Cowboy 12 Pack
Page 53
“But are…you sure…you can hold me?”
“Absolutely.” He didn’t understand why she insisted she was so heavy. Brushing a finger over her center, he made sure to get her attention. “Let yourself go.”
And she did, relaxing against him, letting him control it all. Shouldering her weight, he put his mouth back on her, and in less than a minute, had her panting and bucking.
“I’m…mmm,” she moaned.
He was dying. She was killing him. Her actions and reactions were so hot he was about to disintegrate. Not yet. He was determined to finish the mission. Operation Brandi Feel-Good. But, glancing up without breaking contact, he nearly lost it. Eyes closed, bottom lip pulled between her teeth, she was so sexy, so damn gorgeous he could barely breathe. Needing to send her over the edge, to make her feel good, he slid a finger inside her, and when she cried out, he adopted the rhythm he’d discovered at the ranch. The one she liked best.
“Yes…K-Kade…”
With his name on her lips, she lost control on his lips, and he did his damndest to draw out her climax for as long as possible, watching the ecstasy on her face the whole time.
Beautiful.
Stunning.
And her taste? Damn, she tasted incredible. Scorching and sweet. A taste he was not likely to ever forget.
Slowing his motions, he removed his finger and lapped one last time before drawing back. As he let her slide down to the floor, she met his gaze and smiled.
“Wow…I…that was…amazing.”
He traced her cheek with a finger, brushing a strand of hair off her face to hook it behind her ear. “Yes, you were.” He pulled a packet from his pocket and held it up. “But we’re not done.”
“You got that right, cowboy,” she drawled, reaching for the packet.
He moved it out of her reach. “Oh, hell no, honey. If you touched me right now, we won’t need this. And I’m not done with you.”
She laughed, her gaze playful and happy. No trace of sadness or fear in sight. In record time, he removed the rest of his clothes, sheathed himself, and helped her to stand.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he told her, his body shaking with the need to be inside her sweet curves. Pulling her close, he captured her mouth and groaned when she pressed her tongue to his and swept the inside of his mouth.
He wasn’t going to last. Hands full of her soft curves, he left her mouth to kiss a path down her neck, inhaling her delicious scent. Yeah, he wasn’t going to last.
“This is going to be fast. Sorry. But I’m dying here,” he said against her throat before he drew back, grabbed her hips and lifted her up.
Needing no direction, she gripped his shoulders, wrapped her soft thighs around him, and then moaned the sexiest damn moan he’d ever heard as he thrust deep inside.
Ah, fuck…yeah. She felt incredible. So damn incredible, her warm, silky heat gripping him tight. Then she moved. Christ. He was about to explode. Liquid fire melted his spine, and leaning forward, he kissed her wild and deep as he pumped in and out of her warm, wet center. Her nails dug into his shoulders, nipples scraped his chest, thighs tightened around him. He broke the kiss, gripped her ass, and adjusted the angle.
“Ohh…”
Her eyes were closed again, head back as far as the door would allow, breasts bouncing a frenetic beat as he upped the pace. Erotic. Sexy-as-hell. A real life fantasy. He was done. So was she. Brandi cried out, her softness tightening around his aching arousal, pulling Kade out of himself as she milked the hell out of his throbbing erection, bringing him to his knees by the time he was sweaty and spent.
He pulled out, but continued to hold her as he flipped them so he sat against the door and she snuggled into his chest. Asking her how she felt would have to wait since talking required breath and, right now, he didn’t have any to spare, thanks to the incredible woman panting in his arms. Hot air gushed over his heated skin and cooled when she inhaled.
Damn woman even breathed sexily.
She shifted in his arms and stared up at him, lifting a hand to slowly trace his jaw. “Tell me, Sheriff, did you get the license number of that bus?”
He laughed and gathered her close. “No, I was too busy trying to remember my own damn name.”
Her chuckle rippled through him as her lips brushed his neck. “It’s Mr. Yurgood. Damn Yurgood.”
