by Lexi Blake
“Painting?” Trev asked, looking at the back wall of the parlor. The parlor walls had been painted an odd orange color. Now there was a large swath of white. It looked white. She had the lights off, so he couldn’t discern the exact shade.
She shrugged. “I wanted to try a couple of looks. I’m eager to get started.”
“How did things go at the bank?”
“It was all right. There was some trouble with the door when I got back home, but Bo handled it. Oh, and I bought that coffeemaker you wanted, but I had an accident with it. It kind of went in a million pieces. I promise I’ll get another one tomorrow.”
“Bo?” He couldn’t help the growl. He’d talked to some of the hands. They all liked Bo, but they were universal in their praise of how many women he could get into bed with. He’d done almost every girl in the county according to the hands. All of them except Beth Hobbes.
“He’s my friend.”
There was something about the way she said it, a tightness to her eyes that told Trev she wasn’t telling him everything. A bit of his calm slipped away. He thought about pursuing it and decided against it. What if she told him she loved Bo? What the hell would he do then?
“I need to get cleaned up. I thought we could pick up some dinner in town and come back here. Is that okay?” Beth lifted herself up on her toes and brushed her lips against his. She immediately went back down, a look of horror on her face. “Was I supposed to do that? I’ve read some books where the Dom doesn’t want the sub to touch him without permission.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Touch me all you like, darlin’. We’re not performing a scene or training. We’re just Trev and Beth right now.”
Her arms tightened around him. “Good. I didn’t think I would like that part.”
He wasn’t the type of Dom who required a total power exchange. He’d seen it, and it worked for some, but he’d never be twenty-four-seven. In the end, he wanted to be taken care of too much, and not because he’d ordered the sub to do it. Beth’s arms around him felt like caring, not the rote, practiced touch of long-held formality.
He kissed her long and slow as his mind drifted over the way he wanted this relationship to go. Submission in the bedroom. Long evenings of her naked at his feet. But part of the point to his dominance was to teach her how to stand up for herself. To give her a feeling of self-worth that seemed to be lacking, though she had no reason for it. She was lovely and worthy, and he needed to show her all of those things. Some submissives needed the complete exchange, to lose themselves in another’s dominance, but for Beth, it was different. A Dom could free her.
His hands moved lower, his groin becoming distinctly engaged in this “hello” kiss.
And then his stomach growled.
Beth pulled back, a laugh bursting from her lips. “I won’t be more than ten minutes.”
He watched as her backside swayed in her overalls as she scampered up the stairs. His dick and his stomach warred, and he promised both they would get what they needed. He would have her undress in the truck on the way back from picking up the food. She would take it all off and sit on his vinyl bench seat while he told her everything he had planned for her tonight. Her pussy would be wet by the time they got home. She would leave a spot on his seat, and he would fucking let it sit there. His whole cab would smell like her. He could surround himself with her.
He started to go up the stairs. His cock had definitely taken over. His stomach protested, but weakly, as though it knew it had a crappy argument. He was on the second step when he heard her phone ring. He thought about letting it go, but damn it, he knew who it was. He knew it deep down.
He crossed the space between the stairs and the front hall table in three long strides and looked down at the number. Sure enough. Bo O’Malley.
Aidan’s words haunted him as well as his own damn fool memory. They had been friends. More than that. They’d been close. Bo had been the kid brother he’d never had. Bo had looked up to him for something more than his ability to toss a football and get laid. He wasn’t sure what had made him befriend the younger man other than the fact that he looked lost among the larger players. He could remember hearing his teammates laugh about the fact that Aidan O’Malley must have gotten all the muscle and intellect in that family. He’d known that the kid had heard it all. He’d watched as Bo had sunken into himself.
Fuck. Aidan was right. Goddamn it. He wanted to kick something. He didn’t need this. He wasn’t responsible enough to take care of his own damn self. He didn’t have to do it. He didn’t.
