Corralled (15 page)

“Believe it or not, I’m good at keeping secrets.” Celia snapped,

“I’m good at recognizing a bullshit excuse too.”

“The truth is, I’m with both of them.”

“With both of them . . . As in sleeping with both of them?”

She nodded.

Celia’s mouth nearly hit the laundry room floor. “Holy crap.

For real? And Hank and Kyle are okay with it?”

“No.” Lainie smiled ruefully. She summarized the situation and finished with, “For obvious reasons Hank didn’t want to share the truth with you and Abe.”

“God. It never even crossed my mind that a hinky thing could be goin’ on between the three of you.” A bewildered look darkened her eyes. “Kyle and Hank aren’t . . . together? And you’re just along as their beard?”

“No. God, no.” Where in the hell had Celia picked up that term?

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Celia rushed to say. “It’s just, well, Hank is my brother. Some folks around here already think it’s weird he ain’t married at his age. Especially since he’s not ugly or mean or a drunk— or all three.”

9 CORRALLED

Lainie seized her chance to get the lowdown on Hank. “Why isn’t Hank married?”

Celia’s face became contemplative for a second before she answered. “Partially because Abe’s marriage went to hell. Obviously it was hardest on Abe, but it wasn’t a picnic for me ’n’ Hank because we lived here too. After that, Hank started traveling as a bullfighter, leaving more of the ranch responsibilities to Abe and me.”

“You’ve known Kyle a long time. Why do you think he’s not married?”

“Because he’s a douche bag.”

Lainie stiffened.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I used to get along great with Kyle. Until he . . .” Celia smiled slyly. “Can
you
keep a secret?”

Swapping secrets with Hank’s sister? Bad idea. “On second thought, don’t tell me. My buddy Tanna always says—”

“Tanna. As in Tanna Barker? The seventh- ranked barrel racer in the CRA? You know her?”

“Yeah. She’s a really good friend of mine. Why?”

Celia squealed. “Oh, my God! She’s totally my hero. I’ve memorized all her stats and watched her winning performance at the AFR on DVD a billion times. I even changed my saddle to one like she uses. What’s she like? Serious? Dedicated? I’ll be she spends all her off time training.”

Countering the hero worship with,
No, she spends a good amount
of her time trolling for studs not of the equine variety
, wouldn’t be fair.

Accurate, but unfair. “Tanna is the best. If you bought a saddle like hers, are you a barrel racer too?”

“Shh.” Celia tossed a panicked look at the closed door. “This is a secret you absolutely cannot tell anyone, especially not Hank.”

Before Lainie could stop her confession, Celia blurted, “Two years ago I bought Mickey to use as a cattle horse. But he was fast and agile, so when I started running him around barrels . . . Holy LORELEI JAMES 9

crap, me ’n’ Eli were stunned. Mickey was made for barrel racing.

We’re talking a championship- grade horse. But Hank and Abe don’t know anything about Mickey, let alone that I’ve been training him and competing.”

“Who’s Eli? A secret boyfriend?”

She snorted. “Not hardly. Eli Whirling Cloud is my brothers’

buddy. He ain’t happy about keeping this secret from Hank and Abe either.”

“Why is this so hush- hush?”

“Because I broke my leg barrel racing when I was fourteen and we had to put the horse down. Abe and Hank freaked out and made me quit the rodeo team and promise I’d never compete again. I did quit competing, but I never stopped training. I love it too much. So when Eli agreed Mickey was ready to compete, I snuck off to a couple of rodeos within a day’s drive and entered us under another name.”

Lainie stared at Celia. Stunned. “Your brothers don’t know anything about this?”

She shook her head. “You saw how they are. I’m still treated like a fourteen- year- old girl. What sucks is I’m acting like one too.

Sneaking out at night. Lying about where I’ve been. Conning Eli into helping me maintain the lie. I’m exhausted from the secret traveling and late nights. Abe thinks I’m lazy. I can’t even tell them my alter ego CeCe Murray is currently ranked seventeenth in the standings for this circuit.”

“But seventeenth is great, Celia!”

“I know. I worked hard for it. I wish I could tell them, but they’ll be seriously pissed.”

“Don’t you think they’d be proud of you?”

“Maybe. On the other hand, Abe feels Hank is pulled in two different directions with the ranch and the bullfighting. It’ll get harder for Hank if he’s picked as an EBS bullfighter.”

