Promises Keep (The Promise Series)

by Sarah McCarty

  His finger tipped up her chin. “It works both ways, you know.”

  “What?” She was not going to look at him.

  His hand slid around to the base of her neck. “The hunger.”

  She didn’t say a word, but she did look at him. “The only difference is,” he continued, his fingers stroking the nape of her neck, “I like it.”

  Well, spit. So did she. She liked the way he could make her feel, the knowledge that with just a touch, he could turn dull to exciting. She liked the thrill of anticipation she got when he was near. She liked it—she just didn’t always like feeling so helpless before it.

  “You do?”

  “Oh yeah.” His thumb tipped her mouth up to the descent of his. “I do.”

  His lips met hers. As always, there was a moment in which she debated the rightness of her response before she gave in to it. Her lips parted beneath his.

  “Oh definitely, I do,” he sighed into her mouth, his tongue tangling with hers, his desire spiking hers. Her fingers clenched in his shirt. The nip of pain in her palm reminding her they had company just beyond the swinging door.

  “Asa—”

  “Let him kiss his own woman,” Cougar growled, kissing the corner of her mouth.

  She laughed, and ducked her head until her forehead hit his chin. There was a stirring at her hairline as he placed a kiss there. “I meant we have to get back in there.”

  Both his arms slid over her shoulders as he pulled her fully up against his body. As her belly cradled the hard ridge of his erection, he groaned, the hiss of breath blowing stray tendrils of hair at her ear. “You’d better go in and keep them company.”

  “The tea?”

  “I’ll bring it in when my body cools down.”

  She paused, stepped back and looked at him. Really looked at him, from his long black hair pulled back into a loose braid for work, his exotic face with its high cheekbones, and wide hard mouth, to his well-muscled body. Lastly, she let her gaze stop at the juncture of his thighs. Against his denims, his cock pressed hard. For her. Scrawny, undesirable her.

  She caught her lip between her teeth and slowly reached out and cupped him in her hand.

  “Shit!” His knees buckled. It was a slight buckle, but those hard thighs with their well-defined strength went weak at the touch of her hand. Amazing.

  She looked up, knowing the wonder she felt inside was showing on her face, and pretty much not caring. “You really do like me.”

  He pushed his cock harder against her palm. Even through the heavy material, she could feel him pulse with anticipation just before she squeezed gently.

  “What was your first clue?” he asked, leaning harder into her grasp, his breath seeming to catch in his throat and hang there as she stroked him tenderly.

  She shrugged. “I thought you were just doing your duty.”

  “You think a man gets it up five times a night for something you can call a duty?” His voice rose with every syllable.

  “Keep your voice down!” she hissed, glancing at the door. “And you needn’t sound shocked.”

  “Can’t help it. I am,” he groaned, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Asa and Elizabeth were just on the other side of the door.

  “Lower your voice.”

  He tipped his head back as she tweaked the head of his cock, feeling it swell beneath her hand, growing harder, pulsing stronger. He dropped his head back with a moan as he asked, “You giving orders now?”

  Was she? She thought about it, stroked him twice more through his clothes and came to a decision. “Yes.”

  “Well, damn.”

  He didn’t sound upset. He widened his stance, giving her more room to play.

  “So you don’t get this way for every woman?” she asked, needing to know.

  He slit his eyes open. Through his lashes, they glittered like gold. “You serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  “And you really like my…breasts?”

  “Haven’t I said so?”

  “No.” She slid her hand down his thigh, following the descent of his cock until she could feel the flared crown. “Why?”

  “They’re small and delicate, and those nipples. Darlin’, I could come just staring at those wanton nipples of yours.”

  “You think my nipples are wanton?” She stroked his cock from base to tip.

  “Oh yeah,” he answered, pumping his hips in time with her strokes. “They plump up so eagerly for my mouth and melt as sweet as honey on my tongue.”

  The floor squeaked as he shifted his stance wider. “Harder, Angel.”

