Lone Star Burn: Taken by Surprise (Kindle Worlds Novella) (5 page)

He strung a line of kisses lightly along her collarbone then down the valley between her breasts. His mouth was hot and urgent on her body. When he closed his lips over one hard, beaded nipple, she felt a shaft of heat directly to her damp pussy. Her inner muscles tightened in response, demanding to feel him inside her.

She moaned and tried to lift her body to him in silent pleas.

He just laughed, her nipple still deep in his mouth, the rumble of his laughter vibrating through her. He suckled and nipped until her nipple was so sensitive it was almost beyond bearing. He paid the same homage to the other nipple, pulling at it with his lips and grazing his teeth on the sensitive nub.

The more he worked her with his mouth, the more her pulse accelerated. His lips were hot, scorching her every place they touched as if he were branding her skin. With one last flick of his tongue over each taut bud, he turned his attention to the soft curve of her tummy and the furled flesh around her navel. He lay between her thighs, trapping them wide open, pressing against the soft curls of her pussy as she tried to rub her mound against him in silent plea.

“I’m getting there,” he teased. “Don‘t rush me. I’m enjoying myself.

As he moved down her body, he pulled her hands with him, fingers still wrapped around her wrists. Licks of his tongue followed kisses down to her mound, to her pussy so eager for his fingers, his mouth, his cock. He knew just how hot she was, how turned on, and moved with deliberate slowness. He used his teeth to tug at her soft pubic curls, his broad shoulders pressing her thighs even farther apart.

“Touch yourself,” he ordered in a low voice, placing one of her hands directly over her slit. “Slip your fingers in there and touch your sweet little clit.”

He had let her know early on in their intimacy how hot it made him to see her stroke herself, arouse herself, while he tended to her with his own fingers and his mouth. As she slipped one finger between her moist lips, he spread those lips apart like peeling back the petals of a flower, his eyes fixed on what she was doing as he traced her inner flesh with his tongue. The harder she rubbed, the more he stroked with his tongue and the tighter the coil of need wound inside her.

“Please,” she begged. She needed to feel some part of him inside her.

“Please what?”

“Please be inside me.”

“My mouth?” He gave that hot, gravelly laugh again. “My fingers? What? Tell me what you want.”

He loved to make her talk dirty. She’d really gotten into it, too. For the first time ever, she was with a man who did not make her feel self-conscious about her sexuality or her needs.

“I want….” She rubbed herself harder. “I want….”

“Say it, Jessie, and you can have it. Anything you want.”

“I want…your cock.” Rub, rub, rub.

“Okay, then.”

He placed an openmouthed kiss on her pussy before rising to his knees and reaching toward the nightstand. In a second, he had a condom in place. Sliding his hands beneath the cheeks of her ass, he lifted her to him, positioned himself at her opening, and slowly eased himself into her moist passage.

“Jesus, Jessie. You are so fucking wet. And so fucking hot.” He sucked in a breath as he pushed harder until he was fully inside her.

And then he took her on the wild ride she loved so much, driving in and out of her, urging her to keep playing with her clit, pushing, thrusting, driving them both up a steep precipice of need. Everything fell away for her except the two of them and the unrestrained craving for each other. More, more, more.

His fingers dug into her bottom, gripping her cheeks. She knew he was close. She worked her clit even faster until, with a final thrust from him, they fell over the edge together. She felt herself falling a long way, her body convulsing, her inner muscles clenching over and over. They shuddered together, nothing existing except the two of them in this moment that joined them so intimately.

Time spun out as they pulsed together, bodies throbbing, until at last the spasm eased and slowed. As the aftershocks began to fade, Jack sprinkled kisses on her jawline and her cheek before taking her mouth in a kiss far more emotional than erotic. He kissed her for a long time while he held her body tight to him. When the throbbing finally eased, he murmured against her lips.

“I love you, Jessie. You are the light in my life.”

Jessie sat up in bed with a sudden movement, jerked away from her erotic dream. She touched her cheeks and, discovering they were wet, grabbed a tissue to blot them. Her heart pounded and her breath caught in her throat. What had she done? What on earth had she done? She’d thrown away the best thing to come into her life because of a selfish single-mindedness.

