by Lori Ryan
Lifting up, he ran his hands down her stomach, stopping when he felt the waistband of her jeans. He unfastened the button and quickly divested her of her pants and underwear, leaving her completely naked underneath him.
His breath caught in his throat as he stared down at her gorgeous body. She was the perfect mix of sultry beauty and ethereal grace, an image he would never tire of looking at.
“What?” she said, her voice coming up with an unusual shyness. She glanced around, as though realizing where they were and what they were doing.
When she moved to cover herself, he caught her wrists and stopped her. “You’re so damn beautiful, my body literally aches to be inside you. Please don’t hide it from me.”
She tilted her head, her eyes narrowed.
“You don’t believe me?” he asked, pressing his hips into hers.
She laughed, a wicked smile lighting her eyes. “I believe you,” she said. “But it looks like you’re overdressed.”
He grinned and obliged her unspoken demand, quickly shucking his clothes, then grabbing a condom from his wallet before tossing the clothes and wallet to the floor.
His erection was already pounding hard to the pulse of his heart. Spreading her legs wide, he nestled his hips between them, tugging her body closer.
Her eyes sparkled and smiled with an expression that he hoped spoke of her anticipation. She tilted her head, the blue tips of her long black hair sliding over her dark skin. He’d never seen anything so arousing or erotic in his life.
He slid his hands around her hips, moving them higher, knowing they didn’t have a lot of time. He cupped one breast, massaging and kneading with his fingers. Rolling a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, he pulled gently, knowing she had sensitive breasts.
Lina let out a soft moan, pressing into him.
“Jake,” she cried, her head lolling.
He moved his hand lower until he slipped several fingers between her slick thighs.
“Jake,” she called out again, rocking her hips against his hand.
His fingers moved in tandem with her movements, pushing her higher. He didn’t know how long he’d be able to wait, but he wanted to make her come, to see the look of sheer pleasure on her face when she reached that moment of pure bliss.
He pulled his hand away and laughed when she groaned in protest. He loved how responsive her body was to him.
“Condom,” she said.
He tore open the package in record speed, tossing the packet over his shoulder with a mental note to dispose of it later or Paula would kill him.
Lina watched him closely as he rolled on the condom. “Let me,” she said, reaching down and grasping him.
He pulled back. “No way. You touch me and this will be over in thirty seconds.”
She smirked. “Yeah, I don’t want that.”
He rolled the condom on and leaned toward her, taking her mouth in a savage kiss. She met him with as much passion as he had as he lifted her to slide onto his erection.
“Spread for me,” he said.
She did as he said and he sucked in a ragged breath as he sank into her, her slick heat surrounding him in the kind of pleasure that only came in dreams and fantasies. Or so he thought.
“Christ, you’re magnificent,” he said, straining to keep himself from coming as he watched her arch her back and writhe underneath him.
“Jake, please,” she moaned.
He smiled. She was just as lost as he was. “Please what?” he asked.
She narrowed her eyes, lips slightly parted.
He bit back a laugh, knowing he’d pushed his luck far enough. Slowly he rocked up inside her, using the back of the futon as leverage to drive deep within her.
“Oh, my God,” she sighed, her head sagging.
He gripped her hips tighter, lifting her so that he pulled almost all the way out before thrusting in again. She was so wet and ready, so damned perfect.
“Faster,” she said.
Yeah, he could do that, although he didn’t really want to. He never wanted this feeling to end. Being inside Lina was like heaven. No woman had ever made him so desperate, so wound and ready to explode.
He felt himself building, the electric current crawling up his spine as he grew thicker inside her.
“Oh, Jake.”
“Touch yourself,” he said.
“No,” she panted. “You. It feels so good when you touch me.”
Good God, how could he say no to that?
“Yes, yes,” she moaned, as he found her center with his thumb and teased her as he continued to thrust inside of her.
He leaned on one elbow, balancing himself as he slid his mouth across her breast, his teeth pinching her nipple again. Suddenly, she exploded, spasming around him, her cries echoing through the empty room.
He followed with his own release, pressing into her with one last, deep thrust as he fell against her, limp in her arms.
“God,” she sighed.
Yeah, God.
Sex with Lina was incredible. The thought hit him suddenly that he wouldn’t be in Canyon Creek forever. How the hell was he going to live without this, without her hot sexy body wrapped around his?
With that thought gnawing at the edges of his mind, he slid out of her.
“Oh,” she groaned as she rolled to the side and closed her legs.
He knew the feeling. He missed being inside her too.
He removed the condom and grabbed the wrapper, looking around for something to put the trash in so he could shove it in the garbage can. The last thing he wanted was for Lina’s boss to find the evidence of what they’d just done.
“Jake, we need to get going.” Lina was already pulling her clothes on, and for some reason, the act bothered him. He wanted long, lazy Sundays in bed with her naked in his arms, not rushed sex where they had to hide the evidence and hurry out afterward.
