When You Only Need To Ask (The House of Siin)

by Stephens, Hadleigh

  Sheriff Cooper James.

  Hot sex with a shiny gold badge and my hero.

  My savior.

  My ultimate desire come to life.

  I lay my elbows on the highly polished mahogany counter and rest my chin in my upturned palms with a soft sigh. Just the sight of his chiseled profile, square jaw, and über masculine chin covered by that goatee causes gushes of tingling liquid between my thighs and they grow extra rubbery with wanting.

  I hear Penny’s dramatic sigh to my left and grudgingly twist my head to glare at her only to find her making a kissy face in my direction.

  “Ain’t he a sight for sore eyes?”

  “Hush, Penny.”

  “What?” She moves closer and hip bumps me, her expression shifting subtly.

  “Hussy.” I make sure that irritation flickers in my gaze when I look at her even though she knows I don’t mean a damn thing by it.

  Penny’s keen gaze shifts back and forth from Cooper to me. “But y’all are just too darn cute.”

  My face reddens. “It’s been like two or three days,” I whisper for myself alone. She doesn’t need to know the rest. That’s my own business.

  “So.” Of course Penny wouldn’t miss it. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

  I frown, shooing her back to work with my hand, then turn back to the door. I love watching him walk into the ultra-feminine foyer in his faded jeans, scuffed boots, pearl snap, and cowboy hat.

  Four covered Cleopatra Sofa’s or parlor perches as my grandmother called them sit on both sides of the room with hand-tufted cushions covered in red velvet with lavish hand carvings on solid mahogany wood bases.

  Sparkling crystal chandeliers reflect in the large gilt framed mirrors that hang above each sofa. Deliciously decadent pieces of furniture that bring to mind wicked things such as reclining women in loosened corsets at the end of a long, hot day.

  Here I’m in my element. All my insecurities and reservations vanish as soon as I walk through those large wooden doors into the inner sanctum of Sin.

  “Well, I do declare. Look what the cat’s dragged in.” I work really hard to keep the huskiness out of my voice but whenever he’s near my heartbeat accelerates, my lungs seize, and my body melts into a big pile of goo at my feet. Why does he have to look so damn good standing in my little House of Sin? “Sheriff James.”

  He grins, touching the brim of his hat. “Miss Sinclair.” He removes his fur felt Stetson and runs his fingers through his too long hair. The look in his eye one of vast amusement and my smiles widens in return. “Evenin’, Penny.”

  “Evenin’, Sheriff,” Penny answers with laughter in her voice and I chuckle because her words come out with a worshipful breathiness.

  “Cute hat, Angel.” He touches the flowers on the front of my hat. My feet move restlessly as he playfully flutters his fingers through the silk petals.

  I tilt my head to the side. It’s a favorite out of my collection. A black felt top hat with black silk flowers on the front. Prim and sexy all at the same time.

  “In the neighborhood and needed to borrow a cup of sugar, Sheriff?” I feel so good when he’s around, I can’t keep the smile off of my face.

  “In a manner of speaking.” He gives me an easygoing grin. “Did you wanna give me some, Miss Sinclair?”

  Good lord did I ever. Bad. Really, really, really bad.

  Penny nearly chokes on her diet Coke. “Excuse me,” she says apologetically. “Went down the wrong pipe.” I nearly laugh out loud as she pats on her chest.

  I stand for a moment in an attempt to gather my thoughts and get my mind out of the gutter. I hold my own internal debate on how to proceed. With a grin, I place my palms on the flat surface of the desk and push up on my toes. Leaning my belly against the hard wooden surface, I tap my cheek with one of my manicured fingernails.

  He knows exactly what I’m doing and exactly what I want from him. He leans forward and busses my cheek.

  “Well, aren’t you a sweet one, Sheriff.” Falling back on my heels, I cross my arms over my chest managing to plump my breasts over the top of my bodice. I watch his eyes fall to my breasts, but he’s too much of a gentlemen to keep ‘em there for long. He raises his eyes back to mine.

