“You’re controlling and I don’t like that,” she said honestly. “I’m also leery of getting involved with anyone.”
“I’ll try to put my caveman tendencies away. I promise not to club you and drag you away by your hair to toss you over a rock and fuck you blind.” He chuckled. “Wait. I take back that last part. I might fuck you that way but not on a rock.”
She smiled, unable to resist. “I bet a lot of women have slapped you. It might account for some things if you were hit hard enough.”
His hand on her ass moved, inching downward. Brit gasped when his fingers slid between her thighs, lifting her a little higher, forcing her on tiptoe when he gripped her by the vee of her pants.
“Actually, most women find me irresistible.”
She bet they did. The guy was undeniably sexy and he had those bedroom eyes that reeled her right in. She took a shaky breath. “River?”
“Yeah?”
“Let go.”
He shook his head as his fingers started to rub the seam of her pants against her clit. She shifted her hold on him to grip his waist to keep her steady when her legs turned wobbly. Her eyes closed and she bit her lip, her face pressing against his chest. She inhaled his wonderful masculine scent and bit back a moan when he continued to tease her with those wonderful fingers.
He nuzzled the side of her throat, using his nose to move her hair aside and then his hot lips brushed her sensitive throat. She shivered, her nipples tightening instantly, and gripped him harder. River’s tongue licked upward to just under her earlobe and his hot breath made her shiver. His fingers continued to rub against her clit and she couldn’t hold back anymore when she softly moaned.
He pulled his mouth away from her skin. “Let’s go upstairs or I’m going to turn you around, yank down your jeans, and fuck you right here.”
Brit’s head jerked up. “You can’t. We’re in the living room.”
A black eyebrow arched. “I don’t care who the hell sees but you might. I just want inside you.”
“That’s not even funny. You wouldn’t really―”
She gasped when he suddenly tore his hand out from between her thighs, her feet leaving the floor as he lifted her around her waist and took four quick steps forward. Brit found her body turned in his arms so she faced the back of a black leather recliner. Hands shifted on her body and she looked down to see him tearing open her jeans. She tried to grab River’s hands but the man was fast. He jerked her pants down, taking her panties with them as he hooked them with his thumbs, and air hit her body.
“Stop!”
“Shush.” He chuckled. “If they hear you yelling, they are definitely going to come back in here to investigate what I’m doing to you.”
River pushed his hips against her, trapping her body against the chilly leather and his rough-textured jeans. Brit wiggled against him, trying to get free but he bent forward, pinning her tighter, forcing her over the chair. She had to toss her head to move her hair out of the way as she twisted to look over her shoulder at him. She wasn’t amused when she saw him tearing open a condom with his teeth.
“Damn it, River,” she hissed. “This isn’t funny. Someone could walk in and…damn it. Let me go.”
He backed his hips away but kept her pinned over the chair with his chest. She put her palms flat on the chair and tried to push but he was too heavy to lift up. She heard a zipper. Her heart raced and she realized he wasn’t joking. He had the audacity to grin at her and wink.
“I’m going to fuck you, Brit. Right here and right now.”
“Someone could walk in. You can’t just―”
“Be quiet or we’ll have company.” His hand slid over her bare ass and slid between her thighs. “You’re so wet and ready for me. You might protest but your body is turned on as hell.”
I’m going to kill him. His fingers slid through her slit and she didn’t have to be told that her body responded to him. The proof smeared downward as he found her clit and rubbed against the swelling bud. Pleasure became instant for Brit and she squeezed her eyes closed and bit down hard on her lip to bite back another moan. He possessed super-talented fingers and when he applied just enough pressure she found it impossible to think. All she could do was feel every up-and-down motion he made that had her body aching with need to come.
“You’re so hot, sexy.” River nuzzled her head with his cheek and his hand pulled out from between her thighs.
Brit realized she scratched the leather with her fingernails. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment that he’d gotten her so mindless while playing with her clit that she’d momentarily forgotten where they were. She tried to push her chest up but then suddenly River’s condom-covered cock pressed against her pussy and he entered her in one long, deep drive of his hips.
A moan tore from her as sheer ecstasy jolted through her at the sensation of his thick, hard cock waking all those inner nerve endings. Her vaginal walls trembled around his shaft, her nipples tightening even more, and then all thoughts fled as he started to withdraw and slam back into her.
She clawed at the leather again as River fucked her hard and fast, pinning her tighter over the chair. His hips shoved her higher so she lifted on her tiptoes, her pants trapping her legs together, and their harsh breathing mingled as River picked up the pace even more. The chair made a creaking sound, but she didn’t care—she could only feel River. He adjusted his angle just a little, one hand sliding around her hip to get between her and the back of the chair, and his fingers pressed against her clit. He fucked her harder, driving in deeper, skin slapping skin as his hips hit her ass.
