Cowboy Heat

by Mari Carr

  Problem was, Brody was worse than a mother hen with his niece and the phone call wasn’t going to be an easy one. For a moment, Shaw considered Brody’s response, imagining his former boss coming over to Bronco Ranch with a rifle to defend Keri’s honor.

  Max had said this wouldn’t be easy but Shaw had dismissed the concern. Now, faced with the reality…

  Max nodded. “You’re right. You should call him.”

  “What the hell should I say?” Keri asked, laughing lightly. “I mean, the word awkward keeps racing through my mind.”

  Shaw grinned. “Damn. I was hoping you already had a plan.”

  “Big help, Shaw,” she joked.

  Max gave him a dirty look. “Sit down, Keri. I think maybe we should have a little talk before you call your uncle.”

  Keri took a seat, waiting as Max and Shaw each claimed a chair on either side of her. Shaw should have known it was all too easy. He’d been ready to make his escape. Perfectly willing to drag her to his truck, drive her to the house and tie her to his bed for the rest of eternity.

  Unfortunately, Max had a conscience.

  “Have you ever participated in a threesome?” Max asked.

  Keri laughed. “Good God, no. It’s not exactly a common occurrence, is it?”

  Max shook his head. Shaw could see his friend was worried, but Keri’s reply made him smile.

  “It is in our world,” Shaw said, placing his arm around the back of her chair so he could play with her soft hair. He found it impossible to be near her and not touch her.

  “I know.”

  Her answer surprised Shaw. “What do you know?”

  “I heard stories about you guys when I was in high school. Some of the women you hooked up with had younger sisters, and there was talk. Sort of inevitable. It’s not like we live in a big town. Besides, you guys were the stars of a lot of teenage girls’ fantasies. Twenty-five-year-old cowboys and sexy as hell. I can’t tell you how many girlfriends tried to finagle invites to my house just so they could watch you two work.”

  Shaw leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Were we in your fantasies too?”

  She scoffed at his question but her blush gave her away.

  “Tell me one of your fantasies,” Shaw whispered.

  Max scowled and tried to adjust his pants. “Can we wait until we get her home for this? I’m in agony.”

  Shaw gave him a look, started to tease his friend about not letting him take the edge off earlier, but something in Max’s eyes stopped him.

  Shaw took Keri’s hand in his. “You sure you don’t want to take a night to think about what we’re offering? It’s an open invitation. No need to rush into anything if you’re not sure.”

  Keri smiled. “I told you. Practical Keri is gone. From now on, I’m taking my chances as they come.”

  Max sighed. “Keri. I think this might be an exception to that new lifestyle of yours. If you go home with us tonight, it’s not gonna be a one-night stand.”

  Her forehead creased as she considered Max’s comment. “I don’t understand. You guys never date women for long.”

  Shaw turned her face toward his, cupping her cheek with his hand. “You’re not some bar hookup, Keri. You’re different. You’re special.”

  “Special,” she whispered. Shaw could see how much the word affected her. Hadn’t that bastard she’d wasted four years of her life with ever told her how amazing she was?

  “Of course you are,” Max replied.

  She took a deep breath and Shaw could see her decision had been made. She lifted her phone, searching her contact list. “Well, here goes nothing.”

  “What are you going to tell him?” Shaw asked.

  She shrugged. “I’m gonna wing it.”

  They all laughed lightly until Keri’s expression told Shaw her uncle had answered the phone.

  “Hey, Brody. Listen. I wanted to let you know I’m not coming home tonight. I didn’t want you to worry or anything.”

  She fell silent for a moment.

  “No, no. Everything’s fine. It’s just—” She blew out a long breath. “I’m gonna stay with Max and Shaw tonight.”

  Shaw held his breath, wondering what Brody was saying on the other end of the line.

  “Yes,” she said in answer to some question. “I’m sure.”

