Down in Texas Read online

  His snort drew her back. Fascinated, she watched as he deliberately picked up one of the sandwiches and began to eat, holding her gaze all the while as though daring her to comment on what he didn’t have to say.

  Emboldened by his words, she searched through her mind for the right way to ask him to explain. “I suppose I didn’t consider the fact you’re a grown man now. Living with any woman in such close proximity…” Because she knew she was babbling, she clamped her lips shut.

  He swallowed the bite and licked his lips. “Bullshit.”

  He’d said it so softly she couldn’t say she was exactly shocked. His adamancy spurred her rising excitement. “Beg your pardon?”

  “Not just any woman. You.”

  She glanced away as her heartbeats quickened inside her chest. The conversation was quickly becoming more intimate than she thought she could handle, given the arousal slowly building inside her. “Would you be more comfortable in the bunkhouse?”

  “Is that what you want?”

  Again, his soft-spoken but bluntly stated words cut straight through her.

  A boldness she didn’t know she possessed told her that if she ever wanted to explore the attraction that sparked between them, now was the time for a little honesty.

  Knowing she was taking a step past the point of no return, she closed her eyes and drew a deep, fortifying breath. Then, meeting his gaze, she replied, “No. I don’t want you to leave.”

  3

  Danny took another bite, not the least bit hungry but wanting time to think about how to respond. He didn’t want to come off sounding desperate, but he wanted her to know he was interested—keenly so.

  The feel of her soft, pillowy breasts snuggled up against his chest in the hallway had made him hard in the space of a heartbeat.

  As she’d fluttered nervously around the kitchen, he’d watched her, trying not to blatantly stare but looking close enough to see if he was reading the signs right.

  He didn’t want to make a misstep. Didn’t want her shying away, or, worse, becoming embarrassed by him and his horny self.

  But having her sitting across the table from him in her thin nightgown, knowing she’d pulled herself straight from her bed, still looking warm and mussed because she couldn’t sleep, gave him hope that maybe she shared a little of the attraction that raged through his body.

  Perhaps he’d been a little too eager, pressing against her as he’d taken down the glasses, but he couldn’t regret it. She’d trembled against him, grown breathless, confirming the arousal that had spiked her nipples against his chest when she’d barreled into him.

  Maggie Dermott wanted him. Looked as though she was dying to be fucked—by him.

  He’d give a limb for the chance to be with her, to love her all the ways he’d dreamed of loving her for so long.

  No way would he blow it. He’d go slow, love her like she deserved. Turn her inside out with all the wicked things he’d do. Make it impossible for her ever to let him go.

  First, he needed to convince her he was serious. The crazy woman thought she was too damn old for him.

  “Just seems a little strange,” he said slowly, “me being here. Only man in the house.”

  She licked her lips. “I thought you might like your old room.”

  “I do. A bed’s softer than a cot.”

  A small, tight smile tipped up the corners of her mouth. “It’ll be nice having the company.”

  A flush of anger had him spearing her with a glance. He wasn’t going to let her play polite games. Not after she’d managed to get him good and aroused. “Is there anything else you want, Maggie?”

  Her eyes widened. Her lips pressed together for a moment. Then she gave him a direct look, one that didn’t slide away into any pretense. “Would”—she paused to lick her lips—“would you be totally shocked if I said I want you?”

  Danny froze. How was a man supposed to respond when he’d just been handed heaven on a platter? Deep, visceral satisfaction thrummed inside him, filling his loins with heat.

  Her mouth opened around a loud gasp. “I can’t believe I just said that. Forget it,” she said hastily, her eyes blinking against the welling moisture.

  Danny set the last of the sandwich on the plate and reached across the table to clasp her wrist with his fingers. “I’m finished here. Let’s go,” he said and then bit back a curse at his brash words. Could he sound more like an eager puppy?

  She tugged her hand, trying to escape him. Her breaths huffed out with a ragged edge. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Why, if it’s what you feel?”

  Her brows arched over her lustrous brown eyes. “I feel foolish.”

  “You don’t look it. Not to me.”

  “But it’s wrong for me even to consider it. You and me? I’m too old for you.”

  Danny couldn’t help the edge of irritation that crept into his voice. “You sound as if you’re ready for a walker.”

  “I knew you when you were still in high school.” Her expression grew more earnest as she argued. But who was she trying to convince?

  “I graduated,” he said flatly. “I’m old enough to vote, to smoke, to fuck any woman I want and not send her to jail.”

  Her nose wrinkled. “That was a little crude.”

  “That’s how I feel. Crude. Raw. A pretty lady just said she wants me.”

  Her gaze slid away, and her other hand lifted to close the space where her night robe gaped open. “I wish you hadn’t said that. I wish you’d tell me you were flattered but maybe it’s not such a great idea.”

  Danny would never understand a woman’s mind. She wanted him. Why not just stop at that? But he knew enough to let her talk. “If you told me the truth, why would you want me to turn you down?”

  Her shoulders lifted in a small shrug. “Because I’m afraid.”

  “Of me?” he asked, truly surprised.

  “Of disappointing you.”

  “Not possible,” he muttered.

