Dalton Boys Box Set Books 1-5 (The Dalton Boys)

by Em Petrova

  And Maya was breaking his damn heart.

  He lay still, straining to hear her choppy breaths. If he didn’t know better, he’d wonder if she had her fingers in her panties. His balls tightened at the thought, but he shoved it away.

  She was having a nightmare.

  Not only one, if he was correct. For hours, she’d alternated between small cries or shudders to periods of calm.

  When she threw an arm above her head and grimaced, he could stand it no more. He eased out of bed and padded the short expanse of floor separating them. He slipped in next to her, trying like hell to control his panting.

  Stretching out beside her, he stared at her face in the bluish light falling through the crack in the draperies. Her tawny skin was transformed to ice, but her features were far from frozen. Her eyes moved behind her closed lids, her velvety lips pressed together tight.

  Something in his chest blossomed, and he placed a protective arm over her waist. She didn’t move or even mutter, so he tugged her against his body. Her hip was cradled against his groin, tormenting him—a match held to flesh.

  Her chest rose and fell, a squeak escaping her lips. Cash enveloped her in his arms, pulling her flush to him. Her silky hair teased his nose, fragrant with the hotel shampoo. When she’d emerged from the bathroom freshly showered and wearing a cotton dress, he’d nearly tossed away his promise not to take her.

  She wiggled closer into his hold, and he gritted his teeth as her round hip brushed his growing erection. As she released another whimper, he splayed his fingers over her skin, meeting a bare expanse between sleeping top and bottoms.

  Seconds ticked by with his heartbeat counting down.

  Down to what? He wouldn’t slip his fingers under the hem of her shorts and find out if she wore panties and what kind. He couldn’t bury a finger in the seam of her pussy and hear her cries of pleasure rather than fear.

  He caught his lip in his teeth and bit down against the need to growl. Damn, she was beautiful and wearing his ring. For two weeks while making plans to give her his name, he’d tried not to imagine the marriage bed. He needed a wife, she needed help—they’d strike a deal.

  But now that he had her soft little body in his arms, his hormones had other ideas.

  A low noise tightened his groin further. She flopped onto her side and threw her arms around him.

  If he thought himself still before, he was wrong. He froze, heart a wild bronc in his chest. Was she awake? God, if so, he didn’t know if he could hold back.

  She gave a quiet snore, and he relaxed his muscles inch by slow inch. She cuddled closer, and he buried his nose close to her neck. Her scent drove him insane. This was going to be torture, waiting for their exchange of vows. His promise to Manny stood—he wouldn’t lay hands on her.

  Unless she asked him to.

  His boxers grew so snug they must be cutting off the blood supply. He swallowed a groan and slowly caressed her side around to her back. The knobs of her spine were easily traced, and he could only imagine how succulent her skin was. He wanted to kiss and lick every inch.

  Her stuttering breaths were replaced by slow, even ones. She grew heavier in his hold, and his heart hitched. Not only had he vowed to go through with this marriage—to help them both—but now he wanted to. Since the moment Manny had shoved her photo into Cash’s hand, she’d belonged to him.

  Chapter Four

  Maya was accustomed to waking early to the shouts of her neighbors. But today she awakened at a leisurely pace. Her mind flipped through images of things she’d left behind, of the crush of people boarding the flight and finally of meeting Cash.

  Then her nerves woke up—big time. Cash’s scent surrounded her.

  And so did his body.

  Awareness was a jolt to her system. She sat up, and he muttered, turning over in sleep.

  Fully awake, she jumped out of bed and plastered her hands to her face. How had he ended up in bed with her? And why? Had anything happened between them? She racked her brain. No, she hadn’t slept so heavily that she’d tune out the strum of hands like his.

  A shiver slipped down her spine. She stared at the cowboy sprawled on her bed. Without his hat, he looked almost indecent. To say nothing of bare arms and chest. Hairs spattered his tanned flesh, and she wondered if they held his scent. If she brushed her nose against the wiry hairs…

  She dragged in a breath and fought to ignore the pulsating between her thighs.

