by Zoey Marcel
She nodded gleefully.
“Hey now, step in line, girl. If you want him, you’re gonna have to fight me for him,” Heller told her.
Heath grimaced. How many people had Heller told about them?
River turned to Heller and put her hands on her hips, probably like she’d seen her mother do when scolding her. “We just kicked your butt.”
“Yeah, and it took four of you to do it.”
“But I like cowboys.”
Heller patted her on the head. “I’ll take you to the rodeo when you’re eighteen and you can find yourself a cowboy.”
“Sweet.”
The other little girl skipped over to them and came to a hopping stop next to Heller. “You can help me pick out a man, too when I’m bigger. I want a big, handsome biker like you.”
Heller ruffled her hair. “You’ve got good taste, Darcy.”
The boy called Spike scowled. “You’re marrying me, remember? That’s all there is to say about it.”
Heath bit his lip to keep from laughing.
Darcy frowned at him. “I like your face, Spike, but you don’t have muscles and tattoos like Heller.”
“I’ll get them. You’ll see. Then you’ll be marrying me. Just you wait, lady. I’m gonna be the baddest biker of them all,” Spike said.
The other little guy blew out. “I’m not gonna settle for one woman. I want a couple, like James Bond.”
River’s expression turned snotty and taunting. “No woman’s gonna want a Romeo like you, Jax.”
“Honey, they’re all gonna want me, including you,” Jax told her.
She rolled her eyes.
Heath’s forehead wrinkled and he looked at Heller. “Where did you dig up these kids?”
Heller gave him a sexy smirk. “They’re biker brats. No offense, guys.”
The kids mumbled gibberish and waved him off.
“Why are you watching them here?” Heath asked.
“Well, the original plan was to get some work done while looking out for the monkeys, but they’re pretty fu—bleepin’ distracting.”
“I was gonna say it looks like you have your hands full. I’m gonna go for a drive.”
“I’ll see you around, cowboy.” Heller didn’t bother to hide the interest in his eyes.
“Oo!” the kids said in unison.
Heath flushed and walked out, but Heller didn’t seem embarrassed in the slightest.
* * * *
Should he?
No. He shouldn’t. Danielle had probably moved on. She didn’t need him, not when she had her passel of male McAlisters keeping her warm at night.
Keep driving, dumbass.
But if he was honest with himself, he missed her—a lot. More than he probably should have for such a short acquaintance.
Heath swerved and drove in the direction of the McAlisters’ monstrosity of a house. He had to see her, make sure she was okay, watch as she fell apart at his feet and begged for him to come back to her.
Okay, maybe that last part was a bit over the top, but surely she missed him. He was a semi-likable guy—some of the time. All right, he could be an ass sometimes, but he had his good moments and his intentions were decent.
Heath rolled his truck to a stop outside the pretentious as hell gate. He pushed the call button, hearing Trudy’s voice on the other end. It sounded like their cook.
“It’s Heath Brodie. Can I come in?”
“Oh, of course,” she said cheerfully.
The gate opened and Heath looked the other way in annoyance. It was a dramatically slow opening, like they had fucking King Kong on the other side. Rich people could be so obnoxious sometimes.
He drove through when the poky-ass black iron monster finally let him by. Even the driveway was long and ostentatious. He could see the mansion plain as day, but of course, the McAlisters had planted trees along the way to make the driveway seem even more epic.
After parking he walked up some rambling stone steps into the elaborate-as-fuck front yard that had decided it would be a Great Plains version of Tasha Tudor’s garden. An English cottage garden on the prairie, really? It hadn’t bothered him when he’d come here that one time with Danielle, but now that they weren’t together anymore it bugged him. This was the residence of his competition.
Well, fuck them.
Heath walked toward the house, coming to an immediate halt when he saw one of the McAlisters’ servants come from around the bushes with a pair of clippers. His heart stalled. The man used to work for his father, but he’d quit years ago and now worked for the McAlisters. After what happened ten years ago Heath wasn’t surprised that the guy went by a different name these days.
The man noticed him, acting like he was any other visitor. “Heath Brodie, I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Yet it was all too soon.
Heath tried to shove the disturbing memories back into the vault where he wished they’d be nuked into oblivion. Unfortunately, it was impossible to forget what this man had done.
“What brings you here?” the man asked while investigating the hedges.
It was hard to concentrate at the moment. He tried to keep his hands from shaking. It was years ago. The man obviously held no grudge against him. Maybe he should just let go of any malice and remembered dread.
“I came to see Danielle.”
“I see. You’re out of luck, I’m afraid. The McAlisters took her away for the weekend.”
Heath stuck his hands in his pockets when they wouldn’t stop trembling. “Do you know when they’ll be back?”
“They didn’t say when, exactly. My guess would be tomorrow or thereabouts.”
“Thanks.” He turned to leave.
“Is it your intention to reconcile with her?”
Heath slowly pivoted to face him. “Does it matter?”
“Not to me, of course. I thought perhaps your current sexual partner might object to it.”
