by Chloe Lang
Wade’s entire body melded into her as his muscles became rigid as steel. She squeezed his dick with her pussy as hard as she could until she could even feel the pulse of his release.
His eyes never closed. Instead, his lusty gaze remained fixed on her. A hot blast of air from his lungs shot over her body, warming her even more.
“Fuck,” Wade yelled.
Her ache morphed into a shivering climax as each wave moved her higher and higher to even more devastating sensations. Undulations rolled through her like warm trembles, flaming throughout her body. She couldn’t possibly bear another. But another came, and another, and another. Pulses moved throughout her entire being, from the spot behind her navel, down her clit, through her channel, like multiple notes leading to a crescendo. Again and again until she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t be without them.
“Ride it all the way, Mackenzie. Feel everything.” Wade knew just what to say, to do, to touch, that kept her climax going down the tracks.
How long this went on, she wasn’t sure. Time eluded her. When the vibrations finally subsided, her body was completely and wonderfully wrung out.
Wade smiled. “How do you feel, love?”
“Dizzy.” Who wouldn’t be after such amazing sex?
His lips came down on hers, and she willingly surrendered. Wade ended their afterglow kiss and began stroking her hair.
“Everything is going to be okay, love.”
She sighed, realizing this was the second time he’d called her “love.” Even more than his manly touches, it evoked emotions inside her that it shouldn’t. Mac reminded herself that she wasn’t a white-picket-fence girl. “Doll” and “sweetheart” had been his pet names for her until now. What did it mean? She couldn’t let herself think it could be something permanent. Once she found her brother, she would leave Wilde. Keeping her heart in check with Wade might be tough, but she had to make sure that was exactly what she would do.
Chapter Eight
Mac opened her eyes and realized she’d spent the entire night with Wade. His arm was wrapped around her, holding her in place.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” He tightened his hold slightly in a single squeeze.
His naked body to her back felt like a brick wall, a very sexy, muscled brick wall. Her heart raced in her chest.
“I think it’s time for me to go,” she told him.
“Why do you think that?” His tone softened. “I’m not done with you yet, love.”
God, if he kept calling her “love,” she might lose all her will to stay focused.
“I’m tired. I’ve got things to do, and I have to work later today.” She shifted to a sitting position in his bed. The sheet fell away, exposing her breasts, but she didn’t move to pull it back up. Not with him.
“And?” His gaze remained on her eyes, fixed and demanding. His face darkened to just the edge of anger.
“Like I told you, I’m looking for my brother. I need to get to Austin’s computer.”
“I told you that I will help you with that.” He stroked her hair. “But your evidence is pretty thin, sweetheart. A napkin with his name and number wouldn’t hold up in any court.”
“It’s all I have. Besides, can you tell me that Austin Wilde is always on the up-and-up?”
Wade twisted his mouth into a frown. “Austin runs by a different set of rules, sure, but kidnapping? He has a much more direct approach than that from what I’ve seen.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the truth of his words shake her hope into ashes. “He has to know something.” Let Trent be safe. Please, God.
“He might,” Wade said, pulling her into his chest. “I promise you that I will find out.”
Opening her eyes, she shook her head. “You can’t help me with this. I’ve been working too hard to uncover something about my brother’s disappearance.” The panic in her tone filled even her ears, but she had to make Wade understand. “If you alert Austin that I’m here on a pretense, everything could blow up, especially for Trent.”
“Shhh. We’ll work on this together. I have a few tricks up my sleeve too, Mackenzie. I’m not just a dumb old cowboy.”
She grinned. “I never said you were.” The sound of a door opening startled her. “Oh no.”
“Oh no, what?” he asked, clearly amused.
“Is that your brother?” she whispered.
“Either him or an intruder.” He leaned over, opened the nightstand drawer, and pulled out a revolver. “Either way, you’re safe with me.”
“You home?” The familiar voice of Wyatt Masters came from the other side of the bedroom door.
