Chapter Two
Logan backed up a step. The hunger in her eyes only a moment ago had him wishing for a place in her bed. Would she exchange sex for the few chores he might need to do around her place?
He couldn’t ask. No proper lady would agree to such an idea no matter how much she might crave a man and by the signals she was giving she’d require days to satisfy her hunger. Two years was a long time to go without a man.
Narrowing his gaze, he stared at the dark strands framing her heart-shape face, and then settled on her full lips. Only seconds passed before he moved onto the sight of her creamy skin covering her neck and chest. Her hands now hid her plush breasts. He recalled how they had bobbed invitingly up and down as they raced to catch up with Zack and her friend.
He shoved aside the thought of holding her and lowered his gaze. The wet patch between her legs proclaimed her eagerness. Damn, he couldn’t leave this woman, not when they both needed relief.
Nodding, he told himself he’d accept any offer she proposed. Yet he knew without a doubt, he’d never be able to keep his hands off her. She had everything he longed for in a woman. Short, with a compact frame, she had the kind of curves to drive a man insane.
“What are you offering?” He reviewed her seductive body again and silently admitted he’d wanted her from the moment they’d met. After seeing her bouncing around on the seat beside him, he yearned to draw her onto his lap and let her ride his cock until they both screamed with rapture.
“A place to sleep, food, and a small salary,” she whispered as if she had to work at getting the words out.
Convinced she felt the same connection he did, he lifted a questioning brow. “What if I ask for something more?”
A wayward hand rode up the column of her neck and she worried her teeth over her lower lip. “Like what?”
“You.”
She gasped and sputtered out, “You’ve got to be loco. I’m, uh...”
He threw her dress into the wagon and stepped closer, crowding between her thighs. “You’ve gone too long without a man. You need relief.”
Shaking her head in a quick denial, she lifted a hand to ward him off. “I’m a widow woman, and my in-laws live nearby. They don’t approve of anything I do, especially of me having a lover.”
The light touch of her fingers on his chest drew him closer. He wrapped his hands around her shoulders and stared into her face. “They’re going to suspect we’re sleeping together even if we’re not, as long as I’m staying at your place.”
“Yes, but I’ll know the truth.” Sadie’s gaze dropped and she slid her hand over his stomach.
He sucked in a quick breath, hoping she’d work the buckle of his belt free. “Neither of us will last a day without a little relief. Hell, I want to tear off your bloomers right now and dive into you.”
A small gasp escaped through her lips. “But I’m not the type of woman you’d like, I’m plain.”
Surprised by the comment, he guided his hands down her back and tugged her closer to the edge of the wagon. The opening between her knees widened and he rocked the evidence of his arousal against the cradle of her heat.
Her head popped up. She stared, her hazel eyes having deepened to a dark green, her mouth open in surprise.
A smile broadened over his lips; he didn’t attempt to hold it back. “No, you’re gorgeous, and you want me as much as I want you.”
She blinked and buried her head against his chest. Mumbled words played over his skin. “You don’t understand. I’m not allowed to satisfy my needs. I have too many responsibilities, a farm to run, and...”
The hunger running through her comment vibrated across his nerve endings and convinced him to take what they both desired. He eased her onto the floor of the buckboard and aligned his body over hers.
“Shhh.” He nipped at her lips to silence her argument. “Just relax for a moment and let me relieve that ache in your pussy.”
Soothing her with a gentle touch, he shifted his hands to her waist. His fingers ran over the string holding her bloomers into place. He tugged it free, stepped back and jerked the fabric down around her knees before she had a chance to debate the point.
“Logan, we just met,” she panted and lifted her chest to grab for her clothing.
Countering her movements, he raised her legs and ducked between her thighs. With her legs over his shoulders and material of her bloomers tying them together, he dipped his head and went for the prize liquid treasure his taste buds thoroughly enjoyed.
“Logan,” she wheezed, and wiggled for him to release her.
He gripped her ass and squeezed. “Sugar, you have the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen. It’s such a beautiful shade of pink.”
Unable to hold back, he licked the soft folds and dipped his tongue into the slick opening. Pure ambrosia flowed into his mouth.
He’d thought the sweet scent of her sex earlier would drive him crazy. Now, after tasting her velvety cream, he wished for nothing more than to spend the day making love to her...a complete stranger.
The fleeing thought didn’t ease the strain in his cock. In a number of ways, the idea excited him more. After all, she had her legs tight around his head holding him in place against her cunt. She appeared to be enjoying this as much as he was, if the soft pleas escaping were any indication of her passion.
How could he resist such a sensual feast?
Locking his mouth back over her moist folds, he fluttered his tongue over her clit until it hardened. With care, he scraped his teeth over the small nub.
Sadie screamed and bucked, her body responding to his alluring touch.
Longing to give her more, he eased a finger into her pussy and played briefly, before he added another. The rocking motion of her hips increased.
“Oh, God, Logan, you have to...”
He shifted and his gaze caught her passion-filled face: eyes tightly closed, her mouth slightly open. She had her hands cupped over her breasts, her fingertips toying with her nipples.
