How to Rope a McCoy (Hell Yeah!) (23 page)

“You’re
staying with me. I want you in my bed.”

Cato
had to hide a smile. “Is this your Dom coming out?”

Heath
gave her a wicked look. “Do you like it?”

“Yea,
I do. What do you want to be called? Master? And what shall my safe word be?”
She was getting into this. “You can tie me up and spank me…” She didn’t get to
finish the sentence because he covered her mouth with his.

When
she came up for air, Cato was surprised to see a nurse standing there with a
shocked but amused look on her face. “Well, you’re one lucky woman. I guess
prescribing bed rest for you would be a bit redundant.”

Cato
didn’t know what to say, she just smiled. She was lucky.

*  *  *

Heath
stood back and watched Cato interact with his family. Even though she had been
injured, she sat with Philip and Zane, giving them information on sources of
San Saba information. “Here’s a list of books, diaries, letters and whom to
contact to find out who has been in to view them. In most libraries where these
special collections were held, they’re guarded with great care and housed in
special rooms where the temperature and humidity are carefully controlled.
Anyone who views these works has to sign in and furnish a form of official
identification. Most, if not all, of these rooms are monitored with cameras.”

“Bingo,”
Zane said as he realized they, at last, might have a way of finding out a clue
to the man whose identity could clear Philip of murder.

Pepper
and Ryder had seen to it that everyone was fed. The remnants of the weekend had
been cleaned up and the house and grounds had been put
aright
.
He had spent time with Philip, just letting him talk, thanking God he was alive
and they had a chance to straighten this shit out. Next, he planned on holding
Cato all night and letting her know how grateful he was that she hadn’t been
killed.

When
everyone started to head to their own rooms, he held out his hand to Cato.
“Ready to call it a night?”

“No,
but I’m ready to go to bed with you.” She smiled at him mischievously. “And not
to sleep. While we’re together, I hope to be able to try at least five or six
different positions with you.”

“Five
or six?” He leaned over and gave her a playful nip on the neck. “Let’s try to
double that number.”

 “I
want to try cowgirl.” Cato announced as Heath opened the door to his room.

It
took him a second or two to realize what she was talking about. And when he
did, Heath had two reactions—he laughed and got hard, all in the same breath.
“You
wanna
be on top, huh. How about toys?”

She
looked up at him through her lashes. “I don’t need any toys. Your body is all I
need. I’d never tire of it.” Cato began unbuttoning his shirt, licking her lip
as she did so and making daring promises with her eyes.

“God,
you’re something else, baby. I love the way you look. I love the way you talk
to me. God, I love the way you want me.” Heath was shaking with desire.

Cato
almost made it, but she was impatient. With a hard jerk, she opened his shirt
the rest of the way, scattering three or four buttons on the floor. “I do want
you, cowboy.”

She
made a hungry little noise and began to kiss him, taking his lower lip between
her teeth, then licking a tiny trail down his neck and pressing her tits against
his chest. Heath rubbed her back, long desperate strokes while she petted his
pecs
, scraping her nails down his sides. Grasping her face,
he made her look at him. “You are so damn hot.”

“I
can’t wait for you to take me.” Pushing his shirt off his shoulders, she
stepped out of her shoes. “Help me,” she implored.

Together
they rid each other of their clothes, tossing them left and right until both
were naked. “Cato, I love to look at you and know no one has seen this body but
me.” Heath skimmed his palms over her breasts, pushing them together and
playing with her nipples.

“No
one,” she murmured, “just you.” Grabbing his hand she brought it between her
legs. “Feel how much I want you.”

Heath
let his fingers delve into her soft pussy, rejoicing at the silky, slick cream
he found. He dragged his fingers back and forth, swirling around her clit until
she came up on her tiptoes and whimpered.

“Please,
please, Heath,” she begged.

“God,
yes, I burn for you, Cato.” Without warning her, he took her by the waist and
lifted. She gasped and stared at him, questioningly. “Wrap your legs around
me.”

