To Bedevil A Beauty (Southern Sanctuary - Book 5)

by Jane Cousins

  Goddess, she both hated and loved that the man wasn’t in a hurry. It was exhilarating to feel… worshipped. The way Ramsey kissed her, touched her, trailing his hands over every square inch of her as if he was memorising her. All the while, the desire… the need in her was building. Like when you were on a rollercoaster and you were going up, and up and up that monstrous climb to the top of the highest peak. Enjoying the thrill, the excitement and the anticipation, but at the same time craving the rush of the free fall.

  She sucked her breath in as his fingers brushed against the sensitive skin of her lower tummy whilst he unbuttoned her trousers. He issued a soft frustrated groan because they were too tightly fitted to allow his fingers to delve lower. Berry matched his groan with a frustrated whimper of her own, stupid tight clothes. She gasped suddenly as Ramsey all too easily grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to her feet.

  With liquid grace he stood up, staring down, desire turning his eyes the light grey of a heat hazed highway. “God, all the things I want to do to you.” He ground out as he pushed down her trousers.

  Berry’s knees almost buckled as her magic kicked in and she was assailed by the tens, no, the hundreds of way Ramsey wanted to ravage, defile, worship, love… fuck her. Fast, slow, up against the wall, on the living room table, over the kitchen bench, from behind, her on top… it was too much, flash fire pulsed through her body to zero between her legs as she mindlessly kicked away her trousers, the socks going with them. She leapt up, Ramsey easily catching her as she hooked her legs around his waist and slammed her lips down on his waiting mouth. Grinding her body against his.

  Damn, Ramsey knew going slow with Berry would be a challenge but at the very least he’d intended to hold out as long as possible so they could savour their first time together. His thought processes dissolving as she plastered herself against him… want, need… have. His knees gave out as he lowered them both to the carpet in front of the fireplace. Berry’s hair spilling out behind her in a dark glossy pool. Her bared breasts pushed up and high by the gaping demi corset still fitted around her ribcage.

  Berry mewled a protest as he reared back from her, even though it was to unbutton and shed his jeans. She missed the feel of his heated flesh against hers.

  He stared down at her for a moment, his breath coming in quick uneven pants, damn Berry was beautiful. God he wanted her. He jerked in surprise as one of her hands came up to prevent him from covering her body with his.

  “Wait. Protection.”

  He envied her the ability to talk. Hands scrabbling around behind him, he grabbed his jeans, triumphantly holding up a small foil packet he’d been keeping in the back pocket.

  “Thank the Goddess.” Berry’s throaty rumbled approval made his gut clench in anticipation. She snatched it from him, ripping open the packet. “Boxers… off… now.”

  Ramsey blinked at her command. He hadn’t finished playing with her yet, discovering her body, those gorgeous legs now bare, that tight tummy, the rounded hips and her heated core that had dampened those black lace knickers of hers. Knickers that she was even now struggling out of one handed, the other still waving the condom around in front of his face.

  “What are you waiting for? An invitation?”

  He reared back slightly, just avoiding getting whacked in the eye by the rubber Berry was still holding out. “Umm… well I wasn’t finished …” Her knickers sailed passed his face, distracting him and making him lose his train of thought.

  “Enough with the foreplay… I want the good stuff.”

  Ramsey froze. Berry Malone was splayed out in front of him naked. He just wanted a brief moment to drink in the sight… she was the most beautiful, sexy woman he’d…

  “Hey snap out of it. Are we doing this or what?” Berry wanted him so badly she thought she might spontaneously combust. And she was kind of worried by the fact that now that he’d slowed down he might be having second thoughts about doing this. She wouldn’t put it passed a good guy like Ramsey to suddenly decide that having no-strings sex would be bad for her mental health or some such ridiculous nonsense. Damn it, she wanted an orgasm and she was pretty darn sure that Ramsey Hughes was the man to give her one.

  Sitting up she grabbed the waistband of his boxer shorts and yanked them down. Rearing back slightly, her mouth dropping open in amazement. Goddess, the man was beautiful… and built! All praise genetics. She leaned forward, intending to wrap her prize in a coating of rubber, whimpering in thwarted dismay as Ramsey caught her hands.

