A Little White Lie (7 page)

Mmmm. Masculine. Sexy. His spicy cologne engulfed her senses. When his arms locked around her, every bone in her body melted.

Her kiss of soft exploration turned heated when he tilted his head and deepened the caress. His tongue pushed against hers, gliding past to delve into her mouth and take control. He left no place untouched or unclaimed.

Wrapped in his arms, she didn’t resist when he drove them to their knees on the bedding. Instead she held on tight, refusing to break the sensual touch of his lips against hers. He gave her a little tug, and she felt her shirt pulled from her jeans. Warm hands smoothed around her waist, up her rib cage, raising her arms to remove the garment. Cool air swept over her skin, chills rising. She was breathless when their lips parted.

Calloused hands cupped her face. His thumbs stroked her cheeks. “You’re so beautiful.” His voice was husky with desire. Moonlight bathed his features in shadows. “I want you. Here. Now.”

It wasn’t what he said but how he said it that made the throb between her thighs thicken. An all-consuming need rushed over her, leaving her flustered. She wanted this man and not for just a weekend of unadulterated sex.

Fisting her fingers into his shirt, she jerked his shirttails out of his jeans. The feel of his sinewy abdomen, the strength beneath her hands, made her cry out, “God. Yes.” Her hands shook as she pulled his shirt over his head, knocking off his Stetson. “Need you naked.”

Deft fingers twisted the snaps of her bra and the lacy material released, falling to the ground. As her nipples drew into diamond-hard peaks, stinging rays shot through her breasts. In seconds JD’s warm, wet tongue laved one of the tips. Threading her fingers through his thick hair, she pulled him nearer. He closed his mouth around the flesh and sucked long and hard.

Stella threw back her head, lips parting on a groan. When his teeth skimmed across the sensitive nub, she let out another cry. Moisture dampened her panties. A fireball of need burned low in her belly.

She reached for his belt buckle, fingers fumbling to unfasten it. “I need you inside me.”

Maybe it was the stars burning so bright they sparkled like gems against the now-velvety sky that heated her body. Or perhaps it was the fact she had never had sex on a sleeping bag, the melody of a waterfall lulling her, or the romantic scent of pines all around. Then again, maybe it was the man who’d captured her lips and possibly even her heart.

She met his caress with a hunger of her own, sucking his tongue deep into her mouth. Images of her going down on him, that delicious cock in her mouth, made her squirm impatiently against him.

“Please,” she murmured against his lips.

His eyes darkened as he got to his feet.

Kneeling, she looked up through heavy lashes. “I need to taste you.”

He took his time unfastening his belt and jeans, staring at her with an intensity that sent her desire spiraling.

She didn’t wait—couldn’t. With both hands, she grasped his pants and yanked downward, revealing an impressive bulge against his white skivvies. Her tongue glided between her lips, her mouth watering. Slipping a finger between his waistband and skin, she traced a path and paused.

“Don’t stop.” He weaved his fingers into her hair and eased her forward. “Fuck me with that gorgeous mouth.”

Stella didn’t need any encouragement. She pulled his briefs and jeans down to his knees.

His cock arched against his belly, jerking several times beneath her scrutiny. Folding her fingers around the hard shaft, she began a casual glide from base to head and back again. She heard his sharp intake of air. The veins in his neck protruded as his hold on her hair tightened. Bittersweet pain exploded at her roots, exciting her even more.

She leaned inward, licking a path around the sensitive tip. “More.” There was a thickness in his tone. He thrust his hips forward, and she took him into her mouth.

He was so large that she felt him at the back of her throat. Her gag reflex threatened, but she inhaled through her nose, focusing instead on JD’s lustful expression. She slid her mouth up and down, pausing to suckle and work her throat muscles and tongue.

“Yeah. Suck it hard.”

Long, firm draws forced little sounds from him that excited her. Her nipples ached to be fondled. Her pussy convulsed and at one point she thought she might come in her jeans. She loved everything about this cowboy. The fire in his eyes, the way he made her feel as if she belonged in Montana—in his arms.

