The Devil Inside (13 page)

He was so ready for her, hard and pulsing in her hand, a bead of silky liquid at the head. She spread it around with her thumb, then raised her hand to lick it off. He groaned, his hips pressing up to grind against her.

She leaned over to open the nightstand drawer, rummaging around until she found what she was looking for. Ripping open the packet, she rolled on the condom.

Grasping his erection at the base, she guided it to her, pressing down as he slid inside. She sighed as he filled her. Then, raising up on her knees, she plunged down again, taking him fully.

She rose up and pressed down again, finding the perfect rhythm as she rode him. Slow strokes grew steadily wilder as she pounded against him over and over.

Cody urged her down, lifting his head to take her nipple in his mouth. She cried out, holding his head against her breast as she thrust onto him. He pulled back, latching onto the other nipple, his hands gripping her ass as she bucked against him.

Shuddering, she straightened, reaching back to cup his sac. His expression was fierce, his eyes bright with hunger. Something broke free in her at that moment, and she sped up even more. Cody held her by the hips as he pumped up to meet her frenzied movements. “Come on,” he said through gritted teeth. “Come for me, baby. Come now.”

“Cody,” she moaned, little shivers trembling through her body. She was so close.

“Yeah, that’s it,” he whispered. Sliding one hand around her hip, he stroked her clit.

Starbursts exploded behind her eyes as wave after wave of pleasure rushed through her. Dimly, she heard him shout her name as his cock swelled inside her and he came, buried deep inside her body.

Suddenly weak, she slumped against him, his arms wrapped around her as their heartbeats slowed.

“Wow,” she said finally.

“Ditto.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “That was amazing.”

Eyes closed, she nodded against his chest, feeling relaxed for the first time since she’d worked at the rodeo. A chuckle escaped before she could prevent it.

“I gotta tell you, laughter is just about the last thing a guy wants to hear after an experience like that.” The note of humor in his voice told her he was only teasing.

“Just thinking that more of the same would do wonders for my resting heart rate,” she joked.

“Well then,” he said, picking up the condom wrapper from the comforter. “How many more of these do you have?”

“A few,” she said. She’d only bought the box this afternoon.

He circled the tip of her breast with one finger, smiling when the nipple tightened at his touch. “Far be it from me to stand in the way of your health, ma’am.”

Slipping off the bed, she padded to the doorway. “Then I’ll go get the rest of the pizza.” At his puzzled look, she added, “Gotta keep your strength up.”

His shout of laughter followed her down the hall.

“So, when are you going to tell me where you went this afternoon?”

Sam glanced up, a hint of guilt flashing through her eyes briefly. “Nowhere important,” she mumbled,

She’d never been a very good liar.

“You went Nancy Drew on me, didn’t you?” Her silence was answer enough. Cody sighed and sat up, his movement pulling the covers halfway off her chest. One tempting nipple, taut in the cool night air, peeked out at him.

He gamely did his best to ignore it.

“Dammit, Sam, you promised,” he growled, as she slid further down on the bed, her chin tucked in.

“I wasn’t trying to be Nancy Drew,” she said defiantly. Then she shrugged. “I was always more of a Trixie Belden fan, anyway.”

He fought the temptation to smack her pretty little ass. “Well, tell me, Trixie, what did you find out?”

She sat up next to him, tucking the covers up under her arms. Unfortunately. “I tracked down one of the rodeo veterinarians and we had a nice conversation.” She held up her hand, forestalling his questions. “Just a conversation. I laid out my concerns, and he said he’d look into it.”

It sounded like a polite brush-off to him, but she seemed happy with the response.

“It was nice not to be patted on the head and told to mind my own business,” she said, confirming his suspicions. “At least he looked at my research.”

“Well, if you’re happy,” Cody started.

“Now, I know it’s not hard evidence,” she said. “But it’s a start.”

“And at least you weren’t skulking around the stock company ranch looking for clues.”

“Of course not.” She patted his bare chest, sending a jolt of sensation arrowing down to his groin. “No self-respecting detective would do that without a sidekick in tow.”

