Eight Seconds (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 15

  “No worries, doll, I promise. She will think nothing less of you.”

  Danielle dried off and put her clothes on. She was hungry and bordering on sick at the same time. Yeah, she was an adult all right, an adult that had cast caution to wind last night, but she didn’t regret it. She’d do it all over again and again.

  She combed out her wet hair. Ouch. Men didn’t usually need brushes and conditioner, the basic necessities women need. Oh, well, she thought, nothing would help at this point.

  “Come on, gorgeous,” J.C. said at the door.

  Danielle smiled. She would rather stay here with J.C. for the rest of the weekend. Now she would be on show for the entire family.

  As they walked into the house, loud voices and laughter came from the kitchen. Oh heavens, there must be twenty people in there.

  “Hey, if it would make you feel any better, why don’t run up stairs and change your clothes? I will go on in the kitchen, and you come on in by yourself. They’ll think we just met here.”

  Danielle smiled. “Oh, thank heavens.” She sighed and kissed him on the cheek before she bolted up the stairs two at a time.

  J.C. laughed as he watched her in her haste. He made his way through the house to the kitchen and walked in.

  “There he is,” Will shouted with Stacy sitting beside him.

  Friends and family sat at the table that seated twelve. Others stood along the bar or sat on the few barstools available. His mother and aunts bustled in the kitchen with platters of food.

  “Where’s Danielle?” Evelyn asked as she carried two large platters past him.

  J.C. shrugged like he had no idea and tried to keep from smiling.

  “She must have been really tired. Did you keep her out too late? I never heard her come in,” Evelyn remarked.

  “Ah, she could sneak up on a rattlesnake,” J.C. added for good measure. If Danielle was embarrassed and wanted last night to stay between them, then he’d honor that.

  “J.C., would you help me gather up some items out of the fridge on the back porch? You might as well be doing something besides standing there,” Evelyn said as she walked out the door.

  J.C. followed. Yeah, his mother was no dummy.

  When he walked out onto the enclosed porch, his mother stood with her arms crossed and her foot tapping the wood floor.

  “Please don’t act like I’m stupid. I know where she was, and I have only one thing to say.”

  J.C. sighed. Lecture time. “And what’s that?” he asked, lifting a brow.

  “Don’t you dare hurt her. She’s a good woman, an intelligent woman. I’d hate to see her leave here with a broken heart,” Evelyn said with her lips tight.

  “She won’t,” J.C. said as he crossed him arms as well.

  “Tell me, J.C., what is your plan?” Evelyn asked.

  J.C. smiled but said nothing for a moment. What was his plan? That was difficult to say. He only knew one thing, so he shared it with his mother.

  “I love her, Mom, always have. I have no plans, no idea where to go from here, but I love her.”

  Evelyn’s eyes became teary. “You really love her, son?”

  “Yes.”

  Evelyn rushed over and hugged J.C. “Oh, thank heavens, my prayers have been answered.”

  J.C. pried her arms from around his neck. “Okay, that’s enough. Dry up those tears. I said I was in love, not dying.”

  Evelyn fussed with wiping her eyes and straightened her composure. “Better get some orange juice out of the ice box, some more fruit, and extra syrup.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” J.C. smiled.

  * * * *

  Danielle had dried her hair, changed clothes, and applied a little makeup. Much better.

  Once satisfied with her appearance and sure enough time had elapsed, she headed for the stairs. She had another full day and night to spend with J.C., but as she took her first step down, her leg threatened to buckle.

  Oh, maybe she’d better lay off the sex for a while. She was not accustomed to the aftereffects. She wondered if it was the same for everyone or if she was just one lucky woman. Of course she had heard stories, mainly from Stacy. Now she was sure that, no, not everyone was as blessed as her or as well-endowed as J.C.

  Each step was met with extra resistance, and she smiled. Whew, as she found the landing and hadn’t tumbled down the stairs, she thought if this was all a dream, she’d prefer to not wake up, ever. She had one more obstacle this morning, and that was to walk into the dining room and hope no one knew her dirty but very enjoyable secret.

  “There she is,” Stacy shouted from across the room as Danielle stepped in.

