Ropin' Hearts: The Boot Knockers Ranch, Book 4 (4 page)

“Asshole!”

The water pounded her flesh, around the curve of her ass and right between her legs. Need sliced through her.

Before she could react to the wave of lust, he shut off the water. Grabbing her arms, he turned her to face him.

She backed up a step.

“You’d better not try to get away from me, Bree. Because you don’t want to feel my wrath.”

Danger alarms sounded in her head even as her want mounted. Was he going to harm her? No one had ever laid a hand on her, but he looked capable of it. His eyes were fever-bright against his muddy face.

“Stand there while I hose myself off. If you move a single toe, I’m going to make you wish you’d obeyed.”

A quiver took root in her stomach, and she could only stare as he stripped off his clothes and hosed himself, fist clamped on the nozzle as he gave himself the same rough cleanup she’d received.

Her skin felt flayed. She was freezing and spitting mad.

And more alive than she’d ever felt.

Water struck Ty’s broad chest, licking over tanned pecs, brown nipples, down to his more-than-six-pack abs. He avoided hosing the carved length of his cock but cleaned up his legs.

“Want me to get your back?” she shot out, only half-angry now.

“You aren’t supposed to move, remember?” His dark tone speared her, and her pussy seemed to swell.

When he squirted between his toes, she found her voice. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

He shut off the water and with tense movements looped the hose neatly. “I’m not a man you can walk all over.”

She snorted, and his gaze flashed to hers, pinioning her like a bug. She sucked in a gasp, heart racing.

“Now,” he said tightly, a muscle in the crease of his jaw flickering, “I’m going to take you to the bunkhouse and get us both some clothes. Then I’m taking you straight to your daddy.”

Hell, she was in for it. She whirled, but he caught her arm, fingers biting into her skin oh-so perfectly. Her pussy squeezed, fantasies playing in her head of her wrists being locked under his hands as he drove his thick cock into her.

Her breaths came faster.

“My clothes are over there.”

“I don’t give a damn. You’re not getting within fifty steps of that field. If you do, you’ll end up on the back of another ATV and I’ll have to pound the shit out of that guy too.”

A shiver sluiced down her spine.

He drew near, hovering, smelling like man and desire. “Now you will walk with me to the bunkhouse as if we were walking into a mall together.”

“If I don’t?” Her words ended in a squeak as his stare crashed over her.

His chest plastered against hers as he brought his lips to her ear. “You won’t be able to sit down for a week.”

She walked. But she couldn’t stop thinking about his threat to spank her.

When he dragged her into the bunkhouse with him, she stopped short. The space was empty and smelled surprisingly fresh compared to the bunkhouse on the Roberts ranch. Maybe because the men rarely slept here.

Ty towed her down the center aisle to a bunk with a gray-and-blue-striped quilt. A small wooden nightstand stood beside it, bearing a photo of a ranch house with figures in front of it, too small to make out.

“Me and my brothers when we were young,” he said as he dug into a bottom drawer. He tossed clothes onto the bunk—jeans, T-shirt and plaid button-down. He thrust the latter at her. “Put that on.”

She did, grateful for the cotton’s warmth after being turned into an ice pop under the hose. Her fingers were too cold to button the shirt easily. Ty watched her for a moment, still naked and wet and steaming mad.

“Let me do it,” he growled, clasping the buttons. She let her hands drop, watching his face as he buttoned her into his shirt. It hung midthigh, the sleeves dripping over her fingers.

He met her gaze. Panic and heat crawled through her belly.

He stepped away and she watched him jerk worn jeans over his chiseled body. He let the fly hang open while yanking on his shirt.

Her gaze dipped to his crotch.

“I can’t fit it into my jeans yet, in case you’re wondering.”

“You’re probably too turned on by that cowboy holding you down with his cock against your ass.”

He didn’t even blink. “I do love a man in my ass, but that’s not why I’m hard right now.”

Dark need gripped her, making her almost pant. She stared into his eyes for three eternal heartbeats.

“You like the thought of me with a man, don’t you?”

“I don’t care what you do or with whom.”

He made a noise in his chest. “You wish you could watch me sinking deep into a man’s tight ass.” Each drawled word licked her senses.

