The Ex (Enemies to Lovers Book 2) Read online

  She gasped and lifted her gaze. Jake stood in the doorway, his large hands wrapped around a bouquet of daisies, an amused smile on his lips.

  She lifted the knife. “Jake.”

  His eyes locked on the blade. “If I tell you these flowers are for you, will you put the knife down?”

  Her fingers squeezed on the handle as her heart beat out of control. She forced herself to put the knife down. “You don’t have to say those flowers are for me just to stay safe.”

  He grinned, flashing dimples she remembered well. Dimples that framed a mouth that used to drive her crazy. A mouth that hadn’t changed much over the years. In fact, Jake looked nearly the same. Except taller. And bigger. She swallowed. God, he practically towered over her—muscles hard as rocks.

  She willed her gaze not to travel any lower. Not to remember the way he’d pin her with those strong muscles while he slid in between her thighs and drove her insane.

  “They are for you,” he said. “I heard you were in town.”

  She gave him a tight smile and snatched the flowers from his grip. “Thanks.”

  She turned her back on him and reached for the cupboard. She knew Dad kept an old vase that used to be Mom’s on the top shelf. She reached up, standing on the tips of her toes.

  Jake leaned in next to her, arm brushing hers as he grabbed the vase. His thigh pressed against her hip, and the zap of attraction that shot through her made her frown. No, no, no. Jake meant nothing to her. He wasn’t anything to her.

  When he turned, there was something in his eyes she didn’t recognize. Something she almost opened her mouth to question. Then she remembered her vow to never, ever forgive Jake Adams for what he’d done to her.

  “Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes.” She turned to the sink to fill the vase with water. To compose herself. “You and Dad can sit in the living room or out on the back porch.”

  She waited until she heard him walk away before she leaned against the counter and released the tension in her shoulders.

  One night. That’s all she had to make it through. One night with Jake Adams and then she’d avoid him the rest of her time here.

  Chapter 4

  ________________

  Jake

  She wouldn’t look at him at all throughout dinner. She’d pass him more rolls or refill his wine glass, and she’d answer any questions directed at her with a simple yes or no, but she wouldn’t look at him.

  Holly even sat on the other side of the table, as far away from him as possible. God, she hated him. Truly, deep down, hated him.

  Jake figured the flowers wouldn’t do much good, but he had to try. And since those didn’t work, he had to find a way to talk to her. To apologize.

  But more than that…damn, Holly Martin had hardly changed. The only difference was how much hotter she’d gotten. All those curves were more defined. Enough to make his dick twitch the instant he saw her.

  Jake could hardly focus on dinner. All he could see was her, all he could feel was the brush of her skin when he’d touched her while grabbing the vase. He could smell the sweet scent of lavender on her, just enough that his mind was going crazy with fantasies of her body. Naked. Voluptuous.

  And all his.

  Once, she’d been all his. He’d been able to put his hands and his mouth all over her.

  Then he’d blown it.

  Now that he’d seen Holly again, now that he’d heard her voice and touched her, he realized he couldn’t let her leave Spring Creek.

  “I’m heading to bed,” Burt announced, standing from the table. “You need help with the dishes?”

  Holly stood as well, though she had only eaten half her meal. “No. I’m good. I’ll make sure you get settled first. Thanks for coming, Jake.”

  He would have considered it a victory that she said his name if it hadn’t been in dismissal. She was expecting him to leave. But he didn’t plan on going anywhere.

  After she walked inside with Burt, he started clearing the dishes. He carried a load inside and then got the next one as the sun started to sink behind the horizon.

  Once half the dishes were in the washer, he heard Holly’s footsteps coming down the hall. She stopped in the doorway of the kitchen when she saw him.

  “I’ll get the rest so you can head out,” she said.

  “Holly.”

  She wouldn’t look at him, just walked straight to the sink and grabbed another plate.

  “Please look at me,” he said.