  She increased the pressure and speed of her strokes, looking at him speculatively. “And you could come just from looking at them.”

  His breath was more ragged now. Harsher. “Get on your knees, open your bodice and I’ll demonstrate.”

  “Open your pants first.”

  He stopped moving altogether. “What?”

  “I want to see you first.”

  “Shit.” If she’d shocked him, it didn’t slow him down. He had his pants undone and his cock in his hand almost before she had a chance to be shocked at herself.

  His cock sat solid and heavy in his palm. Thick. Eager. As she watched, a bead of pre-come appeared on the tip. She licked her lips.

  “Shit,” Cougar groaned, and had her eyes flying to his in time to see his gaze lock on her lips, and the tip of her tongue. He pumped into his hand, his cock sliding in and out, the little bead of pre-come disappearing as it eased his passage. She had no doubt he was imagining her mouth on his cock. She smiled and dropped to her knees.

  She brought her hands to the top of her dress.

  “Hurry up, we don’t have much time.”

  She undid the first two buttons and glanced at his cock, red and angry in its impatience. “You’re in that much of a hurry?”

  “Yeah. That, and Asa and Elizabeth are going to get suspicious soon.”

  She’d forgotten about them. Amazing. She opened the rest of the buttons double-time. She paused, her dress unbuttoned, her breasts covered, her pussy pulsing with anticipation.

  “You’re killing me, Angel.” He pumped harder into his hand. Faster.

  “Good.” She kept her gaze locked on his face as she slowly, slowly pulled the material aside. His expression was hard, locked in lust. He seemed barely able to breathe at all until, with one last tug, she pulled the material away from her distended nipples.

  “Aw, damn.” His jaw clenched. His breath broke in small hitches, and a sheen of sweat broke over his face and throat. He leaned into the wall behind her, the weight of his body forcing her back into the cabinets. He bent his knees and pressed his cock against her nipple. She watched as her nipple slid into the tiny slit. Cougar’s curse above her head sounded almost like a prayer, and then his cock jerked and her breast was bathed with hot moisture as he came. A quick shift and he treated the other nipple to the same erotic bath. He seemed almost helpless in his climax. Needing her body, needing her acceptance of his come. As his thigh shuddered against her shoulder, she slid down and took his pulsing cock into her mouth, his last burst of seed sliding in a silky wash over her tongue.

  “Damn, I’m sorry, Angel.”

  She glanced up, a question in her eyes.

  “I didn’t mean to actually do that.” He grabbed the dishtowel.

  But he’d wanted it. She knew that. Had wanted, with every fiber of his being, to fuck her breasts. Had been helpless to resist the urgency once he’d seen them. He pulled out of her mouth, his cock only slightly diminished.

  She stopped him before he could wipe away his semen. She slid both hands under her ribs and dragged them up, scooping his seed and then rubbed the silky fluid into her breasts, against her nipples. “I like it.”

  He dropped to his knees beside her, his eyes on her hands. “Have I mentioned that you’re killing me?”

  His hands replaced hers. He massaged his seed into her breasts, drawing his hands from ba
se to tip, using the milking motion she liked.

  “In a good way, though?”

  His forehead hit the counter with a soft thud. “Oh yeah.”

  His cock, rock solid, throbbed against her side. “You’re hard again.”

  He slid his cheek along hers. “And going to stay that way for awhile.”

  She buried her face in his hair where it draped from the loose braid. She pressed her lips against the side of his neck. His shudder vibrated through her lips along her spine to reverberate in her pussy. “Why?”

  His smile pushed the muscle of his cheek against hers. “Because you have that effect on me.”

  He grabbed the towel off the floor and rubbed at her chest, removing his seed and replacing it with a hum of anticipation. “And,” he continued, “it’s going to take a while for me to get the image of those gorgeous nipples of yours shining with my come out of my head.”

  She leaned back as he concentrated on her nipples. Rubbing them a little harder, sending shots of fire through her body.

