Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 52
“You look like you could use something stronger.” Kevin smiled as he joined her after dancing just about every dance since he’d arrived. All with different women.
She snorted, very unladylike, before drinking her water. “Truer words.”
He cocked his head. “Would you like me to order you something?”
“No, that’s okay.” It was getting late, and she was getting tired of playing the dance-check-the-phone-game. “I’m going to leave soon.”
“Well now, you can’t leave without dancing with Kade.” Kevin sat back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. “The two of you have been circling each other all night. What’s the problem?”
“Problem? There’s no problem.” She sipped her drink and shrugged, hoping to appear nonchalant.
“Good to hear. So, go ask him to dance.”
The water in her mouth went down the wrong way. She choked like a dog on a bone. Yeah, graceful. Now her already sore throat hurt worse. “No,” she managed before taking another drink.
“Why not?”
“Jeez, what’s with you tonight? Don’t you have a groupie to dance with?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Nice try, but we’re not changing the subject.”
“There is no subject. I’m going home.”
“You are just as stubborn as my cousin. And here I thought you had more sense.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What it means, darlin’, is simple.” He leaned forward to tap the table with his finger. “You both want to dance with each other, but neither will ask. What’s the big deal? So what if you’ve already had sex? No law says you can’t dance with each other, too. Go ask him. It doesn’t mean marriage. It’s just a dance.”
Her gaze drifted to the sexy man in the charcoal shirt. God, he looked good, boots crossed at the ankles as he leaned a hip against the bar and laughed at something Connor said.
Lifting the drink to his mouth, he caught her watching.
Damn. Busted.
He stilled and stared over his glass at her, smoky gaze still unreadable.
Kevin was right. She wanted to dance with Kade, but until that moment, she hadn’t realized how much or why. She really, really needed to have his arms around her, needed to experience that safe feeling his embrace had evoked.
“Go ask him,” the blue-eyed devil urged.
Before she could think—or talk herself out of it—Brandi got up and walked straight to the gorgeous man, who set his drink down without dropping her gaze. As she approached, he straightened, and Connor turned, his quizzical expression disappearing under a lop-sided grin.
Go ask him.
Kevin’s words rang through her mind, and she hoped he wasn’t wrong when she stopped in front of his cousin, wishing she could come up with something witty.
Keep it simple.
Staring into those gray eyes, she fought the sudden influx of emotion she’d kept at bay the past several days. The need to feel his strong arms around her, to feel safe—to just plain feel—shook through her and gave her the courage to place a hand on his arm. “Would you like to dance?”
For a heart-stopping moment Brandi thought he was going to refuse. That unexplained anger she’d seen earlier tightened his face for a split second, but something in her eyes must’ve relayed her need or sincerity. Whatever it was, she was grateful because he nodded, grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor. Luck was on her side, because the band started to play a slow Tim McGraw song and he pulled her in close.
Needing no encouragement, she sank into his wonderful, hard, welcoming chest, squeezing her eyes shut as she held tight, reveling in his strength and warmth as his strong arms closed around her. A few tears escaped before she could stop them but, thankfully, went unnoticed. By the middle of the song, she composed herself enough to loosen her hold, but not too much. He felt so damn good. Her need for the man turned into an entirely different category. Soon all the brushing and friction from their touching bodies stoked a familiar fire. Her body remembered his, remembered the muscles, ridges, the strength and his ability to take her right out of herself. She needed that tonight. God, how she needed that tonight.
But what if tonight wasn’t enough?
That question reverberated through her head as the song came to an end. There was no tonight. Just this dance. And it was ending. It had to end. Best if it ended.
Then why was she still holding him?
Because she was weak and the man made her feel strong. He made her feel wanted, and good about herself. But they’d had their night. And even if he’d wanted more, which he’d said he didn’t, the guy didn’t deserved to be with someone uncertain about her health.
She knew without a shadow of a doubt Kade Dalton would stand by her, but she was unwilling to drag him down that road. He had issues of his own to deal with, and she refused to add to them. His heart was too big; he’d never walk away from the needy. So she needed to suck it up. She could do this on her own. And she would. Starting now.
Releasing him, she stepped back, immediately missing his warmth. Muttering a thank you to his Adams apple, because there was no way in hell she’d risk looking into his eyes—those warm and accepting, mesmerizing gray eyes—she turned and walked right out of the pub.
WHAT THE HELL?
Kade glanced at the faces of those nearby, as if they’d have the answer. No one paid any attention, just danced as if nothing had happened. But dammit, something did happen.
“You should go after her.”
He turned to find Jace standing next to him, arms behind his back, serious gaze trained on the door Brandi had exited. A foreign emotion squeezed Kade’s chest and heated his blood. Why the hell would Jace tell him to go after the girl? Wasn’t his friend seeing Brandi?
His spine stiffened. “Why don’t you?” he asked before heading back to the bar and the drink he should’ve stayed to finish.
“Sarge, wait. Top, would you wait,” the doctor implored, clamping a hand around Kade’s upper arm.
