Fox, Morgan - Discovering Temptation [Texas Stallions 1] (Siren Publishing Allure) (12 page)

He waited for the bomb to drop. He couldn’t meet his mother’s gaze. For the first time in his life, he wanted something for himself, and he didn’t want to think about how it would impact his family. He knew that was what his mother was thinking before she even said a word.

“You can’t risk screwing things up, Tyler. Your brothers are counting on you. If you really plan to stay here, then you need to keep things professional between you and her.”

He knew that, too, but damn it, he was tired of living with everyone else’s needs being more important than his. He struggled with how to change that, giving himself his own identity, and reveling in his own desires. Anger caused his blood to pump harder through his veins.

“Even without looking into your eyes, I can see those gears turning, Tyler. Don’t jeopardize a good thing. I know it won’t always be this way,” she said, rubbing his shoulder. “Just a little more time and we could land our own ranch again.”

“Mother,” he muttered. “What if I don’t want another ranch, what if what I want is here?”

“What are you talking about? We’ve always wanted another family ranch we can be proud of.”

He turned, meeting her gaze. “No, Mother, I want more than just to work the land and be with my brothers. I want a life of my own.”

She shook her head, her eyes widening. “Have you already slept with her?”

“Would it really matter if I had?”

“I think perhaps you’re thinking with your other head, son, and not the one that holds your brains. You can’t be serious about her. You’ve only known her for a short while.”

The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Don’t worry about it, Mom,” he said. “I’ll take care of things like I always do.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” his mother snapped, her hands digging into her hips.

“Exactly what I said.” He groaned angrily. “Now, go inside and tell Cooper you’re ready to go home. It’s late, and we’ve got an early day tomorrow.”

Tyler left her staring after him as he stepped off the porch and into the blackness surrounding him. A plan formed in his mind, one that would finally have him achieving all the things he’d always wanted out of life. The first on his list was Abby Blake.

Chapter Seven

In the near distance Abby could see Tyler working on the fence toward the side of the pasture, Cooper was still up at the ranch house and Hunter was in the barn. She’d taken a slight detour on her way to the house after spending time with Tyler, checking things out around the perimeter. She was practically in the middle of all three and felt safer than possible as she covertly made her way over to the one spot on the property she’d never forgotten about. The partially isolated spring was the one place her mother hadn’t restricted her from as a child. The crisp, clear water was incredible for quick dips on hot days, and Texas had plenty of those.

Kicking off her shoes, she glanced around before slipping off her jeans and underwear, pulling her shirt over her head and quickly unfastening her bra before submerging herself into the cool spring. The refreshing feel of the water over her skin robbed her of breath, but not nearly as much as when she spotted Tyler heading her way on horseback.

She ducked as low into the water as she could without going fully under and hoped he wouldn’t see her. The last thing she needed was to be caught naked in front of him. She was already having a heck of time keeping her thoughts from traveling down the dirty road of sex every time she saw him.

Her luck was once again challenged as Tyler headed straight for the spring. Within a minute, he was dismounting his horse and kneeling at the spring, splashing water over his face and dunking his red bandana in the water, wiping the back of his neck with it. Then he caught sight of her clothes and gazed over the body of water, meeting her surprised stare.

“Well, I see you found the spring,” he said, not bothering to hide his lust-filled need. His gaze dipped low on her chest. “You know you’re not supposed to be alone, Abby. However, you’re in luck as I plan to hang out with you for as long as you’re here.” A wide smile tugged at his sexy lips. “Naked or not.”

Her heart fluttered as he stood. “I wouldn’t mind it if you stayed,” she whispered and hadn’t intended for her words to be heard aloud. She gasped as he looked back at her, and his eyes darkened with longing. She recognized it because she felt it, too. They’d played the flirting game since they’d met, and it was becoming increasingly harder to fight. Her heart raced, and her breathing became shallower. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

He held her gaze for a long moment. “So, what does that mean, exactly?” He folded his well-defined arms over his chest.

A nervous flutter sank to the pit of her stomach. What she wouldn’t give to have the courage to tell him to strip off his clothes and jump into the water and ravage her body until they both came in a blaze of glory. The image that fired in her mind had her pussy throbbing with desire.

Staring down at the dark, cool water surrounding her, she said, “Nothing.”
Lie. Lie. Lie.
Damn, she was a coward, and she hated that intimacy with a man that wasn’t a dark, manipulating brute was near impossible for her to accept.

Thanks, Mom. Your nurturing support did wonders for my self-esteem.

“Nothing,” he said, repeating her words as he began unbuttoning his shirt. “Then you won’t mind if I jump in and cool off. I’d go to another spring, but it’s clear on the other side of the property and I’m afraid I could melt before I got there.”

Her eyes sprung open wide. Oh God, he was actually taking off his clothes, and she couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Tyler, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” Her eyes immediately locked in on her discarded clothing, and so did his. She knew that her expression screamed, “I’m naked!” but he didn’t seem to mind.

“Oh,” he said with a sly grin, and unbuckled his pants, sliding the jeans down long, muscular legs. “Don’t be shy, Abby. I guess to even things out, I should be naked, too. I don’t want you to feel awkward.” Down went his boxers.