  He stopped. She looked up.

  “Are you wet for me?”

  She nodded.

  “Good.”

  He tugged at her dress until she leaned back and the material slid free. He eased the towel beneath her dress, and between her legs. The cotton abraded her swollen labia as he wiped her juices from her pussy and thighs. Twice it brushed her clit, she gasped and flinched and gushed. He had to wipe her all over again. He pulled the towel out, held it to his nose, and breathed deep. “Tonight, I’ll tend to you, but right now, I need to get you buttoned up so you can attend to our guests.”

  She didn’t think she could do anything, her legs felt so shaky, but as he buttoned her dress, his gaze clinging to her breasts to the last possible moment, she knew she’d do it. Because he asked her to. Because he wanted her to. Because she could.

  His big hands on her hips steadied her as she stood, ready to catch her if she fell. If she needed him. She smiled down at him, centering her feet under her, resting her palm against his cheek. Scraping her nails on his beard as he pressed a kiss between her thighs through her skirt, drawing strength from his obvious enjoyment of her.

  The whole event had taken about five minutes, but she felt totally transformed.

  She slid out of his grip, waited until he closed his pants, and then headed through the door.

  “I’m so sorry it took so long,” she called as she passed through. “I’m a bit of a baby about knives.”

  “Knives?”

  “Cougar doesn’t believe in tweezers.”

  “Good God!” Elizabeth gasped.

  “Where’s the tea?” Asa asked.

  Cougar smiled at the amusement he heard in Asa’s voice. He’d bet the other man had accurately interpreted the flush on Mara’s cheeks. Just as he’d bet Mara’s innocence would save her from the knowledge.

  Her unselfconscious “Cougar’s bringing it,” confirmed his suspicions.

  He reached up to the top of the cupboard and pulled six glasses down from the shelf.

  “What’s in all the boxes?” he heard Mara ask. “Dresses for you,” Elizabeth answered. “I heard Cougar had you prisoner up here without a proper wardrobe.”

  “He’s not exactly holding me hostage. And I can’t take these.”

  “Of course you can.” Cougar grinned at the no-nonsense tone Elizabeth adopted. “I’m so fat now, they’ll never fit me again. Besides, Cougar paid Asa for them.”

  “He did?”

  “Yes.” Cougar figured that meant he would in the near future.

  There was a long hesitation and some rustling and then a soft, “Oh.”

  The wonder in Mara’s tone ensured Elizabeth could name any price she wanted to replace her wardrobe. He owed her big time for this thoughtfulness. He knew how little true kindness Mara had known in the past. And how much this visit meant to her in terms of acceptance.

  “Do you like it?”

  “Oh yes.”

  “Dorothy told me your measurements. I hope I altered them correctly.”

  The kitchen door swung open. Asa walked in.

  “That’ll keep them busy for awhile.”

  Cougar handed Asa a glass of tea. “Good.”

  A quick glance down his body and Asa’s grin kicked in full bore. “So you’re happy with her?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Better than with Emily?”

  Cougar winced, and shrugged, accepting the other man’s amusement. “Emily was what I thought I wanted.”

  “And Mara?”

  Cougar poured two more glasses of tea. “Mara is what I need.”

  Asa leaned against the counter, and took a sip of his drink. “She know about Cecile’s yet?”

  “No.”

  “You planning on telling her?”

  “No.” A little of the tea spilled, and he smothered a curse.

  “She’s going to be hurt when she finds out.”

  “I know.”

  “She will find out.”

  “I know.”

  “It would probably be better if she found out from you.”

  “Probably.” But she would leave him then. No way could a woman ever forgive him for what he’d done. He was living on borrowed time, but he wasn’t going to bring it to an end any sooner than he had to by telling her.

  “It was nice of you to bring her the dresses,” Cougar said, changing the subject.

  Asa shrugged and smiled. “Elizabeth was quite scandalized to hear Mara only had two dresses.”

  “Actually one.”

  “I thought the Reverend bought her one?”

