by Starla Kaye
She huffed. “Maybe it would be a good idea,” she objected to the empty hallway and stomped her foot in aggravation. “You’re not always right, you know.”
Daniel walked out of the bathroom, and their gazes met. He smiled gently. “Give him time.”
She gawked at him. “You heard?” Her cheeks burned.
He nodded but didn’t look apologetic for overhearing. “Cal gets loud when he’s upset.” He hesitated. “You’d like to have sex with him, wouldn’t you?”
“Kind of crass, don’t you think?” she objected, lowering her gaze, mortified he seemed to understand her so well.
“Yes, sorry. If you’re worried about my relationship with Cal, don’t be. I’m willing to share him.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “This is the weirdest conversation I’ve ever been part of.”
He nodded again. “No doubt.” His eyes warmed, although he put a hand against his stomach and looked a bit pale. “I’d take care of that personal matter myself, except I think it should be Cal who does.”
She’d believed Daniel completely homosexual. “You…you…you would have…you’d…?” She didn’t know how to talk about the matter.
He shrugged. “Surprised me, too. My thinking about taking you to my bed.” He blushed, which she found endearing. “I’ve never had sex with a woman. We’re both virgins, in a way.”
Both virgins? He’d never been with a woman, and she would be his first! She didn’t know what to say. Her woman’s place went nuts, though, as if recognizing a virile, lusty man who desired her. He wants to have sex with me. Holy cow!
“Shocked you, huh?” He looked more uncomfortable with each passing second, rubbing at his stomach, but determined to talk to her.
She bobbed her head. “Yes,” she admitted. While she was drawn to the cowboy who tried so hard not to want her, she still possessed a strong interest in this man. Was that wrong? Weird? Did she care?
“Why Calhoun?” she asked, remembering his comment about the other man. She’d never referred to Cordell by his first name before. But, at this moment, it felt right.
“Because he’s experienced with women, not for the last couple of years. But in the past.” He held her gaze. “Because he aches for you, even if he’s fighting damn hard to keep things limited to kissing.” He moaned and looked toward the bathroom. “Sorry. Pressing matters.”
She gave him an understanding smile and headed downstairs. Wow! What an interesting turn of events. She’d never had men show her serious attention, due to her father’s eagle-eye protection. But all of the sudden, two irresistible men desired her. Wow! Wow! Wow!
So, what should she do?
Chapter Eight
Daniel lay in the semi-darkness of the guest bedroom, his mind unsettled, making sleep impossible. He’d managed to finish half the bowl of Ruby’s chicken soup. So far, he’d kept it down. He’d only been sick for part of the day, but he was already tired of it. He could imagine the basket case Cal would be if the cowboy had been the one fighting the flu bug. He was the world’s worst patient. Whiny, cranky, argumentative, and uncooperative to whoever tried to take care of him. He knew because he’d been in that unenviable position numerous times.
He shifted onto his side, moaning. His shoulders hurt. His back hurt. In truth, every inch of him ached. He missed Cal’s bed with its thick, yet firm mattress. He missed being with him, too. These last couple of days hadn’t been pleasant between them, but they would get past their current disagreement. They always did.
His thoughts drifted to Ruby, the cause of their disagreement. She’d come into their lives and stirred up a hornet’s nest of problems, as Cal would say. Her revelation earlier caught him by surprise, but not as much as when she’d told the cowboy her secret. He couldn’t believe it possible. Beyond pretty and sensual in a natural way, a man would find her irresistible…even a long-time gay man such as him. The realization stunned him.
“She’s got to go.”
He looked at the doorway where Cal stood in nothing but the sexy-as-hell boxer shorts he sometimes strolled around the house in at night. Daniel’s pulse rate quickened. Stripping off those shorts would….
“First thing tomorrow,” Cal added, jerking him from his pleasant notion. His jaw tightened, and he gripped the door handle so hard his knuckles were white.
