Annabelle Weston (10 page)

At long last he slid his cock up and down between the folds of her sex. His cock head was hot. She wanted more.

“
Now, please,” she begged. Her legs shook with need. She’d never known such desire. Her body literally burned with the need to come.

“
Yes,” he growled against her ear, biting her lobe as he thrust deep.

“
Oh!” She shrieked over and over as her cunny stretched with a surprisingly painful deliciousness. His cock was much larger than any other she’d had, and she reveled in his size.

“
Oh, Carly…you feel so good.” He kissed and licked at her neck, then lower as he kissed her breasts, sucked her nipples. He moved slowly for the first few thrusts but then desire overcame him. He lost control as he thrust hard and deep, faster and faster. He devoured her mouth with his lips as he plunged again and again into her cunny.

She raised her hips for each thrust, squeezing him with her thighs as much as she was able. The creaking of the bed was so loud she thought it might break. Their shouts were loud enough to wake the entire town. But she didn’t care. She was beyond caring. All she wanted was release, the climax that had built to a point she was sure if it didn’t come soon, she would die.

A piercing keen ripped from her lips as her entire body stiffened then shook uncontrollably. Her cunny clenched tight, and devastating white fire shot from her outward. On top of her Jed thrust all the harder, riding her climax into his own. His warm seed pulsed into her body. He moaned and shuddered against her, his pace slowly ebbing.

“
I like being your prisoner…” She laughed as pure bliss cascaded through her limbs.

Jed collapsed on top of her, sweaty and breathing hard, and she ran her fingers through his damp hair. He had delivered spine-tingling chills just as he said he would.

Soon he was just like any man—fast asleep. She smiled and listened as he snored.

Carly woke in Jed’s arms. Not a position she was used to with a man. Cozy, warm and protected, part of her wished she could stay here forever but the other part of her knew she was foolish to want what she couldn’t have.

She exacted herself from his big, strong embrace. The cool air of a new morning jolted her back to her senses. They’d made love in a jail cell. It’d been pleasurable beyond her wildest imaginings but it was over.

Jed moved his arm and the chain on the handcuff scraped against the iron rail. She didn’t want him to wake up, not yet. Right now she wanted to stare at him without him knowing. He looked so peaceful. Thankfully, he settled back into sleep.

Why hadn’t she bolted out of there when she had the chance? He hadn’t locked the cell. The key to the handcuff was lying on the floor a few feet away.

She rose gently so as not to disturb him. Why had she stayed? Was it his slow hands? How he called out her name? How he filled her? The delicious sensations he’d awakened within her? Maybe a little of each.

She couldn’t let him think he needed her. She couldn’t let him make that mistake.

She dressed quickly. Jed had made big promises and he’d delivered. Boy howdy, had he delivered. She picked the key off the floor and unlocked the handcuff. It slipped off his wrist without a sound. She left the key and the cuffs in the slop bucket where he’d be sure to find them.

How amazing she’d been able to handcuff him to the bed. She smiled. They’d had a good time but nothing lasts. She’d be the first to share that truth with anyone.

She tucked a horse blanket around him, covering up his privates. It was a pity, because she loved looking at him.

He stirred, startling her. She yanked away and stepped out of his reach.

Before he woke, before he called out her name and asked her to stay, she exited the cell and went out the door.

* * * * *

Without opening his eyes, Jed knew she was gone. He’d hoped she would stay—he believed that she cared for him. But damn if she didn’t make her escape at first light.

Their night together was now seared in his memory. The taste of her, the sound of her moans, even her laughter. What that woman could do with her body—he’d never forget. They’d made love more in one night than he had in the last year. And the damndest part was that she’d moved him in more ways than just the physical.

He stretched his arm. At least she’d removed the handcuff. He sat up and massaged his wrist where the cuff had left a red mark. She’d got the best of him…or had she just wanted to be in charge? It was a new awareness for him, letting someone else call the shots.

He wondered if her passion had been an act so she could escape custody. He didn’t like to think so. The notion took hold and wouldn’t let him go. After all, she wasn’t here now.

