by Desiree Holt
“Sleep tight,” he murmured. And then, just before she dropped into the black void of sleep, she thought she heard him whisper, “I love you.”
Chapter Six
“So you’re off to Arizona?” Jake stood with one foot on the running board of Trish’s Ford F-150, watching as she loaded the last of her gear into the back seat. This morning, he programmed her cell number into his phone and his into hers. Then he followed her to the rodeo grounds and insisted on helping her get Misty out of her stall and trailer her, despite her insistence she could do it herself. The woman was too fucking independent. Not that he’d want her any other way, but shit, couldn’t she let him help her once in a while?
“Yep. Queen Creek. The rodeo’s only four days, but it’s well run and nationally recognized. I have a chance to rack up a few more points.”
“Darlin’, you took all three events and the championship here in San Antonio. I’d say you’ve got a nice pocket full of points already.”
She closed the door and turned to face him. “But only the top fifteen competitors in each event qualify to participate in the Nationals. There’s some damn good barrel racers out there, Jake. Who knows how many points they’ll accumulate between now and December.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders. “My money’s on you. You’ve got everyone beat.”
“I think you have to say that.” She grinned at him. “You want me to come back, don’t you?”
He tightened his hands on her, totally serious. “A year’s a very long time, Trish Barton. I don’t think I can wait that long.”
The grin disappeared from her face. “We’ve been over this, Jake. We had a great two weeks, but you knew from the start I wouldn’t be staying.”
“I’m not giving up on this,” he told her. “We’re too good together.”
And they were. They’d spent four more nights at Rawhide before the end of the rodeo, each time exploring deeper into their needs and discovering what worked for both of them. She was an incredible sub, addicted to the same types of play he was, and explosive when he took her to the fine edge of intense pain. He’d watched her compete and cheered louder than anyone when she won the rodeo barrel racing championship.
They had also spent some time with the Wrights and the Hallidays. Even though Trish continued to remind everyone this was short-lived, they were embraced as a couple. Jake enjoyed the informal dinners and get togethers as much as their play time. But what he enjoyed the most were the times when they were alone and could learn about each other. Trish was a complex woman, and as each facet unfolded, he had to admit something he’d been trying to keep tucked in the back of his mind—he had fallen deeply in love with Trish Barton. Whatever he had to do, however he had to do it, he was going to make her a part of his life. “I thought I’d catch up with you in Oklahoma. That’s in March, right?”
“Yes, it is.” She cocked her head. “You think you’ll be able to get the time off to come over there for a few days?”
He nodded. “I talked it over with Reece. I’ve got a really good hand helping me with the bulls, and Reece will provide backup. I think two months is about all I can stand away from you.”
She studied his face, looking for something. “Don’t get your hopes up too soon, Jake. I told you I’m not ready to leave the circuit yet.”
“And I told you I’m very persistent. I’ll wear you down yet.”
He didn’t care who was looking, he pulled her closer, lowered his head, and took her mouth in a hungry scorching kiss. Thrusting his tongue inside, he tasted her everywhere, savoring her, storing up for the long nights when she’d be gone. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathless.
Trish touched her fingertips to her mouth. “Wow. That’s some goodbye.”
“That’s a just for now kiss. I want you to call me every night when you get back to the motel, no matter how late it is. Promise?”
She gave him a wicked smile. “What if I’m out with someone else? Or having fun at a dungeon?”
He cupped her chin and squeezed it. “Better not be. I’d hate to have to kill someone.”
She touched his cheek gently. “No killing, Jake. I might not be ready to park myself here, but I think you’ve spoiled me for anyone else.”
There were so many things he wanted to say to her, but he bit his tongue. Most of them she wasn’t ready to hear. “Don’t forget to call me.”
“Every night. I promise. No teasing about that.”
He took her in for one more kiss before he forced himself to step away. “Drive safely. And call me whenever you stop on the road so I know you’re doing okay.”
“I will.” Then she hopped into the cab of the truck, checked all her mirrors and slowly pulled out of the huge parking lot at the rodeo. Jake had a feeling a piece of him was leaving with her.
****
Trish finished rubbing down Misty, stretched, and took her gear out of the stall. She’d chalked up another winning time tonight, to the cheers of the crowd. She could hardly wait to call Jake when she got back to the motel.
Jake.
Lordy, she was missing him way more than she’d expected. The bed was lonely at night without him, and her dreams were often fitful. What was the matter with her? She’d had relationships with men before. No, not relationships. If she wanted to admit it to herself, they were little more than hookups with people who over time had become friends. She’d gone to a favorite dungeon one night and tried to enjoy herself with a Dom she’d known for quite a while, but something was missing.
“No offense, honey,” he’d told her, “but your heart just isn’t in this.”
“I’m so sorry. Really.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say someone special has come into your life.” He’d caressed her cheek with the handle of the whip he’d barely used. “I know you, Trish. Don’t let him get away.”
She was so torn. This was her best year yet. She couldn’t quit now. And did she really want to anyway? Damn. Life was so much simpler before she met Jake Keenan. Worst of all, she missed him terribly. They spoke on the phone every night, but that wasn’t the same as being with him. He hadn’t said any more about joining her at this stop on the tour, and she wasn’t about to ask him if he still had plans to.
