by Jane Jamison
“Take it easy. She’s in no position to give consent,” warned Paul.
Yet Destin would’ve sworn that the breath she let out was filled with relief. In the next instant, however, she pushed him back.
“Fuck you.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t suppose you have handcuffs at home, do you?”
“Destin. Back off.”
“What the fuck? Handcuffs? Of course, I have handcuffs. I’m a cop.” She giggled. “Is that it? You like to get kinky?”
“I like to treat a woman the way she’s dreamed of.” He brushed the back of her hair and felt her tremble. “Let me treat you that way, sugar. Say the word and give yourself the right to feel free. Really free for the first time.”
She pushed against him again, both hands flat against his chest. And yet, he noticed the slight hesitation that came before the shove.
“Stop it, Georgia. Don’t fight what you know you want. What you know you need.” He leaned closer still, close enough to see the throb of her pulse in the vein in her neck. “You want a man to take control. A man who’ll show you what it’s like to want to grant his every wish. Say the word and you can have two men who’ll give you that.”
Her breathing grew harsh, quickened with her growing need. If he pushed his hand between her legs, he’d feel the wet warmth oozing from her pussy.
“No, you’ve got me all wrong. I don’t want that. I want a man who’s an equal, not a bully.”
He grinned. “Horse shit. What I’m talking about isn’t about being a bully. It’s about giving you what you deserve and need. And trust me. I can see it in your eyes. You want it more than you can say. Just let go of the control, sugar, and learn what it means to experience true pleasure.”
Her chest rose and fell, then she swallowed. He took in a deeper breath and picked up the aroma of her sweet heat between her legs. Her lips parted, a slight movement that would entice a lesser man to take what he wanted whether she gave herself to him or not. Still, at least she didn’t protest, didn’t tell him to go to hell as she’d done before.
“Destin, take it easy. She’s not in the right frame of mind for any kind of play.”
As usual, his brother was right. Maybe. And yet, he wanted more than anything to find out. Taking a steadying breath of his own, he eased away. “It’s okay, Georgia. We won’t do anything you don’t want to do. That’s always how it is. And we’ll make sure you get home without any expectations. If that’s what you really want.”
Yet when he stuck out his hand to seal the deal, she looked at it like it was a snake about to pierce her skin with its deadly fangs. Nonetheless, her breathing grew regular and she cleared her throat.
“Fine. I think I’m crazy for agreeing, but you’re right about my driving. But you have to stay in the cab once we’re there. Don’t think I’m going to invite you inside. Agreed?” She finally took his hand.
The heat of her skin against his was more sensual than anything he’d ever experienced with any other woman, with or without clothes on. He needed her. His body craved hers, with every fiber of his being. Hell, if touching her hand made him want to shoot his wad, what would it be like once he tasted her pussy? “Agreed. Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Two
Georgia felt fine. Good, actually. More relaxed than she’d felt in a long time. Granted, she’d had a few drinks—she wasn’t much of a drinker, so it didn’t take much—but she still had her wits about her. If she was a little wobbly, it was due to the damn high heels she’d stuck on her feet. How did women wear them anyway? Why had she bothered with the damn things?
That, however, had nothing to do with her mind. If anything was taking away her ability to think straight, it wasn’t the alcohol, but the two men escorting her to the entrance of the hotel. She pulled her coat around her. Funny how a chilly breeze could waft over her, yet she could feel so hot on the inside.
She snuck a glance at Destin, getting a better look at him than she’d gotten in the dimly lit bar. He was an inch or so shorter than his brother, with slightly longish brown hair and a narrower shoulder span. Not that his wide shoulders could be called anything but magnificent. Both of them could give a pro football player a run for his money. As broad as he was, Destin’s face was that of a male model’s, angular, with strong cheekbones and a jaw that could cut glass. Whenever he moved, the biceps in his arms bulged and rippled even under the expensive leather jacket. He wore plain jeans, and yet his muscular legs made them seem spectacular, like common cloth holding precious gold within its confines.
Both men had intriguing light green eyes, eyes that made her think of sleepy Sunday mornings lying in bed and snuggling against their hard bodies. Although it was winter, they both had deep tans. She wondered if the tans came from working or playing in the sun. Were their entire bodies tanned? If she could ask them to strip, she’d do that and get the answer. Too bad that was out of the question.
Or was it?
She tucked her head, pretending it was because of the cold, but the truth was that if she studied them any harder, she’d blurt out her question.
Not easily intimidated, she couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy around them. It was the air of confidence that surrounded them as well as an essence that spoke of how comfortable they were in their own bodies. Many men tried to feign that persona of self-assuredness, but she’d seen very few who possessed it naturally. Destin and Paul Casing were two men who did.
Paul had barely lifted his hand when a cab pulled up in front of them. “Ladies first.”
She hesitated and reconsidered what she was doing, allowing two men she’d met on her job and then in a bar to take her home. She wouldn’t have advised any single woman to do the same. It was a risky and perhaps foolish move.
“No.”
“No what?” questioned Paul.
