COWBOY LOVE

STORY EXCERPT

“Really? You want to do this to me now?” Harland eased his truck off of the road and into the filling station. “And to think I was about to give you a bath when we got home.” He managed to stop right in front of the mechanic’s bay door. At least something was going right for him. Thank goodness the truck hadn’t stalled a mile back on the empty country road.

Harland shoved the gear into park and got out, slamming the door closed. He normally wouldn’t treat his baby that way, but he was ticked off.

No one was in sight, not one single customer. Harland gazed around the place, wondering where the owner was. The white-and-blue building was like a silent sentinel as it stood there under the hot summer sun.

“Harland,” Stork said as he walked out of the shop, wiping his hands on a rag. The guy was in his late sixties and skinny as a whip. The large gap in the man’s front teeth always made it sound like there was a slight whistle when the guy talked. “What seems to be the problem?”

“It just gave out on me.” Harland removed his black Stetson and swiped his hand over his head. “I don’t get it. The truck is almost brand new.”

Tucking the rag into his back pocket, Stork waved at the driver’s door. “Pop the hood and let me get a look at her.”

Harland would be the first to admit that he knew nothing about being a mechanic. That was Jed’s specialty. Harland usually would have his friend look at his truck but, because Jed wasn’t with him, he had no choice but to let Stork take care of the problem.

After popping the hood, Harland walked around to the front and stood next to Stork, unsure of what he was looking at. It was just one big hunk of machinery to him. The mechanic fiddled around, cursed a few times, and then slapped his hands together as he brushed them off. “You need a new alternator.”

A what? “You got one of those laying around here somewhere?”

“Got a whole shop of them.”

“You do?”

“No,” Stork deadpanned. “I’m gonna have to order it for ya.”

The old man dropped the hood and nodded toward the store part of his station. “Why don’t you get some cool air inside while I find out how long your part is gonna be.”

The urge to kick the crap out of his truck was strong. He didn’t have time for this. Jed was waiting on the supplies Harland had in the bed of his truck. But what was he going to do, walk the shit home?

Slapping his hat back onto his head, Harland headed inside. It was midsummer and the heat index was well over one hundred. There wasn’t even a breeze to offset the muggy air.

By the time he entered the store, Harland was sweating like crazy. It took a moment for the air conditioner to cool his heated skin. As Harland gazed through the cooler for something cold to drink, he noticed a peculiar smell. It was like honey-sweet biscuits and strawberries all rolled into one.

He knew for a fact that the old man didn’t have a bakery in here. Hell, most of the pastries were past their expiration date and wrapped in plastic.

But the scent grew stronger, urging Harland to find out where it was coming from. He sniffed along the shelves, wrinkling his nose when he passed the motor oil. His sense of smell was stronger than a human’s. Being a bear shifter, Harland was pretty damn good at finding the sweets.

He was just stumped when he ended up at the counter. There wasn’t anything there except a register, cigarettes and snuff on the back counter, and rows of beef jerky in every flavor to the side.

There was also a new worker sweeping the floor over by the old man’s office. Harland leaned an arm on the counter and let his eyes skim up and down the slim guy’s body.

What he wouldn’t give to take a bite out of that little blond cowboy. “Excuse me.”

The clerk jumped, squeaked, and slammed a hand over his chest. “Oh, you scared me!”

Harland wanted to hear more of that squeaking sound. Only he wanted both of them naked. He smiled apologetically. “Didn’t mean to do that.”

Setting the broom aside, the clerk hurried over, cleared his throat, and then gave Harland a crooked smile that was brighter than the sun outside. “What can I get you?”

“Your name.”

The man tapped a tag on his powder-blue shirt. “Dresden.”

In return, Harland tapped his own chest. “Harland Macy.”

The soft laugh had Harland smiling. He liked this guy. He also noticed that the sweet smell was even stronger now. It had to be coming from Dresden. Harland wasn’t sure how though. What guy smelled like fresh baked goods?

“What can I do for you, Harland?” A fine blush washed over Dresden’s cheeks.

“You can give me your number for starters.” God, the guy had the most stunning green eyes Harland had ever seen. They were as dark as summer leaves. He felt like he was melting into them. “And I’ll take some of this beef jerky.” Harland grabbed a handful and set them on the counter.