“Yeah?” He drew back and smiled when she nodded. “Then you’re Ms. Thanhell. Hotter Thanhell.”
Brown eyes blinked up at him, a sheen of tears glistening in their depts. “I am?”
“Oh, hell yeah, honey,” he replied, tracing a line from her throat, over her rounded flesh to circle just outside the hardened tip, which he slowly leaned down to kiss.
As her warm curves shuddered against him, he blew on her wet skin.
She inhaled and clutched his arm. “I’ll give you all night to stop.”
Trailing a finger over her other breast, he watched her eyes darken and breath hitch in her throat. “What do you know,” he said, circling her tightening nipple. “I happen to have all night.”
And as luck would have it, Kade did end up spending the whole night. Miraculously, there were no sheriff calls yanking him from Ms. Thanhell’s bed. Between the second and third feel-good session, he sent a quick text to Kevin, letting his cousin know he was with Brandi and wouldn’t be home, and ignored the ‘ ’bout damn time you got some sense’ reply.
Waking up with the bombshell’s ass under his palm after another marathon night of incredible sex was a little bit of all right. As the memories of the night washed over him, Kade was surprised he could still move. But he didn’t want to budge, hell no. Not with a warm, naked, curvy woman softly snoring on top of him, leg thrown across him as if she was afraid he’d leave. Not a chance. Besides, he couldn’t feel his own legs.
After they used the two condoms in his pocket, he’d made a quick trip to the all night drug store ten minutes away, giving their bodies just enough time to recuperate. Upon returning, he’d found the temptress in the tub, and a very incredible and wet round three had commenced.
Round four had nearly killed him.
Still, apparently he’d fulfilled the woman’s wish for the night because she’d fallen into a steady sleep ever since. Christ, she hadn’t been kidding about the not thinking part. And the only talking they’d done had been with their bodies. But he wasn’t complaining. Hell no. Except, he wished he knew why she had been at the hospital.
His stomach clenched. If he thought Jace would concede under badgering he’d interrogate the guy, but the doctor took the confidentiality of his profession serious, and Kade would never ask the lieutenant to compromise. Still, damn, he wished he knew what was wrong.
All too soon, Brandi stirred, generous curves testing his rigidity by brushing his skin in a slow, enticing stretch. The friction of her soft curves against his flesh awoke the sleeping giant.
Rigidity confirmed.
Half-expecting the designer to give him his marching papers, since she was prone to heat up the night then do an about-face come morning, he was surprised when she lifted her head and smiled all warm and lazy.
That’s a double confirmation on rigidity.
“Morning,” she said, setting her chin on her hands splayed on his chest. “Sleep well?”
He smiled back, lightly caressing the curvy cheek under his palm, while trailing the other hand up her spine. “Like the dead.”
Smile fading, she stiffened and slid off him.
What the hell did I say?
Grasping her arm to keep her from leaving the bed completely, he rolled on top of the woman and pinned her to the mattress. “Oh no you don’t. You’re not running away. Talk to me. What’s wrong?” He lifted up enough to gaze down at the vexing woman.
“Nothing,” she replied, but wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“Brandi, come on. Tell me.”
“There’s nothing to tell, except…”
Christ, she wriggled until they lined up ju
st perfect. So damn perfect. He sucked in a breath. “Except what?” His tone sounded strained because, hello…he was.
“Mmm…” Her sigh washed over his neck and chest, and she finally met his gaze. “Damn…I love being under you, cowboy. You feel incredible.” Warm hands cupped his ass as the sexy designer wriggled some more. “So incredible.”
He tried, really tried not to respond, but heat raced through his body, and he found himself thrusting against her hot curves. “I like you under me, or on me, or just plain around me.”
She giggled and opened her mouth to respond, but her phone rang. Fear instantly replaced the light he’d managed to put back into her gaze. Damn.
“I need to get that,” she said, pushing him off to sit up and grab her phone from the nightstand.
Laying on his side, elbow bent, head resting in his hand, he watched her stiffened form as she answered the call.
“Hello? Yes, this is her.”
