Jamie (13 page)

All the fight went out of her. Instead of shoving against his chest, Faith used her hands to hide her face. “All right.”

Jamie braced himself.

“You're sexy.”

If he hadn't already been flat against her, he would have collapsed.

“There.” She dropped her hands to glare at him. “I said it. Are you happy?”

He wasn't quite sure. Confused, yeah. But happy? It'd been so long since Jamie had experienced true happiness, he might not recognize it anymore.

But triumph, satisfaction, interest, he had those in spades.

Rather than tell her so, Jamie shrugged. “Could be your idea of sexy is a little warped.”

“Are you kidding?” Faith curled her hands around his biceps and gave a little hum of appreciation. “Do you ever look in a mirror? You're a superstud, Jamie Creed.”

Guarded, Jamie asked, “Did you get into my moonshine again?”

Rather than take offense, Faith laughed. “Trust me, it's true. You're dark and brooding, full of mystery, and God knows you have a fabulous body, all lean strength and long bones—”

Brows shooting up, Jamie repeated, “Long bones?”

Faith sputtered. “I don't mean
that.”
Giving him a shove that Jamie disregarded, she ordered, “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

That'd be a little hard to do with her smaller body conforming to his in some pretty enticing ways. Seeing her stiffened nipples by no means compared with actually feeling them against his chest. His palms itched with the need to cup her breasts in his hands, caress her, stroke her. She looked soft, smelled soft, felt soft.

Shit.

On very unfamiliar ground, Jamie kept his face blank and asked, “You really think so? Even with the beard and . . . everything else?”

She cupped his jaw in trembling hands, which sent an answering shiver through Jamie's limbs. Stroking his beard with her thumbs, she said, “Sure, you'd be sexier without all the fur, but your eyes... Man, Jamie, you have very compelling eyes.” Her sigh drifted against his lips, warm and gentle. “Then there's your kindness, the way you care so much about people. And the wounded way you protect yourself.” Loaded with sincerity, she vowed, “No red-blooded woman could ever resist you. ”

Jamie didn't know if he should be insulted or turned on. Wounded? Jesus, he didn't want people seeing him like that. But he couldn't think clearly, not when Faith left herself open to him, and he had not only his own sexual need to deal with, but hers, too.

Talk about potent.

Feeling her excitement added to his; her heat made him hotter; her desire pushed his right over the edge.

Right now, if he touched her between her legs, she'd be damp and warm, ready for him. He knew it, and it made him nuts.

In survival mode, Jamie closed his eyes and focused on his purpose. Then Faith shifted one of her legs and Jamie just naturally settled between her thighs, and damn it, that felt right in too many ways to count.

Until Faith gasped, and pain stiffened her spine. That brought him a moment of sanity.

Levering himself up and away from her, Jamie cursed. “Your leg—”

“No!” Her arms wound tight around his neck. “Don't go. Please. My leg is fine.” She tucked her face against his chest. “I've been so alone and so scared and it feels good just to be held. By you. Please, Jamie.”

Jamie hesitated, but he wanted to do more than hold her. And with that thought in mind, he tamped down on his lust and steered them back on track. “Did you breast-feed?”

That odd stillness claimed her, before Faith pushed back to see his face. “What?”

“With Cory. Was she a breast-fed baby or bottle fed?”

Panic ran through Faith. Her eyes darted over Jamie's face and her back pressed into the couch. But Jamie wasn't about to let her retreat again. As she pulled away, he settled more closely to her, reminding her she had nowhere to go-not until he allowed it.

“It's not a tough question, Faith.”

Her eyes were big and sad when she looked up at him. “Cory was ... was bottle fed.”

“You didn't want to nurse her?”

She let out a shuddering breath. “I did. I wanted to so badly. But I couldn't.”

“Why?”

Appearing more pained by the moment, she shook her head but said nothing. She closed herself off from him, taking every part of herself that she could and hiding it away in a secret place in her mind where Jamie couldn't see, couldn't know. After the incredible sensation of having her openly want him, sharing herself so completely, her distance felt icy cold.

Fine, Jamie thought, seeing it as another sign that her intentions were suspect at best, threatening at worst. Under the circumstances, it wasn't easy, but he hardened his heart against her.

He would not be influenced by his base desires.

So he had a boner? Big deal. Wasn't the first time, sure as hell wouldn't be the last. Regardless of what many men tried to claim, no guy had ever died from unrequited lust.

