His head was thrown back as he pushed into her again, this time harder. Branna lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, making the penetration deeper.
“Sweet Christ, Rosebud, you better come for me soon. I can’t hang on much longer.”
She felt the delicious tension inside her start to peak, and then he rubbed his thumb over the tight, hard bud between her thighs, and she shuddered as the sensations hit her. Her cries were loud, and soon his joined hers as they both found their release. He slumped down on top of her, pinning her sweaty body to the bed.
Her head was spinning, her body lax, and Branna knew she had never felt as she just had with another man. It was a scary thought, one she would tuck away for another time when she could rationalize it.
Jake rolled sideways, taking her with him until it was she who lay on top of him. His arms wrapped around her and held her there as she struggled to get off.
“Stop fighting me. I’m stronger.”
She did, but only because she was tired, her body suddenly heavy, lashes fluttering closed. Laying her head on his chest, she heard the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She’d get off in a minute, when she could find the strength.
Jake openedhis eyes as Branna climbed off him. He heard her walk from the room and make her way to the bathroom, and then he heard the shower. Looking out the windows, he guessed they’d been asleep for some time as it was dark. He wondered what thoughts were going round and round inside her head. Rolling onto his back, Jake stared up at the ceiling. She’d blown his mind; it was as simple as that. He’d never felt like this with another woman in all his twenty-six years. She was awkward, smart, argumentative, and hotter than hell, and he wanted her like he did the oxygen that kept him alive. She’d taken and demanded from him in bed, and just thinking of how it had felt when he’d pushed inside her had him pulling aside the covers and heading for the shower. Opening the door, he was greeted with steam.
“You got that water hot enough, Rosebud?”
“I won’t be a minute. Then you can use it, or you could go home and—what are you doing?”
She stood with her head back against the wall, eyes closed, water running over that sexy body.
“If I was struck down now, I’d die a happy man. Damn, you’re sexy, O’Donnell.”
“What are you doing?”
“I like to share, cuts down on water wastage.” Stepping in, Jake pulled the door closed behind him, caging them both in the steam and spray. Easing her off the wall, he pressed her wet, hot body into his. “I look on it as my patriotic duty to my country and to future generations.”
“Jake, I don’t think—”
“There you go, thinking again.”
Cupping one of her breasts, he took the nipple deep into his mouth, which caused her head to fall back on the wall as she moaned loudly.
“You said something about being sweaty.” Jake reached for the soap when he’d lifted his head. “Let me clean you up a bit.” She tried to stop him as he soaped up his hands and started to run them all over that sweet little body, but he ignored her, and then her hands fell to her sides as she closed her eyes and groaned long and loud.
“At least I know how to subdue you now.”
“I’m not subdued.”
Her eyes were barely open, the green depths filled with sensual heat that made her look like a sex kitten. She arched toward him as he stroked her stomach.
“Wrap your legs around me.” Picking her up, he drove himself deep inside her as she lowered onto his aching flesh. He took it slower this time, enjoying the hot water cascading over them, the steam shrouding them, but most of all, the feel of being inside her.
“Jake.” Her sigh was whispered in his ear as he felt the tremors start to rock her.
“Let go, baby. I’ve got you.”
She did and he did, and it was as amazing as the first time. Jake didn’t think he’d ever get enough of this woman. Lowering her to her feet, he tilted her chin up and kissed her lips before washing off and getting out of the shower. She needed some time, he knew that. Branna O’Donnell was a woman who didn’t get close to people; she hadn’t in school, and he’d seen nothing to change that opinion since she’d arrived in Howling. Like him, she’d shut people out of her life, but unlike him, she’d had no one continually hammering at her door to get back in.
He was attracted to Branna, and maybe that was because she was like him, but he also knew women and how their emotions tended to eventually get involved. Jake would just have to make sure that never happened here. He’d lay out the facts right from the start about this… whatever it was, between them. Maybe they could be friends with benefits, but without the emotional entanglements? That sure as hell suited him.
Pulling on his clothes, he made his way downstairs and put on some coffee. Walking through the house, he looked at the changes she’d made. A painting here, a plant there. She’d thinned out some of Georgie’s things, and it looked good. He came to a halt beside a large framed photograph of a woman that could only be Branna’s mother. She had the same hair and eyes, but the smile was different. This woman had no secrets or sadness haunting her; she was happy from the inside.
“Th-that’s my mother.”
She was standing behind a chair, her hands resting on the back. Her hair hung around her head; now that it was wet, he could see that it almost reached her waist. She wore a baggy T-shirt and shorts and looked nervous, her eyes filled with shadows again.
“She’s beautiful, like you.” He dragged his eyes from her before he closed the distance and held her, which Jake knew would be a mistake right about now. Branna wasn’t the holding kind. She was the stand and fight type.
