Shadow Maverick Ranch Box Set Page 9

  She laughed, breathless, as he stepped away to strip off his jeans. She pulled her shirt over her head and quickly got rid of her bra. She’d just begun to shimmy out of her shorts and panties when he was back to help her finish the job.

  Before he could stop her, she sank to her knees and wrapped her hand around his thick length. She wanted to taste him, feel the strength in his thighs as he pumped into her mouth.

  “Jesus, you’re so beautiful.” His hand joined hers, guiding her as she stroked him. She leaned in and swiped her tongue over the red, swollen head of his erection.

  Gavin tightened his grip. “Open up, sweetheart. I want to see those pretty lips wrapped around my cock.”

  Moisture seeped from her body as she teased her tongue over him, flicking the sensitive skin below the head before sucking him in. She braced a hand against his leg, her other hand trapped under his around his shaft.

  He cursed and fisted his fingers in her hair. He showed her the pace he wanted, with his hands and the thrusts of his hips.

  “Goddamn, I don’t want to stop. Your mouth is pure heaven,” he panted.

  Lauren tightened her grip as she sucked him deep, taking him as far into her throat as she could. She didn’t want him to stop. Giving him pleasure was an addiction. She’d get one throaty groan and need another and another, until she was drunk with the satisfaction she’d given him that. Only her.

  She could get herself off while he fed her his pleasure. She was close. Probably closer than he was. She reached between her legs and Gavin’s fingers tightened in her hair. “No,” he ground out. “Stop.” His face scrunched up as if it were painful to pull from her lips.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as he pulled her to her feet.

  He spun her toward the bed. “Claiming what’s mine. Bend over.”

  Lauren’s pulse pounded in her ears as he reached for the condom he’d tossed on the bed.

  Claiming what was his? Yes. God, yes. She leaned over, and Gavin stepped between her spread thighs.

  “I love you.” He entered her with one, hard thrust.

  She screamed in pleasure as he stretched her, filled her body and her heart. She’d never get enough of this, of him.

  “I love you,” she breathed.

  He didn’t start slow, didn’t wait for her to adjust—and she didn’t care. Filled with the same primal need that seemed to be driving him, she wanted him to take her. Hard. Fast. Greedy.

  She pushed back to meet his thrusts and perspiration began to build on her skin, the heat from his cock melting her from the inside out.

  “Gavin,” she pleaded and dug her nails into the bed.

  He slowed only enough to reach around and press a finger to her clit. “Say you’re mine,” he demanded and thrummed against the sensitive bundle of nerves.

  “Yours!” she cried and her body erupted.

  A groan tore from Gavin’s throat as her inner muscles convulsed around him, drawing him deeper into her body with every pulse of her orgasm.

  Her name burst from his lips and she knew the power of his release. Knew she’d never be alone again.

  Knew she was loved.

  * * *

  Gavin watched Lauren get dressed and felt the final piece of his life click into place. Whatever came next, he had no doubt they’d handle it together. “I was serious about that job.” He didn’t bother with his shirt and rooted around until he found a clean pair of shorts to put on.

  The look she shot him said she believed he was patronizing her. “I’m sure Andrew can come up with something.”

  Gavin hid his grin. “No doubt, but I need you. Remember the Nelson ranch?”

  “You mean the one that almost got Tom killed for mentioning?”

  Gavin cringed at the reminder. “That’s the one. I want to buy it, and Tom has been taking a look at the financials for me. Nelson ran a successful outfit, and it could mean huge returns for Shadow Maverick Ranch if we move quickly.”

  “Why the urgency?”

  “He left the ranch to his niece, his only living relative apparently. She’s young and inexperienced. If we wait too long, there might not be anything left to buy. We’ll meet with my family this weekend and hash out what we are willing to do. It’ll be a heavy load for my brothers to handle until we get the right people, people we choose, in place.”

  Ah, there was the smile he knew. He had her.

