Lawless (Cowboys on the Edge Book 5) Read online

  Ty murmured encouragement, occasionally shifting to reach and place kisses on her shoulder, but mostly lay there, enjoying her ride.

  When he moved a hand and slid a finger between her buttocks, she bounced faster, her body tightening—not with rejection but because he was pushing her closer to the edge.

  When his thumb grazed her forbidden hole, she let out a bleat as pleasure overwhelmed her.

  When she leaned back against his chest, his fingers toyed with her clit, and she snuggled closer. “I’ve never felt this way, Ty,” she whispered.

  He nuzzled into her hair. “We’re good together.”

  She turned her head, and they shared a kiss. When she pulled back, she said, “Don’t give up on me.”

  Chapter 6

  Early the next morning before the sun came up, Ty picked up his radio from the charging station in the bullpen then moved to a desk to take a seat. The sheriff had a few announcements to make before the deputies began their shift.

  Deputy Cain Whitfield caught the desk next to the one Ty chose.

  Ty gave him a sideways glance. “Good to see you’re back. How was the honeymoon?”

  Cain smiled, his teeth flashing brightly against his deeply tanned skin. “Carina and I sunbathed naked outside our cabana.”

  Ty laughed. “Hope you didn’t scare the neighbors.” He saw that Josh was still flipping through sheets of reports from the previous shift, so he leaned closer. “Your wife back at work?”

  Cain nodded. “She is.”

  “You got her card?”

  Cain pulled out his wallet and flipped it open to extract a business card. “You looking for a house?”

  “Might be.”

  “She’s eager to make some commissions. She might be new to real estate, but she’s got a good eye for a house with good bones. She can even help you out with advice for fixer-uppers.”

  “I saw your place. I can’t believe what you two have done with it.”

  “Like I said, she has a good eye.”

  Ty tipped the card against his brow in salute then slid it into a pocket on his vest.

  “If you’re finished gossiping…” Josh said, giving Ty and Cain a faint glare.

  Cain cleared his throat and straightened in his chair. Ty did the same.

  “We’re still under a burn ban for the foreseeable future,” Josh said. “Anyone sees a puff of smoke coming from a burn barrel, no warnings—issue a citation.”

  The men all nodded. Fire season was upon them, and they all knew how fast one could spread when brush and grass were dry.

  “For those who aren’t aware, Ruby’s Roadhouse was hit last night by our B&E boy. We still don’t have any idea who he is. Ruby had security cameras around back, but the guy wore a hoodie. All we could tell is that he’s short and skinny. Tank is processing prints we lifted from her place and Carlton’s, but we’re not confident we’ll learn anything more. I don’t think our guy is in the database. So far, we haven’t had breaks from any of the five places he’s hit. Keep an eye out. You see anyone hanging around behind any businesses who has no business being there, stop and have a chat. We need to start somewhere building a list of suspects.” He tipped his head toward the door. “Now, get out there and stay safe.”

  Ty made his way to his cruiser. Once out on the road, he took a turn around Ruby’s Roadhouse then cruised Main Street, slowing down and shining a light into storefront windows and between buildings, but he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary other than a family of racoons that had knocked over some trash cans to help themselves to a meal.

  Just after dawn, his cellphone buzzed. He pulled into a convenience store parking lot and checked the screen. He smiled as he swiped the screen. “Mornin’, darlin’.”

  He heard a moan on the other end of the call. “You have no right to sound that sexy this early in the morning.” Ruby’s voice was a little raspy and thick.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Rode hard and put up wet.”

  He chuckled. “I did my part, but you did all the ridin’, sweet cheeks.”

  She sighed, and he heard the rustle of sheets. “Is it bad that I wish you were here, right now?”

  Ty leaned back against seat and glanced around. He had time for this. “Baby, what do you need?”

  “Some of your sexy encouragement,” she said, then moaned.

