by Jane Jamison
“He’s asking if you like Walter in a romantic way.”
She stared at Jack as though he’d lost his mind then shook her head. “Uh-uh. Nope. He’s like a brother to me.”
“Good to know.” Hank set his bottle down and stood up. He offered her his hand much the same way Jack had done. “How about we go riding?”
She didn’t have to think twice. “You bet. But I should warn you. I haven’t been on a horse since Betsy Isler’s seventh birthday party.”
“Are you talking about one of those pony rides where the kid sits on top of the horse and someone leads them around in a circle?”
The men didn’t try to hide their amusement. Not that she could blame them. “Yeah. So?”
“So that’s not really riding,” answered Jack.
“And those little things aren’t really horses.” Hank tried to wipe away his grin and failed. “Unless you’re a child or a little person.”
“Fine. I’m only warning you is all. Be sure you give me a gentle, kind, and giving horse.”
“A giving horse?” Dade grinned even bigger a second before the three of them burst into laughter.
“Let’s give her Rosie,” said Jack in between bursts of laughter. “She’s a very kind horse. In fact, I think she just donated to the Equine Liberation Foundation.”
“No, no. I’m pretty sure the organization was Horses Without Tails,” joked Hank.
“Oh, ha-ha. You guys are beyond funny.”
“Nope. You’re both wrong.” Dade tried to fake a serious expression, but couldn’t. “Maybe it was the DFS movement.”
Jack furrowed his brow, pretending to be solemn. “What’s that? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that movement.”
“It’s like the Me Too movement. You know.” Dade wacked Jack on the arm, as though admonishing him for not knowing. “It’s the Dams Forgiving Sires movement. They rehab stallions that have impregnated dams without their consent.”
Before she’d given it any thought, she had her finger in Dade’s face. “Do not, I repeat, do not make fun of the Me Too movement. Got it?”
Dade’s hands went up even as the other two men backed away. “Shit. Sorry. You’re right. I’ve got it.”
“Good.” Yet she found that she couldn’t be angry at him. Not with those big brown eyes pleading for forgiveness. “Okay. So are we going riding or not?”
“Let’s go.” Jack led the way out of the house with Dade and Hank behind him.
“What about the chores?” asked Dade.
“Fuck the chores.” Hank picked up the pace. “We’re all going riding.”
Sunshine did her best to keep up, but the men had long legs that ate up the distance. She was winded by the time she made it to the barn.
The pungent aroma of horse manure mixed with hay and who knew what else assaulted her nostrils. She held her nose for a moment and took a comparatively clean breath in through her mouth.
“You’ll get used to the smell.” Hank strode down the middle between two rows of stalls.
Jack’s hand skimmed over her shoulder. “If you’re here long enough, you’ll even get to liking it.”
Dade grabbed a colorful patchwork blanket from a pile of them resting on top of what looked like a workbench. Tools, brushes, and other items she didn’t know hung from a pegboard while cupboards sandwiched the workbench between them. Several saddles rested on stands. Some of the saddles were fairly plain with no embellishments while others had silver buckles and ornamentation. One saddle, obviously a very expensive saddle, was adorned with turquoise stones.
The sound of a horse snorting and pawing the ground stole her attention. Slowly, she moved toward the stalls, fearing that any strange sound might frighten the animals. As she grew closer, worry stiffened her neck. It had been a long time since she’d seen a real horse up close.
“Um, guys. Maybe this is a bad idea.”
All three men faced her, surprised.
“Why? What’s wrong?” asked Hank. He came out of the farthest stall, leading a huge chestnut-colored horse.
“I didn’t remember how big a horse was.”
“They kind of have to be big to carry you.”
Oh, shit.
Embarrassment flooded her. Worse, tears stung in her eyes.
Why didn’t I realize that? I’m too heavy to ride a horse.
“Darlin’,” asked Hank. “Did I say something wrong?”
