by Tina Donahue
At last, he sighed loudly. “Yeah, he helped a lot of people, but not my mother. He was white, one of those do-gooders who’s going to save the world. That’s how they met. He’d helped my mother get a job in Phoenix. His foundation was going to send her to college, get her started on the proverbial American Dream. For my mother, it didn’t include his offer to divorce his wife and leave his kids so he could marry her when she became pregnant with me. When I located him years later and told him I was his son, I swear he looked at me with more derision than my stepfather ever had. Until that moment, I didn’t think such a thing was possible.”
Although his expression and tone were neutral, as though he were testifying in court rather than speaking of a painful past, Lea still heard his lingering hurt. “I’m so sorry.”
Jake shook his head, sending his hair tumbling back over his forehead. “No need to be. I did all right. An athletic scholarship got me away from my stepfather and put me through college.”
“Your mom must have been very proud.”
He smiled.
It was so unexpected and innocent, Lea knew she’d never forget it or him.
“Yeah, she was,” he said, then cleared his throat. “Bragged about me so much, her friends and relatives started avoiding her.”
“She never left the reservation?”
He capped the jar of pickles, pushing it aside. “When I was first hired by the service, I offered to buy her a house wherever she wanted, but she told me not to worry about her. She was okay.”
The haunted look on his face told Lea otherwise. “Did your stepfather hurt—”
“Oh shit no.” Jake’s fingers tightened into fists. “If he had, he knew I would have torn him apart with my bare hands. The SOB never touched her. She got sick…she was already sick when I offered to give her whatever she wanted.” He paused to swallow. “The oncologist gave her a year. She lasted four months.”
Oh God. Lea slipped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him into her. “I am so very sorry,” she whispered, her mouth to his ear. “I wish it could have been different for you and her.”
He inhaled deeply and spoke on a sigh, “It’s okay, Lea. It happened years ago.”
But he still missed her, she heard it in his words, saw it in his eyes. The little boy in Jake yearned for his mother as much as Toby still did for his…as much as Lea had all those years in foster care. They were three of a kind. Solitary, lonely people who’d never had a real home or the kind of family they needed.
Snuggling close, she pressed her face against Jake’s neck, comforted and thrilled by his scent. Along with his cologne, he now smelled of her.
“Hey.” He wound his arms around her torso, his palms flattened against her back. “You okay?”
She wanted to be, but what she faced in the coming days without him and Toby kept bearing down on her. Desperate to push it away, to bury it beneath pleasure, she whispered, “Hungry.”
To show him how much, Lea pressed her lips to his throat, her tongue stroking the bristles of his beginning beard.
Jake’s hands paused in their stroking.
“No, don’t stop,” she murmured. “Don’t hold back. Do whatever you want with me.”
Chapter Seven
Lea’s wanton invitation, the way she cuddled close, her warm, fragrant body made Jake greedy for everything she could give.
On a faint growl, he drove his fingers through her hair, using it to tilt her face to his so he could look at her. Her eyes remained closed in expectation of his kiss. Her bottom lip was puffy from his previous passion, her cheeks reddened from his stubble, warning him to take it easy with her.
Her remembered words contradicted his concern, telling him to do whatever he wanted.
Had any woman in his past offered as much? Had any of them trusted him so completely?
For that alone, Jake was determined to be gentle, worthy of her faith in him. He brushed his mouth over hers, smelling beer on her breath. It would be a long time before that scent failed to return memories of this night…her nudity, her willingness to give him everything he desired.
Inhaling deeply at his touch, Lea parted her lips.
With great care, Jake ran his tongue over her heated, moist flesh, tasting a bit of the cheddar cheese she’d eaten. She’d taken so little of the food when he’d wanted her to have it all.
Drawing his tongue into her mouth, she pursed her lips around it and suckled. Not too fast. Not too slow. Just right. As though she’d always known what he required.
