Chapter Seventeen

Jake stepped out of Bill Diamond's sweatpants, left them on the kitchen floor, and lifted Roxy up into his arms. He stopped once or twice to kiss her again before reaching her room.

They tumbled into the unmade bed in a knot of arms and legs, kissing and touching wherever hands and mouths could reach skin, which was a lot, since on the way in, Roxy had pulled off his only remaining piece of clothing-Jake's T-shirt.

Roxy hadn't changed into daytime clothes when she got up. She still wore pj's and a robe, so it was easy for Jake to undress her. They were both soon naked.

Roxy's brain was spinning, but she knew what she wanted to do. Jake had asked her to marry him. She would tell him she would, but she wouldn't say it yet.

When she reached for him, he clamped onto her wrist and dragged her hand over his bare chest. She teased and stroked, kneading his hard muscles like a cat, awakening Jake's sensitized skin. She immediately felt his reaction. Her eyelids drooped, watching him through her lashes as he took her hand and moved it down his ribs and farther toward his helper's hard on. She made a low sound in her throat as she wrapped her palm around his engorged erection.

Jake's cock jerked in response. His cock was tender, but not so much that it wouldn't perform.

Her inexperience showed as she continued to fondle him, but that didn't matter. The fact she was holding him in her hand had his senses tumbling. Dammit! If he wasn't careful, he'd go off like a teenager the same way he did with her that night in the rowboat.

He brought a callused palm to her breast, felt the hard, pointy nipple as she arched against him. Impossible to resist temptation, he leaned over and began licking and sucking hard while she continued to caress him. She moaned softly and tightened her fingers on his rigid flesh. She increased movements up and down his shaft, setting up a rhythm she hoped would have him flying off to never-never land.

He clenched his groin muscles, desperately hanging onto control. He almost came. He finally loosened her fingers around his dick and brought her hand to his lips.

"No-o … let me," she pleaded, looking deeply into his eyes. Her soft begging had his blood racing through his veins, the size of his wounded cock growing ever bigger.

"Not now, babe. Later," he whispered, and took her in another searing kiss that made her head swim.

From high school Jake had learned how to seduce females—and often. But this time everything was different. This was real, and he planned to step cautiously, not make any stupid mistakes that would jeopardize his marriage plans. The magnetism between he and Roxy had been obvious from the time they'd both been in high school. Today he wanted to take it slow and careful while making love to her. He wanted to tell her—show her—how much he loved her, had always loved her from the time they met. Of course, he hadn't realized it then. But he did after their devastating, torrid lovemaking at the lake this summer. It hadn't simply been a fuck in Roxy's bed. He loved her so much his balls had ached while his brain cells were mush for two weeks. She was everything he had missed, wanted, and couldn't seem to find.

Yeah, he wanted to screw her and come back for seconds. Maybe thirds. He wanted to watch her climax every time it happened, every day and every night. There was no way he would let her get away from him this time, not like the stupid way he had before.

Jake laid his mouth against the delicious curve where her shoulder met the swell of her breast. "Did you know I've been wanting to make love to you since last night at the dance?"

"So have I," she said, caressing his cheeks with gentle palms, capturing his head in hers and gazing up at him.

"And do a lot of other things, too, if you must know."

"I guessed as much." Her slow, tantalizing smile turned sultry.

No slow build-up. No faking it. He could read it in her eyes.

"Me, too."

She smoothed her hands over skin of his face, her caresses feather-light as she explored the angles of his square jaws, his straight nose, his dark, slanted eyebrows. She leaned up and kissed his lips tenderly, then pressed her budded nipples against his bare chest.

"Make love to me, Jake," she murmured. Then she lay back down and waited for him to do whatever he wanted.

It wasn't an invitation he'd ignore.

Again, he crushed her mouth underneath his with the greedy hunger he had fought off most of last night. Too restless to sleep, he had jumped out of bed, pulled on some clothes, and drove to the lake in the predawn to wait for Roxy to wake up while he cooled his heels on the deck.

After another heated kiss, he dragged his lips off of hers. They were both breathing hard.

"Jake," she said, an extended sigh rolling over her lips. "God, I want you so much, plumber man. Don't make me wait."

