Wild: Wildfire (8 page)

That shut her up.

This time when he went to Dee to carry her to the house, she rolled her eyes. “All right, Tarzan. If it makes you happy.”

He scooped her up, watching out for her ankle. “I thought it was desperado.”

She groaned, her cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink. “You’re not going to forget that, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Damn.”

Jake strode from the barn to the house, holding Dee tight. He climbed the steps to the front door and shifted her in his arms to grab the knob. “I want you to promise me something.”

A wary look came into her green eyes. “Depends.”

He twisted the knob and stepped back to let Blue out. The dog barked and danced around their feet for a few moments before bounding off.

“Don’t mess with Imp until your ankle’s better. Give it a good two weeks,” he said as he carried her across the enormous living room to the rocker she’d been sitting in yesterday.

“You’re kidding, right?”

After he eased her down, he sat on the couch near her.

“Dead serious.” He leaned forward, holding her stubborn gaze with his. “That calf is a strong bugger, and he’s liable to hurt you.”

“But—”

“No buts. If I have to play desperado and tie you to your bed, I will.”

Dee blushed and Jake had to grin. By the expression on her face, she was visualizing more than what he’d meant by that remark.

Hell, they’d have to give it a try some day. The thought gave him an instant erection and he shook his head. Whenever he was around Dee, he was like a teenager with a permanent hard-on.

She raised her chin. “I can’t ignore Imp for two weeks.”

He scrubbed his hand over his stubbled cheeks. “I’ll come over every day after I get off work.”

Dee blinked. “I—that’s not necessary.”

“I usually get off around three.” Jake got to his feet and stood beside the rocker. “I may not make it until later, depending on how things go. But I’ll be here.”

Another look of protest flashed across her face. Before she could say another word, Jake put his hand over her mouth. Her lips felt soft against his fingers, and he couldn’t help a low groan from rising in his throat.

Her eyes widened as he removed his hand and leaned close. He knew he could kiss her and she’d return it. But now wasn’t the time, and he wanted more from her than her desire.

He wanted her heart.

“See you tomorrow,” he murmured as he brushed his lips over her forehead.

A faint shudder went through Dee, and when he raised his head he saw that her eyes were closed. She opened them as he stroked one finger along her jaw, and he read the desire in her gaze. Before he could step away from her, she had her hands at his belt and was unfastening it.

“Ah, Dee?”

“Just let me see your cock.” Her face was intent, and damn near close enough to kiss his crotch as she unbuttoned his jeans and yanked down the zipper.

Jake could hardly think straight with Dee’s hands on him, and he groaned. “Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish.”

She gave a satisfied sound as his cock sprang from his underwear. “I’d forgotten how big you are.”

“Uh, thanks.” His body vibrated with lust as Dee wrapped her long fingers around his thick length.

“I want to taste you,” she murmured, her gaze fixed on his cock, and then she licked the head with one long stroke of her tongue.

Every other thought left Jake’s mind as Dee swirled her tongue over him, her hands alternating between exploring the soft cloud of hair around his balls and stroking him.

“Come in my mouth,” she said, her lips hovering just above his cock.

He groaned grabbed her braid and tugged her closer. She gave a satisfied laugh before slipping her lips over his cock and going down on him. Jake thrust his hips back and forth, plunging in and out of the moist heat of her mouth.

Dee looked up at him while he watched himself slide in and out of her. “I’m gonna come, sweetheart.” He clenched her braid tighter.

She answered by sucking him harder, taking him deeper in her throat. Jake groaned as he came, moving his cock in and out of her mouth until she had drawn every drop of semen from him. He was breathing hard and still semi-rigid when he pulled his wet cock out of her mouth.

Dee licked her lips and smiled up at him. “You taste better than I remembered, too.”

Jake grinned. “Well, why don’t—”

“Yo, Dean?” A man’s voice said from behind Jake, coming from the kitchen.

Dee’s heart pounded and heat flushed her cheeks as Jake stuffed his cock back in his jeans and zipped them up. He was buttoning them when boot steps came closer.

“Are you in here—” The man’s voice cut off and the only sound was the clank of Jake’s belt as he fastened it.

“Um, right here, Jess,” Dee said as Jake moved from between her and her foreman.

She tried to get out of the rocker, but Jake pushed her back down. “Rest that ankle,” he demanded, not looking the least bit embarrassed at being caught at her giving him head.

Well, practically caught at it.

