Page 33 of Score to Settle (Oakwood Ranch #1)

TWENTY-TWO

HARPER

There are a million reasons why I should let Jake go to bed.

Why I should step back into the kitchen, grab myself a glass of water, and do the same.

But then I think how Jake showed up for me tonight.

I think about our kiss in the hotel room and how much I want that feeling again.

A small voice in my head whispers, “ Fuck it ,” and it’s so Jake-like that I smile.

Instead of thinking about all the reasons why I shouldn’t stop Jake from walking away, I think about the reason why I should.

Because I want to. And right now, in this moment, that reason is enough.

“Hey,” I say.

Jake turns back, hovering at the bottom of the stairs. He’s undone his collar, the tie of his tux hanging loose. His dark hair has fallen over his face. It’s his eyes I focus on and the hunger I see in them—the want that matches my own.

“You didn’t answer my question. How am I looking at you?” I say, holding his gaze.

His lips part and he pulls in a breath. In the beat of silence while I wait for his reply, every nerve ending in my body feels charged, humming with electricity, waiting, hoping.

He moves slowly, crossing the hall—drawing near. He doesn’t stop until he’s so close my back is against the wall and I can feel the heat of his body on my skin.

“Cassidy, I promised I wouldn’t kiss you again,” he says, voice husky in a way that has me completely undone.

“Jake.” His name is a whisper, full of need.

He tilts his head a fraction, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do you want me to break my promise?”

Longing is pounding through my veins. I lick my lips and nod.

“Say it,” he growls, cupping my face in his hands.

My next words come with a confidence I didn’t know I possessed. “I want you to kiss me.”

His pupils darken, but still he holds back.

Only when I don’t think I can stand it for another second does he move.

His lips brush lightly against mine. The kiss that follows is slow and so intense, I feel it between my thighs.

I feel it in every part of my body. His tongue pushes lightly into my mouth and his hands move into my hair, tugging gently, then trail down my naked back to pull me against his hard body.

I can feel every taut muscle through the fabric of his tux.

One of his strong thighs nudges between my legs and I push against him, craving friction.

Jake’s kiss grows more searching as a low groan rumbles in his throat. I feel his hardness press against me, solid and thick, straining against his pants. God , I want him. I want to feel all of him, skin on skin. I want him inside me, filling me.

I moan into his mouth as the kiss deepens, his tongue still stroking mine. My hands slide under his jacket, digging my fingertips in, pulling him even tighter against me as our kiss turns feverish.

And then suddenly Jake is pulling back, the pressure against my lips is gone, and I’m breathless, head spinning with desire, trying to work out why he’s pulled away. He steps back, raking a hand through his hair.

“Harper…” Jake swallows. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks, tone low and serious despite the obvious bulge straining against his pants.

For a fleeting second all those reasons why this is a bad idea threaten to come crashing back into my thoughts.

But the fact he’s asking me, that he wants me to be certain, tells me everything I need to know.

I don’t speak as I push the straps of my dress from my shoulders, letting the red silk fall to the floor.

I’m not wearing a bra and Jake sucks in a sharp breath, eyes filling with lust as he takes in the sight of my bare breasts.

My nipples are hard from desire and the chill in the air.

All I’m wearing now are my skimpy red lace panties.

“Fuck, Harper, you’re so beautiful,” Jake murmurs.

His eyes rake over my body and I shiver under the intensity of his gaze, my skin tingling with anticipation and need.

I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want Jake Sullivan right now.

Still holding his gaze, I hook my thumbs in the sides of my panties and slowly slide them down my legs, kicking them aside.

“I want you,” I say when I’m standing before him, naked and exposed.

My words light a fire in him. He moves toward me, sweeping me into his arms. His lips press hard to mine as he picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. In five strides, he’s lowering me down on the living room couch.

He follows me down, holding his weight on his elbows braced either side of my head.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” he rasps, shrugging off his jacket and flinging it away before capturing my lips in a searing kiss that leaves me dizzy.

Lowering his head, he starts a trail of kisses along the column of my throat.

Lips and tongue and the softest graze of teeth.

I gasp and sink my fingers into his thick hair, arching into him.

Every kiss sets a flaming torch burning down to my core as he moves his lips from my neck to my collarbone.

He pauses, breath hot on my skin, making me shiver with anticipation.

Then slowly, torturously, he dips his head and draws one hard nipple into his mouth.

I draw in a sharp breath as his tongue swirls and flicks.

Pleasure burns between my legs. He sucks harder and I cry out.

I’m lost to the desire he’s drawing out of me.

Only one thought races through my mind: I want him. I want him. I want him.

“Jake, please,” I beg, not even sure what I’m asking for, just knowing I need more. More of his hands and mouth on my body. More of this feeling winding me tighter.

He releases my nipple with a final flick of his tongue and lifts his head to look at me. His eyes are dark pools of desire that send another jolt of need pulsing between my legs.

“Tell me what you want, Harper,” he commands, voice rough like gravel. “I want to hear you say it.”

I’m so far gone, I don’t even hesitate. “Touch me. I need your mouth on me. Lower.”

A wicked grin spreads across his face. “With pleasure.”

He starts kissing down my stomach, swirling his tongue around my navel. My abs quiver under his touch. Lower and lower he goes, until he’s nudging my thighs apart and settling between them.

I tremble with want as he slowly runs his hands up my inner thighs, fingers softly pressing. Then his thumb brushes gently up and over my center, a barely there touch that makes me whimper.

