Strictly Business (23 page)

As her hands ran up his inner thighs, butterfly soft,
pulling down the waistband of his boxers, freeing his aching shaft, he groaned.
He shouldn’t let her do this, not now. He’d never last. He put his hands in her
hair, intending to push her away. No matter how much he wanted this.

Her lips closed over his tip, he felt the wet heat of her
mouth as she gently suckled him, teasing him with her tongue. “Aaaaggghh…so
hot.” His hips bucked against her, though he tried to stop.

She let the suction go, taking time to run her tongue up and
down his shaft, teasing him, tormenting him. When her mouth slid back up,
wrapping around the head, sucking deeply, he cried out. When her hand wrapped
around the base, squeezing and sliding in rhythm with her lips, he knew he was
close. He couldn’t last much longer. As good as this felt, he wanted to be
inside her.

With no small amount of effort, he pushed her away then
pulled her back up and onto his lap. He felt her wet heat against him and
moaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He was on the edge of the bed,
the only thing supporting her was his lap. He lifted her, sliding into her
waiting sheath with one long, slow thrust.

As he filled her, Jess cried out, her body already pulsing
around him. With him sitting the way he was, he could slide her body up and
back at the same time. She could twist her hips but had no control over the
pace.

Jake heard her whimper, felt her writhe her hips, silently
begging him to increase the pace. He felt the pressure building and knew he
couldn’t hold off for long, but he kept his pace slow. He lifted her back and
up, gently sliding her back down, thrusting hard as he finished his stroke. She
moaned, head thrown back in abandon as her body pulsed and squeezed, milking
his shaft. He thrust hard and fast now as his own orgasm ripped through him.

Even as he felt the last pulses of pleasure, he felt her
tense again, already heading toward another orgasm. Somehow, he wasn’t
finished. The need that should have been appeased, raged through him. He swung
her around, onto her back in the middle of the bed.

* * * * *

Jess was amazed at his strength. He tossed her on the bed
like she weighed no more than a rag doll. Before she could register the loss of
his body, or even catch her breath, he was there again. Thrusting inside her,
his eyes wild. He pressed his mouth to her neck, his tongue licking, his mouth
sucking as he drove her up and over the edge.

Jess met him, thrust for thrust. She’d wanted to see him
lose the ever present control, and he finally had. However, she was just as
lost as he was. She felt her nails digging into him, too aroused to worry about
hurting him. She grabbed his hair, pressing his mouth to hers, feeling him
groan against her. “Aahh, you’re so hard…Yes!”

“Jess…aahhhh…need…you.”

Jess slid her hands down his back, grabbing onto his ass,
squeezing, trying to bring him even closer.

When she dug her nails into the cheeks of his ass, he yelled
out, “Going to…come…hard!” As his body crested that final peak, he squeezed her
hips, the little bite of pain pushed her into her own release.

Jess threw her head back and screamed. She knew there were
people in the house, she usually tried to hold down the noise, but there was no
way to stop this. This orgasm shredded her, tearing through her body almost
painfully. She could feel it in the roots of her hair.

After what could have been minutes, or hours, Jake rolled
off her and onto his back. She was surprised when he said, “I hurt you.”

She opened her eyes, though they were almost too heavy. She
smiled. “No.”

“But you were crying.”

She reached and felt her cheeks, feeling the lingering
dampness beneath her eyes. “No. Not crying. Just…intense.”

“So, I didn’t bruise you?”

She glanced at him. He looked really worried. “I’ll have
bruises on my hips, but that’s it. And Jake…it was worth it.” She snuggled into
him, laying her head on his chest, hearing his heart still beating faster than
normal.

Finally he smiled. “I’ve never…been that way before.”

“Not with anyone? Ever?” She desperately wanted that to be
true. He was the only man she’d ever been with, but she didn’t think that was
the norm. She wanted to know it had been special for him too.

“No, not ever. I’m not sure I knew that was possible.” He
chuckled, pulling her close. “You do something to me Jess. Something I don’t
understand. My reactions to you are never what I expect.”

He sounded so genuinely surprised that she knew he was being
honest. “Like what? I mean, other than what just happened.”

