Devil in Texas Read online

  Energized anew, she buzzed about like a bee. She dropped her clutch on the end table as she bounded up the steps to the kitchen. For such a quaint place, it had thoughtfully designed living space that made excellent use of every inch of the limited square footage. It already felt more comfortable and homey than her trendy mid-town flat ever had. Or Peter’s mammoth Tribeca apartment.

  She’d done some grocery shopping before heading out for her good girl turned wicked woman night and had stocked the fridge. As she yanked the door open, though, she frowned. No beer. She tapped the pad of her index finger against her bottom lip as she contemplated this latest debacle. Then she remembered she’d bought a bottle of Chivas out of sheer habit because it’d been Peter’s drink of choice. Surely that would do.

  Retrieving the bottle from the cabinet, Liza broke the seal and plopped two ice cubes into a crystal-cut old-fashion glass that came with the cottage. She poured a splash of the Scotch into the glass and then pulled out a bottle of water for herself. No more booze for her tonight.

  Jack came through the front door with her shoes and joined her in the kitchen. She watched as he pulled a paper towel from the roll sitting in the upright holder and cleaned the soil from her expensive heels.

  “I have leather cleaner if you need it,” he said as he set the shoes on the floor outside her bedroom door.

  Had she died somewhere along the way and gone to heaven? Even better, it appeared he intended to stay a while. She reached for the Chivas she’d poured for him, then handed over his drink as he crossed to where she stood.

  “Thanks,” he said as he took the glass, their fingers brushing.

  She felt an erotically stimulating jolt to the core of her being. He really had a way of turning her inside out. That now-familiar prickly sensation along her clit and the dull throbbing in her pussy made her wet again.

  Grabbing her bottle of water, she tapped the open mouth of it against the rim of his glass and said, “Cheers.”

  He just stared at her, his dark blue eyes locking with hers, making her breath catch. There was a spark of lust in those beautiful cerulean irises that even she couldn’t miss. When he took a step closer to her, she felt as if the entire world compressed into another seductive cocoon. He stood with one booted foot planted firmly between her parted legs, careful not to step on her bare toes. His thick thigh filled the vee her stance created and if he moved just a hair closer to her, his upper thigh would be wedged right there between her legs.

  Her heart hammered in her chest at the thought. Her imagination toyed with the idea of his free hand gripping her hip, pulling her tight against his hard body. His heat and raw intensity would singe her skin, her insides. Though she was already cursing the sizzling Texas climate, she didn’t mind the idea of Jack’s radiance burning her up even more. Didn’t mind it the tiniest bit.

  She opened her mouth in hopes of saying something provocative or, at the very least, something witty. But no words formed in her head or on her tongue. Instead she stared up at him, dazed, her mouth gaping.

  He grinned at her, as though he knew he left her speechless. And liked it.

  Then his head dipped and his lips brushed hers. So expected, given the intimate moment they’d found themselves in—and all the incidents leading up to said moment. Yet it wasn’t expected at all… In fact, when Jack’s mouth touched hers, it shocked her into paralysis. Liza stood stock still, reveling in the sensation of the warm, soft lips pressed to hers.

  She couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t even breathe.

  But oh God, could she feel!

  She melted against him. Or did she fall against him? No telling, but it didn’t seem to matter. His arm slid around her waist and he pulled her up against his hard body. Just as she’d fantasized about him doing moments before. She wrapped both arms around his neck, careful not to spill water down his back. His tongue slipped inside her mouth and she heard the sharp, yet somehow distant, moan that lodged in her throat.

  His arm tightened around her as he deepened the kiss. She’d never felt swept away in her life, but at that very moment, she was totally lost. Totally captivated. Totally in need of everything Jack Wade had to offer.

