Wishing on a Rodeo Moon (Women of Character) (20 page)

Jake
lifted his hand and gently cupped her throat. "You're not your father. If
we go into this with our eyes open, no one has to get hurt."

Tye
swallowed hard, wetting her lips with her tongue. Was that true? Could they
both walk away without getting hurt? "I-I don’t know, Jake. I
don’t want to be hurt, I don’t want to hurt you."

"I'm
a grown man, Tye, let me worry about it. With that said, right now I need to
touch you." Gently, he traced her mouth with his. "Can I touch
you?"

Tye
nodded her head slowly, mesmerized by the desire she saw in his face, the
narrowing of his eyes. Jake's touch sent tremors of sensation straight to Tye's
stomach. It caught her off-guard, starting that impossible yearning again. How
she wanted Jake. Some things never changed. Tye needed to probe Jake’s
reasons for showing up at the rodeo that night. Right now things felt hazy, her
body charged by his touch, his scent in her nostrils.

"We're
not rushing into anything," Jake murmured. "When we make love, it'll
be the right time, the right thing to do."

"Oh,
God." Tye opened her lips, put her arms tightly around Jake's hard body.
When he talked about making love it did strange things to her stomach. She
leaned into him, willingly overcome by emotion and feeling, her fingers
gripping his arms. She wanted Jake. He made her burn, made her want to let go
of the past, the fear of not measuring up. Right now past mistakes faded into
dust.

#

Jake
felt the urgent press of Tye's slim body against his. Dropping his hands to the
small of her back, he traced his palms over the slight curve of her hips, felt
the bones beneath the soft, responsive flesh. He drew her quivering reaction
into himself, felt his own body tremble. He'd wanted her a long time, but he
had to go slow and make sure it was right for both of them. He didn’t
want any doubts clouding this moment. They had both come so far.

Jake
groaned. How much longer could he hold off? Did he want to hold off? He wanted
her so bad every muscle of his body was tensed and there was a roaring in his
ears. He lowered her to the couch cushions, his body covering hers. Tye's leg
came up, curved around the back of his legs, her body tightly against him. She
gave him everything in herself, the intensity of emotion she stored inside. To
Jake, he felt as if he were in a twister, emotion pulling at him, trying to rip
him apart. The past tried to hold him in its grip, but he pushed that aside.
All he thought of now was this moment with this woman. A woman he had lost
once, but now he had her. They had each other, for however long it lasted.

Trying
to slow down, Jake held her face to him with cupped palms, kissed her deeply,
the fragrance of her skin winding around him. He slid the blouse from her
shoulders, let his mouth plunder soft skin, run lovingly over the hollows
revealed. She felt so good, he wanted to explore each sensation, each part of
her body. Tye tried to be tough, but Jake felt the tremble of her limbs. He
sensed the vulnerable core inside her. He wanted to find it, touch it, hold it.

Tye
moaned as if she liked the feel of his mouth on her soft breasts. Jake traced
his tongue over her skin, following the delicate veins under the skin of her
throat. Her fingers pulled the hair on his chest. She splayed her fingers and
touched his nipples. Jake dropped his full weight on her, feeling her hips
thrusting up against him.

It
seemed to Jake they played a dance without music, words unnecessary.

"I
want you with me, Jake."

Tye's
whispered words smashed Jake's last bit of self-control. He abandoned the idea
of going slow and pulled his shirt over his head, then slanted his mouth over
Tye's soft lips. He kicked his boots off, yanked his jeans down, saw Tye fumble
to do the same with hers. When her fingers couldn't pull open her jeans snap,
he gently pushed her hands aside. Slowly, driving himself closer to the edge,
he watched the button come through the slit, then slowly, tooth by tooth, he
lowered the zipper on her jeans. Torture; pure, wonderful, slow torture.

"Jake."
Tye gripped his hands tightly, then pressed them to her flesh. "Don't
torment me."

Jake
watched the deep intensity on her face, and for a moment, he thought he saw
fear. He felt uncertainty touch him. Was he doing the right thing, letting Tye
into his life? What if she left again? Not what if, Jake reminded himself, when
she left.

Jake
didn't want to doubt what they were doing was right, not when he felt so
involved, so connected to this woman. Tye arched up against him as Jake splayed
his fingers across her belly. He dropped his mouth to the slight hollow of her
stomach, kissing a path across the smooth skin.

