Quinn turned away, facing the yard and closed her eyes when the bedroom door snapped closed. “What the hell am I doing here?” she mumbled below her breath. In the distance she eyed her car and briefly entertained the idea of grabbing up her luggage and heading back home where she belonged. But did she really belong there anymore? Sure, she had friends and something of a life in the stagnant little town where she grew up but her business was in the toilet and her only solid connection was with Graham. One day, he’d meet a woman he loved. He’d marry and raise a family. Where did that leave her? Considering she was a “friend with benefits”, whomever he took up with would resent the hell out of her. The bottom line was, she had very little to go home to and now, here she stood looking out over this vast ranch that, through an accident of birth, was hers. Well, partly hers. And Joe’s.
She looked toward the barn where Selena had vanished and then saw Joe stop halfway between the barn and the house. He looked up at her and even from this distance he looked so big and capable. The black Stetson was settled over his streaked hair and she sucked in a breath as he studied her solemnly and tipped the brim of his hat in acknowledgment. Finally, he turned and walked away, eating up the ground with long strides. At first, she thought he’d follow Selena into the barn but it didn’t happen. He veered off in another direction and she watched him go through the front door of his mid-sized brick house.
She had nothing but questions that had all been shoved to the back of her mind. Confusion swamped her and sent her back into the relative coolness of the bedroom where she sank upon the bed and buried her face in her hands.
What the hell had she been thinking letting Joe take her like that on the desk? Was she nuts?
She’d been half crazy from the minute she’d laid eyes on the overpowering man. He was a stranger but he affected her as no one she’d ever met before. Her skin practically hummed at the memory of his touch at the remembrance of the way his thick cock had plunged deep into her body offering a relief she’d never known she needed. But it was more than simple sexual pleasure. It was as if she knew him in some cosmic way and that scared the hell out of her. Common sense told her it took awhile to understand the measure of a man but his strength, honor and his ultimate loneliness had practically reached out and grabbed her.
She pulled off her pumps and tossed them aside before flopping onto the bed to consider her options. There was no option. She’d always been a curious woman and this was a place of mystery she was fully ready to explore. Adventure—and a little bit of fear—might be healthy, she thought as she closed her eyes. The atmosphere here was full of an energy that she couldn’t begin to understand. She eyed the luggage sitting at the foot of the bed and sighed. Nope. She wasn’t going to grab the bag and run out the door. It just wasn’t her way. Something very strange was going on around here and until she had more answers than questions, she was staying put. Once the decision was made, a strange acceptance filled her. She stood and went to the luggage and began to unpack.
* * * * *
Ringo Ramóne lounged back among the hay bales and watched the gorgeous she-wolf stomp through the barn door and glare into the dim interior. On the other side of the area, Manuel, a very careful wolf, crooned to one of the horses, running his big hand over the animal’s glossy mane, all the time carefully shielding his predatory nature from the beast. Instantly alerted to her presence, he looked up and frowned.
Ringo knew that Manuel too, smelled her heat, her need for sex. It was always that way with the hot Latina. Anger made her hot and heat meant sex. There was never one emotion without the other. The presence of the gorgeous curvy blonde who’d laid claim to their alpha had torn Selena’s plans to bits. She’d thought Joe would take her as his lupa but each man here knew better. Selena was too hotheaded to rule, too vain to care about anyone but herself. She was a whole lot of uncontrollable woman whose passions would misdirect her at every turn.
He watched her breasts heave beneath the cotton of her shirt. Tears of anger filled her dark eyes. She felt lost, he knew, defeated even. For the first time in her long life, she felt like an outsider. Well, hell, he’d been down that road too and though he wasn’t a man who pitied anyone, he couldn’t help feeling just a little bit sorry for her.
He knew how it felt to be an outsider. It had been that way for him since he’d been a wet-behind-the-ears pup and his own father had been meted out pack justice that had cost him his life and left Ringo an orphan. Years ago Ringo’s father had challenged Bart Fitzgerald for leadership of the pack and his subsequent death had been violent. Days later, his mother, unable to bear the grief of losing her mate had taken her own life.
Selfish woman!