  His other arm wrapped around her. The pressure from the thigh pressing between her parted legs felt heavenly, yet also made her painfully aware of how much she wanted him. Liza couldn’t stop herself from rubbing a little against his denim-clad leg, making her pussy lips and clit tingle. Her skirt hitched up a few notches and all that stood between body parts she wanted joined together were her lacy thong panties and his jeans and briefs. The thought of getting naked with the hunky cowboy and feeling his thick cock thrust deep into her pussy was just about all she could think of. That and the amazing things his kiss did to her insides.

  The feel of Jack’s arms around her, the heat that surrounded her, the muscles that clenched and bunched against her body, the tongue that teased hers and seemed to delve deeper to seek and give pleasure in a way that completely enthralled her… All of these things added to the lust she had already felt toward this man and coalesced into the intense desire to drag him into her new bedroom, strip him naked and touch and lick every single inch of him. Beg him to fuck her hard and fast. Like no man had ever done before.

  Her fingers curled around the bottle of water she still held, wishing like hell she could just drop it and instead twist her fingers in Jack’s thick hair.

  Suddenly, involuntarily, she did just that. The plastic bottle hit the ceramic tile and water splattered everywhere, but neither of them seemed to care. Even the cool trickle that oozed around her toes didn’t faze her.

  As her fingers tangled deep in the soft, unruly strands, he took two long strides backward, moving her with him. When she was trapped between the refrigerator and the brick wall that was his chest, he set his glass on the counter. And quickly returned that free hand to her. His leg was now firmly wedged between her thighs and her cunt pulsed from the erotic touch, the pressure against her mound creating a deep-seated need only Jack Wade could satisfy.

  He kissed her even more passionately as his hands moved over her body, up her sides, his fingers grazing the outer swells of her breasts. She moaned and the sound seemed to turn him on even more, because his tongue pushed deep as though he couldn’t get far enough inside her. The thought made her toes curl and her insides blaze. She was almost drowning in sensual bliss, dying for more.

  So when Jack broke the scorching-hot kiss, she couldn’t stop the small cry of protest that fell from her lips. Yet there was no question he felt the sizzling heat between them, because his eyes burned with the same reckless passion that gripped every inch of her wound-too-tight body.

  His gaze lingered on her lips as their breaths came in heavy pulls. Finally, his expression turned somewhat tormented as he said, “Promised to just drop you at the door, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, but…” She bit her lower lip as her chest rose and fell sharply.

  Surely he was interested in more than a few mind-blowing kisses?

  As his jaw clenched tight and his hands moved back to her waist, holding it firmly, keeping her in place, Liza got his message loud and clear.

  Oh yeah. He wanted her. Badly.

  Her breath caught and she bit back a victorious smile. She tried to speak, but coherent thoughts were still elusive. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest it was a wonder it didn’t explode.

  Her hand remained tangled in Jack’s hair as they stared at each other. The other hand, clutching at his shoulder, moved up to his neck. Then her fingers brushed over his set jaw before grazing that spot where the dimple would appear if she said something that amused him. She didn’t bother, because the intense look he gave her was just as exciting as seeing that sexy indentation in his cheek.

  Eventually, she managed to breathe normally again. “I don’t know what’s hotter,” she told him in a low voice. “The way you look at me or the way you touch me.”

  He grinned, though it seemed a bit st
rained by the sexual tension that gripped them both. “I do like touching you, darlin’.”

  Her fingers twined deeper in his silky hair and his head tilted toward hers. She stretched up on her toes and brushed her lips against his. His hands had a firm hold on her waist, as though to restrain himself more so than her. She couldn’t help but smile against his mouth. “You could keep your promise. Or… You could turn this into one hell of a night.”

  He groaned.

  “Not that it hasn’t been already,” she added.

  “Got off to a slow start,” he said. “I had to get you drunk.”

  “As I recall, I was the one ordering the shots.”

  “And you looked damn good drinking them,” he said, his partially concealed eyes glowing with lust. “I got hard just watching you lick your hand.”

  “I was thinking of you when I did that.”

  “Such a tease,” he murmured.

  “No,” she whispered. Her lips grazed his and, a breath later, their mouths opened.

