Hunted in Conard County Read online

  He raised his hand, cutting off her protest. “Respect your elders. You’ve more than earned that. And moving isn’t cheap. I know you’ll put it to good use.”

  She blinked back tears, touched by his generosity. “Thank you.”

  He patted her shoulder. “No, my dear. Thank you. For the last two years, you’ve listened to my stories and laughed at my jokes. This place isn’t going to be the same without you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too,” she said. She watched him walk out of the bar and saw him unlock the chain securing a bicycle. Then he climbed aboard and set off, pedaling steadily into the darkness.

  She turned back to the bar. Carter and his friends were the only ones left. He glanced up and caught her looking at them. Something flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before she could figure out what. He offered her another one of those lazy, sexy smiles and nodded. Sensing she’d lost his attention, the brunette laid her hand on his arm and leaned close to whisper something into his ear. Carter laughed quietly and dropped his gaze to look at her again.

  Sophia sighed softly and started busing the tables. Technically, it was still an hour before closing time, but the place was dead and she wouldn’t mind locking up early so she could get some extra sleep.

  “Ready to go home?” Carter’s voice was low and much closer than she’d expected. Sophia jumped, knocking over the glass on the table she was clearing.

  Carter reached around her from behind, his chest brushing her back as he righted the glass. She held her breath at the unexpected contact, which left her feeling even shakier than she had at the initial surprise. She turned to find him standing close, his clear green eyes warm with amusement. “Sorry,” he said, though his tone suggested he was anything but.

  Sophia felt her cheeks warm and knew she must be blushing. “Nice set tonight,” she said, turning back to the table so he wouldn’t notice how he affected her.

  “Thanks.” He reached by her to set the napkin dispenser in the center of the table. “All packed for tomorrow?”

  “Yeah.” There wasn’t much to take. Her clothes fit in the trunk of her car, and she wasn’t bringing any furniture since the apartment she was renting in El Paso was already furnished.

  “Need any help driving up?”

  “Are you offering?” The question escaped her mouth before she could think twice.

  He lifted one eyebrow. “Wouldn’t have asked otherwise,” he drawled.

  Butterflies took flight in her stomach at the idea of Carter helping her move tomorrow. Just the thought of spending hours alone in the car with him was enough to make her skin tingle. But though the prospect was highly tempting, she wasn’t about to request he give up his entire day to keep her company on the trek northwest. This move was all about fresh starts, not prolonging contact with her crush.

  “I appreciate it, but there’s no need. I’ve got it handled.”

  He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, Amy yelled across the room. “Car-ter.” She stretched his name out in a pouty call. “Come back here.”

  A flicker of resignation danced across his features. Interesting, Sophia thought. Perhaps he wasn’t as into the brunette as he’d seemed...

  “You’d better go,” she said softly. “Don’t want to neglect your friends.”

  He nodded, but made no move to walk away. There was a glint in his eyes that made her think there was something more he wanted to say. She felt herself lean forward, silently encouraging him to speak.

  “Carter.” There was an edge to Amy’s voice now; she wasn’t happy he was ignoring her friend.

  “Coming.” He winked at Sophia, then turned and walked back to the table. “Let’s get going, guys,” he suggested. “Soph’s trying to close up.”

  “But we still have half an hour!” Amy protested.

  “Come on,” James said. “It’s bad enough Hank is making her close by herself the night before she moves. Let’s give her a break.”

  Sophia offered him a grateful smile, ignoring Amy’s frown and the sour looks on her friends’ faces.

  “Yeah,” Danny agreed, standing and stretching. “I’ve got an early morning at the garage tomorrow. I should probably get to bed early.”

  With the three men in agreement, Amy and her friends had no choice but to go along with them. The guys brought their empties to the bar, saving Sophia the extra work. Then James and Danny both gave her hugs as they walked past.

  “Good luck,” James said.

  “Name a comet after me or something,” Danny told her with a smile.

  Then Carter was standing in front of her, his big, muscular body making her feel small by comparison. “We’ll miss you,” he said, gathering her in his arms and pulling her close.

  Sophia closed her eyes, determined to enjoy this brief moment of contact. His chest was hard against hers, his arms thick bands that held the promise of strength. She inhaled, trying to be discreet as she drew the scent of him into her lungs. He smelled of soap, desert plants and a spicy musk that was his alone. She could spend hours like this and it wouldn’t be enough. But that wasn’t an option. And since she couldn’t very well strip him naked and have her way with him in an attempt to get him out of her system before she moved, she’d have to settle for this.

  He gave her a squeeze and released her, his green eyes locked on her as he stepped away.

  Sophia swallowed, trying to appear normal. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”

  She locked up behind them, then turned her attention to the register. It didn’t take long to settle everything and put the money and receipts in the safe in Hank’s office. As she walked back into the bar, she noticed a jacket draped over the back of a chair.

  Carter’s, she realized. She walked over, intending to put it behind the bar for Hank to return the next time the band played. But as soon as she picked it up, she brought it to her nose almost reflexively.

