Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas #1)(54)

“Emily…?”

Shit. I knew this was coming.

“Look at me.”

“No.”

I stayed put, but Jake touched his hand to my cheek and turned my face toward his. He took in the sight of me, which was probably pretty rough. “Oh, hell. I’d like to choke you.”

“Why don’t you, then?”

“Because I’d rather do this,” he said, placing his mouth over mine.

The potency of his kiss threw my senses off, making me tingle from head to toe as my breath bottomed out. He was kindling for me—one tiny spark and I was on fire. His tongue explored my mouth, feeding the flames growing inside me, burning me from the inside out.

Jake pulled off my pink camouflage shirt, tossed it aside, and his gaze fixated on my breasts as if surprised by my lack of bra. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he touched my neck and ran his hand slowly down my chest, making my breath catch in my throat. He stripped off his open camo shirt and laid it on the ground before maneuvering me onto my back. His shirt separated my soft skin from the hard wooden floor.

Wandering eyes and hands feasted on my exposed skin, taunting me with every touch until I was limp and pliable. The torture was too much. I reached down and unsnapped my jeans, inviting him to go further. He stripped off his black T-shirt, revealing his tanned muscular physique. Making quick work of it, Jake yanked the jeans from my hips and slid them off, along with my shoes. It left me completely nude.

“I’d swear you planned this,” he said, grinning.

I shrugged. “It’s laundry day.” And I never saw much point in wearing only half my underwear. After all, isn’t that why they make matching bras and panties?

Jake leaned over me and put his mouth on my neck while I traced my fingers over the muscles on his back, feeling them bulge and tighten under my grip. He moved up my throat, kissed my chin, then trailed his tongue back into my mouth where the sexual tension between us exploded.

Without words, he kneed my thighs apart and fumbled with the button on his jeans. Then he stopped. A pained expression seized his face. “Damn it,” he whispered, looking at his watch. “Hank’s back early.”

“How do you know?”

“I can hear him whistling in the distance.” Jake shoved my clothes at me. “Hurry and get dressed.”

We slithered back into our clothes as quickly as possible and made it outside as Hank walked up. We were both still rearranging and smoothing, making sure our clothing was in order. I could imagine how bad it looked.

“I heard the gun shot. You two get any action?”

Hank caught the uncomfortable look Jake and I exchanged, and although he didn’t say anything, he barely kept a straight face. I’d swear he’d done it on purpose.

“Don’t ask,” Jake grumbled.

…

At dinner, Floss announced she’d invited some of the neighbors for a barbecue the next afternoon. The idea of being around new people excited me, like a prisoner allowed her first visitors. Or maybe it was more like I was given privileges after serving time with good behavior. Okay, that was pushing it.

It was supposed to be potluck, but Floss still had a list of foods she wanted to prepare. Ox and Judd volunteered to set up tables and chairs downstairs, Cowboy offered to clean the pool, Jake would mow using the tractor, and Hank would fire up the large barrel smoker he had proudly welded himself.

“Well, what about me? What can I do to help?”

Floss smiled. “You can pitch in anywhere you see fit.”

It was barely a step above “stand around and look pretty,” but I accepted it. No one thought I could do anything right. I may not be a country girl, but at least I tried to help. Floss wasn’t trying to hurt my feelings, but I still wanted an E for effort.

I swallowed another bite of my dinner and smiled. “I’ve never been one for stew, but this chicken is great, Floss.” All three of them looked up from their bowls and stared. “What? Do I have food on my face or something?”

“Never seen a chicken with four legs before,” Hank said.

A surge of panic shot through me. “What the hell am I eating, then?”

They chuckled as Jake wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Rabbit stew. It’s good, right? Want some more?”

I pushed my bowl away. “I’m full, thank you.” My legs shook as I weakly stumbled toward the front door.

Jake yelled out after me. “Mind over matter, Emily! If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.” And the three of them laughed some more.

Nauseated, I could’ve easily crawled into bed and gone to sleep, but I had to check something first. I was tired, but there was no way I’d be able to go to sleep without knowing. I grabbed a flashlight and headed for the backside of the barn.

Halfway there, I heard the front door open on the main house. Jake was probably heading to the cottage. He’d be surprised when he realized I wasn’t there and hadn’t told him where I went. Good. I smiled, thinking how it served him right. Let him worry for five minutes. It won’t kill him.

Approaching the cage, Jack hopped around gleefully at the sight of me, hoping for a carrot. Twitcher stayed in the back corner, sizing me up and growling like a guard dog. I was relieved Jack was okay, though Twitcher stew wouldn’t have bothered me much.

Jake’s voice came from behind me. “I knew you’d be out here.”