“I’m leaving.”

He palmed his cock, stopping her in her tracks. “You ever see a man jack off?”

She wanted to look away, but he held her enraptured. She couldn’t drop her gaze if she tried. He curled his fingers over the length still bulging from the V of his fly. Wetness pooled between her legs.

“You wanna see a man stroke his cock, pulling the come up from the base so it gathers on the tip?”

God yes.

He drew nearer, crowding her against the foot of the bed. One push and she’d be on her back. What then? He was angry and it would be angry sex.

That sounded exciting. Pressure built inside her.

“Is that what you want, Bree? Or maybe you want me to throw you down and sink into
your
ass?” He reached around her and clamped a hand on her cheek. She bit off a gasp. He kneaded, hard, too hard. But a good hard. She felt the fight begin to leave her.

He stepped away.

“You aren’t gonna experience any of that, because you’re going home.”

She felt as if ice water had splashed her all over again. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “You can’t keep me there.”

“Your father can.”

She laughed. “He wishes.”

Ty didn’t respond, only grabbed her arm and hauled her behind him, all the way out of the bunkhouse and halfway across the grounds to a shed.

Damn little vixen was going to get her spanking yet. She refused to hold on to his middle as they sped up the hill on the four-wheeler, which was fine by him. He didn’t need her to like him—he had dozens of women every year who did.

Her behavior was terrible and her disregard for rules worse. She needed her mouth washed out with soap and then she should be made to listen.

Probably the only way to shut her up was to have two fingers buried in her and his tongue on her clit.

His balls were tight to his body, and his cock grew another fraction. Bree’s warm thighs were close enough to touch, but damn if he’d be doing the touching.

That jackass rookie wasn’t either, if Ty had anything to say about it. Ty’s fists had talked pretty loudly, and he hoped the new Boot Knocker got the message this time. When he’d spotted Bree flying across the field on the back of Cameron’s ATV and the man’s hand creeping toward her pussy, Ty had seen red.

He’d probably get a week off for fighting, but he didn’t give a damn. It was worth it.

When they reached the spot Bree normally sneaked under the fence, he zoomed right by.

“Where are we going?”

“To your house.”

“Daddy won’t be there. He’s at auction today.”

“I’m willing to wait.”

“Don’t you have some lady to fuck or something?”

“God, you have a filthy mouth.”
Maybe she needs it plugged with something to shut her up.

Where were these thoughts coming from? He’d never felt so driven to take control of a woman before. Maybe because she infuriated him. Or he wanted to make her contrite at last.

Some strange need welled in him, unlike anything he’d felt before. It fascinated even as it repelled him. He was a straight shooter—helped ladies, gave pleasure. He’d delivered a few playful spanks in his career, but nothing like he was thinking with Bree.

He cut to the left hard, forcing her arms around his waist. She held herself tensely, but he knew she was gagging for him to touch her.

Let her burn.

That thought amped up his need.

As he rode along the ridge, he tried to shake the desire mounting in him. As soon as she opened her mouth, the flames were dampened.

“I bet you do a terrible job as a Boot Knocker. I’d never choose you.”

Do not rise to her. Do not—
“Why the hell not?”

“You don’t have any focus. I’m assuming you have a woman in one of those bungalows, and you’re too busy with me.”

“She’s plenty satisfied, sugar t—” He cut off, remembering his promise not to call her that.

She released her hold on him, scooting back on the seat so they were touching as little as possible. Fine with him.

“I’ve never seen you with a woman,” she continued. “You either neglect them or you’re not even a Boot Knocker. You’re just a ranch hand, pitchin’ hay all day long.”

He reached back and grasped her wrist. Pulling her hand around his front, he placed it directly over his aching cock. “I do plenty of work. You only wish you could be on the receiving end.”

She yanked her hand free, though her breathing grew heavier. “Arrogant asshole.”

“Call me that again and see what kind of punishment I dole out.”

“Assssshoooole.”

He stopped the ATV. For a long, shaking moment he drowned in images of throwing her over his lap and yanking up his shirt she wore to lay hands on that hot ass. Warming the cheeks, making them red. Maybe she’d beg or shed some tears.

“You like to push buttons, but I can’t be pushed.”