The cowboy’s indomitable declaration amused him. “Yes, I’m feeling a little better,” he teased, knowing the comment would tone down some of his bluster.
As expected, his demeanor changed course. His eyes closed for a second, and he drew in a deep breath, letting it out on a muttered, “Sorry. Glad to hear that.”
He didn’t want his friend’s apology. He would rather have Cal come stretch out next to him and let him find a way to give him some kind of relief from the frustration he sensed ate at him. But this time, Cal needed someone else. He needed Ruby.
She needed Cal, too.
Neither of them would do anything about their problem beyond maybe stealing another kiss or two, which would make matters worse. Cal was too pigheaded, too determined not to do anything to upset things with him. And Ruby? Well, this was all unfamiliar territory for her. Plus, she probably didn’t want to cause a problem between them either.
“Don’t be an idiot,” he said, locking gazes with Cal. He would need to nudge them into action, as ironic as that was, with him being his normal bedmate.
“The snow’s stopped falling, and the roads will be better by morning,” Cal grumbled.
He counted to ten in silence, annoyed at his one-track thinking. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
Cal narrowed his eyes, bristling. “Maybe you need to be clearer.”
“I guess I do.” He rolled to his back, putting a hand over his churning stomach. He didn’t feel like carrying on a conversation, but he had to face this situation. “You want to take her to your bed.”
“I—”
He held up a hand to cut off his protest. “Don’t try to deny it. You’re a hot-blooded man, passionate. Which I’m very aware of, grateful for. Every day I thank the Fates that got us together.”
His muscled chest rose and fell, his eyes darkened with the desire he spoke of. But his brow pinched in concern, frustration. Before Cal could say anything, he gentled his tone and said, “Your focus might have turned to sex with men, but….”
“Not with just any man.” Cal’s expression hardened. “Only you.”
He couldn’t help being pleased. Yet he knew Cal needed more, if his friend didn’t want to admit it. “Back to where I was going with this, to your attraction to Ruby.” He held Cal’s gaze. “Don’t worry.” He took a second and drew in the courage to speak from his heart. “I find her hard to resist. Even I’ve thought about her in ways I’ve never considered about another woman.”
“I had a feeling you did.” Cal studied him, worry evident in the crease between his eyebrows.
“The idea took me by surprise.” He looked away, uncertain whether to tell his own secret, and he faced Cal. “I told her.”
“You what?” Cal questioned sounding puzzled.
“I told her I’ve contemplated taking her to bed.” He drew in a breath, watched for signs of anger in his lover. When he didn’t see any, he added, “I told her I’m as much of a virgin as she is, at least when it comes to being with a woman.”
Cal seemed to weigh a response. “The difference is she’s never been with anyone, man or woman. So she told me.”
He thought how strange he found it that no man had ever made love to her. No doubt her father had been partly responsible. She’d told him how her father tried to keep her by his side as they worked. He’d guarded her innocence. But on her own he knew she was drawn to Cal, him, too, but definitely to the cowboy.
“You’re only inexperienced with a woman. Otherwise, you’re one hell of a lover,” Cal clarified, his voice deeper, hinting at his feelings for him.
He grimaced at the way his cock responded to Cal
’s words, to the heat in his gaze. Part of him wanted more than anything to get tangled up with the man, for them to fire up the flames, and for one of them to pound into the other. He’d missed that lately, a lot. But his stomach wasn’t up to such play, not even sucking cock.
“I appreciate the compliment, but you know your way around making love, too, cowboy.” He tapped down the hint of jealousy that struggled to make itself known. “Go to her. Show her what wonders can happen between lovers. Be her first.”
His eyes widened. “You want me to have sex with someone else?”
He shook his head. “Not with just any ‘someone else,’ with Ruby. The woman has been all but stripping you naked with her eyes since the time she got here. Much the same way I do. Except I do it for real as well.”