“Well, did you know I’m never jealous? Or, I wasn’t until
you. I’m also not possessive by nature. Yet every time I see you, some animal
instinct kicks in and I feel like growling ‘Mine’ to every other male in the
room.” He shook his head, a little chagrined over his admission. “I’m not a
hundred percent sure I like these feelings, but there they are. I’m not
completely reasonable when it comes to you.”

Jess thought back to Bethany and her own over-reactions to Bethany's
behavior. She thought about how strong her emotions were when it came to Jake.
She felt very territorial herself. “If it makes you feel any better, I feel the
same.” She thought about the conversation she’d had with Mike. “Love, real
love, isn’t comfortable. It makes you grow and stretch as a person. And makes
you discover things you never knew about yourself. I think that’s how you know
it’s real.”

Tuesday morning Jake ambled into the kitchen, tired but
happy. He’d found a couple of bulls that looked like they would be excellent
studs and picked up a few more cattle as well. He had left California early
this morning, around two, desperate to get home, get back to Jess. It was well
past breakfast but not yet lunchtime, so Jake grabbed some coffee and a
leftover biscuit, and headed into the living room looking for Jess. He figured
she was probably over at the new house. Maybe he should head over there? He
shrugged the idea off as soon as it hit. He was too tired to do anything
productive over there. He would check his emails and then take a nap. That way
he would be awake when Jess made it back.

* * * * *

As she pulled into the drive, Bethany couldn’t believe her
luck. She’d hired a private detective to dig up dirt on Jessica Wythe, something
she could use to split them up, and he had come up with nothing. She’d found
out that Jessica came from money, big money, but she couldn’t figure out how to
use that. It would only make her more appealing to Jake. She obviously wasn’t
after
his
money. She’d never dated, had no long lost lover in her past.
She was a model citizen. Bethany snarled. Everyone had something to hide, and
her PI hadn’t been able to find it. Finally Bethany had fired him, deciding she
would try another route. She would seduce Jake, get him drunk if necessary, and
make sure Jessica found them in bed together. It was trite, and obvious, but
she was sure it would be effective.

Then, while she was in Evanston, getting her weekly
massage/mani/pedi, she’d seen Jessica there with Mike. There had been some
blonde there as well, but she could always feign ignorance on that point. And
now, she was on her way to make sure Jake knew just what his little fling had
been up to this weekend. She smiled again, an evil glint in her eyes. She was going
to get him back. He always came back to her.

Bethany let herself in the house, heading straight back to
Jake's office. She opened the door just as he was sitting down at the desk. His
face lit up with a smile only to fall into a confused frown. Bethany refused to
be disappointed. “Beth, what are you doin’ out here?" When she didn't
answer right away, he continued, "If you came to apologize to Jess, she's
not here."

Bethany pinched the inside of her wrist, hard, until she
felt her eyes stinging. Then she walked toward him, her hands wringing like she
had something really horrible to tell him. Something that was tearing her up.

* * * * *

Jake saw the tears shimmering and jumped up, helping Bethany
over to the sofa. She sat down, pulling Jake’s hand so he sat with her. When he
tried to pull his hand away, she held it between hers, keeping him there. She
looked into his eyes, shook her head, and whispered, “Jake, I’m just so sorry.”

“Sorry about what?” He had no idea why Bethany could
possibly be apologizing to him. She’d been a little aggressive in her pursuit
after their one date a few months ago, but nothing worth tears.

“I’m sorry…for what I have to tell you.” She took a deep
breath, sighing it out slowly. “I saw your girlfriend, Jessica, right? Anyway,
I saw her in Evanston at the Hotel Terra. She was with that guy, her partner.
What’s his name, Mike?”

Jake nodded, he didn’t know why they’d be in Evanston, but
hearing Jess was with Mike didn’t raise any immediate alarms. “Okay, so she was
with Mike. He’s the construction foreman she uses.”

Bethany shook her head again, looking even more distressed
than she had before.

“No, not just with him, she was
with
him. I saw him
kissing her.”