  “I do my best, ma’am.” He tosses me a wink, his eyes twinkling, his lips wearing a satisfied grin. “Sweeter than any I’ve tasted before.”

  I glance up coyly through my lashes and play with one of the curls that fell out of the elaborate coiffure I’d chosen for the evening. I watch his eyes follow the movement of my hand as I twist and untwist the strand of hair from around my finger. “I’m sure you’ve had opportunity to sample plenty, Sheriff.” I hear Penny draw in a breath on a groan at my antagonistic comment. I know she’s right even though she hadn’t said a word. She knows I’m pushing even though I really don’t want to.

  “I prefer to not dwell in the past, Miss Sinclair.” His gaze captures mine and I know he knows it too. “I’ve plenty to occupy my time right here in the present.” My heart just melts at his words and everything that happened in the past suddenly seems unimportant so I change my attitude.

  “You must be a busy man, Sheriff.” I study him closely wanting to relay a message to him without saying the words. What he started a few nights ago has made me antsier than I’d ever been before he touched me.

  “Why is that, Miss Sinclair?” His lips twitch before turning into a full-fledged smile complete with bright white, even teeth that gleam under the lights of the crystal chandeliers even with the shadow of his neatly trimmed goatee.

  Pure sex.

  His eyes drop to the swells of my breasts and stay for a fraction longer than necessary. I want to jump up and down pumping my fists in the air, then throw myself over the counter and into his strong arms screaming ‘take me now!’ But somehow I manage to control the urge to make a complete ninny of myself.

  “Third day in a row that you’ve stopped in to peruse my little fetish store.” I uncross my arms and plant my hands at my waist. “In need of a little help in the love department, Sheriff?” My brows lift, my lips purse, and my eyes practically glow full of mirth. “Perhaps you’re in need of some new toys to get the juices flowin’?” I shoot him a challenging look without bothering to see if I’m up to it first.

  His lips curve at my smart aleck mouthiness. “Got plenty of juices flowing, Angel.” He lifts his eyes, his gaze encompassing the humongous entry way. He jiggles the cuffs attached to his thick brown leather belt enthusiastically before leaning against the counter right in front of me and gets real close.

  Extremely close.

  Close enough that I can see the golden flecks in his chocolate eyes. His whisper husky as his breath wafts deliciously on the air filling my nostrils with a cinnamony goodness that makes me ravenously hungry for him.

  “I reckon I’ve got that covered, Angel.” He winks. The slightest flutter of lashes that manages to steal all the breath right from my lungs. One of the sexiest moves I’ve seen and I haven’t even seen him fully naked yet. Well, sorta, but not really. I’d seen his ass flexing as he fucked in the club, but that was with his skin tight brown leathers still caught around his hips with only his upper body bared to my zealous gaze. And it was with someone that wasn’t me.

  “Can you use those outside of work, Sheriff?” My question innocent enough, and I know he knew it, but I can tell he can’t help himself.

  “Definitely.” His hand disappears behind him to release the catch, stopping short before truly removing them from his belt. “Want me to show you?” His deep baritone washes over me, nearly hypnotizing me with its soothing twang. His lips twitch again as he reaches over with his other hand and his fingers lightly circle my wrist.

  My green eyes go wide and I stumble away from the counter with my hands up in front of my body in a protective gesture. “Uh, uh. No freakin’ way!” I protest but I grow wet at the thought of being bound and naked beneath him. No way to fight his advances. A prisoner to
his yumminess. My breath falters and I nearly whimper aloud at that thought. My body grows weak, my mind goes fuzzy, and all the moisture pools in my core leaving me parched.

  My tongue pokes out to slide over my dry lips and my hand presses tightly to my belly in a futile attempt to ease the overly-enthusiastic fluttering of butterfly wings that have suddenly decided to take up residence. Happens every time he comes calling.

  He gives me a slow once-over from head to hips which are the only parts of my anatomy he can see from the other side of the counter. He reaches playfully for my wrist again, wriggling his eyebrows, his touch sends shockwaves over my nerves. “Would you like to be cuffed, Angel?”

  I cough into my other hand. “I’m sorry?”

