Tattoos and Transformations

The Callens 8 Tattoos and Transformations Dakota Smith has lusted after her best friend’s two brothers, hunky landscap...

Author: Monroe Melody Snow

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The Callens 8

Tattoos and Transformations Dakota Smith has lusted after her best friend’s two brothers, hunky landscaper Clint Callen and sexy rancher Morgan Callen, for twenty years. Too bad they’ve always treated her like a pest. To protect her heart, she adopts the philosophy that the best defense is a good offense and dons combat boots, face piercings, and colors her hair blue, pink, and green. But when her best friend moves out of her warehouse and leases the space to Dakota for an art gallery, she realizes it’s time to act her age. After a complete transformation, Clint takes notice of the totally hot woman and pursues her, realizing that the sensitive and artistic Dakota is the one for him. Morgan, however, believes leopards never change their spots and keeps his distance. What will Dakota and Clint have to do to change Morgan’s mind about joining them in a ménage relationship? Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre Length: 51,633 words

TATTOOS AND TRANSFORMATIONS The Callens 8

Melody Snow Monroe

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

TATTOOS AND TRANSFORMATIONS Copyright © 2012 by Melody Snow Monroe E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-965-1 First E-book Publication: September 2012 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Tattoos and Transformations by Melody Snow Monroe from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Melody Snow Monroe’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Monroe’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To all the brave souls who wear their artwork with pride.

TATTOOS AND TRANSFORMATIONS The Callens 8 MELODY SNOW MONROE Copyright © 2012

Chapter One Dakota Smith watched as the last of Jade Callen’s blacksmith equipment exited the back of the old factory. The last six months had been exciting helping to sell Jade’s fabulous pieces of art, but now Dakota was out of a job and pretty much out of options. Thrilled for the change in her best friend’s life, she grabbed Jade’s hand. “Are you beyond excited?” Jade now had the perfect life—two men who adored her and a space to create her outdoor sculptures. She blew out a breath. “I can’t believe I’m getting three times the space.” Dakota rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about the space.” Jade smiled. “Yes. Logan and Parker are wonderful. I have more than I ever could have dreamed of.” She held out her new engagement ring. “To think I’ll be marrying my dream men in a few months.” She squeezed Dakota’s hands. “You’ll be my maid of honor, right?” “You know I will. Besides, it’ll give me another chance to charm your brothers.” She winked. Since the first day her father stepped onto the Spencer Callen ranch to shoe the family’s horses and brought her with him, she’d had a crush on the two Callen brothers.

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Jade laughed. “Let’s go to the front. I want to discuss a proposition with you.” “What is it?” All that was left of the storefront was the sales counter and a bench along one of the walls. Jade had transferred her beautiful iron sculptures to the new living space. She motioned they sit on the bench. “Have you noticed that I haven’t removed any of my upstairs furniture?” She had wondered why only the bottom floor of the three-story factory had been vacated. “Kind of.” “I want to rent out my furnished apartment, along with the downstairs studio space.” The idea that someone else would be here didn’t sit well with her, but she was glad Jade would get some return for all her hard work after renovating the factory from a broken-down shell to a fabulous space. She’d spent a year bringing this old factory to life. “Someone will be happy.” Jade leaned back. “I want to rent the whole place to you.” The words didn’t register at first. When they did, all Dakota saw were obstacles. For starters, she could never afford a three-thousandsquare-foot home. That was why she’d always lived with her dad. They didn’t really get along, but then again, they didn’t not get along. “Did you forget I don’t have a job?” Jade didn’t need help selling her artwork anymore, so her job as salesperson no longer existed. Everything Jade created was going to be by commission only. Her friend twisted on the bench to face her. “I know, but you are an amazing artist. Everyone who has seen your work says so. Here’s my plan.” She clasped Dakota’s hands in hers. “You could convert this bottom floor into an art gallery where you could display not only your work but other artists’ work as well. You’d live upstairs.” Her pulse spiked. The opportunity was too good to be true. “I don’t know what to say, but as I said, I can’t afford it.” What if no one bought her work and she failed to make a go of it? She couldn’t

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chance not succeeding. “Look, I know you don’t have much money. Instead of paying for rent, I’ll take a twenty-five percent cut of the profit. If you don’t make any money for a while, then I don’t get paid.” She was marrying one of the richest men in town, so it wouldn’t hurt Jade if the business wasn’t in the black right away. Her stomach twisted as excitement spiked up her body. “You’re sure?” This was a dream come true, along with marrying Jade’s two brothers, which would never happen, but a girl could always have hope. “Yes. As soon as everyone sees your talent, you’ll be the talk of the town. I want this for you.” She’d always been second fiddle to Jade. Being on her own needed careful thought. “Can I think about it?” Jade drew her brows together. “No. I know you. You’ll start doubting yourself. You’ll convince yourself you aren’t good enough, when I know your work is fantastic.” She shook her head. “It’s your time to shine, and what better opportunity is there than this?” Part of her wanted to believe everything Jade was saying. She loved to paint more than life itself, but she feared she couldn’t make a living doing it. However, being able to provide a place for other artists to showcase their work would be pretty cool. Maybe the best reason to move forward would be she’d get to move out of the house and banish those demons once and for all. Dakota inhaled and shut her eyes. “Okay.” Jade leaned over and gave her a hug. “Yes!” **** Dakota lay in her new bed staring at the ceiling, surprisingly missing her old bedroom. Even though she’d sat on this bed hundreds of times talking with Jade, she felt a bit funny actually being in the bed. After Jade dropped the bombshell about opening her own studio, Dakota’s mind hadn’t stopped working. She’d gone home, packed a

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few bags, and waited for her father to come home from work before moving out. When she told him about this great opportunity, he’d shrugged and told her he was happy that she’d found something she wanted to do. She thought he’d complain that he’d be losing his cleaning lady and cook, or at least make some comment about his having to live alone after twenty-eight years of watching over her, but he didn’t. Oh, well. It was his loss. The problem was that despite his inability to express his feelings, she missed the curmudgeon even after one night. She refused to let that stop her from changing her life, though. Being in total control of her future overwhelmed her, but she was determined to give the gallery a try. Most of the patrons who’d visited Jade’s store treated her like a conduit to buy Jade’s iron pieces and not someone almost as knowledgeable as the artist herself. What many didn’t realize was that it was her father who’d trained Jade. Dakota had been alongside her best friend during the training, but petite women often didn’t do well wielding heavy anvils. Besides the fact that Dakota sucked at the actual creation process was that she had three visible face piercings, a tongue stud, and blonde hair tinted with purple, blue, and magenta streaks. She believed in expressing herself, but now she wondered if people might not take her seriously as a business owner. Jade always said she was hiding from the real Dakota by looking like a freak, but what Jade didn’t seem to get was that this was who she was. Hell, maybe it was time for a change. As the old saying went, no time like the present. Unable to sleep, she crawled out of bed and stepped into the bathroom. She might have been way past her teen years, but because she was only five foot two and had multicolored hair for as long as she could remember, she looked closer to sixteen. One by one, she removed her eyebrow ring, nose ring, lip ring,

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and tongue stud. Jade always said that Morgan and Clint might not be interested in her because she didn’t conform to the norm. After all, Spencer Callen had very peculiar ideas about women, and his sons might have inherited those beliefs. When she recalled who’d they’d dated over the years, the Callen brothers liked their women a bit more cleaned up. She’d always believed that the men she married would love her for who she was, but she no longer wanted to be the freaky girl who Morgan and Clint avoided at parties. As she reached up to feel her naked eyebrow, the scars on her wrists glistened in the light. She quickly dropped her arm. “No more.” She’d gone through her cutting phase around the age of fourteen when she really hated herself. Stupid. From now on, she was going to be a responsible art gallery owner. Her blonde hair mocked her. A brunette by birth, she’d always wanted to be someone other than the girl whose mom didn’t want her. Tomorrow, she’d transform herself from punk Dakota into sophisticated Dakota Smith, entrepreneur extraordinaire. **** “How do you like it?” The hairdresser turned the chair around and Dakota just stared. On purpose, she hadn’t worn her usual excessive eye makeup and black lipstick. A light dusting of blush and pink lipstick Jade had bought her two years ago were the only things she’d put on her face. “It doesn’t look anything like me.” “Wasn’t that the point?” Yes, it was. “It’s going to take a while to get used to the new me.” “I think you look not only beautiful but sophisticated.” Really? She removed her smock and hugged her stylist. She took one more glance at the strange girl in the mirror and gave Charlene a good tip. Given how brittle her hair had become because of the

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excessive bleach, the beautician had spent a long time conditioning it. “Thanks. I love it.” As she walked outside into the warm sunshine, she nearly froze when she spotted Morgan Callen coming toward her. Her old self probably would have raced up to him and said something snarky to get his attention. The new confident Dakota decided to play it cool. She’d purchased a rather subdued yellow sundress and plain yellow heels. She held her head high, but kept her gaze on him as they neared. He seemed to be a man who knew where he was going, but when his glance swept her way, he gave her the old elevator once-over. As he got closer, there seemed to be no recognition. Hot damn. She’d really changed. Indecision tugged on her. Should she stop and say hi or let him pass? Before she could make up her mind, Morgan had whizzed on by. Even if he found her attractive, he wasn’t the type to stop and make conversation. His younger brother, Clint, however, would have gone out of his way to get her attention and perhaps even asked her out for a drink. All the way back to her shop, she hummed. Just getting to feast her eyes on Morgan made her day. When she arrived at her new shop, which she’d simply named, Dakota’s Art Gallery, she headed upstairs to begin the ordering process to get the studio ready. Logan Smithfield, Jade’s fiancé, had agreed to finance the start-up costs. Fortunately, Jade’s cousin, Dustin Callen, who owned a construction company, said he could spare two guys to put strips of lathing on the brick and run chains from them so she could hang the artwork. Her father said he’d gather her paintings and bring them over later today. She wasn’t sure which ones she wanted to display, but she needed something on the walls to start. Cody Callen, another one of the many Callen cousins, owned the town newspaper. He was running ads for free requesting commissioned artists’ work. Until their pieces came in, she’d be displaying only her canvases. Tomorrow, she’d see about making a banner to go across Main Street advertising her grand

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opening in three weeks. She inhaled, not really believing her dream was about to unfold. A few hours later, the bell above the store door dinged. That must be her dad. Wouldn’t he be surprised to see her transformation? Or maybe not. She’d changed so many times over the years that he seemed oblivious to her various looks. Jade always said that Dakota reinvented herself just to get her dad’s attention. So far, it hadn’t worked. She trotted downstairs. Her flowing skirt billowed out, making her feel really feminine for the first time. Maybe it was changing from combat boots to heels that made the difference. Her father stood in the front store with at least ten of her paintings. “Hi, Daddy.” “Dakota. Got what you asked for.” She held out her skirt and twirled. “You like?” “You look nice. Where do you want these?” She worked hard to keep the smile on her face. “Just leave them there. You want to check out the place?” He’d helped set up Jade’s blacksmith shop and had stopped in periodically to see her work, but since Jade left, this was the first time he’d come by. “I have to get back.” He turned around and left the store. Even the bell’s tingle seemed to mock her. She dragged a finger under her eye. Do not cry. Inhaling, she picked up her paintings, brought them into the back, and leaned them against the wall to decide which ones she wanted to put up. He could have given her a hug, said he missed her, or commented about the change in her hair color. Jerk. Fine. Wait until he sat alone night after night without her company. He’d miss her, or at least she hoped he would. She looked through her paintings to get her mind off the hurt. Most were landscapes, but she did have other collections. Her mostbizarre pieces of art were a series of photos of her grapefruit tattoos. She would create intricate tattoo designs and then put the tats on the

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fruit. Since this art was perishable, she took pictures of them. She debated trying her designs on herself but never had the courage to prick her own skin. Once she decided how she wanted to display her work, she easily hung them on the metal chains draped from the ceiling. She stepped back to admire her work. “Lookin’ good.” Now all she needed were a few other pieces. Jade said she was trying to convince Parker, Jade’s other husband, to put his paintings in the gallery, but he kept saying his heart was in the theater. She could understand that. The furniture she’d ordered for the front entrance and for sitting in the gallery wouldn’t be delivered for a few days. With nothing else she could do in the studio, she decided to give Harley a call to see if he could fit her in for a tattoo she’d been wanting to get for a while. Moving out of the only home she’d known needed a bit of closure, and the tattoo she’d designed would be a fitting tribute to her dad, though at this precise moment, she wasn’t sure he deserved the homage. Don’t be petty. He loves you even if he never says it. She looked up D’Ink Coda on the web for the phone number and gave them a call. Harley had sold his shop to some outsider a year ago, claiming tough times and the inability to get good help as the reasons for his near bankruptcy. Not only did the new owner ask Harley to stay, but he brought in a guest artist once a month that brought life back into the store. Harley answered and said if she came right away, he could fit her in. “I’ll be right over.” Since she wanted a tattoo above her breast, she needed to wear a top that was easy to slip down but still keep her covered. After she changed, she darted down the street to the tattoo parlor. The inside looked the same as when she’d been there the last time, which was a

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good two years ago. The walls were plastered with amazing designs. She would have lingered to admire the talent, but she understood another client would be arriving in a half hour. Harley came out of the back and tossed her a lopsided grin. His limp was a bit more pronounced from the last time and his stomach protruded more, but at least he was still doing what he loved. Or at least she hoped he still loved his job. From the yellow tinge to his face, he wasn’t looking very healthy. “Wow. What happened to you?” He cocked a brow and ran his gaze from her head to her cute sandals. She couldn’t tell if he liked the change or not. “I’m about to open my own art gallery and I wanted to look a bit more upscale.” “You’re put together, I’ll grant you that. I like the new look, but then again, I liked the spunky one, too.” If she’d come in wearing her yellow dress and heels, she wondered if he would’ve known it was even her. “Thank you.” He motioned she sit in the chair. “What can I do for you today?” His light tone disappeared and turned gruffer, as if this last year had taken a huge toll on his pride. “I want a tat of a paintbrush crossed with an anvil.” She pulled the drawing from her pocket. “I want it over my left breast.” Even she wasn’t sure why she could pierce her face and dye her hair the colors of the rainbow, but when it came to her tats, she wanted them hidden. Maybe because they represented something private to her and weren’t merely artwork. Harley studied the picture. “You draw this?” “Yes.” “The detail is good.” Something dark flashed in his eyes but was gone before she could figure it out. “Thanks. Can you do it?” “Do I like ink?” “Okay, then. Let’s get started.” She took off her shirt. Underneath she had a tube top that would

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allow Harley access to the area without her having to get naked. He made the transfer from her drawing and gathered his inks and cleaning supplies. The only color used would be on the bristles on the brush itself. The two-inch-tall design would be a reminder of all that her father had given her. Too bad he’d never learn about the acknowledgment. Harley gathered his tools, set them next to her, and began to prep her skin with alcohol. When he leaned in close she could see how much he’d aged, as if the life had been sucked out of him. “How are you doing?” His smile faltered. “I’m busier than ever, but I’m a bit pissed at myself for not thinking about bringing in those guest artists. Business has been booming. Did you know we had someone from LA last month?” She’d seen all the ads. “Yeah. I would have come in then, but I like your work.” Harley seemed a bit down. “You may look different, but you’re just as sweet.” “Who’s the new owner?” He shrugged. “Some holding company. There wasn’t a name on the documents. Even when I did the closing, some lawyer did all the signing. I’m betting the real owner has never even stepped foot in Intrigue.” “Interesting.” Harley got to work on the design. She leaned back her head to keep out of his way and closed her eyes, trying to imagine what her opening would be like. Would the town embrace her new gallery like they had Jade’s metalwork? Or would they believe a store clerk couldn’t pull off something this big? The bell above the door chimed, signaling another potential customer. She opened her eyes and every muscle tensed. It was Clint Callen. Her heart galloped. She hadn’t seen him since his parents’ thirtieth anniversary party, which was a few months ago. His light brown hair was a bit shaggier than before, but his

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muscled shoulders still strained against his shirt. Maybe it was his sun-kissed skin that caused her pussy to dampen. Harley glanced up. “Be with you in a sec, Clint.” He knows him? Intrigue, Wyoming wasn’t a big town, but she hadn’t expected Harley to know Clint Callen. He didn’t have a tat on him. Then again, the whole town had interacted with someone from the Callen family at one time. They were some of the richest people in the state. Holding her breath, she waited for him to notice her, or rather to recognize her. Aw, hell. Just because she’d dyed her hair, it didn’t mean she’d changed as a person. When it came to the Callen brothers, she was never shy. “Hello, Clint Callen.” She gave him her best kiss me smile. He whipped around toward the sound and his eyes widened.

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Chapter Two Clint studied the beauty in front of him. She seemed familiar, but her name didn’t come to mind. He was about to embarrass himself and ask who she was when she smiled, stopping the question from spilling out. “It’s Dakota, silly. I dyed my hair back to its natural color, that’s all.” Holy shit. “No way.” She’d also toned down the wild eye and lip makeup and took out the studs and rings. In a way, he missed the old gal. They’d grown up together, but because she was his older sister’s best friend, he’d kept his distance. He’d always had a secret crush on her, but he’d never let on, and since Morgan always got upset when he was around her, Clint never pursued her. Besides, bringing home a girlfriend with pink, green, and blue hair wouldn’t have gone well, even if she’d practically lived with them for years. She may have been a year older, but both he and Morgan thought of her like a younger kid sister, especially since she was so tiny. How his sister and Dakota became such fast friends and remained so to this day, he wasn’t sure. Jade was reserved compared to Dakota, who was pure daredevil and all sass. He pulled up a chair and glanced at Harley’s design. He compared it to the sketch on her lap. He nodded to the paper. “May I?” Harley handed it to him. He could see fine bristles on the brush. “This is incredible. An anvil and a paintbrush make a fitting design.” He’d seen her paintings in Jade’s house, and she was a true artist. “I thought so.” She lowered her lashes at him, almost as if being

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this close to him made her shy. “This your first tattoo?” “No. I have two others, but I keep them hidden.” He laughed. “Why? Your dad wouldn’t care.” His, however, would have a fit. It didn’t matter he was twenty-seven. She blew out a breath, acting as if she’d had this conversation a lot of times. “My tats are artistic, but they’re also personal. I want them hidden.” He leaned in and cocked a brow. “So where are they?” Her mouth formed a perfect O. “Clint Callen. I’ll never tell.” Her feistiness hadn’t changed. “Guess I’ll have to find out for myself.” He sat back and wrapped his hands behind his head, enjoying the repartee. She glanced away as if she didn’t want him to see the sparkle in her eyes. After a moment, she turned back. “What are you here for?” “What do you think?” “You don’t have any tattoos.” He lifted his shirt, and her breath hitched. “I got a lot of them. I just keep them hidden under a T-shirt, too.” “Nice!” He was surprised at how much her approval meant. Being a landscape designer, he often went shirtless. Tattoos were art and he loved art. Often the customers would comment on the intricacy of the design, but he never cared one way or the other about their approval. She reached out to touch his chest where the tribal designs were the most prevalent. Her fingertips nearly singed his skin. He pressed her hand to his chest. “Touch once and I won’t want you to stop.” “What’s gotten into you? For twenty years you’ve avoided me.” That was true but not because he didn’t want her. She was a pest until she turned sixteen. After that, he’d been fascinated by her for many reasons. This woman had been fat, anorexic, Goth, punk, and a lot of fads in between. But deep down, she was a woman who needed loving. When he was near her, he ached to make her realize how

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special she was. “Guess I was waiting for you to grow up.” That was lame, but he couldn’t come up with a better reply. She waved a hand. “Funny. So why stop the tattoos at your shirt line? Are you afraid of what your daddy would say?” She acted like he was some wuss. “Not afraid, but why push it? Dad thinks only lower-class people have tattoos. He doesn’t see tattoos as artistic expression.” He gave a quick shake of his head. “I think I’ve heard him express those thoughts, but your dad has a lot of misconceptions, especially toward women.” Her lips pursed. His father’s prejudices always bothered him. He and Morgan got a chance to go to college, but not Jade. “Jade thinks he’s really changed. Look at how he renamed his ranch to include Mom’s initial.” He was still stunned that his father did that, though he couldn’t have been more pleased. “It’s a start.” Harley lifted her chin away from where he was working. “Stay still.” She smiled and mouthed, “Whoops!” Harley’s attention to detail mesmerized him. Okay, he was more mesmerized by how Dakota’s breast rose and fell with each prick of the needle. The side of the old man’s hand was pressing on her tit, but she didn’t seem to mind. He imagined a million times what it would be like to hold her luscious breast in his hand and how she’d moan when he plucked the nipple with his teeth. “Clint?” Damn. He must have a shit-eating grin on his face. He sobered. “Yeah?” “Never mind. You looked lost.” That was because he was in his lustful world. He cleared his throat. “Harley, how long you going to be?” The tattoo artist glanced at the wall clock. “Sorry. I know you had an appointment at four, but when Dakota called, I didn’t want to say

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no. Can you give me thirty minutes?” “Sure.” He pulled up a chair and sat a few inches from the delightful woman. He still couldn’t get over how much she’d changed. Her dyed hair and removed piercings weren’t the only things different. Her attitude and self-confidence seemed to have risen. Now that she was going to be a storeowner, she had a distinctive air about her. “When’s the grand opening?” She jerked her head back to him. “I’m hoping in three weeks.” “Can I get a sneak peek?” He loved how her breath always hitched when he caught her off guard. “Sure.” “How about I stop over after I get my tat done? We can compare our artistry.” She laughed. “I haven’t heard that line before.” “It’s not a line.” Now he felt bad that he’d purposefully snubbed her all these years. She was daring and caring at the same time, a combination he hadn’t found in a woman before. His landscaping work brought in a lot of money, but he spent most of the time either doing the manual labor or designing properties. As much as he loved to party and date, he hadn’t made the time. Maybe today would be the start of a new beginning. **** Dakota was thrilled with her new tattoo. Harley had done a spectacular job. This day couldn’t have gone any better. Not only had she caught sight of Morgan, but she got to spend close to an hour with Clint! Her heart still hadn’t slowed. Every time she closed her eyes, his gorgeous face appeared. He hadn’t shaved that day, which only enhanced his rugged sex appeal. As soon as she paid, she dashed back to her place with about forty minutes to change. The floor needed to be swept and the rest of her

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paintings hung. Jumping into panic mode, she hustled. First came the hanging of the paintings. Since all the hardware was in place, the pictures would be easy to put up. She’d waited until she was absolutely certain how she wanted to group the pictures for the best presentation before arranging them in their final position. Even if they weren’t perfect, she bet Clint wouldn’t mind. She lifted each one, checked the paintings to the right and left, and if they didn’t compete with each other, she attached the hook in back. When she was done, she stepped back. “Not bad, art curator.” The floor was dusty, but her gallery was a work in progress. Her appearance needed to come next. Not wanting to look anything like the old Dakota, she pulled on a pink frilly top that Jade had bought her for her last birthday, straight jeans sans holes, and cowboy boots. She looked like any other Callen girl to her. She must have taken a bit too much time because just as she reapplied her light pink lipstick the bell rang above the door. Clint was here and she buzzed him in. She hustled to the top of the steps, inhaled, and tried to act as nonchalant as possible as she floated down the stairs. Like the prom date she wished she’d had, Clint waited at the bottom of the steps, almost looking eager. Be cool. “Hey.” His eyes glistened. “I still can’t believe it’s really you.” She swatted his chest, staying away from his recently tattooed arm. “I’m just plain old Dakota. I really haven’t changed.” “Let me see some plain old Dakota artwork.” She’d always loved Clint’s good-natured ways. “I just put these up, but if you think some pieces don’t speak to you, I can replace them with others.” She expected him to walk past all of the artwork, say something polite, and leave. Instead, he studied each one in great detail.

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“Dakota, these are incredible.” She never expected her pulse to race and tears to brim her lashes. He loved her work! “You think so?” He turned around. “Yes, I do.” He continued traveling toward the back of the gallery where she’d displayed her tattoo photos. When he got to her pictures of her grapefruit tattoos, he leaned in closer. “You did these?” She moved next to him. “I’m a novice. I just like to play with the different colored inks.” He turned toward her and clasped his hands on her shoulders. “You need to show these to Harley. My God, you could go national with your talent.” She rolled her eyes. “They’re just samples.” He shrugged. “I’m just saying. You’ve got talent, girl. Your landscapes are remarkable. Have you ever painted the mountains from Randall’s Ridge?” She never had the time to go hiking. “Most of my paintings are copied off photographs.” His lopsided grin set her stomach aflutter. “Well, then. I think you need to paint in real time. How about Sunday? I’ve got jobs lined up for the rest of the week, but I’m free then. What do you say?” His enthusiasm made her stomach curl and her pussy dampen. “Sure.” “I’ll bring all the gear. We’ll be hiking up a mountain, so wear good shoes.” She could picture herself needing to stop every few minutes. Her aerobic capabilities weren’t the best. “I’m not really the athletic type.” Maybe he’d suggest a place they could drive to. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “You’ll be fine. We can rest as much as you want.” To spend the day with Clint, she’d be willing to be covered in mosquitos and sweat and be scratched by thorny plants. “What time?” “The best time is when the sun is either rising or setting. How

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about I pick you up at 3:00 p.m.?” She almost blew out a breath. “I’ll be ready.” He backed up. “On Sunday, then.” In a flash, he was gone. As soon as he was out of sight, she jumped up and down. She pulled out her cell and called Jade. “Hey, Dakota.” “I ran into Clint. He saw my paintings and he wants to take me hiking to Randall’s Ridge on Sunday so I can paint the sunset over the mountains. Can you believe it?” Jade laughed. “Did he recognize you?” She told her about seeing Morgan. “Neither did at first.” “I’m happy for you, but don’t be disappointed if Morgan doesn’t react as favorably as Clint. Those two couldn’t be any more different.” Didn’t she know it. “When you get a moment, I’d like your opinion on which of my photos to display.” “I’ll drop by tomorrow and we can chat.” How great was it to have such a good friend? She sighed and decided she needed to stop at her dad’s to see about locating some shoes to hike in. **** “I tell you, she’s hot.” Clint waved his beer in his hand. Morgan didn’t want to hear it. “It’s Dakota you’re talking about. That’s like saying Sarah is hot.” He was exaggerating, since their little sister was fourteen and Dakota was a year older than Clint, but he wanted to make sure his brother understood that dating Dakota wouldn’t work. “If you saw her, you wouldn’t say she looks like a little girl.” In his mind’s eye, he pictured the striking brunette he’d passed in the yellow dress today. Now there was a beautiful woman. “How has she changed?” It wouldn’t do to dismiss Clint. If he did, he’d never

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hear the end of it. “She removed all of her piercings and dyed her hair brown.” That would be an improvement, but her impish face and sassy attitude would be the same. “Remember what Dad always says.” “What?” “A leopard doesn’t change its spots.” Clint polished off the rest of his beer. “Fine, but you need to look beneath the surface. She’s adventuresome. She’s talented. And she’s hot.” He set the bottle on the kitchen counter. “I bet she’d be the type to share.” Morgan’s balls tightened. His brother knew that would get to him. The women they’d had together hadn’t been the type they wanted to bring home to the family. In his mind, Dakota wasn’t either, but their mom loved Dakota. Their dad always had been a bit put off by her appearance, but she’d even charmed him. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.” It was better to put this new interest to rest right away. Clint propped a hip on the kitchen barstool. “She’s been chasing us for fifteen years. She still wants us. Hell, I’m taking her painting this weekend.” “Painting?” Christ. Clint was in deep. “We’ll be hiking up to Randall’s Ridge.” If he gave his younger brother a lecture about women and how they could suck him dry, Clint would be more determined to have her. To be honest, Dakota never took advantage of the Callen money or what the family had to offer, but that didn’t mean she never would. “Have fun.” Clint’s brows turned downward. “What the fuck is wrong with you? I know you’re busy, but I don’t remember you turning down a piece of ass.” “She’s not just a piece of ass.” Shit. He shouldn’t be been so vehement. “Besides, I’ve got enough to do.” He wasn’t convinced Dakota would put out for Clint. Underneath that heavy makeup, she was afraid of anyone getting close.

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“The ranch is doing well and the tattoo parlor runs itself.” “Bullshit. I spend several hours a week trying to get the best artists to come to Intrigue. It’s not easy running a business from a distance.” Clint smiled. “When are you going to tell dad that you bought something as crass as a tattoo parlor?” “Don’t plan to.” He wouldn’t put it past Clint to use his secret as a way for him to get the three of them together. Dakota meant too much to him to mess this up. When the time was right, he’d make his move on her.

