Come a Little Closer, If You Dare (Love's Command Book 5)

by Billi Jean

  She nodded seriously and concentrated even harder. He reached out and grabbed the line when she got the fish out of the water. He pulled it up so that she could see the fish without breaking the line.

  “There, see? That’s a river trout. They’re the best thing you’ll ever taste.”

  That got a disbelieving snort. “You want me to eat that?”

  “Hell, yeah. It’s delicious.”

  She examined the fish, then him almost as if she thought he was kidding around. “I’d rather throw it back in and have you.”

  He shook his head and lifted it higher away from her. “Not a chance. This is Grade A rainbow trout. It’s dinner.”

  She made a face. “Eww, well, you just take care of that, because I don’t think—”

  “Damn, you really don’t trust anyone’s advice, do you?” he asked, exasperated with her as much as he was tickled with her.

  “I’ve heard that before,” she admitted with a rueful smile.

  “Yeah, I bet you have,” he grumbled and pulled the hook out, gave her back the line and tossed the trout in the waiting bucket. He turned back and Sonya gave his hands a frown.

  “Don’t even think of touching me with those hands.”

  He laughed until he had to sit back down. His leg was tired, but it wasn’t that. She was fun—a lot of fun—and he was getting in deeper and deeper. He’d known he would, but the reality of it and the speed had him constantly checking that she was still there and not some dream. He knew the way of dating—how those first days could fly by—but not even when he’d been into a woman before his leg got blown off had he ever wanted to spend every minute with her.

  He couldn’t recall a time in his life he’d ever felt so at ease, either. The only thing that made him anxious was the thought of her being gone. Other than that, there was no need for space or time alone and away from someone he didn’t know well enough to relax around.

  The thing was, he thought, watching her holding her pole between her legs and trying to bait the hook, she was real. Real in a way that Cindy hadn’t been. Sonya didn’t hold back or act a certain way to please him. He knew that down to his toes. She spoke her mind, and if it differed from his, well, he’d better be willing to listen. The only time she didn’t disagree with him so far was over sex. With sex, she met him head on. He hoped that wasn’t just a first getting to know you kind of thing because he’d always wanted more and, until he’d pushed that pine branch aside and had her gun pointed at his head, he’d never met a woman who did as well.

  He wondered if it was the past, the rape thing, but he doubted it. She’d survived that, she’d said, and he believed her. That meant she’d dealt with that shit and left it behind, which made him wonder what the other issues she had were. Maybe no one had satisfied her before. He felt a big dose of pride hit his chest at that thought. He’d caught her a few times holding back a little on him, and when he’d given her more she’d seemed relieved, of all things. Maybe she had a high sex drive and some fool had given her shit over it. People said crazy things.

  But the reality was he didn’t care about her past. Not if it didn’t affect them.

  So what are the issues she warned she’s got?

  He couldn’t think of one thing about her that had red lights going off, except one.

  The climbing. That kind of dangerous shit, especially after not sleeping, had caught him by surprise. The lack of sleep, maybe too, was part of it. She was constantly moving, always on the go. She was a risk taker. Anyone who had been an agent, for whatever agency, had to be a type A personality or they didn’t make it.

  An agent. That mystified him. He thought Sonya was soft, warm and sweet. She could be hardcore, the gun in his face proved that, but she wasn’t bitter or jaded or even a bitch like some women who were forced to work with jackasses all the time became. And she was beautiful. A beautiful woman, an agent, and now… In Wyoming. How long would she stay?

  Forever?

  He chanced a glance over at her and felt that kick to the gut he got each time he found her still there. Yeah, he could see forever not being long enough. But what does she see?

  That was the question that worried him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Aren’t you the one that didn’t want to go fishing in the first place?” Cody asked, then tugged her by the back of her jeans.

  She couldn’t believe him. “Stop that!”

  “We have ten fish, greedy woman. How many more do you want?”

  “I can see this one. I think I can get it.”

  “That sounds good, and it would work on any other day than today. We have to get back before dark. I’m tired.”

