by Jane Jamison
“So you didn’t say anything because of our families?” Of course, she’d been the same way. Afraid to make a move toward a real relationship. But that was then and she wouldn’t make the same mistake. She drew in a quick breath as Josh positioned his cock against her tight anus rings.
“I wish I had.” Josh tempted her by rubbing his shaft harder against the sensitive area.
“Why didn’t you say something? Maybe if you had, we would’ve come running.” Will played with her clit, renewing the swirl of passion inside her.
“Again. It doesn’t matter any longer.” Josh eased his cock inside just a bit more. She wasn’t sure whether he was taking it easy for her benefit or just teasing her more.
She smile, then looked behind her at Josh. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“I think she’s impatient, cuz.” Josh gripped her butt cheek then slid his cock inside her all the way. His balls tickled her skin. “Damn, but that feels good.”
The exquisite pain seared outward, enlivening her skin, her nerves, her very being. He stretched her anus walls, threatening to split her wide, but the pain soon morphed into something more, an awakening to a new pleasurable experience.
“Are you okay, darlin’?”
“More than okay. I never knew—” She gasped as Will entered her from the front, ripping her thought away.
They filled her body as they had always filled her dreams.
Her hand quickened over her clit, rubbing furiously as the fantasy continued. She was almost there but wanted to hold out until her dream men let their seed go. If she timed it just right, she’d come along with them. Her body tightened as she fought back the whirling roar of her climax.
It’s near. Oh, so—
The buzzing of her cell phone on her nightstand jolted her back into reality. Her eyes flew open, and the orgasm she was just about to have left her, leaving her aching and frustrated. She uttered an oath and snatched up her phone. “This had better be damned good.”
Crap. I hope it’s not one of my students’ parents.
Unlike most teachers, she gave out her personal phone number to parents, telling them that they could reach her for questions or concerns whenever they needed.
“You tell me. Were they as good as they look? Did you even do it yet?”
Aubrey Maxwell, one of her best friends, had lousy timing. But she had many other redeeming qualities, including a fierce loyalty to her friends. That was just one of her many assets that Tatum admired.
Did I do it? For a moment, she thought Aubrey had somehow known what she’d been doing. Then the sexual haze cleared and she remembered. Aubrey knew about the McLeans, the basket, and her plan. Had, in fact, been there when she’d purchased the basket. Buying their basket was supposed to have earned her the right to be their submissive and they her Doms for the night. Her plan had backfired when they’d left the auction early.
Which leaves me with plan B, providing I ever get up enough nerve to put it into action.
She blew out a ragged breath. “No. I haven’t contacted them yet.”
“Why not?”
Her friend was right, of course. She had no reason other than cowardice to blame for not calling the McLean cousins and inviting them to the old cabin. It was risky, but the cabin was the best place she could think of to meet with them. It stood on land that both families claimed and a legal battle that had gone on for many years was still going on.
“I’d think they’d be flattered to know that you bought their basket.”
“Maybe. But they’ll probably just think I bought it because it was for a good cause. That’s what I told Aaron that night. They won’t know I bought it because it was their basket.”
“You’ll have to tell them. But you can’t do that until you’ve actually called them and gotten together. So get to it, girl.”
Tatum was about to make up another excuse for not contacting them when Aubrey started making clucking noises.
“You’re chicken, aren’t you?”
Sometimes she hated it that Aubrey knew her so well. “Yeah, well, maybe. But hey, this isn’t an easy thing to do. I’ve had a crush on them for most of my life, and they’ve never so much as said boo to me.”
Tatum cringed. She hadn’t told Aubrey about the times she’d met up with the men during their college years. Not that there was much to tell.
“That’s not true. They talked to you in high school. And I think they would’ve done more back then if they could’ve gotten away with it.”
Aubrey was right. They had talked to her, but every time they had she’d been overcome with an attack of shyness that had her trembling, unable to focus on what they’d said. She’d rather think that they hadn’t paid any attention to her at all. That was better than remembering how she’d blown every chance she’d had with them.
“Pff. They didn’t know I existed. Besides, every time they came within ten feet of me, my brothers got in the way.”
“That may have been true, but that’s in the past. What matters is what you do now. What about when you went into the Bandit Bar last Saturday? Didn’t you say you talked to Josh?”
“Oh, yeah, sure I did. We had a regular gab fest. I talked to him long enough to order a drink. Then I was so tongue-tied that I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Instead, I just sat there like an idiot while he flirted with another girl. You know. One of those skinny blonde types with perky boobs.”
She’d wanted to rip out the girl’s hair for flirting with him. Jealousy had wrapped her in a tight blanket of anger so hard that she’d finally had to get up and leave before she lost control.
“You are aware, aren’t you, that you’re describing yourself?”
Tatum sat up and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror over the dresser. She eyed the image critically. She wasn’t chubby any longer, and the braces and glasses were gone, but down deep, she was still the girl she had been back then. And coloring her hair a dark blonde shade helped make her feel sexier. Not that she really thought blondes had more fun.
