Winter Fire: A Red Hot Winter Story by Jess Dee Page A

Jackson this much?”
    “I told you this morning, it doesn’t bother me at all. And knowing it’s Jackson on your mind just turns me on more.”
    Her pussy jumped. Damn, did he say all the right things or what? “He’s not with you, is he?” She knew the answer would be no. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t hide the disappointment.
    “No.” Garreth shook his head. “I’m sorry. I was so sure he’d come after you.”
    She gave him a sad smile. “He has to put his sister first.” Rachel chewed on her lower lip. “Garreth?”
    “Yeah?”
    “I can’t do this.” She hadn’t been sure what her answer would be until this second, but now she’d voiced it she knew there could be no other choice. “I think you’re wonderful. I do. I also think you’re about the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on.” She smiled a small smile, telling him in her own way that he was forgiven for keeping the truth from her.
    “But?”
    “But I can’t make love to you again. Not without Jackson. Not knowing who you are and how you fit in with Jackson’s life.”
    His eyes filled with the warmth she’d come to associate with him. “Ah, sweet thing. I never expected you to sleep with me without him.”
    “You, uh, didn’t?”
    “You and Jack are supposed to be together. I told you that. There’s no way you’d be disloyal to him with me now.”
    God, his insight was truly astounding. “Then why did you come here?”
    The wind shrieked around him. “Because I thought he’d follow.”
    Tears rushed to her eyes. He’d done that for her? For Jackson? “Damn it, Garreth. If I wasn’t already in love with Jackson, I’dfall for you like a ton of bricks. Even if your logic is somewhat twisted.”
    “Yeah, and if I wasn’t in love with someone else, I’d fall for you too.”
    They smiled at each other, a sad smile borne of mutual compassion. If two people ever understood each other, it was her and Garreth. “Would you like to come in anyway? I have wine and scotch in the bar fridge. We can drown our sorrows together.”
    Garreth nodded. “I’d love to.” He stepped inside and walked over to the couch.
    Rachel pushed the door shut and headed to the fridge. Before the door had a chance to latch, it was shoved open again, so hard it slammed against the wall.
    A furious Jackson stormed into the room, looking menacing. Water dripped from his hair and jacket. His cheeks were scarlet, and his chest heaved as though he’d run all the way here from the restaurant. His eyes blazed with fury.
    “You are not fucking doing this,” he roared. “No way. No how. Do you understand me?”
    “Jack,” Garreth nodded at him, calm as anything.
    “You,” he pointed at Garreth. “You don’t get to touch her one more time.”
    Rachel gasped.
    “And you—” He turned to glare at Rachel “—You don’t get to fuck him. Ever again.”
    Rachel gaped at him. “What—”
    “I told you,” he raged. “You are not fucking doing this. Not without me! ”
    “Not without…” Rachel let the words trail off as their meaning registered. She lost her breath.
    “Finally come to your senses, asshole?” Garreth asked.
    Jackson tore off his jacket. It landed in a wet pile on the floor. “Don’t asshole me, you prick. I told you all along. She’s mine.” He yanked his sweater over his head and shook his hair out. Droplets splashed around him.
    Rachel blinked. “I am?”
    His hands stilled on the buttons of his shirt which he’d begun to open, and his expression softened. “You know you are, Rach. You always have been.”
    Her heart pounded.
    Garreth stepped up behind her and pressed himself to her back. “She wasn’t yours last night,” he told Jackson. “She was all mine. Every last naked inch of her.” His cock, which he’d strategically positioned snugly behind her butt, shifted. It grew with every word he spoke.
    Jackson’s eyes flashed dangerously.
    Garreth wrapped an arm around her waist and pushed her pajama top up,