Haley smiled. It was kind of empowering to keep such an alpha, virile guy off balance. Certainly healed some of her battered ego. She had a long way to go, but it was a start. Still, she didn’t let it go to her head. If there was one thing she knew about Warlock, it was his ability to adapt to any situation. Her time with the upper hand was running out. Fast.
But that was okay. She wasn’t sure she wanted to seduce him again. Why couldn’t he seduce her? Why couldn’t he want her as bad as she wanted him?
Misgivings began to ripple through her gut.
He did, her self-preservation side insisted, quelling her fears. It’d been written in the fierce, intense pleasure on his face when he drove in and out of her the other night, over and over, like he wanted to prolong his release, as if being buried inside her had been the most incredible feeling in the world.
It had been for her. So incredible.
If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the pressure of him on top of her, feel him moving inside her. See the ecstasy on his face when he thrust deep and climaxed. Her insides quivered just thinking about it.
Once hadn’t been enough. God, she’d been so greedy. Her mind replayed the things she’d done to him, and things she’d let him do to her, and warmth flooded her cheeks. By rights, she should be embarrassed, and probably would be…if it hadn’t felt so freaking amazing.
For years, she’d put her desires second. Her mistake. Maybe if she’d acted on them with Drew more often, he wouldn’t have looked elsewhere. The point was moot now.
Not that night. Not with Cord. No. She’d dropped her inhibitions and given into the need to finally experience their chemistry. Again and again. Thankfully, he’d been filled with the same need and had a ton of stamina. The amazing man had accommodated her wishes until she’d worn him out. But he’d fallen asleep in her arms with a smile on his face.
She’d had one on hers, too, and it grew as she’d listened to his steady breathing. It was so nice to see him relaxed for once, and not on alert like he seemed to be whenever he was awake. The guy walked around completely aware of his surroundings and everyone in it. Hell, he probably awoke at DEFCON 4 the second he cracked an eye open in the morning.
It was the reason she’d slipped out of his bed before dawn. One look at her and he would’ve noticed her uncertainty. Detected her worry and drilled her until she’d admitted her fear that the light of day might have changed his opinion of her prowess the night before. This would’ve led to unwanted questions about Drew. Or worse.
God, what if he’d awoken and declared the night a mistake like he had their first kiss?
No. There was no way she could’ve stayed. Her fledgling wings would’ve broken, and she would’ve died of mortification. And shame.
After Drew, she’d promised herself never again.
“You okay?” Cord asked, sledgehammer resting on his shoulder, attention solely on her.
“Yeah.” She nodded. “Why?”
His keen gaze narrowed. Great. He was doing his “Warlock” thing. “First, you looked like you wanted to strip me naked and lick chocolate off my body.”
Damn. She inhaled deeply. Now she was never going to get that image out of her head.
“Then a second later, you looked like you were in pain.”
All the pain was behind her, and she was determined to keep it that way. “No. I am thirsty, though.” And hungry for something that probably wasn’t good for her. And chocolate. Damn him. “We should take a break. Go hydrate.” She motioned toward the house, suddenly in dire need of a cold drink.
He hesitated but finally glanced around at the fifty feet of fence they’d installed so far that day. “Yeah.” He nodded. “I could use a drink.” He dropped the sledgehammer with a thud before falling into step with her. “Some cold water sounds good about now.”
Although she tried not to let it, the fact he was stringing a few sentences together and putting more words in them since his arrival last week, warmed her heart. Some of the old Cord was showing. And that, she decided, was definitely a good thing.
With lightness in her step, she entered the house and headed to the sink to wash up before grabbing two bottles of water from the fridge and handing one to Cord. He practically downed his in one gulp. The guy was even proficient when he drank water. She knew firsthand that proficiency followed through to the bedroom.
Memories of his aptitude brought heat to her face and places farther south. Good places where he’d bestowed his expertise. Her knees wobbled just thinking about it.
Damn, he was potent. Or was she pathetic?
