A Sheriff's Passion

by Michelle Beattie

  Breaking the kiss, he waited until she looked at him. Eyes dreamy, hair spread wide, she made a seductive picture. But the picture wasn’t complete. Not yet.

  “I want to unwrap you like a present,” he said.

  He started with the row of buttons down her back. Then he eased the sleeves down her arms, lowering the bodice. While he’d one day like to see her like this wearing a corset, tonight he was glad she wasn’t wearing one. He didn’t want any extra layers between them.

  Lowering his head, he kissed the swells that spilled over the lacy edge of her chemise. She was silky soft, sweeter than one of Letty’s candy sticks. Through the thin muslin poked the hard buds of her nipples. Already hard and throbbing for release though they’d barely begun, Shane dipped his head. The fabric between his mouth and her flesh was no barrier for his desire. He suckled her through the thin material.

  Silver’s back bowed. She gasped his name.

  Fueled by her response, by the fire that kept growing within him, Shane pulled the lacy neckline of her chemise down, exposing her. Lord have mercy, he almost lost himself right then. Exquisite. There was no other word for her. Creamy breasts with dark peaks that begged for attention. He circled his thumb over her aroused flesh.

  Silver bit her lip, tipped her head back. He’d never seen anything sexier in his life. Shane continued to play with one nipple as he bent down and kissed the other. She moaned and it went straight into him, down to where he wanted her most. He opened his mouth, sucked hard, and nearly sent them careening over the edge.

  Not since he was fifteen and it was his first time could he remember this bite of urgency. The struggle to hold on and make it last. And he wanted it to last. Because he wasn’t through unwrapping her yet.

  Silver had never in her life felt such an explosion of senses. They bombarded her faster than snowflakes whirled in the middle of a Montana blizzard. The shocking feel of Shane’s teeth scraping her lower lip, the heat of his mouth on her neck. The excitement in her belly when he reached behind her to release the buttons. The feel of the cool air on her naked shoulders and chest as he slipped her bodice down her arms. Her skin pebbling with goose bumps at the heated look in his eyes when he exposed more and more of her flesh.

  Silver had never experienced anything so beautiful in her life. So many times she’d been made to feel less than because she owned a saloon. Few of the men who came into Silver’s looked at her with respect. Most looked at her as though she were a whore and she’d need five hands to count all the times she’d been propositioned. Though she had friends in Marietta and many of the womenfolk were coming round to the fact that she wasn’t anything more nefarious than a business owner, there were still more than enough who looked down their prim noses at her. Who looked away when they saw her coming.

  Shane wasn’t looking away and everywhere he looked she burned. Everywhere he didn’t touch she ached.

  When he pulled down her chemise, exposed her jutting nipples, the storm within her raged even higher. Shane circled his thumb around one aching bud, drawing it tighter. She’d touched herself before, imagining it was him, but it had never felt like this. Nothing had ever felt like this. This was more than excitement and desire, though her body quaked with that as well; it was wanting to give this man everything she had, everything she was. And, giving herself, she tipped her head back and surrendered her body to him.

  Shane wasted no time. His mouth closed over her nipple, suckling hard. Silver’s body bowed. Her hands dug into his scalp. She didn’t know if she was holding him there or simply holding on, because with each pull of his mouth, each flick of his thumb, and every lash of his tongue her body trembled harder. Then he reached under her petticoats, and his sure fingers skimmed up her leg.

  She’d never been on a train in her life but suddenly she felt like she was on one running full steam ahead, out of control. Going faster and faster, no way to know what was coming, no way to control what was happening.

  She wouldn’t have changed it for the world.

  The pounding of her heart, the feel of Shane’s wet mouth suckling her breast, his hand on her other. The throbbing at her core that beat harder the closer his other hand inched forward. She wanted this and when Shane slipped his fingers inside her underwear, Silver spread her thighs.

  Both moaned when his fingers found her wetness.

