Naughty by Nature

by J. M. Madden

  But when it came time to actually walk out in front of Sheridan, her nerves got the better of her and she had to pause, hand on the door. She wasn’t afraid of Sheridan at all, but this was the most exposed she’d ever been in front of him, other than the night he’d rescued her.

  He’s already seen everything, she told herself firmly. Get your butt out there.

  She jerked open the French door.

  Sheridan sat on one of the chaise lounges, but he looked up when she walked out. The pool was lit, casting enough of a glow that she could see to walk to the other chaise lounge beside him.

  His gaze followed her and Cheyenne could feel her entire body flush. Her nipples went hard and she clutched the towel to her front, stunned at her reaction. For years she’d pushed that side of her away, but Sheridan was making it very hard to keep ignoring it.

  She needed to cool off. Dropping the towel to the lounge she moved to the pool’s far end and dove in.

  Cheyenne swam a few laps, burning off some of her arousal, but when she finally paused, swiping the water from her eyes, she found Sheridan at the side of the pool, watching her. He kicked his legs out in front of him lazily, not going anywhere, just enjoying the coolness.

  “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  Again, her body reacted, and she dragged in oxygen. “Thank you. You’re not too hard on the eyes yourself.”

  He grinned at her and lowered himself into the water until just his face was peeking out, then he released the side.

  Cheyenne suddenly felt an exhilaration course through her. The look in Sheridan’s eyes…

  “You look exceptional in that swimsuit.”

  She thought she did, but it was always nice to hear it from another source. “You look good in your trunks, too.”

  He glided a few feet closer. “Meh. They’re getting a little tight.”

  Cheyenne giggled, loving having this little repartee. Feeling a little daring, she dropped beneath the water, looking at his trunks, then popped back up. “Oh, my, they are looking tight.”

  Sheridan stopped right before her. “I had a lovely time today, believe it or not. I want to date you more. Actually, let’s just skip all that and go straight to engagement. We’re living together anyway.”

  Gasping, she covered her mouth with her hands. “What?”

  Sheridan chuckled. “I’m nuts about you, woman. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

  “Well, I thought you might like me but that’s a bit of a jump. I’m not the poster-child for a marriageable woman.”

  “I don’t want a poster-child. I want you. With your crazy ex issues and your beautiful little girls. Your sweetness and your humor.”

  Cheyenne could only shake her head. “You’re a glutton for punishment.”

  Sheridan grinned and leaned in enough to drop a kiss to her mouth. “You make my house a home and I appreciate that more than you know. And Olivia thinks Nora would have enjoyed you as a friend. That’s big, coming from my belligerent, everything-is-stupid, sixteen year old.”

  “True.”

  “If you would be more comfortable we can plan a six-month engagement, then set a wedding date. It’s just formality to me.”

  She screwed up her face. “We’ve barely been on speaking terms for the past seven years. And you want to get married?”

  He cocked his head at her. “I’ve been on speaking terms, you haven’t, but we’re over that hurdle. Right?”

  “Yes,” she affirmed. She felt stupid, now, avoiding him all that time.

  “And I think,” he said softly, reaching out to run a finger over her collarbone, making her shiver, “that physically, we’re going to be perfect together.”

  Cheyenne wanted to confirm that. She wanted to be like Payton and Brock, having sex at the drop of a hat, but she wasn’t sure she could do that. It had been seven years since that last time…

  She could almost hear Payton’s voice ringing in her head. So what’s holding you back?

  Nothing.

  For the first time in seven years, Cheyenne reached for something of her own. She closed the distance between them, letting her body slide against his, her arms going around his neck. Sheridan gasped and she was glad she could surprise him.

  “Don’t think that because I’m hard and aching that you have to do anything about it,” he told her softly. “It’s my issue, not yours.”

  Kicking her legs in the water, she met his gaze. “What if I want it to be my issue?”

  Contracting her belly, she wrapped her long legs around his waist. Sheridan groaned, his hands moving down to cup her bottom. Cheyenne could immediately feel his hardness between her thighs. This time, Cheyenne gasped, pleasure bolting through her.

