Tall, Dark and Paranormal: 10 Thrilling Tales of Sexy Alpha Bad Boys

by Opal Carew

  “Goddamnit.” Thad released her, stepped back, and breathed hard.

  The loss of his heat against her cooled her as much as the look in his eyes. Pure terror.

  “Get inside, Cheyenne. It’s not safe out here.” He growled the words and turned, walking away.

  Her fingers flew to her lips as she watched him disappear into the darkness, his boots crunching loud on the rock driveway, as if he was making good time getting away from her. Had she misread the situation? No. He’d returned the kiss, he’d pulled her in tight.

  “Shit, shit, shit.” She trudged toward Sayde’s house, needing a glass of wine, but not a heart-to-heart with her friend. This was not something she wanted to share. With anyone.

  She snuck a glass and a bottle up to her room and poured a full one, sitting cross-legged on the bed staring out the window at the stars. Was he still out there?

  Why did he attract her the way he did? It was physical for sure, but there was more to him. The way he’d kicked her out of his house the first night, but said, “please” to soften the eviction. His embarrassment at getting caught voicing his displeasure at having to take her riding. His heartfelt revelation when they were at the river. And the way he opened up to her last night at his house.

  This was a man to take notice of. Sure, he had baggage. More like storage lockers of emotional burdens. But he was strong and true and good.

  Sayde talked him up a lot, and Cheyenne valued her opinion as much, if not more, than that of her mother. Sayde had known him for a dozen years.

  Cheyenne had only known him for days, but she was quickly becoming invested in him. Like one-hundred percent infatuated.

  ****

  Thad stood in the darkness waiting for an upstairs light to go on, telling him Cheyenne had settled in for the night. He’d seen her go into the front door. Was she pouring out her heart to Sayde right now?

  His body throbbed, wanting to go after her. “What the hell was that?” Hot, definitely. Like a cattle brand to his groin. But he’d been holding back, waiting until things finalized with his ghost. With Melissa. Cheyenne, evidently, wasn’t quite so patient.

  He headed back toward his house. Rounding a copse of trees, he spotted his house. Hadn’t he left the porch light on? Then every light in the house went off. “Great.” Now he’d whipped her up again. She’d been quiet recently, and too quiet tonight when Cheyenne was looking for her. What had he done to get her riled, now?

  Hours later, he woke. The nightmare had been nearly the same as the last one, but this time, her voice had whispered, “Don’t miss this chance.” The rest of the night was a loss. Melissa kept things hopping until sunrise.

  In the morning, he hiked to Sayde’s, ready to apologize to Cheyenne for his overreaction the night before.

  His boss sat on a wrought iron chair on her front patio, sipping coffee. “She’s gone. Left before sunrise.”

  He nodded, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I was hoping to catch her.”

  “She didn’t see me in the living room last night. But she looked kinda…flustered when she came in.”

  Thad could just bet how she’d looked. Pink-cheeked and breathing fast. He shrugged a brow. Just like he’d looked, probably.

  She set down her cup. “Thank you for letting her into your home.”

  “I thought you said it was yours?” He gave her a smile to soften his words.

  “It’s my house, but your home. Or at least, it was a home.” She cocked her head. “What does it feel like to you now?”

  “Now?” What was she referring to?

  “I was up during the night. Lots of activity. Didn’t things go well with Madam Ruby?”

  Staring off at the sun coming up over the mountains, Thad plotted his next move. “I gotta talk to her. Something happened last night, and I don’t want her to think it was her fault.”

  “So, is that your way of sayin’ you need to apologize to her?”

  He nodded once. “Can’t slip anything past you, can I.”

  “Nope.” Her eyes narrowed.

  He was going to have to pull this out of her like a new sliver. “I have her business card with her work address and office phone, but…could I impose on you for her home address? Phone number, too? I’d like to drive up there today and handle this in person.”

  She got to her feet and pulled her phone from her pocket. She accessed the contact information and read it off to him as he typed it into his phone. “She’s in one of them fancy condos in Helena, the ones with the guard in the lobby. So if she doesn’t want to see you—for whatever mysterious reason which you’re not telling me—she’ll have you tossed out on your keister.”

