TATIANA: Book Three; The Trouble Sisters Saga Read online

  “God, yes, darlin’.” His voice was gruff, demanding, urging her on. “That’s the way, sweetheart, ride me. Yeah, hard, like that. Just like that, you sweet, sexy woman. Christ, baby, whatever you do, don’t stop.”

  Tatiana shuddered at his deep growl. She fought against the fiery sensations sweeping over her. But it was no use. She’d never felt this way with a man, been so crazy, so hungry. As if there were no way she could get enough of him. She was helpless against her need to feel him. His erection pressing against her crotch was hard, thick, powerful. Stunned at what was happening, Tatiana buried her face against his chest, clinging to him. She cried out as wave after wave of passion flooded over her, a dam of sensations breaking through her highly developed resistance.

  His voice was a hoarse drawl, thick with admiration and lust. “Jesus, God, baby. Look at you!”

  At that moment, the sound of a lock scraped against the door latch. As the door opened, Tatiana jumped back, horrified. She would have fallen if Zane hadn’t grasped her tightly against him.

  A quavering voice spoke through the screen. “Ms. Trouble . . . Tatiana . . . is . . . is . . . that you?”

  Chapter 8

  Sheltering Tatiana’s trembling body against the wall, Zane sequestered her from the teenager standing tentatively behind the screen door. Managing to speak in a relatively normal tone, particularly given their entangled embrace, he kept his voice pleasant. “Ah, you must be Jennifer, Marcie and Max’s babysitter. I’m Zane Wilder, the district attorney. Tatiana and I were just saying good night. We’re late getting back from Sheriff Trouble’s birthday party. I’m sorry if you were worried.”

  “Oh, okay. I . . . I thought I heard a noise.” The dark-eyed teenager’s eyes widened further as she poked her head around the screen door. “Uh, Tatiana . . . ?”

  Clinging to Zane’s arm, Tatiana managed to keep from falling. Blowing out a hard breath, she admitted that without Zane’s strong arm clasped tightly around her waist, she would have collapsed in a heap on the front step. As it was, she didn’t know how she could possibly respond to the inquisitive girl seeking her gaze. She leaned further into Zane’s strength and forced a smile to curve her lips. “Sorry, Jennifer. I should have called you, let you know I’d be later than I’d expected.”

  “Um, that’s okay. I fell asleep on the couch but woke up when I heard noises at the door . . . I wasn’t sure what it was.” Poking her head around the door, she looked from Tatiana, then to Zane.

  Seeing Jennifer’s raised brow, Tatiana did her best to take control of the situation. “It’s okay, Jennifer, I’ll be there in a minute. Zane and I just have to firm up some details about the Tucson symposium next week. Please go back inside. I’ll be right in.”

  Tatiana waited until the door closed behind the young woman, then with a choked sigh, buried her head against Zane’s shoulder. Gratified when he held her more tightly, she managed to stutter, “I . . . I’m sorry, Zane. I . . . I’m embarrassed that I—”

  “Jesus, Tatiana, what are you sorry for? For giving in to the crazy passion we’re both feeling? For responding to me honestly and in a way that I will never forget?” Tugging her closer to him, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Listen to me. Yes, neither one of us planned to have your babysitter see us in what could only be called a compromising position. But for a moment, can you let go of that? Can we revel in the extraordinary experience that I will never forget? And I have to believe that if you are honest with yourself, you won’t forget it either.” He shook his head. “Jesus, I’m still aroused. How could I not be? The most beautiful woman I’ve ever had in my arms just made it clear that she wants me as much as I want her.”

  When Tatiana tried to pull away, Zane gripped her chin harder. “Uh-uh, baby. I’m not going to let you do that. Christ, don’t deny it; revel in it! And yeah, you were right to tell your wide-eyed babysitter that we have details to firm up for the Tucson symposium. We sure as hell do. Trust me, those details aren’t going to involve legal topics or even your keynote address, which is sure to be sensational. No, Tatiana. You and I are going to be in a city far away from your children and other family members, and if you think for one minute that a rogue like me isn’t going to take advantage of that fact, you don’t know me. Or know how much I want you.”

