“But, Kyle, can you keep the illusion going for the next three months? Won’t it be a strain?” Ben couldn’t quite keep the concern from his voice.
“Jake will have his full powers in a month’s time. We’ll be able to share the load more. So, quit worrying, little bro.”
Ben decided to ignore the jibe for once. This time it looked as if Kyle had actually done well. Though, it had always been in Ben’s nature to worry and ponder over the minutiae of day-to-day life. He hoped that Kyle and Jake could keep it together until the money was safely transferred into their account. When he looked around this place, even he felt like leaving.
All of a sudden, Kyle became serious. “Listen up, you two. Before she arrives, both of you are gonna have to do something you ain’t done in a long time.”
Jake and Ben stood statue still, and looked at each other. Kyle sure did have a grave look on his face. “What’s that?” they replied in unison.
“Take a fucking bath, you dirty bastards.”
Chapter Two
“Brown Bear, Brown Bear.” The driver’s voice broke her dreams, and she sat bolt upright, her eyes wide open. She’d been asleep for three hours.
She looked at her watch, eleven-fifty a.m. The bus had arrived ten minutes early. Eagerly, she looked through the windows as she queued to get off. Nothing…fuck all.
Panic rose in her stomach. Was he already here, watching and waiting for her? Had he changed his mind and decided not to come at all? Her heart sank. Was he that short, fat, balding guy leaning against the wall over there?
She spoke out loud, “Oh, please, God, don’t let that man be him.”
As she stepped from the bus, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Immediately, she spun around to come face-to-face with a tall, handsome stranger.
Her relief felt palpable, and she couldn’t stop herself blurting out, “Please tell me you’re Mr. Dexter.”
The tall stranger smiled easily. “Sure am, ma’am.” Then he added, “No need to worry, Ms. Miles, I’m here now.”
Elizabeth let out a long, slow breath to calm herself. She started to appraise the man standing before her, tall, about six-three. He was aged about thirty with a muscular, athletic build. She guessed he weighed about two hundred and twenty pounds.
Her gaze met with his, and her soul seemed to melt and become a part of him. His eyes were a vivid, deep blue color that she could just fall into. His hair was dark and wavy and fell disheveled around his face. To finish the picture, his jaw was square and masculine, his cheekbones high, his nose manly and distinctive.
In a word, he was perfect.
“Did you have a good trip, Ms. Miles?” His velvety voice washed over her.
“I fell asleep on the bus, so when I woke up I was a little disorientated and panicky.” Her hand fluttered to her throat. “I’m sorry, but I’m fine now.”
“I have my car here. Are you ready for the drive to the ranch? It’s not a long trip, only about twenty minutes.” His masculine tone reassured her.
He took her arm in his and led her across to a gleaming new SUV.
She stopped momentarily. “Is that yours?” He nodded. “You own a Range Rover?” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “It’s my dream car, and in my favorite color purple, too. What are the chances of that?” She chuckled at the pure coincidence of it all.
He opened the passenger door for her, and she slid inside, reveling in the high-seating position and the opulent aroma of the finest British leather.
He gunned the car into life, pushed the stick into D, and then floored the throttle. Stones and grit clattered on the underside of the car as they sped away.
He looked across at her, a piercing, penetrating stare. A look that reached deep inside her. Those eyes, his eyes.
“So, tell me a little about yourself, Ms. Miles?”
The seat coolers were on, and she relaxed back against the sumptuous leather upholstery. “Well, Mr. Dexter. I’m twenty-four. I’m English, as you can probably tell from my accent. I moved to California two years ago to make my fame and fortune as a movie star.” She shrugged her shoulders resignedly. “Sadly, it didn’t work out, and I’ve done everything from waiting tables to pumping gas since.”
“I really love your accent, honey.”
Their eyes connected. “I really love yours, too, Mr. Dexter. It’s so…”
He pressed a CD into the slot, and music started to flow from the speakers. “Do you like classical music, Ms. Miles?”