“I’m
too heavy,” she moaned.

“Stop.
You’re perfect for me.” Heath held her by the hips. “Guide me in.”

Cato
was hung up on the ‘perfect for me,’ but she wanted him too much not to do as
he asked. Taking his hard staff in her hand, she brought it to her sheathe and
pushed toward it. When she did, Heath groaned, tightened his grasp on her
bottom and thrust forward. The sensation of his thick cock spearing inside of
her, filling her so completely, made Cato sob his name. “Oh yes, Heath!”

He
slid his hands down to
cup
the round globes of her
ass, lifting her up and down on his rigid, throbbing cock. “So good, baby.” He
locked his gaze to hers, a fierce gleam in his eye. Every movement of his
member being caressed and squeezed by the hot wet walls of her vagina sent
ripples of pleasure coursing through his body. 

Cato
held on, caressing his shoulders, tracing the ridges of his muscles, loving the
feel of his firm, smooth flesh beneath her fingertips. She wanted more, to be
closer, yearned to merge herself to him in every way possible. Tightening her
legs around his waist, she anchored herself to him, tilting her pelvis to urge
him deeper and began moving with him.  

Heath
bent to take one of Cato’s nipples in his mouth, his tongue circling the tender
bud, coaxing it to harden and pucker with arousal. Taking it between his lips,
he sucked it into his mouth, scraping the tip with his teeth, making her pant.
He wanted to give her the ultimate pleasure. He wanted to make her scream with
abandon. Gripping her ass, he undulated his hips, grinding his groin against
her pussy.

His
reward was a high keening sound of ecstasy from Cato. “I don’t think I can
wait…”

Heath
didn’t want her to wait. He wanted her to take her pleasure, so he slammed in,
pulled out, hammering spasmodically into the softest, sweetest pussy he’d ever
fucked.

“Oh
God, oh God, oh God,” she chanted as the fluttering started deep in her womb. A
wave of ecstasy began to build that made Cato clutch Heath, her nails biting
into his flesh. She didn’t try to watch his face, she couldn’t. “More, more,
harder, harder—fuck me, oh God, fuck me!” she screamed. Heath turned, leaned
her against the wall and nailed her, pounding into her soft, yielding flesh
with everything he had.

Cato’s
release flooded her. She arched her neck, feeling the incredible explosion of
electric current as it danced over every nerve ending. Pleasure bloomed,
spreading out from between her thighs, down her legs, making her toes curl. Her
nipples were diamond hard points of aching sensation and Heath just seemed to
know what to do. He didn’t slow, he didn’t stop. He made her take him, again
and again, over and over. Leaning down, he tongued her nipples, milking them
with his lips, causing Cato to shake and jerk with the most delicious climax of
her life.

Watching
her cum, Heath found himself moving closer to the edge, pumping frantically,
relishing the way her pussy was milking his cock. He wanted it to last forever,
but he also craved the overwhelming paralyzing euphoria of letting go.

Cato
couldn’t stop shaking. Nothing had ever prepared her for the incredible
consuming elation of being taken by a man like Heath. The only thing better
than what she was feeling would be watching him fly apart, watching him explode
and knowing she had given him the pleasure. “Cum for me, Heath. Let me see you
cum.” She framed his face and gave him her body, loving every pounding, jarring
thrust.

She
was driving him insane—her luscious curves, her tight pussy,
the
way she welcomed him, the whole-hearted, greedy response of her body to
whatever he wanted to do. God, this was a woman. No experience Heath had ever
had even came close.     

“That’s
right, baby, fuck me.”

“God,
Cato, you’re driving me insane,” he groaned as he began coming, flooding her
with his seed. His release jetted up inside of her, and still he kept driving
into her, seeking to go deeper, harder, dominate and conquer.

“Yes!
I’m coming again!” she screamed, grasping him with her whole body, kissing his
neck. Scraping the tendons with her teeth, she left her mark. Heath strained
against her, his body pulsing within hers.