  Her jaw clenched. “I want you to leave.”

  “I’m not leaving until you listen to what I have to say.”

  When she looked up, he could see the hurt in her eyes. But she quickly masked it with anger. “Fine. Say it and go.”

  Damn stubborn woman. How the hell had he thought flowers would help? How had he thought this would be easy? And how the fuck was he supposed to get this out when her ample chest was heaving with angry breaths?

  He could practically feel the heat radiating from her body. The same heat he remembered from those nights long ago. From burying himself deep in her over and over on summer evenings.

  “I’m sorry.” When she didn’t respond, he moved to stand in front of her, resisting the urge to snatch her into his arms. “I’m sorry for breaking up with you the way I did. In fact, I’m sorry for breaking up with you at all.”

  Her eyes locked on his. He couldn’t tell whether she was going to forgive him or turn and grab the knife again to chase him out of the house.

  “Then why did you?” she asked quietly.

  “I was a kid. I was an ass. I had the whole world at my fingertips and I thought love was something you could throw away because you could find it anywhere and anytime.” He reached out to brush his thumb on her cheek. “I was wrong.”

  When she angled her head just slightly, tilting it into his palm, his control broke. He stepped forward, capturing her against the counter and devouring her mouth with his. He plunged his tongue inside, licking deep and feeling his dick go rock hard at the contact.

  Her groan nearly undid him. He pressed into her, cock digging into her belly, and felt her arms come around his neck. He slid impatient hands down her body, cupping her ass before he reached under her shirt.

  “Jake,” she murmured, voice muffled.

  “God, Holly, you don’t know how much I’ve missed this.”

  “It’s…my dad is in the other room.”

  But he couldn’t stop. “He’s probably already sleeping.”

  When her fingers threaded through his hair in the back, a thrill of longing raced through him.

  “Let’s go to your room, then.” He grabbed her waist to steady himself and encourage her to move.

  She stared up at him, eyes cloudy. Her lips parted and he went for another kiss.

  Then, suddenly, she yanked in a breath. “No.”

  “What?”

  “No. Jake—you can’t do this. We can’t do this.”

  She shoved him back a step. And when he didn’t move any further, she reached out to shove him again.

  He caught her hands in his and yanked her to him. “Stop. Holly,” he snapped. “Don’t push me away.”

  “I’m not—this isn’t right.” She pulled her hands from his grasp. “Last time this ended badly. I’m not looking for round two.”

  Before he could argue, she slid down the counter, keeping her distance, and turned for the hallway. He thought about following her, but changed his mind when he heard the door to her bedroom shut.

  Fuck. He’d been this close.

  He’d felt her give in. Felt it in every muscle that melted against his when their bodies touched. The chemistry was electric.

  What was it going to take to get her to change her mind?

  Now that he’d seen her again, Jake felt more drawn to Holly than he had when they were teenagers. He couldn’t let her go.

  He wouldn’t let her go.

  He hadn’t been able to admit it to himself back then that Holly was the on
e for him, but he couldn’t deny it now.

  Jake was going to make Holly his, no matter what.

  Chapter 5

  ________________

  Holly

  Last night she dreamed about Jake. She dreamed about everything she hadn’t seen or felt when he’d kissed her last night. Tight, hard abs, rock solid cock. She dreamed about him pinning her to the bed and having his way with her.

  And she’d woken up so hot for him she’d had to squeeze her thighs together until her pussy stopped aching.

  Holly made sure her dad was settled on his recliner with a snack of carrots and a glass of water before she left. She needed to get out of the house. More, she needed to work off some sexual energy. The only gym in town was Red’s, so that’s where she went.

  She’d nearly clocked two miles on the treadmill when she heard his voice.

  She felt that same throbbing in her clit as she had when she’d woken this morning.

  Damn Jake and his sexy voice. His sexy everything.

  Holly glanced over to find Jake talking with Red, the gym owner. At that same moment, he turned and his eyes locked with hers. Her nipples hardened.

