Duty or Desire

by Brenda Jackson

  He got out of his truck and approached her car to open the back passenger door and take a sleeping Ciara from the car seat. Holding tight to his niece he wordlessly followed Myra up the walkway to the front door. After unlocking the door, she stepped aside when he carried Ciara to her room. Myra followed and after placing his niece on the dressing table, he stepped back.

  “I’ll be in the kitchen,” he whispered, then left them alone. They might have eaten earlier, but he hadn’t and he was hungry. Luckily for him, Pam had prepared him a to-go plate of ribs, corn on the cob, baked beans and coleslaw. He just needed to go back out to the truck to get it.

  He had just finished the meal when the sound of Myra’s voice came over the intercom. “Ciara is ready for bed now.”

  When he arrived in his niece’s room it was to find her standing in the crib, barely able to keep her eyes open. She was getting older and it would soon be time to put her in a kiddy bed. He wasn’t ready for the change and a part of him wished she could stay a baby forever. A baby who would always wait for her uncle to tuck her in and sing her a lullaby.

  Closing the door behind him he noticed Myra had left. Was she somewhere having second thoughts about them sharing a bed tonight? Pete hoped not. He’d barely handled the buildup and couldn’t imagine dealing with a letdown.

  Taking Ciara into his arms, he moved to the rocker, and for the next few minutes he sang her to sleep, enjoying this time, their time, together. He had placed her in her bed when he noticed the note that had been slid under the door. A part of him was almost too nervous about what it might say to pick it up, but he picked it up anyway. Was it a note from Myra calling off their plans for tonight?

  Drawing in a deep breath, he opened the sheet of paper and read the words.

  Mr. Lawman, please meet me in the man cave. Myra.

  * * *

  Myra glanced around the room. She’d had to work fast to arrange things in here just right. While going through the pantry the other day she had found a box of candles, probably meant to be used in case of a power outage. However, tonight she intended to put them to a different use.

  She’d grabbed a blanket off her bed to place in front of the fireplace, where a bottle of wine sat, along with two wineglasses. She’d even grabbed several pillows off the sofa upstairs.

  The lights were dimmed and soft country music played—the theme of Pam’s Wild West festival. Myra’s goal was for them to continue in that vein and have their own Wild West night. She’d never done anything like this before; never deliberately set out to seduce a man. She should be the last person on earth to entertain thoughts of seducing a man—an older one at that—after what she’d gone through with Rick. But at least she had enough sense to know Pete wasn’t anything like Rick. Both were older, good-looking men, but when it came to class, Rick had somehow missed the boat. Whatever foolishness some women had told him over the years had gone to his head and stayed there.

  With Rick it had been about conquering. But Myra believed with Pete it would be about pleasuring. The two men were as different as night and day. She was experiencing emotions and desires with Pete that she honestly hadn’t thought she was capable of feeling. That was one of the reasons she’d initially gravitated to older men—because none of the guys her age ever made her desire or crave anything.

  Last night Pete had not only been gentle, but he’d offered her a proposition and hadn’t tried forcing it on her. He’d left the decision up to her and tonight she would let him know she intended to take him up on it. Literally. With her lack of experience, that might be an impossible feat, but she was energized and ready to try.

  Pete Higgins had tempted her enough. He aroused her even when he didn’t realize he was doing so, just by being him.

  She glanced down at herself. She had changed out of her long skirt and blouse and put on another cowgirl outfit. This was one she’d seen while shopping in Breckenridge. Although at the time she hadn’t a clue where she would wear it, it had been way too cute to pass up.

  It was a black rhinestone-adorned minidress with an attached petticoat. What she’d liked most was the metal-and-rhinestone horseshoe belt buckle that came with it. The outfit was so short on her that it barely hit midthigh, and the way the lapels were turned back showed a generous amount of cleavage.

  It was simply scandalous. Myra smiled thinking how much she loved it. She couldn’t wait to see Pete’s expression when he saw her in it. Feeling a little nervous, she pushed her hair back from her neck and began pacing to the rhythm of the country music. A few beats later she stopped when she heard the door closing on the main floor. She glanced toward the staircase.

  Swallowing, she watched as Pete descended the stairs with his eyes glued to her. He had the note she’d written in his hand. He was here and all those things she’d thought she would be brave enough to do and say to him suddenly left her. Drawing in a deep breath, she tried willing them back.

  He moved away from the stairs toward her while sliding the note into the back pocket of his jeans. She could tell by the way he was smiling while his gaze roamed over her outfit that he liked what she was wearing. The heated look in his eyes was enough to make her back up a few steps.

  “Going somewhere?” he asked, coming to a stop in front of her.

  Pete looked like the sexiest man alive and now it was her turn to roam her gaze over him. She’d seen him when he first entered Pam’s acting school, but now she was really getting her fill. The only thing missing was the Stetson he’d been wearing. He’d removed it when he’d entered the house, but she was still wearing her cowgirl hat.

  She nervously licked her lips. “No, I’m not going anywhere. You came.”

