Jake had been driving around for over three hours, and had come to one conclusion.
He needed to see her.
Pulling up to her house, he climbed out of the truck and made his way to the front porch. She was probably asleep; it was after midnight, but it couldn’t wait.
He banged on the door, then waited, watching as the light flipped on inside and Rand opened the door. She was wearing a floral top with slacks, her hair tousled about her head like she had just been rolling around in the sack.
“Jake? What are you…”
Suddenly, talking was the last thing on his mind.
Reaching out his hand, he tangled it in her hair and stepped into her, kissing her with all the emotion that had been building inside him. When she melted against him and slipped her tongue along his, he reached down, lifting her up by her ass. Her legs and arms wrapped around him naturally as he walked into the house and kicked the door shut behind him.
He dropped her feet back to the ground, then shrugged out of his jacket as he continued to take her mouth, absorbing all the little noises she made as she reached for the bottom of his T-shirt.
Breaking the kiss, he pulled it off and tossed it across the room, then slid to his knees. Lifting the bottom of her tank top, he nipped, kissed, and sucked on the soft skin of her abdomen. With swift hands, he undid the button of her pants and pulled them down slowly, kissing every inch of exposed thigh, pushing the black pants down until they pooled around her ankles.
The only thing that separated him from paradise was a pair of bikini-cut panties, and, overcome, he reached behind her, gripping her ass and nuzzling her between her legs.
He heard her gasp as he hooked the side of the panties and started dragging them down.
“Jake…” she started to protest, trying to cover herself.
Moving her hands, he looked up at her with a soft smile. “Trust me.”
She hesitated but didn’t stop him as he finished removing her panties, dipped his head, and pushed his searching tongue inside her.
She jerked against him, and he held the cheeks of her ass tight as he licked and sucked her flesh, reveling in the way her body started to shake as he found the little nub of her clit and slipped his lips over it, drawing it into his mouth. Holding it there, he flicked it over and over with his tongue, feeling the little button swell.
She’s a virgin, idiot. You should be doing this in a bed.
Standing abruptly, he scooped her up and strode across the room toward the hall. He felt the soft press of her lips against his neck and dipped his head to capture them as he walked into her bedroom, setting her on the bed. Grabbing the bottom of her shirt, he drew it over her head, her bra following quickly behind it. When she stood before him, gloriously naked, he took in every curve, every dip.
“God, Rand…” He said, kneeling again. Dipping his head, he took the pink tip of her breast into his mouth, suckling her nipple as he clasped his hand over the other and squeezed it gently, tweaking her nipple with his thumb and forefinger. Rand’s hands slipped behind the back of his head and held him against her flesh, the sounds of her pleasure echoing in the quiet of the bedroom.
Releasing her breast, he slid his hand down between her legs and with a searching finger found her warm core and pushed inside. Parting her flesh, he roughly massaged the tight nub of her clit, listening to her harsh breathing. The breathy sound of his name on her lips made his already aching cock jerk, and he kissed his way down her body, pushing her back on the bed, but she caught herself on her elbows.
Their gazes locked as he lifted her legs over his shoulders and worked her with his mouth again, spreading the lips of her sex as he thrust his tongue in and out of her. He could feel the tight muscles clenching, and he slipped one finger inside, curving up to find the rough flesh inside, and knew he had hit pay dirt when she cried out.
Using his finger inside and his tongue to quickly work her clit, he whispered, “Come for me, baby.”
Sucking her clit into his mouth, increasing the pressure and the flicks of his tongue, he almost smiled as she arched up and yelled, her passage tightening around his finger as she spasmed.
The aftershocks of pleasure jerked her body beneath him, and he released her clit, kissing her mound as he pulled away with a smile. She was flat on the bed, her fists clenching and unclenching, the rise and fall of her breasts rapid and mesmerizing.
Slipping his finger out of her, he sat next to her on the bed, then kicked his boots off. Her hand touched the skin of his back, caressing it above his pants, and he turned, lying down next to her on his elbow. As he looked into her softly dazed eyes, the smile on her face made his own lips kick up in amusement.
