by Candis Terry
“I don’t—”
This time she silenced him with a kiss.
Jake had always been a man of action. And when he pulled her against his hard body, ran his hands down her back, and cupped her rear cheeks in his big palms, she knew—for the moment—he wasn’t thinking of anything but her.
They could sort out the messy details later.
He held her close for a long beat, and with his erection pressed against her belly, asked, “Are you sure about this?”
“Jake? I am standing in a forest half-naked. Just how much more sure do you need me to be?”
A grin spread across his face. “Completely naked?”
She reached her hands around to her back to undo the hooks of her bra, but he stopped her.
“God.” Briefly he closed his eyes. “Let me do that. You don’t know how many times I’ve pictured it in my head.”
She freed her hands and, beneath the soft cotton of his shirt, slipped them up his chest. Her exploring fingers met taut, warm skin, short soft hairs, and male nipples hardened from arousal. She leaned into him, lifted to her toes, and slowly licked up the side of his throat. “Then don’t let me stop you.”
An appreciative male groan rumbled from deep within his chest as he unhooked her bra with an expert flick of his fingers and lovingly caressed her breasts as they slipped from the bra and into his palms. “You’re playing with fire, girl.”
“Maybe.” The tickling sensation of his rough fingertips on her nipples made it difficult to speak. “But there’s a cool creek right there to douse you in if things get too hot.”
“Please, God, yes. Let things get too hot.”
She nipped his jaw with her teeth. Then she grabbed hold of his shirt from the inside and whipped it off over his head, baring his defined muscles and artful tattoos.
“No more playing, Jake.” She kissed the side of his neck, opened her mouth, and sucked in the salty flesh. A groan of appreciation caught in his throat. “No more talking. Right now I want to make you forget. To make you feel. And only feel.”
“I can handle that.” His hands gripped her butt harder as she worked her mouth farther down to his chest, then slowly licked her way back up to his mouth.
“And when you’re deep inside me, Jake? I only want to hear one thing.”
“What’s that?”
He hissed in a breath as she caught his lower lip between her teeth.
“I want to hear you say more.”
“Dammit, Annie. You drive me crazy.” His arms went tight around her, and he kissed her as if nothing else in the world mattered. As if nothing else existed except her.
He kissed her deep, wet, and hot.
So hot it melted her pants and panties right off her legs. Or at least that’s how she figured she’d ended up standing there naked. She’d been too lost in his kiss to care.
“It’s not fair to keep a lady waiting.” She reached for his belt as he filled his hands with her. Used his mouth to lick, suck, and arouse.
Unzipped, she pushed his Levi’s and navy blue boxer briefs down and off. Then they were both standing there naked to the world and each other. Warm air brushed across the tips of her breasts. His mouth followed, drawing her into that warm, slick recess to tease her into mindlessness. She reached for him, and he pushed his long, thick erection into the palm of her hand. A few slow strokes from base to head quickened his breath.
“Annie? You keep that up, and we may be standing here naked for nothing.”
“Well we certainly can’t have that,” she said, but didn’t release him. Instead she continued to squeeze and stroke while she kissed her way from his mouth, to his ear, then down that incredible chest and those rippled abs. When she reached his navel, he grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Oh hell no.” He leaned his head back and gave a guttural groan. “As much as I want that, I want this more.” He kicked his clothing into a layer of protection for her back from the grass and gravel. Then he lifted her into his arms and laid her down.
“I’ve had about all the teasing I can stand.” He gently brushed her hair away from her face. Kissed her thoroughly, then lifted his head and looked into her eyes while his fingers slipped into the hot, slick folds between her legs. His fingers worked a magic that arched her back and made her moan. “Now I want to be inside you.”
“I want that too.” He swirled his fingers right over her tender flesh, stroking her in such an exquisite way she nearly came undone. “Like five minutes ago.”
He chuckled against her lips. Kissed her so deeply she almost forgot where his fingers were.
Almost.
Like a magician, he pulled a condom packet from behind her ear. “Showtime.”
She laughed, then watched as he tore the package open with his straight white teeth. Goose bumps rippled along her skin in anticipation. Together, they rolled the latex down over his thick shaft. When it was in place, she gave him a squeeze that forced a moan from his throat.
“No guarantees how long this will last,” he murmured, as his erection teased and pulsated against her slick opening. “I’ve been wanting for you for so long.”
She inhaled his hot male scent. “If you’ve got more than one condom, there shouldn’t be a problem,” she whispered. “If you don’t, I might have to kill you.”
His chuckle vibrated through her breasts and warmed her heart.
She’d always wanted Jake.
Always.
“I’ve got more than one and all day to put them to good use.” He kissed her lips. Sucked the lower one into his mouth as he rocked against her pelvis.
“Ahhhh.” She arched her back as he slipped his hand between them and touched her most sensitive flesh. “I knew there was a reason I was so crazy about you.”
He didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His kiss stole her breath. Stole her mind. All teasing stopped as he slid deep inside her.
She tore her mouth free because she couldn’t breathe. She closed her eyes to focus on the delicious sensation of having him inside, filling her more spectacularly than she’d ever imagined all those lonely nights ago.
