by Tara Rose
“Oh yeah.” He smiled. “It’s all coming back to me now. Van Whitney and most of his crew were there, and they invited me to sit with them. Nice guys.”
“They are. I’ve always liked Van and Rowena. So what did you guys talk about? Carpenter nails, paint colors, and things like that?”
His grin made her want to kiss him until neither of them could breathe. “No, we talked about Trace Coleman.”
“Ugh. I’m sick of hearing about him. The whole damn town is obsessed with him.”
“We didn’t talk about him for long, not once a mysterious stranger walked in. Care to guess who it was?”
“Trace?”
He shook his head. In the dim light, his dark eyes shone with mischief. “Someone who piqued your curiosity earlier today.”
“Who?”
“Guess.”
She ran a hand through her still-damp hair. “Okay. It’s obvious you like to tease me.”
“Is that all right?”
She nuzzled his neck for a second or two, loving how warm his skin still was. “Yes. I love it. But I still have no clue who you mean.”
“Kane Easton.”
Her pulse raced. Had they known his name when they’d spotted him the bakery? No. Should she tell him that he’d come into The Cranberry Roost and asked for her phone number? Shit. She’d barely dated one guy at a time. Felicity had no frame of reference for this. Was what she and Maverick were doing tonight considered dating?
“You remember him as the guy in the bakery who you thought was listening to us.” He mistook her silence for confusion. She couldn’t let him go on believing that. It wouldn’t be fair.
“He was in the restaurant tonight.”
His smile faded, and Felicity wished the bed would open up and swallow her right now. “When?”
She shrugged. “Not sure exactly. I talked to him around eight thirty.”
“You talked to him?” Maverick’s voice was tight and clipped, and she hated that. How the hell had she landed in the middle of this?
“Shawn Gentile, one of the servers, came into the kitchen to tell me that some guy wanted to thank me for the sweet bread.”
“The sweet bread? What a line.”
“Maverick, I don’t know how to respond to that. I was shocked that he was there at all.”
He watched her face carefully for a few moments before speaking again, almost as if he were searching for the answer to something. “What did you talk about?”
“Not much. He’s kind of evasive.” That was true, at any rate.
“I agree.”
“What was he doing in The Saloon? Did he follow you or something?” This was getting creepy. That he’d shown up in both places tonight couldn’t be a coincidence.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. But you’ll never guess why he was so interested in what we were talking about in the bakery.”
“So he was listening to us.” A cool breeze stirred the curtains and Felicity drew closer to Maverick’s warmth.
“It appears that way. Guess why he’s here in town?”
Felicity slapped his arm playfully, grateful to have something to take her mind off why Kane had sought them both out tonight. “Stop with the guessing games and just tell me, Maverick.”
He flipped them over and lay on top of her, sending a shock wave of desire through her body that sent thoughts of Kane Easton away for the moment. “Don’t hit me, sub.”
“I’m not your sub.” The idea of that, however, caused her pussy to flood. His eyes were filled with light and humor, and she couldn’t hold back a sigh.
“You could be, Felicity.”
“I suppose I could.” Was he asking? Play it cool. “But right now, please tell me more about the mysterious Kane Easton.”
“He sure asked a lot of questions about you.”
“He did not. Stop that.” She was certain that he had. How else would he have known where she worked? Or was it truly just happenstance that he’d decided to have dinner tonight at The Cranberry Roost, alone?
“I’m not teasing about that, Felicity.”
She didn’t want Maverick to see how excited it made her to think that Kane had been asking about her, so she averted her gaze and picked at a loose thread on the comforter. “So, why was he so interested in our conversation at the bakery?”
Maverick rolled off her and sat up. She raised to a sitting position as well, crossing her legs as she turned to face him. “He was kind of vague, but it sounded like he’d tangled with Trace Coleman before.”
“Is that why he’s here?”
“He never really said so. He seemed more interested in the Ruiz family.”
“You mean he was interested in the Sleepy Cat legend? Why?”
“Not just the legend. He wanted to know more about Mancie and Nevada, specifically.”
Felicity hugged herself as another strong breeze blew across the room. Or had she imagined it? She rose and closed the window, then turned to face Maverick. “You said he also asked about me. Did one of you tell him where I work?”
“Jorges mentioned it, but only because he was talking about his sister.”
She nodded. “Maverick, I wouldn’t feel right unless I told you this. Kane didn’t just want to thank me for making the sweet bread. He wanted my phone number.”
The light in the room was dim, but not dim enough that she couldn’t see the quick flash of disappointment cross his eyes. “I see. Did you give it to him?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to go out with him?”
Felicity watched him for a few seconds, and then she crossed the room and sat very close to him. She touched his face, and when he didn’t flinch or pull away, she kissed his lips. Just a quick kiss, but it told her all she needed to know. He wasn’t upset with her, and she was very grateful for that. “Not tonight,” she whispered. “Tonight I’m all yours, Maverick.”