“I’ll take the cab. There’s no reason for you two to come along.”
Two pairs of light green jewels locked onto her. Destin slid his palm along her back, warming her even more. If she got any warmer, she’d melt into a puddle.
“I don’t know how it is in Atlanta, but we’re from Texas.”
Paul nodded, giving his opinion. “That’s right. And in Texas, gentlemen escort a lady home to make sure she gets there safely.”
She didn’t know where it came from, but the words were out before she realized it. “Are you gentlemen?”
Instead of being offended, Paul laughed, the vibrant sound drawing the attention of other women. Without warning, jealousy hit her and she wanted to tell those women to back off and leave her men alone.
My men? Okay, now I know I’ve had too much to drink.
And yet, the words still rang true to her.
“I can be when I need to be.” The air seemed to thicken around the three of them. “At other times, however, I’m anything but a gentleman. It’s whichever way you want, baby.”
Baby. She hated being called that, and yet, she didn’t mind Paul using the intimate term. Not only didn’t she mind, she kind of liked it.
“You can trust us, Georgia.” Destin grew serious. “You know you can. Listen to your gut.”
Had she told them about her instinct? She didn’t think so, but he was right. She trusted her gut instinct—the same gut instinct that had never failed her—and it was telling her that they wouldn’t do her any harm.
“Georgia?”
She glanced at Destin, then slid into the backseat of the waiting cab. Destin sat beside her while Paul went to the other side and got in on her left.
“Where to?” asked the cabbie.
She started to tell him, then realized that letting two virtual strangers, even men she felt she could trust, know where she lived wasn’t the brightest move. Instead, she gave him the address to her father’s home. With the cab driver in attendance and then going to her father’s home, she felt more secure in her decision to ride with them. Instinctively believing in them was one thing, but it didn’t hurt
to be cautious.
“Sure thing, miss.” The cab lurched forward, made the circular drive of the hotel, then slid smoothly onto Peachtree Street. Five minutes later, they were on I-85 and headed toward the outlying suburban community of Suwanee.
She sat nestled between the two brawny men. Brawn that had nothing to do with body fat. Having been a chubby girl in high school, she’d worked hard to get herself into shape and recognized when someone else had a low BMI. Whether they got their physiques from hard labor or from a gym didn’t matter. What mattered was that they thought enough of themselves to keep in shape. She appreciated those who did.
“So do you live inside or outside the Perimeter?”
Obviously Paul knew about the area coinciding with the highway that locals said separated the areas close to downtown and those of the many suburbs surrounding the city.
“My family has always lived in Suwanee. That’s OTP.”
“Outside the Perimeter,” clarified Paul.
“That’s right.”
The warmth from Paul’s arm as it pushed against hers made it difficult to think. His long legs were bent with the small confines of the backseat, and for the first time, she noticed the cowboy boots he wore.
“So I guess the boots prove you’re from Texas. Does that make you a real cowboy? Or one of those guys who puts on boots and pretends to be one?” Was it her imagination or had they both gotten even closer. Her pussy throbbed, and she worried that they could see how turned on she was. She clasped her hands in her lap. If she’d had a purse, she would’ve held it over her crotch. She hated purses more than she hated high heels.
“That’s right. Didn’t we mention it before? Anyway, we’re from Pleasure, Texas. It’s a little town a couple of hours outside Dallas.”
“And what do you do there?” Maybe if she kept up the small talk, she could ignore the pounding of her heart. What was it about these men that made her feel faint? Being on the police force, she was around strong, virile men most of the day. So why would Paul and Destin have such an effect on her? If she didn’t watch out, she’d give into her urges and skim her palm over the shadow of bristles along Destin’s jaw. Then she’d cup her hand over Paul’s package.
Good God. Stop thinking about them that way. Think of them as possible suspects in a robbery. Or drug dealers. Anything that will make them less desirable.
That, however, was as futile as trying to make the cold wind of winter turn into a soothing spring breeze. She kept her focus on the road ahead. Summer was in the backseat of the car as the steam between them grew thicker.
Holy hell.
She wanted to believe her attraction was a result of the booze, but that wasn’t right. The same attraction she’d had for them on the side of the road was back, wiping away any lie she might tell herself.
Her gaze settled on Paul’s crotch. Was he wearing underwear? Or did he go commando?
The touch of Destin’s hand on her leg sent her spiraling into another time and place. One where her wildest wishes would play out.
She closed her eyes and the images came to life.
Paul, his naked torso rippling with veins and muscles, hovered over her. His green eyes sparkled as he swept his gaze along her nude body. She shivered from his look, not from fear, but from the promise of lust fulfilled.
“You’re beautiful.”
“No, I’m not.”
Someone thrust her arms above her head. She looked up to find Destin putting her wrists together, then holding them with one of his large, calloused hands. “Don’t argue, sugar. When we tell you you’re beautiful, you can believe it.”
Paul took a nipple into his mouth, his tongue whipping over it until she arched her back for more. Inching his way down her torso, he let his tongue lead the way until he pushed her legs apart, then flicked his tongue over her pussy lips.