Jess raised an eyebrow, an amused look on his handsome face. “Sorry, boss. Didn’t mean to interrupt anything. I’ll just leave you two…”

“Jess this is an old, uh friend, Jake Reynolds.” Dee struggled to look composed as she introduced the two. “Jake, this is Jess Lawless, my foreman.”

“We met yesterday.” Jake gave a quick nod to Jess as he rested his hand on the back of Dee’s rocker.

With a knowing grin, Jess hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “Customs, right?”

“Yeah.” Dee pushed her braid back over her shoulder. “So. What’s up?”

Jess walked closer to Dee and Jake, his grin fading into a frown. “Fence cut along the north pasture and another dozen Angus missing. Our herd’s down to two-thirds size.”

Dee put her fingertips to her forehead, as if it would force away Jess’s words. “We can’t afford this. And we certainly can’t afford to post twenty-four hour guards around the entire perimeter of a couple thousand acres.”

“Found these where the fence was down.” Jess reached into a back pocket and pulled out a pair of wire-cutters with a red rubber grip.

“Let me have a look.” Jake held out his palm and took the tool from Jess. “Pretty common make and obviously used regularly. The rust says he doesn’t take real good care of his equipment—leaves his tools out in the weather rather than putting them away.” Jake turned the cutters and examined the blade. “By the wear on this, I’d guess he’s right-handed.”

“Or she,” Dee interrupted. When Jake turned his gaze to her, she smiled. “Hey, I believe in equal-opportunity rustlers, too.”

“Could be.” Jake’s mouth quirked as he handed the cutters back to Jess. “Seems I remember seeing Kev Grand using a pair like this to fix his fence a few days ago.”

Dee frowned. “Kev wouldn’t be involved with the cattle disappearing. He’s pushy and outspoken, but he’s just not the kind of guy that would pull a stunt like that. Besides, the damn rustlers are swiping his cattle, too.”

Jake had to admit that he’d always known Grand to be an honest man, even if he was a sonofabitch. “Anyone else having problems with these rustlers?” Jake asked.

Jess shook his head as he stuck the tool in his back pocket. “Only Grand, according to Ryan Forrester.”

“Sheriff’s deputy, right?” Jake folded his arms across his chest. “Met up with him at Grand’s.”

“Yeah.” Jess hooked his thumbs through his belt loops. “The rustlers seem to just go for Black Angus. Kev Grand’s the only other rancher who’s lost a few head, but nothing like Dean here.” A thoughtful look crossed Jess’s strong features. “Some neighboring ranches have Angus, but most have Hereford and Brahma. So far none have reported any stock gone missing.”

Leaning back in her rocker, Dee propped her throbbing ankle on the hassock. “Sheriff’s department is so busy that they’re not giving us much attention.”

“I’d better head on out.” Jess tipped his hat to Dee. “Got stock tanks to check.”

A knock sounded at the door and Jess opened it. “Howdy, Catie,” he said as he touched his hat, letting the blonde walk through.

“Hi, Jess.” Catie watched him leave and then sighed before turning to Dee. Her big chocolate eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry. Didn’t know you were busy.”

“Not at all.” Dee tried not to grit her teeth. She was usually glad to see her best friend, but right now she wanted to be alone with Jake. The taste of him was still in her mouth, and it wasn’t near enough.

After Dee introduced Jake and Catie to one another, Jake leaned over and brushed his lips across Dee’s. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Disappointment eased through Dee. But dammit, she wasn’t going to beg. “All right.”

He brushed his finger over her nose and then whispered in her ear. “And don’t forget. If you’re a bad girl, I’ll have to play desperado and tie you to your bed.”

“Promise?” Dee asked when he pulled away.

He winked and headed on out the door.

Chapter Seven

Dee paused from mucking out Imp’s stall to wipe sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand. A cool October breeze stirred the loose hair at her cheeks and chilled her skin.

It was Thursday, almost exactly two weeks since her injury. Her ankle still felt a little stiff and sore, but as far as she was concerned, she had recovered and didn’t need help from anyone—no matter what Jake Reynolds might think.

The rustlers had left her cattle alone the past couple of weeks, thank God. But unfortunately, she’d heard of neighboring ranchers having lost several head of their cattle. When she’d asked Jake if he’d heard any news, he’d just given her his usual answer, “The Sheriff’s office is working on it.”

Butterflies tickled her belly as she realized Jake would be arriving soon and at the same time, a twinge of regret that they’d come to the end of their agreement.

No. Not regret.
She was thrilled that she didn’t have to put up with his desperado routine any longer. Dee grimaced and swatted a fly away from her face.
Yeah, right.
In truth, she’d miss having him around.