Maverick pulled her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. It was almost impossible to feel guilty or confused about Kane once he did that. It was almost impossible to do anything but snuggle against his warm body and inhale his musky scent. Felicity hoped he wasn’t done making love to her tonight, because she certainly was ready to go again.
“I have a confession of my own, Felicity. After Kane found out where you worked and asked a few more questions, I told him I was driving you home from work tonight.”
She didn’t miss the tone of his voice. It was full of pride and perhaps also a sense of mischief. Part of her relished the small thrill that ran through her at the realization both men had made sure the other knew he was interested in her. “What did he say?”
“Nothing. But I was proud and happy that I was going to see you tonight. I just wanted you to know that.”
No one had ever wanted to show off in front of the guys, simply because he was going to be with her, and she was flattered by it. “You’re not upset with me then, Maverick?”
“Upset? No. Jealous? A bit.”
“Please don’t be. It’s only a phone number. I won’t go out with him if you don’t want me to.”
“No. That’s not right. I’m not going to start telling you who you can or can’t see. You have to make up your own mind about that. But I have to say this. I hope this isn’t a one-night thing with us, because it’s not for me. I want you to know that.”
She turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes, her heart fluttering. “Not at all. No way. It’s not that at all, Maverick.”
“Good.” When she kissed him, all thoughts about the Ruiz family and mysterious men named Kane disappeared, and there was only Maverick’s mouth, and his hands on her body.
Chapter Six
Felicity parted her lips to let Maverick’s tongue inside, and by the time he released the kiss, her pussy was soaked and another orgasm was close. He trailed a line of liquid fire with his tongue down her neck then moved her gently off his lap and onto her back.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and gav
e it a gentle tug. “So…we were talking about you becoming my sub.”
She could hardly breathe. The gesture was so dominant, and now that he’d brought up that subject again, her pulse raced and her entire body tingled. “We were. And I said I wanted you to tell me about Kane first.”
“And so I did.”
“Are you asking me to be your sub, Maverick?”
“Well, you don’t just ask someone out of the blue.”
“I know. So, what are you asking then?”
“I’d like you to think about it. For the future. Once we get to know each other a little better.”
“I’ll think about it.” She couldn’t seem to stop her heart from beating too fast.
“I’m serious, Felicity.”
She let out a sigh that sounded more gasping than breathy. “I am, too, Maverick.”
When he returned to kissing her neck, Felicity arched her hips, aching to have his dick inside her again. He rolled them both onto their sides, and Felicity wrapped one leg around him. He reached around and smacked each ass cheek a couple of times then chuckled as she moaned and ground her pussy into his cock.
“I think you like that.”
“You’re a big tease, Maverick. I already told you I did, in the shower earlier.”
“So you did.”
Before she could react, he sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. She watched him, thinking he was going to stand up, but instead he pulled her over to where he sat and bent her over one leg, pinning both of hers with the opposite one. She yelled in surprise and started to laugh, then reached around with her right arm, but he was faster. He pinned that one against her side with his left arm, effectively trapping her over his left leg.
“Your last chance to refuse a spanking, Felicity.”
“Will I have a safeword, Sir?” She was laughing so hard it was difficult to get the words out.
“Oh, I like that. You calling me ‘Sir,’ I mean, and asking for a safeword. Sure, you can have one. Let’s use ‘bread’ in honor of what you make at work.”
“Okay.”
He smacked her left ass cheek, very hard. Felicity yelled in surprise, but not because of the pain. She was so turned on right now it was ridiculous. Erotic images danced through her head, and she was certain she’d come if he spanked her for real, just from the swats alone. No one had ever done this to her, but she’d fantasized about it often enough.
“What did you say?”
“I meant yes, Sir.”
He caressed the cheek he’d just smacked, and then reached under to tease her wet pussy and throbbing clit. “You’re so ready for me.”
“I am, Sir. You know I am.”
“Felicity…you make me feel so alive.”
“Thank you, Maverick.” She hoped he wouldn’t care that she’d just called him by his name.
“I want you so hot and ready for me that you almost explode.”
“I’m already there, Sir,” she whispered. More tender caresses followed his words, and Felicity couldn’t hold back her moans.
“I’m still going to spank you.”
“I probably deserve it, Sir.”
“You do. Just for being so damn irresistible. And for giving Kane your phone number.” As he began to swat her ass cheeks hard, alternating, she squirmed against his muscled thigh and squeezed her legs together, trying to bring on her impending climax. The arousal coursing through her body was out of control. Each smack sent it spiraling higher, until Felicity was actually dizzy and felt kind of spacey.
There was nothing she’d deny Maverick at that point. The pain from the spanking mixed with exquisite pleasure, and the combination was unlike anything Felicity had ever felt. She wanted him to keep going, and she wanted to please him, all at the same time. How was it she’d never known this kind of emotional release before?
Just as the pain was starting to break through the euphoria, he stopped and began to stroke her pussy again. Felicity writhed against his touch, begging for release. “Your ass is red. It’s so beautiful.”
“Freshly boiled lobster red?” She started to giggle at her own silly joke. What was wrong with her?
