01 Winters Thaw (23 page)

Daniel bucked roughly, dislodging her finger. She started to go in for a second pass, but he cut her off, flipping around on the bed.

“Bad girl,” he said, though his glazed eyes told her he was far from disgusted with her play. In fact, his gaze was downright encouraging. They’d definitely be exploring that territory again.

But Daniel clearly had different plans tonight and his sense of fair play was thrown out the window when he knelt between her legs and pushed his tongue against her clit once more.

“No fair,” she gasped.

Daniel didn’t bother to respond. Instead he proved to her just how unfair he could be. Pushing two fingers inside her pussy, he finger-fucked her until she lost track of her surroundings, her name, the whole lot…everything just disappeared. Her hips rose to meet him. When she finally came, it hit her like a tidal wave, kicking her feet out from under her and tossing her like a rag doll through the crashing water.

She’d thought the climax was amazing. She was wrong.

Daniel came over her as she yelled out her release, his cock slamming in to the hilt as she still drifted amongst the wreckage. His rough entry triggered another spasm and lightning flashed behind her closed eyelids.

He offered no reprieve. Instead, he gave her everything he had and, as her body continued to tremble, it felt like more than she could handle.

Her loud cries gave way to hoarse moans and still Daniel thrust inside her, ruthlessly. She ran her fingernails down his arms, clawing her way closer.

“Too good,” she said, gasping for breath. “It’s too much.”

Daniel kissed her roughly, and then shook his head. “Never.”

As she cried out for mercy, her body continued to beg for more. He was right. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough. He’d spoken the word written on her heart. Never. She’d never tire of him, never get enough, never stop loving him. Never.

Sienna came again, the orgasm taking her by surprise, shaking her until her teeth chattered. And still Daniel moved.

She didn’t resist, didn’t fight the onslaught. She was finished with denials, with lies.

“Mine,” she whispered.

“Always.”

She wasn’t sure if he was waiting for the word or if his body had finally reached its limit, but Daniel came.

She watched his face in silent wonder as his climax began to wane. He fell next to her in a heap. His eyes remained closed, his face more peaceful than she’d ever seen it.

Vivi had been right.

He was her heart.

And she was his.

Epilogue

“Remember your sixteenth birthday?”

Sienna glanced at Hope, wondering why on earth her cousin was thinking of that after all these years. Spring was making an early appearance. The icy cold winter had thawed early this year, Mother Nature turning on the heat in March rather than waiting for April. She and Hope were taking advantage of the sunshine, sitting in the back garden.

Vivi was worried about the fact her bulbs were blooming early. She was certain a cold spell would come and ruin her colorful spring garden.

Sienna sighed. “Hell yeah I remember. We all got in big trouble. Jake still likes to tease me about the time he and Dad had to carry four giggling, drunk-ass girls down from the hayloft.”

Hope giggled. “My head ached for days after that.”

“What made you think of that?”

Her cousin shrugged. “I don’t know. Life just seemed a lot simpler at sixteen.”

Sienna nodded. “You can say that again. I was so sure of myself back then. Had my whole future figured out.”

“Then Daniel showed up.”

Sienna grinned. “And tossed everything I thought I wanted out on its ear.”

“I don’t think I ever realized it before, but I’ve never seen you in love. Not really. I like the way it looks on you.”

Sienna wondered if she should contradict her cousin. She had loved Josh. Truly loved him, but maybe it was semantics. Given the way she felt about Daniel, she could understand the difference between loving someone and being in love. It seemed like a short distance separated the two. In reality, they were as close as California and New York.

Hope was quiet for a few moments. Sienna noticed the sadness that had taken up residence in her cousin’s eyes for weeks creep in again. “What’s wrong, Hope? Are you still worried about Vivi?”

Hope nodded. “Yeah. Of course. But I don’t see that feeling going away anytime soon.”

“It’s more than that. Isn’t it?”

Hope sighed, rubbing her eyes wearily. “I still wish for what I wanted at sixteen. But I’m afraid maybe it’s just a silly girl’s dream. Something impossible.”

Sienna knew what Hope wanted. While she longed to reassure Hope it wasn’t unattainable, she knew the odds were rather slim. Hope had grown up in an unconventional home, but one that worked. Uncle Silas, Uncle Colby and Aunt Lucy were meant to be together. While their love was different, it didn’t make the union any less special, perfect.

She reached out to grasp Hope’s hand. “You’re beautiful, smart and sweet. I don’t doubt for a minute that when you find love, it will be beyond your wildest dreams.”

But Hope wanted more from her. Sienna could see it. She needed Sienna’s assurance that there might be
two
men out there who would claim her heart and give her the life she desired more than anything.

Offering those words wouldn’t be fair. If Sienna had learned anything this winter, it was that what you wanted didn’t always match up with what you got. But that didn’t make the prize any less sweet, any less magical.

“Hope. I think you’re going to have to go with the flow on this one. You can’t force it. Love comes where it comes. And we just have to make sure that when it shows up, our heart and our eyes are open enough to see it. To feel it.”

