“William? Why would he do that?”
“Put pressure on me to go home, I guess. That’s the only reason I can think of.”
Joe curled his arm around her waist. “I don’t like the way it happened, but I’m not sorry. I like having you in my bed.”
“Do you now?” Kiera didn’t try to restrain her grin. “I wasn’t looking forward to an empty bed.”
Joe urged her inside. “Did you get the work done on the truck?”
“It’s ready for Harold to pick up first thing.”
“Excellent. Come to bed.”
Kiera grinned, enjoying both his touch and scent. She leaned in to him, wallowing in the familiar sensations. “Sounds perfect to me.”
“We might have time for a quickie.”
“That could be arranged,” she said in a prim voice. Didn’t he understand she’d do just about anything for him? “One quickie coming up.”
In the bedroom, Joe slipped off his jeans. Kiera started to undress, but Joe stayed her with a hand. “Let me.”
“One other thing about tonight,” Kiera said. “Sly was there. His quick thinking brought Laura, and by the looks of the scratches on one of the men, he jumped him.”
“Sly told me he was restless and intended to run.”
“I get the impression your twin doesn’t like me, although I’m glad he turned up at the workshop. He saved my butt.”
“He hasn’t had a chance to talk with you yet. Give it time.” Joe’s face held concern. “How come he didn’t come back with you and Isabella?”
Kiera shrugged, ambivalent about her feelings toward Joe’s twin. He stared at her all the time. Whenever they inhabited the same room, his gaze stalked her until her skin prickled and she felt like prey. She shoved away her uneasiness and put it down to shot nerves. “No idea. You’ll have to ask him.” Anyone would suffer from tension after the night she’d experienced. “I’m going to have to do something about William and Matthew. They can’t force me into marriage.”
“Let’s sleep on it,” Joe said, yawning wide enough for her to study his teeth.
Laughing, she thumped him in the middle of his chest. “That was attractive.”
In answer, Joe scooped her off her feet. One minute she was laughing at him and the next she was dangling over his shoulder, staring at the worn carpet. Seconds later, he dropped her on the bed. She scrambled off.
“Stay.”
There was a bite in his order that stopped her cold. She scrutinized him carefully while she froze on the spot, despite the part of her that cried out for escape. When Joe sported that particular expression, he had something specific in mind—usually relating to sex and often kinky.
Without taking his gaze from her, he unbuttoned the fly of his jeans and let the denim slide down his muscular legs. It was obvious he’d dressed in a hurry since jeans were his only attire. His cock sprang free, lengthening under her gaze.
“Are you gonna tie me up?” she blurted, remembering the last time with the blindfold and the orgasms he’d coaxed from her. Her folds moistened at the pleasurable memories.
“Would you like me to restrain you?” A lazy smile played, highlighting the mischievous gleam in him. His expression ramped up her arousal.
“You’ve ruined me for other men.”
“I must be doing something right.”
Lord, if he loved her any better, she’d self-combust. When it came to sex, she had no problems with Joe. Every time seemed better than the last.
“Come here.”
Kiera obeyed without demur. He stripped off her clothes and, once she was naked, stepped back. “Stretch out and raise your hands above your head. If you behave yourself and do everything I tell you, I’ll make you come. If you’re really good, twice.”
“A bit full of yourself, aren’t you?” Her pulse rate did a distinct bump and grind, and she couldn’t tear her attention from his determined face.
“Do you doubt me?”
“No,” she whispered. She trusted him implicitly. Without haste, she lifted one hand then the other above her head.
“Hold on to the headboard.” Approval shone in his eyes, the green in them darkening with passion.
She curled her fingers around the lower edge of the headboard, closed her eyes and waited.
“Spread your legs.”
Kiera parted her legs and her skin prickled as she imagined the appreciation shining on Joe’s face.
“Good girl.”
The mattress shifted under his weight. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. A chuckle cut through the silence. A heavy pulsating commenced between her thighs, and he hadn’t touched her yet. Her imagination was doing the work for him. Something circled her nipple. A finger. A tongue? She wasn’t sure.
