The Harder You Fall

His phone beeped, and some of the tension drained from him. Jessie Kay had been sending him proof-of-life texts every hour, and they'd become the highlight of his day. In them, she'd posed with mannequins and danced on counters as cashiers looked on with horror.

  This time, the image she'd sent made him laugh out loud. She'd burrowed inside a rack of clothes to press her face between the metal bars. A "here's Johnny" moment. Her text read: This criminal is practically begging for another punishment...

  He. Liked. This. Girl.

  Tension eased from him as he entered the farmhouse through the back door. Jase sat at the kitchen table, wrapping a gift to Brook Lynn. He sucked ass at the task. The paper was torn and wrinkled, completely misshapen.

  Frowning, he glanced up. "How do women make this look so easy?"

  "I think they practice in secret so they can taunt and torment us in public. I can't believe I ever dreamed of being part of holiday festivities." West combed a hand through his hair. "The pressure is killing me."

  Jase went still. "Want a drink?"

  A sobriety test. Long overdue, and irritating. "I have something to live for. You don't have to worry about me anymore."

  His friend kicked out a chair. "Are you telling me you've finally forgiven yourself?"

  He plopped down. Opting for honestly, he said, "No. I'm saying I've stopped actively seeking misery."

  "That's a start, I guess. By the way, Brook Lynn texted me." Jase motioned to his phone. "You'll want to read the message."

  West glanced at the screen.

  It's awesome that West & my sister are dating but you need to know something--if he hurts her, I'll kill him & you'll bury the body

  Exactly what he'd once expected to happen. Now, though, he wasn't afraid. "If I hurt her, you won't have to bury me. I'll bury myself."

  "I figured." Jase pushed the hideous gift aside. "Look, you're a problem solver. You can figure out what to get your girl. Think back to all the conversations the two of you have had and make a list of everything she said she liked. Or wanted. Or needed."

  "A list? You're becoming your girlfriend."

  "I'll take that as a compliment, considering she has the best taste and she only ever has good ideas. Now shut up and do what I told you."

  Well, he could think of one item right away. His body. The girl had a jones for his scones.

  He smiled.

  "See?" Jase said, standing. "It's working already."

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHRISTMAS MORNING DIDN'T kick off the way West had planned: waking up with Jessie Kay in his arms, bringing her to orgasm with his hands, then showering with her and bringing her to orgasm with his mouth. They'd spent the night at the farmhouse with Jase and Brook Lynn, Beck and Harlow, but they hadn't slept in the same room. They should have, but she'd never come to bed.

  She'd holed up in the shed out back, claiming she had to wrap the presents she'd purchased. Then she'd just never come inside.

  He'd spent the evening watching the back door and fielding questions and teasing from his friends.

  "Looking pretty tense tonight, bro," Beck had said. "The little woman put you in the doghouse already?"

  "Bad news is, you can't walk out of a doghouse." Jase had laughed. "You have to crawl."

  "I'm not in any kind of doghouse." He'd gone to the shed multiple times to knock on the locked door, thinking she might have fallen asleep, but every time she'd frantically told him to stay out.

  Now West showered, dressed and made his way to the shed--finally finding Jessie Kay in the kitchen, the beautiful blonde vortex standing next to Brook Lynn, the two cooking breakfast and chatting.

  "--how you guys usually celebrate?" Harlow was saying as she washed dishes at the sink.

  "Well, we bought each other the cheapest gifts possible--all we could afford--ate the creamy sausage and biscuit casserole you'll soon enjoy, and gorged while watching old zombie movies," Brook Lynn said. "How about you?"

  "The past few years, my mom and I spent Christmas Eve baking cookies. We'd eat them in the morning and give each other compliments, my favorite present," Harlow admitted. Tears welled in her eyes. "I miss her. This is my first Christmas without her."

  Jessie Kay looked to Brook Lynn. "I'm sorry Mom's not here for you." There was a tremor in her voice. "I'm sorry you missed so many Christmases with her. I'm sorry--" She dropped her knife, and as the metal clanged on the floor, she gripped the counter as if dizziness threatened to knock her down. She breathed deeply. In. Out. In. Out.

  West took a step forward as Brook Lynn let go of the biscuit she'd been pulling apart and combed her flour-dusted hands through her sister's hair. "Enough. You know I've never blamed you."

