Secret Pressure (Rhinestone Cowgirls Book 4) (19 page)

Her jaw dropped. “That
I
like so well? Excuse me, but if I remember correctly, you liked watching them as much as I do.”

He fluffed a pillow and placed it behind his head. “I like you, therefore, I wish to please you. We’ll leave it at that.”

****

“Jobe.”

He heard his name whispered. He opened his eyes and found Ruby’s face above his, her long, sexy hair falling over her shoulders and spilling onto his chest. The morning sunlight billowed in through the window, casting her features in a golden glow. Her eyes, so worldly and yet so innocent, were bright.

She studied him, the slightest grin plucking at one corner of her mouth.

Shit! Best wake up he’d ever had.

The woman drove him wild and he wanted nothing more but to drag her into his arms and show her how much she affected him. He’d never felt a profounder need in his body, never had a woman that owned every part of him. She had the power to make him illogically crazy.

That scared the shit out of him.

He’d hoped by now his hunger for her would have diminished to a dull ache, but that wasn’t the case at all. His blood boiled to possess this woman.

She shifted, her scent drifting to his nostrils—sweet and intoxicating. This was all it took for his sensitive body to get raging hard. He involuntarily growled and dragged the sheet over his hips. “I fell asleep,” he said in a raspy tone.

“I haven’t slept that great in, well, ever.” She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m surprised my snoring didn’t keep you awake. I’ve been known to make my brothers pissed.” He chuckled.

She flicked out her tongue, licking her lips. “If you snored, I wasn’t aware of it.”

A woman who didn’t mind his snoring. Damn, she was a keeper. Before he thought over right or wrong, he cupped her cheeks in his palms and kissed her. She laid her hand on his chest and moaned.

His mind listed reasons why he couldn’t let his guard down with Ruby. She wanted to run away. Yet, here she was, living in his home. He could trust her with anything, and would. And…well…he couldn’t think of one worthwhile excuse to walk away.

He could think of a thousand reasons why he was a better man having her beside him. Not only did she satisfy his physical needs, but emotionally, he cared deeply for her. Who knew that three years ago when she literally fell into his arms, they would forever be connected? He had to take a step forward, forgive the past and secure his future.

He needed her, and his son, in his life.

She slid on top of him, chest to chest, hip to hip, and she was achingly hot. He buried his fingers in her hair, gently tugging the thick mass, bringing the tendrils to his nose. Mind-altering. She kissed his jaw. His neck, lower, and skimming her teeth over his nipple. He jerked in response.

“You little imp.”

“You naughty cowboy.”

Her smile told him she knew exactly what she did to him. He kissed her cheeks, her eyelids, her chin and then her lips. He couldn’t get enough. Couldn’t salve the need with just these simple strokes. Things had grown between them. They were no longer the lust-thirsty people wanting a good time. They were parents, and they had a huge responsibility.

He tugged her hair, pulling her mouth from his. “I want you…now…need…you…now! Feel my need?” He gyrated his hips against her thighs.

“Big and hard. Is that a morning woody? Or is that pure desire?”

He stared deeply into her chocolate eyes. “Baby, that’s all you.”

“Then prove it.” Her eyes twinkled.

Pushing her back onto the mattress, he slid his knee between her legs and parted them wide. Sometime in the night she’d removed her shorts and shirt, wearing only thin panties and bra now, which he quickly removed from her body.

Her smile grew wider, her eyes turned to dark diamonds. She was the sexiest thing he’d ever had the pleasure of setting his eyes on. How did he get to be so lucky?

Kissing her again, so long that he was breathless and her lips were swollen.  He couldn’t seem to get enough. As she panted, her chest rose and fell, her nipples brushing his chest. He bent and licked one pink nub, then the other. She whimpered and clutched his shoulders. A cry fell from her lips, she arched her back, and her nails cut into his skin.

“Jobe.” Her voice was soft, he almost thought he imagined his name.

He loomed above her, practically ripping his shorts from his hips. His cock stood straight, finding the moist nest between her thighs, searching for the place where he’d find pure salvation.

“You’re so powerful,” she whimpered.

“Not when I’m with you,” he admitted.

He pressed his head against her center and slowly eased his body into her tight opening, enjoying the feel of her rippled muscle grasping his cock. His body ached to pump into her fast and hard, but his heart yearned to make love to her. His heart won…

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“You’re so beautiful,” Jobe whispered in Ruby’s ear as they lay together, naked, without a care in the world. “Even this little scar underneath your bottom lip.” He followed the thin white line with the tip of his finger.

“Fell on the sidewalk when I was little.” She skimmed her gaze down to his chest. “You have scars too.” She pointed to the long thick mark on his side.

“Barbed wire fence.”

“Poor baby.” She kissed his chin, his cheeks, and his ear lobe.

He smiled. “I didn’t cry. Even at the age of ten I felt I had something to prove to my brothers. I wanted to be just like them. Hell, probably still wish I was.”

“You’re brothers are great men, but you are amazing. Absolutely, positively out of this world.” She twirled her finger around his nipple.

“That’s post-sex talking. Wait fifteen minutes then I’ll ask again.” He winked. He nuzzled his nose in her hair, inhaling her intoxicating scent. “You no longer wear the belly button ring.” He traced the tiny pink scar at the top of the navel. She shivered under his touch.

“My belly got huge carrying Jack. I was afraid it’d pop out, so I removed it.” She snuggled deeper into his side, resting her cheek on his chest. “I love this new tattoo.” She skimmed her fingers along the cross on his ribcage.