  Silence again, and Shaw wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. He’d worked for Brody Shields for years, and he respected the hell out of the man. Perhaps it was too much to hope that Brody would understand or accept this, but damn, Shaw really hoped he would.

  “Um, okay,” Keri said before holding the phone out to Shaw. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Shaw froze for a moment, surprised by Brody’s request. He wasn’t shocked the man wanted to talk to one of them, but he’d have bet his half of the ranch that Brody would ask for Max. Max was the practical one, the reasonable one. If Brody intended to talk them out of this, Max was the better bet.

  Shaw took the phone. “Brody.”

  “Do I need to issue the warning?” Brody asked.

  “No. You don’t.”

  “Gonna do it anyway. You boys hurt my girl and we’re gonna have a problem. A big one. You understand?”

  Shaw tried to process exactly what Brody was saying. While he was warning them to be careful with Keri, he definitely wasn’t kicking up a fuss about her spending the night.

  Shaw was struck by the realization that Brody wasn’t opposed to their suit.

  “Waste of breath, Brody. We’d never hurt her. You know that.”

  Brody was silent for a moment, and then Shaw heard a long sigh at the other end of the line. “Does she know the score?”

  Shaw sucked in a surprised breath. “What do you mean?”

  “You boys come clean about everything?”

  Shaw’s suspicions were right. Brody knew. His body still went numb at having those suspicions confirmed.

  “I can tell by your silence you haven’t,” Brody continued. “Tell her. Before anything more happens. She needs to know.”

  Shaw closed his eyes, acknowledging the truth. “Okay.”

  “Good. I’m trusting you to take care of her, son. You pass that word on to Max as well.”

  “I will.”

  He said goodbye and hung up the phone.

  “What did he say?” Keri asked.

  Shaw handed her the phone. “He told us to take care of you.”

  Chapter 3

  Keri sat for a moment in stunned silence. Her uncle had given his blessing for her to participate in a ménage with Max and Shaw? Her mind whirled as she considered that fact. While she was an adult and more than capable of making her own decisions, she’d called Brody with the expectation that he’d at least try to talk her out of this. Not that she wanted to bail, but practical Keri was having a hard time believing what wild Keri was up to, and was looking for an out.

  “Keri,” Max said. “You okay, baby?”

  Shit, she was failing in her resolution, dropping the ball on her plan to re-create herself. She shoved aside her doubts and looked at the two men she’d adored for a lifetime. They were offering her a night of excitement and adventure. Hell, Shaw had offered her more than a night. She’d be a fool to pass up this experience.

  And she wasn’t a fool.

  Not anymore.

  “I’m fine. I am one hundred and twenty percent fine.” And she was.

  Shaw grinned.

  “Well, that’s good,” Max said. “But we have a problem.”

  “What’s that?” She personally couldn’t foresee any clouds in their immediate future. She was about to have blow-your-socks-off sex with two of the hottest men in the state. God bless Texas.

  Max frowned. “It’s a twenty-minute drive back to the ranch and I’m not sure I’m gonna make it without my cock exploding. Especially considering the fact you’ve been undressing us with your eyes all night.”

  Keri sighed sarcastically. “Damn. That is a problem.”


  Shaw stood up and took her hand. “Yeah, well, bitching about it isn’t going to make it go any faster. Let’s hit the road. Sooner we leave, the sooner we can strip you outta that little-bitty skirt.”

  Keri laughed at their impatience. She allowed Shaw to lead her through the bar. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Max hot on their heels, and she giggled at their haste, excited by their desire to show her a good time.

  She climbed into the pickup truck as Shaw crossed to the driver’s side to take the keys from Max. The men had a quiet, brief conversation outside and Keri wondered what they were saying, especially when Max shook his head vehemently. She had a feeling they’d wanted to talk to her about something all night, but every time, they’d change the subject at the last minute. Shaw shrugged and she sensed he’d lost his side of the argument.

  Shaw hopped in and started the truck.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  He nodded as Max climbed into the passenger’s seat. “Yeah, we sort of had an old debt to settle,” Shaw said.

