Taming Mack (Sinful Nights Book 3)

by Elizabeth Lennox

  Yes, she sighed in relief. She was making too much of the issue. She and Mack might be a curiosity, but they weren’t what everyone was talking about.

  Just like the Miller twins. Lots of people talked about the boys, but the twins weren’t the center of their conversations.

  When the last of the patrons had departed, Annie and Penny had scooted on home, smiles on their faces with pockets stuffed with tips they’d earned that night, Eve slowly turned off the lights. Waiting.

  Mack had said he would stop by to discuss what she’d come to the sheriff’s department to talk about earlier today. So, where was he? Why wasn’t he here? He was usually here before everyone left. And truth be told, she felt safer when he was with her. They were a mostly cash business and, with all of the cocktails, beer, and appetizers, she usually had a lot of cash that needed to be tucked away at the end of the night.

  The bell over the door rang and she turned, watching as Mack stepped through the doorway. And locked the door.

  “Hi there,” she whispered, then cleared her throat. She was just about to say it again, thinking there was no way he could have heard her, when he tossed his hat onto the counter.

  “Hi.” His approach seemed different tonight. Relentless. He stalked toward her as she swallowed, thinking that he seemed…different tonight. Softer. With a sensuous drift to it as it caressed her skin.

  Or was that caress coming his eyes drifting over her figure?

  Eve wasn’t sure but she couldn’t break the heavy silence to ask.

  Closer still. He didn’t stop until he was standing in front of her. She had to tilt her chin up to look him in the eye, but Eve didn’t mind. He exuded warmth and strength. The scent of pine cloaked him, as if the forest had followed him home.

  “I’m not going to stop at kissing you tonight, Eve.”

  Did she want that? Yes! Definitely yes! Every night, she’d gone to bed thinking about making love with him, her body already on fire from his kisses. So yes, she very much wanted him to follow her up the stairs and do far more than just kiss her tonight.

  “Any objections?” he asked, his hand coming up to pluck the band out of her hair. Her hair fell down around her shoulders in a tumble of curls.

  She lifted her hand self-consciously to push the curls out of the way, but he stopped her, taking her hand and pressing it on his chest. “Touch me, Eve,” he urged. And then he lowered his head, his mouth taking hers in a kiss that swept her breath away!

  As he kissed her, Mack picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting, needing, to be as close to him as possible. She sensed rather than felt the mattress behind her and then Mack was pulling off her clothes.

  “Faster!” she gasped when she felt his hands fumble on the waistband of her jeans. “Please!”

  Mack wanted to slow down. He wanted to take his time and explore all of the magnificent glory that was Eve. But her words and her touch, not to mention, the soft sounds of excitement she made every time he touched her, made him move faster.

  She pulled off his shirt and tossed it away and he couldn’t take the time to take off her bra. Instead, he tugged the strap off her shoulder, revealing her beautiful breast as he lowered his head to take the nipple into his mouth. He heard her gasp, then felt her fingers weave into his hair, holding his head there. He teased and nipped, laved and kissed the tip until she groaned, and then he moved to the other breast, enjoying that one just as much.

  “Now, Mack! Please, now!”

  He laughed and shook his head. “No way, Eve. I’m enjoying this.”

  “Why don’t you enjoy it faster?”

  He chuckled, then kissed his way down her stomach. She had beautiful, glowing skin and he discovered that she was a bit ticklish on her hip, but he moved lower still. Her jeans were gone and he pulled her panties down, groaning at the sight of her. “You have no idea what you do to me, do you?” he growled, then took one of her legs and pulled it over his shoulder before lowering his head to his goal. “I’ve been wondering if you taste as good as you look.”

