Under the Covers

by Jo Barrett

  With that, they continued to fill the boxes in silence, there wasn’t much more to be said. She was leaving, it would be best for him, but not for her. This had been her dream, and it was killing him to see her give up so easily. Where was the spitfire he knew in bed? Where was the woman who knew what she wanted and went after it?

  No, he couldn’t sit by and watch her do this. She’d get back to Indiana and the life she hated and never reach for another dream again—in bed or out.

  “I have an idea,” he said, knowing full well he should keep out of it, but refused to listen to his common sense—again. “How about selling your fabric and sewing stuff through my store?”

  She paused and looked at him, a bolt of dripping wet fabric in her hands. “What?”

  “Sort of like a consignment deal. I’d get a percentage of sales for the space, and you’d still be in business.”

  She shook her head, and moved to the back to put the wet bolt on a metal rack. “I can’t let you do that, Jacob. But thanks for the offer.”

  He should’ve nodded and taken her refusal, but his mouth had other ideas. “Why not? We’d both get something out of it. You could stay in business, and I’d make a little money.”

  “I don’t know.” She turned to look at him, and damn it if she didn’t nibble her bottom lip. It drove him crazy when she did that.

  He tamped down the desire rising in his blood and forced himself to look at something other than her mouth. “It’s the perfect solution to your problem.”

  “But your store is full of inventory. Where would we put all this,” she said, motioning to the fabric and sewing notions. “And people don’t buy fabric like chewing gum. You have to measure it out to their specs and cut it. That takes space.”

  She let out a heavy sigh and crossed her arms beneath her breasts, pulling her blouse taught, creating a tantalizing view. “No, it was a really good idea, but it just won’t work.”

  His determination started to slip, but he had to convince her to stay first. Then he’d drag her upstairs and make love to her.

  Peeling his gaze from her gorgeous breasts, he crossed the room, his shoes squeaking against the old tile floor still slick with water. He stopped and rested his hands on her shoulders and focused on her eyes.

  “I can rearrange the stock and you can set some up in the storeroom. It won’t be as pretty as your place, but you should have all the space you need to cut and stuff.

  “But—”

  He bent his head and stopped her argument with a soft kiss. It was like a sucker punch to the stomach. The simple kiss put their relationship on a different level, one that had to do with caring about one another, instead of just about the pleasure. Which meant it was yet another warning sign. But could he make himself pay attention to it?

  Ending the kiss, he forced himself to step back and concentrate on her situation. “So, do we move this stuff across the street, or do you stay here and wait on Riley?”

  Jane’s head was swimming. That kiss had been the sweetest he’d ever given her, and she was falling hopelessly in love with him.

  When she’d returned that afternoon to find her store flooded, and heard the awful news from Riley, she’d known that she’d likely have to go back to her old job in Indiana, far away from Kings Gap. That’s when it hit her that she would miss Jacob more than her store.

  But now here he stood, offering her a way to stay, holding her when she cried, kissing her in a way that suggested so much more than the promise of wild sex. The only question was, should she stay now that her heart was fully engaged? Then again, if she left, she would be giving up on all her dreams at one time. Her want of a home, her store, and Jacob.

  “Staying a little longer won’t change the outcome if you’re destined to go back to Indiana,” he said.

  Oh wouldn’t it? She shook off the thought, and asked, “How much of a percentage?”

  He shot her a crooked grin. “Fifteen percent.”

  “Five.”

  “Ten.”

  “Deal,” she said, and shook his hand. She wanted to stay in Kings Gap, she wanted to keep her sewing store, and she wanted to keep seeing Jacob in any manner he allowed. Even if it cost her a broken heart and ten percent of the sales.

  “Then in that case, I’m going to go get my truck.” He crossed the store, moving toward the back door.

  “Jacob.”

  He paused and looked at her over his shoulder, those chocolate eyes filling her up inside.

  “Are we—I mean—will we, you know—later?” She hated asking, her face was aflame with embarrassment, but she had to know where they stood now that they were business associates.

  Slowly, he turned and faced her. “It probably wouldn’t be a good idea. The town’s going to gossip about this deal as it is.”

  She averted her gaze, not wanting him to see how it hurt, and reached for another wet bolt. “I understand, I just wanted to be clear on the subject.”

  “Then again,” he said, and turned her around, and pulled her into his arms. “Since the gossip will happen anyway…”

  She couldn’t speak for the amount of fire in his dark gaze. “Are you sure? I mean, I’ll understand. I won’t like it, but I’ll understand.”

  He grinned. “There’s my spitfire,” he said, then kissed her hard.

  Several delicious minutes later, he lifted his head. “I think I’d better go get the truck.”

  She smiled. “Please, because my stockroom is currently a small river. Not the place for an interesting rendezvous.”

  Laughing, he gave her a quick peck on the lips and darted out the back door.

  Jacob hoped like hell he’d not just made the worst decision of his life. But what choice did he have? Seeing her in his store every day, there was no way he’d be able to keep his hands off her, and he’d never be able to live with himself if he let her give up on all of her dreams. And yet somebody was bound to see what was going on between them.

