Bound, Branded, & Brazen

by Jaci Burton

A little thrill shot up her spine. Gage was certifiable, but she couldn't help laughing as he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap. Dammit, she liked being with him. He was a lot smarter than she'd thought he'd be, and that was her own prejudice about cowboys in general being dumb. He read, he could carry on an intellectual conversation, he made her laugh, and he even seemed to care about whether she had a good time with sex.

  She still didn't think men like him actually existed.

  And he was bound to be disappointed in her before the night was over. But she intended to enjoy him while she had him.

  Especially if he continued to stare at her like he was hungry. And not for food.

  He shifted, sliding her underneath him, his body covering hers. In one swift move, he became the predator. She liked the feel of him on top of her, the feeling that he wanted her. Especially when something hard and insistent brushed against her thigh.

  She shuddered at the quick flash of need that roared through her, priming her for him. Gage was way too much man for her. She already knew this, had prepared herself for his disappointment. She should have said no, should have walked away at the first sign of interest, but she couldn't seem to resist the sizzling pull of attraction she had for him.

  Once. That's all she wanted with him, just one time. Then she'd have a real fantasy to think about during all those long nights when she was alone in her room reading.

  He pressed his lips to hers, and this time there was nothing easy about it. He took, he demanded, and all she could do was hold on, try to catch her breath as he ravaged her senses with his mouth. He slid his tongue between her teeth, forcing her to open for him so he could wrap his tongue around hers, lick against her, at the same time rocking his body against hers in the most primal way imaginable. Brea held on to his arms, feeling the rock-solid strength of him, the corded muscles of his arms, the sheer power of his thighs as he molded his body along hers. And when he nestled between her legs and thrust his cock against her sex, her body wept for joy, climbing a pinnacle of need and desire that she'd never climbed before.

  She poised, waiting for him to draw her skirt up, pull her panties aside and shove his cock inside her, but all he did was continue to kiss her senseless, over and over again until she had no idea how much time had gone by. Every inch of her body was nothing but raw nerve endings. He slipped his hand under her butt, and just his hand resting there while she was fully clothed made her ache to be naked, to feel him touch her all over.

  And still he kissed her, finally pulling his mouth from hers to travel down her jaw. When he dragged his tongue along her throat, she tilted her head back and moaned, her body covered in goose bumps despite the warmth in the cabin.

  This was torture.

  He lifted up on his hands to stare down at her. "I'm going to make you come for me tonight, Brea. And not just once."

  She shuddered. But she still didn't believe him, knew she was going to disappoint him. Yet her body was on fire and they both still had all their clothes on.

  Holding himself above her, he surged against her, against her sex, his denim-clad cock the sweetest torment.

  "Don't doubt me."

  His harsh whisper thrilled her.

  She still doubted. With his hand, yes, his mouth, oh hell yes. But inside her, it wouldn't happen. It never had. She wasn't capable.

  He reached for her top, lifted it over her belly. She raised her arms and he smiled at her.

  "Not yet."

  Instead, he bent down and pressed a kiss to her belly. Her abdomen quivered at the touch of his warm lips to her flesh. She remembered what it felt like to have his mouth down there, wanted to feel him there again. And again. She'd never released like that before.

  Maybe Gage was right. The cursory licks and sucks the other guys had given her in the oral sex department had barely warmed her up. Gage had given her oral pleasure like he had really enjoyed it. She had given herself up to the mastery of his exquisite mouth and tongue until he rocketed her right over the edge.

  But shouldn't she be doing something for him, too? She started to lift, sliding her hand between them to reach for his cock.

  Gage lifted his head. "What are you doing?"

  "You've been doing everything for me. I should--"

  He removed her hand. "Just relax and let me kiss you. And dammit, quit worrying about what you think you should be doing. The only thing you should concentrate on is enjoying what's happening between us."

