by Jo Davis
“It’s a plan.” She smiled at him, then her eyes widened. “You’re driving again?”
“Yep, got the all-clear for that, too. I’m totally independent again.”
“That’s great! I’m so happy for you.” She bussed another kiss on his lips. “Give me just a few minutes and I’ll be right out.”
“Okay, baby. Shane, Taylor, good to see you.”
“You, too,” they chorused.
As soon as Clay was gone, Shane’s face broke into a shit-eating grin. “Baby?” This, immediately followed by kissing noises from Taylor.
“Shut up, man. You’re both dicks.”
“The teasing just means we love you,” Taylor said happily.
“I’d hate to see how you treat someone you loathe.”
They just laughed, knowing she didn’t take her own words seriously. It was all part of bonding with the guys—taking their shit on a daily basis.
“I’ll say this, at least none of you give me shit because I’m a woman.”
“Nope,” Shane said. “We’re equal opportunity dickheads.”
“That’s a comfort.”
Shaking her head, she finished her paperwork and shut down the computer. Once her desk was tidied, she said good-bye to the guys and headed out. She found Clay waiting in the lobby and they walked out together.
She couldn’t help but admire his tall, strong build, his long legs encased in jeans that hugged his ass just so. In the few weeks they’d known each other, he’d filled out in all the right places, put on more muscle. He no longer appeared as though he’d been out of commission for a prolonged period of time, but was fit and healthy. His shoulders and chest strained against his button-up shirt, and his sandy hair fell around his handsome face in artful disarray.
All in all, her panties were about to go up in flames. With any luck, her lover would put them out. She smiled to herself at the stupid analogy, but it didn’t stop her from wanting it to be true.
“What are you smiling about?” he asked, taking her hand. “You look like the cat who swallowed the proverbial canary.”
“Oh, I was just thinking how I’d rather we have each other for dinner.”
He shot her a look full of lust, his gaze darkening. “How about dessert?”
“I can handle that.”
He drove them to a new Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of town, and they chatted companionably, holding hands. After a few minutes, however, she began to notice that he was looking in his rearview mirror an awful lot, his expression increasingly tense.
“What’s wrong?” Her body went on alert.
“I could swear that SUV has been following us since we left the station. He’s made every turn I have. Could be my imagination, though.”
“Could be.” But his words gave her a chill. Especially when she looked in the mirror as well and spotted the vehicle a couple of cars back, hanging behind them instead of passing to go with the flow of faster traffic.
As he made the final turn onto the street where the restaurant was located, the SUV turned in a different direction and they both relaxed.
“Guess I’m just paranoid, huh?”
“No,” she said. “Never hurts to be cautious.” She was aware that her uncle couldn’t be happy that she was back. As a cop, no less, one who was still checking into his business at every opportunity.
During the weeks Clay had been working with his captain to get his spot back on the team, she hadn’t been idle. She’d been scouring the Internet for any information on James she could get. She’d even used one contact at the FBI to dig up some dirt on her uncle’s money flow, though more details were needed on exactly how much was in his accounts, records of purchasing his supplies, and such. She was jabbing a stick at the snarling bear.
It was possible he’d stoop to scare tactics to get to her—such as having her followed and not really bothering to hide it. But she didn’t want to bring him up and put a damper on their evening.
Inside, they were shown to a table in the corner. Immediately, a server brought a basket of chips and a bowl of salsa large enough to feed a small army. After ordering a beer for Clay and a margarita for her, they dove in and discovered both the chips and the salsa were very good. A few minutes later, they’d decided to share a double order of chicken fajitas and were enjoying their drinks while they waited for the food.
“I like this place,” Clay said, looking around. “Good so far, and not too kitschy.”
“Me, too.” She saluted him with her margarita. “Great choice.”
They talked about this and that until the food came, and then they dug in with enthusiasm. The meal was every bit as delicious as the aromas suggested, and they got their fill while they talked.
“So, my team is throwing me a welcome back party at Howard’s house this Saturday, and I’d like you to go with me, if you want.”
“I’d love to. I want to get to know your friends and their wives and girlfriends.” Slowly, she was being introduced to his world, and she loved that he wanted her there.
“It’s a plan, then.”
“Should I bring anything?”
“Not as far as food. The guys will have so much we’ll never be able to eat it all. If you have a favorite beer or hard stuff you like in particular, you can bring it. But I wouldn’t even worry about that if you don’t want to, because there’s usually enough booze at our shindigs to fill a lake.”
She laughed. “Got it. Do we need to take a taxi or Uber?”
“Nah. I drink, but not to excess, especially after the accident.” He tapped the side of his head with a finger. “Can’t afford to lose any more brain cells.”
“Wise decision. Though I hate that you’ve had to make allowances for things that most people take for granted.”
“It is what it is.” He shrugged. “Can’t change anything. In truth, the two good things that have come out of this whole mess is that it brought me and my mom closer than ever, and I met you.”
“Me?” she asked in surprise. “How do you figure your accident caused us to meet?”