  They
remained still, holding one another, letting their breathing slow, the afterglow
warm and vibrant as tiny quivers and sparks of pleasure kept thrumming through
their bodies. Finally, Heath eased back, picking her up and walking to the bed.
He sat down and looked into her eyes. “Are you okay? We never made it to the
bed.”

“Until
now.” Cato giggled. “I’m more than okay, I’m perfect.”

“Yes,
you are.” He hugged her to him, feeling things he never expected to feel.

“I’m
tired.” She yawned.

Edging
back, Heath pulled them down and got them under the covers. He pulled her close
and she cuddled against him, molding her body to his like it belonged there. A
sense of peace enveloped Heath and he closed his eyes. 

Sleeping
next to Cato was a treat. For lack of a better word, she burrowed into the
mattress and kept one hand on him at all times—somewhere—his arm, his shoulder,
his thigh. Several times during the night, he’d turned and watched her sleep.
Like he’d promised, Heath had kept the light on and he was glad. Once she woke
from a dream and stirred, saying his name and he’d been able to tell her that
it was okay, all was well and he was there. She’d gone right back to sleep, her
hand on his chest.

Just
before dawn, he’d drifted off again and didn’t awaken until the bright rays of
the sun danced across his face. It was morning.

And
the bed was empty.

Dammit!
Where was she? “Cato!”

“I’m
here.” She was at the foot of the bed, dressed, looking straight at him. “I’m
leaving for work.”

“I
don’t think you should go to work yet.” He sat up, running his fingers through
his hair.

“I
need to. I’m feeling fine, just a little sore and no headache.” She gave him a
brilliant smile. “Thank you for everything. I enjoyed it all, especially you.
You look sexy in the mornings.”

“You’re
welcome. Come here.” He beckoned and she went to him, kissing him tenderly on
the lips. “So, where are we going on our next date?”

Relief
swept over her. He did want to see her again! “It’s a surprise and I have to
get on the preparations today.”  

“Mysterious.”
He held her hand as she moved off, their fingers holding until the last
possible moment. “I can’t wait. When?”

“Saturday,
if you’re free.”

“I’m
all yours.” He grinned.

“Okay,
I’ll text you as soon as I have the details ironed out.” Cato’s head was
spinning. She had a great idea, but this was something new for her, so she wasn’t
sure what all would be involved. But the photograph of Heath standing in a
field with the sky behind him full of hot air balloons had inspired her.

“Give
me your phone.” She reached in her handbag and gave it to him. In a few
seconds, he’d entered his number. “Now, give me yours.” She did and he put her
on his contact list. “Now, kiss me.” Walking up between his legs, she hugged
him and their lips met. It was a soft kiss, a gentle rubbing of their lips and
mingling of their breaths. “How about I drive you home and get Ten to come pick
me up.”

“No,
you have things to do and I’m a big girl.” She kissed him on the top of the
head.

“You’re
a sexy girl.” Touching her face, he sighed his resignation. “Okay, you be safe
going home and call me when you get there.”

Cato’s
heart raced. “Okay, I’ll do that.”

He
cared!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“What
do you want me to say, Tennessee?” Molly whispered. “The baby is yours and I’m
glad he is.”

“He?”

“Yes,
he.”

Tennessee
could hear Molly choke back sobs. God, he hated this. How did things get so
screwed-up? “We need to meet and discuss how all of this is going to work.”

“I
don’t know if I can.”

She
spoke so low, Tennessee had to strain to hear her. “Why? He won’t let you come?”

“There
is no he! There is no one else. There never was!”

Her
emphatic words just sank in his heart like a stone. “I know better. I have
proof, Molly.”

“No,
you don’t, Tennessee.” She sighed. “But that’s what you believe and there isn’t
anything I can do or say to change your mind. Is there?”

“I
don’t trust you, Molly,” he said harshly.