Without meaning to, Jake moaned, his fingers tightening on her scalp, his free arm crushing her body to his, his tongue going as deep as it could.
She accepted each of his actions with lusty whimpers, telling him she hungered for more.
His restraint crumbled. Kissing her more savagely than he’d intended, Jake still couldn’t get enough. He feared he’d never be satisfied unless he reached into her mind, heart and soul, becoming such an intimate part of her she’d never be able to forget him. At least until too many days, months and years had passed with her living in some distant state and city, taken from him so the service could protect her from Cubrero.
At the thought, Jake increased his hold on her.
She offered no protest, instead coaxing more of his tongue inside, her hands clasping his face, biceps and back. Her response wicked and wild.
So completely Lea. Or was it SiNN?
What did it matter? For the moment, she was his.
Groaning harshly, Jake ended their kiss, knowing exactly what he had to do now. He wrapped his fingers around Lea’s wrists, using his hold on her and his body to push her to the floor.
A sexy smile curled her lips. “What now?”
In answer, Jake held her wrists above her head in one hand and used his other to explore her breasts. Her nipples peaked instantly beneath his rough touch, the tips poking his palm as he squeezed her as hard as he dared.
Arching her back, Lea murmured, “More.”
Who was he to refuse her? What man could?
Without expecting to, Jake thought of Toby. How he continued to deny himself and Lea when he should be in here, giving her everything she wanted and surely needed tonight. Her father’s choices had fucked Lea before she’d known what life and family were all about and now the world she’d built for herself was no more, while her future would consist of always looking over her shoulder, always wondering.
Is that Cubrero? Is that? Will he find me today? Will he use a gun or a knife or his bare hands to kill me?
The SOB would never give up. He’d continue to stalk her as predictably as every other psychopath did with his prey.
“More,” she urged.
Brought back to the moment…to her…Jake flicked his thumb over her nipple and squeezed her breast without restraint.
The way Lea gulped air told Jake how much she liked his uncivil play. When she managed a moan, Jake kissed her once more, thrusting his tongue deeply inside. The moment he ended their kiss, she made a noise of disapproval.
He paid her no heed. There was simply too much he longed to do to be satisfied with mere necking.
Releasing her wrists, Jake pushed up until he was sitting on his heels. “Scoot over to the left.”
She opened one eye. “Your left or mine?”
Given that her left meant running into the sofa, Jake arched one brow at her sass. “Just do it.”
With the grace she’d shown as SiNN, Lea eased her body in the direction he wanted and toward the cocktail table.
Jake shoved it farther away, not caring how its legs scraped over the hardwood floor and made the beer bottles rattle. Could be the noise would bring Toby in here where he also belonged.
Not waiting to see whether that would happen, Jake directed Lea into the center of the space he’d created. “Comfortable?” he asked.
She adjusted her ass and shoulders. “It’s a little hard.”
“But not hard enough for you, huh?” he shot back.
; Her attention dropped to his cock, already erect and greedy for more. “We’ll see.”
Jake liked her breathy tone, the distraction he saw on her face as she regarded his sex.
Unwilling to make Lea wait for it or to police himself, Jake turned his back to her, then straddled her body. Looking over his shoulder, he caught her surprise and pleasure.
“Come here,” she purred, settling her hands on the backs of his thighs, sliding her fingers over his ass, separating his cheeks.
That part of his body was so sensitive, so unused to a woman’s hand, Jake could barely stand it. A deep groan rumbled in his throat.
“You like?” she asked.
It took all of Jake’s will not to shiver at the sensations racing through him. “Oh yeah.”
“Good.” With one hand she explored the groove between his cheeks, heading for his anus while her other cupped his balls and stroked his rod.
He shivered in satisfaction.
“Back up a little more,” she ordered, directing him closer to her mouth.
He did as she asked, then propped his weight on his elbows and wrapped his arms around her thighs, keeping them parted. Her musky fragrance wafted up, quickening his pulse. It was no match for her tongue licking his cock.