Tye
writhed beneath him, and he soothed her with kisses, his mouth on her skin as
he knelt above her, drawing air into his lungs, trying to catch his breath. Her
blue eyes, clouded with passion, told him what she wanted and it was what he
wanted, too. It seemed like they had waited too long already.

"Slow,"
Jake said hoarsely, hardly recognizing his own voice. "Go slow. I love
your skin, so soft, so soft..." Sweat beaded his brow, he felt it. It was
a tremendous effort to go easy, not to engulf her. Jake’s hands shook, he
felt like this was his first time. He almost wished it was. He was struck with
wonder and reverence for this fiercely independent woman.

Jake let
his hand slide down her thigh, gently traced scar tissue, then smooth muscle,
feeling the goose bumps rise under his touch. He gently traced the straps.
Tye’s trembling hand covered his, but she didn't stop him. She seemed to
go still and wait for his next move, her body suddenly very still.

Jake
held himself quiet, knew in the next few seconds there would be no going back.
He felt the weight of the responsibility he had undertaken. Tye’s scarred
flesh was there for him to see. Gently, he traced the slightly pinkish skin,
drew her quivering response into himself.

He
didn’t want to hurt Tye.

He
feared he would.

Slowly,
carefully, knowing she watched him, Jake undid the straps. Giving both of them
time, he removed the artificial limb and rolled down the stump socks.

#

Tye
watched Jake look at her stump. This was what she had wanted, to be loved and
touched by Jake, but now she waited, almost afraid to breathe. Would he be
repulsed, distressed? Could she bear it if he got up and walked away? So many
questions crowding her mind. The vulnerability she felt terrified her and she
wasn't someone who ran scared. Never had she depended so much on another human
being's thoughts and reactions. Tye prayed that if Jake walked away, she could
handle it. She watched him, biting her lips anxiously, emotion tight in her
chest, feeling as if something important hinged on his reaction.

As if he
knew about her fears Jake lifted his eyes to hers. "It's okay," he
said in a low voice, perhaps guessing at the tumult of fear twisting her
insides. "It's okay, Tye."

Some of
the coldness receded. Tye felt heat pool in her cheeks, her face. A shudder
passed through her, pulling some of the tension away. Gathering her courage,
Tye decided he might as well see everything. She needed to know Jake's reaction
to this most vulnerable part of her body, her residual stump. It took
precedence over everything else at the moment, even the heat of their lovemaking.
She wanted to be emotionally connected to Jake, not just physically. He had
seen her leg before, but now it was so much more intimate. His reaction so much
more vital to her.

Jake's
gaze left hers and he looked at her leg. Gently, he traced his fingers over the
sensitive flesh. Tye drew in a quivering breath, her leg jerking involuntarily.
She was surprised by the sensitivity of her skin to his touch. The limb near
the incision had always felt vaguely numb of feeling.

Solemnly,
Jake said, "You're a strong, beautiful woman, Tye. This only makes you
more so."

Tears
came to her eyes. How had Jake found the right words to say? He made her feel
special, strong and loved. Tye tipped her head back, closing her eyes as Jake
ran his mouth over one thigh, then the other. Heat began to rise again. Tye
ignored the wetness that wanted to burn from her lids as she pulled Jake's
mouth to hers. How had she gotten so lucky to find Jake again? She'd be crazy
to let him get away. Crazy. The tears gathered force and collected in her
throat, but she swallowed them.

"Now,
Jake. I want you now," she said, her voice deep-throated, demanding. She
wanted to give him all of herself. She was so full of emotion and want.
Jake’s tenderness had increased those feelings tenfold.

"I understand
the want, my body's saying the same, but I don't have any protection
―"

Tye
watched him pull away. She shook her head, feeling lightheaded. "Don't
leave."

"Damn!
We can't ― I won't take a chance."

"In
― in my bathroom cabinet, there's some packets." She touched his
shoulder with her lips. "I like to be prepared for any eventuality. I
bought them last week." Hoping Jake would make love to her. She had seen
those packets every night when she brushed her teeth and each time regret sliced
through her that they hadn't used them yet.

