Primal Surrender (10 page)

A wisp of premonition drifted through his head, and he briefly wondered if they could make a ménage relationship work. He dismissed the idea just as quickly as he recalled Ryker’s confusion and irritation at the Keegan wedding. No, a ménage was not in the cards for the Thompson brothers. Something like that would end up turning into World War three and Mack had no desire to see Claudia caught up in the middle of it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said, brushing a quick kiss over her soft lips. It was tempting to stay and delve deeper into the desire he saw reflected in her hazel eyes, but instead he followed Ryker down the driveway. The two men climbed into their respective vehicles silently, and left Claudia standing on the front porch watching them with a look that held more regret and disappointment than Mack was ready to acknowledge. He could already feel the precarious edge of a cliff under his feet, and he was worried he would fall at any minute.

Chapter Six

Claudia’s stomach was a ball of nerves as she drove under the metal scrollwork words “Brooks Pastures” Sunday morning fifteen minutes early. Even though it had been years since she had ridden, it wasn’t the horses making her jumpy. Mack made her feel things she wasn’t sure she was ready to feel.

When she told him she had kissed Ryker, she assumed he would flip out. Any one of her previous boyfriends would have flown off the handle at the mere suggestion of impropriety with another man, but instead he had laughed it off. Then his reaction to Ryker’s affectionate teasing and manhandling of her person had chipped away another layer of her beliefs. She didn’t think he was a cuckold. He certainly didn’t seem the type of man to get off on watching his girl be used by other men, and yet he didn’t react normally to the obvious interest his brother had in her. Trying to wrap her brain around him and Ryker was driving her mad.

A smile broke over her face when the ranch house came into view, and she spotted Mack’s broad back next to the barn with two saddled horses ready and waiting. She appreciated his punctuality, and she said so as she climbed out of her car.

His dimples appeared and his blonde curls flashed under the morning sun as he swaggered over to her. She could almost feel his eyes touching every inch of her body when he looked her over. The boots she wore were for hiking instead of riding, but she didn’t own a pair of genuine cowboy boots yet, so they would have to do. Otherwise she had settled for a plain white t-shirt and an old pair of jeans. She had tucked her hair up into a beat up ball cap that she kept for yard work, and for the first time in months she wore no make-up. If he was really interested then he may as well see the real Claudia now.

“You look fantastic,” he said, reaching for her hand and making her spin for him like a model on the catwalk. “Absolutely delicious.”

She tried hard not to blush as she found her center of balance by placing her other hand on his chest, “Thank you. You look pretty damn good yourself this morning.”

He wore the same style button down shirt she had seen him in previously, but this one was a well washed blue color that echoed the soft blue of the morning sky. It really made the crystal clear color of his eyes pop, and she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze away from his. She knew before he even began to lower his head he was going to kiss her. Some small tick gave him away. Maybe it was an inhale, or a parting of his lips, or even the flaring of his nostrils, she couldn’t be sure which, but she knew.

Fire raced through her from the soft connection between their lips straight to her toes and back centering on her clit, and she moaned into his mouth. His hands slid around her waist and rested on the upper curve of her ass, gently holding her against him while he devastated her with his mouth. His tongue stroked across hers, and his teeth nipped at her bottom lip making her pussy clench. It would be so easy to get lost in his kisses, never to return to reality. He and his brother were made for kissing. The thought of Ryker was like ice water on her heat, and she pulled back, breaking the kiss.

They stared into each other’s eyes, panting for breath and imagining the dozens of ways they could get hot and sweaty with each other. Mack’s face was slightly flushed with his desire but he stepped back and held his hand out for her to take. He led her to the horses without a word about her pulling away from him, and she felt her walls weakening at his easy acceptance of her limits. She loved that he was equally affected by her, and that he was willing to give her the space when she needed it without questioning her motives.

Forcing her thoughts back to the present, she focused on the pretty mare in front of her, “So who is this?”

“This is Juliet.” Mack answered, “And before you ask, yes there is a Romeo in the barn, but he belongs to Parker and I wouldn’t put you on his cranky ass for all the kisses in the world.”

