Justice Burning (Hellfire #2)(21)

She hadn’t come to his ranch with the intention of making love to the handsome deputy. But now, with their bodies entwined, she could think of nothing she wanted more. If she gave in to the aching passion, he’d think she was as bad as any other socialite. Still, she couldn’t tear herself away. She needed him, inside her, filling her to make the emptiness of her life have new meaning. Phoebe caught his face between her hands and kissed him, her tongue pushing through his lips to tangle with his, her heart open, willing to risk everything for one chance with him.



If he were smart, Nash would have backed up, turned and run from the room before he went any further with Phoebe. The runaway bride and daughter of the multi-millionaire was so far out of his league he would be crazy to get involved. Instead, he stood there like she was any woman, not a wealthy heiress. He held the swell of her hips in his hands, pressing her closer.

Then Phoebe pushed against his chest and stepped out of the circle of his arms.

Thank God, she was the one to break it off, to stop the insanity before they went too far. Cool air did nothing to chill the inferno blazing inside Nash. Yet, he felt bereft at the distance she’d placed between them. A moment before he’d chastised himself for letting the madness go as far as it had. Now he couldn’t bring himself to let her walk away. He raised his hands to pull her back against him.

Phoebe shook her head and grasped the hem of her tank top. With a smile, she pulled it up over her head.

Hallelujah! Nash dragged in a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, sending a silent ‘thank you’ to the heavens. Then he fought for calm, patience and whatever it would take to make him last more than five seconds before he exploded. When he opened his eyes, he took her hands and forced his gaze to rise above the lacy cups of her white, strapless bra to connect with her green-eyed stare. “I didn’t bring you here to seduce you.”

“Who said you were seducing me?” Smiling, she inched closer and grabbed the hem of his T-shirt. “Do you expect your brother back anytime soon?”

“God, I hope not,” Nash said, his breath hitching in his chest. “You don’t owe me anything.”

Her brows furrowed. “Owe you?” She tilted her head sideways. “Do you think I’m paying you for rescuing me?”

He hoped not. Sex as payment for doing his job was wrong in so many ways. And what he felt for Phoebe couldn’t be anything but right. “I just want to be sure.”

“My father always says, nothing is sure in life, but death and taxes.” She shook her head, a smile quirking the edges of her lips. “I’ve always followed the rules, done what I was told, thought what my father told me to think. This time, I’m thinking for myself.” Her hands twisted in his shirt and dragged it upward, inch by inch. “I want to feel for myself and…make love to the one I want.” She stopped halfway up his torso. “Unless, you don’t want to.” Her eyes shot wide. “Good Lord, I don’t want to take advantage of you, any more than I already have.”

“Advantage of me…not want to?” He couldn’t wrap his thoughts around her words. They made absolutely no sense, and the pretty frown settling between her eyes only made him laugh. “Are you kidding?” He pulled her hips toward him and nudged her belly with the hard ridge beneath his jeans. “What do you think?”

Her frown disappeared, and she slid her hand between them, cupping his package. “I think we’re heading in the same direction.”

“Good, because I was beginning to think I’d fallen down a rabbit hole with no directions for how to get out.” With a quick move, he yanked his shirt over his head and tossed it to the corner.

Phoebe squeezed his hand and backed toward the bed. “This way, Alice.”

He resisted, shaking his head. “You did not just call me Alice.”

Phoebe winked. “If not Alice, show me who you are.” Holding his gaze, she reached for the rivet on her denim shorts and flicked it open. When her fingers closed around the metal zipper tab, she smiled and drew it downward.

Blood roared in Nash’s ears and thundered through his veins, heading due south. He swept Phoebe up by the backs of her thighs and lifted, wrapping her long, luscious legs around his waist. His cock strained against the confines of his jeans, aching to press into the warm wetness of her channel.

Dipping his head, he claimed her mouth, plundering its depths, tasting and teasing her tongue until she clamped her hands around his head and gave as good as she got. Nash crossed the floor and eased Phoebe onto the bed, knocking the bag of her clothes to the floor. “Say the word and we can stop here.”

