by Desiree Holt
“Great. Then maybe we’ll see you there while you’re in town.” She glanced up, and her mouth curved in a smile. “Uh oh.”
Trish frowned. “Uh oh, what?”
“I swear that husband of mine is like a hunting dog. He can find me wherever I am.”
Trish watched as a tall, muscular man with short dark hair, high cheekbones, and the shadow of a beard came up to their booth.
“Ladies.” He bent down to kiss his wife, the kiss so scorching Trish swore she could feel the heat from where she was.
When he lifted his head, heat flared in Liz’s eyes and a faint tinge of pink painted her cheeks. The look the two of them exchanged…a look so personal Trish had to glance away. She wondered if anyone would ever feel that way about her.
“Trish?” Liz’s amused voice jerked her back to the moment.
“Oh, sorry. Yes?”
“Alex asked if we minded if they joined us. That a problem for you?”
“No, no, of course not. Hi, Reece. Nice to see you again.”
Reece Halliday was Clint Chavez’s partner in Rawhide. He often spent the evening there with his wife, Katie, which was where she’d met them.
“Good to see you, too. Clint tells me he’s got you all fixed up for while you’re here.”
“He has. I appreciate it. Liz and I were—”
Her words stuck in her throat as she realized there was a third man standing with them. She blinked her eyes, sure she was seeing things. But no, there he was, the man from Oklahoma City. Here in Texas. At the rodeo. Or was she just imagining things? What was going on?
He literally took her breath away. There was something so commanding about his presence, so in control. An electric aura surrounded him that zapped through the air straight to her, directly to her nipples, and that now pounding pulse between her thighs. The air touching her skin sizzled with the invisible current that ran between them.
Holy crap!
She wet her lips as she ran her eyes over all six feet of him. His Stetson covered most of his hair, but what she could see of it was straight ebony, just below the top of his collar. He had pushed the hat back slightly, exposing a face so masculine it took away what breath she had left. Square jaw, prominent cheekbones, skin a weathered tan. Lines she thought were from squinting at the sun bracketed eyes even blacker than his hair, eyes that seemed to see directly inside her. He was much leaner than either Alex or Reece—what she’d call a runner’s body—long legs encased in worn jeans that clung to solid muscle. The sleeves of his plaid shirt were rolled up to exposed forearms with defined muscle structure and skin as tan as his face. He could have posed for the cover of American Cowboy.
Or the iconic cowboy Dom.
Oh, right, Trish. Don’t you just wish.
His gaze washed over her like the sweep of a scorching flame, his eyes seeming to undress her and see right through to the heart of her. Embarrassingly, she realized her panties were suddenly drenched and the thin tank top she wore did little to hide the fact her nipples were suddenly as big as gum drops. Without looking too obvious about it, she leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.
One corner of Mr. Sexy’s mouth quirked up, and his eyes, which by now had finished virtually peeling away her clothes, had a knowing look in them.
Damn!
“Oh, hey.” Reece cleared his throat. “I think I left my manners back in the barn. Liz, you’ve met, Jake Keenan. Jake this is Trish Barton, championship barrel racer.”
Jake Keenan’s grin should be classified as a lethal weapon. If there was one nerve in her body left unsinged, there wasn’t anymore.
“I’ve seen the lady compete before. She does a damn fine job.” He dipped his head. “Pleasure to meet you.”
So it was him. Good lord!
“Same goes,” she told him. “And thanks for the compliment. So do you follow the circuit?”
Was he a bull rider? Roper? Did he ride broncs? He certainly had the muscles for any of it. But she didn’t remember seeing him at any of the shows where she’d competed. Maybe he traveled in a different part of the country. She didn’t know if she was happy about that or not.
“No.” Reece answered her. “Jake’s my new foreman. Been with me a month now.”
“Oh.” So she wasn’t likely to bump into him at any of the events. She ignored the little wiggle of disappointment. “Well. Nice to meet you. Did you all come here with Alex and Liz?”