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Chapter Three Dakota was exhausted. For the last five days, she’d worked like a dog trying to get things organized in her shop. Two artists had come by with their works to sell. One artist gave her fantastic pencil sketches. The other person’s work wasn’t so great, but right now she couldn’t be picky. It would be up to the marketplace to determine what sold and what didn’t. Dakota discussed pricing with both of them and promised to keep their work up for a month. After that time, she’d rotate out the work if it didn’t sell. Once she’d written up the contracts and scanned them into her computer, she closed the gallery and headed to her dad’s. She needed to see what she could salvage in the way of hiking gear. She thought about wearing her combat boots but decided they wouldn’t be particularly sexy. After a frustrating search in the basement, she came up empty-handed. The old boots she’d gotten years ago had dry rot, and the sole had separated from the bottom. Damn. Not to be deterred, she used some of the money Logan had lent her to start the business and splurged on hiking boots. If Clint liked the outdoors, she wanted to show him she could learn to like it, too. To make sure she didn’t end up with blisters on every part of her foot, she wore them all day Saturday hoping to break them in. On Sunday, she wasn’t able to sleep in mostly because she was too excited about her trip with Clint to stay in bed. In two weeks the gallery would have its opening and there was still so much to get done. For most of the morning, she worked on the design for the gallery invitations. There were two printers in town. Jade had recommended she use Speedy Print, as they would give her the best deal. On

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Monday, she planned on getting prices. This would bring her one step closer to realizing her dream. At lunch, she ate as much as she could to ensure she wouldn’t run out of energy climbing the ridge. Clint was in such great shape that he might consider rock climbing easy. Crap. She was kidding herself. She’d never be able to compete with a physically fit Clint. Maybe she should call and cancel. No, you want to go. Yes, she did, but dying while climbing wasn’t on her calendar this week. Aaargh. So as not to wait until the last minute, she collected her canvas, paints, and camera and placed them in her artist case. She prayed this would go well. A little before three, Clint came in the shop. “Dakota?” “Coming.” I can do this. She was actually more comfortable in the hiking boots and shorts than in the heels she had on the other day. She wiped her palms down her pants, opened her door, and made sure to hang on to the handrail as she went down the stairs. Oh, my. Clint was in lightweight nylon pants, a loose woven shirt, and ankle-high boots. While it was different from his low-slung jeans and roughed-up cowboy boots, he looked just as hot. His smile was more than she could hope for. “Hey. You got your paint stuff?” “By the door.” He looked behind him. “That works.” He probably thought she’d bring a whole studio’s paint supply. “If I have to carry it, I didn’t want to bring too much.” “Babe, I’ll do the heavy lifting.” She wasn’t used to anyone doing things for her. “I can manage.” He cocked a brow and motioned they leave. “I’ve got everything we need in the truck.”

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Her palms were still wet, and they hadn’t even left. Fifteen years dreaming of this moment put a toll on her nerves. “Where is this ridge?” “In the national forest west of here.” She didn’t care if they had to drive to Colorado. Being with Clint would be wonderful. To her surprise, it only took an hour to get to their destination. “I’ve lived here my whole life and never knew this place existed.” Maybe that’s because she never had the chance to hike. Her dad never took her anywhere, probably because he was always working. “Stick with me, babe. I’ll show you things you’ve never experienced.” Damn. He didn’t have to add a chuckle to his comment. Her mind shot to all the wrong places—like in the bedroom where she envisioned herself making love to both him and Morgan. He pulled off the side of the road. “Ready to paint?” “Where are we?” He got out of the truck and leaned back in. “It’s a surprise.” She jumped out before he could open her door. From the back he pulled a backpack and managed to stuff her bag inside. “Here’s some water. Make sure you stay hydrated.” The water bottle came in a holder that wrapped around her waist. “This is cool.” “I want you to lead. My legs are longer than yours.” She laughed. “Everyone’s legs are longer than mine. How far is it?” “Maybe a forty-minute hike.” Good. She could handle that. She hoped. The beginning of the path was fairly flat. The sunlight was soft and cast a warm glow on all the plants. “Ooh. Can I stop and take a picture?” He placed a hand on her back. “That’s what we’re here for.” He slipped off his backpack so she could retrieve her camera. It only took a moment to figure out the metering. She bracketed her

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shots. “I’m good. I’ll carry it so I can stop when I want.” “You’re the boss.” She couldn’t believe how considerate he was. They’d gone less than a hundred feet when a small field of ferns appeared. The way the light bounced off the curled tips gave a mystical feel to the area. “I need to shoot this.” He laughed. “Go ahead and mock me. Wait until you see what I can do with this.” She hadn’t been this excited since Clint had walked into the tattoo parlor. She walked around the field in order to find the perfect shot. On her stomach, she zoomed in on a mushroom nestled next to the fern. Click, click. Satisfied with the result, she got up. “Darlin’. If I’d known you were going to examine and photograph every leaf, I would have suggested we leave early in the morning.” He didn’t seem upset, but if she expected to get the panoramic shot she wanted, she couldn’t afford to stop every few minutes. “I get it.” For the next thirty minutes, she hiked and hiked. Her heart raced, but she’d be damned if she stopped to catch her breath. From now on, she needed to find time to get in an aerobic workout. There were some tricky spots where she had to climb up and over some boulders, but Clint was there to help her. Eventually, the trees thinned, which in her mind meant they were nearing the top. “Take my hand.” She clasped his outstretched palm. “It gets a bit rough.” She liked having him help her. It made her feel safe and cared for. When they ducked around some brush, they came to an outcropping. She stilled. “It’s breathtaking.” The mountains appeared in the distance. In the valley below sat a large river bordered by miles of green land. “I thought you’d like it.” She snapped off a few shots. She’d only be able to draw the outline of the vista and do a bit of painting before it got too dark.

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Clint pulled out a foam pad, a paper bag, and two seats that rested on the ground. He removed her tote bag that contained her canvas and paints. “Come join me. The view is good from here.” The whole concept that she was on top of a ridge with the man she’d had a crush on her whole life still boggled her mind. “Don’t mind if I do.” She sat next to him. For some reason, she wasn’t in the mood yet to paint. Getting to know Clint was more important. “How did the tat session go yesterday?” He’d said they could compare their tattoos when he came over to the studio, but since both of theirs had been bandaged, she didn’t press the issue. He grinned. “You want to see?” Was he kidding? “Yes. I hope it’s in some intimate spot.” Jeez. I so did not just say that. He laughed. “Not quite.” He stripped off his shirt. With the bandage gone, she could see more of the tribal design that circled his arm. “It’s beautiful.” Damn. She should have tamped down the enthusiasm a bit. Not surprisingly, he chuckled. “Let me see yours.” That would require her to take off her shirt since the crew neck wouldn’t move enough. While there was a breeze, she was hot from all the hiking. Good thing she’d worn a red lace bra. While a jog bra would have been more practical, she wanted to be prepared in case things got hot. “Sure.” In one swift movement, she pulled off her shirt. His eyes widened. Bet he hadn’t expected her to do that. “Now I know you’re Dakota Smith.” “Smart-ass.” He leaned over, acting like he wanted to see each hair on the brush. “I like it. Harley did a great job.” The tip of his finger traced the outline, and shivers of pleasure shot out in every direction. The top of his head was next to her mouth, and she debated placing a kiss

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on his crown. He moved back before she’d made the decision. “I thought so.” Instead of returning to his seat, he continued to hover. “Got any other ones?” “You know I do.” “Where?” This was getting close to crossing the line. If she wanted to know Clint’s agenda, she needed to find out now rather than questioning his intentions for the next few weeks. “Got one on my ass.” “Me, too.” It was now or never. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” His cheeks dimpled. “You are still sassy.” “Easy to change the outside.” Too bad it was impossible to change the inside. Clint got up on his knees, unbuckled his pants, and slipped them down. “You sure, darlin’?” Holy shit. He knew what was at stake. If she said yes, there was no telling how far he’d go. “Yup.” He turned his back to her. His fingers latched on to his boxer’s waistband and he pulled down his pants. She burst out laughing. He looked over his shoulder. “You like?” The Rolling Stones’ lips-and-tongue logo was not what she expected. “Absolutely.” He pulled up his pants. Damn. She should have taken more time to study his fine ass. Since he’d kept his back to her, she hadn’t gotten a look at his cock. “Your turn.” She did the same thing he’d done to her. Since she didn’t want to expose her pussy if she didn’t have to, she turned her back to him and dropped trou. His finger touched her ass. “Not what I expected.”

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His distressed tone wasn’t the reaction she’d hoped for. Slowly, she pulled up her pants, buckled up, and sat back on the chair. “Like I said, it has meaning only to me.” He touched her hand. “You want to tell me what it means?” Other than his sister and Harley, no one had seen her tattoo. She’d gotten it when she was sixteen. Explaining the pain wasn’t her first choice of topics she wanted to discuss with Clint, but if she ever expected to have a relationship, she had to learn to share. “The rose stands for my mom because it was her favorite flower. The water drops are tears because she didn’t love me enough to stay.” Clint’s cheeks sagged. “Come here.” He gathered her in his arms and held her tight. The kiss to the top of her head helped soothe the ache, but she didn’t need his sympathy. She sat up. “I’m good.” “Your mom died. I’m sure she didn’t purposefully do it.” The wind swept through her hair, and she had to push the strands out of her face. She let the heel of her hand brush her eyes, which were a bit wet. “I told everyone that, but it was a lie.” He leaned her back. His brows were pinched and his jaw slack, almost as if he was experiencing the pain right along with her. “You want to tell me about it?” She hadn’t dredged up that horror for a long time. There was something about the way Clint asked that made her want to share with him. “It’s kind of a blur since she left when I was six, but according to my not-very-talkative father, Mom thought she was marrying a man who could provide a better life for her. Apparently, a blacksmith wasn’t good enough for her. She pretended we were rich, and she’d go out to lunch with her friends and drink. Soon she became an alcoholic, or so says my dad, though I do remember finding her on the floor passed out a few times.” He picked her hand and ran a thumb over the top. “That must have been tough.” “I guess. The bad part was when my parents started fighting.

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She’d yell, and my dad would just listen. Then one day she was gone.” His audible gasp got to her. “I don’t think she left because of you.” She’d tried to tell herself that. “Then why didn’t she ever call me? I’d get a birthday card every year until I was ten. Then they stopped.” “Are you sure she’s still alive?” “No.” A flock of blackbirds flew near the ridge and then disappeared below the edge. She hadn’t realized how raw her emotions still were. Instead of telling her she should get over it, he pulled her close. His warmth comforted her. When his thumb nudged her chin and lifted her face to his, her heart dropped to her stomach. The kiss was soft yet demanding. She could no more pull away than she could pretend she didn’t want him. Like a kid releasing helium balloons in the sky, her body soared with the thrill of his touch. Needing him more than life, she cupped his face and dragged her tongue along the ridge of his mouth. He opened up and dove in. Their tongues tackled each other, and the air in her lungs seemed to disappear. Now light headed, she got on her knees and faced him. He squeezed shut his eyes. “Dakota.” His voice came out strangled. “Yes?” “If you touch me anymore I’ll burst.” This couldn’t be happening to her. “Okay.” That probably sounded stupid, but she was tongue-tied. His acceptance meant the world to her. “I’m not sure you understand what I’m asking. I want you. Please say yes.” She didn’t need to think. She’d rehearsed what she’d say forever if he ever showed interest in being with her. “Yes.” He knocked the foam chairs off to the side and lowered her to the mat. She unwound her legs to allow him full access and was delirious

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that she could hold him in her arms. Her breaths came out too fast. Damn. His gaze traveled from her face down to her chest. He slipped one of the straps off her shoulder and pulled one of the cups below her nipple. Before she questioned him about the chances of anyone finding them up here high on the ridge, his mouth latched onto her tit. The divine pressure sent her libido skyrocketing. Having Clint Callen’s tongue on her body came as close to nirvana as one could get. Her escaped groan burst out. That seemed to further incite him. His teeth nipped the tip and pulled it taut. A quick squeeze and spikes of pleasure cascaded down the sides of her breasts. He dropped the other strap and mimicked the thrill on the other side. Needing to touch him, she threaded her hands through his hair then traced the edge of his ears with her thumbs. Everything about Clint was perfect. Right now, he was hers. “God, you are so gorgeous,” he proclaimed in between sucking on her breasts. Her pussy was growing restless and needed some friction. “I have other body parts that need some attention.” Her hands clenched thinking maybe she’d been too forward. A smile tugged on his face as he dragged his teeth across the end of her nipple. The erotic lust blasting urged her to be bolder. She cupped his ass and pressed his hips against her. His hard cock ground in between her legs and her pussy creamed. He slipped one hand behind her back and unhooked her bra with ease. In a flash, he discarded it. “So nice.” He swiped his tongue across the tip. “I could stay here for hours.” That wouldn’t do. “Other hikers might come. Besides, I have other needy parts.” He dropped his head back and laughed. “Easy, darlin’. Trust me, when I get through with you there will be nothing in need of touching. I’m going to take care of every lustful ache in your body.”

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Chapter Four Clint’s words dribbled over her like paint smoothed over a blank canvas. His mouth came down on hers hard as if he had to have her, while his fingers dug into her shoulders. When she wiggled her hips, his cock seemed to grow. As soon as he came up for air, she tried to reach between them for his dick. “I want to touch you.” “I’m not sure I can last if you do, but maybe a peek is in order.” “Yes, please.” “You first.” He lifted up onto his knees, popped her button, and pulled down her zipper in one fluid motion. “Lift.” She did, and he managed to get off her shorts in no time. Without asking him to, he unlaced her shoes and removed them. All she had on were her red lace panties. “Not the usual hiking fare, but I like them much better.” With a grin on his face, he divested himself of not only his shoes but his pants. She figured he was leaving on his underwear for her to remove. “Did you bring any protection?” If he had, this whole watch-herpaint plan might have been a setup. “Do flowers grow when you water them?” Yes! He fished a condom from his pack and tossed it to the side. “I think you forgot something.” He cocked a brow. “Ah, yes, your panties.” “No, your undershorts.” He grinned. “I thought you’d like the honors.” His cock pressed outward as if it were waving at her.

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“I’d love to, but I need to sit up.” He moved to the end of the mat to allow her better access. Now was her chance. She crawled up on her knees, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. She softened her lips and leaned back enough until their lips barely touched. His groan almost sent her over the edge. Her greedy hands delved between his waistband and his skin. Not hyperventilating took all of her control. I’m touching Clint Callen. Slowly, she lowered his shorts, but the elastic got caught on his cock. She had to slip her hand toward his erection and pull the material away from him. Once free of the obstruction, she ripped them down to his knees. Oh, my God. “You are ginormous.” Several thoughts passed through her brain. First and foremost was that he’d never fit inside her. Secondly, if she didn’t put her mouth on his cock right then, she’d explode. Dropping back on her heels, she loomed over him. Simultaneously, she cupped his balls and drew him into her mouth. His hands clasped her shoulders. “Be kind.” Like hell she would. Tightening her hold, she pressed hard with her lips and lifted her head. Her tongue swirled around his cock, lapping up his delicious scent. When her lips reached the head, she let her teeth scrape the edge. He gasped and pulled her off him. “Any more and this and the sex act will be a one-way street.” She’d hate for him to come all over the mountaintop and leave her unsatisfied. “Fine.” She huffed and sat back up. He grinned. “Why don’t you rest back the way you were and let me provide some lovin’ to you?” He wouldn’t get an argument out of her. As she rolled down, he wadded up his pants into a pillow and placed it under her head. “Thanks.” He picked up the condom, tore the foil, and drew the latex over

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his cock. He had to tug on the rubber to get it to fit. Just as she surmised, his cock was too big. She expected him to crawl up on his elbows and kiss her. Instead, he slid onto his stomach and peeled back her panties. He spread his legs wide to keep hers open as his tongue sneaked in and licked her clean. She jerked upward from the intoxicating intensity. “Easy now. We have a long way to go. Hold on.” From the slow and easy delivery, he seemed to be oblivious to what his touch and velvety tongue were doing to her. “I’m trying.” His damned chuckle carried across her and down to the valley. His feathery licks electrified her body. She clasped on to his shoulders and kneaded his flesh. Each stab of his tongue inflamed her already heated body. Rolling spasms rippled down her insides. When his tongue latched onto her clit, her groan came out closer to a yell. “I love how sensitive you are.” It wasn’t just because she hadn’t had sex in a while. It was because this was Clint, the man of her dreams. What he could do to her body. He was worse than any drug. Just a flick here, a lick there, and she wanted to climax. Her fantasy of fucking his brains out was about to come true and she didn’t want to mess it up. She figured the longer she waited for the release the more powerful and mindblowing it would be. Her hips bucked up and down with every suck as the pleasure wrapped around her body. He captured her clit between his teeth and her breath lodged in her throat. So much for holding out. “I need your cock.” His tongue stopped moving as if he was deciding how and when to grant her wish. “In due time.” Damn him. They were on top of a mountain with the wind blowing, the birds flying overhead, and at any minute another hiker could come across them and spoil the perfect interlude. If they weren’t able to consummate this union, she’d wither and die. He soon replaced his teeth with fingers in her pussy. Not one, but

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two found their way inside. She gushed with fluids as he pumped them in and out. Curling his fingers, he hit another spot that sent her soaring. Pulses heated her hungry flesh, pushing her closer to losing control. If only she could suck his cock or devour his mouth, she bet she’d be able to breach his calm veneer. Then hope surged when he crawled upward. Finally, she was going to be rewarded with his glorious cock in her creamy hole. Instead of receiving him inside her, he planted the monster at her entrance and stared at her breasts. “I love your tits.” His mouth went to work firing up her already tender nipples. His fingers gently twisted one while he licked the other. As if they were play toys, he seemed to enjoy pressing on them and swirling his tongue around the other. The whole time his cock moved forward a quarter of an inch at a time. She tried to slip down to meet him, but he held her hips still with his weight. Finally, he trailed his kisses up her chest and settled a bit on the hollow of her throat. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to taste you.” While she loved the sexy and breathy way he said it, he’d had his chance for years, yet never had taken it. She was the same old Dakota. Or was she? The old Dakota wouldn’t have worn red lace underwear, run an art gallery, or been with Clint on the top of a mountain. Maybe she had changed. The bit of anger that had settled in her stomach began to disappear. His cock nudged into her. All thoughts disappeared. She grabbed the foam mat and curled the edges, sucking in a breath as she tried to control her release. For every inch he moved forward, he awakened dormant nerves that sprang to life. Fuck me. His strokes turned bolder the moment his lips reached hers. His tongue teased his way in, and they wrapped their tongues around each other to form a bond. The double sensations challenged her mind. His hands added to the mix. While he supported himself on his elbows, his thumbs reached the sides of her breasts. Rubbing circles lit up her skin and set her on fire.

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“I want you.” His voice cracked as he thrust into her. Her eyes lost focus as waves of ecstasy washed over her. Sparks of electricity tripped up her spine with each thrust. “You’re so big.” “The better to satisfy you.” His mouth left her lips and traveled a path that included her eyes and then the rim of her ear. He nipped and tasted before sampling her lips again. Her pussy was so wet that it only took a few pushes for the tip of his cock to reach the end. His width stretched her walls, but she thrilled at how she could love so much of him. He slid out then drove back in. Each time his thrusts got harder and harder. “You feel so good.” He smiled. “I wish you were in my skin, darlin’. It ain’t nothing compared to what I’m experiencing. I’m so hot, I’m close to bursting, but I want to play with those titties of yours some more.” Their chests were pressed together, making that a bit difficult. When Clint withdrew, the devastation was complete. “Clint?” “Let’s get you on your hands and knees. That way I can make you come faster.” She’d already been about to burst. Reality sunk in. “I don’t take cocks in my ass.” He rubbed her ass cheeks. “You will when the time is ready. You’ll be begging me for it.” “I don’t think so.” She secretly wanted to give it a try, but right now she was so close to coming that she didn’t want to spoil her perfect evening. He lifted her up and had her flipped over before she’d engaged any muscles. His chest pressed against her back and his lips kissed her neck. “I want to make you happy.” She had no idea where this wonderful man had sprung up from, but she was willing to take him. “Okay.”

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One hand guided his cock into her pussy again while the other found her tits. When he seared a blistering path down her wet channel, lightning strikes ripped through her and heated her to a boil. She pressed her hips backward to make him go as far as he could. He must have taken that as a signal, for he grabbed on to her tits and pounded into her over and over again. “Fuck me harder!” She said a silent prayer this mountain belonged only to them. “Dakota!” He pummeled her pussy with relentless demand. With each stroke her climax built. Contractions of lust milked his cock. He growled. She moaned. As he fondled her tits and thrust into her pussy faster and faster, the carnal desires swept over her and tossed her over the edge into a free fall of total bliss. He slid his hands down to her waist and held on tight as his jism nearly burned a hole in the condom. His cock expanded and stretched her so much, she lost her breath. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she held on for dear life as her climax tore through her like a punishing tornado. “Jesus, Dakota.” She would have responded had she been able to form any words. He withdrew and leaned her onto her side. He grabbed his underwear and cleaned her the best he could. When he cuddled behind her, she thought if this were her last day on earth, she’d have died a satisfied woman. His arms stayed wrapped around her until the mountains turned purple and the air chilled. Clint sat up. “I think we need to get back down before it gets dark.” Her boneless body wasn’t as enthusiastic about the trek, but she knew she had no choice. “Okay.” After they both dressed, he packed up and then tossed her a food bar. “Eat this. We used up a lot of energy.” “Got a steak packed in that bag?” She’d need a big meal to

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compensate for the sex they’d had. He laughed. “Don’t I wish, but I know a place that can serve one.” He must be thinking of his home. Morgan would be there and she wasn’t quite ready to run into him looking so sweaty. “I have a client stopping by after she gets off work. Can I take a rain check?” She smiled as sweetly as she could. “Absolutely.” While his comment held cheer, the sparkle in his eyes had dimmed. “Are you going to tell Morgan what we did?” “What we did was make wonderful love. Would you mind if I did?” She shrugged. “He won’t care.” He hauled the pack over his shoulder and motioned she head back to the trail. “I think you’re wrong.” She looked over her shoulder. “Has he said anything?” She’d already had one miracle today. She probably shouldn’t push for two. “I actually brought up the concept of sharing you with him if we ever hooked up.” That halted her. She spun around. “You knew we’d have sex up here?” He instantly drew her to his chest. “No, but I figured if you were willing, we’d not be able to stay away from each other and eventually our passion would get the best of us.” She stepped back and smiled. “You are so full of shit.” “It sounded good, didn’t it?” A cool breeze and a dark cloud reminded her they had to get down the mountain. “Yes, but that’s not the point. Tell me about Morgan.” “Don’t take it the wrong way, but when I mentioned you, he got kind of got mad.” She swatted a cobweb off her face. “Mad?” “When I brought up your name, he made every excuse in the book why I should find you unattractive.” “Ouch.” She came to the main path and turned left down the

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mountain. “I think he’s sweet on you.” Something had rattled Clint’s brains in the last few years. “I would have drawn that conclusion, too. I talk bad about all the guys I like.” She shook her head as she grabbed on to a tree branch to balance going over a slippery rock. “Let me pose this to you.” She wished she didn’t have to have this conversation while trying to pick her way over rocks and down a steep incline. “Shoot.” “Speaking hypothetically, what’s your take on ménage relationships?” Her foot must have stepped on a mossy slope because she slipped and landed on her butt. “Shit.” Pain ripped up her spine. Clint was at her side in a flash. He pressed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t move and let me check you out.” The radiating pulses lessened. “I think it’s my ego that’s bruised more than my butt.” Or perhaps it was the fact that he’d entered her brain and read every thought. “Hold still, will ya?” He asked her a series of questions as he ran his hands down her spine. “Looks good. Let’s get you on your feet.” Embarrassed, she let him pull her up. She brushed off her butt. “Can we get down before we discuss my sex life?” He burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, darlin’. I was just speaking my mind. Sure thing. My mouth is zippered closed.” She loved his outlook on life. True to his word, he didn’t bring up Morgan again. She scrambled down the mountain without another incident. He helped her into the truck. “I’ll give you a few days to recuperate before asking you out again.” He winked. “Thanks.” He started the engine. “However, I do have a plan if you’re amenable.” “What’s that?” He always did love to scheme.

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“Perhaps tomorrow, you could come real early in the morning to our ranch and set up your easel to paint some flowers.” She laughed. “Why would I want to do that?” “The light’s the best in the early morning.” Who was this guy? “I mean, why would I want to come to your ranch?” She had thought only Morgan worked the ranch and that Clint stayed there while he ran his landscaping design business, but now wasn’t the time to bring up the distinction. He glanced over at her. “Not too bright, are you?” Had he not been driving, she would have punched him in the arm. Instead, she slapped the dash. “Tell me.” “Because when Morgan leaves the house in the morning and runs into you, the fireworks will fly, and I want to see the explosion.”

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Chapter Five This was the dumbest plan Dakota had ever agreed to. She was bundled in a thick fleece pullover and sitting on a low stool in front of her easel about fifty feet from Morgan and Clint Callen’s front porch. She had to admit, the flowers were spectacular as was the stone pathway that led to the front of the house. So far, neither man had shown up, but Clint had texted her that Morgan was about to go riding on the range. To make it appear as though she was an invited guest who really wanted to paint flowers, she’d already made the sketch and taken a few pictures. Because the light wasn’t the best, the photos lacked detail. The side door opened and heavy boots stomped their way down the steps. To pretend Morgan didn’t exist would be dumb. She inhaled to steel her nerves and looked over her shoulder. She casually waved. “Hey, Morgan.” Returning to her picture, she dabbed her brush into the yellow paint and stabbed the canvas. As expected, he charged over to her. “What are you doing here?” He stood so close she could smell his animal scent. She placed the brush into her storage cup and looked up. “Long time no see.” Her heart was racing so fast she was sure he could see it beat beneath the sweater. He leaned closer. “Dakota? That you?” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized her, especially since Clint claimed he told Morgan about her transformation. “The one and only.” She lifted her chin and smiled. “Jesus. Clint said you’d changed, but I wouldn’t have guessed.”

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“So it seems.” She stood in the hopes he’d remember her now. “You passed me the other day and said nothing.” His gaze dropped to the right. “The girl in the yellow dress?” “Yup.” “Well, shit.” His vocabulary seemed to have deteriorated in the last few years. “Clint suggested that I add some flowers to my collection of paintings. I’m sure Jade told you that I’ve taken over her studio and am turning it into an art gallery.” She had a ton of flower close-ups, but she’d not hung them yet. Technically, she wasn’t lying. “I hope you don’t mind if I paint these.” He shot a look at her painting as if to verify her story. “No. No problem.” He nodded to what she’d done. “It looks great.” He was just saying that. She’d only painted half a flower. “The grand opening isn’t for another two weeks, but stop on by any time to see my new digs. You’d hardly recognize the bottom floor. ” “Sure.” His gaze shot to the ground. “I gotta go.” He stomped off, slapped his hat against his thigh then jammed it onto his head. She sat only because her legs had a hard time keeping her upright. Hmm. That didn’t go as she’d hoped, but it was as she’d expected. **** Holy shit. Clint had said Dakota had changed, but he never would have imagined she’d have made such a drastic transformation merely by dyeing her hair and taking out those damned piercings. She had the same charming smile and her eyes twinkled with mischief like they always had, but he knew that once her opening occurred and everyone learned what an amazing artist she was, she’d revert back to being punk Dakota at some time. He doubted the pink-lipstick phase would last long. Call him crazy, but anyone who would go to such extremes to get

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noticed wasn’t for him. All that freaky hair stuff and piercings screamed she had no desire for anyone to get close to her. He understood she had issues with her mom dying, but she was only six when that happened. Maybe he was being insensitive, but dyeing her hair all sorts of colors wouldn’t bring her mom back to life. Maybe what got him the angriest all those years ago was when she said she was going to go to Washington University in St. Louis, where both he and Clint ended up. But did she? No. She decided to stick around Intrigue and help Jade. While noble, she might have been a renowned artist by now if she’d followed her heart. When he first met her, she’d been the smallest girl he’d ever seen, but the most fearless at the same time. He was nine and a bit intimidated by her. Clint, however, followed her around like a puppy. Then they got smart and moved on, but Dakota appeared to be fascinated by both of them. Maybe that was why he didn’t want to dip his wick into her. He got to the barn and saddled his horse. Running a ranch was a big job and becoming more demanding each year. Too bad Clint loved creating beautiful yards out of dirt or he’d try to convince him to help. He knew all too well that people’s passions never changed. Clint loved design like Jade loved iron. He’d always be a horse man. Hell, maybe Dakota would always be an artist. The day was shaping up to be a warm one. So far, they’d had a nice summer and he hated to see the weather change. The cold would be here soon enough. Heading toward where the cows were congregating, he glanced over his land. While he didn’t own a spread anywhere near as big as his dad’s, this five-thousand-acre parcel was the perfect size for him. As he neared the herd, he spotted a piece of the fence down and rode to check it out. It looked like someone had driven a truck straight through the fence. “What the fuck?” He glanced over his shoulder and spotted two of his hands, who seemed oblivious to the possible hazard. Last thing

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he needed was for his cattle to escape. His land was on the eastern edge of the Callen estate. Old man Whitaker’s place sat to the east of him, and the guy didn’t like stray cattle to trespass. Cord and Jack were inspecting the herd when he rode up to them. “Hey, Cord. You see that downed fence?” He looked up like he had no idea what his boss was talking about. “Huh?” Morgan pointed to the potential problem. “Can you do something about that? What the hell do I pay you for, anyway?” Cord jerked back as if he’d been hit. The man was lucky he hadn’t gotten off his horse and done just that. One fight a day was all he could stomach. Morgan turned his horse around and headed back to the barn. If he stayed around much longer, there was no telling how many people he’d alienate today. Dakota’s face flashed before him. He thought he’d more or less banished her from his mind years ago, but here she was again, trapping his heart. It was like they were nine and ten again. He remembered the time Clint suggested they all play doctor. Where Jade was at the time he didn’t recall, but it was just the three of them. As soon as he started to unbutton his shirt, Dakota took one look and ran away. After that she changed. She’d gained a lot of weight and just as quickly got real skinny again. She was gone for a few months from school. Rumor had it she was in a hospital recovering from anorexia. When she returned, her weight appeared normal, but she was never the same. He brushed down his horse and put him away. Clint and he needed to have a talk about why he’d invited Dakota to the ranch without asking him. They both owned the home and land equally, but it would have been considerate to let him know. When he strode back to the house, Dakota thankfully had packed up and left. It didn’t surprise him. He hadn’t exactly been welcoming, but if his brother had warned him, he might have been more prepared. He still couldn’t believe he’d fantasized for the last few nights about

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the girl in the yellow dress. She had reminded him of someone. Now he knew who. For the rest of the day, he spent his time in the office paying bills and making sure the farm had enough feed for the week. Around five, Clint came in full of sweat and dirt. He’d let him clean up before they had a heart-to-heart about his invited guest. The shower turned on, and Morgan grabbed a beer to get ready for their discussion. Fifteen minutes later, Clint came out wearing only jeans. His barefoot brother traipsed into the living room and headed straight for the kitchen. Before he had a chance to ask him about Dakota, Clint spoke up. “How did your chat go with her? She’s changed, huh?” Morgan got up and sat on the stool at the counter. “Like you haven’t been in contact with her ten times already? I’m sure you know how it went.” Clint pulled a beer from the fridge and downed half of it in one swallow. He grinned. “You like her, don’t you?” Denying it would only set Clint off. “She’s different.” He cocked a brow. “Good different or bad different?” “I’m not having this conversation.” Clint placed the bottle on the counter and leaned his elbows on the slab. “Why? I want her, and I think she’d like to share.” Christ. His cock hardened, but his brain clicked into a more reasonable mode. “No.” His younger brother painted on his often-used sad face. “I say try her, you’ll like her.” The cheer in his tone caused bells to explode in his head. “You fucked her, didn’t you?” “We made love on top of Randall’s Ridge.” He closed his eyes and inhaled. Then he lasered him with a steely look. “It was better than life itself. We will break you, bro. She’s the one for us.” “She’s too much of a free spirit.” Clint studied him for too long. “What?”