“You flirt with every guy you see?” Dresden set the broom aside and hitched a hip against the counter. Harland had to stop himself from pulling the man over the beef jerky.

“Just you, handsome.” Well, that wasn’t wholly true. Harland had flirted with the waiter down at the Ugly Broad Saloon. He had also flirted with the clerk at the Piggly Wiggly. Then there was that guy who had cut his hair last week and the assistant at the feedstore. Okay, maybe he was a flirt, but none of those other fellas had smelled this damn good.

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” Dresden asked, a slight teasing in his tone. “A nice-looking guy like you?” The clerk chuckled and the sound was as soft as silk. “I’m guessing you get plenty of numbers.”

“I could say the same about you.” Harland pulled his cell phone out and handed it to the clerk. “Now give me your number or you’ll force me to come back until you do.”

Harland was drawn to this man like bees to honey. Dresden’s smile, eyes, and scent went straight to Harland’s head. He’d never experienced sheer pleasure just by flirting with someone.

Dresden didn’t take the phone. As a matter of fact, the smile faded from his face. Harland turned to see Stork standing in the doorway, his hands on his hips as he gazed between them. “I see you’ve met my nephew.”

ADULT EXCERPT

“I told you. Running turns me on.” Harland shoved his hands under Dresden’s shirt and then pinched his nipples. Dresden bucked against the mattress, his cock hard as he tried to find some kind of friction.

“I–I wasn’t running.” Dresden tilted his head to the side as Harland’s lips explored.

“That’s too bad.” Harland’s hands slipped lower until they were at the waistband of Dresden’s jeans. Dresden inhaled sharply when Harland released his snap, slid his zipper down, and teased the skin just above the head of Dresden’s cock. “Because now I won’t have to tie you up.”

The breath left Dresden’s lungs.

Harland leaned back just enough to relieve Dresden of his jeans. They were pulled off so quickly that Dresden didn’t have a chance to blink. Next came his shirt. Dresden helped Harland take that off.

Two strong hands began to knead his ass. Dresden pressed his forehead into the mattress, rocking it back and forth as Harland’s fingers slid up and down the crease of his ass. “I bet you look real pretty all tied up.”

Dresden didn’t have an answer for that. He’d never been tied up before. He had never even thought about being tied up. But Harland made it sound so sexy, so sensual that he nearly begged the man to find some rope.

The tip of Harland’s finger pressed against Dresden’s hole. “I bet you would look even better with a plug in your ass.”

Harland pulled his hand away. Seconds later it returned, lubed, as a finger breached him. Dresden felt out of his depth. The kinkiest he’d ever gotten was having the lights on during sex. He wasn’t a very imaginative type in the bedroom.

He had a feeling that was about to change.

A lot of things were about to change.

“Would you like that, Dresden? Would you like a big, fat plug in your ass?”

Dresden’s fingers curled into the sheets. He gritted his teeth, his eyes rolling. “I–I don’t know.”

Harland began to move behind him. Dresden wanted to look over his shoulder to see what the man was doing but didn’t dare. He was both frightened and excited in equal measures.

Something that felt like steel slid over his cock until it reached the base. There was a pressure at his perineum, and then Dresden shuddered when something hard pressed into his asshole. It was wide. Definitely wide. Dresden’s ass was stretched almost to the point of pain.

Whatever Harland had put on him was one long device, stretching from the base of Dresden’s cock to his back entrance. The middle pressed against his perineum, giving Dresden added pleasure.

Harland wiggled whatever it was and Dresden nearly came on the spot.

“I knew you’d like this.” Harland gently scraped his fingernails down Dresden’s spine, making Dresden moan. He was pulled from the bed and placed on his knees. “Put your hands behind your back, sweetness.”

The plug shifted, grazing over Dresden’s prostate. His cock jerked as he put his hands behind his back. Harland circled around him and then stopped in front of Dresden. His beefy hand was holding his own cock at the base, the tip leaking, making Dresden’s mouth water.

Without being told, Dresden opened his mouth, taking in the tip and licking the pre-cum clean. As soon as Harland’s essence touched his tongue, something inside Dresden snapped, folded, came together, and fell apart. It was the strangest and most wonderful feeling in the world. It was almost like they were bonded on the deepest level. Dresden couldn’t really explain the sensation, but he’d never felt closer to anyone in his life.

