The Bet (Blazing Hearts, #1) (3 page)

Her long, black hair fell forward, and she flicked her head to get it out of the way before composing herself and walking straight to him.

Do not fall. Do not make a fool of yourself.

The mantra played in her head on repeat. At some point she was sure she had it all under control, right up until her sandal twisted under her foot and the pitcher went flying forward. She watched in horror as it splashed up and all over Tyson’s shirt, splattering the front of his jeans as well. He caught the pitcher before it would have hit the ground.

He held it out to her, his movements stiff. “Here. Dropped this.”

“Oh my heavens,” she squeaked. “I didn’t mean...I’m so...Tyson.”

His shirt clung to him, forming to each rippling muscle. She was sure she moaned. Who wouldn’t?

“You’re soaked,” she said in a slow breath. “And you’ll attract bees now.”

He pursed his lips, looking as if he was trying to keep from laughing as he neared her. “Well, I am pretty darn sweet.”

She blushed. “Tyson, I’m sorry. Daddy said to take you some tea not bathe you in it.”

“I’ve bathed in worse,” he returned, his gaze suggestive. “I was late rollin’ in this morning because of a long night. I can head over to my place, shower and change quick before I get back to checking the fences on the north side.”

She stilled, his words playing through her head. “A long night? Who with? Trisha Windmore?” The words felt like acid on her tongue.

Trisha and Tyson had history. Actually, Trisha and most of the men in Middlefield had history. She was as loose as they came and a favorite of the guys. It irritated Lexie to no end to know she was the type of woman Tyson went for. She’d heard Trisha bragging before, talking about all the crazy things Tyson liked to do in the bedroom. The things she’d said had shocked Lexie. Tyson wasn’t that way, was he?

He cocked his head to the side, his gaze intense. “That a jealous note I hear there, Lex?”

She jutted out her chin and yanked the pitcher free from his hands. “Hardly. I’ll let you get cleaned up and back to work. I was only bringing you something to drink because Daddy made me.”

She knew she sounded childish.

Tyson peeled off his soaked shirt making her mouth water and her knees weak. She hated how easy he could shake her to her core. His kiss was one she thought about often and compared others to. It had hurt her deeply when he’d pulled away years ago telling her the kiss was a mistake and she was just a child.

Gripping the pitcher for dear life, Lexie managed to keep control of her emotions even with his glistening chest within licking distance. “You should really be on your way, shouldn’t you?”

“Tryin’ to get rid of me so soon?” Tyson asked. “You didn’t seem to mind me here yesterday when you were runnin’ around in nothing but a barely there bikini.”

She huffed. “I wasn’t running around in it. I was going for a dip in the pool and you just happened to be here near the house. I didn’t plan that.”

“If you say so,” he returned, a cock sure smile on his handsome face.

She entertained slapping it off him, but that would involve making contact and that would be bad. She’d be tempted to offer herself up to him. He was a major weakness for her. Always had been.

Her time away had helped her somewhat. When she was younger she’d have cried already. She wouldn’t now. Not over his quick comebacks and wet shirt. “Take the show that way,” she said, pointing towards his bunk house. “I’m not really interested.”

Liar.

Tyson blinked in surprise. His gaze raked over her slowly. “I’m thinking we’re not startin’ off well here.”

“We didn’t end well,” she reminded him.

“We never started,” said Tyson snidely.

Hurt, Lexie backed away but didn’t dare tear up. She wasn’t that girl anymore. She wouldn’t go back to being her. She pivoted and headed back towards the house. She made it about three paces before Tyson had hold of her upper arm. He spun her and she opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind. His lips clamped over hers, cutting off her thought process.

Holy honey, the man could kiss.

She sank against him, sticky chest and all, his arm like steel behind her back, keeping her held to him. His tongue found hers and they wasted no time in mating. They went at it as hard and fast as she wanted the rest of them to be.

As he pulled back, she swayed. He kept hold of her, a grin on his face.

“Not to interrupt,” her father said.

She gasped and pushed on Tyson’s chest.

He didn’t let go.

Her father stood at the back porch smiling. “I’m headin’ down to Creek Bend to meet with Charlie about some bulls. I’ll be gone a day or two. You got things under control here, Ty?”