  His chuckle was throaty and she was convinced the sound made the tips of her nipples harden. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t?”

  At the moment, she couldn’t think at all. She wanted to run her hands all over him, trace her tongue across his lips and—

  “You want to dance, Myra?”

  His question caught her off guard, but she quickly recovered, or at least tried to. She had invited him to this party, so she needed to take ownership of it. But still, she appreciated that he was being patient with her.

  “Yes, I want to dance.”

  He opened his arms and she went into them. She wasn’t sure what song was playing. At the moment the only thing that mattered was she was here and so was he. Their bodies were pressed close together and his arms were wrapped around her as they swayed to the slow beat. She felt him. All of him. Especially his erection poking her middle. That was a sign that he wanted her and she knew without a doubt that she wanted him, as well.

  She looked up at him and the arousal in his gaze nearly made her weak in the knees. He then smiled that same smile that always whacked her senses. Swallowing, she said, “I hope you don’t mind me taking over your man cave.”

  “No, it looks good. You look good. I love your outfit. It’s definitely an eye-catcher. I’m glad you didn’t wear it to the Wild West show tonight. Otherwise, I would have had to hurt somebody.”

  His words heightened the beat of her pulse. “You mean you would have arrested them, right?”

  “No, I would have hurt them first and arrested them later.”

  That made her smile because it hinted at a possessive nature she wasn’t used to him demonstrating. And when he tightened his arms around her, she felt a throbbing sensation near his middle. Suddenly, he stopped dancing and stared at her. The silence in the room wasn’t helping. The air between them seemed to thicken with sexual energy.

  And then he leaned in and kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her even more tightly as his mouth took hers with a hunger that she felt in every part of her body. They’d kissed before, a few times, so why did it feel like every time their mouths joined there was some kind of awakening in her body? His kisses could arouse her, make her desire things that simply astou
nded her. She was feeling the full impact of Pete’s kiss and she couldn’t help but moan her pleasure over and over again.

  * * *

  Pete finally released Myra’s mouth on a low, throaty groan. Then, sweeping her off her feet, he carried her over to the blanket in front of the fireplace. Never had he known such a responsive woman and he loved hearing every moan she made.

  And he loved touching her, probably way too much. He couldn’t recall ever wanting a woman with this much intensity...and that included Ellen.

  With Ellen he’d had the desires of a young buck feeling his way around. Now he was a man with a different type of sexual hunger. He wanted to do more than just seduce Myra, more than merely satisfy primitive urges. He wanted to embark on emotions he’d long ago laid to rest. Miraculously, Myra was enticing him to reconnect. He’d tried ignoring her and had failed. She was not a woman a man could ignore, at least not for long or in some cases, not at all.

  Getting on his knees, he joined her on the blanket and then stretched out beside her. He didn’t want to rush her, was determined to make tonight as pleasurable for her as he knew it would be for him. After tonight she wouldn’t remember any other before him. Why that was important to him he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that it was.

  He kissed her again and when he finally released her mouth, he whispered, “If I ever do anything that makes you uncomfortable, I want you to let me know. Okay?”

  She stared at him through glazed hazel eyes and slowly nodded. For him it was important that she not only know that but believe it. The cop in him knew there had been more to her actions last night than she’d shared with him. He hoped in time she would share it all. For now, he’d resolved that whatever bad experiences she might have had, he would replace them with good ones.

  “I’m wearing too many clothes,” she whispered.

  He smiled. Was that her way of letting him know she wanted to get naked? If so, he had no problem obliging her. “Then let me remove them.”

  Sitting up, he gently pulled her to face him. The flickering blaze from the fireplace was dancing all over her, making him burn even hotter for her. She was so beautiful and he loved looking at her. And this outfit he was about to take off her had been hot. When he’d come down the stairs and seen her, his erection had nearly doubled in size. She didn’t look like your ordinary cowgirl—she looked like a cowgirl out of every man’s fantasy.

  “Let’s start here,” he said, removing her hat and placing it aside. He loved the way her hair looked all tumbled around her shoulders. Then he reached down for her feet so he could remove her boots and socks. She had pretty feet and her toes were painted a bright red. It occurred to him that he’d never paid much attention to a woman’s feet before, just their legs. And tonight, with this outfit, she was showing a lot of hers and they were gorgeous.

  “Did I tell you how much I like your outfit?”

  Her chuckle was soft and sexy. “Yes, you told me.”

  “As much as I like it, now it’s time to take it off.”

  She used the tip of her finger to trace along the collar of his shirt. “Do I get to take your outfit off of you?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  His words seemed to please her and he knew what would please him was kissing her while undressing her. So he proceeded to do just that. By the time he had her down to her bra and panties, her lips were swollen. What it was about her mouth that made him want to devour it, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he did.

  “Sexy,” he said, running his fingers along the black lace of her matching bra and panties. He was careful not to touch her inner thigh, remembering what happened last night. But then he remembered what she’d told him this morning.

  That she liked him touching her there.

