by Honey Jans
Cyn blushed. She didn't particularly want to talk. He wanted to know things she didn't like to talk about. Like her fucked up family dynamics. Nevertheless, she took his hand, and let him waltz her back into the bedroom. Gazing at the rumpled bed, she ached to be back in it with him. Things were so simple when they let their bodies do the communicating.
"Have a seat and I'll get your supper,” she said, and smiled when he moved to comply without another word. He couldn't question her with his mouth full. She turned to see him sitting on the bed, sprawled naked against the headboard like a male centerfold. She'd love to paint him that way, she decided, walking over to put the tray on his lap. She watched him lift the lid, heard his stomach growl. “You really are starved."
"I worked nonstop, and didn't have time to eat."
"That's not good for you. If you wear yourself out, you'll be no use to your father."
He looked up at her, and gave her a concerned, half smile. “Ditto."
The barb hit home. She'd been running herself ragged, and they were still losing money. At the rate she was going, she didn't know which would be depleted first, the ranch, or her. “Try my chicken then. At least it never killed anybody."
He patted the spot next to him. “Join me."
"Trust me, I wouldn't poison you,” she teased, but eagerly climbed into bed next to him, and nibbled a drumstick. She snuggled as close as she could, shivering with delight when the curve of her hip pressed his, and the side of her breast brushed his arm.
"Not even after what Dwain Hawkins did to you?” Jake teased. “He works for Randal Industries after all."
The reminder made her frown. Jake might be a dreamboat, but he did employ a creep, or at least his father had. “I might consider slipping him a laxative, but not you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Jake chuckled, and bit into the chicken.
Now that she'd told him about Dwain's behavior, would Jake take steps to stop him? She knew for a fact hers wasn't the only ranch he was using dirty tricks to get. She'd hesitated to tell her father about her concerns, not wanting to bother him. After all what could he do behind bars? Now she might have to enlist her dad's support on his next visitor's day. Cordial rarely went there so there was little chance of running into her.
Jake dug into the food with gusto. “This is as good as it smells. Thanks for feeding me."
"You're welcome.” She glowed, gratified to watch Jake polish off the rest of the chicken. He split a biscuit topped it with butter and honey, and lifted the morsel to her lips. She smiled, nibbling at the sweet treat, touched, and thrilled by the gesture as he hand fed her. “Yum,” she said, licking honey off her lip.
"Allow me.” He leaned forward to sensually lick the honey off her lips.
She trembled, as his tongue swept over the sweet spot and then he slowly kissed her.
He broke the kiss, murmuring, “You are just as sweet as you look.” Sobering, he said, “We need to talk, Cyn,” and watched her frown.
"About what?"
"The mess you're in. Tell me about Cordial, the ranch, and what Hawkins did to you.” He watched her frown deepen. “Tell me about the letters."
"I really don't want to talk about them.” Cyn said, then sighed.
"If it's coming from one of my people, I need to know."
Cyn sighed, and backed down. “I suppose you're right. Although, I can't say for sure who's sending them. They're anonymous, like I suppose all poison pen letters are, and obscene, talking about his giant cock, and intellect. Saying he's going to tame me. Some of them have scrawled notes on the back, in lipstick, telling me to run. I think maybe he's got a split personality or something."
"Did you report this to the police?"
"I didn't want to bother them with his lunatic ravings. The man is harmless, just annoying. He's never actually made good on any of his threats, and by the way rumor has it, I'm not the only one getting them."
"I'll kill the bastard."
She smiled. “Don't bother, he isn't worth the effort. As you surmised, things are bad. My father's in prison and my stepmother is being a royal pain, especially since we have to economize. She'd love to sell off and move to greener pastures. All I'm trying to do is hold the ranch together until my dad gets out, three months from now. As for Hawkins, he can go piss up a rope, because I'm not about to sell the ranch."
"How long has your family owned it?"
"Generations. My great-great-grandfather founded the ranch."
