Page 34 of Her Rugged Guardian

The force he used pushed me onto my toes, the excitement building. I was thrown into a moment of utter rapture, shocked as I felt another orgasm tickling my toes. This had definitely never happened. Not once had I experienced an orgasm from having a man’s cock buried deep inside. Then again, this wasn’t any ordinary man. He was ruthless in his actions, taking what he wanted.

When he squeezed his hand around my throat, I issued a series of scattered whimpers. His response was several growls. A few seconds later, every nerve ending was on fire and I sensed his body tensing. There was no holding back, no ability to make the special moment last any longer.

As I fell into another vacuum, I heard his demanding words, ordering me to come. At this point, there was no way I could hold back. As the beautiful climax rushed into my system,another series of vibrant lights flashing in my periphery of vision, he erupted deep inside.

CHAPTER 11

Cassandra

“What in God’s name did you do?”

They’d been the first words out of my mouth regarding a storm named Jake that had stumbled into my life, sweeping me off my feet and stealing what was left of my sanity. Saying them had been too easy. Way too easy. I’d barely opened my eyes and the first thing in my mind had been being filled with regret? Gah. What was wrong with me? Was I simply too damaged from everything that had occurred?

About the only good thing going for the morning was that the storm had passed, the electricity restored. I knew that because the red numbers on my cheap alarm clock were blinking, the blinds left open again given Jake had chased me up the stairs, tossing me into the middle of the bed, wasting no time driving his cock into my pussy all over again.

Now I remained under the covers, almost terrified to face another day, full of regrets. And I couldn’t blame the scotch. That had come later. The lonely feeling had settled back into mysystem even though Jake couldn’t have been gone for more than four hours. Hell, what did I know? I couldn’t read the morning glow and the clock was certainly not showing the correct time. For all I knew, I’d slept until noon, although I doubted Moose would allow me to sleep that long.

There was no denying Jake was insatiable, his cock hard within minutes of erupting inside, his hunger like some alpha hero in a romance novel, not a normal man. I shuddered as I thought about how savagely he’d fucked me. My pussy ached from being stretched, my inner thighs still sticky from a combination of our cum.

Even better, his timber-based masculine scent remained covering every inch of skin. Or maybe that was worse. No. I couldn’t think of the night so badly. It was just one time. I didn’t even have his number. Yet.

I’d awakened with a heavy weight covering me, certain after round three of hard fucking with Jake that I’d turn over to see his chiseled face. Instead, Moose had opened his eyes, dragging his wide tongue across my face in a morning greeting. It wasn’t that my furry baby didn’t have a place on my bed, it was that he’d made himself comfortable on Jake’s pillow. Okay, my pillow, but the one Jake has laid his tousled head on.

And what was so sad was that I was happy Moose was the only other creature in the house. I turned my head, staring into my pup’s big brown eyes, trying to draw comfort from them. Maybe answers as well. Jake. Jake. Why couldn’t I get the blissful image of his face out of my mind?

There’d been no denying our attraction to each other. Maybe there was something to be said for hate-lust. Or whatever the right term was. Jessica would know it, but I was too embarrassedto call her and ask. And why was I ashamed of my actions? Ugh. Maybe because I’d sworn up and down that I had no intentions of looking at, kissing, or fucking another man for a very long time.

She’d have every right to tease me relentlessly for weeks. Months.

“Oh, baby. I don’t know what I managed to get myself in the middle of.”

Woof.

Moose’s single bark was followed by a yawn as he rolled over on his back. My pup was certainly happy as could be and he hadn’t even gotten dinner the night before. Neither had I, unless I could consider finally being allowed to taste more of the hot man’s cum food. I half laughed at the thought.

Seconds after rubbing Moose’s belly, he was snoring. I yanked the covers up to my neck, surprised I was still tingling all over. What I’d shared with the man had been incredible, a real fantasy, but as expected, it wasn’t meant to last either physically or in my mind.

I should have known the man wouldn’t stay. He wasn’t the romantic type, had even said as much, but as I’d finally allowed my heavy eyelids to close the night before, I’d hoped a little bit too much that I’d wake up with him lying next to me. As I stared out the window, the sun’s golden rays shining into the room, I tried not to be melancholy.

I didn’t even hear any hammering and there was no sight of his ladder outside my bedroom window. My fur baby opened his eyes, placing his paw on me. “Where did he go, Moose?” The question was rhetorical of course, the man living less than a miledown the road from me. While I’d yet to see his house, he’d told me purchasing the place had been a lesson in love and patience. That had meant it was a real fixer upper.

As I rolled over on my back, staring up at the ceiling, Moose placed his head on my arm, snuffling as he always did when he was comfortable. There was no reason for me to be torn up inside. Jake and I were adults. We’d made the decision to have sex and nothing more.

Jake hadn’t said goodbye. He certainly hadn’t mentioned getting together again, unless his promise to fuck me in the ass counted. I wiggled my bottom from the thought. Okay, so in my book it counted a little bit, but I had a sinking feeling that he was regretting allowing his guard to fall. Was I? Sadly, I wasn’t entirely certain.

What I did know was that I felt a little empty inside, as if by being so close to someone even for only a few hours, I’d been filled. That wasn’t possible, of course. Everything surrounding the end to my relationship with Stephen had been horrific, taking more out of me than anyone realized. At least I could admit that now. How long had it taken me?

Maybe if I was truly honest with myself, I’d be able to admit that the last few months spent with Stephen had taken such a tremendous toll that I’d wanted to feel beautiful again. And Jake had done that in spades. He’d managed to peel away the awful layers with his brusque demeanor and ruthless stares. I’d fallen hard for it, if only for a little while. But that was okay. As long as it didn’t happen again. I truly needed to spend time getting the place renovated and making money again or my brilliant idea of forging an entirely new life would go up in flames quickly.

Even if that meant working with Jake. We could be professionals and nothing more. Of course we could. Right?

When I smashed my fists on the comforter, Moose jerked up, woofing several times. “I know, buddy. You’re hungry. Mommy dog is hungry as well. There’s a lot to do today. We’ll unpack and we’re getting a new truck. Would you like that?” I jerked up, hating the fact my head was spinning. Why had I indulged in scotch of all godforsaken liquors? How many glasses had I consumed?

Moose eyed me carefully, snorfling a few seconds later. At least my fur baby could make me laugh.

Moaning, I threw the covers back, determined not to let the day go by. I was still naked, my clothes located in the living room. Thank God, I’d taken the time to jerk my fluffy robe I’d packed in one of the boxes sent ahead. As I padded to the bathroom to brush my teeth, I realized that I wanted a do-over with the cupcakes. Although I doubted Jake would dare put one in his mouth if I made it.

Grabbing the robe, I furiously tied the sash, angry with myself. Angry with Stephen for betraying me. Angry with my mother for dying. And angry that I’d been such an idiot. I smacked myself in the forehead, groaning several times. I’d given myself so many pep talks after making the decision to quit my job and fly across the country that I had whiplash. Maybe I wanted to wallow in self-pity a little bit longer.

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