by Jane Jamison
“How about I help you out? I’ll get the calf back where he belongs.”
They stared at her as though she’d lost her mind.
“You?”
“Yes, Mitch. Me.”
Again with the stares. Surely they’d seen other women wrangle a herd of cattle. Did she look as though she couldn’t handle it?
“But—”
She reached over and put her hand over Wy’s. “Please. I want to give it a try.”
When would they stop with all the staring?
“Okay. But do you know how?”
Yeah, Mitch. I know how.
But why tell him when she could show him? Letting out a loud whistle, she put the spurs to Copper and hoped he’d have enough energy in him to move quickly. The horse answered her prayers, taking off fast then increasing his speed. They went flying down the rise and into the field.
She would’ve sworn she heard their surprised shouts. Leaning over Copper’s neck, she gave him free rein and urged him on. The calf didn’t realize they were close until she was already in front of him.
“Hey! Get on, little one. Back to the herd.” Keeping a firm hold on the reins, she worked Copper. He pranced in front of the calf then spun around to counter the calf’s attempt to go in the opposite direction. Hollering, she forced him to go the right way, until, at last, he gave out a baleful sound and ran toward the herd. His mother answered his call, meeting him as he blended in with the rest of the cattle.
“Good.” She wheeled her horse around. Settling into the saddle, she watched Mitch and Wy riding toward her. “I think they know they’ve been had, Copper. Just like you fooled me.” At least they were grinning at her when they reined their horses next to hers.
“I think the doc pulled one over on us, Wy.”
“I think you’d be right, cuz.” Wy mimicked Mitch by leaning back in the saddle.
There they go with the staring again. But at least this time, they were staring for a better reason.
“I did.” She smoothed the loose strands of her hair back into the ponytail. “Sorry, but I couldn’t resist. You guys just assumed I was a city girl. I needed to prove you were wrong.”
“We sure did.” Mitch’s dark gaze slid over her as though reassessing his opinion of her. “I know Woodward’s a country town, but I figured since you were living in San Antonio now and working as a doctor—”
“That I’d prefer cleaning the house to wrangling calves? Of course. What woman wouldn’t?”
“She got us good, Mitch. No two ways about it.”
“I spent my summers working on a ranch. So, yeah, I picked up a few things. Like riding horses and rounding up cattle. You know. The usual stuff. I’ve even castrated a few animals in my time.”
Was it her imagination or did their hands inch toward the crotches? “Are we finished with the tour of the ranch?”
“Yeah. I’d say we’ve had enough.” Wy tipped his hat to her. “You sure as hell showed us.”
“Great. Then how about racing you back to the barn?”
One look at Mitch and she knew what would happen next.
“Deal.” Mitch whirled Jackass around, putting his mount into a full gallop. Wy wasn’t far behind.
“Cheaters,” she muttered. She gave Copper slack in his reins, a quick kick with her heel, and took off after them.
* * * *
Mitch handed off the grooming brush to Wy. “We should’ve made her brush Copper down. A rider needs to take care of the horse she rides.”
“You’re right. But are you going to call her back in here and make her do the job?”
Chey had gone into house, and they’d promised to brush down Copper along with their mounts. She’d been on the ranch for a few days, and they’d gone riding every day. Mitch wasn’t sure it was a smart idea to have her out in the open and vulnerable, but he hadn’t been able to resist her big eyes pleading with him to ride. He hated to admit it, but she had him wrapped around her little finger.
“Nope. I’d just as soon do whatever I can to make her feel at home. She’s going to start pushing to get back to San Antonio as soon as she can. I’m surprised she hasn’t already. The thing is, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to let her go.”
Wy hung up the brush. “Let her? Haven’t you figured it out by now? No one lets Chey do anything. If she has a mind to do it, she will. Our job is to make sure she doesn’t want to leave.”
Her stubbornness and pride were traits Mitch both liked and hated. “Yeah. I get it. But I’m not sure how we’re going to manage it.”
“How you’re going to manage what?”
