Branded as Trouble (19 page)

Lorelei James

“Colt,” she whispered, tugging on his earlobe with her teeth.

“Don’t get serious on me. This night, heck, the last two weeks, have been too amazing to ruin by dissection. We’re both guilty of doing it out of habit because of A.A. Just let it be, okay?”

“Okay. For now.”

Bad porn music played in the background.

She eased back to look into his eyes, stifling a yawn. “I’m tired. Can we just crawl in your big comfy bed, snuggle up and go to sleep?”

There’d be no more confessions or revelations tonight.

Truthfully, that was probably for the best.

“Come on then, sleepyhead. Let’s get you a pair of socks,

’cause no way in hell are you puttin’ them cold feet on me.”

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The front door slammed. A feminine voice called out, “I brought caramel rolls. They’re still warm. They have extra, extra caramel, just like you like ’em. And I’m hopin’ because I’m hand delivering your favorite breakfast sweet that you’ll sneak me some of that high octane coffee I smell brewing.” Chassie Glanzer screeched to a stop. “Holy crap. India? What’re you doin’ half-naked in Colt’s kitchen?”

“Hi Chassie.”

“I mean, wow, nice to see you. You caught me by surprise.”

“I sorta figured that.”

“Guess I oughta knock before I barge in next time. Not that it’s never mattered before since you’re the first woman I’ve seen in my cousin’s house for an overnight…ah hell, I’m makin’ a mess of this, aren’t I?”

“Forget it.” Although, India was secretly glad to see she wasn’t the only one who babbled from nerves.

“Where’s Colt?”

“In bed. I lost a bet so I had to get up and make coffee.” She’d sworn she couldn’t come from just the vibration of the water jets on her clit, but Colt had proven her wrong. Twice. Early morning
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shower sex, with the oscillating water spray aimed just so…oh, what a way to lose.

“Colt is always up at the crack of nothin’, hard at work,”

Chassie said.

Was he ever
up
. And
hard
. Dammit, talk about a continual loop of sex on the brain. “He’s tired.”

“I’m glad.”

“You’re glad?”

“Yep. He’s been alone a long time.” Chassie set the metal, foil-covered pan on the counter. She turned and gave India a once-over, taking in Colt’s long-sleeved button-up shirt, her bare legs, and her mussed hair. “He needs someone like you.”

India resisted jerking the lapels closed, even when chances were good whisker burns and love bites decorated her skin alongside her tattoos. “Someone like me…meaning?”

“A woman who really knows him. And really likes him. And believes in him. And makes him happy. You do all that for him.”

“I do?”

“Come on, you had to have known how crazy he’s always been about you, India.”

“I swear I didn’t.”

“Well, then, you were the only one.”

Had she really been so blind?

“I suppose you’re wondering why I’m here at nine in the mornin’.”

“I hope our activities last night weren’t loud enough to wake up the neighbors and you’re coming to complain.”

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Branded As Trouble

“Nope. You’ll never hear me complaining about loud sex.”

Chassie grinned and pulled herself onto a barstool. “I can’t sleep so I’ve turned into Betty Crocker. It’s sort of embarrassing. I started baking. Bread, rolls, cookies, muffins, you name it. Trev and Ed can only eat so much, so poor Colt is stuck with the remnants.”

“As a bachelor, I imagine he hates getting fresh baked goodies.” India smiled. “Is the baby keeping you from sleeping?”

Chassie’s hand caressed her rounded abdomen. “The fear of childbirth is keeping me awake most of the time. I hate doctors and hospitals.” She shuddered. “And I can’t convince my boneheaded men that I’d rather have a midwife deliver the baby at home, in our bed, where he was conceived, instead of in an impersonal hospital.”

India admired Chassie for bucking conventions and living with and loving two men, despite the many tongues wagging in the community about the arrangement. “Sky was terrified of giving birth. But when the time came…she was fine. Afterward, she said the unknown was the worst part for her. It couldn’t have been too bad because she went through it again fifteen months later with twins.”

“I was really surprised Sky and Kade jumped on the McKay family ‘let’s have a kid every other year’ bandwagon that our other McKay cousins are on.” Chassie cocked her head. “Was that beep a signal the coffee is done?”