Hope smiled, her face clearing. “You’re right. I need to shake off these winter blues. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing. And hope springs eternal.”

About the Authors

Jayne Rylon and Mari Carr met at a writing conference in June 2009 and instantly became archenemies. Two authors couldn't be more opposite. Mari, when free of her librarian-by-day alter ego, enjoys a drink or two or…more. Jayne, allergic to alcohol, lost huge sections of her financial-analyst mind to an epic explosion resulting from Mari gloating about her hatred of math. To top it off, they both had works in progress with similar titles and their heroes shared a name. One of them would have to go.

The battle between them for dominance was a bloody, but short one, when they realized they’d be better off combining their forces for good (or smut). With the ink dry on the peace treaty, they emerged as good friends, who have a remarkable amount in common despite their differences, and their writing partnership has flourished. Except for the time Mari attempted to poison Jayne with a bottle of Patrón. Accident or retaliation? You decide.

Jayne and Mari can be found troublemaking on their Yahoo loop at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Heat_Wave_Readers/join

You can follow their book-loving insanity on Twitter or Facebook or send them a personal note at
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
.

Look for these titles by Mari Carr

Now Available:

Because of You

Because You Love Me

Because It’s True

Black & White

Erotic Research

Tequila Truth

Rough Cut

Happy Hour

Power Play

Slam Dunk

Compass Brothers

(Written with Jayne Rylon)

Northern Exposure

Southern Comfort

Eastern Ambitions

Western Ties

Second Chances

Fix You

Print Collections

Learning Curves

Dangerous Curves

Love’s Compass

Wicked Curves

Just Because

Coming Soon:

Compass Girls

(Written with Jayne Rylon)

Hope Springs

Look for these titles by Jayne Rylon

Now Available:

Nice and Naughty

Where There’s Smoke

Men In Blue

Night is Darkest

Razor’s Edge

Mistress’s Master

Powertools

Kate’s Crew

Morgan’s Surprise

Kayla’s Gifts

Devon’s Pair

Nailed to the Wall

Hammer It Home

Play Doctor

Dream Machine

Healing Touch

Compass Brothers

(Written with Mari Carr)

Northern Exposure

Southern Comfort

Eastern Ambitions

Western Ties

Print Anthologies

Three’s Company

Love’s Compass

Powertools

Two to Tango

Love Under Construction

Coming Soon:

Compass Girls

(Written with Mari Carr)

Hope Springs

Hot Rods

King Cobra

Mustang Sally

Super Nova

Men In Blue

Spread Your Wings

How strong are the ties that bind?

Western Ties

© 2012 Mari Carr & Jayne Rylon

Compass Brothers, Book 4

Leah Hollister’s sex life needs a swift kick in the pants. Small-town Compton Pass, though, isn’t the place to explore her need for bondage. When she gets an invitation to a BDSM party out in LA, she wastes no time booking a flight.

Her plan to play anonymously is shot to hell when she runs into high-school crush Sawyer Compton—and he lays immediate claim to her.

Sawyer Compton commands total control, in and out of the bedroom. He never thought Leah could handle his darker urges, but one look at the white bracelet that marks her as a sub ripe for the picking, and he knows exactly how this night is going to end. With Leah in his bed.

Leah didn’t expect to enjoy the comfort Sawyer’s familiarity brings, even as his touch takes her to unimaginable heights of pleasure. When bad news from home sends him reeling, she’s more than prepared to offer him anything he needs: her body, her friendship. Even her heart—if Sawyer can loosen the reins over his own to accept her love.

Warning: Invest in tissues. Lots and lots of tissues. Between spicy, set-the-sheets-on-fire bondage romps and the last Compass brother coming home, you'll need them.
 

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Western Ties:

“Leah?” a familiar male voice behind her said.

Leah closed her eyes and prayed she’d imagined it. There was no way. No possible way—

“Leah Hollister?”

She sighed. Fuck. What were the chances?

Turning, she realized her night wasn’t going to end as she’d planned. She should have saved her money. Should have stayed in Compton Pass. She was screwed.

“Sawyer.” She didn’t bother with the pretense of being happy to see him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Leah,” Stacey whispered, her voice full of warning.

Sawyer narrowed his eyes, refusing to answer. His gaze started at the top, taking in her dramatic makeup, before drifting lower to her breasts, accentuated by the tight corset Stacey had loaned her. She willed herself to remain still as he finished his visual tour with a long look at her short leather skirt and stocking-clad legs.

“Enjoying the view?” she taunted. “You still haven’t answered my question. Shouldn’t you be in San Francisco? What are you doing here?”

He scowled. “That’s my question for you. A BDSM party in L.A. is a long way from a kindergarten classroom in Compton Pass. Last time I saw you, you were leading a pack of five-year-olds around my family’s ranch.”

A couple of years earlier, Sawyer had helped her organize a field trip to Compass ranch. It had been one of the highlights of the year for her students—and for her. It was also the last time she’d seen Sawyer. Two years was a long time. She certainly hadn’t expected their reunion to take place in L.A.