Taming Clay

by Raeann Blake

  “Cut it out, Ken. You’re gonna lose that hand if you don’t stop that,” she said lowly.

  “Quit rushing her, brother. We’ll go ride when she’s ready,” Ben said as he lifted Hailey’s hand to his lips.

  “Thank you,” Hailey said as she took another swallow of the bourbon and coke in front of her. When she felt Ben’s hand sliding up her leg she pushed it away.

  “I asked you not to do that,” she said quietly.

  Clay sighed and shook his head as he threw back the third shot and then slapped the glass on the bar before he slid off the stool and walked down the length of it and stopped behind her.

  “I need you at work,” he growled.

  Hailey jumped and turned to face him. He didn’t miss the surprise on her face or the dark scowls on the faces of the two brothers on each side of her.

  “It’s my night off.”

  “Not anymore. Let’s go,” he snapped.

  “But…fine,” she snapped back and started to slide off the stool only to have a hand flash out to stop her. She swallowed hard at the cold eyes that turned to face Ken and the equally cold voice that followed.

  “Boy, you do not wanna mess with me tonight.”

  Hailey quickly jerked her arm free and slid off the stool pushing Clay back as she did. “Let’s go,” she said quietly. She felt him resist at first but then take a step back without breaking the steady gaze he had leveled at the younger of the two brothers.

  Once they were outside she turned back to study him thoughtfully and met his own flat gaze with one of her own.

  “How much have you had to drink?”

  “What are you, my mother?” he snarled as he pushed past her.

  “If you want me to get in a truck with you, Clay Cardell, you’ll damn well tell me how much you’ve had to drink.”

  Clay turned back to her and put his face right in hers. “Not as much as you have. Get in the fucking truck.”

  Hailey opened her mouth then snapped it shut again and backed up a step before she stepped around him and strode to the truck, got in and slammed the door.

  Clay climbed in the other side and shot one angry glance at her then cranked the engine and spun the tires without saying another word. They had just made the turn off to the ranch before she trusted herself to ask him. She really had drunk far too much. Enough that the urge to lean forward the inch or so it would have taken to brush her lips against his when he had gotten in her face back at the bar was far too strong.

  “What’s going on? What’s the emergency?’ she finally asked quietly.

  Clay clenched his jaw several times then finally admitted, “Nothing. There’s nothing.”

  Her head turned slowly and she took in one slow breath before she let her mouth open. “What did you say?”

  “I said there’s nothing. It was the only way I had to get you out of there. Go ahead and get pissed. You were in over your head,” he said lowly.

  “And what are you, my daddy?” she asked flinging his own words back at him. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she was bracing herself against the dash when he slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop then threw the gearshift into park.

  He turned to her angrily. “You obviously need one. You didn’t have one clue about what you were about to get into. Those two boys are into threesome’s. And they’re not gentle about it or take kindly to those who don’t go along with them. If you’re that damned desperate, here,” he hissed and grabbed her roughly and jerked her to him as he crushed his lips against hers.

  It started rough and then softened as his hands slipped into her hair and he deepened the kiss. Her lips had parted immediately when his tongue touched them. And he let himself sink into the taste and the feel before he realized what he was doing and shoved her back with a growl.

  “Goddammit,” he muttered and quickly shifted gears then stomped the gas.

  They drove the rest of the way in silence. He stared straight ahead and she stared out the side window. The tears were there at the back of her eyes, but she’d be damned if she’d let them fall. As soon as he slid to a stop he was out of the truck and walking quickly to the house.

  She got out slowly and followed him up the steps and across the porch then through the front door he had left open. She closed it softly behind her as he started up the stairs and she turned to go to her bedroom. She only glanced at him briefly and kept walking when she heard him turn and start back down the steps. Just as she turned the knob his hand on her arm spun her around and he pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers in a kiss that picked up right where the last one left off.

  She moaned softly as he pulled her hips tightly against him and she felt how aroused he was. When her fingers slipped into the hair at the back of his neck, she could feel the hunger explode through him. He quickly jerked the snaps free on his shirt and pulled one of her hands down to press it against his chest. The deep groan that reverberated through him was a sound, a feeling that swept away that last shred of reservation that was left and she dragged her other hand down, across his chest and down to his belt.

  He pushed her backwards until she came up against the doorframe then turned with her, pulling her inside the room, never breaking the ever deepening kiss. Once they were inside, his back against the wall and holding her tightly against him, his hand moved just long enough to push the door closed. As soon as she had the belt buckle free, he worked to get the shirt off over her head. She lifted her arms and they parted just long enough for it to come free and be discarded. The bra followed quickly and he immediately filled his palm with one breast, not able to hold back the groan that the feel pulled from deep inside of him.