  “I swear to God that if you touch me right now Berry, I’ll go off like a firecracker.” He blew out a deep breath, the avarice look in her eyes, the sparks of desire; it was nearly the undoing of him. “Give me the condom, I’ll do it.” His voice came out so low it was almost a growl.

  Berry bit her lip to stop herself from thanking him, it was one thing to be consumed by need for the man, it was entirely another thing to let him know that fact. But still, a whimper of relief escaped her as she watched him. The fire casting red flickering light over his magnificent body, making his skin look imminently touchable… lickable. “Hurry.” The word fell unbidden from her lips.

  Ramsey chuffed a laugh. “You have a train to catch Your Honour?”

  Oh, thank Heavens, he’d finished. Her hands came up and she grabbed him, pulling him down. “No… a rollercoaster. Now shut up and do me.”

  Hell, he liked this bossy woman. Capturing her mouth with his, he covered her body. His cock coming to rest against the cradle of her slick wet heat. He wanted her so much his body ached but a small part of him still resisted… this was too reminiscent of the faceless, nameless nights with other women. The quick wham bam, thank you bad boy, nights. He, loser that he was, had to know that Berry wanted him, Ramsey Hughes. That he wasn’t just convenient or a substitute for another man. With that in mind, despite what it cost him, he slid his cock back and forth, teasing her clit with the promise of his hard, hot length.

  Berry moaned in protest. Breaking their kiss to shoot him a glare that would have boiled a lesser man alive. Ramsey grinned down at her, knowing she was pissed off gave him the strength to rock his lower body back and forth several more times, despite the torture he was inflicting upon them both.

  “Please.” Berry ground out the word reluctantly between gritted teeth. Still he wouldn’t let up on the torment, it was at once divine and vexing beyond belief. “Please… Ramsey… please.”

  His name… at last. He would have howled in triumphant but he was too busy spreading her thighs wider, issuing a groan of relief as his cock slid deeply into her tight, heated core.

  Berry’s whole body arched off the floor in delicious relief as he filled her. Praise the Goddess, that felt good… then he moved, and her eyes practically rolled back in her head. Instantly her legs wrapped around his hips as she met his next thrust and the one after that. Please don’t stop, please don’t stop. The words sounded like a mantra in her head. She wanted this so badly, she was front row centre on the rollercoaster, climbing a peak of epic proportion.

  Except the rollercoaster was slowing, why was it slowing? She grappled with Ramsey, moaning her disappointment. Her eyes opening, clashing with his, there was something in those grey depths, more than just passion…

  “Say my name Berry.”

  “Ramsey.” It came out a throaty, low plea.

  He surged forward, deep.

  Oh yes… yes, she said his name again and again. “Harder… Ramsey.”

  A new mantra but one that fuelled the rollercoaster as Ramsey gripped her by the hips and began driving his cock into her with a quick rough pace that wrenched a sob of gratitude from Berry’s throat. Her head fell back as she fought to breath and match his every thrust, wanting him all, wanting him deep.

  She thought she’d hover on the edge, that it would take a lot to tip her over but one moment she was climbing, and the next, she’d burst through the barrier, flung into the sky, her body blown apart, consumed by a wave of pure pleasure. S
he shouted out his name and then he was coming too. Groaning out her name under his breath in a gravelly, husky tone that made her feel sexy, wanton and powerful.

  She managed a smile as he withdrew from her body to collapse next to her on the carpet. Only the sounds of their panting to break the sudden silence.

  Phew, as she got her breathing under control, sanity began to return to Berry. She was lying half naked on the floor in front of a fireplace with Ramsey Hughes, whom she’d only known for just over a week. She wasn’t sure whether to cringe or be empowered. After all, she was single, he was single. It was just sex… hot, mindless, fun sex. Just like Ramsey had promised it would be.

  It didn’t have to mean anything. It certainly didn’t have to signify commitment or that she’d broken her vow. She just needed to set very clear, impenetrable boundaries. She turned her head to give Ramsey an absent smile as he draped a throw over the two of them. And not get attached… whoa, where had that thought come from? She had no intention of becoming attached, dependent, smitten, charmed or an array of other words when it came to Ramsey Hughes.

