Fractured Hearts

by SJD Peterson

  The soft command sent a hot thrill through her.

  Charlie turned and looked up into the most captivating chocolate-brown eyes she had ever seen. Before her brain had a chance to react to the command, her body took over and followed him across the room to the dance floor.

  Once engulfed in the sea of dancers, the cowboy pulled her against his rock-hard body. He cupped his right hand behind her neck and settled the other at the small of her back, his touch searing her skin.

  Though the music that blared from the jukebox inspired a two-step hoedown, the mysterious man seemed oblivious to the upbeat tempo and pulled her against him, adjusting her slightly until his powerfully built thigh was nestled between her legs. His muscles flexed and rippled against her heated skin as he began to sway in a slow, sensual movement that had Charlie fighting to control her breathing.

  The urge to pant was overwhelming. Rough fingertips stroked the exposed skin at the small of her back. The nerve endings seemed hardwired directly to her core. She shivered as moisture heated between her thighs.

  Those wonderful fingers at her back began to slide under the waistband of her skirt, the heat singeing her flesh and making it difficult to concentrate on anything but the sensual touch that kept rhythm with the sway of his hips against hers.

  Charlie was losing her ever-loving mind and fought to keep from grinding against the thick thigh wedged between hers. The hard bulge pushing against her hip was doing little to help her with that battle.

  A warm breath ghosted against the sensitive skin below her ear. “Tell me your name.”

  He expected her to speak? She couldn’t think past the sensations consuming her body. How the hell was she supposed to form a coherent thought when his whisper turned into open-mouthed kisses down her neck? She forgot all about words and questions, or hell, breathing for that matter. Instead, she did the only thing she could think of under the onslaught of that warm, wonderful tongue. She eased her head back and gave him plenty of room to work.

  A low, deep chuckle rumbled next to her ear and again he whispered, “Tell me.”

  “Huh?”

  “Your name.”

  “It…it’s Charlie,” she said breathlessly as his tongue continued to assault her skin and keep her off balance.

  The hand at her back skimmed slowly up her spine, and she felt the hair clip at the base of her neck pull away. Both hands moved to her neck to untangle the knot and smooth her waist-length hair down from the base of her neck to the top of her ass. He pulled her in closer.

  His powerful arms surrounded her and she responded to his strength and nearness as if her body was his to command. She couldn’t catch her breath and her pulse soared out of control. With the insistent pressure, her knees trembled and she was afraid to release the grip she had on his shoulders for fear her weak legs wouldn’t be unable to hold her up. She was at his mercy.

  “I’m Trevor,” he whispered. He continued his exploration of her backside as he ducked his head back down to meet hers. His strong masculine scent enveloped her and a jolt of need traveled through her. Warm, soft lips feathered against hers, and he slid his tongue lightly across her lower lip, encouraging her to respond.

  “Let me in, Charlie.”

  Charlie parted her lips on a gasp and he dove in to devour her mouth. She responded to his persistent tongue without a conscious thought. It shocked her how quickly he had taken control of her body and long-buried needs.

  No one had been able to make her lose control like this. It was unsettling. She’d had a few lovers during college, but none had been able to make her truly respond. After a couple of years, she’d finally given up dating altogether. It wasn’t fair to compare every man to the one who had captured her heart at thirteen, and she grew tired of the guilt of seeing his face behind her closed lids every time another man touched her.

  Yet this dark cowboy coaxed her body back to life in a hot rush that left her weak and breathless.

  Charlie sighed. Finally, I can forget.

  As the kiss deepened, she closed her eyes and behind her lids was a familiar sexy face. The image of a light-haired dimpled cowboy flashed through her mind, but to her relief it was quickly replaced by the stranger holding her.

  She didn’t dwell on beautiful sapphire eyes or a gorgeous dimpled smile from a time long past. Instead, through the haze of lust, she remained in the moment with the man in her arms. She reveled in the way his hands felt against her skin instead of the ghost touches of a phantom lover who had never really been hers at all. He’d only been the ideas and dreams of fantasy that she had molded and shaped.

