She seemed to sense this, because she leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I’ll wear only an apron. You can grope me all you want as long as you cook something.”
The idea of her naked under an apron, him caressing every inch of her as she taught him how to burn food was indeed a high enough ante. “Teach me, then.”
The answering smile she gave him left him breathless.
They visited the local feed and tack store while they waited for their food, and Jake bought her real boots to ride in because his sister-in-law’s boots were too small. They weren’t fancy, because the feed store didn’t do fancy. But they fit and they’d be safer than her sneakers. She fought him on paying, but he insisted—his bride, his purchase. She shrugged.
But he liked watching her face glow as he paid, loved it even more when she glared at the overly friendly store clerk, Judy, for touching his arm to get his attention. Kate had never been possessive of him, even in work situations. She was plenty possessive of Chase, though.
To have his own woman spitting mad over casual contact was as brand-spanking-new as her boots. He had slipped his arm around Tia’s waist, claiming her with a kiss in front of Judy, who had gaped. Tia’s smug look was worth every penny the boots cost him.
A half hour later they returned home and he studied Tia over their delicious meal, every bit as good as he had said it would be. He had ordered prime rib and a baked potato. She chose eggplant parmesan, because she said it reminded her of home. And then she’d given him that smile that he felt down in his toes, one so open that he wanted to pinch her ass to make sure she was real.
Tia extended her fork with a bit of green on it. “Have some of the zucchini. It’s really good.”
Jake balked, shooting her his best mulish glare.
She laughed and poked him in the shoulder. “You afraid? You, the big bad brave cowboy spy, who has ridden a bull and cheated bad guys, is afraid of vegetables.”
He glared at her fork. “The house doesn’t like veggies.”
“Jake doesn’t like veggies,” she corrected and sighed. “What if they were served differently?”
He set his jaw and narrowed his gaze at his beautiful wife. He chewed for a moment, then said, “I don’t like them in a in a box, with a fox, or in a dish.”
“What about off my naked body?”
Within seconds, his cock throbbed at full attention as he imagined her on his table. Naked. Willing. Vegetables on her belly, spilled over her breasts, between her thighs… “Now?”
She slapped his shoulder this time. “Not right now. These aren’t the right ones for your first time. Too much sauce.”
He grinned and he dropped his gaze to her firm breasts, then lower to areas he couldn’t see. “I can think of a sauce I’d like on them.”
She laughed again, and Jake was mesmerized by her beauty. She was radiant. Glowing. Marriage did wonderful things to a woman. “I’m not the only one who will learn new things this weekend, I think.”
“That’s what marriage is about.” He wanted to take her upstairs and teach her new things, right now. His cock agreed, so he whipped out the Texan charm in full force. “Aren’t you glad you married me? Don’t you want to bed me, right now, so I can get to work on my wedding gift? I love giving presents.”
“You promised me a trail ride, remember? And we have cake to share.”
But she looked coy and perhaps on the fence about the trail ride. He wanted to taste her so badly, her mouth, her pert nipples. The nectar of her pussy would be sweeter than any cake.
“Damn it.” He dragged over the plate with the chocolate cake slices they’d selected to be their stand-in wedding cake. If he got her through the rituals faster, maybe she’d let him make love to her. “Feed me, wife.”
“Do I get to smear it?”
“If you do, you’ll pay. You’re next.”
Her eyes glittered with amusement, and he couldn’t help but give a chuckle at her wickedness. She used a fork to cut off a small bit and picked it up in trembling fingers. She dabbed a little frosting on his lips and leaned in to lick it away. His cock flared, threatening to spill, like a sparkler lit on the Fourth of July. Then she held the cake against his lips. “Open up.”
He ate from her fingers. Then he grabbed her hand and licked the frosting, sucking the sweetness from each digit. So slow, sensual, knowing his tongue was hot and wet, hoping each lap echoed deep within her pussy.
She sucked in a breath. Her breasts rose and fell quicker, her eyes darkening. Oh, yes, she wanted him.
“My turn,” he said as he finished. He ran a finger through the frosting, then smeared it over her lips like a too-thick lipstick.
“Hey!” She smacked him on the chest. “Not fair.”
