Jacob(17)

He looked Jacob in the eye. “I’m assuming you can set a horse without too much problem?”

Jacob nodded, “Yes sir, I won’t hold them back.”

Frank nodded and walked out of the room.

Keelee stood and addressed the men. “We need to be at the barn saddled, loaded, and cinched up by four-thirty a.m. Good night, gentlemen.”

Tori stood and started gathering empty plates along with Keelee. While the women cleared the table, the men drifted up the stairs or into the den. Keelee wiped the table as Tori returned from the kitchen for another armful of dirty dishes.

“So obviously you are more than a computer programmer.”

Tori stopped and straightened. With a nod she conceded, “I have had some adventures.”

Keelee snorted. “Of course. Naturally, you have.”

“Do you have a problem, Keelee?”

Her sister flipped her ponytail off her shoulder and walked into the kitchen. Tori followed her and waited.

“No, Tori, I have absolutely no problems. Glad you are out having adventures. We have cattle to move. I suggest you get some sleep.” Keelee swept by her, grabbed a jacket off the hook by the door, and went out into the night.

Damn it, Keelee running off in a huff was getting old. Fast. They used to be able to talk about anything. Since she’d come home after Jacob had rescued her things had changed. Tori rubbed her forehead and groaned out loud. Damn it, she couldn’t let this—whatever it was between them—fester.





Chapter Eight


Tori walked up the stairs but didn’t go into her room. She opened Jacob’s door and saw him looking out the window. She quietly closed and locked the door. Walking up behind him, she put her arms around his waist. “You didn’t eat any dessert.”

He drew a deep breath and raised his arm as she slipped around him. “I was promised dessert, and I think what I was promised will be much better than cobbler.”

Tori reached up and loosened the hook and loop fastener holding his sling snug against his body. She slipped it off and unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off his massive chest and back. His dressing was white and dry. She pushed him backwards with her two fingers until he reached the bed. “Sit down, Jacob.” As he complied, she straddled his leg, presenting her ass to him. Clenching his leg between her thighs, she pulled his boot off and then repeated the procedure for the other foot.

“Love the view from back here, sweetheart.”

She smiled and turned towards him. “If you enjoyed that view, maybe this one will excite you a little more.” She pulled her sweater off, pulled her hair out of its ponytail and stepped out of her jeans. She hoped Jacob liked her sky-blue lace bra and thong set. He groaned and reached out, grabbing her, pulling her to him. Yeah…he liked them. Tori slid onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist as her hands roamed his magnificent chest.

His hands flattened hers against his pecs. “Can you feel it babe? Can you feel how hot I am for you? Everything you do drives me insane. I can’t fucking think of anything but me inside you.”

Jacob turned and laid her back on the bed holding her as he undid the button to his jeans and pulled himself free. He lifted her removing her wisp of lace coverings and pulled her hips closer to him. His hand traveled downward in a light caress. Her neck, collar bone, breast, and lower body became his canvass and his fingers painted her passion with brilliant strokes and sensuous swirls. God, the heat from just his fingertips drove her body into a shivering mess. When he finally spread her wet warm folds, she couldn’t stop the moan of need that his touch pulled from her.



*



Jacob leaned over, brushed his lips over hers and roughly whispered, “Mine.”

“Yes, God yes. Please, please Jacob, I want you in me.” Her panted plea was his undoing. He lowered his lips to hers and ravaged her mouth with his tongue. She moaned as his rock hard cock sliced into her hot, moist softness. Her body gave, compliant and wanting as his arms rose under her shoulders. He surged forward as he pulled her down on him, their combined need feral and animalistic. He felt her body tighten and clench around him. He waited, not ready to release his own climax until her body gripped him tightly, milking him as she fractured in climax. He shuddered and convulsed on top of her as his orgasm racked his body.

Jacob pulled away and stretched out beside her. He lifted himself on his good arm and caressed her slowly and tenderly from her jaw to her hip. “I want to know every part of your body. Know everything that turns you on.”

He stroked her soft skin as she snuggled closer to him. Damn. It was more than wanting to know every part of her. He wanted to own her. How had she ingrained herself so completely in such a short amount of time? Yes, he definitely wanted to possess her. Or was it the other way around? Damned if she hadn’t invaded his defenses and taken him prisoner. He dropped to his side and pulled her tightly against him.

