Arrested Page 5

  But being alone could get lonely. Very lonely.

  "Nope. Mama didn't believe in anything that came from a box and a wrapper.” Kirsten smiled, her face lit with the fondness of a memory. The candle flames danced around her, casting shadows on her smooth skin. He reached out and stroked her cheek, sandpaper against silk.

  Who knew little Miss California had a little country in her? He'd have sworn she was a city slicker to the bone. What a nice surprise. Never in a million years would he have guessed he'd be able to relate to her on anything.

  Reid chuckled lightly at the thought of it. “So did my Ma. She's rolling over in her grave seeing me eat all these microwave meals."

  "I miss that, you know.” Kirsten shook her head. “With Kurt, it was one fancy restaurant after the next. But believe you me—their prices are highway robbery. This steak beats any of them, hands down."

  "I have an idea. How about tomorrow you cook and we can have a real candlelight dinner."

  "You mean, how about we cook?"

  "Deal.” He winked at her. “You cook and I'll set the table."

  "Brat,” she snapped in a playful tone. “Speaking of which, where's Snowball?"

  "I fed him and put him out before I started dinner. I do believe he's made a new friend. I've got a border collie named Sissy that stays outside and sleeps in the barn. She was my Pa's. Snowball will be fine out there with her, I'm sure."

  "Oh, great. He'll enjoy the fresh air. Probably the chickens too.” Kirsten joked.

  "Better not.” False seriousness coated his voice, but then they both broke into a smile.

  Reid finished the last of his dinner, and so did Kirsten. He was surprised to see she ate it all. For a woman of her small size, she had a healthy appetite.

  In more ways than one, he thought with a wicked grin. She caught his gaze and returned his attention with a look of appraisal. Desire veiled in her green eyes, her lush lower lip curled in a promise of ecstasy.

  For a moment they just sat and ogled each other. The need between them hung heavy in the air like thick clouds. He couldn't breathe he wanted her so much, so bad, all the time.

  Reid cleared his throat. “Let's step outside. I want to have a smoke."

  "Sure.” She wrinkled her brows and her eyes shot to a glass ashtray on the counter. “You don't smoke in here?"

  He did, but right now he wouldn't. Apparently, from the curious look on her face, she'd never been around anyone with manners. “I do, but not when there's a lady around. Just as rude as wearing your hat inside, or your boots in the bedroom."

  She nodded as she stood. “I like that. Your Mama raised you right."

  "We can sit on the porch and look at the stars. Come on.” He grabbed a throw blanket from the closet in case Kirsten got cold. In such wide-open land a gentle breeze could tickle the skin with chills in the dead of night, even though the air itself was dry and hot. No doubt it was still plenty warm, but she might find it a touch cool.

  He folded the blanket over his arm. This way, if she did, they'd have something to lie on while he heated her up.

  He latched his arm in Kirsten's, even that closeness jolting him with a craving to pull her closer against his body, so tight they meshed together as one. With a hard swallow, he did his best to force away the idea for now and led Kirsten out through the sliding glass doors of his empty dining room.

  "So.” Curiosity laced Kirsten's voice. “The whole house is pretty much the same, huh? Five bedrooms, this big dining room, a country kitchen, a living room the size of a house, all pretty empty. Any particular reason why, or do you just have a strong aversion to decorating?"

  Reid stepped onto the wooden decking, and tossed aside the blanket onto a chair. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and pulled a long draw before he answered her. “I came home one day, and it was gone. Every speck of it. Ex-wife took it and ran off with some city slicker."

  He expected talking about Lisa to bother him, as it once had. But it didn't. It was just something that happened, done and over with now, a piece of his history. Nothing more.

  "And you didn't try to get it back?"

  "I didn't want it back any more than I wanted her back.” Reid grunted the truth. “Ahhh, I made Lisa's life hell, moving her back out here. She always hated this town. Should've never married her in the first place."

  "So why did you?"

  "High school sweetheart.” Reid drew another draw of his smoke, and turned to lean his back against the porch rail. “We both went away to college, and right after I graduated, my parents were killed. I came home for a little while and I just couldn't go back. My Dad had been Sheriff here, and the town offered me the job. I took it and asked Lisa to marry me. I guess I missed having family and figured I could just make one. We moved out here to the ranch and realized real quick just how not meant to be we were."