  Clay could hear one little whisper, one tiny voice very faintly at the back of his mind. It kept saying one word, over and over. Stop. But he couldn’t. His back came away from the wall and he pushed her backwards until they reached the bed. When she fell, he went with her, never letting go. His hands never stopped. They had to feel everywhere, touch everything. The feel of her hands struggling to free the buttons on his jeans had him teetering on the edge, swelling by the second.

  He finally broke the kiss to drag hungry lips across her jaw and down her neck. As they continued their journey down, he struggled to both push his boots off and free the buttons on her jeans. He was trying, but her hands sliding along his skin, fingers that ran through the short hair at the back of his neck kept him flying so high that nothing seemed to work and his fingers fumbled with the buttons that should have come free easily. And then they stopped moving. Everything stopped. His lips closed around one breast pulling her deeply inside with a soft moan that matched the one that came from her throat as her back arched to him. The feel of her inside his mouth, against his tongue was the most seductive and captivating thing he had ever experienced. The taste was exotic, like nothing he had ever tasted before. And it pushed him right over the edge. He couldn’t hear that voice anymore. He couldn’t think of anything other than how much he wanted her.

  The boots hit the floor and hers soon followed. His fingers magically started working in a hurried effort to rid them of anything between them. When the last one came free, he started working the jeans down only lifting his head long enough to switch to the other breast, not willing to give up the treasure he’d been given. Her hips lifted and she helped him push the top of the jeans past them and she kicked them off her feet. His fingers started a trail back up her leg, but she pulled his head back up to hers, pulling him back into another hungry kiss as she pushed his shoulder and they rolled until he was on his back. Her hands immediately went to work, pushing his jeans down. They both fought with them, trying to get them off until they were finally free and he pushed her to her back again then rose above her. He hesitated for only a heartbeat before he slipped inside with a low moan. He stayed still for as long as he could. He was so close, he knew he needed to go slow, but there was something inside of him, pushing him and driving him so hard that he couldn’t. And she woul
dn’t let him.

  Her hands were everywhere. In his hair, at his back, at his hips, urging him on. Lifting herself to meet him on every stroke. When she dragged them across his chest, letting her fingernails lightly scrape against his skin he was gone. She could have anything, he would do anything she wanted. Just as long as she wouldn’t stop. The tempo, the depth, the force all increased. Two breaths grew shorter as anticipation and desire burned higher. They had to break the kiss to drag in the breath they needed to keep going, but neither one’s lips were still. They were both too hungry for each other to not taste everywhere they could reach without stopping what they were doing. It was feverish and uncontrolled. Both of their bodies asking the other for more and getting it. When he felt the first tremor run through her, he grunted in his effort to try to wait for her. He turned his head just enough to press his lips against her hair just as it hit her full force and lifted her off the bed. She tightened so forcefully around him that he lost the battle.

  “Hailey,” he groaned hoarsely as the combination of his pulsing release and the tightening and loosening of her spasms around him resulted in a mixture of high flight and sweet pain.

  He didn’t know whose heart was beating harder. He could feel hers pounding against her ribs and his sounded like a bass drum. He let his lips nuzzle along the side of her head and her arms tightened around his neck as they struggled to breathe. He was almost ready to actually try to move when it hit him. Then all of that breath that he had managed to get back was gone again. And he couldn’t make any go in or out as he lifted his head slowly and looked down at her.

  “Oh, my God,” he whispered. “Hailey. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…I shouldn’t have…oh, damn. I’m so sorry,” he whispered and quickly pulled away from her and over to the side of the bed. He reached for his jeans and had just started to pull them on when she pressed against his back, sliding one arm over his shoulder and letting her hand roam down his chest. The other she slid under his arm and around him as her lips pressed softly against the side of his neck.

  “Clay, don’t go. We can worry tomorrow. Don’t go tonight,” she whispered.

  Her hands and her lips pulled at him. He let his eyes drift closed and leaned his head into hers.

  “Hailey…we shouldn’t. I shouldn’t… oooh,” he moaned softly as she nuzzled into the hair line directly behind his ear.

  “Don’t go,” she whispered again.

  He gradually lost his grip on the waistband of the jeans, letting them drop back to the floor as she pulled him back and pushed him down on the bed then let her lips move slowly along his neck then down. Thoughts of what he had done, thoughts of anybody or anything else were gone the second her lips touched his chest.

  Chapter Ten

  He opened his eyes slowly then closed them again and let out a slow breath. He remembered the spectacular sex. He remembered understanding what he’d done. And he remembered her asking him not to go and then transporting him back into a world he’d never known before. But he didn’t remember falling asleep with her in his arms. But that’s where she was. And he didn’t want to move. It felt so good to have her lying against him. Her head was on his shoulder, arm around his waist. He could feel the silkiness of her hair against his skin, against his cheek.

