Teague (14 page)

Richard Bowen.

Instantly he tensed and rolled his shoulders, and for several moments his fingers hovered over the number as a muscle worked its way along his jaw. The guy must have a lead on a story. Why else would he reach out to Teague?

He stared down at the numbers for so long that they blurred and, with a curse, he tossed the cell phone onto his bed and headed into the shower. There was a time when he’d have returned the man’s call ASAP. A time when the thought of heading into danger and intrigue would get him pumped.

He’d call Bowen back, just not right now.

Right now the thought of spending the evening with Sabrina Campbell was all he needed. It was another, what-the-fuck moment, but like he’d told Sabrina that morning, he was going with whatever the hell this was between them. And Teague was, if nothing, a man of his word.

Twenty minutes later he left his cottage, a bottle of red wine in one hand and Bingo in the other. The damn dog thought he belonged at Teague’s place and had been waiting for him, scratching at the patio doors when he finished showering.

“I wondered where he went.”

Teague had just stepped into the Campbell cottage and paused in the doorway, eyes on the woman before him. Sabrina wore a simple white dress that sure as hell covered more than it showed, but there was something sexy about that. Especially because he knew exactly what was wrapped up in that little package.

Her hair floated around her shoulders and those sassy new bangs of hers framed her face and emphasized her eyes in a way that made them seem luminous.

“You look amazing,” he murmured. “And you smell even better.”

A pretty blush stained her cheeks and she moved back, accepting the bottle of wine he’d brought while the dog squirmed out of his arms and headed straight for the sofa and the twins.

Louise was in the kitchen and walked over to them, a big smile on her face that she made no effort to hide. She wiped her hands on a towel and tossed it onto the counter. There was a bag waiting for her by the door and she scooped it up, looping it over her shoulder.

“You clean up real good,” she said with a wink.

“You heading somewhere, Louise?” he asked accepting a kiss on the cheek.

“Home.”

Surprised, he glanced at Sabrina, who was looking at her mother-in-law with an equally surprised expression.

“What do you mean, you’re leaving?” Sabrina asked. She gestured behind her. “You can’t leave. We’ve got steak and salad and Teague’s here and steak…”

Louise hugged her daughter-in-law. “Yes my darling, you have all of those things. But you certainly don’t need me here. I’ve already said goodbye to the children, so there’s no need to fuss.”

“But…” Sabrina stuttered.

“No buts. Enjoy your meal. Enjoy yourself or I’ll be back.” She leaned close once more and whispered something into Sabrina’s ear.

With one more wink, the older woman sailed past the two of them and disappeared down the steps before Teague or Sabrina could stop her. Less than a minute later, they heard her car start and wheel out of the driveway like a bat out of hell.

“I’m not sure what that was all about,” Sabrina said, looking anywhere but at him.

“She’s up to something.”

“Yeah.” The word came out a whisper and suddenly the air was heavier, super charged with anticipation. Sexual tension? Or something deeper?

Sabrina exhaled and when her eyes met his, he felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Shit. This was getting down to it, right off the bat.

“Guess it’s just us,” Teague said slowly.

“And the kids,” she replied, her voice kind of breathless, like she’d been running.

“And the kids.”

She nodded, fingering the bodice of her dress as if it was too tight. “Okay. That’s fine. I hope you’re hungry.”

There was that pulse again, beating at the base of her throat. Before he could stop himself, Teague stepped closer, crowding her against the counter near the kitchen. He swooped in before she could stop him and licked that delectable spot, before sliding his mouth up her neck until he was near her earlobe.

Gently he tugged on the soft skin there and growled. “I’m starved but the truth is that I can’t wait to taste you again.”

“I…the kids…” But her words trailed off when he stepped back and scooped the bottle of wine out of her hands.

“How about I get the wine open so the bottle can breathe a bit. Then we’ll enjoy the steak you prepared and then…”

Her pink tongue darted out and licked the corner of her mouth. She glanced over to the twins but they were engrossed in the Disney channel. Hell, they probably hadn’t realized that their grandmother had left yet.

