Her Texan Temptation Page 11

  Caution flickered in her eyes before she concealed it. Best girl. She wondered how many that included. “I thought you were in Tulsa.” At least, that’s where Matt had said his uncle would be.

  He shrugged one big shoulder. “I needed something from home, so I took a slight detour.” Though it wasn’t true, his excuse sounded plausible. He’d come home for one reason only. He’d wanted to see her, hold her, touch her. Tilting his head, he gave her an engaging grin. “Well, are you gonna invite me in?”

  “What? Oh, sure.” A blush touched her cheeks as she stepped aside for him to enter. After he walked past, she closed the door and turned toward him.

  Deke reached out to touch her, but she skirted around him. “I was about to make something for dinner,” she said in a breathless rush as she headed for the kitchen.

  Frowning, he followed her, the swaying of her hips messing with his libido. Her reaction to him confirmed his suspicions. Something was going on. He grabbed her arm and brought her around to face him. “What’s wrong?”

  Eyes remote, she jerked her arm free and stepped away. “Nothing.”

  “You don’t seem all that thrilled to see me.” She continued to avoid his gaze, building his frustration. He’d come a long way to see her. The least she could do was seem appreciative.

  She tossed her head, then leaned back against the doorjamb. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m glad you took the time to stop by.” Her breathing accelerated as if in direct contrast with her words. “Have you been to the Bar M yet?”

  “No,” he admitted, an edge to his voice. “I drove straight here.”

  Though surprised, Mary Beth didn’t blink. As casually as she could manage it, she walked across the room. “Oh. Well, are you hungry? I could make you something to eat.” She gripped the handle of the refrigerator door, then turned back to look at him. Her gaze landed on his face.

  “I’m hungry, all right.” The softness of his voice was in direct contrast to his heated gaze. He stalked over to her. “But not for food.” Her unique scent drifted to him, and his nostrils flared.

  Mary Beth squared her shoulders. “That’s all I’m offering.” She didn’t have to explain what she meant. Deke’s thunderous expression told her he understood. She had to stop herself from wincing.

  “What’s wrong?” he demanded, losing control of his temper. He tossed his hat into a chair.

  “Nothing.” She shrugged indifferently, though her nerves were stretched to capacity.

  Deke jammed his hands in the pockets of his jeans to keep from dragging her against him. He rolled his shoulders, but it did little to ease the tension building inside him. He hadn’t expected her to throw herself at him, but neither had he expected to slam into the invisible wall she’d put up between them. Something was seriously wrong, and he didn’t have a clue as to what it was. Unless…

  She’s seeing someone else.

  He hissed out a breath.

  “Who is it?” he half growled.

  Confused, Mary Beth searched his face. “What?”

  Seething, Deke raked her with his eyes as he moved closer, crowding her space. “Who are you seeing?” The thought of her with another man nearly drove him insane. He pressed his lips together to keep from saying something he’d regret.

  A calmness stole over Mary Beth. She stiffened her spine, then very deliberately raised her hands and shoved him away from her. Her hands on her hips, she narrowed her gaze on him. “You’ve got some nerve, Deke,” she said very calmly.

  “Me?” he countered hotly. “I came all this way to see you, and you act like you can’t even give me the time of day.” He glowered at her as she moved farther away from him.

  She laughed bitterly, then covered her mouth with her hand. The irony of his accusing her of being with someone else was the last straw. “Oh, I see. You think because we slept together, that gives you the right to say who I can or can’t see? From what I’ve heard, you haven’t exactly been celibate while you’ve been away.” She jutted her chin at him. “What gives you the right to make demands on me?”

  Speechless, Deke stared at her, his mind whirling. What was she talking about? Since he’d been away, Mary Beth was all he could think about. Walking over to her, he arched one blond brow. “I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, but—”

  “Oh, Matthew’s been very forthcoming with your exploits at the rodeos—and I don’t mean bull riding.”

  She was serious! Deke almost laughed, but caught himself. The thought of being intimate with anyone other than Mary Beth was crazy. “Matt? What the heck would he know?”

