Crushed: A Western Romance (Red Velvet Series Book 3)

by Leanore Elliott

  Abrupt like, she felt that addictive need for him surge to the fore again. She believed now that it was what made her crazy before. This man could drive me bull-ropin’ crazy! He already has in fact. Pretty soon, everybody is gonna think my screen door’s got a big ole hole in it. There was just no telling what she might do if he did keep her coals red and smoking for too long.

  Biting at her lip, she realized the whole dammed thing was odd in any case. Just look at us. Him laughing with abandon while standing here naked in the sunshine. Actin’ just as bright as you please!

  All the while, he was holding her in his arms while she was naked too. She nervously looked all around. “Are you sure it’s okay for us to be—struttin’ around in the au naturel?”

  Wade’s laughter got louder.

  “I mean it. If one of my cowhands saw me—?”

  “One of your what?”

  “My men, my crew.”

  “You mean your stockmen?””

  Kanda slowly nodded her head. “I run the Triple K, remember? If they saw me like this, I would have to ride every cattle drive backward with a potato sack over my dumbass head—forever!”

  “So, you’re afraid?”

  Kanda took in a deep breath…that had always been a foreign word to her. “If I were? I wouldn’t have tied up a 200-pound oak tree like you!” She beamed at him with sudden pride at her accomplishment…never mind the spanking consequences after.

  Wade’s eyes danced with a wicked gleam. “Well, sweet ringer, you should be very afraid.”

  “Ringer?”

  “Yeah…back in the Never Never that’s what we call a—cowboy or girl.” His smile disappeared.

  Kanda’s smile dimmed. “So…why should I be afraid?”

  “ ’Cause you owe this oak man a huge favor!” He swung her out and tossed her into the river.

  “Ohh!” she spluttered around in the water.

  Immediately, Wade dove in and disappeared under the murky surface.

  Kanda never realized how deep this river was this time of year, just after the once a year torrential rains. Usually, Flatonia was three seasons, drought, locusts and twisters. She dog-paddled and looked around. No Wade.

  “Hello?” a voice called from somewhere on the bank.

  Gasping, Kanda lowered her pudgy floating boobs beneath the murky water, so only her head and shoulders were visible.

  A big man walked closer to the shore. “Uh, well— Hello there, female!”

  Kanda’s eyes widened. He had the same accent as Wade. In fact, he looked like an older version.

  “I’m looking for—”

  Just then, Wade popped his head up with a huge splash of river water and grabbed her from behind.

  The man stared and then grinned hugely “—that guy!”

  Wade shook out his wet hair and snuggled against her.

  Kanda’s throat had entirely closed up.

  “Hey, Bull Kicker!” the man called to Wade.

  At the call, he jerked his head up. “Pop?”

  “Yeah. I came to the land of Texas after all.”

  Wade seemed relaxed against her like he was happy to see him and he shrugged. “It’s a great country.” His hands remained beneath the water and he passed them teasingly over her bare nipples.

  Kanda sucked in her breath at the tingles he was causing.

  “Well, I see you found…” His dad paused and stared at Kanda. “The best thing about the place. What a female!” He chuckled.

  Wade lowered one hand and slipped his finger in between her folds, stroking her there.

  Her body clenched; no one had ever touched her there! The fact that Wade was doing it in mixed company was outrageous to say the least! Maybe he’s the crazy one? Her heart rate increased and she was breathless.

  “Yep, I think so too, Pops.”

  The man couldn’t have seen beneath the murky Flat River water, but he had the good grace to step a few paces back. “I’ll be in the cabin. Got fixins’ in there, mate? I thought I’d make us all supper.”

  Wade nodded as he tweaked her nipple and stroked her button simultaneously. “Have at it.”

  She thought she was gonna melt right into the water. Her body responded wildly to his touches and it was under his control all the way. She couldn’t even seem to will up the embarrassment she should’ve felt. She bit at her lip to keep from moaning aloud.

  At the seemingly innocent answer, his dad burst forth with a huge boisterous laugh. “Well, you too, Kicker…you too!” He turned around and walked up the path.

