Teasing Annie: The Temptation Saga: Book Two

by Hardt, Helen;

  They laughed easily together. Sam and Dusty had joined another group of guests and she and Chad were alone. She gave Jet another scratch behind his ears and drained her iced tea glass. She handed it to Chad. “I think I’ll have a beer now.”

  “Wise choice, Dr. Annie. Wise choice.” His eyes gleamed. “I’ll be right back.”

  Annie knelt back down to focus on Jet. “Where’s your papa, sweetheart?” she cooed to him.

  “Right here.”

  The sexy low drawl poured over her like a creamy chocolate-raspberry syrup. She stood up and turned to face Dallas.

  “Hi,” she said.

  “Sorry if he’s bothering you.”

  “Jet? He’s no bother. You know I love him.”

  “Not Jet.” Dallas’s voice cracked. She could tell he tried to hide it, but Annie noticed. “Chad.”

  “Chad? Why would he be a bother?”

  “He…uh, well he…”

  “He what, Dallas?”

  “He’s not serious about women.”

  “So? From what I’ve seen, neither are you.”

  Dallas’s grip on his beer bottle tightened, whitening his knuckles. “Maybe I should be talking to him, not you.”

  “Whatever.” Annie smiled when Chad rejoined them and handed her a beer. “Thanks, Chad.”

  “Not a problem.” He turned to Dallas. “You movin’ in on my date, big brother?”

  “Your date?” Dallas’s lips formed a thin line on his taut face.

  Ha! Good for you, Chad, Annie thought. Heck no, they weren’t on a date, but she wasn’t about to clue Dallas in on that fact at this particular moment.

  “Well,” Chad drawled, “not technically, I suppose, but a guy can always hope.”

  Annie smiled at him. “Chad’s going to introduce me to Marnie. He says she’s Jet’s sister.” She gave Jet another quick pet.

  “Great,” Dallas said tersely.

  “How about tomorrow, Dr. Annie? I’ll pick you up around noon and we can have lunch at my place.”

  Annie opened her mouth to reply, but before any words came out, Dallas grabbed Chad’s arm.

  “We need to talk, little brother.” He pulled Chad away and Annie was left standing alone, beer in one hand, dog ear in the other. She was sure her face had gone completely red.

  * * *

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Dallas demanded. “She’s not your type at all.”

  “Hmm.” Chad scratched his head. “Beautiful. Intelligent. Funny. Built. You’re right. What was I thinking?”

  Dallas’s insides clenched at the thought of his brother’s hands on Annie’s perfect body. Nope, wasn’t going to happen.

  “She’s too old for you.”

  “She can’t be a day over twenty-six or twenty-seven, Dallas.”

  “It just so happens she’s thirty.”

  “So what? Older women are delicacies to be savored, brother.”

  Nausea crept into Dallas’s gut as he regarded the lecherous look on his brother’s face.

  “Besides,” Chad continued, “I’m twenty-eight. It’s not like she’d be robbing the cradle or anything.”

  “Stay away from her.”

  “Why? Have you got some kind of claim on her?”

  Damn right I do.

  He inhaled sharply. “Just leave her alone, Chad. She just got out of a divorce.”

  “Then maybe she’s up for some fun. I can’t say I’d mind a little fun with her. She’s gorgeous. And that body. Damn.”

  Dallas’s fists clenched. He was a hair’s breadth away from knocking his baby brother unconscious.

  “I don’t want you with her.”

  “Are you two…together or something?”

  Dallas inhaled and held his breath for a moment. He let the air out of his lungs slowly. “No.”

  “Then this ain’t your business.”

  “Chad—”

  “Look, if you don’t want her, there’s a slew of cowboys around here who’ll be drooling over her in no time. Sam’s already got an eye for her, and Joe Bradley, too.”

  Dallas stiffened. Every hair on his body pressed upward. His teeth ground together and he fought an overwhelming desire to punch the wall.

  “You saw her with Joe Bradley?”

  “Yeah. Yesterday. They were having coffee at Rena’s.”

