To Bedevil A Beauty (Southern Sanctuary - Book 5)

by Jane Cousins

  “Hey.” Ramsey looked up from the kitchen counter as Berry walked into the living room. For a split second he forget what he was doing, she looked gorgeous and far too touchable. “I heard you moving around and thought you might like something to eat.”

  Berry hid her frown. So they were going to act like nothing had happened last night? Cool with her. “I am kind of hungry. I can’t believe how late I slept.”

  “It’s that kind of day.” Ramsey smiled. “What do you like on your crumpets?”

  “Honey usually.” She looked over approvingly at the gas fireplace recessed into the wall, flames flickering merrily in the grate, pushing back the gloominess of the dark storm shadows trying to engulf the room.

  “Coming right up.” He moved around the kitchen comfortably. “Something to drink?”

  “Tea? Peppermint if you have it.” She watched him, trying not to admire the way his faded jeans clung to his butt, reluctantly focusing instead on his - seen better days - cream sweater, that made his eyes glow slate grey. So big deal, he was an attractive man, there was no ban on admiring the view, she just wasn’t allowed to touch, and she’d better keep reminding herself of that fact.

  Five minutes later, Berry found herself curled up on the sofa directly across from Ramsey, enjoying her second crumpet and sipping her tea whilst he sat reading the newspaper.

  “You’re frowning.” She noted. “Is there a problem?”

  “I hadn’t realised until I read this article that one of prison escapees was an ex-cop.”

  “Someone you know?” Berry asked.

  “No... not really, but I was working on the case that got him pinged.” He frowned, it had been well over five years now since he’d closed down the smuggling ring operating out of the Perth docks. Gerard Bannon had been one of a handful of dirty cops the smuggling ring had been paying to look the other way and keep them apprised if anyone ever showed too much interest in their activities.

  It had been smart of the local law to tap Ramsey, an outsider, for the secret operation, suspecting at the time that one or more of their officers had to be on the traffickers’ payroll. Ramsey supposed it was no surprise the guy had ended up in a minimum security prison. Incarceration was often a death sentence for ex-cops unless they were provided with round the clock protection. “Long time ago now. Tell me, does the name Previn Carlyle mean anything to you?”

  “Sure.” Berry nodded, placing her empty plate down on the coffee table separating them. “He ran a Ponzi scheme a few years ago and stole all that union money. Why?”

  “He was another of the escapees and according to Cam’s files, he was your husband’s cellmate.”

  “Ex-husband.” Berry corrected automatically.

  “Sorry, ex-husband.”

  “So?”

  “Nothing, just trying to work out the most obvious candidate for who might be in on the scheme to hurt you and what might be in it for them.”

  “With Robert you mean? I still say you’re barking up the wrong tree there.”

  “Duly noted.” Ramsey turned the page.

  Berry shifted, tucking her feet underneath her before leaning over to scoop up the arts section of the paper Ramsey had left lying on the coffee table. She flicked through it trying to pay attention. Fifteen minutes later she closed the paper, unable to recall a single thing she’d read. Issuing a sigh, she threw the paper back on the table.

  “Problem?” Ramsey glanced over the top of his newspaper.

  “Are we going to talk about it?”

  “It?” He frowned fleetingly in confusion.

  “Last night?” Berry prodded.

  “Oh, that.” Abruptly he lifted the paper back up, disappearing behind it. “No.”

  “What do you mean by no?”

  “You want a definition of the word no?” He was glad she couldn’t see the grin on his face.

  “Of course I don’t want a definition of the word no. I want to talk about the fact that I woke up this morning in nothing but my underwear.”

  He dropped the paper slightly to peer over it. “You would have preferred waking up without the underwear?”

  “No.” Berry scowled, eyes flashing his way. Goddess, the man could be annoying and deliberately dense. “I wanted to apologise for what happened last night…” She saw him frown. “In my room?”

  He gave her a deliberately blank look.

