by Beck, J. L.
Rand crossed his arms over his bare chest. “No. I don’t. So, why don’t you tell me exactly what you think I did?”
Daisy spluttered with disbelief. “Oh, wow! You were honky-tonking with the local riff raff while your bride to be was across the hall! And now, you want to humiliate me too?”
Rand’s eyes glittered as he stepped forward and leaned over her. “I think you need some taming of that flash temper you have, Miss Daisy Plush.”
Daisy gasped and sat up straighter, her chest heaving. Just let him try! I will not ever forgive—
An intense look came into his ice blue eyes. “Oh, look…Seems like your nightie is ripped too.” He pointed down at her chest.
Batting her eyes at him, she then gazed down. Her pink nightie was still intact. “It is not!”
His hand reached down and ripped the top part away from her bountiful breasts.
Gasping at the violent ripping, she gaped up at him.
“Well, it is now.”
Gulping, she felt the cool air on her nipples. “You can’t be serious about doing this, Mister I Do Young Floozies Monroe!”
He kept staring at her. “Mmm, I’m wondering if I should gag you too.”
Halting, Daisy took a closer look at his face. Oh, crap. She recognized that expression now, and she just realized that she finally pushed him over the line. There’d been some times in their past when she did and it would be the best sex she ever got. Usually, she would push him to this point in order to get some hot alpha love, but now? No way! He can take a flying leap! She decided to buy some time with a defensive move. “You’re the one who needs to start talking. Starting with explaining to me…your fiancé, why you were in a closed bedroom with two young girls, drinking champagne while half naked!”
Rand looked as if he considered her reasoning and then he slowly looked around. “Mmm…”
“Mmm? That is all you have to say?”
Rand gazed at her now and gave her one of his magnetic smiles.
Pulling her head back at the dazzling grin, Daisy felt uneasy in her tied down chair. “Now, Rand—”
He stepped forward and knelt down in front of her chair. Reaching out, he swiped one of her bare nipples with his finger.
Shivering from the touch, Daisy held her breath. Oh, shit! I’m tied to a chair in a room with a man who is pure liquid fire! Damn, what am I gonna—
He then used both hands and pinched her nipples, pulling them and flicking them. Gently squeezing her breasts at intervals too.
He knows what I like and just how I like it…Daisy let out her breath on a long moan.
Rand ‘s smile faded away as he pulled one hand away and ripped the leftover lower piece from the night gown.
“Rand!” she shouted.
He placed a finger over her lips. “If you do not keep quiet, I will gag you Daze. And I don’t want to do that because I wanna hear every moan you make.”
Her mouth snapped shut as she felt moisture bubble out between her thighs. He can’t be serious! He was just boozing and floozing it up. Now, he thinks he can just—
“Packing light, Daze? I see you aren’t wearing any underwear.” His voice sounded low and deep.
His rumbling tone gave an even bigger warning to Daisy and she sat up straighter. In hopes of making him back off, she tossed out a rebuff. “Well, from now on, my underwear won’t be your business!”
Rand raised a brow at her. His eyes glittering with heat. “My business will always be you…” He pressed a finger to her bare clit, then rubbed her button as he raised his hand back up to her nipple, caressing it softly. “…With or without underwear.”
Daisy’s throat closed up as her legs wanted to fall open. Don’t give in! Don’t you have any self-respect, woman?
Smiling seductively, Rand stuck a lone finger into her and stroked in and out.
“Ohh…” Daisy whimpered. Self-respect can’t hold up to that one, lone skilled finger!
“You’re pretty wet for woman who thinks I would cheat on her right before our wedding. So, you really think, I would want to do this to another woman?” he asked gently as he stuck two fingers in and plunged them high.
Daisy stared into his sky blue orbs and her body felt on fire while her hips rose automatically to get more of him. She couldn’t answer, because she just lost her entire brain.
“Or, this?” He sensually rubbed her nipple.
“Rand…please?” she pleaded.
He ignored her pleas and lowered his mouth to her other nipple.
