“Mind if I join you?”
Maverick’s voice penetrated a fog of desire and Wade shifted his weight to allow him access. A burst of adrenaline rushed through her veins. Their hands roamed her body, some pulling her sweater from the jeans while the others took off her shoes. Wade caressed the exposed skin of her midriff, his big hand almost spanning the width of her waist, and her mind short-circuited. She closed her eyes as someone fumbled with the button of her jeans.
“I want to see you. I need to see you.”
Wade’s gruff demand fueled the fire the pair had ignited in her veins and she lifted her hips. He inched the pants over her thighs, his mouth trailing his hands and burning a path of ecstasy down her legs.
Maverick ran his hands over her feet, moving upwards to caress her calves while Wade lifted the blouse over her head. The tiny scrap of lace she called a bra offered little protection against the heat in Wade’s brown eyes.
“You’re beautiful,” Wade groaned as he lowered his head toward the erect peaks.
His mouth closed over her nipple and Adrian’s breath stalled in her throat. She’d had sex before, good sex, but never like this. Never had someone’s touch caused such an inferno without even touching her pussy.
He nibbled gently and sparks of pleasure shot through her body. She wanted more and pressed her breast farther into Wade’s mouth. He chuckled and reached behind her to unclasp the bra. The lace fell away and he buried his face between her breasts. Adrian tugged at his hair, drawing him closer, but then warm, moist heat fanned her pussy and she forgot about Wade.
Maverick nudged her legs wider, nibbling on the inside of her thigh and blowing warm breaths over her pussy. She fidgeted beneath his face, wanting him to remove the lace between his mouth and her flesh. As if reading her thoughts, he yanked the thin string off her. His tongue laved her labia, while his shoulders kept her legs from closing. He avoided her throbbing clit until she felt like grabbing his head and pushing herself into him.
Instead, she pulled Wade’s head to her and took what she needed from his mouth, plundering him like she ached for Maverick to plunder her pussy. When Wade tore his mouth from hers, she clung to his shirt. “Take this off. I want to feel you, touch you, taste you.”
Wade stared into her eyes. “God, woman, do you know what you’re asking for?”
She nodded. She didn’t know exactly, but with their hands on her body, she didn’t care. She wanted skin on skin, flesh on flesh, and preferably, flesh in flesh. With her mind more than half-gone with desire, she ripped Wade’s shirt open and buttons pinged on the tiled floor. He shrugged out of his shirt and she buried her fingers in the smattering of dark hair on his muscled chest before trailing her fingers over his shoulders.
Maverick chose the moment Wade’s chest touched hers to run his tongue over her engorged clit and Adrian lost control over her limbs. Her hips came off the couch, her nails dug into Wade’s back. Sensation upon sensation robbed her of coherent thought and she fought for breath as Maverick nibbled on the bundle of nerves. Wade rubbed her breasts, flattening them against his chest and scouring her hardened areoles with his hairy roughness. One hand roamed her side while the other was buried in her hair. Then he changed position, moved to the side and took her nipple in his mouth, sucking and nibbling until her world spun out of control.
Then Maverick inserted a finger into her moist pussy and she screamed with pure pleasure.
“That’s it, baby, ride it.” He buried the digit deeper in her, crooking it to find the other small bundle of nerves, and succeeded in driving her wild. She bucked under his touch, groping for something to hold on to as the room tilted on its axis.
“You’re so warm and wet. Come on, baby, ride it.” Maverick carefully placed another finger into her vagina, moving them in a scissoring motion before he started thrusting into her, deeper and deeper with every stroke. Wade closed his mouth over hers, mimicking the intimacy Maverick played out, whilst rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger.
Wade caught her cry in his mouth as she tumbled over the edge. Wave upon wave of pleasure crashed over her. Her legs quavered in time with the spasms pulsating through her vagina, milking Maverick’s fingers. Some time later, the spasms receded and he removed his fingers, licking each one clean of her juices and smacking his lips.
