Preacher (Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT Book 2) Read online

  He nuzzled her cheek. “Keep touching me like that, and I won’t go slow. Won’t be able to.”

  She shook back her hair, emboldened by the flare of his nostrils and his darkening eyes. “I don’t want slow, Preacher. I want it all, and I want it now.”

  He froze then blinked. Before she could think about what that meant, he moved, stepping back and ducking down to scoop her up into his arms.

  “Don’t you dare pull a muscle in your back,” she said giving him a fierce frown. “I’m too heavy.”

  “And I’m strong, Laura. Let me.”

  And because she’d never experienced this, being carried by a man, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let him.

  Even though she wasn’t moving a muscle, she was breathless as he marched down the hallway to her bedroom. Good Lord, she’d never wanted any man this much. In the past, sex had happened because she’d been properly wooed, knew the guy well, and felt comfortable getting naked with him. Sex had always been a test to her. A way to see whether the guy she felt comfortable with could convince her there’d be enough of a spark to sustain a lifetime of sex with one partner.

  She’d never found that spark. Not until now. Hell, he hadn’t done more than kiss her, but already she felt as though her body was on fire.

  He strode into the bedroom and straight toward her bed. There, he ducked down and deposited her gently on her feet. Then he stood in front of her, not touching her. “Too fast?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “Not fast enough,” she said then bunched the fabric of her dress in her hands and pulled it upward.

  He took a step backward and toed off his boots, unbuckled his belt, pulled his button-down shirt free of his waistband, then flew through the buttons.

  The second he tossed the shirt to the side, she sucked in a deep breath. She’d never seen a chest like that. Well, maybe in movies, but never in real life. In the light streaming through the doorway, she could see his muscles were well-defined. Not an ounce of excess flesh to soften them. Now, she was back to worrying about losing the dress.

  He jerked his chin toward her dress. “You change your mind?”

  “Um, maybe we should close the door.”

  “There’s no one here but us.”

  “Too much light,” she said, her voice sounding a little strangled to her own ears.

  His head tilted. “It’s going to be okay, Laura. I’ll like everything you show me. Promise.”

  Laura was glad he couldn’t see her blush. Before she could overthink her actions, she pulled the dress up and tossed it to the side. Now, she stood in just her lacy bra and panties and those sparkly sandals.

  His gaze traveled down her body then made its way slowly back up.

  By the time his gaze met hers again, goose bumps prickled her skin. It was like she’d felt his glance glide right over her.

  “One last chance…” he said, his hands moving to the button at the top of his jeans.

  “I promise, I’ll like everything you show me,” she said, repeating his words.

  His mouth quirked up at one corner, and he flicked open the button, dragged down the zipper, then pushed his pants and his underwear toward the floor.

  His cock fell forward, pointing right at her. She licked her lips then reached behind her and unhooked her bra. She let it glide down her arms to the floor, then without meeting his gaze, pushed down her panties. And because she wasn’t ready to meet his gaze, she took her time toeing off her shoes.

  Now, completely nude, she held her breath and glanced upward.

  Preacher’s gaze was on her breasts then fell to her belly and below. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”

  She almost blurted that he didn’t have to say things like that, but she kept her lips sealed, because she loved hearing it. And he did seem sincere.

  She knew she was lucky to have a nicely indented waist, but her belly was soft and a bit round. Her ass was…generous…her thighs showed no daylight between them. And if she walked away, he’d definitely see some cellulite, but she wasn’t going to walk away.

  He cleared his throat. “Your hair…”

  She cupped her pussy.

  His lips pressed together as though hiding a smile. “The braid, sweetheart.”

  She should feel mortified, but the gentle humor in his crinkled eyes had her smiling, too. She reached up and removed the rubber band from the end of her braid then sifted her fingers through her hair to release the braid.

  Before she lowered her hand, his reached out and cupped one breast, lifting it slightly then rubbing his thumb over the tip.

