Texas Men (9 page)

“Goddamn,” he breathed.

Her thighs quivered, but he was already moving downward, smoothing down her black leather chaps to her boots and then up her outer thighs. He stepped backward. “You lied. You don’t have any hidden weapons.”

“Maybe you didn’t check thoroughly enough,” she said, her breaths ragged.

“Think you need a cavity search?”

She glanced over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose. “That sounds unappetizing. I was thinking more along the line of a thorough…probing.”

His hands gripped the notches of her hips. “You don’t make the rules, Sarah. I’m not playing your game.”

She bit her tongue to keep from blurting out the fact she’d gotten him to let her off with a warning. And hadn’t the pat down been her idea, too?

His breath stirred her hair again. “Think it was just a coincidence that Danny Dawg dared you to ride naked tonight?”

She stiffened against him. “Why would he do it on purpose? And why would he do it for you?”

“Danny got pulled over for a broken taillight last night. And wouldn’t you know his license was expired?”

“Son of a bitch.”

“That’s me,” he said, his grip tightening and then falling away. “And don’t forget it. When I’m not wearing this badge, you can fight me all you like, but I know how hot you are right now.” He slipped his fingers between her legs from behind and held them against her folds.

Sarah wished her pussy wasn’t primed, but she couldn’t help the little contraction that sucked at his fingertips. “It was the ride. Don’t you know why girls like motorcycles?”

“It’s a sad substitute.” His fingers pulled away. “Wait for my call.”

“When hell freezes over, Deputy,” she bit out.

“Keep tellin’ yourself that, if it helps your pride.” He tugged the chain between her cuffs to shift her to the side and open the back door of the cruiser. “Now, slide on across that seat. I’ll take you home.”

Sarah bent and slid inside.

“Buddy, you need anything else?” Logan asked, closer than she’d known, her mind had been so filled with Deputy Chavez. “I got the bike off the road and hidden behind some bushes. She can come for it tomorrow.”

Chavez slammed her door. Logan Ross winked as he passed, and then the tight-faced deputy slid into the driver’s seat and pulled out onto the highway.

Sarah sat in stony silence. No way was she talking to the bastard. He’d set her up so he could do what? Get her attention to ask her on a date? How low was that?

While the cool air tightened her nipples, Sarah couldn’t help the flush of pleasure that swept her cheeks and chest at the thought of the deliberate planning that’d gone into tonight’s ingenious mousetrap.

He’d played her. Knew her hot buttons. He’d set the trap with sweet temptation and then baited her with a cool reserve that pricked her interest. How did he know her so well? Had he been watching her all along, talking to people she knew just to learn enough about her personality to strategize?

The thought was heady. Imagine what he’d be like once he got her into bed—not that she would give up the game so easily.

No, the next round would be hers.

“N
ot something you see every day,” Logan said, humor lacing the staticky voice.

Joe was tempted to flip his cell phone closed. They’d used the phones instead of the radio during the stop to keep it off the radar. The last thing he’d wanted was more “help” arriving.

Sarah had been intimidated enough, at least in the first few minutes. The woman had recovered quickly. He’d remember that next time. She didn’t have a lick of common sense, but she had guts.

“It’s not something you’ll see ever again,” Joe growled.

“You think taming that wildcat’s gonna be easy?”

“Of course not. The trick will be to stay one step ahead.”

“We caught her off guard this time. You can bet she won’t be as easy to trap the next time.”

“Ever think the lady might want to be caught?” Joe asked, remembering the excitement simmering in her baby blues.

“Because she was creaming for you?”

“She’s intrigued. Most of the boys around here think with their dicks.”

“And you proved her wrong? I saw where those fingers were sliding.”

“I didn’t give her everything she wanted.” But, damn, he’d wanted to. He’d been an inch from bending her over the hood of the cruiser.

“Did you ask her out?”

“Of course not. I told her to wait for my call.”

A snort sounded from the phone.

Joe grinned.

“Betcha ten she’s back at the Honkytonk tomorrow night,” Logan drawled.

“I’m counting on it.”

Soft chuckles filled the air. “How’d I do? Think she bought the good-cop, bad-cop act?”

“You were convincing. Imagine any woman thinking you’d be the easy one to manipulate.”

“Couldn’t have her turning those pretty blue eyes on me. Last thing she wants is a nice guy. You sure this is what you want? She’s got quite a rep—most of it bad.”

“She’s acting out. She’ll buck against anyone who tries to tie her down.”

“Buddy, maybe it’s not an act.”

“You forget,” Joe said slowly, raising his hand to his face and inhaling her pungent fragrance, “I had my fingers on her pulse. She’s ready for this. I just have to redirect her rebellion. She wants to fight, but she’s only fighting herself.”

“Let me know what I can do to help.”

“I will,” he said, gritting his teeth. Much as he wanted to keep the woman all to himself, he admitted he wasn’t the man to get her “softened” up. “Be there tomorrow night?”

“At the bar? Wouldn’t miss it. Better get back out on the north road. Later.”

Joe closed his phone and set it on the seat beside him and then found the speed-trap blind he’d use until midnight. He sat in his squad car, the AC blasting in his face, the windows rolled all the way down. The better to hear the whine of a powerful engine screaming down the highway.

