COWBOY FOR SALE--A Second-Chances Spicy Romance Page 13

  “What was wrong about him?”

  “Everything. In a nutshell, I was a naive, overly-trusting female and, behind my back, he was a philandering jerk.”

  “Details?” His voice was soft, as though he would accept whatever she might say.

  “Okay.” She took in a deep breath and continued. “He was eight years older than me, so it seemed like we didn’t have as much in common sometimes. He had an adorable little boy named Devyn, though, and he and I got very close, you know? I found myself wanting to spend time with Devyn even more than Dirk. Now I wonder if that was a problem. Anyway, long story short, Dirk fooled around with his secretary, she got pregnant, and he left town with her, taking Devyn out of my life forever. All of it was devastating, and it’s taken me a long, long time to even begin to get past it.”

  ***

  Son of a bitch. Gloria was right about Lacey’s broken heart when she’d told him that at the Rockin’ Ranch. He could hear the pain in her voice, and could tell the wound was deep. It was a lot to get over.

  “Anyone since?” he asked.

  “Celibacy is in, haven't you heard?” She paused before adding, “Neither one of us sounds too successful in the love department.” Her voice turned quiet, serene.

  Jared felt her hand, whisper soft on his knee. He looked down at it, tiny and pale on his jeans. Then he turned and looked into her eyes. They danced with green fire. And he wondered if she had any idea how pretty she was.

  Keeping her gaze, Jared placed his hand on top of hers and gently squeezed it. “Thanks for being so honest with me.”

  She was so beautiful. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering with mahogany-colored lights reflected from the fire.

  He leaned toward her. “I want to kiss you.” He waited for a response.

  Then he watched as Lacey leaned closer toward him, her gaze never wavering.

  Jared brought his hand up to cup her chin. Her skin felt like silk. As he held her gaze he stroked her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. Her eyes closed at his touch.

  Time slowed as his pulse quickened. His fingers ached to touch her. Soon his other hand was lost in her hair as he drew her closer to him.

  Softly, he kissed the corner of her mouth, gently bringing the tip of his tongue to her skin for a taste, breathing in her fruity, musky scent. Her nearness was overwhelming.

  Then he heard a soft moan and wondered if the sound came from his own throat or hers. He couldn’t tell. His hand dropped to her throat and he felt her pulse beating, accelerating at his caress.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  Chapter Twelve

  Their lips melted together in a lingering, delicious moment. A long, gentle kiss. Unhurried. Lacey groaned softly when Jared pulled his mouth from hers; and again when the tip of his tongue traced her lips.

  She needed more.

  Reaching for him, her fingers cupped the nape of his neck tugging him toward her. Their lips met again and she felt his arms wrap around her; so strong, so right. Her fingers buried themselves in his hair.

  This time the kiss was deeper. Their tongues shared an intimate dance until she moaned and pulled away for air. His kiss was intoxicating.

  She stared into his stormy gray eyes—eyes she wanted to get lost in. Her emotions whirled and skidded dangerously out of control.

  “You okay?” he whispered.

  She nodded. They were both adults. Consenting adults.

  “Do you want me to stop?” A huskiness lingered in his tone.

  Did she? In a split second she rationalized that whatever was going to happen between them was theirs alone. No one gets hurt. No one else's business.

  “Lacey?”

  There was an invitation in the smoldering depths of his eyes and in his low voice. She took a frank, admiring look at him, studying his face leisurely, feature by feature. His skin was weathered from the sun and wind, a slight pinkness on his strong nose. Laugh lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed his humor and softened his expression whether he was smiling or not.

  Lacey moved both hands to touch his face, her fingertips tracing his eyebrows, then dropping to caress a path down his cheeks.

  When her fingertips touched his lips, his eyes closed. She could feel his breath against her face, whisper soft. She drank in his sweet fragrance; the scent of his desire added to the mix of champagne and the familiar hint of lemons.

  A low, tormented sound escaped from Jared's throat as she felt his hands at the small of her back. In one smooth movement he drew her against him, their lips fusing in a devouring kiss.