He pulled her to him, halting her progress and brushed back a few loose tendrils of hair, his fingers skimming across the smooth skin of her face. She was void of makeup, not that she needed any. She was beautiful no matter what her state. But breathless and flushed from their love making, she was gorgeous.
Love making? Where the hell had that come from?
“Jake? What’s wrong?” He found Lina looking at him, her brows furrowed.
He shook his head. This wasn’t love, it was sex. She’d made that perfectly clear when they’d first slept together and besides, it was all he could offer her. He had a life and career to return to, and a daughter who needed him. Who needed as uncomplicated a life as he could offer her at the moment.
She grinned at him and glanced at his wallet. He knew what she was thinking.
“I have one more,” he said. He’d put two condoms in his wallet when he refilled it after they’d made love—no, had sex—the first time. Call him an optimist.
He glanced at her, trying to fight a smirk.
She glanced from the door to the futon. “Maybe we can be quick?”
“Pretty sure I just showed you how quick,” he said, but he was already moving toward her.
Her eyes went from his to his wallet. Slowly she reached out and took the billfold in her hand, pulling the condom from it. “This time I want to be on top. I want to see you come.”
Oh. Hell. He was hard as stone again. He loved how vocal and confident this woman was. He was used to women playing coy whether they knew it or not.
Not Lina.
She stared down at his ever-growing mid-section. “Looks like someone’s ready.” She smirked.
“Always, for you.”
She quirked a brow.
“Put it on,” he demanded.
“So bossy.” She laughed but he noticed she followed his instructions.
He moved toward her, and waited as she put on the condom, before backing toward the futon and sitting down
She stared down at him, licking her lips like he was an all-you-can-eat buffet. Her long, lean leg stalked toward him before settling f
irst one knee on the side of his hip, then the other. She squeezed her thighs like a vice. One he’d gladly be locked in for the foreseeable future.
Or more, something inside him offered. He ignored it.
He held himself, lining his erection against her entrance.
Her eyes met his, her gaze lust-filled and heated as she slowly sunk down on him.
“Oh, Jake,” she sighed, letting her entire body fall against him, arms wrapping around his neck.
And just like that, he was lost to her all over again. The thought occurred to him that he would be happy to never be found.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Lina pulled on her shirt and pants, trying not to feel like a slut. She’d just had sex in her boss’s office. Twice. It didn’t get much sluttier than that.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked as he dressed beside her.
She glanced up but averted her gaze when she met his eyes. Except for the setting, it felt so right, so normal, two people getting dressed side-by-side. Something she could get used to if that other person was Jake.
She shook her head, reminding herself that this was just sex. She didn’t do commitment. Besides, Jake would be gone soon. And he had a daughter—a daughter Lina was totally falling in love with, but still. She would never be anyone’s mother, let alone stepmother. She’d decided that a long time ago.
Holy hell, she’d practically just married them off in her head.
“Lina?” Jake stepped closer.
She tugged on the rest of her clothes and smoothed back her hair, rushing to tidy up the small space. “Um, nothing. We really need to finish straightening up downstairs, then get the cash register cleared for the night.”
Without waiting for his answer, she raced down the stairs and put away the last of the children’s books before rushing to check the remaining aisles. A tingle raced up and down her spine. She knew Jake was behind her. She worked hard not to think of the delicious way he felt buried deep inside her.
“I can hear your mind racing,” he said.
She knew better than to look at him. Jake had built his career on sizing people up, seeing inside them for their true motives. It’s how he operated.
“I’m just thinking of how much we have to do, and we have like,” she glanced down at her watch. “We’ve only got thirty minutes before the diner closes, and I really wanted their fries with cheese and chili sauce.”
“Calm down, Cinderella.” He laughed.
She stood and stared at him.
“What?” The look on his face said he was still joking and only mildly puzzled by her response.
And just like that, all thoughts of a relationship were gone. She was Cinderella, banished to serve, and he was Prince Charming, living in his happy castle.
“Nothing,” she muttered, moving to the front of the store. She opened the register and started to count out the money inside.
“I hear your video is getting a lot of views,” he said.
She glanced over her shoulder, happy to see him straightening the chairs in the reading area at the front of the store.
“Yeah, apparently.” She didn’t want the reminder of her fifteen minutes of fame. It wasn’t something she was entirely comfortable with.
“One woman commented that you inspired her to speak up at a meeting of her homeowner’s association. They were planning to put a pool in where there’s currently a small park and wildlife area.”
“That’s good, I guess.” She shrugged, not really wanting to call attention to herself by being some kind of folk hero.
“Another commenter said he is pulling together a group to object to a builder who’s applying for zoning that would uproot old growth forest in his area that isn’t protected. You’re helping people to find their passion and speak up like you did.”
“Mm hmm,” she murmured.
“So, have you found yours yet?” he asked, sounding hopeful.
“Found what?”
“Your passion,” he said, coming closer.
Had she? The thought of being with him flickered through her mind but she smothered the thought as quickly as it had sparked.
“I’ve gotten a few calls and emails from organizations,” she said.
“What do they want?”
