Dixie Lynn Dwyer (5 page)

He turned it over and took her cell phone from her hand. He read the text message, and in the dim light she practically saw his eyes change from calm to angry.

“Did you text him back?”

“That’s really none of your business, Vic.” She couldn’t help but shake from his interrogation.

He raised his eyebrows at her and stepped closer. She felt the bed behind her calves and froze where she was.

He reached out to gently touch one of the small curls of hair by her neck as he held her gaze.

“That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. You are my business and Tommy’s.”

“Why is that? Because you think you’re always supposed to protect me? I don’t need protection or anymore brother bodyguards around.”

He reached over her shoulder as he stepped closer and embraced her face and neck between his large hands before he brought his mouth down closer to hers.

“There ain’t nothing brotherly about it.” His lips covered hers as she held on to his arms.

Initially shocked, she felt her belly tighten. She had often fantasized about Tommy and Vic, but she knew she couldn’t allow herself to open up her heart to them. But now, in his arms, consumed by his smoldering kiss, she was completely confused. She was lost in such an amazing kiss, and she couldn’t focus on anything but the feel of his tongue exploring her mouth. He stroked every inch of it as he held her body against his, and she teetered on losing her balance and falling onto the bed.

She barely heard the sound of the door closing and locking. She was lost in the sensation of being held by such a large, muscular man while he kissed her breathless. Vic turned her body slightly and that was when she felt the second set of hands on her waist.

“We’re setting the record straight, baby. This body belongs to Vic and me,” Tommy whispered as he kissed along the back of her neck and trailed large fingertips down the open V of her dress before grasping her hips and squeezing.

Vic slowly released her lips but continued to move his mouth along her neck and shoulder before pushing the material of her halter-style dress downward.

“God almighty, you’re beautiful, woman.” Vic immediately sucked a nipple into his hot, wet mouth, making her moan.

She grabbed ahold of his head, fighting with her mind to either push him away and stop this out-of-control situation or press him firmer against her breast.

She felt Tommy’s hands move under the hem of her dress to her thighs and she began to shake. His palms caressed over the fabric of her dress, and she felt every movement, every combined sensation both men simultaneously assaulted her senses with. Were those his thumbs that ribbed up along her pussy?

“We can’t do this. Oh God, please, you have to stop.”

Vic pulled his mouth abruptly from her breast, making the nipple hard and aroused as she gasped.

He looked dead serious and aroused as he held her gaze. “That asshole ain’t good enough for you.”

He licked across her nipple and then tried to suck more of her breast into his mouth. The sight of his firm, chiseled cheekbones sinking in while he savored her breast made her pussy clench. Then she felt Tommy’s fingers move between her thighs.

“Open up for me, baby. I want to explore what’s mine,” he told her as he licked along her neck then nipped her earlobe.

She moaned as he shoved her panties aside and pressed a digit up into her channel.

“Oh!” she called out while gripping on to Vic’s head.

In and out Tommy thrust his finger then added a second digit. Vic licked and nipped on her breast as she felt her entire body tighten then explode.

Vic released her breast and covered her mouth with his as he devoured her cries of pleasure. She hugged him as he stepped back, taking her with him and making her bend forward to give Tommy better access to her pussy.

“Stay like that, honey,” Tommy stated, out of breath, as he continued to stroke her pussy. She felt herself begin to tighten up again when he pulled his fingers from her body, turned her around, and lowered her to the bed.

Her back hit the mattress and Tommy pushed her dress to her waist, licking his lips as he stared at her pussy before he delved between her legs.

“Oh God, what are you two doing to me?” She felt Tommy’s warm breath and then his mouth against her pussy.

She exploded in pleasure.

Tommy kissed along her inner thighs then licked at her folds as the aftershocks rocked her body. She couldn’t believe what just happened. How the hell did this get so out of control? Tommy trailed his tongue along her belly and licked her belly ring, tickling her. She leaned up on her elbows and stared at him. Even in the dim light she could see the contrast between her fair skin and his tan one. He leaned up and kissed her on the mouth. Then just as quickly, he pulled his lips from hers then folded her dress back down.

He then lifted her up and held her in his arms.

“That was so good, baby.”

“It shouldn’t have happened,” she whispered.

He pulled back and stared into her eyes.

“We’ve been thinking about doing that for months,” Tommy admitted.

“You’re so responsive and sexy, Elise. This is a good thing,” Vic told her.

She shook her head as thoughts of Devlon invaded her mind. As much as she wanted what Sally, Susanna, Paula, and Juliet had, she couldn’t take that chance. Her heart wouldn’t handle another loss of love.

“Hey, what is it?”

“That can’t happen again.”

“What?” Vic asked.

She straightened out her dress and looked around for her panties. She couldn’t find them. She looked up at Vic and then at Tommy. Both of them appeared fierce. They were veterans of the war and now law enforcement officers. Both thirty years old and way more experienced at life and sex than she was. As attracted to them as she felt, she couldn’t entertain this. She wasn’t over Devlon or the horrible way he died. She may never be. Besides, it seemed these two men were interested in her now because of one wealthy, sexy cowboy who made a play for her. She stared at them a moment, absorbing the intricate design of the similar Native American choker collar they wore. It made them look untamed and muscular. She swallowed hard as her breasts swelled with need. She had to be strong.

Tommy said her name, and when she looked at him, he was holding her black panties. She walked closer and reached for them when Vic placed a hand on her waist. He stepped behind her. “Lean back and he’ll help you put them back on.”

“That’s okay. Just give them to me, Tommy,” she stated with her hand reaching out toward his.

