Shoulda Been A Cowboy (7 page)

Cam plunged two fingers into her pussy from behind,
stroking with unerring accuracy the hot spot inside her vaginal walls
that sent heated shivers of need spreading outward.

Panting, mindless, she lost herself to the moment. The
smooth, fast glide of his velvety cock against her swollen sex. His
greedy mouth sucking on her throat.

They rocked in tandem. In opposition. He nipped, licked
and rubbed on her neck like a gigantic cat. A hungry cat if the
scrape of his teeth from her earlobe to her nipples was any
indication.

But Domini liked that he hungered for her. She liked his
unintelligible mutters that sent tingles racing across her bare skin.
She liked everything about being with this man.

Her belly tightened in warning. Gripping his closely
shorn scalp, Domini tipped Cam's head back and smashed her
mouth to his, kissing him crazily as her second orgasm hit.

He swallowed her cries and his rhythm never faltered as
he rode out the storm with her.

Just as she was about to rip her mouth free, a shiver
worked through Cam like he'd been zapped with an electric
current. Hot liquid spurted on her belly as he came with a drawn-out
groan. His hips bumped up three more times, slowed, and stopped.

He nestled his forehead in the curve of her neck and
breathed hard. She breathed hard.

Her whole body shook with the glow of two fantastic
orgasms. Would Cam run if she told him he was exactly the type of
lover she'd been searching for?

Probably. Especially since he'd played it cool for
months after that steamy kiss.

Yet, another part of her wondered if he'd run if
she
didn't
say
anything. If she didn't reassure him that she didn't want
this to be a onetime thing.

Take a chance. Tell him the truth.

Domini hitched her shoulders back. Her smile died and
her hopes fell when she noticed Cam's face read pure panic.

In fact, he stayed frozen, not even looking at her face.

She ignored the urge to flee. Instead she slowly swung
her left knee over his lap and rolled to her feet. Keeping her back
to him, she tried to figure out what she'd done wrong.

Why do you always assume you're to blame?

When Domini faced Cam, she noticed he'd already
yanked his pants up and was hastily stuffing the handcuffs in the
leather pouch.

Maybe Cam was just distracted and he'd murmur
something sweet and normal when he wasn't so flustered.

But it seemed to be a long wait.

Almost nervously, Cam rubbed the top of his head and
glanced at his watch. “Wow. I didn't realize it was so
late.”

Lame excuse, Cam.

Domini retreated to her bedroom for a robe, allowing Cam
time to get his head in order. He stood by the door when she
returned. If he'd worn a hat, he'd be wringing it in his
hands.

“
I better get home and see if Keely has destroyed
my house.”

“
I understand.”
Liar.
“Drive safe.”

“
Thanks. Remember to lock up after me.”

“
The second you leave, the door will be shut,
locked, and I won't reopen it for you, Deputy. Not even if you
beg.”

Cam frowned at her rare sarcasm but didn't
comment. “Good. I'll see you.” And he was gone.

After Domini slammed the door and flipped the locks, she
listened as he lumbered down the stairs. She pressed her head to the
cool wood frame until she heard him land safely at the bottom. Stairs
gave him fits with his prosthesis, not that he'd ever admit it.

Maybe he's the type of man who won't ever
admit anything, especially his feelings.

The outer door shut. She listened. Sure enough. Cam
tested the outside doorknob to make sure the door locked behind him.

Why was he so concerned about her safety if he didn't
care?

Because Cam McKay is a cop. He cares about everyone's
safety.

The truth of that statement didn't sit well with
her.

Domini trudged into the bathroom and didn't like
the confusion and bleakness staring back at her from the mirror.

Her hair was a tangled mess. Her lips were swollen from
giving Cam a blowjob and his harsh, deliciously wicked kisses. Marks
from his razor stubble scored her chest. He'd even sucked a big
purple hickey above her collarbone. Under other circumstances, with
Cam standing behind her, kissing his passionate marks, she might've
laughed. Or begged for more. But now? She just looked used.

Used. Right. Cam didn't even want to have sex with
her. He got off and he got gone.

Why?

You're defective. He knows it. He doesn't
want to get tangled up with you because it can't go anywhere.
So if he comes back for more, retain the upper hand. Keep it casual.

Come back. Right. Cam had left so fast he'd
probably scorched her carpet.

Better burn marks there than on your heart.

True. She clicked off the light and crawled in bed.

 

 

 

Domini hadn't scheduled herself to work in the
diner the next day. But after spending part of the morning at the
park with her friend Nadia's son, Anton, while Nadia ran some
mysterious errands, she knew she'd go stir-crazy sitting in her
apartment, obsessing over Cam's retreat.

Cooking appeased her. She waited until the lunch rush
ended and snuck into Dewey's kitchen.

“
Just can't stay away, can you?”

She smiled sheepishly at Beatrice, her
second-in-command.

Beatrice set her elbows on the steel prep counter.
“Please tell me you're whipping up goodies full of
chocolate and sugar.”

“
Yes, ma'am.”

“
Goody! Lucky me.”

“
No, I'm lucky to have you and that sweet
tooth as my secret taste tester.”

“
Almost as good as having a secret admirer.”
Beatrice winked, casting a look over her shoulder. “Lemme know
when you need me to lick the spoon.”

