“I think you did,” Claire insisted.
“Claire, I did what I thought I had to do to keep you safe,” Jake told her honestly. “It tore me apart to walk away from you.”
Claire could feel the honesty in his words and emotions. “Do you promise to never walk away from me again?” she asked him, her voice strong.
Jake smiled. That was the exact same worry that he had, and the question that he wanted to ask of her. He worried that she would walk away when she realized that his needs in the bedroom were too much for her. He wouldn’t survive if he lost her. The minute she left him, his life would be over.
“Claire,” he began gently.
“I will never walk away from you,” she told him before he could finish his thought. “I love you, Jake Robert McKade. I love that you belong to me. I love that you want to hold me down and dominate me. I love that you will hold me fiercely and never want to let me go.”
“I love that, too,” he told her softly, kissing her temple lightly.
“You know what else I love?”
“What, angel?”
“I love when you’re gentle.”
Jake eased back and smiled down at her. “I’m not gentle, angel,” he told her, laughing softly.
“Yeah, you are, Jake,” Claire said, reaching up and touching his strong jaw and caressing it slowly. “You made love to me so gently. It was my first time, but I wasn’t afraid because it was you I was intimate with. You didn’t hurt me. You took great care to give me pleasure and make sure that my body was ready to accept you. I loved that you were deep inside of me. You felt really good inside of me. I want to feel you inside of me again.”
“Claire, you’re going to make me crazy if you keep talking like that,” Jake warned her. “I’m having a tough enough time keeping my hands off of you.”
“I don’t want you to keep your hands off of me,” Claire told him gently. “When you hold me and touch me, you make me feel cherished. When we made love, I felt your heart. I felt your love. Thank you.”
“Claire, I don’t deserve you,” Jake said finally, sighing heavily.
“Yes, you do.” Claire laughed softly. “You know what else, Jake?”
“What?”
“I expect you to help me learn a lot more about making love,” Claire said quietly, giggling softly when Jake’s bark of laughter filled the hospital room. “I watched porn with Melanie and the other women, and I’d really like to do some of those things with you.”
The heat that blazed in Jake’s eyes at her words made her blush, but she was glad that he was turned on by her admission. When he reached up and gripped her chin to make her face him, she couldn’t help but close her eyes in embarrassment.
“Only some of those things, angel?” he whispered.
Claire opened her eyes and nodded without hesitation. “I do not want to have a threesome,” she said firmly. “I don’t want to ever make love with anyone but you.”
Jake growled at her words. He kissed her possessively, pressing his tongue deep into her mouth as he claimed her. He wrapped his arms around her body and dragged her across his lap until she straddled his legs.
“You belong to me, Claire Hamilton,” he told her angrily. “I. Do. Not. Share. You’re my mate. You’re my woman. You will never be with anyone but me—ever. Are we clear on this, Mate?”
“Yes, sir,” Claire said without hesitation, smiling at the flare of heat that blazed in Jake’s eyes at her answer. “I don’t share either, Jake.”
“Then we’re good,” he said, smiling at her.
“Yeah, we’re good,” Claire agreed. “Just be warned that I will not tolerate any other woman flirting with you, touching you, or trying to take you away from me.” She reached up and slid her fingers through his hair and fisted her hands in it to hold him tightly. “You’re mine, Jake McKade. Nobody else touches you.”
“I wouldn’t tolerate that either, honey,” he told her honestly. “Why would I want any other woman when I already have the best?”
Claire smiled at his words. She knew that Jake could find a more beautiful woman who would probably be a good match for him, but she was thankful that he wanted her. She adored him and would love him completely. She knew they would have a good life together.
Jake kissed her again, this time gently, sliding his hands around her back to hold her firmly to show her without words how important she was. His heart pounded at her ready acceptance of him. Claire was his. He would do his best to make her happy. And he would never give her up.
Chapter 12
Jake’s eyes turned toward Claire as she sat in the front seat of his truck, needing to steal a quick look at his mate before returning his attention to the road. She turned and smiled at him, sending his heart racing. By all that was holy, she touched him like no other ever had.
“How’re you feeling, angel?” he asked her quietly, reaching out and taking her hand to draw it to his mouth and kiss her knuckles lightly.
“I’m fine, Jake,” Claire told him, laughing softly. “Even Brody told you that I was perfectly fine. You need to stop worrying so much.”
Jake just smiled at her, turning his attention back to the road ahead of him once again. “Not gonna happen, angel,” he told her.
“I know,” Claire said, sighing. “But I really am okay, Jake.”
Jake nodded. He was willing to accept that she was healthy enough to leave the hospital. She was not healthy enough to take over any duties on the ranch or in his bed. Not yet.
“Where’re we going?” Claire asked when Jake passed the ranch house and continued down the dirt road to travel deeper into McKade land.
“I want to show you something, angel,” Jake told her.
Claire waited for him to elaborate, but he remained silent. She saw the soft smile on his face and fell in love with him just a little bit more. He was such a sweet man. She could feel the little boy in him getting all excited to show her something. Whatever it was, she knew it had to be something very important to him.