  He let his mind wander back over the touches, the kisses, soft caresses. The fiery, hunger-filled first time. The slow, sensuous second. That was the time he’d promised himself that he would stop in time to get a condom. But he didn’t. Not then and not the next time. Each time he tried it was too late. She wouldn’t stop him, and he couldn’t. He opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling with the guilt washing over him. He shouldn’t have done this. And now that he had where would it lead? She’d had far too much to drink. So had he, but he’d taken advantage of her. The kiss he had taken from her in the truck told him that she wouldn’t say no. The way she had answered it so fully left no doubt in his mind. He’d known that when he started back down those stairs. He knew before he took the first step that he was a bastard, but he could still taste her lips, still feel her hand pressed against his chest as she had pushed him backwards in that bar. So much that the craving to feel both again was gnawing a hole through him. So he’d gone back for more. And she’d given that and so much more. He wondered what she would feel when she woke up. Would she be okay with what had happened or would the full realization of what had happened hit her in the light of day?

  There wasn’t much he could do about it now. And whatever it cost him, he couldn’t wish away the most wondrous night he’d ever had. He didn’t know that a man could make love more than once so quickly. And he didn’t know that desires could be fanned right back into a bright, burning fire that consumed everything around them to the point that there was just nothing left but them.

  He let his eyes drift down to her face and he moved his hand to gently brush back a wisp of hair that fell across her cheek. She was so beautiful. He couldn’t see those pretty eyes that would light up like stars in the night when she was amused or excited. But he saw them last night. He’d never seen eyes that conveyed someone’s desires the way hers did. And he’d never felt skin so soft under his fingers. Fingers that he knew were too rough from working on the ranch. And still she had let him know by her reactions how much she wanted his touch. How much she didn’t want him to stop. And he hadn’t. But what would she feel today?

  He let out just the slightest breath then gently pressed his lips against her hair before he eased out from under her arm. He gathered his things then turned and gazed back at her for several seconds before he dropped his head and went silently through the door. He wouldn’t wake her yet. She could sleep a little longer and still have time to shower before they had to leave. His steps going up the stairs were leaden. He wasn’t sure which thing it was that was dragging him down. Guilt for taking advantage of her or the almost certain resignation that she was going to be upset when she understood what he’d done. Maybe both.

  Hailey drew in a deep breath and stretched as the slow smile spread across her face.

  “Damn, what a dream,” she whispered. It was several seconds before the smile collapsed and her eyes drifted open slowly. She lay very still as she tried to sort out dream and reality. Once she had she sat up slowly.

  “Oh, God. Oh, my God. What have I done?” she whispered. Her head was pounding but it was the realization of what she’d done…what they’d done that scared her. He’d already thought she was playing games. He would be certain of it now. She rubbed her hand gingerly across her forehead.

  “But it was so good. It was so perfect. How can that be wrong? Oh, God please. Don’t let him misunderstand,” she whispered hoarsely. She jumped when the soft knock came on the door.

  “I’m awake,” she called then moaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Never again. I will never get drunk again,” she whispered.

  “Is it okay if I come in?” Clay asked after he cracked the door open.

  She felt foolish gathering the sheets around her to cover herself after what they’d done, but she did it. “Yes,” she said quietly.

  He peeked inside then opened the door wider and walked to the bed then held out two aspirin and a bottle of water without saying anything.

  “Thanks,” she whispered as she took the aspirin and he opened the water then handed it to her.

  “Bad?” he asked gently.

  “A little. Not enough to keep me off of a horse.”

  “Is there anything that would keep you off of a horse?”

  She couldn’t help the little smile as she lifted her head up and shook it slightly. “Not that I can think of right off hand. I should go take a shower.”

  Clay nodded and started out but stopped before he went through the door. He tried to get the words out. He wanted to say he was sorry. He wanted to ask her not to be upset. But he couldn’t make them come out. He finally just shook his head and stepped outside then pulled the door closed behind him.

  He walked slowl
y to the kitchen and stopped just inside the door. He’d forgotten all about the food that Isobell had left out. He’d have to throw all of that away before they left. But coffee was the first priority and then he’d fix whatever he could find for a quick breakfast. It was later than he had thought when he woke up and they didn’t have a lot of time. If he had to, he’d send Laine and the others on ahead and they’d catch up.

  He’d just started the coffee brewing and was cutting up some sausage when he heard the front door open and close.

  “Kitchen,” he called then winced a little. His own head wasn’t feeling too great either.

  “Mornin’. Just thought I’d better check and see if you were up. And if you were still breathing,” Laine said then leaned against the doorframe.