His pulse stammered. There was no possible way for this person to know unless Heller had blabbed it all over town. Surely he hadn’t. Had word gotten around about his arrest?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The man didn’t look at him, but the way his lips twitched slightly at the corners unsettled him. “I heard the Enos brothers were back in town.”
Stay calm. Don’t show any fear or knowledge.
“Oh?”
“They bought a house in McKenna Downs. It looks like a cozy little home. Did you find the interior tastefully decorated?”
Oh my God. How could he possibly know I was there the other night?
“How would I know what the inside of their house looks like?”
The man turned his head slowly and looked over at him, blue eyes accusing and sadistic. “You were there the other night.”
Heath was too young and healthy to have a heart attack, but he about had one when he heard that. “What?”
“I saw you leaving before dawn the other day. I assumed you spent the night with Heller.”
He pulled his hands from his jeans pockets when they began to clam. “We had a couple of beers to catch up. I didn’t want to drive home under the influence, so he let me spend the night. Nothing happened.”
“Hmm.” The man refocused on the bushes and clipped a few flowers he proceeded to set in a basket. “It’s rather strange the way you parked so far away and out of sight of his house, almost as though you were trying to hide the fact that you were there.”
Heath wiped his hand down his face and averted his eyes briefly. “What, are you spying on me?”
“Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. I’m only looking after you.”
“I’m a grown-ass man. I can take care of myself.”
“I hardly think so. You fell for a woman who can’t make up her mind who she wants. How desperate are you?”
“Don’t talk about her like that. Danielle grew up in McKenna Downs. It screwed her thinking up.”
“And now you’re falling in
to the arms of a hardened criminal with a depraved sexual appetite. You always were a false saint, weren’t you?”
Heath was torn between slugging the bastard in the face and leaving. In truth, the thought of having to get close enough to this man to hit him made his stomach turn. He refrained.
“We’re done here.”
“I really thought you went to seminary. You can imagine how shocking it was for me seeing you open a veterinary clinic when I know you went to seminary in Chicago.”
Heath slowly turned to look at him, chills crawling up his nape.
The other man wore a cunning smile on his face. “I had to ask myself why you would drop out of seminary and go to veterinary school. Then it occurred to me that you had lost your faith.”
His stomach plunged like it was free-falling. “I changed my mind about school. So what?”
“You’re no believer, Heath. You might have your father fooled, but you never could fool me. Are you an atheist?”
“No.”
“No, of course not. Naturally, you would be as indecisive in your beliefs as you are your sexuality. You’re agnostic, aren’t you?”
“You don’t know me. Now fuck off.”
The man’s voice lured him back when he tried to leave again. “I know you’re bisexual, Heath. You have that pompous piety I respect, but your surrender to debauchery is even worse than your brother’s. Carsten made the mistake of craving a man’s touch, but you want it all, don’t you?”
Heath just glowered at him, but he worried his slightly heaving chest would give away his distress.
The man’s eyes closed and he drew in a deep intake of air. “I can almost smell the sulfur burning to touch your skin. I can see the gates of hell opening to welcome you.”
Heath didn’t believe in that anymore, but it was still creepy how much pleasure this man seemed to get from his supposed fate.
“Carsten lusted after a cattle rancher whose greatest failing is that he owns a sex club. But you, oh, I fear for you, Heath. You’re guilty of much worse. You let the condemned cock of an outlaw biker penetrate your ass and stretch it in ways it should never be acquainted with. Do you know how disgusting you are? Is that why you want a ménage with Danielle, so you can have the best of both worlds?” The bastard’s voice darkened. “Oh, I can feel the fire that’s waiting for you. I can hear your frantic screams. You’ll be crying out my name, wishing you’d listened to me when I tried to save you from yourself.”
Heath walked backward. “I’m leaving.”
“Heed my words, Heath. I do hope you’ll consider never seeing Heller again. It would be a shame if someone showed those pictures and that video to your father.”
He froze. “You saved them?”
“Of course I saved them. Unlike you, who live in denial, I always knew your craving for cock wasn’t a mere phase. I knew I had to save the lewd evidence against you. I told you I would do anything to save you from yourself, even if that means temporarily forsaking my morals and hurting you.”
Heath shuddered, tasting bile. “You’re sick.”
“I’m not the one moaning while a cock pierces my ass. No more men, Heath. Be better than your brother. Tell Heller you can’t see him anymore. Then I want you to get yourself a nice girl like Danielle. Make an honest woman out of her, as honest as the trollop ever will be.”
“How dare you?”
The man took a step forward, sending his pulse into a panic. “Marry her, Heath. Sink your erect penis into her body. It’s where you cock was meant to be. You must learn to control these forbidden urges, even if you have to burn for a man’s touch in secret. Don’t make me cure you of your wicked rebellion.”
Heath freaked. “Stay the fuck away from me.”
“Perhaps your father’s methods for curing your brother of his illness were more effective. Shall I inform him of your depravity?”
“No. Don’t. I’m straight.”
“That’s good, Heath. I want you to be. You must end your evil association with that tattooed devil.” The man stalked toward him as Heath backed away slowly. “If you don’t I will show your father proof of your taboo indulgences. And if that doesn’t work I will employ methods that will change you forever. Is that what you want, Heath?”