Jake controlled his urgency, though he was ready and primed. He wanted to be inside her, hard and deep, stroking her vagina, touching her heart and soul, expressing his love in a way she'd understand. And he wanted it without any of those damn condoms coming between her flesh and his. He knew he was clean, and he was absolutely certain Roxy was.

He tried to slow his breathing, but it wasn't easy. His hand glided down the smooth skin of her belly and cupped her clipped mound, aware of the heat and juices pouring from her cunt and displaying her desire. Her lifted hips followed his movement, a tiny hum of pleasure escaping her lips. When he touched the aroused, swollen labia, she pressed his hand hard against the area, encouraging him to stroke her.

"Oh Jake, I want it now! Hurry!"

He met her frantic gaze but whispered, "The last time we made love, Rox, it was too damn quick. Let's take our time, sweetheart. I want to make love to my wife-to-be."

"Are you crazy, Jake?" She had a wild, glazed look in her eyes. "I'm dying here, plumber man!"

"Shush, babe. I'll take you where you want to go real soon."

Roxy jerked when Jake's two fingers found their way inside her. She hurriedly spread her legs wider. Quicksilver sensations rose and fell like exquisite tidal waves of passion as tension grew, coursing through her and drowning her in pleasure as she was bombarded by jolts of violent spasms from her inner core.

"Ahhh, God help me, Jake!"

The rush gathered and crested until she squirmed under Jake's expertise. Within seconds her entire body exploded in a series of mind-blowing orgasms. She climaxed and climaxed—and climaxed again. Her clenching muscles reached critical mass at last, and she peaked some place very close to Jupiter, until she slowly, deliciously, drifted down to earth, limp as a wet dishrag.

It took a while before she could move at all.

Jake shifted on the bed as he slid himself up against the headboard, his skin still in contact with hers. The hard, hot length of his erection lay against her bare arm where it rested next to his thigh. Jake let Roxy doze while he watched her chest moving up and down as she drew in deep, contented breaths.

She finally opened her eyes. "That wasn't fair, Jake," she murmured low as she rolled toward him and slid her arms about his lean waist, pressing her lips and the tip of her tongue against his pecs.

"Wha-t?"

"I wanted to touch you more, Jake. Now, it's my turn to make love to you." She lifted her face and he placed his mouth on hers, gently, softly.

"Let me. I want to make you feel the same way you make me feel."

She sat up and swung her legs over his upper thighs, straddling him, her direct gaze warm and inviting.

When he nodded, she slowly skimmed her hands down his washboard abs. The sensations crossing her palms were wonderfully new and exciting. Her intense exploration of his torso changed from smooth, hard muscle and taut skin to crisp hair when she finally reached the base of his upright cock and his pliant, silky-skinned testicles.

Caught by an audible, growling sigh, Jake inhaled a ragged breath, filling his lungs.

Roxy again closed her fingers tentatively around his pulsing dick. "You know, Jake, sometimes you amaze me," she said. "I'm really glad your plumber's helper wasn't badly damaged. What in the world would we do if he had shriveled to nothingness, blistered and scorched, limp and bleeding?"

Her eyes gleamed, because she knew that wasn't the case. "Are you sure I'm not hurting you?"

Jake's cock twitched and jumped in her grip. Just a thought of what might have happened to his dick in the kitchen when the hot coffee poured down his groin left its mark on his brain. He shuddered, feeling some tingling still present. He would have liked to come back with a glib answer, but he couldn't, not while she was grasping his tender flesh.

"Not enough that I want you to stop, Rox." He pressed his palm over her fingers and tightened her hold.

Seeing the manifestation, long and round and baby smooth that she held in her palm, it appeared to be, thankfully, the same pleasurable and wicked instrument he'd used those past weeks to bring her to climax more than once during her several flights of ecstasy.

Meanwhile, Roxy's voice, low and husky, spoke as she teased his cock. "I wanted to touch you weeks ago, Jake. I like touching your plumber, he's so velvety smooth, so big, and hard. God, Jake, you drove me up a wall more than once. I want him inside me again, but not yet. First I want to do other nice things to you."