  “Fair enough.” He scuffed his boot toe on the patio. “Any chance you could call her and see if she’s home?”

  Sayde gave him a sly smile. “Hang on.” She typed on her phone. “I texted her that I needed to talk to her when she gets home.” In seconds, a bubbly sound came from the thing. “She says she’s working from home all day today.”

  “Thank you.” He turned to walk away.

  “You’re not gonna ask me for the day off?”

  “It’s Sunday. According to my contract, it’s already my day off.”

  She snorted. “Since you haven’t taken Sunday off in…oh…years, I’m going to declare this a miracle.” Sayde walked into the house and closed the door behind her.

  “It’ll be a miracle if I don’t end up in the middle of a sidewalk on my keister.” He wandered toward the barns for a quick check on things before he headed out.

  Also known as procrastination.

  Chapter Five

  Cheyenne hung up the phone. The lobby guard said a cowboy named Thad McCade was asking to see her. With that description, there was no doubt who she’d see if she turned on the closed circuit television. “Holy shit.” She’d laid one on him good last night, and he’d shoved her away. What could he want from her?

  Looking down at her sleeveless blue sundress and bare feet, she considered making him wait while she changed, but there wouldn’t be enough time to do it right. By the time she walked to the front door, she’d regained a little of her composure. Seriously, he wouldn’t be here if he was going to yell at her for accosting him. Would he?

  The doorbell rang. She swung open one of the two hand-carved oak doors. “Mr. McCade.”

  His eyes flashed with a quick sparkle of amusement. “Miss Cheyenne. Beggin’ your pardon for the interruption, but I’d appreciate the chance to talk with you for a few minutes.”

  “Of course.” She moved back. “Please come in.”

  He stepped over the threshold and a long, low whistle filled the high-ceilinged room. Tugging off his brown cowboy hat, he tossed it onto the small table next to the door. From behind, those tight jeans cupped his really nice ass, and his white shirt had ironed creases along the sleeves.

  She watched him walk through the greatroom to the wall of windows overlooking the city and the mountains.

  “Quite the place you have here. Now I know why the term ‘penthouse’ was never in my vocabulary.”

  “Afraid of heights?” She leaned her hip on one of the green leather sofas clustered around the white marble fireplace.

  “No.” He turned toward her. “Afraid I’d never want to leave.” He glanced up at the antler chandelier over the glass dining room table, then at the modern white kitchen. “Yep. This is one heck of a home.”

  “It’s the company’s. I have a bedroom here, but it’s not home.” She wasn’t sure why she shared that little slice of dysfunction.

  His gaze shot to hers. “I can understand that.” He scuffed the hardwood floor with the toe of one boot. “I came to apologize. For last night.”

  She pressed her lips tight and walked into the kitchen. “Coffee? Water? Beer?”

  “Coffee, if it’s made.” He followed her and stood by one of the stools at the tall breakfast bar.

  “It’s one of them fancy machines that makes one cup at a time.” Sh
e slid a little cup into a space-age contraption and pressed a button. A hissing sound emitted from the thing.

  His curiosity almost had him walking over to it, but he held back.

  She leaned on the counter across from him. “So you think you need to apologize? You sure you didn’t come here for an apology from me?”

  One corner of his mouth curved up. “Ma’am, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for.”

  She couldn’t look him in the eye. “I could blame it all on the beer, Thad. But that was only the grease that had me sliding right into you.”

  He laughed, quick and loud. “Sounds a lot more interesting when you put it that way.”

  She shook her head, holding back a smile. “I’d like to say I wish I hadn’t done it, but that’d be a lie.” She caught his gaze.

  His brown eyes narrowed. “The mistake was me pushing you away. No, that was the second mistake. The first one was not following through with what I’ve wanted to do since that day by the river.” He worked his jaw. “You’ve got to understand, Cheyenne, I’m new at this, again. It’s been a hell of a long time since I wanted more than a night of sex from a woman.”