“Your body responds to my touch.”
Kiera cleared her throat. “Duh.”
He laughed again and she felt him trace another circle around her nipple. His finger. It was definitely his finger. Both of her nipples contracted and a helpless shudder worked through her. She stirred restlessly, wanting to run her hands over his back, to tease him as he teased her. She didn’t. Instead she gripped the headboard even more tightly, realizing he’d stop if she disobeyed him.
He cupped one breast, licked her nipple once before enclosing it with his mouth and drawing sharply. The tug ended in her pussy, a jerk of pleasure that dragged a moan from deep in her throat. The feline rumble made her laugh because it was a sound she’d never dared make with a human lover. Breathlessly, she waited for his next move and, drat the man, he took his time.
“Do something.”
“What would you like me to do?”
“You like to call the shots. If you don’t know what to do next, we’re both in trouble.”
His fingers slid across her rib cage, tickling as they traveled over her skin. She wanted to squirm except his fingers finally headed in the right direction. He moved farther down the bed. Sensations curled inside her until her body hummed. About to voice a protest at his pace, she swallowed her complaint when he lifted her to his mouth. He ran his raspy tongue down her folds and back up before commencing precision work on her clit.
Oh yeah. He did that well. A throaty moan escaped unbidden as he settled in to feast. Each slash of his tongue brought a twist of sensation, whimpers she couldn’t contain. Heat flushed her skin, and when he took her nub between his lips and sucked, she lost it. The coiled power in her exploded and she could swear she saw lights flash behind her eyelids.
Joe eased up on the oral action, letting her come back down. He moved up the bed and claimed her lips. She tasted herself on him and his deeper, masculine flavor.
“You can let go now,” he whispered in her ear. “I’d like to have you touch me this time.”
Joe slipped between her legs and pushed home. Her belly clenched at the perfect stroke of his cock and she ran her hands down his muscled back. He withdrew and shoved his shaft into her again. Not rough exactly, but not careful either. Just the hard, determined strokes of a man driven by sexual need. She loved it—the edge of roughness and unexpected treats that came with inhabiting Joe’s bed. A woman could become addicted to a man like Joe.
He grinned down at her, his beautiful, cat eyes glowing with lust. Their mouths met and they devoured each other, giving no quarter. When the need for air squeezed her lungs tight, she pulled away and pressed her face to one of his shoulders. Her tongue traced across his marking site, and he gave a throaty groan.
The temptation to bite down struck like an unexpected blow. Stricken by the urge, she moved her lips from the danger zone and sucked on his biceps instead. Slipping and sinking her teeth into his flesh, tying herself to him—it wouldn’t take much.
Joe took a couple of playful nibbles of her neck, diverting her thoughts. “Does that feel good?” He thrust hard as he questioned her, his teasing edge falling away.
“Yes.” She stared at him, her heart pounding with realization. This was where she belonged, right in Joe’s arms. A fla
sh of movement distracted her and she glanced in that direction. Her muscles froze with shock when she noticed Sly scowling at them from the doorway.
“Babe,” Joe said. “Ignore him and concentrate on me.”
Easy for him to say. Heat flooded her face and, like a flash fire, the warmth swept down her body. She wasn’t turned-on by the fact Sly was watching them. She was not.
Joe’s lips quirked up at the corners, devilish humor filling him as he quickened his strokes. In. Out. She shivered as he hit exactly the right spot.
“Yes.” The word was a pleading moan for more and he acceded to her unspoken plea by powering into her. Her hips bucked beneath the assault of pleasure, the fierce strokes and the raging need etched in his features. Higher and higher he pushed her until there was nowhere left to go. The pleasure grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, filling every inch of her body. She soared, her pussy pulsing around his hard cock.
With a last, hard shove into her, his breathing shifted into choppy and she felt his hot ejaculate fill her. He stilled, fully embedded, clutching her to him as if he’d never let her go, his tongue dancing over her marking site. A tremor grabbed her, a spasm of pleasure making her channel pulse again. She practically willed Joe to bite down and bind them together, bit her lip against the plea fighting for release. Thankfully, Joe chose that moment to pull from her body, prodding her good sense to the forefront of her mind.
