Cowboys and Candy

by Avery Gale, Jess Buffett, Willow Brooke, Lynn Ray Lewis, Gracie Meadows

  “I need you to hear me, Harper. You can’t leave again, okay?”

  “Yes,” she answered breathlessly. “Now stop stalling. You’re killing me.”

  She felt a smile on his lips as he nuzzled his face against her ear. Slowly, he stretched her pussy another inch.

  “Oh God, Ethan,” she said, gasping as the pressure built inside her. He was driving her insane. She’d never survive another moment without him, wasn’t sure how she had managed before now. “Please, Ethan. I need you.”

  Just when she thought she’d have to beg again, he plunged deep inside her. She cried out as her body stretched to receive him, taking him fully inside. Harper was so wet, so ready for him. Supporting himself on one arm, Ethan used the other to stroke her breasts as he let her adjust to him. His touch was rough and exciting. Desire pulsed in her veins. Harper wanted more, much more. Arching her back, she tried to move on his cock.

  He clamped his hands on her hips, growling near her ear and started to move inside her. The sound was more animal than man, low and possessive. Harper shook as her need rose. Her whole body burned with desire. Soon she was bucking against him, opening herself up completely. He pushed harder, faster, dragging her toward the edge. She felt dizzy with need, pleasure, and excitement. Each thrust elicited another moan as she inched higher. Closer…

  “Harper. God, honey.” Ethan’s thrusts slowed. He buried himself deep inside her, moving inch by delicious inch. Leaning over her body, he wrapped his arms around her back and rested his chin on her shoulder. He pumped in and out of her, slowly, seductively. “I missed you so much.”

  She moaned as he brought one hand around to the front and pinched her nipples, all the while his cock retreating and then pushing back in again. Pleasure and pain mixed in her bloodstream, making her cry out in pleasure.

  Those words…she feared believing them.

  He pulled away, sliding slowly through her wet channel until only the tip remained inside. He pushed hard and deep, making her gasp as pleasure shook her. “Tell me you want this,” he whispered.

  Was he insane? Of course she did!

  “Yes,” her answer was barely audible over the thumping of her heart as he dragged her closer to oblivion.

  Harper closed her eyes as she tightened her muscles around his cock. She sighed, enjoying the added friction along her inner walls, until Ethan growled in her ear. “Come for me, Harper.”

  She was so close…

  Letting go of her breasts, Ethan wrapped his arms around her in a tight hold, thrusting again and again with a feverish pace. His fingers dug into her skin, mixing pain and pleasure. Her grip tightened as her nails undoubtedly scored his shoulders. Never before had sex felt this raw, this animalistic. Years of built up sexual frustration was finally coming to a head, exploding them into a million shards.

  Harper embraced her wild side as Ethan claimed her. Desire built, and she stretched for her release. Throwing her head back, she concentrated on the sensations rippling through her body.

  When her orgasm came, she screamed as pleasure exploded around her.

  Above her Ethan stiffened, his muscles strained, and his eyes were so hot she could feel them burn her to her soul. Again and again he pumped into her, allowing her orgasm to stretch out into oblivion. Only after he emptied himself completely did his movements slow.

  She lay beneath him, breathing heavily as she absorbed what had just happened.

  So much for staying in control. It was overrated anyway.

  Harper trailed a row of kisses from his lips down his neck, scooting out of the tight confinements of his arms. “And where do you think you are going, love?”

  “I am going to the kitchen to get us something to drink, and maybe something sweet that I can lick off... places.” Her teeth tugged at her sexy love swollen bottom lip, giving her a devil in an angel's clothes look.

  “Well, in that case, who am I to stand in the way of a lady's needs? Hurry back.” He propped his head up on his hand, letting the sheet tug off to show his already hardening dick. The fire in her eyes sparkled even in the dim light, making her absolutely irresistible. She snatched his t-shirt off the floor and slipped it on over her head. Never before had his shirt looked so good. It fell to about mid-thigh, drowning her petite frame. With a little extra sway for his pleasure, she sauntered out the door and down the hall.