Both. Definitely both.
After he crushed the air out of the bottle and tossed it in the garbage, he turned to find her watching him, and raised a brow. Great. He probably read all that on her face in one glance. Before he could grill her about which illicit idea she was entertaining now, she offered him the rest of her water. Heat entered his gaze, but instead of walking away and ignoring his wants like he usually did, he surprised her by stepping close until the bottle met his chest.
The air around them stilled while her heart beat out of control. In a slow, sure move, he reached for the bottle, but instead of removing it from her grasp, he wrapped his fingers around hers in a sensual move she felt clear to her core. So deep she trembled. And with that smoldering gaze boring deep, he placed his mouth on the rim and took what she offered. Finishing every last drop.
“Damn, Cord.” Her voice came out breathy. “Now it’s hotter in the house than outside.”
“Not my fault,” he claimed, letting go of the bottle but not her hand. The plastic bounced off the floor with a light, hollow thud. The complete opposite of the erratic pulse pounding in her ears. “It’s your fault for not quenching my thirst.”
She swallowed, watching his thumb caress her skin. “I gave you my water.”
He cupped her face and held her gaze, his dark and full of the need consuming her body. “Not what I’m thirsting for.” Then he was kissing her with a slow, thorough precision that had her toes curling in her boots and her good parts quivering.
Haley had no idea what changed, what prompted Cord to make the first move this time, but she wasn’t complaining. Except maybe that they had on too much clothes. She snuck her hands under his shirt and brushed the ridges of his abs. God…he was hot. His skin was on fire and moving under her touch.
“So good,” he mumbled after releasing her mouth to dip his head and kiss his way down her throat.
She let out a low moan in agreement and slid her hands up his arms, thrilling to the feel of his biceps hard beneath her fingers. “Every time.” It got better and better. Or maybe it was because she’d been pent up since leaving his bed the other morning.
His breath was warm on her skin, and by the time his lips found her collarbone, she had mush for brains.
She cleared her throat, hoping it would clear her mind enough to hold onto a thought. “So…what is this?”
His soft chuckle huffed against her skin. “Think it’s obvious.”
“No, not that.” She smacked his arm but didn’t push him away. “Another night?”
He hoisted her up onto the counter. “How about a ‘right now’?”
“Works for me.” She’d barely gotten the words out of her mouth when he ripped the tank top over her head and tugged her bra straps down her arms.
“God, you’re hot.” Satisfaction glittering in his gaze, he trailed his hands up her ribs, stopping just below her breasts. “Damn hot.”
She agreed with a sigh, and a second later, he captured her mouth in a delicious, wet kiss that had the pulse pounding loud in her ears. He was such a great kisser, but she needed more. Ever the mind reader, he cupped her aching breasts with his wonderfully callused hands and brushed his thumbs over her tight peaks. The combination had her moaning and hooking her legs around his hips to draw him closer.
A groan rumbled in his throat. He thrust against her, and she saw stars. How could he make her so hungry and
needy so damn fast? Haley was about to encourage more when the sound of a car door slamming echoed in the distance.
Cord stilled. “You expecting company?”
Chapter Eleven
“Stone! Brick!” Haley hugged the bastards who had shit for timing, her delectable curves covered once again.
Disappointment rushed through Cord. Just when he’d finally given in—finally acknowledged Haley was no longer married, no longer beholden to Drew—and given himself permission to act on their passion that was far from quenched, his idiot friends show up.
To help out at the ranch.
Like him.
Damn. He needed to remind himself she hadn’t invited him to the ranch to have sex. She needed help getting the place ready. The sex was an unexpected surprise.
Since the woman insisted on answering the door, and it was her door, Cord remained in the kitchen and let her handle things. Leaning his back against the counter, he folded his arms across his chest and watched his buddies take turns introducing their women.
When it came to his sister’s introduction, Haley stilled before snapping her gaze his way.
“Brannigan? As in Cord Brannigan?” she asked, while her eyes remained fixed on him.
