“Two.”
She put up two more. “Now how many?”
“Forty.” She frowned and he grinned. “Just kidding. Four.”
She hit his shoulder. “Don’t scare me like that. You could have a concussion.”
Who was this gorgeous woman? She talked as if she was very familiar with him. Where was she from? Her accent told him she wasn’t originally from Texas.
“Uh, well, there is one thing. Who are you?”
Chapter Three
Jena scowled at him. “That’s not funny. How can you be joking when we’re sitting in a ditch?”
He shook his head, his expression truly puzzled. He reached up and touched a strand of her hair. “I’m not kidding.” He tried to smile but winced instead. “Not to say I don’t mind sharing close quarters with you and all. Beats sitting in this rainstorm by myself. But I’m drawing a blank, darlin’.”
Jena decided to avoid the subject for the time being. If he really did have amnesia, she didn’t need to freak him out about that until after they reached Sally’s house. If she remembered correctly, her ranch was just up the road.
She held up the broken pieces of his cell phone saying, “The crash made sure you won’t be using this to call for help, but I believe the house is just up the road. Why don’t we make a run for it, since the truck doesn’t seem to be an option?”
He grabbed her arm before she could unbuckle herself and get out of the cab. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“How about we talk about it once we’re under a roof, okay?” She tried to pull away.
“No. I know we’re not far from my neighbor Sally’s ranch. Though I’m not sure why. I know my name is Harmon Steele and that I’m a rancher. But I’m totally clueless as to how you fit in the picture. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who you are.”
Grrr. If she told him the whole story now, he’d freeze up on her. She wanted to make sure he was okay. No harm in fabricating a little ruse. “I’m Jena.” She waited to see if recognition filtered in his expression. Nope. “You know, your girlfriend? You mentioned an errand you needed to run. We were on our way to your neighbor Sally’s house.”
His brow furrowed. “Why can’t I remember you? I think I’d have a hard time forgetting your beautiful face.”
Okay, she needed to think about how much deeper a hole she should dig. Avoidance was always a good option. She reached over and opened the door. The heavy panel immediately jerked out of her hand, gravity pulling it toward the ditch. “Come on,” she said and climbed out of the truck only to ever-so-gracefully crumple to the ground.
Cold, driving rain soaked through her linen dress in two seconds flat. Harm leaned over her seat and poked his head out. “You okay?”
She grimaced and tried to stand only to collapse again, yelping as pain shot up her ankle. Before she could respond to his question, his arms were around her, lifting her against his strong chest.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get out of this rain.”
Sweetheart. That sounded nice coming from his lips. Jena settled her arms around his neck, enjoying the play of muscles surrounding her body, the heat of his skin a wonderful contrast to the cool rain beating on her. Thank goodness he’d put his Stetson back on. The brim provided some shelter from the relentless downpour. She looked up into his face at the same time he looked down at her. God, he took her breath away. The man exuded sure confidence in every movement he made. He was simply—magnetic.
Harm set her down on the porch, seemingly unaffected by carrying her hundred and twenty pound body the quarter mile hike up the driveway and across Sally’s front lawn. Yep, hard working man, no doubt, and a thoughtful one, too, she thought as he handed her the oversized purse she carried around. When he unlocked the door, she asked, surprised, “You have a key?”
“Yeah. I take care of Sally’s horses and such. Now that she’s passed on, I keep an eye on her place, too.” He lifted her again and walked inside.
When he set her down and stepped away, Jena began to shiver uncontrollably. She set her purse on the table and hugged herself saying, “Why is it so cold? Texas isn’t supposed to be c-c-c-cold.” Her teeth began to chatter.
He met her gaze, his expression completely baffled. “You’re my girlfriend, but you don’t live in Texas?”
Oh, boy. Now I know where the expression ‘snowballing’ came from. “Um, well, our relationship is a little complicated.”
