That’s what she told herself but then he turned her around, his mouth descended on hers and just like that, he was kissing her, his lips covering hers, his tongue thrusting deep. Yes.
He tasted like cold beer and hot, decadent thoughts and the air stalled in her lungs.
Stop!
That’s what her head said.
Wrong time.
Wrong place.
Wrong man.
If only he hadn’t felt so right. Like a cold drink of water on a blistering hot summer day. She couldn’t help herself. She kissed him back and kept kissing him. Longer. Deeper. His hands were everywhere, trailing down her back, tugging up her skirt.
It was the best thing that had ever happened to Holly.
And the worst.
Not because it was exciting. Heaven knew she needed a little oomph in her life. A little wild, mindless sex with no second thoughts. But it was the worst because she was smack dab in the middle of a wedding reception for two hundred guests. And the champagne was missing. And Evan kept repeating as much over the headset every few seconds, in between humming the tune from “Unchained Melody.” And she was wearing a pair of heavy duty Spanx to keep her tummy flat and her thighs shapely. And it was just too friggin’ dark.
“Please tell me you found it,” Evan declared.
She managed to tear her lips away. “Not yet, she gasped, her lungs struggling for air, “but I’m getting warm.” Boy, was she ever.
A slow, chuckle rumbled over her lips and goose bumps chased up and down her arms.
Evan’s voice, along with the sound of music and laughter, faded into the sudden pounding of her heart as she became acutely aware of the man standing in front of her, surrounding her. His fingertips seemed to melt through her skirt and the dreaded Lycra smoothing her thighs.
Okay, so dark was good considering the last thing she wanted was for him to see her struggle out of her modern day version of a girdle. But the thing was, she couldn’t see him.
And despite all the extra baggage on her hips, she really wanted to see him. The broad shoulders and muscular arms rippling beneath her touch. The long, hard thighs braced on either side of her own. The prominent erection pressing just below her belly button.
She reached out a hand to her left to feel for the light switch, but he caught her wrist and pinned her arm above her head. He went stiff in the next instant and if she hadn’t known better, she might have thought he was purposely trying to keep her in the dark. But just when his grip grew a little too tight, he eased his hold and drew the palm of her hand to his lips.
His lips pressed against her palm. The kiss was soft, tender, loving and for a split-second, she actually forgot this was meaningless sex.
“Exactly how warm are you?” Evan’s voice pushed past the frantic staccato of her heart and yanked her back to reality and the fact that she was getting naked in a storage closet with a man she’d met less than five minutes ago.
Romeo and Juliet it wasn’t.
“I think it’s here somewhere—” she offered, but then strong hands plucked off the headset. A heartbeat later, it clattered to the floor.
“But I’m working—” Strong, sensual lips silenced the rest of her protest in a fierce, determined kiss that scrambled her common sense and drew her full and complete attention.
He tugged the blouse from her skirt. Long, determined fingers worked at the buttons until the silk parted. A flick and her bra clasp opened. The cups fell away. Thumbs rasped her nipples and her breath caught.
Before she had a chance to drag some much needed air into her lungs, he dipped his head and drew the aching tip deep into his mouth. He sucked her so hard that she felt the tug between her legs.
She shuddered as he slid his hot, wet mouth to her other nipple. He caught it with his teeth and flicked her with his tongue, over and over, making her squirm until he opened his lips and suckled her again.
Heat spiraled through her body and pleasure gripped her for several sweet, intoxicating moments before she felt the sharp prickling sensation on her sensitive skin. His teeth, she knew. But it felt different. Sharper.
Just as the thought struck, he pulled away. His mouth closed over hers, drawing her tongue deep. She thought she felt the same sharp sensation against her bottom lip, but then he plunged his own tongue deep and the floor seemed to tremble.
Desire welled up inside her and suddenly she couldn’t help herself. Since she couldn’t see him, she needed to feel him.
Now.
Frantic fingers grappled at his shirt, pulling and tugging until she found her way underneath. Soft, silky hair met her hands and she trembled. Muscles rippled beneath her palms as she trailed them over his chest and down to the waistband of his jeans.
She unbuttoned him with several fierce, frantic tugs. He sprang hot and huge into her hands and she stroked his length. Her fingers slid back and forth, tracing the bulging head, the hard, smooth shaft. She cupped his testicles and massaged them, and his arousal pulsated against her.
He reached for her skirt then, tugging it up and hooking her underwear. He pushed them down her legs until the lycra sagged around her ankles and she stepped free. He reached down, dragging a finger over her sex in a smooth, sweet rhythm that made her moan.
For a fierce moment, she thought she saw a flash of blue in the darkness, like twin laser beams aimed directly at her.
Eyes. His eyes. Staring back at her.
A red alert went off in her brain. His eyes were green. She’d seen them herself.
She blinked and the bursts of color faded into the nothingness that surrounded them.
Still, something wasn’t right.
She reached for the light again, but then he caught her hand and guided it around his neck. “We’re not finished yet, sugar. Hold on tight,” he murmured, his voice deep and raspy. And then he was inside of her and her thoughts scrambled as exquisite heat flooded her body.
