Visually tracing the curve of his sculpted jean-covered ass, Molly whimpered. He turned. The second a pair of golden eyes fell on her, she stiffened. “Jonathan?”
He dropped his spatula and put his hand down on the stovetop as his jaw dropped. Jonathan’s unnatural eyes widened. “Molls, you’re…you’re…naked.”
Naked? She glanced down. She wasn’t naked. She was wearing a man’s shirt. Oh my word, I’m in Jonathan’s shirt and it’s see-through.
Molly went to cover herself and froze when she spotted his hand still on the stovetop. It was sizzling. Smoke rose up and the smell of burnt flesh filled the room. “Jon, your hand!”
Without thought, Molly rushed at him and grabbed his hand to her, cradling the scorching hot skin to her chest. Need slammed through her as his finger skimmed over the swell of her breast. Her power flared, seizing the chance to run cool energy out and over his hand. Her nipples hardened instantly and Jonathan let out a tiny gasp.
“Molls?”
“What were you thinking?” she asked, in reference to him letting his hand lay on a hot stovetop.
Jonathan jerked slightly, but kept his hand pressed to her chest. “Me? I was thinking ‘Molls is naked, or damn close to naked, in my kitchen.’ And then I thought, naked. And, well, naked.” His cheeks flared to red. “Pretty much, you naked was the only thing on my mind.”
Tipping her head, Molly couldn’t help but smile at the man. “Jonathan MacSweeny, you have seen me naked before and I do mean naked.”
A dark shadow passed over his face and she knew she’d said the wrong thing. Reminding him of their last time seeing one another, before she was sent away at age sixteen, had only opened old wounds. Ones she’d hoped would remain closed. The last time she’d been face to face with Jonathan, he’d carried her trembling, naked form from the livery Gerald had taken advantage of her in. Jonathan had wrapped her in a horse blanket, lifted her gently and cried silent tears as he took her from that horrid place. He’d delivered her to the tender care of her aunt and uncle and that had been it.
Shaking her head, Molly forced the memories from her mind. “Forget I said anything. I just—”
“Why are you marrying that guy?”
“Huh?” she asked, unsure what Jonathan was talking about. “What are you going on about?”
“That guy. The blond marshal?” Jonathan’s golden eyes narrowed, making him look every bit as deadly as she knew he could be. “The outlaws said he was your fiancé. The man even said as much.”
The thought of being engaged to Cole made a laugh tear free from Molly. When Jonathan didn’t join in she tried to stop herself but failed. “I don’t even know how to answer. Let me see to your hand, get dressed, and then we’ll catch up.”
He arched a black brow. “Don’t you want to put some more clothes on before you see to me?”
Was that a suggestive note in his voice? Molly stared up at her handsome friend and found herself smiling yet again. “What is it about you, Jonathan MacSweeny? I get around you and I’m suddenly Susie Sunshine. It’s always been that way and I suspect it always will be.”
Not giving him a chance to answer, Molly wiggled a bit. “You’re right, I should get dressed. Where are my clothes?”
“I laid a dress out for you on the foot of the bed. Didn’t you see it?”
She swallowed hard. “No, well, yes but…I-I, umm...” Nodding, she drew away from Jonathan and put her back to him. “Thank you but I’d rather put my own clothes back on. Not that there’s anything wrong with your wife’s clothing but I’d feel better dressed in my normal wear.”
“Normal wear,” Jonathan mused. “Meaning clothes made for a man? For a job that is for a man too?”
Glancing up at the ceiling, Molly snorted. “Not you too, Jon. I thought you’d be different. I thought you’d understand why I chose the path I did.” She sighed. “Then again, I never thought you’d do it.”
“Do what?”
Get married. “Nothing.”
Jonathan moved in close behind her, pressed his body to hers, making cream build between her thighs. As his rock-hard erection dug into her lower back, Molly hissed as though it was she who had been burned. It wasn’t right to desire another woman’s husband. Still, she did. “Jon, please.”
His hands touched her hips and Molly moaned. A manly chuckle escaped him. “Please what, Molls?”
