12-Alarm Cowboys (39 page)

If this was
one of her erotic dreams, Georgie did not want her alarm, her phone, or anything else to wake her. She lifted to her tiptoes to better reach his lips but instead his hot mouth covered one breast, sucking on her flesh through her bra. A lightning bolt shot through her and she shook with desire. Heat flared between her thighs. She arched her hips, pressing her aching groin again the stone-hard shaft inside his robe.

“Damn” Tanner muttered and then shoved her bra up and over her head, tossing it next to her feet. He unfastened the button on her shorts and then the zipper, before shoving them down her legs. She lifted each foot as he worked her shorts off.

Then, to her mortification, she realized she was wearing a pair of white cotton panties, probably something she’d grabbed at Walmart in a multipack. Why didn’t she own something scorchingly sexy from Victoria’s Secret? She dropped her head on his chest.

“What’s wrong?” He lifted her head until their gazes met. “I’m sorry. I’ve pushed too hard, haven’t I?”

She sighed and shook her head. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

“What?”

“I’m wearing granny panties.”

He looked down at her hips and then back to her face. “I can fix this.” He shoved his thumbs into her panties’ elastic waistband and pulled them to the floor. She stepped from them and he tossed them over his shoulder.

“Now, what were you saying?” he asked with a sexy smile.

“I think I was saying continue on.”

Sliding his hands down her ribs to her waist and on to her butt, he lifted her against the wall. “Much better,” he whispered and he caught her breast in his mouth again, sucking firmly on her flesh. He pulled her deep into his mouth with a strong draw, then released it until he captured just the nipple between his teeth. He bit down on the rigid tissue.

She sucked in a deep breath. Sexual arousal trickled from her, soaking the front of the robe she’d given him. She arched against him, her head pressing into the wall.

“You’re wearing too much,” she said, whispering into his ear. She darted her tongue out and, using just the tip, traced the ridges in his ear. The shudder that ran through him started a ripple through her.

“Shit. I don’t have a condom.” He looked at her. “Sorry.”

“I’ve got you covered,” she replied. “Pun intended.”

“Wrap your legs around me tight.” When she did, he took her full weight and began walking down the hall. “Which room?”

“Last one on the right.”

She’d put fresh sheets on the bed just that morning, only because it was Friday, not because she’d had any inkling anything like this would happen. If she had, she would have not been wearing cotton granny panties for sure.

He lowered her to the edge of the bed and then continued down until he was on his knees between her thighs. There, he glided his hands from her knees up the inside of her thighs, pushing them wider as he went.

Georgie’s heart was racing. The pounding in her ears was loud enough—almost—to drown out all the voices in her head warning her that this would only end badly.

His head dipped and the broad, flat surface of his tongue licked her. Without conscious thought, she pumped her hips up and forward toward his mouth.

He murmured against her labia, the sound vibrating her swollen tissues. When he licked her again, he slipped a thick finger inside, and she moaned with pleasure. When he added a second finger to the first, her eyes momentarily closed to allow her to immerse herself in the ripples and tingles coasting from head to toe.

But she couldn’t keep her eyes shut. She wanted to see this strong, virile man on his knees before her. Wanted to watch as his tongue and lips kissed and licked and caressed the very center of her soul.

He continued to suck on her as his thumb stroked across her clitoris. She groaned and ground against his hand.

Looking up at her, their gazes met. “Let go. Let it happen. Let me see you go over the edge.”

As he spoke, his fingers thrust deep inside her. She put her hands on the bed behind her and supported herself on stiff arms as he worked his broad fingers rapidly in and out while returning to sucking on her nub. A quiver that started deep inside pushed its way up and out making her legs shake with pent-up energy. Then thousands of electrical jolts flooded her system. Waves of pleasure rode over her as her orgasm hit her hard. She cried out with bliss as the sensations peaked again under his masterful hands and a second orgasm slammed through her.

