Wrangled and Tangled (28 page)

The change in him was instantaneous when he realized she’d reached that blurry line. No more leisurely, measured thrusts. His cock came completely out of her ass with every withdrawal. Every time he ruthlessly shoved back in, he pulled on her nipples. Hard. The sting in her ass, her nipples, sent her soaring into a blinding abyss where she wanted it all to stop as much as she never wanted it to end. “Wait.”

“No. You can take more.”

“No.”

“Yes,” he hissed. He sank his teeth into the magic spot on the side of her neck and she bucked against him. But he held firm, forcing her to let go and feel every twinge of pain. Every sweet pulse of pleasure.

The throbbing synchronized, tightening her back channel around the thick intrusion. An electric current traveled from her neck, to her nipples, to the blood-rich anal tissues and she came undone.

Her orgasm set off his and Abe groaned, the heat of his seed warming her inner walls.

She vaguely remembered him easing her down to the mattress. Tonguing her nipples after removing the clamps. Soothing the sting of her ass with a cool cloth. Whispering to her. Caring for her.

Loving her.

After they’d both settled, Abe gathered her in his arms, keeping her pinned to his chest, as pleased with her total surrender to him, as she was that another barrier between them had fallen. A barrier she hadn’t known existed.

Chapter Twenty-two

A
nnoyed, Tierney snapped, “Come in,” at the ten billionth knock on her door. No wonder she had to burn the midnight oil at her cabin after Renner left. She never got anything accomplished here.

Janie burst in and slapped her hands on Tierney’s desk. “I’m confused on why you won’t hire Tobin Hale permanently. He’s local. He’s a hard worker. He’s got a damn master’s degree in reproductive science! All he wants is a chance. Are you so set on the bottom line, on some numbers on a spreadsheet that you don’t see Tobin is a great long-term investment?”

Coolly, Tierney said, “My understanding was Tobin applied for jobs at the Forest Service and the Wyoming Department of Natural Resources and his employment here was temporary.”

“He received notification from both organizations last week that those positions were filled in house, from current employees, so he’s still in the market for a job.”

She muttered, “More nepotism at work.”

“Which is why I have to ask if you have someone else in mind?”

Tierney blinked at Janie. “Have you been drinking? Because I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Renner and I discussed this three days ago. He promised he’d talk to you and get back to me. He hasn’t. He blows me off when I’ve asked.” Her eyes narrowed. “I assume this issue has come up in all the meetings you’ve been having lately?”

Shoot. They really had to quit using this office for a quickie. Or for a not so quickie, like yesterday when Renner kept her on the edge for almost an hour. Teasing her with his cunning mouth, then switching it up, using a super-charged vibrator on her until she begged. Only then did he pin her to the floor and fuck her without mercy, wringing two outstanding orgasms from her before he came so wildly he sank his teeth into her breast to keep from roaring like a beast.

Renner had confessed that last part afterward, while he was untying her jaunty little paisley scarf that he’d secured around her wrists. The man had certainly taken his responsibility to further her sexual education to heart.

“Tierney? Are you going to answer me?” Janie asked.

Damn. She couldn’t even remember the question.

“I’ll answer for you,” Renner drawled. He strolled in and sat on the corner of her desk. A desk the wicked man absolutely gloried in bending her over at every opportunity.

Sex on the brain much?

“Well?” Janie demanded, her shrewd gaze zipping between them.

“I haven’t talked to Tierney about hiring Tobin, so I do believe you owe her an apology for that ass chewing.”

“Sorry, Tierney,” Janie said offhandedly and got right in Renner’s face. “Why haven’t you addressed this with her?”

“I was getting around to it. I’ve had other things to deal with.”

“Things you might not have had to deal with if you’d hired Tobin like I asked.”

His spine straightened, a sign Tierney recognized as Janie striking a nerve. “I wanna know if your
husband
is aware of how hard you’re pushing to have this good-looking young stud working for us.”

