The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance) (15 page)

Stretching out beside her, his heated gaze
traveled the length of her body. He hadn't thought it possible, but
he hardened even more.

Jessie laid her palms flat against his
chest. Her emerald eyes shimmered with passion. She wet her lips
with the tip of her tongue. "Now, Cameron. Take me now.
Please."

Her whispered plea shattered what was left
of his control. It was impossible to wait another moment. Later
they could leisurely taste and touch, savor each other's bodies.
Right now, he had to have her and make her his. He wanted to feel
her inner muscles contract as she accepted him into her body. He
grabbed his jeans and pulled a small plastic package from the
pocket.

Jessie stared at the packet. Protection
wasn't necessary. But now wasn't the time to tell Cameron she
couldn't have children. She didn't want anything to spoil their
lovemaking.

Taking the square packet from him, she
brushed her arm against his hot erection. Deliberately, she brushed
him again as she got to her knees. "We really don't need this."

Cameron's eyes dilated and his nostrils
flared. "You're protected?"

Jessie tossed the condom aside.
"Absolutely." It wasn't really a lie.

For a moment, she knelt there and just
looked at him. He was big and hard and beautiful. She bent and
swirled her tongue over and around the rigid tip of his erection.
Her stomach contracted in feminine triumph when Cameron clutched
her head, threading his fingers in her hair, groaning his desire.
She moistened the length of him with her lips, caressing him with
her tongue, teasing a bit before finally taking him in her
mouth.

"You're killing me, Jess."

She lifted her head and smiled. "Am I?"
Slowly, sensuously, she slid her hand up and down his length, then
cupped the velvety sacs in her palms.

Cameron growled as he pushed her back onto
the pallet. He followed her down and covered her with his body. He
closed his eyes, striving for control, luxuriating in the feel of
her naked against him. He gripped the sides of her head and plunged
his tongue into her willing mouth, ravishing the warm interior,
capturing her lips with his teeth, biting gently, sucking hard.

With his knee, he wedged open her thighs and
entered her, pushing until he was secured. He waited a minute,
holding his breath, afraid he'd explode. He wanted to make it good
for Jessie, because it was damn sure good for him. Slowly, he began
to move.

Jessie clasped her legs around Cameron's
waist and held on tightly. She'd been living for this moment all of
her life. She kissed the corded muscles of his neck. His lips
compressed in a tight line. He slid his arms behind to grasp her
buttocks, hammering into her again and again. She welcomed his
weight and met each powerful plunge with an upward thrust. She
relished the feel of her breasts crushed beneath his chest, the
driving force as their bodies joined.

They quickly discovered their own unique
rhythm. Coming together, pulling apart. Breaths scorching, sweat
glistening. Muscles tensing, flexing. Jessie soared on the
precipice of release, the magic in sight, the urgency mounting, the
tension agonizing.

Cameron raised up and pushed deeper, slowly
pulling out to prolong the sweet torture, then thrusting again
until he was buried to the hilt.

When Jessie finally cried out, her body
overtaken by a powerful orgasm, Cameron dropped his head to the
pillow, whispering encouragement, finding his own release as she
strained against him. Together they hurtled through time that had
stopped. Swirling in the violence of their passion, free-falling
back to earth, they lay in the aftermath of their desire, waiting
for the pounding of their hearts to slow and their throbbing bodies
to still.

****

The next day, bright autumn sunlight cast
dusty beams through the high windows of Kincaid's Garage. Jessie
was busy working on Cy Jackson's tractor. She had flushed the
radiator and was now checking the thermostat. She tried not to
think about the night before, but couldn't help herself. Happiness
and despondency warred inside her.

No way did she regret the lovemaking. It had
been wonderful. Everything she had imagined plus some. She blushed
when she remembered Cameron's insatiable desire.
And her
own
. As if they were trying to make up for all the years they
had been apart. Finally, exhausted and replete, they had fallen
asleep in each other's arms.