  “You are not. You napped.”

  He snorted.

  “All right,” she relented, but tacked on, “but only because you probably are tired.” She caught his ‘cut me some slack’ look but he didn’t say anything. He’d packed and now stood with his big arms crossed over his chest.

  “I thought you wanted me to like fishing?” she asked and pulled her line out, clipping the hook the way he’d showed her before walking over to him and rising on her tiptoes to give his frown a kiss.

  “I did. You do. Now you’re addicted.”

  “You’re right,” she agreed and kissed him again just because she could. “You taste good. Like spearmint.”

  That got him to grin and slowly bring her closer to his big body. “I do, don’t I?”

  “Yes, sir, you do. I like that about you,” she whispered.

  He lifted his eyebrows and let out a minty sigh. “Is that all?”

  “Well…” She considered his handsome face then stepped back and gave him a long once-over, stopping at his hips before meeting his eyes again. “I guess more than just that.”

  “Sassy, woman… You are sassy,” he growled and hauled her into his arms so he could cup her butt with one heck of a teasing stroke.

  “I want to get wild tonight, Cody, real, real wild,” she murmured, digging her fingers into his firm muscles to hold him still. “What do you think? Want to stop teasing me?”

  His face flushed a lovely ruddy color but his eyes lightened to a sky blue, just like they did when he was really turned on. “You mean that? No teasing a starving man.”

  She laughed lightly at that. “Starving, huh? I think I’m starving. It’s been all day without anything more than a kiss from you.”

  He stroked between her ass cheeks with a deep groan. “Whose fault is that, Captain Ahab?”

  “Hey! You’re the one I should be calling Captain Ahab! You’ve lost a leg after all.”

  “Not to a whale, baby, not to a whale.”

  “You’re a nut,” she murmured, tugging him closer and kissing his smiling lips.

  He took over, as she knew he would, and brought her so close to his hard body that she could feel his muscles tensing in his stomach, not to mention the hard-on he had for her.

  For me.

  They’d had fun all day and not from sex—a first for her. And when he’d been ready to make love to her, she’d chosen scoring her first fish, rather than the passion she knew waited in his arms.

  Another first for her.

  He released her lips with a needy groan and squeezed her butt with a heat she felt reflected in her own body. Cody and anal was something she’d wanted now for days. She wanted him behind her, breathing in her neck while he worked himself in her ass. The dark, hotter pleasure was something she’d fantasized over often. With Cody she didn’t have to fantasize. He was so on board for that kind of thing he’d been teasing her with it off and on since he’d met her. What would he say if he knew she’d prepared her butt for some of that fun? Probably groan like he did when she went down on him.

  Jasper suddenly went nuts barking. Cody jerked his head up from where he was sucking a hot path up her neck to her ear.

  “Shit,” he grumbled.

  “Yeah, shit,” she agreed. “That sounds like company, Cody.” Not what she wanted right now. She wante
d Cody, hot, and aching for anal by the time they made it to her supply of lube.

  He met her eyes and let out a long exhale, then another, no doubt trying to get his mind off sex and onto whomever they could hear coming toward them on horseback.

  “Damn,” he grumbled. “That’s my buddy, I bet.”

  “Cows,” she guessed.

  He winced and shoved his hat back and scratched the front of his blond hair.

  “Yeah. Cows.” He whistled and jammed his hat down then adjusted himself without a hint of shame. “Not the kind of ending I had in mind.”

  She laughed. What else could she do? She was just as hot for him. The constant ache wasn’t there—but it hadn’t been since she’d met him. She analyzed that while she straightened her blouse back in her jeans. They’d had some amazing sex, but not today. Today they’d had fun. Sure they’d had sex this morning, but that was hours ago. By now… She studied his handsome profile. She wanted him, that was still strong, but with it the anxiety she’d felt since she’d first left Chung’s lab was missing.

  But she was simmering with desire—a lot of desire.

  “Sorry about this,” he said and squeezed her hand, fixing her blouse for her in front and meeting her eyes. “Troy is a good guy. We were in high school together. He’s in the Army still, but he’s home a lot, too.”

