Mom followed Aggie to the kitchen and perched herself on a stool at the breakfast bar. Yawning, Aggie started a pot of coffee brewing and leaned against the counter across from her mother.“What’s with you?” Mom asked. “You get laid or something?”“Huh?” How on earth would her mother know that?“You’re walking all bowlegged.”“Shut up,” Aggie said. “I am not.”“If you say so.” Mom gave her an appraising look, reached into her purse, and retrieved her pack of cigarettes again. “Men. Jackasses. All of them.”Normally, Aggie would agree, but she’d found one last night she kind of liked. One who apparently made her walk bowlegged. “They’re not all bad.”Mom thumped another cigarette out of the pack, put it between her lips, and lit it. “Shit, you found a man, didn’t you?”Aggie shrugged. “Not really.”Mom took a deep drag off her cigarette, smoke curling around her head as it floated to the ceiling. Aggie really wished she wouldn’t smoke in her house, but with this woman there were so man
Aggie unbuttoned the fly of his jeans. She squatted as she pushed his pants down his thighs. She placed a tender kiss on the head of his cock. It twitched, rapidly engorging, growing thick, long, and hard. Wanting to be buried in her voluptuous body—in her slick warmth—where it belonged.Aggie wandered over to her table and selected a paddle. She turned to look at him and winced when her gaze fell on his back. “You’re really bruised,” she murmured. She moved to stand behind him and traced the thick bands of damage along his upper back. “The cane. Why didn’t you tell me I was doing that much damage to you? I would have stopped.”“I didn’t want you to stop. I needed it.”“I’m not hitting you with a cane again,” she said. “You’ll have to settle for a good paddling this evening.” She kissed his shoulder and circled his body to face him. She caressed his bare bu**ocks and then struck him on its fleshy cheek with her paddle.It cracked against his tender flesh. Stinging pain shot through hi
“I’m a whole different type of beast.”She glanced up at him. The coldness in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. He downed his wine in two gulps and set his glass on the dresser. He went to the closet and pulled a hard-shell, black suitcase from its depths. He knelt in front of it on the floor.She moved to stand beside him, looking at the suitcase. “What’s that?”“The reason I brought you here.”He flipped the locks and tossed the lid open. Aggie’s eyes widened. He had all kinds of things inside, ranging from obvious paddles and candles to things she couldn’t identify.He looked at her. “You still trust me, right?”The anxious flutter in her stomach excited her. She had no idea what he had in mind, but whatever it was, she was game. He had yet to disappoint her. “Yeah.”He began to sort through the case, arranging things in piles. She couldn’t decipher any pattern in his groupings as she watched him, sipping her wine. He lit candles, setting them on the side table. He left the ro
“Jace.”Another splash of hot wax. This time he traced the drop with ice. She gyrated, desperately fighting the urge to clamp her legs together and rub her clit between her swollen labia to get off.“Hold still.”“I’m trying.” She gasped. “This makes me want you.”She felt him move away and heard the candle being set on the table. Ice clinked, and then he moved between her legs, spreading them wide and holding them open with his shoulders. His fingers held her labia open, and the first drop of ice-cold water struck her clit. She jerked.“Shh. Hold still.” His words were garbled around the ice in his mouth. His aim was remarkable. Each drop struck her overstimulated clit, but sought a different pathway over her lips, opening, and ass. Drip. Drip. Drip. His sweet torture was too much to bear. She shifted her legs from his shoulders and clamped her thighs on his head. Digging her feet into his back, she pulled his face into her pu**y.“Ah God, lick it, Jace. Suck it.”He worked an ice cu
Trey grinned crookedly. “So that’s why I’ve been tasting tequila since I woke up. Was it really necessary to give me tongue?”Eric laughed. “Hey, I know you like that kind of thing. I thought it might revive you.”“You gave him tongue?” Jace’s nose curled. He knew Trey was bisexual, and Jace was fine with that, as long as he wasn’t confronted by it. To each man his own—just keep it behind closed doors.Eric rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and shook his head. “No, I didn’t really give him tongue. Jeez, dude, do you have any sense of humor at all?”Jace had a hard time figuring out when Eric was being serious and when he was joking. He’d probably do better if he erred on the side of joking. The guy was rarely serious.“I knew you were joking,” Jace said.“Whatever.”“I’m bored. Let’s watch Sed and Jessica’s video again,” Trey said.Dave peeked in the door. “Eric, are you ready to go?” he whispered loudly.“Sed and Jess left,” Eric said, waving Dave back into the room. “It’s safe.”Da
Aggie went to her table and returned with a black cloth sack. She slipped it over his head. The room was tinted black as he stared through the gauzy material. He could see just fine, and he could breathe. He realized she couldn’t see his face like this. Was that her purpose? So she didn’t have to look at him?“Stay,” she said, before leaving him lying there on the cold floor, his leash lying loose beside him. He tilted his head and watched her walk into the second room of her sanctum. She returned a moment later with a big, muscular man on a leash. He was hooded, but otherwise unrestrained.“Kneel, Loser,” she growled at the man.“Yes, Mistress V.” He dropped to his knees, bent over her boots, and rubbed his leather-encased face over her feet and ankles with feverish reverence.He noticed Jace lying naked-with-socks on the floor and glanced up at his dominatrix in question.“Don’t look at me directly.”He averted his gaze.“We’re going to show this misbehaving slave the proper way to