  Wade lowered his mouth to her neck and kissed her skin there.

  Struck dumb once again by this man, Kanda couldn’t believe what just happened. He was making love to her—in front of company no less!

  His stroking and tweaking was combined with his hot mouth on her neck and her head dropped back. She just couldn’t care about the immorality of it all, she couldn’t focus on anything. Weak as a wet kitten, she couldn’t have purred even if she tried.

  “Mmm, delicious…” he whispered to her cheek.

  Kanda was panting. “You—you…”

  He laughed softly. “Yes?”

  She gulped, as her spit had even dried up in her throat.

  Wade flipped her around.

  Her body just limply complied. She realized that she was like a rag doll, putty in his hands, and she knew it in every corner of her befuddled mind.

  His smile was dazzling and his electric eyes bore into hers. “I’m gonna show you a unique phenomenon, female.”

  Female? Kanda vaguely wondered at this word being thrown around. Was it a joke? A safe word? Before she could form the words to ask, he surprised her again.

  With ease, he grabbed her waist and raised her up from the water.

  Her breath caught in her throat as he held her high and hoisted there for a long moment.

  Wade’s eyes wandered from her flushing face, down along her water-streamed neck, pausing at her heaving, plentiful breasts with her erected pink nipples gleaming in the sunlight. “It’s called…” He lowered her further while keeping her gaze locked with his, then sat her straight down onto his erection. “Fire in the water.”

  “Oooh…” she cooed breathlessly as he filled her completely. Yep, he could light the matches just anywhere he pleased all right. I’m just roastin’ on a spit, a ringer turnin’ in the flames.

  Wade bit at his lip as if it felt too good to him too and then he raised her hips up and slowly back down. “The friction builds…” He repeated the motion again but with a more rapid thrusting.

  Sweet honey-sugah ice tea! Kanda’s head dropped back; the erotic wet sliding was too much pleasure.

  Wade repeated the motion, then lowered his mouth to her exposed nipple, latching on.

  Kanda’s body was now on fire. Her torso rippled with the heat from his mouth while her insides were filled and heated from his friction building.

  Lifting his mouth away, he watched her with a smoldering intensity as she squirmed with need. Then, he latched onto the other nipple and propelled her once again over his thick, throbbing cock.

  This flamin’ ride in the water is gonna end me! Her body couldn’t take anymore and she grew rigid from the strain of an unexpected orgasm. She never knew what an orgasm was before, but Lord howdy, did she ever know now! It felt like she was bursting with erotic heat, burning alive and loving every minute of the searing.

  Wade held her onto his hard tool and kept her there while his hands grabbed a hold of her lush butt cheeks and he squeezed.

  The squeezing seemed to enhance her climax and she gasped for air. The full feeling was the most satisfying sensation too. Like she was whole for the first time in her life, but also like she was splitting apart with some upheaval of emotions. It was like nothing she ever dreamed of. Colors floated in front of her eyes again as the water whirled around her, and the sun seemed to blind her. I’m gonna die! I’m gonna perish right here!

  He groaned and his hard bod stiffened.
“Wild fire, Kandy girl, wild…” He breathlessly panted as he pulled her close and held her tight.

  Crushed against his sleek wet chest while warmth seemed to seep out of every pore she owned, she knew this was like a sweet death. This must be what it means to die sweetly in someone’s arms. She knew her epitaph would be correct when they finally put her sorry body into the ground.

  Here lies Kanda, the cowgirl who foolishly played with matches.

  SIX

  Just keep cuttin’ the deck…

  … until your ace’s show!

  Plush Stud ranch, Victoria Texas

  Bren had never enjoyed anything more. She’d been to a few fun places like amusement parks and huge keg parties, and once she even jumped out of an airplane, but never had she felt this kind of rush.

  Her cowboy was lying flat out on the big brass bed, helplessly moaning while she licked a trail along his thigh and up to his hard erection. She then followed the silky forbidden path all the way up his shaft and to the tip. Licking around it with taunting lapping, she felt her own moisture bubbling up between her thighs.

