by Debra Holt
“If this is your idea of a payback, then you’ve made your point. You can leave now.” She tried to sound a lot braver than she was feeling at the moment, clad only in a towel that was way too short. There were all sorts of feelings swirling through her body at the nearness of the almost naked man, and anger was not high on the list.
Chance’s dark sapphire blue gaze slid over her face and fell lower, very slowly, across the expanse of skin and swells of her breasts that were barely concealed by the material. The fact that what he saw met with his approval was very apparent in the gleam in his eyes and the increase in his own breathing pattern as evidenced by the taut muscles of his chest. Josie felt a flash of womanly pleasure in the fact that he obviously found her appealing.
It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep in mind all the reasons why she should remember that giving in to any sexual desires with Chance would be most unwise in their present situation. It was practically impossible when he placed both hands on the vanity on either side of her hips, effectively blocking her from escape…if escape was to enter her mind.
His face, particularly his lips, was no more than an inch from hers. Warm breath fanned her chin as he spoke in lowered, velvet-lined tones. “I could use some help making sure I get all the mud off my back…and other places.”
It would be so very easy for her to give in to her feelings at that moment. That realization was very clear. Her hands itched to roam over the broad expanse of tanned skin and muscle and beyond. The temptation was causing her body to react in ways she had never experienced before. He was tempting her. He was also paying her back. She had tweaked his male ego back at the mud pond. That sobering thought came at just the right moment. Josie latched on to it as a lifeline back to sanity and reason.
“That seems to be the least I could do. Of course, I’ll help you out. Step into the shower and get the water nice and hot.” The smile she gave him matched the sultry quality of her voice. She worked to stifle the sudden urge to laugh out loud when she saw the look of sheer surprise that crossed Chance’s face at her reply. He didn’t say anything, but a wide grin split his face. He stepped to the shower door, opened it, and with a quick movement, the briefs came off.
Josie averted her eyes, but not before catching a glimpse of a very firm, sexy male butt. She caught her bottom lip to steady her thoughts and enable her to move forward. If Chance thought he was going to win this round, he was about to get his comeuppance. Two could play the game he had started.
“Come on in, the water’s fine,” Chance called out, moving to stand under the spray.
“Here you go,” Josie replied, stepping quickly to the opening and tossing in a long-handled scrub brush. “You wanted help to scrub your back. This should do.” She paused as she was about to turn away. She tossed the surprised man a wide smile over her shoulder. The towel she wore came off in her hand. She tossed that in as well. “I’ll even help you out with a towel, too. Enjoy!” She shut the door between them and ran from the room, laughing. The sound of some very colorful words from the man in the shower followed behind her.
Chapter Fourteen
“It’s nice to finally get some time alone with you without big brother watching over us.” Dev had arrived about twenty minutes after Chance left for his meeting in town. Josie had made herself scarce until she saw Chance pull away in his truck after he had showered and dressed. After the stunt in the bathroom, she had dressed in record time and made her getaway to the stables to discuss some things with Tom in order to not have to deal with the man she had played her shower trick on.
Josie’s cheeks still burned as she remembered her sudden and totally uncharacteristic decision to drop her towel and tease Chance with a quick view of her derriere. She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready to face him again. What had possessed her?
“Is it by design or coincidence that your arrival comes right after your brother left the ranch?” She handed Dev the glass of tea, as he lounged with one shoulder against the fireplace in the living room. Taking her own drink in both hands, she tucked her legs underneath her as she settled into a corner of the couch across from him.
Dev gave her a blue-eyed wink as he took a sip. “You have me figured out.”
“You know you could come over for a visit anytime. Whether Chance is here or not.”
“You and I need to have an opportunity to talk without him around. I need your help with something and I don’t need him interrupting us.” Dev came to sit beside her on the couch.
“Sounds important.”
“It is. It could make quite a difference in my life. You just may be the key to making things much better.”
“I’m glad to help if I can. So tell me what it is you think I can do.” She settled against the cushions and prepared to listen.
Dev set his drink on the coffee table in front of him. He gave her the smile she remembered so well. The one that always used to make the butterflies take flight in the pit of her stomach. Now, she could see that it was devoid of that magical power over her. The dark navy corduroy jacket over a white turtleneck sweater and the dark slacks all served to heighten his blonde good looks. Only Josie had to admit that, as much as she searched, none of the stirrings she once felt for the man beside her were present any longer. Somewhere along the way, she had actually outgrown her girlhood crush on Dev. It was a time to be remembered fondly but never to be revisited.
“I need you to talk to Chance and get him to see the light. If he’ll agree and petition the trust for a change in the terms, they’ll do it. With the extra funds each month, I’ll be able to invest in the future and settle down. Maybe I’ll even come back to Braxton and build a house here. I do have quite a few acres of the Braxton Ranch in my name.”
“I can’t quite see you coming back here after the glamor of Las Vegas and being content to watch the grass grow. You always said the only cattle you wanted anything to do with was the steak on your plate.”
