by Sara Orwig
Three
Caitlin’s heart drummed as she gazed into Jake Benton’s eyes. Her afternoon had turned her world topsy-turvy. All her life she had been given reasons to dislike the Bentons. Her grandmother had hated Jake’s father for things he had done to her son, Caitlin’s father, in the years the men were growing up. They had been thrown together at school as well as in town. Grandmother had disliked Jake because of complaints about him from Will.
During the past month, Caitlin herself had developed hostility toward Jake, which had increased swiftly when she found a stone wall of interference keeping her from contacting him.
He was important, busy, an oil millionaire, but he should have had a streak of common courtesy to at least take a phone call from someone from the neighboring ranch. While the bitterness between the families could have made him unreceptive, she suspected he was never even told that she was trying to contact him.
Growing up, she had disliked the Bentons because she had been taught to. Jake’s snubs had added fuel to the fires of contempt. The only way to get the property back from him was to communicate with him. When she had learned he was expected at the West Texas ranch, she had decided to confront him to force him to listen to her request.
He was being as stubborn as she had expected. What she hadn’t anticipated was the scalding chemistry the moment they were face-to-face. It was an intense attraction he felt as much as she did. He also probably hated it as much as she did. Except he had seduction in his eyes. She could imagine how much it would amuse him to seduce a Santerre, even one on the fringe of the family. Titus Santerre’s illegitimate child whom he only grudgingly acknowledged because his own mother adopted her.
The thoughts swirled briefly and then vanished. Caitlin’s gaze locked with Jake’s. His blue eyes held a blatant hunger. Her breathing altered while her temperature rose and her heart skipped. She tilted her face up, knowing she should step away and never kiss him, never open a Pandora’s box of problems.
The instant attraction had mushroomed with each hour. A kiss might send it soaring out of control. She had no intention of repeating her mother’s big mistake in life that had left Caitlin abandoned and hurt.
“Caitlin,” Jake said in a quiet, husky voice that conveyed desire and was an invitation to her.
How could she have this intense sexy reaction to him? A man she had disliked her entire life even though she had never known him or talked to him before? Get away from him, an inner feeling urged. He was over six feet of danger to her peace of mind. A kiss would only make things worse. There was no way a kiss would have positive results.
“No,” she whispered without moving an inch.
He slipped his hand behind her head, cupping her head lightly. “This is something we both want,” he whispered, his gaze lowering to her mouth. “I have since we were standing on the porch this afternoon.”
Her lips parted, tingled in anticipation. She was lost to his seductive ways and her own desire, the volatile chemistry between them, her own foolishness.
He leaned down, slowly, tantalizingly. His tongue stroked her lower lip and then he brushed her mouth with his own. Electricity streaked as swiftly as a bolt of lightning flashing outside. Her insides knotted while she slid an arm around his neck. She moved as if she were a puppet with someone else pulling the strings.
His arm tightened around her waist, drawing her more tightly against him.
His kiss scalded, teased. Lust burst in her, sending sparks through her being. She wanted him, needing to touch and kiss and make love. Yet the nagging knowledge that she was kissing a Benton persisted for minutes until his kiss demolished her concern.
Her sigh was consumed by his mouth over hers. When he leaned over her, she tightened her arm around his neck, her body molding to his long, hard strength. Her heart drummed as need built. She wanted him to keep kissing her, longed to run her hands over him.
Fireworks burst in her. His spectacular kisses thawed resistance, escalating her longing and response. She pressed against him to hold him tighter, kissing him with all her being, intending to make him melt and give in to her requests. Caution no longer existed.
His tongue stroked hers; she kissed him deeply in return, slowly thrusting her tongue over his. The faint moans of pleasure were hers. Her hand went to his shirt to twist free top buttons and slip her fingers across his warm, muscled chest.
Running his hands through her hair, he sent pins tumbling and auburn locks falling.
