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

by Natalie Acres

  She grabbed hold of the orgasm and fought to make the pleasure last. “Ace!” Her voice wasn’t her own now. She cried out like a woman in love. Ace lived within her. He was a part of her.

  His body and hers were truly one as he pumped inside her. He fucked her like he’d never stop, as if he fully intended to stamp her with his seed, leave her forever marked as his.

  “Good God! I can’t stop!” he screamed, his body rocking, his dick traveling. “Damn it. I can’t pull out. Not yet.” His hands fell to her legs. He slammed between her folds once more, stabbing her with harder thrusts, screwing himself higher, fucking still deeper.

  As his hot spill rushed through her cunt, her pussy tightened around his rigid cock. And long after he’d become flaccid, he still pushed inside her, almost in an effort to claim a higher place.

  He buried his face in her hair and whispered against her ear, “It’s as if I’ve never been inside a woman and like I’m scared to death I’ll never have the opportunity to love you again.”

  * * * *

  Brantley knocked. Ace swung open the door with a towel around his waist. Behind him was the prettiest picture he’d ever seen. Abby’s wet locks framed her face.

  “You couldn’t wait, could you?”

  “Nope,” Ace said, bending down to gather their clothes. Tossing his garments in the washing machine and hers on top of the dryer, he added, “And if I were you? I wouldn’t either.” Then, he left.

  “Abby, we have to meet the others upstairs.” He was hard, erect, and dying to slip behind that curtain.

  She crooked her finger back and forth. “Come here, Brantley.”

  “You look like you’ve had enough for one day.”

  She dragged the curtain back and ran her hands over her curves. “Do I?”

  “Good God in heaven above. You are…”

  “Show me, Brantley. Show me. And tell me.”

  He gathered up her belongings. The desire he held for her drove the man, but the leader of the team refused to take the kiss. One touch would destroy him. One kiss guaranteed he’d lose sight of what was important on this mission.

  He handed off her clothing. “I’ll regret this for the rest of the day.”

  “Probably,” she agreed, stepping out of the shower.

  Her bare bottom drew his attention. The perfectly round globes tempted him, and before he could stop himself, he slapped her ass and said, “One of these days, you’ll have more men than you can handle.”

  “I hope so, Brantley. I’m in my prime, and I’d hate to see you miss out and get left behind.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Abby had been loved well. She’d lived without sex for over a year. Then, in less than twenty-four hours, her life changed. Without warning, without prior notice, she reconnected with her greatest love and found another comparable to the one she first thought she’d lost forever.

  She freshened up and joined the others. She strolled in the room, aware of the fact everyone knew what kept them waiting. She took a seat on the computer desk, her ass landing right next to Fowler’s keyboard.

  Fowler’s back was to her, but she noticed how rigid his shoulders became after she claimed a seat behind him. “Did you have a good time?” he asked, taunting her.

  “Pay attention, Fowler. Brantley has a lot to say and I have a few things to add. I think you’ll be impressed by the time this meeting is over.”

  He swiveled around in his chair. “The only way that’ll happen is if I get my turn in the shower.” Before she responded, he turned back around.

  “Gang, I need your attention,” Brantley said, staring right at her.

  “You have it,” she assured him.

  He took a deep breath. His gaze shifted between Ace and Porter, then Ace and Kit.

  Oh boy. Here we go.

  “All right, there are a few things we need to get out of the way.”

  “I’ll say,” Casey said, addressing her.

  “Casey, I’m talking about tomorrow night,” Brantley said, fiddling with a television set. Popping a disc in the DVD player, he continued, “We have reservations tomorrow night at Juraz Mendete’s Lifestyle Resort. His guys are still quite worried over the fact they can’t seem to locate Abby.” His gaze narrowed. “Abby, it’s crucial that you stay out of sight until tomorrow night.”

  “Not a problem.”

  “That means you don’t leave this house. You don’t leave the second floor. If you need something from the kitchen, one of us will bring you what you need. Understand?”

