Anticipation Read online

  She was surprised when he lowered himself to one knee and put the bowl of water on the floor next to her feet. Her pensive gaze tracked his sexy, hard-working hands as he withdrew a white handkerchief from his pants’ pocket and dipped the cloth in the water, his movements measured and precise.

  The tense silence between them was killing her. “What are you doing?”

  Instead of replying, his warm fingers wrapped around her left ankle and his gaze locked with hers, steady and sure.

  Totally perplexed, she let him lift her foot above the bowl. When he glanced at her foot and began to wipe the warm wet cloth along her skin, bathing away the gravel dust, a lump clogged her throat at the personal, almost reverent act.

  Tears formed as her emotions rushed to the surface once more. Blinking back the wetness, she swallowed hard and tried to keep her voice from shaking. “In the barn, you backed away from me. I don’t understand.”

  “Let it be, Deidre.”

  His voice was harsh, cold…almost angry, but his touch told a different story. While one hand gently bathed away the dirt, the other massaged her calf in a seductive caress, as if he couldn’t stop himself from touching her.

  The man baffled her. She knew about his past…a past that she was certain caused a lot of hurt, but she’d endured her share of failures in relationships, too. If he didn’t want to talk, but instead wanted his hands to speak for him, then so be it. For now.

  When he began to work on her other foot, her gaze scanned his crisp white shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. She acknowledged how much his sheriff’s shirt and black pants, combined with the sight of his gun strapped to his hip, turned her on. Yet there was one thing she’d wanted to do since she’d seen him yesterday. Pulling off his cowboy hat, she tossed it on the table.

  He paused for a second, but he didn’t look up as he resumed his ministrations. Her heart swelled when his hands began to massage the curve of her calf. From the top of his black-as-sin hair to the tips of his cowboy boots, he might be a sheriff now, but he was still her cowboy. Goose bumps formed on her skin as her gaze focused on his short, dark hair. Thoughts of running her fingers through the thick, slightly wavy mass flashed through her mind.

  He moved the bowl out of the way and his hands slid upward, pushing her skirt past her knees. When he spread his palms across the outside of her thighs, Deidre’s breath hitched. She gave in to the urge and ran her hands through his hair, enjoying the thick silk bending around her fingers.

  At her touch, Jonas’ fingers gripped her skin in a possessive hold. His warm breath bathed her inner thighs as he ran his hands up her hips to grip her buttocks. The moist sensation of his warm breathing brushing the top of her thighs, so close yet so distant, only made her body pound for more.

  Jonas set his other knee on the floor and finally spoke, his voice gravely and low. “Let me cherish you the best way I can.”

  The torture and anguish in his tone burrowed deep in her heart, unlocking more than a physical response…so much more. Deidre bit back the swift desire to wish for more from him. No matter how strongly she felt for him, his words told her he wasn’t capable of giving on an emotional level.

  In answer, she relaxed her thighs and gripped his shoulders. Gathering him close, she kissed the top of his head.

  Tension eased from his shoulders at the same time he slid her short skirt even higher. The glide of the soft material against her skin, flanked by the heat from his palms, sent tiny tremors skittering through her body. Silence echoed around them, punctuated by an occasional faint naaaa of the goats through the open kitchen window.

  Jonas bent to place a tender kiss on her inner thigh and Deidre’s pulse stuttered at the surreal moment. No amount of fantasizing had ever come close to the barrage of sensations his real-life action elicited within her. Her heart thumped and her belly tensed with skittish butterflies. Heat radiated from that one kiss and her skin tingled when the next one, wetter, hotter and more tender than the last, moved higher.

  Her tense muscles began to relax, like a bowl of butter heated to its melting point. An unbidden moan rushed past her lips, so very primal it surprised her.

  “Jonas,” she murmured.

  His mouth moved higher and he nipped at the curve where her inner thigh met her body. “Say it again, darlin’, just like that. The need in your voice…damn, it makes me throb.”

