Acres, Natalie - Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts [Cowboy Boots 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Natalie Acres

  Ace grunted. “Now what fun would that have been?”

  Brantley glared at Ace. Oh yeah. He was a pisser. This mission was gonna get ugly. It was bound to be the messiest, sloppiest job they’d ever done.

  Ace patted Brantley squarely between the shoulders and said, “We’ve got enough problems without you worrying about me, Brantley.”

  “Like?”

  “For starters, every man on your team is in love with Abby.”

  “That’s a crock of shit and you know it.”

  Ace rubbed his chin. “Nope. I’m just the only one who is man enough to admit it. Thing is, if I see her stretched out before Juraz, I’ll rip down walls to get to her. And you? Hell! You’d cut off your own oxygen supply underwater just to save her.”

  Brantley looked around the bunker as Ace spoke. He walked in one room, then exited, toured another, then stood in front of Ace again. “Who else is in love with Abby?”

  “Ah fuck, Brantley. Let’s not dance. Neither one of us has the right moves. Abby has been our woman since she joined our team. Five years is a long time for a man to crave something he’s never had.”

  “Eternity.”

  “Exactly. And now we’re all supposed to sit back and watch her fuck the very man who killed her father?”

  Fowler arrived down the slide just in time to gather that tidbit of information. “Conrad was Abby’s father?”

  “Damn it!” Brantley shouted.

  Ace shrugged. “They should’ve been warned, man. I told you from the beginning. There shouldn’t be secrets on this team.”

  Fowler appeared distressed. “Conrad was Abby’s father?” He was still processing.

  “The only women affiliated with the Underground Unit are well connected,” Brantley said. “Conrad was married twice before. Abby was his daughter from his first marriage.”

  “So you mean those kids were…”

  “Yes, Fowler. They were her half siblings, and they died because of Juraz’s orders.”

  Fowler shook his head. He looked as if he’d taken a shot through the chest. “Then you have to stop this, Brantley. She won’t be able to handle this job. This is insane. You’re setting her up to fail. She won’t be able to pull this off. I thought we were too close to the situation, but that man killed the only blood kin she had!”

  Ace pointed at Brantley. “What’d I tell ya? L-O-V-E. None of us can think for worrying about her.”

  Brantley sneered. “Apparently that’s right. You certainly made a believer out of me.” He pointed at the phone. “Do that again and I’ll send you out of here.”

  Fowler glared at Ace’s mobile. He didn’t have a clue. Then again, Fowler wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t know good pussy if one slapped against his chin.

  “I’m for real, Ace,” Brantley said. “Fuck around with Abby again while she’s trying to work and I’ll send you packing.”

  “I wouldn’t leave if you tried to force me out. Do us both a favor and don’t,” Ace said. “Besides, I’m the only one who’ll be able to talk her down when she goes nuts. And you and I both know it’s destined to happen.”

  Before an argument erupted, Fowler said, “Do you guys have any idea how to get out of here?”

  Brantley snarled. “When you find yourself in a hole, you evidently start digging.”

  Fowler shook his head. “No, that’s not how the adage goes.”

  “It is when you’re fifty feet under,” Ace said, pointing at the slide-in they’d all used when they entered Brock Donovan’s underground world.

  About that time, Porter dropped to the floor and rolled across the carpet. “This is pretty cool.” He looked around. “Hey guys. Figured you might need someone to show you the way out.” He held up his cell. “Donovan sent a message and said he forgot to explain how to escape the dungeon.”

  “Far be it for our trusted leader to have such vital information,” Ace teased. Brantley threw down the leadership card first. He might as well taunt him whenever the opportunity presented itself.

  Brantley was his friend but now he was also his boss. Ace was actually relieved about that. Abby was the only other “inside” option for the agent-in-charge position. The title carried far too many risks.

  He didn’t want Abby in charge. He was terrified they would lose her, afraid she’d become Juraz Mendete’s next mark if Juraz discovered Conrad had another daughter.

  Brantley let Ace’s slur slide. “So, Porter, how do we leave this place?”

