True Heart: A Red Hot Winter Story Read online

  “About what?”

  Three taps and he stood back from the fence, meeting Lonny’s gaze. “About her story. The one she’s working on now.”

  “She hasn’t said anything about what’s in this one. Hasn’t been time. Something bothering you about it?”

  “She’s writing about us. Or at least two brothers like us. And a girl.”

  Lonny waggled his eyebrows. “She writing a ménage?”

  True’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want you gettin’ any ideas.”

  Lonny couldn’t help teasing him. True took everything too darn serious. “Think I’d be into it?”

  “Wouldn’t you?”

  “Hell yeah. But I’m guessing you’re not comfortable with the idea.”

  “Sex isn’t a game.”

  “Can be. Can be a helluva lot of fun.” He laughed. “I wish I could have seen your face when she said it.”

  True snorted and reached for the gloves he’d lain over a post. “Wasn’t pretty.”

  “You let her down easy?”

  “Not hardly. Fact is, hearing her say it made me pretty mad. I took it out on her. Not that she couldn’t handle it.”

  “You make love to her?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Thinking it will happen tonight?”

  True nodded.

  “Well, then I guess it would be in my own best interests if I left you two alone. A happy True isn’t one who’s gonna bust my ass all winter.” Lonny clapped his brother on the shoulder then swung his arm over it, giving him a man-hug. “I’m proud of you.”

  True shrugged him off and pushed him away, but he wore a little smile as he headed back to the barn with the hammer and the boards he hadn’t needed.

  Lonny walked away, picking up the tune True had been whistling. He wondered how he could convince two stubborn people that this wasn’t just hormones following their natural course.

  He’d never seen a couple more suited.

  As for himself, the road off the mountain was closed. He wouldn’t be going to town until the snowplows made it this far. He’d be stuck listening to the sounds of someone else getting busy for once.

  The thought of his brother hugging that sweet, dimpled ass made him sigh with envy, but he knew True needed this. He’d be a good brother and do his best to make sure the two of them had all the privacy they needed to get to know each other.

  Chapter Four

  Honey hugged True’s waist and snuggled up as close to his back as she could while he expertly steered the snowmobile through the snow. They followed a wide indention in the thick white blanket that she figured was the road. Sure it was cold, but she loved any excuse to touch him. Even under the cold-weather gear she could feel the tensile strength in his hard, muscled frame.

  He’d come for her at dusk, warning her to pack for the night in case the weather turned and he couldn’t bring her back.

  She appreciated that he didn’t say outright, “Plan to stay the night with me”, because she already blushed every time his gaze landed on her.

  When she’d opened the door, he’d eaten her up with his forest green gaze. Dressed casually in layers to ward off the nip in the air, she knew her curves were muted, but that didn’t stop him looking, like he was imagining her naked. She’d chosen a soft blue sweater, dark blue jeans and those boots he disapproved of.

  He’d waited patiently while she’d tugged snow pants over her legs and then held her coat while she bundled into it. She’d wound her scarf around her neck and tucked her hair into the hood of her coat, all while he’d waited—and watched.

  She’d watched him too, liking the breadth of his shoulder under his clean insulated jacket, the length and thickness of his thighs below. Lord, she couldn’t be casual, couldn’t pretend to be cool, knowing she’d see every part of his body before the night was through.

  The snow had stopped around mid-day and even through the darkness the white drifts reflected moonlight. He didn’t really need the headlight on the vehicle to find his way. Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up beside the porch of a large log home, as rugged and immutable as its owners. He cut the engine and waited while she climbed off, then swung his leg over, took her arm and led her up the stairs.

  She grinned because his touch was firm. No way was he going to let her fall on his steps. She imagined he had plans for her ass other than nursing bruises.

  The door swung open before they reached the top step. Lonny’s wide smile eased her embarrassment over the fact she was arriving with his brother. The wicked glint in his eyes when he shook her hand told he was thinking about where his hand had been yesterday and she blushed.