“And then?” she whispered.

He cocked his head to the side, enjoying the view. Her breasts rose and fell rapidly and he knew it was going to be one hell of a long meal to get through because all he wanted to do was get this woman naked.

Naked and beneath him. Hell, he’d take her beneath him fully clothed, that’s how much he wanted to touch her.

“Dessert,” he said, a smiling when her breath caught. “Do you think you can hold on until then?” he asked wickedly.

Sabrina’s eyes flashed and her chin jutted out. He knew where her daughter got her sass.

“Do you?” she asked cheekily, breezing past him and heading back outside to the barbecue. Her hip somehow managed to connect with his crotch and he knew she’d felt his growing erection.

Jezebel.

Holy hell. He couldn’t wait for dessert.

As it turned out, the meal was wonderful. The steaks were done perfectly as were the roasted potatoes and rosemary. A fresh garden salad with sweet pear dressing, strawberries, walnuts, and goat cheese complimented the meal perfectly.

The kids ate heartily while Teague enjoyed watching Sabrina eventually relax. The woman had a sharp mind and had a wry sense of humor that he enjoyed. She didn’t shy away about stating her opinions and as the evening wore on, he found out that she enjoyed a good argument.

That was fine. He enjoyed it too. Hell, it was almost like foreplay.

By the time the kids were ready for bed, it was nearly ten o’clock and both Harry and Morgan were falling asleep on the sofa.

Morgan insisted that ‘Tigger’ tuck her in, while Harry made a point of pulling out every single pair of superhero pajamas for Teague to see. By the time the little rascal was in a pair, he could barely keep his eyes open.

Teague left Sabrina alone to say her goodnights and wandered out to the deck. She had a good view from here. In fact, the cottage was nestled a bit higher than the Simon place and Teague could see around the bend to the right. It was muggy and he undid the top buttons of his shirt and tugged it open a bit.

It was so damn quiet up here. So peaceful.

Yet he was wound up tighter than a damn yo-yo and he felt like he was going to explode. He knew he needed to take things slow with Sabrina, but Jesus, all he could think about was burying himself inside her. She made him feel good, and somehow when he was with her, he forgot about everything that made him feel like crap.

When was the last time he’d felt like that about anyone?

“Fuck,” he whispered to himself. He was in a mess here. He wanted her, but he was also pretty damn sure he should be backing away. What good could come of this? Teague should have left as soon as dinner was over.

“Screw it,” he said harshly, turning from the darkness, his mind already on a long cold shower and a manual release that might take off some of the edge.

He took two steps and froze.

There was that honeysuckle scent again. That silky hair blowing in the soft breeze. Those eyes that looked at him as if she
knew
him. The real Teague.

Sabrina walked toward him slowly, her hands on the top of her dress. Her lips were parted, her cheeks were flushed, and she made that damn noise that had driven him crazy the night before.

It was almost like a plea—a soft cry of want and need.

She stopped about an inch from him and while he watched her in silence, not daring to take his eyes from her, Sabrina shrugged her shoulders and the dress fell to the ground.

She was completely naked underneath it and in that moment, he would have walked through fire to have a taste of what she was offering. Something was different tonight.
She
was different. And damned if he didn’t want her so bad he ached.

“I’m a selfish bastard.”

Teague’s mouth was dry and he didn’t realize he’d spoken aloud until she licked her lips and replied.

“Are you?” Sabrina whispered, taking that last step. Her soft flesh was pressed against him and she stood on her tiptoes in order to reach his face.

“I should leave.”

“I don’t want you to.”

She was so damn sweet. “Are you sure?” he asked raggedly.

“Kiss me,” she said into his mouth.

There was no hesitation on his part. He was going to kiss her. No, he was going to do a hell of a lot more than kiss her before this night was over. And he was going to do it because he was a selfish bastard. Any other man would have taken the high road and gone home.

But Teague wasn’t any other man and when Sabrina made that sound once more…

He was a goner.

Sabrina must have lost her mind. Either that or sometime during dinner, an alien had invaded her body. Yep. Alien. That’s what it was.

