Deidre poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “What makes you think half of them don’t already know about that little shop?”
His brows creased thoughtfully. “You think? Who’s the mostly likely candidate?”
“Well, I’m sure the good mayor and his wife frequent that place. I’ll bet they’re in to torture chambers. Can’t you see her as a dominatrix?”
He nearly choked on his beer. The lady in question stood about four feet tall and was nearly as round. Picturing her in leather and boots stretched the imagination.
“You’re evil to put that image in my mind,” he grumbled, guiding her toward a small table where they could eat in peace.
She just laughed and continued to search out prospective sex shop customers. Her creative descriptions kept Luc alternately grousing and chuckling as they enjoyed a delicious finger-licking meal. Deidre washed down the spicy food with a strawberry daiquiri and began to relax even more.
When their stomachs had settled a little, she let her sexy lover coax her onto the dance floor. They did a raucous one step and several sets of square dancing that kept everyone swinging, laughing and gasping for breath. She loved watching Luc move, loved the way his jeans hugged his tight rear end. Loved the way his beautifully sculpted muscles flexed when he whirled around the ladies.
His natural agility awed her. He was such a big, sexy man with an innate sense of rhythm and a buff body that seduced her senses. Even more so when they were in a crowd and she saw him through the eyes of others. The more she watched him, the more she wanted him all to herself.
The musicians finally took some pity and began to play a slow, bluesy melody that had Luc bringing her into his arms and tight against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he pulled her close with his arms around her waist. Deidre loved the feel of his hard, warm body. His woodsy, masculine scent enveloped her in a cocoon of sensual pleasure as they rocked to and fro.
“That was quite a workout,” she said as she rested her face against his damp, but clean-smelling shirt.
“That it was. I mus’ be out of shape. It ‘bout wore me out.”
“Ha!” She scoffed and glanced up at him. “You barely broke a sweat, and I’m soaking wet.” To prove her point, she rubbed her breasts against his chest, letting him feel her heat and agitated breathing.
Luc dipped his head and whispered in her ear. “Dieu, don’ be temptin’ me right now, chère. I’ve been watchin’ you and wantin’ you all evenin’, but we gotta maintain some decency here.”
An excited little shiver raced down her spine. His words and the hypnotic tone of his voice made her breasts swell, her nipples straining. She rubbed them against his chest to ease the sudden yearning. Clenching her thighs, she rocked her hips against his in a decidedly indecent fashion.
She felt the subtle change in Luc’s body as he swiftly responded to the teasing. His erection grew, pressing against her stomach. His hold on her tightened and his movements slowed. He nipped at her ear in punishment. That made her quiver and prompted her to wriggle some more.
She loved the hitch in his breath and his low, keening groan as he berated her. “Jus’ wait ‘til I get you home, minx. You’ll pay for all this teasin’.”
Deidre laughed, thrilled by his sexy threats. Tilting her face toward his, she sucked in a breath of her own. Raw, undisguised need tautened his features and flared from his eyes. He looked at her with a primitive hunger that turned his masculine beauty into a mask of heated desire.
She trembled in his arms and tightened her grip on his neck. He stared into her eyes while grinding his erection against her, letting her feel every inch of his hard-on. They rocked together, returning stares and wishing they were anywhere but a crowded party. For Deidre, the song and intimate embrace ended too soon.
When the tune finally faded, the sudden chatter all around them broke the spell. She loosened her hold and tried to put some space between them, but Luc didn’t release her right away.
“I’ve got a little problem here, Sugar,” he said, thrusting his hips forward and bumping her with the evidence of his arousal.
She could understand his concern. Erections were hard to conceal in tight jeans—especially one the size of his. Flashing him an unrepentant grin, she put a little more distance between their bodies. The dance floor was rapidly clearing, but they just stood and stared at each other. For the first time since meeting Luc, she could swear he was blushing. Or maybe he was just flushed with arousal. Either way, she felt flattered.