Cal slid a hand through his disheveled hair, nervous, uncertain, and wavering. “I don’t know if I can. Damn, Daniel, I love you. How could I betray you?”
His heart swelled at the words rarely spoken between them. It gave him the nerve to push him further. “You’re not betraying me. I’m giving you permission.” He held his gaze and tried to convey his confidence in what they had. “Because I love you, have faith in you—in us—I can suggest this.” He grimaced again, clutching his cramping stomach.
Cal frowned, taking a step into the room, stopping when Daniel held out a hand.
“There’s nothing you can do for me. Just go and think about what I said. Think about—”
“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” Cal shifted backward, turmoil filling his eyes. “But I’m not sure…I’m just not sure.”
There was nothing more for either of them to say. Cal left the room and closed the door, and Daniel hoped he hadn’t made a huge mistake by nudging his friend into something that could have a big effect on all of their lives.
Chapter Nine
Ruby couldn’t sleep. Her mind wouldn’t shut down, wouldn’t stop playing over and over what Daniel had said to her about the cowboy who both irritated and fascinated her. “He aches for you, even if he’s fighting damn hard to keep things limited to kissing.”
Yes, she’d known he desired her, but his need seemed to scare him witless. Of course, he was already involved with Daniel. She craved the cowboy, too, yet she didn’t want to hurt Daniel.
And there’d been his personal admission, “Thinking about taking you to my bed. I’ve never had sex with a woman.”
She stared up at the ceiling. Holy cow! What he’d said shocked her, but touched her. She’d had some pretty indecent thoughts about him since the first night when he’d held her and comforted her. But she’d tried to ignore them. It seemed those notions had turned wicked. She would love to observe Mr. GQ in all his naked wonder. Especially after seeing his scrumptious bare chest in the hallway and as he’d sat up in bed while eating her soup.
The poor man is sick because of you. Get your thoughts out of the gutter. Stop thinking about….
She turned onto her stomach, punched her pillow. She was a slut. Okay, a slut who’d never experienced a man sliding inside her body and doing some of those decadent things to her she’d read about. She was ready. More than ready. Not that she would be having any kind of sex here at the Circle C. Not with two men so in lust…love…whatever with each other. Even if either or both of them might have an interest in her, she doubted they would act on it. Darn. Both the cowboy and the CEO tempted her.
Punching the pillow again, she promised herself that soon she would meet someone she could at least have a fling with. One of these days, she would run into a man she desired and who would not only yearn for her as well but do something about it.
Just thinking about her first sexual adventure made warmth curl in her woman’s place. Her clit tingled. She wanted….
She could take care of the need herself, but, dang, she would rather a man do it.
Exhaustion weighed on her, and her body thrummed with desire. Sleep wasn’t going to happen until she dealt with her little problem. Sighing in resignation, she flipped to her back. Fine! She leaned over to flick on the bedside lamp and reached for the erotic romance with its many dog-eared pages on the nightstand.
She kicked back the covers and tugged off her panties, tossing them over the side of the bed. A second later, she found one of her favorite scenes. She held the paperback with one hand and read.
Sam crawled between her legs and lowered his mouth to her heated sex.
Her free hand lifted the T-shirt she’d worn to bed, pushing it onto her stomach. The slight action made her thighs quiver in anticipation. Heart racing, she let her fingers find her clit while she focused on the book again.
His heated breath teased her as he found her swollen bud. His tongue slid over the sensitive flesh, twirled around it.
Her hand holding the book shook, and she closed her eyes, her fingers working their familiar magic. She squeezed her legs, moaned, and slid the fingers inside her. As they did, the book dropped to her side, discarded as pleasure spiraled through her, and the demands for more became overpowering.
Somewhere in her crazed thoughts, she heard a faint knock. Must have been part of the scene she’d read. She put the idea aside and continued focusing on the desperate ache within her demanding satisfaction.
“Ruby?”
