by Karen Cote'
Anger flashed across his face and in a controlled move, he tossed down the entire contents of the scotch she’d poured. He set the glass down on the nearby coffee table and leaned forward to brace his elbows on his knees.
With his head bent, he spoke to his hands. “You could stay here and communicate with Bailer by phone. Let him resolve the situation before you move back.”
The words were uttered with such obvious reluctance; Lily suddenly lost the desire for alcohol. She plopped her glass down on the floor beside her and flung back against the couch.
“You just said you wanted me to leave.”
He turned to look up at her. “I believe I said it was better if you left.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Semantics.”
The lines around his eyes crinkled and he leaned back to join her, putting his shoulder perilously close to her long splayed-out hair.
She sought out a topic to take her mind off how near he was.
“So what about yourself. Do you have any family?”
“A sister. My mother died a few years ago,” he said, frustratingly brief.
Was she imagining it or did he not want to talk about his personal life?
“What about your father?”
He shrugged. “I never knew him.”
No elaboration there, either. She tried again.
“Is your sister the reason you moved back to Windom Hills?”
“One of them.”
He cut off further questioning by the simple action of picking up a lock of her hair. He rubbed the golden silk through his fingers and darn if it didn’t turn her limbs to Jell-O.
“Is this color real or is it from a bottle?”
The heat in his gaze burned away any offense at his question. Helpless, Lily could only nod.
“We’re in trouble, Lily. Damn it,” Jet swore softly and clasped his hand around her neck to draw her toward him.
Lily sighed and her eyes slid closed, this time ready to savor the firmness of his mouth.
At first, it was feather light. Then he began playing first with a modest increase before receding. His tongue darted out to skip along the seam of her mouth and the erotic tease ignited Lily’s desire to taste more. She rose up to press against him, but a hand on her rib cage checked the movement. In confusion, she backed away, but he wouldn’t allow that either. His lips remained poised above hers, a hand stroking at the base of her breast.
“Be sure about this, Lily,” he whispered.
He was delegating this decision to her. What was there to think about? Her attachment to him was overwhelming with strong emotional elements. Love? Rational people didn’t fall this quickly. It had to be that entire hero-worship thing.
Anyway, who knew the next time she’d come this close to a little happiness? Tomorrow they’d say goodbye. No harm. No foul.
Her heart called up a soft cry for protection, but she drowned it out and buried her face against his neck. With his scent assailing her nostrils, she touched her tongue to the smooth skin.
Jet stiffened, but didn’t draw away. Encouraged she pressed her mouth over the wet area and sucked. Jet’s throat contracted in a swallow and the pressure of her mouth intensified.
He groaned and pulled her chin up muttering against her lips. “I think you left a mark.”
“Mmm, sorry.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth to receive the soul-destroying kiss she’d been craving. The swirl of his tongue made her dizzy from the tantalizing dance and she trapped it to gently vacuum the tip.
He broke contact and said in a thick voice, “Baby, that mouth of yours is lethal.”
He grabbed her hips and straddled her over his lap. Oh yeah. She inched up to get closer, but her knee collided with his holstered gun.
“Undo the buckle,” he said huskily, pushing her back to give her space to access it.
Lily clumsily fumbled with the front of the duty belt and heard Jet’s muffled curse and laughter.
“On second thoughts, better let me do it.”
After unfastening the belt, he shifted forward to pull it from behind him and Lily threw her head back at the frontal collision.
“Steady,” Jet soothed before casting the heavy belt aside.
The loud thump on the floor shattered Lily’s concentration and she jumped with an instinctive turn of her head.
“Your gun could’ve gone off,” she protested.
“A man can only hope.”
Not slow to the innuendo, Lily giggled, but it melted when he pulled her toward him again. She sighed and sank into him, her breasts pushing against his chest only to wince at the hard metal of his badge.
“That’s quite a hazardous uniform you’ve got there, Sheriff,” she muttered, her frustration belying the mocking words.
Jet quickly identified the problem and before she knew it, she was on her back with him above her. He unbuttoned his shirt and Lily gave a small pout at the brown t-shirt beneath. He smiled and pulled the outer shirttails out of his pants to shrug it off and toss it aside. He leaned down to her and Lily ran her fingers up his forearms, to rock-hard biceps and then over the thin cotton that covered his chest.
He kissed her long and deep, his hands making their own way over her body. He pulled one of her thighs up to his waist and stroked the silky backside before trailing up past her hips to her rib cage. His thumb caressed the underside of her breast.
His breathing intensified, thrilling Lily at the effect she was having on him. His kisses escalated to white hot. Strong white teeth took little nips at her bottom lip before soothing the sting with his tongue. The mix of pain and erotic pleasure almost shot Lily over the edge.
Jet, apparently losing the last vestige of his control, slipped her robe off. He paused to gaze down at the firm full globes and small golden patch.
“Beautiful and natural,” he breathed and then lowered his head.
His tongue stroked over her hardened nipple before his moist lips covered the dark areole to suck deeply.
