Teasing Annie: The Temptation Saga: Book Two (3 page)

F
rantic and impassioned
, they tore at each other’s clothes. Dallas ripped the filmy material of Annie’s blouse right down the middle. “I’m sorry,” he rasped.

“Who cares?” she said. “Just hurry.”

He lifted her bra and let her breasts fall gently against her chest.

“Oh my God.” He buried his face between them. He kissed the soft plump skin and then stepped back and stared. “You’re beautiful, Doc. More than I even imagined.” He cupped her breasts and ran his thumbs in circles around her nipples. “Dark plum nipples,” he said. “I’ve never seen lovelier.”

“P-Plum?”

“Beautiful,” he said again, “I had imagined them red, but they’re like your eyes, only darker. Brown. Violet. Fleshy.” He lowered his head to taste one.

The searing heat of his tongue scorched her and sent blazes of fire rippling across her skin, though her body. He kissed her nipple gently at first and then sucked it between his teeth and tugged. The burn sizzled straight to her core.

“Oh, Cowboy,” she said, begging, “please.”

“Please what, Doc?”

“The other one.” She might die an untimely death if he didn’t pay attention to her other nipple. “No, take your shirt off first.”

“You need to make up your mind, gorgeous.” He smiled at her, his eyes dark with desire.

“Just do it all.” She tugged his shirt out of his jeans. She started unbuttoning it but got impatient and lifted it over his head. He dispensed with the offending garment and pulled her close, his chest hair tickling her already overly sensitive nipples.

“God you feel good,” he said.

“Ah, yes.” She pulled back. “I want to look at you.”

His lips curved up in a lopsided grin. “Look all you want.”

Annie lowered her gaze and drank him in. The planes of his hard chest, the sprinkling of coarse hair, his dark, fleshy nipples. He was beautifully made. “You’re gorgeous, Cowboy.”

“So are you, Doc.”

“Kiss me again.”

His mouth ravished hers with renewed intensity. She dived into the kiss, offering him even more of herself as she ran her seeking hands across his hard chest, lacing her fingers through the black curls. She fingered his nipples and relished the instant hardness her touch evoked.

When they broke the kiss for a breath, she leaned down and licked one of his brown nipples. He groaned and jerked backward.

“Damn, that feels good,” he said.

“I’ve always wondered…” Annie’s voice was low and husky. “Does breast stimulation feel as good to a man as it does to a woman?”

“I don’t know,” Dallas said breathlessly. “That feels pretty damn good to me, Doc.” He took her plump breasts in his hands and stimulated her nipples. “Yours are very responsive though. Not all women’s are.”

“I suppose you’ve been with a lot of women, huh, Cowboy?”

Annie closed her eyes and let the sensation of his rough fingers on her breasts take her to new heights.

“Not as many as you might think,” he said, and he replaced his fingers on one nipple with his mouth.

“Ah,” Annie groaned. “That’s so good, Cowboy. So good.” She grasped his unoccupied hand and guided it under the waistband of her skirt.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, when he found her heat. “So wet, Doc. So wet for me.” He glided her skirt gently over her hips until it pooled on the floor in a heap. The warmth of his fingers traveled down her flesh and stopped, tracing the small tattoo of a rose above her bikini panty line. “What’s this?”

“A tattoo. What did you think it was?”

“I’ve never been with a woman who had a tattoo.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. It’s…pretty. It’s hot.”

“Glad you like it. But”—she guided his hand back inside her panties—“I think you’ll like this better.”

“God,” he said, caressing her. He slid one finger inside her heat.

She tensed, startled.

“Sorry.” He began to withdraw.

She stopped him. “No. Don’t be sorry. It feels good. So good. It’s just been so long…” She closed her eyes and gave herself to the pleasure. She moved her hips in rhythm with his finger, her pulse racing with the fever he generated in her.

“Take off your jeans, Cowboy.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“But can you do it without moving either of your hands?”

Dallas chuckled, his breath teasing her flesh. “’Fraid not, honey.”

“I’ll suffer then. But hurry.”

She groaned at the loss as he removed his hands from her, pulled his boots and socks off, and fingered his belt buckle.

“Wait,” Annie said. “I want to do it.”

“Yes’m.”

His eyes twinkled as she shoved his hands away and took over the task. Her hands shaking, she unclasped his belt and unsnapped his jeans. The zing of his zipper echoed in her ears as she slowly unwrapped her package. His hardness swelled even larger under her seeking hands. In one swoop, she brushed his jeans and boxers over his hips.