"It's nice to have roots, I suppose.” He was disturbed by the thought of walking away from his family all those years ago. He should have come back more often. Of course, he and his father had butted heads, and he'd had to grow up, establish himself. Now that he'd come home, he intended to make up for lost time, put down roots, mend some fences.
"You don't have any,” she said, looking at him and then blushed. “Oh excuse me, I didn't mean to..."
"Don't worry about it. It used to be true. But now I'm back, for keeps."
"You are?” she asked, nibbling her lip.
Was she worried she was going to be stuck with him? He didn't like the thought. “You don't have to worry about Dwain Hawkins anymore. I plan to fire him as soon as I gather enough incriminating evidence against him and turn him over to the law."
Her eyes widened. “So he is doing something criminal?"
"He's formed a land management company called North Star. He's gobbling up the property for himself, cheating the sellers and my father, and will probably skip town. I had a hell of a time convincing my father to let me play this out. He can't reconcile himself to the possibility he was conned. I'm trying to trick Hawkins into revealing his accomplices, whoever's backing his operation."
"Your father didn't take it well after all."
"No.” He admired her sympathy for his dad, who'd tried to steamroll her, and loved her heart. Most women wouldn't be that generous. “His pride is hurt more than anything, but he's a pragmatist. Eventually he came around. One trait we share is that we don't like to be cheated."
She smiled, leaning into Jake. “Thank you, thank you for taking care of Hawkins. It gives me one less battle to fight."
"I could help you..."
She pressed a hand to his mouth. “No, I can't allow that. I didn't sleep with you for that reason."
Jake nibbled her palm, making her gasp, stopping her protest. He'd act in her best interests whether she liked it or not.
Chapter 8
Cyn woke early the next morning, snuggled up to Jake's hunky body. His hand cupped her breast, making the nipple bead against his warm palm. His hot, steely erection pressed into her bottom. It wasn't just an erotic dream; we've actually made love, repeatedly. The thought made her smile. She pressed back against him, humming with pleasure as his cock slipped between the globes of her bottom, growing harder against her. He was going to open her there; she could hardly wait for him to take her ass.
Smiling, she glanced at the window, and gasped when she saw the sunrise. Good gravy, she hadn't intended to stay the night. Jake's cover was sure to be blown if she exposed him to more scrutiny. After last night, she fully understood his need for secrecy, and it was actually in her best interest to play along. If she made their affair public, Cordial would come nosing around. And the woman had spies, she knew at least one of the hands reported back to her. If one of them saw her leaving Jake's bungalow at this hour of the morning, it would be all over the ranch by noon. She simply couldn't risk it. And a selfish part of her wanted to keep him all to herself for a little bit longer. The minute his return was noted, Jake would be hit on by anything in skirts.
She glanced at the clock, and relaxed back against him when she saw it was only five thirty. Easing back against his sexy, hard body, she let out a pleasurable murmur. The lazy hands weren't up yet, and Pedro wouldn't be here for at least half an hour. There was time enough to linger, to revel in their newfound intimacy. Time enough to snuggle, before she had to sneak back to her place, an
d pretend she hadn't spent a lusty night in a guest's bed. She wiggled her ass against Jake's tantalizing morning erection, tempted to jump his bones while he was dozing, and let out a hiss of pleasure when his hot cock brushed against her sensitized mound. She did it again, and again, dry humping him, as he grew harder and bigger. The man had the most amazing cock. He let out a growl, his hand tightening on her breast.
Cyn bit back a moan, freezing as he roused, starting to wake, her nipple jutting out against his palm, her stiff clit tingling against his hot cock. She shouldn't start anything she didn't have time to finish. Sanity returning, she flicked another regretful glance at the clock. It was time to leave before she woke him up, it would be easier that way. With a sigh of regret, she pulled back the covers, and prepared to flee. Jake's hand tightened on her breast, holding her fast.
"Where do you think you're going, sugar?"
Oh lord, he was awake, but for how long? Was he aware she'd been humping him? She prayed not, even as she thrilled to his sexy bedroom rumble. Sighing, she couldn't resist pressing her bottom a little tighter against his throbbing cock, gasping when he angled it to press directly against her clit. Jake growled and teased the jutting nub repeatedly with slight flicks of his hips.
