The Taming (The Black Thunder Series)

by West, Cary

  Kate laughed and downed hers as well, no longer feeling that warm sensation since it had been more than an hour since she lost count of how much she had to drink.

  She was having a wonderful time. She was intoxicated, but she didn’t care. For the first time in her life she was letting go and just having fun. She couldn’t help enjoying all the male attention throughout the evening. Perhaps it was the skimpy sundress and cowgirl boots, or maybe it was that after a few drinks she found it easier to flirt with the wild rugged males who filtered in and out of the bar. Sexy men wearing 501 Levis, t-shirts accentuating muscular physiques, and spurred cowboy boots that clicked on the ground. Kate thought she died and went to cowgirl heaven.

  Sitting next to one of the hunky males Kate felt a little giddy. She leaned across Tony and breathed in his earthly scent like he was a cookie cooling on a baking sheet. “You smell yummy,” she purred allowing the hint of cologne to waft up her nose and wash over her senses.

  “Oh my darling, you have had way too much to drink tonight,” he chuckled and put his arm around her chair.

  “I am not drunk,” she protested. Dustin, tell him that I am ferfectly pine.”

  “She’s perfectly fine,” Dustin chuckled and winked at Tony. He sat back and continued his conversation with the old rodeo cowboy Zeke. The old man was telling another one of his rodeo stories and soon everyone at the table stopped and listened.

  “So I lassoed the steed in less than six seconds, but then the rope must have broke loose and he went wild.” Zeke flailed his arms through the air in imitation. “He came charging right at me.”

  “What did you do?” Kate asked in false anticipation. She had her suspicions his storytelling was somewhat embellished.

  “Why, I did what any cowboy worth his salt would do little darling,” he grinned.

  “He ran his ass off,” Tony interjected and everyone laughed.

  “Don’t you believe it,” Zeke re-butted. “I grabbed that steed by his horns and dug my boots in the ground. That thing damn near pushed me to Laredo, but I hung on. By then several of the rodeo clowns came out and we were able to steer him back into the pen. I jumped over the fence and when I looked down at my boots I saw the soles had been damned near rubbed off. All you could see was the red on my socks.”

  “No way,” Kate laughed.

  “I swear little lady, that’s the way it happened.” He gave her a grin. “May God strike me dead if I’m lying?” The antique lights flickered overhead and everyone jumped.

  “You better be careful what you wish for old man.” Tony laughed as he looked over at Kate and winked. She smiled sweetly.

  “How long you been with the rodeo?” Dustin asked Zeke.

  He rubbed the beard on his chin as he thought how to answer the question. “Been so long I reckon I lost count.”

  “I’ve never been to a rodeo,” said Kate as she stood from her chair and reached for the bottle of whisky. Before she had a chance to sit back in her seat, Tony placed his hands on her hips and pulled her onto his lap.

  “You’ve never been to a rodeo?” He took the bottle from her and poured them another shot. He handed her the glass and they both drank. “Well next time the rodeo comes to town I’m taking you.” Tony gave her a sheepish grin.

  “Really?” Her eyes lit up.

  “Why sure darling, anything for you,” he pulled Kate a little closer to him. Tony leaned forward and breathed in the soft scent of her hair and neck. “That sure is a pretty little dress you’re wearing,” he practically whispered in her ear as he slid his hand over her bare knee and up her thigh until it rested by the hem of her dress.

  “You like this old dress?”

  “I like how short it is,” he said huskily. “And the cowgirl boots sure do paint a mighty fine picture.” Tony filled their glasses again and coaxed her into drinking another shot. He was hoping one or two more and she wouldn’t mind if he went exploring. She was already acting like a purring kitten, and he couldn’t wait to get her to meow when she was underneath him.

  “Rodeo should be coming to town next month,” said Zeke seeing the woman had temporarily paired up with the young ranch hand. “I’d be willing to give everyone free passes if maybe Kate here might like to go riding on me first.”

  “I don’t know how to ride,” she said.

  Everyone at the table laughed. “That ain’t the kind of riding he’s talking about,” Tony whispered in her ear as he placed both arms tightly around her waist feeling her breasts rest on his arms.

