His answering grin sent her heart soaring. He was too sexy, too dangerous to her emotions, but she was here now, and damn if she wasn’t as happy as she’d been in a long time.
She put her bare foot on his chest and gently pushed him back. Darren landed on his butt. He arched an eyebrow in question.
The button on her shorts pushed easily through its hole. Standing, she lowered the zipper and let her khaki twill shorts fall to the floor.
“That’s one obstruction down.”
He saw the change in her immediately. When he got serious, she would turn on the striptease, or try to lighten the mood in some way. This was not just sex for him. He had to make her understand that.
He pushed off the floor and stood.
“Oh,” she said with a saucy grin. “You want to play too, huh?”
He caught her hand as she reached for his zipper. Bringing it to his mouth, he kissed her fingers one at a time. Her eyes widened with surprise, but when he brought her palm to his lips and placed a kiss there, the visible pulse in her neck kicked up a notch. Her breath hitched. The cheeky grin slid off her face.
“This isn’t play, Porchia. This is real. What I feel is real.”
He didn’t dare use the word love. She stiffened for a briefest of seconds and he knew his decision to keep the word love out of the room was the right one for now.
Wrapping his fingers around her other wrist, he put his arms around her and tugged both her hands around to her back. The position pushed her breasts out against his chest. He took a step closer so that they were touching chest to chest and thigh to thigh. She rocked her head back and he kissed her and then left kisses along her chin. When he bit the large tendon in her neck, she trembled and sighed. The response sent any spare blood he had, and some he probably couldn’t spare, from his brain to below his waist, pumping his cock to a painfully rock-hard state.
He licked her neck and traced the tip of his tongue up to her chin. Her lips were already parted, so he took advantage and slipped his tongue inside to stroke and make love to her with it.
She moaned. The sound was a direct lasso around his heart.
He walked them to the edge of the bed before he released her mouth. Her breaths were ragged and rapid. Her eyes were dilated and a little unfocused. She was as affected by this as he was.
As soon as he released her hands, she slipped them under the hem of his T-shirt and glided them up his chest. Her fingers were like ten individual flames of fire. He burned with need. A shudder he couldn’t repress ran through him.
“Raise your arms.” She pushed his T-shirt up and off. “I love how you feel.” She ran her tongue down the middle of his chest and along the ridges of his abdomen. Reflexively, he sucked in his gut.
“And God, I love how you taste. So hot. So salty. So much man.”
He jerked her shirt off and unfastened her bra. She let it slip down her arms and fall to the floor at their feet.
He pulled her roughly against him, harder than he’d meant to, his need for this woman overriding all the control he usually exhibited. But this wasn’t just another woman.
Her fingers worked at the button and zipper on his shorts. When she grabbed the waist to pull them down, she caught the elastic of his boxers. She dropped to her knees and tugged both down to his ankles. He stepped from the constricting material, hefting shorts and underwear off with a kick of his foot.
His downward glance rewarded him with the most erotic vision of his life…the woman of his dreams on her knees between his feet. She ran the flat of her tongue up him as though he were a sucker. Damned if his knees didn’t quake in response.
She must have noticed, because she glanced up and smiled. And while their gazes held, she ran the tip of her tongue around the head of his cock. Lowering her head, she wrapped her lips around him and slid him inside the wet heat of her mouth.
He groaned and fisted her hair, holding her still—too much movement on her part and this would be over way too soon. Porchia must have sensed his oncoming loss of control, because she secured her hands around the base of his shaft and applied the necessary pressure.
As he began to move in and out of her luscious mouth, she slid her hands up and down his cock. The combination of her hands and the suction from her mouth had him back at the peak too quickly. Holding her head still, he pulled free.
“I can’t take more,” he said through clenched teeth. He pulled her to her feet and kissed her passionately. His arms under her thighs, he lifted her without breaking the kiss and sat her back on the bed. Once there, he stripped her panties off her.
The musky scent of her arousal hit him like an aphrodisiac. He fell to his knees, hoisted her thighs over his shoulders and drew in a deep breath. Using his thumbs, he separated her folds and licked her. Her hips lifted off the mattress as she groaned her approval. Spicy honey was all he could think of as he continued to lick and suck at her sweetness.
“Enough,” she groaned out. “Enough. I want you inside me. Now.”
He gave her one last long lap, gently lowered her legs off his shoulders and left them dangling off the side of the bed. “Don’t move,” he ordered, and she stayed where he put her.
Hurriedly, he ripped open a condom and rolled it on. Then he lifted her legs, held her knees in the crook on his arms and drove into her. Her hips arched off the bed, giving him better access. As he withdrew, she whimpered in protest. When he thrust to the hilt, she moaned with pleasure, which almost sent him spiraling out of control.
But he wanted her to come before he took his pleasure. He pulled out, getting one of her patented whimpers of protest. He flipped her over and lifted her ass high in the air, leaving her standing on tip-toes. He pounded back into her. Her shoulders hit the mattress and she used that surface to brace her hips higher.
Darren wrapped one arm around her waist to steady her for his thrusts, which he could barely control now. With his other hand, he found her clit. He massaged it with his thumb, moving in concert with his thrusts.
