Wild: Wildfire (4 page)

* * * * *

Dee finished applying her mascara and studied her reflection. In just an hour she would be at the rodeo dance in Jake’s arms…for
only
one dance. That was it. And then she would go home—and more than likely dig out one of her vibrators.

She usually kept her makeup light and natural so that it hardly looked like she was wearing any. But tonight she’d gone all out—her cheekbones appeared higher, her eyes wider, and her lips more full and sensual. She’d pulled back her hair and swept it up with a pearl comb, auburn ringlets spilling out the top in wild disarray and giving her that sexy just-got-out-of-bed look.

When she’d gone shopping with Catie yesterday, they’d found the perfect outfit. The ivory halter dress was gorgeous and made Dee feel slightly dangerous and very naughty. Sheer netting rose from just above her breasts to the neckline that encircled her throat like a choker, and her shoulders and back were completely bare, all the way down to her ass crack. She enjoyed the feel of the material, silky and luscious against her skin.

Dee smiled as she pulled on the matching bolero jacket, still amazed with what she and Catie had done in the whirlpool last night. And more than a little curious what Jake would think if she invited him to join them in the whirlpool sometime.

The thought gave her pause. Would she want to share Jake with another woman? In any way?
No
.

Wait. What was she thinking? It wasn’t like she
cared
about Jake anymore.

She slid her feet into a pair of ivory sandals with three-inch heels and studied her toenails that were painted with pearl polish to match her fingernails. The new garters and thong underwear felt positively delicious beneath the dress. Too bad Jake wasn’t actually going to see what she had on underneath.

No, it wasn’t too bad at all. She was just going to give him a taste of what he’d been missing all these years. That did
not
include a peek at what she was wearing under her dress.

Well, maybe a little peek.

She grinned and grabbed the purse she’d bought to go with the outfit, then stopped to check her appearance in the floor to ceiling mirrors of her closet door. Tingles skittered through her body and her nipples stood out against the thin fabric.

After tossing her lipstick into her purse, she said goodbye to Blue and strode out the door into the gathering darkness, taking care not to stumble down the stairs in her sandals. The pinching around her toes was a good indication she should’ve settled for something a little more sensible, but she’d loved the way they looked with the dress.

And at this moment, she felt anything but sensible.

* * * * *

Dee arrived at the fairgrounds and parked the Rover in the dirt lot. When she climbed out, night air chilled her skin as her dress hiked up her thighs. She pulled her skirt back down, locked the SUV, and headed toward the dancehall. Her ankles wobbled as she traveled over the uneven ground and she just hoped she wouldn’t sprawl in an ungraceful heap.

Multi-colored lights of the carnival midway illuminated the night. Sounds of laughter and the blare of the country western band filled the air as she approached the dancehall.

Smells of popcorn and corndogs brought back memories of the last time she’d been to the county fair and dance ten years ago with Jake. For the first couple of years after he’d left, she hadn’t wanted any reminders of him so she never went to the annual event. And somehow she’d never felt inclined to go again.

Her steps slowed as she got closer and closer to the dancehall, and then she stopped walking and stared at the front entrance, clenching her purse in both hands.

If she allowed herself to get too close to Jake Reynolds, she might start to lose her heart again, and that was completely out of the question. Once was enough for this lifetime.

Okay, so she wasn’t as bold as she’d like to think she was.

Chicken-shit.

She whirled to head back to her Rover, and smacked into a solid wall of hard male flesh. Hands grabbed her arms to steady her, and Dee found herself looking up into Jake’s eyes.

Too late.

Too late to make her escape, and the most dangerous sensations coursed through her body the moment she found herself in his arms.

Devastatingly handsome, all in black from his western dress shirt to his Wranglers, Jake’s eyes were shadowed under the brim of his Stetson and she could see a silvery glint in their gray depths. The musky scent of him surrounded her, making her want him so bad her panties were already damp.

Screw the dance. She’d take him now.

No, no, no!

“Sweetheart,” he murmured, the heat of his hands blazing through her jacket. “You look good enough to eat.”

“Jake.” Dee heard the huskiness in her own voice, and fought to regain her composure.

One dance. That’s it, no more. No matter how bad you want to do him.

She put her hands against his muscled chest and pushed away from his grasp, her palms burning from the feel of him.

“Where were you going?” He let his fingers slide down her arms as she stepped back, and she shivered from the sensual feel of his touch through her jacket sleeves. “You didn’t change your mind, did you?”

“Of course not.” Dee lifted her chin and did her best to give him a flirty smile.

“You want to dance out here under the stars, or go in?” His deep voice was so vibrant, so sexual, that she all but wanted to melt into his arms.

