Honor Bound: Bound and Tied, Book 1 Page 8

  Jon got up from the stool, now steady on his feet. Taking his jacket off, he draped it over the stool and began the now-familiar routine of disrobing in front of Samantha, who diverted her eyes, as was proper. A few minutes later, he walked over to the table. Jon leaned over it, his upper body totally bare.

  She pulled the last piece of parchment off the metal brace with fumbling fingers. “Do you need my help to adjust…?” The words trailed off as she studied his bare chest, the light furring of dark hair a stark contrast to his fair skin. The trail led down to his bellybutton then lower, dipping into the darkness below his belt buckle. “The brace is very comfortable,” Sam murmured.

  Jon leaned into the brace, flipping the clamps that attached it to his upper and lower arm muscles. The strap went across his chest, the well-worn leather pulled tight with the buckle pressing against the red indentation on his skin.

  She watched, fully transfixed as he slipped the belt tail through a holder, laying it flush with his chest. The leather edge flapped against his skin, eventually snuggling safe into place.

  He turned to look at her, grinning. “‘Comfortable’? Did you try it on?”

  She let out a light hiccup, intently studying a knothole in the tabletop to avoid his gaze. “I felt it was important to see if the device worked as required, specifically the fingers. So I needed to wear it to be sure.” Sam looked up, just slightly, staring at his muscles twitching and shifting in the metal brace.

  “Ah.” Jon flexed his fingers, watching the little finger curl and uncurl on command. “As good as new.” He tilted his head to one side, still smiling. “How did you like wearing it?”

  “An amazing invention.” The words tumbled out, her internal voice shouting for her to calm down and stop babbling like a young girl on her first social outing. “I would have loved to have seen its construction. I would recommend, however, that you contact the manufacturer and ask if they could provide you with some emergency replacement pieces for the future. Improvisation can only go so far, and while I enjoyed working on you…on it and would do so again in a minute, I think…” She was breathless, her last words coming out in a whisper. Her eyes dropped down to study the knothole again. Surely she had made enough of a fool of herself that he would have nothing else to do with her now.

  Jon put his shirt on, shrugging the fabric over his broad shoulders and the brace. “An excellent repair job. And I’ll follow up on your recommendations. They’re preparing to make it available to more people.” He flinched, fumbling with a button. “A sad reality of armed conflicts is that innovation tends to follow in order to deal with the results of such.” Jon glanced over at her father and Gil, the two eagerly finishing off the last of the tarts. His voice dropped, almost to an intimate whisper. “Have you considered getting an artificial arm for your father?”

  Sam took a step back, folding her arms in front of her. This was an old argument with a new opponent. “Father’s too proud for that, at least right now. Besides, it would be too much money.” She shrugged, meeting his gaze head-on. There was no use in mincing her words. “As you may have noticed, out here things are much more expensive than they are on the coast. While we can produce our own food and items to a degree, we still need to import much more than we can make ourselves. Including such luxuries as artificial limbs and the means to fit and maintain them. And everyone wants to make a profit.”

  “I have noticed that.” Jon nodded. “I do think you should think about it. The science, the people I have seen in England, they would make his life much more comfortable.” He curled his fingers into a fist, the metal bands pulling the slender digits inward. “But I would understand if he chose not to, for his own reasons and not financial ones. I often wonder about my own decision.”

  “Well, I, for one, am glad you decided to keep your hand.” Sam took the crippled right hand and pressed it between her own two warm palms.

  Looking up, she saw a matching smile. The deep blue eyes locked with her own for what could have been a minute, an hour…

  “This pastry is delicious,” her father roared from the other table. “I’d forgotten how good. We need to order from them more often.”

  The shock startled Sam out of her reverie and she moved back a few inches, releasing Jon’s hand. He let out a low sigh at her withdrawal, sending her pulse racing.

  “Yes, the bill. The bill.” She went to the other desk and picked up a piece of paper. “We have an itemized bill here for you, Mr. Handleston.” Sam cleared her throat, making one last attempt to be as professional as possible. “I think you’ll find our rates are quite reasonable…” She paused, seeing his wide smile, the softness in his face bringing unbidden tears to her eyes.

