STORY EXCERPT

She stared into his blue eyes and felt a different kind of guilt swamp her. “I ache all over, but I’m okay. I’m sorry.” Her attention focused to Isaac. “Seriously. I’m really sorry.”

Isaac dragged a hand through his hair. “We told you Ballistic was too much horse for you.”

“I know.” What more could she say? If she were totally honest, she’d tell them she was sorry again but only half-sorry. Part of her was overjoyed to have experienced the deliriously stunning ride. But the men didn’t have to know that.

Seth moved past them, leading Ballistic back into the barn. “Is she hurt?”

“No,” answered an aggravated Isaac. At least he’d gone from furious to aggravated. “Damn foolish thing to do. Foolish and dangerous. She should have her head examined.” He froze, suddenly aware of what he’d said. Immediately, his irritation was gone. “Babe, I didn’t mean it.”

She shook her head, which didn’t hurt half as much as her butt. At least she’d landed on something with padding. No doubt her thick head would’ve cracked wide open. “Don’t worry about it.” Reaching out for Tanner’s help, she slowly, painfully got to her feet.

“Why did you pull a stunt like that?” Tanner wasn’t as angry as Isaac had been, but he still gave her glares. “You got lucky. You could’ve been seriously injured.”

What he said was true, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit it. “I’m fine.” She smiled, trying to relieve their worry, but couldn’t stop the smile from turning into a grin. “Damn, but that was fun.”

“Fun?” Isaac stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. “Are you fucking kidding me? You shouldn’t have gotten anywhere near that horse.”

Seth returned, his eyes narrowed. “Holy hell. You planned that, didn’t you? Once you found out that Ballistic was saddled and ready to go, you made up the excuse to go to the bathroom so you could get to him. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Not looking at him didn’t help. She had to tell them. “Look, guys. I told you I didn’t want to ride the old lady’s horse. I’m trying to get as much out of life as I can.” At least she didn’t add, “before I die.” Still, the unspoken message was clear. And shitty as hell. But the thing people said about lies was true. After telling them the whopper of a lie about a tumor, telling smaller ones, especially ones by omission, were easy.

“We get that, but this is too much. Having fun, experiencing things you’ve never experienced is one thing. Risking your life is a whole different thing.” Tanner shook his head. “Damn it. Ballistic could’ve been hurt, too. Did you think about that?”

She hadn’t. Guilt hit her. The more time she spent with the men, the guiltier she felt. Now she had more to make her feel guilty. “No,” she whispered. “I really am sorry.”

“We can’t help you if that’s what you’re going to do. Not if we can’t trust you.”

Shit. What do I say now?

She said the only thing she could say. Putting on a contrite expression, she added, “I know, and I’m sorry.  I swear nothing like it will ever happen again.” She stepped closer to Tanner. “Trust me. I’ll only milk the cow you tell me to milk.”

“Very funny.” Yet the anger and worry flowing out of him was almost tangible. “Just don’t do anything stupid, okay?”

“I won’t.” Not stupid, anyway. Dangerous and wild? Yes. Yes, I will.

“I don’t believe you.” Seth crossed his arms and studied her harder.

Sidestepping his remark, she reached out and squeezed his arm while looking at Isaac. “I swear I won’t. Do you guys forgive me? Puhlease?”

Tanner pulled her close. “Sure we do. Right, guys?”

Seth nodded while Isaac only grunted his acceptance.

“Thanks. And again, I’m really sorry.”

“Fine. But enough of the riding lessons for today. Let’s get Rocker squared away then get inside.” Isaac gave her a suspicious look then wheeled around.

Although it was the last thing she wanted to do, she eased away from Tanner and hurried after Isaac. Already she was beginning to feel the bruises starting to ache, but she’d ignored them. If she complained, they might not help her. “Please, Isaac, let me ride Rocker.”

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough riding? Or at least the getting off the horse part?” Seth’s long legs easily brought him to her side.

She laughed, enjoying his gentle verbal stab. “You might be right, but I owe it to Rocker. I didn’t ride him as much as I should have. Besides, what’s the old saying? If you fall off a horse, you’re supposed to get back on, right?”

“But in this case, it’s not the same horse,” added Tanner, catching up with them.

“Definitely not the same horse.” Although, would I do a better job if I tried to ride Ballistic again?

Isaac got to the corral where Rocker waited patiently. “Fine. Take him around the corral a few times. But only the corral.” An eyebrow jumped up. “I’m not sure we should trust you to take him out on the range yet.”

She wanted to argue but thought it wiser to go along. Push too hard and everything could fall apart. “Okay. No problem.” She shoved open the gate and eased over to Rocker’s left side. “See? I’m learning. Mount from the left.” She grinned at Isaac. “And never ride Ballistic without a parachute.”