With that thought in mind, Jamie pushed her with his questions. “What about her birth, Faith?”

When her lashes lifted, big tears swam in her eyes. “What about it?”

“Was it a difficult labor?”

“No. Cory was a big baby, eight pounds and fourteen ounces. But there were no problems.”

Damn near nine pounds. For some reason, that intrigued Jamie. “You said she's tall for her age?”

“And mature.”

“Did you need drugs?”

“For what?”

“The birth.” Impatient, Jamie scowled. “Or did you go natural?”

Faith stalled, turning her face away from him.

Jamie brought it right back. “Answer me, Faith.”

“I... I hate drugs.”

Which was a non-answer if he'd ever heard one. Deciding he'd had enough of her evasiveness and his own warped guessing game, Jamie gave her all his weight, pressing into her until her frantic breaths mingled with his own and her heartbeat started a drumroll. “You have a sexy belly, Faith.”

Whatever she'd been expecting, he'd taken her by surprise. She blinked at him, no words coming to her.

“I've seen it,” Jamie reminded her. “I've seen all of you.”

She nodded. “Because you took my clothes.”

He lifted himself a few inches, pressed his hand between their bodies, over her navel. Watching her closely for any signs of deception, Jamie pointed out the obvious. “You don't have the belly of a woman who's carried a big baby.”

Her mouth opened and closed without uttering a single sound.

His fingers caressed her, and he said, “You don't have the body of a woman who's been pregnant. Ever. ”

Eyes narrowing, her bravado back, Faith faced off with him. “And you've seen a lot of pregnant ladies, I take it?”

“I'm not an idiot, Faith.” Jamie caressed her again, angling his fingers downward and pressing in. She sucked in a startled, excited breath. “You like that? Well, I'd like the truth. Tell me about Cory.”

He knew Cory existed, because he'd seen her, and he knew Faith cared about the child. Her thoughts were too clear and pure whenever Faith focused on her. But she hadn't birthed Cory. So who was the little girl?

Jamie expected Faith's barriers to stay in place. He expected her to impede his efforts at reading her while she sought believable excuses.

Instead, she opened herself to him, presenting him with a flood of carnal sensations that devastated his intentions, throwing him off guard. It was like getting full-blown drunk in a heartbeat. Or having an orgasm with no foreplay.

It was like being loved without knowing why.

Lust was there, hot and ripe, stirring his blood and sending his heart on a frantic gallop. But Faith also shared her neediness, her tenderness, her mother's love and worry for her child, her hope for understanding.

Her caring for Jamie.

His head spun, leaving him unable to concentrate on any one single sentiment. Other than the time Delayna had used him as a lab rat, he'd never suffered such a tumultuous emotional inferno. But with Delayna, it had been his feelings alone, because that bitch hadn't felt a thing.

Now, Faith's feelings, combined with his own, left him utterly lost.

“Don't, Jamie,” she begged, grabbing his face and pulling him down to her. Her lips pressed a damp kiss onto his cheekbone, the bridge of his nose. “Don't think, just feel me. Accept me.” Her lips moved over his, frenzied but light, a whisper of sensation—and Jamie gave up.

She'd rocked his foundation, and he didn't have it in him to fight. Not right now.

To anchor himself, Jamie tangled his fingers in her hair and held her still so his mouth could settle onto hers, rocking, sucking, taking, and giving.

He groaned at the mind-blowing taste and feel of her, the resiliency of her lips, and her reciprocal hunger as she opened her mouth, accepting his tongue and giving him her own.

She arched into him, trying to get closer, trying to crawl inside him.

He must have forgotten how wonderful kissing could be, Jamie thought, because he didn't remember anything like this. And he'd be damned before he let it go.

Mindless, Jamie ran a hand down Faith's side, pausing at the nip in her waist, the voluptuous flair of her hip, before clasping her thigh to spread her legs wider.

The moment his strong fingers curled around her, Faith twisted away with a gasp.

Her leg, damn it. He'd hurt her. He'd totally forgotten ... everything.

The paleness of Faith's face, the way she bit her bottom lip and squeezed her eyes shut, showed plain enough the hurt she suffered. But she remained open to him, too, and Jamie felt it, her regret, her frustration, and the stinging in her leg.

Struggling to get his lust under control, Jamie put his forehead to hers. His chest worked like a bellows and his hands shook. “Christ, I'm sorry.”

