Coming Home Page 12

  The meaning behind her words had him looking away. He didn’t want to think about that night. Not ever.

  “You know,” Jessica started thoughtfully, running the back of her finger along the inside of his arm. Her light touch made his skin tingle. “If you’ve got a few minutes now we could…”

  Her suggestion tugged him right back into the mood. He twisted on the lounger to face her fully and reached out to tease one brown nipple.

  “What could we do?” he asked, rolling the bead between his thumb and forefinger.

  She gave a soft sigh and smiled. “Anything you want.”

  He hesitated, palming the underside of her breast. She was so feminine with her curves and her tiny whimpers of pleasure. A sudden longing to be surrounded by a woman flared within him. Keeping one hand on her breast, he skated the other down over her belly. He needed pussy and lots of it.

  He slid from the lounger and dropped to his knees at the bottom edge. “Move up to me,” he ordered, gaze fixed on the apex of her thighs.

  Catching his line of thought, she scooted her little ass along the lounger until she sat on the very edge. He held each knee and pushed them apart, opening her to him.

  “Lie back, sweetheart,” he told her, mouth watering for a taste of her honey. Reaching between her legs, he ripped the purple material from her pussy and uncovered her ripe pink flesh. He buried his head between her thighs and licked from the bottom of her seam right up to the throbbing bud of her clit. The first taste fuelled the flames that blazed inside him. Unable to control his hunger, he devoured her, digging the length of his tongue into her cunt and lapping up every drop of cream she had to offer. Her musky scent and sweet taste flooded his senses, making his mind spin as he licked and sucked on her soft flesh. Her fingers wove into his hair, holding him in place. He wanted to tell her he wasn’t going anywhere, but he couldn’t bear to lift his head for even a second.

  This was what he wanted, what he needed, he told himself. Only a woman could satisfy him like this. Her breasts, her pussy, the soft curve of her thigh. No man could make those tiny noises of pleasure, no man could purr. Men were hard, rigid, unrelenting. They didn’t whimper when they came, they roared. Cade roared. The sound still haunted Brett’s dreams.

  No. He closed his eyes against his thoughts. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about Cade. Not with his face between a woman’s legs.

  Continuing to draw his tongue through her folds, Brett lifted her legs and hooked them over his shoulders. The shift in position gave him better access and his tongue delved deeper inside her, tasting more of her essence. Her scream of pleasure rang in his ears as her pussy started to quake around his tongue. He drank up the cream that sluiced through her cunt as she orgasmed, breathing her in while he still could.

  He continued to lick at her long after her grip on his hair had loosened. When he finally lifted his head he found her watching him, fondness warming her heavy-lidded eyes.

  “You are one hell of a guy,” she said softly, wiping some of her moisture from his bottom lip. “And you do that extremely well.”

  “It’s a pleasure.”

  She grinned and then shivered as he dropped his head once again and swirled the tip of his tongue around her clit.

  “I want to talk to you about something before I go.”

  He looked up again, his shoulders stiffening when he saw the serious expression on her face. Don’t say Cade. He didn’t want to talk about Cade.

  “I hate seeing you boys like this,” she said, her eyes searching his. “You have a really strong bond. I’d hate to see you lose it.”

  He stood abruptly and faced the pool. “We work together. There’s no bond.”

  “Oh, of course there is,” she said, moving up behind him. “You might refuse to see it but it’s plain as day to everyone else.”

  He turned on his heel and glowered down at her. “What exactly is plain as day?” he asked through gritted teeth. He didn’t know what had possessed him to ask the question. Something inside him needed to hear her answer, needed to know what she was seeing.

  She stood before him naked as the day she was born, her eyes intent on his. “I don’t think it’s my place to say,” she said eventually, her tone soft. “I just hope you won’t get all caught up in that black-and-white world of yours. If you do, you’ll miss out.”

  He opened his mouth to say something but the breath choked in his throat. He swallowed, suddenly drained from this encounter.

