Objectively, she understood why he’d brought her here, stripped her to her skin and crawled into bed beside her. The man should get a medal.
However, she should have her head examined with the places her hazy waking dreams had taken her. It seemed forever since she’d woken inside a strong, sexy man’s embrace. Her ex was slender and desk-soft, and never made her feel safe. And her mind couldn’t let go of what Bobby had said about her being “stuck” there for the next few days.
Around and around, thoughts swirled in her mind. Lusty, lewd images magnified by the heat surrounding her and the scents of the two men lying so close—the tang of wood smoke, the light, crisp smell of hay and horses, and male musk…
And her body was right there with her nasty thoughts, warming from the inside out, moistening, tingling…
The devil resting on her shoulder asked, Why not see where circumstance and sheer desperation had landed her? It was certainly a more pleasant prospect than she’d had before disaster struck.
She’d fled the ski resort in a fit of pique, devastated because all her plans for her bright, brilliant future had unraveled the moment she’d walked in on her fiancé’s little afternoon tryst. Back early from her lessons on the bunny slope, she’d wanted to surprise him with a little of what he’d arranged the trip for—time alone to rekindle their sex life.
The months leading up to the wedding had been hectic, filled with parties and work as they prepared to take a month off to marry and honeymoon. As she’d boarded the flight from Sacramento to Denver, she’d complained about all the last minute details that still needed to be managed. David’s angry reaction had taken her aback. His irritation had made him moody for the entire flight and for the drive up into the Rockies to the resort he’d booked.
She hadn’t bothered waking him that morning before she left for the slopes, hoping sleep would ease his sour mood. Lately, he’d grown grumpier and more distant. When questioned, he’d remained taciturn, and lately, they’d spent more nights than not on opposite sides of the bed. She’d thought that maybe he was as stressed out as she was even though he’d left all the arrangements for their nuptials in her hands.
Perhaps he felt neglected. Returning early, determined to repair the rift, she’d swiped her card key in the magnetic lock and gently pushed open the door leading into the suite. The sitting room had been empty, the curtains still closed. She’d dropped her jacket and gloves and unzipped the bodysuit and left it in a pile with her boots, walking in her underwear to the bedroom door.
The bathroom door had been ajar, towels heaped on the floor. He’d showered, so she thought he must have wakened and gone back to bed.
Then she’d heard a noise inside the bedroom. A sigh, followed by a thin, feminine moan.
Thinking he must have turned the television on, she opened the bedroom door and then hung onto the knob in shock for several agonizing moments as her mind wrapped around the sight that had greeted her.
A woman—no, the server who’d flirted with David at the bar the previous night—sat astride David’s hips, gliding up and down while his hands cradled her bottom, his fingers biting deep into her buttocks to quicken the strokes.
Her figure was rail thin, supple, her breasts slight but tipped with cone-like nipples. Her hair, long and dark, had fallen in a soft burnished cloud that bounced between her shoulder blades as she rocked up and down David’s long cock.
Neither had noticed her standing there. David’s eyes had been glued to the woman’s pussy and his own dick. Hers had been squeezed shut.
No wonder he hadn’t minded when she’d booked the lesson the previous night. He must have set up the liaison when she’d left to talk to the concierge.
Kate had backed away from the door and closed it.
She’d sat on the sofa in the sitting room, staring at the hands she cupped between her thighs, not because they were still cold, but because they shook. The plans they’d made, the life she’d dreamed of were gone. No doubt if she’d confronted him then and there, he’d have found a way to place the blame for his slip on her.
He’d made her feel guilty as hell the last time he’d cheated. And because she’d been impressed with his wealth, impressed with the people he knew and the places he took her, she’d come to believe she could live with that. That maybe the people who lived in the upper stratosphere of society operated on a different ethical code.
She’d forgiven him and turned a blind eye to the late nights he spent at the office. When he’d insisted on the trip, part of her had been relieved that he seemed to be eager to spend time alone with her, loving only her.
