Jake's Angel [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 4] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lynnette Bernard

  “I would stand up, unzip my jeans, take out my cock, and press deep inside of your sweetness,” he told her, whispering against her ear. “I would hold still and soak in the warmth and wetness of your channel gripping me and holding me tight.” He kissed her temple, loving the way her breathing was becoming short and labored. “I would hold you by your hips and keep you still so I could plunge deep inside of you over and over again.” He kissed her temple once again. “Would you like that, angel?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, leaning into him.

  “Good.”

  He drew her closer against his side and couldn’t prevent the sigh of contentment that escaped him when she cuddled into him. Her natural need to touch him and be close to him made him a happy and contented man.

  “Then what, Jake?” she asked him, tipping her head back so she could look up at him. She loved the way his blue eyes were mirroring the happiness and the need that he was feeling. Her empathic ability always allowed her to feel what he was feeling, but to see him being affected by his own words was just as important to her.

  “I would move inside of you, slowly at first,” he told her softly as he traveled kisses down her cheek and nuzzled into her neck. “I would touch your sweet button and circle it slowly, taking the cream that would be dripping from you to make my thumb slick and circling your clit over and over again to drive you wild.”

  “You think I would be dripping for you, Jake?” Claire asked, needing to call him on his arrogance even though she knew he was completely correct in his assumption.

  “Baby, you would be so wet for me I would be able to slide inside of you in one smooth glide and pump without worrying about hurting you,” he told her, biting down on her earlobe and smiling against the warmth of her neck as she moaned softly. “Are you denying it?”

  Claire laughed as she turned toward his neck and bit down on it lightly, thrilled when he growled softly because of her actions. “How could I deny how much I love and want you, Jake McKade?” she asked quietly.

  The way Jake hugged her so fiercely made her smile. She didn’t really understand how Jake could ever question how much she loved him. She wished at that moment that she could give him some of her empathic ability so he could feel the honest and deep love that she had for him. He was caring, protective, loving, and kind. He was her best friend. He was her lover. He was her mate. Every role that he played in her life was crucial. Every single thing that he was to her, made up the whole man who was her destined mate.

  “Hi, my name is Rick. I’ll be your server today,” a young man interrupted them, placing coasters and cloth napkins that were wrapped around eating utensils before each of them. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “I’ll have a water with no lemon, please,” Claire answered.

  “I’ll have the same,” Jake said, taking Claire’s hand and bringing it to his mouth to kiss the back of her knuckles lightly.

  “Would you like an appetizer?” Rick asked them, taking out his order pad and pen.

  “Claire?” Jake asked softly as he faced her.

  “No, thank you.”

  Rick nodded. “Do you need more time to look at the menus?”

  “Yes, please,” Claire answered for them, blushing lightly at the thought that they hadn’t even looked at the menus because Jake had been explaining to her how he was going to make love to her.

  “Just give us another minute, please,” Jake spoke up.

  “Sure thing. I’ll be right back with your waters.”

  He walked away, tucking his order pad in the black pocketed apron that hung low on his waist. Claire watched him leave, taking in the cleanliness of his black pants and maroon shirt. He even had on a bolo tie with an emblem of the restaurant as the ornamental slide. Jake may have thought that she was disappointed with the restaurant, but she wasn’t. It was clean, the staff was friendly and professional, and it had a comfortable, family atmosphere.

  “How are you feeling, angel?” Jake asked quietly.

  “I’m fine, why?” Claire asked, confused. She looked up at him and saw the tenderness in his eyes as he looked at her.

  “No nausea?”

  “No. I feel great. Maybe just a little tired.”

  Jake slid his left hand down to rest lightly on her belly. Pushing up under her pink sweater, he covered her skin with his hand. Sliding his hand into the waistband of her jeans, he caressed the area where his baby rested peacefully. He loved the feel of her growing baby bump. He loved that he could actually see and feel the proof of their baby growing within her. He was looking forward to seeing her bloom with their child.

  “You need to rest more. You’ve been working very hard at the ranch and for your license,” he told her worriedly. “I don’t think you’ve been eating enough. I worry about you, angel. I don’t want you to be feeling sick or tired because you’re carrying my baby.”

  “Oh, Jake,” Claire whispered. “You’re so sweet. I love you, and I love being pregnant. Your baby is very calm. You don’t need to worry. I’ll be able to rest more now that my clinical hours are completed and I’ve finished studying for the exam.”

  “Good. What do you think?”

  “About what?”

  “How was the exam?”

  “It was long. I was prepared, though, so I’m pretty sure I passed,” Claire admitted, relief filling her that she was finally finished with all the requirements.

  “I’m sure you did, angel,” Jake said without hesitation. “You know your stuff, and you have magic in your hands. Look how you’ve helped me get better.”

  Claire could only smile. Jake was certainly her biggest supporter. All of the McKade family and their friends had been so wonderful to her during the entire schooling process. She owed them all so much.

  “I think you should wear looser pants, angel,” Jake said quietly after a moment as he felt the warmth of their baby greeting him.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want you to squash our baby.”

