Brit couldn’t talk, the level of rapture too great to do anything but moan louder when the vibrator inside her pussy throbbed harder. A sheen of sweat broke over her skin and she knew the only reason she hadn’t come was due to the shock of being moved. Now that she was suspended and no longer astounded by his hidden lift system, she could focus on those wonderful vibrations. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer.
“Easy,” River groaned. “Nice and slow.”
She didn’t understand what he meant until his lubed cock brushed the crack of her ass and then slid across her anus. She experienced a moment of fear but the pleasure was too intense, drowning out everything else. As he slid the crown of his cock there, rubbing her, it shot new sensations straight to her brain. It became too much. Brit threw her head back, crying out loudly, and started to climax hard. Rapture tore throughout her body as River pushed into her ass slowly.
Brit cried out at the extra sensation but she couldn’t differentiate pleasure from pain since the strong vibrators were dragging her climax out, her body jerking with each explosion of sensation inside her. River softly cursed, pushed against her ass, and then slowly rocked his hips to work his cock deeper into her a little at a time.
“Fuck,” he roared out as his hands gripped her hips.
Brit opened her eyes in time to watch River throw his head back. He looked as if he were in agony from the way his eyes squeezed tightly closed, his mouth was open, and his features were twisted. He trembled violently, his grip on her shaking them both, and then his head dropped forward as his eyes opened. She saw total bliss in his sexy gaze.
He reached between them and turned off the vibrators, gently removed them, and dropped them on the edge of the bed. Brit’s tense body went lax. She hung limply from the chains and sweat coated her body. River remained inside her, connecting them. They both breathed hard.
“Goddamn. I am almost embarrassed at how fast I just came but you feel too good.”
“You could have warned me you were going to do that.”
“You might have said no.” A smile spread his lips. “I wanted to come inside you at least once without a condom and it was fifty times better than I imagined.” His smile faded. “I don’t suppose you’d consider getting on birth control, would you? I’d give anything to fuck you all the time without one. I have to keep up with the testing requirement since I compete at rodeos sometimes. They run full panels. I’m totally clean from sexual diseases.”
Brit hesitated. “I’m on the shot but I like double protection.”
“You told me you weren’t on the Pill.” He frowned.
“I lied. I wasn’t about to allow you to touch me without a condom.”
Something akin to anger tightened his expression and then River slowly withdrew from her body. “I see.” He definitely sounded angry. “I’m sorry I asked.”
Something was obviously very wrong. River grabbed the remote and turned on the motor to the chains again, lowering her to the bed and pushing the pillows out from under her. He refused to meet her gaze the entire time as he freed her from the cuffs, and then started grabbing up the used sex toys.
“Why are you so angry?”
He kept his back to her while he placed the toys on the dresser, yanked open a drawer, and withdrew a pair of dark-gray sweats that he jerked up his legs. Brit sat up on his bed and drew part of his bedspread over her body to cover her breasts and thighs. He slowly looked over his shoulder at her, his gaze shuttered.
“I’ve never asked a woman to get on the Pill before because I never trusted one enough to have that kind of faith in her that she wouldn’t try to get knocked up on purpose. When my standings were good in the rodeo a lot of women used to beg me to ride them bareback but a lot of those women were looking to get knocked up for the child support since the money would be pretty good if I won. I never took that chance though.”
“I’m flattered.” She meant it.
“Right. That’s why you said no. I’m good enough to fuck but just as long as it’s not too intimate, right?”
“I didn’t say that. Everything we’ve done is very intimate, River.”
He growled a low curse and grabbed up the used sex toys and headed toward the bedroom door. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”
She watched him go, slamming the door behind him, and she sat there bewildered. His fury stunned her and she had no idea why he reacted that strongly. Just because she took the birth control shot didn’t mean she couldn’t get pregnant—nothing was one hundred percent effective. Doubling up on protection was better. The last thing either of them needed was an accidental pregnancy. Minutes later River stomped back into the room and returned the clean toys to his bag. He shoved it under the bed after zipping it closed.
“I’m going for a horseback ride. Why don’t you take a nap or something while I’m gone? Dinner will be in a few hours.” He spun away, moving for the door.
“River?”
He paused but refused to look at her. “What?”
“Come here, please?”
He slowly faced her. “What, Brit?”
“Why are you so angry? Please talk to me and tell me what’s going on in your head. I married a moody guy and he would just take off on me. Show me how different you are from him by telling me why you’re so ticked off.”
“That’s a cheap shot.”
“What was?” She tried hard to appear innocent.
A grin spread River’s mouth. “You’re a brat, do you know that? You’re trying to egg me into talking or you’re implying I’m of the same cloth as your ex-asshole.”
“I want to know why you’re so hot under the collar just because I like double protection. Sometimes the shot fails and I’m afraid of what would happen if it did. I’m a mess and so is my life. I can’t raise a baby alone and we don’t exactly share matching wedding bands.” She paused. “Not that I’m looking for that because I’m not. I’m just saying we don’t need to take that risk in our situation.”
