Shoulda Been A Cowboy: Rough Riders, Book 7

by Lorelei James

  Don’t ask what Keely is babbling about. You’re better off if you don’t know.

  At the front door he rattled off, “Stay out of my room. Stay out of my bathroom. Stay out of the liquor cabinet. Don’t fuck with my TV. Leave Gracie outside. I’ll deal with her when I get home in a little bit.”

  “There’s no need for you hurry back, bro. I can take care of Gracie.” Keely stepped into the foyer. “In fact, I hope I don’t see you until well after the sun rises.”

  “Brat.”

  She grinned and slammed the door in his face.

  Cam counted to ten and backtracked to the car. He took his time getting in, not because he was stalling, but because his stump was starting to chafe inside the socket.

  As soon as they were on the paved road, Domini said, “Is your leg hurting?”

  How had she picked up on that so fast? “You wouldn’t think so, bein’s half of the damn thing is gone.”

  Silence.

  “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

  “Are you off duty now?”

  “Yeah. I’ve been off since I finished up at Twin Pines.”

  “I’m sorry you have to drive me home.”

  I’m not.

  The conversation died. Cam flipped on the defroster. Why was his windshield fogging up at the end of freakin’ August?

  Because Domini Katzinski is smokin’ hot. She makes your heart pound. She makes you sweat. She makes you breathe hard. She makes you imagine what it’d be like pounding into her, both of you covered in sweat as you breathe in the scent of her.

  Dammit. Think of something else. Do something else.

  He fiddled with the police radio. Then he drummed his fingers on the dash.

  Domini placed her cool palm over his knuckles.

  Cam looked at her. “What?”

  “Do I make you nervous, deputy?”

  Yes. “No. Why?”

  “Because you constantly fuss whenever you’re around me.”

  “It’s just a habit.”

  “An annoying habit.” She threaded her soft fingers through his until her palm rested on the back of his hand. “Can you keep still now?”

  He shrugged. But he didn’t remove his hand. Actually, he was shocked she’d touched him so freely. Domini was usually so…reserved.

  Normally silence didn’t bother him, in fact, Cam preferred it. But tonight, he wanted to talk, if only to hear her voice. “Did you have fun before the cops showed up?”

  “Yes. We danced and drank and gossiped. I’ve never actually seen a bar fight.”

  Cam snorted. “You must not hang out with Keely much. That girl is always finding trouble.”

  “She seemed pretty pleased she’d popped my cherry tonight.”

  He nearly wrecked the car. “What?”

  Domini blushed. “It was my first Wyoming bar brawl. Keely came up with the cherry-popping phrase, not me.”

  “It figures. I’m curious. What else did you ladies gossip about?”

  “Family. Babies. Men. Sex.” Domini’s gaze pierced him. “You.”

  “Me? What about me?”

  “Your sister asked if something was going on between us.”

  His stomach dropped at the thought of his family gossiping about him. “What did you say?” Cam eased the patrol car alongside her building.

  “No. But I did say I wished something was going on between us.”

  Cam didn’t know how to respond. Evidently saying nothing was the wrong response, because Domini attempted to bail out of the car.

  “Forget it.”

  “Ah-ah-ah.” Cam caught her wrist, holding her in place. “Wait just a damn minute. You don’t get to say something like that and then just leave.”

  Domini just stared at him intently.

  “Why would you want to start something with a gimped-up, scarred man like me?”

  “That’s not what I see when I look at you.”

  Fuck. This is what unnerved him about Domini. She saw too much. “Maybe you need glasses.”

  “Maybe you’re the one who’s blind.”

  He winced internally, but managed, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I see the fire in your eyes when you look at me, Cam. I feel it when you allow yourself to touch me. Yet, you won’t take what you so badly want.” Domini cocked her head. “Why? Are you a martyr? Or a masochist?”

  “Neither. I’m just a man.” Not even a whole man.

  “If I begged you to prove your manhood to me you’d run again, wouldn’t you?”

  Heat rose up his neck. “I didn’t run.”