“If I hadn’t been recovering and out of work, I never would’ve gone for that walk downtown the day the gas station was robbed. I never would’ve met you.”
“And you wouldn’t have been around to save Drew. That’s three good things.”
“True.” His eyes were warm.
“I love that you’re a glass is half full kind of guy.”
“I try. I’ll admit, this last year hasn’t been easy when it comes to maintaining a positive attitude.”
“You’re human. Anyone in your position would have trouble spreading fairy dust and unicorn farts.”
He nearly choked on his beer laughing. “God, don’t do that! I never know what’s going to come out of your pretty mouth.”
“Sorry. The guys I work with, it’s all their fault.”
“Uh-huh.” Clearly, he didn’t believe her.
They finished their dinner, talking companionably until it was time to leave. Clay snagged the check and refused to let her pay even part of it, saying it was his invite. He agreed she could get the next one, though, so she was content.
As they drove back to the station to get her car, she found herself searching for the SUV that had trailed them before. She saw no sign of it and soon it was all but forgotten.
Clay pulled up beside her car and put his into park. “Come to my place?”
“I’d love to. But I do have to get up for work in the morning, so I’d have to leave early to swing by home and get ready.”
“I have an idea. How about I follow you home, then you get some clothes for tomorrow. Leave your car there and I’ll drive you to my place, then to work in the morning.”
Excitement buzzed through her. “That sounds great, but that’s a lot of driving for you, plus you’d have to get up early.
”
“I don’t mind, especially since it gives me more time with you. And I need to get used to getting up in the mornings again anyway. Monday’s going to be a bit of a culture shock.”
She smiled. “Well, if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
He gave her a toe-curling kiss and then she reluctantly parted from him and went to her own car, sliding behind the wheel. She pulled out of the parking lot, Clay following, and hummed to herself. Life was just about perfect right now.
Which was why it came as an unpleasant surprise to see a dark SUV following a couple of car lengths behind Clay. There was no way to tell if it was the same one, since it had no distinguishing features, but the sight was enough to unnerve her. Were they being paranoid? Since she’d been back in Sugarland, she’d received no direct contact from her uncle, threats or otherwise.
Had he learned that she’d been discreetly poking around in his business? Perhaps she was starting to piss him off. She knew she should leave the digging up to the Feds, but the need to bring him down was a living thing under her skin.
It struck her that perhaps her uncle felt exactly the same way.
Once again, the SUV dropped off and was nowhere to be seen by the time she reached her house. Parking her car in the driveway, she went inside with Clay to pack some things in her duffel. She tried to work fast, but it wasn’t easy with her sexy man pressed to her back and nuzzling kisses into her neck.
“Clay!” She giggled, tossing in a shirt for work. “I’ll never get this done if you don’t stop.”
“Sure you will. Eventually.”
More nuzzling. Laughing, she wiggled out of his embrace and finished packing, sticking her tongue out when he pouted at her. Just as she was ready to go, she snapped her fingers. “Dang, I forgot about the horses. I need to feed them real quick.”
“I’m finally going to get to meet them?” He brightened at that. “Are they broke?”
“I have three, and yes, they are. Do you like to ride?”
“I do, but I haven’t been in ages,” he said with enthusiasm. “Think we could go riding sometime?”
“You bet.” She was glad he liked horses, because she didn’t have any intention of giving them up. They were her big babies. “Let’s go and I’ll introduce you.”
They took her bag to his car first, then she led them around the side of the house to the barn that sat a short distance away, in the back. As usual for this time in the evening, the trio was already waiting near the breezeway to the barn, ever hopeful for their grain. Upon spotting her, they nickered softly in greeting and began pacing back and forth.
“They’re gorgeous,” Clay said. “How long have you had them?”
“I got them right after I returned to town and moved in. They’re rescues from the SPCA. Their previous owner had nearly starved them to death, and I nursed them back to health.”
“Poor things. I can never understand how people can be cruel to helpless animals. Why have them if they can’t afford to take care of them?”
“Good question. I wanted to strangle whoever was responsible the first time I laid eyes on them. These three are as gentle as lambs and love people, even after what was done to them.”
They stood at the fence for a few minutes, letting Clay get acquainted with her equine friends. The threesome—two brown and white mares and a dappled-gray gelding—sniffed her lover curiously, and stood still for the scratching he gave them on their necks and ears.
The genuine smile of delight he wore as he spoiled them struck a cord deep in her heart. Her aunt always claimed you could tell the color of a man’s soul by the way he treated his mother, women in general, children, and animals.
Clay Montana was the total package. A real man among men.
“Come on, let’s get these big lugs fed.” Turning, she opened a side door on the barn that led to a raised feeding area and stepped up. “This is where I keep the feed bins and hay. This area is separated from the rest of the barn and has those holes cut in the wall over their feed troughs so I can dole out the food without actually getting into the stalls with them.”