Dipping his head, he kissed her smiling mouth, which opened eagerly under his, and his cock twitched again.
“You know, I really just came over here to talk to you,” he whispered, running his hand over her breasts as he took her mouth again.
When he pulled away, her eyes were closed, her lips parted. She arched into his hand, and he chuckled at the soft sigh she gave as he took her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled.
“About what?” she asked breathlessly.
He stopped his ministrations and pulled back to look her in the eye. “About marrying Red.”
Her eyes flew open. “He told you?”
His gut clenched at her words. “Yeah, he told me.”
* * *
Rand could barely form a coherent thought after the roller coaster of pleasure Jake had just given her. Reaching behind her, she brought the quilt from the end of her bed over to cover her breasts and took in his expression. She could have sworn he looked hurt, but that was ridiculous. Maybe he was just upset that she hadn’t told him first? But why?
“I haven’t said yes,” she said, her gaze dropping away from his.
She felt the soft touch of Jake’s fingers as he tucked her hair away from her face, and looked back up to meet his gaze. “Are you going to?”
Was she? Did she really have a choice? Only Red wanted to try for a real marriage…but there was nothing between them. Not like there was with Jake.
“I don’t have a lot of other options,” she said, her hand involuntarily reaching out to trace his mouth.
He caught her hand and laid a nipping kiss on her palm. “If you did? Have other options? Would you marry him then?”
Her heart slammed in her chest like a boxing glove. “I…” She swallowed hard as she worked up the nerve to get it out. “Red wants a real marriage. He wants the option to have perks…to see if it could turn into something lasting.”
Jake stiffened, and his grip on her hand tightened. “I see.”
No, you don’t! She screamed internally. When she saw he was moving like he was going to get up and leave, she threw herself against him, landing on his chest as he fell back onto the bed.
“But there’s a problem. He kissed me, and it was unexpected, but nothing happened.” His face snapped into an irritated scowl, and she quickly continued, “I don’t think it would be fair to Red to marry him, when the only man I want to kiss is you.”
The smile that spread across his lips did fluttery things to her insides. “Is that a proposal?”
She frowned at his teasing. “Do you want it to be?”
Suddenly, he reversed their positions and kissed her hard and fast. “I want you. I don’t know what that means for a year from now, but I was coming by to say, if you have to marry somebody, why not me?”
It wasn’t the perfect proposal by any means, but over the last few weeks, she had started to change. She might not ever want the whole hopelessly in love beyond all reason, but she also didn’t want to spend her life alone. Just because she wanted Jake didn’t mean she was in love with him. If he decided in a year he wanted out, she’d smile and wave, no hard feelings; when all was said and done, they would always be friends. No matter what else went on, they would still have that.
“Okay, but promise me a couple things,” she said, running her hands over his arms as she held his gaze.
“What are they?” he asked, his voice suspicious.
“If we’re going to do this, I don’t want to lose you as a friend. If things start getting weird or…or it’s messing up what we have, we stop.”
“You mean sex? Agreed,” he said, then quickly added, “But we are going to be having it, right?”
She laughed at the panic in his eyes. “I think so.”
“Okay what else?” he asked, coming down on his elbows. He leaned over and laid soft kisses across the skin of her neck, breaking her train of thought.
“Mmmmm…I can’t think when you do that,” she said softly, realizing for the first time that she’d lost most of the quilt’s covering. Her hard nipples were pressed against the wall of his chest, and she rubbed against him, gasping at the shock of pleasure that spread at the friction.
“I like hearing that,” he whispered in her ear, rubbing between her legs, the rough fabric of his jeans against her exposed flesh making her throb.
“No other girls,” she said firmly as she slid her hand down his back, below the waist of his jeans, to squeeze his ass.
He nipped her neck. “I don’t want anyone else.”
“Promise me, no other women.” She pinched his cheek with a smile.
Coming up to look down at her, he said, “I promise, I won’t even glance at another woman.”
“Good.” She slipped her other hand down into his jeans and before she lost her nerve, asked, “Now what do you say we finish what you started?”