Only then she remembered Sly watching from the doorway, but when she stole a glance, he’d disappeared.
“Sly was watching us.”
Joe smoothed the hair from her face. “He wasn’t there for long.”
“But he saw us.” Guilt filled Kiera because she’d liked Sly watching them. She didn’t want to analyze the effect because, no matter how she spun the situation, it made for kinky. What sort of woman got off on someone watching her while she and her boyfriend fucked? Add in the twin thing, and she was heading directly to Kinksville.
Joe massaged her tense shoulder and tugged her into his arms. “Don’t let it worry you. I’m sure Sly won’t mention a thing.”
“I don’t think your brother likes me.”
“I told you before, babe. Give him time. We’re all adjusting here.”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
Joe pulled away to study her face. “He’s had a tough year. Eventually things will get back to normal and Sly will settle.”
“Of course. You’re right. We need to give him some slack. If anything, I owe him for helping me tonight.”
* * * * *
Sly had already started on the chores when Joe climbed out of bed the next morning. Joe hated the distance between them. Hell, he needed to take his own advice and give Sly space. Joe made tea and shoved a couple of slices of bread into the toaster. He took Kiera a cup of tea and shook her awake before kissing the hell out of her.
“Come back to bed,” she whispered, her voice throaty with passion.
“Can’t. You have to meet Harold at your workshop, remember? If you want to get the contract to maintain his fleet, you’ll need to hustle butt.”
“Shoot.” Kiera bolted upright and flung the covers aside. Her breasts jiggled, distracting him. “How am I going to get back to the workshop? My truck is still there.” Kiera yanked her discarded tank top over her head and hopped about on one foot while trying to pull on her jeans. “Tea,” she said, appreciation suffusing her voice. “You’re a lifesaver.”
The clink of plates indicated Sly moving around in the kitchen. Joe came to a quick decision. He wanted Kiera in his future, and that wouldn’t work if Kiera and Sly didn’t like each other. “Either Sly or I can run you into town. You have time for a quick breakfast.”
“Thanks, but I don’t need to eat.” The loud rumble from her belly brought a scowl. “Okay, maybe one piece of toast.”
Laughing, Joe nudged her from his bedroom toward the kitchen. “Morning,” he said to Sly.
“I’m glad you didn’t say good,” Sly snapped, cupping his hands around a mug of tea. The dark shadows lingering under his eyes indicated his exhaustion.
“Not sleeping?” Kiera grabbed the toast from the toaster and put it on a plate. She handed the plate to Sly and nudged him toward the table. She shoved two fresh pieces of bread in the toaster and topped up her cup of tea.
“No.” Sly’s glower didn’t scare a flinch from her.
An improvement, Joe decided. “Sly, could you run Kiera into town so I can start on digging the dam for Saber?”
“I could take your vehicle,” Kiera said.
“No, Sly and I will need it later,” Joe said. They’d ended up selling Sly’s vehicle to help pay for legal fees.
“I don’t bite,” Sly snapped.
“You did last night,” Kiera snarled right back.
“I didn’t bite you.” Sly’s gaze darted to Kiera’s mating site and away before she realized, but Joe noticed. His twin sensed how much he wanted to claim Kiera. Last night he’d suspected Kiera wanted the same. She’d considered it, which meant this situation between them had gone far past friends helping one another. If Sly had remained in prison, he might have mated with her, but now…
Hell, he didn’t know what he’d do.
He didn’t want to give up Kiera, and he didn’t want Sly to leave. This place belonged to both of them. They’d worked hard to purchase this farm and it was home. Their future. The obvious thing would be to offer to share Kiera. Two big problems there. He didn’t think Kiera realized he usually shared women with his twin, but worst of all—he didn’t want to share this time, possessiveness grabbing him by the scruff. Weirdly, though, last night he hadn’t minded Sly’s presence…
The pop of the toaster dragged him from his problems. “Anyone want more toast?”
“Yeah, put in two more slices,” Kiera said. “Why were you at the workshop anyway?”
