Chapter Seven #2
She swung her legs off the sofa and reached for him, unfastening his jeans.
Easing the zipper down. Revealing the steely length of him.
She stroked up, then down again. His hands gripped her shoulders, his chest rising and falling faster until he kicked aside his jeans and boxers.
He angled back down to join her, stretching out over her in a delicious weight, his bare body meeting hers.
She passed him the condom and quickly, he was ready.
And she was more than ready.
His gaze held hers as he slid inside her, filling her in a slow, deliberate stroke. Holding. The sensation of being connected for the first time was so intense, a ripple shimmered through her. Then he moved, and she moved with him, instinct taking over.
His mouth grazed her ear, her neck, before settling, yes, on her breast. Need tightened through her, sending her arching up. Her nails scored down his back lightly, although it was a struggle not to dig her fingers in deeply, anchor them both even more firmly.
She drew her foot up his calf and a husky moan rumbled in his chest. She’d known the attraction between them was strong, but she still hadn’t expected the chemistry to be this intense, more than she’d felt with anyone before.
Soon, too soon, she felt release building.
And as much as she wanted to hold back, to wait, the bliss increased, growing more intense until her head was flung back with the force of her orgasm.
Feeling Jesse’s hoarse groans of completion heat her skin sent aftershocks along her already-sensitive nerves.
Every sense was heightened, honed to right now.
His head was buried in her neck, his breath ragged, until with a hefty exhale, he rolled to his side, taking her with him. He eased a hand away to pull a blanket from the back of the sofa and over them, holding her close, staying silent other than the sound of their hearts galloping in sync.
As she drifted off to sleep, her walls and defenses down, she couldn’t escape the niggling voice telling her that this had been a dangerous idea.
And already she wanted him again.
Their interview that afternoon had gone beyond anything he’d imagined. He could certainly check “sexually compatible” off his list. Their lovemaking still lingered in his mind. He already craved her again.
Jesse paced in the sunroom off his bedroom suite, glass walls overlooking his property. In the landscape lights the pool glimmered, spa waters churning. The bunkhouse glowed in the distance. Christmas lights glinted along the split-rail fences, marking the lines of his property out in the distance.
Space, waiting to be filled.
For a moment, he allowed himself to envision what the future might look like.
And what it might look like with Esme in it.
He dropped into one of the wingbacks, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
His memory was full of images of her asleep in his bed, hugging a pillow, her honey-blond hair fanned around her.
He wanted to make the most of his time with her, and it would be helpful to know how much time he had before he would have to make some trips up to Houston.
It would help to find out about the state of the roads.
Checking the time, he found it just shy of midnight. He didn’t want to wake anyone up…but then, his friend was a night owl. He typed out a text to his friend Nathan Battle, the sheriff of Royal.
Are you awake? If not, I’ll catch up in the morning.
Seconds after he hit Send, the phone rang, Nathan’s number flashing.
Jesse answered. “Thanks for calling. Hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Everyone’s asleep or playing video games. What can I do for you?” Nathan was an imposing leader for their police force, with a soft spot for his wife, Amanda, and their children.
Jesse moved out onto the balcony. A few stars peeked out of the nighttime clouds. “How’re the roads looking?”
“We have a couple of rural routes that are washed out and a damaged bridge. But we’ve marked enough detours for people to get around.”
“I imagine you’ve had your hands full.”
“Amanda’s been on me to take a vacation once this is over.” Nathan’s wife owned the Royal Diner, an informal eatery where small-town Texas gossip got spread.
“Sounds like you’re married to a wise woman.” Nathan and Amanda had the kind of rock-solid marriage that was an advertisement for matrimony.
“I’m a lucky bastard,” his gravelly voice echoed over the phone line. “But you didn’t call me for a weather report. If you wanted to know about the state of the roads you could have phoned anyone in the department.”
“What do you think of all the jockeying for power going on over in Houston to decide who’s going to head the new club?” Of all his friends, Nathan was like a brother to Jesse. He’d served as sound counsel for years.
“I think we’ve been lucky to have our group stay local here for a long time.
We’ve got a good town here and the club has made great strides since admitting women.
The Texas Cattleman’s Club stands for community and family, honor and friendship, a cohesive force to support each other and do good in the community. ”
Though his friend couldn’t see, he still found himself nodding in agreement. For all those reasons he took his role in the Texas Cattleman’s Club seriously. “I agree.”
“Choosing the person to set the tone in Houston is important. We don’t want our brand to be turned into some kind of social club or to lose its values. Houston isn’t Royal. It’s going to take a strong leader to guide all those larger-than-life personalities.”
“Solid insights.” His throat tightened. He hesitated.
A yawn echoed from the other end of the phone. “Do you mind if I ask why we’re discussing this?”
Shooting a glance at his bed and finding Esme stirring just a bit, he moved farther out onto the balcony and kept his voice low. “I’ve got an unexpected guest here. Sterling Perry’s daughter. She’s come to town to lobby for her father.”
“What do you think?”
He blinked. How in the hell did he answer that? “What do I think of her? Esme’s brilliant.”
“Uh-huh.” Nathan chuckled.
“Uh-huh what?”
Nathan laughed softly again. “My friend, I’ve been in this job a very long time and that’s taught me how to read a person’s tone. The sound always tells more than the words. And your tone tells me you are head over ass infatuated with her.”
“And if I am? But she’s the epitome of Houston glamour.” Opposite of everything he thought he wanted during the whole matchmaking process. And yet he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.
“Glamour isn’t a bad thing. You’ve been to enough galas at the club—tuxedos and gowns and jewels. I defy you to find any event more high-end than ours.”
“Good point. Esme would enjoy that.” He envisioned her in a floor-length ball gown. Dancing. Their bodies in sync as they moved to the music.
“And since you contacted that matchmaker, I assume your interest is still for something lasting. A wife and family?”
“My plans haven’t changed.”
“Then my advice? Pursue her. Find out if what you’re feeling for her is the real thing.”
Before Nathan had even finished signing off, Jesse’s mind was already churning with ideas and excitement.
Dinner out. Maybe they could even double-date with his neighbor Cord and his girlfriend, Zoe.
Cord would be relocating to Houston soon and Jesse was going to miss him.
But then, connections in Houston would also give him a reason to see Esme.
Houston might have massive department stores, but Royal offered top-notch specialty niche shops, and he wouldn’t mind having Esme along as he finished his Christmas shopping.
And he still had a tree to chop down for all those decorations and an old-school string of lights like he remembered from childhood.
Full of plans, he pushed to his feet. He intended to show her just how amazing life could be here. That the town of Royal had everything to offer for a full social calendar.
And he very much looked forward to wooing her all the way back to his bed.