Whatever Patton had put on the disk, she hadn’t wanted Killian and Adam to know about it. That could only mean it pertained to them and probably not in a good way. A part of her could already guess what she’d find as she popped the CD into her computer, but knowing only made her hesitate as the file manager popped up with two massive files stored on the disk.
Their Cattleman records. She didn’t want to read this. Opening those files would lead to jealousy, betrayal, and anger. She needed all three things to stiffen up her resolve.
* * * *
“Did Rachel seem a little cranky to you this morning?” Adam asked the question that had been bugging him since she’d stumbled into the kitchen, scowling at everything in her path. It seemed an odd reaction to him given how absolutely wonderful he’d felt this morning. At least, he had until she’d grouched away his good mood, but he was pretty sure that Killian bore responsibility for that.
“Eh.” Killian shrugged as he slammed his locker door closed. “She probably didn’t get enough sleep last night. You know how crabby she gets when she’s tired.”
Adam did know, but he didn’t think that was it. “Or maybe she was a little annoyed with your bossy attitude.”
He had to follow Killian over to the sinks to level that accusation at him. Not that Killian appeared the least bit bothered. He snorted as if Adam’s description had been absurd. “Bossy? I’m just doing my job and looking after the girl. You have noticed how deplorable her eating habits are, haven’t you?”
“I thought you liked her body.” Adam certainly did. He wouldn’t have Killian trying to change her, either.
“I do, but that doesn’t mean I don’t also want her alive and healthy at eighty.”
“Well, perhaps you could be a little more subtle in your instructions.” He’d tried to be diplomatic in his phrasing, but it still drew an annoyed scowl from Killian as he snapped paper towels out of the dispenser.
“What’s with you? Why are you acting like I’m going to screw things up? Huh? Didn’t Rachel say she loved us? Didn’t she say it after we spent the last few weeks following my plan and not your insane idea about taking her out to the club. Now, don’t be getting that look on your face. The answer is no!”
Adam shot Killian a dirty look for that high-handed attitude. He really did want to take Rachel out to the club. There was this observation room where he could not only claim her but make sure every damn man in the club saw. Then everybody would know who Rachel belonged to. They’d stay the hell away if they knew what was good for them.
It would be the final assurance that Rachel was bound to him for all time. Of course, it might be the very thing that sent her running. The club part, not the sex part, because she’d kept up well with them last night. In fact, Adam had to wonder if they couldn’t have gotten her confession a week ago if they’d been playing a little more rough with the girl.
“Ah, I guess you’re right.” It pained Adam to admit it, but Killian had a point. “Still, given last night, I don’t think we have to hold back anything at home anymore.”
Home, it sounded good. Adam had never really had one before. Killian’s parents’ house had come close, but for all the comfort the Kregors had tried to give him, a part of Adam had always felt lonely. Killian’s parents weren’t his, and eventually he always had to go back to his house.
Not this time. Rachel belonged to him as much as she did to Killian. She wasn’t his, but theirs, and her house, their home. He simply couldn’t lose that now
…love you…
Her voice floated through his head, soothing the panic rising up in his stomach.
“I guess not.” Killian shrugged his way through the locker room door. It nearly hit Adam as it swooshed back, but he caught it in time, shaking off the worry trying to creep into his mind. Killian’s arrogant swagger kind of surprised Adam because of the two of them, Killian should have been the one in a panic.
More than most bachelors, Killian had built a reputation for being out the door the second a woman showed any sign of actually caring about him. Adam always figured a woman would have a better chance of holding on to his friend if she maced him instead of saying she loved him.
As it had been from nearly the beginning, Killian didn’t appear the least bit spooked. He’d had a moment that first morning, but then Rachel had gotten stubborn and refused to commit. Adam figured that challenge washed out Killian’s fear, making him act with the cockiness of a man who already had a ring on his lady’s finger.
“In fact, I think it might be a good thing if we started being more proactive about everything. It really isn’t right that we don’t know her friends or what kind of craziness they’re trying to get her involved in.”