  How did they do that? It wasn’t like she hadn’t been around the block a time or two. Hell, she’d been married to a lusty man. And yet both brothers reduced her poise to breathless sighs and flushes.

  “I checked on the chili,” Lonny said.

  “Save us some?” True said, a hint of wry humor in his voice.

  “There’s plenty left.” He leaned toward Honey. “The secret ingredient’s beer.”

  Honey chuckled as True lifted a hand and chucked Lonny behind the head. She didn’t have any siblings, but felt an instant envy for their obvious affection.

  “Let me get your coat,” Lonny said, reaching for her zipper.

  True cleared his throat and dropped the overnight bag she’d packed beside his feet. “Anyone does any unzipping it’s gonna be me.”

  Honey and Lonny locked gazes then dissolved into laughter.

  “I’m so glad you are two are enjoying yourselves,” True said, his tone dead even.

  Honey wiped away a tear and tugged down her own zipper. When she slipped off the sleeves, she surrendered it to True, who hung it on a coat tree next to the door. He pulled off his own then bent to peel down his snow pants.

  She was so hyper-aware of the slide of clothing that the act of shedding the cold-weather gear was a nearly erotic act. She was breathless by the time she straightened and handed everything over.

  Her mind leapt straight to the bedroom, barreling forward to the moment they’d both shed the rest of what hid their skin from view. Something of what she was thinking must have been written on her face, because when she looked up, True’s eyes were smoky, his jaw set.

  “Since I’ve had dinner, I’ll retire…with a good book,” Lonny said, giving her wink.

  She barely heard him. Couldn’t take her eyes off True. She’d written this scene today—with the older brother taking the lead—easing Helen past her inhibitions until she moaned like a wanton.

  “You hungry?”

  She sucked in a deep breath, deciding that playing coy would be a complete waste of a perfectly good hard-on. The hard-on was impossible to ignore—long and thick and pressing against his pant leg.

  “You’re staring again.”

  “Can’t help it,” she said, feeling suddenly breathless.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “About choreography.”

  His snort sounded suspiciously like a laugh, but she wasn’t going to look to be sure. “Choreography?” he murmured.

  “Yeah, I think those pants have to come straight down. You’d never get enough room to work it out of the front.”

  This time he did laugh, deep and rich.

  Heat crept up her neck and flooded her cheeks. When she glanced up, her gaze slammed straight into his.

  He held out his hand. She slid hers along his work-roughened palm and shivered because she knew she’d feel the scrape in a hundred delicious places.

  He led her through the house, to a staircase that curved up to the second floor. Their footsteps were hushed by thick beige carpeting.

  He opened a door and flicked on a light, then tugged her inside the room.

  Once there, she spared a glance around his bedroom. A blue and white quilt covered a king-sized mattress. Heavy navy curtains covered the window. The furniture was dark maple—plain, but sturdy.

  True tugged her hand, reeli
ng her in like a fish on a hook.

  Her head dipped toward her chest, because she felt suddenly shy, suddenly unsure. It had been so long, and she’d thought she was ready for this. But a shiver struck her spine, shuddering downward.

  A hand cupped her cheek, and a thumb tucked beneath her chin to lift her face.

  True’s expression was impossible to read. “I thought you wanted this.”

  “I do.” She licked her lips. “Guess I’m a little nervous. This part’s always a little scary.”

  “I scare you?”

  She nodded. “It’s different for a girl,” she whispered. “We have to surrender, have to open. I guess I’m feeling a little vulnerable.”

  “Would it make you less nervous if I got naked first?”

  That little hint of a smile turning up one corner of his mouth fascinated her. She gave in to a whim and came up on her toes to press her mouth against his. He didn’t try to embrace her, just held himself still while she pressed one kiss then another against his mouth.

  His lips responded, softly molding hers, reassuring her silently that he would let her take the lead if she needed it.

