Barking Mad Love: Chance Romance with a Canine Helper! (Puppy Love Book 2)

by Tammy Andresen

  “Are you wearing anything under that towel?” His eyes were smoldering as he looked at her, his voice husky.

  Kat gave him a sexy glance. She knew Luke wouldn’t want anything serious, not from her. He’d probably marry a supermodel. Not a girl who used to be chubby, no matter what he said. But she wanted to enjoy this now. It had been a long time and he was the most attractive man she had ever met. “Not a thing,” she replied. “Want to bring me that suitcase?”

  He took the stairs two at a time and was next to her in an instant. He dropped the suitcase at her feet and then bent slightly to wrap his arms under her rear. The second her feet came off the floor, she grabbed him around the neck. She yelped playfully but his mouth swallowed the sound as his lips met hers.

  This kiss didn’t tease, it ignited. His lips slanted hers open, and their tongues touched. Winding her fingers into his hair, she pulled him closer, as her tongue met his every thrust. He began carrying her down the hall.

  “Kat, I wanted to go slow,” he managed to say between kisses.

  “I don’t,” she said raising her head. “It’s been so long and I don’t want to think.”

  “Maybe, this isn’t a good―” He started to set her down but she wrapped her legs around him.

  “We’ll figure everything else out tomorrow. Let’s just be together tonight,” she pleaded, her lips meeting his again. His arms felt so strong wrapped around her, his broad shoulders could carry the weight of the world. She didn’t want to let them go.

  “Kat,” he groaned but he didn’t move away either. The towel was coming loose and she rubbed herself against his body, feeling his hard cock pressing against his pants. It was practically begging to be released. One of her hands unwound from his hair, and she reached between them to press her palm against his shaft. “It’s been a long time for me too and if you keep doing that….” He was gritting his teeth as he spoke.

  Kat pulled away for a second. Was that why he wanted to be with her now? There wasn’t anyone else around? She closed her eyes. Don’t think about anything now. Just feel. His lips touched hers again, but they were softer, less demanding. It was as if he could sense that she had grown insecure and he was soothing her. “I can’t believe you’re worried about going slow. We’ve known each other for ten years.”

  “And you hated me for nine years, three hundred sixty four days.” He grinned against her lips.

  “I didn’t hate you, I thought you were teasing me most of the time and I don’t like being teased.”

  “Note to self,” he said softly, his tongue teasing her mouth back open. “Promise me you won’t regret this tomorrow.”

  Kat shuddered. His meaning seemed clear to her. This was a one time thing and she wasn’t supposed to get mad about it. She’d take it. One night with this hunk of a man was better than nothing at all. “Promise.”

  He started moving towards the bedroom again and she started undoing the buttons of his flannel shirt. She wanted to touch his warm skin and she was dying to see him naked. She had seen him a few times without a shirt and he had looked like a god then and that was before he had become a rancher.

  He flicked on a soft lamp and it illuminated a large four post bed. Every piece of furniture he had was fucking perfect. It was like it begged her to curl up and stay. “Do you mind the light?” he whispered in her ear, tickling the sensitive skin.

  “That depends, you can leave it on if you’re taking your clothes off.” A laugh rumbled from his chest.

  “You got it.” He set her down and she grabbed up the towel, sitting on the bed. A blush climbed up her cheeks. She knew he was going to be perfect but what would he think about her? He finished unbuttoning his shirt and stripped it off his shoulders. His cowboy boots came next and then he grabbed for the buckle of his belt. In one flick, it was undone and the pants hit the floor.

  In her wildest dreams she had never pictured a man looking that good.

  BARKING MAD LOVE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  LUKE LOOKED AT her, clutching the towel. He was seeing Kat clearly for the first time. She used that damn sharp tongue of hers to hide her insecurities. How had he not seen it before? He had stripped a lot of that away tonight but what he didn’t know was would sleeping together make their relationship better or worse.

