The Taming (The Black Thunder Series) (13 page)

Jack’s eyes flung open when he realized what he was about to do
. He pulled back from Kate and ended the kiss slipping his hand free from the luscious mounds he craved.

She waited for more but it never came
. She steadied herself by taking hold of his arms. Their eyes met and she could see the smoldering heat, dark green and pupils dilated. He saw the same passion in her ocean blues.

Jack stepped back and Kate’s hands slipped away from his arms.

“Now we’re done,” he said with a smug smile. “And expect to be kissed again whenever you give me that sweet little look because that’s when I know you want me.”

He saw a compliant Kate blink her long lashes at him
. He nodded his head and snorted like the black stallion, satisfied that she wanted him. He turned on his heels and walked down the steps, leaving a bewildered and speechless Kate on the porch.

Eleven

Endings and New Beginnings

J
une was the perfect month for weddings- clear blue skies, green lawns and white tents, along with fountains of champagne and a guest list boasting of family and friends to celebrate the most perfect day.

Kate loved her wedding
. It was the happiest day of her life. It was also the saddest. The day of their fifth anniversary he announced that he was leaving her for another woman.

Now the date held two meanings
. It was bittersweet, looking at the calendar and realizing it would have been six years that they would have been married and one year separated. She was downright depressed looking at the wedding picture she set on her nightstand while she gripped the brown bear in her hands. Waves of tears washed down her face.

She needed to get up and go to work before Jack came looking for her, but all she wanted to do was lie in bed
and cry. She dragged herself up anyway and dressed, foregoing the needed shower. Kate tied her hair back and left.

She was late by the time she got to the main house and Jack was waiting for her in the kitchen
. He looked annoyed when she mumbled
good morning
while passing him, heading for the supply closet.

“You’re a half hour late
. Nice to see you could make it, Barbie doll,” he said with sarcasm.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“You’ll make up the time and stay a half hour later today,” he ordered.

“Whatever you want, Jack
.” She was not about to argue seeing he was in a foul mood. She grabbed the supplies from the closet and tried to leave the kitchen, but he blocked the doorway.

“You want to tell me why you were late this morning?” he asked with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Not particularly,”

She brushed past him and started cleaning in the living room. He could tell she was not herself today. Her eyes were red like she’d been crying. He followed her and sat on the couch. “You want to talk about it?” he asked.

“No,” she sighed and continued polishing the woodened structures
.

“You sick again?”

“No.” She moved to another piece of furniture.

“Why are your eyes red?” His eyes narrowed not quite believing her.

“Allergies.”

Kate left the room and went back to the kitchen
. She paused and leaned on the counter taking a deep breath.

She didn’t want to talk,
especially to Jack McBride. He wasn’t the most compassionate person when it came to matters of the heart, and she doubted he would even understand. She wished he would just leave and let her clean in peace without looking over her shoulder. Once more she felt his presence and frowned.

“Kate
?” He loomed in the doorway. She went to the sink and began loading the dishes into the dishwasher.

“Aren’t
you
late for work today?” she almost growled at him.

“I think you are forgetting who the boss is around here, Barbie doll
.” He leaned against the counter and frowned.

“Jack, I have a lot to do today, and I’m behind schedule.” She was losing her patience
. “If you want me to do my job, just leave me be. Don’t you have a fence to fix or something?”

“Getting kind of bossy there Kate
. Besides, I’m all caught up on my work. I thought I might hang around here for a while and make sure you don’t slack off.”

“Do I ever slack off?” She was downright annoyed now knowing he was picking for a fight and she didn’t have it in her today to spar with him.

“You did today by not showing up on time.”

“Oh for the love God, I said I was sorry,” she snapped as she slammed the dishwasher closed and turned it on.

She went to the closet and withdrew the vacuum cleaner, dragging it into the living area. Jack followed behind like a puppy wanting to play. Kate plugged it in and started to vacuum the area rug. Jack leaned against the wall crossing his arms over his chest and watched her. He carted an impish grin as he bent over and pulled the plug from the wall.

Upon hearing the motor cease, Kate turned toward Jack and frowned seeing him holding the plug
. His sheepish grin told her he was up to no good. “What are you doing?”

“You’re doing it wrong,” he informed her as he stepped from the wall and strode toward her.

“There’s nothing wrong with the way I vacuum.”

“You go with the grain of carpet, not against it,” he stated in his arrogant overbearing manner.

“Fine, then you do it,” she snapped. “Since you have nothing better to do today than annoy the hell out of me.” Kate shoved the vacuum in to his hand and stormed upstairs. She marched into the master bedroom and began stripping the bed. She tossed the sheets on the floor. Mad tears filled her eyes and she sat on the bed. Why of all the days did he have to pick this one to stay home? Kate needed to be alone to sort out her thoughts and grieve in private. She didn’t want him to see her this way.

She heard footfalls in the hall and quickly wiped her eyes
. She stood and went to the walk-in closet to retrieve clean sheets. When she turned he was standing in the doorway, arms hanging above his head clinging to the closet’s frame. Kate marched up to him ready to pass, but he continued to block her path.

“Move,” Kate demanded holding the sheets in her hand.

“No.” He gave her a smug smile. He took a step toward her and Kate stepped back. She saw the look in his eyes, they were smoldering again. She saw that same heated expression right before he kissed her the other night. Kate was not in the mood for a repeat. Warding off his advances was the last thing she wanted to do today.

“Jack, please, not today,” she sighed fighting back the lump in her throat
.

“Why not today, Barbie doll?” he asked taking the sheets from her arms and tossing them on the floor
. He moved in making Kate step back until she was cornered in the back of the closet. He placed his hands on the wall, barricading her in.