  Kirsten nodded in understanding. She'd found the rocking chair and curled up in it. The blanket wrapped around her feet, she looked right at home. Like she belonged there.

  He wished she did. If he woke up with someone like her the rest of his life, he'd be one happy man.

  Chapter Six

  "Some things are never meant to be. I guess I knew that with Kurt as well, but a little part of me always refused to believe it. It's like when you buy something new, so sure you'll love it. But when you get it home, you don't. It turns out to be nothing but a big mistake, but damned if you can admit it.” Kirsten sighed, and looked to him for understanding. Instead she found hard eyes, devoid of even an ounce of sympathy. “Reid, can't you at least try? Hear me out, please. This business with Kurt could ruin my life—or end it. I should have opened my eyes a little sooner—but I didn't. So I'm a fool, but you must see..."

  "Enough.” Reid growled, flicking aside his cigarette. He straightened and devoured the distance between them. “Don't you ever know when to shut up? I told you I don't want to hear it."

  Before she could protest, he snatched the arms of her chair and ceased her gentle rocking with an abrupt halt. Anger contorted his features as he leaned down over her. So close, his breath tickled her nose, like a whisper of warning.

  A shiver coursed through her, not from fear, but want. The ruggedness of his demeanor radiated fury and passion and heated her with desire. Uncontrollable ragged breaths escaped her, and her nipples hardened into two sensitive buds.

  Calloused fingers caressed her jaw, than gripped it firmly. Dark eyes, unforgiving and resolute, imprisoned her gaze. “You're ruining a perfectly good night with lies. And I'm just not up for them."

  "Well, too bad. You have to hear this. I'm not shutting up until you do.” Kirsten gulped, unable to choke back the need clenching her. Her lower lip shook with irritation, both at him and herself. She would not let him win like this. If he didn't hear her out now, he never would. “I will keep you up all night if I have to...” Her attempt at coolness failed, and a thick husky tone dripped from her words. All too aware of the fact that her threat sounded much more like an invitation, she snapped her mouth such.

  But Reid had already accepted. Primal hunger hung between them, so thick a knife could cut it. One quick look at the fire in his eyes, and she knew he intended to ravish her like the savage he was.

  She waited, ready for the taking. A million tiny pinpricks enflamed her, and her skin prickled, even at the gentle breeze. Her body clenched and creamed with need. A thousand seconds passed within one, every moment seemingly forever.

  Just as she decided to take matters into her own hands, he pounced on her. His mouth crushed hers, hard and demanding. Devouring her with his lips, he tangled his hands in her hair and pulled her head back.

  She challenged him with her own tongue, each flick a dare for him to take her. Deft hands tore away her clothes in a flash, stripping her bare. He lifted her into the strength of his arms, and deposited her atop the blanket sprawled out on the deck.

  A million stars twinkled in the black sky, and crickets chirped a symphony. Heaven floated around th
em and teased them with the notion of an ecstasy so pure, so primal it almost couldn't be real.

  Reid cast aside his shirt, revealing his sculpted chest. She reached up and ran her fingers through the tiny hairs, relishing in the feel of his tight muscles. With a snap of his Levi's, he released the beast upon her, his long cock thrusting out, hard and ready. He pulled apart her legs, and nudged himself against her. Positioned to enter, he paused, and Kirsten grabbed at his rear to drive him into her.

  He resisted, driving her mad. The tip of his manhood rested against her pussy, and she longed to feel it inside of her. The need tormented her. She could hardly bear it. “Please, Reid."

  "No. I want to have some fun."

  "This is torture, “she panted.

  "Exactly.” Amusement laced the growl of his voice as he spread apart her legs and rested them on his shoulder. With his thumb, he massaged her clit in tiny circles. She stiffened, jolts of acute pleasure shocking through her as he alternated between hard and light pressure.

  Just when she thought she'd nearly lose it, he began to use his fingers as well. He explored her folds, traced the length of her slit, than dived deep inside her. She arched her back as his thick finger wiggled inside of her.

