Part 6 (1/2)

As soon as he parked his truck and killed the engine and the lights, Dee laced her hands in his hair and pulled him toward her. She kissed him with such hunger that he felt it straight to the soles of his boots.

l.u.s.t consumed him as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. G.o.d, but she tasted good. Her own unique taste, combined with the citrus of the margarita.

Dee tore her lips from his and rose up on her knees, putting her b.r.e.a.s.t.s at the same level as his mouth. aTouch me,a she whispered.

Jakeas mouth found her nipple and she moaned as he licked and sucked at it through the thin fabric of her dress. He shoved her skirt up to her waist and groaned when he discovered she was wearing garters and a tiny wisp of panties.

aI need to feel you,a he murmured as he caressed her hips through the silk underwear. aIave got to taste you.a aPlease, baby,a Dee moaned as he moved his mouth to her other breast, nipping at it, soaking the thin material. He slid his hand between her damp thighs and she gasped as his fingers stroked her p.u.s.s.y.

While he caressed her, Dee clenched her hands in his hair and rocked her hips. aI want you inside me this time.a aCome for me, sweetheart.a Jake sucked her nipple harder and increased the pace of his strokes. aCome for me.a aJake!a she cried out as her o.r.g.a.s.m hit hard and fast.

He continued rubbing her c.l.i.t, drawing out her climax until she begged him to stop. He slipped his hand out of her panties and she slid into his lap, trailing kisses across his face until she found his lips. Her a.s.s rubbed against his erection as her tongue slid into his mouth.

aDee,a he groaned. He had a wild woman in his arms, and he wanted to drive his c.o.c.k into her now.

af.u.c.k me,a she demanded.

aG.o.d, yes.a He yanked up her dress.

She s.h.i.+fted to straddle hima”and the truck horn blared so loud Jake liked to have come unglued.

The porch light came on, flooding the truck with light. Dee startled and turned her head to look at the house. Blinking away the brightness, she said, aWho the h.e.l.l is that?a He slid her off his lap, adjusted her strap, and made sure her dress was in place. aLooks like a woman.a Before Dee had the chance to say anything else, he climbed out of the truck. Blue rushed up, barking and yelping his greeting. Jake glanced at the house to see the womanas silhouette in the open door.

aDee, is that you?a the woman called.

aYeah.a Dee raised her voice as she climbed out of the truck cab. aIall be right in, Catie.a aAbout d.a.m.n time,a Catie said with a laugh. aI was about to send a posse out to search for you. Iall wait inside,a she added and closed the door.

Dee groaned as she looked back up at Jake. aI forgot she was coming over tonight to watch movies.a Jake shut the truck door. aThis late?a aSheas always late. I told her to come at nine, and itas probably ten now.a Dee shrugged as he slid his arm around her shoulders and coaxed her toward the house. She was unsteady on her feet, probably from the margaritas, and he worried shead hurt her ankle again. He stopped and scooped her into his arms and headed up the stairs.

aHey!a She clung to his neck. aNo more he-man stuff.a Jake groaned at the feel of her soft body in his arms, one hand on a silk-clad thigh. aBelieve me. This really hurts me more than it hurts you.a When he deposited her in front of the door, she braced her hands on his arms to steady herself, and frowned. aIam sorry to end the night like this.a aI wish I could see you tomorrow.a He hooked his finger under her chin. aBut itas my momas birthday and Nick and I promised to spend the whole day with her. Then Sunday Iave got to take care of a few things on a case Iam working. Iall call you during the week, okay?a Dee nodded. aSure.a He smiled and gave her a soft kiss, then pulled away. aThe next time we go out, wear that little white outfit you had on at the rodeo dance. Iam dying to see you in it again.a aOkay,a she whispered.

Two weeks.

It had been almost two weeks and Jake hadnat called.

And the d.a.m.n rustlers had made off with another forty head or so from neighboring ranchers, and the d.a.m.n local law enforcement was ignoring her calls.

And it was just like that SOB Jake to promise to help and then bail when things got rough.

Dee frowned at the ivory halter dress hanging in her closet, tempted to ball it up and bury it in the corner again.

