Well, what in the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“Of course,” she continues with a perfectly straight face, “I have yours memorized. I just wanted you to be half-naked.”
She’s so fucking funny.
I laugh and stand, setting my computer aside, and pull her out of her chair and into my arms, carrying her back to the chaise lounge. I settle her in my lap and nuzzle her neck. “I think we need a break.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She sighs, relaxes against me, and brushes her fingertip over the ink on my arm. “These are sexy.”
“I had no idea you were into tattoos.”
“I didn’t either.” She laughs. “I like them on you.”
I love the way she touches me.
“What is this one for?” She traces the yin and yang on my biceps.
“It’s Zack and Josh.”
She purses her lips. “That’s appropriate.”
“I think so.” I smile. Zack and Josh King are identical twins and have been my best friends since early childhood.
“And this one?” She traces the crown across my shoulder.
“It’s for Jilly.” I kiss Lo’s forehead and breathe her in. She smells like peaches and cream.
“Why a crown?”
“I’ve always called her princess.” I shrug and smile down at Lo. “She’s always acted like one. She’s the baby, and we all spoiled her.”
I frown and Lo sees it immediately. “What?”
“I am pretty protective when it comes to the women in my life.”
Lauren chuckles and continues to softly slide her fingertip over my skin. “You don’t say,” she murmurs dryly.
“She had a bad marriage,” I murmur softly, my gut tightening in anger when I think of the asshole who hurt my baby sister. “She doesn’t talk about it, and she won’t tell me what happened, but she got hurt.”
“And that pisses you off,” Lauren whispers.
“Hell yes, it pisses me off. I was just thinking that we all spoiled her, and the one person who was supposed to take care of her was a douche bag.”
Lo cups my cheek in her hand and I instinctively turn my face into her touch and kiss her palm.
“She’s home,” she croons, and kisses my shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m happy she’s home.”
Lauren goes back to concentrating on my ink. I have a feeling our whole break is going to be consumed with talking about each tat.
When what I wanted to do was make love to her here on this chaise.
“This?” Lo asks with a chuckle.
“It’s a skull, Lo. It’s because I’m badass, naturally.”
“Naturally.” She laughs loudly.
I nod and hug her close.
“I’m assuming this one is for your mom,” she says dryly, pointing to the heart with MOM written though the middle of it.
“Safe assumption.”
“Okay”—she trails her finger down my forearm, sending chills through me—“what’s with the bluebird?”
“It’s Cara.”
Lo’s head snaps up and she narrows her eyes on my face. “Why?” Her cheeks have reddened and she looks . . . pissed.
“Because she’s important to me. She’s been in my life a long time, and she was there for me when some bad shit went down.”
“How was she there for you?” Lo asks quietly.
Well, fuck me, she’s jealous. “She just offered me the comfort I needed in a really difficult time in my life.”
Lo stiffens, and I cradle her face in my palm, tilt her head up to meet my gaze. “Cara is like my sister, Lauren. She’s never been in my bed, I’ve never had a romantic relationship with her.”
Lo deflates in my arms, but she says simply, “I didn’t ask.”
God, women are so fucking difficult. “Okay, well, I’m letting you know anyway.”
She nods and buries her face in my neck, hugging me tight. I wrap my arms around her, press my hands to her back, and hold her close to me.
Finally, she backs away and grins. She scurries off my lap and snatches my shirt up off the floor, slipping it over her head as she saunters back to her desk chair.
“Hey,” I protest. She can have the fucking shirt if she’ll wear it for me every time I’m here.
She’s sexy as hell in it.
“You need to stay naked, not me,” she smirks, and turns her attention to her computer.
“What if I’m cold?” I ask with a laugh.
“Man up, Sullivan,” she retorts.
My phone vibrates at my hip. “I’m right here, Lo. Seriously, you don’t have to text me.”
“I’m not.” She frowns.
I glance at my phone and see a text. “Speak of the devil, it’s Cara.”
