He bent her forward. Tessa grappled for a handhold on the middle rail. Rex peeled her tight jeans to her ankles with one hand while he fumbled to release his cock with the other. His eyes glazed over at the sight of bare flesh. His balls clenched. Fire raced over the erection threatening to split him in two.
He fisted the raging beast as it sprang free, raked it down her crack as he squatted into position. Tessa stretched on tiptoe and pressed against him, onto him. Rex groaned at the feel of her flesh enclosing him. A shudder quaked through him. He fought the rise as he slipped his fingers around to her clit.
Her breath caught with every other gasp as he brought her to the top once more. He stayed lodged deep while her pussy muscles squeezed his cock, demanding to be fucked. She came with a force he hadn’t seen in too long. A force he had every intention of matching. He grabbed her hips and pounded into her.
Rex wanted to be sweet and gentle. He wanted it to last a long time. None of that was going to happen. This was what he’d craved in those long dark nights. Her bonded with him. He plunged hard and let go. Liquid fire poured from him. It felt like he hadn’t come in forever. And he hadn’t, not like this. Not with the woman he loved.
The aftermath left him weak and gasping for breath. Somehow he managed to find the wherewithal to ease from her body and help her right her clothes. But he took his time doing so amid kisses and caresses over her backside, along her thighs, then covering her lips when she turned into him. And it was her hands that tucked his finally flaccid penis back into its home. Her hands that stirred the horny bastard back to life.
“Had enough foreplay? Ready to take this inside?” he asked.
“Oh yes. As soon as I can convince my legs to move again.”
“I can take care of that.” Rex scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the house.
“My hero…as always,” she said with a laugh.
No, not always. Not when it counted the most. Not when his own stubborn pride had kept him from going after her. The guilt was almost too much to bear. Yet here he was, taking her back into the home where they’d lived, the bedroom the three of them had shared at the end of the upstairs hall. The reminder of all they’d lost.
Rex’s steps faltered inside the house. As much as he wanted Tessa, he couldn’t do this, not here. He set her on her feet. She turned into his arms without pause, pressing her palm over his aching heart.
“Not here.” Tessa skimmed her fingers down until they reached his, then linked their hands together.
So, she felt it too. At least she hadn’t said no.
“Agreed.” He swept his keys off the junk table in one hand. “We’re going to my place.”
“Good.” Hands still linked, Tessa pulled him outside and straight toward the vehicle.
* * * *
Relief seeped into Tessa’s veins. She wanted to remember crawling into that big bed upstairs all nice and snug between Rex and Tyler. Wanted to remember the laughter, the meals, the plans. Will readings and harsh words had usurped the fun times, stealing the afterglow of sex with Rex.
Did those same thoughts run through his mind? Considering the guarded look in his eyes at the mere prospect of taking those stairs, Tessa would say yes. Their biggest argument—their only argument—had been in that room. Their silence now said it all.
Rex drove the big vehicle around the back of the inn, then down the narrow oyster-shelled roads to the rainbow of bungalows at the far edge of the area. They’d turned what would have been nondescript little boxes-on-the-hillside buildings elsewhere into palettes of color. No two were the same. The different colors helped disguise the sameness of the design. Each one was cozy, with all the basic amenities of home. Attached carports provided the image of protection for vehicles, and Rex’s little red sedan was parked next to a bright yellow-gold bungalow. A shaded porch on the east side protected it from the morning sun. Another patio out back contained a barbecue grill with table and chairs. All in all, a little home away from home, or in this case…home.
The interior of each square house was simple as well. No hallways, pocket doors to the bathroom and both bedrooms, and the kitchen was a straight shot back from the living room with only a breakfast bar as a divider. Maximum comfort in a minimum amount of space.
“When did you get them finished?” she asked.
“About six months ago. Tyler and I used the life insurance money Mike left us.”
Tessa had refused her portion outright, leaving it to be divided among Rex, Tyler, and Derek. She was glad to see their portion had gone back into the business.