That’s right, Trish. Don’t give an inch. It’s much better to be independent and sleep alone in that bed, right?
She often laughed to herself that a woman as fiercely independent as she was had turned out to be an addictive submissive. One of her Doms had told her that it was the power exchange that did it for her. The knowledge that by her submission she was actually controlling the pleasure of the man she was with. Maybe that was it. She didn’t know. What she did know was that submitting gave her enormous sexual pleasure and allowed her to put aside, for the moment, the part of her life where she could never let down her guard.
She had such conflicted feelings about Jake and what she was doing with her life. Had she really fallen in love with him? If so, what could she do about it? She was so wrapped up in her career she hadn’t planned for emotional involvement.
Gaahhh!
Emotional mess much?
She carried her tack to the truck to lock it in the back. There had been a couple of incidents in the barn, where her stuff had been messed with so she wasn’t taking any chances. It was a pain in the ass to haul it in and out of the motel room and in and out of the truck, but she couldn’t afford to have any of it get damaged. Something else to aggravate her.
She had just locked the truck doors when someone grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you, bitch.”
She stared onto Lily Kirklin’s hate-filled eyes. “Let go of me, Lily. Right now.” When Lily only dug her fingers in tighter, Trish yanked her arm away. “Get away from me. I’m sick of your whining and sniveling. If you were good enough to beat my times, you’d be doing it. Don’t be looking for excuses because you’re not.”
“Oh, I’m g
ood enough,” the other woman spat. “I just don’t resort to sleeping with the judges.”
“Neither do I.” Trish fisted her hands on her hips. “And you’d better stop trying to spread that word around, you and your little sycophant, Donna.”
“Yeah? Or what?” Lily snorted. “There’s nothing you can say because it’s true. And I’m going to love every minute of exposing you. When I get through with you, the rodeo organization will strip you of all your wins this year, and you’ll be nothing but yesterday’s trashy news.”
“Having a pleasant chat, ladies?”
Trish jumped at the sound of the deep voice, turned, and nearly fell into Jake’s arms. “Lily was just leaving, right, Lil?”
Lily glared at her. “Don’t you forget what I said.” She tossed back her head and stormed off.
Trish stared at Jake. “Is it okay to tell you how glad I am to see you?”
“You’d better. But first things first.” He pulled her into his arms and lowered his mouth to hers, his kiss soft at first, then growing more intense. He tilted her head to give himself a better angle as he thrust his tongue inside and licked every inch of her inner surfaces. Trish danced her tongue with his, drowning in his taste. God, it was so good being with him. Better even than she remembered. His body was so warm and hard against hers, his arms around her so strong. When they finally broke the kiss she just leaned into him, absorbing his heat and strength.
“The bitch is still giving you trouble, I see.” He kissed her forehead. “Want me to smack her for you?”
Trish giggled. “My hero. No, but thanks for the offer. If there’s any smacking to be done, I plan to do it myself.” She shook her head. “She’s just mouthing off. She’s a second rate racer. That’s all she’ll ever be, and she can’t accept the fact. Or do what it takes to become better. She’d rather just blame me.”
“She can cause you trouble, darlin’.”
“I don’t think so. She’d have to prove I’ve been doing something wrong, and she won’t be able to. Anyway, I don’t want to waste my time with you talking about her.” She punched his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
He grinned. “Don’t say the word ‘coming’ or I just might.”
“Jake!” She punched him again.
“I told you I’d be up here, right?”
“Yes, but then you never said another word.”
“I had some things to do first. We had two cows drop prime young bulls, and I wanted to be sure things were under control at the ranch.”
She frowned up at him. “Are you sure it’s okay for you to get away?”
“Uh huh. Reece and I discussed it. He knows I’d never leave if the situation was unsettled. So I hopped a plane, and here I am.” He tipped her face up so he could study it. “Just as beautiful as I remembered.” He winked. “Of course, I’d need to see you with all your clothes off just to be sure.”
Trish laughed. “I think we can arrange that. Just not out here.”
“Then let’s get going. I’m so needy I may not let you get any sleep tonight.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not competing tomorrow, isn’t it?”
****
Jake wiped the sweat from his face with a bandana and clapped his hat back on his head. It was only March, yet the weather was nearly as hot as summer, due to an unexpected heat wave. It was just one more thing to rile his temper. The visit with Trish hadn’t been nearly long enough, not to mention the fact that the one night as visitors to a dungeon barely took the edge off their intense need for each other. He missed her and not just for the sex, either.
That first instant connection, that ephemeral something that sizzled in Oklahoma, had only grown stronger the more they got to know each other. Somehow or other, he had to figure out a solution to this situation that would work for both of them. Because somehow, when he hadn’t been looking, he’d fallen in love with Trish Barton, and he didn’t plan to let her go. Maybe he could get her to cut back on some of her competitions while he worked out a way to visit her more frequently.