  When Tatiana closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, Zane held her closer and murmured, “And yes, lovely lady, how very much you want me.” Stepping back, Zane smiled at her. “Now, go in there and try to act as though you haven’t been as turned on as you ever have been in your life.” He reached out and tucked a wayward curl that had sprung loose back behind her ear. “And while you’re at it, you might want to button the top three buttons on your blouse. Or your naïve babysitter might think that your flushed cheeks and equally flushed chest confirms that you were as aroused as I obviously was.” At her embarrassed groan as she reached for the errant buttons, he took her hand and rubbed it across the significant bulge in his trousers. “Make that as aroused as I still am.” Kissing her softly on her cheek, he said, “Good night, beautiful lady. Pleasant dreams.” Turning, he strode to his car and in seconds, with a roar from his powerful automobile, was gone.

  Tatiana stood on the step watching the Bentley disappear from view. She leaned against the door for a long moment. She decided that the least she could do was rearrange her disheveled clothes. It wasn’t an option to erase the flush she was sure was on her cheeks or the excitement that was no doubt flashing in her eyes. Even she wasn’t that good an actress.

  ****

  Pasting an innocent smile on her face, she walked into the house and met Jennifer’s inquiring glance, then took the lead in the conversation. “Sorry we woke you, Jennifer, and that I’m home later than I expected. The birthday party for the sheriff was a huge success. In fact, I think it’s still going on. At least my father and his cronies were still celebrating when we left.” When Jennifer just nodded, Tatiana asked, “Tell me, did Max and Marcie give you a hard time about bedtime hours? Marcie is usually good about going to bed on time, but lately, Max has been fussy. He wants me to lie beside him until he falls asleep.”

  “Yes, Tatiana, he does that with me too. But I don’t mind. He’s such a sweet little kid. I rub his back and sing to him, and he’s asleep within minutes.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I truly appreciate you. You are by far the best babysitter we’ve had. Also, do know that when you are going to sleep over, I don’t mind if you go up to the guest bedroom. I know you can hear the kiddies from there if they need you.”

  “I know that. I usually do, but tonight I fell asleep on the sofa. But I’m tired and will go up to bed now if you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. I’m later than I thought I’d be. I’m not surprised that you’re ready for bed.”

  Jennifer headed up the stairs and then stopped at the landing. Turning back to Tatiana, she didn’t try to hide her smile. “Um, by the way, Tatiana? He’s cute.”

  Not able to hide her surprise, Tatiana asked gamely, “Who is?”

  The too-smart teenager grinned and said with a wink, “The district attorney.”

  Tatiana shook her head and said firmly, “Good night, Jennifer. Oh, and by the way, I agree. He is ‘cute.’ ”

  ****

  Surprising herself, Tatiana took out her phone and before she could overthink her message, she texted him. “Thought you’d like to know my seventeen-year-old babysitter thinks you’re ‘cute.’ ”

  In seconds his response crossed the ether. “Hmm. How about her boss? What does she think?”

  She answered, “Apparently, she agrees.”

  Tatiana was gratified when he responded, moving to the experience they’d shared, something she didn’t know if she could do. “I trust you didn’t tell her that she interrupted one of the most erotic, unresolved experiences I’ve ever had, at least since I was seventeen years old. Let’s just say I can’t remember the last time I was interrupted kissing a woman good ni
ght—by her babysitter, no less. I’m not exaggerating, Tatiana, I left you tonight more aroused than I can remember being. No joke, sweetheart. I’m not sure how to come down from this. I think I’ll simply deal with my prominent member by reveling in the memory of your beautiful body and most importantly, how you responded to me. In case you don’t know it or are tempted to minimize what happened between us, you, my gloriously sexy woman, were as hot as I was.”

  Tatiana swallowed hard. She wanted to respond in kind but honestly didn’t know how. It had been so long since sex, the good kind, had been in her life that participating in sexy banter was beyond her. In fact, if anything, his easy, vividly erotic description of their surprising coupling only made her feel less confident, more unsure how to respond. Fortunately, he seemed to be as intuitive as he was powerful. She almost cried when she read his next message.

