Branded

by Candace Havens

  As I watched, he placed a hay bale in front of one of the horse stalls. I turned up the volume.

  “Steady, Red. Just a minute, boy. You’re fine.” Cole’s deep voice played over the speakers as he tried to calm the agitated horse.

  When he returned from the office in the barn, he’d pulled on a T-shirt, much to my disappointment. And then he sat down and did something that freaked me out.

  He read to the horse.

  Who did that?

  But the bucking in the stall stopped, as did the snorts and whinnies. Holy hell. This guy was a genius.

  I slid down on the pillows and listened while he read, until my eyes would no longer stay open.

  …

  Too tired and filthy to go back to the main house, I drove to Uncle’s ranch house. The place was bare bones, but it was comfortable. And it was as far away from Callie as I could get.

  I’d given in at the last minute and gone to see Addy before they left for that damn party. Dressed in a sparkling pink gown, she’d appeared far older than I liked. That didn’t sit well with me since I wouldn’t be around to protect her. I’d been about to tell her that, when I’d been distracted by the appearance of the princess.

  She was damn hot in jeans and a T-shirt, but the blue dress she wore should have been outlawed, the way it pushed up her breasts and fit tightly around that tiny waist. God, the woman had curves. It wasn’t fair. She twirled Ads around as if she was the happiest woman in the world making my sister’s dreams come true. And they had fits of giggles.

  I couldn’t be an asshole and take that away from Ads. She was happy for the first time in a couple of years.

  Why did Callie have to be so fucking beautiful? All night, I thought about her dancing with other men. I should have been worried about my sister, but thoughts of someone’s hands on Callie’s back, someone pulling her closer…

  Shit.

  My life was hard sometimes, but I felt like she’d been sent here to test me, to see if I had what it took to walk the straight and narrow. I needed to keep this job and my uncle’s place on the ranch safe. But, fuck, I wanted her so bad my balls were fucking blue.

  Stripping off my clothes, I turned the water on in the shower. My fist hit the tile so hard the wall shook.

  No.

  I wrapped my hand around my cock as I thought about stripping off that dress and shoving her against the wall, fucking her hard, sinking into her so deep she’d scream my name.

  I imagined her face when she came, and fuck if that didn’t do it for me. I came hard, and still it wasn’t enough. I went for it again, remembering her bending over with that tight ass high in the air as she mucked the stalls. Not a fucking sexy thing about cleaning horseshit, unless it was Callie doing the cleaning.

  Those stupid country club boys wouldn’t know how to handle a woman like her.

  My mind went back to that ass.

  I pounded the tile with the fist that wasn’t rubbing my cock so hard it fucking hurt. But I needed the release—again. I couldn’t do this all summer. I’d go crazy. There were girls in town that wouldn’t mind giving me a blow, or anything else I wanted, but they wouldn’t be her. And when I wanted something, I didn’t go fucking halfway. I went after it.

  But this time, that wouldn’t happen. Didn’t matter how hot she was, or how good she smelled, she was off-limits.

  Two months of hell.

  I wasn’t sure which would go first, my cock or my mind.

  Chapter Six

  Awkward.

  James pulled up just as Cole and his sister came downstairs for dinner. I was about to open the door and run out when Ads yelled, “Wow. That’s a beautiful top, and those heels are killer. How do you walk in them? Are you going somewhere?”

  “Lots of practice.” I laughed, trying to make light of the situation. “And I’m going out with my best friend, James. You met him last night at the dance.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my God, he was so hot. You’re lucky to go on a date with him.”

  I glanced up at Cole, and his jaw was set in a hard line. His eyes narrowed. He was so far removed from that man reading to a horse. This was a different side. The one that judged me and found me inferior. I could feel it in my bones.

  “We’ve been friends since we were kids, so it’s not like that.” I couldn’t pull my gaze away from Cole. Why did I feel the need to explain myself?

  “Addy, we need to get to the dining room. I don’t want to keep the Llewellyns waiting.”

