“Help with what?” a thunderous voice sounded close behind her. A shiver raced up her spine, and as goosebumps erupted across her skin, she knew it had nothing to do with the cool temperature. The heat of Jake’s body met her back as his arms wrapped around her middle, pulling her tightly into his chest. Her arms reached down to grip Jake’s, the soft hairs tickling her sweaty palms. A tempest of sensations coursed through her body, making her stomach clench.
The timing was terrible, but she couldn’t help but notice the wetness soaking into her panties.
Gia cleared her throat, which was suddenly dry. “Oh, Jake. This is Luke… uh, Dr. Hawthorne, from the animal clinic.”
With a wave, she addressed the man in front of her, trying to calm the man whose body was rigid behind her. His arm gripped her middle so tightly she could hardly breathe.
“Luke?” Jake’s tone grew impossibly colder. “You’re a Hawthorne?”
A cool look replaced Luke’s affable one, transforming him into a different person.
“Yep, unfortunately.”
What is going on here?
Diem craned her neck to meet Jake’s questioning glance, his eyes softening as he shook his head firmly. She understood this to mean he would tell her later. She relaxed her body into his, and he rewarded her with another soft kiss on her hair. Her breath fogged in a contented sigh.
“What brings you down to these parts? Aren’t we a little too common for the Hawthornes?”
Ah, so Luke must be from Willowbrook Heights.
Everything clicked into place. Willowbrook Heights was the most affluent neighborhood in town, which boasted old money and obscenely large mansions. It was no secret there was hostility between the townsfolk of Willowbrook and their neighbors.
“Actually, I’ve been running the animal shelter in town since Doc Stevens retired.” Luke tucked his hands into his coat pockets and rocked back on his heels.
Jake’s grip on her loosened, as if the unseen threat was gone. “That seems… nice of you.”
“Yeah, well, not all of us Hawthornes are assholes.” Luke flashed a smile that was all teeth. “Anyway, as I was telling Gia, if she needs help or has questions about helping Tuna give birth to her litter, she can call me.” Luke winced as if realizing what he’d said. “At the clinic. She can call me at the clinic.”
Gia offered a grateful smile and wave as Luke backed away and disappeared into the throng of people.
She shivered as a cool breeze blew through the area. Instinctively, she burrowed closer to Jake’s warmth, feeling the unmistakable evidence of his arousal prodding her backside.
Unable to resist teasing him, she turned around in his arms, slowly bringing her hands up until they wrapped around the back of his neck. Her fingers played with the hair at the base of hisneck. “Were you jealous?” She cocked an eyebrow, a taunting smile on her lips.
Jake scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Me? Jealous?”
“Yes, you.” Her hand moved to cup the back of his head, tangling her fingers in his hair and pulling at the strands.
She watched, fascinated, as his gaze darkened, the blue of his eyes nearly obliterated. It wasn’t fear making her shiver this time. She licked her lips, breathless with anticipation as she waited for his next move.
His brows slammed down. A curtain fell over his face, making him almost unrecognizable from the sweet Jake she knew. She could have turned away, knowing he’d chase after her—instead, she rose on her tiptoes and bit his lower lip softly.
The next thing she knew, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her away from the crowd.
She gasped, trying to keep up with his pace. “Jake, where are we going?”
He didn’t answer her as he led her farther away from the lights, until they were in the back corner of the fair. It was far less crowded here. She nearly tripped over her own feet trying to keep up with the relentless pace Jake had set. A man on a mission.
She had never felt such intense arousal as she did at this very moment. Every nerve was alight with sensation. The fabric of her leggings scraped against her skin. Her breasts were achy, and her nipples hardened into sensitive peaks that had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with the man leading her somewhere secluded.
Jake glanced around, as if finally noticing his surroundings, before pulling Gia behind a red shed that appeared to be already closed up for the night.
He pushed Gia against the building. Jake’s mouth came crashing down, a demanding force swallowing her surprised gasp and taking her breath away. She answered his demand with hers.
Finally.
His control snapped, and she was helplessly at the center ofhis tempest. Fire coursed through her veins. Her fists clenched his shirt tightly. His hips pinned her to the shed, anchoring her in place so she had no hope of escaping.
