Her Heart-Stealing Cowboys [Hellfire Ranch 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (15 page)

Rebecca licked her lips. “Loser chooses what to take off, remember?”

Tag nodded. “Yep. I figured you’d weenie out on me and go with the ponytail holder.”

The unspoken challenge raised her hackles just as she knew he intended. What he didn’t know was
he
played right into
her
plans with his comment. From the moment she suggested strip poker, she knew this evening was going to end up with all of them naked and in bed together.

In the beginning, she thought the only obstacles she faced was securing their cooperation and overcoming her hesitation. The sexual tension running around the table bolstered her confidence and wiped out any wavering she felt. Rebecca fiddled with her ponytail and looked at both grinning men. She was also beginning to realize Tag and Wade didn’t seem to hold very many reservations.

Wade splayed backward and stretched out his lean legs. He folded his hands over his flat stomach then sighed deeply. “Looks like you’re right, Tag. Damn shame. We’ll be here all night if this keeps up.”

Tag gathered the cards and began shuffling again. “Take it off and ante up,” he ordered with a wicked grin. “I’m ready to win again.”

Rebecca dropped her hand from her hair and sat up straight. Her fingers went to the hem of her soft pink T-shirt. The cards squirted from Tag’s hands and splattered all over the table. She chuckled.

“Never let it be said I disappointed you two.”

With one smooth stroke the shirt cleared her stomach, then her chest, and finally her head. She dropped it in the center of the table and leaned back against her chair. Her red-clad breasts thrust provocatively in the air. She winked at Wade. “Your turn.”

His gaze was glued to her red lace bra. She drew in a deep breath and was amused when his eyes widened in response. She definitely picked the right underwear this morning.

She waggled her fingers over her nipples and pointed upward. “Wade,” she said sharply.

His head snapped up and an adorable blush darkened his cheeks. “Sorry, I was just—” His voice stumbled to a halt and he grinned. “I was checking out your beautiful breasts.”

His candor took her breath away.

“Ditch something,” Tag ordered. His voice, with its deep timbre, was a wee bit hoarse.

Rebecca looked at him and found his eyes also lingering at her chest. Appreciation and desire warred with each other in his green gaze.

Her heart pounded and caused the soft flesh to jiggle slightly.

Tag chuckled as he met her eyes. “I like a woman who can’t resist a challenge.”

She took a small sip from her whisky. “Why’s that?”

“Means you’re daring and unafraid.” He slanted a glance at Wade. “Also means you’re willing to try out new experiences.”

Her mouth went dry.
Please mean what I think you mean.

“One of these days, we should show you how to calf rope,” Wade said.

She blinked at him. “You mean throw a rope over a moving baby cow? From the back of a horse?”

“Yeah,” Wade said. “We do it all the time. We can show you how. You know how to ride?”

“Yes, but I don’t think I’m coordinated enough to swing a rope without throwing myself out of the saddle.”

Wade chuckled.

“Come on, Wade,” Tag demanded. “Take something off so you can deal the next hand.”

Wade nodded as he stood. “Can’t let the little lady have all the glory, can I?” He hauled his black T-shirt over his head and dropped the shirt on top of hers.

Rebecca’s gaze was riveted on his taut and ripped abdomen. He was tight and muscular and had an eight pack that would make a male model jealous. A black tribal tattoo was etched into his right shoulder and traveled in alternating swirls and jagged edges over his massive pecs to end in a spiral at his waist.

“Does that go all the way around?” she asked.

“Yep.” He turned to show her his back.

His skin was bronzed and smooth and rippled with muscular strength. Her pussy clenched and throbbed. She could feel the passion pooling in her lower lips.

“It’s very nice,” she said.

He smiled as he turned back around. “So are those.” He pointed to her chest.

Rebecca laughed and her gaze flicked down to his crotch. She swallowed hard.

Wade sported an erection that pushed unabashedly against his zipper. She exhaled sharply and turned back to the table. Suddenly she was as eager as they were to end the charade of the card game.

She swept the shirts from the table and tossed her ante in. “Let’s get it on.”