“For the love of Mike, don’t stop now.” She weaved her hands into his hair and pulled him closer, making room for him on the bed beside her.

Nash pulled his wallet from his back pocket, extracted a condom and laid it on the bed beside her. “I was a good boy scout. Always prepared.”

“Oh, thank God. I didn’t even think…” Phoebe mumbled and grabbed his shoulders, rolling him onto his back. She shimmied out of her shorts, kicked them to the floor and straddled his hips to tug at the button on his jeans.

He covered her hands with his. “Why the hurry?”

“Seriously?” She stared at him, her jaw dropping. “I’m on fire! If we wait one more minute, I’m certain the sheets will spontaneously combust. I won’t be held responsible if your house burns down because you wanted to waste time on foreplay.”

At her unexpected comment, he laughed out loud. His chest tight, his groin tighter, Nash sobered, leaned forward and kissed her, then flipped her onto her back and pressed his lips to the hammering pulse at the base of her throat. He edged lower, pushing aside the cup of her bra to capture a nipple between his teeth. “You’re beautiful.”

Phoebe gasped. She arched her back, offering up more of herself, twisting an arm behind her back to unhook the bra. “Enough talk.” Both breasts sprang free, lush, perky and tipped with rosy peaked nipples.

Nash sucked one into his mouth, taking as much as he could, flicking and tapping the hardening evidence of her desire.

She clasped his head and shifted his attention to the other one.

After thoroughly exploring the second perfectly formed nipple, Nash blazed a path downward, his mind completely consumed by the image of her body lying against his grandmother’s quilt, the brightly-colored squares framing her in a cacophony of color and light.

Her bright, coppery hair spilled out around her shoulders, her green eyes reflecting the sunlight filtering through the open window. “Please,” she moaned.

“Please what?”

“I want you…nooowww.” She ran her hand down her belly to cup the juncture of her thighs.

Nash hooked his thumb in the elastic of her panties, dragged the scrap of silk down her legs, past her feet and tossed it to the corner. He rolled off the bed, shucked his boots and jeans, all the while consuming her with his gaze. When he stood before her naked, he couldn’t believe this beautiful woman, with the pale skin, flaming auburn hair, and eyes the color of spring hay, lay waiting for him.

Phoebe’s cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “You look like you’re hungry and ready to eat the proffered offering.”

“I am, and I will.”

Her eyes darkened. She drew her knees upward and then let them fall to each side, leaving a gap between her legs for him to slide between.

And he did. Climbing onto the bed, he settled between her legs, draping her thighs over his shoulders. He scooped his hands beneath her bottom and raised her to him.

Her entrance glistened with the dew of her desire. She dug her hands into the quilt, curling her fingers around the colorful squares.

Nash dipped his tongue into her center and swirled.

Phoebe threw back her head and moaned.

He chuckled. “Still think I’m wasting time on foreplay?”

“No!” she said, her voice barely more than a gasp. “Yes! No!”

Nash loved that she was conflicted. Loved that she was overcome by her passion. Not until he brought her to the very edge would he take her. Not a moment sooner. Their first time had to be so incredible, she would stay for another…and another.

He continued to tongue her until she twisted her hands in his hair, arched her back and cried out, “I need you. Inside me. Now!”

He climbed up between her legs, applied the condom and entered her slowly, letting her adjust to his size.

Her channel contracted around him, squeezing, drawing him deeper.

The heat, the slick moisture and her legs wrapping around him pushed him past his ability to take his time and make it last. “I. Can’t. Hold. Back. Any longer.”

She clasped his face in her hands and stared up into his eyes. “Then don’t. Give me all you’ve got.”

He thrust into her, hard, fast and deep, pounding against her again and again.

Phoebe threw back her head and moaned. She lowered her legs, dug her heels into the mattress and met him thrust for thrust.

The closer he came to the edge of release, the more rigid his body grew. Driving into her one last time, he launched into the stratosphere, calling out her name. “Phoebe! Oh, sweet Phoebe!”

He remained deep inside her for a long, exquisite moment, his cock throbbing, the tension leaving him with each passing second. Finally, he collapsed on the bed beside her, maintaining their intimate connection.