Texas Stand-Off

by Sable Hunter

  A groan escaped from his mouth as he hit the ground, a sound that alarmed Taz. “Deacon? Are you all right?” But when she bent over, he took full advantage, wrapping his hand around her arm. She braced herself, thinking this was his way of asking for a hand up–she was wrong. With a strong yank, he brought her down flat against him. His eyes were hooded, dark with some emotion she couldn’t define. She didn’t have to wait long to discover what was on his mind. He floored her by framing her face and crashing his mouth to hers.

  Taz almost swooned with pleasure. Those firm plump lips she’d been fantasizing about kissing were now ravishing hers. There was no gentleness, his kiss dominated, his tongue thrusting in and tangling with hers in a bold parody of what she knew he could do with his cock. When he pulled back for air, he didn’t turn her loose. They stared at one another, panting, waiting long enough that Taz grew uncomfortable under his scrutiny. She started to move away, but he tightened his grip. “Not so fast. I want more.”

  So did she. Giving free rein to her desires, Taz softened against him, her fingers coming up to explore his chiseled jaw, the intriguing rasp of his five o’clock shadow. Again and again he took her lips, their tongues sliding and caressing. She moaned into his mouth and ground her hips into the cradle of his, loving the evidence of his arousal–for her. “Deacon,” she whispered his name, rubbing her breasts against his hard chest. “You feel so good.”

  As if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water over his head, Deacon went cold with panic. What was he doing? Placing his hands on her shoulders, he lifted her, then rolled out from under, getting up so fast, he almost didn’t get balanced on his bad leg.

  “Deacon?” Taz stood up, suddenly feeling extremely vulnerable.

  “I think we can safely say I won.” His chest heaved, his heart pounded. “It’s getting late, let’s call it a day.” He started walking away, putting distance between them, before he was tempted to yank her flush against his body and cup that sweet ass with both hands. She wanted a job she had no business wanting and all he could think of was holding her down and eating her pussy until she begged for more.

  Taz blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. “Wait!” She fell in behind him, shadowing his steps. “I think we need to talk about this.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.” Deacon didn’t stop until he got to his kitchen. Not bothering to flip on a light, he went to the sink and filled a glass with water.

  “Deacon!”

  Deacon wheeled around, his cock straining at his zipper. “Look, you’re proficient. In many ways, you are as good as anyone I’ve ever worked with. But...I have my reasons. We’re at a stand-off.”

  “I don’t want to stand-off.” Taz walked right up into his space, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself up against him. “I want to stand close.”

  “Damn you.” This was going to be a mistake, a mistake he had no choice but to make. He wanted her so much he couldn’t think. Before she could take another breath, he had his arms around her. She was so small. He lifted her up, captured her lips and set her on the counter. In the next heartbeat, he was all over her, putting his hands right where he’d dreamed of touching.

  Deacon palmed her breasts through her shirt while she strove to undo the buttons giving him all the access he craved. She’d worked her way down to bra level when he grabbed hold of the material of her shirt right above her hands and just ripped it open.

  Instead of protesting his actions, she moaned her approval, moving her fingers up to tangle in his unruly mane of golden hair. The need to rub her body all over his was irresistible. “Deacon…”

  “What do you want, Levin?” he growled. It had been so long since he’d been inside of a woman that he was mad with need. This wasn’t the first female he’d been around since Sylvia, but Natasha was the first who made him willing to lay down his armor. The bloom in her face increased, her lips such an inviting pink he couldn’t resist stealing another kiss.

  “You. I want you,” she gasped as he pulled the cups of her bra down and her breasts popped out. Immediately he covered them, rubbing the soft flesh, milking the nipples. “Oh, yes, please.”

  God, he’d missed this. He loved a woman’s tits. Deacon was desperate to taste her, mark her. He bent and took one rosy nipple into his mouth and began to suck. Rhythmic long pulls encompassing her whole areola, swirling his tongue around the tip, inhaling the sweet perfume of her skin. He just wished the light weren’t so dim. He couldn’t see her as well as he wished–but he wasn’t about to stop to turn on the light…he’d just feel his way. “Good?” he muttered as he switched from one tit to the other.