“Don’t expect me to apologize for turning you on,” she teased.
“Don’ be talkin’ like that right now,” he protested on a groan. “I’m tryin’ to get a grip here.”
“Want me to grip anything for you?”
The sound he made was low and mournful. “Hell, yes, but hell no.”
Deidre threw back her head and laughed at his predicament. Luc’s eyes glittered with blue fire and the threat of retribution. That made her pulse race and fire lick through her bloodstream. She wanted him, desperately. Wanted to rip off his clothes and have her way with him. The desire was so strong and so fierce that it threatened her composure.
Dragging her gaze from her oh-so-gorgeous, oh-so-tempting husband, she caught sight of Evangelina heading straight for them. That quickly put a damper on her mood.
“You’d better cool your jets,” she told Luc. “Here comes Evangelina, and she’ll think you got all hot and hard for her.”
Luc made a rough sound in his throat. “Well, now, that could calm a ragin’ hard-on,” he said, his tone sardonic.
A different set of musicians had taken up the instruments. Another slow ballad filled the air as Evangelina sidled up to him and asked for a dance. Any other time, Deidre would have felt threatened, but not tonight. For the first time since becoming his wife, she felt secure enough in his love to ignore the green-eyed monster.
“Sure you don’ mind, Sugar Dee?” asked Luc.
“Not at all. I need a breather,” she teased, thinking of his declaration last night. He’d said that nothing about Evangelina could attract him as long as she was breathing.
His smile and slow wink assured her that he remembered, too. “You just keep breathin’,” he said.
Nodding and smiling, she stepped aside so that the two of them could dance. Then she headed for the bar where Bill, the dispatcher, was tending.
“Hi there, Mrs. Luc. It’s sure good to see you out and about. Are you enjoyin’ yourself this evening?”
“That I am,” she told him with a smile. “Evangelina’s keeping Luc busy while I get something for my parched throat.”
“Another daiquiri?”
“That would be great. They’re delicious, but you’d better make it light on the rum. They go straight to my head.”
“In that case, I sure hope Luc’s drivin’ tonight or you might get thrown in the slammer again,” he teased.
Deidre gasped at his audacity and then laughed out loud, the happy sound echoing through the building. Bill wouldn’t be teasing her if he didn’t believe the relocated Yankee had a sense of humor. For the first time since moving to Summersville, she felt like a part of the tight-knit community.
“I don’t know,” she countered. “Evangelina has him in her grasp, so I might have to fight for a ride home.”
“Nah,” he argued, shaking his head and nodding toward the dance floor. “You got no competition there. Even with her in his arms, he never takes his eyes off you. It’s clear the man’s well and truly hooked.”
“That’s good to hear,” she said, accepting the drink he offered with thanks. “Because I’m well and truly hooked, too.”
As she ambled back toward the dance floor, she stopped and chatted briefly with Sarah Jacques, the librarian. They agreed to get together later in the week to discuss her book signing and the possibility of a part-time job. Deidre figured that would be one of the best ways to learn more about Luc’s Parish family and cultural background. She didn’t kn
ow why she hadn’t thought of it months ago.
The song had ended and another started when she got back to the patio. Evangelina had found someone else to dance with and Luc headed straight for her.
“Another drink? You gonna get smashed?” His tone was light, but his expression was wary.
“Bill’s weaning me off the alcohol, so it’s mostly fruit juice.”
“Good of him to look out for your health.”
“He didn’t want me to get hauled into jail again.”
A smile split Luc’s face, and he shook his head. Then he grabbed a beer and guided her to a more secluded corner of the pier where dark shadows partially hid them from view. They could hear the gentle lapping of water behind them and the muted sound of the music. He leaned against the wooden railing and pulled Deidre into his arms so that they both faced the festivities. For a few minutes, they relaxed and finished their drinks. Then they set aside their glasses, and he wrapped both his arms around her waist.
Deidre placed her hands on his and swayed to the music. “This is nice,” she said.
“Not too hot and steamy for you?”
