“Do not come near me with that,” Jake demanded, pointing to the syringe that the nurse was holding.
“Mr. McKade, I’m only doing my job,” the nurse said calmly.
Jake watched in horror as she stepped forward to reach out and take hold of the IV tubing that hung from the bag of whatever the hell was inside of it. There was no way he was going to allow anyone to take any of his life away from him—even if it was only in sleep. He had lost too much time that he could have been spending with Claire already.
“I said no!” Jake roared. “I don’t care what the doctor ordered. I have a right to refuse treatment.”
“Mr. McKade, it’s for your own good,” the nurse said calmly.
The hospital room door opened and Claire walked in. She took in the situation and felt the agitation in Jake immediately. Walking over to him quickly, she reached out and took his hand in hers.
“What’s going on?” she asked gently, sitting down beside him on the bed and smiling when he immediately surrounded her waist with his arm.
“Mr. McKade’s heart rate and blood pressure are high,” the nurse said, her voice quiet. “I have a sedative to administer to help keep him calm.”
Claire looked at the machines that were monitoring Jake’s vitals and saw that everything was returning back to normal levels. She smiled as she turned to face the nurse. She felt great satisfaction in seeing that her touch had a good effect on Jake. She wasn’t the only one who benefited from their connection.
“I think he’s doing fine, now,” Claire said calmly.
The nurse checked the readouts and realized that Claire was correct. “I’m glad,” she said gently. “Have a good night.”
She turned and left the room, leaving Claire and Jake alone. Claire felt Jake’s touch on her hand and faced him, smiling down at him.
“Are you okay, Jake?” she asked him, reaching out and covering his hand with hers.
“I’m fine. What about you?”
He tugged lightly on the white sling that she was wearing. His face mirrored the concern that he was feeling. Claire could sense his worry. Once again she realized that his emotions didn’t overwhelm her or cause her any pain. It was wonderful.
“It’s not broken,” she told him. “Just bruised. They told me to wear the sling for a couple of days to ease the pressure on my shoulder until I’ve had some time to heal.”
“Thank God,” Jake muttered, unable to keep his relief from bleeding out from him. “Are you tired, angel?”
“Yeah. I’m pretty tired,” Claire admitted. “What about you, Jake?”
“I’m tired,” he admitted quietly. “Now that you’re here, we can both get some sleep.”
Claire stood and watched in fascination as Jake folded back the blankets and waited for her to climb in beside him. The level of comfort and rightness she felt at his actions was surprising. She had never thought that she would ever be able to be close to any man. Her empathic ability had always prevented her from getting close to anyone. But Jake soothed her, he made her feel calm, and he protected her from the world’s pain. Plus, he was sexy as hell. She wanted him like she had never wanted any man before.
Easing herself onto the bed, she settled beside him with slow, measured movements. When he wrapped his arm around her back and drew her toward him, being careful not to exert any pressure on her shoulder, she smiled at his thoughtfulness.
“Sleep, angel,” he whispered as he reached up and tugged on the length of chain hanging behind him to shut off the light above the bed.
Claire closed her eyes and rested against Jake’s chest. He helped to settle her sling so that it draped comfortably across his torso. He took her hand as it peeked out the edge of the sling and covered his heart with it. Claire smiled at his tenderness, squeezing his hand lightly as he held her. She leaned closer and hugged him carefully, very aware of his injuries.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Jake breathed in deeply, allowing her goodness to surround him. She had no idea how much she helped him to relax. The way she soothed his demons was astounding. Her gentle caring reached deep into his soul and cradled his heart. This woman was his. He just had to figure out how to make it happen without scaring her away. He almost laughed out loud as he realized that he was actually the one who was scared. He knew that she was his mate. Did he have the courage to keep her in his life? He didn’t know, but he hoped that he did. He wanted Claire in his arms, in his bed, and in his heart.
Claire sighed softly, loving the declaration Jake had just made. She was his mate. He wanted her in his life. She was in complete agreement with him. He was her destined mate. She wanted him in her life, too. She didn’t really understand why he was so afraid to make that a reality, but she was going to find out if it was the last thing that she did.
As she finally settled and allowed herself to relax, she knew that slumber would come easily. She had no outside emotions banging in her head. She was safe. She was wanted. And she was happy.
She listened to the even breathing of her man and realized that he was already asleep. She smiled as she thought about sleeping with him every night for the rest of her life. It was something that she was looking forward to doing.
As she settled into dreams of their future, she saw the child that he had held in her previous sharing of his thoughts. She also saw the other children that they would have together. They had stunning blue eyes and black hair, just like their father. The beautiful way they climbed over their father’s legs as he sat on the floor in a comfortable living room that she assumed would be their future home made her smile. Jake hugged and kissed each child as they came over to him to share a toy or a book. She saw herself walking toward him and laughed as he tugged on her legs to carefully maneuver her down onto his lap.
“Jake, you’re crazy,” she heard herself telling him.
“You make me crazy,” he whispered against her temple. “I love you, angel.”
