Loreli James

Chapter Nine

Colby was up early the next morning. As much as he wanted to start his day off with a bang and loll in bed with Channing, he knew she was sore. With good reason. He couldn’t get enough of her.

He kissed her exposed nipple, grinning when she purred and snuggled into him. Damn distracting woman.

Fortified with free coffee from the motel lobby, he knocked on the door to the room. “It’s Colby. Open the damn door.” A click of the slide latch moving and then Trevor swung open the door. “Hey. What’s up?”

Colby peered over Trevor’s bare shoulder at the rumpled bed.

“Where’s Edgard?”

“Shower. He’ll be out in a minute. Before you ask, he’s already checked on the horses this morning.” Trevor yawned. “Where’s Channing?”

“Sleepin’ in the horse trailer.”

“Is she okay?”

“She is now.” Colby sipped his coffee and flopped in the chair by the windows. He told Trevor what’d gone down the previous night. “So, I don’t want her goin’ nowhere alone. She snuck off for that rowdy bar down the street and some greasy trucker was sniffin’ around.”

“You set him straight?”

“Damn right.”

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Colby grinned. “Damn right. Why you think she’s sleepin’ like a baby?”

Trevor high-fived him. “Goddamn, Colby. If there was a woman alive who could change my wicked ways and make me want to settle down, it’d be her.”

“Amen, brother. But you’d have to fight me for her. So you understand why I want us all to keep a better eye on her.”

“Keep an eye on who?” Edgard said as he cracked open the bathroom door.

Colby relayed the scene from the bar.

It was a typical morning. They talked rodeo. Advice was offered and taken. Aches and pains were detailed. When Trevor and Edgard began to argue strategy, Colby made his getaway. He refilled his coffee and stopped to chat with a couple of young bull riders from Utah before he went to check on Channing.

In the horse trailer, Channing sat slumped over the table, naked, listlessly stirring her half-eaten bowl of Raisin Bran.

He ran a hand down her bare back. “You okay?” he asked as he sprawled in the chair next to her.

“Tired. Damn virile man,” she grumbled.

“Was that a complaint?”

“No. But when you said we should officially ‘break in’ the bed in this horse trailer, I didn’t think you meant literally break the damn bed. I think I have bruises on my back and butt from the mattress springs.”

“You bring out the beast in me, darlin’, what can I say?”

“Say you have a coffee maker hidden around here someplace.”

“Sorry. We don’t.”

Channing groaned.

“But I will let you have some of my coffee.” He grabbed a Styrofoam cup and poured half his lukewarm coffee into it. Then he slid it next to her cereal bowl.

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“Thank you.” She downed it in one swallow. “The next time we pass a Wal-Mart I’m jumping out. I don’t care if we’ve got the horse trailer fully loaded and the governor aboard. I’m buying a coffee pot and a jumbo can of coffee. I’m not fit for human company without my daily infusion of vitamin caffeine.”

“Missin’ Starbucks, are you?”

She shot him a dirty look. “Are you serious? Their coffee tastes like strained dog shit. Plus, who’s dumb enough to pay four bucks for a cup of burned coffee?”

“Lots of folks, apparently. Them damn stores are everywhere. You’d think those people were drinkin’ liquid gold, they’re so obsessed with havin’ that same brand every morning.”

“Not me. They’re a bunch of sheep. Give me a plain old cup of joe—

black—and I’m a happy camper.” Channing snickered. “Or I’d be happy if this camper had a Mr. Coffee.”

Colby smoothed a wayward curl behind her ear. “We’ll get you fixed up. I can’t have my best girl cranky at the crack of dawn, now can I? You comin’ to watch us today, Chan?”

“Of course. Provided you show me where I’m supposed to be sitting.” A sneaky smile curled the corners of her mouth. “I’m not up for another round of punishment. My ass is still a little tender from that whippin’

yesterday.”

“Too bad,” he muttered.

“Too bad what?”

“That your ass is tender.”

“Why?”

He stared at her from beneath lowered lashes. “You know what I’m talkin’ about.”

“Was that a hint?”

“A very broad one.” He stood, sorry he’d initiated the conversation so early. “Your ticket will be under my name at the box office. I’ve got to get goin’.”

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“Aren’t you eating anything?”

“I never eat before I compete.”

Channing smiled again. “Pity.”

By the calculating look on her face, he knew she hadn’t been thinking about him eating food. “You are one naughty girl, ain’t ya?”

