Sunset Seduction

Five



Luke wasn’t a weak man but he wasn’t a damn saint, either. And Audrey was a temptation he couldn’t resist tonight. She was naked but for the strip of material below her navel. One flick of his finger and she’d be fully bared to him. Being with the blonde mystery woman again was his fantasy come true.

On impulse, Luke reached for Audrey, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. He gave a sharp tug and she landed up against him, soaking his shirt with her wet skin, her breasts pressed to his chest. Her arms automatically circled his neck and he breathed in Sweet and Wicked again. With his thumb, he shoved her chin up. He bent his head and crushed her mouth with a kiss. A long, deep whimper rose from her throat and he groaned from the depths of his chest, drowning out her sexy sounds of passion.

The kiss wasn’t sweet or patient. He demanded that she meet him on his turf. Audrey had no trouble keeping up. Not even when his tongue shoved through her lips and found hers. He swept inside the hollows of her mouth, drawing her out with full strokes that had her body rocking against his in a rhythm that seized his soul and wouldn’t let go.

There was no end in sight. He couldn’t fathom putting a halt to this. He was consumed now with Audrey’s heady, willing and pliant body. She was his for the taking and Luke blocked out any thoughts that said otherwise.

He ran his hands through her hair, weaving his fingers through the silky strands as he kissed her. Leaning her back, he left her mouth to drizzle kisses on the tip of her chin and along her neck, then went farther south to nip at the base of her throat. One hand left her hair to cup her breast. He squeezed gently and filled his palm with a different kind of softness, rounded and silky smooth. His thumb flicked her nipple back and forth.

She moaned and Luke’s erection battled against the constraints of his pants. “So beautiful,” he muttered, barely able to breathe.

He rubbed his chin over her other breast, teasing the nipple right before he drew it deep into his mouth. He suckled her and stroked the nub with his tongue, until her breathing came in short, labored bursts. “Luke.”

Her plea tore at his willpower. He was lost. He’d had her once before, but this time was different. This time they both knew the score. There might be hell to pay later, but Luke was in the now and nothing was going to stop him from taking his mystery woman the way he’d dreamed so many times in the past. “I’m not gonna slow down, honey.”

“I…don’t…want you to,” she eeked out.

Audrey’s hands threaded through his hair and she hung on as he worked her into a frenzied state. He wasn’t far behind. His blood pulsed through his veins.

He gave her a short, quick kiss then cupped her bottom in both of his palms and lifted her. He loved how she responded to him, without question or qualm. Her legs wrapped around his waist easily and he moved her to the cushioned lounge chair. Her butt was firm and silky smooth and before he lowered her down, he gave her a squeeze, filling his hands. His manhood responded and he almost lost it then. Somehow he managed to regain control and lowered her down.

She gazed up at him, her eyes bright and glazed with passion. In the lamplight, she was amazing and all his. Luke threw caution to the wind, no matter the warning bells going off in the furthest reaches of his mind.

“Take off your shirt, Luke.” Her plea, and the picture she made on that cushiony lounge, made his mouth go dry. Her lips were swollen. Golden hair curled around and framed her beautiful breasts. Her legs were long and sleek. Every inch of her body was poised and ready for him. “I want to touch you.”

His shirt was gone in an instant and he sat on the edge of the lounge, letting Audrey’s hands roam over his chest. His skin flamed from her touch. She rose up and kissed him on the mouth, then lowered her head to kiss the parts of his body exposed to her.

He could only take so much. He kissed her while gently shoving her back against the lounge and then did the thing he’d imagined doing when he’d first seen her wading in the pool. He hooked his finger into her bikini bottom and slowly, carefully eased it down her legs.

Even then, Audrey wasn’t shy with him. She gave him a satisfied smile and reached for him again. White-hot heat swamped his body. But this time he was in control. This time, he would bring her pleasure.

