A Little Dare - Brenda Jackson [28]
“And I forgot to mention that their sister married a prince from one of those faraway countries,” Morris added, interrupting AJ’s thoughts.
“How do you two know so much about the Westmorelands?” AJ asked, wrinkling his forehead.
“Because the sheriff coaches our Little League team and his brothers often help out.”
“The sheriff coaches a baseball team?” AJ asked, thinking now he’d heard just about everything. The only time the people in L.A. saw the sheriff was when something bad happened and he was needed to make a statement on TV.
“Yes, and we’re on the team and bring home the trophies every year. If you’re good he might let you join.”
AJ shrugged, not wanting to be around the sheriff any more than he had to. “No thanks, I don’t want to join,” he said. “Well, I’ve got to go, since I can’t be late.”
“How long do you have to go there?” Morris asked standing aside to let AJ get to his bike.
“The rest of the week, so I’ll be free to ride home with you guys starting Monday if you still want me to,” AJ said, getting on his bike.
“Yes,” Cornelius answered. “We’ll still want you, too. What about this weekend? Will your parents let you go look at the deer with us this weekend? Usually Mr. Miller gives his permission for us to come on his property as long as we don’t get into any trouble.”
AJ was doubtful. “I’ll let you know tomorrow if I can go. My mom is kind of protective. She doesn’t like me going too far from home.”
Morris and Cornelius nodded in understanding. “Our moms are that way, too,” Morris said. “But everyone around here knows the Millers. Your mom can ask the sheriff about them if she wants. They’re nice people.”
“Do you want to ride to school with us tomorrow?” Cornelius asked anxiously. “We meet at Kate’s Diner every morning at seven-thirty, and she gives us a carton of chocolate milk free as long as we’re good in school.”
“Free chocolate milk? Hey, I’d like that. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” AJ put his bike into gear and headed for the sheriff’s office, determined not to be late for a second time.
Six
H er mouth still knew him.
A multitude of emotions tightened Dare’s chest as he sat at his desk and thought about the kiss he and Shelly had shared. Very slowly and very deliberately, he took his finger and rubbed it across his lips, lips that less than an hour ago had tasted sweetness of the most gut-wrenching kind. It was the kind of sweetness that made you crave something so delightful and pleasurable that it could become habit forming.
But what got to him more than anything was the fact that even after ten years, her mouth still knew him. That much was evident in the way her lips had molded to his, the familiarity of the way she had parted her mouth and the ease in which his tongue had slid inside, staking a claim he hadn’t known he had a right to make until he had felt her response.
He leaned back in the chair. When it came to responding to him, that was something Shelly could never hold back from doing. He’d always gotten the greatest pleasure and enjoyment from hearing the sound of her purring in bed. He used to know just what areas on her body to touch, to caress and to taste. Often, all it took was a look, him simply meeting her gaze with deep desire and longing in his eyes, and she would release an indrawn sigh that let him know she knew just what he wanted and what he considered necessary. Those had been the times he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, and now it seemed, ten years later, he still couldn’t. And it didn’t help matters any that she had kissed him as though there hadn’t been another man inside her mouth in the ten years they’d been apart. Her mouth had ached for his, demanded everything his tongue could deliver, and he’d given it all, holding nothing back. He could have kept on kissing her for days.
Dare ran his hand over his face trying to see if doing so would help him retain his senses. Kissing Shelly had affected him greatly. His body had