“To learn if you were lying to Joe.”
Silence fell, appalled on Joe’s part. “Fuck, Sly. Just because Maggie shafted you doesn’t mean all women are the same. Kiera, I didn’t suspect you of lying.”
“I know,” Kiera said instantly. “I can’t expect Sly to understand I’m not a game player. It will take time for him to trust me.” She tossed his own words back at him, much to his amusement.
“You’re lucky I checked on her,” Sly said, calmly buttering a fresh slice of toast.
“That’s not the point,” Joe snapped. Fuck, this kept getting better and better.
“Why do they want you?” Sly stared at Kiera, clearly expecting answers.
“I have to go. I’ll tell you the entire, sordid story on the way to town,” Kiera said.
Amazing. She wasn’t having a tantrum or sulking at Sly’s insults. Maybe he’d leave them to it and try not to worry. Jealousy wasn’t going to help.
“Do you need to collect a handbag or something?” Sly eyed Kiera and attempted to hide his fascination. It hadn’t taken long for him to change his opinion of her. She’d told Joe the truth, and that went a long way with him.
“Yeah, let me get the blue leather one that goes with my overalls.”
Joe chortled, and a foreign burst of humor zapped Sly too.
The woman wasn’t like any of his past bedmates. Hell, he understood Joe’s fascination. Last night he’d wanted to step into Joe’s bedroom and touch her intimately, taste her, test her skin for softness. For the first time in months, Maggie hadn’t stalked his dreams. Instead he’d remained sleepless because of a new woman.
Kiera Pascoe.
Which was screwed up in all sorts of ways.
Sly picked up the SUV keys from the fruit bowl on the counter and shook them until they jingled. “Time’s a wastin’.”
“Let me grab the workshop keys. I’ll meet you outside.”
“You can kiss Joe goodbye in front of me. I won’t blush.”
Joe glared, but Sly didn’t care. Kiera cast him an uncertain look before rushing from the kitchen.
“What a
re you trying to do? Drive her away?”
“You like her.”
“Yes.” Joe didn’t even hesitate.
Sly blinked at his twin’s ready reply. “I’ll leave you and Kiera to say your goodbyes in private. This time.”
“You’re acting like an ass.”
Sly kept walking, the urge to whistle taking him without warning.
Kiera joined him in the SUV and he started the vehicle, accelerating smoothly down the driveway. He was conscious of her leaning back and her breathy sigh gave him a conversational in.
“Tell Uncle Sly all your problems, my dear.”
Kiera rolled her eyes. “You’re not the type to listen to confidences. I’ve heard stories about you. You and Joe gave Saber gray hair.”
“That’s his story.”
“Ambar told me a few things too.”
Sly barked out a laugh. It sounded rusty to his ears. Not surprising, given he hadn’t laughed much recently. “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Ambar isn’t exactly pure and white.”
“So, it’s not true you and Joe share your women?”
Ah, straight to the heart of the matter. “What did Joe say?”
Kiera stared straight ahead, her attention fixed on the horizon. A faint blush crept into her cheeks. “I haven’t discussed the matter with Joe.”
“Why not?” Sly turned onto the street that ran parallel to the main one and pulled up outside her workshop.
“The topic wasn’t relevant when you weren’t around.”
Sly cursed, getting her drift straightaway. “Fuck, Kiera. Joe would never force you to take me into your bed. We’re not brutes.”
“Harold’s here.”
Avoidance. Sly saw the burly man waiting impatiently outside the huge roller doors and conceded. She had a business to run. “This discussion isn’t over.”
Kiera didn’t reply. She jumped out of the SUV and hustled over to her customer. The burly man said something then guffawed at her reply.
Sly headed back to the farm. He and Joe needed to talk about Kiera. He’d back away, go and live with Saber and Emily for a while. They wouldn’t mind having him around.
The day passed more quickly than usual, the farm chores, Kiera and his brother filling his mind. At six, he hammered the last staple in the fence he was mending and packed up for the day.
My Twin Trouble (Middlemarch Shifters Book 15) Page 14