Looking down, she discovered she still had Delfina’s letter clutched in one hand. Was it too late for her and Jack? Had she done permanent damage to their relationship? In three short weeks, she had discovered with shocked surprise that Delfina’s gift might actually be one of the best things that had ever happened to her. That she’d been looking for her future in the wrong direction and the wrong environment.

She’d had the right man. The question was, how did she get him back? It was too late to make calls now. Tomorrow, first thing, she’d make the calls to get her apartment closed up and dispose of her things. Then she’d head off to Houston to wrap it up. But as soon as she returned, she would launch into Operation Get Jack Back.

“I seem to have lost my touch.”

Jack looked across the table at Lynne Robbins. Her tone was soft, but the set of her jaw belied the tension in her body. He knew she was pissed at him and probably rightfully so. He hadn’t had the least desire to take her to dinner tonight, never mind a “romantic place” with candles on the table and crystal glasses. He had made it his business to avoid one of the county’s few upscale places since he’d moved to Fort Mavis. It reminded him too much of Jessie, and that reminded him too much of their breakup, and that brought on another surge of anger mixed with pain.

“I’m sorry.” He managed a smile for her. “I guess I’m not very good company tonight. Must be all the stuff about the upcoming rodeo taking up space in my brain.”

“If you don’t mind my saying so, you haven’t been good company for a lot of nights.” Now her tone was sharp, even a little nasty. “And I don’t believe it’s got anything to do with the rodeo. You’ve been like this since that female from Houston showed up to take over Delfina’s place.”

He knew she was right. He had made it his business to avoid the restaurant at all costs. Too bad, because they had the best coffee in town. He’d also had to listen to Dean and some of the other deputies raving abut the new rolls they were serving. He knew all about those rolls. Jessie used to bring him some, and he’d sworn they were made by an angel. Every time someone made another enthusiastic comment about the new owner of the diner, he wanted to either plug his ears or deck them.

“Jack!”

He snapped his brain into place as Lynne hissed his name at him.

“What? Oh, sorry.” He lifted his wine glass and took a sip. Shit. Tonight was turning into a five-star disaster.

“I said, what’s the deal?” She leaned forward over the table. “Do you even know I’m here?”

“Of course I do.” He wanted to add “unfortunately” but he didn’t think that would win him any prizes. “I know I’ve been a little distracted lately, but we’ve been very busy.”

She snorted. “With what? Jeb Raiford’s dog tearing up the neighbor’s flower beds? Larry Norton’s horse jumping the corral fence and galloping down the highway? Or maybe a spitball fight at the middle school? I know this town, remember?”

Too true, he thought. No one could get away with a damn thing here.

He managed to pull out a smile. “I apologize for being distracted in the presence of a beautiful woman.”

“I’m not sure you’ve even known I’ve been present for the last three weeks.” Her lips curved in a hungry smile. “But if we could get out of here, I could make you very aware of my presence.” She ran her tongue over her lower lip. “In a very special way.”

It was a testament to his total lack of interest in her that his cock didn’t even twitch. He thought about a story Dean had told him regarding a horse at his brother’s ranch that had been gelded. The poor horse might not have had any balls but somehow he hadn’t lost the urge. And here he was, still in full possession of his cock as well as his balls, but the way he was responding, he might as well have been gelded, too.

Okay. He owed it to himself to get out of this funk. He and Jessie were done. Finished. Over. Kaput. And any other language he could think of. It was time to let go of his anger. If they were going to be living in the same town, he’d have to find a way to get past this.

“You’re right.” He drained the rest of his wine. “I haven’t been much of a date lately. Or anything else. Let’s fix that.”

Lynne’s smile was filled with satisfaction as he signaled for the check. They’d go to her house. He had never brought her to his. Somehow, it had never seemed right to him, and he didn’t plan to start now. Maybe because in the back of his mind he knew she didn’t belong there. But in her house she had a nice big bed with a great mattress. It was time to try it out again.

