He put the bridle down and looked up at Jacob. “We got together and as things sometimes happen, I got her pregnant. Back then, a woman couldn’t go it alone and the Navy kicked her to the curb. I loved her and married her. Wasn’t going to be an absent father, so I loaded her up and brought her back here to the family ranch. We had Keelee and the next year we had Tori, but Elizabeth was never the same.”
Lowering his head again, he picked up the bridle. His hands braided a leather strap as he continued. “Hell, she said she was happy and she loved those girls, but I could tell she hated the ranch and the isolation. The life melted out of her as I watched. When the girls were young, she was bucked from a gelding and broke her neck. Died instantly they said, but I knew she had been dying piece by piece, for years.”
The older man looked up from the work of his hands. “If you care for that girl of mine as much as you profess, don’t you make her stop doing what she loves. I guarantee she will never make you stop. She knows what happened to her momma. They both do. I never kept that from them.”
Jacob looked at the older man. “I promise I’ll never stop her from being who she is or from doing what she wants. But I’ll stop if she asks me to and I will ride a desk if it means she is happy.”
Frank’s head whipped up. “Like hell you will! She’ll never ask you and don’t you volunteer to be a hero. Live your life. Let her live hers, and love her like there is no tomorrow, because son…there just may not be one.”
*
Tori opened the door as Jacob walked up the porch steps. His walk up from the barn had been very slow today. His head was down and his shoulders were hunched over. When he saw her, he straightened and smiled, but she could tell something was wrong. When he took her in his arms and kissed her the emotion in his embrace enveloped her, overpowering her with trepidation. Something had happened. She yielded to him as his tongue danced with hers and his arms tightened drawing her closer. His hands moved down her back to her ass where he grabbed her and lifted her up.
Tori wrapped her legs around his waist. “Hello, handsome. That kiss had some extra kick. What’s on your mind?”
He walked through the door and nudged it shut. He kissed her gently on the nose. “Hello gorgeous.” His arms squeezed her tightly as he buried his head into her neck. Tori ran her hands through his thick black hair, still damp from his intense workout.
“Okay, spill it. What’s wrong?”
Jacob lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “Why do you think something is wrong?”
Tori’s fingers traced the firmness of his lips as she shrugged. “Call it woman’s intuition. You’re upset about something.” He let her down and kissed her forehead. She could feel the tension radiate off him.
“The situation overseas has tanked. We have to go. I anticipate flying back to DC tomorrow.”
Tori helped him out of his coat and hung it up in the closet. She watched him as he sat on the couch, putting his head in his hands. Walking behind the couch and she lifted her legs over the back straddling his broad shoulders. Gently she rubbed his tense muscles applying pressure to his neck, massaging his tight muscles as he relaxed back on the leather cushion, his head resting on her. She continued to manipulate the muscles in his shoulders until he breathed deeply, took one of her hands in each of his and pulled her down over his head.
Tori giggled as he lifted her arranging her in his lap as if she was a feather. “You know I’ve never felt petite before, but you make me feel absolutely tiny!”
He pulled her close and kissed her neck. “You are the perfect size. If you were any smaller I would be afraid of hurting you when we made love.”
Tori sighed and whispered in his ear before she kissed his cheek, “You would never hurt me more than I wanted it to hurt. I know that without a doubt.”
Lying in his lap staring up at him she smiled and traced over his face with her fingertips. “I know you, Jacob. You’re a good man.”
She watched his reaction as he closed his eyes. His deep voice rumbled through her body as she lay on his lap. “Honey, I’m not a good man. Good men don’t do what I do. Good men go home to their wives every night. They have normal families, not a team of mercenaries. Good men live ordinary lives.”
Tori slugged his arm. Hard. “That statement was complete and utter bullshit through and through. You and I are not wired like normal people. Working a nine-to-five job would kill both of us. You are a good man. You’re my man, and you’re the razor sharp point of this team’s entire reason for existence. They are our family. Period. What kind of woman would expect her man to allow others to suffer just to make sure he was home at night with her? Whatever kind of woman that is, we both know I’m not her. I’ll be waiting for you when you come home. Just promise to come back.”
He stood, bringing her with him. “I will, baby, but right now I’m going to show you how much I love you.” She wrapped her arms around him as he effortlessly carried her up the stairs to the room they now openly shared.
“You need a shower, cowboy.” Tori’s nose wrinkled. “And now so do I.”
Carefully holding out her shirt from her skin with her fingers, the material’s wetness was obvious. “It would appear you have sweated enough for both of us this morning.”
“Indeed? Well, would the future Mrs. King care to join me in the shower? I believe conservation of water is our civic duty. Don’t you?” Pulling her close to him, he deliberately ground his entire body against hers. Her laughter pealed through the room.
“Oh absolutely, Mr. King. We must take care of the environment. What would our future children think of us if we didn’t do our part?” Tori watched carefully to gauge Jacob’s reaction. Her gut clenched hoping he too would want a family. He came from a large family and he was close to his brothers, but maybe she misjudged him? The way he froze and looked down at her. What did his silence mean? Oh God, she had always wanted children…what if he didn’t? She hadn’t thought for a second he wouldn’t want a family. Of course, she had assumed it. Yeah right, ass-u-me making an ass of you and me, Tori. Damn it why hadn’t she discussed this with him? Great, just spring the idea of kids on the man. Not like he doesn’t have enough on his mind, right?
