Framed and Hung (16 page)

Jake opened the door and pulled Zoe inside. With the outside world shut out, he leaned against the doorframe and pulled Zoe close.

She settled against his chest, dragging in a sharp breath. She only had to touch him and she came alive. Hunger rode her, firing her blood and making her pulse pound in her head. God help her, she was a lost cause.

Could she risk her heart again? After Des, her ex, she’d vowed to never let any guy control her again, and now she was putting her neck on the line. Was she ready for that?

As if he knew what she was thinking, Jake whispered, ‘It’s not about control, Zoe. No relationship should ever be about control. It’s about love and commitment. About putting that special person’s needs before your own. About give and take. About wanting the best for that other person.’ He slid his fingers under her chin and tilted her face upwards. ‘That’s what I feel for you, Zoe. Can you deal with it?’

Tears filled her eyes, but she held them back. She smiled although it was slightly wobbly. ‘I am so scared of being hurt again. When Des and I divorced, I realised what we’d thought was love was just sex, no real emotion. My head was screwed up and my psyche damaged, but not my heart. But with you…’ She reached up and wrapped her arms about his neck. ‘You could cut my heart to pieces and I might never survive. But for the first time in a long time, I’m willing to put my heart on the line, even if there’s a price to pay at the end.’

Jake swung her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed. After he’d laid her down, he stripped off his shirt and prepared to join her.

Zoe held up her hand. ‘No, wait, what about your great grandfather? I think he’s really cute, but I’d prefer he didn’t watch us.’

‘Good point.’ Jake rolled her over and grabbed the quilt off the bed, but before he could do anything with it, a sniggering laughter filled the room.

Zoe burst out laughing. ‘I told you, that old degenerate was just waiting for this to happen. Damn voyeur.’

The ghostly laughter subsided when Jake draped the quilt over the mirror, using bulldog clips from the desk to anchor it there.

By the time he turned back to Zoe, she’d taken things into her own hands and stripped off her clothes, all except for a tiny pair of red lace panties. She didn’t want to take all control from Jake, but she needed to show him she was willing to meet him halfway. Now she rested on her knees in the middle of the bed, awaiting Jake’s next move.

‘God, you’re so beautiful,’ he whispered as he shed his trousers and stood before her in a pair of black briefs.

Zoe registered the reverence in his gaze. It slid deep inside her and made her feel warm all over. Her heart swelled and she gave him a tremulous smile. ‘If you had any idea what the sight of you like that does to me, you wouldn’t be hovering over there.’

‘Woot!’ Jake gave a mighty yell and jumped, landing beside her on the bed.

Zoe bounced up and down, lost her balance, and rolled into Jake. The seriousness of the previous conversation dissolved as Jake held her down and tickled her along her rib cage. The release of tension flowed through Zoe and allowed her to join in the childish game, something she needed after the last 24 hours.

Then the laughter stopped and Zoe trapped Jake’s face between her palms. She took the time to look deep into his eyes and was astonished at what was reflected back at her. He really did care.

Pulling his head down, she slanted her mouth over his and captured his lips. He let her take the lead and opened his mouth to allow her access.

She tasted him, sent her tongue thrusting. He met her halfway, setting up a dance she was happy to follow. She couldn’t get enough of him. He fired her blood. Made her heart race until she thought it would explode.

It was his turn to direct proceedings. He broke off the kiss and rolled her onto her stomach. She sensed him hovering over her and then bucked when he trailed a string of kisses across her shoulders.

Warmth spread throughout her as she squirmed on the bed. But he didn’t stop there. He slipped farther down her body, branding her with his mouth as he went. He nibbled at the dip of her waist then laved the love bites with the tip of his tongue.

He moved onto her rear end, leaving hot, wet kisses that seared her through the lace of her panties. Zoe had never known her ass to be such an erogenous zone, but with Jake, anything was possible.

When he dragged the scrap of lace over her rear end and she felt the touch of his mouth on her bare skin, she bucked in response. Fire rushed through her. Her nipples peaked and she panted with need. And when Jake trailed his fingers over the cheeks of her ass, heading for her core, she thought she’d burst into flames.

‘Enough teasing, Jake.’ She groaned and lifted her rear end, silently begging him to touch where she burned the greatest.

As if he read her mind, he ran the tip of his fingers along her core, brushing at the nest of curls before reversing the procedure. A keening cry erupted from her when he parted her and rubbed his fingers in the moisture gathered there.

Zoe pushed her hips up, wanting, needing more. The breath gusted from her in a series of little sobs as she struggled to hold it together.

The tension built low in her gut, arrowing down to centre on her clit. With each tease of his fingers, her clit throbbed. She couldn’t take much more.

‘Damn you, Jake, fuck me already!’

He chuckled. ‘Hungry, my love?’

Then he thrust one finger into her core and Zoe almost came there and then. When he withdrew, she pushed backwards, trying to follow the glide of his fingers. ‘Jake! I can’t wait any longer.’

She felt him moving behind her, stripping off his underpants. Then he reached across her and grabbed a condom from the top drawer of the bedside table.

