The Taming (The Black Thunder Series) (28 page)

Jack took the basket from Kate’s hand and led her toward the corral and the adjoining wooden structure
. He placed the basket on the table and sat. Kate pulled out several large sandwiches and placed them on a paper plate, setting them in front of Jack. She pulled out a sandwich for herself and a small container of potato salad. She sat across from him and poured them each a drink.

“So have you been busy this morning?” he asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

“Yes,” she said. “It took me longer than I expected to unpack.”

Jack frowned as he scooped a heaping portion of the salad on to his plate
. “I take it you have resettled yourself back into the carriage house.” He wasn’t pleased, but he had agreed to give Kate time.

“Not exactly,” said Kate averting her attention to anything other than Jack’s stare.

“You got something on your mind you want to talk to me about?” He asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

“I was just wondering if you’re still interested in me moving in with you,” asked Kate as she stared at her sandwich and picked at it with her fingers.

“You have another deal you want to put on the table?” he almost frowned.

“No,”
she said and looked up. “No deals this time.”

“Then yes, I want you to move in with me,” said Jack
. “I want you by my side twenty-four seven, baby.”

“Okay, I’ll move in with you
. But on a trial basis. I want you to keep my furniture at the carriage house until we know it’s going to work out.”

“What about
your other things?” he asked.

“They’re staying right where they are, Jack
. In your bedroom.”

The corner of
his mouth lifted into a grin. “I knew you would cave,” he chuckled as he took another bite of his sandwich.

“No you didn’t
.” She rolled her eyes.

“I did, baby,” he stated with way too much confidence for Kate’s taste
. “You are so predictable.”

“I am?” It was
her turn to frown.

“At least to me you are,” he winked at her
. “But a trial period is out of the question. Once you’re in our bed, you’re staying there for good. There’s no turning back, Kate.”

She
couldn’t help but smile. His words were rough and tough, but like Clara said it was the only language Jack McBride knew to tell her how he felt.

“Give it three months,” said Kate.

“Three months?” He shook his head. “That’s three months of rent that I’ll be out.”

“I’ll still pay you rent
.”

“With what?” he laughed.

“You’re still going to pay me to cook and clean,” she grinned realizing they were still dealing.

“You want me to pay you to clean your own home and cook for
your man?” he teased her.

“I’m going to be living with you not marrying you,”
she laughed.

“It would probably be cheaper for me if I did marry you,” stated Jack as he pointed his fork at her
. “That way we could stop all this nonsense about the carriage house, the cooking, the cleaning, and your teaching job.”

“Even if we did get married I wouldn’t give up teaching,” said Kate.

“You think so?” he gave her a disconcerting look.

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you saying I do, as in yes you’d marry me?” he gave her a sly grin.

“Why, are you asking?” Kate laughed at his humor.

“I don’t know, maybe,” he said raising his eyebrow. “Would you say yes if I did?”

“No
-” she stated louder than what she meant to.

“Then I’m not asking.” This time he gave her a grin from ear to ear
. She couldn’t help fall for his overbearing charm.

“You’re crazy, Jack,” she laughed
.

“I’m crazy about you, Kate,” he said as he popped the last bite of sandwich into his mouth
. Jack laughed to himself. If she would have said anything but no he would have been tempted to ask her. It was a ridiculous notion. Up until now, he was not the marrying kind. But there was something special about Kate that made him want permanence with her. He’d lost all interest in other women since meeting her, and she was always on his mind, in his thoughts, and in his dreams.

He wondered what it would be like to be married to Kate
. He pictured them sitting on the porch with their children playing at their feet. He was getting lost in her again even with her sitting right across from him. This vision was new and unexpected for a man who planned to live out his life a bachelor. If someone would have told him a year ago that he would have been having these thoughts he would have told them they were crazy. Hell, even a month ago, but the minute he saw Kate in the bar everything changed.