  She was confused by his comment. “What sort of debt?”

  Max leaned over her to buckle her seat belt as Shaw pulled the truck onto the road. “Shaw’s just jerking my chain. Ignore him.”

  Shaw’s face darkened. “Let’s just say it’s Max’s turn to have a little bit of fun with you, so I’m driving.”

  “More taking turns, huh? Thought maybe that was just in pool,” she teased.

  Shaw grinned. “We’re very diplomatic. Besides, it seems a shame to waste twenty minutes. We thought we’d put the time to good use.”

  She squirmed as Shaw’s comment fired up her arousal once more. “How?”

  Max grinned. “You’re gonna tell us some of those naughty fantasies you had about us when you were in school.”

  She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “That’s it?”

  Max shook his head. “While you talk, I’m going to touch.”

  She licked her lips. “Touch what?”

  Max ran his hand along her bare leg. She’d purposely worn a short skirt to entice them. Now she was grateful for the easy access it afforded.

  “Everything,” Max whispered.

  “Since I’m resigned to driving duties, you’re going to have to keep me entertained with your words. So start sharing. Hit us with one of your hottest fantasies.”

  Her mind raced, trying to think of something she could share. She was having trouble making her brain focus on anything besides Max’s hand as it drifted beneath her skirt.

  “Lift up,” he said, his voice dark, demanding. She’d always sensed a strong will underneath Max’s calm, serious exterior. There had been times when she’d wondered what it would feel like to surrender her body to his commands.

  She lifted her hips as much as the seat belt would allow, and he slid her panties over her hips, not stopping until he’d pulled them off completely.

  Shaw held out a hand and Max slipped the damp fabric into it. Shaw rubbed the material between his fingers, lifting the panties to his nose.

  She wanted to close her eyes in embarrassment but was too spellbound by his actions.

  “So sweet,” Shaw muttered. “I’m going to take a taste of that sugar later, Keri. I’m going to bury my face between your legs and gorge myself.”

  She shuddered, but didn’t have time to respond before Max’s hand returned to her pussy.

  “Open your legs. Let me in.” It was an order, not a request, and as she obeyed, Keri felt her body’s juices covering the tops of her thighs.

  Max groaned as he dipped his finger inside her. “How long has it been since you’ve had a man’s cock in here?”

  She moved her hips forward slightly on the seat, cursing the seat belt. She knew she wouldn’t be fully satisfied until Max and Shaw were filling her with their cocks, rather than just their fingers. “Eight months,” she replied.

  “I’m not hearing any fantasies,” Shaw prompted.

  Keri glanced at the speedometer and grinned. Shaw was hovering at least ten miles over the speed limit, and she prayed they didn’t get pulled over. Her panties were currently lying on Shaw’s lap, and Max didn’t seem inclined to leave the heat of her body anytime soon.

  Max crooked his finger inside her, hitting a spot that sent shivers down her spine.

  “God,” she cried. “That feels so good.”

  Max pressed a kiss to her brow but his finger stopped moving. “Tell us a fantasy, Keri. Tell us how naughty you want to be.”

  She closed her eyes, leaning her head against the back of the seat. “When I was younger, I used to wonder what it would be like to kiss you.”

  Max smiled. “Come here.”

  She turned her face to him and he was there, giving Keri her heart’s desire in a kiss hot enough to scorch the pavement. His free hand gripped her hair tightly, twisting her head just enough to allow him to thoroughly claim her lips, her tongue, her teeth. The finger in her pussy began to mimic the thrusting of his tongue, and for a moment she felt light-headed, overwhelmed. She’d never been kissed like this. Never had someone take her so forcefully, so completely. Max kissed like it mattered.

  “Jesus.” Shaw’s softly spoken word penetrated the haze that surrounded them. She and Max pulled apart.

  She started to smile, wanting to offer Max a sexy look, but his dark gaze stopped her. He’d warned her at the bar things would get serious. His face proved just how serious as he pushed another finger deep inside her.

