Free Jenna Kernan by Gold Rush Groom Page B

freight. Now that you’re back, I’ll only rent them at night, or would you prefer to work nights? I can get more for them in the day.” Lily must have read the answer in his darkening expression for she lifted a hand. “Days then. The sun is only up for two hours a day.” Jackgrumbled. “I’ll see you have them all tomorrow, first thing.”
    She headed toward the kitchen and he stormed behind her, frustration boiling over. Why must he stand in line to use his own tools?
    “You had no right to rent what is mine.”
    That stopped her in her tracks. She thumped down the heavy pot on the sideboard and pressed her fists deep into the folds of her skirt.
    “And whose dog and sled are you using?”
    Jack ground his teeth together at her point. The fact that her point made perfect sense only annoyed him further.
    “Lily, you said we’re partners and we share what’s ours.”
    She nodded, but her expression remained uncertain. “That’s so. You shared my sled. I shared your tools.”
    Jack scowled, finding no ready answer to this and wondering why her logic made him even madder than before.
    “We’ve a need for money to buy the fittings and hardware for the boat,” she said.
    That was also true, and he should have accepted her reasoning, but he found it did nothing to assuage his annoyance. It seemed he couldn’t be near her at all lately without picking a fight and most of those fights made no earthly sense afterward.
    And then it struck him. He wasn’t here about thetools or hardware. His heart was not pumping and his skin was not flushed out of ire. He came back again and again to fight, because this was as close as he could come to satisfying the emotions she stirred in him. He was here looking for a fight when what he really wanted, what he really needed was—Lily.
    He took her by the shoulders. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she recognized what he was about to do an instant too late. This time he wouldn’t let her slip away. This time he’d have what he came for.
    Jack drew her in, slanting his mouth across hers, taking possession of her. She stiffened at the contact and then threw her arms about his neck, pressing her body tight to his.
    Finally, Lily was in his arms.

Chapter Seven
    H er fingers tugged in Jack’s hair, demanding more as he met her soft lips. The desire he had smothered each day and every night now roared within him. He pressed down hard, feeling the heavenly softness of her lips crushed against his. He opened his mouth, silently demanding she do the same. Her lips parted and he thrust inside, savoring her wanton little moan and the slick, silken texture of her mouth. Her tongue danced with his as he cradled her against his body, pressing her back. At last, he supported her weight and still she clung to him with all the fierceness of a tigress. He’d known she would be just this way and the proof fired his blood and aroused his fantasies. Lily’s surrender held the sweetness of honey and the heat of a branding iron. No matter how closely he held her it was not enough.
    Somehow, he had surmounted her barricades and he basked in the delight of her soft body, full breasts and thrilling little cries of excitement. He laid her across his arm, wishing he were alone so he could take off her top and cup her lovely full breasts in his hands. How many times had he imagined holding her like this— And here was a battle he could win, a battle that made sense, perfect sense.
    She’d let him. Her kiss left no doubt. He could do all the things he’d imagined as he lay beside her night after night on the frozen ground. He’d never wanted anything so much as he wanted Lily. Why hadn’t he done this weeks ago instead of bickering about this or that?
    Lily’s hands were tugging at his shirttails. A moment later she had them up and out of his trousers, her fingernails raking over his skin, arousing him to madness. He eyed the table behind them and draped her half across it.
    A pot clattered to