“Oh God,” she said, as her mouth dropped into an oval. “You’re beautiful, Cowboy.”

“No one’s ever said that to me before.” He shuddered as she stroked his length.

“Then no one’s taken the time to look.” She flicked her tongue over his head and licked away a drop of liquid that had emerged. Salty. Delicious.

“You have me at a disadvantage here, Doc.”

Annie grinned. “I kind of like it that way.”

“Well, then, I can’t complain.” He stepped out of his jeans and boxers and sat down on her couch. “Do with me what you will.”

“Oh no, Cowboy.” She reached for his length and pulled him to his feet. “Not here. What I have planned for you requires a nice soft bed.”

“Lead the way.” He chuckled.

God, his voice is sexy. Low and feral with a western twang
.

“I’m at your mercy.”

A
s Annie led
him by his cock into her bedroom, Dallas couldn’t remember the last time he had been this turned on. When he was a teen, maybe, but that had been purely physical. What he felt right now was, well, physical, yeah, but it was also something more. He liked this woman—this beautiful, strange Jersey girl who kissed like an enchantress and had the most beautiful breasts he’d ever seen.

Maybe a woman like Dusty wasn’t his future after all.

Of course, they had just met. Likely she was thinking only about sex. Yeah, sex was good. He could live with that.

“Cowboy?” Her voice trembled a little, like she was nervous. “I just want you to know.” Her back thudded softly against a closed door, which he assumed led to her bedroom. “I don’t sleep around.”

“I didn’t think you did.”

“I mean, we just met and all.”

“It’s okay. I don’t sleep around either. In fact, I’m just coming out of a nasty divorce and—” He stopped. He didn’t want to think about Chelsea now.

“You’re divorced? So am I. And mine was on the nasty side as well.” She lowered her gaze.

“Kids?”

“No. You?”

“No.”

Annie laughed, but she sounded agitated. She caught her bottom lip in her teeth. “Sorry, Cowboy. Didn’t mean to kill the mood.”

He took her hand and led it to his cock. “I’d say I’m still in the mood.” He covered her hand with his own and smoothed it over his hardness. “How about you?”

“Yeah, I’m in the mood. You’re beautiful, Cowboy. A woman would have to be dead not to be in the mood around you.”

Dallas’s heart lurched in his chest. He was going to bed her. This amazing, beautiful, smart woman. “Well then…”

“But…”

“Aw Geez, Doc.”

“I don’t want to hop into bed just because I’m feeling needy. I want it to be special.”

“It’ll be special.”

“You know what I mean.”

He gritted his teeth. Damn. “All right. I’ll go.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

Dallas inhaled sharply and let out a slow, even breath. What the hell was she after? “You’re talking out of both sides of your mouth, Doc.”

“I don’t want to sleep alone tonight, Cowboy.”

“I’ll be happy to stay.”

“Would you? Would you just…hold me?”

Slam. Woody killer.

“You’re serious? You want me to share your bed and not make love to you? I’m not made of steel, Doc.”

“I know it’s selfish…”

“Selfish isn’t exactly what I’d call it. I understand if you don’t want to be alone, Doc, but you’ve got me so turned on I can hardly move. You said you had plans for me. You led me to your bedroom by my dick. What the hell was I supposed to think?”

Her cheeks flushed, and he couldn’t help himself. He dropped his gaze to her incredible breasts. He had been right at dinner. They were blushing too.
Damn, she is gorgeous
.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that we started talking about divorce, and when I think about my ex, it’s hard for me to want to…you know. I don’t want to sleep with you when he’s even slightly in my mind. It would…taint it, somehow.”

“Oh, Doc…”

“But I don’t want to leave you hanging, either. I’m not a tease, Cowboy. I want you. I do want to sleep with you. Just not tonight. But I want you to stay.”

“You’re killing me.”

“What if—” She smiled at him, her left eye squinting in that adorable way. “What if I took care of you?”

His woody was back. “That’d make me a pretty selfish bastard.”

“No, really. I’d enjoy it, Dallas.”

“That’s the first time you’ve called me by my name.” And he kind of liked it. Although Cowboy in her Jersey accent was pretty cute.

“I wanted you to know I was serious.”

He thought for a moment. She really didn’t want to be alone, that was apparent. He couldn’t leave her. While the reason wasn’t clear, she needed him, and he was a sucker for a woman in need. He wanted to stay. God only knew why, but he wanted to sleep with his arms around her. He wanted to wake up next to her and bring her coffee. Or herb tea.

“I’ll stay,” he said, “and you don’t have to do anything.”

