Lone Rider

by Lauren Bach

  He reached out, grasping a long strand of her hair and slowly winding it around his wrist, tugging her closer as he advanced. She came willingly into his arms, her blue eyes smoky and wide. Unafraid.

  Tess expected a fierce kiss, was ready to return it, eager for him to shed some of his clothes before she chickened out.

  But instead, Grey turned her back to face the mirror, catching and holding her eyes in the silvered surface. His hands swept lightly up her sides, causing gooseflesh to spread.

  “You look like a goddess, the most incredible woman I’ve ever seen.” His hands rubbed softly down her back then circled forward to cradle her abdomen. “It excites me beyond words to know that my child sleeps here.”

  He pressed forward against her, letting her feel the proof of his arousal. His hands swept upward again, not stopping until he captured her breasts, lifting them in his hands. “And will seek nourishment here.”

  Tess’ breath was ragged now, her legs shaky. His hands on her body fanned a raging desire. A desire she was tired of denying. He wanted her. She wanted him. It was that simple. That uncomplicated.

  She turned, intent on kissing him. Instead, she found herself swept up in his arms. “I promised you a back rub,” he said.

  “It can wait.”

  He chuckled at her impatience, amazed he didn’t take advantage of her blatant invitation and drop her on the bed and bury himself. No, he was going to take his time, savor her. Make her feel so wonderful she’d never doubt they weren’t meant for each other. And damn it, they were meant to be together. He knew it as surely as he knew the child within her was his.

  Since her room had twin beds, he carried her to his room, setting her on the bed as if she were sculpted of fragile porcelain. He moved away, turning on the bedside lamp, before slowly peeling off his shirt.

  She admired the ripple of his abs, noticing once again the gold Saint Christopher medal. “Is that the same one you had in Montana?”

  Grey picked up the medal, removed it. “It belonged to my mother. It reminded me that there was another world outside of Bogen’s compound.”

  Tess nodded, eyes wide. She reached for him, but Grey shook his head.

  “Back rub. Remember?” He handed her a pillow to hug, afraid it would be uncomfortable to lie flat on her stomach. “Roll onto your side,” he whispered.

  Acutely aware that she was only wearing underwear, Tess did as he asked, holding her breath until she felt that first touch as his fingers slid down the center of her back. Just like their phone call. He gathered her hair, smoothing it before draping it across one shoulder, exposing her. Then he unclasped her bra and eased the straps away, baring her skin to his touch.

  It was all she could do to hold still. He started massaging, with feather-soft touches that gradually grew firmer as he expertly kneaded the tense muscles in her back. Her skin grew warm, muscles relaxing as Grey worked magic on her flesh. It was heaven.

  And just when she thought she’d flow onto the floor in a puddle, he pressed his lips to the base of her spine, his tongue lapping lightly at the twin dimples there.

  Before she could react, he turned her, laying her flat on her back. With sure hands he swept away her bra, allowing his eyes to worship her.

  In that moment Tess did feel like a goddess, her body ripe. She reached up, threading her arms around Grey’s neck, pulling him down. Closer. To touch and be touched.

  He wasn’t prepared for the jolt that swept through him as her rock-hard nipples teased his chest. At the exact same moment she caught his lower lip between her teeth, gently nibbling. He felt captured. Willingly. He held himself still, letting her make the moves, reveling in the feeling of being suspended above her as she took her own sweet time and loved his mouth.

  When she moaned softly, he moved to cover her, unable to stop himself from rubbing his erection against her mound. He gritted his teeth at the exquisite sensation.

  “God, I want you,” he whispered hoarsely. “I’ve wanted you forever.”

  Tess was lost. It felt as if he’d struck a match to her damp fuse and left it to burn slowly, steadily, toward the inevitable explosion. She arched slightly, enjoying the sensation of his body pressed against hers, the drag and friction of hard flesh on fabric. Knowing the feeling would only get better.

  “I want you too, Grey. Please.”