Imp butted her thigh and she reached down to scratch the calf behind his ears. “You’ll miss him too, won’t you?” she murmured. The devilish spark was still in his eyes, but he was no longer bent on plowing down anyone who came near him.

Dee sighed and got back to work cleaning the calf’s stall. Barn smells of hay, horse and manure comforted her. Much more so than Jake’s masculine scent. When she was near him she felt at ease, yet she also felt wild and restless, and more than a little reckless.

Every day Jake had shown up, any time from late afternoon to evening, depending on how his day had gone. Dee had expected—had
wanted
—him to take advantage of the time they’d spent together to try and get her clothes off.

But to her surprise, and dismay he hadn’t. He wouldn’t even go in the house for a glass of iced tea when she’d offered. He’d spent time with Imp, made sure the stalls and aisles were mucked out, and asked her if there was anything else she needed help with. Then he would brush his lips across hers and go.

Leaving her feeling so frustrated and hot for him, she didn’t know what to do with herself. Even though Jake hadn’t done more than give her chaste kisses, every minute in his presence was a form of sexual torture.

But damn if she was going to again beg the man to fuck her.

When she’d watched him work with Imp, gradually taming the calf, Dee couldn’t help imagining Jake’s hands on her instead. His gentle touch on her skin. His lips blazing hot trails over her breasts, his tongue seeking out her nipples.

“Get a grip, Dee MacLeod,” she muttered as she raked the manure from Imp’s stall and into the aisle.

Dee
. It had only taken a couple of days around Jake to start thinking of herself as Dee again.

She realized she would miss more than his masculine presence; she would miss his daily companionship. While he’d spent time with Imp, they’d talked about everything and nothing at all. Jake would share his day at work and talk about his mother and brother. She would confide in him her concerns about the rustlers, plans for upgrading the herd and breeding championship stock.

Talking with him was easy and natural. It made her realize how immature their relationship had been ten years ago. They’d talked, yes, but their relationship had been fiery and passionate, based more on sex than substance.

These last two weeks, about the only thing they
hadn’t
talked about was the future of their relationship.

Friendship
, she reminded herself.

“Bad girl,” Jake’s deep voice rumbled behind her.

Dee yelped and spun around, almost clobbering him with the rake. “Don’t scare me like that!” She punched him in his muscled bicep and he grinned.

“The deal was two weeks, sweetheart.” He took the rake from her and set it aside, then placed his hands on her shoulders. “I’ve got one more day.”

His stormy gaze captured her, and she felt as though she was hovering on the edge of a precipice. Just one step and she’d throw herself over.

She swayed towards him, intoxicated by his earthy scent and potent sexuality. “My ankle’s fine,” she murmured, amazed she’d found her voice.

He rubbed her arms through the light material of her T-shirt, setting her skin on fire, and smiled. “Humor me.”

Oh, she’d like to humor him all right. In the barn, in broad daylight—anywhere.

Jake brushed his lips over her hair and released her to grab the rake. Muscles in his arms and back bunched as he worked, and she barely contained a sigh.

She frowned and moved away. While Jake worked with Imp, she busied herself brushing down Shadow. The gelding whickered his pleasure and lipped her braid. She couldn’t help glancing at Jake, watching how gentle he was with the calf.

For the first time in the two weeks they’d spent together, they said little. It was a companionable silence, but she already missed him.

When they were finished, Dee walked Jake to his truck. A breathtaking sunset rode the horizon, gold, pink and purple streaking the sky above the Mule Mountains.

They stopped at the front of his truck. Dee avoided his gaze and trailed her fingers over the repaired fender. “Looks good.”

Jake leaned against the hood and into her line of vision. “Did you get the Rover back?”

“Yeah. The body shop did a great job.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe I backed into your truck like that.”

He chuckled. “If you could have seen your face, sweetheart.”

“Glad
you
found it amusing.”

“Why don’t we celebrate?”

“What?” Dee slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and tilted her head. “Backing into your truck?”

“Taming Imp. Your ankle being better.” He reached around her to catch one wrist, easing her hand from her pocket and clasping it. His touch electrified her through every nerve ending in her body.

“Dinner, tomorrow,” he murmured. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

She swallowed. “As friends?”

“Whatever you say.” Jake smiled and squeezed her hand. “How’s Mexican food sound?”

“All right.” Dee pulled her hand away from his, afraid he’d feel her trembling. She made her tone light and teasing. “Don’t be late, cowboy. I’ll be hungry.”

He gave her that sinful grin that turned her inside out. “I’m already starving.”