  For the first time, she wanted exactly what was in front of her, a real thing she could lose herself in, but she remembered where she was and took notice of her surroundings.

  Charlie reluctantly broke the kiss and pulled away a little. They both panted for breath. The cowboy rested his forehead against hers, stared at her with heated dark eyes and whispered, “God, you’re beautiful.”

  Charlie’s face flushed and her toes curled at the compliment from such a godlike creature, but she had no clue how to respond. Instead, she laid her cheek against his chest to hide her embarrassment. Trevor leaned over and snuggled her tighter against him, seeming content to explore her body without words.

  Through song after song, his slow, sensual sway never changed tempo. God knew Charlie was more than happy to let this man guide and caress her as if no one but the two of them existed.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anyone like I want you.”

  Charlie pulled back, startled, and looked up at his face. The black of his pupils had eaten up the iris, leaving him looking feral and wild. Only one thing made a man look like that, and the pure unbidden lust in his eyes made it difficult to tell if he was sincere or not.

  “Does that line usually work?”

  He had the good sense to look embarrassed as he shrugged. “Usually, but in this case I’m telling the truth.”

  Charlie couldn’t stop the giggle that passed her lips. It wasn’t so much that she was laughing at him, but it was just ridiculous that a man like him would want someone like her after only a few dances.

  He cocked his head to the side. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

  “I’d probably believe you more if you told me you sprouted fur with the full moon.”

  He paused for just a heartbeat and his lips turned up in a slight smile. “Can I ask you something, Charlie?”

  “Hmm?”

  “I was here waiting for a friend…”

  Charlie blinked, her heart sinking. That he’d wanted her had been hard to believe. That he had someone lined up, ready and willing to fall all over him, she didn’t doubt in the slightest. She could just imagine the beautiful woman who would be meeting a man like this.

  She tried to hide her disappointment. “Oh…sure, I understand. I should be getting back to my friend as well.”

  Strong fingers cupped her chin, forced her to meet his gaze. “I was saying I’m here to meet a friend and would love it if you would join us for a drink? He should be here soon.” He added with a wink.

  Before thinking better of it, she blurted, “Well if he looks anything like you, I’m sure I could twist Rae’s arm to join us.” Charlie felt the flush creep up her neck in embarrassment. Damn, what was it about this man that made her feel like a stupid schoolgirl?

  Studying her eyes, the cowboy gave her a devilish grin and ducked his head to nuzzle her neck. “No, I was hoping you would join us both.” He nipped her ear, causing sensations to tingle through her body.

  “Mmm… Your body is saying yes,” he whispered.

  Charlie’s breath caught, her body trembling uncontrollably at the thought of being sandwiched between the hard bodies of two hot cowboys. She had to stifle a groan as the wetness in her panties spread.

  “I fucking love the way you tremble for me.” He grabbed her ass in both of his hands and pulled her hard against his bulging erection.

  Charlie’
s head was spinning. His naughty, dominant words affected her as nothing ever had. Oh God, he was taking control of her entire mind and body.

  “I…I don’t think…”

  He laid a finger across her lips to silence her and whispered into the crook of her neck, “Don’t think. Your body knows what it wants. Listen to it. Just feel, Charlie.”

  With his face gently pressed to her neck, his voice vibrated against her throat. “Let us make you fly. Imagine us as we explore and stimulate every inch of this gorgeous body, our sole purpose to please you. My hard cock buried deep in you while…”

  “Stop! God, no more, you’re driving me crazy,” Charlie begged, pulling herself away from the heat of his body, insistent lips and hands. She needed to breathe, to think.

  Lord, how could she possibly want what he offered? The better question was, how could she not?

  She glanced over in the direction of her table and spied Rae snuggled up to the cowboy she had set her sights on earlier. Well, there went that excuse. She ran through excuses in her head, but couldn’t think of a good enough one not to join this sexy man and his mysterious friend. Did she even want to come up with an excuse?

