Trying the Knot Page 9

  Reaching between their bodies she stroked herself, gently. With the merest touch she found her release, which spurred his own. With a hard groan, he released himself into her, contracting hard over top of her until his arms gave out.

  Their bodies continued to twitch and throb for several long minutes, but it was the most sublime feeling to be holding him in her arms again. At some point, she must have ripped his hair tie off, because his braid had come undone and his long black hair shrouded them.

  Emily chuckled lightly. "Well, I think we took the edge off."

  Jackson chuckled and pulled from her body, rolling to the side. "Yes, I think we did. You might have a few minutes to get cleaned up before I need you again."

  Her eyes widened incredulously, and he nodded. "I'm nowhere near done with you, Emily Lowell."

  * * *

  Jackson loved the look in her eyes. She couldn't decide if he was telling the truth or not. In a few minutes he would show her exactly how serious he was. With a grin, she scrambled from the bed a padded barefoot to the bathroom. For a moment, he just looked at her true hourglass shape, her hips such a nice handful. There were red prints where his fingers had dug into her flesh to try to pull her closer.

  The desperation had been more than he could control and he needed to make sure he hadn't hurt her. She'd come several times, he did know that, but he still needed to make sure she was okay with everything they'd done.

  Emotionally she would probably be reeling, like he was. Sinking back onto the mattress he closed his eyes for a moment, just absorbing what had happened. Their relationship seemed to be back on track.

  A little surge of excitement jolted through his heart. It had been a long time since he dared dream about being with Emily like he'd always wanted.

  Sitting up he reached for his jeans on the floor and found his phone. He sent Holt a quick and succinct message to go on home and not to worry about giving him a ride.

  Holt texted back 'lucky!' Jackson grinned. Yes, he was a lucky man.

  Jackson glanced around Emily's bedroom, curious about what she treasured. There were books, of course. More than he’d probably read in his life. There was a picture of she and her siblings sitting horseback at a round-up, it looked like. There was a jewelry box and something that looked like an iron-limbed tree that she'd hung necklaces from. There were several figurines and on a high shelf was a horse that looked familiar. Years ago, Emily had had an old black mustang named Queen. The horse had latched onto Emily for some reason, maybe just because she sensed her sympathetic heart. Anyway, Queen had never been much of a cattle horse, but Emily had ridden her for miles and miles and miles. Their midnight rides had started with Queen because she broke out so often and Emily would ride her home in the dark.

  Queen had been too smart for her own good. One night she'd gotten into the feed room and eaten herself sick. The mare had developed a nasty colic and though Mustangs were normally very hardy, they hadn't been able to walk her out of it. The vet had come the next morning but it had been too late. They'd had to put her down to ease her suffering.

  Emily had been inconsolable. She'd been fifteen or sixteen by then, old enough to understand the ways of a ranch, but she'd loved that flea bitten horse.

  Jackson had gone to town with Garrett a few weeks later and seen the black plastic horse in the window of the five and dime. It had looked just like Queen, right down to the one white sock and the snip on her nose. Knowing that the universe had given him this gift to ease Emily's suffering, Jackson had bought the horse and given it to her that night. She'd bawled like a baby in his arms.

  The fact that she still had the cheap plastic meant a lot to him.

  As he looked around the room he realized there were several little things he was connected to. There was the quarter-sized piece of pyrite they'd found at the pond on one of their midnight rides, and there was the leather dressed doll he'd made her as a joke one year for her birthday. His heart warmed that she'd kept them all.

  Turning for the bathroom, he headed for the shower to join her.

  Emily's thick, espresso dark hair was almost black under the water from the double shower heads. Rocking back and forth in the heat, she glanced at him as he came in, but didn't stop what she was doing. Jackson opened the door of the space and let himself in.

  Emily turned to face him and her expression softened into a smile. Her makeup had started to bleed beneath her eyes, but Jackson thought her stunning. "You worked hard. I'm surprised you didn't doze off on the bed."

