The Best Kind of Trouble

“You, as well. Paddy’s been telling me about the job you do here on the ranch and also the collaborative way you put out Sweet Hollow Ranch’s music. I’m totally impressed.”

Paddy made a sound, and they looked up at him. He had puppy-dog face, and it was very cute.

“You can tell he was the spoiled one. He can’t deal if everyone isn’t fawning over him all the time.”

“Shut it, buttface.”

“Notice he didn’t dispute my statement.”

“She’s my date. Go away.”

“Thank you for bringing us dinner, Ezra.” Natalie patted his arm.

He sent Paddy a face, and she burst out laughing.

“I’d love to have dinner with you guys, thanks for asking.” Ezra turned to her and led her into the kitchen. “Gives me a chance to catch up with Natalie. I don’t suppose you have that Mustang anymore?”

“Oh, my God, you remember that? I kept it for years, wanting to get it restored, but I never had the time or inclination and I ended up selling it.”

Paddy turned and pulled her into a hug. “I forgot about that sexy fastback you used to have.”

“So you both love cars, clearly. Given the one you drove the other day, I should have guessed.”

“Paddy’s past love and working his way into obsession. But, as far as obsessions go, classic cars isn’t a bad one.” Ezra pulled out a chair at the table. “Sit.”

She did, trying not to laugh more as Paddy frowned at his big brother.

“Hey, we understand that you need to go home. Thanks for understanding I’m on a date and all.”

“I headed Mom off so I think the phrase you’re looking for is, thanks, Ezra, for saving me from an evening of baby pictures and stories about the time I yarked on that Santa at the Bon Marche.”

“I don’t know which is worse,” Paddy muttered.

“Please. Don’t lie. Sharon Hurley nosy about her baby’s date is way worse than me eating all your crab rangoon and leaving after I know I’ve given you an eye tic for a few hours.”

Paddy thrust plates into his brother’s arms. “At least set the table.” Paddy turned to Natalie with a far friendlier look than he gave his brother. “What can I get you to drink? I’ve got waters, juices, orange soda, beer, wine. I can do mixed drinks, too. I have champagne for later, but not until Ezra leaves.”

“I’d love some orange soda.” The two men moved around the kitchen—and each other—with ease, saying far more about their bond to each other than their bickering had. It was clear the two spent a lot of time like this, just hanging out.

“So—” Ezra grinned her way for a moment and continued eating “—you’re a librarian. Why Hood River?”

“Well, there were a few places that had openings. I visited several cities in a few states. I visited here in May, so it was so pretty and warm and everyone was friendly. I liked the library here. Liked the programs. But to be totally honest with you? I was driving around, you know, just checking the area out, and I drove past a big blue Victorian with a for-sale sign out front.”

She’d slowed, looking up at it and had wanted it with a greed she rarely allowed herself to feel. The curves of all the bay windows, the lattice work; the house was like a childhood dream come true.

“It was the house that sold me on Hood River. Don’t tell my boss that, though.”

Ezra laughed, but it was Paddy who spoke next. “So? The house?”

“I went back to my hotel and contacted the listing agent. I made an offer the next day after I did a walkthrough. Moved in sixty days later. It’s a really big house, though, so I lived in half while I did a lot of remodeling on the rest. And then my best friend came to visit, and she fell in love with it, too, and she now lives in the other half.”

She wanted to ask him why he’d chosen to run the ranch, but she didn’t know him well enough, and she didn’t want to push any buttons about his past addiction. Addiction talk often made her antsy, anyway.

“I think I know the house you mean. It’s not blue anymore, though. It’s green and white. That’s the one. Overlooking the river, right?”

She nodded. “Yep. It was that color originally, and when I saw the swatches, I knew I wanted it that way again.”

Ezra stayed long enough for her to know he wanted to check her out and be sure she was okay. It spoke volumes about the closeness of this family. But it sure was nice when he finally sent a grin to Paddy as he stood, patting his belly.

“That was awesome, kids. I’m off home.”

She rose, and he kissed her cheek before they followed him down the hall to the door.

