Tempting Dusty (Temptation Saga Book 1) (7 page)

He kissed a trail over her cheeks, her nose, and kissed her eyelids as gently as a butterfly. He nibbled on her ear and whispered to her how beautiful she was, how hard she made him, how much he wanted her. She ran her hands over his shoulders and neck, his muscular back, the firm male shape of him a pleasure to touch.

“You’re so damned beautiful,” he said. “I can’t get enough of you.”

He continued to trail fluttery kisses down her neck, over her chest, and then lifted his head for a moment to stare at her breasts. “Beautiful,” he said. “So beautiful.”

As he sucked a nipple between his lips, Dusty gasped and writhed, tangled her fingers in his silky black hair and urged him on. He nipped and bit at her, tugging on her nipple.

“The other one, Zach. Please, the other one.”

Zach released her nipple with a soft pop and turned his attention to the other. Was it possible to climax just from breast stimulation? Before she could find out, he was licking her belly, pausing at her blond curls.

“So beautiful,” he said again and buried his nose in her. “So sweet.” When his tongue darted out and flicked her, she bucked beneath him. He spread her legs and gazed at her. “Hold still, darlin’. I’m gonna show you a real good time.”

“Oh, God.” Dusty hardly recognized her own voice.

Zach clamped his mouth down on her and thrust out his tongue, kissing her as though he were kissing her mouth. His tongue swirled over her slick folds, licking them, tugging them between his teeth. Then he pushed his tongue into her opening again.

Dusty wanted to squirm, but he held her still. He licked her, sucked her, pushed her thighs forward, and slid his tongue over the sensitive skin of her buttocks.

“Zach…” she said tentatively.

“Hush, darlin’,” he said. “Just enjoy it.”

“Zach…”

He looked up, his chin and cheeks shining with her juices. “Yeah?”

“If you don’t come inside me soon I think I’ll go crazy.”

His gorgeous smile warmed her. “I
want
to make you crazy.”

“My God—”

He thrust two fingers inside her, and within seconds he had found a secret spot that made her explode inside. The orgasm shattered her and took her off the bed, seemed to levitate her over the mountains. She heard herself screaming his name. When she finally came back to earth, he began again, sucking her and massaging the inside of her with his clever fingers. Soon she slid back into euphoria.

Dusty lost count of how many times she climaxed. “Zach,” she pleaded. “No more. No more. I want
you
now.
You
.”

“One more, darlin’,” he said. “Fly for me. I want to make you soar.”

With his words she burst outward, outside her body once more. She was flying, just like he said. So high above the snowcapped mountains. Soaring like an eagle. Her body spasmed with the flight, shaking, trembling, the physical sensations mixed with heady emotion. When Zach lifted his mouth from her, she plummeted downward, still convulsing against his fingers, which he circled slowly inside her.

Limp and sated, she closed her eyes as Zach trailed his lips and tongue up her belly, her breasts, her neck. When he got to her mouth he stopped, leaving no more than a few inches between them.

“Open your eyes.” The breath from his words was a soft caress against her lips. “Look at me.”

Her eyelids fluttered as she obeyed his command and gazed into his beautiful unique eyes. So wonderful, this man. She expected him to kiss her, but he didn’t. They just stared into each other’s eyes. Her heart melted, her skin tingled, her mind melded with his. And just as she thought their very souls had joined, he took her mouth with his and thrust into her.

The sweet caress of his tongue, the urgent stabs of his cock, his hard body against hers—Dusty thought she had died and gone to heaven. She couldn’t imagine being closer to anyone. Ever.

As he joined with her, made love to her, she felt they were one body. And when she climaxed, he groaned and pushed into her, filling her. Zach had been right. It
was
better—perfect and amazing and absolute bliss.

He rolled them to the side, his sex still embedded inside her, and pulled her into his arms.

D
usty took
a deep breath and smoothed Regina’s soft black mane. Sydney Buchanan had made good time, but hadn’t hit her personal best of 14.1. Dusty could still take first, but it would require intense concentration. She had to win. She needed the money. Especially now.

