Autumn tossed and turned in her sleep, picturing Jackson’s body above her while he thrust deep inside her. She’d been so long without a lover, and well, Gallagher wasn’t anything to brag about. But Jackson . . . Oh, Jackson was special. He knew all the right places to touch, all the right moves to make. He kissed her, never took his mouth from hers while his pelvis rocked against her, thrusting his cock deeper and deeper inside.
She wanted to feel loved. And though she knew in her heart it wasn’t there, that it would never be there, she allowed her brain to be fooled into thinking it was.
She pictured their union as more than sex. Jackson had trouble loving, perhaps because he had never been taught. He was her first lover, and she wanted to be the first woman he said those three little words to.
Just as he climaxed in her dream, he spoke those words, whispering her name with them. She chose to believe him, no questions asked. What happened in the past remained just that. The past. She couldn’t change it but with him coming around, he could.
The dream ended abruptly when Jackson dissipated into thin air. Autumn gasped and sat up in bed, her heart threatening to beat out of her chest. It was so real in her mind, a fantasy she wanted to be true. It hurt worse now, than it did back then, she realized, tears forming in her eyes. Back then reality didn’t matter and she could afford to base her future on dreams. Today, though, reality was the way of her life, and her future didn’t support Jackson in any way.
Autumn tossed the covers back and wiped her eyes before crawling out of bed. She didn’t expect Jackson to be up for another two hours and planned on spending some time by herself outside her room.
She settled on the couch and wrapped herself in an afghan. After finding a good cartoon show—one of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons—she settled back and forced herself to relax. Each muscle in her body ached from the events of the prior day, and her sexy wet dream only made matters worse.
She watched two episodes of Bugs before she heard his footsteps coming down the hall.
“Up so soon?” He settled on the other side of the couch, pulling her feet into his lap as he leaned back against the soft cushions.
“Had a dream and woke up. Couldn’t go back to sleep afterward.” Autumn turned toward him. He wore nothing but his pajama bottoms “What are you doing up early? Yesterday I had to drag you out of bed to make it to the clinic on time.”
“I had to pee.” He gave her a boyish grin and against her will Autumn’s heart melted. “I saw Bugs Bunny and, well, decided to join you.”
For a brief second, Autumn pictured Jackson crawling behind her and wrapping her in his arms. She wanted him to cuddle with her while they watched the cartoons with no cares in the world. She really had it bad, she decided and pulled her feet from his lap.
“Pepé Le Pew is coming up next,” she commented. “He was always one of my favorites.”
“The skunk?” Jackson frowned and propped his feet on the coffee table. “Why?”
“Because he’s romantic. He adorable and giving and relentless in chasing his woman. Guys could learn a thing or two from him.” Autumn focused her attention on the television.
“He’s a skunk,” Jackson proclaimed. “A French one at that who chases after a cat with a painted stripe down its back.”
“He’s still cute. He gives women hope that men like him exist in the world.”
“What? Stinky, obsessed men who try to bed a girl with flowers and come-ons?” Jackson shook his head. “Women can hope no longer because that is the reality of men.”
“Pepé can’t help he stinks.” She smiled, avoiding his eyes. “And I was talking about the romantic part. It’s nice when a guy gives a woman flowers just because, or simply compliments her about her outfit. And when she plays hard to get, it’s nice to know he’ll chase after her until he catches her.” Autumn reverted her gaze back to Jackson. “That’s what I meant.”
Jackson considered her comments for a moment. Autumn didn’t know what went through his mind because like the other men she knew, he hid his emotions well.
He turned with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I kees me a preety girl,” he began, in his best Pepé Le Pew impression. “Do not run from my stench, mon bonbon, and hurl.”
Autumn giggled as he addressed her in singsong fashion. Jackson smiled and pulled her legs down while he arched his body above her. “That’s all I’ve got, belle fille, but you know I can give you more. All-night-long orgasms to make your toes curl.”
Jackson kissed her after his finale. “Take that Pepé Le Pew!” He smiled above her, his lips inches from her own.
“Competing with a skunk.” Autumn shook her head, lips burning from the heat of his kiss. “I didn’t know you spoke French.”
“One of my many talents, chérie.” He winked at her.
Autumn knew it was now or never. Jackson looked adorable above her. His hair was sleep tousled, his average style these days. He smoothed a hand from his shoulder to his chest. Hard muscle lay beneath smooth bronze skin, chiseled to perfection.
With highlights of their time spent together playing through her head, Autumn licked her lips. His sweaty body from working hours at the ranch for her father. His cocky, self-assured attitude. Seeing him naked for the first time. They didn’t share just mediocre sex which merely gave her a decent orgasm and was over and done with in seven minutes. Jackson didn’t know the meaning of mediocre. Their first time together was really good—no, great—sex that definitely had her toes curling.