  She felt both his hands slide under her shirt, stroking her skin, massaging her back. His touch sent currents of desire through her as he deepened the kiss. She felt transported, her thoughts spinning, a quiver of titillation raging through her. It had never been like this for her. This was raw. This was real. She felt helpless to resist. And she didn’t want to. She wanted this, she wanted him, even if it was just for one night.

  As their bodies sank down to the sheepskin rug, Jared pulled her so that she lay on top of him. With a moan, she pulled her lips away and stared into his stormy eyes. She searched for clues there. What was he thinking? She felt his hands move under her shirt, finding the curve of her breasts with his thumbs.

  “No bra,” he declared, surprise in his voice.

  She lifted her chest from his to encourage his sensual exploration. Dizzy with longing, she repositioned her hands on the floor, one on each side of his shoulders. As her fingers sank into the softness of the sheepskin rug, she lifted her torso, allowing him less of a barrier.

  As his hands cupped her breasts, he tenderly squeezed and rubbed her nipples between his finger and thumb. Lacey gasped as a tingle surged from her nipple to the moistness between her thighs. She watched the bright flare of desire spring into Jared's eyes, removing any doubt…he wanted her.

  “So soft,” he whispered as he rubbed and lightly pinched. “I want to see you,” he said as he freed her breasts to tug at her sweatshirt. She helped him pull the shirt over her head, her hair spilling against his chest.

  Lacey tossed the shirt out of the way and sat up, straddling Jared's hips. She watched his eyes darken with arousal as he stared at her breasts. She was surprised how easily she had bared herself to him.

  With trembling fingers she reached for the buttons of his shirt. She wanted like mad to feel her skin against his. He tugged his shirt out of his jeans, and started unbuttoning from the bottom, meeting her in the middle. Then he lifted his shoulders off the rug to make it easier for her to remove the shirt.

  Lacey remained upright, running her hands over his chest, caressing every curve, every line. His eyes moved to a sexy half-mast.

  “You make me crazy,” he said.

  “I want to.”

  With a deep moan, his hands reached for the top of her jeans, deftly unbuttoning them and drawing the zipper down as far as he could. She felt his fingers slip under the top of her panties.

  “Oh—” Her skin prickled with the heat of his touch.

  “You want me to stop?” he asked, pausing in his exploration, genuinely giving her control of this moment.

  She should say yes; she knew that. Instead, she welcomed the heat that rippled under her skin, recognizing the flush of sexual desire, something she hadn't felt for a long, long time, and never, ever like this.

  Without answering, Lacey tugged at Jared's 501s, struggling with the buttons under the fly. His large hands covered hers, calming her struggle.

  “Why don't we take a minute and get…comfortable.”

  She smiled at his composure in the heat of the moment, grateful for his gentlemanly manner. She gasped as his hands once again cupped her breasts, as though he needed to touch them before they moved from their intimate position.

  Lacey eased herself off him and they each slipped out of their jeans. She shivered, suddenly feeling chilly and a little awkward, the spell interrupted by their need to get out of their clothes. She
sat, knees to her chin, facing the warmth of the fire.

  “Do you know how beautiful you are?” She felt his hands slip under her hair, massaging her shoulders, instantly locating the spot where her tension always accumulated.

  “Magic hands,” she murmured.

  Jared continued to methodically knead the soft flesh of Lacey's shoulders until he felt her muscles relax, her posture soften. He leaned his face closer to her hair, finally touching his cheek to it. He'd wanted to bury himself in her silky mane since the moment he'd met her.

  His body ached to touch her. He sucked in his cheeks, biting them to distract himself, prevent himself from hurrying things. Go slow. Go slow.

  He needed to be sure, sure that Lacey wanted this as much as he did. And he hoped like hell she did. This felt different. This wasn't a quick roll in the hay just because it was convenient, easy.

  Gratefully, he felt his erection soften slightly as he massaged and stroked her skin. He knew a mere kiss would once again set his body aflame. He wanted to linger over her, take his time with her.

