“Good. I’m afraid I’m here on business.” He strode toward the counter and lifted the end of it so he could come over to her side.
She furrowed her brows. “What kind of business?”
“There’s been a report that you’ve been very naughty, so I’m here to deliver your punishment.”
The frown vanished off her face in an instant. “Oh dear.” Schooling her face to look as innocent as possible, she bit her lip. “What’s the charge, Deputy?”
He took off his hat, placed it underneath the counter, and stalked toward her. “Being too fucking sexy for words.”
Warmth spread through her. “I see. What’s the punishment?”
The mischievous expression on his face made her smile. “Bend over the counter.”
Arousal flooded between her legs. “Why?”
“Do as you’re told, Miss Grant, or you’re just going to make it worse for yourself.” She could see the lust flaring in his eyes, and when she glanced down, she couldn’t miss the erection pressing against the zipper of his black pants.
Her mouth started to water. “Can I help with that?”
“Bend over the counter, now. I won’t tell you again.” His voice was husky and she was incredibly turned on by his take-charge manner. She enjoyed him taking the lead in bed, and her entire body began to tingle.
Turning to her left, she did as instructed and bent the top half of her body over the counter, reaching her hands out in front of her. Cody moved up behind her, pressing his hard cock against her ass.
“So, so sexy,” he murmured, running a finger down her spine. “You invade my every thought, do you know that?” He smacked her ass softly. “I’m insatiable when it comes to you.”
Leaning over her, he pressed a kiss to her nape, then lifted her dress up, exposing her cotton underwear. “Look at that ass. It’s perfect.”
She heard him move behind her and then suddenly her panties were drawn down to her knees and she was completely exposed. She whimpered but didn’t move.
“Fuck.” All of a sudden, she felt warm breath on her thighs. “Look at your pussy. So wet for me.”
“Yes. Always for you.”
When she felt his tongue swipe through her folds, she moaned. “Cody.”
“Stay still. Don’t move. I’m going to make you come on my tongue, darlin’, and then you’ll come on my cock.”
Autumn couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her lips. She gripped the edge of it and held on tightly. Cody’s tongue was now circling her clit, and then he licked it repeatedly.
He teased and tormented her, brought her to the edge in a ridiculously short time. She could feel her orgasm building, and between his fingers and his mouth he was going to make her come.
So when the bell above the front door rang again, it took her a few moments to realize that someone else had entered the store. Because Cody was crouched down behind her, he wasn’t visible from the other side of the counter.
She tried to stand up straight, but he wouldn’t let her. He didn’t remove his fingers from inside her, although he moved his mouth to her thigh, kissing it softly.
Autumn was still hunched over as Mrs. Garcia, the town’s gossip who lived next door to the house that Evie now owned, shuffled up to the counter. “Autumn, dear, are you okay?”
She ignored the muted laugh Cody made from behind her. “Hi, Mrs. Garcia. Yes, I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”
The elderly lady peered at her intently. “Why are you all hunched over the counter like that?”
She thought fast. “Oh, I…” The bags of horse feed on the lower shelves at the back of the store caught her eye. “I was putting out some of the feed bags earlier and hurt my back a little.”
Autumn hated lying, but it wasn’t as though she could explain that her boyfriend currently had his face buried between her legs. As though he could read her thoughts, Cody licked her clit again, and she had to concentrate very hard on not making a sound.
“Oh no!” Mrs. Garcia patted her hand. “Maybe you should get some rest. Where’s Ruth, can she mind the store?”
“Momma’s out doing some deliveries. Please don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Now what can I get you today?”
The older woman placed her order, and Autumn realized that to retrieve the items her customer wanted, she would have to go around to the front of the counter. Fortunately, Cody had also understood and Autumn felt her panties being pulled back up and her dress being straightened.
Once she was decent, she came around and grabbed the items Mrs. Garcia wanted. Leading her back up to the counter, Autumn skirted around it once more.