  “Have a good flight, Jess,” he said, looking down into her knowing eyes and feeling the irritation in his body dissipate. He was too tired to hang onto it. “I’ll miss having a girl around here.”

  A sad smile flickered on her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a brief hug. “Be good,” she told him, turning back to the lounger. “And take care of Cade for me.”

  His stomach clenched at her words but he didn’t respond to them. He gave a small wave and headed back toward the house, his steps weighted down by the emotion clutching his gut.

  Chapter Eight

  Saying goodbye to Jessica was a lot harder this time round than it had been after her first visit. Cade drove her to the airport, the atmosphere in the car somber and downright depressing. She’d tried to bring up the subject of Brett again before they’d left the house and, between the dread Cade felt at the prospect of her departure and the feelings for Brett that clogged his throat, he’d lost it for a second and snapped at her. They hadn’t spoken since and they were twenty minutes away from the airport.

  Jessica heaved a sigh as he took the exit for the airport. “Listen,” she started, reaching a hand out to touch his leg, “I’m sorry. Please don’t let me leave without forgiving me.”

  He fought a smile at her pleading tone and when she squeezed his thigh he cracked a grin. “Fine, you’re forgiven.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Glancing at her, he laughed at the suspicion in her eyes. “I mean it. I’m going to miss you, sweetheart.”

  “Me too. I just wish Brett would get over himself already.”

  His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You’re seriously not going to start with that again, are you?”

  She paused and then tutted under her breath. “I guess not.”

  He nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

  They said their goodbyes in the terminal. After a long kiss that was to last him for God knows how long, Cade watched her blonde head disappear into the check-in queue, then headed back to the car.

  When he stepped inside the house four hours later, it didn’t feel like home. Silent and empty. Fucking depressing. He kicked off his boots and went into the kitchen to rummage up something to eat. A week ago he could have called Brett and invited him over for a game of pool and some beer. Grabbing a microwave meal from the fridge, he jammed it in the microwave and hit start. He was still feeling sorry for himself ten minutes later when the phone rang.

  “Hello,” he said into the receiver, pushing the remains of his mac and cheese around the plate.

  “Cade, it’s Tommy Dawes,” a voice boomed down the line.

  “Hey, Tommy, what’s up?” Cade shoved his chair back from the table and got to his feet. “Anything I can do for you?”

  “Just wanted to let you know a few of the guys are getting together again Friday night at Billy’s. You’re welcome to come along.”

  Cade smiled to himself. If Tommy was going to be there Brett would be invited too. Did Tommy have any idea how pissed off Brett would be to find Cade sitting in their booth?

  “Sounds good to me,” he said. “I’ll be there.”

  ***

  That week was slow as hell, and just as hot too. Without Jessica to distract him, Cade spent more than twelve hours a day on the ranch. Jimmy, the two ranch hands and the animals provided his only company. On the rare occasion he bumped into Brett the other man pretended he didn’t exist and each brush off was a sucker-punch to Cade’s stomach.

  When Friday
finally rolled around, he’d had enough. At nine that night, instead of driving straight to Billy’s, he headed up to Brett’s house first. Seeing the blue Chevrolet was still in the drive, Cade grinned. He was still here.

  Cade darted up to the porch and pulled open the screen door before pressing on the doorbell. A couple of minutes later he heard heavy footsteps trudging along the hallway. The door swung open and Brett’s face appeared. His lip curled once he saw it was Cade.

  “What do you want?”

  Cade fought a grin as he jerked his head toward his car. “Figured you might need a ride.”

  Brett’s expression grew thunderous. “You’re going to Billy’s?” he asked flatly.

  “Yeah. And after last time I thought you might as well ride with me.” Cade shoved his hands in his pockets, wishing Brett’s furious eyes didn’t turn him on so much. “I don’t want to have to cart you back into Steeplecrest tomorrow morning so you can pick up your truck.”

  Boy, did he wish he’d brought a camera to capture the look on Brett’s face. As the man struggled to find an argument, Cade turned and jogged down the steps to his car.