  “No. You apologized first and then you ran. Which was way worse.”

  Shit. He had no idea how much she’d misunderstood his reaction to her months ago. “Domini, let me explain—”

  “No. Stop right there.” She drew away from him until her back rested against the door. “No more excuses. You either want me, or you don’t. You will either come upstairs right now and we can explore this—” she gestured to the space between them, “—or you can drive away and we will never speak of it again.”

  Cam’s anger surfaced. “And if I drive off, you’ll what? Find another man?”

  Her shoulder hitched in a half-shrug. “Perhaps.”

  “Who?”

  “Harold Henderson is always flirting with me.”

  “If I ever see that fucking pervert looking at any part of you, I’ll gouge his goddamn eyes out,” Cam snarled.

  “Then you’d better add Deke Nealon to that list because he asked me to a movie last week.”

  “I’ve arrested Deke before and got no problem doin’ it again if he messes with you.” His head spun. No one touched Domini but him. No one.

  Really? You haven’t been touching her either. She’s supposed to wait around for you to get your head out of your ass?

  India’s comment, Either go for it, or let her go. But it’s selfish to try and have it both ways, haunted him because he knew she was exactly right. The time had come for him to fish or cut bait, as Colt always said. “Who else?” he demanded.

  “Last night Marshall Benson offered to take me to Ziggy’s.”

  “Marshall Benson? He cheats at pool!”

  “So do I. You going to arrest me too?”

  “Hell yes, if it’ll keep you from going out with a loser like him.” Stay calm. “What are you trying to do, Domini? Piss me off by naming all the guys who want to do you?”

  She jabbed her finger at him. “You asked, Deputy. And I’m tired of waiting for you to come to terms with what you want to do to me. I especially want you to get over your mistaken belief that I am somehow…too fragile to handle you. I told you I like that you take charge, Cam.”

  “You really wanna see that side of me, princess? The rough man who expects his demands to be met without question or hesitation?”

  She nodded.

  Lightning fast, Cam curled his hand around her neck and hauled her close enough to kiss. “I don’t play at this. It’s not a phase, not bedroom games. This is who I am.”

  “Then that is who I want,” she said softly.

  His resistance shattered. “I’m giving you one last chance to change your mind.”

  “My mind has been made up for a lot longer than yours has.”

  He put his mouth on her ear and growled, “Get upstairs. Get naked. Wait for me.”

  Domini slipped from the car with such grace and determination Cam wondered what he’d gotten himself into.

  After he plodded up the staircase, he stopped to catch his breath. Why could he run ten miles with no problem but a climb up a set of stairs made him ache like he’d scaled Mt. Everest?

  Because you’re a cripple. You’ll never be the man you were.

  Cam gritted his teeth against the voice of that bitter man inside his head, the voice who usually won the argument.

  Not this time.

  Domini hadn’t known him before his war injury. She knew him now. She wanted him now. That thought gave him the co
urage to open the door.

  The creak sounded unnaturally loud in the stillness of her apartment. Cam was shocked he’d heard anything above the swift beating of his heart. “Domini?”

  “I’m here.”

  His head whipped around to see her perched on the couch.

  Naked.

  Holy fucking shit. She was beautiful. And even better, she was obedient. He grinned and crooked his finger at her.

  Domini pushed to her feet and sauntered over.

  “You’re naked.”

  “You told me to be.”

  He traced the line of her jaw down her throat. “What are you thinking right now?”

  “I can’t believe you’re really here.” The desire darkening her pale blue irises staggered him. “What are you thinking?”

  “This.” Cam gripped her shoulders and crushed his mouth to hers.

  The sweet taste of mint teased his tongue as he dove straight in for a hungry, openmouthed kiss that was eight goddamn months overdue.

  Domini wound her arms around his waist, kissing him back with greediness only matched by his. Her tongue dueled and retreated as she kissed him from every possible angle. Her fingertips dug into the muscles of his back.

  As much as Cam ached to explore every inch of her sinuous body, first with his hands and then with his tongue, he had to demonstrate from the start his take-charge side was his real sexual side.