  Claire laughed softly, pressing his hand against the warmth of her body. “I promise, I won’t squash our baby,” she told him, smiling at the way he closed his eyes and soaked in the feeling of their growing child.

  Jake caressed her belly lightly. He opened his eyes and saw her looking at him with such love and happiness that he couldn’t help but smile back at her.

  “Are you laughing at me, Claire?” he asked her, trying very hard not to crack a smile.

  “Not at all,” she answered innocently.

  “Yes. You are,” he insisted.

  “Okay. Yes. I am,” she admitted.

  “Why are you laughing at me?”

  “Because you’re adorable.”

  “I am not adorable,” he said firmly, highly insulted by her description. If that description ever got out to his men, he would never hear the end of it.

  “Yes, you are, Jake,” Claire whispered, leaning in and kissing his neck lightly. “I love that you’re being a protective daddy. Our baby already loves you, you know.”

  Jake stilled in shock. He pushed Claire away from him just slightly so he could look directly into her gentle, brown eyes.

  “You know that, angel?” he whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I can sense the feelings of our baby,” Claire explained softly. “Just as I can feel everyone else’s emotions, I can feel our baby’s—except it’s more intense because our baby is inside of me and the link to me is very strong.”

  Jake couldn’t even speak. He knew that Claire’s empathic ability was amazing, but this was something that tugged at his heart. He always worried that he wasn’t good enough to care about or love, but Claire had just told him that their child already loved him. How could that be?

  “Jake, listen to me,” Claire said gently, touching his chin lightly and directing his gaze toward her. “Our baby feels pleasure whenever you speak. Your voice makes him feel comforted. When he hears you laugh, he’s hap
py. When he hears you play the guitar and sing with Robbie and Cooper, he’s relaxed.”

  “You’re able to sense him feeling all that?” Jake asked her, his voice filled with awe.

  “I am.”

  “That’s beautiful. Thank you for telling me that, angel.”

  “You know what else, Jake?” Claire asked quietly.

  “What?”

  “The baby knows how much you love me and how much you love him.” She hesitated a moment, nervous panic filling her as she thought about it. “I think our child is empathic just like I am.”

  “And that worries you?” Jake asked her gently.

  “Yes.” She looked up at him and couldn’t prevent the fear she was feeling from showing in her eyes.

  “I know it worries you because you’ve experienced pain because of your gift, but I don’t think our baby will suffer like you did, angel.”

  “Why do you think that, Jake?”

  “Because our child belongs to both of us,” Jake told her calmly. “Since I’m already a part of him, he’s already got the ability to experience the emotions of others but not be hurt by them. He’ll be shielded by me just like you are.”

  Claire thought about it for a moment. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the life that was growing within her. She focused on the emotions of their baby and felt the peace and happiness he was experiencing. There was absolutely no pain or anguish within their child’s mind.

  “Are you connecting with our baby, angel?” Jake asked her softly, not wanting to interrupt her if she was.

  “Yes,” she whispered, keeping her eyes closed as she centered on the warmth of their child.

  “Is the baby okay?”

  Claire opened her eyes and smiled. “He’s peaceful. He’s happy. He has no pain.”

  She leaned against Jake and relaxed as her worries left her. She hadn’t realized just how deeply worried she had been that their baby would be hurt because of her gift. Now that she knew that Jake’s presence within their child would always shield him, Claire was able to release her tension and enjoy her pregnancy. Every one of the babies that she and Jake created would be okay—because of Jake.

  “Thank you, Jake,” she whispered as she leaned into him. “Thank you for shielding me and for shielding our babies.”

  Jake smiled at the use of her word babies. He was glad that Claire wanted to have a family with him. He wanted the same, but he would reserve judgment on what was best for Claire once he saw how she faired with this pregnancy. They would decide how many children they would have, one pregnancy at a time.

  “You need to stop worrying about me, Jake,” Claire whispered as she was privy to his concerns.

  “Not gonna happen, angel,” he said firmly, wrapping his right arm around her back and pulling her tightly against his side.

  “I know,” Claire said, laughing as she leaned into his neck and kissed it lightly. “We both have the same instincts about the other. That’s a good way for a mated couple to be.”

  “I agree.”

  He kissed her temple and breathed in her calming scent before picking up the menu and handing it to her. He was glad that Claire was feeling well. Now, he just had to make sure that she ate something. And he had to make sure that she took care of herself.

  “We should be able to move into our new home by the end of the week, angel,” he told her as he looked over the menu.

  “I’m so glad. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “I am, too.” He looked at Claire and smiled, needing to tell her about the surprise he had waiting for her.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked when she saw the way he was looking down at her with so many emotions flashing in his beautiful blue eyes.

  “I had the attic fixed up for you,” he said finally.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I had it designed with a higher ceiling. It also has a plush rug the same color as your pink sweater, and it’s well heated.”

  He touched the soft sweater that she was wearing and laughed softly. Claire loved wearing it. Jake loved it when she wore it. It was soft and warm—just like his woman. He had chosen the color of the rug that was installed in the attic because of it.