“Make good choices.” Ezra winked, and Paddy rolled his eyes, opening the front door.

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks for bringing the food. See you later.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

“I THOUGHT HE’D never leave.” Paddy leaned back against the door, flipping the lock. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It was totally fine. I like Ezra and so do you. He checked me out because he wanted to be sure I wasn’t going to hurt you or your family in some way.”

He paused before he grabbed her hand and began to pull her down the hall. For all the smooth, supercontrolled way she acted, there were times she was utterly unvarnished. It kept him on his toes. “Nah. He knows you’re fine.”

“I was some chick you fucked for a few weeks years ago who suddenly resurfaced in your life. For all he knew, I was a stalker out to try to con you.”

She was pretty perceptive. He hadn’t even realized that until she’d said it. Of course Ezra, being the oldest and yes, being the guy who caused no small amount of drama and harm to their family, would take it on as his responsibility to protect them all.

“Does that offend you or bother you?”

She tossed herself onto the big couch in the center of the media room. “What? That your big brother did what big brothers are supposed to do? I’m guessing I must have done okay, or he’d still be here.”

“If your family did that, I don’t know that I’d be that easygoing about it.”

“Well, that’s not going to be a worry for you, so you can put that out of your head. But let’s face it, you have a lot to lose. More than the average random woman who shows up in one of your lives. Not all of us are going to have big fat bank accounts and trust funds.”

“You’re going to tell me that story.” He moved to the projector.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But right now, I’m here for the movies and popcorn.”

“Is making out on the menu?”

“If you’re nice to me, and you’ve included some peanut M&M’s in the offerings, I might let you get to second base.”

He was very glad he’d grabbed snacks of all types when he’d gone grocery shopping earlier.

“As a matter of fact, I did. So sit back and let me get everything set up.”

She raised one brow and then shrugged, settling in and getting comfortable.

They chose a movie—the thriller—and he popped some corn and tossed her a bag of M&M’s before finally joining her on the couch.

She put her head on his shoulder as they watched, and once they’d finished the popcorn, he pulled her close, and she fit just right against his side.

The credits finally started to roll, and she shifted to her knees, getting in his lap astride his body.

“Well, now.”

She slid her hands through his hair and pulled him close, dropping her lips to his, claiming a kiss. He hummed, his hands sliding up her thighs to her hips, where he held on as she kissed the hell out of him.

Her skin where her shirt met her pants was warm and soft, and he didn’t stop himself from touching, caressing up her spine as she arched into him.

Higher and higher until he popped the catch on her bra, pausing for a moment to be sure she was on board.

She broke the kiss, leaned her upper body back, pulled her shirt up and off and tossed her bra aside, leaving him totally speechless and very pleased.

“Damn.”

He grabbed her back, pulling her close, her breasts brushing against him, making him hiss as his hands roved all over her bare skin.

She arched into him like a cat before nipping his earlobe. “You take your shirt off, too.”

“I want to spend some time on you first.”

She made a sound and, grabbing his shirt at the hem, pulled it up and off.

“Man, oh, man.” She flicked the bar through his right nipple with her thumbnail.

It was his turn to arch just then. “What brought this on?” He moaned as she kissed across his cheeks to his ear.

“I wanted you, and here you were.”

“Well, that’s very true.”

“I like sex. I know already that I like sex with you. As long as things are private, I’m totally on board with this thing going wherever and for however long.”

He wanted to frown, even though her words were good ones. As far as he could tell, there were no good reasons not to do more than just fuck. He opened his mouth to press her, but she made a sound that tore at him.

With a groan, he skimmed his hands up her belly to cup her breasts and drew his thumbs back and forth across her nipples.

“Yes,” she breathed into his ear before she licked the outer shell and gave him the edge of her teeth against that very sensitive skin.

She was lush there in his lap. The weight of her perfect against his cock. The heat of her pussy teasing him.

“You have new tattoos.”

“You have nipple rings and more ink.”

“I want to see you.”

“Earn it.”

She pulled away enough to look into his face, a smile of challenge on her lips. He snatched a kiss, accepting her challenge. Eagerly.