His tense shoulders relaxed and he to the bed and sat on the end of it, watching her. “So that’s why you don’t want me to ride you bareback? You’re afraid your shot will fail?”
“Yes. Why else would I want to use double protection?”
Something in his dark gaze hardened. “Because I’m a Raine.”
“Okay. And what is that supposed to mean?”
“A lot of women in these parts think my brothers and I are great for a good time but nothing on the long-term side of things. They especially don’t want us sharing more body fluids with them than absolutely necessary.”
“So you assumed I didn’t want you to come inside me because people are dumbasses around here?”
River laughed. “Something like that.”
“I’m not from around here.”
They studied each other for a long time.
Brit spoke first. “If it means so much to you then we could do it but I want you to know that if anything goes wrong, don’t blame me.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“Okay.”
He smiled. “So no more condoms?”
“I guess not. You’re worth a risk or two.”
“So are you.”
“I’m sure it will be fine though. I mean, I know not to take antibiotics and stuff that will nullify my shots. I read the pamphlet carefully since kids aren’t in my plan right now. I’m not exactly sexually active often but still, I didn’t want to end up pregnant.”
“I’m not ready to be a daddy either. Maybe in a few years that will change.”
“Okay then.”
River held out his hand to her. “Come on. Let’s shower. We’re both sweaty and I like the idea of soaping you up. I still want to fuck you against a shower stall.”
“That’s dangerous. We could slip and fall.”
He laughed loudly, pulled her to her feet, and released her hand. “I like to live dangerously.”
“Right. You like to climb on the backs of
bulls.”
“I do.” He handed her one of his T-shirts. “Just wear that. I don’t have a robe but you’ll be covered.”
Brit put on his shirt, which fell to her thighs, and followed him out of his room to the bathroom across the hallway. They didn’t run into any of his family. River locked the bathroom door. He reached for the bottom of her shirt.
“River?” The male voice that called out sounded just like him.
River sighed. “Hold that thought.” He turned and unlocked the door, opened it, and stepped out into the hallway, his body blocking the opening. “What?”
“Trip, Adam, and I are going to the bar in an hour. We thought you might like to take Brit out. You game?”
He looked over his shoulder at Brit. “Want to go out to have some drinks and eat the best ribs in Texas?”
“That sounds good.”
“Count us in. We’ll meet you guys there.” River backed into the bathroom and firmly shut the door. “I guess we’re just showering but later I’m going to nail you against that tile wall.”
“I’ll let you.” She winked at him, stripped out of the shirt, and then bent over to turn on the water, showing him her ass.
“Tease.”
She wiggled her hips a little. “That’s teasing.”
“You’re going to get it later. Now hurry up. When they say an hour, that’s what they mean. I know you women feel the need to do your hair and makeup.”
She laughed.
Chapter Eight
The bar happened to be packed with people. Loud country music throbbed through Brit’s ears the second she walked inside on River’s arm. He’d driven them there in his truck but they planned to meet the others there. Her grip on him tightened a little and he glanced down at her, amused.
“No need to be nervous,” he said loud enough to be heard over the noise. “We’re going to have fun.”
“I didn’t expect this many people,” she stated honestly.
“It’s rodeo season and Thomas, the owner, has satellite service and a few big-screen televisions that will have all the events showing. Everyone within fifty miles will be here to watch them and to bullshit with their friends and neighbors.”
Great, she thought sarcastically. She’d envisioned a quiet small-town bar, having a few drinks with River and his brothers, and maybe talking him out onto an empty dance floor for a couple of songs before eating a meal together.
Trip, and a man who looked similar enough to him to be his brother, sat at a corner table and waved. River spotted them and moved that way, leading Brit behind him but his hand on hers kept her arm laced with his. River motioned her to scoot in so she did, finding herself nearly hip to hip with the blond man she hadn’t met. He grinned at her and held out his hand.
“I’m Adam and you must be Brit.” His gaze traveled over her quickly and then he shook his head at River. “You had to get to her first, huh?”
River sat down on the other side of Brit and grinned while they ordered drinks. “Deal with it. Brit and I knew each other before I returned to Hailey. She became mine before we ever reached the ranch.”
“You suck.” Adam chuckled, took a sip of his beer, and then met Brit’s curious gaze.
“It’s a long story but the short of it is, all the best women end up with Ryder or River before poor Trip and I ever lay eyes on them to get a chance to snag them first.”
Trip snorted. “But we end up with them last.” He winked at Brit. “When you’re tired of his ass feel free to come see Adam or me. We’re more into long-term relationships.”
Something in River’s expression tightened. “Knock it off.”
Trip drank shots of something dark, which he downed in one gulp each time. “I’m just being honest with the lady. You aren’t known for sticking in there with one woman for longer than a weekend. I’m just letting her know when she’s ready for something more lasting, I’m available. You did warn her, didn’t you?”
“You really want to talk about someone sticking around for long? How is your wife?” River’s tone turned icy cold.
The shot glass slammed down on the table hard and loud as Trip glared at River. “Asshole.”
“Leave her alone. She’s special to me.” River glared back at his adopted brother.