Adam’s nose wrinkled at the indirect mention of Rachel’s mysterious friend Kitty Anne. On principle, he didn’t like anybody who endangered his woman’s life. So as far as Adam was concerned, Rachel shouldn’t be spending any more time with Kitty.
“You know, it’s strange.” Adam settled down at his desk before leaning forward to keep their conversation somewhat private. “I really thought that Rachel was happy with her new series. It’s been getting the front page, and she’s seemed so thrilled, but now it doesn’t seem enough.”
Killian snorted at Adam’s confused admission. “Face it, Adam. Rachel’s got a taste of what it’s like to be the center of attention. Now, you know I love Rachel—”
Actually, Adam had figured that out, but it surprised him Killian had. More shocking, Killian had admitted to it without so much as a bead of sweat appearing anywhere on his body. The man didn’t even hesitate to recognize the magnitude of his own confession.
“—but she’s not the type who ever got to star in the play or lead the cheerleaders onto the field, so you have to figure that all this who-ha over her stories is probably really exciting to her. That’s probably what’s pushing her to up the ante and try for something even bigger.”
Shaking off the weirdness of Killian’s glossed-over revelation, Adam considered his partner’s words and came to an upsetting conclusion. Killian had a point, a very frightening one. “Well, if it’s prostitution today, what’s she going to be onto tomorrow?”
“Exactly.” Killian nodded. Settling back into his seat, he met Adam’s gaze with a grim look. “And you know whose responsibility it is to keep her safe?”
“Ours.”
Chapter 24
Thursday, May 1st
“Ow!”
Rachel smiled at the greeting that howled through the house as she shoved in the front door. She’d known when she’d gotten out of her car that Adam and Killian were up to something. It seemed like this past week they were always up to something, filling every spare moment of her day with surprises.
Tonight, it was apparently cooking her dinner. The mouthwatering aroma of meat being grilled had wafted down her driveway, luring her up the path. It clung to every breath she took, making her stomach rumble. As she entered the house, the scent only thickened.
That and the curses coming from the kitchen. Dropping her purse on the entry table, Rachel made her way to the back of the house to find Killian cussing at a pot of boiling oil. It snapped and hissed back, making him dance around, shaking his arms.
“Ow!”
With his back to her, he couldn’t see her smiling at him. The man really had no clue about so many things. Not that he’d ever admit to it. Moving around behind him, Rachel snatched the splatter screen off its hook and went to save Mr. Know-It-All before he seriously burned himself.
“Here.” Rachel reached across him to settle the screen over the pot.
Breaking into a big grin, Killian sidetracked her instantly with an arm wrapping around her waist. “Hey, darlin’, I’ve been thinking about you. Say, that’s pretty clever.”
“Isn’t it, though?” Rachel asked as she snuggled into his hold. “Makes the ‘ows’ all better, doesn’t it?”
“No, sweetness. This is what makes the pain go away,” Killi
an growled huskily, rubbing the callused tip of his finger against her lips.
Things had been different since her birthday. No longer did Killian and Adam seem content with the smooth, easy loving that only took place appropriately at bedtime. Their lusts had turned ravenous, feeding into the very desperation Rachel felt.
She knew this phase. She’d read their files. If this was to be the end, then she wanted it to be a glorious, gluttonous explosion that could keep her satisfied for a lifetime. That’s why she didn’t control the urge to tempt the heat she could feel building between them.
Unable to stop herself from teasing him back, Rachel nipped his finger with her teeth and felt the instant reaction of cock swelling into a hardened log between them.
“You really shouldn’t have done that.” Killian matched his threat by using his considerable bulk to back her up.
“And why not?” Rachel loved him like this, all predatory and dangerous. The hunger in his gaze left her question more of a breathy whisper than an actual sound.
