Tucker's Crossing (26 page)

Taking three steps forward, Shelby let her hips sway with a sensuality she’d never tapped into before. She stopped, close enough that she could feel his heat on her skin, but when he reached for her she sidestepped again, not allowing his touch.

“Not yet,” she teased. “I need to see you first.”

Only when his hands were balled fists, clenched at his sides, did she reach for his jeans, already undone during their hasty race to the bedroom. He toed off his remaining boot and stepped free. She traced her fingers under the waistband and eased them down, over his hips to the ground, his erection springing free.

Shelby studied the man before her. He was, in a word, magnificent. Chiseled, dark and defined, wide through the chest, narrow at the waist, and already impressively hard—for her. His abs rippled and contracted as Shelby’s fingers worked their way up to weave around his shoulders. If anything, he was even bigger than before—everywhere. There was something to be said for a man who spent his days outside.

“Time’s up,” he said moments before grabbing her. His hands were everywhere, shaping her bottom, crushing her body against his. Slowly, his fingers never stopping, he walked her backward to the bed. Her knees buckled and he followed her down, pinning her to the mattress, the delicious weight of his body blanketing her.

He covered her in kisses—insatiable kisses—where one turned into ten, turned into a thousand. She forgot to breathe, forgot her name, forgot that just a week ago he wore loafers.

“Home,” Cody mumbled against her lips, before taking them again. “You taste like home.”

Shelby heard the honesty in his words, felt the tears burn her eyes all the way down the back of her throat and into the part of her heart that had long ago been left empty. How could she have thought this man would ever abandon his child? Or her?

Moving lower, Cody’s tongue danced over one nipple, teasing it until it drew taut. Shelby watched as he closed his mouth around her sensitive mounds, sucking the flesh with the perfect amount of pressure, bringing her to the point of near pain before backing off to capture the other one. Slowly he raked his teeth over her swollen nipple, looking up to watch her watching him.

At the merest touch of Cody Tucker’s masterful hands, her body became his. And she feared, always would.

“Now, Cody,” she pleaded.

“Not yet. I want you sobbing for me.”

“I am sobbing.”

Her stomach pulled taut and quivered as his head dropped even lower. He parted her thighs and Shelby knew what came next. He would tease her and bring her to the brink of release again and again, only to pull back at the last minute. He made sure that every nerve was poised, ready to blow . . . ready for him. He was giving, yet every sweep of his fingers and flick of his tongue was calculated.

But she didn’t want calculated. She wanted passionate, wild sex. To make love to the man who was hidden under all that control.

Shelby reached for his head, to stop him. She wanted him to be as crazy and out of his mind as she was, to share in this
with
her, not do it
for
her. But she was too late. He pressed a single, devastating kiss directly between her legs and Shelby didn’t bother to hold back her screams as she shamelessly lifted her hips and pushed up into his mouth.

He smiled against her aching skin while his tongue flicked once, twice and then he devoured her heated flesh, finding that exact spot and carefully—no, thoroughly—sliding over it until Shelby jolted off the mattress. His hands gripped her bottom, holding her still while his mouth worked its magic and teased her until she was slick with need and in danger of hyperventilating.

Oh God, she was going to go mad.
Biting her bottom lip, she surrendered to the sexy cowboy between her thighs and knew she was waging a losing battle.

Shelby had never felt so turned on, so sexy, so wanted. Another spasm built, tightening until her body ached for release. She opened her mouth, needing to expel the pressure, but only silence emerged as Cody backed off.

“Now, Cody,” she said again.

“Not yet, honey.”

His tongue danced lightly over her most sensitive part and Shelby clenched her thighs together, capturing his head between her legs and squeezing.

“I said now, Cody. When I scream you’ll be right there with me, inside of me. And I need all of you,
now
. Do you understand?”

Cody gave a sharp nod and she released him. Dresser drawers flew open, something metal crashed to the floor, cellophane tore as he fumbled with the condom wrapper, and Shelby wanted to yell for him to go faster. She had never wanted anyone else like this. She didn’t even think she had wanted Cody like this before. Oh, they’d had some hot nights, but this . . . this was sexual insanity.

