by Lora Leigh
* * *
Sam was smiling at whatever Warren was telling her. She was so pretty, her smile was perfect, her lips full, and kissing her was like breathing fresh air when you didn’t know you were suffocating. Nope, couldn’t be thinking about that. He cleared his throat. “All right back to work, Warren.” He turned his attention to Sam. “Did you get your uniform ordered?”
“Yes. I have my own vest, belt, and weapons. Speaking of which, may I have my weapon back?”
“Yep. Warren, get Sam her weapon.” He shot Shane a firm look.
“On it, Sheriff.”
“You hear from Decker or Rodgers?” he asked the deputy, wondering where the other men were.
“Out on patrol,” Warren called back to him as he turned down the hall toward the evidence room.
Patrol, right.
Hunter got on the radio and called for an update. Decker said he was up at the Coopers’ place to take a report on a possible bovine theft. Rodgers was wrapping up yet another traffic citation with the Lafollette boy. Kid had a lead foot and a death wish.
Maybe introductions would be best if they were done in the morning; it was getting late.
“How you doin’, Pixie?”
She scowled at him.
“Samantha.” Attempting to hide her smile, she tilted her head. “I suppose you should call me Officer Ryder now.”
He grinned, lifting his eyes to hers. “Mm-hmm, might be hot. You got handcuffs, Officer Sam?”
She lifted one brow and pursed those sexy, rose, bow lips. “I do, and I know how to use them. I also have plenty of zip ties.”
“Well damn, girl, sounds like you’re well equipped for a good time,” he murmured, watching the flush that bloomed on her cheeks.
“Shut up.” She laughed.
God, he was beginning to love that laugh way too much. He couldn’t wait to kiss her again, feel her skin under his hands. Warren came back as if on cue.
“Here ya go, Samantha … I mean, Officer Ryder.” He grinned at her like an adoring puppy.
“Thanks, Warren.” She exaggerated a serious expression as she took her weapon from him.
“So, Ryder.” Hunter winked. “We’ll see you in the morning. Introduce you to everybody, give you the formal tour, and get you started. Good?”
“Works for me. See you guys in the morning then.” She turned and walked toward the door.
“Seven, Officer, don’t be late.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waved her hand without turning around. Her chuckle made him wanna go after her and turn her over his knee. Yeah, she was gonna test him, push him. She knew exactly what kind of effect she had on him.
Damn woman.
chapter fourteen
Samantha slumped down on the sofa with a sigh. She’d been on the phone for hours. She still needed to call her mother and let her know what was going on. That would be a lot easier to deal with than the others. She’d expected some disappointment from her chief, but he hadn’t been happy about her leaving the Detroit force at all. Still, he’d wished her well and promised to transfer her files. She’d have to somehow get all her things moved.
She’d worry about that later. First things first, she needed some groceries and supplies. The nearest Walmart was about twenty minutes away, and she didn’t want to fool with it. She decided to get absolute necessities at the Safeway and go to Oroville to shop on the weekend.
Yep, she was back in the hills for sure. It was exciting, she had to admit.
Then there was Hunter.
Thoughts of him and that damned talented mouth of his were constant. Working with him was gonna test her self-control to the extreme. His voice made her warm all over, his touch made her shiver. Hell, she was a basket case. Samantha shook her head. No, she had too much to do to get caught up in all her erotic thoughts of Hunter.
Driving into town, she thought about all the work ahead of her. She needed to make a list. A list would definitely help. When she got back home, she’d fix herself some dinner and take care of that.
The store was busy for a Tuesday afternoon. Even so, everything was a bit outdated. She gave the old cart one final energetic jerk, freeing it from the others, and headed to produce. Groceries, right now she needed to focus on groceries. Just what she needed to get through the rest of the week.
Man, the store was sadly lacking when it came to fresh produce, but she managed to find what she needed and moved on.
