Rebecca Zanetti - Under the Covers

“Good.” If the floor would open up and swallow Juliet, she’d be fine. “So I guess I am free to go?”

“Maybe.” The sheriff didn’t twitch, apparently in no hurry to allow her out of the cell. “When I asked you to help out Anne, I didn’t mean to get her drunk and then get into a bar fight.”

“I’m aware of that fact, Sheriff. I do apologize for my part in the disaster that became our night out.” She stood. “Now, unless you feel I deserve more jail time, I’d like to go home.”

His eyes darkened. “What you deserve is a good walloping that keeps you from sitting for the next week.”

Her head jerked up. Nails bit into her palm when she clenched her already aching fist. “I do beg your pardon.”

“Oh, you’d beg.” He stepped closer to the bars. “Enough of the nonsense, Juliet. I don’t have time to chase you all over town, break up bar fights, and drive home drunk women who cry the entire time because they miss their husbands. Either promise you’ll behave, or I’m leaving you in the cell for the night.”

Her spine straightened one angry vertebra at a time. “While I know you have no reason to believe me, most of those issues weren’t my fault. Now either let me out, or allow me to call my attorney.”

He kept her gaze, and she fought the very real urge to step back. Finally, with an irritated male sigh, he unlocked the door and slid the bars open. “I’ll drive you out to Jake and Sophie’s. They’re waiting for you.”

“No, I—” Her protest caught in her throat at the flare of anger in his eyes. “That would be fine. Thank you.” Frankly, she didn’t want to go home alone.

He escorted her out of the station and to his black truck, waiting until her seat belt had been fastened before pulling out of the parking lot. They drove in silence through town and toward the reservation.

The moon caressed his rugged face, enhancing his hard jaw and full mouth. Every once in a while, his Native heritage stood out in primitive relief. Tonight was one of those nights.

Her glance caught on his large, capable hands on the steering wheel. “Sorry you have to drive me home.” His grunt in response had her rolling her eyes. “Your sister is an amazing singer.”

“Humph.” Quinn glanced out at the clouds rolling across the moon.

Fine. The sheriff didn’t want to talk. Juliet shoved hair out of her way and glanced at the darkening forest outside as the moon disappeared. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The sky crackled and opened up. Rain pelted the truck.

Quinn flipped on the windshield wipers with a flick of his wrist. “Are you warm enough?”

“I’m fine.” She hugged herself with her hands and chastised herself for not wearing a coat.

A cop’s gaze raked her head to toe. Without saying a word, he increased the heat. “Stop being stubborn.”

“Me, stubborn?” She glared at him. “You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”

His cheek creased.

Suddenly, he veered the truck toward the trees. Swearing, Quinn hit the brakes and yanked the wheel. Only his quick reflexes kept them from hitting a huge lodgepole pine. They rolled to a stop. Quiet descended.

He eyed her. “You okay?”

“Fine.” Except her heart might’ve been bruised from beating so hard against her rib cage. “What happened?”

“Deer. I want to make sure I didn’t clip him.” He jumped out of the truck and into the rain.

Clunks sounded from the back. Quinn shone a bright light into the forest. Juliet released her seat belt, leaped from the truck, and hurried toward the sheriff.

Quinn looked over his shoulder. “Get back in the truck.”

“No.” She stepped gingerly off the road. “Two pairs of eyes are better.”

He wiped rain off his forehead. “Juliet, the rain is freezing, and this will just take me a minute. Now get your ass back in the truck.”

“I am so finished taking orders from you, Quinn. Kiss my butt. Twice.”

He barked out a laugh and turned to shine the light into the trees. No animal stared back. With a shrug, he turned and was on her before she could take another breath. Hands on her hips, he lifted her easily, walking backward until he’d opened the door and plopped her on the seat.

Enough was enough. She kicked out with all the frustration and anger she’d stifled for days. And nailed him right in the thigh.

They both froze for a second. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he was faster. He pulled her toward him, his mouth smashing hers with what must be the anger and frustration he’d stifled for days.

Sharp teeth nipped her bottom lip, and she opened her mouth in surprise.

He dived in.

Gone was the congenial sheriff and the gentle lover. In his place stood a primitive man she wanted more than her next thought. His fingers threaded through her hair held her in place. His hips kept her legs apart, and his mouth took what he wanted. No finesse, no kindness, just pure, raw lust.

Sharp pangs of need ripped through her. Her clit ached. She moaned deep in her throat.

He released her, his eyes blazing.

She ripped open his shirt, needing to feel him. All of him.

His free hand grabbed the bottom of her shirt and hauled it over her head. The second the flimsy material was free, his mouth took hers again. One flick of his finger released the front clasp of her bra, and his hand, calloused and demanding, palmed her breast. Her nipples peaked. He tweaked one, and she whimpered with raw need.

He released her hair and grabbed her jeans with both hands. The button zinged against the windshield, and the zipper ripped free. Strong hands dragged off her boots, the jeans, and her panties. Jerking down his jeans, he gripped her ass, lifted her, and impaled her.

She gasped in shock.

He was too big…too much.

Rain slid down his torso, and she rubbed her hands into the wet hardness.

He stood in the rain, at home in the dangerous storm. Droplets pelted him, matting his hair and dripping over the hard angles of his face. Hard hands kept them groin to groin. His easy strength in bearing her weight cascaded tingles through her abdomen. Hot and sexy, those tingles had nothing on the flaring nerves where his cock stretched her.

His gaze pinning her, he ran one hand up her spine to secure the back of her neck. Then he lifted her and plunged her back down along his length. His groin slid against her clit.

Spikes of pleasure rippled from where they were joined. Her mouth opened wide on her exhale.

A satisfied smirk creased his face.

Need and want shot through her. She grabbed his shoulders to lift herself, to get him moving.

The hand on her hip and the one at her nape prevented her movement. His watchful gaze kept her captive as he stood in the storm, holding her. Controlling them both. Then he waited. Determination sharpened his cheekbones, hardened his jaw. The man would wait until day broke.

Something feminine stretched awake inside her. She took in the dangerous warrior, seeing him finally for the primal being he was at heart. The sheriff tempered his wild nature with good humor and a protective embrace encompassing the entire community. For the first time, she glimpsed the predator inside.

Feminine instinct took over. She smoothed her palms on his shoulders and relaxed her body. Relaxing into his strength, to his will, she allowed him to take her wherever he wanted to go.

A masculine gleam lightened his eyes.

He shifted until they both stood in the rain, her back to the truck. Then he thrust inside her, pounding with a ferocity wilder than the storm. The coolness of the water contrasted with the heat from the male taking her, throwing her into a maelstrom of sensation. The hard pounding, the chilled rain, the warm man, the love bursting through her heart…swirled together until her mind shut down.