A Four-Gone Conclusion: Lone Star Lovers, Book 5 (10 page)

He nodded.

“Then why are you tellin’ me this?”

“You already know why.”

The way he said it, with conviction, and then held his breath, made her heart trip. Still, it wasn’t in her DNA to make this easy. “Uh-huh. That’s right. One of you wants a wife—who can bake a pie.”

“Stop with the pie,” he growled. “I don’t want you just for your pie.”

She ignored the
just
. “Then what?”

“I want you for the way you make me feel.”

“Hot?”

“That too.”

He was going to drive her stark-raving crazy. Fully demented. Most times she could take his “man of few words” way of getting to the point, but she was a woman and wanted just a little more drama. “Don’t you think you should wait to find out if you like me before you tell me you’re going to marry me?”

“I like you fine.”

Her eyes bugged and she reached up to catch hold of his collar. “I’ve teased and insulted you just about every time we’ve met,” she said, giving him a scowl.

“It’s your way of flirting.”

“You think you know me so well?”

His mouth pulled into a bland smile. “You’re like me. Tougher on the outside than the inside.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

She dropped her hand and settled against his chest again, exasperated and grumpy.

“Do you want me to get down on one knee?”

“Hell no. Besides it’s too soon for us to even talk about getting married.”

“I’ll give you ’til next week to organize a dress and reception.”

That sucked the wind out of her. It was so concrete. So visual. Her in a white dress. Him waiting at the end of the church aisle. All his brothers lined up beside him to welcome her to the family.

“No more arguments?”

She shook her head. The arm supporting her back tightened and she didn’t mind one bit that he stayed quiet the whole way home.

Once he got there, he helped her from the saddle, setting her on her feet only long enough to throw the reins over the porch rail. Then he picked her up in his arms and strode up the steps.

Without being told, because for once, she was completely in tune with his desires, she reached out to open the door and he swept her inside.

The trip down the hallway to the bedroom took only three short breaths. Their clothes a dozen. When they both lay naked, facing each other on the bed, it felt like a first time.

His eyes glittered with stark emotion. Hers filled as his fingers closed around her breast. When he took the tip into his mouth, at last, she threaded her fingers through his thick, silky hair to anchor him there.

Johnny pushed her onto her back then licked and suckled at her breasts until her whimpers turned to curses.

His laughter was low and dirty as he worked his way down her belly, nipping her skin, pausing to sink his tongue into her navel, before gliding straight down to her pussy.

There, he surprised her, kneeling, then lifting her thighs over his shoulder and straightening, so that only her shoulders lay on the bed. Suspended, unable to move, she delighted in the wicked stroke of his tongue and the gentle nibbles that had her clit so hard and throbbing she was seconds from release.

“I’m there,” she whispered harshly, blood rushing to her head.

Johnny kissed her mound then lowered her to the mattress. “Get on your knees.”

And even though her whole body was trembling, she scurried to comply. On all fours, she let her middle sink to raise her ass.

His large hands roughed over her bottom, caressing her, parting her. The swat shocked her, but thrilled her so much, she said, “More,” and tilted her ass higher. “Was that because I’ve been bad?”

He grunted. “Just wanted to leave a mark or two.”

“A brand?”

“You’ll wear that on your finger. I want your ass hot every time you sit.”

“How sweet,” she teased. “You want me thinking about you.”

His hands gripped her bottom, fingers digging into her soft flesh. His cock prodded her pussy, found her entrance, then plunged inside.

Ellie reached for the headboard and wrapped her hands around it, sinking deep, spreading her knees a little farther so that she could take him deeper.

Lord, he pounded so hard the top rail battered the wall, and her entire body jerked with the power of his forceful thrusts. Behind her, his breaths grew choppy, rasping loudly, and she knew he was close.

She was closer. Friction burned through her channel. Liquid fire seeped from her, coating him, the wet sound of his churning cock so crude, it heightened her arousal.