  Ty grinned. “If I was there, right now, I’d be sliding my fingers over your tits. Tell me something,” he asked, deepening his voice, “are they soft right now? Or are the tips tight and hard?”

  Her breaths deepened. “Soft…”

  Ty’s cock stirred, and he bit back a groan. “Then I’d rub my thumbs over them, slow like, until they started to dimple.”

  “Almost…there,” she said. “Then what?”

  “I’d suck one into my mouth.”

  “I’m not a contortionist,” she drawled.

  “But I bet you could get your tongue close enough to tiddle one.”

  She snickered. “Tiddle? Is that even a word?”

  “Just give it a try.”

  He waited then heard more rustling, and he imagine her legs moving restlessly as her body began to undulate against the mattress.

  “Then?”

  “You licked them?”

  “I did.”

  “Fuck,” he said. “I have to see that.”

  “Tonight, promise. What next—and don’t you dare say you’d go down on me.”

  Ty laughed. “No, but I’d slide my fingers between those sweet lips and see how many I could stuff inside you.”

  “Never say you’re going to stuff something inside me…”

  “But are you doing it?”

  “Two. Um…I’m really wet.”

  Fucking hell. The way her voice had gone—all strained and whispery—he knew exactly the expression she wore on her face. Her eyebrows were lowered, her lips pursed.

  “Spread yourself and pull up. Let that clit pop right out.”

  She barked a laugh. “Fucker. You know you’re going to have to give me a play by play description the next time you sleep over. I’ll die giggling while you make me come. I might not make it to morning.”

  His smile stretched. “Just keep rubbing. I want to hear you come. In fact, put the phone down there. I want to hear the sounds.”

  “Silly, you won’t hear anything.”

  “Just do it.”

  More rustling sounded. Then with her voice sounding more distant, she said, “Okay, I’m rubbing again.”

  “Close your eyes. Imagine it’s me down there. Spear your fingers into your pussy and get them good and wet. Now, rub again.”

  He could hear slippery sounds, faint but discernible. And now, he imagined he was there, breathing in the scent of her arousal. “I’d have my tongue flicking, my fingers pinching.”

  “Oh, oh, fuuuuck.”

  He drew a deep breath and waited. Heard more rustling.

  Then, “It wasn’t as much fun without you here.”

  “But I was, baby, right there.”

  A sigh sounded. “Ty?”

  He eased his legs apart to give his tightening cock a little more room. “Mmm-hmm?”

  “I can’t wait for tonight.”

  He cleared his throat. “Now that I’m hard and horny as hell, I better get back to work.”

  She laughed. “I’m rolling over on my pillow, and I’ll imagine it’s you my tits are resting on.”

  The call ended, and Ty stared at the screen. His smile didn’t fade as he left the parking lot and continued his patrol.

  * * *

  Ruby tried, but she couldn’t go back to sleep after she got off the phone with Ty. “Got off—on the phone,” she said to herself then snickered. Lordy, how had she managed to go so many years before realizing that sex could be just plain fun with the right partner?

  She showered and dressed—for once, forgoing her roadhouse T-shirt and, instead, choosing a gauzy blouse in olive, gold, and cream that hugge
d her figure as it floated around her, making her feel feminine and pretty. She took time with her hair, hitting her curls with a curling iron to smooth them a little so that they fell in looser curls around her breasts. She even put on a little more makeup than usual, sliding a sparkly olive shadow on her lids. She thought the smoky look made her look mysterious, but she hoped it wasn’t too much, like she was trying too hard, but she couldn’t wait until the moment Ty arrived at the bar and saw her.

  The way his gaze locked on her and his body moved toward her with purpose always sent a thrill coursing through her. She got goose bumps waiting for him to close the distance between them.

  Picking up her purse, she glanced one more time in the mirror and made a face. Hell, it would be hours before she saw him again. She’d probably rub everything off her skin anyway by the time he got there.