  Before she could reassure him with more than a small smile and a squeeze of his arm, they both heard his name called.

  “Cody, well, damn I thought you—”

  A man on a horse, with dark hair, dark eyes and the build of a soldier entered their little clearing. He stopped dead—talking and walking his horse. A black and white dog played around with Jasper and had Blue in a fit of puppy happiness with its play barks and growls. It came over to check her out quickly before Troy got his mouth closed.

  “Hey, Troy, this is my girlfriend, Sonya.”

  Girlfriend? She didn’t move a muscle but Cody’s arm circled her waist and he pinched her lightly on the butt.

  “Hi, Troy. Cody’s spoken of you,” she said with a big smile, laying it on as thick as she could. Cody wanted her to be his girlfriend, huh? She wrapped her arms around his waist and made sure to rub her breasts to his side. “He says you needed him to work this week, but I kinda stole him away. Is that okay?”

  “Uh, yeah, I mean…nice to meet you, Sonya, sure, sure,” Troy said, no doubt trying to catch up. No doubt because his buddy didn’t have a girlfriend four days ago, and until that moment, Troy probably thought he never would.

  “Good. He’s been showing me around, you know? Pretty sweet, isn’t he?” she said, patting Cody’s stomach and getting a quick smack on her butt for the fun.

  “Cody!” she cried, and frowned up at him. “Stop that. Your friend is here.”

  He gave her a stare that promised something. What, she wasn’t certain but no doubt she’d love it. He exhaled through his nose when all she gave him was a happy smile and turned to Troy.

  “Yeah, she caught me by surprise, too, but you don’t have to look so shocked, buddy.”

  Troy shook his head, reminding her of a dog getting out of water.

  “No, not shocked. Hell, no way. I knew you’d shake that—I mean I knew you’d get your feet back under you.”

  “Or foot,” she teased. Cody squeezed her butt again, but she ignored him. “We were just heading back before it gets dark.”

  “Yeah, we caught some trout. Sonya’s never had trout for dinner,” Cody said and steered her to her horse. “I can call you in the morning, if you still need help with your cows.”

  “Uh, sure, yeah, that’d be great. I haven’t found them. There’s six missing total and hopefully that many calves.”

  “Shouldn’t you invite him over?” Sonya whispered.

  “Not a chance in hell,” Cody grumbled to her. Louder he said, “I can do that. Six? That’s something. What happened?”

  “Fence down on the lower pasture. They cut free before I knew it wasn’t solid. I was betting on them being up here,” Troy went on to say, watching Cody, not her, she noted with a bit of respect for him. He was obviously Cody’s friend and seemed like a decent guy, but most did. The way he held himself back, though, and the way he concentrated on his buddy, not her after that first shock of seeing her with Cody, spoke volumes about how much he respected his friend.

  “That’s bad luck,” Cody said, and got up on his gelding with one easy swing of lean muscles. “I can start early. Maybe we can have them down by sunset. If you think they’re still up here?”

  Troy exhaled and leaned on his saddle horn. “Nah, that’s okay. You’re busy. How long are you in town?” he asked her.

  “Town?” she said with a laugh.

  He smiled slightly and nodded. “True, not much around here.”

  “But it’s beautiful. If you need his help, I think he is offering.”

  Cody gave her a quick grin then turned back to Troy. “I can help out. Sonya’s here for a good long while. Besides, I’m not giving you more than a day.”

  Troy sat back up and tipped his hat, much like Cody did, and grinned. He was a handsome guy, clearly at ease with himself and showed the confidence a tall, handsome man found easy.

  He didn’t do a thing for her.

  “Damn, all right, that works. I’m surprised you didn’t have them wrapped up days ago.”

  “He had other things to wrap up,” Sonya said and moved her horse closer to Cody so they brushed knees.

  “That’s true,” Cody told her and winked. “A day, tops, won’t hurt. You think you can stay busy?”

  “I was born busy.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Cody muttered. “You might as well come for dinner, Troy. I can tell you’re hanging around waiting on an invite.”