“I’m not skinny by any means.”
“Maybe not. But you’re one better. You’re voluptuous with curves. Come on. You have to have seen how guys look at you.”
Tatum wasn’t comfortable talking about how she looked. “Not really. But then, I wouldn’t care.” Her focus had always been and would always remain on the McLean cousins.
“This is ridiculous, Tatum. You guys should’ve gotten together a long time ago.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” But she appreciated that Aubrey felt that way.
“It’s true. And I think it would’ve happened, too, if it weren’t for that damn stupid feud. Who do you people think you are? The Hatfields and the McCoys? It’s time to let the past go.”
“I agree. But convincing my family and theirs is the problem.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “I’m not sure anything could put that war to rest.”
“Maybe you getting together with Josh and Will could do it. They’re going to want you as much as you want them. After all, I remember seeing them watch you even back then.”
“Aw, hell, Aubrey. It’s nice of you to say so, but reality is reality. They weren’t shy. If they’d wanted me back then, they would’ve made it clear. But even if they had, the fight between our families would’ve kept us apart.”
“Like I said before. It’s a damn stupid feud.”
Aubrey was right. The feud was ridiculous, a holdover from past grudges that had bled into battles over land. She’d gladly give up any claim to the land if it would end the war. Why couldn’t they let the past die and live for the future? And yet, having heard about it all her life, she’d never believed anything could be done about it until she’d gone away to college and had learned that most people didn’t have their families mixed up in a never-ending feud. It was a simple revelation, but one that had shaken her to her core. Still, finding a way to end the ongoing rivalry wouldn’t be as easy as simply hoping everyone would come to the sa
me realization.
But could it be done? Could the feud be broken once and for all? If she could figure out how to make everyone get along, she’d do it. Then the way would be clear for her and the McLean men to be together. Not just in secret as they’d done before, but out in the open for the world to see.
Yeah, right. Like that’s ever going to happen.
Until that day, she was bound and determined to get with Josh and Will any way she could. Feud be damned.
First, however, she needed to gather her courage and take the first step. That was the hardest part.
“I agree with you, Aubrey. This silly feud has gone on long enough.”
“Then do something to change it. Maybe getting together with Josh and Will is the first step in breaking the feud. Who knows? Maybe they feel the same way you do. It’s not like I’ve ever heard of them getting into a fight with any of the Baldwins.”
Although Tatum could remember a few scuffles that had happened back in high school, she hadn’t gotten wind of anything since they’d come back home. Maybe Aubrey was on to something. Did she dare try? Or was Aubrey’s optimism making her think foolish thoughts?
Aubrey had always been an even bigger dreamer than she was. “So you think my getting together with Will and Josh might benefit everyone? Or would we just be starting another fight? Like with a Juliet and Romeo times two?”
“Who knows? But you’ll never gain anything unless you try. And winding up with those two Romeos would be worth the risk. As long as it’s without the tragic ending.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Tatum, have you heard anything from Farah?”
Farah McLean was a good friend. Although their families were feuding, they’d looked the other way when it came to the girls’ friendships. As long as she and Farah hadn’t flung it in their families’ faces, they’d been allowed to remain friends. It didn’t hurt that Farah being Josh and Will’s sister made her feel close to them if only from a distance.
Tatum shook her head as though Aubrey could see her do so through the phone. “Not since you and I had lunch together. All my calls keep going to her voice mail.”
“Hmm, that’s kind of weird. But then again, last I heard she was working on a big case up in Billings. You know how she gets. So focused on a case that she forgets everything else.”
Farah’s dedication to her work in law enforcement was admirable but worried Tatum. “Yeah, that has to be it. I’m sure she’s probably talked to her family, including Will and Josh.”
“Which, by the way, could be your reason for calling them. Ask them about Farah and then slide right into, ‘hey, you want to get it on?’”
Tatum laughed. “Oh, yeah. That’s so subtle.”
“You’re not going for subtle, are you?”
“No, I guess not. So you don’t think I’m weird or slutty or whatever for wanting both of them?”
“Are you crazy?” Aubrey’s laugh made Tatum smile. “I think it’s a great idea. I say go for it no matter what or who threatens to get in your way.”
“Well, I was just about to call them.”
“Were you? Really? I knew it. I could feel it so that’s why I called when I did.”
Tatum wasn’t about to tell Aubrey what she’d really interrupted. It didn’t matter now that she was ready to make the fantasy a reality. “Yeah. I was. Until you called me.”
“Oh, please. That’s such a lame-ass excuse.”
“Watch the language, Miss Maxwell. You wouldn’t want your students hearing you talk that way.”
“And you wouldn’t want them to see the basket you bought, either. If you don’t tell, I won’t tell.”
“Oh, trust me. No way am I telling.”
Tatum’s gaze drifted to the basket. All hell would’ve broken out if someone had seen her buying the basket at the auction. It wasn’t fair, but most folks didn’t think of teachers as real people, much less those who might want to experiment sexually with not one man, but two.