  It was a relationship. Or it was going to be. Kat was absolutely, stunningly, gorgeous. No, she didn’t have a scrawny boy body. He had never understood why men liked that. She was all tiny waist and luscious curves with jeans barely hanging on to those hips.

  God, the first time he’d met her, blond hair hanging down her back, big blue eyes sparkling up at him, he’d been entranced. But Carl had wrapped his arm around her neck and given her a big kiss on the cheek. He had never been jealous of his brother until that moment.

  She was right, he was often a jerk to her. But he died with wanting a little every time he saw her. He couldn’t do anything else other than push her away to protect himself. By the time he realized she and Carl would only ever be friends, it had been too late. She bristled every time she saw him.

  Until today. Until she had shown up scared and worried and uncertain about her dog and, frankly, her future. Today was the day he had broken through. What he didn’t know was if it was better to seal the deal while he finally had her open or if he should foster their relationship more first.

  He reached out and gently pulled the towel away from her clinging hands. She tried to cover herself, another blush rising in her cheeks. Dammit, she was breathtaking. “Kat,” he said as he leaned over to grab her hand. “You’re stunning sweetheart, I mean really…” words seemed to fail him as she rose from the bed. Her breasts were still large but everything else was slim and trim. His hand skimmed down her side to her hip and then gently wrapped around her buttocks to pull her close. As their skin touched, all the blood rushed to his already bulging cock. Her hands wrapped around his neck and she pressed closer.

  He was going to lose it. Her lips were so soft pressed to his and her skin was like melting butter against him. “Kat, I can’t wait. I need―” He hitched her up again and, in response, she wrapped her legs around him, his head pressed against her soft folds.

  She moaned at the contact and his vision blurred; it was that erotic. She was wet and ready and with the slightest nudge he slid deep inside her.

  They groaned together, a guttural sound, his arms wrapping tighter around her. He lifted her up and she slid back down his length, her muscles pulling at his member. “Oh Kat, I….” His lips found hers again and their tongues mingled. He squeezed his eyes shut trying to hold on to what little control he still had, the slow pace only making it more sensual.

  She was going to be an amazing horse rider because she grasped him with her legs and pushed back off and then allowed her weight to slide back down him.

  She moved faster and both his hands were on her ass, helping her with the motion. He tried to remember if he had ever done it standing up like this but he couldn’t remember a single sexual encounter prior to this one, it erased the memory of every woman before her. “Kat,” he heaved her name out. He was on the edge and trying desperately to hold on. He had wanted this for so long and it was even better than he had imagined.

  Her head tilted back, rocking from side to side, and she moaned again. He could feel her vibrating. “Tell me you’re close,” he grated out into her ear.

  “I’m close, I’m so close. Don’t stop.” She rocked harder, her head thrashing.

  He took a deep breath. Count, you bastard. Do anything to keep from coming. He needed her to enjoy this as much as he did. Her breath was coming out in short gasps and as she squeezed him tight a high pitched moan erupted from her mouth.

  He couldn’t take it and with a loud grunt, he exploded inside of her.

  Her forehead dropped to his and one of his hands came up to capture her cheek and angle her lips to his. Carrying her to the bed, he pulled the covers back and then laid them both down, never breakin
g contact. Rolling to his side, he pulled her with him and then snuggled her close. She let out a sound close to a coo. It came from the back of her mouth, soft and slightly guttural. He went from completely satiated to hard again in an instant. “Kat.” He pressed his lips to hers, though this time it wasn’t in affection but need.

  Grinning underneath his lips, her arms, which had been wrapped limply around him, tightened. “You’re right. We really should make the most of tonight,” she purred.

  “And every night,” he responded, a little doubt niggling its way back in. He had to make sure she understood that this wasn’t a one night stand for him. While he didn’t want to put pressure on her he also didn’t want to let her slip through his fingers.

  “You don’t have to say that―” She pulled away.

