Harlequin Blaze June 2015 Box Set: Midnight ThunderFevered NightsCome On OverTriple Time

by Vicki Lewis Thompson

  He thrust inside her all in one go. And then he kept thrusting, never losing his rhythm as he lifted her left leg and settled it over his shoulder.

  Somehow, his thumb had never wavered. He’d even softened the pressure, as if he could read her body like a book.

  Her breathing had become panting, her thoughts reduced to begging and her grip on him had to hurt. But none of that mattered because she was going to come any second. Every muscle in her body tightened, and it was clear he wasn’t going to last, either.

  As hard as she tried to keep her eyes open, to watch him unravel, they closed as she climaxed. As her world became nothing but shimmering sensation, wave after wave of sheer, unrelenting pleasure.

  He touched her cheek, then trailed down to her breast with an unsteady hand. She clenched her muscles around his erection, rocked her hips.

  His raw, feral groan forced her eyes open.

  Trent was arched above her, his neck corded, his muscles straining. He was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen, and she wanted to remember this forever.

  When he finally came down, he pulled out of her before he flopped to her side. She was still learning how to breathe again, as the aftershocks kept surprising the breath out of her.

  “I never expected...this,” he whispered.

  She knew just what he meant. “Me, neither.”

  “Well, hell,” he said.

  All Shelby could do was nod.

  13

  SHELBY WASN’T NEXT to him when Trent woke up shortly after sunrise. He knew she must’ve left his bed sometime after midnight. They’d been awake until then, making out like a couple of horny teenagers. Hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time he’d needed three condoms in one night.

  He saw that her bedroom door was slightly ajar when he slipped into the bathroom. He thought he heard her moving around in the kitchen so he listened to be certain before going about his business. It sure would be great if she was making coffee. Normally he got it ready the evening before and programmed the timer. But there’d been nothing routine about last night. They’d barely made it up for air.

  Shelby was amazing. Beautiful, smart, kind. Talented. In a lot more ways than he should be thinking about right now. He turned on the shower and pressed the heel of his hand down on his erection. For some reason he decided greeting her with a hard-on might not be the smoothest move.

  They’d stayed clear of conversations about the ranch or anything else of importance last night. He didn’t regret one minute. But two things hadn’t changed. Shelby was fresh off a relationship that had gone sour, and sooner or later she’d discover she had no claim to the Eager Beaver. He dreaded that day as much as he did a trip to the dentist. That was saying something considering his phobia.

  He finished his shower and got dressed, hoping like hell that when he entered the kitchen, he wouldn’t walk headfirst into a wall of regret. The second he opened the bathroom door he smelled coffee.

  Shelby was standing at the sink with damp hair, dressed in jeans and a pink blouse, her back to him.

  Hoping not to startle her, he said, “Good morning.”

  She jumped anyway, before turning with a smile. “Hey.”

  A part of him wanted to walk right up and kiss her. But instinct kept him in check. She seemed a little stiff. Yet she’d set his mug on the counter for him.

  “Thanks for making coffee.”

  “I don’t know if it’s strong enough. I used two scoops.”

  “Great.” He liked three, but he’d drink it any way she made it.

  She sipped from her own mug and watched him pour the brew into his. He took his time adding some sugar from the white canister next to the coffeemaker. The sudden silence felt awkward. He’d been leery of how things would go between them, but he hadn’t expected this.

  He gave his coffee a brief stir and left it on the counter. Dammit. This sucked. He looked at her. “I want to kiss you.”

  Caught in the middle of a sip, she quickly swallowed and blinked at him. “So what’s stopping you?”

  Trent laughed, mostly at himself. Taking her mug out of her hand, he set it on the counter next to his. A light tug and she stepped into his arms.

  Her lips were soft and yielding as he took his time, rubbing a hand down her back, enjoying her warmth and womanly curves. Today she smelled like peaches. That was something new. Probably her shampoo. Her skin just smelled clean and sweet. He waited until she parted her lips in invitation before he used his tongue. And promised himself he wouldn’t get carried away.

  Not anything he needed to worry about, apparently. Shelby let him have a little taste, then broke the kiss and stepped back. She lowered the hand that had been placed lightly on his chest.

  “I have a lot of work to do today,” she said, her gaze flickering.

  “We both do.” He picked up his coffee and gulped. Damn, it was hot. “After I drink this I’ll go tend to Daisy.”

  “I’m supposed to do the milking—”

  “You can have a break.”

  “No, you don’t have to...” She bit her lip. “Look, last night was really—”

  “Great,” he finished to ease her look of distress. “For me at least. But you don’t want it to happen again. I get it.” He lifted a shoulder in a deceptively casual shrug. “It’s okay.”

  “No. It’s not that.” She cleared her throat. “It’s just—well, we hadn’t talked. You know, before getting carried away and all...” Her voice trailed off and she turned her gaze to the window.

  Trent sighed.

  “See?” She darted him a glance. “This is exactly what I mean.”

  “What?”

  “That sigh.” A blush stained her cheeks. “You think I have expectations. But I don’t. Last night was great. Better than great for me.” A tiny smile teased the corners of her lips and then she slumped. “We should’ve set the record straight first.”

