The Lawman

by Martha Shields

  As she relaxed in his arms moments later, Jake began again. His hands and his mouth took her on a frenzied journey until, sweating like she’d run six miles, she finally screamed his name.

  Only then did he drive inside of her, bringing her to climax again. But this time it was different. It came from within and without—all over her body.

  Then he rolled them over, positioning her on top of him. She immediately began to move, riding him like a bucking bronco. She couldn’t help it. He was hitting some marvelously sensitive spot deep inside her. Her entire body convulsed, and each convulsion took her down again, onto his hardness, over and over and over, until she stopped suddenly with a cry and leaned hard on his chest, panting as if she’d just added another five miles to her run.

  “Jake, are you trying to kill me?”

  He rolled over again, drawing her knees over his shoulders. “Complaining?”

  He began to thrust.

  “Complain? Me? Never. Oh, you’re doing it again.”

  His thrusts grew harder, faster until he drove into her with a cry, then pulled out and drove in again.

  Finally he was still. He stayed inside her, keeping their positions intact while the world settled back around them. Tabitha felt him throbbing inside of her. Or was she throbbing against him?

  It didn’t matter. She was exhausted, weak and deliriously happy.

  Finally Jake disengaged and stretched out beside her. He slipped his arm beneath her head and turned her toward him.

  “Damn,” he breathed as he kissed her. “How many orgasms can you have?”

  “I don’t know,” she said in a weak voice. “Probably just beginner’s luck.”

  Instead of chuckling at her joke, he kissed her soundly, then said, “All I can say is that you’ve been involved with some very stupid men.”

  “Yes,” she murmured. “He sure didn’t know what he was doing. Not like you. I’ve never felt anything so intense in my life.”

  He grinned. “Is that a thank-you?”

  She smiled back. “Thank you.” She hugged him close. “Thank you!”

  He chuckled as he rocked her back and forth, holding on tight. “I enjoyed it every bit as much as you did.”

  “You did?” She pulled back so she could see his face. “I was beginning to feel very selfish. Maybe next time you can have as many as I did.”

  “I wish. Men aren’t built the way women are, kitten. We have to rest too much in between.”

  “That’s too bad,” she murmured, snuggling against the strong arm serving as her pillow.

  He stroked a hand down her body. “Go to sleep now. You deserve it after that.”

  “You said all night,” she complained weakly.

  “And I meant it. Believe me.” He kissed her temple. “But sleep for now. We both need it.”

  Tabitha didn’t want to. She wanted to be awake every minute she spent in his arms. But so many orgasms had loosened a knot inside her, relaxing her beyond what any meditation or Oriental exercise ever had.

  Just as she began to enjoy the throb of his heartbeat against her neck, it lulled her to sleep.

  Tabitha woke suddenly to a dark room. At some point Jake must have turned off the lamp. Jake. She shivered. She couldn’t believe the experience he’d given her.

  She would have put it down to a dream, but she could feel his heat cuddled against her. One arm still served as her pillow and the other lay on her waist. His chest rose and fell against her back with even breathing.

  “Good morning.” He kissed her shoulder.

  She twisted toward him. “You’re awake?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What time is it?”

  He lifted his head, then dropped it. “Two-fifteen.”

  “Late,” she murmured.

  “Or early,” he said. “Depends on how you look at it.”

  “I guess so.”

  He trailed a hand along her arm, making her shiver. “Cold?”

  “No.” She could feel his smile against her shoulder. “How long have you been awake?”

  “I don’t know. Half an hour, I guess.”

  “You didn’t get up?”

  “What for?”

  “I don’t know. To go out and check on your men. To call the ones at the hospital. To move.”

  “I don’t want to move. I don’t need to move,” He lifted himself to his elbow and turned her so she was flat on her back. “How about that. I guess what they say is true—sex is the best destressor known to man.”

  She smiled ruefully, stretching her neck toward him as he began playing with her hair. “It’s pretty good for women, too. Especially when man wears them out.”

