He gave her a quick wicked glance. “Beg to differ. You’re not the one doing it.”
Her face was red, her mouth open and gasping. “But out here? In the open? Anyone could pull into the drive—the postman, a neighbor—”
He slid a third finger inside her pussy and circled his thumb around the tight little hole below. Her back arched off the porch, giving him an interesting view of the underside of her creamy breasts.
“Don’t!”
“Don’t what?” he teased, pressing harder on her asshole.
“That!” She settled down again and glared down at him.
More liquid seeped around his hand, and he groaned, knowing how she’d feel clasping his cock. “You like it,” he said, and bit her inner thigh.
Her thighs moved restlessly on his shoulders. “Daniel…?”
“I know. You’re comin’. Close your eyes.”
Katelyn’s teeth clasped her lower lip, and she shook her head.
“Trust me, baby,” he said, crooning now. “Close your eyes.”
She drew a deep breath, and turned her head away, her hands letting go of his hair and reaching out beside her, flattening on the plank flooring.
Her trust was a fragile thing, and he vowed not to disappoint her.
With her thighs clasping his neck, Daniel leaned closer and planted hot, sliding kisses on her pussy while his fingers ground inside her, twisting deeper.
Whimpers broke from her throat as he worked his hand in and out. His thumb resumed its pressure lower, working the cream dripping from her cunt into the tight orifice until it relaxed enough that he could slip the thick tip inside.
She groaned and her hips undulated, countering his rhythm to draw him deeper still.
Daniel fluttered his tongue on her clit, stroking harder as her cries grew louder, and when her voice broke, he drew hard on it with his lips until she came, shuddering and spasming around his fingers. He didn’t relent until her legs eased their hold and her body grew slack beneath him.
Although it damn near killed him, he gently pulled away and gathered her into his arms until she straddled his thighs, her head tucked against his shoulder. “You’ll go with me Saturday night,” he said, kissing her shoulder. With his hand fisting in her hair, he tilted back her head. “And there won’t be any more talk about what’s right or wrong with us.”
Her eyelids lifted, and her clear blue gaze met his. “I s’pose if I tried to disagree, you’d just add another word to your vocabulary, wouldn’t you?” she said, the corners of her lips lifting in a weak smile.
He smoothed a finger over her lower lip and smiled down at her. “Do you think I have that much to learn?”
The smile disappeared, and she leaned in to slide her lips over his, giving him a hot kiss. When she drew back, she said, “I think there are some definite holes in my education.” She looked down to where her hands smoothed over his chest. “But there’s something in particular I want to learn.”
“Tell me what it is. I’ll add it to the curriculum.”
Her mouth curved, and her gaze rose to his. “I want to know what it feels like to be filled with you, Daniel.”
He blew out a deep breath and tried to ignore the insistent ache beneath her bottom, sure his balls were blue at this point. “I’d like nothing better, sweetheart.”
Her head came up. “But?”
“After the party.”
A frown creased her brow. “You think you have to bribe me to go?” Her gaze narrowed, and she ground her pussy against his erection.
“I think,” he said, gritting his teeth, “that you’re trying to distract me—but I’m going to get my way.”
She arched a brow. “Because I’m dying for you to fuck me?”
He gave her a slanted glance. “Aren’t you?” His hands clasped her bottom, and he butted up against her naked cunt.
Her eyes closed, and her mouth opened around a moan. As he rubbed into her open, juicy cunt, she gripped his shoulders tight. “But…ah…what about you? Don’t I get a chance to please you, too?”
He inserted a hand between their bodies and palmed a plump breast. “You do. Christ, I need this in my mouth.”
She rose and pressed her nipple against his lips, a little smile curving hers. “Seems kinda one-sided.”
“I’ll get to the other,” he murmured, and then opened his mouth wide to take as much of her tit as he could inside.
