“How so?”
“Angel and Joaquin introduced us to a friend of theirs who was in town a couple of weeks ago, from Lusty. He’s thinking about moving to this area. He was visiting with his current employers, Chase and Brian Benedict. Chris was pretty good friends with him when they were on the rodeo circuit together too.” Seth felt Jayne tense just a bit where she sat curled up to him, and he glanced down and saw the blush that stained her cheeks. He squeezed her reassuringly.
“Julián Alvarez?” At Del’s nod, Seth said, “We met him in The Dancing Pony. Seemed like a stand-up guy.” That was easy enough to say if he ignored the memory of the guy’s hand on Jayne’s ass and instead remembered the concern on his face for her when she’d passed out. It wasn’t necessary to share any of the specifics of how they’d met.
Jayne glanced up at him, and when he didn’t say anything else, he could feel the gratitude radiating off of her. If they knew any of the details of that night, none of the others mentioned anything.
Del said, “Julián has a lot of experience with ranch operations and would make a good lead man. He’s got to finish up the time he agreed to stay on at the Benedicts’ place first, and then decide if he wants to come to Divine. He’s got family in Lusty.”
Grace chuckled. “It’s not that far to Lusty.”
* * * *
After supper, Jayne helped Grace and the other ladies in the kitchen while the men all enjoyed a beer out on the back porch.
Standing beside Jayne, Grace said, “I’m dying to see this new tattoo. Any chance I could get a look—”
“We could get a look at it?” Lily asked as she reached between them to put the sponge back at the sink after wiping down the table.
Lucy piped up. “It’s gorgeous, y’all! I saw it the other day.”
Her mom pouted. “I know you’ve had more work done on it since the first time you showed me.” Jayne rolled her eyes at her pout as she nodded.
Grace glanced surreptitiously out the dining room window to check on the men, who were deep in conversation. “I was impressed when Seth said it was his favorite.”
“Why’s that?” Jayne knew he’d done many, many tattoos over the years but figured it was just because they’d bonded over it.
Lily nodded and pulled out her cell phone, tapped the screen, and began typing. “We thought he was just super-talented and looking for a place to hang his shingle when he came to Divine. We didn’t know he was world famous.”
Jayne’s eyebrows shot up, and she caught her jaw before it dropped in surprise. “He is?”
Grace nodded. Lily turned her phone so that the screen faced Jayne and scrolled through several pictures of tattoos. “He obviously doesn’t talk about it but he has clients that visit him from all over the world to have him do their body art. He wouldn’t think it’s a big deal, but, girls, we sport ink that was done by a world-renowned artist.”
“He’s so down-to-earth,” Jayne murmured.
Lucy quietly said, “Fame doesn’t mean much to him, the big dork.” Her words were teasing but Jayne heard the respect in her tone as well.
The tattoos that Lily continued to scroll through showed a wide variety of styles but all were magnificently done. There was one portrait tattoo on a man’s back that appeared three-dimensional at first glance. Lily handed her the phone and let her scan through the rest as the women talked. Among the pictures, she thought she saw a couple of celebrities.
“That’s what’s so wonderful about him. I think he moved here to get away from all of that,” Grace said as she glanced at the window again. She drew Jayne toward her office located in the back of the house as Frieda, Lucy, and Lily followed. “So you’ll show us?”
She’d already seen their tattoos, which Seth had also done, as well as several others at the July 4th get-together, so she didn’t see any harm. Grace shut the door as Jayne unbuttoned her shirt. “It covers a lot of skin.”
“We’re not shy if you’re not,” Lucy replied as she took a seat in the chair at Grace’s desk. As some of the healing tattoo was revealed, Lucy whistled softly. “Whoa, dude, the shading makes a big difference. He worked you over good last Saturday.”
Honey, you have no idea.
Jayne didn’t think it was possible to be any redder in the cheeks than she was at Lucy’s word choice. Thankfully, in the lamplight no one seemed to notice. She slipped the shirt off and lowered the elastic waistband on her gauzy, flowing blue skirt. “It’s still healing, which is why it looks a little flaky in places.”