  He heard a muffled sound, but he didn’t take the time to figure out if it was laughter or something else before he bent to tease those soft, pink folds. Once again, her fingers dove into his hair and he could feel her fingers tightening and loosening. Exploring her body, he tested various ways to taste and touch her, trying to find out what she liked the best. When she arched her back, he knew that he’d hit on the right spot and continued, teasing and tormenting that spot until…

  “Oh god, Mack!” she screamed, her body writhing. But he continued teasing her, gentling until her body relaxed.

  She sighed happily, her fingers loosening in his hair.

  He kissed his way back up her stomach and her breasts, then her neck and ears. “You okay?” he asked, going in for a deep kiss that made Eve’s knees weak.

  Eve beamed up at the man who had made her lose control in ways she hadn’t believed possible. “Yeah,” she replied, her hand sliding over his neck and jawline. “Thank you!”

  He chuckled softly, then stood up and finished undressing. “You’re more than welcome,” he teased right back.

  Eve grabbed a pillow, using it to cover herself as he undressed, her mouth falling open as she admired his already bare chest. “Wow!” she whispered.

  “I’m glad that you approve,” he teased, pulling several condoms from his pocket and tossing all but one onto the bedside table. “How about if you lose that pillow and let me see you properly?”

  She laughed, hugging the pillow closer. “I don’t think I can do that.”

  “You just let me touch you in the most intimate way possible,” he pointed out. He unselfconsciously stood in front of her, rolling a condom down his erection. “Are you seriously going to tell me that there is a part of you that I haven’t seen, touched, and tasted?”

  “Well, no, but…”

  “Then get rid of the pillow,” he ordered, and grabbed a corner, yanking it away from her and tossing it on the floor.

  Eve yelped, then giggled as he approached. “Are you always this commanding in bed?”

  “Yes,” he replied, grabbing one of her ankles, pulling it up to his mouth and kissing the arch of her foot. It tickled slightly, and she jerked, but he held on firmly. Slowly, he kissed his way up the inside of her leg as Eve giggled, wiggling to protect herself when his mouth came close to her core.

  “Oh, you’re still trying to hide from me?” he teased, taking her wrist and mercilessly pulling it out of the way. “I don’t think you understand, Eve. When I make love, I want all of you.”

  “Yeah?” she asked, her voice a bit breathless.

  “Yeah,” he confirmed. Then moved closer, pressing his erection into her softness. “You want me to stop?” he asked.

  “Don’t you dare!” she groaned, lifting her hips, begging for him to move deeper. “Please, don’t stop!”

  He didn’t. In fact, he held her hands over her head and pressed gently into her heat, watching her eyes for any indication that he might be hurting her.

  “So good!” she gasped. “More!”

  He shook his head, trying to clear the haze of lust. “Eve, you feel incredible!”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in closer. Deeper. “Please, all the way!”

  He pressed in deeper and deeper until he was fully sheathed inside of her. Then he stilled, waiting for her to adjust. Only when he felt her inner muscles relax slightly, did he start to shift. In and out, slowly at first, then faster as she gasped instructions. Over and over again, he thrust into her wet heat, holding her hips, then moving his hands up higher so he could cradle her body against his. The new angle created just the right friction, moving faster until…

  Eve screamed his name, her nails digging into his shoulders as her body throbbed with release. Only then did he allow himself to release his own control, finding his climax moments later. But even after that amazing sensation, he continued to move, unable to stop because�
�well, because Eve felt too good. Too perfect. He smiled when he felt her tremble, pressing a kiss against her neck before collapsing down beside her.

  “You’re beautiful, Eve!” he groaned.

  Chapter 11

  Something was tickling her. Eve pressed closer to the warmth, not wanting to wake up and face the sunshine. She wanted to savor this sensation of happiness a bit longer.

  The tickling started again and she mumbled an irritated growl. The soft laughter that followed her grumble brought her further out of her sleep.

  Peering over her shoulder, she realized that Mack was looming over her, looking scruffy, handsome, and hotter than she’d ever thought possible. He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer and she wanted to run her hands over all of the sexy lines of his muscles.

