Understood (Unspoken #1)(6)

She flushed a delicate pink, her cheeks blooming as her eyes flared.

“Yes, but I’ve never said what I have to say before.”

His pulse surged and ratcheted up about twenty beats per minute.

“What is it you want to say to me?” he asked softly.

“You said…you said that I’d have to come to you.”

He arched an eyebrow. Did this mean what he thought it meant?

“That I did, sweetheart,” he drawled.

“Well, I’m here,” she blurted.

He closed the remaining distance between them in a split second. There were only inches between them as he looked down at her. She looked hesitant. Soft and unsure. Her eyes gleamed with need. She took his breath away.

“Do you know what you’re saying?” he asked hoarsely.

She nodded. “I want you, Jake,” she whispered.

He cupped her chin in his palm, enjoying the feel of her softness against his calloused fingers. As much as he’d sworn never to touch her while she was married to Ray, he now ached to kiss her. He’d waited too damn long for her to tell him she wanted him.

He lowered his mouth to hers. She let out a small feminine gasp before touching him sweetly with her lips. Her hands feathered over his face, her fingertips touching and stroking as he deepened the kiss.

She tasted of mint and the sweet tea she always drank. He inhaled, wanting her scent deep inside him. Her tongue brushed lightly over his upper lip, and he opened his mouth to let her inside.

Finally remembering he was mauling her in public and they likely had more than a dozen interested onlookers, he pulled away, desperately sucking mouthfuls of air into his lungs.

He dug around in his pocket and retrieved his keys. With shaking hands, he unhooked his house key from the ring and held it out to her.

“Go to my house. Let yourself in and wait for me.”

He swept her into his arms for one last kiss.

“I want you naked, in my bed, waiting for me to get home. I’ll be there just as soon as I can.”

She blinked and her fingers curled around the key he laid in her palm. “O-okay.”

He trailed a finger through her hair before brushing it softly across her lips.

She backed away, looking hungrily at him. It was all he could do not to toss her over his shoulder again and take her home immediately. Damn it, he was going to be civilized about this.

“Go on, sweetheart. I’ll meet you there.”

She pushed back her curls from her face and got into her car. Seconds later, she backed out the drive and headed down the road.

Jake turned around and strode back to his truck. He rolled up the schematics and headed to the building site to find Luke. A few minutes later, he thumped the papers over Luke’s chest.

“All yours, buddy. I’m out of here for the day. You can deal with this from here.”

Luke worked to keep a grin from his face. The smug bastard.

“I’ll run them over to the office and let Ellie make the changes,” Luke said innocently.

“I gave her the afternoon off,” Jake growled. “Don’t call me. I’ll call you.”

He turned and walked away before Luke could rag on him further.

Chapter Four

Ellie turned onto Jake’s street and drove toward his house. She didn’t glance over as she approached the house she used to live in. The one just two houses down from Jake’s.She registered its passing but wouldn’t give in to the urge to see if it still looked as evil as she remembered. She hadn’t been down this street since the night she’d run out in the middle of the night.

She hadn’t known where to go, hadn’t realized she was at Jake’s door until he’d opened it and hauled her sobbing body inside.

Her hands shook, and she tapped on the accelerator, anxious for the house to be out of her periphery. Ahead, Jake’s house loomed, and she turned into his driveway.

She used to love this neighborhood. When she and Ray had married, he’d surprised her by buying the house in the upscale development. She’d dreamed of children playing in the yard, backyard barbeques and socializing with the neighbors. Instead she’d spent her days praying she wouldn’t become pregnant and avoiding the neighbors for fear they’d know all her dirty secrets.

Her legs shook as she made her way up the paved walkway to Jake’s front door. The shrubbery lining the walk was all well maintained and manicured. The lawn was freshly mowed. It ought to be since she made sure a crew came out weekly to keep up Jake’s yard.

She stopped at the door and inserted the key into the lock. When she pushed open the door, she was assailed by memories of that night…

“Ellie, what the hell are you doing here this time of night?” Jake demanded.

She all but threw herself into his arms, praying he wouldn’t turn her away.

“My God, Ellie, you’re bleeding! What happened? Where are you hurt?”

He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind him. She was sobbing. She could hear herself, but it seemed so far away. As if someone else was doing the crying.

“Ellie, talk to me. Where are you hurt? Do you want me to go get Ray?”

She’d panicked then, striking out, trying anything to get away.

Jake swore and held her tightly against him as she fought in vain to escape. She managed to break free for a moment. It was then he seemed to notice the torn clothing. The bruises forming on her face. The blood smeared on her thighs.