  Jackson shook his head, leaning back into the stream of water. He hadn't planned to wash his hair tonight, but there was no way he could keep it dry in here. There was hot water coming at him from all directions. On the side of the shower there was a mounted teakwood fold down bench. Reaching one hand out she pushed the bench down, then pushed on his shoulders. He turned obediently and sank to the wood. Then her hands were working a lather into his hair from root to tip. Besides the sex they'd just had, it was one of the most pleasurable things he'd ever felt.

  Grabbing a loofa, she worked a lather between her hands and started scrubbing his back. Jackson was overwhelmed with the care she showed him. It made his throat tighten with emotion. No one on earth had ever done this for him.

  She urged him up and he stood under the water to rinse. Then, swinging his hair behind his shoulder, he pushed her down onto the bench, knelt and showed her the same love she had just given him. By the time they stepped out of the tiled enclosure, they were both relaxed and limber. Emily wrapped a towel around herself and smiled at him as he reached for his own. Slinging the towel around his hips he leaned his top half back into the shower stall to wring out his hair. It would take hours for it to dry naturally, but for now he just finger combed it back, tucking it behind his ears.

  "I have a blow dryer if you need it."

  Jackson shook his head. "I can deal with it later. I have other things to do right now."

  She followed him as he tugged her into the bedroom, giggling as he bumped her onto the mattress. Then he crawled over top of her and gave her a probing, teasing kiss before he laid upon her, his head pillowed by her breasts. Emily shifted till she was comfortable, then cradled his head to her. Her fingers stroked his hair behind his ears.

  "I hope you're ready for all this," Jackson told her softly.

  "What do you mean, all this?"

  "Me. Our relationship. I realize you just got out of one relationship but I'm not sure I can be content with anything less," he told her softly. "I tried to give you time."

  "I know you did. And I appreciate that. But I think we've moved beyond it as well." She wriggled her hips beneath him.

  Jackson tightened his arms around her, then reached out to lick her nipple, conveniently placed right beside his mouth.

  Emily gasped and jerked, giggling as he teased her more. "You need to stop it," she cried, pushing at his shoulders.

  Jackson was too big for her to move or affect, though, and he continued tasting her. Emily moaned at the assault, then softened into his touch. He drew her right breast deep into his mouth.

  "Jackson," she moaned.

  He shifted from her suddenly and moved down, his hands gripping her inner knees. Emily stilled as he spread her wide and settled between her legs. Jackson used his thumbs to open her beautiful, tender, private flesh, and swept the blade of his tongue up through her glistening folds. Emily cried out, shifting beneath him, but her body told him that she needed more, and Jackson was an expert on how to manipulate her body. With steady, full sweeps he found her natural hesitation point and pushed her right over it. Emily arched into his touch, then tried to get away, but he wouldn't let her. Even as her orgasm washed over her, he continued to lick, prolonging the pleasure until tears rolled down her cheeks. Squirming, she pushed at his head but he refused to move, lashing at her over and over again. Emily arched into his mouth over and over again, her body reveling in the pleasure he was giving her.

  She was a quivering m
ess by the time he lifted his head. Emily let her legs fall to the mattress, helpless to keep them up without his help. Moving off the bed he pulled a sheet over top of her, then a light blanket. Emily smiled as he kissed her on the forehead, then climbed in behind her.

  Jackson didn't fall asleep immediately, though his body would require rest soon. Instead, he listened to her breathe and felt the beat of her heart beneath his hand, which she'd cradled between her breasts.

  Chapter Twelve

  Emily blinked her eyes open in the dark of the room, aware that something was amiss. There was just enough ambient light from the city outside to identify a few things in her bedroom, but that wasn't what was amiss.

  Her body throbbed. She could feel every heartbeat in her pelvic area. Oh, yes, Jackson had satisfied her well.

