Gentling the Cowboy (Texan Nights Series #1)(29)
Author: Ruth Cardello

Normally, the shocked expression on his brother’s face would have made Tony defensive, but he was already laughing, and somehow the stern expression only made the situation more amusing. He felt giddy. “I promised myself I would be more discrete with you, so no one would know.”

Sarah let out another peal of laughter. “Good plan, poor execution.”

Dean said, “Should I ask if you two are fit to drive?”

Sarah looked up at Dean and said, “This is not chemically induced.”

With one final measured look, Dean banged on the side of her SUV door and said, “I’m sure I don’t want to know then. Just get to where you’re going before you cause an accident.”

For the first time in a long time, Tony was grateful that his brother was the local law. He leaned across Sarah and said, “Thanks, Dean.”

Dean’s jaw fell open and he shook his head in amused disbelief. “You’re welcome. I guess. Get out of here.”

Sarah started the car and as they pulled back onto the road she pointed to a sign. She said, “He’s right. We didn’t even make it out of the county.”

“You know what that means?” he asked as a wonderful thought came to him.

“No,” she answered, glancing over at him, her laughter finally subsiding.

“We still have a long drive ahead of us.”

The heated look she gave him knocked all thought clear out of his head. “Good,” she said softly, and he marveled at how one simple word could make him want to throw away years of carefully staying out of the public eye and take her again on the side of the road.

Sarah Dery is one dangerous woman.

Chapter Eleven

Tony parked her SUV in the driveway of a small, secluded cabin. Neither of them moved at first. Tony unbuckled his seat belt but didn’t open the driver’s door. He leaned back and looked over at her, apparently as relaxed as she was.

Sarah undid her own belt and smiled at him, not straightening from her reclined pose. The afternoon sun was hidden deep in the tree line. “I thought you said it was a two-hour drive.”

Humor lit his eyes. “It always has been. We might’ve never gotten here if I hadn’t taken the wheel. You’re far too much of a distraction.”

Me? “I have never taken off and put on jeans so many times in my life.”

A smile spread across his face. “I believe that’s why man invented the dress.”

“Really? You’re claiming that one for Team Men?”

“Wear one for me sometime and I’ll demonstrate the genius of it.”

Sarah shook her head with amusement. “You’re incorrigible.”

He leaned across and kissed her lightly on the lips. “And you’re addictive. Let’s go inside.”

The kiss he gave her was so tender, so sweet, that she had to remind herself of his earlier warning. This wasn’t the beginning of something. This wasn’t even the end of something. This was just two people stepping outside of their normal lives to appease a mutual hunger.

Believing for a second that it was anything more than that would only lead to heartache. He’d stated what he could offer her and she’d accepted. Only a fool would start hoping for more.

He broke off the kiss and exited the car. Before she had time to even fumble for the door he had opened it and was lifting her into his arms. He carried her up the steps, paused briefly to unlock the door, then carried her over the threshold—like a bride.

She kicked herself mentally for the image.

For once can’t I just enjoy something without overthinking it?

He closed the door behind him with a kick and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom where he laid her down on the soft coverings of a full-size bed. Wordlessly he began to remove her clothing.

He paused to admire each section he exposed and then kissed it—more an act of possession than foreplay. When she was completely nude before him, he ran a finger down her jaw, across her collarbone, and then over the aroused nipple of one of her br**sts, circling it lightly. “You are so beautiful.”

Sarah held her breath. When he looked at her she felt alive, vibrant, and unable to deny him anything.

He continued his soft caresses across her stomach, moving down to tease her legs open by outlining one of her inner thighs. “Too beautiful for clothes.” He rolled up her clothing and threw them in the corner of the room. “While you’re here, I want you like this.” He bent and kissed the area just below her bared navel. “Just like this.”

Tony stood and shed his own clothing before lifting her in his arms again, sliding her beneath the covers, and joining her. He pulled her into his deliciously naked embrace and rolled her beneath him, his arousal boldly nudging against the inside of one of her thighs.

“And what about what I want?” she asked huskily.

Instead of answering, he sheathed himself in a condom.

I should tell him to go to hell.

I should demand he drive me back this very instant.

Tony took both of her hands in one of his and raised them above her head, holding them there effortlessly and then claiming her neck with his hot mouth. With one firm move, he slid a knee between hers and eased her legs wider. He poised himself above her, the head of his pulsing erection teasing the outer folds of her lips. Slowly he moved himself back and forth against her. Everywhere their bodies brushed ignited with consuming heat.

She opened her legs wider, exposing more of herself to his intimate strokes. The length of his dick rubbed up and down her clit until she was wild and wet with desire. He raised his head and stared down into her eyes, still holding her hands above her head, while his free hand explored every part of her he could reach.

Then he concentrated on her br**sts. He lapped at one while he lightly pinched the nipple of the other. Sarah moaned and squirmed, which excited him more. He moved his hand to lift her ass for his deep thrust. Sarah bit her lip to hold in a cry of pleasure. He took her deeply, each thrust boldly claiming her while sending intense hot sensations through her. She wanted to hold him, kiss him. She struggled to free her hands, but he held them easily.

She gave in to the pleasure of being taken, completely taken. She closed her eyes, threw her head back into the pillows, and came with a shudder.

And still he moved within her. His attentive mouth turned less gentle as he suckled her breast. The hand beneath her ass gripped her and squeezed. Pleasure and pain mixed and brought a renewed passion to their joining. He grabbed her chin and held it firmly. “I told you, all or nothing. You’re mine now.”