Sexual Affection [Contemporary Cowboys 3] (Siren Publishing LoveEdge)

by Natalie Acres

  “Scream for me, Drina,” he whispered, giving her a quick kiss and picking up his pace.

  His mouth hovered over hers then as she opened and closed her own, unable to scream, unable to breathe his name, but so completely sated by the time he withdrew his fingers that she lay limp on the ground, wishing Zak had been there to witness it all.

  Ten minutes later, her arms were at her sides. His mouth ran up and down her neck and returned to her lips once more before he seemingly realized she was no longer into the act, no longer interested in cooling a much deeper burn. He brushed her hair away from her forehead and planted a kiss on her brow. “My brother’s a lucky man.”

  She gasped and turned away, unwilling to look at him then as she thought of what she’d done. “You need to get off me.”

  Dallas slid to her right side, but grabbed hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Do you think he doesn’t know?”

  She thinned her lips. Tears welled in her eyes and she closed them, trying to come to terms with what was happening, what she’d chosen to do. She wondered then, had Coco experienced what she was experiencing? What about Brianna? Had she wavered between brothers or had the Jackson brothers collectively decided they would share her from the very beginning?

  Dallas brushed his knuckles across her cheek. “Open your eyes, beautiful. Zak knows I’m here. He knows I’m infatuated with you and he is positive we’re a good match.”

  “What do you mean we’re a good match?”

  “You know Zak as well as any other woman has ever known Zak. Do you honestly think we haven’t talked about sharing you? We’ve discussed you often.”

  She tried to process. “Today was the first day he introduced us.”

  “And the waiting was more foreplay than I thought I could handle. If I had known—”

  “If you’d known what?” They needed to talk about this. They’d been at a handful of parties and clubs at the same time. They’d exchanged those heated looks. She wanted to know why nothing had happened between them before.

  “If I’d known you were the woman I had avoided all these years, I guess the waiting would’ve been impossible.”

  “Do you realize how ridiculous this all sounds?”

  “Ridiculous or not, it’s the truth.” He combed his fingers through her hair.

  Drina flipped on her stomach and glared at the row of trees in the distance. Noting the whispering high grass and the rustling of branches, she sighed in fulfillment as Dallas’s hand ran over her hips. He leaned over her back and nipped at her ear. “You’ve heard that saying. The grass is always greener on the other side?”

  “Yes,” she whispered, turning her head to the side and enjoying the way he nuzzled her neck.

  “It is greener, Drina. And Zak knows it. We all do. We’ve watched Coco and Brandon as a committed couple and we’ve watched their relationship grow into so much more now that Kurt and Liam are part of the equation.” His hot breath at her ear drove her mad. She longed to kiss him again, needed to feel him pressing against her, craving her with that crazy inexplicable hunger that she easily felt in his kiss, in each caress.

  As if he understood the new temptation rising, he eased away and sat next to her. His knees were slightly parted with his booted feet planted firmly on the ground. He placed his arms behind him with his palms down. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.” Why not? They’d had a pretty heated romp and as far as Drina was concerned, the dirtiest of deeds were nearly complete.

  “Are you attracted to me?” He didn’t look at her. He kept his head straight, his eyes fixated on the horses and the river.

  “Things wouldn’t have gone as far as they did if there hadn’t been an attraction there.”

  “But you don’t think you can handle it?”

  She cocked her head. “I’m not following you.”

  “You and me, Zak and you, Hales and you, a foursome or a threesome, taking turns, or whatever. Can you handle it or not?”

  “So Hales is definitely in this equation, too?” She’d already figured as much.

  He nodded once. “Unless there isn’t a connection between the two of you.”

  She plucked a blade of grass from the ground and studied it. “Because it’s always greener, huh?”

  “It’s hotter,” he said, shooting her a wink. “Is it greener, well, that I can’t tell you for certain because I’ve never been involved in an ongoing committed relationship with a woman and my brothers.”