As lightning lit up the room, he glanced outside and then turned back to her, his white teeth flashing in the darkness. “There’s an old saying in Texas: “‘If you don’t like the weather, wait around and it’ll change.’“
Harm flipped the light switch. “The storm must’ve knocked out the power.” He lifted the phone receiver. “Phone’s dead, too.” Walking over to the kitchen cabinets, he pulled down a lantern and some matches. Once lit, the lantern cast a warm glow throughout Sally’s ranch house. He carried the lantern and set it down on an end table next to the couch.
Jena looked around as Harm squatted in front of the fireplace to build a fire. The house was just as she remembered it: a stone fireplace, two soft brown leather couches facing each other, a throw rug woven in earth tones graced the front of the fireplace, a kitchen and dining area melted right into the living room, a bathroom off the left and a bedroom exited from the right. It was a very small, very cozy house.
Harm tossed the cushions off one of the couches and pulled on the foldout bed. As he straightened the white sheets and burgundy insulated covers that were still on it, she asked, “What are you doing?”
He walked over to her and quickly turned her away from him. As he unzipped her dress, he said, “I’m trying to get us dry and warm.”
Jena clung to the material plastered to her as he tried to pull it off her body. “Can’t we just use towels or something?”
He peeled the sodden dress all the way off. “Nope. Sally requested all her clothes, towels, and sheets be donated to charity when she died. All that’s left is what’s on this bed and the one in her bedroom.” He paused for a second and then continued. “It surprises me that I can remember that, but I can’t remember us.”
He unsnapped her bra, his fingers lingering on her skin before he slipped the straps down her shoulders. “Nice panties,” he commented when his hands moved to her underwear.
Jena kicked off her shoes and slipped her panties off herself. She dove under the covers, grinding her teeth at his chuckle.
Okay, I can handle this. He’s just trying to keep me from freezing to death. She snuggled into the warmth of the covers and watched as he pulled the chairs from the kitchen table closer to the fire and hung her clothes over them to dry.
Her breath caught in her throat as he began to peel away his own clothes. Strong, muscular arms surfaced along with broad shoulders and an equally impressive chest. Light brown hair clung to his chest as it veed down to his sculpted abs and narrow hips. He pulled off his boots and socks before reaching for the button on his jeans. As he released the first button, her entire body tensed in suspense. She felt like a voyeur.
Jena looked up and saw his heated gaze on her. He wanted her to watch him. What a turn on! Her mouth went dry at the sight of his long, thick shaft that emerged as he pulled off his wet pants. He wanted her. She clenched her legs together to put a damper on her swelling lust.
When he turned to put his clothes on the chairs, she appreciated his backside that consisted of two perfectly sculpted balls of muscle. She wanted to cop a feel so bad her palms itched. Jena closed her eyes before she moaned out loud.
A few seconds passed and then the bed dipped as Harm climbed into it. She kept her eyes shut, facing the fire. Maybe he’ll…
Jena jumped when he reached over and cupped her breast, using his hold on her to pull her back against his chest. “Mmmm, now this is my idea of getting warm,” he purred into her ear before placing a kiss on her neck. “Sit up for a second, sweetheart.”
Jena pulled th
e covers around her naked breasts and sat up, facing the fire. When Harm began to rub her wet hair with a towel, she turned back to him, her eyebrow raised. “I thought you said all the towels were donated.”
Harm lifted the kitchen towel. “I remembered these. Your hair is soaking wet. Now turn around so I can dry it.”
Jena did as he asked. He’d obviously taken the towel to his own hair because it stood up on his head, going in a zillion crazy directions. How the man look even sexier with his hair tousled, she had no idea, but damnit, he did.
She leaned into his hands and moaned as Harm’s long fingers massaged her scalp through the thin towel. The surety of his hands, the warmth of the fire soaking into her skin, made her feel safe and cared for.
When Harm traced a finger down her spine, goosebumps appeared on her arms, making her shiver. “You have a beautiful body, Jena,” he whispered as he pulled her down to the bed and rolled her over on her back, bracketing her in with his arms. His handsome face hovered over hers. “Tell me about us.” His brow creased. “Starting with your last name. It really bothers me that I can’t remember.”
