Authors: Maya Banks
Her hands met his face, cupped it, then she raised her lips to his. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and dragged her heels over his tight ass. Her ankle protested but she didn’t care. The pain was nothing next to wanting to wrap herself around him as tight as she could go.
“How you tempt me,” he whispered in seeming agony. “You’re so beautiful. So innocent looking. An angel.”
“Take me,” she said. “Make me yours. Please.”
The head of his cock rimmed her entrance, stretching it as he slid inside the barest of inches. Heat enveloped her like a brand. Her body stretched to accommodate him as he pressed forward.
“Tell me…if I hurt you,” he gritted out.
She shook her head. “You’re not.”
With a small groan, he buried his face in her neck and surged against her, burying himself deep. A deep sigh of utter contentment rolled over her body.
He cradled her close, holding her, kissing her as he moved his hips against her. She dug her fingers into his back, wanting him closer, trying to absorb him into her soul. She never wanted this moment to end. Didn’t want reality to intrude. Not now. Not ever.
He kissed her neck then slid his mouth up to her ear. His tongue circled the shell, sending shivers down her spine. Then he kissed his way down her jaw until he finally captured her mouth.
Soft then hard, breathless then slow. His lips moved over hers, sucking, tasting, taking and giving. She knew he was holding back and was conflicted by the desire to have him, hard, fast the way she knew he wanted and the warm, cherished feeling his tenderness gave her.
She closed her eyes and melted into him, giving him everything, all of her, holding back nothing even as he did.
“I love you.”
The words fell from her lips, soft, from an aching throat, throbbing from tears unshed.
He tensed around her. He paused and held her long, tight. His body shuddered against her. She could feel his inner turmoil. His very real fight.
Then he began thrusting, deep, intense. He seemed to curl around every inch of her. Her pussy throbbed as her senses came alive, tightened unbearably as her orgasm mounted.
He slid his hands underneath her ass, cupping her cheeks with his big hands. He cradled her, holding her open to his invasion. Such a sweet invasion.
She moved her legs higher. Clutched him with her hands. Her eyes closed, opened and closed again.
“Don’t stop. Please,” she gasped as the room blurred around her.
“No, sugar, I won’t.”
She clenched her teeth together then sucked her lip between them in an effort to staunch her cry. Her body arched almost painfully into him and then something within her popped, setting her free.
She flew. Knew what it was like to have wings in that precious moment. When she reached as high as she could fly, her body fell back to earth, floating, spiraling downward in a gentle cessation.
“I love you,” she whispered again.
Her eyes fluttered, and she dimly registered him closing around her, his body weighing on hers, his faint but steady heartbeat against her ribcage. He said something, but she was too far gone to hear what it was.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Seth stared down at Jasmine’s sleeping form with a mixture of tenderness, self-loathing and ultimate satisfaction. He felt pulled in twenty different directions, none of which would get him anywhere.
He shouldn’t be here, but the selfish part of him didn’t give a shit. He wanted her. More than he should, but there it was. His guilt wasn’t going to change that fact. Even as he knew he needed to get out of her bed, he leaned down to brush his lips across her temple.
She sighed softly and stirred as he brushed away tendrils of her hair. He stroked her soft skin and traced tiny paths in her hair.
Warm, soft, oh-so-feminine. She was in a word, perfect. But she wasn’t his, would never be solely his, and he knew deep down that he couldn’t accept that, could he?
Carefully, so as not to wake her, he eased away from her. He got up and walked around the bed to retrieve his clothing. His gaze was fixed on her as he pulled on his jeans.
She looked so young and innocent curled up in sleep. Her dark hair framed a delicate face. Her sweet curves beckoned to him. He was tempted to crawl back into bed with her and cradle her close, mold her softness to his and enjoy the feel of her against his skin.
But he didn’t belong there. Zane did.
He winced as he thought of his brother and of the betrayal he’d just handed him. If Zane loved her, and he was obviously sleeping with her, Seth should never have gone back down that path. But he hadn’t thought past his own burning need to make Jasmine his, if only for a short time.
