Truth and Consequences (25 page)

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Hearts of the South
series (including free reads!), visit the
Hearts of the South
blog at http://heartsofthesouth.blogspot.com.

Houston homicide detective, John O’Reilly, is torn between two women. One is the woman he’s loved without hope for years. The other carries his unborn child. Now, a man bent on revenge wants O’Reilly to choose, and any choice he makes could cost him everything.

Gutsy sheriff’s deputy, Lanie Falconetti, is determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes in love. Her no-strings attached affair with John O’Reilly leads to an unexpected, but joyfully welcomed pregnancy. However, the shadow from John’s past threatens not only her chance at happiness, but her life and that of her unborn baby as well.

Her voice broke, and his groan rumbled through her, too. “Oh hell, Lanie, don’t cry. I’m not worth it.”

His fingers brushed at the wetness on her cheek, the other hand moving over her arm in a soothing caress. He rubbed his face against her hair, lips a butterfly touch against her incision scar. His chest was hot against her back, her tank top the thinnest of barriers.

He murmured, words she didn’t catch, but the rumble of his voice set off tremors low in her stomach. Desire quivered along her nerves, her body coming to life again. She
ached
for him.

Long fingers slid over her arms and shoulders in a gentle touch. She didn’t want him gentle. She wanted him rough, hard, wild, like always between them. Her head fell back, and her hands fluttered, seeking a spot to rest. They settled on his thighs, wringing a different groan from him.

“Lanie.” His mouth moving along her neck. Shivers tingled through her, and she pushed back, the sudden proof of his arousal pressed against her. “Oh, baby, I’ve missed you.”

This…this she was sure of, his hands slipping from her arms to her hips and up over her stomach. She covered his fingers with hers and eased his hands up to cover her breasts. With the contact, a moan escaped her lips, hanging in the still air. Cupping her, thumbs teasing erect nipples, he rocked against her. Lanie let her eyes drift closed, lost in the sensations of being loved by him again.

Against her ear, his breath rasped hot and moist. One of his hands traveled over her stomach, delving beneath the elastic band of her yoga pants. Anticipating his touch, she trembled, a moist ache between her thighs. His long fingers cupped her through thin silk panties, and the simple pressure wrung another moan from her.

He pulled her closer. “Lanie.” His mouth slid up her neck, nipping. “Tell me you want me.”

One finger stroked over silk. “Oh, yes.”

“Say it,” he whispered. “Let me hear it, baby.”

Another maddening caress. “I…want you.”

He moved, spinning her in his embrace and lifting her to sit on the countertop. Arms braced on either side of her body, he stared at her, his face flushed, eyes dilated. “Touch me. I want your hands on me, Lanie.”

Head tilted back, eyes closed, she ran her hands over his shoulders and up his neck. He sighed. “Open your eyes.”

She lifted heavy lids. Her gaze locked on his, she let her hands move to his chest, the muscles hard under her fingers. His skin was hot and smooth, the dark hair fine and silky. It grew coarser as her fingers slid down his stomach to the waistband of his sweats. His lashed dipped; he cursed under his breath. She smiled. “Open your eyes, John.”

He did, staring at her again. “You make me crazy,” he muttered and pressed closer. She smiled, wanting him as out of control as she was. “Feel what you do to me, baby.”

She gasped, barely resisting the urge to rub against him like a cat. He eased her back, his hands covering hers where she braced herself on the counter. Trailing a caress up her arms, he traced her collarbone, drifted over her breasts, teasing but not quite touching her aching nipples. He covered her waist with his hands, then slid them to her hips. Lanie swallowed, her tongue darting out to wet dry lips.

His gaze, locked on her face, darkened. Supporting her with his hands, he pulled her closer. “Kiss me.”

Her hands tangled in his hair, she lifted her mouth to his. At the first touch of her lips, John’s tenuous control slipped. He groaned and took her mouth the way he wanted to take her body. Her hands traced his spine, molding, and he shuddered. He’d waited so long to have her touch him again. Desperate, he pulled her closer still. When her hands slipped beneath the waistband of his sweats, her nails scoring his buttocks, he bucked against her.

John reached for her tank top, breaking the kiss long enough to pull it over her head. The late afternoon sunlight filtered into the room, gleaming on her skin. He cupped her breasts again, lowering his head to worship her. “So beautiful.”

With a moan, she dug her fingers into his hair, holding his head to her body. His own scent lingered on her skin, making him wilder. She was
his
. He couldn’t lose her again.

After years of working together in perfect harmony, faced with this new threat, Cade and Sallie realize that, no matter how much she wants to keep things strictly business, the chemistry between them is too strong to ignore.