  He chuckled. “Complaining again?”

  She sighed. “No.”

  “You’re amazing, you know that?”

  “I am?”

  “Hell, yes.” He tightened his arms around her, snuggling close. “I’ve never been with a woman who had that many orgasms.”

  She twisted so she could see him. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No, of course not.” He chuckled as he hugged her close again. “I can’t believe you asked that. It didn’t feel wrong, did it?”

  “No. It felt wonderful. Although that word doesn’t really describe the experience. I don’t think you can. It was…indescribable.” She giggled. “Indescribably delicious.”

  “Glad to have been of service, madam.” He nuzzled her neck and whispered, “And thank you.”

  “Thank me? For what?”

  “For trusting me. For letting go of your control enough to experience multiple orgasms. You’ve given me a very rare and precious gift.”

  “Oh, come on. It can’t be that rare. I’m sure lots of women have them. I mean, I did, and I didn’t even know what I was doing.”

  He pressed a kiss onto her shoulder. “Maybe I’ve just never been with the right woman.”

  Tabitha frowned. His words felt so good. Too good. “I wouldn’t get used to this method of destressing, if I were you.”

  He stilled. “Why not?”

  “You’re leaving, so it won’t be an option much longer. When is your contract up, by the way?”

  “A little over a year.” He ran a finger down her jaw. “Although,” he said, lowering his mouth to hers, “at the moment, leaving Mission Creek is the last thing on my mind.”

  He wasn’t leaving?

  Tabitha froze for half a second, then returned his kiss fervently to cover her sudden confusion. She didn’t understand why his words were such an unwelcome surprise. She wanted him to stay, didn’t she? She loved him and wanted him to love her enough to live here in Mission Creek with her the rest of their lives.

  Didn’t she?

  She didn’t know. She hadn’t considered the possibility before. Intimacy for a little while could be tolerated, and if what she experienced earlier continued, it could even be enjoyed. But intimacy for a lifetime? Could she handle that?

  Her fears faded with Jake’s caresses and kisses, and were gone entirely by the time he sent her to the stars. As she lay spooned in his arms, sweating, exhausted, she knew she wanted him to stay. In fact, she desired it with every exhausted cell in her body.

  “Go to sleep, little kitten,” he murmured against her temple. “We’ve only got a few more hours to sleep.”

  She lay there several moments, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. His breathing was shallow and even by the time she worked up the courage to whisper, “I love you.”

  Fifteen

  Tabitha grinned at the off-key strains of “Desperado” muffled by the shower. She wouldn’t have pegged Jake for a shower singer. But the song definitely fit.

  After last night, though, she was hoping he’d changed from desperado to desperate for her. After having tasted the sensual delights he’d awakened in her, she couldn’t imagine doing without. In fact, the only thing keeping her from joining him in the shower—though she’d been loved thoroughly the night before and again that morning—was t
he fact that they were already running late for the press conference.

  Tabitha hummed along with Jake as she entered the kitchen. She wondered if he’d learned the song from the Eagles, or from any of the countless number of singers who’d remade it.

  The phone rang, freezing her thoughts. Hines?

  It wasn’t her home phone ringing. Like Jake’s singing, the ring was muffled. The cell phone?

  It rang again as she dug through her purse. Definitely the cell phone.

  First she plucked out the one Jake had given to her and looked at the display. Nothing.

  She shook her head in relief. Her personal cell phone was the one ringing. It was probably Marie.

  Tabitha pulled it out of the bottom of her purse. Local call. Hmmm. It wasn’t Marie. Her number was programmed into the phone and should display. But Marie could be calling from one of her kids’ houses.

  Tabitha punched the talk button. “Hello?”

  “I’ve seen you with your cop boyfriend,” a nasal voice spat.

  Her heart stopped. “Branson Hines.”

  “So you recognize my voice. Good. Shows you got a little sense anyways.”