He stared at her a long moment before bending down and lifting her one heeled foot and placing it into the small opening of the panties. He did the same thing with her other foot and then slowly, to obviously torture her, he slid his large thick hands and the tiny thong panties up her calves, over her knees and thighs, and to her waist. As he reached the top, he squeezed her hips. Slowly he rose up until his lips were inches from her own as he bent down a little to be at eye level with her. He cupped her cheeks between his hands.

“This wasn’t a mistake. So don’t think you’re going to blow us off. Vic and I know you’re scared and unsure, but know this, sweetheart. We want you. We have for quite some time, but have been caught up in life.”

She shook her head.

He raised his eyebrows at her, and now Vic held her hips and squeezed.

“He’s telling the truth.”

“No. Neither of you have paid any attention to me like this. It’s because of Tagart.”

“Fuck that asshole. You’re better than that. He’s a user and a womanizer,” Vic stated.

“So are most men.”

“Not us.” Tommy leaned forward and kissed her lips. He licked across the seam, pushed between her teeth, and made love to her mouth, forcing her to relinquish her fight against what she was feeling for them. It was no use. Both men were lethal.

Slowly Tommy released her lips and kissed her cheeks.

“We’re going to get this thing between us started pronto. We’ll make plans for dinner tomorrow, and you’ll see, you mean more to us than you think.”

Elise was tossing and turning all night. She ventured downstairs in hope that the old tale that turkey contained something in it that made people feel tired and sleepy was true. She even went as far as looking it up on the computer and finding that the turkey had tryptophan in it and was said to lead to drowsiness. She would need a bunch of the stuff to try and get Vic and Tommy off her mind. She could still feel their touch, the masculine embrace, the large hands and gentle caresses. It was maddening, but the more she tried to forget them, the more she wanted them here with her. Maybe she could just sleep with them and call it a wonderful, invigorating experience? Or, she could deny these feelings she had and the overwhelming urge to lick and kiss every damn inch of both men. My God, they were gorgeous. She drifted off to sleep imagining the feel of their skin and the muscles beneath her fingertips. She got to touch their sexy necklaces and trail her fingers against their chiseled jaws. They were wild, and she imagined each man inside of her until suddenly, in her dream, Vic’s and Tommy’s faces turned to Devlon’s.

She saw him riding that wild, diseased bull. He really thought that he was going to win that illegal bull-riding challenge. But he was wrong. It didn’t matter how good he was because Tysler Cobbs fixed everything. She shuddered as her dream felt so realistic. The way the bull tossed him on his final few seconds to championship. He had won. He raised his hands up as he climbed the rickety fence and smiled wide. He walked to get his prize money, glancing at Elise, giving her a wink. But Elise saw Mr. Cobbs and his thugs waiting on Devlon and appearing angry. Cobbs stared at him and told him that he wasn’t going to give him the money because Devlon wasn’t supposed to win. That was when Elise found out that Devlon had been betting on the bull riding.

Devlon walked away, kicking the dirt. She had asked him what was wrong and he replied with an attitude.

“I’m done with this shit. I’m leaving, Elise. I don’t care that I owe them sixty grand. They’ll find a way to make me pay it anyway. I won that contest fair and square.”

She tried to grab his arm to console him and help him figure out what to do.

That was the last time she saw him alive.

Elise heard the gunshots echoing in the night. She had known instantly that something was wrong. Devlon never came to her cabin. She got up, ran to the cabin door, and saw the men gathering around something. They were calling for help and an ambulance. She ran to the crowd of men, pushed through despite their attempts at trying to stop her and there was Devlon. His face unrecognizable, his body beaten as blood oozed from his chest and stomach. One of the older ranch hands pulled her into his arms and carried her away from the scene, but it didn’t matter. She would never forget what he looked like.

She opened her eyes, felt her chest tighten and the panic attack begin. She hadn’t had one of these in over a year. She thought about Devlon. She thought about Vic and Tommy and the panic attack got worse. She had to clear her mind. She just needed to focus on breathing normally and know that everything was okay. She was safe here and no one was going to hurt her. Keeping to herself and ignoring her attraction to the deputies was her only sane option. She started to breathe a little easier and she leaned back against the headboard in a sitting-up position. It was then that she noticed her damp cheeks and wet pillow. She had been crying. Apparently, really badly.

She had to stay away from Vic and Tommy. There was no way she was opening up her heart for pain again.

* * * *

“Hey, you look tired,” Ava told Elise as she walked into the kitchen. It was early afternoon. Elise never came down for breakfast or lunch. She had an hour before she had to leave for work.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“I thought maybe you weren’t home and decided to go out with that sexy cowboy who rode the bull against you,” Ava stated.

Elise smiled and shook her head. “Not my type.”

“Tall, wealthy, and good-looking? Honey, that’s my type and most women’s out there.”

Elise just walked over toward the Keurig brewer and made herself a cup of coffee.

“Okay. What’s going on? Did something happen last night during Thanksgiving?”

Elise felt her cheeks warm. God, she hated being so young sometimes. It wasn’t like she wanted to rush her life away or anything. Hell, she wanted to enjoy every minute of it, but she felt so naïve and so confused.

She ran her fingertip over the rim of the cup.

“Who is he, or should I say they?” Ava asked as she crossed her arms and leaned her hip against the counter. Ava was gorgeous with platinum-blonde hair and big blue eyes, and she was filled with class and sophistication. She dyed her hair red a while back and looked just as gorgeous. But Elise had to admit that Elise as a platinum blonde suited her best. She was mature at twenty-seven and very business savvy. She was currently working on promotion merchandise as she helped with the business aspect of Dixie Chix with Susanna.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Elise responded then took a sip of coffee.