  His coarse words rang true, surprising her with their intensity. Did she truly feel the same about him? Was she sure it wasn’t just physical desire she felt for him?

  “How do you know?” Her question was meant for both of them.

  “How do I know I want to get to know you better?” He walked around the counter and stood in front of her, looking down at her with a half-smile but a furrowed brow. “You’re like no one I’ve ever met. An attorney who moonlights as a ghost chaser. Who had the chance to be a spoiled, rich brat, but chose to help land owners with their rights instead.”

  “You seem to have me figured out.” Her belly flipped with excitement. She’d never dreamed he’d leave the ranch to come after her, pour out his heart for her.

  Shaking his head, he slid his hands from her elbows to her shoulder, over and over, his rough callouses on her bare arms almost more enticing than she could handle.

  “No, that’s the thing.” His hands stilled and he pulled her closer. “I can’t figure you out. First off, I can’t believe you’re real, but in a good way.” He shook his head. “See what I mean about being new at this?”

  Cheyenne set her hands on his hips. “You’re doing really well, Thad.” Under her palms, his warm, firm muscles gave her a wild ride on the desire side. “Keep going.”

  He slid his hands around her back and tugged her against him. “Cheyenne.” With one step, he shoved her against the front of the refrigerator.

  Her entire body tingled and quivered. “Yes.” She lifted her face to his.

  Thad’s eyes, dark brown now, didn’t shift, stared right into hers. “Yes? This is something you want?”

  She grasped his belt loops and pulled his hips in tighter. “Yes, it’s something I want.” Cheyenne licked her lips. “And as long as you’re asking all these questions, I’ll tell you right off, I want it now.”

  With a groan, he tipped his head, hesitated a second, then pressed his lips to hers.

  She let out a breathy moan and kissed him back, sliding up just an inch to get closer, her nipples scraping along his shirt, hardening beneath her dress and bra. The wicked sensation tickled from her breasts all the way down between her legs.

  His kiss turned possessive and perfect, his tongue tasting hers, exploring every space in her mouth, his breath hot, sweet like he’d just had a mint.

  Against her belly, his hard shaft pressed, went deeper as he leaned into her, squeezing the breath from her, but she loved it.

  He slowed the kiss, backing off an inch. “Here, or in the bedroom?” His hand slid down her side, over her hips, and he yanked up the fabric of her dress. His gaze lasered into hers.

  “Oh God.” Heat clenched her core in pulses of desire. “Here first. Bed next.”

  His low chuckle shuddered through his belly and chest, reverberating in hers and sending pinpricks of pleasure to her breasts. He stepped back, pulling her dress up.

  Cheyenne lifted her arms and let him strip it off her. The cool air hit her, pebbling her nipples even more.

  He stopped moving with her sundress in one hand, and just stared at her.

  The matching mint lace bra and panties she’d chosen on a whim this morning were doing their job.

  “Fantastic.” His breath heaved in and out of his chest.

  She grasped both sides of his shirt, hoping it was snaps, not buttons, then tugged. The two halves came apart as the snaps opened, revealing his nearly-bare chest. Just a few hairs graced his pecs, a few more making an arrow on his eight-pack belly, pointing down toward the hot secret in his jeans.

  He finished her job for her, sending his shirt sailing, then reached for his belt buckle.

  She touched his hands, and knelt.

  “Ahhh.” His groan was half-pain, half-lust as he stared down at her, his nostrils flaring.

  Unfastening his belt, she paused for a second. “No self-respecting cowboy comes a-callin’ without a condom in his wallet, right?”

  He smiled, and tugged a string of three out of his back pocket, and set them on the counter. “I wasn’t expecting…but was hoping like hell.”

  “Your lucky day, cowboy.” She unbuttoned his jeans, then slowly unzipped him, the bulge behind his zipper pressing out, stretching his navy blue briefs to the max.

  “Lucky me.” He stepped back and toed off his boots, sending them skittering across the tile floor.