“I
know.”

She
sounded so sad, for a moment Tennessee wondered if he had it all wrong. But
only for a moment. He had proof, irrefutable proof of his wife’s infidelity.
“Can you blame me?”

“No,
no,” she spoke with great remorse. “I don’t blame you. I know exactly who’s
responsible.”

“Yea,
you,” he spat the words out, pacing across the floor of the living room.

“I
gotta
go,
Ten
.” Shaking her
head as if to dispel her pain, Molly conceded there would be no avoiding him.
“Let me know when and where you want to meet and I’ll be there.”

“I
guess you’re busy shopping and going to clubs.” Visions of how he and Molly
used to be tortured Tennessee. He could still remember her laughter, her kiss,
how much he’d love to hold her at night, take long walks and even longer
showers. Until…she’d betrayed him.

“Yea,
I’m busy shopping, you’ve got that right.” Molly pushed her damp bangs off her
forehead.

“Order
up!” the cook bellowed.

“Look,
I’ve got to go,
Ten
. Take care of yourself.” Molly put
the cheap
trac
-phone in her pocket and picked up the
plates of food to carry out to the hungry men at table eight. God, she was
tired.

*  *  *

Cato
arrived at
Tebow
Ranch about six in the evening.
She’d left work early and ran to the Domain to find the perfect baby gifts for
Libby’s twins. The tiny outfits made Cato smile just thinking about them. While
she was there, she’d also picked up a welcome home gift for Isaac and Avery who
had returned from their honeymoon just the day before. Of course, she’d called
ahead, making sure it would be okay to come over for a few minutes.

Climbing
out of the jeep, she grabbed the brightly colored bags and almost skipped to
the porch. As she started up the steps, she noticed Nathan and his girl sitting
in the swing at the far end. Cato waved at them and the youngest McCoy rose and
came toward her with a smile. “Hi, Miss Vincent. How are you?”

“I’m
good. What are you two up to?” She went with Nathan down to speak to Tina. Cato
noticed her wheelchair sat to one side.

“We’re
talking about what subjects we’re going to take next year.” Tina offered. “I
get to go back to school. I missed the final few weeks of the semester because
of the wreck.” She motioned toward her legs.

“Tina’s
been in rehab, and she’s better.” Nathan announced proudly.

“That’s
wonderful!” Cato exclaimed.

“Yes,
hopefully I will be out of this chair by the first day of class.”

Nathan
pointed behind Cato. She whirled around and right into Avery’s waiting embrace.
“Come into this house, girl.” The new bride hugged her tight. “How are you?”

“I’m
good. How was the honeymoon?”

Avery
grasped her arm. “Let’s get away from the minors and I’ll tell you.” Cato saw
Nathan and Tina cast shy glances at one another.

“See
you two later,” she called to the young couple. “Here, I got you and Isaac a
gift. Something to prolong the honeymoon.”

“Give
me that!” Avery grabbed it and pulled out a box. “What is this?” she squealed.
“A game!”

“Romantic
Sensations, it’s a game you can play that leads to…sex.” Cato hoped she hadn’t
overstepped.

“Isaac
will eat this up.” Avery flipped it over and started to read the instructions.

“I
got one…” She almost said for her and Heath, then she remembered he didn’t
really want his family to know about their fling. “I got one for you because I
hope your honeymoon lasts forever.”

“
Awwww
.” Avery hugged her. “Thank you. I’m married to a
sexually insatiable Dom, but this looks like something we’ll both enjoy. I love
it! Thank you so much.”

“So,
where did you go?”

Avery
opened the door and allowed Cato to walk in. When they could face one another
again, she answered, “Isaac took me to Fiji and we stayed on the beach.
Actually, we stayed in a house built on stilts in the water. The water was the
bluest blue and the sunsets were unbelievable—and so was the sex.” Avery winked
at Cato.

“I’m
so happy for you.”

“Look.”
Avery touched Cato’s arm.

