Jared stroked her cheek. “You have no idea how much I want to be your clean slate, Presley Ann. All I can see are friends and family who love you and are proud of you. I trust in that…and in you.”
Reaching up, she skimmed her hands across the wide plain of his chest. She nestled her nose in the shallow dip between his pectorals and breathed in his masculine scent and rubbed her lower lip across his skin, raising more gooseflesh over her shoulders and down her back. Everything about him enticed her.
His breathing grew shaky as she lightly raked her fingernails down his torso and his abdomen, gooseflesh rose on his warm skin as well. She tugged on the tie at her hip, releasing the knot holding the sling in place. The stretchy fabric loosened at her waist, and then at her shoulders, and she allowed him to untie the crossover in front before slipping it from her, revealing her lightweight top beneath.
Raising her arms, she allowed him to remove it, and stifled a giggle when his callused fingertips tickled her spine as he unclasped her bra. She unzipped her jeans and pushed them and her panties down to her knees, bringing her to eye level with his cock.
For a heartbeat she glanced up at him, noting his widening eyes, and gave the head of his cock a gentle kiss, a little lick, and then a welcoming suck, enjoying the sound of his choked gasp. His hand was gentle in her hair, and without missing a beat she went to her knees in front of him. The fire was warm at her back as she wrapped her hands around the backs of his thighs and rubbed her breasts against the sprinkling of hairs on his thighs.
The faint muskiness of his scent filled her head and warmed her body as she listened to him groan and enjoyed the tender way he stroked her hair and held the back of her head.
“Kitten.”
Two syllables that spoke volumes. He drew a deep breath and the rushing sound told her that she was testing his control. When she slid him to the back of her throat and sucked as she withdrew, the muscles in his legs bunched under her hand. A flash of light bright enough to be seen through closed eyelids was followed closely by a peal of thunder, and she prayed a fervent prayer that the baby wouldn’t awaken. She didn’t want to leave him hanging, and they needed this time together. Three more up and down tugs with her suctioning mouth and he wrapped one hand around the base of his cock. “Stop.”
He helped her stand and kissed her hard on the lips. Hungry for more, she nipped at his lower lip. In response he clutched her ass cheek hard and said, “The bed. Now.” His dominating tone gave wings to her feet.
Backing up to the pillows at the head of the bed, she watched him climb onto the end of the bed, a predatory gleam in his eyes as he stared at her rapidly swelling cunt. She wanted him to shove his cock into her and fuck her like a wild animal, obliterate all other thoughts from her mind, making her clench with need as she imagined the moment of his breaching.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Please.”
Jared looked up into her eyes. A smile slowly crooked his lips and she knew she wasn’t getting off that easily. Literally. But he did surprise her when he grasped her calves in his strong hands and yanked her to the middle of the bed so that she was flat on her back and at his mercy.
With seductive slowness, he skimmed his palms up her inner thighs, sending a trail of sizzling shivers through her as he parted them, licking his lips as if he planned to devour her. He held her gaze as he lowered his upper body, his intent all too clear. He startled a gasp from her as he wrapped his hands around her hips and lifted her body the rest of the way to his mouth.
Raised from the bed like that, she had no control, and she didn’t want any as he pressed his hot mouth to her pussy. Latching onto her already throbbing clit, he brought her to the edge of orgasm with three torturously slow passes of his tongue.
“Jared! Oh, God!” she cried out as her body bowed with tension. “Please!”
He growled deep as he drew her flesh into his mouth hard once more. Thunder rumbled outside as her climax detonated, wave upon heated wave of sensation, leaving her blissfully boneless. She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he sat up, looking like a god with his muscles rippling in the golden light. The sheen of sweat covered his skin and he panted as he stared into her eyes. The head of his cock nudged briefly at her entrance. He groaned and let his head fall back as he sheathed himself in her with one forceful thrust. Desperate for something to hold on to, she grasped the backs of his thighs and arched her body, needing the fulfillment just out of her grasp as he moved with her. He held to his position, allowing her only minimal leverage as he fucked her with long, smooth strokes. His cock was so hot and wickedly thick inside her that it only took a few strokes before she was coming again, rocking against him, squeezing him tight enough to draw a groan from him as the orgasm rolled through her whole body.
“I love the way you fuck me, Jared. Love the way you take control. You feel so good, so big and hard.”
He dropped his body to hers, balancing on his elbows at her shoulders and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Finally she was able to wrap herself around him. Squeezing him with her muscles, she rocked against him with abandon until she lost control of her movements. Another climax rolled through her, followed by a wave of deep bliss so strong all she could do was hold on to him.
He lifted up just enough to gaze at her as he fucked her with sure, hard strokes, the intensity of his pleasure showing in the planes of his handsome face and the set of his mouth. His sharp gasp signaled his orgasm. She watched in fascination, stroking his cheekbone as his expression slackened and his lips parted with a vulnerable sounding groan. His cock twitched with each spurt of his semen and she welcomed every drop, welcomed his pleasure and his release.
He dropped his forehead to her shoulder and drew in a shaky breath. “Holy shit.” Suddenly he lifted his head. “Did I hurt you?”
