Clay: Armed and Dangerous Read online

  His kiss deepened, her thoughts spinning as she parted her lips and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She welcomed him, drawing him deeper into her. Today he tasted of cinnamon and his own elemental flavor. Clay’s arousal was clear, hard against her belly. Her core flooded at the thought of having that awesome length deep inside her again. It’d been too long since she’d had him.

  Faintly she heard something clatter to the floor, but the whole world could come crashing down for all she cared. The only thing that mattered was the feel of this man in her arms, how good he tasted, his masculine scent, and the way he held her against him.

  When he broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead to hers. Rylie opened her eyes to see his sexy smile so close to her lips. Feeling dazed and breathless, she swallowed, trying to calm the emotions rushing through her.

  Not emotions—lust. That was all she felt for him... Lust.

  He trailed his knuckles along her jaw line. “You ready to head on out, little wildcat?”

  “Yeah.” Her voice was barely a husky whisper.

  Snap out of it! she shouted in her head.

  Fixing a flirty smile on her face, Rylie pushed herself away from Clay. “I’m ready if you are.”

  “You don’t know how ready I am.” He winked, but then knelt and started picking up items from the floor—and Rylie realized what the clatter had been. She’d dropped her purse, scattering her ID, lipstick, and change all over the floor. Before she had a chance to help him, he had everything gathered up. “You carry a pocket-knife?” he asked as he dropped it into her purse and stood.

  “I’m pretty handy with it.” She shrugged and took her purse from him. “And it was a gift from someone who was like a mom to me. She lived down at the old Karchner Ranch, but she died a while back. Gina Garcia lived there for a while—you remember her.”

  Clay nodded.

  Gina had taken off abruptly last year, and everybody had worried about her safety. She was the woman Clay sent Levi to track down to check on her, but that hadn’t worked out well. Levi lost her in Utah, and never picked up her trail again.

  “I think Levi was a little sweet on Gina. The for-sale sign at the Karchner place got taken down, but I haven’t been by to see who’s living there now. Too hard to go down there, you know? I always think of Mrs. Karchner.”

  “Ah.” Clay glanced around the small living room. “Speaking of Levi, where is your brother?”

  “Hell if I know.” Rylie brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “He’s been gone every night and won’t tell me where. I think he’s got a side job and just doesn’t want to tell me about it for some macho reason.”

  Something flickered in Clay’s eyes, but then it was gone. “Let’s go before I decide to forget all about the damn dinner.” He brushed his lips over hers. “ ’Cause the way you look tonight, honey, we’ll be lucky if we even make it to the mayor’s house.”

  “Who needs him anyway?” She flicked her tongue against the corner of his mouth, her naked skin aching beneath her dress.

  He groaned and caught her face in his palms. “I brought a little something for you.”

  With a naughty grin, Rylie placed her hand against his package and felt its rigid length beneath his slacks. “You sure did, but I’d say that’s more than a little something.”

  Clay captured her hand in one of his and held it to his chest, while his other hand dug into his suit jacket and pulled out a long jeweler’s box.

  Rylie’s eyes widened and she tried to step back, but he held her hand too tightly against him. “I can’t accept a gift from you, Clay.” She swallowed as she looked up at him.

  “Just open it.” He placed the box in her free hand until she took it, and then released her other hand.

  Curiosity won out, and she opened the box. Lying upon a bed of black velvet was a necklace, each link a tiny heart, and each heart with a diamond chip at its center. “It’s gorgeous.” She snapped the box shut and handed it back to him. “It’s too expensive. You can’t give me this and I can’t accept it.”

  “Let’s just see how it looks.” He reopened the box and unhooked each end of the necklace from within its velvet nest.

  “No.” Rylie shook her head. “I’ve known you for less than two weeks. And I already told you, no commitment. Of any kind.”

  “I’m not asking for commitment.” His smile was so erotic her nipples became diamond points against the thin fabric of her dress. “Just wear the necklace. Humor me, all right?”