“Then get busy and call those hunks before someone else gets their claws into them.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Talking to Aubrey had given her that extra little boost to get her over her fear. “I’ll check you later at school, okay?”
“You bet. And be prepared to tell all the juicy details. Got it?”
“Not all the juicy details. Bye, girl.”
Tatum clicked off the call as Aubrey’s laughter rang out.
She still had the phone in her hand and found herself staring at it. It wasn’t like she had to look up their number. From what she’d heard, they still lived on the McLean ranch. That wasn’t unusual. Like the Baldwins, the McLean family lived on one big ranch since they had enough land to accommodate everyone’s homes. Even then, one family often resided in the same huge house.
As part of the well-to-do McLean family, Will and Josh didn’t need to have outside jobs, but they both helped out on the ranch. Will had set up his office in the main house and was an in-demand graphic designer. He could pick and choose his projects and take time off whenever he wanted. Josh, who had a reputation for partying and dating a lot of women—something she planned to change—worked part-time at the Bandit Bar as a bartender. It was probably just a way for him to hang out and get paid while he played.
She’d had her ear to the ground, which wasn’t a difficult thing to do in a small town, and had listened as news of their arrival had spread like chicken pox on a two-year-old child. Problem was that a lot of the information was coming from other single women who had already gotten to know the handsome cowboys.
Come on, Tatum. It’s just one call, that’s all. If they say no, then you can move on.
And if they said yes? Then she’d hurry her not-so-tiny butt to the isolated cabin.
As far as she was concerned, the old battered shack was like the age-old rivalry itself. It had stood there for many years, unused and uncared for, a run-down reminder of what might’ve been had the feud never happened.
She swallowed and skimmed her thumb over the phone to bring up her contacts. Josh’s and Will’s names, along with their numbers, came up along with contact information for the main McLean ranch house.
“Here goes nothing.”
She was both irritated and surprised when her phone rang before she could make the most important call of her life. Hitting the speaker button, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, there. Is this Tatum Baldwin?”
Her breath hitched in her throat as recognition hit her. She’d know that voice anywhere.
Chapter Two
“Tatum, it’s Will McLean.”
When Tatum didn’t answer, he wondered if she’d hung up on him. After all, as a Baldwin, she might not want to talk to him even though they’d been friendly in the past. He’d never held much of a grudge against the Baldwins and had thought she’d felt the same way. But who knew how she felt nowadays?
He smiled as he remembered what she’d looked like in high school. She’d had braces and a horrible haircut, but she’d changed. She’d lost all that in college, and judging from the way she looked on the street the other day, she’d gotten even hotter since the last time they’d seen her. The chunky, shy girl that had played clarinet had transformed into a curvy goddess that made him drool whenever he thought about her. She’d even brought his cousin, Josh, who was never at a loss for words, to jaw-dropping silence. Neither one of them had made the move to call out to her, and he’d regretted that as soon as his mind had cleared.
But there was no time like the present to rectify that mistake.
“Tatum? Are you there?”
“Oh. Yes, I’m here.” She sounded hesitant, almost as shy as she had been back in high school.
“Great.” He shot a glare at Josh who sat on his horse, his body leaning toward him as he tried to listen in on the conversation.
Josh lifted his eyebrows in question. “Did she hang up?”
Will shook his head and hoped Josh would get the hin
t to keep his voice low. Or better yet, to keep his mouth shut. “I don’t know if you remember me—”
“Are you kidding? Of course, I do.”
He smiled at her exuberate reaction. He liked that she seemed excited to hear from him. “Well, it’s been a few years since the last time we hung out, so I wasn’t sure. Anyway, I don’t know if you know the Masons or not…”
“Do you mean Milly Mason’s family? Milly’s in my show choir.”
Which was exactly why he was calling her. Or rather, the excuse he was using for the call.
His horse, Sky, pranced under him, picking up on his nervousness. Josh was better at approaching women, but he was the one who had the means to get Tatum involved with them.
“That’s why I’m calling. George Mason, her father, said Milly mentioned that the show choir was going to regionals in the summer. Milly saw one of the designs I’d done for a client of mine and asked her dad if I might do a design for the choir. You know, something cool to display whenever the group went on stage.”
“Really? I hadn’t even thought about doing a sign or a banner. Is that what you mean?”
He had her interested. He could hear it in her voice. “Yeah. The design would, of course, be my gift to the school, and George said he’d pay to get the sign made. I told him he could take credit for my part and give you the credit you’re due. That way, neither you nor I will catch any flak from our families for working with one another. If you want the sign, that is. And if handling it on the down-low is what you’d like to do.”
“I think it’s a great idea. I just wish I’d thought of it.”
But then you might not have asked me to do it. And that would’ve been a damn shame.
“As long as the kids get what they need, it doesn’t matter who came up with the idea. I’m by no means an expert in music or shows, but I think having a cool sign will add to their overall presentation and make them stand out from the other competitors. So it’s something you’d be interested in?”
“Definitely. It’s such a nice thing for you to do.”