The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles #1)(16)

She let out a nervous giggle. "You just saw me yesterday."

His lopsided grin stole her breath. "I still missed you, sugar. How about a kiss?"

Before she could reply, his lips crushed to hers. This wasn’t the gentle kiss of two nights ago. This was a desperate kiss, a possessive kiss, as though he’d been hungry for the taste of her for days, weeks. He thrust his tongue into her mouth with fierce determination and he devoured her.

She loved every second of it.

She kissed him back with equal fervor. God, she’d missed him, too. She hadn’t realized how much.

Moisture trickled between her legs. One kiss, and she was ready to be thoroughly f*cked.

He broke from her mouth, panting. "I need you, sugar. Are we alone?"

"Yeah." Her voice was low and raspy. "Everyone else left for the day."

"Good." He lifted her skirt, moved her panties aside and thrust his fingers into her. "Already so wet for me. Do you have any idea what you do to me, sugar?"

"Maybe a little." Her breath came in a puff.

"God, you’ve gotta know." He turned her and bent her over her desk. Her stapler bit into her midsection, but she didn’t care. She heard the zing of his zipper, then the rip of a condom packet.

"You ready for me?" His low voice was music to her ears.

"Yes. Please."

He thrust into her in one smooth stroke. He’d barely plunged in the second time when her walls clenched, sending icy spasms from her womb to every cell in her body.

"Jack, yes!" Ripples pulsed through her.

"Yeah, sugar, come for me. Just like that." He thrust into her again, then once more, burying his cock in her as he cried out his own release.

The weight of his body pushed her farther onto the stapler and the hardness of her wooden desk. He pressed wet kisses to her neck, making her shudder as her orgasm continued to roll through her. She panted against her day planner and beads of sweat trickled across her cheeks and dropped onto the open book.

"Holly, I wish..." His voice trailed off, and he rose, leaving her feeling an acute loss when his body heat and weight left her. With a tender touch, he replaced her skirt and panties.

She unbent her body, turned, and faced him. "You wish what?"

"Nothing." He smiled and disposed of the condom in her wastebasket, then pulled his pants around his luscious narrow hips, zipped them and buckled his belt. "Come on. It’s a forty-five minute drive to my place from here. Luisa’s keeping dinner for us."

"Luisa?" Holly pictured a sultry Hispanic woman as she smoothed her underwear and skirt.

"She keeps house for me and watches Sam while I work," Jack said. Her husband is my hired hand around the ranch."

Husband. Whew. Holly relaxed a little.

"Do they live on your ranch?"

"Yeah. There’s a small house adjacent to the main house. They live there."

"That’s handy."

"Works for all of us. At least it will till they decide to have their own family. Then I’ll need to find different help."

"Oh." Everywhere around her, it seemed children and family were the focus. Always a reminder of why this relationship with Jack wouldn’t work long term.

But why think of that now? She could enjoy the weekend with him and meet his son. She just wouldn’t get attached—to his son or to his home. She was already attached to him, and heartbreak was just around the corner.

She forced a smile. "Ready?"

His grin lit his raw male beauty. "You bet.





Holly laughed as they rode through the gate to Jack’s ranch. The sign above it said Rancho Notso Grande.

"Nice name."

He chuckled. "Sam came up with it."

"Did he really?"

"Yeah. Luisa teaches him a little Spanish now and then. Her husband, Carlos, doesn’t speak much English and Jack wanted to talk to him. Last year he decided our little operation needed a name and that’s what he came up with."

"He sounds smart."

"I’m sure I’m a bit biased—" Jack winked at her, and her heart leaped. "—but I think he’s the most brilliant six-year-old on the planet."

Holly couldn’t help but smile. Jack loved his son. He was a doting daddy, as he should be. If only....

He pulled his red pick-up to a stop in front of a sprawling ranch house.

"Wow," Holly said under her breath.

"It looks bigger from the outside," Jack said. "It’s actually pretty cozy."

Warmth crept to her cheeks. "I didn’t think you heard that. It looks gorgeous to me."

"I hope you like it." He exited the truck and in seconds opened the passenger door for her. All that and a gentleman, too.

Oh, this would be difficult.

He grabbed her overnight bag out of the back and led her up the driveway and into the house.

"Daddy!" A small boy ran into Jack’s arms.

"Hey, buddy." Jack pulled the child into a bear hug and kissed the top of his head. "I want you to meet Miss Holly. She’s the friend I told you about."

The boy turned to Holly and she melted. He was Jack in miniature, only his ebony eyelashes were even longer than his father’s, if that were possible. He had the same dark eyes and sable hair, and an adorable elfin face that promised handsomeness in the future.