Reined In: Lone Star Lovers, Book 7 Read online

  Was all the drama because she was truly afraid of consequences, or because she was sorry she’d had sex with them?

  As if getting pregnant with his kid would be the end of the world. The thought didn’t scare him a bit. In fact, his chest warmed to the idea.

  But she wouldn’t be warming to it, if the object of her horror, namely him, was still in bed with her. Although his pride smarted, Joe released Stormy and rolled off the bed. He swiped his jeans from the floor, shut Cam’s bedroom door behind him and made his way to the kitchen. Maybe she was hungry. She was always particularly nasty tempered when she was hungry.

  Cam didn’t move toward her, letting her sniffle to herself as she lay beside him, her back turned again. “What’s this really all about? You know we’re safe. And you know we’d do right by you if you wind up pregnant.”

  Her head shook. “Just shut up.”

  His belly cramped. Guilt knotted his insides. How the hell could he have allowed Joe to be this careless? But deep inside, he knew he was lying to himself. Giving himself too much credit. He wasn’t any better than Joe. Rolling on a condom had been just something to do to keep himself busy while he’d waited and watched her pleasure Joe with her sweet mouth. As feral as he’d felt right before Joe took the lead, Cam doubted he’d have given protection a thought either.

  Given how upset she was Joe, now was probably not the right time to confess his true feelings regarding the matter. Instead, he patted her back and asked softly, “Are you regretting what we just did?”

  Her face burrowed into her pillow. “I’m upset. With myself. I’ve never been this...carried away.” She lifted her head, letting him see her tear-drenched face. “I’m a slut. Joe’s always known it. Now you know it too.”

  “Joe doesn’t think you’re a slut. Neither do I.”

  “Sure he does. He knew I wanted this—that I wanted both of you.”

  Cam grunted. “Baby, we know this isn’t something you’ve done before. Sharing you wasn’t planned. But hell, we’ve been hot for you for years. You can understand how we got carried away in the moment, can’t you?”

  Her mouth turned down at the corners. “You’re guys. You think with your di—”

  “Be nice.”

  Her bottom lip plumped outward. “I did have a plan. Not one I thought all the way through. I was gonna flirt and torment and wait for one of you to crack. In the back of my mind, I hoped for more.” She sighed and dropped her gaze. “Guess I shouldn’t be so upset my plan worked do damn well.”

  Cam almost smiled at her sour muttering. “Seeing as you’re the one who came here with an agenda in mind, maybe you should cut Joe some slack?”

  She shifted and turned to face him but didn’t answer.

  “What’s this really about?” He moved his hand, slowly enough that she could pull away if she wanted to, but she allowed him to touch her. He cupped her cheek, scrubbing a thumb at her hot tears. “What has you so worked up? You aren’t really worried you’re pregnant. And you’re not furious over Joe forgetting a condom. You didn’t give it a thought either. Come on, Stormy. Tell me what’s really wrong.”

  Her face crumpled. “Daddy sold the ranch.”

  Cam drew a breath, relieved their tryst wasn’t the true source of her emotional turmoil. Daddy hadn’t exactly sold the ranch, but he nodded. “We know.”

  “So this might be the last time...”

  “Last time for what?”

  She closed her eyes for a brief second and then met his with a sorrowful glance. “For me. To be here with you. When the new owner takes over, he might want to hire all new wranglers and a foreman. You two might have to leave.”

  “Was that why you were in such an all-fire hurry to get us both into bed?”

  She sniffed and nodded her head. “Great plan, wasn’t it?”

  “You’ve got no complaints from me. But, baby, you don’t have to worry. We’re not goin’ anywhere.”

  “But it’s not my home anymore. It’s gonna be…different. If we decide we want…to do this again,” she said in a whispering rush, “we’d have to meet in some hotel. How sordid is that?”

  Cam narrowed his eyes. Her daddy obviously hadn’t filled her in on the details of the sale. He opened his mouth to explain and ease her fears but stopped himself at the last moment. Joe would want to be here when they told her the truth. “If we decide this works for us, baby, we’ll figure out a way to be together. Don’t you fret.”

