“Thanks,” I say softly.
“Alright, go get ready and have fun. And don’t do anything Ashley wouldn’t do,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Oh, lord. That really gives me free reign then, doesn’t it?”
“That’s the point. Now, go get ready!”
“Okay, okay. Love you, bye.”
I hang up and return to my closet with a new purpose. I dig out everything she told me to wear and put it on. And I can’t believe it. It’s perfect. She’s a miracle worker from six hours away.
I finish up with my hair and makeup just in time for the doorbell to ring at seven sharp. Walking slowly down the hall, I take a couple of deep breaths to prepare myself.
Opening the door, Jake is standing there looking all too handsome in dark rinse jeans and a light blue button down that makes his eyes seem bluer. He even shaved. I can see every sharp plane and angle of his jaw and cheekbones.
Unable to resist, I reach up and run my fingertips over his smooth skin, smiling. “You shaved for me?”
He smiles, his dimple even more prominent on a smooth face, and even more effective. I’m such a goner.
“I did.” Leaning down, he kisses me, and I feel the electric current zap through me like it does every time our lips touch – sparking me alive.
“I also brought you these,” he says, holding out a big bouquet of tulips for me.
“Jake,” I breathe. “I love tulips. Thank you, they’re beautiful.”
Holding them up to my nose, I breathe them in, loving the bright colors he chose. He smiles softly at my reaction, and I quickly go to the kitchen to put them in a vase.
Taking my hand when I return, we walk out to his truck and he opens the door for me.
“You look beautiful, darlin’,” he says when he gets in behind the wheel. Threading his fingers with mine, he kisses my knuckles, and my cheeks grow warm at the compliment.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself,” I tell him, and he flashes me a sexy grin.
I hold his hand in my lap as he drives. After only about twenty minutes, Jake pulls into the parking lot of a restaurant called The Sea Spray. What a cute name.
Inside, the hostess guides us through the dining room and out onto a deck, my eyes widening instantly.
It’s beautiful.
The deck extends out over the ocean, and all I see is endless water. Strings of white lights line the railings and are strung up overhead, crisscrossing above our heads. Wooden tables and chairs cover the deck for eating, and there are a few couches at the end for sitting and enjoying the view.
I squeeze Jake’s hand and he looks down at me. “I love it. It’s so pretty.”
“I thought you might think that.”
I’m happy we’re seated close to the end and along the edge so I have an unobstructed view for the coming sunset.
Jake holds my chair out for me and I smile my thanks. Sitting across from me, he opens his menu, and I take the time to appreciate him. I want to spend hours memorizing every plane, angle, slope, and curve of him.
“Like what you see?” Jake asks, lifting his head to smile at me, showing off his sexy dimple.
Deciding to own the fact that I was staring, I smirk and take a sip of my water. “Yes, I do. Very much.”
He lifts an eyebrow and stares back, his eyes burning heat into mine. “Me too.”
Smiling, I pick up my menu and study it for a minute. “I think I’ll will go with the lobster mac and cheese. It sounds amazing.”
“Good choice.” When our waitress comes by, we order our dinner and drinks. “Tell me about your life back in New Jersey.”
“It was good. I have three best friends that I love to pieces. We’ve known each other since we were freshman in high school.”
“Do you miss them?”
“I do. I talked to Elizabeth today, but we all conferenced together last weekend. It was hard leaving them, but they knew I needed to do this.”
“Why?”
“Life was being lived all around me, and time kept moving, but I felt like I was stuck. I wasn’t really living. I was just going through the motions of life.”
“I know what you mean.”
“You do?”
“When I retired from the Navy, I was different. Everyone knew. I knew.” He swallows hard, but continues. “My family and friends were moving forward in their lives, but I couldn’t. I spent most of my time in my workshop. It was the only place that gave me any clarity. But lately,” he says, pinning me with his eyes. “I’ve started to feel alive again.”