  As soon as she thought his name she realized he was laying behind her, breathing deeply in sleep. Tears started in her eyes as she thought about everything they had done last night, and how he had cherished her. If she woke him she knew they would make love again. No, that wouldn't happen. She had work today. For the first time in a long time she thought about playing hooky, then discarded the idea. She had too much to do. With Chad and Lora's wedding coming up the company would already be making do without her for a few days. She couldn't afford to lose more time.

  Her gaze moved down his sheet draped form, slowing at his groin area. He seemed to be semi-erect already. What was he dreaming about?

  Emily wiggled from the bed and padded to use the bathroom, then she brushed her teeth. When she returned to the bed Jackson hadn't moved. Looking down at him she could see that he was still aroused, and her body responded. Her nipples puckered and her lower body loosened. Lifting the corner of the sheet she tossed it back, exposing his body to her gaze.

  Jackson Windwalker had always been handsome to her, but years on the ranch had given his body a hard edge. His muscled body was lean and well-used. She could see scars from various injuries scattered across his skin. But his hardening length was what drew her gaze and made her palms reach for him. She ran a finger up his length, then brushed all of her fingers over the crown. Jackson drew in a startled breath, blinking awake. Immediately a grin spread his lips and he stretched his arms massively above his head, arching his back. Of course, that made his cock stand up as well, and Emily wrapped her hand around him. Jackson wrapped his own hand over hers and pushed his hips into their combined hold. It was very sexy.

  Emily knelt on the bed, then spread her thighs over his legs. She didn't go straight for the penetration- that would be too easy. Jackson had teased her unmercifully last night and she planned on returning the favor.

  She started by laying over top of him and kissing him deeply. His hands settled on her hips and tried to guide her, but she didn't let him. Lifting herself up a few inches, she let her nipples rub against his chest, exciting them both. The head of his cock was right at her entrance, but she didn't let him pull her down. Instead, she kissed her way south until she could press a kiss to the fleshy crown of his sex. Jackson groaned, his arms falling to the side.

  Emily didn't want this to go too fast, but she had to have him in her mouth. Licking up his length, she pressed kisses to the veins on the underside, then even lower to his tight, heavy balls. Cradling them with one hand, she opened her mouth wide to take his penis in.

  Emily's jaw ached at being open so wide, but that was just a minor aggravation. It was worth it to feel how very still he went beneath her touch, and to watch him clutch at the mattress with his heavy fists. His eyes squeezed shut and his jaw clenched. Emily hadn't even moved much, but she could taste salty precum.

  Jackson was on the edge and it had only taken her seconds.

  Drawing her mouth up, she licked around the hard edge of his crown, and he flexed against her touch. She swirled her tongue in circles, then swallowed his length as deep as she could before drawing back up. Jackson gasped as she sped up the movement, his body moving spasmodically beneath her. Then, abruptly, she pulled away.

  Emily's clit throbbed, needing attention as bad as his dick did. Levering herself over top of him she positioned their hips together, but didn't let him slide into her like he wanted. Instead, she hovered over top of him, just close enough that the head of his cock breached her wetness, but no further. Emily teased him like this as long as she could, the sweet agony of anticipation building until they were both gasping and squirming. With a final kiss against his lips, she took him inside her body. The sudden breadth stretching her and the depth of his penetration pushed her right to the edge. Bracing her hands on his chest she started to grind back and forth, release just seconds away. Then Jackson took her hips in his hands and braced himself up against her.

  The orgasm struck them both at the same time. Everything fell away as their bodies found the pleasure they'd been putting off. Emily collapsed onto Jackson's chest, panting, her body slick with sweat. But she was happy. And satisfied. She couldn't ever remember feeling this complete.

  * * *

  Holt grinned when Jackson walked into the barn and tipped his hat back onto his head, considering. "You look like you were ridden hard, buddy."

  Jackson grinned and shrugged lightly. "What can I say?"

  Not much, considering he was wearing the same clothes he'd left in the previous afternoon. He didn't care, though. The important fact was that he and Emily had reconnected.