They were alone in the dark. The night was silent. Neighboring ranches were miles away and Luke’s pool area was private and fenced off in the backyard. Barn scents on the property blew by on occasional breezes, a familiar and welcome smell of horses and leather.

He ran his fingers along the inner smoothness of her thighs until he came to the apex of her legs. She lifted her hips up, parted her lips and closed her eyes, ready for whatever he would do to her. She trusted him without pause. Luke valued that trust and began to stroke her, slow and easy, teasing her with light touches. “Do you like that?”

She swallowed and nodded. “Yes.”

“I thought you would. Tell me when you want more.”

“I want more,” she whispered, and Luke grinned.

He slid two fingers over her again, slipping them inside this time and gliding them back and forth, inside and out. “Oh,” she moaned.

The throaty sounds she made burned clear through him. He stretched out beside her on the lounge and kissed her in keeping with his fingers’ steady cadence. She squirmed with need and Luke sped up his pace, touching her in ways that would only give her the most satisfaction.

When her release came, Luke wasn’t ready for the long, drawn-out sighs of contentment that whispered from her lips.

* * *

Wrapped in his shirt, Audrey reclined on Luke’s bed after he deposited her there with utmost care. No words had been spoken on the way to his room. With eyes locked on each other and refusing to break the connection, they were in silent agreement. Luke had just made her world spin out of control. She was happier than she’d ever been in her life.

“Are you sure about this?” Luke came down on the bed beside her, trailing kisses along her jawline.

She nodded, too overwhelmed to speak at the moment.

She wove her hands in his hair as he continued to kiss her. She felt his need breaking through the restraint he’d managed as he’d scooped her up into his arms from the lounge chair to bring her inside.

Just a glimmer of light came through the walnut-wood shutters. The bed was big and comfortable, and she didn’t care where she ended up, as long as Luke was beside her.

He took his time with her, kissing her gently, stroking her body tenderly and speaking soft words in her ear. The evidence of his desire pressed the side of her body.

She slid her hand onto his chest, feeling hot, firm skin and powerful muscles underneath her fingertips. Fanning her fingers across washboard abs, she let go a sigh. How many times had she dreamed of this? How many times had she wished she would once again have the freedom to touch Luke and feel his body come alive with hers?

She reached for his belt buckle, helping him unfasten it. Boots flew and pants were tossed aside quickly after that. Audrey got a glimpse of Luke approaching her and her breath caught in her throat. His hair was pushed back and sandy tendrils curled at his shoulders. His chest was big and broad and when she darted a glance lower, her memory was jolted back to weeks before, and how she’d enjoyed every fulfilling second of their lovemaking.

“Come closer, Luke,” she said, repeating the words he’d whispered in the cabin.

He stood tall by the side of the bed like a Greek god, tanned and mighty.

She watched him sheath his manhood and then slide a lingering glance over her entire body. Warm waves of expectation zinged through her belly. Before he climbed onto the bed, he cupped her womanhood and stroked her with the heel of his hand several times, making her mind go fuzzy and her heartbeats speed up. Everything inside turned to hot jelly.

He took her thighs in his hands and spread them, then lowered himself over her. Her eyes were wide with wonder. She didn’t want to miss any part of this. She needed Luke and wanted to see him take pleasure from her body, in much the same way he had given to her. With a potent thrust, he filled her and closed his eyes. “So tight,” he said with a deep rasp. “So good.”

He moved on her slowly and she followed his lead, her heart swelling with love. She gave back to him thrust for thrust, and when he increased the pressure and rose above her, she bowed her body back to accommodate him. He took her hips in his hands and drove harder, faster, bending her back even more. Then she closed her eyes and her body burst into flames when he pressed his thumb where they were joined. It was only seconds later that everything spun crazily out of control. Her breaths were short, quick puffs and her body seized up just as Luke let out a long satisfied groan from the depths of his chest. Their cries mingled in the still night and echoed against the walls in a chorus of sweeping sensual sounds.

