Slow Burn Read online

  Jenny loved food. She’d consoled herself with it after losing her mom, and that passion led to culinary school. It also resulted in a muffin top that wouldn’t quit, thick thighs, and a little extra jiggle in the booty area.

  She’d learned to accept these things and made sure she got in ten thousand steps a day. She refused to diet, instead, opting to exercise so she could eat what she wanted.

  Mostly.

  Food was too good and life was too short. Besides, who in their right mind would hire a skinny chef?

  In no time, Jenny had finished preparing the enchilada filling, rolled those suckers up, and arranged them in the disposable aluminum casserole dish. The only problem seemed to be that they weren’t actually going to cook them in the class. They’d be carting dinner home to cook in their own kitchens. Which Jenny didn’t have.

  She covered the dish with tinfoil and handed it to Nathan, “Dinner is served.”

  Nathan grinned and took the pan from her. “How about we head to my place, and I’ll heat up our dinner?” He winked.

  A slow wave of heat rose from somewhere in her nether regions, and she felt her face flush. She should say no, they’d only just met, and she knew literally nothing about him.

  Except, something about him made her feel safe. He did his part to keep Miss Ruby comfortable, and clearly the little old lady held some affection for the man. He had offered to help her with the permitting nonsense that would surely speed things up.

  And she really, really wanted to have dinner with this sexy, charming, much-too-old-for-her man. “I’d love to have dinner with you.” Nathan’s smile made her heart squeeze and it felt like the earth shifted off its axis.

  Chapter Two

  Nathan checked his rearview, and Jenny was right behind him. She’d agreed to follow him home so, duh, where else would she be? The last thing he expected himself to do was to invite her over for dinner. A smile cracked across his face thinking about the fact that she'd said yes.

  He was pretty sure there weren’t many dirty dishes in the sink, because he usually ate right out of the frozen dinner containers.

  The living room was always pretty tidy because he didn’t spend much time there. Most of his free time was spent taking care of the animals on his small ranch.

  The bedroom however, was a disaster. Basketball wasn’t his thing, so every time he waded up dirty underwear and tried for a three-pointer into the laundry basket, he mostly missed. He’d just close the door. As much as he wanted to see those luscious curves without clothes, tonight probably wasn’t the night. His dick begged to differ.

  The minute he turned down his driveway, Jazz ran out of the barn and waited for him at the top of the drive. The German Shepard’s entire butt wiggled as she wagged her tail, impatient for her master to get home and feed her.

  Nathan parked the truck and greeted his girl. She rolled over, exposing her belly for a rub. “That’s my girl. Did you have a good day, Princess?”

  Jenny parked next to his truck, and Jazz ran right for her. Head down and tail wagging, Jazz acted like she’d found a long lost friend. Jenny got out of her rental car and squatted down to greet the Sheppard. Doggie kisses abounded and the sound of Jenny’s laughter was pure magic to his ears.

  “She’s beautiful! And very friendly. Hope she’s not a guard dog, because she totally sucks at that.” Jenny’s dimple made an appearance and his erection was back to trying to escape via his zipper. God, he hoped she didn’t look down. There was no way to hide the fucker.

  “This is Rockville, Jenny. No guard dog needed. Come on in, we’ll get this in the oven, then I’ll need to feed all the beasts. You can tag along or make yourself comfortable in the house, your choice.” He reached for her hand and retrieved the enchiladas from his truck, then headed for the front door.

  Jazz squeezed into the house the minute Nathan opened the door, then made herself comfortable on the sofa.

  Right. The living room was tidy, except for the dog hair coating the sofa. It didn’t seem like Jenny was the type to give a shit, so obsessing over these minor details was a waste of time.

  Time he could be using to get to know her better.

  Time to figure out if the chemistry between them was something he should pursue. Nothing like robbing the cradle.He should feel bad about it, but he was too attracted to her to care.

  Jenny preheated the stove and flashed him a smile. “You have really nice kitchen appliances.”

  Nathan laughed. “Are you checking out my stuff, Jenny?”