Daisy tossed her head back with pure pleasure as he gave her body the Triple Threat as she thought of it. She trembled fiercely as he sucked on her nipple, plunged her wet sheath with his fingers and rubbed her button with his thumb.
“No…” She tried to speak as she fought a climax.
Releasing her nipple, he raised his head. “No…what?”
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t?”
He shook his head as he plunged his fingers faster into her and thumbed her erect nipple. “You suppose?”
Shuddering, she panted.
He kept at it and reached under her to give her ass cheek a squeeze.
“Rand!” she pleaded. “You know what this does to me!”
He nodded as he watched her face. “Of course, I do and I fucking love it too. Tell me that you really believe I want do this to another woman.” His eyes glittered as he squeezed her butt cheek and plunged his fingers in and out.
“Oh! Oooh…” She tried to clamp her thighs together as heat coiled in her belly and her body warned her of an imminent orgasm. Tell him! The problem was, she just couldn’t seem to speak now. How could he expect speech while he did this to her?
Gazing down at where his fingers were plundering her, he smiled. “Think of how this will feel when replaced with my hard cock on our wedding night…”
His wicked description flashed across her mind in full color—him plunging himself in and out of her—her body arched in the chair and she let out an ecstatic shout, “Rand!” There was no halting the orgasm rushing through her.
He kept his fingers tight and high as her muscles clamped around them, then he leaned in to speak to her lips, “I came across our entire past and the world to see this very thing, making you come and beg.” He kissed her deeply, fingers inside of her and holding her cheek with his other hand. Like she was a teapot he just lifted up to drink from—a liquid gushing teapot, who didn’t stand a chance against him.
The blazing, sweet Rand tasting kiss topped off the orgasmic ride as she sucked on his hot, velvety tongue for all she was worth.
He kept the kiss up for a full couple of minutes, then he broke away and pressed his fingers to her mound to make his point. “I only want one woman. I’ve wanted her for more than twenty years.” His eyes locked with hers.
Gasping from her climax, she tried to control her breathing. So much for self-respect. The man strips me bare in more ways than one, leaving me a weak, panting mess of a woman every damn time.
Rand stood up and walked across the room.
Daisy didn’t know if she could even raise her head to watch him, her body felt so sated. Hell, the man could charm the devil to grow wings and a god dammed halo! If Rand Monroe wanted to accomplish it, Satan would bend down on his knee and pray if he were a female. There, I’d been thinking a Dirty Daisy Seduction. She almost tisked at herself, when all the while, he’s the one with the dirty-sweet-seductive tricks.
He picked up a pile of white shirts and two jackets.
Tuxedos? She wondered as she tried to lift her head.
Then, he casually stopped at a table and picked up two bottles.
Swallowing heavily with dread, her heart pounded.
“These were the shirts and jackets I was trying on...for the ceremony.” He tossed them at her feet. Then he swung the bottles up to her face. “These are the champagne selections for our reception.”
Daisy bit at her lip. “What about the nightie wearing hussy?”
He set the bottle on the side table and bent down to untie her wrists. “Try to remember when you ripped it away from the poor Noble Girl.”
Daisy pictured it in her head. The woman had a tank top and shorts on that must have been underneath it as she left the room screaming. “Oh, holy crap!” She lowered her head and sat for a long moment. I can’t face him. He knows I doubted him and I’m a dammed fool. But hell! Anyone would have thought—
The song she heard when she came in started to play.
Daisy’s head shot up.
Rand stood nude in front of her as he held his hand out to her.
Staring at his hard, toned bod, she wondered for the hundredth time; what the hell do they put in the water over there in Australia?
And the song! It always played on the radio the year they met. The lyrics always reminded her of Rand as the words said what she felt after she left him. Nothing compared to him. Not any man or any relationship. The song haunted her so much, she refused to listen to it for many years. He wants us to dance ass naked like we used to! Trembling, she took his hand.
He tugged her up and pulled her forcefully to his chest.