Jacob froze. “Children?”
“I know we haven’t actually discussed a family. I shouldn’t have dumped that on you.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth and worried her it as she lowered her eyes to his chest. Guilt caused her hands to tremble as she ran her fingers across the sweat dampened material of his t-shirt. “Let’s just pretend I never mentioned it. We can talk about it when you get back. I have my dream. I have you.”
Slowly he traced a finger from her hand, up her arm, and to her cheek. Forcing her chin up with the same finger, he waited until she looked at him. “I want a family, with you. What I don’t want is you to give up what you love doing to give me one.”
A wry smile spread across her face. “Jacob, this is actually the twenty-first century. It really is possible for a woman to have a family and still have a profession if she wants one. I’ll make that decision when the time comes.”
Her hands went under his t-shirt and pulled it up. Thankfully he helped her and shrugged out of the wet material that clung to his skin, reluctant to separate from his body. If she could, she’d wrap herself around him just as tightly. Her hands traced the heavily cut and corded muscle of his chest and abs as they traveled to his waistband.
“And how many babies do you foresee us having?” His hands worked the buttons of her shirt with nimble speed.
“Oh, at least six. Four boys and two girls. Of course, God is going to have to work with me on the gender thing, but who knows?” Her answer stilled his hands.
Tori lifted her hands and placed one over his heart, the other on his cheek. The intensity of his eyes as he searched her face clipped her smile from her face. His heart pounded beneath her hand.
“Six?” The word croaked from him before he closed his eyes and pulled her into him nearly c
rushing her with his grip.
His bear hug wrapped around her preventing her from breathing let alone gauging his reaction. “Is that too many?” His embrace muffled her words.
His arms relaxed around her and she was able to pull away from his chest. Looking up his face gave her his answer before any words made it past his lips. Still the answer made her tear up. “No honey. Six…six would be perfect.”
“Well then, Mr. King, perhaps we can stop talking about babies and get to the act of making them?”
“Now? You want to start trying now?” He lowered his lips to hers pressing a light kiss against her mouth.
“I think we have had enough practice, don’t you?” Her hand traveled to his muscled neck and pressed herself against his body.
“Mmmm…now works for me. Come here, momma.” Lifting her carefully, he walked into the bathroom. He turned and started the huge shower before he finished taking her clothes off. His trailing kisses and caresses lit the nerve endings under every gentle touch with a raging fire of need. Everywhere his hands removed fabric his lips, teeth, and tongue ignited a sweltering wave of desire. At some point in the delicious process, he had discarded his clothes although Tori couldn’t have pinpointed when. His massive body lowered until he knelt in front of her and kissed her stomach.
The vibration of his voice against her carried through her body when he spoke against her skin. “You have no way of knowing the gift you just gave me.” She willingly acquiesced when he pushed her back to the counter. His lips and hands traveled lower adding fuel to the inferno he had already stoked. Lifting her leg, he moved his massive shoulders into her center. Her leg draped over his back as she leaned back and held onto the vanity.
He spread her sex and kissed her reverently triggering a quake through her muscles. She watched his every move. His eyes lifted to hers.
“I love you.” Her eyes misted from the depth of emotion he allowed her to see. God, could she love him anymore? What had she done right in her life that God would bless her with such a miracle?
“I love you too.” Her words felt heavy filled with the deep emotion that flooded the space between them.
Her head fell back at touch of his mouth on her. God, he know the way to touch and caress her body to make her loose her mind. His tongue and lips danced over her. Her legs trembled as he pushed her closer to that beautiful ledge. His fingers entered her and stroked her as his kisses carried her closer to release. Her body shuddered and tensed against his manipulation. He demanded her body’s response moving her ever forward. Each touch, lick, nip, and suckle was explicitly given to nurture and grow her passion. Her soft noises, faint mewls, and quiet gasps echoed in the confines of the marble encased bathroom. Tori grasped Jacob’s hair holding him against her body as she launched into her orgasm and rode through waves of ecstasy her lover orchestrated. As her muscles relaxed, he pulled away and stood in front of her until she opened her eyes again. She gave him a smile and breathlessly whispered, “Hi, handsome.”
He smiled and pulled her to him. “Hi, gorgeous.” His body was hot, his cock inflamed and hard against her when he lifted her off the counter. He carried her into the cavernous shower. Tori turned in his arms her back against his chest, his cock cradled in the divide of her pert ass. His hands caressed her wet skin and he worked her nipples until they pebbled. The rasp of his morning whiskers when he nuzzled love bites in the crook of her neck sent a trillion rivulets of sensation straight to her core. Tori leaned forward and spread her legs. She laughed and tossed a look over her shoulder that was all invitation. His answering growl was all the warning she got before he centered himself behind her. Tori gave a throaty laugh and before he could move again she speared herself on his cock with a low groan of satisfaction.
