Thoughts of Liv rushed through his mind as he raced across the open pasture. He couldn’t stop thinking about last night. The image of her perfect body tied across his bed had his balls tightening. Remembering the sound of her moans sent blood pulsing to his dick, and he groaned in irritation that he was so weak when it came to her.
“Fuck!” he mumbled and spurred Chief harder. He couldn’t get that woman out of his system. Once wasn’t enough, and twice apparently wasn’t enough, either. A year without a woman should have cleared his head, according to his illogical thoughts. The thought of being sucked in and made a fool of again didn’t sit well with his ego, and frankly, it scared the hell out of him.
The desire to run, play, and plunder every pussy that was thrown at him had ceased to exist one year ago. After watching Damon and Regan, since the wedding, he had been yearning for more than just sex. He needed and wanted a woman that would not only take care of his heart but would also be the sex kitten he needed to calm his overactive libido. Did a woman like that even exist? He had wondered about that numerous times and figured he couldn’t be lucky enough. That only furthered his resolve to swear off women completely, and now here he was riding across the pasture in the moonlight with his dick bouncing off the saddle horn.
All of this was Liv’s fault, Drew decided quickly. She shouldn’t have tempted him with her short shorts, tiny tank top, and perfect, round ass. If her eyes weren’t so blue, her hair so blonde, or her smile so spectacular, he would have had a chance. Yep, it was all Liv’s fault. She teased him and pushed him to get what she wanted. Drew had to stop a moment and think about that. It was too damn hot to deal with a woman that liked to be dominated. The fact that she liked to be taken rough and fucked until she screamed with pleasure made him want her even more. She was definitely the perfect woman sexually, but other than that he had no clue and didn’t want to find out the hard way.
No, learning lessons the hard way was weighing heavily on his mind. His father didn’t take the last hard lesson learned well at all. The last words he spoke to Drew were, “You really disappoint me, son.” It should have hurt Drew more than it did, but he was rather accustomed to making his father unhappy, so it didn’t come as much of a shock. Of course it bothered him that at twenty-eight he sat in his father’s office like an eight-year-old waiting for his licks. And it really pissed him off that he just sat and took it. If his father hadn’t gone into politics, Drew might have had a different life and had a different attitude and outlook on life. But no, Drew grew up with a constant warning hovering around him to watch his ass because everyone else would be, especially reporters.
Before the “Shay incident” as Drew liked to call it now, he had been caught shooting Damon the bird, but, of course, the reporter cut out the recipient and only pictured Drew. The headline read, “This Is for You, Dad!” It wasn’t a secret at the local press office that there was a unique tension between Drew and his father, and they had a field day with it. His father was less than impressed, and Drew had received an hour lecture on how to present himself in the public eye. So, now Drew didn’t want or need any more press, good or bad. He wanted to stay as far out of the spotlight as he could get. He cursed his wayward dick for seeking the pleasures of a woman with a camera in the advertising field. Not smart.
The “recipe for disaster” quote swam quickly through his head when he noticed Damon’s truck parked by the creek with a long leg crossed over the other and peeking above the bed of the truck. One part of him wanted to turn Chief around and hightail it to the barn, but the other part led by his dick urged him on.
“Yep, I’m idiot,” Drew mumbled and slowed Chief down to an easy walk.
* * * *
When Liv heard the whinny of a horse, her heart immediately began to race. Nervous energy began tickle her skin, and heat rushed in between her legs. Her pulse raced, and the rushing sound of blood pounded in her ears. With each thud of the horse’s hooves, her anticipation grew. She waited but dared not sit up. She had a role to play, and that role didn’t require a giddy, sex-crazed, wild woman throwing herself at Drew.
Everything that Liv had been doing to this point was for a purpose. That purpose was to give Drew the feeling of control in his life that he needed and also an outlet for his pent-up anger and sexual issues. If she were really honest, this experience was as much for her as it was for him.
* * * *
Drew rode up the truck and looked over into the bed. There Liv lay with a smile and a beer. “Thirsty, cowboy?” she asked with the moon shimmering in her seductive eyes.