  “When I threw my dress in your face?” Berry forced out.

  “Oh that. No big deal. I’ve dealt with plenty of drunks before.” Ramsey shrugged it off.

  “I was not drunk. I was tipsy and… and tired, from a very long… very stressful week.”

  “Sure.” Ramsey nodded in polite agreement. “Perfectly understandable reaction… undressing in front of me…” His cock grew thick and heavy as the memory flashed before his eyes. Her cheekily pulling off those stockings one at a time, “… throwing your dress at my head. Happens all the time… forget it.” He snapped the paper back up. He could almost hear Berry grinding her teeth at his casual acceptance of her apology. A small price for her to pay in comparison to the restless - find no relief - night he’d spent tossing and turning. Tormented by the memory of the teasing smile she’d sent his way as she’d leapt into bed dressed in that ridiculously sexy blue, skin tight, lingerie of hers.

  “So… you and I, we’re good?” She enquired in a slightly strained voice.

  “Sure…” But he let doubt tinge his tone, dropping the paper slightly, looking at her over the top.

  “What does that mean?” She was staring his way, the flare in those chocolate brown depths indicating like a flag, that her temper was slowly being eroded by his attitude.

  “Well, it’s just kind of confusing that’s all. You’re sending out all these mixed messages.”

  “Mixed messages? I don’t think so. I think I’ve been pretty clear on where I stand.”

  Ramsey nodded. “So you seem to think. But where does stripping down to your underwear in front of me fit in with your stance on men? Your actions aren’t really backing up what you keep saying. I’m just asking for clarification purposes of course. Can I expect to be exposed to more nudity?” He dropped the paper to his lap.

  “There was no nudity! I was fully covered.” Berry protested as hot colour flooded her cheeks. Damn, it was warm in here. “I’d just had a little bit too much to drink and I was tired, that’s all.”

  “A-huh.” He nodded in agreement but laced his tone heavily with doubt.

  “You are really beginning to irritate me, you know that right?”

  “I’m sorry.” Ramsey tried to look contrite. “I don’t mean to be. So you’re really serious about ruling men out of your life? We’re good for absolutely nothing?”

  “Hmm, I suppose if I had some heavy furniture to move I might call a man. Though my cousin Hadleigh is probably more than capable of helping out with one hand tied behind her back.”

  “You can’t think of anything? Anything you might need a man for?”

  Berry blinked slowly, then gave him a wide smile. “Are you talking about sex? Because if you are, there are plenty of products on the market today that claim to be just as good as a man. Not to mention some of them come with rechargeable solar batteries… so good for the environment too.”

  Ramsey tossed the paper away before he crumpled it into a little ball. “You’re seriously going to go with battery operated relief over a man… for the rest of your life?”

  Berry chuffed a laugh. “You sound so incredulous. What’s so great about sex? It always seems like kind of a gyp if you ask me. All that build up, for what? A sweaty few minutes of… ho-hum?”

  “Ho-hum? Seriously, how much of an asshole was your ex? Sex should never, ever, be ho-hum.” Especially with a woman like Berry Malone.

  Berry shrugged. Robert had quickly become a disinterested lover during their marriage. And when they did make the effort, it tended towards brief, unimaginative and unfulfilling.

  Ramsey was still talking.
“Sex is hot, wild and fun. You switch your mind off for an hour or so and just immerse yourself in pleasure. Go with whatever feels good and if you’re doing it right, well it feels like your whole body is recharged by a million bolts of electricity.”

  “An hour or so?” Berry choked out, fighting the urge to squirm at the picture that was forming in her head of her and Ramsey having hot, wild fun.

  “Sure, and when you come back to your senses, yes you are hot and sweaty but you have this total sense of satisfaction and usually an array of rug burns that you have absolutely no recollection whatsoever of how, or when, you got them.”

  “I think I can live without carpet burns.” Despite herself, Berry’s voice came out in a breathy whisper.