Her groans were growing louder. She sounded desperate for release.
He pressed firmly against her nub and drove deep. Rolling her mouth to the mattress, she gave a muffled scream. As she came, her vagina milked him with muscular ripples. Two more thrusts and he was done, grinding into her as he came.
When he returned to the bedroom after disposing of his condom, Porchia had climbed into the bed and pulled the sheet and blanket over her. She met his return with a smile. Flipping back the covers, she nodded to the empty space beside her.
He slipped in and snaked an arm behind her shoulders to pull her over. She rested her head on his chest, releasing a long sigh.
“You okay?” he asked.
“More than.”
He felt a little shiver.
“You cold?”
“Nope. Just a little aftershock.” She rolled her gaze up to his face. “Best earthquake ever.”
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.
She yawned. “I have to take a nap,” she said, and yawned again.
“Sounds like an excellent idea,” he said, sliding down the mattress until he was flat on his back. She’d moved with him, her head now back on his chest. Her long flaxen hair spread out behind her and over his arm. He twisted a few of the silk strands around his fingers, noting the extreme contrast between the softness of her hair and the hardness of his hands. As he continued to fondle her hair, Porchia’s even breathing told him she’d fallen asleep.
Holding her in his arms felt like coming home. Safe. Secure. Loved. If it were possible, he’d stay in this moment forever.
There were so many ways he could get hurt in life. A bull goring him. A piece of barbed wire springing back to nail a leg or arm. A good, solid slam from a hammer while driving nails into a board. Hell, his leg had been broken when his truck was T-boned.
All those would be minor annoyances to the pain of losing Porchia when this week was done. He had to find a way to make her realize that he was her
future, just as she was his.
They slept until almost nine p.m., completely missing dinner with the rest of the campers, not that Porchia minded. She’d looked a little rough for wear when she’d awoken from her nap. The dark circles under her eyes told the world she hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, and the last thing she wanted was speculation, or rather confirmation, of what had kept her awake.
She wasn’t complaining. Darren had given her more orgasms in the last twenty-four hours than she’d had in the last twenty-four months, as long as self-induced didn’t count, and in her opinion, they didn’t.
As they lay in a tangle of arms and legs, Porchia’s stomach rumbled loudly. Her silent prayer that he hadn’t heard it went unanswered.
He patted her abdomen. “A little hungry, are we?”
She swatted his hand away with a laugh. “You’ve burned up all my food reserves, what with your insatiable sexual appetite.”
His stomach took that moment to give an answering rumble, which made him chuckle. “Ditto, my dear. What do you say we raid the kitchen?”
“A plan I can go for.”
It was dark when they stepped off their porch to head to the lodge. Now that all the younger Montgomerys were gone, leaving only the adults at camp, the activity level had subsided to quiet and calm. A thin stream of smoke rose from a fire burning low in the fire pit. Other than the chirps of crickets and tree frogs, the night around them was quiet and peaceful. Some cabins still had on lights, but Porchia didn’t see anyone else.
“Let’s stay out here,” she said. “I can grab the leftover hot dogs from the kitchen for roasting.” She sighed loudly. “It’s so rare that I get to enjoy a fire. It feels perfect tonight.”
Darren pulled a couple chairs closer to the fire. “Works for me. Let’s go raid.”
They came back loaded down with beer, chips and hot dogs with all the trimmings. Darren stoked the fire. Sparks shot into the sky when he added another log. The wood caught quickly, the flames licking at its dry bark.
He shoved a couple of wieners on a pointed stick and held them in the fire.
Porchia cracked open two beers and passed him one.
The cold beer slid down her parched throat and splashed in her stomach. “Yum,” she moaned.
They ate and drank and discussed the stars, the moon, the D&R ranch and Darren’s family. Porchia kept the topic moving to everywhere but her family and her past. The last thing she wanted was him, or anyone else in Whispering Springs, to know that she’d done something so horrible that her parents had felt they had no recourse but to send her away.
Sadly, even though she’d promised to give a relationship with Darren a chance during the upcoming week, she worried that the next few days were the only ones they’d share. She’d been ignoring Slade’s texts, even blocking his phone number the last time, but his threats were getting viler and more descriptive. He’d left her no choice. She’d have to find a way to get away from Darren for a short time tomorrow and telephone her parents. If Slade hadn’t contacted them yet, he would. They needed to know that he was back and would make all their lives miserable if they didn’t find a way to get him gone.
Chapter Sixteen
It was Tuesday morning before Porchia found herself totally alone and with the privacy to call her father. Darren, Reno, Jason and Cash headed out on the four-wheelers and weren’t expected back for at least a couple of hours.
Anxiety flooded Porchia at the thought of talking to her father. She’d seen them last month over the Labor Day holiday. No bad news nor harsh words had been exchanged, but the visit had still been stiff and uncomfortable.
She sequestered herself in the cabin as soon as breakfast was over. Her father would be at work. Her mother was probably dressing for a luncheon at the club. But her father was the one she had to talk to. Her mother always deferred to him.