  He stopped.

  "I'm so sorry," Harlow said, suddenly pale with concern. "I shouldn't have mentioned..."

  "You didn't do anything wrong," Brook Lynn told her. Then she refocused on Jessie Kay. "Want to know what Jase said to me the other day? He said there are five ways to tell a woman's mad at you. One, she yells at you. Two, she goes silent. Three, she acts the same. Four, she acts completely different. Five, she murders you in cold blood."

  Jessie Kay's breathing finally slowed. A good sign, but not good enough. West closed the distance and as gently as possible moved Brook Lynn out of the way. He framed Jessie Kay's face with his hands, forcing her gaze to remain on him. Her pupils were blown, and what remained of her irises was wild.

  "Kitten, this is unacceptable," he said. "We didn't schedule a panic attack today."

  Her accelerated breathing slowed a little bit more.

  "If it keeps up," he added, putting a little heat in his tone, "I'll be forced to punish you."

  "Hey!" Brook Lynn anchored her fists on her hips. "You can't punish my sister. She didn't do anything wrong. And even if she did, you have no right!"

  "You better run," Harlow told him, her ocean blues narrowing. "I'm pregnant, my hormones are completely out of whack, and I can't be blamed for my actions. I can rip your tongue out of your mouth and no one will convict me of a crime."

  He ignored both women, keeping his focus solely on Jessie Kay. She'd calmed considerably, the wild glaze gone, her pupils returning to normal. "Looks like someone might just want to be punished," he said softly.

  Jessie Kay's lips twitched at the corners. "Am I going to have to open my Christmas presents in the buff?"

  Her dry tone made him smile. "One more infraction like this, and I'll seriously consider thinking about it."

  A new gleam entered her eyes--wanton, seductive. A gleam he would kill to see every day for the rest of--

  He ground his molars. There might not be a time limit on their relationship, but he had to be careful about his expectations. She might not be willing to put up with him forever.

  "Let me check my watch," she said, pulling back the sleeve of her shirt. "Yep. It's time for your butt-kicking."

  "So we're okay with West threatening to punish you?" Harlow asked, confused.

  "That depends," Beck said as he strolled into the kitchen to steal a pinch of steaming sausage patty. He kissed Harlow's lips and nuzzled her nose. "What's the punishment?"

  "Nakedness," Jessie Kay said.

  "What about it?" Jase headed straight to his fiancee, wrapping his arms around her to draw her against him and kiss her neck. "Merry Christmas, angel."

  A pang cut through West's chest. The two couples were so happy, so at ease with each other, no hint of worry for the gift exchange to come.

  The gift exchange. Shit.

  Soft fingers brushed over his cheeks, so warm and familiar he leaned into the touch. "You okay?" Jessie Kay asked quietly.

  "Come here." West took her hand and led her into their bedroom. He shut and locked the door.

  Her eyes went wide. "Are we going to mess around?"

  "Yes. No." He helped her sit on the edge of the bed and paced in front of her. "You need to know something. For the past nine years, Beck and I worked on Christmas. While other businesses were closed
, there was no one to call and disturb us, no one to come knocking at our door, so we'd get caught up on all our projects and eat Chinese food while pretending it was just another day."

  "Oh, dang. That's so sad," she said, her hand fluttering over her heart.

  So necessary. "This is my first Christmas with Jase in almost a decade." Jase's first Christmas outside of prison, which was a true reason to celebrate. "This is my first Christmas with you."

  Her head tilted to the side as she studied him. "And you're...nervous?"

  "I'm happy. Of course I'm happy."

  "Well, then, someone should inform your face. My sugar bear looks ready to barf."

  His hands fisted at his sides. "I have presents for you. Let's get the exchange over with, okay?"

  "First, your enthusiasm is humbling. But I get it now, the reason for your man-fits every time I use the word gift. You are nervous." She stood up, stepped in front of him. "Second, everyone plans to open their gifts in the living room at the same time. That's the way Brook Lynn and I have always done it, and the way we'd like to continue."

  He felt the heat drain from his face.

  "You have nothing to worry about. If you got me an actual gift rather than a homemade coupon book for sex, you're already miles ahead of every other guy I've ever known."