Lizzie smiled at him, as did the others. “Yep, he’s my brother, and the only one who calls me Lizzie. So, please, call me Beth.”
At that, Haley’s mouth curved into a big grin. “Okay, Beth.” She turned back to his sister and Brick. “I have got to hear how you handled that.”
“Not well,” Cord stated, pushing from the counter to head for the door behind them. He wasn’t about to stand by while they talked about him as if he wasn’t there. “It’s time I got back to work.”
The twinkle disappeared from Haley’s eyes and her spine straightened. “Okay.”
Now he felt like an ass. He liked when she smiled with her eyes. “You don’t have to, though,” he said. “Stay and visit.”
“Cord’s right,” Stone said. “Brick and I will help him. We’re here to pitch in.”
Brick nodded. “You have us for two nights, and we’ll be back again next weekend, too.”
Haley blinked. “Oh, wow. I don’t want to take you away from At-Ease. Especially for so long.”
“No worries. Vince has it covered,” Stone replied. “And Leo’s pitching in more now, too. So it’s all good.”
Jovy slid her arm around Stone and smiled at Haley. “You’re not going to get rid of them, so you may as well use the stubborn guys.”
Cord grunted. Stubborn was definitely a Mitchum brothers trait.
Haley exhaled and an invisible weight appeared to lift from her shoulders. “Okay. I can really use the help. There’s a lot on Cord’s plate.”
His? Surprise washed through him. She was the one who’d been toting the load for God knew how long. Between trying to keep her uncle’s ranch going, to converting it into a new business, it was a wonder she was still sane. It proved her mettle. Admiration spread through his chest in a wave of warmth. She really was something else.
“Well, we’ll clear some for him. Don’t worry.” Brick winked. “And if that’s cornbread I smell, I’d be happy to clear that plate for you, too.”
The light was back in Haley’s eyes, sparking in her chocolate brown depths. Christ. A man could get lost in them. Drew had been a lucky son-of-a-bitch. And nearly fucked it up before he’d died.
“Yes.” She grinned. “I baked it fresh this morning.”
And the delicious aroma had tantalized him the minute they’d come in for water. But then his hunger had switched to something much more appetizing.
Brick rubbed his hands together and smiled. “I look forward to enjoying it at supper, after a good day’s work.”
“Thanks.” Haley nodded then glanced at the girls. “I feel bad leaving you in here. Just make yourself at home.”
Stone set his hand on Haley’s shoulder. “Actually, why don’t you stay here, too? Jovy is a killer business woman, and she’s itching to talk to you about the business side of your boarding ranch.”
“Yes.” The pretty entrepreneur nodded, excitement gleaming in her eyes. “I’d love to take a look at your business plan and give you pointers. Help you get your books set up. Whatever you need.”
Relief softened the corners of Haley’s mouth and her body sagged, just a little. “Really? Lord knows I need help in that department.”
“And I’d love to talk to you about your opening day,” Lizzie stated. “I’ve got some inexpensive, fun ideas.”
Haley divided her gaze between the two women and shook her head. “Wow. I…I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Lizzie encouraged. “I don’t believe you’re as stubborn as my brother has led me to believe.”
Shit.
A brown gaze collided with his. “Has he now?” She slowly smiled and warmth entered her eyes. “He’s right. But, I’m also not stupid. No way am I turning away two people willing to help me tackle my least favorite chore. So, thank you both. Come on. The office is this way.” Haley hooked her arms with his buddies’ girlfriends as if she was indeed afraid they’d bolt.
Watching the three smiling women disappear into a room down the hall loosened something in Cord’s chest. He had no idea what the hell it was, except it felt positive.
“You owe me twenty bucks, bro. Fork it over.” Brick snapped his fingers, capturing Cord’s attention.
He glanced at the brothers exchanging money and raised a brow. What the hell had they bet on now? Haley accepting help? Even he wasn’t sure he would’ve made a wager.