She placed her hands on his hard chest, loving the feel of muscles underneath her fingers. “It’s Jena Lee.” I’m not really lying. Lee is my middle name. “We met through a mutual friend and have had kind of a long distance relationship for a little over a year. I live in Maryland. We get together when we can.” She chuckled. “That’s probably why you can’t remember me. I’m not in-your-face every day of your life.”
She gulped over the next lie she was about to tell, but she realized now was the perfect time to give Harm his fantasy—the one he seemed determined to refuse to believe in. “You asked me to marry you. I told you I’d come stay for a while and we’d decide from there.”
His brown eyes narrowed. “First of all, I’d never settle for a long distance relationship. Second of all, I’m not a casual sex kind of guy.”
She caught herself just before she said, Shyeah, right.
“Third of all, my head hurts from trying to figure out why the hell I’d let you get away in the first place. But it sounds to me like I’ve been remiss in certain areas or you’d have said yes as soon as I asked.”
She chuckled at his arrogant comment. “Pretty sure of yourself aren’t you?”
He ran his hand down her cheek and along her jaw line, making her tremble at the feeling of his work roughened hands gently touching her face. “No, I’m sure about us. What I feel when I’m with you is indescribable, Jena.”
Her heart contracted at his words. He seemed to truly believe them. She smiled and pulled his head down to hers saying, “Kiss me, cowboy. And make it a good one.”
Harm gently brushed his lips against hers. She melted into him, opening her mouth for a deeper kiss. His tongue caressed hers, mated with her while he cupped her breast in his warm hand.
When he pinched her nipple between his fingers, she arched against him, moaning into his mouth. His thick thigh slid in between her legs as he kissed his way down her jaw and neck before capturing her nipple into his hot, moist mouth.
“Harm,” she sighed, pressing closer. “Please tell me you have a condom in your jeans.”
His low laugh rumbled against her chest. “Yes, two as a matter of fact, but I want to save them for later.” His tongue created a searing path down her stomach as his fingers slipped between her legs. He found her wet slit and immediately plunged two fingers inside.
“Ohmigod.” His aggressive invasion put her on the edge of an orgasm.
Harm slowed his pace, saying, “Not yet,” as he kissed his way down her navel, pausing to lick the crease where her leg joined her body. She never thought of that spot as an erogenous zone, but he just proved that part of her body was very sensitive indeed. His hot mouth had her juices flowing, gathering for his dining pleasure.
He settled between her legs and laved a hot path from the back of her knee up to her inner thigh, touching her labia, then starting the same path on the other leg. She bucked as he got closer to her wet entrance, but he pressed her hips back down on the bed. “Not yet. I want you wetter.”
“I can’t get much wetter,” she panted.
His dark eyes met hers. “Yes, you can. I want you dripping, Jena. I want more to taste, more to enjoy.”
Jena let her head fall back, “Oh lord.” His sensual words set an ache coursing through her body. “Touch me, Harm.” And he did.
He slid his finger from her clit to that sensitive spot between her vagina and her rectum and pressed. Holy Jamolie. She’d never felt anything like that before. Lust surged, hot and heavy, curling through her system. She gripped the sheets and begged. “Taste me.”
He dipped his head and swiped his tongue across her slit until he found her clitoris. When he sucked on the responsive bud, she almost bucked him off of her.
He chuckled and shoved her hips back down on the bed once more. “You’re the damnedest filly I’ve ever seen. Sit still so I can love you.”
“I can’t,” she gasped when he again slid a finger in her aching, pulsing vagina and pressed on her hot spot deep inside. She lifted her hips once more and begged. “Now! It’s too much, Harm, I can’t wait.”
He tilted her hips and devoured her sex. Jena didn’t think she could get any hotter, but the man took her twenty degrees higher. Every stroke of his tongue, every rough rasp had her teetering on the edge of her orgasm.
“God, you taste good. Sweet and musky and…” he groaned against her. “I swear I might come just from the taste of you,” he growled and delved his tongue deep inside her slit.
