Devil in Texas

by Calista Fox

So he was disappointed when she stepped away from him. “You’re never going to get your work done and we’re never going to get out of here if we keep this up.”

  “Sofa’s comfy,” he said with a nod of his head in the direction of the brown leather couch.

  “Thought you wanted me sprawled out, naked, on your bed.”

  He groaned. “I think I want you everywhere.”

  Liza laughed. “I don’t want to distract you from your responsibilities.” She pushed her skirt into place and skimmed a hand over the front of her, as though making sure her clothing was in appropriate order. She still held his house key in the other hand. “So I’ll see you a little later.”

  “Make sure you’re naked,” he said with a wink.

  “I just spent a small fortune at Ginger’s lingerie shop. Someone has to benefit from my purchases.”

  “Okay, not naked. Wear something sexy I can strip off of you.”

  Her cheeks flushed a complementary rose color. “I bought a nightie and matching panties in every color she had. You can feel free to rip them off, if you’d prefer.”

  Jack’s cock throbbed at the thought. “Be careful what you say, darlin’. I’m apt to take you up on that.”

  “I wouldn’t say it if the idea didn’t appeal to me.” And for emphasis, she leaned toward him and gave him a kiss, followed by a playful nip of his bottom lip. Jack’s hands shot out and gripped her bare biceps. He held her steady as he kissed her.

  When he broke the kiss, her arms were wrapped around his waist. Something to hold her steady? “My Lord,” she whispered.

  “Yeah, maybe naked is safest.”

  “Safest, yes. But I like playing with fire.”

  Jack groaned again. “You’d better get out of here. Or I’ll figure out some other way to fuck you on my desk.”

  “Hurry with your tasks,” she said as she stepped away from him.

  “Don’t fall asleep on me.”

  “Not a chance,” she assured him. “But if you take too long, I might start the party without you.”

  “Don’t tease me, sweetheart.”

  She winked at him.

  “Go,” he said. “Now. Before I destroy that pretty outfit of yours.”

  “See you in a few.” She grabbed her purse and left the office.

  Chapter Twelve

  Walking through the saloon as Jack’s employees cleaned up, Liza tried not to make eye contact with anyone. She hadn’t checked her lipstick when she’d left Jack’s office and hoped it’d simply been kissed off her lips, rather than being smeared all over her face.

  Blushing from head to toe, because she was sure everyone knew what they’d been up to in his office, she slipped out the door and crossed the parking lot to where she’d parked the Mercedes. The key to Jack’s house practically burned a hole in her hand. That he trusted her this much was just one more thing about the sexy cowboy that she adored. One more thing that made her unbearably hot for him.

  But she didn’t want to mistake intense lust for anything more than what it was, so she fought to keep her emotions in check. Her life with Peter was one she needed to learn from. She’d never read the signs correctly with him and she wanted to make sure she didn’t misinterpret things this time around with the Devil. Besides, she’d gone from singular vanilla sex with Peter to varietal Neapolitan sex—in her book, at any rate!—with Jack. In just two brief encounters, no less. Lord only knew what else the hunky cowboy had in store for her. And because he seemed prone to pushing her beyond her self-perceived boundaries, she still felt a bit over her head with him.

  Yet, if anyone was going to teach her a lesson or two in the sexual arena, she wanted it to be Jack.

  Pulling in front of his three-car detached garage, she shut the car’s engine off. Beside her, the bag Ginger had packed earlier in the evening seemed to scream, “Go for it!”

  Liza nearly laughed out loud. She wasn’t wholly sure what it was she was “going for”, except for more mind-blowing orgasms.

  Retrieving the shopping bag from the passenger’s side, she locked her car and crossed the drive to the front porch. She ascended the steps and stood in front of the door to Jack’s house, which mirrored the one on her cottage. Jack had left the foyer chandelier on and it illuminated the stained glass inset on the door, as well as the immediate interior of the house.

  Standing on the precipice of Jack’s private space, Liza hesitated. This was his home. His sanctuary. His personal haven.