She tilted her head back and took in the beauty of the speckled sky. “I never take the time to look at the stars. I’m usually working.” She snuggled closer to Jace. She hoped Roy didn’t fire her for leaving. She could tell him she had an emergency. Knowing Jace was leaving Vegas counted as an emergency, didn’t it? Her arms tightened around him. She had to admit she didn’t want him to go.“Come here,” Jace murmured, sliding an arm around her waist to coax her to move around his body.She slid so they faced each other, her back to the handlebars and her legs straddling his. Up on the main road, a car passed, but no one seemed to know their little dirt road existed.“You said you wanted to drive out to the desert to have an orgy on my bike.” His low voice sent ripples of delight through her body. “If you still want—”Aggie kissed him, thrusting her tongue into his mouth. He remembered that offhand comment? He groaned, his hands gripping her bare thighs beneath her skirt. She tugged his T
“Why are you thanking me?” Sed said. “I’m putting your ass to work.”Which suited Jace just fine. This was only the second time Jace had been inside Sed’s condo. The first had been Sed’s housewarming party, probably the wildest in the history of man. Jace didn’t remember most of the evening. He’d passed out on the rooftop patio in nothing but a pair of women’s blue satin panties, and Eric had drawn flowers all over his back with an indelible marker. Jace didn’t recollect where he’d gotten those panties.Sed’s place was huge and extravagant. Maybe it was time for Jace to buy a place of his own. His little apartment didn’t get much use, but Brownie would probably like a balcony she could sun herself on. It just seemed a waste to spend all that money on something so rarely used. Normally, Jace was on the road far more often than he was at home, but since Trey was out of commission until his finger mobility improved, they’d had to cancel a bunch of tour dates.Jace followed Sed through th
Ava gave Hannah an arch look. “Besides I know how damn good the man looks in chaps?"“Smartass. But really, what’s the point after Chase’s meltdown last night?”Her heart seized, thinking about how Chase had lost it on live TV. She’d wanted to jump through the screen and drag him off to comfort him. Assure him that not every wreck would have the same outcome as Ryan’s. Assure him she’d be there for him no matter what.“I know you can hear me, Ava, so stop ignoring—”“Ssh… They’re giving the injury report on Dirk.”The camera cut to an interview with the head of the sports medicine team. When he finished detailing the bull rider’s injuries, the announcer asked his opinion on Chase McKay’s comments about mandatory safety helmets. The doctor looked directly into the camera and said, “Helmets save lives. Period.”The camera returned to the main announcers. Their on-air banter circled to rider standings on tour and current matchups with bulls for the final round. When the list of the fifte
Ava gave Hannah an arch look. “Besides I know how damn good the man looks in chaps?”“Smartass. But really, what’s the point after Chase’s meltdown last night?”Her heart seized, thinking about how Chase had lost it on live TV. She’d wanted to jump through the screen and drag him off to comfort him. Assure him that not every wreck would have the same outcome as Ryan’s. Assure him she’d be there for him no matter what.“I know you can hear me, Ava, so stop ignoring—”“Ssh… They’re giving the injury report on Dirk.”The camera cut to an interview with the head of the sports medicine team. When he finished detailing the bull rider’s injuries, the announcer asked his opinion on Chase McKay’s comments about mandatory safety helmets. The doctor looked directly into the camera and said, “Helmets save lives. Period.”The camera returned to the main announcers. Their on-air banter circled to rider standings on tour and current matchups with bulls for the final round. When the list of the fifte
“After a few years, we started having you boys and… Well, my life was busy. Good. Happy. But I never forgot about that sweet baby boy I held in my arms for one short hour. Not a single day went by that I didn’t wonder about him. Pray his life was good. Pray he was loved.”*****Gavin’s eyes were on the shot glass he rolled between his fingers.“So I was shocked when your Aunt Kimi confronted me after your grandpa Jed died. She said one night Jed was loopy on pain meds and he told her that my father told him that I was pregnant. My father bragged to Jed I’d rather give the baby up than have it raised in a godless home as a McKay. Which was a total lie, but Jed must’ve believed it. After Kimi told me that, I finally understood why Jed never liked me and why he refused to live with us.”“Aunt Kimi never told Uncle Cal?” Chase asked.“No. But she told your Aunt Carolyn.”Gavin said nothing.“When did you tell Dad?” Ben asked gently.“Right after Quinn and Libby got back together.” She loo
