Ramagos, Tonya - Strictly Accountable [Stud Service 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (14 page)

“You could’ve asked me.”

“Right. That would’ve worked.” He saw in his peripheral vision when she crossed her arms and glared at him. It never boded well when a woman did that.

“I’m learning something about you really fast, and I can’t say I’m liking it very much.”

“That would be?”

“You’ve got a controlling streak.”

“When it’s necessary, I do.” Brody nodded. He learned really fast, too. He was pretty sure the flames he saw flickering wickedly in the depths of her eyes came from a need for domination she kept carefully hidden. They would get to that soon enough. He didn’t intend to control her outside of bed, but he would at least long enough to get inside her heart and make her realize she loved him.

“Just so you know, I’ll let you get away with it some, but you use it too often and we’re going to have problems.”

Brody had to work not to smile. “Duly noted.” As long as she let him take control where it really mattered, they were in business.

* * * *

Sabrina skimmed her palms down her sides, turning this way and that, studying her reflection in the blurred mirror over the sink in the courthouse bathroom. She couldn’t deny the man had taste. Brody had chosen a simple knee-length dress with a heart-shaped neckline and fitted waist in a pastel pink for her to wear. Though she didn’t normally wear pink, she silently admitted the color complemented her dark hair and tanned complexion. He even thought to bring her shoes. She wondered over that as she looked down at her feet clad in a pair of simple matching pumps. If she didn’t know better, she would swear one of his sisters or even Carlotta picked out the ensemble.

“But he promised not to tell a soul,” she told her reflection. “And therein lies just another of the man’s many surprises.” Surprises that she knew were going to end up being the death of her resolve.

“Yep, you’re in real trouble, girl.” She took a deep breath and let it out slow. Nerves made her stomach queasy, and her heart beat a little more rapidly than normal. Did all brides feel this way on their wedding day?

“You’re stalling?” She closed her eyes, took another deep breath, and forced herself to put one foot in front of the other as she headed for the bathroom door.

She spotted him in an instant, leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the narrow hall, thumbs hooked in the pockets of his slacks and one shiny booted foot propped on the wall behind him. Pure sex and unadulterated need slammed into her in a rush. In a few hours this man would belong to her. At least long enough to make and have a baby. She wouldn’t kid herself into hoping for more. No doubt about it, she was destined to get burned. Her only comfort came in knowing that, in the end, she would forever have a part of him in her child.

He straightened, total male appreciation flashing in his face as he held out a hand. “You look beautiful.” His husky tone, coupled with the tenderness in his touch, made her throat tight.

She managed a quick smile but didn’t say anything as he led her out of the courthouse and through the parking lot to the car. He held the passenger door open for her, waited until she settled in the seat, then closed the door and got in behind the wheel. The engine purred to life, but he paused with his hand on the gearshift and angled a look at her.

“You’re quiet.”

Sabrina swallowed. She couldn’t tell him the truth. She couldn’t bring herself to say how badly she wished the vows they were about to share were real. It didn’t make sense in any case. How could she want to marry a man she’d known only a few short weeks? How could she have fallen in love with him already?

“I’m a little nervous, I guess.”

“Are you having second thoughts?”

“No. Are you?”

“No.”

“Good.”

He watched her for the span of several heartbeats before he finally put the car in first gear and eased out of the parking lot. They fell into silence as he drove through the downtown streets then maneuvered the back country roads near Holt’em Up Ranch.

“What was the point in my taking the weekend off?” she asked when the silence became too much. He had said he lined up a preacher to marry them. She could only surmise the preacher lived in the boonies, farther out of town than the ranch, seeing as how they passed it several miles back. “Lucille said you told her we were going out of town.”

“No, I told Lucille we were taking a weekend trip.”

“There’s a difference?”

“Out of town implies exactly that. A weekend trip can be anywhere or nowhere at all.”

“Sounds like you’re playing with details to me. Either way, why do I need the weekend off?” The sidelong glance he slid her way lit a fire in her womb and made her panties wet.

“I’ll spell it out for you when we get there.”

* * * *

The anticipation of that promise stayed with Sabrina through the ceremony and conversation that followed among her and Brody and the preacher and his wife. The heat and compassion she imagined seeing in Brody’s eyes as he recited the general marriage vows for formality’s sake made the hope she was trying desperately to keep at bay rise anyway.

If only he meant those sacred words.

If only the tender kiss he planted on her lips to seal the vows came from his heart rather than his loins.

If only it hadn’t all been a show for the preacher and his wife.

If only.

Sabrina thought she deserved an Oscar after her performance at the preacher’s house. Pretending to be the bubbling, blushing new bride when her heart and mind were in utter turmoil took an acting skill she hadn’t known she possessed. Perhaps she should’ve entertained those second thoughts, put on the brakes, and threw the whole arrangement into reverse.