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“That’s your problem. You’re so uptight that if you were with a woman who was spontaneous, fun loving, and adventurous, she’d scare you.” “I don’t need to be psychoanalyzed.” He hadn’t even figured out why she got under his skin and made his dick hard thinking about her. “That’s exactly what you do need.” “Okay. Fine. Suppose we go out and I have a great time. We even end up in the sack and she rocks my world.” “Which is what would happen.” He hated when Clint wouldn’t let him finish. “Then she reverts back to the old Dakota.” “So? She’s still the same wonderful woman.” No, she wasn’t. “Can you imagine what Dad would say?” Clint polished off his beer. “No. What would Dad say?” “That she’s not Callen material.” Clint laughed, which didn’t settle well in his gut. “If she’s fertile, she’s Callen material.” Unfortunately, that might have been true. “All I’m saying is be careful.” “Because I might get hurt emotionally?” Clint laughed and shook his head. “You want her, don’t you?” Morgan got off the stool, not needing this conversation. “If you want a smart-ass chick who can shut down emotionally at the snap of a finger, then I say go for her.” “Don’t walk away from me. We need to settle this.” “Settle what?” His tried to keep his breaths even. “I want her and always have. We agreed that when we settled down, we’d share the woman we love.” A laugh escaped. “You’ve gone out with her once and you know she’s the one for you?” His brother must have been drinking on the job. “We’ve known her for twenty years.” Morgan walked away, but Clint didn’t seem to like Morgan’s

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rebuff. His brother followed him. “If you can get under her skin and show her you care, she’ll never do you wrong. Look how she stayed by Jade’s side all these years. Think how much it must have hurt to see her own dad train her best friend to work in his line of business.” He had wondered how Dakota never seemed to get jealous. He faced Clint. “That’s because Dakota is too tiny to lift an anvil.” Jade was five feet nine inches and packed full of muscles, and Dakota didn’t weigh more than a wet blanket. “That doesn’t mean she wasn’t hurt by her dad’s betrayal.” Faithful friends who stuck by a person through every kind of shit were nearly impossible to find. “It’s hardly a betrayal, but I’m not going to argue the point.” Clint’s shoulders stiffened. “So you won’t mind if I bring her over here?” “This is your house, too.” “Remember that when we’re running around naked.” Now his brother had crossed the line. “You wouldn’t dare.” He shrugged. “You’re the one who said she’s wild. Never know with her.” This was surely a test to see what he’d say. He wasn’t going to let Clint goad him into a fight. “I suppose you brought up the concept of a ménage with her.” His heart hitched waiting for the answer. “Sure did.” Shit. Leave it to Clint not to elaborate. “And?” “She kind of laughed saying that you hated her and that it would never work.” He had pretended that she did nothing for him. “You left it like that?” “What was I to say? That my brother is secretly in love with you but is too fucking stupid to admit it even to himself, but that if you rub your tits against him a couple of times, he might come around?” He wasn’t sure what part of the sentence made him snap, but his

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fist connected with Clint’s gut. Clint partially doubled over but came back with an uppercut that rattled his brain. He didn’t want to have a brawl, especially over a woman. He stepped back and held up his hands. His right knuckles throbbed from the hit. “Sorry.” He moved his jaw right and left to make sure nothing was broken. Clint’s grin came out lopsided. “Thank you for confirming my suspicion.” He didn’t even want to hear his brother’s conjecture. “I’m not sharing.” “Well, you sure as hell can’t have her for yourself.” That was not what he’d meant. Yes, it is. “I’ve got work to do.” He spun around and headed back to his office. “Do what you want.” Just don’t flaunt her in front of me. The image of her and Clint naked, fucking their brains out, made his blood boil. Maybe if he could convince Dakota that she really didn’t want him, the concept of her willingness to share would go away.

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Chapter Six After the fiasco with Morgan, Dakota wasn’t sure her relationship with Clint would work. He and Morgan seemed to be inseparable, and if Jade knew what she was talking about, her two brothers were determined to find one woman they could share. All week, she’d questioned her decision to go to Morgan’s ranch and pretend she was only there to paint. He hadn’t been rude, but she could tell her presence bothered him. While he’d made a nice comment about her drawing, his quick glance implied he wasn’t into her art. That was okay. Clint appreciated her, but if two people didn’t understand what the other person was passionate about, a long-term relationship would never work. Clint had called several times to see how she was doing, but with the opening coming up, she’d been swamped trying to get ready. Her cell rang and it was Clint again. She smiled. “Hey there.” “How would you like to do something really special on Saturday?” Her time was limited, but she couldn’t turn him down. “What is it?” His chuckle made her stomach twist with delight and her pussy rejoice. “It’s a secret. Can you make it?” “I love surprises. Sure.” “I’ll pick you up at 9:00 a.m. sharp.” “What should I wear?” The last time they’d climbed a freaking mountain. “Pants and a warm top.”

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That gave her no clue. “I’ll be ready.” When he disconnected, she jumped up and down. If she thought Jade knew what the surprise might have been, she’d have called her. With Clint, she didn’t even dare to guess what he had in mind, but she hoped it ended with them intimately entwined. The fire he’d lit in her belly needed to be quenched—and fast. To make the most of the time she did have, she started a list for what had to be done. Ordering the cakes came first. Not only would next week celebrate her grand opening, but Cody Callen had let it slip about his wife’s big surprise, and Dakota wanted to get a cake for her, too. Two more artists were going to stop by with artwork they wished to commission. Lastly, she wanted to contact Harley, as he was an artist in his own right, to see if he wanted to put something up for sale. Over the years, she’d seen some pretty amazing designs he’d created. Maybe someone might like his beautiful ink work to hang on a wall. Between getting the ads in the paper and finally bringing the banner design to the printer, it was dinnertime already. Since she didn’t feel like cooking, she thought she’d take a walk down to the Eatery for a sandwich. That place never failed to have something good to eat. She blasted through the front door and was halfway to the counter when she spotted Clint and Morgan’s younger sister, Erin. Probably because there was a two-year age difference, they didn’t hang out much. She debated stopping to chat, but with the way Erin was making goo-goo eyes at some super hunky guy she’d never seen before, Dakota thought it better to leave them alone. She felt pretty safe that Erin wouldn’t recognize her, so her feelings wouldn’t get hurt. Now she wished she’d taken the time to get to know her better. When they were kids, two years was a lot. Now, the age gap meant nothing. Jade had mentioned that Erin had quit her job and was looking for something other than working in a clothing store. Dakota wondered if she might like to be a buyer for Devonne Callen, who’d been a top model before coming to Intrigue and marrying Jade’s twin

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cousins. What she did know was that Clint and Morgan were super protective of all their siblings. She’d never forget the time about three years ago, when she was at the Callen ranch visiting Jade and Tanya, who at the time was nineteen, and some guy stopped by to see her. Man oh man, did the kid get grilled by those two. She could only imagine what they’d do when they had a daughter. Her hand shot to her stomach. No way she’d ever get that far with her men. Her men? Right now, her only hope was to have a fantastic relationship with Clint and enjoy it while it lasted. Sooner or later, Morgan would insist they settle down and find the right woman for both of them. Dakota’s appetite kind of disappeared, but she ordered a roast beef sandwich to go anyway. She could always save for later what she didn’t eat. **** “No way I’m jumping out of a plane.” Her hands were already sweaty from watching other people take a leap. Sure they landed safely, but that was beside the point. Clint tugged on her waist and drew her near. “I thought you were a daredevil.” “I like to ride on the back of a motorcycle, and I might even be willing to rock climb someday, but skydiving is a bit out of my comfort zone.” He stepped around and faced her, his hands still on her waist. “I’ll be with you.” He leaned over and nuzzled her neck. “Doesn’t that count?” “Like you’ll be holding my hand or something?” He laughed. “No, darlin’. I’m a jumpmaster. I have over six hundred jumps in the last three years alone. I’ll be using a drogue parachute and I’ll strap you on my chest. You don’t have to do a thing

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but enjoy the ride.” He placed his lips to her ears. “It’ll be as exciting as when I licked your clit, only this will last longer.” Her breath hitched. Sharing an experience with someone would bring the two of them closer. Her body pulsed thinking about the rush. She closed her eyes. “Okay.” “Yes! That’s my girl.” He picked her up and swung her around. “Let’s go pack my chute.” “You do it yourself?” “Hell, yeah. I’m the only person I trust. I know I’ll do a good job. My life, and now your life, is at stake.” That made her feel somewhat better, but her stomach wouldn’t stop churning. Between his pinched brows and fake frown, he really wanted her to try. “Let’s do this.” “You’re going to love it. Come on.” If he died, she’d die. She supposed to get the most out of life, she had to try everything once. They headed over to an area where he spread out his shoot. “This is the D-bag, and I’m going to stuff all this nylon into here, which I’ll then put into another container. I’ll also have a second chute, called a reserve.” She hoped he didn’t expect her to remember anything. “I’ll just watch.” He zigzagged the lines and looped them under what looked like rubber bands. His careful smoothing of the nylon and meticulous folding boosted her sense of security. About fifteen minutes later, he was done packing both parachutes. “Ready?” No. “Yes. Maybe.” “This is something you can regale your kids with.” My kids? Too bad he hadn’t said our kids. “If I live long enough.” He laughed and put his parachute on. With incredible care, he strapped her into her harness. “That feel nice and snug?” She wiggled around and nothing moved. “I think so.” He handed

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her a helmet and told her to put on the goggles. “What does Morgan think of your hobby?” He glanced to the sky. “What Morgan doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Interesting. The two men didn’t share everything. The skydiving plane landed and bumped along the cow pasture toward them. “Are we next to go up?” She wasn’t sure if she wanted to delay the trip or go now to get it over with. “Yup.” She supposed that if she chickened out, she could always stay in the plane while Clint jumped. He grabbed her hand and led her over to the plane. Three other guys joined them, one with a video camera. They were laughing as if what they were about to do was an everyday occurrence. Here goes. When she crawled in, she was surprised to find no seats. She glanced back over her shoulder. “It would be difficult if we had to crawl over seats, you know.” He must have anticipated her question. “How come there’s no door?” “It’s here.” He tapped the ceiling. It looked like the door was rolled upward. “Easier access to the outside. It would suck if the parachute got stuck on the hinges.” Shivers rippled down her spine. Trust Clint. At least he didn’t expect her to pull the cord to release the parachute. She’d have freaked and they both would have died. The plane taxied over the rather bumpy ground and quickly took off. Since she wasn’t sitting by the exit, she didn’t have to look down. She wasn’t sure what altitude they were climbing to, but whatever it was, they got there too fast. “Give me your back. I need to hook us together.” Normally, the idea of hooking together with him would thrill her, but right now she was petrified. “What if I pass out?” She had to shout over the noise of the engine.

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“Then you’ll miss a spectacular sight. As soon as we jump remember to open your arms and spread your legs.” Her mind immediately went to a happier place where Clint was on his stomach licking her pussy. Her blood pressure lowered a bit. “Got it.” Arms out, pussy open. “When we get near the land, remember to lift your legs. I’ll do all the work to land.” “Okay.” She prayed she could keep all of the instructions straight in her head. The pilot must have nodded or something because next thing she knew Clint had maneuvered her to the door. The air slammed into her face. She got her first glance at the ground, and it was really far away. Her heart knocked against her chest. Maybe she shouldn’t be doing this. She wasn’t ready. Before she could back out, they were in the air. “Holy shit.” Other than the wind pressing upward on her body, the world seemed to stand still. “Arms out.” As soon as she assumed the position, she knew she was flying. A quick glance to the right and she spotted another skydiver who was filming her. Clint hadn’t told her, but it was too late to argue. Deciding to make the most of it, she wiggled her fingers and somehow managed to smile. At least with Clint doing all the work, she didn’t have to worry about messing up. All too soon, she was jerked upward, or so it felt. The descent slowed to a crawl. This was what hawks must experience every day when they rode the currents. Finally, she looked outward. Oh, my God. She could see forever. Nothing could compare to the excitement of this ride. All too soon, the earth rushed up to meet them. “Legs up.” Just in time, she lifted them and Clint landed. He jogged at least ten feet before sliding to a stop on his butt. Laughter bubbled up, probably from relief. Once safely on the ground, she dropped her legs

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and leaned back. Exhilaration swept through her. Even though she was safe, her heart continued to pound. “Sit up.” He unhooked her. “You can get up now.” Her legs wobbled a bit, but she managed to stand and watch Clint gather the parachute. Her heart still hadn’t slowed. “Wow.” He trotted back to her. “So what did you think?” The words and emotions collided. Coherent thoughts barely registered. “When can I go again?” He gave her a hug. “I think it’s time we celebrate.” **** Dakota still couldn’t believe she’d jumped out of a plane, but her body and mind were spinning even after five hours. On the way home, Clint proposed yet another plan to get Morgan involved with them. She couldn’t think straight from the adrenaline coursing through her system, but she agreed to give it a try. Morgan was going to barbecue for him and Clint tonight, and she was supposed to show up unannounced. Clint would say he’d forgotten to mention it to Morgan that she was coming over. The rest would be ad-libbed from there. She’d do whatever it took to have Morgan as a willing participant, but she wanted him to come to her because of who she was. Tricking him would probably end in disaster, but since Clint seemed to think this would work, she’d give it a try. If she understood why Morgan was so against her, she might be able to handle the rejection better. Since the plan involved them swimming, she wore a skimpy suit under her shorts and a tee. In her bag, she’d stuffed a warmer set of clothes for after she changed. She rang the bell and swayed back and forth. At the moment, she was almost more willing to jump out of a plane again than chance a rejection by Morgan. Finally, someone answered. Thank goodness it was Clint. “Hey, gorgeous.”

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His flattering words helped, but she was still fearful about how the evening was going to go. Pissing off Morgan was the last thing she wanted. He pulled her into a hug and kissed her. “We’re going to have fun. Relax.” “You a mind reader now?” “The stiff shoulders will give it away every time. Come on, we’re out back. Just play along.” He kissed her and her body let go of some of the tension. With his arm around her waist, Clint led her through the ranch house and out to the back patio. She’d never seen the inside, but from the quick glance, these men lived a nice lifestyle. That shouldn’t have surprised her. After all, they were Callen men. The leather furniture and big comfy pillows seemed to be a place a group could come and relax, and the huge flat-screen television seemed perfect for large gatherings. “Look who stopped by!” Morgan spun around. His eyes widened and his shoulders straightened, but he kept his true reaction to himself. “Dakota.” He shot a glance at Clint. “I’ll go put another steak on. You should have told me.” Ah, there was the censure she expected. “Hey, I’ll get one from the kitchen.” Clint faced her. “Be nice to Morgan.” That made her laugh. She wanted to be a lot more than nice to him, but unless he was willing, that wasn’t going to happen. “So how’s it going?” Stupid comment, but her nerves were strung tight. “Good. How’s the opening coming?” He remembered! His tone held no censure, but she was sure that given his upbringing, he’d learned to control his emotions. “You going to come?” Please say yes. A small smile lifted his lips. “If I want to remain in the family I’ll

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be there. Jade threatened to cut me off if I didn’t show.” Oh. She’d hoped his curiosity would make him want to see the new place. “There are some nice pieces.” She’d noticed their place had a few of Jade’s pieces, but not many paintings or photos on the wall. “Here ya go.” Clint handed her a beer and tossed another steak on the grill. “How do you like it?” “Medium rare.” Morgan nodded. “Since it’ll be a few minutes,” Clint said, “how about taking a dip before the sun sets.” That had been the plan. “Sure.” She stepped out of her shorts and pulled off her tee. Once she kicked off her sandals, she was ready to go. Morgan glanced over at her. “I think this visit was perhaps planned.” Damn. They hadn’t thought through why she’d be wearing a bathing suit. “Guilty. Sorry. I hope it’s all right.” She tried to give him her best smile. “Sure. It’s Clint’s house, too.” Couldn’t he for once say he was happy to see her? Whatever. A loud splash sounded behind her. “Come on, Dakota.” Trying to forget Morgan for a few minutes, she turned around. Clint was grinning. The beaded water on his face added to his sexiness. She walked down the steps and stopped halfway. The pool wasn’t heated. “It’s a tad cold.” Clint shoved his hand against the surface of the water and created a spray that fortunately missed her body. “Sissy.” Okay, that did it. Determined to get in, she lunged into the pool and dunked down. As soon as she got over the shock, she swam toward Clint. She reached him in three strokes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Warm me up.” “Darlin’, we might have to wait until after we eat.”

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“Dummy.” She plastered his chest to her and absorbed his heat. Before she realized what he was up to, he’d tugged on the knot around her neck as well as the one on her back. He lifted her top in the air and held it over his head. She screeched and chased after him. “Give that back, Clint Callen.” He balled up her top and flung it toward Morgan. “Go get it.” She shook her head. “You will pay for this.” Keeping her gaze on Clint, she walked backward to the steps and got out, holding her shoulders back. She tried to act as if walking naked in front of Morgan was an everyday occurrence. In truth, her body was throbbing with need. When she made eye contact seconds before she picked up her top, Morgan’s gaze was lasered on her breasts and his mouth partly open. If she thought jumping out of a plane was exciting, seeing his reaction was a much bigger thrill.

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Chapter Seven Fuck. Morgan had managed to control his lust long enough to flip the steaks. He kept his back to the pool, not wanting to see the vixen splash around and have a good time without him. When she screamed, his protective genes shot into high gear and he spun around. The flying bathing suit top almost didn’t register. Even when it did, he never expected Dakota to brazenly walk out of the pool with her glorious tits exposed. His cock had gotten so hard he’d almost needed to adjust himself. Her defiant flaunting of her nakedness was the last straw. Her hair might have been brown instead of bright colors, but the daring Dakota hadn’t changed. He picked up his beer and strode into the kitchen mumbling something about needing to get the cut-up vegetables. He had planned on grilling them, but his plans had suddenly changed. He sure as hell wasn’t ready to see the happy couple do something other than splash in the pool. Pulling out a pan from the cabinet, he dumped in the veggies and set them on the burner. “When will the steaks be done?” Her defiant question made his balls tight. He spun around and the words left his brain. She hadn’t even put on her top. What was she trying to do? Kill him? “Ask Clint.” He turned back around. An ache the size of Wyoming drove up his cock and squeezed his balls. The vegetables sizzled in the pan, and he was happy he could pretend to have something to do. He thought she’d headed outside when her hands found their way around his waist. Her tempting ways

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had to stop. He took in a deep breath, set the spatula in the frying pan, and pried her fingers apart. Then he turned around. He’d intended to just walk back outside, but something inside his feeble brain snapped. The brain between his legs led the way. He brought his mouth to hers and drank in his fill. The moment she pressed her naked chest against him, he broke away. “What’s wrong?” She looked up at him with such innocence. “Go cover yourself up. I don’t need to see little-girl tits.” He expected her to back off. Instead, a smile filled her face. Damn her. “Why? Do you have a little boy’s cock?” She was playing with fire and was sure to get burned. He shoved the pan off the flame and stalked out. He swore he could hear her chuckle. **** Dakota waited to see if Morgan would return. When he didn’t, she pulled the pan back onto the burner and finished sautéing the vegetables. She wasn’t ready to face Clint yet. Morgan’s reaction didn’t really surprise her, but to hear the disgust in his voice hurt her to the core. From now on, she needed to focus on Clint and forget about Morgan. By the time she brought out the pan that contained the vegetables, she figured the steak would be cooked. Putting on her top seemed to be the smart thing to do just in case she’d misread Morgan’s reaction. She wouldn’t want Morgan to give up a meal on her account. “Where’s my brother?” “He disappeared.” She placed the pan on a pot holder. “He might have gone to his room.” Maybe Clint could talk some sense into him. “He couldn’t handle seeing you naked and not having you?” She shrugged. “He kissed me then stomped off.” Clint smiled. “Hot damn.”

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She’d never understand men. “Why is that good?” He palmed her tits and leaned in to kiss her neck. “Because it means he wants you but isn’t willing to admit it yet.” “You’re full of shit.” “Oh, yeah.” When he ran his tongue along the edge of her ear, she pushed aside the slight from Morgan. Her body reacted with heated passion. The aroma of the cooked steaks on the table made her stomach grumble, but when Clint lifted her up and walked her through the living and down a hallway, she forgot all about food. “I have something special for you.” “Oh, yeah? The last time we did something special, I liked it.” She would never forget the thrill of skydiving. “I’m hoping to make this equally as pleasurable.” All she could think of was making love to both Clint and Morgan, but that dream seemed to be fading fast. “I’m game.” He placed her on the bed and headed over to his dresser. She wasn’t sure what he was getting, but she bet she’d like it. He returned waving a condom, a jar, and something in a box. He opened it and pulled out what looked like a very large glass cock. “Oh, my.” Clint sat on the bed and kissed her. Oh, how she loved his soft, pliable lips. “I love your pussy, but I also want to explore your glorious ass. Have you ever had a cock in your ass?” She didn’t need much of an imagination to know that if Clint were inside her, the experience would be wonderful. “No.” She’d already told him that, but maybe he was hoping she’d lied or something. “I’d like to stretch you out with this.” He waved the fake cock. “When I fuck your pussy, you’ll feel so full that you’ll know how much I want you.” She wasn’t certain of his logic, but having his cock again was all that she’d dreamed about since their mountain excursion. “Can I suck on your cock first?”

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He hissed in a breath. “I’m not sure.” She gave him her best pouting face. “It’ll get me in the mood.” “Okay.” He simultaneously pulled on the side ribbons holding up her bottom. “I love your pussy. It’ll get me in the mood if I can suck on her.” He lifted her up and placed her higher on the bed. He was about to get between her legs when she stopped him. “I want to go first.” “How about if I put this cock in your ass first. Then you can suck my cock while you get used to the one in your ass.” She thought about it for a moment. “That’s fair.” He stepped off the bed and shed his trunks before crawling back next to her. “Get on your elbows and knees.” She expected him to open the lube and smear it on her hole. Instead, he dragged his hands up and down her back. “You’re tense.” “I think that’s to be expected.” New ideas always made her leery. “I need to relax you.” From the sexy way his voice lowered, she knew she was going to like whatever he’d planned. “How you going to that?” He pulled her over his lap and she burst out laughing. “You are so not going to spank me.” His hand came down rather softly, but the effect was nice. “How was that?” “I’m still too tense.” The next spank was delivered with a bit more force. “Spread your legs.” Now he was talking. He slipped a finger into her pussy, and her hole instantly creamed. She wiggled her butt to get his finger in deeper when the next slap occurred. This time he didn’t hold back. “Ouch.” With that same hand that had delivered the blow, he rubbed her ass. “I’m sorry, darlin’. Your ass is such a pretty shade of pink. Can you feel it heating up your pussy?”

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“I think your finger is doing the honors in that department.” He dared to remove the finger. “Don’t want you to get confused.” The next slap stung, but it generated enough heat that she felt it deep inside her. “That was kind of nice. Do it again, but harder this time.” Two hard smacks followed by more ass rubbing soothed away the ache, but it excited her at the same time. Clint deposited her back on the bed. “I think you’re sufficiently relaxed.” She resumed the position, surprised at how the spanking had calmed her. He opened the jar and a strong scent swirled around her. The odor was a combination of peach and strawberry. With one hand, he rubbed her rear. With the other, he pressed a finger into her pussy and dragged up her juices up her divide. When he circled her anus, she clenched her ass cheeks. “Don’t do that or I’ll have to give you another spanking.” “Oh, no, not that.” She giggled. When he added her back into the massage, she forced herself to relax. More strawberry-peach scent reached her. His finger circled her anus with the fresh-smelling goo. “Close your eyes and enjoy the sensation.” She did as he asked, but when his finger edged into her virgin hole, her muscles spasmed. The double spanking was expected, and the resulting heat helped her to refocus. In a slow, sensual manner, Clint went round and round her hole until he was able to slip his finger in partway. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but so far she preferred if he played with her pussy. As he worked the tense muscle, it finally gave way and he pressed his finger in all the way. “Oh.” She hadn’t expected her ass to perk up the way it did. “You’re doing such a good job.” His praise meant the world to her. “Mmm.” He leaned over her back and rewarded her with several kisses down her shoulder. Her nipples ached for the same treatment. They

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pebbled in anticipation. She looked behind her to see his next move. He reached under her and rubbed her tits. He must have read her mind. “I love these and plan on sucking them until you come.” His lips traveled back along her shoulder and up her neck. Fingers of pleasure caressed her skin. He pressed on her nipples. Oh, God. Her tits were almost as sensitive as her clit. It would only take a few touches before she was soaring high. He rubbed them between his thumb and forefinger enough to make them harden. “Yes. Keep doing that.” “I’ll get back to those in a minute.” Damn him. The man seemed determined to drive her crazy. The jar of lube perfumed the air again. He must be coating the glass cock, getting it ready to press into her. She could hardly wait for the tingles to spark more need. He placed the tip at her hole and slightly pressed inward. The difference in size between his finger and this cock was substantial, but she didn’t say anything. Clint knew what he was doing. The flat of his hand rubbed her ass. “You doing okay?” His gentle words washed over her. “Yes.” With a back-and-forth twisting motion, the fake cock slowly eased in about an inch. She must have tensed because he rubbed her back and ass with more intensity. “Just breathe.” “Okay.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. To her surprise, on the next exhale, the cock slid in deeper and must have hit a nerve that stimulated the production of juices in her pussy. How was that possible? She wiggled her butt, and he pressed a bit harder. Clint pulled the dildo out a bit then eased it back in, going farther this time. Between him rubbing her ass and slowly increasing the pressure, he was able to get the cock seated. “Now for the fun.”