  “If we’re ever forced to collapse the tunnels, someone else will need to dig us out, someone who knows where the bunkers are. The only time we use that option is when an obvious threat exists above. However, if there isn’t a pending danger, then it’s easy. We crawl out.”

  Ace gulped. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “No, this is the main bunker. There’s one way in and one way out.”

  “It’ll take all night to get out of this damn thing,” Ace complained, pacing.

  Fowler gripped his handheld minicomputer and started inputting data. Apparently, he wanted exact logistics. “Um, I believe it will take about an hour or so.”

  Porter gasped. “That long?” He hurried toward the mouth of the slide. “Hurry up. We can’t waste a second. Abby just got back. She’s with Juraz. That’s the real reason I came looking for you!”

  Chapter Eight

  Casey was stuck. He had nowhere to go except forward after he walked off the porch and practically crashed into Juraz and Abby.

  “Abby,” he said casually. “I was getting worried about you.”

  Juraz sneered. “I know you. Didn’t I see you at the club?”

  Casey cleared his throat and thrust his hand out. “Yes, I’m Casey. I’m Abby’s brother.”

  Behind Juraz, she mouthed, “What?”

  “We work together, but I’m staying here until I can find a place of my own.”

  “Maybe I can help you,” Juraz suggested, his gaze jumping around as he viewed the property.

  Casey frowned. “Yes, uh, maybe we can look for places together.”

  Juraz stood taller. “I like it here. I noticed as we were driving out how peaceful and serene it is. If your sister and I hit it off, I may stay on for a while. Isn’t that how you country boys express yourselves down South?”

  “Yeah, well, um, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like, but in case, um, Abby didn’t tell you, I own half this property. Abby moved in first and I do plan to move, but it will, uh, be when I’m ready.”

  Juraz arched a brow. Casey didn’t challenge him further. He’d said enough, and he didn’t have backup, which was disconcerting.

  Abby pointed toward the sedan behind her. “We picked up a rental at the airport. You were supposed to leave my car in the short-term lot. What happened to that?”

  Brantley must’ve forgotten. Casey tried to conceal a grin. That mishap would cost the new boss.

  “I meant to call and tell you this morning. I took your Vette out for a spin and it just quit on me,” he explained. “I had to call for a tow. It’s in the shop.”

  “Really?” Abby asked, arching a brow. “That’s odd.” Behind Juraz’s back, she pursued her lips and waggled her brows. She liked where he was going with this and Brantley would likely have his head.

  The boss would only have a few days to produce a sports car. He’d be forced to cough up the money for an expensive luxury rental or buy one outright before Juraz became suspicious. Brantley was so tight he squeaked and probably wouldn’t like paying for expensive props.

  Juraz studied Casey. Was he trying to figure out if they were winging things? Was he suspicious? Were there too many red flags waving, or was Juraz so smitten by Abby he didn’t see the obvious right in front of his face?

  “I’ll check on your wheels tomorrow. I didn’t have a chance to get around to it this afternoon. I’ve had a lot to do since I got back in town, tending to the farm and all.” Oh man, if Juraz read expressions, he most likely knew he had a hold o
f a liar.

  Casey wasn’t much of an actor. He preferred to stay silent and in the shadows. He hated fibbing, even for the job, mainly because he sucked at it.

  “Where are your buddies tonight?” Abby asked, glancing over his shoulder and changing the subject. “I figured they’d stop by and get a poker game going.”

  “Oh, they’re around here somewhere,” he replied, staring at the large red barn at the bottom of the hill. “They’re probably down at the stables nipping on moonshine or some homemade wine.”

  “You make your own wine?” Juraz inquired.

  “No, I don’t,” he replied, thinking this would be a fine time to cook one of the other guys. “Porter does.”

  “And Porter is?”

  “Abby’s ex,” Casey said flippantly.

  Abby’s eyes widened.

  Oops. That was the wrong move to make.

  Juraz snarled. “And he’s ‘down at the barn?’”

  “No, probably not,” Casey replied, backing up a step while hoping Porter didn’t return to the house right about then.