As she revealed the lower edge where the rose vine wrapped around her upper thigh, her mother’s lips formed an O and she said, “Wow. It’s beautiful.”
Her mom had been nothing but accepting of Seth since that initial grilling, and hearing those words from her filled Jayne with happiness. She didn’t have any illusions about her dad’s reaction though. He’d have a conniption once he found out that his baby had been tattooed. But it was her life and her body.
“Does it itch?” Lily asked as she leaned closer. “I know mine did.”
Patting an itching rib rather than scratching, Jayne giggled. “Like crazy, but Seth told me that’s normal.” She lifted her bra to show her mom the rose at the top of the design. Frieda asked Lily about her tattoo, and she quickly showed her the multicolored phoenix that decorated her abdomen.
Her mom sighed with what sounded like disappointment. “I wish I’d gotten a tattoo when I had the chance years ago. I wonder if Seth would do something for me. Maybe not that extensive. Does it hurt very much?” Her brows creased as she looked at her daughter.
“I won’t lie to you and say it doesn’t, but it’s worth it.”
Her mom brushed a knuckle over one of the roses on her rib cage. “He does very fine work. It’s so lifelike.” Glancing up at her, she softly asked, “He’s good to you too, I hope?”
Jayne felt tears prickle in her eyes and nodded. “Very good.”
“Hey, Grace, are these all book covers?” Lucy asked as she pointed to the stretched canvas prints decorating the walls around Grace’s desk.
Grace nodded with a grin as Lucy leaned closer to one and squinted at another one. “Caressa MacFarland. I love her books. Do you know her?”
Jayne and Lily snickered and glanced at Grace as she nodded. “You could say that.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped as she put two and two together and yelled, “No shit?” When she realized how loud she was being, she covered her mouth and whispered, “No shit, really?”
Frieda gasped at the same realization and clutched her breasts in a hilarious fan-girl gesture. “You wrote The Rancher’s Lady! You’re Caressa MacFarland!”
Grace giggled and nodded. “That’s me.”
Lucy and Frieda peppered Grace with questions as Jayne adjusted her clothing. Lily perched beside her on the couch, giggling at Lucy and Frieda. “Seth seems happy since he’s been spending time with you, Jayne.”
“I hope so.”
“He’s always been so serious. I like seeing him smile more.” Jayne had noticed that his smiles came more easily in recent weeks. “You seem pretty happy too.”
“I am.”
She would’ve said more, but a knock sounded on the closed office door and Grace opened it, greeting her husbands, Ethan and Adam. Taller than Grace by several inches, both men stared at her as though it had been days since they’d seen her instead of just minutes. Ethan said, “Clay and Del were looking for you, Lily. Del just got a call from Chris. He said cattle broke through one of the fences.”
“Oh, shoot. I’d better go.” Turning to Jayne, Lily said, “If you ever want to talk, just give me a call, okay?”
Jayne nodded and said good night, and then her gaze was drawn to the handsome, raven-haired lover gazing at her as he leaned against the doorway. His blue eyes swept over her, and she felt a wave of heat at the intensity of his expression. She followed the rest of the women out of the office and slid her hand into his as he drew her to a halt in the hallway.
“Did you show them your tattoo?” His words whispered along her throat as he brushed his lips against her there in a tingling caress.
“Uh-huh. I also found out you’re famous.”
Seth scoffed as he continued teasing her with his lips. “None of that matters. I want you.” His husky tone and the hardening cock he rubbed against her hip sent a wave of corresponding heat to her dampening pussy.
“Mom will be heading back to my house soon, since she has to leave early in the morning.”
“Come to my place.”
“What about Lucy?”
“If knowing you’re there shocks Lucy, then she needs to be shocked more often. Besides, it looks like both she and your mom plan to ply your cousin with questions about her books for the rest of the evening.” Heat sizzled along her nerve endings as she glanced down the hall to see if anyone could see them. “I don’t think Grace would mind if we said our good-nights now. We’ll stop by your house and get whatever you need, and then I want you to stay the night with me.”
