soft hand making him crazed. Holding back became torture, and he told her so.