She shook her head and began to back up. “No. It’s okay. But, again, I’m not sure this is a good idea.” A hard body stopped her escape as she backed into Jack. He placed firm hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him.
“What’s wrong? You were all ready to ride. What changed your mind?”
She didn’t want to look at him. It was too embarrassing. Yet, after years of struggles, she’d finally learned that she had to face these situations head-on. “My first thought was that the horse was so damn big. Beautiful, but huge. Way bigger than I remember.”
“Your first thought? What was your next thought?”
Could he read her mind? If so, that would prove he was a vampire. Then again, it could prove that he was simply intuitive.
“Babe, tell me.”
Her gaze met his gray eyes, mesmerizing her. Whether that was because he was a vampire or not didn’t matter. She could easily stare into his eyes for the rest of her life and be happily contented. Dade came closer. Hank stayed back, keeping the horse a safe distance from her.
“My first thought was that the horse was so big. It kind of scared me. But then I realized that he probably wasn’t big enough.”
Confusion darkened his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t get it.”
“She’s saying she thinks she’s too big for the horse.” Dade’s tone was filled with sadness.
Anger mixed with embarrassment. “Not ‘big.’ Fat. Just say the right word. We’re all thinking it. Besides, think of the poor horse’s back.”
She was suddenly lifted off her feet then carried over to several bales of hay and plopped roughly on top of one. When was the last time anyone had tried to lift her, much less succeeded in doing it? When she was a child?
Jack took her face and held it tight. “Okay, darlin’, I’ll say it. You’re fat.”
She swallowed hard, fighting to not let the tears fall.
“But you know what? I don’t think ‘fat’ is a bad word. I think it’s the same thing as voluptuous, desirable, and downright sexy as hell.”
She was at a loss for words and was soon at a loss to catch a breath as he crushed his mouth to hers.
Is he really kissing me? Oh my God. He’s really kissing me!
He took her upper lip into his mouth then skimmed his tongue along it. Her hands found his shoulders, and she clutched at his shirt.
Kiss him back!
Her mind didn’t have to wait long for her body to respond. She kissed him back hard, her tongue playing with his as she swept hers into his mouth. He sucked on it then released it so he could nibble on her lower lip. She moaned and prayed the kiss would never end.
But, unfortunately, it did.
Yet, fortunately, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
In the few seconds it took for Dade to shove Jack aside, she caught her breath. Then Dade kissed her. His kiss was as intense as Jack’s, but it was different, too. His taste filled her mouth. The pressure on her lips hurt a little, but it was a good hurt, one she’d craved to experience, yet had never had the chance. He nibbled, he pulled, he moaned, sending her need spiraling. Perhaps she’d been too surprised by Jack’s kiss to fully turn her libido free, but she wasn’t any longer. She kissed Dade back for all she was worth as she locked her fingers behind his neck and held on to him for dear life. Arching her back, she pushed her ample breasts against his mountainous chest. Hard meeting soft was a delicious feeling, and wetness erupted between her legs.
She mewled, protesting when Hank tugged her hands apart, loosening her hold on Dade. Suddenly, Dade moved, and she
almost fell forward. Thankfully, another hard body blocked her fall and pushed her farther back onto the bale of hay.
Hank gave her the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. “You’re beautiful. Curvy, delicious, and every ounce of you is incredible. Never let anyone tell you you’re not the most special woman in the world. Do you understand?”
“Uh-huh,” she whispered, surprised that she could find enough breath to speak.
“Good.” He leaned forward. Unlike the other two men’s kisses, his was soft, tender.
She stayed as motionless as she could and put all her focus on the softness of his kiss. How could any man as strong as Hank kiss so sweetly? Yet he could. And the sweetness drove her even crazier. Wrapping her legs around him, she pulled him against her and was rewarded with the sensation of his hard cock straining at his jeans against her crotch.
Hank tugged on her shirt and had it halfway over her head when Jack called out. “Hank!”