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Testing the new cock, she squeezed her ass cheeks. The pressure didn’t subside. The new glass dildo took up a good portion of her body. She needed to see what he was doing and lifted up on her knees to turn around. “Ooh.” The cock hit a ton of erotic nerves. “I see you found the pleasure source.” Her breaths came out faster. “Yes.” “I want to eat your pussy.” He flipped her onto her back. “No. You promised.” She stretched her hands toward his cock and wiggled her fingers. He groaned. “I’d hoped you’d forgotten.” Her mouth gaped open. “Not on your life, buddy.” On his knees, Clint climbed closer. She got back up on her knees and bent over. Determined to drive him crazy, she licked his balls as she grabbed his stiff cock. The cock in her ass was setting her body on fire. Even her pussy was creaming too fast. “Easy, darlin’. Putting that little fake cock in you turned me on something fierce.” “Little?” As huge as it felt in her ass, compared to Clint’s cock, the dildo was tiny. She couldn’t imagine what would happen when he fucked her hard in the ass. Thrilled he was so sensitive to her touch, she cupped his balls with one hand and guided the other hand up and down his swollen shaft. As she pressed her fingers harder into his flesh, he gasped. She smiled. She continued giving him a hand job until his grunts came out so fast that she replaced her top hand with her mouth and sealed it tight over his spongy, mushroom-shaped head. As slowly as she could, she slid down his rippled length to enjoy the thick vein pulsating down the middle. When her mouth could hold no more, she swirled her tongue around and around as she massaged his balls. A hint of chlorine teased her nostrils, reminding her of their swim. She released his balls and wrapped her arm around his ass and drew him closer, just until her tits hit his thigh. Dropping onto her heels, the glass cock wedged in more, taking her breath from her for a

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moment. She inhaled and waited for the pulses to ease before she sucked on him hard and fast. She loved how his coarse leg hairs pricked her nipples. The added pressure ignited the tips. Clint pressed on her shoulder and gently her pushed away. When she sat back, a drop of pre-cum sparkled on the tip. “I’ve never had this problem before, but when I’m around you, my body’s weak. Have mercy.” She nearly laughed. Since she wanted him to last, she drew her hands upward and palmed his chest. “I like these, too.” Probably to show off, he flexed his muscles. He pulled her onto her knees and answered with a demanding kiss. When she opened her mouth to invite him in, he took advantage of the opportunity and probed her mouth with a fast-darting tongue. Sparks shot down to her pussy as they explored each other like it was their first time. Her hands roamed over his back, discovering and enjoying the muscular planes that constantly changed with each movement. The kiss softened and slowed. Their lips parted, but not enough to lose contact. The connection lasted a few seconds longer before he broke away, lowered his head, and dragged his lips down to the hollow of her throat. The soft, feathery touches left scorching marks in their path. Her pussy ached, but she knew he wanted to sample all of her body before he reached her most sensitive place. She leaned back to enjoy the attention. The shift in balance caused her to squeeze her butt. Whoops. The dildo in her ass hit another set of nerves. For a brief moment, she’d forgotten about having that inside her. Clint must have sensed her change in mood because he lowered his hand and pressed the plug deeper into her ass. Shards of pleasure streaked through her. “Oh, my.” He leaned close to her ear. “Wait until you have my big cock in your ass. Every thrust will send you to another world and back.” She could hardly wait, but right now her pussy was demanding the attention. As if he could sense her restlessness, he leaned her back on

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the bed and crawled on top of her like a lion ready to pounce. He drew his attention to her tit. His tongue skirted the circumference of her nipple, going around and around but never tasting the sensitive, swollen crest. Needing him to suck hard on the tip, she pressed her chest upward. One hand cupped her other breast. His fingers lightly brushed over the top, creating more havoc, and her pussy juiced. “Please.” His chuckle came from deep inside his throat. “I’m having fun.” The next lick made her gasp. The rough texture lit up every cell. Her pussy needed some contact. “Touch my pussy.” She reached for his cock, but their bodies were pressed too close together for her to succeed. His wet hair dripped on the side of her breast. The slow trickle tickled. “I love your tits too much.” To prove his point, he dragged his teeth up the sides of the nowswollen nipples. The pricks of pleasure rippled down her body. “Yes.” He continued to tug and tease the tips. Her nails dug into his shoulders. She lifted her hips, hoping to get a piece of his cock, but he was too far down for her to reach. Another hard suck made her gasp. “You like that.” How could he tell? Was it how her moans were getting louder and louder or from the way she was pressing her chest upward? He must have been satisfied with her level of heightened excitement because he slid down farther until he landed between her thighs. Using his elbows, he pried opened her legs. His tongue dashed out and swept across her opening, smashing against her clit. Torrents of bliss exploded in every direction. “Oh, God.” His callused palm slid from her tit down to her belly as if he needed to be in contact with her, especially if his tongue wasn’t. The next lick catapulted her closer to her climax. She bucked and wiggled. When he slipped a finger into her pussy, she squeezed shut her eyes

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and clenched her ass cheeks, forgetting about the dildo until more thrills skittered up her backbone. It was when he nibbled on her clit that she nearly lost it. Heat sizzled inside her with each capture of her tiny nub. He’d flick it with his tongue then lightly bite down on the glistening pearl. Electric pulses ran rampant inside her. “Please fuck me.” Her voice sounded too loud, but she couldn’t help it. Clint pulled away, and the void devastated her. She opened her eyes. He’d gotten up on his knees and tore open the condom package. With a dexterity she’d never seen before, he slipped on the protective coating in one quick motion. He straddled her hips and dropped on top of her. His lips met hers and his cock breached her opening. She inhaled, desperately needing him inside her. She threaded her fingers through his damp hair, loving how the slick strands cooled her palms. His mouth ravaged hers as if he, too, were desperate to bond with her. Not able to stand the anticipation, she pressed her hips downward. Her invitation was accepted. He drove his cock into her wetness, stopping halfway to give her a chance to adjust to his size. The combination of having the fake dick in her ass coupled with his cock in her pussy magnified his size. The two seemed to barely fit. “You are so damned tight.” “That’s because of the freaking thing in my ass.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to fuck you there.” She lifted her head and nipped his lip. “Fuck my pussy now.” With that demand, he plunged in. Wicked flames of need wrapped around her, heating her insides to near the boiling point. She added to the movement by lifting her hips. Every time she thrust upward, her ass clenched, causing the dildo to drive in deeper. Electric sparks shot down both channels. Her climax neared. Clint cupped her face. “Christ, but you feel good.” His take no prisoner kiss caused rolling spasms to shimmer down her body. Her pussy sang. Heat built. Blood pounded through her

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body as her heart raced. Sweat poured off her body as the erotic lust peaked. “I can’t hold out. I’m coming.” She gasped for air. Kissing him this time, she grabbed his ass and held him tight as her orgasm swept over her, washing her away with the tide of desire. Her whole body vibrated and throbbed with ecstasy. Clint increased his speed, pumping hard into her. His balls slammed against her ass, and his groans got louder and louder. “Fuck!” His cock exploded, widening and pulsating with his heartbeat. Heat filled her. She hung on tight as they became one. He buried his head in her hair and inhaled. Having him pressed to her chest and clinging to her body completed her. Nothing could be better than being with Clint. Slowly, her fingers released their hold, and she dropped down to the bed. He seemed like he wanted to stay there longer, but he withdrew and got off the bed to get something to clean her up. Before he returned, the bedroom door opened. Morgan’s brows pinched as his gaze raked over her naked body, her legs spread, and her creamy hole oozing her juices. Oh, shit.

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Chapter Eight Morgan stood there staring at her dripping pussy. Every ounce of sass came racing to the surface. She dipped a finger into her wet cunt and pushed it in and out. “Come and get it.” His jaw tightened, and she almost burst out laughing. If the light had been better, she might have been able to tell if his cock had gotten hard. Clint stepped out of the bathroom with a damp towel in his hand. He glanced over to his brother. “We make too much noise for you?” Morgan glanced once more at her. She sat up and leaned forward. “Come on, Morgan. I want to make love to you, too.” “Keep it down next time.” His gaze hardened. “Put some clothes on and get out.” He strode off. Clint closed the door, came over, and wiped her down. “Ignore him. He’ll come around.” Her defensive mechanism had kicked in too quickly. She tried to ignore the harsh rejection, but her stomach flipped over. “Maybe I shouldn’t have teased him like that.” “Why not? If he heard us make noise, he knew what we were doing. He expected to catch us naked. I think he wanted a peek.” She wished that were true, but she wasn’t convinced. “Then why not grab a feel or at least a kiss?” “Maybe he wanted to see if you wanted him. Can you imagine how he’d feel if he asked for some loving and you turned him down?” “I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that that won’t happen. What part of ‘I want to make love to you, too’ don’t you think he

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understood?” “I guess you’re right, but I swear I’m not wrong about what he really wants.” “He sure has a funny way of showing it.” She dropped back onto the bed. “Now what are we going to do?” If she couldn’t get Morgan to want her, she’d lose Clint for sure. Her stomach ached. Clint climbed back on the bed and ran a hand over her nipples. His merest touch had her libido taking notice, almost erasing the hurt from Morgan’s reaction. “Give him time.” “You keep saying that, but so far it hasn’t worked.” “I’ll figure something out.” He better hurry. She was falling in love with Clint for real. This wasn’t some high school crush. At some point she might have to give up on Morgan. She could only hope that day didn’t come too soon. “I need to go. I don’t want to make him angrier.” She got off the bed to get dressed when she was reminded she had this big thing in her ass. She reached down to pull it out. Clint clasped her wrist to stop her from removing the dildo. “Stay a little bit longer.” His grin and his new hard-on told her there would be more sex in her future. “You heard Morgan. Besides, I need to get back. My opening is in a few days.” **** The week went by too quickly. Getting everything organized for the opening had taken all of her time. Jade had stopped by, and what a relief that was. “What can I do to help?” Dakota gave her a hug. “Just listen to me rant while I run around. Be prepared, though, to be fetch a few things if I ask.” “Anything.”

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“You talk to Morgan this week?” She held her breath. Jade sat on one of the benches lining the gallery. “Uh-oh. What did he do or not do?” She told her about going swimming and how Morgan had said she had little-girl tits. She palmed her tits over her T-shirt. “Do you think I should look into breast implants?” Jade laughed then sobered. “You can’t be serious. You’re tiny. You’d look top heavy if you had real big boobs.” That was probably true, but maybe Morgan would want her if she were more endowed. “I know, but—” “Dakota Smith. Don’t you dare. Morgan has demons. He has a fear of getting too close emotionally. He just said that to push you away.” “Well, it worked.” She straightened one of the paintings. “What do you think I should do to attract his attention?” Her best friend blew out a breath. “Nothing. Morgan probably still thinks of you as the girl in the black combat boots with her face pierced and who had colored hair. That girl kept people out of her world, and he’s afraid you might retreat to that person again. He has this wacked-out belief that I know my dad instilled in him.” “Which is?” “Leopards don’t change their spots.” “Back up a minute. You think I was hiding when I dressed like that?” Jade cocked a brow. “Weren’t you?” Perhaps, but she didn’t think anyone noticed. “I don’t know.” She spun around and sat next to Jade. “Tell me what it’s like to have a ménage.” She burst out laughing. “Nice change of subject to avoid discussing your issues.” She waved a hand. “I’ll let that pass. Back to your new question. Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? You said Morgan wasn’t interested, and if I know my brothers, Clint isn’t sharing with anyone else.” Her mouth opened. “Oh, my God. You

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slept with Clint!” She’d been dying to tell Jade. “I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject. Oh, by the way, your brother and I had wild monkey sex on top of Randall’s Ridge, and then again at his house while Morgan was only a room away.” “Just stop. You didn’t.” “Did.” Jade faced the front of the room. “I don’t want to know the details. After all, Clint is my brother. Just tell me if you’re happy.” “Totally. The only negative is Morgan. Clint is working hard to get him onboard, but he’s angry about something.” Jade took her hands. “That’s a good sign. It means he cares and can’t stand seeing you with Clint.” “He’s jealous?” Her friend sucked in a bottom lip. “I don’t think he’s jealous of Clint, but rather he’s upset with himself for not agreeing to be with you.” She shook her head. “That makes no sense.” “I know, but that’s Morgan. He’s tightly wound. Everything has to be in place or he’s not happy. That’s why the ranch is doing well. He has excellent attention to detail, and I think you’re one detail that doesn’t fit.” “I’m the square peg in the round hole?” “Precisely.” “Maybe if he comes to the opening, he’ll see that I’ve changed, and that I’m not the flighty girl he knew.” Jade smiled. “We can only hope.” She snapped her fingers. “Did you remember to order the sheet cakes?” “Yes, and I even ordered an extra one for Jessie.” “Why?” “I can’t believe you don’t know.” Dakota rarely got the scoop first. “Know what? Is Jessie pregnant?” Dakota laughed. “No. Not that I know of. Maybe she wants to find

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a time to announce it to the family, but according to Cody, she wrote a romance novel about a female television reporter in some fictitious town in Texas who uncovered all this dirt going on in town, but her boss wouldn’t let her air it.” “That really happened to her.” Dakota smiled. “I know, but she had to change the names to protect the innocent, and to protect the guilty, too. Anyway, she got an agent who sent it to a couple of the big houses. It went to auction and finally sold to a big publishing house.” “No way.” “Way. Her advance is big enough to set up her mom for life.” Jade’s eyes widened. “I’ll have to give her a call.” **** “Why should I go?” Morgan didn’t like Clint and Jade pressuring him to attend Dakota’s gallery opening. Jade threaded her arm through his. “Come on. It’s only for an hour. Mom and Dad will be there, as will half the town.” “All the more reason not to go. The place isn’t that big.” Seeing Dakota smiling at half the town didn’t settle well with him. Clint pulled Jade away. “Come on. We don’t need Mr. Sourpuss.” Jade seemed to agree. “Besides, by staying home, Dakota will know for sure that he’s been secretly in love with her for years, but that she’s way out of his league.” Fuck. “That’s not true.” He hoped his tensed shoulders didn’t give anything away. “Fine. I’ll come.” They shared a triumphant glance. “You can drive yourself so you can leave early.” He liked Jade’s reasoning. “Fine.” He grabbed his keys and followed Jade and Clint out. It might have been a waste of gas to take three vehicles, but if Dakota so much as flirted with another guy, he’d have to leave. For the opening, he

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wouldn’t be surprised if she donned her punk look and went full-out with the piercings. Parking was a mess, but all three found spots about five blocks away. That was good. He’d get in, congratulate her on her success, and get out. Jade did that possessive thing and looped her arm through his. He glanced down at her. “Where are your husbands? Shouldn’t you be with them?” She chuckled. “Logan and Parker are helping Dakota set up. You’ll get to see them.” That was not what he meant. He didn’t want his sister dragging him through the crowd only to deposit him in front of Dakota. The bell above the door to the studio chimed. While there were a lot of people inside, there was still plenty of room to walk around. He nodded to Heath, who seemed to have been roped into serving the drinks. “I’ll have a glass of wine.” He could use something stronger, but only wine, soda, and water were the options. Once he got his glass, his sister dragged him into the main gallery. He unhooked her fingers. “I can check out the paintings myself.” She smiled. “See that you do. I’m going to say hi to Mom and Dad.” Morgan stepped in front of the first landscape. He’d seen two or three of Dakota’s paintings, but the one of the Grand Teton had an emotional draw he’d not seen in other paintings of the area. So as not to block the view from the other onlookers, he moved to the next one. He recognized the setting. The large yellow flower was one in front of his house. What amazed him was the detail of his home in the background. She’d captured the tranquility and beauty of the place. “You like it?” Dakota. “It’s remarkable.” He could have lied, but why should he. She had talent. He spun around expecting to see more of the pink-and-blue

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hair. Instead, she had on a conservative red business suit. Her subtle pink lipstick made him want to kiss her. “Wow.” She grinned. “What was that for?” “You look so…” “Respectable?” “Yes.” The last time he’d seen her, her legs had been spread and her tits begging for him to suck on her. Maybe he had been a fool not to take her up on her offer. Stop that thought. “I’m a business owner now. I need to appeal to those with money.” So this was yet another costume. He had to admit she still had the same air about her as the girl in the yellow dress. “You’ve done well.” It was the truth. “Thank you.” Clint sashayed over and wrapped an arm around her waist. The fact she didn’t break eye contact with him despite Clint’s appearance made his cock hard. His brother leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll let you two bond.” Clint slipped away as quickly as he’d come. Damn. He swept his gaze down the aisle and spotted some strange-looking photos. “You take all of these?” “My work is on this wall and the back wall. The other side contains works from the area artists.” He headed down to the smaller prints. It took a moment to grasp what he was looking at. They were photos of grapefruit with amazingly detailed scenes. “You did this?” “Yes. I like to create tattoos. I practice on the grapefruit.” His sister rushed up. “It’s time to cut the cake.” Damn. He had a proposition he wanted to pose to Dakota. Dakota turned toward him. “I need to do this.” “We need to talk.” She smiled. “Okay. Later.” He followed her to the front of the store. She turned around and whistled. The crowd noise slowly lessened. “May I have everyone’s

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attention?” This would be her big moment, and he was proud of all she’d accomplished. She tilted a cake upward. Instead of the frosting saying something about her store, it said, “Congratulations, Jessie. Hope you have a best seller.” He had no idea what was going on. The noise level rose. Dakota held up her hand. She proceeded to tell the group about Jessie’s new book and how a lot of publishing houses wanted her story. She grinned. “This is an achievement of a lifetime. I know Cody and Shane are terribly proud.” He looked over and watched the men hug their wife. A bit of melancholy struck him. He wanted a relationship like that. Perhaps what affected him more was the fact that on Dakota’s big day, she was willing to divert the attention to someone equally deserving. At that moment, he realized that Dakota had changed on the inside. After she talked about how Jade had helped her get her start, she thanked his parents. “If it hadn’t been for Spencer and Lisa Callen, I wouldn’t have had the confidence to try painting. Their loving ways made me what I am today. So thank you.” His opinion of her rose tenfold. His sister stepped forward and helped pass out the cake. Morgan looked around to see if her father was there. He wasn’t. Poor Dakota. After she accepted all the accolades, he moved over to her. “Can I speak with you in private?” Her eyes widened. “Sure. We can either go upstairs, or step in the back.” The last place he needed to go with her was up to her apartment. “In the back will be fine. It’ll only take a minute.” Her brows pinched, but she didn’t question him. When she led him into a small space where Jade had had her furnace, she faced him.

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“What’s up?” “You have to promise not to tell anyone what I’m about to tell you.” Her lips firmed. She held up her hand, acting like she was taking an oath. “I swear.” “I’m the owner of the D’Ink Coda tattoo parlor.” Her mouth opened. “No shit. You?” Her gaze searched his arms. “Yes. And no, I don’t have any tattoos. It was a business decision to purchase the store.” “Harley has no idea.” He gently clasped her arms and pulled her closer. Her scent filled his head and made his body respond. Damned cock. “You can’t tell him.” “Okay. Do Clint and Jade know?” “Only Clint, but I swore him to secrecy. Please don’t mention this to Jade.” She stepped out of his hold. “Why are you telling me?” At least she didn’t say something about him not even liking her. “I think you have an amazing talent, and I wanted to see if you’d be willing to work a few hours a week at the store. I know your gallery will take up a lot of your time, but even one day a week would be great.” Her breath hitched. When her eyes sparkled, his cock hardened. “Seriously?” “Yes.” Please agree to this. She got that devilish look. “I’ve never tattooed a person before, even though I’ve studied how.” “I’m sure Harley will be willing to help you.” She bit on her bottom lip looking way too sexy. His hardened cock was urging him to steal a kiss, but his conscience told him to keep away. “Okay, but on one condition.” She better not say she wanted to fuck his brains out, because if she

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did, he’d just have to do it. “What is it?”

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Chapter Nine This was probably the dumbest thing Morgan had ever agreed to do, but part of him was thrilled to go into business with Dakota. Seeing her in action would give him the chance to judge her in a professional manner. So far, most of his interactions came from watching her with his sister, and then again when she’d been naked with his brother. Christ. The image of her pressing her finger into her pussy was still etched in his brain. After that episode, he’d gotten little to no sleep. Maybe that was what had driven him to be in this situation now. He still couldn’t figure out what she had been thinking when she flaunted her pussy like that. According to Jade, Dakota rarely dated and had hardly slept with anyone. Damn, but the woman had fried his brain and made his cock too hard too often. He returned his attention to the promise he made in order to get her to work at the tattoo parlor. Once he told her he wasn’t ready to have his father see the tat, she promised the tattoo she’d create for him would be inconspicuous. Morgan waited until after dinner to go over to her place, but when he got to the store, the downstairs wasn’t lit. Since Dakota was renting the factory from his sister, he knew the routine to get in. He pressed the button that would ring upstairs. His damned palms were sweating. What was up with that? It wasn’t like he was afraid of needles, but rather that he was afraid that once she had her hands on him, he’d give in and make love with her. Once he did that, their fate would be sealed. The light popped on, and Dakota pulled open the door. “I wasn’t

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sure you would come.” Blood rushed from his head to his groin. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and she had hairclips to hold back her hair. Her jeans had some holes in them and her T-shirt was actually rather baggy. To say she looked adorable was an understatement. “I want my business to survive.” Her shoulders tensed. Damn. He shouldn’t have said that. “Come on upstairs. I have my instruments of torture ready to try out my technique on human flesh.” Great. He followed her to her apartment, enjoying how her cute ass swayed and swished with every step. While he’d been here a few times, the fact that Dakota was renting Jade’s factory made all the difference in the world. She’d changed out some of the photos, but pretty much the place looked the same as when Jade had it. “You sure you know what you’re doing?” “Yes. Don’t worry. I’ll do my best work on you. You are, after all, the boss. Yesterday, I stopped by the store and asked Harley for some pointers.” He hoped he wouldn’t regret this. He followed her into the bedroom, and the second he spotted the bed, his thoughts ran in all the wrong directions. Focus. On the counter sat a disposable razor, alcohol and swabs, and her inking paraphernalia. He figured since she was the artist, she wouldn’t need to transfer the design. “Take off your pants.” “What?” She planted a hand on her hip. “You said you wanted it in a place where no one would see the tattoo. It’s either your ass or your cock.” He swallowed his smile. “I’ll do the ass. Turn around.” “Oh, for heaven’s sake.” While she rolled her eyes, she did as he asked. After he kicked off his boots and dropped trou, he removed his underwear and carefully placed his briefs inside his folded jeans. He

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wished his cock wasn’t hard as a rock. He lay facedown on the spread, hoping she never learned how much he wanted her. “Okay.” “First I need to shave the area I’m going to tat.” “I’m not hairy.” “All of us have fine hair. You don’t want the skin to get infected.” He kept his mouth shut and let her do her thing. She shaved the area and cleaned it with alcohol. Her fingers were quick and sure, but having her fingers on his ass invaded his mind. He was having a hard time keeping his mind off of her and the image of her naked. “What are you going to tattoo?” He was pleased he kept his tone conversational. “Something that fits you.” “What?” She patted his butt. “You’ll have to trust me.” He wasn’t sure he liked the chuckle in her voice. “I do trust you, but this is permanent so I want to know.” She better not be a smart-ass and tattoo a heart with his name and her name inside. “Fine. I’ll be tattooing a black panther.” He liked that. Such a fine animal represented power and control. “Why did you pick that?” Is that how she saw him? She said it would fit him. “It reminded me of you.” “Cool.” He’d hoped she’d elaborate, but instead she got straight to work. The first prick made him clench. Her giggle shot right to his groin. She tapped his butt. “None of that. If you tighten up, there’s no telling what this thing will look like.” Clint was the one who often scolded the women about clenching their asses when he was about to have anal sex with them. Morgan forced his mind to clear, but it was damned hard with her palm on his rear and a needle pricking him. She took her time. Whether it was to tease him or because she wanted to make the design perfect, he didn’t know. From where the

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needle dipped into his skin, whatever she was creating wasn’t more than four inches long and maybe an inch high. She must have taken at least an hour before she sat back up. “I think that does it.” She put a large bandage over the area. “You’ll need to keep this on until tomorrow. Then you can put on some cream.” He’d do the bandage, but there was no way he was slathering cream on his ass. “Can do.” “I’ll step out of the room and let you get dressed.” He wasn’t sure why his gut soured. Had he expected her to jump his bones? As soon as the door closed, he pulled on his jeans and boots, careful not to rub against his new addition. He wanted to peel off the bandage to see the design, but he’d be good and wait until the allotted time. When she didn’t return, he stepped out of the room. From the noise, she was doing something downstairs in her living room. As he was coming down the stairs, she emerged from the kitchen carrying two glasses. “This calls for a celebration. First tattoos are a big step.” “Clint said you had a few.” “I do. But like you, they’re personal and I like to keep it that way.” He admired her restraint, though she hadn’t used any when piercing her face. To be honest, he could barely see the marking for the eyebrow ring or nose piercing. They toasted, and he finished his glass in a few swigs. He didn’t need to be standing around waiting for her to come onto him. “Thanks again.” He placed his glass on the coffee table. “I’ll walk you down since I have to lock up.” He wasn’t sure why he was disappointed that she allowed him to leave without even flirting with him. He had to admit her professionalism surprised him. When he slid into the car, he could tell where she’d placed his tattoo, but it wasn’t as tender as he’d expected

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it to be. **** Morgan spent all night tossing and turning. With the new addition to his ass, every time he rolled over, he woke up. To be honest, he didn’t think that was what kept him up. It was the fact that Dakota really had matured. Maybe since he’d lusted after her all these years, he hadn’t taken a good look at her until now. Every time he saw her with Jade, she was the crazy punk kid he remembered. Now she’d changed. Seeing her in the red business suit made him realize that he’d been the one who didn’t look past his preconceived notions of her. The woman had an amazing talent, and getting to have her own studio seemed to be the impetus for her to change. From now on, he’d look at her in a new light. Hopefully, if she worked at the tattoo parlor, not only would his cash flow improve but he’d have an excuse to see her. Not that he needed an excuse, but since he’d acted like an ass, he needed to make it up to her. He could only hope that she’d forgive him for some of his cruel comments. **** Dakota shouldn’t have been disappointed that Morgan didn’t call her the next day, but she was. She thought he’d mention something about the detail being incredible or at least that he liked the design. Even she had to admit, it was her finest piece of work, and she was her harshest critic. Maybe he was having trouble with getting the pad off. Sometimes the covering stuck to the injured area. Perhaps she ought to go over and check it out. Who are you kidding?

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“Shut up.” Whatever the real reason, this was a good excuse to head on over. To make sure Morgan was at the ranch, she called Clint. Sure, she should have contacted Morgan directly, but he’d tell her he was fine. It was better if she just showed up. Most likely he wouldn’t be riding the range today given the location of the panther. Clint answered and they chatted a bit. “Is Morgan there?” “Yeah, you want to talk to him?” She explained that his brother had asked her to work at D’Ink Coda a few days a week. In return, she insisted on giving him a tattoo. “That’s rich. He never mentioned anything.” That didn’t surprise her at all. “I’m going to come over.” “Oh, darlin’. I’m looking forward to that.” “You don’t have a lawn to transform?” He laughed. “Just got back. Come on over. I promise to give you two some space.” She could almost see him winking. “Thanks.” Before she headed out, she picked up a tube of Tattoo Goo to put on his skin. She could have told him to take off the bandage after two hours, but he probably wouldn’t have cleaned it well and it might have gotten infected. To make sure her work would show well, she wanted to do the aftercare. Since Morgan wouldn’t be expecting her, she hoped he’d answer the door. Clint claimed he’d be off doing something. She rang the bell and waited. No answer. She decided to head on back to the pool area. Her mind raced to the last time she was there. She probably never should have been so bold and pranced naked in front of Morgan. Maybe that had been what turned him off. Morgan was resting on a lounge chair, reading a book. “Hello.” He looked up and grinned. Her stomach tumbled. Seeing him smile made her panties dampen. She waved the cream. “I came to check on your tattoo.” “I haven’t taken off the bandage yet.”

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That surprised her. Was he too embarrassed? Though, she had said to keep it on for a day. “Good. You’ll need to wash it with an antibacterial soap, pat it dry, then apply a cream that will keep it clean. I figured you wouldn’t be real good about following directions, so I’ve come for a follow-up visit.” “Come on in.” He got out of his chair and greeted her at the door. She checked him out to see if someone else had invaded his body. Where had the taciturn man gone? “We’ll need to take care of this in the bathroom. Then you can examine my handiwork.” “Okay.” She couldn’t believe he wasn’t going to toss her out or say he could do it himself. Wow. “I forgot to mention about not swimming for two weeks.” He grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist, further confusing her. “I have Internet. I can read. I looked up the aftercare and will follow the instructions.” She blew out a breath. “Okay, then. Let’s get you naked.” He laughed. “Most women who’ve said that are willing to return the favor.” “Who are you and what did you do with the real Morgan Callen?” “I had a mini epiphany last night. I just decided not to fight it.” It? What did that mean? Before she got a chance to ask him, he’d taken off his boots and was removing his pants. Having him stand facing her wasn’t going to work. “Turn around.” “What’s wrong, babe? You afraid of seeing a little cock?” Clearly, he was trying to push her buttons. If he thought she’d turn tail and run, he had another thing coming. She planted her hands on his hips and rotated him so that his ass was facing her. She tried to lower his underwear, but it got hooked on something big and hard. He chuckled. “Let me.” Her pulse was racing thinking about his why his cock was hard.