  Her head shook. “I waited too long. If there’d been time, I’d have insisted on a courtship. Or at least held off long enough so you both wouldn’t be thinkin’ I’m easy.”

  His lips twitched. “Believe me. The last thing we think is that you’re easy.”

  She let out a deep sigh. “Tell me I’m worryin’ for nothing. That you care about me.”

  “Baby, I care. We both do. Don’t you know we’re crazy about you? Always have been. We both sport hard-ons every time you’re near.”

  He could tell his words pleased her by the tiny curve of her mouth, but she stuck out her bottom lip. “Probably get that way whenever any reasonably attractive female is around.”

  Mildly insulted, he raised an eyebrow. “You really think I’m that easy?”

  “Maybe not you, but Joe…” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve made a mess of this.”

  “Tell you what,” he said, tapping her nose. “Don’t think so hard. Do you trust me?”

  She paused for a moment but then gave him a nod.

  “Then believe me when I tell you, everything will work out. Let’s take it one day at a time. See where this leads.”

  “Okay.” She said it in a small voice, one that invited comfort.

  So he reached out and drew her against his body, molding her against him and tucking her head beneath his chin. “We care, Stormy. Don’t ever think we don’t.”

  Stormy snuggled closer and flattened her hands against his chest. “Guess I got all worked up.”

  “I can understand why. First time you ever took two men on?”

  Her head jerked back. “Of course.”

  “Didn’t mean any insult, but I’m really glad to hear it. We’ll make this special for you.” So special she’d be spoiled for any other man, or men. He smiled at the thought of the brand of spoiling they’d give her.

  Stormy moved her hand down, scratching her fingertips against his skin, which caused his belly to jump. He drew in a breath to make room for her to explore lower.

  She cupped his sex, and it stirred, warming, beginning to fill again. She wrapped her fingers around his expanding shaft and gave it a gentle tug. “Think he’d mind?”

  “He’ll be jealous as hell.”

  “Do you mind?” she asked, arching a brow.

  “What do you think?” he said, flexing his hips and gliding through her fingers. “Better let me get a fresh condom.”

  Her eyelids made a slow dip as she shook her head. “Damage is already done, don’t you think? And I don’t want anything but skin between us. You’ll do right be me,” she whispered.

  Cam’s chest swelled. The thought of filling her belly with a child only made him harder. But he held back, sighing. “No. If you do wind up with a baby in that very sexy belly of yours, you’ll want to know whose it is. If not for yourself, for Reese.”

  Stormy held still while he reached for a packet, tore it open and then quickly rolled it down his cock. Once he was finished, he glanced up to find her studying him.

  “You’re a good man, Cameron Mitchell.”

  “So’s Joe. Maybe he’s a little wild and doesn’t think before he leaps, but he’s the kind of guy you want as a friend. Now come here.”

  Stormy lifted her upper leg and slid it over his hip, hooking around him and scooting closer. Her thumb smoothed over the cap of his cock and rubbed a dribble of moisture across the surface. Then she shifted, and placed the tip at her entrance, her eyelids dipping halfway when he pushed into her.

  Cam had dreamed about being with
her like this so many times, watching her expressions change, feeling her body soften and tremble.

  The reality was so much better. He’d wondered if real magic was at the core of his desire, or if the fact she’d been off-limits had made her all the more attractive, but he had his answer now. Stormy was the one for him. He loved everything about her. Her silky blonde hair, her peaches-and-cream complexion, her expressive eyes.

  Whether glaring daggers or blurring dreamily as they did now, her eyes were truly his window inside her head. He’d had years to study her and learn her moods. While she was always feisty, sometimes downright mean, her eyes gave her true feelings away. Stormy had a soft center. One she was afraid to share. She wasn’t very trusting with her heart. He didn’t know when that had started, but he figured it might have something to do with her mother’s death. Like she’d felt abandoned. Didn’t matter her mother couldn’t help the fact she’d grown ill with cancer, Stormy had been too young to understand.

  And her father had spoiled her by giving her things, allowing her to manipulate him, anything to hold her away from him because he’d been hurting too.

