by Donna Grant
Audrey couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe. She watched him return to his bedroom without noticing her.
Hard muscles gleamed just beneath skin kissed by the sun. His shoulders were wide and thick. His chest bulged with muscles, and his stomach.… She had to close her eyes and reach for the door to steady herself.
So much for being centered. Perhaps she should spend the night with the horses. Slowly, she closed the door behind her and let out a long breath.
“What did you think?”
Her eyes snapped open. Her mind was still on his hard body. Thankfully, she didn’t blurt out that he was sinfully hot. At least he had on a white tee with his jeans now. “About?”
“The stables. I saw you head that way before I jumped in the shower,” he said as he stopped beside the island.
He was giving her a peculiar look. Audrey forced a smile and happily grasped onto something she could talk about. “It’s beautiful. Where did you get the design?”
One side of Caleb’s lips lifted in a proud grin. “Thanks to working with Clayton, we got to go all over the country and sometimes even abroad to check out horses and cattle. There was something about each stable that I liked, and I made sure to incorporate it into my design.”
“You did a great job.”
He gave her a nod. “Thanks. Any horses strike your fancy?”
She laughed and made her way toward him, more at ease now since he was clothed. “All of them, of course. But I did show some attention to the black mare.”
“Ah. We bought her from a sheikh. She’s an Arabian.”
“I’ve not had a chance to spend much time with Arabians. Most of the horses I handle are Quarter Horses or thoroughbreds.”
“Spend as much time as you want with her.”
“So, a sheikh, huh?” Audrey asked, wanting to know more.
Caleb laughed loudly. “It was quite by accident. We were in upper New York, looking at a mare when I saw her. She was fighting the men trying to load her into the trailer. I immediately walked over to her and took the leads from the men. She calmed instantly. I walked her around for a bit. I had no idea her owner was there. He had flown her from Saudi Arabia to breed her, but she hadn’t taken to the flight well.”
“Most don’t,” Audrey added.
Caleb nodded in agreement. “This sheikh found Brice and asked if we’d be interested in buying her since I was the only one who had been able to calm her in over two weeks. No one else could even get near her.”
“I’m glad you were there. Right time and place, apparently.”
He smiled. “She walked right into the trailer for me, and we brought her here. I’ve had offers from others to buy her, but she’s not going anywhere.”
Audrey knew at that moment that the man she had been looking for was none other than the hot cowboy in front of her.
Chapter 21
“I’m glad.”
Caleb loved the sound of Audrey’s voice. It was soft and husky. And it did crazy things to his already hard cock. At this rate, he was going to have to take another shower. A cold one this time.
He cleared his throat and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Are you tired? Do you want to rest?”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t want you to think you have to stay up. You were awake a long time.”
“So were you.”
Caleb shrugged. “I’ve had many years of such nights. It doesn’t bother me.”
“I can see that.” She grinned and looked up at him through her lashes. “I’m a bit envious.”
He laughed. “Don’t be. If I closed my eyes right now, I could be asleep in a second, but then I’d throw off my entire schedule. It’s better if I stay up until it’s time to go to bed. But that’s me. You don’t have to do the same.”
“You sound like you want to get me into bed.”
Caleb stilled. His arousal twitched, eager to be buried deep inside her. How in the hell would he get through the night? As it was, he had to keep distance between them. Now, with her statement, he didn’t know whether to laugh, run from the house, or launch himself over the island and drag her into his arms.
Neither said a word as they stared at each other. So many things to say went through Caleb’s head. But none of the words made it past his lips.
The shrill sound of a cell phone ringing broke the silence—and their stand-off.
“That’s me,” Audrey said.
Caleb leaned his hands on the quartz countertop and dropped his chin to his chest. “What the fuck?” he asked himself.
Normally, he was suave and so smooth, Jace and Cooper often called him “Butter” as a joke. It was like he could no longer find north.
As soon as he heard Audrey approaching, he straightened. “Everything all right?”
“Yes,” she said with surprise in her voice. “Can you believe it?”
“I can.”
She set her cell on the island and sat on a stool. “I can’t.”
He frowned at her, realizing that there was more to her thought. “But?”
“These people,” she said, waving her hands, “whoever they are. They went to extremes to poison the horses, wreck my equipment, and then set fire to the dead horse just so I wouldn’t be able to find the cure.”
Caleb leaned back against the counter behind him and crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t think they’re finished.”
“Not by a long shot. Do you?”
“No.”
She drew in a deep breath before she released it. “It’s why none of you wanted me home alone.”
“Yeah.”
She pressed her lips together as her gaze moved to the quartz for a moment. “Do you think they’ll try to poison more horses?”
Caleb crossed one ankle over the other. “There’s a distinct possibility. That’s why Jace and Cooper are staying at the auction house on guard with the police without showing themselves.”
“But I have the antidote now. It’d be stupid for them to poison any more animals.”
“I agree, but it’s better to be cautious.”
“What aren’t you telling me?” she demanded, eyeing him skeptically.