Unable to explain the sudden need to touch her, to convey support, he reached out and lightly rubbed her back.
“It did? Uh-huh.”
He felt her sigh and watched as her body visibly relaxed.
“Yeah. Okay. Good. I will. Thanks,” she said, then hung up and set the phone back on the nightstand.
Pushing a clump of hair over her shoulder, he tugged a strand. “Good news?”
She stood, then turned around, big smile on her face, tears glistening in her eyes. “Yes, I don’t have cancer.”
“What?” Jesus! Cancer? His heart literally rocked in his chest. “That’s great, Brandi, but what the hell?” He shot to his feet. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d had tests done?”
She shrugged, dropping her gaze to her clasped hands. “I-I didn’t want to worry anyone unnecessarily.”
“Christ, so you went through this on your own?” He wrapped his arms around her and crushed the brave, but foolish woman close. Now it all started to make sense.
She nodded against his throat. “Well, not exactly. Jace found out and waited while I had the biopsies on the goiters in my throat, then took me home.”
Foreign emotions, strong and fierce seized his chest. He should’ve been the one there for her, not Jace. He was the one sharing the woman’s bed, not Turner. But he couldn’t get mad at the doctor. The guy had helped Brandi through what must’ve been a horrific day.
And apparently, Kade had helped her through one of the nights. Guess he was good enough to share bodies, just not life’s trials.
Maybe she was right. He’d certainly let Shayla and her baby down in a big way.
Feelings of inadequacy and failure seized his body with a ferocity that crushed the air from his lungs. Breathing was becoming a chore. He released her and began to dress.
“Do you have to go?” She ran a hand down his back.
“Yeah, I have to be at the station in less than an hour.”
Not exactly true. He had two hours, but because he’d just told her that, he’d be there in less than one. It would bother him now if he didn’t. He zipped his jeans then sat on her bed. Keeping his word had never been a problem, until this last damn deployment. But hey, when he fucked up, he really fucked up.
Jamming his feet into his boots, he bit back a curse and pushed as much of those dire thoughts away as his oxygen deprived mind would allow, then stood.
“Kade, are you all right?” she asked, stepping in front of him to slowly button his shirt. “I’m sorry. It’s just, I’ve been through the waiting and it sucks. I refused to do that to you.”
His heart squeezed at her pinched expression. “Hey,” he stilled her hands and held them to his chest. “You don’t have to explain or apologize. I’m just glad you’re okay, and sorry you had to face that on your own. You should be celebrating.”
One of her hands slid inside his now buttoned shirt to lightly stroke his skin. “I was kind of hoping you’d help me with that…”
One hell of an invitation.
It was there in her spoken words, saucy gaze, tempting touch…incredible naked body pressing into him. And yet, those feelings of inadequacy still rolling inside him won out.
Holding her gaze, he brought her hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “That’s quite an invitation, honey, but unfortunately, I have to go.” Needed to go. His head was beginning to pound with unrelenting force. He placed a kiss to her temple. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Too bad he wasn’t.
The very fact he released the gorgeous, willing, naked woman and walked away from her invitation to a morning of hot sex proved he was a damn sight far from okay.
FOUR DAYS LATER, Brandi was supervising the installation of tile in the McCall’s bathroom and couldn’t resist touching the smooth, beautiful glass. Since she was touching, it made sense to help install. She’d just set a square in place on the third row from the bottom of the shower when Jordan walked in.
“This is looking all kinds of fantastic, Brandi,” her friend said, standing back with folded fingers to her mouth as she stared, small smile tugging her lips. “I can’t wait to use this room.”
She laughed. I bet. Even she had visions of using the shower…with a certain sheriff. In fact, images and memories of the magnificent man had plagued her all week.
“But, right now, I came up here to fetch you. It’s time for a break.” The smiling woman gently pushed her toward the hall. “You’ve been working nonstop for days.”
She laughed and moved out of the way to allow one of the other workers to take over. “It’s my job,” she said, falling into step alongside her friend.