  Her body screamed at her to stop thinking and give in to this erotic fantasy, yet her brain ordered her to walk away. This wasn’t who she was. She always had complete control over her emotions and body. The thought of this man taking all that away scared the hell out of her.

  The cocky, confident look in his eyes made the decision for her. She started to turn from him without a word, afraid to open her mouth. She’d only made it a couple of steps when he grabbed her wrist and spun her around to face him.

  “Just join us for a drink, talk to us, and then decide. Just one drink, Charlie, nothing more.” He kissed the tender flesh on the inside of her wrist, his intense gaze locked on hers. “Unless you decide otherwise.”

  “Okay,” Charlie agreed before she could stop herself.

  “You’ll join us?”

  Charlie nodded and he took her mouth in another bruising kiss. When he pulled away, he placed one last kiss on the tip of her nose. “Go make your excuses and come meet me at the bar. From the looks of your friend, I don’t think she wants the three of us intruding.”

  Charlie walked away, dumbfounded that she was actually considering giving control of her body to not one but two men when a loud smack and a spark of pain radiating across her ass made her yelp. “Ow!”

  “Don’t keep me waiting long, Charlie.” Trevor’s animalistic growl rumbled from his chest. “Don’t make me come and get you.”

  Charlie couldn’t control the shiver that raced through her.

  Chapter Two

  Charlie stood in front of the large mirror in the well-lit ladies’ room, shocked at her reflection.

  Charlie McCarty, who had mastered the art of self-control, had been reduced to a raging sea of lust and need. Her dark chestnut hair was tousled, her green eyes glazed, and her lips red and kiss swollen.

  “Holy fuck!” she exclaimed, earning curious stares from the other women crowded around the mirror. What the hell was she doing?

  Two men?

  Seriously?

  Her treacherous body hummed and screamed for the release it craved. Her nipples were painfully hard against the fabric of her blouse, and her clit throbbed. The past three years of vet school had been difficult, yet she knew the next year working at the Redfield Animal Clinic with Dr. Stone would be even harder. This might be her only chance to live out her darkest fantasy, to experience forbidden pleasures.

  She wanted to give up control, to allow someone else—or in this case two others—to take over. Could she actually surrender to complete strangers? She remembered the way Trevor had commandeered her body, how he tasted and felt against her. Hell yes, she would willingly give up control for just another taste of his mouth!

  She ran a brush through her hair and smoothed it back to a silky shine, straightened her clothes, then touched up her makeup. Satisfied with her reflection, she headed back out into the bar, eager to get back into the arms of her dark fantasy man.

  Charlie glanced in the direction of the bar. Her heart stopped and the breath rushed from her lungs. Standing next to Trevor was a light-haired cowboy with his back to her. He was as thick and immense as Trevor was. His pale-blue cotton shirt stretched tightly across his shoulders, looking as if the threads barely kept the pieces of fabric together. His thick blond waves hung down a few inches past his collar and the color was so unique, it seemed oddly familiar.

  He leaned forward slightly at the waist and rested his elbows on the bar. It was the perfect stance to accentuate just how sexy his ass was in his skintight blue jeans.

  Charlie couldn’t help but think that if this man looked as good from the front as he did from the back, giving up control was going to be a very small price to pay. A very small price indeed.

  Just as she prepared to take her first step in their direction, the blond cowboy turned his head toward Trevor, laughing at something he must have said.

  Charlie froze. The memory of where she’d seen that hair color before came back in a painful rush. Standing there in front of her was the last man she ever thought she’d see again—the cause of her tormented heart and mind for years.

  Kegan.

  Spinning on her heel, Charlie fled back to the safety of the ladies’ room.

  No. No. No! It couldn’t be him. No way could Kegan be in the same bar, could he? It felt as if her lungs were going to explode from not enough air.