Hot, low inside her, need heightened. She craved him with a hunger that built with each kiss.
Jake’s hand slipped down her back to her waist, sliding lightly over her bottom.
His breathing was as ragged as hers and beneath her hand his heartbeat raced. Caressing her nape, he trailed his fingers to her throat, drifting lower lightly down over her breast to her waist.
As he caressed her, the tingling electricity finally sent a warning that broke through her stormy senses. Moving mechanically, she stepped back a fraction to stop their kisses.
“Jake, wait. This is getting out of hand. I never intended this to happen and neither did you.”
He framed her face with his hands. “You never expected it to happen when you came to my place. From the moment we faced each other on the porch, we both wanted to kiss. It was inevitable. I still desire you and you still want me to kiss you because it shows in your expression.”
With his words her heart raced faster. He was right and it was obvious, but that didn’t make it acceptable. He had nothing to lose. She definitely did.
“Okay, so it shows. Common sense tells me to stop. You and I aren’t friends. That’s a prerequisite to me for someone to be a lover. An extremely close friend.”
Her heart raced as she talked and her gaze was held by his that conveyed his desire. She wanted to lean the last few inches and return to his steamy kisses. He was on target totally, but she had some resistance. Reminding herself of her mission and that he was a Benton, she moved away. “I think we should stop dancing and go back to conversation,” she said, heading toward a sofa. She turned to glance at him.
He stood watching her. Locks of his brown hair had fallen across his forehead. His tight jeans revealed his desire that hadn’t diminished. Even with distance between them, his expression held lust. His gaze roamed slowly over her and his perusal might as well have been a caress.
Tingling, her body sent entirely different signals from what her logic conveyed. Without taking his gaze from hers, he crossed the room to her. Each step closer made her heart flutter faster. He walked up to her, wrapping his arms around her, bending to kiss her. It was a demanding, possessive kiss that seared and made her weak in the knees.
His hand locked behind her head, his fingers tangling in her hair while he kissed her and shattered her resistance. She pressed against him, losing the battle willingly, pouring kisses back while she clung to him with her arm around his neck. Her other hand roamed down his back and then across the strong column of his neck. Her fingers combed through his short, thick hair. She was never going to forget Jake’s kisses. The fleeting thought was as unwanted as his kisses should have been.
Why did he have such a devastating effect?
She didn’t care why or how threatening they were. His kisses made her want more of him, made her respond and moan with pleasure. Kisses that locked in memory as they awakened needs long dormant, exploded longing and imagination.
When his hands began to free the buttons of her shirt, she gathered her wits to take another stand.
“Jake, stop now. I have to.” She gasped for air, looking up at him, fighting the temptation to rake her fingers through his unruly locks to comb them off his forehead.
Giving her a searching look, he released her. “Want a glass of water or anything to drink?” he asked suddenly. When she declined, he turned and left the room.
She didn’t know if he had to put distance between them to help them both cool or just wanted a drink. Whatever the reason, she wel
comed his absence and was grateful he had left her. While her heart raced, her breathing sounded as if she had just run a race.
Why, oh, why had she found this excitement and magnetism with Jake Benton—literally the worst person she could think of to feel drawn to.
On the other hand, she should seize the moment, take advantage of the heat between them—as he would—and try to win his cooperation about selling to her.
She glanced at the rain that was coming down harder again. She was in for hours more with Jake and she intended to make the most of them without yielding to his seductive lovemaking.
She sat on the sofa, still conscious of the slight brush of their fingers as he joined her to sit near her.
“When do we return to business?” she asked.
“How about next week when I’ve had time to think about this? You’ve known you want to buy back the property, but this is all new to me since late afternoon.”
“Why do I suspect you’re stalling, although I don’t know why you would. Maybe the prospect of seduction tonight is keeping you from flinging a refusal at me.”
One corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “That’s a sufficient enough reason,” he said, turning to look into her eyes. Tingling again, she drew a deep breath.
