by Candi Wall
He knows just how to tame this filly, but it’ll be one wild ride.
Home Is Where the Heat Is, Book 2
As far as Chloe Garrison is concerned, Nick Westing was carved by the gods. Her one and only plan while visiting her best friend in Texas: get that sexy cowboy into her bed as often as possible until it’s time to return to New York.
After a whirlwind week she slips away, thinking it best to make a clean break. Except she can’t get Nick out of her head. And when he unexpectedly walks into her office, her first instinct is to find her defenses before she loses her panties.
Nick jumped at the chance to accompany his brother to New York for a photo shoot, but now that he’s here, he’s pissed. Seems Chloe is doing everything in her power to ignore him. The tender part of him understands her need for space.
The wilder side of him teases and torments her until she finally admits she’s missed him. Even though she walks away, in his book it’s a win. Because one way or another, he’s going to convince her they belong together.
Warning: Contains a commitment-phobic city girl who wants her cowboy—and hates that she wants him. And a hot, sweet-as-sin Texan with the patience and skill to show her she belongs by his side, in his world, and in his bed.
Lead Me Home
Candi Wall
Dedication
To Sara.
I miss you, and your horse feathers, every single day. You taught me to go after what I wanted—no matter how scared I felt.
Then you were gone and I realized I’d never said it…
Thank you.
Chapter One
Mule’s Bar, Texas
“Really?” Miya grimaced, sitting down cross-legged in the grass and tipping her head awkwardly. “Care to explain how you got suckered into a handstand-a-thon? I was only gone twenty minutes.”
Chloe Garrison glared at her best friend and wondered the same thing. “I don’t know,” she offered lamely. “Nick said something about me not daring to… There were bets, a few shots of—something, some mockery and even a few chicken taunts thrown out… Shit, it’s all kind of a blur.”
“You. Are. Hopeless!” Miya rocked backward and rolled to her side laughing.
It was an odd visual from Chloe’s upside-down perspective. Ignoring her friend’s hilarity, Chloe frowned at Nick Westing.
Her nemesis.
He’d chicken-crowed the loudest, and she’d caved like a puberty-ravaged teenage boy. Same story, different setting. Chloe loved a good challenge. Or a bad challenge. Fine, she just liked to prove everyone wrong. It was a weakness, and a fast track to always getting herself into these stupid-ass situations.
“Come on, Chloe,” Nick teased on cue. He was the only one left in their upside-down competition. The others had given up, or fallen, more than five minutes ago. “Don’t listen to Mi. She’s drunk. You can take a bit more, can’t you?”
She hand-walked until she could meet his gaze. He had no idea who he was messing with. “I can take as much as you have to give.”
“That’s good,” he replied quietly, like they shared a secret. “’Cause I have every intention of finding that out for myself—later.”
As much as she wanted to ignore the innuendo, she had to admit, his self-assured manner was one of his biggest draws. He lacked the typical I’m hot and I know you want me bullshit she was so used to dealing with back home in New York.
Nick had something altogether different. He had true confidence. And when he spoke to her… He spoke to her. She felt the weight of his attention every time it was leveled her way. No gimmicks, no frills.
No mistake, he could rouse the rabble with the best of them, but his intimate thoughts were for her alone.
His face was taut with the strain of holding himself in the same uncomfortable position for so long, but damn was he ever hot. The muscular lines of his stomach drew her attention, and she thanked her brutal gymnastics coach as she balanced on one hand and carefully reached out to draw her fingernail across his tanned skin. She lingered over his six-pack-armed abs and delectable belly button before licking her lips. “What about you? Had enough yet or you want more?”
His deep brown eyes roamed over her body, and the simple glance made her want to give up on the bet just to find out how good he’d be in her bed. Impossible at the moment, however, unless she wanted every woman present thinking she’d waffled for the hottie.
So she balanced on both hands again and arched her back a bit to stretch the tight muscles. Damn Garrison DNA competitiveness.
“Oh, I want more,” he murmured. “Just as soon as I win this bet.”
His voice was thicker than it had been ten minutes ago, and the first pulse of victory blossomed in her stomach. “You seem pretty sure of yourself.”
He shrugged and her confidence flagged a bit. He hadn’t even broken a sweat, and her arms felt like rubber. “Chloe, just give up.”
“Not happening, cowboy.”
He was just too damn sexy, and she had to admit there was little more she’d thought about tonight other than wrapping her legs around his tight ass. She’d come close to fucking him the last time she’d come to Dead End with Miya, but the stars had never aligned. This time, she wasn’t playing. She had four days left of vacation, and this delicious cowboy was going to fill a good portion of that time.
“Just ignore him,” Miya chimed in. Apparently she’d regained her composure. “You are every woman’s hero tonight. We’re all rooting for you.”
Great. Women’s lib had a hand in the bet, and she was supposed to be the ace. All she’d wanted was a raunchy rodeo with Nick. Hell, he’d already starred in any number of her BOB nights. Truth was, as good as her battery-operated boyfriend was, she wanted the real deal. Now she was the one who had to stand up—or upside-down—for the ladies in the crowd.
Fuck.
“Isn’t it time for a drink?”
