After turning on the shower, she stepped in once it was warm enough. She felt like a zombie and almost moaned loudly like one as the blessedly hot water poured over her head. She stayed under the hot spray for a long time, feeling the emotional strain of the day slip away.
It was encouraging to know that her only real financial setback to deal with was Gunther’s tires and the reason he wouldn’t start. She could handle that because the light was visible at the end of the tunnel. Chance’s visit made her feel more hopeful, too.
Wearily, she worked shampoo into her hair and scrubbed herself clean, used her razor, and then lathered a small dab of the lavender-perfumed body wash he’d given to her. As always, the scent was evocative, and she fantasized about him as she smoothed her hands over her breasts and down her torso. Before today she’d only ever conversed with him and given him a very platonic hug to thank him for the last gifts.
Now she had slightly more vivid memories of him to relive. As she slid her slick hands over her hips and thighs, then between her legs, she fantasized about the feel of his hands and his careful grip as he lifted her from the truck.
She reacted to the memory of his strong, gentle arms around her as she’d laid into her boss, the way he’d calmed her with his touch. Her response now was more substantial as a throb began in her pussy at the thought of those powerful arms wrapped around her bare body and him cupping her breasts in his hands.
Her nipples peaked tightly as she slid her slick fingers over them. Her cheeks filled with heat as she slid her hand down her abdomen one more time. She leaned against the wall of the shower and slowed the descent until two fingers rested above her damp lips. Leaning her temple against her forearm, Lydia took a deep, shuddering breath as she slid two fingers between her pussy lips and stroked her sensitive clit.
The ache in her pussy intensified as she caressed with a circular motion and her fingers became drenched with her own slick moisture. Her pussy trembled at the stimulation, and she imagined that it wasn’t her fingers but his callused touch that aroused her.
Her pussy clenched as she envisioned his sexy lips pressed against hers as he brought her closer and closer to orgasm. Chance was a very generous, affectionate man, and she imagined him whispering sweet words to her as his lips trailed lower until they hovered over her pussy.
He wouldn’t rush her to orgasm. Chance would enjoy the journey as much as the destination. She imagined him taking his time, licking slowly, torturing her with each stroke of his velvety tongue.
With her heart hammering, she let her fantasy go into overdrive as Chance’s brother Clayton appeared at her side and kissed her as he stroked her breasts and her abdomen. Clayton kissed her hungrily then lavished long, slow kisses along her throat.
Lydia’s pussy clenched and she knew she was moments away from coming. In her mind’s eye, Chance looked up at her with his brilliant blue eyes and watched as she arched her back and came undone for him while he lapped hungrily at her pussy. Lydia pressed her mouth against her forearm to muffle her groan of ecstasy as her pussy spasmed with wave after wave of pleasure.
The thought of the two men both bringing her to orgasm was enough to send another shockwave through her core. She’d fantasized about them before, but this time was much stronger, probably because Chance was so close.
When she came to herself again she turned toward the spray and rinsed in an increasing daze. She was off the following morning, and she planned to take full advantage of the time and sleep as long as she could. After turning off the water she opened the shower curtain and groaned miserably.
She’d forgotten her clothes. In her twitter pated state she’d trapped herself in her bathroom with nothing but a bath towel, and a smallish-sized one at that.
“Crap,” she whispered as she dried off, wondering what to do. She cringed at the thought of putting on the clothes she’d worked in all day. She didn’t want to go to bed smelling like a french fry. Putting her ear to the door, she listened for any noise. The room seemed quiet. She cracked open the door and peeked out from behind it. “Chance?”
There was no answer. She poked her head out and heard him outside the motel room window still involved in his phone conversation.
* * * *
“My only question, Chance, is why haven’t you invited her to be our chef?”
Chance leaned against the balcony railing with his cell phone held to his ear and replied, “Because you know that’s not what I want. It’s not what you want either, if you’d admit to it.”
