WITH THE KITCHEN CLEANING done, Kate changed into a pair of loose white shorts and a tan halter-top, trying to convince herself she’d chosen the revealing shirt for comfort and not for the way it clung to her breasts. Or that it didn’t need a bra. Or if you squinted hard enough you could see—
Okay, enough of that.
She headed out the door and across the yard.
“C’mon in,” Jake offered when he opened his door.
Kate smiled her thanks and stepped over the threshold, stamping down the nerves--or was it anticipation?—that made her body quake. Jake’s close proximity and that damn masculine scent of his didn’t help, so she focused on her surroundings instead.
Having already been in the house when the Goldbergs lived there, she wasn’t surprised by the grandeur of it, but she was surprised by the renovations he’d accomplished in such a short time. The entryway now gleamed with marble floors, and an elaborate crystal chandelier hung over the sweeping oak staircase. Cursory glances in the downstairs rooms provided glimpses of Jake everywhere.
The rooms were large yet cozy, mostly decorated in earth tones. Greenery inhabited every windowsill, an indoor tree in each corner. She liked that they shared a love of flowers and plants, although she wondered what would keep him occupied once winter arrived. Knowing him, he eagerly awaited the first winter storm so he could build a snow fort.
“Are you ready for the best steak of your life?” Jake asked.
“Oh, hell yeah. Is it ready?” Sniffing the air, she only encountered the scent of the lilacs sitting on the nearby side table.
“I just put them on the grill, so it’ll be a few minutes.”
Kate followed him into the kitchen. “With work and your landscaping, when did you ever find time to renovate?”
“I stay up late.”
Kate caught herself just before saying, “I know.” Instead, she walked past the family room, which, like hers, was adjacent to the kitchen. This was obviously the focal point of the house, the most noticeable items being the pool table and massive flat screen TV. A comfortable-looking leather sofa and matching chair sat in front of a large entertainment center.
“Wow.” She scanned the contents of the shelves. “No wonder Drew likes to come here. You have everything.”
“He’s a great kid.” Jake headed out on the deck. “How do you like your steak?”
She shrugged. “Cooked. Can I help with anything?”
“Sure. Whatever tickles your fancy.”
Oh, boy, the things she could’ve said to that.
Instead, Kate searched her way through the cabinets for dinnerware, smiling at the stock of sugary treats he had in his cupboard. His kitchen wasn’t as immense as hers, but a nice size and easy to navigate.
Reaching for two wine glasses, she sneaked a peak through the French doors at Jake as he turned the steaks on the grill. He held the tongs firmly in his hand, his thumb stroking the rubber handle. His unconscious gesture shot a jolt of sexual awareness directly between her thighs. He’d stroked her hardened nipples in much the same way after the tornado. Oh yes, those hands felt amazing.
With a shake of her head, Kate turned away and focused on finding wine. Alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol was what she needed to calm her. Or make her more aroused.
Surprisingly, she didn’t care which.
After dinner was on the table and they said grace, Kate cut into the meat and took a bite. The mixture of rosemary and garlic burst on her tongue. “Oh. My. God.”
“What?”
She almost laughed at his startled expression. “Can’t talk. Eating.” The steak, smothered in sautéed mushrooms and onions, melted in her mouth. The sides of cauliflower and wild rice were cooked to perfection.
Thinking she’d crossed the line into being rude as she shoveled the amazing meal into her mouth, she slowed it down and made small talk. Most of which centered on their patients and the office staff. But the easy banter they shared earlier in her kitchen was non-existent.
Damn it!
Kate pushed her plate away, hoping to steer their chat into a more personal area. “That was amazing.” She sipped her wine, savoring the robust flavor of the cabernet sauvignon.
Jake focused on his plate. “Thanks.” He slipped a piece of cauliflower into his mouth and chewed slowly, but that didn’t hide his grin.
“You really have the most charming smile, you know.”
Lurching into a coughing fit, he grabbed his water glass and drank it down.
She grimaced as he choked on his water. Okay, sure, she wanted to ease the tension between them, but complimenting him to his death wasn’t the way to go. “Are you okay?”
He gave her a thumbs up, but the coughing continued.
Great, he probably thought she was flirting with him, and after the way she’d behaved after the storm, she didn’t blame him. Time to switch gears.
“Hey, I was thinking. Dianna Sheldon lives across the street. She’s a wonderful person. Want me to introduce you? Maybe you could ask her out?”
He spoke into his water goblet. “I already did. Well, kinda.”
A fierce stab hit her heart. “Oh?”
“Yeah, she went with us to the Mets game.”
“So what happened?” All this time she’d been trying to keep their relationship a platonic one, and he was asking out her friends. Why did that bug her so much? And it did, if the fingernail-shaped grooves in her palms were anything to go by.
“Apparently, I wasn’t her type.”