“I don’t know why I have this reaction to you,” she admitted.
One dark eyebrow arched. “Man, beautiful woman, there it is,” he said. “Elemental.”
“Not even remotely elemental,” she replied. “I hate to admit to you, few men have the effect you’ve had.”
Something flickered in the depths of his eyes and his chest expanded as he drew a deep breath.
“Oh, my, I shouldn’t have divulged that to you,” she said, her pulse drumming again.
“No, you shouldn’t have if you want me to keep my distance. Remarks like that—there’s no way in hell I can sit back and say, ‘How nice.’” He moved closer. His arm went around her waist and he lifted her to his lap.
Her instant protest ended as his mouth met hers and they kissed again. Her heart pounded while she clung to him, kissing him hungrily. He cradled her against his shoulder, kissing her while his free hand ran over her hip and along her thigh, sliding up to her breast to stroke in slow circles that taunted even through her lacy bra and cotton shirt.
Fiery tingles radiated from his touch. She should have left well enough alone, but the thought was dim and slid away. Desire surged in a scalding heat running in her veins.
His hand slipped down over her stomach, inching lower between her thighs. Even through her heavy jeans, she could feel his touch as if it were fire.
With an effort she sat up. While she gasped for breath, she gripped his wrist to hold his free hand. “You stop. I shouldn’t have told you what I did. We’ve gone too far too fast.”
“Not at all,” he argued in a husky, gravelly tone.
She slipped off his lap to the other end of the sofa where she turned to face him. His hooded gaze indicated he still wanted her.
“We should get on some safe topic. Tell me about your hobbies. Your brother and your parents. Your controlling father that meddles in your life.”
“My father is the last thing I want to discuss or even think about tonight. I’ve been enjoying the evening beyond the obvious frustrations. I do not need to drag anger back into my life.” He stood. “I’m getting a beer. Want something else? Soft drink? How about homemade lemonade? Juice, milk, wine, martini, any mixed drink—whatever you like?”
“I’ll have that lemonade, please, which sounds absolutely wonderful.”
“I won’t tell you what sounds absolutely wonderful to me,” he said, his suggestive drawl conveying a double entendre that was as sizzling as his touch.
“Stop that, Jake. No flirting, no more remarks that are personal.”
“Aw, shucks,” he drawled, making her chuckle. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“Humor me. I caused the last crisis, but we can avoid future ones.”
“If my kisses are a ‘crisis,’ then I have no intentions of avoiding flirting with you.”
“Go get the beer and lemonade,” she said quietly, wanting to end the volatile conversation that could put them back in each other’s arms easily.
She watched him walk away, a masculine stride that was purposeful, hinting of the excellent physical condition he must be in.
Her thoughts were filled with guilt. Why, oh, why had she flirted with him so openly when she had known what the consequences would be?
She couldn’t understand her reaction to him, couldn’t explain it. It didn’t happen with other men, but that definitely did not make Jake “Mr. Right.” He was Mr. Wrong in so many ways.
She thought about her grandmother who would be shaking her head and frowning at the idea of spending an evening in the company of a Benton. She never could have explained a relationship with a Benton to her grandmother. Grandmother had been furious with Will for going out with Brittany Benton.
If Will knew she was with Jake tonight, he would be disgusted because of the lifelong competition between the two in school and sports. Then again, perhaps he would shrug it off that she was spending time with Jake because Will also held a low opinion of her, as well. She thought Will had been dazzled by Brittany at first. She also suspected he liked sneaking around, getting away with something that would annoy both families because it stirred talk and envy among his peers.
Jake returned with a cold bottle of beer for himself and a tall, frosty glass of lemonade for her, placing the drinks on a table in front of the sofa.
Only a few feet away, he sat, facing her, and taking a drink of beer.
“The lemonade is delicious.”
“I can’t take credit. I have a cook.”
“Does your cook live in town?”