Maverick dropped to the floor. “Lady, you pack one hell of a punch.” His voice was unusually deep.
Although spent and sated, without the protection of the men’s bodies, a chill spread to her limbs and she shivered.
“You’re cold. Here, let me help you.” Maverick reached for her clothes and held out her blouse to her, but before her hand could close on the garment, a door banged shut somewhere inside the house.
“The chef,” she whispered and scrambled to her feet, a blush heating her cheeks. If the woman found them like this, she’d die of shame.
Wade chuckled, scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. When he turned to toe the door shut, Maverick stood behind them with her bra slung over his shoulder and twirling her G-string round his finger.
“It wouldn’t do for her to find your underwear draped over the lampshade in the lounge, would it?”
Adrian hadn’t thought her face could get any hotter, but she felt the blush rise from her neck to her ears. She reached for the garments, but Maverick sidestepped her and shut the door.
“Not so fast, honey. I believe we still have some unfinished business.”
He arched an eyebrow at Wade who deposited Adrian on the bed, grabbed Maverick by the collar and shoved him toward the door.
“I think Adrian needs some time alone. Besides, the whiskey is warming next to the fire. It wouldn’t do to waste it.”
Adrian watched with her mouth agape as they walked out of the room. The door clicked behind them and she drew her knees to her chest. What had she missed? Had she somehow offended Wade by not offering them their own release? Why would he want to give her space? She didn’t need space—she needed a psychiatrist for having a roll in the hay with her models.
Upon their return to the fire, Maverick forced his mind off the discomfort in his pants and retrieved his glass nestling on the mantelpiece by the fire. As Wade had predicted, the amber liquid had warmed significantly during their absence and he grimaced, depositing the glass once again on the shelf.
They were playing a dangerous game. Marie could have walked in on them at any time. Despite his inability to keep his hands off Adrian, he didn’t want to cause more trouble for her. He might not buy Marie’s insistence that she was sent here as chaperone, but it was still possible that she was telling the truth. If he could just find out what bothered him about their resident chef…
Maverick shoved his hands into his pockets and turned toward Wade. “I know Marie from somewhere, but I can’t seem to place her.”
Wade chuckled softly. “Marie? The chef?”
Maverick nodded and scowled. “It’s not what you think. I’ve seen her before or someone resembling her.”
“How? We arrived in South Africa yesterday and Marie only had eyes for Adrian—both last night and this morning.”
Maverick reached for the liquid again but remembered the foul taste of warm whiskey and dropped his arm. He stared into the flickering fire. Although Marie had concentrated on Adrian, it felt as if she she’d been actively avoiding his gaze. Come to think of it, she hadn’t paid Wade any notice either, but at least she’d looked Wade in the eye when she’d talked to him. No, she was hiding something—from him.
“I think we need to have a little chat with the chef, find out if she really is just a chef or if she’s here for other reasons.”
Wade stood up from the chair he’d occupied since they’d returned from Adrian’s room and joined him in front of the fireplace, his usual frown firmly in place. “Don’t you think your ego is dictating that something must be wrong because she ignored you?”
Was it? He didn’t think so. “There’s only one wa
y to find out. Let’s go talk to her.” He strode from the room, but Wade stayed put. “You coming?”
Wade shook his head and Maverick shrugged. He might be wrong, but his gut told him something wasn’t sitting right with their chef. When he opened the kitchen door and Marie quickly averted her eyes, the feeling intensified.
She mumbled a greeting to mirror his own but kept her gaze on the dish she stirred. “Dinner will be ready in half an hour.”
Maverick stepped closer to the woman and she angled her back toward him, moving the bowl in front of her.
“I just thought we could get better acquainted. You look familiar. Have we met before?”
She shook her head and continued stirring with more vigor. “Sorry, I don’t fraternize with the guests.”
Maverick took a step back. “Guests? I thought the company sent you here?”