  “What you’ve done for me is priceless, Miss Weatherly. And I thought I told you to call me ‘Jon’.” He took the page from her, scanning down the columns. “Everything seems reasonable, more than.” His good hand pushed into one of the waistcoat pockets. “Unfortunately, I don’t have enough on me at the present to pay.” Jon put up a hand. “But I do have an account at the bank, my dear lady. I don’t carry around large wads of cash, no matter my profession.”

  “Good idea.” Her father glanced over, a trace of raspberry jam on the edge of his mouth. “Why don’t you accompany him to the bank, my dear, and simply deposit it to our own account? That’ll save an extra trip for everyone.” He nodded to Jon. “I trust you to escort my daughter, sir. At least to the bank,” her father added with a hint of laughter in his eyes.

  “And I shall.” Jon bowed slightly, returning the wide smile with interest.

  Sam rolled her eyes. When it came to affairs of the heart, her father was about as subtle as a runaway steam engine. After walking into the back room, she emerged with a delicately made shawl, a cream-colored piece of whimsy that somehow fit with her work shirt and her dark blue jeans. The shocked looks when she re-emerged banished all doubt she had about buying the shawl only a few weeks earlier in an impulsive moment.

  “Shall I pick up something for later on?” She let out a laugh, seeing the mess the two men/boys had made on the worktable.

  One raspberry tart had been cleanly dissected, the fruit scooped out with fingers and spread across most of the daily newspaper, while the chocolate creampuffs had exploded over both faces.

  “Uh…maybe not for me.” Her father wiped the edge of his mouth with a finger and licked it clean. Gil let out a moan, clutching his stomach. “And I think Gil here needs a bit of a lay down.”

  Sam nodded. “There’s some baking soda in the cupboard if you need to mix something up.” Turning to Jon, she gestured towards the door. “The bank should be open for another hour or two, but we should hurry.”

  “Take your time coming home,” her father called after them. “Maybe stop for a cup of tea or something. No rush.”

  Sam scowled at him as she closed the door behind them. She was surprised Jon hadn’t already headed for the hills, with this sort of suggesting going on.

  Tough…or tender? If she plays her cards right, she won’t have to choose.

  Unbridled

  © 2009 Delilah Devlin

  Lone Star Lovers, Book 1

  Dani Standifer arrives home at her West Texas family ranch a day early, ready to pick up where she left off with Rowe Ayers, her high school sweetheart. However, when she opens the door to their line-shack trysting place, it’s clear she waited a day too long. Rowe’s with someone else—another man.

  And not just any other man—Justin Cruz, the bad boy with whom she shared one wild encounter, years ago.

  Justin’s waited a long time for this moment. He knows his reputation, but since he seduced Rowe, he’s been a one-man cowboy—waiting for Dani to return and become the delicious fulfillment of his and Rowe’s needs. If she’s up to the challenge.

  To her own surprise, Dani finds she’s more than ready to have both men in her life—as soon as she and Rowe teach Justin a lesson or two about love.

  Their small town may not be rea
dy for their kind of relationship. And Dani’s brother Cutter’s mile-deep grudge against Justin throws in a complication that could break the foundation the three of them have built…

  Warning: Hold on for the rodeo of your life with rough ridin’ male-on-male action, blazing hot m/m/f scenes, and melt-your-panties lovin’ as each of these sexy cowboys gives it the way they know best to turn their woman inside out.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Unbridled:

  “Jesus Christ.” Rowe bent to grab his blue jeans from the floor, then held them in front of his gleaming cock.

  “A little late now,” Justin said. “I think she’s already jumped to the correct conclusion.”

  Rowe’s fist clenched around his jeans, then he dropped them to the floor and straightened his shoulders. A look of resignation entered his face; a silent plea for understanding glittered in his pale eyes as he returned her stare.

  “I didn't know you were gay,” Dani blurted out, ignoring Justin’s smirk.

  Rowe’s crimson face tightened. “I'm…it's complicated.”

  “You’re naked, obviously aroused. What could be more simple?” she asked, trying to gather anger around her, but mostly feeling confused. How could she not have known?

