The Birthday Gift Page 2

  How she adored making love with her husband.

  Amanda sighed happily. I’m married to a generous, sensitive, sexy, handsome hunk who loves me as much as I love him. How did I get to be so lucky?

  She glanced out the kitchen window as she reached to open the cabinet door to get a glass. She stopped with her hand in mid-air when she saw Jake and Patrick huddled together beneath an oak tree in the backyard.

  Amanda smiled. Jake was enjoying Patrick’s visit so much. Even though she and Jake had been together several years, she’d never had the opportunity to meet Patrick. Starting a horse ranch had consumed Jake for the last two years. Before that, Patrick had been busy building his ski lodge. He’d been recuperating from bronchitis when they got married, so he missed their wedding ceremony. The cousins had stayed in contact by telephone and e-mail, but since they lived in different states, this was the first time they’d seen each other in five years.

  She continued to watch them. Her smile faded and she frowned slightly. They were up to something besides catching up on each other’s lives. They’d been conspiring with each other for the last two days. Amanda would catch them whispering, which would stop immediately as soon as she got close enough to hear them. Sneaking up on them hadn’t been possible, and she’d tried it several times. Jake had incredible hearing, the bum.

  She wondered if their plotting had something to do with her birthday. Maybe they planned to surprise her with a special dinner. Not having to cook on her birthday would be a very nice gift.

  Watching them, she looked for any kind of clue that would tell her what they were saying. Even if she couldn’t figure out what they were up to, she enjoyed simply looking at them. Her husband was so handsome, and Patrick could pass for his brother. They had the same build, the same hair color, the same eyes, the same way of moving…

  She wondered if they were the same in bed.

  Embarrassed by her thoughts, Amanda looked away from the tempting vision out the window. She had no right to fantasize in any way about Patrick. She’d known him for only a few days, and Jake kept her completely satisfied sexually. If she could personally pick out every trait a lover should have, Jake would be the end result.

  Still…

  Thoughts of having both of them at the same time had occupied her mind since Patrick’s arrival. The only explanation Amanda had was the fact that Patrick looked so much like Jake. He was an inch or two taller and a bit huskier, but the two favored each other so much, it was almost scary.

  She felt guilty fantasizing about a man other than her husband, yet she couldn’t help letting those fantasies run rampant through her mind. She imagined having two Jakes who would do whatever she wanted, however she wanted it. Two Jakes could lick and suck her nipples at the same time. Or one could suck on her nipples while the other one licked her clitoris. Or maybe one could slide his cock inside her while the other one circled her anus with his tongue. She loved it when Jake licked her there. It seemed almost…taboo, but felt so good.

  Jake’s mustache felt wonderful on her skin. Patrick’s full beard would probably feel even better…

  Desire coursed through her body and Amanda closed her eyes as she shivered again. Get your mind off of sex and back to business. You have to finish the Hudsons’ contract before they call.

  She took one more glance outside, but Jake and Patrick were gone. She heard Jake’s pickup start, then the door to the mud room open and close. A moment later, her husband came in the back door.

  “Hi,” he said with a smile.

  “Hi.”

  He walked over to her, tilted up her chin, and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “How did it go with the Hudsons?”

  “I’m going to start computer shopping tomorrow.”

  Jake looped his arms around her waist. “That’s great. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. I tried not to get my hopes up too much, but I really wanted this sale. That monstrosity of a house has been on the market for three years.”

  “And you love that huge commission.”

  Amanda grinned. “And I love that huge commission.”

  “Do you know what they plan to do with the place?”

  “They want to turn it into a bed and breakfast-slash-resort, complete with fishing, swimming, tennis, a golf course…the works. That’s going to take a lot of time and a lot of money, but they apparently have plenty of both. And we could use something like that in our area. It’ll bring in more tourists, which will lead to more people settling here, which will lead to—”

  “More commissions for you,” Jake said with a grin.

