STORY EXCERPT

Arizona slid off her stool and started toward the bar. She did her best to act as nonchalantly as she could, her focus on the bar and not scanning the room, but she failed miserably.

What the hell?

She faltered in her step. Will Brannigan had his arm around a pretty blonde. That was bad enough, but when he saw her headed their way, a small smile curved his lips.

Is he playing with me?

Don’t be silly. He doesn’t have any reason to. Still…

She wouldn’t look at him. Not when he was so obviously trying to catch her attention. But why? Altering her direction, she picked up the pace, determined to get the drinks and get back to the table.

Yet she’d only gone a few steps before once again, she paused and then had to force herself to keep going.

Collin Brannigan had his arms looped over the shoulders of two women. Women who were more than willing to skim their hands along his body. His smirk was directed straight at her.

What’s going on?

If she’d been their girlfriend, she would’ve sworn they were trying to make her jealous. Strangely, although she didn’t have any right to be jealous, it worked.

She headed toward a different place at the counter, going well out of her way. “Two bottles of Bud.” Once the bartender nodded, acknowledging her order, she turned and put her back to the bar.

Damn it.

Devin Brannigan was on the dance floor with a tall brunette. He had his hands on her hips, but his gaze was locked on Arizona.

What the fuck’s going on?

They were baiting her, but why? So far, they’d barely paid any real attention to her. Now, all of a sudden, they were trying—and succeeding—in making her jealous.

It’s a game. It has to be.

Irritation that could easily grow to anger swelled inside her yet didn’t replace the jealousy. Was it because she was new it town? Or did they think she was an easy target? Had they found out that she thought they were hot and were playing the attraction card to the max? If they were, then they weren’t the nice guys everyone said they were.

Or they’re drunk. Even good people do stupid things when they’ve been drinking.

That much she knew all too well.

Whatever the reason, she wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of letting them know they’d gotten to her.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.” She slapped a ten on the bar. “Keep the change.” Even as the bartender told her the drinks were on the house because of Krystal, she snatched up the drinks and started moving as fast as she could back to the table.

She’d covered half the distance by the time she saw them coming. All three of the men had turned the women loose and were striding toward her. Their long legs ate up the floor, their lean waists moving side to side while their broad arms swayed gently by their sides. Their walks weren’t swaggers, but more like struts. On other men, the movements might have seemed cocky, but not them. Theirs were full of confidence that wasn’t boastful. Of a pride in themselves and their ability to handle any situation that might arise. Elation struck her. They’d given up the other women for her.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, forgetting about the drinks in her hands. What would she say? Should she mention the other women? Should she tell them she knew they were playing with her?

Whatever happens, I’ll play it cool.

She thrust back her shoulders and jutted out her chin. She opened her mouth to ask them what game they were playing, to let them know she was on to them. Suddenly, they altered their course, skimming around her as though she wasn’t standing there. As though she didn’t even exist. She gaped at them as they brushed past her, Collin’s and Will’s arms brushing against either side of her. Devin passed her, his blue eyes never landing on her, although hers locked on him. They were past her and gone before she could make sense of what had happened.

Don’t turn around. That’s what they want you to do.

Gritting her teeth against the almost overwhelming need to see where they’d gone, she forced her legs to move. By the time she’d made it back to the table, her body was shaking from the effort.

“Wow.”

It was bad enough that it had happened, but to know that Krystal had watched the whole thing made it even worse.

“They were headed straight toward you. I thought—”

“No, no.” She couldn’t admit that Krystal was right. “They weren’t coming my way. Didn’t you see them? They all had dates.”

“Dates? I’m not sure that’s what I’d call those girls.”

Arizona placed a bottle in front of Krystal, then took a swig from hers. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make things worse.”

She lifted her head high. “It’s fine. Seriously.” But was it? If it was, then why did she feel so bad? So alone? So…unwanted?

ADULT EXCERPT

Slowly, Collin traveled lower, kissing her body through her clothes. His hands still held hers tightly, unwilling to turn her loose even when she tried to get free. She ached to touch him, to run her fingers along his body as his ran along hers.

Oh my stars.