9 CORRALLED

Hank had an audition for the EBS bullfighting team? The cream of the crop were chosen for the EBS. In addition to great money, there was more travel. Which would keep Hank away from the ranch. But how could he turn down such a great career opportunity? It appeared she wasn’t the only one keeping a career change close to the vest. “When is that again?” Lainie asked casually.

“The final tryout is in Tulsa after Cowboy Christmas. Far as I know Hank hasn’t told anyone besides me and Abe. And you.”

But he didn’t tell me; you did.

“So you won’t tell Hank about . . . ?” Celia asked.

“My lips are sealed.” She pushed away from the heat, scent, and comforting white noise of the dryer. “But you need to do the adult thing and tell your brothers the truth about what you’ve been up to.”

“I will. Soon.”

Lainie returned upstairs. Hank sat at the eating area of the kitchen. She plastered on a smile, hoping she didn’t look like she’d been burdened with secrets she hadn’t wanted. “How’s the leg?”

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Fine. What were you doin’ in the basement?”

That tipped Lainie over the edge. Rather than stammer about talking to Celia, or make an excuse about laundry, she met Hank’s hard gaze dead on. “Fucking around with Kyle. Why?”

“Need I remind you you’re supposed to be with me, as my girlfriend, when we’re here?”

She didn’t say a word.

“Why did you go down there in the first place?”

“Because I care about him, Hank. This isn’t easy on him. I went to see if he was all right.”

“What happened when you were down there, Lainie? Did you blow him too?”

LORELEI JAMES 9

“And if I did?”

Hank growled.

She skirted the kitchen island and got right in his face. “This was your idea, remember? Yours and Kyle’s. You both swore you’d have no problem sharing me. You’d have no issues with jealousy.

So you don’t get to make that caveman noise.”

Hank jerked her against him. His mouth crashed down on hers. He pushed his tongue between her teeth, forcing her to take his brutal, commanding kiss.

Her body tingled from her lips to her toes. As she attempted to regain her balance, Hank’s mouth brushed her ear. “Tonight I won’t have to share you. Tonight you’re all mine.” He abruptly released her and ambled off without a backward glance.

9

Supper was over. The camper was loaded. Sitting outside on a gorgeous summer night, drinking cold beer, bullshitting with his friends. It’d be a perfect night if Lainie were by his side.

The woman was flat- out ignoring him.

Hank supposed he deserved it, after his chest- thumping behavior in the kitchen.

“So you’re all staying in the camper? For three weeks?”

He sipped his beer, looking across the picnic table at his brother’s best friend, Max Godfrey. “Yeah. Why?”

“Seems a tight fit.” Max dropped his voice. “What happens when you and Lainie wanna get busy? Do you tell Kyle to take a hike?”

“Max, leave it alone,” Eli warned.

“I ain’t worried. It’ll work itself out.” Hank glanced at Lainie talking to Bran and Kyle on the far side of the deck. Her hair fell in ringlets around her sweet face. Damn. He couldn’t wait to thread that wild, coppery hair through his fingers as he kissed her. Fucked her. Over and over.

9 CORRALLED

“See what I mean, Eli? The way Hank watches her all the damn time. Poor Kyle’s gonna be taking lots of walks.”

Eli grunted.

For once Hank was glad Eli was a man of few words.

Celia bounded toward their table. “I’m staying at Harper’s.

We’re visiting her college friends for a couple days.”

“Did you ask Abe?”

“No, but I told him about it.” Celia and Eli exchanged an odd look.

What was that about?

He wouldn’t be around the next couple weeks to run interference between Celia and Abe, and God knew they needed it. “Just be careful.”

Celia hugged Hank from behind and kissed his cheek. “I will.

You too.”

“You coming with us tonight, Hank?” Max asked.

The group was cruising to Cactus Jack’s, a favorite honky- tonk in Rawlins. Hank looked at Lainie. Thought of his plans for her after he locked his bedroom door. “No. We’re goin’ to bed early, since I’m driving tomorrow.”

“Then that explains why Kyle’s coming along.” Max stood.

“Let’s get ’em rounded up. Eli, you the DD?”

“I reckon.”

After everyone left, Lainie leaned on the wooden porch post opposite him. The air between them crackled with energy.

“Hank—”

He held up a hand. “My rules tonight.”