  She was about to invade it.

  The momentous occasion caused her to think about Peter again. She’d never felt comfortable or at home in his monstrous Tribeca apartment. She’d been overwhelmed by the massive square footage and the fact that everything was strategically positioned and she had to be extra careful not to move anything out of place or set something down where it didn’t belong. Above all that, a speck of dust would die a lonely existence in the multi-million-dollar home. Liza hadn’t even been allowed to wear brand-new Jimmy Choos into the house. She’d had to leave them in the foyer.

  She wondered now how Jack would feel if she wore her sandals inside. Would it bother him? Should she leave them outside the door?

  Should she even pass through the door?

  Ugh.

  She stared down at the key in her hand, then glanced back up at the entrance and peered through the glass inset. She didn’t feel one hundred percent comfortable being in his house alone. But she’d promised him she’d be here when he came home, waiting for him. Liza didn’t relish the idea of disappointing him. Or missing out on another incredible lovemaking experience. She really didn’t know how many more she’d get with the Devil. He could be done with her any time now.

  Best to not pass up the water when the well could run dry at any moment, right?

  With this in mind, she inserted the key in the lock and flicked her wrist. She stepped into the lit foyer, set the bag in the corner and promptly removed her sandals, just to be on the safe side. She left them next to the door. Stepping into the living room, she found the switch on the wall and flipped it so she could see what the main part of Jack’s house looked like. Downstairs boasted a large living room with a stone-trimmed fireplace, a formal dining room that sat twelve, an enormous kitchen—in solid white with black-and-silver speckled granite countertops and a breakfast nook—and a den that Jack had turned into his home office.

  She ascended the sweeping staircase trimmed with rich cherry wood, carrying her shopping bag with her. Along the way, Liza debated her nightgown color options, trying to peg which one the Devil would like best as she surveyed the upstairs rooms. One was a neat and tidy guest bedroom. The other was a room he’d converted into an impressive workout facility. Which he obviously used religiously.

  The third one she came to was the master suite. The white walls and wainscoting were as crisp and immaculate as the rest of the house, all looking freshly painted. Pride of ownership shone through and Liza was glad she’d decided to leave her shoes downstairs. It seemed like a respectful thing to do.

  The accent color in Jack’s bedroom was dark blue. The comforter on the cherry wood four-poster bed—and the drapes that framed the wall of windows, adorned with white Plantation shutters—were the richest blue she’d ever seen, aside from Jack’s eyes.

  Setting her package on the matching plush bench that ran the length of the king-size bed, she debated her lingerie options again.

  Midnight was out since it would clash with the royal blue of his room.

  Red might be too obnoxious against the duvet.

  Hot pink wasn’t really to her liking.

  Black might work, but…

  Champagne would stand out against the blue. A perfect complement to the décor.

  Pulling the tissue-wrapped nighties from the bag, she selected the one she wanted and also grabbed the matching panties. Slipping into Jack’s bathroom, she felt an unexpected thrill over primping in his private space. It was so minimalistic by way of decoration and supplies she had to s
mile. A hammered-silver tray sitting on the counter contained the very basics a man needed—shaving cream, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair gel, deodorant, dental floss, mouthwash.

  Bingo.

  The latter was exactly what she was looking for. But a comb would also be helpful. Searching the top drawer of his vanity, she found a brush and ran it through her hair, fluffing the natural curls, ignoring the dull, grown-out highlights. Because that would lead to more dismal thoughts about Lydia Bain.

  She changed into the lingerie she’d bought earlier and returned to Jack’s bedroom.

  Other than the toiletries, she hadn’t noticed any personal effects in the entire twenty minutes she’d been inside his house. No photos on the fireplace mantle or the bedside tables. Nothing significant hanging on the walls to give any clues about Jack’s private life. Though the house was organized and inviting, it was decidedly devoid of anything warm and fuzzy that might give Liza additional insight into who Jack Wade really was.

