by Em Petrova
“I can’t put my hands on you, Amaryllis.”
“Then why are you?” Her tone held that note of sass that had driven him nuts half the day. Now he understood why. It was fucking foreplay to him. She mouthed off, and he wanted to shut her up with long, deep kisses.
“Why are you touching me, Aiden?”
“Stop asking questions I can’t answer.”
“I think you can answer.”
“Because I’m selfish.”
“I don’t think that’s true.” She stared deep into his eyes, leaning nearer by the fucking second. He felt the heat of her breath on his jaw. All he had to do was move half an inch and he’d have her lips under his.
Because until this afternoon when I punched that man for commenting on your ass, I didn’t know what I needed in my life to make me feel like a man again.
He’d spent a year trying to make his job with the sheriff’s office into his whole life the way the military had been. He was dedicated to the ranchers, would do anything for them. All this time, he’d smoldered with anger—at the command he’d been given, at himself for not being the Marine he should have been. If he’d taken action, five less monsters would be walking the earth right now.
But he’d refused the order and the men had fled the bunker through underground tunnels before Aiden’s commanding officer realized he wasn’t going to make the move.
That time of his life had sucked, and he’d spent the past year feeling lost.
Amaryllis had walked into his life and in less than twenty-four fucking hours, he knew exactly what his purpose on this planet was.
To pick her up and seat her on his face, make her scream for him.
He moved his hand to her lower back, feeling the slipperiness of her skin under the cotton of his T-shirt.
“Aiden.”
“Time like this, I wish you’d call me Roshannon.” At least then he could take an order to back off, let her go.
She issued a choppy breath. Hell, she still smelled like toothpaste.
“Fine. Roshannon, why do I want you to kiss me?”
“Goddammit, Amaryllis. Why do I want to?” He cupped the back of her head, sinking his fingers deep into her hair, and claimed her mouth.
The first crush of her lips under his sent him whirling. Yet he had complete control. He pulled her closer, molding her to fit his form as he probed the seam of her lips with his tongue.
On a whimper, she opened for him, and he plunged deep inside. One pass, two. His fucking cock was hard steel digging into her backside. She clutched his biceps, fingers over his semper fi tattoo that said Saint Michael Protect Us. And the American flag rippling on his left arm, surrounded by stars, one for every friend he’d lost.
He nibbled at her lower lip, pulling a harsh cry from her. More of that and he wouldn’t stop until every hunger inside him was sated. She dug her blunt nails into his skin and raked them back to his shoulders.
The searing sensation of her scoring him had him locked and loaded. He gripped her by the hip and wrapped her hair around his fist simultaneously. Levering her down into his cock as he tugged her strawberry-blonde locks and ravished her mouth.
She scrabbled at his shoulders, matching his kisses stroke for stroke.
He broke the kiss and yanked her head back, biting into her throat as he worked his hand up to cup her breast.
She jolted.
“Aiden, stop.”
Ice water struck him in the face, and he jerked his hands from her. She didn’t move off his lap.
“I’m sorry.” His voice sounded like tearing cloth.
“I-I did it too. Got carried away.”
Yeah, but he’d scared her. When he’d gotten rough with her, she’d ended the play. She’d never accept what he was, even if she knew more.
“Go back to bed, Amaryllis. We have to get up early.” Though he’d never sleep now, and she probably wouldn’t either. She’d lie in bed and he’d toss and turn on the hard floor, wanting her with everything in him.
He pushed out a breath and when she didn’t get off his lap, he gave her a little push onto her feet.
She stood there, arms wrapped around herself, which only made his T-shirt ride up almost to her crotch.
He swore from the heat he’d felt through his jeans that she wasn’t wearing panties. But he couldn’t find out.
“I’m sorry for touching you,” he said.
“I… don’t do this. I wanted you to know. Not ever.”
Meaning what? She didn’t sit on the laps of men she’d known less than a full day? Or didn’t accept the womanly needs that had obviously pounded through her only seconds before?