Reece shook his head. “We had a bull to deliver. Part of our new program.”
Last year the Hallidays had added to their ranching operation by deciding to breed bulls for the rodeo circuit. It was a mark of who he was that Reece chose to deliver the animal himself rather than just letting his foreman and one of the hands do it. Despite the size of his operation, he was hands-on with everything. That attention to detail was also what made Rawhide a premier bondage club.
“Anyway,” Reece went on. “Jake’s taken on a lot of responsibility for that part of the ranch operation, so I wanted to make sure the rodeo people got to meet him.”
She glanced at Jake from beneath lowered lids. Her skin heated when she realized his gaze was still fixed on her, a dark ravenous look in his eyes. She had the feeling he was undressing her piece by piece and wanted to tear her eyes away from his, but she seemed unable to. And damn it, she was sure he could tell that.
What was with her? All that maudlin analysis of her life, that was what. Right? Right.
“You gals going to make room for us here, or do we have to eat standing up?” Alex looked at his wife.
“Oh. Sorry, sorry, sorry.” Liz hitched herself over, and Alex slid in beside her, draping his arm over her shoulder.
It amazed Trish that whenever she saw them, he took every opportunity to touch his wife, to connect with her. To show his ownership of her. An ownership she apparently thrived on. For the second time that day, an unsettled feeling wiggled its way through Trish’s body. It would be great if she could find something like that, something that was maybe the missing piece of her life. But she had no doubt that person would want her to quit the circuit, and she wasn’t anywhere near ready for that yet.
So what was she ready for? More nights at Rawhide and places like that, where she could enjoy domination for a few hours before stepping back into her regular life? She didn’t understand why she was suddenly so mixed up about everything. For a brief moment, an image flashed across her brain of Jake Keenan standing over her, her hair wrapped around his fingers while he cracked the air next to her with a single tail whip. Reece was an expert at it. Was Jake also a—
“Trish?”
Reece’s amused voice shook her back to the present.
“Yes?” She blinked, embarrassed that her mind had wandered again, especially considering the direction it had taken.
“I said, how about sliding over and making room for Jake. I’ll pull up a chair at the end here.”
Sit next to Jake Keenan? Holy hell! She was fumbling around for a way to ask Reece to take the seat next to her when Jake hung his Stetson on the peg at the top of the booth and eased himself down beside her. The moment his thigh touched hers, the heat in her body went from scorching to inferno level. And she’d thought her panties were damp before?
Trish prided herself on maintaining control, except in the bedroom or the dungeon. She needed that control to compete at the top level of barrel racing. So how was it possible that in seconds this man had literally shredded it?
“So.” Alex’s voice pierced her erotic trance. “We’ve been reading good things about you this season, Trish.”
She took a sip of her beer, hoping to shock her brain back on the track and cool down her blood at the same time. “I’ve been lucky,” she admitted.
“Luck has only a little to do with it,” Liz disagreed. “It’s the skill that matters every time.”
“Heard you left your competitors in the dust at Waco,” Reece put in, grinning.
“I’d have expected no less from he
r.” Liz looked at her husband, then at the other two men. “You know, Trish’s first competition for this rodeo is tonight. How about if we all show up to cheer her on? Reece, you think Katie’s up to it?” She glanced over at Trish. “She’s seven months pregnant.”
Trish looked at Reece, who was glowing.
“Yeah, I think she can handle it. We’re season ticket holders so she gets to sit in the comfortable seats.”
“Good.” Liz nodded. “I’ll call her later to make plans.”
When the men went to place their orders, Trish asked for a glass of ice water. The men brought their food back to the booth, Alex easily sliding in next to his wife while Jake automatically sat on the bench seat next to Trish. Reece pulled a chair up to the open end of the booth. Then Jake shifted slightly in his seat, the muscle in his thigh flexed, and the pulse between her thighs began sending her messages.
