Laura shook her head and pushed down her jeans, slipping out of her shoes then stepping on the ends of her jeans as she worked them down her legs. When she was nude, except for a pair of Wonder Woman socks, he walked toward her, reached around her, and lifted her by her ass. Two steps and he had her ass on the edge of her desk.
She whipped her legs around him and leaned back on her arms. “Gotta be quick,” she warned.
“I can multitask,” he growled, reaching with one hand for a lush breast and reaching downward with the other to slip his fingers between her legs. She was already wet, so he inserted a finger and used his thumb to rub her clit.
Laura’s eyelids dipped a bit, and her mouth grew slack.
“Never did ask last night,” he said, leaning close to give her mouth a quick kiss. “Are your nipples tender?”
Her eyes widened. “Why?”
He pinched her nipple then gave it a slight twist. “Just trying to figure out what you like, baby.”
“Do that again,” she said breathlessly just as more moisture coated his fingers.
Preacher thrust another finger inside and bent and rubbed the scruff of his beard against her breast before he took her nipple in his mouth. As soon as he sucked it inside, her body quivered. When he teethed her nipple, she gave a low moan and her head fell back. He sucked harder and began to stroke his fingers inside her, twisting his fingers, rubbing inside her channel, until she gave a jerk and a little cry. He let go of her breast. “Did I find it?”
“Don’t know, but…Preacher…come inside me now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured, withdrawing his fingers and straightening. He fed his cock inside her, watching as her pussy consumed his length. “Hold on to me.”
She wrapped her arms around him and tightened her legs. He lifted her and strode to an empty space on the wall then pushed her back against it. Once she was pressed tight against the paneling, he loosened her legs and hooked his arms under her thighs. Then he began stroking—not gently. He was already past that, and it sure looked like she was, too.
Her mouth pursed as she began to pant. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders. “Harder,” she whispered.
He drove forward and up, jerking on her thighs as he powered into her. His cock drove through slick hot heat that pulsed all around him. “Damn, girl,” he whispered against her lips.
Her smile was strained. “Don’t know…how you can talk… Can’t catch…my breath. So good.”
“It’s never been like this…for me,” he admitted.
Her eyes widened for a second, and then became catlike. “Like how I feel, do you?”
He nodded and kissed her mouth. It wasn’t a lie but also wasn’t even a fraction of what he felt—desperate, so hard he wouldn’t have been able to stop if the walls came crashing down around them. He loved how she felt, full-bodied, soft as silk. All woman. His woman.
His heart beat like loud bass drum, and his arms burned from moving her up and down, up and down on his cock. The fit was snug, and her channel getting hot. Then she jerked against him, and her head knocked against the wall. He mashed his mouth over hers again, just in time to muffle a scream. Then he came, too, his balls exploding.
For long moments afterward, he continued to rock against her, loath to withdraw from her heat.
Laura kissed his cheek and gave him a hug. “Damn, Preacher. I’m gonna be spoiled for any other man.”
“That’s the plan,” he said, kissing her bare shoulder then raising his head.
Her hands cupped his cheeks as she leaned forward and gave him the sweetest, hottest kiss he’d ever experienced. All the sweeter, because below she squeezed herself around him, holding him inside.
Chapter 8
Laura wielded her mop with zeal as she cleaned the shop floor. Not that she was angry. Oh no. The moment she’d shown the last customer to the door and told Katie to go home, she’d stood alone in the center of her shop and giggled.
Before she’d left, Katie had given her a high five and a sly, “Lucky slut.” Then, “Is he always that fast?”
She’d pressed her lips together then laughed. “No, I’m that fast.”
Now, she was rushing through cleanup because Preacher had gone to the diner to pick up a meal for them. He’d be at her house in half an hour. Hell, he’d wanted her to come with him to keep her safe, but she’d shooed him away, telling him she’d keep the doors locked and her car was parked out front. “I’ll be fine.”
Nearly done, she leaned on her mop, shaking her head. How could she have been so reckless? She had a business to run, a reputation to preserve… And she didn’t care about any of it. Their afternoon tryst in her office had been mind-blowing. Freeing. All the sweet aches—between her legs, her nipples—kept the pleasure she’d experienced in the forefront of her thoughts.
After only two days, Preacher filled her every thought. How had she gotten this lucky? Laura knew a lot of people considered her cute enough. Her blond hair and freckles were attractive, but she’d never had anyone look at her the way Preacher did. Like she was some sexy honey pot. And she knew he was sincere. Every time he was near, he touched her. His gaze grew smoky when it landed on her. Whenever she was near, his body reacted, something he couldn’t hide, well, because his “little man” wasn’t exactly small.
Good Lord, she did that to him. Her. Laura Pinchot, voted every guy’s favorite “girl friend” in high school because they’d felt so comfortable around her, and they could talk to her because she didn’t incite instant arousal like the girls in the cheer squad.
Suddenly, being viewed as a sex kitten was…exhilarating. Made her feel powerful.
