Six Degrees of Desperation (Dirty Tricks) Read online

  SIX DEGREES OF DESPERATION

  by Myla Jackson

  SIX DEGREES OF DESPERATION

  Myla Jackson

  Copyright © Myla Jackson 2012

  Published by Myla Jackson at Smashwords

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Editor: Layla Chase

  Cover artist: Myla Jackson

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

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  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Chapter One

  Light streamed through the gap in the wooden blinds, the beam falling across the rumpled sheets, warming Charli Sutton's skin. She stretched, her eyes blinking open to the brightness of the room. A glance at the clock confirmed the time was near noon. She'd never slept better.

  Charli yawned, pushed hair out of her face and ran a hand down her neck to her naked breasts, and froze. Eyes widening, a flood of memories washed over her, heating her body, sending fiery signals of lust straight to her pussy.

  "Connor," she whispered, her eyes darting to the pillow beside her. Instead of the studly cowboy, Connor Mason, a crisp white piece of paper lay in the gentle indention where his head had lain. On top of the paper lay a deep red rose from Charli's own garden.

  Her insides churning, Charli sat up straight, disappointment her first reaction, knowing the note meant he'd gone. And she'd had such a rush of needs overwhelming her, she'd hoped he'd be there to satisfy them or at least take the edge off before she faced the day.

  Had to go to work. I'll see you at the Cowboy Masquerade Ball tonight.

  Charli clutched the note to her chest and cupped the rose beneath her nose, the warmth of hope filling her.

  He wanted to see her again.

  She sank back against the pillow, a smile curling her lips. Connor had been so gentle and yet forceful making love, not once, but several times throughout the night.

  A delicious ache centered at her entrance where the friction of his thrusts had send her reeling over the edge of orgasm more than once. His lips had seared a path from hers all the way down her throat, skimming across the swells of her breasts.

  Charli trailed the rose along the side of her neck and downward to the tip of one nipple. The areola drew tight in response, still sensitive from the burn of Connor's beard. She circled the tip with the velvety smooth petals, spurring longing deep inside, tugging at her core, sending waves of cream-filled desire to her pussy.

  She moaned and squirmed beneath the rose, sliding it lower still, across her ribs, skimming past her bellybutton to the furry mound at the apex of her thighs.

  His lips had been there too, his fingers parting her folds, exposing that little bud of nerves, ripe and pulsing, ready for whatever sweet torture he had in mind.

  Charli's heels dug into the mattress, just as they had when Connor spread her knees wide and laid down between her legs, gathering her bottom in his big, calloused hands, lifting her pussy to his lips.

  The flower brushed lower, slipping past her dampened pussy, tickling the insides of her thighs. She let her knees fall open, the cool morning air kissing the moisture pooling in her vagina. With one hand, she brushed the rose across her cunt, with the other, she dipped a finger into the heated wetness, sliding it up to her clit bringing a thick coating of come.

  Not as powerful as Connor's tongue, but good in a pinch.

  She closed her eyes and remembered how it felt to have his mouth on her, licking and teasing, flicking her most receptive erogenous zone, blinding her with such a bright array of sensations she thought she might die from overexposure.

  Her finger tapped her clit then slathered it in moisture.

  Connor had licked her, swirling his tongue around and around, shooting spurts of adrenaline and desire through her bloodstream. As it was now, the tingling began in her outer extremities, traveling with lightning speed to her center.

  Charli moaned, her back arching off the bed, the speed with which she stroked her clit increasing until the pleasure bordered on pain. Her finger stilled, her hand cupping her pussy pressed down, until the orgasm peaked, the sheer beauty of the sensation bursting through to brighten the midday sun.

  As she fell back to earth, Charli sighed, pulling up the sheets over her breasts. She dragged the pillow Connor had used against her body in a poor imitation of the solidly built, muscular cowboy. She'd much rather awaken to the real man, making love to her body.

  Maybe next time. She grinned and squealed into the pillow. Connor Mason had finally made love to her, and the experience had been everything she'd hoped and dreamed of.

  As the rest of the night came back to her, his final comment before she'd drifted off to sleep came back to haunt her.

  I'm a one-woman kind of guy. I wanted to be sure you were a one-man kind of girl.

  The beauty of the day faded into a pall of guilt and worry.

  Charli had been dating Connor while seeing a mystery cowboy after midnight. Granted, she'd never said she was going to date Connor exclusively when it all started between the two of them. And she still didn't know who her mystery cowboy was. At this point, that fact barely mattered. She hadn't seen the stranger in a week, nor did she care to. Connor was the man for her. He was gentle, kind, a war hero, a sexy cowboy and now...she knew without a shadow of a doubt, he was great in bed.

  What more could a woman ask for?

  Charli flopped back against her own pillow. What would happen if he found out about the mystery cowboy? Should she tell him and get it over with? Her chest squeezed at the thought. What if he dumped her? What if he said he couldn't be with a woman who kept things from him?

