STORY EXCERPT

They walked to the kitchen. Kel stepped inside and Chad went to follow him. A curvaceous, red-headed woman was putting the last touches of the chocolate frosting on the cake. She raised her head and blinked.

Tor was right. She is beautiful. Her golden-brown eyes, more gold than brown, stared at him. A stab of pure lust hit him unexpectedly. He was thirty-four, not eighteen. He hadn’t had such an immediate reaction to a pretty woman in a long time.

Kel introduced him. “This is an old military buddy. He works for the FBI. I thought I’d bring him along.”

Amy nodded her head at him. She went back to her frosting, but Chad saw the tremble in her hands. So she’d reacted to him, too. Good.

“You gentlemen can call me Aunt Janie, most of the younger townspeople do. Have a seat at the table. I’ll pour the coffee, and Amy will cut the cake. Then we’ll talk.”

Chad sat at the small table and stretched out his long legs. He studied the two women, especially Amy. In snug jeans, a white T-shirt, and tennis shoes, she didn’t look like a lawyer. Her hair hung in waves around her shoulders, and it was a deep-red color not often seen.

She put the cake plates around the table, placing his down last. She didn’t look directly at him. Inwardly, he chuckled. When she had bent across toward him, he had breathed in her sweet scent.

His stare went to her face and the desirable bow-shaped lips. He wanted to touch her creamy skin and hold her curvy body against his. Mentally, he shook himself and listened more closely to the conversation.

Kel assured the two women he’d post a deputy at the house to guard them. “You’ll be safe. Chad, did you have anything else to add?”

“I talked to my friend Tor Davidssons this morning.”

Amy’s head jerked up, and she looked at him. “You know Detective Davidssons?”

“He, Kel, and I were in the service together. He’s due here on Friday evening to start his vacation.” Chad smiled. “It’s a small world. Anyway, as I was saying, we talked. He was at work because of the killing of the prisoner’s ex-wife.” Chad decided to not mention the possibility the killer had shot his own mother.

“How is the judge?” Amy asked. “They didn’t mention him on the morning news.”

“I have a man at the hospital,” Chad said. “The judge is hanging on, barely.”

“Who besides me does that leave to be possible victims?” Amy asked. “Besides the lead prosecutor, Gary Cecil, who worked with me on the trial? That’s all I know about.”

“He may target the jury. The court has contacted them and arranged safe houses for all who wanted the protection. A few refused.”

“Surely he doesn’t have the jury in mind. But who knows how a person like that thinks.”

“Do you have any idea where the prosecutor is staying?” Chad asked.

“No, he didn’t tell me.”

“I’ll remind Tor about him. If we can guard all the potential victims the next few days, the man may get frustrated and make a mistake trying to get to one of them.”

“Eat and drink your coffee,” Aunt Janie said. “Let’s all relax for a few minutes and think of more pleasant topics. Amy hasn’t visited in a few years, but she used to ride.”

Chad took the hint. It gave him the opening he wanted. “I have several nice, easy-riding mares in my barn. Would you join me for a horseback ride today? We can barbecue a meal afterward.”

“I just got here. I can’t desert Aunt Janie so soon.”

“Nonsense, I don’t need babysitting. We’ll see plenty of each other before you go back home.”

Cornered, Amy agreed to go with Chad to his ranch. He saw her throw an annoyed look at her aunt, who smiled back at her mischievously.

“I’ve got to get home,” Kel said. “Chad, are you and Amy riding with me?”

“No, please stay,” Aunt Janie said. “I have a few manly jobs that need done around here. You two can use my truck to go to your ranch later. Amy can drive herself home.”

“I’m fine with those plans. Are you, Amy?”

“I guess I’ll have to be.”

“Amy, that was very ungracious.”

Chad threw his head back and laughed. “She’s not sure she likes me. But she will.”

“I don’t like arrogant men.”

“Don’t confuse confidence with arrogance.” He winked at her and turned to her aunt. “Show me those jobs you need done.”

* * * *

He had a deep, warm, rich laugh, and his gray eyes had an iridescent quality. When he smiled they looked a bluish gray. His shiny black hair brushed the collar of his blue shirt, and jeans showed off his muscled, long legs.

Her body had reacted to him the same as it had to the detective. What’s the matter with me? All of the sudden every man I meet has my hormones racing. I don’t like to feel vulnerable.