  What he was doing, how he was playing her, made clear all the moaning she heard carrying over from Grey’s as she lay alone in her bed. Her rapid breathing filled the room. His mouth moved to her other breast, his fingers got bolder and he slipped one inside her.

  “Shane!”

  She pressed her hips forward, gasped as he slipped another inside her, stretching her. Oh, but it didn’t hurt. It felt magical and she thrust her hips, gasping at the friction.

  “Silver, you’re going to kill me.” He moaned before capturing her mouth with his, before mimicking the movement of his fingers with his tongue. Panting, desperate, Silver’s hips moved faster. “No, not yet.” Shane broke the kiss, removed his hand.

  Silver nearly wept from the loss. But the disappointment didn’t last because he was taking off the rest of her clothes. Air brushed her naked flesh, followed by the softness of his lips, the bite of his teeth. Silver didn’t know how much more her body could take. Then suddenly there was nothing and she felt Shane move away.

  She opened her eyes. He was standing beside the bed, looking at her. Dark stubble shadowed his chin. His hair was tousled from her fingers. His chest heaved as hers did. His gaze ravished her as sure as his hands and mouth just had.

  “God, Silver, you take my breath away.”

  Feeling powerful, beautiful, she leaned onto one elbow. “You’ve always taken away mine, even with your clothes on.” Her mouth curved. “I imagine you will again once you take them off.”

  His lips twitched. “You reckon?”

  He didn’t linger nearly as long with his clothes as he had hers but when he finally stood before her naked she could say with absolute certainty he stole her breath. Lean muscle, narrow hips. Broad shoulders and long legs. Dark hair that led from his washboard abdomen, to his navel, to his thick arousal.

  Her heart leapt to her throat and she swallowed in down. “Shane.”

  She held out her hand and he joined her on the bed, drawing her close. His fingers wove through her hair. He kissed her long and deep, pressing her into the mattress. They didn’t have any covers and they didn’t need any. Shane’s body was an oven and it heated her from the tip of her toes to the top of her head. His hands left little fires everywhere he touched, which was, well, everywhere. Not that she minded. She loved the feel of his large hands clasping her waist, trailing up her legs. Cupping her breasts. Loved the feel of his fingers sliding over her. Into her.

  As he learned her body she learned his. She learned he was ticklish when her fingers skimmed his belly. Learned he loved having his neck kissed as much as she did. Learned his nipples were as sensitive as hers.

  She showed him in every way how much she wanted him and when doubt had her second-guessing she remembered his earlier words, that there wasn’t anything she could do wrong. Wanting to please him as much as he’d been pleasing her, Silver lowered her hand to his erection.

  He hissed. His body went rigid and he thrust his hips forward. He clasped his hand over hers, whispered what he wanted, showed her how. She thought she was just getting the hang of it when he growled, flipped her onto her back.

  His kiss was hungry, fierce. It stole her breath, claimed her as she knew his body was about to. Finally, at long last, he was going to make her his. There wasn’t room for doubt or fear when Shane pressed into her. This was what she’d dreamed of, what she’d waited years for. The stab of pain was quick and sharp but then Shane’s hand was behind her knee, lifting her leg and she gasped as he slid even deeper, as he filled her.

  Ripples of pleasure spread through her and she clasped her arms around his back, held him tight as each stroke, each thrust
sent her careening. She didn’t know what she was hurtling toward but she was helpless to fight it. Didn’t want to.

  As his rhythm increased, Shane’s hands roamed her body, touched and teased her most sensitive places until Silver was drawn tighter than a bow. Her heels dug into the mattress. Her nails raked his back. She thought she might lose her mind if this sweet torture continued much longer.

  Then Shane slid his hands underneath her, cupping her bottom. Yanking her forward he thrust harder, faster. The world fell apart. Crying out, Silver shuddered as wave upon wave of pleasure washed over her. Shane let out a feral growl, stiffened. She felt the warmth of his release spill into her. After a moment, with his large body still quivering, Shane rolled them to their sides, tucked her head beneath his chin and held her close.