  It was all he needed to hear. Taking extra care to keep most of his weight suspended from her, he lowered his mouth, searing the side of her neck with blistering kisses, working his way lower until he captured a pouty peak in his mouth. As he’d suspected, her nipples were ultrasensitive, making him wonder if he could bring her to orgasm just by sucking.

  Tess writhed beneath him, her frantic hands moving to stroke the hard muscles of his back, as he suckled first one breast, then the other. And when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he started again.

  She squirmed, trying to work her hands around to the front of his pants. He still had his jeans on, which wasn’t fair considering she was only wearing a very thin, very wet, pair of panties. And judging by the feel of him, it couldn’t be very comfortable either.

  “I want these off.”

  Grey raised his head, grinning wickedly. “Your wish...”

  Pushing off the bed, he unbuttoned his jeans, then deliberately lowered the zipper, never taking his eyes from her as he shoved them down.

  Tess drew in an audible breath at the sight of jutting male flesh that couldn’t be contained by his underwear. Sitting up, she carefully tugged at his boxers, exposing him inch by glorious inch.

  Reverently, she drew a finger along the swollen head, smearing the single drop of fluid from the tip. He jerked violently, making her wonder what reaction she’d have gotten if she had used her tongue.

  Grey caught her wrist, pulling her fingers away. “Touch me like that again, and I’ll lose it.”

  Tempted to disobey, she hid a smile, desperately wanting to see him lose control for a change.

  The mattress dipped as he leaned forward on one knee, then hesitated. “You’re sure it won’t hurt the baby for us to do this?”

  This time she did smile, curving a hand around his neck to draw him closer. “Elise said it was okay.”

  “You asked?”

  She felt her face grow warm. “It came up while she was explaining the horny part of pregnancy.”

  “The horny part?” He felt her hand dip low, grasp his erection. Cursing, he tried to breathe. “Christ! Harder!”

  Just then a shrill beeping noise sounded. Grey groaned. Of all the lousy-ass timing.

  “My pager.” As bad as he wanted to ignore it, he knew who it was. “Barry’s the only person who has the number.”

  Tess released him, but not before brushing a light kiss against his shoulder. “He wouldn’t use it unless it was important.”

  Grey pushed away, to grab for his jeans. Let it be a wrong number, he prayed.

  It wasn’t: 9-1-1. Twice. That meant big emergency. He pulled on his jeans, leaving the waist unfastened -- out of necessity. “I’ll be right back. I’ve got to use the telephone.”

  Barry answered on the first ring.

  “What’s up?” Grey asked, pacing, his mind elsewhere.

  “Bogen and Snake were just arrested in Vancouver.”

  A weight lifted from Grey’s shoulders. “What? Were they with Sanchez?” Maybe they could bust Sanchez for harboring fugitives. Or aiding and abetting.

  “No. They were alone.”

  Grey was eager to share the news with Tess. Eager to get back to her. “It’s still good news. How long before the trial’s rescheduled?”

  Barry sighed. “I don’t think all those details have been ironed out. News of the arrest hasn’t even been made public yet. I’d like to bring Tess back right away.”

  Barry’s request caught Grey off guard. He pinched the bridge of his nose. While he was glad Bogen and Snake were once again behind bars, he wasn’t ready to let Tess go.

  Especiall
y right now.

  They’d been on the verge of making love. If he could have just one more night with her...

  “Give me another twenty-four hours, Barry. I’ll return to D.C. tomorrow night.”

  A tense silence crackled across the connection.

  “There’s no reason to wait, and I don’t want aspersions cast on my department again. I backed you once. Now tell me where you are and I’ll send marshals to pick her up,” Barry said.

  Grey knew his next words would probably cost him his job. “I can’t tell you, Barry. Just trust me. I’ll have Tess back in D.C. tomorrow night.”

  And with that he switched off his phone.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Without Grey in bed with her, Tess quickly grew cold. She scooted off the mattress and hurried to her room, where she pulled on some clothes. Then she went downstairs.

  She found him pacing the living room, a frown marring his forehead.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Sanchez and Bogen were recaptured.”

  A chill flashed up her spine. “Isn’t that good?”

  Grey nodded. “Barry wants you back in D.C. right away.”