  “You talk as though it’s a done deal. It sounds to me it’s anything but.”

  He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. “See why I need your help? You keep me grounded.”

  She hopped up onto the counter while he rummaged through the fridge for something quick to eat. “I don’t know about that, but I can see there’d be certain benefits to working together.”

  Gavin grabbed a bowl of grapes and stuff to make sandwiches. He set everything beside her on the counter. “Were you just checkin’ out my ass?”

  She popped a grape in her mouth and grinned. He poked at her ribs and she cried out with laughter. “I was! I was!”

  He shoved her knees apart and took the kiss he’d never tire of. She responded immediately, wrapping her legs around him and using her feet to pull him closer.

  They’d worked together for twelve years, but he felt as if he’d waited his whole life for her. She’d been worth every fucking minute.

  He eased out of the kiss. Her happy smile sucker-punched him. It humbled him, stole his breath. “You know, I always thought my heart lived here. With my family, with Shadow Maverick Ranch.”

  She rested a hand against his chest. “It doesn’t? You aren’t happy that you came home?”

  He ducked his chin to look at her, wanting her to understand the depth of what he was about to say.

  “I’ve never been happier, sweetheart. For the first time in my career, I’ll be working to ensure my family’s future. Just as my dad did, and my grandfather before him. I get to be a part of that now. For my nieces and nephews and who knows? Maybe for our own kids, one day. That’s heady stuff.”

  Her cheeks flushed at the mention of kids. “See? Your heart is here, Gavin. It’s obvious how much being here means to you.”

  “I might belong here, but my heart…” He hugged her close to his chest, loving her so much it hurt. “Lauren, my heart lives with you.”

  Borrowed Cowboy:

  A Shadow Maverick Ranch Novella

  by

  Parker Kincade

  Copyright © 2014 by Parker Kincade

  ISBN: 978-0-9894407-3-8

  No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from Parker Kincade. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy.

  Editor

  Lacey Thacker

  Cover Artist

  Hot Damn Designs

  Formatted by

  JTLW Design

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places, brands, and dialogues in this book are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental. This book contains content that is not suitable for readers who are 17 and under.

  Dedication

  For my mom.

  Words cannot express how much your unyielding support means to me. I love you.

  And for Paxton.

  The greatest forgiveness is that which we give ourselves.

  Acknowledgements

  The Mad Skills Squad: Lacey Thacker, JT Lacy, Monette Michaels, Deni Golden, and Ardyth Neill—thank you for everything you do.

  Thanks to Kim Killion at Hot Damn Designs for another smokin’ hot cover! You bring my guys to life and I appreciate you!

  Mandy Harbin … what can I say? Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, and for helping me keep Sonic in business with all the drinks we guzzle.

  A sho
ut out to my street team—The Kincadians. You guys are amazing and I appreciate all you do to spread the word!

  Finally, a special thank you to Kris Kruckman, who lets me write at her house when mine gets crazy. I adore you!

  Chapter One

  Paxton Mathis pulled off his hat and swiped an arm across his sweaty forehead. The sun beat down on this end of the corral, leaving no escape from the sweltering, late summer heat.

  He approached the round pen. He stepped on the rail and climbed over, settling his ass on the top. His baby sister stood in the center of the pen, slowly circling in place, her focus absolute.

  “Hey, Pax,” Jared greeted. “What’re you doing here?”

  Pax kept his gaze glued to the action. “Backup.”

  His youngest brother snorted. “She won’t need it.”

  “That’s good.” He hooked his hat on his knee and rolled his shoulders in an attempt to loosen them up. “’Cause after a day of diggin’ post holes, I’m done in.”

  No joke—his hands cramped, his back hurt, he was covered in sweat and dust, and was hungry enough to eat a horse.

  As if it heard his thoughts, the angry beast chose that moment to kick out. Hooves connected with galvanized metal, which only seemed to piss it off, so it kicked again.