  Her nipple tightened. The rasp of his thumb sent a bolt of excitement straight to her belly, and she quivered.

  His cock bobbed, rising a little higher, and she took that as an invitation and reached out her own hand to wrap her fingers around his length. “Don’t know whether to be impressed or intimidated,” she said, smiling so he’d know it was a joke.

  But his mouth firmed, and he lowered his hand to stop her stroking him. “I’ll go as slow as I can, and as much as I want you, I’ll stop if you ask.”

  She shook her head which sent her loose hair sifting over shoulders. Just one more sublime sensory detail to add to the burgeoning list.

  And speaking of burgeoning, his cock was pulsing beneath her fingers. She let him push her hand completely away then stood, one leg balanced on a toe, feeling like sex kitten for perhaps the first time in her life. His hot gaze was making another one of those sweeps over her skin. Emboldened, she cupped her own breasts and thumbed the tips, lifting them as offerings. When he swallowed hard, she pinched one nipple and gasped, letting him watch her eyelids grow heavier and her quickening breaths shake her chest.

  “Laura,” he whispered.

  “Yes, Preacher?” she answered, her voice so thick and sultry, she didn’t recognize it.

  “Would you sit on the edge of the bed for me?”

  I’d do anything you want so long as you keep looking at me like that. Blowing a breath between her pursed lips, she backed up to the mattress and sat on the edge. She clasped her hands together, although she wasn’t sure why. Maybe she was nervous. More likely, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to control herself. She wanted him that much.

  Preacher bent and plucked his wallet from his jeans. He quickly pulled out a condom and cloaked himself.

  Then he moved closer, and his cock filled her sight. She supposed he wanted her mouth on him, but he bent and pushed apart her thighs, and then knelt in the space he’d made.

  “Oh, good Lord,” she said, her breasts quivering as he settled deeper and his hands moved up the inside of her thighs. When he approached her pussy, his fingers settled on top of her thighs and his thumbs stroked her folds. She placed a hand behind her on the bed and leaned back a little. The other hand, she didn’t know quite what to do with, so she went with her instincts and reached down between her legs, forking her fingers to spread her lips.

  His gaze was locked there, and he bent toward her, his head cutting off the view of what he was doing below. But she could feel.

  His warm breath blew over her moist flesh. His tongue gave her a tentative stroke, from her center to her clitoris. When her thighs tensed, he murmured something she couldn’t make out and dove deeper. Now, she could feel his beard against her thighs as he rubbed his tongue over her outer folds then stroked the delicate inner lips. He sucked them into his mouth and nibbled, and her neck grew weak, her head fell backward. The long draw of breath she sucked in sounded almost like a whimper. She’d never felt anything so good as his tongue lavishing her pussy with long, wet swipes and teasing flicks.

  Each time she jerked or sighed, he paused, seeming to learn what it was that was driving her crazy and repeating the action, so that before long, she couldn’t hold herself up. She fell back against the mattress and tangled her fingers into his thick hair. She moved her feet, climbing them up his sides, slipping one then the other over his shoulders, then digging in her heels to pu
sh her pussy harder against his mouth.

  When something hard slid into her wet channel, she clenched to hold it inside, but his finger wasn’t big enough. She wanted more. She told him so.

  His mouth closed around her clit and sucked while he thrust two fingers inside her. It was better, and she was getting hot. Her mouth was gaping, and she couldn’t control the sounds she was making, deep moans and panting breaths. Her body began to writhe, and she shook her head. “No.”

  His mouth lifted. His fingers stilled.

  “Not like this, Preacher.” She let go of his hair and lifted his face. “Please, I need you.”

  Preacher kissed her belly and pushed up from the floor. His cock bobbed. Now, it stood higher against his belly.

  She scooted backward until she was in the center of the bed.

  He followed her, crawling over her, his thighs framing hers, his fat cock pressing against her sex. Her pussy pulsed. Slick fluid melted from her channel.

