Wildcat (4 page)

Chapter Three

“You’re
what,
Dean
?
” Catie damn near dropped the phone onto the kitchen floor, unable to believe what her best friend had just said.

“Married.” The excitement in Dean’s voice was unmistakable. “And please call me Dee now—that’s what Jake calls me.”

“Dee. Christ. Whatever. All right. Dee it is.” Catie held her hand to forehead, still trying to process her friend’s news. “So when? How?”

“Jake and I took off for Las Vegas the night you came over for dinner. You know, when the big lug threw me over his shoulder and sorta kidnapped me.”

Catie was sure she heard Jake in the background, murmuring something like “Not. lug. You mean
desperado
.”

“When you called the next day, you said you two were staying out of town for a week.” Catie pulled her pocketknife from her jeans and flicked it open and closed. Open and closed. “I figured Jake had taken you on a trip or something. But I had no idea you were going off to get
married.
”

“
Jake.
Not now.” Dean—make that Dee—giggled and Catie rolled her eyes, imagining the sickly-sweet newlywed crap going on at the other end of the line. “Anyway,” she continued into the phone, “You’re the first person that I’ve told.”

Even though she was dead-set against marriage, Catie crammed her pocketknife in her jeans and tried to muster up enthusiasm for her friend who sounded so happy, and put a smile in her voice. “Tell that cowboy he’d better take good care of you, or I’ll kick his ass.”

“I’ll let him know.” Laughter bubbled up from Dee. “Now can you come to our reception next Saturday? We’re having a barbeque and dance here at the ranch.”

“Well, of course.” Catie held the phone with one hand and tugged at her earlobe with her other as she did her best to put some enthusiasm into her voice. “You know I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Great. Be here at noon.” Dee sighed, a sound of contentment. She was so damn happy, that Catie couldn’t help but feel pleasure for her friend. “What’s new with you, sweetpea?”

I’m planning to fuck the sheriff, and I can’t wait.
Catie’s body warmed at the mere thought, and she clenched her thighs together to ease the ache blooming in her pussy.

“I’m going out tomorrow night with Jarrod Savage,” she said aloud.

“The Sheriff?” Dee’s voice perked up. “I’ve met him—talk about one hell of a sexy man. I just knew you’d find him hot. Promise to give me all the juicy details.”

“Don’t I always?” Catie’s smile was wistful as she imagined that their nightlong girl gabfests had come to an abrupt end with Dee’s getting shackled.

After they said their goodbyes, Catie punched the phone off and set it on the countertop.

Married.
What the hell was Dee thinking? Catie shook her head. It had been good to hear Dee’s excitement and joy, but Catie just hoped her friend had made the right decision and would be happy—Dee deserved that and more.

But as far as Catie was concerned, marriage was a mistake she was damn sure she would
never
make.

* * * * *

Jarrod tossed the manila folder onto his cluttered wooden desk and settled back in his chair. A frown creased his face as he stared out the glass window of his office and into the busy control room of the county sheriff’s department. It was the morning after running into his little wildcat, and he was having a hell of a time getting his mind on the job. He disliked the paperwork end of being sheriff, preferring fieldwork, so he delegated what office duties he could.

And thoughts of what he wanted to do with Catie Wilds sure beat the heck out of signing dozens of documents or trying to catch a gang of thieves.

He remembered how she’d come storming into his office, her eyes blazing and how she’d laid into one of his deputies, Ryan Forrester. She’d looked so damn fiery and sexy that Jarrod had just stood and watched her carry on for at least a minute or two.

“Sheriff?” Forrester’s voice cut into Jarrod’s thoughts, forcing him back to the cattle rustling puzzle at hand.

He glanced from his desktop to the sandy-haired deputy who stood in the open doorway of his office. “Yeah?”

Forrester stepped into the room and hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. The armpits of his tan uniform were sweat-soaked, and perspiration coated the man’s upper lip. “Rustlers made off with another couple dozen head of cattle last night.”

“Damn.” Jarrod slammed his hand on his desk and stood so abruptly he knocked his chair over, its thump like an exclamation point to his frustration. “This has been going on for two months. And that’s two months too long.”

“Uh-huh.” Forrester’s gaze dropped to the manila folder on Jarrod’s desk. “What’s your opinion on the Kev Grand connection?”

Jarrod reached for the file and flipped it open. “Not much here. Jess Lawless, the MacLeod foreman, found a pair of wire cutters that belong to Grand, next to downed fence line—Grand admits to owning those cutters.” Jarrod ran his finger down the page. “You’ve discovered a portion of the MacLeod herd mixed in with Grand’s, but since their properties border one another, that’s not so surprising.”

Stroking his hand over his mustache, Jarrod thought out loud, “This Jess Lawless just happens to start working for Dean MacLeod around the same time the rustling started. And he was none too happy with me poking around the Flying M the other day.”

“What about Steve Wilds?”

Jarrod’s gaze shot up to meet Forrester’s icy blue eyes. “What about him?”

