Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) (17 page)

They stopped in front of Zack’s truck and he leaned against the hood and into her line of vision. “Why don’t we celebrate?” he said in a low rumble.

Sky snapped her gaze from Zack’s truck to his face. “Celebrate what?” She slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and tilted her head.

“Taming Satan. Your ankle being better.” Zack reached around her to catch one wrist, easing her hand from her pocket and clasping it. His touch electrified her through what felt like every single nerve ending.

“Dinner, tomorrow,” he said, his voice deep and serious. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”

She swallowed. “As friends?”

“Whatever you say.” Zack squeezed her hand. “How’s Mexican food sound?”

“O-okay.” Sky pulled her hand away from his, afraid he’d feel her trembling. She made her tone light and teasing. “Don’t be late, cowboy. I’ll be hungry.”

He gave her a dark, sinful look that turned her stomach inside out. “I’m already starving.”

Friday night, Zack drove the last mile between the ICE office and Sky’s door. He and the junior agent he worked with, Eric Torres, had spent the day tracking down leads on the rustlers, but they just kept dead-ending, frustrating the hell out of both of them.

When Zack had called Clay Wayland, the sheriff had been out of the office, and Zack had ended up talking with Deputy Woods instead. Woods hadn’t been much help. The deputy was far too relaxed about the whole rustling situation.

But the memory of Woods dancing with Sky at the rodeo dance had Zack grinding his teeth. Would he ever get over this desire to pound every man who even looked at Sky?

Zack parked in front of her house wondering if any of the local ranchers could be involved in the rustling. Or was this strictly an outside job?

Whatever the answer, he couldn’t give it any more thought. For the moment, his mind needed one thing and one thing only.

He got out of his Silverado and headed up the steps, determination in his stride. He had waited long enough. Tonight, Sky was going to give him what he wanted. All of her. No holding back.

The past week had been hell, forcing himself to keep a certain amount of distance from Sky. He had intended to take things slow and easy this time. Give her a chance to trust him again. But he saw that wasn’t going to work. Sky was damn stubborn and he was going to have to remind her just who her man was.

Zack paused for a moment before he knocked on the door. The rapping sound echoed in the evening air as his knuckles hit the wood.

Yeah, he damned well was going to get that promise from her if it was the last thing he did.

But when the door opened and he saw her standing there, almost every shred of his good intentions vanished and all of the blood in his body went rushing to his cock. He clenched his hands and swallowed real hard.

Sky smiled, her green eyes wide. She’d piled her copper hair on top of her head and immediately he wanted to set it free and bury his face in the silk of it to draw in her scent and hold it inside him forever.

The tiny black dress she wore only reached mid-thigh, revealing her long, sexy legs. Legs he wanted to have clamped tight around him as he thrust his cock into her wet core. From head to toe, his entire being vibrated as he held himself back from grabbing her, pushing her inside her house, and taking her now.

As if she could read his thoughts, Sky sighed and ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip.

The woman has no fucking mercy.

He reached up and hooked his finger under one of the delicate straps securing her dress. “God, but you’re gorgeous, sweetheart.”

Sky’s smile was seductive. “You clean up pretty nice, too.”

Her hand went to that sensitive spot at the base of her throat. His gaze followed, then dropped to the very generous amount of exposed cleavage. Her nipples peaked below the thin material, and he had to force himself not to let his hand wander from her shoulder to her breasts.

“Just a sec.” Her voice was low and husky as she drew away from his touch. “Let me get my purse.”

When she walked to the kitchen, he just about groaned out loud at the sight of her sheer black stockings hugging her shapely legs. A line ran down the back of each stocking— stockings that were probably outlawed in forty-six states for what they did to a man. Not to mention those high heels she was wearing. Her outfit screamed sex and he had the erection to prove it.

Trying to gain some control over his body, Zack took a deep breath and thought about as many things as he could that would cool him off. The cattle rustling and the frustration of nothing but dead ends. Someone trying to steal Satan. The asshole group supervisor of Zack’s new duty station.

Yeah, that did it.

