Boots and Leather: Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 2 Page 12

  Libby swung her leg over the bike seat and pulled away from Temptation, choosing a back road out of town, not the main roads lined with streetlights. The sooner she could see the stars, the better.

  Soon pavement led to gravel and she found herself on the unimproved road leading out to the only place she’d been truly happy in the past two years. A place where she could think, and where she’d see so many stars she could count them until she grew old.

  Mark took the steps up to Libby’s apartment two at a time and banged on the door. “Libby!” He listened and waited. Nothing.

  Luke arrived at the top of the stairs and pounded again. “Libby!”

  The old man who lived below her apartment poked his head out of his front door. “Hey, keep it down up there. Some of us are trying to sleep.” The old man started to close the door, grumbling. “All the coming and going, motorcycle engines, it’s a surprise if anyone gets any shuteye.”

  “Motorcycle engines?” Luke vaulted to the bottom of the steps and stuck his foot in the door before the old man could fully close it. “Did you say motorcycle engines?”

  “Yeah. That young lady from upstairs revved her engine about ten minutes ago and blasted me out of a darned good dream.”

  “Ten minutes?” Luke grabbed the man’s arms. “Are you sure?”

  The old guy brushed Luke’s hands away. “Of course I’m sure. I looked at my clock when she did it.”

  Mark met Luke at the bottom of the steps, pulling his cell phone from his pocket, dread filling his heart. “I’m calling.”

  Deputy Cramer answered on the third ring. “No one’s seen the woman on the bike. You are talking about Libby Jones, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, we’re looking for Libby.”

  “You do know her name isn’t Libby, don’t you?”

  “It’s Elizabeth Stratton, we know. Are you sure the others were looking?”

  “There’s only one main road in and out of town. Both directions were covered. Sorry, dude.”

  “Thanks anyway.” Mark clicked the off button and shoved the phone into his pocket, his heart hitting the bottom of his belly. “We lost her.”

  “How could she have gotten by without them seeing her?” Luke shook his head. “She had to have gone out the highway.”

  A spark of hope ignited in Mark’s chest. “Unless she didn’t leave.”

  “She’s not at her apartment. We’ve been to the Ugly Stick. Where else would she have gone?”

  Mark backhanded his brother in the chest. “Where do we go when we want to think?” He took off running for the pickup, where he jumped in behind the steering wheel.

  “Skyview? You think she’s gone there?” Luke loped after Mark, sliding into the passenger seat, tossing the keys to his brother. “I hope you’re right.”

  “Think about it.” Mark switched on the engine and jammed the shift into reverse. “She said it was the only place she’d found in two years where she felt completely free.”

  “But her father’s in town. He’s who she was running from in the first place.” Luke stared ahead into the darkness. “You’d think she’d keep running.”

  Mark grinned. “Unless she’s tired of running.”

  “And she wants to put down roots.” Luke’s face broke into a smile.

  “With the two men who showed her what free-riding was all about.” Mark prayed he was right.

  Luke raised a hand. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, brother. She has the power to break our hearts.”

  “Or make us whole. I choose to believe she wants to stay.” Mark turned down one of the streets leading to the edge of town that became a dirt road as soon as they cleared city limits. He didn’t slow on the gravel, bumping along as fast as he could, determined to catch up to the woman they’d both grown to love. He had to be right. Or if she hadn’t decided to stay, and if she had gone to Skyview, at least Mark hoped it meant she’d consider staying.

  “What if she’s not there?” Luke said into the dark cab.

  “She will be.” Mark pressed his foot to the accelerator, kicking up dust and gravel behind the pickup.

  When they arrived at Skyview, they didn’t see Libby or her bike.

  Mark’s chest tightened as he climbed down from the truck and ran toward the house.

  “She’s not here,” Luke called out, racing to catch up.

  “She has to be.” Mark rounded the corner of the building to the other side where the moon shone down on the deck, lighting it like shadowed sunshine.