“Nope. His wife cooks for the men on the ranch and they live in a house here on the ranch. Our foreman also has a house of his own. We’ve got a big complex with several homes.”
“I noticed when I came in.”
“I meant it when I said you could have been arrested for trespassing if you had been caught.”
“I figured since I obviously wasn’t coming to steal livestock and I’m a woman, they would give me time to explain what I was doing and at worst, run me off your property. I really didn’t expect to get arrested. Besides, the sheriff is a cousin of my foreman.”
Jake smiled. “You’re probably right then. It’s a long ride by horseback.”
“Whatever it takes to talk to the untouchable Benton.”
“Definitely never untouchable to you. I’ll be happy to convince you just how ‘touchable’ I am,” he teased.
“Don’t you dare,” she answered, smiling at him. He caught a lock of her hair, twisting it in his fingers and causing slight tugs on her scalp that were as noticeable as every other physical contact.
“So, Caitlin, what do you want in your future?” Jake asked.
“To continue my photography. To marry and have a family.”
“What happens to the photography when you marry and have a family?”
“I’ll juggle them the way others do. I have leeway to set my own hours for a lot of my work. What’s your future, Jake? No marriage, no family, continue to make money.”
“Right. No change, really.”
“You’ve grown up in basically the same surroundings I have, yet our families have been totally different. You have a controlling father and siblings. My father didn’t want to acknowledge my existence and my grandmother raised me. I have a half brother, but I might as well be an only child, because Will cared nothing for me.”
“That must have hurt.”
She gazed into blue eyes that hid his feelings. He looked as impassive as if talking about the weather. “I was adopted when I was only weeks old, so I have had my grandmother all my life and she showered love on me. I was happy with her and loved her totally. It hurt to be snubbed and rejected, but not deeply. I don’t feel scarred from it. I just don’t want
it to happen again to a child of mine,” she said, facing Jake and getting a strange feeling inside. Seduction could lead to an unexpected pregnancy, a baby born out of wedlock, just as she had been. She didn’t want that to happen to a child of hers and the one way to ensure it didn’t, was to stay out of any man’s bed.
“So seduction is out of the question tonight,” Jake remarked lightly as if teasing her, but she was certain the remark was made in earnest.
“Most definitely,” she answered quickly. How easily she answered, yet how difficult it was to stick by her resolution.
They sat and talked with Jake touching locks of her hair or her shoulder or lightly caressing her nape. Casual touches that she didn’t care to draw attention to, yet they were fanning flames. Finally, she stood. “Jake, it’s late. I should turn in.”
“Sure, I’ll show you a guest bedroom.”
When she walked with him down a long hall, he pointed out different rooms. She stopped to look at an enormous dining room with a table that would seat thirty, a cathedral ceiling and a stone fireplace. “Do you ever have this many guests to fill this table?”
“Yes. Parties. There are times I have a lot of company out here. Gabe and I will have things together. There are family parties, too.”
“Do your parents spend much time here?”
“Nope. Dad has a ranch in the Hill Country where the area is green and scenic. This place was our family ranch, but Dad deeded it to me and gave Gabe another one he owned.”
She nodded. “How nice. A father who passes things on to more than the oldest child. Of course, mine wouldn’t have passed anything on to me if I had been the oldest child. I told you, I never dreamed Will would sell the place. Neither did our father who would have put binding stipulations on Will had he known. I’m sure he assumed Will would always live there. He left money to me, but nothing else. No part of the ranch.”
“I’ll have to admit, I’m glad Will sold out. Our family has wanted that ranch for generations. The sale has brought you into my life, which is a bonus.”
They strolled down the wide hall again until he turned into a suite. “These are my rooms. You’ll be nearby, but I wanted you to see where I am.” She looked at the living area that held a desk, an entertainment center, comfortable sofas and chairs, a wall of bookshelves. On a nearby table she noticed a picture of a beautiful brown-haired woman standing beside a horse.