  She lowered herself again, pulled her hand from his and then took a step back. Without glancing at him again, she unwound her scarf then lifted her sweater over her head and held out both to him.

  His breath held as his gaze raked over her lacy white bra and the bare tops of her breasts. His fingers curled around her clothes.

  She rested a hand on his arm and bent to tug off her silly boots, and then she went to work on her jeans, laying open the belt and unzipping her pants.

  When she pushed them down and stepped out of them, she glanced up again, wanting to see his reaction. She hadn’t been naked with a man in three years. Kenny had thought her perfect, had told her a thousand times how beautiful she was, and she’d believed him. Standing in her white bikini panties and bra, she wanted to be beautiful and alluring.

  Instead, she felt awkward. She wanted True to say something to break the silence that stretched because she felt foolish, thinking maybe she should have let him take the lead because then she wouldn’t be waiting for him to react.

  “I’m not on the pill,” she blurted.

  “I’ve got it handled,” he said in his gruff tone.

  Still, he didn’t move. She turned away and walked toward the bed, wanting to dive beneath the covers and hide, but his hand reached out and snagged her wrist. She froze while he stepped behind her and unhooked her bra. Then his long, callused fingers gripped her hips and rubbed downward, pushing her panties down her legs.

  They fluttered to the floor, and she was nude. Standing with her back to a fully clothed man with an erection.

  His hands settled on her shoulders. “What’s wrong, Honey?”

  She shook her head. “I wish you’d do something.”

  “Not until you tell me what you’re thinking. Your face closed up while you stripped. Like you were a hundred miles away.”

  “It’s not you. I want to be here. I swear I do.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  She bent her head, unwilling to tell him because she didn’t think it was any of his business. This was personal. More so than getting naked with the man. “I’m cold.”

  He sighed. “Go get under the covers.” He released her hand.

  She knew she’d disappointed him. She’d disappointed herself. Just minutes ago, she’d felt so carefree, so aroused.

  However, a thousand miles hadn’t distanced her from her memories.

  The rustle of clothing reassured her she hadn’t completely blown it. She lifted the quilt, pulled down the sheets and slipped into the bed, shivering because the crisp cotton was chilled.

  Bare feet padded around the bed, and True entered her vision.

  She sucked in a breath as she watched him remove his watch and set it on the nightstand. His chest was broad and lightly furred with dark brown hair that stretched between small brown nipples. His belly was taut, muscled, a study in shadow and light that tempted her fingers to explore the ridges that defined his washboard abdomen.

  Everywhere she looked was so masculine, so hard, that her fingers tensed and her mouth grew dry.

  But it was his cock that made her want to weep. Thick, long and so aroused it lifted proudly from his groin—it reminded her of everything she’d lost. She missed sex, missed feeling a man thrust deep inside her body. Missed the heat, the gentle violence.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  His gruff tone coaxed a smile from her. “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “Killing the mood.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. “Does it look like I’m worried?”

  “Nope.” She flipped back the covers, inviting him to lie beside her.

  He eased into the bed, coming to his side, facing her, but not touching. “So tell me.”

  Honey drew in a breath, fortifying herself to say it. “I was married.”

  He nodded, but held silent.

  She took another breath, but this time her chest didn’t feel quite so tight. “He was a school teacher, but joined the Guard. Army Guard. His unit shipped to Iraq.”

  True scooted closer and clasped the hand that lay between them. His thumb swept up and down the back of her hand, soothing her as she breathed deeply, trying to put to words the pain of her loss. She cleared her throat. “He died three years ago. Shot in an ambush. I usually spend my winters holed up at the beach house I bought with the insurance he took out. I couldn’t face it this year. Thought I needed to get away. It’s so different here. The air’s fresher. The cold…it’s nothing like home.”

  “It sounds like you’re not over him, Honey. You sure this is what you want?”