  She smiled. “Yeah. Do I sound money hungry?”

  “Not a bit. You sound like a successful businesswoman and I’m very proud of you.”

  His words warmed her heart. Jake’s approval was so important to her. As long as she had him, nothing else mattered.

  Wanting to be closer to him, she touched his chest. She let her palms glide over the soft cotton of his T-shirt, liking the contrast of the smooth material over his solid muscles. Working with horses had definitely given him a killer body. “I was about to fix me a glass of iced tea. Want one?”

  “In a minute.” He tightened his arms around her waist. “You aren’t the only one around here with good news today. George Mayo bought Texas Thunder.”

  With a squeal of delight, Amanda threw her arms around Jake’s neck and hugged him tightly. “That’s wonderful!”

  “Yeah, I think so too.”

  The feel of Jake’s firm chest against her breasts brought back all her desire from a few moments ago. Trying to be a good girl and listen to what her husband had to say instead of jerking his clothes off, Amanda pulled back and looked at Jake’s face. “Did he agree to your price?”

  “He didn’t even bat an eyelash when I told him what I wanted, which tells me my price was probably too low. But that’s okay. I’m happy to finally bring some money into the house.”

  Amanda had suspected Jake wasn’t happy about not selling any horses, but this was the first time he’d actually said anything to her. “We’ve done fine, Jake.”

  “No thanks to me.”

  “It takes time to build up a clientele for the horses. You expected that.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t think it’d take this long. I’ve practically wiped out our savings.”

  “You’ve done no such thing. We’re a partnership, remember?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  Amanda touched his lips to stop his argument before he could start it. She refused to let him feel guilty about his business getting a slow start. “No ‘buts’ allowed. Whatever we do, we do together.”

  Jake moved her hand and held it tightly in his own. “You’ve brought in a steady income, Amanda. I haven’t.”

  “Do you think I love you any less for it?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then what’s the problem? We both knew it would take time to build your business. Things have been tight sometimes, but we’ve done fine.” She raised his hand to her mouth and kissed his palm. “I wouldn’t change one thing about our time together, Jake. Not one. It’s been more wonderful than I ever imagined.”

  Jake softly caressed her lips with his thumb. “I’m so lucky to have you.” Leaning back against the counter, he pulled Amanda between his spread legs. His groin nestled snugly between her hips. “How did a plain, ordinary guy like me get you to fall in love with me?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Amanda said as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I guess you were just blessed.”

  “That must be it.” He slid his hands from her underarms to her hips and back again. “So, do you have any ideas how I could keep on being blessed?”

  A devilish gleam lit his eyes. Amanda knew from that gleam and the feel of his cock hardening against her exactly how “blessed” he wanted to get. That was fine with her. She would take any chance possible to make love with her husband. “I might. Do you have any ideas?”

  “Oh, I’m sure
I could think of something we’d both enjoy.”

  She had no doubt of that. Jake’s imagination and spontaneity kept their sex life hot and spicy. He often surprised her in the kitchen, or the laundry room, or the barn, with passionate kisses and lusty lovemaking. Just the thought of it made her clitoris throb. “Where’s Patrick?”

  “I sent him to the store for steaks. I’m going to barbecue tonight.”

  “So he’ll be gone…how long?”

  Jake moved his hands from her hips to her buttocks. “Long enough,” he said before covering her lips with his own.

  Amanda groaned deep in her throat when Jake’s tongue slipped past her lips. One kiss from this man was all it took for dampness to form between her thighs. While she hadn’t had a vast number of lovers before her marriage, none of them had affected her as strongly as Jake. Never had she wanted a man as much as she wanted Jake. She arched into him, moving her hips from side to side, getting as close as possible while still wearing clothes. His hands kneaded her buttocks while his tongue stroked, caressed, tempted her.

  She was more than willing to do whatever he wanted.

  Her willingness had to be apparent to Jake, so it surprised her when he stopped their kiss. Still in the throes of passion, she struggled to open her eyes as he cupped her face in his hands. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” he whispered.

