Before she changed her mind, she wrote off an email right away and told him she would be happy to go to Texas. He wrote back twenty minutes later with details of a flight in three days’ time. She got a little irritated at that. The polite thing would have been to ask her when she preferred to leave but it seemed that Jack did not adhere to common social graces.
Chapter Four
Leila was disappointed to say the least that Jack did not take the time to meet her at the airport. In his place was a man with graying hair who introduced himself as Tom, the driver. He carried her bag to a nice looking car and opened the door for her. She sank into the car, grateful to be shaded from the Texan summer heat.
The pink sundress she had chosen for the trip already clung to her body and she craved for a cold shower. She gazed outside as they left the airport and liked what she saw of Texas. Plains stretched for miles and she noticed that most properties were ranches. Animals dotted the plains from long horned cows to specks of white sheep.
Thirty minutes later, they came off the highway and she saw the sign Ranch J, curved into a tree at the junction. What she saw took her breath away. Jack had mentioned a ranch but at the end of the road was a hotel with all the trimmings of a large hotel. People milled at the entrance and she could make out tables set along the balcony of an expansive building.
Before they got there, the car branched off to the left and she saw the ranch then. The barns were modern structures of steel, with most been outdoors and she could see the horses happily munching on their feeds. The car followed a paved road that seemed to go uphill. When the main residence came into view, Leila inhaled deeply.
She had been into some of the most beautiful houses in California but this one topped them all. Nestled atop a hill, it glistened in the afternoon sunlight almost as though it were part of nature. It made her even curious to meet the man who owned all these yet had to go to a bridal agency to get a wife. Leila would have thought he would have hundreds of women lined up to marry him.
The car came to a halt and Tom hurried to her side to open the door. She stepped out and closed her eyes for a moment to savor the breeze blowing across the hill.
‘Ranch J has that effect on visitors,’ a deep voice drawled near her.
Leila’s eyes popped open and fell on the most gorgeous man she had ever laid eyes on. His eyes were not quite sky blue as she had thought from the picture, instead they had hints of green in them. She scanned him unashamedly, her eyes running over his chiseled arms and heavily muscled chest.
‘Do you like what you see?’ he asked, his voice laced with amusement.
Leila blushed and struck out her hand. When his large one enclosed hers, her legs turned to jelly at the electricity that she felt with the contact. From the way his eyes flamed, she imagined that he felt it too.
‘I’m Jack Foley and welcome to Ranch J. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the airport to meet you.’
He left it at that and the lack of an excuse irritated Leila. Still, with a body like that, she was willing to forgive him anything. He took her bag from Tom and carried it effortlessly towards the house. She followed closely behind, admiring the view his posterior gave. His wide shoulders narrowed into slim hips and she could see from his stride that he was a man used to working outdoors.
The few steps led to a columned entry and through Italian double doors which were flung wide open.
‘Come on in,’ Jack called over his shoulder.
‘Thanks,’ Leila mumbled, overwhelmed by the size and magnificence of the house.
She found herself in a formal dining room and beyond it a seating area furnished with cream leather seats. Side tables were decorated with period pieces and pictures of sweeping landscapes on the walls.
‘This is the dining room and the living room. Come I must show you the deck, it’s the loveliest part of the house.’ Jack said.
Indeed it was. It seemed to tower over everything else and to her amazement she could see the guest house at a distance but most of all was the view of the sky and the valley below.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Leila said.
She looked at Jack and was startled by the raw desire she saw in his eyes. Her own body responded to his obvious attraction and she longed to be held in his arms. He moved away then, breaking the sexual tension that simmered between them. Leila stifled a nervous laugh. She had never been this attracted to a man and she could have given anything to kiss him.
Leila barely saw the kitchen, only noting its granite countertops and shiny wooden floors.
‘This is Camille, she lords over the kitchen,’ Jack said, his tone gentle.
‘Hello,’ Leila said to the dark skinned lady’s cheerful greeting.
Before following Jack out of the kitchen, she noticed a cozy breakfast nook for two, under large bay windows and couldn’t quite picture Jack seated there. Up the stairs was a huge hallway and beyond the door at the end was a smaller hallway with two doors facing each other.
‘This will be your bedroom and I’m right here if you need anything,’ Jack said, his eyes on her mouth.
Leila had noticed that her mouth had an effect on most men and she was happy to see that Jack was no different. He pushed open the guest room and entered. Leila followed him into the large room flooded with light. The bed was huge and centrally placed and the floor covered by a pretty wall to wall carpet.
Everything in the home spelt luxury and Leila admitted to herself that she liked it.
‘The bathroom is through there,’ Jack said, pointing to a door.
‘OK, thanks. I could do with a wash,’ Leila said, blushing at the images her words conjured up.
In her mind she saw Jack leathering her up paying particular attention to certain areas of her anatomy. Thank God that he could not read her mind otherwise he would be horrified by the thoughts in her mind. Unconsciously, she shook her hair loose from the pony tail and threw her head back to push it behind.
