Rebecca Zanetti - Against the Wall

“Are you ready for the hearing Monday night?” Jake refilled their wineglasses.

“I think so. My part is just describing the golf course and maybe the clubhouse.” She took a sip of the red wine. “Are you going to be there?”

“Yes.”

Her hand stilled. “Opposing me?”

“No. Opposing the location of the Charleton Group’s development.”

“That’s me.” She set down her wineglass.

“No, it isn’t. I want to make you happy, Sophie. But a golf course does not belong so close to Mineral Lake.”

Her heart hitched. “I don’t like being on opposing sides from you.”

Jake grinned. “Worked for Hepburn and Tracy.”

She reclaimed her wineglass. The thought of sparring with him thrummed awareness through her veins. “Where’s Leila?”

He leaned back in his chair. “Girls’ night at Mom’s.” He continued at her inquisitive look. “Don’t ask me. Mom, Leila, and Dawn all paint nails, do hair, eat popcorn, and who knows what else. Girl stuff.”

“Sounds like fun.” Wistfulness filled her tone, unbidden.

“I’m sure you could join them sometime. Though if you talk about boys, I’d trick a rundown from my daughter. Maybe my mother, too.” Jake grinned.

Sophie rolled her eyes.

“Why don’t you paint more? You’re an amazing artist.”

Pleasure flushed her at the compliment, but then quickly died. “Artists don’t make any money, Jake. I need security and my job provides that.”

Coal-dark eyes surveyed her. “Those words don’t sound like you. They’re not yours, are they?”

“Of course they are.” Sophie tossed her napkin on her plate and pushed back from the table. “I’ll clear these for you.”

One strong hand around her wrist stopped her. Then he tugged, and she lost her balance. Straight into his lap.

“I’m sorry if I upset you.” His mouth was an inch from her ear. Heat and hard masculinity surrounded her, and she repressed a groan. She perched on granite-hard thighs against a too-warm chest as firm arms held her tightly. As if he’d never let go. She turned her face to meet his.

“I’m not upset.” Breathiness quieted her voice.

“Whose words were they, Sophie?” His eyes held hers captive while he shifted her into a more comfortable position.

The need to confide in him swelled. “My mother’s.”

“Do you still believe them?”

Right now, she was finding it difficult to believe anything. To concentrate on anything but the talented lips of the man before her. She had known what would happen when she accepted his dinner invitation. She leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his, her hands splaying against firm pectoral muscles earned on the ranch.

Jake stiffened, one hand moving to cup her head and ease her back enough for their eyes to meet. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” It came out a breathless dare.

He didn’t ask again.

She met him halfway as his mouth plundered, as his tongue explored. He smoothly shifted her so she faced him, her thighs on either side of his, her core to his. One hand went to her hips and pulled her even tighter into his hardness.

They both groaned at the contact.

Strong hands deftly released the buttons of her blouse. He pressed hard kisses along her jawline and down her neck. Each touch of his lips sizzled against her skin. A wildness filled her—a sense of power she hadn’t expected. He flicked her bra open with a quick movement, and her breasts spilled into the cooling night.

“So pretty,” Jake murmured.

His heated mouth enclosed one nipple in heat. She gasped and gyrated against him. She was already wetter than she’d ever been.

He ran his tongue around her nipple, his teeth scraping.

Her breath caught. Reaching out, she shot both hands through his thick hair. “Let’s go inside.”

Releasing her, he leaned back. “No.”

She opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. So much want filled her it was hard to concentrate.

He gripped her waist. Then he easily lifted her until her butt hit the table. His strength sent butterflies winging through her.

He grinned, nimble fingers reaching for her nipples. “We need to get you out of your head, Sunshine.”

She shook her head, her mind spinning, her body on fire. “No, we don’t.” She gasped more than said the words. The chilled glass cooling her thighs contrasted with his heated hands on her breasts.

His smile gleamed with predatory charm. “Spread your legs.”

Her eyes widened. Half naked, exposed on his table, her mind rebelled. They were outside, and while his deck seemed secluded, his family or ranch hands could walk into the backyard at any time. “No.”

He rolled her nipples. Pain and pleasure melded together, shooting electricity straight to her pounding clit. She gasped, her lids lowering to half-mast. Her hands lifted.

