He tugged up the hem of her dress, while his teeth raked down her neck and across her shoulder. The cool air nipping at her back did nothing to cool the fire he had lit inside her. Still she waited, her entire body shuddering under his touch, her grasp tightening on his shoulders.
“What are you doing to me?” The words were barely a whisper off his lips. Glazed eyes studied her features in the dim light. “All I can think about is seeing you. Touching you. Tasting you.” His fingers reached her apex, strumming across the damp material. “I want to make you as crazy as you make me, so hot you forget about everything except screaming my name when you come.” With a rush of his breath he lowered his forehead to hers.
Lips parted, she marveled at the panting breaths echoing between them. Her hips moved against him without any conscious thought on her part, begging for more. He willingly obliged, slipping under the damp silk to explore.
An unexpected jolt ran through her body, rippling with every stroke of his searching fingers. “Lie back.” She stretched out, letting the coat she still wore drop open, displaying the fitted bodice of her dress. The sight caught his attention. He pushed his finger past her slit, and his mouth closed over her nipple, straight through the dress.
A cry broke past her lips at the unexpected caress. He answered with a firm nip before retreating. Dios, he was going to kill her. With one quick tug he removed the lacy black panties. The table creaked when he settled in. “I need more room.” He lifted her left leg over his shoulder.
Frustration clenched her sex. “Uh-uh.” He ran his lips over her, and she was suddenly glad she’d taken up waxing. She could feel every touch, reveling in the distinction between bare skin and the areas still sparsely covered. He ran his tongue over her slit, coming back to nibble at her, right above where she needed him.
Her breath rushed out and she bit her lip, wanting him to do it again, following through this time. His tongue dipped in, right over her entrance, and moved up her body, slipping out right before he reached her clitoris. Her legs tensed, moving restlessly around him as he started the exquisite torture all over again. She angled her hips, trying to position herself just right, but his tongue slid down, then started over again, teasing her into moving.
“That’s right, sweetheart. Move for me.” A harsh breath rushed out, understanding what he wanted. “Ride my tongue like you rode against my cock.” The things he said… But her body obeyed him, mimicking the motion from last night while he rewarded her with delicious pressure. Her muscles tightened and he thrust two fingers inside her, shattering the tenuous hold on her self-control. Her legs spread farther and he clamped down on her clitoris, sucking her in.
The cry echoing in the room was her…she knew that somewhere in a corner of her mind. And she must have arched off the table, because her back landed with a firm thud, then her legs went limp around his shoulders. She looked down her body to make sure he was all right after having three-inch heels digging into him.
The sight of him stopped her. Their eyes locked, his deep and intense, scorching her with need. Anticipation claimed her again. He wanted her, and she could scarcely breathe with the sudden need to have him fill her. She squeezed her inner muscles around his fingers.
“Fuck, baby. You’re so damn tight. We may need to go again before I can get my cock inside you without hurting you.”
She groaned deep in her throat; settling back, she let her lids drift shut, enjoying his intimate touch. If this had brought her to the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced, what would he manage with—
“It’s safe to come in, Mamá. The office is empty.”
Her eyes popped open as she rose on her elbows. “Simon…Lu-Lupe.” Desire drained at the reality of the situation. The skirt she’d painstakingly ironed was bunched up at her waist. One of her legs was still curled over a man’s shoulder and her dress bore a wet spot over her nipple from his earlier attention. She uncurled her legs from around him and wiggled off the table as he straightened.
Shaking hands smoothed down her dress then dragged her coat closed before fumbling with the buttons. “You need to go.” He was inordinately quiet, his mouth barely a slash on his face. How could he be upset? He wasn’t the one standing there on unsteady legs wondering what the hell happened to his panties while people were walking toward them.
She ducked her head to go past him. He caught her arm, whirling her around. His hand dug into her hair, pulling her back to face him right before his lips came down on hers.