  At the Roadhouse, she let herself inside then locked the door behind her. Breathing deeply, she enjoyed the scents of the cleansers her cook and servers had used the night before—a lovely mix of pine and lemon—the scent of last night’s seared steaks, and a not unpleasant aroma of beer. The smells she pulled in settled her, welcomed her. This was her place. After so many years, she was still in awe of the gift Harry had given her.

  And yet, today, that feeling wasn’t the only one floating around inside her, lifting her spirits. There was a man in her life now. One she trusted and who knew her, put up with her smart mouth and pointed glares and seemed to understand they weren’t…real. They didn’t reflect what was inside her—the part of herself that was soft and vulnerable.

  Good Lord, she was falling in love with the man.

  Ruby shook her head, reached for an apron to protect her pretty blouse, and went to work.

  * * *

  Glancing at the clock on her office wall, she shut her check book and put away the ledger that recorded her expenses. In another ten or fifteen minutes, Lennie would be there. In another thirty, the waitstaff would be arriving to handle the lunchtime rush. She had time to pee and make a cup of coffee, in just that order.

  She entered the hallway, and someone stepped in front of her. Before she realized what was happening, she felt something cold and hard pressed against her forehead.

  “Get back inside,” a man’s voice growled.

  She stepped backward, hoping to escape the barrel of his handgun, but he followed closely, reaching out to clutch her shoulder to hold her still while he glanced around her office. “You have a safe?”

  “I do.”

  “Where?”

  “Beside my desk,” she managed to get out although her throat was now bone dry.

  He shoved her backward, and her hip hit the sharp edge of her desk. Then he moved her around it, the barrel kept snug against her skin. She reached out to shove back her chair then waved with her hand toward the safe on the floor. “It’s down there.”

  He pulled back the gun then turned her sharply and shoved her toward the floor.

  She landed hard on her knees, the pain causing her to cry out, but she bit the sound in half, clamping her jaws closed because she didn’t want to anger him, wasn’t sure whether he’d be incited or annoyed that he’d managed to hurt her.

  Keep calm. Breathe, she told herself.

  The barrel pressed against the back of her head. “Open it.”

  She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, then worked the lock’s tumblers, missing the last number then having to roll them to start the process all over again.

  “Hurry!”

  “I’m trying,” she said, her voice muffled because she was holding her lips so tightly. Lennie would be there any minute. She feared what would happen when he called out.

  This time, she heard the soft snick of the lock and pulled down the handle. The door opened.

  “Give me the money.”

  She pulled out the slim bank bag and handed it over her shoulder.

  The zipper rasped. “Fuck. This isn’t enough.”

  “I made my deposit last night. I only keep what I need to make change for the register.”

  “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” His hand closed on her shoulder in a bruising grip, pulling her up to stand. “Get your fucking purse.”

  He slammed her into the wall then changed directions, pushing her in front of him. She headed toward the coat tree just inside the door and pulled down her purse. The strap caught on the hook, and she pulled harder, nearly pulling over the tree, but then the strap shook free. She turned the latch on the purse, flipped open the flap, and dug for her wallet. When her fingers closed around it, she pulled it free and opened it. Twenty dollars was all she had inside. She held it up, and he swiped it from her hand. “You’re really starting to piss me off.”

  “I don’t carry cash. I use my bankcard for nearly everything,” she said quickly. She pulled out the card. “Here, take it.”

  He didn’t remove it from her hand. Instead, he stood still behind her, his breaths stirring the hair beside her ear. “Where’s your car?”

  “To the side of the building.”

  “Get your keys.”

  Slipping her card back into her wallet, she dug for the keys and held them up.

  He grabbed them then said, “Get out your wallet again.” When she lifted it, he tossed away her purse. “We’re going out the back.”

  We? Her heart beat faster. “Look, take my wallet. My credit cards are inside.” No way was she going anywhere with him. She’d rather he shot her now. At least, they’d find her body.

  “I might need you. Get moving.”