She stood in the doorway. As always, seeing her made his body come alive and his cock twitch. The girl didn’t have to gussy up like some women did to look like a knockout. She didn’t have to wear fancy clothes or high heels or even put on makeup. If she never combed her hair, it’d give her a tangled bedroom look like she’d just awakened and was ready to take up where they’d left off the night before. She’d be naked, stretched out over the bed, her taut nipples pointed directly at him. If she crooked her finger, he’d answer as fast as he could. And once he did…
Damn. If I don’t get another taste of her soon, I’ll dry up and blow away.
“Mitch?”
He jolted out of his fantasy. “What?” Wy was looking at him funny, too.
“I asked you what you’d like for dinner.”
“Whatever you want to cook, doc.”
She took them both in. “Me? I made dinner yesterday. I was hinting that one of you should cook.”
“You were?” Mitch passed his hand over his head. “I totally missed the hint. Besides, you made dinner yesterday and it was great. Why not do it again?”
Wy groaned. “If it’ll make you two happy, I’ll cook.”
“Sounds good to me.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “And Mitch can do the cleanup.”
She was quick on her feet. “Oh, really? And what about you? Aren’t you going to do anything?”
“Not if I can help it.”
Her smile was saucy and drove him insane. After the night when Buzz was attacked, he and Wy had agreed to back off, and keep their minds on business. Or at least, as much as they could. With her around the house, sashaying her sweet ass everywhere, he wasn’t sure he’d be up to the Herculean task much longer. He could sense his resolve fading away.
They’d waited long enough, giving her time to get to know them and them time to make sure the attraction between them had more to it than just the physical allure. Before they got any more invested in her, they needed to know she was the type of woman they wanted for keeps. Divorce was hard enough when it was between two people, but between three? Especially when only one of them could marry her, but the other man was considered as much a part of the union as the legally bound one? Then it could be pure hell.
Marry her.
He could see them hitched. She was too perfect for them not to have her. Except, of course, for her being so damn bullheaded. Still, spunk was an asset on a ranch. And spunk often meant fiery in bed. Maybe if he pushed her a little…
“A woman should do the cooking for her men.”
He almost laughed when her eyebrows went sky high.
“Are you serious? Damn, Mitch, how sexist can you get?”
“Mitch, what the hell are you doing?” Wy shook his head, denying both his cousin and that he felt the same way. “He doesn’t mean it. Tell her you don’t mean it.”
He hadn’t, of course. He’d only said it to see the fire in her eyes. But he wasn’t about to tell her. “Women have their roles in relationships and men have theirs.” He came toward her, aggressively, forcefully, once again throwing her off-balance. “We’ve played around long enough, doc. It’s time to lay it all on the line.”
“What do you mean? Are you really asking me to be the perfect little woman? To cook and clean for you?”
He wrapped his hand around her tiny wrist. “I’m talking about wanting you. I’m talking about you, me,
and Wy heading up to the bedroom and doing what we should’ve done the first day you stepped foot on our ranch.”
Her mouth parted, drawing his attention. What had started out as a way to tease her, to test her, had turned into more. He was telling the absolute truth now and letting it take them wherever it might.
“We want you, Chey. Wy and I both. And we want you at the same time.”
Her sweet breath wafted over him, giving his growing cock an added surge.
“So you’re not hungry?”
He let her wrist go and, instead, captured her by the back of her neck. She yelped, but her gaze never left his. “I’m talking another kind of hunger. Forget about everything else. Just tell me. Do you want us?”
He frowned when she hesitated, but she did that a lot whenever giving a matter careful consideration. She was a thoughtful kind of person. The type who didn’t jump into things too fast. She nibbled on her lower lip and sent a rush of yearning burning through him.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He didn’t realize how tense he’d become while waiting for her to answer. “Good.”
Wy moved beside them. “Are you sure, baby? We don’t want to pressure you into anything.”