After one hundred years he’d never been able to forgive her for submitting to this ultimate act of cruelty heaped upon the head of her only child. The pack had pitied the child he was and taken over his care, but Ringo never forgot for a moment that he was an outsider here.
“Gotta hand it to ya, darlin’. You sure know how to cause a scene,” he drawled. “Not the best way to get Joe back, you know. Big mistake.”
“That woman, Quinn, she’s the one who made a mistake! Puta!” Selena practically spat the curse.
Manuel left the horse he’d been stroking and advanced, his hands fisted at his side. “Stop it! She’s Bart’s daughter and one of us. You must know what her being here means. There may be others with our rare genetic makeup out there. We are skinny on women and her very presence gives us hope.”
A sly smile curled her lips as she sauntered up to Manuel and looped her arms around his neck. “What?” she whispered. “Am I not enough woman for the two of you?”
Manuel scowled but kissed her anyway. Ringo felt his own body respond to the scene. Wolves were over-the-top sexual creatures and he wasn’t the kind to turn down a few hours of easy sex. He and Manuel often shared Selena so he didn’t hesitate. Moving toward the two of them, he came up behind her and settled his lips at the side of her neck. “You know you are, darlin’, but only until we find mates of our own.”
“I hate you,” she whispered as the kiss was broken. She rubbed her ass against the fly of his jeans. “I hate you but I’ll have you. I’ll have you both until I figure out a way to get Joe back.”
The invitation she presented was too damn delicious to resist. Ringo looked over her shoulder at Manuel and reached for the hem of her tee shirt. Yanking it over her head, he tossed it aside and nipped her bared shoulder. He reached around to fill his hands with her breasts, thumbing nipples that were diamond-hard. Selena hadn’t worn a bra today. Good. Suited him just fine.
“Ah, querido. That feels so good. Pinch them,” she whispered as she rested her head back on his shoulder. “Harder.”
Happy to oblige, he treated her to a rough touch while Manuel, worked the snap and zipper on her jeans. Ringo saw her shoes get tossed one way and then another.
When she was naked and Manuel stood holding her jeans and panties in one hand, he buried his fingers in her pussy. “You’re wet and ready, chica,” he said. Manuel’s eyes were at half-mast and Ringo watched his friend work her over until his hands were glistening from her cream.
“Let’s take this to the back room.” Ringo stepped away from Selena and took her hand. They followed Manuel to a small bedroom that was maintained for those occasions when a horse was sick and needed constant care. Handy. Manuel and Ringo had used the big bed for more than sleeping over the years. Especially when it came to entertaining Selena.
Selena released his hand and flashed them both a saucy smile before crawling naked into the center of the bed. Lying on her back, a sultry smile blooming on her face, she splayed her legs wide. Her naked pussy was shiny and her lower lips were swollen. Ringo’s cock got harder with every second he spent looking at her bawdy display.
She might be a bitch with a capital “B” but she was as sexy as hell.
“You want it, don’t you, Ringo?” Selena practically purred the question. “You want me more t
han that blonde bitch, Quinn.” She slid her gaze to Manuel and swept her hands over her breasts and torso before plunging her fingers into her cunt. “Come and get it, Manuel. You know you are dying to fuck me.”
“That I am. But not before you show us more. Make yourself come for us,” Manuel said.
Selena closed her eyes and shoved busy fingers in and out of her pussy. Moisture coated them. “Get the clamps,” she whispered. A fine misting of sweat beaded on her forehead as she drew her bottom lip between her teeth and writhed. Ringo reached into a drawer of the small bedside table and got the nipple clamps. They were connected by a thin chain. He tossed it on the bed and quickly stripped. Manuel did the same and sprawled next to Selena. They bent their heads to her nipples and started to suck until Selena cried out. Ringo sent his hand to Selena’s pussy and let his fingers entwine with hers. Sliding them through the tender flesh felt so damn good. He flicked her clit and pinched it lightly.
“Harder, querido!”
Ringo obliged and looked over to see that Manuel had attached a clamp to the nipple he’d been sucking. He released her nipple from his mouth, removed his fingers from her cunt and did the same. While Manuel kissed and sucked at Selena’s skin, Ringo gently tugged the small chain. Selena gasped, and then cried out as she came.
