Closer To You (Tales of the Sweet Magnolia Book 1) (7 page)

“I was doing my job, Lil. I would have done the same for anyone.”

“Of course you would, that’s the type of honorable man you are. It was all in the line of duty, of course. Forgive me if I embarrassed you by offering my thanks.” She smiled, trying not to let his clipped response hurt. She loosened her grip and started to walk away.

“Lilly….”

She hesitated. The raw hunger in his eyes caused her breasts to tighten. “I’ll come back a little later.”

His hand snapped around her wrist. “Don’t go.”

She regarded him for a moment, then eased from his gasp. Hesitating a moment, she eased the door shut, her fingers lingering briefly on the lock before she turned it. She mustered her courage and faced him. She’d never truly seduced a man in her life. Fortunately, but he didn’t know that.

“What about your rules?” Lillian wanted to be sure that whatever happened between them, it was based on mutual desire.

“Since it seems that I’m unable to leave, then perhaps too, the rules are not exactly the same.”

“And if you were able to leave, would you?”

The heat in his eyes nearly undid her. “Not if my life depended on it.” He reached in the bowl, squeezed his fist around the dripping rag, and held it out to her.

She took the rag, deciding to follow her heart, or forever wonder if she should have. He might just as well have tossed a match at her, because her flesh was on fire. She watched his face etched with determination as he pushed himself upright. The muscles in his arms bulged under the strain as he managed to brace himself long enough for her to adjust the pillows for support behind his back. Though he was convalescing, the view of his rock hard torso caused the butterflies in her stomach to go from flutters to full-fledged flight.

Lilly drew down the sheets stopping short of where the thin line of dark hair disappeared beneath the covers. She flicked him a glance. “Are you comfortable?”

“This is the best I’ve felt in a long time, Lil.” He reached up and brushed back the hair from her face, letting his fingers trail feather-soft down her cheek. “Why don’t you sit down?” His smile was genuine and that look of reverence tugged dangerously at her heart.

“Are you in any pain?” She closed her eyes as he stroked her jaw.

“Horrible,” he whispered and, leaning toward her, pressed his mouth to the spot below her ear. His lips left a trail of fire down the curve of her neck. His mouth neared hers, and though she ached at the thought of his kiss, the risk of breaking her heart prompted her to turn her face away. “House rules, sorry. No kissing on the lips. It’s too—” She swallowed and dared to look up at him. “Personal.” Lilly lifted her finger, tracing the delicate shape of his full lower lip.

“You don’t know how sorry I am about this.”

Jake tipped his head, regarding her with pure wickedness. Her admission gave him the power to know the temptation he presented. How was it that it a preacher’s son always knew how best to be wicked? “I’m already breaking one rule, what’s one more?”

Lil dropped her gaze from his, knowing that in the next breath, she would no doubt lose her heart to him. It had already started the night they met. It was incomprehensible that fate would play such a cruel joke on her, but the pain of losing him one day would be far worse to bear if she allowed herself to fall for him. If she could convince him of this one little lie, she might be able to live with herself. “You’re breaking your rule, not the Magnolia’s.”

His gaze narrowed on her. “Okay, we’ll play by the Magnolia’s rules. But I’m going to have to ask you to keep what happens between us—just between us. No one can know about this. Agreed?”

She understood clearly what he was saying. Lillian closed her eyes, the sting of his remark hitting closer to her heart than she was prepared for. “I assume this has to do with politics?” She forced her gaze to his.

“You know it does. It’s my future, Lil.” His voice sounded so reasonable; it was hard for her to understand why it should make her so angry. She had done massive research on the bordellos of the Old West and the parameters were quite clear. Stay detached and don’t confuse emotions with sex. Show the customer a good time, get paid, say goodbye, and move on.

She didn’t want to have to say goodbye to Jake.

Lilly pushed down the lump in her throat. She had no idea how long this fantasy would last, and if it was forever, what might happen to either of them? This was a brutal time. Hadn’t she just experienced that recently? How close had she or Jake come to being killed? The pain of keeping his secret, as much as it hurt, was worth the pain of having this time with him.