“In here,” Wade answered.
Mac’s heart sped up. “No,” she whispered. “Tell him to stay put.”
She knew it was too late as the door opened suddenly. Wyatt’s large frame filled the opening.
She closed her eyes, willing this entire moment to evaporate into a dream that she would soon wake up from. It didn’t happen, and her gut tightened.
“Hey,” Wyatt said.
She sheepishly opened her eyes and saw the other sexy Masters twin. His eyes were narrowed and fixed on her with such intensity, she had to glance away.
“Hey yourself,” his twin answered.
“Looks like you two had fun.” His tone was deep but held an edge to it that didn’t sit well with her.
Tilting her head up, she glared at Wyatt, daring him to move closer. If he did, she knew there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it, but she hoped her bluff would hold him in his place. Luckily, he didn’t move even an inch their direction.
“You hungry, Mackenzie?” Wyatt asked.
What was it about his demeanor that she was picking up on? His unmoving gaze remained completely fixed on her, creating a little shiver of discomfort. Getting caught in such an intimate situation would cause anyone embarrassment. It sure was for Mac.
“A little, yes, but I should be going,” she said softly, not wanting to add to whatever was troubling him. What it could be, she wasn’t sure. But he was dealing with something, that she was certain of.
Wyatt grinned, lessening the gravity she’d noticed in his face just a moment ago. “Not a chance. I’m not bad at whipping up a good meal. Ask my brother.”
“He is.” Wade stroked her hair. “I think he could give all the cooks at Norma’s a run for their money. Besides, we’re going to need his help in finding your brother.”
Her gut twisted into a knot. “I shouldn’t have told you about that. Damn it, I don’t want everyone in town knowing my business.”
Wyatt’s eyebrows shot up. “Business? Brother? You’re more than a waitress, aren’t you, Mackenzie?”
“She’s much more,” Wade answered first. “Sweetheart, I’ll tell him everything. You should, too. You can trust him. Besides, he’s got a nose for uncovering things. You’ll see.”
Trust didn’t come easily for her. The only person she’d ever really trusted was Trent and her Pappy Harold. Still, new eyes on this might turn something up that could help.
“First, breakfast.” Wyatt turned and closed the door behind him.
She’d always worked on her investigations alone, but this wasn’t some story she wanted to break. She wasn’t anywhere closer to finding her brother than the first day in Wilde. “Okay, Wade. I’ll tell Wyatt about Trent.”
He kissed her silent. “After breakfast.”
* * * *
Wyatt looked over at Mackenzie and his brother across the table. They hadn’t stopped touching each other since finishing breakfast. His thoughts were out of whack. His gut wrenched just a bit every time Wade stroked the beauty’s hair. Why? Was this feeling akin to jealousy? He’d never experienced such a thing before and would gladly not experience it ever again. That was the outside world’s domain, not Wilde’s, and especially not when it came to his brother. They shared everything. The plan to seduce Mackenzie had turned over some deep-seated things inside him—things better left alone.
&nbs
p; “What do you think, Wyatt?” she asked, fixing her gorgeous eyes on him.
“I think your lead is lacking, but it’s the only thing we have.” He doubted her brother was still alive after being missing so long. “Are you sure no drug use?”
“Absolutely. We’re not twins, but we’re as close as it gets.”
“What do you mean by that, sweetheart?” his own twin asked.
The terms of endearment were softer than he’d ever heard from Wade at the club when they were performing a scene with a sub. Hell, even softer than when they’d dated Shelby, Austin’s personal assistant, a couple years back. Wade’s sweet talk had been more about manipulating Shel into bed than anything sincere, but how he was speaking to Mackenzie seemed completely honest. Wyatt doubted his own observations. His brother wasn’t one to fall after one night in bed with any woman. But like it or not, his eyes and ears were taking in a new Wade.
“More coffee, love?” his twin asked her.