“But I want to.” Her violet gaze seared into his. “I really want to, Cowboy.” She stroked him slowly, seductively. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful cock. As soon as I saw it I couldn’t wait to get it in my mouth.”

Tiny sparks ignited across his skin, and his breath caught in his throat. “Annie, I’m trying to be a gentleman here, but you’re making it damn near impossible.”

“Good.”

She dropped to her knees and he burst into flames.

T
hree hundred days
of sunshine a year.

Annie smiled into her pillow as morning light from her bedroom window veiled her shoulders and back. The sunshine was reason enough for her to have fallen in love with Colorado in less than a week.

There was also the handsome man next to her, whose strong arms had held her, who had whispered sweet words in her ear until she had fallen into the deepest sleep she could remember in years. She sighed, content, and stretched her arms above her head to get the blood moving.

She closed her eyes and reached toward the middle of the bed to touch Dallas’s hard body. To her dismay, she patted only rumpled sheets.

He was gone.

Disappointment thudded through her body.

What had she expected? She had all but thrown herself in front of the door to get him to stay with her. Who could blame him for taking the easy way out this morning? He had probably run faster than a jackrabbit away from the sight of her. Who could blame him?

Damn him. Damn Logan Riggs for creeping into her mind when she had been about to make love with the most spectacular man on the planet.

And damn herself for being such a needy, clingy basket case. She should have let him go. Then maybe they could have started a relationship based on something other than sex, other than her codependent neediness. God, she was pathetic.

She rolled over and checked her clock. 7:10. On a Saturday morning. Boy, he sure couldn’t wait to escape, could he?

Cursing herself, Annie rose from the bed and padded into her bathroom. She washed her face and hands and brushed out her unruly curls, arranging them in a high ponytail. She threw her bikinis into the hamper and pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top. Her reflection in the mirror startled her. Her nipples, still dark and swollen from Dallas’s attention, were completely visible through the thin white cotton. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t going anywhere.

She puttered around the kitchen for a while, wondering what to have for breakfast. Cereal? Blah. Taylor ham and eggs? Too much effort. Toast and jelly? The toast would scrape the roof of her mouth. She hated that. Hell, she wasn’t hungry anyway.

“Hey, Doc.” A soft knock echoed, and then her door opened. He was back.

“Good, you’re up,” Dallas said, walking into the kitchen and looking tousled and sexy. Better than anyone had a right to first thing in the morning. He carried a cup holder holding two coffee cups.

“You’re back.”

“Sure I am. Where’d you think I’d go?”

“I…didn’t know. I just figured you left.”

“Without telling you? That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly would it?”

“Er…”

“I needed some coffee, and I knew you didn’t have any.” He set the cup holder on the counter and took a sip from one of the cups. “I brought you something too.” He smiled his lazy smile. “Herb tea. Rena’s special morning blend.”

As he handed the cup to her, his gaze dropped to her chest. “Wow. You do amazing things for a tank top, Doc.”

Her cheeks warmed, and her nipples tightened under his gaze. She heard him take in a sharp breath. Quickly she cleared her throat.

“Who’s Rena?”

“She runs the coffee shop on Main. Haven’t you been there yet?”

“I haven’t been anywhere, Cowboy, except on vet calls and to your brother’s house.”

“Tough week, huh?”

“Just busy.” She took a sip from her cup. “Mmm. This is nice. What’s in it? I taste mint.”

“Don’t ask me. Something called red tea, that’s all I know.”

“Rooibos.”

“What?”

“Rooibos. That’s red tea, though it’s not actually tea. There’s no caffeine in it.”

“Give me coffee any day. Got to have my caffeine.”

“I’ve nothing against caffeine, Cowboy. I just don’t like the taste of coffee. That’s the main reason why I don’t like tiramisu. Coffee’s bad enough by itself. Mix it with mascarpone, and it’s disgusting. Add soggy liquor-soaked cookies, and you’ve got something completely inedible.”

Dallas chuckled, his eyes crinkling. “I may have to rethink my stance on tiramisu, Doc. You make it sound pretty bad.”

“It’s the worst.”

“I tried to get something for breakfast, but Rena was out of scones, and the line for takeout at Murphy’s was out the door. That’s Saturday morning in Bakersville for you.”

“At seven ten?”

“We’re a ranching town. Everybody’s up with the sun or before. Sorry about breakfast.”

“No worries. I’ll make you breakfast, Cowboy. What sounds good?”

He grinned at her. “Surprise me.”

“Okay.”

