“Turn over, Kiera.” He pulled the pillow from under her and she forced her heavy body to follow his instructions. She stared at him, identifying the glitter of arousal in his face. His erection was heavy and the tip shone with pre-come. She watched him lift his finger to his mouth and cleanse it of her juices with the lap of his tongue.
Tension ratcheted up in her again, her orgasm a mere appetizer.
He caught her gaze and held it while he leaned over her to open a drawer. He retrieved a strip of condoms from inside and ripped one off, tossing the others within easy reach. Her pulse quickened, beating a tattoo at her throat. Her eyes lowered to his mouth, still shiny with her juices. She wanted to kiss him and taste herself. The need to beg for a kiss swelled inside her, but she bit her bottom lip and counseled herself to wait for his next move.
The foil packaging rustled as he removed the condom. He rolled the latex down his length then leaned over her, biceps bunching—a silent show of his strength.
He lowered his head, their mouths meeting with urgency. His tongue speared past her lips, the hot stabs of movement making her imagine his cock invading her body. Joe settled between her legs and pushed into her with one easy glide. Her inner walls parted under his invasion, stretching to accommodate his length and width.
“Joe.” Kiera sighed her pleasure. How had he known the waiting would make the sensations better, more intense? Even though she’d climaxed shortly before the sensual tension ramped up inside her.
He set a rapid pace, rocking into her and retreating, the sounds of fucking filling the air. Her hips canted upward while the muscles of her inner thighs quivered. She clenched them around Joe, clamping them around his hips.
Oh yes. Right there.
He continued to kiss her, quick, biting kisses that made her desperate. A decadent tickle of heat sparked to life. Joe trailed kisses down her neck, the hunger between them turning razor-sharp when he licked her mating site.
He ran his abrasive tongue back and forth over the pad of skin at the junction of neck and shoulder. Pleasure burst over her, her pussy clamping down on his cock.
“You’re such a sexy fuck,” he whispered in her ear. His warm breath feathered more heat through her. Every nerve ending shivered in anticipation. “You feel good, clutching my cock.”
Kiera gripped his shoulders and ran her tongue down his neck, teasing his mating site in return. Dangerous, a small voice warned, but she couldn’t care, not when pleasure surged through every cell.
She swished her tongue lazily over the tender spot until he growled a warning. His fingers closed around one nipple and twisted, the spike of pain sending her catapulting into climax.
Joe growled again and thrust hard. He remained balls-deep in her, and she actually felt the twitch when his orgasm overtook him. He shuddered and she wrapped her arms around him, protective and pleased with herself at the same time.
Despite his bossiness, Joe hit all the hotspots and more around a woman’s body.
Best sex ever.
Chapter Four
Joe pulled out of Kiera’s clinging heat, his heart still pounding against his ribs. Good sex. No, great sex.
Sly would love her.
Reality chased on the heels of this reflection. If Maggie Scarlet didn’t have a surge of guilt soon, his twin would spend years in jail. Brushing aside the anger that bubbled to the surface, he tossed the condom in the trash bin to the left of the bed.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice emerging gruff and stark. A picture of sensual femininity, she certainly appeared all right, but he hadn’t cajoled or wooed her. He’d taken and demanded, goaded by her stubborn manner. Worked for him. He hadn’t felt so loose and limber since—
He broke off the thought to scowl at her. Soft rose color flushed Kiera’s face and wisps of hair had escaped the ponytail at her nape.
She rolled toward him and winced. “My arse hurts.”
“No problem.”
She let out a snort, prompting him to chuckle. “It’s a problem for me,” she muttered. “How am I meant to sit down tomorrow?”
“Carefully,” he said, barely holding the quiver of his lips at bay. “You’ll think of me and all the things I can do to you if you behave.”
“You’re a brute.”
Joe did smile this time, but she didn’t see because he’d reached over to get something out of the drawer. “Turn over.”
“Are you going to smack me again?” Suspicion colored her words and she didn’t move.
“Not today. Turn over.”