“Not necessary.” Nick chuckled. “Just give up. I’ll be a good master, I promise.”
Master? Oh no he hadn’t. She was going to win this damn bet. Glancing around, she found her best friend sitting nearby. “Miya, bring the next round.”
Miya laughed, tipping her head again. “Are you sure?”
“Yep.” Chloe took turns stretching the sore muscles in each arm by balancing on the other. Years under the tutelage of an overbearing gymnastics coach were about to pay off. She’d win Nick’s bet, or tweak something in the process. Handstands were a bit childish, but she couldn’t say much. She’d fallen for it. “You know, it’s kind of funny to watch the world from this angle. I think all the blood in my body settled in my head a while ago.”
“No doubt.” Miya flipped her watch over on her wrist, her eyes wide. “You guys have been at this for almost fifteen minutes.”
“That long?” Nick groaned the question.
Chloe peeked around Miya. “You’re the one who suggested handstands.”
“Just wanted to see how far you’d go—in a skirt.”
“Good thing I had gym shorts in my car. Otherwise we might have skipped all this—fun—and gone right for the end goal.”
“Tease.” He laughed. “That sounds a hell of a lot better than what we’re doing right now.”
His lopsided smile made Chloe’s stomach tighten with anticipation. “Well it’s too late now. You chose to throw down the gauntlet, and now it’s just you and me, cowboy. If you wanted to know how far I’d go, you should have just asked.”
The intensity of his gaze, ripe with undisguise
d promise, told her they’d both be winners tonight. Win or lose, Nick Westing would be a connoisseur in bed. Losing might not be the worst thing that could happen. Being at his beck and call—his servant—for the next twenty-four hours could prove ultra interesting.
“What’s next?” Miya’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “Whiskey?”
Chloe groaned. The swap in drinks had been Shawn’s idea. Miya’s boyfriend was one of Chloe’s favorite people in the world, but after his suggestion that they switch to each other’s choice of drink every five minutes, she wasn’t sure she liked him at all. The only concession to choking down Nick’s choice of whiskey was watching him pucker up on her sweeter, mixed shots.
“Whiskey it is,” she conceded.
The muscles in her arms were beginning to tingle with exhaustion. She had to find a way to throw Nick off balance—figuratively of course. If she gave him a shove, she’d be disqualified. But there was one thing she’d learned about men. Cock ruled. If she played her cards right, he’d be hers for a full day.
“Hey, Nick?” She kept her voice at a whisper.
He looked her way. “Yeah?”
“I have a very special talent.” With a quick glance around, she winked. “Come closer and I’ll tell you what it is.”
The muscles in his arms bunched and strained as he hand-walked over. “I’m all ears, doll.”
Damn, even the dark hair scattered across his chest and arms was sexy. He came close enough that their bodies nearly touched and the spicy scent of his cologne drifted over her senses. Damn him. There was something sinfully enticing about Nick she’d yet to define. Come hell or high water, as the locals were fond of saying, she intended to find out what it was. Even if she had to play a little dirty.
“I can remove the cover from a bottle of beer.” When his brow wrinkled in confusion, she laughed. “Without using my hands.”
His eyes narrowed and she could tell he was considering her statement. “It isn’t something gross like using your feet is it?”
“No, silly.” Chloe shifted a bit closer. “I can suck it off.”
She’d made sure the words came out slow, with just a hint of invitation. It had an effect, maybe not as dramatic as she’d hoped, but he did wobble nicely and his eyes riveted on her lips. “That is one hell of a talent. I’ll have you show me when we’re at my place.”
Damn, he was quick. “You’re pretty sure about it being your place?”
“Yeah. Positive. That’s where you’re gonna spend the next twenty-four hours as my servant. It only makes sense if you’re staying with Miya. We wouldn’t have near enough fun. Her folks are there… But don’t worry, I’ll make sure your talents don’t go to waste.” He eased back a bit. “And I have a few special talents of my own.”
There was a definite shift in the warmth of her body. Gravity did nothing to stem the response that dampened her thong. Her arms weakened a fraction. Fuck! Where the hell was Miya with that drink? “I’ve got another idea.”
“And what’s that?”
She smiled. “Well, if we fall at the same time, we can both be winners, and we can stop wasting time getting to where we’d both like to get.”
“I like the way you think.”
Sweet! “On the count of three?”
“I might like the way you think, but having you do anything I want for twenty-four hours is just too tempting.” He shook his head. “No, the idea that I could sit you on my dining room table and have each of my meals between your naked thighs—”
That image filled her mind—better than her own thoughts—and the first tremor started. She couldn’t do a damn thing about it either and toppled to the ground with a curse. Rolling so she didn’t get hurt, she sat up and looked over in time to see Nick flip himself back to his feet. He walked over and held a hand out to her, pulling her into his arms with a smile.
She leaned back and laughed. “You know, if that’s what you wanted, you could have saved yourself a whole lot of trouble and just said so.”
His low chuckle rumbled through her chest. “Doll, there’s things I plan to do to you that made it necessary to win this bet.”
