Harm's Hunger Read online

  Bad in Boots

  Harm’s Hunger

  by

  Patrice Michelle

  2nd Edition, Copyright 2013 by Patrice Michelle

  All rights reserved. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook cannot be re-sold or given away to others. No parts of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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  Cover design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs

  Bad in Boots

  Harm’s Hunger

  by

  Patrice Michelle

  In order to meet her Great Aunt Sally's will's stipulation to “handle the sale personally,” Jena Hudson visits Texas to finalize the sale of her aunt's ranch to her neighbor, Harmon Steele. What Jena didn't expect was to fall for the rugged, sexy cowboy.

  Harm might find Jena to be the most sensual creature he's ever met, but he won't let her sultry body be more than a satisfying distraction. He learned a long time ago, happy-ever-afters are best left for childhood fantasies.

  So, what's a girl to do when she finds out the man of her fantasies doesn't believe in a happy ending? Given the right set of circumstances, she'll create one for him.

  Note: HARM'S HUNGER is a ~ 33,000 novella. This is the first story in the hot and steamy BAD IN BOOTS series.

  **This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.**

  Chapter One

  “What do you mean, you don’t know where she is?” Ty Hudson raised his voice and switched his cell phone to his other ear. His dark brows drew together as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Her flight was due in at three. Did you call her cell?”

  As Ty cast him an apologetic glance, Harm placed his booted foot across his knee and leaned back in the seat. Looked like he might be here a while.

  “She probably forgot to turn it back on once her plane landed. Check that she did actually get on the plane and call me back. Appreciate it, Colt.” He snapped the phone closed. “Sorry about the delay, Mr. Steele. I know you’re anxious to get the papers signed and get back to your ranch, but my sister owns half the property. We need her signature as well.” He ran a hand through his close-cropped hair. “I wish I knew why our great aunt stipulated we handle the transaction in person if we decided to sell the property.”

  Harm rose and placed his black Stetson on his head. “Sally Tanner was a fine woman. I’m sure she had her reasons. I can hang out for a couple of hours.” He patted the cell phone in his jean pocket. “You’ve got my number. Call me when you locate your sister.”

  As he walked toward the elevators, Harm wondered for the fiftieth time why Sally deeded the land to the Hudsons. They were from the east coast, used to city living, not ranching. Sally had been a great neighbor, letting him use a large portion of her property to rotate his cattle. She’d always claimed, “It’s the Texan way, Harmon. You take care of my horses, I’ll let you use the land.” And it was as simple as that for Sally. He’d miss the older woman.

  He pushed the button for the lobby, but just his luck, the elevator skipped right past it, descending to the basement level. When the elevator doors slid open, a set of long, shapely legs stepped into the elevator.

  Maybe his luck was about to turn.

  “Hi.” The curvy blonde with crystal blue eyes flashed a brief smile before she pushed the eighth floor button.

  She was wearing a skimpy two-piece candy apple red bikini, her hair and skin still wet from the hotel pool she’d obviously taken advantage of. He nodded and ran his fingers across the brim of his hat. “Ma’am.”

  She looked him up and down with a grin. “Ooh, a real live cowboy.”

  “Born and bred.” He grinned back.

  When the elevator stopped on the lobby floor, Harm was thankful no one was waiting to get on. He hit the Close Door button, fully intending to bask in this woman’s beauty as long as he could. A lift of her eyebrow told him she noticed he didn’t punch a button for a different floor. Only the eighth floor button was lit.

  As the elevator started to ascend, Harm asked, “Not from around here, I take it?” He couldn’t place her accent. Virginia maybe? She had the huskiest voice. It was so damn sexy he wanted to keep talking just to listen to her speak.

  She gave a throaty laugh. “No. Just visiting.”

  As she glanced up at the elevator lights, he took a moment to enjoy her luscious curves. He’d guess she was somewhere in her mid-twenties; she obviously worked out. Not one ounce of fat graced her nicely built body. She looked to be about five-eight or nine. A nice fit for his six-foot-three frame. The first stirrings of arousal tightened his crotch when he noticed her hard nipples pressed against her wet top. He let his gaze drop to her flat stomach and firm thighs. Nice. He’d bet his last dollar she had an ass that begged to be squeezed. Unfortunately, her hands were crossed behind her back, holding a hand towel against her damp suit.

  When the elevator stopped on the sixth floor but the doors didn’t open, they both looked at each other. Harm shrugged, then punched the button for the eighth floor to get it going again. Nothing happened. He hit the Open Door button but the doors didn’t budge.

  Lifting the emergency handset, Harm dialed the front desk. Once he’d set the receiver back on its cradle, he tried to look apologetic, but felt an easy smile tugging his lips. He couldn’t help it. Now he had a few more minutes with her. It would take the front desk at least fifteen minutes to find maintenance.

  Putting his hands on the handrail, he leaned back against the wall. “Looks like you’re stuck with me for a few.”

  She adopted the same position on the opposite wall with an accepting sigh. “Sit a spell and all that, huh?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, something like that. Where are you from?”

  “Maryland.”