“Stop it.” Kate pushed him, but he didn’t budge.

“I don’t know who pissed in your cornflakes this morning, but I have a good remedy to fix that,” he grinned at her as he brushed her lips with his fingers. “Why don’t you relax, baby and just go with it for a change?”

“I’m in no mood for your games
. Now let me pass.”

“One kiss and I’ll let you go,” he grinned triumphantly, knowing if he got one he might get two or more out of the deal.

“There are laws against this you arrogant son of a bitch,” she fumed.

“So sue me,” he chuckled as he trailed the tops of her breasts with his finger
. “Come on Kate, let me see what’s under that top of yours.” He pulled down along the top of her shirt for a look and maybe a feel, but Kate slapped his hand away.

“You’re disgusting Jack, did anyone ever tell you that?” She pushed him away
. Jack released her and laughed while Kate grabbed the sheets, storming from the closet.

She started making the bed, tucking the ends under the mattress and flinging the top sheet over the bed and waving it until it settled
. Jack walked to the opposite side and helped.

“You like the way I talk,” he said lifting the mattress and tucking the sheet under.

“No, I don’t.”

“The hell you don’t,” he challenged her
. “I bet if I checked you’re panties right now they would be wet.”

“Come anywhere near me and so help me God I will scream,” said Kate throwing the comforter on the bed.

“I’d like to come inside you and listen to you scream,” he goaded her more.

“Well that isn’t going to happen,” she laughed at his audacity
.

“Why are you fighting me Kate
?” He threw the pillow on the bed. “It’s going to happen for us sooner or later. Why not sooner?”

“It’s never going to happen because I don’t like you,” she stated as she threw the other pillow next to Jack’s.

“You’re lying to me again, besides, it not about us liking each other. It’s about heat baby, and we got heat, you and me together.”

“Sorry Jack, I’m not like that,” said Kate as she walked into the bathroom to gather the towels
. He followed her and hung by the door.

“Oh, I think you are, and you’re playing with me,” he grinned.

“No, I’m not.”

“You mean to tell me you have never had sex just for the sheer satisfaction of getting it?”

“Nope.” She brushed past him and placed the towels in the laundry basket.

Jack turned and looked at her
. She was kidding him, right? “How many men have you been with Barbie doll?”

“How many women have you been with?”

“I lost count,” he boasted.

“Well then, that settles it,” she frowned
. “I wouldn’t let you touch me. You probably have some freaky disease.”

“I’m disease free, baby
. I’m very careful about that,” he stated. “But you still haven’t answered my question.”

“And what question is that
?” Kate asked as she emptied the hamper of dirty clothes into the laundry basket.

“How many men have you been with
?” He waited for her to answer.

“One,” said Kate picking up the laundry basket as the reminder of the day resurfaced
. She had been with one lousy man who left her for another woman.

“You mean to tell me your ex is the only man that’s tapped you
?” Jack was astonished.

Kate didn’t answer due to the lump in her throat
. He was the only one she loved and he threw her away like she was nothing. Kate couldn’t help feeling there was something wrong with her. Maybe she was the cause of him straying? Maybe she wasn’t enough? Her eyes began to fill with tears. She couldn’t let this man see her fall apart. She headed for the door with the laundry basket.

“Was he good baby?” Kate didn’t answer as she walked into the hall
. Jack ran after her. He stopped her at the stairs and jumped in front of her, placing his hands on the basket. “Kate, was he good?”

“I don’t know,” she said in a hushed tone, not able to look at him
. “I guess.”

“You guess?” Jack grinned and shook his head
. “Shit, you have no idea, do you?”

“Of course I do,” said Kate as the conversation went from awkward to downright uncomfortable
.

“Oh baby, you are one step away from being virginal.” He kind of liked that
. Jack took the basket and set it on the floor.

“Come with me,” he ordered taking her hand then tugging her toward the hall.

“I’m not going anywhere with you.” She pulled away.

“What are you afraid of
?” His eyes smoldered with passion for her. “Let me show you what it’s about. You need to know the difference between a boy and a man.”

He reached for her again but she batted him away.

“Why of all days do you have to do this today?” yelled Kate as tears welled up in her eyes. “You don’t care about me. You just want me because I said no and nobody ever says no to Jack McBride.”

“How do you know I don’t care about you
?”

“I am too tired today to play your games
.” She picked up the laundry basket. “I have enough shit going on in my head without you complicating it any further.”

“Like what?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Contrary to popular belief, I can be a real understanding guy
.” He followed behind her as Kate made her way down the stairs. “I might be able to help you.”

“You want to help me?” said Kate not looking back
. “Go fix the sink in my bathroom. It’s leaking. That would be a real help.” Plus it would get him out of her hair for a while, so she could brood in private.

“I thought Dustin fixed it.”

“He did,” she said as she walked into the laundry room and set the basket by the washing machine. “But it’s still leaking.”

“I guess I should learn to never send a boy to do a man’s job,” he chuckled.

He waited for her to laugh at his joke, but she didn’t. He didn’t even get a smile from her. Jack decided not to push it though it was driving him crazy not knowing what was wrong with her today.

  “Fine, I’ll go fix your sink,” he conceded
. “But it ain’t over yet between us Barbie doll. I’ll be back.”

“I can hardly wait
.” Her voice was filled with sarcasm.

“Can I get a kiss goodbye
?” He leaned against the washer and grinned at her.

“Not unless you want me to rip your lips off your face and stomp them into the ground.” She shoved him off the washer then lifted the lid and started loading the clothes.