Chapter Six

Wow. Whoa. There were two of them and they both looked like hunky Jacksons. She’d seen pictures of the Downing brothers in dozens of magazines, but now that she was face-to-face, she could safely say that the pictures didn’t do them any justice. Teresa drew in a deep breath, fighting the urge to fan herself.

“Um, is BJ here?”

“No BJ here. But we are. Good evening.” One of the handsome hunks stuck out his hand, a dangerously wicked smile curving his lips. “Jeff Downing.”

She shook his hand, her eyes widening when a bolt of heat shot up her arm.

“Hi. I’m Jason. This idiot’s brother.” His eyes were softer, gentler and when she shook his hand, it was just that, a handshake. She focused on Jason. She felt safer with him than with his roguish brother.

“Do you know when BJ will be back?” She directed her question to Jason, but Jeff answered, forcing her to look at him.

“BJ? Who’s BJ?”

What did he mean who was BJ? “The woman who lives here.”

Their brows shot towards the sky and Jeff said, “The only woman I know who lives here is Bria.”

Right. It was Bria now. “Same person. BJ stands for Bria Jaslene.” She decided not to add, and the only people who call her that are you and Jackson.

“Do you know when she’ll be home?”

“Oh, she’s home now.” Jeff thumbed towards the back. “She’s out back getting it on with Jackson.”

“Really?” Her lips quirked into a grin. If BJ was making out with hunky Jackson then it could be a while. She glanced between Jason and Jeff. Jeff still scared her, not in a bad way, but in a he’s-big-trouble way. But they were undoubtedly easy on the eyes. There could be worse ways to idle away her time.

“I’ll wait for her.”

She brushed between the two of them, biting back a gasp when Jeff closed the distance and leaned towards her, a wolfish grin on his face.

“I was hoping you would say that.”

* * * *

Making out quickly turned into making love.

“Jackson. Stop that.” She swatted at his hand on her ass. “Your brothers might see us.”

“They’re all the way in the other room.”

The noises coming from the other room told her that Jackson was right. She stopped at the sound of a throaty laugh. There was a woman with them. She listened for a beat.

“Teresa’s here.”

“And she’s alone with my younger brothers? We may want to shout out a warning so they have enough time to put their clothes back on.”

She frowned at Jackson from over her shoulder. “Are all of you Downings players?”

His answering grin was slow and sexy. “I’m a lover, not a player. But those two? Well, they’re another story.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Casanova,” she said and marched into the living room, but came to an abrupt halt when she saw Teresa with Jason and Jeff.

“Teresa?”

She smiled at BJ from between Jeff’s legs, her head upside down. “Hey, BJ.” She snapped up, sending Jeff sprawling to the floor.

“What are you two doing?”

“It’s Twister.”

BJ gave her best friend a vexed look. “I know what it is. What the hell are you doing playing it in my living room?”

“Got bored waiting for you two to come inside.” Teresa gave her chest a pointed look, right before she mouthed, Fix your shirt.

She glanced down, heat creeping into her cheeks when she noticed she’d missed a button.

She hurriedly closed her shirt. “So, what’s up?” She asked, trying to ignore the embarrassment swamping over her. The knowing twinkle in Teresa’s gaze made her cheeks grow hotter, but thankfully her friend let her off the hook, and pretended as if nothing had happened.

“I stopped by to find out what you were doing this weekend. Gotta take a road trip to Lehigh for business tomorrow. Wanted to see if you wanted to come.”

BJ smiled. They were notorious for taking ill-fated and eventful road trips.

“Hey, that’s just a half hour from Macon. Jackson, didn’t you say you had to drive back for business on Tuesday? We should all drive together.”

She glanced up at Jackson who looked like he wanted to kill Jeff.

“No, we shouldn’t. I’m actually thinking you two should leave tonight, and let Teresa and BJ drive in peace.”