Janie sputtered, “Renner Jackson, you are such an asshole. Abe is no longer my husband and you know it.”

“Coulda fooled me with the way you’re mooning around here all the time. Humming, for God’s sake. You’re acting like Harper. A newlywed in
lurve
.”

“Omigod. I cannot believe you just said that to me.” She railed on him, calling him every name in the book while he taunted her with kissing noises.

With irritation, Tierney said, “Break it up or take it outside.”

Janie whirled around. “That’s turning the tables. You breaking up an argument between me and Renner, not vice versa.”

“Funny. But thank you, for bringing the Tobin situation to my attention. Renner and I will discuss it.”

“You busy right now?” Renner asked.

“Ah. No.”

“Good. Let’s do it.” He pushed off the edge of her desk, turning to face her, blocking Janie from view. He mouthed, “I want to fuck you.”

Her entire body quivered. How Tierney managed not to launch herself across the desk at him made his eyes dance with delight.

“I really appreciate you guys taking care of this,” Janie said.

“You’re welcome.” Renner didn’t even turn around when he said, “Shut the door on your way out.”

Tierney’s body trembled at the ravenous look in his eyes, but she forced herself to discuss business first. “Why didn’t you ask me about hiring Tobin?”

“I don’t want to talk about Tobin.”

The sneering way he said Tobin’s name almost sounded like jealousy. “I thought you liked him.”

“What’s not to like? He’s young, good looking, educated, single, born in a ranching family and he probably knows more about stock breeding than I do.”

“You afraid he won’t follow orders?”

“No, I’m afraid he’ll follow you around like a lovesick calf.”

She flattened her palms on the desk. “And because he’s . . . what? Single? Young? Educated? Good looking? A cowboy? You think I might encourage him to follow me around? You think I might be attracted to him?”

“He’d be attracted to you, Tierney. Why don’t you see that?”

It’d be counterproductive to point out that in her past, men like Tobin were never attracted to her, so she honestly hadn’t noticed. “You think I’m the type of woman to switch horses midstream?”

“That’s awful folksy comin’ from Miz Two Hundred College Degrees, who mocks me for the barnyard references I use.”

“Do you think now that I’ve rid myself of my virginity I’ll start searching for other men to conquer?”

“No,” he said crossly.

“Why don’t you want to hire him?”

The muscle in his jaw flexed. Conflicting emotions flitted through his eyes and she feared he’d pull that incommunicative cowboy bullshit. But he didn’t. “I want to hire him, okay? I just don’t want you to look at him. Ever. I want you lookin’ at me.”

You sweet, stupid man.
That confession turned her into goo. “You’re the only man I’ve ever looked at like that. I’m with you. Only you. Even though no one else knows it, I know it, you know it, and that should be enough.”

“It is.” He gave her a wolfish grin. “But an old guy like me ain’t opposed to hearin’ that kinda sweet talk from his lady once in a while.”

Old guy. Right. He had five whole years on her. “Mmm. I suppose to keep our cover after we hire him . . . I could even flirt with Tobin sometimes.”

Renner snarled, “Don’t make me kill him before you cut his first paycheck.”

Tierney put her hands on his cheeks. “This jealous side of you is pretty hot.”

“I’ll show you hot. Step away from the desk and take off your panties.”

That command... God. When he turned all growly caveman on her? She instantly went wet and she didn’t argue. Reaching beneath her pleated skirt, she freed herself of the plain white cotton.

He’d moved to rest on his haunches underneath her desk. “Pull up your skirt and sit on the edge of the chair.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead-ass serious, Tierney. Do it. Now.”

The fabric scraped her bare butt as she shifted her balance forward. “Dammit, Renner, we didn’t lock the door.”

“I know.” He bestowed a depraved grin. “No one will see me under here as long as you keep ’em by the door.”