He turned off the cruiser’s lights, not wanting to alert a driver heading his way of his presence until it was too late.

He’d been here earlier when Logan had called him to let him know Sarah had left her house in the buff ready to fly by the bar. Joe had cursed, which had elicited a deep rumble of laughter from Logan.

“Got those barriers up?” Joe had barked into the phone.

“Everything’s set. Ready to rescue the lady from her own poor judgment?”

The single beam from a motorcycle had swept the curve of the road in a bright, blinding arc. Joe could tell the moment she spotted the cruiser hidden behind the tree.

The beam had wobbled as she’d applied the brakes, and Joe had cursed, afraid she’d lay the bike down on the pavement, but the engine revved, and she roared around the curve.

He’d turned on his headlights, flipped the switch to send the blue lights strobing, and pulled onto the deserted county road.

“I can’t wait to hear what she has to say,” Logan had said, his voice lazy and amused.

Joe had listened with only half his brain engaged. His bright twin beams reflected on creamy white skin and a head of pale blond curls that whipped around her shoulders.

The barricade with its orange lights and the patrol car parked beside it came into view beyond the motorcycle and its driver.

The bike hadn’t slowed down. And for a second, Joe had wondered if she intended to make a run for it.

But “Sweet Sarah” had slowed, her tires spitting gravel as she’d turned the bike at the last moment and ground to a halt.

Joe had idled his engine, knowing better than to cut it with the wild-eyed glance she’d given him and then Logan. She’d still been considering her options.

He’d hit the speaker switch. “Sarah Michelson, cut your engine. You’re under arrest.”

Sarah’s face had turned toward his, her full bottom lip pouting. She’d twisted the throttle, and the engine had growled.

“Don’t even think about it, sweetheart,” he’d said into the mic again.

Her chin had jutted upward. Her eyes narrowed. She hadn’t liked being called sweetheart.

But she hadn’t minded straddling a motorcycle buck naked.

“Sweet, sweet Sarah,” he’d whispered to himself. “Don’t you want to know what happens next?”

Joe’s cock stirred at the thought of the warm, wet welcome her body had dripped all over his hand. He’d been tempted to take her up on her invitation and bend her over the hood. However, he wasn’t in this for a quickie. He was in for the long haul. Everything he’d learned about her, everything he’d experienced in their short encounter told him she was the one for him.

He would never have thought a round baby-doll face, wild tangles of white-blond hair, and wide-set pale blue eyes would stop his heart. He’d always preferred brunettes. He’d always dated slender women with boyish hips. But Sarah’s fleshy bottom had felt like heaven. Her large, round breasts had fit his palms just right.

Still, it wasn’t her sweet body and face or even her tantalizing lemony scent that had convinced him in the end. It had been that hint of fear and spicy arousal, all wrapped up together to make her breaths shiver. The harder his expression had grown, the more aroused she’d become.

Sarah didn’t know it, and would probably have denied it until the day she died, but she wanted a man to dominate her. The boys she’d been with didn’t have a clue. She’d walked all over them, tossing them away like candy wrappers once they’d been unwrapped and devoured.

Logan had guessed her proclivity first, as he should. As someone who lived the lifestyle, he had miles more experience recognizing potential submissiveness in a woman. Joe had only dabbled. Had never really considered himself a true dom, but something about Sarah told him he simply hadn’t found the woman he wanted to be the softer half of him.

He’d watched her for weeks. Gathered all the intel he could from the gossips on the force, from Cody Westhofen over a beer while they’d sat in a deer stand. He thought he’d understood her until she’d slipped off her bike and stuck her chest out in front of him, her chin lifting in a challenge so blatant it rang completely false.

He’d taken one look at her, seen the excitement that stiffened her nipples into reddened buds, dragged his gaze to hers, and kept it locked there. If he’d dropped it once to study her attributes again, he would have missed it. The initial flare of excitement had dimmed, replaced by a hint of hopefulness. When he’d kept his tone hard, his will stalwart, her skin had flushed, and a thin sheen of sweat had made her skin dewy—she’d glowed.

He’d never felt more powerful, more deeply aroused or protective of a woman. Sarah had no choice in the matter now. She was going to be his.

Still, there was going to be a long battle ahead of him, but for now he’d settle for conquering her desire for her father’s attention, no matter how inappropriate the means.

Had she been a man, her latest high jinks would have been waved off by her daddy with a slap on the shoulder and a wink to the good-ole boys. From what he’d heard, Daddy was exasperated with his little darling and would no longer try to protect her from her actions because he realized he’d spoiled her rotten.

Daddy wanted Sarah “settled.” Joe didn’t think he’d care too much about the method, which was a good thing because he wanted the judge’s approval of the match on down the road—after he’d taught “Sweet Sarah” the merits of obedience.

Sarah tugged down the bottom edge of her short, black skirt and sauntered into the Honkytonk, satisfied when gazes swung her way and then stayed glued to the sway of her hips. She’d dressed to kill—or at least to get one deputy’s undivided attention.

