by Tigris Eden
I place my hand over his chest. His heart is beating frantically, and I can see the pulse at his neck bulging as he stands frozen in front of me.
“Jackson, I’m going to move back home. I don’t know how long it’s going to take--”
He lifts me and sits me on the counter, his large body maneuvering between my legs. The juice is long forgotten and my body moves to hold the force of his weight as his mouth descends on mine. His kiss sends spirals of overwhelming need through my body. His lips are surprisingly soft and warm. I don’t know what this was, but it’s urgent. Unrelenting. He’s kissed me sweetly before, and like every other time we kiss, it’s combustible, but this was the promise of something new. My legs wrap around his hips, bringing him dead center to my heat and we both groan at the feel of our bodies connecting through our clothes. My fingers tangle in his hair, and a desperate mewl slips from my lips which Jackson devours when he closes his mouth over mine. He moves all too quickly, both of us breathing hard as he places his forehead against mine.
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.”
“It’s okay. You can kiss me like that anytime you want.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.”
The doorbell rings, breaking up our intimate moment.
“If that is more drama, Jackson Storme, so help me I will put on a pot of grits.”
With a jolt of disappointment, I untangle myself from around him so he can answer the door. Thankfully, it’s our takeout. Jackson brings the food to the table, and I grab the open bottle of wine and two glasses. He grabs the plates and I pour the wine. We’re in harmony then, moving around his kitchen. He’d pass me and touch my hip, and I’d walk behind him and hug him around the waist. The possibility of us is slowly coming together is soothing, but we aren’t in the clear just yet.
Dinner is revealing. I discuss my plans with Jackson about the studio, and he talks about living arrangements. No matter how bad I want to throw him to the ground and have my way with him, I’m not going to give in. We need to slow down and take our relationship down the right path if we want any true chance of making this work.
“Ten dates.”
“Five, Anna.”
“Why only five, Jackson? What’s the rush? You already know what sex is like with us.”
“Exactly. Five dates.”
“Is it enough to get to know someone?”
“Seriously?” he arches a brow and then grunts. “Woman, I’ve known you since before you could walk.”
“Yeah, but do you know me, know me?”
“Yeah, ask me a question. Any question.”
“Okay, what’s my favorite color?”
“Trick question.”
“How so?”
“Because you like pink, but you also like red, and sometimes gold. Depends on your mood. But you’re crazy about white.”
Score one for team Jackson.
I am wearing a pair of jeans I had left in the guestroom, and one of Jackson’s shirts. We’re sprawled on the floor in front of the big screen, not watching the television but negotiating.
“Favorite food?”
“Too easy, chicken wings and fried rice. Next question, and give me something hard.”
“Fine. When did you first realize I was in love with you?”
His eyes give nothing away as he stares at my face for long moments. His hand reaches out, and he rubs his thumb over my lower lip before leaning forward to kiss me.
“Well if I’m going to be honest, it was way before the Fourth of July Picnic. I knew you were crushing on me when you were in high school. But I thought you’d grow out of that phase once you went off to college and found yourself some boy to play around with. But I didn’t truly realize how serious you were with it until you whispered it in my ear. You thought I was asleep. I wasn’t.”
My face goes hot. Oh. God. There had been more than handful of times I whispered that to him believing he was asleep.
“Don’t be embarrassed, Anna. I loved every single whispered word.”
He grabs me by my neck and pulls me forward for another kiss. This one is sweeter, slower.
“Okay, Jackson, five dates.”
“Good girl. Now, it’s time for bed. I know you said you weren’t sleeping in my bed, and I know I said I’d give you tonight. But I lied. We’re both sleeping in the guestroom. Together.”
“No, Jackson, you can’t do that. Get all fresh with me and expect me not to want to fool around. Tonight we’re sleeping in separate beds.”