  Thanks, Stacy, for the announcement. She smiled and tried to keep from blushing.

  Evelyn walked up and put her arm around Danielle and led her to an empty stool at the bar. “Good morning, sweetie, I trust you slept well.”

  “Yes, I did, thank you,” Danielle replied. Okay, that went better than expected.

  J.C. walked up behind her and hugged her while he kissed her cheek. “Good morning, beautiful.”

  Evelyn rolled her eyes as she opened the refrigerator but smiled.

  “Umm, good morning.” Danielle blushed.

  “God, I love it when you do that,” J.C. commented as he brushed his fingers along her glowing cheek. “Gorgeous.”

  Will jabbed Stacy in the ribs. “Told you so,” he whispered.

  “No way,” Stacy added.

  “Yes way. Danielle did not stay in this house last night,” Will whispered back. “Look at her. She’s positively radiant, just like you are in the morning.”

  Stacy smiled. “You are so sweet, but wrong. Danielle is too uptight. Nope, you’re wrong.”

  Will opened his wallet. “Fifty bucks says I’m right,” he whispered excitedly.

  Stacy slapped his arm. “You shouldn’t bet on stuff like that with money.”

  “Okay, skinny dipping at the river says I’m right.” Will returned the bill and put his wallet back in his pocket.

  “Now that’s my kind of bet. Deal,” Stacy said.

  After breakfast, Danielle walked outside with her arm entwined with J.C.’s. The cool morning air and the birds chirping made everything surreal.

  “What’s on the schedule for today?” Danielle asked, knowing today was not about the two of them but rather ranch business, and the buyers were due in soon.

  “Well, I have to feed the steers and pen them. Ah, you don’t want to hear about all that. I have a long day ahead that I’m not looking forward to. I’d rather spend the entire afternoon with you.” J.C. smiled and put his hands on his hips and looked down into her eyes.

  Danielle nodded. She felt the same, but she would be a good sport. Surely she could find something to do.

  “You do what you need to. The day will pass quicker than you think. I will hang with Stacy and your mom. I’m sure your mom could use some extra help.”

  “You’re an angel. Did you know that?” J.C. said as he picked her up by the waist and twirled her around.

  Danielle laughed. “Fallen angel maybe. My halo broke last night. Remember, I’m a bad, bad woman.”

  “Ooh, baby,” J.C. said as he planted a kiss to her lips.

  Hours went by as Danielle and Stacy chipped in and helped out. Danielle had little time to think about J.C. Right…Every moment that passed she replayed the night before. She was going through the motions of helping without mentally being present.

  Her grandmother had been right. Idle hands were the devil’s work, so she focused on busying herself as much as possible but never let J.C. far out of her mind.

  “Danielle, honey, you’re not supposed to be working while you are here, really. I appreciate your help and all but—” Evelyn said before Danielle interrupted.

  “Now I may be a guest, but I will not sit on my hands. Besides, I love to help and stay busy.”

  Evelyn hugged her then looked at her thoughtfully. “You are too much, sweetie.”

  Everything that
day seemed to have much more meaning for J.C. as he herded the longhorns into the pen. The last year had been exhausting…and lonely. The only reason he kept riding was for the money. He had big plans for this year’s earnings combined with what he had put aside.

  For years J.C. had played with the idea of setting up a youth ranch for at-risk kids and teens. He had witnessed many cases where kids would have benefited from having structure and family atmosphere. So many times he felt, deep down, he could make a difference and began to devise a way to put his skills to something more useful than wowing crowds and endorsers. Not that he didn’t have fun doing so, but it was forlorn at times.

  Now he was stuck in a hard position. He was tired of traveling and the rodeo scene. He wanted to spend all his time with a beautiful blonde and make her his own. The only problem was her career and where she chose to live it. Damn, he hoped Stacy was wrong.

  J.C. slammed the gate behind a group of steers as dust followed them. It was hot, and the sun was showing no mercy. He took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked up at the blazing sun.

  “Hey, dipshit,” Will yelled. “Pull your head out, and open the other gate.”

