The Cowboy's Temptation Page 0,37
the buttons on her shirt. The front clasp of her bra was quickly dispensed with. Elissa was only vaguely aware of the cooler air against her bare breast but nothing penetrated the passion she was feeling. Her body writhed under Jake’s hands and when his hot mouth closed over her nipple, Elissa almost yelled with the pleasure his mouth was inflicting.
Muted voices at the other end of the barn called to another ranch hand and both Jake and Elissa froze.
Elissa buried her face in Jake’s neck as they heard the two people talking as they walked down the center aisle of the barn. Both were discussing the work they were tasked to do, one obviously a supervisor and the other questioning if he should take a truck out or one of the horses. The voices passed by the stall they were in and moved on down the barn, eventually fading to nothingness.
Once they were alone again, Jake pulled Elissa up and she pulled her shirt closed. Jake ran fingers through his hair and pulled hay out of hers while she re-clasped her bra and buttoned her shirt.
“Elissa, meet me tonight to talk,” Jake said. It was an order and not a request.
Elissa nodded her head, willing to say anything to get out of this stall with a little dignity left. She had literally thrown herself into Jake’s arms a half hour ago albeit because she was scared. But she couldn’t believe how quickly things got out of hand when they were alone together.
She pulled the gate opened and rushed out into the barn. She controlled her pace, wanting to run all the way to Ronny’s house but knowing that Jake would think she was running away, which was exactly what she was doing. But when she left the barn and the sun hit her full in the face, she took off running, unable to control the urge to put as much space between herself and Jake as possible.
Jake followed her out of the stall more slowly, his body needing time to cool off before he faced any of the other ranch employees. He walked out of the barn and watched the slim figure break into a run and shook his head. He didn’t understand someone who was so terrified of something so incredible. Didn’t she understand that what they had together was rare? He knew she felt the same feelings he had. She ignited in his arms at the very first touch and it just kept getting more and more intense. If they didn’t do something about this attraction, they were going to spontaneously ignite.
Was she so attached to her job in New York that she couldn’t consider a life outside of it? He didn’t think that was the case. When she first arrived at the ranch, she looked like the walking dead. She had been so thin a slight breeze might have knocked her over.
Now, her curves were still slim but they were sexier, fuller. He crossed his arms over his chest and enjoyed watching Elissa’s bottom in her jeans and his body hardened again, not that it had ever left that state. Hell, he’d been in a constant state of semiarousal since he’d picked her up at the airport. Except for the times when she was in his arms. Then there was no semi about it. He was rock hard ready for that dainty lady.
“Whatcha doing for dinner tonight, boss?” Rick said, walking up beside Jake and plucking a piece of straw from his shoulder.
“Working, I guess,” Jake responded, not bothering to take his eyes off Elissa until she disappeared behind one of the ranch buildings.
Rick reached up and took another piece of straw out of Jake’s hair. “Well, I’m thinking you haven’t been over to the house for dinner in a while. Might be interesting if you came on by.”
“What are you getting at, Rick?” Jake said, sighing and turning away to head back towards the truck. He needed to get out to the south border and check on the herd.
“I’m just saying that I think it isn’t a good idea for Elissa to be walking back to the main house each night alone.”
“She’s staying where she is, dammit” Jake snapped. He didn’t understand why, but the idea of not having Elissa under his roof made him lose his cool.
Rick held up his hands. “Whoa! Not even suggesting anything different. I’m just saying that you seem to disappear pretty often lately and reappear more frustrated. Maybe if