Caught in the Act: Book Two: Independence Falls

by Sara Jane Stone

  Liam came around to her side of the car. “Ready?”

  She walked past him. “Let’s check it out.”

  She stepped inside Big Buck’s, her eyes wide. This place looked nothing like the bar described on the review Web sites. The long wooden bar running along one side of the open space fit the pictures, but the similarities stopped there.

  “Looks like they removed the mechanical bull,” Liam said, standing close, his front practically touching her back. But glancing around, he didn’t have much choice. Big Buck’s was packed. People, mostly students from the nearby university, if she had to guess, covered every inch of space, their bodies moving to the bump-and-grind music.

  “They do have dancing,” he added, his lips brushing against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. “But call me crazy, that doesn’t sound like country.”

  “It’s not.” The floor beneath her sandals vibrated as the speakers pumped out the kind of music that called for close-contact movement.

  “Do you still want to find a manager and ask if they allow dogs?” His hand wrapped around her middle, drawing her back as a pair of drunken girls wobbled past on their outrageously high heels.

  “This place is all wrong for Georgia’s bachelorette,” she said, turning her head and looking up at him in order to be heard as she mentally crossed “Country-Western bar with a mechanical bull” off the list.

  “Should we head out?” he asked.

  His powerful, imposing body acted like a cocoon, shielding her from the wild scene in the bar. The way he held her—possessive and protective—she should run for the door.

  “Katie?” he said. “It’s your call.”

  She rested her head against his shoulder, silently debating. Stay or go? His arm, wrapped around her center, held her tight. Her hands moved to his forearm, feeling the corded muscles.

  “We came all this way,” she said. “Let’s stay for a drink.”

  Liam released his hold, laced his fingers through hers, and stepped in front of her. Blazing a path to the bar, he kept her close behind him. Despite the press of bodies, she could smell his unique scent—a lingering hint of the forest mingled with a spicy men’s cologne that drew her in and made her want to stay pressed against him.

  Being here, in this bar, she felt as if she’d taken a step back in time. She’d visited places like this, dancing all night, while in college. At first, she’d been trying to erase the hurt she’d left back home, and later she’d come just for fun. Glancing over her shoulder at the crowd of people, couples mixed with groups of mostly girls dancing as if they didn’t have a care in the world, Katie wished she could lose herself in that carefree feeling just for a little while.

  “What do you want?” Liam kept his hold on her as he signaled the bartender.

  “Something fruity and fun.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  The bartender came over before she could reply. Liam relayed her instructions to the young man and ordered a glass of water for himself.

  “We don’t do fancy drinks here, man,” the bartender said. “Will vodka and cranberry work?”

  She glanced over her shoulder at the crowded dance floor. The rhythm made her want to move, to feel Liam pressing close, dancing with her. Katie turned to the bartender. “Can I change my order to a shot of tequila?”

  The bartender cracked a smile. “Sure thing.”

  He returned a minute later with their drinks. Katie downed hers and turned to the dance floor. “Drink up. We need to get out there.”

  Liam set his water back on the bar and took her hand, leading her around the side of the dance floor. On the edge of the crowd in a dimly lit corner, he drew her close.

  His hands on her hips, he allowed her to set the rhythm. The shot combined with the frantic, building beat of the unfamiliar music and left her feeling bold. This man, this solid wall of enticing muscle—he’d made his desire clear the other night in the restaurant. And out here, in this wild crush of people, she wanted to lead him past words, drawing him headlong into touching, feeling.

  She ran her hands down his chest, over his chiseled abs, and around to his back. Drifting lower still, she pressed her palms against his butt. He allowed her to pull him close.

  “Katie,” he growled.

  “No words this time,” she said. “Show me.”

  “Here?”

  She nodded.

  Without warning, he spun her around and drew her back flush against his chest. His arms banded around her, his palms pressed flat against her stomach. He guided her back, away from the dance floor and into the shadows. As they moved closer to the large subwoofer resting on the floor, shaking the ground beneath their feet, it was impossible to hear anything but the music. If he wanted to issue commands, he would need to use his hands and body.

  Katie let out a low moan. This was her seduction. But the way his hands moved, brushing her thigh, running up the bare flesh, dipping below the hem of her skirt—he’d taken over.

  His touch—it was wild and wicked. She’d craved this for so long, the way he never held back. She knew desire. But Liam ignited her needs in a way no other man ever had.

  His hand moved higher, slipping beneath the fabric of her dress. Drawing soft, teasing circles on her inner thigh, sweeping closer and closer, then pulling away. She shifted, trying to guide his hand to her center. There were people all around, but she no longer cared. She needed this, him—now.

  “Patience, honey.” His lips brushed her ear. “I’ll get you there.”

  His voice blended with the music, barely audible, but still she clung to the promise. His fingers circled higher, brushing the fabric of her underwear. She widened her stance, offering him access. But he didn’t take it. His fingers remained outside the barrier, gliding back and forth. Teasing her, playing with the pressure, he drew her closer and closer.

