by Debra Kayn
"I'm so glad you showed up tonight at the café. I'll admit, you're the reason I went." She glanced at him, the sexiest smile she knew how to make planted on her lips.
"That's good to hear, because I only showed up to find you." Bobby pulled her to him and situated her in his lap. "I stopped by the clinic first, but you'd already left."
Samantha lay back, cradled in his arms, and caught the sight of a star shining outside the window behind Bobby's head. She smiled and closed her eyes.
"Tired?" Bobby brushed the hair off her forehead.
"Not a bit. Just wishing on a star." She pointed over his shoulder to the window.
"What did you wish for?" His voice grew husky.
"I'm a firm believer in wishing on stars, and if I told you, it wouldn't come true." Samantha ran her finger along her lips, sealing them shut.
Bobby nuzzled her neck and worked his way up to her ear. "Let me change the question. What sort of things do you wish for?"
He expected her to think right now? "Mm. I don't know. World peace, a cure for cancer, and something frivolous...maybe winning the lottery."
His tongue slithered below her ear, and the warmth of his breath melted away her ability to hold her head up. "What do you wish for, Bobby?"
"This."
He turned her face toward him and captured her lips. Her body quivered.
His kiss drove her mad with desire, and she wanted those same lips to explore more of her body. He moved too slowly; she wanted him fast and now. A wild urge to abandon all self-control and submit to this ranger man tonight hit her hard.
Samantha's breath came hot and heavy. She used her lips to urge him for more, to touch her body, and take everything she wanted to give him. She craved all his attention.
"Come to the bedroom with me?" She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Which way?" He lifted his head long enough to see where Samantha pointed and picked her up in his arms.
He delivered her to the bedroom in a few strides and lowered her to the floor to stand on her own two feet. She unbuttoned the top two eyelets on her blouse, and Bobby pushed her hands away.
"Let me," he insisted, working at the next button.
Samantha's head fell back. Her hair cascaded down her back, giving him access to her upper body. The heat of his fingers seared her skin all the way down. She burned inside, and wanted nothing more than to shed her clothes and experience the inferno building up within the very base of her.
She lowered her head, and her hands gravitated toward Bobby's buckle above his wonderful package that had captivated her attention earlier at the café. With confidence, she pulled his belt out of all the loops on his jeans with one quick tug. The thunk of it hitting the wall brought a smile to her mouth. Finally, she was getting those pants of his off.
Once free of clothing, Samantha sat back on the edge of the bed. She reclined on her elbows, widened her legs, and opened herself up for his perusal. She gazed at the expression on his face. His eyes darkened as he ripped open a condom, and Samantha anxiously waited for him to join her on the bed.
Bobby groaned and ran his hand over his belly. He stalked toward her, gently laid her back, and claimed her mouth.
Her hands trailed along his ribs, over his back, and ended up cupping the tight ass that tempted her with the way it filled the rear end of his jeans. She squirmed underneath his touch. His fingers brushed her nipples. "Yes, yes, that feels so good."
The woodsy scent of him grew stronger the warmer Bobby became, urging Samantha to rub against him like a feline in heat. His scent drove her crazy, and she curled her fingers into his back and pressured him to move forward.
She wrapped her legs around his back, lifted her hips off the bed, and aimed for the ultimate target. The tip of his dick teased the soft petals of her femininity, and she gasped.
"I got you," his voice gruff, as he plunged into her wetness.
Her breathing halted, her mouth opened, and her upper body rose off the bed. The size of him pushed her to the brink. The pressure inside her spread as he filled her completely.
"Oh, God, you're so big." She fell back on the mattress.
He stopped all movement and braced on his arms. He gazed down at Samantha. "I'll wait..." He inhaled through his nose, his arms shaking, "... as long as I can."
In no time at all, her body accustomed itself around him and moved of its own accord. Needing no encouragement, Bobby took charge.
Her body responded to his touch, and they became a tangle of arms and legs. She couldn't help from touching his neck, chest, abdomen, and even lower, cupping his balls as he thrust inside of her.
