He glanced down and grinned. He loved it when her temper flared. That aggression would be enough to fuel their lust in a matter of seconds.
Baron slapped his hands against the surface behind her, barricading her against the door. “I need a minute.” He took a deep breath, trying to beat down that raging masculine beast inside him, the one daring him to take her, fuck her, and savagely claim her as his.
Patience blinked. She watched him with those knowing eyes, seemingly afraid to breathe one word of protest then.
Baron’s heart hammered against his chest. Everything he’d wanted, everything he’d ever believed in, was right there in front of him. But she wasn’t entirely his for the taking, at least not yet.
He was about to change that.
Chapter Five
“I’m in love with you.”
“What?” She slowly shook her head, but the gesture wasn’t as if she were denying the possibility. Instead, she was processing. “This can’t happen, Baron.”
“Deny you have feelings for me.”
He had tried to get them to this place before and she’d always put up barriers and punched the brakes. This time, she wasn’t escaping. He wouldn’t let her run from the truth.
“You know I care about you.” She gripped his arms. “I’ve told you I care about you.”
“We both know it’s more than that. If I needed proof—not that I did—you gave it to me this morning. You’re in love with me.” He stared down at her then, certain his heart would break if she told him differently but equally sure she wouldn’t lie about her feelings. “You have been for a long time, but this morning? None of that would’ve happened if you hadn’t been one-hundred percent certain of your feelings for me.”
Patience looked away from him. He tucked his fingers under her chin and brought her face forward once again. “You can admit it in front of them or you can tell me now. It doesn’t matter to me. Either way, dodging your feelings for me stops today, Patience.”
“Dodging you? How can you say that?” Her voice broke. “I spend every waking hour with you.” Her hands locked on his forearms and she tried to move him out of her way. “I’m with you more than anyone.”
“Exactly.” His chest tightened. “And that fact drove me to the brink of insanity when I was lying in bed with you asleep in my arms. You’re already a part of me, Patience. Someone tried to kill you. If they’d succeeded, yes, it would’ve devastated Mark and Spenser, but I don’t know if I could’ve gone on without you. Don’t you see, you’re not just the love of my life, Patience, you are my life!”
Patience stilled. They stared at one another for a few quiet moments before she whispered, “You can’t mean that.”
“Why? Because I haven’t made love to you?” He balked at that. “So we understand one another, you should clear your schedule for the day. Hot, ravenous sex is on the agenda later this afternoon.”
“Baron, you have to stop this before—”
“It ain’t happening, baby,” he said in a voice he barely recognized as his own. He was a stubborn man but he hadn’t shown Patience this side of himself. He’d avoided manhandling her and that had been a real effort because every single time he was this close to her, all he could think about was throwing her over his shoulder, slapping her ass to grab her attention, and stomping off to the nearest bedroom.
A locked public restroom would work too.
“We can’t do this. It isn’t right, Baron.”
“Was it right that you slept in my arms last night? Was it right that I spent weeks sleeping on your couch? How about this morning, Patience…was it right when you were stripped down in front of me and my cock was in your mouth?” He cupped her chin. “Tell me this isn’t right.” He stared at her lips, wanting to taste them, dying to kiss her so he would know how her tongue slipped across his, how her body arched against his own as his lips traveled down her neck. “Answer something for me. Have you ever sat them down and asked for a commitment?”
Patience’s eyes watered. She glanced sideways, but he held her flushed face with a firmer grip, willing her to look at him and acknowledge the truth.
“Answer me, Patience.” He wanted to know what they’d told her. He realized how serious they were at one time but then their visits to North Carolina had become less frequent. Tabloids had suggested the McCoy brothers had gained their popularity thanks to a slew of dedicated groupies that followed the band. At the time, Baron hadn’t asked questions because he hadn’t wanted to know anything that would potentially hurt Patience.
“We…” She took a deep breath and blurted, “We have an understanding. Until they can settle down, until they’re off the road, we work with what we have.”
