They filled up her kitchen with their huge bodies. Guests ate with her and Lena almost every morning of the week, yet none of those people commanded the area the way the Chisholm brothers did. She could barely breathe just looking at them.
Jason stood about two inches taller than his brother, and since they stood so close together, it was obvious Jason’s face had a harder quality to it. Seth looked like the consummate fun-loving, charming, I-will-never-settle-down ladies’ man. Jason was a different story, but Edie sensed the steamy sexuality bubbling around him, even though he gave off a strong do-not-even-think-of-fucking-with-me vibe. Very intimidating. But Edie suspected he was an attentive and very skillful lover when the occasion called for it.
And dominant. Extremely dominant.
Her clit throbbed just thinking about how amazing Jason would feel pounding his hips between her legs while he pinned her wrists down above her head.
Seth would be the lothario of the two. He would seduce, tease, and caress. He would use his vast repertoire of honed skills to please his women. Jason would use his brute masculinity. Edie could not decide which one she preferred. Maybe she could follow in Lena’s footsteps.
Looking back and forth between the two of them, she knew they had been with more women than she was personally acquainted with. The thought deflated her. Who was she to think they would ever have any attraction for her, an absent-minded artist who did not possess a single come hither speck in her body?
“Is cupcake what you call all the new girls in town?” Her voice sounded a little harsh to her ears. She smiled, hoping to make her insecure comment seem like a joke.
The smiles fell from their faces. That did not bode well for her.
Jason uncrossed his arms and stalked to her. “Why would you say something like that?” His huge shoulders blocked out almost all the light streaming in from the windows.
“I was just joking.”
His glacier-like eyes narrowed on her, and she tried not to flinch under his cold gaze. “No, you weren’t.”
She did not know how he managed to see through her, but she felt transparent in front of him. “Jason, please. I was kidding.”
He took at step closer to her and Seth did, too. “No, you weren’t. I could see it in your face. You meant every word.”
Edie backed up until the counter jammed into the middle of her back. Jason leaned into her, boxing her in with his arms the same way Seth did a few minutes ago. Their eyes met and held, and she saw his pupils dilate a fraction before he leaned in, open eyed, to kiss her.
She expected his lips to be hard and punishing, but he took her mouth in a commanding, sensual manner. He slanted his lips over hers, cupped the back of her head with his big hands, and tangled his fingers in her hair. One of his thumbs caressed her jaw line. His tongue brushed over her lips, and she opened to him without hesitation.
Oh, he tasted rich and dark and spicy.
Her knees went weak, and she held on to him to keep from melting into her shoes. The man knew how to kiss. He knew how to surround her whole body with his so he pressed against every inch of her. And she felt every long inch of what pressed against her belly. Every part of him was hard and thick and rugged. No softness about him at all.
Heat flooded Edie’s body as her arousal soaked her panties. Her nipples brushed against the inside of her bra, and she pushed her chest into Jason’s big body, wanting more. Her breasts grew heavy, and her heart beat frantically in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. Or was it simply from being overwhelmed by the man holding her so tightly against him?
She heard soft mewling noises and realized, as she fisted a handful of his shirt between her fingers, they came from her. Immediately, she pulled away, and the sound of their breaking kiss filled the air. Her breath came in short pants. She brought her fingertips to her lips and felt how swollen and puffy they were. Her skin still tingled from the feel of his five o’clock shadow against her face.
Jason still crowded her against the counter, and his eyes burned with molten heat. His whole body buzzed against hers, and amazingly, the hard bulge pressing against her hardened, thickened. The corners of Jason’s lips pulled up into a sexy little half grin, and her insides tightened. He was beautiful when he let himself smile. If he ever decided to give her a full grin, Edie thought she’d die.
He pressed his lips against hers once more, briefly this time, and stepped away. Edie locked her knees to keep herself from sinking to the floor. She did not need to, though. The moment Jason stepped away, Seth took her waist and pressed her into him. She only had a brief second to feel the subtle differences in their bodies before he leaned down and brushed his lips against the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her temple. She smelled the scent of his cologne and his clean clothes. And a little bit of fabric softener. Then her mind blanked when he finally, gently, claimed her lips.