  “So? Verdict?” Ramsey swept his hair back off his sweaty forehead, resting his head back on his folded arm.

  “Well I don’t think I’ll invest in any solar battery shares any time in the near future.”

  Ramsey chuffed a laugh. “Maybe you should think about investing in latex instead?”

  Berry nodded. “Something to think about.” She sat up, clutching the throw to her chest, though why she wasn’t sure, the modesty ship had long since sailed.

  “Hey. Where do you think you’re going?” Ramsey watched her intrigued, careful to keep his voice moderate and his movements to a minimum so he wouldn’t spook her. He’d been hoping for a quiet moment so he could tell her about Sinclair’s revelation that he might have relatives in the Southern Sanctuary, but suddenly she’d gone all stiff and skittish.

  “Thanks for… well everything. I thought I’d grabbed a shower.” Berry wasn’t sure if she could take the throw rug with her, logistically, it was a nightmare. She either left Ramsey, naked an exposed behind her, or if she didn’t take the rug, then she kind of left her behind naked an exposed, it was a quandary.

  “You’re thanking me? That makes it sound kind of final.” Ramsey’s gut was churning but he fought hard to lie there like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “It was just sex, remember.” Berry turned her head to look down at him. “No-strings, casual sex.”

  “So you’re not up for round two?” Ramsey enquired. Damn, this woman was tricky, he was going to need to be trickier.

  Berry gulped, round two? The sweat on her skin hadn’t dried from round one and he was seriously suggesting that he was ready to go again? That was… Goddess, she fought not to squirm as arousal flooded her system. Her eyes shifted down his frame, oh yes, there was definite movement under the throw rug.

  Damn her newly awakened libido. She should get up and walk away but… “We’re going to need some guidelines if we do this.”

  “Guidelines?” Ramsey’s left eyebrow shot up briefly in query, whilst his fingers itched to haul Berry back down next to him bodily. Okay, he’d play her game and once he knew the rules, he’d bend them or break them when the time came to get what he wanted. For now, he just needed to go along with whatever wacky guidelines Berry pulled out of her perfect, rounded ass. His time would come.

  “We’re not a couple. No attachments, no endearments, absolutely no public displays of affection. It’s just sex, pure and simple, safe sex.” She looked over at him expectantly.

  “You think I have a problem with that? I’m a guy. You’ve just described the perfect relationship.”

  Berry fought not to frown. Why did his casual acceptance of the situation upset her? “So you agree?”

  Ramsey couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he threw back the throw rug and rose to his feet. Berry looked up in awe at all the hard naked flesh now on display before her. The man really was ready for round two. A squeak issued from her lips as he reached down and hauled her upright and then right off her feet, fire lifting her over one muscular shoulder.

  “Wait…. Ramsey, what are you doing?” Had that girlish squeal really come from her? She squealed again as his large hand came down to swat her on the butt, even as a shot of surprised delight spiked through her lower body. Hmm, she liked it a little bit rough, who knew?

  Ramsey turned and strode towards his bedroom, holding on tight to his prize. She wanted sex… he’d give her sex. But with each and every encounter, he intended to make it harder and harder for her to walk away from him. It was too late for no attachments. He was hooked on Berry Malone. Now he just had to figure out how to get her to admit that she wanted him too.

  “Ramsey?”

  “Round two, remember.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ramsey nodded at Tanner Bright as he walked through the door of his apartment the next evening just after eleven. It had been a hell of a long day. “Anything to report?”

  Tanner shook his head. “Nothing. All quiet here. Berry took herself off to bed about thirty minutes ago.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Ramsey locked and bolted the door behind Tanner before heading to the kitchen for a glass of water. Standing at the kitchen counter he stared unseeingly out passed the balcony at the ink black ocean.

  For all the hours he’d put in today, what had he achieved? He’d scoured the reports on all the prison escapees that Cam McKenzie had compiled. Granger’s internet search history was interesting, yachts; the man had been obsessed with them. That little fact had caught Cam’s attention days ago and he’d already put out a search on recently stolen watercraft, good man. Likewise, Previn Carlyle’s online searches intrigued Ramsey.