  “I asked if you’d like to be cuffed, Angel?”

  “Hush.” A deep flush covers me in waves from my breasts to my cheeks. Suffice it to say, the heat becomes unbearable. Now would be a perfect time to be lugging one of my grandmother’s fans along with me. Sure could use it right about now. Oh fuck! Fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck.

  I watch as Cooper has to stifle his laughter at my horrified expression. His lips tighten into a semblance of a straight line as he makes an effort to be serious. “I’m an extremely patient man, darlin’, so let me know when you wanna try it and I’ll come running.”

  My eyes fall, my pulse quickens. My heart thuds and the hitch in my breath lets him know I want nothing more than for him to bind me to him. He doesn’t miss much and I can’t make it any more obvious without stripping naked right here in the lobby.

  “Oh.” I shift my weight, balancing precariously on my five inch heels and peek up from beneath my lashes into his deep brown eyes. “I’ve never been cuffed by a cowboy before.” My voice drops to a whisper and I scan the surrounding area. I glance at the people mulling about the entryway and lounging on the velvet parlor perches to make sure no one can overhear our conversation.

  “You’ve got excellent employees, Kimberly.” Arms folded over his chest, he studies me with approval. “There’s nothing to worry about here.”

  My gaze does another sweep of the room and comes back to him.

  “So how about a tour?” One corner of Cooper’s mouth curls up. “You promised.”

  My heart beat kicks up a notch at his low, sexy voice rumbling through me even though we’re separated by the counter. “Tour?” I breathe the question.

  “Tour.” And it isn’t a request. He commands. And I listen.

  Chapter Seventeen

  A lady should not ask a gentleman to walk with her

  I Straighten my shoulders and take a deep breath before stepping through the small hinged door to the left of the large round mahogany counter. I watch every emotion that filters across his face when I step through that door and it’s a sight to behold. His eyes widen, darken. His pupils dilate. His hands flex open and closed in tight fists at his sides like his palms are itching to reach out and touch me.

  I know how I look tonight. I look hot. Not bragging, just a fact. I try to look hot and super sexy whenever I work because that’s what the patrons expect when they walk through the doors.

  Walking sex.

  Besides, I like it.

  It’s like getting to be naughty, without being ‘naughty’. I feel free when I come to work. Like an actress in a movie or a play. I can be anything I want to be.

  Tonight I chose a tight fitting strapless LBD that only a couple of weeks ago wouldn’t have stayed up even if its life depended on it. But after a week of eating more than a piece of fruit here and there, I’ve managed to fill out a bit. Not only is the dress strapless, it barely covers my ass leaving an expanse of creamy flesh bare before sheer black stockings with lace tops cover the rest of my legs. And the icing on the cake is the visible black garters and sexy as hell crisscross mile high shoes that scream fuck me.

  That’s what I want right now more than anything.

  I want him to fuck me.

  I release my deep inhale before pivoting on my heels. My back now faces him and I know what he’ll finally see and I can’t wait for his reaction.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me?”

  I quickly hide my smile behind a mask of indifference and without even seeing his face I know I’ve knocked him for a loop. Even though he took my clothes off a few days ago, he hadn’t seen my back.

  Not even a glimpse.

  Pausing, I cock my hip, shifting my eyes over my shoulder in time to see him drag shaking fingers through his hair.

  “Are you coming, Cowboy?” I have to purse my lips to keep the smile off my face.

  “I’m not doing that until my cock is balls deep inside your pretty, pink pussy, Angel.” His mouth lifts, his eyes heavy with desire.

  Those words do it for me. My body quivers. I know with just one touch from his hand I’ll probably explode like fireworks on the Fourth of July.

  “There she is.”

  “There who is?” I narrow my eyes at him.

  “The bad girl that goes with those fuck-me shoes.”

  My brows arch up. “You know for someone who’s supposedly all about control and power and getting what he wants, you sure are taking your sweet time moving things to the next level with me.”

  Now I know dang well that’s a lie. We haven’t known each other long enough for that to be true, but I’m dying to know him better. I feel such a kindred spirit with him. Like he was sent just for me. To make me feel good. To make me better. To help me figure out what I’m doing wrong and to show me how to do it right. And he does it all without making me feel stupid.