She grumbled but turned over to lie facedown again. Joe allowed his smile freedom and it stretched across his face so far, his facial muscles ached. He opened the bottle of gel and squeezed a dollop onto his palm. Kiera groaned when he started to spread the cooling gel over her buttocks. He’d discovered the after-sun gel worked pretty well on bottoms and applied it gently, allowing her to become used to his touch. Gradually, he let his fingers delve into her more intimately, dipping to feather over her clit. He hadn’t finished with her tonight. He’d wanted to fuck her the moment he first saw her. If Sly had been here still, they’d have made their move already. Fact.
His finger pushed into her entrance.
She stirred to glance over her shoulder. “Again?”
“You have a problem with that?”
She sighed. “I don’t think I can come again.”
“I’ll look on that as a challenge. Besides, we want to make sure our scents are mingled by the time your brothers arrive to visit.”
He caught her soft curse and smirked. A personal challenge. “You okay with me taking you from behind?”
Some women hated the position. Personally, he liked it, but he’d pushed her enough tonight.
“That’s fine.”
Her instant acceptance of this made him wonder where her boundaries lay and the notion made him keenly anticipate the summer ahead. Kiera Pascoe intrigued him. He’d assist her with her brothers, and Kiera would alleviate his loneliness.
He played with her, catching each quiver and shudder while cataloging her reactions for future reference. She responded to the slightest touch and he couldn’t wait to test more of her boundaries.
Joe strummed his thumb over her clit, and her breathing went shallow. She clenched her thighs together, holding his hand in place.
“Joe.” His name was a soft protest.
He reached over, grabbed another condom and suited up. Seconds later, he bathed his dick in her wet heat. She let out a quiet hiss as he pushed deeper, and he closed his eyes, focusing on the clinging warmth of her pussy around his cock. He hadn’t given her breasts much attention and he intended to make up for the lack. He gave a decisive shove, forcing his balls into contact with her skin. Fully seated, he halted to enjoy the warmth penetrating the condom.
Fucking her would feel even better once she went on birth control. A shudder worked the length of his body as he imagined the heat they’d generate together.
He pulled out leisurely, savoring the drag of flesh against his cock head. Unable to resist, he quickened his pace. In and out. In and out. He set up a fast rhythm, too fast, but he was helpless to resist her silken goodness. He drove inside her grasping channel, his heart pumping in a ballsy, staccato beat.
Joe reached around to cup a plump breast. It snuggled into his palm, her nipple tight with arousal. Already he’d learned she didn’t mind the bite of pain in her loving, and he tugged and pulled on her nipple while he continued to stroke into her pussy.
“Oh yes,” Kiera mewed, and pushed back against him in demand.
Joe released her breast and burrowed his fingers between her legs, teasing her clit because he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. He plunged inside her again, the tingle in his balls escalating, past the point of control. His hips surged and he thrust hard and fast, his muscles locking when he tipped over into orgasm.
The contractions continued for long moments until he came back to himself, relaxed, sated with pleasure. H
e brushed her swollen nub insistently, the small bundle of nerves jumping beneath his questing fingers. Her breathing switched up, becoming sharp and harsh, and he covered her back with his sweaty body, enveloping her in sultry heat. His tongue swished over her mating site, the strokes timed to match the strum of his fingers on her sex. A fine tremor went through her and she stiffened, her cry of satisfaction echoing in his bedroom.
When she quieted, he separated their bodies and ditched the condom. Joe figured she wouldn’t mind a little cleanup, so he rose from the bed and padded down the passage to the bathroom. When he returned with a damp cloth, she was lying on her side, eyes closed, her breathing slow and even.
He’d tired her out. Smiling, he gently cleansed her lower body and she barely stirred. Tossing the cloth on the floor, he pulled back the covers and placed her in his bed. He carefully removed the elastic band from her hair, leaving it on the nightstand for her to find in the morning. Only then did he switch off the light and join her in his bed.