  She flopped back onto the sofa and Gage raised her shirt, taking his maddening time kissing her belly, her rib cage, burning her with his mouth across her skin. He lifted the shirt over her head and rose up on his knees to stare down at her, tipping his finger across the valley of her breasts. She shivered, though she wasn't sure if it was from the contact or the way he looked at her.

  "Pretty bra."

  She smiled. "Thanks." Okay, so maybe she had dressed just for him, right down to her lacy underwear.

  "It's coming off." He reached for the front clasp, and with two fingers and one flick, the clasp parted.

  "You're pretty good at that."

  "Years of practice in the front of dark pickup trucks. I learned to do it by feel."

  She laughed, until he spread the cups apart and bared her breasts. With the light on, she caught the sensual gleam in his eyes as he traced his fingers over each breast.

  Her nipples puckered, hardened, the buds aching for the touch of his finger. And when he swept his finger over the tip of one distended nipple, she arched up toward the lightning-like pleasure of that sensation, craving more.

  He swept his tongue over her nipple, covered the bud with his mouth, sucking and licking until she went liquid underneath his tender assault. He alternated from one breast to the other until she shook from the effects of his mouth on her. Every lick, every suck, every touch of his fingers shot straight to her pussy. And as with his kissing, he seemed in no hurry to get to the promised land, content to lavish praise on her breasts and nipples as if he had all the time in the world.

  She felt worshipped, like he truly believed her body was something special. She'd never felt this way with a man before.

  He swept his hand under her back and partially lifted her, only long enough to pull her bra off. Then he lowered her to the sofa again. He climbed off and moved to her feet, where he removed her boots and socks, rubbed her feet, kissed her toes until she shivered, having never had anyone pay attention to that particular body part before.

  "You have pretty feet," he said, standing next to the sofa and rubbing the arch of one foot.

  Her gaze traveled the length of him, surprised to see the unmistakable bulge straining against his jeans.

  "Yeah, you make me hard, Brea. I've been hard all night." He lowered her foot and rubbed it against his erection.

  She swallowed, her throat gone drought-dry as she felt the thickness of him, wanting him inside her more than she wanted to draw her next breath.

  He lowered her foot to the sofa, then reached for her skirt, sliding it over her hips and down her thighs. She realized all she wore now were her panties, while he was still fully clothed.

  But he was about to rectify that, because he lifted his shirt over his head, and she was rewarded with a wide expanse of tanned chest, muscles everywhere as he turned to lay their clothing on a nearby chair. His back was smooth, tapering down to a narrow waist, and dear God what a fine ass he had. When he turned, he had his hand on his belt buckle and a half smile on his face.

  Mesmerized, Brea held her breath while Gage undid the buckle of his belt then drew the zipper of his jeans down. She inhaled on a shaky sigh when he pushed off his boots and let his jeans fall to the floor, his cock riding against his belly in his tight boxer briefs.

  She couldn't resist. She sat up and palmed the heat and thickness of him.

  "Shit," he said, fisting a handful of her hair and bending down to plant his mouth over hers in a hard, passionate kiss that devastated her senses. She rubbed her palm against
his cock, feeling bolder than she'd ever felt in her life. But Gage turned her on more than any man had before.

  She reached for the waistband of his briefs to drag them down his hips and thighs. His cock sprang into her waiting hands. She wound her fingers around his shaft, sizing him up, imagining how he would feel inside her.

  He pulled away. "Damn, woman, you make me crazy."

  He bent down in front of the sofa and ran his hands over her breasts. "You are so beautiful. And oh man I like you touching me. But you do too much of that and this is going to be all over before it even starts. And the only place I'm going to come first is inside you. Plenty of time to play later."

  Later. Like they were going to do this again. She liked the sound of that, but she didn't want to pack too much hope into what was going to happen between them.

  Gage licked across one nipple and spread the wet fire of his tongue along her neck before taking her mouth again in a blistering-hot kiss. At the same time, his fingers blazed a trail down her belly to slide inside her panties and cup her sex. He teased her clit, her pussy, firing her up hotter than a dry August on the plains. She arched against his hand, coaxing his fingers inside her, begging him to fill her with more. And more.

