Dream - Dream Specter Part 11

His mind pushed against hers with the question. This went beyond s.e.x. Jared wanted to merge with her 'til they forgot where their separate ident.i.ties began. Intimacy beckoned to her with a temptation too great to ignore.

"Yes. Come to me, Jared."

He thrust into her body and entered her mind in one motion. It was hard and swift, but he rode her body with slow movements making the pleasure radiate out into streams of sensation. Nothing mattered. Time fell away. His embrace held her to his chest as his hips thrust into her body.

His hot seed splashed into her body, but it didn't satisfy their need. Instead, both continued to move. His body still hard with need, her pa.s.sage still welcoming as she lifted her hips for him.

He nipped the delicate skin of her neck as her body answered his in a primitive dance of need. Both took as they gave. She needed him so much that it frightened her. Rosh.e.l.le couldn't hold that thought as pleasure began to rise inside her again. That same knot of tension, centered in her belly. The hard thrust of his staff penetrated and pulled the knot tighter with each stroke.

"That's it, honey. Nice and slow this time."

His cheeks were drawn tight as he held to his steady pace. Rosh.e.l.le felt her pleasure rise to near panic as she tried to take his s.e.x even deeper. His eyes were glued to her face as she struggled against the need to plead. Two hands gripped her hips as she once again attempted to increase the rhythm.

His instinct screamed as Jared clung to his control. Perched on the edge of sensation, he thrust into her depths, denying the urge to pound into her pa.s.sage. The walls began to squeeze his length as her eyes widened with rapture. A harsh cry escaped her lips as her s.e.x clamped onto his staff and began to milk it. Climax overwhelmed his strength as he spilled his seed into her body again.

It still wasn't enough. Jared growled softly as he laid another kiss onto her mouth. She followed his demand as he felt exhaustion wash through her brain.

Jared rolled away from her before letting the bed take his weight. His arm reached for her and pulled her body with him 'til her head rested against his chest. His hand gripped her bottom as he tangled his hand into her hair. She s.h.i.+fted and wiggled, but he held her to his chest as she slipped into slumber.

Jared grunted as the coffeemaker took a small eternity to brew. He'd barely slept. Rosh.e.l.le had mumbled in her sleep as she tried to adjust to his presence in the bed. She'd squirmed away and he woke up each and every time. He'd pulled her right back into his embrace before going back to sleep. But that wasn't his real problem. The stiff erection in his pants was the reason he was on his feet before the sun rose.

The smell from her s.e.x turned him on. h.e.l.l, the tiny mutters escaping her slumber made him hard. All Jared wanted to do was push her onto her back and ride her 'til she milked him dry.

Instead he reached for a mug and filled it with the newly brewed coffee. Rosh.e.l.le was too tender to accommodate his appet.i.te. If his d.a.m.n c.o.c.k had its way, he'd ride her 'til she couldn't walk.

Glaring over the rim of the mug, Jared looked at the sentry posted on the far point. It was a different man than last night but his lips set into a frown. Rosh.e.l.le wasn't fodder for his men.

He grunted again because short of blindfolding the entire unit, there wasn't a d.a.m.n thing he could do to stop their talking. They were hard men. If they weren't getting laid and someone else was...they would talk.

Morning wasn't kind. Groaning Rosh.e.l.le dragged her body out of Jared's bed. There was something wrong with her. It had to be impossible for a virgin to become such a wanton in exactly four days.

Her body ached as she forced it to stand and walk. Jared's bed had dark sheets that sported tattletale stains, making her blush. Rosh.e.l.le grumbled as she yanked her clothes on and pulled the sheets off the mattress.

Since she'd become such a pushover, it seemed rather stupid to be blus.h.i.+ng. The scent of coffee caught her attention as she headed down the hall. She stuffed the sheets into the was.h.i.+ng machine before going in search of some hot caffeine.

She peeked into the kitchen, but it was empty. Morning sunlight streamed in making the newly washed floor gleam. The coffeemaker was patiently keeping its half-full pot hot. Next to the white machine was a plate covered by a dishtowel.

Pulling the fabric up revealed breakfast. The eggs and potatoes were cold but Rosh.e.l.le's stomach grumbled greedily for it. Lifting the plate, she placed it in the microwave before turning back to the coffee.