It’s a little too late do to the right thing now
. The country beat of the old Tanya Tucker tune drawled in her head as Brody pulled the Mustang into the barn at Holt’em Up Ranch. Intrigued as much as confused, she pushed aside all her misgivings and inner hem-hawing and got out of the car before Brody got the chance to come around and open her door.

“So, by your definition, a weekend trip can be nowhere at all, especially when that nowhere is somewhere that isn’t my normal place of residence. Is that it?” The furrow that etched itself between his brows as he mulled over her question nearly made her giggle.

“I don’t have a clue in hell what you just said,” he finally admitted. “How about I answer all that this way? We’re parking the Mustang because the truck handles back-wood roads a lot better. We aren’t spending the weekend here. I have another destination in mind.”

“That requires a truck to get to.”

“Is that a problem?”

“I guess not.”

“Good. Hop in, and I’ll be back in a second.”

He left her to get in the truck while he disappeared into the main house. He returned moments later with a duffle bag he slung into the truck bed before climbing in behind the wheel. “Ready?”

“For what I don’t know, but yes, I’m ready.”

He grinned, slow and easy, and her heart did a leisurely roll. “Come here, Mrs. Holt.” He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her against him, planting a kiss on the top of her head before putting the truck in gear with his free hand and backing out of the drive.

Sabrina’s eyes misted, and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling. She understood his intent, recognized his efforts to make her wedding day special for her, to ease her discomfort no matter the whys behind their decision to get hitched in the first place. It touched her far more than she wanted it to.

Less than ten minutes of a bumpy, wood-lined road brought them to a stop outside a cottage right out of a fairy tale. She couldn’t help but shake her head as Brody got out of the truck, took her by the hand to help her out, and then scooped her into his arms.

“Will this do?”

“It’s perfect.”

“I figured we could have a quiet weekend out here.”

“Then it’s yours, I take it.”

“It is. We’ll save the big honeymoon for after the real wedding.”

“I wasn’t expecting any kind of honeymoon at all, so thank you.”

Something passed through his expression that she couldn’t define and didn’t dare try. He shook his head, and she felt his sigh beneath the palm she splayed on his chest. “You really should stop underestimating me, darlin’.” He stopped on the front porch, shifting her weight in his arms so he could reach for the knob. The door opened with a quiet creak, and Sabrina gasped at what she saw.

“You’re telling me.”

Chapter Eight

He had decorated the cabin fit for a princess.

Sabrina gaped at the candles strategically placed on every available flat surface and lit to provide just the right amount of light for the matchbox cottage room. A small two-seater table sat in a far corner, holding two flutes flanking a bucket no doubt filled with ice to chill the bottle of champagne perched inside. A bed, large enough to make her belly do a delicious flip-flop, occupied the center of the space, the surface scattered with rose pedals. Amidst the pedals, she spotted a lace and silk teddy laid out for her. The sight sent bolts of electric excitement sizzling through her system.

She turned slowly to find him watching her, his expression unreadable beyond the almost palpable lust pumping off him in waves. “Carlotta did an amazing job.”

She expected him to chuckle, to shake his head, to make some move that would break the thick sexual tension settling in the room. She didn’t expect his serious, gruff response that raked over her like sensual claws.

“Carlotta had nothing to do with this. I get full points this time. Our marriage is supposed to remain a secret, remember?”

“Right. You did all this?” She spun back around, taking in everything one more time. “I definitely have to stop underestimating you.” The half-smile he wore when she faced him again was more dangerous than comforting. Her heart sped. Her breath lodged in her throat. Hunger exploded within her, very nearly drawing a soft whimper from her lips before she could stop it.

He didn’t speak. He didn’t have to. His expression and measured predatory movement conveyed his intentions clearly enough. He kept his gaze locked on hers as he closed the distance between them.

Sabrina started to quiver, from fear or excitement she couldn’t quite tell. She took an involuntary step back.

“What’s the matter, Sabrina?” The danger she sensed in him before sounded in his tone now. Rippled awareness and dark sensations traveled down her spine.

Sabrina gulped and licked her lips. She watched an inferno rage in his eyes as he followed the path of her tongue with his gaze. “I’m not quite sure. Nervous, I guess.”

He yanked her against him, and the breath rushed from her lungs. Her hardened nipples pressed flush against his broad chest. He delved a hand in her hair, fisting it at her nape and pulling her head back. The forcefulness elicited another surprised gasp from her parted lips even as a wicked thrill made her head spin. His gaze imprisoned hers as she stared back at him with equal parts excitement and trepidation.

“Then we better give you something else for your system to focus on.” His kiss conquered her senses, demanded her surrender, and drove her beyond the brink of insanity. It frightened her even as it excited her beyond her wildest imaginings. He eased back, his gaze dancing over her face and a satisfied quirk tilted his lips.

“Thought so.”

“Thought so what?”

“That I could be myself with you.” She didn’t quite understand what he meant until he added, “It works both ways, Sabrina.”