  “That one met with a mishap.”

  Asa laughed outright. “He is a good-looking son of a bitch.”

  “Yeah.” The type of guy Mara might turn to when she found out about him.

  “Well,” Asa drawled, “truth be told, I should be thanking you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Elizabeth’s been bored to tears this last month.”

  Cougar raised a brow in sympathy. “Elizabeth’s about unlivable when bored. Has a real tendency to get into trouble.”

  “Tell me about it,” Asa drawled, shaking his head as he took a long pull from his glass. “About the only thing that saved my sanity was when Dorothy mentioned to Elizabeth about Mara needing clothes.”

  “Elizabeth’s a stickler for propriety.”

  “Yeah. About shocked the hell out of her to hear you had a young woman holed up here without underthings or a proper wardrobe. Sent me straight to the closet for all those new clothes I bought her before she started to show.”

  “I’ll pay you back.”

  Asa waved away the offer. “You already did.”

  The sound of a wagon rounding the house interrupted the conversation.

  “Sounds like Doc and Dorothy are here,” Cougar said, filling the rest of the glasses and putting them on the tray.

  Asa held the door open for him. “Yup. We’d better hurry up if we don’t want to miss Doc laying down the law to Dorothy.”

  Cougar smiled. “Again.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Mara stood on the porch, waving goodbye to Asa, Elizabeth, Dorothy and Doc, laughing as Doc’s “Goddammit!” floated behind them when the battered wagon hit a rut in the path.

  “He really should just break down and buy Dorothy a decent carriage,” she mentioned to Cougar who stood behind her.

  His moccasins made no sound as he took a step closer, his hands sliding around her middle, pulling her back against him. “What would be the fun in that?”

  She titled her head back to see his face in the soft twilight. “Then they wouldn’t have to keep arguing about it.”

  He bent over, his long hair falling on either side of her face surrounding her with the scent of sage and the faintest hint of smoke. “You’ve got to get over this hitch that says there’s something wrong with a discussion now and then.”

  She slid her hand up his neck and over his cheek. His beard prick
ed her palm. “Does this mean you want me to mention the fact that you’ve been smoking again?”

  “Nope.”

  She smiled to herself as she rubbed his cheek with her palm, liking the rasp of his beard on her flesh. He turned his head until he could kiss her palm.

  “You thinking how good those whiskers are going to feel against your pussy in about five minutes?”

  “No!” Shock had it coming out more of a gasp than the calm response she would have preferred.

  He turned her in his arms, his hand under her chin bringing her gaze to his. “Now isn’t that a shame?”

  She knew she was going to regret asking, but she had to anyway. “Why?”

  He smiled, able to read her mind. “Because then, you’d be plenty wet for me when I tend to you like I promised.”

  Who was he kidding? She was always wet for him. “Oh.”

  “That all you got to say?”

  He bent down and slid an arm behind her knees and the other across her back. She relaxed into his grip as he swung her up in his arms. Cougar would never let her fall.

  He didn’t move after picking her up, staring at her with those deep gold eyes. She realized he wanted an answer. “Yes.”

  The hint of a smile deepened the laugh lines by the corners of his eyes. “Can’t say I’m not disappointed.”

  He headed for the front door.

  She slid one arm around his neck. “Why?”

  She slipped her fingers between the buttons of his shirt until she could touch his chest. His flesh was hot and smooth beneath the curling chest hair.

  “I had a hankering to hear how you wanted my mouth on your cunt, nibbling on your clit, lapping at your pussy, and swallowing all your sweet cream.”

  Her fingers tightened convulsively on his chest, wrenching the hair there. She could just imagine it. His moist tongue, his hot breath, his prickly beard. Her vagina convulsed as pure lust speared through her.

  He tossed her a bit to open the door. “That death grip you’ve got on my chest hair mean you’re interested?”

  She would have thought she was past embarrassment by now, but apparently, she wasn’t. The best answer she could come up with was a squeak.