  His expression was so fierce and serious, Amanda didn’t know what to say for a moment. “Of course I know you love me. I love you, too.”

  “I’d do anything for you, do you know that?”

  “Yes, I know that. I’d do anything for you, too. Jake, what—”

  “I just want you to know exactly how I feel about you, how much you mean to me.”

  “I have no doubts about how much I mean to you. Now cut out all this talk and kiss me again.”

  He obeyed her immediately. Amanda moaned softly when Jake’s tongue slipped past her lips again. Parting her lips wider, she drew his tongue deeply into her mouth and sucked on it. Her action drew a groan from Jake.

  “God, I love kissing you,” he whispered.

  She didn’t get the chance to respond for he kissed her again before moving his mouth to her throat. Amanda tilted her head when Jake lightly bit her neck. A single lick of his tongue soothed the tender nip, then he covered her lips with his again.

  Cool air brushed against the back of her legs and slowly climbed upward. Amanda felt Jake’s warm, calloused palms cup her buttocks. Through the fog of desire clouding her brain, she realized he had pulled her dress up to her waist.

  “Mmm, I love it when you wear these tiny little thongs.”

  “I know you do. That’s why I wear them.”

  His fingers slid into the cleft between her buttocks. “Are you wet?”

  “You know I am.”

  “Maybe I’d better find out for sure. Maybe I should bend you over the table and—”

  The back door opened. Amanda glanced to her left as Patrick stepped inside.

  Her first instinct was to pull away from Jake and jerk down her dress. The hot look in Patrick’s eyes stopped her. She watched his gaze travel to her buttocks and linger there for a long moment before he looked at her face.

  “Sorry,” Patrick said. “I forgot my wallet.”

  The sound of his voice shattered Amanda’s trance. She tugged down her dress while warmth climbed into her cheeks…partly from embarrassment, and partly from the heat still in Patrick’s eyes.

  “No problem,” Jake said. “I was just telling Amanda about the horse sale.”

  Amanda whipped her head toward Jake. He didn’t sound the least bit concerned that Patrick had seen her bare bottom. In fact, with the way he was pressing his still-hard cock against her, it appeared he’d actually liked it.

  “Horse sale, huh?” Patrick asked with a grin. “Looks to me like you two were making out.”

  “That too. I love making out with my wife.”

  “If I had a wife like Amanda, I’d love making out with her, too.”

  She didn’t understand this conversation, but she’d had enough. She was embarrassed…and still incredibly aroused. “Patrick, go get your wallet.”

  He nodded once, then turned and left the room. Jake took Amanda in his arms again. “Now, where were we?” he asked before kissing her neck.

  “Do you want to explain that?”

  “Explain what?”

  “What just happened here. Patrick walked in on us with my butt hanging out, and you did nothing.”

  Jake looked at her. “What was I supposed to do?”

  “Cover me up!”

  “Amanda, he got a two-second glimpse of your butt. Why are you so upset about it?”

  “Doesn’t it bother you that your cousin saw me?”

  “Does it bother you that my cousin saw you? You told me not two months ago that your fantasy is to be with two guys at once.”

  Amanda knew that little bare-all session would come back to haunt her. “Well, yeah, I said that, but it’s just a fantasy. I don’t expect it to ever happen. We have a wonderful sex life.”

  He cupped her face in his hands. “We have an amazing sex life, but is there anything else you want?”

  Amanda didn’t answer his question for her cellular phone rang from her purse. She did all her real estate business on her cellular phone, so she couldn’t ignore it. “I have to get that.”

  “I know you do.” He tilted her face up and kissed her lips softly. “I’ll go to the store with Pat and make sure he buys sirloin and not chuck.”

  Amanda watched him leave the room. His previous actions confused her. He hadn’t been the least bit concerned that Patrick had walked in on them. And she didn’t understand him bringing up their conversation about her fantasy. They’d had that discussion two months ago.