He picked up his clothes, which were strewn around the cell. He pulled on his britches, tucking his half-hard and slowly swelling cock back into place. It was as if his dick didn’t give a shit that she’d run out on him, but wanted her anyhow. Too bad he couldn’t just walk down to the Lonesome for a little early morning satisfaction.

He’d work to do and no time to reminisce about a night with a woman who could make his blood run hot. He’d always been good about separating work and play. If he wasn’t careful, Carly Buchanan would keep him from doing what the citizens of Tucson expected him to do.

And what to do about her? She was, after all, a fugitive from the law. He shrugged on his shirt. He was only going to hold Carly for one night anyhow. Best to just get her out of his mind and move on.

* * * * *

Several days later, Carly put on her Sunday go-to-meeting dress and walked to the mercantile. Her order of fancy corsets all the way from Paris, France had arrived. It was her goal to give the Lonesome a little class and the corsets would be sure to fill the bill.

She spotted Jed standing with a gaggle of men deep in serious conversation. When they saw her approaching, the townsmen parted, unwilling to be caught in public in her company. Jed stood his ground. She knew he would. She lifted her chin a little higher.

“
Fine morning, Sheriff.” She gave her parasol a twirl.

Jed brought two fingers to the brim of his hat. “Morning, Miss Carly.”

He was a fine specimen of a man and the gesture sent her heart to fluttering. His eyes bore into hers, daring her to relive the moments with him that they’d shared in the jailhouse. She shivered, her body immediately straining for his touch. With sheer force of willpower, she shoved those lusty cravings aside. She’d things to accomplish today.

When the others were some distance, she decided to needle the sheriff some. See if he’d take the bait. She wanted to know what was going on inside his head, beyond giving her lady parts the best night of her life.

She was a fugitive from the law but he hadn’t come after her. This was a mystery to her. She’d pegged him a man who didn’t bend the rules.

“
Since you’re not paying for my favors, you can come with me to the
mercantile. There’s a particular hat I’ve had my eye on and you’re going to buy it for me.”

“
It’d be my pleasure.”

Now wasn’t he being entirely accommodating, she mused, and a gentleman to boot.

She curled her grip around his arm. His muscle tightened. It pleased her ridiculously that he reacted favorably to her touch.

“
I hope there’s no hard feelings about the other night,” she said.

His grinned. “When I’m with you, hard feelings are all I’ve got.”

Carly laughed. She liked a man who talked straight.

“
So that’s why you haven’t paid us a call at the saloon. You’re protecting your cock from little ole me?”

“
That’s about the long and the short of it.”

They reached the steps of the mercantile, she collapsed her parasol. Since they were being straight with each other, she should bring up what had instigated their night of pleasure.

“
About the curfew…”

“
I’ve been doing some thinking. Seems I asked more of you business owners than was necessary.”

She regarded him to see if he was joshing. He stared ahead and didn’t crack a smile. She’d done as he asked and kept the saloon closed each night—save for a few guests who were entertained by the dollies in their cribs. She’d been about to tell him what a law-abiding citizen she’d become.

Instead, she took advantage of him. “I’m glad to hear you’ve come to your senses.”

“
I’m a man who can admit to his mistakes.”

She’d come to another conclusion. Jed Poole took on more responsibility than he needed to. Some men were just that way.

“
Why aren’t you after the gang?” she asked. The question was on everybody’s mind.

He rested a boot on the bottom step, watching her. Her pulse quickened.

“
Most likely those
hombres
are hiding in Mexico. If not, they know this part of the territory better than I do. I’ll wait for them to come to me.”

She gave his arm a squeeze. She wanted him to know he had her support. She climbed the steps of the mercantile. He was about to follow when a wrangler came riding down the street at a gallop. He pulled up in front of the sheriff’s office and dismounted before his mount had stopped.

“
Excuse me, Carly. Appears that rider is looking for me.”