  Again? Coffee twice?

  “Damn her. She doesn’t even like coffee!” Dallas raised his fist.

  “Put that down now, Dallas.” Chad’s voice was even and serious. “I haven’t done anything to incur your wrath, and neither has Joe Bradley. If you want the lady, I’ll bow out politely, but if not, well—”

  “Damn it,” Dallas said under his breath.

  “I see.” Chad adjusted his Stetson. “Enjoy your evening, big brother. Alone. Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s a pretty filly waiting for me outside.”

  Dallas seethed. This was more than his heart could take. Already he felt his body preparing to fight for his woman. What the hell was wrong with him? He was civilized. A cowboy. A gentleman. Not some Neanderthal grappling for a mate. Whatever the problem, he couldn’t go back out there and watch his brother seduce his Annie.

  No. Not his Annie. You don’t want her, remember?

  Irritated, he walked to Zach’s study, thinking he’d be alone. Wrong again. Zach was there, finishing up a phone call.

  “Sorry,” Dallas said, but Zach motioned him inside as he said goodbye to whoever was on the line.

  “I’m done. Did you need something in here?”

  “Just a respite,” Dallas said.

  “From a certain pretty veterinarian?” Zach’s unique eyes smiled.

  “Damn. Am I that transparent?” Dallas plunked into one of the leather armchairs across from Zach’s desk.

  “’Fraid so. You seemed to be getting along great last weekend. What happened?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, she’s divorced.”

  “Last time I checked, so are you.”

  “I just found out something she did that I’m having trouble accepting.”

  “Which is?”

  He sighed. “She lied to her husband about something. Something important.”

  “Do you know the circumstances?”

  “No. I didn’t ask, and I don’t want to know. I’m not getting involved with another deceptive female. I can’t make that mistake again. I never make the same mistake twice.”

  “Annie is nothing like Chelsea.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Well, for one thing, I can stand to be in the same room with her. No offense, but that was never true of your wife.”

  “You all hated her. I know. But you hated me as well.”

  “I never hated you, Dallas.”

  “Okay. Disliked me immensely then.”

  “How about tolerated with disfavor?”

  “Ha. Funny.”

  “Dallas, you’ve changed. You’re not the same man you were. You’ve stopped being so mind-numbingly unbearable.”

  “Thanks.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Look, Chad and I know Pa was hard on you. He made you a man before you were ready, and he saddled you with a lot of the responsibility for the two of us. That couldn’t have been easy, and hell, Chad and I sure didn’t make it any easier on you. So I don’t blame you for how it used to be.” He chuckled. “Especially now that you’ve unloaded Chelsea.”

  “Should’ve done that years ago.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me.” Zach absently rubbed his goatee.

  “Yeah, I should have, but I didn’t. I knew it wasn’t working. Hell, it was apparent within the first year or so. But I didn’t want to fail, Zach. And I didn’t want to admit I’d made a mistake by marrying her in the first place. I still hate myself for it.”

  “Marriage is a two-way street, Dallas. She helped you fail. You can’t shoulder all the blame.”

  Dallas sighed.
Zach was right, but Dallas had still failed, and if he got involved with another woman who was capable of lying to him, he might fail again. “Whatever.”

  “Can’t you give Dr. Annie a chance?”

  Dallas inhaled and raked his fingers through his thick hair. “Part of me wants to hold onto her and never let her go.”

  “That’s the part I’d listen to, brother.”

  “But it’s complicated.”

  “Nah. It’s really not.” Zach walked toward the door. “Stay here and hide if you want. I’ve got to get back outside or Dusty’ll have a fit. Besides, I’m on critter duty for a while.”

  “I’ll be glad to look after him for you.”

  “That’s okay. You stay here and mope.” Zach shook his head and chuckled as he walked off.

  Dallas wasn’t sure how long he stayed in Zach’s office. Various guests passed by the door, some poking their heads in to say a quick hello. He sat in Zach’s leather desk chair, his hands behind his head, feet on the desk, wondering what the hell to do, when a rustling of silk and rayon whisked by the door, followed by a subtle breeze laced with hints of coconut and tulips.