Cody had sat down, and he grinned at her as they made eye contact. She fought hard against a smile of her own and tore her gaze away from his. She boxed up the pie Mrs. Garcia had picked and bagged the jars of jellies and other items selected.
He ran his hand up and down her leg as she served her customer, and once she’d packed up Mrs. Garcia’s groceries and had collected the payment, she promised to take it easy and waited until the older lady had left the store before staring down at her boyfriend.
“Oh my God.” A blush spread across her face. “What if she had caught you?”
He grinned up at her as he stood. “Then I guess she’d have gotten a free peep show. Now, where were we?”
Before Autumn could answer, she was bent over the counter once more, her panties down and Cody’s tongue circling her clit. It didn’t take long for her to come with a loud moan, and her body trembled as her orgasm washed over her.
When she could breathe again properly, she glanced over her shoulder to see Cody removing his gun belt. He placed it carefully on the ground beside them. “Spread yourself open for me.”
Her eyes widened, and when he pulled down the zipper of his black pants, she reached back and did as he told her. Facing forward again, she was soon rewarded with the head of his cock pushing into her pussy. “Yes!”
He glided into her, not stopping until he was balls deep. He let out a deep moan. “Holy fuck, you’re so tight.”
Cody stayed put for a few moments before he started to move. Long, slow strokes in and out of her. Autumn had to let go and grab the counter again for purchase as he sped up, slamming into her over and over.
Her cries got louder, the feel of his cock deep inside her so stimulating that the telltale signs of another orgasm were there. Her toes curled as she came loudly, and he stilled inside her, his cock buried deep, as she clenched and fluttered around him.
Cody slapped her ass gently. “Hot damn, darlin’. Love it when you come on my cock.” He began to move again, not stopping until he joined her over the edge, pulsing inside her. She shuddered, struggling for breath, and relaxed against the counter, her ass still up in the air.
He withdrew from her gently and leaned over to the right, pulling some tissues from the box which sat underneath the old, heavy register. He gently cleaned her up, then pulled her panties back into place.
Autumn straightened up, her body still tingling all over, and turned around. Cody zipped up his pants and bent over to pick up his belt, securing it back around his waist.
Once he was done, he leaned in and slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her deeply. She clung to him to stay upright, not releasing her hold even after he pulled away.
He rubbed his nose against hers. “I wish I could stay longer, but I need to get back to the station.”
“Feel free to punish me like that any time.”
His grin lit up her world. “I’ll bust out the handcuffs tonight.” He gave her one final, lingering kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, handsome. See you this afternoon. I’ll come straight to yours once I close up here.”
He kissed her forehead, grabbed his hat, and left her side of the counter, heading for the front door. Just as he reached it, someone pushed it open from the outside, and Autumn was dismayed to see the new arrival was Gisele Dunne.
She worked for the only realtor in town
, and Autumn had never liked her. There was something disingenuous about the blonde woman.
Autumn had heard about the stunt Gisele had pulled the previous year, when Evie had first arrived back in town after the death of her grandfather.
The realtor had turned up uninvited to Charlie Steele’s property and placed a ‘For Sale’ sign out the front, falsely claiming Charlie had given her company permission to sell his house. It had only been when Luke and Cody had intervened that she’d left, but not before she’d left an already grieving Evie fuming.
Autumn was not a person who normally held a grudge, but she adored Evie and had been upset on her friend’s behalf. The incident had only intensified her dislike for the other woman. Still, if Gisele was at the store as a paying customer, she couldn’t turn her away.
“Hello, Deputy Sexy,” Gisele purred, placing her hand on Cody’s arm.
He shrugged it off. “Gisele. Excuse me, I’m just on my way out.”
“Not so fast.” Her grip tightened. “I need to pick up something really quickly and then I’m going to have lunch. Why don’t you join me?”
Autumn could tell by the way Cody held himself that he would rather eat dirt. “Thanks, but I just ate.” He glanced over at her and winked, and she couldn’t stop a grin spreading across her face. “Ladies.”