  Cam’s lips meandered to her chin. He let his mouth skim the curve of her jaw, taking a minute to kiss the welt she’d received at the bar.

  Domini’s soft moan stirred the air by his ear.

  “Couch. Now.”

  She laced their fingers together, not caring his left pinky was gone as she tugged him to the living room.

  Cam trailed his fingertips across her collarbone, then he took a step back until his right calf hit the bottom of the couch. He’d already removed his gun and stashed it in the car. Next he unclipped the cuff pouch and tossed the handcuffs on the cushion behind him. Almost in slow motion, he pulled the end of the belt out of the first loop and released the buckle.

  Her gaze never wavered from his crotch.

  He unsnapped the button on the waistband of his uniform pants and eased the zipper down. Jesus. He needed relief; his dick had been straining against his pants for an hour. The two halves of fabric separated, exposing his white boxer briefs. He watched her expression change as she caught her first glimpse of his cock.

  Cam kept his pants and briefs high on his upper thighs as he lowered to the couch, but he yanked them down his ass in the back. “Turn around and put your wrists together.” Two quick snaps and the handcuffs were locked behind her back. “Face me.”

  She looked amazing completely naked, half bound and fully willing.

  And she’ll look damn good with your cock in her throat.

  “Just so you know. I received a clean bill of health last month when I was at the VA in Cheyenne. What about you?”

  “I haven’t…been with anyone since I moved here from Denver a few years back.”

  He lifted a brow. “A bunch of real sorry guys around these parts who let a beautiful woman spend her nights alone.”

  “Do you include yourself on that list, Deputy?”

  “Yes.”

  Domini smiled serenely.

  “I want your mouth on me. I don’t care if you weren’t the swallowing type before, because now, you are. On your knees.”

  She dropped between his thighs and Cam noticed she was careful not to bump his prosthesis. Or was she avoiding touching it entirely?

  Shoving aside his doubts, Cam swept the hair from her flushed face, crushing the silky, fragrant strands in his hand. He wanted an unobstructed view of her mouth working him because he’d fantasized about this for too damn long and he was damn impatient to have it all right fucking now. “Lick the head.”

  Her tongue darted out and rimmed the tip, lapping at the bead of moisture gathered in the center. She suckled the ruddy head, flicking her rough tongue over the sweet spot.

  Cam hissed. “I like it wet. I wanna feel you sucking me all the way into your hot mouth. Slowly. Make it last.”

  She sucked. She licked. She used her teeth. Her tongue. Oh man, that wicked, naughty tongue might break him. She kept her lips tight around his shaft from tip to base. Saliva ran down her chin and neck as she bobbed her head. Over and over. Domini worked Cam over until he could barely see straight and his dick was ready to explode.

  “You really do get off with me telling you what to do, don’t you?”

  The affirmative noise vibrating in the back of her throat settled in his balls, drawing them up tight.

  He traced the outline of her upper lip as his cock plunged in and out of that wet, suctioning heat. He lost track of the number of strokes but the buzz began in his balls and zipped up his abdomen. He shoved until her mouth was around the root.

  Domini gagged.

  “Breathe through it, baby. Come on. That’s it.”

  When she’d relaxed her throat muscles, he pulled out halfway and rammed in again. Faster, but with shallow thrusts.

  “Tighten your lips more. Fuck, that’s good. Goddammit, here it comes.” Lost in sensation, he plunged deep and hissed, “Swallow. Now. All of it. Let your throat muscles work me.” Cam kept his grip on her head as his seed pulsed out and she swallowed every spurt.

  As he floated back to sanity, the arousing scent of her body drifted up. His hands fell away. His cock slipped from her mouth and he sagged into the couch cushions. Sweating. Breathing hard. Totally spent.

  But nowhere near done.

  Chapter Three

  Domini watched pleasure soften the harsh angles of Cam’s face. She’d fantasized about this moment, but fantasies paled in comparison to the reality of being bound and on her knees before this strong, sexy, demanding man.