Dammit. You’re supposed to be cool, calm and collected and let Jake be the frustrated one.

“Inside.” Dee moved away from Jake, and started toward the entrance. She could feel the heat of his gaze on her, and the heat of another kind flaming deep inside.

He remained silent as they entered the dancehall, only nodding to people Dee greeted as they passed by until they found a place to leave her purse. When she slipped off her jacket and revealed the sleeveless, backless dress beneath, she heard a sharp whistle from behind. She couldn’t help a smile from escaping.

After she put the jacket with her purse, she turned to see Jake staring at her with absolute lust. He set his Stetson next to her jacket, but never took his gaze from hers.

“Are you ready for that dance?” she asked, hoping her voice sounded steady. Casual. Not like,
I want your hands all over my body now.

“If it’s only one dance, I get to choose the song.” He smiled and closed the distance between them. “And I want it to be a nice slow one.”

The purr of a cell phone rose up between them, just as Jake reached for Dee’s hand.

She took a step back. “Gonna answer your hip?”

“Hold on a sec.” Jake gave her a sheepish smile as he yanked the slim phone from his belt. He pushed a button and pressed the phone to his ear. “Reynolds.”

Dee watched Jake’s eyes narrow as he listened to whoever was on the other end. To be honest she was thankful for the interruption—her body kept threatening to take over her common sense.

“All right,” Jake finally said. “Keep me informed.”

He punched the phone off and slipped it onto his belt, his eyes focused on Dee. “Now where were we?”

“May I have this dance, Dean?” a man’s voice broke in.

She glanced up to see Ryan Forrester, a good-looking sheriff’s deputy she’d dated a couple of times. “Why, sure, Ryan.”

Ryan gave a nod to Jake, who just scowled and folded his arms as Dee moved with the deputy onto the crowded floor. With effort, she managed to keep her attention on her dance partner as they two-stepped to a fast tune. But every now and then she’d catch a glimpse of Jake’s expression, and she had to grin.

A blue-eyed blonde cowboy, Ryan was the big silent type who never had a whole lot to say—which was one of the reasons she hadn’t continued dating him. She preferred not to have to carry on an entire conversation by herself. She’d heard he had a little problem with gambling, heading up to the casinos on the reservations whenever he had some time off. One thing Dee didn’t find attractive in any man was any kind of addiction, whether it was drugs, gambling, or tobacco.

Even though she had no interest in Ryan other than their casual relationship, she danced with him for two more songs, laughing and flirting with the man the entire time—just to be ornery and drive Jake nuts.

Ryan was smiling and friendly enough, but when Dee asked him if he had any more information on the rustlers, he just shrugged and seemed to become even quieter than normal. If that was possible.

When Dee finally returned from the dance floor with Ryan, Jake’s scowl was positively thunderous. It was a wonder the possessive look in his eyes hadn’t kept Ryan away to begin with.

She’d barely had a chance to thank Ryan for the dances when Jake took her by the elbow and propelled her from the edge of the dancers.

“This isn’t part of the deal,” she said when they reached a corner where they were somewhat alone and the music wasn’t as loud.

“We have a lot of catching up to do.” He leaned one shoulder against the wall, boxing her into the corner.

“What about work? Your calls? You seem to be in demand.” Dee tried to sound annoyed.

“I turned it off for now.” Jake grinned. “Unavailable.”

The wall felt cool to her bare back, and for a second she considered stomping her three-inch heel into his boot to get him to back off. But every sane thought fled her mind as she studied him.

Lord he looks good.

Tremors rippled through her at Jake’s nearness, and she wondered how she would begin to walk away from him when that one dance was over. Her body hummed with awareness, as he stood close—not quite touching, yet not far enough away.

“How’d you end up running your dad’s cattle ranch?” he asked, that smoky gaze fixed on her.

“I love ranching.” Dee shrugged. “I guess you could say it’s in the blood.” She flattened her palms against the wall behind her. “Your turn. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“Had a nice spread in Texas, enjoyed my work and did all right.” Jake bent closer, invading her space. No, more like conquering it. “But I was lonely as hell.”

She kept her tone light and teasing. “What? No friends?”

“I had friends.” He reached up and traced the line of her jaw, his eyes dark and intent. “But something was missing.”

At the same moment, the lights dimmed and a slow tune started.

A shiver skittered through her as Jake trailed his finger down her neck. “How ’bout that dance, Dee?”

She nodded. The sooner they got this over with, the better. She’d give him one dance and then get herself away from Jake before she jumped right back in bed with the man.

His hand burned the bare skin at the small of her back as he guided her to the middle of the dance floor where they were surrounded by other couples.