Caleb studied her for a long moment. Audrey was strong mentally. She faced things head-on and didn’t skirt around any issues.
He dropped his arms and put his hands on the counter beside him. “Who do you think these people are after?”
Audrey didn’t have a quick response. In fact, a full minute went by before she said, “Most people would believe David since it’s his auction house. I was one of those people.”
“But you don’t anymore?”
“I don’t know. It seems obvious that it’s him, but I asked myself why. David doesn’t have enemies. He’s one of the kindest people I know. My next guess would be the owners of the horses, but one of them was a rescue, so that couldn’t possibly be it.”
“Besides,” Caleb said, “only David and the owners know which horse is which once it’s unloaded at the auction.”
Audrey nodded. “Good point.”
“So.…” he pressed.
“You want me to keep going?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“Yeah.”
She licked her lips and leaned her forearms on the island. “Okay. Well, if those two options are eliminated, then you have to look at who David would send for if the animals got sick.”
Caleb stared at her, waiting for her to grasp the situation.
Audrey cocked her head to the side. “You still think it’s me. David has two or three vets he calls out for such things.”
“Not for something like this,” Caleb pointed out.
“But … they haven’t hurt me.”
“Not physically, no, but there are other ways to come at someone.”
Audrey gaped at him. “You mean professionally?”
“You are one of the most sought-after equine vets in the area.”
“But I work for two ranches. That effective
ly takes me off the market.”
“Yet you helped David,” Caleb stated.
Audrey rose from the stool and walked toward the living area before hastily turning back around. She took another two steps before she halted. “By keeping my attention on the horses at David’s, I have neglected my duties at the other two farms. They’ve called numerous times, and I’ve asked for personal time, but neither owner is particularly happy with me. If they want to fire me, let them. I think I can find work again.”
“Easily.”
The soft smile that tilted her lips at his compliment made his balls tighten.
“Thank you,” she said. “Tell me how any of this hurts me.”
“You have your reputation, and that’s what they could be after.”
Audrey swallowed hard. “It’s the one thing I’ve worked hard to build. I kept thinking this was about David or someone wanting to hurt horses.”
“They could’ve put that poison into any animal at the auction house. Matter of fact, it would’ve been a hell of a lot easier to go to other places than the auction house to do this. No, I think this is all tied to you somehow.”
Audrey pivoted and walked to the window. For long moments, she stood there silently, unmoving. Caleb knew it was foolish, but he still walked to her. He stopped behind and just to the side of her.
He put a hand on her shoulder and lightly squeezed. “It’s going to be all right, you know.”
Audrey reached up and covered his hand with hers. Then she faced him. “Are you always so confident?”
“No.”
“I think you are,” she said in a soft whisper. “I’m not scared with you.”
It would be so easy to touch her face, caress her cheek, and then close the distance to put his lips to hers. He’d done it a million times with other women.
He let his arm fall from her shoulder because he wasn’t strong enough to resist her pull. But to his shock, she grabbed the hand before it could return to his side.
Caleb frowned at her. Didn’t she know he was hanging on by a thread? Couldn’t she see that he was fighting with everything he had not to give in to the desire that raged like a storm within him? Surely, she saw some of it.
Then she released him. Caleb felt such loss, such a void within him that a bellow rose inside his head. When Audrey turned to leave, he didn’t stop her, just watched her walk toward the hallway.
She got another two steps before he went after her. He was moving before he even realized it. When he reached her, he whirled her around to face him.
“Caleb?” she asked.
He clenched his jaw, telling himself to go to his room. Instead, he said, “Tell me to leave you alone.”
She blinked, her brows furrowing. “What?”
“Tell me to walk away. Tell me you aren’t interested.”
There was a beat of silence. “What if I am?”
She was killing him. He glanced away and clenched his fists at his sides. “Dammit, Audrey. Tell me to walk away!”
“No.”
With that one word, he was lost. Utterly.
Completely.
They reached for each other at the same time, their bodies colliding in a frenzy of longing and hunger. He pressed her against the wall, rocking his aching cock against her softness as their tongues dueled.
Her hands were moving over his back and shoulders as he plundered her mouth. She kissed him with abandon, holding nothing back.
And he wanted more, needed more.
She pushed him away and gave him a come-hither look as she backed toward his bedroom. His blood ran hotter at her teasing.
He smiled at her swollen lips and the desire that filled her dark gaze. Caleb rushed after her, finally grabbing her when they reached his room.
Their lips met again, the kisses fiery and hot as they yanked at each other’s clothes until they were skin-to-skin. Finally.
He leaned back and looked at her. She was breathless, her lips parted. He wanted to etch this memory into his mind forever. The blatant desire on her face, the carnal cravings that drove both of them.
Caleb tightened his arms around her and lifted her to walk to the bed. As they fell back onto the mattress, the only thing that mattered in the entire world at that moment was Audrey.
Chapter 22
She burned.
For him.
Audrey couldn’t stop touching Caleb. His skin was warm, his muscles firm beneath her palms. And his weight felt amazing on top of her.