Relief relaxed his tense muscles as those images made his lust fade. It allowed him to breathe, and as his erection lessened, the pain of his swollen cock against his zipper eased.

But the moment Sky returned to the living room and smiled at him, no image of any kind came to mind to replace the erotic ones of her.

God, he was going to die if she didn’t agree to his condition. Like now.

Sky’s skin tingled where Zack touched her elbow as he guided her into Los Dos Hemanos, a popular restaurant in Douglas. Sounds of laughter and voices, clinking plates and mariachi music filled the air. Tantalizing smells of Mexican food caused her stomach to growl.

The place was crowded, but they didn’t have long to wait before the hostess escorted them to a corner booth. Serapes and sombreros decorated the walls, strategically arranged baskets of colorful gourds complemented the room, and pinatas swayed from the ceiling’s exposed beams.

Zack slid onto the bench next to Sky, his presence solid and virile. When she glanced up, he gave her a sinfully devastating look, and she quivered with awareness from head to toe.

He looked so delicious dressed all in black from his western shirt to his boots. He’d already taken off his black Stetson when he’d walked into the restaurant and had set it on the bench seat beside him.

After they had ordered and the waitress had returned with their drinks, Sky took a long sip of her margarita. The mixture of salt from the rim and the citrusy taste rolled over her tongue. She needed to relax and enjoy the evening, and she was hoping the margarita would help her mellow a bit.

Zack’s eyes swirled stormy gray as he watched her, filled with passion—and something else. Something that made Sky wonder if there could be a happily ever after.

Not likely. She wasn’t Cinderella.

Though lately Zack had been kind of like a Prince Charming. A devastatingly handsome, untamed cowboy of a prince.

A smile teased the corner of her mouth.

He trailed his finger over her lips. “What’s that smile for?”

She shook her head. “It’s silly.”

“Tell me.” His tone was both coaxing and demanding.

Sky dropped her gaze to her margarita, picked it up, and took a healthy swallow. She rarely drank, and she could already feel her body relaxing from the alcohol. Maybe it would loosen her inhibitions, too, and she’d get Zack where she wanted him.

In bed. Naked.

Heat flushed her cheeks as she looked back to him. “I was just thinking you’ve been a cowboy Prince Charming this past week.”

His mouth curved into a slow smile.

Oh, God. Zack rarely smiled, and whenever he did it put her senses into overdrive—causing her nipples to ache, her belly to flip, and the place between her thighs to throb.

Sky’s face grew even warmer. “Told you it was silly.”

“Cinderella.” His voice was a husky murmur as he stroked her shoulder, drawing lazy circles on her bare arm with his fingers. “Does that mean if I find your glass slipper, you’ll be my princess?”

His touch was sensual and hypnotic, stirring her blood, igniting flames throughout her body. She shivered, so acutely aware of him. Wanting him.

Her nipples tightened more, pressing against the taut silk of her dress. Her naughty stockings and garters felt erotic, and she wanted Zack to explore her body and discover exactly what she wore beneath her dress. She needed his touch, his kiss.

“Watch out,” a voice said, breaking Sky’s lustful trance. “It’s hot.”

I’m hot. So hot.

Sky blinked, reality seeping in as she realized the waitress was setting their plates in front of them. Zack gave Sky a look like he knew exactly what she was thinking and how she was feeling. He eased his arm from around her shoulder and started eating his combination platter of enchiladas, tacos, and refried beans.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

Being around Zack was so not a good idea.

Ignoring her own plate, Sky picked up her margarita and took a long draught, peeking at Zack from beneath her lashes.

It wasn’t food she was hungry for.

Zack’s groin tightened as Sky climbed into his Silverado and scooted next to him. Her orange blossom and rain scent mingled with the smell of his leather upholstery.

As he backed the truck out of the restaurant’s parking lot, Sky rested her head on his arm, her body snug against his. The next thing he knew, her hand was on his thigh. Slowly tracing patterns with her fingernail down to his knee, and then higher. Not quite up to his hip, and then back to his knee again.

