Hot Blue Velvet (5 page)

“So, were you just out riding for like the fun of it?” he was asking.

See? He was now wondering who she was. Well, not yet, mister, not yet.
She nodded. “Oh yeah, it’s just a hobby.”

“I see.” He got up and took her plate. “Well, is there someone who might worry after you?”

Her brow wrinkled up. “What?”

He cleared all the stuff from the table. “I mean family or something?” It’s been 24 hours since you fell from your horse.”

“What?” She rose up with a shock. “Twenty—Ahh!” she shouted.

Wade dropped the dishes back onto the table and rushed around the side of the bed “Don’t you listen to good advice?” He sounded upset. “You could pull more muscles and then you won’t heal right!”

“Oh, ow!” she seethed in pain.

“Okay now, just try to relax,” he soothed.

He again rubbed her down and she finally fell to sleep while he kneaded and caressed her skin. Her last wakeful thought was of how she would pay with her life savings, just to have him to do this every day.

*~*~*~*

The Plush Rooster Ranch, Twelve miles out of Victoria, Texas

T
he inside of the house was just as impressive as the verandah, and Bren was in awe. High ceilings, crisp paint and an awesome chandler like they had in the old days, hung above an airy front room. Another sign hung on the wall above velvet benches which lined the entire side of the room.

Time is your friend, so be friendly while you wait.

It really looked like a waiting area for the over privileged in a high-class doctor’s office. Bren suppressed a smile. Doctors? Doctors of love. She pressed her lips together and shook her head.
This isn’t funny, Bren. Your mom is breaking the law. Hell…she’s breaking several, including the moral ones.

Her mother went around to the side of the stairs. “Bert!” she shouted.

Bren jumped back as a huge hulking man stepped in front of her.

“Nah, Bert. She ain’t an intruder.”

The hulking man crossed his arms over his chest. He stood at least 6 foot nine in height and weighed maybe three hundred pounds. His enormous python like arms had tattoos all up and down his skin.

“I need ya to show her to my room, okay?”

Nodding with an emotionless expression on his face, he stepped to the side.

“Just go with him, sweetie. I don’t think you’d appreciate the fun that is about to be had in the main auction room.”

Bren hesitated. “But, Ma—?”

“No buts! Unless you wanna see some necked male tail. You’d better go with Bert.” Daisy turned away and disappeared down the hall.

Left with seemingly no choice, Bren followed the inked hulk up the stairs.

Bert was truly a man of no words, and she wondered what the hell her mom as thinking having someone like this in her employ. He looked really rough, like maybe he even did some time in prison. He just had that air about him. A chill he exuded, like he could kill or maim within the blink of an eye and feel nothing about it.

He halted at the end of a wide hallway.

Bren shyly made her way to where he stood.

Opening the door, he motioned his large head for her to pass through.

Bren stepped inside.

Without a word or even a polite nod, he shut it behind her.

Looking around, she did see familiar things. Stuff her mom had for years. The long dresser top had some new things though. Bren moved closer to take a peek.

There were pictures of Daisy and a man. He was an older man, but just about her mom’s age. That was sure interesting. Her mama had had many boyfriends over the years, but she never displayed pictures of any of them. She picked up the framed picture and took a closer look.

He was a good-looking man. With a slight graying at his temples and a good frame on his body, he was something special to look at all right. A big guy, like Daisy liked ’em. Bren chuckled as she remembered one of her mama’s comments on the subject.
The bigger they were? The harder you could make them fall for ya.

Only this time, it looked like her ma may have taken the fall. The look of love on Daisy’s face made Bren feel a little uneasy. She couldn’t pinpoint why, she just felt funny about it. She never knew her dad, and her ma had put it bold and simple when Bren asked at 7 years old, where her daddy was.

“Life gets messy sometimes, Bren. Some people are messier than others. Let’s just say, he got the trash and I got you.”

Later on, Bren figured this must have meant Daisy had kicked him out and went on with her life.

A loud noise startled her. It was more female whooping and hollering from downstairs. Bren set the frame down and went to the door. She just had to see this for herself. She knew she’d probably regret it, but she had to find out just how bad a casserole her mama had cooked up this time. A smile came to her lips. It was something she teased her ma about. Daisy Plush couldn’t cook and there’d been many burned, inedible casseroles in Bren’s upbringing.

Taking a deep breath, she peeked out. The hallway was empty. At least the hulk-man hadn’t been placed as a guard. Bren made her stealthy way down the stairs. The noise grew louder and she crept around the stairwell and closer to the double doors.

“Psst…” A noise came from her left.

There stood a chubby young woman with the longest blonde braids Bren had ever seen. She had rosy cheeks and was buxom as all get out; she was stacked.