  She blushed at the realization. “I don’t ride like that either,” she scolded the old man.

  “What do you mean you don’t ride?” Zeke sat back in his chair and re-lit his cigar.

  “Kate’s not the riding kind,” Dustin added his two cents.

  Zeke shook his head and looked at Tony. “You mean to tell me boy, this here filly’s been working with you and you’ve never shown her how to ride?” He chuckled. “Come here you sweet thing, let this old man show you how it’s done.” The innuendoes were sailing across the table between the men.

  “You have all lost me,” Kate said in a state of intoxicated bewilderment and they laughed again.

  “Well maybe it’s time you learned what riding is all about,” grinned Tony as he poured her another shot and coaxed her to drink it.

  Tony twisted Kate to sit forward on his lap. “Sit up straight, darling,” he directed as he gripped her hips on either side. “Now place your feet on the floor.”

  “This is silly,” she giggled feeling quite giddy.

  “Trust me, it will work,” said Tony trying to convince her so he could feel her little bottom wiggling against his lap.

  They were all too busy toying with Kate to notice a new presence behind them. He had heard enough and he stepped out of the shadows.

  “No, it won’t,” a low voice threatened behind them. “That’s not the way to teach a lady how to ride.”

  The color drained from Tony’s face, as his nerves shot right through his head. He could hear Jack McBride’s spurs clinking along the wooden floorboard. They stopped directly beside him. Tony looked up and swallowed hard as his employer loomed over top of him.

  “Hello, Barbie doll,” said Jack to a more than slightly inebriated Kate.

  “Hello, asshole,” she giggled. “Tony was showing me how to ride.”

  “He was, was he?” Jack’s eyes narrowed on Tony and the boy gulped. “Let me show you how a real man teaches you how to ride, baby.” Jack held out his hand to Kate, never taking his eyes off Tony. She placed her hand in his and he pulled her from his ranch hand’s lap. Jack sat in the adjoining chair. “Come here,” he commanded as he pulled Kate to him and straddled her against his legs. Their eyes met. Kate felt a sweet surge go through her as he pressed his hand in the middle of her back. “You ready?” he whispered.

  “Yes,” she whispered back, barely able to get the word out.

  “Press your thighs against mine,” he said huskily. “Now grab hold of my shirt and lean back.”

  Kate did as she was instructed. Jack slid the top of his thigh in between her legs and moved it back and forth; feeling the silk of her panties slide across his jeans. He rubbed her slow and steady. As he did the sweet surge moved from her belly to where he was rubbing her. Kate closed her eyes, getting lost in the feeling. A slow smile of satisfaction formed on his face when he heard her purr.

  Kate felt like she was in a dreamy state of intoxication. The outside world disappeared and it was only her and Jack, always her and Jack. She opened her eyes and seemed to beg him for more. She was transfixed on the darkness of his eyes, the smoldering heat brewing beneath them and her breath caught in her throat. She leaned forward and laid her head on his chest.

  “Take me home, Jack,” she whispered as he cradled her in his arms.

  “I had every intention of taking you home, baby,” he spoke softly.

  Tony had enough watching this exchange. It was bad enough that Jack came barging in h
ere, but he would be damned if Kate was going to leave with him. “Now just wait a minute there, Jack. Kate came with me tonight.” His chest bored up to inflate his pride.

  “She may have come with you boy, but she’s leaving with me.” Jack lifted Kate to her feet and stood then took her hand.

  “What are you doing, son?” said Zeke. “You just can’t come in here and cart this little filly away like you own her.”

  “Stay out of this old man,” warned Jack.

  Tony took a step forward. “Let go of her hand,” he placed his own warning.

  Kate saw the anger building between the two of them. It sobered her up quick. “Jack, Tony does have a point. It wouldn’t be right for you to take me home,” she said suddenly feeling bad for the young man she came with.

  “Be quiet,” he chastised her as his eyes never left the boy’s. “I’m taking what’s mine to begin with, so don’t get any foolish notions in that boy head of yours.”

  “Come on Jack, have a seat,” said Dustin trying to diffuse the situation. “Why don’t you have a drink and we can talk.”