ADULT EXCERPT

Chad’s hands held onto her shoulders. The warmth seeped into her skin and her heart fluttered at his closeness. When he bent and kissed the side of her neck, she fought her desire to be closer to him, to let her body rest against his.

“I want you,” he whispered into her hair.

His simple words, his intoxicating scent, and the touch of his lips had her caught in a web of desire. He swung her around to face him.

Chad’s gray eyes had darkened as he stared at her intently. She buried her face in his chest and his strong arms encircled her. One hand held her lower abdomen against his hard, pulsing cock.

She raised her head. “I can’t make promises. My world and yours are far apart.”

“Maybe not as much as you think.”

“You’re kidding yourself or me.”

“No. I’m honest to a fault.”

He swung her into his arms and took long strides down the hall and into another bedroom. This one was larger and masculine. She’d started to look around when his hands cupped her face and he kissed her hungrily. His tongue swept into her mouth and tasted and teased. Feverish desire swirled in her veins and her legs trembled. Her body’s eager response to his touch stunned her.

It’s as though I’ve been starved and can’t get enough of being close to him, having him touch me, kiss me, and still, I want more.

Her body curved closer into his and she brushed her breast against his muscled chest. Her peaked nipples ached for his attention. He gripped her buttocks and brought her up and harder against his dick. Her juices flowed from her pussy as her desire grew more intense.

“You want me, too. Admit it.” Chad stared into her eyes.

“I do, but I’m puzzled. I haven’t been interested in any man for a long time until I met Tor and you. I have no idea why my body is responding so crazily to you two.”

“I’m just glad it does.” He pulled off her T-shirt and then removed her bra in one smooth move. Cool air made her shiver, but when his hands wrapped around each breast her heart hitched a beat and warmth raced through her body.

His mouth closed around one nipple as she watched. A thread of ardor shot from her nipple to her core. Her hunger made her lower lips clench with the yearning to have his cock fill her.

She unbuttoned his shirt and put her hands on his chest. His swift intake of breath pleased her. When her fingers rubbed across his nipples, his smoldering glance had her pulse leaping with excitement.

He quickly undid her jeans and removed them and her bikini panties. Then he undressed and placed a condom package by the head of the bed.

Amy stood transfixed by the sight of his naked body. His skin was tanned, and black hair covered his broad chest. He had flat abs and long, well-muscled legs. His cock jutted out and curved toward his abdomen. Her face went hot when she realized she’d been staring. She raised her head and found him smiling.

“It’s all right to look. I’m certainly looking at you.” He walked closer and ran his warm hands over her shoulders. “Your breasts are beautiful with dusty-rose nipples begging to be tasted.”

Chad put his hands back on her breasts. “They’re just the right size.” He bent his head and slid his teeth lightly across each peak. “They taste like the sweetest strawberry.” He sucked, and the craving for him went all the way to her pussy.

Then he knelt in front of her and nuzzled her abdomen. His five-o’clock shadow raked across her skin and shivers of delight followed.

“I’m amazed and pleased at how responsive you are to my touch.”

When he got to her mound, he took a deep breath. “Your arousal scent is musky and ratchets my desire out of sight.” He separated her folds and licked across her bud and then down her pussy lips.

Her body trembled. She grabbed hold of his head to keep from falling. Chad stood and swept her into his arms. He laid her on the bed and followed her down. Then he pulled her legs wide apart and his tongue brushed across her nub and kissed and tasted her juices before flicking inside her pussy opening.

Chad looked up at her face. “I can’t wait to feel your sweet pussy enclosing my hungry cock.” He grabbed the condom package from the bedside table and tore it open. He handed the condom to Amy, and she rolled it onto his dick.

Then he placed himself at her opening. Chad watched her expression while he slid in slowly.

Pleasure swallowed her up as his cock stretched her pussy walls to the max. It was the most seductive experience. His eyes had gone silver, his firm jaw tensed, and he was tight-lipped as he moved further into her pussy. When he was fully seated, he held still. She reveled in his powerful control that was part of her attraction for him.

Slowly, he began to move back and forth. When he speeded up, he thrust harder and raised her hips to take him in farther.

She moved in tandem with him. Each of his strokes intensified her craving. Her pussy was slick with her juices.

His passion showed in his eyes and his quick movements. Chad reached out and pinched her nipples.

Amy screamed with the almost painful elation swallowing her up. She wanted more, and she yelled at him to not stop.

“Honey”—Chad gasped—“I couldn’t stop if I had a gun at my head.”