He gave a harsh nod. “All right.”
She stood there for another long heartbeat. He clamped his jaw so tight that his molars met with a clack.
Then she turned and moved back to the bed, her feet soundless. She crawled under the covers and turned her back to him.
He sat there longer until he thought he heard Amaryllis’ deep breathing of sleep. Then he lay down on the floor and tried to find some damn peace.
Chapter Seven
Neither of them mentioned the big, horny elephant in the room the next morning or all through breakfast. They rode to the auction in silence and when they got there, Amaryllis took an opportunity to break away from Roshannon.
She had no idea what to do about the kiss they’d shared—or the fact that she wanted more. So she threw herself into work.
While inspecting the cattle, she kept an eye out for anything suspicious, but this day of the auction seemed to be on the up-and-up. She chatted with people and got a few names of men she wanted to investigate.
The auctioneer was going full-force, his garbled words tripping over each other as he worked the prices up. On day two of wearing the same outfit, Amaryllis was ready to get home. But she hadn’t seen Roshannon in the past two hours to find out when he planned to leave.
She sat back in the stands while the bidding continued around her and pulled out her phone. JD had texted more about the small farm. Said he knew a friend who could talk to her more about the topic when she was ready.
She blinked at the words on her screen. Right now, up here in Wyoming, owning a farm had been far from her mind. When she thought of it now, she wondered if she really wanted to settle down and farm a piece of land. It wasn’t the hard work she was afraid of. It was just…
She loved the thrill that being a Ranger offered. Working with the ranchers, helping them through more than investigating crimes against them. It was times she assisted with brush fires and rounding up cattle from flooded conditions. There was always something to keep her on her toes.
She wasn’t sure if hunting down the best heirloom melon seeds for her farm would offer the same kick.
After exchanging a few texts with JD, she flipped through some selfies he’d sent her on Snapchat.
A grunt sounded behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Aiden sitting there, making no pretenses about spying on her phone activity.
“Thought you were on the job,” he said in an even tone that was much too nonchalant to be real.
She shut her lips tight to keep from spewing harsh replies. She had to ride back to Crossroads with him, and things were tense enough.
With a sigh, she smoothed her hair over her shoulder. It was frizzy today, and no wonder. Between the cheap B&B’s shampoo and terrible sleep she’d gotten, she’d woke up looking like the Mad Hatter. Not to mention she didn’t have a hairbrush and she’d had to finger-comb the tangles out.
She also smelled like Aiden. That masculine scent clung to her, and she could still feel the rough burn of his beard against her cheeks when he’d kissed her.
She squirmed on the hard, wooden bench and flipped open Snapchat again to keep from engaging in an argument with Roshannon. JD had sent her another snap, this one of the lower half of his face and a big fat donut hanging from his mouth.
Aiden gave another grunt. “Your boyfriend?”
She stil
led. So that was it. He was goading her because he was jealous.
At the same time, it pissed her off that he’d believe she had a boyfriend and had still sat on his lap kissing him.
She twisted to pierce him in her stare. And nearly gasped at how much his beard had grown in since she’d seen him a few hours ago. Almost black, thick—and dangerous to her female sensibilities.
“You didn’t bother asking me if I had a boyfriend last night.”
His eyes sparked. “You didn’t mention it when you snuggled into my lap.”
She threw a look at the men sitting around them, but nobody seemed to be paying attention to them, too focused on the sale of a pair of good workhorses.
“You pulled me down there, Roshannon.”
He narrowed his gaze but said nothing.
She whirled to face forward again but a second later stood and started excusing herself to the men seated around her as she made her way toward the exit. She didn’t make it two steps into the dreary outdoors when fingers bit into her elbow.
Aiden spun her to face him and dragged her to a stop at the same time. They faced off, her breath heaving with the need to scream, stomp her feet—and go on tiptoe and kiss the hell out of him.