  “Oh, yes. I need to touch you too.” She massaged his shoulders, placing her legs around his waist to pull him even closer. Taz wanted to ride his cock more than she wanted air. She’d never thought of sex this way before, not this aching hunger.

  Deacon let his mouth slide up the sweet, warm flesh of her chest on a mission to reclaim her mouth. When he straightened, her little hands began to tear at the buttons of his shirt and once she had those open, he snarled with need when she scraped her nails over his skin, rubbing through the hair on his pecs like a kitten kneading dough. “God, Natasha, you taste so good.”

  Their kisses were frenzied and all Deacon could think about was taking her to bed and fucking her till dawn. But, that would be a mistake… The decision was suddenly taken out of his hands when she began tugging at the waistband of his pants, trying to push them down his hips. When she sighed with impatience, he helped her, holding his breath as she found him, her hands encompassing him, stroking up and down like she was as desperate for him as he was for her.

  Mistake. Deacon ignored his stupid brain. “Now you…” he said, as they both struggled to get her clothes down and off. “Fuck, you smell good. Spread your legs.” When she parted her knees, cool air caressed her wet folds and she shivered beneath his touch. He couldn’t help himself, he had to know how soft she was. His eyes caressed the glistening pink flesh as he slid his fingers from the bottom of her slit to the top, rubbing the pearl of her clit.

  “Don’t make me wait, Deacon.” Taz scooted her bottom nearer to the edge and urged him closer. “Please.”

  If someone had offered him a winning powerball ticket to refuse her, he would’ve turned it down. There was nothing in the world he wanted–hell, needed–more than this. “Guide me.”

  Taz held on to his shoulder with one hand, while she positioned his long, thick cock to the entrance of her body with the other. Once she felt the tip against her tender opening, Taz didn’t turn him loose. “I love how you feel; you’re pulsing with life.”

  Deacon shook. “Easy, baby, or I’ll cum too fast.” She brought both hands to his shoulders as he cupped her hips and began to push–working his way into the tightest, sweetest pussy he’d ever fucked. He drew in a deep breath and held it, closing his eyes. “Perfect.” Deacon felt awash in ecstasy. How had he lived without this?

  “Oh, bozhe!” she gasped, burying her face against his neck. The welcome intrusion of his manhood into her body was something she craved, but it was still a shock to her body. He was so big and she had so little experience, just once in college. She bit her bottom lip as he began to fill her, rocking his hips to slowly impale her on his rigid cock. Every cell in her body felt alive and begging to be touched.

  Deacon was in heaven, running his hands up under her shirt, caressing the smooth skin of her back. As he pumped in and out of her, he kneaded her tits, rolling those sweet puffy nipples between his fingers. Her slick channel clamped down around him and he groaned in appreciation. “Fuck, baby.” He prayed for control.

  “Take me, Deacon.” She dug her heels into his hips, a whimper slipping from between her lips. She craved him, she wanted to be possessed–hammered hard. He clutched the cheeks of her bottom, Taz knew he’d be leaving the imprint of his fingers–branding her. As he slid in and out–thrusting–pumping, every nerve in her pussy sparked and sizzled. “Don’t s
top, don’t stop,” she whispered, needing him more than she could bear.

  “I can’t, I don’t want to stop. Ever.” He nuzzled the soft place beneath her ear. She was so sweet–so hot. He wished he could fuck her for hours, but his control was fading fast. Being inside of her was so good, fucking her was unbelievable. His hands were busy at her breasts, teasing and pinching her nipples until they throbbed between his fingers. “I love to touch you here. And here,” he added as his hands curved over her firm, full hips.