“Not quite.” He chuckled, and moved his hand to brush over the tender skin. “Should I keep going until it is?”
“No. I mean no, Sir. I mean…oh, hell. I don’t know what I mean.”
“I think you’re punch drunk, Felicity.”
“I can’t help it. I’ve never had this much damn fun with anyone.”
He helped her stand up and then turned her to face him and placed a hand on each shoulder, looking into her eyes. “I haven’t either. I mean that.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
When he kissed her again, he pulled her down on top of him, and she wrapped her body around his and kissed him back as if she never would again. She released his mouth to lower her pussy over his dick and cried out as he thrust upward, all the way into her. “Touch your body, Felicity.”
That was all it took. She didn’t even get her fingers down to her clit before a blinding climax overtook her, making her cry out loudly with each delicious contraction that rocked her to the core. He grasped her breasts and teased her nipples as she moved up and down on his cock, riding the waves coursing through her. How could anything feel this incredible?
When she didn’t think she could stand one more minute, he pulled her down over his torso and told her to hang on. She did, and then he flipped them over so that he was on top of her. Maverick grinned down at her and lifted her legs so that they were over his shoulders. He wasn’t done, and at this angle, he penetrated her even deeper. When he began to gently caress her clit as well, she shook her head back and forth as another orgasm built. How did he do it?
“So much for missionary position being boring,” he said.
“No shit.”
His thrusting became quicker, and Felicity could hardly breathe as the climax washed over her, just as strong as the last one. She clung to Maverick, but it was difficult to hang on because both their bodies were covered with a fine sheen of sweat. He cried out, his movements became jerky, and she watched the veins stand out on his neck as he came.
After he finished, he gazed into her eyes for long, luscious moments, and then he gathered her in his arms and softly stroked her hair. As Felicity drifted off to sleep, listening to their combined breathing and heartbeats, she wondered how anything could be more perfect than this moment, right now, in Maverick’s embrace.
* * * *
Kane rolled over and turned off his alarm clock Sunday morning, wishing he could go back to sleep. He’d been having an erotic dream about Felicity, and that red hair spread out against the cool grass, under the stars. She had the kind of body he loved on a woman. Not too thin, not too thick, with curves in all the right places. Would he have the chance to find out if she looked the same as she had in his dream?
He wanted to call her, but if Maverick had spent the night and was still there, he’d know it by the tone of her voice on the phone, and then he’d feel awkward and she’d hear that in his voice. Best to wait until later, just in case the cowboy had made it past Felicity’s front door after all.
Plus, if he was going to find out where the Ruiz family went after dark, he had to search the woods during the day. His mouth tasted like sandpaper, and he suspected that had to do with the Coors he’d drunk while watching mindless TV last night. But it was better than beating off to porn on his laptop. Although after his dream last night, even that sounded better right now than walking into the woods alone. He needed to clear his head and remember how much of a thrill it gave him to chase down a mystery.
After a long, hot shower, he put on clean clothes and walked downtown to make sure the tent was set up. There it was, and all three family members were inside, plus three other people he didn’t recognize. He didn’t want to get too close to see if he could notice a resemblance to Mason, Mancie or Nevada. Those three might recognize him from yesterday, and he didn’t want to a
rouse their suspicions.
He pretended to be interested in the few shops that were open on a Sunday morning while he glanced over at the tent every few seconds. The other three people were dressed in the same casual wear as Mason, Mancie and Nevada, and sat around on folding chairs inside the tent. Every once in a while, laughter punctuated the cool, crisp morning air. They had to be family members, or at least close friends. If they were family members, maybe that meant wherever they lived was completely unoccupied today? That would be a bonus.
Kane went in search of food before he set out for the woods north of town. Several of Van’s crew the night before had mentioned Doli’s Diner as having really great food, if you could overlook the inside appearance. He used the Google maps app on his iPhone to find Pioneer Lane, which wasn’t too far away. Then again, nothing in this town was too far away from anything else.
The place reminded him of diners from the thirties and forties in cities like Memphis and Jackson, Mississippi. He loved it on sight. As soon as he stepped inside, if he closed his eyes he could pretend he was in the South again, in almost any tiny town from Arkansas to Georgia. The diners like this in every town had the same smell. Grease, coffee, and burned toast.
He found himself wishing that Felicity worked here instead of The Cranberry Roost, with its pretentious leather-bound menus and soft jazz playing in the background. Then he would have sat here during her entire shift the night before and found a way to invite himself over to her house afterward, even if the cowboy was there, too.
On the heels of that thought, he tried to imagine what Maverick would have said if he’d suggested they try and talk Felicity into a threesome. Kane shook his head, wondering if he had developed a secret death wish. Maverick may not be the dull-minded, illiterate threat that Kane had first assumed he was, but the guy also didn’t look like the type who would share a woman with anyone.
Stepping across the threshold, he glanced up and down the narrow line of booths. There were only two occupied. One was filled by an older couple who appeared to be arguing over something, and the other contained four teens who looked like they’d been up all night. Kane chose to sit at the counter.
