Under The Covers Read online

  “This is a very pretty truck.” She turned her most endearing smile on him, sliding a reverent hand over the steering wheel. She’d always loved big, shiny trucks, but they were totally impractical in a city like LA. So she’d always had a sensible sedan. Because she was usually sensible. Except in the last twenty-four hours. She squashed that thought—it wouldn’t help to remind herself that everything she’d done recently was out of character for her.

  Jake fished his keys out of his pocket. A grin that she could only describe as pure evil curled his lips. He dangled the key ring from one finger in front of her. “You wanna drive it, sweetheart?”

  Lust wound through her at just the thought of controlling the big red monster. “Yes.”

  “It’ll cost you. A kiss.”

  She arched an eyebrow at him, letting a mocking smile curve her mouth. “Maybe I don’t want to drive it that much.”

  “Yeah, you do.” He set the keys to jingling, taunting her. When she didn’t budge, he tucked the key ring back into his pocket and plucked a batch of something green off the dashboard, twirling the stem between his fingers. “Because you need a little extra incentive…they just so happened to have been selling mistletoe at the farm’s entrance.”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “Jake—”

  “Come on, it’s a Christmas tradition. Don’t be a Scrooge.” He held the mistletoe over her head, his smile tempting her, inviting her to give in. That’s what Jake was—pure, sinful temptation.

  She wanted to give in to that temptation. To him. Everything inside her swirled in chaotic dances of lust and longing. Betrayed by her own body. The desires she’d usually suppressed with Nathan wouldn’t be still for Jake. She wasn’t the one-night-stand kind of girl; she certainly wasn’t Jake’s kind of girl. She was a nice girl—always had been, always would be. Jake was naughty. Wanting him was…It was stupid. It was dangerous. It was irresistible.

  She reached for him.

  Curving her fingers around his wrist, she tugged down the hand holding the mistletoe and turned in the seat to face him. With gentle pressure, she pulled him forward until her breasts pressed against his chest. He watched her quietly, letting her direct this. He must have known she needed to take this first, totally sober step on her own. The man seemed to know her better than she knew herself sometimes. It was a disturbing thought. One she’d examine later.

  Lifting her free hand, she slipped her fingers around his neck. His soft, short hair slid like silk against her palm, making her shiver. She pulled him down until she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. She licked her lips, and his pupils dilated as he followed the motion. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

  And then she did it.

  Pressing her lips to his, she tilted her head to increase the contact. His goatee prickled against her skin. Electricity coursed through her body, and pure heat followed in its wake. It was better than she remembered. She flicked her tongue out, tracing the seam of his lips, probing for entrance. He groaned and opened his mouth. His hands tightened on her hips for a moment, yanking her flush against his body.

  She wrapped her legs tight around his trim waist, moaning when he thrust against her through their jeans. The friction was enough to send her nerve endings screaming but not enough to fulfill her. Her sex dampened with utter want, her muscles fisting on nothingness each time his cock rubbed against her clit. The hard movements of his body were an exquisite contrast to the slow, worshipful way he kissed. Both actions made her blood rush through her veins, made her heart pound and her breathing speed to desperate little pants.

  He broke away, dropping his sweaty forehead against hers. “If we don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you right here, right now.”

  “Okay.” The chilly wind was like being wrapped in ice, while Jake’s fiery heat branded her everywhere they touched. She shuddered, fisted her fingers in his hair, and lifted his head up for another kiss.

  The sound he made was halfway between a groan and a chuckle as he unhooked her legs from around his waist and stepped back. Her body screeched in protest, and she clenched her fingers to keep from reaching for him. She could see his erection straining against the fly of his pants. She wanted him inside her, thrusting hard.

  “Stop looking at me like that. My control’s hanging by a thread here.” He dropped his key ring into her lap, tossed the crushed mistletoe to the snowy ground, and walked around to the passenger side.