“You bring out the worst in me, but you don’t think I’m nearly naughty enough.”

An awkward moment filled the air.

“You wanna explain that, Chan?”

“Maybe.”

He growled. “You’re mighty close to earnin’ another punishment. I think you liked gettin’ your sweet butt whipped.”

“Wrong. Well, sort of. But I tell you what, cowboy, I’ll make you a real sweet deal.”

Colby had to remind himself that she was still pretty shy about telling him what she wanted in bed. “I’m listenin’.”

“I’ll forget all about my sore ass, and let you have your wicked way with it tonight…if I see a ninety-point bull ride out of you today.” Holy shit. So much for her supposed shyness. “No foolin’?”

“Nope. But if you get anything less than a ninety, you have to trot your tight little cowboy behind right over to Wal-Mart, still wearing your sexy chaps, your back number and arena dirt, and buy me a coffee pot.

A nice one.”

“You got yourself a deal, darlin’.”

“One other thing.”

His gaze narrowed. It figured there’d be conditions.

“If this does come to pass tonight, for my first time, so to speak, I’d rather not bring in Trevor and Edgard. I’d rather this stayed…between us.”

“Why just us?”

“Because I feel safe with you.”

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Colby cupped her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. The woman constantly surprised him. “Okay. But there’s one thing you need to do for me when I nail that ninety-point score.” Her teasing smile froze. “What’s that?”

“Bring lots of lube. ‘Cause it probably ain’t gonna be no easy ride.” He grinned and scooted from the trailer before she smacked him.

Wouldn’t his mama be scandalized by his raunchy behavior and dirty talk?

Almost on cue, his cell phone rang. “Yeah?”

“Is that any way to greet your mother, Colby West McKay?”

“No. Hey, Ma, what’s up?”

“I just wanted to double-check on you since I never hear from you.

Make sure you weren’t lying in a ditch someplace in some godforsaken redneck state.”

He rolled his eyes, knowing he wouldn’t dare do that in front of her.

“Sorry. Don’t take it personal. I’m either too busy or too damn tired. I ain’t callin’ nobody lately.”

“Not a valid excuse and it makes me worry. Seems nobody’s calling me. I haven’t heard from Cam either.”

“Cut him a break, Ma. He is in Iraq,” Colby said dryly.

“Fine. I’ll cut him one, but not you. Got new injuries I should know about, son?”

“No.”

She switched tactics and chatted about his baby sister Keely’s latest wild exploits. How his older brother Cord and his nephew Ky were faring in the wake of Cord’s recent divorce. Seems his brother Colton had purchased another couple thousand acres of grazing land directly west of their ranch. Then she admitted she hadn’t heard from his youngest brother Carter recently and she was feeling left out of her sons’ lives.

“Ma. You’re gonna see me in Cheyenne in a few days to see that I’m just fine.”

“I know. So, what happened in Limon?”

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Colby told her the nitty-gritty details about the events he’d lost and placed in, how those wins and losses affected his overall standings. He touched on Trevor and Edgar’s professional troubles—but he didn’t mention Channing at all.

After he’d hung up he wondered why. Because this thing with Channing was new? Because it wasn’t permanent? Or because he was a chickenshit because it was special and he didn’t want to jinx it?

His mother knew him better than anyone. She was pretty much in the dark about his on-the-road, wild exploits and former sexual hi-jinks, but she’d always seemed to read between the lines. She had a better understanding that “boys will be boys” than his more traditional father did. The fact that he’d hooked up with a woman would be big news to his family. And at this point he didn’t want his mama zeroing in on what was happening between him and Channing.

Don’t you mean, between you and Channing, and Trevor and Channing, and Edgard and Channing?

He told that smarmy little voice to shut up.

Sure, he was sharing her with them, but when it came right down to it Channing preferred him. He knew it. She’d admitted it and neither Trevor nor Edgard would be surprised by it. But the bottom line didn’t change. They’ d part ways at Cheyenne.

Colby didn’t have time to dwell on future events. He had a competition to prepare for. Tonight, the reward would be sweet indeed.

He packed his gear bag, grabbed his saddle and hitched a ride with Cash to the rodeo grounds.

Trevor paced in front of the motel room, seething. How dare that know-it-all a*shole continue to insist the problems dogging them in the arena were somehow his fault? So maybe he was a little tense, but who wouldn’t be after a losing streak that now reached into double digits? The www.samhainpublishing.com 105

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fact Edgard continually pointed it out and suggested maybe it was time for them to consider other options, flat out pissed him off.