“Since coming to America, it’s been a passion of mine.” She paused in disbelief. “And Wagner is just so wonderful. I adore him.”
She closed her eyes. It was all so difficult to take in. This was surreal. More like a dream than real life. Here she sat beside the most beautiful man she had ever seen in her whole life. A man she would quite happily let fuck her brains out in whichever way he chose. To top it all, he was driving her dream car, in her very favorite color. And, oh, yes, for the icing on the cake, he adored Wagner, too.
“Can you tell me a little more about the position, Mr. Dexter?”
“Just call me Kyle, ma’am. My friends and family do. We don’t stand on ceremony in these parts.”
His sexy voice washed over her. “My friends call me Lizzie.” She laughed self-consciously.
“Would you mind if I call you Lizzie?” His velvety voice seemed to caress her name.
“Please do.”
“Well, Lizzie. As I already mentioned in our telephone conversation, we own a small ranch…about two thousand acres in all. It’s used mainly for beef.”
“We?”
“Sorry, I should explain myself better. ‘We’ means myself and my two younger brothers.” He laughed. “We’re a friendly bunch, but we need the help and support of a good woman with the day-to-day chores. You know the sort of thing, Lizzie. Cooking, cleaning. We’ll be working the ranch on horseback most of the day—so you’ll be on your own for much of the time. Would that be a problem?”
“No. I’m fine with my own company. You say there are just yourself and your two brothers.” She paused. “No women, girlfriends, or wives?”
“No, ma’am. It would be just yourself and us three men.”
Fuck, this guy had a sexy voice.
“I see.”
“Do you have any experience as a housekeeper, Lizzie?”
“Oh, yes. I was head housekeeper at a large family home, for some lovely people in Oregon,” she lied, and she could strongly sense that he knew she lied. “I can provide references if required,” she lied again.
“I’m sure your references are unimpeachable, ma’am. No need to show me them, I’m sure they’re all in order. I’m really looking forward to you meeting my two younger brothers, Jake and Ben. Then you can satisfy yourself that we’re just three, regular, down-to-earth cowboys.”
They traveled in silence, and Lizzie closed her eyes, enjoying the music and the steady beat of the engine as the car wafted them along in style.
“We’re here, honey.”
Opening her eyes, she watched the Range Rover turn down a long, tree-lined stretch of road.
“The ranch is about four miles down this drive, Lizzie, but you’re now officially on our land.”
Looking to her left, she saw a paddock with three beautiful, jet-black stallions galloping carefree, enjoying the sunny day.
“What beautiful horses, Kyle. I used to ride a lot in England.”
He leaned across her, his masculine scent invading her senses. She breathed deeply in order to capture as much of his musky manliness as she could. Now, if only she could bottle that.
“The one on the left is Ben’s. The kid’s a natural horseman, and cowboy,” he said proudly. “The one with the white markings on his face is Jake’s, and the pure black stallion, running alongside the car, is mine. He’s called Caesar. He knows it’s me.”
She gasped. “Oh, he’s just beautiful, Kyle. They are all so beautiful.” She beamed with happiness.
They rounded a
corner on the sweeping drive, and the ranch house came into view. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come.
“Oh, Kyle, it’s so—”
“Big, honey?”
“Yes, but so very beautiful, too.”
As a little girl back in England, she had always dreamed of living in a big house with a handsome prince, and here was that very house, down to the smallest of detail. Even the handsome prince sat beside her.
A double-fronted, white-gabled house with steps leading to a carved oak front door arrested her senses. Large Georgian windows rounded off the imposing façade, surrounded by beautifully shaped topiary plants. The front door swung open, and two extremely attractive men stood waiting to greet her. Both dressed in tight-fitting jeans and handmade carved leather cowboy boots. Black T-shirts clung to their broad, muscular chests, emphasizing every single ripple of their six-packs.
Kyle opened the passenger door for her. She noticed he took a keen interest in her long, slender legs as she slid from the car, and found herself liking the attention. “Allow me to introduce you to these two reprobates.” He laughed. “This is Jake.” His brother held out his hand.