  While Cam had been respectful, he’d remained distant, something she couldn’t stand. Joe had been just plain ornery, never giving her an inch, which perplexed her.

  He couldn’t help feeling that they were meant to be together. That only he and Joe, together, could give her—not just what she wanted—but what she truly needed.

  “Am I boring you?” she asked, glancing up from beneath the fringe of her dark lashes. She gave his cock a sexy caress, using her inner muscles to tighten around him.

  Cam grimaced, fighting the urge to plow deep. “Sure you’re ready for more?”

  “Do you think I can’t handle it, just ’cause you’re a big boy?” she asked, walking her fingers up to his nipple. She scraped the edge of a nail across it and gave him a slow smile.

  Cam hesitated, looking at those two blue open windows. Maybe Joe had it right. He could give her what she wanted and let her wrap him around her little finger—which, face it, she already had—or he could give her what she really needed.

  He gripped her waist and pulled away from her body, gritting his teeth as his cock pulled free.

  “Cam!”

  “No,” he said softly. “Roll onto your stomach.”

  She took a breath and opened her mouth, but he kept his expression blank, waiting. With a huff, she rolled to her belly, but not without perking up her behind.

  Fine, he’d give it a little extra attention. Cam moved to cover her, lying over her and rooting between her legs. He found her slick entrance and slid upward.

  She gave a little laugh. “I’m never gonna come this way.”

  “We don’t always get exactly what we want,” he whispered, leaning up on an elbow, making room to palm her ass.

  It was still hot and a little pink in places where Joe had spanked her. Cam lingered on those places, listening when her breaths hitched, paying attention to the convulsive little clenches she gave his cock whenever he touched a particularly tender spot. Then he licked his thumb and traced between her buttocks.

  She tightened, trying to reject him, but he persisted, rubbing his thumb on her little hole.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What I want.” He pressed and the tip of his thumb entered her ass.

  Stormy gasped. “That’s…stop.”

  He pushed deeper, despite the way she clamped down on him.

  She reached back and slapped his hand. “No.”

  “Is that a real no, or an I’m-embarrassed no? I’ll stop if I’m hurting you. Just say so.”

  “Cam,” she mewled.

  He smiled and kissed her shoulder. “Wanna come?”

  She growled and pressed her face into the comforter.

  Chuckling, he raised up, bringing her ass higher too. Stormy got her knees beneath her but kept her face buried. He plunged his wet finger in and out, circling in her hot, forbidden channel. Her tight ring eased, and again her pussy clenched around his cock. Cam began moving slowly, fucking her in steady, smooth motions while he played with her ass.

  “Baby, does it burn?”

  “What the fuck do you think?” she said, her words muffled in the bedding.

  “Does it feel good?”

  She didn’t answer, but the moisture building in her cunt gave him her undeniable truth. Plunging harder, he filled her again and again with deep, targeted thrusts. He pulled his thumb out, dropped spit on the reddened hole and slowly inserted two fingers, ignoring her deep groans, enjoying the way her bottom quivered. He moved faster until he couldn’t stand the tension in his balls a minute longer. Adjusting his stance, he reached beneath her with his free hand, slid fingers into the top of her stretched folds and pressed her clit, rubbing it, pinching it until she began to buck against him, giving little ragged gasps, forgetting herself in her pleasure.

  The door opened, but she didn’t hear it above the noises she made. Joe walked in, a grin stretching his mouth as he watched Cam continue to work her. Without an invitation, he stripped off his pants and climbed onto the bed. He reached beneath Stormy to pleasure her breasts. “That’s it, baby,” he crooned into her ear. “Come now. Do it for Cam. Fucking make his day.”

  She gave a little shout, and her pussy and her little hole squeezed tight.

  Cam gasped and closed his eyes as the pressure built. One, two, three more thrusts and his balls exploded, come shooting into her hot cunt. When the last spurts waned, he pulled his fingers free and bent over her, kissing her cheek, the back of her neck. He finally withdrew and lay beside her while Joe rolled her to her back and settled on her other side.