Almost blindly, Cody reached for her face, finding it and lifting it to meet his. He entered her in one long, deep thrust that had Shelby withering under its force. She heard her own strangled gasp, pleasure arching her back, locking him fully inside of her body. Taking the time to remember, savor the moment . . . Lord, how she missed him.

She felt him draw back, his muscles ridged with restraint. She wrapped her legs around and pulled tight, refusing to let him back out. “Just let go, Cody. I want all of you.”

He looked down into her face, his voice a ragged whisper. “What if I can’t control—”

“I don’t want you controlled. I want
you
. Everything you are.”

With a hoarse groan, he began to move, slowly at first, picking up the pace, his thrusts demanding and possessive, hitting every sensitive area until he had her screaming with pleasure. She could do nothing more than hold on as slick skin slid against slick skin, dense muscle pressed into soft breasts, creating a friction and energy that crackled with substance and heat.

He gripped her hips, surged forward. She felt herself tighten and spasm, falling into a world that would forever be Cody. Her strangled cries mixed with his and seemed to go on and on as her body vibrated with pleasure. She’d waited ten years for this moment and she was sure as heck going to take in every delicious second.

Cody’s head went back and he dove into her one last time before collapsing on top of her, their bodies a tangle of arms and legs, their hearts thundering in unison, Shelby struggling to keep perspective under the heavy weight of the moment.

Right before she drifted off to sleep, Cody pulled her to him, his chest plastered firmly against her back, his hand splayed across her belly. Resting his cheek against her back, he pressed soft, wonderful kisses down her spine, trailing up to nuzzle the exact spot behind her ear that sent tingles through her entire body.

She felt him grin into her hair and move closer. “That was amazing,” he whispered.

“Maybe,” she said, glad he couldn’t see her smile. It was amazing, It was the best sex of her life. Of course, anything with Cody was the best.

Cody rolled her on her back. He was propped up on his elbows, staring down at her, frowning. “What the hell do you mean, maybe?”

Shelby shrugged. “Amazing is a pretty strong word. I mean, it was great, but I’m just not sure it was—”

Cody rolled on top of her, pinning her to the mattress. “Oh, I’m sure.”

“Maybe you need to convince me.” What she needed was for him to share in this moment with her, not think about her pleasure all the time. Well, most of the time would be nice. But not all the time. She wanted him to take pleasure too. He had come, all right, but it had been a physical reaction. She needed him to invest emotionally.

Cody reached over and grabbed another condom out of the dresser. Shelby eyed it, folding her hands behind her head. “How many of those do you have?”

“Enough to convince you.”

Shelby was officially ticked. She’d spent the past fifteen minutes trying to hunt down her son. And she was late. Which was probably why she’d failed to notice him the last three times she’d passed through the family room. Then again, maybe it was because Jake was burrowed so far down into the couch he looked like a pillow with feet. Feet that were sock-free, sprouting their own lint, and currently sprawled out over the coffee table.

Clutching a video-game controller in his hand, he resembled a zombie from some new horror movie. She bet if she got any closer she’d see drool dribbling down his chin and hear a weird droning sound coming from his mouth.

From the empty soda can, cookie crumbs, and crumpled candy wrapper, she guessed that Jake had been there a while. And Ms. Luella had hooked him up with snacks.

“Hey, kiddo.”

Jake paused his game and looked over at her. He took in her scrubs and overnight bag and frowned. “Where are you going? You aren’t supposed to work ’til Monday.”

Shelby hated how disappointed he looked. She didn’t want to work so many hours and tried to cut back when he was off school. But they’d been short-staffed at work, and to be honest, she needed the money and filling in would make this time and a half. “I know, but one of the ER nurses went home sick.”

“Cool, have fun.” Jake went back to his game.

“So, what that meant was, I need you up and packed. You’re staying at Ryan’s for the night.”

“Can’t.” He didn’t even look up.

Can’t? Who was this kid? And where was her easygoing, respectful son?
Shelby stepped in front of the television, blocking his view.

“M-o-m, you make a better door than a window.”

“And you better make for your room and start packing before your video game goes bye-bye.”

Jake paused the game again. “But I was going to play football with Cody.”

“Does he know this?”