“Pleased to meet you, ma’am.” His touch felt warm and masculine.
“Oh, call me Lizzie, please. Only the Queen is called ma’am in my country.” She chuckled. “You don’t want to make me feel old, do you?”
He was as beautiful as Kyle was, only in a different way. About the same height, but where Kyle had knicker-wetting, dark, wavy hair and blue eyes, Jake had long, fair hair and the most arresting green eyes. They were almost cat-like in appearance.
Kyle gently touched her shoulder, drawing her attention to his youngest brother. Last, but certainly not least.
“This is Ben. He’s the baby of the family at just twenty-one.”
“Hell, Kyle, why do you always love to embarrass me in front of guests? I ain’t no kid no more. Quit teasing.”
Lizzie touched Ben’s hand. “Hello, Ben. You look all grown up to me. Take no notice of Kyle. He’s just pulling your leg.”
Ben beamed her the most beautiful, sexy smile she had ever seen. Her gaze devoured the young man standing before her. His hair, much like Kyle’s, was jet black and wavy. Though he had the most spectacular amber eyes, so unusual and sexy.
“Thanks, ma’am. I really like you already.”
When he spoke, he moved his arms, and his muscles bunched and flexed, confirmation that this was no boy. She guessed at twenty-one his cock was always permanently hard.
She playfully touched his lips. “I like you, too, Ben. In fact, I like all of you. You’ve all made me feel so welcome.”
Kyle deliberately cleared his throat. “I think I speak for all three of us, Lizzie, when I say that I hope you accept our job offer. We feel like you are one of us already.”
Jake clapped his hands together. “I second that, bro.”
“Say you’ll take the job, Lizzie.” Ben touched her arm. “A woman’s touch is sure needed about this place.” His infectious smile beamed at her.
Tears of joy welled in her eyes. “What can I say? I accept. Thank you all so very much.”
Kyle put his arm around her. “Let me show you your room, Lizzie. I sure think you’ll be impressed.”
She followed him down the hall and then up a grand staircase. The oak banister felt smooth and substantial to her touch. As she climbed the stairs, she couldn’t take her eyes off Kyle’s gorgeous ass. It showed to perfection in his tight-fitting cowboy jeans. Briefly, she closed her eyes. She could feel her hands squeezing and kneading it, as she lay naked beneath him. His big, hard cock deep inside her. His hot breath on her neck, his stubble rasping against her cheek.
“This is it, honey.” Then he pushed the door open.
Her jaw dropped in surprise at the most magnificent bedroom she had ever seen. She just stood and stared. Pale lilac silk covered the walls, interspersed with patterns in the deepest shade of purple. The floor lay covered with a thick cream carpet that her feet literally sunk into.
In one corner of the room, marble steps led down to an opulent sunken bath, which seemed large enough to accommodate several people, whilst in the center of the room stood the most perfect bed ever. Suspended from the ceiling, a great canopy of gold, white, and purple silk trailed luxuriously over the enormous circular mattress covered in white taffeta.
This was beyond words. Surely, it looked like a bedroom from one of her favorite romance books, Prince Nazim’s Harem? When she’d read it, this was exactly how she’d imagined such a room to look.
Chapter Three
They talked and laughed into the evening. She had made them all a steak dinner. Jesus, those boys could eat. She guessed they used up a lot of calories riding the ranch on horseback for hours each day. None of them carried any surplus weight. They were made of man muscle and nothing else.
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, boys. I have to go. The last Greyhound leaves Brown Bear Depot at ten.”
Ben looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “Do you really have to go, Lizzie?”
“I’ll be back real soon, honey.” She put on her best Southern belle accent.
Kyle picked up the keys to the Range Rover. “I’ll drive you.”
They drove in silence, the refined hum of the engine their only companion. It was dark now, and she could sense his presence more than ever. Perhaps it was the confined space, which enclosed them both, but she didn’t believe that for a moment.
“Kyle?”
“Yes?”