Well, that made sense. Jake wasn’t Sean. The relief that washed through Kate was more worrisome than her injured palms. She should be helping Jake, not hoping he failed in his attempt to find a sweetheart.
“My sisters and I could put out heads together and hook you up with someone else.”
His mouth tightened seconds before he covered it with his napkin. Then he shook his head and picked up his plate. “I don’t know. Maybe.” He stood and headed for the sink.
She followed with her own plate in hand. “It would be stupid to give up and spend your life alone.”
“Isn’t that what you plan to do?”
“We’re not talking about me.”
“No, hold on. I’m curious.” He paused and looked at her with his hand on the faucet. “I want to know why you’re so sure you’ll never get married again. Most people accept that eventually they have to move on.”
“I found the love of my life, and now I have his children to raise.” Kate placed her dish gently on the granite surface. “You still have a soul mate out there waiting for you.”
Jake turned on the water and began to rinse the plates. “Let’s hope she doesn’t mind damaged goods.”
“What?” Anger roared in her ears at his harshly spoken words. “That is such bullshit! You are not damaged goods.”
He flipped the faucet off, his eyes boring into hers. “You really mean that?”
“Of course I do! Good Lord, is that the way you see yourself?”
He gripped the edge of the counter, his head lowered. “Sometimes.”
Gripping his chin, she forced him to look at her. “If you ever say something like that about yourself again, I will find new and creative ways to hurt you.”
He chuckled at her semi-empty threat, but his smile faded quickly. “Would you have married William if he’d told you he might not be able to have children?”
She studied him for a minute and dropped her hand. “Yes, I would have.”
“Because you loved him.” He walked into the family room, his hands clenched in fists.
“Very much so.” His body language screamed back off, so Kate walked over to the TV. This was not going the way she’d hoped. She studied the cartridge in the ancient game system and pulled it out. “What’s this?”
Jake’s shoulders seemed to relax, his fists unclenched at her change in subject. He joined her and peered over her shoulder. “Oh, that’s an old fantasy game. You have to fight off the bad guys and collect items...”
She blocked out the rest of his description as she watched his lips move. Those lips did such wonderful things to her after the storm. Her eyes traveled over his handsome profile to the column of his neck. She sucked in her breath when the image of her kissing the tender spot behind his ear popped into her mind.
“...and the knight in shining armor saves the damsel in distress.”
Just like he always did.
“That’s very sexy,” she said, her voice a husky whisper. Then realizing what she just said spouted out, “I mean sexist. That’s very sexist.”
“That’s how it was in the Middle Ages.”
“Can you show me how to play?”
His face lit up. “Sure!”
He set up the game with the enthusiasm of a kid, yet he oozed masculinity. Something she found so freaking hot.
After showing her the controls, he handed over the remote. Within minutes, she was deeply embroiled in the game, navigating through the first level with ease.
Until she came upon dungeon master.
“You’re never going to beat the dragon that way.”
She glared at him, wanting to prove him wrong, but in the end, the evil beast won. “Damn, how the hell do you defeat this guy?”
Jake stood and paced behind the couch, leaving her missing his warmth.
“You have to use the upper thrust.”
“How do I do that?” She entered the dragon’s lair again, determined to be victorious this time.
“Press the ‘A’ button and up at the same time.”
She tried to follow his directions but only succeeded in spinning her knight in circles.
“No, no, you have to thrust up.”
Jake leaned over the back of the couch, snaked his arms around her, his hands over hers. Kate sucked in her breath as he demonstrated.
Trying not to focus on her suddenly dry mouth, she did as instructed, suppressing the urge to turn her head and brush her lips over his cheek. “Like that?”
The music from the game filled the room, along with the clicking of the controller, as the characters duked it out on screen.
Jake didn’t answer right away. Instead, he fought like a bastard not to lean in and kiss her neck. He tightened his arms around her for only a moment before he yanked away and backed up. “Yeah, perfect.”
He headed over to the French doors and stared out at his lighted waterfall trickling into his pool, wishing he could hear its tranquil song right now.
God, why had he invited her to dinner? His nerves, his hormones, and his body were in a constant state of awareness when she was around.
Maybe he should make up some lame excuse for needing her to leave. Otherwise, he was going to lose it tonight, he just knew it.
“Hey, Jake, I need you a second.”
If only…
He walked over, focusing on the bold knight with his trusty sword. “What’s up?”
She shoved the controller at him. “Find me the power bracelet.”
“It’s in the forest.”
“I searched the forest.”
“Did you chop down any trees?”
“About a zillion.” She wiggled the joystick. “Please?”
He rolled his eyes and grabbed it. “God, does your cheating know no boundaries?” He plopped down next to her and maneuvered the knight in the right direction.
If only he could do the same with his own life.