  She grasped the counter to steady herself as she fought to get air into her lungs. It couldn’t be him, had to be her overactive imagination. She’d recently thought about him and that had to be why she was seeing things.

  No way could her sexy cowboy have been waiting for her tormentor. Though this cowboy appeared to be the same height that she remembered Kegan being, he was broader in the arms and shoulders. Kegan had been thin and lanky.

  Shit! Who was she kidding? That thick, sandy blond hair and dimpled smile left little doubt. Years she had tried to forget him. Years of heartbreak, and on the first night she could finally let go, here he was.

  “Damn him!” She had to get the hell out of here!

  Charlie pulled her cell phone from her pocket and sent Rae a text.

  Mind if I call it a night?

  No way was she going to face Kegan after she had wantonly thrown herself at his friend. Oh God, is Kegan the man Trevor wants to share me with?

  Her stomach lurched as realization dawned on her. What if she hadn’t spotted him first? What if she’d been standing at the bar when he arrived? Her muscles were weak, and her body shook. She gave a silent thank you to whoever had spared her the embarrassment of seeing Kegan again for the first time under the pretense of being entertainment for him and his friend.

  No wonder he didn’t come back for me. Why would he want some stupid country girl with silly dreams of being swept off her feet and settling down in a cute little house with a white picket fence? He obviously had other things besides monogamy in mind.

  What did she have to offer when he obviously enjoyed being with Mr. Tall, Dark and Gorgeous? Her simple country charms, the dream of having two-point-five children and a future as a soccer mom attending PTA meetings wouldn’t hold his interest. God, she was truly pathetic to have thought she could have that with someone like Kegan.

  Her cell phone vibrated in her hand.

  No problem, as long as you won’t mind if I stay awhile. :) Call me tomorrow.

  Be safe and I expect all the gory details tomorrow, Charlie replied, then shoved her phone in her pocket and headed out into the bar.

  Keeping close to the wall and praying no one would notice her, she headed toward the back entrance. As she reached out to push the door open, she snuck one last look over her shoulder to make sure she hadn’t been followed and looked right into Trevor’s confused eyes.

  “Ah crap!” Charlie muttered as she stepped out into the parking lot,
letting the door bang shut behind her.

  She didn’t think he really meant his threat, ‘Don’t make me come and get you,’ but wasn’t taking any chances and hurried across the lot to her car.

  Once seated behind the wheel, Charlie finally took her first deep breath since seeing Kegan again. No one had followed her and she hadn’t heard the heavy door bang shut again.

  She felt a slight twinge of regret that she hadn’t apologized to Trevor for standing him up, but hell, what could she have said? ‘Sorry I can’t join you and your friend in a cowboy sandwich because your friend happens to be the man I was hoping you would fuck right out of my head.’ Not likely.

  Charlie had just inserted her key in the ignition when the door flew open and she was pulled from her car. Charlie gasped as Trevor pushed her up against the car, pressed his body tight against hers and pinned her hands at her side.

  “Going somewhere?”

  Panic assailed her, not so much from a stranger hauling her roughly from the car, which should have scared the hell out of her, but because she was frantically looking around in the hope that Kegan hadn’t followed him out.

  Satisfied that they were alone, Charlie focused her eyes on the ground. “I’m so sorry, please just let me go.” Crazy, commanding cowboys she could deal with, just as long as she didn’t have to face Kegan.

  He released her wrists and lifted her chin with his fingers so she was forced to look at him. “Ah, hells, baby, what’s got you so spooked? I would never have forced you to do anything you didn’t want to do.” He brushed his thumb softly across her trembling bottom lip, then bent to touch his lips to hers. “Talk to me, tell me what you need.”

  Charlie looked deep into his eyes and saw such sincerity, she felt ashamed that she had run without an explanation. Though the shame still wasn’t enough to make her walk back into that bar.

  “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have run out without at least saying goodbye, but trust me, it’s better this way.”

  “Why is it better? I just wanted a chance for you to get to know us.”