  “You owe me something, Eve,” he reminded her, before nipping her earlobe.

  “I do?” she asked, thinking about last night, what he’d done to her and…her heart pounded, thinking about doing that to him!

  “You had something to tell me yesterday at my office.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment slashed through her and she mentally sighed. “Right.”

  Mack pulled her closer and she wished she’d woken earlier so she could have hopped into the shower.

  “What were you thinking about?”

  She shook her head, feigning innocence. “Just what you were asking about,” she lied.

  He shot her a disbelieving look. Smart man. Must be why he was such a good law enforcement officer.

  “Why did you stop by my office yesterday morning?”

  She grabbed his hand when it started to slide down her hip. “I wanted to tell you about some men who were in the bar the other day. They seemed…off.”

  His hand stilled. In fact, his whole body froze. “Off how?” he demanded. Then he sat up, pulling her with him. “Tell me.”

  She smiled slightly as she pulled the sheet up to cover her nakedness. His eyes noticed and his lips smirked slightly, but thankfully, he didn’t pull the sheet away.

  “I’ve never noticed them before.”

  “Your advertising has drawn quite the crowd. Most of customers lately are tourists.”

  “Yes, but most of the tourists are here for hiking, fishing, or hunting. These particular men didn’t seem to be. And I know this is silly, but they just had an odd look about them, like they were up to something and didn’t want anyone else in their business.”

  “Describe them to me.”

  She tilted her head slightly, trying to remember them. “Well, one of them was mostly bald. They both wore the right clothes, but the material looked new, as if they’d never worn them before.” She pressed her lips together. “No, that’s not right. It was more like they were wearing a disguise.”

  Mack wondered if she’d just seen a couple of guys and her imagination had gotten the best of her. But then he dismissed that. Eve wasn’t one to go off on flights of fancy. If these men were off, he believed her.

  “When were they in?”

  Eve thought back to that night, trying to remember exactly when. Every day seemed to blur together until Mack arrived at night. Biting her lower lip, she thought back, trying to think of the appetizer served that night. “It was a dip night. We had Buffalo Meal as the appetizer. It was just salsa and cream cheese with a bit of jalapenos mixed in for heat.”

  He chuckled, cupping her cheek with his big, callused hand. Eve wasn’t aware of how she tilted her head into his touch, needing to feel him. “I have no idea how you come up with these names, but it’s working.”

  She laughed and sighed. “So if it was dip night, then it had to be last Wednesday evening. I’d say they both came in around seven-ish, but not together. I think the bigger one, the one with no hair, came in first and sat down at one of the back tables. His companion came in a few minutes later. I don’t know if they were trying to be subtle about the meeting place or if they just didn’t know each other at the time, but the second guy looked around and focused on his friend in the back of the bar and went right to him. If there was some sort of signal that acknowledged each other, I didn’t see it.”

  “Did you overhear their conversation?”

  Eve shook her head. “No. I was too far away and I couldn’t get close enough to hear. Besides, it was a busy night so it was loud.” She leaned forward, “But next time they come into the bar, I’ll make sure to listen and see what I can hear.”

  Mack’s stomach muscles tightened. “No! Eve, promise me that you won’t approach the men if they come in again. Just call me and I’ll be there.”

  “But–”

  “No!” he repeated, leaning forward to push her back down to the bed and looming over her. “Eve, I mean it. I don’t want you involved. I don’t know what they are doing in town but whatever it is, you stay out of their way.”

  “But, Mack…”

  He interrupted her again simply by tugging the sheet out of the way, surveying her breasts and nipples that were already hard and begging him for attention.

  “You’re going to let me do my job, Eve. Understand?” he asked, then covered one nipple with his mouth.

  Heat! Bright, hot, intense heat hit her as his tongue swirled around her nipple. “Right! You do an excellent job,” she whispered, closing her eyes as his tongue flicked against her nipple.

