Her Maine Attraction: A Small Town Romance (Pine Cove Book 1)

by Rebecca Gannon

  “I’d love to see that,” I say as we head back to his truck.

  Reaching it, I turn and look up at him. “Do you mind if I spend some time painting this afternoon?”

  “You never have to ask me that, darlin’. I will never mind,” he says, placing a finger under my chin. Tilting my head up, he kisses me gently, but I press up on my toes and grab his shirt, leaning into the kiss, and loving the warmth that spreads through me.

  Pulling back, I bite my lower lip and smile. “Good.”

  On the ride back to the house, I keep my window open to feel the fresh air on my face. I can’t wait to let everything I’m feeling out on a canvas. I’ve never seen a sunrise like that.

  “I’m going to go out on the water for a little bit,” Jake tells me when we’re inside the house. “You go do your thing, for however long you want. Call me if you need anything.”

  “Thanks,” I say, kissing his cheek.

  Walking into my painting room, I smile. I can’t believe he did this for me. Feeling a pang in my heart, I rub my chest. No one has ever given me something so thoughtful before.

  I decide on a medium sized canvas and place it on the easel by the window. Digging through all of the paints, I pick out the colors I know I’ll need and squeeze out a little of each onto my palette.

  Grabbing a brush, I sit on the stool and take a deep breath in. Swiping my brush through the blue paint, I make the first stroke on the blank canvas, and the world around me disappears.

  I don’t know how long I sit here painting, but minutes turn to hours, and it’s only when my stomach growls that I decide it’s time for a break.

  Putting the brush down, I walk over to the attached bathroom, and wash the paint off of my hands before going in search of Jake. I find him in the kitchen, and I walk up behind him at the stove, placing my hand on his back.

  “Grilled cheese?” I smile. “You’ve discovered my weakness for cheese.”

  “How’s your painting coming?” He asks, kissing my cheek.

  “Good. It’s coming along well.”

  “Am I allowed to see it?”

  “Not yet. Maybe later.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “You already know I’m starving. That’s why I came out here.”

  “I guess I can read your mind.” Turning off the stove, he wraps his arms around me and leans down. “And your body, too,” he whispers against my lips.

  Taking my bottom lip between his teeth, he nibbles, and I moan softly into him. Sliding my hands up his arms and around his neck, I pull him down, needing to taste him.

  Licking the seam of his lips, he groans and opens for me. Moving his hands down my sides, he picks me up and sets me on the counter, stepping between my legs.

  Running my fingers through his hair, I pull on the ends, knowing he loves when I do it. Groaning into my mouth, Jake slips his hands under my sweatshirt, his fingers leaving a trail of fire everywhere he touches.

  He unclasps my bra and runs his hands up and down my back, down my sides, and up my stomach to palm my breasts. Kneading my flesh, he pinches my nipples between his fingers and I moan, biting his lip as I throw my head back, not able to focus on anything but how he’s making me feel.

  “You’re so beautiful when you’re like this,” he rasps. “You give in to me fully. And knowing I’m the one giving you everything you need makes me harder than I’ve ever been in my life.”

  Shoving my sweatshirt and t-shirt up just enough to expose my breasts, he replaces his hands with his mouth, and my ears go deaf to the pleas and cries I’m making.

  “Jake,” I moan. “Please…more…” I can’t even think straight, but I know he can give me more.

  Then his hand is there, feeling me through my yoga pants.

  “Is this where you need me, baby?” he growls.

  “Yes,” I hiss. I try to move my hips into him, but he holds me still, rubbing circles around me through the thin fabric of my pants until I’m all but ready to explode.

  Then he stops.

  “Jake! Please!”

  Putting his hand back, he tortures me again and again until I’m begging him for release. Lifting me off of the counter, he runs up the stairs and throws me on the bed, immediately stripping out of his clothes and ripping mine off of me.

  Climbing on top of me, he spreads my thighs and settles between my legs, kissing me deep into the pillows.

  Lifting my hips, I feel him right there, only needing a little push.