  "I could have given you a coupon book for sex?" he asked, trying to make light of his thunderous emotions.

  She laughed, sweet and feminine, joyous, her entire face glowing. Just like that, she made him feel welcome, as if she'd invited him to a secret club: life and happiness with Jessica Kay Dillon.

  "Just because I got you the best present anyone has given anyone is no reason for you to feel bad about the second-rate gift you got for me." She kissed his cheek. "I'll forgive you, and we'll move on."

  Would they? "Gifts," he corrected. "I have three for you."

  Expression growing serious, she said softly, "They're from you. I'm going to love them."

  He went still, wasn't even sure he was breathing. This woman...oh, this woman. The pang returned to his chest. With her, he was rarely without it. His body hardened painfully. He wanted inside her, wanted to lay siege, lay claim, brand her with his hands and his mouth. Wanted to hear her shout his name at the height of passion, then whisper it in complete satisfaction.

  "And you'll love my gift just as much...right?" she asked.

  He heard the uncertainty in her tone and had a startling realization. He wasn't the only one nervous about the exchange. "Absolutely right." No question.

  She rewarded him with a breathtaking smile. "Suddenly I'm feeling like a slacker, though. Since you got me three gifts, I should probably step up my game." Eyes growing heavy-lidded, she slowly sank to her knees before him. "And since we're back here...alone..."

  Every muscle below his zipper clenched. "What are you doing?" The words didn't sound as if they'd come from him. They were too rough, too fierce.

  "What do you think? I'm giving you my first gift." She popped the button on his pants, slid down the zipper and anchored his underwear under his sac, freeing his swollen shaft. "Besides, you dragged me out of the kitchen, deprived me of a meal. Now you have to feed me." More and more she sounded drugged, and he loved it.

  Fire in his blood. Savage desperation in his gut. She closed her luscious little mouth over his tip...then slid all the way down, taking him to the back of her throat. Sharp pleasure lanced through him, and he hissed.

  "Jessie Kay." A croak of need.

  She rode his length up, down again, then back up, sucking on him all the while. Weakness invaded his knees, but he locked them, digging his heels into the floor.

  "Harder, kitten. Faster."

  Obeying him, she practically inhaled him, picking up speed, her cheeks hollowing. Up. Down. Again and again. Then she paused...but only long enough to unfasten her jeans and slide her fingers underneath her panties. Sexy little piece. The image would be forever branded in his brain. Jessie Kay on her knees, lips red and swollen, eyes glazed, her determination to get them both off a palpable thing.

  He threaded his fingers through her hair, guiding her motions, helping her take him deeper, deeper, and oh, shit, it was good, so good. "I'm close, kitten. If you don't want--"

  She sucked even harder, worked her mouth even faster, and he hurled over the edge, jetting into her throat.

  When he finished, she pressed her temple into his abdomen. A hug without being a hug. Comforting and carnal at the same time. Then she smiled up at him seductively, a woman who thrilled in her power over him. "I like you better than the caramel candies."

  He traced his fingers through her silken hair before helping her stand. He took the fingers she'd had between her legs and licked away the sweetness.

  Breath caught in her throat.

  "Lie on the bed, kitten."

  Her heavy-lidded eyes started another fire in his veins. "Is that your way of saying you liked what I did?" She sounded drugged.

  "I loved it, but I'm going to love what happens next even more." He pushed her jeans and panties to the floor, lifted her out of them and threw her on the bed. "You weren't fast enough."

  He didn't give her time to respond. He dove on her, lick, lick, liiicking at the very heart of her, getting drunk on the heady taste of her. Crying his name, she fell back on the pillows, leaving herself completely open to him.

  He took full advantage, sucking on her, even spearing her with his tongue. She writhed against his face, her hips undulating, creating a beautifully carnal rhythm. He added a finger, thrusting it deep...then added a second finger, stretching her, pumping it inside her hard and fast, loving the feel of her, so hot and wet.

  "I'm close...so close. There!" Her knees clamped his temple as her back bowed. She pulled at his hair, her body trembling. "Lincoln!"

  He loved hearing his name on her lips. Loved her reaction to pleasure. Loved the taste of her climax.

  He licked her until she went lax against the mattress. Almost dizzy with rapture, he lifted his head.