In all his thirty-three years of living he never dreamed it was possible that he would find someone to settle down with and start a family
. How did it happen so quickly? Kate was to blame with her high opinions, that fiery temper, and that sweet face any man could get lost in. Jack had it bad, and it felt so damn good.

Jack continued to watch her from across the table, staring at the light freckles along her nose and cheeks, her sun-bleached hair hanging low down her back
. Kate took a bite of her sandwich as Jack’s eyes steadied on her long manicured fingers, wondering what size ring she would wear. His eyes moved to her mouth. He was almost envious when she took a bite of her sandwich. Her lips were seducing sweet and curved to a mouth housed by tiny perfect teeth except for a slight overcrowding on the bottom. He felt a quickening in his belly when he saw a thin drop of sauce lingering on the bottom of her lip that she licked away with her tongue.

“I’m ready for dessert,” said Jack as his hunger switched from food to Kate.

“I didn’t bring dessert,” she blinked innocently.

“Oh, you brought me dessert,” he grinned as he strode around the table and straddled the bench beside her.

Before Kate could react, he swung her leg over the seat and fell on top of her, pressing her back into the wooden bench.

“I’m dessert
?” She giggled as she stared into his heated green eyes.

“You have been teasing me with that sweet little mouth of yours all throughout lunch,” he said as he tugged on her bottom lip with his teeth
. “Now it’s time to pay the piper!”

Jack slammed his mouth down hard on hers as his tongue parted her lips and tasted her sweetness
. He cocooned her head in his arms so all she could feel was his body pressing into her everywhere. Hard muscles pushed against her flesh, strong hands entwined in her hair and rugged intoxicating smells permeated her senses. She couldn’t help but succumb to the heat he ignited in her belly that moved down between her legs.

“Do you feel me all hard and wanting to get inside you,” he groaned against her mouth
. “I bet your panties are so wet right now. I want to feel them, baby.”

Jack slid his hand along her side and lifted his hips slightly before he slid his fingers between her legs searching until he felt the silkiness of her panties
. He slipped his fingers under the smooth material and glided them inside her.

“Oh, you are wet,” he growled as he grew harder feeling her arousal.

“Jack let’s go back to the house where it’s private.” She pleaded knowing she needed release, but feeling a little awkward experiencing it out in the open where at any moment someone could see them, though the thought of it did send a dangerous jolt to her belly.

“Oh no, baby,” he said as he slid his finger in and out
. “I want you right here.” He rubbed the spot deep inside that always made her come.

“Oh, Jack,” Kate whispered
forgetting about where they were as she closed her eyes and relished in the things he was doing to her.

“Hold back,” he said as he slid his finger from her
. “We only have time to do it once and I want it to be together.”

Jack unbuttoned his jeans and lowered them
. He moved her panties to the side and entered her. Kate gasped. She wrapped her legs around his hips while Jack drove his need hard in her again. She felt the wood bench scrape against her back, being jolted upward with each thrust, but she didn’t care. She just needed her release.

“I’m there, baby,” Jack growled his command
. “Come for me. Come for me now.”

The thrusting motion and the sound of his voice sent her over the edge
. Kate cried out digging her fingers into his back. Jack tightened his grip on her hair then released an animal-like groan as he exploded within her. He laid there for what seemed like hours feeling spent and satiated by the woman trapped beneath him. After several minutes, he sat up, taking her with him.

“Did you like that
?” He smiled brushing back a strand of stray hair from her face.

“I did,” she said feeling a little dreamy in its afterglow.

“I didn’t hurt your back, did I?” He ran his hands up and down the small curve of her spine checking the bandage he placed last night.

“No, did I hurt yours
?” It was her turn to wipe his sandy bangs away from his face.

“Hell, I don’t care,” he chuckled
. “I like it when you get all wild on me.”

“Nobody’s ever called me wild before,” she laughed.

“Maybe I bring out the worst in you,” his eyes flickered with devilish delight.

“Maybe,” she flickered back.