Trish wondered if she should just dump the icy liquid in her glass onto the spot where her thigh rested against Jake’s. Maybe that would do the trick. If she tried to move any farther away from him, she’d either fall onto the floor or into Reece’s lap where he sat at the end of the booth.
“So that work for you, Trish?”
“What?” She blinked. Damn it, she’d been caught drifting off again.
Alex grinned at her, as if he knew exactly what was wrong with her. “We thought we’d all go out for a bite after the events tonight. You good with that?”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” It beat sitting alone in a motel room, and she felt comfortable with these people. “That would be great.”
Would Jake be going? Did she even want to know? Should she want to know?
“Jake, how about you joining us?” Reece asked. “I’ve got enough seats.”
“Are you sure?” He looked at Reece. “I don’t want to horn in on anything.”
“You won’t be. In fact, we’d consider it a favor if you make sure Trish has some fun. She usually has a hard time letting go after a competition.”
“I’m fine,” she protested.
But Jake turned his head to look at her, that same heat in his eyes. “Like I said, I’ve seen you compete, and you’re damn good. I’m sure you’ll win tonight. I’d love the chance to help you celebrate.” He paused. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
Trish wondered briefly if Jake Keenan was a player. He had the vibes of a Dom, but she wondered if she was misreading him, just because of the mood she was in. God, the thought of being naked in front of him, on her knees or spread wide with wrists and ankles manacled—
She needed to stop this right now before she embarrassed herself.
She cleared her throat. “I think it would be nice if you joined us.” She kept her voice as pleasant yet as even as possible. “Of course.”
“Great.” Reece pulled out his cell. “I’ll text Katie and give her a heads up. Make sure she takes a nap before tonight.”
Somehow, Trish managed to get through the rest of the lunch, even though she was so conscious of Jake next to her, his body touching hers, that she was ready to jump out of her skin. He gave off a combination of controlled energy and quiet competence that lit up all of her senses. She would love to ask Liz about him, but she couldn’t figure out how to do it without giving away the fact that she’d been instantly attracted to him.
She listened as the men chatted, quietly finishing her hamburger and fries. She thought she was doing a good job until she glanced up at Liz and saw the woman smile and wink at her. Trish slid a glance sideways, hoping Jake hadn’t seen it, and thankfully he was engrossed in conversation.
“Well, boys and girls.” Reece pushed back from the table. “This has been great, but I think it’s time to get back to work. Trish, see you tonight.”
“Thanks for coming to cheer me on.”
He dipped his head. “Our pleasure.”
As they walked out of the temporary saloon, Liz hung back and hooked her arm with Trish’s.
“Hot, isn’t he?” she said in a tone only the two of them could hear.
“I have no idea what you mean.”
Liz gave a soft chuckle. “Of course, you do. And it’s time you got an interesting man in your life.”
“Yeah, well, they always come with a caveat, you know?”
“Don’t write him off until you check him out. And I’ll ask Alex about him. He might know all the hidden facts.”
“Let’s not make a big deal out of this,” Trish protested.
“Right, but let’s not let it fall by the wayside, either.” She gave Trish a hug. “See you tonight.”
Trish stood for a moment watching everyone walk away. Just as she was about to head to her truck, Jake Keenan turned around, touched the brim of his hat, and winked at her.
She thought about that wink as she walked back to her pickup. She thought about it even more as she drove to her motel room. And she still thought about it as she stripped out of her sweaty work gear and stepped into the blessed stream of a shower. She just couldn’t get the man out of her mind.
Why couldn’t she meet a Dom like him? The submissive in her curled up from deep inside, picturing herself naked before him, forehead to the floor. Maybe he’d punish her for some slight infraction or misstep. God, she could almost feel the sting of the lash or the slap of the paddle on her ass and more moisture gathered in her pussy. Or maybe he’d order her to suck his cock, swallowing every drop.
