Rocky Ride (Thompson & Sons)

by Vivian Arend

  The level they were on held a small workspace with a sink along one wall and a two-burner stovetop, but mostly it seemed to be storage. Rows and rows of shelving, some covered with boxes, others still empty. Light poured down from above, showcasing the stairs leading to the second level. Cassidy took the steps two at a time as he moved ahead of them. “Hey, Ash, you got company,” he shouted.

  “…chills. Oh, baby, ooooohhhh…”

  Mitch squeezed Anna’s hand. “She sings too.”

  “Stop it.” Anna laughed as she tugged him up the stairs, warm air pouring over them from a ceiling mounted heater.

  They paused at the top of the landing, and Anna was struck with how well the guys had designed the workspace. Unless someone stood on one of the distant hills behind the shop and used binoculars, the second-storey space was a nearly perfect private oasis.

  The upper floor had no interior walls, only a wide-open space from ceiling to peaked roof. Fading sunlight shone in the exterior windows that faced the back fields of the Coleman property, but most of the brightness at this time of day came from a bank of suspended ceiling lights strategically placed to spotlight Ashley’s main work area.

  The artist in question stood behind an oversized canvas, pretty much hidden from view, but she was audible, singing at the top of her lungs along with the music she had cranked to eleven.

  “…oh, yeah, do it. Do me, baby…”

  Cassidy twisted down the volume, and Ashley’s blonde head suddenly appeared, followed by the rest of her. Anna’s hand tightened in Mitch’s as they realized Ashley was dressed in her underwear and nothing else.

  “Hey, lover.” Ashley put down her paintbrush and stepped across the sturdy wood floorboards, her hand held out. “Perfect timing. Take off your clothes.”

  Cassidy cleared his throat, grabbing a robe from where it was draped over the back of a nearby chair. “Ash, we have guests, remember?”

  She blinked hard, as if pulling herself back from some other place, then Ashley smiled sweetly at them. “Hey, guys. Sorry, I need to borrow Cassidy for about five minutes. I can’t figure out what I’ve done wrong here. Come see.”

  She slipped her arms into the robe absentmindedly as Cassidy helped her. Mitch found her attractive, but he was far more interested in seeing Anna get naked, her curves the ones he craved.

  Still, it was an interesting start to what could be a very interesting evening. Mitch let Anna lead him to where Cassidy and Ashley waited.

  THE WELL-LIT STUDIO made Anna feel as if she were standing under a spotlight. Not only exposed on the outside but in, as if the shadows in her character were also being peered into. No hiding anywhere.

  She’d asked for this evening, and Mitch had delivered—if she was brave enough to go along for the ride.

  “Ash,” Cassidy protested, his hands covering his girlfriend’s.

  “Oh, come on.” Ashley tugged his T-shirt free from his pants, her fingers going for the button on his jeans. “I don’t have the right anatomy to check in the mirror. I tried, but I need dude muscles.”

  “Is that why you were painting in your underwear?” Cassidy asked, stepping back from her.

  “Yes. Pleeeease…” she wheedled.

  He offered an apologetic shrug to Anna and Mitch. “You mind?”

  Anna shook her head, then stepped closer to examine Ashley’s painting. “What’s the problem? Not that I can help—I’m not artsy.”

  “This line here.” Ashley pointed to the painting. “See? I got his chest right, I know I have, but that Adonis muscle…I’m not positive how much it crunches when he’s picking up a saddle.”

  The partially finished portrait on the canvas was going to be gorgeous. In the foreground was a cowboy, his horse waiting behind him to be saddled, fence rails and rolling foothills as a backdrop.

  “Well, I don’t usually pick up saddles when I’m half-naked, so that’s one problem you’ve got off the bat,” Cassidy teased.

  Ashley stuck out her tongue. “Bend over and reach for the floor.”

  “Pretend you dropped the soap,” Mitch drawled, and Cassidy burst out laughing, swinging a finger in Mitch’s direction.

  “Bad boys.” Ashley pouted. “I’m trying to make art, and you’re getting dirty.”

