Thomas (Erotic Romance) Book 2 (The MacKenzie Brothers Quartet) (3 page)

Cat narrowed her eyes as he left the room and wondered what she’d just missed. Thomas MacKenzie was going to have to be watched if she was going to make an escape. She tried to tamp down the emptiness that filled her soul at the thought of leaving him. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. She had a big night ahead of her.

***

The night was completely black. Clouds lay like thick quilts across the sky, snuffing out the stars and sliver of moon. Cat lay in bed, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, before throwing her legs over the edge. She bit back an oath as her feet hit the cold wood floors. The stitches in her leg pulled with every move she made and the painkiller Thomas had given her had worn off. The muscle throbbed, and she breathed deeply and blinked tears out of her eyes as she put her full weight on it.

She went to the bathroom and took care of necessities and then washed her face in the sink. She needed clothes and shoes, and she needed to know where the hell she was. She remembered passing an auto shop on her way into town—before the cows ruined her life. If the Charlie that owned the shop was the same person Thomas had mentioned earlier, then she knew where to find her car. But first she had to steal one.

The clothes came first, though. Fortunately, her host had taken care of that for her. A pair of men’s dark grey sweats and white socks sat folded on the dresser. She sat down to dress, afraid to put weight on just one leg, and then covered her hair with a black bandana she found after rummaging through all of the dresser drawers.

The house was completely still. The clock on her bedside table said it was just after three AM. She slipped down the long hall that led to the family quarters. The part of the house that held Thomas’s office and exam rooms were contained to one side of the farm style building. The main family rooms were open and airy. Comfortable was the first word that came to mind. It was a house for a family, with overstuffed furniture and a big kitchen. The shelves were cluttered with family photos and a smattering of random sports paraphernalia that looked well used.

It was the kitchen where she found exactly what she was looking for. A set of keys sat in an oversized ceramic bowl on the blue tiled countertop, and she found paperclips and a screwdriver in a drawer. Cat stuffed them in her pockets and slipped out the kitchen door into the darkness, doing what she did best. Blending with the shadows.

A black Jeep was parked at the side of the house. She recognized the French Doors that led into her room, and noticed there was another set of doors leading into the room next door. A sign hung on the door that said
Call if There’s an Emergency
, and a number was printed below in a messy scrawl. Obviously the doctor’s office entrance.

Cat slid into the Jeep, ignoring the blood that was beginning to seep through the bandage at her thigh and her sweats, and started the engine. She didn’t turn the headlights on until she was a good ways down the road. If all went well, she’d be back in bed in a half hour.

The entire town was dead to the world. There wasn’t even a 24-hour gas station. She didn’t know how people lived like this. Cut off from civilization. On second thought, the people of Surrender probably weren’t that much different than she was. Except for the whole thief thing. In her line of work, it wasn’t like she could have any close friends or a relationship.

It didn’t take her long to find
Charlie’s Automotive
. It was the first building on the way into town—a neat, white metal building with a blue awning over the garage bays. Two planter boxes flanked the front door and spilled over with green ivy and yellow flowers. If she hadn’t known going in that Charlie was a woman, she would have guessed just by looking at the place. Despite the masculinity of auto repair, the garage had a decidedly feminine touch. It was nice.

In fact, the whole town was nice. The businesses were neat and in good repair—old two story brick and mortar buildings connected to one another like town homes. Old fashioned streetlights flickered along the sidewalks and carnations were planted in wooden barrels in front of all the stores. It was
really
nice, and greedy fingers of envy wound through her.

Cat saw the wrecked Audi through the window of one of the big garage doors, so she drove the Jeep around to the back of the building, where she spied another entrance. It only took her a few seconds to pick the lock on the door with the paperclip and slip inside. Motor oil and grease assaulted her senses as she crept between the cars. The Audi’s front end was in pretty sad condition, but there was no damage to the rear. She stuck her hand under the back wheel well and felt the bag taped there. Cat ripped it free and left as quietly as she’d come.

She found her way back to the MacKenzie house with little trouble and deposited the Jeep back where she found it. The locks on the French door to her room were no challenge at all, so she let herself in and dropped down on the bed. Her body was covered in sweat from exertion and the blood was flowing a little freer at her thigh. She pulled the bandana from her head and tossed it aside. She might have overdone it a little.

Cat stripped the sweatpants from her body and was hobbling to the bathroom to try and repair the damage when the lights flipped on.

“I was wondering if you’d be back,” Thomas said. “You don’t seem like a complete idiot at first glance, but then again, what do I know? I’m just a doctor. Most people listen when I tell them to take it easy or they might make things worse. I guess you’re the exception to the rule.”

“I’m always the exception to the rule.” She threw a smile at him over her shoulder and froze. His shoulder was propped against the door that led to his office. His chest was bare, and she almost swallowed her tongue at the sight of tanned skin and a rippling six pack. His jeans were unbuttoned and sat low on his hips and his feet were bare. She had to force herself to act as if the sight of his didn’t make her lose her wits.

“Don’t be so uptight, Doc. I just stepped out on the deck for a few minutes for some fresh air. I’m on my way to the bathroom and then back to bed. I promise. Thanks for checking on me, but as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

Cat didn’t look to see if he’d left, but kept going towards her destination. She heard him mutter something that sounded something perilously close to
bullshit
, and all of a sudden his arm around her waist, supporting her weight.

“Dammit, I don’t need any help. Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“Sweetheart, leaving you alone has been the farthest thing from my mind since I saw your unconscious body in the front seat of your car. I think you’d better resign yourself to getting used to me.”

Cat gave him an aggravated look and wrapped her arm around him. They hobbled together into the spacious bathroom and he picked her up and sat her on the edge of the sink.