Seth felt different against her than Jason did. Seth held her firmly, but with care, and his lips were fuller than Jason’s, and a little softer. He controlled the kiss the way musicians controlled their instruments—with fine-tuned skills, lots of practice, and a deep underlying passion.
He did not surround her like Jason did, but his body dared hers to make the first move and promised more than she could ever imagine if she did. Before she could do anything but follow his lead, he pulled away and brushed the tip of his nose against hers.
“So you’re coming, then, right?” He pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and his fingers lingered against her skin.
Oh, she could definitely come any moment if he just—
She shook her head to clear it. “Where?”
Seth broke into a grin, and the beauty in his face dazzled her. “Shootin’, of course. Next weekend. We’d love to have you there, but if you don’t want to come, then we’ll find something else to do with you. We’re going to have you, Edie. One way or another, you’ll realize we intend to have you. Make no mistake about that.”
Chapter Four
Later that week, Edie walked into her new favorite store, Beth’s Bubbles, and went straight for the soaps. She and Lena would be welcoming two couples—the Archers and the Campbells—as guests at the B&B later that evening, and she wanted to get some nice bar soaps for them. Maybe even some bath salts, as the Archers planned on celebrating their one year wedding anniversary. She grabbed a lavender scented bar and smelled it. She did the same for the shea and almond scented bars. Well, damn. She liked all three.
“Hi. Can I help you?”
Startled, Edie jerked her head around. A cute guy stood behind her with a questioning look on his face.
She felt her cheeks heating from her embarrassment. “Actually, yes.”
He smiled at her and walked to her side. He was not very tall, but his good looks certainly made up for it. His shaggy, sandy blond hair, green eyes, and relaxed posture made him look more like a surfer than a cowboy, but his Texas drawl said otherwise.
“What can I help you with, ma’am?” he asked while chewing slowly on some gum. Usually, Edie thought chomping on gum while helping a customer was rude, but the action only served to draw her attention to his nicely shaped jaw. It was not nearly as chiseled as Jason’s, but he was still pretty cute. Edie bet all the younger girls in town were crazy for him, even though his charm did nothing but make her think of Jason and Seth and their overwhelming masculinity.
“Oh, Edie, please. Call me Edie. Ma’am makes me feel like somebody’s grandmother.”
“So you’re Edie,” he said, his face changing from professional courtesy to genuine happiness. “I was wondering when I’d get to meet you. I’m Aidan.”
He laid a hand on the table next to her and leaned toward her a bit. She did not miss the way his shoulder and chest muscles flexed. “You’re gettin’ quite popular, Miss Bishop. Everyone’s talkin’ about how the Chisholm brothers got their eye on you. And I can see why.”
She felt, rather than saw, his gaze trail slowly over her body. In another life, o
r if she had not met Jason and Seth first, Edie would have been more than flattered that such a nice-looking guy like Aidan would find her attractive. Now, though, she found she did not know what to think about it. She was not quite uncomfortable, but she was not thrilled with it, either. The only people she wanted looking at her with such masculine appreciation were Jason and Seth. His eyes met hers again, and he grinned.
“Oh, well, I—” She tucked her chin toward her shoulder and tried to get her embarrassment under control. She could not remember a time when a man was so forward with her. Well, other than in the kitchen with Jason and Seth. And on the dance floor at Cedar Ridge. Oh, and that moment in the hall with Jason.
Huh. Well, then.
“Hey now, don’t be gettin’ all shy on me. I’m just statin’ the obvious is all. It’s been a while since them Chisholm boys took such a likin’ to a woman like this.” Aidan straightened. “Huh. You know, come to think of it, I don’t remember anything like this.”
That got her attention. “Oh, please. I’m sure you’re just being nice.”
