Page 36 of Handling Skylar
“Really or did she say something nasty about me?”
He stared down at me his gaze troubled. He lifted a wisp of hair off my face and carefully tucked it behind my ear; then he looked at me again. “I don’t give a damn what she has to say or anyone for that matter,” he said huskily. “Thank you for your offer, but are you sure about this. I’m screwed up right now and I’ve got all this family drama.”
“I’m sure, but keep in mind that I’m no one’s maid. You may have that up at Majestueux, but I’m a working gal, so you’re warned.”
“I did live on my own at college. I’m not completely spoiled,” he said, in his slow drawl, and I guessed that more than one woman had fallen victim to his smoky, lazy voice. The kind of come-to-bed voice that mothers had nightmares about. “I promise I won’t leave my underwear on the floor.”
I smiled and met his gaze, amused by his blatant use of charm. “Uh-huh,” I drawled and he chuckled and drew me closer.
“I’d clean this whole house to get to what you have baking in the oven.”
“Oh, that,” I draped my arms over his shoulders and grinned. “Comfort food—chocolate banana pancake casserole.”
He rolled his eyes in pleasure. “I’m not holding you up, am I?”
“No, I already called Jordan to cover for me. I don’t have a client until after lunch.” I grabbed the juice and headed for the cupboard and glasses. “Let’s try this in a civilized manner,” I murmured.
“I’m not feeling exactly civilized right now,” he growled, those shadows still there. He had so much to deal with before they would lift.
He grabbed me around the waist and the juice spilled as I juggled it and tried to stand against the onslaught of this beautiful man.
Just barely getting the juice on the counter before Jake dragged me back against him, pushing his erection against my backside and sliding his hand beneath the elastic waistband of my pants, his fingers found me. The unexpectedness of the move made me cry out.
“So wet,” he murmured as his free hand slipped under my top and clasped my bare breast, his thumb pressing hard over my nipple. “I want you all over me.” His breath was hot and his words even hotter. “Last night it was so out of control. I don’t have anything on me. Do we—”
“No,” I answered on a shudder as he slipped his fingers inside me. “I’m on the pill.”
He whispered my name and gathered me close. Holding me fast, he shifted me, and I gave a soft cry and opened my mouth against his. It was like touching pure electricity, and a fury of want, a frenzy of need ignited between us. With a helpless sound against his mouth, I was completely his.
The comfort food could wait.
Chapter 11
JAKE
Fortified with Sky and her delicious chocolate banana pancake concoction, I drove up to Majestueux, the house looking big and intimidating for the first time in my life. I thought about waking up in Sky’s bed in her beautiful house by the bayou, the scent of her mixed in with her delicious smelling soaps and beauty products, her upbeat personality. She was like pure sunshine in my life and I couldn’t seem to get enough of her.
Damn, she was so beautiful.
I’d never been more open with a woman. Truthfully, I’d never trusted one to get as close to me as Sky had. She had been there with me during that meltdown, and she had offered me sanctuary as naturally as she breathed. It was just part of her nature. I’d never figure out why, but my tie to her was strong. It had happened in an instant, at first sight, a long time ago, and what I wanted from her was a chance to see where it all went.
Just a chance to be with her, connect with her, more than I had last night, more than the physical to see if she could save me just a little bit, just enough to allow me to know myself, my dreams, to take the tension off my mind.
I didn’t want the amazing sex I’d known we would have muddle up the connection I wanted to build. I’d been denying myself for two long years, and the need for her ran through me hard, cutting deep, straight to my core. There were other girls. There were always other girls, but since I’d laid eyes on her, the women at school paled by comparison. Now it was about this girl, about winning her for me, about not worrying if she fit. I had to pause for a moment as the sheer sensuousness of last night and this morning—only hours ago—and I could still taste her skin, the satisfaction to have her sweet and naked beneath me, wanting me, her mouth parted, her legs spread, letting me push up into her, take her, fuck her, make her mine.
I had crossed a threshold where I found myself in uncharted waters—romantically, personally and professionally. Making my own decisions—jettisoning Anna Kate, getting involved with Sky, forgiving Chase, discovering that I needed to find out who I was and what I wanted. Had I worked so hard for all of this because it was my legacy or because I really wanted it? I would die a terrible death to find out that everything I had lived for my whole life was a lie. To have my foundations ripped away like they had been when my brother left without a word. Other than the shock of finding out that our ancestor was a murderer and a thief, it was the single most defining moment in my life. He’d made a stand.
And, I hadn’t.
Until now.
I went inside and up the stairs to my room. Pulling out a bag, I threw my things inside. Downstairs, I set it by the door and looked at my watch. My parents would still be having breakfast. They, along with Chase and River, had blown up my phone and I felt both guilty and angry as I headed for the patio.
“Jake!” my momma said as she jumped up from the table and ran to me. She hugged me. I closed my eyes and hugged her back, my throat thick.
“Jake. Where were you? We were worried sick!” my daddy said as he glared at me over his eggs and bacon. I let my momma go and faced him. “I was at Sky’s. I’m going to be staying with her for a while.”
“Sky? Skylar Bransom? The Blue Coyote owner? Whatever happened to Anna Kate Montgomery? I thought you wanted someone in your life who…”