“Shut the fuck up, Wy.” He wouldn’t let anyone get in his way. Not even his cousin. “Chey, I can’t wait any longer for you to understand this. You are ours and we mean to have you.”
The glint in her eyes forewarned him of her idea. He wasn’t too surprised when she broke free of his hand and dashed toward the door.
He and Wy went running after her. Once outside, he was surprised to find that she hadn’t headed back to the house. Instead, she was dashing toward the old oak tree that had shaded the home for as long as he could remember. Two ropes were suspended from one of the largest branches with a swing built for two. The swing drifted back and forth in the breeze.
They tossed off their hats, catching up to her in no time. She hid behind the tree and peeked around the side of it.
“Want to play, huh?”
He wondered if she realized what Wy meant. Their kind of “play” had nothing to do with using the swing the ordinary way.
“Maybe.” She thrust out her chin. “What do you have in mind?”
Wy grinned at him, then lunged to the left of the tree. A moment later, Mitch took off to the right. They caught her in between them with Wy lifting her off her feet. He carried her over to the swing and plopped her down on it.
“Stay, doc,” commanded Mitch.
“You like giving orders, don’t you?” Her eyes sparkled, and her peaked nipples strained against her shirt.
“Damn straight I do.” He lifted her arms above her head. “Hold on to the rope. Wy, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I sure as hell hope I am.”
“Get some pig ties from the barn. Get whatever else you think might come in handy.”
“Pig ties? Are you calling me fat, Mitch?”
His hands covered hers as he leaned closer, getting within an inch of her face. “Are you always so cantankerous?”
“Nope. You just seem to bring out the worst in me.”
“Then let me do my damnedest to bring out the best instead.” She smelled so fucking good. No one should smell that good after riding the range, but she did. He breathed in, committing the aroma to memory.
Her cleavage made his mouth water as he took a good long look down her shirt. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans along with a pair of sneakers. Sneakers weren’t practical on a ranch, but she’d given him a dirty look when he’d suggested she put on boots. He was happy a horse hadn’t stepped on her foot.
“Mitch.” Wy was back with a handful of ties. “Catch.”
Mitch caught the tie then started wrapping one around her wrist. “I won’t pull this tight enough to hurt your skin. But if you try to get out of it, then I will. It’s up to you, doc.”
“And if I really want out?”
Wy took hold of her other hand and started tying it to the swing’s rope. “You won’t.”
After they’d secured her to the swing, they stepped back. Mitch had to admit she made a pretty picture with her arms in the air and her breasts thrust out. Had she spread her legs on purpose to tempt them? Or by instinct, her need matching theirs?
“What now?” she asked. Her tone was demanding, but the flick of her tongue over her top lip gave her away.
“This.” Mitch took hold of the front of her shirt, paused long enough for her to realize what he was about to do, then ripped it away. She jerked forward as the material gave way. He held it up, then pointedly stared at her bra and flung the shirt away.
“What are you doing?”
Again, she sounded like she didn’t like what he’d done, but he knew differently. She was smart enough to know that if she wanted free, all she had to do was say so. “I’m getting you ready to be fucked like you’ve never been fucked before.”
“Is that so? You’re kind of full of yourself, aren’t you?”
Damn, how he loved her wit. “No brag. Just fact.” Her laugh was like a wind chime in the breeze.
Wy went behind her. She twisted around to see him. “Off with the bra, baby.” At his quick tug, her bra came down, exposing her generous tits. “Shit. I guess we didn’t think this through.” Wy tugged her bra up her arms. “Sorry. But when it’s got to go, it’s got to go.” Pulling out his pocket knife, Wy cut the straps.
“That was my favorite bra.” She gaped as he tossed it on the ground in front of her.
“Don’t worry, doc.” Mitch bent over, snatching it off the ground. “We’ll buy you another. But first things first.” He took her sneakers by the heels and yanked, bringing both of them off along with her socks. Tossing them aside, he arched an eyebrow and gave her a wicked look.
“Mitch.” Her complaint turned into a moan when Wy reached around and cupped her breasts. She moaned again when he buried his face in her hair and found her earlobe with his tongue.
