Biding His Thyme: 4 (19 page)

Woof.

Sorrel jumped and spun around. Her right
hand slapped over her leaping heart, as she attempted to still the racing. The
small dog barked again and trotted away, its tail wagging.

Shaking her head, Sorrel wandered into the
kitchen. Her stomach grumbled. She rubbed her belly, wishing she had something
to eat.

The dog walked around the corner of the
kitchen counter, stopped by the fridge and barked again. It looked at Sorrel
expectantly then at the fridge door.

“I guess we’re both hungry,” she told the
dog. She pulled the fridge door open, the novelty of helping herself both
foreign and wonderful. She decided on a chicken and salad sandwich, hunting out
a plate, knife and a chopping board. The entire process of assembling her
sandwich was a novelty and immensely satisfying.

A few pieces of chicken found their way
down to the dog.

Finally she cut her sandwich in half and
sat at the breakfast counter. From the first bite, the flavors and scents
rolled across her senses. Delicious. She swallowed and sighed happily.

“So this is what freedom tastes like,” she
murmured to the dog. “I think I like it.”

Janaya arrived home from her shopping trip,
and handed several bags to Sorrel. “These are for you.”

“But I don’t have any money.”

“I’m not worried,” Janaya said. “From what
I hear you’re gonna be rolling in cash soon. Pay me back then.”

The evening passed in a pleasant fashion
with Luke and Janaya making her feel at home. Sorrel helped make dinner and
enjoyed every moment of the changes in her routine.

“I’m going to take cooking lessons,” Sorrel
announced.

“Don’t you know how to cook?” Janaya asked
in surprise. “I thought you’d know how to do all that sort of stuff.”

“There’s a clear division of labor at the
compound. As youngsters we either go into child care and teaching or food prep
and cleaning. Once we’re in a category, we don’t change.”

“Huh.” Janaya fished a pot out of the
cupboard. “Who made the rules?”

“Brother Samuel. The founder of Children of
Nature,” Sorrel said.

“What about you? How did you end up working
with herbs?”

“My mother. She needed a helper, and I
showed both aptitude and an interest.”

Conversation drifted onto other topics, and
then dinner was ready. It was a change not to worry about food and to wonder if
she’d get any dinner. And she absolutely didn’t miss having to act subservient
to every male present.

Luke rose at a tap on the window. “That’ll
be Jake.” Seconds later he was back with Jake at his heels.

Jake’s gaze went straight to her when he
walked into the room.

“Did you find it?” she asked.

“I couldn’t search the office today. Two of
the brothers set up shop there this afternoon. They were still working on
something when I left. It looked like a set of accounts. They had a laptop and
several of the old-fashioned ledger books open.” Jake glanced at Luke. “I have
no idea what’s going on. Brother Rick was frightened today and they needed
money.”

“My constable followed them to the casino.
They stayed there for most of the day, but they didn’t play the tables. He
thought they might be waiting for someone.”

“Gambling?” Sorrel asked. “That doesn’t
make sense.”

“What about blackmail?” Janaya asked.

“The constable is still tailing them,” Luke
said. “I’m hoping he’ll discover something to shed some light on our
questions.”

“Are the tests on those pills back yet?”

“What pills?” Sorrel asked.

“I suspect Brother Rick drugged the punch
on the night of the gathering,” Jake said. “I found pills in Brother Rick’s
quarters.”

“I thought everyone behaved a bit weirdly
that night,” Sorrel said. “More than usual, I mean.”

“Did you check out the place where we went
with the beast?” Jake asked.

Luke nodded, a gleam of satisfaction
filling his eyes. “Mystery solved on that one. We recovered the cattle at the
location you said. We’ve arrested the man we found at the farm.”

“What about Brother Rick?” Sorrel asked.

“I’ve organized a search warrant for
tomorrow,” Luke said. “But I’ve decided to wait to execute it until Brother
Rick is back. I want all the players in place first.”

“Can I stay the night?” Jake asked
abruptly.

Luke glanced at his wife. “Will you be
requiring a guest bedroom?”

Jake caught Sorrel’s gaze. “No.”

“Sorrel?” Janaya asked.