Pausing to take in the amazing sight, he lifted his head but kept his fingers at the edge of her entrance. “What do you want? For me to make you come against my mouth or my cock buried deep inside you?”
She blinked then her eyelids lifted. White teeth bit into her lip before she whispered, “It’s been so long. I should...”
He didn’t wait to hear another excuse as to why she should deny herself such enjoyment. Instead, he shoved three fingers deep.
She groaned.
“Don’t tell me you don’t want this, because I know it’s not true.” He eased away, again caressing her intimate folds with a delicate touch.
“Logan, please.” She rocked her hips, trying with her movements to entice him to plunge back into her.
“Oh, no, you still haven’t answered my question.” He placed a fingertip over her clit and toyed with the erotic button.
She wriggled, easing her legs wider, and grabbed for his wrist. “You’re just teasing me. You have no intentions of satisfying me at all.”
The titillating sight of her pussy tightened the pressure in his groin. He wanted to bury his cock to the hilt inside her, but not without her stating it was what she longed for, too. “Sugar, if you’ll just say the word I’ll spend the rest of the day making you come. But first you have to admit it’s what you’re hoping for too.”
After staring at him a moment, she glanced away and her eyes narrowed. “I...”
She didn’t have to reply for him to know he’d lost the battle. He dropped his mouth over her one last time and sipped at her for a long minute.
So sweet.
Just one more taste.
Reluctantly, he eased back, depleting every ounce of self-control he possessed to duck under her legs and step away. He grabbed the side of the wagon and used the solid barrier to keep moving to the front bench. “Why don’t I drive us over to my camp while you dress?”
The buckboard squeaked as she adjusted her weight.
He didn’t look back or wait
for an answer before he climbed up onto the front bench. Gathering the reins into his hands, he fought the pain in his cock demanding relief. Should he load up his gear and head out after Zack? Or stay with the woman in the wagon behind him?
Mistakes from the past haunted him, reminding him of the cost of making love to a woman without her saying she wanted to have sex too.
“Are you still willing to work at my place for a few days?” Her voice broke through Logan’s confused plans for the future.
Could he work on her farm and not make love to her?
No, but did he have a choice?
With her foot injured, she’d have to have some help. Whether she admitted it or not she needed...His mind immediately jumped to what else he could give her. How long would she deny the attraction between them?
Logan let out a rough “giddup” to get the horse moving and guided the wagon into a slow turn to head back in the direction they had just come. Still concerned about her, he glanced over his shoulders. She sat against the side panel, buttoning her dress. “I guess working at your place is as good as anywhere else. I need a place to hold up until Zack returns. We were planning to travel together to the Gulf of Mexico but it looks like that’s been delayed.”
She nodded and kept her head down. “How long do you think it’ll be before he and Carolyn return?”
Logan shrugged and decided it wouldn’t be nearly as fast as either of them would like it to be.
****
The view of her home on the horizon eased the ache in Sadie’s chest. Shame over her wanton actions had warred with the soul-hunger to have Logan back between her legs with his mouth on her clit or him buried deep inside her.
For two years, she’d not been tempted. No one had even sparked a flutter of desire. Then Logan showed up and she longed to simply submit to his demands. His tongue on her needy flesh set her on fire. His fingers in her core plunged her to the brink of insanity. Yet he had refused to take her over until she admitted she wanted him.
Why?
Did he worry she’d claim he took advantage of her?
Shivers raced through her at the idea of having sex with the wrong man. Images of her brother-in-law formed in her head. The man had no scruples. Less than a week after she heard Richard had died, Kirk had shown up at her door and generously offered to take her to bed.
“Women need sex. If they don’t get it regularly, they get moody and are hard to deal with. That’s probably why you’re determined to live here alone.” His irrational argument played through her thoughts.
She’d managed to convince him to leave but he’d not let up. He groped her every chance he got and had tried several times to persuade her to have sex with him. The only thing keeping him at bay was that Carolyn lived in the same house and worked as the city’s school teacher.
Now what? With her gone would Kirk become more aggressive?
The steady sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the worn trail drew Sadie’s attention to the two horses tied to the back of the wagon. She shifted uncomfortably and adjusted her foot on the cushion she’d created from Carolyn’s discarded clothes and a bedroll Logan had handed her when he loaded his things.
“Why don’t I park the wagon in front of the house and carry you inside, before I take care of the horses and wagon?” Logan’s comment cut through Sadie’s depressing thoughts.
Sadie lifted her head and stared at the man sitting on the front bench of the wagon. Suddenly, the idea of Kirk visiting didn’t bother her so much. Logan would be close by and wouldn’t let her brother-in-law cause any problem.
“Great idea, I’d like to get out of this heat.” She yelled over the clank of the wheels. Dust billowed out behind the wagon. She longed for a cold glass of water.
Moments later, Logan drew the buckboard to a stop by the front porch steps and turned. “Just hang on and I’ll help you out in a second.”
Anxious to move, Sadie shifted to the end of the wagon and dropped her legs over the side. Her foot throbbed and had swollen even more during the ride home. She ignored the pain and eased her good foot to the ground. The thrill at finally being able to stand hit a snag when she realized she couldn’t walk inside.