  "Reid, I cannot take any more of this exploration.” She scooted back, surprised when he allowed her to escape him. No sooner than she freed herself of his roving hands did she regret it.

  Eyes narrowed, Reid shook his head. “Don't think you'll get away that easily."

  With a devilish smile, he reached behind him and pulled out his cuffs.

  "Don't you dare,” she stared in disbelief, but didn't move an inch. The thought of it was too naughty, too wicked—and oh, ever so thrilling. On all fours, he crept to her, like a tiger ready to pounce. She choked on her protests, too enthralled with the prospect to pretend to be shy about it.

  The handcuffs locked around her wrists, the cold metal bolting her to a slat in the deck railings. There would be no more fleeing.

  "Now, back to work.” Reid gasped her legs, and returned them his shoulders.

  Her arms stretched above her head, her pussy spread out before him. Kirsten had never felt more on fire. Two fingers plunged into her, then three. With a cry, her body bowed to his wishes, falling in sync with the torturous playfulness.

  "Tell me you're mine.” Reid demanded, and pressed deeper inside her.

  "Reid please,” she gasped. Intense pleasure choked away any ability to think rationally, much less speak. Her body was burning, her mind mush. With every passing second, she grew wetter, her nipples harder, to the point where she could hardly bear it. She needed him, now, inside of her. She could wait no longer for satisfaction. “Please."

  He withdrew his fingers, and swatted her rear. The sharp sting of it branded her, creating electric shock through her. Her pussy clenched against the abandonment, needing to be filled with him.

  "I'm yours, Reid, I'm yours. Please."

  * * * *

  "I'm not so sure you mean that.” He yanked off his jeans and crawled over top of her. “But I'm going to make sure you do."

  With both hands, he gathered her breasts and pushed them together. He buried his face in them, and grabbed her nipples with his teeth. Lightly he nipped and pulled at them, then formed a vacuum over them, as if to suck them dry. Appraising them, even as he dropped away his hands, he reached down to grab her rear. His fingers slipped between her cheeks, and held her round curves in a tight grasp.

  Through his mouthful of booby, Reid made sure Kirsten knew what he wanted. “Say it again. Over and over again until I'm sure of it."

  He might explode any minute, but there wouldn't be a speck of enjoyment to it. Not if he didn't get what he truly wanted. Using Kirsten's body wasn't enough. She was more than legs and tits, and he wanted all of her.

  "I'm yours. Reid. I've been yours since the moment I set eyes on you. Only your body can own mine like this.” The sweet and husky tone to her voice sounded believable, but he wasn't sure.

  Lies. Kirsten was full of them and he didn't want to hear it, save that she would be his. That she could lie about all she wanted. At least then he could make believe the nasty truth didn't lie in wait, ready to strike.

  Kirsten was his prisoner, a car thief, and nothing but trouble. Not a love prospect. The thought alone was preposterous. But oh, how he wanted to pretend just that, and tonight he would. He'd worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

  He swatted her rear again, determined to drive her so crazy she had to give him her all. She moaned, her body stiff with need in his arms. “Reid, I'm yours. I'm yours."

  In a fury, he trailed his mouth down across her belly. His tongue and lips devoured her, as if he could consume her, and fulfill himself from just the taste of her. He was a hungry man, starved in fact. Kirsten Montgomery resembled a sweet morsel of chocolate, and he could eat her a million times and never grow sick of her deliciousness.

  Making his way to her lower regions, he spread her open and dived in. With every lick and stroke of his tongue, his cock grew harder and more needy. He could wait no more. It was time to make Kirsten his.

  He thrust inside of her, enveloped by the bittersweet softness of her tight hole. He could have came right then, but he hung on, determined to savor her. With slow strokes, he built the pleasure between them, making sure Kirsten got every inch of what he had to give. She writhed and whimpered beneath him, the ecstasy written clear on her face.

  If she didn't come soon, he would surely explode. He could hold back no longer. With stealthy movements inside of her, he explored her limits, and tested his own. He circled hard and fast, and she screamed out. Her nails dug into his back, and tore through his skin as she arced and shook.

