by Jane Jamison
She had to protect her brother. Yet doing so would mean putting Seth and Jarrod in danger. How could she not tell them? How could she not warn them to be on guard? Although she had her doubts, she had to believe they’d do their best to help her brother.
Yes, they’d help him, all right. If not for Jesse, then for her. And when they did, they might wind up getting shot. Would it be better if she and Jesse left without telling them? Jesse’s friend wasn’t showing up for several days, giving her time to think everything through. Maybe she could come up with another solution before then. Either that or get Jesse to tell the Hill brothers everything before time ran out. She moaned, confusion warring within her.
* * * *
Seth couldn’t help but feel like he was a teenager standing outside the high school gym, hoping to get a glimpse of the prettiest girl at school. He and Jarrod had already eaten breakfast, but had lingered in the kitchen, waiting for her to come downstairs. As they had many times before, they’d talked about Jesse and how to keep Amy from leaving.
So far, they hadn’t heard any news about the gang searching for Jesse. They figured no news was good news. Dealing with Jesse and his attitude was already more than they’d planned on, but if it meant staying close to Amy they’d put up with Satan himself.
He heard her coming down the stairs and pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning on. Excitement bubbled underneath what he hoped was a cool and collected exterior. She was dressed in the same clothes she’d had on when she’d arrived. Bobby’s clothes were okay and, thankfully, whenever she wore them they didn’t remind him of his younger brother. How could they when they were on her luscious body? Still, her clothes fit her a lot better, showing off all her curves and ample full breasts.
“Hey, sleepyhead.”
She brought her head up, smiled, and finished pulling her hair back into a ponytail. He’d never liked ponytails much, but on her, a ponytail looked downright sexy.
“Hi. Why’d you let me sleep in? I told you yesterday. If you’re up and at work, then I should be, too.”
He shrugged. “You needed your rest. We know you’re not a slacker.”
She didn’t mention Jesse and neither would he. They’d had a hell of a time hauling the guy out of bed the day before and she’d seemed embarrassed by her brother’s constant complaints about helping out around the ranch. She didn’t know they’d already shoved him out of bed and then out the door with Jarrod. If he knew his brother, he had Jesse working hard.
“Thanks, but I don’t want to take advantage.”
He couldn’t resist. “We want you to take advantage.” He spread his arms wide. “Please. Take advantage of me any way you want.”
She laughed, taking his joke good-naturedly. “I’ll just take a quick sip or two of orange juice and get going.”
He followed her around the kitchen as she got a mug then the juice from the refrigerator and poured herself a glass. It was all he could do to keep from holding the glass to her lips just to see her drink. If he didn’t knock it off, she’d think he was some love-sick pup.
Love-sick? Maybe. Pup? Naw. More like a grown-ass horny dog. A dog who wanted to mate with the prettiest female ever.
“The house is the already cleaner than it’s been since we hired Old Lady Riley to come in and give it a good going-over. How about playing hooky with me?”
She put the glass down, interest sparkling in her eyes. “What would Jarrod say?”
“Nothing since we won’t tell him.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is. What one brother doesn’t know won’t hurt him, huh?”
“Kind of.” He gave her a sexy grin. “Are you game?”
“What’d you have in mind?”
“Jarrod’s got Jesse painting a fence out in the lower forty—”
“Wait. So you guys already got him up and out? And working?”
He grinned, loving her enthusiasm. “We sure did. And, according to my brother, he’s not doing a bad job, either. In fact, he caught him whistling like he was enjoying himself. At least until he noticed Jarrod watching. Don’t get me wrong. He fought like a wet bobcat to stay in bed, but once we got him up, he got over it soon enough.”
She surprised him with the tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t believe it. Maybe there’s hope for him yet.”
“Sure there is. He’s a good guy at heart. He just needs a kick in the rear to get moving. And getting him away from his scumbag friends will help.”
“Wow. If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve run off and left everything behind long before now.”
“I wish you had.”
She caught his meaning and, damn, if she didn’t smile even bigger. “You still haven’t told me what you have in mind.”
“I thought maybe you’d liked to check out a foal. We just rounded him up yesterday and brought him and his mom into the barn.”
“A foal? Like a baby horse?”
“Yep. He’s not a newborn, but he’s still a baby.”
Her face lit up. “I’d love it. As long as it’s okay with Jarrod. Seriously, I don’t want to cause any problems. Or at least, no more than we already have.”
“He’ll be fine with it.” He’d meant it when he said he wouldn’t ask. “Trust me. He won’t mind a bit.” Jarrod had time with her alone and so would he. Not out of jealousy—after all, they couldn’t wait to get together with her—but because he wanted to get to know her on a one-on-one kind of way, too. Besides, why should he hold off just because Jarrod was busy working? Jarrod would understand.
“Great. I can’t wait to see the baby horse.”
He was out the door and halfway to the barn when he noticed how tough a time she was having just trying to keep up with his long strides. But then again, her exertion made her breasts bounce and shimmy, giving him a good eyeful down the V of her T-shirt. He was almost reluctant to let the show stop once they were inside the barn.