  Annie.

  “He’s too young for you,” Dallas called out. He thought for a moment that she hadn’t heard him, but then her burgundy highlighted head of curls peeked into the office.

  “Did you speak to me?”

  Damn, that biting Jersey accent was unbelievably adorable. “Yeah. I said he’s too young for you.”

  “Chad? He’s twenty-eight.”

  “And you’re thirty. That would make you a cougar.”

  “A thirty-year-old woman and a twenty-eight-year-old man is hardly the stuff of scandal, Cowboy. I mean, Dallas.” She entered the office and looked around. “Harvard, huh?” she said, looking at Zach’s BA and MBA. “I hear you’re a Yale man.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay. Well, see you around.”

  “Don’t get involved with Chad.”

  Annie turned back around and faced Dallas. Her violet eyes darkened to a soft aubergine. “I don’t see the problem. Why shouldn’t I date your brother? You’ve made it painfully obvious that you don’t want me.”

  Dallas rose and walked to the door and shut it. “That’s where you’re wrong, Annie. I want you so much I’m burning inside.” His body was on fire. His gaze seared into her flesh.

  Annie backed away, her hands fumbling for something behind her. “Then I fail to see why you’ve been avoiding me like the plague.”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “That’s a coward’s answer, Cowboy.” Her voice cracked, but remained steady. “You held me in my bed that first night when I needed you. The next night you made love to me so many times I lost count. I told you I don’t sleep around, but I slept with you. I don’t regret it, and I didn’t think you did either. Until breakfast on Sunday.”

  “I can’t talk about this right now, Annie.” He advanced toward her, like an animal stalking his mate.

  “Then there’s nothing to…”

  He fingered a curl that had come loose from her clip.

  “Oh God. Don’t do this.” Her violet eyes smoldered and her lips trembled.

  Yeah, she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  “Don’t do what?”

  “Don’t… Not unless you mean it.”

  He reached behind her and pulled the butterfly clip out of her hair. Her dark tresses curled over her shoulders, down her back. “You look like a gypsy princess.” He breathed in and out. Her fragrance intoxicated him. Flowers and coconut, like a tropical beach. Had anything ever smelled so good? So right? “So beautiful.” He traced his fingers around one of her silver hoop earrings. “My gypsy princess.” He let his hand wander down her cheek, down the smooth lines of her neck and shoulder, down the soft curve of her breast. Her nipple hardened under his touch.

  “Oh, damn,” she said.

  The tension in her body matched his own. Tension they could only ease with each other. “Kiss me, Annie.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.” He cupped her soft ivory cheek and lowered his head.

  “Please.” She shook her head, her soft curls tickling his hand. “Don’t.”

  He ignored her, clamped his mouth onto hers, and kissed her, determined to drain all he could from her. He thrust his tongue into her moist warmth, taking her taste, her softness. He was ferocious in his passion. No longer thinking, he let his body guide him. And his body wanted to possess her.

  Badly.

  He lifted her into his arms and set her down on the leather couch alongside one wall. She stretched out beneath him and he lay on top of her, thrusting his fully clothed erection against her softness. “I can’t think of anything but you,” he said, rasping. “You never leave me. You haunt my dreams, so there’s no peace even in sleep.” The soft breath of her moans tickled his cheeks. “Why did you do this to me? Why?”

  “Do what? I haven’t done—” She stopped, gasping for air, and he took her mouth again.

  “I’ve never felt like this before,” he said, panting, after tearing his mouth from hers again. “I can’t be with you, but I can’t stop desiring you. Your beautiful body. Your sweet lips.”

  “Why can’t you be with me?”

  Dallas didn’t answer.

  “It’s all right, Cowboy.”

  She threaded her fingers through his hair and lightly massaged his scalp. She was trying to soothe him. But it wouldn’t work. It would never work.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “What’s the matter? Right now I want nothing more than to take your body with mine. This isn’t normal.”

  “It’s just…what you said the other night.” She puffed against his neck. “Chemistry.”