“Of course it’s not, but it would get her here, if you want her and you think she’s interested in you. It’ll take forever for her to come around to a threesome if this turns into a long-distance relationship. You’re not being dishonest. Lord knows we desperately need someone who can cook around here. I’m as useless as you in a kitchen, and I’m tired of eating out. I say beg if you have to.”
Chance smiled at Clayton’s words even though there was a lot of truth in what he said. Unless it came off a grill medium rare, their cooking was the pits. “Okay. I’ll talk to her about that.”
“Did you give her the jewelry and the book yet?” Chance thought he detected a note of hope in his brother’s voice.
“I haven’t yet because the time didn’t feel right, but I have them in my hands, ready to give to her. She’s showering right now.”
Clayton chuckled and said, “She’s in the shower, soapy and nekkid, and you’re talking to me on the phone?” The way his twin brother said it made him think maybe he was crazy for not already begging her to come back to the ranch with him. “She wants to leave Fort Stockton and find a better opportunity, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I think you’re the best opportunity out there for her.”
“But, Clayton, you—”
“But nothing. If she’ll come, then we’ll see. I bet you she’d love the chance to be a chef with her very own kitchen, rather than running her little feet off for measly tips at that café.”
Chance finished up the phone conversation with his brother, satisfied that he was doing the right thing. Tomorrow he’d see about getting tires put on her little red car, because she would still need those and for it to run, regardless of whether she agreed to his proposition tonight or not.
* * * *
Lydia decided that as long as she could hear his indistinct, rumbling voice outside, she was safe in the room getting her stuff. She remembered where each item she needed was located.
She held the towel to her front and slipped cautiously from the steamy bathroom, praying that he was not nearly finished with whomever he was talking to.
Silently easing open the dresser drawer, Lydia grabbed a clean bra, because she thought bobbing breasts and obviously hardened nipples would be more information than she wanted to share with him right now. Next she found clean panties and then pulled her blue satin pajamas from the drawer. The shirt cooperated, but the drawstring on the pants was hung on something in the back of the drawer.
When she reached in to free the knotted end, her towel slipped out from under her arms and she was left standing there stark naked. Crooning low and nearing panic stage, Lydia dropped the other clothes and reached in with both hands. The bottoms were essential and uncooperative, and she sent a fervent prayer heavenward as she tried to find what the drawstring was stuck on.
That was exactly how Chance found her two seconds later as he reentered her motel room. Stuck there, with her towel in a puddle on the floor, Lydia looked up at him across the room, struck speechless.
Chapter Five
A noise and movement caught Chance’s eye as he slipped silently inside Lydia’s dimly lit room. He looked up and beheld a wondrous sight.
Lydia stood completely naked in front of her dresser drawers clearly having some kind of difficulty. Her skin was rosy from her shower, and her long brown hair was wet and dripping down her back. She looked up at him, and he could tell by her beautiful, flushed face how tired she was and how e
mbarrassed and emotional she was about to become. Her lips quivered, and she whispered in a shaky, fragile-sounding voice, “My pajamas are stuck.”
Chance quietly laid the gifts on the table and went to her, trying very hard not to ogle her luscious thighs, her beautiful, rounded ass, and the curve of her spine. She looked up at him with eyes welling full of tears, and he reached out a tentative hand to wipe a tear away as it fell.
Her voice trembled as she spoke. “I’m so embarrassed. I thought I would just sneak out, get my clothes, and you’d be none the wiser. I forgot them when I went in the bathroom.”
“Ssh-shh. Don’t apologize, baby.” He stroked another tear from her flushed cheek, then reached inside the drawer and freed the drawstring of her pajama bottoms from the back edge of the drawer where it was hung.
Taking a deep breath, she hung her head and forcefully slammed the drawer shut. Her eyes flashed open and she shrieked like a banshee, clutching her breast as though she were in agony. His whole body clenched when he realized what had happened. She’d slammed her nipple in the dresser drawer.