  “Cheyenne, you’re trying to kill me.”

  Feminine satisfaction surged through her and she took a moment to bask in it. Just the tiny burst of pleasure she’d just felt had been amazing, but she had a feeling Sheridan could do so much more for her.

  “Touch me, please,” she whispered.

  They suddenly lunged through the water, Sheridan carrying her, her legs still around his waist as they left the pool. She would have walked but he held her tight to him, his hardness riding her cleft the entire way.

  Cheyenne worried that some trigger would suddenly flip, sending her off the deep end into terror, but she only felt excitement and need.

  Sheridan carried her to a lounge chair against the far wall, out of direct sight of the windows. Even now he was thinking about the girls, protecting them. And as he laid them on the lounge chair he made sure to use his broad back as a wall, leaning on his right elbow over top of her.

  Cheyenne’s skin began to cool in the air, but the arousal made her burn. She’d thought that her body would take a while to warm up, but that wasn’t the case. As Sheridan lay beside her she missed the feeling of his hardness between her thighs. She shifted her hips, clenched her inner muscles.

  Sheridan stared down into her eyes, smiling slightly as she squirmed. “We’re not going to go too crazy, but I want to touch you, and see you. Will you let me do that, Cheyenne? You know you can say no at any time and I promise you I will stop.”

  She nodded her head, reaching up to cup his face. Sheridan understood what she wanted because he leaned down, taking her lips with his own. They kissed like they’d been lovers for many years, moving with enthusiasm and familiarity. Cheyenne turned toward him onto her side, mirroring his pose as they explored each other’s mouths. He had one hand around her back, but Cheyenne pulled it around to rest upon her breast.

  Once he felt her, his fingers tightened softly, molding her shape and he arched into her a little, as if he couldn’t help himself.

  Cheyenne wanted to reach down and stroke him, but she didn’t want all this to be done. Wade, as loathe as she was to think his name at the moment, hadn’t given a care for her pleasure. He’d been very self-serving, and forced her to do things for him she hadn’t wanted to do. Cheyenne had been disgusted.

  Sheridan teased her breast through the fabric of the swimsuit. “Can I see you?”

  Cheyenne nodded and he stretched the nylon beneath the weight of her breast. In the light from the pool, Sheridan admired her.

  It was a strange thing, letting him adore her, but it was what he was doing. He leaned his head low and pressed a kiss to the soft swell of her skin, then her nipple. Groaning, Cheyenne clutched at his wet head, holding him tight. Then he took her into his mouth, and she almost cried at the beauty of the feeling. Deeper and deeper he drew her flesh, and the draw seemed to be directly connected to her pleasure. Her nipples had never been especially sensitive, but something about the way Sheridan was manipulating her worked.

  Cheyenne groaned, feeling moisture flood her lower body. Whether her mind was ready or not, her body would be. Without any conscious thought her hips shifted toward him, circling, grinding.

  Sheridan’s free hand left her breast, skimmed the nylon-covered skin of her belly, then danced f
urther down. Every slight touch felt like a lightning strike on her skin. When he cupped her at her thighs, Cheyenne cried out, shifting toward him. Sheridan used one finger to lightly stroke the area.

  “Your swimsuit is wet, but this is very hot.”

  “I’m excited,” she admitted. “No offense to you, but I’m way more excited than I expected.”

  Sheridan chuckled, pressing kisses up the line of her neck. “I’m not offended. Are you serious? I love that I can get you wet.”

  He stroked her again with his middle finger. His touch was still outside the swimsuit, but Cheyenne knew it was enough to bring her pleasure. She shifted against his hand, covered it with her own, guiding him in how to touch her.

  “You are stunning,” he sighed against her.

  Cheyenne let him stroke and play, let him carry her pleasure, but she became frustrated. “Stroke your finger inside my suit, please,” she whispered.

  Sheridan didn’t need to be told twice. Pulling the fabric to the side, he eased his middle finger into her slickness. They groaned together and stilled, breathing together. Cheyenne’s skin was swollen and pulsing. She was so close to orgasm. But Sheridan was taking it easy with her, guiding her slowly.