“Tonight it’s your turn.” He gave her a twisted little grin. “It’s time for you to give to me and no holding back. I want it all. You got that?” He jolted her forward, pressing her tight to him. Kate’s gasped and forgot to breathe. How did he know how to render her powerless in his arms? She saw the heat building again in his eyes, smoldering right through her as it made her instantly aroused.

“Why wait?” she said as she pressed her lips against his and tasted.

Jack closed his eyes and felt his stirrings again. It would be so easy to get lost in her especially with her getting all needy with her lips and rubbing her sweet breasts against his chest. Jack took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“As much as I would love to continue this, I got a fence to mend
.” He lifted her and set her several feet away from him.

“Can’t work wait?” she pouted as she watched
him stand and button his jeans.

“We have all night, baby,” he bent down and brushed a kiss to her lips
. “You should probably rest this afternoon since I am expecting you to work real hard tonight pleasing me.”

“Oh, I’ll work you hard and torture you in the process,” Kate exclaimed with a sexy grin.

“I’m counting on it,” he winked at her. “I’ll see you at six.” With that Jack walked away and headed back to the fence, leaving Kate alone on the bench.

Nineteen

What Have I Gotten Roped In
to

T
here was no way Kate could rest for the afternoon when she had a million things to do. She made dinner and placed it in the oven then went upstairs to get ready for their evening. She showered and shaved almost every inch of her body leaving a little for erotic sake. She painted her toenails a pretty pink and coated her body in lotion until it glistened smooth.

She curled the ends of her hair so it hung softly over her shoulders, then went into the bedroom and chose the sexiest bra and panties she owned
. She slipped into a skimpy jean skirt and a matching jean bodice that tied up the center with a black thin ribbon. She decided on a small gold chain around her neck not wanting anything too bulky that would get in the way of their lovemaking. To top it off she added a pink gloss to her lips and mascara to her eyes along with her favorite perfume. To make the outfit complete she slid on her boots.

Kate did a quick glance in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction, seeing her womanly features oozing cowgirl-sexy that could tame the most rugged Nevada male
. She bounced from the room, hips swaying and descended the stairs then out the front door she sprang. She stepped on to the porch and leaned against the rail, hiking one leg up and adjusting her bodice to make sure the girls were enticingly posed.

But instead of catching Jack’s attention, she caught Dustin’s as his eyes diverted from the crowd of ranch hands by the corral to Kate on the front porch.

“Kate,” he called to her as he motioned for her to join them.

She
had no choice but to break her seductive stance and walk toward the group of men.

“Let Kate decide,” said Dustin as he rushed to her side.

“Let me decide what?” She asked as he guided her to a row of hale bales and motioned for her to sit.

“We’ve been practicing our roping,” Dustin informed her
. “We need you to judge which one of us is the best.”

“Oh, I don’t know anything about roping,” She laughed and shook her head.

“That’s why you’re perfect for the job,” said Dustin as he sat beside her. “You’re up Rusty.”

A man who was lean and tall meandered in front of Kate
. He couldn’t have been more than twenty and Kate could see the small speck of dust rising from the earth as his spurs met with Nevada dirt.

With rope in hand, he began to twirl it until it became a circling loop in front of him
. With ease he moved the swirling circle from side to side as the momentum increased and she could no longer see the rope, just a streak of powerful energy.

He performed several tricks, jumping in and out of the centripetal sphere
. He looped it over his head and as it closed he jumped through the circle. The rope slowed and the circle dropped to his side.

“Well?” asked Rusty as he waited for the pretty judge’s decision.

“That was awesome,” exclaimed Kate as she applauded his performance.

“Top that,” he boasted then sat down next to Kate.

Another ranch hand took to the center and performed his roping tricks before Kate and his peers. She applauded again once he was done.

“How do you
all know how to do that?” She asked amazed by each performance.

“We’re practicing for the rodeo,” exclaimed Dustin.

“Can all of you do rope tricks?”

“Of course we can,”
he stated. He looked up and saw his employer walking toward them. “But he’s the best!”

Dustin pointed over her shoulder
. Kate turned and saw Jack strolling up behind her.