  “Now for this,” he said, releasing the clasp of her bra and easing the straps from her shoulders. His breath caught when the twin mounds were freed from confinement. Her breasts were perfect. His erection doubled in size. Leaning toward her, he lowered his head and eased a nipple between his lips.

  * * *

  Myra was convinced Pete was trying to drive her mad. What man sucked a woman’s breasts this way? With enough suction that she could feel the tips hardening in his mouth. With enough pressure that it triggered sensations between her legs. She closed her eyes and cupped the back of his head, to hold him there. She cried out in protest when he pulled his mouth away, but he moved to the other nipple. She sighed out her pleasure over and over again.

  When he finally released her breasts, he stared at her as his fingers eased toward her inner thighs. Tentative at first, as if to gauge her reaction. She knew why. To ease his mind, she whispered, “Like I told you, I love the feel of you touching me anywhere.”

  He smiled. “In that case, now for these,” he said, inching his fingers beneath the black lace of her panties. In a movement that was swifter than anything she’d ever witnessed before, he lifted her hips just enough to eased the panties down her legs.

  This was the very first time any man had seen her naked and she wasn’t sure how she was supposed to handle such a thing. The blatant heat, the fire and desire she saw in his eyes made any awkwardness she might have felt nonexistent. Instead, she felt empowered.

  “Now for your clothes,” she whispered, reaching for his shirt.

  She held his gaze while working free the buttons, not thinking about how many there were but about what she would find when she had them all undone. Then he licked his lips. She didn’t have a clue as to why.

  Myra only licked her lips when she was nervous about something and she couldn’t see him being nervous about anything. It must have had another meaning altogether. He did it again and the motion did something to her, made her nipples harden even more.

  Evidently he saw the look on her face. “You know what that means, right?”

  She wasn’t ready to let him know about her lack of experience. He would discover that soon enough. So for now, she lied and said, “Yes.”

  “Just making sure.”

  She had reached the last button and removed his shirt from a pair of masculine shoulders. She gazed at his stomach and flat chest and, giving in to temptation, she stroked her hand up and down his chest.

  “Sweetheart, if you knew what your touch does to me, you wouldn’t do that.”

  His words nearly undid her already capsized senses. “I’ll be able to handle whatever that might be, Pete.”

  Instead of saying anything, he gave her a long, drugging kiss that had her whimpering. When he released her mouth, he eased her to her feet. “Now for my jeans. Do you want me to take over from here?”

  She met his gaze and smiled. “I want to finish, but you can certainly help.”

  He nodded and ran his fingers across her nipples. “Just let me know when you need me to jump in.”

  She nodded. There was a first time for everything and it was her first time undressing a man.

  Removing the huge belt buckle was easy. Undoing his zipper against a massive erection was another matter.

  “Jump in,” she finally said.

  “No problem.”

  Not only did he unzip his pants for her, but he inched them past his waist so all she had to do was tug them down his legs so he could step out of them. That left him completely naked except for a sexy pair of black briefs. Hmm, Mr. Lawman had a downright sexy streak.

  “One piece of clothing to go,” she heard him say.

  And she could just imagine what would happen when that last piece was gone. She reached out and gently tugged the briefs down a pair of masculine thighs to uncover what he was packing.

  Lordy.

  She looked at him and swallowed deeply. Before she could say anything, he said throatily, “I’ll take over from here. Time for you to enjoy.”

  * * *

  Pete couldn’t help it when
his gaze shifted down to Myra’s womanly core. She was beautiful and he wanted to kiss her there. He needed to kiss her there. Brand her. Claim her. Possess her. His erection throbbed at the thought of doing all three.

  He fought back a groan at the thought of kissing her all over, especially there. Without saying anything, he gently eased her back down on the blanket and kissed her mouth with a hunger he felt all through his body.

  He moved from her mouth and kissed around her face and neck, eagerly making his way down south, kissing every area he traveled.

  “Pete...”

  He knew why she had moaned his name. It was as if his tongue had a mind all its own and was licking her everywhere, loving the taste and texture of her. When he’d reached the area between her legs, she grabbed his shoulders as if to stop him from going further. He remembered what he’d told her from the beginning. If he ever did anything that made her uncomfortable, to let him know.

  Pete lifted his mouth from her stomach to stare up at her. “Has a man ever gone down on you before, Myra?”

  She nervously licked her lips. “No.”

  He nodded and then, wanting to assure her that her lack of experience in that particular area was fine with him, he said, “Then I am happy to introduce you to the wonder of it all. Is that okay?”

  “Yes.”

  He then lowered his mouth back to her stomach to pick up where he’d left off. He licked her, loving the taste of her skin. He kissed below her navel and continued moving lower.

  He felt her tense and looked back up at her to make sure she was okay. “We’re good?”

  She nodded, a tentative smile on her lips. “No, you’re good. I don’t think you know how you’re making me feel, Pete.”

  He wanted to tell her that she hadn’t felt anything yet, but decided he could show her better than tell her. He lowered his head and gently nudged her thighs apart. Her feminine scent was intoxicating. She moaned his name the moment he slid his tongue inside her.