  Chewing on her lip, Charli weighed her options and came up short. Her conscience wouldn't let her live a lie. Not when she stood a chance at a real relationship with a great guy. If they couldn't be honest with each other, where did that leave them?

  She rolled over and hugged the pillow. Oh, but he'd been so sweet, so kind, so... hunki-licious. How could she live without him, now that she'd tasted what he had to offer? Another groan and Charli sat up, pushing the pillow and sheets aside.

  The only way to deal with an impossible situation was to meet it head-on. But she could always face the challenge looking her best. Tonight was the Cowboy Masquerade Ball—a tradition at the Ugly Stick Saloon to sponsor a masquerade ball for the locals and the rodeo cowboys, after the first day of the rodeo events. Her boss, Audrey Andersen, always insisted her girls dress in costumes, usually those of old-time dancehall girls.

  A satisfied smile spread across Charli's face. Good. She looked great in a corset bustier and the flouncy skirts only showed off her legs. How could he possibly dump her when she'd be displaying her best assets?

  She snatched her phone from the nightstand and started to dial Audrey’s number for someone to talk to about the night past and the night ahead. One glance at the clock
on the wall reminded her that Audrey slept in after working until the small hours of the morning. But Charli had to talk to someone. She hit the speed-dial button for her friend, Mona Daley, Temptation’s most gifted beautician.

  “Shear Safari, this is Mona.”

  “Mona!” Charli exclaimed. “Please tell me you can fit me in today.”

  “Charli?” Mona laughed. “Mrs. Smith just cancelled; her slot is yours if you can make it here in ten minutes. What’s up?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get there. Suffice it to say, I need you…desperately.”

  “I’ll polish the shampoo bowl and warm the curling irons. See ya in a few, sweetie.”

  Charli washed her face, brushed her teeth, threw on jeans and a tank top and crammed a straw cowboy hat on her head to hide her tousled hair. Just in case she ran into anyone important on her way to the salon. As she backed out of her driveway and shifted into drive, her body tingled all over at the thought of running into Connor in Temptation. Not that she would. He’d be working out at the O’Brien ranch today or helping out with the rodeo. Still, the mere thought of seeing him again after the night they’d shared had her hot and bothered by the time she arrived on Main Street at the Shear Safari Hair Salon.

  She glanced in her rearview mirror, a movement catching her attention. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a black Stetson was entering the hardware store behind her.

  A gasp escaped her throat. The sight of the black cowboy hat set Charli’s heart thumping and she flung open her door, dropping down out of her pickup onto the pavement, ready to chase after the man. She would have, if Mona hadn’t chosen that exact moment to poke her head out the salon door.

  “Hurry, Charli, I only have an hour for you and I want to hear everything.” Mona held open the door.

  Torn between chasing after a man in a black Stetson who could possibly be her mystery lover, Original Sin, and Mona, standing there, expecting her to rush in and make her day with a full recounting of her sensuous escapades with Connor, Charli turned toward the salon.

  Then man in the black Stetson couldn’t be her Original Sin. Since she hadn’t heard from him in almost a week, she figured he had to have left town. Besides, what would she do if she went up to the man in the cowboy hat? She couldn’t ask him if he was the man who’d fucked her in the Judge’s pool or the one who staged a roadblock to entertain her with a ménage à trois on the side of the highway. How could she confront him about the formal dinner in the furniture store with dessert being three men making love to her? And don’t forget the BDSM with four guys in the county jail museum.

  “Wow, Charli, are you feeling okay? Your face is flushed.” Mona pressed a hand to Charli’s forehead.

  “I’m fine.” Charli brushed Mona’s hand to the side and walked straight for the shampoo bowl, tossing her cowboy hat in a vacant chair. “I have no idea where to begin.”

  Mona motioned toward the bowl. “We can begin by washing your hair. You know how the shampooing relaxes you.”

  Charli plunked in the chair and leaned back.

  Mona turned on the water and adjusted the temperature. “I was feeling very neglected. It’s been more than two weeks since we last talked, what’s been going on?”

  “Besides dirty tricks with a complete stranger and a love affair with Connor Mason? Not much.” Charli’s pulse raced as she divulged the happenings of the past ten days. “I can’t believe only ten days have passed since I first complained about being bored in Temptation.”

  Mona whistled. “Dang, girl, are you still bored?”

  “No!” Charli squeezed shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. “My head’s been spinning and I don’t know what to do. That’s why I’m here. I need advice.”

  “Okay, shoot.”

  “What should I do?”

  “About mystery man or Connor?”

  “Both.”

  “Which one do you love?”

  Charli recalled the tender yet aggressive lover she’d had in Original Sin and his willingness to sweeten the pot with additional lovers thrown in the mix. They’d shared a mad and crazy adventure for four nights straight.

  But then Connor had taken his time, wooing her, talking to her as if she meant more to him than a piece of ass. He’d shown her respect and courtesy, holding off on making love until she’d pushed past his defenses and taunted him into crossing the line. Now that she’d made love to Connor…

  Mona’s hands stopped scrubbing Charli’s scalp and she tsked. “Oh, baby doll, that was supposed to be an easy answer.”

