Chapter Nine

Though she tried to hold on to her anger, Lucky couldn’t help melting against him, the feel of his body making hers turn to mush. “Cocky much?” she whispered, her lips so close to his neck she brushed them against his skin.

“Only with you,” he said, his breath warm in her hair.

His hand rested against her naked skin at the small of her back, reminding her of how it felt to have him stroke her body with those work-roughened fingers.

“I meant to say thank you,” he said.

“Really? I should be thanking you. I wasn’t sure I was doing it right, considering that was my first time.”

He leaned back and stared into her eyes. “I thought you’d said you’d done it since you were a child with your father.”

Lucky’s cheeks burned and she ducked her head, laughing shakily. “Oh, drenching the heifer. Yes, well, you’re welcome.”

“What did you think I was thanking you for?”

She dared to glance up, embarrassed by the direction of her thoughts.

“You thought I meant the pool.” His hand tightened, pressing her against him and the hard ridge rising beneath the fly of his jeans. “Thank you for that too. Even more so.”

Pressing her face against his shirt, she refused to look up at his laughing eyes. “Do you take all your women to the pool and do…that?”

He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and tipped her chin up. “For the record, I’ve never taken a woman to the swimmin’ hole and I’ve never made love to one there.”

She looked up into his eyes, hers seeming to see straight into his soul. “Technically, we didn’t make love.”

“A technicality I aim to remedy at the soonest possible occasion.”

How would it be to make love to this man in a real bed? It had been pretty tempting on a rocky ledge and in the water. A bed with sheets against her back and the lights down low… A shiver of excitement rippled through her. Then she thought about who lived in the ranch house besides Trent. “What about Isaac?” He was sweet and seemed to really care how she felt.

Trent stiffened. “What about him?”

“I like Isaac.” And she didn’t want to hurt him. In fact, she was starting to have feelings for him. Especially those hot, wet sensations she got when she remembered how he’d made her feel the night before when he sank into her. He was the light to Trent’s dark.

“Like, as in you think he’s nice like a kid brother, or as in you’d like to sleep with him?”

She shrugged. “Like I think he’s sexy and sweet, and he lives in the same house with you. And maybe…”

“I live in the same house. I want you.”

“What if I don’t want to choose between you two? Won’t that cause friction between the two of you?”

His grip tightened around her. “I’m not sharing you with him, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Up until I met you and Isaac, I never gave a threesome much thought. I’ve heard of such things, but I’ve always been one of the guys. All this getting naked in a swimmin’ hole is new to me.”

“You learn quickly.” He rested his cheek against her hair. “And though you look really hot in those shorts, you look even hotter naked.”

“That doesn’t resolve the issue of your brother. You and I might only be a flash in the pan. Family is forever. I don’t want anything you and I might do to come between you and your brother.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

“How would you feel if I decided I liked your brother better?”

He leaned back and stared into her eyes, a frown pulling his brows together in a deep V. “Do you?”

“He’s very handsome.” She tipped her head. “He looks a lot like you.”

“Are you tellin’ me you like my brother better?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “I’m saying I think it’s too soon to know either one of you.”

“You know a lot more about me than you do him.”

“Not necessarily.”

“Does that mean you’re going to sleep with him to get to know him better?” His tone and his jaw hardened.

“Contrary to what happened this afternoon in the pool, I don’t play around with cowboys. I just think we’re moving too fast.”

“I don’t think we’re moving fast enough.” He pulled her against him, rubbing the hard ridge of his fly against her tummy.

Yes, he was excited. But lust was different than love. “What will happen when you get bored with me?”

“Who said I’d get bored with you?”

“You don’t strike me as a man who stays with a woman for long.”

“What do you know about me?”

“Not much. Again, that’s my point.” Lucky stepped out of his embrace. “I don’t know anything about you. What we did this afternoon was completely out of character for me. This whole situation with you two isn’t something I’m used to. Although all this attention is great, I’m still not sure it was a good idea.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Will you be mad if I decide I want a relationship with your brother after you decide you’ve had enough of me? Will it create hard feelings between the two of you?”

“Woman, you’re talking in circles.” Trent leaned his head back and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t we discuss this tonight after you’re off work?”

Lucky leaned into him and whispered in his ear, “Trent?”

He sighed. “Are you going to give me the brush-off now?”

