The Cowboy's Temptation (13 page)

He finished his pie in record time and jumped up, thanking Rick and Ronny for dinner. Rick walked over and took Maxine from Elissa’s hands and smiled. “I think we’ve got it for tonight. Why don’t you let Jake walk you home tonight? It’s a nice night. And you need a break from all this baby stuff.”

Jake nodded his thanks and put a hand to the small of Elissa’s back, guiding her out of the house. He didn’t even give her a chance to turn down Rick’s offer.
Jake was determined to have a talk. He would even put some furniture between them if he couldn’t keep his hands off her – which would probably be the case after this afternoon.

Over dinner, Elissa had made up her mind. She wanted Jake. He wanted her. There was no need to stop this attraction as long as she kept her wits about her. She’d learned enough from men’s comments back in New York to understand the mentality she needed to take in order to make this work between them.

She would simply enjoy the sex at night and continue with the things she enjoyed during the day. It shouldn’t be too hard. She’d have the best of both worlds.

 

They entered the house through the kitchen and Elissa kept on walking, completely aware of the man next to her.

 

“Elissa,” Jake said, putting a hand to her arm to stop her from walking. “We really need to talk.”

Elissa looked up at him and her eyes were filled with her decision. She wanted him. She was ready. Good grief, she thought as she took in his jeans and tan shirt that stretched across his shoulders, she was more than ready for him. Just thinking about what she was going to do made her knees weak.

“Let’s not talk,” Elissa said and she took a step closer to him, hoping he would understand what she was trying to say. She’d never seduced a man before so she wasn’t sure exactly how to go through with it. She’d never had a physical relationship with a man before. She’d come very close one other time. But the night she’d decided to become intimate with the man, she’d found him sleeping with his secretary. That had quickly ended that relationship. She’d never had a reason to let any of her other relationships get that far.

And now she was dumbfounded. She’d finally made the decision to have sex and she didn’t know exactly how to go about doing it.

 

“I think we should. I don’t understand why you run from me all the time.”

 

Elissa looked at a point over his shoulder as she replied, “I’m not running right now.”

 

Jake’s eyes widened at that statement. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

 

Elissa nodded her head and looked down at the kitchen floor.

 

Jake walked over to where she was shyly standing and lifted her face up to his. “Why?”

 

Elissa took the last step that separated their bodies. “Does it matter?”

Jake sucked in his breath as her hands slid up his chest, one finger slipping between the buttons of his shirt. “I think it matters a great deal but if you keep that up, I won’t be responsible for my actions,” he said, and tried to pull her hand out of his shirt.

She took her other hand and slipped it between another set of buttons and Jake grabbed both her hands and held them behind her back. “Elissa, we need to talk,” he groaned.

She looked up at him and licked her lips. “Why do you want to talk so badly?”

He lifted her up and set her on the countertop then took a step back, inhaling deeply and running his finger through his hair. “Elissa, what’s going on? I don’t understand your fear of me and I really want to understand you.”

Since she couldn’t touch him to distract him, Elissa’s response was to start unbuttoning her shirt. Her fingers shook as she did so. She could see the passion in his eyes but there was also a determination. Elissa knew Jake was used to getting his way. He ran a huge ranch that generated the revenue of a large company. He had to be in charge. But tonight, she wasn’t going to give in to his demands. At least not one to talk about her feelings. Having decided that she should give in to her body’s needs and be intimate with him, she didn’t want to delve into the reasons too deeply.

“Elissa stop!” he commanded. But she ignored him and pulled her shirt out of the waistband of her jeans, then continued with the remaining buttons. Once she was done, she jumped off the counter and moved closer to him. She wanted to take off her clothes in front of him, but she wasn’t that brave.

Jake couldn’t take it anymore. Seeing her soft, full breast encased in the skimpy, black lace bra snapped his control. When she was within arms reach, he pulled her closer and kissed her, deeply, passionately.

Within moments, he swung her into his arms. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

 

“Yes,” she replied, her arms already clinging to him.