Marie nodded. “They did, but I’m just the help, you’re the guests.” She walked to the sink and rinsed her hands. “You have to excuse me. I still have a lot to do until dinner.”
He regarded her for a few seconds before returning to the lounge. The woman was definitely hiding something. Maybe he should phone his father’s friend. Surely the owner of the company would have information on the chef they’d hired. He voiced his concerns to Wade as soon as he entered the lounge.
“What if she isn’t hiding something? What if your inquiry makes the company think we’re a bunch of incompetent fools?” Wade sighed. “Let it go. We’re having sex with Adrian, not the chef.”
Wade was right, as usual. This was just sex. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling that finding out what Marie was hiding was important to both Adrian and the assignment? Touching Adrian was explosive, but he’d had situations in the past where he couldn’t keep his hands off a woman.
“You’re right. Blame it on the jet lag.” He poured himself another drink and reclined in the chair he’d occupied before.
After a lengthy silence, Wade shifted in his chair and Maverick grinned. “You wish we’d had more time just now, don’t you?”
Wade grumbled something indecipherable and settled in the chair once more. The silence stretched as Maverick stared into the flames. He wanted to make this trip memorable for Adrian. Hell, whom was he kidding? He wanted her to compare all her lovers afterwards to him and find them lacking.
“Let’s plan something special for tomorrow. I saw a couple of saddlebags in the tack room and if we could smuggle out a blanket or two and some wine…”
Wade glanced at him and grinned. “I like it. At least we will be out of the house and have no danger of Marie walking in on us.”
They discussed the finer details until they heard Adrian’s door open. When she walked into the room looking like a lily waiting to be picked, both men stood. To Maverick, tomorrow seemed impossibly far off when all he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and make love to her until she didn’t know her own name.
Bathed and dressed in casual slacks and a bright pink sweater, Adrian joined the men in the lounge. With no lights on, the fire illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows against the walls. Before she could pour herself another drink, Marie announced that dinner was ready and they moved to the dining room. The table was set with three plates next to one another. Wade pulled out the chair in the middle and Adrian sat, trying to ignore the zing of his touch on her shoulder.
Although conversation flowed naturally, by the time they finished dinner, both men were struggling to hide the fatigue plaguing their bodies. She pushed her empty plate forward. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m ready for bed.”
Seeing the twinkle in Maverick’s eyes, Adrian stood and held up her hand. “Not tonight. I need my beauty sleep.”
“Darn, and I thought we could cuddle.” Maverick closed in on her and she sidestepped him.
She chuckled. “I doubt you have a cuddle on your mind, and I’m tired.”
Maverick exaggerated a pout. Adrian fisted her hand in Wade’s shirt and pecked him on the cheek.
“Sleep tight, cowboy. Tomorrow’s going to be another long day.”
He hugged her, but his arms didn’t linger. Maverick stood with his hands stuck on his hips and his head cocked to the side. Mischief danced in his blue eyes as Adrian stepped closer to him. When she stood on tiptoes to kiss him on his cheek, he turned his head and their lips met.
Gathering her in his arms, he buried his fingers in her hair, holding her head in place. She snaked her arms over his shoulders and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth like a treasure hunter on the trail of innumerable riches.
Adrian clung to him as the strength seeped out of her limbs and she trembled with weakness. He dropped his hands to her buttocks and lifted her to him. She hooked her legs over his hips without breaking the kiss.
Maverick strode to the wall, pressed her back to it and captured her hands in one of his big ones. He tilted her head to the side and slid his lips to her chin, exploring the sensitive flesh below her ear.
She gasped for breath as he captured her earlobe in his mouth and suckled. Her limbs liquefied and heat pooled in her pussy. How could she fault the men for the bit of heaven their arms promised her?
“I want to taste every inch of your skin,” Maverick whispered close to her ear.