“Hands down.” His order held bite and her hands slapped the glass.

Then he tugged her breasts just enough to show he was serious. “I said, spread your legs.”

Like prey in a trap, she stilled. He’d let her leave if she wanted—heck, he’d drive her home. The next moment was hers to control. If she stayed, she’d give up control to the force of nature that was Jake Lodge. His sensual gaze promised dark pleasure, but at what cost?

Need trembled through her. The man could quench the fire he’d already stoked in her. Her body leaped to life with want for his sexy promise, while her brain bellowed caution.

Screw her brain.

She panted, lifting her breasts even as he kept his hold. Licking her lips, she hesitantly, sensually, widened her knees.

He blinked. Slowly.

Her skirt rose up her thighs. Her ankles dangled on either side of his chair. Lowering her chin, she met his gaze with as much challenge as she could throw from her eyes. He wanted control? The man had better fucking earn it.

He shot to his feet. Fast. The man was fast. Keeping her gaze, he leaned over her and shoved plates off the table. They crashed to the wooden deck, shattering. Surprised, she dropped back on her elbows and gasped.

Heat cascaded off him and onto her bare skin. Sliding his palms along her arms, he removed her shirt and bra.

She trembled.

He leaned closer, trapping her. Crimson spiraled across his high cheekbones, enhancing the dangerous hollows in his chiseled face. His calloused hands manacled her thighs.

She jerked. Desire uncoiled inside her abdomen with the force of nature. Thunder rolled in the distance, in tandem with the slamming of her heart.

Pinning her with a look, he ran his abrasive palms up the flesh of her thighs. His hips kept her open, his gaze kept her captive.

She bit back a whimper.

Pure instinct tilted her pelvis toward him.

“Hold still, Sunshine,” he commanded softly.

Her breath hitched. Hold still? No way. She shook her head.

“Yes.” He ran a thumb along the outside of her panties.

Nerves fired to life. Her body trembled with the urge to move. “Please—”

“No.” He leaned over her and kissed from her collarbone to her jugular. “The begging comes later,” he whispered in her ear.

His heated breath shivered along every nerve she owned. “W-who do you think will be begging?” she forced out.

He moved her panties and plunged one strong finger inside her.

She cried out, sparks flashing behind her eyes. Oh God. Her orgasm was so fucking close. Needing to move against him, she nearly growled in frustration as he held her still.

His finger rotated. “I believe you’ll be begging.” Low, guttural, his voice rasped with hunger.

A strangled moan slipped from her mouth.

“Now that’s a pretty sound.” He released her to tug off her panties and skirt, leaving her completely nude. Lust glimmered in his eyes as he looked his fill in the waning light. “You’re stunning.”

For the first time in her life, she felt stunning. Beautiful and somehow…safe.

His hand curled around her nape, gripping just hard enough to show his strength. Then he slid his rough palm down between her breasts, over her tightening abdominal muscles, to stop at her mound, his heated gaze following his touch.

She started to shake with a need that bordered on painful.

The lingering daylight faded, leaving his face shrouded in darkness. The moon lit him from behind, a strong, dangerous figure who held her captive in his spell. He was as wild as the land that had created him.

So much for safety.

He dropped back to his chair, his hand sliding under her butt.

Panic seized her. She struggled to sit up, even with her legs dangling over the table. “No—”

His thumb pressed on her clit just as his mouth found her.

She arched her back with a garbled cry. Mini-explosions rippled through her—not enough. Not even close to enough.

He licked her again. “Lay back down.”

It was too much. “No—”

His hard hand slapped her clit.

The world sheeted white and went silent. She dropped on her back, lost in the erotic sensations he’d created.

His mouth found her again. A low hum against her vibrated through her entire body. Oh God. She teetered on an edge, a fine, dangerous edge. More than anything in the world, she wanted to go over.

But that pinnacle lay within Jake’s control. At the thought, her need spiraled even higher.

His finger entered her. Easily. Another finger—stretching her. Pain and pleasure spasmed through her. Then his rough tongue flicked and caressed her clit. Circling. Tempting and teasing. Her muscles tightened, her abdomen rolled.