Cutter's Law

by Judith Rochelle

  Morgan chuckled as he closed the menu. “Thought I only liked steaks and burgers? Food for savages?"

  She felt heat stain her cheeks and took refuge in sipping her wine.

  "I like a good veal dish now and then. My palate isn't as uneducated as you might think, living away from the big city."

  She could tell he was enjoying her discomfort, but not in a mean-spirited way. “I'm sorry.” She put her glass down. “I'm acting like a snob and I don't mean to. I'm just so nervous I don't know what to do with myself."

  He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. “Everything's fine, Allie. I'm here because I want to be. You don't have to worry about what I eat or drink. I'm a big boy; I can take care of myself. And so far everything's terrific."

  And so it was until, as they were finishing their dessert, an unpleasantly familiar voice broke the silence around them.

  "Well, well, well. If it isn't the lovebirds."

  Allison gritted her teeth and looked up at Jerry Malanski, weaving a little unsteadily on his feet, a buxom blonde hanging on his arm. “Had a few too many Rusty Nails tonight, Jerry?"

  "Guess what? We'll be sitting at the table next to you.” He teetered a little, then straightened up. “Say. Why don't we just join you? Have one big happy party?"

  "We're just leaving.” She threw her napkin down on the table. “Morgan, could you excuse me? I'll meet you at the door."

  She stood up and started to brush past Jerry when his hand closed over her arm. “I told Tina here how lucky I was not to get stuck with you tomorrow night. I guess Mr. Cattle Shit here is a lot more your style."

  Morgan had sat through the short exchange with no expression on his face, but Allison could see the anger in his eyes. She just wanted to get out of the restaurant before the little interchange erupted into a full-blown scene. But Morgan rose to his full six foot four, glowering at Jerry. “Cattle Shit, huh? Well, it seems it takes one to know one. Let go of the lady's arm."

  "Ooh,” Tina giggled. “Are we going to have a fight?"

  "Not if I can help it,” Allison muttered, yanking her arm free. “Jerry, go sit down before you get yourself in real trouble. Morgan, he's not worth it. Let's get out of here."

  A muscle worked in Morgan's jaw, but he dropped a wad of bills on the table, took Allison's hand and led her away from the table.

  "Coward!” Jerry yelled after them.

  Allison flinched, anger and humiliation making her pulse accelerate. She didn't say a word until they were waiting for the valet to bring Morgan's car.

  "I'm so sorry.” She couldn't look at him. “Jerry Malanski is a jerk."

  "No problem. We have jerks in White Tail, too.” He waited until they were in the car before asking her, “Who is that jerk? And what did he mean about tomorrow night?"

  "Jerry works for the bank, too. He suggested we go to the event tomorrow night together, like we've done before. Then you called and I told him to get a real date."

  "Apparently he thought you were his real date."

  She made a sound of disgust. “He should be so lucky. Look, I'm sorry he ruined our nice dinner, but let's just forget him. Not everyone I know is like that. I hope you know that."

  Morgan reached for her hand and held it on his thigh, where she could feel the hard muscles flex as he drove. “First of all, he didn't ruin our dinner. Second, I think we're paying entirely too much attention to him. We enjoyed our meal, the setting was great, so let's just think about that."

  "All right."

  By the time they reached her condo and pulled into the underground guest parking, she was having another attack of nerves.

  Morgan seemed to sense it, because he locked her doors for her, set his Stetson on the hall table, then picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Still holding her against his chest, he brought his lips down to hers. A gentle touch set off an explosion, and in seconds his tongue was thrusting into her mouth, the tip of it licking at all the secret places. It seemed all they had to do was touch each other and a blaze swept over them.

  Allison felt liquid heat spreading through her body, and every pulse throbbing like jungle drums. Morgan set her on her feet, slid the zipper down on the back of her dress, and pushed it down to pool at her feet. Standing there in a lacy bra, a satin thong and high heels, she shivered at the hunger in his gaze as it swept over her body.

  His hands reached out and caressed the slope of her breasts just above the lace cups.