  “Ally, I want to feel you,” Jake whispers, kissing me behind my ear and down my neck.

  “Yes,” I sigh, needing him.

  Resting his forehead on mine, I stare into his beautiful stormy eyes. “Will you let me feel you? With nothing between us?”

  “I want to feel you,” I whisper.

  “Are you–”

  “Yes. But I’ve never–”

  “Me either.”

  “I trust you,” I whisper, running my fingers across his cheek, pushing his hair away from his face.

  His eyes change at my words, and my heart pounds double-time.

  Kissing me slow, Jake starts to push into me. “Ally,” he groans. “You feel amazing.” Licking up the column of my neck, he bites down as he thrusts forward, giving me all of him.

  Arching off the bed, I cry out, gripping his arms.

  Pulling out almost completely, he thrusts forward again, filling me to the hilt.

  He tortures me with the slow burn until neither of us can take it anymore and he starts to move faster.

  I wrap my legs around him and claw at his back, a fire building in my core that moves up my spine until I can’t hold off much longer.

  “Not yet,” he growls. “Too good.”

  “Please!” I cry, needing to give in.

  Jake kisses me, swallowing my pleas as I rake my nails down his back.

  Groaning into my mouth, he pulls back and looks into my glazed over eyes. “Now,” he commands.

  Letting go, I fall over the edge as wave after wave comes crashing over me, and Jake howls out his own release, my body squeezing him for everything he has.

  It’s never been like this.

  I feel him filling me, claiming me.

  Falling on top of me, Jake’s weight feels like a blanket of strength. He breathes into my neck and rolls us over so I’m half draped over him. Interlocking our legs, I throw my arm over his stomach and kiss his chest as he runs his fingers through my hair, tugging on the ends.

  Rubbing my back soothingly, I can feel his heart beating strong and sure beneath me and I close my eyes, drifting off to sleep as I hold the man I love – the man I never believed existed.

  Waking up to arms coming around me, Jake brings me into a sitting position and stands, lifting me in his arms.

  “Where are we going?” I ask as he carries me out of the room.

  “To eat lunch,” he says simply.

  “But we’re naked.”

  “And?”

  “Well, um…” I have no response.

  Laughing, he walks down the stairs and sets me on my feet in the kitchen. “Take a seat. I’ll reheat the grilled cheese.”

  Sitting at the round table, I lean forward, crossing my arms in front of me to cover myself as best I can as I watch as Jake turn the stove back on, my eyes stay glued to his perfect body.

  From head to toe, I take in every muscle, every plane, and every angle. My fingers twitch with the desire to touch and claim every inch of him as mine.

  “I can feel your eyes on me, darlin’.”

  “That’s because they are.”

  Turning his head slightly, I catch his sexy little smirk.

  Shutting the stove off, Jake grabs two plates and slides the sandwiches on them. He walks towards me, and my eyes drop to his half-mast state that continues to grow the closer he gets.

  Placing a plate in front of me, my eyes snap up, staring into his hooded gaze as he sits across from me. Jake takes a bite of his sandwich, and cheese oozes out, st
icking to his lips.

  Finishing half of my sandwich, Jake takes his last bite, and his eyes never leave mine. With more cheese left behind, his tongue starts to lick it away but I shake my head no. Standing on shaky legs, Jake leans back in his chair, his eyes burning over my body as I walk over to him.

  Leaning down, I don’t touch him with anything other than my tongue as I lick the melted cheese from his mouth. Nibbling on his lips, I suck them into my mouth and Jake groans – the sexiest sound in the world.

  Kissing him softly, I pull away and smile. “I’m going to go paint for a little bit.”

  “What?” he asks as I start to walk away “Naked?”

  Turning my head back, I wink. “It’ll bring me inspiration.”

  “But now I know you’ll be in there, naked and ready for me when I can’t have you.”

  “Sorry.” I laugh, closing the bedroom door behind me.