  “Here for long?”

  She shook her head, eyes twinkling. “Not officially.”

  A long moment of silence ensued as they both assessed each other. She had a beautiful oval face with almond shaped eyes and eyebrows slightly darker than her honey-blonde hair. But it was her lips that drew his attention. Free of lipstick, her full, naturally rosy lips made him throb. Those lips were made for kissing.

  Her unabashed gaze roamed his face and body while he spent time appreciating her full frontal view. Were her nipples large quarters or small dimes? He was dying to peel away her bathing su—her bikini top’s front snap giving way instantly derailed his lurid thoughts. As the stretchy material snapped backward and her luscious breasts spilled out, Harm blinked in disbelief, and for a split second wondered if he was dreaming.

  Her sharp, embarrassed intake of breath snapped him back to reality, and he averted his gaze, turning his head. When she faced the wall and made frustrated sounds while trying to get her suit back together, Harm tried not to grin. Dimes. Perfect, rose-tipped dimes.

  “Um, excuse me. Would you mind doing me a favor?” She called over her shoulder.

  He cleared his throat. “Sure, can I turn around?”

  She exhaled a short laugh. “Yes, you’ll have to in order to help me.”

  Harm turned and immediately saw her problem. One of the hooks had caught on the back of her bikini top and she wasn’t able to reach it. When he touched her back in order to release the hook, the brief brush of hi
s fingers against her soft skin only made him throb harder.

  “Thanks.” She let the towel drop so she could fix her top.

  Holy shit! What a beautiful ass. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from the firm round flesh that the g-string bikini’s red straps framed like a perfect picture.

  She faced him, her eyebrow arched. “Enjoy the view?”

  “Hell, yes,” he admitted before he thought better of it.

  She didn’t look angry, just amused. Shrugging, she picked up her towel. “I was trying to avoid that.”

  His lips quirked. “I figured as much.” He hadn’t moved away and now only a foot separated them. Her scent reminded him of a lazy afternoon by the lake—some of the best memories from years past.

  She leaned back against the wall, putting her hands on the handrail for support. “You know, I—” Her bathing suit popped open again, exposing her breasts once more. “…am apparently going to keep flashing you,” she gritted out, her cheeks turning as red as her suit as she dropped the towel once more to grab the errant fabric.

  “Won’t hear any complaints from me. Flash away.” He gave his best roguish grin.

  “Uh-huh,” she said, while trying to snap the scraps of material closed.

  At that moment, the elevator started moving and her sarcastic expression turned to panic. Nodding his understanding, Harm reached out and pulled the red emergency button to stop the elevator. When he turned back to her she looked about ready to spit nails.

  “Can I help?”

  Huffing, she threw her hands up. “Have at it.” As he moved closer, she added, “The bikini top, I mean.”

  He chuckled as he tipped his hat back and picked up the scraps of cloth.

  Jena couldn’t help but stare at the tall, sexy cowboy as he bent close. The expression on his face was one of concentration as he tried to fix her bikini top. His hat made him look even taller, while his navy blue button down shirt fit his muscular chest to perfection, showing off his tanned skin.

  As he inched closer, his jean-clad leg brushed hers, reminding her of her first reaction to seeing those lean hips hugged in faded denim. The material had lighter streaks at the bend of his legs, which drew her gaze to the well-proportioned bulge at the fly. And now his hot bod was an inch away. She closed her eyes as a wave of strong attraction coursed through her. Where was this coming from? She’d never reacted so fiercely before, especially to someone she didn’t know.

  Once she tamped down her raging hormones, she opened her eyes, only to have her gaze zero in on the light brown hair that peeked out beneath his black hat. Was it as soft as it looked? Did it curl just a bit? Geez, this is ridiculous, Jena. The man’s a complete stranger. But she couldn’t help herself.

  Thick brows framed his to-die-for chocolate brown eyes. A straight nose and a strong jaw with a small cleft in his chin finished out his handsome face. Tiny lines appeared around his eyes when he smiled, making him look a little older than the early thirties she guessed him to be.

  She’d never met a man who smelled as good as this one did. He brought to mind the fresh outdoors with a hint of spice mixed in. If this was what she’d been missing living in Maryland, she might just reconsider staying in Texas. She stared at his large hands, tanned from working outdoors. Broad-palmed and long-fingered. He had the sexiest hands she’d ever seen. What would it feel like to have his hardworking hands on her? She imagined the combination of rough and tender would be electrifying.

  When his knuckles nudged the plump fullness of her breast, she involuntarily sucked in her breath. Shivers coursed through her, settling into a throbbing heat. At her gasp, he stopped his movements. His dark gaze met hers for a long moment, assessing her. Letting the cloth drop, he smiled as he slowly drew his finger along her throat to the hollow at to bottom of her neck.

  “Ever fantasized about kissing a complete stranger in an elevator?”

  Her heart crashed in her chest. Who hadn’t had that one?

  She tried to smile but couldn’t manage the expression, her nerves were too revved up. “Yeah, but my fantasy featured a tall cowboy wearing a black Stetson. Know where I can find one?”