  His hands left her shoulders and he scooted closer, pulling her against him so her back rested against his chest, his legs stretched out on either side of her, sinking into the soft sheepskin.

  The quiet between them felt troubled. He sensed her shyness and reminded himself that from what she'd said and from what Gloria had told him, it had been a while between lovers for her too.

  Finally he felt her body relax against him and he wrapped his arms around her in an intimate hug. Relaxing his hold on her, he began to rub her knees, then her shins and calves. Soon he felt her head tilt back to rest under his chin.

  “You sure know how to build a fire,” she said, her voice sounding dreamy and calm.

  “You too.” He wondered if she knew how hot she'd made him. Earlier, with her straddling his erection and his hands on her breasts, he'd felt like he would explode. He’d felt like a teenager, all hormones and no sense.

  Running his hands up her leg, he nudged on her thighs and Lacy dropped her legs. He felt her sigh against him and his hands moved to hold her breasts. Drawing circles around her nipples with his finger, he felt himself harden again instantly. He shifted his position, freeing his erection so that it lay against the small of her back.

  He felt her stiffen. “No hurry,” he whispered, “I'm fine. I just want to touch you.”

  Relieved at his words, Lacey snuggled against Jared's chest, her self-consciousness replaced by the delicious pleasure of his touch. The warmth from the fire against her bare skin competed with the inner flame that was increasing with his tender caresses.

  She stared at the flames as his fingers gently squeezed and stroked both nipples, drawing them to pebble hardness. An uncontrollable groan escaped her lips as he freed one breast to sear a path down her abdomen and onto her thigh. He paused, as if waiting for reassurance.

  Shifting so she sat closer against him, Lacey moved her leg so Jared's fingers came to rest between her thighs. Yes. Yes. It had been a long time. Dirk had been an acceptable lover, but tended to be more of a slam-bang-thank-you-ma'am kind of guy. Short on foreplay, long on sleeping the night away afterward. Jared seemed like the opposite, a man who took his time.

  Jared slowly stretched his fingers, caressing her mound. She felt the thud of his heart quicken against her back. They were so close together she wasn't sure she could feel where his body ended and hers began. Gently he stroked her inner folds, his fingers quickly becoming slick.

  “You're so wet, so hot,” he whispered in her ear. His voice broke with huskiness.

  The intimacy of his touch blocked Lacey's ability to speak. All she could think about was how good it felt, how good she felt with his hands on her. She gasped sharply when he found her clitoris. After a moment's pause, he began a sensual massage of slow, steady circles.

  Waves of ecstasy rippled through her as his fingers magically brought her to the peak of desire, then paused just long enough to prevent her climax. How did he know that half the pleasure was in the journey? This slow, soft touch was new to her. It was as though his hands knew exactly where to touch her.

  “Jared,” she whispered.

  “Mmm?”

  “I want to feel you…inside me.” Lacey placed her hand on his and stopped the movement, then turned to face him. Her entire body tingled with delicious desire. She stared at him, watching the firelight that glittered in his gray eyes. His breathing became heavy and ragged.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, touching her breasts, using the slickness on his fingers to massage her taught nipples. When he heard her softly moan, he moved his hands to her waist and pulled her to him. He kissed her, lingering, savoring every moment of her velvet lips.

  Lost in the kiss, he felt Lacey's hands on his shoulders, gently pushing him away. With a groan, he pulled his lips from hers, his mouth burning with fire.

  God, she was gorgeous. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wild, her hair sexily mussed. “Should I get a condom?” he asked softly.

  She shook her head no. “I'm on the pill. And after Dirk left, I had two HIV tests just in case.”

  “Me too. And I haven't been with anyone since Courtney. I could get one from the bathroom…you sure you want to do this?”

  Lacey brought her fingers to his lips to quiet his question. She nodded her reply and pulled him toward her. They fell softly to the floor together. She gasped as bare chest met bare chest. The softness of the sheepskin on her back, she wiggled her hips, adjusting her position beneath him. She felt his hardness between her legs. He didn't move. He was waiting for her, waiting for direction. Amazing.