  Her face was red, lips and eyes blurred.

  Joe leaned over and kissed her mouth, cupping her cheek, thrusting fingers into her hair. The kiss was hungry, deep, and all Cam could do was watch. There was no jealousy burning inside him, just contentment like he’d never known. She’d found pleasure with him. And he’d shown her that he could surprise her.

  When Joe broke the kiss, he smiled at Stormy and then glanced at Cam. “Leave you two for a minute…”

  Cam grinned. “Have to get my licks in while I can.”

  “Wasn’t much lickin’ goin’ on,” Stormy grumbled, but her mouth was fighting a smile. Her glance went back to Joe. “Sorry I cried all over you. It wasn’t that I didn’t love everything that happened. And it wasn’t because I was scared…of anything.”

  Cam cleared his throat. “She came here this weekend because her father sold the place.”

  Joe didn’t seem surprised, one corner of his mouth quirked. “Afraid this might be your last chance at us, baby girl?”

  “Something like that.”

  With his thumb still rubbing her mouth, Joe shook his head. “Hon, we’re not goin’ anywhere. And you’re always welcome to sleep in our beds.”

  Cam knew it wasn’t the avowal of affection she’d been hopeful for, but Stormy relaxed. He could almost hear her little mind churning on the thought that many a man had fallen straight from lust into love.

  Chapter Seven

  When Stormy sat gingerly on a chair at the kitchen table, Joe hid a smile and dished up bowls of leftover stew he’d heated up while Cam and Stormy had remained in bed.

  “Need anything else?” he asked as he slid a bowl in front of her.

  She glanced up quickly, eyes narrowing on his face. God, he hoped she’d never get so complacent around him that she lost that wary edge. A girl like Stormy needed to be kept on her toes.

  He gave her a wink and set another bowl down in front of Cam, who was still buttoning his shirt after he’d taken a quick shower. Cam gave Joe a brief smile and then tucked into his meal.

  Cam had surprised him. Fact was, he was proud of how Cam had handled her. His best friend was a gentle soul—mostly. But what he’d come upon when he’d reentered the bedroom had reinforced his belief they were on the right track.

  Not that every sexual encounte
r had to be a marathon or push Stormy’s boundaries, but he liked that Cam had handled her, taken control, rather than caving to her demands, and Joe had no doubt she’d tried to manipulate Cam.

  Cam had a cool head, was kind to horses and women, but could be firm when needed or he wouldn’t have made a good foreman. Something Stormy’s dad, Reese, recognized right off about the boy he’d hired years ago. He’d groomed Cam from day one to run the ranch. Joe hadn’t resented the old man’s admiration of his best friend. He’d been quick to note Joe’s good qualities too. And Reese had seemed to enjoy watching the squabbles he and Stormy got into, taking him aside every now and then to coach him in how to handle Stormy.

  Even back then, Joe had found it just a little odd that Reese seemed to be throwing them at each other. Not until recently, when Reese had approached him and Cam about taking over the ranch and running it for themselves, had he explained.

  “Always thought you were the man who could handle my little girl. Never liked that boyfriend of hers. She ran roughshod right over him. Scared that pencil neck to death. But you…” Reese had chuckled. “I remember that time you turned her over your knee. She was spittin’ mad, and I may be her daddy, but I know she liked it. Kinda reminded me of her mama.”

  Joe had stared at Reese, his face getting red because Reese obviously knew all too well that Joe had lusted after Stormy for years.

  “You’re a good man. You both are. Shame I can’t call you both son.”

  And then he’d said something really strange for a daddy to say…

  Reese had glanced away. “Two Mule’s changin’. Strange goin’s on. Men sharin’ women. Almost a common sight.” He’d given Joe a wink before he’d stepped up into the cab of his truck and ridden off.

  That last comment had planted a seed. One that had kept Joe awake the previous night wondering about possibilities. After he’d woken early, feeling more rested than he should have, Joe had called Reese. His boss was back in Corpus Christi where he spent most of his time these days on the beach or deep-sea fishing. “I’ve been thinkin’ about what you said.”