Every drop of strength oozed from her limbs. She couldn’t move, yet she was floating. And Luke, the maker of dreams, was slow to remove himself from her body. He held on and watched her come gracefully down to earth. He took a swallow and bent to kiss her on the lips before he slid to the side of the bed.

He entwined their fingers and set them on his chest. “Are you okay?” he asked, staring at the ceiling.

She was in heaven. “I’m fine.”

His gaze roamed over her naked body, taking a leisurely tour. “I’ll be agreeing with you there. You’re fine.”

She smiled at his compliment. After all the years of yearning, wanting and loving Luke, she could finally savor and enjoy this moment. Beams of happiness set her heart aglow. She was where she’d always wanted to be.

“Are you cold?” Gripping the sheet, he was ready to cover her.

“Not at all.”

He let the sheet drop and kissed her shoulder, and another wave of warmth coursed through her body. She’d never be cold with Luke nearby. He was beautiful, a perfectly muscled man of the earth. A modern-day cowboy who loved the same things she did.

He leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling again. He seemed to go someplace that put a frown on his face and then his jaw twitched as if in pain. It only took a minute for his demeanor to change. A long sigh, heavy with regret, rose from his chest.

Audrey prayed she was imagining his change in mood. She wasn’t ready for a lecture right now. She wanted to bask in the glory of their lovemaking.

“Why’d you do it, Audrey?” he asked.

She squeezed her eyes closed. “Do what?” But she knew.

“Why’d you come to me that night in the cabin?”

Because I’ve loved you for the past ten years. Dare she tell him? What if he had the same feelings for her and was only just discovering them now? “I was ready to be impulsive.”

“So it was payback. You caught your boyfriend cheating and wanted to get back at him?”

“More like, I didn’t care that I’d caught him cheating. It bummed me out to know that I’d invested that much time in a guy I didn’t care about.”

“Wow. That’s deep but I get it.”

“You do?” Now that was a revelation. Usually when a girl went philosophical on a guy, he shut down completely. But this was classic Luke. He was easy to talk to and he understood her.

“Yeah, I do. And I get why you ran off that night. You realized your lapse in judgment and couldn’t face me in the morning. We’re friends, Audrey. But I hadn’t seen you in years.”

Audrey covered herself with the sheet and hinged up into a sitting position. “It wasn’t a lapse of any kind, Luke. That’s not why I ran off.”

“Then why? Was it because of Casey? Were you afraid of his reaction?”

Luke’s expression grew grim. His brows lifted and his eyes widened as if he’d just remembered that Casey was her brother. “Ah, hell. Casey.” He winced. “Your brother trusted me to watch out for you and twice now I’ve betrayed that trust.”

“That’s not true. You didn’t betray anyone.”

“Casey warned me you were vulnerable and hurt. And what do I do? The first chance I get, I sleep with his sister.”

“I’m not just Casey’s sister, Luke. I’m a grown woman capable of making my own decisions.”

“I take one look at you in that pool and I can’t resist. What does that say about me?”

“You’re a man? And maybe you like me a little?”

He twisted his face and blew air out of his lungs.

“Casey had no right interfering in this or telling you about my personal problems,” Audrey said. “He surely didn’t know I was coming here.”

“Yeah, about that…” Luke bounded off the bed and looked around the floor for his boxers. Once found, he put them on and moved to turn on a dimmer light switch. The room was suddenly bathed in a soft glow. He stood by the bed with his hands on his hips now. She’d seen that dubious expression on his face before. He was in interrogation mode. Still gorgeous, still hunky, but with a rigid set to his jaw. “If you weren’t coming here for a job, then why’d you show up on the ranch? I want the truth this time.”

“I always tell you the truth, Luke.”

“I had no idea we slept together, Audrey. You ran off and left me to wonder about a mystery woman.”