“It represents my faith. I have to always believe that what’s meant to be will happen.” He lifted a tendril of her hair, rolled it around his finger, then let it drop back to her cheek. “Just like you and Jack. Things might not have gone as perfectly as I’d wished, but I have to tell you that I’m happy you’re here, that we have Jack together.”

“Do you really mean that?” She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. Did she have any idea how beautiful she was?

“I really do, sweetheart.”

“That means so much to me.”

“Things could have gone horribly wrong. I could have married. It would have been a mistake. I need you to know everything, Ruby. After you left, I did things—”

She placed her finger over his lips. “That’s the past. We’ve all done things that we shouldn’t. Now we have the future.”

He kissed her knuckles. “How is the writing coming?”

“Wonderfully. My creative side is wild.”

“And could you see yourself staying here, permanently?” He had so many things to say to her, to tell her what was in his heart. He never wanted to leave things unsaid, or miss an opportunity at happiness. He opened his mouth, but the beeping of his cell interrupted. “I’m sorry. I better get this. It might be Em calling about Jack.”

“Yes, of course.” She moved out of his hold.

“It’s Nash.” Jobe hit talk. “Hey, bro. I’m not coming out on the land today…”

The next words he heard made him almost crush the phone in his palm. He dropped it to the bed, turning to Ruby who went pale.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Her words were shaky.

“It’s Jack. Em was taking him to town and they were in a car accident.”

****

Ruby could barely breathe, her head ached and her chest felt like she’d been hit with a truck as she walked with Jobe, side by side, into the emergency department at the hospital. The second she’d heard her son had been in a car accident, a cloud of doom had washed over her.

On their way to the hospital, at a high rate of speed, she’d called her sisters, barely able to talk through the sobs as she told them what had happened. They all said they were on their way.

She had no clue what she’d find when they arrived at the ER. Jobe told her everything Nash had told him. Em’s truck had been hit on the driver’s side by a car that ran a stop sign. They were rushed to the hospital and the family was on their way.

And here they were, walking through the sterile hallways. Uncertain of what they’d find once they reached the lobby.

Nash saw them coming, stood up and met them halfway. Deep wrinkles were etched around his eyes and mouth. He looked like he’d aged ten years in the last half hour.

“Nash…what’s happening?” Ruby forced the words through her trembling lips.

He tore his hand through his hair, his color fading into a pale white. “Jack is okay. He’s being checked over by doctors now. But Em…” His eyes misted.

Ruby choked back a sob. “What? Is she okay?”

He shrugged. “They’re doing everything they can.”

Jobe who’d been eerily quiet, grabbed his brother and dragged him in for a hug. “It’ll be okay. Em’s a fighter.” There was a catch to Jobe’s tone that made Ruby weak. She leaned against a chair.

“I’m so sorry, Nash.” Ruby forced her voice to work. “I’m so sorry.”

He pulled back. “Go to Jack. He’s down the hall, last room on your right.” Nash wiped tears from his cheeks. “I’m going to wait for Pearl and Jewels. They should be here any minute.”

Ruby raced down the corridor until she came to the last room. She burst through the curtain and found a laughing Jack coloring while a female nurse sat next to him.

“Jack’s mother?” the nurse asked as she stood.

“Yes. Ruby. How is he?”

Jobe came through the curtain then. “I’m his father.”

The nurse smiled. “He’s fine. He was scared when he was first brought in. Doctor Hamill checked him over and found nothing. He was secured into the car seat and it saved his life.”

“Ma.” Jack lifted his arms up, reaching for Ruby. She grabbed him up into her arms and held him tight. No words could ever describe how grateful she was that her son was okay. Jobe wrapped an arm around them and for the longest time they stood there, holding each other.

****

Jobe checked on his son. Jack was asleep in the hospital bed. Doctor Hamill wanted to keep him overnight for observation, but the toddler hadn’t suffered any injuries. Jobe looked over at Ruby who was resting semi-peacefully on the chair. She’d come back from checking on Em and she’d cried enough that she’d worn herself out.

Knowing Ruby and Jack were safe rested his heart some, but he worried about Em. She’d had surgery to repair a broken leg and now they were waiting for her to wake up in recovery. The car had slammed into her side of the truck and she’d suffered external and internal injuries. The doctors were keeping a close eye on her.

Leaving Jacks’ room, Jobe made his way to ICU where DJ, Pearl, Jewels, and Spark were quietly sitting in the private family waiting room.

“Any news?” Jobe asked as he stepped in.

“Nothing,” Pearl answered.

“Is Nash back with Em?”

“He has been back and forth. I think if he’d sit still long enough, he’d lose it,” Jewels said. “How’s Jack?”

Jobe sighed. “He’s fine. He’s resting. He’ll get to go home in the morning.”

“So glad he didn’t get hurt. Nash said Em kept saying his name before they took her back for surgery. She’d never forgive herself if something happened to him.”

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching the waiting room made every one turn as Nash walked in. He looked like he was about ready to fall over. “She’s awake.”

Jewels and Pearl both jumped up, smiling. “Can we see her?” They asked in unison.

“Doc wants her to rest, but he said looks like she’ll recover fully.” There was a sense of relief in his expression that spoke of his undying love for Em. Jobe understood completely. The events of the day brought him clarity. He couldn’t imagine if anything happened to Jack. And seeing how his brother has been heartbroken over Em. No one should ever leave their fate to chance. Jobe would never leave his words unspoken.