Shaking off her giddy thoughts, she hung her mop and gathered the trash to take outside. When she stepped outside, she was humming to herself. As she moved down the steps, her footsteps felt light. She looked forward to spending another evening with Preacher, and whatever happened in the future, she’d carry happy memories because one strong, handsome man desired her.
She lifted the lid on the trash bin, tossed her bag inside, then turned. From the corner of her eye, she saw something swinging toward her. She raised a hand, but something crashed against the side of her head, and she went to her knees. Another blow landed on her shoulder and darkness enfolded her.
* * *
Preacher placed the takeout boxes on the seat beside him and picked up his phone. He’d give Laura a quick call to make sure she’d made it home, and then he’d head straight for her house. He couldn’t wait to spend more time with her. Not simply because he enjoyed having sex with her. He liked her sense of humor, her intelligence; he enjoyed just watching the way she moved so gracefully across a room. As well, he liked that she had no idea how beautiful she was.
And although he liked the quality, he was determined to change it. Laura needed to know how beautiful she really was. Sure, she wasn’t built like a model. However, those extra pounds cloaked a strong body. One made for a man like him to love.
He hit speed dial and waited but got no answer. So, he decided to drive past her shop first, just to make sure she didn’t need a little nudge out the door. When he slowed in front of Deadly Delights, he noted her car was still parked outside, so he parked and approached her door. It was locked, so he knocked on the glass door then cupped his hands and peered through the it. There was no sign of her.
Perhaps she was in her office. He strode around the building, thinking she’d better hear a knock there, but the moment he turned the corner, he broke into a run. Laura’s pink sneakers peeked out from behind the trash bin.
When he got to her, he knelt beside her and noted the blood darkening her brow. Her eyes were closed. Quickly, he checked for a pulse and blew out breath when he noted the steady beat beneath his fingertips. He raised his phone and tapped 9-1-1 on the screen. He reported what he’d found and requested an ambulance and that the sheriff be notified. Then he bent to her again and cupped her cheek. “Baby, open your eyes. Laura, wake up.”
H
e cupped her head and felt around the back of her skull. Other than the goose egg on the side of her head, he felt no other injury. He wanted to lift her into his arms and move her away from the bin. She didn’t deserve to be left there on the ground. More than anything he wanted to lift her into his arms, but he wasn’t sure of her injuries and didn’t want to do her more harm.
Minutes later, he heard a siren approaching. An ambulance turned to drive down the access road behind the row of buildings. He stayed beside her as the EMTs rolled out a gurney and brought a medical pack. He moved past her head when they came down on either side of her.
“She been here long?” one of them asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice hoarse.
“She been out the entire time you were with her?”
He nodded. He ground his jaws together as they began to work on her. Throughout the long minutes, she remained unconscious.
Sheriff Brown arrived and began questioning him.
He quickly gave him a rundown of the few things he did know.
After the EMTs loaded her on the gurney, one of them asked whether anyone had her insurance card or ID to help her inprocessing at the hospital.
“I’m sure it’s in her office, through that door,” he said to the sheriff because he didn’t want to leave Laura. Then the EMT asked whether he wanted to ride along.
It was hard to say no. “I’ll follow you,” he said, because he had a call to make and wanted to have a vehicle at the ready should she be released.
The sheriff returned and handed him Laura’s purse.
“You know where I’ll be,” Preacher said. “Could you make sure her shop gets locked up? She’ll be worried when she wakes up.” If she wakes up. He shook himself. He couldn’t think that way.
“I’ll take care of things here, Preacher. Call me and let me know how she’s doing.”
Preacher nodded and ran for his vehicle.
Once in his SUV, he kept close to the ambulance as it sped through town and made its way toward the highway leading to the hospital in Bozeman.
He called Cage. Before Cage finished his greeting, Preacher barked, “Laura was attacked. She’s in an ambulance heading to Bozeman. Sheriff’s still at her shop.”
“I’ll get with him and see if he and his deputies find anything. What do you need?”
Preacher blew out a breath. Just hearing Cage offer made him grateful someone would have his back. Like he should have had Laura’s. “Have Fig review the feed on the security cameras.”
“Will do. And when Laura’s better, we’ll talk about what we have to do to keep her safe until they find whoever’s responsible.”
After the call ended, Preacher gripped the steering wheel with steely fingers. If he’d been there, he would have torn her attacker limb from limb. He couldn’t imagine what she’d felt. He wondered whether she’d had a moment to wonder how he’d left her open to be attacked. He’d failed her. If he got the chance, it would never happen again. This wasn’t someone playing games. The shop wasn’t the target. It never had been. She was.
But why? He beat the steering wheel with his fist then shifted in his seat and made himself focus on the rear of the ambulance ahead of him. He had to keep it together. He’d be no good to her if he lost it now. His mission was clear—her safety was his priority. When she recovered, there’d be no more letting down his guard. No distractions. With Cage’s help, they’d run this like any takedown. They’d do what the law had failed to do, hunt the bastard down and bring him to justice.