The day after Jake had brought her home from their date, shead hand washed that darn dress and pressed it. l.u.s.t had filled her at the thought of being with Jake again, and shead needed her vibrator on more than one occasion.

For one brief moment, shead considered calling him to find out why he hadnat tried to reach her, but pride kicked in. She wasnat about to go begging the man to come climb into her bed and f.u.c.k her.

Jeez. What was the matter with her, anyway? She didnat want a relations.h.i.+p and shead made that clear to him. Maybe he was staying away for that reason.

Maybe head found someone else. Not that it made any difference to her.

Then why did the thought of him being with another woman make her feel so angry?

Dee sighed and closed her closet door. She turned and almost tripped over Blue. The Border collie yelped and scampered out of the way, his soulful eyes gazing at her as though he was in trouble.

aSorry, love,a she murmured. aDidnat mean to step on you.a No, Jake was the one shead like to be stomping on right that minute.

She started to head to the kitchen but stopped at her bureau. As though her will was not her own, she slid open the top drawer, and then the hidden compartment. Inside lay the treasures that meant more to her than anything else: her motheras locket; a black pearl Trace had won at the county fair when she was twelve and had given to Dee; a chunk of turquoise her father had found in Bisbee.

And the necklace Jake had given her after theyad been dating for three months. She had pushed the box way to the back of the drawer all those years ago and had forgotten it. Sort of.

Until now.

Dee wasnat sure why her hands trembled as she withdrew the box. It was rich ivory with the jeweleras name embossed in gold across the lid.

She lifted the cover and caught her breath. Shead forgotten how beautiful it was. The gold chain s.h.i.+mmered in the light, and the pendant almost seemed to glow against ivory velvet. It was a large chunk of peridot in the shape of a heart, bordered in gold.

Jake had given it to her that Christmas. Peridot may not have been considered a precious gem, but the necklace was one of the most precious things shead ever been given. The gift had come from his heart. Head said head had it made special for her, because it matched her eyes. And since it was her birthstone it would be good luck.

A lot of luck it had been.

She shoved the jeweleras box to the back of the compartment, shut the drawer, and headed out the door. Might as well get some grocery shopping done.

Dee wheeled her almost full grocery cart through the store and stopped to grab a couple of boxes of cold cereal. Her head ached and she wasnat in the mood for shopping, but the fridge and pantry were looking pretty bare.

As she tossed a package of gourmet coffee into her cart, Dee couldnat help again wondering what Jake was doing and why he hadnat called. And why he hadnat taken her up on her obvious desire for him. Shead all but begged the man to f.u.c.k her. Twice.

Her cheeks burned as she added a bear-shaped container of honey to her basket and a squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup. Well, it was his loss.

She glanced at her shopping list as she rounded a corner into the sundries department. Just a few more things and she could go home for a quiet afternoon.

Toothpaste and shampooa”

With a crash, her cart collided with another shopperas basket.

Dee stumbled back. Words of apology died on her lips as she looked up to see that shead just crashed into Jake Reynolds.

He turned from the display in front of him and gave her that slow, s.e.xy grin that made her knees weak. aGot something against whatever Iam driving, sweetheart?a Warmth flushed through her and she raised her chin. She wasnat about to let him see how much head hurt her feelings by not calling like head promised.

Her gaze dropped to his practically empty cart and she spied Preparation H amongst the bread, bologna and peanut b.u.t.ter. aHemorrhoids giving you trouble?a She c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at him.

He grimaced. aA particularly large one.a The display he was standing next to caught her eye.

Condoms. He was probably stocking up for his current conquest. She gestured to the packages of prophylactics. aPlanning on getting lucky?a At least he had the decency to look embarra.s.sed. But in the next instant his expression turned sensual as he murmured, aYou tell me.a aYeah. Right.a Dee clenched the handle of her shopping basket and forced a bright smile. aWell, gotta run.a She started to move the cart around his. aSee you around.a aHey.a Jake caught her by the arm before she could pa.s.s him.

She cut him a glare. aLet go.a Instead of dropping his hand, he rubbed his thumb on the inside of her elbow, his touch teasing the sensitive skin. aWhatas wrong?a A genuinely puzzled expression crossed his face.