  “Easy, Jayden,” Pax barked as his baby sister narrowly escaped a hoof print to the chest.

  “Shh,” she hissed. “Keep your voice down, or you’ll spook him.”

  Pax arched a brow at the beast. The buckskin quarter horse was skittish as hell, dancing around the pen as though hot coals covered the ground. “Uh, Jade … honey, I hate to break it to you, but that horse is already spooked.”

  That earned him a teenaged-perfected no shit, Sherlock eye roll. “You’d be freaked out too if you’d been through what this beautiful guy has.” Jade’s voice was soft and gentle as she circled the nervous animal.

  Jared chuckled. “She’s gonna do whatever it takes to gain his trust. Might as well relax and enjoy the magic. Jade’s got this.”

  Yeah, she did. Jayden had a gift, a natural talent that made her damn near unstoppable when it came to animal rehabilitation. That didn’t stop Pax from worrying about her. And Jared too, for that matter. With their parents away on their first vacation together since their honeymoon, it was Pax’s responsibility to make sure the youngest set of Mathis twins were at least alive when they returned. Gavin was busy planning his wedding, Erin had her own family to worry about, and Clay … well, Clay was more interested in getting laid than playing parental surrogate to their youngest siblings.

  Young and invincible, or so they thought.

  “I didn’t move back into the house for my health, you know.” Pax tensed as the horse reared up again.

  “Yeah, ’cause livin’ in the bunkhouse is so much better. I swear man, if I had a beautiful house like yours, I’d want to actually live in it.” Jared shook his head full of shaggy black hair. “We’re seventeen, Pax. You don’t need to hover.”

  “Who’s hovering?” Pax avoided the mention of his house. Jared and Jade had been too young to understand what had happened. They knew Tammy wasn’t their aunt anymore. As far as Pax was concerned, that was all they needed to know. “I’m just here for the show.”

  The horse trotted close and stopped a few feet in front of him.

  “I’m calling him Diablo,” Jade informed them as she took a slow, but confident, step toward Diablo’s shoulder. She kept her distance and extended her hand, palm up, to show the beast the grain she held.

  Next to the horse, Jade looked small, fragile. She might be smaller in height than the rest of them, but she was far from breakable. The girl pulled her weight around the ranch just like everyone else. No coddling that one. She’d just as soon kick his ass than—horror—be treated like a girl.

  Diablo’s gaze flickered toward Jade, then he raised his head and blew a heavy stream of air and snot in Pax’s direction.

  “Diablo, huh? Fitting, I’d say.” Pax chuckled. “Got a bit of devil in him for sure. Once he gets a little meat on his bones, he’ll be quite the stud.”

  Diablo swung his head back in Jade’s direction. He bobbed his head, as if in agreement with the assessment, and pounded a heavy hoof, stirring up dust.

  Pax’s heart rate kicked up another notch, but Jade whispered an encouragement and the horse calmed, took a step, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, nuzzled her palm for the grain.

  “Hey, Pax. Run to the tack room and grab me that other rope, would you? The thin one on the hook by the door.”

  Pax glanced toward the barn and his stomach tightened. Yeah, not gonna happen.

  “Jared can get it.”

  Jared scoffed. “She asked you. Why can’t you get it?”

  Because he hadn’t been inside that fucking barn since the day he’d caught his wife getting busy with two of his ranch hands. The image of Tammy sandwiched between the two men and riding both hard, had been branded onto his brain for all time. He had no desire to relive the moment.

  But the twins didn’t know any of that.

  A car drove up and Pax took full advantage of the distraction. “We expecting company?”

  “That must be the event planner Lauren and Gavin hired for their wedding.”

  Pax frowned. “Are you kidding me?”

  Jade laughed and shook her head. Jared offered her a high-five, which she took with a satisfied smile, and rested a boot on the rail between them. “Nope. I overheard Gavin tell Lauren he’d pay whatever it took to keep her from being stressed out. She’s still not that familiar with the area, so it makes sense to have someone help her who is.”