  Raising her chin, she gave him a mischievous smile. “Under one condition.”

  Clay quirked his brow. “What’s that?”

  “You have to promise to let me do what I want with that other thing you brought me.”

  His mouth curved up into a grin. “No problem.”

  “While we’re at the mayor’s house.”

  “Uh, no.”

  “Either that, or we have to do it.” A devious feeling rose up within her. “Anywhere I say. Anytime. Somewhere very public.”

  Clay and Rylie arrived at the mayor’s house promptly at seven. He glanced over at her in the passenger seat just as she bit her lower lip, and he realized that his feisty wildcat was nervous.

  Well, good. Maybe she’d get that crazy public sex idea out of her beautiful little head. He couldn’t believe he’d agreed to Rylie’s condition—the woman was making him certifiably nuts. If he didn’t watch it, his libido was going to get him into serious trouble.

  Hell, he was already courting disaster by dating a suspect’s sister. And after the new evidence that Deputy Quinn had reported, about seeing Levi riding after suspects in an interrupted burglary, it was looking more and more like Rylie’s brother was in some deep shit. They’d know more after Quinn served the warrant at the bank and checked out that safety deposit box. Until then, he needed to let it all go and give Rylie his full attention. He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Ready?”

  A car passed, the headlights illuminating her delicate features as her eyes met his. She raised her chin, a proud tilt to her head. “What if I don’t fit in here? I’m just a rancher—”

  Clay caught her face in his hands and silenced her with a long, hard kiss. When he pulled away, he looked into her eyes that glittered in the near darkness. “Honey, you’re smart and sexy... you fit me perfectly.”

  “But—”

  He pressed his thumb against her lips, silencing her protest.

  “Just be the beautiful and confident Rylie Thorn that I can’t get enough of.”

  Clay helped her out of his truck, and she held his hand tight as they walked up to the home of Douglas mayor Eduardo Montano, one of the biggest houses in the area. A well-known businessman even before becoming mayor, Montano owned a popular Mexican restaurant in town. At one time Montano had run for U.S. Congress but had lost to the incumbent.

  Rylie’s chin rose higher as a young man greeted them at the door, then escorted them into a formal living room already filled with guests. Clay squeezed her hand and felt her relax, as though his confidence was transferred to her. The mayor’s home was decorated much as his restaurant was, in bold colors, with portraits of bullfighters and other decor that spoke of his Hispanic heritage. A quick check of the place told Clay one important thing: Guerrero wasn’t present in the crowd. That would definitely make it a better night.

  “Sheriff Wayland.” Montano approached them, holding out one hand. “It is good to see you again.”

  “Mayor Montano.” Clay grasped the mayor’s hand in a firm grip, then released it to introduce Rylie. “Have you met Rylie Thorn? She and her brother own a ranch outside town.”

  Montano clasped Rylie’s hand and smiled. “A pleasure, señorita.” Her smile was radiant as she responded in kind to the mayor. Before Clay had the chance to say another word, Montano took it upon himself to introduce Rylie to each of the other guests, which included council members and a couple of local business owners and their spouses. All Clay could do was follow like some third wheel, but ever
y now and then Rylie would toss him a look that said Don’t forget your promise to take me in public, and it was all he could do to keep from sporting a hard-on the entire evening.

  Throughout the night, the way that the other men looked at Rylie, Clay couldn’t decide whether he should want to kick their asses or stick out his chest with pride. She was a knockout in her tiny black dress and high heels, clearly the most beautiful woman there. Her hair shimmered like gold floss in the light of the chandeliers, and her brown eyes seemed bigger and more luminous than ever. The delicate chain of golden hearts and diamonds glittered with every move she made.

  Truth be told, he had wondered what Rylie might come up with tonight as frank as she was in conversation. That was one of the things he loved about her, the way she spoke her mind without worrying about what others might think.

  When they were seated for dinner, Clay and Rylie found themselves in the middle of one side of the table set for twelve.