  Ethan couldn't help but let his mind wander with each ticking moment that passed. He wracked his brain, trying for the life of him to remember what all they had in the cabinets and fridge to guess what might be to come. There was whip cream and caramel left over from their ice cream craving the week before, and oh! Vegemite paste! Wait, no...only he loved Vegemite like it were gold, not the rest of the world. It would definitely be the caramel. He rolled on his back, trying to strike the best pose he could for her return. When voices echoed down the hall and carried in to him, he sat up. Who the hell was here? After the swarm of bunnies at the bar, there was no way Kade was coming home tonight. When a deep voice boomed followed by escalated female voices, Ethan took off like a bull, throwing on a pair of sweats mid-run.

  Kade had clumsily fell in the door with a blonde bimbo in tow, both so drunk they couldn't stand up. When he finally noticed her standing there watching and recognized her, he blew up. His slurred words were so bad she couldn't understand or piece together to make any sense of it all. The kitchen chair flew across the room and busted against the wall, she did understand. He staggered in her direction, falling over every piece of furniture in the house on the way. After picking himself up off the floor for the eighth time with the little bimbo pawing him in what looked like a bad attempt at getting his clothes off more than helping him stay vertical. Through all of the yelling and groans, she hadn't heard Ethan come up behind her.

  “What the flying fuck, Kade?” Ethan's voice boomed, stopping all movement and silencing the inebriated pair. Harper jumped and let out a high-pitched mouse squeak, startled. When he met her eyes, she saw a side of him she hadn't before. His eyes had narrowed into an icy stare, emphasizing every sharp angle of his features. The more she let her eyes wander, the more she was taken aback. He had grown up, a lot. Ethan had always been muscular from all of the hard labor living on a farm required, but holy hell. With his shoulders squared and his arms flexed, he was a walking bulldozer. He had started toward the now cussing and screaming Kade, slowly stalking his way. “Damn it, Kade, get your ass to your room now!”

  “Don't you try that shit. I am a grown man and you can't tell me what to do. What is she doing there in the kitchen?” Kade's words slurred even more, sounding more like a drunk cartoon character than a threat of any kind. He made a go at Ethan, swinging a superman punch that missed by a mile and earned him a face plant into the carpet. The bimbo was right on cue, running over to defend 'her man' with both hands a flapping. She looked like a really ugly bird trying to take flight. Harper had to stifle a laugh as Ethan gave her one intense look and growled, stopping her in her tracks. Kade was almost totally passed out where he lay, making funky noises and groans. Ethan gave him a kick to the side, hard enough to grab his attention but not too hard that it would hurt him. It worked. Kade got up, hanging on for dear life to the back of the couch to stay standing and looked directly at Harper. His hazel eyes, so much like his brother's, saddened, crossing and uncrossing in attempts to focus.

  “Why him?” Kade whispered.

  Harper could tell Ethan was too furious to have heard the words, but she had. Loud and clear.

  “You know why.”

  Even in his drunk as hell state, she knew it hurt him to know she was there with Ethan. It broke her heart. Kade was a sweetheart, and she had always loved him... as the brotherly type. It was no secret he had a crush on her all throughout school, but it was innocent. Now, she got a good glimpse at how un-innocent it was for him. Ethan grabbed him and tossed him over his shoulder, heading for the front door.

  “Get the door for me and I will take you home,” he said
in a sharp, bitter tone. The little blonde jumped and ran, tossing one last confused look over her shoulder before she followed him out.

  Harper heard the roar of Ethan's truck start up, and sighed. “Bloody hell.” She threw the bottle of caramel back into the fridge and sulked back to the bedroom.

  Twenty minutes later, he still wasn't back. Giving up on anything else for the night, she crawled in bed, fading off to sleep.

  Later, Harper woke in total darkness with the bed dipping beside her. Having lived alone for so long it startled her, making her jump up into a sitting position while yanking the covers over her nakedness.

  “Easy, love. It's me.” Ethan crawled in beside her, pulling her down into his arms. He kissed her sweetly, tucking them in good and tight. All her worry obviously for nothing, Harper relaxed with her back against his bare chest, feeling safer than she ever had. The comforting of his embrace had her dozing, falling fast asleep.