“I’m going to take my time with you,” he says, breath hot as he takes his thumb away and kisses my inner thighs, teasing, slowly moving with licks and nibbles until his mouth finds my opening and his tongue moves in one long sweep up my center to the bud of nerves I need him to be touching.

His tongue is urgent and searching and I grip the couch cushions as my orgasm builds like a tight coil, ready to spring loose.

Just when I don’t think I can take any more, as my breathing turns ragged, Jake pulls back, tongue lazily stroking more gently, moving back to kiss my thighs, letting me catch my breath.

My legs shake and I swear every part of me is throbbing for him.

“Jake,” I cry. “Don’t stop.”

With a rumbling hum, he moves his mouth back to my center, one finger sliding into me as his tongue continues to drive me wild.

I gasp at the feel of him inside me. The pressure builds and builds, my thighs trembling, toes curling as Jake’s tongue works and he adds a second finger, stretching me and stroking inside me, sending sparks shooting through my body.

I gasp, the pleasure coiling tighter and tighter in my core.

Jake groans against me and the vibrations coupled with his relentless touch send me hurtling over the edge.

My orgasm crashes over me in a tidal wave, every nerve ending igniting.

I arch off the couch, crying out Jake’s name as it pulses through me.

I feel myself clench around his fingers, my body no longer my own.

I’ve never come so hard for anybody in my life.

It seems to go on forever, aftershocks rolling through me until I collapse back against the cushions, boneless and spent.

With a satisfied smile, Jake presses a final soft kiss to my clit, making me shudder again, before lifting his head. I’m still quivering, mind blissfully blank, as he trails kisses up my body.

“That was… incredible,” I rasp when he pulls back. My voice is hoarse from screaming his name.

Jake’s eyes are heated as they roam over me, taking in my flushed cheeks, my heaving chest. “I could watch you fall apart like that all night.”

A shiver runs through me at his words, at the promise in them.

“Take me to bed,” I whisper, running my hands over his shoulders. “I want you inside me.”

Desire flares in his eyes. In one smooth motion, he stands, scooping me into his arms. I loop my arms around his neck, pressing my face into his throat and breathing in that woodsy citrus scent that has become so familiar as he carries me effortlessly up the stairs.

I’m so aware of the fact he’s still fully clothed while I’m completely naked.

When he reaches the landing, he strides down the hall and shoulders open his bedroom door, kicking it shut behind us.

The room is shadowy, illuminated only by the moonlight filtering in through the window.

I catch a fleeting glimpse of a large bed before Jake is lowering me down onto cool sheets.

He stands over me, eyes never leaving mine as he unbuttons his shirt in a slow, measured way, like there’s no rush at all.

Like he knows how desperate I am for this and wants to make me wait again.

He drops his shirt to the floor, the planes of his muscular chest rippling in the moonlight.

I’ve seen it before, but still my eyes snag on every sculpted groove and that trail of dark hair disappearing into his pants.

Slowly, he undoes his belt, letting the rest of his clothes fall to the floor before kicking them aside.

My mouth completely dries out. There is nothing that could compare to the sight of Jake naked, his dick rock-hard and huge in a way that makes my heart pound.

I reach forward and grab his hand, pulling him down toward me.

Jake lowers himself onto the bed, skin pressing against mine.

The weight of him is delicious, igniting my nerve endings all over again.

He kisses me deeply, making my body forget it just had the best orgasm of my life and wanting more— needing more.

The length of him nudges against my entrance, already slick for him, and I gasp.

Jake reaches to his bedside table, fumbling in the drawer before pulling out a foil packet.

He rips it open and sits back on his heels to roll the condom on.

My eyes follow the movement of his hands over the impressive length of his dick.

I can’t stop the whimper from escaping my throat.

His eyes lock with mine as he moves over me, pushing my thighs apart with his knees. “How much do you want this?” he asks with a slow grin.

I bite my lip. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life,” I reply honestly.

Then I sit up, pushing him sideways and back onto the bed, moving so that my legs are on either side of his, so I’m straddling him.

His eyes flash in surprise as his head hits the pillow.

Then slowly—so slowly, wanting to draw out this moment—I slide myself over him so just the tip of him is resting at my opening.

I move another fraction and Jake closes his eyes and groans.

I swallow down my desperation, my eyes tracking every bob of his throat, and move again.

A sharp breath escapes my lips as he starts to stretch and fill me, inch by delicious inch.

Then Jake’s eyes snap open, his gaze fiery as his strong hands reach around my back, pulling me down the rest of the way. I cry out at the way he fills me.

“Fuck, Harper,” he growls once he’s buried to the hilt. “You feel so good.”

I clench around him, reveling in the feel of him inside me.

I move up slowly before pushing back down, starting a steady rhythm that has me seeing stars.

Each drive hits a spot deep within me. I’m gasping as Jake’s hands wrap around my ass, guiding me further each time.

Every movement is exquisite and intense.

I lose myself in the rhythm, throwing my head back, rocking over him, my aching clit rubbing against him with every stroke.

“Fuck,” Jake bites out, sitting up and bringing me with him, kissing me fiercely as he drives relentlessly into me. He shifts the angle of his hips and pleasure explodes through me like fireworks.

“Don’t stop!” I cry.

“Never,” Jake grits out as we pick up pace.

I move with him, meeting him thrust for thrust, climbing higher and higher.

With one hand gripping my hair firmly, he moves the other in between us, his thumb rubbing tight circles on my center.

His touch is my undoing. With a loud cry, I shatter, my inner muscles clamping down on him like a vise as ecstasy crashes over me.