The Climax Montana Complete Collection

by Reece Butler

  “Sources say Penelope, as she was known, has no real friends, female or male. Many know of her from sharing classes or attending her father’s business parties, but she kept to herself. Polite and respectful, but subdued. When she went out she had a driver and bodyguards.”

  The report stated that while no threats had been reported, the older daughter was escorted everywhere. She did a lot of course work online, and had a very high grade point average in her business program. Usually students with the highest marks were offered a position at a prestigious company. Jane came second overall. When her father was told the good news that she would be offered a position, he arranged to have her marks lowered. He explained his daughter did not need employment as she would soon be married, and it would be best if someone else had the opportunity. His comments came with a generous financial gift.

  The administrators thought he was wonderful to allow someone else the chance for a career. Jane was never given the option, nor did she know her marks had been lowered. When she pleaded guilty to all charges brought against her, the college was relieved she was not listed as one of their best. No one knew whom she was to marry, or when. It was assumed she was still at her father’s home, recovering from her months of required community service.

  “Since she’s over twenty-one, it’s not his business what Jane does.” Keith had spoken with the quiet intensity Josh could tell meant he was royally pissed off.

  “If she’s been kidnapped and a ransom has been demanded, it is his business. He’d be the one paying.”

  “Or not.”

  Josh dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Or not.”

  Keith worked for a few minutes before Josh continued.

  “How serious is this thing with Jane?”

  Keith shot him a glare that would have stopped his heart if he hadn’t been getting those looks all his life.

  “Both my sons think very highly of the lady.” Keith gripped the flipper almost as a weapon. “She’s done everything she could to fit in. I want Jane, Travis, and Riley to work things out between them, with no interference. You got that?”

  “Yes, sir,” replied Josh. “I know you’re hunting a daughter-in-law. Is that going to interfere with my investigation?”

  “You’ve still got a smart mouth,” growled Keith. “Your pa ought to have thrashed you more when you were a boy.”

  “Yes, sir, so I’ve been told.”

  He was four years older than Riley. The oldest Adams boy had been wild, following in Josh’s footsteps, but trying to one-up him on the pranks. They’d both got their asses blistered a time or two. His mom was already warning him his time would come, that he’d be tearing his hair out because of what his kids got into.

  “Don’t just stand there,” ordered Keith. “Set the table!”

  He’d eaten many meals here, and at every other ranch in the valley, so easily found the plates and cutlery. He was just setting the syrup down when the door from the yard opened and a giggling woman ran forward. Jane stopped, red-faced, when she saw Josh. Her smile evaporated. Her eyes went to Keith. He looked at her empty hands.

  “Too much kissing fries the brain and you forget things,” said Keith. “Or does Travis have the eggs?”

  “I left them in the cool,” said Travis, following Jane.

  She sidled around the far side of the table from Josh to wash her hands. She put on an apron as if she’d been doing it all her life, and prepared another pot of coffee. Aggie and Donny came down the stairs, hand in hand. Aggie wore a dress, which perked Keith up. They all gathered at the table, said a quick prayer, and dug in.

  Josh watched the interplay with Jane. Travis watched her as if she was the only one for him. Jane looked back the same way. This was his town, and he took care of it. If trouble was coming their way, he had to know. It was difficult to juggle friendships and respect with a clear, unbiased mind. But it was what he was elected to do, and he didn’t shirk his duties. After they’d finished eating, Keith leaned back and gave him the eye.

  Josh went over the basics of the report, which said little more than there were enough red flags with both Stark and William Rankin, Jane’s so-called fiancé, to get the forensic accountants rolling up their sleeves in glee.

  “Any sign of Stark’s men?” asked Donny.

  “Not in Texas, though Mr. White says Stark contacted Riley the day after you left.”

  Jane shot Travis a look, then relaxed when he winked.

  “Stark offered Riley a lot of money to get you back,” said Josh.

  “He wouldn’t have lived to spend it,” she replied.