“That’s pretty convenient.” He smiled at the sight of the three horses lined up in their individual stalls, noses poking through their cutout squares in the wall. They were all nickering as if they couldn’t wait another second to eat.
“It is. Makes getting the job done quick and efficient.”
“Do they stay locked in their stalls at night?”
“Not typically. They like the freedom to roam, and they’re smart enough to come back inside if the weather gets bad.”
“What about predators?” He frowned in concern.
“I suppose you’ve never seen a horse run a full-grown coyote or large dog out of his stall,” she said, chuckling. “Believe me, nothing we have around here is going to bother them.”
“Well, that’s good.” He appeared relieved.
“I’d only lock them up at night if there was a problem of some kind, like a rash of horse theft in the area or teenagers getting up to mischief.” Or my uncle, threatening what’s mine. But she didn’t say so. “You ready to go?”
“Whenever you are.”
But as soon as she had the door to the feed room shut, she found herself spun around and trapped against the side of the barn by one very big, horny fireman.
“What are you doing?”
“If you need an explanation, I’m obviously doing something wrong.” Pushing her back even harder against the side of the barn, he grinned and cupped her face. “You game? Nobody’s going to see us out here.”
Before she could voice a protest, he crushed his mouth to hers. Licked inside to play with her tongue, and she loved his essence. He tasted of beer and something else potent that was all Clay. Skimming his palms downward, he found the edge of her shirt and journeyed underneath, finding the mounds of her breasts.
“I’ve been dying to touch you all day,” he said quietly.
She moaned, arching into his touch, giving him permission to keep going. Her bra was gone in an instant, and he enjoyed plucking her nipples, teasing them to taut peaks. Then his fingers found the button of her pants, making short work of that and the zipper.
His hand slipped inside her panties, sought her silky curls. Brushed through them to find that warm place between her thighs and rub her clit, spreading the moisture. God, it felt so good. So naughty, doing this out in the open.
“Clay . . .” Her voice was breathy. Growing more excited.
“Let’s get these pants out of the way so I can make you feel really good, baby.” Grabbing the waistband, he shucked them down along with her panties, leaving them at her calves. Then he spun her to face the barn. “Hands on the wall, spread your feet out more.”
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” she breathed. “Outside, I mean.” But she assumed the position eagerly.
“That’s part of what makes it so fun.” Smoothing his palms over her hips and the round globes of her ass. “Spread a little more. That’s my baby. Tell me what you want.”
“I—I want you to fuck me.” She poked her ass back, inviting him.
“How do you want it? Tell me.” With his right hand, he skimmed under the curve of her ass. Took two fingers and parted her folds, and rubbed the slit. Then worked inside to fuck her channel, drive her crazy.
“H-hard and fast. Fuck me like you mean it!”
He rumbled in approval. Behind her, she heard him unzip his jeans, felt his motions as he freed his dripping cock. Then he brought the head to her entrance and began to push into her heat.
“Shit, yes. You’re so hot and tight, baby. Brace yourself, because I’m gonna give you a good, hard ride.”
“Do it.”
“Shit, you’re so pretty, I could almost come just from this, the sight of my woman spread for me. Wet and read
y for my cock. You’re mine.”
“Yours! Oh, yes . . . all the way, I need you in me!”
He thrust to the hilt and stilled for a few seconds, gripping her waist. He stayed that way as if it took all his willpower not to succumb to fucking her too hard and getting off too soon.
Then he began to take her in unhurried but powerful strokes. The slap of their slick skin drove her crazy, and her channel clasping, squeezing his rod, sent her lover to the edge in minutes.
“I’m not going to last,” he warned her.
“I don’t care! Fuck me hard!”
He increased the tempo some, putting even more strength behind the strokes. Enough to send them both into ecstasy, but not enough to hurt her.
Her orgasm hit suddenly and she cried out, undulating on his cock, milking him. Her lover’s release was explosive and he came endlessly, hard and deep. Just like she’d wanted.
All too soon they were spent and he pulled out carefully, placing a gentle kiss between her shoulder blades. “Thank you, baby. You were incredible.”
“So were you.” Turning, she gave him a blazing kiss. When he pulled back, she couldn’t help but stare, awed by his raw masculinity. His possessiveness.
The truth hit her hard—she’d fallen in love with him. No question. This man who made her feel special, who’d claimed her heart and soul.
She could only pray his feelings were the same.
• • •
The call came in at five thirty a.m. the next morning.
Clay blinked sleepily and groaned, rolling over to snatch his cell phone from the nightstand before the ringing woke up Melissa. Calls this early never boded well.
When he saw that the incoming call was from Six-Pack, however, he felt a thrill go through him. He hoped . . . “Hello?”
“I’m glad you answered,” his captain said. “Julian and Eve are both out with the flu and we’re seriously shorthanded. Sorry to spring this on you, but you think you can start today instead of Monday?”
Excitement coursed through him and he bolted upright in bed. “Are you kidding? You bet I can! Sorry they’re sick and all, but damn, I’m so ready to get back to work.”