Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas #1)(18)

My nostrils flared, and I saw red. “Funny, I don’t recall your dick having any problems getting hard the other times.”

“You know what? I was wrong. You don’t need sex. You need a f*cking Valium.”

“Who said anything about sex? You’re quite presumptuous. It was just a kiss, nothing more. No offer of anything else.”

Jake grinned. “Oh, you made an offer all right, whether you admit it or not. Now you’re mad because I didn’t take you up on it.”

My head spun, and my heart pounded. What he said was true, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “Better hope no one comes for me and accidentally shoots you between the eyes. It might puncture your ego and let all of the swelling out of your head.”

“Excuse me for being a gentleman. I’m not a guy who takes advantage of someone in an emotionally vulnerable state.”

“Laaaame.”

“What’s lame?”

“You are. And stupid. That’s your idiotic attempt at shifting the responsibility onto me. Gentleman, my ass. You weren’t such a gentleman in the club, either. So don’t think for one second I’m buying it.” Jake sat there stewing in his own juices. I had pushed his buttons, rendering him speechless. “Do you know what bothered you about that kiss?” I asked, not waiting for him to answer. “You obviously wanted it to lead to something more.”

“Jesus Christ, woman! We don’t have to have sex. There’s enough damn friction between us to last a lifetime.”

“What’s wrong? Afraid you might enjoy it?”

“It’s sex. Of course, I’d enjoy it. That’s why it can’t happen.” Jake held my gaze. I recognized a battle of wills when I saw one. Not only that, but he was losing. That’s why his feathers were ruffled. “Sex is intimate and has a psychological element to it,” he added.

“Take the intimacy out of the equation.”

“I can’t,” he said, giving me a contemplative look. “You know I’m leaving tomorrow. That leaves a moral and ethical dilemma to consider.”

“You said it yourself, Jake…I know what this is. It’s been clearly stated. There aren’t going to be any issues to air out later. No strings attached. Just keep it casual.”

Jeez. Either I was twisted, or my brain had taken a leave of absence. Everything coming out of my mouth was bullshit. I knew it, but I couldn’t stop the flow. I’d relish in the moment and suffer the consequences later. And, as bad as I had it for him, there would be some definite consequences.

I didn’t want him to leave. When my parents died, I refused to say good-bye to anyone else. Jake would be my first good-bye after all these years. He’d leave, and I’d be alone. It was a vicious circle.

With no warning, Jake grabbed me by the back of my neck and covered my mouth with his. I didn’t hesitate to kiss him back as he dipped his tongue inside and swirled it in time with mine. His warm hand found its way under my shirt, cupping my breast, rubbing my nipple between his fingers.

I pulled at Jake’s shirt until he released me long enough to help jerk it over his head. He tossed it to the floor and yanked mine off as well. Then, he pushed me back onto the bed, sliding his hands over me. He slipped a nipple in between his teeth and gently tugged on it. Pleasure raced through my body in surges, making me arc farther into his awaiting mouth.

My nether region was on fire. The sensations were well worth surrendering to, but I’d pay dearly when it came time for him to leave. This was all we would have. One night together.

“Do you have a condom?”

“The FBI taught me to always be prepared,” he said, grinning.

I smiled back. “Even when it’s meaningless sex?”

His face turned serious. “I don’t do meaningless sex.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I didn’t have time to respond before his hand found its way inside my pants and pushed them down. I kicked them off my feet as Jake hovered over me, staring down the length of my body. He wasn’t moving anymore. One minute, he was unbuttoning his pants, and the next, he was frozen in time.

“Okay, what the f*ck is that?” he asked.



Chapter Four

I glanced down to see what I had missed. “Oh, shit! Well, it’s…uh…”

Jake’s eyes met mine. “Did aliens invade your pants and leave crop circles in their wake?”

Heat filled my face. “It’s a botched trim job. I forgot about it. If it’s a problem, then we can stop…” I tried to roll out from under him, but he clamped his hand on my shoulder and held me there.

“I work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he reminded me. “It’s my duty to investigate this, er…sighting…to the best of my ability.” He grinned.

Wiseass.

“Stay here,” Jake said. “I’ll be back.”

“Oh, come on! It’s not that bad.”

Once again, his eyes flitted down and back up. “No, but it isn’t that good, either.”

“Then don’t bother.” I tried to nudge him off me, but he didn’t budge.

He lowered his mouth to mine, kissed me hungrily, and then traced his tongue to my ear. “I’m just getting a condom,” he whispered, his voice aching with desire. “Rules of Protection, right?”