AintNoAngel

by J L Taft

  He came up behind Jessie and nuzzled her bare neck. She shivered and turned in his arms, looping hers around his shoulders. She was so small compared to him that he felt as if he should be careful of her but he knew she was tougher than she looked. Before he took another breath she stood on her toes and planted her mouth on his. A shock went through his body and he tightened his hold, deepening the kiss.

  When they both came up for air he rested his head on hers, catching his breath.

  “I forgot what I came in here for,” he murmured. She giggled.

  “Oh yeah, I’m going to the house for a drink, you want one?” He couldn’t stop his hands from roaming lower down to cup her ass and pull her up against him. He knew he had to let her go or he was going to bend her over the worktable and take her swift and hard from behind.

  His jeans tightened painfully and she rotated her hips against him, then, reaching up, she licked his neck.

  Gripping her harder, he groaned out, “You tempt me, woman.”

  She laughed. “Maybe I’ll always tempt you.”

  Travis should have known that she would want more. He started to explain that this was all he could offer her but then he stopped. She already knew that this was all he could give her.

  Her brow furrowed and he released her. “Do you want a drink or not?” he asked.

  She looked confused and even a little hurt but he didn’t say anything. “No, thanks,” she mumbled as she turned back to her work.

  Travis was mentally kicking himself as he left the greenhouse. He was making one mistake after another with her.

  Going to the back side of the house, he looked at his phone and then called Ian back quickly.

  “Ian, what’s up?”

  “Travis, Parker was spotted moving your way. He will be there in the next day or so. Did you talk Mrs. Parker into getting out of there?”

  Travis remained silent, his mind whirling with possibilities.

  “Travis?” Ian said and jolted him back to the present.

  “I haven’t talked to her about it yet.”

  “You better get on it, boy.”

  “I know. I’ll do my best and I’ll call you when I can.”

  “Wait, there is one more thing.” Travis could hear the hesitation on the other side. “There is some new evidence on the Marsh case. Apparently the skin samples from under her nails that were lost have turned up.”

  “All right, thanks.”

  Travis disconnected and sat heavily on the steps of the back porch. He was so close to laying it all to rest. All he had to do now was get Jessie out of here and then wait for Cyrus Parker to show his ugly face.

  Going to the kitchen, he smiled at Betty, who was busy cooking. Grabbing two lemonades from her, he went to smooth things over between Jessie and him.

  * * * * *

  Jessie used more force than necessary to pat the dirt down around her freshly transplanted seedlings. Damn him and his mood swings anyway. She had too much on her mind to try to keep up. Something about what he said nagged at her but her tired brain wasn’t cooperating.

  It still bothered her that he had been a cop. She had promised herself that she wouldn’t ever get involved with one again. He had also kept it from her and she wondered if he really would have told her if she hadn’t found out on her own.

  Then he wouldn’t tell her what had happened to get him fired. It was getting harder to make the right decision. If she added it all up she shouldn’t trust Travis so easily. After all, that was what had gotten her in trouble with Cyrus in the first place.

  But her heart and her body were arguing with her common sense.

  It was funny that in the middle of all this she suddenly wasn’t that worried about Cyrus anymore. She had no doubt that Travis would do as he said and protect her. He had a quiet strength that she couldn’t deny. When Cyrus finally did show his face it would release the caged lion inside Travis.

  Not that she was taking all the credit for that. He obviously had his own reasons for coming here. He wanted revenge for losing his career as a police officer.

  But she still wanted him. More than she had wanted to admit until she had slipped today and said she wanted to always tempt him. It was a hard fact that she had gone and fallen in love with him.

  He had told her that he needed her but she wasn’t stupid enough to think that he had meant forever.

  Dusting off her hands, she looked around. She had done as much as she could for today and she looked at the clock, surprised to find it was after five. She had worked through lunch, again.

  Picking up her tools, she heard the door open and footsteps behind her. No doubt it was Travis, but she continued to clean up, not turning to face him.

  “Look, Jessie, I’m sorry, you just caught me off guard is all.”

  Taking a breath, she turned to face him, fighting against the need to reach for him. He was so sexy and confident, leaning against her workbench with lemonade in each hand. But, meeting his gaze, she could see the truth there. He was just as wary as she was.

  “It’s all right.”

  He smiled at her and she went weak in the knees. “Here, I brought you some lemonade.”

  “Thanks.” She took a small sip and watched him over her glass. “I think I’m headed for the shower.” Working in a greenhouse was hot, sweaty and dirty.

  “Wait.” His voice stopped her. She turned to face him, hoping he would kiss her.

  “I need to talk to you about something. My partner called me this morning and Cyrus is getting closer. He should be here tonight or tomorrow.”

  Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. Finally. She was sick and tired of his games and wanted it done.

  “All right. We should get Betty and the guys to go somewhere else for a couple days. I don’t want any of them hurt.”

  Travis nodded his agreement. “I think you should go with them.”

  Jessie wasn’t sure she had heard him right at first. But he crossed his arms over his big chest and she realized he was serious.

