"I better hustle if I'm going to make it to Big Red before it starts raining." Marty clutched the towel over her breasts, somehow feeling that she wanted to stay with him longer. "Oh, and here come the kids."
They heard the slamming of car doors and the call of little voices. Nora could be heard urging them to hurry into the house before the storm broke.
"Well, see ya." She knew she sounded awkward but couldn't help it. This felt like an awkward situation.
"Okay." He turned and started to talk walk away. "Hey, if it's starts getting too bad out you and Gruff come to the house. We've got a basement, you know."
"Sure, all right." She gave a casual wave and headed down to the RV. It would have to be a hell of a storm to drive her into his presence.
Chapter 17
Turned out, it was a hell of a storm.
For a long time the clouds just seemed to hover overhead not going anywhere. Marty changed into jeans and a t-shirt and tried to relax. It was just a storm. It would blow over. In the meantime she’d nuke a can of soup. She thought hungrily of Nora’s supper she was missing.
While her dinner was heating she fed Gruff but, unusually, the cat didn’t want to eat. Instead he prowled around restlessly, every once in a while turning a stink eye her way.
“What? I can’t help it if nature’s not happy.”
When the storm did break it released its fury with a torrent. Rain started with a few heavy drops and quickly built into a downpour, pounding a furious message on the metal roof of the RV. Then she heard the smack of hail beating on the surface and started to worry. She’d been determined to ride the storm out here in privacy, but now she thought maybe she better head to the house.
She decided to put Gruff in his crate for the trip. He hated storms and might try to take off. He also hated his crate so it took her a few minutes to stuff him inside. Just as she finished a frantic pounding sounded at the door.
She flung it open and urged Jake in out of the storm. He shook the drops off his raincoat and stepped into the confined space.
“I was just getting ready to come to the house. I had to get Gruff in his crate.”
“Well, if you’re ready, let’s go. There’s a tornado warning.” His voice was tense. “Grab a jacket and we’ll run for it.”
Marty didn’t waste any time following his orders. She slipped into a pink raincoat and pulled a pair of flowered rain boots over her feet. He raised his eyebrows at the sight but didn’t comment, just grabbed the handle of Gruff’s crate and headed to the door.
A gust of wind nearly blew Marty off her feet as soon as she walked out, so Jake gripped her hand to steady her. They made it a few yards away from the RV when there was a terrible groaning and grinding followed by a huge crash.
They both spun around and stared at what used to be her RV. Now a 100-year-old pine tree lay smack in the middle of it, crushing it into the ground.
“My God. Big Red.” Her voice could barely be heard over the howling wind, her hood blown off her head unnoticed. Rain pounded on her face, her hair getting drenched, but she ignored it.
Jake didn’t say anything, just wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her close. Then he turned her away from the sight and urged her into the house.
Everyone inside had heard the crash and greeted them excitedly as they went into the basement.
“What was it? What was that noise?” Nora hurried over to them, anxiously scanning them for injuries.
“Big Red.” Marty sounded haunted. “Big Red got body slammed by a giant pine tree. And we hadn’t been out of it for thirty seconds.”
“Great God in Heaven.” Nora burst into action. “You poor dears. Here, let’s get you out of these wet coats.”
Marty shivered as she let Nora strip her of her raincoat, her saturated hair plastered to her head. She just kept envisioning Big Red gutted by the tree. And she couldn’t stop thinking about what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten out of there when they did.
“A nice hot cup of tea, that’s what you need.” Nora moved quickly to the bar and put a kettle on the stove there. It was actually an entire little kitchen. Imagine, A house with two kitchens.
And now she had none.
Marty felt two little arms grasp her legs.
“Don’t worry, Marty. You can stay with us until your truck gets fixed.” It was Bonnie who made the first move, but Brody soon joined her.
“Yeah, Marty,” Brody looked up her and smiled. “You can sleep in my room.”
Her heartstrings tugged as she looked at the two anxious faces, and she wrapped an arm around each of them, pulling them close to her.
“Of course she’ll stay with us,” Jake’s voice answered, “but I think she better stay in a guest room, don’t you?”
The kids agreed and Marty finally managed a smile. “Thank you. A guest room will suit me just fine.”
“Yea!” the kids chorused before chasing each other around in a victory dance. “Marty’s staying with us.”
Just then the lights sputtered and popped, then went out altogether. The darkness wrapped around them as Marty heard two little gasps and felt two little bodies flatten up against her.
“Now don’t worry. I’m prepared for this.” Nora retrieved a match from her pocket and scratched it against the exposed brick wall, the tiny flame flaring into life. In just a moment she lit a gas lamp and moved around lighting candles as well. The soft glow of flickering lights filled the room.
“This calls for a fire,” Jake announced. He moved to the hearth and shortly had flames snapping and crackling in the stone fireplace, adding to the warm mood of the room. “Now who wants s’mores?”
