by Joya Ryan
“Lily bought that damn thing last time she and Alex were here.”
JJ’s lips turned up in a slight smile. “Let me guess, it’s her reading chair.”
“Yep. She even sleeps on the thing.” Which was why he could never get rid of it. Any comfort he could offer his sister and his nephew, he would. He had tried several times to get Lily and her five-year-old son Alex to move to Kansas City and live near him. But Lily said she’d never leave Diamond. And Colt would never move back. Ever. He left behind a lot in that small town, including his spotted past, and it wasn’t until he left Diamond that he started to like the man he was.
Clack. Clack.
Colt’s stare zeroed in on JJ’s black heels, clicking every time she took a timid step on the hardwood. He was now exceedingly happy he had never put carpet down. Each sound of those damn shoes was like a call to him. Taunting him. Making him think of how those sharp heels would feel scraping against his ass as he fucked her on the counter, the table, the bed—
Stop it.
Easier said than done, because she had the kind of curves that made men think of sex. She was petite but built where it counted. Delicate face and neck, lush pink lips, and olive skin.
Colt watched as she examined his kitchen, her perfect little ass swinging in her wake. Her cream pants were so tight, he had a perfect view of her incredible body and toned thighs. There was clear evidence that she was either wearing a G-string or going commando.
Tearing his gaze away, he placed the bandages, cotton balls, and peroxide on the table.
“Well? You done inspecting?”
She glanced at him. “You have a nice home.”
Between sponsors and several large purses won over the years, Colt had plenty of money, but extravagance wasn’t his style. This little farmhouse on the outskirts of the city was his haven. Reminded him of home—without the memories that came with it.
“Come here and let me see that hand.”
“I appreciate you picking me up, but I can get a cab back to my hotel.” She walked toward him. “My flight back leaves tomorrow.”
“Lily going to pick you up?”
JJ nodded.
Diamond was too small a town to have an airport, but the neighboring city was only a thirty-minute drive away.
“Look, it’s late, you’re here, may as well just stay and sleep it off. We’ll get ya where you need to go first thing in the morning.”
He tried to sound casual. Tried. But his mind was racing, his thoughts centered on the smart teacher with unbelievable curves. Though she had a small waist, her hips flared, and every time she took a step, that seductive little swish damn near hypnotized him. The woman was built to please a man. And Colt had no doubt she could do just that.
He sat at the table and shifted in his seat. His dick had been hard since he walked into that bar and saw her swaying to the music. And the damn thing refused to go down.
JJ sat on the chair next to him.
Nope. She was still too far away for his liking. He reached out, slid his hand between her knees, and gripped her chair from underneath. A sharp breath left her mouth.
Colt smiled, loving how big her eyes got when she was caught off guard. He yanked her seat, and the hot little brunette that occupied it, toward him, not stopping until her legs had no choice but to part around his bent knee. Now, with her thighs surrounding his, Colt began cleaning her knuckles with a cotton ball.
“You seem to know what you’re doing.” She smiled.
“I’ve had worse injuries than this, sugar.”
“I know. I heard about your fall last spring in Texas.”
“So you’ve been following the circuit?” Colt grinned, liking the idea of JJ watching him on television.
“Two national titles are hard to miss. The whole town crowded into Penny’s BBQ last year to watch you on the big screen.”
A sting pricked his chest. He imagined the town he grew up in, his best friends from high school who were still there, successful, and keeping Diamond afloat, all rooting for him. He was a lucky son of a bitch to have such good people in his life. Too bad they all lived in a place Colt could never set down roots.
While his friends were back home, there were also a fair number of people who had a less-than-stellar view of Colt. Some flat-out thought he was either trouble or a playboy, both impressions he couldn’t really argue. He wasn’t the same angry kid he was ten years ago after his parents died, but small towns don’t forget, and a reputation was a hard thing to shake. Which was why he made a point to lie low whenever he made a quick trip to see his nephew and sister.
He cleaned the biggest cut on her hand, hating that she sucked in a deep breath as he put the Band-Aid on.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. He had forgotten she hated blood, one of several things he’d learned about JJ when she was a gangly teenager. JJ never once shed a tear all the times he’d picked her up, upset about a spat with her mother, and taken her to Lily. Even at fourteen, she had hated showing weakness, a trait that obviously followed her into adulthood. Which was why he didn’t push when she steered the conversation back to talking about his rodeo career.
“Lily was hysterical when you got injured in Houston,” she said, tugging on that lush bottom lip with her teeth.
That had been a rough ride, and one of the rankest bulls he ever had the misfortune to draw. He’d landed in the hospital with a broken leg, a fractured wrist, and three broken ribs. “I still made it to eight though.”
“That you did.”
After he finished patching her up, they both looked at her hand. Okay, Colt looked at her chest, then her hand. Her crisp, white button-up hugged her breasts and fit tight around her middle. She must have left the meeting and gone straight to the bar.
The few times he had visited Diamond in the past, he had caught glimpses of JJ. Once walking down the street, another at the grocery store. She’d never seen him, partly because he made a point to generally stay out of sight from most everyone. Also, when he had seen her, the same feeling came over him that did tonight. Lust.