“When did you and Tyler move out of the ranch house?”
“The day you left.”
She didn’t try to analyze the why of it. Everything had changed that night. Trying to scale that obstacle now? Too much water under the bridge. Too much distance. Too much time. Too much everything. All the sex in the world wasn’t going to fix the hurt. It certainly wasn’t going to change anything.
“Furnished?” she asked as Rex came to a stop behind his car.
“The ones for rental are. But Tyler and I put our own stamp on our houses.”
She wondered how Derek felt, being suddenly deserted by all of them. More guilt. Derek had been a people person. Then he’d suddenly been alone.
Rex brushed his hand over her thigh. “Come on. Let’s get out of this heat.”
Their seat belts clicked in unison. Heat poured in when the doors opened. Air-conditioned comfort never sounded so sweet.
“I gotta say, sex outside in the August heat really takes it out of a person.” A kind way of telling Rex she wasn’t up for more right now, not with all the memories running through her head.
“I can remember a time when it didn’t bother us at all.”
That made her laugh. “And the mosquitoes that went with it?”
Rex winced. “Older is better. But apparently not smarter.” He twisted to face her. “I didn’t use a condom. I’m so used to not having to do so with us.”
“It’s okay. Nothing’s changed. Still on the pill. And before you ask, Nate always used one.”
“Good to know.”
She tilted her head to one side. “Your frown says differently. Come on. I’m about to melt in a puddle, and I’d love to see how well you’ve nested.”
“You mean, if I learned anything from living with you.”
Tessa smiled. “Something like that.”
Rex grinned back. “I think you’ll be pleased.” He shouldered open the truck door, disappeared, then reappeared with her bags and had the house unlocked a second before she reached the porch.
Still smiling, he pushed the door open and ushered her in with a sweep of his arm.
A cacophony of color embraced Tessa when she stepped inside. He’d added flourish to the dark blue sofa and chair—pillows in light jewel tones, and a peach-and-sherbet rose-in-bloom afghan—along with lace doilies of peacock blue under the lamps with magnolia-blossom designs on the two maple end tables.
“It’s beautiful.” And lifted her spirits more than she could say.
“See? I paid attention.” He set her bags down. “Go check out my bedroom.”
Tessa walked to the largest bedroom and slid the case door aside. A patchwork quilt added country charm to the queen-size bed. “It’s beautiful. Where did you find it?” she asked, smiling.
“A yard sale.”
Feigning a gasp, she spun around, hand to chest. “Oh my God, where’s Rex Williams, and what have you done to him?”
“Ha-ha.” He stepped around her and went over to the bed, where he folded the quilt back. “Come on.” He patted the pillowed mattress. Downy comfort beckoned. “A rest will do us both good.”
“I’m hot and sweaty.” But it was oh so tempting. The long night, the flight, the turmoil of emotions, and hot sex had taken their toll.
Rex wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Me too.”
“You’re crawling into bed with me?” She sank to the edge of th
e bed.
“Damn straight.”
He knelt at her feet and tugged her sneakers off, kneaded her toes before he peeled her socks away.
Emotion clawed for freedom. Her body automatically tensed with the internal battle for control, a battle she had no hope of winning. Tears burst free, pouring in torrents down her face. Sobs overcame the words. She couldn’t see him through the tears, but he hadn’t moved. Tessa hated people seeing her like this, hated when her emotions were rough and raw, an entity all their own. Hated feeling vulnerable. Hated the ache that squeezed her heart.
Rex wrapped his arms around her. She clung to him, let him strip her down to her underwear, always keeping one hand on her, tethering her to this world…his world. Before she realized it, he had her under the covers, with him spooned around her.
“It’s okay,” he said.
No, it wasn’t. It hadn’t been okay for a long time. Tessa had little hope it would ever be right again. It was never going to work. She was never going to stay here, and they were never going to leave. In a couple of days, she’d be gone, and back in her safe, lonely little world, where her heart wouldn’t succumb to the sight, scent, and feel of a cowboy wrapped around her. And God, Rex was heaven.