“You feel so damned good, Annie.” Her name broke from his lips in a rough groan that forced her eyes open. For a moment, he stayed still, growing more even as they caught their breath. Their heated gazes connected, and Annie knew she’d never felt closer to anyone. This was the Jake she knew. The man she admired. The man she wanted to make happy.
Reaching up, she stroked his cheek. Dipped her fingers through the side of his soft hair. Then lifted her hips and squeezed him with her inner muscles.
The man she loved.
“More, Annie.” Face dark with desire, he dropped his head back, withdrew his cock just slightly, then pushed in deeper. “More.”
“Yes, Jake.” She ran her fingers over his chest. Across the cross tattoo on his biceps. When he repeated the movement, he rendered her breathless. Watching him find his pleasure and lose himself in the passion heightened her sensitivity. She met him thrust for thrust. Begged for more and whimpered with need because it was impossible not to.
She raised her hips then wrapped her legs around his back to bring him in even deeper. She filled her palms with the tautness of his buttocks and felt the muscles contract and release as he pumped into her harder and faster.
“Yes, Jake.” He shifted, hit her from a different angle and brought her right to the edge. She didn’t bother to contain her encouragement. There was no one in the forest but the two of them. The more she encouraged, the more he gave her.
“Yes, Jake.” When he shifted again, she broke. Shattered. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”
With a rough groan, he pushed hard. Every muscle in his body tightened as she clenched around him, and he flew over that cliff with her. He grabbed her hands, held them above her head, and pushed into her a few more times before he col
lapsed.
Their hearts pounded together. Body parts throbbed with the rush of blood through their veins. He shuddered in her arms, then rolled to his side, taking her with him.
Utterly limp and gasping for air, Annie locked her leg around his back and drew him in for one last thrust.
“I can’t get enough of you,” she whispered.
Panting, he lifted his fingers to her face, drew her close, and kissed her. “I wish I’d known a long time ago how good we could be together.”
“Guess there’s something to be said for making up for lost time.”
He kissed her again. Gently stroked her face near her temple. And looked into her eyes. “Like I said, I’ve got all day.”
“Does that make you all mine?”
“Yes.” He pulled her in close and held her tight. “If you think you can handle it.”
She laughed. Something she seemed to do a lot when they were together. When they weren’t arguing. “I can handle it. Just not sure I can handle you.”
He captured her mouth. Took complete possession. Then he lifted his head and gave her that cocky Wilder grin. “More, Annie.”
“I’m glad to see you can follow instructions.”
“I’m all yours.” Grinning, he lay back, arms spread wide. “Do with me what you will.”
Because she might never have the moment again, for the rest of the afternoon, she did exactly as he asked.
Chapter 12
“I should have known you’d pick a lazy, good-for-nothing dog.”
“Watch what you say.” Jake glared at Jackson, then put his hands over Hank’s ears, which was easy since the dog sat at his feet wherever he went. Didn’t matter if Jake only walked two feet away and stopped, Hank would follow and practically sit on the toes of Jake’s boots. Annie had said dogs were loyal. Hank went beyond the call of duty. They’d had many private one-sided conversations, and Hank never faltered. Never judged. He’d show his love and appreciation with a lick on Jake’s hand, then he’d promptly fall asleep at the foot of Jake’s bed. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
“Impossible.” Reno picked up yet another of their mother’s numerous boxes and carried it to his truck. “Before Charli and I got together, I insulted Pumpkin too many times to count. She still likes me. In fact, the way she looks at me makes me thinks she’s got some kind of weird doggie crush.”
“Not unusual,” Jesse said. “She just sees you as one of her own kind.”
“Ha-ha.”
Doing his share of the heavy moving of their mother’s things from the home where she’d raised her family to the new home she’d be making with Martin Lane, Jake stacked several boxes on top of each other and set them on the dolly. He hated to admit his weakness, but after hours of moving furniture and boxes filled with books and what felt like bags of concrete, his leg hurt.
Though it hadn’t hurt a damn bit when he and Annie had made love. She made him feel like Superman. He chuckled.
“What’s so damned funny?” Jackson asked as he pushed Jesse out of his way.
“Hey, watch it, jackass.” Jesse shoved him back, and Jake waited for the usual wrestling match to break out. It didn’t happen, but only because their mother stuck her head out the door and threatened bodily harm if they broke her stuff.
“You’ve been in an awfully good mood this past week,” Jesse commented as he took the dolly and carted it over to his own truck. “What’s up?”
“Am I not allowed to feel good?” Jake asked.
“Yeah. But there’s got to be a reason because usually you’re an asshole,” Jackson said.
“I am not.”
“Are too.”
“Boys!”
“Sure.” Jake shoved his hands onto his hips. “Get me in trouble with Mom.”
“Story of your life, little brother.” Reno clapped him on the back as he went to grab another batch of whatever his mom had been storing for the past nearly forty years.
“So what’s put such a cheesy-ass grin on your face?” Jackson asked. “Or should I say who? Has Jessica Holt discovered some new bedroom parlor tricks?”
