The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)(87)

“I can be quiet. The noise problem is all you, honey.” He offered a sweet, sexy grin that weakened her knees. “Brought you a present.”

“For me?”

“Yes, you.” He dug into his pockets and pulled out handfuls of ripped paper. “Your contract had to go,” he said, “and a new one had to be drafted.” He lifted an eight-by-eight frame he must have propped against the house before he’d started throwing those rocks.

She peered down and read, “‘I, Jase Hollister, give Brook Lynn Dillon all the nights, mornings and afternoons she so desperately desires. I’m in this thing long-term.’”

He was giving her more than she could ever have hoped. Happy tears stung her eyes as she set the plaque down and cupped his cheeks, her thumbs stroking over his stubble. “Get in here. Your presence isn’t invited—it’s commanded.”

He took her hands, squeezed. “You get to command me now? That’s how this works?”

“Yes,” she said and heard rustling in nearby bushes. She moved aside so Jase could climb into the bedroom, in case wild animals were out scavenging. When he stood before her, she closed and covered the window and gripped the hem of his shirt, ready to tug the material over his head. “But don’t worry. You’ll soon be thanking me.”

*

NAKED AND SATED, Brook Lynn snuggled into the warmth and security of Jase’s hard body. They’d gone at it like animals, dozed and then gone at it again. And the sex had been amazing, just as before. But—

I’m such a slag, adding a but.

But. Since they’d committed to each other, she’d expected something...more. More intimate. More meaningful. More emotional than physical.

I’m seriously complaining about four orgasms? I think I can hear women all over the world cocking their guns to shoot me.

“Should we call ourselves Brase?” she asked to distract herself. “Or maybe J-rook? Jaselynn?”

He snorted.

“Too soon for a Hollywood nickname?”

“Considering the things we’ve done to each other,” he said, “nothing is too soon.” He smoothed the hair from her temple and stroked the shell of her ear, careful of the implant.

She tensed at first, but the more he did it, the more she liked it, and soon she was leaning in to the touch. It was so new, a pleasure she hadn’t known she could have until him. “Are you really my boyfriend?”

“I am.”

“And I’m...”

“My girlfriend.”

She kissed the spot just above his heart and stroked her fingers over his chest. “Then I need to know more about you. Where are you from?”

“Oklahoma City. But I’ve lived in Mustang, Yukon, Norman, Moore...McAlester. Even Pawnee.”

“Have a favorite?”

His arms tightened around her. “Definitely Strawberry Valley.”

She playfully bit his nipple. “Trying to seduce me when I’m already naked?”

“Maybe it’s not only your body I’m hoping to seduce,” he grumbled.

Her mind? Her...heart? She sucked in a breath. It was far too soon in their relationship for love...right?

A pang shot through her...one of longing. Was that what had been missing from their lovemaking—the love?

I want him to love me, she realized. And he could—surely. I won this from him. I can win more.

“What about you?” he asked.

“I’ve been here all my life,” she said. “Never really wanted to live anywhere else.”

“Is there somewhere you’ve wanted to visit?”

“Wichita Mountain.” She remembered the way Harlow Glass had bragged about all the fun she and her family had there, climbing Mount Scott, seeing the patchwork of lakes, the rock formations and the bison herds.

“Camping?” He laughed. “You?”

“Hey! I told you we did it once a year when I was a kid. I excel at camping.”

He rolled her to her back, a grin still in place. “I’d like to go camping right now. At Lake Bliss. And I know just where I want to stake my tent.”

She moaned as he slipped a finger deep inside her.

A vibration rattled the nightstand. A ring followed.

“Ignore it,” Jase said, kissing her neck. “The rest of the world no longer exists.”

“But what if Jessie Kay needs me?”

He lifted his head to check. “It’s not Jessie Kay. It’s—” He whipped out an arm and swiped up the phone. “You’ve missed a call and two texts from Brad.” His tone had gone flat, his eyes dark. “He’d like to go out again.”

It reminded her of the anger he’d displayed at the wine-and-cheese tasting, the moment he’d gone still—a predator preparing to strike—and gave her a momentary twinge of unease. “I’ll tell him no,” she said, knowing she should have taken care of this already. This wasn’t the first time Brad had contacted her. “Tomorrow, after work.”

Jase gave a clipped shake of his head. “Now. This second.”

“No way. I’ll do it in person, not through a text.”

“Fine,” he said. “But you’ll do it this morning.”

I willingly hitched my wagon to an alpha. What did I expect? “First, you’ll need to adjust your tone if you want results. Second, I have too much to do at your place.”