  Chapter Four

  The sun peeked through the curtain, streaming straight into her face. Harper rolled over, trying to escape the bright blinding light from hell but couldn't. With a groan she reached her arm out, searching for Ethan. Instead of finding the rock solid wall of delectable muscles, she found a cold empty bed. Lifting up onto one arm, she pried her eyes open, feeling her heart sink from the desolation. He was gone. Again. This was a repeat of the past. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces. How could he take off, hide from her again? And in his own damn house?

  After last night, she had hoped they could have a future together. Now, reality slapped her upside the head. Unable to face it, she fell back against the pillow, staring up at the ceiling, whispering a silent prayer for strength. She couldn't fall to pieces, no matter how much she did on the inside. It wasn't just about her anymore. Just as she started to get up and get the hell out of dodge, the door opened. In walked Ethan, carrying an old, scarred wooden tray.

  Harper examined the contents of the tray and smiled, slightly ashamed that her first thought was to think he had taken off again. Not that he had given her much reason to presume otherwise, but clearly he was trying.

  Buttered toast, cooked eggs, a small amount of bacon and a jar of Vegemite graced the surface. Beside the full plate stood a glass with a single rose and a small bowl, which looked to be filled with tiny candies. So very sweet, and so very like the man she knew could lay beneath her hardened cowboy.

  “Breakfast is served, madam,” he said with a flourish.

  Harper laughed, feeling suddenly light and full of joy. “All this for me?”

  “No,” Ethan snorted. “You’re good, but I don’t even think you could shovel all of this into such a tiny frame.”

  “Hey!” she said in mock outrage. “Was that a height joke? You’ll pay for that one.”

  Try as she did, Harper was unable to keep a straight face. She knew she was a short arse, and embraced it.

  Glancing down at the plate, she grinned when she noticed the bowl wasn’t filled with typical candy, but heart shaped ones with I Love You written on them.

  She raised a brow in question.

  Ethan shrugged. “I picked them up this morning while you slept. It is Valentine’s Day after all.”

  Harper felt guilty. Not only had she forgotten what day it was, but that explained why the bed had been so cold.

  A finger nudged her chin up, only then did she realize she had dropped her head. “Hey, it’s okay. I don’t blame you for thinking otherwise.”

  She blinked at him. “How do you know what I was thinking?”

  His lopsided grin reminded her of the charming and goofy young man he had used to be when he thought no one was looking. “Because for all your talk…I know you too. I see you.”

  Harper bit her lip. “There is still so much you don’t know, Ethan.”

  He hushed her with a single finger pressed against her lip. “But we have plenty of time. You said you were home for good.”

  She nodded. Harper didn’t plan on going anywhere.

  “Then let’s just enjoy today. We can go for a ride, there is a group of brumbies not far from here with the most gorgeous black stallion that we can check out, though I suggest not getting too close. And tonight, we can have a dinner for two. Throw a couple of steaks on the barbeque, crack a few cold ones and enjoy the sunset as we catch up. Think of it as your very own Outback Valentine.” He chuckled, oozing roguish charm. Harper was a sucker for him, always had been. “Just promise me one thing, okay?”

  She eyed him warily. “What?”

  “No need to look like that. I promise if I intend to have my way with you, you’ll know about it.” Ethan gave her a rakish grin.

  Oh, the man was trouble.

  “Then what?”

  “You’ll always be my Valentine.”

  Harper threw her head back and laughed. “Oh God. You are so corny.”

  “No, I think you mean candy,” he said with a deadpan expression before pointing to the tray. “And I already have that covered.”

  Giving a ridiculous giggle that Harper knew she should be embarrassed by, she leaned forward, kissing him briefly.

  With a look she hoped was sultry, Harper said, “I can think of a few other things you can cover…”

  Quick as a flash, Ethan had the tray and the covers on the ground while Harper was laughing like a loon.

  With a sexy leer, he bent down to brush their mouths together.

  “Now that’s a bloody good idea.”

  (Page left blank)

  Roping Cupid

  by Willow Brooke

  Chapter One

  Harley Brannon and her father, Frank, turned onto the main road that led into the little town of Heart’s Peak, Missouri. With calving season coming up, they desperately needed to stock up on supplies to get them through the overly busy time of year. It was the only time she took vacation from her job as the town’s family physician and left any emergencies in the hands of her apprentice, Steven Needles. Thankfully the town didn’t have many rare illnesses, and the med student could handle the regular births and routine check-ups that kept them in business.

