His words warmed her heart. She let the tears she’d been holding back fall. “Yes, Harm. You’ve given me a reason to stay right where I am.”
“Thank God.” He expelled a breath.
She gave a watery laugh at his obvious relief.
“And by the way…” He dipped his head and lightly grazed his teeth along her neck. “Don’t expect me to ever wear a condom again. I don’t care how many kids we have. This feels too damn good to ever go back.”
Jena shamelessly pushed against him. “Then finish what you started, cowboy.”
“Happy to oblige, ma’am.” He chuckled and slid his hands to her hips. Grasping her with loving strength, he withdrew, then plunged in, deep and hard.
Each time he joined with her felt more deeply emotional than the last; like they were connecting on a higher level. The tender way he held her, his body surrounding hers with warmth and support; it felt as if he was making love to her for the first time. In a way, he was, because this time their hearts and minds were in perfect sync.
The mere thought made Jena’s heart skip several beats. She arched her back and contracted her muscles, smiling when his groan sounded both pained and pleased by her actions. But when he slid his hand down her hip, across her belly, then lower until he found her swollen flesh, her smile faltered and she gasped in sheer pleasure.
“I love you more than I could imagine possible.” Rolling the sensitized bit of skin between his fingers, he continued, “Share with me, sweetheart, the first of many for the rest of our lives.”
Jena’s climax splintered through her in tingling waves, its sheer intensity making her shake all over.
As soon as she stopped gasping, Harm pulled out of her and immediately turned her around. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her up, then kissed her as he pulled her close and lowered her primed body down his erection.
“Mmmm, not one damn thing compares to this,” he said in a hoarse voice as he slid fully inside her. Cupping her bare buttocks to protect her skin, he leaned against the fence and rolled his hips. Jena moaned, enjoying their intimate connection. Harm gave her a smile full of sin right before he withdrew and thrust back in, hard and fast. Jena gripped his shoulders tight and keened her pleasure, thrilled by his rough aggressiveness. She clasped her legs firmly around his waist and gyrated her hips, clenching her muscles around him, wanting him aching with as much need as she felt.
“Jena.” He sounded wrecked, his body tensing under her.
“You ruined me for all other men that night. I love you.” She rocked against him once more to send him over the edge, but he held on, never letting his loving gaze leave hers as he kept up his rhythmic pace. Jena called his name as she flew apart with him, her body quivering all over from the body-melting sensations.
When their breathing settled and their heart rates slowed, Harm set her on the ground and silently pulled her back against his chest, wrapping his arms tight around her. She laid her head against his shoulder and watched the horses running in the lush, green pasture. “Um, you do know you only have two chances left, right?”
Harm’s chest rumbled with laughter before he scooped her up and turned toward the house.
Jena squirmed in his arms and giggled as she tried to sound stern. “Put me down. We have work to do, Mr. Steele.”
Harm’s boots hit the porch and he glanced down at her, passionate determination in his gaze. “Yes, we do. Mrs. Steele-to-be. I suggest we start in the bedroom.”
As he carried her over the threshold, Jena smiled and whispered, “Thank you, Great Aunt Sally.”
* * *
The screen door banged shut behind Ty as he walked inside their great aunt’s house, rubbing his hands together. “I’m so glad you’re ready to sign and head back to Maryland,” he said to Jena as she stood beside Harm in the kitchen, paperwork on the table beside them.
Jena smiled, then gestured to the rest of the house. “Don’t you like what I’ve done to the place?”
Ty took a moment to glance around as he rolled up his shirt’s sleeves. Jena smiled at his custom dress shirt. Her brother probably spent more on that shirt than she did on her entire outfit.
“Yeah, it looks nice, but I don’t know why you bothered.”
She chuckled, surprised he seemed oblivious to how close Harm was standing to her. “I bothered, because I’m staying, Ty.”
Confusion flickered across Ty’s handsome face. “But you said you’re signing?”
She nodded. “I am, but you’re going to have to stay a little longer. Maybe a week.”
“What do you mean? It should take two seconds to close this deal.” Ty looked ready to explode as he strode up to the table, his brow puckered. “I need to get back to Maryland, Jena.”
Jena stepped forward and clasped her brother’s shoulders, kissing him on the cheek. “I need you to give me away at the wedding, silly. And of course, we’ll fly Mom here.”
As Ty’s shocked gaze darted back and forth between Harm and her, realization dawning, she saw Harm fighting his laughter. Somehow he managed to keep his expression perfectly composed as he handed Ty a check for his half of Sally’s property.
“Here’s your check, Ty.”
Taking the check, Ty gave her a stern look. “I remember how much you loved it here, so I can understand you wanting to stay for a while like we talked about, but there’s no reason to rush into marriage.”
When Harm narrowed his gaze and stiffened, Jena laughed.
“Fine, tell Mom we’re dating then, but,” she paused and caught Harm’s gaze. Loving the heated look in his eyes, she reached out and clasped his hand. “It’s going to be a short engagement.”
“One month, no longer,” Harm cut in, his matter-of-fact tone non-negotiable.
He sounded so dissatisfied, she grinned and glanced back to her brother. “Does that appease your brotherly worries?”