Now she knew the truth—that any willing pussy would suffice, and that the fact his fiancé had been skiing on the slopes outside the resort only added to the thrill. For the rest of her life, she could expect him to fuck the maids, the secretaries, maybe even her friends—so long as she was willing to look the other way and shine on his arm when he needed to play the role of family man in public.
Kate had sat there shivering, glancing down at her lacy underwear, worn especially for him, and made up her mind from one heartbeat to the next that she deserved more.
She’d walked to the suitcase she hadn’t had a chance to unpack the previous evening and pulled out a pair of jeans and a sweater, grabbed her jacket and purse, then went to the counter of the kitchenette, swiped up the keys to their rental car and left her diamond ring in their place. She wouldn’t bother with the case, with her clothes. She just needed to get away fast.
The slamming of the hotel room door had gotten his attention. Dismayed, he’d followed her down the hallway. She’d stood in the elevator with a wide-eyed older couple as he’d pleaded, and her response had been to yank the towel from his waist and wave it as the doors slid closed.
She’d been stupid to think the sun rose and set in David Winter’s lying blue eyes. She’d been shortsighted thinking that her life would be so much better with his money to console her when he travelled for business or worked extra hours. How long had she worn blinders, determinedly ignoring all the signs the man was a cheat and would never be satisfied with just one woman in his life?
On the drive down the mountain, as she’d slowed to a snail’s crawl because she hadn’t bothered to heed the bell staff’s warnings about buying a set of snow chains, she’d had plenty of time to think. She’d known all along she’d never be happy with him. She’d let herself be swayed, comparing the heavily weighted “pro” side of the column against the single item in “con” side. There were so many qualities to admire about him that she’d wanted desperately to make their relationship work. As impressive as his good looks, wealth and connections were, she’d been turned inside out by his skill as a lover, and she knew she’d miss that. Deeply.
But now, fate had given her a chance to prove to herself that sex with David wasn’t the best she’d ever have.
If the thick, blunt instrument denting her backside was any indication, she’d find plenty of proof that there were other men out there who could give her just as much pleasure as the smooth and confident man who’d swept her off her feet with his practiced moves.
But how could she broach the subject now after making such a fuss?
She pretended to murmur in her sleep and scooted closer.
Teeth ground; a muffled laugh from Bobby made the mattress quiver beneath her. And she wondered at the fact the two men seemed so comfortable snuggled up so close.
Maybe they were gay.
The thought arrested her rising excitement. Two beautiful men, a deserted cabin in the middle of a blizzard—and maybe she’d found the only two cowboys in Colorado who wouldn’t be eager to share a little sexy heat. What a damn shame that would be.
Kate kept her eyes closed, trying to get a rein on her raging hormones. She didn’t know who these guys were, what they were, but she’d been ready to risk everything for a little revenge sex. She was just as low as David, but at least he’d been honest about his needs.
Disapp
ointed with herself, she held still as the man behind her began to move.
“Gotta put more logs in the furnace,” Cale muttered. He had to get away.
He’d woken with his hand cupping a slice of heaven, a perky little nipple poking at his palm. He was as hard and horny as a man could get, and he needed some space to get control of himself before he gave the woman a damn good reason to be afraid.
Bobby mumbled a protest and pressed closer, not willing to lose the warm place he’d drifted in his sleep.
“Snuggle up to our guest while I’m gone.” Cale extricated himself from his embrace and crawled down to the foot of the mattress.
The mattress rose. Footsteps padded away. Bobby cracked open one eye and looked across to the blonde still huddled at the far side of the mattress. Her breaths hadn’t deepened, she hadn’t made a single murmur, but instinct told him she was wide awake. Since she wasn’t jumping up and screaming her head off, he wondered how far she’d let him get before making some noise.
He sighed as though he was annoyed and scooted across the mattress. When he carefully draped an arm around her waist, she rolled to her back, her eyes still closed tightly.