His eyes were serious, the same color as the leaden sky above. “Look, I’m sorry. We have a lot of work to do together, and we shouldn’t let this affect that.”
“Exactly. Let’s pretend it never happened.” That you woke up things inside me that I don’t want to forget.
He released her arm and tugged his hat lower over his eyes. “I agree. Let’s get on home. There’s nothing more to learn here.”
The ride was made in relative silence, and by the time he pulled into the station, Amaryllis was done with being in his presence. She needed some breathing room and time to think about how she was going to deal with the needs he’d awakened inside her.
She got out of the truck and slammed the door. “See you later.” Without a backward glance, she went to her silly little rental car and climbed behind the wheel.
He peeled out, the truck tires grinding on the gravel as he gunned it out of the parking lot. She shook her head and forced herself to drive at a normal pace and not race after him like a maniac, though she wanted to.
Mind reeling through several ways to make him see he was acting like an immature ass, she drove to the B&B where the sheriff’s office had set her up. The place was much different from the one she’d stayed at with Aiden, and she was relieved to walk into a space she didn’t have to share with the man.
Her own bed, without worrying about how uncomfortable he must be on the floor. Not to mention the midnight kiss they’d shared.
She stripped off her clothes and took a hot shower. But the water was only making her think of warm parts of her body. Between her thighs, her body was ten degrees hotter. And she ached.
She hadn’t brought any battery-operated toys from home, and now she regretted the decision. She needed release now.
She leaned against the shower wall, letting the spray wash over her as she slipped her fingers over her pussy. Fuck, she was already creamy with desire. She trapped her clit under two fingers and massaged. Sensation hit full-force, weakening her knees. She used the wall for support as she fingered herself into a frenzy. Her breaths came in hitching gulps, and she swore she felt the tugging on her scalp as Aiden had tugged the strands while plundering her mouth.
She circled her clit and inserted one finger into her pussy. Two pumps and she was coming in long, gasping waves. Juices flooded her fingers, and sharp cries left her lips.
When the final pulsation left her, she sank down the shower wall and closed her eyes. The man was going to kill her.
* * * * *
Aiden sprawled on his bed, naked and facedown. His cock harder than the stone face of Obsidian Cliff. His body warred, tearing him in two directions.
He needed sleep—badly. His nerves were jumping and if he got a call right now, he wasn’t sure he had the energy to get up and go.
And second, he needed release. His balls were splitting, throbbing in a way that warned him that he needed to come—soon. If he didn’t slake his lust, there was no telling what he might do.
Last time he’d gotten this horny, he’d ended up fucking a woman right in front of his cousin’s eyes. Of course, after he’d rolled away from her, Wes had taken his place. But Aiden didn’t want to share Amaryllis.
Wait—who’s talking about Amaryllis?
Who was he kidding? She was the reason he was lying here ready to rut like a bull. But he’d never share her with any man, because she was going to be his and his alone.
He rolled onto his back and cradled his balls in one hand while wrapping his other fist around his length. He squeezed his shaft and let out a groan. Looking down at himself, he found the head of his cock was swollen, purple. The slit glistening with pre-cum.
Amaryllis had done this to him, and he was going to use her until he was satisfied or passed out. Whichever came first.
He rolled his cock through his fist. Arching in pleasure as sensation hit. His mind traveled back to having Amaryllis in his lap with only a thin bit of cotton between him and her sweet pussy. Her mouth open wide to accept his kisses. Then carrying her to the bed and pinning her to the mattress. Making her beg him to suck her nipples, eat her pussy.
Groaning loudly, he pumped his cock harder. Faster. When he claimed her, she’d feel every inch of him deep inside her, and there wouldn’t be anyone else.
Then he’d tell her when she could come for him and if she didn’t obey, he’d start all over from the top, this time tying her to the bed. Kissing and biting every inch of her. Spanking her round ass and finally gliding into her tight pussy—
He came in a rush. Hot semen spilled over his knuckles and a low roar vibrated the mattress. Images of ropes knotted up and down Amaryllis’ pale body flashed behind his eyes as the final spurts left him.