She didn’t want Hank to stop kissing her. Hell, she didn’t want any of them to stop kissing her. Instead, she wanted them to rip off her clothes, throw her back against the hay, and show her exactly what was making their jeans tight in the front.
But it wasn’t to be.
With a groan, Hank jerked her off him, thrusting her back against the hay—but oh, so not the way she wanted—and then stepped away from her.
“No. Don’t stop.” Again, she wanted to cry, but now for a different reason.
Hank’s face was a mask of torture as he turned his back on her and strode to the other side of the barn. Jack clapped him on the back as Hank passed by him then came over to her. He took her shirt and tugged it down.
“No, babe. It’s not the time or the place.”
“Why the hell not?” She searched his face. “What is it? Are you guys married? Got girlfriends? Because, right here and now, I don’t care.” It was her need and her lust that was talking and not her true feelings, but she had to make them want her again. If not…
“No, we’re not married or involved.” Dade drew closer then abruptly stepped back. “We’re free as birds, darlin’.”
She pulled herself together and slipped off the hay. “Then why aren’t we getting together?”
“Because…” Jack looked to Dade then Hank, who had turned back toward them. “Because we have a feeling that you’re going to mean more to us than just some woman. Some one-night stand.”
His words took not only her breath away but her power of speech, too. At least, for a moment. “What do you mean?”
“He means that we already feel like we know you.” Hank joined the other two men, but none of them got any closer. “He means that you could be special to us and we want to find that out first.”
What was she supposed to say now? She’d barely met them and they were talking like she was important to them. Was it a trick? Was it their way of seducing the poor, fat girl? Yet she couldn’t deny the sincerity in their voices and on their faces.
Dade put on a big grin, more forced than real, and said, “Hey, I thought we were going riding. Let’s get after it.”
Jack and Hank agreed, suddenly acting as though nothing had happened. Hank took the horse’s lead from around the top slat of the nearest stall and led it toward the blankets and saddles. Jack and Dade busied themselves with getting two more horses out of the stalls.
What the hell just happened?
Yet, whatever had happened, she wasn’t sorry that it had.
Chapter Four
Sunshine knew she shouldn’t be embarrassed, but that was a lot to expect. Especially when her nerves were still jangled from the lip-locks she had with the men. Add that to the fact that she was standing right next to a huge animal and she was doing good just to keep from freaking out.
Their kisses had made her feel more than all the sexual experiences she’d had with other men. Granted, her experience was very limited, but she knew enough to know that her body had reacted differently, hotter, wilder, this time. She’d rather kiss Jack, Hank, and Dade than have sex with all the other men she’d known put together.
She ached for them to kiss her again. Ached to feel that incredible tingle they’d given her.
Was she special?
Yet they hadn’t said that outright, had they? They’d said she could be special. Which meant they didn’t think she was special yet. But at least there was a possibility that she could be.
Could they be special to her? Her answer came fast enough. Although she’d just met them, she knew they could be special to her. Very special.
The word could was suddenly a very important word.
But the old, familiar nagging insecurity returned. Once they got to know her, the real her, the one with all the self-doubts and put-downs, would they still think she could be special? Or would she be able to fool them for only so long?
She’d often had a Jekyll and Hyde relationship with confidence. If her confidence was up—which she worked hard at keeping up—then she was large and in charge, ready to take on the world. On those days, she was special in every way possible. But then there were the other days, the days everyone had, yet it still seemed as though she were totally alone. On those days, there was nothing special about her, unless it was how fat she was.
Strangely, their kisses had brought out both sides of her thinking. They thought she was special, so why didn’t she simply accept that as the truth? Yet, they really didn’t know her, did they? But wasn’t that also a plus? They didn’t know her, so that meant they’d been turned on not by her wit or her charm but by her body.
Or could it be all of those combined into one curvy body?
Shit. I am so confused.
“Earth to Sunshine. You there?”