Soon everyone was munching on the gooey treats and the storm lightened up to a steady rain. When he’d finished with his snack Jake grabbed his guitar and began strumming. He sang Rainy Nights in Georgia, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, and some other rainy day songs. A feeling of peace covered the room. The kids cuddled up to her on either side of where Marty sat on the couch. She relished the feeling and took time to be thankful she, Gruff, and Jake had made it out of Big Red without injury.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to assess the damage. She knew the RV was a total loss, but hopefully she would be able to salvage some of her paints and her personal belongings. She’d need to call her insurance company, too, and let them know what had happened.
The lights flickered and suddenly came back on. Marty realized both children were asleep with their heads in her lap. As she gazed down at the peaceful faces, despite the losses she’d suffered that evening, somehow she had a feeling that all was right with the world.
Chapter 18
Marty couldn't sleep. She didn't know if it was because she was in a strange bed or because she was caught up in thoughts of what tomorrow would bring, or if it was because…she was hungry. Yep, that's what the problem was. Her stomach grumbled in agreement.
She glanced at the clock. It was one in the morning. Surely she could slip downstairs and raid the refrigerator without getting caught. She hoped so because all she had to wear was this big t-shirt Jake had lent her to sleep in.
She got out of bed and pulled the hem of her shirt down. It came nearly to her knees, so she was decently covered for her trip to the kitchen. She slipped her feet into her flip-flops and padded down the stairs.
She had her nose stuck in the fridge examining the contents when she got the strange feeling she was being watched. She turned her head slowly without straightening up and spotted Jake standing behind her.
"Great minds think alike I guess." He flashed a grin at her. "I'm hungry, too."
"I'm sorry." She gasped and stood up, tugging at her shirt. "I didn't have any supper." She thought about the forgotten soup in the microwave in Big Red. It was history now.
"How about one of my famous Stryker BLT sandwiches?"
"Oh, so he cooks, too, does he?"
"But of course, Madam. Have a seat at the table and be prepared to be awestruck."
He waved her to a chair, bowing low over his arm.
Marty couldn't help but smile as he gathered his ingredients and started the bacon frying. He kept up a silly description of his movements as he sliced a tomato, washed the lettuce, and popped bread into the toaster.
"And, voila." He presented her with a sandwich on a paper plate then sat down across from her with a matching plate of his own. "I'll bet that is the best BLT you've ever tasted."
She took a tentative bite and couldn't hold back a groan of satisfaction. It really did taste like a little bit of heaven.
They didn't talk as they ate, just sat in companionable silence. For once she wasn't focused on his sexiness but concentrated on the food instead. She was nearly finished when she glanced up and happened to catch his eye.
"You've got mayonnaise on your lip," he said huskily, his gaze fastened on her mouth.
She flicked her tongue out and ran it across her lips, making the white spot disappear.
Jake gulped.
Now damn it. He'd gone and broken the spell of cozy togetherness and made her think about him sexually again. She couldn't tear her gaze away from his.
Maybe she could break the spell if she got up and started cleaning away the evidence of their snack. She gathered up her plate and the rest of her sandwich, her appetite suddenly gone. She was only hungry for one thing now.
Marty stuffed her trash into the garbage can and turned around and ran smack into Jake.
He towered there in all his glory, his body covered in pajama pants and a silky t-shirt. His hair was rumpled, a heavy shadow covering his jaw line. God, he looked good.
She felt his gaze skim over her figure in its brief shirt…his shirt. The thought sent goose bumps skittering across her skin and oh my God, her nipples were turning hard.
She had to get out of here or she was going to throw herself at him and start eating him alive. He looked too delicious, too irresistible. She moved to pass him and he sidestepped, blocking her way.
"Marty." Just one word, just her name, and she felt herself melting.
She turned her head away, afraid to look into his eyes.
"Marty, look at me."
Was that a tremor in his voice?
"I almost lost you tonight." His hands reached out and grasped her upper arms. "I came so close to losing you."
That's when she did turn and look at him—saw the look of raw pain on his face.
Nobody had ever looked at her like that before.
Aw, damn it. He'd gone and done it. He'd made her fall in love with him.
Lord, she didn't want to love him. He was exactly the kind of man she didn't want. A musician. A fucking rich musician. The worst kind.
But she couldn't help it. She was caught in a whirlpool being pulled deeper and deeper into its depths. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move.
Until he reached out and caught her in his arms. Then she eagerly burrowed against him, turning her face up to receive his kisses. God, she was drowning in sensations.
He drove his fingers into the rich abundance of her hair, drawing her closer and closer. She kissed him back, eagerly, hungrily. Her own hands swept the length of his back, feeling the strength in his muscles, marveling at the steel beneath her fingers.
Jake played one hand across her throat, feathering his touch, gently caressing her velvety skin. She shivered and tossed her head back giving him free access to the area. His lips soon followed his fingers, a blaze of desire igniting beneath his touch.
Jake tugged on her hand and led her out the door to the deck. The storm had disappeared, a star-spangled sky spread overhead. The warm night air whispered across her body as he gathered her in his arms.
"I don't ever want to come so close to losing you again," he whispered. "God, I don't know how it happened but you have become essential to me. I need you in my life."
His words reverberated in her ear. Essential. Necessary. She knew the feeling. It felt like she couldn't live without him.
"I don't want to lose you, either. I keep reliving that scene, knowing how close we both came to dying." Her voice caught in her throat.