Quinn? Yes.Ben? Yes.His folks? Absolutely.And probably any other McKay relation he called.They were just that way. They might fight like cats and dogs, but when it came down to it, family was everything. And he would do everything to reclaim his place in his family.“Chase?”“I’m here. Just figuring the logistics. If I leave now, I can be there by noon tomorrow. Is that early enough?”“You’re really not gonna compete in the final round and you’re coming home?” Ben said with total shock.“Hard to believe, but yeah. I’ve realized there are more important things than those eight seconds I spend on the back of a bull. I ain’t gonna be the one who lets Mom and Dad down.”Ben was very quiet.“What?”“You have changed. I’m looking forward to seein’ you. Drive safe.”Immediately after Chase hung up he called Elroy.“You’d better not be calling me to bail you outta jail, McKay,” Elroy barked.“Good morning to you too, sunshine. I’ll keep this brief. I have a family emergency in Wyoming and
“Me.”“And who are you?”Gavin took a deep breath. “I believe I’m your son.”****The crowd roared behind him, ready to party at the PBR on a Saturday night.Chase braced himself. The PBR’s newest female reporter, a fiery redhead named Lissa, stuck the microphone in his face as soon as he cleared the contestant gate. He’d been expecting it since he’d avoided an on camera interview last night. To ensure his cooperation, the cameraman blocked him in. Bastard.“We’re here with Chase McKay after that amazing ninety-one point ride on Devil’s Due. Congratulations, Chase, that’s gotta feel good to be back on top.”He focused on the woman and not the camera. “It does. Especially after an extended break and such a poor showing in Dallas.”“Tell us about the ride.”“Well, Devil’s Due is an ornery little cuss and highly unpredictable, so I wasn’t sure if he’d go into spin mode tonight or hopscotch around. Luckily I was able to stay with him no matter what he did.”“So the past few weeks you’ve b
“Okay. Thanks.”“And if that doesn’t work? Go with plan B.”Her mother, businesswoman extraordinaire, always had a backup plan. “And what is that?”“Track him down, tie him up and force him to listen to reason. It helps if you’re naked. And holding beer.”“Ah, Mom. I don’t think that will work.”“It sure did with your dad. Good luck, sweetie, keep in touch.”Ava packed her bag and booked a commercial flight to LA.“Why am I so nervous?” Ava asked Hannah, two days later.“I’ll tell you what I think after the audition.” Hannah straightened Ava’s miniskirt for the third time.“That’s not helping my nerves.” She tried not to think that Chase would know exactly what to say to her to calm her down. The door to the conference room opened and a long-legged blond strolled out. “We’re ready for you, Miss Cooper.”Ava squeezed Hannah’s hand and followed Corporate Casting Barbie into the conference room. Well, at least this production company didn’t have the clichéd casting couch. Ava chose the c
“No. And here’s fair warning: that is not a topic of discussion. With you. Or anyone else.”“Never thought I’d be happy to hear you say ‘no comment’ and mean it. Warms the cockles of my cold PR heart, McKay.”“You’re a riot. What else?”“The PBR is picking up your transportation expenses. You’re in New York now?”“Yeah.”“I can’t get you to Wichita directly—”“Book me into Omaha. I left my truck there. I’ll drive to Wichita.”“Done. What day you wanna leave?”“Today. As soon as possible.”Ava stared at him with shock.“The event isn’t for another couple days.”“I’m aware of that. But there are other things I need to take care of first.”Elroy sighed. “Fine. Contact me when you get to Kansas. And I don’t gotta remind you no press unless you’re escorted by a PBR media liaison.”“I get it. I’ll keep in touch.”“Good.” Elroy hung up.Chase returned to the bedroom and picked up his bag.“You’re leaving? Just like that?”“Yep.”“No discussion. No yelling, no hashing it out?”“What is there
Evidently he hadn’t realized she’d set up a goddamn camera in their room either.He hit the pause button, his head spinning, his gut churning, his thoughts focused on one awful thing.Betrayal.Yes, he knew she’d been taping all the fucking time, but he had no idea she’d been making a goddamned movie. The whole time they were together. To think he’d invited her to share his experiences on the road. He froze. Wait a second. He hadn’t invited her. She’d invited herself. Offering a convincing argument about wanting to see real life outside her poor, privileged upbringing.But Chase sure as hell hadn’t encouraged her to creep around, sticking that camera in everyone’s face. Capturing their private moments. Having no shame in using them for her own gain. For a woman who claimed to hate the intrusion of paparazzi, she’d become damn good at acting like one of them. She’d promised him she wouldn’t show her home movies to anyone.A new thought chilled his blood. Did Ava have footage of Ryan’s
“So I’ll think of you whenever I wear it.” Like I’ll ever stop thinking of you. Ava tried really hard not to cry, but a couple of tears slipped free. The last man who’d given her jewelry had been her grandfather.“Ava?” Chase tipped her face up. “Ah, hell. Don’t cry. I told you that you can take it back.”She made a sound half-laugh, half-sob. “No way am I taking it back, McKay. It’s beautiful. Perfect. I love it. Thank you.”The guardedness in his eyes vanished. “You’re welcome.”Chase paced in the hotel room, glaring at his phone. He hadn’t minded that the fucker hadn’t worked at all yesterday, since he and Ava had spent the whole day in their room, most of it in bed after they’d returned early in the morning from the penthouse.Dammit. He needed to access his email. Nothing was showing up on his phone. And he’d been in such a hurry to get away from the sorrow in Nebraska he’d accidentally left his laptop in his truck at the Omaha airport.His gaze landed on Ava’s computer on the de