His mouth dominated hers, pushing past her lips to claim her all over again. She brought her hand up to his shoulder, aiming to push him away, but couldn’t follow through. She tasted herself on his mouth and the chaos churning within her collapsed.
He held the back of her head, but her entire body responded, melting against him. Andres released her, but she wasn’t sure her legs could support her. Her body ached for him to be inside her with an intensity she’d never experienced.
Panting, she cradled his face. “I’m sorry…” Swallowing, she shook her head. He was still hard, and she was going to leave him wanting yet again. “I didn’t… She was coming in early.”
“Go.” He nodded toward the door. She didn’t move. Could she throw caution to the wind and meet him upstairs? Would she even bother to sneak around or be quiet? Lupe would tell the whole town before she had his boots off. He must have seen the doubt in her eyes, because he dropped a quick kiss on her temple. “Go. You’ll need to distract them while I straighten up in here and slip out.”
Tamping down the disappointment, she turned and forced her feet to move. With one last glance over her shoulder, she went around the doorframe and into the hall.
Rayo trotted up the drive, heading straight for the stable. They’d had a nice long ride, but nothing was getting Andres past the hard-on he’d had most of the night. The image of Monica, hazel eyes heavy-lidded after her orgasm, was stuck in his head. She’d squeezed down on his fingers and his dick—
“Seriously.” Lourdes stepped out of shadows. “You chose last night to stay out till morning.”
Rayo stopped by the tack room, ready to be unsaddled. “And good morning to you, ma’am.” Andres dismounted then dutifully reached for the cinch. What was she up to? In the years she’d been a housekeeper, she’d never spent any of her spare time in the stable.
“That good or that far?”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve never stayed out all night when you used to go riding. So I figure this girl was either that good or she lived pretty far.”
Although they’d been friends for most of their lives, he couldn’t believe she’d gone there. “The girls I messed around with, when I was a kid, are all married or gone.” He took a deep breath, trying to settle down before the horse picked up on his annoyance.
“So it must be someone who lives far. Because I can’t think of anyone you’d be messing around with in town.”
This was the wrong time to make that observation. In fact, he had half a mind to turn it around on her and ask how she ended up with hay in her braid.
“Did you need something, or you just here to bust my ass?”
She had the decency to look embarrassed. He lifted the saddle and placed it on a rack. “Actually…”
Back stiff, he walked right past her and led Rayo to his stall.
“I’m sorry, Andresito. I fell asleep waiting for you and ended up with a stiff neck. Now I’m in a bad mood.”
Crap. She musta been waiting a while. “What did you need?” he asked, throwing off his annoyance.
“Morning.” Two of the ranch hands filed in, calling out their greeting.
“Morning, guys.”
“Good morning,” she added quietly.
He waited, but she just watched the men start their chores. “Lulu.” He reverted to her nickname. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She pasted on a smile. “Any chance…do you think you might be going to town today?”
“I don’
t know yet.”
“Okay. Well, can you—”
Alex walked in and they exchanged greetings.
“So…” Lourdes shoved her hand in her pocket. “Can you tell me once you know?”
“Yeah, I can do that.” Andres frowned. “You sure you’re okay?”
She gave him that same fake smile. “I just have a lot of stuff to do. I better get back.” She pointed a thumb toward the house and took off.
Alex came up behind him. “What was that about?”
Andres shook his head as both men watched her return to the main house. “I have no idea.”
Lupe sat in the front office, hunched over a file while Dora buffed her nails. Monica leaned against the doorway, a big cup of coffee in hand. Her eyelids begged for a few stolen moments to nap after her midnight run with Andres and Damian.
She’d be okay if she was busy, but the waiting area was empty, same as yesterday. With fear taking over the town after the chief’s death, they’d likely have an empty office every afternoon. “Are you almost done for the day?”
“No.” Lupe’s curt answer drew Dora’s startled gaze. She immediately bent her neck, her back going unnaturally straight. Discreetly, she set the nail buffer she’d been using into the nearest drawer.