Claudia stared at him for a moment, before she let out a loud laugh, “Please tell me Rachel and her husbands did not name their daughter after a horse.”

He shook his head with a chuckle, “No, not that I know of, but if you decide to ask them please do it when I’m around. I would love to see Parker Brooks’ reaction to that question. Now, did you slather up with sunscreen?”

She gave him a funny frown. “Yes, daddy, I did. I might be a city girl, but I’m a smart one.”

His laughter died away, and the lust returned to his eyes. “Sweetheart, I promise you I don’t feel like your daddy when I’m taking care of you, but if you want to try out a bit of role play sometime I wouldn’t be averse. I’m pretty open.”

The squeeze of her throat was too tight to talk through, and her tongue suddenly felt too big for her mouth. His wicked suggestion had her panties dripping wet, and she could feel a shiver of excitement skitter through her.

“Horseback riding. That’s all we’re doing today, cowboy. Focus.” She ran her head over the neck of the gentle Juliet, and clucked her tongue at the mare. “Silly men. Only thinking about one thing.”

Mack stepped up to her back, and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck while he rubbed the hard line of his erection against her plump ass. “I’m thinking of lots of things, Claudia, but they all seem to involve you and getting you naked in some form. It’s damn hard to concentrate on anything else right now.”

“Poor, baby. It’s going to hurt riding with that in your pants today,” she teased, taking a step to the side to give herself some breathing room. As flattered and turned on as she was by his interest, she still hadn’t made him understand that any relationship between the two of them would have to be temporary, and she couldn’t live with herself if she led him on and hurt him. “Mack, you know I want you, but I think we need to clear some things up before this goes any farther.”

His clear eyes suddenly darkened with confusion, and his body grew tense. “Is this about Ryk?”

“Ryker? What? No! This is about you and me. I’m only in Stone River temporarily. My job won’t allow me to live here forever. Once the project is done I have to go back to Austin, or wherever they send me for the next project. I don’t want you to be hurt when I leave.”

The hint of hostility evaporated and his face relaxed. “Of course. You said so before, but I won’t give up trying to convince you to stay. We have something special here, Claudia. A spark I don’t imagine too many people feel, and I’m not just talking about the sexual chemistry between us. I want to explore this and see where it leads us, and I really hope you do too.”

“Don’t get your hopes up, Mack. My life is back in Austin.” She stared at the leather saddle covering the back of the horse, doing her best to focus on the tiny engraved lines crisscrossing it in a pretty scrollwork design. It hurt to think of leaving Stone River behind. This was the first place she had ever really felt like she was home. “We’ll know more after the town hall meeting. The way I understand it, once everyone has had a chance to say their piece, the town council will take a vote and make a decision. If they veto the project I will have to go home sooner than planned.”

The air around them felt heavy, and the horse shuffled a step away from them sensing their tension. She couldn’t blame Juliet for wanting to escape it. The last thing Claudia ever wanted to do was fail to secure this project, and have to return home with her tail between her legs.

Instead of arguing or trying to convince her otherwise, Mack just sighed, and resumed his easy going attitude. “Okay. Well then let’s just take it one day at a time, shall we? No need worrying about the future until it gets here. Now, up with you city girl, show me how a duchess rides.”

Relief washed over her, along with a touch of annoyance at his use of the prissy nickname. “Just because I rode in an arena doesn’t mean I don’t have skills, cowboy. Back up.” She gave him a little shove with her shoulder to his ribs, and lifted her foot into the stirrup. The swing up into the saddle was high, but she felt at ease once she took her seat. There was something comforting about the easy acceptance of Juliet, and the gentle sway of her movements as she adjusted to Claudia’s weight. The saddle felt different than she was used to, but not terribly so, and she quickly took the reins to direct the mare away from the barn. Glancing over her shoulder at Mack, she smiled saucily, “You coming, cowboy? Or are you just going to watch me show you how it’s done?”