She moaned and spread her legs wider. “Please.”
Destin’s warm breath tickled her ear. “Please what? Come on. You know what we want to hear.”
“Please. I need you.”
Paul chuckled, then spread her pussy lips apart. “That’s a good girl. Remember what your masters tell you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You like it rough, don’t you, sugar?”
She gazed into Destin’s face and saw a hunger that matched her own. “I’m not sure. I’ve never…” She couldn’t finish the sentence. Shouldn’t a woman her age know? But how could she when she’d never experienced anything but “normal” and oh-so-boring sex.
“You’ve never had it that way, have you? But you want to.”
She was a strong woman, yet under his frank perusal, she lost her boldness.
“Don’t worry. We’ll fix that. Won’t we, Paul?”
“No doubt about it.” Paul’s laughter swept over her like a wash of pure desire. “Tell me, baby. Does your pussy taste sweet?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer. How would she know? “I don’t know.”
Destin tweaked her nipple and a flash of pain came and went. “Pay attention to the rules, sugar.”
“I don’t know the rules.”
Paul pushed his body up onto his elbows. “Then we should get the answer to my question.”
He dipped his head between her legs again, his tongue finding her clit first to swirl around it, then slipping down to pierce her entrance.
“Georgia?”
She blinked, aware that she’d drifted away into a fantasy. “What?”
“You asked what we do in Texas.”
“Oh.” She struggled to maintain a cool exterior even as her insides churned with desire. But she blew that attempt to hell and back in the next moment. “I’m sorry. Did you tell me?”
The men exchanged a glance and she felt the color hit her cheeks. She wasn’t the type to blush, and yet she was.
“Where were you just now?” Destin eased closer. “Or can I guess?”
If he stared any harder at the place where she’d crossed her legs, she’d scream for him to touch her there.
“Destin, easy.”
Was Paul protecting her? Or denying her?
“To answer your question, we own a large cattle ranch called Pleasure Ranch.”
She couldn’t help but look at Paul. It was as though he could put a spell on her and make her do his bidding with only his voice. His green gaze enveloped her, freezing her to the spot. If she’d wanted to look away, she couldn’t have. Good thing she didn’t want to.
“That’s a different name for a ranch, isn’t it? I mean, aren’t they supposed to be called something like the Lazy Z or Red Rock? You know, more cowboyish?”
That’s it. Get it together. Talk about mundane, normal things.
Paul shifted his body toward her, making her more uncomfortable, and yet, excited. She squirmed in her seat, realizing at that moment that it was a good kind of squirm. She hadn’t squirmed like that in a very long time. Except in her dreams. And especially not for the past six months.
No. Don’t think about that.
“We also have a private club on the ranch that’s called The Club at Pleasure Ranch. Or just the club. I guess one name kind of dictated the other.”
“What kind of club is it?” She paused, searching for a memory. “I remember now. You said it was for oilmen and cowboys, right?”
Destin brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, jolting her into sitting up straighter. She pushed her arms together, making her already full breasts seem even larger. When she saw his eyebrows lift with interest, she let her arms fall to her sides as much as was possible in the tight confines of the backseat.
“Yeah. And others. Let’s just say it’s the kind of club that gives people what they desire.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything.”
Paul smiled, his eyes glittering. But with mirth or suspicion?
“Is this an interrogation, Georgia? If it is, then I’d like to know what charges you’re bringing against me.”
“Of course not. I�
��m only making conversation.”
The laugh lines around his eyes came out. “Then tell us more about you.” Paul took her hand and squeezed it as though comforting her.
“I think you already know more than you should.”
“Why would you say that? Don’t you trust us?”
Her first instinct was to say no, but that would’ve been a lie. She’d already made the decision to trust them. “That’s not the point. You know I’m a police officer and that I live in Suwanee.” That last part wasn’t true, but she wasn’t about to tell them she lived in Norcross. “There’s really not much more for you to know.”
“Then how about telling us what’s eating you up inside?”
She inhaled, the invisible wall between them shooting sky high. How could she tell them when she’d barely talked about it to her father or her fellow officers? Hell, she hadn’t even said much to the department’s psychiatrist. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do,” added Paul. “You’ve gone through an awful experience and you can’t let it go. Did it have anything to do with your work?”
She gritted her teeth as the images that haunted not only her nights, but her days came rushing back. “That isn’t any of your business.”
“Now who’s pushing, bro?”
Paul cupped the back of her neck. “Fine. We’ll let it go. For now.” He pulled her closer, her mouth only an inch from his. “Until then, tell me, Georgia. What is it you want to do right this very minute?”
She trembled as she fought against the memories, the horror that had ripped her apart that night. Coming out of the darkness surrounding her had taken longer than she would’ve ever believed, and yet, although Dr. Roberts had cleared her for duty, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be whole again.
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m going home, that’s all.”
“Fuck that. You know what I mean.”
She could smell his breath and almost taste him. All she had to do was go that little inch and kiss him. Then she’d see if the flavors she was imagining were real.