Jonathan slipped his hands under the shirt she wore, allowing skin-to-skin contact to be made. Fire shot through her as his long fingers inched their way under her thong. His breathing was ragged. As was hers.
“Jon. We can’t do this.”
“Why?”
“Because,” she said, trying to step forward but he pulled her back at him. He yanked hard and ripped her thong from her body. She gasped. “No.”
“You don’t want me?” he asked, pressing his lips to her ear as he ground his hips against her bare bottom. “I can smell your desire.” He inched his hands lower. “You’re wet with it.”
She was but that wasn’t the point. “Jonathan, we can’t do this.”
“We’re just standing here. That’s all.”
Yeah right.
Her pussy ached to be touched by him, to know the wonder that a MacSweeny could surely provide. There wasn’t a time in her life that she could recall not wanting Jonathan. Having him so close while she was so aroused was dangerous. Willpower and Jonathan were not things her mind registered as being synonymous. No. If he told her he wanted to fuck her, she’d gladly receive him, consequences be damned.
He cupped her ass cheek and squeezed gently. A growl tore free from his throat. “Molls, I can smell how much you want me in you. I want to be there.” He slipped his fingers between the crack of her ass. “And here.” Sliding them down, he found her wet slit and boldly thrust a finger into her cunt.
Molly’s body fought back, clenching down on his finger as she drew in a sharp breath. “Jonathan!”
“So tight.” He thrust his finger in farther. “Why, Molls? Why give this to another man?”
She couldn’t think, couldn’t concentrate. Jonathan’s touch drove her mad with need and she found herself rocking against his hand, riding the pleasure when she should have been running the other way.
“Tell me why you agreed to marry another, Molls. Tell me.”
“Jon, please,” she murmured, unsure what exactly she was begging for. All Molly did know was her body craved Jonathan and wanted him in her, impaling her with his hard cock.
Jonathan brought her close to orgasm and withdrew his fingers a second before she would have climaxed. Bringing his glistening fingers to his lips, he licked them clean, never once taking his eyes off her.
Chapter Six
Molly swallowed back the lump in her throat and went to embrace him. He shook his head and refused to touch her again. “No, Molly. No more pleasure until you tell me why you agreed to marry another man.”
I didn’t.
The truth was on the tip of her tongue but she held back. “What business is it of yours? You’re a married man. I suppose I could ask the same of you. I could demand to know why you married someone else but I understand it’s none of my business.” She cringed. “God, Jonathan, what just happened shouldn’t have been…”
His gaze narrowed. “Who told you I was married?”
“The grapevine.”
He turned his attention back to the food he’d been preparing and filled two plates. The gruff manner in which he thrust one of the plates at her left Molly backing up. “Eat.”
“I’m fine.”
“I said, eat.”
She let out a laugh but was far from amused. “And I said I was fine.”
“Woman, you’re damn lucky I don’t get a notion to take you over my knee for almost gettin’ yourself killed. Don’t push me on this. Eat.”
Her jaw dropped. “Jonathan MacSweeny, how dare you talk to me like that?”
“I’ll talk to you any way I see fit. Go get dressed. Th
e smell of your quim is making my cock so hard I can barely stand it.”
“Jonathan!”
He took his plate and slammed it down on the table. Eggs and bacon scattered about as he stormed out the back door. Not one to stand around and take being yelled at with a smile on her face, Molly went after him. She rushed out behind him as he headed for a water trough.
“Hot damn!” Eli called out, drawing attention to himself as he stared at her. “You’re naked.”
“I’m not naked.”
Jonathan pointed at his cousin. “Avert your gaze now, if you want to keep your eyes in your head.”
“Jonathan!”
He ignored her and she held back from knocking him on his ass with her magik.
“What the hell do you want?” he asked, his gaze on Eli.
Eli glanced at her and drew his lower lip in. “Mmm, I, umm, want…erm…I forgot.”
“Molly.” Jonathan rounded on her, his golden eyes ablaze. “Go in the house. Now.”
She stood her ground. “No man orders me around. Not even you.”
