But she was growing more optimistic about her plans. She didn’t think she’d have to work too hard at persuading Cal to make love.
CAL’S PULSE WAS RACING.
All he could think about was making love to Jessica. He didn’t intend to let anything stop him today. It was time to take their friendship to another level.
“How are your parents doing?” Jessica asked. “Have they recovered from your accident?”
He looked at her sharply. “You heard them at dinner the other night. They understand.” After a pause, he asked the difficult question. “Do you?”
“I suppose.” She shot him a glance out of the corner of her eye. “You said it was a rare occurrence.”
“It is. Besides, I don’t try to run your business.”
“You told me I wouldn’t have time for marriage and a restaurant.”
He’d forgotten those rash words. “I was trying to encourage you to keep thinking about marriage. You’re the one who seemed to think it was one or the other. Do you still?”
She leaned forward to stroke Red’s neck, then sat back up with a sigh. “I don’t know. I couldn’t manage a lot of restaurants and have a family, but I don’t think I’d want a chain of restaurants again. I could manage one restaurant, as long as my...husband was flexible and helpful.”
“Hmm, a flexible husband. I haven’t heard of that variety,” he teased.
“Me, neither, but I think it’s up to the wife to train him.”
“Train? You make him sound like a puppy.”
She smiled and reached over to touch his arm. “No. But I believe both members of a marriage should communicate their needs and wants. I’m not into martyrdom, like some women.”
“Good. ’Cause if I get married, I want to know what makes my wife happy.” He hoped his plans for the afternoon would make his future wife happy. It was something he’d want to do over and over again.
He grinned at his thoughts, and Jessica raised an eyebrow in question. He shook his head and pressed his heels into Olé’s side for a little more speed. He didn’t want to wait any longer to feel her against him.
He could barely guide his horse, he was so busy watching Jessica. Her rear lovingly molded in her tight jeans, her breasts moving up and down. How he longed to cup them in his hands, feel their fullness. His body stirred even more, making him uncomfortable.
Damn, this ride was longer than he remembered!
Finally, they were approaching the tree they’d played in as children. Its low, wide branches had been perfect for their adventures.
He hoped his plans for today were going to work out. The package Pete had bought for him was in his hip pocket. He’d thought about slipping it into the saddlebags and letting Jessica find it, but he was afraid she’d be too shocked.
But life was too short to put off loving Jessica.
Just as they rode up the rise toward the tree, he heard the rumble of thunder. A quick look at the gathering black clouds told him he’d been preoccupied and hadn’t seen the storm approaching. They were going to have to adjust their plans.
“Jess, we’re going to have to take shelter. Head for the line cabin,” he ordered quickly.
She took a look at the sky and nodded in agreement, urging Red toward the old shack. Cal’s father and the neighboring rancher had built it together thirty years ago, for just such instances as this.
They didn’t make it in time. The rain started pouring down in sheets, and when they reached the cabin they were soaked to the skin. Cal grabbed Red’s reins as Jessica swung out of the saddle.
“Get inside,” he yelled over the noise of the storm. “I’ll take care of the horses.”
There was a shelter behind the cabin for animals. He took both horses there and pulled their saddles off, using the saddle blankets to rub them down. Then he grabbed the saddlebags and dashed for the cabin.
Jessica had been watching for him and swung the door open as he arrived. Inside the cabin, he dropped the saddlebags on the rough-hewn table and shook himself.
“Wow. So much for the sunshine,” he said to Jessica.
She smiled and wiped off a rivulet of rainwater running down the side of his face. “I think we’d better get out of these wet clothes.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I’m all for that.” In spite of his wet clothes and the cold, he heated up again.
“Behave.”
“Okay, at least until I get a fire started. I think the temperature is dropping.”
“Do we have any dry wood?” she asked.
“Yeah, back here,” he said, gesturing to a wood box that had been left full. It was a rule for anyone who used the place.
“Good.”
While he built a fire in the old stone fireplace, Jessica began taking the food out of the saddlebags. “Your mom did pack a lot of food.”
“Good, ’cause we may be here awhile. Is there anything there we can heat up to drink?” His gaze fell on her breasts, almost visible through the wet blouse, and he had difficulty concentrating.
“There are two bottles of water and four cans of soda,” she said, then sneezed.
“I think we’d better do what you suggested earlier,” Cal said, grinning, grateful for her sneeze.
“What was that?”
“Get out of our wet clothes.”
Since that action would only increase the likelihood of what Jessica had planned to pursue, she reached for the buttons of her blouse, all too eager to comply.
“Wait!” Cal said, jumping to his feet. “First let me find those old blankets we keep here.”
Jessica stared at him. After his injury, he hadn’t seemed interested in modesty. Was her seduction of Cal Baxter going to be harder than she’d thought?
She watched him as he found the blankets and shook them out. They were old and rough, but she supposed, if one were cold enough, they would be better than nothing.
He handed her one of the blankets. “I’ll be a gentleman and turn my back,” he said, offering her his place by the fire.
She said nothing, but she took the blanket and moved closer to the fire. Cal turned his back, unbuttoning his shirt as he did so. Jessica made quick work of stripping off her sweater. As she unfastened her jeans, she kept her eyes on Cal, admiring the way his broad back tapered to narrow hips. She wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to admire his physique.