  “Sub, I need a word with you,” Juraz grated out, his anger evident.

  “Wow, you move fast, Abby,” Casey said, watching them as they strolled toward the porch.

  Once they reached the front steps, Juraz cupped her cheeks and firmly held her head between open palms, looking her squarely in the eyes. Casey observed them together. Juraz spoke to her in a low voice, whispering something in her ear like a lover might.

  Abby tossed her head back and giggled. Her seductive laughter was addictive and Casey wanted to spank her ass for making him jealous. And he was envious.

  Juraz had no right to touch the only woman Casey wanted to love.

  Instead of causing a scene, Casey reminded himself of the role he’d assumed. What the hell had he been thinking? Her brother? He wanted to be her lover, and he told Juraz he was her sibling? What the hell was wrong with him?

  The light conversation between Juraz and Abby continued. They looked too chummy, far too comfortable with one another.

  Casey bit his tongue. He cursed under his breath as he saw the way Juraz handled her. When he released her face, he caressed her arm as he continued to speak to her. After they had a quick discussion, Juraz placed his hand in the small of her back and guided her toward Casey again.

  “We have some luggage,” Abby said, traipsing by him.

  Casey hurriedly followed her, noticing Juraz remained near the house, studying the woods at the edge of the front lawn. Once the trunk of the vehicle was open, Abby dropped her voice. “Juraz doesn’t want Porter around.”

  “I figured that,” Casey said. “He’s an obsessive prick already, huh?”

  “Yeah,” she replied, grabbing a suitcase and slinging it to the ground. “I’ve already had enough of this Domination-submission business. For the life of me, I don’t know why a woman would submit to that.”

  “Not all Doms are like Juraz, Abby,” Casey said gently.

  “How the hell would you know?” she asked, looking him up and down.

  Casey took a deep breath. He started to explain, but sometimes it was better to show rather than tell. He studied her with a hard gaze and then looked away after an inner debate steered him another direction. Yes, he would keep his secrets. Abby had enough on her mind without thinking about him and all the ways he could please her.

  He laughed at that.

  “Do you think this is funny?” Abby asked, slamming the trunk.

  “No,” Casey replied. “I just thought of something. That’s all.”

  “What?” she asked, dragging her luggage by cloth handles and leather hoops.

  “I can’t tell ya.”

  “Why not?”

  He stopped walking and said, “Because then I’d have to kiss ya.”

  She gulped.

  “And, Abby, just so you know? I’m interested in a little more than kissing.”

  * * * *

  Abby showed Juraz around. Brantley succeeded at making the place look like her home. With frilly curtains, framed photographs, and little music boxes scattered about, he accomplished a lot in a short period of time.

  Juraz dropped off his luggage in the master suite. Then he waved her away. “I need to take a shower. Do me a favor, sub, and see if you can’t whip up something light for an early dinner.”

  “Yes, Master,” she’d said, strolling down the hall and passing an amused Casey, who immediately followed her to the kitchen.

  “This ought to be interesting,” he whispered, leaning over the short bar in the center of the kitchen. “Do you even know how to cook?”

  “I can do a lot of things you don’t know about. I’m full of surprises.”

  “As an example?”

  She returned to the bottom of the steps, bent an ear, and once she was satisfied the shower water was running, marched back, threw her leg over a chair, and hiked up her short skirt. “See there?” she asked, grinning. “Bet you didn’t know I had that locked in my twat, now did ya?”

  She’d love to share the hilarious details behind the runaway dildo, but she’d save the storytelling for a rainy day. She was still greatly disappointed that the copilot had returned the object.

  “Holy hell,” Casey said, glaring at her pussy.

  She tilted her head and bit down on her forefinger. “I’m being…let’s see, how did Juraz put it?”

  “Put it? Looks like he stuffed the damn thing,” Casey said, his mouth clearly moist. “Here, let me take a closer look.”

  Before she could stop him, Casey dropped to the floor and pressed his lips against her bare mound, placing light pecks here and there.

