Jackson’s Destiny(43)

“Let me just say he is extremely giving. And those hands of his do devilish things.” I smiled when Amber squeezed her eyes shut tightly. “Oh, don’t you dare act like Ryan doesn’t know how to give you head-spinning pleasure, Amber. I’ve seen the smile on your face after a night of sweaty sex with that cowboy.”

Amber’s cheeks reddened, but she nodded and lowered her hands form her ears. “Okay fine,” she offered. “Ryan does things that make me forget my name.”

“This night was supposed to be relaxing, damn it. But now I’m just horny as hell, and no one is around to fix it.” Alena flopped against the cushions and let her head fall back.

“We could always call Noah. I’m positive that man would be more than happy to fix you up.” I giggled when Amber began nodding in agreement.

“That man is an enigma. Seriously, what is up with him?” Alena asked, showing that she truly was interested. “He flirts like crazy, and I would be on him so fast, he wouldn’t know what hit him. But he’s so hot and cold. He truly confuses me.”

“Ryan told me he had a girlfriend—well, fiancée, that truly crushed him,” Amber said. “Apparently, he was head over heels in love, and she gave him an ultimatum. She wanted to leave Livingston and he didn’t, and when he told her that, she left anyway. It was about three years ago.” Amber tipped up the wine bottle and topped off our glasses. “About a month after she left, he went after her. She moved to LA, and when he found her, she was already in the arms of another man.”

My heart instantly broke for Noah, and I suddenly felt a little different about the guy. I always thought he was the ultimate bachelor that liked the freedom of an unattached, no-expectations fling. Instead, he had chosen to never allow another woman to break his heart.

“Well, shit,” Alena whispered. “Now I just feel like crap for thinking he was a promiscuous kind of guy.”

“Me too,” I replied.

“Okay, enough of this. We’re supposed to be having fun.” Amber stood up from the couch and made her way toward the stereo. She pressed the power button and turned the music up louder and louder.

The seriousness of the situation shifted as we danced around like three drunk teenage girls.

It was an amazing, free feeling.



***



Something was tickling my cheek, and I lifted my hand to scratch it. Without opening my eyes, I settled into the couch once again.

I was just fading back into that deep darkness of sleep when that tickle began once again. I swatted at whatever it was and startled when I connected with flesh.

“Humph!”

My eyes shot open. Hovering above me was the silhouette of a man. I opened my mouth to scream only to have it covered by a large hand.

Jackson’s deep chuckles filled the room, and he buried his face in the crease of my neck.

“You asshole.” I pushed against his shoulder as I tried to slow my racing heart. “You scared the hell out of me.”

“I told you she would freak,” Alena said.

Tilting my head, I looked up to find Alena and Noah staring down at me like I was some freak show.

“You’re lucky she didn’t nut-shot ya,” Noah offered. “That would have put a damper on your evening for sure.”

“Aw, Bay would have kissed it and made it all better, I’m sure,” she teased.

“Shut up, Alena, or I’ll be forced to tell the guys about your recliner fantasies.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. The two men in the room looked at her with interest, and she dove for me, placing her hand over my mouth.

“I swear I will spill all your dirty secrets, you have my word,” Alena threatened, and I giggled at how serious she was. The determined look on her face was completely ridiculous. She carefully pulled back her hand and pointed her finger at me in a final warning.

Just as she stood and took a step back, a thought ran through my mind. “Okay, I won’t say a word about the recliner.”

She nodded, looking pleased.

“But you never said I couldn’t tell Noah here that you find him intriguing and seriously confusing.” Her eyes grew wide. “Oh, and let’s not forget you stated you are severely horny and—”

The pillow came at my face so fast, I couldn’t stop it. I turned to the side, laughing at her embarrassment. Having Alena around was going to make things interesting. She was rarely ever caught off guard, and I had never seen her get so flustered and tongue-tied around any man.

Not until now.





Chapter Thirty-Two





Jackson



I loved Sunday mornings. It was the one morning a week I was allowed to sleep in, and with Bailey snuggled up against me, those mornings were the best. Even better, Noah and Ryan took over the ranch for the week, giving me a much-needed break.