She saw him slide his hand beneath the pink sweater she was wearing to touch her belly and caress it tenderly. She could actually feel the baby within her womb moving strongly against Jake’s hand and looked up at him in surprise.
“I love whenever I feel our babies moving inside of you, Claire,” he whispered before kissing her lips lightly.
Claire smiled in her sleep. What a beautiful insight into their future. She felt Jake tightening his hold on her and knew that he was seeing their future, too.
Even in his sleep, Jake knew that he had to say the words he had been taught as s child. He whispered the blessing that every man was taught to say when they found their destined mate.
Claire smiled at his words, knowing that he wasn’t even aware that he was speaking them. She felt them being pulled together, some unseen force linking them together. She sighed and snuggled closer to the man that she was already losing her heart to.
Jake McKade belonged to her, and she belonged to him. She just had to get him to realize and accept it when he was awake. That might prove to be a monumental task.
Kissing Jake’s shoulder lightly, she sighed against him and said a silent prayer of her own. She asked the Great Spirit to guide this gentle and kind man to give them a chance to have that beautiful life with a loving home and the adorable children that she had just seen.
“I want that with you and only you, Jake McKade,” she whispered against his neck, smiling when she heard the soft sigh that escaped his lips.
“Claire,” he whispered, turning to kiss her forehead lightly before he settled back into the arms of his dreams.
“I’m here, Jake,” she told him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The promise she made was certain. Jake smiled as he heard her pledge even through the haze of his dreams. It settled him. It made him believe. It gave him happiness. It made him wish for that future with his beautiful, sweet angel.
Chapter 6
Jake lowered himself over Claire, smiling at the gasp that left her as their naked bodies touched. He
took firm hold of her wrists and drew her arms upward to place them above her head. Pinning them to the softness of the pillows with his own hands, he eased forward and took her lips in a slow, sensual kiss. Claire’s mouth opened to him without hesitation, sighing softly as she accepted his kiss.
He released her hands and felt great satisfaction that she kept them exactly where he had placed them. When she reached out and squeezed his hand lightly, not wanting to lose the connection to him, his heart pounded within his chest at the sweet intimacy.
“You’re mine, angel,” he whispered, traveling kisses down her throat to bite down lightly on her neck.
“Yes, Jake,” Claire answered, moaning.
“I’m going to take you,” he told her, his deep voice determined.
“You can’t take what’s freely given,” Claire told him, laughing softly.
“You’re always challenging me, Claire,” he told her, shaking his head as he smiled down at her.
“Someone has to challenge you, cowboy,” Claire whispered.
Jake’s blue eyes flashed with humor. “You certainly do that, Mate,” he agreed. “I’m going to love you until you scream.”
Claire’s laugh turned to a moan as he slid down her body, trailing kisses and sucking up marks as he went. When he shouldered her legs apart and latched onto her clit, sucking it deeply within his mouth and licking the tip of the sensitive nub, she whispered his name as her entire body clenched with the surge of pleasure that he gave her. She pulled her right hand free from his, easily slipping from Jake’s gentle hold. She reached down and carded her fingers through his hair, gripping it tightly and pulling on it as her excitement grew.
He wrapped both of his hands beneath her hips and pulled her closer, laving at her folds and drawing in the honey that dripped from her. He hummed against her core, pressing his tongue deep and drinking in the desire she had only for him. He could feel the way her body was tightening and was determined to give her an orgasm that would shatter her completely. She gave him such pleasure with every touch, every smile, and every instance of understanding that she shared with him every moment of every day. He was a happy, contented man. Because of her. His beautiful Claire. His sweet angel.
Claire’s grip in his hair tightened as she found her release. He continued laving her intimately until he knew she couldn’t take any more stimulation. Her body shook beneath him. Her legs trembled. Her breath was coming in short gasps.
Her long moan of pleasure gave him happiness. His cock throbbed as his need for her intensified. Easing up her body, he slipped inside of her slowly, groaning from the pleasure of her wet heat surrounding him. He pressed deeper, loving the way her tightness gripped his shaft.
He looked down at his woman, smiling at the gentle look of love she gave him as she looked up at him. He would never tire of seeing that look.
“I love when you’re deep inside of me, Jake McKade,” she whispered, clenching her muscles and drawing him deeper within her body.
She wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him tighter against her. She loved the feel of holding him. His broad chest settled against her, blanketing her in his warmth and his strength. She loved the way he surrounded her with his body, making her feel loved, protected, and wanted.
“Do you think we can make a baby today?”
“I think we should try,” he whispered, moving his hips slowly as he made gentle love to her. “I think our baby is going to be as beautiful as you are, angel.”
Claire tightened her hold on him, pulling him deeper. “I love you, cowboy,” she whispered.
Jake’s blue eyes never left hers as he pumped in and out of her. The love he had for her was evident in his look and his touch. Claire’s entire body softened as she was filled with his love. She loved being in Jake’s strong, gentle arms.
“I love you, angel,” Jake whispered, leaning down to kiss her as he pressed deep and filled her with his seed, his breath coming in short gasps as his body gave over to the pleasure of loving his woman.