Tag stared at his cards but didn’t see them. Instead, the perfection of Rebecca’s rounded breasts danced in front of his mind’s eye. She was round and plump and firm. In fact, she was better endowed than he’d originally thought. And he’d snuck quite a few good looks the last couple of days. She liked to wear T-shirts that molded her assets. They still hadn’t done her justice.

“Tag, are you in?” Wade demanded.

“Yeah.” He tossed a chip in the pot. He didn’t care what it was. Hell, he might throw the whole damn game just so they could get it over with and get naked.

Tension and sexual awareness hummed through the air. The heat in the house rose with each breath Rebecca took.

Tag turned his head and studied her sleek form. Her skin was porcelain pure. She had a smattering of tiny freckles across her collarbone but the rest of her was as white as goose down. He bet her skin would be as soft, too. His gaze drifted past her luscious breasts to her trim waist and tummy. She didn’t sport a cut set of abs but her sleek look had his dick hot and heavy in his jeans.

She had a body perfect for kissing, licking, and fucking.

He shuddered.

Wade’s chuckle was strained and he met his friend’s knowing eyes. He gave him a rueful grin. They were both in the same hard-as-iron state thanks to the delectable Miss Lyons.

“Anything new in the investigation?” she asked.

Tag rearranged his cards even though they still didn’t make a whole lot of sense. “Boone took Fischer’s computer down to Austin. Tarah found some prints and DNA in his room. Hopefully it won’t be Fischer’s.”

“Who is Tarah?” Wade asked.

“She’s one of the FBI techs. She and Mike are working with Boone.”

Tag gave her a smile, pleased she’d remembered their names. It made her seem down-to-earth and not out of his stratosphere.

“I ran into Reynolds and Alcott at the hotel, too.”

Wade flipped the turn card. Tag checked his hand. He had shit. He threw in another dollar.

“Find out anything from them?” Rebecca asked. She matched his bet. He was getting the idea she was a conservative bettor until she had a really good hand.

“They both lied about what time they were in their room.”

Her head snapped up.

“How do you know?” Wade asked. He held the river card facedown in his hand but his blue eyes were bright with curiosity.

“They both said they’d been in their rooms for about an hour before we arrived but they’d actually been at the restaurant when Whitty approached me. I saw them there.”

“Interesting,” Rebecca murmured. “You think they might be involved?”

“It’s possible.” Tag looked at Wade. “Alcott gave blood at the drive this morning. Can you get me a copy of his paperwork?”

“No,” Rebecca said. Her voice held exasperation.

He frowned. “Why the hell not?”

“You need a warrant and for that you need probable cause. What would be the purpose?”

“I want to find out his blood type. It might match what we found in the jail.”

She tapped her cards. “Yours did. What does it prove?”

He glared at her then shifted the black look to Wade. He hated it when someone used logic on him. “Deal the river.”

Wade snorted but dealt.

Rebecca bet two dollars and as Tag thought, she won the hand with a full house. He pulled off his badge.

Wade shucked his ring.

“You cheaters,” she yelped.

“Hey, you had the opportunity to take off your ponytail holder,” Tag said with a grin.

She grumbled a bit then snatched up the cards and dealt.

He and Wade lost the next four hands and Tag was beginning to suspect Rebecca was a shark in tight clothing.

Wade was down to his skivvies but wore a wide, expectant grin.

Tag sat barefoot in his underwear and undershirt.

He wasn’t usually prone to fits of self-doubt but he saw Rebecca’s blatant appreciation for Wade’s ripped and virtually hairless physique.

Tag worked out regularly and rode horses and calf roped but he wasn’t as cut as his friend. He was also hairier than a grizzly bear. He rubbed a hand over his chest then picked up the cards he was dealt.

He held a pair of twos and nothing else. The flop was no help either.

“Your bet, Tag,” Wade said.

He looked at his meager stack of chips. A whopping two seventy-five. This could be his last hand.

His cock jerked in his boxer briefs. He was more than ready for this damn game to be over. The atmosphere around the table was thick with anticipation.

He cut a glance at Rebecca, who ogled Wade’s shoulders.

“All in,” Tag announced and shoved his chips forward.

She gasped and her head swiveled toward him. Her green eyes were wide and luminous. They pierced him straight through his gut. She licked her lips and it was all he could do not to grab her ponytail in his hand and sear her mouth with another scorching kiss.