  He closes the distance between us and places his hand at the small of my back right at the point where my spine curves into my derriere. My thighs clench as his body emits a delicious heat against my back and my breath speeds up.

  He ducks down past the brim of my hat and his mouth goes to my ear. “There goes that bratty mouth again, Angel. I think I need to give it something to occupy itself to keep it out of trouble instead.”

  Taking one more step, his front becomes flush with my back and his seriousness is made quite clear. Based on the length, width, and rigidity of what presses into the small of my back he’s never been more serious in his life.

  Strong arms pull me back flush with his chest. He nuzzles my neck, breathing into my ear and I shiver as his voice plays across my skin. “If you don’t want me to bend you over one of these conveniently located couches, Angel, you better start walking. Fast.”

  “Parlor perches.” My body tingles with his words and I want to do just that. I want him to surround me. I need it.

  “Huh…?”

  “They’re called parlor perches.” I press back into him and swivel my hips in a barely perceptible move against the bulge behind his zipper.

  “You need to put that gun away, Sheriff.” I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

  “Too late.” He slides his hand to my waist and presses his erection into the curve of my hip. “It’s already cocked and loaded.”

  “Ooh….”

  “Move. Now.” He bites out the words and it’s actually kinda cute how on edge he already is.

  “And we don’t do that sorta thing in here, Sheriff. Anymore.” I peek over my shoulder. “That would be against the law. Public indecency and all.” My eyes flutter mischievously. “I’m sure you’re fully aware of the law, Sheriff James.”

  “Fuck the law,” he responds in a low voice.

  I bite my cheeks because his voice is definitely growing edgier by the second. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Damn you’re seriously pushing your luck.” He nips my ear sending sharp stabs of pleasure to my core. “Do I need you to go cut a switch, Angel?”

  “No, Sir,” I murmur and feel his cock surge against my hip.

  “Then walk.”

  Reaching down, I link the fingers of my left hand with his left hand. The calluses on his palm add to the pleasurable shivers already coursing down my spine and I tug, swaying my hips suggestively as
I walk.

  “Besides, I’ve got plenty of them upstairs.” I glance over my shoulder and add a wink, biting back a squeal when his large right hand lands squarely on my right cheek. The pop only made louder by the snug black satin that’s wrapped around my hips and I jerk and moan. His big hand landed just right, hard and with just the right mixture of pain and pleasure. His hand slides over my hip, strong fingers skim up my arm, over my shoulder, gripping my nape in a sure sign of possession which I actually like.

  Like a whole helluva lot.

  Out of the corner of my eyes I see him shake his head, a simple quick movement, with his lips kicked up in a small smile.

  “Fuckin’ angel wings?” He chuckles. “False advertisement.”

  When I tilt my head to look into his golden gaze dark with passion, his face is a veneer of barely contained desire. His jaw working furiously and based on that look alone, no one had better try and stop us. He’s a man on a mission and that mission is me.

  Praise the freakin’ Lord.

  “I got ‘em after Daddy died.” I snuggle into his heat with my eyes half-lidded, my head tilted to the side so I won’t hit him with my hat. “He always called me his angel.” My cheeks instantly redden and I grow jittery. With a shaky inhalation I add, “I like it that you call me angel too.”

  His fingers flex briefly around my neck, not enough to do any damage, but enough for me to know he’s affected. “I like that you’re truly an angel.” His breath drifts over my cheek, over my skin and goose bumps rise on my flesh. “Even though tonight, dressed as you are right now, you look more like sin wrapped up in gossamer wings.” His finger draws over the wings on my right shoulder blade. His expressive eyes lift and his brows rise. "Very unexpected, Angel."

  I pull a face. “Left over from my rebellious teenage years.”

  “Nah, they’re a dedication to your father.” His deep voice pulls at me, wrapping me securely in its warmth.

  “Cooper.”

  “I need you to take me on a tour, Angel.” When I hesitate he orders, “Now.”