Her eyes narrow on my face.
I just chuckle and open the message: Bring Lo out to the ranch tonight. Jill and I are having ’ritas on the deck. My eyes meet Lo’s across the room.
“What is it?”
“Do you feel up to going out to Josh and Cara’s tonight? Jill’s gonna be there, and the girls are planning to have drinks on the deck.”
Lo looks shocked at the invitation, and part of me softens. Does she never receive invitations to hang out with friends? Probably not, now that she’s finally cut that bitch Misty out of her life.
“Do you want to go?”
“Sure.” I shrug, trying not to sound too eager. I’d love for her to become friends with the people who mean the most to me. She means the world to me and I don’t ever plan to let her slip through my fingers. “But we don’t have to, if you’d rather not. Although I think you’ll have fun.”
“Where will you and Josh be?”
“There is plenty for us to get into trouble with out at the ranch, sweetness. I won’t be far.”
A shy smile moves across her face and she nods happily. “Yeah, let’s go.”
CHAPTER
Nine
LAUREN
“You’re here!” Cara exclaims when she opens the front door of the ranch house she shares with Josh. “Come on in.”
We follow her into a large, open space. A large rock fireplace dominates one wall of the living area, with brown leather couches covered in brightly covered throw pillows arranged around it. The kitchen and the dining area are open to each other, giving the house a wide-open, inviting feel.
Cara leads us through to the kitchen, where Josh, his twin brother, Zack, and Jillian are all gathered.
“Hey, guys.” Jill greets us with a grin and a twinkle in her eye as she pulls me right into her arms for a big hug.
“Hi,” I murmur in return. The guys exchange their usual weird handshake-man-hug thing and a margarita glass full of blended deliciousness is shoved into my hand.
“We are about to kick the guys out so you and I can drill Jill about her date the other night, Lo,” Cara announces, and sips smugly on her drink.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Jill insists.
“I wanna stick around for this conversation,” Ty adds, glaring at Jill.
“I definitely do not want to be here for this,” Zack mutters, scowling at Jillian fiercely. She won’t meet his gaze.
Interesting.
“Come on.” Josh motions for the guys to follow him. “We can go down to the barn for a while. There are a couple new foals out there.”
“The girls get margaritas on the deck and I have to go hang out in your barn?” Ty asks in disgust as he follows the guys out the front door. “I’m getting the shaft.”
The door closes behind them.
“Finally, they’re gone!” Cara grabs a platter of chips with a bowl of salsa and leads us out to the deck, where it seems the party has already begun.
“You started drinking without me,” Jill accuses Cara.
“Josh and I had one drink before you all got here.” She grins and plops into a hanging porch swing.
Jill and I drop our handbags in a chair and join Cara.
“So, how are th
ings with Ty?” Jill asks.
“God, you’re so subtle,” Cara mutters with a disapproving scowl.
“I’d like to hear about your date,” I reply before licking the salt on the rim of my glass.
“Yes, spill it!” Cara exclaims.
“Fine, but if I talk, you talk.” Jill points her white-tipped finger at me accusingly.
“Deal,” I agree with a nod.
“I went out with Brad.”
“The cop Brad?” Cara asks with wide hazel eyes.
“Yeah, that Brad.”
Cara looks at me and then back to Jill. “Why?”
“I like Brad,” I add. “What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing.” Cara shakes her head. “I just had no idea that Jill was into him.”
“I don’t think we’ll go out again.” Jill growls in frustration and leans her head back against her chair. “I screwed it up.”
“How is that?” I ask, still shell-shocked to be here with these two women.
“I did it on purpose. I’m a bitch.”
“You’re not a bitch,” Cara insists, shaking her head furiously.
“I don’t think you’re a bitch,” I reply.
“That’s because I’ve never had sex with you,” Jill mutters.
“You had sex with Brad?” Cara squeals.
“No.” Jill scowls. “It was a first date. I’m not a hooker.”
