Reined In: Lone Star Lovers, Book 7 (6 page)

“Baby, does it burn?”

“What the fuck do you think?” she said, her words muffled in the bedding.

“Does it feel good?”

She didn’t answer, but the moisture building in her cunt gave him her undeniable truth. Plunging harder, he filled her again and again with deep, targeted thrusts. He pulled his thumb out, dropped spit on the reddened hole and slowly inserted two fingers, ignoring her deep groans, enjoying the way her bottom quivered. He moved faster until he couldn’t stand the tension in his balls a minute longer. Adjusting his stance, he reached beneath her with his free hand, slid fingers into the top of her stretched folds and pressed her clit, rubbing it, pinching it until she began to buck against him, giving little ragged gasps, forgetting herself in her pleasure.

The door opened, but she didn’t hear it above the noises she made. Joe walked in, a grin stretching his mouth as he watched Cam continue to work her. Without an invitation, he stripped off his pants and climbed onto the bed. He reached beneath Stormy to pleasure her breasts. “That’s it, baby,” he crooned into her ear. “Come now. Do it for Cam. Fucking make his day.”

She gave a little shout, and her pussy and her little hole squeezed tight.

Cam gasped and closed his eyes as the pressure built. One, two, three more thrusts and his balls exploded, come shooting into her hot cunt. When the last spurts waned, he pulled his fingers free and bent over her, kissing her cheek, the back of her neck. He finally withdrew and lay beside her while Joe rolled her to her back and settled on her other side.

Her face was red, lips and eyes blurred.

Joe leaned over and kissed her mouth, cupping her cheek, thrusting fingers into her hair. The kiss was hungry, deep, and all Cam could do was watch. There was no jealousy burning inside him, just contentment like he’d never known. She’d found pleasure with him. And he’d shown her that he could surprise her.

When Joe broke the kiss, he smiled at Stormy and then glanced at Cam. “Leave you two for a minute…”

Cam grinned. “Have to get my licks in while I can.”

“Wasn’t much lickin’ goin’ on,” Stormy grumbled, but her mouth was fighting a smile. Her glance went back to Joe. “Sorry I cried all over you. It wasn’t that I didn’t love everything that happened. And it wasn’t because I was scared…of anything.”

Cam cleared his throat. “She came here this weekend because her father sold the place.”

Joe didn’t seem surprised, one corner of his mouth quirked. “Afraid this might be your last chance at us, baby girl?”

“Something like that.”

With his thumb still rubbing her mouth, Joe shook his head. “Hon, we’re not goin’ anywhere. And you’re always welcome to sleep in our beds.”

Cam knew it wasn’t the avowal of affection she’d been hopeful for, but Stormy relaxed. He could almost hear her little mind churning on the thought that many a man had fallen straight from lust into love.

Chapter Seven

When Stormy sat gingerly on a chair at the kitchen table, Joe hid a smile and dished up bowls of leftover stew he’d heated up while Cam and Stormy had remained in bed.

“Need anything else?” he asked as he slid a bowl in front of her.

She glanced up quickly, eyes narrowing on his face. God, he hoped she’d never get so complacent around him that she lost that wary edge. A girl like Stormy needed to be kept on her toes.

He gave her a wink and set another bowl down in front of Cam, who was still buttoning his shirt after he’d taken a quick shower. Cam gave Joe a brief smile and then tucked into his meal.

Cam had surprised him. Fact was, he was proud of how Cam had handled her. His best friend was a gentle soul—mostly. But what he’d come upon when he’d reentered the bedroom had reinforced his belief they were on the right track.

Not that every sexual encounter had to be a marathon or push Stormy’s boundaries, but he liked that Cam had handled her, taken control, rather than caving to her demands, and Joe had no doubt she’d tried to manipulate Cam.

Cam had a cool head, was kind to horses and women, but could be firm when needed or he wouldn’t have made a good foreman. Something Stormy’s dad, Reese, recognized right off about the boy he’d hired years ago. He’d groomed Cam from day one to run the ranch. Joe hadn’t resented the old man’s admiration of his best friend. He’d been quick to note Joe’s good qualities too. And Reese had seemed to enjoy watching the squabbles he and Stormy got into, taking him aside every now and then to coach him in how to handle Stormy.