  “I love what Original Sin did with me. He got my blood flowing again, awakening desires and showing me the possibilities and opportunities for adventure available even in such a small town as Temptation.” Charli sighed. “On the other hand…Connor…” She signed again.

  “He’s hot.” Mona’s fingers dug in, scrubbing again. Then she rinsed. “If you decide not to commit to Connor, can I have him?”

  Heat shot through her chest, and Charli’s fingernails dug into the chair’s arms. “Hands off. Connor’s mine.”

  Mona stepped back, holding up her dripping hands. “Okay, no need to bite off my head.” She grinned and winked. “I guess that answers it.”

  “Answers what?”

  “You’re in love with Connor.”

  “I just wish I could have both. The surprise and spontaneity of my mystery lover was off-the-charts hot. Then again, Connor knows just the right spots to hit to launch me over the edge.”

  “You can stop this minute. I’m creaming and horny now, and I have a busy day of appointments to get through before I can do anything about it.”

  Charli grabbed Mona’s wrist. “You have to be there at the Ugly Stick tonight. I don’t know if I can manage on my own.”

  “Don’t worry, honey. I have my costume all ready. I wouldn’t miss the Cowboy Masquerade Ball for anything.” Mona wrapped Charli’s hair in a towel and leaned her forward in the chair.

  Charli moved to Mona’s station and sat in the swivel chair. “Now, make me so beautiful, Connor can’t help but fall in love with me.”

  “Speaking of Connor…” Mona nodded toward the large picture window looking out over Main Street. “Isn’t that him coming out of Lisenby’s Jewelry Store?” Her hands resting on Charli’s shoulders squeezed hard. “Oh my gosh. He’s carrying a bag.”

  Charli spun in her chair. Just as Mona had said, Connor was walking away from the jewelry store with a small bag. Her heart skipped several beats then raced ahead. “Oh, my.” She grabbed Mona’s hands, her own shaking. “Do something!”

  Mona laughed. “Do what?”

  “Make me gorgeous.” Charli braced herself as if preparing for major surgery.

  Starting with a brush, Mona stroked through the damp hair, smoothing it straight, the ends curling naturally. “Is Audrey using the saloon girl costumes again?”

  “I suppose.” Dear Lord, what was she going to do…what was she going to say? And what in heaven had Connor bought at the jewelry store? A ring, maybe?

  Charli’s stomach flipped and landed with a thump.

  Mona’s hands settled on her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. But just to give you confidence to face the night, let’s give you a go-to-hell hairstyle that will have all the men drooling over you…one in particular.”

  Charli forced herself to relax back in the seat as Mona did her magic. All the while the beautician worked, Charli alternated between breathing normally and a full-on panic attack. What if Connor Mason had purchased an engagement ring? Holy crap. She could be getting engaged that very night.

  Mona hugged her and whispered in her ear, “Breathe, Charli. Breathe.”

  Chapter Two

  Charli stepped out of the Shear Safari feeling like a million dollars. Her talk with Mona had helped calm her, and the hairstyle creation Mona dreamed up looked fabulous. Sexy, sassy and perfect for the Cowboy Masquerade Ball. Charli couldn’t wait to see Connor’s reaction when
she was in costume tonight. He had to fall madly in love with her, if he wasn’t already.

  She stopped on the sidewalk, her hand pressing against her left breast where her heart squeezed hard. Was she in love with Connor? Could she be ready to take the next step after only two dates with the man? The thought of him proposing sent tingles down her spine at the same time as her breath caught in her throat. She wanted him. Oh, man, she wanted him. But did she want him forever?

  As she stared off into the distance, another tall, broad-shouldered man in a black Stetson passed by in her peripheral vision.

  By the time Charli turned her head, he’d disappeared, leaving her to wonder whether or not he’d been a figment of her imagination. She shook her head, pasted a smile on her face and strutted down the street, swinging her cowboy hat in her hand, afraid wearing it would mess up her new ‘do. She had a stop to make at the drug store for condoms and lubricant. If tonight went as planned, she’d be using the whole box and tube.

  Temptation was teaming with cowboys and their support crews for the annual Tri-County Rodeo. Trucks towing fancy horse trailers rumbled along Main Street, loaded to the gills with hay, tack, feed sacks and their most precious cargo—horses.

  Cowboys waved and called out to each other, having ridden the circuit and studied up on their competition. They strutted by in their blue jeans and snap shirts, displaying their biggest, shiniest belt buckles won at the various rodeos across the country and into Canada.

  Charli hadn’t gone ten steps without passing five good-looking men, each tipping their cowboy hats in her direction. She smiled and said hello, friendly, but not too friendly. Then a cowboy with sky blue eyes, medium brown hair and a black Stetson strode by, tipped his hat and winked.

  Her heart leaping to her throat, Charli tripped over her own cowboy boots and almost plowed face-first into a streetlight pole.