He tucked her close wrapping his arms around her securely. He listened as her breath evened out and felt her body relax as the best type of exhaustion overtook them both.



*



Tori scanned the barn. It was the hub of activity. Men saddled horses, secured supplies on the packhorses, and checked rifles and side arms. Chief looked at Jacob who worked slowly without his sling. “Kind of like the last Pakistan mission, huh, Skipper?”

Jacob chuffed and nodded. “Hopefully nobody will decide to fall out of the damn helicopter this time.”

“You can’t blame me for that! I had help. Dixon couldn’t keep that damn machine flying straight or level.”

Dixon laughed and retorted, “Bullshit, Chief! I flew that Blackhawk just fine. Nobody else fell out. You forgot to fasten your damn seatbelt again!”

Tori cast a glance at her father while she listened to the men as they joked with each other. Frank slid his Winchester into the gun boot of the line-backed dun he was riding and mounted. He surveyed the people in the barn and growled, “You ready yet?”

He watched as Chief swung up and Dixon and Drake quickly mounted. No doubt to ascertain if the men could handle the round-up and drive. All three seemed competent and comfortable in the saddle. Her dad nodded to himself and then he watched everyone else mount. Tori tried to hide a smile as she and Keelee stepped into their stirrups and Jacob mounted quietly and efficiently.

Jacob looked around. “Where the hell is Doc?”

The man in question walked into the barn. “I went up to the house to check on Danny. I gave Betty some antibiotics to give to him and instructions for his care along with my cell number. The kid’s got walking pneumonia, but as long as he stays inside and rests for a couple days he should be okay.”

Tori peeked at Keelee, who sat her horse and waited for Doc to mount. Tori gave up any pretense of not staring when she saw her sister’s persona soften as she spoke. “Thank you, Adam. I knew he had more than a just cold.”

Drake hooted. “Who the hell is Adam?”

Thank God the man made a scene because Tori choked on her own surprised laugh.

Dixon looked at the medic. “Damn it, Doc, you actually got a name and you never shared that with us before now? Should we be offended? I think we should be offended. Hey! I’m offended, Drake. What’s this? Doc has an actual name and the Skipper has sisters. Next thing you know Chief is actually going to tell us he has a name. Something like Harvey or Malcolm.”

Drake chimed in, “No, he is a Mortimer or a Horatio—something long suffering and filled with angst.”

“Mortimer? Horatio? What the hell is angst? What kind of word is that? Dude, have you been reading a thesaurus again? What did I tell you about using words I can’t understand?” The rest of Dixon’s comments faded into the morning as they rode out of the barn after Chief.

Frank shook his head and tickled his horse with his spurs. “This should be an interesting few days.” Chief, Dixon, and Drake and two packhorses preceded him as the twin’s voices droned on in one of their never-ending conversations.

Keelee followed her dad out of the barn. She took the point with Doc following and finally Tori and Jacob fell into line leading the pack animals.

Once they were in the open, Tori and Jacob rode their horses side-by-side as Doc and Keelee led the way.

“You okay?” Tori nodded towards his shoulder.

“Yeah, probably going to be stiff tomorrow, but Doc is a D.O. He knows how to manipulate muscles to alleviate the pain if it gets bad.”

Tori nodded. Jacob reached over and hooked his fingers in her belt, pulled her slightly out of her saddle, then leaned over and kissed her soundly. “You left early this morning. I missed you.”

Tori smiled at him. “I didn’t mean to wake you up, but I knew Aunt Betty could use some assistance. Keelee and I usually help out.”

“Being a light sleeper is a hazard of the job.” Jacob pulled her toward him again moving the two horses together. He lowered his mouth on hers and kissed her deeply until his horse veered sharply and they both grabbed their saddle horns. Tori’s shriek of mirth split the quiet morning. They both laughed when Doc and Keelee peered over their shoulders at them.

When she could control her giggles, Tori nodded towards the two leading the way. “They’d make a great couple.”

Jacob’s expression was comical as he cast a glance at the doctor. “Okay, if you say so.”