  Wondering if she was the only one, she reached out blindly. Her palm found his erection almost perfectly, the hot, hard length of him longer than her hand. Cheyenne curled her fingers around what she could and he panted. “You don’t want to do that,” he said softly. He flicked his finger inside her, reminding her that they were both vulnerable.

  Cheyenne couldn’t help herself though. She squeezed, dancing her fingers over the whole of him behind the fabric of his trunks. And he continued to swirl his finger around her clit.

  In the end, they each serviced the other.

  Cheyenne lost herself to the feel of his touch. He didn’t hesitate or ask— he knew exactly what she seemed to need, the strokes going longer and deeper in time with her breaths. It was a challenge to keep her own hand moving on him, but they managed. An incredible thing happened though. As her orgasm crested and the pleasure swallowed her, her hand stilled, but it didn’t matter. Vaguely, as she tried not to cry out too loud, she felt heat spread across the front of his swim trunks, then a subtle grinding.

  Sheridan had come with barely a touch from her. Oh, damn, that was so very sexy.

  Their mouths found each other, moving back and forth, their lips clicking as they separated. Cheyenne couldn’t believe how easy it was for her to be with him. In her wildest dreams, she couldn’t have imagined ever being with another man, but all that had flown out the window.

  Even as relaxation settled into her bones, the need for more began to build. Cheyenne was torn, because she was enjoying the after languor, but there was a hollowness deep in her womb. She wanted more than what she’d gotten.

  When had she become so greedy?

  When Sheridan Lane reminded her what being a woman meant.

  Sheridan wrapped his arm around her, pulling her chest to his and kissing the top of her head. “I think we better go in,” he murmured.

  Sighing, Cheyenne nodded, though she was reluctant to move. What a crazy up and down day this had been.

  Once they were covered, towels wrapped around each of them, they entered the house. It was exceedingly quiet inside, so the kids were still in bed.

  In the soft, ambient light from the kitchen, Cheyenne looked up at Sheridan.

  His thick dark hair was messy, a scruff of beard on his face, but his eyes were glowing with happiness. His glance slid down her front, then back up. “I just want you to know how much I enjoyed tonight,” he whispered. “Your taste, your feel, the little cry you make as you orgasm. It’s all incredibly sexy.”

  She ran a finger down the center of his chest. “Thank you for taking your time and paying attention to my needs. It’s been a long time since anyone has done that.”

  “I don’t know what you have planned for tomorrow, but maybe we can meet up same time, same place tomorrow night?”

  She nodded quickly. “I have to call Payton about Chad and Lora’s shower, but that won’t take long. And maybe call my parents, but that’s it.”

  “Okay. I need to finish mowing the front yard, but that won’t take long either.”

  His eyes were eager and they were both almost panting. The next day hadn’t even started yet and she wanted to fast-forward to the night.

  They parted with a long, final kiss.

  Sheridan shucked off his swim trunks into the corner and turned on the shower. Those needed to be washed ASAP. He’d start some laundry in the morning.

  He couldn’t believe he’d come in his pants like a boy. What the hell? Yes, it had been a long time, like, years actually, since he’d had attention, but jeez! He did regular maintenance on himself, so he thought he’d be able to control himself. Obviously, not.

  She had been more beautiful, more open than he ever could have hoped. He hadn’t even really expected her to take him up on the swimming offer, but she had.

  That blue suit had left nothing to the imagination. She may have thought it covered her well, but every delectable curve and angle of her body was outlined. In all honesty, he’d been hard from the time she stepped out onto the patio to when he kissed her good night.

  He looked down. Till now, he thought with a laugh.

  Stepping into the shower he rinsed quickly, then climbed out. It had been a long day and he needed to get to bed.

  Thoughts of Cheyenne kept him awake though. Over the years he’d watched her from afar, waiting for her to find someone to be with, but she never had. So he didn’t know what she would do when he started touching her. He was so conscious of what she had been through before and he didn’t want to traumatize her any further. She’d been open, though, to everything they’d done. He would wait for the next step until she advanced. There was no way he was going to ruin this brand new relationship by rushing her.