Goddammit, what was he going to do with this wanting now that it was unloosed again? He couldn’t direct it toward her. She was probably frightened enough by him. Besides, she had a boyfriend.
Then why was his mind screaming at him to get up and go to her? Barge into her room at the Crossroads Inn and tell her that they might have only known each other for a short time, but there was unfinished business between them.
Damn, he needed to talk to someone. It was time they all went home to Eagle Crest.
* * * * *
“How’s things working out with Amaryllis?” Sheriff Latchaw eyed Aiden from the doorway.
Aiden set his jaw as he met Latchaw’s gaze. He could tell the sheriff that she wasn’t answering his calls and when he’d swung by the Crossroads Inn, her rental car was gone. Either she was working solo today or she’d quit the job altogether and run scared.
“You’re a tough one to work with, Roshannon. You’re used to sharing your thoughts with very few people, but you’re going to have to find a way to include Amaryllis in this case.”
“I would if I could find her,” he bit off. Sick and tired of hearing how he was a hard man to work with, talk to, be around. If people didn’t like him, they could just keep their fucking distances. Amaryllis included.
Only he didn’t want her to. Which almost had him running scared.
“What do you mean you can’t find her?” Latchaw’s tone didn’t leave room for wishy-washy answers.
He opened his mouth to speak when a loud rumble of engine outside made him and Latchaw turn to the window. Through the slats of blinds, they saw a huge diesel 4x4 truck pulling into the parking lot.
The red truck swung wide to park in a spot next to Aiden’s truck, dwarfing it. Then the door opened and a woman jumped what had to be three feet to the ground.
Latchaw burst out laughing. “Think I found your partner.”
“Where the hell’d she even find a truck like that?” Their small town didn’t boast car rental places, and nobody had trucks like that—they were too impractical i
n these parts.
“I think she’s trying to show you who’s got the bigger set of balls.” Latchaw brought his hand down on Aiden’s shoulder. “Good luck, Roshannon.”
Aiden pushed out a breath through his nostrils and watched Amaryllis approach the office. And she was fucking beautiful.
Wearing dark jeans and cowgirl boots, a simple white T-shirt that skimmed her breasts, and sunglasses. Her hair loose underneath her cowgirl hat.
Without realizing it, he’d stood and was prying apart the blinds to see more of her.
“She’s fucking hot, isn’t she?” Hoyt’s observation made Aiden spin, hands fisted at his sides.
He hadn’t made up his mind yet if he was pursuing Amaryllis and this dark need she created in him. But Hoyt sure as fuck wasn’t.
The front door slammed and he knew she was in the building. “Hello, Diana,” she called out to the secretary.
“Hi, Ms. Long. You’re looking bright-eyed today.”
“I am. Where’s Latchaw?”
“In his office, far as I know.”
Aiden shoved Hoyt out of the way to get out his office door. Why was she asking for Latchaw and not him?
He pushed into the hall in time to see her breeze past, hair bouncing on her spine, and her bootheels ringing on the old linoleum tile. She threw him a smile and kept on going.
A growl rose in his throat. What was she playing at?
“Nice truck, Amaryllis,” Latchaw said by way of greeting.
Aiden walked into his office behind Amaryllis without invitation.
“I found something, sir. I need a warrant.”
Aiden felt his blood pressure jack up ten points. His ears burned. “You were on the job this morning without me?”
She ignored his question and planted a hand on Latchaw’s desk to lean over and speak to the sheriff, excluding Aiden. “That neighbor of Owens’ we talked to yesterday…”
“You went over there again? So help me, woman,” Aiden cut her off.
“Excuse me, but my momma taught me that interrupting’s rude. Didn’t yours?”
Latchaw smiled and looked between the two.
“The neighbor had a stack of papers on the table and one of the names caught my eye.”