“Jake,” I start, trying to find the right words. “You made me paint for the first time in seven years. You gave that back to me without even realizing it.” He doesn’t know what that means to me.
Taking my hand in his, he brushes his thumb across the back of my knuckles. Squeezing it, he reaches across the table with his other and tucks a wayward strand of hair behind my ear. Lingering, he caresses his thumb over my cheek, and I lean into his touch, the look in his eyes spreading warmth through me.
When our food is delivered, the heavenly scent of cheesy goodness fills my nose and I dig in. It’s the most delicious mac and cheese I’ve ever had. The sweetness of the lobster pairs well with the cheesy macaroni.
The sun is starting to set, and it frames Jake in the most breathtaking way, making him look almost ethereal. And as the sky darkens, the string lights above our heads start to shine like stars in the night.
Finishing dinner, Jake pays the bill, and we decide to sit on the couches at the of the deck to finish our drinks.
We’re sitting close, our bodies touch from knees to hips. He wraps his arm around me, and I lean into him, looking out at the dark water.
“Do you want to come home with me?” Jake whispers, kissing me behind my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “We could sit outside and make a fire.”
“Yes,” I sigh, and he stands, taking me with him. We abandon the rest of our drinks as he guides me back through the restaurant and out to his truck.
The ride back to his house is a quiet one, with just the low melodies of the radio filling the cab of his truck.
I hum along to the slow country song playing, and I lose track of time, thinking of how much I want to kiss Jake right now. His lips first, but then I want to strip him naked and run my hands all over his rock-solid body, kissing my way down to his…Oh my god, I need to think of something else.
Growing hotter by the second, I clear my throat and squirm in my seat. Jake’s eyes shoot to mine, and then back to the road, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.
Finally getting to his house, he walks us right around to the back and I settle into one of the couches around the fire pit. Jake grabs wood from a pile under the deck and gets a fire started.
With the light dancing across his face, he looks dangerous and sexy as hell. I crook my finger out, needing him to come here.
He braces his arms on the back of the couch on either side of my head, his lips just a breath away from mine. “I need you,” I whisper, grabbing his shirt and closing the distance between us.
I kiss him hard, with everything I have, and with everything I want. Pulling him against me, I need him to feel my racing heart that’s ready to beat out my chest. He needs to know what he does to me.
Deepening the kiss, our tongues slide together in a dance I’ll never get tired of.
But as much as I want to give in, I push him away. Standing on shaky legs, I curl my fingers into his shirt and turn him, pushing him down to sit. Giving him a coy smile, I straddle his hips, and feel how hard he is beneath me. I rock my hips gently, watching as his eyes darken into the stormy blue seas that only happen when he’s turned on.
Placing my hands on his shoulders, I lean in and kiss his neck – sucking, licking, and biting my way up his jaw and over to his mouth. Taking his bottom lip between my teeth, I nibble gently before licking away the sting.
He tries to kiss me, but I p
ull back, shaking my head. “Not yet, mountain man. I’m in control right now,” I tell him, and his eyes darken even more.
I unbutton his shirt slowly, kissing the skin I expose with every button I release. Tugging the hem out of his jeans, I spread his shirt open and push it off his shoulders, enjoying the glorious expanse of his chest.
Sliding my hands from his shoulders to his waistband, his muscles contract under my touch, and I love that I have that effect on him.
Leaning forward, I kiss his chest, swirling my tongue around each of his nipples as I unbuckle his belt, sliding the button open and slowly unzipping his jeans.
Stripping off my jean jacket, I lift my shirt up and off of me before unclasping my bra, freeing my breasts.
Jake’s hands immediately grab my waist as he leans forward to take my left nipple into his mouth. I sigh loudly, thrusting my chest at him as I rock against him. He bites down, and I cry out at the pain, but moan when he flattens his tongue to quickly take the sting away.
Moving over to my other breast, he pays equal attention to it while still kneading the left, rubbing his thumb over my sensitive flesh.