  “But we haven’t spent a lot of time alone together so how will we know if it’s right for us?”

  He gave her a very pointed look and in that moment she didn’t need to discuss anything else. She just knew. She could practically see her future unfolding from that point on.

  “You and Zak were joined at the hip from the moment you set eyes on one another.” He swallowed and his Adam’s apple twitched. “When I first saw you at that cookout several years ago, I spent half my nights lying in bed at night thinking about the beautiful woman who could ruin my life as a bachelor. So trust me, Drina. I don’t have any doubts on my end.”

  She felt vindicated in some way because it had always bothered her that they would bump into one another, nod or speak, then go their own separate ways without a formal introduction. Oh sure, in a couple of drunken stupors, they’d danced, but they’d always parted ways. Numbers were never exchanged. “So you were interested in me?”

  “Damn straight.” He fell back and rolled to his side. Draping his arm over the curve of her waist, he added, “I’m all in if you’re open to this, Drina. Hell, if I’d known you were the woman that Zak had flipped over, it would’ve driven me nuts until I at least had a chance to tell you how I feel.”

  “And how do you feel?”

  “Like I missed too many opportunities and in doing so, almost let you get away. Thank God my brother had the good sense to catch you.”

  “And share me?”

  “Yeah,” he whispered, his lips meeting hers for a long and meaningful kiss. “That, too.”

  She stared into the dark eyes of another Blazier brother, detecting his sincerity and his willingness to see where their attraction might lead them. As if her future unfolded right then and there, she saw another extension of herself, another possibility at a long and lasting love in a future that kept looking brighter all the time.

  * * * *

  Coco was livid and at the moment, Zak wasn’t sure what had angered her the most. After another bite of pizza, he took a swig of his beer and said, “All right, Miss Sassy Pants, let’s you and I step outside and have a talk.”

  “If you have something to say to her, you can say it right here,” Brandon said.

  Kurt and Liam shrugged and didn’t budge. Apparently they were standing with Brandon.

  “Oh for crying out loud!” Zak slammed his fist against the table. “Are the three of you really that worried that you might miss an important moment in Coco’s life?” He threw his arms behind his head and clasped his hands at his neck. “All right. Fine. Let’s get this out in the open.”

  “Says the man who kept Drina under lock and key for fear his brothers would make a move on his woman?” Dante reached into the flat box for another slice of pizza.

  “I know, right?” Hales threw his leg over the bench and left the table.

  “Honey, you might as well get it off your chest,” Liam said, motioning for Coco. “Come over here and tell Zak what’s bothering you.”

  “She isn’t like me,” Coco blurted out. “Zak, she was lovesick. She wasn’t jaded. What she feels for you is real and here you are playing games with her. It’s not right.”

  “I’m not playing games with her,” Zak said pointedly. “And if you believe that, we’re through here.”

  “Wait a minute, did I miss something?” Hales asked.

  Coco’s gaze worked between Zak and Hales. “The two of you look alike, but you’re different. I know both of you as well as anyone. I don’t see my sister falli
ng in love with you, Hales. I’m sorry.”

  “I’m not offended,” Hales said. “Besides, who said anything about love?”

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Coco said, leaving Liam and collecting the dirty dishes on the table.

  Liam shrugged and said, “I told you she wouldn’t go for it.”

  “And I told you it’s none of her business.” Zak blew out a hard breath. “I didn’t dabble in your relationships. Stay the hell out of mine.”

  Coco rinsed off the plates. Once she put them in the dishwasher, she slammed the front of the appliance and returned to the table. “Let’s cut to the chase here. You don’t care if Drina is willing or ready to accept two more men in her bed because nothing ventured, nothing gained. You haven’t fucked her yet so what do you care if she gets hurt? You can walk away.”

  “What are you talking about?” Zak stood. “I’m committed to Drina.”