“Something happened today.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t pretend to know what it is, or how it came about, but something magical happened. I’m strongly drawn to you and your brothers. I’ve only known you a few hours, but I feel connected to you all. It’s weird.” She laughed nervously. “But wonderful, too.”
“There are things you don’t know, Lizzie. Things you can’t yet understand, but in time you’ll know.” He touched her hand. “Just go with it, honey. Don’t fight it. Enjoy the moment.”
Lizzie smiled contentedly, her gaze taking in his handsome face as he concentrated on the road ahead. Nothing had ever felt so right before. All her expectations of life had been there at the Dexter Ranch. She sighed. Life could be good after all.
They arrived at Brown Bear Depot, and he stilled the engine.
“I’m gonna kiss you.”
What happened next shocked her to her very core. Oh, sure, she’d been kissed before, but nothing in her experience had prepared her for this. As his lips captured hers, they became one. Their heartbeats and breathing seemed to synchronize exactly the moment their mouths and tongues mirrored that perfection. She could taste, feel, and experience the very essence of him.
He pulled away, leaving her gasping. “You’ll miss your bus.”
* * * *
Kyle parked the battered pickup truck on the drive and then staggered from it.
Jake and Ben caught him before he hit the ground. “Fuck, help me get him inside Ben, he’s exhausted.”
They laid him out on the bare floorboards of the ranch house.
“Get him a glass of water, Jake. He sure has gone a funny color.”
Kyle waved them both away. “Just give me some fucking space. I’ll be fine in a minute. I’ve just overdone it, that’s all.” He sat up and took a sip of water. “I’ll be glad when you reach twenty-five, Jake, and you get your full Sybar powers. It’ll take a weight off my shoulders.”
“Less than a month now, Kyle.”
“Producing the advert in the paper for only her to see was fine, but turning this fucking shit hole into a palace for hours on end has fucked me good and proper.” He looked around their hovel disapprovingly.
“Not to mention the car and the horses.” Jake looked far too amused at his predicament. “Those four-legged glue pots have never been so admired in all their days. Fucking nags.”
Kyle grimaced as he pulled himself to his feet. “So what
did you boys think of Lizzie, then?”
Jake put his hand on his heart. “She’s a lovely woman, what with that sexy English accent, beautiful black, waist-length hair, and those stunning blue eyes, and she’s a Sybar. I’ve got to hand it to you, Kyle, you’ve done us proud.”
Kyle jabbed Jake and Ben in the chest. “She’s one hell of a woman, all right, and we gotta treat her good, or she’ll leave and then we’re really fucked. I don’t know of another Sybar woman ’round these parts. Our future depends on her, do you understand?”
Ben looked annoyed. “No need to get heavy with us, Kyle, just because you’re the oldest and your powers are the strongest. The way I see it is this. We all love her, and she loves all of us.” He laughed. “We’re sure gonna have a good time with this lady. Does she have any idea she’s a Sybar, Kyle?”
“No.”
“Does she know we’re Sybars?”
“When I delved into her mind, it seems she was brought up by a foster mother. Sybar folklore was never passed down to her. She knows something is very different, but she can’t put her finger on it just yet.”
“When are you going to tell her the truth, big bro?”
“I’m not sure. It might be best if we tell her when the legacy comes through. We don’t want to complicate matters.” Kyle just hoped he kept well enough to keep the illusion going. When Jake was fully fledged, it would be a piece of cake.
* * * *
It was one in the morning as Elizabeth stepped off the Greyhound. She started to walk briskly to her apartment, some five minutes away. There was a desire she needed to satisfy…and fast.
Spending an afternoon with three of the most beautiful men she had ever seen left her with little choice in the matter.
She hurriedly pushed the front door open, then slammed it loudly behind her, probably waking most of her neighbors. This couldn’t wait. She kicked off her shoes, then pulled her trousers and panties down to her ankles. Fuck, she felt sexual. Her fingers dipped into her pussy, confirming what she already knew. Christ, she was wet.
Her Arizona Cowboy Brothers [Sexual Meltdown 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 2