The spandex fabric hugged her ass, leaving no doubt to anyone observing that panties were an optional accessory this night. The black cropped top she wore above it dipped low between her breasts and had just enough stretch in the weave to support her tits without yet another “optional” accessory.

As she strolled past the bar, Danny Dawg’s eyes lit up, and a low whistle blew between his pursed lips. Still dressed in his plumber’s work shirt and blue jeans that lovingly clung to his nicely shaped body, Danny knew his common appeal and worked it. “Damn, girl. Don’t suppose you’re all wrapped up with a bow for me?”

The bow was the skinny red ribbon she’d tied around her neck. “I don’t know, Danny. Depends on whether you were the one who ratted me out last night. The cops told me you did.”

“Me?” he chirped, his eyes widening too innocently to be real. “You think I wasn’t waitin’ at the edge of the parking lot for a peek?”

She cupped his cheek with her palm and narrowed her eyes at him, but his gaze was far too appreciative, his expression hopeful. Maybe he hadn’t been the one who’d passed the message to the deputies. “Just checkin’. They’re probably just trying to make me think I can’t trust my friends.”

Danny slid off his stool, a wide grin splitting his face. “Does that mean you’ll let me slide a hand up that skirt to check the plumbing?”

“My pipes are free and clear. ’Course, if you mean to keep those fingers attached to your hands, you might wanna give that plan a second thought.”

Danny’s eyelids dipped, and his head tilted back. “What are you up to tonight?”

“Just makin’ a point. Someone thought they could corral me.”

He shook his head. “Don’t know you that well, do they?”

And Danny did. Back in high school she’d dated the star quarterback and rode the team’s bus and Danny’s cock to many a victory. “No, they don’t. But you do, don’t you?” she said, irony thick in her voice. Not that Danny was smart enough to figure out she was laughing at him.

“Speak of the devils….” Danny cupped the top of her head and swiveled her face to a dark corner of the bar.

The deputies, looking like a matching pair of brindle pit bulls, sat in a booth watching her.

Had she been wearing any, her panties would have been soaked in seconds. Sarah grabbed Danny’s hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. “Come on. Make it good for me, Danny.”

“Always ready to oblige a lady,” he said, amusement lacing his warm Texas drawl.

She slanted a gaze upward, wondering if she’d underestimated him, but his vacuous grin remained in place. “I won’t mind a bit if one of your hands strays south, lover boy.”

“So long as Deputy Chavez gets an eyeful of me feeling you up?”

She shot him another glance. So maybe he wasn’t as stupid as she’d always thought. “Don’t be shy.”

“Not with you, darlin’, although I have to warn you I don’t think he’s the kind to let you play your little games.”

“Think so? Why’s that? Did he say anything about me?”

“Something about trimming your wings.”

Sarah snorted. “As though I’d ever let a man try to cage me.”

“That’s what I told him, too. But he didn’t seem the least bit put off the challenge.”

“I appreciate you tellin’ him that, Danny.”

“Thought you might.”

He dropped her hand and smoothed both of his over her hips and around to her bottom.

Sarah snuggled next to his chest and sighed. “Ever wonder why we never got married?”

“Besides the fact your daddy doesn’t think I’m good enough for you?”

“My daddy’s not a snob.”

“Nope, but he told me you were too much filly for me.”

“I’m surprised you listened.”

“I didn’t, but the first time you opened my pants in the boy’s locker room and had your wicked way scared the crap out of me. I just knew I was gonna blow my chance for a scholarship with you blowing my dick where anyone could walk in and see.”

“That why you broke up with me?”

His arms tightened around her. “I didn’t exactly break up with you,” he grumbled.

“No, but you did go off to college without me.” That she’d opted out of going to college even though her father had offered to pay for it, she didn’t mention. Instead she’d stayed closer to home, accepting a job clerking at the courthouse—a job her daddy had arranged, reminding her that the courthouse was only ten steps from the jail in his best voice of doom.

“I told you I’d see you at Christmas break.”

“But you didn’t exactly stay true to me.”

“None of those girls could light my torch the way you could. Besides, don’t even try to tell me you waited.”

“Not even a day, sweetheart.” Sarah sighed again and then jerked when she felt the hem of her skirt inch upward. “What are you doing?”

“Hiking up your skirt to flash a little cheek. They’re both watchin’ real close.”

“Trying to get us both arrested?”

“Nope, but one of ’em is headed this way. That’s what you wanted, right?”

Sarah laughed against his chest. “Danny, I ever tell you I love you?”

“Nope. Would have been a lie. And that’s not something you’d ever do.”

“Excuse me,” came a deep, hard-edged voice beside her.

Sarah didn’t lift her head.

“I’m cutting in.”

“Darlin’,” Danny murmured. “That okay with you?”

Sarah glanced over her shoulder to meet Deputy Chavez’s steel-eyed glare. “I suppose. Wouldn’t want to make a fuss. Tara might ban me for another week like she did when I chased Cody into the bathroom.”

Danny released her, tipped the rim of his baseball cap, and sauntered back to the bar. Sarah didn’t have even a second to catch her breath before her wrist was manacled by hard fingers, and she was brought up against a solid chest.