Johnny was relentless, hammering hard and fast. And though she fought it, wanting to savor the rise just a moment longer, she peaked. Ellie threw back her head and keened as her vagina convulsed, the pulses rippling up and down inside her, caressing the thick cock stroking her still.

He lowered his torso, blanketing her back. His lips glided along her shoulder, to her neck. There he bit her, holding her still.

The sharp pain caused another flare of heat to erupt. “Now!” she shouted.

His hips pounded twice more, then jerked against her.

Hot streams of semen spurted inside her.

“Ah. Ah,” he gasped against her skin, then snuggled closer to her back.

Tremors racked his body, matching hers, as his hips slowed their motion.

She let go of the headboard, and he wrapped his arms around her middle and brought them both to the bed, spooning her close to his body. His hands smoothed over her belly, trapped her breasts and squeezed.

Ellie moaned and snuggled closer. As she drifted off in a happy haze, she spared a thought for Killian, the one who’d engineered this and who seemed happy enough to let Johnny take the lead in this odd relationship. Somehow, she’d figure out a way to show him how she felt about him. Maybe it wasn’t love. Not yet, anyway. But it was strong.

What she felt for Johnny had been brewing a long time but she couldn’t imagine a future without the other brother standing beside her too. The simple fact was, Johnny had needed reassurance first. Behind the stoic mask, his heart had been open and ready for love. Killian teased and cajoled, but his easy ways hid a past just as painful. It would take time to earn his love and trust.

Johnny stirred behind her. “What are you thinkin’ about?”

“Us. All three of us.”

His hands tightened on her belly.

She placed hers over his and gave them a squeeze. “Tell me straight,” she whispered. “Are you sure you want to share?”

He sighed then placed a tender kiss behind her ear. “Only if you want it too.”

The
too
reassured her. She turned inside his arms, studying his expression, which, for once, wasn’t a neutral mask. Fierce emotion smoldered in his dark eyes.

She swallowed down the lump at the back of her throat and leaned toward him to press a kiss against his mouth. “I will come to love him,” she promised.

He nodded then gathered her closer. “I love you.”

For once, she wasn’t even tempted to offer a smart quip. Happiness had softened every edge. “I love you too.”

“We’ll provide you a good life,” he said, his voice turning raspy with emotion. “You won’t want for a thing.”

She gave him a tender smile. “I’ll make you pie.”

Sam Logan entered the house quietly, sneaking inside because he knew something was up. The two trucks parked at crazy angles in the driveway were warning enough that something was happening.

He heard the soft laughter coming from the kitchen, and peeked through the door to see three of his boys sitting at the kitchen table, looking rumpled but happy.

Backing away quietly, he sauntered down the hallway. Outside Johnny’s door, he heard soft whispers. Heard his first boy’s declaration of love, then a woman echoing the sentiment with enough emotion thickening her voice he had no doubts the couple were well on their way to fulfilling his dream.

He’d come home early, wanting to catch the boys unaware, see if they’d followed his advice. They might have been surprised to know his money had been riding on Johnny.

The boy whose alcoholic mother had kicked him to the curb was the one who most needed to learn what it was like to be loved by a good woman. That his brothers looked as though they too had been through the wringer, didn’t bear too much reflection. Who was he to judge how it had come to pass? One son had bitten the bullet. The rest would soon follow. They’d only needed to see a happy outcome to be tempted.

Satisfied, for now, he slipped back down the hallway and onto the porch. Taking a seat on the top step, he looked around at what he and Gracie had built. “Wish you were here to see it, darlin’. All your dreams are comin’ true.”

A soft breeze touched his face like the light stroke of her fingers. Maybe she did know after all. He closed his eyes and gave himself over to the image of her face, alight with joy, while the wind caressed his skin. “Won’t be long, sweetheart. We’ve got a little more work to do.”