  “Oh, please. He’s told me all about the women who hang around the rodeo just waiting for a chance to jump in your bed.”

  Understanding dawned on Deke. She was jealous! “Is that what all of your frostiness on the phone was about?” he asked, then gave her a cocky grin.

  “I was not being frosty.”

  “Oh, yes, you were.”

  “No, I wasn’t,” she snapped. Marching up to him, she poked her finger at his chest. “And don’t you dare act as if you don’t know what I’m talking about.” His grin grew a little wider, and her temper went up a notch. “It’s not funny, Deke. You can’t just drop in here anytime you want convenient sex!”

  “Convenient sex? Sweetheart, driving for hours on the road to see you after three full days of competing is anything but convenient.” Deke’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’ll admit that there are women who hang around every rodeo like groupies.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he gently touched his finger to her lips. “But I swear, I haven’t been with another woman since I left you.”

  She blinked, stunned by his declaration. “Really?” Her heartbeat grew erratic.

  “Really.” He laid a hand on her shoulder, then drew her toward him. Cupping her chin, he lifted her face until their gazes met and locked. “The only woman I want to be with is you,” he said huskily.

  “Deke—”

  His mouth swooped down on hers, stealing her words, her breath. Mary Beth’s eyelids drifted shut as she gave herself to his kiss. For a moment everything inside her went hazy. Clutching his shirt, she leaned into him, savoring the feel of his mouth on hers, his taste, the very essence of him.

  He backed her against the refrigerator, molding himself to her, rock-hard muscle against her soft, feminine curves. His warmth seeped into her, and she opened her mouth, deepening the kiss.

  Hot, urgent need raced through her, turning her legs to jelly. The caress of his tongue drew a pleading groan from deep within her. She dragged her mouth from his. “Deke, oh, please,” she rasped, moving her hips against him.

  “Hold on, sweetheart,” Deke whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “I didn’t come all this way for a quick tumble. I want all of you, everything you have to give.” But even as he whispered the words, he was tugging her shirt up, baring her to him. Gratified she wasn’t wearing a bra, he touched her erect nipple with his fingers.

  A cry of pleasure escaped her lips. Already hard for her, Deke felt like he was going to burst right out of his jeans. Her hands cupped his face, and her lips found his again. Passion flared, clothes disappeared. Their boots hit the floor with soft thuds as they landed on the discarded mound of clothes.

  “The bedroom,” he muttered thickly, clad only in his jeans. Together they moved as one. He shoved her panties off, and they fell on the hallway floor. Their progress toward the bedroom momentarily forestalled, Mary Beth moaned as he lowered his mouth to her breasts. Cupping the generous mounds of flesh in his hands, he suckled one hard nipple.

  Gasping for air, she strained toward him. The pleasure was so intense, so exquisite, that her body pleaded for release. Continuing to give his attention to her breasts, he slipped his arm around her back and draped her over it. As his lips and tongue savored her, he looked up. Her eyes were half-closed in ecstasy. He slowly slid his palm up her thigh, then between her legs. His finger slid into her.

  Hot and moist, she tight
ened her legs around his hand. Her eyes completely closed, and she gasped, then he felt her quiver as her hips began to move.

  Mary Beth writhed in his arms. Deke lowered her to the floor, then worked his jeans off, grabbing a packet from his pocket before tossing them aside. He nudged her legs apart with his, then he sheathed himself and slipped inside her. His arousal felt hard and hot, filling her completely. Intense pleasure inside her began to build with a magnitude she’d never before experienced. She clung to him as his mouth ravaged hers.

  Fire raged inside her as she locked her legs around his back. Her body out of control, she met him thrust for thrust. She felt him stiffen, and her muscles quivered around him, taking them both over the edge of sanity into another time, another place.

  Deke lay there, his pulse beating so hard and fast that he was sure he was on the verge of a heart attack. He was convinced that he would never breathe normally again, wasn’t sure he even cared if he did.