‘About time,’ she muttered, shaking with tension and impatience.

He positioned himself behind her again, grasped her hips and lifted her rear end. ‘God, you’re so wet and hot. Your pussy is so pretty. I could look at you like this forever.’

‘Jaaake!’

She felt the head of his cock at her entrance and then one long, hard thrust and he seated himself deep inside her. Zoe yelled out. He filled her, stretched her, pulsed inside her core. She tightened her muscles and heard his breath catch in reaction.

As if that was what he was waiting for, he pulled out and then slammed back into her. She met his every move, panting as she pushed back against him. The force of his thrusts ignited the fire inside her. Pushed her to move quicker, desperate for him to fill her. Straining for release.

She hovered there on the edge, breathy whimpers tumbling from her mouth. Then Jake reached down and trailed his fingers over her clit, caught it between thumb and finger.

Zoe shattered. Pleasure zapped through her. Rolled over her and stole her wits. A conflagration burst into life deep in her core and Zoe let go and rode it out, gasping for breath at the sheer eroticism of it.

As the cataclysmic orgasm lessened in intensity, Jake thrust into her. Hard. Fast. Once… Twice…

She felt his cock swell deep inside her. He held still for an infinitesimal moment and then shouted out his release.

Zoe screamed as the spasms hit her again, dragging her into another shattering orgasm. Jake draped himself over her back, his hands clasped about her hips, holding her tight as she milked him dry.

She collapsed onto the bed, Jake’s cock still buried deep. He rolled onto his side, taking her with him and spooning behind her. His harsh breaths bathed the back of her neck. Her own breathing wasn’t much better. His arms held her tight, as if he never wanted to let her go. She wasn’t about to object.

When she could finally make a rational comment, she whispered, ‘I think you’ve killed me. I’ll never be able to move again.’

‘Hell of a ride, wasn’t it? The first of many. I plan on proving to you that we can be good together, and I’m not just talking about sex here.’

She managed a chuckle. ‘And I still plan to make you lose control and come before me.’

‘Bring it on,’ he whispered, nuzzling her neck.

* * *

Jessie wandered along the footpath in front of the motel units on her way to the stables where she’d parked her car. A grin curved her lips when she passed her son’s room and heard the soft whispering coming through the door. Ahh, young love.

She was about to move away when she suddenly felt a nip on her rear end. She jumped and spun about, frowning at the wispy white column that stood behind her. Finger to her lips, she beckoned for it to follow her as she made her way towards the main part of the inn.

When she was far enough from Jake’s room that she wouldn’t be heard, she turned to the ghostly Joshua and grinned. ‘I told you to leave it to me and I’d fix it.’

Joshua snorted and held his arms in front of him, rocking them as if holding a baby.

‘Hey, give them a chance. They only just got together. These things take time.’

An eerie chuckle filled the air and the ghost spun on the spot, arms raised in a gesture of victory. The white mist dimmed, becoming fainter as Jessie turned and walked away.

At the last moment, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder. ‘I knew Zoe was perfect for my boy the moment I met her. That’s why I gave her the job.’ She chuckled. ‘When will my children learn that Mother always knows best?’

Ghostly laughter echoed through the night before fading into the darkness. Jessie gave a self-satisfied smile and moved on. All was right with her world.

Now for her youngest son…

BESTSELLING TITLES BY ESCAPE PUBLISHING…

Hidden Fire
Alexis Fleming

An Australian-set paranormal drawing on the Aboriginal Dreamtime in a hot, suspenseful series debut.

Gili Adams is willing to do anything to protect her parents, even travel to Australia in search of the mythical opal, the Dreamtime Fire. But her resolve is tested when she has to enlist the help of anthropologist Morgan Hunt, the Guardian of the opal and the man who once accused her of using her feminine wiles to steal a priceless artefact. She’s faced with an impossible choice: lie to the man she never wanted to lose or risk her parents’ lives.

Nothing can be allowed to stand in her way… not even her own heart.

Ruby’s Fantasy
Cathleen Ross

From Cathleen Ross comes a naughty-but-nice story about the fun one can have playing dress-up.

When Ruby follows up a distress call from her twin, she is plunged into her sister’s sexy secret life. Here she meets the gorgeous Jake Steele, who awakens the passionate nature she has always suppressed. But now that she’s discovered the delights of love, will she be able to return to the small town life she had before?

The Private Affairs of Lady Jane Fielding
Viveka Portman

There is one fact I cannot hide nor deny. I have borne my husband no sons…

When Lord Jacob Fielding suffers a traumatic injury denying him more children, it devastates both his present and his future. He and his wife Jane have only daughters, and the brother in line to inherit his title and lands is a disgusting reprobate, a man who should never have power over anyone.

In desperation, Lord Fielding formulates a wicked plan. He invites his distant cousin Matthew to come and share their home…and possibly more. Jane is shocked, but cannot deny her curiosity. She loves her husband, and their situation is desperate, and Matthew is a kind, gentle, attractive man. But what can this situation bring, but tension and jealousy?