Jake
grinned at her. "Last week, huh?" He dropped a quick kiss on her
mouth and with a fluid movement, lifted her up against his chest. Jake carried
her into her bedroom, pushed the covers aside and settled her on the bed. He
turned and walked across the room. Tye put her head back on the cool pillow,
watching him through heavy-lidded eyes. His body was big and well muscled.
Soon, it would be hers. She shivered on the bed, rolling over to watch him as
he walked back into the room, apparently undisturbed by his nudity. Tye tried
not to stare at the most interesting part of his anatomy, but she got caught.
She felt the color move into her cheeks.

With a
big grin, Jake slid down beside her, the single mattress giving beneath his
weight.

Wide-eyed,
Tye watched him toss all but one of the packets onto the bedside table. A slow
grin lifted her lips as he tore open the foil. "Oh, my, all those?"

"I'm
optimistic," he said, leaning down to nuzzle her neck.

She
forgot about the foil packets as she and Jake touched skin to skin once more.
"Now, Jake."

Clenching
his jaw, Jake thrust forward. Tye stiffened slightly as pain streaked through
her. Jake froze.

Dropping
his forehead to hers, Jake looked in her eyes. "Tye." He began to
pull away.

Tye
gripped his arm, her nails biting into the muscle. "No, Jake, don't. It's
okay."

She drew
a deep breath.

Jake
felt it all the way to his toes. "Damn, you told me that you'd never
― but ―" He hadn’t really believed her.

Tye put
her mouth to his, silencing him, silencing his inner demons. Slowly, their lips
met and played.

Jake
held very still, but Tye foiled that as she arched up against him, her eyes
closed, her lips parting in a sultry smile. "That feels good, Jake...so
good."

Jake
looked at Tye, her cheeks flushed, eyes heavy lidded. He leaned down to kiss
her brow, nuzzling her cheek. She was so giving, so warm. Tye continued to move
and tantalize him. Jake gritted his teeth.

Tye
suddenly went still. She looked up at him, holding herself locked against him.
"Did I hurt you?" she whispered.

Incredulously,
Jake made his eyes focus on her face. "God, no. It just feels so ―
so fantastic."

Tye
began to smile. "Then don't stop. No thinking allowed," she murmured.
Dropping back to the mattress she lifted her arms to pull him down. Carefully,
he moved forward until they were as close as possible, thigh to thigh.

Jake
twisted his hips, feeling her body, and his, shaking with reaction, one so
hard, the other yielding, taking. An exquisite sensation began to rock him.

He
closed his eyes, wanting to hold onto the feeling of having Tye so close. They
filled each other, emotionally, physically, fully, again and again.

Gradually,
the ripples of desire receded, leaving Tye quiet against Jake. They clung
tightly to each other, and Jake pulled the sheet up over them, feeling the
chill of their sweat-dampened bodies. Tye turned her head to look at him, no
small wonder in her eyes.

"Wow,"
she said simply, then allowed a big smile to light her face.

Jake
returned the look, putting up a hand to brush the hair back from her smooth
forehead. "I second that," he agreed, attempting to come to grips
with what had just occurred. Making love had felt so right with Tye, as if they
were connected on all levels. Had she felt the same? God! How do you explain a
shaking sensation and strength at the same time?

"Why
Tye?" Jake shook his head in bewilderment. "I can’t believe
you’ve given me something so special, so precious..."

Tye
ducked her head as if to avoid his scrutiny. Jake frowned, placing a finger
under her chin and urging her face upwards. He had to understand what was going
on inside her head. It seemed vitally important to know why she had remained a
virgin.

"Tye?"

Tye
shrugged. "The time and circumstance just never seemed right, Jake."

Jake
swallowed hard, his mind reeling from the knowledge that he was the only man to
know Tye intimately. "You’re a beautiful woman Tye, I just wish I
could claim the same innocence." Knowledge hit Jake in the face and he
felt his mind go slack. He meant it. He wished, for that moment in time, that
he could turn the clock back. Jake thought back to the years which had been
full of responsibility, and yet he’d kept himself empty of this type of
emotion. That strange feeling of emptiness had intensified when he saw Tye
again. The feeling had begun to grow from the time he’d found her
picture. Had he suppressed his feelings all these years? Work, family,
obligations...