His chest heavy, he turned and walked out of Jasmine’s bedroom. When he hit the bottom of the stairs, he was met by Carmen. Her brow was creased with concern, and her eyes were questioning.
“How is Jasmine?” she asked, her accent heavier than normal.
“She’s sleeping,” Seth said. “You should go up and check on her in a little while. Wake her periodically. I don’t know how hard she hit her head.”
Carmen nodded. “And you, Seth? Are you okay as well?”
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. She wasn’t stupid. She knew what was going on. “I’m fine, Carmen.”
Her gaze softened, and she reached forward to enfold him in a hug. “All will be well. You’ll see. You must follow your heart, eh? It knows the way of things.”
He pulled away and smiled half-heartedly. “I’ll be in the study if Jasmine needs anything.”
Carmen nodded and headed up the stairs, no doubt to check in on Jasmine now. She was very much Carmen’s baby. Seth trudged into the study and flipped on the light.
As he walked to the desk, he noticed several sheets of paper lying in the tray of the fax machine. He frowned. He didn’t remember expecting a fax from anyone.
He picked up the pages and sat down behind the desk. As he flipped through them, his frown deepened. It was a contract. An agreement for Jasmine to sign giving
Wildscapes
rights to print her photos. Why hadn’t he heard anything of this? He would have thought she’d be excited. She damn near didn’t go anywhere without that camera.
When he read the last page, a letter to Jasmine, he stiffened. It was a request for her to reconsider taking a position that apparently she’d already turned down.
He let the papers drop to the desk as he stared at the opposing wall. Why had she turned down her dream job offer? Even as he asked the question, he knew.
He folded his hands behind his head and leaned back, turning his head upwards, his gaze fixed on the ceiling above. His thoughts filtered to the conversation he and Zane had several days ago. About Jasmine’s past. Her family. All that had happened to her six years ago.
He’d never once considered when he’d taken her home to Sweetwater Ranch, that she’d left behind any family, or at least someone she belonged with. Had he done her any favors by sheltering her so vigorously for all these years?
He’d been very approving when she wanted to move to Paris. It had been important to him that she spread her wings, experience the world outside the isolated West Texas ranch she’d lived on since she was sixteen. Deep down, he’d hoped she’d find happiness away from Sweetwater, even though he’d miss every part of her.
Had he and Zane made a mistake by never delving into her past? Was there someone out there wondering where she was? If she was alive? Zane mentioned a brother. If their sister was out there somewhere in the world, he’d damn sure want to know. But where was this brother when Jasmine had needed him most? What kind of man allowed his sister to fall prey to the worst sort of predator?
He heard a door close in the distance, and he stood and walked out of the study to see if it was Zane. It was, and he called out as Zane headed for the stairs.
Zane turned and looked inquiringly at him.
“How did it go in San Antonio?” Seth asked.
Zane put his foot down from the step and ambled over to where Seth stood. “Good. Got two bookings and several maybes. They were impressed by my presentation. Could be a good year for us.”
“That’s great,” Seth said, though he knew his voice lacked enthusiasm.
“Is everything okay?” Zane asked sharply.
“Jasmine was hurt today. Esme threw her.”
Zane’s eyes widened. “Is she all right? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Because by the time I found her, there was nothing you could have done anyway.”
“Found her?” Zane asked in a strangled voice. “Was she missing?”
Seth rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Esme came back without Jasmine. I called J.T., and he and one of his deputies came out to help me look. I found her out about a mile. Got a knock to her head and a bum ankle.”
“You didn’t take her to the hospital?”
Seth made a face. “You know how stubborn she is. She just wanted to come home.” It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Zane what happened, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to see how his brother would react. Maybe he wouldn’t care. Maybe he would. Seth didn’t have any desire to find out.
“Where is she?” Zane demanded.
“Upstairs asleep.”
Zane turned and without a word headed toward the stairs. Seth watched him go, his hands tense. He knew Zane would go up, touch her, make sure she was okay. Probably get into bed and hold her. Something she’d asked Seth to do earlier. He closed his eyes and turned away, unable to stand the thought of Jasmine in his brother’s arms.