Love? That definitely blew any doubt out the window.
“I would love some, cowboy.”
“Love” was what their dads called their mother.
Like it or not, the truth was right in front of Wyatt. His brother was all in when it came to this sexy outsider. Even without saying, he knew Wade would choose to kick him to the curb if Mackenzie didn’t get on board with the Wilde kind of relationship. Why the hell had he agreed to a solo seduction when it came to her? Big mistake.
Fuck. If he didn’t get the girl in bed soon for their normal twin attack, the job of getting the family ranch back on solvent ground would be less of a priority for Wade no doubt. That just wouldn’t do. Not one damn bit.
“I will help you find your brother, Mackenzie.” Wyatt reached across the table and took her delicate fingers in his grasp. She didn’t turn away or pull her hand back. “Did you ever think to ask Austin if he knew your brother?”
“I did, but what if he’s at the center of this?” She sat back, freeing her hand from his. “I didn’t want to tip him off.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “There’s something I’m missing.”
“What have you got on him so far?” he asked her as Wade poured coffee into all their mugs.
“He’s got an amazing wife, that’s for sure. Jessie is a doll. He works a ton of hours at the mine’s headquarters. The club is only one of his assets outside the family business.”
That was news to him. “You mean the ranching interests? I understand his parents have bought some land in Colorado and Texas recently.”
“I know about that, but no. I’m talking about the businesses he owns solely, like The Masters’ Chambers club.”
“He’s got more?” Wade asked, sitting down. He was painfully close to the beauty, again making Wyatt’s gut twist into a jealous knot.
“Austin Wilde has a big interest in a three-state taco chain that is making really big money.”
“God, everything that guy touches turns to gold,” Wade said.
“I wouldn’t call Austin’s methods ‘touches.’ He’s more of a crusher,” Wyatt added.
“I agree. He’s ruthless,” Mackenzie said and then took another sip of java. “Wyatt, the breakfast was amazing. Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure.” He imagined what she would look like naked and under him. His balls grew heavy at the thought. “Did your brother have any connection to that company?”
“Not that I could find. In fact, I can’t find any connection between these two men other than that napkin.”
“And you still think that Austin, if not involved, knows something about your brother’s disappearance?”
“I do. My gut tells me he does, and it has never failed me before.” Her voice cracked just a bit. She was clearly carrying a giant weight.
Even though it appeared that he and Wade might have this gorgeous woman coming between them for the moment, he couldn’t imagine how he would feel if anything ever happened to his brother like it had apparently happened to hers.
“Maybe your instincts are right about Austin, Mackenzie.” He didn’t believe so, but it wasn’t the right time to tell her. Not yet. He thought about reaching for her hand again, but with his twin’s current bear hold on her, he decided against it.
Besides, it was time for a new plan. They needed to keep her safe and get to the bottom of all of this. “I have an idea about getting more dirt on your prime suspect.”
That idea would get Wade out of the picture for a bit and allow him his time alone with Mackenzie. Exactly what he wanted to happen. So much for him and Wade remaining the town’s resident playboys. The world was upside down and sideways, and had been since she had come into their lives.
* * * *
Malcolm Winters read the text on his cell, sending a big ball of horror into his gut. This had nothing to do with his day job at the bank.
The number was new, clearly sent from a burner phone.
No doubt about it, his skimming off the top of the money laundering racket must’ve been discovered by his most important and dangerous business partners.
Fuck.
The message’s tone, though cryptic, held a level of threat that wasn’t lost on Malcolm.
Meet Lester in Vice tomorrow at the usual meeting place for a special delivery.
The cabin in Vice was still listed in the county tax rolls under his dead brother’s name. Even before Sam’s death, Malcolm had used the place for most of his moonlighting activities and sometimes for pleasure. With its twenty acres, the meeting place was perfect for exchanges to and from his business partners.
He also knew Lester.
