Jenna stepped out of the dress. Impatient, Jack sat on the bed and pried off his boots and socks. He rose and stood before her again. Hesitant but brave, she pulled his shirt from his jeans. Her hands shook. Nervous, she overcame it and pressed on, sliding her palms under Jack’s shirt. His warm skin against her palms ignited a fresh wave of need. She pulled the barrier off over his head. She wanted to touch him and feel the play of muscles in his chest against her hands. She undid his pants and pushed them to the floor along with his boxers. He stepped out and turned her back toward the bed and stood before her, all confidence.
She couldn’t get over his size. At least six inches taller than her, his chest was broad and smooth, and his arms were so strong. His stomach was flat and his waist narrowed down to his powerful thighs. His cock stood proud, throbbing for her. She looked up at him, a bundle of apprehension and nerves. It had been a long time since she was naked with a man.
Unable to hide her nervousness, Jack tried to soothe her by tracing her jaw with the pads of his thumbs. “Don’t worry, little one. I promise I’ll never hurt you. When we’re together like this, you’ll only ever feel pleasure. Let me show you.”
He lowered her back onto the bed. She scooted up, and he followed, taking in every plane and curve of her body. He lay on his side next to her, stroking his hand up her leg and over her belly where he found and cupped her round breast. She gasped at the intimate touches. He closed his mouth over her nipple and sucked, bringing it to a hard peak. She arched to him and moaned with pleasure as her eyes closed and a ragged sigh escaped her parted kiss swollen lips. He took the other nipple into his mouth and used his hand to stroke the tight bud he’d just left. His hands remained gentle, while his mouth demanded and coaxed everything from her.
Responsive to his every touch, she arched and buried her hands in his hair, holding him to her. He skimmed his hand down her belly, caressing as he went, his warm fingers tracing small circles on her skin. He slid his palm over her mound and cupped her in his hand. She gasped at his intimate touch. He continued to lick and suck her nipples, moving from one breast to the other as he gently used his fingers to explore her soft, wet core. He stroked the soft petals and entered her, one finger, then two. She rocked her hips against his hand, making those little love noises he coaxed from her with pleasure.
Her hands moved over his shoulders and back, fingers digging into his muscles and pulling him closer. He kissed his way up her neck until he finally found her lips, and using his tongue he explored her sweet mouth with the rhythm his fingers set inside her. He swallowed every moan and gasp as she rose and fell with him. He took her higher, until she couldn’t bear it anymore and she moaned out his name and tumbled over the edge.
With a swift shift of his body, she cradled his hips between her thighs. Pressed against her, chest-to-chest, hips-to-hips, their legs tangled together. He crushed her into the bed. She felt so good pressed along the length of him. He couldn’t stop kissing her mouth, and moved over her face and down her neck, positioning the swollen head of his cock against her, sliding against her slick heat. She tensed, but he thought it only anticipation. He wanted to bury himself in her hard and fast, but tried to hold back and go slow, giving her as much pleasure as she incited in him.
Without warning, she pushed both her hands to his shoulders and shoved him away.
“Stop,” she gasped.
Surprised, he stared down at her beneath him. The fear on her face registered immediately. Her whole body trembled against his.
“Jack, please stop. Wait a minute.”
Unsure what happened, her desperate plea froze his insides. He rolled off her and onto his back and inhaled a deep breath to get his aroused body to listen to his brain. He scrubbed his hands over his face, took a deep breath, and tried to gain control of himself before the beast within grabbed her and he really scared her.
“I’m sorry, did I hurt you? I forgot about your back. I lost my head. I didn’t realize I was hurting you. Is it your thigh? I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”
She lay looking up at the ceiling feeling emptier than she ever remembered. The loss of his warm and strong body against hers went all the way to her soul. She wanted him back in her arms in the worst way. In order to do that, she needed to get over her fears.
“No, Jack. It isn’t that. You didn’t hurt me.”