Her arms gave way and she slid onto her back.

“Damnation, man. Where did you learn that?” She sat up far enough to look into his eyes. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.” She flopped back on the bed. “Now take off that robe and get up here. I think I might owe you a favor or two.”

“Ohhh. Favors. I think I might like that.” He untied the belt and let the robe fall to the floor.

Good God in heaven. It was like watching the unveiling of a sculpted masterpiece. Thick, broad shoulders. An eight-pack that could have been the model for the old-fashioned scrub board, because she knew she wanted to scrub herself all over those ridges.

His narrow hips set atop solid muscular thighs. When he moved toward the bed, muscles popped out in wonderful places.

She sighed.

He sat on the side. “Condom?”

“Oh yeah.” She sat up and leaned across the bed away from him, giving him a full moon in the process.

He slapped her bottom. “Just couldn’t resist,” he said with a laugh. “But I’ll make it feel much better.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back until she was draped across his lap. “I don’t know how we got here. I only know I’m thankful we did.”

She stroked her hands up his chest until she could snake her arms around his neck. “Me too.”

Leaning forward, she kissed him, slipping her tongue inside his mouth. He welcomed her, fondling her tongue with his. Then he closed his lips over her tongue and sucked. Her insides turned to liquid as she melted under his assault.

Down the hall, a phone began to ring.

“Ignore it,” he said.

“It’s not mine.”

He froze and listened. “It’s mine.”

“Someone looking for you at…” she turned to look at her clock, “one in the morning?”

“Not usually. Now, where were we?” He nibbled down her neck until he reached her shoulder.

Then her phone beside the bed rang.

“Something’s going on,” she said. Leaning backward, she snatched the receiver from its cradle. “Dr. Greyson.”

“Georgie? It’s Deb. Deb Marshall. Tanner and Zack’s sister.”

“Yes, Deb. I know who you are. What’s wrong?”

“Something’s wrong with Jolene and I don’t know where Tanner or Zack are. I’ve called both of them and neither answered. I’m sorry for waking you up but I don’t know what to do.”

Georgie pushed off Tanner’s lap and stood. “What’s Jolene doing?”

“Did Tanner give you the link to Jolene’s camera?”

“Yes.”

“Can you turn it on?”

“Of course. Hold on.”

She put her hand over the receiver. “It’s Jolene. Deb wants me to look at the foaling camera you installed. My laptop’s in the living room.”

“I’ll get it,” he whispered.

He was back in a flash, the top open and the screen coming to life. Georgie had bookmarked the link, so it was easy to open. On the screen, Jolene lay on her side panting and struggling. All four legs were extended. Her tail flopped around as she pushed.

“She’s in labor, Deb,” she said into the phone.

“But something’s wrong,” the teen insisted. “There’s only one leg sticking out. Can you come?”

“Of course. It’ll take me about fifteen minutes to get to you. Can you get Jolene up and walking?”

“What? Why would I want to get her up, Georgie? Shouldn’t she stay down?”

“No, Deb. Get her up if you can. That might help reposition the baby. Trust me. Okay?”

“Okay,” Deb said, but her tone said she was freaking out. “Hurry.”

“Just stay calm. Let nature take its course. Jolene knows what to do.”

While they’d been talking, Georgie had put on fresh panties and a bra. Now she pulled on a pair of jeans and an old T-shirt.

Tanner had left the room as soon as he’d viewed Jolene on the screen. She heard the back door slam and Tanner’s heavy footsteps as he came back into her bedroom wearing his dirty clothes.

He took a quick look at the screen and said, “I’ll drive.”

“I’ll follow you. I have some emergency equipment in my truck if we need it. But Tanner,” she reached out to grab his arm, “Jolene will be fine.”

His jaw tightened. “She better be.”