  She reached behind her, grabbing hold of his thighs, wanting to touch him. Again, she waited for his hands to slip beneath her underwear, but instead he brushed the pad of his thumb over the one place that needed him most.

  “Liam,” she gasped. “Oh God, Liam.”

  The music was too loud. He couldn’t hear her. But she couldn’t stop saying his name, hoping he’d deliver more. She rocked her hips, arching her back, asking with her body for what she wanted.

  Without releasing her, he drew her further into the dark corner. Not that anyone was paying them any attention. They were too busy dancing, grinding against each other.

  “They can’t see,” Liam said, his lips still touching her ear. “They don’t know. This is just for you. For us.”

  Hearing those words, Katie froze. No one knew for now. But she planned to change that. And if her brothers caught them now . . .

  No. She wished to keep this moment for herself. Next time, she’d stick to her plan. Tonight, in this not-so-country bar, she wanted to experience the man who’d once captured her heart. In this place where they couldn’t go too far, she wanted Liam.

  Rocking her hips against the bulge in his jeans, she silently asked for more. His fingers answered her plea, teasing her, drawing her closer and closer . . .

  But she didn’t want to be the only one lost in need. Gliding her hand up, she pressed her palm against the hard ridge of his erection.

  “Lower your arm.” He punctuated his command with a nip at her ear. “This is for you.”

  Ignoring him, she moved her hand up and down against his jeans, wishing she could slip her fingers beneath. But the darkness, the music, it only offered the illusion of privacy.

  His teeth grazed her ear a second time while his thumb pressed lightly against the one place guaranteed to skyrocket her into orgasm territory. “You’re not listening?”

  “No.” She ran her palm down his length, cupping him through his jeans.

  “Katie.” Hearing the warning mixed with d
esire in his tone, she didn’t let go, refusing to obey. This time.

  Liam thrust against her hand and a thrill coursed through her. She wanted him out of his mind with lust—right back where they’d started seven years ago.

  Only this time, she’d keep her L-words straight.

  Chapter 8

  BENEATH THE LUST blanketing his common sense, Liam knew that this was too much, too fast. They needed more time to get to know each other again, and to move on from the past. But when he was with Katie, the pull was so damn strong.

  And the way she refused to move her hand, to stop torturing him here, in a dark corner where he couldn’t do a damn thing about it . . . Liam closed his eyes and groaned. Thank God for his jeans. Without the barrier, he wouldn’t be able to hold back. Not after all this time. Not with her.

  Releasing her hip, he ran his hand over her ass, over the fabric of her dress as the song ended and another one started. He paused, giving her one light, playful squeeze before lifting his hand away an inch.

  “Planning to punish me?” she said, her voice heavy with need as his other hand continued to tease her.

  He was tempted, but he wrapped his fingers around her hip, holding tight. “Not here. Not yet.”

  But the thought of it turned him on. Drawing her underwear aside, his fingers slipped beneath, searching for her entrance. Touching her—it wasn’t enough. But for tonight, it had to be.

  Katie turned her head to the side and he watched her lips form his name. The music had grown too loud again. He couldn’t hear. But he knew. Here, in the dark corner of a college bar, she wanted him. All other thoughts vanished, leaving him with only one—Don’t let go.

  Liam scanned the crowd to ensure no one was glancing at their dark corner of the room. His thumb brushed her sweet spot. The one place he knew would drive her wild. As much as he wanted to draw this out, he couldn’t. They didn’t have the luxury of time.

  His lips touched her ear. “Come for me. Now.”

  He felt her body tense. The hand rubbing the front of his jeans stilled. It was as if she’d been waiting for those words.

  And then she exploded. Liam watched as her eyes closed and her lips parted. Maybe it was the way she moved her lips, or her silent cry, but he swore he saw the same sense of awe and wonder in her expression that he’d witnessed years ago. That look—it pushed past the physical, touching something deep inside him.

  Katie stepped forward, breaking free from his hold as she adjusted her skirt.

  He smiled down at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Want another drink, or are you ready to go?”

  She stared out at the crowd for a moment before turning to him. Moving closer, she ran her hand up his thigh, stopping short of his crotch. “I think I’ve done enough research for one night. And you might be more comfortable in the car.”

  Her words held a sensual promise. Before he could tell her that he planned to take a rain check, she abandoned their quiet corner, weaving her way through the crowd toward the door. Liam followed close behind. Outside, in the cool night air, they headed for her wagon.

  “I’ll need your keys,” he said, holding out his hand.

  Katie turned, leaning back against the trunk. “In a hurry to get home? Without even a good-night kiss?”

  She took his hand, pulling him close. Staring down into her green eyes, Liam placed one hand on either side of her head, palms flat against the wagon. Moving closer until his thigh touched hers, he leaned down and brushed her lips, a simple, chaste kiss.

  “I’m done with stolen moments in parking lots, or out under trees,” he said. “Next time, I want a bed.”

  Her hands reached for his hips, trying to draw him closer. He didn’t budge. This was too important. If he wanted to find his way back to the moment when she’d looked at him, her eyes filled with love, he couldn’t rush to the finish line.

