In an Army Ranger's Arms

by Donna Michaels

  “Think about it,” she whispered against his lips, then pulled out of his hold and got off his lap.

  He wasn’t likely to get it out of his head. Ever.

  Stone watched as his brother shoved a beer in Jovy’s hand and grabbed a chair from an empty table. “Thanks for joining the celebration.”

  “My pleasure,” she replied, settling down between them like she had the other day. “Congratulations on the new contract.”

  Brick smiled. “And congratulations on your first day. How’d it go?”

  “Good. Thanks to Stone.”

  He reeled back. “Me? I didn’t do anything but enjoy your chili.” Which was true. It had been damn good, even without meat.

  She gave him one of her electric smiles again and he felt like he was sitting under a warming lamp. “You did a lot more than that, cowboy. You got the ball rolling. People talking. By late afternoon, customers were stopping by because I had been recommended.” She set a hand on his arm and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  “Not necessary.” He covered her hand with his, mesmerized by the warmth in her gaze. “I owed you.”

  Her eyes took on a wicked gleam and tripped his pulse. “No, as I recall, it’s I who owe you.” Her heated gaze dropped to his crotch.

  Stone stilled. His whole body tightened with an almost painful intensity. She was potent. His dick throbbed as if touched, and he was sporting the biggest hard-on of his life.

  Maybe if he’d had sex during the past few months he wouldn’t be reacting to the woman with such ferocity. No. Instinct told Stone his lack of control had nothing to do with abstinence and everything to do with Jovy Larson. They connected, meshed, on a completely different level. A rarity that scared the hell out of him.

  With a long, indrawn breath, he dragged air into his lungs, and because his brother and two buddies watched closely, Stone diverted the conversation back to neutral ground. “It’s the least I could do for helping me find the paper that led to the estimate that got us the McGregor job we are now celebrating.” He released her to lift his mug in a toast. “To Jovy.”

  She let go of his arm and voiced a thank-you. God, she was sweet. And gorgeous with the color in her cheeks deepening the green in her eyes. She made him nuts, in a good way, and as she laughed and joked with everyone for the next half hour, he was having trouble remembering why he hadn’t jumped at her offer.

  “I’ll be right back.” When she stood, he and the other men rose to their feet, watching as she sashayed her way to the restroom.

  “Damn, bro. Take these.” Brick grabbed his hand and slapped two foil packets into his palm. “Forget what I said before. You need to get her out of here and put these to good use.”

  Condoms?

  Jesus. His heart stopped. “Are you nuts?” Stone tried to give them back but Brick backed away, shaking his head, leaving him no choice but to shove the condoms in his jeans while he kept an eye on the restroom door. “She might’ve seen that,” he growled, sitting back down.

  “Dude, you’re so uptight. It’s been what? Nearly a year? Here.” Vince tossed another condom at him, hitting him square in the chest. “You’re going to need more than two.”

  Son of a bitch.

  “Vince is right.” Cord dug in his pocket, then slid another packet across the table. “And don’t show your face at the ranch before noon tomorrow.”

  It was a conspiracy.

  Spewing a curse, Stone rescued the condom from the table and the other from his chest and quickly stuffed them in his jeans—all while keeping an eye out for Jovy.

  Brick scratched his temple. “Had I known tonight was the night my brother was going to pop his nine-month cherry, I would’ve sprung for a box.”

  “Christ, Brick.” Not that again. He leaned forward as Jovy came out of the bathroom. “Keep your voice down.”

  The jerk grabbed his arm as they both rose. “As long as you promise to let loose tonight and enjoy yourself. You can’t keep living like a saint, denying yourself life’s pleasures. It ain’t right. It ain’t healthy.”

  “Leo m—”

  “Leo is fine,” his brother insisted. “He’s with his family for the next few days. And if by some fluke something comes up, we’ll handle it. Enjoy yourself for a damn change.” Brick nodded toward the bombshell approaching with a smile and said under his breath, “That woman is hot, and hot for you. Do something about it.”