He rocked back on his heels, breaking their connection. “Dammit.” The sandpapery growl she loved so much greeted her and something snapped inside him, because he knelt, grabbing a hold of her jeans. Within a blink of an eye he had her pants undone and down around her knees. His movements were smooth as he repositioned her on her hands and knees away from him. She looked over her shoulder to see him extracting a condom from a pocket. He stared at her with such longing it made her struggle for her next breath. As he sheathed himself, he inched closer.

Threads of sensation made the small hairs on her back stand up as his fingertips smoothed down her spine, dipped into the small of her back and then the crease of her cheeks. When he stroked her puckered skin, she gasped.

“You have a beautiful ass.” With his knuckle he exerted pressure that made her pussy weep. “Not this time, but soon.” He teased her with his wicked promise. Dragging his fingers lower, he parted her folds and delved inside. “Tight. Wet.” He pumped in and out of her body, making her inner muscles clamp down. “Damn, you feel good.”

She closed her eyes. Every nerve in her body came alive as he stroked close to her G-spot. Out of nowhere her orgasm rose to the surface, but immediately faded into the background when he moved away from the spot. Desperately she reached for fulfillment, riding his hand, pushing against it so that his fingers penetrated deeper.

Easing back, he pulled out of her.

“JD.” Her whimper was dashed when his cock slid between her thighs. Hard, thick and oh so good.

He grasped her hips, his fingers digging into her skin. In seconds he was rocking against her with a momentum that stole her breath. With each thrust her breasts swayed. It was the most sensual sensation. Spasms clenched her womb. White-hot need washed through her, and her climax exploded with the strength of an earthquake. In fact, she could have sworn the ground shook beneath her as she tossed her head back. Her scream of ecstasy cut through the night, joined by JD’s as he reached completion.

As the aftermath of their loving lingered, he eased out of her, guiding her onto her back. Silently he removed her boots, socks and jeans before he did the same for himself. Heart racing, she couldn’t find the right words to express what she was feeling. A hiss and the smell of sulfur drew her attention back to JD. He touched the flame to the mantle’s mesh fabric and the lantern came to life. Its soft glow brightened with each turn of the knob. He reached for the backpack and extracted several wet wipes to clean up, and he disposed of the condom before lying down beside her. The sated sigh he released put a smile on her face. As if he were tucking them in, he pulled the sleeping bag over their shoulders and drew her into his arms.

Silence stretched between them, while nature was everything but quiet. Above the flowing water, crickets sang. Somewhere high in the branches an owl released a hollow hoot.

The moment felt so right, and for the first time since Stella had arrived in Montana she felt like she belonged—here—in his arms.

JD cuddled her closer. “Do you really have to leave Tuesday?”

She swallowed hard. “Why don’t you come back to New York with me?” The words tumbled from her mouth before she even knew it, and so did the regret. The pit in her stomach tightened when a glimmer of light from the lantern revealed the sadness on his face.

The fantasy JD had conjured in his mind of the two of them together and living happily ever after at the ranch began to crumble right before his eyes. Instead a big dose of guilt took its place. Someday the option of stepping in and taking control of the family business wouldn’t be a choice. Yet he had hoped it would be later rather than sooner. A rustling beyond the trees forced their attention toward the darkened forest.

“Bear?” she creaked.

He couldn’t help chuckling. She was so damn cute as her grip on his arm tightened.

“Come on.” He pushed to his feet and extended her his hand. “We’d better get you back to the hotel where there aren’t any bears or mountain lions.”

Her eyes widened. “Mountain lions?” She scrambled to her feet. “You didn’t say anything about mountain lions. Where are my clothes?” She jerked her head from one side to the other. Spying her jeans, she moved toward them and quickly pulled them on.

As he got dressed, he attempted to calm her with a little trivia. “Most animals are as afraid of you as you are of them.”