With a gasp, her body tingled when it met with his hard form.
The song continued, “I could put my arms around every boy I see. But they'd only remind me of you…”
“Tame now?” he whispered to her ear as they danced slow.
Nodding her head, her eyes filled with tears. “Meek as a lamb, Leatherman,” she whispered back.
“Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling. Tell me baby, where did I go wrong…Nothing compares…Nothing Compares to you.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The sister who loves a cowboy, whose brother loves her, while her sister loves….
VICTORIA
Victoria Noble applied makeup to her forehead. She winced a little at the purpling bruise. Damn woman. Daisy Plush is just wrapped too tight! A crazy woman on roller skates with a big, ole hole in her screen door. But hot damn, if I were her, I guess would plow down anyone who messed with my man. That Rand Monroe may be older, but he is one hot slice of Grade A!
Speaking of beef, I need to find the man I came here for. Victoria knew from the start that Jet Kincade would not be marrying her. She only agreed to come here because Valeen’s heart had been set on this. How could Valeen believe that those two men would remarry us? Shrugging, she looked at her riding outfit in the mirror. It all went wrong from the minute they stepped into that dining room. Then they’ve had to defend themselves from some dangerous and messy attacks from Crazy Daisy.
The real truth was that she only agreed to help the southern barracuda woman with her wedding, so she could be here at the Triple K longer. Her quarry was here with her brother, Quinn. They both had been working here for about 3 months and she thought her brother would relent on his decision to leave the Noble Ranch. She’d waited for the two men to return. Daddy and he needed to patch things up and she wanted to make that happen, but she also wanted to track down her cowboy. HER cowboy? She sighed as she sat and tugged her boots on. He didn’t know it yet, but he is.
Jude Payson had been her only thought for six months now. She yearned for this cowhand for many months and just when he seemed interested in her, he left the ranch with her brother and came here. She didn’t make a move for so long, because she’d only seen him with well…skinny women and she wasn’t one of those stick girls for sure. I’ve got curves on top of curves and I’m cushy as one old boyfriend put it. I didn’t take offense, I got all the right equipment and where it matters too. I will make this cowboy see that.
Then after all those months of trying, he finally seemed to notice her. Big surprise there! Not like she wasn’t obvious with the many excuses to see her brother Quinn in order to SEE Jude.
Well, she was staying on here. Valeen was on the fence about it. She thought her life might be in danger from the women already on the ranch. Rolling her eyes, she scoffed. She’s always been the mouthier twin, but I’m the one who’s tough. I’m also a woman on a mission. Her eyes narrowed as she pictured the tall image of Jude. A Smokin’ Cowpoke as her friend Bessie described him. Her sigh came out with his name, “Jude…” Mission Jude Payson as my man. She intended to go riding today and the trail would end when she found him. The crew Jude was on were branding calves in the south quarter, or so she found out from one of the hands.
She made her way downstairs and hoped to find a horse, she would check and see if that cowhand, Bobby, Ben? The one who she’d been getting information from and see if he could get her a horse to ride.
Standing at the front door, Valeen waved at her. “Victoria!”
She sighed as she took the last two steps down. What is she up to now? Her sister was always making trouble, like she did just last night. Poor Brea Plush. When she realized someone was getting hurt because of the marriage scheme thing, Victoria backed out totally. Not that it mattered. Poor Cole has it bad for the Plush girl and it’d been painfully obvious that they belonged together.
Valeen sniggered, as she gave her twin a look over. “So, what are you all got up like a cowgirl for? Got some cows that need herding?”
Victoria glanced down at her riding clothes. “What’s wrong with my outfit?”
“We are supposed to be planning a wedding for Batshit-Crazy-Plush, remember?”
“But, we’re all caught up on that right?”
Valeen shook her head. “Where are you going, Vic?”
Victoria felt nervous and she knew Valeen thought very little of her feelings for Jude. Her sister thought they should get with guys who were prominent in the community, ones with money, land and wealth. Hence…the Kincade men. “Um, I just wanted to get out and ride.”