  “How would you know Berry?” Ramsey’s voice was low and gravelly, it tugged at her nerve endings causing heat to ignite between her legs. “You know I’m right. Since the dawn of time sex has collapsed empires. Sex has started wars, inspired every artist around the world to put paint to canvas and every musician to write a song. Every dance invented mirrors the steps… the seduction, the tease… to the outright blatant act of joining in the tango. Passion, has driven men to build castles in the air and women to tear them down.”

  In this dimly lit cosy room, with the fire flickering and the rain splattering against the glass behind her, it was as if she and Ramsey were alone in the world. Just the two of them. No past, no future, just now.

  Berry hadn’t made any rash decisions since she’d agreed – ignoring her gut instincts at the time - to marry Robert. She learnt her lesson well from that experience. But wasn’t five years of atonement enough for her sins? Didn’t she deserve to feel… to know? It wasn’t like she intended to marry the guy.

  “Okay.” She nodded abruptly. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s have sex.”

  Chapter Fourteen.

  “You what?” Ramsey was kind of shocked. That had actually worked?

  “Let’s have sex.” Berry rose with languid grace and walked around the coffee table to stand between his legs.

  Wow, Ramsey couldn’t believe his good fortune. Who knew he was such a wordsmith that with just the power of speech he could convince Berry Malone to sleep with him? Certainly not him. As he stared up at her, his cock throbbed, his mouth suddenly dry as she settled herself onto his lap, facing him, a knee on either side of his thighs. He realised he should say something, shouldn’t he? Thank-you might be a start. But he wasn’t a chatty type of guy, he was action. So he decided to go with his strengths.

  Reaching up he grabbed a handful of Berry’s curly mane, fisting the silken mass as he pulled her lips down on to his. Damn those full lips of hers. She tasted like honey, peppermint and something more… if he were a more poetic man, he’d call it ambrosia. She made a little sound in the back of her throat, pressing her upper body against his as she did so, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

  Ramsey locked his arms around her waist, pulling her closer still. Loving the way she arched her lower body to rub her core against his cock which was straining against the denim material of his jeans. How could anyone ever have ho-hum sex with this woman? She was like liquid heat in his arms.

  Ah shit, Robert. He didn’t want to be thinking about Robert Granger at a moment like this. But didn’t Berry deserve to know the truth about his role in getting Granger arrested before they took such a big leap forward? Damn and double damn his Boy Scout nature.

  “Berry.” He tore his lips from hers, panting. Very deliberately he dropped his hands from her body, better to avoid the temptation if he intended to spill his guts regarding his history with her ex-husband. Ramsey opened his mouth and then hesitated for a moment, as Berry gave him a wide sensual smile, her hands moving to unbutton her body hugging cardigan. He was mesmerised, one button, two buttons, the hint of black lace. Oh God, three buttons, there was silk to go with the lace. “So we’re really going to do this?” What? That wasn’t what he had meant to say.

  “Not if you keep talking we’re not.” Berry swooped forward, laying her lips on his. She’d never felt so desirable, the way Ramsey looked at her, kissed her, ran his hands over her body. The taste of him, she ached for him, for more… wait, why wasn’t he touching her anymore? She broke the kiss, leaning back frowning at him.

  “Berry.” Ramsey matched her frown. “There’s something you need to know.”

  A shuttered look came down over Berry’s features.

  “What are you doing?” Ramsey watched as she hurriedly began to button her cardigan back up.

  “Well, I was under the mistaken impression we were about to have sex, but now it seems like we’re going to have a discussion.”

  “Hold it.” Ramsey clasped her hands in his, stopping her. Damn, internally his cock and his conscious were at war. Fuck her. Tell her the truth. He was going nuts. “I’m in a conundrum here, I won’t lie… I really… really… can’t stress how much I’d like to have sex with you right at this moment. On the other hand, I really think there’s something you need to know up front. I…”

  “Did you kill a man?” Berry asked abruptly.