  “She's got it almost right,” Justin murmured.

  “Shut up,” Rowe bit out.

  “Yeah, what'd I miss?” Dani snarled at Justin, hating him at this moment for rubbing her nose in her own naiveté.

  “The fact I knew you were comin’,” he said, his voice dropping to a sexy purr. “This is your homecomin’ present, baby.”

  “Justin, you bastard!” Rowe said heatedly.

  The larger, more rugged man shrugged. “She needed to know. She has choices to make here.”

  “I would have broken the news more gently.”

  “Doesn't look like she needs you to sugarcoat it.” Justin’s gaze pinned her. “She's not exactly looking ready to bolt or puke. Fact is, the thought of it, of watching us, turns her on.”

  “Does not,” Dani denied hotly, heat filling her face.

  “Your nipples always poke holes in your shirt?”

  “You're a jerk.” And yet, she barely resisted the urge to cross her arms over her breasts. She tilted her chin in defiance while heat crept deeper into her cheeks. She met his narrowed gaze, while images flashed through her mind. Since she knew what both men looked like naked, she couldn’t help the raw, nasty pictures that flashed one after the other.

  And yes, they aroused her.

  “Prove me wrong,” Justin murmured. “Leave now.”

  Dani shot Rowe a hot glare. “You gonna let him talk to me like that?”

  Rowe’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t offer any response.

  “He doesn't let me do anything,” Justin said slowly. “He obeys me. In all things—here, at least. Rowan, your cock's flagging.” Justin’s gaze dropped, drawing all their glances to Rowe’s sex, which pulsed and lifted again.

  Rowe groaned.

  “Get it ready for me,” Justin growled.

  Rowe’s eyes closed briefly, then a look Dani had never seen slid across Rowe’s face—something vulnerable and needy. “Justin, not now.”

  “Not now, what?” Justin said, his voice dead even.

  “Please,” Rowan whispered, his strong jaw flexing.

  “Uh-unh.” Justin shook his head. “You've carried around this picture of your innocent little sweetheart for years. But I don't think you really know her at all.”

  “And you think you do?” Dani bit out, hoping like hell the bastard wasn’t getting ready to drop the other shoe that she’d succumbed to his bad boy charm herself. Rowe didn’t deserve finding out that the two people he’d taken as lovers had a history of their own.

  “The things you asked him to do, Dani,” Justin said, his tone dropping to a raspy rumble. “The sexy little spankings, the special bonds you left underneath the bed… It's not in him to do that to you, but he did because he cares.”

  Dani’s jaw dropped and her embarrassment caused her to tremble. “Rowe, you told him about that?”

  Again, a muscle flexed along Rowe’s square jaw. “I wasn’t gossiping. It just slipped out. He found your things and asked. He’s a friend.”

  “Friend?” Justin straightened away from the doorframe. “I’m a little more than that, aren’t I? You don’t keep any secrets from me.”

  But Rowe had kept one big goddamn secret from her. Dani’s shoulders slumped.

  “Don’t take it so hard, Dani,” Justin said, all traces of mockery gone now. “He loves you…almost as much as he loves me. But every time he was with you, every time he spanked that pretty little ass of yours, he was denying his own nature. Rowe’s submissive. Just like you. He’s just finally figured out he’s not finicky about which gender offers him the kind of sex he craves.”

  “How the hell did you figure that out?” she bit out. “I’ve known him all my life.”

  “Because I watched him…with you. When you dared him into spanking you, he didn’t get off on the act. He only got hard when you told him what it did to you, what it made you feel.”

  Her mouth suddenly went dry. The thought of Justin’s dark, hungry glance raking her body as he watched her with Rowe caused another distressing wash of arousal to dampen her panties. She licked her lips. “You watched us?”

  “Sometimes,” he said softly. “You weren’t as careful as you thought. Had to run interference a time or two with your big brother.”

  “Cutter knows?” she asked, her voice rising. “About Rowe and me?”

  “He suspects. But he never got close enough to the cabin to ever know for sure. You have me to thank. And if I happened to catch a glimpse or two of your…sessions…well, I think I earned the right.”

  “Pervert!”