Chance wanted to soothe her somehow but didn’t know where to touch. Doing his best to not stare at the gorgeous breast that bounced perkily beside the one she clutched, he finally opted for putting his arms around her as she wailed in pain. Her whole body trembled in his arms, and he had the distinct impression she didn’t know what to do besides stand there and cry.
Suddenly there was loud knocking at the door. “Hello? Hello! Is everybody all right in there?”
The knocking seemed to startle her from the noise she was making, and she said, “Oh no! Don’t open the door.” Still gripping her wounded breast, Lydia retrieved her clothes and scurried into the bathroom. He did his best not to notice the lush, little wiggle in her walk as she did.
She glanced at him before she closed the door, and he felt sorry for her being embarrassed like that. It was probably not the impression she’d been going for at all. Except for her pinched nipple, it was an impression he’d enjoyed nonetheless. That part made him hurt for her. She’d slammed that drawer hard.
He answered the door and nodded at the elderly couple, clad in robes and slippers, standing there with looks of concern on their faces. “Evening, ma’am, sir. My…girlfriend slammed her…finger in the dresser drawer.”
He heard Lydia open the bathroom door and then come up behind him. Convincingly, she sniffled as he put his arm around her. He tried to ignore the feel of her sexy body clad in slippery, satin pajamas, but it was hard, much like the state his cock was approaching. It was a good thing the room was not brightly lit, or everyone else would have known that, too.
“We heard a scream and crying,” the elderly lady said in concern.
Lydia held her fist to her breast, nodded her head, and wiped a stray tear and said, “I’m okay. It’s just been a really, really long day. And…you know how it is?”
The elderly lady nodded in commiseration. “The last straw, honey?”
Brokenly, Lydia replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, we’ll leave you to soothe your pretty lady. Good night,” the elderly man said as they shuffled in their robes and slippers back to their room next door.
Chance said, “If you have a hot-water bottle or a plastic Ziploc bag, I can run downstairs and get ice for an ice pack.”
“Um, here,” she said, handing him a Ziploc she had saved receipts in. After kissing the tip of her nose, which was red from crying, he went downstairs and found the ice machine. He sealed the bag up tight and took the stairs two at a time.
She thanked him for being so considerate and pressed it to her breast through the thin material of her pajamas. Her little whimper made his heart hurt for her, and he hoped she wouldn’t be in pain tomorrow.
Remembering the gifts that sat on the table, he said, “I’ve got something that will cheer you up and I also have a proposition for you.”
“You do?” she asked, her tired eyes brightening somewhat with curiosity. She sniffled and wiped another tear away.
Gifts first, I think.
He led her to one of the chairs and pulled the other chair closer so when he sat he faced her with their knees almost touching. He gave her the wrapped box first.
The gift was held delicately in her hand, and she caressed the bow and the paper almost reverently, like it meant a lot to her. He was glad that he’d let Summer talk him into something a little more extravagant. Suddenly, the timing seemed perfect. “You brought me another present?”
“I hope you like it.” She unwrapped the large rectangular box, glancing at him as she revealed the velvet beneath. She stroked it hesitantly then lifted the hinged lid on the box and gasped. Her jaw dropped, and she looked up at him in shock.
“Th–this is turquoise and silver, isn’t it?” She fingered the heavy pendant and earrings then put her fingers to her lips. “This is genuine turquoise. It’s huge. It must have cost you a fortune.” She lifted the wide cuff bracelet from its bed of velvet and looked at the smooth, inlaid stones. With expressive eyes, she looked up him. “Chance, I’m—I don’t understand. This was tremendously expensive.”
She was about to say more when he placed his fingertips over her soft, full lips. “I don’t care how much it cost. I wanted to make you happy. Will you try it on?”
“But, Chance…” She looked confused, and that was his fault. He’d walked in on her naked and embarrassed her, then she’d hurt herself, and now he was springing expensive gifts on her without preamble.