She let him go, albeit with disappointment. He crossed the road with an enticing swagger. She watched his steady, purposeful gait, slightly bowlegged. His ass was firm. She bit her lip. Visions of how she had run her hands over his smooth, taut muscles had her nipples tightening and her cunny clenching. She’d be glad to be his prisoner any day of the week.

For some reason, he had stayed away from the Lonesome, stayed away from her. What was that all about? There wasn’t a flicker of doubt he’d enjoyed himself the other night. Most men were camping out at her door after a night with her. Jed wasn’t like most men.

“
Damnation,” she uttered under her breath. She couldn’t have it both ways.

She moseyed on closer so she could hear what the rider had to say. He was breathing hard and Jed put a hand on his shoulder.

Mr. Finney came out of the mercantile. “What’s going on?”

Carly frowned. “Can’t say. Looks like someone needs the sheriff.”

Mr. Finney squinted. “Don’t recognize him.”

Carly took a second look. She didn’t know the man either and she knew just about everyone within a day’s ride of Tucson.

When the rider calmed a bit, he burst out with his news. “Old man Crowley’s dead. Ambushed out at the ranch. He took two shots in the back.”

She stepped back under the shade of the roof, into the shadows where she wouldn’t be seen. She hadn’t forgotten the whispers of the two cowpokes in her room. They’d been paid well to murder a man, a local rancher, they’d said.

Her blood ran cold, her throat constricted. This must be the rancher they’d been talking about. Mr. Crowley was the man they were meant to kill.

They’d told her she was next if she told anyone what she’d heard. She’d kept silent but now she worried. Should she have told Jed? Warned him? Could he have saved Mr. Crowley if she’d come forward with what she knew?

What if Jed found out she’d known? Would he blame her for keeping her mouth shut? Of course he would. Jeddah Poole was a lawman.

If those men in her room were the killers, they were dangerous. And they’d threatened her, her dollies and her saloon. She’d made the right decision not to tell. She had to keep herself safe, the other girls safe. She was all they had, and they were all she had.

Jed disappeared inside the sheriff’s office. A crowd had gathered around the rider, eager for details, she imagined. Jed came outside, carrying his rifle.

“
Let’s ride,” he said.

The wrangler shook his head. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay in town for a spell.”

Hopefully, Jed understood. There was nothing much the wrangler could do anyway.

“
Follow me,” Jed ordered. “You can give me directions while I’m saddling my horse.”

He headed for the livery. The wrangler was right behind him, leading his horse.

“
This is bad,” Mr. Finney said.

Carly nodded. This was very bad and she was caught in the middle.

Jed rode straight into mayhem.

The ranch house was made of sunbaked adobe. The mesquite board shutters across the window hung at an angle. The walls were pockmarked. The scars were fresh. They’d not yet been yellowed by blowing sand.

Standing on the front porch were two women clearly in distress.

One young lady—no more than sixteen—honey-colored hair in disarray, skin pale and blue eyes red-rimmed, bawled like a babe, hiccupping every few seconds. The other, slightly older with dark hair—had the air of a proper young lady but the mouth of a wrangler. Her eyes shot daggers as she yelled at what could only be a ranch worker, his hat in hand and head bowed.

Jed dismounted and pulled off his hat. The hired hand took one look at Jed and fled

for the barn. No doubt his butt had been blistered by harsh words and he’d had enough.

Jed led Shooter to the porch. He was greeted with an angry glare from the dark-haired young lady who’d been interrupted. The fair-haired girl continued her wailing.

No one seemed inclined to comfort her, which irritated Jed a might.

“
Morning, folks. Name’s Sheriff Jeddah Poole.” He bowed slightly to the ladies.

The younger girl cried louder, her head falling into her shaking hands. But sparks shot from the other girl. She looked angry as a nest of hornets.

“’
Bout time you got here, although it’s a bit late to do any good,” the dark-haired girl said. “Pa’s been killed and those who done it are long gone.”

“
Mind your tongue to the law, Kate.” A fit of hiccoughs had the younger girl gasping.

Jed was gratified when Kate thumped the girl on the back in an attempt to be helpful.