  Jenny’s eyes dropped to his crotch, and yes by God, she got herself an eyeful. “Like I said, nice appliances.”

  Sassy girl. Was she flirting with him? It’d been so long, he wasn’t sure. Two strides closed the distance between them. Nathan lifted her onto the kitchen counter.

  “Oh my God. How did you do that?” she asked, “You lifted me like I didn’t weigh...what I weigh.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth.

  Apparently, this came as a shock to her. “Not a big deal, Jenny.”

  Unable to resist her full lips a second longer, Nathan tilted his head, touched his hands to her cheeks, and lifted her face so she had nowhere to look but at him. “Fair warning. I’m going to kiss you now.”

  “You are?” she asked and dropped her gaze to his mouth and licked her lips.

  He took in a breath, breathing in her scent. Heaven. He closed his mouth over hers his tongue seeking entry. The moment she opened to him, sparks flew, shocking him. He pulled away. Her turquoise eyes flared with heat.

  “Wow. Do that again,” she said. Her voice had dropped to a husky whisper.

  “Gladly.” He deepened the kiss this time. Their tongues danced. Her mouth was warm, inviting. He wanted to kiss her for days.

  Jenny pulled away first. Her eyes glazed with desire. She gasped in an attempt to catch her breath.

  Nathan touched his forehead to hers, trying to settle himself down before he ravished her on the counter. “I’m going to go feed the animals now. When I come back in for dinner, we can talk about how far you want this to go between us.”

  Nathan turned, leaving her breathless sitting on the counter. He whistled for Jazz, and walked out the front door before he could change his mind about throwing her over his shoulder and heading for the bedroom.

  Hopefully, he hadn’t scared the crap out of her, and she’d still stay for dinner now that he’d opened his big mouth and all but announced he wanted to debauch her.

  God help him if she got in her car and drove away, he’d track her down for another kiss. In all the years he’d been on the planet, no woman had set his blood to boiling like Jenny.

  He was in some deep shit. And it wasn’t in the barn.

  ∞∞∞

  Jenny didn’t move from the counter. She couldn’t. She knew despite the thickness of her thighs that if she hopped down right then, they wouldn’t hold her. Nathan had knocked her so far off balance with that kiss. She touched her lips to make sure they hadn’t combusted into flames.

  Holy hotness.

  How far did she want this to go? Not a ton of experience in the having sex department. It was a chubby girl thing. Not a lot of guys went for the kind of curves she had. Nathan didn’t seem to mind. The erection he was sporting earlier seemed to confirm that conclusion. Jenny had no doubt Nathan had enough experience for the both of them in the sex department. She had no doubt he could teach her a thing or two and that might be handy one of these days.

  Is that what she wanted? One-night-stand sex with a stranger? Her girl parts were applauding the thought so that was one vote cast in favor of a hot roll in the sheets.

  Yowza, her panties were getting damp.

  Her heart seemed to say that if she didn’t get emotionally involved, then having it broken wouldn’t be an issue. That made two votes in favor of hot sex.

  As usual, her mind was the last to chime in. And as usual, it waffled between deciding one way or the other.

  Then again, majority ruled, right? T
otally right.

  She wouldn’t be in town long enough for this to be anything but a passing fling. Besides, New York winters were cold, and thoughts of Nathan would keep her warm at night. It was just her, with no other family alive. The memories of her time in Rockville would keep her company, and maybe even keep the loneliness from seeping into her bones.

  The oven beeped to let her know it had preheated. She slid off the counter and took a second to get her balance. She grabbed the enchiladas, putting them in the oven and setting the timer.

  Nerves started to rattle, so Jenny paced back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. Back and forth, back and forth she walked. It was a good twenty minutes before Nathan strode through the front door.

  She was so counting those steps as her cardio workout for the day.

  Nathan looked at her with hunger in his eyes. Like a predator honing in on its prey. It was a good look on him. Her nipples hardened just being in the same room with him. Traitors.

  Jazz loped into the kitchen and sat down by her empty bowl. It looked like she was the last of the animals to get fed. Nathan opened the cupboard and scooped out a couple of cups of food for her. He gave the dog a pat on the head, washed his hands in the sink, and then returned his gaze to her.