But, two hours later, he had to admit this had been a bad idea. Maybe he should get a T-shirt with Limp Dick written on it because that certainly described his. Beside him, Lynne was seething.

“You know, Jack, no one has ever questioned my skills in bed, but I must be missing a step because we’ve got nothing here.”

“Lynne, I’m sorry—”

“Please.” She spat the word out. “Do not insult me by apologizing. We both know the problem here, and it isn’t me. But I don’t remember the last time I was naked in bed with a good-looking man and he just could not get it up.”

Would it be bad form if he asked her not to share his secret with the world? Oh, not just bad form but a sure way to make it happen. With a sigh, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and pushed himself to his feet. Neither of them said a word while he dressed. Finally, he turned to her and tried again to say something.

“Lynne, I really regret—”

“Just shut up, Jack. I mean it. Stuff it. Get out of here before I forget myself and cut off your dick. Go on.” She raised her voice. “Beat it. But don’t think if you ever get that little cook out of your system I’ll be here waiting for you.”

He wanted to say not only didn’t he expect her to but also he didn’t want her to. But he’d said enough already. He drove away from her house with the windows rolled down, hoping the cool night air would clear his head. But he was sure it would take a whole lot more than that to get it screwed back on straight. He knew the answer to his problem.

Jessie!

Plain and simple, Jessie Coford. He wasn’t sure at this moment which was stronger, his anger or his need for her. Because, even at the height of his pain and resentment, the need had never abated. Damn.

Never in this world had he ever expected her to show up in Fort Mavis. He wasn’t even sure how she knew it existed. He hadn’t wanted to ask questions, but listening to the chatter at the office, he’d heard a great-aunt had left it to her. She had never mentioned any relatives to him, so he had no idea where this great-aunt had come from. And wasn’t it just his damn fucking luck that the woman was from Fort Mavis.

And Jessie was apparently planning to stay, from what he’d heard. He didn’t want to pull up stakes and relocate again. but how could he find a way to live with this? His pride had been hurt as much as his heart.

As if his car was on automatic pilot, he found himself cruising slowly down her street. Her house was in the middle of the block, with a nice front porch shaded by two huge ancient trees. Did she know how many nights he’d cruised by here, wondering if he’d catch a glimpse of her? Stupid, stupid, stupid. He was worse than a teenager.

He wanted to gloat that, instead of the fancy-dancy place she’d expected in Houston, she was here in this little Texas town, running a diner. He imagined she saw this as quite a comedown. Yet, everyone who mentioned her spoke highly of her. In three short weeks, she’d managed to worm her way into the hearts of the town.

Just like she did mine.

He supposed he was being a real ass and should figure out how to get past this. He was an adult, right? But it sure would be a lot easier if he wasn’t still in love with her.

At the end of her block, he turned and decided to make one last pass by her house. Then he’d go home and take a very cold shower. But as he approached her house, he saw a light had come on in one of the windows. He could see Jessie standing there, looking outside. Watching. No doubt seeing him. For one insane moment, he thought about stopping. Then, before he could give in to a stupid impulse, he sped up and drove away. He still had a lot of figuring out to do.

*****

“Now everyone knows what to do, right?” Jessie asked, standing in the kitchen of the diner.

“Yes, Mom,” Alton teased. “We’ll be good boys and girls until you get back.”

“And then we’ll be bad.” Rona laughed.

“I know, I know.” She brushed a stand of hair away from her face. “You all were doing this just fine before I got here. I’m sorry. It’s just my obsessive nature.”

“It’s okay,” Alton said. “We’re getting used to it.”

He shocked the hell out of her by giving her a hug. Then, as if realizing what he’d done, he turned back to the grill.

“You call us when you get there,” Rona ordered, “so we know you arrived safe and sound. And let us know when you start back.”

“Yeah,” Alton added. “Because we’d hate to lose our new boss just when we’re breaking her in. Never know who we might get next.”

“I’m bringing back all my recipes,” she warned.

“Oh, you want a cooking contest? Bring it on, girl.”