He moved in and out in a fierce rhythm. Pleasure needled her brain with each thrust until she couldn’t take any more. She closed her eyes as her orgasm crashed over and consumed her entire body. Tremors racked her and her knees buckled. She went limp, but Travis was there, his strong arms around her, holding her as he plunged deep one last time.
He followed her over the edge, his body rigid. A growl rumbled in her ears and she saw the pinpoints of blue light again. Brighter this time. Fierce.
Gone.
She blinked, but there was nothing there. Just the consuming darkness and the tiniest sliver of light underneath the door that illuminated her discarded Spanx and the forgotten headset.
She became keenly aware of the noise and Evan’s frantic voice buzzing in the earpiece.
“I have to find the champagne,” she said, but Travis had already stepped back to give her some space.
Cool air washed over her and a strange sense of loneliness crept through her. It was an absurd reaction. She should be feeling anything but lonely. Relieved. Satisfied. Smug.
The sex was over. It was time to get back to work and forget all about this yummy cowboy.
No strings.
The thought stirred an expected rush of disappointment and she stiffened. Not that she wanted the past fifteen minutes to mean something. No sirree.
She’d been there, done that. Not once, but three times as a matter of fact. Each time she’d inched a little closer to wedded bliss. Allen had been her first serious boyfriend. They’d dated exclusively for six months, but he’d bailed before popping the question. Ben had been number two. They’d dated a year and a half and he’d gone so far as to give her an engagement ring. But then he’d asked for it back the next day so he could run off with a waitress from some truck stop. Chad had been number three. They’d dated for two years before he’d asked her to marry him. She’d spent the following year planning her dream wedding.
Third time’s a charm.
That’s what everyone had said, but in Holly’s case, the third had been the last and final piece of evide
nce that she just wasn’t the marrying kind. Chad had literally left her standing at the altar.
Which was why she’d joined Love Busters and decided to fall into lust instead of the big L.
Sex was easy. Fun. Satisfying.
Over.
Still… It had been awhile.
A long, long while.
No wonder her fingers tightened around the doorknob and she paused. Meaningless sex was hard to come by for Holly. It stood to reason that she wouldn’t want to turn her back on her sudden good fortune.
“We could try for round two if you’re game,” Travis’s stirring voice slid into her ears as if he’d read her thoughts. “But I think we might be doing it in front of an audience.”
She became aware of the distinct footsteps that grew louder with each moment that passed. A steady click of leather on tile that told her Evan and his new Feragamos had given up on the barn.
She bent down and snatched up the headset. “Meet me on the back patio,” she blurted. “Now.”
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you forever!”
“I was busy going through all the boxes the caterer left on the back patio. Stop with the twenty questions and give me a hand.”
“But we found the champagne already. It’s being served up now. That’s what I was coming to tell you. I figured you had a malfunction on the headset and—”
“We have extra on the back patio,” she blurted. “Lots of extra. I’m practically drowning in the stuff. Help!” The footsteps turned abruptly and then a fading clatter signaled that Evan had bought the distraction and was heading to the opposite end of the house.
“Does that mean you’re staying?” Travis asked when the footsteps finally disappeared and Holly could actually breathe again.
“He’ll be looking for me again when he realizes I’m not on the patio.” She turned the knob.
“Wait.” Before she could pull open the door, he stepped up behind her and pressed her up against the wood.
She could hear his voice distinctly, his lips feathering over her ear. But there was no warm rush of breath against her temple. No heartbeat pounding against her shoulder blade.
He was there, yet he wasn’t there.
Just as the strange thought struck, he murmured “Thanks.” The knob seemed to turn beneath her fingers and suddenly the door was open and she was free.
She resisted the urge to turn and catch a glimpse of him standing in the shaft of light from the hallway. His hair mussed. His shirt hanging open. His pants still undone. His eyes still gleaming with passion—
She stiffened and ignored the image whispering through her head. Sure, it was a purely sexual image. But that was beside the point. If she turned around now, they would have sex again. And possibly again. And then before she knew it, she would be hopelessly in love. A repeat offender.
These boots were made for walking.
She squared her shoulders, stepped forward and went to intercept Evan.
4
TRAVIS MANEUVERED HIS way through the crowd gathered on the front lawn just in time to see Cody follow his bride into the back of a black stretch limousine. It was barely nine-thirty, but there was no mistaking the birdseed in the air and the shouts of congratulations. The crowd waved goodbye and panic sucker-punched him smack dab in his gut.
“They had to cut the reception short to catch an early plane,” Brent’s deep voice sounded next to him just as the limo door closed, “otherwise they won’t make it to Colorado before sunrise. They’re going to Aspen for the honeymoon.”
Travis glanced at his brother. “You’re kidding me, right?” When Brent shook his head, he ran a hand over his face and damned himself a thousand times for following Holly Simms into that storage closet and wasting precious time. What the hell had he been thinking?
But then that was the point—he hadn’t been able to think. Not with the lust raging through his veins, the hunger gnawing at his gut. He should have stopped to feed before he left Wyoming, but he’d been in a hurry to catch his plane. He’d figured on holding out until after he talked to Cody.