Jake needed no further prompting. He carried her up the stairs to his bedroom, slamming the door shut with his foot. He carried her over to the bed, then let her legs drop. Her feet were still several inches from the floor but he lifted her up higher and kissed her, letting her body slowly drop to the floor, their bodies gliding down each other’s.

He didn’t release her mouth as he took her shirt off her shoulders and tossed it aside. Her bra quickly followed and he inhaled at the sight of her, standing in front of him almost naked.

Elissa was embarrassed with his hot gaze sweeping over her nakedness. She tried to hide herself with her hands but he wouldn’t let her. He chuckled deeply as he held her hands against his chest. “You have no idea what you do to me, do you?’

Elissa smiled. “I have a vague idea.”

He took her mouth in his and kissed her, pushing her back to lay against the bed. His fingers unsnapped her jeans and slowly unzipped the zipper. Easing her legs out of her jeans was driving her crazy. The fabric was rough against her skin but his fingers, as they trailed down her newly revealed skin, were gentle and hot.

She lay on the bed in just her bikini underwear, waiting for him, wanting him to join her. He didn’t make her wait. He quickly divested himself of his jeans and boxers, throwing them behind him haphazardly. Her underwear was next and she had to gasp when he laid down beside her. The first skin to skin contact with Jake was mind blowing.

Jake took her mouth with his while his hands skimmed down her body, finding and exploring. His mouth found each breast, the nipple hard and ready. When his mouth closed over the first one, Elissa arched against him, holding his head where it was, afraid he might move or leave, not sure which would be worse.

His mouth traveled down her body, his hands leading the way. There was no room for embarrassment with Jake, he just didn’t allow it. He wanted to know every inch of her, know what she tasted like, what she felt like. And her body was in flames, aching and writhing with each new experience, each new touch.

“Please, Jake!” she called, when she didn’t think she could take anymore.

 

Jake pulled himself up so he could look into her eyes. “Please what?”

 

Elissa moved her hips, her arms going around his shoulders, she ached but didn’t know how to tell him. “Jake!”

She heard the foil wrapper tear open and the next thing she knew, Jake’s legs were between hers and he was nudging her open. He glided smoothly into her wet opening and there was only a small moment of pain before the pleasure took over again. Elissa instantly climaxed, her legs wrapping around Jake’s hips as he moved quickly inside her, filling her.

A few minutes later, Jake joined her in oblivion, shuddering to his climax. His head dropped to her neck as he tried to calm his breathing.

 

Rolling onto his back, taking her with him, still joined, he held her tightly. “Are you okay?”

Elissa laughed softly. “I don’t know,” she sighed. Every muscle in her body was relaxed and she couldn’t seem to undrape herself from his body. Her hair tumbled over his chest and her arms were loosely around his shoulders, but he didn’t seem to mind.

She heard the rumbling in his chest and marveled at the muscles just under her cheek. “I know what you mean,” he breathed.

Elissa woke up and peered at the sun shining through the windows. But the sun was coming on the wrong side of her room. She rolled over and stared at the ceiling. Odd, but she’d never noticed the ceiling fan over her bed before.

Then the events of the night before came through and she sat up in bed quickly, one hand holding the sheet over her nakedness.

A deep chuckle from the side of the room made her head spin in that direction. “Good morning sleeping beauty,” Jake said, looking sexier than any man had a right to be as he came out of the shower, only a towel around his waist.

They’d made love four more times during the night. Jake was insatiable and each time he’d touched her, her body had instantly turned towards him, craving his touch, needing the release only he seemed to be able to provide.

Elissa pushed the hair out of her face and forced her mouth to close. “What time is it?” she asked.

 

Jake came over to the side of the bed and sat down, the towel revealing his muscular stomach muscles and one extraordinary thigh. “It’s about nine o’clock.”

 

“Oh,” she said self-consciously. “I think I should get up.”

 

“What are you planning on doing today?” he asked, his eyes already telling her what he wanted to do.

Elissa licked her suddenly dry lips. How could she want him yet again? Couldn’t she be satisfied? But she wanted him more right now than she did last night, if that was possible. “I should help Ronny,” she whispered.

“Do you think she could spare you for a few hours?”

 

“I’m not sure. Why?”

 

“How about your first helicopter lesson?”

