Almost a Cowboy (11 page)

He moved on. When he reached the exit, he peered through the peephole. Not a single person moved in the corridor. Yeah, this place was nothing like his mountain cabin. There he could glance out the window at any given time and at least see wildlife.

He threw himself down on the bed.

As he traced patterns in the ugly popcorn ceiling with his gaze, he thought of how to approach Bennett and Aurora. Maybe he should call them first.

He got up and tapped Caroline on the shoulder.

She squawked and leaped in her chair. Yanking the earbuds out, she hurriedly clicked to a new computer screen before looking at him. “What’s up?” Was it his imagination, or was she breathless? He’d really scared her.

Wordlessly, he kneeled beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She cradled his head to her breasts. After a minute, he felt her lips on his hair.

“I’m so damn unsettled,” he croaked. The internal battle to go find these relatives of his—tonight—burned hot.

She stroked his nape. “I know. What can I do?”

He raised his head and met her worried gaze. “Show me again. Show me everything you’ve found on them.”

A soft smile graced her full lips. For the tenth time that day he thought of how gorgeous she was. So easily she distracted him—he could barely drive with her hand on his leg, and his hard-on had kept him from easily applying the brakes. Right now, he felt a total lack of control at the fragrance of her cleavage. Hell, even the sweatpants she wore hitched to her knees turned him into a wild animal.

Longing invaded his senses. As soon as he read every word he could about the Colorado branch of his family, he’d carry Caroline to the bed and sink into her tight little body.

He unwound his arms from her waist and sat back on his heels. She turned to the computer screen, and with a few punches of the keys, brought up a whole file of information.

Bennett and Aurora Davies.
She had six prospective addresses.

“Why so many addresses?” he asked.

She traced one of the lines. “I think this is where we’ll find Bennett. But they’ve apparently moved all over. See? They’re both adults. We’re looking at old college addresses or apartments shared with roommates. From the information on the Internet, I can’t tell what’s current.”

“And the mother? What about her?”

Caroline tipped her head to the side and pressed her lips together. “Not sure. I was afraid to dig too deep.”

His gaze flew to hers. “Why?”

She covered his hand with hers. “I mean, this woman slept with your father while your parents were married. I thought…you might have a hard time dealing with meeting a woman who took your mother’s place without her knowledge.”

The words dropped into his stomach, hard stones hurled through the glass he preferred to hide behind. He scuffed a hand over his face and sucked in a sharp breath.

There was no fleeing from the matter at hand. “I have to meet her, Caroline. For my own sanity.”

Her lashes dipped low over her eyes. “You sure?”

“Yes. Show me how to find her. How to dig for this information.”

Excitement wove a spell around her. “Pull up that chair.”

She spent ten minutes trying to help him master using what she called a small mouse pad. But sliding his big finger around a tiny rectangle wasn’t easy. The cursor flew all over the page.

Finally, she sat back and laughed at his attempts. He shot her a grin. “Guess being a recluse has its pitfalls.”

At that, she vibrated with giggles. “I guess. But you’re quick. Look—you just got control of the arrow. Now click here.” She pointed, and he obeyed.

A new screen opened. She reached over his hand and typed
mother of Bennett Davies
.

In an instant a host of responses to the search bloomed before Utah. But he was too fixated on Caroline’s soft thigh pressed against his. His jeans grew uncomfortably tight.

She jabbed at the keys, oblivious to his arousal. “I’m not sure we’re going to find her.” She leaned toward the screen, eyes narrowed. “I don’t think she shares the Davies last name.”

Cold water of reality splashed over him. “She’d damn well better not,” he growled.

Caroline shot him a surprised look. “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

He shoved to his feet and started pacing.

She stood more slowly, watching him with an absorbed expression. “Let’s get out of here.”

“What? Drive in to Bennett so late?”

“No. We’re in Denver. The city has some amazing night life. Let’s go absorb some of it.”

“Like…dancing?”

She bobbed her head. “Clubbing. Homegrown bands and a couple drinks. C’mon, it will be fun.” She started rummaging through her duffle and came out with a short black dress. The slinky fabric didn’t bear even a wrinkle after their travels and would hug her curves deliciously.

“If that dress is part of the proposal, I’m in. But I don’t have anything but jeans and T-shirts.”

“That’s perfect. Add that hat and boots and mmmm.” Sparks lit her eyes as she studied him. He nudged his stiff cock to keep it from being pinched in his jeans, and she laughed. “Hold on to that thought.”

By the time they left the hotel and strode through the streets of the downtown area, he’d caught a little of her excitement. The floral perfume she’d spritzed behind her knees, on the undersides of her wrists, and in her cleavage tormented him.

“Where are we going? Have you been to Denver before?” he asked.

Neon lights splashed the sidewalk. He stared at the ground ahead of them, startled to find there were no shadows.

She hooked her arm under his, nestling against his side. “I’ve been here a few times.” As if guessing his thoughts, she added, “Alone.”

A dark, shiny building with plenty of glass and red neon loomed up, and she tugged Utah toward the entrance. A bouncer stood there, beefy arms crossed. He took one look at Caroline and flicked his head for them to enter. He didn’t even ask for cover.

As they stepped into the club, the music throbbed in Utah’s chest. He scanned the space—sexy bar, high-backed chairs, silvery dance floor pulsating with bodies.

Young bodies. Is this how he and Caroline might have spent a Friday night in their youth? Somehow he didn’t think so. She was more of a jeans-wearing, pushing-off-the-porch-swing-with-a-bare-toe, and snuggling-while-looking-for-shooting-stars kind of gal.