"Sugar, any time you want me to pleasure you, all you have to do is ask,” he said, pinching her nipple.
Cyn whimpered, her nipple aching, her body tightening inside, her wet sex throbbing as her clit rested against his hot cock. The heat of him against her needy sex made her melt where she lay, turning to putty in his capable hands. “I have to get up, shower, and dress for the workday,” she complained halfheartedly. “Otherwise..."
"The others will know we've been together,” he finished grimly. “You ashamed of me, sugar?"
She heard the hurt behind his gruffness and placed her hand over his big one that still cupped her breast to keep it in place. “It's not that. It's just that what we've shared is so special. I don't want to let the world intrude just yet. And you're trying to go undercover. If I get caught in your bed, it's going to start all kinds of speculation about you. You said it yourself; you need to catch Hawkins, before we go public.” She relaxed when she felt his rigid body calm down, and he thrust his erection against her, teasing her to madness.
"What am I going to do with you?” he said, pinching her nipple again.
Cyn moaned at the pleasure, and cried out, arching back against him. She gasped with delight when he entered her from behind, thrusting home in one swift motion. “I've got a few ideas,” she said, her heart skipping a beat as his cock surged, hard and huge, inside her, filling her needy sex completely.
"Good.” He pulled out, and slammed back inside her, his hand tightening on her breast, as he thrust into her hard, again and again.
Cyn sobbed with pleasure as she met his thrusts, completely under his spell. He was all she wanted or would ever need. She knew it as he mastered her completely.
"Just remember that you're mine,” Jake said, pulling out to surge back into her.
"I'm yours,” she gasped, crying out with ecstasy as his cock filled her. Her body tightened, her sex rippling, and she came, crying out his name.
Jake shuddered, surging back into her and coming with a growl high and hard inside her, he held her tight.
Cyn's racing heartbeat gradually slowed in tandem with Jake's, as he whispered soothing sounds, sweet nothings into her ear. His big hand slicked over her shoulder to graze the side of her breast and skim over her hip, bringing fire in its wake. Hell, she didn't want to go, instead, she wanted to turn around and taste every luscious square inch of him. When he finally let go, easing away from her, she felt the pang of separation deep inside. A part of her didn't want this idyll to end, ever.
He gave her a light swat on the bottom. “Go, or I won't be able to keep my hands off you. And for the record, it doesn't matter if my cover will be blown, but I won't ruin your reputation."
Cyn got out of bed, and turned, sweeping a fond gaze over the hunky male length of his magnificent body, wondering if a little scandal would be so bad. Jake looked sleep-rumpled, irritated with her, and slightly dangerous with his stubble and sexy bedroom eyes. The masterful, predatory look in his topaz eyes made her toes curl in the thick carpet. He was certainly scrumptious. She hadn't meant to infer that she was ashamed of him, or the fact they'd lain together, but he seemed to be taking it that way. She'd have to deal with his bruised ego later, that is, if there was a later for them.
Deliberately breaking their awkward morning-after eye contact, she turned to gather her scattered clothes, all the while conscious of his brooding gaze on her. Good grief, he'd strewn them from the pulled-out chair, where he'd taken her over his knee, to the bed. She approached the chair, her knees going weak as she looked at the innocent looking piece of furniture. She'd never get over the shocking delight of being spanked by Jake Randal. Her face heated with embarrassment as she picked up her dress and bra.
Clutching the garments in her hands, she cast a furtive glance at the bathroom door. She could duck inside to dress, but she knew that would be the chicken's way out. Jake was watching her, his gaze feeling like a physical caress. Instead, she laid the clothes on the chair, and turned to smile at him. The hint of a smile curving his hard mouth told her that her boldness pleased him. She slipped on her panties, arching her bottom out to tease him, and was pleased to hear his breath go out in a gasp. Smiling, she patted the panties into place, and reached for her bra. She slipped it on, leaning forward to push up her breasts, running her hands over the sensitized curves. She shimmied into her dress, turned her back on him, and gave him a teasing look over her shoulder. “Want to button me up?"