“No we aren’t, woman. We’re sleeping in the same damn bed. Tonight and every night after that. And new rule, we don’t go to bed angry or apart... Ever. Unless we’re traveling and it can’t be helped.”
Jackson gets up from the floor and reaches down, tagging my hand and tugging me up with him.
“Fine, but no sex.”
“I didn’t say anything about sex, Anna. Get your mind out of the gutter. I’m just going to sleep with you.”
Yeah right. We never just sleep.
I was wrong. We slept. We actually slept. I wake up covered in man. Jackson’s legs tangle with mine, one arm draped over my stomach, and the other secure at my breasts. My head is in the crook of his arm, and my cheek’s smashed against a very warm, very hard bicep. I don’t want to get out of bed, but nature is calling me.
“Where are you going, beautiful?”
“Bathroom, Sheriff.”
His massive arm around my waist lifts and his legs move to allow me to get up, but I linger just a bit longer to soak up the moment.
“Don’t you have to be a work today?” I inquire over my shoulder as I open the bathroom door. The sun isn’t quite up yet, and I know at some point we’d be separated today. Why that freaks me out a little, I don’t know.
“Yeah, getting up now. You want some coffee?”
“Yeah,” I answer back, washing my hands then my face and staring at myself in the mirror. My face is bright, and my lips are puffy. We’d slept last night, but not until after an extraordinary make out session. I all but climbed into his skin, but as I had pushed forward, Jackson had pushed back, reminding me that all we were doing was sleeping.
Damn man.
The smell of coffee has me walking down the hall and into the kitchen. Jackson’s there sans shirt, and in a pair of jeans. He always wears jeans. I don’t think there has ever been a time I’d seen him in a pair of slacks. But he does know how to fill out a pair of button ups. I walk over to him and run my hands down his bare chest. He doesn’t move a muscle, instead he watches me. The heat in his eyes clear.
“Any more room for me in those jeans?”
Jackson bows his head, grinning down at me. His arms slide around my waist and he hugs me into his warm embrace. He gives the best hugs. Always close. Every single part of our bodies touch in one way or another.
“No more room, darlin'. But I have something else for you.”
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
He bends and kisses me lightly on the lips.
“Morning, baby,” he whispers against my mouth. My head tilts back and his lips travel down my jaw, to nibble on the side of my neck.
“Morning, Sheriff.”
I’m looking forward to mornings like this. We’d decided last night that I’d stay here with him, even though we were technically just dating. Of course, all sexual hell would break loose immediately following date five, and date six, which wasn’t a date, but a trip. We are going back to New York to clean out my apartment, turn in my keys, and give Stage One my formal notice. We haven’t talked about the job offer he has in Texas, but I assume at some point we will. I didn’t bring it up, and neither did he.
“I’m going to call India and see when’s a good time for us to get together. I’ll grab my clothes from my mother’s house and then spend the day with Joey.”
“Sounds like we have our day booked. I’ll see you tonight, then.”
“Tonight.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask
him if we are going to go out tonight, but I don’t. I’d let him be the one to decide when and where date number one would take place. Jackson heads towards his room to finish getting dressed, and I take my coffee and sit out on the front porch. I am still in his shirt. It’s long enough that it falls to my knees, so I am in no way showing off any of the goods. The morning air outside is cool. It’ll stay that way until the sun and humidity cut through the misty morning. I sit my cup down on the stand next to the rocking chair and breathe it all in.
The screen door opens and Jackson steps out in full Sheriff Fashion. He has his hat in his hands, gun, and badge on his belt, and the swagger of a man that knows exactly who he is, and where he’s going.
“Here,” he tosses me a set of keys. “Take the Lexus parked in the garage for your errands today.”
I catch the keys midair and wink at him before taking a sip of my coffee.
“You look good on my porch, Annabelle.”
“You look good in uniform, Sheriff. I think I may have to commit a crime today, just to get you to handcuff me.”
His eyes darken and a hint of a smile touches his lips.