  And she nearly tripped on the treadmill.

  She abruptly stopped it and grabbed her towel, turning in the other direction to dab the sweat off her neck. Of course Jake was here. He didn’t get to looking like that with will power alone.

  He looked like he’d already finished his workout. Maybe he was on his way out. Maybe he wouldn’t come over here…

  “Holly.”

  Her stomach jumped. She smoothed out her expression before she turned. “Jake. How are you?”

  His eyes dipped, skimming her collarbone, her bare shoulders, and then her breasts. “Better now that I’ve seen you.”

  She flashed a quick smile that lacked any warmth. “Have a good day.”

  He didn’t move. “You can’t just dismiss me like that.”

  “I’m not—it’s—” She brushed past him and went for the exit, at a loss for words.

  So much for her workout.

  Jake caught up to her and opened the door before she could reach for it. “You don’t have to try so hard.”

  “What?”

  “To avoid me. I’m not the enemy.”

  He was wrong. So wrong. Jake was the last person she needed to be around. Being near him was just setting herself up to be hurt again.

  “Holly,” Jake said. When she didn’t stop, he reached out and grabbed her arms. “Can you stop a minute?”

  She sighed and looked up at him. “What?”

  “I don’t want things to be like this between us.”

  “Like what?”

  “Strained. We used to be friends.” He looked around, as if realizing just like her that friends didn’t hurt each other the way he’d hurt her. “Listen. I have a book for your dad. Maybe we can stop by my place and grab it and then talk.”

  Talk? Funny. Despite her frustration with him, the last thing she wanted to do was talk. In fact, she just wanted his naked body covering hers and then, once she had sex off the brain, maybe she’d be able to think straight.

  “That’s probably not a good idea…”

  Jake kept hold of her arm and started leading her to his truck. “It’s a great idea. You’ll see. Things don’t have to be awkward between us. And if they are…I promise I’ll leave you alone from now on.”

  “Really?”

  He gritted his teeth, but nodded. “Really.”

  She got in the passenger side despite her better judgement. She was still sexually frustrated, and going back to her dad’s house wasn’t going to remedy that. At least Jake was an amusing distraction.

  His place was on the other side of town, a small ranch style home that backed right up to the creek.

  “Hmm.”

  Jake glanced over at the noise she made. “What?”

  “I guess I expected an apartment or something.”

  Or maybe that he had a dozen roommates. After all, Jake seemed like the kind of guy who never really grew up.

  “I’m not the same person you remember,” he said, hopping out of the car.

  He made it to her side to help her down, and kept her hand in his as he led her inside. He was right, he wasn’t the same person. His house looked normal. Grown up. Not at all what she’d expected.

  Then she saw the picture on the end table by the couch. One they took the day after graduation.

  “God,” Holly whispered, tracing her finger over the glass of the picture. “We looked so in love.”

  Jake stepped up next to her. “I think I’m still in love.”

  Her composure broke. She reached for him at the same time he reached for her. Jake’s strong hands wrapped around her waist, backing her against the wall. Her breath rushed out when her shoulder blades hit the surface.

  “I want you so bad,” Jake said, his mouth running down her cheek, to her collarbone, and then lower.

  He dropped to his knees in front of her, sliding his thumbs under her shirt. He still wore his workout clothes, the cutoff sleeves revealing strong biceps. She gripped his arms, reveling in his strength.

  Before she could even tell him to take her, to take whatever he wanted, he’d pulled off her shorts. He ran his nose up the inside of her leg and stopped at the apex of her thighs. Her dream came back to her, coupled with Jake gripping her legs possessively, and her whole body ached. Her panties grew wet and she moaned.

  “Jake…”

  He looked up at her, fire in his eyes. “Tell me to stop. If that’s what you want, say it now, Holly. Or else we’re doing this. And once I start, we’re not stopping.”

