Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2
Touching Deuce
Gracie Emery believes her "gift" of being able to calm children and animals with her touch is a curse. Her touch also causes pain to any man who tries to get close to her. As a result she withdraws, determined not to touch any man and condemning herself to a life of isolation.
James "Deuce" McKade has loved Gracie from the time they were children. The thought of any man touching her makes jealousy rear its ugly head. She is meant to be his mate, fill his heart with love and his home with children. He knows she will accept every part of his nature and willingly give him the gift of her submission.
He will prove to her that they are fated mates even if he has to tie her to his bed to make her listen! She is meant to be his. He just has to convince Gracie.
Note: While Touching Deuce is a stand-alone title, it is suggested that John’s Vision, Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 1, be read first for continuity.
Genre: BDSM, Paranormal, Western/Cowboys
Length: 116,590 words
TOUCHING DEUCE
Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2
Lynnette Bernard
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
TOUCHING DEUCE
Copyright © 2013 by Lynnette Bernard
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-177-0
First E-book Publication: January 2013
Cover design by Christine Kirchoff
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my wonderful niece who has been through so much with me. This young woman has owned a special part of my heart from the moment that she was born. I can’t even begin to tell you how much it means to me that she empathizes with my worries, encourages me when I can’t see out of my sadness, and shares in my happiness. She is the best.
Dear Lee,
I wish you love with someone like one of the McKade brothers. I love you more than you will ever know. I wish you success, love, and happiness always.
Love,
Your devoted Aunt Lynnette
TOUCHING DEUCE
Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2
LYNNETTE BERNARD
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
Colorado Territory
1863
An Indian brave fell in love with the daughter of a white settler. Their love was deep and pure, and they both knew that they had found their true mate. The young woman’s father captured the young brave and was determined to kill him for daring to fall in love with his daughter and taking her innocence. He beat and whipped the young brave while his true love was forced to watch. The father had every intention of killing his own daughter, too. He was not going to allow her to live and give birth to the brave’s child. But the daughter would not allow her mate to die alone. She ran to him, wrapped her arms around him, and tried to protect him from her father’s whip, receiving many lashes in her attempt to shield the man that she loved.
Two young brothers who worked for the young woman’s father saw his cruelty and stepped forward to stop it. Putting their bodies between the couple and the girl’s father, they received several lashes of the whip themselves before they were able to overpower the crazed man. By that time, more of the ranch hands had come forward to help.
The two brothers hitched up a buckboard and took the couple to their parents’ ranch—the McKade Ranch. Their parents welcomed the ranch hands, and they took in the couple, taking care of their wounds and making them a part of their family. When their child was born, he was welcomed with love.
Because of that unselfish act of compassion and caring, the Great Spirit blessed the land and the people. From that moment on, each person was gifted with a mark of golden, entwined links that appeared on the nape of their neck when their true mate was found and the mating was accepted by both mates. Since that time, every man had been taught the blessing to whisper as they held their destined mate in their arms.
This blessing had been passed down through the generations and had been engrained in the culture of the land. To find your true mate and to be marked with the mating mark was truly a miracle—one that every person hoped would be gifted to them.
Chapter 1
“Don’t touch me, Gracie! You’re a freak!” the eight-year-old boy screamed at her, pulling away as her little hand tried to touch him.
Gracie Emery’s light blue eyes widened and filled with tears as Tommy Phillips yelled at her. She stepped back and covered her hands over her mouth, trying hard not to cry out loud.
“I’m not a freak,” Gracie mumbled behind her fingers.
“Yes, you are,” Tommy taunted her. “Every time you touch me I feel like ants are crawling all over me. You’re creepy! You’re a stupid, creepy girl!”
Gracie lowered her hands and faced Tommy. “You’re the one who’s creepy, Tommy Phillips,” she yelled b
ack at him, crossing her arms across her stomach and hugging herself tightly. “You just tried to kiss me, and now you’re calling me a freak. You’re fresh!”
“Go away, you dumb girl,” Tommy told her, laughing. “Nobody wants you around. You’re bad luck.”