He shimmied to the edge of the couch and stood, setting her down on her feet. “Now, stand there while I look at you awhile. Whet my appetite because I’m starving for you.”

“Mmm, that’s a good one.”

There was some of the woman he’d been with before in that moment. He liked it. Her ink was perfectly placed so no one would have been able to see it while she was clothed.

Starting at her right hip there was a spill of pink climbing roses. Unfurled as they flowed up her side and up her back. He circled her, taking it in. “This is gorgeous.”

“Thank you. I get a little more once a year.”

“You’d never know these were here when you’re dressed.” He pressed a kiss at the highest knot of blooms at her midback.

“That’s the point.”

He kissed his way across her shoulder until he’d come to face her again. “Is it?”

“The ink is for me. No one needs to know about it unless I want them to. I don’t need everyone to see it or know about it to enjoy it.”

He unmoored the top button of her jeans and slid the zipper down. Panties the same color pink as the roses on her body.

“I wanted to look at you the other night on my boat when we skinny-dipped, but I didn’t want to scare you away.”

He shoved her jeans down, and she stepped from them. Then she turned slowly, her ass tipped slightly toward him. She slid her fingertips over the red bows that were inked at the tops of her thighs. “I believe you were asking about these.” It wasn’t until she looked at him back over her shoulder that his control slipped. He dropped to his knees to get a better look.

He caressed up her legs to that spot where each bow lived. Gooseflesh rose, beading her skin as he breathed over it, and she squeaked prettily when he licked each one.

“You taste good.”

She moaned, fisting her hands at her sides.

He hooked his fingers at the sides of her underpants and pulled them down, spinning her once she’d stepped free to face him, gloriously naked.

“I’m naked, and you have your pants on still.” Her voice was breathy again, and it made him smile.

“I know. How fucking lucky am I?” He lifted enough to lick over the ink at her hip, his body warming when she held his head to her, her fingers cradling his skull.

“You could be even luckier if your pants were off.”

“That’ll come soon enough.” He licked her belly, circling her belly button. “First you need to come and then we’ll move to step two.” He stood and walked her back to the couch, a push to get her seated again. He put a pillow on the floor and knelt on it. “Don’t worry, the pillow can stay for when it’s your turn to be on your knees.”

Dear God, he was going to melt her. Her bones and muscles and skin were just going to drip into a puddle of wordless, turned-on goo at his feet.

He kissed the inside of each knee and then up her thighs, pushing them wide. She didn’t have time to worry or be embarrassed or hesitant. He moved quickly, licking through her until her breath came out as a stutter.

“You like that?” He spoke, his lips against her labia. Enough that she felt his smile, and it sent a shiver through her.

“What’s not to like?” she managed to say but felt like her tongue was three sizes too big for her mouth.

Maybe one of the reasons he was a lead singer was that he was really good with his mouth. Like stellar fantastic. He’d been good before, but clearly, he’d been practicing on a few women in the interim.

He teased her until her thigh muscles trembled. There was something so delicious about the way he held her thighs wide, the strength in his forearms as he held her open and down at the same time, the slight callus to his fingers—forbidden and dark and oh, so good.

He changed his pace. Slow, with licks with the flat of his tongue, fast, hard flicks with the tip of his tongue against her clit. He drove her to the edge, and then he pulled back over and over until she was a trembly, sweaty mess.

“If you don’t let me come, I’m going to take over and do it myself!”

He pulled back, nipping the inside of her thigh. “I’d love to see that. But right now, your orgasm is in my hands, and you’ll get it when I want you to have it.”

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to muster up outrage, but it never came.

He waited, brow raised. “Nothing to say? Good.”

He bent and got back to work. But this time he didn’t tease her. He kept a relentless rhythm that sent her spiraling into climax so hard, she saw stars.

When she managed to open her eyes, she found him resting his chin on her thigh, smiling.

“Someone learned more than a few new chords out on the road.”

He burst out laughing.

“Just when I think I’ve got you figured out.”