  “Stop,” she choked out, trying to wiggle her dress down over her hips. “This is a bad idea.” Then again, Casey had been on her mind.

  After Juraz retrieved the runaway dildo from the cockpit, she’d returned to the restroom to cleanse the toy. As she’d reinserted the tip, she’d thought of Casey, the way he’d looked at her when he first spotted her at Juraz’s Chicago club. He’d been so cute about her, blushing the moment he saw her strut across the floor.

  “Uh-huh, baby. Eating your pussy is the best idea I’ve had in years.” Casey grabbed her buttocks and thrust her toward him. His lips locked over her clit before she had a chance to issue a much-weaker protest, something she was certain would come out as a plea for more rather than a request for less.

  Casey pressed his tongue against her hard button and flicked her clit. “Hmm, Abby. You sure taste like a woman who’s all worked up.”

  “Stop, damn it,” she said, pushing his head away.

  Casey came right back. He slapped her hand away and grabbed the dildo, wiggling the toy higher as he licked her clit one more time.

  “You have to,” she rasped, unable to give him another good shove as her knees buckled and her body threatened to collapse.

  His mouth was damning. His hands were pure sin. He thrust the toy in and out of her pussy as he sipped at the juices spilling from her cunt.

  A bolt of arousal jarred her as she gripped the table behind her. Casey lifted her to him then, forcing her ass to the flat surface as he spread her with his elbows and made himself right at home.

  “Casey, you can’t do this.”

  “The hell I can’t,” he said, yanking the dildo completely free. As the device fell to the floor, his mouth replaced where the toy had once been. He barricaded his tongue inside her and just went to town like he had business to conduct and an important purchase he was destined to make.

  Chapter Nine

  “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” Brantley asked, rushing them. He grabbed hold of Casey’s shoulders and pulled him away from her. But Ace noticed something. He may have been in a rush to get Casey away from Abby’s hot little pussy, but he sure took the time to gape at what he’d left there on the table.

  Abby immediately pulled herself together. She hopped away from the elevated perch and tugged her skirt over those shapel
y hips in the process. Her eyes met his almost immediately.

  “That’s all right, sugar,” Ace said in a guttural voice. “You know who got ya all worked up.”

  “This is not funny, Ace,” Brantley snapped, turning to address Casey. “Where’s Juraz?”

  “He’s in the shower,” Casey told him, licking his lips.

  Damn, if Ace wasn’t jealous of those lips. Casey was a nice guy, but hell, nice guys should’ve definitely finished last in this case. Instead, he’d gotten in between Abby’s legs before the rest of them.

  Ace had a good reason to envy his fellow operative, at least for a second. Abby’s juices still lingered on Casey’s mouth.

  He grunted at the thought. All eyes fell upon him.

  “What’s wrong, Ace?” Casey taunted him, snickering.

  “Don’t make me kiss ya just to see what she tastes like,” he said, twitching his nose in an effort to ward off a smile.

  “Yeah, I see your hard ass kissing his lips,” Fowler teased.

  “You,” Brantley said, pointing at Fowler. “Get up there and stall Juraz.” Fowler hurried off to follow orders.

  Brantley cleared his throat. “Abby, this is unacceptable.”

  She didn’t apologize. She didn’t explain. Ace would’ve been disappointed if she’d started stuttering and stammering.

  “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  “Psht! Are you kidding me?”

  When she refused to provide an explanation, Brantley growled. “Go in the bathroom and freshen up. Sweat beads are pouring off your brow.”

  “She’s worked up,” Casey announced proudly.

  “Yes, I can see that,” Brantley snipped. “And you…”

  Ace rubbed his jaw. “Don’t start with me. I’m not the stud you caught sniffing around the mare.”

  Casey and Porter laughed.

  “Guys, we need to keep the testosterone level down here. Abby will end up injured or dead if we don’t,” Brantley said.

  Ace couldn’t agree more. Hell, every cock in the room was rigid. He wouldn’t have noticed if there hadn’t been such an obvious effort by all as each man situated his junk in the front.