From what he’d seen, she dressed conservatively. Never revealing too much, always sensible. Always appearing collected and controlled. The woman could try all she wanted with her professional style, but she just ended up looking like a naughty librarian in desperate need of a spanking.
She looked up at him, her eyes big and unguarded and—aw, man, his gut turned inside out and his cock went into overdrive.
“Thanks for getting me tonight, Colt,” she whispered.
Neither spoke for a long moment. They both just stared at the other. Not good, Colt thought as he cleared his throat and pushed to his feet. If they sat like that for even a second longer, things were bound to get complicated—and really fucking messy. He didn’t do complicated. He did, however, like getting messy with a beautiful woman. But Lily would have his balls if he made a move on JJ.
“Let’s get you all tucked in. Your flight leaves early. Do you have a rental waiting back at the bar?”
“No. I took a cab.”
He led her to his bedroom. She took one look at his bed and raised a brow.
Yeah, bad move. All he wanted to do was throw her on the mattress and fuck her until they both passed out from the pleasure. Wasn’t going to happen.
“The spare room is Alex’s. He has a nice little race car bed, but I figured you’d be more comfortable in here.”
Why did the thought of her sleeping, just sleeping, in his bed make his cock twitch?
“Where will you sleep?”
“I’ll hit the couch.”
She looked him up and down, then bit her bottom lip. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she did it to physically keep herself from admitting something. Instead, she straightened her shoulders and said, “Thank you. Good night, Colt.”
“Night, JJ.”
…
Jenna rolled over. Again. She couldn’t get comf
ortable. The bed was fine enough, better than fine. But the sheets, the pillows, even the stupid air smelled like Colt McCade. Spicy and masculine and packed with panty-melting power.
After setting out a T-shirt and sweats, he had left and closed the door.
Jenna had been one syllable away from saying, Stay!
Though the alcohol had worn off, her thoughts were persistent as hell. Like every night before going to bed, she went over the day’s events. So much was riding on this grant. She replayed their words over and over, the polite way they told her she wasn’t good enough.
She was a child of Diamond herself and loved her community, but growing up had been rough. Though Jenna had spent her whole life staying on the straight and narrow, a deep-seated fear lurked at the back of her mind. What if she would only ever be seen as her mother’s daughter?
Then the little voice in her head whispered the one question that terrified her to the core: What if I’m just like my mother?
Miranda Justice was wild, crazy, and careless. Those were three things Jenna certainly wasn’t. Living in a small town, there were always eyes and ears nearby, thriving on gossip. Which was why she hardly dated and was rarely seen with a man. And if she was, she’d made sure he was the “right kind” of man. The kind who was simple, average, and didn’t attract attention. Because growing up, Jenna saw the kind of guys her mother kept company with. And so did the entire town.
All of Miranda’s men had been loud, shiny, and riddled with scandal. The kind who made your heart race and everyone take notice. Jenna wanted to be noticed only for certain things, and a man, her dating life, wasn’t one of them. Not that she had much of a dating life.
Jenna huffed and threw a pillow over her face. It had been a long, long time since she had been with a man. But more than that, it had been a long time since she felt this conflicted. Colt had always been a beacon of safety and warmth. He was her knight in a shiny pickup, and the feelings he stirred went far beyond platonic. She wanted to play on every dark, sexual fantasy she had. And she wanted to do it with the only male she trusted. Because to be honest, simple and average was getting stale.
For once, she wanted to give in to every wicked thought. She squeezed her thighs together, but it didn’t ease the unbearable pressure. She felt empty. And the only cure was currently lying in the room next door.
No. To say she’d had a crush on Colt when she was sixteen would be an understatement. But she was an adult now, and that only made it more difficult.
Aching in Colt’s bed, a place she had always wanted to be but knew she’d never end up, and all she wanted was to walk into the living room and give him the ride of his life. But that would be irresponsible. The last thing she needed were the eyes of her town looking at her and reporting back to the school board.
Pull it together, Jenna. Get him out of your mind. Yeah, out of her mind.
Rather than doing something hasty with the cowboy from her past, she took a deep breath. A throaty moan escaped and her skin buzzed, because a heady dose of Colt’s scent slid through her. She rolled over but the pressure of her breasts against the mattress just made it worse, so she rolled back.
She froze.
She wasn’t in Diamond. Wouldn’t be back home until tomorrow. She was three hundred miles away with a man who hadn’t lived in their small hometown in ages. The same man she had wanted since she was sixteen. A man who expected no strings and no attachment and wouldn’t mind being only a memory come sunrise. He was the perfect guy for a one-night stand.
She swung her legs over the bed…and paused.
Could she really do this?
The few times she’d been intimate with a man, she had been in college and not a single moment of it was swoon-worthy. She always felt her experiences were lacking. There was all this pent-up need that she was desperate to unleash.
But maybe with Colt it would be different. Maybe with him she could let go. She remembered the way he looked at her, the way his hands moved over her skin when he bandaged her. She might not have the sexual prowess of a porn star, but she could read body language. And she was pretty sure Colt’s body had been talking.