Her vigorous intensity caught him by surprise. “Fuck.” His fingers dug into the flesh of her hips. She pulled her body away and immediately reversed her momentum impaling herself on his massive shaft. Her assault against him battered her body and his. With the ferocity of a woman possessed she propelled back against him again and again, repeating the aroused and aggressive attack.
The shower muted both of their responses. The sounds of their mating mingled with the falling water until Jacob gasped, “I’m not going to last. Tori, you’re killing me!” He reached around her finding her clit and targeted the sensitive spot as aggressively as she had been taking him. Her climax exploded. Molting splotches of bright color interspersed the black that threatened to overtake her. She pitched forward unable to balance any longer. Jacob’s grasp tightened keeping her upright. Tori knew his release neared. He had lost any concept of gentleness and with his death grip on her hips he assailed his rigid cock into her until he exploded deep within her. The sound of falling water and their gasping breaths replaced the feral sounds of sex.
He hovered over her bent body and muttered into the flesh on her back, “My God woman, warn me the next time you decide you want it rough?” The sensation of his whiskers on her hypersensitive skin compelled a shiver of sensation.
Her chuckle filled the shower. “Now that would take the fun out of it wouldn’t it?”
Lifting her when he straightened he kissed the top of her head and whispered, “Oh woman, I guarantee I’ll make it fun.”
She turned around. Her eyes met his. “I want you in every way you can possibly take me.” She picked up his finger and sucked it into her mouth.
“Oh baby, you don’t really know what you’re saying. That could get kinky.” His voice deepened as he watched her use his fingers. “I can think of so many ways to use that tongue and mouth, not that my fingers don’t appreciate your diligence. Be careful of what you ask for woman, you may get more than you expect.”
Her tongue laved his finger before she pulled away. “I know what I’m saying. I expect you to take me, possess me, and own me in every way a man may have his woman.” Her eyes stared directly at him as she repeated. “In. Every. Way.”
“I may be the luckiest man in the world.” He pulled her to him and held her against him. “And when I can walk again, I promise to try to meet your expectations.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jacob drove the Suburban back to the Rapid City Airport. Frank’s idea about a landing strip on the ranch made sense. The man was sharp. He had sent an encrypted message to Gabriel about the suggestions and received permission to put the plan into action, but until the current situation was rectified, Frank would be the only one working on the layout of the Guardian Annex Facilities at the ranch.
A glance into the rear view mirror presented a situation that concerned him. Doc had become withdrawn and silent. His usual outgoing personality had been absent since he came back from that damn line shack with Tori’s sister. The frigid coldness between Keelee and Doc had reached sub-zero and this morning the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. Doc’s glare toward Keelee and Tori when they said their goodbye’s this morning spoke volumes, even though the man didn’t say a word. Jacob could sense Adam had feelings for that woman, but if the feelings were a two-way thing, Jacob couldn’t say. The blond doctor’s face showed absolutely no emotion as he turned and looked out the window. Jacob knew something serious had to have transpired between the two. Damn it, Doc had to focus. If he didn’t snap back soon, Jacob was going to bench his ass, which wouldn’t help the team dynamics. He turned his attention back to the road.
The stare between Adam and Keelee had been as intense as the goodbye kiss Chief had planted on Desiree before the big man jumped into the Suburban and drove away. Chief’s unexpected involvement with Desiree surprised him too. The two were good together… but Chief? Hell, the team had always thought Chief might be gay. Not that it mattered. Who a person loved didn’t determine his or her worth. But seriously? The man never hooked up. He never even mentioned a woman that Jacob could recall. Shit…he did have cause to be worried. Three men with their minds not completely engaged on the mission, because he counted himself in that too. That left the wonder twin
s with the clearest minds. Lord above, he was so screwed.
The team couldn’t afford to lose their focus. Not now, too much was at stake. The situation overseas was getting worse by the hour. The primaries were in peril and the window for their successful removal closed with each passing hour. This morning he had received word his brother Jason had deployed two days ago with Bravo team. Damn it! Bravo Team should be benched. They lost their skipper two weeks ago; he had died in a car accident stateside. How Jason had allowed himself to be talked into leading the extraction effort was beyond him. Jason was fearsome but his training for tactical operations? Unacceptable. What in the hell possessed Gabriel to allow it? Nothing good could come out of such a cluster fuck of a deployment, and when he’d told Gabriel in those exact words this morning, Jacob had lost his job—again. Their plane was scheduled to land in D.C. at 4:00 this afternoon. His face-to-face with Gabriel was at 5:00 at Guardian HQ. Fuck. This. Shit.
He glanced across the seat at Tori and relaxed slightly. The woman had quickly become a soothing balm on his raw nerves. She glanced at him and smiled. Leaning over she kissed his cheek. “Everything will work out. They’ll be okay.”
Damn, she knew. She could read him. He lifted his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his side.
“Are you sure you don’t mind getting married in a judge’s chambers tomorrow morning?”
Her laugh was melodic and carefree. “I’m the luckiest woman on the face of the earth. I don’t have to stress over the details of the wedding for months, go crazy over insignificant issues, or pull my hair out because someone ordered chicken and then changed their mind at the last minute and wanted beef.”
Jacob Page 14