A cardboard box sat on the counter next to the coffeemaker. It hadn't been there the night before. Rosh.e.l.le looked into it to find a small collection of books.

Her emotions rolled dangerously as she considered the gifts. They were presents. Jared had left them neatly for her. It was so much easier to think about last night as s.e.x. Looking at the evidence of his care for her comfort moved the encounter into something Rosh.e.l.le wasn't sure she could name.

Or maybe she just didn't want to.

"You don't look half as troublesome as I've been told."

The book went flying as a slight yelp escaped her startled lips. Engrossed with her first entertainment in a week, Rosh.e.l.le was startled to find company so close.

"h.e.l.lo."

Rosh.e.l.le narrowed her eyes. Oh, she knew that tone! Smooth as hundred-year-old scotch and just as devastating. Her company raised an eyebrow in response. Moving her eyes over him, she took in the family resemblance. Black hair, green eyes and fifty push-ups not likely winded the man.

"I'm just determined, not troublesome."

"Says you."

Retrieving her book from the wooden planks of the porch, Rosh.e.l.le precisely opened it and gave the page her complete attention. Jared seemed to have company in his lack of social graces. Their mother must have been a Marine drill sergeant.

"I believe I should apologize."

"Don't waste your time."

"A guy could wish you'd look at him while you cut him down."

Closing the book, Rosh.e.l.le stood up while running her eyes over the man in front of her. He was one

handsome brute, and she didn't have the patience to suffer through his little amus.e.m.e.nts.

"I suggest you find someone who's impressed."

His playfulness evaporated the second she issued her opinion. The man's features set into solid intent as

he pulled away from the doorway. Rosh.e.l.le found herself the object of intense scrutiny as he moved his eyes across her face. The familiar feel of her thoughts being inspected caused her to thrust up a barrier to keep him out.

Not certain if it was her defense or her knowledge of his intentions, Rosh.e.l.le watched as her company regarded her from half-closed eyes.

"I'm Jared's brother, Rourke."

"Obviously." His eyes inspected her with the same razor-sharp edge as he reached right into her mind for a moment. That seemed to be the family form of greeting.

"Relax, brother, I concede defeat. She's yours."

This time she jumped. Jared stood two inches from her back. His eyes moved over her momentarily before returning to his sibling. The tight set of his features didn't convey a hint of family bonds.

"Remember that."

"I will."

The tension broke a mere second later as the two men clasped each other in an embrace that caused

Rosh.e.l.le's jaw to drop in wonder. The extremes these men crossed so quickly left her scrambling to keep pace.

"Good evening, Rosh.e.l.le."

Her face set into lines of disapproval with the familiar use of her name. Both men were watching her with blatant superiority. Rosh.e.l.le sent them both a flash of temper at becoming their sport for the night. She tossed a particularly scathing look at Jared. With the territorial att.i.tude the man had adopted, Rosh.e.l.le almost asked him where his club was.

"If you'll excuse me, I believe the testosterone levels here are currently toxic to females."

Watching her stomp off the porch caused Rourke to regret the business that had taken him off the mountain this last month.

"You have a few too many teeth, Rourke."

Spreading his lips apart in a smile, Rourke eyed his brother. Maybe that fine little piece was off limits, but watching her twist Jared into knots could be just as entertaining.

"What's wrong, Jared? Something keeping you from getting your beauty sleep?"

"Very funny. Rosh.e.l.le is not exactly a paper cup type of girl."

Rourke nodded in agreement. Rosh.e.l.le was not the type a man tossed away when he was finished. Both men kept their wanderings to the take it and leave it variety of women. Their lives were simply too uncertain for anything else. Rosh.e.l.le wasn't just in another category, she was in the one both men knew the least about.

"She's a lady."

Jared knew that. He'd gone to great lengths to avoid using the actual word. Hearing it confirmed in his brother's voice just forced the issue. Jared would, and often did, find time to a.s.sociate with females and women. He avoided the lower moral ones because they reeked of their dishonesty. But ladies...well, that was something he never even took a second look at.

Tasting the sweetness of innocence, coupled with the pride that kept Rosh.e.l.le from yielding her body without her heart, was working through his bloodstream with the force of opium.

Just like any addiction, each taste just increased the craving. Finding another male near Rosh.e.l.le brought his temper to the surface. Especially Rourke. His brother made a habit of seducing women.