“Oh sure. Sorry, I’m not much of a hostess.” She smiled sheepishly. “Then again, this isn’t my house.”

“Then again, isn’t most of the décor in this place your doing?”

Chassie asked.

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“Yes. I didn’t want such a beautiful house to be a typical bachelor pad. Luckily, Colt has great taste.” India grabbed two mugs and moved on the other side of the counter. As she poured, she said, “Anyway, I think Sky and Kade decided if they were going to have more kids, they should do it sooner rather than later. They just didn’t bank on twins.”

“And twin girls to boot. If I decide to go through this again, I hope we have a girl.”

Chassie sighed. “We still have three months before we have to decide on a name, which is a good thing.”

India spun her cup on the counter, biting her tongue because the question she wanted to ask was wildly inappropriate.

“I know tattooing me and Trev and Ed doesn’t mean we know each other very well, even if Colt talks about you all the damn time—”

“Really? He talks about me?”

“Constantly, but just ask me whatever’s on your mind, India.”

“Are you talking about what first name you’re gonna give the baby, or the last name?”

“First name. The baby’s last name will be Glanzer, like ours.”

“Ours?” India frowned. “But don’t you guys have two names?”

“Not any more. Earlier this year, when Trev, Edgard and I celebrated our first…anniversary together, Ed legally changed his last name to Glanzer.”

“Why?”

“Mancuso was his stepfather’s last name. Since he’s broken all ties with his family in Brazil, and he has no living relatives here in 194

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Branded As Trouble

the US…it just seemed right he have our name since he’s a part of us.”

“That makes sense.”

“Plus, as a bonus, Trevor knew it’d piss his dad off.” She winked. “So enough about me, tell me about you and Colt. When did you and my cousin start…”

“Start dating? Two weeks ago.”

Silence.

Chassie sighed. “I just bared my soul and that’s all I get?”

“Yes, ’cause Indy ain’t the kiss-and-tell type like some people I know.” Colt set his hands on India’s shoulders and leaned in, mock whispering, “Although, there is plenty to tell after last night, huh?”

He kissed down the side of her neck. “Mmm. Mornin’, sugar.”

Goose bumps broke out in the wake of his warm kisses and sweet words. She closed her eyes and sank into him. “Morning.”

“Thanks for makin’ coffee.”

“Like I had a choice.”

She felt him grin against her cheek. “Is that a complaint?”

“No. Hell no.”

His smile widened, if anything. “Good to know.”

“But I am going to insist on no more betting today.”

“You’re the one who always starts it.”

Chassie snorted. “You two are so whipped. It’s as sweet as it is nauseating.”

Crap. India had forgotten about their guest. She opened her eyes. “Chassie brought caramel rolls.”

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“Lucky us.” Colt gestured to Chassie’s coffee cup. “You ain’t supposed to be drinkin’ coffee, Chass.”

“So don’t tell.” At Colt’s continued hard stare, she said, “But I know you will. Fine. Dump it out, meanie. I probably better get home anyway.”

“What are Trevor and Edgard doin’ today?”

“Probably screwing around.” Chassie slid off the barstool.

“Nice seein’ you, India. Nice boxers, Colt. Next time, I’ll knock.”

She shuffled out.

“I like her,” India said.

“She’s ornery and sweet with a big heart. Kinda like you.” He grinned. “Which is probably why she and I have gotten on so well over the years.”

“Is that part of the reason you built out here?”

“Maybe. By the time I got my life back in order, Chassie had married Trevor, Edgard had moved in, and havin’ family close, but bein’ in my own place, appealed to me. I get along great with all of them, sometimes better than with my brothers. Heck, the four of us have even partnered up breedin’ stock.”

“But you still work at the McKay Ranch?”

“Yep.”

“I don’t understand how that works.”

“The ranch is run like a corporation. We’re all shareholders.

We take care of the ranch as a whole, but we’ve divided it into four sections. Each one of my uncles and my dad is an original owner.

But when the main owners started havin’ sons, they divided their individual sections up again. So, we’ve all added separate parcels.

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Like Cord and my dad bought the Foster place a few years back.

Colby and my dad bought an acreage north of Colby’s place up in the mountains. That’s where Kade was during Skylar’s pregnancy.”

“I’d wondered about that.”