She moved the bowl to the nightstand and sat beside him on the edge of the bed. “Of course, it will be our secret, Sheriff.” With her intent as clear as his, Lil undid the two pearl buttons holding the thin camisole covering her breasts. Watching his eyes darken with arousal, she slipped one lacey strap over her shoulder and followed through with the other, letting the fabric fall around her waist.

“Christ, Lil.” He spoke in an awed whisper. “You’re so damn beautiful.”

The tenderness nearly broke her heart, and she steeled against it, telling herself that she could pretend it didn’t matter. That she could be a free-spirited soiled dove.

She smiled at the comment, which seemed innocent for a man of his age, and though he was indeed a preacher’s son, she found it hard to believe that he’d never seen a naked woman before. The alternative explanation, of course, was one she didn’t want to believe—he was telling the truth. That would mean that he really cared about her, and she refused to entertain the thought. No, this was something, for whatever reason—perhaps curiosity, maybe a vendetta against his father—that Jake had to get out of his craw. She just happened to be the one he chose.

Lilly shoved aside the excuses, convincing herself that nothing else mattered now. Whatever magic brought them together, and for however long, she intended to make the most of the time they had, creating powerful enough memories to last for the both of them.

She squeezed the cloth in her hand, leaning forward to glide the moist rag over the firm plane of his chest. From shoulder to shoulder, she felt his muscles bunch and give beneath her hand, felt his eyes on hers, his warm breath fanning against her cheek. She moved the cloth over his shoulder, drawing him forward, washing the back of his neck. He held himself upright, pushing against the mattress with his fists.

Lil followed behind the path of the cloth, pressing her lips against his skin, lingering to breathe in his scent, committing it to memory. Her breasts, unencumbered, skimmed across his skin, bronzed by the sun. She released a sigh when his lips touched her shoulder. Her body came alive, and she fought losing her heart to him at that very moment. She tried to detach herself from what he was doing to her, to ignore that with each gentle kiss on her flesh she was losing another piece of her heart. The scent of rain filtered through the window, and she told herself that was the reason for the gooseflesh rising on her heated skin.
This is only sex
, she reminded herself.
Lil brushed back the shock of raven-colored hair from his forehead and dabbed the cloth gently, cleansing the dried blood from around the wound. His hand rested on her thigh. He lowered his lids, releasing a quiet sigh. “I didn’t think this would feel this good.”

“I want you to feel good,” Lil spoke softly. “I want you to trust me.”

He opened his eyes, his warm, coffee-colored gaze searching hers. “That’s not the issue, Lil.”

She crooked her brow. “That’s good to know, because it’s your turn, Sheriff.” She held the rag out just as he’d done to her.

“Lil….” There was uncertainty etched on his face.

She could see that he struggled between needs, like any man, and his scruples. The truth was she understood the battle he fought inside. But they were consenting adults, driven by a desire neither fully understood. Lil took his hand and pressed his rag-covered palm to her breast.

Lil saw his throat bobble in a hard swallow. “Lil.” The quiet reverence in his voice twisted her heart. “You don’t know how many times I’ve thought about this, dreamt of touching you, pleasing you.” He looked up at her. “What kind of man does that make me?”

She took the rag from him and smoothed her palm over the sheets covering him. “It makes you a man…a man that I want to touch me.”

“Come here.” He moved one leg so she could sit straddled on the other.

“Does it hurt much?” she asked, pulling her skirts around her hips.

He looked up at her and smiled. “It’s worth it.” His rough calloused hands moved over her skin, beneath her skirt. The sheet separating their bodies did not disguise his hardening erection. She draped her arms over his shoulders, allowing his exploration, welcoming his lips closing over her breasts, tight with arousal.

The warm, gentle friction of his unshaven cheek brushed over her flesh, rendering her helpless with desire. He grasped her shoulders, pressing his mouth to her throat and then flopped back on the pillows, staring up at her. “Lil, I’ve got to tell you that I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you right now.” He chuckled. “But I’m fearful that moving too much might just cause Doc’s handiwork to come undone.”