Jake jerked in response.
It didn’t stop her. Oh no. More than encouraged, Lea tongued his crown and fondled his balls.
Holy mother fuck. His scalp tingled, followed by a wave of warmth that reached every part of his body and made his head too damn heavy to keep up. He lowered it between his shoulders and caught another whiff of Lea’s scent. Earthy with the fragrance of sex, light and sweet from the melon perfume she wore.
Both called to the male within Jake, as did her cunt.
He marveled at her bare skin, so sleek and smooth, the absence of hair showing him all of her contours, every hidden area…the gentle curve of her vulva, her dark pink vaginal lips plump with pleasure, her opening dewy and inviting.
Before he could look his fill, Lea eased his cock into her mouth.
Jake clenched his jaw to stop from bellowing at the intense heat, the indescribable feelings she’d generated.
Unaware or indifferent to how she was tormenting him, Lea gripped his ass, bringing Jake closer until she’d contained his full length within her mouth, just as she had earlier. When there wasn’t any more for Lea to take, she drew her tongue up the side of his rod.
He tried to swallow, but could not. Breathing was an activity he’d probably have to relearn. His cock was so fucking hard his skin burned, his body demanding release…when he hadn’t come close to satisfying Lea.
Hell, he hadn’t yet touched or licked her.
What is the matter with you?
He knew better. And he would prove it with Lea. She wasn’t a woman he’d ever use or one he’d leave wanting. By God, if it killed him, he’d do right by her.
With the same measure of will it had taken Jake to survive his stepfather’s abuse, he put all of his energy into Lea’s pleasure rather than his own. Bringing his mouth to her deliciously naked cunt, he flicked his tongue over her clit.
Her lips went slack around his cock.
That’s it, baby, let me take care of you. He was going to show Lea how much discipline he possessed, how badly he wanted her.
With slow, measured licks, he teased her nub, measuring his success by her inattention to him. At one point, her mouth relaxed so much he could have easily pulled his rod from her—if not for her nails digging into his ass. The more Jake aroused Lea, the deeper she pressed. He suspected she’d already drawn blood and didn’t fucking care how much he bled. All that mattered to him was driving her crazy with desire, pushing her toward climax.
She fought it, managing to work his cock with her mouth, swirling her tongue around the crown when it was the only part of him still inside her.
His body tensed. He battled the torrent of heat travelling from his groin to his chest. He wanted to come more than he ever had with any other woman, but he ignored his own release and concentrated on hers, licking her slow, then fast, tracing the area around her clit with his tongue, only to touch it once more.
His erratic moves did the trick. Releasing him from her mouth, Lea gasped at her climax, she moaned, then whimpered, a cacophony of sounds telling Jake more than words ever could. He’d given her a moment of joy.
For him, it wasn’t enough. He had to offer more before she left and was alone again. Surrounded by people she didn’t know. Individuals who wouldn’t care or worry about her.
Releasing her thighs, Jake moved quickly before her breathing calmed. Once turned to face her, he settled between her legs.
Twice, Lea tried to open her lids. Twice, she failed. On her third attempt, she managed to part them a crack as Jake brought his cock to her opening, then plunged inside.
Her features recorded the pressure Jake knew she experienced, while the feeling of being so deep within her, held so fucking tight, damn near caused his head to swim. Warning himself not to go too fast, to draw this out and give Lea the fuck of her life, he pumped unhurriedly, his movements deliberately prolonged.
Lea’s brows drew together. Gripping his arm, she dug her nails into his tattoo. “Faster.”
Not a chance. With his free hand, he ran his thumb over her clit.
She heaved in a breath, then huffed it out. “Please,” she begged.
Jake knew what she needed, what they both did, so he ignored her.
Lea’s cheeks darkened with her increasing arousal. She mouthed something so low, he couldn’t hear. Her head thrashed from side to side.