Gripping Jake through his jeans, I slide my hand up and down his length, and he groans into my breast, biting down harder than the last time – a strangled scream torn from my lips, loving the pain mixed with pleasure.
Lifting us, Jake shoves his jeans down just far enough to where he frees himself, and I grab him, stroking his length, loving the groans he makes into my skin as he kisses his way across my chest and up my neck.
Jake slides his hands up my bare thighs and under my skirt to grip my ass, grinding me into him. “Reach in the pocket of my jeans, baby. Put it on me.” He sounds like he’s barely holding on to his sanity.
Stumbling around, I find the condom in his pocket, and with shaking hands, I rip it open and roll it down on him. He places his hand on top of mine to steady me, and guides our hands up and down his length, letting me feel what I do to him.
“I need you, darlin’. Lift up.”
Holding the back of the couch, I keep my eyes on his as do as he says. Reaching between us, Jake grips my lace panties in his fist and rips them off, positioning himself at my entrance.
Slowly, I start to lower myself down, taking every glorious inch of him inside of me. Feeling the heat of the fire on my back, my head falls back as I let out a groan, low and long. Pulling me towards him, Jake grazes his teeth along the exposed flesh of my neck until he’s fully seated inside of me.
I gently rock back and forth, feeling him in me at this angle, and feeling him reach a spot I didn’t even know existed.
Placing one hand on his chest and the other on his shoulder, I lift myself up, and then back down on him.
I find a rhythm, and with every downward stroke, he hits me perfectly, the sensation making my legs shake.
Jake lets me have this control at first, feeling him, and taking from him. But when he can’t hold back any longer, he grips my hips hard enough to leave marks. Lifting me up, he pulls me down hard, and we both moan loudly – filling the quiet of the night with the sounds of our passion.
Jake keeps control over me. He moves me with him–over and over, faster and faster–until I feel my inner muscles start to flutter, and Jake pulls me down on him with everything he has. I cry out, exploding around him. Groaning, he holds me to him as I squeeze him into me, milking him for all he has.
Breathing hard, Jake wraps his arms around me, and we hold on to one another. The cool night air starts to chill our overheated skin as the fire crackles behind me.
Jake brushes his lips against my neck and lightly traces patterns on my back as I stroke his hair. My heart rate starts to settle back down as I’m lulled into a dream-like state.
I don’t know how much time passes, but it’s too soon that Jake grips my ass and stands, still keeping himself inside of me.
I wrap my legs around his waist and rest my head on his shoulder as he starts to walk. With every step, I feel him grow inside of me again, and I rock my hips, already needing him all over again.
Without breaking contact, Jake lays me on the edge of his bed and kisses me deep into the mattress, slowly starting to pump in and out of me again. With my legs locked around his hips, he looks down at me with heated eyes, his grip on my ass tightening as he steadily moves faster and faster until I’m fisting the sheets next to me and arching off the bed, my mouth open in a silent cry.
I’ve never desired a man, or felt so desired by a man in my life. Jake Taylor is going to be the downfall of everything I am and everything I used to be.
Chapter 13
The light streaming through the window wakes me out of a deep, sex induced sleep. Groaning, I turn away from it and curl into the warm body next to me.
Smiling, I open my eyes and look up at Jake, happy that he’s still here this time, and still sleeping.
Studying his relaxed face, I reach up and lightly trace the planes of his jaw, cheeks, forehead, nose, eyes, and lips. I want to memorize his features so I can paint them one day. He has a face worthy of immortalization on canvas.
“What’re you doing?” he grumbles, still half asleep.
“Memorizing you,” I whisper back.
“Why?”
“So I can paint your perfect, handsome face someday.”
“Hmm, perfect and handsome?” He smiles, his eyes still closed.
“Yes.” I stretch up and kiss him softly.
“Glad I can be an inspiration for you, darlin’.”
“You are, mountain man,” I confess, pulling away gently.
