Brayden : A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 1 (The Beckett Brothers)

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  ****

  After showering, and changing into her tank top and lounge pants, Melissa fixed herself dinner then sat on the sofa and turned the TV on. A fire roared in the fireplace and the smell of burning wood filled the room. The snow was still falling and she wondered if Brayden would show up. He’d said he wanted to see her, but she couldn’t say anything in response. She was tired of throwing her heart out there only to have him fail to show any interest in reeling it in. She understood his reluctance, she had loved Maisy too, but Brayden needed to get past it. He was alive and free, and it was time to get on with his life.

  Easy enough for her to say, she supposed. She couldn’t imagine what he’d gone through being in that prison for five years. Shivering, she shook her head and tried to imagine going to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. It had to be one of the scariest things ever to have happen. Five minutes would be unbearable. How had he managed being there for five years? Still, she just wished he’d quit running hot and cold with her. One minute he wanted her, the next he didn’t. He obviously had a war going on inside him but only he could pick the winning side.

  So lost in her thoughts, Melissa gave a small scream when someone knocked on her door. She tiptoed to the door and looked out the peephole to see Brayden standing there. With a great sigh of relief, and her heart pounding in her chest for another reason now, she opened it. He stomped his booted feet and removed his hat to wipe off the snow from the brim. Then without even a greeting, he came striding in and stopped in the living room. Closing the door, she leaned back against it and ran her eyes over him. He turned to look at her and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from groaning. The man was simply the best-looking thing on two legs. He even beat out his brother, Gray, in her opinion.

  “Brayden?”

  “I told myself I wasn’t coming over here. You didn’t seem to want me to.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “When I said I wanted to see you tonight, you didn’t answer me.”

  Pushing herself away from the door, she walked toward him. “I always want to see you.”

  He took his coat off then laid it, along with his hat, on the back of the sofa. “Do you?”

  “If you don’t know that by now, you never––” Her words were cut off when he took ahold of her arms, pulled her against him, and took her lips in a deep kiss.

  It happened so fast that at first, she didn’t react but then she wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him back. His tongue entered her mouth and she touched hers against it. He groaned making her smile and he pulled back from her.

  “What are you smiling about?” he asked as he ran his lips down her neck making her shiver.

  “You groaned.”

  Brayden laughed. “You make me groan all the time. I need you now.” He walked her backwards until she came up against the door. He lifted her shirt off over her head and tossed it aside. She pulled his off, her hands going to the buckle of his belt, which she unhooked and then slowly lowered the zipper, all the while staring into his handsome face.

  “My dick’s so hard, I’m not sure you’ll get that zipper down,” he murmured against her lips before burrowing his face in her neck. When she tugged it down hard, he hissed in a breath and jerked back. “Don’t scare me like that. You could have caught something.”

  Melissa laughed. “I’d make it feel better if I did.” She gasped when he reached between them and pushed her lounge pants down. When she stepped out of them, she kicked them across the room. Brayden dropped to his knees in front of her.

  “I have to taste you,” he said as he pressed kisses against her trembling belly before moving down to her strip of curls.

  She placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself on suddenly unsteady legs, and pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. The anticipation was killing her. She leaned her head back with a long moan when his tongue moved through her curls. He pulled her slit apart with the pads of his thumbs then leaned forward and sucked on her clitoris. She clutched his hair in her hands.

  “Brayden...please,” she begged, for what she wasn’t sure…more of what he was doing…his heart, perhaps.

  He leaned back from her and looked up at her. “Please what?”

  Melissa moaned and shook her head back and forth. “I need…”

  “Need?” His tongue flicked against her making her gasp. “What is it you need, Melissa? Tell me. What?”

  “You’re slowly killing me. Please.”

  When he chuckled, she pulled his hair. “Okay, baby.” He sucked on her clitoris and slowly inched two fingers into her and moved them against her G-spot.

  Melissa couldn’t catch her breath as her orgasm rushed over her and she screamed his name. He removed his fingers and moved back from her. She looked down at him to see him sticking his fingers into his mouth and sucking on them then he stood and laid his forearms on either side of her head and pressed his lips to hers. She could taste herself on his lips and she started to slide to the floor but he picked her up, and carried her to the bedroom. She had planned on giving back but right now, she could barely move.

  ****

  Brayden was sure he was dreaming. What a great dream, he thought smiling. Melissa had her mouth on his dick and he was growing as she sucked on him. When her teeth rubbed against his growing cock, he woke up with a start then glanced down to see her head bobbing up and down.

  “Shit,” he muttered, because it hadn’t been a dream at all…it was better.

  “Not the response I was hoping for,” she whispered.

  “I thought I was having one hell of a dream.”

  “Do you want me to stop so you can go back to sleep?”

  “Hell no.” He wrapped her hair around his hands.

  “Good,” she murmured then put her mouth down over him again and sucked.

  “Melissa, damn…you’re driving me insane.”

  “Payback is a bitch.” She sucked hard on him and took him deep into her mouth.

  Brayden arched his hips and groaned. “I’m not going to last if you keep at it that way.”

  “I can stop for a while.” She laughed around him.