  J.C. put his hat on casually and made his way to the other gate while he flipped Will the bird. His head may be up his ass today, but that was only because he couldn’t stop thinking about Danielle. It was nice to think about someone for a change rather than think about getting in his truck and spending two weeks out on the road. That was coming. In a week, he and Will would be setting out to hit six rodeos. The thought of it made J.C. shake his head. He had finally had enough of it all.

  Right now, he needed to keep his head on straight and get through the summer. All he needed to do was keep his eye on the prize, and that would take place in Las Vegas.

  Late in the afternoon, J.C. made his way toward the house. Danielle watched him walk across the large lawn looking like a Chippendale dancer with his half unbuttoned shirt exposing his tan chest with droplets of sweat clinging to it. His straw hat shaded his eyes from the sun, and his belt buckle shimmered and reflected its rays. What a man.

  J.C. walked up to within inches of Danielle and smiled. “I’ve missed you.”

  Danielle smelled the musky sweat and gazed into his royal-blue eyes that twinkled. Oh, heavens, she thought as her pussy began to tingle in want.

  “Oh, no, you can’t come up here looking like that and be all sweet and sexy,” Danielle said as she fidgeted with her hands in front of her. She had never known intense desire before. This was, wow, amazing. She had morphed into a nymphomaniac. She was sure of it.

  J.C. cocked his head to the side and grinned seductively. “You, uh, see something you like?”

  Oh, hell yeah, she liked everything she saw. She wanted to do things to him that would make a prostitute blush.

  Danielle turned the tables, and with a coy grin said, “Maybe” and turned to walk away.

  J.C. grabbed her by the elbow, jerked her into his arms, and looked down into her eyes. They said so much more with their eyes than words ever could…and yes, she had seen lots that she liked.

  “I have to take a shower. The uh, fun here starts in a couple of hours,” J.C. said with delight as he watched Danielle light up.

  “Are you propositioning me, Mr. Evans?” Danielle teased but was very close to stroking out. Her head was dizzy with the rush of hormones that surged within her. She began to moisten when she thought about J.C. lathering his rock-hard body in the shower.

  “I can promise you won’t regret it,” J.C. said then kissed her ever so lightly.

  Danielle’s legs buckled, and J.C. steadied her. “Easy, love.”

  “You do things to me that I can’t explain. When I’m with you, I want you, all of you. How do you affect me so?”

  “Ah, if I told you my secret, what would I do then?” J.C. said. The truth was he had no idea how he could elicit those feelings in her. In fact, he wanted to know how she caused the same response in him.

  Danielle laughed and sprinted toward his truck. “Last one in takes a cold shower.”

  J.C. grabbed his hat from his head and held on to it as he gave chase. “Oh, game on.”

  Will jabbed Stacy as they stood on the front porch. “I told you so.”

  “You’re right. I concede, but I don’t know who exactly is the winner and who is the loser here. It seems like a win-win situation for the both of us,” Stacy teased.

  Will hugged her. “Ya don’t say. Huh.”

  Stacy jabbed him in the ribs, and Will let out a yelp. “Just saying.” Will smiled.

  * * * *

  “I’ve made love to you a thousand times today. I couldn’t concentrate or think about my work,” J.C. said as his lips traveled down Danielle’s neck. “All I pictured was your eyes, your breasts.” His hand rubbed her nipple through her shirt.

  “Wow, I should be tired,” Danielle teased as she unbuttoned the rest of his shirt and began tugging it out of his jeans. She pushed her breast against his large, rough hand.

  “Umm, you should,” J.C. whispered as he kissed her cheek then her lips. “I have no plans on stopping either.”

  “Ooh,” Danielle squealed as J.C. squeezed her ass and lightly nipped her neck. Such wonderful sensations were caused by those lips and teeth.

  Danielle pushed the shirt off his shoulders and kissed his chest while her fingers trickled down his ribs.

  J.C. fumbled with the button on her shorts and jerked as her fingers tickled his waist. “You are in so much trouble, doll,” he said when her shorts fell to the floor. He eased her shirt quickly over her head and tossed it aside.

  “Is that so?” Danielle continued to run her mouth across his chest.