  “I’m not running, Travis.”

  He stared intently at her for a second then dropped his arms and sighed. “Yeah, I figured you would say that. I’ll fill Marc and Brad in today.”

  “Okay. I’m headed for a shower then. You aren’t going anywhere, are you?”

  “No, I’ll be right here, baby.”

  She walked past him and if her body brushed against his a little more than necessary, she was pretty sure he didn’t mind.

  Back at the house she had Betty leave her some sandwich fixings and sent her off home. She told Betty not to come back for a few days because there was no work and Marc and Brad would be out of town.

  Betty didn’t buy it for a minute but she didn’t give her the third degree. She did give Jessie a pointed look and told her they would be talking soon.

  In her room she stripped her clothes off and left them on the floor in a heap. Cranking the hot water up, she stepped under the stream and closed the glass door.

  She was washing her hair and didn’t hear her bedroom door open and close or hear Travis undressing in the bathroom. But she did hear the glass door slide open.

  She rinsed her face quickly and opened her eyes in time to see Travis step naked into the shower. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around her wet body.

  “I thought you might want some company.”

  “I was just thinking that I would love some company. I was feeling lonely in this big shower.” Jessie ran her hands down his chest, letting her nails trail over his skin. She didn’t know why he had suddenly changed his mind and wanted her now but she wasn’t going to ask. He was where she wanted him.

  “It is a big shower, with lots of possibilities,” he said as he glanced around.

  Grinning up at him, she sighed, “Well, I do still need to clean up.”

  “I can do that for you.” His hands went to her shoulders and turned her so he could finish washing her hair. Rinsing it, he added conditioner and massaged it into her skull. It was h
eaven. Reaching around her, he grabbed her soap and instead of her loofah he squirted it directly into his hand.

  He took his time washing her body, starting at her neck and going down, not missing an inch of skin. He knelt before her when he got to her belly and rubbed the flower-scented lather around to her back and down, over her rear and then her thighs. When he got to her calves he lifted one foot and rubbed her toes, getting between every one before going on to the other.

  She was relaxed and leaning on the wall when he finished washing and rinsing her off. His hands left her and she opened her eyes to slits. He was busy washing his own body but not taking the time that he had done for her, going as fast as possible. His gaze was glued to her naked chest.

  “Hey, let me return the favor.” She took the soap from him and gave him the same treatment he had given her, learning his body and returning to the places that made his muscles quiver and his breath hitch.

  When he had reached his limit he turned her around and pressed her against the cool tile wall. She heard the tear of the condom wrapper and then he was pressing into her from behind.

  He laced his fingers with hers and spread her arms so she had no choice but to press her breasts into the cool tile.

  He started slowly but quickly gained speed as she moaned and it echoed loudly in the close confines of the shower.

  The water turned everything steamy and warm, making their bodies slippery. Travis’ strong thrusts were hard to brace for with no hands. He released her and his fingers dug into her hips.

  He slammed against her harder and she could hear their bodies slapping together.

  Suddenly he reached between them and pinched her clit. She tumbled off the edge, screaming as her pussy clamped around him and her back bowed.

  He groaned loudly and thrust once more before leaning on her.

  His soft cock slipped out of her and her legs went weak. But Travis wrapped an arm around her waist as he shut off the water and then helped her out of the stall.

  Travis left Jessie resting on the couch as he went in search of Marc and Brad. He knew joining Jessie in the shower had been a risk but he couldn’t stop himself. Besides, Ian had said that Cyrus was still a day away. It had made him feel safe enough to take advantage.

  As he stood there, glancing around, a delivery truck pulled up and a man in brown shorts and shirt jumped out. Reaching back in the truck, he grabbed a package and headed across the yard.

  “Morning, sir. I’m looking for Travis Turner?”

  “You found him.” Travis quickly signed for his package, which he had ordered for Jessie yesterday. He hesitated and then left it sitting on the porch. It was time to let the others in on what was going on.

  He caught up with them outside the barn. “Hey guys, hold up a minute.”

  They both turned to look at him questioningly and he figured he’d better just say it flat-out. “What do you guys know about Cyrus Parker?”

  Brad looked taken aback by the question but Marc’s expression never changed. “Why do you ask?”

  “Look, I know you have no reason to trust me but Cyrus is extorting Jessie and I’m just trying to keep her safe.” Then it was Marc’s turn to look surprised.

  “What do you mean he is extorting her?”

  “He wants ten grand from her and she won’t do it. He used some threats and my sources say he is on his way here to make good on them.”

  Marc shook his head. “Holy shit.” Travis watched him waver back and forth, his loyalty to Jessie holding him back, but her safety came first and Marc realized that. “I didn’t know Cyrus well and I was only in town for a few months before he took off.”

  Travis had figured that. “Anything else you can tell me?”

  “No, like I said, I didn’t know him that well. But answer me a question?” Travis nodded. “Did you fall for her and that’s why you’re asking about Cyrus?”

  “It’s complicated.” But he wasn’t sure if maybe Marc had hit the nail on the head with that one.