Sorrel wasn’t sure where to look, but she
forced herself not to revert to habit and stare at her boots. “I…”

“Which way?” Jake asked her.

“I was going to make coffee,” Janaya said.

“Not for us,” Jake said.

“You don’t have to follow his orders,”
Janaya said.

“Maybe I’ll have a cup of—” Sorrel broke
off abruptly as Jake hauled her to her feet. The next minute she was dangling
over his shoulder, her gaze on the floor.

“Which way?” Jake demanded.

“Down the hall, second on the left,” Luke
said with a grin.

Janaya winked at Luke. “Will you be here
for breakfast?”

“No, I wanted to be back at the compound
before the bell goes for breakfast. I’ll keep looking to see if I can find
something useful for you.”

Sorrel eyed Jake’s ass as he strode from
the kitchen. “That was very embarrassing.” The blood was rushing to her head
from dangling upside down.

“I don’t care.”

“You don’t have to sit with them over
breakfast,” Sorrel said. “It’s bad manners not to have coffee.”

Jake shouldered his way through a door and
set her on the bed. “Don’t you want to spend time with me?”

All the starch went out of her. “Of course
I do. Alice gave me lots of free samples today.”

Jake sat on the edge of the bed and yanked
off his sandals. “I hate wearing this fuckin’ robe. I’ll be glad when I can get
back to my jeans. Hell, even the army uniform is better than this.”

“I bet you look good in jeans.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re flirting with
me.”

A gurgle of laughter escaped her. “Is it
working?”

He nodded. “What sort of samples?”

“Condoms. Lube. Two different vibrators.”
Her cheeks glowed with heat as she listed the taboo items. Brother Rick would
have a lot to say about her evil ways. “There’s even a vibrating condom. We
should try that one.”

“Whatever you like, sweetheart. Did I tell
you how sexy you look?”

“I’m still the same person.”

“I know.” He reached over to tug on a lock
of her hair. “I like your hair better this color.”

“What?” Her brows shot up in disbelief.
“You don’t like the color of muddy mouse?”

“Your hair smells better too,” he said with
brutal honesty. “Please don’t ever put the goop on it again.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a snappy salute,
part of her amazed at the ease with which she flirted with him. It seemed easy
to smile now.

“Stand up and take off your shirt and your
jeans. Show me what you’re wearing underneath. You are wearing something sexy,
right?”

“You make me feel shy.”

“But you’re going to do it for me.” Jake’s
eyes glowed. Under his gaze she felt beautiful, feminine. Not even his honesty
scared her or the hidden secrets simmering in him when he thought no one was
paying attention. No, she’d rather have Jake’s rough and ready ways than
Brother Rick’s charming subterfuge.

“Why yes I am.” Sorrel stood, her hands
going to the buttons of her new red shirt. The fabric was soft against her skin
instead of abrasive like her robe. The sensual drape delighted her, made her
feel sexy and womanly. Aware of his close attention, she slid the next button
out of its hole and the next. The silky material gaped to reveal her new black
bra.

“You must be more comfortable without the
binding.”

“Much,” she said with feeling. Another
button slipped from its hole and another until she was able to shrug out of her
shirt. The garment slithered to the ground. Her jeans were next. She gave a
wriggle of her hips, a tug, and the denim gave way and peeled down her legs.
She stood before Jake in her matching bra and panties. Pleasure and awareness
streaked through her and heat pooled low in her belly.

He stood and went to her then, his
calloused hands sliding over her shoulders and down her upper arms.
Appreciation glowed in his dark eyes, his gaze tracing the lines of her body.

“Lose the robe,” she whispered against his
neck. “It’s ugly, and it brings back memories I’d rather forget.”

Jake pulled away and ripped off the robe,
tossing it aside without ceremony.

“I’m sure your underwear isn’t regulation
Children of Nature,” Sorrel said, fascinated by the way the tight white
boxer-briefs cupped him, covering yet displaying his masculine assets in a
totally sexy way.

Jake grunted. “I wasn’t about to show
Brother Rick my underwear. I’m not that guy.”

A giggle burst from her, the merriment
unusual yet enjoyable as it spilled into the bedroom.

His hand snaked behind her back, and her
bra sagged. “I still have it,” he said. His fingers slipped beneath her bra to
cup the warm flesh of her breasts.