Her only answer was her soft laughter.
“I’ll take that as a no. I hope we didn’t wake the baby.”
She’d been listening with half an ear for him the whole time, thanks to mommy radar, and she shook her head, feeling very thankful. “He didn’t make a peep. I think the storm has lulled him deep asleep.”
Her nipple tingled as he let out a slow puff of air on it, and she felt the way his cheek shifted as though he smiled and then kissed the tightened peak and gave it a soft lick. He made a soft sound of appreciation in the back of his throat.
“Did I drench you?” she asked with a giggle.
“I guess I did a good job if you didn’t notice.”
“You guess? My entire body is one big throb.”
He shifted to look up at her, and his chest hair dragged against her sensitive breasts. “We’re more damp with sweat than anything, and your skin tastes like honey.”
“Sweet talker.”
He lifted up so he was braced by his hands but their bodies were still connected. She tightened her thighs and her pussy quivered around his shaft, drawing another breathy groan from him.
“Fuck, that feels incredible.” He held her down and kissed her slowly, licking at her lower lip and brushing the tip of his nose against hers.
With a groan of regret, he finally withdrew and padded naked to the living room, she presumed to blow out all the candles and check the fireplace to make sure the screen was closed, and then she heard him in the kitchen. When he returned he had a glass of water. “Drink. You sounded a little hoarse.” Surprised by his thoughtfulness, she took the glass and drank as he said, “I peeked in on Whit. He’s curled up with his bear and sleeping like a rock.”
When he climbed back into bed with her, she curled up to him, needing his warmth and the solidity of his presence. She missed Kendry and wished he was there, too, but there was something undeniably precious about this time alone with Jared.
It’s called love, honey.
She smiled, thinking the little voice in her head sounded like her mother. Her eyes stung a little, and he raised his head to look at her when she sniffled and drew in a shaky breath.
“You okay?�
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“Perfect. Can you stay?”
He squeezed her as she settled her head on his pectoral, with her body nestled along his side. “Try to make me leave. Kitten?”
“Hmm?” she murmured as she skimmed her fingertips through the hair on his chest.
“I love you.”
She lifted her head, and the warmth in his pale blue-gray gaze and the gentleness in his fingers as he stroked her cheek took her breath away. Something inside her shifted and gave over to him. She was truly naked with him, and it was so comforting. “I love you, too.”
He tipped her chin as he lifted his head and kissed her with such tenderness that her heart ached. “I’m all yours.”
Undiluted happiness washed through her in a warm wave as he released her and pressed her head to his chest and he squeezed her to him. She slid her hand across his furred chest in a decidedly possessive gesture. The first time they’d been together, she’d been afraid to think of him as hers. She drew tighter to him, slipping her thigh between his so they were entwined. He kissed the top of her head as if he understood.
Chapter Thirteen
Very early the following morning, Jared listened to the storm, which was still blowing outside. He was wondering what the river looked like when Presley Ann suddenly jerked in her sleep. He stroked her shoulder. “You okay?”
“What was that?” Her voice was bleary with sleep.
“Just thunder.”
Presley Ann sat up and brushed the hair from her face, looked around her, and then smiled. He was thankful when she cuddled up to him, so he could enjoy the sweet, lush warmth of her just a little longer. “Did you get up with Whit during the night?”
She drew a soft breath and then seemed to melt in his arms. “No. Whit slept through the night.” Her voice practically dripped with gratitude. “It’s been months since I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep.” She shifted and pressed her forearm gently against her breasts and said, “And, oh yeah, I’m feeling all those nice sleep-filled hours right where it counts, too.”
As if on cue, Whit made a peep from his bedroom.
She kept the pressure to her breasts and threw the covers aside. “Glory hallelujah. Right on time.”
They chuckled and Jared said, “I’ll get dressed and make some breakfast for us while you feed the little man.”
Jared listened to her murmur to Whit as she slipped into his room and changed his diaper and fed him, while he went in search of coffee for the coffee machine and tea for her.
Presley Ann needed to get some work done before she had to go in to Stigall’s for an afternoon and evening shift. She seemed excited about the prospect of working from her home, and he didn’t want to keep her from it. Once breakfast was prepared and they’d eaten and cleaned the dishes, she gave him a kiss that lit all his nerve endings on fire before he started his day. He had the day off and knew what he needed to do.
Charity and Lydia had teased him and Kendry the night before about their barren Christmas tree, and had threatened to get up in the attic to haul down their decrepit collection of ornaments. They’d let him off the hook but with Presley Ann coming for Christmas morning, there was only one thing left to do. It was time to decorate the tree.
He could hear the faint sounds of music coming from the cottage as he opened windows in the house. Looking out one of the back windows, he could see that she’d done the same, opening the cottage to allow the mellow but cool breeze to blow through. He chuckled when Loki came trotting out the wide open front door of the cottage and flopped down on her porch, the tennis ball in his jowls, evidently having been denied his request to throw the ball.
“Poor Loki-boy. She’s got work to do.”