A smile tugged at his lips. A beer would have been nice, but he had better plans for slaking his thirst. He dismounted without a word and tied Chief to the side mirror. As he walked around the truck, Liv sat up and pulled a beer out of the cooler for him.
“Have a seat, cowboy.” She shot him a smile that was more of an invitation than a howdy, nice to see ya.
“Thanks,” Drew said and twisted off the cap. He sat quietly for a moment, sipping his beer thoughtfully. The aroma of apples invaded his nostrils, and they flared open as he inhaled. Why was that scent so alluring?
“You’re quieter than normal. Do you have a lot on your mind?” Liv asked softly from her spot in the middle of the bed.
Drew smiled but didn’t turn to face her. “I have you on my mind, Liv, just you.” Such an admission was uncharacteristic of him, but it was true. He was bewitched by her, and no amount of effort could clear her out of his mind.
That was the truth of it all. Liv had taken over his thoughts and invaded his mind, his senses, and his desires. It bothered him that she could have any effect on him, and it bothered him even more that he’d allowed her to.
“Hmmm,” Liv hummed and sipped her beer. “Does that bother you?” she asked with a light questioning tone in her voice.
Drew turned and looked at Liv leaned back on her elbows with her knees bent and feet flat on the bed of the truck. Her pink toes wiggled on the quilt, and before he could stop himself, his mouth fell and sucked them lightly. His lips kissed the top of her foot and traveled slowly to her ankle where his tongue swiped lightly.
Gentle kisses continued up Liv’s shin, and Drew felt her tremble. He wanted her like he wanted the air he breathed. He needed it, needed her. The sweet smell of her arousal pulled at him. His mouth kissed her thigh, and her hips bucked.
Headlights flashed over the bed of the truck, illuminating Liv’s legs. A quick blast of a horn then the familiar rumble of a truck had Drew sitting up at attention quickly. Liv sat up and shielded her eyes from the bright headlamps of the truck.
Damon bounded out and jogged to the truck. “Drew, get to the house now, we have a problem.”
“Oh, my god, Regan!” Liv squealed and jumped out of the bed of the truck.
Before words could be exchanged, Drew had mounted Chief and raced across the pasture. Damon followed quickly behind.
Drew thundered across the pasture on Chief, his mind racing as fast. Damon looked worried to a degree that had Drew nervous. Damon was always calm and coolheaded no matter what the situation. When they were kids and Drew fell out of a tree and broke his leg, it was Damon that calmed him and got him home so their parents could take him to the emergency room. Not once did Damon look anything other than a little worried. What could get Damon so upset? Was Regan okay? No, it couldn’t be Regan because he would have said something to Liv as well. Shit, what was going on?
Chief whinnied when Drew brought him to a hard stop near the back door. Drew jumped off and looked at the vehicle in the drive. “Government plates, son of a bitch!” he said, growling. That only meant one thing. His father, the illustrious senator of Texas was here. “Fuck!” he growled. He didn’t want to see him at all.
The headlights from Damon’s truck caught Drew’s attention. He stopped and waited for Damon to catch up. “What in the hell is going on? And why in the fuck is he here?” Drew demanded when Damon walked up.
“Drew, calm down be
fore you go in,” Damon warned and pushed Drew back a step.
“Is he here to accuse me of ruining his political future again?” Drew stomped back and forth trying to calm down.
“It’s not about you, Drew.” Damon stood and rubbed his jaw.
Drew stopped and looked at Damon. “Is Mom okay? God, she’s okay isn’t she?” His voice grew loud.
“Mom’s fine, Drew. I guess, she seems okay anyway. Come on, let’s go in.” Damon motioned for Drew to follow.
The last thing Drew needed to top off this week was to see his father. It was bad enough that it was the anniversary week of the Shay incident and also the first time he had seen or heard from his father after their nice pep talk. His hands clenched into fists as he walked through the back door. My mother better be okay. She was the only person and only woman he truly trusted.