She’d kissed Harry and Morgan goodnight. Tousled their little heads and told them that she loved them to the moon and back.

She’d listened to Morgan babble excitedly about the upcoming boat ride—Harry was already fast asleep—and when her daughter’s eyes finally drooped shut, she’d quietly left their room. She’d stood in the darkened hallway, unsure and wholly confused by her thoughts.

Teague Simon was nothing like she’d imagined him to be after their first meeting. He wasn’t aloof, rather he was charming and when he smiled…well, it pretty much took her breath away.

Especially when he was smiling at her.

He had a biting sense of humor and a no bullshit attitude that sat well on him. Sure he was still a little on the arrogant side and more than a little alpha but that was okay. Because it was tempered by a soft side that she was pretty sure he didn’t even know he had.

Oh, and then there was the fact that he was sexy as hell. He was sexy as hell, and she wanted him, and she had no idea what to do about it.

“Jesus Bree, get a grip.”

She’d splashed cold water onto her face and it was then that she saw the little package in her basket of toiletries in the bathroom. It wasn’t hers and, curious, she’d dried her hands and reached for it. The bag was black and small and—she peeked inside—stocked full of condoms.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered. There were other things in there. Other battery powered things that she had no intention of using. Ever. Sweet Mary and Joseph.

Louise.

Only her mother-in-law would have enough balls to be so suggestive. Now the whispered words before Louise had left made sense.
Don
’t think. Just do
.
You
’re much too young not to at least try.

Sabrina left the bathroom in a rush but then paused outside her bedroom door. She’d not slept in there since Brent passed away. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been in there. Carefully she’d opened the door and peeked inside. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected. The bed was still unmade. Clothes were still draped over the rust-colored chair in the corner. Pictures were still on display. It looked exactly the same.

And yet…something had changed.

She closed the door and dimmed the lights in the great room that overlooked the lake and before she lost her nerve, she’d headed out to the deck.

And now she was naked, standing in front of a man, totally vulnerable and aching with need. All thanks to the alien that had invaded her body.

“Are you sure?” Teague asked.

He was giving her an out. A chance to retreat and maybe save face. She could take that chance or she could…

“Kiss me,” she’d said instead.

And he did. Holy cow did he ever. The man knew how to use his mouth. And his tongue. And his hands.

He kissed her until her head spun and Sabrina clutched at his shirt, holding on for dear life because her knees were that weak. His erection pressed into her stomach and she reached for him, her touch tentative at first, but then growing bolder when she heard his sharp intake of breath.

He was big—even through his pants she could feel his thickness—and the ache between her legs intensified.

“Keep that up,” he said hoarsely, pulling back a bit. “And we won’t get to the good part.” He nipped at her neck before claiming one of her breasts with his mouth. “Trust me,” he murmured against her skin. “You want to get to the good part.”

“And why’s that?” she whispered, head back, body awash in sensation as he tugged on her nipple and then sucked hard.

Teague stopped what he was doing. He blew on her nipple and she shuddered as he tugged on it once more. “Darlin’,” he said hoarsely, lifting her into his arms as easily as if he’d picked up a child. “The good part only happens after I’ve done about ten other things.”

“Ten?” God she was a mess and he’d only kissed her.

A heartbeat passed as they gazed into each other’s eyes, and in that moment, something shifted or opened up or maybe that damn alien inside her finally left. Because in that moment, everything was as real and strong and connected as it should be.

Sabrina knew that she didn’t want to be anywhere other than where she was right now. With this man.

He dipped his head once more and claimed her mouth in an exquisite kiss that made her toes curl.

“That’s one,” he said, moving her to the picnic table that was shoved up against the house. He set her down carefully, those dark eyes of his roaming her body as he quickly doffed his shirt and then slid it beneath her butt.

“Lay down,” he said roughly, yanking on his pants and tossing them aside as she did his bidding. “Open your legs.” Sabrina didn’t think. She just did what he asked. She sank back supporting herself on her elbows and spread her legs, moaning when his hands touched her knees. “I need more,” he said, spreading them wider.