Relentless by Cheryl Douglas

“Make no mistake; I’m not a little girl anymore.” She slid the tiny buttons free of their holes to reveal a silky, red demi-cup bra. “I’m all woman now, and I know what I want.”
    His palms itched with the urge to touch her. “Really? What do you want right now, darlin’?”
    “I want you.”
    He slid the soft cotton over her shoulders, placing moist kisses along her collarbone. “I want you, too.”
    “What happens between us remains between us, deal?”
    He didn’t care who knew about them. If her father wanted to give him grief, he was man enough to take it. “I don’t kiss and tell, if that’s what you’re askin’.”
    “Good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, threading her fingers through his hair. “Just so we’re clear on that.”
    He cupped her bottom, nudging her with his arousal. “But I’m not ashamed of what we’re about to do, Nik. I’m attracted to you, and I don’t give a damn who knows it.”
    She closed her eyes, tipping her head back. “You don’t know my father. He wouldn’t be happy about this.”
    Ty told him Luc and Nikki routinely went toe-to-toe, so he knew she wasn’t afraid to stand up to her old man. It irked him to think she didn’t consider him to be worth the effort. “I know him well enough. I know he doesn’t want you to get hurt.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, holding her head still. “And I’d never hurt you, so I don’t see why we should have a problem.”
    She rolled her eyes. “He’d say you’re too old for me, too experienced…”
    “He’d be right.” He smiled. “A sweet young thang like you has no business with a roughneck like me.”
    She seemed offended by his choice of words. “How do you know I’m so sweet?”
    “Honey, I’ve gotten pretty good at reading women over the years. You may think you’ve been around the block a time or two, but you haven’t seen nothin’ yet…”
    She quirked an eyebrow as a smile played around her full lips. “That sounds like a threat, McCall.”
    His hands spanned her waist. She was so damn tiny his fingertips almost met at her spine. It reminded him that, despite her tough exterior, she was defenseless against a man like him. “You afraid of me, darlin’?”
    She tipped her head back to look him in the eye. “Should I be?”
    “Never.” He leaned in to kiss her gently. “I’d never hurt you, baby.”
    “I believe you,” she whispered, trailing kisses along his bristled jawline. “How’d we end up talking again? I thought you were ready to take action?”
    He was more than ready. His hands slid down to unfasten her jeans. “As sexy as they are, you’re gonna have to kick those boots off for me, sugar.”
    She braced a hand on his shoulder and reached down to slide the zippers down the inside of her calves. She carefully removed the boots and set them against the wall. Standing upright, she chuckled when she stared straight into the middle of his chest. “Okay, we may need to lie down to make this work.”
    He quickly hoisted her over his shoulder, smacking her behind soundly.
    “Hey,” she said, slapping his back. “What the hell was that for?”
    “Takin’ off on me earlier.” He threw her on the bed, making sure the pillows cushioned her head when she landed. “I didn’t appreciate your little performance with that piano player.”
    She stared up at him, amusement dancing in her eyes. “He was scared shitless of you.”
    “He had every reason to be. I thought about tearing him apart if he laid one hand on you.”
    She shook her head. “Man, you’ve got a possessive streak a Texas-mile wide, don’cha, cowboy?”
    Only with you, baby. He unfastened his jeans and shoved them down his thighs.
    She smiled when she saw his tattoo-inspired boxer briefs. “You ever think about gettin’ inked down there?”
    He laughed. “Hell no. You think I’m crazy?”
    Tongue in cheek, she asked, “Is that a trick question?”
    “You’re a sassy little