She stayed quiet while he drove as close to the lake as he could then parked his truck at the soft swell of land that was a small, rolling mountain that overlooked the water. He shut off the engine. Claire unbuckled her seat belt and reached for the door handle.
“Don’t open the door, Claire,” he told her, his dominant voice making her shiver.
She placed her hands on her lap and waited while Jake opened his door and climbed down from the truck cab. He slammed the door shut then walked around the front of the truck to stand beside her door and pulled it open. She was about to step out when she found herself being scooped up into his arms and cradled gently against his chest as he kicked the door shut and started walking up the incline to the crest of the hill.
“Jake, I can walk!” she protested.
“Be quiet!”
“Jake!”
Jake stopped and looked down at her with a scowl on his face. He was determined not to smile as he saw the equally stubborn expression on his angel’s face as she looked up at him with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Claire. I need to make sure that you don’t exert yourself,” Jake told her, taking a breath to calm himself. “Please, angel. Please allow me this concession. I need to show you something. It’s very important to me.”
Claire relaxed her arms and nodded silently. She could feel his sudden anxiety and didn’t understand what was causing it. She just knew that she would do anything she could to ease his worry. She reached up and touched his jaw lightly, smiling when his eyes softened with happiness as he looked down at her.
Jake kissed her forehead lightly then started walking again. Claire couldn’t help but cuddle against him as he walked. She loved the way his arms surrounded her. His strength made her want him desperately.
“When we get to the top of the hill, are we going to make love?” she asked him quietly, loving the way his arms tightened around her at her words.
“No.”
“Well, that sucks.”
&
nbsp; Jake couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not putting your health at risk until I’m sure you’re okay, angel,” he told her gently.
“Jake, I’m fine. The doctor, your cousin, said I’m fine. I say I’m fine. You’re the only one who thinks I’m not fine.”
Jake stopped walking and carefully lowered her to her feet, never releasing his hold on her as she gained her balance. He turned her around to face the lake and pulled her back against his chest, wrapping his arm around her midsection to hold her firmly.
“What do you see, Claire?” he asked her softly.
Claire looked over the beautiful land and smiled at the view before her. The area where they stood was the perfect spot to look out across the beauty of McKade land. The lake before them was sparkling in the late afternoon sun. The area of trees that surrounded it gave the area a secluded feel. The wildflowers that graced the hillside before them were the most beautiful shades of purple, white, and pink. Claire loved it there.
“This is really nice,” she said softly. “It’s a pretty area.”
“I want to build our home here,” Jake said gently. “What do you think about that?”
Claire spun around in Jake’s arms so quickly, he had to grab hold of her so she wouldn’t fall. He steadied her, gripping her shoulders and pulling her quickly within the safety of his arms.
“Claire! Be careful!”
“Jake, you want to build your home here?” she asked him, looking up at him with wide eyes.
“No. I want to build our home here,” Jake corrected her. “Do you think you’d like to live here in a home that we’ll make together?”
“You’re serious?”
“I would never joke about something like that, angel,” Jake said softly. “You’re the most important person in my life. I want us to have a nice home—here on the top of this rise. I want to see the beauty of McKade land every morning as we begin our day. I want to share each beginning with you, angel. You’re more beautiful than any site in this world. I would consider myself a very lucky man to share my life with you in the home that we’ll build together right here. What do you think, Claire?”
Claire covered her face with her hands as the miracle of the moment overwhelmed her. She had loved Jake McKade for so long. She couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. To have the proof of the mating mark on the back of their necks was one thing, but to hear those words of love and commitment from Jake, and seeing the place where their home would be built, was what made it very real.
Lowering her hands, she looked up at Jake and smiled. “I think this would be the perfect spot to build our home, Jake,” she whispered.
The relief on Jake’s face made her laugh softly. Did he really think she would refuse his love and reject his desire to build a home and a future with her? Foolish man.
“I have some building plans in my room,” Jake said, clearing his throat to push away the huskiness that his emotions had caused. “We can look them over and make any changes that you’d like.”
“Okay,” Claire agreed. “But there is one thing I want to clear up before we go any further.”
Jake nodded, waiting patiently for his woman to tell him whatever it was that she needed to tell him. He couldn’t prevent himself from reaching up and brushing back the strand of her silky black hair that was blowing across her face from the gentle breeze that surrounded them. Rubbing the pad of his thumb across her flushed cheek, he smiled as she leaned in to his touch and sighed softly. She was so responsive to him. She made him feel like the most powerful man in the world.
“What do you need to tell me, Claire?” he whispered, searching the sweetness of her face as she looked up at him so seriously.
“I want to have a home with you, Jake,” she told him gently.
“I want that, too, angel.”
Claire nodded and smiled softly up at him. “You know I want children,” she said firmly.
Jake smiled. “I know. Sounds good.”
Claire laughed softly. “Okay, good. I also want you to be exactly as you are,” she said finally.
“What do you mean, Claire?”