  Silver wasn’t a weepy woman. When life was hard, as it had been growing up, she made the difficult decisions, did what needed to be done to survive. Learning at an early age that crying didn’t solve anything, she’d choked back enough tears in her lifetime to flood the valley. And so it surprised her when she felt them burn behind her eyes, when she was unable to fight the pressure clogging her chest.

  When the tears slipped down her cheeks onto his chest, Shane jerked, drew away. Worry creased his brow, filled his eyes.

  “Did I hurt you?” he asked.

  She sniffled, shook her head.

  He wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb. “Then why are you crying?”

  “Because it was even more beautiful than I imagined it would be.”

  Shane must have dozed off. When he woke up a while later the lamp continued to flicker from the dresser and moonlight continued to spill into the room. And Silver’s naked body was still tangled with his.

  Shane couldn’t think of anything finer.

  Well, he amended with a grin, there was something finer and they’d already done it. He trailed his fingers up and down her back, in no hurry to get back to his own bed. His bed would be cold, empty. He’d much rather stay here with Silver’s breasts pillowed against his chest and her leg thrown over his.

  To think he’d denied them this and for what? Because she owned a saloon? Because he didn’t want people talking about him again? Because he was worried about the good name he’d built for himself? He really was an idiot. When had his reputation ever kissed him until he felt the ground tremble? When had pride ever quivered beneath his touch?

  Thank God he’d come to his senses. From now on, the only opinion that mattered was his own. Whether she owned a saloon or not didn’t change the kind of woman she was, didn’t change the fact that he wanted to be with her.

  And to hell with what anyone else thought.

  However, while he wasn’t ashamed they were now courting, he didn’t intend to parade around the fact that they were lovers. He wasn’t going to have the beauty of what they’d just shared reduced to something tawdry and shameful.

  Which meant as much as he was content to lie there all night, he really needed to get going. He pressed a kiss to Silver’s forehead, nearly changed his mind about staying the night when she hummed and snuggled in closer.

  Despite stirring his blood, he said, “Silver, I need to get on home.”

  She sighed, her breath fluttering through the hair on his chest.

  She circled her fingers over the ridges of his abdomen then dipped them below his navel.

  Purring, she asked, “Can I convince you to stay longer?”

  He grabbed her wrist, lifted her arm over her head to keep her from touching him again. Because he was hard and ready and it wouldn’t take much convincing. Of course by holding her in such a way it left her breasts jutting out, full and round and pouting. Who was he to disappoint? Bending down, he kissed a perfect peak, felt a shot of heat burst through his body when she moaned, arched, and begged for more.

  He released her wrist, skimmed his hand down the soft skin of her inner arm to the underside of her breast. Then cupping the soft globe, he laved the sensitive tip with his tongue. It was torturing both of them but Shane didn’t care. He loved to hear the passion in her voice, to feel her body respond so freely to him. To know he could arouse her as easily as she aroused him.

  He toyed with her breast until Silver was breathless and he ached with need. Then he lifted himself and kissed her mouth, slow and deep, taking as much pleasure in it as he had her breast. Her hands delved in his hair, her hips ground restlessly against his leg. Hellfire, he needed to stop.

  “Silver.” He panted. “I really should go.”

  Slumberous, honey-gold eyes locked onto his. They remained locked on his as her hand drifted over his shoulders, slithered between them where she boldly grabbed hold of his erection.

  Well, Jesus!

  “It doesn’t look like you want to go.”

  Sweat beaded his lip, his back. She was fast turning into a vixen. But it was hard to mind when she held him in her fist.

  “I don’t want to, but I should. Besides I don’t want to hurt you and this being your first time...” He gave her a soft kiss. “Another night.”

  “I’m fine, Shane. I want this. I want you.”

  She pulled him down for a kiss, full of passion and need. Her hand started to stroke him, exactly as he’d taught her. Shane’s testicles tightened. Hell, the woman was a fast learner. He caught his hips moving and again grabbed her hand. Gently he lifted it away.