Her jeans sank to the floor as his did, weighted down by the water. But she’d forgotten to remove her boots first, distracted by his unrobing. She hurriedly did so, knowing he was going to turn around quickly.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his back still to her.
“Just a minute,” she said as she discarded the jeans. She’d worn matching peach underwear, which she left on. As she picked up the blanket, she said, “Okay,” knowing he would catch sight of the peach ensemble. She wanted to whet his appetite.
Cal turned around, expecting to see Jessica wrapped in a blanket. Instead, he caught a delicious sight of peach silk barely covering her golden skin. Then the blanket fell into place and he began breathing again.
“Uh, are you hungry?” he asked, his voice husky.
“Sure. Breakfast was early this morning,” she confessed, a pleasant smile on her face, as if it didn’t bother her that they were alone and nearly nude.
Obviously she wasn’t as affected as he. Now he was really grateful for the blanket since it hid his outrageous response to her body. Without it he’d be embarrassed to face her, much less try to eat.
With his blanket held in place with his left hand, he picked up one of the packs of food she’d taken out of the saddlebag.
Jessica followed him to the table. “Are we going to sit here, or by the fire?”
“Which do you prefer? It’s still kind of cold over here,” he said, indicating the table.
“By the fire.” She picked up a can of soda and put it between her arm and her body so she could pick up a second can. “It’s going to take us a while to transfer everything sinc
e we can only use one hand.” As she moved to the fire, her blanket drooped, exposing a soft shoulder and a peach strap.
Cal’s gaze was glued to that shoulder, and he held his breath in case it slipped farther. “Uh, maybe you should just sit down and I’ll bring everything over.”
“Okay,” she agreed, and sank to her knees.
He took his blanket and wrapped it around his waist, tying the corners in a knot. Then he grabbed a bag of chips, as well as the sandwiches, and joined Jessica.
“Aren’t you cold without something on your chest?” Jessica asked. Then she frowned and said, “I see your bruise. You’re right about the discoloration. Does it hurt all over?”
“Nah. Here, Mom made roast beef sandwiches.”
When she reached for the sandwich he offered, her blanket slipped again, revealing a tempting amount of décolletage that left his mouth dry.
“Uh, want some potato chips?” he offered, hoping to distract himself before he completely lost his appetite. He intended to seduce her, but not until after lunch. He felt he should talk to her first, explain why they should share that intimacy.
Convince her with words.
Damn, he hoped he could figure out the right ones.
When the sandwiches had been eaten, or at least part of them, because Jessica didn’t appear to be any hungrier than he was, she asked, “What did your mother send for dessert? I hope it’s some of her oatmeal cookies. They’re my favorite.”
“Sounds like a good guess. Mom likes to make you happy.”
“Your parents are so wonderful, Cal,” Jessica said, a smile on her sexy lips.
He didn’t want to talk about his parents. He wasn’t sure they’d approve of what he intended. Not that he would force Jess. Of course not. But anticipating their wedding vows, particularly wedding vows that were a fantasy, probably wouldn’t have their approval.
He got up and went over to the table for the small box labeled Dessert. A quick look over his shoulder showed Jessica staring at the fire, so he took advantage of her inattention to pull the condoms from his back jeans’ pocket.
Then he frowned. How could he hide them in the blanket? Finally, he shoved the package under the edge of the blanket at his back, and returned to the fire.
Once he got down to the floor again, he looked at the box in his hands. Somehow he didn’t think he could continue to pretend an interest in cookies. He decided to give her a choice.
“Baby, I have something for you. I mean, I have something to tell you.”
“Okay,” she said, her gaze wide.
“When I was hurt...” He trailed off, wondering if he was starting the right way.
“I wanted to talk about that, too,” she hurriedly said.
“You’re not going to try to talk me out of being sheriff again, are you?” he asked, distracted.
“No,” she said slowly. “I realize you’re right. Sheriff is who you are. And...and I like you the way you are.”
Like? That wasn’t what he wanted. But he’d known he had some persuading to do.
She continued. “So, what did you have to tell me?”
“You can go first.”
“Uh, maybe we should eat the cookies first.”
He’d forgotten about the box in his hands. “Okay.” He broke the tape with his thumb. “Mom didn’t want us to open these by accident, did she? Must be really special cookies.”
“Yes.” She watched his every move, as if he’d pull a rabbit out of the box.
Lifting the lid, he brushed back some tissue, then stared.
Jessica leaned forward. “What is it?”
He slid the box behind him. “Uh, nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Just a joke. Mom has a weird sense of humor.”
She leaned closer. “Let me see.”
“No, really, Jess, it’s not—”
She grabbed his arm and tugged.
He wasn’t about to get into a wrestling match with her, particularly not while she was wrapped in a blanket that had trouble staying put when she wasn’t moving.
Surrendering the box, he watched her face. She pulled back the lid and tissue and stared, as he had.
Then she burst out laughing.
“Jess?”
She reached behind her, beneath the edge of the blanket, and pulled out a package of condoms, matching the ones in the box. Her lips trembled as she stared at Cal.