“You were saying something, doc?”
She whimpered, spreading her legs even more. He flattened his hand against her crotch, making her jolt. Soon enough, they’d have her bucking.
“Already hot and wet, aren’t you, doc?”
Taking hold of the front of her jeans, he lifted her butt out of the swing seat. Wy caught her by the arms and helped keep her body high. Mitch undid her jeans, then took a good hold of them and tugged them down. By the time he’d flung them away, his full attention was on the narrow strip of red covering her crotch.
“Damn.”
Wy had a way of summing things up. “Yeah. Damn.”
“I’m getting kind of chilly.”
She didn’t bother closing her legs. Not that it would’ve mattered. He was about to shove them wider anyway.
She grew more beautiful with each passing day. Maybe a little chunkier around the waist than most men would’ve cared for, but he and Wy had always like a girl with meat on her bones.
“Chilly, huh? Strange. I can feel the heat rolling off you, baby.” Wy took hold of her breasts again, fondling her nipples until they stood at attention even more. She arched, leaning farther back in the swing, her hands gripped around the ropes.
“It’s time, Wy. I’ll go first.”
“No problem, cuz. As long as you share.”
He went to his knees in front of her and pushed her legs even farther apart. “I like a woman who wears thongs.” He fingered the lacy material and loved the way she again reacted to his touch. As though his finger was a spark of lightning licking at her pussy.
Her nipples were up and ready, mindful of Wy’s continued massages. Her tits were perfect, the best he’d ever seen. Full, but still perky.
Keeping his gaze to hers, he slipped his hand under the thong and down between her folds. “Good. You’re wet and ready for me.” She jumped again at his touch and closed her legs, catching his hand there. “Uh-uh, doc. Spread ’em wide.”
She swallowed, and the glint of stub
bornness lit in her eyes again. “No.”
“Don’t go telling me no, woman.” Truthfully, if she said no and meant it, he’d back away. They’d never take a woman against her will.
She squeaked then lifted her head to glare at Wy.
“Baby, you’d better listen to him. If he tells you to do something, then you’d damn sure better do it.” Wy put his palms to her nipples, soothing his earlier pinches. “Unless you like it a little rough.”
She was silent long enough for Mitch to check his cousin. Wy was as pleased as he was. The only question was to see how rough she took her sex.
“Chey, I told you to spread your legs.” His words were measured, leaving no doubt he expected her to obey.
“Make me.”
She’d challenged him. Not only now, during sex, but with her intelligence and independence. She had to know he wasn’t one to back down from a dare. He skimmed his palm along her legs up until he was slightly above her knees. Then, giving her a look, he forced her legs apart.
“Keep them that way.”
“And if I don’t?”
Wy grabbed a chunk of her hair, making her lift her gaze to his. “You will. Got it?”
“Got it.” Although her voice was strong, it held a whisper of fear.
“I’ve had a taste of you already…”
“Is that right, cuz?” Wy wasn’t complaining. He was simply interested.
“Yeah. And she tastes amazing.” Mitch ran his fingertip along the top of the thong. “This time I’m not stopping. Not for anything. I’m going to love fucking your tight pussy.”
Wy bent lower and flicked his tongue along her ear. “We’ve waited for this from the first moment we saw you. You’re going to take both of us and you’re going to love it. We’re going to make you scream and cream.”
She squirmed, her yearning filling the air around them. “Please, do what you did before.”
He dipped his fingers below the top of her thong. “It’s a shame to waste such pretty panties, but it won’t be the last time you’ll have to buy new ones.” He yanked, tearing her thong away. Her mouth parted in a silent oh.
“On second thought, don’t buy any new ones. I don’t want you wearing any panties from now on. Not while you’re here.” It pained him to think she might really leave. In his mind, in his dreams, they’d already gone past the point of deciding whether she’d stay or go. They’d keep her with them, even if it meant they had to sell the ranch and go to San Antonio.