  “You ready to go?” he called, pulling open the driver’s door. He glanced back at the combination of rage and utter disbelief in Brett’s eyes and nearly choked on a laugh. “I want to get a parking spot before the lot fills up.”

  After a five-minute wait in the car, he wondered if Brett’s stubbornness would get the best of him. But the guy had too much pride to make a fool out of himself, Cade realized as Brett appeared by the passenger door. He opened it and slid inside the car. His broad shoulders and long legs commanded the small space and when Cade inhaled, he breathed in Brett’s clean masculine scent.

  He revved the engine and started down Brett’s drive. Already his jeans were starting to feel too tight with his thickening cock.

  This was going to be one long ride.

  ***

  As usual for a Friday night in Steeplecrest, Billy’s Bar teemed with people. Cade parked at the very back of the lot and Brett jumped out of the car and stalked toward the bar as soon as the engine died. He didn’t know why, but he hadn’t been able to breathe for the twenty-minute ride. He’d been too aware of the other man’s presence, of his body. Not a word had passed between them as Cade had maneuvered the car along the twisting roads that led into the town and the silence had nearly suffocated him. He’d tried to distract himself with the car’s upholstery, the CD collection stacked beneath the car stereo, the fields they were zipping by, but nothing worked. His eyes had kept flickering to Cade’s hands where they gripped the steering wheel firmly and to the muscled length of his thigh. Even now, as Brett pushed his way into the bar, his pulse still pounded in his wrist. He made a note in his head for future reference—he wouldn’t enter an enclosed space with Cade Armstrong again. Never.

  “Brett!” someone shouted over the din of voices and country music. “Over here.”

  He scanned the crowd and finally pinpointed Tommy who was waving from one of the booths along the side of the bar.

  “Hey,” he greeted the guys when he reached the booth. He slid along the bench and then realized he should have gotten a drink before fighting all the way over here. “Damn, it’s busy in here tonight.”

  “More women than usual,” Mitch agreed, his expression appreciative as his gaze roamed the room. “Did you see the sign outside?”

  “What sign?”

  “Billy’s started making these fancy-shmancy cocktails to pull in the ladies,” Tommy explained, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Who the hell would want to drink one of those pink things is beyond me.”

  Brett laughed, thinking of Jessica. She was probably sipping a pink cocktail right now in one of New York’s exclusive clubs. Whether she had a guy by her side or not, she wouldn’t be going home alone tonight.

  The smile dropped from his lips as Cade appeared through the crowd, two beers in his hands. He set one down in front of Brett and then sat on the other side of the booth. Typical that the bastard had to sit right opposite him, Brett fumed. As if he needed Cade’s face in front of him while he got wasted.

  Another thought occurred to him and unease crept over him. Maybe getting wasted wasn’t such a good idea. Who knew what he would do if he lost control of his senses? And he had a sinking feeling Cade would be in no hurry to stop him making an ass of himself.

  “So where’s that girl of yours, Armstrong?” one of the guys at the end of the booth asked, a note of jealousy in his tone. “You didn’t bring her?”

  “What?” Tommy jumped in. “Are we not good enough company for the city girl?”

  Cade swallowed a mouthful of beer and shrugged. “She’s gone back to New York.”

  A chorus of “hell no’s” rose from the table, a couple of the guys clutching their hearts in mock despair.

  “We didn’t even get to meet her,” Tommy complained, glaring at Cade across the table.

  “Maybe next time.”

  Tommy turned to Brett and jerked a finger toward Cade. “Can you believe this guy? Bet even you didn’t get to meet her.”

  Cade’s chuckle did things to Brett he didn’t want to acknowledge. He shifted on his seat and clasped his hand around the cold, dewy bottle of beer, focusing on it until the tightness in his pants relaxed.

  “Yeah, I got to meet her,” he said, then grimaced at the strain in his voice.

  He caught Cade’s eye and looked away as the man added, “He got to do a whole lot more than meet her.”

  “Whoa there, Armstrong,” Mitch bellowed, turning his meaty face to Brett. “You banged Cade’s girl?”