“My dear Josie.” He smiled, one hand reaching to take the tea from her hands and setting it on the table next to his. “There are other things besides cows around here to keep my attention. My brother isn’t the only one who can appreciate the charms to be found in our next-door neighbor.” His hand moved to rest in a far too familiar way on Josie’s thigh.
Josie felt a strange sensation at the touch. It wasn’t a welcome one, and she moved her leg from under his hand. “What makes you think I can persuade Chance to do anything?”
“My brother is besotted with his lovely wife. That’s why he sees the green-eyed monster each time I come around. Of course, I don’t blame him. I’d feel the same way if you were mine.” The words were definitely a smooth line. And he had no idea what Chance felt about her because, if he did, he would certainly not say he was jealous.
Chance jealous? It was preposterous. Right? Of course, it was. Not self-sufficient, cool-no-matter-what, tough-as-nails Chance. Why did her heart speed up at the thought? Maybe because she wished that could be the case? What would it be like to have Chance’s heart? The woman who managed that would be very lucky. Why hadn’t she seen the real man sooner? Because she had been blinded by glitter and overlooked the real gold right in front of her.
“Earth to Josie,” Dev cut in, his eyes searching hers. “I need you with me on this, sweetheart. You know that you and I have a connection that Chance will never hope to have with you. I’m the one you should be with. You’ve always wanted me, and now we can be together.” His hand moved to rest on her thigh, and she found herself tensing at his touch. She was given no time to react.
“In the old days, I could either call you out for a duel or simply shoot you on sight for poaching my territory.”
The steel-honed low tones of Chance’s voice broke them apart, and both pairs of eyes met the dark look fastened on them from where the man stood in the doorway from the hall. For a split second, Josie saw Dev’s eyes spark with frustration, but it quickly subsided and eased into the shadows as the docile, charm
ing smile reappeared. He nonchalantly drew a hand over his neatly groomed head.
“Bloodshed won’t be necessary. I was just chatting with my favorite sister-in-law. No harm in that, is there?” Dev stood from the couch as he spoke.
Chance ignored his comment. His gaze fell to Josie, still seated on the couch. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. His gaze shuttered as he moved into the room to stand with his back to the fireplace, his hands sliding into his pant pockets. Silence stretched as tight as a guitar string. Any moment, it would break.
Dev made the first move. “I’ll just leave you two alone. I’m sure honeymooners don’t want a third wheel around.” He paused in the doorway, giving Josie a smile that was meant to be another jab at his brother. “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
Josie rose and followed behind him to the front door. Just as she was about to close the door, Dev turned and paused in the doorway, his voice just above a whisper. “Work your magic on the man, babe. I need you. I’m counting on you.” He gave a wink and left the porch.
Slowly, Josie closed and latched the front door. There was nothing to it but to go back into the living room and face Chance. She turned and came up short. Chance had moved, silent as a stalking cat, to stand, leaning with his back against the newel post of the staircase, arms folded across his chest, his gaze thoughtful as he fixed it on her.
“I could offer an apology for interrupting the touching scene on the couch, but it wouldn’t be sincere.”
She moistened her dry lips and smoothed her sweater over her hips. Why did she feel guilty when she hadn’t done anything to be guilty about? “You didn’t interrupt anything. I had no idea he was coming over here.”
“Yet, you weren’t protesting.”
“I have no intention of apologizing for something that I neither expected nor wanted. And I don’t intend to stand here and debate it with you.” Josie went to move rigidly by the man, but a strong arm snaked out, and his hand caught her wrist, bringing her to a standstill less than a foot from his side.
“After all the years you pined away for the man, that’s quite a change of heart…you not wanting his kiss or even his touch.”
“People grow up. Why do you seem to find it so hard to believe me? Dev was a crush and a foolish one at that.”
“Maybe it’s hard to believe because of all the times I dried your tears because of him,” Chance responded. His expression did change some. His eyes darkened, and there was a hint of softening in his expression, along with a tinge of something close to regret. “Maybe because I’ve waited a long time for you to see my brother as he is. And to realize there are other things you might be overlooking.”
“There aren’t any blinders. What is it that I need to see?”
“That’s for you to figure out,” he replied, a smile softening the corners of his mouth. “Here’s a hint.” His head lowered to hers. His hand still held her wrist, but even if it didn’t, Josie wasn’t going anywhere. Chance was kissing her. Each kiss from the first time, which had been swift and playful, to the second that had been probing and a challenge, to the last couple that were mind-blowing and sensuous…each one only left her craving more. This one was long and asked both a question and supplied an answer.
Josie responded in kind. She had her own questions. Why could the slightest touch of Chance’s lips on hers blot out all reason and everything else from her mind? Why did Dev’s kisses leave her emotionless and Chance’s leave her wanting so much more? A determination fueled the desires licking along the brittle nerve endings throughout her body. Instead of stepping away, she stepped forward, her body fitting itself against the hard-male length of his, sending thrills along her spine and bringing a fever to her mind.