Harland growled and the sound was pure animal.

“Do you know how I would find out that you are my mate?” Harland’s fingertips grazed Dresden’s jaw.

Dresden shook his head as he sucked Harland deeper.

“I would fuck you, Dresden.” Harland’s fingers stroked Dresden’s throat. “And then you would become pregnant.”

Dresden faltered, his jaw growing slack as Harland’s cock slipped from between his lips. “Come again?”

Harland’s fingers slid through Dresden’s hair before the man fisted the strands. “I didn’t tell you to stop sucking me.”

“But you just said pregnant.”

“I did.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Suck me, Dresden.” The tip of Harland’s cock tapped at Dresden’s lips. “Take me into your mouth.”

Dresden started to tell the man to fuck off, that he was insane. But that bone-deep connection was growing stronger. If he hadn’t known any better, Dresden would have thought the man had drugged him. But Harland hadn’t. This strange feeling had been growing since Dresden first laid eyes on Harland at the station.

He had dismissed it at the time.

But there was no dismissing it now.

COWBOY HEART

STORY EXCERPT

Jed parked his truck on the side of the gas station he’d just purchased from the county. The place used to belong to Stork, but the man had lost it due to owing so many back taxes. Leroy Mason, a local attorney, had approached Jed about buying this place since he and Jed went way back. Leroy had given Jed a heads-up before the place actually went on sale.

He frowned when a small blue Nissan pulled into the station and parked by the pumps. Jed wasn’t expecting anyone here. Hell, he’d just gotten the keys today.

When Noah Cross climbed out of the car, Jed knew his day was about to get complicated. Noah was a waiter at Pheasant Run Café and had been after Jed for months about a date.

“Hey,” Noah said with a bright smile as he shoved his hands into his back pockets. “Leroy told me you’d be here today.”

Jed was going to have to thank Leroy for having loose lips. “I’m not ready for business yet. So if you need gas you’ll have to drive to Burgenstine until I’m officially open.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Noah stuck a finger in the air as if testing for wind direction, only the finger was directly in front of the man’s skinny chest and tilted sideways. “I have a business proposition for you.”

Jed just bet the man did. He didn’t trust that easy smile one bit. He gripped the keys in his hand a little harder as he shook his head. “I think I’ve done enough business for one day.”

Noah hurried in front of Jed when Jed tried to walk around him. The human held his hands up, stopping Jed from taking another step. “Just hear me out.”

Jed tried not to inhale. Noah smelled like wildness and passion, things he could never allow himself to indulge in. The human was Jed’s ultimate temptation. He hardened his resolve, pushing away any thoughts of indulging Noah in anything, let alone some proposition. “I don’t have time for this.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed slightly as his shoulders stiffened in a defiant way that had Jed’s pulse racing a little faster. “But you didn’t even hear what I have to say.”

Noah was a sensual male who didn’t even know it. The man seemed oblivious to what he was doing to Jed. It wasn’t easy turning the man down. To his chagrin, Jed felt something strange stirring inside of him whenever he laid eyes on the stunning man.

“Five minutes.” He shouldn’t even give Noah that much time. Not when the man made Jed hungry in ways he didn’t even want to think about.

Noah’s smile was so wicked that Jed couldn’t look away.

“I can help you get this place in order, and in exchange, you can give me a job.” Noah looked pleased with himself as the sun reflected off of the man’s pale-blue eyes.

“Not a chance.” Jed was not going to have this little temptation around him every single day. He’d never get any work done. “Besides, you already have a job.”

Noah chuckled and Jed felt the stroke of laughter deep inside where no one should have been able to reach. Without conscious intent, Jed found himself moving closer. He ground his teeth when he realized what he was doing and then took a few steps back.

“I have a job as a waiter, but my dad taught me a lot about cars. I could be a big help around here. All I’m asking is that you give me a chance, Jed.”

Jed turned away at the sound of his name on the man’s lips, but not before he saw the hopeful look on Noah’s face. Jed felt himself nodding faintly before he caught what he was doing. “I don’t need any help, Noah.”

“But you do,” Noah argued. “I’ve seen how busy this place can get. There’s no way you can keep up all by yourself.” Noah placed his hand on Jed’s arm and the one touch set Jed’s blood on fire. “Please, just give me a chance.”