* * *
Jake was more than happy to take the lead, but Rand being Rand, she got impatient. She pushed him up and off her, dropping her hands to his belt with a siren’s smile. He let her undo his belt, the snap of the top button of his jeans and the rifffft of the zipper making him jerk with anticipation.
“I think you need to stand up,” she said, and he did what she suggested. His jeans dropped low on his hips at the change of position.
She scooted to the end of the bed and knelt there, then leaned over tentatively and brushed the edge of his briefs with her mouth. Grabbing his jeans at his thighs, she pulled on them until they dropped. He let her control what they did. He wanted her to be comfortable.
Even if it was killing him.
“I’ve heard that guys like it when girls…” Her voice trailed off.
“Yes. But you really don’t…” She pulled down his briefs and his cock sprang free. When her hand wrapped around him and squeezed, he threw back his head and hissed, “Fuck…”
“Did I do it wrong?” she asked, letting him go.
“God, no…” he said, and with a smile, she touched him again.
The feel of her hot breath on the tip before she pressed her lips to his dick nearly undid him, and he started counting in his head. Her wet mouth opened as she slid her lips around him and sucked him, her innocently administered actions making his balls tighten.
“Rand…” he whispered, touching her head lightly. The sight of her loving him like that was too much.
“Rand stop,” he said, and when she pulled back, there was that uncertain look again. Pulling her off the bed and to her feet he took her mouth, rubbing his hands over her back, and cupping her ass. She moved against him eagerly, his cock trapped between him.
“Climb up onto the bed.”
She did what he said, and he bent to pick up his jeans. Reaching into his pocket, he grabbed his wallet, pulled out the tiny foil package, and ripped it open with his teeth. After slipping the condom over his erection, he crawled up to lie next to her.
“Was I doing it wrong?” she asked softly, and he shook his head.
“It was wonderful, but if you’d kept going, I would have finished earlier than expected,” he said, playing with her hair.
“Oh. Oh!” She giggled. Cradling the back of his head, she pulled him down for a kiss, whispering, “We wouldn’t want that.”
Definitely not.
* * *
He came over her, and the weight of him felt so right, and his kisses stole every doubt from her head.
“Rand, honey, bend your legs,” he said, guiding her.
She did what he asked, planting her feet flat on the bed, and she felt the head of him press against her. He stopped, kissing her again. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around him and noticed his skin was lightly dampened with perspiration. He pulled back and laid his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, Rand.”
“Sorry for wha… OW! Son of a…” His mouth cut off her curse as he pushed past her hymen. A sharp, painful snap between her legs brought tears to her eyes and she glared at him as he kissed her, tempted to bite his tongue.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t want you to tense up and have it hurt worse.”
She shifted under him and muttered, “You could have told me it was going to hurt like that.”
“I’m sorry, I’ve never been with someone who hadn’t…” He ran his hand over her hair and cheek. “Does it hurt now?”
Did it hurt? No, not anymore, it just felt…like she couldn’t get comfortable. She shifted, and he sucked in his breath. “Don’t move, Rand.”
She ignored him, but this time when she squirmed, a little zing went through her. “Oh…”
He pulled out of her slowly and slipped back in. Gasping at the sensation, she threw her head back and gripped his sides. He did it again, a little quicker, and it felt good, so good.
“Okay?” he asked as he continued his slow ministrations.
“Oh yes,” she breathed.
He didn’t ask her again, just plunged in and out, over and over, until that heavy, throbbing feeling started building again. She held on tight to him and climaxed hard, lifting her hips as her muscles clenched. She put her mouth against his shoulder and whimpered, “Ohhh…ohhh…”
His rhythm became uneven, and she felt it, felt his shaft flexing and clenching as he came. She ran her hands up and down his back with a sense of power as he groaned against her ear. She kissed his shoulder and neck, licking at his skin and loving the weight of him on her body.
As his breathing slowed, he rolled to his side, taking her with him. Sprawled across his body, she stared down at him. He ran his finger over her mouth. “Are you sore?”