I snort at that, worried that the margarita might come out my nose.
“I’m so confused,” Cara whines.
“Brad’s a nice guy. We had dinner. I’m not interested in seeing him again. That’s it.” Jill pins me in her ice-blue eyes. “Your turn.”
“Things are good.” I shrug, hiding my grin as Cara and Jill both scowl at me.
“We need more details than that, sweetie,” Cara informs me. “Do you need more liquor?”
“Yes,” I reply gratefully. Cara pours more into my glass from the blender pitcher.
“Are you sleeping with him?” Jill asks.
“Hey!” Cara exclaims with a laugh. “Dude, really?”
“You want to know too,” Jill points out diplomatically, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“Good point.” Cara turns to me and pulls her feet up under her, settling in for a good story. “Are you?”
“She is. She’s blushing.” Jill is grinning widely. “I don’t want details because, ew, he’s my brother.”
Now that I have a few drinks in me, I decide to play with her a bit. “He’s really hung.”
“Oh, God, stop,” Jill groans. Cara bursts out laughing.
“And, boy, does he know how to use it,” I continue with a straight face. “He’s got this one move where he grabs my leg and turns me so—”
“I don’t want to know this!” Jill laughs and covers her ears with her hands.
“You asked.” I shrug and sip my drink smugly.
“Speaking of good sex, Jill, are you still reading that book I gave you?” Cara asks.
“Dude, it’s so good!”
“What book are you reading?” I frown down into my almost-empty glass.
“You have to read it!” Jill jumps from her seat and digs into her handbag, pulling a familiar green-covered book out of her bag. “It’s called A Spark of Passion by Peyton Adams. Have you read these?”
I’m struck dumb. I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been in this position before.
“They’re going to be made into movies,” Cara continues, and grabs the book from Jill’s hand. “How far are you?” she asks Jill.
“I’m almost done.” Jill grins at me. “They are supersexy.”
“Oh my God, that’s an understatement.” Cara laughs. “Do you want me to read you some of it?”
“Sure.” I watch them with rapt attention. They love my books! “What are they about?”
“They’re about three brothers, Julian, Marco, and Stephan. This is Stephan’s book.”
“So, each brother has his own book?”
“Yeah, and oh my God, they’re all so hot.” Jill fans her face with her hand and rolls her eyes. “They are all sexual dominants, which I didn’t think I’d be too into, but holy hell, they are just so fucking amazing.”
“Oh! Here’s a good part.” Cara tucks her hair behind her ear and smiles widely. “Excuse my language in advance. Stephan has a dirty mouth.”
“I fucking love his dirty mouth.” Jill sighs dreamily.
I can only laugh. I love this so much!
Stephan tied my hands above my head to the metal headboard of his bed. I was already sweaty and heaving in exhaustion from the two orgasms he’d given me with his mouth.
His mouth was bloody fantastic. His lips and tongue were made to give a woman pleasure.
With my hands secured above me, Stephan smiled softly and dragged his hand down my torso, between my breasts, and rested it on my stomach, rubbing his thumb back and forth on my skin.
“Do you know how gorgeous you look tied to my bed, Elizabeth?” he asked.
I couldn’t make words form. Speech completely left me as his hand journeyed lower to my hip and the inside of my thighs.
“Answer me,” he admonished.
“No, sir,” I responded softly.
“I had no idea calling a guy sir could sound hot,” Jill informs me, interrupting Cara.
“Shh, I’m reading!”
“Sorry, continue.” Jill grins and bites on her straw.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, baby,” he whispered, and leaned down low to pull my nipple into his mouth. “I’m going to fuck you, all night, with you chained to my bed.” His nose glided over my chest to the other nipple, and he pulled it deeply into his mouth. “You’re mine, Elizabeth. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir,” I responded breathlessly.
“Holy hell, this is hot,” Cara murmurs.
“Don’t stop now!” Jill complains.