  Her smile widened as she drew near. “You are all so sweet. Standing when I get up, and when I approach. A girl could get used to it.”

  “A girl like you should,” Stone said, and was rewarded with another pretty blush.

  Brick dipped his head. “A Southern boy isn’t worth salt if he doesn’t show respect to a lady.”

  “Not just a Southern boy,” Vince corrected with a wink.

  Jovy laughed. “Well, thank you kindly. All of you. And thank you for the drink, but I’d better be going.”

  Four pairs of eyes shifted to Stone. Three narrowed and imploring, and one open and hopeful. The moment of truth. Whatever decision he made would affect his life for the next three and half weeks. Or more.

  What was it going to be? Ecstasy? Or torture?

  He reached for her hand and set it on his arm. Ecstasy. “Can I take you home?” He might be dumb, but he wasn’t stupid.

  “I’d like that.” The heat entering her eyes told him she wanted this as much as he did.

  Why shouldn’t they take advantage of the opportunity fate granted?

  Five minutes later, Stone parked behind Jovy’s building and hurried to the passenger side to help her from the truck. Light from a pole at the back of the property cast a soft glow on the small parking lot behind the stores. “Allow me.” Stone took her hand and walked her across the lot, his jeans full of condoms and a throbbing erection dying to put them to good use.

  When they stopped in front of her door, she leaned against it and stared up at him. “I’m…uh…not really good at this, but would you like to come upstairs?”

  Definitely. Literally. In her. Several times. Jesus, he was pathetic. He lifted his free hand to brush back the hair a light breeze blew across her face. “Very much.”

  They stared at each other a beat, then in the next second they were kissing, devouring, clinging together as if their lives depended on it. When they broke apart to suck in air, Jovy pulled keys from her purse, but her hand shook too hard for her to unlock the door. Knowing that kissing him knocked her off-kilter went a long way to stoking his confidence. He wasn’t the only one driven to distraction on a crazy-ass train with no brakes. She was along for the ride.

  Hell, she was driving.

  He unlocked the door, slipped the keys back into her purse, and followed her sweet ass up the stairs. By the time they entered her apartment he was ready to burst.

  Chapter Ten

  Jovy was incinerating from the inside out. Never in her life had she wanted a man as much as she wanted Stone. Every kiss, every glance, every touch filled her with a fierce need and stoked the embers simmering since he’d given her that incredible orgasm that morning. She needed him naked and inside her, now.

  As soon as he closed the door, she flicked on the light and tossed her purse on the kitchen counter. Before it even hit the granite, she found herself sandwiched between the wall and one hell of a hot cowboy while he kissed a path down her throat. Jovy moaned at the exquisite feel of his hard muscles pressing against her sensitized body. Then, oh…God, he rocked his erection against the part that ached for him most.

  “I want you,” he growled against her skin while he tugged the strings at her hip. “I’ve wanted to do this all damn night.” He stepped back and slowly opened her dress.

  She knew what he saw and tried not to be self-conscious about her slightly taller than average frame with breasts that were a little too big to contain in her black lacy bra, and hips a little too wide to cover in the matching bikini panty.

  “Jovy.” His indrawn breath and the hunger darkenin
g his eyes to a smoldering gray nearly made her knees buckle.

  She pulled in another breath and basked in his approving gaze.

  “You’re the sexiest damn woman I’ve ever seen,” he said, pushing the dress down her arms, and when it hit the floor, he ran his gaze up her body and motioned with a twirl of his finger for her to turn around.

  Empowered by the need tightening his features, she did as instructed, smiling at his second indrawn breath, then squeaked when two callused hands cupped her ass. “So damn perfect. But why is the Phillie Phanatic swinging a bat at your ass?”

  Crap. Her damn tattoo. She was going to kill her cousin. “I lost a bet.” She sighed, glancing at Stone from over her shoulder. “I hope it’s not a mood killer.”

  “Hell no.” He grinned, wicked gleam in his eyes as he traced the tattoo with a finger. “I’m intrigued. Tell me about this bet,” he urged, placing hot, openmouthed kisses to her shoulder.