Annie took a couple of hard rolls out of her breadbox and sliced them in two. She grabbed two skillets and placed them on the stove, cracking several eggs into one. In the other, she laid slices of Taylor ham, a Jersey delicacy. Her cowboy was going to get a traditional Jersey breakfast.

She sliced some cheddar cheese while the eggs and ham were frying.

“Whatever it is, it smells good,” Dallas said from his seat at her small table.

“You’ll love it.”

She placed two eggs, a slice of ham, and a slice of cheddar on each hard roll, set them on plates, and brought them to the table.

“Dig in, Cowboy.”

He took a bite and chewed. And chewed. When he finally swallowed, Annie was laughing at him.

“It’s a Jersey hard roll. Takes some effort, but there’s nothing like it.”

He smiled at her. God, he was so gorgeous. “The bread’s delicious, but what I really like is the meat. I’ve never tasted anything like it. It’s…tangy.”

“It’s Taylor ham. Taylor pork roll, actually. It’s a staple where I come from.”

“I’ve never heard of it.”

“I was surprised to find out that it’s not readily available outside of Jersey. I’m glad I brought some with me, and my mother has promised to send it to me as needed.”

“Who knew a Jersey girl had such secrets?”

“Oh, I’ve got plenty, Cowboy.”

“Indeed?” He eyed her seductively.

“Oh, yeah.” She twisted her lips into a smirk. “Just wait until I introduce you to Tastykakes.”

“You little siren. If I wasn’t enjoying this breakfast so much, I’d make you pay for that.”

“Hmm. Breakfast or me? Such a hard choice. Maybe I’d better become a lousy cook if I expect to get any attention from you.”

“Don’t you dare. Good cooking is the way to a man’s heart. Don’t you know that?” He put his sandwich down and scooted his chair out from the table. “Come here, Doc.”

She walked over and he pulled her onto his lap. “Dallas?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you for…last night.”

“My pleasure.”

“Really. It meant a lot to me. I’m not usually so pathetically needy.”

“It meant something to me, too, Doc.” He grinned. “And not just because of the fantastic time you showed me in the hallway.”

“That’s kind of you to say.”

“I’m not being kind. I’m being truthful. I like you. And you were right. If we’re both coming out of divorces we shouldn’t rush this.”

“Mmm hmm.” Annie dipped her head and pressed her lips to Dallas’s neck. Musky, spicy man. “God, you smell good, Cowboy.”

“On the other hand,” Dallas said, as Annie felt him harden under her bottom, “maybe rushing is okay.”

“Maybe,” Annie agreed, running her tongue along a vein in his neck and nuzzling his pulse point. She shuddered when he cupped her breasts and thumbed her nipples.

“I can’t get enough of these,” he said. “You’re so beautiful.” He pulled her tank top up and captured a tender bud between his teeth. “Honey nipples,” he whispered against her flesh. “So sweet.”

The now familiar blazing tingle crept along Annie’s skin as Dallas sucked her nipple. She pulled her tank top over her head, threw it to the floor, and went to work on his shirt, unbuttoning frantically and parting the fabric. She smoothed her fingers over the hard expanse of his chest as he continued to tease her nipples. She hated to stop him, but she needed that sensational mouth on hers. She grasped his head in her hands and pulled him upward, pressing their lips together. Dallas stood up, and Annie locked her legs around his hips. He walked toward the bedroom.

The phone rang.

Annie tore herself from the lip lock. “Damn.”

“Ignore it,” Dallas said, nibbling her neck.

“I can’t. It might a sick animal.”

“Doc…”

“I’m sorry, Cowboy.” She unhooked her legs and picked up the phone. “This is Annie,” she said.

“Hi. You’re the vet, right?”

“Yeah. What can I do for you?”

“It’s my horse. She’s real sick.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there. What’s your name and where are you?”

“I’m sorry. It’s Catie. Caitlyn Bay. We’re at the ranch adjacent to the McCrays.”

“All right. Give me half an hour.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

“Not a problem.” She hung up, turning to Dallas. “Sick horse at the Bay ranch.”

Dallas was in the process of buttoning his shirt. Annie looked guiltily at the ridge still swollen below his belt.

“I’ll drive you,” he said.

She smiled at him and tried to convey her sorrow at not being able to continue their tryst. “You don’t have to.”

“Oh? Is your car ready?”

“Crap. I forgot about that.”

Dallas smiled. “It’s okay, Doc. I don’t mind.”

Annie reached for her purse on the couch and looked around the room for her vet bag. “You’re the best, Cowboy.”

“Yeah. Remember that.” He eyed her provocatively and her nipples tightened once again. “Doc?”