Ty’s only response was to fold his arms and grunt.
Harm reached over and clapped Ty on the shoulder, a big grin on his face. “You should come back to Texas and stay a while, Ty. You’ll never want to leave either.”
“Don’t see that happening.” Ty snorted as he stepped back and leaned against the kitchen counter, his stance relaxing somewhat.
Jena laughed, relieved that her brother had regained his sense of humor. “Oh, I don’t know, Ty. Never say never. Texans have a way of growing on you.”
Pulling her into his arms, Harm kissed the tip of her nose. “That we do, darlin’. That we do.”
I hope you enjoyed Harm and Jena’s story. If you found Harm’s Hunger an entertaining and enjoyable read, I hope you’ll take the time to leave a review and share your thoughts with others on the on-line store where you purchased it. Your review could help other readers decide to give Harm’s story a try!
* * *
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Read on for an excerpt from Bad in Boots, Book 2, Ty’s Temptation
Bad in Boots
Ty’s Temptation
by
Patrice Michelle
Excerpt
Chapter One
“Is that your car?”
Ty finished paying for his soda and turned to the blond teen who’d tapped him on the shoulder. “What?”
The kid tilted his head toward the gas station parking lot. “Is that your red convertible?”
Ty unscrewed the cap and nodded, giving him an indulgent smile. He took a long swig and enjoyed the brief relief the cool beverage provided from the fall Texas heat. Letting out a sigh of satisfaction, he twisted the lid back on. “It’s a rental, but it’s my car while I’m visiting.”
The sound of squealing tires screeched through the open door, and the boy smirked. “Looks like it’s someone else’s car now.”
Ty jerked his gaze to the parking lot in time to see the taillights of his rented sports car
shoot into traffic. His heart raced and anger quickly slammed to the surface. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
The boy shrugged as he put his candy bar on the counter. “Hey, I just saw him get into the convertible. I didn’t know if the guy was with you or not.”
Ty mentally counted to ten while he jangled his keys in front of the kid. “Seeing him hotwire my car didn’t clue you in?”
The teenager handed his money to the young female cashier, who was listening to their conversation with avid interest. Peeling away the wrapper, he took a bite out of his candy bar. The strong smell of peanuts and chocolate drifted Ty’s way as the boy spoke, “Maybe you shouldn’t have left your top down.”
* * *
Ty drove along the tree-lined dirt road that led to his Great-Aunt Sally’s Double D ranch. Gravel crunched under his tires as he rolled to a halt in the driveway in front of the small one-story house. He climbed out of the cramped, two-seater sports car and grimaced, pressing his palm against his stiff spine. That’ll teach me to ask for the first available convertible. Pulling his cell from his pocket, he leaned on the car’s hood and dialed Jena’s number.
“It’s about time, Ty!”
“Heya, Sis. I’m at the Double D. Thanks for sending the key.”
“Where have you been? I tried your cell, but you must’ve left it turned off. I expected you to come by Steele Way and have lunch with us hours ago. We've held off the wedding for a couple of months now while you finished your project…and you take your sweet time getting here? I want you to see Harm’s ranch and spend some time getting to know my fiancé.”
“That ‘project’ was a eight-million-dollar, state-of-the-art building, Jena. It raised Hudson & Shannon’s reputation in the architectural community several notches.” Ty rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the weight of the three-hour police interview and annoying paperwork with the car rental agency starting to take its toll. “I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early. Let’s just say I’ve had a hell of a day. I want to hit the hay early tonight.”
“Is everything all right?”
He ran a hand through his hair and down the five o’clock shadow on his jaw, chuckling. “Yeah. Apparently the Hudsons don’t have the best of luck with rental cars.”
“Oh no! Did your car die on you, too?”
“Worse. It was stolen.”
“You’re kidding me!”
Ty gave a tired sigh. “I wish I were.”
“I’m so sorry. Do you need us to come get you?”
“No, I’ve got another car, but I’ll see you tomorrow as promised.”
“Okay. Get some rest.”
Ty put his phone away and opened the car door to pull out his suitcase. The empty backseat was a jarring reminder his suitcase was still in the stolen car, including his custom made suit. “I hope he’s too short for my clothes,” he grumbled as he headed for the front door.
As soon as he walked inside, Ty noticed two things—Jena kept her promise to have the place ready for him, and he couldn’t get enough of the smell permeating the room. Cinnamon and apples.
Glancing to the left of the entryway to the kitchen, he grinned when he saw a pie sitting on the stove. His sister knew how much he loved apple pie. The kitchen flowed right into the living room, where he and Jena had spent many hours playing card games with their great-aunt and toasting marshmallows in the stone fireplace. A big picture window took up the wall straight ahead of him. The door farthest away opened to the only bedroom. The door next to it led to a two-way bathroom that served as the bedroom and guest bathroom.
When his attention circled back to the small, efficient kitchen, with its wooden table and four mission-style chairs, he smiled in memory of his and Jena’s past summer visits with their great-aunt. He didn’t even mind that he spent his nights sleeping on a foldout cot so Jena could have the sofa bed.