“It's ... it's okay.”

Agony twisted inside Jamie, and he shook his head. “No, Faith. It's not.”

“Jamie, don't do this.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “I'll be fine.”

Untangling her hands from his shirt, Jamie slowly lifted himself away from her to stand beside the sofa. Faith immediately turned on her side, curling her leg toward her body, visibly struggling to subdue the ache. She reached out a hand to him. “Jamie?”

He didn't know what to do. Never in his life, not even with Delayna, had he felt so disoriented and alone, so ... desperate. He took a step back.

Faith struggled into a partial upright position. “Jamie.”

Again, he shook his head, still backing up—away from her. “Eat your crackers, Faith. Then rest.”

“Please, please don't go.”

Jamie reached the door and, feeling behind himself, he turned the knob. If he didn't leave now, he'd be all over her. He knew it.
She
knew
it—
and wanted it.

But they hadn't settled a thing. There were so many unanswered questions, so many dubious intents, that only a blind idiot would stay.

And still... he wanted to. And for that reason more than any other, Jamie ignored the anxiety on her face, the physical discomfort she felt, the neediness.

“You can sleep in my bed. It'll be more comfortable for you. Don't... don't wait up for me.” He stepped onto the porch and into the soothing hush of the surrounding woods, closing the door softly behind him.

Chapter Seven

Flicking the flashlight around the area, mud clear to her knees, Alyx finally reached her sporty red Mazda. Thankfully, she saw no sign of Scott.

Mentally thanking Jamie for both the flashlight and the warning, Alyx dug her keys out of her pocket and unlocked the driver's door. Not only had the woods quickly darkened to an eerie pitch black that might have frightened a lesser woman, the damp cold had penetrated her clothes and left her shivering like a wet pup.

Pathetic.

Even out of the woods, the dark, cloud-filled sky gave the illusion of midnight instead of early evening.

Alyx turned on the ignition and kicked on the heat. Ridiculous to need the heater this time of year. Usually late July in Visitation was sweltering hot. But the storm had brought with it an unseasonable cold front, and mixed with the wind and lack of sun, it was truly miserable weather. Alyx couldn't wait for summer weather to return. She liked swimming in the lake, wallowing in the sunshine. She did not like wearing more clothes than necessary.

Anxious to get home and shower, she tossed her hat onto the passenger's seat, put the car in gear, stepped on the gas... and went nowhere.

The rainfall had left the ground soupy, and her tires spun without gaining purchase.
Great.

Alyx reached for her cell phone, then thought better of it. No matter whom she called, Scott would find out. Unless she could reach one of the ladies... but no, she couldn't see any of them pushing her car out of the mud.

Dropping her head forward to rest it on the steering wheel, Alyx moaned. A split second later, headlights flashed in her rearview mirror and the moan turned into a curse. Jamie had warned her, so she knew without looking that it had to be Scott. If her stupid car hadn't been stuck, she'd be ahead of him right now.

A flashing blue light danced around the darkened, heavily wooded area, telling Alyx that Scott had spotted the car. But the moment he realized it was her car, the colored lights went off again and he pulled up behind her. Damn.

Putting on a brave face, Alyx stepped back out of the car to greet him. Caught in his headlights, she knew he'd already seen her wet clothes and muddy jeans. He opened his door and emerged so slowly, Alyx had a moment's trepidation.

Naturally, she hid it. “Hey, Scott. Fancy meeting you here.”

“Alyx?” His tone of voice told her it was worry, not anger, that had him scowling. He reached her in a few long strides. Big hands clasping her shoulders, turning her this way and that, he checked her over for signs of injury. “What's happened? Are you okay?”

Her heart melted. Even though she knew she could take care of herself, it still thrilled her that Scott could be so sweet and concerned. “I'm great.” Alyx gave him her best cocky smile. “I was just about to head home, but my stupid car is stuck. Are you done for the night?”

He eyed her car, then eyed her. She saw the suspicion, followed by condemnation, enter his gentle blue eyes. “What were you doing here, Alyx?”

She shrugged. Not telling him something was acceptable. But she'd never outright lie to him. “I wanted to see Jamie.”

His hands fell away from her, and he took a quick step back. Denying her words, he shook his head. “No. Not even you would be foolish enough to ... What am I saying? Of course you would.”

