The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles #1)(7)

"Damn her anyway." Holly continued her relentless search for her keys.

Cowboy gently pried the purse from her grasp and pulled out her keys. "This what you’re lookin’ for?"

She grabbed her purse. "Yes. Thank you, Cowboy."

He miraculously picked the right key and fit it into her lock.

"It’s Jack," he said. "Jack Sherwood. No more cowboy." He opened the door, picked up her portfolio and bag of groceries and waited for her to walk in. Her nerves rattled as she entered. He followed her in and set the portfolio and groceries on her kitchen counter.

"Well, thank you for your help," she said. "I can manage now."

"Oh no," he said. "Not so fast. You haven’t told me your name yet, sugar."

"Sugar’s fine."

"The hell it is." He walked to the door, shut it and leaned back against it. "You left me that morning without even waking me to say good-bye. I thought we had a good time. I wanted to see you again. Why’d you pull a stunt like that?"

Holly’s heart raced. He’d wanted to see her again? This had to be some kind of sick joke. "It was a one-night stand, Cowboy."

"Jack."

She sighed. "Do you understand what a one-night stand is? One night of mind blowing sex? I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept."

"That’s not what I’m about."

"Well, that’s what I was about that particular night," Holly said. "I’m sorry if I upset you. Really I am. I was in a bad place that night and all I wanted was..." She let her words trail off as she closed her eyes and sighed again.

"You ever gonna tell me your name?"

"I think it’s better to leave it—" She opened her eyes. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"

Jack had grabbed her purse from the counter and fished out her wallet. He opened it and pulled out a credit card. "Holly. Holly S. Taylor. What’s the S stand for?"

"None of your goddamn business."

"Susan?"

"No."

"Sheila?" He gave a short laugh.

"Hell no."

He smiled a heart-stopping smile. "Sugar?"

Holly couldn’t help but return his grin. "It’s Simone, if you must know. It’s my mother’s name. She’s French."

"Very pretty." He replaced the credit card and handed the wallet to her. Her skin tingled when his fingers grazed hers.

"Listen," he said. "You’re never gonna convince me the sex wasn’t amazing that night. I know you felt it."

She shuddered. His voice was like hot silk. "I n-never said it wasn’t amazing."

"Truth is, Holly—" He emphasized her name. "—nobody’s gotten under my skin like that in…well, ever." He advanced toward her like a wolf stalking its prey. She backed away, not paying attention to her whereabouts, until she found herself trapped against her own refrigerator. A fairy magnet dug into her back.

"When I saw you sitting in that class today, all fresh and beautiful, I was both ecstatic and angry at the same time. You know what I mean?"

"N-no."

He placed his palms on the refrigerator, on either side of shoulders, trapping her. His scent drifted around her—cedar wood, spice and male musk. She could inhale it forever and never tire of it.

"I think you do." He looked above her head for a moment, as if composing himself, then gazed back into her eyes. "When I woke up that morning and you were gone, I turned that suite inside out searching for something—anything—that would lead me to you."

"I’m sorry—"

"I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind." He pressed his lips to her forehead and she ignited. Blazes trailed over her skin from one little kiss.

"I dream about your nipples, you know that?"

She gulped. Moisture trickled between her legs.

"I dream about suckin’ them raw like I did that night. I dream of you suckin’ my cock with those sweet lips of yours. Then I dream about f*ckin’ you hard and fast, then makin’ slow sweet love to you."

Holly writhed under his steady and scalding gaze. Her nipples puckered against her bra. Want—pure, raw want—screamed through her.

His mouth closed over hers. The kiss was gentle at first, tiny licks around the corners of her lips, his tongue like smooth cream. Then he probed with slightly more force and her lips parted. Again, he was gentle, even as he sank into her mouth and kissed her with a slow hunger. It was sweet and sexy at the same time. Nothing like the frenzied passion of their first kiss, but incredible all the same. A soft groan left his throat and vibrated into her mouth, giving her chills.

Holly was vaguely aware of Jack fumbling with the buttons of her blouse and pushing her bra upward. Her ample breasts fell gently against her chest.

His lips left her mouth and she sucked in a much needed breath. He trailed moist kisses over her cheek, her neck, down her chest, across the swollen flesh of her breast, until he caught a nipple between his teeth.

She couldn’t stop her shriek.

He looked up. "Too much?" His word hummed against the wrinkled flesh of her areola.

"God, no, but—"