“It was easier for Kade to take off since there’s only Kade and Buck on my Uncle Cal’s portion and they haven’t expanded.”

India frowned. If Cord and Carson bought land, and Colby and Carson bought land, wouldn’t it make sense…Carson and Colt would’ve bought land? “Did you and your dad buy other acreages together?”

“Nope. I bought land on my own that I kept separate from the McKay Ranch, which pissed them off. Because financially it ended up bein’ a good investment, one that was solely mine.”

One thing India and Colt never talked about was finances.

“Like this place?”

“Technically, we all own the land my house is on. My other McKay cousins take care of their two sections, and they’ve added significantly to their holdings in the last ten years. We help each other out, but mostly we’re responsible for what goes on in our area.

So Colby, Cord, Dad and I run ours. My cousins Kade and Buck theirs. Quinn and Bennett theirs while Chase is off rodeoin’. My other cousins, Dalton, Luke, Brandt and Tell…I ain’t gonna get into the clusterfuck that is right now.”

India stared at him, too embarrassed to admit she didn’t understand a word he’d just said.

“Am I borin’ ya?”

“No, it’s just a hard concept to grasp.”

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“Tell me about it. I’m glad it ain’t my job to figure out who’s owed what when it comes time to get paid.”

For some reason, bringing up ranch business always made Colt tense. His hands were wrapped around his coffee cup so tightly she feared he’d break the ceramic.

“You hungry? The caramel rolls look delicious.”

“Nah. I ate earlier.” Colt smirked at her over his cup.

Cocky man. She smirked back when she remembered what he’d had for breakfast.

It was time to return the favor. She set down her mug. “I hope you don’t mind if I indulge. I love caramel. So thick, and sweet and sticky.” She peeled back the foil and dipped her finger in the center of the gooey mass. She sucked her finger provocatively. “Wanna taste? Mmm-mmm.”

“Indy—”

“Colt.” India leaned forward and let her sticky lips track the line of his jaw. “Take your boxers off.” She breathed heavily in his ear. “Don’t ask why, just do it.”

His mug hit the counter and a second later his boxers hit the floor.

“Good boy. Grip the counter and spread your legs. Now watch me.”

Colt managed to choke out, “Watch you do what?”

“Show you my favorite way to eat caramel.” India recoated her fingers with the sugary goodness, scooping a dollop into her palm.

Keeping her eyes on his, her hand circled his cock. “Might get a little messy.”

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“I live to get messy.”

With the hand that wasn’t stroking his brown-sugar coated shaft, she scraped the gooey topping off three caramel rolls and smeared it on Colt’s chest. She took special care to paint both his nipples. Thoroughly.

Then she bent her head and tasted. Mmm. Sweet sugar and salty Colt. The perfect combination. She enclosed her mouth around his left nipple and sucked. And sucked. Worrying the pebbled tip with her teeth. Stopping to rub her cheek across his pecs. Each brush of her mouth and lips made those tight muscles dance.

Colt didn’t utter a sound until she bestowed the same treatment to the other side.

India followed the sweet trail down the center of his spectacular body. She drew small circles around his belly button, dipping her tongue into his navel. Several times. She enjoyed the way his six-pack rippled with each wet swipe. Then she dropped to her knees.

He growled. “Sweet Mother of God.”

As she received her first up-close-and-personal look at his cock, she couldn’t believe how…big it was. Yeah, she’d felt it inside her, but Colt had pretty much kept her hands off his junk. Mr.

Chivalrous hadn’t allowed her to put a condom on him at all last night. Or in the shower this morning. He’d slipped one on and hoisted her against the tiled wall as she’d been trying to gather her wits after her second water-pik-induced orgasm.

India looked up at him. “Packin’ some serious heat there, cowboy.”

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He blushed. Colt McKay actually blushed. “I-I—”

“I’m not complaining.” Keeping her eyes on his, she licked all the caramel from the head. “I’m not complaining at all.”

“Goddamn that feels good.”

“Why don’t we quit talking so I can get to the really good part.

The licking—” she flattened her tongue and licked from the root to the crown, “—more licking—” she lapped at the purple head, flicking her tongue over the pre-come seeping out the tip, “—and my favorite, sucking.” India bent her head and swallowed as much of his cock as she could.