  He lay on his side, hip like granite, red fabric of his boxer shorts straining over muscle. Long, strong legs were coated with hair, ending in pink feet.

  For some reason the sight of such soft, vulnerable feet made her giggle.

  He cracked an eye at her, and she gulped back her laugh. “Whassss funny?”

  Damn, he was adorable even half awake and slurring his words.

  “Uh, nothing.”

  He flipped onto his back, one arm slung over his forehead, casting his eyes in shadow. “You laughin’ at me, darlin’?”

  Every drawled syllable raked across her skin, leaving behind desire.

  “Of course not.” Somehow during the night she’d come to trust him a whole lot more.

  He leaned up on his elbows, hair disheveled. She clamped her fingers into her fists. When his gaze dipped over her, then slowly ticked back up, her ovaries practically combusted.

  He did that damn chin-twitch thing. “Come back to bed.”

  “I’d better not.”

  He looked at her as if he could climb into her head and claim her every thought. Wait—I think he has.

  “Why were you in bed with me in the first place?” she asked.

  “You were having bad dreams.” His lips tightened.

  She scoured her mind for memory of her dreams but came up blank. She often had nightmares of being chased through the alleys and caught before she reached home. Either that or of Mateo kicking in her door, unwilling to take no for an answer.

  She shuddered.

  Cash sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. “Do I repulse you?”

  “What? No.”

  “Thoughts of getting in bed with me don’t make you want to run for the hills?”

  “Umm…”

  “I know we don’t know each other, but I’ll be good to you—in every way.” His dark tone slathered her senses in honey. She fought the urge to strip off her clothes.

  “You look tense. Why don’t you let me massage your shoulders?” His question was laced with so much innuendo, there was no mistaking his intentions.

  She crossed her arms over her body, aware of the sharp peaks of her nipples under her thin cotton top. Estúpido body. Why was it reacting to a man she didn’t want?

  Because she did want him. Those hard planes of muscle moving against her, and his mouth blazing new trails over her skin.

  She shuddered again.

  “C’mere, Maya.”

  She followed his voice as if under mind control, moving forward to sit on the bed near him.

  He scooted so close his body heat enveloped her. He nuzzled her ear as he clamped his long fingers around her shoulders. “You’re all knotted up.”

  “Are you trained in the art of massage?” she fired back.

  “As a matter of fact…” He performed some finger move in the soft hollow between collarbone and shoulder that made her immediately boneless. She slumped. His breath tickled her ear. Not even nasty morning breath. Just Cash.

  Five minutes later, she was at his mercy. He worked the stiffness from her shoulders and spine. When he reached a certain area low on her back, she jerked, laughing.

  “Ticklish?”

  “I guess so.”

  “No one’s ever found this spot before now?” He pressed it again, just under her ribs. She writhed.

  Should she tell him she’d only had one lover in her twenty-three years? He’d think her immature, silly.

  Not worthy of a man like him.

  The flush crept up her throat, and she dipped her head, using
her long hair as a shield.

  “Maya, is this piece of skin all mine?”

  Dios, she was in big trouble. Sinking quickly.

  Before she could respond, his knuckles brushed her jaw, tugging her head to the side as he swooped in and kissed her. His rough passion caused her to moan. His tongue flicked her lower lip, then burrowed deeper into her mouth.

  Not deep enough. From this angle, he obviously couldn’t get what he wanted.

  He flipped her onto the mattress as though she weighed nothing, braced himself on his elbows and kissed her like he meant it.

  She drowned in his taste and feel, mindless to anything but the throbbing need for more. She sank her fingers into his mussed hair and found it soft and warm from sleep. Waves conformed to her fingers as she pressed the points of her short nails into his scalp.

  With a growl, he hitched his body fully atop hers, pinning her. His weight was luscious. She wriggled closer and gave herself up to every whim of his clever tongue. She arched beneath him.