  Standing in front of my painting, I turn my head to the side and smile. I can’t remember a time in my life when I loved painting more than I do now. It feels like the most freeing thing in the world. I’m inspired by everything around me, and my soul is happy for the first time.

  I had loved painting when I was in school, but that was different. It was my way of bringing people into my pain. It came from a dark place inside of me.

  I tried to escape my issues with men by using men. I thought love was something it isn’t, and that lead to me falling for the wrong guys who took what they wanted and then left me behind. But I dug myself out of that darkness and here I am. I’m smiling, I’m happy, and I’m painting a beautiful sunrise, not a broken heart.

  Looking at what I have so far, I see the sky, sun, and ocean reflecting back at me like I’m there again. Picking up my brush, I start to work on Jake. I made the perspective that of someone who was standing a little behind and off to the side of us while we sat on the mountain this morning.

  Chills run down my spine as I paint him – his broad back and shoulders, muscular legs stretched out in front of him, and his arms wrapped around me.

  Taking a deep breath, I stretch my neck from side to side. Using these emotions, I bring to life the love I feel for Jake. The minutes blend together as I lose myself in the details, only coming back to the here and now when I hear a light knock at the door.

  “Is it okay if I come in?” Jake asks.

  “Yes.”

  The door creaks open, and his light footsteps come up behind me. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he kisses me behind the ear.

  “Ally, baby, it’s amazing.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m serious,” he says, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I love it.”

  I love you, I say in my head, wishing I could say it aloud.

  Leaning back, I rest my head on his chest. I’ve never craved the approval of anyone before Jake, but his admiration means the world to me.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Mhmm,” I hum.

  “Why don’t you go get ready and I’ll clean your brushes for you.”

  “Do you know how?” I ask, turning in his arms so I’m facing him.

  “I can figure it out,” he says, dropping his hands down to rub my ass.

  “Okay, if you insist.” I smile.

  “I do.”

  Reaching behind me for my brushes, I hold them out to him. But before he can grab them, I swipe the whole bunch across his cheek, leaving behind rows of blue, green, and brown.

  He takes them from me and I laugh, wiggling my way out of his arms to make a run for it, but not getting very far. Jake grabs my arm and spins me around, slashing the brushes down my chest.

  “You weren’t going to play fair, darlin’?”

  Shaking my head no, I move my hair back behind my shoulders, standing before Jake completely naked while he’s fully clothed.

  “I’d say the one playing unfair is you, Jake. You’re wearing clothes.”

  “I can fix that,” he says, reaching for the hem of his shirt.

  But I shake my head again and slowly back up towards the door. “Too late. Game over.”

  Smirking, he places his hand in my palette and stalks towards me with long strides.

  He wouldn’t.

  Letting out a little squeal, I turn and run, but only make it a couple of steps before I feel the slap of wet paint across my ass. Pushing me up against the closed door, Jake runs his hand up the side of my body, leaving behind a trail of fire and paint.

  “Marking you as mine just got easier,” he growls in my ear.

  “Who said I’d want that?”

  “Don’t try and play me, darlin’. I know you want to mark me as yours just as much as I want to mark you as mine.” Pushing me harder against the door with his hips, Jake runs his other hand up the side of leg. “Every man would know you’re mine, and I’d take pleasure in knowing they can’t have you.”

  Panting, I feel the cool wood against my hard nipples with every breath I take.

  “I’m the only one who gets to make you moan, and scream, and drip with need.”

  “Yes,” I sigh, right before he shoves two fingers inside of me. “Yes!” I scream, throwing my head back and moaning.

  “There’s my favorite sound.” Jake hums in my ear.

  Working in and out of me, he adds a third finger and twists his hand to press his thumb against my clit. And I’m done. I explode around his long, thick fingers and collapse against the door, my limbs numb.

  Jake slowly removes his fingers and drags them up my body. “Only I can make you cum that fast and hard,” he rasps, sucking my earlobe between his teeth.

  “Yes. Only you.”

  Chapter 19

  My trip with Jake has been amazing so far. Last night after we cleaned the paint off our bodies, he took me to dinner at the restaurant on the pier, and then we walked to get ice cream.