His heart punched his chest as he guided his Silverado through Douglas, his body on fire, his cock so hard he could use it as a gearshift. He drove with one hand and captured her exploring fingers with his other. Fuck, yeah, she wanted him. And he sure as hell wanted her.

She sighed and snuggled closer. “Thanks for the wonderful dinner.”

He glanced from the road to her. “You hardly ate.”

Sky’s voice came out in a husky purr. “I’m not hungry for food.”

Zack was so hard, he was seeing stars. He wanted to bury his cock inside her more than anything. He wanted to touch her and taste her, and make her scream when she came.

Damnit, this whole evening was going straight to hell, along with all of his carefully laid plans.

When Sky couldn’t dislodge her hand from beneath his, she shifted in her seat, pressing her breasts against his arm. He groaned as she started an erotic assault, nipping at his shoulder through his shirt. She moved her other hand to his chest, sliding her fingers down to his belt.

“Sky,” he grumbled in warning and desire combined.

Pausing, she looked up at him. “What?” she asked in an innocent voice.

He had a hard time forming coherent words. “If you don’t stop, I’m liable to have an accident.”

“Mmmm.” She ran her finger over the bulge straining against his zipper, lightly stroking his cock. “Now that would be a shame.”

Zack wasn’t sure how he made it to the ranch without coming in his jeans. Sky hadn’t let up and his cock was so hard for her that the minute he reached her house he wanted to shove that tiny dress to her waist and take her in the cab.

As soon as he parked his truck and killed the engine and the lights, Sky laced her hands in his hair and pulled him toward her. She kissed him with such hunger that he felt it straight to the soles of his boots.

Lust consumed him as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. God, but she tasted good. Her own unique taste, combined with the citrus of the margarita she’d had.

He wanted her to straddle his lap.
Now.
With a little seat adjustment, there was plenty of room between him and the steering wheel.
Hell, yeah.

Sky tore her lips from his and rose up on her knees, putting her breasts at the same level as his mouth. “Touch me,” she whispered.

Zack couldn’t think straight. He bit her nipple right through the silky fabric of her black dress. She moaned as he bit, licked, and sucked the nipple and it hardened even more against the now-damp material.

His hands roamed her body, learning her curves all over again as he moved his palms from the swells of her breasts down her waist and on down, down.

Dear God.

He shoved her dress up and groaned when his fingers discovered her garters and the tiniest wisp of panties that were tied with small bows on either side of her hips.

“I need to feel you,” he murmured as he caressed her hips through the silk underwear. “I’ve got to taste you.”

“Please, baby,” Sky moaned as he moved his mouth to her other breast, nipping at it, soaking the thin material. He slid his hand over the cloth covering her damp folds and she gasped as his fingers stroked her.

While he caressed her, Sky clenched her hands in his hair and rocked her hips. “I want you inside me again.”

“Sky,” he groaned. He had a wild woman in his arms, and he wanted to drive his cock into her now.

If she pushed him any further, he didn’t know if he could hold on to his so-called good intentions.

She squirmed against him and squeezed his erection. “Fuck me,” she demanded.

Shit.
He was a goner.

The rumble in Zack’s chest was deep, untamed. He made her feel wild. Crazy. Dizzy with lust.

He captured both her wrists in his hands and held them between his and Sky’s bodies.

She squirmed on his lap and he groaned. She tried to free her wrists so she could touch him, reach between them, and unfasten his jeans and wrap her fingers around his cock. God, she had to have him.

“Hold on.” His voice was rough, almost feral. “Before we go even one step further, you have to answer one question. And you’d better give the right answer, sweetheart.”

Sky stilled. She wanted him so bad she could barely comprehend what he was saying at first. Then she realized it had all come back to the question he’d asked her every time she’d invited him into her house over the past week.

She swallowed and couldn’t move.

Zack released her wrists and slipped his fingers into her hair on each side of her head. “I want you to be mine. Not just for sex. I want all of you.”

He brushed his lips over hers and she shuddered from need—the feelings racing through her were only desire and lust, right?

“Give me another chance,” he murmured against her lips, then drew away so that he was looking into her eyes. “Give us another chance.”