Almost as if his fucking hand had a mind of its own, he picked up her cell and flipped it open. He was going to tell Bo off. He was going to tell the little shit to find his own woman. He needed a Domme, not a Dom, and sure as hell not him. He didn’t need that shit.
“Mouse, it’s me. Don’t talk. I got some stuff to say and I need to say it.” Bo slurred his words, and Trev could hear the sounds of thumping country western music in the background.
He sighed. “Bo, it isn’t…”
“Hush, now, girl. I told you. I need to say this. I love you, Mouse. I always loved you, ever since we were kids, but it turns out I’m not very good at it. Hell, I ain’t been good at much of anything. I know that. But what you said today was wrong, Mouse. How can you think for one second that I would treat you like that? It doesn’t matter that you picked Trev. It doesn’t matter.”
Trev knew he should hang up. “Bo, this isn’t Beth.”
Bo went on as though he hadn’t heard a thing. “I would never treat you like the rest of the people in this town do. And I won’t be polite. I love you. There’s not a damn thing polite about it. When I see you on the street, I’m going to smile, and I’m going to talk to you because that will be the best part of my whole day. I’ll ask about you, and I’ll even ask how that fucker Trev is doing. Sorry. I’m a little drunk, baby. I know we can’t be friends the way we were. I know that. Hell, I even get why you picked him. He’s already taken care of you in ways I never have. That’s what I feel the worst about. I should have been strong enough. I should have told the world to fuck itself and been with you. I don’t know why I’m like that. I’m broken inside, I guess. But if you ever need anything, Mouse, you call me. I’ll be there. I won’t fail you again. I won’t. God, I want to fade away, but I won’t do it because someday you might need me, and I’m going to be there. And if that fucker breaks your heart, then I’ll kill him. I know he’s bigger than me, but I don’t intend to play fair. I’ll follow his ass, and I’ll get him when he’s unaware. I swear it. I love you. I’m sorry. I won’t call again, but I needed you to know that.”
The phone clicked dead, and Trev cursed. His stomach and his cock were going to have to wait because his conscience had taken the forefront. He couldn’t leave the bastard out there. Anything could happen to him. Bo was drunk and hurting. It was a toxic cocktail. He would know all about those. He wrote a quick note to Beth and ran back to his truck. He sighed as he put it in reverse. He wouldn’t have his sweet sub naked on the bench seat. He would have drunk Bo in his cab. It likely wouldn’t smell like Beth’s arousal. It would smell like puke. Yep.
Shitty damn night.
And he had the additional problem of a promise he was about to break. He drove toward Aidan’s ranch as he dialed a familiar number. Leo picked up, and Trev prayed he hadn’t hightailed it back to Dallas. If he had, then Trev was going to have to ask Aidan to come with him, and that might be disturbing. He was going to top the hell out of Aidan’s brother, and despite the fact that Aidan had asked him to do it, it might be difficult to watch.
“What’s up, Trev?” Leo’s voice came on the line. Trev could hear Lexi laughing in the background.
Trev laid it out for him. There wasn’t a lot of time for explanations. “I’m going to a bar. I need you to come with me.”
“Uh, no. Not just no, but hell no. What happened?”
“Bo happened. I have to go and drag his ass out of a honky-tonk.
”
“No, you don’t,” Leo said, his voice stern. “I’ll let Aidan know. We’ll handle it. You don’t need to walk into a bar at this stage.”
Trev rolled his eyes. What did Leo think would happen? He wasn’t going to turn into an alcohol-crazed maniac at the sight of a beer. He really wasn’t. Something deep and calm settled in Trev. He wasn’t even going to be tempted. He had a job to do, and it was far more important than that whiny asshole who lived in his soul and wanted to drink himself into oblivion. This wasn’t only for Bo. This was for Beth. Beth needed Bo, too.
Hell, this was for himself.
“I’ll be fine, but I would prefer to have you with me. I promised I wouldn’t do this, but I have to break that vow.”
Leo was insistent. “No, you fucking don’t. Aidan can do it.”
“He’s my sub, Leo.” There. He’d said it. He’d said it out loud.