  Unless he planned to…

  No, of course not. Jake would never share her with another man, despite her silly fantasy. Not even his cousin.

  The phone’s third ring made her scramble for her purse. Business now, sex later, Amanda.

  Chapter Three

  “You did a great job on those steaks, cuz,” Patrick said as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

  “Thanks. Cooking on the grill I can do, but I’m not so good with a regular stove.”

  “I don’t mind that you aren’t a great cook,” Amanda said, “since you do other things so well.” She bobbled her eyebrows twice before dropping a kiss on his lips.

  Patrick chuckled. “I think we’re getting into that T.M.I. territory.”

  “Sorry.” Amanda grinned, then stood and began gathering up their plates. “Since you cooked, I get to clean.”

  “You do not.” Jake also stood and took the stack of plates from Amanda. “It’s still your birthday and you aren’t allowed to do anything that might be considered housework. Pat and I will clean up. Why don’t you go ahead and take your bath?”

  “I’d like that.” She touched his face, letting her fingers glide over his cheek. “Will you come up and wash my back?”

  The invitation in that simple question made his cock swell and almost tempted him to say yes. Jake frequently joined Amanda in their garden tub. He loved to wash her back…and whatever else she wanted washed. But not tonight. Tonight, he had other plans for her. “I’m going to clean up the kitchen while you bathe. Take a nice long one and enjoy yourself. When you’re through, come back down and we’ll have your birthday cake.”

  Her eyes lit up like a child’s at Christmas, erasing all traces of the desire he’d seen there a moment ago. “Birthday cake? What kind?”

  “Now, what kind do you think?”

  “Chocolate?”

  “Of course.”

  Amanda grinned. “I’ll hurry.”

  Jake watched Amanda leave the dining room. She was such a delight to be with, and not just sexually, although he had no complaints in that department. Simply being with her made him happy.

  Patrick picked up the glasses and silverware f
rom the table. “Need some help with this stuff?” he asked, following Jake into the kitchen.

  “Nah. I’m just gonna rinse them off and stick them in the dishwasher. Amanda doesn’t run it until there’s a full load, but she hates to see dirty dishes in the sink.” He set the plates on the counter next to the sink. “Is everything ready?”

  “Everything you asked for. It’s all in the closet under the stairs.” Patrick placed the glasses next to the plates on the counter. “I’ll bring the rest of the stuff from the dining room, then I’m gonna take a quick shower.”

  “Go ahead. I’ll grab one after I finish here.”

  Patrick turned as if to leave the kitchen, then stopped and faced Jake again. “Do you think she suspects anything? I mean, I almost blew it today when I came in and caught you two.” He grinned. “By the way, she has a great ass.”

  Jake chuckled. “Yes, she does.”

  Patrick quickly sobered again. “You know, we haven’t seen each other in a long time since we’ve both been busy building our careers. Even though I haven’t seen you in five years, I still consider you my best friend. I don’t want anything to mess that up, Jake. If you think Amanda and me having sex will mess up you and me, maybe you should find someone else to do this.”

  “I feel the same way, man. I’m sorry we let so much time pass without getting together, but we’re still solid. That isn’t going to change. And it’s you or no one as far as Amanda is concerned. I won’t let another man touch my wife, no matter how much I want to please her.”

  “So you’re really okay with this? As long as you’re sure, I’m certainly willing. Celibacy sucks.”

  “Yeah, I’m really okay with this.” He motioned toward the door. “Go take your shower so I can take mine.”

  After Patrick left the room, Jake returned to his clean-up duty. As he rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher, he went over the conversation he’d just had with his cousin. Yes, he was okay with this, more than he thought he would be. Ever since Patrick had walked in on them this afternoon, Jake had been fantasizing about this evening. He imagined all the things the two of them would do to Amanda…and he imagined the things he’d watch Patrick do to her.