He reached out and gripped both of her shoulders, shoving her so hard that she fell back to land on her bottom with a thump. Before Gracie could react, Deuce McKade stepped forward and grabbed Tommy’s shirt. His blue eyes flashed with anger as he towered over the boy. At thirteen years old, Deuce was already taller than most boys, and he was well on the way to becoming the powerhouse that he was meant to be.
“Don’t you ever touch her again, Phillips,” he warned him, twisting his clenched fist in Tommy’s shirt and shaking him like a rag doll. “If I ever see you hurt her or yell at her again, I’ll pound you into the next county.”
He pushed him with such force, Tommy slid a good five feet away before landing awkwardly on his side. He scrambled to his feet and dusted off his jeans before facing the oldest McKade brother with anger that was tempered by a good dose of fear.
“You’ll be sorry for that, Deuce McKade,” he promised, stepping back as Deuce made a move toward him.
“Yeah, I’m really scared about that,” Deuce told him dryly. “Go away, Phillips. You’re annoying.”
With one last scowl, Tommy turned and ran down the path toward his family’s ranch. He wasn’t going to chance fighting with Deuce. He knew he couldn’t win against the oldest McKade brother.
Gracie’s whimpers drew Deuce’s attention. He turned and walked over to her slowly. She was wiping her face, smudging dirt across her cheeks as she pushed her tears away. He knelt down next to her and reached out to touch her cheek gently.
“Are you okay, Gracie Lee?” he asked her quietly.
The adorable little girl looked up at him with eyes filled with sadness and maturity that defied her eight years. She hadn’t had much of a childhood. Despite her youth, she had been the one who had been forced to give up her childhood to raise her younger sister Melanie while her parents showed both of them only anger and abuse.
“Thanks for helping me, Deuce,” she said quietly, looking away in embarrassment.
Deuce nodded and sat down beside her. “Don’t let him get to you, Gracie,” he told her calmly. “He’s a jerk.”
“But he’s right, Deuce,” Gracie looked up at him sadly. “When I touched him, I could feel the way it hurts. I don’t know why that happened, but there must be something wrong with me.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Gracie,” Deuce insisted. “You don’t feel that pain when you touch Melanie, or your animals, or my brothers.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “And I don’t feel anything bad when you touch me. I only feel good.”
Gracie looked down at his large hand as he held her smaller one. She loved when he held her hand. It made her feel safe and protected. Everything about Deuce McKade made her feel calm. He was always helping her and making her feel better.
“Gracie, you have a gift,” he finally spoke after they sat quietly for a while. “You have a way of calming people and animals. Every time I help one of our animals have their babies, you’re always there with me. I like it that you help me.”
“I like to help you, too, Deuce,” Gracie told him, smiling, the tears stopping as she looked up at him. “I like to help the babies get born.”
“I think your touch is what helps the mamas have their babies. They calm down when you touch them, and that’s what helps them.” Deuce pushed his tan cowboy hat back on his head as he looked down at her. “You know what I think, Gracie?”
“What?”
“I think maybe you only make bad people feel itchy when they touch you.”
Gracie smiled up at him then giggled. “Tommy is really bad,” she admitted quietly. “He’s mean. I don’t like him at all.”
Deuce smiled at the soft whisper that Gracie used to admit her feelings, and he tugged at her light brown ponytail as it hung to the bottom of her back. “I don’t like him either,” he admitted, lowering his voice to match hers.
He was relieved when she smiled up at him. It was good to see her finally relax and let go of her tears. She was such a good kid, and she didn’t deserve the meanness that always seemed to be directed at her. He wished he could do something to protect her.
“Why does everyone call you Deuce?” she asked him suddenly.
“Because my name is James Robert McKade, the second. My father always called me Deuce because it means two and I’m the second one named that.” He smiled down at her as he saw her face scrunching up as she thought about what he said.
“That’s really nice. Do you want me to call you Deuce, or do you want me to call you James?”
Deuce laughed as he stood up, reaching down to extend his hand to help her up. She put her hand in his without hesitation, an immediate sense of peace filling him.