  A blast of wind from the door sent shivers down my spine. “Hey, beautiful.” James sneaked an arm around my waist, pulled me against him, and squeezed. “You ready to go?”

  Cole’s eyebrow rose, but he didn’t say a word. He put an arm around Ads’s shoulders and guided her away.

  Guilt. But why? It wasn’t like Cole was interested in me, or we had anything going. I followed James out to the car.

  “You okay?” James asked as he sat behind the wheel.

  He put a hand on my thigh before moving it to the gearshift of his Lambo.

  “Of course. Where are we headed?”

  “To the airfield. I thought we’d go to Dallas for the night.”

  For the night? I twisted to face him. “James. This is a date between two friends. I’m not sleeping with you.”

  “Who said anything about sleeping?”

  At my gasp, he laughed. “Don’t twist your panties. I just meant we’ll go to dinner, and there’s a new club in Deep Ellum. Crazed is playing tonight. I promise I’ll have you back before you turn into a pumpkin.”

  “Crazed. Didn’t they just hire Joe Reno as their drummer?” I’d been in love with Joe since I was fourteen and he’d played at a friend’s birthday party. I didn’t have many friends, but Joe’s music was like a balm for my soul.

  Back then Joe had been with one of the bigger indie bands. Several stints in rehab and he’d disappeared from the music scene.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to see Joe.”

  James grinned. “They aren’t publicizing the event. He’s put together a new group, and they’re trying out their songs before going on tour.”

  Ah. That’s why I hadn’t recognized the band name.

  “My friend who owns the club invited about fifty people, and we are two of the fifty.”

  “Shit. That is awesome. So up close and personal. Damn. Sometimes I forget how well you know me. This is like a dream come true.”

  “It’s my way of making up for being an ass and not returning your calls this past semester. The way things went down at the end of last summer… I pushed you, and I’m sorry about that.”

  Fuck. Even more awkward. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want any more drama with one of my best friends.

  “Can we just say ‘bygones’ and have fun tonight? Thinking about past crap is no good for me right now. I’m burned out and kind of a mess.”

  “Little Miss Perfect is a mess?”

  I punched his arm hard. “Don’t call me that. You know better than anyone it isn’t true. And even more so now. I—” No. I couldn’t even tell him what was going on. “I just need a break. School was hard. You said it would be, and you were right.” He was two years ahead of me and had warned it would be tougher than I expected.

  “Tonight is about letting loose and having some fun,” I said. “And freaking Joe Reno. I’m so excited. I can’t even tell you.”

  “All right. Bygones. It’s all about fun tonight. And friends. But for the record, I’m sorry about all of that. Friends to the end.” He fist bumped me, and we both broke out laughing. That’s what we used to say when we were kids and it felt like everyone in the world was against us.

  …

  Five hours later, true to his word, James had been the perfect gentleman all night.

  Why couldn’t I fall for a nice guy? I mean, Cole was nice to his sister, but he couldn’t stand me. And he was a bad boy. He might be doing good things and helping his little sister, but underneath all
that—

  No. He didn’t want me. And I wouldn’t jeopardize his job or risk getting him in trouble with my grandpa. He had to take care of Addy, and it was silly of me. The last thing I needed in my life was a man.

  Hell, I didn’t know who I was anymore. I should be focusing on being a better student. Reading up on finance so I could do better in the fall. Not pining after some cowboy who didn’t want to give me the time of day.

  That was it. I was looking for a distraction, and he had a big fat sign around his neck that read Danger! I knew better.

  “You okay?” James had pulled out of the parking lot next to the hangar where we’d left the jet.

  “Yes. Just thinking about the awesome night we had. Joe. Jesus, he was in fine form.”

  “Can you say best friend evah?” James made a funny face and pointed to himself. He always made me laugh.

  He was the perfect guy for me—just not the right guy.

  By the time we returned to my grandparents, I was wiped. It had been amazing night.

  James opened the car door and pulled me into his arms. It was just a hug, and it was comfortable.