Her face was growing pink across her cheeks.
A smile tugged at his lips, and he closed his eyes too, peeking at her from beneath his lashes as he tightened his arm, which rode just beneath her breasts. A little quiver gave away her excitement. Coming closer, he pretended to sleepily nuzzle the corner of her shoulder and swept his thigh over her hip, bringing his cock up against her.
It twitched and hardened.
“Really think I’d sleep through that?” she whispered breathily.
He opened his eyes to find her baby blues staring back at him. “Who says I thought you were asleep?”
Her nose wrinkled. “Think he noticed?”
“I think he’s a little preoccupied with the part of him that’s hurting to know you’ve been playin’ possum on us.”
“You don’t seem to mind.”
One dark eyebrow arched in wicked delight. “Neither do you.”
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth as though she was thinking hard about her decision. Then she gave him a coy look from beneath her gold-tipped lashes. “Think he’d be mad if we raised the stakes on the game?”
Bobby’s lips twitched. “Gonna make him suffer a little longer?”
“Would he? I wasn’t sure you two weren’t…you know…together.”
Bobby trailed a finger down her cheek. “Sometimes we are. But usually only out of necessity. Your being here is an unexpected blessing for us both.”
Footsteps scraped outside the bedroom door. “He’s coming,” she whispered.
They both closed their eyes and scooted closer.
The soft scrapes neared the bed, and Cale muttered a curse under his breath.
Bobby nearly laughed, knowing Cale was regretting giving up his place beside her. But Cale surprised him, crawling onto the bed on the other side of the woman, squeezing up against the wall.
Bobby cracked his eyes open. “She’s still asleep,” he whispered, more for her sake than Cale’s.
Cale stretched out on his side, facing them both. “Do you think she’s gonna press charges if she wakes up between the two of us?”
“Maybe we should make goin’ to jail worthwhile,” he said with a wicked jag of his eyebrows.
Cale grinned and glanced at the woman lying quietly between them. His chest rose on a hopeful sigh. “She’s mighty pretty.”
“Maybe we should have a peek at the rest of her…while she’s sleeping.” Bobby bit back a chuckle when her breaths stilled altogether. She wasn’t telling them not to—that was close enough to permission for him.
“Maybe we’re crossing a line here,” Cale said.
“A peek. It’s not like we’re gonna molest her anything. Just seein’ what we’ve been touchin’ all along.”
“Yeah,” Cale muttered. “More than goddamn touchin’.”
Before Cale’s conscience put a halt to his play, Bobby slowly pulled back the edge of the covers, exposing her breasts to both their gazes.
“Nice,” Cale whispered. “Much prettier when they’re not blue.”
“Look soft too. Maybe I should just make sure.”
“Bobby…” Cale said shaking his head.
The woman had other ideas, sucking in a deep breath and muttering softly, then gliding her hand up her belly to rest atop one breast, her thumb and forefinger framing a nipple.
“Almost like she’s offering us a taste…”
“Buddy,” Cale said, warning in his voice. “We saved her life. Doesn’t mean she owes us a thing.”
“Maybe she just wants things to get a whole lot hotter. Ever think about that?”
Kate felt ready to scream the way the two men kept talking, staring at her, both of their cocks hardening against her sides, but not doing a damn thing to take the decision out of her hands. She wanted them to because she was basically a coward. Her plan was simple: let them get all worked up and begin some sexy little caresses, she’d wake up and be taken by surprise but already be so aroused she couldn’t help but go along with it. At least that was her story, and she’d stick to it until the day she died.
But it seemed like the one “not Bobby” had some scruples about taking advantage of an unconscious woman. Hell.
She opened her eyes, her gaze swinging from one frozen face to the wicked gleam in Bobby’s eyes. “Hi,” she whispered, wanting to groan she sounded so lame.
