Chapter Five
As soon as he realized Jenny was at the barn, Caid whipped the utility vehicle around and raced back toward the house. She’d been sleeping when she left, looking adorable with her head resting against the wall, the binoculars slack in her hands. He’d thought he’d been quiet when he’d left the house and said a prayer she wouldn’t awaken. He should have known she’d be in the middle of the action.
He motioned to Bull to take the man on his right, Logan going for the one on his left. Her brother had been watching the far side of the pasture at his request, and having the three of them together made it like old times. Except instead of the Taliban, they were fighting assholes exploiting Jenny’s cattle to make money. He wasn’t sure which group was worse.
He swung at the man in front of him. The man went down with a grunt, and Caid quickly jumped on him, flipping him over and fastening his wrists with zip ties. He disabled his legs in the same manner, then turned toward Logan who was fighting two more men. True to form, Jon had bolted, the sound of squealing tires announcing his departure from the barn. No doubt he’d encounter the sheriff’s deputy stationed not far down the road.
Bull came at them, seeing Logan and diving into the fight to support him. The woman he’d been chasing must have gotten away. Damn it, that possibly made two of them. From the way these men worked, Caid pegged them for hired muscle, told just what to do and nothing more, lest they give away the entire mission. He scowled and hurried for the barn.
For a moment his heart dropped, not finding Jenny. A moment later her head poked up over a half-open stall door and she rushed forward. Caid held up his hand. “Let me make sure it’s safe. Stay put.”
It seemed like a lifetime, but only was a few more minutes before he returned and pulled her into his arms. “You okay? Why didn’t you stay in the house?”
She flinched at the bark in his words. “I woke up and you were leaving. I won’t be left behind again. I came to the barn to saddle Daisy. Jon was here.” Her voice shook. “I stabbed him with the pitchfork.”
His admiration for her ratcheted up several notches. “He didn’t hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No. I think he wanted to kidnap me.” She swallowed hard, her shuddering breath audible in the darkened barn. “I bit him and when I got him with the pitchfork, he ran. I don’t think he expected me to fight back.”
“Good for you,” he said and meant it. “The pitchfork gave you distance, though your brother taught you how to punch, right?”
She answered with a chuckle. “Yeah.”
“Good. The next time that bastard gets close to you, hit him with everything you got.”
“Next time?” She shivered in his arms.
Two thuds and the groan of a downed man made her jump. A moment later Logan appeared at the barn door. “Everything okay in here?”
“We’re good. Situation contained?”
“It is. Bull and I will take them in.”
A moment later a cop car came flying into the driveway, lights and sirens wailing.
Caid released her and took her hand in his as they walked out, hands visible. Logan and Bull, he noticed were doing the same, which confirmed his thought that none of them had called the police about this.
The driver’s side door opened and a young deputy stepped out, shielding himself with the door. “Everything okay?”
“Situation under control,” Caid reported. He glanced at Jenny and nodded what he hoped was reassuring. “We have three assailants contained and would appreciate help taking them into custody. These other two men are my associates.”
“I recognize Logan. You’re Hank’s boys, aren’t you?” The deputy asked, clearly more at ease now that he’d identified them.
“We are.” Caid confirmed.
A moment later the deputy stepped forward and he had Jenny sit on the bench outside the barn while they took the three men into custody. All of them had to go to the station to give statements, including Jenny, and he drove while she leaned against him.
Tonight’s activities still bothered her, he could tell. She kept her lips drawn, her eyes downcast as they went into the police station, and though they sat around a large desk in a conference room, she clearly was still uncomfortable. Logan sat next to her, with him on the other side. Her brother held her hand on the table, offering her a tissue when she started to tear up. She refused it, stuffing her emotions down to finish her report, and damn if he wasn’t so proud of her. Later, he knew, she’d give into the tears, but here, in front of these men, she was a freaking trooper.
Finally the officers completed what they needed to do and the faintest hints of sunlight streaked the eastern sky as sunrise approached Jenny’s ranch. Bull had ridden into town with them, and he excused himself and went to his camp as soon as they parked, leaving Caid to bring Jenny into the house. He helped her upstairs, then turned to leave.
“Don’t go,” she said, cupping his stubbled cheek. “Please.”
