He was so handsome, so mature, so exciting. He was everything she could want in a man. The fact that he was older than her by eleven years only made him more desirable. She’d never gone to bed with an older man, and the thought made her feel all squiggly inside.
“I missed you while I was gone over the weekend.” He rested his palm on her hand that was on the tabletop.
The warmth of his touch and his words made her sigh with happiness. “I missed you, too. I wish we could see each other on the weekends.”
“For now the weekdays will have to do.” He traced lazy circles on the back of her hand then turned her hand so that her palm was up and he continued to stroke her skin with his thumb. The action was completely erotic and made her feel things inside that she’d never felt so deeply before. “We’ll make the most out of every moment we have together.”
Over the course of the past two weeks, he’d made it clear that he wanted her but was waiting for her to be ready. The thought of going to bed with him sent more nervous flutters through her.
It’s too soon, she told herself. Isn’t it?
But she wanted him so badly, could imagine his warm, naked skin against hers. If he took her it would draw them even closer, she was certain of that.
“Tell me about your family,” he said after they had ordered dinner and had been served their drinks. “We haven’t really talked much about them.”
Charlee tilted her head to the side. “What do you want to know?”
He looked at her over his glass of Merlot. “Is it just you and your sister now?”
“Our dad died when I was too young to remember him,” Charlee said. “Mother passed away not that long ago.”
“Were the three of you close?” he asked. “You, your mother, and Jo?”
“Yes and no. Jo and I have always been close and Mother and I were close.” Charlee pursed her lips. “But Mother and Jo…no, they never were. Jo is my half-sister—we had the same dad. My mother never liked Jo and sent her away after our father died. Jo was barely eleven.”
David had a considering expression. “But your mother was at least fair in your inheritance, wasn’t she?”
“Not at all.” Charlee shook her head. “Mother left everything to me. Everything.” Charlee frowned. “It was just wrong. Jo should receive half, but she refuses to take anything from me once I’m twenty-five and come into my inheritance. But if I die, I’ve willed it all to her. And if we both die, everything goes to a charity for abused and neglected children.”
He looked thoughtful. “Does Jo have any other family?”
“No.” Charlee sighed. “It’s just the two of us.”
“I understand. I have no family left save for my nieces and nephew.” He looked sad and it made her heart hurt. “My brother died some time ago from leukemia and left a wife with three small children.”
“I’m sorry.” Charlee reached out and touched David’s arm. “It’s not easy being alone.”
“But we can meet people who help make our lives complete.” A world of meaning was in his eyes as he looked at her.
Her whole body heated. He was talking about the two of them, she was certain. He was thinking that they could have some kind of future together. The thought made her head spin. She wanted to be in his arms more than anything in that moment.
From the look in his eyes, he was thinking the same thing. He rested his hand on her thigh and the heat of it traveled to her center, up her belly and to her breasts so that her nipples felt taut against the light fabric of her dress. His gaze drifted over her and lingered on her breasts, and she was sure he saw how aroused she was.
He kept his hand on her thigh as they finished dinner and she tried to keep from squirming in her seat. Her whole body felt alive and on fire.
It seemed like dinner couldn’t end fast enough. He didn’t move his hand away until he paid the bill.
He gripped her waist with one arm around her as they walked out of the restaurant and to his sedan. She wasn’t knowledgeable about the make and model of cars, but it was luxurious inside, the leather soft and supple against her skin.
“I should take you home now.” His voice was low and husky.
At first she wanted to protest that the night was still young, that she still wanted to be with him. But then she realized what he meant. What he intended.
He was taking her to her house, but he didn’t intend to go home.
Chapter 7
David smiled to himself as he pulled on his shirt and studied the delicious little Charlee Burke. She was curled up in her bed with a sheet wrapped around her naked body. She looked at him with sleepy eyes and a sated smile.
Damn, he wanted to take her again. He had to remind himself that he had a plan. The fact that he’d gone to bed with her sooner than he’d planned had been a loss of self-control on his part. But maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. He’d hooked her and now she was firmly on his line.
“Are you sure you can’t spend the night?” she asked in her soft sweet voice as he buttoned his shirt.
“It might not be a good idea to have your neighbors see a man come out of your home early in the morning.” He gave her a smile that he intended to be considerate. “And I do have to get to work early.”
She propped her head up on one hand, her elbow on the bed, her strawberry blonde curls tousled. The messiness of it reminded him of how he’d pushed her onto her knees and had gripped his hands in her hair as he forced his cock to the back of her throat. She’d gagged but that had only made him hotter and she’d been so anxious to please that she’d given him everything he’d wanted.
He’d taken her hard from behind and in ways he was sure she’d never been fucked before. Her willingness and desire to make him happy was like an aphrodisiac. He had complete control over her now and he knew she’d do whatever he asked of her.
“Are you going to be here tomorrow after work?” She bit her lower lip as she waited for his answer.
He shook his head. Clinginess was the one problem that he’d anticipated and hoped to overcome. “It’s Friday and I have to get back to Phoenix, babe. I have things I have to take care of.” Like Nancy and the kids.