He looked over at her through narrowed eyes. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Hey, Cody.” She batted her lashes at him. “How’d you like to go for a ride with me tomorrow?”

He groaned, flopping back on the bed as she laughed. Joking or serious, the woman was going to be the death of him.

But when she slid one leg over his thigh, he couldn’t think of a single reason why that would be a bad thing.

***

Sam glanced over at the passenger seat. Cody, still dressed in sweats, lay back, his eyes closed. A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“I thought you didn’t like the sound of this,” she reminded him.

“I don’t,” he said, his eyes still closed. “But I’m so thrilled to be out of that bedroom I can’t bring myself to care.”

She laughed. “That sounds vaguely insulting.”

“Not intended.” He cracked one eye open. “That bedroom has some excellent qualities to recommend it. I just happen to have brought those qualities out here with me.”

She could feel her cheeks start to heat. “Well, in that case.”

“Besides,” he continued, “We’ve already proven we don’t need a bed. In fact, why don’t you turn off the road here and find a nice, quiet place to park?”

“Down, boy,” she said dryly. “I don’t think doing it in the back seat of my car qualifies as mild physical exertion.”

“Too bad.”

She ignored him, focusing on the road. Too bad, indeed.

Cody was still in recovery mode, so they’d had to be creative last night. Not that she was complaining, she thought, a smile tugging at her lips. The things that man could do flat on his back…

Down, girl
, she thought, aware that she was just as bad as he was.

“We’re almost to the ranch,” she said, signaling the turn. “And don’t worry. I’m just going to ask a few questions.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbled, then turned his most innocent look on her.

She wasn’t convinced.

Pulling into the long, winding drive to the Anderson Stock Company ranch, Sam scanned the surrounding area for a good place to park. Turning off the car, she told Cody, “Now, let me do the talking.”

“I wouldn’t dream of interfering,” he said, his voice dry as dust. He opened the car door and struggled his way out. Once upright, he leaned against the car, trying to look casual instead of off-balance.

Sam tossed him a warning glance. She wasn’t fooled.

Their arrival had not gone unnoticed, and an older cowboy in beat-up boots and a plaid western shirt approached, slapping his leather gloves against his jeans. “What can I do for you?”

Sam stepped forward, extending her hand. “My name’s Samantha Quincannon.”

He nodded. “The one who talked to Dr. Zetty yesterday.”

“Wow.” She lifted her eyebrows, a little disconcerted. “News travels fast.”

“Yes, it does.” His gaze fell on Cody then. “Hello, Cody.”

Cody pushed himself away from the car and walked slowly toward the two of them. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Anderson,” he said, shaking the older man’s hand.

“I was very sorry to hear of your accident.”

Cody inclined his head. “These things happen.”

Sam perked up. “You weren’t there?”

The weathered cowboy leaned up against the fence behind him. “No, I don’t get out to the rodeo much anymore. My son handles the day to day operation of the stock animals.”

“It was a really bad accident,” Sam said. “Cody’s lucky to be alive.”

She ignored his muffled snort.

“And I can’t tell you how upset I was to learn it was one of our bulls involved with the accident.”

“I know this is a touchy subject, but—”

Mr. Anderson held up his hand. “I heard about your accusation. And I can tell you, there is no truth to the idea that The Devil Inside was on steroids.”

“The description of the symptoms—”

“Whatever those symptoms you think you saw are, there is another explanation for them. There has to be. I would never allow any of my bulls to be given steroids.”

Sam’s shoulders slumped. “If only you’d seen the ride.”

The older man patted her on the arm. “Now, I know you’ve been concerned about this. And I remember your father. If anyone has a right to be upset at the sight of a bullriding accident, it’s you. So to put your mind at rest, and to settle any rumors you may have started with your questioning, I’ve agreed to have The Devil Inside tested for steroids.”

“You what?” A dark-haired man in his thirties, who looked like a younger version of the man they were talking to, stormed over from the truck he’d been fixing next to the barn. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’ve staked my reputation on running a clean operation, Brett,” his father said. “We have nothing to hide.”

Brett flung a hand out, gesturing at Sam. “You’re giving credence to some person spreading wild stories about our organization! It’ll make us look bad, Dad.”