She leaned forward and gently placed a kiss to his forehead. “We can’t have that.” She pressed another kiss on the dimple in his chin and followed down the curve of his throat, breathing deep his all-male scent. “I intend to make it all better, you’ll see.” Easing the sheet further down his torso, she left a trail of kisses over his muscled flesh.

“This is not making things better, sweetheart. This is making things….” He gasped as she drew his tight nipple between her teeth. “Much, much worse.”

Though she didn’t know if this would be the only time she ever had with him, she was sure as hell going to make sure he didn’t forget it. She drew the sheet down, revealing his long, muscular legs. He was engorged, hard and proud. There was a certain amount of pride that she’d been the one to do this to him and now she aimed to finish the job. She held his gaze and leisurely trailed both hands down his chest, enjoying the smoky desire flickering in his gaze. With a smile that was purely wicked, she wrapped her fingers around him and his hand clamped over her wrist.

“What are you doing, Lil?” he asked.

“Relax, Jake. I promise you’re going to feel much better soon.”

He stared at her, his expression bordering between excitement and concern. It was a lot to ask a man like Jake to relinquish control. “I want you to trust me.” If he agreed, that was all the incentive she needed. “Do you?”

Jake grabbed her arm, pulling her to him in a fiery kiss that left Lil weak in the knees. She licked her lips, her heart racing against her ribs. “You’re a naughty boy.” She wagged her finger at him with a smile. The fact that he broke the rule should have bothered her, angered her, really, but she was a prisoner to the sexual tension building between them. She took the cloth and wiped down his thighs, enjoying the strength of his sinewy flesh, imagining the lucky saddle between his legs that he rode daily.

He laid his head back, closed his eyes, and relaxed, empowering Lilly even more. She slid the rag down his hard shaft, tossing it aside as she wrapped her fingers deftly around him.

A soft strangled moan escaped his lips.

“I have a confession to make.” Lil ran her palm over his rigid washboard stomach as the other stroked, wanting to give to him every morsel of pleasure she could afford—save the most important—her heart. She lowered her head, taking his tip between her lips, her tongue flicking sensuously over his smooth salty flesh. She adored the taste of his skin on her tongue. Her hands were wet from the cloth making the slick friction sweeter.

“God, Lilly—” His hands fisted the sheets, his face turning crimson from the strain.

Aroused by watching him she fought the urge to climb on him and feel him buried deep inside, but she continued her ministrations, determined to give him comfort.

“Lilly. I can’t hold on—” He growled, his hips moving with her hand. “Ouch….” She stopped, holding her breath.

“God don’t stop,” he breathed heavily. “Don’t stop, please."

She grew wet, turned on by the power she wielded over him. His flesh grew hot beneath her hand, her tongue teasing without mercy. With a final thrust of his hips, he arched his back, and a primal scream tore from his mouth.

She’d forgotten about the buttock muscles flexing with his climax.

***

He felt her climbing his body, hovering over him, her eyes wide and in the next instant her mouth was on his, stifling his exuberant groan.
So much for secrecy.
They could have heard his scream in the next town a hundred miles away. He was no novice having to, now and again, take matters into his own hands, but gawd almighty, he’d never had a woman take the reins. Her lips, soft and sweet, still tasted of him as they moved unyieldingly over his. She was heaven and hell, devil and angel, and Jake wrapped his arms around her, determined never to let her go. To hell with rules—his or hers. He laced his tongue with hers with an insatiable hunger, wanting to capture forever what had transpired between them, but his brain started thinking. Logic cautioned that it was unwise and clearly what happened between them should never happen again. The risks, too many to name, were too great. People like his father could make life a living hell for Lil and the folks here at the Magnolia. That thought tossed cold water on his libido, and he cupped her face, gently kissing her one last time. He held her close, committing to memory the delicate flush in her cheeks, her lips soft and swollen from their heated kisses.