  Supporting some of his weight on his elbows, he cupped her cheeks. A thumb smoothed over her mouth. “I’ve been thinking about this since the first time I walked into your shop,” he whispered.

  “Me, too,” she said, then wet her lips with her tongue because they felt suddenly tight and dry.

  His mouth quirked up on one side. “You mean, we could’ve been doing this for weeks?”

  Despite the tension that still left her breathless, she grinned. “I was about to give up hope you were going to ask me out. Promised myself next time you came in, I’d ask you to help me get something down from a shelf in back, and then I’d make my move.”

  “What were you planning to do?” he asked, his voice sounding a little hoarse. He came up on his knees and widened his stance.

  She inched her thighs apart in the space he’d made and reached down between them to capture his cock. Her fingers slid around him and tightened their grip. “I thought, maybe, I’d work up the nerve to wait until you had the box halfway off the shelf, then I’d reach around you and slide my hand right over you, here,” she said, giving him a squeeze as she stroked him.

  “You’d have had my attention.”

  She arched a brow. “Would you have let me have my way?”

  “I’ll let you have it now,” he growled. Then he raised a knee and slid it between her legs. The other followed, forcing her to widen the space. Then he drew back his hips and stared down at where she held him in her hand.

  While they both watched, she pulled his cock downward, sliding the tip against her clit then pushing it lower and circling it around her entrance. When she pulled to force the tip to fill her opening, she glanced upward only to find that his gaze was on her face. His eyes were dark, his nostrils flaring. He quickly ducked downward and kissed her hard. When he raised his head, his gaze speared her as he slowly pushed inside her body.

  Oh fuck, the feel of him… Her hands landed on his shoulders, and she dug her fingernails into his skin. He stretched her, filled her. She felt as though his body was locking tightly to hers as he kept moving deeper in short, gentle strokes.

  When he was all the way inside, she dragged in a deep, sobbing breath and wrapped her arms and legs around him, hugging him to her body. “Stay,” she whispered. “Just…” She wasn’t sure what she was asking, but the feel of him—his weight pressing her into the mattress, the heat of his skin, the hardness filling her—she didn’t want to lose this moment.

  He kissed her cheek and nuzzled into the corner of her neck, seeming content to pause while his cock pulsed inside her.

  And it was the pulsing that forced her to respond. Her belly undulated, and suddenly he was moving with her, each push and retreat heating her channel.

  Soon, he was no longer gliding gently inside her. His hands slipped beneath her, and he held her as his movements grew harsher and more frenzied. She was there with him, holding on tight. Her legs rose higher, and she arched her back, rubbing her breasts against his chest, seeking all the friction she could bear as she rose higher and higher, nearing the precipice.

  “Damn, Laura,” he whispered harshly. “You’re so fucking hot. So tight. I’m losing my mind.”

  “I’m right there, Preacher,” she gasped. “Now, now…now!”

  He hammered inside her, and she cried out, pleasure exploding. For several long seconds, she forgot to breathe as he rocked against her body. Then he gave a muffled shout and held still inside her, his body quivering. She felt the pulses inside her and smiled. She slid her hands up and down his moist back, soothing him.

  When they both went still, she let out a little laugh.

  He raised his head and shot her a glare. “Can’t hardly breathe here,” he said, “and you’re laughing.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “If I’d had my way with you in the back room of my shop, everyone inside would have heard us.”

  His grin was wry. “Think your neighbors didn’t?”

  Chapter 6

  Preacher woke early the next morning when Laura shifted on the bed. The light from the cracked bathroom door made her pale hair glow. Her movements were slow, like she wanted to sneak out of the bed. They lay sideways, spooned together, and she was trying to slide away his hand from where it rested on her hip.

  A smile tugged at his mouth as he let out a deep sigh and slid his hand around her waist and upwards to cup her round breast.

  “I know you’re awake,” she grumbled.

  His response was to move closer and snuggle his cheek against her shoulder. “S’warm,” he murmured then flicked the hardening tip of her nipple with his fingernail.