  “Dinner will be ready in. . .” Nathan didn’t let her finish her sentence. His lips were on hers in a nanosecond. Damn the man could kiss. He clasped her nape in one hand and with the other in the small of her back, pulled her closer to him. His erection pressing into her soft belly.

  Jenny could barely breathe. He smelled like leather and hay and horses and tasted like heaven.

  The stove timer chirped at them, interrupting the moment. Nathan stepped away, shoved on an oven mitt and tossed the enchiladas on top of the stove. He silenced the buzzer and turned back to her.

  “Please tell me that’s a yes, Jenny.” His eyes burned with desire. For her. She nodded, blue eyes smoldering. He bent his knees, tucked his shoulder into her middle and lifted her over his shoulder.

  “What are you doing,” she squealed.

  “Taking you to bed.”

  ∞∞∞

  Nathan couldn’t help himself pulling the caveman stunt. Tossing Jenny over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold was the fastest way to get her into his bedroom and into his bed. It wasn’t likely he’d die from the blue balls he’d been lugging around for the past two hours, but he didn’t want to risk it. He needed her. Now.

  Hooking up wasn’t his style. He had every intention of wining and dining her for however many days he had with her before she returned to New York.

  But right this second? He had a willing woman over his shoulder, and Jenny did things to his heart no other woman ever had.

  It unnerved him.

  He had to know if she was the one.

  At the end of the hallway, he opened his bedroom door and cringed. Shit, he’d forgotten the room wasn’t as neat and tidy as the rest of the house. Fuck it. Not like his man card was in danger of being revoked.

  Nathan let Jenny slide down his chest to stand in front of him. Her full, round breasts sliding against him on the way down.

  “You have the most beautiful eyes. I’d know them anywhere,” he said, running a finger down her cheek. “And this dimple, is the icing on the cake. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  A flush of red rose to Jenny’s face, and she dropped her eyes. He hated that his compliment embarrassed her. He made a mental note to tell her she was beautiful every day he had the pleasure of her company, until she believed it.

  Nathan slipped his hands under her shirt and lifted it up and over her head. A pink lacy bra hid her breasts from his view. He didn’t want to snag the delicate fabric with his calloused hands. He carefully unhooked it from the back and slipped it off her shoulders. His balls got bluer at the sight of her luscious breasts and dark cherry nipples.

  He licked a taut nipple, Jenny’s gasp of pleasure sending more blood south of the border. If he didn’t get out of his jeans pretty damn soon, he was going to break something important.

  She tasted like vanilla and cream and honey. Sweet and delicious. He tossed his shirt and unzipped Jenny’s jeans. He slid them down her thighs, along with her panties, in one smooth move.

  Nathan raked his eyes up and down her body. He took in her softly curved hips, and her neatly trimmed mound, and the look of desire in her eyes.

  “As much as I’d like to take this slow and easy, I can’t. You’ve got me so turned on, if I don’t get inside you in the next thirty seconds, I’m going to blow my wad in my pants. That’s not the outcome I’m hoping for.” Jenny didn’t respond with words. She stood on her tippy toes pulling him to her for a hot, wet, passionate kiss. One that nearly unhinged him.

  Nathan let go of her long enough to shuck his jeans and boxer briefs. His cock stood at attention, looking angry and purple. Pre-cum oozed from the slit. Jenny’s eyes grew wide and her mouth formed a little O.

  Yeah. He was hung.

  “Now that you’ve seen the one-eyed monster, I want to be sure you’re ready for me.” Jenny sat. He eased her onto her back.

  Dropping to his knees, Nathan spread her knees apart and wedged his shoulders between her thighs to keep them open. He inhaled her musky smell, the one uniquely hers and had his cock harder than granite. He licked her slit, and she tasted like heaven. She was wet for him, but not wet enough. He parted her lips with his thumbs and flicked her nub side to side. He slid one finger into her sheath, then another, slowly spreading her velvety tunnel.