One more deep breath, and then she kicked into high gear. Her braid slapped her back as she and Regina crossed the electric eye and raced toward the first barrel. Dusty gritted her teeth as she set Regina up to turn the first barrel without knocking it over. Then, in a whirlwind, the centrifugal force invigorating her, Dusty took Regina around the first barrel perfectly. Pursing her lips, she looked straight ahead and galloped toward the second, taking Regina around in the opposite direction. Excellent. One more to go. Running toward the backside of the arena, she aimed toward the third and final barrel, the sweet rush of adrenaline empowering her.

Yes, yes, she was doing it. Regina was in fine form as Dusty rounded the last barrel.

“Yee haw!” she heard from the stands, and she looked up briefly.

This wasn’t new to her. She often looked in the stands near the end of a race. It energized her to see the crowd cheering, and she was always able to keep her concentration.

But not this time.

Because she saw Zach, her Zach, in the arms of Angelina Bay. His lips were on hers.

Within a microsecond, Regina had knocked down the final barrel.

Dusty forced herself into the zone and headed for home, a straight shot back down the center of the arena. She had done well, and she could still take the gold. If only—

Crossing the electric eye, she noted her time.

13.4 seconds.

A personal best for her.

But she wouldn’t win. Knocking over the barrel would cost her a five second penalty. Her time would be calculated at 18.4 seconds. Sydney would take first at 14.9 seconds. Dusty wouldn’t even place.

She fought back tears as she left the arena and took care of Regina. She could cry later. Right now, her horse needed her.

Standing beside her horse in her assigned stall, Dusty brushed out Regina’s mane and curried her coat. “It wasn’t your fault, sweetheart,” she crooned. “It was me. All me.”

“Tough break.”

She looked up to see a tall man with tousled brown hair. Handsome. No Zach, but handsome nonetheless. And familiar. She had seen him before.

“It happens,” Dusty replied.

“That’s a fine mare you got there,” he said.

“Regina’s the best. Never knocked over a barrel before today.”

“I can believe it. She was amazing. So were you.”

“Yeah, well, not quite amazing enough.”

“As you say, it happens.” He held out his hand. “I’m Harper, by the way. Harper Bay.”

Of course, she had seen him at the Bay party. Angelina’s brother. Zach’s almost-brother-in-law. After today, they’d be on the road to relations again. She took his outstretched hand. “Dusty O’Donovan.”

“My sister mentioned you. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet the other night. I hear you’re seeing Zach McCray?”

Not anymore. “No.”

“Oh.” His face brightened. “I came in here because I have a proposition for you. But if you’re not involved with McCray, would you like to discuss it over coffee?”

“Depends on what it is.”

“Come to coffee and you’ll find out.”

He smiled at her. A nice, genuine smile. Was this guy really related to that Mary Ann wannabe?

“Look, Harper”—Dusty continued to curry Regina—“you seem like a nice man, and I appreciate the invitation. But I’m not in the mood at the moment. I just lost a race I should have won. I’m sure you understand.”

“Yeah, I understand.” He looked at her, his eyes rife with kindness. “Hell, I’ve been there myself. We all have.”

“I’m sure. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Can we talk here?”

Dusty sighed. Why not? “What’s on your mind?”

“Well, besides you…” His brown eyes glimmered. “Your horse.”

“What about my horse?”

“She’s the finest barrel racer I’ve seen in some time, and my sister’s birthday is coming up. She’s just getting into racing.”

“Angelina races? I thought she said she wasn’t involved in the rodeo.”

“Not Angelina. My younger sister, Caitlyn. Her sweet sixteen is next month, and my pa and I have been looking around for a horse for her. Yours is the finest I’ve seen.”

“Sorry.” Dusty turned away. “She’s not for sale.”

“I’d pay top dollar.”

Dusty inhaled sharply and met Harper’s gaze. “Just how much is top dollar?”

“How’s forty K sound?”

Dusty shook her head. “No. Sorry.”

“Okay. Fifty.”

“Sorry again.”

“Seventy-five is as high as I can go.”

Dusty gasped. This was Regina, her friend and comrade. How could she let Regina go? But seventy-five thousand dollars… It wouldn’t save the ranch but it would be a start. She had just blown the barrel race. Money was more important now than ever.