Claire held him tightly, gasping as a smaller orgasm pulsed within her, swelling through her like a gentle wave of warmth. She loved the feeling of the throbbing of his cock as he released his life’s essence deep inside of her. She prayed that they would create their baby from this single act of love. She wanted to give him children. She wanted to give him a lifetime of love and happiness. She wanted to give him everything.
“Claire,” Jake whispered against the side of her neck. “I need to hold you down.”
“I know, Jake. Go ahead.”
Jake eased out of her body, careful not to cause her any pain. Moving so that he straddled her hips, he leaned up and gripped her wrists tightly, drawing them up and holding them firmly above her head. Her indulgent smile made him laugh softly. His Claire. She knew and understood what he needed.
Lifting his body over hers, he placed his knees on either side of her shoulders, his hard cock bobbing before her mouth. A small dribble of his seed fell from the tip. He watched as Claire opened her mouth and her sweet little tongue lapped at the slit of his cock to gather up his seed.
The need to dominate her in that moment was too much for him to deny. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He pressed her arms deep into the bedding, gripping her wrists tighter as he fed his cock to her. She opened her mouth willingly, taking his length without hesitation. He moaned as she sucked his sensitive cock. Her tongue stroked the underside of his shaft lightly. He knew that she was aware of his sensitivity. She was always aware of every feeling and every need that he had.
Holding her wrists tightly, he pumped into her mouth, looking down at the sight that took his breath away. His angel allowed him to be himself. She gave herself willingly to him every time. She smiled at his needs, always telling him afterward that she craved and needed exactly what he did to her. He wondered how it was possible for her to be so open to him.
“Jake,” Claire called out, her whispered words drawing his attention.
He tightened his hold on her wrists and pumped into her mouth with more force.
“Jake.” Claire’s voice called to him again, this time edged with pain.
He looked down at her and saw only her loving eyes looking up at him. Pulling his cock out of her mouth, he leaned down and took it in a kiss so searing, neither one of them could breathe.
“Jake, please, you’re hurting me,” Claire whispered, her voice strained as Jake’s hold on her tightened painfully, tugging on her shoulder.
Jake was pulled from his dream. The sensuality of it was smashed as the pain in Claire’s voice broke through his haze.
“Claire?” he whispered, blinking open his eyes and doing his best to focus.
“Please,” Claire said quietly, her voice strained.
Jake looked down at her, realizing that he was holding her tightly against his chest. His left hand had a tight grip on her right shoulder. He was horrified. He released her immediately, his heart hurting at the pain he was causing her.
“I’m so sorry, Claire,” he whispered, damning himself for his dominance. He would have never hurt her if he hadn’t been dreaming about holding her down.
“It’s okay,” she said as she fought to breathe through the pain.
“No. It’s not.”
Reaching up, he pressed the call button for the nurse, turning to settle Claire back against the mattress. He brushed her hair from her face, wiping at the tears that stained her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
He damned himself for what he had done to her. He was never going to be the cause of her tears again. She would never experience pain because of him ever again. No matter how much he cared about her and wanted her to be his, he was not going to allow himself to hurt her.
He knew he had to be strong. He had to hold himself away from her even though everything within him screamed that she belonged to him. The dream he had of making love to her and having children would have to remain just that—a dream. The reality of his touch would only cause his be
autiful angel pain, humiliation, and sadness. He was not going to allow that to happen.
Damning himself once again, he pulled within himself and slammed the door shut tightly behind him. The veil of secrecy that he always kept wrapped around him drew closed. He would remain isolated. Only then would Claire be safe from him.
“I need you to make sure that Claire has a place to stay and work, Deuce,” Jake told his brother.
“Sure, Jake,” Deuce promised. “I thought she was happy working here.”
“She is, Deuce, but she’s been hurt,” Jake explained. “She came to my room around ten o’clock last night. Her right shoulder was injured. She said that she tripped and fell when she was talking with her mother and sister.”
“Now, why do I think you don’t believe that, Jake?” Deuce asked him, his blue eyes flashing with anger as he thought about anyone hurting any woman.
“Because I don’t. Her mother and her sister have abused her since she’s been a kid. She told me about it last night. Claire has an ability, Deuce,” Jake said quietly.
Deuce nodded. The men and women of their land receiving gifts from the Great Spirit didn’t surprise him. Each gift was a blessing that was meant to be shared with the people that they loved.
“She’s an empath,” Jake explained. “She has a hard time shielding herself from the feelings of others.”
“That must be tough,” Deuce acknowledged.
Jake nodded. “She’s found that when she touches me, she’s cut off completely from the emotions that bombard her.”
“That’s amazing,” Deuce said, glad that his brother had finally found the woman who was meant to be his.
Jake wiped at his face in frustration. “When she touches me, Deuce, I feel peace,” Jake admitted softly.
“It’s the way of destined mates, Jake,” Deuce offered gently.
“I can’t, Deuce.”
“Why not?”
Jake's Angel [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 6