Indecision clouded Lainie’s eyes for a moment. Then she nodded and moved to him, letting her fingers scrape against the razor stubble dotting his jaw. “No pain, okay?”

“No intentional pain. I promise.” He angled his head and kissed her palm.

LORELEI JAMES 9

Inside, Hank stopped in the entryway. “Strip in my bedroom and then come into the kitchen.”

“Strip . . . as in down to nothing?”

“Yep.”

Less than five minutes later she returned. Totally buck- ass nekkid. If the rosy flush on her body was an indication, Lainie wasn’t used to walking around in the buff. Which was damn fine with him.

“Look at you. So pretty in just your skin.” He reached for her, cupping his hands around her neck. Kissing her, teasing her with soft nibbles, little licks, and the smooth, wet glide of his lips.

She relaxed into him, gave herself to him.

Eventually he allowed his hands to slide down the front of her body to those lush, tempting tits. His thumbs rasped the pale rose nipples until the tips were rigid. Intoxicated by her breathy moan, he let his fingers skim the side of her torso, slipping over the curve of her spine. He whispered, “Hold your tits together for me.”

It was sexy as hell seeing Lainie’s hands mashing the mounds together, an offering to him.

As he stroked the crack of her ass, he flicked his tongue back and forth, dampening the tips of her breasts. Then he blew over the wetness, making the peaks tighter yet.

She let her head fall back. “Hank.”

“Baby, can you do something for me?” he asked, rubbing his face into her soft, supple flesh.

“Anything.”

Hank clasped her hand and dragged her past the massive dining room table to a buffet against the wall. He picked up the antique china tea set, placing it next to the candlesticks on the other end. He snagged a ladder- back chair. “Use this to climb up on the buffet.”

She looked at him in shock. “What? No. I’ll break it!”

9 CORRALLED

“It’s three- inch- thick solid walnut, darlin’. A sledgehammer wouldn’t put a dent in it, so it’s safe from your very fine ass. Get on up there. Now.”

After she’d situated herself, Hank shucked off his clothes and rolled on a condom. He sat on the chair and scooted it between her knees.

Lainie’s glistening sex was at his mouth level. All soft and pink and wet. When he ran his index finger through the slippery folds, Lainie’s body jerked. The china tea set wobbled on the end of the buffet. “Hank. What are you doing? I don’t want to break—”

“You won’t. As long as you stay still while I’m tasting my fill of your sweet, sweet pussy.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am. Call it a test.” Hank had to know how far he could push her.

“A test? So you’re not going to let me come?”

“Why wouldn’t I let you come?”

“Because you know how much I thrash around whenever that wicked mouth of yours is sucking between my legs.”

Hank grinned. “Oh, you’ll come. Remaining still when you come? That’ll be a challenge for you. Think you can do it?”

Her uncertainty disappeared and her stubborn chin notched higher. “Yes.”

“There’s my girl. Now lift.” Lainie carefully placed her palms flat by her hips and pushed up. Hank’s hands slid beneath her ass and he angled her lower half so it was barely resting on the edge of the buffet. Then he bent his head and licked her.

Her hips jerked and the china rattled.

He warned, “Steady,” and lapped at her slit from bottom to top again.

Lainie gasped, but didn’t make any sudden movements.

He licked the salty- sweet proof of her desire, tongue swirling LORELEI JAMES 9

through those petal- soft folds to the entrance of her sex. He suckled her pouty pussy lips. Flicked her clitoris with the tip of his tongue and plunged it deep into her channel, bathing his face in her essence.

Hank dragged openmouthed kisses up the inside of her thighs.

“I was starving for a taste of you, Lainie. I could spend an entire day right here, with my face buried in you.”

“I wouldn’t survive. I- I can’t hold out much longer.”

Neither could he. His cock dug into his belly. His hands were cramping from the grip on her ass. Plus, he had a lot more in store for her tonight. He fastened his mouth to her clit, alternating hard sucks with butterfly flicks.

Her breathing changed from slow and steady to ragged bursts.

Her legs trembled. He squeezed her ass in warning when the candlestick started to wobble.

“Hank. Please.”

The continual strike of his tongue on that spot did the trick.

Lainie gasped, but otherwise held herself still as the orgasm rolled through her.

Hank swallowed the sticky sweetness, prolonging her climax by keeping his mouth sealed to her cunt. He looked up, her naked body motionless after the last pulse ebbed.