  Luckily, she had her own experiences to draw upon. And it occurred to her that she didn’t really need any outside influence because she’d already come to her own conclusions about the Devil in Blue Jeans. He was sexy as hell. An amazing lover. A responsible business owner. A good friend to those he deemed worthy.

  He was also a mystery she couldn’t solve in such a short amount of time.

  There was nothing in Jack’s house that would reveal his true identity. The only way she’d ever figure that out was by letting Jack be Jack, while she was…Liza. Simple and carefree Liza. No more pretention. No more trying to please people who only wanted to take advantage of her. No more clawing her way to a top she’d never reach.

  She had a new life now. With some new people in it, a new job and a new, seriously hot boyfriend. Regardless of how temporary the latter might be, she and Jack were clearly an item right now and she intended to enjoy every minute she got to spend with the hunky cowboy.

  She could see their association for what it was—the hot and sweaty sex she’d come looking for. And that was okay for now.

  Smiling to herself for being in control of the situation and anticipating the rest of the night ahead of her, Liza settled under the thick, dark blue duvet that covered Jack’s enormous bed. The A/C and ceiling fan kept the room reasonably cool, though she knew that wouldn’t last long. As soon as Jack arrived, they’d be steaming the place up.

  She could hardly wait. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, as though pulling in the very essence of him here in his bedroom. She realized she felt more at home here than she ever had in Peter’s apartment. This place was cozy and simple. Manly in some respects, but again, inviting. It was just right for this Goldilocks.

  When the doorbell rang, Liza practically bolted out of bed as excitement shot through her. She raced down the stairs, slowing her pace as she reached the door, so as to appear more composed than she felt. She flipped the deadbolt and turned the knob.

  Her heart jumped into her throat as the door opened. “Damn,” she said on a lusty sigh as she propped a hip against the doorframe and took Jack in from head to toe. “I just started to get settled in and here you are…completely unsettling me.” His dark eyes roved her body, making her insides flutter. She added, “You can make me wet just by looking at me.”

  Jack grinned. “Well, darlin’, that’s a start. I intend to do more than just look at you. And I intend to make you even wetter.”

  Fluttering became a serious understatement for the riot of emotions he incited. “You sure know how to take a girl’s breath away.”

  “That’s some outfit to greet a man in.”

  She smiled. “So glad I stopped by Ginger’s today.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  She stepped back so he could enter the foyer. He shut the door and locked it behind him.

  “Key’s on the hallway table,” she said.

  Jack didn’t respond. The soft glow of the chandelier hanging overhead made his eyes twinkle and his teeth sparkle as he moved toward her. She didn’t miss the mischievousness or the red-hot desire in his gaze. He put his hands on her waist and gripped her tight. His eyes feasted on her mouth, as if he was hungry to kiss her. But then his gaze dropped to her breasts, covered in ivory-colored lace. He lifted his hands and palmed her through the thin material. The heat and pressure of his hands and the friction of the lace as his thumbs swept over the centers made her nipples pebble tight. But he didn’t stop there.

  He eased the thin straps down her arms and peeled the lace away at her chest to expose her flesh. Then he dipped his head to her. His tongue flicked over a hard nipple as he squeezed both breasts. Liza felt the fire roar through her, as usual. It didn’t take much to get the blaze going when Jack touched her. He teased each nipple tighter, making her ache for so much more.

  “Jack,” she whispered his name as her fingers plowed through his thick hair.

  He scooped her up in his strong arms, catching her by surprise. He carried her upstairs without saying a word. Liza’s heart hammered in her chest as she wrapped her arms around his thick neck and held onto him. He walked into the bedroom with long, purposeful strides and set her on the edge of the bed. Standing between her parted legs, his eyes locked with hers as he yanked the hem of his shirt from the waist of his jeans, which he’d tucked back in after their interlude at the saloon. She watched with anticipation as he unbuttoned each small disk, her heart rate accelerating as they slipped through their holes. Before the material had even hit the hardwood floor, she was reaching for the buttons of his fly and pulling them apart.