  “Don’t feel much like drinking tonight, Dustin,” said Jack. “I have other things on my mind.” He looked over at Kate and she understood what he meant.

  “Jack, no.” She pulled her hand away and moved closer to Tony. He pushed her behind him and faced Jack. Jack looked at Tony, then at Kate.

  “I’m taking you home,” Jack stated again. “You can come willingly, or I can take you kicking and screaming. It don’t matter to me either way.”

  “You’ll have to go through me first,” said Tony angrily.

  “Go ahead boy, take your best shot,” he laughed. “But you’re only getting one, so it better be good.”

  Once more they squared off. Eye to eye neither one moved. Then Tony took his shot, his fist barreling into Jack’s jaw. Jack didn’t flinch. The lad’s eyes grew wide with fear. Jack curled up his fist, and before Tony knew what hit him, a blow to his nose sent him sailing back onto the floor and knocked him out cold.

  “Oh my God,” cried Kate and she rushed to the boy’s side. She knelt and heard a slight groan escape his lips. Angrily she turned and glared up at Jack. “What did you do?”

  “Get up, Barbie doll,” he scowled.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.” She shouted back.

  “Fine, we’ll do this your way.” He bent and pulled her up by her arm. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Before Kate could object further, Jack leaned over and tossed her over his shoulder.

  “Put me down!” She bellowed.

  “Goodnight, folks,” Jack stated tipping his hat with a kicking and screaming Kate flung over his chest and back. “I’m taking my woman home.” No one made a move to stop him and he nodded farewell.

  “I am not your woman!” She screamed again as she beat her hands against his back.

  Jack ignored her and carried her out of the bar, down the wooden planked sidewalk, and towards his truck.

  “Put me down,” she shrieked again and hit him harder.

  “Be quiet, or you’ll wake the whole town!”

  “I won’t,” she screamed again. “Help, somebody help!”

  Jack stopped walking, and with his free hand gave her one good spank to her backside. She fell into dead silence. “Now be quiet or I’ll do it again.” He resumed walking, taking firm strides.

  Kate erupted into tears. “I hate you,” she wailed feeling the sting to her backside. “I hate you.”

  He ignored her till he came to his truck. He opened the driver’s side door then flopped her bottom on to the seat.

  “Move over,” he commanded.

  Kate scurried to the other side of the truck and tried to open the passenger door, but Jack still had a hold of her. He sat behind the wheel then wrapped his arm tightly around her waist and pulled her to him. He started the truck and pulled out onto the main road, heading back to the ranch.

  “I hate you,” Kate sputtered.

  “So you keep telling me.” He looked over at her and grinned. “But somehow I don’t think so. You know what I think?”

  “I don’t care what you think.” She curled up her nose at him and tried to dismantle his arm from her shoulder but her efforts were in vain. Jack steered the truck along the hillside as the town of Virginia City disappeared from his rear view mirror.

  “I think you like this thing between us just as much as I do,” he stated in a serious tone.” “And we’re done playing this game. It’s time for you and me to get this right.”

  “You’re crazy,” Kate rolled her eyes and laughed as he pulled onto the dirt driveway of the ranch.

  “That’s right baby I am,” he said as he parked the truck in front of the main house and turned to face her. “I’m crazy about you.”

  Kate snorted and laughed again. She pulled away and went to slide across the seat in order to leave.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he said reaching out for her arm.

  “Anywhere but near you,” she scoffed and went for the door handle.

  “Not so fast, Kate.”

  She turned and saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes. It was never good when he looked at her like that and she felt her breath hitch in her chest. No, she thought as her temperature began to rise but not from anger. She would not give in to his charms or his devilish ways though his heat and energy filled the cab making it difficult for her to breath.

  Before she could voice her objection out loud, he yanked her back and she fell into his arms, her body crashing against his chest. His hands stroked her back, moving upwards to her neck.

  “What are you doing?” She felt his fingers brush around her nape and into her scalp.

  “What does it look like I’m doing?” He stared with wolf like eyes as he entwined his fingers in the back of her hair.