He got to his knees, and his hands went to his top button on his jeans. She sighed happily. “Finally.”

“I’m sensing a theme here. You’re impatient when there’s something you want in view.”

“Have you looked in the mirror?”

He stood, slowly dragging the zipper down, each click of the teeth nearly a drumbeat in her head.

“I have to laugh at that comment when you’re spread out on my couch like the most luscious piece of cake a man ever saw.”

He was a ruthless flatterer.

“Doughnut may be more apt.”

He laughed again as he pushed his jeans down his legs, along with shorts.

“I see you wore underwear today.”

“I do from time to time. How did you know I didn’t?”

His cock tapped his belly, it was so hard. The belly was hard, too. She sighed her pleasure at the sight of him. “You and I went naked swimming just a few days ago. A gal notices things like that.”

He was tall. Hale and hearty. She cocked her head, taking him in. Flat, hard muscle covered his body. It was a testament to living on a ranch she supposed, but damn, he looked good. Both of his nipples were pierced; silver bars running through each. He had a number of tattoos, far more than he’d had before.

“Wait.” She got to her feet, wildly flattered by the way he looked at her.

“I’d rather leap on you.” He leaned in and took a deep breath at her neck, kissing her there.

“You looked at my ink, I want to look at yours. Then you can leap. Though I’d really like to get this—” she grabbed his cock, squeezing it “—in my mouth first.”

He groaned. “Hurry up, then.”

She looked at the owl, wings stretched across his back and the muscles of his shoulders. There were subtle shadings of red and green here and there on its feathers. Masculine and yet, still focused on the inherent beauty of flight and the feathers. “This is fantastic work.”

“Thanks. It’s relatively new. A friend of my sister-in-law runs a tattoo shop in Seattle. He’s a freaking genius.”

On his right biceps, he had a tattoo of a wing; there was another on the left. “What bird is this?”

“Peregrine falcon.”

“Birds, huh?”

On his hips he had musical notes. “First gold record, Try Me. On the left is first double platinum, Ride.”

“I love that one.”

“You listen to our music?”

“Hard not to. You’re sort of a big deal. And you’re good.”

He had a labyrinth on his right thigh.

“It’s one I walked at a really hard time in my life. Whenever things get bad or overwhelming, I just look down.”

He got to her and she was past freaking out over it. His charisma scared her without a doubt. But she was charmed, and she wanted more.

She kissed his shoulder, and he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“I have condoms right there in that little table. I think you should grab one and then ride me. Right here. Right now.”

She raised a brow as she looked at the table he indicated.

“I just put them there earlier today because I live in hope. It’s not my fuck-company table or anything.”

It was exactly the right thing to say. She pushed him back to sit on the couch before grabbing a condom. But she didn’t use it right then.

“First things first.” She put the pillow between his feet and he grinned.

“Oh, that. Well, I’m not going to argue with a really good idea.”

She got to her knees, and he had to count to fifty to keep from blowing just from the sight of it. She licked up his thigh, her gaze locked on his, and he gulped at the carnality in it. She knew exactly what she was doing, which made it even hotter.

This was a woman who owned what she wanted.

This was the woman he’d been with years before.

Then she licked up the line of his cock, and he huffed out a breath, giving in to his desire to get his hands in her hair. He loved the cool softness of it against his skin. That her mouth was currently on his cock certainly didn’t make it worse.

She teased him, taking her time. He’d been so eager to get inside her, he’d been in a blind rush. But this...this allowed him to wallow in the pleasure of the entire experience. She was doing to him what he’d done to her.

Her taste had been so freaking good; the sounds she made had been so hot, he hadn’t wanted it to end. But it was the way her pupils had swallowed the color in her eyes when he’d told her he was in charge that had nearly killed him. She was so controlled, so in charge, he hadn’t been sure how she’d react to his tease.

Her mouth was so hot and wet as she swirled her tongue around the head and took him so deep he grunted, his fingers tightening in her hair.

She moaned around his cock, and it vibrated to his brain.