Her response came on a chuckle. “Tolerable.”
“That’s good, chère. I don’ wan’ you to be miserable. I jus’ wan’ you to be happy.”
“Speaking of happy,” she teased. “I found something else at the little shop yesterday that might amuse you.”
Luc stirred with interest and leaned his head closer to her ear. “What would that be, Sugar?”
“Crotchless panties.”
For a minute he seemed stunned. Then he groaned. “You didn’.”
“I did.”
His hands slipped down to her hips as though he could feel them on her. “You aren’?”
“I am.”
He groaned louder as she wiggled her hips, feeling his erection harden through the thin fabric of their clothes.
“Guess what else?”
He buried his face in the curve of her neck and made a low, strained sound. “I’m almos’ afraid to ask.”
She reached in her pocket and pulled out a small circle of rubber. “I just happen to have a condom with me.”
“Are you thinkin’ what I think you’re thinkin’?” he asked, his voice going rough with arousal.
“I’m thinking we might put that arousal of yours to good use.”
“Mon Dieu, you set my cock on fire,” he whispered, nudging her in the behind with the evidence, “but why do we need a condom? We’ve never bothered with ‘em before.”
“Well, I can’t spend the rest of the night smelling like the Parish whore. What would people think?” She reached behind her and found the zipper of his jeans. His cock immediately sprung free of his briefs and jeans. She curled one hand around it and stroked it for several long minutes.
Luc’s tone turned raw. “That arrest yesterday will seem like small potatoes if anyone realizes what you’re doin’,” he warned.
“Just try to look relaxed and innocent.”
“Yeah, sure.” The words came out in a tortured rumble as she slowly rolled the condom onto his straining flesh.
“We still have a little logistics problem, Sugar Dee.”
Deidre wouldn’t be deterred. She was already excited beyond words. The crotchless panties had been teasing her sensitive flesh all night. Now her pussy was feeling wet and far too empty. And she wanted to stake a claim. Silly as it seemed, she wanted Luc inside of her, a part of her, a place where no one else was allowed.
“Just prop your leg on the bench,” she instructed, nodding to their left.
Luc did as she said, all the while easing the back of her skirt higher. Its fullness curtained their lower bodies as she pretended to sit on his upraised knee. Then his cock slipped into her with unerringly accuracy. They moaned in unison, but held perfectly still, all the while watching the other partygoers.
“Now what, ma coeur? We’re all locked up and can’t move or the whole damn Parish will figure what we’re doin’. If we get caught, someone’s likely to throw a bucket of cold water on us like they do when dogs get locked together.”
“Maybe no one’s looking this way.”
“Fat chance in hell.”
“Okay, so I’ll try a little internal massage,” she whispered in a panting breath. It was killing her to have him buried so deep inside her and not be able to move. She remembered some vaginal exercises she’d learned in college. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on milking his hard flesh.
After a few minutes, they were both sucking in air and sweating profusely, yet still trying to smile and look nonchalant. Deidre was getting more excited with each squeeze of pussy muscles, but she needed more.
“Luc!” she coaxed.
He managed to shift them further into the shadows. Then he slipped one hand under her skirt and cupped her mound. It didn’t take more than a few well-placed strokes to bring her to shattering release. She stiffened and swallowed a cry. Luc rocked against her with a few strong thrusts and then she felt him go rigid and moan with his own release.
Anyone watching would think they were cuddling and keeping time to the music when they were really heaving and gasping for breath. When they’d recovered their composure, Luc whispered in her ear again.
“Damn, that was good, Sugar Dee. But now what the hell am I s’posed to do with this rubber?”
Deidre heard herself giggling like a schoolgirl. “Take it off.”
“I got the damned thing off, but I can’ jus’ throw it in the trash. Some kids’ are boun’ to sort through the dumpster for aluminum cans.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing hysterically. “Then their irate parents would bring the condom to the sheriff’s office and demand a DNA test.”