“I thought I told you to wait.” Logan rounded the corner, a frown marring his face with displeasure.
She held onto the wagon and braced herself against it to keep her weight off her injured foot. “Do you see me going anywhere? I’m stuck here until you carry me inside or I drop on all fours and crawl.”
He smiled. “Now, that’s a sight I might enjoy seeing.”
Sadie glared and clamped a hand around his forearm. “Can it wait for another time? Right now, I just want to sit down on one of the rockers on the porch or go inside and rest.”
“Whatever the lady wants,” Logan muttered, and slid his hands around her waist before he bent and swung her into his arms.
His words rang through her head, inciting a desire to ask for a number of other things beside a ride into the house. Forcing her mouth shut, she held her tongue and slipped her arms around his neck. Her body relaxed against him, and she whispered, “Thank you.”
He carried her across the porch, the thud of his boots sounding against the wooden planks.
Hoping to be helpful, she flipped the latch and opened the door. She hadn’t locked up the place because she knew they’d only be gone for a few hours. As the wood panel slid open a wall of heat hit her.
“You might sit outside for a spell and let the place cool off,” Logan suggested, and paused in the doorway.
Sadie tightened her grip on his neck. “It’ll air out quickly if you’ll just open the windows.”
He stepped inside and glanced around. “Where should I set you down?”
Her gaze darted to the rocker by the fireplace. Then she turned her head and noted the bed positioned against the far wall of her bedroom. Not happy with either option, she glanced at the bench, running between the dining table and the side-board where the hand-pump sat. “Why don’t you put me down here?”
He shifted her in his arms and raised a brow. “You’re not going to be able to rest on that hard surface. Wouldn’t you prefer to lie in bed?”
She shook her head and wriggled for him to release her. “No, I’ll get supper started. By the time you’ve unhitched the wagon, put the horses in the corral, and unloaded your stuff, I’ll have food on the table.”
He did her bidding but didn’t seem very pleased by the option. “If you can just hold tight, I’ll rustle us up a bite to eat when I get back.”
She smiled, appreciating his willingness to help. In truth, she wanted to do something other than think about him and the pain in her foot. Neither had given her any peace of mind since they’d started for her farm.
Now that she was home, she also wanted a few minutes to remind herself what she’d lose if she allowed her wayward hormones to rule her head. “I’ll be fine if you’ll open the windows over the hand-pump and the one in the bed room. It’ll create a cross-breeze and help cool off the house.”
He walked away and entered the bedroom. Turning by the end of the bed, he stepped out of sight.
She stared through the opening, wondering what he thought of her bed with its wedding-ring patterned quilt. Did men notice such things? Or was he merely imagining what it would be like to share the soft surface with her?
Could he still want to make love? Or had he decided she was too much trouble?
Chapter Three
Finished with the chores in the barn, Logan walked to the house, noticing the different features of the homestead. The log cabin had a high roof which afforded extra space inside for a loft. He’d seen the stairs leading to the area and wondered if she’d tell him to sleep up there tonight.
In this heat, he didn’t much care for the idea. He’d prefer the barn for a resting place if push came to shove. The small lean-to shed had only three walls, providing plenty of fresh air to blow through the open space. The fenced corral beside it held the horses
and even had grass for them to graze.
Turning toward the front porch, he detected a garden on one side and a henhouse on the other. Did she collect eggs in the morning or at night?
He scanned the horizon and noticed the farmland circling the place. Green plants thick with white, puffy bolls of cotton stood in long rows along the trail to her home. He toyed with the idea of asking if she owned any of the land adjacent to her farm. Though he’d remained quiet during the ride in because he didn’t want to set her off again about the responsibility she had waiting at home.
Staring at the position of the sun, he figured it must be around five o’clock. It won’t be dark for another four hours.
How should he fill his time?
Thoughts of laying Sadie out on her bed and making love to her filled his head. Erotic images of her, naked against the quilt, her plush curves under him, his body buried to the hilt inside her, caused the ache in his groin to increase.
The pressure had subsided while he handled the chore of getting the horses settled. Now, with the anticipation of seeing Sadie again, his lust kicked to the forefront of his thoughts. He paused in the open doorway of the cabin and allowed his eyesight to adjust to the shadowy interior.
Immediately, his gaze fell on the figure spread out on the bench in the kitchen. Her head at the other end, she had her injured leg propped on the table with her foot hanging off the end. The view from the doorway afforded him a direct line of sight to the patch of hair nestled at the apex of her legs.
Shocked to see her lying there without her bloomers, he edged closer and noted the discarded clothing under the calf of her sore foot. Was she trying to seduce him?
He glanced around the fabric drawn up to her waist and spotted her face. Eyes closed, mouth relaxed, a light snore whispered between her lips. She seemed to be asleep.
Surprised at her ability to rest with the pain her ankle must be causing, he scanned the table and noticed a whiskey bottle. How much had she consumed?
The container was half empty. Of course, it didn’t mean she’d downed it all in the last twenty minutes.
Western Romance: In Too Deep (Naked Bluff, Texas Book 2) Page 2