Jake almost came up off the mattress when one of her fingers slid over the head of his penis and finding a drop of moisture there, used it to lubricate his shaft.

Her touch was excruciating … and wonderful. Jake gritted his back teeth and held his breath.

She increased the pressure with her movements.

His eyes almost crossed when she leaned down and touched the hot tip of her tongue to the slit in his penis's head.

"Shit, Rox! Hold me in your mouth," he croaked. His senses were roaring, his mind and body wild with carnal need. Lying there in the bed with her straddling him, he was losing it, a fierce bundle of nerve endings sizzling with the painful tightening of his lower body and demanding release.

Roxy moved slowly, her tongue wrapping around the rigid stalk, her lips gently scraping her teeth down and back up several times while her fingers caressed the loose skin. Taking a breath and looking again at Jake's immense cock pulsing in her hand, she bent and lightly flicked the tip of her tongue along its underside and licked down its length almost to his testicles.

Fighting to control himself, Jake jerked spasmodically. He raised his hips and pumped into Roxy's mouth. A loud male groan escaped deep and long as she began to pick up the pace, her hands moving quicker and harder as she slowly drew his penis in and out of her mouth, her tongue licking at the ridge behind its head.

Finally, Jake grabbed her head between his palms, holding her down on him. The friction of her hands on his flesh and her gentle sucking, had popped beads of perspiration on his brow. He thrust upward again to bury the length of his cock in her mouth. Breath was driven from his lungs in a single shout when he came, spurting his cum into her mouth. His body spasmed with pleasure so intense he was forced to let go of her head. Eyes closed, he fell back against the fluffy bed pillows.

Roxy snuggled up next to Jake. Without opening his eyes, he sighed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her against his big body, pulling a sheet up over them. "Let's take a nap, Rox. We both need a short rest."

"But Jake…"

"Sshh. Later." He kissed her brow and laid his head against hers.

She never felt so happy, content … and cherished. Her eyes drooped and she slept.

* * * *

When Roxy's parents learned of the news by telephone later that day about the engagement between Roxy and Jake Plummer, her father promised to give her away. Her mother gushed, which was something she never did until it brought to mind her own reviving marriage.

By the time the Diamonds arrived a few weeks ahead of the wedding date, there had been a private and decisive meeting between Jake and Roxy's parents regarding the purchase of the lake house. It was to be Jake's wedding gift to Roxy, the deed kept in her name, so she would never lose it. Having been a Realtor, Cecelia Diamond knew how to manipulate the closing so that the newlyweds could take possession of the house when they returned from their honeymoon.

Jake's parents and grandfather were thrilled. There were numerous discussions between Jake and his family when the oldsters presented the idea of moving to Florida and turning over the business to the boys.

There were additional business meetings among the Plummers about forming a corporation to oversee the development of the land John Senior had tentatively sold to an out-of-state purchaser. The agreement could be voided, although paying a stiff penalty was needed to get out of the contract. Cecelia assured the Plummers hiring a good lawyer could do it.

The young construction workers, all three of them, and other close friends engaged in the construction trades, were thinking of developing the farm themselves.

At the wedding Pete acted as Jake's best man. Chip and Robbie White agreed to complete the male members of the wedding party. Roxy asked Bella Carmody to be her maid of honor and invited two other of her high school chums to be bridesmaids.

The wedding was small, no more than thirty guests. The reception took place in the Spring House Restaurant on the highway near the outskirts of Miradale on a beautiful, autumn Saturday. And no, Desiree Smith was definitely not invited to either affair.

The End

About the Author:

Blaise Kilgallen was born in New Jersey, and lives in a semi-rural county in the "Garden State" with three four-footed companions: a retired thoroughbred mare, a half-Siamese cat and "a rather large" Rottweiler.

She earned her BS in Fine Art Education with the intention to teach but found she'd rather "do" than teach. Blaise was employed for a number of years by a series of New York advertising agencies. Later, she wrote catalog and PR copy for a private label, sales-marketing firm and drapery-bedspread manufacturer. She additionally earned a NJ Real Estate Broker's license and sold real estate. She now writes romantic fiction, paints and markets her watercolors.

Blaise is also published in Historical and Contemporary Romance under the name of Joan M. Fox.