  She breathed him in, closing her eyes as she inhaled the scent of sagebrush. Her head spun pleasantly, and her heart thumped as she imagined being in his arms again. If only!

  A loud rap on the door made her jump. She opened her eyes, still clutching the jacket to her nose. When she saw who stood outside the bar, her stomach dropped.

  It was Carter. And he was staring right at her.

  * * *

  Damn.

  Carter Donaghey’s mouth went dry at the sight of Sophia holding his jacket to her face. It was clear she’d been smelling the fabric, and based on her flushed cheeks and the slightly wild look in her eyes, she liked the scent of him.

  Heat flared to life low in his belly, sending tendrils of warmth shooting through his limbs. He’d always thought Sophia was pretty, and he had passed many a night studying her striking red hair, brown eyes and wide smile from his position on stage at the end of the bar. But seeing her now, flustered and aroused, made him realize how sultry she could be.

  It only made him want her more.

  He’d felt it when he hugged her goodbye—that tug of lust. It had always been bubbling just beneath the surface, but he’d never made a move. He’d known, on some instinctual level, that she wasn’t the kind for a casual fling. And thanks to the demands of his job and a complete lack of interest in settling down, he hadn’t asked her out. It had been better, easier, to keep his distance.

  And that strategy had worked. But now that he’d seen the raw need on her face, he wasn’t going to be able to let her go without knowing what she tasted like.

  She walked over and unlocked the door, his jacket still in her arms.

  A moment of heated awareness shimmered between them.

  He stepped inside, shutting them in together. Then he moved closer until their bodies almost touched.

  Sophia swallowed hard. “You forgot this.” She held up his jacket.

  Carter took it from her, then tossed it onto a nearby t
able. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I forgot this.”

  He reached out to cup her face with his hands. Her skin was so soft against his palms, her cheeks warm. He dropped his head, then brushed his lips against hers. She sucked in a breath at the contact, and he smiled.

  Carter drew back, eyes on her face, as he waited for her response. She tilted up her head, emotions swirling in her beautiful brown gaze. He saw surprise, disbelief, pleasure...and something more.

  Desire.

  He registered the flash of intent on her face a split second before she moved. The next thing he knew, she was reaching up to thread her fingers in his hair and pulling him down again.

  There was nothing hesitant about this kiss. Apparently, she was finished with subtle explorations. This was lust and need and desire given free rein—passion burned so hot it threatened to consume them.

  Carter’s blood raced south so quickly it left him feeling light-headed. Sophia’s hands roamed over his chest, his back, his stomach, her touch setting off tiny spikes of sensations that merged into a wave of intoxicating pleasure.

  He gave as good as he got, wanting—no, needing—to feel the heat of her skin against his own. Tugging at the hem of her shirt, exposing a stretch of skin to his touch, he ran his fingertips down her side. Pure male satisfaction coursed through him as he felt her shiver against him.

  Then she tore her mouth from his and muttered something against his lips.

  “What?” He struggled to hear her over the rush of blood in his ears.

  “Hank’s office,” she repeated. She started walking backward, tugging him with her as she moved.

  It took a few minutes, and several run-ins with tables and chairs along the way, but they finally made it to the office door. Sophia fumbled behind her for the knob, letting out a grunt of frustration when she couldn’t find it. Carter released her long enough to reach behind her and twist it open.

  They tumbled into the room together, drawing up short just before crashing into the old desk that sat opposite the door. Sophia pushed him back a few steps until Carter felt his calves hit something. Trusting her, he let himself fall and landed on a threadbare couch. The cushion springs let out a squeak of protest, but the sofa held his weight.

  “Stay there,” Sophia commanded. She walked to the beat-up wooden bookcase in the far corner of the room and reached for something on a shelf. He caught sight of the label and laughed.

  “How’d you know Hank keeps condoms in here?” He glanced down at the couch, evaluating it in a new light.

  “It’s for the men’s-room dispenser,” she said, returning with a foil packet in hand. She glanced at his face and smiled. “Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “Hank doesn’t use this sofa for anything other than sitting.”

  “That’s good to know.” He reached for her, but she shook her head.

  “You take care of that.” She tossed the condom onto his lap. “And I’ll take care of this.” She moved her hands to her belt buckle and began to loosen her belt.

  Carter knew he was supposed to be dealing with the protection, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Sophia. Her hands slid down her body, revealing more skin, inch by tantalizing inch. He barely had time to appreciate the sight of her pink lace panties when she dropped them to the floor and stood bare before him.

  “Do I need to do everything?” He looked up to see her teasing smile as she gestured to his lap.

  Carter simply nodded, his throat too dry to speak. She came forward and knelt between his knees, her nimble fingers working the button of his jeans. He tensed a bit as she tugged down the zipper over his erection, but she moved so carefully he had nothing to fear. Trying to be helpful, he lifted his hips off the sofa and slid down his jeans and boxer-briefs, freeing himself from the confines of his clothes.