“I think I’m all right,” she said.
“Good. I really tried not to hurt you.” He lifted up to kiss her lips.
Snuggling back down against him, she closed her eyes and her body turned slack as he rubbed her back lightly, the gentle strokes lulling her into a deep, satisfied sleep.
* * *
Someone was banging on the front door and shouting. Rand sat up, dislodging Jake’s arm from her naked waist.
Jumping out of the bed, she grabbed a T-shirt from her drawer and a pair of sweats, then hopped from foot to foot as she pulled them on. Laughter from the bed brought her up short, and she looked over at Jake watching her.
“What are you laughing about?” she snapped, slipping the pants over her hips, covering her chest with the T-shirt.
“You’re cute,” he said simply, and she tried not to let those two words make her insides glow.
“Well, do you not hear the crazy person at the door? There might be something wrong.” She turned her back on him to pull the T-shirt over her head.
She heard him rustling around behind her but rushed out of the room without peeking, worried that it was Andy coming by to tell her the cows had gotten out.
Reaching the front door, she yanked it open and found Red, looking furious.
“Where is he?” Red asked, his whole demeanor threatening.
“Ummm…” Rand stuttered, then felt Jake’s warm body at her back as he widened the door. She looked at him, shirtless in a pair of jeans, and wanted to die.
“You son of a bitch!” Red shouted, moving her out of the way to shove Jake. Rand fell back against the wall as Jake landed on his ass, and Red jumped on top of him. “Nothing going on, huh? I knew something was up when you left the bar last night.”
Rand rushed forward to grab Red’s arm and pulled. “Damn it, Red, get off him.”
Red jumped up, and the full force of his temper focused on her. “And you! I offer to marry you, and instead of just being upfront about this”—he waved his hand—“whatever this is, you tell me you’ll think about it.”
“Because this wasn’t happening when you asked me,” she yelled.
“So you’re telling me that last night, he just showed up, and you thought, ‘Gee, I think it’s a great idea to sleep with a guy who screws anything that moves,’” Red said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
“Red, you asked me, and I love you for it, but I told you I needed time because I wasn’t sure what I wanted.” He gaze fell heavily on Jake. “And I am now.”
* * *
Jake’s face and ass hurt equally, but Rand’s words made him grin like an idiot.
Red’s face was an angry scowl. Jake broke in, “I wasn’t trying to be a dick, man.”
“No, you just think with one,” Red snapped.
“Now look, I’m not saying what I did was right, but she,” he said, standing up and pulling Rand against his side, “chose me. She’s gonna marry me, and that’s it.”
“Wait. Wait,” Red said, holding up his hands. “He actually asked you to marry him?”
“More or less,” Rand said, receiving a pinch from Jake for her smart mouth.
Red just stared at them, openmouthed and disbelieving. Then, without warning, a gurgle of laughter bubbled up and erupted from his mouth.
Jake looked over at Rand, who was scowling at Red, and couldn’t help feeling a little insulted.
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry but…oh, this is too good.” Red heaved as he leaned against the wall.
Rand just shook her head. “I’m going to go take a shower. Can you handle this?”
Jake was tempted to pick Red up by the seat of his britches and toss him out the door, but he had stepped in on Red, so he cut him a little slack. “Are we okay?”
Red straightened up, wiping at his watery eyes, and he looked toward where Rand had disappeared. “You know she’s not just one of your conquests, right? You do realize that if you screw this up, you’re going to lose her.”
“We’re both walking into this with our eyes open. Even if it doesn’t work out, when the year is up, we’re going to stay friends,” Jake said, and Red’s expression held a touch of pity to it.
“Yeah. Good luck with that.” Red made his way toward the front door. Looking back for a second, he added, “We’re okay for now. But if you hurt her, I’m going to do more than the love tap you just got. Understand?”
Jake nodded, and as Red closed the door behind him, uncertainty and dread made Jake break out in a cold sweat. Was he doing the right thing? Was Red right?
God, he hoped not. Or else he was going to lose the two people who meant the world to him.