* * *
After all the years he’d spent in the military with “hurry up and wait,” something he’d lived on the daily, he still wasn’t any good at it. He sat in the ER waiting room, his knee bouncing. Every time the pneumatic doors swished open, his gaze shot there, waiting for someone to let him know how she was doing and whether he could go back to see her. He didn’t like that they hadn’t let him in the treatment room. He’d even lied and said he was her fiancé, but had been informed he wasn’t a blood relative, so go sit outside and wait until he was called.
He’d wanted to grip the skinny nurse’s neck and hold him up against the wall, but he’d realized it was probably a good idea he stayed out of there or something, or someone, might get broken. Still, he’d been there in the treatment room long enough to see Laura stir and open her eyes.
The entrance doors swung open, and Cage walked inside, his gaze instantly scanning the room. Preacher shot up from his chair and walked toward him.
“Any word?” Cage asked.
Preacher shook his head. “They kicked me out. Said I’d have to wait.”
Cage studied him for a moment then said, “You look like you’re ready to explode. Walk with me.”
They walked out into the night and strode the length of the parking lot.
“How you holding up?” Cage asked.
“I should have been there.”
“I’d have felt the same way.”
“Are you saying I failed her?”
“No, but we didn’t really know she, personally, was the target, did we? The other attacks were against her shop.”
“Goddammit, I want to kill the guy.”
“If it had been Elaine, I’d want the same. I can’t take feeling helpless.”
“Exactly. If I’d been there, I would’ve taken care of him. Ended this shit.” They walked back toward the door. “What did the sheriff say?”
“They found a piece of pipe in the dumpster with blood on it. They’re sending it to the state crime lab. He let Fig get into her computer…”
Preacher halted. “And?”
“Hard to tell anything about the dude. He wore a loose hoodie with the hood pulled up. Got a picture of the back of him, but he never turned toward the camera. Not that we think he was aware of the camera.”
“Let me guess. The sheriff is going to canvass the area again.”
“Yeah.”
Preacher pushed through the door and went straight to the admissions desk.
The woman noted his approach and shook her head. “Nothing yet. No one’s come out looking for you. I checked with them while you were outside. She’s back from x-ray.”
“She needed an x-ray?”
Cage grabbed his arm and turned him toward the waiting area.
Preacher followed him back to the seating area and slumped into a chair. “Goddammit.”
A throat cleared, and he glanced across at a woman seated across from him, who gave him a frown.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
Cage clapped his shoulder. “I told Fetch what’s going on. He wants the crew to set up protection around Laura until this is settled.”
Preacher gave him a sideways glance. “Seriously?”
“He’s paying the bill for our time. Since she’s with you, she’s family. And since we’re so new to Dead Horse, he said it doesn’t hurt for the community to realize we’re there to help when shit goes down.”
The woman across from them cleared her throat again.
“Sorry,” Cage said and gave her a crooked smile.
Preacher rubbed a hand over his face. “That’s terrific. I want her covered 24/7.”
“You’ll stick to her like glue, and we’ll keep watch when you both need sleep. We’ll also work in tandem with the sheriff to run down any clues.”
“Fig’s got a head start.”
“She does. Said to tell you there’s nothing on Bob Updike to raise any red flags. The dude’s clean.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s not him. He was in the store today. Looked disappointed to find Laura in my company.”
“And he’s the one she’s turned to when she needed help with repairs. I know. But wanting to be the guy she turns to when she needs help…?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t make sense he’d beat her with a pipe.”
Preacher grimaced. “Guess not.”
“So, while we’re waiting, want to hear about the interviews?”
Not really, but maybe having so
mething else to think about might keep him from coming out of his skin. “Sure. Any good prospects?”
“I liked Pierce Hardman. Ex-SEAL.”
“You ever meet him while you were active?”
“No, different coasts. But I’ve heard of him. Ex-sniper.”
“We need a sniper?”
“No, but it doesn’t hurt to diversify our skill set. I have a dog handler in my stack, too. Jamie in the Bear Lodge office gets lots of action with local authorities when they need a dog.”
“How many are you looking to hire?”
“Maybe five. I don’t want to add too many too fast. I want to make sure we all work together well. Not too many egos.”
“Yeah, Marti’s got enough for all of us.”
Cage grinned. “She is a ball of fire.”
“Grumpy ass.” He shot a glance at the woman. He didn’t want her to strain her throat. “Sorry about that.” Turning back to Cage, he said, “When’s he start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“You should pair him up with Marti. She’s got more time hunting than either of us put together.”
“Already did.” He wrinkled his nose. “She said she was tired as hell of training up my hunters.”
Preacher grinned.
“Mr. Priestley.”
Preacher shot to his feet, his full attention on the nurse motioning to him from the doorway.
“Go on,” Cage said behind him. “I’ll be waiting out here.”
Chapter 9
Laura drew up her knees under the blanket to relieve the ache in her back from lying on the hard, flat hospital bed. Her head throbbed, and she feared she’d empty her stomach on the floor again. The doctor and nurse had just left after she’d given permission for the doctor to speak to her “fiancé.”
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