‡

T
he taillights on
Tanner’s truck flashed bright red as he tapped the brakes to make the turn into Flying Eagle Ranch. Right on his bumper, Georgie made the turn seconds behind him. Both trucks skidded to a stop and Tanner was out of his before Georgie had time to turn off her engine. After grabbing a bag of emergency supplies she had in the back seat, she hurried down the barn aisle until she reached the foaling stall. One glance told her everything.

Jolene lay on her side. Her breaths came in harsh pants and grunts. Sweat coated her flanks. A leg protruded from Jolene’s birth canal when there should have been two. It was obvious she’d been in labor for a while and there was no way she could deliver the foal without help.

Dillon and Deb were both in with the laboring mare.

“I got her up, Georgie, but she wanted to lay back down,” Deb said.

“Great. You did great, now everybody out.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Georgie said to Deb. “Out. Now. You too, Tanner.”

“Forget it,” he growled. “I’ll stay out of your way, but I’m not going anywhere.”

The teens left the area as Georgie dropped to her knees. She pulled on a long pair of exam gloves and inserted her hand and arm into Jolene’s birth canal.

“The foal’s got one leg folded up. I’m going to have to push this first leg back and get the second leg unfolded.”

As she’d just explained, Georgie maneuvered the foal inside Jolene, pushed the first leg back up until she could unfold the bent leg. Both legs then came through the birth canal. Another contraction hit, and Jolene grunted. The head came through still covered by the thick amniotic membrane. Georgie tore the tissue to expose a chocolate brown face with a wide white stripe that passed through on top of the legs.

Sitting back on her heels, Georgie let Jolene do what nature told her to do. If the mare needed her, Georgie would help. However, in her experience, it was better to let the mother push the foal out without interference from the veterinary staff unless absolutely necessary.

For the next thirty minutes, they waited as Jolene labored and pushed. Slowly, the rest of the foal’s body appeared until it plopped onto the fresh straw. Georgie wiped the new foal’s nose and mouth, then dropped back onto her bottom and let the new mother take over. Jolene sniffed, then licked her new baby, cleaning him up.

“Is it a boy or girl?” Deb whispered from the stall door.

Georgie looked up with a smile. “A boy.” She glanced over at Tanner, who was sitting in the opposite corner of the stall. A smile more commonly seen on a new father brightened his face.

“He looks pretty good, doesn’t he?” Tanner asked.

The colt staggered to his feet, wobbled around a little and then he was back in the straw.

“Yeah. He looks fine,” Georgie said. “I suggest we all get out of here and let Jolene and her baby get to know each other.”

The two adults joined Deb and Dillon at the stall door.

“He’s beautiful,” Deb said.

“That he is,” Tanner agreed. “Now, what were the two of you doing up at this hour to begin with?”

Dillon rolled his eyes toward Deb. That was as good as pointing the finger of guilt at his sister.

Deb shrugged. “I got up to get a drink of water and thought I’d just check on Jolene.”

“Sooo, you weren’t just getting home from your date? It’s normal for you to get fully dressed when you get out of bed and go to the kitchen for water?”

The flush that climbed up Deb’s neck was a neon sign of guilt. “No,” she said, but the denial was so tepid as to be a confession.

Tanner sighed. “We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

“Shouldn’t we stay here?” Dillon asked. “I mean, shouldn’t someone stay with Jolene?”

Georgie glanced at the new mother, the umbilical cord still protruding from the birth canal. It could be ten minutes before the placenta passed or it could be four hours.

“No,” she said. “Horses actually prefer to be alone to give birth. I doubt Jolene was that thrilled we were all here. I’ll keep an eye on her with the foaling camera that Tanner so wisely installed. If I see she needs help, I’ll come back.”

“But you’ll watch from our house, right?” Deb asked. She gnawed on her lower lip. “She should stay here, shouldn’t she, Tanner?”

Tanner put his arm around his little sister. “Of course she can watch from the house. I’ll make a pot of coffee and keep her company.”

“So will I,” Deb said.

“No, you’ll go to bed,” Tanner said.

“But—”