  What was a slick, white collar conman and cellmate to Berry’s ex-husband, doing researching the Salem witch trials? It had seemed so odd that Ramsey found himself following up on the sites. Hard to make progress though when you don’t even know what you are looking for. What did catch his attention were a few of the names listed of settlers leaving the Salem area just after the first trial for witchcraft commenced. Bright, Torrent, Dunst, Bennett; they were common enough names but the weird thing was he’d come across all those surnames at the Southern Sanctuary. Maureen Bright, the police station communication’s officer. Adelaide Dunst and Margot Torrent; Berry’s aunts. Matt Bennett, his deputy. Bloody hell, he hated all these coincidences piling up. He felt like he had a jigsaw in front of him with half the pieces missing.

  The rest of the day had felt like he was chasing his tail.

  The pharmacy had finally gotten back to Mac with the inventory of shop-lifted items; hair dye, razors, stomach antacid, deodorant and a hundred dollar bottle of men’s perfume. Sounded like someone had decided it was time for a makeover.

  It hadn’t helped matters that all day he’d been thinking about Berry. How she had slipped out of his bed in the early hours to scurry back to her own room, because no doubt according to Berry’s strict guidelines, people having casual sex, didn’t sleep together. How in the morning, when she’d emerged looking glam girl gorgeous in a red fitted pencil skirt and matching peplum jacket with white piping she’d scowled his way, as if daring him to make a personal comment about her appearance.

  Her frown had only intensified when she’d noted the amount of toast he’d made, whoops, clearly she thought he was overstepping the boundary of their agreement by making her breakfast. Feigning innocence, he’d proceeded to mow his way through four pieces of toast, worth the effort when she sent him a look of peeved annoyance. Damn, women were contrary creatures.

  When he bumped into her later in the day as he searched for the elusive, too artistic, district photographer, Timothy, he very deliberately maintained a respectful five foot distance from her and kept his greeting to an abrupt nod of acknowledgement and a brief hello. Well worth the effort of acting nonchalant, as anger danced and sparkled in her decadent chocolate eyes. Seriously, she wa
s the one who’d defined their relationship; he was just busy trying to remember all her do’s and don’ts.

  He drank another glass of water before heading to his bedroom. He was in desperate need of a shower to get the stink of today’s failure off.

  * * *

  Berry rolled over and punched her pillow hard as the sound of water running through the pipes in the wall informed her that Ramsey was taking a shower. She knew the moment he’d walked in the apartment door, some sixth sense that he was home. She tossed and then she turned. The man had a perfect right to take a shower… get naked… a picture flashed in her head of beads of water clinging to that broad muscular chest. Damn, she hauled back and gave her pillow another solid punch. She would not think about Ramsey Hughes, naked or otherwise. She would not re-visit their night together… hah, round two her carpet-burned butt… more like round five.

  It had taken all her will power to leave his room just before dawn. For Goddess sake, she couldn’t afford to sleep next to the man… that had a ring of permanence to it that didn’t gel with the casual booty-call relationship she’d decided they were going to have. Worse than falling asleep, she was afraid she was going to roll over and demand round six. So yes, she’d made a strategic, sensible… very, very quiet retreat. Yay, she could now officially be the poster-girl for the modern independent woman.

  So why was she still peeved that he hadn’t said anything about the new outfit she’d worn that morning? She’d seen the admiration flare in his eyes, but he hadn’t said anything, instead he’d just stood there stuffing his face with more toast than one man could possibly eat. He hadn’t even offered to make her coffee. Which okay, sounded both petulant and a little contradictory to her guidelines, but offering a person coffee or a spare piece of toast was just being a good host.

  And then later in the day, when they’d bumped into one another at the High Council Building, she would swear to the Goddess, the man had grunted hello at her. Acting like she had cooties or something, jumping back so there was no chance of them accidently making any physical contact. Obviously Ramsey intended to stick very firmly to the guidelines she’d laid out but… but, he didn’t have to follow them so darn enthusiastically, did he?