Rules of Protection (Tangled in Texas #1)(93)

I helped Floss make a pot of beef stew, peeling and cutting carrots and potatoes for her, while she prepared the stew meat. With the ingredients thrown together in her large black boiler, the stew simmered, and Floss whipped up some sweet cornbread. She sent me downstairs to the cottage to tell Jake dinner was almost ready.

It was nearly dark outside. Dog had already taken up his post in his usual spot on the cottage porch. I toed him to see if he’d move, but as usual, he lay there like road kill. Bending at the waist, I gave him a quick pat on the head and stepped over him to go into the cottage.

Jake had just gotten out of the shower. Water droplets dotted his back, and his wavy brown hair looked almost black when wet. A towel, wrapped low around his waist, revealed a small treasure trail of hair under his belly button. Jeez. What I wouldn’t give to be a leprechaun and follow it to his pot of gold. Though I doubted Jake’s interest in short mischievous Irishmen with red beards.

I blinked the lust-filled glaze from my eyes and sighed inwardly. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay,” Jake said. “So, you want to talk about what happened now or later?”

“Nothing to talk about.”

“I want to know why you’re upset with me,” he said from the bathroom.

“It was nothing.” Only that he had conned me into foolishly admitting my feelings and hadn’t bothered returning them. No biggie.

Defensively, I moved to the window and lifted the curtain. The last of the fading light made its escape behind the horizon. Through the pane of glass, I watched bugs swarm the security lights and listened to the crickets chirp.

A prickling sensation ran up my spine as Jake came up behind me. He pressed his muscled torso into my back, one hand at my waist. He gently pushed my hair off my neck and touched his lips to my skin. Hot waves of lust slid into my belly.

“It was something,” Jake insisted. “So, like I said…now or later?”

I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep, slow breath, but didn’t answer him. Preoccupied by his lips on my neck, I wasn’t sure what to say. “I can’t think…”

“If you say now, I’ll stop,” he breathed into my ear. “If you say later… Well, things are going to get much worse before they get better.” I could hear the suggestive smirk in his voice.

Whether Jake loved me or not became a moot point. He wanted me, even if it was only for pleasure. We were two hamsters stuck in a cage together, running on a wheel nowhere fast. Although the outcome of the evening would only cause me pain, I didn’t care. I wanted him, even if he didn’t want me the same way.

He nibbled lightly on the side of my neck, waiting for an answer, but I couldn’t speak. All I could do was bend my neck back, giving him further access to my throat—the only answer he needed.

“Later it is,” he said, allowing his towel to fall at our feet.

I turned to face him, devouring him with my eyes. My fingers splayed across his chest, feeling the firm pectoral muscles stacked on top of the bulging six-pack he proudly displayed. He was excited and eager—obvious from the moment he dropped the towel—but his touch was surprisingly tender.

He framed my face with his large, callused hands, and his mouth moved over mine. I gripped his wrists, while his tongue slowly probed deep inside, seeking my response. A low moan escaped our tightly locked lips. I wasn’t sure if it was his or mine. He pulled back slightly, running his tongue over my bottom lip and sucking gently before releasing it.

This was unlike the other times when he’d let passion consume him, practically ripping the clothes from my body. Most women want a man to take his time, gentling her, preparing her body for his lovemaking. But, to me, it felt like Jake held back.

As he maneuvered me to the bed, we heard a truck speeding down the driveway. Jake turned back to the window and peeked out the curtain.

“It’s Cowboy,” he said, looking concerned. “Something’s wrong. He never hauls ass up the drive.” Jake reached for the towel, wrapping it around his waist.

“You’re going to have to do better than that,” I said, stifling a surge of laughter. “You look like you’re ready for a fencing match, and I doubt he’s armed.”

Jake looked down and gave me an impatient sigh. “Knowing Cowboy, I’d say he’s always armed. Thankfully, he’s not interested in a sword fight.” Jake threw the towel on the floor and pulled on a pair of jeans that rested low on his hips. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, stepping out.

When I licked my lips, I could taste Jake. It was the taste of a confident, sensual lover, who would’ve delivered the performance of his life in bed. Had Cowboy showed up ten minutes later, I would’ve been writhing under Jake’s hard frame, smothering in his masculinity. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I blew out a breath, calming my desire for intimacy to a more manageable level.

A few more minutes went by, but Jake hadn’t returned. I peeked out the window to see him and Cowboy in deep conversation with Hank and Floss under the security lights in the driveway. Jake was upset, staring at the ground with his hands tightly clenched into fists. I went outside to join them. Everyone quieted as I walked up, and no one would look me in the eyes.

“What’s going on?” I asked. Nobody answered. “Jake…tell me.”

“A man in town is asking questions about you,” he said, as the vein on his temple bulged outward.