She sighed her pleasure at his touch,
leaning into him and savoring his strength. “I didn’t realize how much I needed
someone to touch me. Before you my life…” She shook her head. “It was barren.
Thank you.” Even if this was all the time she had with Jake, she’d always
remember him, remember this.

He drew her bra down her arms, the cool air
making her nipples pucker and pull to hard nubs. She sucked in a quick breath
when he dragged his thumb over one nipple. The tug, the friction on her flesh
reverberated through her body. His touch was still so new, yet it was familiar too.
He did it again, this time harder, and she gasped. She arched into his touch
and offered her mouth, desperate to step into the sensual snare he cast. He
bent his head, took her lips with his, demanding a response from her.

She didn’t even have to think. His touch
fuelled her actions, left her wanting more. She shivered when his lips traveled
across her jaw and down the side of her neck. The scrape of his teeth brought
another tremor. She couldn’t think when he was touching her. All she could do
was wonder at the sensations he drew from her and how much she wanted him.

His hands tightened around her, and she
felt the sensation of weightlessness.

“You enjoy toting me around like a box of
bath bombs.”

“It makes me feel manly.”

She bounced on the mattress, and he loomed
over her.

“Take off your underwear,” she said. “Let
me see you in the light.”

“You want to ogle me.”

“Guilty. You’re so pretty. I like ogling
your muscles.” She stared at him while he pulled his underwear down his long
legs. She admired his muscular thighs and the hair she knew would feel a little
tickly against her own limbs, but in a good way.

He tugged at his beard, a rueful gesture.
“I keep telling you I’d be even prettier without this scruff on my face.”

“Are you asking me for more compliments?”

“I can’t wait to shave off the bloody
thing. I’d much rather talk about something other than undercover operations.”

“I thought it might rain today. From what I
hear the local farmers are hoping for the same thing,” Sorrel said, trying but
not managing to restrain her grin.

“People have had their bottoms smacked for
less.”

Her grin widened, an impish mischievousness
springing to the fore in her. “They were discussing spanking at the lab this
afternoon. I think I’ll learn a lot of interesting things there.” This could
backfire. Already embarrassment crept into her face, making her skin prickly
and hot.

“We’ll explore them,” he promised.

“All of them?”

“If that’s what you’d like to do.”

“Yes,” she said slowly, liking him so much
in that moment she struggled to take her next breath. Freedom was a heady
thing. She stretched out her arms, silently asking him to join her on the bed.

He was at her side in an instant, his naked
body covering hers. Their lips met and the laughter and teasing faded away. His
lips were soft, and a hungry little sound escaped her. She wrapped her arms
around his neck and let the passion sweep her under.

She’d half expected him to hurry the
process because she knew he’d have to leave soon, but he didn’t. He gentled the
kiss, the lazy stroke of his tongue teasing. A row of kisses down her neck
shouldn’t feel so decadent, nor should the skim of his hands as he touched and
caressed her shoulders. His fingers dipped close to her breasts, then darted
away. She let out cry of frustration, desperately wanting him to tug her
nipples again, to taunt and tease her to a point shy of pain.

“Tell me what you want.”

“You know what I want.”

“Tell me,” he prompted again, his husky
voice sending a shiver through her.

She tugged on her bottom lip, her earlier
bravery deserting her. The last thing she wanted was to sound silly. She didn’t
want to chase him away because of a sudden loss of confidence.

“Sorrel.” He lifted his head to stare down
at her. “I like your new confidence. I like the way you’re smiling more. The
sound of your laughter—it makes me happy. Tell me what you want me to do next.”

Sorrel sucked in a quick breath for
bravery. She knew what she wanted. All she needed to do was get the words out.
Another breath inflated her lungs. She breathed out, ordering her thoughts then
started. “I want you to touch my breasts. Suck them into your mouth. Bite my
nipples and soothe them with your tongue.”

“I can do that. Anything else?”

“I want you to kiss and tongue my private
parts. Then I want to try out the vibrating condom.”

Jake barked out a laugh, but she sensed he
was surprised and pleased by her requests. “Sounds like a perfect plan to me.
Let’s get started.”