  “Thanks,” I whispered.

  He kissed the top of my head. “It was fun tonight. Right?”

  Sighing, I pushed away. “I always have fun with you. You’re my best friend. That’s what I need right now.”

  He tugged on my hair and let me walk away. “I will always be here for you,” he said.

  “Thank you.” I said as I glanced back, but he’d already turned away. “For that. For always being there. And for tonight. It was magical.”

  I watched as he pulled away, and then I went inside. I nearly screamed when I saw a looming figure in the foyer to the right of the door.

  “Jesus, you scared the crap out of me. Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I didn’t want to interrupt you,” Cole said. The light from the formal living area was behind him, and it was tough to see his face. His voice was velvet sliding over my skin.

  “So you spied on me?”

  “No. I was waiting for the all-clear. I need to do a final check on the horses. Red is restless tonight. And like I said, I didn’t want to intrude on your time with the boyfriend.”

  “He’s not…uh, I mean, he’s my friend. We’ve been…” I stopped explaining. I didn’t owe him anything. Why did it matter so much what the hell he thought about me? “You going to read to the horses again?”

  “You spying on me in the barn?” He moved closer to me, and I swear the light hit his eyes so that they became hypnotic orbs. His eyelashes were so long. He stared as though he were memorizing every part of my face. It wasn’t so weird as it was fascinating. I thought he hated me, but that wasn’t hate in his eyes.

  It was dark, but still.

  My breath caught, and then I remembered he’d asked a question. “Most interesting channel on television last night. You read me to sleep.” The words came out on a whisper.

  His mouth tugged up on the right side in a lopsided grin. God, he was beautiful. “Fan of the classics?”

  I nodded, not trusting my voice. “The horses really seemed to like it.”

  “It’s the tone more than anything, and the cadence of the words. There are certain books that work better than others. The ebb and flow in Dickens and Shakespeare seem to work the best. But I throw in a few Tolkien and Steinbeck.”

  “Tolkien?” I didn’t see him as the Lord of the Rings type.

  “Yep. I’ve got to get going.” He reached around, and I chose that moment to wobble on the heels I’d been wearing all night.

  He held my arms to keep me from falling on my face. “Sorry,” I said quickly. “It’s been a long night.”

  “No problem.” He moved his hands to my shoulders, and for a moment, I thought he might lean down and kiss me. And no shit, in those few seconds, I prayed he would. But he let go of me like I was a hot potato and opened the door.

  “Can I come with you?”

  He paused but didn’t turn around. “It’s late. I’m just going to do a quick check and see if I can settle down Red. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Before I could say anything, he was out the door.

  I started to follow but stopped. What was I doing? Jesus. Didn’t I have enough crap going on without chasing the poor ranch hands around? The guy had made it clear he really wasn’t into me.

  But that expression in his eyes, as if for a few seconds he’d wanted to devour my mouth. I ran upstairs, switched out my heels for my favorite pair of beat-up ropers, and threw on a hoodie with my short shorts.

  Ten minutes later, I pulled the golf cart in front of the barn.

  His frown as he came out of Red’s stall made it evident he was not happy to see me.

  “Why are you here?”

  “I know you don’t like me but…” What the hell was I doing here? I kept asking myself that over and over.

  I was drawn to him in some weird way, even though he drove me nuts.

  “You looked at me a while ago. Like…I don’t know. I watched you talking and soothing those horses last night. And you soothed me. I know I sound like an idiot, but no one has ever been able to do that for me. Calm the inside. You know? You’re… I can’t get you out of my fucking head. You hate everything I stand for. I get it. But you want me. I saw it in your eyes. I may not have a lot of experience when it comes to men, but I’m not an idiot.”

  “You said a bad word. Princesses don’t do that. And, no, you aren’t an idiot.”

  That might have been the nicest thing he’d said to me since we met a few days ago.

  He stepped forward, and I moved away, my back against the wall by the door. The gleam in his eyes sent fire to my belly in a way that frightened me and made heat pool in my lower regions.