Even back then, Joe had found it just a little odd that Reese seemed to be throwing them at each other. Not until recently, when Reese had approached him and Cam about taking over the ranch and running it for themselves, had he explained.

“Always thought you were the man who could handle my little girl. Never liked that boyfriend of hers. She ran roughshod right over him. Scared that pencil neck to death. But you…” Reese had chuckled. “I remember that time you turned her over your knee. She was spittin’ mad, and I may be her daddy, but I know she liked it. Kinda reminded me of her mama.”

Joe had stared at Reese, his face getting red because Reese obviously knew all too well that Joe had lusted after Stormy for years.

“You’re a good man. You both are. Shame I can’t call you both son.”

And then he’d said something really strange for a daddy to say…

Reese had glanced away. “Two Mule’s changin’. Strange goin’s on. Men sharin’ women. Almost a common sight.” He’d given Joe a wink before he’d stepped up into the cab of his truck and ridden off.

That last comment had planted a seed. One that had kept Joe awake the previous night wondering about possibilities. After he’d woken early, feeling more rested than he should have, Joe had called Reese. His boss was back in Corpus Christi where he spent most of his time these days on the beach or deep-sea fishing. “I’ve been thinkin’ about what you said.”

“Yeah? Which part, boy?” Reese had said, his drawl thickening.

Joe had smiled. “I need you to do something for me. Tell Stormy you’re sellin’ the ranch, not that you’re simply makin’ us partners.”

Reese had started laughing and hadn’t stopped, chuckling and coughing until he’d hung up the phone.

Joe smiled as he remembered. He’d kept Reese’s more risqué comments to himself, because he hadn’t been all that sure how Cam would react. Before today, they’d never openly discussed the possibility of sharing Stormy.

“Never did ask—how long are you stayin’?” Joe said as he sat opposite her at the small round table.

Her head bobbed up, her gaze going from Joe to Cam and then back down to her bowl. She shrugged and took another bite.

“She can stay long as she likes,” Cam said.

“Of course she can,” Joe said, arching a brow and hoping Cam would follow his lead. “New owner won’t mind.”

The spoon Stormy held halted midair, and then she put it back into her bowl. “I should probably spend the weekend clearing my bedroom and the attic of my things.”

“No rush,” he said, keeping his tone cheerful.

Her lips tightened. “I can’t believe he didn’t give me more notice.”

“Your dad? Sweetheart, he’s been wrestling with what to do with the ranch for a long time. He knows you consider it home, even if you live all the way in Austin.”

“I always meant to come back,” she said, raising her face.

Joe nearly relented, seeing the emotions clouding her eyes.

“I got my degree in accounting so I could help out. I’m not a cowgirl, but I thought I could help out. Make my own contribution.”

“He needed someone to run the place. He doesn’t have the heart for it anymore.”

“Not since my mom died, I know.” She sighed and picked up her spoon again. “I guess I didn’t think he’d actually do it. His dad built this place. He grew up here. How could he just leave it all behind?”

“He’s lettin’ go, baby,” Cam said gently. “Every year that passed since your mama’s death weighed him down. He thought maybe you’d marry a cowboy and settle down here so he could leave it in competent hands.”

A frown dug a line between her eyebrows. “He was waitin’ on me to get married?” She shook her head. “I just finished school. Haven’t even taken my CPA exam. I just broke off my engagement, but… He didn’t give me enought time to meet anyone new who could help me run this place…” She bit her lip and ducked her head.

Joe stared at her. “Don’t lie, Stormy. You had two candidates waitin’ for you right here.”

She snorted. “As if you had any intentions of marryin’ me,” she said and then glanced up, the fire in her eyes dying when she met his stony gaze. “You’d have married me for this place?”

Joe shook his head. “I’d have married to keep you in my bed and in my life. But we’ve been doin’ this dance for a long time. Guess your daddy got tired of waitin’ for you to tip your hat.”