  She could barely stand, let alone speak. Holly gripped his shoulders, her pussy wet and throbbing. In this moment, all she wanted was to be lost in him.

  “That’s what I want, Jake.”

  Chapter 6

  ________________

  Jake

  The instant the words were out of her mouth, Jake stood, hiked her up so her legs wrapped around his waist, and carried her to his bedroom. He dropped her on the bed and stripped out of his shirt in seconds.

  His dick twitched at the sight of her, hair spread on the comforter, her skimpy panties barely covering her wet pussy. All he could think was finally. He had Holly here, in his house, nearly naked on his bed.

  He could do anything he wanted with her, but he wasn’t going to rush it. He wanted to take his time, taste every inch of her skin, feel every shudder she made, and hear every catch of her breath or shout of his name.

  He’d make her come until she couldn’t stand, and then he’d convince her they were meant to be.

  “Take me, Jake,” she murmured, hands lifting her shirt.

  Her abdomen came into view, taut and smooth. He helped her yank off her shirt and the sports bra, and had to grit his teeth from practically coming right there. He’d only been with a few women since Holly and none of them compared. Not of them made him almost blow his load at the simple sight of her.

  He took his time pulling her panties down her legs, letting himself get his fill of the sight of her. Long limbs, toned muscles, hair trimmed in a neat triangle above her clit. He spread her legs, wanting to see every bit of her. Her sex shined with the cream of her arousal.

  “You’re so wet for me already,” Jake murmured.

  He slid a finger through her swollen lips, then added another and pressed them inside of her. It was hot, wet, and tight—like she’d been saving herself just for him.

  It took everything he had not to plunge into her right there.

  Her back arched, a groan slipping from her lips. The sound had a direct link to his cock, making it spasm. He jerked off his shorts and the rest of his clothes before grabbing her legs and pulling her to the edge of the bed.

  He knelt in front of her again, putting her legs over his shoulders, and leaned in between her thighs. He blew softly on her sex, reveling in the sound of her breath yanking in. Then he swirled his tongue ove
r her clit while he held her thighs tight to keep her at the edge of the bed.

  “Oh, God. Jake…”

  “That’s right, baby. Come for me.”

  He inserted his fingers in her hot pussy again, curling them just slightly as he worked them in and out. Her breath hitched and then her body tightened as she came. The orgasm seemed to last forever, her cum leaking onto his bed.

  Jake stood and eased her backward, balls heavy between them, aching for release. But he still made himself wait, let the need build and build. He’d already been waiting this long.

  He locked his lips over one taut nipple while her hands roamed over his shoulders and down to grip his cock.

  “You’re so hard,” she murmured.

  She squeezed the base of his dick and let her fingers slid to the end, which was moistened by pre-cum.

  He squeezed his eyes shut. “Hard for you.”

  When he couldn’t wait anymore he gripped her legs again and buried himself deep inside of her. She gripped him like a vice, pussy already trying to milk him to get him to come.

  “I need you,” he murmured. “It’s been too long.”

  “I need you, too.”

  He pumped harder, the friction driving him mad. Then he pulled her legs up so he could go even deeper, so deep it felt like they were the same person.

  Her perfect breasts bounced as he pounded and he heard the sound of his balls slapping her ass. Every sound, every movement got him even harder. It built from the base of his dick and travelled to the tip, and this time he couldn’t stop it.

  But he forced himself to keep thrusting into her as he came. His cum spurted hot and deep inside her cunt, and when she came once more, her pussy wrapped so hot and hard around him, his dick jerked again.

  “Holly.”

  Her eyes opened and met his. He finished his release and rolled to his side, still keeping their bodies linked. At this moment, nothing could make him pull out of her.

  He touched her cheek. “I’ve been wanting to do that since I saw you yesterday.”

  “At dinner?”

  “No. At the hospital.”

  “That was you,” she said, running her fingers over his chest.