  “I’ve never been to such a fancy dinner,” Rylie whispered to Clay as they were served cold gazpacho in footed silver bowls. “I’m afraid I’m going to do something stupid.”

  “You’ll do fine, honey.” He settled his hand on her knee beneath the tablecloth, enjoying her slight gasp as he moved his fingers to the warm flesh inside her thigh. “Just do what I do.”

  “All right.” She smiled and moved her hand to his lap, right where it counted. “Like that?”

  Clay’s cock jerked and hardened at her touch, and he fought the urge to see if the people seated to either side of them could see what she was doing to him. He lowered his lids, his gaze burning into hers. “Eat your dinner.”

  She spoke so softly that he almost had to read her lips, as she said, “I’d rather have you for a main course.”

  He damn near groaned out loud at the thought of those lips and that soft mouth going down on him. The councilman on Rylie’s other side took that moment to ask her a question, and her teasing brown eyes were drawn from Clay.

  As they ate dinner, conversation ranged from politics to various other problems that plagued the border community. Rylie made it a point to torture Clay with a hand on his lap, or sliding off her shoe and running her silken foot along his ankle. At one point she even leaned in, her vanilla musk scent sweeping over him as she whispered, “I want to fuck you now.”

  Clay just about choked on his mouthful of grilled salmon. He retaliated by sliding his fingers along the inside of her thigh, planning to rub his fingers along the crotch of her panties—only to have his fingers come in contact with warm, bare skin. His erection hardened to the point he’d thought for sure it would thrust right through the material of his dress slacks.

  When the topic of truck thefts came up, Clay tried to head it off with, “We’re working on it,” but each person at the table seemed to have some comment.

  “Well, something needs to be done, and soon,” Rylie added to the conversation. Clay tensed beside her.

  Eduardo Montano’s eyes rested on her. “What would you suggest?”

  She set her fork on the edge of her plate, her gaze steady as it met the mayor’s. “It’s obvious that it can’t be completely an outside job.” Conversation around the table quieted as Rylie continued, “The thieves know who’s home and who isn’t, good times to strike, times to stay away... I believe it’s someone familiar with folks in the area.”

  Montano nodded. “Do you think it could be anyone you know?”

  Clay was practically holding his breath as he watched Rylie brush a strand of hair behind her ear, a troubled look crossing her face. “I can’t imagine it would be any of the ranchers in our area. They’re all good people, and most of them have been hit. But whoever it is, the law should lock them up for good once the bastard’s caught.”

  Murmurs of agreement came from around the table, and Clay took the opportunity to ask what everyone thought about the Cardinals’ chances of making the play-offs that year.

  “Cardinals?” Rylie scoffed, her brown eyes meeting his. “Have you had a look at the way their defense has been playing lately?”

  “The 49ers are going to put the Cardinals away in the next game,” Montano agreed.

  While the banter continued, Clay studied Rylie, who passionately participated in the debate. He hadn’t even realized that she was a football fan. How much more of a perfect woman could he have asked for?

  He just hoped to God that Rylie wasn’t going to hate him if he ended up having to arrest her brother.

  When a decadent chocolate mousse was served for dessert, Rylie found her opportunity. Or rather, she made it.

  “Ow,” she said, just loud enough to be heard over the appreciative murmurs around the table. “Something’s in my eye.”

  “Can I do something for you?” Montano asked as Rylie held her hand over her eye.

  “Just point me to the bathroom, and I’ll take care of it.” She started to push back her chair, but Clay was already standing and pulling it out for her.

  “Do you mind helping me?” she asked him, keeping the one eye squeezed shut.

  “Of course.” His expression was concerned, yet the flare in his green eyes told her he knew she was up to something. Clay pressed his hand to the small of her back as he guided her across the massive house and into the opulent rose-scented bathroom.

  The moment they were inside, she locked the door and wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned. “We had a bargain, lawman.”

  He groaned, but his big hands gripped her hips, the heat burning through her thin dress like a pair of branding irons. “You’re such a little minx.”