“Don’t you dare,” she growled back as her hips lifted to meet his tongue’s thrusts.
He pressed on her clitoris with his thumb, rubbing the aching nub in small circles. “Come, Jena. I’m hungry. I want more.”
“Harm!” she screamed his name as her climax jolted though her, sending vibration after vibration crashing within her. Harm pressed closer, lapping every last drop as if she was the finest dessert and he wanted to lick the bowl clean.
He lowered her hips to the bed, leaned over, grabbed his jeans and pulled, sending the chair over on its side as the soggy pants clung to the furniture. Digging out a condom, he swiftly sheathed his cock and braced himself above her as he settled between her legs.
“Yes.” Jena sucked in her breath when the head of his cock slid inside her.
He pushed further into her, groaning as she contracted her sheath around him. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You’re so tight. Relax, sweetheart, accept me.”
She breathed out slowly, focusing on relaxing and not the stretching of highly sensitized skin.
“Jena, honey, I can’t…I have to…”
She lifted her hips and accepted his powerful thrust as he sank to the hilt deep inside her.
He stopped and stared into her eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I want you deeper,” she sighed and rocked her hips.
He bucked at her words, groaning in response as she intentionally clenched her muscles around him.
She put her hands on his shoulders and met his intense gaze. “I want it hard and fast. Don’t hold back.”
Harm began to move within her, his breathing turning choppy as he withdrew and drove home again and again.
“More,” she demanded. And he obliged until the entire couch rocked with their movements. She gyrated her hips and moved her hands to cup his firm buttocks, pulling him closer. “Harder.”
“Demanding woman,” he ground out as he folded her legs, pressing her thighs to her sides and pistoned into her once, twice more.
He felt so right. The perfect length, his cock created wonderful friction within her. “Harm, oh God, yes!” She screamed as her orgasm hit, flooding through her, rolling into another one as he continued his unrelenting pace until their bodies were spent.
Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her hard before meeting her gaze with a very determined one. “You’re not going back to Maryland
, Jena.”
Before she could reply, he rolled onto his back and pulled her with him, settling her against his chest.
Jena didn’t respond to his assumption she’d consent to be his wife. For pity’s sake the man had amnesia. He wasn’t in his right mind. She ran her hand over the glistening hair on his chest, this time wet from their exertions.
Laying her chin on his chest, she met his melting gaze. “Tell me why you’ve shied away from marriage until now.”
He combed his fingers through her slightly damp hair and gave a half smile. “My parents have stayed in a loveless marriage. I’ve seen what it’s done to both of them. I didn’t think I’d ever find someone I’d be willing to spend the rest of my life with. As much as I hate to see my parents unhappy, I respect their commitment to their vows, till death do they part. When I marry, it’s for life.”
“Ah, now I see,” she said as she moved to place her head on his chest.
He grasped her chin. “Uh-uh. You’re turn. Why did you come to Texas?”
Jena hesitated to answer him. The truth was, not only was she in lust with the amazing man, she really liked him as a person. She’d always trusted her instincts on first impressions. But because of his connection with Sally, she knew more about him. Yeah, he was sexy and adventurous, but his character drew her in the most. He was fair in his business dealings, a great neighbor to Sally, believed deeply in his convictions, a gentleman from his head to his heart.
She answered honestly. “I feel a connection with you on a deeper level.” She sighed, flipping her hand. “I know that sounds silly.”
“No, it doesn’t, Jena. I’d lost faith I’d ever meet someone that felt as connected to me as I do to her.” He rubbed his forehead and winced. “How did we meet?”
She looked at his forehead. “You’ll have a nasty bruise tomorrow. I believe you have a mild concussion.”
He chuckled. “You sound like a doctor.”
“Close.” She grinned. “Well, kind of. I’m a nurse practitioner.” Oooh, an idea was forming. “That’s how we met. I was here for a medical convention.” Please don’t let him ask about the whole ‘mutual friend’ thing.
Bad in Boots: Harm's Hunger Page 3