“You said two candidates…” Her fingers gripped the edge of the table, but she didn’t look toward Cam, although Joe’s inference had been clear he was candidate number two.

“I’d have married you,” Cam said, his voice tight.

“To make sure I had a home?” she whispered. “Or to get the ranch?”

“Do you really have to ask?”

Her mouth firmed and she tossed back her head. “Well, it’s too late now.”

“Is it?” Joe asked, keeping his tone even. “Guess it depends on what you want—us or the ranch.”

Her lips pressed together tighter. “Don’t know what you expect me to say. For all I know, this is just another one of your games.”

“Think this is about payback for all those years of sass you gave me?”

Her expression remained closed, tense, but he continued to hold her gaze until he saw a crack in her composure. Doubt darkened her eyes to a storm-cloud gray. “I don’t know what this is.”

Joe gave Cam a quick quelling glance and left his seat to circle to her chair and kneel beside it.

The plea in her eyes was naked, raw. Honest, for once. He lifted her chin with a bent finger. “What this is…is real, baby. Whatever you need it to be. It’s true, things are changin’, but we aren’t.” Joe blew out a deep breath. “We’ve been here, all along, waitin’ for you to grow up, waitin’ for you to have a few life experiences so you’d know what love is when you see it. Do you see it now?”

Joe held still, keeping his expression open, letting her see his vulnerability, hoping it wasn’t too soon and that she wouldn’t pull away or worse, decide his honest admission was something she could use in their sexual tug-of-war.

A soft sigh was followed by a visual softening of her body. Her shoulders relaxed, the lines of her face eased. She reached up and bracketed his cheeks with her small hands, and he felt a slight tremor as she held him. “I shouldn’t say this.”

“But you will,” he said, starting to smile.

“I…” She let out another ragged breath. “I love you. Always have.”

Elation expanded his chest, but he wasn’t blind to Cam’s distress. His friend’s glance moved away from Stormy. He scooted back his chair.

Stormy’s head swung toward Cam, and she reached out, capturing his hand. Her head shook.

“I’ll be okay,” Cam said, giving her a crooked smile.

“Don’t you dare leave.”

Joe pressed his lips together and looked away. This was between the two of them now. His best friend was hurting, and Stormy had a soft spot for him. Whether her affection went deeper…well, they weren’t a package deal—not unless Stormy was accepting of the idea.

She’d been raised to believe love could only be between one man and one woman. Her parents had provided the blueprint for her life. Maybe she hadn’t noticed that things were changing in their sleepy little town—that Justin Cruz and his wife Dani were both awfully fond of her old beau, Rowe. Or that all the Kinzie brothers had set up house with Chrissi Page. Folks were learning to turn a blind eye, allowing people to live the lives they wanted, maybe not without judging, but folks in Two Mule tolerated the changes.

But what Stormy wanted for her life, what she needed, was her decision to make. Joe leaned close, kissed her cheek and then whispered into her ear, “Make sure you can love us both, equally. Anything less will break his heart.”

Joe pushed up and left the kitchen without a backward glance.

Stormy blushed, but didn’t watch as Joe left the room. What he said was scandalous but filled her with a delicious excitement. He’d as much as said she didn’t have to choose between them.

Something she wasn’t prepared to do anyway. The fact he’d stated it so baldly reinforced the knowledge Joe knew her far too well. How could she expect to keep him from getting bored if she couldn’t manage to surprise or infuriate him from time to time?

Her relationship with Joe was complicated, but hers with Cam’s seemed destined for heartbreak. “I love you,” she said, squeezing Cam’s hand.

Cam nodded, his expression wary. “I see how you are with him, and I don’t think what you feel for me can compare.” He shrugged and gave her small smile. “I want you happy, Stormy. Joe’s a good man. I’ll be okay.”

“You’re an idiot,” she said, giving him a hint of the anger his words had produced. Cam’s brows lowered, but she ignored the signs of his rare anger. She wanted a reaction, something strong enough to prove whether he was equally as into her. “You just let him bully me into saying I love him. And now you’re lettin’ him have me—no fight left.”