In a few days. But for now…
Tessa dried her tears and blew her nose on the tissue Rex passed her way. She could tell him to leave, and he probably would. That it would serve no purpose to stay on this path. That they would only wind up hurting each other again. Instead, she cuddled into him, closed her eyes, drank her fill of his scent, and fell asleep.
Chapter Six
Curiosity made Tyler look toward the ranch. Perched on a small rise overlooking the place, he had a good view. Not a perfect view, but a damned good view of Rex and Tessa intertwined against the fence. It shot a thrill to the tips of his fingers, toes, and his rock-hard cock. He could feel every thrust Rex made into her, feel her pussy clenched in ecstasy. He’d nearly come with them.
Then Rex carried her toward the ranch house. Minutes later, he’d seen them heading over to Rex’s place. Tyler swore his erection doubled in size just thinking about what was going on behind closed doors. It felt like boulders squeezed in the suddenly too-tight confines of his jeans. He longed to be with them, splayed out for her pleasure while Rex rode her from behind.
He cupped his package and tried to find a comfortable position. There wasn’t one. He rubbed against the length to quell the ache. A surge burned through his cock. He shifted in the saddle and shoved his palm lower to cup his balls, squeeze them into submission. Too late he remembered his companion.
“We could always dismount and duck into the bushes,” Nate said. “Although, privacy’s never been a big issue with me.”
Tyler pulled his hand away. Heat crawled over his face. For the first time, he resented Nate’s appearance in their lives.
“So who are you to Tessa?” he asked.
“A friend,” Nate answered without pause.
“A friend with benefits.” Not something that set well with him.
“Sometimes.”
Nope, he didn’t like the answer at all, but obviously, there wasn’t that tight of a bond between her and Nate if she was off with Rex now. Although some attractions couldn’t be denied, no matter how much time had passed or how many harsh words had parted them in the first place.
“It’s a port-in-the-storm relationship. Friends lending each other a helping hand.”
The leather saddle creaked as Nate shifted position, probably to find that elusive comfortable spot Tyler sought. He was observant. Tyler would give him that—reading Tyler’s train of thought.
“Good to know.” Very good to know.
Tyler loved the way she’d seemed to settle into Rex’s arms when he’d picked her up. She was theirs. Always had been, always would be. Uncertainty crawled under his skin. Something else pumped his erection now. That primal urge coded into all males. The one that reared its head at the most inopportune times. The urge to hunt, to fight, to mate. Come or die. The bushes were looking mighty sweet.
“Let’s move on. I don’t want to let the day sneak away from us. Derek was found over here.” Tyler reined his horse in that direction, though it wasn’t hard to find with backhoe tracks gouging the surface. What was a muddy mess yesterday was now mounds of hard dirt clods.
He and Nate topped the rise and saw the wide, open clearing. So far Rosie’s grave was undisturbed, and there wasn’t a sign of Tito or any of his people. For someone so hot to get evidence, Tito sure hadn’t put much effort into doing so. As usual.
“Hold up.” Nate pulled his mount to a stop. “I want to get a feel for the place.”
Tyler didn’t have a problem with that. You couldn’t investigate if you didn’t know the lay of the land. Tyler knew the place like the back of his hand. Or thought he did. Watching Nate’s slow sweep over everything around them made Tyler rethink. He put himself in Nate’s place, trying to see it all from a new perspective.
Javelina had torn up a good quarter of the two-acre clearing. Well-trod trails led off toward the tree line in different directions. Rustlers’ visitors were kept away from this area because of the threat of pigs. It’d be prime hunting territory had he, Derek, and Rex gone that route. Doing so would help keep the inn full in the winter months. They’d still been debating their options when Derek died.
“What do people use to hunt javelina?” Nate braced one hand on the saddle horn, his gaze locked forward.
“Compound bow.”
“Like the one you have?”