Slipping out of bed, I silently walk across his room to the bathroom. And while I planned on just sneaking back into bed, I look at the shower longingly, my body wanting the hot water. I feel used in the most delicious of ways, but I’m sore from being taken so many times, and in so many ways all night. Jake is insatiable. But then again, so am I when it comes to him.
Starting the water, I go and grab a fluffy towel from the closet and leave it on the vanity before stepping under the hot stream of water, my muscles relaxing on impact. But then a cold burst of air hits my back as a naked Jake joins me.
“Jake, I’m freezing here. You’re stealing all of the hot water,” I huff, my skin breaking out in goosebumps.
“Then come closer, darlin’,” he drawls in his sexy morning voice.
Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulls me flush against him as he steps back so the water hits both of us now. My skin flushing with goosebumps for a completely different reason.
Starting at my shoulders, Jake runs his soapy hands all over my body, making sure to clean every inch, taking extra care and time on my breasts and between my legs. I moan low and long, leaning into his body.
I’m still sensitive from last night, so it only takes a few strokes of his fingers against my core to make me fall apart in his arms. I honestly didn’t think I had anything left in me to give him, but I’m starting to believe that Jake knows my body better than me.
Breathing hard into his chest, I lather my hands, ready to return the favor. I start with his shoulders, chest, and arms – worshiping every inch I touch. Turning him around, I rub his back, massaging him as I go, feeling him relax beneath my touch.
Bending, I run my hands down each of his legs and back up, saving the best part of him for last. Standing in front of him again, I lean forward and kiss his chest, letting my hand stroke him. Increasing my pressure, Jake leans in and braces his hands on the glass behind me, caging me in.
Breathing hard, he kisses my neck. “Faster, darlin’,” he groans in my ear.
I pump him faster, feeling him harden and lengthen in my hand with each pass, reveling in the fact that I can bring this man pleasure. Every grunt and groan that escapes his lips gives me a sense of power and confidence that I’ve never had.
Squeezing him, I reach down and grip his balls, making Jake jerk in my hand. And with a deep groan, he releases ropes of white all over my stomach.
Reaching down, I swirl my fingers through it, spreading it around further. Looking into his eyes, I bring my hand up to my mouth and lick my fingers clean. He tastes like pure man – musky and salty. A heady combination.
“I’ve never seen anything sexier,” he says, his voice strained.
Smiling, I do it again. “You taste good, mountain man.”
Pressing me back into the glass with his hips, Jake slams his mouth down on mine, plunging his tongue between my lips. Tasting, sweeping, taking, and claiming me.
I’ve never wanted, or needed, anything more in my life than to be claimed by this man.
“I don’t know what you’re doing to me,” Jake whispers against my lips.
“I was thinking the same thing,” I whisper back, kissing him hard.
Pushing myself against him, our bodies slide against one another as the water continues to beat down on us.
It isn’t until the water starts to get cold that Jake turns it off and we step out. Grabbing the towel I had left on the counter, he pats me dry before doing the same to himself. Taking my hand, we walk out of the bathroom and over to his dresser where he pulls out sweat pants and a t-shirt for me. They’re huge, but I don’t care.
Smiling, I run my fingers through my hair, trying to untangle it. The happiness I feel is unreal.
“What’re you smiling about?” he asks, smirking.
“Oh, nothing. I’m just happy. I forgot how that felt.”
Stalking over to me, Jake presses me into the wall, kissing me senseless. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the way he kisses me. Sometimes it’s soft and gentle, and other times it’s hard and bruising. I love it all. The unpredictability keeps me wanting more.
“Let’s go downstairs. I’ll make breakfast,” he says, tearing himself away from me.
“Good, I’m starving.” I start to walk towards the door when I feel a slap on my ass and I jump, looking back at smiling Jake.
“Lead the way, darlin’.”
Smiling, we head down to the kitchen and sit at the island, leaning forward on my elbows and placing my chin in my hands.
Her Maine Attraction: A Small Town Romance (Pine Cove Book 1) Page 11