Gooseflesh erupted on her arms as the effect of his words flashed through her. She tightened her legs and edged her pussy closer to the hard ridge forming in his trousers. He hissed as she pulled him closer, further fueling the fire dancing between them.
“Hell, you’d better apply the brakes right now. Marie’s still in the kitchen.” Wade leaned against the wall next to Adrian. “And I’m not sure I’ll be worth two cents if we don’t get to bed soon.”
Damn, she’d forgotten about Marie—again. All she could think about was finding a bed where she could ride the cowboys to her heart’s content. Adrian tugged her hands from Maverick’s grip. She clung to his shoulders as she captured his mouth for a last searing kiss before she struggled out of his grasp, lowering her legs to the floor.
“Wade’s right. Besides, our first priority must be the photos. It wouldn’t do if the lens depicted two tired and worn out cowboys.” She palmed Wade’s face. “Goodnight, boys.”
Maverick’s chuckle followed her along the passage and when she closed the door behind her, their footsteps thudded to their rooms. Adrian waited for her heartbeat to slow. Playing with fire had never felt so good.
Chapter Six
Adrian woke seconds before the alarm clock shrilled on the bedside table. Sighing, she flung the covers off her and swung her feet to the floor. Although she would have liked to sleep a little longer, she needed the early light to plan her photos and properly scout the locations.
After a quick shower, she snuck to the kitchen to switch on the percolator. Soon the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the room, and she poured herself a cup while the machine still trickled the brew into the jug. Notebook in one hand and coffee in the other, she walked to the porch.
The sky had lightened slightly when Adrian headed to the creek, the frozen grass cracking beneath her boots. As she’d suspected, the first rays of the sun kissed the top of the weeping willow first and she circled the tree twice before she decided on an angle set at ninety degrees toward the rising sun. With the tripod set up, she jammed her hands into her jacket and waited for the sun to perform its magic.
The veld awakened slowly. Birds chirped their joy at the new day from nearby eucalyptus trees while trickles of mist evaporated above the half-frozen water of the creek. A ray of sunshine bathed both the tree and the mist in a soft yellow light, creating miniature rainbows above the water’s surface. She depressed the shutter several times. This was more than what she’d hoped for. Tomorrow she’d recreate the shot and include the cowboys and their saddles.
Satisfied she’d taken all the shots she was going to get from this location, she noted the time, camera settings and the exact placement of the tripod in her notebo
ok. Closing her eyes, she imagined the scene with the two cowboys included and added her thoughts to her notes. Then she collected the tripod and walked toward the stables.
Two horses stood patiently in the corral, their breaths fanning steam in front of their faces, giving them the appearance of dragons. Today the horses wore brand-new saddles with thick blankets draped underneath. The door to the stables opened and Maverick strode outside.
Adrian caught her breath. Dressed in faded jeans covered with leather chaps, a blue checkered shirt, boots with spurs spinning and a Stetson plopped on his head, he made her ache to depress the shutter. She brought the camera to her eye and took some impromptu pictures, trying to ignore the raw sex appeal heating the chilly morning air and tying her insides in a knot. His breath misted in a plume as he approached.
“Morning. You’re up early.”
She returned his greeting and waited for him to join her. He hugged her and a tremor ran down her spine. He smelled of old wood cologne, fresh hay and horses. The combination drowned her senses in pleasure.
He lifted her chin and his blue eyes darkened. “You’re even more beautiful today than yesterday.”
She stood motionless as his lips descended on hers, capturing them in a soft caress. Her eyes closed of their own volition and when he swiped his tongue over her lower lip, she opened her mouth to his invasion. Her insides liquefied as his tongue explored the intimate corners of her mouth.
After he’d let her go, Adrian fought for breath and clung to his arm to keep upright. If a kiss sent her reeling, she couldn’t wait to find out how she’d feel if he was in full seduction mode.
“I can think of better things to do this morning than taking photos.” He started toward the house, dragging her along.
Her Bareback Cowboys Page 5