  His tongue slipped inside again to play with hers. She couldn’t help how shamelessly she melded to him, wanting every inch of her body pressed against his. One couldn’t even slide a sheet of paper between them as her breasts nestled beneath the ledge of his hard pectoral muscles. She could feel his erection against her belly and it made her shiver with anticipation.

  Clearly sensing her non-verbal acquiescence, her own silent invitation, he deepened their kiss as his arms slid around her. His kiss was so electrifying, it felt as though she’d wrapped her hands around a live wire and was hanging on for dear life, absorbing every single shockwave that rocked her body. Thriving on the high-voltage reverberation deep inside her.

  When his mouth left hers and his lips trailed over her jaw and down to her neck, she was amazed she didn’t melt into a puddle of feminine mush right at his booted feet. As his hands roamed her body, she relaxed a little, certain she was finally going to get what she’d gone looking for this evening.

  His palm was warm as it grazed her upper thigh before sliding beneath the snug hem of her short skirt. His hand swept up to her hip, then around to her backside. He cupped a bare cheek just as he nipped her neck. Liza couldn’t even begin to process all the wonderful sensations he evoked. It seemed like forever since she’d been this on fire, this turned inside out.

  The blaze was about to burn even brighter as his hand returned to the front of her, his fingers skimming over the triangular swath of lace that covered her pussy. Liza’s breath caught in her throat at the intimate touch.

  “You’re already wet, darlin’,” the Devil said in a low, sexy tone.

  She swallowed down a lump of excitement, doing her damnedest to keep from begging him to fuck her. That was exactly what she wanted, but good girls didn’t say things like that out loud, did they?

  Instead, she admitted, “I have been since I laid eyes on you.”

  A sharp grunt fell from his lips as they continued to glide over her throat. “I want to make you wetter.”

  Electrical currents ran rampant through her body, all headed toward the heart of her where they tangled and twisted and gained strength. The pads of his fingers massaged her labia through the thin lace of her panties. The pressure was just right. Steady and strong, rather than slow and tentative. He knew what he was doing, knew exactly how to touch her and set every nerve-ending on fire.

  His mouth returned to hers and he kissed her again as his fingers swept aside the lace between her legs. Skin-on-skin contact was just about the death of her. Liza tore her mouth from his and gulped in some much-needed air as his fingers caressed her pussy lips.

  “Oh good Lord,” she whispered. Then she sighed as he stroked her in just the right place, targeting her ultra-sensitive clit.

  His semi-embrace tightened around her as she swayed unsteadily under his magical touch, while his fingers continued to pleasure her. One slid into her wet cunt and she bit back a cry of delight. How wonderful this all felt! His heat and hands and low groans sent her into sensory overload. Her legs trembled as he worked her a little faster, with confident strokes that told of his determination to give her everything she needed. To get her off with an explosive bang.

  “That’s it, darlin’,” he whispered in her ear as she shuddered against him. The heel of his hand rubbed her clit as the finger inside her cunt continued to caress her, taking her to a beautiful place she’d long since forgotten. “Come for me.”

  His mouth returned to her neck, his tongue and lips and teeth teasing her now-damp skin as he pushed deeper inside her and quickened his pace. Liza’s head tilted back against the refrigerator door. Her eyelids fluttered closed as the flames consumed her. She let her inner vixen take over, no longer wanting to be saddled to the good girl she’d been raised to be. This was what she’d been missing out on for far too long. This was what freed her from the past.

  “Jack,” she whispered his name as she barreled toward the kind of climax that had eluded her for years. The kind of intense, cleansing release she needed and deserved. Her fingers tightened around the strands of hair she clutched at as Jack worked her a little more feverishly.

  “Let go, Liza,” he said in a strained tone. “I want to feel you come with my fingers inside you.”

  With those words, he pushed a second finger into her tight cunt, stroking her faster, harder. The heel of his hand still rubbed her clit, with a bit more pressure. It was Liza’s undoing. She came instantly, calling out his name as everything inside her lit up like a Roman candle.