  “Aren’t you the little eavesdropper?” Jared teased and raised his chin toward Diablo. “He’s thinking about it.”

  Jade beamed, but smacked Jared’s leg. “Don’t make eye contact. Let him come to me.” To Pax, she said, “I think it’s sweet Gavin loves her enough to do something like that.”

  “Keep dreaming. Gavin’s interest is in self-preservation, I guarantee it.” Pax squinted, put a hand to his forehead to block the sun, as long, creamy legs emerged from the car.

  Well, now. What have we here?

  “You’re just cynical,” Jade pointed out. “Maybe it’s time you found someone, Pax.”

  He’d had someone. Fuck if he’d go down that road again.

  “Maybe it’s time you minded your own business,” he threw back, his gaze riveted by the woman stepping out of the car.

  Those legs led to a nicely rounded ass held snug by denim shorts. Strawberry-blonde curls flowed down her back, pretty as a Texas sunset against her red tank top.

  Interesting attire for an event planner.

  The woman reached back and, a few hand movements later, had those curls contained at the base of her neck. There was something familiar about … a memory flashed. Eyes as blue as the Texas sky. Smile that lit up a room. Reddish-gold hair that matched the sweet and spice of her personality.

  Reese.

  The first woman, outside his family, to own his heart. By the time he’d figured it out, she’d left. Left Texas. Left him.

  Jesus, he hadn’t thought about Reese, or the last night they’d spent together, in years.

  Pax stared, transfixed, as the rest of the woman came into view. She was too far away to see the color of her eyes, but her curves were unmistakable. He did love a woman with curves.

  A slow burn ignited in his stomach and his dick stirred.

  Huh.

  It hadn’t been that long since he’d taken a woman to bed, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten aroused from just looking. He hated the dating scene. Hated the games people played even more. The outcome was rarely good. Telling a woman he wasn’t interested in a relationship only seemed to make her work harder. As though he’d reconsider his stance once she had him between her thighs. These days, he preferred to jack off when the need became too great. Less complicated that way.

  His ex-wife had dest
royed any hope Pax had in long-lasting relationships. He’d leave that crap to Gavin. He and Lauren seemed happy, and Pax hoped they could make it work.

  He’d tried. It hadn’t worked out. He damn sure wasn’t going to invite that kind of pain into his life again.

  But it was good to know his junk still worked without physical contact.

  “Wow. Would you get a look at her?” Jared whistled through his teeth. “She doesn’t look like any event planner I’ve ever seen. Damn, she’s gorgeous.”

  The beauty raised a hand in a greeting the twins were quick to return.

  “She’s also way too old for you.”

  He guessed. She didn’t look too old for him though.

  Pax shook the thought away and willed his prick to behave so as not to embarrass himself in front of his kid brother and sister.

  The woman sparked a pleasurable memory, yes. All the more reason he should forget what his body was currently demanding. He wasn’t jackass enough to sleep with a woman because she reminded him of someone else. Hell, even if she wanted to go a few rounds with him, it would be awkward when the night ended. And it would end, but she’d still be planning his brother’s wedding.

  What the fuck was wrong with him? He didn’t even know this lady, and already he had her naked and writhing in his arms.

  He wouldn’t be getting her naked, but he could damn well fix the first part. The least he could do was go and say hello to the first woman he’d reacted to in … way too long.

  His boots hit the dirt.

  Lauren came out onto the porch. Pax watched as the two women shook hands and then disappeared into the house.

  “Hey, what about that rope?” Jade called after him.

  Rope, indeed. Paxton smiled as images of the beauty tied to his bed crept into his mind. Flame colored curls fanned over his pillows, limbs spread, body open for his pleasure. Just like that night a lifetime ago.

  The hunger simmering in his gut surged, boiled over.

  Oh, this was a bad idea. He needed to get control of himself. Now.