“Every man can be pushed with the right exertion.” Her words tickled his ear as she leaned close.

Manipulation wouldn’t work on him. “I’m the only man you’ll ever meet who can stand strong against you, Miss Roberts.”

“That so?” She trailed her tongue over his earlobe. His cock jolted and his nerves were live wires, but he didn’t move a muscle.

He made sure his voice was strong. “Your charms won’t work on me.” With that, he hit the gas again. The ATV rolled along the ridge to a gate where he could drive onto the Roberts ranch.

Behind him, Bree was silent and still. When he pulled up in front of the long ranch house, she jumped off and started walking fast. He caught her before she slammed the front door in his face. With her arm in his grip, he said, “Point me toward your daddy’s office.”

“He won’t be—”

“Then we’ll sit and wait for him.” His tone brooked no arguments.

They reached a heavy walnut door. “Open it,” Ty commanded.

With a small sigh, she did.

Good girl.

For a second he bowed over her, inches from burying his nose in her straight, blonde hair and inhaling her fragrance. He straightened and led her inside.

“What’s this?” Dan Roberts looked up from his books, glasses perched on his nose.

“This is me returning your daughter with a warning for her to stay off the Boot Knockers Ranch.”

Chapter Four

Bree had stood quietly while Ty told Daddy everything she’d done. She’d withstood Ty’s glares and ignored her father’s. He’d be angry for a while, but soon she’d be in his good graces again. She was all he had left.

But she couldn’t get Ty’s final look out of her head.

Green eyes dark with warning. Why did he make her feel clammy and needy when he was ordering her around? Even the icy water digging into her flesh had done something strange to her. Her knees had almost felt weak.

She stripped off his shirt and laid it aside on her bed. Standing in damp bra and panties, wearing goose bumps, she stared at his shirt.

She picked it up and brought it to her nose. The fresh scent of laundry soap filled her head, but under that she detected Ty’s male musk.

Annoyed, she threw the shirt on the floor and padded to her bathroom. According to her father, she’d be spending a lot of time on the ranch, but she wasn’t twelve and couldn’t be grounded. If she wanted to leave, she would. Maybe it was time to get her own place. She was flirty enough to get good tips waitressing or bartending—enough to get a decent apartment.

She took a hot shower while replaying the events of the day. Giving up on the Boot Knockers Ranch wasn’t an option. Sooner or later she’d find a way past Ty and get what she wanted.

As water and body wash trickled over her heated flesh, she wondered what she really did want. If she just wanted sex, she could go down to the bar, pick up a cowboy and get off.

But that strange pressure she’d known back in the bunkhouse with Ty and all the way home hinted that a simple fuck wasn’t what she wanted.

She’d only skimmed the surface of activities on that ranch. They weren’t only having mud races or games of Cornhole. Darker things took place down there, and she was determined to experience them.

Her nipples were sharp peaks, her pussy throbbing. She teased her nipples until her pulse spiked, then plunged her fingers into her pussy. The slick folds parted, her walls clenched. She ground the heel of her hand into her button as she thrust her fingers in and out.

She knew just how to get herself off fast, but her cravings wouldn’t be satisfied this time. Ty’s growled commands were too fresh in her mind, his power so absolute that he’d made her stop and take notice.

While she drove her fingers faster, she didn’t think of the cowboy she’d almost slid in to home base with at the pond. He seemed boyish compared to Ty.
I’m the only man you’ll ever meet who can stand strong against you.

Swirling her fingers faster, she focused on that deep inner point his words had touched. She rose rapidly, climbing up the steep slope toward a release so big she didn’t know if she could muffle the cry.

God, you have a filthy mouth.
He’d almost sounded as if he liked it.

She came fast, hot juices spilling over her fingers. She worked them hard, spreading her pussy and grinding her pulsating clit into her body. Sagging against the tile wall, she heard the echoes of Ty’s words as her body hummed for more.

Chapter Five

Ty needed to pound into something. Lust rolled through his veins, gaining in momentum as every second ticked by. When he’d left Bree in her father’s office, she’d given him a look that almost tore away his last thread of control. Big blue eyes, pink lips parted—a plea.

Damn her.

