Jake (Men of Clifton Montana Book 1) (8 page)

Jake turned back toward
her, having pulled on his shirt. Becca tried not to notice that he’d left it
open. All she could think about was walking up to him and rubbing her hands
across all that muscle. As if reading her mind, he tilted his head to the side
and grinned at her.

Oh yeah, she was in
a lot of trouble.

“What are you doing
here, Becca?” he asked softly.

She couldn’t stop
the shiver that ran through her. “I, uh, came to pick up a bridle for Stan. He
said Daisy won’t use any other one and he’s too busy to come over, so he asked
me to do it and since I wasn’t doing anything…” She shrugged. Lord, she wasn’t
making any sense at all. He had her almost tongue-tied.
 

“Anyone ever tell
you that you talk too much, Red?” When had he moved closer?

Becca nodded and
looked away from him. “Yep, I’ve heard that before.” When she looked back over,
he was standing so close she could smell the soap he used still clinging to his
skin. Becca looked up at him and saw that his jaw was clean-shaven. More than
anything, she longed to touch him, to rub her cheek against him. She closed her
eyes and took her bottom lip between her teeth. Her eyes flew open when she
heard him groan. Becca couldn’t help but wonder if his thoughts were as hot as
hers. “I have to go. Please get the bridle for me,” she said quickly.

“Becca…”

“Jake, please. Just
get the bridle for me.” She really needed to get out of here before she did
something stupid. Something stupid like jump his bones.

After a slight
hesitation, Becca heard him sigh as he walked away from her. He returned in
less than a minute and handed her the bridle. She thanked him and walked
quickly out the door. Running down the steps, she stepped on a patch of ice,
and promptly landed on her butt.

Looking up to the
heavens, she cried. “Why?”

Jake was beside her
in an instant. “Are you all right? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Becca hung her
head. “You mean besides my pride? Damn you, Jake, this is your fault. I knew I
shouldn’t have come over here. I should’ve just told Stan to do it himself. But,
oh nooo, I had to be a total idiot and say I’d do it.” Huffing out a breath,
she waved her hands in the air. “So what happens? You open the damn door without
a shirt on. Do you even realize how good you look without a shirt? Of course
you do. I think you knew it was me at the door and that’s why you did it.” Just
then she looked down to his feet. “And now you’re out here without shoes on and
in this weather.” Her frustration was apparent in the rise of her voice and she
could feel tears stinging her eyes.

“Anyone ever tell
you that you talk entirely too much, Red?”

Becca heard the tease
in his voice. She gazed up at him and he was definitely smiling. Her lips
twitched and the corners of her mouth slid up into a grin. “Why? You think you
can shut me up?” She gasped when Jake picked her up.

“You know I can. You’re
not leaving here until tomorrow, if then…understand?” he whispered in her ear
as he carried her back inside.

Understanding
dawned in her mind
as fast as her
nipples tightened and desire swirled low in her body.
Becca wrapped her
arms around his neck. “I understand.”

Jake carried her
down the hall to a large, masculine bedroom with dark furniture. Becca looked
around, knowing she was seeing where he slept every night…and undressed… When
her eyes landed on the huge king-size bed centered against a far wall, her
whole body began to quiver with excitement. Her imagination was going wild. She
could see herself lying on the rug in front of the fireplace and soaking in the
hot tub, which sat on the porch beyond the French doors—with him.
 

Even the room
smelled like him, all leather, soap, and male.

Jake placed her in
the center of the bed. As he removed his shirt, his dark gaze roamed all over
her. “You’re so damn gorgeous.”
 

Becca watched him
hungrily. She couldn’t wait to touch him. Every part of her ached with eager
anticipation to know him. “I can’t believe we’re doing this…”

 
With a predatory gleam in his eye, Jake
lowered himself to the bed, fitting his big body next to hers. “I’ve thought
about nothing else for weeks.” Holding her gaze, he wrapped his arm around her
waist, and pulled her flush against him.

Becca trembled as
he captured her lips. He tasted so good. She touched his face as his tongue
slowly entered her mouth, making her groan. Tentatively, she rubbed hers
against his and when Jake’s kiss grew deeper and pressed harder, Becca slid her
hands over his biceps, feeling the muscles bulge there, then to his shoulders,
and into his thick black hair.

