Anna and Jackson Page 3

  “You always thought you were better than me. But you’re not.” Ray’s voice was starting to get louder with every word he spoke. Another thing all men had in common, you couldn’t air their dirty laundry but it was totally okay for them to go bat shit crazy and holler and yell at you. They’d start with raising their voice, and gradually get louder, until they felt you’d been properly embarrassed. “You think ‘cause you went to New York; your high class, better than the rest of us? Well you ain’t, girl.”

  My face was getting hot and my ears started to drown out his voice with the sound of loud ringing. Joey saw my response to Ray, and quickly walked in my direction.

  “Shut your mouth, Ray,” Joey said hooking her arm around my waist.

  “This ain’t your business, Josephine, it’s between me and Annabelle.” Ray sneered.

  There was a crowd now and I hated being the center of attention. My eyes were downcast looking at Jackson’s plate, I wasn’t trying to hide, but things could go from bad to fucked up if I didn’t check my temper. I needed a moment to collect myself before I hauled off and slapped the words right out of his mouth! My hands were shaking as my anger simmered and threatened to boil over. I didn’t want to drop Jackson’s plate, but if Ray said one more thing, I was tossing it all over him; which would be an improvement over what he was currently wearing. How did I ever think Ray Donovan was hot?

  There were some shocked gasps from the crowd and a few feminine sighs. That’s how I knew Jackson had made his way over to me, and he was the only one big enough to block out the sun. I looked up from his plate and arched a brow in question, but got no further because the look in his eyes was angry. Did he think this scene was my fault?

  “I believe Annabelle told you no, Donovan.” Jackson’s voice was barely a whisper, but there was enough venom in his words to scare even me.

  “Sheriff Storme, Annabelle and I were just talking. She’s my girl. You know how things go when a couple is having a tiff.”

  As usual, Ray was being the knucklehead that he was.

  “No, Ray, I’m not your girl.” I got in his face, so he could see how serious I was. “The one time something did happen between us, Ray, I was experimenting, testing the waters, and the test came back negative. There is no you and me.” I stepped back and this time Ray was smart enough to look a bit sheepish. Or so I thought.

  “Whatever, I don’t need this shit, but don’t come to me when Jackson here is tired of your ass, Annabelle, and believe me when I say, he’ll get tired of your fat ass in a heartbeat. Just like I did.” The words were hateful and I swear I could see the spittle coming out of Ray’s mouth spraying me with his contempt.

  That almost hurt–, almost. I knew that whatever Jackson and I got into today was going to be a one-time deal. I had no illusions of a happily-ever after.

  “Move along, Ray.” Jackson stood closer to me and I took comfort in the heat of his body. I looked up into his golden eyes and smiled.

  “Thanks, Jackson.”

  “No need for thanks, baby, I was coming over to see what was taking so long with my plate anyway.” His head lowered and he chucked my chin and winked at me, making me laugh out loud.

  “I like hearing you laugh, Anna.” Jackson said against my forehead. I felt Joey squeeze my waist before she let go of me.

  “Play your cards right, Sheriff, and I just may laugh again.”

  “Planning on it, darlin’, planning on it.”

  I stepped out of his reach and stood, holding the plate in front of me.

  “Who says this plate is for you?”

  Jackson’s snaked his hand out along my waist, pulling me back into the shelter of his arms. Looking down at me, he grinned. I was so mesmerized by his smile, I didn’t realize he’d moved his hand below my waist to grab my ass and squeeze. Eyes huge, I let out a squeak.

  “If that’s not my plate, Annabelle, I’m going to lift this dress of yours up, bend you over my knee, and spank that apple-bottom ass of yours.”

  Oh good Lord, but that just gave me all kinds of images. The first that came to mind was at Joey’s sweet sixteen. I knew Jackson was there at the party, and as usual, he ignored me. But for some stupid reason I followed him and Amanda Wiseman out to the pool house; mind you, I was already hot and bothered by Jackson, but getting to see him display all his masculinity and glorious skin as he bent Amanda over the pool table and screwed her silly, while smacking her ass. Well that image is burned into my brain, a constant reminder of what I wanted to look like in the throes of sex, and how I wanted a man to treat me. Sun-kissed skin, hardened to perfection, and a strong hand to heel to. Watching him that day I’d come to realize two things, I wanted Jackson Storme, and I knew that when I had him, it would only be for one night. That was the longest he ever stayed with a woman.