  She swatted Cody’s stomach for that and he pretended she’d hurt him until he caught her hand and laughed. “What? The man won’t want to leave if you feed him.”

  “I’m not feeding him. You are. You know I can’t cook.”

  “Hey, I am right here,” Troy said with a laugh.

  “And?” Cody said, kicking his horse into motion. “Come on, Blue, Jasper, cut it out and settle down.”

  Blue listened to him as quickly as Jasper, she noticed and smiled. Even her dog liked him. His friend was okay, and she didn’t mind him coming over. Or that Cody called her his girlfriend. And more telling, she didn’t mind that sex might be hours off.

  Has the drug worn off?

  She lifted her hand and glanced at where the hook had snagged her thumb. Cody hadn’t seen it, but it’d been bad. The skin was still ragged.

  Does that mean that some of the drug is wearing off?

  She considered that while she watched Cody riding next to her. He moved so perfectly in sync with his horse, she could tell he was in full control. He made her shiver without even trying. She thought about having sex with Cody soon and got hot—very, very hot—but not in an achy-gotta-have-it-now way.

  Maybe the drug was wearing off. Or maybe Cody was just wearing her down. She’d told him more about herself than any other person in her entire life. That was astonishing, but in a way okay. Cody just felt right. She smiled softly and he caught her. He gave her braid a tug and grinned. Her heart did that odd little flutter at the thought of a day without him.

  She wasn’t really sure how she felt about that—or him.

  Worse, she wasn’t as worried as she had been before.

  Does that mean I’m falling for him?

  She wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t ready to get off the ride.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You have to be kidding me. You’ve never cooked?” Troy asked Sonya.

  Sonya settled next to Cody on the couch, and he laid his arm around her shoulders so she could get comfortable. She got the way she wanted, with her feet curled under her butt and her body soft and warm against his before she studied his buddy.

  “Why? Do you cook?”

  “Nah, I burn water heating it,” T
roy immediately said.

  “Then why would I be kidding you?”

  Cody had enough sense to see the trap, but obviously Troy wasn’t thinking after the meal they’d just shared. The trout had been good. He’d managed to make some frozen vegetables with it and more baked potatoes, figuring he couldn’t go wrong with those. Sonya had eaten every bite he’d given her then told him he’d served himself most of the fish she’d caught. Hell, he liked that. She was…perfect.

  “Well,” Troy considered, maybe sensing the trap after all. “You’re—” He paused, rubbed his head and frowned at him, then at Sonya, confusion clear on his mug. “A girl. Girls cook.”

  She glanced at Cody and he shrugged. “He’s talking, not me,” he assured her.

  “How long have you been in the Army, Troy?” she asked.

  Now his buddy seemed to get how worried he should be. About time. Troy was a smart guy, one of those men who hung back and didn’t put himself out there, but would always have his partner’s back.

  “Uh, going on twelve years.”

  “And that’s what you have to show for all that money poured into your training? That I’m a girl, so therefore I cook?”

  Troy let out a breath as if he’d just dodged a bullet, only to find out he’d not gotten free unscathed. “Well, when you put it that way,” he laughed.

  “I haven’t burned water, but I doubt that my cooking would be something Cody would want to eat.”

  “I’d eat it, but I might make something else,” he offered, stroking her arm. Another night of just relaxing, even without making love to her anyway she wanted—yet. He’d be doing that soon enough. He wanted to make her come repeatedly tonight, just from his mouth and fingers. Then make love to her slow, and steady. They’d not done that much—just gone wild, and hot each time. He wanted to stare into her green eyes, feel her body touching his as he woke her with slow, gentle lovemaking.

  “Mmm, well, there are reasons there are restaurants.”

  “Is that where you eat? Restaurants?” Troy demanded.

  Cody felt her shrug and wondered the same. He’d found a lot of those packaged Asian noodles, power bars, fresh fruit and vegetables and shelf yogurt. He’d bet on her getting by on that stuff and supplementing it with take out.