  “Why don’t you just admit it? You can’t stand the thought of your brothers doing something you haven’t tried. That’s what this is all about. Well you better stop and ask yourself this—how will you feel when you’re sitting in the background watching as Hales fucks her from the front and Dallas takes her from the back? Hmm? Are you going to feel the love then, Zak?”

  “Coco, enough!” Brandon was enraged and it was obvious.

  “You’d better get your sub under control,” Zak said, pointing at his brother and grabbing his keys off the table before marching to the door.

  “Says the man who collared his woman and has no idea where she is now,” Dante said, taking a bite of pizza.

  “Shut the fuck up,” Hales said, following Zak outside.

  They both came to an abrupt stop as soon as they saw the black SUV rolling up the driveway.

  “Great,” Zak muttered.

  “Who is it?” Hales asked, stretching his neck as if that would help him see beyond the tinted windows.

  “Kane Cartwell.” Zak opened up the screen door and, over his shoulder, he hollered, “Kurt, Brandon, get out here! We’ve got company.”

  Chapter Eight

  Thanks to the ongoing Alberto Baldini drama, Kane and Peyton Cartwell were well recognized as soon as they left the vehicle. Greetings and handshakes were exchanged between men and Peyton grabbed a few hugs from those she knew. Then, Brandon and Zak invited them inside.

  “Did you stop by the house?” Coco asked.

  “No one was there,” Kane replied. “Figured we could catch you over here.”

  “Is something wrong?” Brandon asked.

  The silence was deafening. Peyton elbowed Kane and he cleared his throat and said, “Not at all. I’m uh—well, damn it, Coco, I’m just worried about you girls.”

  “Worried about us how?” Coco asked, inching closer to Brandon and crossing her arms.

  Zak hung back and observed the unfolding scene. Something was wrong. Cartwell hadn’t driven over from Fletcher simply because he was “worried” about the girls. Besides, Coco and her sisters were grown women. With the exception of Nory—who lived with the Cartwells—they were all in their twenties and seemingly self-sufficient.

  Zak retrieved his cell phone and quickly typed out a message for Hales and hit send. Dallas seldom carried his cell so there was no point in trying to reach him and he didn’t want to alarm Drina. The message was cut and dry—Go find Dallas and don’t either of you let Drina out of your sight. Cartwell wouldn’t be here unless there was trouble.

  Hales tugged his phone from his pocket, glanced at the message, nodded at Zak across the room, and left without a word. Brandon and Zak swapped glances. Zak said, “Cut to the chase, Cartwell. Why are you here?”

  “You just won’t quit!” Coco shook her head and her finger before she turned to Kurt. “One of you do something with your brother. He is impossible.” She glared at Zak. “Not to mention rude.” She shook her head a few times and finally added, “You know what, let’s go to my place. We’ll have more privacy over there.”

  About that time, Peyton jabbed Kane with her elbow again. This time there was some power behind the punch. “Tell them.”

  “Tell them what?” Zak asked.

  “Damn it, Peyton, I told you I’d handle this.”

  “And I told you it wouldn’t be safe to play it this way. I love these girls.” She looked at Coco with adoration in her eyes. “It’s not fair to keep them in the dark. Besides they’re old enough to know—”

  “Nory has been kidnapped,” Kane said, interrupting Peyton.

  “What?” Coco screeched. “When? Where?”

  Kurt, Liam, and Brandon went to her at once. She fought to break free of their embraces as tears shot down her cheeks. Zak felt as guilty as a pimp in a confessional booth. He and Coco rarely argued. He loved her like a sister and yet they’d spent the day bickering over foolishness right before she received heartbreaking news about her baby sister.

  “Coco, I’m so sorry,” Zak said, wondering how he would break the news to Drina.

  “Don’t just stand there!” she screamed. “Go get Drina!”

  “Hales went to find them,” Zak said calmly, turning to Kane. “What do you know?”

  “Very little, I’m afraid.”

  Coco rushed Kane as if she had every intention of striking him. “How could you let this happen? You promised me! You told me you’d guard her with your life! How can you stand here in front of me and draw air while telling me someone has taken my sister!”