  His fingers gripped her buttocks harder and he pulled her body forward, placing an open-mouthed kiss over her cloth-covered sex.

  Deidre jerked at the deeply intimate act, keening in ecstasy. The combination of his hot, moist mouth sending heat through her underwear was the sexiest turn on she’d ever experienced. Her heart jack-hammered hard against her chest, making her pant to keep up with its erratic pace.

  “I want to hear it, Deidre.” He ran his teeth across her clit then let out a low moan of his own before he nipped at the fleshy top of her mound.

  His love bite sent an erotic shudder of excitement jolting through her. Her fingers twisted in his hair and her head fell back against the chair as she called his name in an intense cry of need.

  In answer, he ran his tongue along the underwear, softly at first and then more insistently. Finally he thrust against the thin material, slightly penetrating her entrance.

  “Even through your panties your taste is driving me nuts,” he rumbled. His tongue traced the side of the soft material, flicking at the elastic edges, seeking entrance.

  Deidre’s heavy breathing increased and her thigh muscles tensed once more. Her hips began to rock of their own accord. She wanted to tell him to tear the damn scrap of cloth off, yet her emotions warred. Something about the man using only his tongue to push the barrier away was incredibly primal, sending her libido into hyperdrive.

  She waited, her body a taut bowstring. His tongue swiped past the barrier and along the moist edges of her sex, his groan reverberating against her soft folds.

  Her nails dug into his scalp and her hips naturally canted toward him, her body frantic for his mouth to make contact. So close…so very close.

  A loud intercom squawk caused her to jerk in surprise right before a disembodied voice said, “Sheriff Mendez, I know you just got off, but we need you down at the station ASAP!”

  When Jonas raised his head and the pissed expression on his face changed to an apologetic one, she wanted to scream, “Hell no! You’re not going anywhere!”

  Frustrated disappointment surged through Deidre, making her stomach ache, but if she didn’t make light of the situation, she’d cry. “Tell him you haven’t gotten off yet, but when you’re done, you’ll get right back to him.”

  Jonas’ blue eyes crinkled with laughter. He gave her sex a hard kiss before he straightened and moved to his feet. “I’m sorry, but I need to respond,” he said as he grabbed his cell phone from his hip.

  While he said into his phone’s walkie-talkie, “Be there in five, Jeff,” Deidre pushed her skirt down and stood beside him.

  As he slid the cell phone back in its clip, she realized with shock that she’d almost let the man give her oral sex and she’d yet to kiss him. How had they managed to completely skip all the foreplay? She placed a shaky hand against her mouth, stunned at her wanton behavior. God, he must be exuding some kind of pheromone or something! That has to be why I’m acting like this.

  Lowering her hand, she straightened her shoulders and composed her expression to what she hoped passed as a nonchalant, worldly one. “Well, I know you have to go—”

  Before she could finish, Jonas lifted her chin.

  Her heart melted under his penetrating gaze.

  Cupping the back of her neck, he pulled her against his chest. His blue gaze, serious once more, searched hers before his line of sight dropped briefly to her lips.

  His thumb brushed across the soft skin, the work-roughened texture making her knees wobble. “Never doubt it. I’m looking forward to exploring every part of your body in excruciating detail.”

  The
heated look coupled with his sexy tone completely dissipated her apprehension. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Because you have some of the most expressive eyes I’ve ever seen, sweetheart.”

  She let out a self-depreciative laugh. “Great, I guess I know why I’m never successful with April Fools pranks.”

  Smiling, he kissed her on the forehead. “I have no idea how long I’ll be. Can I stop by later?”

  Deidre wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder for a brief second. She inhaled his heady masculine scent until her lungs couldn’t hold any more air. His hard, well-built body made her ache all over again. With a heavy internal sigh, she nodded her assent.

  Jonas folded his muscular arms around her waist and hugged her tight. He placed a quick kiss on her hair before he released her and started to walk through the swinging kitchen doors. He paused and his gaze returned to hers, laser sharp.