“I want you to love me the way you want to love me.”
Jake’s entire body tightened at her words. He was almost afraid to speak.
“I want you to hold me down,” Claire told him softly. “I want you to surround me. I need to feel you over me. I need to feel like I belong to you.”
“You do belong to me, Claire,” Jake told her, his voice hard. “Don’t ever question that.”
Claire smiled. “Then show me, cowboy,” she challenged him. “Right here. Right now.”
She reached up and wrapped her arms around Jake’s neck, leaning into his chest. She kissed his lips lightly, humming against them with pleasure. She felt the hardness of Jake’s cock pressing against her stomach and her channel clenched with need in response.
“It would be nice to make love here, Jake,” she whispered against his lips. “Don’t you think it would be nice to make love here, Mate?”
Jake groaned as he pulled her tightly against his body, loving the softness of her as her sexy curves pressed against him. His angel, his mate, was the most precious woman in the world. He loved her beyond anything he had ever thought was possible. She was his life. She was his love. She was his.
“Claire, as much as I want to make love to you, I can’t, sweetheart,” he told her softly. “You need to be well.”
“I am well,” Claire said, huffing in exasperation.
Jake couldn’t help but laugh at Claire’s words. His angel was frustrated by his conviction, but he wasn’t about to cave. He had to make sure that she was back to full strength and health. He wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize that.
“Just give it a couple of days, angel,” he said finally. “I promise, once I know you’re strong again, I won’t stop making love to you.”
Claire pushed out of his arms and turned to walk away from him. She shrugged off his hands as he tried to reach for her.
“Don’t, Jake,” she told him angrily. “I’m not some wimpy little toad that needs you to coddle me.”
Jake’s eyebrows shot up in surprise at her words. If there was one thing he would never classify Claire as, it was a wimpy little toad. Before he could tell her so, she turned around to face him with her index finger pointing at him and poking his chest—hard.
“You’d better make sure there are extra bedrooms in our home, Jake McKade. I’m going to need to have a place to sleep when you’re being an ass.”
She turned away from him and walked with purpose down the hill, the field of colorful wildflowers kissing her calves as she waded through them. She couldn’t get away from him fast enough. Stubborn man!
Jake crossed his arms across his broad chest and watched as Claire walked away from him. He heard her muttering as she walked. He knew that she was muttering about him. Her anger made him smile. He was so proud of her, he nearly yelled out with happiness.
She was strong. She was determined. She was never going to allow him to get away with anything. If there was one bit of doubt in his mind that Claire would not be able to handle a relationship with him, it had just been blown to bits.
“Hell! I love that woman!” he said out loud as he lowered his arms and started down the hill after her.
Chapter 13
Claire sat with her arms crossed over her chest, silently stewing as Jake drove them back to the ranch. She saw the smile on his face. That just pissed her off more.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re smiling at, Jake McKade. I don’t find anything amusing at all,” she told him angrily.
Jake looked at her quickly before returning his attention to the dirt road that led back to the ranch home. He loved her spirit. He loved her anger. Hell, he just loved her.
“I’m not laughing at you, Claire,” he told her calmly.
“Then what are you smiling about?” Claire asked in exasperation.
“I’m happy,” Jake an
swered simply.
“You’re happy that you’ve pissed me off?” she asked, muttering to herself as she looked out the window to see the McKade ranch home coming into view.
“Yeah, I guess I am,” Jake said, laughing softly when Claire called him an idiot and opened her door to jump down from his truck the minute he parked it in his spot by the barn and shut off the engine.
His long, powerful strides made it easy to catch up with her. He watched with complete appreciation as she walked up the stairs of the front porch and waited for him to open the door with his key. He loved her ass. She had the sweetest ass. He couldn’t wait to show her how he was going to make love to that ass.
“Make sure you always have your key, Claire,” he reminded her gently.
“I don’t exactly have my purse anymore, Jake,” she reminded him. “It blew up with the diner.”
Jake nodded, realizing that he hadn’t even thought about that. “I’ll see if Deuce has another key. If not, I’ll get another key made for you,” he told her as he unlocked the door, opened it, and stepped back to allow her to enter before him. “Always remember to reset the alarm, Claire.”
She nodded and waited while Jake walked over to the control panel by the door and keyed in the code that would reset the alarm. She knew that none of the men of the family would ever be lax in the security of their homes. Jamie’s abduction by the man who had attacked her when she had been in college had taught them that lesson, and they had all learned it well.
She started walking toward the swinging door that led to the kitchen when she found her arm being taken by Jake. His large hand carefully gripped her upper arm just above her elbow, stopping her dead in her tracks. He turned her around and drew her against him, wrapping his arms around her and holding her firmly.
“Where are you going, angel?” he asked her gently.
“To the kitchen. I have to get dinner ready.”
“You will not.”
“What?”
“You just got out of the hospital,” Jake told her calmly. “You will not be making dinner.”
“Jake, it’s my job,” Claire said gently. “I like my job. I like cooking and taking care of all of you.”
Jake's Angel [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 13