Sheepish, because she realized now that it had been somewhat foolish, Alyx nodded. “Yeah, I would. ”

His mouth set in a hard line. He yanked off his hat to slap against his leg. “Damn it, woman. It's dark—”

“It wasn't dark when I left, and it really only got dark a few minutes ago.”

Unappeased, Scott jammed the hat back on his head, then bent so that his nose almost butted into hers. “Do you have any idea how irresponsible you've been?”

Alyx missed the insult in his words because his mulish mouth looked oh-so-kissable. She scoped the surrounding area, but didn't see a spot suitable to seduction. Hmm. Maybe Scott's car ... but no, he wouldn't like her getting mud everywhere.

“Alyx, are you listening to me? Do you have any idea what could happen to a woman alone in the woods, with this damn storm—”

She waved away his concerns. “A little rain and mud isn't going to kill me, Scott.”

His eyes looked ready to pop out of his head. “There are
bears
in those woods. And bobcats and coyotes and mountain lions—”

“Seriously?” Alyx looked behind her at the wall of tall trees and enormous rocks and impenetrable darkness. “I didn't see any ferocious animals. Just a few squirrels and some little critters rustling around in the fallen leaves. I couldn't make out what they were.”

Scott pulled back, his spine ramrod straight, his shoulders taut. Outraged, he just stared at her, then muttered, “Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.” Hands on his hips, he paced away, raged back. “Why, Alyx? You knew we all planned to go up together when the rain let up. Why sneak off alone? Why not wait—”

Affronted, Alyx glared at him. “I didn't sneak.”

“No? Then what would you call it? You didn't tell a blessed soul you were going, did you?”

“What makes you so sure I didn't?”

In a near roar, Scott shouted, “Because everyone else has enough sense to stop you.”

That got her temper sparking. “Stop me
how?
I'm a big girl, Scott.”

He eyed her up and down. “Compared to what?”

Okay, so compared to him she seemed small. That wasn't the point. “I'm an adult. I'm allowed to come and go as I please. No one said a peep when Clint went up there snooping around.”

“Dear God, don't tell me you're comparing yourself to a grown man who outweighs you by damn near a hundred pounds and stands half a foot taller.”

“Size isn't everything, you know. In fact, in the scheme of things, it counts for very little.” The sound of Scott's teeth grinding seemed especially eerie on the deserted road.

“In case you've forgotten, Clint is a trained fighter, lethal in his own right.”

“Has he ever fought a bear?”

“He was
armed.”

Alyx gasped. “You're saying he would have shot the poor bear?”

Scott literally vibrated with anger. “Damn it, woman,
we all
knew where he was. ”

Hmmm. Alyx had to admit Scott had a point. Reasoning that aloud, she said, “So if he'd gone missing, you'd have known where to look for him, right?” She nodded, willing to admit when she was wrong. “Okay, I see what you mean. And I'm sorry I worried you.”

Hoping to soothe him, Alyx put her hand on Scott's chest, which was rock hard with tension.

“It is worry, right? That's why you're so fired up?”

He looked wary at her sudden turnaround. “Yeah...”

Hey, she could be reasonable. Especially when she had better things to do than fight.

Like... make love.

“If it makes you feel any better, Jamie knew I was coming. He met me partway. And he told me to hurry back or you'd be here and cause a scene, only I did hurry, and still, here you are.” She tried another smile. “And really, we are causing a scene. I bet with all our shouting, we've scared off any bears that might have been lurking around. What do you think?”

Scott removed his hat again, slapped it twice against his leg, glared at her, and took another stomping turn around the area. His frustration was palpable, but he didn't scare Alyx. She trusted Scott implicitly.

“Hey.” Alyx followed on his heels. “Do you think Jamie knew that even if I did hurry, I was still going to run into you? I do. I think that rat knew all along, and he just threw me to the wolf anyway.”

“Wolf?” Scott slowly turned to face her. Now he looked... insulted. “Is that what I am? A wolf?”

“Figure of speech.” Alyx grinned. “You know, because of the way you bluster and carry on.”

His head snapped back and his big shoulders went stiff.
“Bluster?”

“Scott.” Dragging his name out to three syllables, Alyx scooted up close to him and put her hands on his shoulders. She smiled up at him. “I
am
sorry. You're right. I should have told someone what I was doing.”

“Not just someone, Alyx.” His thumb met his chest. “Me.”

It was odd, but she kind of liked it when he acted territorial. Prodding him, she asked, “Because you're the deputy?”

“Because we're involved.”