BJ turned to face him. “But then you will have to drive by yourself. Doesn’t make any sense if you have to be there next week too. We could all just go together.”

Jackson nodded towards his brothers. “Trust me, you don’t want to take a five-hour road trip with these clowns.”

She wrinkled her brow. “Really, Jackson? How bad could it possibly be?”

* * * *

“I don’t want to say I told you so.”

Her eyes shot daggers at Jackson. “Shut it.”

He looked like he had no intention of shutting anything as he leant back against his car with a smug grin on his face.

“Aren’t you happy I convinced you and Teresa to take a separate car?”

She let out a long sigh. “We made it here. That’s the main thing.”

He chuckled. “Barely.”

Barely was right. In the end Jackson had decided to drive alone and follow behind in his car, while his two brothers led the way.

“Let’s see. They got us lost, even though they own a GPS. They ran out of gas. Got us kicked out of a restaurant. What else?”

Her lips thinned into a tight line. “I got it. Your brothers suck at road trips, you knew this and you tried to spare me. Happy?”

He straightened to his full height and pulled her into his arms. “Now, I am.”

Her heart skipped a beat. When he said things like that, she forgot all about how aggravating he could be when he was right and how tired she was after the road trip from hell.

He lowered his mouth, and she met his lips in a searing kiss. He claimed her with hot, deep strokes of his tongue, making her melt against him. She entwined her limbs with his, as he enfolded her into his embrace. The hard, steel strength of him surrounded her, making her feel cherished and protected—something she’d never felt with a man until she’d met Jackson.

The porch door banged shut bringing an abrupt end to their blissful kiss. They sprang apart, but Jackson didn’t let her go. He kept his arm draped around her waist, cuddling her close.

With her body pressed to his, she felt the instant a chill settled over him. His features became drawn, his jaw tight.

“Jacob? I thought you were out of town.”

BJ immediately recognised the man towering over them from the porch as the eldest brother, Jacob Downing. He stared at her, his handsome face twisted into a scowl. Jackson must have felt her stiffen because his hand settled against the small of her back, his fingers drawing lazy circles against her skin.

“I decided to come back early. Wasn’t expecting you for a couple more days.”

Jackson glanced at her. “Bria’s friend had business in Lehigh. Decided to drive up here with her.”

“Bria? ” Jacob’s eyebrow lifted. “Natalie’s little sister?”

“One in the same.” She gave him a tentative smile. “You must be Jacob. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” He nodded politely, but she got the distinct impression that he was being just that—polite.

The air around them was thick with tension and her eyes darted between Jackson and Jacob. It was obvious from Jackson’s rigid posture and Jacob’s guarded gaze that something had transpired between them, something that left them both wary around one another.

The door opened again and a beautiful black woman breezed out, her violet dress moulding beautifully to her voluptuous curves. BJ felt like a gangly little girl, compared to the statuesque beauty.

“Jacob, honey—” The woman’s almond shaped eyes fell on her before sliding to Jackson.

“Jackson. What a surprise. It’s so good to see you.” There was a deep regret in the woman’s gaze when she looked at him that was completely at odds with her cheerful greeting.

The tension coursing through Jackson’s body was so strong, BJ could feel it vibrating though her own.

“It’s good to see you too, Camille.” He nodded. “I would like to introduce you to Bria.” He looked at her. “Bria, this is my brother’s wife, Camille.”

Blood rushed to her ears at the same time her throat closed up. Camille? Camille. It didn’t even take her a second to put the pieces together. Camille was Jackson’s former lover, the woman who still held his heart. She glanced between Jackson and Camille. She couldn’t breathe.

Jackson’s brow knitted with worry. “Bria, you okay?” He whispered.

No, she wasn’t okay. She felt sick.

She backed away from him, and when Jackson reached for her, she shook her head.

“Your brother’s wife? You’re still in love with your brother’s wife?” She rasped in a low voice, for his ears only.

The blood drained from his face. “How did you—”

“Find out? Does it really matter?”