His laughter boomed through the yard, echoing off the building and drawing a couple of ranch hands out of the barn. The front door of the house opened, and Rachel stepped outside holding a chubby little girl in her arms. The man who followed her onto the porch looked a lot like Sawyer, and the possessive way his arm wrapped around the two females with him, assured her this was another Brooks brother.

“Claudia! It’s good to see you again,” Rachel called out, and Claudia directed the horse over to the edge of the porch to greet her new friend.

“You too, Rachel, and this must be your lovely Juliet.”

Juliet was sucking on her fist like it was the last bit of food in the world. Drool coated the one-year-old’s chin and chest, but the smile she gave her mom when her name was mentioned was radiant. “Yes, this is Miss Jules, and this is my husband, Hudson, I don’t think you two have met yet.”

Claudia nodded at Hudson Brooks, wondering again how Rachel managed to juggle so many men in her life. Just being with Mack and Ryker as a pair left her feeling out of her element, so she couldn’t imagine how much harder it would be if she were dating them both.

“Nice to meet you, Claudia,” Hudson said politely. “You’re not quite what I pictured when Sawyer told me Mack was dating a real estate tycoon.”

Shaking her head, she laughed, “I’m no real estate tycoon. Just a regular woman doing a job. With any luck the town will side with Schmidt Properties tomorrow night and Granite Estates will be a reality.”

“Exactly why would that be a good thing?” Another Brooks brother appeared in the doorway, and Claudia actually felt herself cringe away from the distrust and genuine disgust he directed her way.

“Rogan, stop it. Be polite,” Rachel snapped.

Refusing to cower, Claudia stiffened her spine and leveled her gaze on Rogan Brooks. “Mr. Brooks, Granite Estates would bring more families to Stone River, which at this moment is bogged down in the good old days. The world has changed, but this tiny Texas town has resisted changing with it. It can’t hold out forever. If not Schmidt, then another company will come in and buy up land, but instead of putting up homes and schools, and bringing in businesses, they will throw up oil derricks and trailer parks for the workers who run them.”

“Not if we stand our ground,” Rogan snapped. “The last thing we need is for Austin to swallow up Stone River. We live here because we like being part of a small town. If you bring the city here it will take away our freedom, and the values we have built generations of families on. I don’t dislike you, Ms. Schmidt. I don’t know you. But in all fairness, you don’t know me either. So how can you be so sure this development is what’s best for me and my family?”

Her argument died on her tongue when Rogan reached out and took Juliet from Rachel’s arms. He held the little girl against his chest, uncaring when she drooled all over his shoulder, gumming his shirt. This wasn’t a council member, or a protester. This was a man with a family, and an idea. Even if it was naïve, he believed there was room in the world for small towns and slow easy lifestyles.

“Out of respect for you and your family, I think we should agree to disagree. Today is my day off, and I would prefer not to debate the morality of my job if it’s all the same to you,” she offered. “It was nice to meet you all.”

Turning her head, she realized Mack was already astride his horse and waiting just behind her. He appeared to be ruminating over their conversation, and he wore a deep frown until he caught her eye. Giving her a wink, he waved to the Brooks family, “We’ll be out all day. I want to show her the ranch, and the pond.”

“You two have fun,” Rachel responded enthusiastically.

“We’ll see you at the town hall meeting, Ms. Schmidt. Enjoy your ride.” Rogan gave her a nod, and she was sure that was as close to a truce as she was going to get. Clearly the town planning board wasn’t the only hurdle standing in the way of this project.

Following Mack out of the yard, she chewed on all of the information she knew about Stone River. It was settled in the early eighteen hundreds by the Raft family who set up a trading post and made nice with the local Native Americans. It had never really been a boom town like many other places, so it hadn’t ever fallen into disrepair as most ghost towns did after their heyday. Instead, a handful of families had planted their roots here, and built up a close-knit community who valued a good day’s work, and honest living.

From what she had seen with Rachel’s family it was obvious Stone River was an accepting group of people. They clearly valued a person’s heart more than their sexual proclivities. Tanner had even mentioned a BDSM club nearby. Perhaps this was a case of still waters running deep. There seemed to be much more to this tiny town than she ever could have imagined, and now she felt like her alliances were being torn apart.