Heath hurried toward his truck, quivering violently. He drove off as quickly as he could. God, that man gave him the creeps. He was fucking insane and his true motives had always been murky at best.
* * * *
Heller Enos let Heath into his home when the cowboy knocked. He gave the guy his back and then approached his weight bench again.
Heath shut and locked the door. “We need to talk.”
“No shit.” Heller faced him, inwardly stewing.
“What’s wrong?”
“Somebody said you paid a little visit to the McAlisters earlier.”
“What?”
“You fucking that blonde dame behind my back?” Heller closed the distance between them, using his size to intimidate the smaller man.
“I’m not fucking anyone. I just wanted to make sure she was okay.”
“She’s got a couple of boyfriends, maybe even a high-priced security system and you think she’s in danger? Cut the bullshit, Heath, and tell me what you were doing there.”
Heath let his gaze fall. “I just wanted to see her and spend time together. I missed her.”
It pissed Heller off that a strong current of jealousy rolled through him. He wanted to beat the guy’s ass, but he had a strong urge to get off with him, too, remind him where he belonged.
“Well, aren’t you a piece of work?” Heller turned away.
“How many people have you told about our night together?”
He gave the other man his attention again, glad that he’d just finished with his workout. Nobody got in the way of his weightlifting. “I didn’t tell anybody.”
“Then how did those kids know about us?”
“’Cause kids aren’t stupid and they took that romantic joke I cracked about you literally. Nobody knows about us unless they’re really observant.”
“Oh. We can’t see each other anymore.” Heath looked miserable.
“Why, you hooking up with that blonde again?”
“No. I just can’t be with someone like you.”
The man was asking for a switch to the ass. Heller could see it now. He crossed his arms. “You mean because I’m a man or because I’m a biker?”
Heath winced, letting his eyes wander. “Both. People will talk.”
“Let them talk. Quit being such a coward and just be yourself.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Oh, I can make it real simple for you, cowboy.” Heller unfolded his arms and stormed toward him, savoring the way Heath swallowed when Heller cupped his jaw. His brown eyes glistened with sadness and his soft lips looked so kissable, bitable. “You’re too afraid to come out I’ll do it for you.”
“No. Don’t.”
Heller scoffed and let go of him, stepping away from him again.
“I can’t hurt my father like that.”
“He’ll live.”
“Even so, I’m not blasting it all over town that I hooked up with someone who just used me.”
Heller stared at him, cursing the warm tug in his chest. “You think that’s all it was?”
“I know it was. You never kissed me. I’m just a means to scratch an itch to you.”
He wasn’t sure whether to punish the guy for that or pity him. “Isn’t that what it was to you?”
Heath’s focus drifted from him before returning. “It meant something to me.”
“What’s that?”
He hesitated for a long moment before finally answering. “I had feelings for you back then. I still do.”
Damn the soft ache that flared behind his ribcage. “Well, you’ve got a funny way of showing it.”
“I know I’ve made mistakes, but I can’t be with someone who just wants to screw around.”
“It wasn’t just sex to me either. I like you, Heath, a lot.”
An earnest openness lighted Heath’s face. “You mean that?”
Heller gave him a steady single nod and used his hips to propel himself forward from the furniture he leaned up against with his arms still crossed.
“I missed you,” Heath said tenderly as he crept toward him.
“I missed you, too.”
The cowboy stood in front of him, eying his lips hungrily and with slight timidity. His countenance radiated with awe as he lightly ran his hands up and down Heller’s sticky chest.
“God, look at you. You’re so strong and sweaty.”
A wild thrill sprang up when Heath groped his pecs. The reaction sent a magnetic stirring in Heller’s white karate pants.
“If you’ve got a problem with it, that’s just too bad for you, ’cause I’m gonna rub my sweaty body all over you before I shower.”
Heath moaned and used his thumbs to tease Heller’s nipples. “Doesn’t bother me. It’s kind of a turn-on, actually.”
“Mmm, that’s ’cause you’re a dirty boy.” Heller kissed the man on the forehead, feeling a soulful pull toward Heath when his eyes closed. Moving in again, he breathed a kiss on first one eyelid, then the other.
Heath sighed before gazing up into his eyes. He touched Heller’s cheek and then gently pressed his lips to him. This time it was Heller who closed his eyes to savor the intimacy. His lips moved on Heath’s, tenderly massaging the guy’s lips apart. He speared his tongue into the other man’s mouth. Both moaned and Heath moved in closer when Heller tugged him against his perspiration coated body.
Heller grabbed his ass, kneading his cheeks through his pants. He made it a point to skim his fingers in the guy’s ass crack through the denim to let him know what was coming. Heath panted and tongued him with more aggression, pressing against Heller’s bulge.
He backed the cowboy into his bedroom while they made out, kicking the door shut in case his younger brother, Kale, showed up. Heller didn’t care if his sibling walked in on them. They’d shared women together before, so it wasn’t a big deal, but coy Heath would have a cute little conniption if Kale discovered them getting it on.