Jessie laughed. Every day she felt more and more at home here. She filled her thermos with Rona’s excellent coffee, gave each of them a last hug, and climbed into her SUV. One last stop for gas and she was on her way. She wished she felt more rested, but last night she’d tossed and turned, good sleep eluding her.

She’d spotted Jack driving by her house, something she’d discovered he did almost every night. Of course, she wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t seen him that first time and then started watching for him. If she could just go back to that last night they’d been together, she would do everything differently.

She thought again about Delfina’s letter, about the sadness and regret she felt in every word. The words rambled through her mind constantly. Her great-aunt had made a life for herself here in Fort Mavis, but she’d done it alone. The love she’d had for Jessie’s grandfather had never weakened, probably the reason why she’d never married.

Jessie didn’t want that to happen to her. The problem was, she didn’t know how to fix it. It would take more than a few words to breach the high wall Jack had erected between them. But she would do it, somehow. As soon as she returned from Houston, she’d make a plan. A plan that would work because she wouldn’t give up until it did.

She was so distracted by her thoughts, her reaction time slowed by lack of sleep, that she didn’t see the car swerving into her lane until the last minute. In a panic, she jerked the wheel to the right but not quite fast enough. The other car clipped her left front end and pushed her onto the shoulder and into a tree. The last thing she remembered was an explosion of some sort and a sharp pain in her head. Then she fell into blackness.

*****

Jack was sitting at his desk in the sheriff’s office, reviewing the security details for the upcoming rodeo, when the call came in. The dispatcher handed him the information.

“Better get moving,” she told him. “Someone ran our new little restaurant owner off the road.”

“What?” Cold panic seized him. “How do you know?”

“Frank Mayfield was heading out of town and came across the wreck. I’m dispatching tow trucks and an ambulance.”

“Ambulance?” He couldn’t seem to make his brain work.

“Yes. Our girl is out cold, and Frank doesn’t know how bad she’s hurt. The other driver’s got a big bump on his head and maybe a broken arm.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Get moving. I’m paging Andy and Sam to get out there, too.”

Jack hit the lights and siren even before he left the parking area. He swerved around two cars, cut in front of another, and finally hit the highway. His heart pounded like a jackhammer as fear raced through him. He forgot all about being angry with Jessie. About being hurt. About “getting back” at her. If she would only be okay, he would figure out how to get them back together.

Fifteen minutes and eighty miles an hour later, he pulled up to the scene of the wreck. The ambulance was already there along with the tow truck from Tommy Mann’s garage. His heart nearly stopped beating when he saw Jessie’s SUV smashed against the tree, the other car still hooked into her left front end.

He threw his car into park so hard it rocked. In seconds, he was next to her vehicle, dismayed to see that she was still inside.

“What’s the deal?” he asked the driver of the ambulance. “Why is she still inside?”

“Take it easy, Jack.” Andy Warfield, one of the other deputies, walked over to him. “The door is jammed, shut and we need to separate the other vehicle before we can get to it. Look.” He pointed. “Tommy’s working on it right now.”

Jack looked where Andy pointed and saw Tommy hooking chains to the rear bumper of the other car.

“I’m about ready,” he yelled. “Stand back.”

“Her car could explode before we get them separated,” Jack protested. “What about getting her out the other side?”

Andy shook his head. “If you’d take a minute to assess the scene, you’d see that side of the SUV is smashed against that big tree trunk. Take it easy, Jack. We don’t smell gasoline, and Tommy’s cranking up the winch right now.”

Jack glanced over to the ambulance, standing with its rear doors open, a man sitting in the open space. He was heavyset, his open jacket exposing his bulging belly. Even at this distance, he could see the man’s face was flushed red and his chest heaved with his breathing. The other EMT, whose name Jack didn’t know, was still checking the man’s vitals.

“He was drunk.” Jack made it a statement, not a question.

“Yes.” Andy clipped out the word. “We gave him a Breathalyzer, and he blew the top off it.”

Jack started toward him, but Andy grabbed his arm.

“You won’t do yourself or Jessie any good if you get into a fight with this guy. As soon as we wrap up the scene, we’ll cart him off to jail.”