His erotic promise weakened her legs, and she grabbed the glass Miya brought over. Gulping the whiskey in one long swallow, she welcomed the slow burn and the fire that settled in her stomach. “Well, you better get your spurs on, Nick Westing, ’cause you’re in for one hell of a ride.”
Chapter Two
“So this is your place?”
Nick pulled her purse strap off her shoulder and dropped the tiny bag on the table next to the door. He closed the door behind them, following the sexy sway of her hips as she walked—hell, glided—into the room. She’d driven him crazy the entire night, and the last thing he wanted to do was talk. Slipping his arm around her waist, he pulled her back against his chest so he could brush his lips over the smooth skin of her shoulder. “We can talk later.”
She turned in his embrace, her hands tracing intricate patterns across his shoulders. “Maybe I want to talk now.”
Every inch of her body begged him to touch, but he held back, unsure of how far she’d go with their bet. She seemed game—but he couldn’t be certain. He slid his hand down the length of her spine, easing her closer. Endless sexual allure radiated from her, consuming him like it had almost a year ago when she’d last come home with Miya. “You have to do whatever I say, remember?”
Her fingers laced through the back of his hair, tipping his hat forward. She swayed gently against him before grabbing the hat and placing it on her head. “So? What can I do for you first?”
“You can start by calling me Master.”
She moved away, and he had to clench his fists at his sides to keep from pulling her back. He wanted nothing more than to ease her down on the floor and bury himself inside her. But that wouldn’t compare to the fun they could have. Instead, he walked over to his large recliner situated on the other side of the living room and sat down. He watched every move she made, enjoying the lithe, smooth movements of her incredible body. She stopped at the shelving on the wall and trailed her fingers over a moon-shaped piece of obsidian. “You collect rocks?”
“Yeah.” He nodded as she shot him a surprised glance over her shoulder. “But I think you meant, Your rock collection is amazing, Master.”
“Your rocks are incredibly—hard, Master Geek.” She stroked the stone with one fingertip. “I’ve always found the nerdy guys to be extremely—considerate in bed.”
He’d never considered himself the controlling type, but damned if the arousal-dipped inflection to her voice didn’t push his ready-to-play side to the brink. “Take your clothes off.”
With a little tip of his hat—and fuck did it look good on her—she slid the top button open on her shirt. The pale blue silk caressed her skin as she moved in slow motion, working each button loose with deliberate ease. She leaned back against the shelves, her eyes never leaving his as her fingers skimmed over the skin she revealed. Her hips swayed as if a slow, sexy tune drifted through the room.
Then she turned away with a teasing smile, only to look back over her shoulder as the shirt slid off her shoulders and fluttered to the floor. The straps of her lace bra shimmered in the moonlight filtering through the window.
“Let me watch,” he demanded.
Her body moved in a delectable rhythm as she faced him. She drew slow circles over the exposed curves of her breasts, her fingers drifting across her barely visible nipples. His cock jumped in reaction to her sexy play, and when she reached down to slip the tie free on her low-cut skirt, his mouth went dry.
“All of it, Master?”
He nodded, and the fabric slid down her trim legs to caress every curve. The tiny black string of her thong clung to her hips, waiting in silent invitation to be removed. His fingers itched to comply, and he balled them into fists. This was going to be more diffic
ult than he’d thought, especially since there was one portion of his body that couldn’t get much harder.
“The bra and your thong too.”
He couldn’t hide the thickness in his voice and it made her smile. She knew what she was doing to him, enjoyed it as much as he did, if he wasn’t mistaken. She reached up to unclasp her bra and let it slide slowly over her breasts. The lacey fabric caught briefly on her nipples before it fell free. Perfect. Maybe just like she’d planned? Damn vixen. The dark pink of her hard nipples begged for attention, but she wasn’t done.
Nick shifted in his chair to alleviate some of the discomfort his erection caused. It was all he could do to stay in his seat when she turned around, stretching down to slip her thong off. The position exposed the damp opening of her pussy, and the image of pinning her to the couch as he thrust deep inside her from behind dragged a groan from his throat.
She glanced back, her lips parted. “What now, Master?”
“Come here.” He didn’t move. Didn’t dare for the pressure building in his cock.
She walked across the room, dropping to her knees before him. Her hands slid up his thighs, the soft scrape of her nails over his jeans sending shards of pleasure rocketing through his veins. “I’m not going to keep asking you for directions. What do you want?”
He chuckled. “Impatient, aren’t we?”
Her eyes flashed. “Yes. I’m game for whatever you’ve got in mind, but I’m hoping we’ll get to the point soon.” She shifted closer, her lips soft against the turn of his jaw. “I’m naked, wet, and there’s nothing I want more right now than to fuck you.”
Damn. City girl played it straight. He liked that. Dragging a thumb over her sultry bottom lip, he pulled her closer. “Kiss me.”
The request jolted Chloe. That single demand took some of the heat out of the moment. Not really his fault, she reasoned. Kissing was just too overrated. It had the opposite effect of what she wanted. A kiss held all kinds of—emotional crap—and that was the last thing she wanted. She shook her head, brushing her lips over his cheek before latching onto his ear. “Kiss you? And then what? Am I going to have to hold you after?”