  “Then this plate is definitely not yours, Sheriff Storme.”

  I watched as his eyes darkened with lust before his face bent closer to mine. The world stopped. All the noise from the festival ceased to exist, and there was only us. My mouth is parched, so I lick my bottom lip. His eyes track my movements and his free hand comes up to cup my neck seconds before his lips touch mine. I hear him whisper my name and then it’s game over for me.

  You ever kiss a man that kissed so well you forgot your own name? Me neither. So I wasn’t prepared when Jackson’s lips touched mine. He didn’t hurry the kiss, but he definitely controlled it. He nibbled and sucked on my lower lip, coaxing my mouth open. Jackson walked me through the stages of lust with careful instruction. His tongue slid against mine in a dance that was warm, wet, and just on the other side of wild. The taste was indescribable at first, but gradually, I become acquainted with the flavor of him. He was fire, sugar, honey, and beer, and just underneath his bold taste, was crimson hot possession.

  This is what being owned tasted like. This was what every girl who became a woman wanted. It was what I wanted and would stay up late at night until he got home from work, just to have it. It was perfection wrapped in sin. Someone took the plate out of my hand, which gave me free reign to tunnel my fingers into his silky black hair. My body molded perfectly to his, and I wanted to be closer, possibly even inside of his skin. Strong hands grabbed fistfuls of my ass and lifted me until my legs wound around his hips. We were walking then, and that’s when my little bubble of bliss busted wide open. There were catcalls, whoops, and hollers coming from the men at the festival. Even the teenage males were egging us on. It almost made me feel as if I was in one of those cheesy romantic comedy movies.

  A little embarrassed, I tried to untangle myself, but Jackson wouldn’t let me.

  “Nu unh, got you right where I want you, darlin’.”

  “There are people.” I squirmed but his hands only tightened on my ass, keeping me in place.

  “And I’m a grown ass man, they know what I’m planning to do to you, baby.”

  I buried my face in his neck and held on as he walked us away from the crowd of onlookers.

  “I thought you were hungry,” I switched tactics. Maybe I could convince him to eat first, it would give me time to get a hold of my hormones and regroup before coming back with a different plan of attack.

  “Am, darlin’, but not for food.”

  A Slow Burn: Chapter 4

  I chanced a look around as Jackson held me in his arms, Joey and Treat were smiling, Viola was glaring pointedly at me, and Ms. Mildred winked when we made eye contact. He was marching off with me in his arms to an undisclosed location. There were some women, other than Viola, that looked a little peeved too; as if it should have been them he was walking off with. That was to be expected. Jackson Storme was a catch. How long I’d manage to keep him was anyone’s guess, I had him now and I would enjoy it for however long it lasted. His normal modus operandi are one night stands– Jackson didn’t do relationships.

  It didn’t take long for him to find us somewhere secluded. My back pressed against something hard and bumpy, making my skin itch. There was also shade.
I looked up and noticed the Spanish moss curtaining us under a large tree next to the lake. I pulled back to look into his eyes, and I couldn’t help it, I smiled. Big. It was so wide, my mouth was hurting by the time I was able to get a hold of myself. I was under a tree, with Jackson Storme and he had his hands on my ass… my ass! His eyes were a dark brown-gold and they were looking right at me. There was a slight lift to the corner of his mouth and I knew he was trying not to laugh.

  “You’re sexy when you’re being a dork.” He stated plainly.

  “I’m not being a dork, Jackson.”

  “You are, but it’s cute. You grew up into a beautiful woman, Annabelle.”

  “Why thank you, Sheriff Storme.” I said sweetly.