  Scooting into position, she closed the driver’s door and clipped in her seatbelt. Jake hauled himself into the passenger seat. Sweat gleamed on his forehead, and he still breathed roughly. He adjusted the heater vents to point away from him, sliding out of his down vest and dropping it on the floorboard. It left him in just a long-sleeved, waffle-patterned undershirt. He pushed up the sleeves and braced an elbow next to the window. She tilted her chin toward him. “I didn’t say no.”

  “Sweetheart, I really want to get naked with you again, and stopping now means you might not stop later. You’d have been embarrassed if we got caught with our pants down in a Christmas tree farm, and you wouldn’t have let me talk you into sleeping with me again. Imagine the gossip about that if you didn’t like the idea of getting drunk in public last night.”

  That made her grin. “Self-preservation of your sex life?”

  A crack of laughter sounded from him, and he shifted in his seat to get more comfortable. She could still see the clear outline of his erection, and her hands itched to reach out and stroke him. She jerked her gaze away as he spoke. “Yeah. My sex life, your dignity. It’s a win-win.”

  That was actually…thoughtful of him. She’d never expected the big, bad Jake Taylor to give a damn about what mattered to her long enough to put her wants above his. It was startling. There was a lot about him that she hadn’t noticed before. She cautioned herself not to examine anything too closely. That was a dangerous road to let her mind wander down. Anything that happened between them was temporary. Nothing could come of this, but her body burned with a fire only he could put out. Maybe she should let him. Just once more. Her mind rebelled at the thought. No. No way in hell. It was something her mother would do, which meant Dayna wouldn’t. Her hormones had other ideas, cajoling with her rational side. Maybe he wasn’t the kind of guy for her, and she wasn’t staying long enough to find out what else they might share besides animalistic chemistry, so what could it hurt to try it one more time? Yes. No. Yes. No. She didn’t know. She always knew what she was doing and when she was doing it. She always had an organized list. She always had a plan. But not this time. Not with Jake.

  Oh, God. She was in so much trouble.

  5

  Night had fallen by the time they pulled up in Rainbow’s gravel driveway. Jake could see her shadow moving behind the curtains in her windows. He watched Dayna lean forward and look up at the sky through the truck’s windshield. He frowned and followed her gaze. A million stars twinkled between the scattered clouds in the dark winter sky. It looked the same as it always did.

  He pulled in a deep breath, trying to ignore the spicy rose scent of Dayna that permeated the cab of his truck. The heater was cranked too high, and the interior of the truck was warm and seemed to intensify the smell. He rubbed his knuckles under his goatee, slanting a glance at Dayna. She’d been silent the whole drive back. He could almost hear the wheels in her head churning, and he wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad sign. He sighed. It was one of the things he liked about her: someone as tightly wound as she was should be predictable, but she wasn’t. Every now and then she let go of that inner control freak and surprised the shit out of him. She met his gaze, but he couldn’t read her expression. He nodded toward the house. “You should go in. I’ll be in with the tree in a minute.”

  “It’s cold out there.” She let her head fall back on the headrest, rolling it to face him. Desire shimmered in her pretty eyes. Her hair slid against her jaw, curving around her face.

  He clenched his fingers to stop from
slipping them into the silky locks, reminding himself that anyone could see through the windows of his truck. It might not bother him, but it did her. “Dayna…”

  She laid a hand on his thigh, and every muscle in his body tensed, going on alert. His cock went rock hard in an instant. “What are you doing?”

  “Being naughty.” A siren’s smile curled the corners of her full lips. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

  He shouldn’t reach for her. There was time enough to strip her bare without using the cab of his truck like teenagers. “This isn’t exactly what I meant.”

  “Oh, I think this is exactly what you meant.” Her knuckles feathered against his fly, and he damn near came in his jeans. Holy shit, the woman was enough to kill him. He wanted more.

  His resistance fled. If she wanted this, right here, right now, then he wasn’t going to stop her again—once in a day was about the extent of his gallantry. He slid his gaze over her, wondering how many times he could make her come before Rainbow noticed they were out here. “Hoped. I hoped for this, but this wasn’t the whole point of me thinking you should loosen up, and you know it.”