She sat up in bed, the sheet falling to her waist and exposing her breasts. “Maybe I could go to Phoenix with you sometime.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Never.
His cock hardened again at the sight of her breasts and he had to look away and grab his boxers and his slacks. He wanted her attached to him…to a point. But not too soon. Not until he was ready.
When he was fully dressed, she slid out of bed and started to grab a robe. He stopped her with his hands on her shoulders, his gaze sliding over her beautiful body.
“Like this.” He slid his hand over her breast, feeling her hard nipple beneath his palm. “I want to see you just like this before I go.”
Her face flushed as he took her by the hand and led her naked through her large, affluent home. Yeah, she had some money all right.
When they reached the front door, he brought her luscious nakedness fully against him and kissed her. “I’ll see you Monday,” he said as he drew away.
She nodded, looking clearly disappointed.
He grasped her nipples and rolled them between his thumbs and forefingers. She gave a soft moan. He’d leave her wanting more.
He lowered his head and kissed her. “I’ll see you, babe.”
When he drew back she nodded, her eyes looking sensual and still filled with wanting for him. “Have a good weekend.”
He gave her one last kiss then opened the door, slipped outside, and then closed it behind him. He heard the locks click and that’s when he allowed himself a smile.
Chapter 8
Late Friday afternoon, the doorbell rang. Jo wasn’t expecting anyone, but wasn’t surprised when she peered through the peephole and saw her sister standing on the other side.
Jo opened the door, took one good look at her sister, and knew.
Charlee had gone to bed with David
Smith.
“I was hoping you’d be home.” With a dreamy look on her face, Charlee walked past Jo. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a sparkle in her eyes. “Got any chips? I’m hungry.”
Jo walked into the kitchen with Charlee. “I have tortilla chips from the last time you were here.”
“Great.” Charlee went to the fridge and pulled out two cans of Diet Pepsi. She slid into a chair at the kitchen nook table and set the cans down.
Jo grabbed the chips out of the pantry along with a new jar of salsa. From a cabinet she took out a couple of plates, and then scooted into a chair across from her sister as she set the chips and plates on the table.
Charlee put her chin on her hand, her elbow resting on the table as she looked at Jo. “How’s everything with you?” Charlee asked.
“Good.” Jo studied Charlee, trying to hold back her concern. “You look like you had a great time with David last night.”
Charlee nodded, her chin still in her hand. “The most wonderful, incredible, amazing night ever.”
Jo wanted to close her eyes and back up in time and talk all of this through with Charlee before it happened. But she’d held onto what turned out to be a vain hope that her sister wouldn’t go to bed with David. Not yet.
“I take it things went beyond just a regular date.” Jo tried to keep her tone light.
Charlee smiled. “Things went perfectly.” She raised her head and lowered her forearm to the table. “He is the one, Jo. I would never have let things go as far as they did if I truly didn’t believe that.”
“I know.” Jo tried for a smile as she reached out and put her hand on Charlee’s forearm. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am.” Charlee gave a broad smile. “I most definitely am happy.”
“Then that’s what counts.” Jo drew back. “But if he hurts you, I’ll be out for blood.”
Charlee laughed as she opened up the bag of chips. “You always were a protective older sister.”
“Damn right.” Jo rubbed her upper arms with her palms as if she was cold. She thought about herself and Tate and how much she had wanted him. She would have gone to bed with him if he hadn’t put a stop to it.
Was she so different from her sister?
This is different, Jo told herself. Charlee was only twenty-four and the man she was seeing had to be closing in on forty. Not to mention he was a stranger in town, a complete unknown.
Jo mentally shook her head, trying to knock the thoughts out. Hopefully, David was a good man and would take care of her younger sister and not break her heart.
“I haven’t seen you in a week.” Charlee dumped chips on her plate and then on Jo’s. “How was your day out with Tate?”
Jo couldn’t hold back a smile as she put salsa on both their plates. “I have to admit that I had a terrific time.”
“I knew you would.” Charlee grinned and pointed one of her chips at Jo. “I told you Tate’s one of the good guys.”
“I think maybe he is.” Jo’s instincts had never been very good with the men she dated over the years, but she hoped that this time she was right. Still, she didn’t want to get carried away. It had only been one date after all.
“Have you talked with him this week?” Charlee asked.
Jo nodded and thought about the times Tate had called her. She’d enjoyed their conversations, although they’d been short. They’d both been putting in a lot of hours, more than usual. He’d had a tough week with one problem after another on the ranch and hadn’t been able to come by Jo-Jo’s like he’d planned to. She hadn’t heard from him today.
“He’s called and we’ve talked on the phone.” Jo didn’t go into detail, not really ready to talk about any possible relationship between her and Tate.
Fortunately, Charlee was more interested in talking about David than drilling Jo about Tate.
This was one time that Jo didn’t really want to hear too many details about her sister’s date. However, as they ate chips, Charlee seemed to want to talk about everything that had happened—without going into too much of the sex. Just enough to make Charlee blush.