The spark of a challenge lit in his eyes and she knew he wasn’t anywhere near done trying to issue commands. His nostrils flared as he pointed at the house. “You have two seconds to get that tight twat back into that house before I fuck it. Now go!”
Eli’s eyes widened. “Did he just say twat?”
Molly glared at Jonathan before taking hold of his white shirt and pulling it over her head. She threw it at him and turned in a slow circle. “Last time I checked, I wasn’t wearing your stamp brand so stop treating me like you treat cattle.”
There was a loud thump and a groan. Molly glanced at Eli’s horse. It was missing something vital—Eli. He stood slowly, his gaze fixed on her as he dusted off his rear. “Sweet Mother of All That is Sacred, woman you are…you’re…damn.”
Jonathan growled and rushed her. He had her up and over his shoulder before she could even blink. He delivered one hard slap to her ass cheek, leaving a stinging burst of pleasure moving through her lower region. He did it again, this time varying the spot a bit.
“Jon! Ouch.”
The second he pressed his lips to her bare butt cheek, Molly gasped. Jonathan growled, the sound so very much like a shifter that Molly couldn’t stop the shiver of fear as it shimmied through her.
“Don’t be afraid of me, Molly. Don’t ever be afraid of me. I may be madder than a badger in a trap about you running around in the buck but I’d never harm you.” He slipped his hand between her thighs and slid a finger into her pussy. “I will punish you in other ways. Ways that’ll leave you beggin’ for me to let you come.”
She slapped his muscular back and instantly regretted it as additional cream flooded her hot channel. “Put me down!”
“No.”
“Jonathan.”
He ignored her and stormed back toward the house. Molly grunted and threw her weight enough to make Jonathan lose his hold on her. She fell free of his grasp and darted away from him. He was hot on her trail in seconds, snaking an arm around her waist and jerking her against his body. Molly shoved back as hard as she could, knocking Jonathan off his feet. As he fell, he took her with him.
Cold water greeted Molly and Jonathan kept hold of her. Shocked, she drew in a mouthful of the water. It took a moment to realize they’d fallen into the water trough. Unable to help herself, Molly burst into laughter as she turned in his arms. He was soaked, his dark hair lying in his face as his head came up and out of the water.
Molly laughed harder and he gave her another swat on the backside.
“Think this is funny, do ya?”
“I do.” She grinned and wiggled on him, keeping the front of her nearly nude body pressed to his. “Very funny indeed.”
His gaze went to her lips and she bent, feeling the need to kiss him.
Eli approached, doing his best to walk without looking in her direction. It wasn’t working very well for him. He held the discarded white shirt in his hand. “Molly, I know Jon’s being a fool but could you maybe think of getting dressed. I’d like to be able to look up sometime today and I need to speak with ya.”
She glanced down at Jonathan and dipped her head quickly, stealing a kiss even though she knew better than to do it. Putting her hand out, she remained still until Eli placed the shirt in her palm. She stood slowly then, letting the water stream off her naked body. Pure animal lust shone in Jonathan’s eyes as he stared up at her.
“Yer playing a dangerous game, woman,” he warned.
She held the shirt to her chest, knowing it did little to cover her. “Funny, I’d think the man doing all the starin’ now might be the one playing the dangerous game since he’s married and all.”
“Who’s married?” Eli asked, his back now turned to her.
With a question on her brow, she stared down at Jonathan, waiting for him to speak up. When he merely grinned mischievously, elation swelled in her. “The grapevine was wrong?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, water glistening on his bare chest. “The grapevine was most certainly wrong.”
“If you’re fixin’ to have at it, could you maybe wait until I’m gone?” Eli asked, holding his hat in a death grip in front of him. “And I should prolly speak up and be the voice of reason here. While Jonathan may be a bachelor and unmarried, Molly you’re promised to another. There.” He gave a curt nod. “I said my piece on the matter.”
Molly let out a slow breath and extended her hand to Jonathan. “Breakfast is getting cold.”
He shot a knowing look at his cousin and the next thing she knew, Molly was lying flat on him, his hands kneading her ass cheeks. His lips met her neck, making her breath catch. He sucked gently, nibbling on the tender flesh. “Mmm, woman, I have missed you something fierce.”
