by Laura Wright
“Yeah, I do. . . .”
“Have you?” she asked him.
“Have I what?”
“Ever given your heart to anyone?” The moment the words were out of her mouth, she laughed softly. “Oh, Lord, look who I’m asking. Of course you haven’t.”
“I was engaged, Sheridan.”
Though everything south of Sheridan’s neck continued to hum and pulse and clench, everything above it—her face, and most definitely her brain—froze. For a good ten seconds. Then she forced out a strangled sounding, “What happened?”
“She called it off.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He’d said he didn’t believe in marriage. Was this why? “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I was young. College.”
Her heart sank into her stomach. “Is that why you didn’t finish?”
He took several seconds to answer. “Yes.”
She turned over to face him. No longer was she concerned with her blatant arousal. Her eyes blazed into his, so stormy blue in the strained light of the moon streaming in over her shoulder. He’d given her something. Answered her question. It wasn’t an entire story, but it was a first chapter.
She draped her leg over his thigh and pulled herself in close. Then she kissed him, slow and soft and hungry. When he growled, and his hand dragged up from her knee to her thigh, then slipped around to cup her ass possessively, Sheridan let all the questions floating around in her mind fade away.
For now, she mused breathlessly. For now.
Seventeen
James dug into his nightstand for a condom. He hadn’t expected to use them when he’d grabbed a pack from the drugstore yesterday. But he also wasn’t an immature bastard. Sheridan was coming to live with him. He wanted her, and he had been pretty sure she wanted him too. If the time came, and shit, if both of them wanted it, he was going to be prepared. He was going to protect her.
He just hadn’t thought that possibility would turn so damn quickly into let’s go—and oh, baby, I want you in my bed every night until you decide to leave it.
Especially after talking about the past. About college. About being engaged. Why he’d left.
Dropping the condom near his pillow, he turned back to Sheridan. She instantly draped her leg over his thigh again and scooted closer. His eyes pinned to hers, he reached down and cupped her. Heat and moisture surged into his palm and he groaned.
“How long have you been like this?” he asked as he ran his fingers from her clit to the entrance of her sex.
“Hmmm, let’s see.” One auburn eyebrow lifted. “How long have we known each other?”
He stilled, unsure if he’d heard her right.
She laughed.
“Damn, woman,” he ground out good-naturedly, easing his index finger through her folds and finding her swollen clit.
“Okay,” she amended with a sharp intake of breath. “The way you were touching my back. Every inch of me was on edge and wanting you and . . . wet.”
“You could’ve said something. I’ve been ready since we left the shower.” His gaze flickered left. “I just didn’t want to be a horny asshole. Again, you just got out of the hospital.”
She reached up and took his face in her hands, gave him a very serious, very sexy stare. “Listen to me, cowboy. I’m a grown woman.”
“Yes, you are,” he agreed, flicking her clit gently.
“Don’t pull me off my course,” she warned with a sharp intake of breath. “I’m a grown woman who knows her body. Knows what it can take and what it can’t. I get to make that decision, you hear?”
“I hear,” he said. “So what can your body take, Sheridan?” he asked, dipping his finger inside her pussy.
She gasped and canted her hips. “Oh, that and so much more. Really anything you got, James Cavanaugh.”
His body erupted into flame. His cock was so hard it was kissing his belly. “That’s way too tempting.”
She grinned, her eyes glassy. “Good.”
“Well, I won’t be putting you on your back—that’s for sure,” he said, his nostrils flaring, taking in her addictive scent as he pumped a finger gently inside her.
Her grin turned wicked. “Then put me on my front.”
His mouth kicked up at the corners. This woman had a way of making a man not only forget his name, but forget he was more comfortable frowning through his life.
With a hungry groan, James scooped her up by the ass cheeks and took her with him as he rolled to his back. The sight that greeted him when his head hit the pillow was like something out of a fantasy. His fantasy. Ever since he’d rescued this woman from the storm and her car, had her in front of him on his horse. That’s when it had all started. The dream of having Sheridan O’Neil for himself, laughing with her, making her cry out his name, watching her face, those gray eyes as she told him she wanted him too.
His eyes connected with her spread thighs, and the base of his cock wedged between her glistening pussy lips. Just that had the power to send him howling, send him over the edge, coming like an unskilled teenager. But he wasn’t even remotely close to visually appreciating the angel sitting on top of him. Long, lightly muscled legs gave way to lean hips and a plump, biteable ass. Her waist was small, and he could just imagine himself encircling it with his hands, lifting her up and placing her down on his shaft. Her navel was a dime-sized inverted circle that intrigued him, made him think of stopping there to lick and tease her before he ventured lower.
His gaze clicked upward, narrowing on the absolutely mouthwatering sight of her breasts. They were the perfect size and his hands twitched involuntarily as he recalled how well they fit in his palms—how tight and hard her dark pink nipples had become when they were teased. Like precious diamonds.