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She searched the bathroom for a washcloth but found none. Guess she’d have to use her hand. “I might get water on the floor.” “The tile is used to it.” Smart-ass. He had some antibacterial soap in the shower. She wet her hand and poured a small amount on her palm. “Can you bend over some more?” He chuckled. “I’m usually not the one in this position.” Her mind flew to all the wrong places. He didn’t want her, so why the hell was he teasing her? She pulled off the bandage and was pleased with the result. “It looks good.” There was a bit of plasma around the edges, which was normal. “I’m going to clean the tattoo now.” “You do whatever you need to do.” So as not to hurt him, she gently washed the area. Now she had to rinse his ass. The best thing would be if he got in the shower and did it himself. Only that would mean she’d see all of him. “I’ll turn my back and you can step in the shower and rinse.” “You’re welcome to look.” Bastard. He was goading her, but for what purpose? The thought of making love to him had her body vibrating. She still wasn’t sure what turned him around so fast from not wanting her in his house to wanting to fuck her. His shirt dropped to the floor. The shower turned on. She waited for him to rinse and turn off the water. The glass door opened and she pictured him stepping out on the mat, dripping wet. “Don’t rub your ass with the towel.” “You gonna help me?” Why did he have to inject such sweetness into his question? If he made the move on her and she gave in, she wouldn’t put it past him to revert to his old sour self. “Sure.” A towel passed by her peripheral vision. She took it and turned around, expecting him to be facing the shower. Instead, he was

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dripping wet with his cock rock hard. Oh, my God.

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Chapter Ten “What wrong?” he asked with a shit-eating grin on his face. She inhaled and tried to calm her pulse. “Turn around.” “Yes, ma’am.” Thank God he listened and did as she asked. With the end of the towel, she patted his ass dry. With the rest of his back, she was quite rough. He didn’t need to have water drip over the dry spot. “I need to put this special cream on you. I’ll leave you the tube, along with directions for use.” “You’re the expert.” She loved touching his body, but she could only go over the spot so many times. “Do you have a hand mirror?” “No, but there’s a full-length mirror in the bedroom.” Crap. Now what was she supposed to do? When he took her hand, she had no choice but to follow. She forced herself not to look at his cock, which happened to be bouncing with every step. When they got into his room, while the bed wasn’t made, there weren’t any clothes strewn around. In fact, the bedroom was quite neat. A mirror hung over the dresser. He turned around to check out his ass. “Wow.” Her pulse soared. “You like it?” “I need more light. I’ll need to buy a hand mirror and really study it.” Was this her clue to leave or try to kiss him? She’d probably never know because as soon as she faced him, he leaned over and kissed her. The next thing she remembered was having his fairly wet chest

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plastered against hers. Her brain could barely synthesize the fact that Morgan wanted to kiss her. He lifted her and brought her over to the bed. “I think you started something the other day, but I wasn’t quite in the mood.” “Are you now?” Damn. Why did her voice have to crack? “Can’t you tell?” He grabbed his cock resting against his belly and pointed it at her. She swallowed. Was she really ready to make love with another man? If she did, she understood she’d be committed to making love to both of them at the same time. Did she want truly that? Hell, yes! Who was she kidding? She’d been trying to get Morgan to find her attractive for fifteen years. She’d never back out now. When he leaned over her, his face lost some of its color. “Is there a problem?” His chest expanded as if he were holding his breath. She must have hesitated too long. “No. No problem.” Morgan crawled onto the bed. “Good, but it appears as if you’re a bit overdressed.” She licked her lips. “You gonna do something about it?” Her sass finally made an appearance. Being in awe just wouldn’t do. Naked, with his cock jutting out, he straddled her. She leaned back and supported herself with her hands. He slowly unbuttoned her shirt and dragged it down her arms. Given his rather angry personality, she would have expected him to rip the material off her body. He didn’t. The fast approach might have been easier to take than this slow seduction. From the way his eyes were half closed, he wanted to take his time and torment her slowly. Even before he unhooked her bra, her pussy began creaming. Morgan leaned forward and kissed her using a feathery touch. This was so different from the time he devoured her lips in the kitchen. The dichotomy between the two Morgans threw her off balance, but at the same time exhilarated her. His fingers pinched the hook on the back of her bra. She lifted one hand and shook off the blouse. She did the same with the other arm.

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Morgan must have realized she had too much weight on her hands and supported her back while he removed her bra. “I’ve been waiting to taste these forever.” The word forever was said on a whisper. “I thought you said my tits were too small.” He leaned over and tugged on one nipple. “I lied. I wanted you so much I had to say something to push you away.” A blast of ecstasy shot through every limb. “You succeeded.” “I’m sorry.” She never thought she’d hear those words. “You’ll have to make it up to me.” He sucked on her other nipple. “I fully intend to.” He let go of his support hand and lowered her to the bed. “I want you naked and needy.” She was already needy. The naked part would be easy. She toed off her shoes and let them thud to the floor. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on his rough hands tugging on her belt. She lifted her hips and let him slip her jeans off. He left her panties on. Darn. He kissed each tit. “I’ll be back.” She opened her eyes, not understanding his comment. When he slid between her thighs, her pulse spiked. While the high Clint always provided was unbelievable, she bet Morgan’s approach would be different but equally wonderful. He slid his hands under her ass and lifted. When his mouth clamped onto her silk panties, she almost came right then and there. “I want to lick and suck your pussy until you scream.” That wouldn’t take much. She’d wanted Morgan for so many years that, with a few well-placed touches, she’d go off like a lit rocket. His thumb drew back the elastic circling one leg, and his tongue slid in. The first lick hit her clit, and she saw stars. “Take them off. I want your mouth, your fingers, and your breath to caress me.” That was a bit forward, but her desperation had deleted her censor button.

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“You’ll be sorry.” His thumbs latched onto the waistband, and he lowered them over her hips. She lifted her knee so he could get them off at least one leg. Once she was free, she bent her knees to get her pussy closer to his mouth. As if she’d flipped his switch, he went into high-speed mode, licking her pussy and pressing hard on her clit. The pearled nub activated her juices. Streaks of joy flowed down the sides and caused spasms to contract her walls. He slipped in a finger. “Somebody is excited.” She couldn’t deny the allegation. “I want you.” “I see that.” She’d hope he understood that she was ready to fuck him, but Morgan seemed willing to wait. He slipped two fingers inside her and swirled them around, wreaking havoc with every nerve. His tongue added to the chaos brewing by sucking on her clit then gently biting on the tip. Her hips wiggled, and her moans kept getting louder and louder. Mind-blowing bliss swept over her. She clawed at his shoulders. “It’s too much.” “No. It’s not enough.” He continued his tongue lashing, driving her higher and higher. His fingers played to a hidden rhythm that catapulted her to a new realm. Her breaths turned short and her nails dug into him as heat pooled inside her. “I want your cock.” “Don’t worry. You’ll get more than you bargained for. Trust me.” She loved that he seemed so sure of himself. His right hand smoothed its way up her body and found her breast. He rubbed his rough palm against the tip, causing the sensitive crest to harden. Perhaps he was waiting for that reaction because he pinched the tip over and over again as he thrust his fingers into her pussy. Then he moved his hand to the other breast and drew her clit tighter into his mouth. The double assault broke her. The tension inside her body

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snapped, and a scream burst from her throat. Her climax vibrated through her body with the speed of a wildfire. The second her pants slowed, Morgan pulled away. He crawled off the bed and opened a drawer. Foil ripped. “Let me put it on.” “Only if you can be quick.” “Yes.” What was quick to one might not be quick to another. She sat up and motioned he hand her the opened package. He tossed it to her. After she extracted the condom, she got on her knees and sat on her haunches. “Kneel in front of me.” With his gaze on her, he did as she asked. That was his first mistake. Giving her control allowed her to tease him that much more. Instead of covering his cock with the condom, she used her mouth instead. He hissed in a breath. “That wasn’t part of the plan.” She lifted her head. “I think it will go on easier if it’s wet.” “I’ve never heard of that.” “I read it somewhere. I want to give it a try.” She figured he’d stop her rather quickly, so she wanted to get in as many sucks as she could. He tasted like mint from his soap. She dropped the condom on the bed and drew his balls into her palm while she held his cock with the other. Her tongue swirled around the tip before plunging down halfway. Stupid throat closed up when she tried to take him deeper. “Oh, fuck me.” His guttural cry urged her on. Being able to excite him gave her more courage. She dragged her teeth up and down his rigid length. When she bumped into the bottom of the mushroom head, she sucked harder. His hands grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up. “You have to stop.” “Spoilsport.” Inwardly, she smiled. He picked up the condom and drew it over his entire length in one motion. That was no surprise, but what caught her off guard was when he jumped off the bed and pulled her toward him. In one swift

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movement, he lifted her up to his waist and backed her against the wall. “I’ve waited ten years to fuck you like this. I hope you’re ready.” She bit down on her bottom lip. “Yes.” His mouth came down on her hard as if he couldn’t wait to plant his cock inside her. The intense kiss wreaked havoc all the way down to her wet pussy. Holding on to his shoulders, she wrapped her legs around his thighs and pressed her opening against his cock. Thrills at the pressure rippled up her body. Getting ready to fuck him hard, she dragged her pussy opening slowly up and down his length, making sure to roll over his cock in order to hit her clit. Her creamy hole glided over the condom with ease. His kiss lightened then stopped. Before she could protest, he moved his lips to the hollow of her throat, and she dropped back her head and groaned. Wild need nearly split her in two. “I want you.” He reached between them and pulled his cock away from his body while she lifted upward. The tip slid right into her opening. Ecstasy knocked at her door. He wrapped one arm under her ass and the other he planted on her back to guide her. With deliberation, she slid down on his huge cock. His size stretched her inner walls and hit every nerve possible. Halfway down, she had to take a deep breath to wait for the electric pulses to calm. “You okay?” His furrowed brows made her love him more. “Yes. It’s just that you’re a little big.” He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.” Once her breath calmed, she moved again. Using the pressure of her inner thighs against his hip, she seesawed her body up and down. With each inch, her pussy had to stretch to accommodate him, but the torrents of pleasure licking her insides more than made up for it. She controlled her burgeoning climax until he reached the end. When the tip of his cock banged into the back of her pussy, carnal shocks

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exploded. Morgan must have realized she’d finally reached nirvana the moment he was fully seated inside her. His grunts turned louder and his eyes closed. With her back against the wall and her legs squeezed tight on his thighs, he clasped on to her waist. “Let me fuck your honeyed pussy.” No woman could resist that. “Yes!” His controlled thrusts built the heat, igniting her nerves into a frenzy. Her body sizzled with joy as his cock drove deeper and deeper. Her breath hitched when he lifted her higher, dropped his head, and drew her nipple into his mouth. The hard sucking streaked pleasure out to her spine. He looked up at her. “I can’t wait.” With that, he stood straighter and plowed into her. Each thrust sent her blood closer to the boiling point. Pulses raced up her spine and returned with rolling spasms. She clenched down on his cock. “You’re killing me here.” He was the one transporting her. The bedroom door clicked opened. Clint’s aftershave floated in. Her eyes were shut tight and she didn’t want to break that special bond she and Morgan had. “Let me come.” It was more of a plea to Clint to not interrupt them this second. Morgan must have been on the brink, too, because he ramped up the speed of the thrusts. His cock widened. His fingers bit into her waist and her short nails clawed his shoulders. She let out an unnatural guttural cry. She tightened her pussy as his cock electrified her body. Her climax took hold and radiated shock waves over her whole body, heating every cell. “Jesus, Dakota.” Her pulsating pussy must have set off a seismic reaction in him. His cock exploded with a ferocious blast. The heat seeped through the

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condom and nearly scorched her. She held on tight, and then realized they were moving. She opened her eyes just as Morgan placed her on the bed. He held her tight then rolled over on his back, taking her with him. While they were still connected, he kissed the top of her head. Clint placed a knee on the bed. She should have been embarrassed he was seeing them fuck, but instead she was thrilled. Maybe now the three of them could be together. No one said anything as Clint divested himself of his shirt and jeans. He’d come in barefoot. She glanced at him. “What happened to your underwear?” “When I heard the moans and cries coming from here, I jumped in the shower to wash off. It was all I could do to put this much on.” Now that he was gloriously naked, her pussy cramped with need looking at his large cock. How was that even possible? Morgan was still inside her. A moment later, he kissed her, rolled her to the side, and got off the bed. “Let me clean you up.” The second he disappeared into the bathroom, Clint hovered over her. “You look beautiful.” She loved this man. He’d always been supportive and fun. She zeroed in on his cock that was within a few inches of her face. “You’re beautiful, too.” “I don’t think anyone has called my cock beautiful before.” Morgan came out of the bathroom. “Don’t even think about traveling down that road.” He nodded to her pussy. “I gave her a workout. She’ll be sore until tomorrow.” He reached down and rubbed his balls. “Come to think of it, I got a workout.” They both laughed. Clint palmed her tit. “I’ll be careful. Don’t worry. It’s not in my best interest to wear her out. I can see the three of us will have to get acquainted. Together.” He winked. Morgan sat next to her and wiped her clean. He tapped the tattoo on her hip. “What’s this one all about?” She thought it was obvious. “It’s what it seems.” In a way, she

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was disappointed that he practically told Clint that sex was out of the question. She would have enjoyed sucking on Clint’s cock. She bet if she wanted to later, Clint wouldn’t turn her down. “The half face on the left is me, and the one on the right is Jade.” Morgan tilted her hip up. “They both kind of look like you. The yellow, pink, and green hair is a dead giveaway of who you used to be, but the girl on the right kind of looks like you today.” “Maybe, but the long hair should be a clue that it’s not.” She’d gotten the tattoo when she was sixteen and she envied everything about her friend. Morgan raised his glance to her face. “We never worked out the details of you coming to work for me. What do you think about working Monday and Wednesday nights at D’Ink Coda? I know Harley would appreciate the company. Once the clients see your work, the place will be packed.” His enthusiasm thrilled her. “I’ll give it a try. Who should I say hired me?” She wasn’t allowed to say Morgan owned the place. “I have it under an assumed name. It’s called Intrigue Enterprises, LLC.” “Cool.” Clint moved his hand to her other breast and returned her focus to more important things. Morgan got off the bed. “I’ll leave you two to play.” She sat up and stuck out her bottom lip. “You don’t want to join us?” “This one time, I’ll let Clint have at you. Next time, you’re going down, girl.” He grinned and headed toward the door. “Bro! What’s that on your ass?” Morgan halted. She laughed, wondering when Clint would notice. She answered. “I tattooed a black leopard on his ass.” Morgan spun around. “You said it was a panther.” “Same thing. Only you can’t see the black spots, but they’re there.”

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Clint grinned. “I like it. Welcome to the real world.” Morgan chuckled and shook his head as he left, closing the door behind them. Clint leaned over her and slid down next to her. “Now where were we?”

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Chapter Eleven Dakota had set up the front of the gallery as her artist studio, whereas the back of the building held her work as well as the other artists’ work. She’d only partially completed the painting that was shot from on top of Randall Ridge. The forefront of the painting had the rock, and now she debated whether to show a bit of the blue foam pad where she and Clint had made love in the corner. No one but her would know. Her stomach grumbled and she glanced at the clock. Darn, it was time to eat and head on over to D’Ink Coda for her first night on the job. She was a bit nervous about showing up, but Morgan had called to tell her that his front men had contacted Harley and told him about the extra help. Fortunately, the old man seemed happy, according to the lawyer. If it hadn’t been Morgan who’d asked her, she wouldn’t have agreed to help. The gallery had had a fair number of people come into her store this week, and she wanted to be there to answer their questions. It surprised her how much energy it took to chat with everyone. However, a promise was a promise. If by any chance her talent as an artist brought in money for Morgan, she’d be happy to help. She closed up an hour early, scarfed down a casserole she’d made last night, and headed out to her second job. When she walked in, Harley was creating a rather elaborate tattoo on a man’s arm while another woman and what appeared to be her girlfriend were sitting off to the side. “Hey, Harley.”

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He looked up, but the usual lopsided smile was missing. “Dakota. I heard I’m getting help.” Relief trickled down to her belly that the lawyer had told him. When he turned his head back to the customer, she thought she caught a tick around his mouth. She swallowed her apprehension. It was probably first-day nervousness. “How can I help?” He nodded to the woman whose hands were intertwined. “Madeline wants a butterfly on her hip.” There was a back room she could use for tattooing more delicate spots. She walked over to her and introduced herself. “Have you picked out a design?” She waved a piece of paper. “Kind of. Sherry drew this, but if you can make it better, I’d be thrilled.” Dakota took the slip and studied the design. It was rather basic. Since this wouldn’t be the exact design, she didn’t make a transfer. She’d have to wing it. “Come with me.” She led her into the back room. “Is this your first tattoo?” “Uh-huh.” Dakota tried to reassure the woman by carefully explaining the procedure. She was pleased the woman seemed a bit less upset. Dakota opened the sterilized needles and set out her paints. She began by drawing on the skin to make sure the wings would come out even. Then she began the work. The first few pricks seemed to take the woman by surprise, but after a while, she calmed and said she didn’t feel a thing. It took over an hour before she was done, but she was certain the woman would be pleased with the result. “Remember to keep this covered for at least two hours.” Dakota handed her an aftercare instruction sheet. “Let’s go out front.” She wasn’t certain how much to charge. Fortunately, Harley was finished with his client. At the register, she pulled out a laminate sheet she’d seen Harley use that listed the prices. Since she’d used four colors, the price was more expensive

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than if it had used strictly a black ink process. The woman paid and gave her a generous tip, which she hadn’t expected, but was always appreciated. Harley put his gear away. “How did it go?” he asked once the store was empty. “Quite well, I thought.” “I wished the owner had asked first instead of telling me I was getting help.” Uh-oh. A bit of aggression tinged his tone. “I’m sorry. I just found out the other day. I could only commit to two nights a week. Does that work for you?” He faced her. “Who contacted you? The owner?” She laughed. “No. Some lawyer who said he represented Intrigue Enterprises. The guy had come to my opening and seen my tattoo pictures. He then asked if I’d be interested in working here. Are you saying you don’t need help?” He shrugged. “Some days I could use it.” “Someone was waiting today, so it seemed to work out.” Even though he had been busy today, his lack of eye contact wasn’t good. “I guess.” The bell rang and three kids wandered in. They headed over to her and asked to look at some tribal designs. “I’m new here. Better ask Harley. He’s the expert.” His chest puffed out and he took over. She certainly hadn’t planned on stepping on his toes. Two of the boys wanted tattoos. They provided identification that claimed they were twenty-one. Their youthful appearance made her feel old. Both wanted armband designs, but the third said he wanted to see how those turned out before committing. Each took a seat next to each other. They picked their designs from the tattoo book. Harley showed her how to make the transfer. She placed it on her young man’s arm. When she peeled it off, the design appeared. “Word.” The kid grinned.

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Word? That sounded like he was pleased. She must be getting old. With care, she began the tattoo. She wasn’t nearly as fast as Harley. His customer was done a good fifteen minutes before hers. Harley charged the young man one hundred dollars. Her customer had the same design. When she stepped to the register and picked up the laminate sheet to scan in the barcode, she noticed the price was only eighty-five. Not wanting to cause much trouble, she told the kid ninety. He paid in cash. When the boys left, she walked over to Harley. “Question for you.” “Shoot.” “The single-color tattoo is listed as being eighty-five, yet you told him one hundred.” “I added some red in one of the designs. Besides, kids don’t tip. I added a bit.” “Oh.” She hadn’t gotten a tip, either. Not wanting to make a big fuss, she went back into the other room to make sure she’d cleaned up. By the time she finished, it was quitting time. Maybe she should have asked Morgan how much she’d get paid. The extra money would come in handy. Harley was cashing out the register. “Thanks for showing me around. Would you mind if I brought in some designs to show the customers?” There went that tick again. “No. I guess if you got a camera, you can take some shots of your work when you’re done and post them. When the customer sees a sample of your work, it makes him feel better about what he’ll get.” “Good idea.” She waved as she headed to the door. “I’ll see you in two days.” “Night.” By the time she left, the sky had turned to ink. Because her place was only a half mile away, she hadn’t driven. Besides, she always

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enjoyed a good walk, just as long as it was on flat ground. The air was crisp and the wind brisk. She wanted to speak with Morgan about Harley taking tips without the customers’ permission. Maybe everyone knew about his practice but her. On the way to her place, she called Morgan. “How did your first day go?” “Great, but I wanted to talk to you about something. Can I stop by?” “You don’t have to ask, but I’m not home. I should be there is forty minutes. Clint’s home, though. I bet he’d be very happy to see you.” Thrills rippled up her body. Sure, she’d had sex with Morgan, but she wasn’t sure if that was a one-time occurrence or if he thought of her as a potential long-term mate. From his comment, she might get lucky. “Great. I’ll be there when you arrive.” “Can’t wait.” Yes! First, she needed to change into something sexy. Having both Morgan and Clint together would be so exciting. She’d purchased a purple lingerie set last week. For her outside attire, she wanted to go unassuming. All she wore was blush and light pink lipstick. Her torn jeans, T-shirt, and easy-to-get-out-of sandals would be perfect. From the time she called Morgan to the time she arrived at his house, she’d made it in twenty-three minutes. That would give her close to twenty minutes with Clint. She rang the bell and waited. Clint answered only wearing jeans. His hair was wet as if he’d just stepped out of the shower. “Well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She stepped in and accepted the kiss. “I needed to speak with Morgan.” “He’s not here.” “I know, but he will be in twenty minutes. I thought maybe you could entertain me until he comes.” Clint dragged his hands down her shoulders. “Oh, darlin’, you

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don’t know how long I’ve waited for this.” It had been all of three days. “You could have come over.” He shook his head. “You’d never get rid of me if I did.” She laughed. Next thing she knew, he’d swept her up in his arms and was carrying her to his bedroom. “You know what I dream about every time I plant a bush or a bed of flowers?” “No.” “How much I want to make love to you in a field of flowers.” What a beautiful image. “What’s stopping you?” He lowered her onto the bed. “Nothing. I’ll close my eyes and pretend this is an acre of soft daisies.” He dropped on top of her and placed delicate kisses all over her face. “I don’t want to start without Morgan.” “I’ll just warm you up, then.” She pressed on his shoulders. “How about I warm you up first? I’d love to suck on your cock. It turns me on.” “When you say stuff like that I can’t say no.” He rolled off her and slipped off his jeans and boxers. His hard cock popped out. Giving him a blow job in her undies would enhance the experience for both of them, she bet. She flung off her sandals, whipped off her top, and slid out of her jeans. Clint whistled. “I’m likin’ the outfit, darlin’.” “It’s new. I bought it with you in mind.” He crawled onto the bed and knelt in front of her. There was so much to touch and taste. “I don’t know where to begin. It’s like I’m staring at a blank canvas, and next to me is all fresh paint.” “You know, it might be fun to body paint each other.” She laughed. “You wouldn’t be able to last ten minutes.” Nor would she if he stroked her with a brush. He pulled her up onto her knees and touched his lips to hers without really kissing her. Their breaths mingled as if they were sharing one heart. He pulled away. “You’d be right.”

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When his hand shot to the back of her bra to unhook it, she leaned away from him. “No, no. I get to go first. You kinda promised. Be good.” “I never said I wouldn’t touch you.” “It was implied.” She dropped down onto her heels, leaned over, and grabbed his cock. He gasped. She loved it when a man was on the edge, which both Clint and Morgan always seemed to be. Using her tongue, she pretended she was painting a flower on the tip. “What are you doing?” “I’m painting you.” He groaned. Pleased with the fact he seemed to be working hard to control himself, she leaned over again and got to work on her design. Once the tip was sufficiently wet, she engaged her fingers on the shaft. “I need to paint some leaves.” His brows pinched, but she didn’t care. Using the edge of her nail, she drew the leaves, including all of the veins. He grabbed her shoulders. “You’re driving me mad. Suck me hard.” “Be patient.” To give him some relief, she cupped his sac and rolled his balls but continued to touch him with the softest of strokes. “Now to paint in between the lines.” “You’ve lost your mind.” “I’m hoping to blow your mind.” The front door opened and Morgan called her name. “In here.” Just to give Clint something to hang on to, she drew him into her mouth. The moment his cock reached her tonsils, he started pumping into her. “Jesus.” Morgan strode in. “You call?” Clint didn’t answer. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Morgan undress. When he climbed onto the bed, she didn’t know what to do or how to handle both of them.

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Clint took the decision out of her hands. “I have to fuck you. Right now.” He scrambled off the bed and located some condoms from the side drawer. “If I had more time, I’d fuck you in the ass, but I can’t wait.” For a split second she was disappointed because she didn’t want to wait, either. “Bro, that’s not fair to Dakota. Let me taste her sweet honey first, and then you can have her.” Instead of leaving the decision up to Clint, she dropped onto her back and smiled up at Morgan. “I love when you eat me.” Clint bared his teeth. “Can you help me out here?” He moved closer and presented his cock to her. She lifted on her elbows. “Does your cock need some loving?” “Fuck yes.” “Morgan, I need to lean against the headboard so I have a better angle to suck on Clint’s cock.” She scooted backward and Morgan dropped between her legs. With her back supported, her hands were free to make love to Clint’s glorious dick. She grabbed his shaft and pulled him toward her mouth. He balanced on one knee and placed one hand on the wall behind her. When she opened her mouth to draw him in, she also cupped his balls and squeezed. They were as hard as the granite slab up on the mountain ridge. Moving slowly, she lowered her head and increased the suction. Clint growled and pressed his cock farther into her mouth. Morgan must have gotten tired of waiting because he pressed his thumbs into her thighs and stabbed his tongue into her pussy. A powerful electric current streaked up her body. Her breath caught. She must have reacted by tightening down on Clint’s cock because he palmed her head. “Easy, darlin’.” She loosened her grip. The second she relaxed, Morgan went on the attack again. Instead of just licking her, he threaded two fingers

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into her pussy and curled his fingers. The pressure ignited more nerves. She dragged her heels up to her butt and lifted to give Morgan more access. He withdrew the tempting fingers, opened his mouth wide, and sucked hard on her wet, creamy pussy. His tongue flicked her clit, making her juices flow. She wiggled and bucked in dire need of something more. Clint reached over and slid his hand under her bra cup and pressed down on her nipple. Shards of delight raced through her. The lust filling her overwhelmed her senses. “I want a cock.” Clint pressed his cock farther into her mouth. “Take mine.” That was not what she meant, but she’d enjoyed what she had. Her left hand tightened its hold and lifted up and down while her mouth played with the tip. Clint placed his other knee on the bed and cupped the back of her head. She swallowed to take in more of his thick cock. Both her mouth and hand went to work trying to push him over the edge. From his groans and moans he was close. Morgan slid a hand under her ass to support her. His tongue increased in speed and matched her rhythm with Clint. Just as she squeezed him tight, he drove into her mouth and stilled. His cock enlarged. Hot jism beads coated the back of her throat. She tilted her head back to be able to swallow his salty cum. Clint didn’t move, but Morgan sure did. He replaced his tongue with his fingers and stabbed them into and out of her, making her more desperate with each thrust. Her moans increased and Clint must have taken mercy on her. He slipped off the bed. Morgan stopped the wonderful finger-fucking and drew up alongside her. He kissed her hard at first then slowed, taking his time now that Clint was not there. Morgan nibbled on her bottom lip. “I want you to ride me.” She never could turn down a request like that. “Okay.” Morgan scooted on his elbows and picked up a condom off the bed. He had it ripped open and covering his cock in two seconds.

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Then he rolled her on top of him. He dragged his hands up her back and through her hair. “I want you.” His plea nearly took her over the edge. She got on her knees and sat on his fat cock. Her juices made both of them slick as she rubbed back and forth. Morgan clasped her waist. “Lift up.” She did and he picked up his cock and placed the tip at her opening. If she’d not been so turned-on, she would have slid down slowly. Instead, she drove his cock into her hard, causing her entire pussy to burst into flames. As soon as the pulses stopped beating, she lifted onto her knees and slid back down. Morgan pressed his thumb against her clit and spikes of rioting pleasure blasted her. She was so focused on fucking Morgan that she didn’t hear Clint return until the bed dipped behind her. His hands clasped over her tits and his lips found her shoulder. “Can you bend over a bit more?” He’d probably been gone only a minute or two, yet his cock was almost hard again. She’d never be able to keep up with these two. She did as he asked, and Morgan removed his hand. Even though he wasn’t thrumming on her little nub, the change in angle got her clit more involved. Clint removed his hands. A jar opened. It was the same smell as the lube he’d used before. She tensed her ass. “Are you going to come in my ass?” “No, darlin’. You’re not ready, but I want to play with it.” She liked that idea. Having Morgan’s dick in her pussy was enough for her right now. When Clint slathered the goo on her hole, memories of the dildo slammed through her. “Do you have that other fake one?” “Sure, darlin’. I can get that for you.” “Yes, please.” She rode Morgan for all he was worth, thrilled at the way he closed his eyes and grunted with each thrust.