Wasn’t she?

She linked their fingers and hauled him right onto the dance floor. Utah froze like a fox caught in the beam of a farmer’s flashlight. Music jarred his eardrums. Caroline’s face was alive in a way he’d never seen.

It scared the hell out of him.

She started to sway. The tapping of her heels was lost in the noise, and her mouth moved, but he couldn’t hear her.

Leaning close, he clamped a proprietary hand on her hip. “What?”

“Move! Pretend it’s the senior prom.”

“Oh Christ.” He scrubbed a hand over his face and tentatively shuffled his feet. Slow dancing he could do. This fast gyration was beyond a man like him.

She crushed her body against his, throwing her arms around his neck. Her silken heat made him think of steamier nights. He lashed her to him and began to move.

Their slow grinding motions ratcheted up his desire. His cock thrust against his jeans painfully. For long minutes, he lost himself in her eyes and in the feel of moving with her.

She cupped his head and dragged him down to her mouth. The flicker of her tongue against his drew a long groan from him. She angled her head and kissed him deeply.

Passion ruled. The music echoed in his ears, but somehow he only heard his tripping pulse and Caroline’s rough breathing.

The song ended, and she tore herself from his embrace. He grasped at the air. She tossed him a dark, hooded look and vanished into the crowd.

He shoved through bodies. Primped, overly made-up women gathered around him, but he only had eyes for his tempting little country girl.

When he caught up to her, she was at the bar ordering drinks. She picked up two shot glasses and handed one to Utah. He wrapped his fingers around hers and held her gaze. Her cheeks were pink, and a dew of perspiration glinted on her throat and the swells of her breasts.

As she raised the glass to her lips, she never removed her stare from his. He watched her toss down the drink like a pro.

It had been a mighty long time since he’d drunk anything but beer. The strong smell of whiskey burned his nostrils. He knocked back the drink, and it blazed a path to his gut. Seconds later, it spread through his limbs, making him feel languid and hornier than hell.

He reached for her, but she slipped away. He found himself trailing her to the dance floor once again. For three fast songs, he mentally stripped her and licked every inch of her skin. By the time she leaned into him for a slow song, he was aching.

Unwilling to let her get more than a hair’s width away from him, he locked her in his embrace. Dipping his head, he captured her mouth.

But she controlled the kiss. Wildfire sizzled through his system as she thrust her tongue into his mouth. He chased it with his, but she evaded him. When she reached between their bodies and latched on to his erection, he jerked in shock.

Yanking back, he stared into her eyes, hazy with passion. “Not here.”

“Yes, here. Follow me.” She walked off.

For a split second, he stared at the extra-slippery sway of her ass. Had she put panties on under that dress?

Fuck, he was about to find out. His cock swelled another fraction, and he dove through the crowd again. Pushing people aside as if he were treading water, he caught up with Caroline by the restrooms.

God, did she expect him to take her in a dirty bar restroom? He’d drag her out and fuck her on the street first.

She vanished into the men’s room.

His heart convulsed, and he lunged through the door. Luckily the space was empty. Utah faced her, unsure of what to say.

Holding his gaze, she tugged her neckline low enough to expose her bra. Then she reached into the cups and pulled each breast free so they rode high on the fabric. His balls throbbed in time to his heartbeat at the sight of her light pink nipples, as hard as gems.

He groaned.

“Unbutton your jeans, cowboy.” Her voice even sounded different to him. His breath came faster.

She strummed her nipples with her fingers, and he couldn’t stand it another minute. He unbuckled his belt and dropped his jeans so his cock sprang free.

“Ooohh.” She flicked her tongue over her lower lip, making his cock head weep. “Lean against the door so no one comes in.”

“Oh fuck.” He did, and she dropped to her knees before him. His last thought was how dangerous the depths of her blue eyes were. He threw his head back as she sucked his cock in to the root.

The head nudged the back of her throat, and they both groaned. Her scorching mouth wrapped all around him. Pressure mounted. When she ran her tongue around the mushroomed head, he about lost it.

Fisting his hands in her hair, he watched her ripe lips slide up and down his shaft. She pulled back and let pre-come string between his body and her tongue.

“Fucking hell.” His eyes rolled up in his head. She drove her lips right to his cushion of pubic hair. Wild need gripped him.

Someone thumped the door behind him, jarring his head that rested against it.

“Occupied!”

An angry reply sounded, but Utah ignored it as the need rushed up from the base of his spine.

Caroline grasped his hips and increased the pressure. He opened his eyes and stared at the jiggle of her tits, her pretty lips, her hungry blue gaze.

He ruptured. Bucking his hips, he poured his seed into her mouth. She stared at him, eyes wide and fixed as she swallowed.

“Holy…God,” he gasped as she slid her tongue up his length and curled it over the slit of his cock. A final spurt drenched her tongue.

His harsh rasps echoed off the bathroom walls. She gave him one last mind-blowing lick and then glided to her feet. He grappled at her, drawing her tight against him, his deflating cock trapped.

He went right for her nipples.

“Pinch them,” she whispered.

Another shock of awareness ran through him. This wasn’t the sweet girl he’d left behind years ago. This experienced woman knew what she wanted and how to get it.

He dragged his teeth over his lower lip and stared down at her. “Let’s get out of here. Go back to the hotel.”

Disappointment sparked in her eyes. A wild thumping on the door made her finally nod.

Utah zipped his dick back into his jeans while Caroline righted her clothing. Then he grasped her hand and led her out of the restroom, out of the club, and back into the street, where he hope to draw a breath. But unease clogged his chest.

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