“Your sister would take care of her?”

“Heck, yeah. She loves animals, especially horses.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but she’s not like…”

“Angelina?” Harper chuckled. “No, Catie’s nothing like Angie. I take it you don’t care for my big sister?”

“She’s your
big
sister?”

“Yeah, she’s twenty-seven. I’m just a babe of twenty-five.” He gave her a wide grin.

“I hardly know Angelina. I’ve only spoken to her a few times.”

Aside from seeing her lip-locked with Zach, which caused me to screw up my race.

“Angie’s all right,” Harper said. “Just kind of a girly-girl, you know. And she’s a bit spoiled. She was the firstborn, and a girl, so Pa gave her whatever she wanted.”

“I see. What happened between her and Zach?”

“Just differences. Was our families more than anything that pushed them together.”

Dusty nodded, moved to the back of the stall, and stroked Regina’s silky ears and kissed her velvety nose. Soft and sleek—she loved how Regina’s ears felt under her fingers. Looking into her horse’s big brown eyes, she tried to make her understand what she was about to do.

“You promise your baby sister will take good care of her?” A tear fell down Dusty’s cheek.

“Yeah. I promise.” Harper walked toward Dusty and wiped away the tear.

Dusty jerked backward. It didn’t feel right for him to touch her.

“I’m sorry,” Harper said.

“It’s okay.” She sniffed and held out her hand. “We’ve got a deal, Harper. Seventy-five thousand.”

He clasped her hand and shook it in a tight grip. When he didn’t let go, she pulled away forcefully.

Then she turned and walked out of the stall.

H
ow she ended
up at Diablo’s pen, Dusty wasn’t sure. She sat down, her back supported by a bale of hay, while the bull scruffed and snorted inside. She was alone. Everyone else was at the stock show or the rodeo. The practice rings were deserted but for a few ranch hands here and there. Just as well.

He had said he’d be her loudest cheerer. What a crock. Someone should have clued him in to the fact that it was impossible to cheer for the woman who had shared your bed when there was another woman’s tongue stuffed down your throat.

Did it have to be during her race? Couldn’t he have at least pretended to care?

She looked up at Diablo. The bull was staring at her calmly. She had the strangest feeling that Diablo knew she was sad, that he wanted to help her.

Zach might prefer sweet Mary Ann to her, but she could at least get her paws on his half mil purse. It was even more important now. Since that damned phone call…

With half a mil she could buy back Regina as well.

She rose and searched the bull’s body. The flank strap was in place and looked about right—not too tight. Later, she’d berate Zach for leaving the strap on the animal while he was resting, but for now, he was ready to ride.

She looked Diablo in the eye. “It’s just you and me, big boy,” she said sweetly. “Just you and me. No one else is here. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

She began to sing her Irish lullaby, this time reaching for the bull’s flank and gently running her hands over his soft pelt. She walked around the pen, continuing to sing, and then reached his head and looked straight into his eyes. The animal was relaxed. It was time. She unlatched the gate and entered the pen.

Diablo didn’t flinch as Dusty approached him. She latched the gate so she was locked in with him and moved to stand beside him, continuing to sing. After about ten minutes, she climbed up on a hay bale to mount him. And the most amazing thing happened.

He laid his body down in the soft dirt.

Dusty clasped her hand over her mouth, and tears welled in her eyes. He trusted her. He lay down so she could mount him. What a sweet, sweet animal.

She continued to croon to him as she lifted one leg over his large body and sat down gently, resisting her own weight at first and then adding it little by little until her full weight was on Diablo’s back. She sat there for a few minutes, letting him get used to the feel of her, and then she leaned forward slowly, pressing her chest and then her cheek into his soft, bristly fur.

Oh, she was nervous, but she calmed herself, understanding that Diablo would draw from her emotions and her body language.

“What a sweet boy you are,” she crooned, gently nudging her cheek into him.

She remained calm when she saw a pair of denim-clad legs walk toward the pen. She didn’t know whose, but she was pretty sure they didn’t belong to Zach. She knew his walk and his legs fairly well now.

“Shh,” she said softly. “Don’t frighten him.” Her cheek was still nestled in the bull’s back.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” the man said, nearly whispering. “I’ve never seen such a thing. That’s a killer bull, Dusty.”