“And jobs have lunch breaks,” Jordan stated, leading them downstairs to the kitchen where Kerri was setting out dishes of chicken Caesar salads with dressing on the side.
Her stomach dutifully growled. “Yeah, okay. Lunch is a good idea.”
All three of them laughed as they sat. The unexpected break and lunch with friends was just what she’d needed. Jordan was right. She had been working a lot. Since the Masters’ party, business had picked up. She’d signed up two more projects, worked on two proposals this week and had another still yet to finish.
“Are you all right, Brandi? You look kind of tired,” Kerri said, pouring all the dressing from her packet onto her salad.
Lucky shit. “Yeah, just busy.” She drizzled half of her Caesar dressing and set the packet aside. Better to use up her daily allotted calories on food than condiments.
Jordan nodded. “Work picking up since mom’s party?”
“Yes, scheduling and keeping more than two jobs going at the same time is going to be a problem.”
“Can you afford to hire some help?” Kerri asked.
Brandi stilled, forkful of salad poised mid air. “I…I don’t know.” She chewed on a cucumber, and thought. A helper. Maybe. Then she could schedule more than two jobs, and have others lined up when one finished.
“Seems to me you could benefit greatly by hiring an organized individual with a good eye for design,” her client suggested.
“Oh, absolutely. Do you have one hidden away,” she joked, stabbing a tomato.
Jordan glanced up and pointed at her with her fork. “As a matter of fact I do. Well, my sister and I do. And you’ve met her.”
She set her fork down and stared at the girls. “I have?”
“Yes, Shayla, the woman renting the apartment above our restaurant.”
Oh, great, the thin, gorgeous redhead.
“You’re right,” Kerri said, eyes-widening with approval. “She’s been helping us out. Her attention to detail is great.”
Jordan nodded. “Our storage room is so organized now, we have all this extra room we can hold meetings upstairs if we wanted.”
“And she used the Dewey decimal system on my recipes. It’s amazing,” Kerri gushed.
Jordan finished the last of her salad and sat back. “You should drop by the restaurant and talk with her. Shayla’s a hard worker and smart. And I think she could use the job. She has a darling on
e-year-old daughter, and her younger sister will be moving in with her when she stops dorming at a local college over the holiday break at the end of the year.”
Brandi chewed and thought. “I could use the help,” she said, pushing her empty plate away. If the woman was as organized as they said, and could multi-task, then her skills were worth checking out. “I’ll drop by sometime this week. Thanks.”
“Good,” Kerri said. “Because Connor and I were talking, and we’d like to hire you, too.”
Her head snapped up. “What? Me? But Wild Creek is perfect. What did you want to do?”
A big smile crossed the pretty cook’s face. “We’ve decided to stay there, but want a place within the place.”
“I don’t follow.”
“We want to section some of the upstairs off as kind of our own suite of rooms,” her friend replied. “Complete with a state of the art gourmet kitchen, of course.”
“Of course.”
Already her mind was working on scenarios and possibilities. It would be a big job, but certainly doable. Excitement raced through her veins. “You wouldn’t touch the outside?”
“Nope.” Kerri shook her head. “We’d need to partition some of the upstairs, and we have a door to the outside if we incorporate the balcony entrance.”
“True. Bullet and I used the balcony and stairs to the driveway all the time on his walks,” Jordan said, and at the mention of his name, the gorgeous retired police dog ambled over, from his bed in the corner. “Didn’t we, boy?”
The German Sheppard’s tail wagged so fast his back end moved.
Brandi joined the sisters in a lighthearted laugh. The dog was really so sweet. But, it was time to get off her butt.
“Well, I have to get back to work. Thanks for the tip.”
“Hang on.”
“Yeah, don’t you have something to tell us?” Jordan asked, small smirk on her client’s lips.
Her heart shifted in her chest. Were they talking about her biopsy? No. Only two men knew about it, and neither would talk. What else could they mean?
Crud.
Kade.
She decided to play stupid. “Ah, no. I don’t think so.”
“Really? Nothing?” Jordan stared at her with those damn, dark, all-seeing eyes.