“Stay,” he ordered. “I’ll be right back.”

She leaned her head back against the mirror and closed her eyes. She was in a whole heap of trouble, and she had no idea had to get out of it. This wasn’t a situation she’d ever found herself in before. She’d been a professional thief for six years, ever since she’d gotten word her father was out of the picture for good, and until now she’d never been hurt or even close to being caught while on a job. And now all that had happened and more, and she was at the mercy of a small town doctor who made her want to molest every delectable inch of him. But worst of all, she needed his help. And she didn’t like being at anyone’s mercy.

The touch of gentle hands against her skin had her eyes snapping open. His head was even with her thighs and he raised the oversized sweatshirt above the bandage. The feel of his fingers against her bare flesh had her nipples tightening to peaks and her loins quickening with desire. The sting in her leg was overshadowed by the throbbing pulse of desire in her clit.

He cleaned the blood away and spread a topical pain killer along the stitches. After it was wrapped in fresh bandages Cat moved to get down off the counter. Having his face between her thighs was driving her crazy. She was soaking wet with desire, and since she wasn’t wearing panties all he’d have to do is look at the inside of her thighs to see the moisture there. It was beyond mortifying.

“Getting up so soon?” he asked.

His gaze was exactly where she’d been afraid it would be. His nostrils flared as he breathed her in and he touched his lips with the edge of his tongue. Cat moaned and her head dropped back against the mirror as he moved his fingers further up her thighs.

“Thomas…”

“Shh, sweetheart. I’m going to have to taste you. Those red curls, dewy with your need for me, are driving me insane. Just a little taste.”

He kissed the inside of her thigh, first one, then the other, lapping at the juices that had escaped from her weeping pussy. And then his mouth was there, exactly where she wanted it. His breath feathered along her curls just before he flicked his tongue across the taut bud of her clit.

“Mmm, so sweet. Just as I thought. Scoot down some.” He opened her thighs wider, careful not to bump the bandage, and pulled her closer to the edge of the vanity. “Perfect.”

His mouth returned with renewed hunger, and she couldn’t help but thrust her hips against him. She cried out as his fingers joined his mouth, sliding the long length inside with a smooth push. He worked his finger back and forth before adding a second, his tongue keeping up the relentless pressure.

She couldn’t hold back from the dual assaults. Heat gathered low in her womb and spiraled out through her limbs in a violent burst of pleasure. Spasms wracked her body, and she cried out for mercy, but he didn’t stop. He was ruthless in his pursuit, alternating between slow thrusts of his fingers and long licks with his tongue that touched every pleasure point she had.

“Thomas, please. I want…”

“I know, sweetheart. But tonight is for you.”

He moved away and picked her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest as he carried her to the bed. She nuzzled against him, drawing in the clean scent of soap from his shower and something more. Something male and primal.

He set her down by the edge of the bed and stripped the sweatshirt over her head. His eyes darkened with pleasure, and his hands came up to cup her breasts.

“I want to see you, too.” She ran her fingers along the edge of his jeans and felt the swell of sexual power take her as he sucked in a breath. The enormous bulge behind his zipper was straining the seams of the denim. She lowered the zipper slowly and gasped as he was freed into her hand.

“Christ,” he said. His fingers wrapped around her hand and he showed her how he liked to be stroked.

“Are you sure you can’t be tempted for something a little more? I promise I’m not feeling any pain right now.”

“Oh, I can be tempted. But fortunately my brain is in working order when it comes to hurting my partners during sex. I’d feel like a bastard if your stitches came loose because of me.”

“Maybe you can be tempted in other ways then.” Cat licked her lips and moved so she sat on the edge of the bed.

“Maybe I can.”

She positioned Thomas so he stood directly in front of her and pushed his jeans around his ankles. Her nails raked over his stomach and down his thighs, and she smiled as his cock bobbed in front of her face. He was thick and long, with veins ridged along his shaft and a plump head that would play hell with her G-spot once she got him inside her.

Cat licked him from shaft to tip, stopping to nibble at the sensitive spot beneath his cock head. He sucked in a harsh breath and she took him in completely. Swallowing him down until he touched the back of her throat. He wound his fingers through her hair and held tight as she fucked him with her mouth.

“Yesss…” he hissed. “Your mouth feels so fucking good.”

She moaned around him and he twitched against her tongue. She cupped his balls with her hand and felt them draw tight against his body. She worked up and down him faster, opening her throat to take his as deep as possible while massaging him with the flat of her tongue.

“Shit, I’m going to come. Let me taste you too.”

He didn’t give her any choice in the matter. He pulled out of her and lifted her to her feet, switching their positions so he laid flat on the bed.

“Watch your leg,” he said, pulling her on top of him so her legs straddled his face.

Her leg was the last thing she was thinking about. She wasn’t feeling anything but anticipation and pleasure as his tongue found her clit again. She bent forward and took him back in her mouth, her actions frenzied as he brought her close alarmingly quick.

The moans and sounds of sucking flesh echoed in the room. Salty moisture seeped from the tip of his cock and she knew he was close. His tongue flicked rapidly against her and she lost control. Her body shook and she moved harder against his face. Sensations rioted through her until she was nothing more than an exposed nerve ending. The cock in her mouth was just an extension of her own body.

“Fuck,” Thomas yelled.

She swallowed his seed like a starving woman as he drank in her own essence. She collapsed on top of him, tiny shivers coursing through her body. Thomas MacKenzie could become addictive. And that didn’t bode well for her master plan at all.

Chapter Three

Thomas was done for. He was ruined for any other woman.

He faced the revelation like he did most things in life: with a shrug of the shoulders and good humor. As far as he was concerned, his destiny was already determined. There was no point fighting against it.