He lifted the necklace and carefully undid the catch. “Baby, let’s try it on you and see if you like it.” Wishing he had his reading glasses, he fumbled with the necklace, and the ends slipped from his callused fingers. She caught it and smiled at him as he muttered, “I’m going to make a big mess out of this with my clumsiness.”
Thinking that was true in more ways than one, he paused for a second, watching as she fastened the catch and caressed the pendant thoughtfully. He decided to go for broke.
“I wanted to give you something nice because I care about you, Lydia. Being around you makes me happy, but I don’t enjoy when it’s time for me to say good-bye to you. I want you to come back with me to the Rockin’ C Ranch. We have a huge kitchen and a bunch of hungry men who would love to taste your cooking, but more than anything else I just want you to come back to Divine with me.” Please!
“What about Clayton?” She looked really uncertain on that point. “What does he think?”
“I talked to him about it tonight. He wants you to come, too, if you’re willing. You want out of Fort Stockton. You want to be a chef. We want you—I want you with us, and you’d have lots of men who would be at your whim and beckoning once they taste your cooking. But more than anything, Lydia, we just want you to come to the Rockin’ C. See how it will work out.”
He rattled on for another minute while she listened, but she still seemed confused. He’d probably hit her with too much information all at once.
“Did you say Clayton wants me?”
Chance bit his lip, hoping he hadn’t just fucked things up royally. He could lie to her and say he misspoke, but he didn’t want to start off that way.
Nodding hesitantly, he watched her face. “Yeah. To be honest, he’s just as smitten with you as I am.”
He couldn’t get a feel for how she was reacting to that news. Her eyes blinked tiredly, and he suddenly questioned the wisdom of hitting her with that revelation in her present state.
“Why isn’t he here with you?”
That was the million-dollar question. “He was worried that it might overwhelm you, to discover out of the blue that we’re both attracted to you. He doubted that you’d be interested in both of us.”
Brushing her long, dark hair behind her ears, she said, “Let me get this straight because I’m a little punchy right now. You want me, and…Clayton wants me, too?”
“Yes, Lydia. He knows I’ve been sweet on you for a while.” A little smile crossed her face
, and he was encouraged by that. “Clayton wanted me to have a chance to talk to you first. He hopes that there’d be room enough in your heart for him, too.” Chance placed a fingertip on her breastbone beneath the pendant. “We don’t want a fling, baby. That’s not what I’m talking about. And you don’t have to make a decision about any of this tonight. I just figured I’d better put it all out there for you.”
Lydia smiled at him and stroked the pendant with her fingertips. It looked gorgeous on her, and he told her so. The greenish-blue turquoise that Summer had suggested was perfect with her eye color and complexion. Placing her hand on the other package, she said, “I wonder what’s in this one.”
He almost stopped her because now did not seem to be the best time to give her a hot ménage romance book. But he let her open it anyway. Lydia gasped when she saw the cover, and he cringed inwardly. He was done now, for sure. She’d probably kick him to the curb for the horndog that he was.
She tore the wrapping off and said, “Oh! I love Caressa MacFarland. I haven’t read this one. Her books are wonderful! I had to leave the ones I owned behind in Austin. I hated to sell them to the secondhand bookstore, but I had no space for them.”
Chance wanted to heave a relieved sigh. “So you’re okay with me—with us—giving you this book?”
Her gaze met his, and she patted his forearm in a reassuring gesture. In a weary-sounding voice she said, “Oh course, Chance. I love to read. And I love the turquoise, too. It just really surprised me. I—um.” Her chin quivered, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I had no idea you felt like that. I’m attracted to you, too. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to cry. I’m happy, really I am.”
She put her hand to her forehead, and he was seized by the urge to “make it better.” He probably should’ve waited until the morning to spring all of this on her.
Thinking she just needed to be held, Chance drew her into his lap and held her tight. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and squeezed him, then said, “This is probably the worst time for me to say this, but…”
The Divine Creek Ranch Collection Volume 3 Page 62