“Do you always go to bed with women you don’t know?” That question had kept her up at night. If he hadn’t known it was her, who did he think he was making love to?

His head jerked back. Surprise registered on his face. She’d turned the tables on him and he didn’t much like it. “I thought I knew who it was. Obviously.”

“Obviously. So who?”

“A woman I’d seen that night at the party. A blonde.”

Jealousy burned in her heart. “But not someone you knew very well.”

Luke looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “I wasn’t…thinking clearly.”

“But you were tonight.”

He turned to face her, his eyes filled with guilt and regret. That anguished look seared into her every pore.

Don’t, Luke. Don’t you dare regret this.

Mentally, Audrey spun the Worst-Case Scenario game wheel and wondered where it would land. Was it worse that Luke didn’t know he’d made love to her the first time, or that he regretted it down to his toes the second time? Either way, she came out the loser.

He nodded, looking none too happy with himself.

She wanted to go back to ten minutes ago, when life was beautiful.

Now, looking at the pain on Luke’s face, all she felt was heartache.

“Answer my question, Audrey. Why did you show up here?”

“I came to own up to running out on you. I felt bad. I didn’t know if you were mad at me, or relieved that I had disappeared from your life. I came to Sunset Ranch to discuss that night with you. But when I realized you didn’t know it was me in that bedroom, I lost my nerve. It’s a pretty low blow to have a man not know he made love to you. Especially since it meant so much to me.”

“It meant so much to…” Luke didn’t finish the sentence. He was too busy twisting his lips and squeezing his eyes closed in disbelief. He began shaking his head. “Don’t go there, Audrey.”

He found his jeans and put them on, zipping them up with a quick pull. “We had a good time tonight.” He tempered his voice as if afraid to bruise her ego. As if he was speaking to a child. “But don’t go reading anything else into this. If you hadn’t seduced me in the first place we wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You’re blaming me for seducing you after what we just shared in this bedroom?”

He continued to shake his head. “When I saw you in the pool, everything clicked into place. I was surprised by you and the temptation to re-create something that’s been haunting me took over.”

“We did re-create it. It was even better than the first time.”

Another heavy sigh escaped. “I’m going to my grave regretting what just happened.”

His words slapped across her face. Her cheeks burned with pain. She’d given herself to him again, this time in the hopes of starting something new between them. Something more than friendship, but Luke didn’t see it that way. He saw it as a mess. He couldn’t see beyond the girl she used to be to the woman she was today. And Mr. Nice Guy had guilt because of a promise he’d made to Casey. It hurt like hell and wasn’t fair.

Audrey couldn’t stay in his room tonight. She couldn’t stand to see Luke try to make amends for making love to her or speak about his regret again. That would be the last straw.

She yanked the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her body then stood up to face him. Her pride bruised, she hid her injury and the pain his words inflicted. “You don’t have to regret anything, Luke. Consider it forgotten. A mistake, like you said. A big fat lapse in judgment. You don’t have to tell me more than once. I get it.”

She held her grief inside, hoisted her chin and marched to the door. Then she whirled around, opened her hand and let the expensive Egyptian cotton sheet fall gracefully to the floor. Buck naked, she had Luke’s full attention. His eyes flickered over her body. A few seconds ticked by. Then she turned her back on him. “I’ll see you at breakfast,” she tossed over her shoulder as she walked out the door.

* * *

The next five breakfasts were quiet affairs. For the most part, Audrey wasn’t speaking to Luke except for matters that regarded the ranch. She was invested here now with the animals, especially Trib, and she’d vowed to never again run away because things got tough, so thoughts of leaving the ranch—and Luke—skipped right out of her head.

She spent her days with Hunter and Ward and met with Sophia for lunch several times. She poured herself into the work, adding additional chores to her regimen to keep her mind busy and her heart from sinking into the bowels of the earth. Luke didn’t seem all that concerned that their friendship was on stilted terms. He was probably relieved he didn’t have to deal with her. He didn’t have to pretend to feel something for her that he didn’t feel.

