The Tracker's Mate: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 1) by Ingrid Seymour (book recommendations website TXT) 📕

“So it says here that a Petite Sirah or Cabernet Sauvignon would go well with a rich cut of beef.”

I glanced up from the phone to find Jake’s attention immersed in my features. A thrill went down to my lower belly, tightening my muscles. It was like an electric jolt, something that no one else but Jake had made me feel.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he said in a heady voice that made me slow-blink and go all tingly in places.

Shit, Toni. Really?

Without taking his eyes off me, he slid the wine bottle back into the rack and slowly turned to face me. A current of palpable energy flowed between us. He took a step closer until we were about an inch apart, the tips of his boots touching mine, the back of his hand brushing my hip.

A voice in the back of my head was screaming for me to run upstairs and jump inside the fridge until my ovaries turned into popsicles. Sadly, the voice was weak, and it didn’t compare to the stronger one that told me to stay put, and overpowered every rational thought in my being. Because when it came to Jacob Knight, logic didn’t seem to count.

Only instincts.

His darkened gaze fell to my lips. He inhaled sharply, leaning closer. He had told me before that my scent drove him crazy, that it did things to him that he’d never experienced before. Did it still work the same way? I really hoped it did because otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair—not when his intoxicating smell could send my thoughts into the gutter from zero to sixty in under a nanosecond.

He let out a trembling breath through parted lips. His large hand snaked around my waist and pulled me against him. My breasts nestled perfectly under his pecs. He hissed in a breath as our bodies fit together. I slid my fingers up his side, enjoying his solidity.

I was dying to kiss him, but this slow way was delicious, like savoring a favorite dessert to make it last to the last bite. His other hand cupped my face.

“Toni, why can’t I resist you?” he said, his sweet breath brushing my lips and sending a spark of heat to my core.

“You’re asking me?” My voice sounded husky, deep, and it seemed to undo whatever shred of willpower he was holding onto.

His lips crashed into mine. The world exploded with sensations I hadn’t experienced in a very long time. My entire body tingled and became alive with desire. His tongue slipped into my mouth, hungry to taste me. Memories washed over me, his naked body on top of mine, the rocking of his hips against my own, expert fingers caressing secret places.

He slipped his hands around my ass, picked me up, and walked me to the wall. He pinned me there, a barrier of hard muscle and sinew conquering me. I felt his erection against me, and I let out an involuntary moan. His chest rumbled, and his mouth left mine to explore my neck. His tongue traced a pattern over my jugular.

I whispered in his ear. “Jake, I’ve missed you so much.”

Damn! Where did that come from? That wasn’t something I wanted to admit. I needed to stop this. I needed to push him away and let him know this was unplanned and meant nothing. I didn’t forgive him for leaving me. I wasn’t opening the door to invite him in again, even if my legs were wrapped tightly around him as inviting as ever.

And why was he doing this anyway? If he wanted me this badly, why had he left me in the first place?

Gah, the hell with all the questions.

His stubbled jaw scratched against mine as his lips returned to my mouth. There, his tongue ran the length of my lower lip, tasting me. I knew his kiss well and loved the fullness of his lower lip. It gave me something to bite, to suck, to delight in.

He tugged at my blouse, pulling it from my waistband. His hand slid over my stomach, and suddenly I wished the entire world would disappear, leaving only the two of us, wrapped together in heat. His finger traced a path toward my breasts. I raked my own fingers into his hair and arched my back.

“You’d better stop that and bring the wine up,” Walter called from upstairs.

Jake jumped away from me, panting, his eyes wide, his lower lip swollen. I felt bereft and cold without his body pressed against mine.

I shook my head, feeling angry at myself. “Shit, what are we doing? We shouldn’t have...”

“I’m sorry, Toni. You’re right. We shouldn’t.” He raised a hand through his light brown hair and turned his back on me.

I hastily stuffed my blouse back into my pants and smoothed the front, stretching the wrinkles out. I patted my hair down and wiped a hand over my lips, trying to ignore the lingering feeling of Jake’s weight against my body.

He walked down one of the wine aisles and quickly selected a bottle. “Cabernet Sauvignon. All right, this should do.”

Turning, he walked past me without a glance. “Take your time.”

He started climbing the stairs, leaving me standing there, still bereft and confused.

After this, he couldn’t refuse to talk to me and tell me why he’d left. If the same attraction still existed between us, if I still had this effect on him, he owed me an explanation that made sense. All this time, I’d imagined he’d grown tired of me. I told myself that he’d gone to find someone new because I’d bored him. But maybe, there was another reason, one I couldn’t begin to fathom or understand.

A moment later, I stepped into the kitchen. It was empty. I found Jake and his grandfather sitting outside, impatiently waiting for me so they could dig into their steaks. Feeling self-conscious, I joined them. Gratefully, Walter acted normal, ignoring what he knew well had happened in his cellar.

I barely touched my food,