There was a long pause. “Are fucking kidding me? Two days in this godforsaken town and you take two subs. Tell me something. Does Bo know he’s taken a Dom?”
“Not yet, but trust me, he’ll understand after tonight.” Trev pulled up into the driveway. “Are you coming or not?”
“Li, get off the damn couch. I need you to come with me,” he heard Leo say.
Trev watched the door. It flew open, and Leo was in the cab of the truck in a heartbeat, pulling the Irishman along. Trev didn’t bother to wait. He took off toward The Rusty Spur. The faster he got there, the less time Bo had to fuck up and get himself in serious trouble.
“I thought I was investigating the graffiti now,” Li complained as he sat back in the cab. “How did I end up back in this damn truck.”
“We’re going to a bar,” Trev said flatly.
“Oh, that’s a different story. Let’s go, mate.” Liam seemed far more eager to come along now.
He would likely be disappointed when he realized they weren’t there to drink. Leo had brought him along to ensure that everyone came out of the bar. He would argue that he wasn’t going to be tempted, but it was easier to simply go along with it.
“This is a mistake,” Leo said. “I’m fine with you taking Beth as a sub. Beth isn’t going to be any trouble at all from what I understand. Bo is going to be a train wreck.”
Liam had been looking at his phone. His head came up now. “Wait, I thought the kid was straight.”
He tightened his hold on the wheel. “I’m not planning on having sex with him. I’m planning on topping him.”
“What’s the point in topping someone if you don’t fuck ’em?” Li asked with a frown.
“Go back to sexting that waitress you met.” Leo turned to Trev. “Bo doesn’t even like the lifestyle.”
Trev had thought about this all day. “Because he doesn’t want to recognize it in himself. I’m going to give him a choice. He can get with the program, or he can lose what he loves. He needs this. He knows it deep down, but once he figures out Beth needs it, I think he’ll come around.”
Leo stopped for a moment. “That could work. You know Aidan has been worried about his brother for a long time. He says their father was always really hard on Bo. Aidan was kind of like you.”
Trev snorted. “What? Addicted and irresponsible?”
“Smart. Great at school. Popular and athletic.”
Yeah, but Trev had thrown all of those things away. “Bo was good at football. He was an excellent linebacker.”
“After you took him under your wing and forced the rest of the team to accept him. I talked to Aidan about it. I can fill in the blanks. Am I wrong?”
“No.” He’d pretty much done exactly that.
Leo was quiet for a moment. “Do you ever wonder why you did that?”
He knew where Leo was going. “Because deep down I was a Dom, and I recognized what he needed.”
“Yep. Are you sure you can handle this? You haven’t been outside The Club in years. This could end up being very stressful and chaotic.”
“Then I’ll make it unchaotic. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do? Impose order?” If he couldn’t manage it, then he’d turn in his leathers, but he had no intention of fucking this up. “I can handle it.”
“He can handle it. Stop being such an old lady, Leo,” Liam said. “How far is it to this bar and do they have waitresses?”
Leo slapped a hand on his thigh, ignoring Liam altogether. “The fact that you called me makes me think you can handle this. All right, then let’s take that boy down. After what happened today, I’m surprised you’re not still spanking your sub. I expected that girl’s butt to be red for days.”
The gravel crunched under his tires, and the truck rolled toward the honky-tonk. It was utterly dark this far from town. “What are you talking about? Why would I spank her? All she did today was fix the front door and start painting a wall.”
Liam chuckled. “I’m glad he’s not the one paying me bills. I take it the girl thought you wouldn’t find out. Bo must have not told her he hired me. I was planning on talking to you tomorrow about who might want you out of town.”
This was about what happened to his truck? “Pretty much everyone. The list is long. You don’t need to look into it. And why the hell would Bo hire you?”
He half expected Bo would hire someone to murder him, not try to find out who painted graffiti on his truck.