“Just give me a chance to explain.” His eyes pleaded with her.

Explain? She would have laughed in his face had they been alone. No matter what he said, it would never make any of this right.

“I’m going to get a hotel for the night.” She turned towards the porch, trying her best to keep her fake, brittle smile plastered across her face. “It was nice meeting you both. Have a good night.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She walked away from the house as fast as her wobbly legs would carry her as she reached into her pocket for her cell phone.

Dialling the only person she knew who could help her right now, she fought back the emotions clogging her throat. Jackson had had an affair with his brother’s wife. She couldn’t believe she’d been so wrong about him, that she’d misjudged his character and fallen in love with a man who could betray his own brother.

The phone rang twice before a sleepy voice answered, “Hey, BJ.”

“Hey. I know it’s late, b—but can you come and get me?”

* * * *

Jackson watched helplessly as BJ stalked off. “Would you two excuse me?”

“Why don’t you just give her a moment alone?”

Jackson glared at his brother. He knew Jacob well enough to know what he was thinking. Jacob thought BJ was a rebound, that he’d brought her back to Macon to prove to him and Camille that he was over Camille. Jacob was wrong.

Jackson twisted on his heels without saying another word. He didn’t owe Jacob an explanation. This was between BJ and him.

When he caught up to BJ he found her on the phone. He knew it was Teresa on the other end when BJ called her name. On impulse he snatched the phone out of her hand.

“Teresa, stay wherever you are. BJ will be fine here for the night.” He ended the call and pocketed the phone.

“You had no right to do that!”

Her eyes blazed with fire, and he could tell she wanted to rake her nails down his face. He couldn’t blame her.

“I’m sorry.”

She drew back, clearly unprepared for his apology.

He clasped her face between his hands. “I’m sorry,” he said again, his voice emphatic.

“Sorry for what, Jackson?” Her tone was scathing. “What are you really sorry for?”

“For not telling you the truth sooner.”

She tried to pull away, but he held fast. “And what is the truth?”

He let out a long, shaky breath. He knew how bad this looked.

“The truth is that I thought I loved Camille once—”

“How could you fall in love with your own brother’s wife?” Her expression was incredulous.

“I know what you think. I can see it in your eyes, but it wasn’t like that. I met Camille at the same time as Jacob…” A voice inside him told him to tell her the whole truth, but he couldn’t. He was on the verge of losing her. He couldn’t risk it right now. He would tell her later, when she was calmer. “Jacob and I both fell for her, but Camille fell in love with Jacob and married him. It hurt at the time, but I moved on and then I met you.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “And almost as soon as I met you, I was completely taken with you.”

The harsh sound of her bitter laughter grated on his ears.

“You thought you loved Camille, and what? Now you think you love me?”

He did love her. He held her tighter. “I do love you,” he said softly. This was not exactly how he’d imagined declaring his undying love for her, but that didn’t mean his words were any less true.

“No you don’t Jackson.” She shook her head, her eyes sad. “I’m just a rebound for you. In time you will realise this.”

He frowned down at her. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that I deserve better than being someone’s second choice—”

“You’re not my sec—”

“Look, it’s over Jackson.” This time when she pulled away from him, he let her go.

His eyes narrowed with anger. “So that’s it. You’re just going to end things and walk away.” He took a step towards her. “I told you that I loved you.”

He was shouting, and his heart thumped in his chest like a steel drum. He took a deep breath, struggling to rein in his temper. “You love me too. I can see it in your eyes. You’re just afraid I’m going to hurt you.”

She kept her eyes downcast, refusing to look at him. Anger pumped through his veins along with a sense of helplessness. She couldn’t just ignore him and walk away. She couldn’t simply up and end things like this.

His hand shot out, and she yelped when he tugged her against him. He glimpsed the barn just a few feet away and he backed her towards it, not stopping until she was trapped between the wooden structure and his body.