  “I see,” Marc said and Travis suddenly felt as if Marc could see right through him.

  “Cyrus is going to be here today or tomorrow and I think you two should be as far away as possible when that happens.”

  Marc’s fists clenched but Travis stood his ground. “Look, man, I don’t know where you’re from but we don’t just desert our friends when they need us. We aren’t leaving her here to face him alone.”

  Travis shook his head. This was getting them nowhere. “Listen, she won’t be alone. I’ll be here and I know Cyrus. I used to work with him.”

  Marc’s eyes widened and Travis heard Brad mumble, “Told you so.”

  “All right, Travis, you win. We will go for a couple days but we aren’t going far, and what do you want us to tell Jessie?”

  “Jessie knows that I was going to ask you to leave for a few days. She already talked to Betty.” He ran his hand over his smooth head. This was getting real. He had no idea what to expect from Cyrus. But at least Travis had the advantage that Cyrus didn’t know he was going to be around.

  But now that they had evidence that could convict Cyrus for the murder of Candy Marsh he was more determined than ever to catch him and put him behind bars where he belonged. Real men didn’t hurt women and he saw Cyrus Parker somewhere between green pond scum and the mud that caked his boots.

  Jessie and Travis spent the rest of the day sticking close to the house and as soon as the sun started to set they went in.

  Travis meticulously went through the house, locking the windows and the doors. Jessie was jumpy and having a hard time sitting still. She hated the waiting. She hated that Cyrus put her in this position in the first place.

  But it was going to come to an end. One way or the other.

  They ate at the table, both of them quiet and lost in thought. Jessie didn’t do much more than push her food around her plate.

  They finally went to bed and when Travis insisted that he sleep on the couch she couldn’t help but complain.

  “What is the difference if you are down here or upstairs? I would feel so much better if you were at least in the room with me.”

  He heaved a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest, a sure sign that he wasn’t happy. But she knew he was wavering so she pressed her advantage.

  “Please, Travis. I won’t get a wink of sleep otherwise.”

  “Fine, but no sex. We need to stay on guard.”

  “All right.” She agreed but she figured she could change his mind about that too.

  “Don’t look at me like that, Jessie girl. No. Sex.”

  “All right, all right. No sex.”

  Travis lay awake as Jessie slept peacefully sprawled on his chest. He was leisurely trailing his fingers up and down her smooth back, sometimes stopping to play with her silky hair.

  Damn fool woman had crawled into bed in nothing but a pair of panties. He had given her a stern look and she had just smiled. So he had made his point by leaving his clothes on. Which he was now regretting because it was damn uncomfortable wearing his jeans in bed.

  He realized that it was just Jessie’s way of keeping herself from worrying. Her faith in him made him determined not to disappoint her.

  He still couldn’t believe that he had told her about the day he had gone to see his real parents. He had never told anyone. But she hadn’t looked at him any differently.

  She didn’t care who his parents were, or how much money he had. For the first time he wondered if maybe he was the only one who had seen something else when he looked in the mirror.

  Maybe when this was over it would be time to go home and see his family. He missed his sisters. The thought of facing it alone was daunting but maybe he could talk Jessie into going with him.

  That thought had everything else coming to a screeching halt.

  He was in love with her. His hand stopped cold and he looked down at her face and the dusting of freckles across her nose, knowing that it was the truth. The question was, what was he going t
o do about it? Letting out a sigh, he resumed trailing his fingers down her back.

  He figured that he would have some explaining to do and then he would go from there. But he wasn’t sure if he was willing to walk away, even if that’s what she wanted.

  She fit against him perfectly. No matter how they lay she always found just the right spot. She was currently using his shoulder for a pillow and she had a leg thrown over his. He didn’t know that it could be like this, that just being near someone could make him happy.

  A small noise from downstairs had him alert and listening. It had sounded like a door handle jiggling. He left Jessie sleeping as he slid out from under her and scooted off the bed. Grabbing his gun from the nightstand, he quietly made his way down the hallway.

  The house was dark as he crept down the stairs stealthily. He skipped over the one that creaked and stopped when he reached the bottom. He listened intently for a full minute and didn’t hear anything.

  Creeping to the end of the wall, he glanced around it and into the living room and ducked back into place. He didn’t see anyone there.

  Travis sneaked quietly into the kitchen, making his way to the light switch.

  He saw the shadow move up behind him a split second before something hard and heavy came down on his head. He fell to his knees and the second before everything went dark around the edges he told himself not to pass out.

  He couldn’t leave Jessie alone.

  He braced his weight on his arms and felt the warm flow of blood trickle down the side of his head. His stomach rolled and he fought it back down with everything he had.

  The kitchen light flipped on and he saw spots before his eyes focused.

  Jessie was standing at the bottom of the stairs, panic on her face. She hurried to his side and pressed something to his head but his mind was fuzzy. He shook his head to try to clear it but all it did was make the pounding worse. Travis grabbed the counter and used it to pull his body off the floor as he heard the familiar voice of Cyrus Parker say, “Well, hello, wife.”