He was torn. This was good. Like really, really good. She was a goddess here, her curves on display for him, those pretty blond curls bent over his lap, mouth on him. But he had been dreaming of being in her since he’d bumped into her at the café over a month before.

Once she scored her nails over his balls, he made a choice. He urged her back with his hands on her shoulders. “Wait. Stop. I want in you.”

She pulled off with a slight pop of sound and licked her lips. “You were in me.”

He swallowed hard as he grabbed the condom, ripped it open with his teeth and rolled it on quickly. “Now I can be in your pussy. Come on and ride.”

She scrambled, straddling his lap. One-handed, she reached back to hold him where she wanted, and then he nearly blacked out when she slowly lowered herself on him.

“Jesus.” Orgasm clawed at his guts, and he pushed it back because there was no way he’d finally gotten here, inside this woman, to come in a minute like he was sixteen.

She rocked back and forth, and he dug his fingertips into the muscles at her hips. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth as she moved.

“Mmm, yes. More.”

A demand.

He held her down at her hips as he began to thrust up into her body, slow and steady. Staying deep.

The light was on in the hallway behind her so it glowed around her body as she moved. So beautiful, this woman.

He let go of her hip with one hand to cup one of her breasts, taking the weight in his palm before pinching and tugging her nipple until her head tipped back, her mouth, still swollen from his kisses and his cock, opened on a sigh laced with desire.

Her inner muscles gripped him and fluttered, and he nearly lost his mind. He held on, not wanting the moment to end. The scent of her skin, of her sex and desire rose and grasped nearly as tightly as her body did.

He slid the hand at her hip between them, finding her clit swollen and ready. She hissed. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Come on, let me make you come again.”

“I just did.” But her voice had gone deeper as he began to lightly slide the pad of his finger back and forth over her clit.

“I really need to come, Nat. But I won’t until you do. Do it for me.” He grinned, and she groaned, moving to lean her head on his shoulder.

“Is that your version of do it for America? Or just the tip?”

Startled, he snorted a laugh until her body tightened around his, and she bit his shoulder hard as she came. He snarled, pulling her down on him, holding her in place as he pushed deep, as hard and deep as he could and followed her.

He kept his arms around her until he had to get up. He carefully settled her back on the couch. “I’ll be right back.”

She pulled a throw over herself, snuggling against the pillows.

In front of the mirror in the adjacent bathroom, he stared at himself as he washed his hands. He wore a flush on his skin. Not the first time. Not even the first time with her.

But things were different somehow because he wasn’t thinking about how he’d get her out the door. He couldn’t get the sight of her all naked and curled up on his couch out of his head.

He wanted more of that. More of sleepy, relaxed Natalie Clayton in his house and in his life.

He didn’t want to splash water on his face to snap out of his little fantasy. Because he didn’t want her off his skin.

He forced himself to do it. He didn’t know why he was acting like a fuck-drunk dumbass but he needed to snap out of it.

“Hey.” She smiled up at him when he came back into the room.

“Hey, yourself. You should sleep over.” He wanted to punch himself for blurting that out.

“I can’t. I have to work tomorrow.”

Oh. Well. He should be glad. Women stole covers, and if you let them sleep over they assumed stuff. She was doing him a favor.

But he found himself saying, “I have an alarm clock. Believe me, things get started early on a ranch. I’ll make you breakfast even.”

She stood, the blanket she’d been using fell away, and he had to step closer to touch all that pretty, naked skin. She leaned into his touch briefly, tiptoeing up to kiss him.

“Offers of breakfast are always appreciated. But I really do need to go home.”

“Fine, fine. Deprive me of sleepy, warm woman for morning sex.”

She snorted a laugh and then moved away, getting dressed.

“You’re going home now?”

“Well, I got what I wanted. I’m going home to notch my bedpost. Where I record all my wild sexual encounters with celebrities and stuff. See you around.”

He blew a raspberry. “Be sure to mark two notches.”

She grinned. “I’ll do that. Should I bring you a gold star the next time I see you?”

He hugged her again because he could, and because he would see her again. And because she made him smile so much.

“As long as it’s not an edible one.”

She snorted and swatted his butt.