As he teased and tortured her pussy, Sam whispered to her. So handsome, so knowledgeable about making love. Odd he looked like a cross between Calhoun and Daniel. Or maybe that was what she liked most about her vision of how the fictional Sam appeared.
Eyes still shut, her fingers rubbed at her sensitive bud, dove in and out of her heat. Oh, Sam, more. I need more.
As he gave it, she bucked her hips upward, grimacing. Almost, my lover. Almost. Determined to fulfill her every need he stroked faster until she lie panting.
“Ruby? Can I come in?”
What was Sam talking about? His tongue had already awakened her body. His fingers were…. Oh god, oh god, oh god!
“Yes!” she gasped, warm cream spilling out.
Half-aware of reality, she froze as the bedroom door opened with a quiet creak. Her eyes flashed open. Calhoun stood in the doorway, gaping at her. His gaze focused at where her hand stopped. Still inside her, cum coated her fingers.
He swallowed hard, and his eyes darkened as his nostrils flared. “I should…I should go,” he said in a rough voice. Yet he didn’t move.
She lie there, hips lifted in a very embarrassing way and couldn’t take her focus off the thick, long bulge in his shorts. Tell him to get the hell out. Get out of this awkward position. Instead, she didn’t move, waited.
Calhoun couldn’t have been more shocked to open the door and find Ruby masturbating. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined such a thing happening in here. But, damn, he would be dreaming about this for months, maybe longer.
He knew this was a very private moment. He should stop staring at her, back away, and pull the door closed. They need not ever mention what he’d discovered. Yet, instead of being the gentleman and leaving, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
“That’s such an incredible turn on.” He felt like an idiot the instant the words left his mouth. He hadn’t lied, though. His body pulsed with desperation. One hint of encouragement and he would be on the bed, licking off those sweet cream-coated fingers, and driving into her himself.
“Ummm,” she struggled to speak, no doubt embarrassed. Her face flamed as she held still, looking uncertain about pulling her fingers free. “Well, this is awkward.”
He shrugged and took a hesitant step closer. “I suppose for you it is.” He inched nearer, his heart pounding. “I’m pretty much enjoying the view.”
“Really?” She worried her lower lip and dropped her hips to the mattress, slipping her fingers from her body.
“Hell yes!” He concentrated on not running to the bed, pleased she hadn’t demanded he leave. “I’ve never had the pleasure of watching a woman do that.”
She gave him a shy smile. “
I don’t do this very often. I just…. I just got so frustrated. I couldn’t sleep. I….”
He sucked in a breath and hazarded walking another few feet in her direction. “Are you still feeling…frustrated?” God, he hoped so. He could take care of her problem, and his.
Her glance darted to where his cock attempted to burst right on through the fabric of his shorts. “Kind of.”
His gaze locked onto the moisture coating her fingers, and he fought not to dive on top of her. “This could be one hell of a mistake.” He ached with need. “I could….” He shook his head and took a step backward. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have come in here.”
“But you did.” She sat up, tugged off the T-shirt. “Get over here, cowboy. You’ve stalled long enough.”
He hesitated, thinking about Daniel down the hall. He hadn’t had sex with anyone besides him in several years. He hadn’t desired a woman for a long time. Could he do this? Or would he make a fool of himself?
As if she sensed his concern, she scooted around until she crawled toward him. She looked up at him with such trusting eyes, with such longing. “I want you to be my first lover,” she said boldly.
Still he didn’t move. She eased off the bed and walked to him, stopping when her plump breasts rubbed his chest and he could smell her arousal. No longer able to resist, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close, trembling with eagerness. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
She leaned her head back to look up at him. “You won’t.”
Was she crazy? Ruby felt so safe, so treasured cocooned in the big cowboy’s embrace. His taut body strained to hold back his obvious yearning to make love with her. Sex. This will be all about sex. But she was okay with that. A bit sad, but she accepted the reality of what they were about to do.