  Jenny began to squirm, and he knew it wouldn’t take much to take her over the edge. Her throaty moans told him she was close. He flattened his tongue and licked her up and down, moving his fingers in the same rhythm. Her hips lifted off the mattress, searching for something more. He opened his mouth and planted it on her nub. He sucked then stopped, sucked, then stopped, suckling her clit. Her body tightened, and her fists gripped the comforter. The moan started deep in her throat and exploded into the sound of his name. Her hips undulated and she came all over his tongue. God, damn. She was amazing.

  Chapter Three

  Holy. Hell.

  That was hands down the best orgasm of her life. Not that there was much to compare it to, but he had literally just rocked her world. He didn’t give her any time to come down from the orgasmic high before he wrapped an arm around her middle and hoisted her further onto the bed.

  He settled himself between her thighs, the blunt head of his erection pressing at her entrance. It made her quiver. Her flesh was super sensitive.

  “Are you ready for me,” he asked.

  She was still trying to catch her breath but nodded.

  He pushed his cock into her soft folds. He was huge.

  “Relax. Look at me, beautiful.” Damn, those clear blue eyes had darkened two shades. He was holding back, giving her a chance to collect herself. The beating of her heart slowed from its hummingbird pace. Her breathing returned to normal. There was definitely going to be more cardio in her future. Being out of breath from one mind-blowing orgasm was unacceptable.

  “Better,” he asked, and looked into her eyes.

  “Much.” She lifted her hips, encouraging him to proceed with the festivities.

  “There’s my girl,” he said, a wide grin softening the hard planes of his face.

  A little forward rotation with his hips and he entered her. Still wet for him, the smooth glide of him filling her was pure bliss. She’d never been stretched so wide or stuffed so completely.

  Nathan began a slow, rhythmic slide in and out of her sheath. The walls of her tunnel grasped him with each stroke.

  “You are so fucking tight. I’m not going to last. I want you to come with me. I want you to come all over my cock.” He slipped a hand between them, flicking her clit with every stroke. He quickened the pace, his balls heavy with unspent come slapped her ass every time he seated himself to the hilt.

  A tight coil of pleasure fisted in he
r core. Nathan pounded into her, a sheen of sweat broke out across his forehead. Her body tightened. He fingered her faster. Pounded into her harder. The orgasm broke over her like a tsunami. Her body shook. Her back arched. And the sound that tore from her throat was like nothing she’d ever heard before.

  A few more strokes and Nathan’s face contorted. He seated himself balls deep. Hot spurts of come pummeled her womb, and he roared with pleasure.

  He’d ruined her for life. In her heart of hearts, she knew she’d never find another man on the planet that could pleasure her like he did.

  Best. Sex. Ever.

  Trouble was, her heart was doing a little happy dance. That was not supposed to happen. And yet, here she was, looking into a pair of ice blue eyes wanting something more than another orgasm.

  She was being ridiculous. They barely knew one another and yet, she felt right at home in his arms.

  In his house.

  In his bed.

  And the town, her hometown, made her feel alive and free. Not caged in by concrete walls in every direction. Something unexpected was happening to her.

  Something she didn’t understand.

  Something she didn’t want to examine too closely. Whatever it was, it scared the crap out of her.

  Nathan rested his forehead against hers, “What are you thinking about, beautiful? Are you still with me?” he asked.

  “Of course, I just. . .I don’t have the words to describe what just happened,” she said.

  “It was pretty spectacular, wasn’t it?” He kissed her lips, gently, reverently.

  “Yeah. You suppose we could do that again?” His cock still sheathed inside her kicked and hardened. She’d take that as a yes.

  ∞∞∞

  Jenny didn’t leave his bed for two days. Okay, she left the bedroom long enough to eat in his kitchen and freshen up in his bathroom. Semantics.

  The horses loved her, she spoiled them with apples, and lots of head scratches, and silly words they loved. Jazz started sleeping on the floor on her side of the bed, the traitor. Even Zeus, the alpaca from hell, called for her whenever she was in the barn. The city girl hadn’t lost her country girl roots.