  "So soft,” he murmured. “Like silk.” He bent his head and licked the tip of his tongue over her skin, following the path of his fingers.

  Allison could feel moisture already seeping from her. There was something so erotic about standing there nearly nude while Morgan was still fully clothed. Still, she wanted him naked so she could touch him, run her fingers through the thick hair on his chest, feel the movement of hard muscle under hot skin.

  "I have to force myself to take it slow, Allie.” His voice sounded like gravel. “If I didn't I'd have had myself buried in you two seconds after I walked in the door."

  His eyes devouring her, he reached out and unclasped her bra, sliding it off and tossing it to the side. Breath hissed through his teeth as her breasts sprang free and he held their weight in his palms. Lifting her onto the bed, he pulled off her shoes but left her thong in place. His gaze like a burning torch sweeping over her as he stripped off his own clothes with swift efficiency, tossing them to the side.

  Allison wet her lips as she took in the broad chest with its dark hair, the flat stomach, and the heavy, throbbing erection rising in magnificence from the thatch of curls at the base. A tiny bead of moisture had already formed at the tip of the rich, purple head, and she reached out with one hand and ran her finger over it, spreading it on the satin skin. When she touched him his shaft flexed and a tiny growl escaped his throat.

  "Like what you see?” His voice was hoarse with desire.

  Allison nodded.

  "Touch me again. Take me in your hand."

  She did, stroking him with a light touch, and he flexed again, closing his eyes.

  When she increased the pressure of her hand, he removed it and parted her legs with his powerful thighs. Kneeling between them, he leaned down and ran his tongue along the top edge of her thong, catching it in his teeth and dragging it down to reveal the curly thatch covering her mound. He brushed across them with his tongue, making her shift and reach for his head.

  He teased at the curls, at the soft skin just above them, at her navel, all the while holding her thighs apart, until she began to moan. She felt his lips on the soft skin of her inner thighs feathering light kisses that turned her bones liquid and her blood to molten fire. When he licked at her gently with his tongue shivers raced through her body. Need rose inside her, a spiral winding tighter and tighter, and he'd barely touched her yet.

  "Easy, darlin'.” Passion thickened his voice. “I don't plan to rush things tonight."

  Taking the fabric of the thong between his teeth, he dragged it downwards, closing her legs enough for him to push it off and onto the floor. Then she felt him move up again, hands parting her thighs, tongue licking softly at her outer lips. She was sure she'd die if he didn't do more than tease her soon. When he spread her outer lips with his thumbs and flicked at her with his tongue she nearly arched off the bed. She grabbed his head and pressed downward, and she heard him chuckle as he speared his tongue into her pulsating sheath.

  Slipping his hand beneath her bottom, he lifted her to his mouth and continued the movement of his tongue, his thumb circling her clit in a continuous, soft motion. She felt the spiral tightening, tensing, pulling at her body from deep in her center. Morgan was relentless with his tongue, lapping at the hot, slick walls, nipping at the lips that he parted to give him greater access, massaging her until she nearly screamed from his touch.

  Just at the moment she thought she couldn't stand it one minute more, she felt the spiral snap and her orgasm rolled over her life a t
idal wave, consuming her, swamping her. Morgan drove her with his clever tongue until she thought surely she'd break from the intensity of the spasms, and then finally, slowly, they began to subside.

  As her body relaxed, he moved up to pull her into his arms, soothing her with soft words, brushing the damp curls from her face.

  "Don't give out on me now, darlin',” he whispered. “We've only just started."

  She lay in his arms, his hand soothing her body, until the aftershocks subsided and her heart rate slowed. When she could breathe without gasping, she rolled over and pushed him onto his back.

  "My turn,” she told him, the glittering look in his eyes heating her all over again.

  Wrapping her hands around his shaft, she licked the head and teased the slit with her tongue, feeling him jump beneath her hands. When she slipped one hand down between his thighs to cup the heavy sac, he arched up into her, his magnificent body taut with passion.