  "You ready for my dick inside you, Brea?"

  She gripped his arm, held his fingers inside her, wanted him even deeper. "Yes. Yes, I want it."

  He rose and went over to his jeans, pulled a foil packet from his pocket.

  A condom.

  Finally.

  He laid the condom aside and leaned over to press a kiss to her belly before reaching for her panties. He smiled up at her, then ripped her panties into shreds.

  Shock filled her, followed by the slow melt of liquid heat that spread through her.

  "I believe that was one of your requests."

  "Yes," she said between heavy breaths. "It was."

  He tore open the condom packet, skillfully slipped it on, then shifted her to face him, her legs dangling over the sofa. He kneeled in front of her and pulled her to the edge of the cushion, slid one hand underneath her, and used the other to smooth over her sex.

  "I can smell you," he said, staring down at her sex before lifting his gaze to hers. He moved in, nestling his cock against the entrance to her pussy. "Sweet and hot and ready."

  He slid between her pussy lips, the glide easy because he was right--she was ready for him. With one thrust he was in.

  Her body pulsed around him, squeezing his shaft until pleasure burst inside her. Gage stilled, looked down at her, and Brea just . . . felt. The stirrings of excitement only grew as he pulled back and pushed inside her inch by delicious inch.

  She waited for him to pound against her, to start fucking her with relentless thrusts.

  But he didn't. Only sweet, easy movements that teased her clit every time he brushed up against her, ratcheting up the tension until she reached for his arms and dug her nails into his skin.

  "Yeah," he said, his gaze glued to her face. "Your pussy squeezes me tight every time I slide deep inside you."

  Oh, God, his voice was dark, soft, made her tingle all over. He smoothed his hand over her breasts, her ribs, snaking down over her belly until it rested against her sex.

  "Widen your legs, Brea," he said, his thumb dipping down to circle around her clit. "Let me have this."

  Panting, she did, and he swirled his thumb over the most sensitive part of her. She swallowed, then gasped as he moved inside her at the same time he applied pressure to the engorged bud. She lifted against his questing fingers, rocked her pelvis against him, and began to meet his thrust as pleasure burst through her.

  She gripped his arms and pulled herself toward the source of that pleasure. Gage was relentless, never breaking rhythm as he brought her closer to what she'd never experienced before. His cock seemed to swell inside her, stretching her, sliding against her walls and making her nerve endings sing. She wanted to savor every second, and yet she knew she was close, so close to having this magic. She wanted it more than anything.

  She doubted at first, but now she was beginning to believe, especially as Gage applied more pressure, deepened his thrusts so he ground against her whenever his body met hers. He murmured encouraging words to her that thrilled her, aroused her, and took her right to the edge, all the while watching her with his dark gaze that she couldn't look away from.

  And he held on, waited, seemingly in no hurry to get to the finish line himself, as if they had hours to do this. She felt no pressure to release, and it made getting there so much easier.

  With his free hand he gripped her butt and lifted her, brought her closer to him and rolled his hips against her.

  With a cry she splintered, her orgasm such a huge surprise she shuddered, her body pulsating around Gage's cock. The sensations were like nothing she'd ever felt before, so much deeper, more intense, like the sweetest pleasure both inside and out. She threw her head back and let go as sensation poured out of her in a never-ending maelstrom of hot pulses.

  Gage gathered her to him and ground against her, groaning as he pumped furiously with his own release, which sent her catapulting even farther into the abyss of pleasure.

  It had never been like this--never. And she knew she was going to want it again and again and again.

  Tiny throbs of pleasure continued to spark inside her long after. Gage still held her against him, stroking her and kissing her neck. She was out of breath and still shocked that it had happened.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed his shoulder and was certain she never wanted to let go of this moment.

  Finally, he withdrew and went into the bathroom, coming back with a washcloth to clean her up. He pulled her onto the sofa with him and they reclined there side by side, facing each other, not saying a word.