Okay, this person knew her. “He’s no killer. Just a misunderstood animal. He’s sweet and gentle.” She edged her gaze upward to the face of the stranger.

Harper Bay.

“Don’t come any closer,” Dusty whispered.

“I won’t.”

“I’m glad you’re here. I’m going to try to get him to stand up. When I’m ready, I want you to open the gate.”

“You’re going to ride him?” Harper’s voice was a little louder than Dusty was comfortable with, but Diablo didn’t react.

“Shh,” she said again. “Yes, but only if he’s ready. He may not be. And that’s okay. He’ll let me eventually.”

“But you don’t have any gear on.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. You’re crazy. You at least need a glove. How are you going to hold the rope?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Here.” Harper strode toward her hesitantly, holding out a leather work glove. “It’s not the best but it’ll at least keep you from cutting your pretty hand.”

“Slowly, Harper,” Dusty warned.

He obeyed, and she took the glove. He was right. She did need it.

“You don’t have chaps. Or a helmet.”

“I’m fine.”

“Damn, Dusty, I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“He won’t hurt me.”

“He hurt Chad McCray pretty badly a year ago.”

“I’m not Chad McCray.”

“No, you’re not.” Harper kept his voice low and melodic, despite what he was saying. “That’s my point.”

“Shh.” The soft whisper of her quieting command seemed to relax Diablo. “I’m going to sit up now and try to get him to stand.”

“Dusty.”

“Shh.” She slowly lifted her body until she was sitting perpendicular to the bull. She willed her pulse to stay steady as she sat for a few moments. Then she gently squeezed her thighs together, and Diablo stood.

“I’ll be goddamned,” Harper said under his breath. “This is impossible. Damned impossible.”

“No, it’s not. You’re witnessing it. How’s his strap look?”

“Looks fine to me, but—”

“No buts.” She stroked the bull’s back. “Give me a few minutes. Then I want you to open the gate.”

“No.”

“Please, Harper.”

“I can’t.”

“Please. I need this.”

“Dusty…”

“Does your watch have a second hand?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re my timer. Zach will trust you if you say I rode him longer than eight seconds.”

“So you’ve done this before?”

“Of course.” Her voice was tranquil and harmonious. “Many times. Just not with this bull.”

“Oh, God.”

“It’ll be all right.” Dusty quietly toyed with Diablo’s braided rope, tightly fastening it to her right hand. She was vaguely aware of more onlookers surrounding the practice ring, speaking in hushed voices. “That’s a good boy. Such a good, big boy.” She looked at Harper. “I’m ready. Unlatch the gate, and then get outside the ring. As soon as I tug on his rope he’ll get mad, but I can handle him, I promise.”

“Good Lord…”

“And don’t forget to check the time on your watch as you unlatch.”

Dusty shut her eyes and tried to reach Diablo mentally as she heard Harper unlatch the gate and swing it open. In a flash, Dusty opened her eyes and gave Diablo’s rope a good yank. The bull bounded out into the ring, bucking and spinning.

So far, so good. Dusty could handle this. She continued talking to Diablo, hoping her voice would gentle him. Diablo knew his role well. He twisted. He spun. He bucked. He reared. Dusty felt every jolt, every ripple of his strong muscle. She reacted, matching him move for move, trying to make herself an extension of him and not a foreign object.

God, this animal was strong.

Come on, boy,
she thought, trying to reach him mentally, emotionally.
We can do this. Yes, we can do this.

She found his rhythm. She had reached him. What an adrenaline rush! She concentrated, holding him with her thighs, grasping the rope in her gloved hand. Yes, it was good. They were together. Completely.

But Diablo whisked away from her in a millisecond with a tremendous jerk. Caught off guard, Dusty flew through the air and stopped, her head striking the hard dirt of the ring.

She lifted her head, her vision cloudy, and attempted to move. Diablo stood several feet away from her, snorting and shuffling his hoof on the ground. The spell had broken. He no longer recognized her. Something had forced them apart, and he was coming for her. God, he was coming for her, but she couldn’t move.
She couldn’t move.