“Never been happier to lose a bet.” Stone glanced at him and grinned.
Shit. “You were betting on me? What the hell for?”
Stone shrugged. “Expected Warlock to hold out longer than a damn week.”
Hold out? Damn. He knew where this was going. Fuck that. He pushed past the idiots and strode from the house.
Their chuckles followed.
Bastards.
“Can’t outrun it, Cord,” Stone said as he fell into step beside him.
Brick appeared at his other side. “Yeah. The jig is up. Cop to it.”
“I’m not trying to outrun a damn thing,” he muttered, coming to a halt near the unfinished fence. “Just needed to put some distance between you two idiots and Haley.”
Brick backhanded his brother’s chest. “Ah, that’s sweet. He’s worried about Haley.”
“That’s how it starts,” Stone said.
He narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck are you to talking about?”
A twitch tugged at Stone’s lips. “You and Haley.”
Ah hell. He muttered a curse. “There is no me and Haley.”
“Don’t even try to deny the two of you had sex. It’s damn evident in the possessive way you look at her.”
Possessive way? “That’s bullshit,” he grumbled.
“No. No, it’s not,” Brick said, and had the good sense not to smile. “You’re in that confused stage. I get it. You want her but don’t fucking want to want her.”
“Yeah,” Stone agreed. “Even though your mind screams at you to stay the hell away. You can’t.”
Damn. They were right. Still… “You’re making too much out of this. We’re just blowing off steam.”
Stone’s brow rose to disappear under his hair. “Does Haley know that?”
“Hell yeah,” Cord said. “She’s the one who initiated it.”
Brick rubbed his jaw. “Hate to break it to you, pal, but given the history of your connection, it’s a hell of a lot more than steam.” He lifted the posthole digger from the ground and nodded at him. “Ever since Drew’s death, the two of you have been dripping with sexual tension and tiptoeing around each other like an elephant in a damn minefield.”
Anger heated Cord’s veins in a fierce, swift wave. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” He faced Brick, his fists clenching and unclenching. “She was married to Drew. I never would’ve done
anything.”
Brick held up his free hand and shook his head. “Hey, I never said you would.”
Stone glared at his brother. “What my idiot brother is trying to say is that she’s no longer married, and you two can do whatever the hell you like.”
“Exactly,” Brick said. “Life is too fucking short, and sometimes our stupid brotherhood code is just that. Stupid. You and I nearly fucked up the best damn thing to happen to me because of it. Don’t make the same damn mistake, or be dumb enough to think it’s just sex. It’ll bite you on the ass.”
He picked up his hammer. “I hear what you’re saying, but back off. It was one night. We blew off some steam. I’m happy with my life the way it is.”
For the most part that was true. Except if he’d arrived with more than three condoms in his pocket, then he would’ve had more than one night with the woman. It was the lack of protection that helped him fight his desire the rest of the week. Until an hour ago. With her watching him with that dark, hungry gaze—again—he was willing to go to plan B. The one where a condom wasn’t required for what he’d had in mind.
“Bullshit.” Brick leaned on the posthole digger and smirked. “You’re not happy with having one night.”
“Bullshit,” he threw the words back at his friend. “I get it. You two are in committed relationships for the first time in your damn lives, but quit trying to fix me the fuck up.”
“Look, Stone.” Brick elbowed his brother while nodding toward him. “He’s using his words.”
Stone nodded, also regarding him closely. “I know, asshole. I was trying not to bring it to his attention.”
Christ. “What the hell are you talking about now?”
Stone shrugged. “The fact this is the most you’ve talked to us in two years.”
“Yeah,” Brick said. “Your sentences have more than two words. Or a grunt.”
Cord grunted, then flipped them the bird.
Stone smacked his brother’s arm. “See what the hell you did?”
“I know.” His buddy grinned. “But don’t worry. Two weeks from now he’ll be smiling all the time. And whistling, too. Remember how he used to whistle?”
The Right Ranger (The Men of at Ease Ranch) Page 8