  Her relief crumbled. She reached out, stopping his frenetic motion. “Tonight?” She thought of their near lovemaking that Barry’s call had interrupted. “Can’t it wait till morning?”

  The plaintive note in her voice tore at him. “Is that what you want?”

  Tess closed her eyes as her emotions suddenly crystallized. This would be their only night alone in this cabin. She wanted to be with him. All night long.

  “I want you, Grey. Make love to me.”

  His heart soared at her words. He tugged her into his arms and kissed her. The fire that burned between them burst into greedy flames of passion. He trailed his lips down the side of her neck, rough, eager. His unshaved chin rasped harshly against her skin.

  Tess drew back. He grimaced at the marks the coarse stubble of his beard left on her tender skin. “I need to shave. And shower.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Come on.”

  He tugged her down the hall to his bedroom. Then he pressed her against the wall and kissed her deeply once more, taking extra care not to chafe her. He felt the earth move. His balls tightened as anticipation licked his skin.

  “I’ll use the other bathroom,” he whispered hoarsely, stepping away.

  “Wait.”

  The word hung in the air, stretching between them.

  Tess met his gaze and knew she held the moment. He would do whatever she asked. Give her whatever she wanted.

  And God, she wanted.

  She put her hand on his chest, stopping him from leaving. “I need you,” she whispered boldly, going up on tiptoe to press a kiss to his mouth. “To wash my back.”

  Her invitation undid Grey. He growled, pulling her closer, pressing her against his arousal. “Is that all you need?”

  Her eyes grew dark, dilated. “No.” Her hands dropped to his jeans, fondling him through the coarse denim. “I need this.”

  Grey groaned, then caught her wrists. “Let me shave. First.” He brushed a kiss to her lips, then released her, and disappeared into the bathroom.

  Tess took advantage of the moment to catch her breath. She wanted Grey so bad it was frightening. No second thoughts. No regrets. Just pure, raw, desire. There would be no turning back.

  She stripped off her clothes and stood outside the bathroom door. She thought back to the first time she and Grey had made love. It had been extraordinary. He’d been such a tender, giving lover. And each time they’d made love after that had simply been better and better.

  She heard the water running in the shower, knew Grey had finished shaving. She thought of him naked and ready. Waiting. For her.

  It was time.

  She stepped inside the steamy bathroom and saw his muted outline behind the glass shower door.

  Grasping her courage in hand, she opened the door slightly and drew in a sharp breath. Grey stood under the spray, eyes closed, water sluicing down his sharp cheekbones, dripping off the sexy cleft of his chin. His arms were raised, the muscles bunched as he rinsed shampoo from his hair.

  She spied the Celtic cross tattoo, a reminder that Grey and Dallas were one and the same. She loved both.

  Her eyes drifted down, admiring his well-muscled chest, the dark hair that arrowed down toward his trim waist to his erection. His engorged shaft sprang upward, curving heavily from a nest of dark curls. Huge. Thick. Throbbing. And hers for the taking.

  Grey stepped forward, shaking the water from his eyes. He’d known the minute she’d entered. He’d watched her through slitted eyes as she admired his body, her glance lingering, shifting slowly lower.

  Yeah, he’d enjoyed watching her look, liked the way her eyes had widened slightly when she saw how ready he was. He’d let her look her fill, gave her time to change her mind. But not much...

  When she stepped into the shower he opened his arms. She moved into his embrace, let him shift her around so she was under the spray. Her hands went up, smoothing back her hair, wetting it completely.

  He groaned. “You look sexy as hell.” His hands crept up, catching her breasts, weighing them and reveling in their new fullness. She’d been more than a handful before getting pregnant. Now she burgeoned. And they’d only get bigger? He’d surely die.

  He captured her nipples between his thumbs and index fingers, rolling the twin peaks, testing their sensitivity. Tess moaned, biting her lip.

  “Feel good?” he asked, tugging lightly. Testing. Watching pleasure slacken her features.

  “It feels divine.” She reached down, wanting to stroke Grey.