She snuggled against his chest and he fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Hours later, Joe awoke with a jerk. His gaze sought the digital alarm clock. Four thirty in the morning. The muffled breathing coming from beside him confused him for a moment until he remembered Kiera.
I’m glad you’re happy, Joe. You need to move on.
Sly entered his mind without warning. Happiness slammed through Joe at the contact with his twin.
Sly, you’d like her. She’s smart and funny and mouthy. Sexy as hell.
Forget me, Joe.
The door between their minds slammed shut before he formulated a reply. Tears stung his eyes—tears he refused to let fall. He moved closer to Kiera, taking comfort from her presence and resolved to speak to Emily again. Somehow they had to persuade Maggie to tell the truth.
Her lies were torturing an honest man.
* * * * *
Sly lay on his cot in solitary confinement, his cock tight with arousal. He didn’t move, didn’t make an effort to jerk off. He’d tried that before, his mental state dropping lower than ever.
He recalled Maggie and the last time they’d been together. Anger burst through him, ripping away the sexual tension. His feline stretched violently beneath his skin, agitated and restless. There was nowhere for him to shift here, nowhere for him to run. His feline bled through his control, claws pushing past the tips of his fingers. He curled them into the wooden sides of the cot and tried not to think of the endless, empty years ahead.
* * * * *
Joe woke slowly, more rested than he’d felt in days. A curtain of dark hair covered his shoulder, and for a brief second, confusion gripped him. The woman stirred, turning away from him and recognition hit. Sexy Kiera Pascoe. He relaxed, enjoying the unexpected vision.
His.
The possessive nature of his thoughts took him by surprise, and he automatically shoved away the idea. Kiera was his for a few months, and once her family left New Zealand, his life would revert to normal.
The birds tweeting in the trees outside gave an indication of the time. Despite his hard-on, he rolled out of bed, taking care to move stealthily. He stared at her, tempted to climb right back into the rumpled bed and kiss her awake. No, Kiera needed more sleep.
Naked, he padded down the passage to the bathroom. He flipped on the shower and stepped under the water, shivering when it took long moments to heat. At least the cold water put a dampener on his erection and sharpened his mind. Normally he and Sly would get out of bed at the same time, their inner body clocks tuned to each other even though they possessed their own rooms.
God, he missed their one-upmanship and their fights to use the bathroom first in the mornings. Joe grabbed a cake of soap. He swished it across his chest and under his arms while opening his mind to cast about for his brother.
Sly had shut him out again.
Frustrated, he cleansed the rest of his body, turned off the shower and rapidly toweled dry. Back in his bedroom, he grabbed a clean pair of jeans and stepped into them, making a mental note to put on a load of laundry before he departed to cut hay.
Joe left his room and stepped into Sly’s, his heart aching at the empty space. He filched one of Sly’s clean T-shirts and moved on to the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, a load of laundry was underway and the tea made. He was about to take a mug of tea in to Kiera when she appeared in the kitchen doorway.
“Hey,” he said, taking in her loose hair and rumpled appearance.
Normally, the morning after was no big deal. He and Sly charmed their lovers and sent them on their way. Kiera was different because he’d agreed to let her stay with him. He stared at her, watched her yawn and found himself wanting to hug her.
“Morning,” he said, at a bit of a loss.
“What’s good about it?” she snarled, her English accent full of disdain.
His eyes widened. “I made tea. Do you want something to eat?”
“What time is it? My eyes refuse to focus.” She sat on a chair and immediately winced. She shot him a dirty scowl.
“Five thirty. I need to leave by six. Why don’t you go back to bed?” He shunted a mug of tea toward her. “Maybe put some more gel on your butt.”
His comment earned him another glower. “I’m awake now.” She took a sip and shuddered. “Where’s the sugar?”
Joe handed her the sugar bowl and a teaspoon. “At least give me points for getting the milk right.”
She grunted, dumped two spoons of sugar into her mug and stirred the tea. “Do you want me to do some shopping or any stuff around here?”
Once again she surprised him with her offer. The woman kept throwing him curveballs. Hell, she flat-out intrigued him. A society girl who enjoyed tinkering with engines and machinery should have clued him in to her originality.