  He stirred, then lifted his face to look at Mary Beth. Her cheeks were rosy, her skin warm. He brushed his lips softly against hers.

  Mary Beth’s lids lifted, and she looked at him. “We didn’t make it to the bedroom.”

  Deke kissed her long and hard. “Ah, sweetheart, but I’m not nearly finished with you.”

  Desire lit a spark in her eyes. “Mmm, what else do you have planned?”

  He stroked her breast, teased her nipple with his fingers. “A little of this.” He moved his hips against hers. “A lot of this.”

  She slid her arms around his neck, touched a tender kiss to his mouth. “I’m ready when you are.” Her hips moved against his. “Mmm, feels like you’re about there.”

  Deke’s eyes darkened as he watched her eyes glaze with passion. “Let’s take this to the bedroom.” This time he wanted her in bed, wanted to take it slow. He stood, then held out his hand to her. As she began to rise, he lifted her in his arms, carried her into her bedroom and laid her on the bed. He disappeared into the bathroom, then quickly returned to join her.

  “How long can you stay?” she asked, already dreading the moment when he would leave.

  Deke nibbled on her ear, then began planting kisses along her cheek. “I have to be in Tulsa by tomorrow evening.” He caught her mouth in a searing kiss. When he lifted his lips, his eyes met hers. “And I have to get up early to get to the Bar M before I head out.” Looking at her hair spread out on the pillow, Deke struggled to get his breath. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

  He cupped her luscious breasts in his hands. Her skin felt like silk beneath his fingers. His hand touched her nipple, gently twirled it with his fingers. She sighed, a soft, pleasurable sound that sent a surge of blood straight to his manhood. He rolled over and brought her body on top of his.

  Mary Beth’s stomach muscles tightened. Though she’d known that the rodeo came first, it still gave her a sense of loss when he spoke of leaving. “Then we’d better make the most of tonight,” she whispered. Mary Beth scooted down his body, kissed his belly, then took him in her mouth. He groaned, a guttural sound that came from deep within him.

  “Honey, I’m not gonna last another minute if you keep that up.”

  “Well, we don’t want that, now do we?” She slid her body up his. Deke lifted her hips, then settled her on top of him. Mary Beth caught her breath at the intense pleasure of feeling him slide into her. “Oh, that feels so good.”

  Deke’s hands molded her breasts as he began to move his hips. “I can make you feel a lot better.” His eyes sought hers as he touched her nipples.

  Mary Beth’s head fell back. Sparkling, multicolored lights flashed before her eyes. She moved her hips in a rocking motion, meeting his thrusts, demanding more.

  “Oh, my. Oh, Deke,” she murmured, her voice husky, her breathing rapid. “Now.”

  Deke moved his hands slowly over her, burning every inch of her into his memory. He moved faster, deeper into her, then suddenly lost all sense of control as his body shattered into a million tiny pieces.

  Mary Beth shifted to prop her head on Deke’s chest. Her gaze moved over his face, studying the lines around his eyes, taking in his strong jawline, his sensual lips.

  Her heart swelled.

  She was hopelessly in love with him.

  She sighed deeply. What was she going to do about it? What could she do about it?

  Nothing. Don’t do anything. Deke hasn’t said a word about his feelings for you.

  No, he hadn’t. What he had done was make it perfectly clear that he had no room in his life for anything permanent with a woman. And that included her. So whatever he felt came a lot closer to desire. Possibly even genuine affection. But nothing deeper, nothing permanent.

  Definitely not love.

  Before she could further consider the reality of her feelings, he opened his eyes. His engaging grin endeared him to her all the more.

  “Are you okay?” He held her tighter, absorbing her warmth, and he lost the ability to think straight. His chest rose as he drew in a deep breath, struggling to get himself under control. He’d come there seeking answers. But he hadn’t been ready to discover that his feelings for Mary Beth went a lot deeper than he was prepared for.

  “Yes.” She didn’t give him a chance to read her thoughts. Instead, she slowly moved off him, then slid off the bed.

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “To check on Lightning and Lady. They’re still outside.”