Ty strode past the bungalows, his mind on finding release from this need Bree had saddled him with. A bungalow door opened and Elliot’s hard body appeared. He stepped onto the small stoop, seeming to take up the entire square.

“Ty.”

“Where’s Deana?”

“She’s asleep.” Pride slithered over Elliot’s face.

“Good,” Ty grated out. “I need you for something.”

Elliot nodded and jumped to the ground. Ty strode away, knowing his friend would follow. When they reached the barn, Ty rounded on him. Grabbed him by the shirt and muscled him against a stall.

Pushing his throbbing cock against Elliot’s groin, he kissed him. Elliot moaned and opened to him. Ty thrust his tongue inside, swirling around the hot depths. The dial on his need switched on to High.

As he gathered the flavors, he couldn’t stop the words from tumbling from his mouth. “I want to taste her on you.”

Elliot grunted. “Who?”

“Bree. Make you lick her until she screams to finish her off, then tease the hell out of her by kissing you, taking you right in front of her.”

“Hell.” Elliot wrapped an arm around Ty and pushed against him.

Ty grabbed his face and looked into his eyes. “I want you fucking her while I fuck your ass. I want—” he tore off Elliot’s hat and shirt, “—you both to know who’s making you come.”

Elliot fumbled with Ty’s clothes, and in seconds they stood with jeans around their boots, cocks in hand. Ty thrust his hips forward, bringing their lengths together. He wrapped a fist around both.

“Ffffuck.” Elliot’s eyes rolled back and his mouth fell open. Ty took advantage, kissing him with long, sucking pulls as he mimicked the action with his hand. Their bodies slapped together as they ground into each other inside Ty’s clenched fist.

“Baby, let’s find some hay. I want to suck your cock.” Ty pushed Elliot back, walking in small steps since their legs were trapped. When he found a spot, he planted a hand on Elliot’s chest, fingers splayed over one nipple.

Elliot rumbled in a way that ignited him. He pushed him down on the hay bale and followed, swallowing his cock right to the root. Elliot’s hardness striking the back of his throat made him ache more. He imagined Bree on her knees, taking him as Ty leaned over his partner and sucked him.

Dammit, he had to get her out of his system. If using her right now in his fantasy while pleasuring Elliot exorcised Bree, he’d be happy. He lapped Elliot’s shaft, riding under the soft spot to pull noises from his friend.

Elliot gripped Ty’s nape and drew him down again and again. “I thought of you while I fucked Deana.”

Ty glanced at the rapture on Elliot’s handsome face.

“Thinking about sharing her. Sharing all women. I think about you all the time, Ty.”

Shit, he didn’t want that. At the same time, it sent a thrill through him. Someone wanted him for more than a week.

He released Elliot’s cock and licked down his balls. He sucked them both into his mouth gently, rubbing his stubbled jaw over the tender space beneath his sac. Elliot cried out, straining upward, cords standing out on his neck.

“You want my cock buried in your ass, don’t you?” Ty rasped.

“Fuck yeah.”

He flipped him, found a condom handily in the jeans still around his ankles. Then with one long, slow thrust, filled Elliot. For a moment, Ty battled the urge to come. He gritted his teeth and took several breaths through his nose.

Elliot’s back muscles flexed and for some reason Bree’s wide-eyed, pleading expression popped into Ty’s head.

He jerked forward. Elliot groaned, and then they were moving together. Perspiration broke out on Ty’s chest, suctioning him to Elliot. Heat climbed from Ty’s balls upward, tingling, burning. He closed his eyes and drew in Elliot’s scent, but somehow Bree’s soapy smell clogged Ty’s mind.

With a cry, he came. Long, violent spurts that yanked harsh noises from him. Elliot’s ass clenched around his length, his whole body shaking. Ty had the presence of mind to reach around him and take hold of Elliot’s streaming cock, even as he thought of Bree’s ass gripping him.

As they caught their breaths, Ty rested his nose against Elliot’s shoulder. His partner shuddered. When Elliot turned his face to look at Ty, something passed that was undeniable—at least on Elliot’s part.

The man liked Ty more than as a friend and fuck buddy. He’d said he thought of him often.