But Sallie is keeping a secret and the truth about her past could destroy any chance of a future…

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Cade’s Challenge
:

Cade laughed, a deep husky sound that reverberated between them. “So you like the beer?” he asked, motioning for the waitress to bring them two more bottles.

“It’s pretty disgusting, actually,” she declared, scrunching her nose in distaste. “But I’ve heard it’s an acquired taste.”

“How many do you figure you have to drink to acquire it?”

“Too many to make the effort, I’m sure,” she decided. “But I guess I can sip another one for a while.”

“Nurse.”

“Pardon?”

“You don’t sip a beer, you nurse it.”

“We’re talking beer-drinker’s lingo?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” Sallie conceded. “I can nurse it.”

“That’s the spirit. You need to lighten up a little.”

She gave his casual remark serious consideration. “Why do you say that?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “It just seems like you need some fun in your life.”

“Fun?” She wasn’t certain that anything she’d done in her adult life could be called fun. Even as a child, her activities had been carefully orchestrated. She enjoyed a variety of hobbies now, but didn’t think he’d qualify any of them as fun.

“Just plain fun,” Cade explained in an exasperated tone. “Things like playing ball, shooting pool, horseback riding or skinny dipping. Especially the skinny dipping,” he added with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

The mental image his words created made her skin tingle and her nipples tighten. She quickly banished the wayward thoughts. Her eyes flashed with annoyance as they met his over the bottle. She’d die before admitting she’d never done any of those things. It was a pointless conversation, anyway.

He grinned and saluted her with his beer bottle in a blatant attempt to rattle her composure.

“Care to dance?”

Sallie’s eyes narrowed at the invitation, and she didn’t bother to disguise her mistrust. Cade might seem like a carefree guy to most of the world, but she knew he didn’t do anything without serious thought and consideration.

“I don’t know how,” she declared flatly, and then took a big swallow of beer. She hoped he’d accept the refusal.

He didn’t.

“I’ve seen you dance plenty of times.”

“Ballroom stuff. Not what they’re doing.” She nodded toward the dance floor.

“I’ll teach you.”

“And what if I don’t want to learn?”

“Humor me,” he drawled, his expression daring. “We have half an hour or so to wait, and I like to dance.”

Sallie glanced around the room, feeling pressured. Surely there was someone else he could ask to dance. There were several other couples doing some sort of line dance on the tiny floor. The number of women in the bar seemed to have increased since she’d entered, yet none of them looked single or in search of a partner.

“You’re the only candidate,” he insisted, reading her thoughts. “It’s not safe to pick up strange partners these days, you know.”

“I really don’t care to learn whatever they’re doing.”

“It’s the boot-scootin’ boogie,” he explained. “But we can wait for a slow song.”

Sallie studied him thoughtfully. She knew it had been several months since his last relationship disintegrated. He was rarely without someone special in his life, but he didn’t have to chase women. They always came willingly. There were several vying for his attention right now.

For some reason, he’d been slow in choosing a new lover. He might be longing for feminine company. She had no intention of becoming a stand-in playmate, but the music was tempting.

“I can probably manage a slow dance,” she finally announced.

He amazed her by throwing back his head and roaring with laughter. She frowned, genuinely confused and a little hurt. “Why is that so funny?”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Because it took you so damn long to decide. Have you ever done an impulsive thing in your life? Even under the influence of alcohol? You think too much, and I’m not used to having to beg someone for a dance. You need to unwind a little and get rid of some inhibitions.”

It was Sallie’s turn to shake her head. “No, thank you.” She wanted control of everything around her, always. She might be the most organized schedule-slave he’d ever known, but that didn’t bother her a bit.

When a deep frown replaced Cade’s smile, she wondered where his thoughts had drifted. Did he think her need for control was boring and cowardly? She’d outgrown the adolescent desire to be daring, uninhibited and adventurous. The price for that sort of lifestyle was way too high.

For a couple of minutes they were both quiet while they finished their beers and studied each other more intently. Sallie wondered what the greater risk would be, meeting with an anonymous snitch or letting the boss take her in his arms again.

Sheriff Rilla Devane has sworn to serve and protect, just as her father did before he was murdered. An influx of party drugs has killed two teenagers, but she has a suspect: handsome, rich newcomer Mackenzie Callahan, a published author seeking small-town atmosphere. To build her case, she moves closer to Mackenzie and his dangerous brand of seductive charm. She’ll risk everything for her investigation, even when it means letting her guard down and falling for her suspect.

Mac Callahan lives and breathes for undercover work. But his last mission ended in near disaster, and he has one last chance to prove his value to the DEA. Taking sexy Sheriff Rilla to bed might ruin his career—or lead him to the love of his life.

She scowled and muttered, “Just because you pretend you’re a writer, you don’t have to talk like one around me.”