  Sophia made a low humming sound that sounded like a feminine purr. She leaned forward, and his heart nearly stopped as he felt the tip of her tongue trace his length. He jerked reflexively as she followed the wet trail with those clever fingers, caressing and squeezing in all the right places.

  He closed his eyes, seeing stars as she touched him. But as his pleasure continued to build, he grew restless. This was too one-sided; he wanted to touch her, to explore her delectable body with the same attention to detail she was giving him.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders, urging her up.

  “What?” she asked, her voice sounding dazed. “Is everything all right?”

  “Oh, yeah,” he growled. “But it’s my turn now.”

  He pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling his legs. Then he lowered his hand, touching her intimately as he kissed her again.

  As he stroked her most sensitive places, she squirmed against him, emitting soft sounds of pleasure as he brushed his thumb over her. He captured the sounds with his mouth, dipping his tongue inside to taste her as she gasped for breath.

  Her hips moved rhythmically, and he could tell she was searching for release. Her words confirmed it a second later. “Please,” she whispered breathlessly. “Don’t make me wait.”

  Carter took his hands off her body long enough to slip on the condom. Then he grabbed her hips and guided her into position.

  She sank onto him with a groan, biting her bottom lip as he filled her. He could have stayed like that forever, surrounded by her warm heat, but then she began to move, rocking with a pace that made his eyes roll back in his head.

  “I’m not gonna last long,” he warned, panting between each word.

  “Me, neither.” She gripped his shoulders tightly, her short nails digging into his skin. The subtle pain only served to heighten his pleasure, a delicious combination that chipped away at his control.

  He could tell she was getting close, too. Her movements changed, her pace becoming more frantic as she chased her release. He reached between their bodies to stroke her sensitive nub with the pad of his thumb.

  That was all it took. Sophia threw back her head and moaned his name, her body clenching around him as her hips slowed and then stilled.

  Watching her surrender completely was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Knowing he was the cause of it pushed him over the edge. He gripped her tightly and held her in place as he thrust up into her.

  The moment seemed to last forever, pleasure arcing between them like an electric current. Slowly, gradually, he came back to earth. Sophia slumped against his chest, her body now limp and boneless in his arms. It felt as though they had melted together, and to be honest, the thought of remaining attached to her all night long didn’t bother him in the slightest.

  He wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way, her head on his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her body. Finally she stirred, pushing up to look at him with sleepy, satisfied eyes.

  “Did we just—?” She sounded as though she couldn’t quite believe it.

  “Yeah.” He laughed, feeling just as surprised. Now that he knew how good they were together, he was kicking himself for not having suggested this sooner. “Do you really have to move tomorrow?”

  She smiled, but he saw a twinge of regret cross her face. “I do.” She looked down, shook her head. “How’s that for timing?”

  Carter reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, pushing aside a sense of disappointment over their missed opportunity. “What’s that line? At least we’ll always have Paris?” He wasn’t going to pretend they could make a long-distance thing work. His work as a park ranger in Big Bend was intense, and he knew she was about to start a master’s program. She wasn’t going to have time for romantic entanglements, and he’d rather walk away with this cherished memory than watch their connection wither to nothing over the next few months, with all the hurt feelings that would accompany their decline.

  “Something like that.” Sophia climbed off him, and they spent the next few minutes putting themselves back toget
her. They didn’t speak, but the silence wasn’t awkward or embarrassing. He felt comfortable around her, and it wasn’t just the aftereffects of the great sex they’d just shared. She’d always put him at ease, even when she was simply watching him from across the bar while he played with the guys.

  “I wish we had more time.” They walked out of the office together, and she closed the door behind them. He wasn’t just talking about tonight, either. Even though they’d just slept together, he already wanted her again. It was going to take more than one encounter to get her out of his system.

  But since that wasn’t an option, he was looking at a future of cold showers.

  “Me, too.” She smiled up at him. “I had no idea things would be so...intense between us.”

  Yeah, that was a good way to put it. So was off the charts. Their chemistry was undeniable, a force to be reckoned with.

  They walked to the door together, and she flipped off the lights before they stepped outside. He watched as she locked up, the streetlights in the parking lot bathing her in a pale glow.

  “Are you sure I can’t help you move tomorrow?” It would only be prolonging the inevitable, but he’d take whatever time he could get.

  Sophia shook her head. “That will only make it harder,” she said. “Let’s just say goodbye now, while things are still simple.”

  She was right, and he knew it. So he stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. She squeezed him tightly, making his heart stutter in his chest.

  “I’m going to miss you,” he said softly. “And not just because of the sex.”

  She laughed, her chest vibrating against his. “I feel the same way about you.”

  Carter released her, knowing she needed to go. “If you ever come back to visit your grandfather, look me up.” Maybe they couldn’t have a serious relationship, but he wouldn’t be opposed to a friends-with-benefits situation. Anything to keep her in his life.

  A mischievous look crossed her face. “Now that I know what you’re capable of, I think I will.”

  Before he could laugh, she rose to her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on his lips. Then she turned and headed for her car, leaving him standing by the door.