The guy was a thug his bosses had assigned to be his lieutenant at the very beginning of his association with them. Turned out the creep and he had similar tastes, though until meeting his lieutenant, Malcolm had never acted on the urges. Lester was twenty-four carat muscle but little else. Still, the man had introduced him to the pure joy torturing people could bring.
“More coffee, Mr. Winters?” the girl with the pot of java in hand asked him.
His heart felt like it might explode in his chest, but keeping up appearances came easy for him. Acting was all part of being in the trafficking business. It was one of the reasons he’d survived as an employee of drug lords for so long. “Sure.”
After Lester had brought a certain snoopy troublemaker to him, Malcolm had left his lieutenant in Denver to run that little front for the past few months. Now Lester was coming to Wilde and not by Malcolm’s directive. The special delivery could mean only one thing. His lieutenant had been ordered to kill him.
He wasn’t about to roll over and let the asshole put a bullet in his head.
He tucked his phone into his inner suit pocket, but the words he’d just read remained ever present in the forefront of his thoughts. “Are you working the whole café by yourself, Danielle?”
The sweet girl shook her head and smiled. How wonderful it would be to see that smile turn into a scream.
“Just the front. Carlotta usually keeps only a cook and a waitress during slow hours. Mackenzie should be here in another thirty minutes.”
Half listening, he reached for her hand, imagining how easy it would be to crush the usefulness out of her fingers for life. Of course he didn’t. Had to keep up appearances. “Don’t work too hard.”
“Thanks. I know you’re the bank president of Wilde, but you don’t work too hard either, Mr. Winters.”
“Call me ‘Malcolm.’ I’ll try.” But he knew that was impossible. Loose ends needed to be tied up.
“Okay, Malcolm.”
He reached for his wallet and pulled out a bill. “Here. That should cover my ticket.”
“Let me get you some change,” she said, taking the Benjamin.
“No change, sweetheart. The rest is for you.”
She gasped. “You only had coffee.”
He leaned in and inhaled her innocent scent. How he wished he had more time to take her to his basement. His latest diversion wasn’t going to
last much longer. But time wasn’t a luxury he had. “The best cup of coffee I’ve ever had, Danielle. The best.”
She turned a bright shade of pink and looked down. His cock hardened as he pictured her locked away in his special place, with eyes full of pain and hopelessness. Too bad the clock was against him.
“Thank you, Mr. Wint—I mean Malcolm. Thank you.” Danielle turned and went to the two other customers left in the place.
He stood and headed out the door to the bank.
Angry drug lords weren’t his only troubles right now.
The goddamn Wildes were just one of his loose ends, Austin Wilde in particular. God, he hated that fucker.
The goddamn Strongs were another loose end he would have to wrap up. He’d been able to leverage the interest on the loan on their ranch to finance some of his activities.
The worst of the loose ends was one of the waitresses at Norma’s—Mackenzie. It might be best to take the bitch down to his basement for some fun. Turned out that Mackenzie was Kristen Mackenzie Green, investigative reporter from one of Denver’s most prominent newspapers—and the sister of Trent Green, the troublemaker Lester had brought him a few months ago.
Chapter Nine
Wyatt sat in the booth at Norma’s watching Mackenzie whirl around waiting tables. The place was packed, and she and Danielle, the other woman working the floor, were moving at a brisk pace. He and Wade had made a pact that one of them would keep an eye on Mackenzie at all times. It was too dangerous to leave her alone in town with a possible kidnapper on the loose in Wilde.
She looked directly at him with no-nonsense eyes. Clearly, she knew the score and wasn’t happy about it. To tease her, he held up his empty tea glass. He really didn’t want any more. Hell, he’d consumed so much tea in the past two hours, he gave some credence to the possibility his bladder might burst. But he wasn’t moving from this booth until Mackenzie was finished with her shift. Then, and only then, he would take her back to his and Wade’s place and take a long-overdue piss. Her safety was all that mattered to him now.