They’d played this game before and working in tandem, Ringo moved down the bed until he had Selena’s legs draped over his shoulders. Manuel straddled her shoulders and while she took his cock deep into her mouth to suck, Ringo ate at her dripping pussy. Slowly at first, gentling her, he drank her juices and rested his tongue at her pulsing clit. Before long she was writhing against his mouth. Ringo sucked her clit lightly and buried three fingers deep inside her.
Above him, Manuel’s hips moved as Selena sucked him off. “Ah yeah, chica, that’s good. Harder. Play with my balls.” Ringo’s gaze took in the sight of Selena’s hands working Manuel’s sac and then Manuel stiffened and came with a low growl.
Ringo continued to work her pussy with his mouth but he knew Manuel was going for the lube they kept in the drawer. When Selena came in a quick rush, he looked up to see Manuel was hard again.
Oh hell yeah. It was good to be a lycan.
They could fuck all night and all day if they wanted.
Ringo moved up the bed and pulled Selena over his body. “We’re gonna fuck you now. Your pussy and your ass. You ready, darlin’?”
“Hell yes. Do it.”
With Selena on her knees straddling his body, he dragged his aching cock through the creamy flesh of her pussy. Fuck! There might not be a single nice thing to be said for her but she had the sweetest cunt. He dipped the broad head of his cock into her opening and then out again, just to make her crazy.
“Bastardo!”
A crack sounded and Selena jerked.
Ringo grinned. Leave it to Manuel! His friend stood next to the bed and held a small leather crop in one hand. He swung it again and Selena stiffened.
“Fuck my cock, woman. Take it all.”
Once her silky folds closed over him, Ringo sighed in relief. Lifting his hands, he removed the clamps and tossed them aside, then tenderly massaged the swollen nubs. Ringo drew her down until her breasts were pressed against his chest, the nipples hard and delicious. He reached down and grabbed the backs of her thighs and opened her more fully just before Manual began to methodically whip her ass.
Selena began to writhe against him and if he hadn’t been made of stronger stuff, he would be coming long and hard right about now. Finally Ringo looked behind Selena and saw that Manuel was in position behind her. Manuel poured lube into his hand, covered his cock with it and gave Ringo a meaningful nod.
“Up on your knees,” he whispered. “Let’s get that beautiful ass ready.”
Selena went still while Manuel spread the lube over her. She was fully impaled on his cock and Ringo felt every sensation as Manuel breached her ass. When he was seated to the hilt, both men began to move in perfect counterpoint. Selena’s cries echoed in the room as the orgasms hit her, one after the other. Ringo felt his balls draw up tight against his body and tingles zip over his ass and spine.
“Now, amigo,” he said with a groan. “Now.”
Manuel increased the pace of his thrusts and he did the same. When both men came and then relaxed in a tangle, Ringo wasn’t surprised to hear Selena practically purring in contentment.
That contentment wouldn’t last long, he knew. She didn’t know how to get happy and stay that way. It wasn’t in her nature. Yes, he realized, they had much in common.
Chapter Four
Three nights later, Quinn sat on the back patio of the house and looked out over the inky shadows that seemed to float over the prairie beyond. In the distance she heard the sounds of cattle and the occasional coyote. Not unusual sounds considering this place was in the middle of nowhere. She’d always lived in town. Yeah, a little town but there were noises associated with people all around her. It was different here, the quiet almost like a voice of its own.
She loved it.
It was hard to imagine that this rough land with its desolate, lonely beauty belonged to her. Tonight the moon was full, hanging like a jewel suspended over the flat terrain. Still hot tonight. Quinn held a glass of sweet tea and rolled it across her chest loving the feel of the condensation on her warm skin. She wore a white tank and a pair of jersey cotton shorts. Her legs were stretched out in front of her as she lounged back and breathed in the night air. In the distance, a wild howling went up disturbing the peaceful moment and she stilled, still clutching the cold glass against her chest.
But then it stopped and a shiver raced over her flesh.
The image of Joe flashed through her mind. Big, strong Joe. Though he made her more than a little nervous, she wished he was with her right now. Yeah, she was spooked.