  “Riley told him you’d already left. I wasn’t surprised when a pair of Stark’s men arrived in Climax the day before the two of you turned up.”

  “And you didn’t think to tell us?” demanded Travis, obviously furious.

  “Don’t worry, no one knew a thing,” replied Josh calmly. “Even if someone overheard people talking about you or Riley, it’s no big deal. The older generation thought you were in Texas working to make cash money. The younger ones are still complaining about you lying on a beach watching girls in bikinis and drinking beer while they work.”

  “Let me guess,” said Travis. “Those complaints would be from the McInnes and MacDougal twins, along with Trey and Sam Elliott.” He turned to Jane. “My cousins tried to push for an invite but we wouldn’t tell them where we were, other than on the Texas coast.”

  “They expected photos of half-naked women on the beach,” continued Gibson.

  “Didn’t see any of those,” replied Travis mildly. “Tell them we saw lots of pelicans, seagulls, and fishermen, though.”

  “You can tell them in person,” said Gibson. “The usual suspects are arranging a potluck supper at the community center. It’s time for Jane to meet the good people of Climax, Montana. Once they see how things are with the three of you, they’ll support you even more.”

  * * * *

  Jane surveyed the table. She was the only one who seemed upset.

  “Is that a problem?” asked the sheriff, as if there was no reason for her concern.

  Travis squeezed her hand. The thought of meeting people as just plain Jane, rather than the puppet controlled by Bertie, made her pulse race. The people at the condo were all so much older, and judged her more on her manners than anything. None had shown an indication they recognized her. Travis and Riley’s family and friends would be different.

  “Jane hasn’t really spoken to anyone other than us and the condo residents since the beginning of January,” said Travis.

  “No time like the present,” said Aggie. “Too bad Riley isn’t here.”

  “He will be by then,” said the sheriff. “Unless he’s pulled over for speeding.”

  “Good! About time that boy came home.”

  Keith sounded gruff but Jane already knew how he hid his feelings. Donny squeezed Aggie’s hand encouragingly. She wiped her eyes with her other hand, sniffed, and smiled.

  “Be good to have the whole family home,” said Donny.

  “I’d like to meet your friends, but I don’t have anything appropriate to wear.” Jane winced at the male chuckles. “I’ve only got sweats, or jeans and T-shirts.”

  “What about those dresses we bought you?” asked Travis.

  He didn’t hide his wink. Her cheeks got hot, which meant everyone must know what type of dresses they’d bought her.

  “They’re sleeveless,” she replied briskly. “It’s too cold to wear them here.”

  “I like them just fine,” said Travis, grinning.

  “Do you want all those cousins of yours seeing me in them?” she asked. He blanched. “Just as I thought. Everything I have is too casual. I’ll make a bad impression.”

  Aggie burst into a laugh. “Hon, this is the first time I’ve worn a dress since Christmas. We’re talking about a potluck supper at the old community center. No alcohol, no fancy clothes, but lots of fun.”

  Dress her up in a designer dress with her shell of make
up and put her in a crowd of five hundred strangers and Jane would be fine. Facing thirty of Travis’s friends and family terrified her. She hadn’t cared what the crowds thought. As long as her father was satisfied, she was safe.

  “I don’t want to shame you in front of your friends,” she said quietly.

  “What the…?” Travis leaned close so his breath caressed her ear and no one else could hear. “Sweetie, I will never be anything but proud of you. You are so hot in jeans and a T-shirt it makes me want to put my hands all over you. You have nothing to be ashamed of, Jane. Nothing.” He gave her a hint of That Look. “Don’t you put yourself down or I’ll be making that ass of yours hot and red.”

  Her pussy, already tingling from having him near, pulsed with eagerness. Her face, especially her ears, heated.

  “What did that rascal just say to you?” demanded Donny.

  “I told Jane my cousins are going to be very jealous when they see my woman.”

  “I’m not your woman,” she replied automatically. It was met with a series of amused snorts.