Somewhere between lust and fear, she was glad he hadn’t just walked away. Staring at his erect penis, she couldn’t speak. Finally, tearing her eyes away, she gazed up at his magnificent body, tall, lean and mouthwatering. He was the most perfect man she’d ever seen.

Slick heat poured from between her legs and an arousal unlike anything she’d ever experienced fired inside her. “Tyler, this is so not a good idea,” she replied. Excitement and panic warmed her blood. Was it possible to sweat while submerged in water?

Splash
. He disappeared under the water in seconds, surfacing with a burst of breath that surged from his lungs. With both hands, he pushed his damp hair away from his face. “I think it’s a perfect idea. I’ve always enjoyed swimming, and finding a beautiful, naked woman to enjoy it with is simply a bonus.”

“Tyler.” She said his name, but it wasn’t exactly a question. She honestly didn’t know what to say to him. Even though her mind was telling her that this was going to be a colossal mistake, her wild thoughts were also telling her that there was nothing more she wanted than to have Tyler Boyd make love to her.

In the blink of an eye, he was a breath away from her. His arms floated in the water dangerously close to hers. The once stormy, blue-gray eyes she’d noticed the night he’d rescued her were now richly darker. His lips were slightly parted, and her body urged her to take a chance, to taste the lips that looked exquisite.

Her chest tightened as he drew near. “Are you afraid of me, Abby?”

Yes.
“No,” she said quickly.
Lie. Lie. Lie.
She was terrified of him. He wasn’t like the men she’d dated over the years. Finding a man like Tyler to love couldn’t be her luck. Love? Who said anything about love? “No, I’m not afraid of you.”

His arms circled around her, pulling her body up against his. “Then why are you trembling?”

Because you make me want something I could never have.
“I’m cold.”

Cold was the last thing she was feeling as she found herself pressed against him. The bulge of his cock probed her pelvis, making her shudder even more.

There was no mistaking the desire she witnessed within the depths of his eyes. His body felt so right, so perfect touching hers. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I first saw you, Abby. I can’t seem to think about anyone else, but you.”

“Oh, God,” she breathed as panic squeezed a little firmer around her stomach. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

He cupped the side of her face while his other arm stayed securely wrapped around her waist, keeping her locked in close to him. “I dreamed about you like this, and when I saw you heading this way, I only prayed it wasn’t my imagination.”

She narrowed her eyes. Sudden warmth filled her heart. “You fantasize about me?”

He smiled softly and admitted, “Every night. I can’t get you out of my head, Abby. I want you. I want you so damn much.”

No one had ever dreamed about her before. No one had ever said the things he said to her. The tone he used truly made her want to believe he meant every word. She had a desperate need to believe him. Maybe, if he kissed her, she could feel the difference between meaning it and just another lie. She was accustomed to identifying lies. Maybe, she could allow one little, harmless kiss between them to satisfy her curiosity.

Sighing, she whispered, “Kiss me.”

Tyler’s gaze danced between her lips and eyes. His hand caressed the side of her face. Then slowly, he dipped his fingers into the damp strands of her hair and his mouth captured hers.

Instantly, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and neck, and her legs rose up to wrap around his waist. The need to keep him from breaking the kiss became more alarming than her need to breathe.

So much for a harmless kiss…

Drowning in desire, she opened for him as his tongue plundered the depths of her mouth. His wild, cinnamon flavor had her tongue and lips burning for more. She was practically drinking him up.

The hand that had once cradled her face was now tenderly massaging the underside of her breast. Groaning from the possession of his mouth on hers and his hands on her body, her nipples hardened further. A wild shiver shot through her as his thumb danced over the hardened tip. Gripping her waist, he raised her out of the water enough to suckle her breasts, sucking and gently tugging at her nipples. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she arched her back, pressing her breasts out for his exploration.

She threaded her fingers through his hair, cradling him against her as his lips trailed sweet kisses over her ribs, until he closed his warm mouth over the aching peak. Tugging gently on her hard nipple with his teeth, he languidly circled his tongue around it, swirling in a tantalizing fashion. Lowering her back down into the water, he pressed kisses along the column of her neck and jaw, and then he took possession of her mouth.

“Oh my God,” she whispered in wonder.

Grinding his hips, his hard cock rubbed over her clit and her head kicked back. “Tyler,” she muttered in a daze. “What are you doing to me?”

“I thought it was obvious,” he said, groaning.

His hands were all over her body, and his mouth and cock were a wicked tease of things to come. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She was prepared to erupt into a full-fledged scream as he cradled her breast with his large hand, keeping her close to him as he lowered his head and sucked her other nipple between his lips.

As if testing her, he slowly trailed his fingers down her body, between her breasts, past her ribs and belly, until his fingers pressed in between the folds of her pussy. She cried out as the thick pad of his thumb circled around her clitoris, tormenting her deliciously. The last person to touch her so intimately had been herself. Having Tyler breathing heavily into her ear as he sank two fingers inside her cunt, circling her clit, had every thought fleeing her mind in a maddening rush.