  When her cries ceased, her buried himself deep inside her, and gave himself up to the rapture.

  Chapter Seven

  Brilliant streaks of yellow cut the pure blue sky as the sun awoke, and reached out its arms to greet the world to a new day. Crisp morning air, laced with fresh dew, tickled at Reid's nose and wrestled him from his slumber.

  Kirsten lay entangled in his arms. Her flaxen hair sprawled in his face and her every curve pressed against him The swell of her bare breast squashed against his own rock hard chest tormented him. Everything about her was so soft, lush, tantalizing. In immediate response, his cock grew stiff as a steel rod, ready to take her.

  As tempting as that was, he couldn't. Not right now. The animals needed fed, and he had to have some space. It was time to think and he couldn't do that here—not around her. Gently he lifted her arms from him, and wiggled away, careful not to wake her.

  Reid threw on his dirty jeans and headed out to the barn. Snowball and Sissy greeted him with happy yaps. They danced around his legs, almost causing him to trip twice.

  They were like two peas in a pod, strangers become best friends overnight. It should be the same for him and Kirsten. With the way they made love...

  Wait.

  Love? With the way they fucked like rabbits...

  Dammit, that wasn't it all and it didn't take a genius to figure it out. Being around her was eating him alive. God, he was such a fool! How could he be falling for a liar, a thief?

  It bugged him like hell to think of the kind of person she was—everything he stood against, she stood for. He upheld the law, and she'd broken it. He despised reckless drivers, and she'd stolen a car. He had no business feeling so ... well ... much. Not about someone like her.

  He smashed into the barn. The bang of the door echoed in his ears, and made him jump.

  Eyes slammed shut, he gritted his jaw and made himself stop in his tracks before he lost it. How he wanted to kick something. The urge pulsed through him hard like thunder in his heart and he barely held back. She was trouble—nothing but an absolute nuisance, and the very last thing he needed.

  She'd cut right into his peaceful life, and tossed everything upside down. Dammit, he liked his house empty. His life was good—quiet, serene, calm. All Kirsten did
was muck it up with senseless noise.

  Desperate for composure, he squared his shoulders, and steeled himself against thoughts of her. The horses and cattle needed his attention.

  He shoved off the lid to a barrel and began scooping the grain into a bucket, enjoying the repetition. Weekends were usually his favorite time, when Skip had time off and he handled the ranch himself. Sometimes he even thought he'd quit his job as Sheriff, and concentrate on building up the ranch. Right now, the few studs he raised kept the ranch alive, and nothing more. With a little extra input the place could really prosper.

  What did he need extra money for, though? He had no family to care for, no kids or wife to support. No. Better he spent his time protecting others from the kind of loss that had ruined his life.

  He dumped the feed into the trooghs, and ran his hand through his hair. Nothing felt the same with Kirsten on his mind. Everything suddenly seemed so very empty, meaningless.

  But it wasn't. No. He wasn't missing anything in his life. Things had been fine before she came, and they would be great when she was gone.

  He couldn't wait ‘til Monday.

  * * * *

  The sweet melody of birds chirped through the air, their song the sweetest of alarm clocks. Groggy, Kirsten tossed over, and moaned. She tried to snuggle deeper, and her nose met wooden planks.

  This wasn't her bed. She snapped upright, flooded by memories of the previous night. Visions of ecstasy danced in her head, and her body responded immediately. Desire tickled at her, and she looked around for Reid.

  Disappointment followed. Where had he gone? She ran a hand through her hair, and encountered snarls. Lord, she'd probably scared him away. Another shower definitely couldn't hurt. This time she'd use the conditioner and maybe, if she were lucky, Reid might meet her in there.

  She stood, stretched her naked body and reached to gather the blanket. The handcuffs fell out as she lifted it, and she snatched them up. The cold metal burned reality into her. Last night had been her perfect chance. She could have easily handcuffed him in his sleep, stolen the Blazer and ran. Instead, she'd cuddled in his arms and slept like a baby. What had she been thinking? Monday she'd be in jail, or worse if Kurt found her.