About the Author

Until recently, award-winning erotica and romance author Delilah Devlin lived in South Texas at the intersection of two dry creeks, surrounded by sexy cowboys in Wranglers. These days, she's missing the wide-open skies and starry nights but loving her dark forest in Central Arkansas, with its eccentric characters and isolation—the better to feed her hungry muse! For Delilah, the greatest sin is driving between the lines, because it’s comfortable and safe. Her personal journey has taken her through one war and many countries, cultures, jobs, and relationships to bring her to the place where she is now—writing sexy adventures that hold more than a kernel of autobiography and often share a common thread of self-discovery and transformation.

To learn more about Delilah Devlin, please visit
www.delilahdevlin.com
. Send an email to
[email protected]
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Look for these titles by Delilah Devlin

Now Available:

Stone’s Embrace

Saddled

True Heart

Undeniable

Lone Star Lovers

Unbridled

Unforgiven

Four Sworn

Breaking Leather

Coming Soon:

Five Ways ’Til Sunday

Lone Heart

The best defense is no match for desire this hot…

Undeniable

© 2011 Delilah Devlin

Dark Frontier, Book 1

Kate McKinnon’s Sanctuary is an island of refuge in a western frontier shrouded in post-apocalyptic chaos. Her only escape from her crushing responsibilities is occasional radio contact with other pockets of survivors. Especially one man whose deep, raspy voice cuts through her exhaustion, straight to her heart. A man whose face she has only imagined.

When she and her ranch hands are surrounded by renegades, she doesn’t recognize the leader of the militaristic band that rescues them, but knows that voice.

Ty Bennett is already half in love with the human woman whose voice haunts his dreams. His impulsive offer to add muscle to the Sanctuary’s defenses is dangerous to them both. Helping her may redeem some of his sins, but proximity only increases his hunger to possess her—body, soul…and blood.

Without hesitation, she welcomes Ty and his men into the Sanctuary…only to discover the reason why they only ride at night. Yet the survival instinct that screams at her to drive them off is no match for Ty’s seductive powers. Or the need for protection from the threat that howls at Sanctuary’s gates.

Warning: Expect a dark, violent world where a vampire driven by uncontrollable lusts strikes a bargain with a strong woman willing to succumb to the carnal pleasures only a vampire can provide.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Undeniable:

Now that they were alone, she felt more than a little unnerved by his dark, hooded gaze. She cleared her throat. “You said you wanted to talk.”

His gaze bored into hers. “We should set some ground rules.”

She nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. Rules? “For the trip?”

“For what happens between us.”

A fine trembling started deep inside her. He’d shot straight past business into intimacy. “All right. Shoot.”

“First, you tell me everything I want to know. No secrets.”

“Will you do the same?”

“In time.”

She snorted softly and gave him a derisive look. “I’m supposed to give you my trust, but you won’t reciprocate?”

“It’s a little complicated. There are things best left alone for now. Can you live with that?”

It was perverse, but the mystery surrounding him was a huge turn-on. “Depends.”

He lifted one eyebrow in question.

“On whether you follow through with your promise to provide safe passage to the people at the ranch.”

He canted his head and stared like he was trying to see inside her. “Don’t you want to ask anything for yourself?”

She licked her lips. “I think I’m going to get it.”

His lips curved, and his dark eyes crinkled at the corners. “I think you’re right,” he said, his voice a deep, smooth rumble—like a panther’s purr.

Her cheeks burned beneath his scrutiny. “What else?”

“I’m in charge. No questions. When I’m not there, you’ll follow my next in command.”

Her teeth ground in frustration. “Will I have any say?”

“I’ll listen. But I make the decisions.”

“Will your next in command have power over me?”

“He’ll give the orders, but you’re mine. He won’t touch you.”

The way he said it, flatly like an already recognized fact, rankled while at the same time tripping a thrill that heated her body from the inside out. She didn’t know how to respond.

“Does anyone else have a claim on you?”

The deep, dark texture of his voice upped the tension building in her core. “Why?”

“Just wondered if I might have a fight on my hands.”

She shook her head, ready to deny, but remembered his warning about no secrets. “My foreman, Sam…he’s the only one. Sometimes. But he won’t interfere.”