  Surrender created the rush she’d been searching for.

  “C’mere.” Cam’s big hands curled around her upper arms and he helped her to her feet. “Lemme touch you.”

  Please. Yes. Now. Everywhere.

  He settled her high on his lap, a knee on either side of his hips.

  His cock, still semi-erect, rested against his abdomen. The heat from his groin tempted her to grind hard into that thick shaft.

  “Domini. Look at me.”

  Her gaze tracked the line of brass buttons from the bottom of his khaki uniform shirt to his face. His eyes were usually bright blue, but right now, those eyes were dark with lust.

  Domini’s heart rate accelerated.

  Cam’s hands glided down her arms, behind her back to her wrists. “The cuffs aren’t chafing you?”

  Cuffs? What cuffs? Oh. Right. She was handcuffed. How had she forgotten that?

  Because you were immersed in a blissful, sexual haze.

  “My hands are fine.”

  “Good to hear. Although, we seemed to’ve lost our momentum,” Cam murmured. His fingers trailed beneath her bound arms. He spread his hands across her naked back and gently urged her forward.

  “Wait. I’m falling.”

  “I won’t let you. Trust me.”

  He leaned closer, but his lips didn’t seek hers. His mouth zeroed in on her right nipple.

  She gasped when his wet tongue flicked the tip. Again and again. She arched and began to rock into him, trying to connect her sex to his.

  Cam lifted his mouth long enough to command, “Stay still.”

  How was she was supposed to stay still with the soft suction and heat of his hungry mouth? And the rasp of his five o’clock shadow on her flesh?

  “You are as perfect everywhere as I imagined.” Cam lightly scraped his teeth over the beaded tip.

  “You imagined me…naked?”

  He tipped his head back. “All the damn time.”

  “Really?”

  His eyebrows drew together. Comprehension dawned. “You didn’t honestly believe I wasn’t attracted to you.”

  She nodded.

 
“Why in the hell would you think that?”

  Because I redefine insecure. “Because you left after the one time you kissed me and never attempted to touch me again.”

  “That wasn’t because I wasn’t attracted to you. That was out of self-preservation.”

  “Why? Because you thought I might hurt you?”

  “Not even close. But I ain’t exactly in the mood to talk about it.”

  “What are you in the mood for?”

  Then Cam was kissing her fiercely. One hand held her in place by the back of the neck. His other hand skimmed her torso and his fingers slipped straight between her legs.

  Domini canted her hips, allowing him total access to whatever part he desired, giving him everything without having to ask.

  Cam stroked her pussy with soft exploratory touches. He kissed a path to her ear. “You’re wet. Did you get off havin’ my cock in your mouth?”

  “Yes.”

  He reconnected their lips as his middle finger swirled in the cream coating the mouth of her sex. He dragged that wet finger up and drew circles around her clit.

  Domini’s thighs clenched and she suppressed a moan.

  As Cam’s mouth languidly moved over hers, he pushed one finger inside her slick channel, then two. He pumped the digits deep, stretching her delicate tissues, while the base of his thumb continually rubbed against her clit.

  She’d never felt such urgency, yet didn’t want the probing touches to end. The heat and fullness of his stroking fingers inflamed her as much as his lazy, seductive kisses.

  Cam’s lips broke free and he nuzzled her throat. “Come apart for me, Domini.” More kisses sizzled across her skin as his fingers worked magic inside her. “Tell me what’ll get you there.”

  “I-I don’t know. Just…don’t stop. Please.”

  “I won’t make you beg for it—” he licked the cords straining in her neck, “—this time. Next time I’d like to string you along and see how long it takes before you unravel.”

  His words rushed her to the next level of need. “Cam—”

  “I’ll take care of you. Arch back.”

  His rhythmic fingers, his sucking kisses, his confidence in seeing to her pleasure, unlocked a place inside her she’d never trusted another man to access. She closed her eyes and let go.

  When the first searing ripple started, she tightened her thighs, her interior muscles, her butt cheeks and cried out as the strength of the orgasm sideswiped her.