“Huh?”

“You may want to put a shirt on before we go.”

T
he chestnut Morgan
mare whinnied as Annie palpated her abdomen. Beside her stood Catie Bay, a pretty teenage girl with brown braids hanging below a creamy white Stetson. Her older brother Harper soothed the horse while Annie performed her exam. Dusty was also there, and a tall brown-haired young man with the signature McCray good looks—Dallas and Zach’s younger brother, Chad.

“I called Dusty first,” Catie was explaining, “and Chad was over there for breakfast so he brought her over. They both know a lot about animals, and I didn’t want to bother you if I didn’t have to.”

“It’s no bother,” Annie said, running her hands over the horse’s soft flanks. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“But it’s so early. And on a Saturday.”

“Not a problem. Really.”

“What’re you doing here, anyway?” Annie heard Chad ask Dallas.

“I brought Annie. Her car’s in the shop.”

“And you just happened to come across her this early on a Saturday morning?”

Annie heard the glint of sarcasm in Chad’s voice. No doubt he was smirking.

“Zip it, will you?” Dallas said, his voice barely audible. But Annie had heard. She smiled to herself.

“Definitely colic,” she said to Catie. “Her abdomen is distended but her temperature is normal and so are her heart sounds.”

“But she’s had colic before, and it’s usually gone within a few hours.” Catie’s face twisted in anguish.

“You’re describing basic spasmodic colic,” Annie explained. “If she’s been in distress for several days, it’s a different type of colic.” Annie gently patted the horse’s soft coat. “She’s very bloated, but I don’t think it’s obstructive colic. I think she may have an ulcer.”

“An ulcer?” Catie’s eyes widened.

“They’re more common in racehorses, but ranch horses are susceptible. Unfortunately, because of the colic, she hasn’t been eating, so her stomach acid has built up which has made the ulcer worse. It’s a vicious circle.”

“That doesn’t sound too good.” Catie’s voice caught in her throat.

“Well, it’s not the best news,” Annie said, “but it is treatable, and I think we’ve caught it early. With the symptoms you’ve described, I think it’s definitely an ulcer.”

“I’m so glad you’re here, Annie,” Dusty said. “I was sure it was just simple colic.”

“You were right.” Annie smiled. “But colic isn’t a disease in itself. It’s more often a symptom.” She turned to Catie. “I’ll give her a dose of medication now and leave a few more doses with you. It’s all I have with me. Stop by my office anytime to pick up more.”

“Yes, I sure will,” Catie said.

“It’s extremely important that you give her the medication on schedule, three times daily.”

“Oh, I will. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll keep my eye on her, Doc,” Harper said.

“Harper, I’m a grown woman!” Catie’s pretty face turned a bright crimson. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of my animals.”

The teenager glanced toward Chad McCray. The tall cowboy, deep in a discussion with Dallas, didn’t appear to notice. Annie smiled to herself. Schoolgirl crush. Cute.

“Actually, I’d like to check on her tomorrow,” Annie said, “so I’ll bring her medication with me. There’s no need for you to come by my office.”

“That’s kind of you,” Catie said, her face still adorably red.

“Glad to.”

“I’ll take you home, Doc,” Dallas said. “Come on.”

“Okay. It was nice meeting you all.”

“Come by the ranch anytime, Annie,” Dusty said. “Zach and I would love to see you.”

“Thank you. I will.” She was growing fond of Dallas’s sister-in-law.

In the car, Annie mentioned Catie’s crush. “I think she has it bad for your brother.”

“You’re mistaken, Doc. Catie’s seventeen at most, and Chad’s a grown man.”

“So? An older man is very sexy to a young girl. How old is he?”

“He’s twenty-eight, the youngest of our brood.”

“Yeah? How old are you, Cowboy?”

“Thirty-six, and Zach’s thirty-one.”

“Thirty-six, huh?”

“Yep. Am I too old for you? You don’t look a day over thirty.”

“I
am
thirty, you dumb cowpoke!”

“Dumb cowpoke? For guessing your age?”

“No woman wants to look her age. We all want to look younger.”

“Oh.” Dallas’s eyes gleamed. “Did I say thirty? I meant twenty. Not a day over twenty. No wait. Eighteen. I mean twelve.”

She punched him in the arm. “Stop that.”

“You’re gorgeous, Doc. If you were fifty, you’d still be gorgeous.”

“Thanks. I think.”

“So you’re thirty. Divorced. From Jersey. Italian. A vet.”

“That about sums me up. Just Bruno and Sylvia DeSimone’s little girl.”