Lily moaned, her hands luxuriating in the thick vitality of his hair. The texture of his t-shirt reminded her she was naked while he still had most of his clothes on. She tugged on it and he shifted to accommodate her frantic movements.
Lily’s breath caught at the wide expanse that greeted her. A dark triangle of hair arrowed down to a flat stomach and from her position, the view was fabulous. Not too hairy, but oh my, testosterone flowed beneath her fingers as she tangled them in the dark hair. She found his nipples and Jet shuddered as he moved forward to kiss down her jaw to the side of her neck. Soft chest hairs brushed against her bare breasts, shooting bolts of pleasure through her.
She squeezed her legs together to signal her readiness, but Jet wasn’t finished yet. He stroked and teased until Lily growled and wrapped her legs around his waist to surge up against his groin.
With a guttural sound, he jumped up and removed something from his pocket. A condom. With an urgent hand, he reached for his belt buckle, but Lily stopped it.
“Let me,” and rose to her knees.
His lids were heavy as he watched her work at the fastening of his pants. She slid both his uniform and boxer briefs down simultaneously and the beauty and bounty of him spilled out in front of her.
“Oh my!”
No small size in the pharmacy aisle for him. Apprehension mixed with fascination at the full extent of his thickness and length. In wondrous desire, she reached out to wrap her fingers around the velvet hardness.
Jet made a negative sound and jerked her hand away. “I won’t last,” he muttered.
In one fluid motion, he pushed her back and slid between her legs. He guided the head of his penis to her entry and Lily eagerly wrapped her legs around his waist.
With a muffled oath, Jet thrust his hips and penetrated causing Lily to gasp at the thick pressure. She panted, urging him on and sobbed in distress at the tight barrier resisting complete copulation.
“Shh. Relax, baby,”
he coaxed to calm her, but his voice was strained.
Jet closed his eyes and moisture beaded on his forehead. He bent his head to press slow sensuous kisses against her mouth and the tingling transmissions foraged a path to her core.
“That’s it, honey,” he said hoarsely, “now just put your legs a little higher.”
Lily complied to meet Jet’s flexing muscles as he rocked back and forth to ease his way in. Soon, her body began accepting all of him with a mixture of pleasure and pain as he thrust once more to push himself into the hilt. He allowed her to get used to the fullness before carving a rhythm of penetration with withdrawals and gentle thrusts.
The beauty of Jet inside her thrilled Lily beyond any discomfort. To the contrary, the complete oneness brought her to a higher arousal than before. Warning signals beat a path into her brain, but he felt too good, too right, to stop. She closed her mind to the fear and hailed the moment until it was too late and she willingly surrendered to the spiraling abyss, floating along in sensuous pleasure.
Jet drew out every ounce, letting her ride the waves while she instinctively milked him. With her cries reduced to moans, his movements became harder and faster. His breathing escalated to the pumping of his climax and with a final thrust, he came amidst shuddering and jerking.
Lily reveled in the unity and savored the merging of body and soul as his hot semen spurted into her.
Spurted into me? Uh-oh. The validation of her suspicions appeared in the utter stillness of Jet’s body.
With his forehead dripping sweat, he drew back. Seconds later, he broke the connection and Lily winced at the dragging motion. Warm fluid rushed out to pool onto the cushions beneath her.
“Tell me you’re on some type of birth control,” Jet said, grabbing his pants.
Lily struggled between vulnerability and emotional chaos. “I-I’m not, but as long as you’re healthy it’s okay.”
His exclamation cut off anything else she would’ve said and he swung away to disappear into the adjoining bathroom.
* * * *
Jet flushed the shredded condom down the toilet and went to the sink to wash his hands. He stared blindly at his reflection, unable to believe he was here again.
Of course, it was a different woman and the circumstances weren’t quite the same, but it didn’t dilute the result. He’d put himself at risk to another female.
He should’ve known something like this could happen. Hell, she’d been tight enough to suck chrome off a trailer hitch, how could he expect a condom to weather the pressure? The memory caused a twitch of betrayal in his pants and Jet cursed.
The last time he’d let his dick do all the thinking, he’d ended up married with a baby on the way…someone else’s. He hadn’t found out that particular morsel until Celeste miscarried. The deluge of emotions of a miscarriage with a child that wasn’t his had been the lowest point in Jet’s life.
The coincidence of Lily doing the same thing as Celeste all those years ago wasn’t likely. Especially as he’d had control of the condom the entire time.
Still, this letdown to himself was strong and hard to forgive. Could he handle another unplanned pregnancy even if the child was his? Would he marry her? It was too reminiscent of his previous scars and the excruciating decisions forced upon him then. Decisions no man should have to regret. At least not like that.
* * * *
Lily scrubbed at the small stain with the kitchen towel. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t stand before that perfect specimen of manhood and admit she was only half a woman.
The bathroom door opened and Lily glanced up to the hard implacability of Jet’s face. His distant and alien facade told her she’d made the right decision.
He began pulling on the rest of his clothes and it wasn’t until he was fully dressed that he spoke.
“I’m sorry, Lily. This isn’t your fault. It was a mistake, that’s all.”
He picked up his gun and finally looked at her, his gaze long and steady.