Jessie had awakened on the cold hard pallet
in the early morning hours, turning to seek the warmth of Cameron's
body, only to find emptiness. He had left without saying goodbye.
She dragged her love-sore body to bed and crawled between icy
sheets, flipping on the electric blanket. It wasn't long until her
feet were toasty, but nothing could warm the chill clutching her
heart.

What had she expected?
She had known
Cameron wouldn't stay; leaving was what he was good at. No, Jessie
wasn't sorry she'd made love with Cameron. It had been beautiful
and right. She loved him more than ever, but what would happen now?
What did he want from her? What more was she willing to give?

Jessie reached for a wrench, when suddenly,
large hands spun her around until she was lodged between the
tractor and a hard muscled male body. Before she could utter a
greeting or protest, Cameron's mouth crushed down on hers, taking
her with a savage passion, his tongue tangling with her tongue,
renewing the erotic rhythm they'd discovered last night.

Jessie's doubts and fears faded to the
background. Her heart sang joyously.
Cameron was back.
She
plastered her body to his rugged frame.

Cameron drew her closer, gripping her
bottom, lifting her a little, so he could rub against her. He felt
her tremble in his arms, sigh into his mouth. She was so
responsive. So giving. So sexy.

He set Jessie on her feet and kept his arms
around her. "Good morning, sweetheart." He kissed her nose and
forehead. God, he'd hated leaving her on their makeshift pallet.
The temptation to stay and wake her with his kisses, bring her to
pleasure as the sun peeked in the east, plunge himself into her
inviting heat--it had been almost more than he could resist.

But he hadn't dared spend the entire night
with her. If they had been in Houston, it would have been
different. They could have stayed in bed morning, noon, and night.
As it was, he knew his mother would have enough to talk about
knowing he'd taken Jessie home and stayed so late. So he'd forced
himself to leave, ignoring the compelling urge to take her again,
brand her as his. Feelings of protectiveness battled with feelings
of possessiveness. He'd been shocked by the primitive need to claim
this woman as his own.

Jessie slipped out of Cameron's embrace and
stood, hands on hips, glaring at him. "Why did you leave me without
saying goodbye?"

"Because you were sleeping so soundly, I
hated to disturb you." He reached for her, wanting to gather her in
his arms again.

She pushed away, putting the tool bench
between them.

"Aw, Jess. What are you doing? There's no
need to play games. We're past that, I hope. Give me another
kiss."

Playing games?
She didn't think so.
Too much was at stake, namely her heart. But she couldn't tell
Cameron that. They were beginning anew. Starting over. She had to
tread carefully. Maybe he was right. Maybe she
was
playing a
game.

She chose her words with care. "Last night
was special for me. When I woke up and you weren't there . . . I
felt . . . bad."

Cameron stepped around the bench, taking her
in his arms. "I'm sorry, Jess. I only want to make you feel good.
We
are
good together, aren't we?"

"Yes," she said, keeping her eyes on his
chest.
But for how long?
The silent question made her want
to cry.

Cameron grasped the nape of her neck and
gently tugged her hair, tilting her head back until she met his
gaze. "Next time, I'll be sure to say goodbye before I leave your
bed." He skimmed his tongue gently across her lips, lightly tasting
before devouring her with his mouth.

Jessie closed her eyes and put her arms
around Cameron's waist. It was a heady sensation to feel him
tremble with need for her, just as she trembled for him. They
were
good together. Surely, that had to count for something.
And what had he meant by 'next time'? Was he staying around for a
while?

Jessie broke the embrace when she heard a
door slam. She didn't want Sam to catch her in Cameron's arms. "I
have to get back to work."

Reluctantly, Cameron let her go. He nodded
to Garza as the man walked up.

"Morning," Sam said, eyeing them strangely.
"Finished with the tractor, Jessie?"

"It still needs antifreeze," she said.

"I'll take care of it."

Cameron grabbed Jessie's arm and hauled her
outside. He hated her working so closely with Garza. What the hell
was the matter with him? He was jealous, that's what. And
possessive. First, the sheriff. Now, Garza. Who next?

After tasting the delights of Jessie's body
last night, he wanted more.
Now
. But that was impossible, so
he crammed his hands in his pockets instead of dragging her slender
body close.