“Yes, sir,” Tyson said, watching her father intensely.

Her father winked. “That a boy.”

“Daddy,” Lexie protested. “You’re leaving? I’ll pack you. I’ll...”

Her father laughed. “Lex, I’ve been gettin’ along just fine with you up at school. I don’t need you lookin’ after me now. Enjoy your day with Tyson.”

Her eyes widened.

Tyson licked his lower lip. “Luther, would Ms. Simmons be joining you on this trip like she did the last?”

“Possibly,” her father responded. He laughed more as he went back inside.

T
wisting, she pushed harder on Tyson’s solid chest. “Let go of me.”

“Got a better idea,” he said. He bent and the next thing she knew she was over his shoulder, her feet kicking about madly. Tyson swatted her ass cheek a good one, making her yelp and go still. “That’s better. Now. Let’s continue this talk back at my place.”

Gulping, she stopped struggling as he carried her down the drive path near the horse run and then over to one of the ranch homes situated back there. He showed no signs of tiring from carrying her. It was as if she weighed nothing at all.

“Tyson,” she breathed out.

He stepped up and onto the screened porch. The screen door slammed shut behind them as he headed into the house. He kept going, right through the living room area and into one of the three bedrooms. She yelped again as he deposited her rather ungracefully onto the king-sized bed there. The red comforter was softer than it looked. Her skirt rode high, showing off her silk pink panties.

Tyson’s gaze snapped directly to them. He licked his lips. “Damn woman, I bet you taste like Heaven.”

“Tyson!”

“Don’t give me that look,” he said. “We’ve been dancin’ around this for years. If you don’t want me this way, say so now and I’ll walk you back to the main house. But, Lexie, know if you walk out that door I’m done chasin’ you.”

“Chasing me?” she asked. “You’ve never chased me. You have no interest in me that way.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Woman, are you blind?”

“What?”

He leaned over her, crowding her to the point she leaned back on the bed. Tyson simply crawled onto the bed over her. He met her gaze, his iced tea slicked body pressing against hers. “I went to Boston to bring you home.”

“You did not,” she whispered.

His gaze said otherwise. “I couldn’t do it, Lex. I couldn’t get myself to go over to that college when I was there and drag you away. You didn’t want to be here. You deserved better than here, better than me. I get that now.”

She touched his scruffy jaw line and inhaled his scent. It was there, masked by the tea, but evident all the same. It drove her mad with need and made her have to focus on her thoughts. “You really went to Boston?”

“Yep.”

“And you’re telling me you want me?”

He exhaled slowly. Even in the moment, he still was intimidating to a certain degree. He oozed alpha male. There was no question that even when he was letting his guard down, Tyson was still a full-blooded male, and this was about as soft as his soft side went. “More than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

Her bottom lip quivered. She tugged at the back of his neck and he lowered his head. Their lips met. The kiss was explosive. She melted against him, letting him lead, letting him make love to her mouth and claim it fully. She hated how weak she was to Tyson Morrows, but then again, he seemed mighty weak to her as well.

She smiled against his lips and he paused their kiss. His turquoise gaze held amusement. “You wouldn’t be grinnin’ if you knew what I wanted to do to you.”

“Tie me up and spank me,” she offered.

He stilled, a crease forming on his forehead. “What?”

She kept her hands on his shoulders. “People talk. A lot.”

Tyson tried to pull away from her. She didn’t let him. “Stay.”

His eyelids fluttered shut and he turned his head. “You deserve more than this. More than me. You’re fancy. I’m not.”

“Fancy?” she asked, nearly laughing as the word fell over her lips.

“You’re Boston.”

She did laugh at that. She was hardly Boston. When she’d been there she’d felt out of place and homesick. “Kiss me, cowboy.”

He seemed confused at first before putting his nose to hers. “But you’ve heard about what I like sexually.”

“Yes.”

He sighed. “You’re not the type of girl who likes to be spanked or tied up.”

“And how would you know? Maybe I’m totally into nipple clamps and getting flogged.”

His jaw set. “Who touched you? And how the hell do you know about clamps and floggers?”

“I didn’t live under a rock while in Boston.” She pinched his chin, getting far too much enjoyment out of his jealous look than she should.

She thought he might very well run from the room and straight to Boston to kick someone’s butt. “I want all the names. Now.”