  “Kat, I’m not just saying it.” He pulled her closer again, kissing down her neck. Now that they had satiated their initial need he could make love to her slowly and completely. Take his time and show her how much he cared for her.

  ***

  Kat sucked in her breath as his lips travelled down her neck. One night she could walk away from. At least she thought she could. But an entire summer of sharing his bed and she would be completely devastated when it ended. She had never been good at casual. The one time she had even tried had been an epic fail.

  His breath fanned across her collar bone, his lips skimming her chest. When he hit her nipple, his mouth hovered over it, tickling it with warm air. It grew instantly hard. He didn’t even have to touch her. This was bad. “Luke―” She meant to tell him to stop but instead she arched towards his lips until she all but thrust her nipple in his mouth.

  He obliged her by placing a soft kiss on the tip and then suckling a little harder, causing her to cry out and thread her fingers through his hair. He continued to trail kisses down her stomach, slowly and methodically until he hovered just above the juncture between her legs. It took everything she had not to push him down to satisfy the ache that was growing inside of her. But her hips were grinding and arching and he gave her a wicked grin before he lowered his head and ever so gently licked her folds.

  Kat shuddered and bucked underneath him as he increased the pressure. She had never in her life even come close to an orgasm like this, unless she counted the one she had five minutes ago. It was exhilarating and terrifying. After one night, Luke could crush her.

  It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard him. She just had a hard time actually believing that he had wanted her for years and that he had liked her when she carried a little more weight. She had always been curvy with a flat stomach but she was tall and boys sometimes teased her about being an Amazon. Luke was the type of guy who could have the most beautiful woman there was. He surely didn’t want an Amazon.

  He might share his bed with her for the summer. But then what? She was sure he expected her to return to Mass and he’d stay in Montana and their relationship would fizzle out. The question remained―was the pleasure now worth the pain she would surely experience later?

  “What are you thinking?” He had kissed his way back up her body and his tip was sliding inside of her again.

  Her body tensed up, clutching him. Dear God, I am going to have another orgasm. She gasped as he started moving inside of her. It didn’t matter if he hurt her at the end of the summer. She couldn’t give this up. “That we should have slept together years ago. “

  He laughed. “I couldn’t agree more. Now that I have finally gotten you in my bed, I don’t intend to let you out for a while. So don’t go thinking this is a one night thing.”

  She turned her face away. “It’s a summer thing then?”

  “What do you want it to be?” His voice was quiet and he stilled inside of her.

  “I…I…don’t know. But I don’t want to get hurt. The more we’re together, the harder it will be if…” She didn’t want to say the words.

  He seemed to understand because his lips came down to hers and gave her a slow soft kiss, brushing the hair back from her face. “Kat, I promise you, I have no intention of hurting you. If anything, I bet you break my heart.”

  “What?” She stared at him incredulously.

  “You can stay here for a month, or a week, or a year. My home is your home.” His lips came down on hers again and he started moving inside her once more.

  Kat forgot to answer as he swept her up in passion once again.

  BARKING MAD LOVE

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SHE WOKE TO a black room. Not a smidge of light penetrated the darkness. She sat straight up trying to figure out where she was and what was happening.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you, I was checking on Lucy.” Luke’s voice permeated the fog surrounding her brain.

  “Is she all right?” She laid back down as the springs of the bed squeaked under his weight. He gathered her into his arms.

  “Doing great and so are the pups.”

  “Thank you for checking. I can’t believe I fell asleep.” She was thankful for the darkness, it hid her now red cheeks.

  His lips kissed the hollow of her neck as he gave a chuckle. “I’m sure you were worn out.”

  Her face flamed and she swatted at him but barely got his arm with her fingernail. “Do you have a night light or something, it is so dark in here. I need to see you so that I can hit you.”

  “Sure, I’ve got one in the bathroom.” He jumped up again and within ten seconds, a soft glow from the bathroom lit the room just enough for her to see him walk back in. He was naked still and broad, muscular shoulders were only emphasized by the dim light. He took her breath away.