“Nah, I’m serious. Don’t get me wrong, they ain’t shy at all when it comes to the ladies, but it’s always casual, you know?”
Actually, no, she didn’t, but she nodded as if she did.
“They like you. Trust me. I saw y’all the other night.” He winked at her, then his brows furrowed. “Actually, you know who I saw in here the other day? That what’s-her-name woman. She’s blonde, always dressed up. Great legs.” He snapped his fingers while he paced around.
Edie kept her laugh to herself. What a typical man, she thought, he can remember the woman’s legs but not her name.
“Cassandra. That’s her name.”
“Yeah, Cassandra Barrett. I met her the other day. She said she’s back in town after being gone for a while. She was really nice.”
Aidan looked at her curiously. “You met her?”
Edie shrugged her shoulders. “Yes, why?”
“No reason,” he said hesitantly. “She was just askin’ about you is all.”
“Oh,” Edie waved off his underlying concern with a flick of her wrist. “She probably just finished having coffee with me the other day.”
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s prolly it.” Aidan shook his head, then smiled. “I’ve heard great stuff about your B&B. And your friend is engaged to the Stones, right?”
Wow. News traveled fast here. “Yeah. That’s her. I’m so glad you’ve heard good things about our place. It’s such a relief.”
“Oh yeah. I know what you mean. For a while, my sister didn’t know if this place would take off, but hey, it’s doin’ pretty good.”
So that explained why a cute young guy worked in a bath product store. “And here I was thinking this place was yours.”
Aidan’s eyes widened so quickly Edie was surprised they did not pop out of his head. “Oh, hell no. No, no, no.” He adjusted the brim of his baseball cap on his head. “My sister wanted to go watch her kids at their swimming lesson, so I told her I’d help out here till she got back. I actually work up at Cedar Ridge.”
Edie’s chest tightened at the mention of Jason and Seth’s place. She hoped it was not too obvious on her face. “Really? What do you do up there?”
“Oh, I help Jason out with the bouncing.”
She could swear that he flexed his muscles after he said that. Huh. Was he trying to flirt with her?
“Nice. Is that a lot of work? And what’s it like working for Jason? He seems like he’s...”
“A hard-ass?”
Edie let out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess so. I was going for intimidating, but hard-ass works, too.”
Aidan let out a low whistle. “He’s a total hard-ass, but he’s got every right to be. He knows what he’s doin’. He’s the best in the business, without a doubt. Dallas and Houston even contract him out to do security for all the big concerts and conventions for all the big, important people.”
She blinked like an idiot for a couple seconds, letting that sink in. “Really? He’s a SEAL?”
“Yeah. It explains a lot, huh?” He flashed her a grin.
Edie thought of Jason’s cold, hard eyes, his frigid reserve, and his intimidating, sexy presence. “You have no idea.”
“A couple of people have tried to get him to do bodyguardin’ for a few influential people, but he turns ’em down every time.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah, he’s a total badass mother fu—”
“Didn’t your mama ever tell you to watch your damn mouth around a lady, Aidan?”
When Edie heard Jason’s deep, dark voice, a lick of heat swept down her spine and pooled between her thighs. The heat only increased when Jason came up close behind her, his chest brushed her shoulder. She could feel his warmth even through all their clothing. She resisted the urge to rub herself against him.
“Hey, cupcake,” Jason said against her ear as he slid his hand around her belly and pulled her to him, dropping a kiss at the base of her neck. Her skin tingled where he touched her, and she felt her nipples hardening against her clothing, begging for attention.
“Hi, Jason.” Her voice sounded breathy in her ears, and she sucked in air through her teeth when little nips from his teeth followed the trail his lips made toward her shoulder.
“I see y’all have wasted no time,” Aidan said. His eyebrows sat high on his forehead.
Seth walked up next to them, planted his feet, and crossed his thick arms over his chest. “Were you hittin’ on her, Aidan?” Seth asked with a smirk on his face.