  Staring into Jared's eyes, Lacey watched the play of emotions on his face. His gray eyes darkened with desire as she held his gaze. He waited a moment more, then captured her mouth with a hungry kiss.

  She felt his hardness nudging between her legs. Still he waited for her approval. Sliding her hand between their bodies, she grasped his shaft, squeezing and stroking. A low groan rumbled in Jared's throat, then his lips left hers.

  “You're killing me,” he said in a voice that was deep and appreciative, and not without a touch of humor.

  Smiling wickedly, she shifted her hips, then guided his shaft to her hot, moist entrance.

  His eyes widened and flamed with desire. As he thrust inside her, she gasped at his ability to completely fill her, unconsciously squeezing him, drawing him in more deeply.

  “You're so tight, so wet,” he whispered. “So good.”

  Heat raced through her as she closed her eyes, her head spinning. It felt dangerous. It felt wonderful. It felt right.

  Her skin goose-bumped as she rocked against him, riding wave after wave of ecstasy with every thrust, loving how he felt inside her. As she pulled him closer and closer still, she pressed her fingers into his back, then shifted to guide him more against her clitoris, feeling his hardness against her, only wanting one thing…more…more…

  She wanted him deeper. Closer. Tilting her pelvis and rocking against him, she heard Jared's moan. She opened her eyes to watch him.

  “I can't wait much longer,” he said, “you feel too good.”

  “Don't wait.”

  She encouraged his thrusts to go deeper, faster…such delicious pressure as he seemed to know exactly how to move until she felt the wave begin and build, soon helpless to control herself from screaming her pleasure as her own climax engulfed her. Stars exploded behind her eyelids and she felt strangely detached from her body, and yet at the same time, connected intimately to every cell of her being.

  “Oh, Jared…” Her voice was a breathless whimper.

  As soon as her spasms had quieted, Jared felt his own spiral building. He’d waited, more than anything wanting her to have her climax, to enjoy what they had created together. Then he felt her intimate grasp as he slowly began to thrust, pulling out and in again as he sank deeper and deeper into her. Surprise flashed in her eyes as he stared into their depths.

  Th
ey moved together so well, so smoothly, their bodies in exquisite harmony. A fresh hot tide of passion raged between them as they clung to each other, both soaring over the edge together.

  Chapter Thirteen

  In the middle of the night Lacey woke. It hadn't been a dream. Jared was still snuggled next to her, their legs entwined, her hair draped over his chest. She shivered. The fire had burned down to white hot embers and the room was getting chilly.

  “Lacey,” Jared whispered. Her shiver had roused him. Gently, he stroked her hair, a sleepy smile on his lips, then he leaned toward her to kiss her.

  As their lips touched she felt him stiffen in response, instantly ready.

  He pulled back, breaking the kiss.

  “Hi, there, sleepyhead,” she said.

  “Who's sleepy?” he asked, his eyes still half-closed. Then he smiled a sweet smile, adding, “What do you say we move to the bed? This floor is getting harder by the moment and my back isn't what it used to be.”

  Lacey nodded and let him help her to her feet. The thought of slipping between the crisp linen sheets of the four-poster was almost too delicious. A girl could get used to this. As soon as the thought formed, she squelched it. It was only one night. Tomorrow everything would return to normal.

  “I'm going to duck in here for a minute,” Jared said as he left her in the hall and stepped into the bathroom.

  She walked into the bedroom, reality sinking in with every footstep. Jared was absolutely not the kind of man she needed in her life right now…or ever. Too many things going against it. Besides, he'd already shared that he didn't understand career women.

  And then there was Jamie. Her heart couldn't take another wound. Of that she was certain.

  End it before it begins.

  She pulled back the covers and crawled into the bed, sinking into a layer of softness that almost made her swoon. There was a thick, downy featherbed between the fitted sheet and mattress. Luxuriously cozy. Obscenely soft. She cuddled under the covers.