  “I want you, Callie. I just can’t have you.”

  Dear God, I might have melted right there if he hadn’t reached out and effectively pinned me to the wall. He raised my arms above my head.

  “Why not?” I whispered.

  “You’re the boss’s granddaughter, and I need this job. I’ve got to take care of Ads, and I won’t let Uncle Charlie down. When he’s well, he needs this job to come back to.”

  His lips were inches from mine. “If it weren’t for that, we’d be fucking right now. I’d have my cock so deep in you, you’d forget to breathe.”

  My body shook as if it had orgasmed from his words. A filmy haze clouded my eyes, and my blood burned through my skin.

  Speaking was impossible.

  “But I am going to kiss you. It’ll have to be enough for the both of us. And I’m not asking for permission.”

  My mouth formed an O, and then his lips were on mine. Whatever war he’d been fighting within himself, he’d decided to take it out on me. Rough and hot, it was an all-consuming assault that melted my core and sent fissions of need throughout my body. It was good he held my hands, because I would have been clawing at him to get more if he weren’t. To get closer. To consume him.

  And I let it happen. I let go for the first time in my life. If this was the only time he’d kiss me, I had to memorize every second of pleasure. The way he slid his tongue across my lips, teasing me while one hand held mine above my head, the other caressing my side and hip. Then he was pressing my body into his. There was no mistaking he wanted me.

  I wrapped a leg around his, and he moaned into my mouth. The kiss was like a rollercoaster ride, dipping low in my belly and taking me to heights I’d never imagined possible.

  “More,” I begged when he lifted his mouth from mine. Was that really my voice, so husky and full of sex?

  We pulled in deep breaths, but it wasn’t helping. At least, it wasn’t helping me.

  “You have to go.” He had put several feet between us before I could even think about responding.

  “I don’t understand. We’re consenting adults.”

  “No. This can’t happen again. You’re a kind person, Princess. You get why I need this job. Unde
r any other circumstances…hell. Besides, I’m broken. You need a man who can give you what you deserve. Love and flowers and all that crap. I’m not that guy. You don’t belong in my world. Do you know I never fuck a girl more than once? That’s my rule. Stick with the pretty boys like your friend from tonight. That’s what you need.”

  “But I don’t,” I said, voice trembling. “Don’t need the hearts and flowers crap. That isn’t something I ever expect to find. I’m just as broken, but I think I might be better at hiding it than most.”

  He chuckled.

  “You laughed when I told you I’m in pain. You’re the only person I’ve said that to. But I get it. My troubles are princess problems. I couldn’t possibly understand pain, isolation, or longing. Oh, no. Not me.”

  Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “And for the record, I would never jeopardize your job. And I don’t understand why two consenting adults can’t explore whatever is between them.”

  He turned away from me and grabbed one of the books from the shelf. “I’m sure you wouldn’t mean to cause trouble. But your grandfather finds out, and I’m out of here so fast it isn’t funny. Good night, Princess.”

  I’d been dismissed. Fuck it. I’d thrown myself at him, and he’d basically said no.

  Hands shaking, I started up the long, winding path to the house, determined that would not be our last kiss. I was half way there when I realized I’d left the golf cart at the barn.

  Chapter Seven

  I’ve done a lot of tough shit in my life, but turning away Callie was one of the hardest. The pain in her eyes when I rejected her was enough to tie my gut in knots for days. Better for her to think me an asshole, because I am. It would save a lot of heartache for her later.

  My damn cock was so hard I could barely sit down. That mouth of hers had been so willing. I’d watched her with her friend. He wanted more from her, but she’d been clear.

  But she wanted me. Fuck.

  Red whinnied.

  “Yeah, buddy. I hear you. I’m as nervous as you are tonight.”

  Rain hit the roof of the barn. That’s why the horses were out of sorts. By morning, the front would hit in full force, turning Amarillo into a windy hell. The rain was welcome. We never got enough. But the wind that came with it was brutal.