He was still here. I hadn't dreamt what had happened on the plane. Or afterwards, at the hotel.
He'd fought for me after all. Hell, he'd practically kidnapped me. And what he'd done afterwards... I blushed. He'd worked over my body to such a degree... he knew every sensitive spot I had now. I knew he wouldn't be afraid to use them to his advantage.
Next time. And there would be a next time. Now that I'd given in to the inevitable. No more running. Or resisting. Not that I could resist Jake. I'd learned that the hard way, and then some.
Thankfully we had the same goal in mind.
Pleasuring each other until we were weak as kittens. I smiled at him, running my hand through my hair. I knew I probably looked a mess. But I wouldn't mind it if he joined me in bed again.
"Good morning Elle."
Oops. He was still mad. Really, really mad.
"Good morning."
"Come here."
I took a deep breath and stood. I walked across the room toward him on wobbly legs. When I got closer the look in his eyes made me stop in my tracks.
Jake wasn't mad. He was scared. Scared of losing me apparently.
"Sit."
I didn't move fast enough apparently because he pulled me down into his lap. He was fully dressed again. I was... not.
His hands started to slide over my body possessively, making me immediately aroused. But his eyes never left mine.
"I meant what I said Elle. You are coming back with me."
I stared at him. I was going to give this a try. I'd promised him that.
"I told you I would."
He squeezed me in approval.
"No more running."
"No more running."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
That seemed to appease him because he smiled for the first time. But he wasn't looking at my face now. His fingers were trailing over the hard tips of my breasts. I gasped at the sensation.
"Are you hungry Elle?"
I was ravenous. But I wanted him more. And judging from the torpedo in his lap, he wanted me too.
Maybe for longer than I'd imagined a bad boy like Jake Delancey ever would.
I smiled at him.
"I can wait."
The serious look lifted from his eyes for the first time since I saw him on the plane. The cocksure smile was back.
"Good. I'll try to take less than an hour this time."
He lifted me up and carried me back to bed.
Chapter Twelve
Jake
"Easy boy. That's it."
I eased the bridle off the exhausted horse. I was working with Thunder again this morning, just like I'd been doing every day since I got back from New York. I found that wearing the stallion out was the best way to teach him. When the animal was exhausted and well ridden, his resistance was much lower.
Eventually it would be second nature to the ornery creature.
I was sort of doing the same thing with Elle.
Not sort of.
I was doing exactly the same thing.
Each night I kept her up and busy until she fell into a satisfied slumber. I made sure she was too tired and sated to run. Of course, I ended up pretty satisfied too.
Really satisfied. More so that I'd ever been in my entire life.
Bone satisfied. No pun intended.
I grinned and patted the stallion.
It was a difficult job, but somebody had to do it.
I was brushing Thunder down when one of the workmen I'd hired came to find me.
"Mr. Delancey? It's ready."
"Thanks Steve."
I held out an apple for Thunder. It was gone in the blink of an eye. Then I followed Steve to the former tack shed. From the outside it still looked like a hundred year old building. Well kept and serviceable, but old. But inside, it was something else entirely.
Padded walls, low comfortable couches and a glass wall that separated the equipment and a small room set up with studio instruments.
I'd built my woman a recording studio.
I grinned and slapped Steve on the back.
"It's perfect."
Elle
I bent over the figures, entering each into the software that Mrs. Garret had taught me to use. The woman was getting on and needed help with the household expenses. It was just one of the things that I had learned to do to help in running the estate. Jake had insisted on it.
He insisted on a lot of thing lately. Not that I minded. After all, he looked damn good giving orders.
I looked up to see him standing in the doorway watching me. As usual he looked supremely relaxed. And like he wanted to have his way with me. I felt an answering warmth spread through my body.
"You're as sneaky as a cat."
He just smiled at me, looking a bit smug. That was usual too. I adored my arrogant young man though. Just the way he was. Prickles and all.
I was a bit prickly myself.
I picked up an envelope and waved it at him.
"My papers finally came in."
He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorjamb, his eyebrows raised.
"Is that so?"
I nodded.
"I'm impressed. I think you've earned a reward."
Now it was my turn to cock an eyebrow at him.
"Really Jake, it's the middle of the day. I have work to do."
"Not that kind of reward you naughty girl. How is that going by the way?"