Western Ties: Compass Brothers, Book 4 (16 page)

“Probably, but you should plan on asking for that tomorrow. Tonight’s agenda includes discussing the music with Leah. She’s coming for dinner.”

Sawyer tried to act nonchalant. “Oh. That’s nice.”

Sam laughed. “Jesus. Don’t ever take up acting, man. That was a pathetic attempt at disinterest.”

Sawyer scowled, standing up to scrutinize the gauges on his motorcycle. His brother read too much in his face and he was afraid of what he might see now. “Leah and I are renewing the friendship we had in high school.”

“I don’t remember you two having sex back then,” Sam joked.

“So we’re expanding on the relationship a bit.”

Sam crossed his arms. “Yeah. It seemed obvious when you showed up here your
just friends
status had changed.”

“I ran into her at a BDSM party in L.A.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “Damn. Wouldn’t have expected her to go for that. She seems too sweet for the rough stuff.”

Sawyer shook his head as he turned to face Sam. “There’s a hell of a lot more to her than meets the eye. She’s strong and honest and independent, but there’s this vulnerability inside her that softens all of that and makes a man…” Sawyer swallowed heavily, wondering where the hell all that had come from.

Sam simply nodded. “I see.”

Sawyer wished his brother would clue him in. “We’re keeping it casual. It’s a no-strings affair.”

Sam grinned crookedly. “Is that right?” His twin’s tone told him he didn’t believe him.

His temper tweaked. “Damn straight.”

Sam shrugged, not pushing the envelope. “Whatever you say.”

“I’m serious, Sam. It’s just sex. Jesus. How the hell could I even think about starting more with JD so sick?”

Sam stepped into the barn. “I don’t think it’s a question of timing, Saw. Or maybe it is. Cindi found me at the lowest point of my life and she built me up, brick by brick, until I was strong enough to stand on my own two feet again. She’d tell you I did the same thing for her. Looks to me like you could use a good carpenter these days. I’d suggest you not waste precious moments, like I did. It happened so fast it made my head spin. That didn’t make it any less real.”

“How fast is fast?” Could you fall in love after just one day? One amazing fuck?

“Uh, I don’t like to brag but…” Sam wiggled his eyebrows. “I might have made love to her my first night home. Sure, I called it rebound sex, a way to numb the pain, or maybe just some crazy release from the disaster my life had morphed into overnight.”

“But it wasn’t any of those things?” Sawyer tilted his head.

“Nah. Well, maybe, yes. It was
all
of those things. And more.” Sam stared at him so long he thought he might never speak again.

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I guess this… It’s no use having big brothers if you don’t learn from their fuckups.”
 

Sawyer didn’t reply, wasn’t sure how to answer. A few days ago, he’d been a man in charge of his destiny, his life. Now, the only word he could think to describe himself was shattered. How could he ask Leah for more when he didn’t have a damn thing to offer in exchange? She’d come to that party looking for a man to take some of her burdens away, not to pile his own on her shoulders as well. No. She wanted to explore BDSM and that was all he could give her. He could take charge of her body, but that was all he had the strength to control. “I don’t need anything except a warm, willing woman in my bed right now.”

It was a lie, but Sam didn’t argue with him.
 

Sawyer decided it was time for a diversion. “So, you ready for this wedding?”
 

Mercifully, his brother let the subject of Leah drop.
 

“Yeah. I can’t wait to make Cindi mine. Permanently.” Sam crossed the barn until he stood right in front of him. “That reminds me. I was sort of hoping you’d stand up with me. As my best man.”

Sawyer offered his hand for a shake. “I’m glad you’ll still have me. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be, bro. Thanks.”

Sam nudged Sawyer’s hand away, opting instead for a hug. Sawyer didn’t realize until that moment how much he’d missed his brother.

“It’s good to have you back, Saw.”

Sawyer grinned. “Yeah. It’s been a hell of a few days. Not sure it felt like home until right now.”

Sam helped Sawyer finish unloading the chairs before sneaking off with Cindi shortly after lunch. Sawyer spent the rest of the afternoon moving from one mindless chore to the next.

With each passing minute, his body grew harder, hungrier as he anticipated Leah’s arrival. When his watch told him school was out for the day, he camped out on the front porch. Sawyer glanced down the driveway when he heard tires on the gravel. He smiled. Finally.

He was waiting by her car when she opened her door and got out.
 

“Hiya, stranger.” Her smile was genuine and friendly and the best thing he’d seen in days.

“Yeah, about that. What do you say we get reacquainted?”

“Now?”

He glanced at his motorcycle parked outside the barn and a plan took root. “I was thinking we could take a ride.”

Leah looked tempted, but she hesitated. “I was supposed to talk to Jody and Cindi about the music for the wedding.”

“Sam said you were staying for dinner. You can discuss it then. Just a quick ride, rose.”

There were definitely two meanings to his suggestion, and the
quick
part wasn’t going to be far from the truth. He was too hot, too ready for her. He’d never managed to hold off for long once he got into her sweet body. He waited for her response, holding his breath. What would he do if she said no? He recalled Seth’s kidnapping tactic with Jody and realized the idea had merit.

If he were a gentleman, he’d step aside and let her head into his family’s house untouched.

Pity was that wasn’t going to happen. His inner alpha roared. For once, he took his brother’s advice.

“I’m going to get a blanket and some rope from the barn. You stayed away too long, rose. It’s time I remind you who owns this body.”

She didn’t reply, though her body gave him the only answer he needed. Her breathing turned shallow, and her nipples pebbled.
 

“Don’t move.”