“Bethany, they’ve been friends since college, he kisses her
all the time, the head, the cheek, the forehead. I’m sure you just
misinterpreted it. Really, it’s fine.” Jake stood, reaching a hand to help her
up. He was upset by what she was saying, although not for the reasons you would
think. He had rushed home to see Jess and she wasn’t even here.

She jumped to her feet, pressing her body against his, her
face against his shoulder. “No, Jake. God, I don’t want to be the one to tell
you this. He was
kissing
her. Not a little peck, but a kiss.”

She looked into his eyes, a soft tear slid down her face
while she gently swayed against him. An obvious invitation. “The kind of kiss
we used to share.” She ran a fingernail down his cheek.

He felt his body tense. His first reaction was denial. There
was no way Jess had gone behind his back to be with Mike. He pushed Bethany
away. “You need to go. You’re mistaken. Now, please leave.”

She gave him a sad little smile. “Okay. Jake, if you ever
need anything, you have my number.” She left, closing the office door behind
her.

After she left, Jake couldn’t help but think about what
she’d said. She’d just seen a quick peck and misunderstood, right? There was no
way that Jess was with Mike. But, what if she was? Was she in Evanston right
now? Was Mike with her? Jake picked up the phone, called the Hotel Terra,
asking to be connected to Jessica Wythe’s room. He was informed that Ms. Wythe
and guest had already checked out of their suite. He asked if Mike Jacobson was
still there and was told that there was no Mr. Jacobson registered there. Jake
thanked the man and hung up.

The jealousy he’d been trying to hold at bay coursed through
his body. Not only had they been there, but apparently they’d shared one room.
A suite, no less. At the nicest hotel in Evanston. You didn’t book that kind of
a room without a reason. Jake should know, he’d reserved a suite for Saturday
night.

He sat there, jealousy beginning a slow boil into rage. She
may have been a virgin when she met him, but she was now just like every other
woman he’d met. Willing to use him for his money, his name, but perfectly
willing to sleep around on him. The engagement ring in his desk drawer seemed
to mock him. She was just like Karen.

* * * * *

Jess climbed out of the cab they’d taken back from Evanston.
It’d been an expensive cab fare, but better than having Ben come and get them.
Jess grabbed her smaller case while Mike pulled the rest of their luggage out
of the trunk. She paid the driver, and sent him on his way, turning just in
time to see Bethany watching her.

Bethany wiggled her fingers in what Jess supposed was a wave
of sorts, then smiled an evil grin as she climbed into her sports car. Jess
shook her head wondering why someone who lived here drove something so
impractical. She was going to get a truck. It was only on her way into the house
that she thought to wonder
why
Bethany had been here. And even that
didn’t last long. She threw her suitcase in her room then ran back down to
Jake’s office. She’d seen his truck in the drive, and knew he was home.

Jess flung the door open, seeing Jake standing by the window
looking out. She ran over, throwing her arms around his neck, pressing kisses
to his cheeks. She was so excited to tell him her news that the fact that he
wasn’t responding didn’t even register. Neither did his expression. At least, not
at first.

“Jake, I have the best news…we had such a great weekend. I
can’t wait to…” Jess looked at him, finally seeing the pure rage flaring in his
eyes, making his face tight, his jaw clenched. “Jake? What’s wrong?”

Jess reached her hand out to touch his arm, pulling away
when he flinched at her touch. She instinctively backed up a step. She had no
idea why, but his anger was directed at her. All at once, seeing Bethany,
seeing her evil little smile, Jess was nervous. Her hands started to tremble.
“Jake, what’s going on

“Where were you?”

“What? We were in Evanston. Why? Did something happen?”

“And, you were with Mike?”

“Well, yeah I was.” Jess waited, Jake was leading up to
something, but she didn’t know what.

At once, the anger she felt simmering within Jake broke wide
open. “You shared a room with him? I leave town for one weekend and you run off
with Mike. What the hell? I told you how I felt about him, told you he was in
love with you. And you don’t care? Or, maybe you figure now that you’re no longer
a virgin, you can run off and fuck whoever you want and I’ll never know the
difference! Or, was this a trial phase? See if he can make you come like I can?
You needed something to compare it to?”