Pleasures of Promise Lake

by Marti Shane

  Sam moaned in response, her hips restless under his. He leaned into her, pinning her pelvis to the door but letting go of her hands. Lifting the hem of her tank, he took the thin top and bra off in one swoop.

  “How fast?” he asked again, cupping her breast in each hand. She gasped at his thumbs brushing over her puckered nipples and he gave them a punishing squeeze. “How fast?”

  “Ninety.” She panted, thighs trembling next his as she struggled to move. “It felt amazing.” He could see her lips curve in profile, still riding her adrenaline high. “Get inside me,” she demanded, her hands finding her waistband.

  “You need a lesson in slow.” He pushed away her hands, even though he was dying to be inside. Backing his hips to get just enough room, he freed her top button and fly. His thumbs hooked her waistband, peeling the fabric from her flesh. She bloomed for him, her sexed-up fragrance heavy in the air. He sunk to his knees, peeling until her thighs were bare as he sunk his teeth into one of her firm cheeks. Her mouth made all his favorite sounds, and he dipped two fingers between her folds. She was wet, but he left her wanting, removing his hand. Her skin was salt and sweet as he kissed his way up her spine rising back to his feet.

  “Jake,” she pleaded, voice husky with need. Her chin touched her shoulder, her dark braid snaked down her sculpted back. Her body was beautiful with arms braced overhead. Sweat-slicked skin shimmered in the dim light, her strong legs bared from hip to thigh with a glorious view of her ass. Freeing his erection from his jeans, he let the sight of her in those boots burn into his brain. His cock flinched in response to his grip and his balls pulled tight.

  “You make me crazy.” He slid the head down the crack of her ass and through her slick folds.

  “You make me happy,” she panted in response. Tilting her head back, she rested her cheek to his shoulder, her back arched for access to push inside. He pushed in slow, feeling her stretch to accommodate him as he buried his length. He loved being inside of her, bare-skinned and bathed in her heat. “You feel so good.” She lifted her head, hips encouraging him to move.

  “Slow,” he growled at her ear, fingers digging into her flesh. His sexy girl wasn’t a patient lover. He’d learned her sounds and signs, knowing she had no restraint once she started the climb. She made love like she lived life, only letting go past a certain high. Her high was adrenaline, worse than any drug when mixed with reckless abandon. He wasn’t letting her go there, he wanted her present, pleasured, and pacing with him.

  Grinding his pelvis to hers, her pussy quivered around his shaft, the head scrubbing the perfect angle inside. He lifted her, saddling her from behind, her boots tucking behind his knees. Her nails dug into the oak door as her arms accepted her weight and she became helpless to his pace. He relished in the smooth glide from her slick channel, sinking back in at a leisurely pace. He was in a heady buzz, enjoying the burn in his muscles and the sensual ride.

  Sweat soaked his back, the first ember popping from the fire at his spine. Sam was teetering on the edge fighting off the climb. Instinctively he wanted to give her what she’d beg for, but he was determined to keep her with him instead of soaring free. Her thighs tightened around his, her ass flexing under his grip as he stilled inside. He was wound tight, rapid fire crackling up his spine and threatening release.

  Sam gasped in surprised, her sex a vice at his base as he watched an array of goosebumps speckle her nape. She moaned in her exhale, the sound almost a question. Jake pumped in short slow strokes, her sex showering him with her release. He orgasmed, the jolt erupting from his balls and jolting hard and sharp from his dick. His hand slammed the door, his abs and ass on fire from catching their weight from his weakened knees. His vision spotted as he came in hard steady bursts.

  They were spent, breaths heavy and muscles lax as he slid from her core. Her boots found the floor and he turned her in his arms. Her lids were heavy over her brilliant green eyes and she wore a lazy smile.

  “Best day ever,” she said sleepily, offering her lips to his. He kissed her long and sweet, satisfied with her claim he made her happy.

  “What was the best part?” he asked when they came up for air. He loved the way her cheeks flushed pink even though she was half naked with her pants around her knees. Her hands gripped his shirt at his waist, tugging on the hem.