He turned his head to her, his eyes still clouded with passion. He asked gently, “What is it?”
“You’re so big, and I couldn’t move, and I don’t know, I felt trapped under you. It’s me. It’s my fault. I’m sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m so stupid.”
She rolled on her side and looked at the wonderful, kind man next to her. Gloriously naked and wonderful to look at, she let her eyes roam over him. She took in every shape and contour of his sculpted body. God, how she needed him.
She watched him with hungry eyes, making it that much harder to keep his hands to himself. “You’re not stupid. It’s okay, sweetheart. You need more time. I understand. We don’t have to do this right now.”
“I want to make love to you. I want to be with you. I was fine. Then, I don’t know. I felt trapped.”
“You want me?”
“Yes, Jack. I hurt for wanting you.” She bent over him and kissed him, moving her body against his, firing his passion.
“Try this.” He backed himself against the pillows, grabbed her arm and drew her over him. “Put your leg over and straddle me. Sit on my thighs, until you feel comfortable.”
Timid and vulnerable displayed over him the way she was, she settled on his lap. His skin warm against hers, he moved his hands up her arms, encouraging her. Emboldened, she rubbed her hands over his chest, exploring the solid wall of contours. Everywhere she touched, muscles rippled. She felt powerful having him beneath her. The more patience he showed her, the bolder she became.
“That’s it. Relax. We’ll just start again,” Jack said, visibly doing his best to keep his head, go slow, and allow her to drive him crazy.
He took her mouth and devoured. He rubbed his hands from her shoulders down the side of her breasts to her hips. She sighed and let the tension run out of her with each stroke of his warm hands over her body.
Relaxed, in the moment, her passion building, she felt empowered. She set her belly on his erection and he moaned with pleasure. She pressed and moved against him. His whole body tensed, but he continued to kiss and distract her with his every touch. Then he took her hands from his chest and placed them on the top of the headboard, her hips coming up off him, on her knees, bent over him. His hot mouth clamped on to her breast and a wave of heat shot through her system and straight to her aching core. His tongue laved and licked over her tight nipple. She squeezed her hands around the wood, sighed, and arched her back offering up her breasts for him to feast. Jack’s hands traveled up and down her sides and over her hips, soothing away the last of her nerves as she bent over his marauding mouth.
One hand lazily smoothed over her stomach with his knuckles, until he found her center. Open for him, straddled over his lap, she hovered over him anticipating his most intimate touch. He thrust his finger deep and found her sweet spot with his thumb, rubbing and sending ripples of pleasure dancing across every nerve. She moaned and moved against him, craving more. One of her hands combed through his hair and held his head to her breasts. Lost in the moment and the pleasure, she rocked her hips with his fingers as they softly played over her heated skin.
She rose to the crest again. This time, he replaced his fingers with the thick head of his cock, pushing against her opening, sinking in barely an inch. Not enough.
“Whenever you’re ready, darlin’, I’m all yours.”
Hers. Inflamed with passion and a deep sense of possessiveness, she lowered herself onto him, torturing them both with the smooth, slow movement of her rolling hips to accommodate him. She stretched around him, filled herself, until she took all of him. The feel of him deep inside herself so amazing, she sat for
a moment savoring being one with this wonderful man.
“God, you feel so damn good.” Hungry for her, he rose up and that wonderful mouth of his lapped and sucked at her breast, greedy to taste and savor every inch of her.
She rocked against him, rose up, and sank down with a soft moan. He grabbed her hips to urge her on. The more he responded, the more she felt free to enjoy the ride and take him along with her. He groaned her name at her breast and she moved over him, taking him deep, then rising up before he pulled her back.
Giving him pleasure and taking it for herself, it had never been like this. She’d never felt like she was able to give and take so much. With Jack, she let go of everything, except the feel of him and the sensations building inside of her.