A snarl escaped as he trembled inside of her. She reached for his arms and bucked against him. Hot pulses. Pounding blood. She moaned. The tidal wave she rode crested, and she screamed his name. In the back of her consciousness, she caught Bobby groaning out hers.
Steady on his elbows, Bobby laid his forehead on Samantha's. She luxuriated in the beat of his heart against her, and the pulsating pleasure of his hardness deep inside of her.
"Are you okay?" He inhaled deep and raised his head to blow a gust of air out of his lungs.
The question tickled her. Samantha sucked in her bottom lip to keep from laughing. "Oh, I'm a lot more than okay. You are more than okay. In fact, I can't believe how freaking okay we are." Samantha's grin threatened to expand further than her cheeks. "To tell you the truth, I'm wondering if there's a chance we might try this okay business again. Soon..."
Bobby gasped, coughed, and ended up laughing so hard, he rolled off her and onto his back. Giggling, she leaned over him and kissed him all over his face.
She jumped out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. As she sashayed her hips, she crooked her finger and teased him into following her. Yeah, this okay thing turned out fantastic, and she didn't want to give it up for the world.
With a smack of the wrench, the shower spray came on and sent a mist above the shower. Samantha stepped under the water and held the curtain back for Bobby.
He cocked his eyebrow at the wrench laying on the edge of the shower tub. She waved the question away. "It works, that's all that matters."
"I'll take a look at it for you later." Bobby joined Samantha in the shower.
"Much later, I hope." She leaned her head back and wet her hair. Bobby helped lather the shampoo in her curls, and after he was done, she quickly washed the suds out. She'd rather spend her time and attention on his body.
She grabbed the bar of soap and lathered her hands, and then concentrated on spreading the suds all over her body. She changed positions with Bobby and rubbed the soap on her body while watching the water roll down his chest.
"Can you hand me the soap?" Bobby's eyes closed, and he reached out his hand.
"You'll get the soap." She kept the soap to herself and waited.
Bobby opened his eyes. She laughed at the way his smile curved up on one side of his mouth and his eyes crinkled at the sight of her covered with bubbles. Bobby stepped toward her, and only using her body, Samantha rubbed against him.
Up and down.
Around and back.
Her movements against his body washed both of them completely. Samantha doubted she missed a single spot on either of their bodies.
Slick and wet, she teased him into arousal and grinned. She stroked the length of his hardness.
"Oh, yeah, now you're ready for another session of 'okay,'" she whispered.
Chapter Ten
Samantha set two cereal bowls in the sink and turned on the tap to rinse them out. Her mouth softened. She'd love nothing better than to stay upstairs in her apartment and linger in bed with Bobby, but she needed to go to work, and Bobby told her it was imperative for him to report to work today. Too bad sex didn't pay the bills.
Bobby wrapped his arms around Samantha from behind. She laid her head back against the chest she couldn't seem to keep her hands off last night and purred.
"Thank you." She tilted her
chin up and received a kiss from Bobby.
"You can bet we'll repeat last night..." He spoke low against her ear, sending tremors down Samantha's legs. "And this morning. I don't know how you walked into my life one day and the next day possessed my heart, darling."
"I'm so glad you said that. I keep telling myself that I'm crazy for how I'm feeling. We haven't known each other very long." She smiled. "But, this is more than being good together in bed, isn't it?"
He nodded. "I like how I feel when we're together. I can't get enough of you."
"This is the start of something very good, Bobby. I can feel it." She drew her brows together. Starting right now, she'd start living for the future instead of the past. "I've got to get a move on. It's almost eight thirty. If I stay any longer, we'll both miss work."
He kissed her and playfully slapped her butt. "I'll see you later."
As Bobby stepped away, his phone beeped. He dug in his pants pocket. He pulled out his cell phone and read the text. Samantha inched closer, not liking the frown on his face.