  “I’m not…young.” Her gaze dropped lower. “My body shows its years.”

  “Your body felt just fine to me a few minutes ago.”

  Her eyes closed briefly and then at last opened to meet his gaze. “I’ll want the lights off,” she whispered.

  Danny held himself still, wanting to savor her surrender. He’d been with her less than half an hour, and he couldn’t believe things had moved this fast.

  She was likely just as shocked. If he gave her any time, any space to reconsider, she might backpedal fast.

  Still, he found himself slowly shaking his head. “I’ll want them on. I wanna see you.”

  Her brows drew together in a slight frown.

  Was he pushing her too far when he ought to be damned grateful she’d given him that first inch?

  Maggie’s cheeks billowed as she blew out a deep breath. “I’m not very good.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Her hesitation didn’t have a thing to do with whether or not she wanted him bad enough. She was worried about what he’d think.

  “Maggie,” he said softly, “I’m very, very good.”

  She glared, and her eyebrows drew together in a tiny frown. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

  He shook his head and pulled her hand toward him. “Just the truth. I’m not letting you change your mind.”

  Her shoulders straightened. “If we do this, it’s just this once. Just to get past it.”

  His grin widened. “Think you can get me out of your system?”

  “And this stays between us,” she said, her glare intensifying. “No one else can know.”

  “You ashamed of wanting me?”

  The way her gaze veered off again said plainly that she was. “I live here. People knew me before, when Doug was still here. I don’t want them looking at me different.”

  Danny remained silent for a moment, not wanting commit to a promise he didn’t want to keep, but, in the end, he blew out a deep breath. Maggie wasn’t goi
ng to budge on this one. “Then it’ll be our secret. You finished laying down rules?”

  “I guess.”

  He stood, pulling her up with him, and then turned, switching hands behind him as he led her out the door.

  He didn’t bother keeping his steps short. Liked hearing her feet skip to keep up as he strode straight down the long hallway to her bedroom.

  “Not here,” she said breathlessly behind him. “Your room. Please?”

  Danny ignored the small pain that sliced through his chest and passed up her door on the way to his own.

  Once inside, he turned, flicked on the light switch, and leaned his back against the door.

  Her arms crossed at her waist. “Well?”

  Feeling a little ornery, he reasoned she deserved to feel some discomfort after everything she’d put him through. “A man likes to watch a woman take off her clothes.”

  She shook her head, defiance glowing in her brown eyes. “I can’t.”

  “Just the robe, then. Slide it off.”

  “What about you?”

  “After you, sweetheart.”

  She swallowed hard, opened the tie of her robe, and shrugged it off, letting it pool on the floor behind her. Then her gaze returned to him, one fine brow arching.

  Danny leaned away from the door and stripped off his T-shirt, balling it in his fist to toss toward the bathroom door.

  He didn’t bother to wait for her to balk at removing another piece of clothing and flicked open the button at the top of his jeans. The scrape of the zipper sounded overloud in the silence of the room.

  Once accomplished, he peeled down his jeans and straightened, standing nude in front of her for the first time.

  The stunned expression on her face tightened his whole body to stone. His dick jerked as her gaze landed on it. Danny held himself still, except for his throbbing cock, waiting while she looked her fill.

  Her eyes widened, her pink lips parted on a quiet gasp. “This is wrong in so many ways,” she whispered, but her hands gathered the fabric around her thighs and pulled up her cotton nightgown, baring her body except for a narrow pair of bikini panties.

  Danny’s gaze devoured her full breasts, swept down her softly rounded tummy and clung to the scrap of fabric still shielding her sex. “Take it off,” he growled.

  Her fingers shook as she hooked her thumbs along the sides of her panties and slowly rolled them down. When she stepped out of them, she lifted her face, looking more than a little anxious.

  “You’re beautiful, Maggie Dermott,” he said, his voice sounding rough to his own ears.

  They stood for the longest time, both naked, both staring. Danny wanted to take the first step forward but needed a little time to plan the best approach to give her the maximum pleasure.

  Only, he couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe.

  She was so damned beautiful. Round swells, deep troughs; her body was a little heavier than he remembered, but the curves only accentuated her femininity.

  An urgent throb entered his groin, impossible to ignore. He stepped toward her, slowly lifted a hand, and curved it around her cheek. Then, holding her gaze, he leaned down to capture her lips.

  How right it felt, sharing their first kiss without a scrap of clothing between them. He lapped at her lips, drinking in her nervous little pants before stroking the tip of his tongue inside to touch hers. Their tongues pressed together and then slid alongside each other, stroking slowly in and out.

  He lifted his free hand and gently cupped one soft breast and nearly groaned into her mouth. Softer than anything he’d ever felt, the flesh beneath his palm was warm and quivering with her shortened breaths.

  The tip of her nipple dragged across his palm, and urgency gripped him harder. He had to have it in his mouth. Needed to taste her now.

  He lifted his head, spearing her with a glance that told her not to bother complaining, and then knelt on one knee in front of her.

  Everything that followed was pure instinct, pure pleasure.

  He pressed a kiss between her breasts and nuzzled the sides of both with his cheeks. Then he began to press wet, openmouthed kisses against them, one at a time, as he held both in his hands and gently massaged.