Jake moaned when
she hooked her leg over his. He moved his hand from her cheek, to her neck,
down over her shoulder to her chest, where his hand cupped her breast.

Becca gasped and
arched into his hand, eager for him to touch her. “Please, Jake…” She moaned
against his mouth.

She felt him smile
against her lips before he kissed her again, devouring her lips. “You’ve got on
too many clothes, Red.” He moved his hand to the bottom of her shirt and pulled
it over her head. Willingly, she raised her arms to help him remove it.

Jake pulled back to
look down at her black lace bra, at her breasts curving out of the tops of the cups.
He locked his gaze with hers as he unclasped the front and her breasts spilled
free. “You’re so beautiful,” he said humbly, as he palmed her full breast in
his hand and then ran his thumb over the nipple.

Becca gasped and
arched her back, offering herself to him. When he leaned down and ran his
tongue around a sensitive peak, Becca whimpered, holding his head to her breast.
Jake kissed and licked, pulling at it with his teeth until it stood turgid, and
then sucked it into his mouth. She groaned and moved her hands down his chest
to the snap of his jeans. Her fingers trembled as she placed a palm over the
hard bulge behind his zipper.

“Go slow, baby.”
Jake grabbed her wrist. “All of this’ll be over before we get started if you
keep that up,” he growled.

Pleasure ripped
through her like lightning. Becca laughed. “Oh, I intend to keep it up, Stone.”

“Evil
woman.”
Jake chuckled against her neck before licking and sucking at her
sensitive skin.

She enjoyed what he
was doing, but she wanted more. “Kiss me, Jake,” she pleaded and then moaned
against his mouth when he complied.

Dear God!
The man could kiss.

Jake moved down
over her body with open mouth kisses. Becca’s stomach quivered under his
amazing lips. He unsnapped her jeans and pulled them down her legs, following
behind with his mouth. His tongue ran along her thigh to her knee and back up
the other side. Her black silk panties were damp. She was wet and ready for
him.

“Jake, please, I
want you,” she said, lifting her hips off the bed.

“Not yet, Red, I
want to savor you,” he whispered against her inner thigh. Hooking his fingers
into her panties, Jake pulled them down, tossing them to the floor. Spreading
her legs wide, he moved his arms under her knees, and kissed the red curls at
the juncture of her thighs. He looked up at her and waggled his dark brows.
“A natural redhead.”
He gave her an evil grin, making her
laugh.

But her laughter
ended in a gasp when he moved his tongue between her folds. Her head went back
against the pillow as Jake moved his tongue over the sensitive nub and took it
gently between his teeth. She grasped hold of the sheet with both hands, trying
to find something to anchor her before she flew apart. “God, Jake—yes, oh yes.”
Pleasure pulsed through her, and flashes of heat stole her breath.

When Jake moved
away from her, she whimpered and reached for him. “No, come here.”

“Don’t worry, Red,
you aren’t getting rid of me.” He was back in no time with a foil packet.

While he tore open
the packet, Becca finally got to push those jeans down over his hips and free
his erection. “Oh, Jake,” she breathed, stroking him. He was huge, hard, and he
felt like velvet over steel. She took the condom from him and rolled it gently
down his shaft.

Jake kissed her
hard as he moved between her legs. She reached between them, guiding the head
of his penis slowly into her. As he pushed in, she sighed, her hands going to
his ass to pull him tighter to her. “Nice ass, Stone,” she said breathlessly.
The sensation of him working his way inside of her was incredible.

Jake chuckled. “Right
back at ya, Red,” he groaned as he slid in full to the hilt and stilled.

The pleasure and
pain was almost unbearable. Almost, because when he put his forehead to hers
and whispered in the sexiest voice ever, she nearly melted with the pleasure. “I
knew it would feel like this.”

The idea of giving
him pleasure intensified her own, making her smile knowing she’d done that.

“You feel so
fucking good,” Jake said as he started to move in and then out, slowly. “Wrap
your legs around me,” he ordered against her lips and growled low in his throat
when she did.