When she looked up, it was to see the strain in Jack’s face. Veins crisscrossed his forehead and the muscles on his arms seemed to twitch. Her eyes went down to the lower part of his body and she saw the unmistakable bulge. She grew hot at the sight and she licked her dry lips.
Before she knew how it happened, Jack had pulled her into his arms and his lips were devouring hers. He swept his tongue inside her mouth and she parted her lips to grant him easier access. She wrapped her hands around his shoulders and loved the hardness of his skin. He smelt of pure manliness and the scent intoxicated her senses.
She felt his bulge pressing harder against her and his hands running over her back and backside. He lifted up her sundress and she shivered when his hands touched her panty line. It had been so long since a man had kissed her in such a way and she found herself pressing her body against his. Theirs was like a wild dance with hands exploring each other desperately. His hand found its way into her lacy panty and at that moment some sense came into Leila. She gently removed his hand and stepped away.
They looked at each other and both broke into nervous laughs.
‘I don’t do that the first time I meet a beautiful woman,’ Jack said apologetically.
‘I should hope not,’ Leila quipped, her comment breaking the tension between them.
‘I’ll leave you to your shower now,’ he said, though his look told her he would have loved to be in there with her.
Chapter Five
Jack was annoyed at himself. He had reacted to Leila like a hormone driven teenager, jumping at her as though it were his first time to see a woman. The moment he had seen her, it was as if some long forgotten fire in him had been lit. He had longed to rip off the sundress and kiss every inch of her tanned skin.
She was beautiful in an understated sort of way. She also had a gorgeous figure and she was all natural. Her mouth, damn! Her lips invited you to kiss her.
His eyes had raked over her slim yet curvy body, the top of the dress giving a hint of a cleavage and nothing else. The wind had blown and her dr
ess had wrapped itself around her hips and his desire had taken an overdrive. He longed to bury his face on her bosom and suck and lick her nipples until they became as hard as his manhood.
Leila could be dangerous, Jack told himself, walking to the deck to cool off his body. He leaned over the railing, his eyes seeing none of the beauty of the valley. He recalled her musky smell and the sweetness of her mouth. What was it about Leila that had evoked such desire in him? She was beautiful but he had been with women who were more if not just as beautiful.
Her beauty was unique though, as it was coupled with a kind of innocence. He had never felt such an overpowering hunger to possess a woman. Her reaction had been just as passionate and Jack looked forward to uncovering that passion that he sensed in Leila. As he took in the afternoon breeze, Jack admitted that Leila had taken him by surprise.
The internet picture did not do her any justice. It covered up her sexuality and her raw beauty. Jack knew that his reaction had nothing to do with emotions, just a passionate man meeting a similarly passionate woman. He thought back to Clarissa. While she was a beauty, she did not possess the passion that Leila did.
Her responses had been more automatic, geared towards getting the deed done rather than immersing herself wholly in it. The one thing he would not allow himself to do was to fall in love with Leila. Her purpose was to be a companion and to provide for him a family. He had learned his lesson hard with Clarissa. He had no intention of getting hurt again.
As if to prove his point, Jack popped into the kitchen and gave instructions to Camille.
‘Would you please tell Leila that I’ve gone to the stables? Give her some refreshments and tell her I’ll be back later,’ he said.
‘I will sir,’ Camille said, though he had told her countless times to address him by his name.
Pleased with his decision, he left the house. The less time he spent with her the better. Besides, he needed some time to cool off after his performance in her bedroom. Jack went to the fenced-in practice range where he could see Bill, the head trainer giving lessons to a group of men and women. All were usually overnight guests at the ranch and usually stayed a week or so getting lessons on cutting horses.
Jack propped one leg on the fence and watched. Ranch J boasted some of the most popular and award winning cutting mares. Bill, the trainer caught sight of him.
‘Hey there Jack, want to give a demonstration?’ he bellowed.
‘Sure,’ Jack responded and stooped to get into the enclosure.
Bill shouted for someone to open the gate that connected the enclosure to the cow shed. Moments later a herd of about thirty cows tramped into the enclosure, blowing dust with their hooves. The learners quickly ducked under the fence. Jack made for the cutting mare tethered to the fence and after untying it, he hoisted himself up. In the background, he could hear Bill speaking to the learners. Jack trained his eyes on the herd and searched for the calf with an X painted on it. He found the black and white calf and made towards it.
Jack steered the horse quietly towards the herd, taking care not to upset the cows. If they got wind of his movements, they would all bolt in different directions. Once he got to the marked calf, he dropped his reins and whispered softly to the mare, an offspring of a cutting champion.
The mare took charge then, by dropping its head and blocking the calf’s way. This was the part that got Jack’s blood flowing. The horse stood eye to eye with the calf, which sensed danger and reacted by turning to the left. Jack felt at one with the mare. He matched the calf’s rapid movements and desperate attempts to escape and rejoin the herd.
The mare stepped sideways and weaved with the lightening quickness of lightening. The mare guided the calf to a small pen in less than two minutes. Jack heard cheering from the sidelines. Adrenalin rushing through is body; he patted the horse and jumped down. When he looked up, his eyes met Leila’s, hers wide with wonder and her pouty mouth grinning widely.