  “I want you.” It was a simple confession, but she could see how strong that hunger was. “I want to tie you to our bed, Keri. I want to spank your ass just to watch it glow. I want to possess you. Utterly. Absolutely.”

  There was silence in the vehicle as Keri tried to gather her wits.

  Shaw sighed. “When you decide to move forward, bro, you really hit the ground running.”

  Keri sensed Shaw was trying to lighten the moment after Max’s intense confession. It was a very Shaw-like response. He’d always been the one to make her laugh when she was sad, to cheer her up when she’d been hurt, to distract her when she was scared or stressed out about something. But she wasn’t feeling any of those things now.

  She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry. “I want that too,” she whispered. “I want all of that.”

  Shaw looked at her. She faced him and smiled, punctuating the truth with a self-assured nod.

  Max turning her with a gentle finger under her chin, his eyes narrowed. He studied her face. “You sure?”

  She nodded. She’d had more than an occasional daydream about the men flanking her—her fantasies about them not stopping when she moved away. Too many times over the past few years, she’d found her thoughts drifting to Max and Shaw as she lay in bed at night. Some of the few good sexual experiences she’d had with her ex were actually a result of her pretending she was with them instead. Guess she should have seen the writing on the wall in regards to her relationship with John years ago. “I’ve wondered what it would be like to be bound, helpless, as the two of you take me.”

  “Have you ever been tied up in bed before?”

  She shook her head, giving them a rueful grin. “Boring, practical Keri, remember? I think it’s safe to say my sexual experiences were about as vanilla as they come.”

  “So no spanking?” Max asked. “No anal play.”

  Heat suffused her cheeks as she shook her head. Holy fuck. It was official. She’d left Dullsville and was setting up residence in Sex Heaven. “No,” she said. “I’ve never done any of that, but I’d like to.”

  Shaw groaned at her response. “Christ. My cock just tripled in size. Any more of this talk and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna burst.”

  Keri laughed, loving that she could drive them to such heights. They were attracted to her. They found her sexy. She wasn’t sure she’d ever inspired such naughty dreams in anyone, but Max and Shaw seemed to find everything she did and said hot and sensual. A girl could get used to this.

  Max wiggled
his fingers inside her pussy once more, and she gasped at the pure sizzling impulse that flowed through her body.

  “So here’s how this is gonna play out. When we get you back to the house, you’re going to dance for us while you take off that skimpy excuse for a skirt and shirt.”

  Her body tingled at his command—equal parts nervousness and anticipation. “Dance?”

  He nodded. “You’re beautiful, Keri, but I get the feeling you don’t realize it. You said you wanted to go wild. Tonight we’re gonna push you beyond all those limitations, all those boundaries you’ve kept yourself confined to. You ready for it?”

  Was she? Her thoughts were racing as quickly as her heart.

  Max pressed in a third finger and she reached out, her hands landing on the dashboard as she sought something solid, something to keep her grounded to this place, this moment.

  Shaw turned onto the long driveway to Bronco Ranch, to Max and Shaw’s home. He stopped the truck and put it in park. Turning to look at her, he pulled her face toward his with a strong hand on her cheek. “We’re almost home, Keri. We’ll stop at any point tonight if this gets to be too much, but if you’re having any doubts, any at all, say so now and I’ll take you on to Brody’s house.”

  Max withdrew from her pussy, obviously wanting her to formulate her decision with a clear head. She struggled to catch her breath.

  “I want to go home with you. With both of you. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

  Shaw’s gaze captured hers and she knew the moment her confession penetrated. A grin broke free, covering his face. “Hot damn. Best night ever.” He put the truck in gear and started driving again while she laughed.

  “You might want to wait until after the deed to make that determination.”

  Max reached over and turned her toward him. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against hers. She savored the smell of his cologne and the slight tang of beer on his breath. “I can see we’re gonna have to work on your self-esteem issues tonight.”