  “I might loosen up. This once.” She left the truck running but scooted out from under the wheel until her thigh pressed to his. She laid a hand on his shoulder, using it for leverage as she twisted around to straddle his lap. “Hey, you.”

  A rough chuckle rumbled out of his chest. Her warm breath kissed his lips, and he searched her face. “This once? So, a little more temporary insanity, huh?”

  “You have a problem with that?” She unzipped her jacket, wriggling out of it. It pressed her breasts against his chest, and he pinched his eyes closed. Damn, that was good. The friction was amazing.

  “Nope. No problem.” His eyes opened, watching the dim starlight dance over her face. His chest tightened, a knot of emotion he didn’t even want to try to untangle twisting inside him. She was so beautiful. He cupped his palm around her cheek, running his thumb over her cheekbone. “Come here.”

  Her wide hazel eyes were a little too serious. He wanted to see her smile, but the moment intensified. He shook his head, trying to grin and lighten the moment, but couldn’t. She leaned forward, tilting her head until she brushed her lips over his. The flavor of her filled his mouth as he stroked his tongue between her lips. She made a little noise in the back of her throat, her fingers sliding into his hair to fist tight. Her hips surged against his, and his hands dropped to her waist, curving around to cup her ass through her jeans. He pulled her closer, grinding his pelvis into hers. Fire exploded in his veins, shooting straight to his cock.

  She broke the kiss, throwing her head back to gasp for breath. He opened his mouth on her exposed neck, biting and sucking little kisses down her throat. She giggled, shivered, and pulled away. “Your goatee tickles.”

  That sweet sound made him smile, made his chest tighten again.

  “Oh, yeah?” He jerked her closer and rubbed his chin over her collarbone.

  She squealed, laughing. “Jake!”

  “You should laugh more often. I like it.” He flicked his tongue against the curve of her neck, inhaling her unique scent. “Life’s too short to be so serious.”

  “Says the man who’s almost never serious.” Her laughter had stopped and turned into a moan when he took the opportunity to close his hand over her breast, kneading the soft flesh.

  He lifted his head, wanting to see the desire glaze her eyes. But their panting breath had overpowered the heater and fogged the windows, diffusing most of the light. His thumb zeroed in on her nipple, chafing it until it stabbed into his palm. “I seriously want to get in your panties right now.”

  She nodded in quick little jerks. Her fingers clenched in his shirt, tugging it up and over his head. He returned the favor, stripping off her top. Nudging her bra strap out of the way, he kissed his way down her chest until her breast slid free of the cup. His mouth closed over her tight little nipple, sucking the taut peak, batting it with his tongue. Her fingertips slid down his chest, her nails flicking hard over his own nipples.

  He released her breast, and her hands slid down, down until she cupped his dick through his jeans. Her nimble fingers opened his pants until she was touching his overheated flesh. A groan ripped from deep inside him. “Jesus Christ.”

  “Now, Jake. I want you now.” She didn’t have to tell him twice. He wrestled her out of her pants, jerking open her zipper to shove the denim down her thighs while she stroked his hard cock. He cursed when he struggled with her shoes, but finally he had her legs free.

  He grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from him. “Much more of that, and I’m not even going to make it inside you.”

  “You have quick recovery time, if I recall.” She grinned, her white teeth flashing. Her fingers moved back to his chest, twisting his nipples hard.

  “Fuck.”

  Her smile widened. “That’s what I’m trying to do here, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  “I noticed. I notice everything about you.” Now, why had he said that? He shook his head. The woman made him lose his mind. He stroked his hands up her back, flicking open the clasp on her bra, and finally, finally she was naked in his arms. God, yes.

  “I love the way you touch me. I love the feel of your hands on my skin.” She twisted in his embrace, rubbing her breasts against his chest. This. This was what turned him on about her. All that buttoned-up control until he had her in his arms. Then it burned away until she was pure greedy woman, shameless and wild. He loved that he could do this to her. He wanted to be the only one who ever did. She was all his. At least for tonight.