  “Take this off,” she complained, pulling the damp cotton from his skin. Letting her strip him of his shirt, he loved how she touched him. “This is always the best part.” She touched every inch of him, running her hands from his hips, over his abs and chest. She took her time, eyes trailing her caress of his shoulders and upper arms. The ritual was his favorite, too, as she lavished him with her touch.

  Goosebumps stood his hair on end as she ran her fingers down the cords of muscle running from his abs to thighs. “I love these.” She marveled at the freshly worked meat. His heart thumped against his chest, a reflex to the rare affection she showed. He loved her touching him, loved he made her happy. He sealed his lips over hers, certain he loved more than just her touch. He was falling in love with her.

  Chapter Twenty

  Sam settled on a pony tail since they’d spend most of the day outside. Checking herself in the bathroom mirror, she saw an extra pound or two back on her hips. She made Jake scale back the usual pound of bacon this morning, but not because she was afraid of the weight. She wanted room for the food she looked forward to all year. She was giddy with excitement, sharing the Pumpkin Festival with Jake.

  “What the fuck is this?” Jake barreled through the bathroom door, the morning after pill pamphlet fisted in his hand. Nerves flared, fight of flight in her gut never seeing the temperament on him. His shoulders were bunched to his ears, his nostrils flaring with each breath. Instincts told her to step back, but she stepped into him instead.

  “You need to calm down.”

  “You need to talk to me about this shit.” He lowered his face to hers.

  “We talked about birth control.”

  “This isn’t birth control,” he shouted. “It’s a fucking abortion. How could you take this and not talk to me?” Sam snatched the paper from his fist, shoving it in his face.

  “This is a contraceptive pill, not an abortion pill,” she hissed back, refusing to raise her voice. “Fuck you.” She threw the paper at his feet. “I didn’t take anything. My doctor gave me that to read.” She shoved past him, pissed at his assumption. She went for the small closet behind the door, grabbing her shoes.

  “Are you pregnant?” Jake asked when she turned around, the color drained from his face. His voice was level, piercing stare creating a sting at her nape. “You didn’t take the pill. Does that mean you’re pregnant?”

  “I’m not pregnant.” She took a pair socks from her drawer. “I just freaked.”

  “How do you know? You haven’t had a period.”

  “My period stopped months ago.” She stomped across the room, sitting on the bed to put on her socks and shoes. Her hands shook as she tried to separate her tiny socks, the fight in her taking over the flight. “How can you accuse me of that?” She gave up the battle, tossing the socks aside.

  “You just freaked? So you asked for an abortion pill?”

  “Did you bother to read the pamphlet?” Her ass popped from the bed. “This does the same thing as the shit implanted in my arm. It’s for women who missed a pill. OR…” she pointed to his chest, “In my case, your partner doesn’t wear a condom. It delays ovulation.”

  “You didn’t stop me,” he huffed. “And we haven’t used one since.”

  “Because my doctor said I can’t get pregnant as long as I’m on birth control.” She pointed to the implant in her arm. “The pamphlet was for my information because I asked about it.” She held up her hand. “The abortion pill is a conscious choice to end a pregnancy. I’m not pregnant,” she repeated slow and clear. “Did you even go to health class?”

  “How do you know you’re not pregnant?” he asked, raking through his hair. “
I mean, you’re not having a period, so how do you know?”

  “No eggs, no baby,” she explained, giving her socks another try as she dropped on the bed. “Seriously, didn’t someone teach you this in school?”

  Jake paced the kitchen as she laced her shoes. The reality of being too new settled in, the argument opening uncharted water she wasn’t prepared to explore. Did he want kids? Did she want kids? She didn’t want to talk about it two weeks in. He’d reigned his temper, as did she, but they’d both left wounds.

  He’d accused her of having an abortion, which he hadn’t thought through. Hell, he’d been with her every day and it’s not like she’s bled. He was a hot-head, blowing off the handle without all the facts.

  “I can use condoms, Sam,” he finally broke the silence. “I just wish you’d talked to me if you weren’t okay with it.”