Monica stared at the ceiling. Please give me patience. “I’d be happy to pitch in,” she offered, “so you ladies can be home before the sun goes down.”
Lupe swiveled in the chair, giving her a pointed look. “I’m glad you brought that up. This new schedule you’ve implemented has to change.”
Moni looked from her to Dora. The younger woman’s shoulders shot up, her eyes wide and baffled.
“I haven’t implemented any schedule, Lupe.” Had the older woman not realized what was going on around her? “If there’s a problem with you getting home, I can give you a ride.”
Her lips tightened. “People are starting to whisper. They’re asking how I could be done for the day so early now that you’re in charge of the office. When Dr. Treviño was here I was working until all hours.” Her chin dipped and her eyes shifted to Dora, then back. “It’s embarrassing.” Her entire face took on a rosy hue.
Dora pressed her lips together, her teeth capturing them as she swiveled her chair to face away from them. Her shoulders shook, but she managed to not utter a sound.
“I didn’t realize.” Would she ever get used to dealing with etiquette from a century gone by? “People are staying off the streets at night. With everything that’s happened, I think closing mid-afternoon is a good idea.”
Lupe rolled the pen between her fingers, looking like a fish out of water.
“How about I treat you both to an early dinner so we can unwind? Afterward, I can drop you off.”
Dora grinned and readily agreed to the offer.
Lupe wasn’t quite so enthusiastic. “If you’re sure.”
Moni nodded.
“We’d have to discuss work if people are around. I don’t want anyone thinking we’re getting too friendly,” she added.
Not many would come to such a silly conclusion. “I’m sure Dora and I will do our best to follow your lead.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Dora agreed.
Lupe checked her watch. “Simon should be done with work soon.” A smile softened her features. “I’ll call him to join us.”
Great. Just what she needed, another session of sitting between Lupe and her son while she was matchmaking.
“Oh.” Dora’s face lit up. “You think he’d come?”
“He’d be thrilled to join the doctor for dinner.”
Dora’s smile faltered.
Monica dumped out her coffee then returned to the office and shrugged off her coat. Hmmm. So Dora was the lure for Simon’s frequent office visits. She hadn’t seen that one coming. With a little creativity, she might be able to make the best of this unexpected piece of information.
Andres looked into the stable to make sure the grooms were occupied. Heart pounding, he pulled up the cup holder on the truck’s rear passenger door and dropped in a tracker.
“What are you doing?” Lourdes snapped, poking her head through the driver’s side window.
“Shit!” Andres swore, his heart almost exploding in his chest. He dropped the cup holder, pressing his eyes closed as he dragged in a deep, calming breath.
She came around the truck. “You were supposed to tell me if you had a trip into town,” she hissed, planting her hands on her wide hips.
“I don’t.” He nodded at Alex, who was heading down the path from his cabin. “Alex is taking Bailarina to Monterrey.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders drooped.
“Dr. Treviño’s supposed to get with you to see—”
“You told him?” she squeaked. Her dark skin went pale, and she grabbed her apron, rolling it into a ball at her stomach.
He shut the door, coming around to check on her. “I-I… You didn’t say not to tell him anything.”
“I didn’t tell you to go ask him, either,” she shot back with annoyance.
“I’d have to ask him. He’s the reason I go to town.” Damn, he must have ruined her plan. “I’m sorry, Lulu. I didn’t know I was supposed to keep things on the down-low.”
Lourdes dropped the apron, bringing her hands to her temples as she released a heavy breath.
“Well, can Alex get whatever you need from Monterrey?”
“No, Alex can’t,” he said as he shot straight past them, heading for the stalls.
She dug her chin against her chest, quickly shaking her head, as if she wanted him to drop it.
“What the hell?” He glared over his shoulder at Alex, then turned back to Lourdes. Was everyone going nuts? His tired mind raced, trying to piece together what happened.
She looked over her shoulder at the house before turning back to him. “I’ll find you later on,” she said quietly, then turned to leave.