“And what does that mean exactly?”
“It means they don’t want me sleeping around.”
“And in return, do they give you their loyalty?”
“Why are you doing this?” she asked softly.
Baron slammed his fist against the wall. “Because I want to know, damn it!”
“They haven’t. If they had found someone they were interested in, they would’ve called and we would’ve talked about it. That was our deal. While they’re on the road, I asked for that much.” She took a deep breath and quickly added, “Baron, please. Let’s talk on the way home.”
“On the trip home?” He chuckled. “That’s definitely not happening.”
Months of angst rolled to the fore and as much as he enjoyed giving her what she wanted, this was one time when Patience McKay wasn’t getting her way. He bracketed his arm around her waist and pulled her against him. His rigid length nestled against her crotch and she blushed but didn’t try to break his grip.
“We’re gonna have a lot to do on the flight back to Fletcher, but we won’t be talking about our feelings for one another. We’ll have all that settled long before then.” He stole away with a rapacious kiss, a claiming kiss, the kind of kiss he should’ve taken months ago, but if not months ago, definitely within the last twenty-four hours.
At first she resisted, but resistance was only temporary. Her hands knotted in his jacket and she pulled him to her. Those naturally puckered lips parted in acceptance and he deepened their kiss. Sure, he should’ve tried to hold it together. Drew was outside waiting on them. Her men, her boyfriends—his best friends—would arrive there shortly.
Those facts didn’t stop him. Their kiss turned more ravenous and she was even more receptive. He pressed his lengthening cock against the juncture between her thighs, enjoying the little whimpers she made as he fed their passion by dragging his fingers up and down the side of her swollen breasts.
“Baron.” His name fell from her lips as soon as he abandoned her mouth. He left kisses up and down her slender neck. He could take her there behind a closed door and claim her as his submissive woman, his beautiful lover. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind, thanks to her breathless whispers, her sultry moans.
“Don’t stop me, Patience. Not yet. I know what’s on the other side of this wall, but what matters most is what’s right here.” His fingers slipped underneath her shirt and he inched them across her smooth flesh, craving another whimper from her. Grinning into their kiss, he thought of their enjoyable morning. He damn sure knew how to draw out those sweet singsong vocals, but calling her out as his submissive then was outright cheating.
He’d witnessed the impact when he’d called Patience his sub. The simply uttered word had been more than enough to make her blush, enough to make her inch toward him, more than enough to make her drop her towel and sink to her knees. God, yeah, he could cheat right then and there. It wasn’t fair, but it was just.
Whether she realized it or not, she was already his. She belonged to him more than she belonged to the McCoy brothers.
He unsnapped her jeans and gently worked her zipper down. She’d bolt if he made a frantic attempt to slip his fingers inside her panties. Instead of ripping away her clothes, he returned to her lips, thrusting his tongue inside her mo
uth until she arched in his arms. Her body was practically pleading for an intimate invasion, that first long-awaited impalement.
She rolled her head to the side and he pecked her chin before leaving a trail of kisses up and down her cheek. He then made his way to her ear. Nipping at her small lobe, he enjoyed those ragged, broken breaths, the breathless whispers, and adamant pleas.
He returned to her lips but didn’t kiss her. This time, he hovered over them, thrusting his fingers underneath her silk panties and working them right inside her moist pussy. Her mouth opened and she closed her eyes. This time her whimpers beckoned him.
“Tell me, Patience.” Damn it all. He would cheat. He would call her out as he saw her because then she would be herself with him.
Baron wanted the Patience he had held throughout the night, the one who had dropped her towel timidly but somehow found the strength to approach him like a willing and confident familiar lover. “Ask me, sweet sub.”
Her pussy clenched around the tips of his fingers. She wasn’t just moist then, she was wet and ready.
“God bless, Baron,” she whimpered, climbing him then.