The slow and easy rhythm soon gained in speed. He thrust as hard as she pressed down on him. She couldn’t take him deep enough. He smothered her gasps with his mouth and his tongue tangled with hers. He waited for her to rocket over the edge first. Her inner muscles locking around his hard shaft, she trembled, and he thrust deep, his whole body tensing and pulsing. He emptied himself with a gruff groan.
The warmth spread inside her as he shuddered underneath her. His arms wrapped tight around her and drew her down to his chest. Breathing hard and ragged, his heart pounding with hers. Locked deep inside her, she held him close, their hearts pressed together, joined in rhythm, just like their bodies had been but moments ago.
“I don’t ever want to let you go. I want to stay like this forever, forget the past and just be yours.”
“Jenna, God, when you say things like that it just makes me want you again. Come here.”
He rolled her to her back. This time she didn’t ask him to stop. Still joined, Jack moved, pulling out and thrusting hard and deep. She drew her legs up, wrapped them tight around his hips, drawing him into her even more. She grabbed his face and brought his lips to hers and kissed him with all the passion and love she had. She traced his bottom lip with her tongue and gently sucked it into her mouth.
Her fingers dug into his back. He crushed her into the bed and still she pushed her hips up to meet him, taking him deep and loving the feel of him over her. He buried his face in her hair and neck and thrust into her hard and fast until she moaned his name. She tightened around him, that blissful heat exploding through her body. He increased the pace, harder, deeper, until he spilled himself inside her again.
Jack wanted to collapse on top of her, but supported his weight on his forearms and knees. Her legs went to jelly and slid from around his waist back to the bed. Her arms wrapped around his back, hugging him. He slid both arms around her and rolled onto his back, taking her with him, careful not to hurt her injured thigh. Worried about her other injuries, she didn’t complain, and he was too busy trying to catch his breath to ask after her.
“I didn’t know I could do that. I don’t think I can ever do that again, twice in a matter of minutes. You inspire me, sweetheart.”
“I feel really good myself. I liked being on top. I felt really powerful.”
“Honey, you can be on top anytime you want. I’m at your beck and call.”
“Oh, yeah. How about now?”
“Uh. Please tell me you’re kidding? I’m spent.” He’d never given himself to a woman like that before. And certainly, he’d never made love to a woman without protecting himself and her from the possibility of a baby. He hoped they’d made a baby tonight. He thought about the gift she’d given to his family just hours before, and he hoped she’d give him another gift—their child.
“I am kidding. You’re a big man, Jack. I’ll probably be sore for a little while.”
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine. We’re a perfect fit.”
“Is your back okay?”
“Sore, but well worth it.”
His whole body went still. The thought of hurting her upset him. Reading his thoughts, she kissed his chin and gave him a nip with her teeth. “I’m fine. Really.” She kissed him on the mouth and moved just enough to disconnect herself from him. Wrapped in each other’s arms, their legs tangled together. Jack reached behind her, grabbed the comforter, and pulled it over them, cocooning them in the aftermath of their shared pleasure and blocking out the cold and her past. Tonight, she slept safe in Jack’s arms.
Chapter Thirty-One
* * *
Ten weeks later . . .
DAVID TAPPED HIS fingers on the cherry wood armrest and leaned back into the soft leather seat. His private jet sat on the San Francisco airport tarmac, waiting for clearance to take off. His cell phone vibrated in his coat pocket, reminding him to turn it off for the flight. He checked the caller ID first. A zing of excitement shot through him. This was the overdue call he’d been waiting for.
“Tell me you found her?” No other response was acceptable. He’d made his wishes clear and the people he hired either did their job, or didn’t have one.
“She set up several trusts under a business name we’ve confirmed belongs to her. I’ve emailed you the details. She’s in Colorado. A town called Hidden Springs, living on a horse ranch. It’s isolated, but accessible. There’s one problem.”
“She’s still there, isn’t she?”
“Yes, but she has guards spread over the property, watching her house and another.”