It was harder on her. She hadn’t breathed a word about what had happened between them to anyone. But every so often, Sophia would bring up Luke’s name in conversation and Audrey would shrug a shoulder or give a clipped response. Sophia was smart enough to be a little suspicious, but Audrey managed to change the subject without fanfare or being too obvious.

For the past three afternoons, she’d worked with Trib at the barn. She wouldn’t allow her personal feelings to interfere with the job she was hired to do. Luke had come by to watch her progress, keeping a big distance away as she’d asked. But his eagle eyes were on her and she resented that his presence there was solely to make sure she wasn’t in danger.

He was always protecting her.

Any other female would’ve loved the attention. Was she a fool? She ached inside knowing she’d lost Luke as a friend. Though she wanted him as a lover. No, that wasn’t true. She wanted to be more than his lover. She wanted a real relationship with him. But she’d have gladly taken more nights like the one they’d shared, hoping it would lead to a richer relationship.

Now Audrey had nothing. No friendship. No lover. No Luke.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to leave the ranch. She couldn’t quit another thing. She was through doing things halfway. She had a job to do; the ranch depended on her, and she felt the challenge of Trib deep down in her bones. Leaving Luke and the ranch would be the easy way out in one respect. She wouldn’t have the constant reminder of what she couldn’t have. But she would have satisfaction knowing she accomplished something and didn’t run at the first sign of trouble.

Luke’s painful words rang in her ears; it was a sharp dagger to her heart as she recalled the last thing he’d said to her that night.

I’m going to my grave regretting what just happened.

She didn’t want to be anyone’s last regret.

Newly fueled anger surged through her system.

The anger did nothing to quell her constant fatigue. Instead, she felt lifeless, her arms and legs weak and her body limping along. She blamed it on Luke. She blamed everything on Luke these days.

After another long day of working with the horses, she came back to the house, peeled off her work clothes and stepped into the shower. A soothing stream of water rained down to refresh her body and her mind. Wash Luke away from my thoughts tonight, she implored the water gods. Heal my heartache and soothe my soul. Was it too much to ask of a water god? She didn’t know but when she wrapped herself into a towel and dried off, she felt a little better.

She was ready for mindless television and a good night’s sleep.

She climbed into bed and gave Jewel a big, body-squeezing hug. The cat purred immediately and rubbed her face against her leg. Then she did a belly roll, content in the outpouring of attention she was receiving lately. Audrey accommodated her, petting her under the chin. When the cat rolled over, having had enough undivided attention, Audrey got comfy and picked up the remote control and clicked the TV on.

“Looks like Wannabes and Wranglers is on tonight.”

It was nice having a cat around to pretend you weren’t talking to yourself.

Audrey watched, noting John Wannabe’s progress. He rode tall in the saddle now. He actually looked good, but he hadn’t mastered the reins just yet…uh-oh. The horse took off at a run. John’s hat flew off his head and it was all he could do to stay on the runaway horse…

A dog’s bark came from her phone.

Jewel lifted her head again. “It’s a text,” she said to the cat. Audrey peeked at the screen. It was from Luke.

Are you watching?

Yes, she messaged back, even though she didn’t want to have a conversation with him tonight.

John should hang it up now before he gets seriously hurt.

Maybe John’s not a quitter.

It was her anger speaking. She didn’t care if Luke read between the lines. One way or another, Audrey would get her point across.

She didn’t hear back from Luke until five minutes before the reality show ended.

John got voted off. Probably saved his skin and his neck.

She wrote back, He was willing to take the hard knocks to achieve his goals. Too bad the others didn’t have faith in him. I’m turning in. Good night, Luke.

Audrey shut off the television and sank into the cushy bed. She’d made her point loud and clear and somehow, she didn’t feel much like celebrating the slight win. She didn’t feel good, period. And the last thing she wanted was to think about Luke right before she fell asleep. She’d probably dream about him.

