Some minutes later, he rose up and she cried out in disappointment, but when he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her onto the desk she slid her arms around him in turn and drew him close.
He sheathed himself in a condom quickly, lifted her legs to open her wide and settled himself against her core. She was wet and hot and ready to take him, so he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he pushed forward, burying himself in her. Hannah arched back, her hands fumbling for purchase on the top of the desk. Gripping its edges she pushed back toward him, sinking him deeper still.
Jake bit his lip, fighting for control. This position allowed such deep access into her, spread her so wide for him it was hard to hold back. He pulled out and pressed in, and nearly came undone.
Figuring he’d better get to it or lose himself altogether, he started to rock his hips, moving inside her. Hannah moved with him, riding him up and down with little cries of desire that urged him on. He increased his pace, holding nothing back until she bounced in his arms, her breasts bouncing, too. They mesmerized him.
Jake gripped her hips and pulled her toward him as he thrust against her. He couldn’t stop himself now if wanted to, and he didn’t want to. Hannah clutched the desk, arched her back and met him stroke for stroke. He could tell from her cries she was close… close…
With a final moan she threw back her head and shuddered against him, her release overtaking her. Jake went over the edge with her, his thrusts slow and deep. When they were done, he lifted her up, carried her to the bed and climbed on with her, still joined together. Lying side by side, Jake stroked her hair gently. “I’m glad you didn’t give up on me, Hannah.”
“Me, too.” She snuggled in close.
“Don’t think we’re done here, either,” he whispered into her ear. “Because we’re just getting started.”
She kissed him on the chin. “I’m counting on that.”
When Hannah woke up the next morning, she found Jake propped up on one elbow, watching her.
“Morning,” she said softly, all too aware of everything they’d gotten up to the night before. She sat up, and a delicious ache between her legs reminded her all too well of every position they’d tried out during the night. She’d never been in a relationship like this, where nothing was off the table. When Jake suggested something—usually with his body, not his words—her body couldn’t wait to meet him halfway. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, knowing she was giving Jake an eyeful. Hoping she was. “Jake…”
“Do you have to get up already?”
“Don’t you?”
“We have time for one more round. A quickie. Please?”
How could she resist a handsome man when he begged? A handsome, naked man who was climbing off the bed to come after her and take her in his arms? When he pulled her close for a kiss she couldn’t resist kissing him back. When they parted she looked over his shoulder at the diamond winking on her finger. Engaged. She was engaged to Jake.
“Please?” He nuzzled her neck.
“Okay. One more round,” she said against her better judgment. Soon Holt would turn up for their daily showdown. She didn’t want Jake here to see that, so she’d have to make this quick.
But they weren’t quick and by the time they were showered and dressed, Holt was overdue. Hannah dreaded Jake running into his father now that he knew what Holt had done. That confrontation was bound to get out of hand.
She followed Jake downstairs. “You better get going.” She glanced toward the door nervously.
“I’m going.” But he didn’t go. He popped a couple of pieces of bread in the toaster and found a plate.
“But if you don’t hurry you’ll—” She bit off the end of her sentence.
“I’ll what?” When she didn’t answer, Jake came to stand close to her. He tipped her chin up, traced his thumb over her lips, and a shiver of desire rippled through her from stem to stern. “I’ll what, sweetheart?” He dipped his head to kiss her and Hannah rose on her tip-toes to meet him. She figured sooner or later Jake’s kisses would become old hat, but for now each one was special, a new exploration of his mouth, of him.
“Well, well. This is sweet.” Holt opened the door without preamble.
Jake jerked back in surprise. “Dad? What are you doing here?”
“Running late?” Holt made a show of looking at his watch.
“Just seeing my girl off to work.” Jake’s voice had a hard edge. He dropped a kiss on Hannah’s forehead and steered her toward the door. Maybe he didn’t want her present for their showdown, either. Hannah went to collect her purse and coat.
“Hold up there,” Holt said when she tried to slip past him toward the door. “Don’t you have something to tell me before you go?”
That ought to do it, she thought.
She was right.
Jake stepped before him, his hands on his hips. “I’ll do the talking for her, Dad. Yes, we slept together last night. Made love three or four times, didn’t we, Hannah?”
Hannah closed her eyes. Was she really supposed to answer that?
“I know all about your threats and the way you forced Hannah to be with me. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Jake went on.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourself for the way you’ve dragged your feet this long instead of settling down. Not my fault you needed some prodding.”
“It is definitely your fault,” Jake said. “Maybe the reason I’ve dragged my feet so long is I’m afraid to bring a wife to live near my pain in the ass father!”
“You saying you want to leave? Because if you do there’s more where you come from. Ned would be happy to manage the place.”
“Well, maybe he should!” Jake exploded. “Maybe I’m sick and tired of you pushing me around! Maybe it’s time for you to back the hell off!”
Hannah slipped between them and bolted out the door.
Jake watched her go. So did his father.
“Maybe you better think hard about what you really want,” Holt said when she was gone. “I’m not interested in threats or tantrums. You know the deadline. Get married or get out.”
He strode from the house and slammed the door behind him. Jake swore and pulled on his outer gear. No matter how angry he was, there were still horses and cattle to feed and jobs to attend to and if he stuck around inside these four walls he’d explode. He found Ned in the barn some minutes later mucking out the horses’ stalls. He wasn’t Jake’s first choice of people to talk to—not by a long shot—but he had to talk to someone, and Ned would have to do.