  “I don’t expect you to respond, Tatiana. There’s no need to tell me in words how you felt. Your amazingly responsive body did that in ways more powerful than any words could. And just so you know, I’m not going to let you off the hook ever again. Let me put it this way, Ms. Trouble. You’ve been outed. Know that the next time we are together, you and I are going to pick up where we left off tonight. And if you don’t think that is going to blow both of our minds, you’re fooling yourself. I’m going to say good night now, lovely woman. But before I do, one more suggestion. When you crawl in bed tonight, do so naked. Your excited body has some messages for you. You might start to hear them if you slip your fingers between your legs. Don’t be surprised if you are as wet and swollen as I’m sure that you are . . . Good night, beautiful woman. Sweet dreams.”

  ****

  “Dammit, Tatiana! Do not think that you are going to get away with leaving the B n’ T last night with one of the three sexiest guys who ever invaded this unassuming burg of ours without giving us all the deets.”

  Seeing her two sisters in the doorway of her office, Tara carrying an overflowing takeout bag from their favorite Thai restaurant, Tatiana groaned. Clearly, avoiding a conversation with her irrepressible sisters wasn’t an option. Tanya had made that clear with her confrontational greeting. Tara doubled down when she closed the door behind them and began unloading the takeout containers of heavenly smelling Thai food onto Tatiana’s conference table.

  Tatiana couldn’t help but smile at her outrageous sisters. “Talk about unfair. You know how much I love Thai Basil’s panang curry, and I don’t have to tell you how hungry I am. I haven’t eaten anything since a bite or two of Dad’s birthday cake—which, by the way, Tara, was a masterpiece. Who made it? Honestly, it was spectacular. It could have been the Food Network’s Last Cake Standing contest winner.”

  Tara laughed. “No, sweetie, it was good old Becky’s Best Cakes on Main Street and Elm. Becky definitely went above and beyond, and I agree, the result was spectacular. But, dear sister of ours, neither Tanya nor I will be drawn into a foodie discussion. Heck no. We are interested in what happened to you and that extraordinarily sexy DA before and particularly after the cake was served!”

  Sinking into the seat across from Tatiana’s, Tanya was her usual blunt self. “Tara is right, sis. We didn’t come to eat and aren’t going to open these yummy cartons until you ’fess up. We want to know what happened after that arrogant DA with an ass that almost compares to my guy’s butt marched out of the B n’ T with you in tow.”

  Tatiana groaned. “Gee, Tanya, glad to know that I resembled an unwitting captive. Just what I’ve always wanted to be.”

  “Uh-uh, Tatiana, don’t even try. You left the party last night with the sexiest available guy in Southern Arizona, if not the entire state. Not only that, but he was gutsy enough to take on the whole Trouble gang plus two Delta Special Operatives and, I should add, one frowning bartender. Not to mention the horde of green-eyed women who looked pissed as hell when he brushed them aside to make his more-than-obvious move on you.”

  Tatiana blew out an aggrieved sigh, then turned on her sisters. “Thank you both for making my case for me. I appreciate your putting it right out there. Yes, Zane Wilder is gorgeous. In fact, he is as sexy as your two operatives, if not more so. If you happen to dig a sophisticated version of Chris or Liam Hemsworth. However, as you both said, unlike your guys, the infamous stud is still very much in the uncommitted category.” Determined not to relay last night’s erotic finale to her eager sisters, Tatiana found herself relying on Zane’s less than stellar reputation to forestall her eager sisters. “Admit it. How many Chloe Richardses do you think are biding their time in that bevy of ADAs surrounding him? You said it yourself. There’s a horde of green-eyed, angry women fighting over the cocky super star.”

  Tara lifted a disbelieving brow and turned to her youngest sister. “Tell me, Tanya, do you think perchance our lovely redheaded sister doth protest too much? That perhaps the admittedly hot-as-hell DA at least made a crack in that impervious shell our sister has encased herself in?”

  Tanya lifted her shoulder in a dismissive shrug. “If I were a betting woman, and God knows I am, I’d venture a guess that the illustrious attorney, who is more than accustomed to winning at the legal bar, is no slouch when it comes to breaking through defensive barriers. Even ones as strong as those our lovely sister has built around herself.”

  For some reason, Tatiana couldn’t keep from voicing the fears that had kept her awake throughout the night. “Dammit, both of you. Look at me! And then look at Chloe Richards and her band of gorgeous look-alikes. I’m twenty-six years old, I have two children, and I haven’t allowed a man to get near me since I finally got rid of the one who very nearly took me down.”