The climax built. Brit tried to think but lost that battle from the sexual bombardment that River put her body through. She gasped in air, her muscles tensing, and a hand clamped over her mouth right as she came. She cried out against River’s palm, rapture searing through her from his cock straight to her brain. His hand jerked away from between her thighs and he gripped her hip in a nearly bruising hold as he lowered his head, his mouth clamping down on her shirt at her shoulder. He jerked hard, his hips pressing tight against her ass, his entire body drawing taut, and groaned against her shoulder as he came.
They were both breathing hard. River stilled on her, just holding her, their bodies pressed so tightly together that she found it hard to take deep breaths with his weight holding her over the chair. He relaxed on top of her, their bodies melting together in the afterglow of great sex. His hand released her mouth in the same instant that he released her shoulder. A chuckle had Brit opening her eyes.
“Fuck, that was hot.”
The voice sounded similar to River’s but it wasn’t close to her ear. She was confused for a second because she could feel his breath fanning her neck. River’s entire body tensed again from its relaxed state and understanding dawned. Her eyes widened as her head whipped around to stare at Ryder Raine, leaning against the wall about six feet away, his arms crossed over his chest.
She froze, unable to even move, breathe, or think. River’s identical twin brother watched them. It looked as though he’d been there for a little while by the way he had his boot crossed over his ankle, and as she stared into his dark gaze, she knew that look. River gave it to her every time he wanted to fuck her.
“Damn it, bro,” River spoke softly. “Not cool.”
Ryder tore his gaze from Brit to study his brother. “I take it we’re not sharing her? I’d totally love to feel her around me too.”
Brit was horrified as it all slammed into her. Ryder had been watching her have sex with his brother and he’d said “share” as if that were something they did or had done. She couldn’t move for a moment and then she started to fight to get out from under River.
He cursed again, withdrawing from her body and easing his weight off her. He didn’t glance at her, instead glaring at his brother and shaking his head as he just jerked up his pants, not even bothering to remove the condom in his haste to cover up.
As soon as he backed away, Brit jerked
up her pants, feeling her underwear rolled wrong and not all the way up her hips but not caring. Her hands shook so bad that she couldn’t get the zipper up. She spun away, stumbled, and tried to flee but River grabbed her arm. Her gaze jerked to his and she saw he still looked really angry.
“I didn’t see him or hear him come in,” he explained softly.
Brit jerked away and fled. As she nearly ran from the room she heard one of the brothers cursing viciously.
“Goddamn it, you son of a bitch.”
She didn’t hear the rest as she ran up the stairs. She made it to River’s room and closed the door, managing not to slam it. It was her turn to viciously curse when she attempted to lock the door but then remembered that River had removed the locks. She spun away from the door and grabbed her stomach.
“Oh God.” She fought the urge to be sick. Memories of her past bombarded her, terror too. Was River more similar to her ex-husband than she’d thought?
“I have to get the hell out of here,” she softly whispered.
In a panic, she started to throw her belongings into her bag. With or without a car, she had to leave. She didn’t care if she had to jog to the road and hitchhike home. At least she knew what she’d face going back.
* * * * *
“Why?” River glared at Ryder.
“I thought you wanted to put on a show. You are the one who likes to perform in front of a stadium.” A chuckle escaped from Ryder. “Although you riding that little blonde is a lot more interesting to watch than you trying to break your back on a bull. She’s a hell of a lot hotter too.”
Anger spiked in River. “She’s skittish enough, damn it. Did you have to mention we share women? Did you see her reaction? She wasn’t turned on. It horrified her.”
Ryder shrugged. “There’s always a first time. Why don’t we go find her and introduce her to the wonderful world of tag team? She’ll enjoy the hell out of it.”
A bad cramp hit River’s stomach and his hands fisted. The idea of Ryder touching Brit left a bad taste in his mouth and filled him with rage. “Not happening. You go near her and I’ll deck your ass.”
Ryder studied him for a long moment. “It’s like that, is it?”
The hesitation was short. “Yeah, it is.” River took a deep breath, his anger seeping out. “There’s something about her, bro. I just can’t get enough of her and she makes me feel things I never have before. Even when she’s pissed at me, I just want to hold her.”
“Then you better go find her. She had that look your bulls get when they buck you off. She’s going to run for the nearest gate out of this place.”
A curse tore from River as he spun. “Stay the hell away from her, and if you hear us having sex, walk away.” He moved quickly for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Brit wasn’t going to fuck and run on him again.
Chapter Six
The bedroom door hit the wall hard and Brit spun around in fear. River walked into the room and slammed the door behind him. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze settling on her bag she’d just zipped closed, and a frown curved his lips downward, showing his displeasure.
“I didn’t know he’d come in.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She looked away. “I’m leaving. You can either fix my car or I’ll hike out. I don’t care anymore. I’m out of here regardless of how I leave.” She bent and grabbed her bag. “Move out of my way.”
His hands dropped to his sides. “No.”
Shock rolled through her as she straightened. “Excuse me?”
“That was unfortunate. He shouldn’t have walked in there and watched us. He should have turned away when he heard we were busy but I can’t change what happened.”
“I can’t stay here.”
“You keep saying that but you’re not leaving.”
“Watch me.” She tried to walk around him.