  He searched my face for a few seconds. I didn’t know what he was looking for, but my face must have conveyed the right answers because his fingers dug into the flesh of my ass and then he was back to kissing me. He devoured my mouth and I wasn’t going to complain. I was making out with Sheriff Jackson Storme under a tree at the town’s Fourth of July Festival. He could have had his pick of any of the women in town, but he’d set his sights on me. Jackson moved his hands, anchoring my body between himself and the tree. He wedged one of his hands between our bodies caressing my inner thigh. My dress was scrunched up around my waist and my panties were swept to the side by strong fingers, he filled me with first one finger, and then another, his massive body shielding me from prying eyes.

  “God…” I panted against his mouth. My entire body was hyperaware. I didn’t care that my flip-flops were no longer on my feet and that quite possibly there was a tree ant inching its way up my bare back. The only thing I cared about at this particular moment in time was what his fingers were doing to me in the deepest part of my body.

  “You’re gonna come on my fingers, baby.” Jackson groaned against my lips.

  I’d come anywhere he wanted me to as long as he didn’t stop touching me. His palm cupped my heat, while his fingers dipped inside where I needed him most, two fingers working in tandem, then another. My nails dug into his shoulders grabbing for purchase as my eyesight began to dim. I’d never had anything this erotic happen to me, and in a public place. My thighs tightened around his waist. Jackson grunted while pushing the full weight of his body into mine, making his fingers dig deeper into my core. His lips moved to my jaw, then my neck, trailing a blaze of fire across my skin, never once breaking rhythm with his hand.

  “Darlin’, you’re so fucking wet, I can’t wait to put my mouth there and have your juices sliding down my throat. Damn, beautiful, fucking beautiful.”

  I couldn’t say anything to his words, only whimper, and that had him picking up the pace. Grinding his palm against my clit, and forcing me to rock into his hand over and over again working for my release. I screwed my eyes shut and tried not to scream as he pushed me over into sated fulfillment. But I couldn’t help it, the sound that came out of my mouth was loud, before it was quickly drowned out by Jackson’s mouth over mine. His movements never ceasing until he’d wrung out every drop I had to give.

  Exhausted, I slumped over, bringing my forehead to rest on his shoulder. I was sweaty and limp, barely able to hold myself up. Slowly, I lowered my legs from around his waist, steadying myself, using his shoulders. I should have been embarrassed. Being fingered out in the open where anyone could see is way out of my comfort zone, but no less hot. Jackson was every fantasy I’ve ever wanted and more. I looked up into his golden eyes, both of us grinning at our indecent behavior.

  “You dropped your flip flops,” he said against my neck.

  “Don’t care,” and I didn’t. His lips were bright red from our kissing when he pulled back to help me fix my ponytail, and his cheeks ruddy with arousal. I couldn’t help but smirk as I looked at my wrinkled dress and then over to his bulging erection. Boldly, I cupped him through his jeans, rising up on my toes to plant a firm kiss on the corner of his mouth.

  “Sorry I couldn’t relieve some of the pressure,” I cupped him and watched as his eyes crinkled at the corner, narrowing in suspicion.

  “If you think we’re done here, Annabelle, you’re wrong. We’re far from over. I plan to fuck you when I’m off duty. But for now, I’ll let you go, watch as your skin deepens in color when you remember this moment. I have you on simmer, and that’s gonna last a while; until I have you under me, over me, and on all fours.” He nipped my shoulder and spoke roughly in my ear. “Those city boys are fast cars, fast life, and fast fucks. Me, I’m gonna exhaust your body well into the night and straight into the early morning.”

  His words made my body shudder and my breath hitch. I should have waited, let him get me home before I allowed him to kiss me.

  “Go and fix me a plate, baby, I’m gonna need all the energy I can get, and call Miss Pearl and tell her and the mayor you won’t be coming home tonight.” Jackson slapped me on my ass and pushed me in the direction of the festival. I didn’t protest. I was in a sexual haze; he’d turned me into a lust-crazed zombie to do his bidding and nothing more. I walked on shaky legs over to the picnic table and grabbed a new plate. I filled it with heaping spoonful of potato salad, greens, yams; I took half a cornbread and three chicken breasts, and a quarter rack of ribs, all for Jackson. When I turned, he was sitting at the table with Treat and Joey, he looked up and winked at me before tipping his head in my direction. I was in trouble, big trouble.