When she did, he
began to pump. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung, kissing him on
his chest, his throat—anywhere she could reach. Her eyes roved over his face.
Watching him close his eyes and throw back his head with ecstasy thrilled her
soul. They set a rhythm. Slow at first, then faster and harder. Becca met his
thrusts, lifting her hips, begging for more.
 

Sex had never been
this good for Becca. “Jake, you feel so good,” she cried. She felt another wave
coming over her but she didn’t have time to question it. Clinging to him, she
bit his shoulder, wanting just as much of him as she could get, but she
couldn’t hold out. The pleasure was just too much. Rhythmically she held him
tight, squeezing him as her orgasm took her over the edge, and she swore she
saw stars. She cried out his name, and then she felt him stiffen. He pummeled
into her harder and harder until he followed her over, groaning her name. When
Jake moved to roll off her, she hugged him tight against her. He kissed her
forehead.

“I’m too heavy.”
 
He rolled to his back beside her.

Becca wanted to
disagree. Never had she felt safer than when she was in his arms. She wasn’t
sure what to do until he pulled her close to him. Laying her head on his chest,
she wrapped her arm over his waist and nestled down against his big, warm body.

“That was amazing,”
she said softly.

“It
was
amazing. Becca…” He stopped what he
was saying when his cellphone rang. “Hold on.” Swearing, he reached for his
jeans, pulled out the phone, and answered the call. Becca watched as he sat up
quickly. “What is it?”

Jake frowned at her
as he hung up. “That was Stan. It seems some of your horses are missing.”

Becca sat up
quickly, confused. “What?”

“Stan said he went
to feed them and all but one is gone. The pregnant mare is there because she
was in another barn.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Becca got off the
bed and started dressing. Suspicions started bombarding her mind. “I can’t
believe this,” she hissed, throwing Jake a sideways glance. “You’re behind
this. Aren’t you?”

Jake stood up,
hands on his hips. “What? Are you fucking serious? How am I behind it?”

She pointed her
finger at him, trying to ignore how damn good looking he was and how fabulous
he’d made her feel. “You stole my horses.”

A string of blue
curse words left his mouth.
“For what damn purpose?
Tell me that,” Jake shouted.

Glaring at him, she
refused to mince her words. Truthfully, she didn’t even know if she believed it
herself, but what else was she supposed to think?
“To run me
off the ranch.
Why else? If my horses are gone, I don’t have any reason
to keep the ranch,” she argued. “You’ll be rid of me.”

“Who said I wanted
to get rid of you? You do realize what you’re saying makes absolutely no sense.
You don’t need the horses to keep the ranch and in case you’ve forgotten, I was
here with you.
Screwing you!”

With a gasp of
indignation, Becca slapped him. “That was uncalled for,” she snarled as she
reached for her boots and hastily pulled them on. “Besides, you could’ve had
one of your ranch hands do it while you kept me occupied.” Lord, how he’d kept
her occupied. Just the thought of what they’d done together made her blush.

“Think about it. How
would I have known you were coming over here?” Jake ran his hand down his face,
clearly frustrated. “Jesus, Becca. Do you seriously think I’d do that to you?”

Becca finished
dressing and looked up at him. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he
sounded hurt. Frankly, she really didn’t know what to think, but she wasn’t about
to tell him that and give him any more ammunition than he already had.

“Yes. Yes, I do,” she
exclaimed as she ran away from him. Becca ignored the tender, hurt feeling that
was tugging at her heart.
 

Becca could hear him calling her name
and begging her to stop. He wanted to talk to her but she just couldn’t do it.
She had to escape what she was feeling. She kept going despite his pleas until
she was in her truck and on her way home. She had to keep brushing away tears
so she could see. Once home, Stan came running to her.

“I’m so sorry. We
were all out mending fences.” He explained, shaking his head. Her heart went
out to him. Stan looked terrible.

“I don’t blame you,
Stan. Did you call the police?” Exasperated, she pushed her hair out of her
eyes.

“I did.” He jammed
his hands in his pockets, as the weather was bitter cold. “The sheriff is on
his way. He should be here anytime now.”