"Is something wrong?" She put her hand on his back.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket. He gathered her in his arms, again, and kissed her forehead.
"I don't know. I need to go check out a location of a possible wildfire." He headed for the stairs. "I'll call you later."
"Be careful!" Samantha's placed the palm of her hand on her chest. Wildfire? Before meeting Bobby, she'd never imagined the dangers that came with a forest ranger's job.
***
Bobby, known to his men as Brad Thornton, arrived at the edge of the clearing high above the town of Skamania. He jumped out of his truck, the dust bellowing at his feet and marched straight toward Steve Bander.
"What's going on?" He studied Steve's grim face.
"Morgan was seen along Highway 26 by the spotter. We lost him as we entered the state–owned forestry. Damn it, Brad, you should've been here."
Brad knew he should have been there. He didn't need anyone telling him he'd screwed up. Big time.
Brad kicked the dirt on the ground and whirled around. The anguish inside him ate a hole in his gut, and it pissed him off that he'd fucked up after all this time. He'd waited a long time to bring Morgan in, and what did he do? Pick a local to have sex with and compromise his undercover work. Goddammit.
"Where the hell where you, Thornton?" Steve planted his hands on his hips.
Brad left Steve's question unanswered and instead formulated a new plan on what their next move should be. Chuck Morgan used this area to hide out in, but if he'd outwitted the Feds and found a new area, or skipped the country, he'd never pay for the crimes he committed.
Who the hell did he have helping him in the area? He must have someone watching his back. Brad spat on the ground. The image of his former partner and his partner's beautiful wife burned into his mind. They didn't deserve what Morgan had done to them. He'd walk through hell to capture Chuck Morgan...he owed Kevin that.
"Let's infiltrate the area we suspect Morgan to be in tonight. We'll go with the cover of darkness and see if we can find out where this son of a bitch is holing up." Brad met Steve's gaze and gave a short flick of his head. No way would he screw up again.
Steve squeezed Brad's shoulder. Not only had he let himself and Kevin down, he'd failed Steve. Steve had been with him and Kevin the night their lives were turned upside down.
He'd take down Morgan if it was the last thing he did. He got back into his truck and drove down the mountain. This job of masquerading as a forest ranger while working undercover for the feds wasn't going to work.
***
Samantha plopped her rear end on the corner of Charlene's desk, swung her foot, and waited for Charlene to notice her. Charlene tilted her face in her direction and raised her brows.
"Men are great, aren't they?" Samantha grinned.
Charlene groaned. Samantha continued to smile. No way would she allow a married woman to dampen the wonderful feelings that came with a new relationship.
"Isn't Bobby the greatest? I think he's the nicest, sexiest man I've ever met. He makes me feel special. He's like the whole perfect-boyfriend package tied up with a bow. Like a Christmas present I've always wished for and finally received." Samantha let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
Charlene rolled her eyes and turned back to the paper she'd been working on prior to Samantha's interruption. Samantha cleared her throat and tapped her friend on the shoulder.
Charlene threw her hands up in surrender and leaned back in her chair. She laughed. "Okay, spill. You got laid. Would this be the hunky forest ranger that has you drooling and floating around the clinic like you're a thirteen-year-old with a crush?"
Samantha nodded. "I've never met anyone like him. He's exciting and mysterious. Every time we're together, I find out more about him that makes him seem like he's the perfect guy for me. I could easily fall in love with him." Samantha closed her eyes, reminiscing about the memorable night before. She jumped up, opened her eyes, and reached out to tug on Charlene's shirt. "Did you know he calls me Sammy?"
"Girlfriend, you'd better call that man. I think you're suffering from withdrawal." Charlene groaned. "I swear, if I ever find out I acted this way when I first met Darryl...please shoot me."
Samantha grabbed her purse out of the bottom desk drawer.
"I can't call. Bobby was called out this morning to a wildfire. I wouldn't want to bother him if he's busy. I'll just wait until he calls me. Maybe I'll go upstairs and make some cookies while I wait."
