silky. He fully expected her to stop him before he reached the gold, but once she allowed him to take that first taste, she was his. Jackson knew how to pleasure a woman, what move could push her over the edge or get her to beg for more. Giving Wendy pleasure had been one of the most memorable experiences in his life. No woman could compare to her.
He’d done the right thing and tucked her into bed, but he was left with a painfully engorged erection in his pants. Nothing a little hard work wouldn’t cure. He tried not to picture her milky skin or remember the mewling sounds when he made her come against his mouth. His priorities were shifting like rapidly moving northern lights. All he could think about was making Wendy’s life easier, making her want him as much as he did her, and proving he was as much a man as Wade Laweson.
He stood at the edge of the fields, trying to imagine the desperation Wendy felt watching her crops wither and scorch under the sun. Jackson wanted to make her proud, be able to tell her he’d saved the day, but how? He wasn’t a farmer, and she had no modern equipment or irrigation. The weather didn’t affect him or his livelihood. All he needed to worry about was keeping his body fit and hanging on for those eight vital seconds. Now he needed to be so much more. He needed to be a hero.
Chapter Six
Wendy finally awoke, twisting about under the sheets. The room was dark, the orange and pink haze of dusk illuminating the shadowed room in a gentle haze of color. All at once, she remembered the current events. She’d let her boarder do explicit things to her body—and she’d loved every minute of it. But how could she face him again? What did it all mean? Her heart beat frantically as reality returned to her awakening mind.
She slipped out of bed and dressed as the last remnants of daylight peeked in through the crack in the curtains. At least the temperature cooled in the evenings, giving reprieve from the never-ending heat during sunup.
As she stepped into the hallway, the rest of the house was dark and silent, the creak in the hardwood echoing. “Christine?” she called out. After no reply, she knew her daughter would be having a late night out with friends. With the rodeo close to home, there was a constant flood of parties and events to get involved in. She had to remember her children weren’t kids anymore, but all adults, free to do as they pleased. “Jackson?”
Wendy felt stronger than she had before falling asleep. A good nap was exactly what she needed, even though all her problems remained, including new ones thanks to her weakness with Jackson. Still, she craved more.
She dug in the hall closet for her spare boots and tugged them on. Although Jackson said he was taking care of the chores, he may have forgotten something vital. In the very least, she needed to check the animals were secure for the night.
The crickets droned, their song carrying across the prairies once she stepped out of the whiny screen door. Her boots crunched on the dried-out grass with each step. She could see everything that needed tending had been taken care of. Wendy had to stop for a minute and take it all in. She was used to being the only one responsible for everything, programmed not to count on another soul. Knowing Jackson was capable of doing things right, could take away some of her burden, was enlightening. A romantic partner could offer more than just a helping hand, but be someone to share life with and laugh with. After the sample Jackson gave her, it would also be someone she could share every level of intimacy with. She hadn’t realized how much she missed it all.
After checking the barn, she climbed the wooden ladder to the hayloft. It was her private escape, a place of solace. Just smelling the rich, sweet scent of alfalfa, and looking across the land from her vantage point, settled her nerves. She had much to think about, but being here was what she needed, even if just for a few
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