  She crossed her legs. “I could get used to this.”

  “Don’t,” Brantley said abruptly. Then, he winked as if a little flirting would go a long way. “It’s a temporary inconvenience none of us want.” His lips twitched as he lost his fight to hide a smile.

  “Okay. Let’s get down to business.” The movie played wasn’t one with credits, but it began like a typical true crime show—investigators standing over a dead body. The one pictured was covered in blood.

  Abby gasped when she recognized the victim—Juraz’s latest sub.

  Brantley pointed at the woman’s corpse. “Apparently Juraz already thought Abby was his replacement. Ronda Remming was found late last night. Her body was battered and beaten. She’d been sexually assaulted. Midwestern division operatives are working the case. Sloane is convinced Juraz was the last one to see her alive, which means he took care of this job himself.”

  “We were supposed to protect her,” Abby said softly, immediately carrying the blame for this. If she hadn’t been so opposed to spending the night in the same house with Juraz, Ronda might still be alive.

  “She’s a casualty,” Kit said coolly. “We all know about those, don’t we, Abby?”

  “Some more than others,” she replied. She knew about sacrifice, if that’s what he meant.

  “Abby, I want you to take a good look at this picture,” Brantley said, his voice firm. “I’ve had time to rethink how this operation should be handled. We’re not going to run all over the place without specific orders to follow. I know you want the kill. I understand your need to take the shot, but it’s not going to happen.”

  She hopped down from the desk and stormed across the room. “Please don’t pull me off this case, Brantley.”

  “If I have to,” Brantley said reluctantly, “I will. I have the authority to do it.”

  Abby hurriedly scanned the faces of the others. From Kit to Judson to Ace and all the others, she saw Brantley had the full support he wanted.

  “The good old boys’ club can’t stop me from doing this job the way Conrad would’ve expected me to do it,” she told them.

  Ace stepped forward. “Abby, we want to keep you safe. If you go in there like a cocked gun, this whole operation will blow up in our faces.”

  Kit stood beside him. “He’s right, Abby. Listen to Brantley. We’re all in agreement here that Brantley’s plan is the only way we’ll be able to lure Juraz and keep you safe at the same time.”

  She stomped over to the computer desk and reclaimed her seat. She propelled her arms behind her, bracing her body with flat palms pressed against the desk.

  “Continue,” Kit said out of the corner of his mouth, his gaze pinned to her body.

  She wondered what words Kit and Ace had exchanged. Had there been a conversation at all? Did Kit know she’d fucked Ace as soon as she’d gotten back to the farm? Did he know it was the first time and silently hoped it wouldn’t be the last?

  No, she decided. Kit didn’t know her at all now. Maybe he’d been her shadow. Maybe he’d been watching all of them from afar, but what did he really understand about her now?

  He smirked as he watched her. A wicked grin stamped his face. His lust-filled eyes remained glued to her chest.

  Well, one thing was certain. He still knew how to piss her off.

  “We’ve had a change in plans all the way around. Tonight, Ace, Casey, Porter, and Fowler will spend the night at your place, Abby. They were with you at
Club Sex in Chicago. Casey is already in place as your ‘brother’ thanks to his own choice of cover for this job. That’s the way we’ll play this thing until the end. I don’t like it, but we’ll go with it.”

  She didn’t approve either, but apparently some things were better left unchanged.

  “We’ll leave here in three separate vehicles tomorrow afternoon. The new resort opens its gates at five, and registration for the first vacation week begins at six. Three cabins are reserved. You’ll be staying with me, Kit, and Ace.”

  “That makes no sense. Juraz has seen Ace. You’re putting him over at the house with Casey tonight? That move will set off alarms.”

  “She’s right,” Kit said.

  Surprise, surprise. Someone listened to what she had to contribute. Apparently, her point was valid. She was pretty certain Kit wouldn’t want to share the same roof with her and Ace.