Turning,
she saw Libby coming toward her with both arms full—of babies! “Oh, my God! Let
me see!” Cato went to meet them and couldn’t believe how cute they were. “Oh,
let me hold one, please.”

“Sure,
let’s go to the couch and you can try them both out.” All three girls sat down
and Libby handed over one of the bundles of joy to Cato. “This is Colt.”

Cato
couldn’t take her eyes off the sweet little boy. “He’s beautiful with the
darkest blue eyes. Look at him smile.” She leaned over and kissed his baby soft
cheek. “I want one just like you,” she couldn’t help but whisper.

“Don’t
ignore Jordan.” Libby passed Colt’s brother over and Avery took possession of
Colt.

“I’d
never ignore Jordan. He’s so handsome.” She smiled at the little man,
completely entranced. “They’re not identical, are they?” She looked from one
baby to another.

“No,
they’re not.” Libby laughed. “Aron says Colt looks like him and Jordan looks
like my side of the family, but I think they both look like
McCoys
.
Don’t you?”

“I
think they’re both absolutely perfect.” Cato hugged Jordan and giggled when he
squirmed. “He’s yelling, isn’t he?”

“To
the top of his lungs.” Avery laughed. “That’s okay, he’s not crying, he’s just
protesting.”

“Oh!”
Cato remembered their gifts. “Here, I got these for the boys.”

Libby
pulled out the outfits and declared them gorgeous. “I’ll make sure they wear these
to church next Sunday.”

“I’m
glad you like them.”

A
commotion by the door made Cato look up and she saw Noah, Skye and Jacob enter.
They didn’t look happy.

“Should
I leave?” Cato didn’t want to be in the way.

“No,
I don’t think so.” Libby assured her.

Even
though they might have been whispering, Cato could see Jacob and Noah were
arguing.

“I
want to know why you think it’s a bad idea that I look for my mother.” Noah
held his hands out beseechingly to Jacob.

Jacob
started to answer but before he could, they all became aware of Cato’s
presence. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“You’re
not intruding.” Skye assured her. “This is an ongoing McCoy discussion. One
brother trying to protect another.” She appeared to be trying to convince her
fiancé the truth of her words.

“Exactly.”
Jacob interjected, but he and Noah left the room, leaving the girls to fawn
over the babies.

 When
they were alone, Jacob stood by the desk in the den and poured a drink for him
and Noah. “Always, always, Aron and I have only wanted to keep you safe and
prevent anything from hurting you.”

Noah
could tell from Jacob’s face that he was worried. There was no need. “Jacob,
I’m an adult. I can deal with trouble and sadness and unfairness. What I can’t
deal with is not knowing who I am and where I’m from.”

Jacob’s
head snapped toward him and he glared at Noah. “You are a McCoy. Your home is
Tebow
Ranch.”

Noah
waved his hand. “I know that, I’m not questioning that. I feel secure and safe
and grounded here. This is my home.” He stood from the couch and came to his
brother. “But I need to know who my mother is. I need to know that part of me.
Please. The PI’s will eventually find out, I hope. You, however, know something
that you could tell me right now. For God’s sake, Jacob. Help me.”

Jacob
closed his eyes. “You’re right. You’re a grown man.” Moving to stand in front
of his brother, he put his hands on Noah’s shoulders. “I love you.” He hugged
him and Noah hugged Jacob back. “Wait here, I have something to show you.”

Back
in the living room, Avery and Cato were giving Jordan and Colton some juice. “I
want one of these so much,” Cato confessed. “But I worry.”

“What
about?” Libby leaned up so Cato could see her speak.

“You’d
be a good mother.” Avery chimed in.

“I
couldn’t hear him cry or hear him call me if he needed me.” Cato buried her
face in the baby’s blanket, inhaling the sweet scent.

Touching
Cato’s shoulder, Libby assured her. “You’d figure it out. There are monitors
especially designed for deaf mothers so they’ll know when their baby is crying.
I saw it in a parenting magazine.”