  When she bent her head and took him in her mouth, the groan that burst from him echoed throughout her body. His hands threaded through her hair, holding it as she moved her mouth up and down, helping her find the rhythm he needed. She felt his hot shaft grow even harder, stretching her mouth, throbbing against her tongue, her fingers tickling the soft hairs on his sac. She felt totally connected to him, loving his sweet, salty taste.

  Suddenly he pulled her head away, reared up and pinned her to her back, one hand holding both wrists above her head. She was acutely aware of the ragged sound of his breathing, the coolness of the sheets against her back, the heat poring from Morgan's body and flowing onto hers.

  "Let me in.” His voice scraped from his throat. “I want to bury myself inside you so deep you won't know where one of us ends and the other begins."

  She opened her legs for him, and guiding his erection with his hand, he entered her slick heat with one deep thrust. She felt him inside her, thick, stretching her, filling every inch of her. She felt him draw in a deep breath, and then he began the dance, moving in and out in a rhythm that stoked the fire inside her. As he slid in and out, he used his mouth to tease her nipples, drawing them out, grazing them with his teeth, circling them with his tongue.

  Her body throbbed at the assault on her senses, the whip of passion snaking through her. She thrust her hips upward, locked her ankles behind his back and began moving with him in a choreographed rhythm. The friction turned every one of her nerves into a miniature torch searing her body, and she felt the coil tightening within her again.

  Morgan reached down with one hand, and adjusted his body so with each thrust he rubbed the sensitive nub. Arrows of heat shot through her and the muscles of her sheath gripped his powerful shaft. She pulled herself as tightly to him as she could, seeking the release her body demanded, but he wouldn't let her. Rocking them together in tandem, he kept her at fever pitch, every nerve screaming for release until she was nearly senseless.

  "Please,” she sobbed. “Please, please, please."

  "Ssh.” She heard his soothing tone, felt his mouth again teasing at her breasts, suckling them, nipping gently with his teeth. “This one's gonna take you right over the edge, darlin'."

  When she was sure she couldn't stand it another minute, when she was so ready to come she hurt, he drove into her one last time and took her flying into space with him. She shattered, screaming his name, pieces of her falling through a black velvet space. Her sheath pulsed around him, squeezing him, and he gave one last, hoarse shout before collapsing.

  Allison was sure she'd never breathe again. All the air had left her lungs and not one muscle in her body was able to move. Her hands rested limply on Morgan's back, feeling the fine sheen of perspiration covering his skin. His body was heavy on her, but she thought she'd die if he moved.

  They dozed, still holding each other, until at last Morgan roused and rolled to his side, taking her with him.

  "You burn me up, darlin'.” His voice was raw, his heartbeat still thudding erratically against her.

  She wet her lips, barely managing to get any words out. “Same here."

  He turned her around and tucked her against his body, pulling the sheet over them. “Whatever this is, Allie, it's got a chokehold on us. You know that."

  "Yes.” Her voice was a breath of sound.

  "Let's see where we go with it, okay?"

  She nodded and was asleep before she could think of anything else today.

  * * * *

  The tall blonde leaned back in the booth in the diner, delicately wiping a tiny smear of mustard from her lips. God, how had she gotten herself into this? This was all that damn Jared's fault. He thought he was so smart. Well, look where it had gotten them. Hiding out in crummy motels, driving around Texas like lost cattle.

  How the hell had they messed up such a sweet deal? And how had they been so dumb as to think they could rip off Emilio Escalante? Jared again, that idiot. Him and his perfect mark. She should have known better. The last time she'd let him handle everything, not done the investigating herself, they'd had to drop out of sight for a few months and relocate their operation. It hadn't been a bad few months for her, either, she remembered, but she'd been itching to get back in the action. But this time Jared had screwed up big time.

  For one thing, she never should have let him talk her into pulling the scam in San Antonio, Three hours wasn't far enough away from the trouble she wanted to avoid. But they did it, and stashed the money in such a way that it took both of them to get it. After that they agreed to step back until things cooled down, then split it up. They both had access to the funds, each knowing if they got greedy, the other would find them. But the last thing she expected was to be on the run from one of the biggest drug dealers in Texas.