Her eyelids drifted over smoky-gray eyes. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re good. Very good.” She patted his chest. “As a dancer.” She left him standing in the middle of the dance floor and went back to work, wishing the time would fly so that they could continue the discussion back at the ranch. She had a feeling the continuance would have little to do with talking.

To avoid staring at Lucky, Trent studied his brother as he tapped his fingers on the table.

Isaac’s eyes narrowed, his gaze on Lucky as she wove through tables, carrying a tray of drinks. “What did you say to Lucky to leave her frowning?”

Trent scratched his head. “I’m not sure, but I think she wants to sleep with you to decide if she likes you better than me.”

His brother’s eyes lit up. “Really? Why didn’t she say so?” He clapped his hands together, a grin spreading across his face. “After you two returned from fencing, I thought she’d never even glance at me again. I mean, you did it in the creek, didn’t you?”

With his back teeth grinding together, Trent fought to keep his mouth shut.

Isaac slapped his palm on the table. “Good for Lucky!”

Confusion, frustration and anger bubbled up inside Trent. “What do you mean?”

“She’s single, independent and intelligent. Why shouldn’t she sample her options before she settles?”

“I’m not into sharing my woman with other men, even if the other man is my brother.” He jerked a hand through his hair. “Hell, especially if he’s my brother.”

“You’re kidding me, right? Are you really that uptight? I thought for sure living in Houston for the past decade, you’d have loosened up about sex. Welcome to the twenty-first century. Women are taking charge of their own sexuality. If they want to have sex with more than one partner, they can and will.”

Trent didn’t want to hear it. He lifted his beer and downed half of the warm brew before slamming the mug on the table. “I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy, and damned proud of it.”

“I guess if you’re into Lucky, you’ll get over it. How will she know it’s you she wants if she doesn’t try out some others?” Isaac grinned and pointed to his chest. “Like me.” His lips twisted. “Unless you’re afraid she might like me better. Is that it?”

That was exactly it, and Trent didn’t like that his little brother had nailed it before even Trent could figure out what had him so bothered. “I’m going out for some air. You coming?”

“No, I think I’ll stay and keep an eye on Lucky. This night is becoming more interesting by the minute.”

Trent lurched to his feet and headed for the door before he started a fight. And he really wanted to fight. Lucky had him tied up in a knot and he would dearly love to land his fist in a cowboy’s face. Sadly, his brother’s face was the one he most wanted to punch.

Lucky had a point about her causing a rift between him and Isaac. And Trent wasn’t liking it one damned bit.

When Lucky had left Trent on the dance floor, she’d been so conflicted, she could barely get her orders straight. Working for the two Jameson brothers was proving more complicated than she’d thought.

Her father had worked on the same ranch for nearly forty years without running into anything like this. He’d never been fought over by two owners or fallen for the owners. Hell, he’d never been attracted to the owners, that Lucky knew of.

He went to work each day, trying to make ranching turn a profit so that he could keep his job and a roof over their heads. Why did working on a ranch have to be so difficult?

If she had a lick of sense, she’d get back to the basics and concentrate on the animals. Animals were so much less complex than the humans who considered themselves superior. Ha! Humans were just plain messed up. Even she was confused, finding herself liking the role of an Ugly Stick Saloon waitress a little too much. For the first time in her life, she felt really feminine and she liked the attention. Maybe she wouldn’t like it so much on a regular basis.

Before the saloon, she’d done her best to fit in as one of the guys. She realized she’d succeeded all too well. None of the cowboys she’d worked with on the ranch her father managed looked twice at her. In dirty jeans and cowboy boots with her hair pulled back and no makeup, she wasn’t the most attractive woman in the county. If the number of butt pinches and ass slappings was any indication, some of the men here found her interesting, if not attractive. Now, she was considering asking Audrey if she could keep the shorts. For that matter, she had a really old pair of jeans she could cut off and fray. She had great legs. Why not show them off?

As the night neared its end, the crowd thinned and Audrey cornered Lucky at the bar. “You should go home and get some rest. I’m sure the Jameson boys have you up early with ranch duties.”

“I rise with the sun.”

The saloon owner’s lips twisted. “Honey, that’s just a few hours away. Go.” She waved her hands. “Get some sleep. Or whatever else the boys have in mind.”

Lucky’s cheeks warmed. “What do you mean?”

Audrey’s brows rose. “Honey, if you don’t know what I mean… Oh hell, Lucky. If two extremely handsome men want to have wild and wicked sex with you, I hope you have the wherewithal to accept the invitation. It’s not a sin to have two at once. It’s a sin to pass up an opportunity like that.” With a wink, she lifted a tray full of beer mugs and headed across the floor.