  “Please don’t.”

  She didn’t. When her hand cupped his balls and massaged gently, he almost shot off the bed. She pumped her hand up and down his hard length while her other hand massaged his balls, always keeping her mouth on him. He arched his hips, threw his head back, and growled when his orgasm hit him hard. He fisted his hands in her hair and pumped his hips as he came. He tried to catch his breath as she crawled up his body and kissed his lips.

  “Are you all right?” she whispered against his lips.

  “I’m not sure.” He wasn’t. All he knew right now was that all of this just felt right.

  Melissa laughed and lay down beside him. She put her head on his shoulder and her arm across his stomach. He held her tight against him and knew the minute she fell asleep. He was in so much trouble here and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wasn’t sure he could ever give her what she wanted. She was the type of woman who should have a family. Something he’d wanted once, but never wanted again. He’d had it once and lost it. Not just by losing Maisy, but by losing five years of his life in a place that didn’t inspire wanting to bring life into a world so harsh.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked him softly.

  “I thought you were asleep.”

  “Almost. What’s going through your head?”

  “Nothing. I––” He stopped when Lucky started growling.

  Quickly getting up, he dressed then hurried to the living room. Pulling his coat on, he then put his hat on, and attached Lucky’s leash to the dog’s collar. He opened the door with the dog practically pulling him through it. Turning, he saw Melissa had followed him from the bedroom.

  “Lock the door behind me,” he told her as he closed the door. He heard the latch click then let the dog lead him out through the barn.

  Brayden opened the
back door of the barn and walked outside with Lucky leading the way. Pulling his flashlight from his pocket, he shone it down at the snow. Footprints! And from the looks of them, they belonged to a man. Fuck! Now he’d have to call Gray and let him know someone was on the property. He followed them around the barn then they disappeared as they headed toward the gate. He pulled on Lucky’s leash to get the dog to follow him, headed back to the apartment, and knocked on the door.

  “It’s me, Melissa.”

  The door opened and he entered then leaned down and unhooked Lucky’s leash. When he straightened and looked at her, he could see the fear on her face. He walked to her and pulled her into his arms.

  “I have to call Gray. There are footprints out there. Human footprints. That’s what had Lucky growling and barking at that night. We’ll just have to make sure the barns are closed up tight every night. No one can get into the barns, but we have to make sure they’re all locked up.”

  “Oh, my God. Do you think it’s someone looking for drugs?”

  “I don’t know any other reason they’d be around. I’m going to give you a gun––”

  “I don’t want a gun.”

  “I don’t care whether you want one or not. It’s just safer for you.”

  “All right. I can shoot. My dad taught me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Let’s go to bed.”

  “I’m going to call Gray. Lock the door behind me.” He stepped away from her.

  “Are you coming back?”

  “Might be better if I don’t. I’ll see you tomorrow. Call, if you need me but lock the door.” Then he walked out the door.

  The next day, Brayden strode down through the barn to check on the horses. Nothing seemed amiss. Everyone was gone since it was Sunday and there were no appointments scheduled. Gray had checked out the area last night but just like the last time, not much could be done as far as the footprints and tire tracks went because of the snow. His brother had been a little upset he couldn’t do more, but Brayden understood.

  The rescue sanctuary was doing great. So many of the animals had been adopted and had good homes now. Maisy would be so happy about it. A lifetime dream of hers had come true. It was just too bad she wasn’t here to be involved with it. Mentally shaking his head, he told himself not to dwell on that but to remember she was watching over him, and loved what he was doing in her honor. It hurt to think how much he still missed her—every day—but now he had these feelings for Melissa too, and he hated that he did. He’d had the love of his life once upon a time but he’d lost her. He couldn’t be lucky enough to have another chance at real love. Or could he? No. Never could he be so lucky.

  Taking a deep breath to push such thoughts from his mind, he started to head out of the barn only to stop and frown when he saw someone enter. No one was supposed to be here. He couldn’t make out who it was until he stepped closer to him then he recognized him as the man who’d come out to see a horse last week.

  “Sir? You shouldn’t be here. We’re not open on Sundays without an appointment,” Brayden said moving toward him to escort him from the barn.

  “I just wanted to look around again,” the man said as he glanced around.

  “Look around? At what?”

  The man didn’t answer him but instead started walking down the aisle of the barn. Brayden pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Gray as quietly and quickly as he could. He didn’t like any of this. Gray told him he was close by and would be right there. Brayden stuck the phone back in his pocket and kept an eye on the man as he peered into the stalls and talked to the horses. Brayden watched him and hoped Gray arrived soon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brayden blew out a relieved breath when he saw his brother’s SUV stop outside the barn. He hadn’t even considered that Gray might not be working on a Sunday but his brother hadn’t hesitated to get here and for that, Brayden was thankful. He noticed Gray’s SUV had a horse trailer hooked behind it.

  Gray came striding into the barn and Brayden jerked his chin in the other man’s direction. When Gray stopped in his tracks, Brayden had a feeling Gray knew the man and it was confirmed when he spoke to him.

  “Bart?” Gray said and the man turned toward him with a look of surprise on his face.