Forrester shrugged. “Steve’s been short on cash for awhile. The ranch is in the red, so he has motive to earn a little money on the side. And he seems to have a bunch of cash all of a sudden.”

Frowning, Jarrod closed the manila folder. “Any proof?”

“A lady friend of mine works at the bank in Douglas.” The deputy shifted and folded his arms across his chest. “She said Wilds made a big deposit a couple of days ago—a good chunk of change.”

With a sigh, Jarrod scrubbed his hand over his mustache. “See what you can dig up.”

When the deputy left his office, Jarrod righted his chair and sank into it. If Catie’s brother ended up being a suspect, that sure put a damper on things. Hell, Catie could be involved for all Jarrod knew.

But his gut told him otherwise, and unless his lust for her was screwing with his instinct, he was sure she was innocent. Steve Wilds, on the other hand, could very well be in the mess well past the crown of his Stetson.

* * * * *

The sound of a truck driving up to the ranch house jerked Catie’s heart into full gear. She dodged into her bedroom, chiding herself for being excited about a date. It had been years since she’d been nervous about going out, but there was something about Jarrod that made her body tingle just thinking about the man.

Catie smoothed her short jean skirt as she checked her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing the same skirt as the night she met Jarrod, but she’d chosen a hot pink strapless top that bared her flat belly and slender shoulders.

She pushed her blonde hair behind her ears and put a touch of gloss on her lips. A knock sounded at the door at the same time she spritzed on her vanilla musk cologne. After grabbing her jean jacket, she hurried to the door, only to see Steve walking in with Jarrod.

Her pulse skyrocketed at the sight of Jarrod, who was wearing a snug shirt that showed his cut physique to perfection and tight Wranglers that molded his muscular thighs—and showed a promising bulge.

Steve frowned, took off his western hat and tossed it onto the hat rack, then ran his fingers through his blonde hair. “You didn’t tell me you had a date with the Sheriff, Cat.”

“Since when do I tell you about any of my dates?” She looked past Steve and smiled at Jarrod. “Hey there.”

“Hey yourself.” Jarrod touched the brim of his Stetson and smiled at Catie.

“I’m gonna grab myself some eats.” Steve nodded toward the kitchen, a tired, irritated look in his eyes. “Catch you later.”

As Steve vanished into the kitchen, Jarrod murmured, “You look like spring come early.”

She returned his smile with a sassy toss of her head, letting her gaze rake over him. Her voice was husky as she met his eyes. “I’d say you look like a real good reason to come…early.”

A growl practically rumbled from his chest, and his green eyes darkened from crystal to almost jade. “Let’s go.”

Catie slipped on her jacket and headed out the front door as Jarrod held it open for her. The cool night smelled clean and crisp, the sky clear with stars spattered across its expanse.

“You’ve got a choice to make,” he said as they walked to the black truck parked out front.

She paused in front of the passenger door and looked up at him. “I told you, yes.”

“This one’s not a simple yes or no.” He smiled and reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’d like to take you to dinner. The choice is we can go to a nice place and hope for a quiet evening with no interruptions. Problem is I can’t seem to go out into public anymore without someone coming up and wanting to give me their opinion on one thing or another. You need to know that it’s a real possibility.”

Catie leaned in toward him, enjoying his spicy male scent. “And choice number two?”

“Dinner at my place.” His hand slid into her hair and he caressed her scalp. “Just the two of us.”

“That’s a no brainer.” She rose up on her toes and brushed her lips over his. “Let’s go to your place.”

During the ten mile drive to his ranch, Jarrod had hardly been able to keep his hands or his eyes off Catie. The way her nipples had been poking beneath her top, he’d been able to tell that she wasn’t wearing a bra, and he’d almost bet that she didn’t have on any panties, either. His cock had hardened to uncomfortable proportions at the thought of touching and tasting that satiny smooth pussy he’d stroked just a couple of nights ago.

Instead of copping a feel, he kept his hands glued to the steering wheel as they’d talked about everything from the weather to what he’d done before he became sheriff. Whenever he tried to steer the conversation around to her, Catie managed to evade his questions. As though she didn’t like talking about herself…or maybe she had something to hide?

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind as he guided the truck from the highway, up the short dirt road, and then parked in front of his home.

“Nice,” Catie murmured, peering at the house through the starlit night. “What I can see of it, anyway.”

Jarrod opened his door and walked around to help Catie, only she was out of the truck before he made it to her side. He took her hand and led her to the house, enjoying the feel of her fingers twined with his.

He unlocked the front door and let her in, then closing it behind them. “How does steak sound?” he asked as he flipped on the track lighting.

“As long as it’s medium rare, I’ll love it.”

“Done.” He took off his western hat and tossed it onto the back of a recliner, then raked his fingers through his hair.

Catie slid off her jean jacket and laid it next to his hat as she glanced around the living room that was done in western décor from oxblood brown leather sofas and chairs to end tables made from knotty pine. Bookcases along one wall were filled with novels on the American West, along with tales by Zane Grey and other western authors.