  Brett stared at the astonished expressions covering all the guys’ faces and faltered. He wanted to speak, to laugh it off, but he couldn’t find the words.

  Finally, Cade broke the silence. “Ah, she’s not really my girl.”

  “Yeah, but sheesh,” Tommy said, still staring at Brett. “Since when do you go around stealing other men’s women?”

  A rush of frustration rose within Brett as he glared into Cade’s twinkling eyes. Son of a bitch. “I didn’t steal anything,” he bit out, his grip nearly breaking the glass bottle in his hand. “Not my fault Cade here can’t keep a woman satisfied.”

  Another round of hoots and hollers went up, but Brett kept his eyes on Cade, waiting for his reaction. It wasn’t what he expected. Instead of getting pissed over the dig, he appeared even more amused, a crooked smile playing on his lips. Brett’s stomach clenched again and he shot his gaze down to the surface of the table. Nothing fazed this guy. Anything Brett had to say spurred him on more.

  Suddenly feeling weary, Brett got up from the table. He muttered something about getting another drink and then forced his way back to the bar. He’d finished off another beer when a warm, curvy body sidled up to him.

  “Hi, Mary Ellen,” he said, looking into her heavily made-up eyes. “It’s been a while.”

  Her lipsticked mouth widened into what he guessed was supposed to be a sultry smile. “It sure has, stranger.” Her hand curled around his wrist which rested on the bar. She tugged it away and turned him to face her fully. “I thought you were going to call me.”

  He frowned. Had he said he’d call her? He couldn’t remember. “Sorry, I guess I’ve been busy.”

  She nodded and the sympathy she’d expressed at the funeral filled her eyes. The reminder of the day he’d buried his parents was not a turn on but, as she brushed up against him, her breasts pressing into his chest, his cock still managed a quiver.

  “Of course you’ve been busy,” she cooed, flattening a small palm to the front of his shirt. “I knew I should have stopped by to check on you. I’m sure you could have used some—” her hand trailed suggestively down the line of buttons, “—company.”

  He nodded. Maybe she was right. Some female company right after the funeral might have staved off the confusion he was experiencing now. He moved around her until she had her back against the bar. Bracing his arms on either si
de of her, he stepped forward until the heat of her body mingled with his.

  “Want a drink?”

  Her pink tongue trailed over her lips. “I’d love one.”

  ***

  Two hours later, Brett was still at the bar, his body wrapped around Mary Ellen Sanders. Cade tried his damnedest not to stare at them. He even managed to half-listen to the conversations around him and throw in a couple of words to save himself from coming off as a jerk. But his gaze kept snaking back to the bar, catching the way Brett’s lips brushed Mary Ellen’s ear and the glide of her small hands over his tight butt. Cade’s body locked in jealousy as he watched the scene play out. The more Brett drank the further he went. His hips melded to the blonde’s, so close they may as well have been fucking right there at the bar. He didn’t know why he cared so much. He hadn’t felt this way while watching Jessica with Brett. Seeing them together had turned him on. Probably because he’d been very much a part of the whole deal. But tonight something had snapped inside him. He wanted Brett and he didn’t want blondie over there to get her hands on him first.

  “I need another beer,” he said, sliding out of the booth. “Back in a minute.”

  He pushed his way up to the bar and reached Brett just as Mary Ellen took off toward the ladies.

  “Where’d you find her?” he asked, leaning against the bar.

  Brett glanced in his direction, annoyance darkening his features. “What the hell is your problem?” he demanded, leaning in so close Cade could smell the alcohol on his breath.

  “There’s no problem.”

  “No problem?” Brett demanded incredulously. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  Cade lifted a brow in response and watched Brett’s eyes blaze with fury.

  “You’re always around,” Brett said, “always there.”

  “We’re neighbors, Brett, and we work together. What do you expect?”

  Brett looked ready to lay his fist into Cade’s face as he shook his head furiously. “It ain’t just that, you’re always…”