  “You have no idea.” J.C. smiled as he threw her bra to the floor and quickly latched his mouth on to her breast with a firm suck.

  Danielle’s head fell back as the rush hit her like a tidal wave. “I like being in trouble with you.” Danielle’s voice became raspy as she fought to preserve control.

  J.C. shoved her back onto the bed. In a single motion, he yanked her lacy, pink panties off and fell onto his knees between her thighs. With a firm tug, Danielle’s hips slid to the edge of the bed and his mouth began to devour her pussy furiously. He wrapped his hands around the front of her thighs and held her tight against his mouth.

  Danielle cried out loudly as J.C. lapped her with his tongue. The sweet essence of her was intoxicating. Each luscious lap against her clit had his erection straining against his denim jeans.

  For moments, all that could be heard were soft cries and the suckling noise of a man on a mission. For once in his life, J.C. was content to just please and not take.

  The sweet sound of her cries delighted and aroused him further. He was sure heaven couldn’t feel as wonderful as this.

  Danielle’s hips arched up to meet his hungry mouth. Pleasure abounded in a series of rippling shocks that traveled from head to toe. Each time her release was close and held by a tiny strand, J.C. would back off and lazily swipe his tongue from top to bottom. It was excruciating to build up and be denied.

  “Oh, God…sweet mercy, J.C.,” Danielle screamed as, once again, she was on the brink. “Pleeaasee.”

  A smile swept across J.C.’s mouth as he slowed then kissed her pussy sweetly. This was more fun than riding bulls any day. And after today, he swore to himself Danielle would be ruined for any other man. She would crave no other, want no other. His devious plan would ensure she would not take a job away from here either. She would stay here in his arms where she belonged.

  Frustration built in Danielle with each sensuous kiss he strategically placed. If he was trying to drive her smack out of her mind, he was succeeding. Her hips instinctively thrust up to his mouth, begging him.

  “Are you trying to tell me something?” J.C. teased as his tongue swiped her clit again.

  “Pleeease,” Danielle cried out. Her body was writhing against his mouth in desperation.

  �
��Please what?” J.C. asked as he blew his warm breath across her clit, sending her mind over the edge.

  “Pleeeeasse, make me come,” she squealed in frustration.

  J.C. beamed. “All you had to do was ask.” His tongue darted inside her and then out again. “I’d be happy to oblige.”

  A gentle squeeze to her thigh while his mouth covered her pussy made Danielle shudder. His finger dove into her and found her sweet spot instantly.

  What amazed J.C. was how easily he could work and please her body. Instinct told him that, in a matter of seconds, he could totally blow her mind. And he planned on enjoying every minute of it.

  Danielle’s body was strung tight. Every nerve ending pulsed on high alert. She could only hear the rushing of blood in her ear as her heart thundered erratically. She closed her eyes and became lost in the sensations while her fingers ran through his dark hair.

  Danielle’s cries set J.C. on edge. He was about to skyrocket into space. He’d never known the intense satisfaction of pleasuring a woman quite as much as he did at this very moment. The urge to slide his cock deep inside her and shoot his seed into her womb crossed his mind.

  Damn, that was too much to think of. He couldn’t, wouldn’t do it. With condoms on the nightstand ready, he picked up his pace and plunged into her with his fingers and suckled harder.

  With a scream, Danielle shot into orbit. Her mind was fuzzy, like she was traveling through the stars at supersonic speed. It occurred to her she could easily pass out. This was sensation overload as her body convulsed.

  J.C. held her tight and gently kissed her warmth and tasted her succulent cum as it coated his tongue and lips. When her body eased, he smoothed on a condom and climbed on the bed and hovered above her.

  Danielle looked up with glazed eyes and a smile. “Hmm, cowboy, you have a fabulous mouth.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” J.C. said as he enjoyed the gorgeous woman underneath him. “I plan on showing you my other talents.”

  His mouth kissed along her jaw softly then traveled down her neck. He wanted to love her, please her, and ensure that, after this weekend, she would never want another. It occurred to him that all these years he had never wanted another but had simply fallen into the mechanics of finding pleasure.