His cock was rod-hard. He wanted to take her, wanted to sink between her thighs and just enjoy the hell out of her. He thrust inside her pussy, driving his fingers inside her. “There you go, sweet baby.” He whispered across her succulent lips, loving the dreamy expression on her flushed face, that look of passion and acceptance, true unadulterated need.
Her hands fell to his belt and she gripped the leather as if she were holding on for dear life, as if she believed that belt was the only thing stopping her from taking what she wanted, what she’d needed for far longer than she’d ever admit to Baron or anyone else.
“Baron.” She stretched her neck, thinned her lips, and stared up at the ceiling. “Damn it, I can’t do this anymore.”
“What can’t you do, honey?”
“Deny it. Deny us.”
He thrust harder and faster, wanting to make her come, needing to see her coming down from a climax he’d initiated, fueled, and permitted. “Let me watch you, Patience.”
Baron was one second away from going to the floor when a hard hammering knock fell against the door and sent her entire form forward. “Hey, you two! Either bring the walls on down or come on out and eat so you can go somewhere and finish this.”
“I’m gonna kill him.” Baron paused. His fingers twitched inside her and he grinned as her pussy tightened around them. “Just a damned minute, Drew!”
He blew out a hard breath and mashed his forehead against hers. She turned her head one way or another. Her disappointment undoubtedly matched his own.
“Don’t worry, sub,” Baron whispered, pumping his fingers in a slow and hypnotic rhythm. “Drew may have lousy timing now but he won’t be around the next time I get a hold of you.”
“Baron, there can only be a next time if…”
He pressed his lips to hers and quickly turned the hush-kiss into another heated one. When he backed away from her, he whispered, “Don’t ruin this moment by regretting what happened here. It is what it is, Patience.”
She went to the mirror and combed her fingers through her hair, keeping her eyes on him and not really paying much attention to her attempts at making herself more presentable. “And what is it?”
“I already told you,” he said, opening the door. “Love.”
* * * *
“You can thank me later,” Drew said, his cocksure smile spreading wider. “Mark and Spenser are held up at the studio but someone tipped off a few reporters. I didn’t take you for the kind of gal who wanted her name splashed across the front page of trashy tabloids.”
“What’s up?” Baron held out his arm and waited for Patience to reclaim her seat. Once they were around the table again, Baron jabbed his finger at the window and added, “Let me guess. That crowd out there is headed our way?”
“That’s not the crew I’m worried about,” Drew said, studying Patience. “And I’d hate for Mark and Spenser to find out about you two this way.”
Patience grabbed the salt and doused her food with too much of it. Before she took a bite, she lowered her sandwich and asked, “Are you threatening me, Drew?”
“Why hell no.” He crinkled his face. “See that bunch walkin’ in behind me?”
“Yes.” And she didn’t need any further information. The cameras and microphones already told the tale.
“That’s Peter Peterson from Take Two and Shows on the Road. Four or five minutes later and you guys would’ve been in an uncomfortable situation.”
“Nothing happened.”
Baron immediately pressed his thigh against hers and those unexplainable tingling sensations shot through her body. Her cheeks heated and she quickly ducked her head and sipped her soda. About the time she glanced up, one of Peterson’s crew members approached them.
“Drew Davidson?”
“That’s me,” Drew said, sticking out his hand. “How ya doin’ Max?”
“Do we know one another?”
“I make a point to know men in the media who can’t seem to tell the truth. You’re Peterson’s successor, right?”
In spite of the insult, Max didn’t waver. Instead, he rebounded and said, “I report the facts, Drew. If you don’t like what I have to say on my segments, I suggest you keep your nose clean, if you know what I mean.” He smirked at Patience. “You must be McCoy’s woman. We heard you were coming in for the show.”
Patience smiled. She’d been here before and she didn’t like being put on the spot. Mark and Spenser went out of their way to keep their lives private, but lately the press had grown suspicious. Very often reporters like this guy would throw out the “McCoy’s girlfriend” or something general as if they thought she would ask which McCoy they were referencing.