“I haven’t seen Jessica since I’ve been back.”
“Right.” Jesse laughed. “Isn’t she on your booty-call speed dial?”
“Was.”
“Oh?” Reno’s head snapped up. “What’s changed?”
“Don’t have to explain myself to you yahoos.”
Jesse looked at Jackson. “You know what that means?”
“Yeah.” Jackson gave a nod. “He’s holding out on us.”
“Only one way to resolve that dirty little issue.”
Both of his brothers headed toward him, and he laughed. He wasn’t their punching bag anymore. Yeah, they were both former Marines too. But he could hold his own. Even with a bum leg.
Unfortunately, at that moment, he thought of Annie. Not that she was his dirty little secret, it was just that they’d decided to keep things quiet for now. No need to involve anyone else or their opinions when they were both trying to figure things out on their own. But that lingering vision he had of her lying beneath him, smiling up, capturing his heart, and touching him in places that felt damn good, gave his brothers the upper hand.
Jackson grabbed him in a headlock, and Jesse grabbed him around the waist. Had he not been injured, they’d have taken him to the ground. Instead, when Hank barked his displeasure with their antics, they backed off quickly as if they suddenly remembered he was still healing. Then they both gave him a quick whack on the back of his head.
“There’s nothing to tell,” he insisted.
“Uh-huh.” Jackson countered. “You wouldn’t own up if there was.”
“You’re right.” Jake tossed him a lightweight box. “It’s nobody’s damn business.”
Nobody needed to know anything right now. And he had too much going on to try to figure it out in depth. For the moment, he was enjoying himself by taking the time to explore a different side of Annie than he’d ever known. He wanted to keep things quiet for as long as possible. Because the one thing he knew for sure, the minute the family found out, they’d be right up in his business. Asking questions. Pushing him toward something he wasn’t ready for.
Trouble was, his mom had probably figured out what was going on the day they’d come back from the ride. Besides the fact that he and Annie were both so exhausted and boneless they had a hard time staying in the saddle on the way back, and he was probably wearing a big, stupid grin, his mom had plucked a twig from Annie’s hair. Then she brushed the dirt from the back of his T-shirt.
She’d said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her smirk said it all. All he could do was hope she’d hold her tongue longer than usual. But that was like asking a lifeguard to stay out of the water. Two things his mom was good at: meddling and meddling. Oh, and a third. Gossiping. Good thing she lived in a small town, where the chances to accomplish both were highly possible day or night.
The devil herself came out of the house, dragging a big green trash bag behind her.
“What’s in there?” he asked when all his brothers stopped what they were doing to watch.
“You don’t want to know.” She kept dragging that thing toward her car.
“That’s like throwing down the gauntlet, Mom. You can’t do that.”
She kept walking and dragging.
“Is that your secret stash?” Jesse asked, dancing up behind her, ready to snatch the bag away.
She smacked Jesse’s hand and gave him the stink-eye. “You don’t want to know.”
“You’re going about this all wrong, boys.” Jackson flashed their mother a smile and held out his hand. “Please allow me to relieve you of your burden, ma’am.”
She slapped his hand too and kept walking.
“Must be a dead body,” Reno quipped.
“It’l
l be your dead body if you don’t back off.”
“All right, you guys.” Jake pushed Jackson out of the way. “Leave her alone.”
“Thank you, son. But it’s none of your business either.”
“Damn.” Jake grinned. “Thought I was getting close.”
She opened the door to her little white car and tossed the bag into the backseat. Then she headed back to the house.
“No worries.” Jackson looked at his brothers and folded his arms across his chest. “We just have to wait for her to get in the house.”
Their mother lifted her hand and clicked the lock button on her key fob.
“No fair, Mom,” Jesse called out, while Reno chuckled.
“What do you think is in there?” Jake asked, as they all gathered around her car and looked in the back window.
“Sex toys.” Jesse said.
“Eeew!”
“Mom doesn’t have sex. She’s too old.”
Reno gave them all a look. “You plan on not having sex after the age of sixty?”
They threw him an “are you crazy?” look.
“Then what makes you think Mom has given it up?”
“I don’t even want to go there.” Jake walked away from the car, shaking his head.
“I just got the chills.” Jackson went back to the stack of boxes piled up on the veranda.
Jesse grinned. “I think it’s cool that Mom is still active.”
Their mother came back out the door dragging another big green trash bag.
“Yep.” Reno laughed. “It’s a dead body.”
“Who knew Mom was one of those kind of women?”
They teased her relentlessly, but she’d had nearly thirty-seven years to be a pro at ignoring them.
The sound of tires on gravel lifted everyone’s heads and pulled their attention in another direction. Jake had to do everything he could to keep from grinning like a fool when he saw Annie’s car coming up the road.
Jackson noticed too. Only the frown on his face said he wasn’t happy about it because in the passenger seat sat his very pregnant wife.
“Looks like the reinforcements are here.” Jesse seemed more eager because his wife was in the backseat, waving at him like he was a sailor come home from sea.