Ty pulled free, emotions warring. As he removed the condom and dressed, Elliot tossed him glances.

“Why don’t you ask her to join us for real, Ty?”

He didn’t pretend not to understand. “She lives on the neighboring ranch.”

Elliot pulled his shirt back in place. “Have you had her?”

“She doesn’t belong here.”

“No, but she’s grabbed hold of you, hasn’t she?”

Shit, was it that obvious? Hopefully only to Elliot because they were such good friends.

“She’s not coming back to the ranch. That was a fantasy I was talking about. You know I don’t get attached.”

Elliot set his hat back on his head, eyes dark, lips swollen. The side of his neck was red from Ty’s beard burn. “I know that. If you want to make that fantasy a reality, I’m your man.”

He nodded, throat tight as burning need swept through him all over again.

Elliot smoothed a broad thumb over Ty’s eyebrow, which had finally grown back after a Boot Knocker had used depilatory cream on it while Ty was asleep. “You look better with both eyebrows. See ya later.” Elliot swaggered past Ty with a smile.

Ty dug his thumb and forefinger into his eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening to him. When had he lost his precious grip on control?

From the set of his shoulders, Bree knew who was standing at the fence. She tapped her heels into Royal’s sides and the horse shot forward. As she closed the distance between her and Ty, Bree’s heart knocked.

He looked up at her approach, squinting against the sun. Drinking in his rugged features, low-slung jeans and Boot Knockers logo T-shirt stretching perfectly across his broad chest, her breathing hitched.

His hat sat askew, and she folded her fingers more tightly around the pommel, itching to set it right.

Or tear it off.

“Lookie who showed up. You planning to slip under the fence, Miss Roberts?” His drawl did things to her. Like wet her panties and turn her nipples into twin pebbles.

She glided off horseback and her boots hit the grass. “I wouldn’t leave my horse here while I sneaked in.”

He eyed her, amusement branding his hard lips.

“What are you doing up here?”

“What’s it look like? Fixing the fence so you can’t sneak in again.”

“How’d it get broken?”

“Good question. Mighty suspicious that the post is tilted right here. Oh look—there are also blonde hairs stuck on the barbed wire.”

“Pfft. I never touch the fence when I come under. Not since that first time.”

He shoved against the wooden upright and the sagging wire pulled taut again. “My guess is you tried to jump the fence with your horse.”

At that, she laughed. Not a chuckle—a long belly laugh that made him stop and stare. Hell, he probably thought she was nuts. What did she care?

After she’d controlled herself, she said, “You think I can’t jump a measly fence this high without knocking it over?”

“Don’t rightly know.” He stared at her another beat then wiped perspiration off his upper lip. The sun glinted off the moisture, highlighting the darker stubble there.

“You can’t really keep me out by mending the fence, you know.”

He didn’t look up, only gave her a view of the top of his hat and wide shoulders. Each push and pull tugged his shirt in ways that melted her insides.

When he finally raised his head, his face was serious. “What is your deal? Aren’t you busy doing better things than chasing cowboys?”

It stung to reply. “It doesn’t take long to feed chickens.”

“I’m sure your daddy has you doing other things.”

She shrugged. “Don’t think he trusts me.”

His voice dipped low, inviting new need in her. “That’s not it. You’re smart. He’s spoiling you and he doesn’t realize that’s the last thing you need.” He took a step in her direction as if a fence weren’t separating them. His big chest came up against the wires.

“And you know what I need because—what?—you’ve known me all of four hours?”

“I figured out what you needed in four minutes, sweetheart.”

His words were dark, stormy, and sounded a hell of a lot like an oath. Instead of backing away, she inched closer and wrapped her hands around the wire between barbs.

Ty leaned in, inches away, close enough to kiss. “You don’t look like you believe me.”

She laughed again, but this time she didn’t feel the humor. “No one gets me, let alone some sex therapist who hasn’t even had sex with me.”

“I don’t need to have sex with you to understand you. I bet I can write a dissertation about you after spending ten minutes in your company.”

She stepped away from the fence, giving him room. “Prove it. Come across and we’ll take a walk.”