  Stretched out on the wooden planks, her naked body gleaming a bluish-silver in the moonlight, lay Libby. She leaned up on one elbow and stared across the distance at Mark and Luke. “About time you two got here.”

  Mark laughed out loud and loped to the deck, dropping down beside her, his gaze panning her beautiful length. “How’d you know we’d come?”

  “I didn’t. But a girl can always hope the men she loves will read her mind.”

  Luke stopped with one foot on the steps leading up to the deck. “Love?” He took another step up. “That’s a pretty powerful word you’re using there, young lady.”

  She lay back and stared up at the stars. “I know.”

  Mark reached out and cupped her face in his palm. Though he ached to touch all the other parts of her body, he knew they had to get a few things straight first. “You didn’t leave.”

  “Nope.” She smiled. “I couldn’t.”

  “Why?” Luke dropped down to the deck beside her.

  “Because I had too many reasons not to.” She raised her arms over her head, arching her back, her nipples tight little peaks on her perky breasts.

  Mark longed to touch, to pull one of those pretty little buds into his mouth and suck hard, but he had to know she wasn’t playing with them, leading them on only to leave when morning dawned.

  “So you’re staying?” Luke asked what was on Mark’s mind.

  Libby nodded. “Can’t think of a place I’ve liked better.”

  Mark’s fists clenched to keep him from skimming his fingers along the curves of her body. “For how long?”

  She leaned up on her hands. “Good grief. You have a naked woman lying in front of you, the moon is shining and, short of candles, the setting is perfect. What does a girl have to do to get a couple of guys interested?”

  Luke bunched his fists, but remained hands-off.

  Mark knew it had to be killing his brother as much as it was killing him. He couldn’t force words past his constricted throat.

  “Mark and I care about you,” Luke stated, the more eloquent of the two.

  With a pout, Libby sat up all the way. “Apparently not enough to make love to me.”

  Mark shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. We care enough not to make love until we know where we stand and whether or not you’ll be gone tomorrow.”

  “I’m here, aren’t I?” She raised a hand, starlight glimmering off the tears pooling in her eyes. “I can’t promise more.”

  “We can’t take less.” Luke reached out and thumbed away a tear slipping down her cheek. “I love you too much to lose you now.”

  “And I love you too. The thought of losing you…” Mark’s fingers slid down over her shoulder, capturing her hand. “We thought you’d left us tonight. It nearly broke my heart.” He pressed her hand to his chest. “I want to know you’ll be here longer than just one night.”

  “Me too.” Luke leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

  “Question is, do you really love us enough to stay?” Mark asked.

  She laughed, the sound catching on a sob. “Am I enough woman for both of you to love? Will I be able to satisfy you?”

  Joy burgeoned in Mark’s heart. “Baby, you’re amazing and you can do anything you set your mind to.”

  “I’m just now beginning to believe that about myself.” She lifted Mark’s hand and rubbed it against her cheek. “I’ve been running for so long, I didn’t stop to think about what I was running from. It took fin
ally getting caught to realize I was running from myself. I didn’t want to stand up and fight for what I wanted.” She snorted. “My father can be a very intimidating man.”

  Luke smiled. “We know.”

  Her eyes widened. “You know?”

  Mark grinned. “We spent some time in jail with him.”

  Libby cringed. “He wouldn’t let go of me in the hospital, and then the deputy hauled him off. I felt so guilty.”

  “Don’t worry.” Mark’s lips twisted. “Jackson bailed him out. Seems his attorney wasn’t answering his calls and his bodyguards were incarcerated in Hole In The Wall’s jail.”

  Libby chuckled. “That had to make him mad. He’s used to having everyone at his beck and call.”

  “Yeah, I gathered that.” Mark squeezed her hand. “He hated that we bailed him out, but he accepted the offer.”

  Luke pushed her hair back and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. “Your father is at the ranch house now with Jackson.”

  Libby sat up straighter. “You brought my father to the ranch?”