“I think that it’s fine that you call me Deuce,” he told her as they started walking toward her parents’ farm, never letting go of her hand. “I probably wouldn’t realize you were talking to me if you called me James.” He turned to face her, smiling as they started to leave the quiet area near the stream that bordered McKade land. “Tell you what. Whenever something is really important, you can call me James. That can be your way of letting me know just how important it is. Okay?”
Gracie smiled as she walked with him. “Okay,” she told him, happier than she had been all day. “I like when you’re with me, Deuce. Do you think I can stay with you for a while? Melanie and I don’t like to stay at our ranch alone.”
“Don’t ever think you’re alone, Gracie. You’ll always have me and my brothers. And my parents love you both. You don’t have to go home yet. We can stay here for a while if you want.”
Gracie released Deuce’s hand and looked around the small section of land that belonged to the McKade family. She always loved to come here. It was the perfect place to hide when her father was particularly ornery. There was a little brook that she liked to wade through and pick up rocks that had been polished smooth by the gently flowing water. She loved that Deuce sometimes helped her find the shiny rocks and held them for her while she searched for more.
“I really like this place, Deuce. It makes me feel so happy.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Do you like it here, too?”
Deuce chuckled as he looked down at the sweet little girl. “Yeah, I do. I like coming out here and sitting by the brook. I don’t get to come out here too much because of my chores.”
Gracie reached out and held Deuce’s hand once again. “You work a lot, don’t you, Deuce?” Gracie asked him softly. She knew he would deny it, but she knew the truth. Deuce never turned any job down, and he helped everyone.
“Not any more than my brothers do,” he told her, shrugging.
“No. I think you work really hard. And you work all the time.”
Deuce laughed and tugged at her hand to start her walking. “Come on, Gracie Lee. Let’s go and get your sister and head back to my house. My parents are having a barbeque, and they said to ask you both to come.”
Gracie walked beside Deuce, loving that he held her hand as they walked toward her parents’ ranch. He was right. She didn’t feel the ants on her skin when she touched him. She felt good. And happy. Deuce McKade was her best friend. She loved him and couldn’t imagine ever being without him.
Chapter 2
Deuce strode into the front lobby of Gaines and Phillips Advertising Agency. Walking toward the receptionist, he removed his tan cowboy hat and stood before her, waiting patiently for her to finish her phone call.
“May I help you?” the receptionist greeted him, looking up from her stack of papers on the desk before her.
Madison Allen couldn’t prevent the rush of excitement that ran through her as she smiled warmly at the man before her, taking in his appearance with appreciation. She looked up at the six-foot-five-inch cowboy and had to
rein herself in. His midnight black hair and deep blue eyes caused her heart to race. She had never seen such a gorgeous specimen of a man in her entire life. And his muscles! She snapped her mouth shut and hoped that she wasn’t drooling.
“I’m here to see Gracie Emery,” Deuce answered quickly, his deep voice commanding as always. “My name is Deuce McKade.”
“I know who you are, Deuce,” Madison told him, smiling. “You probably don’t remember me. I’m Madison Allen. I went to school with Gracie.”
Deuce smiled down at her and nodded as he focused on the cute young woman who sat before him. If he hadn’t been so intent on getting to Gracie, he would have realized who she was.
“Hi, Madison. I do remember you. You were one of the few people who were nice to Gracie and Melanie. Thank you for that.”
Madison blushed lightly, waving her hand to dismiss his words. “It’s easy to be nice to people when they’re nice to you.”
Deuce smiled warmly at her. It was good to know that Madison also recognized the kindness of his Gracie. Thinking back on Gracie’s childhood, he remembered how Madison had been a loyal friend to Gracie. She had been the one who had kept a watchful eye on Melanie while Gracie had gone to her college classes. Melanie had spent many nights with Madison, completing her homework and waiting for Gracie to finish her classes and come to get her so they could go home together. That was the reason Gracie had chosen a local college. She had to be close to her sister to protect her.
Touching Deuce [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 1