Over the past few days, she’d been surprised by his absence. After what had happened between them, she’d expected something different. Joe McKinnon was a man who went after what he wanted and she’d thought he wanted her. Maybe she’d been wrong about that. She’d seen him from a distance, usually riding out on a big chestnut mare or driving his double cab truck down the road kicking up wings of dust as he headed off somewhere.
The ranch was busy during the day with ranch hands working the place, dealing with chores and cattle and horses and she’d been left on her own pretty much. She’d seen Selena slinking about but didn’t believe she lived here on the property as most of the men did. The fridge and the pantry were stocked with food, the house was clean and she’d mainly just explored and fended for herself while acclimating herself to the place.
The house was beautiful and rustic, probably built sometime in the mid-1800s and yet, despite its historical charm, it was modern in every way. Even now, she looked out over a backyard pool that was landscaped with lush green plants and colorful hibiscus. She set the glass down on a patio table and briefly considering jumping in to cool off, but in the end, went through the back door into the kitchen. Making her way upstairs in the dim light she wondered if she’d see Joe tomorrow.
Damn. She needed to stop thinking about him. Tonight she’d looked across the way to his house and saw no lights. Was he in town at Cloverfield’s only honky tonk? Maybe Selena had gotten her way and even now, they were together. Quinn shook her head as she walked into the master bedroom and flipped on a lamp that sat on a table by the door. Being downright stupid about a man, any man, wasn’t like her so she gave herself a mental kick in the butt. Glancing across the room, she frowned, noting the door to the balcony was open.
Huh?
She kept it shut during the heat of the day so the cool air in the house wouldn’t escape. Her heart thumped hard in her chest as a feeling of expectation, that sensation of being watched took her over. Slowly she crossed the dimly lit room and shut the door but then spun quickly when she heard a noise at the far side of the room.
Her mouth opened on a soundless scream and she stiffened when a
big dark dog padded out from the shadows. Quinn shook her head. No, not a dog.
A wolf.
Terrified, afraid to move a muscle she stared at the great shaggy beast but she sensed nothing intimidating about him. Easily the size of a Mastiff, with a dark brown coat, he cocked his head and looked at her through intelligent, golden eyes. Streaks of a beautiful caramel color framed his eyes and snout. She was unable to look away from the beautiful wild animal who didn’t, at this moment, seem wild at all. Yeah. She was obviously losing her mind because everybody knew wolves were dangerous.
Suddenly the wolf whined and lay down to rest his face on his forelegs as he continued to watch her. Quinn let out the breath she was holding but didn’t move.
“Shh. Shh. Please don’t eat me,” she whispered.
The wolf lifted his massive head and she could’ve sworn he rolled his eyes. Something deep inside her shifted and settled. How cool was it to have a wolf just trot into her room like this and practically lay down at her feet? Obviously he’d climbed the steps the led from the ground to the wraparound balcony and had just padded in and made himself right at home.
She wanted to touch him so badly her fingers twitched. “Will you bite my fingers off if I touch you? You won’t, will you, boy?”
The wolf chuffed a sound and settled his face down again and continued to look at her. Finally she gathered her courage and slowly advanced. Once she was several feet away, she did the bravest thing she’d ever done before and went to her knees. “Here now, boy. Here now,” she murmured. Gingerly she held out her hand and laughed a little when the wolf lifted his head and gave them a sniff. His rough tongue flicked out and stroked the back of her hand. Quinn could’ve sworn the dark beast grinned.
Obviously, he was a pet. Someone, probably one of the ranch hands or maybe even Joe, had tamed him. Maybe someone had raised him from a pup to come to a human’s hand. Who knew? She was enchanted. Staring into the animal’s eyes she gasped at the warmth that emanated from that golden gaze. The image of Joe’s eyes flashed through her mind. They were almost the same. Wow. Okay, not going there despite the weird way she was comfortable with this predatory beast. That just wasn’t normal. But just as she had the thought, the wolf rose to his full height and moved in. Unable to believe it, thrilled to pieces, she wrapped her arms around his sturdy neck and buried her face in his neck. He smelled musky and carried the scent of forest and trees, of fresh evening air. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered, stroking her hands over his coat, nuzzling his ruff. “The most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen.” She sat back on her heels, keeping her hand buried in his fur. “Well, almost. Almost as gorgeous as Joe.”
Lone Star Lycan Page 4
