Five Ways 'Til Sunday (12 page)

If any other man had said what he had, Johnny would have cussed under his breath and aimed a piercing, silencing glare. However, he respected Sam, trusted him as much as he could anyone. That trust and respect were the only things that kept his butt on the bench beside his brother Killian.

For his part, Killian’s eyes narrowed. The corners of his lips twitched. Likely he was amused by Johnny’s reaction and didn’t want to let him off the hook too quickly, but was already lining up all the reasons why Sam’s idea was ludicrous. He was quick that way.

Sam calmly ladled the hearty stew he’d made into his mouth and let his gaze roam to the twins. Jason was coughing into his napkin while Mace gave him “helpful” taps between his shoulder blades.

Mace caught his stare and grinned. “
A
wife, did you say?”

Sam grunted, ignoring the one word that had caught his son’s attention. “This is the third time this week we’ve had stew,” he murmured. Not to change the subject, but to point out a glaring fact.

“I like stew just fine,” Johnny muttered.

“This house misses a woman’s touch.” There, he’d said it. Sat the big gorilla in the room right at the dinner table. Impossible to ignore.

“Gracie can’t be replaced,” Killian said softly.

The permanent ache next to his heart echoed that truth. Sam nodded. “She’s gone. Three years. I miss her every day. Know you do too. But life goes on. You’re men now. You have an obligation. Ranchin’s a family business. Y’all need families.”

Johnny cleared his throat. “No disrespect intended, Sam, but you didn’t get sons the old-fashioned way.”

“Not because Gracie and I didn’t try. And in the end, we had no regrets. We both loved you all like you was our own.”

“So, you’d rather saddle us with—”

Sam aimed a quelling stare. “Think I felt like Gracie was a noose around my neck?”

“No sir, but…” Johnny’s hands fisted on the tabletop. “Hell, how’re we to find someone like her?”

Sam understood what he meant. Gracie’s passing had left a hole in all their hearts. The boys had loved her. Took to her the very first day he’d brought each of them home. Gracie had been born to be a mother, and she’d showered them all with the things they’d needed most—acceptance and unconditional love.

“Boys, Gracie wasn’t born a rancher’s wife. Truth is, she didn’t know a bull from a cow and damn near poisoned me with the first meals she cooked. But she learned. Find a woman willin’ to learn, one you kin love and who’ll love you back.”

“You said, ‘
a
wife’.” Mace wasn’t gonna let that slip of the tongue go.

Sam shook his head and gave the twins a faint glimmer of a smile. Those two could always see the humor in any predicament. “Thought I’d give you two options. I know one can’t piss without the other goin’ too. And there are damn few single women to go around these parts. ’Nough said?” When all of them nodded, he cleared his throat. “I’ll be out of town for the next four days. Auction in Abilene. The house is yours.”

The man won the hand, but the women changed the rules.

Duty Bound

© 2011 Myla Jackson

Bound and Tied, Book 2

Cowgirl KC Matheson is fresh out of ideas. Thanks to her father’s unlucky poker hand, her family is about to lose their ranch. Desperate to entice the winner to let her family keep their home, KC appeals to a sensual stranger, Rosalyn, to help awaken her inner vixen. A vixen with the womanly skills to make a deal with the devil.

Sent to fetch a companion for his partner’s pregnant wife, miner Jake Thompson never thought luck could change this fast. First, his royal flush lands him a ranch. Then a punch in the face. Now the rancher’s daughter, a woman with a body made for sin, is trying to seduce him into giving up his winnings. Jake has a better idea: her for the ranch. And to ensure she makes good on the bargain, there’s a catch—she has to keep his interest, or the deal is off.

The three set off on the two-day trek to Jake’s claim, experiencing wondrous delights in the cool mountain air. Then reality sets in, leaving Jake saddled with a mail-order bride, a deflowered virgin, and an unexpected desire to make things right with KC…forever.

Warning: This title contains hot ménage a trois scenes, girl-on-girl action, bondage, and two determined women—double the heat for one sexy miner. To settle a debt right proper only takes some female know-how, a willing student and a length of rope!

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Duty Bound:

KC glanced down at the thin, light blue shirt, and her face burned. The dark circles of her nipples shown through in the firelight. She crossed her arms over her breasts.