  “Shelby, I sighed because you can barely look at me.” He set down his mug, his eyes staying on her face. “I hate seeing you uncomfortable. And for that record of yours, not once did it occur to me you’d have expectations.”

  She blinked, then studied him. “What about you?”

  “Me? Expectations? No.” He shook his head. “Hopes and dreams? Definitely.” She laughed and his mood brightened. He tried for her hand and caught her fingertips. “Better than great, huh?”

  She leveled him with a mock glare. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to screw like bunnies.”

  “Okay,” he said with a solemn nod. It wasn’t easy. He tugged on two fingers, urging her closer. She took a step forward, and so did he.

  Trent put his arms around her and she looped hers around his neck. He kissed the sweet spot behind her ear, smiling at the predictable shiver rippling through her body. “After I tend to Daisy, I’ll make us some breakfast,” he said, and brushed another kiss a little lower. “How’s that?”

  “You must be starving.”

  “Oh, I am.” He bit her earlobe.

  “I meant because we skipped dinner.”

  “That’s all I meant, too.”

  She leaned back to look at him. He made sure he was the picture of innocence. Except he was getting hard and he knew by her raised brows the instant she felt it.

  “Ignore everything due south. This will be only a kiss. I promise.”

  Shelby smiled just before their lips met. He couldn’t help grinning in response, which made for a pretty lousy kiss. Neither of them complained. They got right back on track, as if their lips and tongues had been doing the same dance together for a whole lifetime. A troubling thought to some degree.

  They were getting warmed up real nice when Shelby stiffened suddenly. “The movers...” she said, drawing back, eyes wide. “They’re coming this morning a
nd I’m not ready for them.”

  “What do you have to do?” he asked, the reminder forcing him to think about something he should’ve considered before having sex with her.

  He didn’t try to hold on to her. Without a doubt, he knew he had Shelby’s best interests at heart by keeping his promise to Violet. It was possible Shelby wouldn’t see it that way. Eventually she’d find out she had no stake in the ranch. And that he’d known before the movers had arrived, before they’d slept together. And when she did find out, he’d damn well better be the one who told her.

  * * *

  AFTER SHELBY EMPTIED the fourth box, she carefully broke down the cardboard and laid it on the pile by her bedroom door. She wouldn’t unpack everything, not yet. Just some winter clothes, a few kitchen items and the rest of her jewelry supplies. She hadn’t tried to find her grandfather’s will. By itself the document meant very little. What Violet had confided about the ranch yesterday still weighed on Shelby. Especially after last night.

  While there was no telling if Violet was delusional, or had any ability to determine who owned the Eager Beaver, it still felt wrong not to tell Trent. Thank goodness for the promise Shelby had made. At least she could fall back on that if things got dicey. Of course that made her somewhat of a coward. But after the glorious night they’d shared, it was going to kill her to see the look on his face if he learned the ranch didn’t belong to him or his family. Another eight or nine days without being sure would be torture enough, but then they’d have to get through three months together. Boy, that had certainly sounded like a better deal a couple of days ago.

  Why couldn’t Violet have waited until she had proof before saying anything? Somehow Shelby felt quite sure Violet wasn’t trying to cause trouble.

  But she had to stop thinking about Violet, the ranch and even Trent if she could. It was great to have her things within reach. Most of it was stored in the shed, but only because she’d started working in the third room. Trent had insisted she use the space and even moved the few boxes he’d kept in there.

  They’d found a spot in the living room for her overstuffed reading chair but her couch was outside. The shed was the most logical place to store the big items. She’d even decided to put her bed in there. But only after she was certain Trent understood the decision was not a statement about their new sex life. Using the smaller daybed simply made more sense.

  Remembering his feeble attempt to control a smile while she’d explained her reasoning made her shake her head. How could a man be so irritating and endearing at the same time? The way he slid back and forth between the professional horse trainer and the simple cowboy still amused her. Trent was one of a kind. She really liked him, dammit. Twice she’d made a special trip to the kitchen just to peek out the window and watch him work with Solomon.

  That baloney had to stop. She had so much of her own work to do.

  The county fair would be opening before she knew it, and with only two dozen pairs of earrings and fifteen necklaces in her inventory she was right to be concerned.

  God, what if she couldn’t sell a single piece?

  Her stomach knotted. She shoved the harmful thought aside. She didn’t know the area or the people who lived around Blackfoot Falls. Her work might not appeal to them so it wasn’t wrong to be prepared for the worst. Of course she’d be disappointed but she couldn’t afford self-doubt. Her jewelry had been popular right up until Donald’s family had made her stop making them. There had to be a market for her designs somewhere. Her best bet might end up being to sell the jewelry online.

  She hung up a few sweaters, glanced at her dresser standing in the corner and did a little happy dance. Who would’ve thought she could be so excited about having real drawers? Her gaze caught on the digital clock sitting on top. Midafternoon already and she hadn’t gotten to work yet.

  “Shelby?” Trent stood at her door. His voice alone sent her heart into a somersault. The way he smiled at her curled her toes. “Can you come for a minute?”