  “What do you— I mean, where are Cait and Dr. Matthews?”

  “Like I’m gonna tell you. Your cop boyfriend there?”

  “Boyfriend? I don’t know what you—”

  “Save it, sister. I know you and that tin-star Houston cop are thick as thieves. Don’t lie to me now. I might just have to—”

  “No! Don’t do anything rash, Mr. Hines. Don’t do anything we’ll all regret.” Tabitha stepped into the living room, away from the sound of the shower. “Chief White isn’t here. You told me to get rid of the police.”

  “Okay, well, just making sure he ain’t hanging around, undercover like. ’Cause if you think he can save your friends, you got another think coming. You’re the only one who can save ’em, and only if you follow my directions to the letter.”

  “I understand.”

  “You listening hard?”

  “Yes.” She searched for paper and pen, but there wasn’t any handy. They were in her office, too close to the noise of the shower.

  “You bring me a baby and meet me this evening, right after sunset.”

  “Where?” She listened intently, trying to hear above her pounding heart. She had to remember everything he said. Her cell phone wasn’t being recorded.

  “Drive out to the Lone Star Highway.”

  “East or west?”

  “West. Toward Highway 16. Turn left on it, then go ’bout four miles. There’s a dirt road off to the right. It’s easy to miss, so look real hard. Drive down it until you see headlights flashing at you. You’ll just be rounding a hill. Drive straight at me, real slow-like. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “No cops. If your boyfriend follows you, he’ll be dead, you’ll be dead and your friends will be dead.”

  She swallowed hard. “I understand.”

  “You swear you’re gonna bring me a baby?”

  “I don’t have any choice, do I?”

  “Not if you want to get your doctor and nurse back alive.”

  “How do I know they’re alive now?”

  “I thought you might be asking that. Here.”

  “Hello?” The feminine voice was weak, hesitant.

  “Caitlyn. Is that you?”

  “Tabitha?”

  She sounded dazed. Was she drugged?

  “Are you okay, Caitlyn? Is Dr. Walters with you?”

  “He wasn’t allowed to—”

  “That’s enough,” Hines growled. Then his voice was closer. “Sunset. If you ain’t here, one of them’s gonna be dead.”

  With a definite click, there was silence.

  Tabitha punched the end button automatically, then stared at the phone, panic racing through her.

  What did she do now? Tell Jake.

  She walked toward the bedroom, intending to do just that. But she stopped in the kitchen. The shower was still running, though her heart was beating so loud she could barely hear it.

  Jake was totally unaware anyone had called.

  If your boyfriend follows you, he’ll be dead, you’ll be dead and your friends will be dead.

  Tabitha gripped the countertop, willing away the panic that threatened consciousness. She couldn’t give in to terror now. She had to think rationally.

  If she told Jake, he would definitely organize the entire Mission Creek Police Department to descend on Hines. Police cars with sirens, flashing lights. Helicopters. Hines would hear, for sure. He’d kill Cait and Dr. Walters. He’d kill her, too. And Jake.

  Tabitha forced herself to breathe.

  On the other hand, the conversation wasn’t recorded. She was the only one who knew that Branson Hines had called.

  If she didn’t tell Jake, he wouldn’t follow. He wouldn’t get killed. She wouldn’t get killed, and Cait and Dr. Walters wouldn’t get killed. If she did everything right. A very big “if.”

  But if she didn’t tell Jake, she’d have to do it on her own.

  You can’t do anything right.

  Tabitha pressed her hand over her heart to stem the panic caused by her father’s lingering curse. Who was she to rescue anyone? What if she blew it? What if she said something she shouldn’t? Moved the wrong way?

  They would all be killed.

  But Jake wouldn’t.

  Funny. He was the one with the rescue complex, and here she was thinking she needed to rescue him. Was she nuts?