 

Elissa was instantly awed. “You’re serious? You’d teach me how to fly?”

 

“Sure. I told you I would, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but…”
“No buts. Go ahead and get ready,” he said and pulled on a pair of tight boxers, the kind that hugged his thighs. A pair of jeans went over those and he was ready. “I’ll wait for you downstairs,” he said and kissed her hard before sauntering out the door, whistling.

As soon as the door closed, Elissa jumped up and grabbed her clothes. She rushed to her own room and showered, changing into a pair of clean jeans and a short sleeved tee-shirt. She only took the time to put on some mascara, lipstick and powder and tied her hair back with a pony tail clip. Then she skipped downstairs to find Jake.

She was a little nervous about their first encounter but he wouldn’t even allow that. He just handed her a cup of coffee and pointed to a stool by the counter. “How do you like your eggs? Please say scrambled because no matter how hard I try, that’s basically how they all turn out anyway,” he said and cracked two eggs into a skillet.

Elissa laughed. “Scrambled would be delicious.” “Good,” he said and broke several more into the pan, then added cheese, pepper and salt. The microwave dinged and he deftly pulled out some bacon and set it aside to cool. While all of this was going on, he managed to butter toast, make another pot of coffee and stir the eggs.

Within ten minutes of her entry to the kitchen, she was served a plate loaded with eggs, bacon, toast and a steaming cup of coffee. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you knew how to cook.”

Jake smiled his sexy smile. “Don’t be too impressed. This is my main meal. I do a few other things, but this is the best. Sundays I take a little more time to fix a meal and this is it.”

Elissa took a large bite of the eggs and savored the taste. “This is delicious,” she said and took another bite.

 

“Good, I’m glad you like them.” He hesitated for only a moment. “So want to tell me why you’re still a virgin?”

 

Elissa had just taken a large bite of toast but her mouth was suddenly dry. “I’m sorry?” she asked, and looked down at her coffee.

 

Jake sighed and shook his head. “Elissa, don’t think I’m an idiot. I noticed that last night was your first time and I’m sorry,” he said.

 

Elissa lost her appetite. “You’re sorry?” she said, the sadness in her voice coming through despite herself.

“Elissa, I can tell you’re getting the wrong impression here. I’m honored but I don’t understand,” he said. “Someone as beautiful as you going around, it just doesn’t make sense. I mean, you’re from New York. Ronny says you’ve dated over the years.”

Elissa put down her coffee and stood up. “And me being from New York, you drew the obvious conclusion that I slept around.”

 

“No. That’s not what I thought.” He ran a hand through is hair. “Hell, I knew we should have talked last night.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asked turning away and wanting to run out of the kitchen. She was humiliated now. She had just spent the most wonderful and satisfying night of her life with the most incredible man she’d ever known and he was apologizing. This wasn’t the stuff dreams were made of, she thought.

“Because you’re sexy as hell and…” he hesitated, “and you seemed to know what you were doing.”

 

Elissa didn’t want to hear anymore. “Well, thanks for the lesson last night. It was nicer than I thought it would be,” she said and turned away.

Jake wasn’t having any of that and pulled her back to face him. “Elissa, stop it. You know damn well that last night was better than nice,” he demanded, his eyes blazing in his fury.

Elissa was too hurt by his words. She just shrugged and tried to pull her arms free of his grasp. “I wouldn’t know that. As you found out, I don’t have much to compare it to. But I’ll definitely let you know once I get a larger sample size,” she said and pulled her arms free.

She ran out of the kitchen not sure where she was going. She just knew she had to get out of the house and away from that man.

 

Unfortunately, her run was halted by another ranch hand coming through the doorway. “Jake, we need you down at the barn. Lucy is having problems,” he said.

Elissa stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. She saw the worried look on Jake’s face and, despite herself, her heart went out to him. Something was wrong and she knew his loyalties were pulled.

“Elissa, I have a horse that’s about to drop a foal. Please, can we talk about this later?”

“Yes, fine.” Elissa just wanted to hide. She didn’t want to talk or deal with this kind of embarrassment. She was glad that something had come up although she knew that Jake was concerned.