  “That’s good, sweetheart. I like touching you. I want to put my hands all over you.” His hand slid around to cup her ass, pushing between the cheeks until his fingers swirled around her anus. Her breath caught, shock flashing in her gaze. He grinned. “You liked it when I fucked you here, didn’t you, Dayna?”

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “Me, too.”

  Arching her back, she pressed against his probing finger until the tip slipped inside her ass. A little smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He pushed in a bit farther, stroking within her. Reaching between them to grasp his hard cock, she did some stroking of her own. He groaned, his hips thrusting into her touch.

  “Condom,” she gasped.

  “Yeah.” His free hand reached for his wallet, fumbling with the leather folds until he came up with a little foil square. He ripped it open with his teeth, and she grabbed it from him, unrolling it down the length of his dick. Sliding the head against her slick lips, she bit her bottom lip.

  “Jake.” She met his gaze, watching his face as she filled herself with him. Her smooth, wet muscles squeezed around him. He shuddered, a muscle ticking in his jaw as he clenched it tight. He pushed his finger deeper into her ass until he could rub the head of his cock through the thin wall that separated the two.

  Her head fell back, and she panted.

  When she clamped her muscles around him, he saw her grin as he froze beneath her. His breath hissed out. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

  A husky laugh filled the cab of the truck. “It’s a nice way to die, don’t you think?”

  “I’m not complaining.” Hell, no. He was enjoying the ride like any man with half a brain would. The sexiest, smartest woman he knew was in his arms, and he intended to keep her there for as long as he could. Until she left. His gut clenched at that thought, but he tamped down on the feeling and focused on her.

  “Good.” The seat squeaked underneath them as they moved together, as she fucked him senseless.

  “Sweetheart, you have no idea how good.” He laughed because, damn, it was so amazing he didn’t want it to ever end. He was walking a dangerous edge, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He’d always had a thing for danger.

  He was a risk taker. Over the years, he’d done every stupid stunt to gamble with his life. But this was more terrifying than all those stunts comb
ined. This could lose him everything if it blew up in his face—his best friend, the people he considered family. Everything that really mattered to him. Was it worth it? For a fling with his friend’s sister? No. But this didn’t feel like a fling. It felt like…more. And if that wasn’t the scariest part of the whole damn thing, he’d didn’t know what was. His chest tightened until it threatened to choke him.

  His lungs bellowed for breath, and he got a stranglehold on his thoughts. Best not to think about this. Especially not now. Shutting down his mind, he let his body take over. Thrusting his finger farther into her ass, he lifted his hips to shove his cock deeper inside her sleek pussy. She moaned, and the sound was the most erotic thing he’d ever heard. He watched her face, watched her eyelids droop and her focus turn inward.

  He worked his finger and dick inside her in tandem and knew by her heavy breathing that she was close to orgasm. Her inner muscles flexed spasmodically around his cock, pushing him further and further until he had to fight his own orgasm. Pressing his free hand to the middle of her back, he arched her torso until he could dip forward to suck one of her pert nipples into his mouth. She screamed, twisting and sobbing as she worked herself faster and faster on his cock. “Jake! Jake!”

  Her pussy convulsed around his dick, locking so tight that he couldn’t have stopped himself from coming if a gun were pressed to his temple. His hips lifted until her knees left the seat, and he pounded inside her, a rough sound erupting from his throat. His eyes slammed closed, his muscles jerking as every feeling and sensation was ripped out of him. He came hard, her pussy milking him until he thought he would die.

  No risk, no thrill, no other woman had ever taken him so high in his life. He never wanted to come down, never wanted to let go of this. Her. Ever.

  The scent of roasting turkey and sweet potatoes twined with the spicy smell of the pine boughs, wreaths, and Christmas tree that decorated Rainbow’s cabin. Dayna’s mouth watered, and a smile curved her lips.