  Damn, she needed him to stop that…never. “I-I…my cousin and I have always competed for things ever since we were young.”

  “You can’t help it.” He kissed his way to a sensitive spot behind her ear…then licked.

  Jovy sucked in a breath and palmed the wall in front of her. “Exactly,” she whispered, and crossed her eyes as they closed.

  “Same with me and Brick.”

  She could tell the brothers were just as competitive. It was a sibling thing, although for her it was a cousin thing. She opened her eyes and nodded. “But I bet you weren’t foolish enough to wager on a play-off game involving our rival teams, where the loser gets—”

  “Let me guess, loser wears the winning team’s mascot on their ass.” He chuckled against her skin, then stilled. “Wait a minute. That means you bet against the Phillies?”

  She scowled, still ticked off at a bad call that declared her team out while stealing home at the bottom of the ninth. “Hell yeah, I’m a Mets girl. If it weren’t for a bad call, they would’ve won that game and the play-offs. And Ross would have Mr. Met on his ass, instead of me stuck with this damn green thing.”

  He drew back to trace her tattoo again. “You could always alter this.”

  She inhaled. “You’re right. Got any suggestions?”

  “Working on it. But for now, I’m working on something else.” Then those wonderful hands traveled around in opposite directions to stroke low on her hip and cup a breast at the same time. All the sensations from their morning ride flooded through her sensitive body. Breath hitched in her throat as her legs finally gave out.

  “I’ve got you,” he said, then turned her in his arms and kissed her long and deep.

  She loved his taste. Hot. Male. And hungry. Clinging to him while his hands ravished and mouth plundered, she’d never felt so wanted, so desired in her life. It was incredible. Heady. Liberating.

  “Put your legs around me,” he ordered in a rough voice.

  Once again, she did as she was told, and moaned as he carried her across the floor, the thick bulge in his jeans brushing her center until she saw stars. A few more feet and she was going to go off. But a second later her ass met the cold kitchen table. Jovy broke the kiss to squeak. She was going to have to clean the table tomorr—

  All thoughts about the table disappeared from her mind when his lips returned to hers. Brilliant. Thorough. The Ranger cowboy was the best kisser ever. He slipped his fingers under her bra straps and pulled them down her arms before reaching around and unhooking with an expertise that left her breathless.

  With his eyes smoldering, he broke the kiss, tossed the bra on the floor, and stared at her, swallowing as her nipples tightened under his scrutiny.

  “Stone.” If he didn’t touch her soon she was going to die. Or hit him.

  “So damn perfect.” He stroked just under the swell of her breast, sending shivers straight to her core. Taking pity on her he stroked higher, circling her breasts with the barest of touches.

  She let out a frustrated groan and arched toward him.

  He dipped down to kiss her cleavage. “Patience.” He chuckled against her skin. Then, thank the stars, he stopped circling and cupped each breast, covering an aching peak with his mouth while he pinched the other between his thumb and forefinger.

  Jovy closed her eyes and moaned, pressing into his touch again, but all too soon he drew back.

  “Like that?”

  “Yes,” she practically whimpered, scooting closer to the edge, urging him to continue.

  “Which one? This?” Hot breath hit her breast a second before he sucked her nipple into his mouth.

  She grabbed his head and held tight, heat funneling through her veins so fast it made her dizzy. He was magic. Until he removed his mouth. Releasing him, she opened her eyes and clutched the edge of the table while the room righted itself.

  “Or this?” His callused hand scraped over her other nipple, back and forth, back and forth, making her squirm before he finally captured her tight bud between his fingers.

  “Which one?” he asked, switching sides.

  She sucked in a breath, her body overloaded with sensations, heightened for some unknown reason. “Both,” she rasped, reaching out to lift his T-shirt so she could stroke his bare skin.

  Have mercy, he was on fire, and so deliciously hard he quivered under her touch.

  He grabbed her hand and stilled her movements. “Not yet. You first.”

  “Me?” She reeled back. “I already got mine this morning. It’s your turn.”