Because he was sheriff, and only because he was the sheriff, Kade didn’t carry out the urge to knock the doc to the floor. Even though he was off duty, he still respected the uniform. Both uniforms. And it was because thoughts of using violence on a friend were so foreign and so far from what he was about, yet becoming more damn frequent, Kade stilled to listen to the man.
“Look,” Jace began, wisely removing his hand. “I’m getting the impression you think there’s something going on between me and Brandi. But there isn’t.”
Jesus, did the guy think he was stupid?
“Don’t bullshit me, Turner. I’ve seen you with her.”
The guy reeled back. “What? Here? When I came to your table to ask her to dance?”
The deep frown didn’t fool him. Folding his arms across his chest, Kade stared the man down. “Yes, and yesterday in your car. So cut the crap.”
Turner blew out a breath, glanced around, then grabbed Kade’s arm again and pulled him to a quiet corner.
He was impressed. The doc’s blue gaze held just enough concern to go with his conflicted expression that he was almost prepared to believe whatever was about to come out of the guy’s mouth. Almost.
“You need to go to her.”
He yanked free. “Not going to happen.”
“Look, I only drove her home yesterday because she…” Turner paused, exhaled a curse, then continued, “…because she needed one. Okay? And that dance tonight was just to check on her.”
Right… Wait…
His heart rocked hard in his chest when the words sunk in. “What do you mean check on her?” He grabbed the guy’s arm. “What’s wrong? Is she okay?”
The doc gave him one of those damn patient looks.
“You’ll have to ask her.”
“Jesus, Jace. I’m asking you.”
His mind worked overtime. If Brandi and Jace hadn’t been together yesterday in a friendly manner, then it meant professional. A
nd since he knew the designer was only working on Jordan’s project right now, that meant…
“I promised her I wouldn’t say anything, so I’m not saying anything,” the doctor stated, freeing his arm to cup Kade’s shoulder and stare him right in the eyes. “Go to her. She needs you.”
The knot forming in his stomach tripled in size. Shit.
Without a word, he pivoted on his heel and strode out of the pub, making the two minute drive to the designer’s cottage in less than one.
Go to her. She needs you…
What the fuck was going on?
Chest tight for reasons he didn’t understand or care at the moment, he knocked on the door, half afraid she wouldn’t answer even though her truck sat a few feet away in the driveway. Her odd behavior this past week, and her death-grip on his ribs during their dance, battered his mind.
Why the hell hadn’t he realized something was wrong sooner?
He knocked again, louder, longer, then thrust his hand through his hair and squeezed the back of his neck. Christ. She’d even looked at him different tonight, needy—almost desperate—but he’d mistaken it for lust. Somewhere in the back of his mind he’d noticed, but was too damn blinded by…ah hell, he didn’t know, he just didn’t catch on.
Dumb ass.
Lifting his hand for the third time, he stilled when the door finally opened and Brandi stood there in a pink robe, staring up at him, eyes red and watery. His stomach bunched as if physically punched.
“Brandi, what’s going on? What the hell is wrong?”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her face.
Ah hell.
The invisible band squeezing his chest tightened until he couldn’t breathe, cracking something open deep inside. “Come here,” he ground out, stepping closer to pull her in tight and close the door. “It’s okay. Whatever it is, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he soothed, leaning back against the door as she burrowed into him.
Unsure how to help when he didn’t know what the hell was actually wrong, he remained where he was and just held the woman, whispering words of encouragement and kissing the top of her head while she silently cried.
After a few minutes, her tears subsided and her hold on him suddenly changed. Hands that had been gripping, squeezing, now ran down his torso, and before he realized, she had his shirt completely unbuttoned, and her hands and lips on his skin.
Shit.
“Brandi?” He grasped her arms and held her away. “What are you doing?”
A sinful grin claimed her lips as she stared up at him through a heated gaze. “Well now, Sheriff, I would think that was obvious.”
And before he could blink, she stepped back, untied her robe and let it slip to the floor.
Son-of-a-bitch…
He inhaled and swallowed. Audibly. The gorgeous woman had on the sexiest damn pink-laced bra and thong. A fucking thong.
He was screwed.
Somehow he put his tongue back in his mouth and cleared a bit of the fog from his brain. But she was pressing her soft, hot curves into him in a surprise counterattack. Damn, she felt good. Real good. He was having a hard time remaining unaffected. Wicked fingers unbuckled his jeans while she placed open-mouth kisses across his chest, driving him out of his mind. Then she licked his nipple.
Uttering a curse, he jerked back, smacking his head off the door. “Brandi, stop,” he demanded, and twisted their positions, manacling her hands above her head.
Body trembling, chest heaving, spilling out of her damn, sexy lace. Holy shit, she was hot. His groin tightened with a painful throb, and he had to talk himself out of pressing against her and sinking into her willing warmth.
“Why? We’re good together,” she uttered, leaning forward, mouth hovering near his lips. “You know we’re good together.”
He did. Heaven help him, he did, but something was wrong to cause the independent beauty to cry and cling just a few moments ago. Something even his hazy brain knew couldn’t be overlooked.