Jake stood next to the fire, stripped his shirt off and draped it over a branch near the crackling flames. “If it offends you, turn your backs. I’ll only take a moment.”

KC obliged. Rosalyn had no qualms watching Jake strip out of his trousers. “My, my. He is quite the catch,” she whispered.

“Have you no decency?” KC hissed through her clattering teeth. Too cold to give a damn, she finally moved to unbutton her shirt, only her fingers were too stiff to maneuver the buttons out of their holes.

“Let me. After all I feel responsible.”

“Damn right you are. What got into you?”

“I don’t know. Seems like you might have taken all night to get naked.” Rosalyn removed the last button and slid the shirt from KC’s shoulders. “Falling in the creek sped up the process.” Her slim fingers trailed over KC’s chilled skin, spreading warmth where they touched. “Mr. Thompson, is it right to assume sharing body warmth is one of the best ways to warm somebody quickly?”

Rosalyn unbuttoned her riding coat and dropped it to the ground. She worked the buttons loose at the waist of her riding skirt and let it slide down her legs, leaving her standing in her blouse and drawers. She planted her fists on her hips and glared. “Are you two going to stand there and freeze to death?”

“No, ma’am.” Jake shucked his trousers and long underwear, standing there in nothing but the clothes God gave him, a grin spreading across his face.

“That’s more like it.” Rosalyn removed her blouse and twisted her arms behind her to reach for the strings of her corset.

Jake came up behind her. “Let me help.”

KC stood with her mouth open as Jake let Rosalyn manipulate him like she’d manipulated KC into the water and now out of her clothing. The cool night air made her sluggish and she’d stopped shivering. If she didn’t get out of the wet trousers, they’d freeze against her skin. The nights in the mountains sometimes got down below freezing. If she didn’t do something soon, she might as well die.

With a sigh, she unbuttoned her trousers and peeled them down over her thighs, kicking them and her boots off together.

Jake whistled when she stood naked in the light from the campfire, his hand growing still over the laces of Rosalyn’s corset.

Rosalyn reached behind her, finished loosening the laces and slid the corset down over her hips, pushing the drawers with it. Wearing her fancy black boots and nothing else, she pulled the blanket from the back of her saddle and spread it out beside the fire.

Jake grabbed his and the one from the back of KC’s saddle and held them out.

KC shook her head, the lure of the fire too much of a temptation. Rosalyn walked by her and squeezed her naked ass. “Shoulders back. Be proud of your body,” she whispered.

With a deep breath, KC pushed her shoulders back and forced her arms to her sides. Her breasts jutted forward, the nipples forming shriveled little peaks, gooseflesh pebbling every inch of her skin.

“Come, Katherine.” Jake held the blanket for her as she walked into it and let him wrap its warmth around her curves.

“My name is KC.” Her words shook with the force of a mighty shiver snaking down her spine.

“I’m not going to ravish your body.” He grinned. “At least not until you’re thawed out.”

Her lips pressed together. “Have I told you I’ve been known to throw a two-hundred-pound calf down in twenty seconds?” She lost some of the threat in her voice with the sound of her teeth clattering together.

Jake laughed out loud, the movement rumbling against her back. “I’ll be sure not to bawl like a calf.”

His laughter made the frown loosen on KC’s forehead. The man was almost human when he smiled. Still, she held tightly to her anger at the entire situation, while knowing she had to live up to her end of the ill-fated bargain.

A shiver shook his frame and he hugged her back to his front, fitting the curve of her bottom against his thighs.

Rosalyn took the other blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, then she stood behind Jake, enfolding him into the warmth of her dry arms. They huddled together beside the fire, letting the blaze warm them.

As KC’s body began to relax, she could feel other parts of Jake’s body stiffen. Her breath quickened. How soon would he demand the ultimate payment? Would she be ready? Would it hurt?

Rosalyn’s hands moved around Jake and bumped against KC’s back, skimming down over her to her bottom. “It works better if you get skin to skin, KC.” She tugged at the blanket.

“Don’t push me, Rosalyn.” KC refused to let go.

“Fine. Have it your way.” She handed Jake the blanket and moved around to KC’s front, where she forced her to open up and let her slide into the circle of her arms.