  “This time of year, when the layers start to come off, the sap starts to flow, and a man’s blood heats,” said Donny. He moved his arm. Aggie, sitting beside him, suddenly jumped. She glared.

  “So does a woman’s, husband,” she replied. “You got anything to back that up with?” she demanded, looking at Donny.

  “Get rid of the sheriff and you’ll find out,” he replied, leaning close and leering.

  Travis sighed. He stood, then guided Jane to stand in front of him. Confused, she followed his lead. He hooked his fingers in her belt loops, turned her toward the stairs, and began pushing.

  “Keep talking, Sheriff,” he said. “Feel free to tell my parents whatever you want. They’ll pass it on to us. This may take some time.”

  Jane tried to dig in her feet but her socks slid on the wood floor. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded. His take-charge attitude had her pussy flooding, but she complained because of what the older generation might think.

  “Showing my woman what she’ll wear tonight.”

  “Sure you are,” said Donny, his amusement plain in his voice. “Take your time. We don’t want Jane to think Travis can’t live up to the town’s good name.”

  Travis pushed, or guided, her up the stairs. When they reached the top, he released her, blocking the way down. She set both fists on her hips and glared up at him. She had to take quick breaths, unable to inhale fast enough. It wasn’t from climbing stairs.

  “Travis Adams, I am not going to have sex with you while your parents and the sheriff are downstairs!” she said, keeping her voice low.

  His wolfish smile suggested otherwise.

  She whacked him in the arm and stomped into the room his parents had given her. She crossed the threshold, then paused. She’d only been in the room to sleep, quickly dress, undress, and sleep. Most of that time the room was fairly dim. Not now. White sheets were draped over objects in all corners of the room. She’d forgotten about what might lie under the covers.

  “Want me to show you what’s underneath?” asked a low, sexy voice.

  She whirled around. Travis, eyes gleaming, followed her in. She backed up.

  “No, thank you. And what are you doing in here?”

  He closed the door, then fixed a latch that was too high for her to reach without standing on something.

  “What am I doing, Jane? Whatever I want.”

  She gulped, trembling at his commanding voice. He’d been so amenable and caring when she spoke with the sheriff. She’d admired his patience. It seemed he’d exceeded his quota for the day.

  “First, I’m going to kiss you.” He grabbed his shirt with his fists and yanked. The snaps on the plaid cowboy shirt ripped open, exposing his chest. She licked her lips, remembering the taste of him. “Then I’m going to strip you naked and have my wicked way with you. You are going to come hard, Jane.”

  His shirt flew into a corner. She watched his hands move to his buckle. She gave a soft cry as he flicked it open.

  “More than once.”

  Her pussy throbbed in eagerness. They’d kissed and fondled in the barn, but that did more harm than good, raising expectations she’d thought would not be met.

  “When I’m sated I will bathe you,” he continued. “And then I will lay out what you’ll wear.”

  She wanted this, but was not going to give in easily. She would fight until he overpowered her. He’d said the room was soundproof, so she could scream and not be heard.

  “What if I don’t agree?” she demanded.

  His eyes narrowed, just slightly. He licked his lips. He unbuttoned his jeans and carefully eased his cock out. His fingers worked his belt, sliding it through the loops. He did not throw it aside as he had his shirt. He kicked off his jeans, pulled off his socks and undershorts, and was gloriously naked, holding the folded belt.

  Her breath caught. His thick, hard cock aimed at her pussy. She clenched, needing it to fill her.

  “You have fifteen seconds to strip before I start ripping.”

  She scrambled to obey, eagerly throwing clothes any which way. She was still bent over, pulling her thong off, when he grasped the hair at her neck with his fist.

  “Not fast enough, Jane.”

  She fought, but his grip on her hair was too tight for her to escape. He tugged her to the bed and pushed her down, face-first, keeping a firm grip on her hair. She couldn’t move her head, but flailed with her arms and legs. After being quiet and polite for days, she needed to fight.