He stopped, his breath stilled in his lungs. “Are you sure? It’s been a hell of a night.” The last thing he wanted to do was push her, so tonight, whatever happened, would be her choice.
“Yes. I need you. Whatever’s going on out there is frustrating and crazy. You. Me. This is right, and I don’t want you to leave.” She stood on her tip toes and brushed a kiss across his lips.
The simple touch of her soft lips against his sent heat spreading through his body. He’d been so focused on protecting her, on keeping her safe and getting the hired muscle off to jail where they would no doubt start to sing, because he didn’t think they were very smart, that he’d shut down emotionally. It was a trick he’d learned in the military. Drop in, get the objective, get out to safety. Then, and only then, process the mission.
She curled her fingers into his biceps and pulled him closer. Deepening the kiss, she slid her tongue over his lower lip, and it took all his self-control to hold himself still, not to toss her down on the bed and have his way with her. Except, she must have had the same thoughts for she stepped back, and when she bumped into the mattress, broke the kiss to sit down. She kicked off her boots, then began to unbutton her shirt.
He remained rooted to the spot. His breath came quickly and he unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it off his shoulders.
~* * *~
Jenny smiled. Though she wanted Caid to tumble her to the bed and take her like some kind of bawdy romance hero, his restraint was oh so sexy. Watching him drop his shirt turned her on. Behind the lace of her bra, her nipples pebbled and warmth pooled between her thighs. She unbuttoned her jeans and leaned back, arching her hip and hoping she was making a show of pulling them and her panties down. She must have, for his nostrils flared and he took a deep, shuddering breath.
“I want you,” she said before removing her bra and then leaning back on her queen-sized bed with one hand outstretched to her. She had the foresight to open her nightstand drawer, completely at ease with the purple silicone ridged dildo nestled in the drawer along with a box of condoms and a smaller vibrator. She grabbed some condoms and tossed them on top of the nightstand before closing the drawer, but not before Caid had seen the contents.
He smiled. “I never imagined you liked your toys.” He unbuttoned his jeans.
She rolled to her side and rested her head on her hand to watch him finish stripping. He circled his hips, and she nibbled on her lower lip. The bulge behind his zipper reminded her of how good he felt inside her, how he knew how to play her body. He lowered his zipper.
“I prefer you,” she replied when she could finally form words.
He pushed off his jeans and stepped out of them and his boots, so he stood naked before her. His hard cock jutted toward her, curving slightly from its nest of curls.
Her mouth watered. “Come here.” She crooked her finger, letting him know she wanted him to walk to the head of the bed.
He did, and as soon as that delicious cock was in reach, she reached out and cupped it with his hand. The tension in his body spoke to his arousal, how much strength it took to not assume the lead, and she loved him all the more for it. Yes, love. She’d tried not to think about it, had even pushed him out of her mind when he and her brother were still deployed. She hadn’t wanted to think about him in danger, people shooting at him, and if he was going to continue to work for Hank, she’d have to come to terms with it. She loved him. Had loved him then and never had stopped. Leaning forward, she took the tip of his penis between her lips.
“Jenny,” he groaned. He cupped the back of her head, just holding her while she worked her mouth down his shaft.
Heat pooled between her legs. She knew if she touched herself she’d find her labia slick, her pussy ready for him. Her breasts felt heavy, the nipples hard and aching. Still, she cupped his balls, loving the heft of them as she sucked his length.
She scissored her legs together as she worked his shaft between her lips.
“Touch yourself,” he said, his voice a husky gravel.
She was more than happy to comply, and holding the base of his cock with her left, slid the fingers of her right hand between her legs. The instant she touched her slick folds, she moaned around his cock in her mouth. Oh god, nothing felt so good as her fingers slipping between her labia to circle her clit, while she sucked the man she loved. Her fingers moved quicker, no more time for softness, for taking her time. She needed the release to drive off some of the tension from the night.
“Yes,” he moaned. “I want to watch you come.”
His words pushed her even closer to the edge. Her hips pumped back and forth, the tips of two fingers sliding into her hot passage. Hollowing her cheeks, she took him deeper until the head of his cock bumped the back of her throat. The fact that she couldn’t cry out, couldn’t give voice to her passion only made it stronger, and when she pressed her thumb against her clit, the sharp waves of orgasm pulsed through her. A moment later, Caid tightened his fingers on the back of her head and came, the hot jets of his seed rolling down her throat.