“No, but—”

Shelby rounded the couch and sat down. “Sweetie, I am sure Cody would love to play football with you, but he might have other plans.”

She pulled him into her side and was surprised when he didn’t put up any resistance. Actually, he kind of melted into her in a way that made her heart ache. “You and Ryan could play football. His dad’s going to be home tonight.”

Shelby felt his little shoulders rise and fall. “I was thinking that if Cody saw me play, like really saw me play, he’d want to be my partner for the fatherson game.”

Oh boy.
Why hadn’t she seen this coming? She hadn’t been surprised when she’d woken up alone in bed this morning. Though it took her a minute to make sense of where she was, lying in that single bed, staring up at trophies and faded football posters. Then she rolled over and smelled sex and fresh-cut grass, felt her overused muscles hum with pleasure and she remembered where she was and what had happened.

She’d scanned the room and felt a pinch of disappointment. No note. No morning-after spooning. Just a cold spot beside her. And that was what Jake was feeling right now. After coming off of a fun day like yesterday, he’d probably expected to wake up and have a daddy, ball in hand, ready for a day full of male bonding.

“I’m sure he would love that. But it’s a weekday and I’m sure he’s working hard to catch up with ranch business. Plus he’s got his job in Austin.”

Although he hadn’t talked about it much, Shelby knew Cody disappeared into the office for a few hours every day, and after they went to sleep, to keep up with his office in Austin.

“Or maybe he got up at the crack of dawn to do all his ‘catching up’ so he could play some ball, maybe grab dinner or a movie in town,” Cody said from the doorway.

He looked like an ad for an army-of-one, leaning against the wall in a faded gray T-shit, worn jeans that she was sure hugged his ass perfectly, looking hot and sweaty. Shelby could have purred.

“Really?” Jake leaned away, but he didn’t stand up. He was as off balance as Shelby was when it came to Cody and what to expect.

“Really.” Cody pushed away from the wall and made his way over to the couch, Shelby watching him every step until he sat down, giving Jake’s hair a casual little ruffle. Then his eyes met hers, and there was nothing casual about it. But it did do all kinds of ruffling. “Morning, Shelby Lynn.”

“Afternoon,” she corrected, feeling her stomach do all kinds of fluttering at his tone.

“Afternoon? Well, then I guess it was about time you lazy-heads got up.”

“Mom
always
sleeps in late after a double.”

Again, he was staring at her, his eyes gleaming. “I thought it was a triple, my mistake.” Now Shelby was certain she was red. His eyes finally left hers, dropping to study her scrubs. He frowned. “I didn’t know you worked today.”

“I didn’t.” Shelby shifted her focus to Jake. She’d had all the ruffling a girl could handle. “But Jaycee is still on her honeymoon, which is who I filled in for the other night. Then Hannah started dilating and they put her on early maternity leave. Poor thing’s on bed rest until she delivers.” Shelby was rambling again. She couldn’t help it. “So I said I’d pull her graveyard shift. Usually I’d leave Jake with Ms. Luella but I can’t seem to find her. I even went by her cabin.”

“She’s hiding from Cody,” Jake clarified. “Said she has to hide out at Mister’s till the cook-off or he’ll fire her. And then where would she be? Homeless, that’s where.”

Cody looked horrified and Shelby had to smother a laugh. She stuck out her hand. “Hand it over, big boy.”

Jake didn’t even try to feign innocence. Instead, he dug in his pocket and plucked out a five-dollar bill, smacking it in her palm. “You should’ve held out. She would have given you twice that.”

“You took a bribe?” Cody asked, narrowing his gaze. “And here I thought we were a team, you and me.”

Jake panicked, his face showing everything. He thought he’d blown it with getting to know his dad. And why not? It was how he’d learned fatherson relationships went. Whenever he’d done something that Preston disapproved of, Preston would ignore him until Jake had somehow made up for the mistake.

Cody shrugged. “Oh, well, I guess we’ll have to work on that. Starting tonight. You and me, partner. We’re going to have a guys-only night. If we were in Austin, I’d say let’s go catch a Longhorns’ preseason scrimmage.”

“Really, you go to those?” Jake’s eyes twinkled with awe. Shelby’s twitched with irritation.