“Brandi,” he said again, his voice as strained as his zipper. “We need to talk. Why were you at the hospital? And before you say anything, no, Jace didn’t tell me. I figured it out.”
The bleakness returned to dull her eyes, her shoulders hunched and gaze fell to the floor.
“Please, Kade. I-I don’t want to talk. And I don’t want to think. God, I don’t want to think.” She broke free to burrow close. “I know we were only supposed to have one night. But…I need another. Take me out of myself. You’re so good at taking me out of myself,” she stated, mouth brushing his skin while her hand trailed down his chest and torso to stroke his abs. “I don’t want to think tonight. Just take me out of myself.”
And that was when he lost it. Her pleading. Her stroking hands. The need in her voice. Sweet, soft, curvy body, pressing into him. The answering need heating him from head to toe, throbbing through his groin. They all became too much.
“I don’t want to talk. Don’t want to think. I just want to feel you,” she said. “Can you do that, Kade? Take me out of myself? Make me feel you?”
He crooked a finger under her chin and waited for her gaze to lift. “If you’re sure.”
A wicked smile curved her lips as her fingers slid down his body to unzip his jeans. “I’m very sure.”
He was so wound up, so ready, her assurance was all he needed to hear. “Then, hell yeah, honey, I can make you feel a lot of things.”
In a swift move, he pressed her against the door, and when she let out a startled sound, he captured her opened mouth and kissed her over and over until she was the one to break for air. God, she was incredible, and tasted sweet like maybe she’d been eating chocolate before he’d arrived. He turned his attention to her throat and the curve of her neck, lingering until she moaned and trembled against him.
Heat skittered down his spine. She was so damn responsive.
He drew back slightly to watch as he traced the pink lace of her bra with his finger. “Very nice,” he said, and brushed his thumbs across her tight nipples peeking through the lace.
She inhaled and gripped his hips. He brushed her again. And again. Each time she held tighter and moaned louder. Then he hooked a finger under her straps and pulled the lace down her arms, his mouth watering as she sprang free and bounced.
She really did have great bounce.
Unable to hold back, he cupped each breast and brushed her gorgeous, unhindered peaks until she squirmed.
“Kade,” she said in a drawn out breath.
He needed no more encouragement and brought his mouth down on the beauties, taking turns suckling and pulling until they were a half-inch long. She clutched his head and shoved more of her glorious flesh into his mouth. His arousal pulsed and ached, but he wasn’t ready. Not yet.
Rolling her nipple between his tongue and the roof of his mouth, he slid a hand down her heated body and followed the strip of thong between her legs. Hot damn, her lace was wet. She moaned, and her knees began to buckle.
Bracing her with his body, he continued to twirl his tongue around her peak and slip his finger inside her wet folds. She sucked in a breath and gripped his shoulders, and his arousal pulsed and ached, but he still wasn’t ready. Not yet.
He released her breast, pulled out of her warmth and watched as she opened her eyes and blinked.
“Turn around,” he ordered, gently twisting until her back faced him. He kissed her neck and ran his hands down her arms to grab her wrists. “Trust me.” Placing them high above her head against the door, he squeezed to let her know to keep her arms up.
She wanted to feel, he’d make her feel.
Chapter Ten
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KADE STEPPED BACK to gaze at Brandi’s beautiful body and lacy thong barely covering the middle of her sweet ass. His mouth watered and erection throbbed behind his half unzipped pants.
Needing to touch her, he started at her neck, kissing each shoulder, slipping his hands around the front to cup her beautiful b
reasts and tweak from behind. She moaned and ground that gorgeous ass into him. Sucking in a breath, he forced the fog from his brain. There were still things he needed to do to the woman. He tweaked the tight buds once more, then released them to reach up and gently bring her arms down to her sides.
“Stay there,” he said, caressing every curve on the way down to her thong. Hitting his knees, he grabbed two handfuls of cheeks and squeezed. “Gorgeous,” he said against her soft skin, his finger now tracing the lace thong to where it disappeared between her legs.
“Kade,” she said, body shaking.
“I know, honey. You wanted to feel. I’m making you feel.”
Tracing her wet thong with his finger, he kissed her thigh and tugged the lace in an upward motion.
“Kade,” she repeated, this time in a whisper.
He tugged again then hooked his fingers around the top and slowly pulled the lace down her trembling legs. Knowing she was very close to losing control, he twisted her back around and sucked in another breath as he stared up at her luscious curves. God, she was perfect. Absolutely perfect. He swallowed hard and counted to ten to keep from busting. Hell no. He had plans for her and his erection.
“Spread your legs,” he told her, voice low and hoarse with need.
“But—
“Shh…” he interrupted, helping her by pushing her legs apart, then holding her there with his hands. “Just feel.”
And hell, he needed to taste the glistening pink staring him in the face.
When he placed his mouth on her, she jerked back, but settled into a good rhythm by the third pass of his tongue. So sweet. She tasted so sweet, and hot, and he couldn’t get enough. Using his fingers, he spread her apart, giving him better access to her heat.
Her legs began to shake.
“Kade…I can’t stand…” she said between pants.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you.”