Chapter Twenty-Four
As soon as Jasmine became aware of the hard body wrapped around her, she knew it wasn’t Seth. Her eyes fluttered open to see Zane staring down at her, his blue eyes filled with concern.
At what point had Seth left and Zane arrived? Instead of being put off, she drew such comfort from knowing that both had stayed with her. Both taking care of her, loving her, just as in her dreams, her most wonderful fantasies.
For a minute, she didn’t say anything. She merely burrowed into Zane’s strong arms, content to live in the moment.
“Are you okay, Jaz? Seth said you hurt your head and your ankle.”
She pulled away. “What time is it?” she mumbled.
“Eight.”
“In the evening?”
“In the morning,” Zane said. “You slept all night.”
Her brow furrowed. She vaguely remembered Carmen waking her at two different intervals. She’d grumbled but Carmen had insisted that she wake and answer questions. She’d complied then immediately fallen back asleep.
“Jaz,” he prompted. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good,” she said. She stretched and flexed her ankle experimentally. Pain shot up her leg, and she couldn’t control the grimace.
Zane latched onto it like a pit bull, yanking the covers down. He took her foot in his hands and brushed his fingertips across the swollen skin.
“You need to stay off this,” he said grimly.
She sighed.
“Now show me where you hit your head.”
She sighed again.
“Jaz,” he said pointedly.
She lowered her head and pointed to the spot that ached. He burrowed his fingers gently into her hair, parting it so he could see the wound.
“Ouch,” he said sympathetically. “Why the hell didn’t you let Seth take you to the hospital? You probably need stitches. That’s a hell of a gash.”
She put her hand to his and pulled it away from her head. “I’m fine, Zane. Really. I’ve told Seth that until I’m blue in the face. I’m sure I’ll walk around like an old woman for a day or two, but I’ll be just fine.”
“You shouldn’t have been out riding Esme alone,” Zane grumbled.
She arched an eyebrow and smiled at his concern. He certainly never used to mind her hell-raising ways. Heck, she’d taken off by herself more times than she could count. Half the time, she’d wound up at Tucker’s only to be hauled out by J.T. But now Zane looked at her like a woman. His woman. It gave her a ridiculous thrill for him to be so worried and protective.
She put a hand on his cheek and coaxed him down so she could kiss him. “I love you. I missed you.”
“I should have been here with you.”
“Seth took care of me.”
She sucked in her breath as the words fell. She hadn’t meant to say it, even though she’d never made an effort to hide anything from Zane. But she didn’t want to do anything that could potentially hurt him.
Zane seemed to read her worry. He kissed her tenderly, his lips melting over hers. “I’m glad he did, baby.”
She sagged in relief.
“Now would you prefer breakfast in bed or do you want me to carry you downstairs so Carmen can fuss over you in the kitchen?”
She grimaced at the idea of spending the day in bed. “How about you leave me to take a shower and then I’ll join you downstairs.”
He gave her a doubtful look, but she shoved at his shoulders. “Go on. I can make it.”
“Okay, but if you need help, holler.”
She nodded. “I will. Now go. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
He left her and disappeared out the door.
Jasmine scooted to the edge of the bed and swung her feet over the side. She tested her ankle, gingerly standing on her good one and then slowly putting her hurt foot on the floor.
Her knees nearly buckled when she put all her weight down. Pain shot up her leg and she wavered precariously. Damn, maybe she should have let him carry her.
With a barely suppressed grimace, she hobbled toward the bathroom determined to take a long, hot shower to remove the stove-up feeling in her body.
Fifteen minutes later, she stood at the top of the stairs. She wasn’t sure exactly why she wouldn’t let Zane take her down, but she didn’t want to flaunt her relationship with him to Seth, even though Seth was well aware of her feelings for him. There was no sense waving the red flag in front of the bull.
She gripped the railing and stepped down with her good foot. Three steps later, she put too much weight on her sprained ankle and let out a cry of pain. Not a second later, Seth appeared at the bottom of the stairs and stared up at her.
He sprinted up, taking them two at a time. “Jasmine, what the hell are you trying to do? Fall down the stairs and kill yourself? Why in God’s name didn’t you call for me or Zane to carry you down?”