“’Cause we’re cooking you dinner to be all romantic and gentlemanly. Then we have to get to work, but I’m thinking now you won’t be awake when we get home.” With every step, his hands dipped ever lower, sinking past her waist to pull one fistful of her skirt up after another. “You’d be kind of cranky if I woke you up then, wouldn’t you?”
“That’s never stopped you.” Rachel couldn’t help the way her voice came out all breathless and ragged sounding.
He’d backed her right up against the counter and pinned her there with nothing but a little bit of lace and the rough fabric of his jeans protecting her from the hard bulge of his cock. He could make no claims to decency with his palm warming her ass, protecting it from the ridged surface of the cabinet.
“You never want me to stop,” Killian growled down at her.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about, officer,” Rachel whispered, unable to control her smile or the way her legs slid up along his to tempt the beast a little more. “I was just saying hello.”
There went her panties, torn from her body with one hard tug of his hand. “All I’m saying is dinner is about to be burned.”
Rachel sucked in a deep breath as the magical feel of his hand slid down the curve her rear to nudge between her thighs, already sticky with cream. He didn’t have to demand entrance. Rachel’s leg lifted up along his thigh, inviting his touch with the intimate press of her knee against his denim-clad muscle.
“I guess you’ve been thinking about me, too.”
Always, but the word didn’t make it past her lips with the sigh she released. His wonderfully thick fingers slid right up along her pussy lips and parted her for the deeper touch. Head dipping back, she arched upward, expecting an invasion. She moaned when nothing but cool air caressed her heated flesh.
Forcing her lids to lift, Rachel gazed up at Killian, trying to think of what rule or tradition held her back from the want he’d so easily sparked in her. Nothing came to her in the second it took Killian to supply one. “Has my wench been missing me?”
Rachel smiled. Leaning into him, she pressed her splayed cunt tight against the bulge in his jeans and gave herself a thrill with a little rub. “Been missing something, sir.”
“And what is that?”
Rolling her hips against his, Rachel whispered, “Guess.”
No wise woman would taunt Killian with such open defiance, but then again, a wise woman wouldn’t have as much fun with him as Rachel did. Her brazenness caused Killian’s eyes to darken, narrowing with impure intent glinting in them. He was thinking punishment, and she was thinking pleasure, because that’s what came when he sank to his knees with a snarl.
The sudden motion barely gave her a chance to brace herself for the wash of hot breath over her wet folds. Braced for a mauling, the quick lick of his tongue straight up her cunt shot a bolt of pleasure through her tense muscles, making her hips jerk hard in blind search of more. Her throat strangled her cry, barely letting a shriek out.
“My wench tastes like honey,” Killian growled, giving her another teasing lap. “Spicy honey.”
“Sir,” Rachel ground out, barely holding back on the demand that wanted to follow.
She both hated and loved the way her men liked to tease her. Licking, nibbling, toying with her clit, he made her knees wobble and then fall down when he penetrated her with one liquid thrust of his tongue.
The velvety intruder tickled her from the inside as it discovered the magic spot that made her body boom with rapture. Gasping out shrieks, Rachel collapsed into Killian’s hold. Held upright by his hands on her hips and pinned into place by his body, Rachel didn’t cling to the counter but to the silky tresses covering Killian’s head as she pressed his lips tight against her pussy.
Killian ate pussy like a connoisseur. Savoring and discovering, he drew out her tasting until tears trickled down her cheeks. With his lips wrapped around her clit, he milked the cream from her body with his suckling kiss. The arousal flowed from her body until his kiss dipped and his tongue came back to fuck her right to the point where her whole body clenched and she couldn’t take a breath without the painful need to come.
Killian held her in a state of anticipation, letting the pleasure build in her until she would have given him anything. Everything was what he demanded from her, night after night. Rachel didn’t have the stamina to deny him. Not then and not now as Adam came whistling into the kitchen with a platter of burgers.
“Hey, sweetness, I thought I heard you come in.”
Rachel didn’t have the voice left to respond with anything more than gasped squeaks, fighting Killian now as she tried to ride his mouth to release. Eyes glazed over and watering, the tears distorted Adam’s grin as he dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek.