Trevor didn’t have any other options. Like Colby, this was his last shot at making the National Finals Rodeo. Trevor’s father, the infamous Tater Glanzer, was sorely disappointed in his son’s lack of a NFR title, despite the fact Trevor had won five circuit titles. And good old dad had been insistent that this be Trevor’s last year—mostly because Trevor’s younger brother, Tanner, had a much better shot at bringing home that all-important national tie-down roping title.

Then Trevor would be stuck working with the old man all the time.

The thought of continually hearing his father berate him, the expectation that Trevor would permanently give up the rodeo lifestyle and his freedom made Trevor sick to his stomach. His family had never paid much attention to him besides to instill the obsession with rodeo within another member of the Glanzer clan. They sure didn’t understand him.

There were things about him that would cause a rift between them that could never be repaired if they found out.

So even if he and Edgard were losing ground in the individual standings, he’d rather stay on the circuit, rather than head home and deal with the questions and comments from his family on his future plans.

Edgard didn’t understand his dilemma. Neither did Colby. They both had utter acceptance from their families. Once again, he felt completely alone. Scared that somehow the choices he’d made would come back to bite him on the ass.

The door to the room opened and Edgard glared at him from inside the doorway. “You ready to walk over to the arena?” I don’t need you to hold my goddamn hand. Trevor smiled tightly.

“You go ahead. I’ve got to get something out of the horse trailer first.” Without waiting for Edgard to protest, he stalked off across the motel parking lot.

As Trevor barged in the horse trailer it never occurred to him to knock.

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Channing sat buck-ass naked at the little dinette table.

She gasped. It was cute how she tried to tug the sheet from the bed around her nakedness. “Trevor! What are you doing here?”

“This is my horse trailer. Maybe I oughta ask you what you’re doin’

eatin’ breakfast naked as a jaybird?”

“I-I just woke up.”

“Ah. So Colby already took off to check in?”

“Umm. Yeah.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got you all to myself?”

“It would appear so.”

“Hot damn. I knew there was a reason I came here.” His gaze made a slow sweep from her pink toenails to her tangled mane, sticking out of her head at all angles. Finally his eyes zeroed in on the short dark curls peeking between her thighs. “And now I know exactly what I want for breakfast.

“But—”

“No buts. Since Colby ain’t here, I’m callin’ the shots.”

“Okay. But I do want to be honest and let you know I’m a little sore from yesterday. I—I’m not used to that. Any of it.”

“Then I best kiss it and make it all better, huh?” Channing swallowed hard.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“Only if I see a rope in your hand.”

“Not this morning.” Trevor pointed to the bed. “Get up there and let your legs dangle off the edge. And spread em’ nice and wide. I like to play with my breakfast before I eat it.”

Channing blushed about ten shades of pink. But she didn’t argue with him at all. Her heart-shaped butt wiggled enticingly as she crawled into the sleeper compartment.

“Like this?” she said.

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Trevor noticed she had a foothold on either side of the wall. Her legs were braced far apart, as if she’d put herself on display for a man hundreds of times. But he knew better. It made her immediate surrender to him so much sweeter. “That’s perfect.” He knelt on the dinette bench against the wall. His mouth was at exactly the right angle to dive deep into her p-ssy. He flattened his tongue and licked her from her little rosette to her *. Up and down without stopping. Then he blew a stream of air across the wetness.

“Omigod.”

“You come pretty fast like this, don’t you?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Then I’ll just have to make you come twice—once fast, once slow.” Trevor bent his head and began to work her just with his tongue, lips and teeth. Sucking. Biting. Bestowing little teasing flicks over her *, then he’d jam his tongue into her opening, licking her from the inside out.

Damn. Something about a woman’s morning musk tasted different.

Spicier. Warmer. Going down on her was a dirtier act in the daylight, rather than a lover’s secret, hidden under the covers and the cover of night.

“You taste like sweet cream and honey. I could come just from eating you.” His hands gripped her legs on the top near her hips. He let his thumbs lazily stroke the crease of her thighs, heightening the tactile pleasure, but never actually connecting with any part of her weeping sex.

“Well, I can definitely come like this.” Channing pumped her hips into his face. “I’m already close.”

“Mmm. You don’t say.” Trevor rolled her p-ssy lips around inside his mouth, sucking delicately. He focused his efforts on the button pouting for direct stimulation. First he suckled strongly and followed with quick bites from his firmed lips.

