Cowboy Heaven (25 page)

I couldn't say the same to him. When we'd first met, I still had a husband I was very much in love with. And then there was Troy…

“I may not have loved you for as long as you've loved me, but I wish I'd known how you felt before I picked up Troy.”

Would things have turned out differently if I had known the truth?

Possibly, although not necessarily for the better. Rufus might have actually succeeded in killing Dusty. I tried not to dwell on that possibility. Losing one husband to a crazy foreman was more than enough for one lifetime.

“That's water under the bridge now,” Dusty said. “Speaking of Troy, do you think he'll stay on?”

“He said he would for now, but I don't think he's ready to bury himself here. We might even lose Joe to Jenny before long. Then where would we be?”

“Stuck with Bull and Calvin?”

“Maybe. I certainly can't see Bull leaving.” I shot him an admonitory glance. “You won't be able to pick on him like you used to.”

“I know.” His groan indicated precisely how difficult that would be. “At least I won't be living in the bunkhouse with him.”

“True. But Calvin isn't getting any younger. We may have to hire some new cowboys.”

Dusty chuckled. “If you bring home any more like Troy, we may need to have a talk.”

I put up a hand. “I promise. Only ugly or obnoxious cowboys—as long as they can rope and ride.”

“Ugly is good. Not sure they need to be obnoxious.”

Given Dusty's trials and tribulations with Bull, I really couldn't argue. “You don't need to worry, Dusty. You're all I want. I don't need anything else.”

“Hmm… Well, if
I'm
all you want or need, I guess I oughta return this.” With a sly smile, he reached into his shirt pocket.

“Return what?”

“Your present,” he replied. “Although it
is
part of a package deal. I sort of come along with it.” Taking my hand in his, he slipped a ring onto my finger. When I held up my hand, it sparkled back at me like a jewel from heaven.

“It's beautiful—and so are you, Dusty. This is one package deal that doesn't have any drawbacks.” I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him as hard as I could. “I love you so much.”

The kiss he gave me warmed the cockles of my heart—if not the rest of me.

He must've felt my shiver. “Let's go inside and get you warm.”

Dusty took a seat on the sofa near the fireplace, draping his arm around my shoulders when I curled up beside him.

“Happy?”

“Incredibly.” I followed my reply up with a kiss intended to show him exactly how happy I was. Unfortunately, I still had a confession to make. “There's just one thing I need to clear up. Troy, you need to hear this too.”

Troy was leaning against the mantel, staring into the fire, but he looked up when I called his name. “What's that?”

I took a deep breath and spilled my story. “I never did it with Joe. I have no idea whether he's better than either of you. I just didn't want to have to hurt one of you by choosing the other.”

“And how did it help to tell us Joe was better than both of us?” Troy demanded. “It made us both feel bad, and Joe rubbed it in every chance he got.”

“Sorry about that, but he was tickled to death to at least be able to
pretend
he could outdo you guys. He's not what you'd call self-confident when it comes to dealing with women.”

“He oughta be,” Dusty said. “With a tool like
that
…”

“Yeah, well, it's a nonissue because, like I said, I wouldn't know.”

“I'm not gonna ask which of us is better,” Troy said, indicating himself and Dusty. “Although I'm guessing it's Dusty.”

“You both had your moments,” I hedged. “But without putting too fine a point on it, sex is better with someone you love.”

Troy heaved a sigh. “I can't argue with that.” He plopped down beside me. “Guess that explains why you two are so lovey-dovey tonight—unless it's the eggnog. That's some pretty strong stuff.”

I patted his knee. “Among other things.”

“Holy shit! When did you get
that
?”

Clearly, he'd noticed my ring. “I dunno…about five minutes ago?”

“We should celebrate—maybe drink a toast with some more eggnog.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Leaning closer, I traced the outline of Dusty's ear with the tip of my tongue. “Or maybe we could have some hot buttered rum.”

“Sounds great! Didn't know you'd made any.”

“I haven't,” I replied, still nibbling Dusty's ear. “I was just thinking about it.”

“Oh. Well, if you decide to make it, I believe I'd like a cup. I've never tried it before.”

“It's pretty tasty,” I said. “Although to be honest, I wasn't planning to drink mine from a cup.” I paused for effect. “I was thinking about dipping Dusty's dick in it and then licking it off.”

Troy let out a groan.

“Not too hot now.” Despite his teasing tone, passion flared in Dusty's eyes. “You wouldn't want to raise blisters on me, would you?”

I shook my head. “It'll only be warm enough to make your blood boil.”

Troy cleared his throat. “Don't suppose you'd consider making that a party of three, would you?”

“Nope.”

“That's all?” he demanded. “Just ‘nope'?”