With that, he was gone. Gisele stared after him, before shrugging and going over to the glass cabinet to select a pie. She took it up to the counter and Autumn deftly boxed it, giving her the total. “Cody’s such a catch.” The smug smile on Gisele’s face made her teeth clench. “He’s really great in bed.”
Normally, she would not have responded, but she couldn’t resist the urge to wipe the smugness right off the other woman’s face. “Yes.” She smiled at Gisele sweetly. “I know.”
The blonde’s face dropped as she narrowed her eyes, then tipped her head back and let loose a fake laugh. “Sure you do, hon.”
Autumn could have pushed the point, but she chose not to. Whether Gisele believed her or not, she didn’t really care. Cody was dating her, not Gisele, and she had no reason to believe he’d stray.
She loved him with all of her heart, and she trusted him. He’d never done anything to make her doubt he didn’t feel the exact same way about her.
She smiled at the other woman even more, handing her the box. “Have a nice day, Gisele.”
Gisele took the box from her. “I will. I think I’ll head down to the station now and ask Cody out for dinner.”
Autumn schooled her features into a neutral expression. “Good luck with that.”
Gisele sniffed at her and flounced out of the store without so much as a thank you, and it was only after she was gone that Autumn allowed herself to really grin.
Cody was such an amazing man, and she was lucky to have him in her life.
15
Autumn placed the gear in park and turned off the engine. It was lunch time on Saturday, and although the parking lot at Stella’s Diner seemed to be full, there was one space close to the entrance that remained empty.
She eased her car into it, grateful Evie wouldn’t have to walk very far. Scooting around to the other side, she helped her heavily pregnant friend out of her seat.
“Thanks.” Evie grabbed her wallet from the dashboard and straightened up. She placed a hand on her large, round belly and rubbed it.
Autumn gave her a sympathetic smile. “You okay?”
The blonde woman nodded. “I’m starving, let’s go.” She took hold of Autumn’s hand and they slowly walked into the diner together.
A few people greeted the two women warmly, some of the older ladies coming over to see how Evie was doing. She wasn’t hard to spot these days; now in her third trimester, her belly was enormous.
Autumn led her friend over to a table, surmising Evie would no longer fit into a booth. She pulled a chair out and made sure Evie was comfortable before taking the seat next to her.
Susan, the current owner of the diner and the daughter of the eponymous original owner, appeared at the table. She placed a large pitcher of water down after pouring them both a glass. “Nice to see you, ladies. How are you feeling, Evie?”
“Fat.” Evie gave her a smile and then opened up the menu. “And very hungry.”
“Do you need a few minutes to decide?”
“Please, Susan.”
“Okay. Let me know when you’re ready.”
Once they were alone again, Autumn sipped her water. “You look beautiful, you know. You’re not fat. Pregnancy suits you.”
Evie reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You’re so sweet to say that, Autumn, but I look and feel like a beached whale right now.” She let out a long sigh and rubbed her belly again. “These boys are fighting for space in there.”
Autumn placed her hand on her friend’s belly and patted it. “Not long until they’ll be in your arms now.”
“I know.” Evie smiled widely at her. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“Neither can I. I know Cody’s excited. He can’t stop talking about them.”
Evie’s face softened. “He’ll make such a good father one day.”
Autumn nodded. “Yes, he will. He’ll be wonderful.”
“Our twin cowboys. Sexy as hell, and equally as frustrating.”
The dark-haired woman threw back her head and laughed. “What’s Luke doing this time to piss you off?”
“You know I love him more than life, but I wish he’d stop smothering me. I’m pregnant, not dying. I’m not even allowed to lift a teaspoon these days. I can’t fix myself a snack. He’s underfoot twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.”
Evie picked up her glass of water and took a large gulp before studying the menu again. “I’m so glad you asked me out for lunch. I just need a break from his handsome face, you know?”
“I know.” Autumn gave her a sympathetic smile. “Being smothered is no fun.”