‘That was awesome,’ she enthused, when he walked towards her. ‘Can you teach me?’
He looked her up and down with a frown. Very few women were trained in horse cutting and looking at her slim frame, he had serious doubts if she knew what would be in store for her.
‘What for?’ he said.
She appeared confused for a moment then struck out her chin in defiance.
‘Most people do it for competitions,’ Jack explained.
‘Well, I might just want to compete myself,’ she said.
‘In that case, I would be happy to. Just don’t blame me when you find your pretty backside on the hard ground.’
‘I’ve ridden horses since I was a girl, I’m no amateur.’ Leila countered.
He noticed then that she had changed clothes and now wore a sleeveless cream blouse tucked into a pair of well-fitting jeans. He drew a sharp intake of breath at the way the trousers hugged her curves. Damn Leila! He hated his body’s betrayal. The sooner he slept with her the faster he would get her out of his system.
Jack smiled to himself, now that he had a plan of action. It wouldn’t be difficult to get her into bed, he thought, his eyes focused on her smoky grey ones. He remembered her responses to his kisses. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her. The only thing he would do was to keep his feelings in check.
Chapter Six
‘Horace was a mistake I made in a moment of weakness,’ Leila admitted to Jack during dinner. ‘I was hurting and lonely after my parents’ death and for a while I enjoyed the partying that numbed the pain. After that it was downhill. Horace just never took to marriage.’
To her surprise, admitting all that to Jack did not hurt one bit. It was as though she was telling him the tale of someone she knew a long time ago, rather than her own past. She sipped her wine and stretched. Being here at the ranch was so relaxing. Jack had a wonderful home.
‘I’m very sorry for what you went through,’ Jack said, sincerity flowing from his eyes.
Leila shrugged. ‘Part of life I’m afraid. Are your own parents alive?’
‘Oh yes, they live on the other side of town. I’ll take you to meet them sometime,’ Jack said.
Leila looked at her empty plate. Dinner had been delicious. Jack had more than made up for his attitude earlier in the day. She looked at him now, his face illuminated by the candles on the table and she felt a rush of desire. It amazed her how much he had gotten into her system. She remembered his prowess on the cutting horse.
His wet t-shirt had clung to his muscles and his face had been a closed mask of concentration. Her body had reacted to the sheer strength and talent of the man.
‘Thank you for a lovely dinner,’ Leila now said.
‘Nothing but the best for a beautiful lady,’ he drawled, his eyes going down to her lips.
It felt like a seduction and looking at Jack across the table from her, she felt special. He had complimented her all evening and paid attention to her. If this was what having a relationship with a man like Jack entailed, she would be more than happy to say yes to any proposal. Their open perusal of each other was interrupted by Camille, picking up the dirty dinner dishes.
‘Thank you Camille, that was lovely as usual.’ Jack said. ‘You can clear up the dishes in the morning.’
Camille looked up in surprise, but other than that did not say a word. Leila blushed at the implication of Jack’s words. They would be alone in the massive house. She felt no fear, just a hardly suppressed excitement at what was to come. She knew that she was not capable of resisting him. She would go along with whatever he had in mind.
‘Yes, thank you so much, dinner was delicious,’ Leila now said to Camille.
‘You’re welcome,’ the older lady said and retreated.
After a few minutes, Leila looked up to find Jack’s eyes boring into hers. She trembled slightly and smiled to hide the volcano growing in her body threatening to erupt.
‘Would you like to dance?’ he murmured.
Leila nodded in reply. Her throat had gone dry and her bra
in could not formulate a single word. She watched him get up and go to a stereo near the living area. Soon, soft music flooded the room and she closed her eyes and let the sounds carry her off. She opened her eyes when she felt Jack’s hand on hers.
She stood up and followed him to the center of the living room. He held her at arm’s length, his hands placed lightly in her waist. Leila followed suit and placed hers lightly on his shoulders though she ached to hold him tight. She felt as though she was captured in a dream as they danced, their eyes on each other, their feet moving slightly. Leila was aware of jack’s hands moving in circular motions massaging her waist. They moved further up to just below her armpits and a fire of desire ran through her. Leila had no idea how long she could maintain her calm stance.
He closed the gap between them by pulling her against him almost roughly. Leila gasped. His mouth came to hers and she desperately clung to him. Her body did not belong to her any more. A hint of his aftershave and his fresh manly scent invaded her senses, intoxicating her. Horace, the only man she had ever slept with had never come close to making her feel what she felt now.
His tongue played with her lips, brushing against hers and then dipping into her mouth to play with her tongue. In an instant the pace changed and his mouth grew more demanding. His hands lowered to her backside and he pulled her hard against his body. Her hands hung around his neck and she now moved them, running her fingers through his hair and sliding to his chest.
He moaned in reply. She could feel her breasts rubbing against his chest. His hands lifted her dress and settled on her bare hips. His hands slid to her inner thighs and Leila thought she would die of longing at that very moment. Her own hands slid between them and she felt his hardness. He took a sharp breath.
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