But he licked the frosting from her lips, his tongue dipping into her mouth now and then, ignoring the way she wanted her tongue to tangle with his. Finally, he deepened the kiss, sinking his tongue home in her mouth, allowing it to dance with hers, tasting the sweet chocolate. He kissed her harder, then pulled her onto his lap.
“Ride me,” he commanded in her ear, his voice deceptively soft but still firm. She was never able to deny his Dom voice, especially when she was this aroused.
She straddled his legs and settled herself on the length of his erection, hard against her mound. “Ride you? As in, save a horse, ride a spy?” She slid a hand between them and cupped his dick, the shaft throbbing through his pants, jumping under her soft hand. “I don’t think that works.”
“I used to be a cowboy.” He dragged her mouth to his, kissing her hard. One hand slid up, under her shirt to fondle her breast. The other grabbed her ass and pulled her closer, urging her to rock against his hard-on. “Ride me.”
“In front of the wedding guests? What will they think of us?” But she lifted slightly, and he unbuckled his pants, sliding them down with his underwear. God, so close to sinking into her, claiming her as his wife, for real.
He lifted her skirt and grinned when his fingers found bare skin and soaking wet folds. What a good girl, remembering his rules. He’d give her two orgasms for that, on top of the one he’d give her for just being his wife. “See, your skirt is long enough. It will just look like you’re sitting on my lap.”
“I’m sure they’ll be able to tell what I’m doing to you.” She laughed and sank down, using her hand to guide the head of his cock to her pussy. “So good,” she whispered as she drove him deeper.
Jake watched her slide onto his shaft with lustful interest. She’d changed slightly since he put a ring on her finger. She seemed more confident, definitely more possessive. Would she keep taking control and ride him to blissful orgasm, or would she eventually defer to him to take control? He didn’t know, but he liked the changes she offered. No, the changes marriage offered.
She stilled and he grabbed her hips, urging her on.
“No,” she whispered, still again. “Shh.”
“What’s wrong?” And then over their ragged breathing, he heard what she must have heard—hoof beats on pavement. “Shit!”
She jumped off, he yanked up his pants, and they raced out of the house to find Jessa on the front lawn, her hind feet in the garden. Tonka was on the side of the driveway, and he lifted his head and blew out through his nostrils, the noise high-pitched.
He and Tia retrieved grain from the barn, and though Jessa came obediently, Tonka wasn’t giving up freedom that easily. They chased him for half an hour before he decided it would be more fun to go in the barn. Jake glanced at Tia, her face flushed, hair a mess, and laughed. “Well, that was exciting.”
But there was no hope to resurrect kitchen sex, not when there was work to be done. They took tools out to the pasture and found the fence board that had been derailed. He taught her how to fix it, and together they nailed the rail back in place. He kissed her in thanks, and his phone dinged with a text. She had given it back earlier at the feed store.
“Go ahead, see who it is,” she said when he looked at her for permission.
“Chase,” he said and shared the text.
Don’t bother waking early—be at the training base Monday by 1400. Please call when you get a moment.
“Business or pleasure,” she asked.
“Probably both, knowing him. May I?”
“Sure.”
She sat on the grass at his feet while he leaned against the fence and called Chase.
“You
busy
?” Chase asked, inferring Jake might be making love to Tia right now, which actually sounded like an awesome idea.
“No, we’re not
busy
. Do you want us to be
busy
?”
“No, because then I’d have to find Kate and she’s not putting out. I tried after your last phone call.”
“What do you want?”
“Friendly, aren’t you?”
“I’m on vacation,” Jake reminded him tersely. “I’d like to get
busy
.”
“I want you to check out a small furniture company for me. It’s a half hour away. They make hand-crafted baby furniture.”
Jake sighed. Chase did this to him all the time when he was out and about the world. Go here, check out this, bring me back this, send me pictures of this. The fucking guy needed to get out more often. “It’s early to be purchasing furniture.”
“Kate said she doesn’t care.”
“Chase, if she says she doesn’t care, it means she really does. Trust me on this.” Jake glanced down at Tia, so sexy as she picked flowers from the fence line. “What happened with her being tailed?”