“Amen, sister.”
Evie raised her hand and waved at Susan, who promptly came back to the table. “You ready to order, ladies?”
“You bet. I’d like a burger with everything and fries. I’ll have a side of onion rings, and some crispy bacon.” Evie glanced up at the owner. “Oh, can I also have a side of mac and cheese?”
Autumn’s eyes widened at her friend’s order. “You’re going to eat all of that?”
“You bet. I told you, I’m hungry. And eating for three.” Evie patted her belly with a smile.
“What do you want to drink, hon?”
“A chocolate milkshake, please.”
“You got it.” Susan turned toward Autumn. “What about you, hon?”
“I guess the Caesar salad I had in mind won’t cut it.” She glanced over at her friend and saw the twinkle in her eye. “You know what? I’ll have a burger with everything and some fries, too.”
Evie’s mouth twitched. “I’ll share my sides with you.”
“Awww, thanks.”
Susan’s pencil hovered over her notepad. “What about a drink, hon?”
“I’ll have a strawberry milkshake.”
Evie pumped the air with her fist. “The lunch of champions.”
The two women cackled with laughter and chatted nonstop until their food arrived. Autumn watched in amazement as Evie devoured the entire meal, along with most of the sides.
The brunette was well and truly full by the time they finished eating, and when a different waitress came to clear the table, she was shocked when her best friend ordered a dessert of chocolate cake and ice cream.
“What?” Evie gave her a mock scowl. “I’m letting loose for this meal. Luke hovers over me so much at home that I feel like I have to sneak a treat there.”
Autumn put her hands up in supplication. “I’m not saying a word. You absolutely deserve it.”
Evie slouched back in her chair, rubbing her belly in slow circles. “Yes, I do. This growing a human stuff is really fucking hard.”
“I bet it is.” Autumn reached
over to brush away a lock of blonde hair from her friend’s face. “And you know Luke only hovers because he loves you so much. He wants to take care of you.”
“I know.” The youngest Mrs. Whittaker sighed. “And you know I love him so much, too. But don’t think for a second I’m not enjoying parole.”
Autumn snorted with laughter, her hand flying to her mouth to cover it. They giggled until the waitress came back with dessert and two spoons. Autumn could only manage a few bites of cake and ice cream, leaving her pregnant friend to polish off the rest.
Evie insisted on paying for the meal, leaving a generous tip. Once she was ready to go, it was evident to Autumn that Cody’s sister-in-law was tired, so she drove her back to Luco Ranch.
As she steered the car to park outside the cabin, the front door opened and Luke stepped out. She gave him a wave as he came down the few stairs off the porch to assist his wife out of the car.
He gave her a big grin. “How’s it going, Autumn? Did you guys enjoy lunch?”
“I’m so full I could burst.”
“Ha!” Evie interjected. “That’s my line, lady. I’m the one with two rambunctious boys inside my stomach.”
Luke helped her out of the car, and once she was standing leaned in to kiss her. He went to pull back, but Evie grabbed his tee and held him in place so she could give him a lingering kiss. “Miss me?”
“Every second.”
“Right answer.” She turned to Autumn and hugged her as closely as she could. “Thanks for lunch. I really enjoyed myself.”
Autumn hugged her back. “Me, too. Listen, I’m experimenting with some new pie fillings tomorrow. Care to be my taste tester?”
Evie’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please! Feel free to bring samples of them all.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “I’m happy to help, too.”
His wife sniffed. “She wasn’t asking you.”
Autumn had to bite her lip to stop herself bursting into laughter. “Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty for you both. I’ll pop over when they’re done.”
She kissed Evie’s cheek, then Luke’s, and waved at them as she got back into her car. As she drove down the dirt road leading off the ranch, she glanced in her rearview mirror and could only smile when she saw her friends kissing, Luke’s hand resting on Evie’s belly with hers on top of his.
Finding Home (Being Home Book 2) Page 12