  Too soon he tore away, eyes blazing. “You better not move like that if you don’t want more than a kiss or three.”

  What if she did want more? Desire raced through her system. He’d lassoed her with kisses, and now the hard ridge pressing against her inner thigh made other promises.

  His stare was almost glassy with want. Some dangerous emotion swirled in her head. Being desired by a worthy man would surely end right—with pleasured screams and tender looks afterward.

  She hooked her arm around his neck and yanked him down.

  His appreciation rumbled through his chest. He slanted his head and thrust his tongue into her mouth, skating it over hers until he knew every corner. The urge to wrap her legs around his tanned hips and let him sink into her body drove her need higher.

  Running a hand up her side, he found her aching breast. She wished her breasts filled his hand better, but he didn’t seem to mind as he groped her through her flimsy top.

  She explored too, learning strong shoulders and the bulges of each side of his spine all the way to the waist of his boxers. “You seem tense too.” She couldn’t believe how flirtatious she sounded.

  “You don’t know tense, darlin’.” He took her hand and roughly shoved it between them. She gasped as his hard length thrust into her palm.

  What they say about big hands is true, then.

  She had to put the brakes on. She’d come to the US to find a better life. Not be ravished by a cowboy on day two.

  He felt the change in her, eyes clearing a bit. She removed her hand, and he released her breast.

  When he rolled off, staring up at the popcorn ceiling, she felt the wall between them.

  “I’m not sorry. You drive me crazy.”

  Her eyes fluttered shut on his surly words. Being desired felt so good, and his touches promised much more. But even if she agreed to marry him, she needed more time.

  Before she could say any of this, he gained his feet. Standing at the bedside, staring down at her like a granite god, she realized what an idiot she was for not going further. His erection tented his boxers, impressive in size. But the flames in his gaze were barely controlled, licking at her in different ways.

  “Best get on the road.” He stalked over to the clothes he’d abandoned the previous night. She was still shivery from his touch and kisses, and somehow managed to stand too. Wobbling, she gathered her dress and a hairbrush.

  Cash faced her, jeans unbuttoned, belt hanging loose. She didn’t think he could harness his bulge behind the denim yet.

  She looked away, but her gaze was drawn right back as he muscled his way into the T-shirt he’d worn under his plaid shirt. The navy cloth fell like a final curtain over his abs.

  Would he want her like that again?

  * * *

  Bumping along the highways, then dirt roads, to the ranch was mighty uncomfortable. Especially when a man’s jeans were too damn tight in a particular area.

  Having Maya beside him wearing a dress so thin he could see the tawny glow of her skin was giving him a bad case of blue balls. Add her hair and dress hem fluttering in the light breeze, and he had to consciously grip the wheel with two hands to keep from touching her.

  As soon as he got her settled, he was going to throw himself into good, old-fashioned hard work to slake his lust.

  Maya released a low sigh as they rounded a bend and the house came into view. Pride swelled in Cash’s chest. He’d been plenty of places in his life, but none was as beautiful as Paradise Valley to him.

  Reaching across the truck, he rested a hand over hers. She looked away from the house and valley and met his gaze.

  “If you agree to be my wife, part of this will be yours. And your father will always have a place on it with us.”

  Tears lit her dark chocolate eyes. One clung to her lashes for a heartbeat before tumbling down her cheek. Cash brushed his knuckles lightly over it. Wetness trickled between his fingers.

  “Thank you,” she choked.

  “No need to thank me. Besides, you haven’t accepted my proposal yet.”

  She swung her head back to the window. He took her hand again, refusing to let her forget how good he could make her feel. Her response to his kisses and caresses weren’t something to toss away. Rarely did people experience such a physical connection—he never had until now.

  Miles of fence stretched from one end of the valley to the other. The grasses were getting high and were almost ready to cut. Haying season would soon be upon them, and they hadn’t gotten Hank and Charlotte into a house yet. When would they ever have time for Cash’s?

  If he needed one, that was.