He made a sound of disgust. “Can’t pollute the river, either,” he added.
“Give it to me, and I’ll tie it in a knot so none of your little guys spill out,” she said.
Luc slipped her his warm, squishy burden. She held it in the folds of her skirt and carefully knotted it like a balloon.
“I’ll hide it in my pocket and go to the bathroom. I guess it’s safe to flush.”
As soon as she slipped it in her pocket, he whirled her around, hugging her tight. He smiled down at her, the lazy, slumberous smile of a satisfied male. “You are somethin’ else, wife. You ‘bout made me crazy on the dance floor, but now I’ll have to find a way to repay your generosity.”
Deidre smiled up at him, and he brought his mouth down to hers. What started out as a gentle peck lengthened into a long, leisurely kiss that left them sighing with satisfaction.
“Why don’ we both make a quick trip to the privy, then get ourselves on home,” suggested Luc. “I’d like to see those panties up close.”
“You’re sure you want to go home now? It’s still early.”
“I want you all to myself and buck naked in my arms.”
A woman would be crazy to argue with a declaration like that, so she didn’t bother. She just smiled and nodded as Luc guided her back to the building. They separated to make use of the restrooms and then said their goodbyes as they wove their way through the throng of bodies.
Deidre was impatient to get home, and she felt Luc’s increasing impatience, but he remained polite and considerate to those who wanted one more word with the sheriff and his wife. It took them nearly an hour to get to the parking lot.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” he said as he put the truck in gear and headed down the road toward home. He reached a hand to gently caress her thigh.
“You don’t need to apologize for being in popular demand,” she insisted. She’d known Luc was well liked in the community, but tonight she’d seen him more clearly, realizing how much he meant to the Parish and how much they meant to him.
“Mais, non,” he argued. “They just wanted to get a little closer to my lovely wife.”
She laughed softly. “I can’t imagine why.”
Luc shot her a searching gl
ance. “You really don’ know, do you?”
“Know what? That they all think you were an idiot for marrying a Yankee? That they think I’m some sort of freak because I don’t understand all your customs and cuisine? They call me ‘Mrs. Luc’ because they don’t know or care about my given name.” She kept her tone light to disguise how much it hurt to be the outsider, the mistake everyone thought Luc had made.
“Mai, non, mon ange,” he said, his tone soft and concerned. “You’re wrong. You’re the mystery lady they’re all wantin’ to know better. You might be a Yankee, but you’re a beautiful, talented celebrity. They know I’m just a poor Cajun who got lucky in love. They ‘cuse me of usin’ black magic to woo you, and they’re takin’ bets on when you’ll get fed up and leave.”
Deidre made a sound of distress. Did he really believe all that? How could he doubt her love? As soon as she asked the mental question, she answered herself. Because she’d been so reluctant to get involved, so reluctant to become a part of his life outside their home. Because she’d buried herself in her work and buried her head in the sand.
Apparently, he harbored his own doubts and insecurities. He’d helped her banish some of her insecurities, so she vowed to do the same for him. Even if it took another fifty or so years of love and adoration.
“I’m not a celebrity.” She finally responded. “I’m just a writer who loves words, and a woman who loves her husband.”
“Do you, chère?” His tone was surprisingly soft and wistful. “How much do you love your husband?”
Deidre heard a thread of seriousness in his lightly spoken question. Did he really doubt her love? She’d made herself a promise to show him and keep showing him until she made a believer out of him.
Unsnapping her seatbelt, she slid closer to him. “I’ve always thought actions spoke louder than words. I guess I’ll just have to show you how much I love you.”
He slid an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight. “Sounds good to me.”
Turning her head into his shoulder, she nuzzled her cheek against the hardness of his chest, inhaling deeply. She loved the feel and scent of him. Lifting a hand to the buttons on his shirt, she unfastened the top two and delved into the dark curls. She teased his nipple with her thumbnail. He rewarded her with a sharp intake of breath.
Cajun Sheriff Page 7