  “Right. Chemistry.” He tore her silk camisole down the front and ripped her bra from her beautiful breasts. He groaned as he latched on to a dark, turgid nipple.

  “What… What am I going to wear home?”

  “Who cares?” he said against her chest and devoured her other nipple.

  When the sensitive skin of her breasts was ruddy from his beard stubble and her nipples deep purple from his sucking, he turned her over and lifted her skirt. A thong. Sweet God. He cupped the smooth creamy skin of her behind and massaged her. She moaned, little purrs of contentment.

  “You have such a sweet little bottom, Annie,” he said, “and this thong. It’s driving me crazy.”

  “Get rid of it then.” Her voice was low and husky.

  Within seconds, he had ripped off the undergarment and tossed the shreds to the floor. “I’m going to take you now. Like this.” He smoothed his hands over her back and down over her creamy bottom again. “I want to possess you. Mark you. I want to make you mine. Do you understand me?”

  He unbuckled his belt and lowered his jeans and boxers. She lay on the couch, belly down, her pretty face smashed and distorted on the leather. “Please—” she said. “Not like this. Let me turn around—”

  “Turn around?”

  “Yes,” she panted. “I…can’t do it like this.”

  He loved doggy style, but he wouldn’t take any woman without her consent. Especially not Annie. His Annie. He rolled her gently onto her back and thrust into her.

  She groaned and raised her hips to meet him. “God, Cowboy. Please.”

  He ground his pelvis into hers. “I want you so much, Annie. So much.” He plunged into her and felt the edge of her womb against his cock. “I can’t think of anything else.” Thrust. “I’m hard all the time.” Thrust. “I can’t eat. I can’t sleep.” Thrust. “Help me. Help me get over you.” Thrust.

  Annie sobbed into his shoulder. She spoke, but Dallas couldn’t make out the words. He pushed into her heat again and again, raining kisses on her neck and cheeks in rhythm with his thrusts. When she cried out in climax, he shuddered with his own release.

  He lay on top of her for a few moments, listening to her breathing, enveloped in her soothing presence. If only…
>
  His cell phone brought him abruptly back to reality. He didn’t take the call, but he stood, pulled up his boxers, and refastened his jeans and belt.

  “Go,” he said.

  “Go where? You ripped my top. I… I…” Her eyes misted with tears.

  He felt like a monster. He shouldn’t have touched her. Now it would be harder for both of them. The urge to cradle her in his arms overwhelmed him. But he’d be strong.

  “I’m so sorry, Annie.” He sank to the couch and buried his head in his hands. “Please. Just go.”

  “Fine.” She sniffed, holding the two sides of her shorn blouse together. “Do me a favor though.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t you dare ever touch me again.” She walked away and slammed the door behind her.

  Dallas curled into the couch, inhaling the smoky aroma of the leather mixed with Annie’s spicy tropical fragrance. A tear formed in the corner of his eye, but he abruptly stopped it.

  He had learned a long time ago that crying was a waste of time.

  * * *

  Annie ran straight to her car. If anyone saw her, she wasn’t aware of it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she drove home, her blouse in tatters.

  To be taken so forcefully had scared her at first. Had been too much like… But then her feelings had changed. All thoughts except one had flown from her mind. Suddenly her world had become Dallas, as he thrust into her, wanting her, touching her, desiring her in a boundless passion. It had been beautiful. A perfect melding of two bodies, two hearts, two souls.

  For her at least.

  She had promised herself she’d never cry over a man again, and here she was less than two weeks in Colorado and she’d broken her vow.

  It was best to stay away from the McCrays from now on. Unfortunately, that meant no friendship with Dusty, no cooking with Seraphina, and no lunch with Chad tomorrow. She’d call and leave him a message when she got home. He’d be at the party until late, so she could leave an innocuous voice mail on his home line.

  By the time she drove into the alley behind the clinic, she had figured it all out. No more McCrays.

  Still holding her torn blouse together, she reached for her key and inserted it into her deadbolt. She was astonished to find it unlocked.