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“Babe, you’re killing me.” That was probably because she kept stopping to talk to Clint. Morgan’s hand came up to her hips. “Let me do the moving. That way Clint can put that plug in you.” The first of Morgan’s thrusts electrified her. Between her clit rubbing against his large cock and his powerful cock inside her, her pussy was being heated up beyond her wildest dreams. Then lubed fingers delved into her ass. The combination shot her to another world. Clint drove his finger into her, making that tight ring give up its tension. Once her ass accepted his probing, he withdrew and pressed the fake cock against her hole. It only took a few twists and turns to get the dildo to pop past the tight sentry. Maybe it was because her pussy was so engaged at the moment that she willingly accepted the addition. Using tiny back-and-forth thrusts, the dildo made its way inside. As soon as it got to the end, Morgan’s cock seemed larger. He must have sensed her dilemma for his fucking slowed, and then stopped. Maybe her eyes had glassed over. “Taking my time is killing me. Is that thing in her ass yet?” Clint leaned over her back. “Yes.” Morgan gripped her hips harder and drove into her. He opened his eyes, but they lacked focus. His breaths came out fast as he increased his speed. Clint had one hand on the dildo, pulling and pushing into her ass while his other hand squeezed and plucked one nipple then the other. The swollen, engorged tips radiated pleasurable pain. The three-way sensations made her body sizzle with electrifying chaos. Every nerve lit on fire and her climax neared the breaking point. Clint’s chest pressed against her back and he ran a tongue along her ear. “I love you.” Her heart stopped for a second until she realized he must have said that in the heat of passion. Either her mouth was too dry to respond or the return words wouldn’t form despite the truth. “Come on, babe. Come for me.” Morgan’s desperate plea drew her back to the thrill pulsating up her pussy.

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Delicious flames of desire wrapped around her. She pressed down on his cock over and over again, loving his cries of passion each time she milked him. Clint moved the dildo in a different direction, hitting a slew of new erotic spots. Morgan packed her full and she couldn’t hang on. Her orgasm toppled her, sweeping her away. She lifted her head and let out a guttural cry. Morgan’s cock exploded a second later. Heat filled her. Clint held the dildo at the end and sucked hard on her shoulder. Blood continued to pound in her head, and she had to gulp in air to catch her breath. A minute or more went by before Clint withdrew the fake cock. She lifted off Morgan and dropped to the side. Only Clint seemed able to stand. He returned with two towels. He tossed one onto Morgan’s stomach and cleaned her up. “I need a moment before I move.” Morgan rolled his head in her direction. “You can stay forever if you like.” Once more she tamped down her thrill. It was just a saying. Morgan lifted on his elbow. “So. What did you need to talk to me about?” He wanted to talk now? “Harley is stealing.”

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Chapter Twelve Morgan sat up. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” He wasn’t angry per se, but the unexpected news seemed to throw him. “I just found out today. This was my first day at the job.” He looped an errant hair behind her ear. “Sorry, babe. Tell me what happened.” “Harley isn’t stealing from you, but he is from the customers.” She detailed how he’d overcharge the customers, put the correct amount in the till, and pocketed the rest. “He said some of the customers don’t tip well, and to ensure he got what was due him, he’d charge more.” “Didn’t the customers complain? The prices are listed.” “Harley would always add a bit of extra color or do something that looked somewhat fancier than they asked for. I only saw him do it to two people, so maybe it doesn’t happen all the time.” Clint sat on the edge of the bed. “Why not install a hidden camera? That way, you’ll have documentation.” His eyes brightened. “Good idea. You know anyone who does surveillance?” “Travis Easton does. He’s a good guy. You want me to contact him?” “Sure. He’ll need to install it at night, though. We don’t want Harley to know.” Clint smiled. “There’s nothing Travis likes more than catching the bad guys. No problem. I’ll give him a call. The guy never sleeps.” “Tell him the company lawyer contacted you because he heard

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you talking ’bout Travis and he wanted only the best.” “Sure, but we can trust Travis to keep his mouth shut.” “See if you can avoid leaking my name.” Clint nodded, got up, and scavenged through two pairs of pants to find his phone. He waved his cell and disappeared into the hall. When he came back he was smiling. “All set. I said I’d meet him with the key to get in. He’ll install something tomorrow night.” “Good.” Morgan faced her. “I don’t want you saying anything to Harley.” “I might have to ask if I should add money, too.” “Okay, but be careful.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I love it when you fuss over my safety.” His jaw clenched. “I’ll never let anything bad happened to you.” His intensity took her by surprise. Just a week ago, he wanted nothing to do with her. Now he wanted to be in her life. Men. She’d never understand them. **** Dakota’s pits were wet as she hiked over to D’Ink Coda on Wednesday. The tightness in her chest wouldn’t go away. Clint had assured her that Travis had installed three hidden cameras last night. One was pointed at the register and one at each of the two chairs in the main room. She’d brought some of her drawings, thinking that a new influx of designs would help the store. When she entered, Harley was working on a young girl who reminded her too much of herself. She had several face piercings and jet-black, spiked hair with blue tips. The intense makeup made her look like she was getting ready to go on stage. She wondered if that was how Morgan would have described her a month ago. “Hey, Harley.” She tried to keep her tone light.

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He glanced up. “Dakota. I scheduled a 7:00 p.m. appointment for you.” That was nice of him. “Thanks.” She worked from six to nine and could probably handle three quick tattoos or one more-complicated one in that time. The bell rang and three giggly girls, who didn’t look much older than eighteen, came in. They walked around the store, whispering over some of the more erotic designs. “May I help you?” “No. We’re just looking.” She understood the curiosity. Before she got her first tattoo, she’d come in here several times before drawing the design herself of what she wanted. Then she spent weeks trying to get the courage to get it done. While she waited for her customer, she cleaned up the area and familiarized herself with where he kept everything. The booklet containing possible designs was not well organized. Harley had gotten sloppy in his old age. He finished with his client just as her seven-o’clock appointment walked in. The man wanted a tattoo of a snake on the top of his thigh. Because he’d have to remove his pants, she led him into the back room. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hear what Harley charged his customer. She prayed the surveillance equipment was good enough to pick up sound. It took her a little more than an hour to finish her job. She charged him the amount quoted on the sheet, but she caught Harley’s glance. The man tipped her five dollars. Being a waitress would have gotten her a better tip. “Should have added on your tip.” She shrugged. “Maybe he wasn’t satisfied with the result.” “An extra five or ten here and there never hurts.” “I don’t like to steal from customers.” His hand clenched, but she pushed aside his concern. Morgan had said not to incite Harley, but

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she never let a wrong go unnoticed. “It’s called getting paid for my hard work. If they don’t like what I charge, they can go elsewhere.” “We’re the only tattoo parlor in town.” “My point exactly.” She busied herself with putting the inks away. “You can do what you want, but that doesn’t mean I have to.” “I couldn’t agree more. If you don’t like it, talk to the owner.” Blood rushed to her head. “You know who the owner is?” “No, which makes it kind of hard for you to talk to him, don’t you think?” Smart-ass. “Let’s hope no one comes back to complain.” Two more people wandered in. Given that they looked alike, she’d say they were sisters. The taller one approached. “Dalia and I want matching smiley faces right here.” She pointed to a spot above her hip. “No problem. Harley, you want to take one?” “Sure.” He smiled at the young woman. They both sat down, and she and Harley got to work. He made the two transfers and handed her one. The design was only one inch in diameter and done in black and yellow. He finished before she did, but Dakota was determined to make even this tiny design perfect. “There you go.” She placed a bandage on top and handed her the aftercare instructions. When the first sister got to the register, Harley told her it would be fifty-five dollars, which was five more than the listed price. It was doubtful either woman knew the going rate. So as not to cause more problems, she let Harley ring up her client, too. He handed her the extra five dollars. She almost didn’t feel too bad because neither woman had tipped. They probably didn’t know that a tip was appropriate. Harley put away his gear and put the Closed sign on the door. “Do you understand why I jacked up the price? I knew those two wouldn’t

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cough up an extra dime as a thank-you.” They’d been well dressed, so there was no way he could have known. Besides, wrong was wrong. “Sure.” On her way home, her stomach wouldn’t stop churning. Yes, Harley was stealing, but it wasn’t all that much from each customer. She wished she could warn the old man about the cameras. He needed to know that his livelihood was in jeopardy if he didn’t clean up his act. Maybe Morgan’s lawyer could stop by and give him a subtle warning. Perhaps he could say his sister had come in for a tattoo and thought she’d been ripped off. Harley might listen in that case. She called Morgan to update him on Harley’s continued abuse of the system. Actually, she wanted to call him to hear the rich timbre of his voice. When he didn’t answer, she left a message. By the time she took her shower and crawled into bed, her body was exhausted. She did love doing the tattoos, but tomorrow she had to focus on painting. She had five days before she returned to D’Ink Coda. Over the next week, she accepted two commissioned pieces. One was from a woman who brought in a picture of her daughter. “I’m afraid our Stella passed last year and I would love to have a portrait of her. Can you paint something from a photo?” The tears in the woman’s eyes tore her up. “Absolutely. In fact, most of the paintings you see are from photos. I’ll make sure she looks as lovely as this picture.” Dakota really wanted to make her image beautiful. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose a daughter. “Thank you.” The next customer who came in asked if she could do a portrait of her dog and handed Dakota several photos. Unfortunately, they were either blurry or uninteresting. “How about if I come out and take pictures of Zeus?” The little mutt was adorable, but it was hard to see the definition in black dog’s faces unless the lighting was just right. “That would be wonderful.” Dakota set up a time to do the shoot. Since she’d promised to get

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this done in the next two weeks, she’d be mega busy. Clint had called and said he had to go out of town for a few days for a landscape consultation. He seemed thrilled to be invited. “Call me if you get a chance.” She didn’t want to sound needy, but she’d come to rely on talking with at least one of them each night. “You gonna miss me?” She laughed. His ego was one of the things she loved the most about him. “Totally. I want you to picture me naked, with my legs spread, moaning and groaning, begging you to fuck me.” “Darlin’, I’m not sure I can go with that image burned in my brain.” “I was hoping you’d say that.” Having phone sex only made her hornier. “I gotta go. Be safe, you hear?” “I probably won’t be leaving the studio much except to get food and shoot a few pictures of a dog.” After she disconnected, she felt a bit out of sorts. Knowing that Morgan and Clint were near gave her a sense of security. Given her time constraint, she had no time to waste. Pushing aside her erotic thoughts of Clint, she sketched the outline of the woman’s daughter. Because the young woman had beautiful eyes, Dakota decided to play up that feature by having a sunbeam stream in and strike her face at eye level. It wouldn’t quite match reality, but it would be a nice touch. After four hours of drawing, her back ached and her hand was tired. She needed a glass of wine and a long soak in the tub. Tomorrow she’d have to take the photos of the dog and start on that portrait. The majority of the daughter portrait was done. She needed to do the hair and the background, but the hard part, which constituted the eyes and the light beam, was complete. Perhaps, this might be her finest piece to date. She was soaking in the warm tub and had almost dozed off when the sound of glass shattering startled her. Adrenaline slammed into her body. She jumped out of the tub, careful not to slip. Her mind

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raced. The door between the art studio and her apartment wasn’t locked. Shit. After tossing a towel around her body, she tiptoed into the bedroom, locked the door, and plastered her back against it. Her mind raced on what to do next. Call 911. She searched the room for her phone. Damn. She’d left it downstairs on the kitchen table. Fuck. Her breath was lodged in her throat. She couldn’t wait for the intruder to find her. She had to get help. Her jeans and top were on the bed. She stepped into them, struggling to put them on over her wet body. If she had to fight or run, she needed to be wearing her boots. Once dressed, she eased open the door and listened. Damn. She should have an alarm system installed. Why hadn’t she listened to her dad? Maybe because she didn’t own the property. She forced her breath to slow. Maybe some kids had run by and tossed a rock through the plate-glass window. Or was someone still downstairs? If that person meant to harm her, why wasn’t he coming upstairs to get her? She had to do something. Nothing in the bedroom looked like a weapon, but on the second-floor living room, there were plenty of metal pieces she could use to defend herself. Tiptoeing downstairs, she kept an eye on the door that led to the first-floor studio. The knob wasn’t moving, so the intruder wasn’t trying to get to her. Yet. After taking a few big inhales, she charged over to the phone. Her 911 call was answered immediately. “What’s the nature of the emergency?” “Someone broke into my studio.” She gave the address. “Is the intruder inside?” She forced the tears to stay put. “I don’t know. I don’t want to go downstairs and see.” “That’s good. Go find a safe place to hide. I’ve got dispatch on the way there.” “Okay.” She grabbed a steel pipe that belonged to Jade and raced upstairs and hid in the bathroom. The bastard wasn’t going to get her. A second after she locked the bathroom door, her stomach heaved,

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and she barely made it to the toilet. Once she started, she couldn’t stop until the dry heaves claimed her. Damn him. After a minute of hearing nothing from the intruder, she dialed Morgan. “Babe, what’s up?” A sob erupted. “Someone broke into my place.” “You okay?” The worry in his voice tore her up. “Yes. The police are on their way.” “So am I.” She could hear his footstep pounding on the floor and a door opening. “You still there?” “Yes, but I need to hang up. I want to be able to hear the cops or the criminal if he comes up here.” “Shit. Okay, but don’t confront the bastard.” She almost dropped the phone. Her fingers had turned numb. “Okay.” Heart banging against her rib cage, she disconnected. Now all she could do was wait and pray. Not only was she wet from the bath, but she was sweating profusely. Her pits smelled bad. The shakes began in earnest as her stomach sickened. Banging sounded downstairs. She stilled. Her tummy threatened to explode. Was it the cops or the intruder? Given she’d called for help about four minutes ago, she bet it was the cops. She stepped out of the bathroom, unlocked her bedroom door, and peeked out. Muffled voices sounded downstairs. Light footsteps came up the stairs from the studio. Someone knocked. “Dakota? It’s the police.” Given it was a woman’s voice, she believed her. Dakota rushed downstairs and ran toward the front door. Too bad she didn’t have one of those eyepieces in the door. She opened up. A woman in uniform was standing there holding up her badge. “Are you okay?” Her breath whooshed out. She nodded, unable to get out the words. The woman entered. “I’m going to stay with you until we process the crime scene.”

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“Crime scene?” The woman looked down for a moment. “The front window was smashed. There was damage done to some of the paintings.” Bile rushed up her throat and tinged her mouth. “Oh, God.” The mostly finished image of the dead woman flashed before her. She’d been proud of the way she’d captured the woman’s lovely eyes. “I need to see the damage.” She tried to get past the cop, but the woman stopped her. “You need to let us do our job. Is there anyone you can call?” “I called my boyfriend. He’ll be here shortly.” “Good.” She didn’t have to wait long. Shouting sounded downstairs. The policewoman told her to stay put and went to check it out. A few seconds later, Morgan bounded through the door. He ran to her and lifted her off the seat. “Oh, babe. I’m so sorry.” Morgan dragged his hands down her face. “I’m fine. He didn’t get up here. Do the police know anything?” “No. Let’s hope the guy was careless. Maybe he left some prints.” “How bad is it?” Morgan gathered her in his arms. “I’m sorry.” More bile rushed up her throat. “I need to see.” “You need to pack and come with me.” She didn’t appreciate the authoritative way he said it. “I can’t leave here.” Even she could hear the irrational tone of her voice. “He could come back.” She didn’t want to be a victim. Victims were weak, and she wasn’t weak. “Let him. I’ll be ready.” Morgan clasped a hand around her waist and led her to the stairs to the bedroom. “There’s no security here. We need to get the front window repaired and a security system installed.” “I can’t afford one.” “It’s Jade’s responsibility now. She’s the owner.” She hadn’t thought about her. “I have to call her.”

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“She can’t do anything about it tonight. Come on.” He opened her door and led her inside. “Where’s your suitcase?” “In the closet.” She didn’t want to leave, but it would be stupid to stay. Shit.

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Chapter Thirteen On the way out, she stepped near the workroom and tried to absorb the devastation. Glass shards littered the floor, and the main window was mostly gone. Her gaze swept the room to her easel. The picture she’d almost finished was slashed, along with a few others in the front room. Someone must have scared the intruder because he never made it to the back room. Morgan wrapped an arm around her waist to prevent her from entering the taped-off area. “We have to go out the back.” Cops were spreading black fingerprint powder on every surface. Tears brimmed her lashes. “I know.” He turned her around and walked her to the rear. “I’ve called Clint. He said he’s on his way back.” Clint was in Casper. “He doesn’t have to come.” Though, she appreciated his willingness to drive back. “Babe, your life was in danger. He’s going to want to see that you’re okay.” “I’m fine.” It didn’t matter how many times she told him that, the violation wouldn’t stop beating at her. In truth, she wanted to cuddle with Clint. Having both of her men would be the only way to help heal. Still, the fact someone broke into her place cut her deep. “Who do you think did this?” He shook his head as he loaded her and the suitcase into the car. As they pulled away, the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles shone behind them. Morgan must have sensed she was trying to cope and didn’t ask too many questions.

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He pulled in front of the house. “I’ve been wracking my brains as to who would want to sabotage your gallery. I can’t imagine you have any enemies.” “I never thought I did.” “We’ll let the police do their job. They’ll find the culprit.” She wished she were so certain. “Maybe Harley thinks I’m going to rat on him or that he’s upset that I’m working there. After all, the store is his domain, and I don’t think he was particularly happy that I came to work there.” He shook his head. “I don’t see Harley for this. He has a hard time walking, let alone breaking into a storefront that sits next to the Intrigue Hotel. He isn’t capable of running away. I’m sure someone saw something. Don’t worry.” He got her inside the house. “You want something to eat?” “No. I’m not hungry. What I need is a shower.” She lifted her arm and smelled. “I stink.” Morgan wrapped his arms around her. “You never stink.” “I do today.” “Go take a shower, and I’ll have a glass of wine ready when you’re done.” “That sounds wonderful.” Not only was she upset about the broken window and having to tell Jade that, due to no fault of her own, she’d have to replace it, but now she’d have to call the woman about her daughter’s painting. Recreating a piece of art never came out the same. She peeled off her clothes and stepped into the shower. The last time she’d been here, Clint had joined her. Even the thought of having sex didn’t appeal to her right now. The depression weighed heavily on her. Why me? Had she turned down a piece of art that she thought unworthy? Maybe she hadn’t fussed over someone’s talent. Her brain wasn’t engaged enough to think. A migraine was brewing behind one of her eyes.

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She stepped under the warm water and expected her muscles to relax immediately. The tension refused to dissipate. She poured some bath gel onto her palm and scrubbed her body. No matter how much she rubbed, she couldn’t erase the stench of being a victim. She should be happy that no one had harmed her physically. While her body wasn’t harmed, mentally she was a mess. As the hot water doused her body, she went through the last few weeks, trying to see if there was someone she could have possibly offended. Even after washing her hair and staying under the water so long that her skin pruned, she was no closer to an answer. She prayed the police could find a clue. She stepped out and dried off. Her stomach was still upset. Depression sucked. She trudged into Morgan’s bedroom and pawed through her suitcase for her toothbrush. The throw up in her mouth still lingered. Once she brushed her teeth and put cream on her face, she swallowed some pain medication to help drive away the threatening headache. She searched her case for something to wear. Nothing appealed to her, so she ended up dragging on some undies and a big T-shirt. When she walked into the living room Morgan was there with a glass of wine. She doubted even the slight buzz she’d get would do much good, but the nice taste would help. “Come sit down.” Morgan made room for her on the sofa. “I feel violated.” He handed her the glass. “I know, but we’ll find out who did this.” She shook her head. “It won’t matter. The act was done.” She looked up at his kind face. “Did the cops call while I was in the shower?” He lifted her chin with his knuckle. “No. They won’t be able to tell us anything until they have the person in custody. I called Travis already.” “Who?” “Travis is Mr. Security for D’Ink Coda. I told him Clint suggested

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I give him a call. He said he’d find someone to replace the windows ASAP. He wants to put in a state-of-the-art security system as well as cameras ringing the outside. I want to be sure this never happens again.” “I appreciate that.” Too bad it couldn’t erase what had happened. “Did you call Jade and tell her about the devastation?” “I did. She’s very upset and asked if she could come right over. I told her you weren’t up for company.” He stroked her arm. “If you want her to come, I can call her back.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you, but you were right. I’m not up for company. The breaking and entering has thrown me in a tailspin. I don’t think I’d have minded if they only broke the glass, but to cut up my paintings was like cutting me.” Morgan leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “I wish there was something I could do.” She sipped her wine. “It’s going to take time for me to process this.” Without asking, he turned on the TV and handed her the remote. “You get to choose.” She didn’t really have the energy or desire to watch anything, but Morgan said Clint would be home any time now. Even if she went to bed, she was sure she wasn’t going to get a bit of sleep. They watched a crime show because in the end the bad guy would get caught, and she wanted to see justice done. Close to midnight, Clint barged in. “Darlin’, are you okay?” He leaned over and scooped her into his arms. His warm, comforting chest eased her aches more than the shower ever could. He smelled of fresh air. She snuggled against him. “Physically, yes.” Morgan clicked off the set. Clint sat on the sofa with her in his arms. “Tell me everything.” Repeating the events was difficult, but in the end it gave her a

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different perspective. He kissed the top of her head. “My vote is Harley.” Morgan went through his logic why it couldn’t be. She was no closer to coming up with a suspect than before. “Once Travis installs the security system, I’ll feel safer.” Morgan picked up her feet and massaged them. “I asked him to put a dead bolt on the door leading upstairs to your two stories.” Between Morgan’s ministrations and Clint’s warm chest, the wine began to relax her. When she woke, she was in Morgan’s bed, but he wasn’t there. Light streamed in through the gap in the closed curtains. Shit. She’d overslept. While the men might complain about her returning so soon, she needed to be at her studio to oversee the work. Perhaps the intruder would stop by to see his handiwork. At least that was what always happened in those crime shows. The aroma of coffee and bacon seeped under the closed door. She got up and followed her nose. Both men were in the kitchen. “Good morning,” Clint said. He was too damned cheery. “Morning.” Morgan scooped some scrambled eggs onto a plate and carried it over to the table. “Breakfast is served.” Clint poured her a cup of coffee. “Cream or sugar?” “Both.” She should stop with adding so much sugary stuff, but right now she needed all the help she could get. “Aren’t you two eating?” “We already have.” Clint leaned over and kissed her. “I’ve got to get back to Casper.” She sucked in a breath. “You drove over two hours just to see if I was okay?” No one had ever been that nice. “Only for you, darlin’.” He kissed her good-bye and headed out. Her cell rang. The noise came from the living room. She got up and rushed to catch the call. It was her father.

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“Hey, Dad.” “Just wanted to see if you were okay.” “Yes. What did you hear?” “Harley called me.” She knew they went back a long ways. “He said your place got broken into.” The whole town probably knew about it since her building sat on the main street of town. “Someone broke the window and slashed some paintings.” “Did the intruder harm you?” “No. He never came upstairs. I think someone scared him away.” She didn’t know if it was a man, a woman, or a bunch of kids up to no good. “I’m glad you’re okay.” There was a loud noise in the background. “Hey, I need to go, but call me if you want to.” “Okay. Thanks, Dad.” The fact some paintings got ruined didn’t seem to faze him, but maybe he did only care that she wasn’t injured. The fact he’d called at all was nice. She returned to the table and ate half of the eggs, but her appetite was gone. “I’m going to change.” She stepped back into the bedroom and pulled out all of her clothes. Nothing matched her mood. Since she had to wear something, she kept on the T-shirt and dragged on a pair of jeans. The window might get replaced today, but probably not the entire security system. She closed her suitcase and left it on the bed. She returned to the kitchen. “I’m sure you have a lot of ranch work to do, but could you either lend me a car or drive me to my studio?” “I think you should stay here another day, or at least until Travis calls and says everything is cleaned up and ready to go.” “No.” He cocked a brow. “What do you mean, ‘no’?” “You’ve heard the word before.” She was so not in the mood to argue with him.

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His cell rang. He glanced at the display. “It’s Travis. Maybe he’s done.” Her spirit lifted. “Yeah? You sure? I appreciate that. How’s Dakota’s place coming? Excellent.” He disconnected and faced her. “I think we need to give Travis Easton a big tip. Not only did he get someone to come out today to install the front glass, but the security system will be up and running by tonight.” She should be thrilled. If only the trauma from last night would go away. “Great. Then you don’t mind returning me to town.” “Mind? Yes, but I will drive you back. If you want, you can leave your suitcase here in case you should find yourself in need of some company.” He winked. Usually, his sexiness stirred her insides, but not today. Like a burned-out building, she only felt cold and dead inside. “Sure.” “I do have some bad news. Travis listened to the live feed from D’Ink Coda. Harley, I’m afraid, is continuing to rip off the customers. I’m going to have to fire him.” “Shit. What are you going to tell him?” “I won’t be telling him anything. I’m going to speak with my lawyer and have him tell Harley. I’m thinking for the next week or two, we might only be open Monday and Wednesday when you can go.” She really wanted to spend all her time painting, but she did love doing the tattoos. “Okay.” She knew where Harley kept everything, and the prices were quite clear. He rubbed her arm. “I’ll find someone else to take over the management. I promise. I don’t want your business to suffer.” “I appreciate that.” She shrugged. “It just won’t be the same without him.” “I know, but it can’t be helped.” Damn. Everyone was getting the shaft today.

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Her mind reeled during the drive back to town. There was a lot she needed to take care of. Morgan pulled in front of her store and insisted he come inside with her. Travis was there, along with the window man who was finishing the installation. She’d never met Travis before, but he was nice eye candy. His sandy-blond hair flopped over his forehead and the stubble on his face looked sexy. He wasn’t her type, but she bet he had a ton of women after him. Travis nodded first to Morgan then her. “Let me show you what security I’ve installed.” He pointed out the cameras mounted not only above the front door, but also above the side entrance. The outside cameras would be connected to a system in his office. He led them inside and up the first flight of stairs. “Dakota, I’ve got a camera hidden in the ceiling.” He opened her front door and pointed to the mounted television. “You’ll be able to see who’s at your door.” Her pulse calmed. “That’s comforting.” Even if his system had been in place, it wouldn’t have helped when her plate-glass window got broken. However, the perpetrator’s face would have been captured on camera. “This is great, Travis. Thanks for doing this so fast.” She turned to Morgan. “I need to get back to work.” He stood there a moment. His closed lips pressed together as if he wanted to argue with her. Eventually, he turned around and went downstairs. She followed. She dared to go into the front where the man was finishing up the window. Someone had leaned her destroyed paintings against the wall. When she picked up the one of the girl, her throat closed up. The slash marks went right through her eyes. Shit. She didn’t have the heart to call the mother just yet. Maybe when her nerves calmed, she’d tell her what happened. Morgan gave her a hug. “I’m going over to Winston and Elkheart.

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They’re the law firm I’m using. Call if you decide to stay at our place tonight.” Morgan was being extra nice. “Thanks.” As soon as he left, she went upstairs. Travis told her he just had to connect a few wires, and then he’d be on his way. The anger and frustration had built to a point where she couldn’t take it anymore. She was determined to never be a victim again. Ever. She pawed through her bathroom drawers and pulled out her piercings. One by one, she put them back in. She didn’t have the energy to bleach her hair, but when she put the hair gel in, she was able to recreate the chaotic, freaky look she’d had before. The pink, blue, or green hairspray didn’t show up as well on her dark hair, but she could see an attempt was made. Back in her bedroom, she undressed and found her favorite flowered dress she always used to wear. She pulled that on along with a jog bra, leggings, and her black combat boots. Being the old Dakota felt good and right. No one ever took advantage of that girl, and she intended never to be taken advantage of again.

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Chapter Fourteen Morgan had given her the keys to D’Ink Coda. He’d put a sign on the door stating new hours and who to contact for an appointment. Some man had called her cell and said he wanted a sleeve of tattoos. She’d told him it would take four three-hour sessions to get all of it done. He was fine with that. Apparently, his sister had gotten a butterfly tattoo and really liked the experience. When she walked into the darkened store, it was a bit creepy to be there alone. She kept reminding herself that employees got fired all the time, but not experienced pros like Harley. Travis had rekeyed the lock so that if Harley had a spare set, he couldn’t get in. She’d just set up her gear when the young man came in. If she’d been in the market for a date, he might have fit, as he was rather cute. Her internal fear sensor didn’t go off, probably because of his crew cut, button-down shirt, and neat jeans. “You Dakota?” His sister had probably described her, but that straight and careful girl no longer existed. “Yup.” His eyes narrowed a bit, but then his shoulders relaxed. “Do you have a design in mind?” “I came in last week and picked out something. You got the tattoo book?” “Sure.” She retrieved it from under the counter. Next time she’d remember to set it out in plain view. He thumbed through the designs. “This is the one.” A small thrill raced through her. “I did that.” His eyes brightened. “Cool. My sister said you were really good.” The confirmation helped lift her mood. She had him sit in the

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chair so she could shave his arm and clean his skin. “You’ll need to take off your shirt.” He didn’t seem to have a problem disrobing. In fact, when he removed the shirt, he flexed his chest muscles. Oh, my. He didn’t compare to her two men, but some girl would be happy to have him. First she made the transfer of the design then placed it on his arm. “I can only do the shoulder cap tonight.” It would take her close to three hours given the intricacy of the design. “That’s cool. I think I’d rather do this in several sittings anyway.” She debated locking the door in case an irate Harley stumbled in, but then she’d be locking out potential clients. For Morgan’s sake, she didn’t want to do that. Anxious to start the job, she got to work. She wasn’t much for talking as she needed to concentrate, but her client didn’t seem to care. He was a nonstop gabber. He told her about his penchant for computer games and how he loved to program computers. If she’d been given a test about what he did for a living, she never would have guessed. She was nearly done with the three-hour marathon when her cell rang. She would have ignored it, but from the ringtone, she knew it was Clint calling. “Can you excuse me for a moment? I need to take this.” “Sure. I don’t mind moving my arm a bit.” “Hey, Clint.” “Darlin’, we have a dilemma.” The seriousness of his tone raised the hair on her neck. “What kind of dilemma?” “Jackson, the owner of the Raging Bull, said that Harley is at his bar drunker than a skunk.” Her stomach clenched. Drowning one’s sorrows never solved any problems. “And?” “He’s been mouthing off how he’s going to pay back the bitch who ratted him out.”