  “I’m okay with it,” she said, double knotting her shoe. “I’m not okay with you attacking me when you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” She pushed from the bed, squaring off with her arms over her chest. “Remind you of someone?”

  “Alexis? Not even close.”

  “Sorry doesn’t fix stupid. Some things you can’t take back.”

  “I don’t want to take it back.” He stood his ground. “I don’t want you taking any kind of pill that could hurt you or our baby.”

  “There’s no baby.”

  “If there was a baby-”

  “There’s not!”

  “If there was,” he insisted, “I want you to talk to me.”

  “I do talk to you.” She stomped her foot. “There was nothing to talk about.”

  “You freaked out. You talked to your doctor instead of me.”

  “My mother had me when she was fourteen. Her mother was sixteen when she had her. It’s my life’s mission to not make their mistakes,” she admitted. “I kept my virginity until my twenty-first birthday and I’ve never not used a condom.” The color Jake had gotten back turned green, her virginity news nothing he wanted to hear. Mitch was her first and that wasn’t going to change. “You made a choice for me that I couldn’t take back. I freaked out. As usual, I had to catch up to you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I can’t keep up,” she blurted. “You’re so…” She gestured to all of him, trying to put together the words. When she couldn’t piece together her emotions, Jake gave it a shot.

  “Fantastic?” He tested her sense of humor, barely cracking a smile. “What can’t you keep up with?”

  “You.” She gestured between them with a hand. “This.”

  “What’s there to keep up with?” He padded over to her, his feet still bare. He gave her ponytail a tug, tipping her chin to force her gaze to his. Blue eyes searched hers, reaching inside to pull out the words. “Talk to me.”

  “I’m terrified,” she confessed. “This train’s hauling ass and you’re the only one that knows how to drive. You push me, and I’m not saying that’s bad. I’m just trying to keep up.”

  “I thought we were on the same page,” he said, regret in his tone. He dropped his forehead to hers, careful with his words. “You have to tell me when something’s not okay.”

  “It turned out fine. We don’t need to use condoms.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I had shit to work through, but I caught up to you.” Footsteps crossed the porch putting the conversation aside.

  “You guys decent?” Jax asked, knocking beside the screen. Jake pressed a soft kiss to her lips, eyes still fixed on hers.

  “We good?” he checked in, not releasing her from his hold. She nodded, her insides in a knot. She stepped back, smoothing her hair when the door creaked. Jax stepped in first, having kicked off his boots outside. His dad stepped in behind him, assessing the small space for the first time.

  Sam glanced around, a spot check for anything out of place. They’d made the bed and cleaned up breakfast, but the closet was bursting at the seams. Mark eyed the door next to him, Jake’s new wetsuit draped over the top. Everything he owned was big like him, so all his stuff didn’t fit.

  “This is a pretty good set up. Do they rent these out?”

  “They’re for family,” Jake explained. “Sam’s lived in this one since she was a kid.”

  “Is that right?” Mark turned to her, Mary slipping in behind him. She gave the cabin the same once over, leaning her petite frame into Mark. “I thought you were from Atlanta?”

  “I am,” she spoke up. “Gram and Kay were close friends. When we’d come down for a visit, it was a fight to get me to leave.”

  “I can see why,” Mark laughed, not knowing the half of it. She loved Mick and Travis, but being separated from Nick wasn’t fair.

  “Nick was old enough to work, so Red built him the cabin next door.”

  “Is Nick your brother?” Mary asked, and Jake’s hand found the small of her back. A silent support.

  “We’re six years apart,” Sam confirmed. “After enough begging, Gram let me stay. He was old enough to watch me, and Kay didn’t mind because I kept Mick company.”

  “Six years,” Mary repeated. “That’s a big age difference. Are you still close?”

  “He’s my boss.”

  “That’s good,” Mark said. “I like family businesses.”

  “What are you guys up to?” Jake diverted his parents, wrapping Sam’s waist. She collapsed into his side, letting him absorb her weight. Things were less awkward with his parents, but she appreciated the reprieve.

  “We were hoping Sam might let us borrow her bike,” Mark announced as Jax raked through his hair.