  “Enough talk.” Her hands moved to his belt, and a small thrill charged through her at the feel of his already huge length beneath his dress slacks. She was so turned-on she couldn’t wait to get him inside her. “Just get on with it, big guy.”

  Clay yanked up her dress and rubbed her bare ass with his palms as she freed his length and pushed his slacks down around his hips. A sigh of sheer lust escaped her as she slid her fingers up and down his erection.

  He grasped her ass and raised her up onto the marble counter- top, and she jerked her attention to his face. His eyes burned a deep, passionate brown as he pushed her thighs apart and pressed himself against her.

  “Damn, you drive me crazy, woman.” He brushed himself against her swollen folds, then stroked her, easing toward her wet depths. “What I’d do for you.”

  “Then do it now.” Rylie moaned and braced her hands on the countertop, the marble cold and erotic beneath her bare ass.

  In one smooth motion, Clay drilled her. She gasped at the incredible sensation of having him fill her again. Damn, but she’d missed him inside her this week.

  “Oh, God, that feels good. So, so good.” She watched him moving in and out, loving every second. “More. I need more.”

  He grasped his hands beneath her knees, drawing her up and widening her to take more of him. Harder and harder he thrust inside her, their breathing coming in harsh gasps.

  “Yes, that’s it.” She wished she could get her hands on his hard muscled body. Wished she could rake her nails down his back.

  “I’m going to come, honey.” His voice was low and hoarse. “Come with me.”

  “I’m ready.” Rylie’s breathing was labored as she felt her muscles begin to clench. “Now, Clay.”

  Just as she felt a scream rise in her throat, Clay placed his mouth over hers. His kiss was strong and fierce, swallowing her cries and feeding her his own as their bodies jerked and throbbed against one another. For a moment, they remained in that intimate embrace, the smell of passion rising like heady fog around them.

  Clay’s eyes locked with hers, their chests rising and falling with equally labored breaths. And then he smiled, the look in his eyes purely male sexual satisfaction. Rylie couldn’t help but return his smile.

  “Damn, that was fun,” she said, with an intense desire to giggle.

  He grinned and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Talk about an
understatement.”

  When they both had caught their breath, they cleaned up. Rylie rubbed her eye to make it look red, like she’d really had something in her eye.

  Clay shook his head as he checked his own appearance in the mirror and then looked down like he was making sure there was no wet spot on his fly. “I can’t believe we just did that in the mayor’s house.”

  “A deal’s a deal,” she murmured as she reached up and kissed him.

  Chapter 11

  Rylie woke the following morning with Clay’s arms wrapped tight around her, one hand cupping her breast. He had a leg hooked over hers, and his face was buried in the crook of her neck, his warm breath brushing over her skin. It felt so good waking up with him...

  Wait. What the hell was she doing? Twice now she’d broken her no-spending-the-night rule. Twice with the same man, no less.

  When he’d asked her to spend the night after they’d left the mayor’s house, she caved, plain as could be. Maybe she should have seen him during the week, ’cause she would have gotten him a little more out of her system. As it was, she couldn’t seem to satisfy her craving for his taste, his smell, or the feel of him deep inside her.

  Yeah, that was it. The sex. When she’d had enough of him she’d break it off like she always did.

  A contented sigh eased through her as she allowed herself to relax in his arms. Her muscles felt the good ache of a long, passionate night, and the smell of their sex surrounded her, filling her senses.

  Clay stirred, rubbing himself all along her backside, and desire flared all over again. More than desire. More than want. Need curled through her belly. Damn, but she had to get through this quick before she fell in lo—

  No. Not going there. Ever. I’m not an idiot like either of my parents were.

  His lips and tongue began a moist trail down the curve of her neck. “Good morning, beautiful.”

  “Hi, Sheriff.” Rylie shivered and closed her eyes, trying to fight off the deeper feelings of intimacy surging through her. Feelings that she didn’t believe in, that she couldn’t allow herself to acknowledge.