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Her arm turned weak. “He knows it’s me?” “I’m afraid so.” She glanced to the unlocked door. The kid she was tattooing was a lightweight, even if he did sport some muscle tone. Harley, especially if he were drunk, would plow this kid down. “Okay. Let me think.” “I’m on my way home, but it’ll take me over two hours. I’ve already called Morgan and he’s on his way to your store now.” “You really think Harley will harm me?” She glanced at the young man who was examining the artwork. “Jackson’s going to try to keep him at the bar even if it means he gives him free beer.” “I’ll close up now and head home.” “I want—” She disconnected. He’d probably tell her to stay put, but this was where Harley would look first. She turned to her customer. “I’m so sorry.” “I heard. It’s all right.” She’d almost finished with the top part of the design. “Let me put a bandage on this.” She gave him oral instructions on how to take care of the tattoo until he came back on Wednesday. “You can pay two hundred today since I didn’t quite do the three hours.” The young man paid and left. As quickly as she could, she locked up and headed to her store. Even though Clint had said Harley was still at the bar, he could have slipped out and been hiding in any of these dark alleys. Heart pounding, she slowed as she passed any unlit place. Wiping her hands down her jeans, she moved cautiously, and even though her heart was racing, she wanted to get to her place as quickly as possible. What sounded like a can being kicked came from between her store and the hotel. Her pulse raced and her stomach almost heaved. Calm down. Get out the key. Be ready. She stepped toward the alley, and keeping her back to the road, looked in. Three alley cats scurried away. She blew out a breath. Her

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imagination was playing tricks on her. Harley might have said he wanted to harm her, but was an old friend of her dad’s. Until she started working her him and infringed on his livelihood, he’d been nice to her. Damn. She never should have taken the job. Maybe you shouldn’t have ratted him out. Finally, she arrived at the door. She had the key in her hand for a quick entry, but her fingers shook so much she had a hard time getting the key in the lock. Duh. Wrong key, dummy. She’d forgotten to take her old key off the keychain once Logan installed the new system. Breathe. She kept telling herself that the security system would emit a loud blast if anyone broke in. If she sequestered herself upstairs, she’d be fine. Morgan would come over and together they’d figure out something. Now get inside. The light above the door had burned out. That was strange. She swore Travis said he’d replaced it. The hairs on her neck stood up and her blood pressure skyrocketed. She glanced behind her, but saw no one. Hurry. She jammed the key into the lock, but because it was new, it didn’t go in right away. “Come on, come on.” Panic ripped through her body, only adding to the problem. Finally, it tumbled into place. Yes! She pushed open the door and stepped inside. As she turned around to close and lock it, Harley pushed his way in. Oh, shit. Her heart dropped to her stomach and her muscles nearly froze. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. She couldn’t die. She refused to die. She held up her hands as she backed up. “Harley, you don’t want to do this.” She kept her voice as calm as she could. She needed to stall him until Morgan got there. Hadn’t Clint called her at least ten minutes ago? If Jackson had been trying to keep him drinking, the moment he saw that he was gone, he’d come over. Right? While she and Jackson

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weren’t related, the fact that he was married to Jenny Callen, who was a cousin to Morgan and Clint, meant he’d want to make sure nothing happened to her. Harley advanced and she continued to back up. Her gaze shot around the room, looking for something to use against him. When Jade lived here, there were pieces of steel everywhere. Now that she’d converted it to an art gallery, there was nothing. Shit. Harley’s lip snarled. “How the hell did you know who to tell about my skimming?” Did he really think that she would answer that? “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her damned voice cracked. She wanted to keep her gaze focused on his eyes to show him she had nothing to fear, but when she caught his hands clench, she couldn’t help but focus on them. He stumbled toward her. “You told that fucking lawyer that I charged too much, didn’t you?” She held her hands out. “Harley, I would never do that. Remember, I, too, charged more. Sometimes we do all that beautiful work and people don’t appreciate us. We need to take our tip ahead of time. Right?” She prayed he was too addled to remember she was against this philosophy at one time. With an agility she didn’t think he possessed, he charged toward her and grabbed her arm. His fingers dug into her skin, sending a massive amount of adrenaline to her brain. No one messed with Dakota Smith. Heart pumping faster than a butterfly’s wings could flap, she leaned back and kicked him with her steel-toed shoes. The force should have made him fall on his ass. Only he didn’t. The old man charged like a pissed-off bear. It was almost as if she’d taken a baseball bat to a hornets’ nest and the insects shot out, swarming. “You cunt. You were supposed to quit after I destroyed your precious work.” He waved a fist. “I’ll get you.”

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Her mind raced as her heart slammed against her ribs. She had to escape. If she tried to go upstairs, there wouldn’t have been enough time to unlock the door. He’d get her for sure. If he grabbed her while she was on the steps, and she faltered, she’d fall down the stairs and maybe die. Move. Her legs nearly gave way. She thought about screaming, but not only was there no one around, but her throat had closed up. She turned around and sprinted to the small back room. The unlocked door opened easily. She even was able to close the door, but without a lock, he’d follow in a second. He jiggled the handle. Hide! The exit door was too far away. The room was dark, but she knew her way around. Some of Jade’s old equipment still resided in the corner. The door opened. All she could do was duck and pray he couldn’t find the light switch that was three feet from the doorjamb. Footsteps sounded in the main room. Someone else was here. She just had to stay alive a few more minutes. Harley flipped on the light. “Dakota!” It was Morgan. “In here.” She yelled as loud as she could. Harley froze. He looked behind him, cursed, and half stumbled, half ran to the side door. Morgan raced in and sped toward her. The side door slammed shut. “Get Harley.” She pointed to the door. Morgan pulled her to his chest. “Are you okay?” He didn’t listen. “Yes. Go after Harley.” He pulled away and studied her. His brows pinched. “You’ve changed.” “What does that matter? I’m still me.” Here I thought I wouldn’t be a victim again. “Harley admitted he broke the front window and slashed my paintings because he knew I told someone about him

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cheating.” “I’ll call the police.” He pulled out his phone and contacted them. He told them about the assault and the identity of the perpetrator. He disconnected. “Damn. I should have called earlier, but I thought Jackson was keeping him at the bar.” He stabbed a hand through his hair. “Didn’t the alarm work?” She didn’t appreciate his accusatory tone. “I didn’t have a chance to set it. Harley was waiting for me when I got to the store. As soon as I stepped inside, he charged in after me.” He scanned her whole body, but she wasn’t sure if he was looking at her piercings and her clothes, or if he was trying to find some blood. “Did he hurt you in any way?” “He grabbed my arm, but I kicked him in the shin with my shoes. I think he got the worse of it.” A small smile tugged on his lips. “If you need to get a few things, go pack. You’re coming back home with me.” With Harley on the loose, it made sense that she shouldn’t be alone, but once she set the alarm system, she’d be fine. “I don’t need anyone telling me what I have to do. I’m safe here.” “Until Harley is caught you can’t stay.” “I have a state-of-the-art alarm system, remember?” “It doesn’t work if you don’t close the door or set it.” That was a low blow. “I didn’t have time, goddamn it.” He stilled. Too fucking bad if he didn’t like her mouth. He’d falsely accused her. “What?” “You coming or not?” “Not.” Without another word, he leaned his shoulder into her midsection and picked her up in a fireman’s carry. With his hand wrapped around her ass, she couldn’t get loose, but she did wiggle a lot and punch him in the back. The blows seemed to have absolutely no effect on him. “Let me down.” “If I do, will you come peacefully?”

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“No. This is my home and I’m staying.” “It’s not safe.” The man wouldn’t listen to reason. The police car pulled up just as he was putting her in the car. So much for packing extra clothes. Just before he closed the door he told her to stay put. If he hadn’t leaned against the side panel, she would have escaped. Okay, she could have crawled over the console and escaped out the driver’s side door, but her emotions were at their peak and she didn’t want to deal with him chasing her down the street. She wouldn’t put it past Morgan to tackle her in front of everyone. Damn him. She could hear his explanation to the cop through the cracked window. “We’ll put out an APB on Harley. Don’t worry. We’ll find him.” The officer came over to the window, forcing Morgan to move out of the way. “You okay, Dakota?” “I’m fine.” She decided not to say that emotionally, she was a basket case. The officer turned back to Morgan. “I suggest she stay with someone for a few days.” Morgan nodded. “I’ll keep her until Harley is in jail.” Great. Just great. She debated explaining her security system, but she doubted the cop would side with her. One thing she was going to insist on, and that was tattooing her client’s arm on Wednesday. The cops better find Harley fast. If she thought it would be safe, she would have insisted she stay at her dad’s. However, if he came home from work and she’d been kidnapped, he might not notice. A tall man raced down the street toward them. A cop blocked his path, but Morgan strode over to him. Because of the blocked bodies, she couldn’t tell who it was, but the initial shouts implied the man was upset. Suddenly, everyone was quiet. Morgan walked over to the driver’s side as the back of the unknown man strode away and got in. “That

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was Jackson. He wanted to apologize for not noticing that Harley was missing. He’d told Jackson he was going to take a leak. When he didn’t come back for a while, he checked out the bathroom. Needless to say, Jackson freaked and came running over to your store.” “What a nice man.” “He most definitely is.” She’d have to send him a thank-you note. If he hadn’t warned them about Harley’s threat, no telling what might have happened. Shivers made her skin crawl. “You okay?” No. “Just thinking about what might have been.” “Don’t even go there.” During the drive back to Morgan’s she only spoke when he asked her a direct question, which wasn’t often. His focus appeared to be on the road, but she bet he was royally pissed about her reverting back to the old Dakota. He never did like it when she wore extra heavy makeup or put in her piercings. Too damned bad. Couldn’t he see she was hurting? It took forever to get his place. He’d barely come to a stop when she jetted out of her seat. The front door wasn’t locked and she dashed inside. It was only 10:15 p.m., but she went straight to Morgan’s bedroom to get her suitcase. She wondered if he had another room she could sleep in. She looked into each of the other rooms. Sure enough, there was a spare bedroom at the end of the hall. Without asking, she moved into the other room. “Dakota?” There was almost a hint of worry in his tone, but she wasn’t in the mood for anyone. She stepped from the room into the hall. “I’m in here.” His breaths increased a bit, but his lips pressed together as if he wasn’t sure whether to be angry, indifferent, or caring. “You okay?” “Yes. I’m tired. I’m going to bed.”

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She turned around to reenter the room, but he didn’t follow her in. Still, she could feel his heated gaze on her back. The door had a push lock. She debated locking the door but decided against it. When Clint came home, she wouldn’t mind a hug from him. He always was accepting. Hell, she could paint her face green and he’d still want her. She must have been more tired than she realized because the next time she opened her eyes, it was morning. Voices sounded fairly far away. She got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Staying here any longer was out of the question. Morgan really didn’t want her. He’d made that clear last night from his cold tone. Once he found out she wasn’t injured, it was as if he’d emotionally shut her out. She could hope it was that he was scared, but she’d experienced him this way before. She brushed her teeth and changed back into her dress. Clint must have heard her because she was about to open her door when he came in. He enveloped her in his arms. His strong chest was a balm to her hurt heart. Tears suddenly began to flow. Damn things. She’d been strong last night. She didn’t want to break down now. Clint leaned back and dragged a thumb over her cheek. He led her to the bed and made her sit. “Tell me about what happened. Morgan filled me in on the attack.” “I was so scared. I’d just opened the door when Harley barreled in behind me.” She hiccupped. “Morgan thinks I was careless, but I wasn’t.” “As long as you’re okay that’s all that matters.” “I want to go back.” She knew she’d have a fight on her hands, but she was ready. “Okay.” She leaned back. “Okay?” He chuckled. “While you were sleeping the Intrigue police were doing their job. They picked up Harley and he confessed to smashing your storefront window and vandalizing your paintings. There was no doubt about him trying to harm you. I’m just thankful Morgan came

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when he did.” “Me, too. If he hadn’t there was no telling what Harley would have done.” He kept his gaze on her. She couldn’t look at him in the eye. He touched her shoulder. “Did something else happen?” She didn’t want to get into the discussion about how Morgan had retreated to his old self as soon as he saw the piercings and hair gel. “Can you drive me home and we can talk about it on the way?” “Don’t you want something to eat first?” Her stomach still hadn’t settled. “No.” He shrugged. “I see you’re packed. You don’t want to leave your case here?” His voice nearly cracked, but that couldn’t be helped. Morgan made it clear that he didn’t want her. Okay, maybe he never said anything, but his look told her a lot. “No.” Clint picked up her case and she followed him out. Morgan was either in the kitchen or perhaps in his bedroom, but she didn’t see him on the way out, which was fine by her. As soon as they were out the drive, he looked over at her. “Spill it.” The hurt was too raw to tell him. “There’s nothing to tell.” “Bullshit. I know that look. What did Morgan say to piss you off?” Clint always could read her mind. “It wasn’t what he said, it was the way he acted.” Once she said that much, she wanted confirmation that her assessment was right. “After he made sure that Harley hadn’t harmed me, he could barely look at me.” “Why?” Men were so dumb. “Because I had in my piercings and had put gel in my hair.” “Maybe he was too upset to show you how much he cared.” “You’re wrong. Even when I got back to your house, he gave me the silent treatment. Bottom line is that if I don’t revert back to the

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prim and proper woman that he wants, then he doesn’t want me at all.” Clint’s jaw tightened. “I think you misunderstood his reaction.” He would say that. “You weren’t there. He hates me.” “No, he doesn’t.” She wasn’t in the mood to get into a he said, she said conversation, so she dropped the subject. When they got to her building, all she wanted to do was go inside and be by herself. Clint dropped her off at her store. “You want me to come in?” “No. I’m sorry.” “You think being by yourself will help you get over this betrayal?” “I don’t know. All I know is that I have so much to do, and the sooner I get back to work, the better I’ll be.” She got out of the car and leaned back in. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.” “For what?” “For not only driving me home, but for always accepting me for who I am.” He leaned over the seat and motioned she lean in, too. He kissed her. “Call if you get lonely.” He winked. Her pussy throbbed. Traitor. Dakota went inside and made sure the alarm system was turned off. She wanted the world to know she was open to business. No attack was going to stop her from conducting her business. Her first chore was to call her client about her daughter’s portrait. She dreaded explaining what happened, but she needed a few days’ extension to do the painting again. “Dakota, I heard about the break-in. I’m so sorry. You take all the time you need to paint that portrait. It’s been years since I’ve planned on getting the picture done. A few more weeks won’t matter.” “Thank you.” The lack of a deadline helped get her focused. She needed her old routine back, and the best way was to dive in and paint. Good thing

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Harley hadn’t found the original photograph or she’d be in big trouble. After getting out a new canvas from the back, she pulled up her chair and settled in. The light streaming in the front window bathed the canvas in a soft glow, getting her in the mood. She inhaled to bring calming thoughts to her brain. This was the best place to paint in part because she loved watching the people walk by while she created her next masterpiece. With the photo taped to the top of the canvas, she sketched the outline of the girl. This might have been the first time she got a second chance to recreate a portrait. It was almost like giving her own life a second chance. Dakota understood that the eyes in the photo would be the most important part of the painting. With care, she drew the outline. When she was content with the shape of them in proportion to the face, she let her mind wander as she began to fill in the drawing with paint. She turned off her internal critic to let herself get lost in the creation. Before long, her stomach grumbled and she realized she’d skipped breakfast and it was a little after noon. She had nothing in the house, so she decided to go to the Eatery and get a bite to eat. She’d just finished cleaning her brushes when the chime over the front door dinged. Her heart lurched until she remembered that Harley was safely in jail. She came out from the back, wiping her hands on a towel. She stopped. “Dad?” She wasn’t sure how to react. He never came over. “Is something wrong?”

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Chapter Fifteen “I wanted to see for myself that you were okay.” From the way his voice shook, she almost expected him to give her a hug. Instead, he stood there. She held out her arms and patted her arms. “See? No bruises. I’m fine.” That wasn’t the whole truth. Her heart was bruised, but she was sure he hadn’t come by just to see for himself that she hadn’t been harmed. “What’s really going on?” “Is it a crime to check up on my daughter?” It was when he never had before. She shook her head. From the strange way her dad was acting, the world must have tilted on its axis today. “I’m just about to head out to the Eatery for a late lunch. Care to join me?” His answer would really convince her that aliens had taken over his body. “Sure.” She was almost tempted to see if there was a large spaceship hovering above the town. The last time she’d gone to lunch with her dad had probably been three or four years ago. Even though the Eatery was only a half mile away, her dad wanted to drive. She still wasn’t sure why he’d stopped by. Once he saw that she was okay, that should have been it. “How is the gallery coming?” Most of the time, her father said little and rarely did he express interest in her plans. He was there to help with whatever she needed, but as far as telling her he loved her or that he missed her mom, he was sparse when it came to words. She’d given up a long time ago on having a deep conversation with him. “Fine, until Harley smashed the

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window and ripped up my favorite painting.” “Oh.” Now that was the dad she knew. He parked in front of the café. Inside, the place was mostly empty, which allowed them to get a table in the corner. After she ordered food and her dad got a cup of coffee, she decided she’d take advantage of him being here. “I know this may be a strange question, but as you know, I’ve gone through a lot of phases over the years.” “You mean like how you used to starve yourself then eat everything in sight? Or how you would only wear black before you decided to pierce your face and dress rather wild?” Wow! She didn’t remember him saying so many words at one time. There was something in the air. “Yeah.” “What about it?” “I never thought you’d noticed.” He blew on his coffee, added a pack of sugar, and drank some. “How could I not?” The man was possessed. “Why didn’t you tell me to straighten up and conform or something?” Having some parental guidance would have been nice. He looked over the edge of his cup. “Would it have done any good?” He did have a point. “Probably not, but I think I did a lot of it to get your attention.” Holy shit. Is that true? “I figured.” Her comment didn’t seem to faze him. The waitress brought over her ham-and-cheese sandwich. “Why not say something if you disapproved?” “Who said I disapproved?” That was true. “You didn’t compliment me, either.” He shrugged. “I loved you no matter what you looked like.” His works sunk into her like the final stroke of a brush on a painting. “You do?” He did? He’d never told her he loved her. His actions might have shown it, but growing up without a mom should

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have clued him in that she needed more. Her father set the cup back on the table. “Men are simple. I’m not the kind who goes around verbalizing what I feel.” No shit. Clint was great at telling how much he wanted her. Morgan? Not so much anymore. “Okay.” Her dad finished his coffee, almost acting as if the conversation had never happened. She had a lot to digest. Maybe she sucked at reading men. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d messed up a relationship. When they left the café, she told her dad she wanted to walk back home. He nodded. “You know, if anything else happens or if you just want someplace comfortable to go, you’re welcome to move back home.” This was shock number two. “Are you lonely or something?” Or did he need a cook or a maid? “A bit, but don’t worry about me. I’ve been seeing a lady friend.” That did it. Mercury was in retrograde, and the city would be invaded any day now by little green men. Maybe that’s why he wanted to stop by. He wanted to break the news about moving on with his life. It was about time. “When do I get to meet this lady friend?” He shrugged. “When the time’s right.” Not expecting any kind of hug, she waved and walked back to her store. She needed to give a lot of thought to how her appearance affected people. Jade always said she was hiding behind her black lipstick and rather wild attire. Clint, and now her dad, said they loved her no matter what she wore. Maybe all this hiding behind her dark eye makeup really didn’t have the effect she’d been going for. She was the same on the inside no matter what color her hair happened to be. In reality, not having to mess with her appearance would be refreshing. The big question she needed to answer was who was the real Dakota Smith? The funky dresser or the sophisticated woman who ran a gallery?

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As soon as she got back, she took out the piercings, sanitized them, and put them away for good. Next, she took a shower to wash out the magenta, blue, and green spray. It would take a few washings, but at least the hair gel would be gone. After she dried off, she put on her yellow dress and matching heels. This wasn’t the real Dakota either, but at least she fit into society’s definition of a businesswoman. Her makeup was applied lightly, using only fresh colors. When she studied her reflection, she smiled. She did look kind of pretty. She was more feminine and more approachable. She wasn’t sure if the men were home or out doing their chores, but she would take her chances and go for a visit. Hopefully, they’d forgive her for her transgressions and welcome her into their bed. **** By the time Clint got back home, his anger had built to a boiling point. His brother was an ass, plain and simple. Clint barged through the front door ready to do battle. He knew his brother loved Dakota. He wasn’t sure why he insisted on living in denial. Morgan was in the living room drinking a beer. Two empties sat in front of him. “Why did you shun Dakota?” Morgan looked up as if he had no idea what Clint was talking about. “I didn’t say anything to her.” “Did you or did you not act rather cold after you found her in the studio shaken to the core from the attack?” Morgan looked off to the side. “The old Dakota was gone. The woman I found in the studio had her piercings back. She was in that old ratty print dress she always wore.” Clint couldn’t believe his ears. “What do you care what the fuck she was wearing? Couldn’t you tell she’d been traumatized?” “I checked her out. She wasn’t hurt.”

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His brother may have been born first, but he wasn’t very bright, at least not now. “I bet she was shaking and upset. Right?” “Yes.” “She thinks you hate her because you didn’t fuss over her.” His brows pinched together. “You know that’s not true.” He guzzled half the contents of the bottle. He dropped his head. “Fuck. I couldn’t even touch her.” Clint’s muscles froze. “Because she wouldn’t let you or you didn’t want to?” “Both.” His lips firmed. He waved a near-empty bottle. “I told you this soft, pretty woman act was a sham. She’s fooled me for the last time.” “Bullshit.” This was going to take a while. “I need a drink.” He got up and slipped into the kitchen. He came back with a beer. “Here’s my question to you. Before all this crap happened at her store, didn’t you think she was the one?” He placed the bottle on the coffee table, leaned back, and closed his eyes. “Yes.” “So you admit that you loved her.” He wasn’t sure if it was a statement or posed as a question. “God help me, but yes.” He let out a long breath. “I can’t believe you’re so shallow that you can’t see why she put her studs in her face or colored her hair or whatever the hell she did to change herself.” Morgan jacked up. “I’m shallow?” He wanted to take his brother and beat some sense into him. “What would happen if someone burned down our barn with all the horses inside?” “That’s not funny, bro. You know I’d be devastated.” “Do you think your attitude would stink more than it does now?” “Fuck yeah.” He wanted to cram the analogy into his brother’s thick skull. When he didn’t seem to get it, he knew he had to spell it out. “When

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bad shit happens, it scares you.” “So?” “People don’t always act rationally. Do you remember that stupid teddy bear you used to drag around with you when you were little?” His mom often referred to the bear and Morgan in the same sentence. “What about it?” His hand was fisted at his side as if Clint was about to find the little animal and burn it in effigy. “Every time you got upset, you’d scrounge around for that bear and carry it around until you felt better.” “I was five.” “You were fragile. I mean that in a macho, good way.” His brother’s eyes narrowed. “Dakota was hurting, and you pushed her the fuck away.” He shook his head “She pushed me away. I tried to gather her in my arms and she practically shoved me back.” His brother was an idiot. “You don’t know anything about women.” Morgan shot to his feet. “Like hell I don’t.” “It’s when they push you away that they need you the most.” Morgan grabbed his three bottles and picked them up in one hand. He stomped to the kitchen. This conversation was not over. Clint followed him. Morgan dumped the bottles and spun around. “She doesn’t want me, and I don’t want someone who becomes a different species every few weeks.” Clearly, his brother needed time to figure out what the fuck he wanted to do, but time was one thing they didn’t have. “I was talking about the fact that you emotionally pushed her away by not accepting the fact that she felt more comfortable in her old attire. That doesn’t mean she’s changed on the inside. She’ll be just as loving and wonderful no matter if she’s wearing combat boots, high heels, or is naked.” He stilled. “I guess that if she were naked, I’d see her as the

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woman I love.” Finally, his brother was coming around. “Fucking A.” He leaned back against the counter. “Maybe I’m just scared that she’d reject me. Dakota is everything I wanted to be. She’s adventurous whereas I always took the safe route. Once she’s around me for a long time, she’ll decide I’m not for her.” Morgan’s brain was finally reconnecting again, but not about Dakota not wanting them. “We’re both scared. Finding the one woman we want to spend the rest of our lives with is a big commitment.” “I fucked up. She’s gone.” He drew in his bottom lip. Clint pulled a second beer from the fridge for himself. “She’ll come around once she thinks about it.” Morgan dragged his hands down his face. “I’ve been an ass.” Thank God he saw the light. “Yup.” “What are we going to do?” He’d never seen this side of his brother before, but it convinced him that Morgan was human after all. “What we do best. We convince her that we’ll love her no matter what she does, how she dresses, or how she acts.” He inhaled and blew out a big breath. “I’m in.” **** Thank goodness both cars were in the drive when Dakota arrived. She shouldn’t be nervous, but she was. What if no matter what she said, Morgan still didn’t want her? If they’d give her a chance to explain, maybe she could convince them she was what they needed. She’d been indecisive because she’d been scared. When she thought back to all the times she’d been with Morgan, it was clear he really cared for her, despite the crappy way he’d treated her the last time. She tried to convince herself that when he saw her in Harley’s grasp, he’d freaked. Perhaps he needed time to process what

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had happened, and that was the reason for his standoffish attitude. His seeming rejection might not have been a rejection at all, but one of a man who was scared to death of losing someone he loved. Okay, that might have been a line of bullshit, but it was bullshit she could live with. Then there was the concept of forever loving two men. It was a big step, but it was one she wanted to take. Here goes! She rang the bell, praying she’d been right about Morgan. Clint answered the door. His eyes widened, almost as if he didn’t expect to see her again, or at least not so soon. He stepped outside, picked her up by the waist, and swung her around. “You came back!” “I needed time to think.” He set her down, grabbed her hand, and led her inside. “Morgan! Look who’s back!” His excitement bolstered her courage. Morgan trotted out from the hallway and stopped. Her heart flipped. His lips parted and his shoulders tensed. Was he waiting for her to make the first move or wasn’t he happy to see her? “Hi, Morgan.” Her mouth turned dry and her pulse raced. This seemed to be the most important moment in her life. He eased his way over to her. She tried to keep the smile on her face from faltering. Morgan took her hands in his and brought them to her lips. “I’m sorry.” She tamped down her enthusiasm. His apology was a good start, but she needed to know more. “About?” “You want me to grovel, don’t you?” A giggle bubbled up when she realized he hadn’t meant to reject her. Now he was going to pay. “Yes.” Clint wrapped an arm around her waist. “How about if we all sit on the porch, and I’ll get us some drinks?” “I’ll have a soda.” She wanted to keep all of her wits about her.