When she started circling her hips, rubbing herself against his shaft, James reached for the condom he’d tossed next to his pillow. But just as he picked it up, Sheridan stole it from him.
His eyes lifted to hers in question. But she just smiled at him.
“I’m going to do it,” she declared. “I’ve become very familiar with you since the shower.”
His breath caught in his lungs; he watched her unwrap the foil packet, watched her take out the latex and fit it over his cock. Her touch was gentle but firm and James couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and touching her as she slid the condom all the way down to the base. His hands ran up her arms, his fingers pressing into her soft, smooth skin. He groaned as he cupped her breasts, then let his thumbs play with her taut nipples.
“I need you, James,” she uttered in a pained voice. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to know how you feel.”
“Christ, I need you too, darlin’.”
Her heart squeezing at his words, Sheridan leaned over and kissed him. Slow, drugged, hungry. And as she did, she dragged the head of his cock back and forth over her clit. Even through the latex, James could feel the bud swell.
His hands gripped her waist and he lifted her up. She released him, but it didn’t matter. He was so hard his cock stood at attention, waiting for her. It wanted her so damn bad it swelled even further with anticipation.
His eyes locked with hers, silently demanding that she dare not look away, he slowly placed her down on the head of his cock. His hands continued to grip her waist, easily holding her weight, as he let her sounds and her facial expressions guide him, take him inch by inch until he filled her completely.
Sheridan gasped and smiled at him, then started to circle her hips slowly.
James could’ve come right there. Being inside Sheridan was the deepest, most incredible pleasure he’d ever known. Her walls were gripping him, bathing him in her hot juices, and he just wanted to fuck her senseless.
But this was her show. For the moment.
He cupped her breasts, letting her le
an forward into him as she started to move. Her face turned pink and her breathing grew labored as she set her pace. James kneaded the flesh of her breasts, every so often easing back to pinch or pull her nipples. An action that would make her cry out and ride him frantically for minutes at a time. Then, when she grew tired, she’d lean forward again, and let her hands rest on his shoulders, let her breasts hang right near his face.
He grinned. “I think I just found my heaven on earth,” he growled, lifting his chin and swiping at her hard nipple with his tongue.
She gasped and clenched around him.
“My cock deep inside your pussy,” he said, blowing gently on the hot, wet bud. “My mouth sucking on your perfect tits.”
He felt her walls tremble and he reached around and grabbed her ass. His mouth closed around one of her nipples and as he suckled her into his mouth hard, he thrust up inside her.
“Oh, God, James,” she cried out, her head falling back. “I can’t hold on.”
Then don’t, darlin’, he wanted to command, but he wasn’t about to break their connection. She was right there and so was he. He just let go. As he fucked her hard, thrusting up inside her, he flicked her nipple with his tongue, quick and fierce. Never stopping, not stopping, not even when she screamed his name, or her legs began to shake against his thighs, or her walls creamed against his shaft.
Not even when he followed her into orgasm.
Not until she collapsed on top of him, spent and breathing hard and whimpering his name. Then he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, whispering soft, sweet, vulnerable things into her neck until she fell asleep.
• • •
Sunlight assaulted Sheridan’s eyes as she blinked herself into awareness. Outside the picture window, blue skies and swaying trees told her very clearly that it was morning. She had no idea what time it was, but she did know whose bed she was in. A slow grin touched her lips—her very deliciously swollen lips. Last night had been the
most amazing night of her life. She’d never been touched like that, never been treated or talked to or held or taken care of like that.
She turned around to her other side, hoping to wake James up in a very special, very personal way, to show him just how much she’d enjoyed herself last night. But the rest of the bed was empty. Her heart gave a gigantic lurch. That is, until she heard the sound of cupboards closing, pots and pans knocking against burners outside the closed bedroom door.
Jumping out of bed, she bypassed a rumpled sheet that had been tossed to the floor sometime the night before and grabbed James’s black T-shirt. Grinning, she slipped it on. No bra or underwear beneath. Maybe she could get him back into bed. Back inside her.
Just the thought of him moving inside her again brought on delicious waves of heat below her navel. James Cavanaugh was seriously the best lover she’d ever had. Not that she’d had all that many. But she didn’t need many for comparison purposes. You could tell the man had skills. He was like a wild, hungry creature one second, then a soft, generous lover the next.
And then there was . . . well . . . the incredible size of him.
She giggled stupidly as she opened the door and strolled out of the bedroom, her cheeks flaming with the embarrassing and inappropriate thought. But her laughter dried up quickly enough when a wave of mouthwatering scents rushed her way and enveloped her.
So, he could cook like a dream and fuck like a master.
He really was the perfect man.
“Mornin, darlin’,” he said. His voice rolled over and through her.
And then she saw him, and her assessment was confirmed. Big-time. Sigh. He was wearing only blue jeans, his chest gloriously bare. Oh, yes, she’d had all that tanned muscle wrapped around her last night.
“Sleep okay?” he asked, putting a plate of eggs and bacon on the small kitchen table.
Wait. Her eyes narrowed on the plate. As in one.