Valeen narrowed her gaze at her. “Where is he?”
“He?” Victoria squared her shoulders and bluffed her way through.
“Don’t play that with me.”
Victoria intended to ignore this interrogation. Why the hell did it matter to her anyway? She walked to the door and went out without another word to her more than annoying sister. I don’t care what Jude has in the way of money or land. I just want him!
She made her way down to the corrals. She stood around for a few minutes. No one seemed to be around. What can I do? She walked into the horse barn.
“Your horse is ready,” the rather cute ranch hand she spoke to yesterday called to her.
Victoria halted. “How did you—?”
“I figured after all your questions about your brother, you would want to ride out and see him. I have to go anyway and let the boys know they’re supposed to come on back for the festivities tomorrow. So, I’ll ride with you.”
“That is so nice of you!” She gushed and stepped up to the horse.
He made a cradle with his fingers and smiled. “Help ya up?”
With a slow smile, she nodded and stepped onto his offered hand.
He easily hefted her up.
Victoria felt surprised by his strength as she was vaulted up neatly onto the horse and she gazed down at him with awe. He stood taller than she thought he seemed before and he was lean but muscled, like a wiry wild cat or something. “Bobby is it?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Breen.” He walked over and mounted his horse, then set his Stetson on his head. “Breen Payson.” He nudged his horse forward and rode out of the barn.
Victoria sat very still on her steed. “Breen Payson?” She felt so stupid. Breen—that’s why he seemed so familiar! She hardly ever noticed him back at the ranch and Valeen used to tease him about the crush he had on her. I always thought it was mean of her to do. After all, Valeen should’ve been nicer to boys—no, this is a man here that just nearly threw her over the horse with his strength, instead of just onto the saddle. Then he disappeared from the ranch one day, two years ago. Now, I know where he went. Is that why Jude wanted to come here?
Victoria moved her horse out and followed him on the trail. The crew was about two mi
les out, he’d said before. Maybe, I can get some information out of him about Jude? She shook her head. I really gotta be careful to NOT be like my twin. Using the guy for a way to get to his brother? Have a care, Vic! You would think you needed to plot and plan like this was some kind of competition to win a man. She felt an instant shame.
When she finally caught up with Breen, she felt determined to just be easy going and honest with the conversation.
He turned his head and gave her a smile.
Wow. Nice smile. Funny, he looks nothing like Jude. He had sandy blond hair and green eyes. While his brother had baby blue eyes and dark hair. She didn’t know much about their parents, because they lived all the way over in Lockhart. “So, how is it working at the Triple K?” There! A good honest question.
He kept his eyes on the trail ahead. “It’s been great; Ms. Mable is fair and pays well.”
“So, you’ve been here for the last two years?” Good, another question not having to do with his brother.
He looked uneasy for a second. “Not the entire time.”
Mmm, what is that about? Don’t pry Vic.
“I hear you and your sister are the wedding planners for Ms. Daisy’s wedding,” he neatly changed the subject.
Nodding her head, she kept her hands tight on the reins. “Yes and no…” She chuckled.
He swung his gaze over. “Unh?”
Laughing, Victoria told him the entire story about last night. Well, just the second round with Miss Daisy. He certainly didn’t need to know about Valeen’s marriage scheme! She leaned over a little and pulled up her curls from her forehead.
His chuckling at her tale of a Crazy Daisy as she referred to her halted, as he visibly winced. “Boy, you weren’t kidding! That is a nasty bruise.”
She let her hand drop and stared ahead. “I really can’t blame her though. She burst in and there he was with no shirt on and a glass of bubbly in his hand! I was wearing this yellow nightie…”
He stared hard at her, his eyes looking almost emerald.
The intense heat in his gaze made her shiver and she flushed. The man could probably sear meat with those eyes of his! “Now, don’t be going there!” She laughed. “I had a top and shorts on underneath!” Her body felt a little too heated all the sudden and she shifted in her saddle.