There his father, Eugene Radcliff, stood in all his magnificent glory. He was, of course, wearing an expensive button-up shirt with an equally expensive tie. His was taller than Drew by a couple of inches and rounder around the middle. His blue eyes looked lost, and the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth showed worry. His normal dark-brown hair was peppered with gray, giving him a distinguished look, but he looked haggard and beat down. Drew could see his jaw clenching, a signature sign of irritation and stress.
Drew stood with his hackles up, waiting. “So?” He shrugged his shoulders. “Why in the hell am I here?”
Eugene held out his hands in a show of peace. “Son, I’m not here to fight.”
Drew leaned back against the doorframe and crossed his arms defiantly across his chest. His molars ground together tightly. The emotions from a year ago rushed forward. “Son, you disappoint me,” his father had said.
“All right, let’s all just calm down.” Damon spoke softly. “Dad, you said you had something you wanted to tell us that you said was urgent. You asked that I go get Drew, and I have done that.”
“Well, we have a situation, one that needs all of our attention.” Eugene sighed heavily and looked down toward the floor as he shook his head.
“Out with it already and spare me the drama,” Drew barked.
Damon turned and shot him a warning look with his eyes.
Eugene stood stoic and took a deep breath. “You two have a brother. His name is Drake.”
“Whoa, wait a minute!” Drew came away from the door. “How the fuck do we have a brother?”
Damon came up beside Drew and held his arm out in front of him then turned to their father. “Answer him.”
Eugene turned and headed for the liquor cabinet. “I need a drink.”
“Stop,” Damon barked, and Eugene turned slowly.
“It was a long time ago. It wasn’t supposed to happen…” Eugene muttered.
“Well apparently something happened, you son of a bitch!” Drew yelled, trying to push past Damon.
Damon pushed Drew back against the wall and warned him with a finger to the chest. “Let him finish.” He growled. Damon turned back to their father and waited.
“When you two were young, your mother and I had a difficult spell…I was gone a lot with an important case the state had against—”
“There’s always an important case, an important election!” Drew barked and tested Damon’s strength with a push.
Eugene thoughtfully rubbed his jaw. “Anyway, I was gone a lot and with your mother and our relationship was falling apart—”
“You accidentally shoved your dick in a woman’s cunt and knocked her up, you son of a bitch!” Drew yelled, shoving past Damon in a fury. His fist connected with Eugene’s face. A loud crack and a scream erupted as his mother came running into the kitchen.
“Andrew, stop it!” his mother, Diana, screamed.
Drew and Damon backed off as Eugene stumbled to get off the floor. Diana helped and looked at her sons with a hint of irritation yet sympathy. “He’s still your father.”
Drew barked out a harsh laugh. “You’re all right with this?”
Diana composed herself and sighed. “I have always known about Drake.”
Damon gritted his teeth, and it was Drew’s turn exchange roles and restrain him. Damon’s blue eyes grew wild with rage. “How could you?” He looked toward his father then he turned to his mother. “I can’t believe you would live with that secret, knowing and not telling us...meanwhile we had to be so straight and narrow. ‘Watch your ass, boys, because everyone else is.’” He mocked his father’s words with a delirious chuckle. “And all along it was you two hiding skeletons in the closet!”
Damon shook his head and looked at Drew. Drew looked back at him. “I’m with ya, bro, this is bullshit.”
Damon walked quietly to the liquor cabinet and poured him and Drew a shot. He threw his back and handed the other glass to Drew, who gladly accepted. “So why are you telling us now?” Damon asked.
Drew knew Damon was as disgusted with their father as he was. Damon always thought the man was so moral and honest. He was a man he had strived to be like, a man he’d campaigned for over the years, and now…Damon seemed to look at someone he didn’t even know.
Drew crossed his arms and stood with a fierce look in his eyes. He was waiting for the big one, the mother of all truths, why they were all standing around to begin with. His mother looked pained but stood resolute, and he wondered what happened to make her stay with his father, knowing all these years. “We’re waiting,” he said impatiently.