“For a bachelor, you have great taste.” She moved to one end table and touched the bronze statue of a bucking bronco doing its best to unseat its rider.

Jarrod’s mouth watered as he watched Catie trail her fingers down the statue. He cleared his throat and came to stand beside her. “My youngest sister’s into decorating and insisted that a sheriff needs appropriate digs.”

“It suits you.” Catie tilted her head up and looked at him, her lips slightly parted, her chocolate eyes focused on him. “Rough…untamed…and utterly male.” The desire in her gaze slammed into him like a fist to his gut. Before he even had a chance to act on his instinct, she moved into his arms and wrapped her arm around his neck.

“I don’t know what you do to me,” she murmured. “But all I can think about is sex when I’m near you.”

“You make it real hard to think about anything else.” Jarrod pulled her body tight against his and fisted his hands under her jean skirt. His fingers slid along her bare ass as he discovered she was wearing nothing underneath, just like the other night. A groan rumbled from his chest, his cock throbbing with scalding need to be buried inside Catie’s core.

She reached up and flicked her tongue over his bottom lip and then gently nipped it. Damn but the sensation was erotic. He’d never had a woman bite his lip before, and he couldn’t believe how horny it made him—and he’d been beyond horny for her since before the night began.

Unable to stand her sweet torture any longer, Jarrod crushed his mouth against hers, devouring her, filling himself with her sweet taste. Catie’s tongue met his, her kiss as hard and demanding as his own.

He raised her skirt to her waist, then grabbed her ass, lifting her up and pressing her bare pussy to his erection. She wrapped her legs around his waist, clamping him tight as her hands clenched in his hair and they ravaged each other’s mouth.

Catie couldn’t believe how wild she was for this man. She
needed
to feel his naked skin next to hers, to feel his cock sliding into her.

“Fuck me, Jarrod.” Her voice was husky as she pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Right here. Right now.”

“Damn, Catie.” Jarrod moved his lips to her neck and she gasped at the sensual feel of his mustache along her throat. “I’ve never met a woman like you.”

With her legs still wrapped around him, he walked to an overstuffed chair near a fireplace. He set her down, her naked ass on the cool leather of the chair, her skirt hiked up to her waist. As he knelt between her thighs, she kicked off her shoes and spread her legs.

“I want you naked.” Catie reached for him, but he captured both her wrists in one of his big hands.

He gave her a sexy grin that sent tingles straight through her belly to her pussy and made her absolutely drenched for him. “I need a little appetizer first.” With her wrists held in one of his hands, he held them over her head while pressing closer to her. His masculine scent filled her senses, driving her crazy, making her want him so badly that she wriggled and moaned.

With his free hand, Jarrod reached up and tugged on her strapless top, pulling it down to see her small breasts and pert nipples. “Mmmm. Beautiful,” he murmured before lowering his head and licking one of her diamond-hard nubs.

Catie gasped, her back arching up as wild sensations coursed through her body. She struggled to free her hands as Jarrod suckled first one nipple, then the other. His mustache brushed across her sensitized skin and she could swear she was going to come just from the sensation of his mouth, lips and mustache on her breasts. The feel of her skirt and top around her waist, with the leather of the chair against her bared skin was incredible.

“Let me touch you.” She clamped her knees around his waist, locking her ankles behind his back and pressing his jean-clad crotch tighter to her pussy.

“You enjoy watching people have sex.” He kissed a trail from her breasts to her neck as he spoke. “I’ll bet you’d like to be tied up and fucked.”

“God, yes.” Catie moaned at him saying one of her fantasies aloud, and she knew she couldn’t wait another moment to have him inside her. “I can’t take anymore.”

“Such a wild little thing.” Jarrod lowered her arms, but didn’t release her wrists. Instead he kept a hold on them as he eased down. She smelled the scent of her juices as he widened her legs further and ran his tongue along the inside of her thighs.

“Dammit, Jarrod!” Catie squirmed, dying for him to lick her clit. To do anything to bring her some relief. She’d never wanted anything as bad as she wanted Jarrod’s cock inside her.

“You like it fast and hard, don’t you?” His tongue moved closer to her mound. “Slow and easy drives you crazy, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, you bastard.” Catie clenched her teeth and arched her back up off the chair. “Dammit. Now lick my clit.”

Jarrod chuckled, the feel of his warm breath against her skin almost enough to send her over the pinnacle. “I do love a shaved pussy.” He ran his tongue up her slit and she cried out from the feel of it. “And you have a gorgeous pussy.”

Catie was about to yell at him again when he pressed his mouth tight to her drenched folds. He plunged his finger inside her, thrusting it in and out of her as he licked and sucked on her clit. She fought against his hold on her wrists, wanting to clench her hands in his hair, but at the same time totally turned-on by being held prisoner to his will.

Her climax hit her so hard that she shrieked and clamped her knees tight around his head. “Stop,” she begged as aftershock upon aftershock wracked her body. “I can’t take anymore.”

But Jarrod continued to lick her clit until she reached climax again. And then again.