Her first week with the sheriff’s department would be interesting at best. Tension at work was gonna be tough enough with Hunter. Just a look from him had her body reacting, but maybe that would subside in time. She hoped so because she wasn’t so sure her fellow officers would deal with her being there. She had a feeling Rodgers and Decker wouldn’t be very happy about it. Shane was okay. Such a nice guy, eager to be helpful and so very amenable.
“Whoa there, Sam.” Hunter caught her cart before she ran into him.
“Oh jeez. Sorry.”
He leaned over a bit, pretending to whisper. “Maybe you shouldn’t fantasize about me while operating any kind of vehicle.” He frowned and shook his head. “Dangerous, way too dangerous.”
“Ha ha ha.” She made a face. “It appears you’re following me.”
Hunter stepped up next to her, scanning the contents of her cart. Her stomach did little flips. Why did he have to smell so good?
“Small town, sugar. Although I wouldn’t mind following you.” He leaned back to check out her ass.
Damn, she didn’t need this. She was trying to organize her thoughts and be productive. Why was he here, now, at the Safeway of all places? She didn’t remember that behemoth he called a truck in the parking lot, and that thing was hard to miss. Now all she was thinking about was taking him home with her, running her hands over his chest, and … damn.
She narrowed her eyes. “What are you doing here?” He was invading her space, stealing her air, making her too warm.
His sly smile was slow and easy. Fine laugh lines fanned out from eyes that glittered with mischief. His teeth were straight and white, and there seemed to be so many of them. Was that an ever-so-slight hint of a dimple in his left cheek? Yeah, yeah it was. Holy Moses, the man was a wet dream walking and that smile was pure sin. As fine as he looked in uniform he looked like sex walking in his jeans and black AC/DC tee. He stepped closer, pursing his lips as he perused the contents of her cart. He picked up the small cucumber she had selected for her salad and met her gaze. “Aw, Sam, this will never do, sugar.”
“Huh?” she mumbled, momentarily distracted by thoughts of tasting his neck. “What?”
He lifted a brow. “This.” He lifted the little cucumber. She stared at it, frowning, shaking her head. “Sam, this will never satisfy you, baby, not now anyway, not since the other night.” Samantha’s mouth fell open, and she stared at him, dumbfounded. He looked at it, pressing his lips together, and shook his head. “Nope, this won’t do at all.” He strode past her to the produce department and started searching through the sparse selection of cucumbers.
Samantha shut her mouth with a snap and followed behind him “Hunter! That’s so wrong!”
He grinned. “Aww, but sugar.” He held up a long, round, smooth cucumber. “This one here is damn near perfect.”
Her eyes widened. He couldn’t be serious. Her cheeks felt flaming hot as she quickly looked around, hoping no one was witnessing her humiliation.
“Yeah, beautiful, isn’t it?” He pushed it toward her at an obscene angle, and she leaned away. “Feel how smooth … hard to find ’em that smooth, and firm too.”
“I need it for a salad.” She started shaking her head “You’re crazy, you know that?”
He looked at her pointedly. “You’re not the least bit curious?”
“Oh my God, you’re ten kinds of wrong.”
“I’m just playin’.” He put the larger cucumber back and left the little one in her cart. “I just love it when you turn all pink.” He ran a finger down her neck to t
he hollow at her throat. “I’d be willing to bet my truck that you’re just a little bit turned on. I’m not above trying some adventurous naughtiness.”
“Sheriff Hunter,” she said through her teeth. “This is not the way to go about being discreet. Tone it down.”
“Can’t.” He sounded almost regretful.
“Well, why the hell not?” She all but stamped her foot.
He gave her a sideways look. “Do you really want me to explain it? Here? In the middle of the grocery store?”
She pressed her lips together, turned around, and attempted to stalk off. “Ugh.”
Oh, the arrogance, the audacity of the man made her crazy. What appalled her most, what really pissed her off, was the fact that he was right. It did kinda turn her on.
