Chapter 6
6
JESSE
J esse tossed the bag of uncut diamonds onto Reed’s desk, the dull clink of stones against each other punctuating the silence in the Silver Spur office.
Reed barely looked at them before pinning Jesse with a sharp glare. “And you’re taking her where?”
Jesse crossed his arms, unmoved by the challenge in his best friend’s voice. “My place. No one knows about it except the team. It’s safe.”
Reed’s expression didn’t shift, but Jesse caught the barely perceptible flex in his jaw. The protective older brother routine was understandable, but right now, Jesse didn’t give a damn if Reed liked the arrangement or not.
“Jesse...”
“She stays with me,” Jesse interrupted, voice hard. “No argument. No debate. I don’t want to risk moving her to a safehouse they might know about, and she certainly can’t stay here or the club—as they already know about both places.”
Reed rubbed a hand over his face. “You’re really pulling the ‘I got this’ card?”
Jesse held his ground. “Yes, because I do have it.”
Reed stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. “Fine. But if anything happens to her, I don’t care how long we’ve been friends—I’ll kill you myself.”
Jesse didn’t flinch. “You won’t have to. If anything happens to Keely, I’ll already be dead.”
He turned slowly, picking up Keely’s suitcase, already packed with whatever essentials she’d thrown together in the chaos. She didn’t argue when he told her they were leaving, which—if Jesse had to guess—meant she wasn’t as unaffected by the threat as she wanted to pretend.
Good. She needed to take this seriously. Because whoever wanted that suitcase back wasn’t finished with her.
Jesse pulled off the main highway, steering his truck onto the dirt road that wound down to his home just outside the city on a few acres. Keely sat in the passenger seat, legs crossed, eyes on the rolling hills outside her window, the glow of the setting sun casting the landscape in gold and amber.
“This is yours?” she asked, voice softer than usual.
Jesse nodded. “Yes. I don’t enjoy living in town. I like to have some space around me.”
It wasn’t much—just land, space, and quiet, but it had been his since he’d left the Navy and returned to San Antonio. The house, a sturdy old farmhouse with a wraparound porch, stood at the end of the road, isolated, untouchable, safe.
That’s what mattered.
Keely let out a breath. “I didn’t know you lived out here. Somehow, I thought maybe you had a place along the river walk.”
Jesse slanted his eyes at her. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, darlin’.”
She met his gaze with something unreadable, and for once, she didn’t fire back with one of her usual smart-ass remarks.
He pulled up to the house, killed the engine, and grabbed both of their bags out of the back before opening her door for her. Keely followed him up the porch steps, her movements graceful despite the long day, despite the shitstorm she’d walked into.
“You coming inside?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Why? Are you going to make me taco pizza? Or maybe I’ll just sleep in the pickup's bed.”
Jesse ignored her sarcasm and pushed open the front door, guiding her inside.
The house was warm, lived-in, nothing like the sleek, modern places Keely frequented except for her own homes. Exposed beams stretched across the ceiling, a stone fireplace centered the main room, and the open-concept kitchen blended into the living space with its handcrafted wood counters and old-fashioned farmhouse sink.
Jesse dropped the bags on the couch. “Make yourself at home.”
Keely wandered inside, fingers trailing along the rough wood of the dining table, eyes scanning the space. “This feels like you.”
Jesse quirked his eyebrow. “And what does that mean?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Sturdy. Strong. A little rough around the edges, but somehow calm and comforting.”
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “That supposed to be a compliment?”
She turned, watching him with that damn look—the one that always meant trouble. “I guess that depends.”
Jesse felt the warning signs flare under his skin. This didn’t feel like her usual banter. It felt… different. Keely knew damn well what kind of line she was skirting—and yet, she kept pushing.
The biggest problem was that he didn’t know that he wanted her to stop, and God help him, he wasn’t sure he had the energy to resist much longer.
Keely’s laughter rang through the house, light and teasing, as she tossed her boots near the door. “So, what now? You’re going to give me a list of rules to follow while I’m here?”
Jesse narrowed his eyes. “You need rules to keep yourself out of trouble?”
She grinned. “Depends. Are you going to punish me if I break them?”
Jesse went absolutely still—a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Keely. She knew exactly what she was doing—testing, prodding, seeing how far she could push him before he finally snapped.
Jesse clenched his jaw. “Keely.”
She tilted her head, all innocent curiosity. “Yes, Sir?”
Jesse moved before he could stop himself, closing the space between them in an instant, backing her up until her spine met the wooden door behind her. She sucked in a breath, but she didn’t pull away. Didn’t stop pushing.
Jesse braced both hands beside her head, boxing her in. “You keep playing games with me, darlin’, and I promise you won’t like the outcome.”
Her lips parted, her pupils blown wide, but she still lifted her chin, defiance gleaming in her eyes. “And what if I do? What if that’s what I want? What if that’s what I’ve always wanted?”
Jesse’s control snapped. His hand wrapped around her throat, firm but not restricting, just enough to hold her still—to remind her who was in charge. Keely trembled, but not from fear.
Jesse leaned in, his voice low, dangerous, raw. “I don’t play like the men you’re used to, Keely. I don’t tease. I don’t flirt. And I sure as hell won’t let you top from bottom.”