“None to give,” she replied.

“Dammit, Lexie, I’m not playin’. Tell me who dared to touch you.”

With a roll of her eyes, she laughed softly. “I can read, Ty. I read about different kinky things. I’ve never done them.”

He eyed her. “What, exactly, have you done and with who?”

“Back to this?”

He gave a curt nod. “Yeah. We never left the topic.”

She hid her laughter. “No one has touched me.”

He relaxed somewhat, the crease in his brow smoothing out.

“Ty, I want you. All of you. The good. The bad. And the stubborn jerk.”

He huffed.

She kissed him, cutting off his protest. His hands found the front of her dress and she heard the fabric ripping. As much as she loved the dress and didn’t want it ruined, she wanted Tyson more. Wanted to know the feel of his hands on her bare skin and the feel of his body in hers.

She arched her back to him as cool air skated over her bare skin. His hands went to her bra. He tore it off as well.

His eyes held want and desire as he stared down at her. “So sexy,” he whispered, making her grin slightly.

Tyson ran his hand up her side, pushing her torn dress open more. He cupped her left breast, his gaze colliding with hers. “They’re even prettier than I pictured them.”

Pleasure moved through her as he tweaked her nipple artfully. He then pinched it to just this side of pain before dipping his head and kissing her again. She wasn’t exactly sure what she should be doing so she did what felt right—she ran her hands over his upper arms and back. Every ounce of him was hard. It excited her more.

He seemed so large on top of her she wasn’t sure how Tyson wasn’t crushing her. All she knew was she wanted more than he was giving. She ground up against him, grunting, frustrated, desperate for more pleasure.

He chuckled into her mouth. “Mmm, eager beaver?”

“Tyson,” she pleaded.

He drew back from her lips and trailed kisses down her neck to her collar bone, and then he focused on her breasts. He moved back and forth between them, treating them to kisses, licks, tiny sucks. Each swipe of his tongue made her moan harder. Her torn open dress acted like restraints, keeping her from having full mobility. She wanted to touch all of him but couldn’t reach, not with the way the dress was pinned beneath her, holding her arms down as well.

She struggled to no avail. “Tyson, please.”

He grinned up at her, his hands on her breasts, his lips hovering above her nipple. “Keep wigglin’ and I’ll use the dress to tie you to my headboard. Then I’ll lick every fuckin’ inch of you until you scream for me.”

“I’ll scream for you now,” she said so quickly it surprised her.

He chuckled. “Good girl. Now, be still while I taste every inch of you.”

Her eyes widened as she got his meaning. “Tyson, no. I’ve never...no one has ever...”

“Oh, I’m gonna lick that pussy of yours. Get used to the idea now because nothing is gonna stop me.”

Her inner thighs flooded with cream at the promise. She found herself forcing her legs open for him in anticipation of what was to come. He seemed pleased by the action. Then, he paused, and moved off her in one fluid motion. Confused, she moved to her elbows, her dress torn open, her breasts free, wearing only her panties.

“Tyson?”

His movements were stiff as he went to his closet. When he returned, it was with soft looking rope. She jerked. “W-what are you planning to do with that?”

“You keep on moving. I warned you.”

She paled. “No.”

He met her gaze. “If you can’t handle me, I’ll go, and you can find one of my shirts to wear when you leave.”

Was he saying it was all or nothing?

She wanted him but wasn’t sure she was up for what she’d heard he liked. She bit at her lower lip and then pulled at her dress, trying to get it to cover her. “I’ll go.”

Had she not seen the flash of panic in Tyson’s eyes, the obvious sign he didn’t want her to go, she’d have walked out assuming that he meant it—he didn’t want her if she wasn’t into his kink.

Tyson’s neck worked as he swallowed hard. He nodded to her and took a deep breath. “I’ll get you a shirt. I’m sorry I did this. I shouldn’t have brought you here. I shouldn’t have...”

Finding resolve she wasn’t sure she’d even possessed, Lexie looked at him. “Tyson,” she said, as she released her torn dress and then slid it all the way off. “Get your sexy ass over here and finish what you started. I’ve been waiting for years to touch you and yes, I’m going to wiggle. I want you. Get used to that fact or it will be me who hog ties you.”