  Mark nodded. “Yeah, seems he’s had some revelations of his own and wants a chance to talk to you. We made him promise not to pressure you into going back to New York.”

  “He knows I won’t go.” Libby stared down at her hands. “I love it too much here. I love you two.”

  Mark winced. “Yeah, well he wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of you being with both of us.”

  Libby’s chin lifted. “If he wants to be a part of my life, he’ll have to accept you two.” She sighed and looked up at the two men. “I’m not ready to talk to him now—we can convince him tomorrow. I’ve got other things to occupy my thoughts and time here.” She smiled, the moon shining in her eyes.

  “Take all the time you need, darlin’.” Luke cupped her face again. “We’ve got all night.”

  “And we’d love to show you how much we want you to stay.” Mark’s hand slipped across her knee and up to the juncture of her thighs, where her soft curls beckoned to him.

  Luke moved closer on her other side. “We don’t want you to feel trapped.”

  “But we want you around.” Mark bent to capture one of her nipples between his teeth, nipping softly.

  Luke laid her back on the deck, his hands roving over her other breast. “We love you.”

  Libby lay back on the hard wood of the deck with nothing but the sky and Mark and Luke’s hands covering her. “Enough talk, and too many clothes. If you truly love me, show me.”

  Mark and Luke leapt to their feet and shucked clothes so fast, Libby laughed out loud.

  When they lay down beside her, she sighed, her legs falling open, her heart winging to the sky. She’d never felt so free and so loved as she did at that moment.

  Mark slipped a finger into her, stroking the rush of juices out to her clit where he circled over and over, drawing a gasp from her lips.

  Luke bent to claim a nipple, sucking it deep into his mouth, teasing the tip with his tongue, catching it between his teeth and nipping.

  Libby cupped the back of Luke’s head, loving that he was the thinker and was so thoughtful, while Mark was the man to jump in and make things happen. The two complemented each other and she loved them both for who they were.

  “Make love to me, my Gray Wolf men.” She rolled to her side, facing Mark.

  Luke rested his hand on her hips and nudged her entrance from behind with his cock.

  Mark stroked her clit, lathering it with her own, musky juices, strumming her to a frenzy as Luke thrust inside, filling her to full, pumping deep.

  She loved these two men who’d given her everything, including her freedom.

  As she rocketed over the edge of orgasm, she cried out their names, thankful to whatever Indian gods they prayed to for bringing these men to her.

  About the Author

  Twenty years of livin’ and lovin’ on a South Texas ranch raising horses, cattle, ostriches and emus left an indelible impression on Myla Jackson, one she likes to instill in her red-hot stories. Myla pens wildly sexy, fun adventures of all genres including historical westerns, medieval, romantic suspense, contemporary and paranormal beasties of all shapes and sexy sizes. When she’s not wrangling words from her computer she’s snow-skiing, boating, riding her ATV or spending time with family. She lives in the tree-covered hills of Northwest Arkansas with her husband of 20+ years and her muses—human-wanna-be canines—Chewy and Sweetpea.

  To learn more about Myla Jackson and her stories visit her website at www.mylajackson.com.

  Look for these titles by Myla Jackson

  Now Available:

  The Ugly Stick Saloon

  Boots and Chaps

  Bound and Tied

  Honor Bound

  Duty Bound

  River Bound

  She gave up stripping to go legit…until three Kiowa cowboys bring on the down-and-dirty.

  Boots and Chaps

  © 2012 Myla Jackson

  Ugly Stick Saloon, Book 1

  Jackson Gray Wolf is turning thirty, and what does he have to show for it? A ranch. No wife, no kids, no dates. He’s had his eye on the pretty owner of the Ugly Stick Saloon, but their one accidental encounter was interrupted before he could get her out of her take-me-now red cowboy boots.

  Audrey Anderson isn’t in the market for a man. Been there, done that, has the scars to prove it. She retired her pole-dancing boots after purchasing the Ugly Stick Saloon, and now manages a stable of strippers. When she winds up one stripper short for a private party, she’s forced to slip on a mask and into the role of the mysterious Kiki.