  “Don’t plan on getting any sleep tonight. We’ve got ten years of anticipation built up, darlin’, and I sure as hell plan to make every moment count.”

  * * *

  As Jonas walked away from Deidre, his gut tightened. Sure he had a hard-on from hell, but the coiled tension inside his belly made him feel lightheaded, like a teenager on his first hormonal high. This woman with her sexy smile and sultry gaze had him wound up so tight—hell she’d done so ever since he’d laid eyes on her.

  When Deidre said she came back to help her parents and didn’t act as if she’d thought about him at all, he wasn’t sure what, if anything, still lingered between them. Which was probably for the best, considering he’d vowed to keep their relationship professional while she was in Ventura.

  Then she went and wrapped her lips around his finger, sucking hard, and he was done. There was no doubt that what had lingered between them a decade ago, that magnetic, white-hot attraction, was still there, waiting for the first match to be struck.

  Once he touched her in the kitchen, he couldn’t stop, and her avid encouragement only fueled his libido. Deidre seemed to know he’d give what he could, but touching her like he wanted after all these years…he could get so caught up in her.

  He shook his head to clear the raw emotions raging in his gut.

  Candice had ruined him…had taken away his belief in eternal love and the sanctity of promises made.

  Despite his physical attraction to Deidre when he’d met her over ten years ago, he’d tamped down his reactions. He’d been on the verge of marrying a good woman…or so he’d thought. Little did he know Candice had been cheating on him since even before their engagement.

  Had he subconsciously known about Candice’s deceitful nature all along but refused to believe it? he wondered as he got in his car and drove away. Seeing Deidre again made him question the past—to look at it with a different pair of eyes—a past he’d refused to examine under the microscope. Until he came face to face with a pair of familiar dewy green eyes that had jerked at his soul and haunted his dreams for a decade.

  Setting his jaw, he gripped the steering wheel tight. Despite his powerful feelings toward Deidre, he refused to allow himself to trust another’s or his own judgment when it came to relationships. He was glad Candice and Jake had left town right after they got married so he wouldn’t be constantly reminded that one failed engagement peppered his past and hurt him deeply. He should count himself lucky he never got to the point of saying, “I do”. As far as he was concerned, he would never utter those two words.

  Anticipation

  Chapter Three

  Deidre twisted her hair up and away from her face for the fifteenth time then finally let it fall in frustration. With just a bit of wave, her blonde locks never had the softness of perfectly straight hair or the lively bounce of curly hair. Instead it always looked as if she’d finger-combed it to death. She finally gave up and focused on her outfit. After the fall in the barn had stained her yellow dress, she’d changed clothes, picking out a soft cotton, spaghetti-strapped tank top in a sea foam green and a white crushed cotton skirt.

  A commanding, heavy knock at the front door reverberated all the way down the hall and into the guest bedroom, making her heart skip several beats. Her skirt swirled around her ankles as she turned and left the bedroom, excitement causing goose bumps to form on her skin.

  Biting her lip, she glanced at her watch. An hour and a half had passed since Jonas had gone back to the office. The last remnants of the day’s sunlight shined on the hall’s oak flooring as she made her way to the front door.

  When she opened the door, her stomach dipped and spun at the mouth-watering sight before her. Jonas’ old weathered brown Stetson was pulled low over his brow. He propped his forearm on the doorframe and stared down at her with his intense blue gaze, while she took in every mouth-watering detail. His heather gray T-shirt and worn jeans fit his muscular frame, and a wide silver belt buckle and scruffy brown boots rounded out his devastating, born-’n-bred cowboy personality.

  Dear God, he looked every bit the man who’d stolen her heart and ruined her for all men so long ago. His uniform might’ve turned her on, but seeing him like this again made her entire body quake.

  “Evenin’, Deidre. The house smells like fresh-baked cookies.” His respectful nod, combined with the seductive sweep of his gaze up and down her body in an openly frank appraisal, had an overwhelming effect she hadn’t thought possible. Her knees actually gave way.