He had no option but to show his own hand. With a grin, he reached behind him and pulled the condoms from his back. “Great minds,” he said.
Jessica stared at the condoms in their hands and in the box. Then she dropped hers, took the blanket edges in her hands, and peeled it from her body. “I think it’s unanimous.”
Chapter Fifteen
Cal’s gaze devoured her beautiful body, clad only in a peach-colored bra and bikini panties. His blanket fell to the wayside, also, as he reached out for her.
“Baby, you are so beautiful,” he whispered, his hands traveling from her slim shoulders to her full breasts, down to her slender waist and settling on her curvaceous hips. He lifted her toward him, eager to feel her against him, flesh to flesh.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she allowed him to touch her where he wanted. Her lips covered his with an eagerness that filled him with desire.
It didn’t take long before he’d removed the two pieces of clothing she still wore. She encouraged him to rid himself of his briefs, too. Then they lay together beside the fire, body to body, mouth to mouth, soul to soul.
Cal couldn’t stop stroking her flesh. She was so soft, so fragile, so delicate. The gardenia scent he always associated with Jessica filled his nostrils, as if he were lying in a bed of flowers. His lips left hers to caress her neck, then her breasts.
“Oh, Cal.” She sighed, her luscious body moving under him. “Oh, I need—”
“Tell me what you need, baby. I want to make you happy,” he muttered before his lips returned to hers. He wanted to make her so happy she couldn’t live without him.
Because he was sure his happiness depended on Jessica.
Jessica had wondered what all the excitement was about sex, after her one experience with it. Now she understood. Understood so much that she could scarcely think. Deep inside, she craved Cal, to consume her, to love her, forever.
When his lips trailed down her body, she reached for him, again, pulling him closer. “Now, Cal. Now.”
“Okay, let me protect you, baby,” Cal whispered, and reached for the multitude of condoms available. For some reason, he wanted to use the ones he’d brought. It was his responsibility. He wanted to protect Jessica.
He ripped open the packet and prepared himself, then returned to Jessica. He couldn’t believe how much she touched him, emotionally even more than physically. His Jessica. It only seemed right that they be one.
When he entered her, he found her tight. Slowly, moving inch by incredible inch, he filled her, using his hands and mouth to distract her from any pain. Slanting his mouth across hers, he used his tongue to recreate the action his body was pursuing. When hers followed his into his mouth, he sucked it deeper.
As her body adjusted to him, he began to move, and she followed, encouraging him with small sounds that teased him, excited him. When he felt her tense beneath him, reaching her peak, he, too, let go, spiraling out of control.
JESSICA LAY AGAINST CAL, sated, content. She loved him so much. She never wanted to leave his side.
Through the years she’d imagined how it would be, loving Cal, but nothing could compare to the reality of Cal’s hard, muscular body against hers, his big arms holding her, making her feel safe and excited at the same time.
His lips, those glorious lips, touching her all over.
She wanted more. Greediness filled her and she reached for him again, her hands tracing his sculptured muscles. Her fingers were drawn to his chest as she covered the bruise he’d sustained in that frightening incident.
Her lips followed her
hands and she felt Cal respond to her temptation. Her smile widened. “You’re so strong.”
“I’m going to be weak afterward but it’ll be worth it.” He paused, a minute later, to choose another condom, before he recreated the excitement for her again.
Later, as they lay in each other’s arms, unable to move, she drifted in her happiness, not thinking at all.
Until Cal asked the one question she didn’t want to answer.
“Why?”
Jessica pulled away from his warmth and looked for one of the blankets to wrap around her. She also kept her face turned from his gaze.
“Why what?”
He sat up, magnificent in his nudity, unconscious of the picture he presented. “Why did you want to make love?”
She stood, tucking the blanket over her breasts. It was ridiculous to be this conscious of her body after she’d allowed him so much freedom with it, but suddenly she felt vulnerable.
He hadn’t wanted to marry her. Still didn’t. So she couldn’t confess her love to him without appearing pitiful in his eyes. Forcing what she hoped was a bright, sophisticated smile on her lips, she said, “I wanted to give you a gift. Because I’m grateful you survived.” She risked a quick glance at him then moved over to the table and opened a second can of soda.
“Besides, you’re a sexy man, Cal Baxter. I’m only human.” And my heart is breaking.
He shrugged his shoulders. “You’re the one with the beauty, baby. You take my breath away.”
But I want your heart! Trying to hide her dismay, she picked up the other soda. “Want a drink?”
“No, thanks.”
The silence seemed to stretch on forever. Finally he stood, picking up his briefs as he did. He stepped into them with no self-consciousness, while she watched.
“It’s still raining. Maybe we’d better hang our clothes next to the fire so they’ll be dry when we head for home,” he suggested.
He moved to the table and picked up the two chairs, putting them in front of the fire, their backs facing it. Then he took her blouse and jeans, hanging them off one chair, and his jeans and shirt on the other.
“You want your undies?” he asked, as if he were offering her a newspaper. Then, holding her panties and bra up, he smiled at her. “They’re good-looking. I wouldn’t want you to lose them.”
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