Chapter Fourteen
In the truck, on the way to Seth’s house, Jayne recalled what Grace and Lily had told her about Seth. “So, you’re this world-famous tattoo artist, huh? Globe-trotting tattooist to the stars?”
Seth chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Not quite. I made a few friends and met some influential people in my travels. Their friends like my work and come see me. It’s not a big deal.” He didn’t seem willing to say much more about it.
“Not everything about your days of traveling was a good experience, was it? You gave me the sanitized version before, at the lake.”
Seth’s gaze briefly rested on her before turning back to the road. “You’ve heard that old expression about horizons being broadened by experience? Not all experience is good. Not everyone has good intentions. And sometimes good intentions aren’t enough.” She watched his face in the dim glow of the truck dashboard and thought she saw regret in his demeanor. “I was grateful for the knowledge I gained of my craft in my travels. I studied and got training in styles and techniques that I couldn’t have over here, which makes my portfolio more versatile but…”
“There was other stuff that ruined it for you?” Seth’s silent nod made her regret her prodding. “I’m sorry if I brought up bad memories.”
He squeezed her shoulders, drawing her closer to him on the bench seat. “Good or bad, my experiences have brought me to where I am now. They brought you to me.”
“Or you to me,” she quipped as he turned into his driveway and parked the truck in the garage.
“Either way, you’re mine,” he murmured as he turned in the driver’s seat and pulled her to him. His touch was equal parts demanding he-man and gentle lover. Jayne liked seeing the side of him that wanted more of her. He was never arrogant or pushy, but she knew he was edging her inexorably out of her comfort zone, teaching her to explore the boundaries of what she’d thought of as her sexual limits. Doing so had another benefit.
When she wasn’t working or with him, she was writing. She’d always written in her journals as a means of creative expression and for her own pleasure. Lately, her hands ached because she could barely keep up with a pen in hand. She’d even considered saving for a laptop.
Seth climbed from the truck and held his hands out to her, helping her down, and then grabbed her change of clothes and overnight bag. If she’d been thinking clearly, she’d have brought her car so that she could drive herself, but her only thought had been this destination. As the crow flew, she only lived a ten-minute walk from him, several blocks away, but he’d already mentioned that he’d take her back to her house in the morning to fetch the car.
Inside the dark house, she allowed him to lead her back to his bedroom. His furnishings were spartan and utilitarian. He removed his wallet, keys, and cell phone from his pockets and placed them on his dresser as she slipped her strappy wedge sandals from her feet. He strode into the master bathroom, and she heard the shower turn on. He appeared in the doorway a moment later.
“I want a hot shower. Join me?”
He didn’t need to ask twice. She shed her loose, flowing skirt, lightweight blue cardigan, and camisole as he watched, a hungry light in his eyes. Feeling bold, she strutted up to him clad in just her lacy bikini underwear and bra. His eyes raked her curves appreciatively until she closed the distance and leaned against him. His lips stirred flames inside her as he licked and nipped at her lower lip. His touch was gentle, yet demanding, like him, as he stroked her upper arms then held her to him, deepening the kiss.
“I want to slide my cock into your pussy, and feel you go all hot and melt around me, sweet Jayne. I want to hear the sound of your voice when you’re coming.”
Her cunt pulsed with excitement, and she could almost feel him sliding between her swollen lips as he spoke in that sultry tone. “I’ll do whatever you want me to, Seth. Anything.”
“I also want to play with your ass.”
She gulped and hoped her eyes didn’t betray too much of the apprehension she felt at that thought. But even then, she knew he’d make it good for her.
“You ready for that? I won’t take it tonight, but soon.”
Jayne nodded and let him draw her into the shower. Within the tiled enclosure, they made quick work of bathing, and then he let her do something she’d been wanting to do for days. Anytime they were naked together, he kept her so busy she’d never had a chance, and once they were done she fell into a sound sleep.