Well, that wasn't quite the declaration she'd hoped for, and disappointment settled around her. She was so sick in love with him—a first for her—that she
needed
him to feel the same.

Scott clasped her waist and pulled her up close against him. In a gentler, slightly affected voice, Scott said, “You're giving me gray hairs, Alyx Winston. I can't take it.”

That alarmed her. Alyx went on tiptoe to kiss him, once, hard and fast. “But you're a big, strong man of the law. A little fretting here and there isn't going to hurt you much, right?”

He stared at her mouth until she kissed him again, lingering this time, then he hugged her right off her feet. “Yeah, I suppose for you, I can tolerate it.”

Tolerate? She wanted him to accept her, not tolerate her, because Alyx knew, even if she tried, she couldn't become a different woman. She
was
headstrong and capable and adventurous. She loved Scott's qualities—and she wanted him to love hers.

When Alyx frowned, Scott held her away from him. “Will you promise not to go see Jamie again without me?”

Alyx bit her lip. “How about I promise I won't go without telling you first?”

“What's the difference?”

“I might want to see him without you, or maybe when you're too busy to go with me. Or maybe Jamie will eventually move to town, like he should, and then it won't even matter to you if I go see him. ”

Scott lifted her to her toes, his gaze burning, and stated unequivocally, “It'll matter.”

“Oh.” So, Alyx thought, it wasn't just the danger of the woods, but a touch of jealousy as well. Jealousy indicated more than tolerance, didn't it? She gave Scott a fat smile.

Scott dropped his hands so fast, Alyx almost fell. He rubbed his face, muttering to himself, then drew a calming breath. “So tell me, Alyx, when are you going home again?”

That question came out of nowhere, startling Alyx. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“Not at all.”

“Then why ask?”

He pulled her back up to him and kissed her silly. When his mouth was on hers, Scott could make her forget her own name.

His forehead to hers, Scott said, “You seldom stay in Visitation for more than a few days before hightailing it back home.”

“You miss me?” she teased.

“Damn right.” Another kiss, a cuddle on her butt, then he said, “Now that Clint's on as a full-time sheriff, I thought I'd take a vacation.”

“A vacation? Really?”

“Once the rain lets up, yeah. I haven't had time off in a helluva long time.” His hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing the edge of her mouth while his voice dropped and became intimate. “It'd be nice if you were around.”

“Then I promise to be here.”

With something resembling an evil light to his normally gentle eyes, Scott added, “Not that I'd mind spending some time just fishing and kicking back.”

“I can fish.”

“Maybe.” Scott half grinned. “But I've yet to see you kick back.”

With Scott, she'd be more than happy to become a couch potato, especially if she could get him naked on said couch.

And speaking of naked ... Alyx trailed a fingertip along the buttons to his uniform shirt, beneath his jacket. “How about we discuss this back at your place?”

He looked more than a little tempted, then shook his head. “Sorry, baby, I can't. I have one more trip yet tonight. And we can't just leave your car here.”

“It's stuck in the mud.”

“I can push it out.”

Of course he could, but she didn't want it pushed out. Not now. She wanted to climb into Scott's cruiser with him and . . . visit. “You're too good at resisting me.”

He wrapped his long fingers around the back of her neck, caressing her before giving in to another kiss. In a husky rumble that Alyx felt deep inside herself, Scott said, “You probably have no idea just how irresistible you are to me.”

Mmmm. Now that sounded nice. “If I'm so irresistible, then maybe I should come with you tonight.”

Scott ran his hand along his jaw and considered her car. “How about I push you free and follow you to Joe's? Then maybe we can get together in the morning?”

Alyx frowned at him in suspicion.

Raising a brow, he asked, “What? You don't want to see me tomorrow?”

“You know I do, but ... Are you going to tell Joe that I visited Jamie?”

That soured Scott's mood real quick. “Hell, no. It's bad enough that I know. I don't want the whole town hearing about it. ” Then he shrugged. “Besides, you're right. You're damn near twenty-eight, Alyx. Like you said, you don't have to answer to him.”

That surprised her. “No, I don't. But that doesn't stop Joe from griping at me.”

“You're staying in his house.” Scott folded his arms over his chest and stared down at her with grim resolve. “Maybe that gives him a few rights to dictate.”

Inching closer, Alyx licked her lips and decided the timing was as right as it was ever likely to get. “You know, I was thinking about that.”