Bren gave her a curious look.

“Come on!” The girl waved her over.

Looking around, Bren wondered what this was all about. She tiptoed over.

The girl took her hand and opened what looked like a closet door. She pulled her in and shut the door. “It’s so nice to meet ya,” she whispered and held out her hand. “I’m Maggie.”

Bren squinted and shook her hand while wondering who this girl was. “Why are you sneakin’ around?”

Maggie scoffed with an obvious disgust. “Daisy won’t let me see all the goings on, cause she says I’m too young or something stupid like that. So, shush and look over here.” She nudged her toward a square crack in the closet wall.

Bren could see the young woman’s features a little better now and knew she was probably about eighteen. She wasn’t really all that surprised about Daisy’s protectiveness as her ma could be like that, despite all her bawdy ways.
Everything has it’s time to flower, but tiny buds need a lot of protection
. Daisy had said that many times to her when she was a little girl.

She could keenly see the crack of light through a little square in the wall now. Well, I sure ain’t tiny anymore, she thought as she stepped over toward the crack. With a kind of scared exhilaration, she pressed her eyes close to the lit square. Her eyes rounded at what she saw.
Holy bull crap!

*~*~*~*

On the Flat river, Trespasser’s cabin…

K
anda opened her eyes some hours later and she was staring at lamplight. It was from several kerosene lamps which sat in various spots and the place had a sweet glow to it from the old-fashioned illumination. She looked around and wondered where he was.

“There you are,” Wade spoke from somewhere in the cabin.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Don’t move now, I’ll be right over.” He came into view and knelt down in front of her, so that she could see his face. “So, how’s my sweet candy this evening?”

Staring at him, her mouth remained shut. She’d met men that made her want to not ever speak to them again and she’d met men she refused to speak to, but never had she met one who literally took her words away.

“You really don’t talk much do you?”

Kanda gave him a smirk. “I guess it ain’t fair to let you believe such nonsense. I’m usually the loudest and I always get the last word in.”

Wade pulled his head back. “No, that can’t be right.”

She nodded her head. “Oh yeah, it’s true.”

Grinning at her, he stood up.

Her gaze rose and she again took in that long muscled frame. How could a man have a bod like this? Why, even her toughest most active cowhand wasn’t built like this. He had large hands and muscled forearms. His chest was broad and his shoulders matched the rest of him.

Unexpectedly, Wade reached out and hefted her up against him.

Kanda’s breath remained trapped in her chest.

He gazed into her eyes. “Tell me, candy girl…”

She let her breath out in a great big rush as her breasts pressed up against his hard chest

“Is there any…?” He seemed to hesitate.

Kanda stared at his yummy lips as he spoke.

“Is there a Mister Candy or a man candy?”

Her eyes widened.
Hell yeah, there’s a man candy and I’m looking at him.
His expression looked tense as he waited for an answer.

“Oh!” she realized she’d not answered him aloud as she laughed. “No, there isn’t.”

His expression turned serious as he stared intently at her lips now. “I don’t believe that.”

She felt shocked at the accusation. “Why?”

“A woman who looks like you, and with that body? Your smile? Come on!”

Kanda had never received any kind of compliment like this in all her days. “What do you mean—looks the way I…?” She shook her head. “I’m a big woman and there aren’t many real men, you know?”

“This is the territory of Texas, isn’t it?”

She nodded, not understanding what he meant.

“Well, most of the world believes that’s where the real men are.” He winked at her.

Kanda laughed. “Well, that very well may be, but I haven’t met one.” Her eyes locked with his. “Until now, “she whispered.

He released a long breath. “I was wondering…?”

Yes?
Kanda’s mind shouted.

“I wanted to know what real candy tastes like.”

Her throat completely closed up as her body shook.

“Is it okay, if I—?” He lowered his lips to hers.

Kanda wasn’t waiting any longer, so she smothered his mouth with hers.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her, Wade lifted her clean away from the floor. His lips pressed against hers while his tongue met with hers.

He was as delicious as she thought he would be, even more so as he tempted her with a breathtaking exploration of her mouth. The kiss grew and grew as he tugged her closer and rubbed her back with those large warm hands. Their bodies were so close together, she could feel his heart beating against her breasts and her nipples throbbed with a life of their own. Her nerves all tingled as well and she knew she was slick between her thighs.

He broke the kiss. “Wow!” he whispered.

Kanda hung limply in his grasp and she couldn’t even swallow, let alone respond.
Wow and how!
Moisture was still seeping from her.

Wade was smiling as he set her back a little, so he could look at her. “I never thought I would find someone like you out here. It’s like finding a diamond underneath layers of ugly coal.”