“Yep.” I kissed Dusty again, using as much soft, wet tongue on him as was humanly possible.

“Shit!” Troy exclaimed. “We've got to get the two of you married, and soon. The temptation is killing me.”

Bull was on the other side of the room playing checkers with Joe, but Troy's outburst got his attention. “What? You two want to get married?”

“That's the plan,” Dusty replied, frowning. “I thought everyone knew that.”

“Goddammit, of course I
knew
it,” Bull declared, leaping from his chair. “What I'm askin' is do you wanna get married right now?”

I
should
have
known…
I made no reply but held my breath, waiting for him to continue.

“Because I can marry you.” Puffing out his chest, he announced, “I'm an ordained minister of the Church of the Holy Evangelical Society for the Spiritually Deprived.”

“Depraved, you mean,” Dusty muttered.

“Might be legal in Nevada,” I admitted. “Not sure it would be binding in Wyoming.”

“Oh no!” Bull waved his arms expansively. “It's good anywhere, even at sea. I performed a marriage between two sailors once.”

“I thought the captain was supposed to marry people at sea,” Troy said with a frown. “Why couldn't he do it?”

“Because it was two
guys
,” Bull explained. “It might not have been all that legal back then, but it sure as hell made them happy.”

Dusty's expression was so innocent a halo should've been hovering above his head. “Is that your goal in life, Bull? Bringing joy to the gay men of the world?”

Trust
Dusty
not
to
let
that
pass
without
comment.
I glanced over at my father, noting that he and Calvin had, thankfully, both fallen asleep in their chairs and were serenading us with a chorus of loud snores. Joe stared at Bull, clearly dying to hear his reply.

“Someone has to,” Bull declared. “I mean, how happy could they be when they've only got each other? I don't know a single goddamn hooker who'll touch them.”

“Bull,” I said, fighting back the laughter that threatened to overwhelm me. “They only want each other. That's what makes them gay.”

“I never could understand that,” he said with a shake of his head. “How could any man live without pussy to fuck? It's unnatural.”

Troy pounced on that one like a duck on a June bug. “Holy shit, Bull! You said fuck in front of Angie. Joe, you're the new foreman. You should fire him right now, on the spot.”

Bull blushed to the roots of his hair—or he would have if he'd had any. “I'm so sorry, Miss Angela.” His wide-eyed, stricken expression was downright comical. “Don't know what came over me. Please don't fire me on Christmas.”

“No, we won't fire you, Bull,” I said, trying desperately to sound sincere when inside I was giggling harder than I ever had in my life. “And while it was very kind of you to offer to marry us, I think we'll stick with the more traditional ceremony. There are legal issues to be considered—future ownership of the ranch and all. I'm sure you understand.”

“No problem,” Bull said. “I'm only tryin' to help.”

“I know you are. Don't worry about it.” Rising from the sofa, I gave his arm a quick pat before heading out to the kitchen.

“Hey, where are you going?” Dusty called after me.

“To make some hot buttered rum. Want to come along?”

Dusty was on his feet in an instant.

“Oh God, she wasn't kidding, was she?” Troy's voice sounded sort of strangled—like it had been choked off way down deep in his throat. “I should never have thrown in the towel. I should have kept coming up to your room every night and begging—on my knees if necessary.”

“Wouldn't have done you any good,” Dusty said. “I was way ahead of you from the start. You just got the ball rolling.”

“Yeah,” I called back to him, “the hot, buttered rum balls. So tasty, so delicious, so—”

“I know,” Troy groaned. “I'm trying to forget. So, Dusty, has she—?”

I couldn't see Dusty's expression because I was rummaging around the kitchen in search of the proper ingredients, but I heard his reply.

“Oh yeah,” he said. “All the time.”

I glanced at the doorway just as Bull darted into the kitchen right behind Troy. “Has she what?”

This, I had to see. Momentarily abandoning my quest for brown sugar, I turned around and leaned against the counter.

“Sucked his balls,” Troy replied in the most matter-of-fact tone imaginable.

Following a gasping breath that should've choked him, Bull aimed a slack-jawed gape in my direction. The suggestion that he try sucking a few balls himself might've triggered a more astonished expression, but frankly, I didn't see how.

Having witnessed Bull's reaction, Troy obviously intended to play it for all it was worth. “Honestly, Bull, you haven't lived until Angie's sucked your balls. Just ask Joe.”

“Joe?” Bull's normally loud, ringing voice was barely a whisper. “She fucked Joe too?”

“Oh yeah,” Troy said. “She did us all the night Rufus was arrested. What did you think set him off like that? He caught us cluster-fucking her in the bunkhouse and wanted to kill the whole fucking lot of us.”