A soft knock at her bedroom door came thirty seconds after she’d closed her eyes.

It could only be one person.

She could pretend to be asleep. That wouldn’t be too far-fetched, would it? But when the second soft knock came, she sighed and tossed off the covers. On bare feet and in her ugly T-shirt that read Cats and Women Know How to Land on Their Feet, she padded to the door.

She wasn’t ready for the sight of Luke in faded jeans and a white wifebeater with his arms spread wide, bracing himself against the doorjambs. He leaned in, scruffy day-old beard and all, and she caught the scent of bourbon on his breath. His eyes raked over her legs and followed a path that finally rested on her face. Then his lips tightened to a fine line. “You’re in a mood tonight.”

She’d been in a mood for several nights. But it was hard concentrating on any of that, with Luke looking like pure sin standing in her bedroom doorway. “Sorry if I disappoint you.”

He showed his displeasure by deepening his scowl.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“No argument.”

“About what?” Geesh, it was past her bedtime and he was speaking in riddles.

“I’m taking you to Logan and Sophia’s engagement party.”

A dubious laugh escaped her throat. “Oh, no, you’re not.”

“Afraid so. Logan asked me specifically and Sophia seconded the notion. And you know what that means…there’s no arguing that request.”

“I can get there on my own, thank you very much.”

“Don’t be a child, Audrey.”

She rolled her shoulders back and stiffened up, which inadvertently jutted her breasts out. Luke’s gaze ventured to her chest and a gleam he couldn’t hide shined in his eyes.

She rasped, “I think we’ve already established that I am not a child.”

Luke glanced at her hair, which she’d been leaving down lately. Tonight it was wild about her head. Then his gaze lowered to her mouth in a soft caress. If he chose to speak about mistakes or regrets now, the door would fly in his face. “That’s been established,” he agreed. “But it’ll look real suspicious if you and I drive separately. Logan’s restaurant, The Hideaway, is up in the hills. It’s a windy road and a difficult drive. There’s no reason not to carpool.”

“Make up an excuse.”

“I’ve already thought of a few. Nothing makes much sense.”

She didn’t know why that bruised her feelings, since she was the one trying to weasel out of going with him, but it did. He didn’t want to take her as much as she didn’t want to go with him. But her reason went beyond her anger at him. Going with Luke to a special party for his brother would seem too much like a real dress-up-in-your-fancy-duds kind of date. And for a big part of her life, she had hoped to go on a date with Luke.

“I’ll go with Hunter.”

“Hunter is driving up with his folks in Ward’s truck. There’s no room for you. Face it, Audrey. You’re stuck with me.”

Sort of like being stuck with a rock star for the night. Or a prince.

“Fine.” She made it clear with that one word that she wasn’t too happy about it.

He nodded.

They stared at each other.

Time ticked by.

“You know,” he said softly, “it doesn’t have to be like this between us.”

Yes. It did. She glanced away for a second to compose herself, before turning to look him dead in the eyes. “What did you have in mind?”

She watched his Adam’s apple dip down to the base of his throat when he took a swallow. “We can still be friends.”

The old let’s-be-friends-because-I really-don’t-want-to-feel-guilty-anymore ploy. A dozen reasons why she couldn’t be Luke’s friend right now streamed into her mind. “Sorry, that’s not an option.”

“Fine.” His voice sharp, he didn’t conceal his annoyance.

“Fine.”

“We’ll leave at five on Saturday night.”

“I’ll be ready. Good night, Luke.”

“Uh-huh.” He took her in from head to toe one last time, before drawing a deep breath and turning away. She closed the door, slumping her shoulders as righteous anger slowly ebbed from her body. Tears welled in her eyes. Her heart broke a little bit more as she climbed into bed and hugged Jewel tight to her chest, determined not to dream about Luke Slade tonight.