River turned as she passed him, one arm sliding around her waist while his other hand grabbed the strap of her bag and tore it from her hand. She gasped in outrage as he lifted her from the floor and then she was in the air. Her body bounced as she landed on his soft mattress and then two-hundred-plus pounds of male pinned her down.
“Get the hell off me.” She glared up at his face.
“Has anyone ever told you that you have a temper?”
“Yes and it’s always deserved, you Neanderthal. You can’t just go around grabbing women and flinging them onto your bed.”
A grin flashed, revealing his white teeth. “Why the hell not?”
“It’s wrong and you can’t make me stay. Raine, get the hell off me.”
He shifted his leg and kicked one of the bed posts hard. She heard a noise and turned her gaze from his to watch one of the chains fall down the post and hit the bottom of the bed. She darted a look back to his face to see him still grinning at her.
“I can keep you and I warned you that if you attempted to leave again I’d chain you to my bed.” He chuckled. “I like being on you.”
“You son of a bitch! Don’t even think about it.”
“I told you,” his grin died, “my mother happened to be a whore.”
He kicked the other post and another chain fell. She swallowed hard, a little fear rising. She didn’t think he’d really hurt her but she was pretty sure he really would cuff her to his bed.
“I want to leave.”
“I want you to stay.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Brit. I know you’re upset. I saw the look on your face downstairs when we were caught in the act but I’m not letting you run.”
“You can’t really keep me here, River. I want to leave. I’m sure everyone in this house knows we’ve done each other and Dale will find out. I really do need my job. The best thing I can do is get out of here before there’s more damage done. I might be able to explain to Dale that it was just a tiny little loss of my sanity with all the stress I’m under.”
“It’s not happening. You’re here for a month and that’s how long you’ll stay. I’ll handle my family and Dale won’t hear a peep about us. Your job is safe.”
Frustration rose inside her. “Why won’t you let me go? I want to leave.”
“You don’t really want that.” He slowly shook his head. “You’re scared for some reason, spooked like some skittish mare, but guess what? I’m a horse wrangler.” He grinned. “It’s my job to tame them.”
“I’m not a horse.”
“And I’m happy about that.” He chuckled. “I’ve never wanted to mount one of them the way I do you.”
“Not funny.”
His grin faded. “Why are you so determined to run away from me and this attraction between us? We have a month to spend together and I’m willing to stay here. If you think I do this often, think again. I usually hit it and run, to be honest, but you’re different. I actually want to get to know you and spend time with you. If anyone should be packing a bag and running away, it should be me.”
“I’m not pinning you down.”
“You couldn’t if you tried. Talk to me. Why do you want to leave so bad?”
She looked away from him to stare at the headboard above her head. She hesitated, refusing to meet his gaze. “I became trapped in a hellish marriage and I don’t want to ever get involved again. Is that so hard to understand?”
His body tensed over hers. “Did he abuse you?”
She met his furious gaze, studying his features, seeing pure rage there. The idea obviously really affected him.
“Yeah. He was a real piece of work, all right?”
“You don’t seem the type to take that kind of shit.”
She turned away, staring at the bedding next to her face. “I’m not. I tried leaving but it got pretty complicated.”
“You don’t seem to have a problem with trying to leave me and I haven’t hurt you.”
“I don’t want to talk about this. I left my past behind and it’s not something I want to rehash.”
“That’s too damn bad. If this guy is such an ass, why
did you marry him?”
“I’m not talking about this.”
“We’re not moving until you do. I don’t care if we miss lunch and dinner or if we have to stay this way all night. Tell me what this guy did to you and why you ended up with an asshole.”
Hot tears threatened to spill so she blinked them back, still refusing to look at him. She swallowed the lump that formed. “I didn’t know how he was at first. He kind of pretended to be something he wasn’t, married me fast, and then his true side came out.”
“He hit you?” River growled the words.
She nodded once, confirming his suspicion. “Yeah. He became a hitter. I tried to leave, even filed charges with the police, and did all the things they tell you to do. It wasn’t enough. I even got a restraining order.”
“But he wouldn’t let go? He charmed you back?”
Oh hell, she thought. She finally met River’s gaze, seeing bafflement in his expression. “He had some family money, okay? He hired lawyers I couldn’t afford to pay to keep fighting the divorce and he made sure I never had access to a dime. He turned very controlling that way. He paid for everything and only gave me small amounts of cash if I needed to buy something. He had the restraining orders tossed with his fast-talking lawyers and then he’d come after me. Every time I got hired at a new job, he intimidated them with his family money and connections to get me fired. He got me tossed from every apartment I found. He scared me and made threats, always making sure I knew he’d rather see me dead than without him. I went back because I had no choice. He never made idle threats. ”
River’s anger turned to shock, the emotion clear on his face. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.” She took a shaky breath, proud she’d said it all without crying. “I survived hell until I managed to finally get away for good.”
“You’re divorced, right? I can’t see that big of an asshole letting go easily.”
“I am legally divorced.” She hesitated. “He didn’t agree to it but the judge saw it my way.”