  “Damn straight,” he agreed. “I’m an expert at my job.” He kissed her, his tongue teasing hers until she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs shifting to make room for him. “And right now, my job is to start your day off with a bang.”

  She laughed, then gasped when his mouth moved along her neck, causing gasps and cries of delight. Lower still and he caught her other nipple, his fingers caressing and tweaking the other.

  When she felt him press into her, she lifted her hips, taking all of him inside of her. “You’re really…” she gasped as he thrust the first time, “good!” she finished after another thrust. But after that, there was no more conversation. Just sensation and enjoyment.

  When Mack pushed Eve over the edge to that beautiful climax this time, he followed right behind her and Eve clung to him, loving the way he could make her feel so incredibly alive! She shivered as he climaxed a few moments later, and wrapped her arms around him. When he buried his face against her neck, she knew that this was where she wanted to be for the rest of her life.

  That was such a shocking thought, she stiffened and Mack noticed. Of course Mack noticed, because Mack was one of the most observant men she’d ever met in her life.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, lifting himself up on his elbows so he could see her face. But he remained intimately connected to her and she liked that.

  “Nothing,” she lied, not wanting to bring up the future at a time like this. Mack wasn’t a future and babies kind of guy. He was a good man, but deep down, she knew that he was a player, like John.

  “Ugh!” she blurted out, realizing that she’d been thinking about her ex again. Why did she keep letting him into her present?

  He blinked in surprise. “That bad?” he teased.

  She shook her head but pushed lightly against his shoulders, indicating that she wanted to sit up. “No. It was wonderful. I just…I keep thinking about…” Eve trailed off, not wanting him to know how silly she was.

  “Eve, talk to me. Let me in,” he urged, pulling her closer.

  She looked at him as she cuddled into his lap, his arms wrapped around her waist. “I didn’t think you were the kind of man who wanted more than just…this,” she admitted, tilting her head slightly to indicate the bed.

  “You still think I’m the kind of guy who prefers one night stands to something more…substantial?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t think we know each other well enough to determine what either of us prefer.”

  He sighed, kissing her shoulder. “And what would you say if I told you that I wanted something more?”

  She laughed. “Mack, be serious.”

&
nbsp; And with that, she headed into the bathroom, pulling a robe around herself as she went.

  Mack watched, irritated that she’d covered up only moments before stepping into the bathroom to take a shower. It told him that she was still self-conscious around him. Or that she was finished with him and his pleasure in her body was over.

  Either way, he didn’t like it. He wanted Eve for more than just one night. Hell, he wanted her for a lifetime! He’d tried to stay away, to ignore the woman or, at least, ignore the attraction between them. His efforts had been pointless. Mack acknowledged that he wanted Eve forever.

  But how could he convince her to stay? Mack had no idea. And even if she stayed here in Minneville, how could he convince her that he wasn’t the kind of man she thought he was?

  A thought occurred to him. Perhaps it was time to question the genesis of her beliefs. With that in mind, he followed her into the bathroom. Thankfully, his body was sated so he knew that he could talk with her and not get distracted again.

  He pulled the glass shower door open and stepped in, enjoying Eve’s surprise when he pulled her against him. The shiver told him that she was fully aware of him. The softening of her lips gave him the idea of kissing them. Gently though, because her lips were swollen from last night and this morning.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and he was lost once again in the beauty of Eve’s body and her cries of delight when he touched her. And damn it, he didn’t get the chance to question her at all!

  Chapter 12

  “What’s wrong?” Mack demanded as soon as he stepped into the sheriff’s station that morning. He was feeling good. Great, actually. And it was all because of Eve.

  Louis tossed a piece of paper on Mack’s desk. “Angie says that our lion is ready to go home. The cocaine is out of his system and she’s monitored him for withdrawal. She says that he hadn’t been on the drug long enough for a real withdrawal issue, but warned that the cat would try to go back to the source for more. It’s the way the drug works.”