She released his cock, falling back against her pillow to cry out with her passion. “Oh god, I need you inside me.” She gestured for the night stand and he needed no encouragement to grab a condom package, rip it open, and sheathe himself before he stretched out on the bed next to her.
Instead of going right for her pussy as she thought, he kissed her with the softest brush of his lips against hers. He stretched out next to her, his erect cock nudging her hip. With his hands, he caressed her neck and chest, taking time to gently circle her nipples and massage her breasts. He trailed his kisses over her chin, along the column of her throat, working ever so slowly lower until he kissed the tops of her breasts.
Jenny moaned. She undulated beneath him, cupping the back of his head to hold him to her breast. Her legs scissored, trying to seek relief. At last, when he took a nipple into his mouth and sucked gently, did she roll towards him to feel his cock against her thighs. Yes. This was what she wanted, the feelings she’d been working toward. While his lips moved over her breasts, sucking and nibbling on each nipple in turn, he slipped his fingers along the crease where her thigh met her body, moving closer to her sex.
The first touch of his talented fingers along her labia had her moaning aloud. The second, crying out with passion as he caressed her slick folds, his finger slipping inside to stroke her intimately. He circled her clit and her hips bucked against the mattress. The way he touched her, treated her as if she were something special, all of it coiled her need inside her, driving her toward an explosive orgasm. Her love raced through her body. She voiced it in the small cries she made. Moaned with it as he flicked his finger across her clit, and when he released her nipple to kiss across her abdomen, she vibrated with the emotions she felt for this man.
He pushed her thighs open, settling his broad shoulders between them. Damn, she’d never seen anything as sexy as this man, his lips inches from her pussy, the rasp of his stubble against her inner thighs. When he lowered his mouth to kiss her, she moaned his name. She reached down, clutching the back of his head, his shoulders, anything to hold that magnificent mouth against her.
“You taste so good,” he whispered, the words vibrating through her. He licked her, drawing one labia between his lips and sucking gently before moving to the other one. Sliding his tongue along her slit, he teased her with quick, short strokes.
Her breaths came in harsh pants.
Just as she thought she’d find release, he backed off to tease her with fingers and light licks and kisses. Then, he’d increase the pace until she hovered on the edge of release once more. Her thighs tightened. Watching his head bob up and down between her thighs made it even more erotic and this time, when she didn’t back off, she flew into release with a shout of his name.
Ripples of passion flowed through her, making her boneless and languid in their aftermath. Only then did Caid lift his head, and with a hungry smile, crawled over his body until the head of his cock pressed against her.
“Now, we come together.” He thrust into her, filling her with a single stroke. She lifted her heels, pressing them into the back of his thighs to gain more leverage as she met his thrusts. In spite of her two previous orgasms, Caid was driving her quickly toward another one, and she clung to his shoulders as if he were the only solid thing in her universe.
Somehow he rolled, placing her on top of him, still joined. She braced her hands on his pecs and rose up, teasing him with twists of her hips as she moved up and down on his cock. He cupped her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he growled. “So damn beautiful.”
His use of strong language turned her on even more and she tightened her inner muscles along his length. She came down hard enough to make him groan with pleasure, her breasts swaying with her movements. Looking down at him, she loved this man. Loved him with her heart and soul, her entire body. And it was that love which centered low in her belly and burst forth like a beautiful prism of light, racing through her body as she cried out her release once more. His name was a benediction on her lips, a joyous cry of “Caid! Oh, Caid! Caid!” as she came hard and fast, the pulsing sensations seeming to go on and on.
Beneath her, Caid trembled. He thrust into her one more time and came with a shout, his body taut and rigid beneath her, his cock buried as deep as it could go.
She slumped on his chest, and still his shaft twitched within her, until he, too, felt the full force of his release. His arms went around her back, drawing her close against his sweaty body.
“Jenny,” he said between pants. “I love you.” He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead when she rose enough to look at him. “I don’t think I ever stopped.”
“I love you, too,” she said and nestled against his chest once more. His deep, even breathing told her he was resting, and she followed him into dreamland.