  The soft, clean scent of her, baby powder and plain soap, a dab of something floral between her breasts, the ripening scent of her moist sex…

  God, he couldn’t get enough.

  Her hands landed softly on the tops of his shoulders and fluttered as though she wasn’t sure where to put them.

  He paused, reached up to grab them, and lifted them to his head, his palms flattening against the back of her hands to guide her fingers through his hair. “Don’t be afraid to touch me. You can’t hurt me. Pull, if you like. Scratch if you feel the need.”

  Her lips curved slowly, and she tugged on his hair.

  His eyes half closed, and his mouth opened around a groan. Then he leaned forward again to finally root at her breast the way he’d always imagined.

  She swayed toward him, murmuring something so low he couldn’t make it out, but the soft, desperate edge to her voice burned him, and he opened his jaws wide to suck as much of her rounded breast as he could take into his mouth.

  He suckled hard, laving the tip with his tongue inside his mouth, over and over. When her hands tugged his hair to move him to the other, he let her guide him, loving the second breast like he had the first until her knees buckled, and he rose swiftly to scoop her up into his arms and carry her to the bed.

  He crawled onto the mattress without letting her go, taking her to the middle and laying her down before crawling right on top of her.

  Lying beneath him, staring up at him, her face was flushed, her lips plump and pink. Her eyelids dipped as though her arousal was already in full bloom.

  He bent to press a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll try to go slow,” he said quietly, “but I’m not sure I can hold back much longer.”

  “Then don’t,” she whispered. “I’m dying to feel you inside me.” Her legs opened beneath him, her knees rising to frame the sides of his hips.

  Danny rose on one elbow and leaned to the side, trailing a hand slowly down her belly before spearing through her curls and sliding his fingers into the moisture gathered between her folds.

  Her pussy clasped around his fingers, making sexy, juicy little pulses that had his dick jerking in anticipation. He pulled his fingers away, spread the moisture over the sensitive cap of his cock, and guided himself to her opening.

  Settling directly over her again, he prodded her entrance, watching as her eyes closed and her mouth opened around a breathless moan. He stroked the tip slowly in and out, drawing more liquid from her body until he thought her passage lubricated and pliant enough to take more of him.

  Then, gathering his knees under him, he ground his teeth together and thrust his cock, slowly, all the way inside.

  Her hips lifted upward, taking him that much deeper.

  He glided straight into smooth, creamy silk. He sucked in a deep breath, pausing at the end, letting out a painful groan. Then he began to move, pushing and pulling his cock through honey-coated walls that felt like a gentle, wet fist closing around him.

  Her head turned away, her eyes still closed, and she lifted her hands to cup the corners of his shoulders.

  Something wasn’t right. She was too quiet, lying too still beneath him. He wasn’t getting it. Wasn’t bringing her along.

  He leaned away, making just enough space to slide a hand down her belly, his fingers searching for the nubbin at the top of her sex.

  With her labia stretched around his cock, he found the little bump but wasn’t satisfied it was engorged enough. His thumb pushed up the hood protecting it, and he began to swirl a finger across the top—gauging her comfort with the contact of his calloused finger by the little jerks of her hips—until she settled and began to rock against him.

  Then, with his finger gliding over the burgeoning knot, he deepened his thrusts.

 
Her teeth clamped down on her upper lip, and her head turned deeper into the coverlet beneath her.

  “It’s all right, Maggie. Make some noise, baby,” he began to croon. “Let me know when I get it right. I’m here. I won’t let you go. Won’t stop until you scream for me.”

  Her head shook, and her face crumpled. Moisture gathered at the seams of her tightly closed eyes.

  “Baby, come with me,” he whispered.

  At last, he felt a gush of hot liquid seep around his cock, engulfing him in the warm honey spilling from her depths.

  Her mouth opened, a small, shattered cry tearing from her. Her back arched, her fingernails dug deep into his skin.

  Danny gritted his teeth, kept his motions even, unchanging, so he wouldn’t stall her orgasm, waiting while her body trembled and arched and her pussy clasped around him in gentle convulsions.

  When her body relaxed beneath him, he pulled away his hand and lay down on top of her. He framed her face with his palms, waiting until she slowly opened her eyes.

  When her sleepy brown gaze finally met his, he said, “Tell me that’s not the first time you ever had an orgasm with a man.”

  4

  Maggie’s eyes widened.

  As if she’d just been dashed with cold water, the warm, lazy lassitude she’d experienced was gone in an instant.

  What had she just done? How could she have abandoned every bit of common sense and propriety on which she’d prided herself and invited herself into this cowboy’s bed?

  She inserted her hands between their bodies and shoved. “Get off me.”

  His heavy body didn’t budge.

  Still pinned beneath him, his cock locked inside her, she squirmed as panic began to consume her.

  How had he guessed he’d been her first? What business was it of his? If she allowed him to question her, to wheedle the truth from her, she felt as though she’d betray Douglas. And wasn’t she just as much at fault?

  “Get off me,” she repeated, continuing to push.

  “Maggie,” he began and then encircled her wrists and pushed her hands up to rest on either side of her head.