With her breasts pressed against Rosalyn’s, KC’s blood heated infinitely faster. The previous night’s lessons came back to her in sordid, blood-stirring detail.

Jake left KC’s back, wrapping himself around Rosalyn’s naked backside, circling his arms around them both, crushing them closer. “Ah, Katherine, now I can see you. Did you know that your face tells me everything?”

“Wonderful.” KC frowned. “What is it telling you now?”

“KC…” Rosalyn warned. “You have a bargain with this man.”

“Thank you, Miss Rosalyn.” Jake winked at KC.

Her stomach flipped. The man had a way of making her insides stir, and KC didn’t want her insides stirred over the man who’d bought and paid for her body like she was a whore.

Not to mention, this entire situation was foreign to KC. Her world was working cattle, tending stock and taking care of a ranch. She’d never stood naked in the woods with another man and woman…total strangers.

The backs of KC’s hands rubbed against Jake’s furred chest. His muscles were taut, rock solid like she’d imagined when she’d been studying his shoulders on the ride up the mountain.

His gaze captured hers over Rosalyn’s shoulder.

Holding the blanket’s ends didn’t give KC the freedom of movement she’d hoped for. If she tried to feel more of Jake’s body, she’d drop an end and the cold air would chill their skin all over.

Rosalyn laughed. “You two are trying too hard to avoid what’s obvious.”

“And that would be…?” Jake pressed closer, his arms tightening around the two women.

“You’re attracted to each other.”

“I am not!” KC sputtered. “I’m only living up to my end of the bargain.”

Jake’s smile dimmed. “That’s right. I paid for her. And she was damned expensive.”

“Oh, pooh.” Rosalyn shook her head. “You two are fooling yourselves. Give in to the feeling and warm your bodies at the same time. Here, let me show you.”

“Is she always this bossy?” Jake asked KC.

KC smiled for the first time since she’d left Idaho Springs. “Yes. But she’s a fine teacher.”

“Damn right. So shut up and follow my lead.” Then she ducked out from between them, and with a hand on Jake’s back and one on KC’s, she shoved them together.

Jake’s naked chest bumped against KC’s naked breasts, knocking the breath right out of her. Not with the force of the blow, but with the attack on her senses.

She’d never been naked with a man. His rock-solid, angular body was completely different from Rosalyn’s curves. Her hands pressed against his chest. Instead of pushing him away, she juggled the ends of the blanket while running her fingers slowly over his skin, studying the different textures, comparing them to Rosalyn’s. Where the other woman had soft, smooth mounds with rosy brown nipples, Jake’s hard muscles were scattered with crisp hairs, the dark nipples buried in the matting. She had to search to find them, but when she did, they stiffened into tiny little peaks.

“Let me hold that.” Rosalyn stepped behind Jake and took his blanket. She flipped it around behind her and pressed her naked body to his back. “There, that ought to get you warm.”

“Oh, honey, I’m getting warm, all right.” His cock jutted straight forward, nudging against KC’s belly.

The decadence of it all made KC’s neck and face burn. She glared at Rosalyn.

With his hands free, Jake could do anything he wanted to her and all she could do was stand there holding the ends of the blanket. Exactly what Rosalyn had planned, no doubt.

And he went right along with her plan.

Five Ways ’Til Sunday

Delilah Devlin

Sometimes a man’s just gotta call for backup…

Delta Heat, Book 1

Marti Kowalski is all wrong for Officer Jackson Teague—he just won’t listen to reason. She didn’t finish high school, runs a bar. Has a tattoo and a blue streak in her hair. Yet he still wants to marry her? She can’t say she’s not tempted, but she’s got a bucket list to complete before she ties the knot.

Not just any bucket—more like a fifty-five-gallon drum of sexual wishes so explicit, there’s no way one man, even Jackson, can fulfill them all.

When Marti turns him down again, Jackson insists on knowing why. That’s when she shows him her list. He takes it, thinks about it—and calls on the only men he can trust: four buddies from his academy graduating class.

Between the five of them, he’s sure they can come up with a plan to check off every item on her list in one wild, wicked weekend. That is, if she has the nerve to follow through—and if he can bear to share her.

Warning: Contains five men on a mission to break down the resistance of one determined woman, using everything in their arsenal from BDSM accoutrements to roleplay of non-consensual situations.