Did he use a lasso in his work? Instantly, she had a vision of the rope wound around her and tied with intricate knots on erotic pressure points.
Watch it, Trish. You don’t even know a thing about him.
But anything was possible, right? The Hallidays and the Wrights were committed to the D/s lifestyle. It didn’t have to follow that Jake Keenan was, but maybe—
Damn! She’d need to make this shower really cold if she was going to be in shape for tonight. Really, really cold.
But instead she leaned back against the tile of the shower, closed her eyes, slid her hand down between her folds, and brought herself to orgasm while the image of Jake Keenan cracking a whip danced in her brain.
Chapter Two
Jake Keenan settled in his seat, waiting for the event to begin. They had all grabbed a quick bite on the rodeo grounds before heading to the arena. He was disappointed Trish Barton hadn’t joined them. She’d been getting ready for the first round of barrel racing. He was aware few competitors ate before their competition, but he’d hoped she’d at least have a cold drink with them. Oh, well. She’d agreed to go out afterwards. He’d make do with that.
The first time he’d laid eyes on her was at the rodeo a year ago in Waco. He was visiting a friend whose lady was competing.
“She’ll probably lose to Trish Barton, though,” the friend had said. “Man, that woman is unbelievable.”
Once he saw her, Jake had to agree. Trish rode her horse as if one with the animal, thigh muscles tight to the saddle and calves pressed into the girth as she guided her animal in the tight curves. She took her turns with impeccable precision, beating everyone’s time. He couldn’t get the brunette out of his mind, with her light brown curls and her fancy shirt that glittered as the lights in the arena caught it. When they announced her as the winner, she rode into the arena standing in her stirrups, grinning and waving her Stetson at everyone as she did her victory lap.
He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. It wasn’t that he didn’t have his share of women. Maybe even more than his share. But at night when he closed his eyes, it was Trish’s compact figure he saw, her fancy blouse outlining her lush curves, her fine ass glued to the saddle, her lips pressed together in concentration as she urged her mount through the cloverleaf around the barrels. Sometimes, he even dreamed of her riding naked and bareback, and in his sleep he’d strain to see her pussy, wondering if her pubic hair matched the color of the hair on her head.
At the time, he’d been moving from place to place, working roundups on the biggest ranches in the Southwest
, too restless to settle down. In Oklahoma City, he’d seen the ads for the rodeo, checked to see if Trish Barton was competing and gone to watch her again. She was fucking damn good, way above everyone else, and a joy to watch. And haunting his dreams more than ever.
He did his best to get her out of his mind. On his cell phone, he carried a permanent recommendation to the top bondage clubs no matter what city he happened to be in. Normally, he was one hundred percent into whatever sub he chose to play with, but after Oklahoma every time he looked at a woman he saw Trish’s face.
Funny how things in life worked out.
If Reece Halliday hadn’t flown into Oklahoma to look at buying a prize bull from that ranch where he’d been working, they might never have met. If Jake’s boss hadn’t told Reece that Jake was the expert on bulls, they might never have had a long conversation. But Jake was looking to plant his feet somewhere, and Reece was looking for a foreman with primary responsibility for his new bull breeding operation.
So here he was, looking down at the arena below him, waiting for the woman who haunted his dreams to ride in. The mounted units in red, white, and blue, carrying either the American Flag or the Lone Star flag had already done their thing to flashing strobe lights and the sound of drums. He’d sat patiently through the bronc riding, trying not to glance at his watch every five minutes.
Katie Halliday leaned her pregnant self close and whispered, “The barrel racing is up next.”
“I’m enjoying all of this.” He made his voice as noncommittal as possible.
“Uh huh.” She winked at him. “Is that why Reece told me the way you looked at Trish during lunch, he was surprised her clothes didn’t catch fire?”
Jake hoped he didn’t look as embarrassed as he felt. “I was just admiring a good-looking woman.”
She laughed and winked knowingly, then pointed to the arena below them. “They’re getting ready for the first rider.”