  My God, that man makes me happier than I ever knew possible. Just by holding my hand he makes me happy.

  Pulling on leggings and a t-shirt, I see my phone light up on the nightstand with my mom’s name, and I pick it up right away. “Hey, mom, how are you?”

  “Hi, sweetie, I’m good. I’m on my way to work, but I thought I’d check in and see how you were.”

  “Oh, yes, sorry I haven’t called in a few days. I’ve been a little busy.”

  “Yes, I bet. With a handsome man.”

  “Mom! Oh my god.”

  “Oh hush, I’m your mother, not a nun.”

  “Please stop.” I laugh.

  “What do you have planned for the day?”

  “Oh, Jake actually took me away for a few days. Up to his family’s house in Bar Harbor.”

  “So, you’re very taken with him then?” she asks, her voice softening.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I’m happy for you, sweetie. You deserve to experience something good.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  “How is it up there?”

  “It’s so beautiful. I know you’d love it. I’ll have to take you one day.”

  “That’d be lovely, sweetie.”

  “We’re driving around Acadia today and I’m excited. He took me to the top of a mountain in the park to see the sunrise yesterday, and it was amazing.”

  “I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself and that your young man is taking care of you.”

  “Yeah, he’s really great, mom.” I smile to myself.

  “You sound happy, Ally.”

  “I really am.”

  “Oh, honey,” she says, a catch in her voice. “I’ve only ever wanted that for you and your sisters.”

  “Mom, please don’t cry.” I can hear the soft sniffles coming through the phone.

  “I hope I get to meet this Jake.”

  “You will soon, I promise.”

  “Alright, honey, I better go before I start to blubber and my eyes are all red when I go into school.”

  “Love you, mom. Miss you.”

  “I love and miss y
ou more. Have a good rest of your trip. Get home safe.”

  “I will. Bye, mom.”

  “Bye, sweetie.”

  Hanging up, I sit on the bed and think about what she just said. Get home safe. Home. Pine Cove is my home now. Smiling, I braid my hair and dab on a little makeup before going downstairs.

  When I walk into the kitchen, I find Jake making up two plates of eggs and bacon and placing them on the table.

  “You look beautiful,” he says, leaning down to kiss me.

  “Thanks, handsome.” I smile, sitting down.

  Biting into a piece of bacon, I close my eyes, savoring the delicious salty crispiness.

  When I open them again, I find Jake smiling at me. “Like bacon, do you?” he jokes.

  “Mhmm,” is all I manage to say as I devour the fluffy eggs next.

  How does he know how to make even the simplest foods taste better than I’ve ever had?

  When we’re finished, Jake takes our empty plates to the sink and pours two coffee thermoses. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes.”

  “Alright, let’s go, babe,” he says, grabbing his keys.

  The ride to the park is only a few minutes, and when we reach the entrance sign, I have Jake pull over so we can take a picture in front of it, loving that he doesn’t mind taking pictures with me.

  Driving on, my eyes never stop moving around. Everything is absolutely breathtaking. Park Loop Road takes us along the rocky coast of Mt. Desert Island with views that leave me in awe.

  Along the 27-mile scenic drive, we stop at Sand Beach, Otter Point, Thunder Cove, and Jordan Pond. Sand Beach is definitely my favorite, though. It’s a beautiful horseshoe shaped beach nestled between pine tree covered rocky cliffs with a random little island not too far out from shore.

  The water was a swirl of blue and green, just like Jake’s eyes.

  My next favorite is Jordan Pond. It’s a small lake nestled in between the surrounding mountains and has a walking trail that goes around the entire perimeter. There’s even a café there that’s famous for their pop overs, but the line was too long of a wait, so we just continued on.

  I’ve probably taken over a hundred photos so far. I want to remember everything. I even snuck in a few of Jake when he wasn’t paying attention. He really looks like a sexy rugged mountain man here in his jeans and plaid button down amongst the trees.