By the time she’d mounted Rocker, Seth and Tanner were still chuckling over her joke. Isaac, however, still glowered at her. She tugged on Rocker’s reins, taking him away from the railing where the men stood.

Once she was far enough away, she leaned over the horse’s neck. “Do you want to know a secret, Rocker? One of these days I’m going to ride them.”

ADULT EXCERT

She was slipping through the murky depths when someone grabbed hold of her ankle. Surprise brought out a yelp but then brought in water. Losing air, she kicked out, freed her foot, and then headed for the surface. When she broke through, she sputtered and dragged in air. “What the hell?”

Isaac tossed his head back, getting his wet hair out of his face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Just watch what you’re grabbing.”

“Sure thing, girl.” Tanner’s arm snaked around her, his forearm covering one breast as his hand covered the other. “Is this what you mean?”

“Exactly.” She laughed and twisted around, no small feat while treading water. Instead of continuing to swim, she wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles. “Don’t let me pull you under.”

“You couldn’t if you tried.”

Isaac pushed against her back and planted nibbles along her shoulder. “Don’t worry about us. We don’t like swimming, but we’re damn good at it when we have to be.”

“Are you good at everything?”

“Our little adrenaline junkie has turned into a seductress.”

She palmed Seth’s face and wiped away the trail of water slipping down his cheek. “I’m all kinds of different women in one package. But you’ll figure that out in time.”

“Damn straight.” Tanner pulled her closer, his cock pressing against her crotch. “And talking about straight, I hope you like it a little curved, too.”

She took in a breath as his cock pushed her folds apart. “I do. I really do.”

Isaac gave her a bite, just enough to draw her attention away from Tanner’s immense pole. He dropped below the water, his hands trailing along her hips and down her legs. Another nibble sent a stab of pain into her butt cheek. “Isaac—”

“Never mind him, darlin’.” Seth took her chin and turned her face toward his. His lips pressed against her mouth, drawing her attention away once again.

Was she easily distracted? Yet she figured he could distract any woman from even the most alluring temptation.

That was until Isaac pushed her butt cheeks apart and pressed his fingers to her asshole. A gasp ended the kiss, even as Isaac’s exploration started her libido on a skyrocket trip of excitement.

“I’ll bet you’re tight as hell, aren’t you, girl?”

Her mind whirled as their hands slid over her, dipping into places she’d never have dreamed were erogenous. Tanner’s cock pushed into her entrance, not all the way inside but enough to give her a good idea of how thick and long it was. She locked her hands behind his head and arched her back, wishing he could take her nipple into his mouth. But he’d have to go under the water to do so.

Yet Isaac was still under water. His fingers delved into her dark hole, pushing against her tight rings, urging her to give way. How was he staying under so long?

She was about to ask when Seth commandeered her mouth again. He held her head turned to him, his tongue lashing around her mouth. She moaned into the kiss and was rewarded with his echoing moan.

In the same moment, Tanner plunged his cock inside her pussy. She cried out, no longer caring how they were managing to keep themselves and her afloat. No longer caring how Isaac could act like a fish and breathe under water without air.

Tanner plunged into her, his hips whipping the water around them. His cock was enormous, and without seeing it, she could feel that it was indeed curved. Smoothing over her sweet spot, he brought her closer and closer to the conclusion.

Isaac’s fingers worked wonders, teasing her tight hole into submission. Did she need lube or was the water enough? She’d soon find out.

The waves they created splashed around them, water striking her face, entering her mouth, but that was only a distraction. Every part of her was captivated by the men as they kept her surrounded, kept her a sexual fish caught within their traps.

When Isaac came out of the water, she didn’t have time to ask him how he’d managed it. Instead, he shoved Seth to the side, his hands taking her breasts. He took her mouth, demanding a kiss.

Seth chuckled then switched places with his friend. “Easy, darlin’. This won’t hurt. Just trust me on that.”

Again she wondered, was the water serving as a lubricant? Or, somehow, some way, was he enough? She found out when Seth pushed against her, his cock easing into her asshole. His legs worked to keep them afloat as his hard thighs struck the backs of hers.

Isaac broke the kiss then took her hand and brought it under the water to wrap it around his cock. “We’ll keep you afloat, babe. You just work your magic.”

She pumped his cock even as Tanner slammed his cock into her pussy again and again. Even with the cool water, he set up an incredible friction. Steam surrounded them, lifting off the water in waves. She tightened her legs around him and tried to keep her butt thrust out as much as she could to help Seth.

“You let me worry about the angle, darlin’.” Seth shoved his cock into her asshole. His bites sent stings of pain along her shoulder, his fingers pushing into her ass cheeks.

“Pump me harder, babe. Yeah, that’s it.”

She was lost in a world of their making. Like a mermaid of old, she did her best to entrance them, but they were the ones singing the siren call with their touches, their soft murmured words of adoration.