But then he’d seen Holly—her soft lips and lush body and those sparkling, surprised eyes—and all his figuring had gone to hell in a hand basket. Now it was too late to talk to Cody. To find out the truth.
Like hell.
He shoved a hand into his pocket to retrieve his keys. “Which airport?”
“They’re flying out of San Antonio.”
“If I leave now, I can catch him before he boards the plane—” The words died as a vice grip tightened on his arm. His gaze swiveled to his brother and he saw the steely determination in his eyes.
“You’re not going after him,” Brent told him. “It’s his honeymoon, for Christ’s sake.”
“I just need five minutes. He’ll tell me what I need to know and that’ll be that.”
“No.” The grip tightened and Travis knew he wasn’t budging a step without a fight. “He’s not talking until Colton gets here and that won’t be until Saturday. Cody will be back Saturday night and we can all have a sit down.”
“That’s a week from tomorrow.”
“That’s the way it is. Rose was Colton’s wife. He should be the first to know.”
“We all have a right to know.”
“Damn straight we do, but not until Colton gets here and we’re all together.”
Which meant he was stuck here for the next seven days.
The truth sank in as he stood there, staring at the crowd that walked past him. People laughed and smiled as they headed back to the reception. While Cody and Miranda had cut the evening short, their guests weren’t inclined to do the same. The DJ had kicked up the music and the promise of a great party hung in the air.
Brent clapped him on the shoulder. “Seeing as how you’ve got a little time to kill, why don’t you come on back inside and have a drink.”
Travis shook his head, his mind still trying to wrap itself around the fact that he would be forced to hang out in Skull Creek if he wanted to find out Rose’s whereabouts. And he was going to find her. He owed her and he intended to see that she got what was coming to her for destroying his family.
“It’s just seven days,” Brent added. “Think of it as a vacation.”
“I don’t take vacations.”
“Think of it as work then. I could use some help out at my place.” When Travis arched an eyebrow, he added, “Skull Creek’s not a bad place. The people are nice and there are even a few vampires to keep things interesting.” At Travis’s surprised look, Brent added, “Garrett Sawyer and his buddies own Skull Creek Choppers. They live just up the road from me.”
“Since when did you become the settling down type?”
The last Travis had heard, Brent had been making his fortune as one of the most sought-after guns-for-hire. He went from job to job, guarding the rich and famous and doing his damnedest to not get too attached to any one person or place.
“I’m tired of living out of a suitcase.” He gave Travis a pointed stare. “Aren’t you?”
“I like moving on. It keeps things much more interesting.”
“I can’t imagine anything more interesting than Abby, that’s for damned sure.”
“Abby?”
Brent glanced at a petite brunette who stood talking to a nearby group of women. As if she felt him, her head snapped up and their gazes locked. She smiled and a strange expression lit his brother’s eyes. “I bought a hundred acres just down the road from here. I’m going to try my hand at ranching.”
“How much does she know about you?”
“How much doesn’t she know? Abby is ex Special Forces. Nothing gets by her.” His attention shifted back to Travis. “Take you for instance. She knew you were a vampire the moment she saw you. She also knew you were my brother. She said we have the same eyes.”
“And the same fangs.”
Brent grinned. “There are some people who aren’t bothered by what we are. Abby’s one of them. So i
s Cody’s wife Miranda. Garrett’s business partners are both married to humans, too, though Garrett himself is with another vampire.”
“He’s smart. Meanwhile, you’re playing with fire.”
“Maybe, but I like the heat.” A wistful look twisted his features. “That’s the one thing I miss the most about being human. Being warm from the inside out. When I’m with Abby, I feel it again, bro. Deep inside my bones.” He must have noticed Travis’s get real expression because he added, “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. You don’t sit still long enough to meet anyone, let alone warm up to them.”
“I like moving.”
“That or you’re just so used to it you don’t know how to stop.”
“You buy a spread and suddenly you’re a shrink.”
Brent shook his head. “Just a rancher. Speaking of which, I’ve got three mustangs that might make damn fine cutting horses if I could ever get close enough to them.”
“And?”
“And since you’re sticking around for the next seven days, I thought you might help me out.”
“Horses don’t like vampires.”
“They like you,” Brent argued. When Travis cut him a glance, he added, “Ranchers talk. You’ve become a hot commodity.” When Travis shrugged, Brent added, “I could really use the help.”
But the less time Travis spent with Brent, the better. Already, he felt the strange pull he’d once felt with his brother. The camaraderie. The sense of family.
But his was gone. Rose had seen to that.
She’d destroyed them all and there was no rebuilding what was permanently damaged. They’d turned on each other and gone their separate ways, and that was okay.
It was better than okay.
Out of sight, out of mind.
That had been his motto all these years. He’d done his damnedest to forget his brothers and his life before. And he’d managed to do just that. Hell, it had been easy. The farther away he stayed, the less he thought about them. No doubts. No regret. No remorse.
Just the hunger.
Until Cody’s invitation.
His little brother had stirred it all up, reminding him of the man he’d been, of the injustice he’d dealt out and the fact that the real culprit had yet to be punished.
The Braddock Boys: Travis Page 3