  She met his gaze, but tears caused her view of the hard edge of his jaw to waver. “I have to let go sometime. And I have. Mostly. I thought if I could stay busy, maybe I wouldn’t dwell on it. I felt so happy, moving in, meeting you and Lone…I felt ready.”

  True let go of her hand and combed his fingers through her hair, pushing it behind her ear. “We don’t have to do anything.”

  She sniffed and shook her head. “That’s not it. I want you. It’s just the getting naked part that freaked me out a little. I haven’t been with anyone else. And then Lonny kissed me and I felt happy, horny again.” She wrinkled her nose, knowing she shouldn’t be talking about his brother when she lay next to him in bed, but hey, he’d wanted to know. “He made me laugh, made me forget about how awkward it can be.”

  True’s brows lowered. “I made it awkward?”

  She swallowed hard, recognizing that something about his quiet intensity was actually turning her on. In fact, every spike in her arousal appeared to be directly linked to his increasing tension. “It’s awkward only because I’m realizing how badly I want this to be good.”

  “Are you sure you should be in bed with me?” he rasped.

  Honey quivered at the raw sound. “I’m attracted to you both. I’ve already admitted that. Can’t stop thinking about some really naughty things, but I need you, True. I need you to be the first. And I know how that sounds. But I can’t help what I feel, what I need.”

  He nodded, but his expression didn’t close up, didn’t look disapproving. He moved closer, pulling her flush against his body. His cock was there between them, hard and pulsing. She tilted her hips to rub her belly against it.

  A muscle flexed at the edge of his jaw; his nostrils flared. “I’ll tell you what, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I’ll be your first. And then we’ll talk about what’s next. I thought I was the only one with issues. Makes me feel like a selfish bastard that I got so wound up about you choosing me. I had a wife, but she’s still alive and kicking. Married to someone she likes a whole lot better than me.”

  She gave him a weak smile. “I can’t believe that.”

  His mouth curved. “I’m not the easiest person to live with.”

  Her smile widened. “Imagine that.
Did you bark at her too?”

  “Never.” His smile dimmed. “But then again, I didn’t talk to her much either. She hated the silences, hated being alone when I was out working cattle. What was his name?”

  She didn’t have any trouble following his segue. “Kenny.”

  “What did he think about what you do?”

  “Are you kidding?” Her smile didn’t dim, but his face shimmered in the tears welling in her eyes again. “He was my biggest fan.”

  The tears did it. He couldn’t be jealous of a dead man, but the fact she cried over him, the fact she’d really loved him, made him ache. For her.

  He reached out slowly, slid a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. When her head settled on his arm, he breathed easier, taking in the sensations—the scent of her hair and skin, the softness of her cheek on his arm, her tightening breasts against his chest. Yeah, he was hard, but he could stand the discomfort. It was her sadness that nearly killed him.

  She sighed and snuggled closer, easing her thigh higher over his hip. Her hand made a tentative glide over his belly then stopped liked she’d realized what she’d done. Her breath held for a long moment.

  And he couldn’t help it. He swore silently to himself, because his cock surged, nudging the back of her hand.

  He held his breath, counting, wanting to be strong, willing his body back under control, but she turned her hand and glided her fingers down his shaft. It was just a light skim of her fingertips, but it was enough to make his pulse leap.

  Her hips moved, surging against him. “True,” she whispered.

  He kissed her forehead. “Baby, be sure.”

  “I am. I swear. Please.”

  He cupped her cheek then curled his fingers under her chin. He slid his lips along her skin as he tilted her face higher. When his mouth touched hers, she sighed and melted closer.

  Slowly, he moved away, just far enough to give them both room to look. He stared down between them, at her hard, cherry nipples, at her soft belly that quivered against his rock-hard cock.

  Honey raised her thigh, setting her foot against his leg, opening herself. She watched him just as avidly as he smoothed a palm over her hip, rubbing her thigh to knee, then slid to her inner thigh and trailed his fingers upward to search between her legs.