  Frank slowed as he drove into the one-horse town, giving Harley a chance to take in the beauty of the historical buildings and cobblestone side streets. She had always loved this place, and even throughout medical school she knew she would return to live and practice here for the rest of her life.

  This was home.

  As they passed the only diner in town and the gas station, something up ahead caught their attention. “What is that?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t tell from here.” Harley squinted to try to make out the oddly-shaped object that was slowly moving down the road toward the Burger Barn. The closer they got, the more it came into view.

  “What the hell are those two jackasses doing?” The jackasses in question were none other than Tim Kindle and Roger Jugger, who were straddling horses and riding down Main Street, turning in to the drive-thru lane.

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Seeing two grown men taking their horses for a mid-day stroll to get a burger was surprising for even her, and she had seen a lot of weird stuff in her line of work. The way they wobbled in their saddles was a good inclination that their choice of ride was because they were too intoxicated to get behind the wheel. She had to give them props; at least they weren’t stupid enough to drive. On a positive note, the horses were the family work horses and could get home by themselves with just a couple words and a nudge, which was probably why each of their saddlebags had a case of beer sticking out of it. Redneck ingenuity at its finest.

  “We can’t leave them wandering through town like that. George and Harold would skin them if they caught them, and that damn Barney Fife sheriff is on duty today. He will haul them in for good, and charge highway robbery for George and Harold to get the damn horses out of impound.”

  “Impound? They are horses, Daddy. They don’t put animals there; they turn them over to animal control.”

/>   “Not that dipshit. He will load them up and take them home until he gets an unheard of amount of money to get them out. I saw him do it with ol’ Ted Angle’s cow that got loose last winter. Held it hostage until Ted forked out fifteen hundred bucks. He said it was to cover the ‘danger to the town’ and ‘livestock’ violations. It was a total crock of shit, is what it was.”

  “Are you kidding me? I don’t know how the hell that guy got voted in, but I swear this better be the only term he wins. I will run myself just to get rid of the crook.”

  “You have my vote, short stack.” Harley smiled at him, loving the enduring term he had called her since she was a baby. Her dad was still the most important man in her life, and the most handsome in the world in her eyes. From his distinguished grey-peppered hair to the piercing aqua eyes, it was no wonder that every eligible woman in town had tried to bake and cook her way into his heart. Unfortunately for them, he hadn’t dated since her mother had left town with the farm hand eighteen years ago, when Harley had been twelve. He had been madly in love with her, and her desertion had left him with the biggest broken heart anyone had ever seen.

  Frank stopped alongside the curb and put it in park. “You feel like riding? I will take these two clowns home if you’ll get the animals back to the farm. I have a fine of my own planed for these two.”

  “Don’t keep Mr. Rodeo Star from winning his golden buckles, Dad, you know how important that is.” The snarkiness in her voice rattled through the cab of the truck. The last thing on this earth she wanted to do was help the one man who had plagued her heart since high school. How could fate be so damn mean?

  All through school, Harley had been the gawky, lanky tomboy whom no one gave a second glance. She was raised by her dad, so she had never learned anything about designer clothing, make-up, or fancy hair styles. She was a straight-A student, and was in all of the geek clubs, where Tim Kindle was the star quarterback and captain of the football team, basketball team, and baseball team. Like a bad horror movie, he had lost a bet with his jock buddies and had to take her to prom as the pay-up. Naïve little Harley was beside herself that the hunky cowboy had noticed her and jumped on the invitation. That night, he drank a few too many and convinced her to have sex with him, spouting things like “I have always been in love with you,”—the usual ‘I want to bang you’ lines. She fell for it, only to be dumped and laughed at the very next day. Melody Hall, who was captain of the cheerleading squad and head bitch of the school, was clueless about that night, but had the balls to laugh and make fun of her in front of the entire school for believing he would ever be interested in a skank like her. She was devastated. That night, he had taken the one thing she could never get back—her virginity, and with it, her pride. What he didn’t know was that he had given her the greatest gift in return, her son, Jackson.