  “Oh Jesus!” she added as her body quivered and quaked with the intensity of her orgasm. Jack’s fingers remained inside her, his palm pressed against her, massaging her clit as she squirmed in his arms and tried to pull every ounce of sexual gratification from the few blissful moments that were all-too fleeting.

  The release was liberating and beautiful. Yet it ebbed too quickly. She wanted more, but could barely speak to get the words out. Hell, she couldn’t even think straight or breathe properly. Thank God Jack had a tight hold on her because her knees threatened to buckle at any moment. She felt dewy inside and out, the moisture on her skin his doing right along with the dampness inside her.

  Her lightweight dress suddenly felt too heavy against her skin. She wanted him to rip it off her body and strip down with her until there was nothing but his bare muscles pressed to her bare curves.

  “Jack,” she muttered when her breath returned to her. “Get naked with me.”

  He groaned. “I can’t think of anything I’d like better, darlin’,” he said against her neck, teasing the skin with his warm breath. “You could make the Pope’s dick stand up and take notice.”

  She grinned. “Isn’t that sacrilegious?”

  “Only if I said it in front of the Pope.”

  “Oh well, then. Please continue.” Her hand slid between them and covered his hard cock, slowly massaging it behind the denim.

  He pulled slightly away from her and stared down at her, his beautiful blue eyes glowing hypnotically. “I want you, sweetheart. Make no mistake.”

  “Feeling’s mutual.”

  “Goddamn,” he mumbled as his large hand covered hers to stop her from making him even harder. He gave her a strained grin. “Problem is, this is turning all kinds of wicked…and I’m pretty sure you’re not ready for that yet.”

  “Are you kidding me?” She posed the question, though a strange tightening in her gut told her she knew exactly what he was getting at. “How much more ready could I possibly get?”

  “What I’m saying,” he told her in that strained tone that belied how aroused he was—not that she needed further confirmation, because his thick shaft against her palm said it all, “is that I don’t think you’re this type of girl.”

  Liza’s teeth ground together. Damn it, she knew what he meant and it had very little to do with her body’s vehement response to him. No, there was no doubt she was ready for him physically. Christ, he’d lit her up like a bonfire and her body was s
till glowing with a powerful after burn. She was ready for him, all right. Wanted to feel him deep in her cunt, filling her and stretching her and making her come again and again.

  But emotionally… Ugh. He was right. She really wasn’t the one-night stand type. Bringing home a stranger and letting him have his way with her until they both got their fill, then watching as he walked out the door…

  Her throat tightened. All her bravado and determination to say fuck you to Peter by having sex with another man was bullshit.

  No, she didn’t want to get her heart trampled on again. She wasn’t looking for love. But Liza needed more than a quick romp in the sack. Her pride was already shot to shit. If she made love with the tempting Devil tonight, she’d feel used and discarded come morning when she rolled over and he was gone.

  They both knew it.

  A part of her wanted to kick herself for not being able to enjoy no-strings-attached sex the way she’d thought she could. The other part of her wanted to hug the sexy cowboy for seeing right through her. For protecting her heart for her.

  He was thinking more clearly than she was. She needed more water or maybe some coffee to help sober her up a little, so she wasn’t swaying in his arms and swooning from his kisses. Wanting to say to hell with her own convictions.

  Then again, who was she kidding? She’d be this disoriented even without the hooch. The Devil was more intoxicating than the tequila.

  She knew it was time to stop this runaway train. Placing both hands on his chest as he slowly withdrew his fingers from her pussy, causing her to shudder at the same time she inwardly bemoaned the loss of the intimate contact, she said, “You’re right. I’m not this type of girl.”

  He grinned at her, soft and sweet. “You gave it one hell of an effort, darlin’. And I’ll admit, I wish you were.” He let out a low chuckle as he shook his head and stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. “Nah, actually, I don’t. I like knowing you need more than a few shots of tequila and a warm body to satisfy you.”