“It was amazing.” The dreamy look was on Charlee’s face again. “I’ve never been with such an experienced man. Some of the things we did, I never thought I would…” Charlee paused and gazed away before looking back at Jo. “I’ll just say it was amazing.”
Jo rubbed her temples. Her head throbbed. As far as she knew, her sister’s previous experience had been limited to two guys Charlee’s own age.
“Is something wrong?” Charlee frowned.
Jo managed a pained smile. “Just a headache.”
“You’d better take something for it,” Charlee said. “You don’t get them very often, do you?”
Jo shook her head. “Nope.” She got up from her chair, headed for the cabinet where she kept a small supply of pain relievers, and took a couple aspirin, washing them down with a cup of cool water from the tap.
“I’d better get going.” Charlee stood. “Are you finished eating?” When Jo nodded, Charlee took the plates and put them into the dishwasher.
It was nearly dark when she walked her sister to the front door. Jo kissed Charlee’s cheek and they hugged before saying goodbye.
After Charlee left, Jo went into her bedroom to search the closet for something to wear to Jo-Jo’s. She had a lot of clothing from when she’d modeled and had kept a large wardrobe. She’d donated everything that had been from her way-too-thin period but she still fit into most of what she had left.
Even though she’d rather wear T-shirts and jeans half the time, part of her image at Jo-Jo’s was keeping up an elegant appearance. She might be in a relatively small town, but her bar was one place that gave her patrons an excuse to dress up. And although maybe half the time she wanted to wear jeans, the other half of the time she liked looking chic.
After she washed her face and put on her makeup, she picked out a chocolate brown velvet dress with crystals around the neckline that winked in low lighting. She swept her hair up and held it back with a crystal-studded clip before picking out a pair of heels that finished off the look.
Just as she finished dressing, the doorbell rang again. Who could it be now? Charlee was the only person who ever just dropped in without notice.
When she looked through the peephole, she caught her breath. Tate. Heart beating faster, she unlocked and opened the door.
She drank in his handsome, sexy appearance. His Stetson shadowed his eyes and day’s stubble covered his jaws. A snug white western shirt was tucked into faded Wranglers that hugged his muscular thighs and ass, a western silver and gold rodeo buckle fastened his belt, and he wore broken in brown cowboy boots.
Her throat was dry as she said, “This is a surprise.” She opened the door wider. “Come on in.”
He stepped through the doorway and she closed the door behind him. They stood for a moment as he studied her. “You are gorgeous.” He reached up and brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, although this is sexy as hell.” He trailed his fingers down her throat to the dress’s low neckline.
She shivered from his touch although she felt warm from his compliment. “Thank you.”
He lowered his head, bringing it closer to hers. She parted her lips, her breath hitching. And then his mouth was on hers as he gave her a sweet kiss.
When he drew away, he studied her. “Something’s bothering you.”
She shook her head. “It’s nothing.” When he kept looking at her she said, “I’m just worried about Charlee. Things are going so fast between her and David. Charlee was just here and, well, she had sex with David last night. She barely knows him and he’s so much older than her.”
Tate nodded. “I understand. I’d be concerned too, if she was my younger sister. Hell, she’s not and what happens with her still concerns me.” He was quiet for a moment. “If he does anything to hurt her, you let me know.”
She smiled at the sense of protectiveness he s
eemed to have over Charlee. “You didn’t come here to talk about Charlee. What’s up?”
“It’s Creed’s birthday and Danica is throwing a party for him,” Tate said. “I was wondering if you could get away from Jo-Jo’s for a while and come with me.”
She paused for a moment. “I take it everyone’s going to be there.”
“Pretty much.” Tate grinned. “At least my parents along with all of my brothers and sisters-in-law.”
She looked down at her dress before meeting his gaze again. “You’re dressed casual. Am I overdressed?”
“You look perfect.” He trailed his fingers over her shoulder. “It’s getting a bit chilly out. You might want to bring something to keep out the cold. Although,” he paused and gave her a sexy little grin, “I can always keep you warm.”
“I bet you would.” She reached up and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Okay, I’ll go with you. Be right back.”
She called Jo-Jo’s to make sure everything was going well and that she wasn’t needed, and everything seemed to be fine. They had her number if they had to get hold of her.
Once she was off the phone, she picked out a cashmere wrap that went well with the dress, then picked up the purse she’d intended to take with her tonight to the club. When she returned to the living room, Tate was looking at the family pictures on the mantel of her fireplace.
“Your dad was a fine man,” Tate said as he studied a picture of her at five with her father and mother, about a year before her mother died. “I only met your mom a couple of times, but I always thought she was a nice lady.”
Jo smiled. “They weren’t perfect, but they were great parents.” Familiar sadness drifted through her. “I miss them both.”
He looked at the pictures of her with her father and then with her half-sister, and pictures of each of them alone. She hadn’t kept any pictures of her stepmother.
When he turned away from the photos, he said, “Ready?”
She nodded and linked her arm in his. “You bet.”
Chapter 9
Tying You Down Page 5