  “You like dirty,” Cassidy commented as he obediently got back into position, his work-hardened body pretty damn easy on the eyes. “Welcome to the nuthouse, Anna. Aren’t you glad you came?”

  Mitch curled himself around her so he could whisper in her ear. “You’ll be even gladder once you come, right?”

  Her cheeks flushed.

  Watching. Being watched. Right now she couldn’t decide which thought was causing goose bumps to rise over her entire body. Making her nipples pebble without a direct touch.

  Ashley drew some firm pencil lines on the canvas, rubbing with her fingertips to add shadows. “Perfect.”

  “Thank you.” Cassidy straightened up and closed in on her. “Now are you done?”

  The short pause while he kissed her gave enough time for Mitch to sneak his hand over Anna’s belly, thumb teasing in circles as they watched Ashley twine her fingers into Cassidy’s hair and thoroughly get into the kiss.

  Mitch stood at her back, a solid mass of man that she was itching to touch all over. When he slipped his hand under her shirt so he was rubbing bare skin, she moaned softly.

  His touch was addictive.

  Ashley pulled back from Cassidy, smiling contentedly at him before turning toward her guests. “There’s one more thing…” She spoke quietly. “And feel free to say no, but, Mitch? You’ve got tattoos.”

  He gasped in shock. “Oh my God, really?”

  Anna elbowed him, and he laughed as she muttered, “Behave.”

  Ashley stepped closer. “I’m designing a tattoo for a friend. I’ve never done that before, and I want to make sure I account for how curvature might affect what I draw. You mind?”

  There was heat in his eyes as he glanced at Anna. Not for permission, per se, more as a warning. “I’ll take off mine if you take off yours.”

  The game changed. All the oxygen sucked out of the room.

  Anna focused on Mitch alone, staring into his dark eyes as he took a leisurely perusal of her from top to bottom. “You daring me, Thompson?”

  “Since when does a Coleman need to be dared to get dirty?”

  She stepped closer, deliberately ignoring Ashley and Cassidy. Acutely aware they were there. She could still see them in her peripheral vision. Cassidy moved to the sidewall, and the bright lights shining on them dimmed to almost nothing.

  Mitch pulled off his T-shirt, dropping it over the back of the wooden chair beside him. Muscles flexed as he stretched lazily, chest muscles bulging, biceps molding into rocks. The tattoos curling and extending with his motions like living creatures.

  Anna planted her feet on either side of his, close enough their body heat meshed. “You want skin? You got it.”

  She caught the bottom of her shirt and lifted it without bothering to undo the buttons. The fabric teased her skin as it rose, a soft brush of cotton that raced up her spine like fingers.

  Only right now no one was touching her. Just Mitch’s dark gaze eating her up.

  And a low hum of approval from where Ashley and Cassidy stood.

  The sound broke the spell Anna had been weaving around herself. Made it impossible to pretend she and Mitch were alone. That was fine, though, because as Mitch trailed his fingers down her collarbone, the sensation that followed was that much more because they weren’t alone.

  Her awareness was cranked to maximum. Not only in how she responded to Mitch pressing his full palm around her ribs, fingers spread wide as he caressed her back. Not only the sounds in the air—their breathing becoming more rapid, small noises of pleasure escaping from both groups. Her blood pounded through her veins—she felt every pulse, felt her pussy getting wetter in anticipation of being taken.

  Alive, like she’d never been before.r />
  Mitch thumbed her bra hooks open, pressing a kiss to her shoulder as he skimmed the thin straps down. He eased back far enough for the cups to fall away, and she was naked from the waist up, his hands cupping the full globes of her breasts. The aching need for him only increased, and he winked, only a second, and put his lips to her skin.

  Kisses at first then his tongue, tracing a line down her neck before heading lower. He paused only enough to grab a wooden chair and drop into it, pulling her into his lap and trapping her hips in position over the thick length of his engorged cock.

  That controlling hand had returned to her lower back. Holding her in place as he slid his other hand up to lightly collar her throat.

  The delicate pressure he exerted pushed her into an arch, and the next thing she knew he’d wrapped his lips around her nipple. Wet heat, the sharp bite of his teeth. Anna shuddered hard enough the chair under them skittered on the hardwood floor.