“It’s the second stall from the end on the right.”
She dashed toward the stall.
“Take it easy. You don’t want to frighten the little guy.”
She came to a stop then eased forward. Taking hold of the railing, she peered between the slats into the stall. “Ohhhh. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
The foal was a deep chestnut color like his mom. One white stripe ran down his long nose, while the rest of him was a rich reddish color. He was going to be a good horse and was already showing signs of intelligence and a frisky spirit.
He would’ve agreed that the foal was the best thing since sliced bread on any other day, but not since she’d come to stay with them. He slid up next to her. “Yeah, he’s a good one.”
He caught her eye. “But I think there’s someone who’s got the edge on him as far as beauty’s concerned.” He had a way of charming the women, but with her, the words were the truth and, being such, were spoken from the bottom of his heart.
A pretty blush blossomed in her cheeks. “I bet you say that to all the girls you take to the barn.”
“To be honest, I have said that kind of thing before.” It pained him to see the disappointment in her eyes. “But this is the first time I’ve ever meant what I said.”
“Oh.” She bit her lower lip then looked away.
How could any woman who looked like her not be used to compliments? She could seem so experienced, ready and willing one moment and, in the next, act like she was a shy young thing.
“Tell me about Bobby.”
He didn’t know whether she meant it as a way to throw him off guard or to divert the subject away from her, but it had the same effect. “Bobby-boy was sixteen when he died.”
“Bobby-boy?”
“Yeah, well, I used to call him that just to razz him. I wish I hadn’t now.”
“Why?”
The touch of her hand on his arm rippled through him giving him both a sensual, yet comforting feeling. “He was kind of like Jesse. Full of himself and holding a chip on his should
er. Not sure why. He never had it rough or got mixed up with any of the wrong crowd. There’s not much of a bad crowd around these parts. I think he was just into his teen years and didn’t like to be reminded that he wasn’t a full-grown man.”
“I guess all teen boys are the same. And all the girls are boy crazy. But Jesse’s not a boy, even if he still acts like one.”
“Bobby had just come to visit us for the summer. He and our father had gotten into some kind of an argument and they needed to get away from each other for a while. I don’t even remember what the fuss was all about. Anyway, I wish we’d taken a firmer hold on him.”
She squeezed his arm. “You don’t have to talk about Bobby, if you don’t want to.”
But he did. In the past, he’d never liked telling anyone, but he wanted her to know. He wanted to share everything with her.
“Jarrod and I kind of spoiled him. He was our baby brother and we loved him. But it was never enough for him. Then one night, he wanted to take Jarrod’s pickup and drive all the way to San Antonio. Seems he’d met this girl online and planned on hooking up with her for the weekend.”
“That’s a long way for a teenager to drive.”
“Yeah, it is. And he’d only had his license for a couple of months.” He dragged in a hard breath. “Anyway, we said no, of course. But he snuck out in the middle of the night and took off anyway. We didn’t find out until the sheriff came knocking on our door just before sunrise.”
“Oh, Seth, I’m so sorry. That must’ve been terrible.”
He found solace in her blue eyes. “I never told anyone before, but it just about killed us. And it strained our relationship with our parents. They blamed us for his death and haven’t spoken to us much since then. We tried going on with our work and all, but we didn’t care much about anything. It took us a long time to get over his death. Hell, we’re still not over it.”
“And you won’t be. Not really. Although I hope the pain eases with more time.”
If anyone could ever ease his pain, it was her. Taking her by the back of the neck, he pulled her to him. His kiss searched for the kindness, the understanding only she could give him. At first, she resisted, worrying him that she might pull away. But then she leaned into him and kissed him back with a yearning that matched his own.
Their bodies pressed against each other, sending him all the right signals. Her hair was soft against his fingers, her lips pliant under his mouth. Kissing her was enough and yet it wasn’t. Just as he started to tug her shirt from her jeans, she pushed back.
“Amy—”
“No, Seth.”
When she stepped back even farther, it tore into his gut. Had he blown it with her? Was she not the one he and Jarrod would take for their woman? God knew they both wanted her, but it had never occurred to him that she wouldn’t want him.
She turned to watch the foal kick up his heels. “He’s going to be a handful, isn’t he?”
He studied her as though something about her appearance would explain her refusing him. She wanted him. He’d seen it in the way her pupils had grown larger. Something else was keeping her from giving herself to him.
But he wouldn’t force anything. At least not that way. At least not yet. He and Jarrod were itching to see how far they could push her once they got her inside the big bedroom. Still, he had to test the waters.
“Tell me, Amy. Do you like getting tied up?”
“What?”
He’d gotten her attention, all right. “Tied up? As in sex play? Are you for it or against it?”
“Damn, you just come right out with it, don’t you?”
“Why not? Jarrod and I were talking about—”
“You two were talking about tying me up?” Her eyes widened and her lips parted.
She wants me. No doubt about it.