  “Hello Grayson.”

  “What are you doing here?” Gray folded his arms across his chest.

  “Just looking around, is all. I’m not hurting anyone or anything.”

  Gray looked at Brayden. “Bart used to own Lily’s Valley. He was sent to prison for a few years for vehicular homicide while under the influence.”

  “My daughter lost my ranch,” Bart stated as he stared at Gray.

  “It was because of what you did, Bart, and Crystal wasn’t capable of handling things for you. She’s as bad off as you are. No one wanted to deal with any of you after what you two did to that family.” Gray blew out a breath and leaned against the barn wall. “Bart tore a well-loved family apart when he decided to go for a drive while he was so drunk he could barely stand. He crossed the center line and killed a man who had two little girls and a loving wife––”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose,” Bart shouted.

  “It doesn’t matter! You did what you did and he’s gone,” Gray growled as he straightened up and glanced at Brayden. “Anyway, come to find out, Crystal, Bart’s daughter was also at the bar with him that day. Both drinking so much they didn’t know which way was up. The bartender at the bar even cut them off but that hadn’t been the first bar they stopped at. Crystal gave Bart the keys to her car then stayed in the bar when Bart left so to this town, and me, she was as guilty as he was. No one wanted anything more to do with Crystal because of it. She died a while back in a car accident while under the influence.”

  Brayden shook his head. Sounded like a damn soap opera to him. “So now what, Gray?”

  “Depends. Do you want to press charges for him trespassing?”

  Brayden looked at Bart who was rubbing one of the horse’s noses. The man seemed lost to him. He’d been there too, so what could he do. Shrugging, he looked at Gray.

  “As long as he promises to stay off my property, I won’t.”

  Gray nodded. “Bart? You have to leave but if you come back onto this property or cause any problems here, I will not hesitate to arrest your ass.”

  “All right, Grayson. I’m going. I just wanted to look around one more time. I won’t come back.” The sad looking man started down the aisle toward the barn doors.

  “Hey Bart, how were you getting in at night?” Gray asked him.

  “The fence is easy to get over on the west end of the wall. I know this ranch like the back of my hand,” Bart said then walked out of the barn, climbed into his truck, and drove off.

  “I don’t think you have to worry about him again,” Gray said with a nod.

  “I feel bad for him. He seems so lost to me.”

  “I suppose he is. He used to be a good man but when his wife, Lily died, he started drinking. I’m surprised I didn’t hear about him being in town.”

  “At least now we know how the gates were opened.”

  “Yeah.” Gray grinned. “By the way, I brought you two horses that someone had called in. The owner’s been arrested for failure to appear in court and his girlfriend claims he stole the horses. Can you check to see if they’re chipped?”

  “Sure, Melissa can anyway. She does the microchipping on all the equine that come through and she has the scanner to read chips too.”

  “Good and since I’m here, think I can look at some horses? Sam told me Tessa’s birthday is coming up and I told him about the horses we took from Farrell’s ranch. He said if I was out this way to see if you still have the Appaloosa, since Apps are her favorite. If you still have him, he’ll come out to adopt him and I think I’d like to get a few as well.”

  Brayden grinned. “I do still have him. Come on,” he said as he led the way through the barn.

  ****

  Melissa
walked through the barn after checking on Dinky and saw Brayden and Gray enter a stall. Grinning, she quickly moved to the stall and looked in.

  “Hi Gray,” she said smiling at him.

  Gray spun around. “Hi Melissa, how are you?” He was rubbing the Appaloosa’s nose.

  “Good. You?”

  “Great, thanks. I brought two horses in that are possibly stolen. Can you check them for chips? I’m also here for Sam. He wants to get this guy for Tessa for her birthday. She loves Apps and I’m sure she’d be happy if he adopted one from here.”

  Melissa grinned. “I’m sure she would. She’s a sucker for animals. I’ll get the scanner and check the horses.”

  Gray laughed. “Thanks, I appreciate that and if they’re chipped, I can probably find their owners. Yeah, Sam told me they have four dogs, two cats, and four horses. Sam had one dog already when he met her then she talked him into taking a dog she didn’t want to send to the shelter. Since then, she’s adopted two cats and rescued two horses. Sam said he wonders every day what else she’ll bring home.”

  Brayden chuckled. “But he lets her do whatever she wants, doesn’t he?”

  “Yep, and she knows it. Sam can’t tell her no.” Gray continued to rub the horse’s nose. “I’ll tell Sam he’s still here and I’m sure he’ll want to pick him up next weekend, if that’s all right?”

  “That’s just fine. We’ll get the horse ready for him,” Brayden told him.

  Melissa started to move out of the stall because she couldn’t be close to Brayden without wanting to throw him to the floor and straddle him. He smelled so good. But as she moved, he moved too.

  “Why were you out here, Melissa?” Brayden asked her.

  “Oh, I just wanted to check on Dinky. He seemed a little sluggish yesterday.”

  “Is he all right?”

  “Yes. I suppose he just had an off day.” Melissa looked up at him and their eyes met and held, until Gray cleared his throat. Melissa looked away feeling the heat come into her cheeks.