For a long time, Porchia stared at her phone, trying to get what she wanted to say straight in her head. The conversation could go in a number of directions. Her father could be sympathetic to her concerns about Slade ruining her life in Whispering Springs. He could be angry at Slade, and at her, for making him relive the whole debacle. Or he could react anyway in between.
Her finger shook a little as she hit send on his office number.
“Judge Randolph’s office.”
“This is his daughter, Katherine. Is he available please?”
There was a noticeable pause before his secretary said, “I’ll see if he’s available.”
The wait for him to pick up seemed to be forever. She was beginning to wonder if he would. Then again, maybe Slade had already made good on his threat and contacted her parents and her father was seriously angry.
“Katherine.” Paul Randolph’s voice was as formal as a judge, which was appropriate. “What seems to be the problem now?”
Porchia flinched as if each of his words was a direct blow to her gut. “Can’t I just call and ask how you’re doing?”
“Of course. But since you never have, it would raise suspicions.”
“Well, that’s true, I guess.”
“I hate to hurry you, but I’ve got a case starting soon. What can I do for you?”
“Slade Madden is out of prison. Did you know?”
“Actually, I did. I was notified when his full sentence was served.”
“Has he called you?”
“No. Why would he? We have nothing to discuss.”
Porchia chewed on her lip. “He’s called me. He wants money.”
“Don’t we all,” her father said. “Of course you didn’t give him any.”
“No, but…” She took a drink of water to put a little moisture in her mouth. “I know you and Mom didn’t approve when I decided to stay in Texas instead of returning to Georgia, but I have a good life here. I want to keep it.”
“I see. I’m still not sure what you need from me or your mother this time.”
“Slade is threatening to ruin me if I don’t give him hush money. And if I don’t, he said he’d be contacting you.”
“Not that I have any intention of giving that degenerate money, but what did he ask for?”
“A million.”
Her father burst out laughing. “Degenerate and deranged. Well, there’s nothing he can threaten me with that would make me part with a penny. Frankly, I’m surprised you have given him a minute of your time. Ignore him. He’ll go away.”
“No, I don’t think so. He’s pretty determined.”
“Has he threatened you physically?”
“Well, no. Not really. Just verbal harassment mostly.”
“Then contact your local police or sheriff’s department. Let them handle it. That’s what we pay taxes for. I’m sorry, but I must go now. The court is waiting on me.”
“Sure, Dad. Thanks.”
“Anytime. We’ll see you at Thanksgiving next month. Your mother misses you.”
“I’ll try.”
She hung up, her breathing constricted by the large boulder setting on her chest. Her mother missed her but he didn’t? He still hadn’t really forgiven her for almost wrecking his appointment to the bench.
She pounded her fist on the sofa cushion. She had screwed up, big time. And, yes, it would have been totally her fault if her father had been passed over for his judgeship. Her and her stupid idea to show her parents they weren’t the boss of her. Right. That had worked so well, hadn’t it?
The phone buzzed in her hand. She startled and almost dropped her cell. A quick glance at the calling number had her heart crawling up her throat. Mallory James, her nighttime employee, never, ever called her.
“Hello?”
“Porchia? It’s Mallory. Mallory James.”
“Hi, Mallory. Is everything okay?”
“I’m not sure. I could be overreacting. On second thought, it’s probably nothing. I’m sorry I bothered you.”
“No! Wait. What’s going on? And you don’t ever overreact, so talk to me.”
“L
ast Saturday when I came in, there was an old beater truck sitting out front of the bakery.”
“Beater truck?”
“Looked worse than my Jeep, and, yes, I know how bad Mabel looks.”
Mabel was Mallory’s beloved, but old and rusted, Jeep Wrangler.
“Okay. Why did this truck bother you? We live in a small ranching community. All the guys have a crappy truck in the barn. Was it still there when you left?”
“No, but I’ve seen it near the bakery a number of times. I ran by on Sunday to make a list of supplies I was going to need for a new cake order we got, and the truck was in our parking lot.”
The hair on Porchia’s neck stood on end. A chill ran down her back.
“Yeah, that’s strange. I hope you didn’t get out of your car.”
“No, I kept going. I can protect myself okay. The military taught me that, but the whole situation felt wrong. When I got here about midnight to start work, it was gone. But when I left Monday morning, it was parked in front of the store again.”
“Did you see who was driving it?”
“Not very well. It was a guy. Cropped short blond hair. I think he might have had a tat on his neck. I couldn’t be sure. The driver’s window was cracked so I got a little view of him.”
“Did he say anything to you? Or threaten anyone else?”
“Not that I know of. He looks out of place, if you know what I mean. Like bad news looking for a place to land. I know Tina has seen him too. She mentioned that she had some new boyfriend that’d been meeting her and walking her to the bank for the deposits because she was nervous of the strange guy.”
Slade Madden. There was no one else it could be. He wanted her to know that he was watching and waiting. If he was making Mallory and Tina feel spooked, it wouldn’t be long before other women were nervous to come in her bakery. This would not do. Not at all.
“Maybe I should cut this trip short and head on back.”
“No, no. Don’t do that. I’m sure it’s nothing, but I thought you’d want to know.”
“Have you spoken with anyone from the sheriff’s department?”
Texas Hustle Page 15