Her blood pumping hard through her veins, Lucky headed for backstage, where she located her blouse and jeans and slipped out of the vest and bikini top.

Two men. Holy hell. The image of both Jameson men making love to her at once had her blood burning. Standing almost naked among the racks of costumes, she could imagine what it must feel like to strip in front of someone. Deliciously naughty. And hadn’t she already stepped out of her comfort zone once earlier in the day when she’d gone swimming with Trent as well as making love to Isaac the night before?

With cool air-conditioned air feathering over her breasts, her body heated. Audrey and Jackson had made love in the storeroom with her watching. Knowing she was watching. Had the pair also made love in the costume room?

With the costumes representing everything from cops to cowboys, a couple could play out any fantasy they desired. And here Lucky was fantasizing about doing just that. Her cheeks flamed and her pussy clenched.

Audrey hired out strippers for bachelor parties and adult birthday parties. Lucky wondered if she’d ever have the nerve to strip at a party? Would she be able to strip down to something as revealing as a G-string and pasties?

A riding crop hung from a nail near Lucky. When she plucked the whip from the wall, she shivered with a sexy, wanton delight, amazed at her ability to shed her former prudishness. Her time with Trent and Isaac had been a real eye-opening. And now that her eyes were fully open, she couldn’t seem to get enough.

She fingered the crop, loving the feel of leather against her fingertips. What would it feel like against her naked body? What would it feel like to have a man trail the leather across her breast?

Lucky closed her eyes and dragged the end of the riding crop over the swell of her right breast, pausing at the tip, now distended and aching. Her pussy clenched, a rush of juices pooling low.

With a moan, she treated her other breast to the same, flicking the nipple with the end of the crop.

“Give me that,” a deep, rich voice said and a hand wrapped around hers before relieving her of the crop.

Lucky’s eyes flashed open and she stared into Isaac’s dark brown eyes.

She covered her breasts with her hands. “What are you doing backstage?”

“Audrey said you could leave. When I couldn’t find you outside or in the saloon, I figured you were back here.” He grinned and drew her into his arms. “If I’d known you were into riding crops, I’d have been back here a lot sooner. Hell, we have an entire collection at the house.”

“I’m not into riding crops.”

“You’re not? But I saw you doing this…” He traced the breast with the leather tip.

Lucky gasped and closed her eyes, her breathing arrested in her throat.

“Feel good?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, then opened her eyes wide, aghast at how good it felt to be in Isaac’s arms, him teasing her body with the crop. “Where’s Trent?”

“Here.” Trent appeared, his angry gaze locked on Isaac. “What are you doing?”

“Lucky and I are playing show and tell. I’m showing her how good a riding crop can feel, and she’s telling me how much she likes it.”

Lucky saw the storm brewing in Trent’s eyes. Sure she’d made almost-love to him earlier the previous afternoon, but that didn’t mean he owned her body. Audrey’s taunting words replayed in her mind. If offered the chance to have two men, take it.

She offered her other breast to Isaac. “Do the other, please.” She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, her breasts swelling out. “Umm. That does feel good. You have a collection of riding crops, you say?” Lucky opened her eyes, her gaze on Trent’s face.

He seemed to be struggling between rage and lust. “I thought we had something going.”

Isaac let the crop drop to his side. “Lucky, if you and my big brother have something, I’ll stop now.”

She stared into Trent’s eyes. The longer she paused, the darker the rage.

“We almost made love in the creek,” she admitted.

Isaac stepped back. “But we…I won’t come between you, if that’s what you want.”

Trent directed his anger at his brother. “Good, then go wait in the truck. Lucky and I have something to discuss.”

“No, Isaac. Stay.” Lucky straightened, anger pulling her up to full height. “I haven’t committed to anyone, and as far as that goes, neither has Trent. He’s free to pursue any woman in the bar or anywhere else for that matter.”

He smacked his hat against his thigh. “I just might.”

“Then go ahead. Isaac was treating me to the delights of sex with props.” She pushed out her naked breast. “Continue, please.”

Isaac glanced from her to his brother. “You okay with this Trent? I don’t mind if you stay and watch, if Lucky doesn’t mind.” He grinned. “It’s kind of kinky.”

“I’m not into kink,” Trent said but didn’t leave.