“Is that a yes?”
Baron stood. “As you can see, we’re having a quick bite to eat. If you want to talk to Patience or the McCoy brothers, you can do that out at the fairgrounds.”
About that time, Peterson appeared. “Miss McKay. Good to see you. I’m Peter Peterson. We met last year when you were out in—”
“I know who you are,” Patience said, picking at her sandwich.
Peterson cocked his head and shook his finger at her. “Somebody is holding a grudge.”
“Actually, I haven’t thought a thing about it,” Patience fibbed.
Peter sat next to Drew and apparently didn’t notice Drew’s quick change in demeanor. His body went rigid and the angular cut of his jaw tensed. He looked as if he were ready to give Mr. Peter Peterson a real piece of his mind.
Baron already appeared rougher for the wear. His tan cheeks were flushed, showcasing evidence of a slow brewing temper. He changed his stance by crossing his muscular arms over his chest. His thighs bunched when he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
He squared his broad shoulders and stepped in front of Patience. His hips were level to her head which was probably intentional. He wanted to protect her from the flashing cameras.
Peterson seemingly didn’t notice the brooding Baron. He kept his focus on Patience. “Miss McKay, you handled my report on the McCoy brothers brilliantly. I was very impressed, if you want to know the truth, and that’s why I’m giving you the first opportunity to sit down and talk with me. We’ve heard some disturbing news and I want to run some of it by you.”
“Come on, Patience,” Baron said, moving aside so she could stand. He pulled two twenties from his wallet and tossed them to the table. “We’ll pick up something on the way to the fairgrounds.”
“Don’t go on my account.” Peterson loosened his wrinkled red-and-black tie. “We should catch up. It’s been a while.”
“You can save your questions for Mark and Spenser.” Drew slowly lifted his gaze. He cocked his head as if he were trying to decide how to advise Baron. Ultimately, the only signal he provided was one which Patience translated with relative ease. They needed to leave.
Patience smirked. “Next time.”
Drew said, “If you’ll excuse us.”
Peterson didn’t acknowledge the band’s drummer. Instead, he zoomed in on another target. “You know, Baron, some of my questions may include you.”
Holding out his arm to Patience, Baron jerked when the notorious tabloid reporter called him out by name. He placed his hand on Patience’s lower back, guiding her through the throng of patrons.
Peterson laughed mirthlessly. When the laughter ceased abruptly, he threw his arm over the back of the booth and hollered, “Don’t look so surprised, Baron! Everyone in my business has been very curious about everyone in the McCoy boys’ convoy.
“There’s a bright spotlight on you and Miss McKay. Inquiring minds want to know more about the handsome stud minding the farm and the woman while the hottest country duo are on the road. You understand. I’m only doing my job. That entails sitting down with those in the know—you—and getting the truth straight from the source.”
“Whose truth are you after?” Baron slowly turned to the reporter, but nudged Patience ahead. Under his breath, he said, “Wait outside.”
The clickety-click of camera shutters snapped around them as Baron gave Patience a final push to the exit. Drew stayed right on their heels.
Max and Peterson followed them to the parking lot. Their camera crew trailed behind them. Diner patrons were now peering outside. Some of the kids mashed their noses against the windows.
“You can take your pick, Ms. McKay. Talk to us or let us grab our own story from the pictures our photographers just snapped. Right now, it’s up to you! Once these are developed and spread out in front of us later today, well, we both know what kind of stories can unfold. Pictures paint thousands of illicit tales.”
“Are you threatening me?” Patience turned. “If so, you need to dig a little deeper and find out who you’re bullying exactly.”
Peterson was all over her then. “Oh, you mean Daddy Warbucks? How many of those do you have exactly? Tell me something, Miss McKay. Do your fathers still keep your mother on a tight leash?”
Sex Fest [Cowboy Sex 8] (Siren Publishing LoveEdge) Page 6