  “So damn beautiful,” Mitch whispered. “Your skin is flushing, body softening. If I put my fingers into you right now, I bet you’d drench me.”

  “Do it.” Anna deliberately opened her eyes and curled upright, reaching for her button and wiggling off his lap.

  Mitch grinned. “Eager, are you?”

  She was about to explode, and he was asking stupid questions. “You want me to do it myself?”

  Instant lust ripped over his expression, and Anna found herself twirled then pinned to his hard body. The rough stubble on his cheek scratched her cheek and shoulder as he leaned them together. “There’s no rush. Ashley wants to see my ink. Let’s give her a clean canvas to contrast them against.”

  Again, one of his hands went up, the other down. Both barely touching her, but the minute hairs on her skin stood straight on end. His top arm cradled her torso, his wide-spread fingers cupping her breast, thumb teasing back and forth over her nipple.

  With his other hand, he finished what she’d started. Unzipped her pants then shoved them down far enough to reveal her panties.

  He was right—she was soaking wet already, and only getting wetter the longer he delayed.

  The bold lines of his tattoos curled around his arms like he was curled around her, the flames against her pale skin making it appear she was the one on fire.

  She was. Inside and out. An incinerator had been lit in her belly that was melting away all restraint and inhibitions. Anna took a deep breath then peeked under her lashes toward Cassidy and Ashley’s corner.

  The two of them were tangled together as well. Ashley had lost the robe, and not only was Cassidy’s chest still bare, his pants were open. Ashley had his cock in her hand and was stroking him.

  But both of them were watching Mitch and Anna with an unwavering focus.

  Anna wasn’t sure what she’d expected to feel, knowing for certain Mitch’s caresses were being witnessed. As he slid his fingers into her panties and Ashley’s gaze followed, Anna’s only response was to open her legs as wide as her half-dropped pants would allow.

  There should have been some embarrassment, maybe, to accompany the illicit thrill. But with Cassidy’s gaze fixed on her chest, and Mitch rocking his cock against her lower back, she was overwhelmed with that internal fire. Heat licking through her like she’d gone molten inside.

  Mitch parted her folds. “I’m going to fingerfuck you. Then once you’ve had an orgasm or two, I’ll bend you over this chair and fuck you for real.”

  “Yes.” Anna clutched his wrist as he thrust into her. She was wet, so he didn’t hold back. Thick fingers shoved deep, and she dropped her head back on his shoulder and moaned as he pulled out so slowly she felt every second with an intensity that rocked her.

  Mitch released her for long enough to shove her pants to the floor, setting his hands on her hips and ripping the edge of her panties apart. Then he was back, her legs kicked farther apart, her body arching as he drew her upright and set his hands back on her.

  This time when he drove his fingers in and started fucking her, he didn’t stop. Not until she was shaking, cries escaping her lips. Through half-closed eyes she focused across the room on Cassidy and Ashley. He had Ashley bent over his arm, his cock buried in her pussy as they pulsed together. Erotic to watch, intoxicating.

  Anna would have been envious, but there was no time, because her orgasm swept in and swept her away. Sex clutching tight around Mitch, the wet sounds of his fingers pumping deep into her mixing with the other sex noises in the room.

  Mitch was already changing their position. He didn’t take her over the chair like he’d suggested he would, though. Instead he sat again, his jeans shoved away, his cock upright and waiting for her, the golden flash of his piercing catching the light.

  Anna didn’t hesitate. She went eagerly as he lifted her over him, reaching down to guide his hard shaft between her folds. The instant she let him go, Mitch thrust upward and she screamed his name. The hard balls of his piercing added an extra touch that made stars float before her eyes.

  It didn’t matter who was in the room right then or what they were doing. Low groans from Cassidy and squeaks of happiness from Ashley—all of that faded away because nothing compared to what Mitch was doing.

  He held her hips and controlled her, pounding her with his cock as their lips met. Hungry kisses, breathless gasping. Everything inside coiling tighter and tighter until there was nothing and nowhere to go except up in flames.