Troy was a bit drunk on the spiked eggnog or I doubt he would have ever said anything of the kind. However, the effect his lie had on Bull was such a treat I didn't give a damn—despite the fact that my reputation was taking a major beating.

“I don't believe it.” Bull must've regained enough of his composure to be struck by the inherent unlikelihood of such an event. “Miss Angela, you haven't really—”

“She jacked me off in the truck the day she picked me up,” Troy insisted. “She likes to fuck. Trust me, she's not the proper little princess you all thought she was. Are you, Angie?”

“Oh no.” Tossing a devilish smile at Troy, I added, “I did him every twenty miles and twice when we got here.”

Bull swallowed hard and attempted to wet his lips with a tongue that had to have been as dry as a desert during a twenty-year drought. “And Joe?”

“Oh yeah.” With a nonchalant wave, I resumed my search for the brown sugar; otherwise, I probably couldn't have kept a straight face. “He's an absolutely awesome fuck. You should see him in action. He's really quite impressive.”

Bull didn't say a word.

Having gathered the necessary items, I measured the ingredients into a saucepan, turned on the burner, and began stirring the aromatic concoction, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Joe sauntered into the kitchen, smiling. “Why, thank you, ma'am. It's nice to know I'm appreciated.”

“I know he's got a dick big enough to satisfy a horse,” Bull said, his voice sounding rather strained. “But are you saying you like that too?”

I took in a deep, shuddering breath before replying. “Gives me chills just thinking about it. Too bad Jenny's claimed him now. I'll never get the chance again.” With a sigh of regret and a slow wag of my head, I went back to stirring the rum.

“What about Dusty?” Bull was grasping at straws now—desperately. “I thought you were going to marry him. What's he got to say about all of this?”

“Oh, she's mine
now
,” Dusty insisted, indicating the ring on my left hand. “But that was the night she made her choice, which was why I was up here fucking her brains out when Rufus came gunning for me.”

“What's so goddamned special about Dusty?” Bull demanded.

I still hadn't decided whether he actually believed our crazy story, but the note of jealousy in his tone suggested that he did.

“Just the sweetest, most succulent cock and balls I've ever tasted, that's what.” I wasn't lying, either. “Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to soak them in rum and get drunk licking them dry.”

“Rum balls!” Troy shouted. “Let's have some rum balls!”

“I thought that was bourbon balls,” Joe mused, rubbing his chin.

“Maybe so, but I prefer rum.” I gazed at Dusty with lust-filled eyes. “Sweet. Hot. Buttered. Rum.”

Dusty's lips curled into a sexy grin as he unbuckled his belt in a blatantly sexual fashion, his hungry eyes never leaving mine for so much as a second.

“Fuck!” Bull bellowed at the top of his lungs. “I missed out on that because—”

“You were off fucking a hooker,” Dusty said as he unbuttoned his jeans. “I guess you should've come home with the rest of us that night. Now if you'll excuse me, there's something I've got to do for my Angel.”

The veins in Bull's head and neck looked like they were about to blow. “Fuck!”

Joe cleared his throat. “That's twice you've said that word in front of the boss now. One more strike and you're—”

“Of all the goddamned, motherfuckin' bullshit I've ever heard in my whole fuckin' life…” Bull ground out the words as he raked a hand over his head. If he'd had any hair, he probably would've yanked out a handful.

“Out!” I yelled with glee.

Bull was struck dumb after that. I would enlighten him later, but at the moment, peace on earth was infinitely preferable to his blustering. I set out several punch cups and ladled some of the rum mixture into one of them.

“Here, Dusty,” I said. “See if this is the right temperature for you.”

Bull watched goggle-eyed as I held the cup, not anywhere near Dusty's mouth, but closer to his waist. Dusty dipped a finger into the warm, buttery concoction and slipped his hand inside his open fly. The little slut wasn't wearing any underwear—again—and judging from his pleasurable sigh, the temperature was perfect. He ran his tongue over his fabulously kissable lips, provoking a delighted giggle from me.

Bull let out a screech, then stomped from the room without another word.

Troy stared after him with awe. “Jiminy Christmas! For once in his life, he's actually speechless.” As he turned around, Troy's expression went from wonderment to wicked in the space of a heartbeat. “I also thought he'd never leave.” With a smirk, he swaggered toward me as that big, silver calf-roping belt buckle flashed open with a touch of his fingertips. “Mind if I try some of that?”

I nodded toward the pan on the stove. “Help yourself. There's plenty more. Dusty and I are heading upstairs.”

“But it's Christmas!” Troy protested.

“You bet it is.” Dusty put his arm around my shoulders. “And I've got a present to unwrap.”

Troy heaved a sigh and glanced at Joe. “Care to join me?”

“Sure,” Joe replied. “Just don't put any rum on my balls. Jenny wouldn't like that.”