  She should’ve thought of that, too. She’d share a house with the two men she’d fucked in the last twenty-four hours.

  “All right, Casey, Porter, and Fowler—you’re at the other place tonight.”

  “What about arranging the technology?” Fowler asked.

  “I can handle that,” Judson volunteered.

  Brantley cleared his throat. “Judson is as familiar with our systems as you are, Fowler. He designed some of the hardware and perfected many of our programs.”

  Fowler grunted. He apparently didn’t have an argument, and if he did, he kept his views to himself.

  Smart move. Abby understood what Judson could do. He was a computer genius.

  “Why is it that tomorrow Abby is assigned to you, Kit, and Ace?” Judson asked.

  Ace smirked. “Sucks for you, huh, Jud?”

  “It’s Judson,” he snapped. “And I’m all right with it. I’m not questioning authority. However, I’d like to know why this decision was reached.”

  “I’m getting there,” Brantley said, redirecting their focus toward the television set. “All right, take a look at this photo. You’ll notice this row of cabins.” He pressed a button and paused the video. “Each cabin houses two separate huts. We have these three reserved.” He indicated two cabins in the middle of the screen and pointed to the specific quarters they’d occupy.

  “We’ll be with Abby here,” he said, pointing to the accommodations in the middle. “Casey and Fowler will stay in the cabin on the right. We’re assuming Juraz may occupy the hut next to them once he figures out where Abby is staying. Judson, you and Porter will occupy the cabin on the left.

  “The reasons for the assignment should be clear. Casey has excellent instincts. He’s a sharpshooter and has a good handle on explosives. He’ll be able to keep an eye on Juraz through mobile surveillance. Judson will cover us using the same equipment, but he will also be our key man for transmitting data through the earpieces. I don’t want a bunch of senseless chatter going on while we’re trying to seduce Juraz.”

  “Seduce him?” Porter asked. “Now you want to fuck him, too?”

  “I never wanted to fuck him,” Abby reminded him before Brantley could respond. “I just want to kill him.”

  “Same difference,” Kit said, winking. “You can fuck a man into an early grave. I know that better than anyone.”

  “I doubt that,” Ace said, licking his lips and staring right at Abby.

  Kit snarled. “Let’s move on, Brantley.”

  “I’m trying. If you guys would pay attention, we’ll get through this so we can rest before tomorrow.”

  “What’s our cover?” Judson asked, arching a brow.

  “You and Porter are single guys interested in the lifestyle. Recently unattached, you’ll need to keep in mind you don’t want an arm ornament at the end of the first night. You’ll be able to mingle if you can keep your distance from the women there looking to find an appropriate match.”

  “What about us?” Casey asked.

  “You need to step into that role of Abby’s brother. Follow your instincts. If Juraz asks you about us, you’ll pretend you’re there to keep a watch over her. Your story is she hooked up with the three of us right after she and Porter parted ways.”

  “How am I supposed to explain this to Juraz?” Abby asked. “He’ll find a way for us to be alone.”

  “You mean what are you supposed to tell him when he wants to know what went wrong between the two of you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Use the old ‘three is better than one’ scenario,” Brantley said.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Don’t worry, Abby. We’ll make it look real,” Kit said.

  “I can make an easy believer out of her, Kit. Don’t worry,” Ace taunted him.

  Kit laughed. “You keep talking, Ace. Keep running that mouth.”

  Abby ignored them and studied Porter. “Juraz might have a problem with Porter. He may stop him at the gate since he was my last known lover.”

  “He may stop all of us at the gate,” Casey pointed out.

  “We’ve thought of that, too,” Brantley explained. “If any of us are asked to leave, come back here. Don’t stay at either house. Go underground and wait.

  “Meet in the main compound. If you’re followed, choose one of the small bunkers and send out a signal as soon as you’re under. We need to know when you go dark.

  “Once you’re considered out of the picture, you’re of no use to the team except by way of tracking and keeping an eye on the monitors. We need to watch for intruders here at all times.”