  Horrified at how close she had come to disclosing more than she’d intended, Tatiana was shocked when Tara reached for her hand and pulled her close.

  “I am looking at you, Tatiana, and I’m seeing what Zane Wilder is clearly seeing. An astonishingly beautiful, sexy woman who, with the right man, just might let a little of those protective battlements go.” Tara’s expression became more passionate. “And, Tatiana, I’ve got a sneaky feeling that Zane might just be powerful enough to break through those fortifications. If he does, I think he will be more than surprised at the woman living inside your protective façade. In fact, I almost feel sorry for the cocky guy. He may think he’s the indomitable one. All he needs to do is ask one of our special operatives the dangers of dealing with the Trouble sisters. They’ll tell him he hasn’t seen anything yet.”

  Tatiana brushed at the tears coursing down her cheeks and laughed. “I think he did ask them. And . . . for your information, I also think he got a taste of that Trouble mystique last night.” She smiled through her tears. “And for some reason, he seems to want more . . . ”

  Chapter 9

  Tatiana settled into her chair, readying herself for what was sure to be a challenging meeting. She’d put it off as long as she could. Whether she was doing it purposefully or not, Savannah Jenkins seemed determined to do everything she could to force Tatiana to dismiss her from the Sanctuary. Which Tatiana was now prepared to do. It was impossible to ignore the reports from three of her assistants now. Bella, her longtime aide and as close to a mother figure as anyone could be, had waylaid Savannah when she tried to slip unnoticed into the Sanctuary in the middle of the night. Bella told Tatiana that Savannah had been so drunk when she arrived at two-thirty in the morning that she was incoherent. Bella added that in addition to alcohol, the wasted woman was likely high on smack. The unsettling report made it clear that Tatiana could no longer put off the difficult decision she’d been dreading.

  While she knew dismissing the woman from the program was essential, Tatiana was genuinely concerned about Savannah’s two young children. The little girls were four and six. Felicia, the older child, and Marcie were constant playmates, which had allowed Tatiana to get to know the young girl personally. All of the young children at the sanctuary were troubled in one way or another given the domestic abuse or worse they’d witnessed, so Felicia’
s behavior wasn’t unusual. But the little girl’s closeness to Marcie and the signs of certain abuse made Tatiana’s upcoming conversation with Felicia’s mother even more troubling. In fact, it had been Marcie’s startling question the day before that had convinced Tatiana she had to confront Savannah. Even more than her flouting the Sanctuary’s rules, it was clear that she was putting her children in dangerous situations.

  With a shiver of foreboding, Tatiana remembered how Marcie had shocked her when she asked the seemingly innocent question, “Momma, is it bad if daddies kiss their little girls, like a lot?”

  Horrified that Marcie might be referring to Arnold, Tatiana had managed to respond carefully. “That depends, Marcie. You and I have talked about bad touch and good touch. I hope you know the difference.”

  “Yeah, I know what you said, Momma, but I wasn’t sure if daddies can do bad touch.”

  Swallowing the lump of fear in her throat that was threatening to choke her, Tatiana asked, “Marcie, are you talking about your daddy?”

  Marcie looked surprised. “No, Momma. I don’t like it when Daddy kisses me because he smells bad, but he doesn’t kiss me very often.”

  Tatiana pressed her. “Honey, who are you talking about? Someone you know?”

  “Um, I . . . well, Felicia told me that some of the daddies her momma knows are always trying to kiss her. She said she doesn’t like it.”

  Tatiana blew out a hard sigh. “You are asking an important question, Marcie. Did Felicia tell you which of the ‘daddies’ were doing that? And when, honey? Since Felicia and her mommy have lived here at the Sanctuary?”

  Marcie frowned. “Mm-hmm. Sometimes when Felicia and I are gonna play together, her momma says she can’t because they are going out. I just know that Felicia doesn’t like to go on field trips with her mom and neither does Clara.”

  Hearing a sharp knock, announcing Savannah’s presence, Tatiana walked to the door and did her best to look non-committal. Opening the door and seeing the combative expression tightening Savannah’s face, she straightened her shoulders and nodded for the young woman to enter. Attempting to lower the certain drama of the upcoming conversation, Tatiana waved toward the conference table. “Let’s sit here, Savannah, shall we? It’s a little less formal than at my desk.”