  “Kiss me.” She nipped his shoulder until he lifted his head, then she layered her lips across his and drank deeply. Holding tightly to his big biceps, she clung to him as he rammed into her pussy, fast and deep. The stretch, the pleasure, the exhilarating fact that Deacon was enjoying being with her catapulted Taz over the edge. Her neck arched as the climax hit. “Oh, God, yes.” She shook in his arms as he pulled out and drove back inside of her hard and deep. “Deacon…I…” She lost her words as he undulated his hips, ensuring that there was no pleasure point in her pussy he missed. Laying her head on his shoulder, she rode the wave of bliss as each deep penetration set off a new shockwave radiating from her clit out to every centimeter of her sensitive flesh.

  “That’s it, baby. Cum hard for me.” Deacon loved this. He fuckin’ loved this! As she gripped him tight, her little pussy muscles squeezed him, milking him so good that he almost blacked out. His body tensed, his thighs quivered, every part of him was focused on this woman and the bliss of being inside her body. Feverishly–mindlessly–he jack-hammered into her, climbing the pinnacle. Almost there…he quit thinking and just let himself feel. In–out–in–out–over and over. “Tasha, baby, yea,” he cried as the crushing wave of an orgasm so powerful it rocked his world slammed into him, sending him deep beneath the onrush of a pleasure so complete he didn’t know if he’d ever come up for air.

  With her heart pounding in her chest, she kissed his neck and shoulders over and over again. This was a man she could care so much about, a man she could look up to, learn from–appreciate and love. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I loved that.”

  Deacon panted, his chest heaving as he tried to get control of his body and his brain. Hell–what had he done? He’d taken this woman like he had a right to do so. This wouldn’t change anything. Fuck! Now he’d crave her every moment of every day–and he couldn’t let this happen again! He didn’t jerk away, but he eased out, adjusted his clothing and stepped back. “Natasha…I don’t think…”

  “There’s no need to think.” She reached for him, trying to draw him back into her arms.

  “No. This was a mistake on my part.” He moved out of her reach.

  If he’d slapped her in the face, Taz couldn’t have been more shocked. “I don’t understand. This was something we did together.”

  “Straighten your clothes,” he said low, but plainly. “I’ll be in my office.”

  Taz followed his orders. She was so confused. Had she not done everything he asked? She had so little experience with men. What had she done wrong? They had so much in common. She didn’t understand him at all. Tears surfaced in her eyes, but they didn’t fall. Natasha Levin hadn’t cried in years and she wouldn’t cry now. Needing to talk to someone, Taz returned to her room to call Athena.

  Across the house, Deacon stared out the window, barely seeing the beautiful landscape before him. High white limestone cliffs reflected the dying sun. Dark green junipers and cedars vied with car size boulders for room on the rocky hillsides. He was ashamed. Try as he might, he could barely remember what he’d been like before Afghanistan. The war had changed both his body and his soul. Before Annie and Sylvia, he would no more have treated a woman the way he had Natasha Levin than he would’ve stomped on a baby squirrel. It just wasn’t in him. What had she done to deserve his cold shoulder?

  Nothing. She’d been cooperative, respectful and…hell…sweet as sugar. Everything about the woman was sexy, even the way she could beat the pants off of him. He groaned, covering his face with his hands. She’d gotten the pants off of him all right. Remembering how it felt for his cock to be buried balls deep inside of her, he groaned, his dick growing from limp to erect faster than a Tesla goes from 0 to 60. Only the buzzing of his cell phone kept him from unzipping his pants and finding another release.

  Without even looking at the display screen, he barked. “Jones!”

  “Well, I guess I don’t have to ask you how things are going. Remember, she’s a trained sniper. If you make her too angry, she might retaliate. I hear she’s an expert in nunchucks and throwing stars too.”

  Deacon didn’t doubt it. “She seems to be able to do everything well.”

  “Ah, so you’re recommending her.”

  He could hear the teasing quality in his friend’s voice. The thought crossed his mind that this was all a set-up. Would his friends do that to him? Hell, yes. “I didn’t say that. I don’t need to remind you how the idea of sending a woman into harms’ way tears up my guts like razor blades.” He looked down at his shirt, seeing a spot of blood. What the hell?

  “This is no ordinary woman, Jones.”