  Trevor growled like a savage and sat up with an abrupt swiftness.

  Bren gasped as her body was propelled from the edge of the bed.

  Luckily, he caught her before she hit the floor. “Shit! Oh, sweet velvet. I’m so sorry!”

  Laughing and breathless, she didn’t speak as he hauled her back to the bed.

  “I told ya! I can’t take that stuff! Now look what I almost did!”

  Bren was chuckling with mirth and leaps of adrenaline rushes.

  Shaking his head, he swiftly tugged her further and lay on his back, taking her up by her hips and planting her squarely on top of him.

  Her pussy slid neatly and succinctly down and over his huge, hard rod. “Oh!” she gasped out at the filling.

  “You can still be in charge, sweet girl.” He grinned up at her and reached up to perform double-handed tweaks of her nipples.

  Her body almost jumped from the nerves it enlivened in her. “In charge?” she panted.

  “Yeah, ride me, Miss Plush.” He grinned. “I will be your obedient steed.”

  Bren was still full of exhilaration as she smiled down at him. “Well, mister cowpoke, you seem to have the reins.” She peered down at his hands on her boobs.

  He looked unsure. “I could stop?”

  “No!” she yelled, then clamped a hand over her mouth. “I mean…” She dropped her hand. “Please, hold the reins for me, steed.”

  He chuckled. “You are just the most…” He raised his pelvis to fill her completely. “…delightful mistress.” He bucked his hips.

  Bren hung on for dear life. Moaning at his filling of her, she breathlessly retorted, “I’m beginning to wonder about just who’s riding who—cowboy!”

  Trev laughed and reached a hand down to find her clit button.

  “Oh no!” Bren admonished. “That’s not—”

  He stroked her button, tweaked her nipple and raised his pelvis again.

  “—Faiirrr…” Bren capitulated and orgasmed right on the spot. “ Unh…”

  “Had to—” Trevor panted now too. “—take the reins.” His body grew rigid as he kept his eyes on her. “Watching you is too—much for this stallion.”

  Bren was in an erotic heaven while the breath of a sweet hell blew on her skin. She was trapped like a sinner in a cyclone; spiraling, twisting and thinking about saying a prayer.

  ~~****~~

  For all of her life, Daisy Plush always believed that problems could and would solve themselves. She’d seen it a hundred times. If your belt was too tight? Time to let it loose a couple of notches. Still too tight? Then, take the damn useless thing off and throw it away.

  It was the same situation with Bren’s dad. He loved her fire and wild ways until he got serious on me and wanted to be lord and master.

  He wanted her to suddenly change and become a church mouse. All buttoned up till there were no buttonholes left. Smothering and too strict like wearing a literal straightjacket of love. Hell, livin’ like that woulda’ put me in a straightjacket, all right. I even tried to go along for the sake of his being the father of my unborn baby.

  Then, things got worse and she realized he couldn’t have loved the real Daisy if he expected her to be an old woman before her time was up. She literally opened her door and told him to go through it and forget her address forever.

  Life for her was like a big party most of the time. All dolled up and ready to play. Sure, she calmed down for a bit while Bren was a kid and tried to be the mom she needed. She even tried to cook and bake for corn’s sake. Never mind that she went through many fire extinguishers at the time.

  At least Daisy did it with her own mule power, of her own accord. She decided when and what and where…and she still did. If things got too heavy? She would just drop some of the baggage. A few dollars short? Just scrape up more pennies. Just keep cuttin’ the deck until your aces showed.

  Now though, she didn’t know if her own problem solving was gonna cut it. Bren was right about Maggie not belonging here. If Daisy leaves things as they are she might regret it and regrets were… Her train of thought faded away as she tried to remember her philosophy about that.

  ‘You’ve gotta…know when to walk away, and when to run.’ Daisy shook her head. Dumbass song anyway. Dammit! Maggie coming here was like opening up a window into the past.