When he finally turned her hands free, she was too shocked, yet thrilled. Instead of holding her hands, he started working on undoing her jeans.

Stop him.      

Her mind said the words, but there was no conviction in them. Instead, she remained still, her chest rising and falling with her panted breaths.

This is insane.

For only a moment, her memory flashed back to the night outside the Wolf’s Den and to the horror Duke had put her through. Any normal woman would’ve pushed Collin away at the memory, but she didn’t. The two were not the same. She shoved the thought of Duke away then opened her eyes and looked down at Collin.

What she saw made her knees weak. He’d pulled her panties down along with her jeans. Her bare mons was exposed, glowing pale in the shadows.

“You don’t want me to stop.”

Was it a question or simply the truth spoken out loud?

She didn’t answer. He didn’t give her time to answer. Instead, he parted her folds with his thumbs, sent her a heated smile, and put his face to her pussy.

Her legs threatened to buckle, and she leaned against the wall, supporting herself. The heat she’d experienced earlier ramped into an all-out volcano. Sighing, she spread her legs as far as the jeans puddled at her ankles would allow.

His tongue lashed at her. His mouth feasted on her clit. Two fingers plunged into her pussy.

Her hands flattened against the bricks, steadying her. Inside, however, she’d lost her equilibrium and was spinning. Waves of orgasmic tension radiated outward from her crotch as the climax she’d been unprepared for rushed out of her. The sounds of him lapping up her juices echoed in the alley.

Around and around her clit ran his tongue, then slicking its way to her pussy, where he plunged in and out of her wet pussy. With her body trembling, she had to find something more than the wall to keep her on her feet. She took hold of his hair, her fingers tunneling through its thickness.

He added his teeth to the rake of his tongue, drinking, slurping, nibbling at her until she squirmed her butt against the wall. She had to get away from the decadent torture yet wanted nothing more than to push her crotch hard against his face.

A noise sounding like a growl rumbled against her. The animal she’d sensed he possessed inside had come alive.

Two more growls came, growls that hadn’t come from Collin. Alarm sprinted through her as she searched the shadows deeper in the alley.

Devin and Will broke out of the darkness. Their eyes, reminding her of Collin’s strangely colored eyes, locked onto her as they strode toward her, their movements fluid yet powerful.

Where had they come from? Had they been watching all along?

Devin went to one side of her while Will took to her other side. They bent toward her at the same time, their faces close against her hair as they both drew in long breaths. She sighed as they slipped their hands under her shirt and captured her breasts in their large hands.

Taking her by the chin, Will turned her head toward him and met her parted lips with his own. The sound of her muted moan vibrated her lips as he snaked his tongue inside her mouth.

Take me. Please. Take me.

She wasn’t an easy woman and wasn’t the kind who would ever have sex in a public place, but she no longer cared about decorum. She wouldn’t, couldn’t, stop them. If she did, it would break more than her heart. It would tear her very soul apart.

Devin tugged her away from his brother, taking her arm and forcing her to pivot away from Will. A low growl was Will’s complaint, but neither she nor Devin let it stop them.

She faced Devin and stared into his mesmerizing eyes. What did he want her to do? Whatever it was, she’d gladly do it.

Although he spoke no words, she understood his meaning as he pulled her in front of him. Collin shifted position behind her. His hands played with her bottom, his fingers dipping into her puckered lips. His licks tantalized her, sending quick shock waves through her skin as he sank his tongue into her dark hole, working his fingers around his tongue. He worked her tight circle, making it looser, ready to accept what he’d give her next.

She tensed, yet was unable to voice her concern. Never had she had anyone take her from behind. Would it be as painful as she’d heard? Or would the pain morph into pleasure? Which of the stories was true? Collin nibbled on her shoulder as he pushed another finger inside her to join the first.

Devin’s mouth took hers, forcing all worries away. His hand dipped between her legs to find her weeping pussy. One thumb rubbed over her clit while the other pebbled her nipple.

Will uttered yet another animal-like growl but held back, his attention running from what one brother was doing to her to the next. “Mine.”

Yes. If she realized nothing else, she realized that. She was his, as much as she was Collin’s and Devin’s. At least for the time being. For now, the time being was all that mattered.