She laughed and clasped his head to her breast. “That’s not what I meant.” Her knees hugged either side of his thighs and squeezed. “One thing I do know how to do is give a blowjob,” she whispered.
Daniel groaned and gently bit the velvet-soft tip scraping his tongue. “Saturday night.”
*
Saturday morning, Daniel entered the white sandstone building that had housed the county library for as long as he could remember. His nose wrinkled at the smell of books, a smell he hadn’t encountered since his last year of high school.
It wasn’t that he was averse to books, or to reading; he’d simply been too busy—at first with the police academy, and then on the job at the Wendall County Sheriff’s office.
Then he’d purchased the property which adjoined Katelyn’s about three years ago when it came up on the market for a good price—it being in nearly the same sad shape as Katelyn’s house was now. From then on, all his spare time had been spent renovating the thirty-year-old house that sat on twenty acres of land. He’d cleaned, repaired, and painted in hopes of preparing it for a family, but the right woman had never come along. He thought now, just maybe, Katelyn Carter was what he’d been waiting for.
Daniel stuck a finger in the buttoned collar of his uniform shirt to loosen it enough to breathe comfortably. He was nervous and feeling more than a little foolish, paying a call on Katelyn at her job. He’d congratulated himself on refraining from checking in on her for two whole days. There was no sense in scaring the woman by rushing her off her feet. He knew he’d almost blown it when he’d turned down her generous offer. But sex wasn’t the only thing he wanted from her, and he knew she might get cold feet if she got everything she yearned for too fast and easy.
Katelyn needed to want. She needed to yearn for his touch the same way he was dying to hear three little words from her—with an ache that wouldn’t relent.
Today, however, he’d settle for just seeing her. Even if it was only to let her level a distrustful gaze on him. She thought he was a handyman—something he’d encouraged her to believe, even if he’d never said the lie, because he’d wanted the chance to get to know her. That their physical relationship had progressed so far, so quickly, only added to his unease. He hoped she wouldn’t be too disappointed or angry at his little deception. But the time for the truth was now.
“Why, Daniel Bodine, if this isn’t a surprise. Now I know you’re not here to check out a book, so what can I do for you?” The dry raspy voice of Mabel Comstock harkened back to high school, and he broke out in a sweat. Just a glance from the little white-haired woman from over the top of her wire-rimmed glasses had always been enough to make him squirm.
Remembering his manners, he doffed his cowboy hat. “Howdy, Miz Comstock. It’s good to see you.”
“Hrmph.” Her mouth pursed, and her eyes narrowed, “I know this isn’t a social call…” One gray brow quirked upward. “Or maybe not for me. You wouldn’t be here to visit the newest member of my staff here, now would you?”
He felt the heat creep across his cheeks and cursed his lack of composure. You’d think a twenty-nine year-old man, and a deputy sheriff to boot, wouldn’t be intimidated by a tiny curmudgeon of a woman. He cleared his throat. “As a matter of fact…yes, ma’am. I’d like to see Miz Carter…if it’s not an inconvenience.”
Mabel Comstock’s eyebrows rose, and the corners of her mouth quirked into a semblance of a smile. “Katelyn’s in the computer room.” When he continued to stare blankly at her, she motioned toward a room at the back of the building. “That room’s been in t
his building for five years—don’t be such a stranger, Daniel.”
“Yes, ma’am…thanks.” With relief, he headed to the rear of the library.
Katelyn’s back was to the door as he opened and closed it quietly behind him. She was on her knees on the floor, her torso beneath the table. The view of her backside, heart-shaped mounds that jiggled a little beneath the fabric of her slacks as she tugged at something out of sight, had him grinning. He leaned against the door and crossed his arms over his chest to wait. No sense in spoiling a good opportunity to take in the scenery by announcing his presence.
She muttered something unintelligible before backing out from beneath the table. As her head popped into view, she caught sight of him. “Oh!” She slammed her head against the table as she tried to rise. Tears filled her eyes.