  Her body was already on fire, her pulse skyrocketing with every second that passed. But eyeing Jack in his briefs had her mind reeling. He toed off his boots and divested himself of the briefs. He stood before her, gloriously naked. So fantastically masculine and virile that it made her faint of heart.

  She reached out to him, the tips of her fingers grazing his hard cock. He jerked slightly from the touch and Liza smiled triumphantly, both delighted and amused that she could elicit such a vehement reaction from him. Her hand curled around his thick shaft and he groaned. Bending her head to him, she ran her tongue up the length of him, then licked the tip of his penis. Jack’s hands swept her hair back from her face and off her shoulders. She took him as deep in her mouth as she could and he let out a low, guttural sound.

  Encouraged and turned-on by his response, she licked him again and then sucked him hard.

  “Christ, darlin’,” he said in a tight voice. “You’ll have me coming in no time flat if you keep that up.”

  Although she wasn’t ready to end their fun that quickly, she was nowhere near done with him. The hand gripping him moved down to gently cup his balls as her head continued to bob.

  “Liza,” he grunted a warning as he bucked against her.

  She felt a tremor in his legs and it was all she could do not to finish the job, not to push him over the edge. Because pleasing Jack was just as thrilling as being the recipient of his erotic touches.

  And that’s when inspiration struck. Rather deviously, in fact.

  Relinquishing her hold on his cock and standing, though skirting him as he reached for her, she said over her bare shoulder, “Nighties and panties aren’t the only things I picked up in town today.”

  Jack eyed her with that raw intensity in his gaze that made her pussy throb. “Got a few tricks of your own up your sleeve, have you, darlin’?”

  She grinned at him. “Let’s just say you bring out the bad girl in me.”

  “And she’s damn sexy.”

  Reaching for the shopper’s bag Ginger had packed, Liza rummaged around in the bottom of it until she found what she was looking for. Another ripple of excitement ran through her as she considered what to do with the cinnamon-scented, heats-up-when-rubbed-on-body-parts oil. Her breasts were already bared and she worked the fallen straps off her arms. She hoped the light pink tint of the oil wouldn’t stain the champagne-colored lace, but figured she could buy another
nightie if she ruined this one. It wasn’t as though Ginger didn’t have ten others in this color and size.

  Jack’s jaw clenched tight as he watched her press the lid open on one side of the small bottle and squeeze a healthy amount of the delicious-smelling liquid into the palm of her hand. She dropped the bottle back into the bag and then rubbed her hands together. The beautiful blue hue of his irises deepened in color. His gaze remained locked on her hands as she lifted them to her breasts and massaged the oil all over and around them.

  Seeing the hungry flash of need and desire that crossed his face prodded her to tease him a little more. She pushed her breasts together, then pinched the nipples between her forefingers and thumbs, puckering them tight. It felt sensuous and exciting, though not nearly as thrilling as having Jack’s hands on her body.

  The oil warmed her already flushed skin and the smooth gliding of flesh on flesh was highly erotic. She wasn’t the only one getting turned-on, though. Jack’s cock jutted upward, seemingly growing harder, if that was even possible. When her breasts and the valley between them were completely coated, she took a few steps in his direction, ‘til they were toe to toe. She sank to her knees before him and leaned into him, surrounding his full erection with her slick flesh.

  The sound that welled in his throat and slipped through his parted lips was nothing short of primal.

  “Be careful, sweetheart,” he warned again. “I’ve got a short fuse tonight.”

  Her clit sparked with desire as though he’d just flicked it with his tongue. The tingly sensation mixed with the dull ache deep in her pussy, creating a constant craving for Jack’s brand of lovemaking. But she was also in the mood to please him tonight, so she continued what she’d set her mind on doing.

  Pressing her breasts together around his cock, she let Jack set a slow rhythm. His hands twisted in her hair again, lifting the long strands off her shoulders and away from her face.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said in a tight voice, making her understand why he liked to sweep her hair up and away from her face.