  “But they really are going to talk about this,” he muttered. Still, it was better than letting her leave.

  He hoped.

  Twenty minutes later, after hurrying home to retrieve his truck, he was at her back door loading boxes. Very few words were said, but on an occasion, when they got in one another’s way, it was an odd sort of dance to avoid touching each other. Both of them knew that if they touched, then they’d be off on a very long enjoyable side trip.

  He had a bad feeling that his life was about to become pure hell instead of the pure pleasure he’d enjoyed these past couple of nights if he couldn’t even work near her without getting hard as a rock. Not to mention, everyone in town was about to get into his personal business—again.

  After the truck was fully loaded, they took it across the street to the back door of his stockroom. He opened the door and followed her inside. She paused a moment, and his gaze followed hers to the rolled up sleeping bag in the corner. Visions of her laying there, her face flushed with pleasure, her hands reaching out to him, flooded his senses.

  As business decisions went, it was a good one. Kings Gap could use a store like hers. Some of the women in town had asked him to carry some basic sewing stuff, but he knew they usually drove an hour down the road to get most of their supplies. With Jane’s shop inside his, it would be a win-win situation. She’d have her business, something he could tell she loved, and he’d have another product to bring folks into the store more.

  But as personal decisions went, he had a feeling it was the worst he’d made since asking Beth to marry him. He was going to have to be around her all day long, and the whole town was going to be watching.

  Shaking off the irritating thought, he moved around her and began rearranging some of his winter stock into taller stacks to make way for her boxes.

  “Are you sure about this? That’s a lot of inventory,” she said, moving in to help him.

  “This is my winter stock. I’m just getting it cataloged before I put it out at the end of the summer. There’s plenty of
room for me to do this and for you to have some extra showcase room.”

  “Well, okay. Since you’re sure,” she said, with a grim nod, then went outside to start bringing in her stock.

  They worked late into the night, and managed to get most of the dry inventory moved. The decision of what to do with the wet stuff, however, was going to be an issue.

  “I suppose I could take what’s worth saving off the bolts and put it in a dryer down at the Laundromat,” she said. “I could at least sell it then as salvage.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  “Do you think—I know tomorrow is Sunday, but do you think you could help me rig up some sort of cutting table in here?”

  “The one at your place is ruined, I guess.”

  “The bottom is waterlogged—but oh, wait! I should’ve thought of it before. I have a fold-up cutting table still in the box. It’s on wheels and has metal legs. That will work out better in here. If it survived. It’s in the back of the store. I hadn’t figured out how to showcase it for sale yet without losing valuable space.”

  “I’ll go get it in the morning.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  He shook his head. “Not a problem. I’ll do that, then get started on clearing space in the front of the store for some of the bolts.”

  “Well then,” she said with a long sigh. “I guess we’re done for tonight.”

  He nodded and escorted her out of the store and down the alley without a word. Fooling around in the store was no longer an option, there just wasn’t any room, and frankly he was beat. He had a feeling she wasn’t exactly up to it either, since she didn’t even blink when he guided her outside.

  Once at the corner, still amid the long dark shadows, she paused and looked up at him. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning then. Is, um, nine too soon?”

  “No. Nine is okay.”

  “Good. Well, goodnight. And thanks again for all the help, and for, well—rescuing me,” she said with a nervous giggle.

  He stood there looking at her, noting the small catches of light that seeped into the alley, sparkling in her eyes. He wanted her again, and had the feeling he always would. “You’re welcome.”

  She gave him half a nod then started to turn. He knew he should let her go, knew he was falling under her spell once again, knew it would lead eventually to disaster, but he didn’t care. Her shy side pulled him in and her daring bedside manner kept him satisfied. She was both worlds and he couldn’t get enough of her.

  Snagging her by the arm, he spun her around, pinned her against wall, and devoured her mouth. She met him stroke for stroke with her tongue, while their hands explored one another with restless excitement. Her thighs parted and he slipped his leg between them. On a heart-felt moan, she rubbed against him and he could feel the heat of her arousal through his jeans.

  She slid her hands beneath his shirt and raked her fingernails across his nipples, forcing a growl from his throat.

  “As much as I want to take you against the wall, right here, right now, we can’t,” he said, through panted breaths. “Sooner or later, the sheriff will be doing his rounds.”

  He tasted the spot just behind her ear, causing her to suck in a breath and clutch him tighter to her breast.

  “My apartment then,” she said.

  He shifted his thigh and moved in to savor her lips again. “A bed sounds good.”

  She rocked her body against his thigh and purred. “Very good.”

  He cupped her ass in his hands and helped her move, savoring the feel of her, the sound of her moans, and the sweet anticipation of what was to come.

  “Oh, Jacob.”

  Her breathy plea almost had him forgetting where they were. Watching her climax was one of the greatest pleasures about their arrangement. She was so damn beautiful when she lost all of her inhibitions and let go. Her eyes would darken to a mystic blue while her skin would flush a glorious shade of pink he’d be hard pressed to find in nature. But at any moment they could be found out.