Mr. Anderson shook his head. “Taking away that uncertainty will only make us look better, Brett. My mind is made up. The testing will take place tomorrow.”

“You’re making a big mistake.” Brett stomped away.

Sam looked over at Cody. He looked as uncomfortable as she felt. “I, uh, I’m sorry to cause you problems, Mr. Anderson.”

He shook his head. “We don’t always agree on everything, but I’m still in charge here. We’ll let you know the results of the test as soon as we hear.”

“I really appreciate it.” She shook his hand, then turned to Cody. “Ready?”

He nodded, flashing her a quick smile when she came up next to him and put her arm around his waist, helping him walk back to the car.

They were quiet on the way home, both lost in thought. Sam frowned, wondering why the son looked so familiar. Of course, in such a small town, it was inevitable that you’d run into people around town.

“You’ll know soon,” Cody said, misunderstanding her expression. “At least now you can focus on something else.”

“Yeah?” She glanced over at him. “Such as?”

He winked. “Such as getting home quickly so we can fit in a little mild physical exertion.”

She raised an eyebrow. Then she stomped down on the gas pedal, reveling in his full-bodied laugh as they raced back to her apartment.

Chapter Twelve

The other side of the bed was empty.

Sam had apparently been gone for a while, if the coldness of the sheets was anything to go by. Cody picked up the alarm clock, surprised to see that it was already mid-morning.

Of course, he hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. Or the night before, for that matter.

Setting the clock back down, he noticed a folded sheet of paper on the nightstand. It was from Sam, informing him that she’d had to go out but would be back soon.

Shrugging, he pulled himself out of bed, pleased to note that the aches and pains were starting to slowly fade. He wasn’t one hundred percent yet, not by a long shot, but he actually felt like he could make it down the hall to the kitchen by himself this morning.

Which was helpful, because he was starving.

He was shaky and out of breath by the time he got there, but he still had enough energy to scrounge up a bowl of cereal and find a mug for the coffee still warming in the coffeemaker.

Taking a seat at the kitchen table, he unfolded the newspaper and started to skim the headlines—good Lord, was that actually a picture of him?—when there was a knock at the door.

About time Sam got back, he thought, limping over to the door.

It occurred to him as he pulled the door open that Sam would have just used her key to get in.

It occurred to him moments later that he should have been prepared for the parental invasion long before now.

“Cody!” His mother rushed forward, throwing her arms around his neck. “How are you?”

“Let the boy go, Norma,” his father said, shaking his head. “You’re gonna knock the poor kid over and put him back in the hospital.”

“Oh!” She let go immediately, almost making him fall down anyway. “I’m sorry. What was I thinking? Let’s get you settled.”

“Come on in, Mom, Dad.” He limped back to the family room. He sat on the nearest couch, hoping he didn’t look as wasted as he felt.

At least he’d pulled on some clothes before leaving the bedroom. Answering the door to his folks while wearing his boxers would have been a bit embarrassing.

“We were so worried.” His mom sat down next to him, grabbing his hand. “We would have been here sooner, but your dad couldn’t find anyone to watch the cattle until now.”

“That’s okay,” he said, and it really was. He had a sneaking suspicion that if his parents had arrived before now, they would have insisted on taking over his recuperation.

He and Sam might never have…

“So where’s Samantha?” His mom looked around. “I’d like to thank her for taking care of you.”

“I’m not sure. She left before I woke up this morning, and hasn’t made it back yet.”

“She left you?” His mom’s shoulders went back. “What if you’d had a relapse?”

“Mom.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve already been given the okay by the doctor. Sam doesn’t need to hover anymore.”
And neither do you
, he thought.

“Good to hear,” his dad said. “How soon can you come home?”

“We could bring you back with us,” his mom added, a hopeful look on her face. He knew she would love nothing more than to tuck him into his childhood bedroom and feed him homemade meals for the next month and a half.

“I’m here at least through Friday.” He glanced at the door, wondering just when Sam was going to get back. “Then we’ll see.”

For a lot of different reasons, he found himself less and less eager to go.