Alex stalked back to the trailer, leading Bailarina by the reins. “What did you tell the old man to have him send me out instead of you?”
“I didn’t say anything.” Andres stopped Alex, pulling the reins from his hand. “If it bothers you so much, tell him you won’t go.” Bailarina sidestepped, conscious of the tension between the men. She wasn’t happy being pulled out of her stall to begin with. “I have no problem making the drive.”
Alex cocked his head, glaring at him. “Why not, man? You can even swing by and pick up the little doc on the way, right? So you don’t get lonely in Monterrey, all by yourself.”
Andres glanced behind him to make sure none of the grooms followed him out of the stable. Their personal issues were nobody else’s business. “Yeah,” he mocked. “I’m sure she’d be ready to drop everything and jump in the truck. What woman wouldn’t get all hot and bothered about hauling a horse trailer across the state? Pendejo.”
Alex was pissed over something else. He’d never complained about making a run to Monterrey. Then again, this wasn’t a regular errand. Dr. Treviño had asked him to take Bailarina in to have her mane and tail dyed back to the original color. The constant reminder of Paloma was causing Guerrero some health problems. The boss had been drunk or pissed or both for days. Who could blame the man, after finding his kid in pieces?
“What is it with you and doctors? You’re trying to get under one’s skirt and having a bromance with the other.” He tipped his chin up, taunting him.
“Screw you.” Andres held Bailarina as she shook her head, pulling away. He had to get her in the trailer before she tried heading to the stable. “And while we’re talking about doctors, the shit you said to Monica was outta line, vato. What happened between you and I stays here. She’s never done anything to have you disrespect her.”
Alex’s lips tightened for a second then his shoulders dropped. “Yeah…I fucked up. I’ll talk to her.”
“No.” He shook his head, his upper lip curling. “No talking. You’ll apologize to her.”
“Yeah, I’ll apologize. I was an ass; she di
dn’t deserve that.” He plopped against the truck while Andres coaxed Bailarina into the trailer. “I’m gonna be stuck waiting on the prig hairdresser.” Alex slammed the base of his fist against the side of the truck.
“Yeah, payback’s a bitch.” The guy would keep Alex waiting on him because he enjoyed the attention. Nothing like having a captive audience to hit on or flirt with. Andres locked Bailarina in, giving her a final pat. He was frustrated; people were pissed at him for shit he had no control over. “So what’s the big deal?”
“They’re having some fancy dinner tonight, and I’m gonna miss it over this shit.”
Damn. If Lourdes was planning a surprise, she should have said so. Was today the doctor’s birthday? Or some other special occasion? Nobody told him anything around here. All this crap over a frickin’ dinner. The way the day had gone, it had better be the dinner to end all dinners.
“I just don’t get why Bailarina has to go in today,” Alex complained. “It’s like Dr. Treviño doesn’t want me around.”
“Hey, I didn’t know they’re having a thing tonight, either.” Andres shrugged. Not that he’d be included in anything happening in his childhood home. “You’re already screwed. Stay the night and come back tomorrow.”
Alex’s shoulder twitched and he shook his head. “No can do.” His gaze skidded back to the main house. “He’s having me take Susana and the baby.” Andres’s stomach tightened. Crap. They’d be stuck together for hours. Alex and the woman who’d made a fool of him. Much as he tried, he’d never found a good time to clear the air.
“He gave me a load of cash,” Alex continued, “and said to get them clothes, a crib, a car seat, and whatever else she needed for the kid.”
The news shouldn’t have surprised him. Dr. Treviño was a generous man, yet it bugged him, especially when it came to doling out favors to Susana. As soon as she arrived he’d settled her into the Calderon’s family home with him, Guerrero, and Paloma. Somehow he didn’t think Susana had been bunking with Maria and Lourdes, by the kitchen. How had he gotten Guerrero to agree to everything? How much say did Dr. Treviño have?
Secrets and Seduction (Dangerous Desires) Page 9