“What am I the best at?” Jack asked as he placed his hands on Kate’s shoulders.

“Just about anything boss,” said Rusty sucking up to his employer.

Jack laughed and climbed onto the hay bale and situated himself behind Kate
. He wrapped his arms about her waist and pulled her against his chest. He leaned in and smelled the heady fragrance of her perfume against her neck.

“Are you trying to drive my men insane
?” He breathed in her scent as his belly tightened.

“I don’t think they’ve noticed,”
she whispered. “They’ve been too busy showing me rope tricks.”

“Oh, we’ve noticed,” mumbled Dustin as his employer shot him a look.

“I’ve been judging who the best is,” she said, hiding her grin as she felt the muscle in Jack’s arm twitch. “But to be honest, I don’t know exactly what I’m judging.”

“You’re up, Dustin,” declared Rusty.

Dustin stood and walked before his audience. He tied the loop and began to make a circle before him.

“Watch this,” said Jack in her ear
. “He’s damn good.”

Kate watched as Dustin got the circle moving faster
. He raised the spinning rope overhead and lowered it up and down over his body like a spiral. He performed several more tricks while Kate watched in awe.

“He is good,” she whispered to Jack.

“I told you,” he smiled at her then watched Dustin finish with an intricate loop configuration. Afterward Kate and all the men clapped as several whistled their approval.

“I do believe you are the winner,” Kate stated to Dustin as he returned to his seat beside her.

“Oh no, we still got one more,” said the hand as he looked at his employer. “Right, Jack?”

“Not this time fellas,” Jack laughed.

“You know how to do rope tricks?” Kate turned and asked Jack.

“Are you kidding?” interjected Dustin
. “Jack’s the best of the best. Roping, steer wrestling, bronco riding, you name it Jack has done it.”

“I
never knew you were so talented.” She teased him.

“Jack was with the rodeo for six years,” added Rusty
. “He’s famous around these parts.”

“You were with the rodeo?” Kate
seemed surprised as she looked to Jack to acknowledge.

“How do you think I paid for this place?” Jack grinned
. He swung his leg back and stood from the hay bale. “Stand back and watch the master work.”

Dustin handed him his rope
. Jack examined the knot. “Good work,” he nodded his approval though he shortened it a hair. Jack stood before his crowd.

“Now you’re going to see some mighty fine roping,” said Dustin to Kate.

Kate watched in anticipation as Jack began to move the rope in circles. He performed a few simple tricks before working up to the grander and more complicated stunts. He maneuvered the rope as it picked up speed and transformed the one loop into two then back to one again. The rope spun faster and faster.

Jack looked like a figure eight as his body melded with the rope and slipped in and out as well as up and down through the spherical cylinder
. Kate now understood what the men were talking about. Jack was not just good, he was the best. He was a professional, and his routine was flawless. It amazed her how anyone could perform such feats from a simple rope.

Jack slid the rope from hand to hand never breaking the speed of the circle
. For the grand finale he performed the amazing act as the rope encircled his body moving up and down like a cyclone with dust kicking up at his feet. Jack slowed the rope down and closed the show. Everyone clapped and cheered. Jack humbly moved from the spotlight and returned to Kate.

“That was freaking amazing,” Kate spouted with pride for her man as Jack sat on the hay bale next to her
. “What else can you do that I don’t know about?”

“There’s lots of things I can do with a rope,” he boasted
. “I just might show you one tonight.” Kate turned a crimson red when she heard his men laugh at their employers comment to her.

“You like embarrassing me, don’t you,” she leaned over and whispered in his ear.

“It’s kind of fun to see you get all worked up,” he grinned and tapped her on the nose.

“Behave,” she frowned and gave him a look like he should run for the dog house.

“Why should I behave? Maybe I want to see you get steaming mad.”

“You better not,” laughed Kate as she stood up and took a step away from him.

She knew that look on Jack McBride’s face. He was definitely up to no good. Kate needed to get away from him and the other hands before he embarrassed her further.