  He sidestepped her, reaching for shampoo. “Shower, first. Remember? Turn around.”

  Reluctantly, Tess obliged, turning her back to Grey. He purposely pressed his erection against her back as he soaped her hair. Tess responded, rubbing her fanny against him.

  “So finish telling me about the horny part,” he urged.

  Tess glanced over her shoulder, confused.

  “Before we got interrupted,” he reminded her, “you were just starting to explain the horny part of pregnancy.”

  She closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his fingers as they massaged shampoo into her scalp, recalling the feel of his fingers, elsewhere. “Elise says pregnancy heightens the sex drive of certain women. They think about it constantly.”

  “Do you?”

  Loaded question, she thought. “I don’t think all of it’s the pregnancy. I’ve thought about it constantly. Since meeting you.” The words came out in a tortured whisper.

  Her admission nearly undid him. He had her back pressed fully against him now, his shaft sliding sinuously along the cleft of her bottom, the warm spray of water gilding their flesh. His hands drifted forward, lightly teasing her nipples.

  Then he turned her in his arms and caught her lips in a demanding kiss. “You’re all I’ve thought about for months. Come here..”

  She stepped closer and ran her hands down his chest, exulting in the feel of hard muscle beneath wet soapy skin. His arousal burned against her abdomen begging for her touch. Unable to resist, her fist closed around him, stroking firmly, the way he liked.

  He seemed to grow impossibly harder, longer, in her grasp. Her hand slipped up and down his throbbing flesh, fascinated by this part of him.

  Grey deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping fully into her mouth. Sweet Jesus! She’d make him come if she kept up that motion much longer. Unable to stop himself, he pumped against her fist. Hard. Once, twice. Then pulled away.

  “Let’s rinse your hair,” he growled.

  Tess ducked back under the spray, as eager as he was to reach the bed. She felt very close to the edge, knew he was too. She rinsed the soap clean, then moved to let Grey under the water.

  But he had other ideas. He’d used those few seconds to regain an iron control. He looked at her, eyes glinting with new determination. And held up a bottle of co
nditioner.

  She shook her head. “Takes too long.”

  He grinned, opening the cap. “Three to five minutes.” He squirted a generous dollop of creamy conditioner into his hand, the sound oddly erotic. “I can keep you busy three to five minutes.”

  He pulled her away from the water and quickly slathered her long locks with the cream. Then he kissed her again. Fierce. Demanding.

  “Don’t move,” he whispered, running kisses down her neck. His mouth moved lower, capturing first one pouty nipple, then the other. He touched her with only his mouth, elongating the nipple by sucking, then grazing his teeth against the sensitized nub.

  Tess groaned, especially when his mouth clamped tightly over her, sucking hard. She could feel the first tingling of orgasm ripple over her and Grey wasn’t touching her anywhere below the waist. He didn’t even have a hand on her. Only his mouth. And tongue. And teeth.

  She panted, fighting the sensation. Until he sucked even harder. She screamed, writhing frantically, grabbing for him as her first orgasm hit. But he stayed out of reach, pulling back just slightly, before switching to her other breast and wringing yet another orgasm from her.

  Not stopping, he dropped to his knees spreading wildfire kisses across her swollen abdomen, and lower. His fingers parted her, exposing delicate flesh.

  “Spread your legs,” he bid.

  Helpless, she complied. Taking his time, he inserted a long, thick finger inside her, probing, teasing, gradually slipping past her body’s resistance. “You’re wet. Dripping. And your clit’s hard.”

  He flicked his thumb over it, then drew her to his mouth. His tongue traced her, licking and sucking, while his hands curved around her hips, holding her immobile as he focused fully on that one, single spot.

  Electricity jolted down her spine, all feeling centered on the exact place Grey’s mouth loved her.

  “No,” she cried. But her fingers were already tangled in his hair, holding him in place. Afraid, yet trusting, having never experienced this degree of sensual gratification.

  Her hips bucked forward, urging him on. She rocked up on her toes and back, again and again, defenseless against the onslaught, unable to stop the waves of pleasure that were rapidly building.