Her breathing hitched, her hands resting on his chest, but she didn’t push him away. Didn’t tell him to stop. Jesse watched her, felt the rapid thud of her pulse against his palm, and let the truth settle between them. She was tempting him past reason—one more step—one more provocation—and there’d be no coming back.
Keely swallowed hard, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. “Then what do you do, Jesse?”
Jesse let out a slow breath, forcing himself to release her, to step back before he did something he couldn’t take back. He turned on his heel, walking toward the kitchen, putting distance between them before he forgot all the reasons why she was off-limits.
“Go to bed, Keely.” His voice came out rough, gritted with restraint.
Silence. Then—soft, satisfied laughter. “What’s the matter cowboy, aren’t you going to feed me?”
Jesse gripped the counter, his knuckles turning white. This woman was going to ruin him.
He knew better.
He’d spent his whole damn life following rules, enforcing control, keeping a firm grip on the things that mattered most. But then there was Keely Malone—and that woman had never met a line she didn’t want to cross.
She was in his house, walking around like she owned the place, testing him with every glance, every challenge, every soft, teasing breath. He could feel her in every inch of the damn room, could hear the quiet shuffle of her bare feet against the wood floor, the way her breath hitched every time he got too close.
She was testing him, and he feared he was way too close to failing.
He took a casserole of chicken and cheese enchiladas out of the freezer and put them in the oven to bake. He served her dinner and then ignored her while he cleaned up the kitchen. She’d been playing with fire all night—pushing him with her words, with her body, with that damn mouth of hers—he couldn’t decide if he wanted to kiss it or put a ball gag in it.
Jesse turned away from the sink to find her standing right there, staring up at him with a challenge in her eyes, her chin tilted in defiance. The soft glow of the lamp cast warm shadows across her face, and Jesse could see the rise and fall of her chest, could feel the undeniable pull between them.
“You don’t scare me, you know,” she whispered, voice low.
Jesse stepped in, closing the distance so fast she gasped. “That a fact?”
Her lips parted, her breath coming faster, but she didn’t move away. Didn’t push him back.
“You want to test me, Keely?” His voice came out rough, more growl than question. “Because I don’t think you understand what happens when I stop holding back.”
Her hands pressed against his chest, but not to push him away. She was feeling him, testing the strength beneath his skin, the barely leashed control in his muscles.
“I think you like it,” she whispered, the words pure provocation.
Jesse cursed under his breath, and then he was on her.
He spun her hard, pressing her against the counter, his hands resting on hers as she gripped the edge, his body caging her in. Her body went soft against his, her breath catching, her hands slipping from beneath his and running up his forearms, nails digging in just enough to drive him wild.
Jesse’s mouth was at her ear, his breath hot against her skin. “This what you want, darlin’?”
She shuddered. He brought his hands down to her hip. His grip tightened, one hand sliding back up to her jaw, holding her still, making her look at him. Making her see exactly what she’d unleashed.
“You don’t play games with a man like me,” he warned.
Keely licked her lips. “Maybe I don’t want to play.”
Jesse cursed again, his resolve cracking. His fingers slid into her hair, tilting her head back, his other hand sliding up from her hip to the curve of her waist, pinning her where he wanted her.
When his lips finally crashed against hers, she gasped into his mouth, her fingers tightening around his arms, pulling him closer, deeper, harder. She was heat and softness, all wrapped up in defiance and need, and Jesse wanted to devour her. Keely moaned against his mouth, shifting, pressing her body into his, her hips rocking just enough to send his blood boiling.
Jesse groaned, gripping her hips, anchoring her in place. “Be still.”
Keely shivered, but obeyed. And damn it all, that did something dangerous to him. Jesse pinned her harder, his lips trailing down the curve of her neck, his teeth grazing just enough to make her squirm. He could smell her arousal, feel her nipples stiffening under her thin sweater.
She wanted this, and God help him, he did too. He always had, but then reality crashed back. He was supposed to be protecting her; not taking her in his goddamn kitchen. Jesse cursed and wrenched himself back, his body still pulsing with need, his breath ragged.
Keely blinked up at him, her lips kiss-swollen, her eyes dark with desire and frustration.
Jesse scrubbed a hand over his face. “This can’t happen.”
She swallowed, her chest still rising and falling, her body still pressed against the wall like she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her.
“Why?” Her voice was shaky, and Jesse hated that he liked it.
“Because you’re in danger,” he ground out. “And I don’t cross that line when I’m supposed to be keeping you safe.”
Keely rolled her lips together, trying to regain control. And then—the challenge was back. Jesse should have known she wouldn’t let this go.
She tilted her head, observing him cautiously. “So, if I wasn’t in danger…”
Jesse’s jaw flexed. “Don’t.”
She stepped forward, testing him again, and Jesse had to force himself to hold still, to not reach for her the way he wanted to.
“You don’t play fair,” he muttered.
Keely’s lips curled slightly. “I never said I did.”
Jesse let out a long, slow breath, forcing every muscle in his body to calm the hell down.
“Go to bed, Keely.”
She studied him for a moment longer, then nodded, turning toward the hallway. But before she disappeared, she tossed one last glance over her shoulder, her voice full of heat and promises she damn well knew she shouldn’t be making.
“You’re not going to sleep, are you?”
Jesse watched her disappear into the dark. No. No, he sure as hell wasn’t.