  “Shane—”

  He shook his head. “Woman, I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

  Her lips curved. “It’s not a gentleman I’m after. I don’t want or need to be treated like a delicate flower. If I was sore I’d tell you but I’m not.” She cupped his cheek and he saw all the reassurance he needed in her eyes. “You won’t hurt me.”

  He’d die before he did. He kissed her, teased her with his tongue, while his hand relearned all the curves of her body. Prepared her for his lovemaking. But he needn’t have worried. She was already wet and ready and when he covered her with his body, her hips were the first to move. With a strangled moan, Shane slid into her.

  It took him much longer to move the next time. His body felt leaden. His mind remained scrambled while he sprawled on Silver’s bed, uncovered, the sweat drying on his skin. Beside him Silver stretched like a cat waking from a long nap.

  “I told you you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  He turned his head. Indeed she looked anything but hurt. Her skin glowed. She didn’t seem to notice the abrasions his beard had left on her cheeks and breasts. Relieved, he reached for a strand of her hair, ran the silky lock through his fingers.

  Chuckling, he said, “Maybe it was you who hurt me. I’m not sure I can move.”

  Eyes gleaming, she answered, “It’s your own fault. You said I couldn’t go wrong.”

  Laughing, he pulled her in close, kissed her softly. “I really do have to go.”

  It took every muscle in his body to get him to move. Not only because he was still wrung out from their lovemaking but because it was hard to leave her. With her tousled hair, swollen lips, and satisfied smile, and knowing how soft and warm she was, he wanted to do anything but leave her. Sighing, he pushed off the bed, stepped into his drawers.

  The mattress creaked behind him and her bare feet padded on the floor. As he pulled on his trousers, she grabbed a cream colored robe and slipped it on. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Truth be told, he never had been able to. From the first day, she’d captivated him, challenged him, seduced him without even trying. Yesterday when he’d finally come to his senses, finally realized she was more important than his reputation, he’d imagined a courtship of at least a few months before he proposed.

  But now he didn’t want to even wait a few days. He wanted her as his wife, wanted to lie beside her every night instead of sneaking out before dawn. Funny how he’d dragged his feet getting to this point and now that he was there, he was in an all-fired hurry. Despite that, however, he’d have to wait. At least a little. He wasn’t going to have a wedding and
have the whole town distracted with possible murderers on the loose. Eileen and James’s wedding had taught him that lesson. As long as there was danger lurking, his attention needed to be on his job.

  But once this business with those men in the hills was over Shane was going to make Silver his. Legally.

  Chapter Eleven

  The next morning Shane was in the restaurant, a large plate of steaming eggs and bacon before him when Mitch walked in. Knowing his brother had his mouth on Silver’s still made Shane a little crazy if he thought about it, so he tried not to. Instead, he concentrated on the fact that his brother was back in town, for however long, and that when he did decide to leave again, it wasn’t going to be like last time.

  It wasn’t that Shane needed or wanted his brothers entangled in his life, but he enjoyed getting letters and telegrams from Logan, liked knowing what his brother was up to, that he was alive and well. Shane had never had that with Mitch and he’d spent as much time being angry as he had worrying. It would be different now. Mitch would no longer be a ghost from Shane’s past; he’d be part of his life and Shane was glad for it. He’d missed him.

  Fork in hand, Shane signaled Mitch over. His brother wove between the tables and headed in Shane’s direction.

  “You’re up early,” Shane commented as Mitch took a chair.

  Of course, by the tired look in Mitch’s eyes, it was possible he’d been up all night. When the thought curdled the coffee in Shane’s stomach he had to remind himself of the conversation he and Mitch had had. The one where his brother claimed he was nothing like their father. Nevertheless, Shane shifted in his seat, deliberately leaning forward as he did. He couldn’t smell any whiskey on Mitch. In fact, his brother smelled of shaving soap and cologne.

  Mitch leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his linen vest. “Did I pass your test?”

  Shane’s lips quirked. He should have known a man who made his living reading people would have realized what he was up to.