  I was looking forward to burning up the sheets with him, even though I knew he would be the one setting the fire.

  * * *

  Jackson couldn’t believe he’d almost fucked Annabelle Macon under a tree in front of everyone at the festival. He wiped his hand across his brow while at the same time adjusting himself. She was a firecracker and if he played his cards right, she’d be going off like a rocket well after the fireworks finished for the evening. Shit, he needed another beer, but couldn’t take his eyes off the prize as she walked over to where Ms. Mildred was handing out pieces of her pecan pie.

  “Why are you staring at Annabelle’s ass,” Treat asked, taking a long pull on his beer. Was he staring at her ass? Dammit! He was, but that didn’t mean Treat could.

  “I’m not, why are you?” He was getting aggressive when it came to her. He knew why he’d taken her over to that tree out of the way, but still in plain sight. He wanted everyone to see he was claiming Annabelle Macon, that way there’d be no misunderstandings. Anyone who had any ideas about her, would now think twice before approaching. She was it for him, and as soon as he was able, he’d have her looking for wedding dresses while he picked out the rings.

  “Looks like the player of seven parishes has met his match,” Treat slapped him on the back and smiled over at his wife.

  “I think it’s great, Treat, don’t antagonize Jackson. I like the idea of him and Anna together.”

  “You better hope she stays. Joey, didn’t you say she was only here for a short visit?”

  Jackson clicked his tongue. She could try to leave but it wasn’t happening. She was going to be Mrs. Annabelle Elizabeth Storme and that was that.

  * * *

  “How long you been jonesing for my brother?” Joey said, walking up behind me.

  Annabelle Elizabeth Storme.

  Annabelle Storme

  Mrs. Annabelle Elizabeth Macon-Storme.

  Mrs. Anna Storme.

  Wife to Sheriff Jackson Storme.

  Sheriff Storme‘s wife.

  What in the world is wrong with me? I was still aching between my legs, standing with a plate of food, while trying out Jackson’s last name as my own. I needed my head checked.

  “Not jonesing, Joey.”

  Liar.

  “Didn’t look like it to me, the way you two were carrying on. I thought he was giving it to you under that tree. It was like watching hot porn and that’s just gross ‘cause Jackson’s my brother and you’re my best friend.”

  I was so busy talking and listening to Joey I hadn’t realized the vipers had come out to p
lay.

  “Best you go get your young fella, Annabelle. The strays are looking to get a scratch,” Miss Mildred said with a snicker.

  I turned in the direction of where I last saw Jackson and couldn’t see him. That was because every single woman, and even the ones who weren’t single, from all seven parishes were out en masse and they all had plates of food.

  “Does this happen a lot?” I asked Joey.

  Miss Mildred answered. “That’s nothing. I once saw Jackson kiss not one but two pretty girls at the same picnic last fall.”

  Joey didn’t say anything, but I could tell by the way her eyes were looking left and right that she felt sorry for me. She looked everywhere but at me.

  “Well, Joey, does it?”

  Joey’s eyes lifted to mine and she barely smiled before shrugging. “It’s normal, Annabelle. Jackson likes the attention, and all the women know it. I’m sorry, honey.”

  So he was basically the philandering type, and he was fucking with me. That’s what it all came down to. I knew what this was, and I had no illusions, but he could at least wait until tomorrow, maybe even a few days before he went out and snagged himself another woman. He was not going to lead me around by my orgasms. You’re not desperate, Anna. I wasn’t going to let him do this to me.

  “Don’t worry about it, Joey. We can still enjoy the rest of the festival.”

  And I did try. I tried to enjoy the rest of the events, but I kept feeling foolish about my earlier actions. Tina Wheeler stopped by to remind me how stupid I was too, right when I was just about to let it all go, and move on from this experience. She ruined it for me.

  “Jackson’s not the settling type, Annabelle, just last week he added me to his seven parish rotation. Girl’s gotta be stupid to ignore a man that looks like Jackson. Everyone wants him in their bed, and let me tell you, He’s amazing.”