No “kinda” about it, the creamy hot slide of moisture between her thighs reminded her that he had power over her. It only took his presence to heighten her senses. Then he’d teased her, filling her mind with hot and sweaty images. No. Memories. Yeah, she had to admit, he had her body aching for him with little effort at all. No one had ever had this instant, vicious effect on her.
In the dairy aisle, he reappeared. His arm brushed her breast as he reached for a carton of milk, sending an electric shock of sensation singing through her.
“I’m coming over tonight, Sam,” he whispered close to her ear. “And we’re gonna have a good time.”
Samantha held her breath, trying to rein in the urge to jump him. “You think?”
He gave her a wry smile. Leaning down, he lightly kissed her mouth, lingering there for a moment. He flicked his tongue over her bottom lip before he moved away.
“I know.” He winked at her and walked away.
Samantha shook her head and tried to focus on finishing up her shopping. All the way home she tried reasoning with herself about Hunter. Too reasonable, too much logic when she knew she’d never be able to resist him. She carried her groceries in, set the sacks on the kitchen counter, and began putting then away. Two sharp raps on the door alerted her before Hunter opened the door. “Hey, Pixie.”
She scowled up at him as he stepped into the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe. “You’re supposed to wait to be invited in. It’s polite.”
The man always seemed so confident, she thought, as he walked toward her and caged her in between the counter and his body. “I’ve been invited in, and sometimes polite is just boring.”
She stifled a sigh. He was right, and so damn intoxicating. He made her want and feel things she’d never even thought to fantasize about. So why the hell was she fighting it? Their lips met gently at first, then that flash fire of need he always caused surged through her. She pressed closer, relishing the hardness of his body. She loved the taste of him, the way his fingers flexed against her hips. As much as she wanted him, she knew this wouldn’t end well.
With no small amount of will power, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him away. “Okay, Hunter, we have to stop. We can’t.”
“Mm-hmm, we can, Sam. We did. Remember?” He crushed her against him again and kissed along her jaw, taking his time, giving each inch his full attention. “Let me refresh your memory.”
“No. Listen, we need to be serious, just for a moment.” It was more of a murmur as she pushed him away again.
His hands gripped her waist and pulled her to him. He nuzzled the sensitive skin right under her ear.
“I am serious, I’m fuckin’ religious about this.” He nipped at her neck and shoulder. “You’re invading my dreams, Sam, and my nightmares. My dick hasn’t been at ease since you walked those legs into the Night Hawk, swinging that fine ass of yours.” At some point, she wasn’t sure when, he unbuttoned her shorts. His hands slid inside the waistband of her panties to cup her bottom. “So soft, round, firm. Fits in my hands like it was made for ’em,” he murmured, pulling her hard against him.
“Hunter, we have to stop,” she whimpered weakly.
He pulled back and searched her face. “If you really want me to stop, I will, Sam.” He held her gaze, his eyes were molten steel. “Do you want me to stop? Do you?”
“No,” she whispered harshly, pulling his shirt from his jeans, desperate to touch his skin. “To hell with it.”
“Thank God,” he said, grinning at her fervent struggle to get closer to him. He let her go long enough to pull his shirt over his head. She couldn’t wait, her hands glided over his warm body, the crisp chest hair tickled her palms, his nipples hardened at her fingertips, and she sighed.
His erection was unmistakable, and her body craved the feel of him inside her, stroking the very core of her. She fumbled with the button fly of his jeans. Her knuckles grazed his hard shaft, her frustration mounting.
“Hunter.” Her strained voice seemed to come from far away; the sound of her blood pounding through her veins was so loud.
“Yeah, sugar?” His mouth was like a brand on her ultrasensitive skin, and she momentarily forgot what she was doing. Her shorts and panties slid to the floor. His hands cupped her ass and continued to squeeze and rub as he pulled her closer. Waves of sensation unfurled from her core and feathered through her entire body. His fingers stroked the cleft of her bottom cheeks. His leg spread her thighs apart enough so that his fingers delved lower, slipping into her hot, dewy channel then slowly circling the entrance with just enough pressure to have her moan breathlessly. Her blood surged hot through her veins, to collect in her nipples and clit, causing them to swell and ache with the need to be touched.