“Jax,” she hesitantly licked her lips again. “Will you . . .”
What? Make love? No. Too attached and demanding. Jackson Cooper didn’t ‘make love’ with anyone. Have sex? Too clinical for her taste. Sleep? They weren’t exactly sleeping . . .
“Will I what?” He propped himself up beside her and brushed a finger along her cheek.
“I want you to . . . I want to . . .” She was stumbling over her words and nothing seemed to come out right. Finally, frustrated she asked, “Will you fuck me?”
His eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak then closed it again. Autumn wasn’t sure whether she should be embarrassed and run or find it amusing that she had rendered him speechless.
“Of course I will,” he finally said. “Is that what you want?”
Autumn nodded and slid her hand along his side. “I want an orgasm that curls my toes and you’re the only one who can do that.”
Jackson kissed her again, this time plunging his tongue inside her mouth. Autumn’s mind drifted again, only this time to the events of her dream. He told her, “I love you,” followed by her name. Is that what I’m seeking with his ridiculous idea for us to have sex, or is it purely physical need? Before she could answer her question, he cupped her head with one hand, each movement of his tongue heating her body to scorching temperatures.
Too much thinking never got you anywhere. Just go with the flow for once. He’s here, you’re here. That’s all it needs to be right now.
His mouth coasted to her neck, leaving a hot trail of kisses as he went. Autumn tilted her head to the side to give him room, while she roamed the expanse of his back with her hands. His body was damn near perfection, something that only exists in fantasies. While her other lovers had had just the pretty face, Jackson had the body to go along with it. He was her dream, and now, he was becoming her reality.
His hand went to her side and slipped underneath the cotton nightshirt she wore. She belatedly wished she wore something a bit more flattering than a simple grey, knee-length shirt with white cotton panties underneath. It wasn’t the most desirable piece of lingerie she owned, if you could even call it lingerie.
Trying to give herself a better position, she moved clumsily on the couch. Jackson moved freely, but her hands felt tied to her sides. It didn’t take long before she was finally able to maneuver enough to touch him. His pants hung low on his hips, and the taut muscles of his abdomen contracted when her fingers brushed over them. He mumbled something against her neck as his mouth coasted down. He cupped her breast and she arched toward him with a groan, lost her balance and fell back.
With a hard thud, Autumn found herself on the floor beside the couch. “Shit.”
“What the . . .”Jackson glanced over the edge of the cushions, humor in his eyes.
With all the menace she could muster, she narrowed her eyes and replied, “Don’t say a word. It’s not funny.”
He grinned and lowered himself to the floor on top of her. “Are you okay?”
Autumn groaned. “My butt hurts.”
Jackson cupped the part in question and, putting his mouth to her ear, said, “You want me to kiss it and make it better?”
Liquid heat flooded between Autumn’s thighs, and her eyelids drifted closed. She assumed his question was rhetorical and let him take the lead again, worshipping her body.
His hands slid up each of her sides pushing her shirt as he went. Jackson had a way about him that built anticipation to almost unbearable degrees. She wasn’t one to take things slow, usually, not even when they’d been together before. The fact that he took his time to rid her of her shirt made a huge statement.
“Why are you nervous, Autumn?” Jackson sat back on his heels looking down to where his hands lay, beneath her breasts. “We don’t have to do anything. I swear I never believed I could say that to a woman, but I mean it. I shouldn’t have come on to you last night.”
She pursed her lips. “That’s not it. I’m nervous because I haven’t had a man inside me in three years. Hell, the only time I get to talk about sex recently is when Leslie brings her dog in to the clinic because he can’t get it up.”
She left off the part about him being Jackson—wonder stud and orgasmic king. His eyes were a beautiful deep green that had the ability to hypnotize her. There was no denying she wanted this man, whether it be for the right or wrong reasons.
Jackson trailed a hand down her body, splaying his fingers along her stomach. “I honestly can’t believe you’re not married.”
“Why?” Autumn squirmed beneath him.
He smirked. “Because you’re hot. You’re sweet and caring. Stubborn as hell, but who isn’t? I figured you’d find your man, settle down and have two-point-five kids.”
He ran a finger along the side of her panty-covered crotch. “I’m not going to say I had feelings for you, because I didn’t. I didn’t love you back then, but I did care. I shouldn’t have touched you. I know it now, but back then, I shouldn’t have let things go that far. I’m kind of wondering if I’m making the same mistake now?”
She sucked in a breath when he finally slipped beneath the cotton barrier and touched her wetness. He pulled the crotch of her bikinis aside and explored her pussy with his fingers. Autumn reeled at the sensations flowing through her body. Each stroke was light barely a butterfly’s touch against her yet it held the power of a lightening bolt striking the ground. She closed her eyes and spread her legs wider, silently giving Jackson permission to explore forgotten territory. And then his mouth replaced where his fingers had been.