“I want to make love to you, Josie.” The words were whispered against her mouth as his lips loosened their hold on hers for a few moments. A pair of strong hands moved to cradle her head, giving him unfettered access to the plains and contours of her face where his mouth trailed hot kisses. “It’s your decision. Say yes.”
A low moan sounded faint from within her. Her fingers itched to touch the heated flesh she could feel even through the material of his shirt. With determined movements, it wasn’t long before her fingertips bunched the material just above his belt and found the access they sought, the warmth of his skin.
Chance’s hands moved then, gliding slowly over her shoulders, bringing her against him until there wasn’t an inch of space between them. His palms smoothed down her back until they cupped her bottom, and he shifted, bringing his lower body into hard contact with hers. His tongue darted inside the opening of her lips as she sucked in a quick breath at the primal movement. Hers met his in a timeless dance. The hard length of him pressing against her made it perfectly clear that he was more than ready to take what he wanted, needed.
Josie was lost. Yet, she felt strangely found at the same time. Her arms went upward to entwine around Chance’s neck, her fingers luxuriating in the silken feel of his hair as it met his collar. The scent of him filled her. His taste became her new craving. His mouth moved to nip at the soft flesh of her earlobe, sending a wave of goose bumps along her flesh.
“Say it, Josie,” the whisper came again. “Say yes.”
“Yes, yes,” she hissed in a breathless reply. There wasn’t any need for more. Strong arms lifted her easily and swung her against his chest as he managed the stairs. Somewhere her brain managed to telegraph the fact to the rest of her body that something extraordinary was about to happen. There was no time to dwell upon it, however, as the feel of the comforter beneath her registered the fact they had made it to the big bed in record time.
Chance followed her down onto the bed, keeping his weight off her by resting it on his forearms along either side of her, his mouth continuing to draw upon hers. Her hands were not idle. Having drawn his shirttail from his pants earlier, it was easy for her to divest him of the heavy sweater. Her hands then glided over the broad shoulders and taut muscles of his upper back. The actuality of touching him was so much better than she could have imagined. It was a hypnotic sensation.
With equal fervor, Chance’s hands moved deftly, easily unbuttoning her sweater and then sliding her jeans over her hips. In a swift movement, he stood beside the bed, and his jeans and boots joined hers. Through lowered lashes, Josie gazed upon the toned, hard body of her husband. A fever brushed her skin. Her breathing increased along with each wild beat of her heart as anticipation and longing filled her body. Deep within her, she felt an incredible surge of desire spilling into a molten pool in her lower regions. The fire became a blaze as a blatantly sensual look warmed Chance’s sapphire gaze, as he slowly removed his briefs and stood in all his virile glory, before lowering himself to her side.
His hand moved to claim one lace-covered breast, while his mouth rained hot kisses down her throat and over one mound, to the lacy edge. Her hands balled into the covers at her sides as she tried to remain still under the heated touches. For a moment, he lifted his head and a slow smile curved his lips as he trailed a couple of fingers along the frilled edge of lace over one breast.
“I’m very turned on by you in your sexy black lace. Who would have guessed what was under the work shirt and jeans?” Then his gaze grew more focused. A finger slowly traced along her bottom lip. “One important part of any marriage is that a husband and wife be open and trust each other to be able to do that.” He hesitated for a moment, and Josie kept her gaze on his. “I like to think I know most everything about you, since we’ve shared a good amount of time together over the years. I can recall most of the boys who came around. It just dawned on me I may have been wrong in assuming something. Are you still a virgin, Josie?”
Oh great. Now for the ultimate embarrassment. No getting around the fact, because he was going to find out the answer for himself soon enough. “I wasn’t interested enough in anyone to have sex just for the sake of having it. Sorry to…” The finger now lay against her lips, stopping her next words.
Steady fingers reached beneath her, and her bra was no longer between them. A fire flared in the gaze that hungrily looked over the exposed mounds of flesh as they stiffened and ached to know his touch. Chance did not keep her waiting long. His tongue reached out and flicked over first one point and then the other, before drawing them in, one at a time. At the same time, his fingers slid downward and edged under the lace panties, searching and then finding the sweet spot they sought. At his touch, a quick intake of breath and a soft moan erupted from within her. The mouth at her breast began suckling in rhythm to the movements of his fingers as they lost themselves deeper into her heated moistness.
Josie was consumed by strange new sensations that had her body moving of its own will, as her need for the deep ache in her core to be fulfilled doubled and tripled with each touch of Chance’s body. Soft sounds escaped her lips as the ache inside her built toward an incredible pitch. Her hands, body, and mouth met his, kiss for kiss, touch for touch. He led, and she followed. He was an incredible guide on their first journey together.
Chance’s lips whispered her name time and again as his movements were near worshipful at moments as he stroked her, intent on giving her as much pleasure as he could. She sensed he fought to maintain control over his own desires in order to heighten her pleasure longer. Sensing they were both almost at the point of no control, Josie was aware of movement and heard a drawer opening by the bed. The crackle of foil came next, and Chance quickly applied protection before returning to her. Everything intensified until she thought she would explode if he didn’t give her what her body was craving.