“Stop it, Jackson,” she protested, struggling against him, but she stopped abruptly when his hands slid down the length of her jean clad legs.

He spun her around, his face buried in the crook of her neck, his hands searching, groping.

“You love me, Bria. Just admit it.” He breathed against her neck, and she shivered, her body pulsing with need.

She was stubborn though and refused to say what he already knew. His hands reached around to unfasten her jeans, determined to force her body to reveal what her lips would not.

“Jackson,” she rasped when he pushed her jeans, her panties, past her hips leaving her ass bare before him.

He didn’t speak as he pulled his hard length from his pants, nudging the tip of his cock against her moist slit.

“You’re already wet and I’ve barely touched you,” he whispered against her silky skin. When he pushed forward, deep inside her, stretching her with his length he closed his eyes and groaned, the wet heat of her almost threatening to buckle his knees.

Her gasps of pleasure were soft, feminine and the throaty purrs fuelled his lust until he was thrusting into her with deep, plunging strokes.

“Jackson,” she cried out his name, her hips rocking back, her juicy cunt taking the entire pounding length of him.

He held her hips with one hand, while the other reached around to grope her breasts, his hands kneading the soft mounds.

She moaned louder and he felt her desire pulsing through her so strongly. He knew she was close and he quickened his pace, slamming his cock deep inside her, the head of his dick brushing against the mouth of her womb.

He clenched his eyes shut, his jaw tight and pummelled inside her harder, dragging a tortured cry from her lips, her entire body splintering around him as she drenched him with the heat of her climax.

He didn’t hold back—couldn’t hold back. He buried his ruddy shaft inside her one final time, a harsh grunt tumbling past his lips as he shot his seed to the back of her womb until he was nearly boneless, completely spent.

It was several minutes before he pulled out of her. They righted their clothes in silence, the tension that had been there before, returning once again.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said finally, stepping around him.

The hell it didn’t. Their lovemaking had been explosive, earth shattering even. Didn’t she realise it would never be this good with anyone else?

Headlights flashed in the distance and seconds later a shiny, red convertible pulled up beside them. He cursed under his breath. Fuck. It was Teresa.

He followed after Bria who now marched towards the car. “Bria, don’t go like this. We need to talk.”

“We’re done talking, Jackson. Good night.” She slipped into the car and Jackson stood there feeling completely helpless as he watched her pull away and disappear into the darkness.

He stared after the red tail lights until they disappeared in the distance.

“She’s a smart girl. She did you a favour.” The deep voice, so much like his own, broke through his tumultuous thoughts, startling him.

“A favour?” Rage coursed through his veins as he rounded on Jacob.

“She knows she’s a rebound,” Jacob said, stepping out of the shadows. “She was smart to end things now before they got complicated. It would have been so much worse for you both had this farce continued.”

“Farce?”

“I know this must be hard Jackson, but you don’t get over one woman by moving on to another.”

Jackson’s nostrils flared. His brother was doing what he’d always done—he was trying to take care of him, protect him. Jacob thought he was doing the right thing, but Jackson didn’t need protecting—never had.

“I know you mean well, but you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” Jacob’s eyes widened in surprise when Jackson stood toe to toe with him.

Jackson was the good-natured, easygoing brother. He wasn’t often provoked to anger, and he was rarely angry with his brothers, especially Jacob, who he was closest to. But when it came to Bria, he’d take on the devil himself, if that’s what it took to prove the depth of his feelings for her.

“I love her.”

“You think you love her. Just two months ago you thought you were in love with Camille.”

“You’re right. I thought I was in love with Camille. I cared for her, still do, but what I feel for Bria is real. I know I love her.”

He stared his brother in the eye until Jacob was forced to blink. It was a subtle gesture, but it drove his point home.

“You really do love this girl?” Jacob’s voice was full of awe.

“Yes. I do.” Jackson stepped around him and moved towards the house. “Now I just have to convince Bria.”