  And had he actually proposed marriage? What the fuck had he been thinking? All of the steps were out of sync.

  But, their situation didn’t allow for normal.

  They would just have to play everything by ear, and if he had to come in his shorts for the next six months, or year, or six years, they wouldn’t do anything else until she was ready.

  Chapter 16

  “I think I’m in love,” Cheyenne said.

  Payton gasped on the other end of the line. “What?” she squeaked. “You’ve only been there for a week.”

  Cheyenne winced. “I know. Seems like it’s been longer. Payton, I never knew a man could be like this. I mean, I’ve seen Mama and Daddy together but I thought they were flukes, you know? And seeing you guys together it was kind of the same. I never imagined I would find a guy that made me think of forever like Sheridan Lane does.”

  “Wow,” Payton breathed. “That’s a hell of a turnaround. I mean, you could barely speak to the man.”

  “I know,” Cheyenne sighed. “And there was no reason for that. I mean, I think I just worried that when I talked to him all he would be able to see was me bloody and broken and useless that night, you know what I mean? I didn’t want that. But I don’t think he does. He looks at me like … I don’t know. Like he sees more than anyone else ever has.”

  Her voice drifted away as she thought about the morning. They’d met in the hallway. He had an armload of clothes in front of him, and Cheyenne had blushed as she saw the swim trunks on the very top. Sheridan had grinned at her embarrassment.

  “Want me to wash your suit? You’ll need it tonight.”

  Her embarrassment had exploded, and she’d whirled away to get the suit, and to give herself a moment to breathe. When she’d returned, though, he’d been grinning like a fool. She’d tossed the suit at him and was about to turn away when he’d grabbed her hand and pulled her back. His eyes had gone soft.

  “I won’t tease you anymore if you don’t want me to, but you’re so cute when you get flustered.”

  He’d kissed her t
hen, right there in the hallway, his tongue gliding into her mouth, the dirty laundry between them. Cheyenne couldn’t remember ever becoming so aroused so quickly as she did during that kiss.

  She shifted in her chair. She was still wet, and throbbing.

  “Cheyenne!”

  “What?” she snapped.

  “I called your name and you didn’t answer me.”

  “Oh, sorry.” She could feel her cheeks heating again. “I was uh, thinking about something else.”

  “Obviously,” Payton laughed. “Probably something about six five, with yummy hazel eyes and dark hair.”

  “Yes, you’re probably right,” she admitted. “I’m hooked, Payton. He said he wants to marry me.”

  “What?” Payton screeched. “Are you joking?”

  “No. He asked me on another date— you heard about the mess yesterday right?— then he said, let’s just skip the dating and go straight to engagement. He says he’s ‘nuts’ about me, and I make his house a home.”

  “Wow… yes, I heard about yesterday. Wade is a douche. You know that. Brock said you threatened him with back child-support. Brilliant, I thought, because he was always more concerned with himself than anyone else. And did Sheridan say the word love?”

  “No, but he hinted at it. And we… well, we didn’t have sex, but almost.”

  Payton gasped again. “Dude, you’re killing me! Seriously? Good for you! You’re not a nun anymore.”

  Cheyenne chuckled. “I was never a nun, but I think everything happens for a reason. In a crazy way I’m glad Wade returned because it made me look at Sheridan in the right light.”

  “Yes. He really is a good guy, Cheyenne, and I’ve thought for a long time that you guys would be good together, if you ever gave him a chance.”

  Cheyenne smiled. “Well, I’m giving him a chance. We’re learning each other right now.”

  “Good for you. You deserve so much, Cheyenne. You and the girls.”

  “They love him,” Cheyenne admitted. “They brought me a paper this morning. They’d taken an official poll and four out of four kids thought that we were good together. My three also voted to stay at the sheriff’s house rather than go back to our own. They also added a paw print to that paper, which I assume was Daisy’s vote.”