  Jackson didn’t want the birthday bash his twin brothers are throwing him, but his vow to ignore the rented stripper goes awry when she shows him exactly how far she’s willing to go—for all three of them.

  Audrey can’t forget the sizzling heat between her and one sexy Kiowa in particular. Jackson. Trouble is, she’s not sure if he wants the bold, brassy Kiki, or if he’s ready for the wounded woman underneath.

  Warning this title contains hot scenes with multiple partners, with a little BDSM on the side. Caution—it could melt your e-reader!

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Boots and Chaps:

  Audrey couldn’t believe she was getting away with her charade. Her body burned, her pussy wet with her juices. Having Jackson watch as she strutted her stuff in front of his brothers had been so much of a turn-on, she’d broken most of her rules of stripping, and she was raring to break all the rest.

  Luke let go of his grip on her pussy and backed up a step, allowing more room for big brother.

  A thrill of adrenaline shot through Audrey, her core heating to molten hot. The twins were handsome with their dark Kiowa skin, high cheekbones and jet-black hair, and she wouldn’t mind making love to both of them. At the same time. But Jackson…

  She sucked in a long, deep breath and let it out slowly. This was a man’s man. Strip him down to a loincloth and he’d fit right in with his ancestors, hunting buffalo, fighting wars and making love with his woman. His broad shoulders flashed in and out of the strobe, the light casting shadows, emphasizing the distinct muscular definition of his chest and arms.

  Her gaze dropped to the top button of his jeans, flipped casually open as if he’d been in the process of undressing when she’d begun her little dance.

  She drew him near and flicked the other three buttons from their bindings with quick, desperate strokes. As the last button poked through the hole, his cock sprang free, slipping easily into her palm.

  “Knew you weren’t immune to Kiki.” Luke laughed. “Hey, Mark, check out that boner.”

  Jackson jerked back, sliding out of Audrey’s grip.

  Mark swung a wooden stool into the center of the floor and shoved Jackson toward it. “Sit. And no jerking off.”

  He sat and growled at his brothers, his hands going to his open fly and the shaft jutting straight upward.

  Luke cranked the music volume up a notch and danced toward Audre
y. “Now that you have the birthday boy in position, let me help you out of that shirt.”

  It wasn’t what Audrey had in mind, but the angry frown on Jackson’s face gave her the courage to taunt him more, show him what he was missing. A little foreplay was just what he needed to make him eager to join the fun.

  Audrey tied the tails of her shirt beneath her breasts, a good start for a strip tease.

  “Did I give you permission to dress?” Luke shook his head and stalked her. “You know what the Gray Wolfs do to naughty girls?”

  Her body quivered as she backed away from Luke and into Mark’s chest.

  Jackson lunged forward.

  “Down, boy.” Luke clamped a hand on Jackson’s shoulder and shoved him back on the seat. “You’ll have your turn. We want to get her ready for you. This is your show, brought to you by the brothers Gray Wolf. Sit back and relax.”

  Jackson growled again, his arms crossing over his chest, hands fisted. “Relax…hmph.”

  Luke grabbed the lapels of Audrey’s shirt and yanked it upward, extending Audrey’s arms high over her head. There he twisted the fabric, knotting it tightly around her wrists. She stood in the bikini thong, chaps and her prettiest black lace demi-bra, her breasts pushed up, ripe for the tasting, should any man in the room care to go for it.

  Audrey’s skin stung where the shirt sleeves had scraped across, the slight pain even more titillating than she’d imagined. She wanted more. “Hey, what if I want to play too?” She tugged, but couldn’t free her hands. As a woman who’d been in control for the past two years, she was struck by this new sensation. These men had her at their mercy, a place she’d rarely allowed herself to be. A place she’d sworn she’d never go to again. But damned if she didn’t want more. She’d play along, just a little.

  Luke wagged a finger at her. “We are the masters. You don’t have a choice. Submit or suffer punishment.”