You’d better wash those hands and freshen up before you dare to sit at my table. His aunt’s stern, but loving voice entered his head as if it were yesterday and not twenty years since he’d last seen her.
“I miss your spunky self, Aunt Sal,” he murmured, regretting he didn’t get a chance to see her before she passed away.
Ty started toward the bathroom, and as he walked past the end table next to the couch, he noticed the paring knife and plate his sister had forgotten to take back to the kitchen. Shaking his head, he chuckled. Some things never changed. Growing up, Jena had always forgotten to put her dishes away.
As soon as he put his hand on the bathroom’s doorknob, the door jerked open. A tall woman, wearing nothing but a fluffy white towel, walked out of the bathroom.
“Aaaaahh!” She took a step back, her mouth a tiny “O” of shock.
Ty raised his hands. “Hey, I—”
Before he had a chance to finish, she ripped off the towel, then threw the cloth over his head, blocking his view.
Heart racing from the unexpected scenario, Ty reached to grab the towel from his face. A jolting blow to the back of his knees caused his legs to buckle. Another hit behind his ankles sent his feet flying. As he landed flat on his back, air whooshed out of his lungs. What the hell? Still reeling, he heard a loud crash on the floor. Adrenaline thrummed through him as he started to remove the towel, but instead of finding freedom, his wrists, then his ankles were quickly bound with something thin yet strong.
When the towel flew off his face, Ty rolled over ceramic shards on the wood floor as he struggled against what appeared to be an electrical cord binding.
The woman leaned over him. One hand clutched the towel to her breasts and the other held a paring knife pointed at his throat. “Move another inch and you’ll find out the hard way I’m not afraid to stick you like the trussed-up pig you are.” Straightening, she backed away, her movements slow and cautious.
Water dripped from her hair onto the delicate slope of her shoulders, disappearing in the valley between her breasts. Now that she’d stopped moving, he realized her hair was a light color. Strawberry-blonde maybe?
Obviously he’d scared the shit out of her. Despite the misunderstanding, Ty was impressed by her quick reflexes and instinctive defensive responses.
He met her angry gaze and stared. She had the most unusual, mesmerizing eyes, robin’s-egg blue, flecked with shades of gold and brown. “I believe you’re trespassing,” he said in a calm voice.
“I’m trespassing.” She frowned. “You’re the one who’s trespassing. I was invited.”
Ty raised an eyebrow. “So was I.”
Her delicate golden brows drew together. “By whom?”
“By my sister. She owns this place.”
“Jena’s your sister?”
Ty smiled at the squeak in her voice. The pink tinge that colored her cheeks was so sincere.
He nodded. “I’m Ty Hudson.”
"Oh, my God! I'm so sorry." Setting the knife on the plate on the end table, she turned her back to wrap the towel around herself.
Ty grinned at the brief glimpse he got of her perfect ass.
Turning back, she kneeled next to him. As she untied the electrical cord from around his ankles, she said, “Harm invited me to stay here.”
Anger sliced through him. “Harm?” It had only been two months since Harm asked Jena to marry him. The man better not have a woman on the side or he would have to kill the bastard!
His expression must’ve reflected his thoughts, because she quickly explained, “Harm had problems with one of Sally’s horses. With the wedding days away and his attention otherwise occupied, I volunteered to stay here to keep an eye on the mare and make sure she’s healing fine.”
As she leaned over him to undo the knot at his wrists, water dripped onto his dress shirt. Not that he cared. He was too busy enjoying the scent teasing his nostrils—cinnamon and vanilla. Damn, she smelled good. And here he thought cinnamon and apples smelled like heaven. Her scent had just blown that theory to smithereens. He inhaled once, twice, three times, drinking in her intoxic
ating aroma.
She looked at him, concern in her gaze. “Are you okay? Did I tie you too tight?”
When the last of the cord slid off him, she started to pull away. Ty grabbed her wrist. Grinning, he lowered his voice. “You’re welcome to tie me up anytime you want.”
Color bloomed on her cheeks once more, making him realize he hadn’t seen such a genuine reaction in a woman in a very long time. His suspicions kicked in. Full force. She had to be around twenty-five or so. No way she was that innocent.
Without responding, she used his hold on her wrist to help pull him to his feet.
Once they stood facing one another, Ty’s grip loosened, yet he still didn’t want to release her. Despite the warning bells clanging in his head, he felt a sudden urge to learn everything about her. “You never told me your name.”
Evan’s heart raced and electricity hummed when he slid his fingers slowly down her wrist, then traced his thumb along her palm.
Concentrating on answering, instead of the intense physical awareness he ignited, helped her regain focus. “I’m Evan Masters.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss. Masters.” Ty lifted her left hand and turned it over, planting a kiss on her open palm.
Whether he meant it or not, his kiss had felt so intimate, her stomach flip-flopped. Evan’s gaze landed on his short, silky dark hair, skimmed the starched blue cotton shirt that stretched across broad shoulders, then moved to his gray dress slacks and Italian leather shoes. The man’s impeccable, expensive clothes were a stark contrast to the worn jeans and casual tank top that awaited her on the bed in the bedroom.
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