  “Exactly.” He trailed his fingers down her ribs, over the curve of her waist to hook them under the scrap of lace at her hips. “And I choose this.” With quick, precise movements, he tugged her panties to her ankles and maneuvered them over her strappy black heels before he dropped them on the floor by her bra.

  She was naked except for the heels, while he stood there still fully clothed. It made her feel a little bit naughty and a whole lot sexy. Especially the way he devoured her with his dark, hungry gaze.

  His jaw clenched and she watched his Adam’s apple bob. “Gorgeous.” He grasped her ankles, but instead of removing her shoes like she thought, he set her feet on the table and sucked in a breath. “So damn gorgeous.”

  And he was so damn amazing. Where did he get the restraint? Ranger training? How was he keeping it together?

  “Stone, you’ve got me so close to that edge, I swear all you’ve got to do is breathe on me and I’m going to snap.”

  He leaned over her, gripping the table near her hands, and brought his face to hers. “I’ve got something much better than that for you.”

  She smiled. “Yeah? Prove it.”

  His indrawn breath cooled her heated skin. “Patience,” he repeated before kissing her stupid, and at the first stroke of his hand on her upper thigh, she broke the kiss and cried out.

  But he didn’t seem to mind. He trailed kisses over her collarbone, down her breast, lingering on a nipple until she reached for his head and pressed close. As his lips ravished, his hands continued to stroke, moving ever so close to her center.

  He released her nipple to trail openmouthed kisses down her ribs, over her belly, then to her hip where he nipped and licked until she closed her eyes and sighed. The man was pure genius. She hadn’t even known that was a spot. But it was with him. And she was still basking in the new sensations when he stroked a finger over her folds.

  Jovy’s eyes flew open as she bucked.

  “Easy.” He pressed down on her hip. “I’ve got you.” Smiling, he set a chair in front of her and sat down. Dear Lord, he wasn’t going to…

  Before she could finish that thought, he tugged her to the very edge of the table and slung her legs over his shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat. Yes…yes, he was going to. “Just hang on and enjoy your second ride.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to complain it wasn’t fair to him when he set his mouth on her upper thigh and slid his finger inside. Jovy shuddered and closed her eyes; all thoughts of complaining left her head in
a low moan. She’d never been touched quite like this—like he was on a mission and she was his mission. Finding what she enjoyed, the strokes, the pace, the angle. It was all about her, and she didn’t know how to handle it, until she opened her eyes and saw the joy and heat blazing in his eyes. The man got just as much pleasure from touching her.

  “I don’t think you have any idea what you do to me,” he said when he drew back, gaze dark and glazed. “If touching you is a gift, I can only imagine what I’ll get out of tasting you.”

  Before her mind computed his words, his mouth was on her, exploring her folds, lapping and sucking while his finger continued to drive in and out.

  It felt so good. How? Why?

  It wasn’t like her ex hadn’t done similar things to her…but this was different. Better. So much more. Currents raced through Jovy’s body, interrupting her pulse, messing with her temperature, fogging her mind, taking her to the edge where she felt everything at once and magnified.

  Unlike that morning on the horse, this time Jovy was able to thrust and buck, and she did. Unashamed of her wonton movements, she gripped the table and met his pace with wild abandon.

  Way more than she’d ever expected, sex with Stone was eye-opening. Being put first, worshipped, and teased to the point of madness. It was all new. She liked it. A lot. But the best part was that he got just as much enjoyment. If not more.

  If that wasn’t the sexiest thing ever.

  Her rapid heartbeat pounded away her breath. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t talk. Could only feel. And oh boy, could she feel. Fire flowed through her veins. Need pooled low in her belly. Tightness consuming her body. She was close. So deliciously close.

  Stone lifted his head. “Come for me, Jovy. I want to taste you. Let go,” he urged in a rough, sexy tone, adding another finger at a steeper, higher angle.

  She gasped. “Don’t s-stop.” Unable to hold her eyes open, she let them drift close and tipped her head back, lost in the sensations quivering through her body. She was on the verge of bliss.