  He led her out the door, his fingers still digging into her shoulder, his gun pushing against the back of her head. As they approached the rear exit, she tried to make a plan. Maybe once she was on the back steps, she could dive over the handrail fast enough he wouldn’t have time to pull the trigger.

  When they reached the door, he forced her to a halt. “Open it a few inches. I want to look outside first.”

  Noting that the door frame was bent beside the lock where he’d likely jimmied it open, she pushed on the bar to open the door partway. He leaned around her, looking into the alleyway between the building and the storage area. No one was there. Of course.

  In the distance, she heard Lennie call out, “Ruby, I’m here!”

  “Please don’t hurt him,” she whispered.

  “Move outside. Quick.”

  Her plan in shreds, because she’d never endanger Lennie, she stepped onto the top step. The man behind her followed, pushing her to move fast toward the ground. There, he led her behind the building to the corner.

  Again, he paused to look around it. “It’s clear. We’re going. Don’t try anything funny, or I’ll go back inside and see what your guy has.”

  She nodded, and he shoved her forward. Locked together, they shuffled quickly to her car. Once there, he held out the key fob and popped the trunk. “Get inside.”

  Panic froze her for a second.

  “Now!” he gritted out.

  She climbed into the trunk and turned to look up at him. Seeing his face for the first time didn’t give her any relief. She didn’t know him. He was young. In his twenties, with pimples. His eyes twitched. With his lips drawn back, she could see his teeth were small, brown-stained, and cracked, likely from methamphetamine abuse. There would be no appealing to any common sense of decency because he was too far gone.

  When he slammed down the lid, she drew a deep breath and began to pray.

  Chapter 7

  Dispatch broke over the radio, reporting a break-in and a possible kidnapping. Ty’s heart thudded in his chest when he heard the address…Ruby’s Roadhouse.

  Dispatch continued relaying details. A female, approximately thirty-five… A description of Ruby’s Camry…

  He turned on his lights and stepped on the gas, heading toward her bar. Along the way, he kept his eyes peeled for the sight of Ruby’s car. The tires of his squad car squealed as he braked hard in front of the Roadhouse. The sheriff’s vehicle pulled in behind his.<
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  Ty slammed out of his cruiser and raced up the steps to the entrance, the sheriff on his heels. Inside, Lennie ran up to them, seeming unable to catch his breath but waving toward the corridor where Ruby’s office was. “I came in…the front… They must have…used…back door.”

  “Ty!” the sheriff called out. “Don’t contaminate the crime scene.”

  Ty heard him but didn’t respond. At her office door, he glanced inside. Her chair was pushed against the wall, her purse was on the floor, the contents scattered.

  He knelt and used a pen to stand the purse up and peek inside. “Her wallet’s gone.”

  “I’ll call her bank,” the sheriff said, eyeing the checkbook on the corner of the desk. “If they hit an ATM, we’ll be notified.”

  Ty pushed up and left the room, knocking open the storeroom door, the restrooms, checking inside stalls, hoping to find her, hoping she was hiding. Then he opened the back door and stepped out on the wooden steps and glanced around. Climbing down, he took deep breaths, trying to slow his heart and center his thoughts. He had to think. Had to be ready. He checked the storage enclosure, looked inside the trash bins. Nothing.

  That’s a good thing, he told himself. He still needs her. That’s why he took her.

  Unable to sit still, he headed back through the bar.

  Lennie sat on a barstool, his head in his hands.

  Ty paused beside him and patted his shoulder. “We’ll find her, Lennie.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” the man said.

  “What she would want you to do. Contact staff and have them spread the word. You aren’t opening today. Then make coffee. Lots of it. We’ll have crime scene techs all over this place shortly.”

  Lennie sniffed and raised his head. “She’s a good person. She doesn’t deserve this.”

  Ty’s eyes burned. “We’ll get her back,” he promised and hoped with everything inside him that they would before it was too late.