  Even back then, when she was younger, she never took men seriously. How can you? They’re the type of beings that really can’t be faithful, and putting them in a situation where they were forced to be a one-tunnel man? Nah, it’s like trying to box up the wind.

  Daisy chuckled. If you boxed up a Texan man? All you had was cardboard and some mean, cantankerous dust.

  When she fell in love with Maggie’s dad, she didn’t even know it’d happened. They say love is blind. Well, I was blind to love. Hell, I didn’t even know that was what I was suffering from. Daisy sat at her desk and turned on her PC.

  Her eyes drifted over to the top of her dresser. She tried to stop her gaze from wandering there again…to the old photograph of her and Rand. If I’d boxed him up? I would’ve had —a real man in a box! She smiled at her lame joke. Don’t go there, Daize. It’s been years and years and what’s done is done. If ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts, we’d all have a box of happy-ever-after chocolates.

  Daisy sat up straight and tried to look away from the past. What a time it was though. She remembered how Rand had described it. A time of hot leather and fireworks.

  Now that the picture window was flung open, Daisy allowed herself the treat of picturing him again. There weren’t many things in her life that she could remember with crystal ball clarity, but the first time she saw that man it became one of the images her mind could never dump. She tried for many years and just couldn’t seem to do it.

  A big man, a hot hulk of a male with sandy blond hair, and cobalt blue eyes. His shoulders were as wide as an oak. He moved swift though and it would surprise you considering how big he was. The sight of him actually struck her dumb at the time. A mute Daisy! Helluva miracle in and of itself!

  He was ropin’ a steer and Daisy stood transfixed as she watched him. Her mind went completely blank for a few seconds. Then, it overflowed with images of him wrangling me. Oh yes, just tie me up and hot brand me! Daisy laughed out loud. He was—

  Shaking her head she sighed. Hell, whenever he was near? I didn’t know if I washin’ or a hangin’! That man put a big hole clean through her screen door all right! She’d always felt confident before Rand, and now even after. But, when he was standing in the same room with her? She was a drooping daisy!

  No man had ever swept her away like he did…not in the history of Daisy. He was strong willed, powerful and more headstrong that even she was. He brought me to my knees and that was a feat no one had ever accomplished.

  That was when she knew it was time to run. Yeah, the song got that part right. The
real reason she left Rand. Love conquers all and it was about to trump me! A sudden shiver crawled up her back and she shook her head. What the hell? She wasn’t the type to get shivers, the heebies or whatever you called them. Time to look at the books and do what I always do. Gathering the dollars and countin’ the pennies, then maybe this feeling will up and solve itself.

  SEVEN

  A Ripper Female

  Cabin on the Flat River, Flatonia Texas

  “Kandy…”

  The world was still spinning around her and Kanda was thinking what a nice funeral it would be. All my family there and ma cussin’ up a storm about how bullheaded I always was.

  “Hello…?” A whisper sounded in her ear.

  Gasping, she opened her eyes and found she was lying on the bed in the river cabin. Raising her befuddled gaze, she saw Wade sitting above her.

  “Are you okay?”

  Kanda swallowed heavily.

  “Do you know what happened?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  He leaned in real close as a sly smile spread along his yummy lips. “You fainted…for real.”

  Her eyes widened.

  He nodded his head at her.

  “No!”

  He kept nodding. “Oh yes, just like a city woman!”

  Kanda sat up.

  Wade chuckled and held her arms. “It’s my fault. I should’ve fed you before I introduced you to combustibles.”

  Kanda sat stunned, then his joke dawned on her. Heat flushed her cheeks as she remembered it all.

  He stood up. “Now, you just stay there and I will get you some dinner.”

  She looked around. “Where’s—?”

  “He left.” Wade came back with a plate. “He said he could see that now wasn’t the time for family reunions.”

  “Oh! I’m so embarrassed!” She placed her hands over her face.

  “Why?”

  Kanda let her hands drop away and stared at him like he was nuts.

  He placed a napkin in her lap and then the plate. His eyes were like twinkling blue stars, full of mirth.