“Come here, baby,” said Jack as he rose from the hay bale
. “I have a special rope trick I’d like to show you now. Have you ever been hog tied before, Kate?”

All the men started to laugh again
. Kate turned beet red. Jack wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or her temper.

“Just try it and I swear to God, Jack, I’ll hurt you,” said Kate as she made her way toward
s the house.

Jack followed on her heels as they walked up the porch steps and entered the house.

“Have you ever been tied up before Kate?” he asked as he kicked the door closed with his foot.

“You’re not hog tying me,” she sputtered and went into the kitchen to pull the roast from the oven.

“I’m not going to hog tie you,” he grinned as he leaned on the counter and watched her facial expression. “But I sure would like to tie your hands for tonight.”

“I don’t think so,” she said feeling suddenly shy and inadequate toward this experienced man.

“Have you ever tried it before?” He continued to push her past her point of comfort.

“Stop, Jack,” she giggled as she nudged him on the arm.

“Oh, baby, you’re a virgin at this,” he said as his excitement built within him. “Give me your hand, Kate!”

“No-
besides it’s time for dinner,” she said trying to persuade his mind away from what he was thinking. Actually she didn’t know exactly what he was thinking. You never knew when it came to Jack McBride what was twirling about in that devious head of his.

“
To hell with dinner,” he said as he reached out and took her hand. “Let me tie one hand and tell me what you feel.”

“Fine, just hurry up and do it,” said Kate as she saw his eyes flash bright green.

Jack rolled the rope over her wrist and tied it tight. He lifted it high over her head and held it there.

“How does that make you feel?” he said as he pressed her into the doorway
. “It’s kind of nice giving me some of that control.”

Kate’s stomach did a little flip as he pulled on the rope and brought her hand higher
. He lingered his mouth by hers before he gently pressed his lips against hers. Kate felt instant heat inside. Jack slid his hand up her thigh and ran his palm between her legs.

“Oh, baby, you do like this.” He nipped at her bottom lip
.

Kate’s eyes fluttered shut as a sweet surge erupted where he was rubbing
.

“Turn around, Kate and lean on the counter,” Jack instructed her as he moved her toward the marble top
.

He pressed her belly into the counter and pulled her free hand behind her tying it securely to the other
.

“How does it feel?” he asked as he lifted her from the counter.

“Like I’m tied up,” she said growing nervous again.

“No, I mean it’s not too tight is it
?” He chuckled.

“No, I’m good
.”
How good can you be when your man just tied your hands behind your back?
It was the most unnerving and exhilarating feeling she ever experienced. Jack devoured her body with his eyes, roaming over every inch of her.

“Did you dress all sexy on account of me?” he toyed with her tracing the outline of her bodice with the tip of his finger
.

Kate bit the bottom of her lip as he slowly untied the black ribbon holding it in place
. He pulled the ribbon like it was a cord and tossed it on the floor. The bodice parted exposing her black laced bra. Jack smiled with satisfaction seeing her heaving breasts rise and fall with each breath. He tugged it down until her fullness was exposed. Jack lowered his head to her nipple and gently placed it in his mouth, twirling his tongue against it until it peaked. A sweet purr escaped her lips.

“God, I want you,” he growled through the slit in his teeth.

“I thought it was my turn tonight,” Kate stammered.

“Oh, you have no idea,” he grinned
. “I’m just getting you worked up that’s all.” But in the process of getting her worked up Jack was getting himself all worked up too. “Come on, let’s go upstairs,” he said needing a release of his own.

Kate stepped away from the counter, but instead of walking, Jack had other ideas
. Before Kate could stop him, he flung her over his shoulder. She released a quick squeal as he carried her out the kitchen, up the stairs and down the hall into his bedroom. He set her on her feet by the bed. Jack quickly removed his boots, kicking them across the floor. He pulled off his shirt then proceeded to remove his jeans and boxer briefs. Kate’s breath caught in her chest once more seeing this gorgeous sculptured male before her.