“Really?
There’s so much I don’t know.” Cato rubbed her cheek on the baby’s head,
thinking how wonderful it would be to share a baby with Heath.

“No
baby comes with an instruction manual, Cato.” Skye smiled, but her eyes
followed Jacob as he walked across the room. She looked worried.

“Is
something wrong, Skye?” Avery asked.

Skye
got up off the couch and stood before them. She put her hand to her forehead.
“Noah heard from Vance about the search for his mother. They couldn’t find
anything. He’s convinced Jacob knows something and I’m not sure if he does or
not, but Noah got up this morning determined to find out for sure.”

Avery
turned to Libby. “Does Aron know anything?”

Libby
didn’t hesitate. “Aron told me their mother loved Noah so much. She treated him
exactly the same as she did the rest of the brothers. He did tell me about the
day his dad brought Noah home. Aron was young, but he did realize his mother
was hurt. She didn’t take it out on the baby, though. He said she held Noah and
loved on him exactly the way you two are doing my boys. Although…” she
hesitated.

“What?”
Skye asked. “Tell me.”

Before
Libby could answer, Noah and Jacob joined them. “She doesn’t have to tell you,
Skye. I can show you.”

The
look on Noah’s face as he held out a picture made Cato’s heart ache. “Skye,
look, this is my mother.”

Skye
gently took the picture and gazed at it. “She’s beautiful, Noah, you look like
her.” She then passed the photo to both Libby, then Cato. What Cato saw was a
pretty blonde woman with kind eyes.

“Jacob
said she called here a few times, but Dad never told me. She wanted to see me.”

 Cato
couldn’t hear his voice, but she knew it was full of emotion.

Jacob
leaned over and touched Colton’s hand. The little boy grasped his finger,
holding on. “The last time she called was right after Mom and Dad were killed
and Aron and I were torn, but we felt all of us had enough to deal with and we
could remember Dad saying that sometimes knowing is worse than not knowing,
whatever that means.”

“What
was her name?” Skye asked.

Noah
took the picture back and gazed at it tenderly. “Her name was Naomi. Jacob
doesn’t know a last name.”

Cato
watched as Jacob placed a comforting hand on Noah’s shoulder. “We’ll find her
Noah. I promise. I was wrong to hide her from you all this time. I didn’t do it
to hurt you.”

“I
know,” Noah nodded his head.

Cato
hugged the sleeping child to her breast, praying that Noah would find what he
was looking for. She had thought about her own father often enough and wondered
if he ever thought about her. Maybe now was the time to contact him. Maybe her
mother was wrong. Maybe he missed her as much as she missed him.

*  *  *

Whirlwind.
That was a good word for the next few days. Cato had been busy putting together
information on the different cattle drive routes that originated in Texas,
particularly the old Chisolm Trail which started in Brownsville, crossed the
Colorado River in Austin and ended up in Dodge City. She’d visited the historic
stock yards in Fort Worth and chronicled data on the big ranches that used to
dominate the state. While she was compiling facts and trivia on the infamous
King Ranch, it occurred to Cato that Heath might enjoy visiting there. She
didn’t know if he’d ever been but even if he had, Cato thought she could put
together an enjoyable weekend for him.

First,
however, she had to finish the last minute preparations for their first date.
Cato smiled thinking about it. She had reserved a spectacular hot air balloon
to take them from just south of Austin all the way across the hill country to
Heath’s Canyon of the Eagles Resort, if the prevailing winds cooperated. The
pilot had laughed at all of her questions and she didn’t blame him. It was
obvious what she had in mind. After going over the route, Mr. Dickinson had
taken Cato out to the airfield and show her the balloon. The place she and
Heath would share was behind the small booth the pilot occupied where he controlled
the burner and the vertical position of the balloon.

“You
and your gentleman friend will have all the privacy you need for your romantic
picnic.” Mr. Dickinson assured her.