“Hi yourself,” the unnamed man said, grabbing the edge of the cover to pull it back up. But he tugged to no avail, because Bobby wouldn’t let it go.
“It’s okay. I’m a little warm,” she said, her voice sounding a little high-pitched even to her own ears.
“It’s not what it seems,” he said, glaring at Bobby. “We just woke up and were getting ready to wake you and see how you felt.”
“Right, we’re all interested in how you feel,” Bobby said.
“Uh huh,” she murmured, narrowing her gaze on Bobby. Then she turned to The Bear. “I’m much better. All warm. Nothing stinging anymore. Thanks. You two saved my life.”
“I went into the river after you,” Bobby said, drawing her attention back.
Interesting that he thought he had to compete. “I remember. Thanks to you, too.”
“I hauled your a—” the big guy cleared his throat. “I got you up the bank and into the car, drove you here and…”
“Stripped me naked. I know. It was necessary. I do understand.”
“Guess, since you’re warm and all, we should probably get dressed,” he mumbled.
Not where she wanted this to go. “It’s dark outside. Wouldn’t you just have to get right back in bed?”
“There is another b—”
Bobby coughed, cutting off his friend. “You’re right. Maybe we could just keep to our own sides.”
“Seems you already have your own sides,” she said softly.
Green eyes widened.
Bobby snickered. “Not a whole lot we can do from those sides.”
“Really?” she said and stretched, arching her back and sighing with satisfaction when both males dropped their gazes to her breasts. She squeezed the hand still cupping a nipple. “I’m thinking there are two interesting places to start.”
There, she’d said it. How much clearer did she have to be?
“Just to get this straight,” the slow one said, his voice deepening. “You are awake, right? And I’m not dreamin’?”
“I’m thinking I’m still dreaming,” she teased. “Two handsome men beside me in bed. Everyone warm and cozy. But you’re right. It might feel more real if I actually had some names to attach to my dream men.”
“I’m Bobby,” Bobby said, lifting his hand as though they’d been introduced in church.
She took the hand warming her breast and placed it inside his palm. “Katherine, but you can call me Kate.”
“I’m Cal
e,” the other man said, leaning closer.
She glanced from one to the other and slowly smiled. “Since we know each other so well now, do you think we could dispense with manners? That or I’m going to have to ask you both to leave because something awfully embarrassing seems to be happening to me.”
“What’s that, sweetheart?” Bobby crooned.
“I’m wet,” she whispered.
“Dayum.” Cale breathed deeply.
Bobby lifted one dark brow.
“Bobby,” Cale said, swallowing hard. “Under the sink in the bathroom.”
“Huh?” Bobby raised both eyebrows then met Cale’s gaze. “Yeah, be right back.” He rolled off the bed. “Fuck, the floor’s cold.”
Kate swung her gaze to Cale.
“We’ll take care of you.”
The way he said it, so solemnly, sent a shiver down her spine. His meaning finally sunk in. She hadn’t given a single thought to protection. “It’s weird, but I trust you.”
“Don’t trust that bastard.”
She smiled. “He’s your friend.”
“Yeah, I know him best. And he tends to shoot first and then cuss.”
Kate couldn’t stop the giggle that erupted sharp and quick. “So you’re the nice one?”
“Uhhhh…maybe just the one who thinks with more than his dick.”
Her breath caught at the mention of the part of his body snuggled closest to her hip. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Don’t have to explain a thing.”
“I know. Just thought you might like to know a little about me. Besides the fact I don’t look good blue.”
“Oh you’re pretty whatever color you are. Even red-cheeked like now.”
Bobby padded back to the bedroom. “Didn’t know how many we’d need. So I brought the box.”
“Good for a start,” Cale muttered.
“So, you’re not nice,” she drawled, “but you are pretty sure of yourself.”
“We know our way around a lady’s body,” Cale said, in that same solemn tone. “Trust us not to scare you?”
“I’m not easily frightened. Not by anything you two might bring.”
Saddled Page 2