The combination set her off. Her * throbbed beneath his tongue and he continued to use his mouth like he was devouring an ice cream cone—slurping, followed by precise short licks.

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She came with a gasp, her back arched off the mattress, her ass clenched and she kept repeating, “Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God.” He chuckled and the intimate vibration against her sensitive flesh made her cry out again.

Trevor wiped her juices from his face. His cock was twitching to get out and get some action, but he wouldn’t presume Channing would be up for it, as she’d already claimed some soreness from their previous go arounds.

After Channing’s legs stopped quaking, she propped herself up on her elbows and smiled at him shyly. “Get your fill?” He licked his lips. “Breakfast of Champions, darlin’.” Her gaze dropped to the obvious bulge in his jeans. She bit her lip.

“Trev, can I tell you a secret?”

“Sure. What?”

“It’s sort of embarrassing.”

“That’s okay, Chan, we’re friends, right?”

“Right.”

“So tell me.”

Channing blurted, “I’ve never done sixty-nine.” Not what he’d expected at all. “Never?”

“Nope.”

“And you want to try it?”

“Yeah.” She fidgeted. “So, I was wondering if you’ve got time…”

“Right now?”

She nodded.

“You sure you’re up for it? I thought you were a little sore?”

“Not so much anymore. Besides, it’d be a pity to waste a good hard-on.”

Trevor figured she wanted some sixty-nine practice before she tried it with Colby. He thought it was incredibly sweet and he doffed his clothes immediately.

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Channing laughed. “You would have won the gold buckle if there was a contest for fastest clothing removal.”

“My mama didn’t raise no idiots, darlin’, you don’t have to ask me twice.” He crawled up in the sleeping area. “This is gonna be fun.” Trevor kissed her slowly in a drawn out seduction of mouth on mouth. He spent extra time suckling and touching her breasts, giving her time to recover from her first orgasm from him. When she started rubbing her legs together, and a soft mewl rumbled from her throat, he knew she was ready for the short go.

He smoothed her wild hair from her strangely timid face. “It’s no different than givin’ me a blowjob, Chan. Curl on your side, and slide my dick in deep, but don’t arch your neck. And for God’s sake, when you start to come, don’t bite down.”

She giggled and it eased some of her tension.

“Ready?”

She nodded and rolled to her left side, Trevor settled on his right.

Huskily, he said, “Lift your top leg. That’s it.” He swooped down and took her swollen sex in his mouth again.

Channing shifted and licked the head of his cock as delicately as a cat. Gradually, she brought him deeper, her mouth made little happy humming noises and she used her hand to stroke his shaft while her fingers fondled his balls.

For being a novice, her mouth and her touch were sheer heaven.

Trevor knew he wouldn’t last. He focused all his attention on Channing’s *, knowing she probably wouldn’t last long either.

She didn’t. She came with a gasp and the intake of air around his dick made his balls tighten up.

He was so close. He rose to his knees so she could deep throat him, as he continued to tongue her softly, bringing her down from her juicy climax.

All of a sudden heat shot down his spine, a hot poker between his legs and he waited for that pulsing rush to start.

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The door clicked open. Trevor looked up from between Channing’s thighs into Edgard’s face. In that split second, his orgasm hit, semen rocketed out the end of his cock and Channing sucked him dry while Edgard watched.

Trevor closed his eyes, threw back his head and enjoyed the hell out of it—the thundering climax and the exhibitionism.

After the blood quit rushing in his ears and his cock went half-limp, his gaze caught Edgard’s again.

“I wondered if you were in here f*cking off,” Edgard said softly, “but I hadn’t thought you were literally f*cking off. Time to go, amigo. We’re late.” He turned and left without looking back.

Trevor fell on his side. He muttered, “F*ck.” Channing scooted around. “Trev? Is everything okay?” She didn’t need to get in the middle of this. He forced a smile. “Just great, darlin’. Just catchin’ my breath.”

“It’s okay if you have to go.”

“Unfortunately, as Edgard pointed out, I am runnin’ late. No regrets over our sexy interlude, but can you get to the rodeo grounds all right?

Or do you want me to wait for you?”

“No. You go on. I still need to shower.” Trevor kissed her thoroughly, surprised by how much he enjoyed his taste and her taste mingling on his tongue. “A sixty-nine virgin no more.

You rocked my world and the horse trailer this morning, hot girl.” She blushed. “Same goes.”

As he dressed he knew next time he’d remember to lock the damn door.

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