  She'd dragged her feet as she'd gotten ready for work this morning and he could tell she was waiting for him to ask her to stay home. He'd sworn to himself though that he wasn't going to affect her career with his presence, so he kept his mouth shut. When the taxi arrived to drive him to Holt's, he'd kissed her deeply, then left her standing there wanting more.

  It was all part of his master plan.

  Emily had seemed a little put out when he didn't make plans to see her again, but Jackson had forced himself to leave, blowing her a kiss as he shut the door.

  Now he was going to give her the space they'd originally settled on. If she wanted to see him in a couple of days he would go happily. If she didn't text him he would be very put out.

  "Let me get cleaned up and I'll get Montana out."

  Holt waved a hand. "I'm not worried about it. Do what you need to do, Jackson."

  Actually, even those plans went out the window. When he stepped from the shower and dressed, he saw there was a new message on his phone. Gary's lawyer had the paperwork ready and when did he want to meet?

  By three o'clock that afternoon the ranch that Gary had worked all of his life to build belonged to Jackson Windwalker. There was a jumble of keys in his pocket to prove it.

  As he looked at the paperwork in his hand, a sense of elation filled his heart. His grandmother had told him he would always be nothing, but this proved her wrong. Jackson was bursting with excitement and he wanted to shout it on the street, but the average person just wouldn't understand.

  Emily was the one he wanted to see, and in spite of his promise not to contact her first, he pulled out his phone.

  Emily had texted him. Laughing at the fortuity of fate, Jackson opened the message.

  Dinner, tonight. Pick me up at seven.

  Can I pick you up sooner? I have something to talk to you about

  530?

  Perfect

  * * *

  Emily frowned down at the message. Why would he want to talk to her before dinner? Wouldn't at dinner be enough? Maybe what he had to tell her would aggravate her or piss her off, and he was assuming they wouldn't even make dinner.

  Was he leaving?

  She didn't like the shaft of fear that went through her at the thought. No, Jackson wouldn't do that to her, draw her close then leave her. But he'd been gone from the Blue Star for a while. He'd mentioned at dinner working with Holt's horse for the past week and a half. So, had he been here for two weeks? Had he been investigating Neil all that time?

  Emily hated feeling in the dark about anything. Glancing at her watch, she saw
she had at least an hour before she could leave work without arousing too much suspicion. Already today she'd gotten some odd looks for gazing off into space, something she hardly ever did. Her assistant Mackenzie had caught her doodling a couple of times, something else she didn't do when she had a full list of tasks like she did today.

  Thoughts of Jackson plagued her until she couldn't think of anything else.

  Riding him that last morning had been epic. Her body still flushed with heat every time she thought about it.

  Just before five she headed to her apartment a few blocks away from her office. She debated what to wear as she scrambled out of her work clothes. The same thing she'd planned to wear to dinner, she supposed. The spaghetti-strapped top was new and pretty, a splash of pinks and greens. It was especially sexy because she couldn’t wear a bra beneath it. And the shorts were short enough to be cool, but not expose too much skin. The brown leather sandals were favorites, lacing around her ankle and up her calf. It was a nice outfit for a date.

  Her stomach jumped when she heard the knock on her door. He was early. Possibly as anxious as she was?

  Emily opened her door, a broad smile on her face. But it died a quick, confused death as she found Neil on her doorstep. "Neil. What are you doing here?"

  "Hello, Emily. I needed to see you. I hope you don't mind. Can I come in?"

  Actually, she did mind, but what could she do?

  "Okay. You can have a minute."

  She didn't tell him Jackson would be there within a few minutes for their date. That would probably infuriate him. "Come on in and have a seat. Can I get you a bottle of water or anything?"

  Neil blinked at her, as if not understanding the question, then nodded. Emily really looked at him and for the first time saw how rumpled he looked. Had Neil slept in those clothes? Grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge she returned to the living room. Neil sat on end of the couch, turned toward the center as if he expected her to sit beside him. Yeah, not happening. Deliberately she handed him the bottle then took the padded armchair to the left, tucking one ankle beneath the other leg.