Trip stood. “I’m going to go play some pool.”
“That wasn’t cool,” Adam sighed. “He’s hurting.”
River hesitated. “He just pissed me off.” He turned his head, meeting Brit’s wary gaze. “I told you I have a past and part of that was becoming a bit of a drifter when it came to women but this isn’t some weekend thing between us. I mean that.”
“I didn’t ask for more.” Brit didn’t look away from him as the waitress dropped off drinks. She wrapped her hand around the soda she’d ordered. “You’re the one pushing for a month, not me.”
Adam laughed. “Uh-oh. Has River finally fallen for a woman who isn’t falling all over him first?”
“Shut up, bro.” River kept his gaze on Brit. “We’ll discuss this at home in our room.”
“Okay.”
Adam shook his head. “We’ve got to do something about Trip.”
River turned his head and Brit followed his gaze. Trip stood at the bar slamming more shots. The big blond swayed a little as he stumbled and then definitely showed his drunkenness when he staggered toward the back corner where the pool tables were set up.
“He’s been drinking every night since she left.” Adam watched Trip every unsteady step of the way. “And every night I’m here driving his ass home, having flashbacks of Dusty. Maybe we should throw him into rehab too, as a preventative measure. He’s on his way to becoming an alcoholic.”
River frowned and then turned his head, talking to Brit. “He married some woman he fell hard and fast for but she left five days later. It devastated him. He believes he loved her and now she won’t take his calls or tell him why she ran off.”
“And she had him served to go to court to have the marriage annulled. It turns out her daddy is some bigwig Washington political type who is pulling strings to get it done super fast.” Adam looked disgusted. “It really hurt his pride to find out she’s rich and he thinks that’s why she left when she saw his mobile home. He’s proud.”
“It’s a fine home.” River’s sounded angry. “He worked hard to save up the money to buy it. It was backbreaking work to clear that hilltop to level it for his home.”
“She probably thought she’d live in the ranch house.” Adam sipped his drink.
River frowned. “Why the hell would she want that? When I settle down, I’m sure as hell not going to live there. I want my own place without brothers underfoot. I envy Dusty for getting his own place.”
Adam shrugged. “You know how it goes. They hear how big the Raine ranch is and a lot of women assume we have money.”
“Yeah.” River glanced at Brit. “Navarro’s first wife happened to be the same way. She thought he had big bucks but the truth is, we just do okay. The second she figured it out, she made his life a living hell until they divorced. We have a lot of land but it’s been in our family for a few generations.”
“We work hard at keeping it too.” Adam sipped his beer. “Where’s Ryder?”
“Hell if I know. His truck was gone when Brit and I came downstairs. I thought he’d be here by now. We’ll order dinner when he arrives.”
Adam leaned over the table a little. “Did you hear that Morris Decon died late last night? The news is all over town.”
“Fuck,” River gasped, paling slightly. “I hadn’t heard. Do you think Ryder knows?”
Adam shrugged. “Hell if I know.”
“Who’s Morris Decon?” Brit glanced between the two men.
River leaned in. “He used to be one of the town’s biggest assholes but he also happened to be the father of the one woman my brother loved. Morris Decon ran with a bunch of racist bigots who think anyone not wall white should die. You can imagine how thrilled he had to be when his
daughter hooked up with my twin.”
Adam nodded. “She left town, just blew out of here and left Ryder without so much as a ‘fuck you very much’.”
“It tore him up,” River added. “Morris’ death might shake him a little in the memory department.”
“That is horrible. She just left without saying why?”
“Yeah.” Adam nodded. “Broke his heart and then some. He was never the same.”
“Bitter,” River agreed.
“I’m sorry to hear it.” Brit wondered silently if Ryder’s old girlfriend was a woman he and River had shared but she wasn’t about to ask, not really wanting to know.
“I’ll go apologize to Trip, even if he asked for it.” River scooted to the side of the booth and stood, taking his beer with him. He gave Adam a knowing look. “Don’t hit on Brit while I’m gone.” His gaze slid to her. “If he does, smack him upside the head. I’ll be right back.”
She nodded. “I’ll be here.”
Adam bumped her with his shoulder, drawing her attention. She turned her head and looked up at him. He smiled. “He really likes you. He usually runs from commitment and trust me, a month is probably the most committed he’s ever been.”
“Thanks?” She wasn’t sure what else to say or exactly how to reply to that kind of statement.
“So are you a big rodeo fan?”
“No.” She looked away from him to watch River make his way across the bar. He stopped a few times to smile and talk to other men. “Not really.”
“I could explain what is going on if you want to learn.”
She gave Adam her full attention again. “Thanks but I’m very familiar with it. I just don’t enjoy watching the events. It’s a long story.”
“We have some time.”
She smiled tightly. “It’s not a good story I want to share.”
“Ah. It probably involves a man then.”
Her smile fell. “Good guess.”
“You hooked up with a rodeo bum?”
“No.”
“But someone tied to it in some way?”
She nodded, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. “I learned more about the sport than I ever wanted to know. How do you like living in a small town?”