Through it all, he pumped and stroked. Sweat dampened the back of his neck and chest. It was all he could do to maintain his steady pace. But he would. He wanted to see her break first.
Her halting breaths signaled the end.
As she cried out wildly, then softly, Jake pumped faster, his fingers matching the tempo as they tended to her nub. She came harder than she had earlier, her body trembling beneath his, proving the depth of her enjoyment, her cunt pulsing, sucking him deeper.
Only then did Jake allow himself release, growling his joy, lowering himself to his elbows so he wouldn’t collapse on top of her.
For minutes, all he heard was the blood rushing in his ears and their noisy breathing. When Lea’s quieted a bit, Jake looked down, surprised she was already watching him. Her expression was so peaceful, so guileless, he smiled.
She returned it, then yawned.
“Tired?” he murmured, kissing her cheek, moist with perspiration.
Lea wrapped her legs around his hips. “Don’t pull out. Not yet.”
Jake hadn’t intended to. “Hold on.”
“Why—oh.” She inhaled sharply as he rolled them over until she was on top and he was still inside.
“Go on,” he said, caressing her gently. “Sleep.”
“Like this?” She yawned again, her damp lips brushing his skin. “I’m too heavy.”
She was just right, and one day some man would be lucky enough to experience her beauty, warmth and incredible sass. Jake sensed he’d miss her teasing the most. It made him feel special, as though she’d saved her feistiness just for him.
He hugged her gratefully, but it didn’t stop his wave of sorrow or the reality of their situation. Toby was right. He was nuts for doing this.
Not that Jake could stop.
He simply had to have these few days as much as he knew Lea did. Driven to keep the moment light, he teased, “How much do you weigh? One-eighty? Two hundred? Two-ten?”
She’d gone very still on top of him.
Fighting a smile, he murmured, “Come on, give up the goods. I swear I’ll make certain it stays classified.”
Lea muttered something beneath her breath, then said, “Don’t you already know? You did investigate me, right?”
Not her weight or her gutsy nature or her giving heart. Unwilling to tell her that, Jake said, “You weigh practically nothing and you kno
w it. Now be quiet and sleep.” Playfully, he swatted her ass.
“Aw, damn,” she purred, “do that again.”
“Later,” he said, stifling his own yawn, determined to stay awake until she’d drifted off, wanting to give her a feeling of safety and protection.
“Promise?” she asked.
“Only if you keep quiet.”
At last she did, nestling close, her hand over his heart, her lips to his throat. Within minutes, she breathed quietly, finally asleep.
Tightening his hold on her, Jake struggled against his own fatigue, not ready for the evening to end just yet, his mind returning to their earlier pleasure. He smiled at the memory of Lea taking his balls in her mouth, exploring his anus, pleasuring him in ways no other female had. Hell, he was no altar boy and what she’d done surprised him.
Did she know even more carnal moves that he couldn’t imagine? Where had she learned them? What did it matter?
He didn’t care about her past. His thoughts drifted to the future…hopeless territory.
Jake imagined them back in Phoenix in an apartment drenched with sunlight, all the blinds opened because they had nothing to fear. He pictured Lea standing at the stove frying bacon and making cinnamon rolls, homey stuff except for how she looked. Wondrously nude, her only adornment was the diamond in her navel and the delicate chains she’d sported as SiNN. With each breath, the body jewelry rolled over her flesh, sparkling like glitter dust.
Giving him a smile, she asked, “Hungry?”
In more ways than she imagined.
The kitchen table creaked beneath her weight as Jake sat her on the edge of it, directing Lea to lie back and spread her thighs. She lifted her arms above her head, sending a plate clattering away from her. Utensils fell to the floor.
He burrowed into her snug, damp heat, unable to stop the fury with which he had to take her. No matter how deep he went, how much he pumped, it wasn’t enough. Jake needed more.
They came together as he knew they would. She clung to him throughout, her desire exactly what he’d been searching for all of his life without realizing how lonely he’d been.