“No, by all means, keep reading,” I agree. I’ve never had a reader read my work to me before. It’s amazing. It’s humbling.
It’s freaking hot.
He spread my legs and clasped leather bands around each ankle, holding me wide-open to do with as he pleased. I’d never felt so exposed, so helpless, and yet so sexy in all my life.
Stephan stepped back away from the bed and his eyes warmed as they traced the lines of my body, from my head to my feet. He still had his slacks on, unbuttoned. His large hands unzipped and let them drop to the floor, pooling around his ankles.
He wasn’t wearing underwear.
“God, I love a man who goes commando,” Jill mutters, and I can’t help but nod in agreement as I sip my drink, listening intently.
“Hmm, what shall I do to you first?” he murmured as he joined me on the bed. He crawled over me and lined his perfect, long, smooth cock against my mouth. “Open your pretty mouth, sugar.”
I immediately complied, and he slipped just the head of his dick between my lips.
“Suck,” he whispered.
With my eyes pinned to his, I closed my lips around the crown of his cock and sucked hard, pulling him deeper into my warm, wet mouth. He bared his teeth in a grimace and swore under his breath as I began to move my mouth more vigorously against him. He fisted the base of his erection and reached for my nipple with his other hand, twisting and pulling on it as I squirmed beneath him.
“You like that, don’t you baby?”
“Hell yes, I like that!” Jill agrees with a giggle, and refills her drink.
I nodded vigorously and moaned in agreement, then sucked his velvety flesh to the back of my throat and swallowed, massaging the head with my muscles.
“Ah hell, honey,” he groaned as I felt the first stream of hot cum bathe the back of my throat. He pulsed against me, threaded his fingers into my hair, and held me still while he came, long and hard, into my mouth.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispered raggedly.
“Wow,” I mutter, and blink at Cara. Her cheeks a
re flushed as she stops reading, fanning herself with the book.
“I’m telling you, all three books are this hot,” Jill assures me.
I watch both of them soberly and bite my lip. Should I tell them? Can I trust them?
Ty trusts them implicitly, and I would trust Ty with my life.
And honestly, I’m dying to share this part of my life with people who know me.
“Lo?” Cara frowns, watching me. “What’s wrong?”
“Can you guys keep a secret?” I cringe. Shit, am I doing the right thing?
“When we’re together for girls’ night, this is a vault. Nothing will be repeated,” Jill assures me, all kidding aside. “Honest, we don’t spread rumors, Lauren. You’re part of Ty’s life, and that means that you’re a part of ours too. We would never intentionally hurt you. Any of us.”
“She’s right.” Cara nods. “We are your friends.”
I scrape my hands over my face and take a deep breath, still disbelieving what I’m about to tell them.
“I wrote those books,” I say in a quick rush, the words coming fast, as though I’m tearing off a Band-Aid.
“What?” Jill asks with a frown.
“You wrote these?” Cara asks.
I nod and watch their faces carefully.
“But your name isn’t Peyton Adams,” Jill points out.
“It’s a pen name,” I reply softly. “I don’t know how I can prove it to you.” I shrug and look out over the back pasture to the tall mountains behind the Lazy K.
“You wrote these,” Cara repeats, her voice more excited now.
I nod, not quite ready to meet their gazes. “I did.”
There’s a long, silent pause. I’m sure they’re trading glances and staring at me like I’m a crazy liar. Why did I say anything?
Suddenly, I’m tackled in a big hug and pulled out of my chair.
“You wrote these amazing books!” Jill exclaims, and holds on to me, her arms wrapped around my torso, my own arms pinned to my sides, and jumps up and down excitedly. “That’s so cool!”
“Lo, this shouldn’t be a secret!” Cara exclaims, and hugs us both.
“It has to be a secret.” My eyes are wide with fear as I pull out of their embrace. “No one can know.”
“But why?” Jill asks.
I rub my fingertips over my forehead. “Jack can never know.”
Seducing Lauren Page 9