Their limbs twined as she tried to get closer to him, and he to her. She hadn’t gotten to look her fill, but she was learning every amazing inch of him with her hands.
Her breath hitched when his fingers tangled in her hair, and he gently tugged her head to the side. His lips left an intoxicating warmth in their wake as they trailed down her neck. Chills raced over her skin when he paused and dipped his tongue into the hollow of her throat.
Audrey pressed her lips against his shoulder, but she forgot what she’d intended to do after, when he cupped one of her breasts and massaged it. The feel of his callused hands on her skin made desire tighten low in her belly.
She gasped when he pinched her nipple, rolling the turgid bud between his fingers. Her blood ran hot, scalding her with the force of her desire.
Of her longing.
Caleb shifted, and his mouth wrapped around the peak. The soft rasp of his tongue against her sensitive nipple had her moaning. Her head fell back as she struggled for breath while pleasure swarmed her as he mercilessly teased her.
She could feel his arousal pressed against her leg. She wanted to move, to rub against it to help with the ache building at the juncture of her thighs, but his weight held her still.
Another moan, this one louder, fell from her lips when he shifted his focus to her other breast. The pleasure was so intense, so powerful, that there was no turning away from it.
No running.
Suddenly, Caleb rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He held a breast in each hand, gently massaging the globes. She stared down at him, watching the way he seemed enthralled with her chest. Then his gaze lifted to meet hers.
His desire was no longer hidden. It blazed hot and bright. And it made Audrey’s stomach quiver in excitement and anticipation.
Audrey shifted her hips so she rubbed against his arousal. All she needed to do was move slightly, and he could be inside her. But she didn’t get the chance as he sat up. His arms came around her while his mouth claimed her lips for another scorching kiss that left her breathless and needier than ever.
Somehow, Audrey ended up sitting on the edge of the bed as Caleb knelt before her. She blinked, her mind trying to sort through the haze of pleasure to figure out what had happened. Then it didn’t matter as he rested his hands on her thighs.
She widened her legs. The sight of Caleb’s chest rising faster had her clenching the covers in need. She leaned back on her hands and looked her fill at his magnificent chest once again.
His hair was tousled, and she loved it. That, combined with his rapid breathing and his heated gaze only heightened her hunger. Desire tightened again, stronger. Needier. He smiled as he caught her gaze.
Slowly, he moved his big hands down to her knees and then caressed upward. She bit her lip, waiting impatiently for him to touch her where she needed him. But he didn’t.
Instead, the pads of his fingers softly skimmed down the inside of her thighs. Once more, chills raced over her body. As good as his touch was, the moment his fingers trekked back to her sex, she stilled.
Waiting. Hoping.
She couldn’t look away from him. He held her entranced. Kept her suspended between pleasure and torture.
With agonizing slowness, his fingers crept closer to her throbbing sex. His thumbs brushed against her vulva. She forgot to breathe as she waited for more.
Three heartbeats later, his fingers moved upward, spreading her. Her lids closed and her head fell back. The moment he found her clit and swirled his
finger around it, she was lost, tumbling into the abyss of ecstasy.
The strength in her arms gave out, and she collapsed onto the bed fully. Then his mouth was on her, his tongue taking the place of his finger as he expertly gave her pleasure.
* * *
Caleb had never seen a more gorgeous sight. Audrey’s body was perfection—from her full breasts to the indent of her waist to her slightly flared hips. He couldn’t get enough of her long, lean legs either.
But the way she was laid out on the bed, her legs open, and her body displayed for him, was mesmerizing. She wasn’t shy or embarrassed. She knew what she liked, and it showed in the way she reacted to him.
He glanced at her breasts to see them moving as she breathed. Her hips rolled in time with his tongue. She embraced her sexiness, and it turned him on even more.
“Please,” she begged. “I can’t wait. I need to feel you inside me.”
Caleb lifted his head to look at her. He’d planned to continue his assault on her sex for much longer, but who was he to deny both of them when she obviously couldn’t wait.
He stood and put a knee on the bed. When her eyes lowered to his straining cock, he paused to let her look her fill. To his surprise, she sat up and wrapped her fingers around him firmly. She moved her hand up and down his length several times before she slowly lay back.
Unable to resist, he bent with her. She then guided his rod to her entrance. Caleb slid inside her with one thrust. The sight of her eyes closing in bliss made his heart skip a beat.
Her black locks were spread around her, and wanton desire etched every facet of her face. She lifted her lids. The moment Caleb looked into her dark depths, he was lost.
He’d crossed some invisible line that he hadn’t known was there. One that he’d avoided before at all costs. But now that he was past it, he didn’t care. He wanted to be with Audrey. He wanted her in his arms and in his bed.
Whatever came next was anyone’s guess.
Caleb pulled out slightly and then began pumping his hips, slowly at first and then building speed as her sounds of pleasure became louder. She clung to him, her nails digging into his skin, but it only pushed him to give her more.