“Like a baby,” she said, waiting for him to put another plate beside it. When he didn’t, she remarked, “That looks like a very lonely breakfast.” She looked up and gave him an amused, curious expression. “Unless of course, we’re sharing. Like me sitting on your lap, feeding you.”
His eyes darkened and he groaned. “Don’t tempt me. I need to meet Cole in fifteen minutes.”
He was going? So, no back to bed? She tried to hide her inner pout. “You should’ve woken me up. We could’ve eaten together.”
“No way.” He pulled out the chair for her, then grabbed the white T-shirt that had been draped over it. “I took up enough of your sleep time last night.”
“That’s true, you did,” she said, watching him slip the fabric over his head and cover up her idea of heaven on earth. “And I fully expect the same treatment tonight.”
He grinned and came over to her. “Nice shirt, by the way,” he said, reaching out and fingering the hem.
“I think I’m going to keep it.”
His grin widened and he slipped his hand underneath. When he found that she wasn’t wearing underwear, he groaned again. “Okay. I’m blowing off my brother.”
She laughed and pulled away. “No, no, no. You can’t. Go.”
He growled his frustration. “Fine. But don’t change until I get back.”
“Sorry, cowboy,” she said, finally taking her seat at the table. “I am also meeting someone today.”
A shadow moved across his handsome face. “Who? Better not be that reverend. I’m hearing he gets around.”
“What?” She laughed. “McCarron?”
He shrugged, grabbed his hat. “Women like men of the cloth, I guess.”
“Not this woman.” She bit off a piece of bacon. “This woman likes horse-whisperin’ cowboys who make kickass bacon and really know how to kiss.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth. “You got one of those coming over today?”
“Sadly, no. But I’m meeting up with a lovely bride-to-be that we all know and love.”
“Mac’s coming here?”
“We’re going out. Only have four days until this thing.”
“You sure you want to go out today?” he asked.
With a forkful of eggs poised near her lips, she gave him a serious look. “Everything is fine.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Deac and I both checked on things this morning. The piece of shit is locked up nice and tight.”
“So, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Shadows crossed his eyes, but he didn’t say any more about it. Just leaned in and kissed her. It was the sweetest, sexiest kiss in the world and Sheridan swooned internally.
When he pulled back he touched the brim of his Stetson. “Bye.”
“Bye,” she said.
She watched him go, watched the hottest jean-clad ass in the country—maybe the world—walk out the door and down the porch steps. Then she picked up another piece of bacon and slipped it into her mouth.
Eighteen
“I don’t like being this far away from Sheridan,” James grumbled as he pulled off the highway.
“She’s fine,” Cole answered, staring out the window at the prairie land, which cut off sharply as soon as they reached the bottom of the exit. “You said so yourself. Shitface is in jail and your girl’s with Mac.”
“Couple hours. That’s all I’m giving this,” James answered, not correcting Cole’s “your girl” comment.
“Turn right here and head into town,” Cole instructed. He glanced down at the scrap of paper in his hand. “Should be about six blocks down on the left.”
“How’d you get it?” James asked.
“What? Sheriff Hunter’s address?”
James shot him an irritated look.
Cole lifted the strip of paper up and waved it arrogantly. “Do you really want to know?”
“Jesus, Cole. What’d you do?”
�
��Nothing dangerous, harmful, or cruel,” he assured him.
“That leaves a lot,” James remarked. “Grace Hunter—”
“She knows nothing about it,” Cole said quickly and resolutely. “When I was there last night, I just sort of took a look at a few things on her desk. You know, when she stepped out for a second.”
The urge to yank his truck off the road, slam on the brakes, and throttle his little brother was strong. “Why the hell were you in her office?”
Cole didn’t answer right away.
“Jesus, Cole. You didn’t hit on her . . .”
“No. Shit, no.” He looked annoyed at the idea, which was curious in and of itself. “I went to look at a dog for adoption.”
James didn’t say anything for a second. He was too busy replaying what he’d just heard. Then he started laughing.
Leaning back in his seat and kicking his boots up on the dash, Cole ground out, “What?”
“You adopting a dog. And she believed that?”
Cole looked insulted. “I could have a dog.”
“When do you head back to training?”
“After the wedding.”
“And how often are you at home? And get your dirty-ass boots off my dash.”
“I don’t have a home where I train,” Cole told him, sitting up again. “I live at a hotel.”
“So, you get my point, then.”
For the next couple of blocks, Cole didn’t say a word. It reminded James of when they were little. His younger brother had always been sensitive about what he could and couldn’t do. Was always bringing home little critters he’d found around the farm. And Mama and Daddy were always telling him to take them right back outside again.
James sighed. Damn Cole. “Nice dog?” he asked.
“Yup.” Cole turned to look at him. “Belle. That’s her name.”
“Like the princess.”
Cole pointed at him. “That’s exactly what I said. Vet looked at me like I was crazy.” His eyes returned to the road. “Here. Turn in here.”
