Chapter 829 Chapter 829
Rory was nervous. It was a kiss. Just a kiss. She was being silly. She felt a shiver move through her and knew it was her cat. She was close to the surface, but there was no pain. She would have to think about that later when he wasn’t standing there looking at her.
Jake reached out and touched the side of her face. He didn’t pull her close but leaned toward her. The movement was on her part as she took a step closer. He maintained eye contact with her as they met halfway. His breath touched her mouth before his lips did. They were soft and warm. He moved them slowly, not trying to rush into a passionate kiss. She’d been with men before who tried to rush from zero to hot passion, and it was the biggest turn-off. That wasn’t the only difference between Jake and any other male she’d kissed. None of them knew what she really was. He did, and he didn’t judge her for her feelings about it.
His hand was still resting against the side of her head, but he made no move to pull her to him. It was her that took that last step closer. It was her hand that gripped the front of his jacket, holding him where he was.
He broke the kiss and looked at her, his breath feathering over her mouth. She licked her lips and could taste him. She wanted more. Tugging him closer, she put her hand on his shoulder and went up on her toes so she could meet his mouth.
This kiss wasn’t light or brief. His mouth covered hers, and the contact sent heat through her. The first kiss seemed like an introduction. This one, the tender movements gradually turned into something more urgent. She could feel her cat right there for a few seconds, and then she went silent and still. It was almost as if she was telling Rory this part was hers.
Pulling her head back, she looked at Jake. “My – she—” He stood there like he had been paused. Shaking her head, she reached up, lightly grasped his curls, and pulled his head back down. “Never mind.” She whispered against his mouth.
The kiss changed. It was soft and exploratory now. He wrapped one arm around behind her and pulled her up against him. Their bodies fit together perfectly. It was as if they’d been made together and separated all of their lives. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave into the demands of his mouth. Lips, tongues, and teeth clashed. Rory felt sharpness and broke the kiss. Gasping for air, she ran her tongue along her teeth. They were sharp.
Jake sucked in air. “Sorry about the teeth.” He blew out a breath. “My cat is butting in.”
She felt so much better that is wasn’t just her. “Mine too.”
He put his hand on her hip and gently guided her toward him. “So, verdict?”
His scent was almost intoxicating now. She didn’t understand what had changed. “Verdict?”
He smiled in a playful way. “The kissing? Any spark?”
She couldn’t help but smile. Two could be playful. “Some.”
“Only some?” He frowned. “I must try harder.” He put his hand behind her head but didn’t pull against it.
Looking into his eyes, she moved closer. “Maybe you should.” When she was close enough, she could taste his breath. He crushed her mouth beneath his. Rory’s cat moved through her, and again, there was no pain, but she couldn’t help feeling she was trying to push them closer together. There was no closer than right now.
His taste was inside her, and it was right. She didn’t understand how it was, but that didn’t change how she felt. His scent was making her dizzy in a very lusty kind of way. She moaned into his mouth, and his grip around her waist tightened.
Opening her eyes, she realized they were being rained on. She leaned back. “It’s raining.”
He kissed the side of her mouth and then the other. “I didn’t even notice.” Releasing her, he grabbed her hand and started walking toward the house. A few steps later, he stopped, and she walked into his back. “Nope.” He turned and went back the other way.
Rory hurried along with him as he went to the bunkhouse. He opened the door and tugged her hand so she was inside. Leaning down, he kissed her mouth hard, rough, and thoroughly before pulling away and going over and thumping his hand on a petition wall.
“Gary. I need you to go for a run.” He banged on the wall twice more.
“A run?” She heard feet hit the floor. “At one in the morning? What for?”
Jake tossed his jacket on the floor and leaned around the barrier. She didn’t hear him say anything but heard him getting up.
Gary went around Jake. He was wearing track pants and dragging a blanket with him. His hair was standing up all over his head. “I’m going to run.” He mumbled and walked out the door.
When the door closed, Rory looked over a Jake.
He shrugged. “He’ll be fine.” He smiled, and it was intoxicating.
Rory looked at the door again. Biting her lip, she looked back at him.
Jake shook his head and came over and took her hand. “He’ll be fine. He can go for a run, hang out in the shed, or shop; he’s fine. They locked me out once for three hours just for fun in the middle of a snowstorm.”
Rory grinned. “Now I feel better.”
Jake tugged her hand and brought her up against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Now, I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I want to make sure you know the rules, okay?”
She was so distracted looking at his mouth and wanting it against her own that she almost didn’t hear what he said. “Rules?” Her gaze locked on his.
“Rules. I can’t mark you. Not unless you mark me, okay? You got it? This goes wherever you want it to go.”
Her cat was close to the surface again. Rory expected her to be pushy, but she wasn’t. She was just there waiting. Nodding, she ran her hands up his chest to his shoulders. “Okay.”