She blinked, coming back to the here and now. “I’m here.”
“Are you ready to do this?” asked Dade.
“Yes. You bet. Let’s do this.” At least she sounded confident.
“Okay, then, just do as I say.”
Following Dade’s instructions, she put her right foot into the stirrup.
“All you have to do is to grab hold of the saddle horn and pull yourself up and onto the saddle.”
She gave Dade a less-than-confident look and shook her head. “Are you sure this is safe?” Not only safe for her but safe for the horse?
“Of course it is.”
“But she’s bigger than your horses.” Had they chosen Rosie because she was large and able to hold more weight? Or because she was gentle horse?
“And she’s better with strangers than the others.” Dade gave her a wink that threatened to revive her need for something more than a horse between her legs. “Trust me.”
“I trust you. I’m just not sure I can say the same for the horse.” Dade’s hand against the small of her back felt warm, secure, sturdy. “I don’t suppose Jack can read the horse’s mind, could he? Or maybe do that compulsion thing vampires do?”
“Babe,” said Jack from on top of his horse, “I don’t read animal’s minds. Just hop up and you’ll be fine.”
“You can do this, sugar.” Hank looked like the perfect specimen of a western hero as he sat on top of his spotted mare.
I can do this. Right? Right.
Taking hold of the saddle horn, she hefted her body up and didn’t make it. Instead, she fell backward into Dade’s arms. Albeit a bit miffed that she hadn’t gotten into the saddle, she couldn’t complain about where she’d ended up. “I swear I didn’t fall on purpose.” And then she did something she’d never done. She batted her eyes. “But thanks for catching me.”
He looked into her eyes, and she would’ve sworn she felt weak. And horny again.
“No problem.” He hefted—because there was no other word to describe it—her back onto her feet. “Try it again.”
She did, and surprising even herself, she wound up on top of the horse. “Oh, shit. What do I do now?”
Dade handed her the reins. “Just take these and steer him like you would a car. Pull on the lef
t side when you want to go left and same for the right.”
Sitting on top of the beautiful animal was amazing, but terrifying. “Okay. But how do I make him stop? Where’s the brake?”
“Pull back on the reins.” Dade patted her leg then the horse’s neck and moved to the fourth horse waiting for him.
Oh, shit. Get back here. Don’t leave me on top of this giant animal by myself.
Yet, somehow, she managed to keep her fear to herself.
“Don’t worry. We’ll take it easy.” Jack laughed. “At first.” Making a clucking sound, Jack urged his horse forward and out of the barn.
“You ready?” asked Hank as he started to follow.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Taking her cue from the men, she nudged the horse slightly with her heels then imitated the clucking sound. “Oh, shit.” One hand clutched the reins while the other had a death grip on the saddle horn.
“You’re doing great, darlin’,” encouraged Dade as he pulled his horse alongside hers. “Relax and enjoy the ride.”
“Tell that to Rosie,” she muttered.
Dade laughed then urged his horse ahead of hers.
Oh, sure. Leave me behind. I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but go on. Run off without me.
“Come on, horsie. Just follow their lead, okay?”
God help me.
* * * *
The ranch was beautiful with rolling hills, yet Sunshine could see forever. Although she’d always thought of Colorado as being mountainous, she hadn’t realized that the plains part of the state was just as lovely in its own special way.
What wasn’t so lovely was how her butt was feeling. They’d been riding for the past hour, and she’d learned to put her horse into a gallop and then a trot, bouncing her up and down so that her breasts were constantly jiggling. Hank kept encouraging her, telling her she’d learn to “sit the saddle” soon enough—whatever that meant—but the constant up and down was making her a little nauseous.
She pulled her horse to a stop in the middle of a field. A herd of cattle were nearby, munching on grass and mooing every so often. “Hey, guys, I really need to take a break. Why don’t they put more padding on these saddles?” Not that she didn’t have enough padding on her butt, but still.