  His grin widened as he put his hand on the wall above her head. Leaning close, he stared at her mouth, his lips a breath a way. “I aim to please.”

  Her lips quirked. His arrogance only revved her more. “I really hope you do.”

  He dipped his head, but his lips barely brushed against hers. When he gave her another barely-there kiss, she realized he was waiting for an invitation. Jena tried hard not to lean into his kiss. What’d she have to do, bare her breasts for him? Oh, yeah. She’d already done that. The third time he teased her, she reached up and knocked his hat off so she could run her fingers through his hair. Curving her hand around his neck, she pulled him closer and whispered, “Make this one count.”

  His sensual lips covered hers, and the very first stroke of his hot tongue sliding inside her mouth, tangling with hers, sent her blood pressure skyrocketing. She moaned into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck as he stepped into her, pressing his very impressive erection against her.

  He kissed her with a possessive intensity she hadn’t expected. It was dominant and demanding, as if they’d been lovers for years, and God help her…it was a killer turn on. The electrifying sensation scattered all the way through her body, making the bottom of her feet tingle.

  While one hand splayed across her back drawing her closer, the other hand moved to her naked breast and plucked at her nipple, the rough skin on his fingers a perfect drag against the soft bud. As he kissed her jaw, he grated out, “Just how far does this fantasy of yours go?”

  She couldn’t believe how much he made her feel. The way he kissed her, his unfettered sensuality, with such primal, immediate intimacy, blew her away. “As far as you’re willing to take it.” Her sincere response turned to a gasp of pleasure when he wrapped his big hands around her back and lowered his head to close his mouth over her nipple. Sucking on the hard tip, he rubbed his thumbs on the plump sides of her breasts, then gently nipped at the pink skin with his teeth.

  “Be careful what you ask. I’m a demanding bastard.” His hot breath bathed her breast right before he captured her throbbing skin once more and sucked harder. Jena dug her fingers into his shoulders and closed her eyes, absorbing the electric pleasure he gave. When he moved to the other breast and gave it equal attention, she pressed closer and panted, “Don’t stop.”

  He pressed a hot kiss to the inside curve of her breast as his hand trailed down her belly. “You’re so soft. If this is a dream, I sure as hell don’t want to wake up,” he murmured against her flushed skin.

  She gave a half-laugh. “Me either.”

  He kissed her again, his voice turning gruff as he slipped his hand into her bikini bottom. “That’s all the permission I needed.” At his last word, his finger slid past the bikini-cut curls and delved deep into her core.

  “Oh God.” She inhaled deeply at the delicious sensations engulfing her. “On the demanding thing,” she breathed out, “I think you’ve met your match.”

  Chuckling, he kissed a path back to her breast and drew on the hardened tip at the same time he strummed her body like the cords on a guitar in need of tuning. Jena clutched his hard shoulders for support, arching against his hand. She’d never wanted this seductive song to end.

  “How close are you, darlin’?” he asked as he played her with masterful purpose.

  Her body started to quake and she tensed her muscles, ready to fly apart. “Very,” she gasped.

  Withdrawing his hand from her body, he slid his moist fingers along her sensitive skin, idling her on a high rev. “You’re so warm and wet, a sweet summer dream.”

  She gritted her teeth when she noted the devilish gleam in his eye. He was toying with her. “Listen, I—”

  He pressed a couple of fingers back inside her, fast and hard. Her breath hitched and she sighed in pleasure at the rough invasion.

  A
cocky eyebrow shot up. “You were saying?”

  “Noth—nothing.” A haze of passion engulfed her as her entire body bowed, preparing to climax.

  “I feel how close you are.” Leaning in, he kissed a path from her neck to her ear where he whispered, “But I want you hotter,” and withdrew his hand once more.

  “Damn you,” she hissed. She was so primed she started to finish the job herself.

  He grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand away with a deep rumbling growl. “Oh, no you don’t. You asked for a fantasy. I’m damn well going to be the person who’s going to give it to you.”

  Edgy tension ebbed through her, yet his comment made her throb more than she ever remembered feeling in her life.

  They stood there, glaring at one another.

  Jena started to pull her wrist away, but he used his hold to tug her against his chest. Before she could push away, he reached for her thighs and lifted, wrapping her legs around his waist as he set her against the wall.

  Capturing her lips with a hungry kiss, his rough hands clutched her close while he drove his erection as far into her as clothes would allow.

  Jena gripped his shoulders and arched against him, tiny whimpers of pleasure escaping her lips.

  “Despite the jeans, you’re making this feel pretty good,” he moaned against her mouth.

  Jena laughed as she reached between them to yank at the buckle on his pants. He backed his hips off just a bit so she could unbutton the top button and slide her hand inside. Gripping the warm, rigid flesh, she touched the tip with her thumb, teasing him. She smiled when he groaned and rocked into her hand. As soon as his breathing turned ragged, she released her hold.

  He lifted his head from kissing her neck and met her gaze, clearly frustrated.

  “You need to be hotter,” she mocked.

  “Damn you.”