  “Mitch, oh God, oh…” Anna rocked hard, their bodies only kept together by the strong grip he held on her. She buried her face against his neck and let herself be braced in place. Fully supported as her climax ripped her brain clear out of her head, and all thought became impossible.

  Mitch froze, her hips tight to his thighs, his cock jerking inside her. “Fucking hell, that was so…” He gasped for air, panting in her ear as their bodies slicked together. Sweaty and sated.

  Her eyes met his, her voice a mere whisper. “I can’t move.”

  He laughed softly. Fingers trailing up her spine and teasing her. He kissed her forehead. “Then don’t. There’s nowhere we need to go.”

  In the corner Cassidy and Ashley were curled up together, talking quietly. Mostly naked, and not in the least concerned by that fact. They kissed and nuzzled each other with such honest love and affection, and something deep inside Anna cracked open with longing.

  Mitch was giving her all her sexual fantasies. Could he give her what she needed most? She watched the couple across the room and listened to the steady beat of Mitch’s heart.

  And wondered.

  Chapter Nine

  LAUGHTER RANG over the heavy beat of the music. Mitch turned away from the group gathered by the dance floor and tapped his fingers impatiently on the table, sipping his beer between moments of glancing at his watch.

  Anna was late. Again. He’d bet big money that it would be Nick’s doing. The man seemed determined to mess with Anna’s time, and along with it, Mitch and Anna’s relationship. Mitch didn’t know if he should be jealous along with the frustration.

  A heavy beat pounded in his chest as Anna finally strutted in.

  “Jesus,” Mitch moaned, rising to his feet, accidentally kicking his chair over as he took in her outfit.

  Her hair was coiled into a fancier-than-usual ponytail that he looked forward to messing up. A wraparound sweater clung to all her curves, the bottom edge stopping mere inches above her skirt line.

  The skirt itself wasn’t that short—not really—but enough of her legs were exposed to make his mouth water, and the entire smooth length led to those drop-dead shoes he loved. Mitch couldn’t take his gaze off the straps of red leather on her feet.

  Fuck, she’d worn the shoes.

  Something inside stood and cheered. The rest of him just got harder than a spike. Since the night at Cassidy’s, it was as if she’d let loose the woman he’d seen small glimpses of forever. That passionate side came out far more often now, visible in the daytime as well as in the secret moments they’d steal toge
ther.

  The smaller than usual Tuesday night crowd pivoted to watch Anna glide toward him. She ignored them, fixated on his face. She must have seen something she liked, because a smile escaped. A flirty, naughty smile as she stepped right into his arms and kissed him.

  Mitch was the one to hold back, because his first impulse was to wrap her leg around his hip and start dry humping her right there in the middle of the fucking bar.

  Screw sitting and talking. He wanted her in his arms where she belonged. He slipped his fingers over her hip and guided her straight to the dance floor. “Come here.”

  Anna settled against him, one leg on either side of his as she pressed close. “Not even going to buy me a drink first, sailor?”

  “You already got my cock so fucking hard I can’t sit down,” Mitch confessed.

  Her dirty chuckle in response only stoked the flames higher. So be it. Mitch rested his hands on her ass and pulled up tight until there wasn’t a lick of breathing room between them.

  Music and voices blended together into the background as Mitch stared into her eyes. Anna draped her arms around his shoulders, her fingers teasing the short hairs at the back of his neck. The expression she wore couldn’t be considered anything but a smirk.

  “You’re looking damn pleased.” Mitch slipped one hand farther around to the center of her lower back. “I love the shoes, but this sweater has got to go. I’d prefer you in a short T-shirt so I can get my hands on bare skin.”

  “Just enjoy rubbing that soft fabric instead.” Anna hummed happily, her hip grazing his dick as she shifted position. “God, you are hard, aren’t you. Poor man.”

  “Jeez. Do that again, and I’ll flip you over my fucking knee right here, right now.”

  Her tongue darted out, leaving behind a shimmer of moisture on the pouting surface of her lower lip. “I don’t think so. I think you’re going to buy me a drink first. Then we can talk about fucking on our knees.”