“You’re burning me alive,” she whispered. Finally unbuttoning the last button, she trailed her fingertips along the underside of his cock. Their mouths met again in a fiery tango of tongues and gasps. Samantha pushed his jeans down, freeing him. Wrapping her hand around his shaft, she passed her thumb over the ridge at the base of its pulsing plum-like tip. Breath hissed through his teeth, and she kissed his chest, nipping at his collarbone and licking the hollow at his shoulder.
“Well then, I’m goin’ up in flames with you.” He pulled her tank top over her head and had her bra unfastened and on the floor before she could acknowledge what he was doing. Her breasts filled his palms; he lifted them, his fingers caressed them and squeezed her nipples. Pleasure sizzled along her nerve endings. He bent and took one hard peak between his lips and gently rasped his tongue over it.
Aching heat speared through Samantha, her legs buckled and she wrapped them around his waist as the thick head of his cock probed at the sensitive wet folds of her heated cunt. She fisted her hands in his hair and rocked against him. He braced her body, trying to hold her still. She met his gaze. “Hurry.” Her voice was low and sultry. She wrapped her arms around his neck and bit his shoulder then flicked her tongue over the spot.
“Wild cat,” he growled, carrying her to the bedroom. “I’m going to teach you the value of taking it slow if it kills me.” He set her on the bed, leaned down, and kissed her quick on the mouth as he untangled her arms. “And it just might.”
He stood and stripped off his jeans. She looked up at him, her body vibrating, anticipating his touch. She couldn’t help but smile at his hot survey of her body. This man made her feel like a goddess. She wanted to be the one torturing him this time. She wanted to see his eyes glaze over with the force of his climax. She shifted to her hands and knees and crawled down the bed to where he stood.
She gripped his cock firmly when he tried to push her back.
“Not this time, cowboy. You’ve gotten your way. It’s my turn now,” she said and trailed her tongue over the crease that led to the tiny opening. With a slow grin, she watched him swallow hard.
“Wait, I…”
“Shhh, sit and lie back.” She moved over him as he did her bidding and urged him to slide higher up the bed. She continued lightly massaging his incredibly stiff erection but couldn’t resist tasting the taut skin of his stomach. Warm spasms against her tongue tempted her lower. She heard his breathing accelerate as she scooted down to nestle his h
ot cock between her breasts. His breath caught and his hips pressed him closer. “Sam, baby, you’re so soft.”
She wished she had some oil on hand or something, she thought. Oh well, sometimes a girl had to improvise. She shifted and in one smooth stroke took him into her mouth as far as she could, making him as wet as she could. Then she secured the thick glistening shaft between her breasts again.
“Good God,” he muttered as his hips rocked back and forth. Samantha pushed her breasts together and bent her head to suck the tip as he slid smoothly between them. Heat infused her body, her inner walls clenched, and erotic waves danced through her. “Oh yes, Sam, tighter, baby.” She pressed her breasts tighter against his steel-hard cock.
Her mouth closed over the round head and drew him deeper till she felt him throbbing against the back of her throat. She swallowed, then moaned, the sound vibrating along Hunter’s shaft.
“Ah, yes,” he said through clenched teeth. She milked the thick ridge that pulsed along the underside with her tongue, pressing firmly as she sucked. His hands fisted in her hair, and she thought she heard him growl. She caressed him with her lips as she glided up to lick and kiss the silky tip.
With one hand, she cupped his balls and traced firm little circles on the patch of flesh behind them. Her tongue delved into the crease, and she closed her lips over the tip, sipping at the pearl of arousal that collected there, and then she surged over him again. He began thrusting into her mouth, his breath coming in pants. His muscles tensed as he gently rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “I can’t hold back anymore, Sam.”