A flash of memory scorched through Jed’s mind. He was propelled momentarily back into time, to a place he didn’t want to go, a place he never wanted to be again. Jed had sworn to himself that he would never allow anyone to get close to him again, not like that. Not in an intimate way. Having his heart ripped out once was enough to last him a lifetime.

ADULT EXCERPT

Jed tried to convince himself that he could have sex with Noah without getting his feelings involved. He’d told himself this as he watched the human drive toward the bar. He had hung around the station after he’d left, just to see where Noah would go.

Stalking? Maybe. But he was determined to prove to himself that he could have uncomplicated sex with the guy, no strings attached. He’d had plenty of sex before without getting romantically involved. Why should this be any different? A quick roll in the hay, that’s all.

Jed pulled them further up the truck bed until they were completely inside before unsnapping Noah’s pants. The human was responsive, moaning as he kissed Jed more deeply.

This was what Jed wanted. Sex. That was it. Nothing more. But his bear was growling in approval as Jed freed Noah’s cock and then moved lower until he could suck the hard cock into his mouth. As he licked the steel shaft, he worked Noah’s pants down the man’s legs until the material was gathered at the guy’s ankles.

Jed hummed around the erection as he palmed the man’s sac, his own cock so hard that he felt like he was going to explode. That scent. Once again the aroma of wildness and passion filled him and Jed’s canines threatened to elongate. Noah tasted even better than Jed had imagined he would. It was a mixture of salty and tangy, a bitter combination that had him salivating for more.

Noah’s hands clamped down on Jed’s head, his fingers combing through the short strands of hair as Jed swallowed the man repeatedly. He used his tongue to swirl around the hard cock, licking at the head to draw in the pre-cum.

“Not like this,” Noah begged breathlessly as he pushed at Jed’s head. “Fuck me, Jed. Please.”

Without a word, Jed flipped Noah to his hands and knees and then pulled his own cock free. He took a packet of lube out of his front pocket—he’d been hoping for something like this—and lathered his dick. He shoved his lubed fingers deep into Noah’s ass, scissoring them as Noah cried out. The sound filled the night around them, adding to the already-heated air. Thankfully the noise from the bar would prevent anyone from hearing Noah.

But those sounds…

Jed fought not to care what the man felt. He fought not to care how much pleasure he was bringing the guy or how much he truly enjoyed making Noah cry out for him.

Jed just fought not to…

His eyes flickered to the bar to make sure no one came out. Although he wanted Noah out here in the open, he wasn’t willing to put on a show for everyone.

Noah lowered his shoulders to the bed and Jed smoothed his hand up the man’s back. Flawless. God, what was he getting himself into? Could he have sex with Noah and not feel anything toward the man? Had he been fooling himself?

“Jed, please,” Noah began to beg once more. The man swiveled his hips and threw his head back, letting out a deep groan. Jed was momentarily mesmerized by the sight and sound. Noah was like a siren, a wood nymph who was pulling Jed in deeper than he wanted to go.

Removing his fingers, Jed positioned his cock and drove home—trying his best to rid himself of the image, the feeling, the need to have someone to call his own.

He stilled, panting at the tightness surrounding his cock. The urge to slow down and be gentle with Noah consumed him, but Jed pushed past those soft feelings and began a rhythm that had them both grunting and sweaty. He gripped the man’s hips, pounding into the giving flesh as his canines began to grow.

Something inside him tried to reach out to Noah, but Jed wouldn’t allow those feelings to emerge. This was just fucking. He wasn’t going to care.

He couldn’t let that happen. His heart had already been torn to shreds once in his life. Jed wasn’t going to give anyone else the opportunity to hurt him again. But as he fucked Noah, Jed could feel himself slowing, his moves becoming gentle. He leaned over the man, kissing his shoulder, nipping at the human’s tender flesh.

Jed placed his arms on either side of Noah’s head and the human entwined their fingers together. Jed couldn’t find it in himself to pull away. He should. He really should. But he couldn’t.

“Jed,” Noah whispered. “God, Jed.”

Hearing his name on the man’s lips while he fucked the guy tore at him. Jed closed his eyes, snapping his hips as he fought the maelstrom of emotions raging through him.

Don’t you dare start caring about him. It will only lead to heartache.