“Maybe you should consider it.” Lucky guided the crop to her nipple. “Lower, please.” Was this really the cowgirl who’d been too shy to get undressed to go skinny-dipping?

Isaac dragged the crop down her torso to the mound of hair hidden beneath her panties at the junction of her thighs.

Trent’s breathing became labored. Like a bull in the ring, his breath exited his nose in hard puffs. He sounded like he wanted to paw the ground and charge.

“I don’t know, Lucky, he looks like he might blow a gasket.” Isaac cast glances toward his brother. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

“Please,” she entreated, her gaze locked on Trent’s. “I’ve never had sex with someone else watching. It…intrigues me.” She slipped her tongue across dry lips.

Trent ripped the crop from Isaac’s hand. “If anyone’s going to watch, let it be Isaac.”

“Are you staking a claim?” Lucky asked.

“No.”

She lifted her chin. “Then go away and let Isaac continue.”

Isaac dragged the crop between her legs and across her pussy. “How are you for being spanked?”

Trent actually growled.

Lucky hid a grin. “I like the way you think, Isaac. But wait.” She shimmied out of her panties, turned and pointed her ass at him. “I’ve always wondered what it felt like to be whipped.” She winked at him. “Proceed.”

Isaac went to strike her, but Trent’s hand shot out and snatched the whip from his hand. “I can’t allow you to do that.”

“Oh, come on, you don’t think I would hurt her, do you?”

Trent glared. “I don’t know what the hell to think.” He slapped the crop against his open palm, the smacking sound making Lucky’s pussy clench. Holy hell, would he spank her already? She’d stepped way out of her comfort zone this time and the longer the two men stood there, the more her confidence waned. Audrey had missed the mark on this pair of brothers. They weren’t that into her, or into sharing her.

Lucky straightened, crossing her arms over her breasts. “Well hell, I loused this up too, didn’t I? The riding crop and being in the room where all the strippers had been last night must have gone to my head. Now, all I’m feeling is embarrassed and extremely awkward.” She grabbed her jeans and shirt and started to dress.

Trent reached out with the crop, laying it over the jeans as she started to jam her legs into them. “Don’t.”

“Don’t do what?” she asked, heat rising up her neck into her cheeks.

Isaac cupped her cheek. “What he means is, the last thing we want is for you to feel embarrassed or awkward.” His hand slipped over her arm and down to rest on her hip. “If having the two of us is what you want, I’m sure we can come to some agreement.” He jabbed his elbow into Trent’s gut. “Right, brother?”

Trent grunted, the riding crop pressing the jeans until she dropped them on the floor.

“What do you want from me?” she whispered.

“We want you,” Isaac said.

“I believe you, Isaac.” She nodded toward Trent. “I’m not so sure your brother knows what he wants.”

“You.” He set the tip of the crop on the side of her face then slid it down her neck and across the rise of her breast. “I want you.”

“Enough to share with your brother?” she asked. “I refuse to come between you. And frankly, I like both of you. Isaac because of his charm and sincerity.”

“And Trent?” Isaac’s brows rose, his lips curling. “Surely not for his charm and sincerity.”

Lucky snorted. “Hardly.”

Trent’s forehead furrowed. “Not funny.”

“I like him for his animal passion.”

It was Isaac’s turn to frown. “You know I can be passionate.”

Lucky grinned. “Yes, sir, you can.”

Trent’s face reddened under his tan. “You two did it?”

She nodded. “Got a problem with that?”

Trent opened his mouth, then snapped it shut without saying anything.

Lucky challenged Trent with a look. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“As far as I’m concerned, I won’t choose between you. It’s all or nothing.” She thought for sure he’d choose the latter option, leaving her high and dry and ready to pleasure herself to relieve the ache in her core.

“I’m thinking.” Trent’s eyes narrowed, staring hard at Lucky as if to dare her to retract her ultimatum.

She didn’t.

Isaac stared at his brother like he’d lost his marbles. “Really, Trent? This is a no-brainer. Lucky’s a beautiful, intelligent, sexy woman. And at the moment, very naked. She’s willing to have us both. I don’t see the problem.”

“I do.” Trent crossed his arms. “I’m not into threesomes.”

“And you speak from experience?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know?” Isaac demanded.

Lucky raised her hand. “Forget it.” She reached again for her fallen jeans. “I’ll work for you, but I’m not choosing between the two of you.” She almost got a foot into her jeans this time, before Trent stopped her again.