  “What makes you think there will be a next time?” she said, her tone light and teasing.

  “I’m not giving up on you. On us. Not this time.”

  KATIE STARED INTO his brown eyes. She still felt the lingering effect of his touch. When this man took over, her body obeyed as if acting on pure instinct. She’d made plans, dammit. But he touched her and she set them aside.

  Turning her gaze to the full moon high in the sky above them, she struggled to collect her thoughts, one question rushing to the forefront. She looked back to him, taking in the hard line of his jaw, set and determined.

  “Why now?” she asked. “Is it because of my family’s company?”

  His gaze sharpened. “Hell no. If anything, I should steer clear of you until the deal is done.”

  “Then why?”

  “Because I didn’t have anything to offer you back then.” He stepped back, lifted his hands, running them through his short hair.

  “That morning, in the field, I saw the love and hope in your eyes, and I panicked,” he continued. “I was one year out of school, living at home and caring for my mom while she battled cancer, knowing she was losing the fight. I was following in my father’s footsteps, working in the industry that had kept a roof over our heads and food on the table, but not much more.”

  “I wasn’t asking you for anything,” she said. She had stupidly believed she’d already won his heart.

  “Honey, you looked at me like I was your future, and I was taking life one day at a time. I wasn’t ready. And shit, I’m sorry I led you on. I’m sorry for the way it ended.”

  He was sorry. Hearing that now snuffed out her lingering desire, making room for the feelings she’d carried around for years.

  “Most guys panic and they stop calling.” Her voice trembled with the ancient hurt. “My brothers confronted you and you told them everything. You—”

  “Not everything, Katie,” he said.

  “Liam, you said that you regretted what we’d done. You opened my eyes to a world of pleasure, and then you walked away, leaving me feeling as if I’d done something wrong.”

  Liam closed his eyes, bowing his chin to his chest. “At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. Your brothers demanded that I leave you alone if I wasn’t serious. And I refused to make promises that I knew would end up broken.”

  “Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was?” she said, pressing her palms flat against the side of the wagon as if the car could anchor her. “Look at me, Liam.”

  For once, he obeyed her.

  “You could have told them it was none of their business,” she continued. “Or you could have talked to me.”

  “I didn’t know what to say to you, Katie. I met you out there because I couldn’t stand to go home. I know it sounds awful, but I wasn’t looking for love. I just needed a break.” He shook his head, his hands falling to his sides. “Watching my parents struggle, knowing I was headed down the same road . . . I felt like my future was doomed. I didn’t want to think about it.”

  “We both went to that field looking for an escape.” She felt the heat of her argument fade away. She understood loss. No, she couldn’t imagine watching a parent die from a slow illness. But she knew the empty feeling of losing someone you loved. Forever.

  “In the span of a few days, I lost my grandfather and my dad,” she continued. “It was so sudden, so overwhelming. It took me a long time to recover.”

  “I know, honey. And I knew you were still grieving. It didn’t stop me from meeting you under those trees. But it should have.”

  “No,” she said, her voice firm. “I didn’t need you to make that choice for me. I wanted to be with you. Everything else in my life felt as if it was beyond my control. It felt as if my life was happening to me.”

  “Katie.” He reached for her. She held up her hand, unwilling and unable to let him touch her. She had so much she needed to tell him, and suddenly it felt as if she couldn’t wait.

  “Th
at’s what hurt the most. You made the decision that I was too young to handle breaking up with you. All by yourself.”

  “I won’t make that mistake again,” he said, meeting her gaze. “I swear.”

  No, he wouldn’t. He’d never get the chance. This time she was calling the shots. And she’d never let him get close enough to hurt her again. But still, hearing those words, part of her wished she could believe him.

  Or maybe it was the lingering effects of his wild touch. An orgasm like that—it messed with a girl’s mind.

  The ring of her phone cut through her thoughts. Turning her attention away from Liam and orgasms, she pulled out her cell and glanced at the screen.

  “Hi Chad,” she answered, knowing her brother wouldn’t call unless it was important. And he’d keep calling until he reached her.

  “Katie,” her brother said. “Where the hell are you?”

  “Big Buck’s,” she said. “I’m checking out the bar for Georgia.”

  She thought about telling her brother that Liam was with her, but something in Chad’s voice stopped her.

  “You need to get back here right now,” Chad said.

  Her grip tightened on the phone. “Is something wrong? I’m about an hour away from home.”

  “The sheriff drove up about five minutes ago with a pair of rescued horses,” Chad said. “I caught a glance inside, sis. They’re skin and bones. The only sanctuary in the area is full right now. He wanted to know if we could take them for a while.”

  “Yes,” she said, pulling the car key from her purse and handing it to Liam. Looking up at him, her lips formed one word. Drive.

  “Brody is out there now,” Chad continued. “And it doesn’t look like he’s unloading the trailer.”

  “Go back out there and tell the sheriff we’ll take them.” Katie opened the passenger side door. “We have space in the barn.”

  “Katie, I’m with you,” Chad said. “But Brody doesn’t want another mouth to feed.”