  She didn't have anything to say, felt giddy and warm and . . . satisfied.

  Gage smoothed his hand over her hair. "So now you tell those other guys to shove it."

  She laughed. "I suppose so."

  "Feel better?"

  "I do."

  He dragged his thumb over her nipple. It hardened.

  "There's not a damn thing wrong with you, Brea. You're hot, you're sexy, and you can come just fine. But there was a lot wrong with those guys."

  Her heart swelled with emotions she knew she needed to bury deep. This was just sex. Really good sex, but just sex and nothing more. "Thank you. I see that now."

  He kissed her, and her toes curled. "Don't thank me. Sex is always a joint effort. I got just as much out of it as you did."

  And then he did something totally unexpected. He pulled her against him and just held her, stroking her back and kissing her softly. He held her like that for the longest time, talking to her about mundane things, as if he was in no hurry, as if this wasn't just about the sex.

  Brea would have to guard her heart around Gage. He was truly someone . . . unexpected.

  Finally, they dressed and started back to the ranch. Once in the barn, Brea helped Gage remove the saddles from the horses and return everything to the tack room. It was still early enough that everyone else hadn't returned from town yet, which was good. She wasn't in the mood to answer questions from her nosy sisters. She wanted time to settle in her room and think about the incredible night she'd shared with Gage.

  "I guess I should head on back to the house." She figured he'd want to get back to the bunkhouse before people started returning.

  "Wait," he said, turning the light off in the barn. "I'll walk you back."

  Surprised, she waited, and was even more shocked when he slid his hand in hers as they walked the path back to the main house. He took her right to the front door, turned her in his arms and gave her a kiss that melted her to the wood porch.

  "I had a great time tonight, Brea," he said as he pulled away from her.

  "Me, too."

  "Good night." He stepped off the porch and headed to the bunkhouse.

  Brea sighed and went inside, nearly floati
ng up the stairs to her room. She took off her clothes, climbed into bed and shut off the light, staring out the window at the stars overhead and thinking about lying on that blanket with Gage.

  It had been an incredible night. One they probably wouldn't repeat. She felt a wistful ache all over at that thought. But at least she'd had this one night. It had changed her, had shown her that those guys before Gage were totally and completely full of shit.

  Gage had shown her that.

  And he was right. There wasn't a damn thing wrong with her.

  six

  gage wiped the sweat from his face and handed the reins of the unruly stallion he'd been training over to Grizz, who grinned and spit a wad of tobacco juice out of the side of his mouth.

  "That one's gonna try to take a bite out of your ass," Grizz said.

  Gage looked back at the stallion. "Many have tried. He'll come around to my way of thinking soon enough."

  Grizz just laughed and whistled for a couple extra hands to help him with the stubborn horse. Gage hopped over the rail and went to the cooler for a bottle of water. While bent down, he saw Brea coming out of the house with her sister Valerie. They were assisting John Dowring, one of the old-timers who had come to Valerie for medical care and needed some help getting back into his truck.

  Once John had taken off, Valerie went back inside. Brea lingered for a few minutes, her gaze skirting over to the corral. Gage stood, smiled at her, and she grinned at him before heading back up the stairs and into the house.

  She walked with her head held higher and a lightness to her step since they'd had their time together a couple nights ago. Unfortunately, since then, they hadn't had any time alone together. Walker had brought in a new herd of horses that had kept Gage busy from sunup to sundown, and he hadn't had time to do much more than just ogle Brea from afar whenever he caught a glimpse of her.

  Which didn't mean he wasn't thinking about her. He had been ever since he dropped her off at her front door that night.

  Brea wasn't at all like the women he was used to. They were all pretty forward, and much more experienced. While he liked that just fine, there was something about Brea that was different. Her shyness around men was cute, her lack of experience endearing, but it was more than that. She was fresh and sweet and soft and had an innocence about her most of the girls he knew had lost around age sixteen or so.