Briefly she lost her balance, but righted herself before she crammed a foot into a boot. “Don’t bet on it. Oh—” Awe filled the soft sound. She held perfectly still.

A fawn about six months old stepped from the tree line. Cautiously she looked around. Raising her nose, she sniffed the air and ventured closer to the water at the farthest point from them.

“It’s so adorable,” Stella whispered.

They watched the animal until its mother appeared from behind a large pine tree. The doe dug a hoof into the ground and snorted, clearly issuing a warning that they were too close to her young.

Without rolling the sleeping bag, JD folded it quickly and tucked it beneath an arm. He put his hat on before slinging the backpack over a shoulder, and then he reached for the lantern. Stella followed quietly as he led her away. Neither spoke until they were closing in on his truck.

She hesitated, turning to face him. “I’m sorry.”

Placing the sleeping bag and backpack in the truck bed, he doused the lantern’s light and set it aside the rest. “For what?”

She bit her bottom lip. Her fingers closed around the passenger handle and she opened the vehicle door, light flooding the cab. “Nothing. Forget about it.” She climbed inside and closed the door.

Now that was strange. He opened his door and slid behind the wheel. “What’s up?”

“It’s just—” She dragged in a heavy breath. “I mean— I’ve had a great time.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

He shut the door, throwing them into darkness once again. With a turn of the key the truck engine roared to life. “Me too.”

Anxiety skittered across his skin. Was she attempting to say goodbye?

The trip back to the hotel was void of conversation. The wall she erected between them disturbed JD. He knew they had found something special. Did she feel it too?

Fool
, he thought. What the hell was he thinking losing his heart to a city girl anyway? Of course this type of life wasn’t her thing. She had even spelled out their differences.

As he maneuvered the truck into a parking spot in front of the hotel, melancholy rose to the surface. He tried to shake off the disquiet, but it refused to release him.

His hand trembled reaching for the ignition key. He switched off the truck and the engine fell silent. “Would you like me to walk you to your room?”

Leaning over the console, she gave him a chaste kiss. “No. I’ll be fine.” For a moment she stared at him. Then she smoothed her hand over his cheek.

JD’s heart raced. He wasn’t aware of his actions until he had her in his arms, his lips pressed to hers. She whimpered. The cry tightened his chest.

“Stay with me.” He muttered the plea against her mouth.

She closed her eyes. “I can’t.”

The voice of reason pushed past his building emotions. She was right. Regretfully he released her. In less than a heartbeat, she was out of the truck and for all he knew out of his life.

Chapter Six

Stella turned over in bed for the umpteenth time. Frustrated and tired, she doubled up her fist and punched the pillow next to her.

“What’s wrong with me?” But she knew the answer. Her bed was empty. Why hadn’t she just let JD spend the night? “Because you let your guard down and got too close.” She rolled her eyes. “Great. Now I’m talking to myself.” She turned over once again, almost falling out of the bed with the sudden pounding on her hotel door. “Who the hell could that be?”

As her feet touched the carpet, she scanned the room for her bathrobe, but it was nowhere to be found. Her hesitation caused the thumping to grow louder.

“Hold on.” Another look around the room and she gave up. Whoever it was would get a good look at her body through her almost transparent negligee, and right now she didn’t give a flying fuck. She was exhausted, cranky and it was only Sunday.

As she peered through the peephole her breath caught. JD was standing in the hallway, and by the scowl on his face he wasn’t happy.

“Crap.” She looked away. He must have spoken to his grandfather.

“I know you’re there, Stella. Open up.”

Glancing back at the clock, she saw that it was only seven o’clock in the morning. If he kept this up, he’d wake everyone up. Her hands shook, fingers fumbling with the lock.

When she pulled the door open, he pushed inside and jerked her into his arms. The brim of his Stetson creased her forehead. She didn’t have time to even take a breath before his mouth captured hers. Every bone in her body went limp when his tongue pushed past her lips. His kiss was demanding and possessive. The caress ended as roughly as it had begun, leaving her stunned.