  Travis put a knee on her back, using his weight to hold her down while he slipped his fingers between her legs. They went in easily. His knee came off her back. She pushed with her feet to get up, but he swept them off the floor. She scrambled, getting her knees on the bed. He released her hair, grabbing her thighs with his hands. He yanked them apart and slammed his cock into her in one deep thrust. She groaned as he ground his groin into her. He was big, and hard, and filled every part of her. Oh my, I’ve missed this!

  Once he filled her with his cock, he tugged her hair, making her lift her head. He leaned over and nipped her ear.

  “I love seeing my cock fill your pussy,” he said. “You can fight all you like but when I want to take you, I will. Mouth, pussy, or ass, you’re mine. Got it?”

  Instead of answering she closed her thighs and squeezed his cock.

  He groaned, released her hair, and grabbed her hips in both hands. He pulled out, then thrust forward again. He used so much force she had to grip the covers.

  “You want my cock, Jane? You want me to ride your pussy hard, until you come?”

  “Yes!”

  He roared and started pounding into her. He was wild, but so was she. She bucked against him, demanding he give her what she needed. Nothing existed but the feel of her nipples and breasts rasping against the covers, his grunts and hard breathing, and the exquisite fullness of his cock as he filled her again and again.

  The tension she’d come to crave tightened, circling higher and higher. His hand slapped her bottom. She cried out, automatically clenching at the sting. The pain shot to her clit like a spark. She was so close. He slapped her other cheek. This spark took.

  She screamed as she exploded.

  That wonderful cock stoked her higher, keeping her on the edge. Then he bellowed and went wild, rhythm gone, pumping and grinding, panting and groaning. She stayed with him, riding the wave of his orgasm with another of her own.

  He finally slowed. He groaned, and rested his forehead on her back. She struggled to breathe. A high-pitched hissing filled her ears. Her pussy continued to throb around his cock.

  He rolled to his side, taking her with him. He spooned her, his upper hand gently caressing her breast. Her bottom fit into his groin, still attached.

  “Oh, God,” he said between pants. “Too many days without you.”

  Her head was spinning too fast for her to get her tongue to work, but she agreed. She’d forgo
tten how good this felt. Not just the sex, but the way he held her. He was demanding and possessive, and she loved it.

  Loved him.

  The awareness of it hit like a bucket of water. It was a shock, but a welcome one, like diving in a cool pool on a hot, humid day.

  Jane loved Travis, just the way he was. She loved the way he cherished her. Loved the way he wanted what was best for her, while still taking care of himself, his brother, and his family. Whatever they shared, she wanted it. Forever.

  Could she be happy here? Yes.

  The isolation wasn’t an issue, as she hated crowds. She loved the hard work involved in keeping the ranch going. She’d spent most of her life in a small suite watching movies and reading. She wanted action, creating something out of nothing.

  She’d overheard her contemporaries insisting on hiring help to care for the children they’d be expected to produce, to keep their homes immaculate, and to organize their lives so all they had to do was be pretty, vivacious, and charming. They worried if they gained a few pounds or wrinkles, they’d be traded in for something younger.

  Jane didn’t care about any of that. She wanted a messy, loving home filled with dogs and cats and children and husbands. She also wanted love and respect. And fabulous sex, of course.

  She respected Travis and Riley, and they returned it. There was no doubt in her mind she wanted to spend years on the Adams ranch with Travis and Riley. The thought of not seeing them, of going without their touch, their caring, their loving, created an ache in her heart, as if a part was missing.

  They didn’t want a trophy wife. They wanted a real person, one with faults, who could laugh and cry and scream. She was all that, and more.

  They might not love her, but this was as close as she would ever get, and it was far better than she’d ever imagined.

  Travis’s hand slumped. His chest rose and fell behind her back, slow and even. She smiled to herself. He’d fallen asleep, wrapped around and inside her. He needed his rest, and so did she.

  Jane relaxed, letting his protective embrace release her worries.