  “You and mom?”

  “Yeah. Red and Kay are gonna do a quick ride and your mom thought it’d be fun.”

  “No,” Jake answered, Jax in agreement.

  “Of course you can,” Sam corrected them. “Mary, you can take my jacket and my helmet’s on the porch.” She looked up to catch Jake’s frown. “It’s my bike. They can borrow it if they want.”

  “I taught you boys how to ride!” Mark argued. “Now come show me how to crank the damn thing.” He clapped Jax on the shoulder, leading him outside. Sam pulled Jake to follow, craving the fresh air.

  Jake warmed up to his parents taking her bike by the time they rode off side by side with Red and Kay. He suggested they walk to the pumpkin patch, wanting to explore the trails around the lake. She agreed, even though they felt off. Their argument this morning was brief, and they ended on the same page. She didn’t want to bring it back up, but something was still bugging him.

  She regretted telling him she was terrified, but that’s how it felt when she stopped to breathe. Jake jumped in a void she never knew was there, and no one else could fill. Time wasn’t on their side. She was ahead of schedule with staffing them up and they’d be finished with the work here in the next five weeks. His phone distracted her. He released her hand to pick up the call.

  “I’ve got two more days,” he answered, reminding her she had to share him with the world. He’d taken himself off the grid for the past two weeks, and she’d consumed all his time. “Okay. Yeah, confirm. I’ve gotta go.” He ended the call, stuffing his phone in his back pocket. “Sorry.” He offered, threading his fingers back through hers.

  “Don’t be.” She tried to sound upbeat. “I need to get used to it, right?” She’d gotten a taste in Atlanta of his fame. “What are you confirming? Anything good?”

  “New York,” he said. “Not the Yankees,” he quickly added when her eyes went wide. “A talk show. You want to go?”

  “When?” she asked, knowing her answer was no.

  “Valentine’s Day.” Well, that it made it tough to say no.

  “That’s a long time away.”

  “You’re the one complaining about keeping up. Gives you time to plan.” She stopped, feet planted in the middle of the dry dirt trail. So, her confession this morning was on his mind. She knew they were off. Planting his feet in front of hers, he hooked his fingers in her jeans. He gave he
r a tug, catching her in his arms. His mouth covered hers, his hold on her possessive as he owned her mouth. He took her air, but she didn’t want to breathe. Surrendering to his demand, she let him take what he needed.

  Jake broke the kiss, his capable hands cupping her cheeks. His eyes were dark with more than desire. His chest heaved against hers, his lips parted for breath. She couldn’t catch a train of thought, but Jake had something to say.

  “I’m falling in love with you,” he said. “Let me know when you catch up to that.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The Pumpkin Festival was a must do next year. Jake carried Sam on his back in the funniest scavenger hunt challenge of his life. The rounds kept getting harder and the rules were never the same. They were a four-man team against a group of teenagers, making him feel old. They were in search of something green and round. Two of them had to carry it over the finish line, but their feet and hands couldn’t touch the ground. Jax was hauling Mick in a wheelbarrow next to him as she screamed where to go.

  “Limes!” Sam unlocked one of her arms from around his neck, pointing at the margarita stand.

  “Limes aren’t round,” Mick argued, gripping the sides as Jax went over bumps. He looked over to their competition who didn’t have a clue. They were spinning and pointing, taking on the lime shape debate as their team moved on. Tennis balls, grapes, marbles? Hell, where were they going to find something round and green?

  “Jacob!” His mom’s voice came from the crowd, standing out from the cheers. She had her hands cupped around her mouth trying to throw them a hint the other team couldn’t hear. He jogged to the side, Sam reading her lips.

  “Oh!” Sam slapped his chest, feet kicking through his arms trying to make him turn.

  “Where?” Jax asked, but Jake ran past him yelling over his shoulder for him to follow.

  “Hurry, straight back,” Sam shouted, her inability to run cramping her competitive side. They ran through the little make-shift main street, portable cabins for the vendors lining each side. Jake saw their target, dipping dots two cabins ahead. “You see it?”