Decision made, Jenna tossed back the covers and stood. She was going to walk right out there and have sex with Colt. Let all her inhibitions go and have one wild night before she had to go back to her responsible life.
Opening the bedroom door, she quietly padded down the hallway. Her palms rested on her bare thighs, right below where Colt’s T-shirt hit. If she was going to do this, it was going to be all the way. This was her one shot. Tomorrow she’d be back in town, a respectable teacher and citizen with no tarnishes on her perfect reputation. She’d eventually get married to a dermatologist or accountant, and the only life transition she could look forward to was menopause. That would be her life. Controlled. Comfortable. Boring.
But tonight?
Tonight she would be JJ. The woman who had wanted this cowboy since she was a kid.
She came to the entry of the living room. Moonlight streamed in from the open window along with the sweet smell of wheatgrass and the low hum of crickets. Colt was sprawled out on the couch. A thin blanket thrown over his hips, his right forearm covering his eyes. He huffed, loudly.
He was awake?
With a deep breath, she walked toward him.
Either sensing or hearing her, he turned his head. “JJ?” He sat up, his eight-pack of abs rippled, and she stifled a moan at the sight. “You all right?”
His words ended in a hiss when he took in her “outfit.”
“No. I’m not all right.” She walked closer, not stopping until her knees hit the edge of the couch. She looked down at Colt. “I haven’t been to a rodeo in a long time…”
…
Colt had been tense and tossing around for an hour. Sleep wasn’t coming. Then, when he heard JJ’s soft footfalls, his body shot to attention…in every sense of the word.
She stood there, her mass of thick dark hair that had been tightly secured earlier now spilling down her breasts and back. The moonlight haloed her as she stood before him, gray eyes like steel peering down.
And she’s wearing my shirt.
Colt could see her dusky nipples budding against the white cotton. Though the shirt swallowed her small frame, her creamy thighs down to her bare feet were exposed and, goddamn, he’d never seen any woman look as sexy.
Colt checked the urge to run a palm down his hard cock. He sat up completely, throwing his legs over the couch so his feet were on the floor. He adjusted the blanket, trying to hide the evidence of how badly he wanted her. He needed to focus and keep his cool, otherwise he was afraid he’d reach out and see what the sexy little teacher was hiding under his shirt.
Once he touched her, there’d be no going back. He’d likely frighten the prim Miss JJ if she knew all the dirty things he’d dreamed of doing to that body of hers. Yes, keeping his hands to himself was the wise choice.
“You’re leaving tomorrow, but maybe some other time I’ll take you to a rodeo closer to Diamond.”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she hit her knees right before him and ripped the blanket off his lap, exposing his erection. The blood left his head and a startled groan stuck in his throat. The only barrier now was his black boxer briefs. She palmed his knees.
“That’s not what I had in mind,” she said, spreading his legs and settling between them.
Jesus Christ, was this happening? The normally modest Miss JJ was currently on her knees, staring down his cock and licking her lips like a hungry animal.
“JJ…what…what are you doing?”
Her gaze flashed with uncertainty. Colt thought she was about to stand back up and run.
Shit, he hadn’t meant to discourage her. He wasn’t a fucking idiot, after all. But should he encourage her? This wasn’t some random woman in front of him. This was JJ. There was a lot he wanted to say. Instead, he said the only thing that was true and made sense to him: “You’re beautiful, Jenna.”
Her chest stilled for a moment. She gazed up at him like he was some kind of damn hero. A look like that could be a man’s kryptonite. Already he wanted to see that look again. Wanted to be that man.
A kind of resolve seemed to settle over her and she gave a wicked smile. He could almost feel confidence radiate from her. She looked like she was ready to devour him. Roughly. Colt’s cock jumped in anticipation.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a while now,” she murmured.
Sliding her hands from his knees up his thighs, she leaned in and—fuck!—her tongue darted out as she kissed his stomach.
“Shit, woman…” This was bad. Very, very bad.
Just when Colt attempted to get a grip and find his brain, JJ’s teeth grazed over his hipbone and he forgot—well, everything. Like why this was a bad idea.
Right! She was his little sister’s best friend. “JJ, I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Really?” Her breath tickled his torso when she spoke. “Because this”—she tapped her finger on his raging hard-on—“seems to disagree with you.”
Colt attempted a deep breath, hoping it would bring some kind of clarity to drag him from his haze of lust. How did he say what he knew he should without sounding like an ass or a total liar? Because JJ and his cock were right. He wanted this.
She licked his belly button and he groaned.
“Ah, baby. You’re good—so good.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and those big eyes looked up at him. “You’re just not this kind…”
She raised a brow. “And what kind am I, Colt?”
“You’re the marrying kind. Not the—”
“I don’t want to marry you, Colt.” Wow, she sounded almost horrified at the notion. “I want to have sex with you.”
If there was any blood left in his head, it was gone now. “I—Jesus, I wasn’t proposing. I was just saying—”
“I know what you were saying.” Those soft wispy touches on his legs turned more forceful. “I’m telling you what I want. You. Tonight. No strings. No tomorrows. Just one night, no holding back.” She gave a seductive smile that was Colt’s undoing. “Unless…you want me to hold back?”