“If you have time to buy some groceries that would be great. Let me get my wallet.”
She swished her hand through the air in a negative motion. “Don’t worry about it. I want to contribute to some of the expenses while I’m here.”
“You don’t have to.” Joe popped two slices of bread in the toaster.
“You’re doing me a huge favor. I want to.”
Joe propped one hip against the kitchen counter while he waited for the toast. “Where are your brothers staying when they visit?”
“I told them I’d book them in at the bed and breakfast. I doubt any of them will want to stay at my apartment.”
“They could stay here.”
“Bite your tongue,” Kiera said, her blue eyes widening with a touch of panic. “If they stay here, I’d have to watch myself twenty-four hours a day. I’d worry about slipping. They can visit, but if you invite them to stay, I’ll think up a really bad punishment for you.” Her glower didn’t lessen. “I’m sure Ambar will help me.”
Joe laughed out loud. “Jake and Hari have their hands full with her.”
“She’s a brave woman, taking on those two, and deserves a medal,” Kiera countered crisply in her upper class English. Her precise accent, dripping with grumpiness, teased a smile from him.
“Does Ambar know about the arrangement between us?”
“Yes, but she won’t say anything to my brothers or anyone else. She promised me she’d subtly put the word around with her customers. By the end of the day, the Middlemarch shifters and most of the humans will hear about how we’re living in sin.”
A mechanical pop dragged Joe’s attention from her. After a glance at his watch, he set another two slices of bread toasting. He spread butter and cherry jam on his toast and took a seat with Kiera.
“Are you normally grumpy in the mornings?”
“It takes me awhile to wake. A cup of tea always helps.”
Joe pushed his plate of toast toward her. “How very English of you. Have some toast. Do you need to pick your brothers up at the airport?”
“They’re renting a vehicle for the duration of their stay.”
Joe grabbed the next lot
of toast, topped up their tea and rejoined her. For the first time in months, he’d found a real purpose.
“I might be late again tonight.”
Kiera shrugged. “It’s hay season and you’re busy. I get it.”
Maggie used to complain about the crazy hours. She’d expected them to run after her and cater to her needs.
“If you want, I can always bring you something to eat.”
“Thanks.” Her offer warmed some of the chill residing inside him. Maggie would never run around after him. “You won’t bring me curry.” A statement. He didn’t mind mild spice, but Hari’s curries made steam come out his ears.
She sniffed, shifting carefully on the wooden chair. “That will depend on your behavior.”
“I made you tea and toast.”
“You also woke me at an ungodly hour with those clanking shower pipes. I owe you.”
“Payback might earn you another spanking.” Joe wanted to grin. He didn’t tell her he wouldn’t spank her again for a few days because she was sore. But she’d remember their lovemaking each time she sat. He stood and rounded the table to halt in front of her. “Do I get a kiss before I go?”
“We should practice.”
Some of Joe’s feel-good mood evaporated at her words. Their relationship was a pretense. A time limit applied to their time together.
Kiera rose and closed the gap between them. She wasn’t wearing a bra beneath her T-shirt. Her hard nipples pushed against him, his thin, well-washed tee no barrier to sensation. Reaction—swift and intoxicating—plunged to his groin. Joe ran his hand down her spine, his hand coming to rest on her butt. He pressed her closer, letting her discover his growing erection.
“You don’t have time,” she said in a quiet voice.
“No I don’t, but we’ll have tonight.” Joe kissed her before she replied. Their lips crushed together, her acceptance of him immediate. Tea and the faint tang of mint toothpaste exploded on his taste buds, and he deepened the kiss, copping a feel at the same time. Aware of the passing time, he reluctantly loosened his embrace and stepped away from her. “Ring me if you need anything. You have my number, right? Reception is patchy some days. If you can’t get me, contact Saber or Emily. I’m mowing a paddock for Saber for part of the day, and they’ll know where to find me.”
My Twin Trouble Page 6