“You were engaged to be married, how is it you’re not on the pill?”
Lily debated on answering and decided to tell the partial truth.
“Anthony had a vasectomy years ago.”
It had been a factor in Lily’s acceptance to Anthony’s proposal, as she wouldn’t be depriving him of a family.
Jet looked away and drew in a deep breath.
“I’d better sleep in the blazer for the rest of the night.” He seemed uncertain, which Lily could swear rarely happened. “I’ll call you later.”
He walked out of the room and this time didn’t bother telling her to lock the doors.
The morning sun through the windows didn’t brighten the doom and gloom that greeted Lily. A feeling made worse by her empty driveway.
Jet had referred to last night as a mistake. After that, he’d scurried out the door as if wild beasts were chasing him. He’d probably made the promise to call her later in hopes she’d be on her way back to the city by then. Hence, his avoidance of her this morning.
The sense of abandonment came with a thick ache in her throat. Stupidity plagued Lily’s pride, but it paled to the empty pain in her heart. She should’ve known she couldn’t be that casual sex type of gal for the simple release of physical gratification. Emotional ties were mandatory to her self-worth and as futile as it were, she cared for Jet Walker. A lot. Once again, she shied away from the actual L-word.
She sniffed and ran a hand under her nose before retrieving her phone and sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Embrace the future,” Lily self-lectured and punched in the number indelibly planted in her memory.
Fred’s ever efficient secretary answered on the first ring.
Lily took in deep breath before saying, “Fred Bailer, please.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Bailer is out of the office.”
“When do you expect him back?” Lily asked.
“Not for some time. May I ask whose calling?”
Lily hesitated but she’d never get any answers unless she identified herself.
“How are you Ms. Marten? It’s Lily Delaney.”
The silence was so long, Lily thought the woman had hung up on her.
Finally, “I’m fine. I hope you’re doing well?”
It wasn’t a warm reception, but it wasn’t quite cold either.
“Yes, I’m good but I need to speak with Fred.”
“I’m afraid Mr. Bailer is out of the country at the moment.”
Taken aback, Lily hadn’t expected that response. “Is there any way to get in touch with him?”
“He’s on safari,” the older woman replied. “He does check in periodically.”
What other choice did she have? “Please have him call me when he does.”
Lily gave her the cell number and hoped the woman passed it along.
She flung her head back against the pillows.
Now what? Fred was paramount to her return to Kansas City and she didn’t dare go back without enlisting his help. If she stayed here, however, not only did she face Jet’s displeasure, she had the matter of that creep from last night to worry about. Surprisingly, her fear over the Peeping Tom didn’t bother her as much today. After all, she’d lived in a big city where the crime was much worse.
She experienced an instant ease of desolation and it pushed her off the bed in dismay. Am I attempting to lessen the threat of a stalker as an excuse not to leave Jet? I’m pathetic.
She decided right then to take Jet’s advice and try out St. Louis.
Depression returned after her shower and Lily dressed in jogging shorts and tank top to battle it.
To her relief, the strenuous activity did help to alleviate her jumbled emotions and even managed to inject a seed of optimism. She arrived back at the house with a ready decision to move on. Reaching into her fanny pack for her door key, a loud banging sound echoed from the back of the house. Her hand stilled and she listened, hearing it again.
She grabbed the mace instead and
quietly hugged the wall along the side of the house, careful not to rustle the growing ivy and alert whoever it was.
A peek around the corner showed a man armed with a hammer and screwdriver. His aim was the padlock she’d installed on the small room next to the basement and it was easy to recognize him as the man from last night. Thinning her lips against being a constant victim, Lily advanced forward, pulled out her cell, and punched in Jet’s number.
Chapter Seven
“What happened with Rachel?” Cheryl demanded, pouring Jet a cup of coffee.
Jet scowled. He loved his sister. She’d been blessed with sun-kissed freckles, rich auburn hair, and a natural integrity few could rival. She’d also take a bullet for him and he’d do anything for her. Except fill her in on his disastrous weekend with Rachel.
After last night’s wild tango with Lily, he’d stopped by Cheryl and Don’s for a little stability, not a catechism.
“Nothing.” He picked up his coffee and blew on it before taking a sip.
Cheryl’s glare made him wonder how in depth her conversation with Rachel had been.
There was nothing wrong with him. Just because he’d spent most of the time fishing didn’t mean anything. And who was Rachel to tell him to call her when he’d gotten over whoever was on his mind? Humph! Some men just needed a sabbatical, that’s all.
His libido winked in mocking reminder of the sizzling, poleaxing sex with Lily the night before. Hell.
He speared Don with a warning glance. His phone beeped and he grabbed at it without checking the number.
“Jet?”
A jarring jolt identified the caller, but it turned to concern at the strain in Lily’s voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone’s trying to break into my house. It’s the guy from last night.”
“I can be there in two minutes,” he said, jumping off the barstool. “Stay inside and lock the doors.”
“I’m already outside and I’m going to confront him.”
“No!” he shouted. Fear sprinted him to the door and out to his truck without so much as an explanation to his sister.