“Even if you don’t break any laws, darlin', I’m still going to handcuff you.”
Fun times.
I don’t vocalize my thoughts, but he can tell by my facial expression I’m not opposed to the idea of handcuffs. He’s restrained me in them before.
“Five dates, seriously, you two dating now?” Joey is laughing. She’s doing her best not to go overboard, and I don’t blame her. It does all sound silly, but it’s the best solution for us. We’ll get to talk, figure out the other’s likes and dislikes, and by doing this we’re ensuring that we’re fostering a positive relationship, making our bond that much stronger. Just because we know each other, doesn’t mean we really know each other. Beauville is a small town, people talk all the time. They will speculate and rumors of course would run rampant. I thought for sure when I went into town, people would whisper and point. But that didn’t happen. It is like the drama between Jackson and me doesn’t exist. It is either that, or we are the topic at every social club around town.
My mother of course was all but raining down praises on how many kids Jackson and I would have together. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings and tell her we were only seeing each other; I just let her talk and talk, until finally she had to get ready for work. Jackson and I did talk about how we’d spend time with Ava. I’ve never had to consider a little person as part of a relationship, but now I’d have to. I am sure everything will work itself out in the end. I love children. Loving Ava isn’t the issue, what I fear most is, how she’ll feel about me. I would not know until it’s his turn to visit with her, which isn’t till next week. Vivian and Jackson agree he will have Ava every other weekend. Apparently, she is taking a break from modeling and has decided to stay in Beauville. She is staying at his mother’s for now, until she decides what her next move is. When I bring up the subject of Ava and Vivian choosing somewhere else to stay, Jackson doesn’t comment. But I could see it in his eyes, he’s grown attached to Ava, and if Vivian left and took their little girl from him, he’d be in bad shape. So, I drop that conversation quickly.
“Stop giggling and eat your food.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m eating, I’m eating.”
“Not enough. You’re still super skinny. You’re almost six months and you’re barely showing.”
“The doctor says the baby is growing just fine. I’m probably carrying the entire baby in my back.”
“Yeah, okay, Josephine.”
Treat walks in to the kitchen wearing a three-piece power suit. “Hey there, stranger, glad to see you’re here keeping my wife company.”
“Yeah, well, we all can’t be power suit, power tie, and power hungry.”
Treat comes around the counter and kisses me on the forehead before pulling his wife in for a peck that he proclaims is sticky and sweet.
“You ladies have a good day. I’m going to go and play big bad boss on top of the mountain.”
“Don’t play too hard, honey.”
Treat winks at us both before grabbing his phone and walking out the door.
“I’m so happy for you, Joey. Treat is a good man.”
While I say that, an image of him, Jackson, and Inara flashes through my mind. I don’t know if Joey knows or not, but it isn’t my place to tell her. Or pass judgment. How could I? What if Treat doesn’t want her to know? Or, what if he’d told her, and then I go and say something and bring back painful memories Joey doesn’t need right now? Hell, I don’t even know how to broach the subject about Treat being my half-brother.
“Jackson talk to you about the job offer in Texas?” Joey chimes in, interrupting my thoughts.
“No. We didn’t get a chance. We still have a lot to iron out. True love isn’t accomplished in a day.”
“Sure the hell wasn’t. I still can’t believe that tramp Inara was there at the house when y’all pulled up. That girl isn’t right in the head. Trust me; stay clear of her. I’ve been hoping that my mother would fire her ass. I can’t stand looking at her, but for some reason she won’t.”
“I totally understand that.”
“Hey, listen. I wanted to talk to you about something that’s been eating at me for a while.”
“Yeah, what’s that, Joey?”
“I know we didn’t get to talk much about the Vivian incident. I want you to know the only reason I didn’t tell you about her was because I knew she wasn’t going to last.”
“We’ve already squashed it. It’s okay, Joey. You were just trying to protect me. Although I would have found out eventually, you do realize that, right? Like when I came home for visits and stuff.”