“You’re so cute.” Kate pinched his cheek, then rose to her feet before running her hand over his head. “Since you’re being so nice, I’ll scrounge up some dessert.”
Triumphant bells rang, announcing he’d succeeded in his quest. Then the light bulb in his head went on.
Wait. Did she just pinch my cheek and muss my hair?
“Jake?” she called from the kitchen, “I see cookies. Would you like milk with them?”
Milk and cookies? Is she fucking kidding me?
Jake jumped to his feet as something akin to a grunt erupted from his gut. So this was how the cavemen felt. Slamming the controller to the couch, he stormed into the kitchen.
Time to step outside the box.
Kate peered around the cabinet door as he approached. “Where do you hide--”
Grabbing her wrist, he yanked her toward him and threw her over his shoulder.
“What the hell?”
He didn’t answer as he moved her through the house.
“Jake, my knight is probably getting pummeled by evil zigboars right now.” Her tone had turned from shock to annoyance.
A left at the doorway toward the stairs.
“Okay, seriously, this isn’t funny.”
He took the steps two at a time.
“Jake.” Now her voice was a nervous whisper. “What are you doing?”
Into his bedroom, he didn’t answer until he tossed her onto his king-size bed. She flopped back on her elbows, her chest moving in rapid motion. Her eyes went wide and glazed over.
“I’ve tried to be patient.” Grabbing the back of his shirt, he yanked it over his head and then slammed it to the floor.
She let out a startled breath, her eyes trailing over him. “Jake—”
“I’ve tried to be reasonable.” Next he had his socks and sneakers off in record time.
Resting his hands on either side of her hips, he loomed over her, bringing his face to within a breath of hers. “Now it’s time to get physical.”
Before she could say another word, Jake buried his face in her neck, sucking hard on the tender flesh. She gasped, but he didn’t give her time to adjust to his unexpected assault as his lips traveled across her cheek to her mouth. He maneuvered his tongue between her lips and tasted wine.
The knotted strings at the back of her neck beckoned him. With one tug, the halter gave way and slid past her heaving breasts. He took in the sight that had been denied him the other day. Her nipples were already tight and puckered. He cupped the mounds, massaging as he brushed his thumbs over them in a slow circle.
That drew a gasp from her, but she hadn’t budged since he threw her onto the bed, still leaning back on her elbows. Her eyes blazed, her breath coming in short huffs, and she kissed him back with as much passion as he showed her. He laid her flat, pushing the shirt farther down and dragged his tongue over one of the hardened peaks. Kate moaned when he blew on the damp area then gently nipped the overly sensitive skin.
Inch by inch, he kissed down her body, while slowly easing her shirt, shorts, and panties out of the way. She didn’t stop him. She didn’t encourage him either.
That was going to change.
Without warning, Jake parted her thighs and buried his face between them. Kate’s body trembled, and she cried out as his tongue sought its target. He knew the second he found it by the way her body jerked. He peered up from his nesting place, watching her arch her back, her arms outstretched, balling the bedspread in her fists.
Jake resisted another instinctual grunt as her body trembled with her impending release, but he stopped just short of pushing her over the edge. Twisting and squirming, she finally gripped his hair at the roots. “Please!”
God, he always knew he could make her beg, but hearing her words had him out of his shorts and briefs so fast he swore he ripped them. Her fingers still held his hair, but her eyes were closed. He moved into place, rubbing his cock against her heated center.
She moaned, bucking against him, but he kept fulfillment just out of reach. Her hands traveled down his spine to his backside, digging in her nails and urging him closer. He denied her.
“Whose are you, Kate?” he said in a gruff whisper.
She squeezed her lids tight, jerking her head from side to side. “I need you inside me.”
He rocked his hips again, stroking his rock-hard erection against her, but still he stopped when she was just at the edge of release.
“Jake, please! You’re killing me!”
He needed to hear it, needed her to look him in the eye, so there was no mistaking who was making her plead. “Tell me! Just for this moment, who do you belong to?”
Kate gazed at him under heavy lids, her eyes drenched with desire. “You, Jake! I belong to you.”
With her confession, he captured her lips and thrust into her silken heat. He let out a shocked grunt. God, she felt good. So damn good. By focusing on her need for him, he’d forgotten his own desperate need for her. He prayed for the strength to fulfill the unspoken promise his body made to hers. The last thing he wanted was to roar to the finish line within seconds like a teenage kid.
Kate matched his hard, fast thrusts. Her fingers explored him, making his task to hold on that much harder.
Her body quaked. She pulled her knees up and leaned her head back, spasming around him as she cried out her pleasure. She writhed and panted as her orgasm continued. Jake drove in deep, following her over the border into ecstasy.
He collapsed on top of her, disbelief at having finally made love to this woman. But along with the gentle caresses and soft whispers that followed such intimacy, a small, smug part of him danced a jig.
No kid could make her scream like that.