She smiled in spite of herself, her hands going to his scruffy jawline. “You’re all wet, MacSweeny.”
Fire lit in his eyes. “So—” He squeezed her ass cheeks again. “—are you.”
“Eli is watching us,” she reminded him.
With a shrug, he drew in a deep breath, his eyelids fluttering. “You wear my scent still.”
Still?
She stiffened. “Jon?”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss. When he ended it, she nearly begged for more but held back. Jonathan stood with ease, lifting her with him. A true show of just how powerful the man was. He kept her pulled against him, using his body to shield hers as best he could.
“Cousin,” he said. “Give us just a bit, would ya?”
“This really can’t wait, Jonathan,” said Eli, still facing the other direction.
“Molly?” Cole’s voice boomed around them. “Where the hell is she?”
Jonathan squeezed her to the point she thought she might pop.
Cole stormed up near Eli and stopped, his gaze whipping to her and Jonathan. His eyes widened. “Molly?”
Knowing Cole would ask more questions than she was willing to answer at the moment, she put her hand out, hoping to minimize them. “Your jacket, please.”
He shimmied out of it quickly and tossed it to her. She caught it with one hand and Jonathan kept her close, continuing to glare at Cole. She slipped on the jacket and attempted to step away from Jonathan. He had other plans.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded of Cole.
With a sly smile, Cole tipped his hat. “I’m here to gather my fiancée. Kindly take your shifter fucking hands off her and we’ll be on our way.”
Eli reacted quickly, putting his body directly in the path of Cole just in time to stop Jonathan from being able to get to him as he charged forward. Molly rushed him and tugged on his large forearm, pulling with all her might. “Jon, stop.”
“Ah, the legendary Jonathan MacSweeny in the flesh,” Cole said sardonically. “I’ve heard so much about you. Too bad I’m underwhelmed with the reality.”
“Cole,” she scolded. “Enough.”
Cole’s gaze narrowed on Eli. “You t
ell her yet?”
“Tell me what?” she asked, still tugging on Jonathan. It was a lot like trying to move an iceberg with her pinky finger. So not going to happen.
Eli hung his head in shame. “No. I was fixin’ to but well, yeah.”
“Tell me what, people?”
Cole grunted. “That runner escaped. His band of outlaws helped him and, Molly, the reward on your head doubled.”
Jonathan snarled and tossed his hands into the air. Claws emerged from his fingertips. “No one is fucking touching her. Not now. Not ever again.”
His resolve and fierce need to protect her warmed her heart. She eased her arms around his waist and hugged him from behind. “Jon, please. I’m fine. I’ll hunt him down. He won’t get far.”
Spinning, he grabbed her shoulders, exercising extreme caution. “Woman, are you mad?”
“Yes,” Cole answered for her frankly. “Totally and completely. That’s beside the point. We’ve got another problem. Gerald Wilson is trying to bring charges of fraud against your father because he figured out Lynn wasn’t you during the whole brouhaha. Man said he was going to petition the law the county over to retrieve you from the Sheriff here.” Cole touched his sidearm. “I will put a bullet in that man’s forehead if he even looks at you. Know that now.”
Jonathan listened to the resolve in the marshal’s voice and knew the man meant what he said. He wanted Gerald dead almost as much as Jonathan did. A piece of him wanted to like Cole, if for no other reason than his desire to rid the world of dickheads, but the fact he was engaged to Molly negated all else. “Gerald isn’t takin’ her from me. No one is,” he said, almost daring Cole to contradict him.
“Is that so?” Cole asked.
Molly touched Jonathan’s chest lightly, having an instantaneous calming effect on him. “Jon, Cole, no fighting please. I have enough violence in my life as it is. I don’t need the people I love doing it too.”
She loves me?
Jonathan swayed and then stiffened, standing upright. Jealousy flared as he realized her comment implied she loved Cole as well. No mate of his was going to be with anyone but him.
Mate?
Blaze of Glory Page 4