“Come on.” He stood and held out his hand, palm up.

“You’re almost as smooth as Rob Wyler.” She smirked and placed her hand in his.

Mmm. Warm and strong.

“I’ll show you smooth.” He pulled her to his chest and took off in an easy one-two, one-two-three swaying glide around the small dance floor.

Her body was warm against his chest. “You’re pretty good at this,” he whispered in her ear.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” She gazed into his eyes. “I must say I’m surprised.”

“Why? Haven’t you found me skilful in other physical endeavors?”

“Have I complained?”

He laughed. “No, you haven’t at that.”

The music continued and he drew Rilla closer. Her body molded to his…and felt damned good. “Dare I say it? Your beeper hasn’t gone off once tonight.”

Her eyes widened. Placing an elegant finger to her lips, she shushed him. “You’ve done it now, but maybe not. This isn’t a real date.”

“It isn’t?” Mac nuzzled her neck. “Hmm, sure feels like one.”

She gave a small shake of her head. “No, it’s a pretend date so we could backup Kit.”

He turned to leave the dance floor “Well, that’s it. Ready to leave?”

She laughed, a low sensual growl and tugged on his hand. “Oh, no, you don’t. The music’s still playing.”

She slipped her arms around his waist and slid her hands into the back pockets of his jeans, cupped his ass and pressed against his dick.

“This is feeling less like pretend,” he said. Pretend, hell—she was teasing him and having a great time. His dick was hard as a rock, and if she kept it up…

But damn, he loved this playful side of her. He couldn’t help but wonder if they’d met under different circumstances…

Her head went back, revealing the long column of her neck. She laughed then emitted a delicious giggle which sent a searing jolt straight to his groin. Did she have any clue how she affected him? “You’re having too much fun.”

“Is that even possible?” Her eyes glittered with amusement.

Possible?
He swung her around and headed for the door. “Let’s find out.”

The Porsche was parked along the side of the roadhouse in the shadows. They made it to the car.

Barely.

He backed her against the passenger door. His lips fastened on hers and she welcomed his kiss. He eased his hands under her halter top while he kissed her neck and blew a soft puff of air into her ear.

Skin—God—so soft.
Her nipples hardened under his touch. She arched against him and moaned. She gazed up at him, her dark eyes glazed with heat. Could she possibly want him as much as he wanted her?

“Mac, we can’t. Not here.” Her breath was warm on his neck. God. He needed her so much. More than any woman he’d ever known. He pulled down her halter top and lightly raked her brown nipples with his teeth, pulled at them and sucked.

Again she moaned, a sound of desperation…for more?

“Lift your skirt.” He fumbled with his zipper. His dick sprang free, ready for battle. And make no mistake about it, making love to Rilla was like a battle between two warriors.

Her skirt shielded their bodies, but if anyone saw them, there’d be no doubt what was happening. Underneath the full skirt, her slim thighs parted.

Thank God. No panty hose. She wore another one of those scraps of lace she loved. He ripped it off.

He dipped a finger between her thighs and slid into her warm, honeyed slit, rubbing her sensitive clit with his thumb.

Her body shook and trembled against his. She gasped ragged breaths against his chest, and whose pounding heart was whose? Why couldn’t he have four hands? So many sweet places he wanted to touch and so little time.

His lips fastened on her mouth again. She opened to him, her hot tongue battling his for possession. He slid another finger inside her slit and she started moving against them.

“No, wait.” He removed his hand and adjusted his stance for a better position and access.

“No.” Her voice rasped in his ear.

“This is better,” he promised and nudged the head of his cock up and down her outer lips then thrust into her wet warmth.

A low moan ripped from her.

“All right?”

“Yes,” she hissed and trembled as he tried to bury himself deep within her. He cupped her ass cheeks and impaled her securely her onto his straining cock. Keeping her light weight cradled, he moved her up and down. Her inner muscles clenched around his dick so fiercely he nearly lost control.

“Easy, girl. Easy.” He panted and tried to slow her bucking pace.

“No. Not easy.” She clung to his jacket and wrapped her legs around his waist, forcing his cock even deeper inside. “I don’t want it easy.”

Exquisite pressure grew in his balls until he exploded in waves of hot release. He pumped into her over and over, unwilling to leave the blistering heat of her sweet body.

Her head whipped back as she gave a long, low moan. Her body vibrated under his hands. God. What made this woman so hot, so in tune with his needs?

Her climax took her. She stiffened and her teeth fastened on his neck, her nails digging into his shoulders as she rocked against him.

He slid a free hand under her halter and pinched her nipples, then nipped the silken skin of her neck. Another low moan, more of a groan.

Her muscles rhythmically gripped his dick even tighter as she milked him of every last drop of cum.