“And what if someone walks in right as I’m about to—”

“Come? Well, sweetness, you’d better come with a straight face, hadn’t you?”

“You’re impossible,” she hissed. “This is a bad idea.”

He traced her slit, then showed her the slickness on his thumb. “Oh, I beg to differ. You think this is a great idea. I’ll bet your nipples are hard too.”

Tierney’s face flamed. “No, they’re not.”

“Will I make a liar out of you if I reach into your bra and check for myself?”

Don’t answer.

“That’s what I figured. Your body likes this edge of danger, no matter how much your pretty mouth protests. Hold on to the armrests.” His mouth skimmed the top of her bikini line. His hands—she loved having those coarse hands on her skin—slipped up the inside of her thighs. He spread her open, exposing every intimate inch to his gaze. To his mouth. To his control.

He swirled the tip of his tongue around the folds of skin hiding her clit, parting his lips to awaken that bit of elusive flesh by sucking on it.

Tierney gnawed her lip and closed her eyes. Damn him. He was a drug. He’d turned her into an oral sex junkie.

Renner’s tongue followed the curve of her sex down, past the drenched entrance to her pussy, past the tiny strip of skin that separated the two holes, stopping to lap her back door.

Every lower muscle—pussy, anal, stomach—tightened at that first wet swipe of his tongue. She gasped at the second swipe. Moaned at the third. “My God, you play dirty.”

“You like the dirty stuff.” The tip of his tongue circled her anus again. “Fair warning, I’ll be shoving my cock up this sweet, tight hole one of these days.”

She managed to grit out, “You really have time to give me a play-by-play of a future sexual encounter? Can’t you focus on this one? Sort of exposed here.”

His laughter vibrated against her sensitive tissues and goose bumps zipped up her spine. “You’re just impatient for me to do this.” He slipped a finger inside her. “And this.” He licked her slit from where his finger moved in and out of her pussy to the top of her mound.

Tempting, to let her head fall back and lose herself in pleasure as he gorged on her.

Renner lifted his head. “Tierney, darlin’, look at me. Look at yourself. You are so fucking amazing. Is it any wonder I’m obsessed with you?”

She glanced down. Her fingers were white from crushing the armrests. Her chest was actually heaving. Her legs were so tensed they were close to cramping.

“No one’s gonna bother us. Janie won’t show her face until we show ours, since she wants us in here, uninterrupted, making a decision.” He kissed her thighs. Her lower belly. Her white knuckles. “You’re sexy as all get-out. Enjoy this. Because I am enjoying the hell out of it. You’re like some goddamn addiction.” He opened his mouth over her clit and began those light tongue flutters that sent her off like a rocket.

She had to remind herself to breathe. “Renner, please—”

He growled and kept licking.

Three rapid knocks sounded and Janie walked in. “Sorry, but I have one other question—”

The top of Renner’s head thunked underneath the desk.

Tierney jerked as if she’d made the noise.

“Where’s Renner?” Janie asked.

I’m riding his face.

“Tierney?”

“Ah. He’s around here someplace.”

He licked the crease of her thigh.

She gasped and her whole body writhed like a demented marionette when he blew a stream of air across her wet sex.

Janie started toward her, a look of concern on her face. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing! Don’t come any closer. I—I think I might be coming . . . down with something.”

“Oh. That sucks.”

“I’m about to—” Renner settled his mouth over her clit and sucked, and she emitted a sound between a wheeze and a whimper. “Sneeze.”

Janie began backing up. “I’ll just come back later.”

“Shut the door on your way o—oh my God.” He did that swirling, suctioning thing with his lips. It felt so damn good she didn’t care if the whole compound heard her get off.

About two seconds after the door slammed, Renner cranked up the intensity of his intimate kiss and Tierney flew apart. She didn’t bother to keep quiet. She reveled in every throbbing pulse, every rhythmic suck from his eager mouth, every stroke of his rough hands on her bare flesh.