“Yes.” Tyler never went anywhere without his compound bow. Though he did carry a rifle and handgun, just in case. A pig was a pig. Fair game, good eating, and a dangerous nuisance. If it threatened him, Tyler could kill it. If someone wanted to report him for doing so out of season, Tyler could argue he wasn’t hunting, he was protecting. Besides, it was their ranch. They could do whatever the fuck they wanted.
Wrong… It’s Tessa ranch.
The thought stirred his angst.
“Sorry,” he told Nate. “I didn’t think to arm you.”
“Oh…I’m armed.” A half grin lifted one corner of Nate’s mouth. “Any problems with poachers?”
“Not that we’re aware of, or that we’d care too much. We just want the javelina gone. We’re looking into hunting leases.”
“So anyone out here poaching would have had compound bow, not a firearm. They wouldn’t want to risk being caught.”
He said it more to himself than to Tyler, but Tyler didn’t have a problem connecting the dots. “Could have been an arrow to the head, not a bullet that killed Derek,” he said.
Nate nodded. “Someone panicked, cleaned up. Pigs destroyed the evidence. Doesn’t explain the dead horse.”
“Her forelegs were broke. Derek wouldn’t have let her suffer.” He squinted against the sun and readjusted his hat. “Maybe she fell, and he stood to put her out of her misery only to put himself in the line of someone else’s fire.” It was as good a theory as anything else.
“For a person so intent on gathering evidence, I don’t see hide nor hair of your sheriff. You suppose it’s that closing-ranks thing you mentioned?”
“Accident or murder, there’s still something to hide. Tito has his own agenda most of the time. I’ve yet to figure out what that is. Although the election coming up next year might have something to do with it. He hobnobbed and glad-handed everyone at last week’s barbecue. Some of our locals are harder sells than others, despite the close-knit community. Newcomers have a lot to do with that. Old-timers don’t much like it. So far no one’s stepped forward to run against him. If that happens, Tito will have a battle on his hands to keep his position. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Everyone was at this barbecue?” Nate asked.
“Not everyone, but a very nice crowd, people coming and going. Or coming and staying, especially the old-timers. They’ve been a hard sell, but we’re slowly winning them over.”
&
nbsp; “Let me guess… They still consider you newcomers.”
Tyler laughed. “Yeah, and Rex and I’ve been here ten years. We called the event the First Annual Dog Days of Summer BBQ. The aviary was packed. Took days for the crew to clean up.”
Nate glanced down the rise from the direction they’d just come. Tyler looked too. The buildings shimmered under the heat waves.
“Sounds like fun.”
“We hope everyone enjoyed it. We charged a small admission but made it worth their money with good food, entertainment, fun games, and competitions. It was successful enough we’re doing it again next year.”
“So everyone in town got an ample opportunity to study the ranch’s layout.”
When put like that… “True. But then the ranch house has been here for generations. No secrets here. Most people have been here before at some time or another. From what I understand, Mike and Mary Ford used to be big on entertaining.” Tyler flicked his mount’s reins. “Let’s move. See what we can find. Between the storm, the pigs, and the backhoe, I’d say the crime scene is pretty fucked-up. We’ll do a perimeter check to see what we can find.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Nate nudged his heels into the horse’s sides, Tyler signaled his horse, and they moved into the scene.
The ground was a mess of gouges and ruts. Dirt clods made it hard going. Now that he had some distance from the shock of Derek’s death, Tyler could analyze things a little better. Yes, it looked like pigs had found their way to Derek’s body. But the bigger question was why Derek would have been in the middle of the field rather than hugging the trees and lying in wait to sight the javelina.
“Looks like he was taking a shortcut.” Nate pointed to a trail bisecting the clearing.
“That goes to an old line shack. No one’s used that in years.”
“Could he have been heading there? Or coming back from it?”
“At dawn? Not likely.”
“And you know Derek headed out at dawn?”
No, they didn’t know anything. They were working on assumptions. “Nope. Sure don’t.”
Lies That Bind Page 6