He rushed to help her up. “Are you okay?” He pushed her toward a chair. “Take it easy here for a second. I’m sorry I startled you.”
Rubbing her head, she frowned at him, then took in his uniform in one long glance, from head to toe. Her expression was one of dismay. “You’re a policeman?”
“A deputy sheriff,” he corrected her.
“No one said…you didn’t say…” She looked at him accusingly, a scowl wrinkling her forehead.
“I assumed you knew.” Well, it wasn’t exactly a lie. He hadn’t mentioned it, but he couldn’t have known how much Dwight might have blabbed to her after he’d removed the snake. He knelt beside her so their gazes were level. He didn’t want her staring at his uniform. “I guess there are a lot of things we don’t know about each other.”
Her glance slid away from his. “You’re right. We really haven’t talked very much.”
Daniel bit back a smile and picked up one of her hands, so dainty within his ham-fisted palms, and squeezed it gently before letting it drop to her lap. “How about we spend some time together. You’re coming with me tonight, right?”
Her gaze went to the glass door and back. “Daniel…I don’t know…”
He drew a breath and felt a slow burning anger heat his cheeks while tension filled his arms and chest. “We had a deal, Miss Librarian.”
Her eyes widened. “I’ll still do that,” she hissed, “but don’t you think you should give…the rest a little time? I mean, you’re a deputy…you have a reputation—”
Daniel frowned. “Seems the only one worried about the differences in our ages is you, Katelyn. I’m beginning to think it’s just an excuse to keep what’s happening between us safe. Like our relationship is in a box for you to take out whenever you have needs.”
“That’s not fair. We hardly know each other. Do you think I’m afraid to commit?”
“I think someone’s made you afraid to trust.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked. “Daniel, we need to talk—”
He shook his head. “After the party.”
A fierce frown drew her brows together. “We’ll never get around to conversation then.”
His anger eased, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “After you make good on your promise…we’ll talk.”
Her head canted, and she gave him an assessing look. “We just had our first argument.”
He grunted. “Not so bad, huh?”
“I survived.”
He rose and held out his hand to help her stand. “You sure you’re feelin’ all right?”
“Uh huh,” she answered, sounding a little breathless as she stared upward.
His gaze dropped to her lips, and they parted. That was invitation enough.
Intending only a quick kiss to her lips, he pressed his closed mouth to hers, but was pleasantly surprised when her head tilted to align their noses, and she deepened the kiss.
Given a green light, he smoothed his hands over her ribs, slid them around her back, then spread to embrace her. He pulled her closer, and she leaned into him with a soft moan. He let her take the lead, and while she never ventured beyond the seam of his lips, her own melted against his.
Suddenly, she broke off the kiss, shoving at his chest, and he released her immediately. Breathing heavily, he fought to calm his racing heart. Glancing around, he found his hat on the floor and brushed it off before placing it back on his head.
His gaze sought hers. Her lips still glistened from their kiss. Choking down an inward groan, he growled, “Tonight.”
Chapter Five
‡
Katelyn chose a pink cotton dress with a skirt that swirled around her calves when she turned. She smiled at herself in the mirror, wondering if this was starting a trend. A brand-spanking new pink life. Her blonde hair was pulled away from her face, fastened with small silver barrettes but leaving the rest to fall to her shoulders. She hoped she didn’t look ridiculous and like she was trying to appear younger than she was, but the truth was, the anticipation of seeing Daniel again left her feeling youthful, and like she was standing on the edge of something wonderful.
And if they ended up in bed together tonight, she didn’t believe her secret was a betrayal. She’d separated her life from her husband’s. Told him they’d never be together again. Moved halfway across the country to let him know she was serious. So, maybe she’d been afraid to begin the process to make that choice final, but she no longer worried that he’d find her and convince her to return. She was stronger. More sure of herself.