  “Who’s the pervert? Me for watching, or you for wanting his hands to leave your ass pink?” He lifted his chin toward Rowe. “Or him for needing the same damn thing from another man?”

  “I don’t believe you. Not about Rowe. This…” she said, gazing at the mattress in the middle of the floor, “…is just him experimenting a little. But I’m back now.” Her gaze locked with Rowe’s, pleading with him. “It doesn’t mean anything. Not to us.”

  Rowe’s glance fell away from hers, and her stomach dropped. What he had with Justin was important. Special enough that he hadn’t bothered dressing because Justin didn’t want him to.

  “Dani, I never wanted to hurt you.” Rowe’s tone was low, aching.

  Like the lump filling the back of her throat.

  “Tell yourself whatever lies you need to stay in happy land, Dani. But we’re about to get busy.” Justin opened his belt and stripped back one side then locked gazes with her. “Now's your chance. You can run out the door. You don't have to see anything that might traumatize you.”

  Why was Justin being so cruel? He’d won. He didn’t have to rub her nose in this mess. “I'm not a scared little virgin,” she said, her voice shaking.

  “But you're also not faithful to your boyfriend here either, are you?”

  Dani stared at Justin’s hard face through shimmering tears. “Justin…don’t.”

  “He can't fulfill you,” he said softly. “Not those dirty needs that keep you restless even after he’s fucked you.”

  “Shut up,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

  Justin pulled apart the snaps of his shirt, letting it fall open to expose the dark fur of his broad, muscular chest. Then he unsnapped the top button of his pants. “Last warning…”

  She stood rooted, unable to move as he scraped his zipper down.

  “Rowe, take out my dick,” he said, never looking away from her. “Now.”

  “Fuck.” Rowe’s tone was agonized, but his cock bobbed eagerly between his legs. “Dani, get out.”

  But she couldn’t. Part of her died a little in that moment. But another part, one only Justin had ever touched, caught fire.

  “Rowe, don’t disappoint me,” Justin sa
id, his gaze never leaving Dani’s.

  Rowe’s naked feet dragged across the floor. His expression was taut, his cheeks a brighter red than they’d been moments ago.

  Justin firmed his jaw. “Can't turn back now. She knows. Let her see what it's like. If she hates you afterward, she isn't worth cryin’ over.”

  Dani narrowed her eyes, knowing he expected her to bolt. She braced apart her feet and lifted her chin higher, even while she questioned whether she really could do this—watch the only two men she’d ever known intimately have sex.

  Rowe didn’t glance her way, but his chest rose sharply. Then he slipped his hand inside Justin’s pants and slowly drew out his cock. His fingers clasped the shaft gingerly, but his thumb rubbed slowly over the smooth cap. Justin’s cock thickened.

  “Push down my pants,” Justin said, his voice tighter than it had been before.

  Both of Rowe’s hands slid over Justin’s narrow hips and shoved down the faded jeans.

  Dani hated to admit it, even to herself, but watching Rowe do such an intimate thing to another man, knowing how the scrape of his rough palms felt on her own bottom, caused her sex to melt.

  “Get on your knees and take me in your mouth,” Justin rasped.

  Rowe groaned, and Dani understood the feeling. Shame and arousal roiled together. Her own body was hot, moisture seeping into the crotch of the lacy undies she'd worn just for Rowe.

  Rowe knelt, his hand shaking as he gripped Justin’s cock and brought it to his mouth.

  Justin cupped the back of Rowe’s head with one hand, his fingers threading through Rowe’s honey brown hair with surprising tenderness. For long moments, he stared as the other man’s lips closed around the tip of his cock and sucked.

  Rowe’s cheeks hollowed, his eyes closed tightly, but his hesitation ended there. Surrendering, he groaned and opened wide his jaws, gliding along the thick, veined shaft.

  “That’s it,” Justin said softly. “Take me deeper,” he said, stroking his hips forward, his cock disappearing into Rowe’s eager mouth. Then his gaze rose. For a moment, something almost haunted entered his expression. That wicked brow rose again. “He does it because he knows the rewards. But so do you, don’t you, sweetheart?”