  “What? No!”

  “Do you have a wife and six kids stashed away somewhere?”

  Ramsey shuddered at the thought. “No and God no.”

  “So you’re a free agent?”

  “Yes.” He nodded.

  “And I’m a free agent.” She reminded him.

  “Yes you are, but Berry, I think you need to know that I…”

  Berry pulled one hand free from his hold and smooshed a finger down on his lips, preventing him from talking. She was so tired of all the talking, she wanted action, she wanted the mindless fun sex he’d promised. She wanted to stop thinking, stop worrying and just be in the moment. “Stop right there. This is just sex right? You and me? Not a relationship. Not a date even. I don’t need to know your past misdeeds… in fact, if we were doing this right, I shouldn’t even technically know your name.”

  “Berry.” He mumbled out her name.

  She sighed, dropping her hand. “Well I suppose the damage has been done on that front. Listen to me carefully Ramsey Hughes. You promised me sex. Fun, mindless, no-strings attached sex and that’s what I want. I don’t want to talk about emotions or feelings.” She buried her fingers into the wool of his sweater, pulling him towards her. “And that’s what I’m going to get. I want a million bolts of lightning to course through my veins. I want to get hot and sweaty with you… and I want to be satisfied.” She growled out the last command between gritted teeth.

  Ramsey didn’t know whether to laugh or kiss her. Did she honestly think having sex with him would be a no-strings affair? That once it was over she could just walk away? Damn, he wanted her, and if having sex with her was the only way she’d let him prove it to her… then he’d man up and take on that challenge. “So, no pressure then?”

  “Not on me there’s not.” Berry seemed to relax suddenly, realising he was acquiescing to her command. “I just need to lie back and think of England right?”

  “Have you ever been to England?”

  “Nope, I suppose that alone will give me something to think about.”

  Ramsey reached up between them and slowly… deliberately, began undoing her cardigan once more, one button, then the next, the next, and then the last one.

  Berry should have felt exposed as he pushed the cardigan down off her shoulders, but the look in Ramsey’s eyes as he admired the black demi-corset top she had on made her feel powerful and sexy.

  His warm fingers brushed over her bared collarbones, moving downwards, when he hit the top of the corset his fingers trailed along the lace. “I want to see.” His words low, husky.

  She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice but could only nod in agreement.

  Ramsey eyed the line of hooks down the centre keeping the sexy little top together, with nimble fingers he unhooked three in quick succession, her breasts spilling out into his waiting hands. Berry arched against him as he dipp
ed his head and captured one dark pink nipple in his mouth and suckled. The pull of his mouth, the edge of his teeth. She felt an answering tug as shivers shot down her spine, heat blossoming into a furnace between her legs.

  Damn, it was turning her on, being half naked on his lap, the demi corset gaping open, her breasts exposed to Ramsey’s touch, to his lips. She wanted to touch… to taste him in return. Her questing fingers burrowed their way beneath his sweater, only to find a t-shirt. She let out a moan. The man was wearing way too many clothes. She fisted her hands in the material and gave voice to her need. “Off.”

  It was both frustrating and stoked her ego that it took a few seconds for her command to sink into Ramsey’s brain box. Rearing back, he gave her a decidedly devilish grin that made her stomach clench before reaching down to haul off his sweater and t-shirt in one fell swoop.

  Then he was kissing her, no fair, she loved the kissing but she wanted to explore that chest, those abs… but still… hmmm, the kissing. The man could win awards for his kissing, he’d need to build a room just to hold all those damn trophies she decided, as he suckled on her lower lip.

  She moaned, her fingers trailing down his broad chest, flicking his nipples, delighting in the response she got as his breath caught and his back arched up off of the sofa.

  “Witch.” He ground out the word against her lips. But not doing anything to stop her wandering digits as they traced his ribs, her fingernails lightly scraping across his skin making his cock jerk and leap as if she were a puppet master playing with his strings.