  He climbed back into bed and his skin made contact with hers. She sucked in her breath, delicious sensations shot through her. He nibbled at her neck, “Tomorrow I’ll head to the drug store and get some protection but tonight it would be wise―”

  “Shit,” she twisted in bed. “We didn’t use anything!”

  He gathered her up close, his mouth coming to her ear. “It’s all right. We’ll figure it out.”

  “How can you be so calm?” Her own breath was coming in short gasps.

  “You’re not a woman I picked up in a bar. I’ve known you for ten years. You were in my brother’s wedding. If you’re pregnant, I’ll support you no matter what.” His hand started running up and down her back, lightly skimming over her skin. The words, combined with the touch, were the most comforting thing she had ever experienced.

  “No matter what? Are you sure? I’m almost thirty and after watching Lucy tonight, I don’t think an abortion is an option. But you have a choice too, you don’t have to―”

  His lips came down on hers in a fierce kiss. “I’m so glad to hear that. Let’s get some sleep. We’ll be more careful and if it happens, we’ll make a plan.”

  Kat closed her eyes. Tears were threatening to erupt. This moment was so gloriously perfect and she was completely afraid that it would evaporate at any second. That she didn’t deserve a man like Luke. She wrapped her arms around his neck; maybe if she held on tight enough, she could keep from losing him.

  The next morning she woke early to the distinct smell of bacon and coffee. She sat up and stretched, feeling more relaxed than she had in years. Luke popped his head in the doorway giving her a lopsided grin. “Just in time.”

  Her hands whipped down and snatched the covers up. She felt shy all over again. She wasn’t normally this sheepish, it was just that Luke was so gorgeous. “Hey,” was the only thing she could say, then even more color flooded her cheeks. So dumb, she thought to herself.

  He crossed the room and opened a drawer, pulling out a crisp white t-shirt. Moving back towards her, he extended his arm. “This way if the puppies pee on you, you won’t be getting more of your clothes dirty.”

  “Thanks,” she said reaching out her arm. She grabbed the shirt, but he didn’t let go. She cocked her head to the side, raising her eyebrows. He was teasing her and that made her feisty side come out. “Is there a price attached to borrowing a
t-shirt? Why aren’t you letting go?”

  His grin broadened. “I like seeing you naked in my bed.” He leaned towards her but Kat turned her head away. She hadn’t brushed her teeth. He placed a small kiss on her collarbone sending shivers racing down her skin. His mouth skimmed up to her ear, fanning his soft breath up the column of her throat. Kat closed her eyes. Luke was turning her into a shivering mass of nerves. She was in danger of completely losing her mind. “It’s a warm morning. I couldn’t convince you to come down to breakfast in just my t-shirt could I?”

  “What?” She laid back down on the pillow, pulling the covers with her as she went. He followed, his lips placing a kiss on the sensitive skin behind her ear while his hand traced patterns on the skin of her chest.

  “I’ve been dreaming of those long legs for years, I’d love to see them at my breakfast table.” His hand slid under the covers, trailing just next to her breast and down her side, stopping at her waist. Her breath came in short gasps.

  Normally, she’d tell him to jump off a cliff but she wasn’t sure she could get the words out. “All right,” she said as his fingers grazed her hip.

  “That’s my girl.” He nipped at her earlobe and she gasped at the sensation. He straightened up. “I’ve got to go check the bacon. But, there’s a couple of empty drawers in that bureau if you want to unpack your stuff. And one of the sinks is empty underneath. Plenty of room for all your girl products.” With that, he turned and disappeared downstairs.

  Kat pulled the t-shirt over her head. What had just happened? Her last boyfriend had pitched a fit when she left a few things at his house. Like it was some symbol of permanence instead of just a convenience for her. Now here was Luke, super-hot, melt your bones Luke just offering her a place to stay for months, drawers in his room and a sink in his bathroom. Not just the guest bath but the master bath.