He took her by the arms, suddenly needing to force her to admit she was interested. “Yeah, we were. I’m not going to play games any longer. Jarrod and I both want you. Not separately, but together. I know what happened at the creek and I know you were turned on the other night in the kitchen, so why don’t we cut through all the crap and just get to it?”
“Just get to it, huh?” She shoved him back. “What’d you expect, Seth? Did you think you could just bring me out to the barn, show me a cute horse, and I’d fall under your spell?”
“No. Although I’ve been told I’m a magician at charming the ladies.” He chuckled, but his mirth died as soon as she didn’t laugh along with him.
“Wow. Talk about being full of yourself.”
He took off his hat and hooked it on top of the post. “Look. All I expect is for you to be honest about how you feel toward Jarrod and me. I get that you’re not ready to open up about what’s really going down with Jesse, but you can’t hide how much you want us.” He narrowed his eyes, going in for the close. “You want us so bad I can smell your pussy juice.”
She started to speak, then closed her mouth, unable to deny it. He knew she couldn’t.
“I’m leaving.”
“No, you’re not.” He wasn’t sure if she meant the barn or the ranch. Either way, he’d been wrong before. Like a young horse needing a steady hand, she needed him to force her into giving into her urges. Hell, she was practically begging him to.
“Seth, you’ve got me all wrong. I’m going back inside the house.” And yet she didn’t budge an inch.
He picked up the rope hanging on a nearby hook and swung it back and forth, opening the loop. “You set one foot outside this barn and I’ll rope you and haul you back. Then I’ll leave you tied up until you admit you want us. Both of us.”
She gaped at him. “You’re kidding me.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
She started to go then hesitated. He could see her mind working, judging if he was telling her the truth or not. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.” She hadn’t known him for long, but if she had any brains at all, she’d know he wasn’t the kind to bluff.
She bit her lower lip, distracting him, then took off running, moving as fast as she could like a calf bursting out of the gate. He chuckled, striding after her and slowly circling the lasso in the air above his head. She hadn’t made it five feet outside the barn when he sent it flying. It landed, as he knew it would, around her, skimming over her shoulders then floating down to her elbows. With one quick move, he tightened the noose around her.
She whirled toward him, her arms pinned to her side. “Damn it. Take this off me right this minute.”
“Nope.”
“What do you mean ‘nope’?”
“You’re a smart girl. Figure it out.” Her expression was priceless, but he kept his face neutral, not giving into laughter.
“Damn it, Seth.”
“Go ahead and damn me all you want. You won’t be the first.” He walked toward her, giving slack in the rope, but not loosening the loop around her.
“I’m not some calf you can tie up.”
“No, you sure aren’t. Tying you up is going to be a whole lot more fun.” Turning to the right, he kept going until the rope once more tightened between them. She let out a small yelp as he tugged her along behind him.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m teaching you a lesson.”
“A lesson? Who the hell do you think you are?”
He took her over to stand under the hayloft, then turned and pulled her closer. “I’m the man who’s going to make you moan.”
Chapter Nine
Holy hell.
“Moan?”
She didn’t want to tell him the truth. That he’d already twisted her up inside, setting her on the brink of a climax. There was no telling what knowing would do to his already elevated ego. Yet it was the truth. The second he’d kissed her, she’d had to fight to keep from tearing the buttons off his shirt.
“Yeah.”
She gasped yet again when he took her by the chin and stared into her eyes. The ember he’d sparked to li
fe burst into a roaring fire, flames licking at her from the inside, building the need in her abdomen.
She’d dreamed about a man who would command her. Who would take her and make her his. Not in the awful way some men did, but in the way that told her how much he wanted her, how much he yearned for her. She could say no, could tell him to stop in no uncertain terms, but she wouldn’t. And when she didn’t, making sure she didn’t cross the line from resistance to outright refusal, he’d know.
Another truth racked into her.
He’d roped her heart as surely as he’d roped her with his lasso.
Kiss me.
As though she’d spoken out loud, he did, putting his lips gently against hers. And, damn, if he didn’t make her moan. She knew when she opened her eyes, she’d see victory in his.
He trailed a delicate path with his tongue along the curve of her lips then kissed his way to her ear. Nibbles were added to his kisses, sending chills racing over her heated flesh. She struggled against the rope, wanting to run her fingers over his strong arms. Being restrained was both torture and pleasure. Instead, her head fell back, offering him her neck as he kissed her pounding pulse.
At once, he was back to her mouth, capturing it with his. The fire burned impossibly hotter and her knees melted under the intensity. Nibbling, sucking, he explored her mouth and slid his hands down to cup her butt cheeks.
She tried so hard not to give in again, but lost the battle. How could she not moan when he did such delicious things to her?
He clutched her hair, holding her head still, then whispered in her ear. “I’m going to show you what I want.”
She accepted his dominance, a part of her recognizing him as her master and she as his willing slave. It was in his chocolate-colored eyes alight with passion. He was as aroused as he’d made her, his passion flowing over her, fueling her own need.
“Don’t be scared.”
“Why would I be scared?”
In the next moment she found out. Slinging her over his shoulder, he started climbing the stairs to the loft above.
“Seth! Put me down.”