  “No, she’s not. I still want to interview her; see how she responds to some pointed questions–then I’ll let you know one way or the other.” Of course, Deacon knew Holden would do exactly as he saw fit. Despite telling Deacon he’d follow his recommendation, if Grey felt Deacon was being unfair–he’d override him. Deacon respected that.

  “So, if she’s doing everything well. What’s got you in such a snit?”

  Deacon pressed his lips together. “She’s…different.”

  “Different than what? Sylvia–God, I would hope so.”

  His dry comment caused Deacon to snort. “Did you call just to check up on me or did you want something in particular?”

  “I want you to move to Florida and work full time with me and I want you to rejoin the human race. Is that too much to ask?”

  Deacon sat up straighter in his chair, stretching his right leg out, rubbing his aching knee. He couldn’t help but smile, remembering the workout he’d just enjoyed. Lord have mercy, it had felt good being inside Natasha. “I think you enjoy having a branch office in Texas. How’s Athena?”

  “She’s good, she’s on the phone with your protégé right now.”

  Deacon frowned. “She’s not my protégé. How much did your lady tell her about me?”

  “Hmmm, let me see. I don’t know. But I don’t think she’d break any confidence, that’s not like Athena. Is something wrong?”

  “No, I don’t suppose. Athena told her I was a man’s man and Levin interpreted that to mean I was gay.” The roar of laughter that met Deacon’s ears annoyed the hell out of him. “It really wasn’t that funny.”

  “Oh, yes it was. That’s priceless. And how did this come up?”

  Deacon grunted. “Don’t ask.” He stared at the blood again. Had he hurt her?

  “Okay, I’ll just use my imagination.” He laughed some more. “Look. I’m just checking in. Let me know what you think after the interview and try not to let your preconceived prejudices make you into more of an asshole than you already are.”

  “Man, with friends like you…”

  “You’re a lucky man to have a friend like me. You’re not exactly anybody’s idea of a BFF.”

  Deacon grunted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m the life of the party.”

  “A wake maybe. Hey, I’ve got another call I need to take. I expect to hear from you soon.” The line went dead and Deacon laid his phone down, wondering how in the hell he was going to handle this situation.

  In the second bedroom, Taz sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m not sure how to answer that question.”

  “You can’t tell me if you’re getting along with Deacon Jones?” Athena asked with a hint of amusement.

  By the time she got on the phone, Taz had lost her courage. She decided not to mention the fact she’d had sex with Grey and Athena’s friend. “He’s grumpy
,” she stated that fact with absolute assurance. “He doesn’t like me very much. I don’t think this is going to end well.”

  “Deacon hasn’t had the easiest life. He was hurt in Afghanistan and his wife walked out on him when he came home. But he saved Grey’s life once, so as far as I’m concerned, he hung the moon.”

  “Hung the moon? I don’t understand.”

  “Ah, you and your literal interpretation. I meant that I think he’s a wonderful person. English is not the easiest language to learn is it?”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “Give him a chance, Taz. He’s a good man.”

  “The chance isn’t mine to give, Athena. He’s not the one on trial. I am.” She felt a sense of despair creep over her. “I need to ask you something.”

  “What is it?” Athena’s voice held concern. “Is something else wrong?”

  “If Deacon rejects me, does that mean you reject me also?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Why is he getting all the say? Couldn’t I prove myself to Grey? Couldn’t he test me?”

  “Whoa, whoa, Taz.” Athena laughed. “You’re hitting me with a barrage of questions.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Well, to answer your question simply, we trust Deacon’s judgment. We think he will be fair, despite the fact that he says he doesn’t support the idea of women in combat situations.”

  “I don’t understand. Why would you think he’d change his mind?” Clearly, Athena hadn’t met the Deacon Taz knew.

  Athena sighed. “Because he has worked with women, fought with them side by side. He had one in his unit in Afghanistan. She was killed on of their missions and Deacon blames himself, but we don’t think he will let those feelings influence his best judgment.”

  Taz struggled with her explanation. “So, I’m a test? What if I’m good enough and he just can’t see it? I’ll be the one to pay the price.” Even as the words she said sunk in, she found their meaning significant. She’d been the one to pay the price before.