  Her quick intake of breath pushed her breast against his palm. He took that as an invitation and moved over her, turning her to her back. As easy as that, he slipped into the space she made between her legs and nudged against her entrance. “Got time?” he whispered then pressed kisses against her neck.

  “I have to get to the shop and start baking.” However, she didn’t discourage him. No, her hands smoothed down his back. When she reached his ass, she scraped her nails over his skin.

  His rapidly hardening cock was met with a moist “hello” so he pushed against her opening, sliding only an inch or two inside. Damn, she was hot and wet. When she lifted her legs to ride the crests of his hips, he moved deeper inside and then held still.

  She pinched his ass. “What part of ‘I need to get to the shop’ didn’t you understand?”

  “Do you need to leave now?” he said, pulling nearly all the way out.

  When he lifted his head to look down into her face, she gave him a mock-glare.

  “Oh! Do you need me to hurry up?”

  She grinned and nodded. “Yes, hurry up.”

  “As you wish.” With a firm stroke he drove all the way inside.

  “Good Lord,” she said, gripping his sides. “Not sure I’ll ever get used to that.”

  “Do you think you might like to try?” he quipped.

  Her eyebrows rose. “Are you saying we might do this again?”

  “Only if you want…” he said, his voice deepening. He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he began giving her deep strokes, an enticement if she was wavering on the edge.

  Her expression was strained—her lips pursed, her eyebrows lowered—as she raised her hips to meet each thrust. Soon, they crashed together, their breaths gusting. When she moaned and shook her head side to side, he quickly pulled free and backed away. With his hands, he urged her to roll over. Then gripping the corners of her hips, he centered himself and thrust inside again. His movements made her knees slide on the covers, but he followed her, not letting up on his quickening thrusts. She was hot and wet, and the trembling of her torso said she was as into this as he was. And damn, he liked the way it felt pushing against her fleshy bottom. Soft, warm, womanly.

  Laura raised a hand and held it against the headboard. He reached beneath her and cupped her breasts, squeezing them as he hammered. Her back dipped, tilting her hips, and he thrust deeper, pounding inside now. She
let out a strangled shriek and jerked back her head. He withdrew sharply, then groaned as come spurted over her bottom.

  He wasn’t too worried about getting her pregnant. After the second time they’d made love, she’d said she was on the pill to regulate her monthly flow, and they’d both been celibate for a while with recent checkups, so he wasn’t worried about any of that.

  He leaned over her back and rested against her, supporting them both with a hand planted on the mattress.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” she mumbled.

  “I’ll always do my best to keep you safe.”

  “Always… And once more, it sounds like you want to repeat this.”

  He took them to the mattress then turned her again, so they faced each other on the bed. He pushed a lock of hair from her face. “I do. I want to get to know you, Laura.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Care to join me in the shower?”

  He smiled. “I won’t say no.”

  “Just warning you, you’ll smell like roses.”

  “If I’m smelling you all day, I’ll be just fine.”

  * * *

  Fig met them at the shop just as Laura was unlocking the doors. By her expression, she was feeling grumpy about being up this early, but they’d discussed this work the day before. She needed to install the alarm system before she headed to the office. On the side, he’d told her he’d cover the expense of her time, but she’d insisted she’d do it for free. “Have to make friends here,” she’d said.

  He helped her bring in the boxes of equipment then left her to do the work. She hadn’t wanted him underfoot as she installed cameras and sensors. So instead, he’d picked up a broom and a mop and bucket and went to work making sure every little bit of glass was off the floor of the shop while Laura headed to the kitchen to begin baking.

  About an hour later, her helper, Katie McMillan arrived to give her a hand with pouring cupcakes into tins and decorating small individual cakes. He’d seen Katie in the shop before but had never paid much attention to her—not when his attention had been stuck on the proprietor. Katie was thin and gangly with freckles and red hair cut short around her head. All three women worked efficiently, not a lot of chatter. With his housekeeping tasks complete, he felt a little useless.