* * * *
Liv and Regan had both heard the commotion from inside the house but neither moved from the truck. Liv knew that whatever was taking place was big because Drew’s voiced boomed from the house. She had suspected that his relationship was strained with his father but was unaware how much so until Regan told her while they sat and waited for an all clear. It was frustrating to know that Drew was going through so much already this week, and now, this was the icing on the proverbial cake.
This was not her life or her drama, so she shouldn’t have cared about the outcome, but she did. Was it because she had made helping Drew a personal mission to pay it forward? Why should she care about him? He had made it clear that he didn’t want intimacy or a relationship, so to speak. It was sex—gratifying, hot sex designed to channel anger and frustration, nothing more. But she did care, for some unknown reason. It was as if Drew was a kindred spirit, a soul seeking a mate that could understand and love him in spite of himself. She was no angel either, and she had traveled an expansive road to get to where she was today. Drew needed her. She wanted him to need her, but most of all she needed him. Why, she didn’t know, but she was sure that the passion she felt when he was near was stronger than anything she had ever experienced, and she wanted to explore it and see where it might lead.
When Drew busted out of the back door, yelling, “Go to hell, you son of a bitch!” Liv bounded out of the cab to follow him.
Drew’s long strides had Liv jogging to catch up. “Wait, Drew!” she called, but he kept walking to the barn. His muscles tensed, and his fists clenched up as he neared the barn.
“Got your camera, Liv?” Drew turned with hate swirling in his eyes. He acted like her presence this week was no accident.
Liv was confused and becoming frightened. Drew’s muscles bunched and flexed in irritation. His blues eyes were rimmed in red. They were full of hate and disgust. “Why would I have my camera?” she stuttered softly.
“You have to be a reporter, Liv, come on,” Drew shouted. “You happen to show up here during the anniversary week of everything that went down with my bitch of a stripper fiancée, and now my father shows up here telling me I have another brother! How fucking convenient is that, Liv?” His eyes bored into her, daring her to deny it.
“I didn’t know anything about you or your fiancée when I came here…I don’t keep up with politics. I’m here to do the advertising,” Liv began to explain.
“Bullshit, Liv!” Drew stormed into the barn.
Liv stood with trembling hands, but her fury beg
an to build. She didn’t sign up for this, but she wasn’t about to walk away so he could believe his own stupid suspicions. She followed. Her feet stomped into the barn where Drew stood with a beer. “Fuck you, Drew. You think that everyone is out to get you, and that all women are dishonest bitches.”
“They are, aren’t they, Liv? So, which publication should I look for in the morning to catch a nice family portrait of us fighting? Which one gets to break the story? And how much did you get paid to come out here and fuck me for a story?” Drew asked in a menacing voice.
“All of my equipment is upstairs, my phone included. You’re welcome to look through all the shots I have taken since I arrived, and I can assure you they are of the ranch only. The advertising spread is almost ready for final approval.” Liv put her hands on her hips, standing her ground.
Drew stared at her for a moment. He was wondering if he could trust what she was saying, and she knew it. “Why didn’t you tell me that you and Regan were friends?”
Liv had to laugh at that. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know! Hell, it isn’t a damn secret.” Her smile faded as she walked toward Drew. “I’m nothing more than what I have told you. I’m just Liv, a woman who’s trying to make my way through life doing what I enjoy and falling for a man who hates my guts.” She shrugged. “I will have the spread ready in the morning for you and Damon to approve, and I’ll pack up and see where my Jeep takes me next, but Drew, I’m not a reporter.”
When Drew stood at a loss for words, Liv quietly turned and walked to the house.
Chapter Five
Later that night when all the commotion was over, Liv sat quietly at her laptop, finishing the last pages of the layout for the ranch publication. It was a little sad to be finishing up this project for many reasons. She was here, close to Regan, and she hadn’t realized how much she missed her and the comforting companionship another woman could provide. Liv was somewhat of a lone wolf and usually liked it that way. Now, she sighed as she looked at the ceiling. It was back to her apartment with solitary nights and days working alone like she was at this very moment.
Drew [The Texas Senator's Sons 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 7