The rhythm of the music changed and he could very faintly hear her singing along to the song. Moving to the neighboring window he squinted and chuckled when he caught a glimpse of her standing in front of her table, sorting pieces of cut fabric out. She paused for a second, said something to the baby, and then abruptly broke into a dance move, shaking her ass and bobbing her head, making her golden curls bounce around her shoulders.
“Oh, hell yeah.”
His resolve to finish Christmas decorating wavered, and he was at the back door when the phone rang and he reached for it from the cradle on the counter.
“Hello?”
“I’m surprised you’re picking up. You’re not still in bed on your day off?” He could hear the teasing in Kendry’s voice.
“Nah, we woke up early and I knew she wanted to get some work done this morning.”
“She okay?”
Jared could hear the sincerity in Kendry’s question and replied, “Yeah. It was good last night.”
“Don’t rub it in too much. I barely got any shut-eye just imagining. What’re you doing?”
“Well, I decided since I was here and we were planning to have company Christmas morning that I’d better—” Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention and he saw Loki, now standing at rigid attention facing her house a split second before he tore into it. Thor sprinted across the yard in long, loping strides, and then a shrill scream carried across the yard.
“I heard that, Jared. What was that?”
“Don’t know. I’d better go. Something’s up next door.”
“Call me back!” Kendry shouted as Jared dropped the phone on the table and ran out the door. He could hear Doppler effect of the baby crying and Presley Ann’s nonsensical shout as she ran through the house and out the door as Whit clung to his mother from inside his sling.
He caught her to him and quickly looked them over, trying to determine what had happened and noticed that she was missing a shoe but otherwise seemed unharmed.
“Kitten, what happened?” he asked as she finally caught her breath and clung to the baby with one forearm while she remained latched on to him with the other.
“I was working at my table. I had the windows and the doors open and I felt something”—she trembled and made a revolted sound—“I looked down and—”
Loud barking and a tussle sounded from inside the cottage and Jared groaned, wondering what havoc Loki and Thor were wreaking in her little home. “Stay here, angel.”
She caressed the back of Whit’s head, shushing him, as she nodded. He hadn’t even reached the door before more barking ensued, followed by a scuffle, and then a small dark gray blur streaked from the front door with Thor and Loki in hot pursuit, across the yard. The gray streak sprang at the nearest tree and chittered tauntingly at the dogs as they barked and growled at it from their positions at the base of the pecan tree.
“A squirrel?” Presley Ann said as she watched. “What a relief. In the dim light under the table I was afraid it was a rat.” She shuddered and then soothed Whit as he whimpered again. “Sorry, sweetie.”
Both dogs trotted over and sat for her when she reached out to pet them and praise them. “Good dogs. Very good boys.” She turned to Jared with a sheepish smile on her face. “Sorry if I scared you. I swear I won’t do that anymore.”
Jared chuckled as he looked down at her feet. “I think you have something subconscious against those shoes, Cinderella.”
She laughed as she looked down, seeming to notice for the first time that she only had one shoe on as she curled her toes in the cool, wet grass. “I think you were right, this may be a pattern with me.”
“I hope the dogs didn’t wreck anything,” he said as he walked her back into the house.
An end table had been overturned and was easily righted. The work table and the area rug beneath it had been scooted several inches from where it was originally, but none of her work was disturbed and the sewing machine was untouched. Satisfied, he said, “Well, I guess I better get back to decorating the tree.”
“Finally getting around to that, are you?” she asked with a teasing poke at his ribs and then gestured at the work table. “I’d better get back to work if I want to have time to run errands before going in to Stigall’s.” She sidled up to him for
a kiss. “Thank you again for last night. It was…”
“It was what?”
“Wonderful,” she said, toying with her lower lip.
He pulled her back to him and kissed her again, longer this time. “It was. Well, that tree won’t decorate itself. If you see any more squirrels…”
“I’ll scream,” she said with a giggle and blew him a kiss.
“We’ll come running,” he murmured as he closed the door behind him so no more critters got in the house. With Thor and Loki…and Presley Ann around, it looked like there was never going to be a dull moment.
* * * *
“Are you serious?” Presley Ann asked the cashier as she looked at the receipt. She’d just finished checking out at the big warehouse store located between Morehead and Divine near the Interstate. She’d needed to stock up on diapers and other baby supplies and had actually remembered to use the gift card Evelyn and Charlene Porter had given her.
The cashier nodded and smiled as she pointed at the bottom of the receipt. “That’s your balance on the gift card.”
“I don’t owe you extra?”
The cashier smiled and her eyes twinkled. “Nope. Looks like we still owe you, ma’am. Whoever gave you that gift card wanted you to have a Merry Christmas, huh?”
Presley Ann glanced behind her, hoping she wasn’t holding anyone else up with her stupid questions. “Seriously? There’s still money on this card? You’re sure.”
The cashier nodded and pointed at the amount. “Four hundred and eighteen dollars and thirteen cents, to be precise.”
Presley Ann glanced at her watch and did a mental fist pump. “Thank you so much.”
“Merry Christmas, ma’am,” the cashier said as she tidied her station and smiled as the next customer walked up.
Absentminded Angel [Divine Creek Ranch 20] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 17