Leo whistled. “Wow. That girl is in real trouble. Do you have your kit? I have rope in my Jeep if you need it. You might need a spreader. I’m sure Aidan will let you use his barn. It’s fully equipped for a torture scene. What are her hard limits? You might want to push those.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I think you should ask that pretty sub of yours,” Liam said with a shrug. “I make it a point to stay out of lovers’ quarrels.”
“I asked you, Leo.” He could see the lights up ahead.
“I ran into Shelley at dinner earlier,” Leo said.
“I bet you did,” the Irishman said with a chuckle.
His sister was walking a thin line. If someone like Liam noticed, everyone would soon. “She’s married. I wish she wasn’t, but she is. Cheating would kill her.”
Leo’s mouth tightened. “I’m not sleeping with your sister. I won’t lie. We have an odd connection, but she made her choice when she married that man. I’m friends with your sister. Nothing more. She needs a friend since her husband is such a fucking douchebag.”
“Holy shit, you asked her to leave him.” How much had been going on? Leo was a happy, affable guy on the outside, but Trev knew he kept a lot hidden.
“I haven’t touched her if that’s what you’re worried about. I haven’t kissed her or laid a damn hand on her, and I won’t. But I’m worried about Bryce. I’m worried he could be violent. He fits a certain profile. I believe he’s been emotionally abusive toward your sister, and that can certainly turn physical. The truth of the matter is I would like to do an investigation into his background. Starting with his financials. I’ve got O’Donnell looking into it.”
“This town is full of secrets,” Liam agreed. “If only it had a bloody Hooters.”
Crap. Once again he’d been so involved in his own shit that he’d missed his sister’s problems. “I’ll take care of it. She’s my sister.”
He didn’t have the money to hire someone like O’Donnell, but he would find it. Somehow. If Bryce was shady, he would figure it out.
Leo’s eyes narrowed. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Leo had been a SEAL and not the team’s medic. He’d been deadly, and though it didn’t show up often, that warrior was on his face now. “I’ll take care of it.” He shook his head as though to clear the violence of his thoughts. “She would be horrified if you started looking into her marriage. She wants to protect you. Trust me on this. Let me take care of your sister. I’ll let you know if McKay-Taggart finds anything.”
Li shoved his phone in his pocket. “Oh, I’ll find something. I met the fucker today. He’s got that look about him.”
<
br /> Trev wasn’t sure having a “look” meant Bryce was anything but a douchebag.
“Besides, you have enough on your hands with that sub of yours,” Li continued. “After all, Beth was shot at this afternoon. Don’t you go thinking I’m moving down here. I’ll have to send someone else in because no one is taking my London assignment.”
Trev nearly turned the truck into a ditch. “What?”
Leo handled it all with a calm sigh. “Some kid named Austin Hall was in Beth’s house when she and Bo came home. The sheriff thinks he was looking for drugs. At least that’s what the kid says. He took a couple of shots at Beth, but Bo took him down. The sheriff says the kid’s in pretty bad shape, though not from Bo.”
“The kid’s into meth,” Li explained. “I tried to talk to him, but he was pretty high at the time. I don’t know. The sheriff ain’t the brightest bulb in the box. He thinks it’s about drugs, but it’s got me nose itching, if you know what I mean.”
He did not, but that didn’t matter now. Trev forced himself to go very calm. His first instinct was to turn the truck around, find Beth, use the rope in his kit, and prove to her all the reasons she shouldn’t lie to her Dom. “All she told me was that there had been some trouble with the door, but she’d handled it.”
“Bo had a scrape, but that was the extent of the physical damage,” Leo offered.
“She didn’t even call me.”
“She was probably afraid to,” Leo said. “I don’t mean she was afraid of you. I mean she was afraid of being troublesome. She’s submissive, but she doesn’t understand the lifestyle yet. She doesn’t want to be a burden.”
Neon reds and blues lit up the night as he pulled into the parking lot. God, he’d loved this place once. He’d been allowed in despite the fact that he’d been underage. He’d been the quarterback who led the team to a state championship both his junior and senior years. He’d been a damn hero, therefore everyone looked the other way when he had a beer or two or ten. It had all started here.