"Ah, Marty, I didn't want to feel this way about you. I wanted to run from the first moment I laid eyes on you. But I couldn't. I knew you were my destiny the minute I saw you on top of that pool table, wielding that stick. You looked so pretty, so wild. I couldn't help falling in love then and there."
Holy crap. He'd said the L word.
Now what was she going to do?
Chapter 19
What could she do? The only thing possible. She raised on her tiptoes, grabbed both sides of his face in her hands and pulled him down to kiss him with a passion that wouldn't be denied. Her tongue shot out and into the depths of his warm mouth, exploring the moist cavern. Damn, he tasted heavenly.
Marty's breasts pressed against the heat of Jake's chest, her extended nipples rubbing erotically against the silky fabric of his shirt. She didn't have a bra on, making it feel all the more sensuous.
Now his hands were on the move, stroking, rubbing along the length of her bare thighs. The T-shirt hiked above her tiny pink panties, the gentle breeze rippling across her skin.
"Oh, God, Jake, I didn't want this, either. I don't even like musicians." Her voice was almost a wail. "But damn it, you just keep doing all these sweet things, and you look all hot and…and sexy…"
She let her voice trail away as she gave into her desire. It was useless. She didn't have the power to resist him. At least once. She had to have him at least once.
Jake saw the frustration in her eyes. He knew she'd been fighting the attraction between them just as he had. But neither one of them was strong enough to resist the temptation, the magnetic force pulling them together. All he could do now was kiss her senseless and pray she'd forgive him in the morning.
He drank in the honey-sweet taste of her skin, sliding his lips along her collarbone, the wide neck of his t-shirt slipping off her shoulder. He kissed the bare skin tenderly, tiny butterfly kisses that sent trembles racking through her.
Jake pushed her up against the patio table, his hips pressing into hers. His hands slid up her ribcage, moving slowly, exploring her abdomen then covering the plump mounds of her breasts. His fingers found the nipples, hard and pebble-like, and he rubbed his palms across them. The material of the t-shirt she wore only enhanced their swollenness as it slipped erotically over the engorged buds.
He felt her hands entangled in his hair, stroking through the tousled mop. She ran her lips along the bristly side of his jaw then worked their way down his neck. God, her touch was magical. He leaned into her harder and felt her collapse on the table beneath him.
His hand slid to the hem of her t-shirt, caressing her thigh. Her skin was smooth like satin. Slowly, slowly, he edged the tail of her shirt upwards, his hand finally cupping her mound. He felt like he'd found hidden treasure.
Marty moaned and her hips bucked twice. That was all the encouragement he needed to continue his explorations.
His hand slid easily under the tiny panties she wore and his finger moved to caress her valley. Ah, it was so moist, so wet. His dick throbbed at the feel of the damp canal. He wanted to be in her, to feel his rod surrounded by her tight flesh.
But not yet. Not yet. First, he wanted to watch her come.
Marty thought she might lose her mind. His finger unerringly found her sweet spot and started swirling tiny circles across its surface. She lay her head flat on the tabletop, her hair spilling across the gleaming teak wood, and let the sensations spill through her body. Her breathing was fast; her heart beat faster.
Jake moved his lips to her breast, sucking the cloth-covered nipple into his mouth. His teeth bit down gently, then a bit harder, sending spires of heat straight to her womb. Her hands grasped desperately at his back, clawing, digging in, her nails pressing into his shirt.
She spread her legs wider, giving him free access to her femininity. His thumb transferred to her ultra-sensitive button, continu
ing the slow, circular massage, while his fingers slid down to her opening. He traced the rim, teasing, tempting, until finally she bucked her hips and whimpered.
His finger plunged into her and her muscles automatically clamped down on it. Her mind spun, colors splashing behind her closed lids. It was almost like an out-of-body experience, floating far above the earth, no sense of time or reality. She was lost in the climactic throes of passion, unaware of anything else, her voice keening with emotion.
Finally, slowly, she began to float downward, drifting back to time and place.
And then he wiggled his finger again, giving another little thrust, and she took off once more, this time shudders quaking through her, her body contracting, spasms coming in bursts. When she finally stopped she could barely speak.
"Holy crap." Her voice was breathless, awe-filled.
"Hang on, darlin', cause the night's not over." He slipped an arm under her legs and another behind her shoulders and lifted her. "I want to have you in my bed."
Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck and she squealed. "Put me down, Jake. I'm too heavy."
"No, you're not. You're just right." He nuzzled her neck. "But if you could get the door for me I'd be grateful."
Marty giggled and did as he asked. He kicked it shut behind him and headed for the living room.
Wow, he wasn't even breathing hard. She had to give it to him for endurance.
They were halfway up the stairs when they heard a terrified scream coming from above.
"Bonnie!" They both spoke at once and Jake began to run.
"Put me down, silly. We'll get there faster."
He looked abashed for a moment then set her on her feet. He'd been so startled by the child's cry he hadn't been thinking.
They dashed the rest of the way to Bonnie's room and pushed in together. Another scream broke through the night and they both kneeled by her bed.
Bad Boy Series: Soul Songs (Bad Boy Romance Book 2) Page 7