  “Jack, can’t we talk about this?” She barely got the words out.

  With a quick tug, he jerked her head back. “We’re done talking.” And he meant it. He was done waiting and he made up his mind for the both of them that he was going to have her now. When Jack McBride made up his mind there was nothing or no one that would talk him out of it. He would not succumb to her no’s any longer when everything inside her was saying yes. “I am going to kiss every inch of you, Kathryn Harris.” His dark eyes smoldered with passion. “And when I’m done, I’m going to do it again.”

  Kate gulped an oh my, and practically melted into a puddle on the seat. He stared intently at her sweet lips that seemed to be begging to be tasted and her eyes fluttered closed in anticipation.

  Jack slammed his mouth against hers and kissed her. It was a rugged kiss, filled with raw need. She surrendered to his sweet invasion, capturing more than just her sweet lips. He rendered her powerless as her body submitted to his every touch. She let him kiss her and to her surprise she kissed him back.

  He knew the moment she yielded to him. Jack moved his hand over her shoulder, slipping the thin strap of her dress down over her arm. He grasped the clingy material around her chest and lowered it to her waist taking her strapless bra with it. Two full breasts appeared and he took one and cupped it in his hand, massaging her flesh like a ripe melon.

  “Oh yeah baby, they are so real,” he said with great pleasure as he danced his thumb over her nipple until it became hard and tight. He wasn’t rough, but he wasn’t gentle either. Kate purred in his mouth as his lips claimed her again.

  Jack lowered kisses to her neck and then to her breasts feeling them with his mouth instead of his hand. He tightened his hold on her hair and bent Kate backward to still her as he devoured her breast with his mouth, teasing her, teeth grazing across her pink nipple making it hard with uncomfortable pleasure. Kate gasped and instinctively released a moan of pleasure as a sweetness gripped her belly and traveled down between her thighs. He was delighted by her arousal, and it magnified his own.

  “Lie back,” he whispered his instructions as he opened the truck’s door to give himself
more room.

  Kate leaned back on her elbows and Jack slid her legs across the slick leather seat until her head rested against the passenger door. Jack climbed onto his knees and proceeded to remove her boots, tossing them one at a time onto the dirt ground. Her bare toes rested on the leather seat of the truck.

  “You didn’t wear socks under your boots?” He touched the dampness of her toes.

  “No,” she suppressed a giggle.

  “Oh baby, I have so much to teach you.” A slow seducing grin formed on his face. Jack grabbed her sundress and slid it down over her bottom then tossed it too out of the truck. “Well aren’t you a pretty picture,” he said hungrily looming over her staring at the strapless bra and panties. “Take off the bra thing, Kate.”

  Kate did what she was told and handed it to Jack. Once more he flung it over his shoulder. A pleased look fell across his face. Like a cat stalking its prey, Jack moved over her taking in every inch of her body with his mouth. Kate was on fire feeling every tingle, every sensation from the man who was kissing her everywhere. He claimed her mouth again with his, taking and probing with his tongue then moved again to her breasts, fondling and sucking until she started to squirm.

  “That’s it baby, keep wiggling that sweet ass of yours because that’s where I’m going next.”

  Jack moved his mouth to her other breasts and repeated his rapturous assault, nipping at her flesh until her nipple peaked taught.

  “Oh, Jack,” Kate released a deliciously sweet moan as her body ignited from the pleasure it was receiving. He paused momentarily to watch her face.

  “You like this between us, don’t you Kate?” he growled sexily.

  “Yes,” she said with shallow breath. “Don’t stop.”

  “I’m not stopping.” He smiled, eyes dancing with triumph. “I’ve only just begun with you. But we’re going to take this real slow baby, ‘cause I want to watch you squirm and beg me to take you.”

  His words made her instantly wet. Kate couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed Jack by his hair and pulled his mouth down on hers. She kissed him like she was ravenous. He let her, and the frenzy built between them. Jack’s excitement grew. He placed deep sweet kisses on her neck and breathed hard. Like a heated breeze, Kate shivered as the sensation rippled like a wave all over her body. He felt her twitch beneath him with sensual delight.