  “You did that for me, Jake?”

  “I did, angel. The attic also has a large window for you to look out over the land in front of our home, and there’s a comfortable recliner and a couch up there for you,” he told her. “I want you to have a haven away from the world when you need it, darlin’. I promise I won’t disturb you if you go up there and need some time alone. There’s a small bathroom for you, too. I even have a big bed on order for you to use up there if you ever decide you need to.”

  “Jake! Why would I ever want to sleep away from you?” Claire asked, astonished.

  “I actually didn’t think that, Claire,” Jake explained gently. “I just thought you might need a bed to rest in if you were up there and were too tired to come downstairs to our bedroom. I don’t ever want us to sleep apart, angel.”

  “Why would I be too tired to come down to our bedroom?” She was truly confused by his concern.

  Jake looked at her calmly, smiling softly as he looked down at the way her forehead was tight with confusion. Reaching up, he brushed away the worry lines with the pad of his thumb, leaning forward and kissing her forehead lightly before resting his own forehead against hers.

  “I worry about you being tired when you’re pregnant,” he admitted. “I want you to be able to rest at a moment’s notice, angel. I want you and our babies to be comfortable. If it takes putting a bed in every room of our home—that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Claire was so touched by his thoughtfulness, she nearly started to cry. He had turned a sad memory of hiding in the attic during her childhood into a beautiful space that she would love to occupy and create new and happy memories there.

  “Jake, that’s so thoughtful of you,” she whispered. “I can’t wait to see the attic.”

  Jake’s wide smile filled her heart with happiness. He had just given her such a beautiful gift, yet he was the one who was happy. This man was amazing. How had she ever gotten so lucky to have him in her life?

  “Mom, Claire is over there in the corner of the restaurant with Jake McKade,” Elise Hamilton said, obvious irritation in her voice as she pointed to the secluded area where her sister was sitting.

  Irene Hamilton looked over her left shoulder, a noise of disgust leaving her as she saw how Claire was pressed against the youngest McKade brother. She turned her attention back to her daughter Elise and sighed as her daughter’s delicate beauty shown before her.

  Where Claire was dull with dark brown hair, brown eyes, carried more than a few extra pounds, and barely stood five feet five inches tall, Elise was striking with blonde hair, blue eyes, model thin, and was statuesque at five feet eight inches tall. She was the epitome of beauty. Claire was worse than drab as far as Irene was concerned. She didn’t deserve to be dating Jake McKade—Elise did.

  “I can’t believe he even likes her,” Elise said with disgust, mirroring her mother’s thoughts.

  “He probably doesn’t,” Irene said calmly. “She’s probably just his whore.”

  “Claire?” Elise asked, surprised. “I certainly don’t think very much of Claire, but I doubt that, Mom. She can’t handle anyone touching her.”

  “Well, it looks like she’s not feeling any pain right now,” Irene said thoughtfully. “Maybe she’s grown out of her ability.”

  “Maybe,” Elise agreed.

  Irene picked up her fork and began eating the salad that had just been served to her. She watched Elise pick at the lettuce and the small pieces of cucumber in her own salad and was proud that her daughter was careful not to eat too much.

  “I think it’s time for you to do something about that, Elise,” Irene said quietly.

  “I don’t know what to do about it, Mom,” Elise admitted. “It doesn’t seem that Jake is ever without Claire. He’s eit
her working at his construction company or he’s with her. There’s not a whole lot of opportunity to get his attention.”

  “You’ll have to make an opportunity present itself, Elise,” her mother said firmly.

  “How?”

  “I’ll think of something, sweetheart,” Irene said with determination.

  “Well, whatever we’re going to do, it had better happen soon,” Elise said as she looked at the way Jake McKade was hugging her sister tightly against his side. “It looks like he’s serious about her. It might be tougher to break them up if he cares about her.”

  Irene looked over at the far booth and had to agree when she saw the way Jake and Claire were sitting beside each other. There really was only one way that she could think of to destroy their connection.

  “Have you been keeping track of your cycle, Elise?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you ovulating?”

  Elise smiled at the question. She didn’t want kids, but if it meant that giving birth to a little brat would give her a claim to Jake McKade’s money, she was willing to do whatever was necessary to make that happen.

  “I will be by the end of the week,” she said after a moment’s hesitation.

  Irene Hamilton smiled with satisfaction. She was determined to make sure that Elise would have the life of luxury that she deserved. Getting pregnant with Jake McKade’s baby was the perfect way to have that happen.

  Chapter 29

  “How’re you feeling, angel?” Jake asked as he closed the door to their bedroom at the ranch before he turned and walked toward her as she stood beside the connecting bathroom door.

  “I’m good. I just need to use the bathroom,” Claire said, hurrying into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

  Jake smiled as he watched her go. He knew that Claire’s increasing frequency of using the bathroom was because of his baby. It made him smile. A warmth settled deep within him as he thought about his child growing inside of her.