  “They’re dogs. They’re supposed to be outside.”

  She turned her head, averting her gaze. “They’re used to being inside with me. They probably think I’ve abandoned them.”

  Puzzled by her sudden withdrawal, Deke snatched her hand before she could move away. “Kiss me and I’ll let you go.” He linked her fingers with his.

  Mary Beth arched her brow in amused disbelief. “Now, why don’t I believe that?”

  “I swear.”

  She gave in to her own desire for another taste of him. As their lips met, he slid his hand around her neck, pinning her lips against his. Mary Beth moaned into his mouth when his hand touched her breast.

  She lifted her lips. “That’s not playing fair,” she complained, loving the way he made her feel. In answer, he cupped her thigh, ran his hand up her leg and squeezed her buttocks. “Deke.”

  “Hmm?”

  “The sooner you let me go, the sooner we can make love again.”

  He set her free. “Well, if you insist…”

  Mary Beth gave him a playful shove, and he fell back onto the mattress. “I’m going to let the dogs in and feed them. Then I’ll make us something to eat.” Maybe by then she’d be able to think straight.

  “I’m gonna grab a shower. Why don’t you join me after you let the dogs in?”

  Not bothering to dress, she walked to the door naked, then turned to look back at him. His hungry gaze made her tingle all over. “Maybe I will,” she said, and gave him a sultry smile.

  Deke couldn’t get out of the bed fast enough.

  Beneath the spray of warm water, they made love again. Then, after a long, intoxicating kiss, Mary Beth went to start dinner as Deke finished dressing. He pulled on his jeans, then sat on the edge of the bed as he slipped on his shirt. Picking up the telephone, he put in a call to the Bar M, letting them know where he was and to expect him in the morning. As he talked with Jake, Deke noticed a pad with some writing on it on Mary Beth’s bedside table. Idle curiosity had him picking it up.

  His gaze slid over the writing once, and he frowned. Studying it more closely, he realized he was reading notations Mary Beth had made concerning her mortgage. His lips twisted. She was a thousand dollars short.

  Deke finished his call, then put the receiver in its cradle, his mind spinning. So he hadn’t been wrong when he’d suspected that Mary Beth was in financial straits. He shook his head, then put the note back on the table. Frustrated, he stared at it. Why hadn’t she confided in him? They were friends, weren’t th
ey? He wanted to help her. But how could he when she held her troubles inside?

  Still thinking about her problem, he finished dressing, then went into the kitchen to join her. After they’d eaten, they laughed together as they gathered the clothes they’d tossed willy-nilly earlier. Exhausted, they climbed back into bed as the two dogs settled themselves on the floor. Deke wrapped his body around Mary Beth’s and pulled her to him, the knowledge of her financial situation leaving him unsettled. She scooted her bottom closer and he nuzzled her neck, feeling more content than he had in years.

  “Deke?”

  “Hmm?”

  “What time are you leaving?”

  He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. “I have to get an early start. I called the Bar M to let them know that I’d be by in the morning.”

  “Oh, I thought I heard you on the phone earlier,” she said sleepily. “Did you tell them where you were?”

  “Yeah. Why? Does it matter?” He opened one eye to gauge her reaction.

  She gave a soft shrug. “I guess not,” she answered, her voice quiet. Still, she wondered what his family thought when he mentioned he was at Paradise.

  Deke closed his eye as he sensed her quiet withdrawal. He stroked her arm, then slid his hand up her midriff and found her breast. “Don’t worry about it. My family really likes you. If anything, Ashley and Catherine are gonna have my hide for compromising you.”

  “Is that what you’re doing?” She yawned. “I’m sorry. I’m so tired, I think I could sleep a week.”

  Deke stroked her head with his hand. “Go to sleep, sweetheart.”

  “I don’t want to. I…want…to…”

  Her words drifted off, and Deke smiled in the darkness. He’d worn her out. Well, he was pretty tired himself. He closed his eyes, but even as he drifted off, concerns about how Mary Beth was going to pay her mortgage haunted his mind.