Her eyes are apologetic.
“Yeah, I know. I wanted to save you the heartache. I knew you and my brother would end up together. He was just so stubborn back then, and you know how men are. Treat and Jackson were both fools when they were younger. They just needed us women to bring them back to the light.”
We both laugh. But sober just as quickly.
“No worries, Joey, all is right in Anna’s world.”
“I know it’s right. You gonna stay awhile?”
“Yeah, I’m meeting with India a little later to talk more about this idea of ours. Then I’m home for dinner with your brother.”
Joey and I eat. We talk more about the baby, and she goes into this long song and dance about how she wants me and her mother in the room while she gives birth. I respectfully decline, telling her Treat and her mom will be all the people she needs.
“Oh come on, I want you there to document this special moment in our life. My mom is just going to drive me and everyone crazy with her so-called advice.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s better than a no. Just knowing you could be there makes me a happy woman.”
“Ice cream makes you happy,” I say eyeing the half eaten quart of chocolate.
“True.”
“Okay, honey, I’m gonna go. Your brother will be home in a couple of hours, and I want to shower, and get dinner ready for him. I was going to let him do date number one, but I’ve decided a home cooked meal is as much a date as anything.”
“Go get him, girl! You got this!” Joey cheers.
I hug her and head home to Jackson.
Give and Take: Chapter 15
Jackson waited as the movers took out the old bedroom set. She didn’t want to sleep on the bed, and he understood why. They would be sleeping in his room tonight, and although that was all they were going to be doing, she’d be in his arms. He should have never agreed to five dates. He understood the reasoning for it. But dammit, his dick was going to go in to shock if he had to sleep one more night next to Anna and not act on his needs. Her body was thick and soft in all the right places. Ass and legs, and enough breasts to fill his hands and still have overflow.
“Sheriff, where would you like us to put this?” One of the mover
s asked. It was a work desk for Anna. He was going to turn one of the guestrooms into a darkroom. Something he knew he needed to consult her about. Jackson wanted to extend the idea her way by providing a capable workspace.
“That goes on the second floor, third bedroom, closest to the stairs.”
The movers went about moving furniture around and arranging items so they were just right. He went with a king-size four-poster bed. It held promise. He imagined what a night of pleasure would entail with Anna tied to his bed and fucked into exhaustion. He liked her response to the handcuff comment earlier that morning, and he had every intention of using that and many more of the items they had yet to play with. A slow introduction into his pleasures as well as hers. He knew Anna would be down to test the waters, and when the moment came, he would own her. He just needed her to say yes first. Then he could place his grandmother’s ring on her finger. Damn the five-date rule to hell! It was messing up his timeline.
Joey was keeping her busy while he planned their first date. He didn’t know if she would like it or not, but he figured a date was a date and he wanted to make it memorable. He wasn’t a romantic by nature, but he knew how to woo a woman. Jackson was going to take her out on the water. It didn’t help he’d taken many females to the lake over the years. Anna hadn’t said each date had to be different. He took it as a no brainer. Jackson wanted new memories with Anna, not ones that were reminiscent of days past with some other female. He wanted them to have their own spots, make their own mark. Annabelle Macon was a nerd, and he knew certain activities would appeal to the sexy nerd in her.
Jackson pulled his phone from his pocket and made a call.
The sun is already setting when I finally make it home. I stopped in town to pick up a few items for dinner. Jackson and I had eaten more takeout than home cooked meals, and I figured it was about time we played house properly. Who knew what would or would not work, but there was only one way to find out. The lights on the outside of the house are on, so I know Jackson is home. I park the car. Walk in through the front door and the smell of fresh garlic bread assaults my senses. I can the smell the jambalaya simmering on the stove. I was planning to make something similar, so I’m shocked to see Jackson in the kitchen, moving around in the zone. He’s wearing sweats and a baseball tee.