“Nah, Seth. Just keepin’ her company.” Aidan adjusted his baseball cap again. “If you need anything or have any questions, Edie—”
“We’ve got it covered, Aidan.” Jason’s deep voice vibrated in his chest, and she let the waves roll over her.
Seth watched Aidan return to the front of the store, then he turned to face her. Oh, he looked so good. His brown hair needed a haircut, but the way it curled just above the collar of his polo shirt did funny things to her insides. He filled out his shirt nicely, she noticed, especially where his shoulders were concerned. The way his back muscles rippled with every movement and the way his shoulders were so heavily muscled made her want to rip the offensive material right off him and lick every inch of his gorgeous body.
She flicked her tongue over her bottom lip, imagining the way his skin would taste after he and Jason made love to her.
Seth must have noticed the way she looked at him because, in a flash, his eyes went from dark blue to black, and his gaze zeroed in on her tongue sweeping over her lips.
Edie let her eyes take down his front from his chest to his—
Oh, wow.
The bulge in his pants fought against the zipper keeping it in check. From where she stood, the bulge looked quite large. Large enough to make the fantasies she entertained about him and his brother look almost as big as reality.
Seth took a step toward her and crowded her back against Jason. “You like what you see, Edie?” The heat in his voice matched the erotic glint in his eyes.
“Um, well—”
“Because we like what we see.” Seth took another step closer to her, his body heat mixing with Jason’s and making her skin tingle. He put his hands on her waist and followed the inward curve down to the flare of her hips. His strong fingers kneaded her flesh, and Edie fought to keep her eyes open as desire washed over her.
She felt Jason shift behind her, his fingertips barely grazing over her right shoulder. When they reached her dress strap, he slipped his hand, palm down, under and slipped it off. His lips followed his hand’s caress.
Edie shivered and leaned into Jason, letting him have his way with her in the back of the store. How did this happen? She was not this type of girl. She never took random men home, never hooked up with anyone, never let men touch her like this in public. Still, she could not find it in herself to push them away. Instead of protesting, her fingers wound themselves into the fabric of Jason’s jeans, his t
high feeling like steel under her grip.
Seth’s fingers moved to her ass and pulled her hips toward him. Her belly pushed against his thick erection, and she held back the gasp threatening to breach her lips.
“Let’s get something straight, Edie,” he said in her ear, his voice low and rasping. His lips barely brushed against the shell of her ear. The gentle, featherlike sensation shot straight to her clit, making it throb. “We work hard, play hard, and fuck harder.” He pressed her against his body. “We want you as ours, and we won’t stop until we get you.”
Jason readjusted the straps on her shoulders. “All of you,” he said against her skin. He dropped one last kiss there, then took her hips out of Seth’s grip and pulled them against his crotch. She felt him, huge and hard, against her ass. He bent her forward a little with his hand, and she grabbed on to Seth for support. “If you don’t want us, tell us now because we’ve set our eyes on you.”
Belatedly, she realized her panties were soaked. She usually wasn’t one to enjoy being manhandled and bossed around, but the Chisholm brothers turned her on beyond her wildest dreams.
When she did not answer, Jason pulled her tighter against the bulge in his pants. She could feel the head of his cock even through his jeans, and it pressed against her throbbing, aching clit. “Do you want us or not, cupcake?”
Of course she wanted them, but she already felt so vulnerable between them, even with the unbridled need pulsing through her. Voicing her desire for them in any way she could get them would only make her feel even more so.
“It’s now or never, so let us know because if you want us to leave you alone, we will.”
The thought made her shrivel inside.
“Y–yes.” She took a breath and swallowed her fear of rejection. “Yes, I want you.” Her voice was quiet and soft and did not carry far.
Seth’s face broke into that grin that melted her knees, and her heart fluttered in her chest. He leaned to kiss her, his lips making a quick possession of hers. He felt so right against her, his body so big and solid and warm. In that moment, standing between the two of them, Edie knew they would never let anything hurt her. The vibes they sent out—strong and protective—let her know they would take better care of her than of themselves.
Edie Earns Her Saddle Page 4