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Her shoulders wouldn’t relax as she and Morgan stepped outside, but the distant view of the mountains helped calm her soul. She sat in a lounge chair and Morgan sat across from her in a chair. He leaned forward. “Look. I behaved badly the other day.” “No kidding.” Maybe she shouldn’t have expressed her dismay, but the man had put her through hell and he deserved to know how much he’d hurt her. He dragged a hand through his hair. “When I saw Harley grab you, I lost my mind.” She figured he’d been maybe more frightened than she’d been. “Is that all that bothered you?” “I guess I’m kind of transparent, huh?” “I know you didn’t like that I’d put back the studs and gone back to looking like the old Dakota, but I had a good reason.” He nodded. “Clint thought that you used the black nail polish and mega eye makeup as a way to push people away. He said you thought you wouldn’t be a victim again if you wore that garb.” Hearing someone explain her issues in words gave her a new appreciation of what she was going through. “Clint’s a smart man.” The door banged open. “Did I hear my name?” She looked up and smiled. “Yes. You heard right.” Clint handed her a soda and Morgan a beer. Morgan sipped some of the liquid. “I wanted you to know that I’ve always loved you even when you were too skinny for words or chunky or had purple hair.” She let the soothing words seep in. “For real?” “Yes.” “You sure had a funny way to show it.” Every time she got near those two, they found something else to do. Morgan glanced between Clint and her. “You two don’t know this, but when I bought Harley’s store a few months back I changed the name.” She remembered when the artist came and redid the design on the

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front window. “I know.” “What you don’t know is that I named it after you.” His gaze focused on her. “How is D’Ink Coda named after me?” He waited a beat. “Take out the apostrophe and say it fast.” “Dinkcoda.” “Faster.” “Dicoda. Oh, shit. Dakota.” Her pulse raced. Joy spread through every cell. “You really did!” He winked. “See? I always wanted you, but I was sure you’d never settle for me. I was too staid.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been chasing you two for years.” Like since she was eight. “Once you caught me, I figured you’d get tired of me real fast.” She couldn’t believe someone as self-confident as Morgan would have doubts, especially about being with her. “Maybe I need to show both of you how much I’m not tired of you.” Clint was the first to stand. “Well, come on, darlin’. I’m up for some show-and-tell.” A big bubble of laughter drove up her stomach and escaped out her mouth. “One question.” Morgan stood. “Shoot.” “I’m not saying that I plan to, but if I were to put back my piercings and dye my hair and did all that other stuff, would you still accept me?” Morgan grinned. “In a heartbeat. If there is one thing I’ve realized it’s that I want you no matter what you look like.” That was all she needed to hear. “Then if I’m stark naked and my pussy is dripping wet, you won’t toss me out.” Both Clint and Morgan faced her. “Hmm,” Morgan said. “I’m not sure about that. Maybe if you showed us, we could decide.” She so loved her two men.

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Chapter Sixteen Dakota skipped into Morgan’s bedroom. She wanted to make her first time loving both men exciting and as wonderful as possible. This hopefully would be the start of a long-term relationship. “Darlin’, didn’t someone promise us a naked body and a wet pussy?” Yes, she had. “Why don’t you two have a seat on the bed?” Clint obeyed, but Morgan stepped over to his drawer and pulled out some condoms and a jar. Her ass clenched in delightful anticipation of the joys of having a large dick in her ass and a big, strong cock in her pussy. Her yellow dress buttoned in front. The top two buttons were already undone. She waited until Morgan returned to the bed. With her two men facing her, she slowly loosened each button, licking her lips in between. Clint whistled and Morgan clapped to cheer her on. When more than half the buttons were open, she turned her back to them. “Hey, what are you doing, darlin?” “Hold your horses.” She wiggled her hips as she slid the top half of the dress down to her hips. Lowering her gaze, she undid the rest until the entire dress was open. Taking a hold of the lapels, she opened the material and slid it down her back inch by inch. The bed squeaked as if one of the men had stood. She glanced over her shoulder. “Clint, sit down. One touch and the show stops.” “Damn, but my cock needs some attention.” “Don’t worry. I’ll be good to him in a moment.” She loved it

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when both men groaned. She made the material shift from right to left as the dress got closer to the ground. Eventually, she let go. More hoots and hollers followed. Reaching behind her, she unsnapped her bra, slipped her right arm out of the strap, and clasped it under her arm to keep it from falling. She repeated with the other arm. “Turn around, darlin’.” “I’m not ready yet.” Teasing them was so much fun. “Okay, but just a peek.” She faced her men and with immeasurable patience lowered the cups until her nipples popped out. She took the bra in one hand and swung it on one finger. After a few rotations, she flung it at the men. Morgan reached out and caught it. He brought her bra to his face and inhaled. “It smells so sweet. Like you.” “Aw, you can say the nicest things.” After wetting her finger, she ran circles around her nipples. Clint bit down on his lip. “You’re just being cruel to us. Don’t you know it’s our job to suck on those lovely tits?” “You’ll get your chance. If you need to rub your cocks, I’m okay with that.” Morgan grabbed his and squeezed. “We’re trying to hold on here, babe, but it’s getting harder and harder.” “Ha-ha.” She doubted he even realized his pun. “I’m not kidding. I’m harder than a fence post. You wanna see?” She slid her hand down her panties and slipped a finger into her wet pussy. Even her finger gave her some needed relief. “God, that feels good.” “Darlin’, you are cruel.” She removed her hand and painted her nipples with her dripping juices. “I thought I’d put a little pussy sauce on them.” She looked over at them. “Didn’t someone say something about me looking at a fence post?”

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Morgan groaned. He unzipped his pants. Even through the briefs, she could see how big his cock was. “See? I’m hurting here.” “You poor baby. You’ll get your release soon enough.” “You gonna touch it?” She laughed. Now for the good part. Her response to his plea was to turn around. She slipped her thumbs into the waistband of her panties. Just thinking about what was to come made her creamy hole drip more. Wiggling her hips back and forth forced her panties lower. Morgan whistled through two fingers. “Take ’em off, babe.” The material slipped down over her ass. Instead of stepping out of them, she kept lowering them until they were around her ankles. “Clint?” “Yeah, darlin’?” “See anything you want?” “You have no idea. I gotta hold down my cock as it is. I want to fuck your sweet ass so damned bad.” She grinned. “Hold that thought.” She stepped out of her panties, strutted over to Clint, and dropped them on his head. He immediately sniffed them. He looked over at Morgan and smiled. “Bro, we are in for a real treat.” She turned around again and kept her back to the men. This time she moved just out of reach of Clint. Bending over, she slipped off her heels and looked between her legs. Returning to a standing position, she faced them. “How do you want me?” The brothers stood and kept their gaze on her. They both lifted off their shirts like they were on some synchronized stripping team. Each flexed his muscles, probably to torment her like she’d tried to tease them. Next came their boots followed by their jeans. Her mouth turned dry looking at them. Their abs rippled and chests flexed. Her pussy got wetter watching them take off their clothes. They dropped their pants, but their huge cocks pushed out from their underwear.

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“Darlin’, you want to finish the job?” “Yes, please.” She wasn’t sure which one to do first, but since Clint had asked, she pranced over to him. “You’ll have to get used to taking turns.” Morgan reached out and lightly pinched her nipple. Clint followed with the other side. “Good thing you have two of those.” Clint reached behind her and squeezed her ass while Morgan slid a finger down the cleft of her pussy. He stopped at the top and pressed on her clit. A spasm made her inner walls contract. She pushed back her hips. “Give me a second to get you naked before you get me too excited.” “Too late for us, babe. We’re already on the verge. I’m just praying we’ll be able to last long enough to satisfy you.” “Oh.” She withdrew her hand from Clint’s pants. He laughed. “Now that you’ve started, you can’t stop. Take them off.” With care, she slid them over his big cock. When his dick popped out, she swore he’d grown. “That is not going fit in my ass.” Clint cupped her face and kissed her. “We’ll see about that.” Morgan stepped closer. “My turn.” She rubbed the outside of his briefs, loving how thick and long he was. This time, she got him out of his briefs by dragging the waistband over his well-sculpted ass. Her hands skimmed across his divine body. When the material got caught on his cock, Morgan helped out. “Thanks.” She dragged the briefs all the way down to his ankles. “Step out of them.” When she looked up, his cock was at mouth level. The urge to take him overwhelmed her. She licked the outside and Morgan groaned. “I’m not sure this is going to work, babe.” She grinned. “You’re a wimp?” “I’ll show you a wimp.” He reached down and lifted her up by her

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underarms. When she faced him, he dragged his hands under her ass, turned around, and placed her on the bed. He looked over at Clint. “I think we need to teach our woman a lesson. Still got that nice rope.” A bit of fear formed in the back of her throat. “What are you going to do?” “We can’t have you touching our cocks when we’re eating your sweet pussy. Clint is going to find a way to stop you from moving. That way we can lick and pluck every delicious piece you have to offer.” The idea of being tied down surprisingly intrigued her. “Okay, but remember turnabout is fair play.” He laughed, and the sound shot straight down her body to her pussy. “I’d like to see you try to lash me to the bedpost.” “That’s not fair. There’s two of you and only one of me.” “Nope, not fair at all.” Clint returned with several pieces of velvet-covered rope in a package. It looked like they’d purchased the item with her in mind. He broke open the plastic. She was about to ask where they wanted her when both men descended on her. Clint tossed a piece of rope to Morgan, who swiftly made a loop around her wrist and secured the end to the headboard. Clint pulled her other hand out straight and repeated the process on his side. She was on her back with both hands above her head. Never did she expect them to each take a leg, open her up wide, and secure her legs to the bed. The vulnerability made her pussy clench. Morgan tossed Clint what looked like two condoms and set one on his side. He knelt by her tits and pressed on the tips. “You and I, babe, are going to have a good time. I’m going tease you so much the bed will be drenched with your juice. Your hole is going to cream, forcing you to beg me to fuck you hard.”

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“Never going to happen.” She knew she was already beyond hope right now. A touch here, a touch there, and she’d be crying for release. Morgan grinned as Clint slipped between her legs. His thumbs pried open her pussy, and instead of him licking her, he blew on her. The cooling wind made her sizzle with intense desire. His tongue licked her inner thighs as his finger traced a line from her belly button to the top of her pussy lips. Shivers of delight followed the path. Her insides clenched. She wasn’t going to last. “Darlin’, we’re gonna take our sweet time.” “I can handle it.” That was the biggest lie she’d ever told. Morgan drew a circle around the tips of her breasts, using the lightest of strokes. Because he was kneeling, he could press his balls against the side of her breast and there was nothing she could do about it. If she’d been able to reach his cock, she would have drawn her mouth over his tip, but he seemed intent on keeping out of her reach. She licked her lips and eyed his big cock. “Wouldn’t you like to have me lick him? I can make you scream.” “Not right now. Besides, men don’t scream.” He pinched her nipple and the sharp, quick stab of pain morphed into instant pleasure. Cream leaked out of her wet hole and perfumed the air. Clint sniffed. “I think someone wants me to lick her.” “Please.” Man, she needed to learn not to beg. If she planned on spending a long time with them, she didn’t want them to think she was easy. Aw, hell. Who was she kidding? She was easy with them. Every look excited her. These last few weeks proved to her that she had no control where they were concerned. Morgan took hold of her tits, one in each hand. Simultaneously, he rubbed his thumbs across her nipples. His rough rancher’s hands made the tips prickle in delight with each swipe. He continued circling, never quite putting enough tension on either one. Even Clint was being evasive. His tongue would lick her inner thighs, getting closer to her pussy with each swipe, but no matter how much she

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willed him to touch her clit or her pussy itself, he wouldn’t. What was wrong with them? They had to be hurting now, too. “Okay, I give. What do I have to do to get you both to really touch me?” Morgan slid his knees behind him until he was on his stomach. Instead of answering, he nipped her chin then captured his lips. One hand threaded through her hair and the other lightly pinched her nipple. The new sparks ignited the swollen crests. She wiggled her hips, praying Clint would be equally as nice and lick her clit. “Is there anyone here who wants me to probe her?” Music to her ears. “Mmm.” She was too busy playing tonsil hockey with Morgan to answer coherently. She loved when Morgan thrust and parried his tongue in her mouth. His right hand fisted her hair and he tugged. The tension helped release a bit of her own sexual frustration. Finally, Clint made halfinch licks on her pussy lips. If only he would drink up her juice with his tongue, she’d be one step closer to heaven. Her groans increased. He dragged his teeth along the edge. A little bit closer, please. Finally, he obliged by delving into her opening with his tongue. The first big suck drove her wild. A riot of pleasure bubbled up. Morgan leaned back and inhaled. His lips slipped down her cheek. Each nibble drew him to the sensitive spot below her ear. When he arrived, he sucked on her neck. Somehow, Clint must have seen what his brother was doing because Clint finally landed on her clit. She bucked upward as streaks of throbbing lust engorged her pussy. “Sweet Jesus, Clint.” “She likes it.” “I more than like it. I love it. I need it. I have to have more.” She couldn’t make her desire any clearer. Thankfully, he stayed focused on her clit, electrifying her body with every nip. She tugged the ropes securing her ankles and wrists, but nothing gave way. The frustration of not being able to feel their

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muscles pulse was pushing her too close to the edge. “I want you to release me.” The desperation must have been so severe that within five seconds she was free. She rubbed her wrists. They weren’t sore, but she almost needed to put her hands on skin. To force Clint back to where he’d been, she wrapped her legs around his back and pressed downward. For Morgan, she lowered her arms and grabbed his rock-hard cock. “Careful, babe.” She wasn’t going to do too much. Holding him in her hand sufficed. Okay, her fingers tapped out a beat, urging him to move quicker. The trail of kisses stopped. Morgan shot his mouth down to her tit and sucked hard enough to set her whole body on fire. “Ahhh.” He left her left nipple swollen and needy and latched on to the other one. He repeatedly sucked and nipped. Her pussy rejoiced as the streaks of pleasure shot downward. Drawing her attention back to him, Clint delved his fingers into her pussy and circled her walls, stretching her out. Blood pulsed in her head and her breaths came out faster. “We need to turn you over, darlin’.” She understood why Clint made the demand. From all the stimulation, her body had weakened. Fortunately, her two men were there to help flip her. Clint lifted her hips and Morgan straightened her arms. He moved in front of her. Foil ripped and a jar opened. The expectant scent of strawberry lube reached her quickly. “I like that smell.” “Good. I’ll be sure to use a lot of it.” Clint dragged a finger covered with lube around her anus. She worked hard not to clench her tight hole. He slipped in a finger and tingles shot up her spine. By now, she knew what to expect, but the anticipation of finally getting his big cock in her ass ratcheted up the thrill. The second finger really stretched the tight hole. He wiggled his

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fingers around and around in a definite rhythm, which helped her to relax. With his other hand, he pressed his palm on her stomach. Slowly, his hand lowered toward her pussy. She urged him to play with her clit while he fingered her ass. Before Clint reached her desired destination, Morgan palmed both of her swollen nipples. He rubbed them between his fingers. Each press sent shivers of delight over her breasts. Suddenly, Clint grabbed hold of that tiny nub and swirled his finger in a circle. Her pussy milked his finger, and more fluids gushed out. “I think she’s ready, Morgan.” This was it. She swore a drum roll sounded in her head. Clint removed his hands from her pussy and her ass. The scent of more lube floated into the air. When he pressed his cock against her puckered hole, she realized this was one big dick about to enter her. He rubbed her ass cheeks as he made tiny thrusts to get past that tight ring. The muscle widened. Perhaps to distract her, Clint mercifully returned to playing with her pussy. The moment he slipped in two fingers into her cream-filled hole, she tightened down on his fingers. Her ass followed suit. “Don’t do that, darlin’. I’m working too hard to hold on as it is.” She smiled. He must have flexed his abs because his cock shifted position and touched new nerves. Chaos exploded both in her pussy and in her ass. Morgan kept pressing hard on her tits. The erotic pain burst past the pleasure line and Clint drove in deeper. Her breath caught. Clint stilled. “Easy there. Take a big breath.” She did and her ass muscles relaxed. With so much going on, she was being bombarded with electric shocks that ran rampant all over her body. Her pussy sang with joy while the pleasure Morgan was doling out to her tits would make her juice up more. Clint returned to stroking her darkened hole. He might have on a condom slathered in lube, but given his size, he had to work to get past her tight muscles. He continued to massage her ass as well as her

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pussy. When her muscles finally gave up the battle, Clint was able to slowly ease on in to the end. “Good girl. Now we’ll let Morgan make love to you.” This was the moment she’d been waiting for. To have two men inside her at once would be a thrill she’d never forget. “How?” She was on her hands and knees. Morgan moved closer and lifted her shoulders so that she was kneeling. Her mouth formed an O as the change in angle drove Clint’s cock deeper. Morgan kneaded her tits and leaned in to kiss her. The moment he pressed his chest to her body, all thought disappeared. The kiss was sweet and tender, almost as if he was trying to make up for the fact that she was going to have both of them inside her. Clint grabbed her hips. “I need to move you back.” Morgan seemed to understand and got out of the way, but she didn’t know what was happening except that Clint’s cock was impaling her. He slid his legs onto either side of her so that she was firmly sitting on him. “Oh, my God. I can’t move.” His cock drove in farther. She didn’t think that was possible. “Don’t worry.” Clint lifted her up and held her tight. She reached behind her to support herself. Her pussy was now within inches of Morgan’s cock. His mouth opened. “I have to taste you first.” Her body was about to burst. He got on his belly, clasped his hands on her thighs, and went to work slurping up her juices. “I love how you taste. I could stay here forever.” “No. I need your cock.” Morgan looked up and grinned. “Give me a second to enjoy this feast. Then I’ll fuck you silly.” Yes! Her pussy was so needy she could barely breathe. His tongue licked, probed, and sucked. With each second, a torrent of need built higher and higher. She clawed the bedspread and tried to buck up and down to get Clint to fuck her ass, but he held on tight.

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“Let Morgan have his fun. If I move an inch, I’m going to explode. God, but I want you too much.” His needy tone excited her, though having Morgan use his magic tongue on her pussy helped, too. “Hurry, Morgan,” Clint nearly shouted. Morgan looked up and grinned. He then got up. Kneeling, and with one foot on the bed, he threaded his cock into her opening. Her pussy sucked him in. As if he still had a lot of patience left, he eased into her inch by inch. The slow, tentative motion set her on fire. “Faster.” “I have to be careful.” Only when Clint withdrew and eased back into her ass at the same time Morgan traveled farther did she understand. Her eyes widened and her breath hitched. “Too much.” They both stopped. Morgan withdrew most of the way as did Clint. That was not really what she wanted. She swallowed. “It’s okay. Having both cocks inside me took me by surprise. I didn’t think you’d both fit.” “Don’t you worry, darlin’. We’ll make it fit. Just relax and love the ride.” She trusted these men. She loved them with her whole heart and knew they’d be careful. She nodded, unable to form the words. As if they’d choreographed it before, Morgan delved in first. Her pussy had to stretch to accommodate him. When the tip of his cock bounced off the back wall, he withdrew, and then Clint dove in. They glided in and out, in and out, in a slow rhythm. Now that her body had accepted both cocks, she wanted it faster. She tried to help by lifting her butt, but Clint clamped down on her. “Let us control the speed.” “I want it faster.” “In due time.” “My pussy wants it now.” She didn’t want to sound like a spoiled girl, but the buildup of heat was almost too much to bear. The torrent

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of carnal ecstasy was within reach. Morgan grinned. “Hey, what your pussy wants is what your pussy will get.” Thank God he was listening to her. While he didn’t go real fast, they both plunged in at the same time. Her body coiled tight and her abdomen clenched and fluttered. Having them inside her at the same time turned her lust dial to high. Her climax built with each thrust. As their breaths came out faster and faster, so did the speed of their thrusts. As if a green light flashed, both men seemed consumed with an unquenchable desire. They pumped and plunged, pistoning in and out of her. She dropped back her head and closed her eyes, loving the incessant pounding. “Yes. Yes. Yes.” Heat scorched her insides and fireworks exploded in her ass as Clint hit every nerve possible. Morgan’s cock expanded the closer he came to his climax. His final thrust pushed her past all ability to think. A tsunami-sized orgasm rained down on her. Her body pulsed and vibrated, releasing the tightly wound spring inside her. The climax burst forth and a primal scream erupted. Morgan’s cock exploded, too, as he pressed tightly into her. Clint’s fingers dug into her skin and lifted her ass high in the air as his heat filled her. She had no idea when her breath returned to her chest. Her shallow pants slowed as the sweat dripped down her forehead. “Did that really happen?” She’d never experienced anything like that before. “I think so,” Clint said, but his voice sounded far away. Morgan dropped back on his heels, his cock still erect. “I’ll get a towel.” He managed to get to the bathroom and back before Clint lifted her one more time and disengaged his cock. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move again.”

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She laughed. “I feel the same way.” Morgan swiped her pussy, and she rolled over on the bed. Clint patted her ass. “You were remarkable.” “Ditto.” Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined something so wonderful could exist. She didn’t care if she had to wear old lady dresses for the rest of her life or tiny short shorts for them. If it made her men happy, she’d gladly do it.

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Chapter Seventeen Dakota had spent three days shopping for the perfect dress for Jade’s wedding. Finally, she had to ask her best friend to help her pick out the dress. For most of her life, Jade had seen her with spiked blonde hair and a funky sense of style. She didn’t want go too mainstream and ruin the day, nor did she want to show up looking the odd man out. In the end, Jade came along and picked out a pink, polka-dotted dress with a wide, white belt. The red spiked heels and a wildly colorful necklace added the perfect touch. She loved the outfit and hoped Morgan and Clint would, too. Dakota watched Jade get ready in front of the mirror. She looked so beautiful. “Aren’t you nervous?” On the outside, Jade looked the epitome of calm. “Surprisingly, no. My dad has actually been quite a good sport about it all. He hasn’t once brought up if I’m pregnant nor has he tried to get me to quit my life as an artist.” “That’s fabulous.” He had been quite a male chauvinist the whole time she was growing up. “He seems happy that I’m happy. I’m not sure how I’ll ever get used to the new Spencer Callen.” Dakota couldn’t be more thrilled for her. “Have you decided where you’re going on your honeymoon?” “Well, it’s a Callen family tradition we go to Hawaii.” “Are you shitting me? Really? That’s so awesome.” If she ever became a Callen that was where she wanted to go. She’d always yearned to photograph the Hawaiian flowers, their

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exotic rituals, and maybe even a volcano. Lisa Callen, Jade’s mom, stuck her head in Jade’s old bedroom door. “Ready, girls?” Jade smiled. “I’m ready.” They both went downstairs. The wedding was being held outside. Like the anniversary party, the same band was playing and the large tents had been set up. As the maid of honor, Dakota rushed up to the altar to stand next to Jade’s sisters. Not only were Morgan and Clint at the altar as groomsmen, the husbands to be, Parker Brandt and Logan Smithfield, were there looking fine. Jade would officially be marrying Logan since he was older, but Parker would take his vows just as seriously. Her eyes watered as the ceremony began. Jade walked down the aisle holding onto her dad’s arm. Mr. Callen beamed, as if this was his most proud moment. The image of her own dad came to mind. She scanned the crowd and spotted him with his new lady friend. She had to admit, he looked good in his black jeans, crisp white shirt, and string tie. He’d helped raise Jade, so that had to be a special day for him, too. The fact her stoic dad had a small smile on his face made her tear up even more. The ceremony began and the group hushed. Jade had written her vows and the words were so sincere. All too soon, the preacher pronounced them husband and wife. Jade kissed both men with perhaps a bit too much enthusiasm. When Dakota slanted her gaze over to Clint and Morgan, they weren’t looking at their sister, but rather at her. Morgan and Clint stepped off the stage and came straight for her. Not seeming to care this was their sister’s special day, they embraced her in a hug then planted mind-blowing kisses on her. Only because the father-daughter dance was announced and they were standing in the middle of the dance floor did they lead her off to the side. “It was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it?” Her lips seemed to be in a permanent smile. “Wonderful. I’m so happy for Jade,” Morgan said.

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Dakota looked over at Jade in her dad’s arms. Both looked so happy and her heart soared. Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned around. Her father stood there. “Hey, Dad.” He held out his hand and nodded to the floor. Her body froze. Not only had she never danced with her dad, but he wasn’t the type to ask her to do so. In fact, she had no idea if he even knew how. But she sure as hell wasn’t going to turn him down. Taking her hand, he led her a few feet, close to where Jade was dancing with her dad. A lot of other guests joined them. He touched her waist, picked up her hand, and began to move in an amazingly fluid motion. “I didn’t know you could dance.” “Never had anyone to dance with, but I used to always dance with your mom.” He looked away, and she swore his eyes watered. “You never talk about her.” Actually, he’d refused to talk about her. “Your mom wanted a man who could make her proud. I wasn’t that man.” “Then my mom was a fool.” She meant every word. He looked down at her and smiled. “Even without a woman around, you turned out just fine.” Wow. She had no answer for that. “Thanks.” His smile never left his face. “You look beautiful today, by the way. You remind me of your mom, but there is a sense of calm about you that your mom never had.” Where was all this emotion coming from? “You look pretty spiffy yourself.” “My new lady friend, Amanda, is helping me open up, as she likes to say.” “Ah.” That answered a lot of the questions. Dakota spotted the woman at the edge of the crowd, smiling. “She seems nice.” “She is. If I don’t get around to saying it, I’m real proud of you

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and I hope you find as much happiness as Jade.” He nodded his head. “From the way her two brothers haven’t taken their eyes off you, I’d say I might be attending another wedding pretty soon.” She grinned. “I hope so.” The song ended, and her father kissed her on the forehead. “Have fun with your men.” He let her go and headed back to Amanda. It seemed as if any internal scars that had formed were beginning to heal. Morgan motioned she come near. He enveloped her in a big hug. “How did the dance go?” She told him about what he said and about her dad’s new lady friend. “That’s wonderful. I can see I need to have a heart-to-heart with my dad, too.” She furrowed her brows. “About what?” “It’s about time I come clean about a lot of things. One is my tattooed ass. I’m thinking of having you give me another one.” “You want a mate?” She meant a matching panther, but from the way his eyes sparkled, maybe he thought she meant a wife. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? “Yes.” Friends and family came up and chatted, giving them no further time to talk. Food was served, but since they sat ten to a table, they were surrounded by so many people throughout the day that they had no time to discuss anything private. All three of the Callen brothers and their families were present. Add in Parker’s theater group and Logan’s construction and development people, and there had to be close to four or five hundred guests. The liquor flowed freely and the noise was never ending. It was probably close to midnight when only the immediate family remained. Her body was tired, but she was filled with joy at the same time. Seeing Jade so happy filled her with happiness. Dakota had finally gotten a chance to talk with Jade just as Clint

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walked up to her. “Can I steal you away for a moment?” She hugged Jade good-bye and took Clint’s offered hand. He led her into the den. Morgan and their dad were in there. Morgan was pacing. That wasn’t a good sign. Morgan turned around and faced his dad. “I thought this was a good time to tell you a couple of things.” Mr. Callen looked to each of them. “What’s this about?” “I know you knew Harley and probably heard about him getting fired.” “I’ve known Harley a long time, and I can honestly say, I’m not surprised. He might call himself an artist, but he dipped his hand in a lot of places that he shouldn’t have.” Morgan shrugged. “I wish I had known.” His dad looked at him like his son was hiding something. “Why?” “I bought D’Ink Coda when it was going under.” She held her breath waiting for the barrage of comments that were sure to come. “Are you making money?” His tone came out with a chuckle. What was up with that? “I was until I had to partially shut down.” “Shame. It seemed like a good business deal.” Even Morgan looked a bit confused by his father’s statement. “Dad, there’s more.” To her surprise, Morgan turned his back, unzipped his pants, and dropped trou. Her beautiful panther made its appearance. His dad laughed. “Well, that’s a bit odd.” She didn’t want Morgan to be humiliated. She stepped forward. “I did the tattoo. It’s a panther, which is a leopard that has black spots you can’t see.” Clint laughed. “Now I see why you picked that. Morgan used to claim that leopards didn’t change their spots. I guess they don’t, but sometimes they can blend in nicely.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly. Morgan re-dressed and looked over at Clint. “Your turn.”

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Clint’s chest puffed out. “Fine.” He unbuttoned his shirt and opened it wide. “I got a ton of tattoos, too.” Mr. Callen’s face turned a little red. “I never thought I’d see the day when my boys got tattoos. I got one myself, but it’s a private spot, so I’m not ready to share. If you’re curious, you can ask your mom.” All of them burst out laughing. She thought that was the end of the show-and-tell until Morgan stopped his dad from leaving. “There’s one more thing, Dad.” His dad turned around. “Yes?” Morgan pulled a blue box from his jacket pocket, opened it, and presented the most amazingly shiny ring to her. Both men got down on one knee. “Dakota Smith, would you do Clint and me the honor of marrying us?” She couldn’t help but shoot a look at Mr. Callen. She would have loved her dad to be here, but since she’d probably spent as much time with Mr. Callen as she had her own dad, he’d do. She didn’t hesitate. “Yes!” Mr. Callen blocked the path between the two men. He lifted her hands and kissed the back of each one. “Let me be the first to congratulate you, Dakota.” He turned around. “What took you two so long? You’ve been pining after her for so many years I thought I’d be having her wedding before Jade’s.” “They have?” The news of them asking her was still so new. “You bet, but my sons, especially Morgan, have too blind to see it. I can die a happy man now.” They all hugged. “Since it’s getting late, I think we’ll bring our fiancée home to celebrate in private.” A grin bigger than the Callen ranch claimed her. She couldn’t wait. Both her men leaned over and kissed one cheek. She hoped she could get them to kiss a lot more than that as soon as she got them in bed.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Unlike most other authors, I started writing late in life. Writing stories in high school and college was not for me. Only after I graduated did I fall in love with romance novels. For the next twenty years, I read voraciously. It got to a point where my book-buying habits cost as much as my groceries. At that point, my husband suggested I write a book. Hey, it looked easy, right? All the stories started in the same spot (hero and heroine at odds) and ended the same way (happily ever after). Only it was anything but easy. Eleven years and fifteen completed romantic suspenses later, I finally published. I never would have gotten that far had it not been for two local chapters whose generous members shared their amazing wealth of knowledge.

For all titles by Melody Snow Monroe, please visit www.bookstrand.com/melody-snow-monroe

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