"A wildfire? Darryl didn't tell me about any wildfire." Charlene dug her cell phone out of her purse and punched the buttons.
Samantha pursed her lips. She hadn't meant to worry Charlene. Darryl worked with Bobby in the same forest district, and if a major forest fire broke out, they'd both have a duty to help the volunteer fire department contain it. Charlene disconnected the call, but didn't say anything to Samantha. Worried about the way Charlene's mouth tightened, she put a hand on her arm to comfort her.
"Is everything okay? Darryl's okay?"
"Yeah, um, yes. Darryl's fine. He said that it was a false alarm and he would tell me more over dinner." Charlene gathered her things off the desk and stood.
"That's great. Whew...what a relief." Samantha stepped back. "Well, you better get home, so you can see your man and that baby of yours. I'll see you in the morning."
"Night, Samantha." Charlene walked away and waved over her shoulder.
Samantha hefted her bag over her arm and headed upstairs. She found herself hurrying in the hopes that Bobby might call or come over. Time had dragged on today, and she wanted nothing more than to see Bobby and repeat what they'd done the night before.
"Good evening, Dr. James."
Her stride faltered midway up the steps. She whipped her head around. The sheriff of Skamania stood in the waiting room, his lecherous smirk aimed at her. She must've forgotten to lock the door after Charlene left. Damn it.
Samantha walked down the stairs and closed the door separating the clinic from her apartment. No way did she want the sheriff anywhere near her private living area.
"I just wanted to take the time to welcome you to our town again, without your bodyguard present. I believe you will find Skamania one of a kind." Sheriff Dickerson played with the toothpick hanging from his lips.
"Thank you, Sheriff. I really need to lock up. The clinic is closed, so if you'll excuse me?" Samantha kept her hand on the doorknob of the apartment door.
Dickerson glanced behind him out the door. "It looks like it's going to be a beautiful night tonight."
Samantha's legs shook. Bile rose, and she cleared her throat in an attempt to breathe. She hurried past the sheriff and pushed against the door. In her frustration, she forgot the door opened to the inside and instead of opening the door, all she accomplished was appearing stupid to the man.
"I apologize, honey, if I've flustered you." He placed his hand on her arm.
She flinched and pu
lled the door open. The sheriff's words upset her stomach, and she clamped her teeth together.
"A beautiful lady such as yourself should have a man to lock the doors up for you at night." He stepped closer, and his other hand came up to trail down her hair.
"Excuse me?" Samantha's heart beat faster, the pounding in her ears became louder, and she stared at him in disbelief. He didn't have any right to demean her. She was a veterinarian, and he finished what...a six-week course at the local academy?
"Bobby must be busy tonight. Maybe catching poachers or battling a campfire some campers forgot to stomp out." His tongue came out to flick the toothpick.
The sliver of a stick in the sheriff's mouth twirled. Samantha's gaze locked on the man's tongue, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"I don't think that would be any business of yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like you to leave." Samantha refused to give in to his taunts. She straightened her spine and pointed her hand out the door. If he didn't leave pronto, she'd shove that stupid stick he always played with down his throat.
Pushed to her limits, she shuddered at the way Sheriff Dickerson rubbed against her on his way through the door. She clenched her fist.
The moment he stepped out onto the sidewalk, she slammed the door and bolted it. She ran up the stairs and straight to the bathroom. Her stomach seized, and she lowered her head over the toilet.
After losing all the contents of her stomach, Samantha rinsed her face off in the bathroom sink and gazed at herself in the mirror. Desperation and fear stared back at her.
Everything Parker had to live through in prison was worse than she had to go through on the outside. Skamania was a safe place to bring Parker home to, and she hoped the citizens would welcome him the way they had her. The sheriff bothered her, but she tried hard not to worry that he may cause trouble for her brother. Back home, all the police officers had turned on Parker, and no longer stood by their vow to serve and protect. Every one of them served only themselves and demoralized each of their victims without a second thought.