He opened the gate to let himself out of the corral where the young bulls were exercising and had just walked into the barn when his radio buzzed. Everyone on the ranch carried one so they could be reached from home base and could also contact each other from remote locations. Jake unclipped his from his belt, wondering if there was a problem.
“Jake?” Reece’s voice crackled over the connection. “Can you come up to the house?”
Jake’s stomach knotted. It was nearly Katie’s due date. Hoping the emergency wasn’t related to that, he double-timed it to the ranch house, hurrying into Reece’s office. The man was seated at his desk, and nothing smacked of emergency. Still… “Is it Katie? Are you taking her to the hospital? What can I do?”
Reece held up a hand. “It’s not Katie. She’s fine. Upstairs resting, as a matter of fact. Have a seat.”
Jake would have preferred to stand, but he looked at the serious expression on Reece’s face and dropped into the chair next to the desk. “Okay, what’s up? From the look on your face, nothing good.”
“I just got off the phone with Trish. She—”
“She called you?” Jake interrupted. “Why didn’t she call me? What’s wrong? What the hell?”
“Take a breath, will you? That’s exactly why she called me. She figured you’d freak. Besides, she knows my reach is longer than yours.”
“If there’s trouble, she’s damn right I would.” He made himself take a deep breath. “It must be pretty bad if she called you, so let me have it.”
“I gather you’re aware she’s been having trouble with one of the other barrel racers. A woman named…” He looked at his scratch pad. “Lily Kirklin.”
“That bitch. She’s been dogging Trish, telling her she knows she cheats on her times. Which as you know is a near impossibility.”
“I hear you. But apparently this Lily says she has proof on how Trish got the judges to rig her times.” He looked over at Jake. “It’s near impossible with the electronic ones although it can be done. But at the smaller rodeos, well, that’s another issue altogether.”
“Damn.” Jake banged his fist on the arm of the chair. “And if one result gets dirt thrown on it, they might suspend all the others. So what’s happened now?”
“Apparently, Lily Kirklin has filed an official complaint with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.”
“What?” Jake leaped out of the chair. “That’s—”
“Sit, I said.” Reece glared at him. “Wait for all the information. Okay, a meeting has been set in Colorado Springs for tomorrow afternoon. Trish just now got the notice. She was trying to make plane reservations and arrange for Misty to be boarded and her truck and gear to be stored while she’s gone.”
“Shit, Reece. They gave her less than twenty-four hours notice.”
“Apparently, this female put some pressure on some important people.” Reece’s mouth turned up in an evil grin. “We have important people, too.”
“What does that mean? I have to go to her. Listen, the bulls are in good shape. I can leave things set up—”
Reece held up his hand. “Stop. I made all the arrangements before I called you up here.”
“What arrangements?”
“First of all, I called an attorney I know in Colorado Springs. He’s going to meet with the two of you at the hotel where I reserved a room for you.” He handed Jake a slip of paper. “Secondly, I have someone doing some digging behind the scenes about this situation. He’ll report in to your attorney.”
Jake removed his hat and raked his fingers through his hair. His pulse was triphammering with anger, and he wanted more than anything to hold Trish in his arms. “Where is she?”
“She’s in Oklahoma. I called your old employer, and he’s getting someone to bring all her stuff down to his ranch. You go pack. I called the pilot who flies for us. He’ll get the ranch plane gassed and ready to go and will fly you to Colorado S
prings with a detour to pick up Trish.”
Jake didn’t know what to say. “You’re kidding! You’d do this for me?”
“We’re friends, right? At least, I assume we are. That’s what friends do. Now, give me your radio and get your ass home and pack. One of the boys will pick you up in fifteen minutes and take you to the airport. I’m going to call Trish and tell her you’re on the way. And that you’ll call her on the road to the airport. Get going.”
Jake didn’t wait until he was on his way to the airport to call Trish. He pulled out his cell as he drove like a maniac on his way home to pack.
“I’m okay,” she tried to assure him.
But she didn’t sound okay. Far from it. In fact, she sounded scared shitless. This was her career they were dealing with. He wasn’t about to let anyone mess with it. She had called Reece and asked him to ask Jake to come there. She wanted him! He wanted to pump his fist in the air. But he knew what she wanted was his strength as a man, not as a Dom. She didn’t want him to ride in on a white charger. Besides, Reece had already put the white knight’s hat on his own head. Jake was just the cleanup squad.
“I know you are, darlin’. But I’m hoping you’ll be better as soon as I get there.”
“You know I will.” He heard the relief in her voice.
“Reece told you where the plane will pick you up?”
“Yes. And Jake? He’s done so much for me. I don’t know how I’ll repay him. Ever.”
“You’re a friend, Trish. And Reece told me that’s what friends do for friends.”
“Where are you now?” As brave as she was trying to be, he still heard the edge of fear in her voice.
“Almost home and ready to pack. I’ll see you before you know it. And Trish?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.” He disconnected before she could tell him not to say it. She’d better get used to it. He planned to say it a lot.
****
“I’m not sure I’ll ever stop shaking,” Trish said, flopping on the oversized king bed in their hotel room.