She finished with the cash register, shutting the drawer and turning with the cash envelope in hand. “Some wanted to know if they could use part of my speech on their website. There are a few podcasts that want me to come on their shows. One organization is interested in hiring me.”
“Seriously?” He stood and stared at her.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
He tilted his head. “You’re really defensive tonight. What’s going on?”
What was going on? Maybe that she felt like a fish caught in the evening tide, slammed around, with no idea which way was up. Jake had her thinking all kinds of thoughts she had no business thinking. Hoping for things that couldn’t be.
Lina jumped at the sound of a knock on the glass at the front of the store. She looked up to see Maggie and Ben waving and pointing to the front door.
Oh, fantastic. She prayed the heat she felt in her cheeks wasn’t visible as she wondered if Maggie and Ben might figure out what they were just doing upstairs.
“Everything all right?” Maggie asked when Lina swung open the front door.
“Yes,” Lina answered a little too quickly. “Um, yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“You just look a little off.” Maggie looked past Lina to Jake and back again.
“Hey guys.” Jake butted up behind Lina, taking the door in his hands and cradling her like they were a couple. “What’s up?”
“We were heading to dinner and saw you through the window,” Maggie said, her gaze still scrutinizing.
Lina felt Jake’s gaze on her but didn’t look at him. She kept her eyes on Maggie. “It’s not what it looks like,” she blurted out. “Jake needed a book for Becca. I just let him stay after closing to find the right gift.”
“I think it’s exactly what it looks like,” Ben smiled.
Maggie swatted his shoulder. “Well, um,” she sputtered, in a very un-Maggie way, “we’ll leave you to it. Maybe we’ll see you over at the diner in a bit?”
“Five,” Lina practically shouted. “Five minutes.” She ducked under Jake’s arm and practically ran back into the store, her face flushed as she made a beeline for the office. This so wasn’t what she needed. Hadn’t she escaped this kind of scrutiny once before?
“Nice,” she heard Ben say, and what sounded like a clap.
“We’ll see you at the diner in a bit,” Jake said.
She ran up the stairs and darted into the office door. She avoided looking at the futon as she spun the dial on the small safe under Paula’s desk, quickly shoving the cash inside. Without meaning to, she slammed the door closed and stood, smoothing back her hair. She could do this, she could remain unaffected.
As she bolted for the door she glanced behind her one last time, staring at the futon where just moments ago Jake had taken her to a place she’d never been before. A place she wanted to live in.
Shaking her head to rid her thoughts of dreams that would never happen, she clicked off the lights and closed the door, stepping down the stairs.
“Lina’s hungry,” she heard Jake say as she wandered through the shelves to the front of the store. Why hadn’t he just let Maggie and Ben leave?
“I bet,” Ben said with a light chuckle.
“Ben,” Maggie gasped.
Lina’s face heated first with embarrassment, then with anger. What was Jake thinking? He should be trying to cover for them, not high-fiving his brother.
“See you in a bit,” Ben said. “Bye, Lina,” he called, louder, his voice carrying to where she was.
She didn’t even glance up, just waved, relieved when she heard the front door jangle as it opened.
Jake’s footsteps sounded in front of her a moment later.
“Well,” Jake laug
hed, “that was awkward.”
She jerked her head up and glared at him. “It didn’t seem like that for you. How could you?”
“How could I what?” he asked.
“You basically told Ben we were messing around in here,” she seethed.
He raised his brows. “Uh, we were, Lina.”
“Yeah, but they don’t need to know that. I work here. And in case you forgot, I also work for your family at the lodge. What we did was completely inappropriate.”
“Don’t worry, I know the owner at the lodge, I can put in a good word.” He winked.
Jerk. He totally didn’t get it.
Her eyes narrowed. “That must be nice for you but some of us have to live here. I don’t want to be known as that girl who sleeps with the boss’s son or has sex in public places where anyone might catch her.”
Jake stepped closer, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “What’s the big deal? Maggie and Ben were having sex in the cabins before they were officially dating and nobody cared. Well, except housekeeping.” He laughed.
Dating? She and Jake weren’t dating, and they never would be. The reminder cut at her, but it was a big joke to him.
She shook her head, trying to avoid the vortex of sexual energy emanating from Jake. She needed to keep her guard up around him.
“Look, I don’t think this is a good idea.” She glanced around the room, anything to avoid his eyes.
“What’s that?”
She stared at him.
He stood tall, hands on hips, looking confident in a way she wasn’t and never would be.
“I don’t think I should go with you to the fundraiser this weekend.” Better to cut things off now.
“Why? There will be lots of people you could make contacts with.”
That was true. She had been looking forward to speaking with some of the people working to bring commerce and conservation together. She could learn a lot that could apply to their situation in Canyon Creek.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other anymore,” she said.
He moved closer and she stepped back, bumping into a table.
“Stop seeing each other. As in, stop having sex?”
She nodded, unable to breath. He looked so good in his gray Henley shirt and worn jeans, hair still mussed from earlier.