  Grabbing the doorknob to keep from making a complete fool of herself, Deidre ground her teeth at the rush of embarrassed heat that crept up her cheeks. “I…um, didn’t hear you drive up.”

  “You okay?”

  At the concern in his tone, she straightened and released the doorknob with a quick nod. “Never better. Would you like a cookie?” How dull was that? Sheesh, I need to sign up for conversation lessons.

  He shook his head slowly. “Maybe later.” A wide grin spread across his face as he turned to let her see his horse tied to the porch behind him. “You didn’t hear me drive up, because I brought a quieter ride. Remember Admiral?”

  Admiral snorted while nodding his head.

  Deidre glanced around Admiral, looking for another horse. “Where’s my mount?” She met Jonas’ steady gaze once more and her lips tilted in amusement. “I’m much more confident riding now than I was back then.”

  Jonas’ jaw flexed and desire flashed in his deep blue eyes. “I’m sure you are.” He held his hand out to her. “Come ride with me.”

  She didn’t miss the edge in his lowered tone, and something about the possessive look in his eyes both surprised and thrilled her. How many times had she wished to see him gaze at her just like that? She ran her hand across her skirt and took a step back. “Let me go change first.”

  Jonas reached out and grasped her hand, bringing her fingers to his mouth. “You’re perfect just as you are.” When he pressed his warm lips against her skin, his stare enticing and persuasive, she lost all ability to banter. Or was it his kiss that sent a tingling sensation sliding down her arm and shooting straight to her nipples?

  “I…um…I’ll lock up the house.”

  His low chuckle seemed to follow her as she turned and headed for the kitchen to retrieve the house key off the counter.

  Once she’d locked the door and walked down the stairs to stand beside Jonas, the air around them grew strangely quiet. He slid his hands around her waist. She relished every second of his warm palms touching the bit of skin below her tank top as he easily lifted her up on his horse.

  Deidre tried to sit sidesaddle, but Jonas squeezed her waist. “You’ll have to sit astride, darlin’, or it’ll make for an uncomfortable ride.”

  She squirmed nervously at the idea of sitting astride in a skirt. “I really should go change clothes—”

  Before she could finish, he gripped her hip with one hand and slid his other hand up her calf, pushing her skirt up until her thigh was bared. “Lift your leg over.”

  At his soft
command, she did as he asked and moved her right leg over the horse’s back. Without a word, Jonas swept up on the saddle behind her.

  “Comfortable?” She tilted her eyebrow, casting a quick gaze over her shoulder.

  “Not quite,” he whispered in her ear. At the same time, he used his thighs and hips to slide her body forward until her bunched skirt was all that sat between her pubic bone and the saddle horn.

  Molding his chest to her back and his thighs around her hips, he put his arms around her waist and unwound the reins from the top of the saddle horn. “Now I’m ready.”

  The sensation of the hard horn between her thighs and the cowboy’s muscular body surrounding hers sent her heart rate soaring. Deidre gripped the top of the saddle horn and let out an edgy laugh. “Just don’t gallop, ’kay?”

  Jonas urged the horse into a walk toward the trails behind the B&B. “We’ll take it nice and slow, I promise.”

  As they entered the darkened woods, Deidre shivered at the change in temperature. Even though the evening sun slanted through the canopy of trees, bathing her skin in ribbons of diluted golden warmth, the forest’s shade brought an exciting coolness in contrast to Jonas’ body heat radiating against her back. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensual combination.

  “Does this trail lead to the Mendez property?” she asked.

  “Mmm, hmm.” His chest rumbled against her back as he rubbed his nose along her neck. “Do you want to know how many times I’ve thought about you?”

  She jerked her eyes open, surprised by his question. “How many?”

  His left hand spread across her exposed thigh and his fingers tightened around the bare flesh. “I’ve lost count.”

  Jonas’ sincere admission caused the butterflies in her stomach to stir in haphazard abandon. Earlier today might have been about emotional limitations, but tonight was about confessions, she realized. “I’ve never forgotten you.”

  He gripped her thigh harder. “I never cheated on her.”