Jessie watched the desire burn in Cameron's
eyes. The knuckles of his clenched fists turned white before he
buried them in his jeans. For a moment, she was afraid he was going
to kiss her out here in front of God and everybody. That would
certainly give the town something to talk about, especially after
he left. She readjusted her hat, stuffing her hair under the brim.
The draft from the cold morning breeze hit her face. The promise of
winter floated in the chilled air. She shifted her weight from one
foot to the other, waiting for Cameron to speak. It was getting
cold, the silence awkward. Did last night mean anything to him?
They'd finished what they'd started on Lover's Point. How long
before he returned to Houston? She had to prepare herself. He would
leave. It was inevitable.

"Did you want to tell me something in
particular? Or did you drag me out here to freeze my bottom off?"
she said. To hell with melancholy thoughts. She needed to enjoy
this time with Cameron. It was all she would have.

"I want to go to the bonfire tonight and I
want you to go with me."

Jessie's jaw dropped.
Cameron wanted to
take her to the bonfire?
She really shouldn't place too much
importance on it, or let herself hope, but she couldn't help the
happy little bubble dancing inside. She smiled and kissed his
cheek. "I'd love to go. Say about six-thirty?"

"That's fine. And this time, I'll pick you
up. No arguments." He grasped her wrist, pulled her to him and
kissed her hard. Jessie's eyes widened in surprise. She
halfheartedly attempted to push away, even while her mouth melted
beneath his onslaught.

Finally, he let her go. "I'll be by your
house at six-thirty. Be ready for me."

Cameron left her standing by the garage
doors, gasping for breath, her eyes dreamy with passion. If she
looked at him like that tonight when he picked her up, they would
be late for the bonfire.

Jessie was waiting on her porch, ready to
leave when Cameron pulled up. She hurried to the car and hopped in.
Her smile was strained when she greeted him. No time for kisses, no
time for passion. They wouldn't be late to the bonfire, damn it. He
wondered what was wrong.

As he turned onto the highway, she started
digging in her purse.

"Did you forget something?" he asked. "Need
to go back to the house?"

"Nope, I found it." She pulled out a small
spiral pad attached to a long ribbon and tied it around her neck
like a necklace. Then she fastened a ballpoint to the ribbon and
snapped her purse shut.

"What's with the pad and pen? Are you going
to take notes or something?"

"Yes. For the paper."

"For the paper?"

"The newspaper. Every year, I do a story on
the homecoming festivities."

"You do keep busy, don't you?"

Again, that strained smile. "I like to be
busy."

Cameron drummed his fingers on the steering
wheel, racking his brain for something to say. They were acting
like strangers, which was ridiculous. Last night, they had been
naked in bed. Engaged in the best sex he'd ever had. He'd thought
it had been good for Jessie, too.

He glanced at her. She was staring out the
window. It had been a big step for her to go to bed with him. Maybe
she regretted it, or maybe she just felt uncomfortable and awkward.
He didn't know what to say.

They continued the ride in silence. On the
edge of town, Cameron slowed down. As always, the bonfire ceremony
took place in the big field across from the high school. Now, there
was Jessie's clinic sharing the space. He wanted another look at
the medical clinic. He'd been thinking about it ever since Jessie
had given him the grand tour.

He parked near the other cars and
trucks.

"Something wrong?" he asked, then couldn't
help himself. "Are you sorry about last night?"

"No." She turned and faced him. "No, I'm not
sorry about last night."

"So what's bothering you?"

Jessie sighed deeply. "Nothing. I'm just
being silly. Come on, let's go." She was out the door before he
could ask more questions.

"Wait, Jess," he called, jogging after
her.

Jessie stopped and stared straight
ahead.

"You going to tell me what's going on?"

"Nothing's going on. I'm fine, I
promise."

Cameron resisted the urge to drag her in his
arms and kiss away her worries. He needed to be cautious; he was
swimming in dangerous waters here. He had no plan. He was going on
gut instinct and didn't know where it would lead him.