As Jake brought her within the circle of his arms, her nipples tightened. He swept his gaze over her breasts and gave her a sensual smile that caused her mouth to go dry. His hands settled on her waist and moved his hips against hers until she felt his erect cock through her thin dress. Did it ever feel good to have him pressed up against her.

He bent his head next to hers, and Dee automatically moved her hands to his shoulders, letting her body sway with his in time to the music. After the way he’d left her all those years ago, she shouldn’t feel so turned on, but lord, was she ever.

“Remember the first time we made love?” he murmured in her ear, and she caught the scent of mint on his breath. She could imagine how good he’d taste and almost moaned at the thought.

“At our hideaway.” Dee sighed, shivering at the feel of his mouth so close to her ear.

He pressed her impossibly closer along his solid length, all but making love to her on the dance floor. “It was a clear October day and we went horseback riding in the mountains with a picnic basket, a blanket, and a bottle of wine.” His voice was raw, filled with desire. “The sun was shining, and it was still warm enough that you were wearing a pair of tight jeans with a T-shirt. And no bra.”

“Good memory,” she murmured.

“I could even see your dark nipples through the shirt, it was so skimpy.” Jake trailed one finger up Dee’s bare spine and she shivered as he continued, “We went to our secluded spot, our own little hideaway, and it was like we were the only two people left in the world. Then you begged me to make love to you.”

Dee pulled away and looked up at him. “I
begged
you?”

He brought her back into his arms. “Maybe we both did a little begging.”

How Jake’s kisses had unraveled her and how badly she had wanted him.
Needed him
. And it was true, she had begged him not to stop.

He had smiled, handling her so gently, as though he cherished every part of her. His mouth had teased her nipples, slowly working his way down between her thighs to her pussy. She couldn’t believe he put his mouth on her clit, tasting her until she was writhing, and dying for him to be inside her.

Before he entered her, he had caressed between her thighs until he brought her to orgasm. And then he slid his cock into her, taking her slow and easy. She’d cried out from the incredible pleasure rippling through her body.

He had stopped, afraid he’d hurt her, but she had ordered him to keep fucking her, clenching his hips between her thighs. Harder and faster he moved within her, filling her, until he reached his own climax.

Jake’s warm breath on her neck and his low voice brought her out of her memories. “I never thought I could want you more than I did that day. But every day after that, I couldn’t get enough of you.” His hands moved from her waist, caressing her through the dress, down her hips and back again to her waist. “And somehow I want you now even more than I did then.”

God but she wanted to fuck him.

No.
She was supposed to give him a lot of hot frustration, not the other way around.

Vibrator waiting at home. Remember the vibrator.

Dee finally found her voice and her willpower. “Nothing’s going to happen between us. I agreed to be friends with you.
Not
fuck you.”

Jake groaned and pressed her hips harder against his erection. He’d always loved it when Dee talked dirty. Without a doubt, he knew she wanted him with the same fierceness he felt for her. The one dance had already melded into a second, and if he had his way, he’d be dancing with her all night.

And then he’d get her home and in his bed.

Just the thought of what she was wearing under that scrap of a dress was enough to make him utter a primal chest-beating growl, throw her over his shoulder and take her home and do her.

When he’d arrived at the fairgrounds, Dee had pulled in and parked her Rover in the row in front of him. After a moment she’d slid out of her SUV, and her tiny fuck-me skirt had climbed up her thighs to reveal garters holding up sheer stockings. Pure lust had bolted through him at the sight. All thoughts of work, rustlers, and smugglers blew away with the breeze.

Transfixed, as though under a spell, he had watched Dee fix her skirt, raise her head and march off to the dancehall, the best she could in those high heels.

Jake had hurried out of his truck and strode toward Dee, planning to catch up. But then her steps had slowed and she’d come to a complete stop and stared at the building, so lost in her thoughts that he’d been able to get close without her noticing. He had the feeling that if he hadn’t been right behind her, she probably would have gone back home.

Now she was in his arms, her scent of wind and orange blossoms flowing over him, and it felt so completely right. He knew he’d been an idiot to leave her, and he damn well wasn’t going to make that mistake a second time.

But would she ever trust him again? Well, he sure as hell intended to do whatever it took to earn that trust.

He lifted his head to look down at Dee, admiring her generous curves underneath that skimpy outfit. Through the netting at the top of her dress, Jake could see the mole above her left breast. He yearned to peel away the material and run his tongue over that beauty mark, and every inch of her body.

Dee’s green eyes met his, challenging him. “Your one dance is over.”

He smiled. “Dance with me all night.”

“I—
no
.” Her voice was firm as she shook her head.

He brought his lips to her hair, traveling along her temple and down to her ear. “Dance with me.”