  “Sure.” She stepped over bags of toiletries and miscellaneous items she needed to go through later. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ll show you,” he said, holding out his hand.

  “Can’t you tell me?”

  “Nope.”

  “You’re being cryptic.”

  “Yep.”

  She laughed at his lopsided smile and let his hand close around hers. It felt weirdly right and safe to be led all the way to the barn without him letting go even once. Safe, and perhaps a little too comfortable.

  This wasn’t her standing on her own, forging a new path into the future.

  Oh, for God’s sake. Sometimes she drove herself crazy. In the grand scheme of things, the two of them were the proverbial ships in the night. Her new life had begun the day she’d left Denver. Trent was a bonus she hadn’t expected. And she needed to shut up and enjoy him for as long as things lasted between them.

  “We’ll have to be quiet,” he whispered as they disappeared into the shadows at the far back.

  She heard something. Soft yet high-pitched, almost a whine.

  “Wha—?” A silencing finger touched her lips.

  A few more feet and they stopped. He slipped behind her and wrapped her in his arms, so that she leaned back against his chest. He ducked his head to her level and pointed to a short stack of hay bales.

  Mostly it was dark and her eyes were still adjusting. Seeping through narrow gaps in the wall the dappled sunlight helped. Shelby squinted, listened. Was that a cat between the wall and the hay? With a whole bunch of tiny kittens?

  A soft gasp escaped her. She clamped her mouth shut.

  Trent pressed his cheek to hers, and she felt him smile.

  Mama had spotted them, her eyes green and glowing in the murky light, piercing them with a warning glare. Her tail shot high and twitched. Probably the feline version of giving them the finger for disturbing her babies. Shelby really didn’t know much about cats.

  “They’re only a few hours old,” Trent said, keeping his voice low.

  “I didn’t know you had a cat. What’s her name?”

  “She’s not mine.”

  “Then whose?”

  “She’s feral. I might’ve fed her a few times,” he said, straightening. “Hell, I’ve been calling her Tom. Should’ve known it was another female.”

  Shelby turned to grin at him. “Oh, poor Trent. Surrounded by women. You have Mutt.”

  “Yeah, right. The traitor.”

  “Mutt?”

  “He’s been wanting to sleep with you since the day you showed up. At least I beat him to it.”

  “You did not just say that.”

  He smiled and motioned with his head for them to leave. “I’ll check on them throughout the day,” he said, keeping an arm around her shoulders as they exited the barn. “They should be okay.”

  “Could you tell how many kittens?”

  “Five, I think. You going to finish unpacking?”

  “Maybe this evening. I have to get to work.” She sensed his disappointment. “So I can knock off at a decent hour.”

  He didn’t react as she’d hoped. Just lowered his arm and nodded. “Me, too. I have some repairs to make on the east corral. I heard we might be getting some cold temperatures.”

  “Oh, no. What about the fair?”

  “The weekend’s supposed to be fine. They’re predicting the cold front to hit on Monday.”

  “Snow?”

  “I hope not. I might have to buy a new winter jacket. Living in Texas for ten years spoiled me.”

  “That’s one reason I was so relieved to get my things. I have a ton of sweatshirts and sweaters. It would’ve killed me to spend a penny on clothes.” They stopped at the porch steps. “It’s not that I’m a cheapskate,” she said, looking up into his
steady gaze, her heart beginning to pound. “I’ll be putting a lot of money into supplies. Beads are cheap, but silver isn’t. I ordered a soldering iron online yesterday, which will probably take at least ten days to arrive. Plus I need a new torch, a good backup supply of soldering picks and silver wire... Sorry, I don’t know why I’m rambling. Too much on my mind.” They both just stood there. “Are you coming inside?”

  “Not unless you need my help moving something.”

  “No, not really.” She should be glad he was staying outside. Otherwise he’d be a distraction. “I can make coffee so you can fill your thermos.”

  “I still have some.” He pressed his lips together, something hot and unmistakable flaring in his eyes. Trent wanted to kiss her. She’d bet he wanted to do more than that, and holy crap, she doubted she could refuse. “Call if you need me,” he said, his voice and expression too neutral to not mean something. So what was he trying to hide? “I’ll be in the stable or the corral.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled, and as soon as he made a move to go she stepped onto the porch, telling herself she wouldn’t look back.

  Her willpower carried her into the house. Once inside she peered out the screen door, watching him walk to the stable. Even his stride seemed a bit off. His demeanor had shifted in a matter of seconds. Shelby was pretty sure something important had just happened. She just didn’t know what it was.

  14

  WHEN SHELBY’S GLUE gun died on her, she decided to call it quits for the day. She had another one somewhere but this was her favorite. Working without a spare made her nervous so she’d have to check with the variety store in town or place another order online. Also, discovering that she’d outgrown working with beads, colored glass and the occasional feather or shell was dampening her enthusiasm.

  She should’ve known better. Back in college, earrings made from those kinds of materials had been her bread and butter. But after working for the Williamsons, she’d come too far from her early days of experimenting with cheaper supplies.

  And she had to admit she’d become accustomed to cushier work. Designing expensive baubles was a whole lot easier than getting her hands dirty and bending over a work table all day.