"You must be rusty; I believe she turned you down flat."

Spreading his arms out wide, Rourke executed a low bow.

"Too sad. But true. I think I'll just take myself off in search of her companion."

With a mock salute, Jared watched his brother clear the porch railing with one long-legged jump. His body halted in mid-stride as he tossed an amused look over his shoulder.

"Walk softly, brother; ladies can be very creative when planning retaliation."

One eyebrow lifted as Jared contemplated his brother's advice. Turning about, he took a hesitant step into his kitchen.

His?

When h.e.l.l froze over! When pigs took to the air in flight! When...

Oh, when was she going to stop lying to herself? It was such an annoying habit. One that seemed to have been acquired just about the same time she met Jared.

Rosh.e.l.le sent the dryer door closed with a shove as she firmly set her steps towards the master bedroom. She considered the view from the window and the guard standing there with his rifle.

Bitterness rose up in her throat as she discovered a growing knowledge of this world. Each day the foreign edge blurred, running closer and closer into her life. The fear of the two becoming entangled grew inside her heart. As much as she might wish it, Jared would firmly sit inside her memory despite any effort she made to evict him.

The man was completely under her skin. It was almost eerie the way she could feel him. Pulling the sheets out of the dryer, Rosh.e.l.le stepped back into the master bedroom. Pure male aggressiveness brushed across her skin, raising it into uneven b.u.mps as her hands pulled the sheets over the corners of the mattress.

Her eyes shot wide open as she realized just what her mind was trying to tell her. She spun on her heel to find her mental dilemma materializing into flesh. Too caught up in her emotions, she had missed the fact that Jared was moving all too close to her. On silent feet, he was stalking her through the house.

"Clean sheets should never go to waste."

His meaning was crystal clear. The desire running through her body leapt across the few feet that separated them. An ache was rapidly spreading up her body, clawing its way over her protesting common sense.

"You feel it, too." His hand hooked into the waistband of her jeans halting her retreat. Her hands slammed into the solid wall of his chest in a vain effort to hold him off. Each inch he advanced on her drove rational thought further away from her grasp.

His mouth settled on top of hers, driving the last shreds of control completely from her. Her hands greedily grasped at the heat beneath them. His flesh was alive and she very much wanted to press her own against it.

Jared growled in approval as she ripped the b.u.t.tons on his s.h.i.+rt from their holes. Her hands dove into the opening, sc.r.a.ping across his chest. Her tongue mimicked his own as it boldly advanced on his flesh.

Rosh.e.l.le pulled her head back to look at him. Her fingers had told her how strong he was. Right then she wanted to see it. The afternoon sun showed her a chest that made her pa.s.sage clench with need. His hands were pulling on her clothing. A faint ripping hit her ears making her pull out of his embrace. She didn't have anything else to wear.

"Come back here."

Instead, Rosh.e.l.le very deliberately began to open her top. The harsh enjoyment written on his face fueled her self-confidence. The last snap opened and she rolled her shoulders to gently push the fabric off her body.

"I think you can stay right there."

His jaw clenched but one corner of his firm mouth twitched. Jared wasn't a man accustomed to taking orders. Especially from a woman. Rosh.e.l.le trailed her fingers up her body as she reached for the hooks on her bra. The small bit of power made her brazen as she considered the idea of playing with their attraction instead of just feeding it.

The bra followed her top to the floor as she slowly stepped further away. One black eyebrow lifted as Jared took a step after her. His mouth lifted into a grin as he stopped and firmly lowered his zipper. The harsh metal sound made her nipples tighten.

"Temptation is best played with two players, honey." His swollen rod fell out of his open fly.

Rosh.e.l.le caught her breath as she eyed the evidence of his intention. His boots were laced over the bottom of his pants. Her body s.h.i.+vered as she contemplated whether or not she could wait for him to take the footwear off. The ruby head of his c.o.c.k made her hunger acute.

"Did you shave again this morning?"

Rosh.e.l.le gasped, but couldn't stop the naughty little smile that raised her lips. The feeling of his fingers on her bare mons had been wicked. Now she understood why women endured the pain of waxing.

Jared reached forward to smooth a hand over a breast. "You're so d.a.m.n beautiful."