  Passion-glazed eyes peered at him. "That was..."

  He kissed the inside of her thigh. "Something I want to do morning, afternoon and evening."

  "Well, consider this your eternal permission."

  As she dressed, he righted his clothing. He led her into the living room and sat on the couch. When she attempted to sit beside him, he dragged her into his lap.

  "Want you close." He nipped her ear...cupped her breast. "As close as I can get you."

  "Okay, y'all. Food is in the oven," Brook Lynn said as she walked into the living room. "Oh! My eyes! Hurry, someone come bleach my corneas."

  Jessie Kay snorted, and West reluctantly removed his hand.

  Jase trailed behind the blonde, and Beck and Harlow behind him.

  "Your inner drama queen is showing," West said. Jessie Kay stayed right where he wanted her. "Don't make me break my oath about never ever ever talking about the time I found you and Jase naked on the kitchen counter."

  Harlow snickered behind her hand.

  "You are such a--" Brook Lynn began.

  "Temper, temper," Jessie Kay said with a grin.

  "Sweetie pie. You are such a sweetie pie. And now it's time for the main event. Presents!" Cheeks bright red, Brook Lynn began dispensing the gifts to their rightful recipients. Then she frowned at Jase. "Did you guys not get each other gifts?"

  "No," Jase said.

  "But--"

  "We never do," Beck added.

  Jessie Kay twisted, facing West. "Seriously? I know you said you guys didn't celebrate, but I didn't think you meant you never exchanged goodies with your buds."

  He nipped at her lips. "I think we need to return to the bedroom. I'm getting worked up again."

  "Later." She nipped back. "I just drafted a new schedule and the first order of business is facing your fears."

  "I can't believe you guys never got each other presents," Harlow said, tearing up. "Everyone should get a gift from everyone else."

&
nbsp; Dude. Pregnancy hormones were a bitch.

  Beck drew her close for a hug. "We will from now on, baby. Promise. Right guys?"

  "Right?" he and Jase said in unison.

  Jessie Kay clapped, no longer nervous. "Open this!" She shoved a gift under his nose. "Now, now, nooow!"

  He smiled, but the way he was trembling like a puss overshadowed any kind of enjoyment. "You first. Open your gifts from the others, then mine." That way, if his gifts sucked as bad as he thought, he could toss them out before she saw them and IOU like an SOB.

  The others had begun opening their presents. Brook Lynn squealed over the retractable zombie-killing sword Jase gave her, and Harlow erupted into sobs of joy over the pregnancy-safe paint set from Beck, plus a bag of M&M's with his face etched in the center of each candy.

  Jessie Kay tore through her gifts. Brook Lynn had made her a T-shirt that read "I Go South on West." Harlow had taken a set of wineglasses and painted her picture on each one. Jase bought her a pink tool set, and Beck wrote her a "B. Ockley first edition" called Driving West For the Super Ignoramus.

  "You guys," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "I love. Love!"

  My turn. His weren't nearly as good, but they were workable. West handed her the first of three boxes, his trembling only growing worse. Like a kid at, well, Christmas, Jessie Kay ripped into the paper at lightning speed, revealing a small, thin box.

  A grin stretched from ear to ear. "It's another watch, isn't it? I knew you'd get me another watch." When she popped the top, the bracelet gleaming in the light, she gasped.

  Sweat popped out on his brow. "I made it. It's imperfect," he said. As if she couldn't tell. "If you never wear it--"

  "Never wear it? Are you kidding me? West, it's amazing. It's better than amazing, and the fact that you made it...it's the most beautiful piece of jewelry I've ever owned, and I've owned some amazing pieces because, duh, you bought me that watch, and Brook Lynn made me necklaces and earrings when she worked at Rhinestone Cowgirl, and those were pretty cool, but they're crap compared to this...no offense, sis."

  "None taken," Brook Lynn said with a laugh.

  "West, I love it and I'll never take it off ever." Jessie Kay clutched it close to her chest, tears actually streaming down her cheeks now. "Thank you. I will cherish it always."

  The pang in his chest sharpened, cut at him, made his soul bleed, and he wasn't sure if the bleeding purged the poison inside him, or created a new wound. "I'm glad. Open the next one."