David heard the hesitation in the man’s voice. “Tell me everything.”
“She’s living with a man, the owner of the ranch.”
David’s fingers clamped around his phone and a flush of red-hot rage rushed through his veins. Dismissing the need to be in New York for an important business meeting, he ordered the pilots, “Change of plans, take me to Hidden Springs, Colorado.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
* * *
Two weeks later . . .
JENNA AWOKE IN Jack’s arms, just like she had every morning for the last three months. They still couldn’t get enough of each other. Though Jack had pointedly said he wanted to marry her and have children, he’d never said he loved her. The words weren’t necessary, because he made a point to show her how much he loved her in everything he did and said. David had given her the words over and over, but showed the lie in his every cruel deed.
They’d settled into a comfortable routine. Jack worked in the barn, or around the ranch, and Jenna took on a new client. She worked in Jack’s home office on her computer, until he returned home each evening. They’d have dinner together, then sit on the couch and watch TV or read together. Sometimes they had Summer, Caleb, and Lily over. Jenna loved having a house full of people. She remembered being alone, night after night, lonely for company. Now she could have a house full of guests, or just be in Jack’s arms, exactly where she wanted to be most.
Jack’s monthly trip to auction was today. Afterwards, he and Caleb were driving to the courthouse to sign and record the deed for Caleb and Summer’s piece of the property. On the way home, he and Caleb would deliver a colt to a friend’s ranch.
Summer was dropping off Lily before she went to work. She had cut back her schedule to three six-hour days until the new baby arrived. Then she’d take everyone’s advice and stay home with her kids, at least for a while.
Jenna looked forward to having Lily for a few hours. She loved the little girl like her own, and if her suspicions where right, she and Jack would welcome a new little one in about seven months.
Jack would be so excited. She needed to confirm her suspicions soon.
Jack had hinted a few times that he thought she might be pregnant. She had discouraged him so far, wanting to surprise him when she was certain. Who was she kidding? In her heart, she already knew Jack’s baby was snug as a bug in her belly and she couldn’t be happier. Since she had Lily today, she’d wait until tomorrow and go into town and get a home pregnancy test.
Jack stirred next to her. His morning erection pressed to her hip. She thought about letting him sleep longer, but why waste a perfectly good erection. She kissed his che
st and moved up his collarbone to his neck and pushed him onto his back. Straddling him now, she pressed a kiss to his earlobe and whispered in his ear, “Good morning, my love.” She lowered herself onto him and rocked against his hips. She kissed his neck and shoulder, rocking herself back and forth with long slow movements. Her breasts brushed against his strong chest muscles. Her hard tipped breasts ached for his touch, the sweep of his tongue.
Without opening his eyes, he grabbed her hips and moved with her. When she was ready to peak, he wrapped his arms around her, now healed, back and pressed her close to his chest. He thrust deep, filled her as she fell over the edge with him.
Unable to move, his arms wrapped around her, her face buried in his neck where she nibbled and nuzzled.
“Good morning to you, darlin’,” he rumbled out the words, practically purring.
“Mmm. I couldn’t resist you. You’re all warm with these strong muscles everywhere. I had to get my hands on you.”
“Baby, I’ll oversleep every day if that’s how you wake me up.”
“You didn’t oversleep, I just couldn’t help myself. Every time I’m with you, I can’t help but touch you, Jack. You’re addictive.”
“I hope you never find the cure. I can’t get enough of you either.” To prove it, he cupped her bottom with both hands and pressed himself deep inside her, setting off a new wave of aftershocks. She moaned as the pleasure crested and washed over her again. He loved it when they were like this together. He’d never felt this close to a woman in his life. With Jenna, he could let everything go and just be with her.
“Ready to go again, big guy?”
“Not exactly.” He wrapped her in a bear hug. “While you are inspiring, I’ve got to get up and get ready to leave with Caleb. You haven’t mentioned your surprise.”
Saved by the Rancher Page 17