  She pulled out the throwaway cell phone she'd bought and tried Jared again. They'd bought a bunch of the phones together before they split and made a list of the numbers. She tried every one she had, but none of them answered.

  Damn, damn, damn.

  Where the hell had he gotten to?

  Where are you, you little weasel? This is all your fault.

  She had to stay in Texas until she found Jared, but she couldn't keep moving around forever. And she was sick of crummy motels and cheap food. She had money, but she just couldn't get to it. Not until she knew where Jared had disappeared to and made sure their tracks were covered. She really needed to go to ground somewhere.

  Maybe she could try the same hidey hole she'd used last time. That would take some doing to make it happen, but she was sure it was the one place Escalante's people wouldn't find her. She'd made sure no one knew about it, even Jared. That made it her only option.She paid her check and climbed into her car, a used one that called little attention to her.

  * * * *

  Allison stretched like a satisfied cat, surveying the wreckage of the bed. This morning when she woke up, Morgan's erection had been pressing against her thighs. She'd been amazed to find herself instantly wet, and they made slow, delicious love, taking their time, learning each other's bodies in the light of day.

  After a playful shower, they'd driven to Alamo Heights and had strawberry breakfast crepes at Le Peep, then wandered along the Riverwalk like ordinary tourists. At a small jewelry store, Morgan had insisted on buying her a tiny gold deer on a thin chain and immediately placed it around her neck.

  "So you won't forget White Tail while you're in your fancy office,” he'd told her, then given her a gentle kiss.

  They'd stopped at Charlie's fine foods and picked up a cheese tray, knowing they wouldn't be eating any too early that evening, and two more bottles of the Chablis that Allison loved. Two bottles of wine had put them in a mellow mood, which had resulted in the destruction of her carefully made bed.

  She lay against his warm, masculine chest, twisting her fingers in the curling hair, more replete than she'd ever been in her life.

  Morgan ran his fingers up and down her spine and chuckled. “I think I'm getting too old for this. I used to do this when I was s
ixteen but the body just doesn't perform the same any more.""I'd say it performs just fine. You didn't hear me complaining, did you?"

  "I thought maybe you were just being polite."

  Allison sat upright, ready to argue, when she saw one corner of his mouth turn up. She slapped his chest playfully, then tugged on his chest hair.

  "Hey! Ouch! That hurts.” He covered her hand with his and pulled it away.

  "That'll teach you to make jokes about a serious subject."

  Every trace of humor left his face. “This is serious, isn't it, darlin'?"

  She felt her stomach do flip flops. “If it is, what do we do about it? How long can it last with us practically at opposite ends of the earth?"

  He resumed caressing her spine. “I don't know, but I've been doing some thinking."

  "Oh? Care to share your thoughts?"

  "Not at the moment, but soon.” He gave her a light slap on the rear. “Meanwhile, we better get up and make ourselves presentable for your big shindig."

  Her eyes flew to the clock. “Oh, God. Well, let's get to it."

  They almost got sidetracked by the shower, but by seven o'clock they were ready to go. Tonight Morgan was in a navy blue suit with matching hand-tooled boots, and Allison wore a red cocktail dress that showed off her figure despite covering her from neck to knee. She'd chosen it because she needed something professional that would still rock Morgan back on his heels.

  Morgan looked at her with hunger in his eyes. “You wouldn't care to blow off this shindig tonight, would you? And make better use of our time?"

  She took his arm. “I'd love to, but I'd like to have a job on Monday, too."

  "I suppose Jimmy Whatshisname will be there."

  Allison giggled. “Jerry. And yes, he'll be there, but I'm sure we can all behave like adults."

  Morgan raised an eyebrow, then ushered her out to the car.

  The event was everything Morgan had expected it to be, filled with fancy food, fancy drinks and fancy people making meaningless chit chat. Allison hung onto his arm, introducing him to people. But he finally shooed her off to do her job.