He shot her a grin—a slow, easy flash of teeth—that made her feel she was sinking into the earth, boneless and helpless against those pearly whites. Abandoning his tools he’d brought up to mend the fence, he bent and slipped between two upper wires. His shirt caught but before Bree could help, he was free, standing before her.

“Mighty nice on this side of the fence,” he said.

She giggled. “Let me grab the reins. I don’t want Royal wandering back home and making people worry I’m lying somewhere hurt.” When she walked away, she put extra swing in her hips, hoping he was looking.

Royal whickered as Bree took the reins and tugged her into a slow walk. Ty strolled beside her.

“A good horse,” he said.

“The finest. Royal’s my girl, aren’t you?” She patted her animal’s neck, getting a head toss in response.

“And a little vain, I see.”

“What’s wrong with vain?” Bree countered.

“Nothing, except eventually her coat won’t be so shiny and her legs will grow wobbly.”

Bree snorted. “I know exactly what you’re saying.”

“What’s that?” He drifted close enough that her shoulder brushed his arm. Her skin seemed to lift to his heat.

“You’re saying I’m too focused on my looks and when they fade, I’ll be left with nothing but my character.”

“See? You
are
smart.”

“My character is fine. Strong as steel.”

“I have no doubts, Bree. It’s you who doesn’t believe.”

She stopped walking and gaped at him. “I believe. If I didn’t believe in myself, who would?”

“Your father, for one. And you don’t want to be alone forever. You’ll want a husband and a family.”

She rolled her eyes. “Not for a long time. I’m not ready for settling down.”

“Me neither.”

“I bet having a new woman every week is every man’s dream.”

“For many, yeah. But it’s not about the sex in those cases either. For some women, it’s learning to love themselves. Proving they’re pretty inside, even if they feel the outsides don’t meet the world’s rules of beauty.”

“What do you do for those women?” They crossed the field, angling toward the opposite corner. It would take them a long time to walk back, and she was okay with that. Talking to him felt nice.

“There are many ways to show women they’re worthy.”

“But most of those ways involve several screaming orgasms a night.”

He threw his head back and laughed. Her breath trickled out in a wheeze as she watched his whole body react to her joke. Thick neck exposed to the sun, shoulders relaxed, arms easy at his sides. He was a beautiful man.

He found her staring. “You better wipe that idea out of your mind, Bree.”

“Oh you’re a mind reader now? How do you know what I’m thinking?” Her voice rang with irritation. Why did he annoy her so much? He was like a boy in junior high who didn’t know how to ask her out. Instead, he just teased her and annoyed her until she kicked him in the shin and walked away.

Maybe that’s why he did it. He was trying to shake her off.

“I don’t need to read your mind. Just your face.”

What did she look like? She tried to blank her expression.

He grunted a laugh, lips tilted higher on one side. “Your pupils are dilated and you just wet your lower lip.”

As if summoned, her tongue darted over her bottom lip again. Ty faced her, eyes burning. Very slowly he smoothed his thumb over her lip, tugging the skin with the calloused pad. Heat bombarded her body, slicking her pussy and yanking an invisible string connected to her nipples.

She needed to put distance between them. Needed—

“I know a wanting woman when I see her, Bree.” He held her captive with his gaze and touch for another heartbeat before pivoting and walking again.

She fell into step beside him. Royal shied a little, obviously picking up on Bree’s agitation. Her horse knew her better than any creature on earth.

Though Ty seemed to be doing a pretty good job. Damn him.

“I can’t believe you don’t have some smart-ass response to what I just said.”

What could she say? She
was
wanting. Needy, hungry, aching. But Ty wasn’t going to be the cowboy to ease her. In fact—

She grabbed the pommel and swung into her saddle. Royal tensed in excitement, ready to ride.

Ty tipped his head back to gaze at her. “What are you doin’?”

“Going home. And it’s time you did too, Boot Knocker. You’re trespassing. Get off my land.” Her tone was light enough that he only laughed. Arrogant jerk. She’d half hoped he’d take offense, as she did whenever he kicked her off his ranch.

“You really asking me to go?”

“Not asking—telling. Goodbye, Ty.” With that, she spun her horse and shot off, angling away from the house. She needed distance and time. The last thing she wanted was for Daddy to question her agitation or the blush she was certainly wearing.