  Coco threw her arms over her head. Her wrists rested against her forehead and she screamed out in agony before wilting to the floor. About that time, Drina, Dallas, and Hales entered the kitchen. Drina glanced around before she searched Zak’s face, “What’s going on here?”

  “It’s Norina,” Kane said.

  As if it pained her to look away from Zak, she slowly turned her full attention to Kane. “What’s happened?”

  “Your father’s enemies found her. She’s been abducted, Drina.”

  * * * *

  They set up camp at the Baldini home, hoping to hear something before the seventy-two-hour deadline came and went. Kane had paced the floor for most of the evening, dragging his hand through his hair and stopping every few minutes to squeeze Peyton’s shoulder.

  Brandon, Kurt, Liam, Dante, and Mason had stayed at the farm with Coco. Kane had explained to them that someone might try and contact Coco since she was the oldest Baldini sister. They wanted things to appear normal in case the place was being watched. Apparently, Kane hadn’t given much thought to how it might look to an outsider when a Cadillac SUV with North Carolina plates had rolled into town at sundown.

  In any event, Zak, Dallas, and Hales had followed Drina back to her place. Gemma had met them there, wide-eyed and drunk. At least Gemma kept things on the up and up. She’d gained quite the reputation as Erwin’s party girl and it wasn’t all that unusual to see her coming and going at all hours of the day and night.

  “How did this happen?” Gemma slurred her words as she tried to hang her poncho on the coat tree right inside the back door.

  “I don’t know,” Drina said, staring out the window and willing the home phone to ring.

  “Do we know…I mean…are you…sure…this is related to Daddy?”

  Drina snorted at that. “What do you think, Gemma? Hmm? Or are you too soused to even care?”

  “That was uncalled for,” Hales said, seemingly quite interested in Gemma.

  “He’s right,” Kane snapped. “We don’t turn on each other now.”

  Gemma combed her fingers through her hair and crossed one of her legs over the other. Bouncing it playfully, she cocked her head and studied Hales. “Are you one of my sister’s fellas?”

  He smirked. “We can talk about that later.”

  “Yeah, that sounds like a fine idea,” Zak bit out, clearly disturbed because Hales and Gemma seemed to have an instant connection.

  About that time the phone rang. Kane nodded at Drina. They’d already run through this a do
zen times. She knew what to say, how to say it, and what instructions she needed.

  Zak squeezed her right hand. Dallas gripped her wrist in passing. Surprised, she turned and noted the exchange between brothers. Zak appeared unmoved by Dallas’s outward show of affection. Shaking off thoughts of her current relationship predicament, she mentally criticized herself for thinking about anything or anyone other than Nory.

  Disgusted with herself, she nodded at Kane and snatched the cordless phone. “Yes, hello?”

  “Tell Cartwell to hang up the other phone,” the man said.

  Drina turned to Kane. He frowned and reluctantly hung up.

  “Excellent,” the man said. “Here’s what you’re going to do, Miss Baldini. You’re going to get in the car and drive to Paddles and Picnics. You know the place?”

  “Yes.”

  “Of course you do,” the man said, a dry chuckle coming across the phone. “I forgot exhibitionism runs in your family. You’ll bring a hundred thousand dollars with you tonight, unmarked bills, and you’ll buy your sister another week of life until we figure out how to keep her alive and retrieve all the money your father owes us.”

  “I can’t get my hands on that kind of money tonight.”

  “You’re standing next to one of the richest men in the Carolinas. I’m sure Cartwell will help you get creative. Oh, and put Zak Blazier on the phone.”

  “Zak? Why?” She turned around and stared at the man she loved, the man who was now seemingly a stranger. Why would her sister’s kidnapper want to speak with Zak? What did he have to do with this? There were so many layers to Zak, so much about him that was still a mystery to her, and the unknown greatly disturbed her.

  Kane scowled at Zak. “Why would he ask to talk to you?”

  “I don’t know.”