  He clasped her by the shoulders, and withdrew his leg from between her thighs. Grinning at the pouty groan she made, he grabbed her hand and started across the street. She had to jog to keep up. At the top of the stairs, he snatched her key from her trembling hand and unlocked the door. The minute it was open, he tugged her inside.

  The door closed with a loud crack, and he had her pinned against it within seconds, his mouth on hers. He broke the connection only long enough to rip her blouse over her head and to tear his own off. The moment skin met skin, he knew they weren’t budging from that spot. He would take her right there against the door, and relish every mind-blowing second.

  Lowering his head, he pulled aside her lace bra with his teeth, then sucked the taut nipple into his mouth, while tugging at the button of her jeans. The moment it gave way, he slid his hands over her hips, and pushed the denim down until it fell to rest around her ankles.

  Jane kicked her pants away while working on the top button of his jeans. But her hands shook so much from sheer excitement, she could barely accomplish the task. Then his thigh was between her legs, rubbing against her, driving her mad.

  Once the button of his fly fell free and released his straining cock, he groaned, his lips still intent to torture her breast. She wrapped her fingers around him and stroked the velvety shaft before he snatched a condom from his pocket. She hated the absence of his hands on her skin as he rolled the condom on, but knew that within moments she would experience another fabulous climax.

  “Spread your legs,” he said, as he ripped her panties in two.

  She held back her contented chuckle and did as he commanded. He cupped the back of her thighs and lifted her clean off the floor, then drove into her with one solid thrust. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she savored the feel of him deep inside her. As his hips shifted, back and forth, the door rattled with every delicious thrust. Her climax began to take hold, and she called out his name while digging her fingers into his flesh where she held on to his shoulders.

  She started down from her peak just as he climaxed, and felt for the first time the heady pulse of him inside her. Each time before she’d been pleasuring him with her hands or her lips, or they’d climaxed together. But not this time. She’d lost it before him and was able to savor the sensations with a clearer head.

  He rested his forehead against hers, as he eased back down to earth, pulling from inside her, and placed her back on her feet. Their panting breaths mingling in the dark of her apartment.

  “I hope nobody heard that,” she said, the silence reminding her of her shout.

  Jacob chuckled. “If they did, I doubt they’ll be knocking on your door.”

  “Why?”

  He grinned down at her, then pecked a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Because of the way you shouted my name. Somehow I don’t think they’d come running at that.”

  Jane sucked in a breath. “What if they did hear me?”

  “Easy, baby, easy.” He pulled her against him and held her for a moment. “You’re loud, but not that loud.”

  “Oh, God,” she said with a groan and rested her forehead against his chest, now vibrating with his laughter. She slapped his bare chest. “It isn’t funny.”

  “No, it isn’t funny,” he said, but his chuckle barely faded. “Why don’t we take this to the bedroom then, just in case someone does decide to investigate?”

  Shaking her head, she took him by the hand and led him to the bedroom. She laughed at how he struggled to jerk up his jeans so he could walk without letting go of her hand. It was a good sign, she thought, but she didn’t want to read too much into it.

  He disposed of the used condom and pulled another from his pocket and laid it on the nightstand. “That’s the last one.”

  She climbed onto the bed and grinned at him over her shoulder. “I guess we’ll have to be creative then, won’t we?”

  He grinned, then with a lunge, tackled her to the bed. As their heads hit the pillows, he sm
othered her giggles with a potent kiss. A kiss that would lead to so many other wonderful things.

  ****

  Jacob eased his arm from around her and turned to sit up on the edge of the bed. He really hated leaving the warmth of her body, but the sun would be up soon, and he didn’t need to start the gossip about them by adding a can of gasoline. The tales would be doozies as it was, the last thing he needed was to get caught leaving her apartment.

  He stood and slipped on his pants.

  “Is it time to get up already?” Jane murmured.

  Her soft sleepy tone pulled at him like a siren. He wanted to slide back in beside her, spoon his body to hers and fall down into a blissful sleep, then in an hour or so wake her with tender kisses and teasing touches while the sunrise made her skin glow. But he had to leave.

  Leaning over the bed, he kissed her softly. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered.

  She moaned and licked her lips, but didn’t open her eyes. “Do I have to?”

  With a chuckle, he kissed her one more time. “I’ll see you in a couple of hours over at the store.”

  Her lids lifted to reveal her soft blue gaze, desire evident in her eyes. “Do you really have to go?”

  Jacob glanced to the clock on the nightstand, reconsidering things. Did he need to leave right this minute? It was Sunday, most folks didn’t get up all that early on their day off. And he was growing hard just looking at her lying there, warm and ready.

  He blinked and stepped back from the bed to pull on his shirt. What the hell was he thinking? If he crawled back in beside her, it would be hours before he could make himself leave. Then he was sure to be seen.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Without another glance in her direction, afraid to admit he might get caught in that bright blue gaze of hers, he turned and made his way to the door.

  He paused with his hand on the knob, took a deep breath, and filled his lungs with her scent. For the first time in years—since Beth—he felt something for a woman, and it scared the hell out of him.