Leah stood spellbound while Sawyer tied a large blanket to the rear of his motorcycle. Once it was secure, he straddled the bike and beckoned to her. “Hop on.”

She took her place behind him, unable to resist a small scream when Sawyer turned the motor over and took off. The ride gave her too much time to think. Neither of them bothered to attempt a conversation that required yelling to be heard above the roar of the engine.

Sawyer had been waiting in the yard when she’d pulled up. Her heart soared when she’d seen him on the porch. The expression he wore today was a far cry from the last time they’d been together. She hoped his smile meant he’d patched up his differences with his brothers and was settling into being home again.

She clung tighter to him and enjoyed the feeling of his hard, sexy body as he drove the sleek motorcycle. He was wearing faded Levi’s and a T-shirt. He’d exchanged his cowboy hat for a helmet. He took her breath away. Her urban cowboy.
 

For the past three days, she’d been climbing the walls—reliving, analyzing, fretting over every word they’d ever said to each other.
 

When they reached their destination, Leah pulled off her helmet and looked around. Sawyer had picked the perfect spot. They were flanked by a mountain on one side and miles and miles of pasture land on the other three. It felt like they were the only two people on the planet.
 

Sawyer unhooked the blanket and tossed it to her. “Pick us a good spot.”

She roamed a few feet away, flipping out the soft material and spreading it on the grass.
 

Leah slipped off her shoes before sitting down.
 

Sawyer joined her. “Three days is too long.”

She laughed when he uttered exactly what she’d been thinking. “I thought you’d be catching up with your family.” She sobered as she remembered the scene in the dining room. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Yep. Patched things up with Sam this afternoon. Still need to track down Seth and Silas and set everything right there, but it’s better.”

“I’m glad.”

“Sam asked me to be his best man.”

She imagined Sawyer in a tuxedo and was grateful she’d agreed to sing at the wedding. There was no way she’d miss that sight. “Awesome.”
 

She squeezed her legs together. Five minutes in his presence had her panties wet and her nipples hard. She needed to get a grip, but she couldn’t help wishing he’d hurry things along.
 

Leah glanced at his motorcycle. “I can’t believe you still own that silly bike.”

Sawyer reacted as if she’d struck him. “Jenn is a Ducati, rose. There’s absolutely nothing silly about a Ducati.”

She placed her hand over her heart and feigned a swoon. “Oh my, how could I forget? It’s a
Ducati
.” She stressed the name, giggling. “That’s the one you got for your birthday, right?”

He nodded. “Eighteenth. Worked my ass off around the ranch to earn money for half. JD said he’d pitch in the other half as the birthday gift.”

“You came into town on it. I remember my mother joking around that you Compass brothers were reckless enough on horses and JD must be out of his mind to put you on that thing.”

Sawyer laughed. “Is that why you couldn’t go for a ride with me?”

Leah sighed. Sawyer had invited her out on his motorcycle that day and she’d never wanted to go anywhere so badly in her life. “No, that was actually my boss’ fault. We were short-staffed at the diner.”

Sawyer ran his finger along her arm. “Well, at least we got to make up for it today.”
 

“Yeah.” She hesitated for a moment, and then she said what was on her mind. “I always wondered what would have happened if I’d said to hell with it and gone with you.”

“What do you think?”

The hungry look on his face proved he suspected the same thing she did. It wasn’t long after that missed ride that she’d given into Les’ invitation to relieve her of her pesky virginity. Would history have been rewritten if only she’d said yes?
 

“I think we both know.” Leah shrugged and dismissed the thought. No use crying over spilt milk. “I can see the appeal of a motorcycle. That ride was a lot of fun.”

“Riding is
very
fun.”
 

She bit her lower lip. His eyes drifted from her face to her neck. She wondered if he could see her pulse, could tell how hard her heart was hammering.
 

It was difficult for her to think whenever he was near. Unfortunately, when she was alone, her brain kicked into overdrive and it had been giving her a run for her money the past three days.
 

He said he needed her. Actually, he needed the distraction she could provide. She was glad to be able to help him through this hard time. For once, her head was telling her to go ahead and submit to the sexy cowboy. She finally had a sex life—and it was a good one. Sawyer allowed her to explore the boundaries of her desires and he was opening her eyes to a whole new world of sensual bliss.

This time the problem was her heart. It was digging in its heels, demanding everything—Sawyer’s body, his laughter, his compassion, his love.

He’d offered some, but not all. How long could she accept half without begging him for the rest?

Sawyer moved closer. He looked like a predator stalking its prey. “I’m not stopping, Leah.”

“You’re not?”

He shook his head.

“What if I say my safe word?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t.”

She struggled to take a breath. He constantly offered her the choice. This time, he wasn’t.

She leaned forward, initiating the kiss before Sawyer could get to her. She gripped his hair tightly in her hands, attacking him with her lips, her teeth, her tongue. She was starving.

“Easy, rose. We can skip dinner and take all night if you need it.”

He pushed her down on the blanket, taking the lead on the kiss and just like that, calm descended. The stress of work, her anxieties and insecurities all melted away and she put herself in Sawyer’s oh-too-capable hands.

He came over her body, supporting the majority of his weight on his elbows, while managing to cover every part of her. His legs shoved her knees apart as he claimed his spot in between them. Pressing down, he rubbed his denim-covered cock against her, letting her sense exactly what he was offering.
 

“God, Sawyer,” she whispered.

His lips drifted along her cheek, nipping and licking the bare flesh at her neck. “I feel the same way. I need you so bad, Leah.”

She dragged his T-shirt off. The second it hit the ground, she was back, touching him, memorizing every curve of his tattoos, every well-defined muscle.