She bit her lip as she listened to Jake track over to her. God, the man moved like a sleek jungle cat or a street fighter. She shivered down to her toes as his hands closed over her shoulders. He tightened them a moment, and she leaned back against him, with a pleasured gasp. He reached around her to do up her buttons; his hands sliding up her body to cup her breasts. His fingertips fanned over her nipples making her gasp.
"Don't tease me, sugar, unless you want to go over my knee, and then back into my bed all day."
The rasped words shocked and pleased her. The seduction was a two-way street; at least she knew he wanted her. “Sorry, sir,” she teased. “You'll just have to paddle me for it later."
"Don't tempt me, bad girl,” he said, as he fastened her last button.
She picked up her sandals, and turned to meet his masterful gaze. “What are you going to do today?” she asked, hoping she wasn't sounding desperate. She'd die if he up and moved out.
"I'm going into the office later. I've got some research to do, and I have to set up operations for Scion."
"Oh yeah, where at?"
"I've leased office space in the Branded building."
"Oh gosh, you mean where your friend's sex shop is?” she asked, shocked.
"Want me to pick you up a present?” he asked, smiling.
"Another book would be nice,” she said, reaching for the novel she'd lent him.
"Leave it, sugar. Like I said, I need to do research.” He smiled. “We don't want to run out of material."
"Somehow, I don't think that's going to be a problem with you."
"Nice to know I meet your expectations,” he said, his sultry gaze lingering on her face.
She wasn't sure if he was teasing her or not. “You've been absolutely perfect, Jake."
* * * *
Jake watched Cyn go, when he really itched to pull her back into bed. She was like a fire in his blood. He wanted everything from her, but he'd settle for breakfast. He washed up, dressed, and rolled out for chores twenty minutes later, fully intending to stake his claim, and make sure Cyn didn't wear herself out with work at the same time.
Jake approached Pedro. He noticed two other hands, one older and grizzled, the other young, blond, and lazing around, joking.
"Well, Mr. Smith, I'm surprised to see you up an
d about at this hour,” Pedro said with a grin. “Is there something I can get for you, hombre?"
Jake met the older man's steady brown eyes. He was protective of Cyn, which was good. “Cyn told me that if I worked, I'd get breakfast. Any objection?"
"Cyn, huh?” He went back to the tack. “Not as long as Miss Cynthia Jean's okay with it. Any trouble and I'll bounce your ass out of here, I don't care who you are."
Jake nodded, watching the flare in the older man's eyes. The man was sharp, had already figured out who he was. “Fine by me."
"You could go feed the goats; they're bleating their asses off, and then muck out the stalls.” Pedro turned to scowl at the lingering young blond cowboy. “If you don't have anything to do, Chance, I'll find you something."
Chance froze, and speared them with annoyance. “No, sir, Mr. Orlando, I was just going."
"Sorry I'm late,” Cyn said, walking into the barn.
Jake's cock twitched as her sultry voice washed over him, reviving his morning hard-on. Cyn froze in her tracks when she caught sight of him and blushed. He watched the blush go down her face and followed it to the V of her t-shirt, recalling that she blushed all over. He smiled. “You promised me breakfast if I worked."
"So I did,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “You help with morning chores, and I'll go organize breakfast. I hope you like it hot."
"You know I do. The hotter the better, sugar.” His eyes glued to her sultry sway as she hurried back to the bunkhouse.
* * * *
Half an hour later, Cyn handed Jake a platter of huevos rancheros she'd liberally loaded with peppers, and gasped when his fingertips brushed her wrist. Jake's sultry look was enough to make her knees weak, darn the man. She'd wanted to avoid making their affair public knowledge, at least for now. She was acutely aware of the curious stares of the ranch hands sitting at the other end of the table watching this tableau, but she couldn't seem to control herself.
Jake kicked out a chair. “Sit down, sugar."
"Yeah, CJ, take a load off,” Pedro said.