And Daniel might have access to her body, but this time around she wasn’t going to entrust her inner self to anyone else’s care before she was sure of him. However, yesterday she had called an attorney. Soon, her marriage would be dissolved as though it had never occurred.
This was a victory she wanted to savor alone—she’d proven her strength of will, proven Chris was wrong about her. She wasn’t the insecure young woman he’d married. She no longer needed his approval to validate her choices. She didn’t need him—she didn’t need any man. It was a liberating feeling taking this final step of emancipation.
Every bit as freeing as the rich sensuality of Daniel’s kisses. Today, standing in the middle of the library where anyone could see them, she’d given herself permission to love again. Compared to the wicked things he’d done to her before, the kiss had been rather innocent, but she’d initiated a deeper joining, letting her hands roam over his body in a possessive way.
Until she’d realized the hard, unyielding surface beneath her palms wasn’t his muscled chest, but the Kevlar jacket he wore beneath his uniform. That had been enough to jar her back to reality. She hadn’t known he was a deputy. He’d kept his own secret.
She wouldn’t hold it against him. They had to learn to trust each other and give themselves time to know each other. If the physical side of their relationship was on the fast track, well, halleluiah anyway.
The age difference that had rankled and made her feel ashamed might actually be a blessing. Because he was younger, she felt more in control.
A knock sounded at the door, and her heart raced. She grabbed her purse and let herself out the front door. When she finally glanced at the tall man who waited patiently for her finish locking up, he stole her breath.
Daniel in faded blue jeans had been a sinfully delicious treat. Tonight, he was the full-fledged cowboy in a starched denim shirt with pearl-covered buttons. His jeans were dark, his boots highly polished.
The oversized belt buckle drew her gaze so long she knew he grew embarrassed, because he cleared his throat before saying, “Do you have everything you need?”
Surprising herself, she giggled. She hadn’t felt so light-hearted in ages. “I do now.”
She grasped his arm and smiled warmly at him, and he responded by crooking his elbow and placing a hand over hers. They looked at each other for a long time.
Daniel cleared his throat again. “If I kiss you now, we won’t make it off this porch.”
“And that’s a problem?” she said, raising her eyebrows.
He nodded, his expression solemn, but his eyes wrinkled at the corners like when he smiled. “Yes, ma�
��am. I want to dance with you tonight.”
She tilted her head and raised a single eyebrow. “And you’re telling me this, why?”
“Because I don’t want you thinking I don’t want to kiss you.”
She lifted a finger to her mouth and licked the tip, then traced his lips slowly. “Consider yourself kissed.” She lowered her hand and blushed when he continued to stare.
His chest rose sharply, and he glanced away. “Shit.”
“Problem?”
“Yeah, I have to get through the evening with a hard-on.”
She grinned. “That belt buckle’s big enough to hide behind.”
His gaze narrowed on her. “No, it’s not.”
A grin stretched her lips wider. “No, it’s not,” she drawled.
His hands clasped her hips and glided lower. He rested his forehead against hers and squeezed her bottom.
It was an odd embrace, but one she didn’t want to end. “Where’s your hat?” she asked, wanting to extend the moment and not really caring about the answer.
“In the truck.”
“Hmmm.” This close she inhaled his spicy aftershave and the smell of soap on his skin. She wondered if he noticed the attention she’d given her scent as well.
“Did I tell you I love you in pink?” he said, his voice a low rumble.
She shook her head without breaking contact. “Nope.”
“Well, I thought it. That very first day you wore a little pink undershirt.”
She gave a breathless gasp. “You noticed the color of my camisole?”
“I noticed the color of your nipples through that camisole. It about drove me crazy.”
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth—it was that or mash them against his.
His gaze dipped to her mouth, and he groaned. “I’m holdin’ on by a thread here.”
“Not helping?”
“Nope.”
She laughed softly. “Do you need a few moments alone to compose yourself?”
“I need more than a few moments.”
“A cold shower?”
“Don’t think it would relieve the problem a bit.”
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