  Prince came bounding across the field like a small black deer. The old hound kept the arthritis from his joints by running everywhere.

  Maya released a snuffling laugh. “Is that your dog?”

  “Yes’m. Prince is one of the best cattle herders we’ve ever had. He’s also got a sweet tooth.”

  “Really?”

  His breath caught at the joy on her face. The pinched, worried expression she’d worn when he first saw her had vanished. He squeezed her fingers. “Yes, he likes to steal cookies. One time he jumped up and tipped the cookie jar over. Momma was livid. Not only did he eat an entire batch of sugar cookies, but he broke the crockery lid. And Prince was sick for days. We had to send him to the barn.”

  Her grin lit her from the inside out. Cash’s heart did a small flip, and he applied the brakes. The truck rolled to a stop and Prince bounded up to the side, but Cash had eyes only for the woman in the passenger’s seat.

  He slid his pinky along the white gold band of her engagement ring. Back and forth, holding her gaze. He wasn’t going to ask again. It was time for her to answer.

  Her breathing came in harsh rasps. After a solid minute, he feared she may hyperventilate.

  “I like you, Maya. In time, I have a feeling that will grow.”

  Her throat worked.

  “You’re beautiful even if I haven’t seen you smile enough yet.”

  As she bowed her head, the corner of her mouth twitched upward.

  He worked the diamond back and forth under his finger, wishing it was her taut nipple instead. Since morning, it was practically all he could think of. “You can’t deny we have chemistry.”

  Her gaze snapped to his. Eyes darkening, she released a breath she must have been holding. Something passed between them, leaving Cash feeling as if he’d held onto the electric fence too long.

  He barely registered driving the rest of the distance to the house or parking the truck with the other vehicles by the barn. He felt giddy, like a kid who’d eaten too much sugar at the county fair and then been whipped around on a carnival ride.

  By the time he got out of the truck, some of his family members had appeared. Momma stood on the long porch, wiping her hands on a towel, and Pa rounded the barn with a shovel in hand.

  Kade was wringing wet from hosing out the barn, and Beck was grinning like a barn cat with a
mouse—probably the real reason Kade was dripping.

  “Howdy, son.” Pa leaned on his shovel.

  Cash tipped his hat and rounded the truck just as Maya climbed out. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her forward, aware of the fine shiver running through her body.

  Everyone stared.

  “Where’re the others?” Cash asked.

  Momma descended the stairs swiftly, having regained her girl-like agility after being laid up with a broken ankle. “Charlotte’s inside and Hank’s with the horses. Witt’s with him.”

  “And Manny?”

  Pa glanced in the other direction, and Manny suddenly appeared, his face burning with happiness.

  Maya tore from Cash’s hold and rushed across the yard into his outstretched arms. He caught her, lifting her off her feet. They exchanged a volley of words in Spanish, but it was evident to all of them how elated they were to be reunited.

  Cash’s chest was tight as he watched. Manny set her on her feet and clasped her face in his hands, staring at her for what seemed like a minute. Very slowly he kissed her forehead. When he released her, she turned to look at Cash.

  They shared a private smile.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Cash caught Momma’s radars go up. She turned to the screen door and called to Charlotte before crossing the yard to Maya.

  “Welcome to the Paradise Valley Ranch, dear. I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” Momma said.

  She’ll be comfortable—in my bed. Cash walked to the back of the truck and retrieved Maya’s suitcase.

  “Where the hell’d you get that ugly thing? Did you make a stop at Aunt Diane’s?” Hank drawled from behind.

  “Har-har,” Cash said flatly, though he agreed the damn ugly thing could have been found in one of Aunt Diane’s closets.

  Hank slapped him on the shoulder as Witt flanked his other side. No one seemed surprised to see Maya standing in the middle of the yard, though Witt perked up and straightened his hat.

  Charlotte came out with a smile and wave for her husband.

  Cash set down Maya’s luggage and strode to her side. Without considering what he was about to do, he grabbed Maya, bent her over his arm and kissed her.