  Cheyenne grabbed the fabric of his jeans and pulled him back to her. She wanted to do this so crazy-bad. To see him, hard for her, excited to take her for his own. And his comment about “more than sex” kept echoing in her brain. She was the lucky one.

  “You don’t have to—” He took her arms, lifting her an inch.

  “I want to.” She settled back to her knees and peeled his jeans down, helping him take them and his socks off. Once he wore only his boxer briefs, she licked her lips and looked up at him through her lashes. “I really, really want to.”

  His hips jerked forward and a drop of moisture formed on the material where the tip of his length pointed directly toward her. “Cheyenne, honeybee, you please yourself. Whatever you want.”

  She liked being his ‘honeybee.’ And liked even more how he practically said she was in charge. Running her palms up the light furring on his thighs, she marveled at the hard muscles, complete lack of fat. Unable to resist, she slid her palms to his back, tugged down his briefs, and cupped his buttocks. “Hard as steel.”

  “That ain’t all that’s hard.” His words rolled low and gravelly.

  Lifting the waistband in the front, she eased the fabric from his cock, and froze, staring at the wide, long, purple beauty. “Oh, wow.” She bit her lip and sucked in a breath. This was going to take some doing to get all the way in.

  “If you don’t—”

  Leaning forward, she took his head into her mouth, effectively silencing him. Hot and salty, he made her mouth water. His scent, soap and musky skin, filled her nose, filled her mind with sexy submission.

  “Ah, okay.” He whispered the words as he glided his hand down her hair, pulling it to one shoulder and running his fingers through it.

  She smiled as she took him deeper, ran her tongue over the slit at the top, the ridge of his plum-shaped knob, then tickled the hot spot at the base of the head.

  He jerked and his hand fisted in her hair. “Careful, you don’t want this cowboy to embarrass himself and pop like a teenager.”

  She hummed her disagreement. If she had that much power over him, she’d be the happiest girl in Montana. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Deep in her belly, heat pulsed, swelling the softness between her legs.

  When she wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft, he shuddered like a leaf in a tornado and softly tugged her hair, sliding her mouth off of him.

  She looked up into his eyes. His cheeks puffed out with his brea
ths and his eyes seemed almost unfocused.

  “Now it’s your turn.” He lifted her to her feet and turned her, this time pressing her back against the wall. His gaze traveled to her bra, to her aching nipples. “You’re the most beautiful woman…” He slid his hand into her bra cup, releasing her breast. “Yeah, I knew you’d be cherry red.” He bent his head and took her nipple into his mouth.

  She jerked as the pleasure tore through her, her head banging into the wall. His arm curved around her back, his other hand slid down the little pooch of her belly and his fingers slipped into her panties.

  His tongue did wild things on her nipple, and shivers raced through her. His hand slid deeper into her panties, touching her trimmed hairs, gently massaging her and sliding lower, deeper, until one finger parted her.

  “That feels so good.” Her voice rolled like hot caramel, and she tipped her hips forward, inviting him in.

  “So tight.” His finger eased into her core just a fraction more. With one last kiss on her nipple, he pressed his lips to her breast, then traced a path upward to her neck. “If they weren’t part of this pretty set, I’d rip those undies off you.” He slid his hand up her spine, his other hand busy driving her insane with soft thrusts into her lips.

  “You’re so considerate.” She had no idea what she was saying as his finger caused pulses of heat to radiate from her opening.

  He chuckled as he pressed his fingers against the nape of her neck and slid his thumb along her jaw. “You’re hot and wet, honeybee.” His eyes stared into hers as his fingers did unbelievably sensual things to her pussy. “And I want to taste your sweetness.” His hips bucked and his hard shaft poked into her hip. “But right now, I just have to be inside you.”

  She tugged the sides of her panties down her thighs. “I want you there. Now, Thad.”

  He practically tore her panties down her legs. Sitting on his heels, he helped her raise one foot to unbind her ankles.

  He froze a moment at eye level with her light red curls. “Ah, damn.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss at her juncture, then stood, grabbed a condom, and was sheathed in seconds.