Creaming butter and powdered sugar together released a
familiar sugary scent, way better than any expensive aromatherapy.
Domini sifted the dry ingredients into the industrial mixer. She
poured in white chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips and hand
stirred the thick mixture, keeping the consistency between cake
batter and cookie dough.

She dumped the mix into a rectangular cake pan and set
it on the middle rack of the smallest oven. She grabbed a saucepan,
determined to nail down a souped-up version of mole sauce she'd
been messing with for months.

After the timer dinged, she deposited the brownies on a
wire rack to cool. She'd finished the sauce but wasn't
sure if she'd gotten the proportions equal. She yelled, “Bea,
could you please come here?”

Beatrice peered around the corner. “You bellowed?”

“
Yes.” Domini waved a spoon coated with dark
sauce. “Taste.”

“
At your service.” Beatrice popped the spoon
in her mouth. She swallowed and licked her lips. Then her face became
fire-engine red. She sputtered, “Too much chili powder!”
and raced for the sink to gulp from the stream of water.

Domini sighed. “Sorry. I always screw this up.”

“
I know the feeling,” came from behind her.

She whirled around.

Cam.

And didn't he just look good enough to eat? Talk
about hotness and sweetness perfectly proportioned. He wore faded
jeans and a black tank top that showed off his beefy biceps, triceps
and bulging pectorals. His hands were jammed in his back pockets and
he watched her with a guarded expression.

“
What do you want?”

“
Domini!” Bea gasped. “What on earth
is wrong with you?”

Yeah, snapping was so unlike her, but she couldn't
quell the surly feeling.

Beatrice wiped her mouth on her apron. “She's
always testy when things don't turn out the way she'd
hoped.”

“
Kinda sounds like the way my night went last
night,” he said softly, never taking his eyes from Domini's.

Her heart beat as fast as a mixer on high speed.

“
Beatrice, could you give us a couple of minutes?”
Cam asked.

“
Sure. I'll just be out front icing down my
tongue.” She flounced off.

When Cam remained quiet, Domini said, “Why are you
here?”

“
I've been waiting in the dining room for
you for over an hour,” Cam said. “You ignoring me?”

“
Hard to do when I didn't know you were
here.”

Cam edged closer. “I wouldn't blame you if
you were avoiding me after the shitty way I acted last night.”
His gaze dipped to the collar of her shirt. “I'm here to
apologize.”

“
For what?”

“
For what?” Cam's brow furrowed. “I
think it's obvious.”

“
It's not obvious to me, so why don't
you explain it?”

An incredulous look appeared only to be replaced with an
irritated one. “What? You expect me to grovel?”

“
No. I expect nothing from you, which is why it's
so ironic that I'm disappointed.”

“
Now wait just a damn minute—”

“
Just go.” Stupid chili pepper powder
must've blown in her face; her eyes smarted with tears. She
sidestepped him, muttering, wishing she was the type of woman who
could rant and rave and throw things to relay her frustrations.

Cam wheeled her around, boxing her between his body and
the steel door of the walk-in cooler. “Will you at least let me
apologize before you storm off and start swearing at me in
Ukrainian?”

“
That was Russian.”

“
So I'm an idiot all the way around, okay?
Look, I'm sorry…” His gaze lingered on her neck.
“I'm so goddamn sorry I was such an animal and marked you
last night. First thing. You deserve better than a man who mauls
you.”

Her stomach swooped at the self-recrimination in his
words. “Cam—”

“
This is why I stayed away from you, Domini.
You're so soft and sweet. And I'm too—”

“—
much man for me to handle?” she
supplied.

Cam's eyes narrowed. “I'm serious.”

“
So am I. At any point last night did I say, ‘Cam,
you're hurting me.'”

“
No. But—”

“
Do you think I am incapable of being honest with
you? Do you think I am so desperate for your touch that I would allow
you to…hurt me?”

“
Dammit. You're twisting my words.”

“
No, I am being honest. And you still don't
get it, do you?”

“
Get what?”

She searched his eyes. “The only thing that upset
me about last night was that you left again.”

He stared at her with complete confusion. But he didn't
back away. “Really?”

“
You know I'm not very bold, which means
I've been waiting to see if you would make a move on me. And
when you finally did, and I saw the passionate, demanding side you
keep hidden because you think I can't handle it—”

“
You can't handle it.”

Domini snapped, “You haven't given me a
chance to prove otherwise, have you?”

“
Whoa. I didn't mean—”

“
Yes, you did. You assumed. Did you consider I
have needs and desires that
you
might not be able to meet?”

Cam's face slackened with shock. Then his male
pride leapt to the surface all hot and dangerous and in her face.
“Oh, princess, don't go there. I can satisfy all your
needs and desires and then some.”

“
Prove it.”

A pause followed as Cam looked at her. Almost as if he
was seeing her for the first time. Then Cam framed her face in his
large, rough hands. “You deserve a man—”

“—
who makes me come so hard I see stars?”

“
Domini.”

“
Cameron.”

He muttered, “I'm so goddamn tired of
fighting this.”

“
So don't fight it.”

The soft brush of his lips over hers was in direct
contrast to the heat in his eyes. “All right. You win.”

“
I think we'll both be winners, Cam.”

“
You're coming home with me right now.”

Cam grabbed her hand and strode out the front door,
towing Domini behind him. He opened the passenger side of his truck
and loomed over her. “You're sure you want to get
involved with me?”