On cue her beautiful soft lips lifted and she gave a throaty chuckle. The sound danced along his hard dick like a kite bounced on the wind.

“I call,” she said.

Wade looked from one to the other. “Should I even bother separating the chips into side pots?”

“No,” he and Rebecca said together.

They shared a laugh.

“Good call,” Wade said. He pushed his chips into the pot as well. “I’m tired of all this dancing around.” He pulled the deck of cards up and tossed down the river card.

“King of hearts,” he said.

“Damn,” Rebecca muttered.

Tag looked sharply at her. “What?”

“Cards down,” Wade demanded.

Tag laid out his pathetic pair of twos. Rebecca followed with a pair of nines. She also held a king, queen, and jack. She’d been looking to fill another straight, it appeared. He grinned at her disgruntled expression.

“Can’t win them all,” he said.

“I don’t like to lose,” she said. Her gaze went to Wade. “What did you have?”

He spread out his cards. “Pair of fours. Looks like you win with those nines.”

Tag narrowed his eyes as he studied his friend. Wade made the announcement, touched his nose, and looked down and to the left. His every action was a classic sign of deception.

Tag looked at the cards. A single card in the middle of the deck peeked out from the rest of the ordered and stacked cards.

Tag grinned and leaned back. Relief flooded him. He was glad the game was over. Now the real fun could begin.

“Well, that’s that. Wade, shuck your drawers. You lose.”

Rebecca immediately straightened in her chair with her eyes riveted on Wade.

“No way, old man,” Wade protested. “You first. You have on more clothes.”

“So?”

Rebecca slowly stood. Her tits swayed enticingly along the top of her bra. She looked from one to the other. Her eyes were hot and filled with invitation.

Tag lurched upward. He didn’t give a damn, his cock was so hard it threatened to tear through the soft blue of his boxers.

Her eyes dipped to study the bulge and her mouth rounded. She blew out a soft breath. “Goodness.”

Wade also stood and again her eyes roamed over his body. She gave another deep exhalation. Despite the light padding of her bra, Tag saw her nipples harden.

“I have a better idea,” she said.

“What?” Tag demanded. His mouth was dry. He licked his lips then picked up his nearly empty glass of whisky and drained it.

She put her hands on her hips. He saw the slight tremble in her.

Rebecca was not nearly as calm as she wanted them to believe.

“Gentlemen, how about we
all
get naked?”

“Bex,” Tag gritted out. “Are you sure?”

She turned hungry eyes on him. “You keep asking me that. I’m positive.” She scooted around the table and walked right up to him. Her hand pressed against his chest. The heat from her palm traveled over his pecs and shot straight to his cock, which bobbed in response. “Here,” she said. “Let me help you.”

Her fingers trailed down his sides and grasped the hem of his white shirt. She pulled slowly upward.

He clamped his hands over her wrists. “Wait,” he said hoarsely.

“Why?” she asked.

He looked at Wade then Rebecca again. “Because of this.” He slipped her hand under his shirt and nestled her fingers into the woolly mat of hair covering his chest.

“Oh, my,” she said on a long breath. Her lashes dipped and a small smile lifted her sweet mouth. Her fingernails scored into his flesh and she rubbed back and forth. Her other hand quickly tugged his shirt up. “Take it off,” she demanded. Her expression was eager. Relief flooded him. Apparently she liked hairy
and
nonhairy men.

Wade chuckled. He walked around the table to stand behind Rebecca. He’d already taken off his underwear. Like Tag, Wade sported an erection that moved and jerked with each breath. “You heard the lady,” he said.

Tag dragged his shirt off as Rebecca’s fingers tangled in the waistband of his boxers. He nearly toppled over when she shoved them downward.

“Oh, my,” she said again.

She was staring at his cock. Tag felt a surge of passion stiffen him even more and knew she’d caught the movement when her breath hitched again.

Her grass-green eyes lifted and met his then shifted to Wade. She reached out and grabbed Wade’s hand to pull him closer. Tag felt his shoulder nudge his friend’s and he looked sideways at him only to find Wade grinning like a lovesick fool. He smiled in response since he was experiencing the same rush of emotion.

He tugged on Rebecca’s swaying ponytail to grab her attention. “Looks like you’re in charge, honey.”