“False alarm. You going for me or what?”
“I don’t know if I can go. I have to ask Tia.”
“Pussy whipped already? Damn, she’s good.”
Asshole for a friend, that’s what he had. “No, I’m not whipped already. She’s on vacation and either has to come with me or stay here alone. It’s inconsiderate to just ditch her without a car because of your control freak needs.”
“What does he want?” Tia asked from the ground at his feet where she laced the daisies she’d picked into a chain.
“He wants me to check out a small company that makes cribs and other baby furniture not far from here, to see the quality of workmanship, since it’s Friday and I’m not working. It’s not going to be good enough, so why he’s wasting my time—”
“You owe me!” Chase hollered in his ear. “I gave you clearance, remember? I listened to your
busy
phone call like a good friend. Just do this for me, so I can make a decision.”
Jake glared and wanted to melt the phone with his eyes, like a superhero. “I owe you? Jesus, the next time you’re on vacation, I’m going to call in favors. I’m sure Kate will love that.”
“Just go, Jake. I don’t mind having a bit of free time.” Tia smiled so sweetly, one that held promise for later.
Jake sighed into the phone, loving her all the more as the day passed. “She said I can go.”
“Pussy whipped.”
“Jesus, you’re an ass. You want pictures?”
“Of the furniture or of you two getting
busy
?”
“Asshole. I’ll call when I get there.” Jake ended the call and held out his hand for Tia. “Do you want to come?”
She rose, they walked over to his truck, and it felt so good when she slipped her smaller hand into his and leaned her head against his chest. “No, go. I’ll be fine. I have knitting and laundry to do. I’ll give the horses their dinner if you want.”
“It won’t take that long.”
“This is Chase, remember? My gut tells me he’ll keep you there forever. Just admit it now, and the afternoon will go much better.” She stood on tiptoe and brushed her sweet lips against his. “I’ll be waiting when you return.”
“Naked?” He held her close for a moment and kissed her back, one filled with promise and tongue. His cock hardened again, and he tugged her hips closer, so she could feel his need. Feel what she did to him. God, what he wouldn’t give to pound her now, up against his truck. But he was a good husband, and instead, he broke the kiss, his breathing ragged. “I’ll miss you.”
She smiled wickedly and let her hand slide along his erection, squeezing those fingers in a way that promised him she’d be more than naked when he got home. She’d be naked, wet, and willing.
“I’m sure you’ll miss me, Mr. Whipped.”
****
Tia stood at the corner of the driveway and watched Jake drive off to do the Lord of the Spies’ bidding. After the craziness of the day, she was glad to have a moment to herself, to think and to process what the hell had happened. Because this morning she woke up pissed and devil bound that the wedding nonsense would stop, yet here she stood with Jake’s high school ring on her married ring finger. And she liked it.
Liked it enough to feel the tough girl inside her start to let down the defenses. For the first time in a long time, she was just…the old her. The Sarah from so long ago, who had once dreamed of marriage and boyfriends, pink and lace. That part of her would have done anything to love Jake, to turn him from the confirmed man whore path to be only hers.
Tia went inside and began to put her time to good use by reading the instructions to the beaded purse. She dumped the beads into a bowl and began stringing them onto the delicate yarn. The beads were shiny, as she had once been. Shiny despite living with a drug-dependant mother, hoping for her to clean up, waiting for a man to come and see the real her—Sarah—and rescue them both.
But she’d learned the hard way. Unless your man was a firefighter and your house was on fire, you weren’t getting rescued. Love, she discovered, wasn’t beautiful. It hurt. Her mother had taught her well. Love someone, and that person would turn on you, would show you their true colors. You just had to wait for it.
History repeated itself, over and over, beginning with her mother, who said she loved her. At least Billy was honest. He had just wanted to fuck her. It had been her fault for hoping he was the prince, wanting to rescue them both. All he had wanted was a mother/daughter ménage.
Her first Dom proclaimed love, too. The moment she let her defenses down to take a chance, he dumped her for a heroin addict. Tia didn’t do drugs, period, so she’d been second best to a slut with a great smack supplier and clean needles.