“Ah, man, Killian. You burned the fries,” Adam complained over the clanging and banging he made by the stove.
Rachel had no idea what the hell he was doing until Adam’s hands bit into her arms. Before she could begin to fathom his intent, Adam wrenched Rachel away from Killian’s kiss. She found the strength to shriek in denial at the loss of a release so close. Bellowing curses as she floated off the ground, her objections came to a grunting halt when Adam dumped her over his shoulder.
Killian added his complaint, whipping straight up to confront his partner. “What the hell are you doing?”
“You burned the fries, so no dessert for you,” Adam retorted, sounding more than a little annoyed. “I think you’d better get dinner together and set the table while I tend to our woman.”
Apparently, that’s all Adam had to say. Sauntering off toward her bedroom, he left her dangling over his shoulder, watching Killian’s scowl fade in the background. Fogged with lust, her mind couldn’t reason out what was happening to her beyond the loss of her pleasure. That made her very grumpy with Adam.
“You better tend to the right things, Adam,” Rachel warned him as he dropped her on her bed.
She was not in the mood for one of his marathon screwing sessions. Even for what his file said about Adam’s appetites, he’d been particularly rough with her lately. Pushing her harder and further, each time they came together, he appeared to be desperate for something she couldn’t understand, much less satisfy.
That, more than anything, told Rachel their time would end very soon. The only thing she couldn’t give Adam was the one thing his file clearly showed he needed—diversity. Rachel shied away from that thought, using the pain it caused her to fuel her anger at being denied Killian’s kiss.
“You’d better be planning on finishing what Killian started, or I’ll…”
Rachel didn’t know what she’d do. Her brain was too drugged to reason it through to a proper threat. The need to find one, though, died when Adam’s hands started pulling on his jeans’ button. Grinning at the prospect of getting exactly what she wanted, what Killian probably would have delayed giving her, Rachel watched Adam struggle with the stiff denim.
The material had stretched as far as it could go under the strain of his swollen cock, making it very difficult for him to get the zipper down without doing himself damage. If she were a girlfriend, Rachel might have offered to help. At the very least, she would have waited patiently. But if Rachel wasn’t the girlfriend, she would embrace her role as the temptress, a vixen. That gave her the right to bend over and suck the very tip of the cockhead peeking out at her.
It pulsed under her lips, and Adam cussed, jerking back from her. “That isn’t helping.”
Rachel smiled, enjoying making him twitch. The smile turned to giggles when he grunted, flinching as he caused himself some injury. Either Adam had grown tired of fighting with his zipper or aggravated by her teasing, but he gave up working on actually undoing his jeans and just started trying to shove them down.
Her giggles pealed into all-out laughter at the strange dance he did. The silliness of it all evaporated the hard edges of her lust, making the moment seem almost playful until Adam’s pants finally plopped to the floor. Unleashed, he growled and launched himself at her, tumbling her backward across the bed until he had Rachel pinned beneath his weight.
Neither his heated look nor the thick thigh forcing hers apart could intimidate the smile from her lips. Wrapping her legs around his hips as he shoved her skirt out of the way, Rachel arched up in blind search of his heated length. The thick, swollen cock burned against the tender lips of her pussy before parting them to slide through the creamy folds.
Rachel bit her lip, fighting a moan as his hardness brushed over her still- tingling clit. The press and scrape of her tender bud made electric sparks of pleasure race up her spine, taunting Rachel into grinding herself against him in the mindless search for more.
Adam grunted and flexed above her, making her mew and twist beneath him as all sense of mirth became lost in the rolling wave of heat washing over her body. It mewed out of her, thinning into a wail when his thick head slipped down to push against her tender opening. With an easy stroke, he filled her, only to glide almost all the way out before pumping her full of deliciously filling hardness.
Penn, Jenny - Rachel's Seduction [Cattleman's Club] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 25