He patiently let her run her fingers over all of his tattoos, looking at the tremendous amount of detail that somehow tied all the designs together and made them seem like one large body of artwork. The biomechanical designs were three dimensional on some parts, giving the appearance that the observer could see the inner workings beneath the tattoos. There were some Steampunk effects like gears and gadgetry where joints would’ve been, and dark, sweeping, H. R. Giger-esque styled imagery. Her favorite parts were the tattoos on his arms which had the appearance of dragon scales or bony armor. The designs stopped at his mid-forearm, so that if he had long sleeves rolled up partway, no one would know he had tattoos unless he showed them.
When she was done, Seth reached for a bottle on the shelf above the showerhead. She giggled when she took it from him after he’d poured some of the clear, slippery liquid onto his fingertips.
“Lube?”
A barely perceptible smile bowed Seth’s lips before he leaned down and brushed them against her throat. “Good, clean fun. Easy to clean up after.”
“How often?” she asked as she poured some onto her own fingers, deciding she wanted to play too.
Seth watched her with interest, one brow arching as though he was curious what she planned to do with it. “Anytime I think of you while I’m in here.”
Giggling, Jayne replied, “Good answer.”
Seth’s cock jolted in her hand as she swirled the lube around it and he held her to him. She stroked his rigid length, sighing in approval as he swelled in her hand. Flexing against her palm, Seth leaned his head back against the damp tile, his wet hair clinging to his neck and shoulders as he closed his eyes and growled softly. Watching his expression, she was enthralled by the intense line of his jaw and the trembling in his muscles as she pleasured him. He looked down at her, piercing her with his laser-blue eyes, and bit his lower lip, inspiring a clenching contraction in the damp heat growing between her thighs.
Her breath left her in a rush when his hand slid farther south to the cleft of her ass. A needy-sounding moan echoed in the shower enclosure, and she realized it was her voice she’d heard. His hands were gentle as always, but she felt completely at his mercy as he parted her cheeks and stroked her rear opening with his lube-slicked fingertips.
She panted as slumbering nerve endings fired to exhilarating life. The thought of him breaching that small opening with his big cock left her trembling with trepidation but also made her aware of how much she wanted to trust him. She wanted to give this part
of herself to him. Wanted him to know she held nothing back, but she still quaked a little at the thought. Despite the sexy stories she’d read over the years and her basic attempts at depicting anal sex in her storytelling, she still wasn’t one hundred percent sure she’d enjoy it.
“Relax, sweet Jayne. Nothing happens tonight, I promise. Just want to get you used to the sensation. I love playing with your sweet little ass.”
“Does that mean I get to play with yours?” she asked in a shaky voice.
His torso rumbled with amusement as he looked down at her. She stopped stroking his cock, and he thrust against her hand to nudge her to resume her play. “If you want to play with my ass, baby, I’d let you.”
She felt like a temptress when she smiled up at him and reached for the bottle of lube and poured more on the fingers of her other hand. “I’m feeling a wee bit naughty too. Did I ever tell you about a little question-and-answer seminar I attended recently at Discretion Boutique?”
Seth growled, and his body vibrated beneath her hands as she continued stroking his cock with one hand and slid the knuckles of her other hand over his tight ass cheek. He clenched the muscle at the contact and murmured, “I heard about that seminar from Kendall Warner and Jake Redman last weekend. They said that—well, I’m not telling you exactly what they said, but they appreciated Maya and Margot’s willingness to learn new things.”
Jayne felt a wide, happy grin cross her face. She already knew what Seth wasn’t willing to pass on. Margot had told her the weekend before that Jake and Gil called her “Gold Fingers,” and Maya said that Kendall told her he’d never leave the house again and be her slave if she’d do that for him on a regular basis. “It’s just a little prostate massage. You’d think we’d learned the secret of happiness.”
“I don’t know, baby, they both looked pretty damned happy to me.”
“Mmmm, maybe you’ll get to find out someday.” She arched as he increased the pressure on her anus. After groaning softly, she added, “Enough talk, more playing.”
Heather Rainier Page 16