  “Do you think anyone has made the connection between the Donovan farm and Kane place?” Fowler asked. “Surely someone in Juraz’s organization realizes these two properties were once owned by the very men responsible for starting the Underground Unit.”

  “No,” Brantley replied. “After Sam Kane died, the locals were under the impression that Brock Donovan rented out his place and Sydney sold hers. The deed was transferred to a corporation—our fake employer as a matter of fact. Our covers are solid. Juraz has no idea what he’s up against.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Juraz stared at the photographs scattered across his desk. “Who gave you this information?”

  “When we couldn’t find the girl, we approached a farm hand on the neighboring property and made him talk.”

  “How much did that cost us?”

  “It would’ve cost you about a million. He pissed us off and we killed him,” Horatio remarked.

  Horatio was Juraz’s first cousin. He was always pissed off. At times like these, that was a plus, a real advantage. However, Horatio concerned him. He was next in line to take over the cartel should something happen to Juraz. He was deeply troubled over Horatio’s recent appointment.

  Horatio provided muscle, but he wasn’t a leader. He wasn’t a great visionary, something the cartel needed and expected.

  “Start at the beginning. What did the old man tell you?”

  “Brock Donovan and his brothers own both properties—the one where Abby said she lived and the other connecting farm. Apparently, Donovan is married to Sam Kane’s daughter. That’s how he came to own two prime pieces of land. The old man said the place is haunted, all kinds of ghosts there, he said.”

  “That’s superstitious bullshit.”

  “No, he said now you see them, now you don’t. He said the Donovans have magic tricks and can vanish.”

  Juraz stared at Abby’s photograph. She was such a beautiful woman. And even now, he wanted her. He couldn’t help himself. He longed to know the feel of her soft body under his. Juraz jerked. He looked up at Horatio and said, “Vanish? What do you mean, they just disappear?”

  “The old guy said he’s watched them dive across the land like they would jump into a swimming pool. Then, voila! They’re gone.”

  Juraz rubbed his temples. “You and I both know that isn’t possible.” Sometimes Horatio was a true dumbass. “They must have tunnels under the property. Get our guys out there tonight and find out. I want to know where these h
iding spots are in case our little girl here decides to head for one.”

  He waved Abby’s picture in front of Horatio’s face. “I still want her.”

  “No, Juraz,” Horatio said. “I tell you this because I love you, cousin. This is a bad idea. She’s protected. She’s in that organization. She’s a spy.”

  Juraz narrowed his gaze. “Which is it, Horatio? Is she a spy or an operative with the Underground Unit?”

  “What’s the difference?”

  “The Underground Unit operatives are trained to kill and have taken out plenty of men while they’ve been in their beds. Spies? Well, we both know how easily they can be eliminated. They’re good for reporting information and that’s about it.”

  Juraz returned to the six photographs in front of him. “So we have a team of elite operatives staying with us. Our grand opening is destined to set off a lot of fireworks, eh?”

  “We’re prepared, cousin,” Horatio said.

  He formed a steeple with his hands and leaned back. Studying Abby’s picture, he said, “Yes, we are. We’re ready for them. They’re ready for us. The only advantage we have is they have no idea we’re expecting them.”

  * * * *

  “So you fucked Ace?” Kit asked as she settled in later that evening.

  “Yes.”

  “And you don’t think you owe me an explanation for that?” Kit asked, amused. He’d known she had feelings for Ace when he’d joined her in the shower earlier that morning. He’d known, and he’d gone first “in there” anyway, hoping he’d give her enough to keep her satisfied but aware of the strong feelings she and Ace shared.

  He’d witnessed the chemistry between them. He hadn’t been their shadow for nothing. He’d known from the moment he first saw them gazing into one another’s eyes when she’d strutted around Belize in that damn white string bikini.

  Abby strolled around the enormous bed—a custom-made special mattress about the size of two kings put together. “I don’t owe you, Kit. Remember how we got here. You left me, remember?”