Autumn whimpered. Just like the puppies she treated, she whimpered begging Jackson to fill her, to suffice her need. Three years was way too long to go without sex. And fourteen years was definitely too long to go with out great sex.
He pushed her legs apart, moved between them, and licked her pussy like a starved man. She propped one foot on the couch and the other on the coffee table. A low groan came from him, and the look on his face said it all. A little thrill shot down her spine at his approval.
His fingers brushed the length of her thighs until he reached her hips. He lifted her, an ass cheek in each hand; pulled her panties to the side, and held her completely open for his mouth. Fireworks exploded behind her eyes when she came, her back arching as a soft moan of pleasure escaped from her parted lips. Jackson kissed his way up her body and wrapped his arms around her.
“Autumn”—his face pressed into her neck—“God, Autumn.”
He spoke her name exactly the way she dreamt. The soft breathless sigh of his desire, something she knew she gave him. She couldn’t help smiling to herself.
The phone rang, pulling them from their cocoon of security. Autumn groaned, and Jackson gave her a smile and one last kiss before she left his embrace to answer it.
“Hello?” She grabbed the phone and sat on the coffee table in front of Jackson.
He reached for the remote and muted the cartoons on the screen before wrapping his arms around her. He pressed light kisses against her thigh, something that made her want to end the conversation before it even began.
“Autumn, you need to get to the clinic.” The voice of a frantic Summer rushed through the lines. “Someone broke in last night and the place is a mess.”
“Broke in?” Jackson’s head popped up. “Did they do anything? Are the animals okay?”
“The animals are fine. There’s damage though. The police need to talk to you.” Summer’s calmed somewhat. “Marc called me to let me know. I’m on my way there now.”
Autumn silently thanked her lucky stars that Summer’s boyfriend Marc worked on the local police force. “Okay. We’ll be right there.”
She clicked the phone off and replaced it on the charger. “ The clinic was broken into last night.”
“Do you think it was him?” Jackson stood and followed her down the hall.
“I hope not.”
They dressed in a hurry and were on their way to the clinic within twenty minutes. Upon arriving, Autumn first noticed the windows were shattered and police swarming everywhere. Summer’s car was parked in the back of the parking lot, and Jackson pulled in beside her. Someone even took the time to paint “Bitch” on the brick side of the building.
“Jesus.” Jackson turned the key, killing the engine. He turned his head and Autumn looked away. “You okay?”
“Let’s just see what the police found out.”
He held her hand as they confronted the police about the damage. Summer stood to the side talking with Marc, her boyfriend.
“What happened?” Jackson asked.
“Vandals,” the officer said. “We did a fingerprint check and nothing came up. I need to know if anything is missing for my report.”
Autumn walked inside with the officer, Jackson and Summer following close behind. From the outside, the damage looked worse than it did on the inside. Everywhere was red paint with the word “whore” written across one wall. The paint dripped, like fresh blood from an open wound. She took a deep breath and felt Jackson’s hand on her shoulder.
Her files were emptied all over the floor, crumbled and ripped. The documentation was something her patients depended on. She glanced around the room taking in everything. The faux leather seats were sliced open, stuffing spread about. The pictures that hung on the wall now lay on the ground, smashed to pieces. Magazines were ripped and spread about. Whoever broke in even took the time to clip the TV wires.
Jackson massaged her shoulders lightly. “This is more than just vandals.”
The officer looked around. “Maybe. Dr. Callahan, I need you sign off on any property missing.”
Autumn shook her head and moved toward the hall that led to the back. Five cats, a litter of puppies and their mother, a dog named Bear, and Dodo stood in their cages waiting for her attention. She checked all the animals, trying to sooth them.
“Hey, babies,” she greeted them, grabbing a handful of biscuits. “You guys must have been so scared.”
Dodo was anxious to see her, she knew, and she gave her a pat on the head along with a couple biscuits. After giving the animals that could have one a treat, she petted the ones who couldn’t and took note of their conditions.
“Autumn?” Jackson came to the back and stepped inside the cage room. Immediately, Dodo started to growl. “Uh, is everything okay back here?”
“Shh, Dodo. It’s okay.” She scratched behind the dog’s ear. “Yeah. The dogs are fine. A little scared, but they’re okay and accounted for.”
Jackson leaned against the door, afraid of the beast Autumn kept at her side. “Do you see anything noticeably missing that the officer can write in the report?”
Autumn grabbed another biscuit and gave it to the dog before stepping out of the cage and locking it behind her. “No. It wouldn’t matter though even if I did.”
She walked past him to tell the officer and hopefully get him out of her hair. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.