  No, she wasn’t crazy. Jake did need to be rescued—from himself, from his own rescue complex. He needed to be shown that he was a man, not a cop. Or rather, that he was a man who happened to be a cop. He needed to be shown that someone loved him as much as his parents had. Someone cared whether he lived or died. Someone cared what time he came home at night. Only then could he come down off his white horse and be a man.

  Suddenly she saw with crystal clarity the rightness of her plan, the absolute beauty of this thing she could do for the man she loved.

  No one had ever thought about rescuing Jake. Cops were there to rescue other people, right?

  But cops were people, too. They didn’t always do things right, either. Like that kidnapping case Jake told her about where both the kidnapper and hostage were killed. Jake became a cop in order to save the world. But he hadn’t been able to save those people, and he wasn’t able to save himself. In fact, he didn’t even know he needed saving.

  But she knew, and she had an opportunity to do for him what he couldn’t do for himself.

  You can’t do anything right.

  She squeezed her eyes closed, then started with a gasp when Billy jumped on the counter. She petted him absently, thinking about ways she could get Caitlyn and Dr. Walters safely away—and how she could make Hines believe she was stupid enough to risk someone else’s baby.

  Then Billy started purring.

  She focused her eyes on his orange fur, remembering how he lay still, on his back, like a baby, as long as she kept rubbing his tummy.

  She picked Billy up and hugged him.

  She could do this, and do it right. She had to…for Jake.

  Jake left the bedroom, feeling good in the fresh clothes his men had brought him, feeling good about last night. He couldn’t believe how responsive Tabitha was to his touch. Making her feel good made him feel good.

  He entered the kitchen and stopped.

  Tabitha stared down at Billy in her arms, her face pale.

  “What happened?” he demanded. “Did Hines call?”

  “What?” She shook her head, as if shaking off deep thoughts. “Oh. No. It’s just that…” Her gaze slid away, and she smiled ruefully. “I’m out of coffee.”

  Two strides took him to her. He lifted her chin. “You’re white as a ghost.”

  She tugged her chin away so she could set Billy on the floor. “I need coffee first thing in the morning. I’m an addict, okay? There, the truth comes out. You’re involved with
a caffeine addict.”

  Jake chuckled and forced himself to relax. The stress must be getting to him. He was seeing ghosts everywhere. “Two seeds in a pod. I have to have my morning coffee, too. Come on. I’ll buy you breakfast at the hospital cafeteria.”

  She agreed distractedly, then suddenly stopped. “But we have to get through a press conference first.”

  “Afterward is too late?”

  She set a hand on her hip. “Hey, you’re the one who kept me up half the night.”

  He grinned and leaned toward her. “Complaining again?”

  She yanked on his tie, pulling his mouth onto hers.

  They shared a kiss so hungry, Jake was hard by the time he broke it off. “Damn, woman. You trying to make me call off the press conference altogether?”

  She brightened. “Would you?”

  “Do you want reporters camping out on your doorstep?”

  She twisted her lips. “Point taken.”

  “We’ll stop by a fast-food place and grab coffee and biscuits.”

  “Coffee will be enough for me. I can’t eat.”

  “Oh, yes, you can.”

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “Cops are such bullies.”

  “Only when we have to be. You ready to go?”

  “Let me grab my purse.”

  After the press conference, they settled into the familiar pattern of waiting. Jake tried to leave Tabitha alone as much as possible. She had work to do.

  He did, too. State-of-the-art surveillance equipment had finally arrived from Houston, and he spent the rest of the morning overseeing installation.

  But he couldn’t stay away from her. He found excuses to wander past Tabitha’s office, just to catch a glimpse of her beautiful face.

  “You’ve got it bad, don’t ya, honey?” Marie asked the third time he came in to ask her a question.

  Jake glanced away from Tabitha’s door. “Got what bad?”

  “You sure as heck aren’t coming in here to see me.”

  “But I—”

  “Go on in there to her.” Marie shook her finger at him. “Those secret smiles give it away every time.”

  “Give what—”

  His words were cut off by the phone ringing. His eyes cut to Tabitha inside her office.