Cowboy Bargain (The Dalton Boys Book 2) (9 page)

Damn, if he didn’t get her out of this trailer and into a house soon, his family—and her father—would know exactly when she was getting pleasure, and how much.

She quivered, and he ran his tongue side to side. Her hips lifted off the mattress. Covering her button with his tongue, he ground it into her body.

Pulsations shot down his finger and up his arm. As her release slammed her—and him—she issued an ear-splitting cry. He curled his finger inside her, drawing on her with his lips and tongue until the final contractions fled and she collapsed to the mattress once more.

He raised his head.

And lost his heart.

She wore a glow, skin kissed by a dew of perspiration, pupils blown wide in the dark rings of iris. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her nipples peaked.

He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and glided up her body to kiss her. She hesitated when his lips, still damp with her juices, touched hers, but her ragged gasp told him she liked it.

He pressed his hips against her, too aware of his confining jeans and boxers. When he rolled off and hitched up a foot to remove his boot, the bed springs groaned in protest.

“Need…a new…bed.” He tossed one boot to the floor. The second followed. He fought his way out of denim and cotton, peeling off his socks last.

His cock sprang up, the head purple with lust. Maya lay on one hip, staring at his body with appreciation written on her pretty features.

“I please you?”

“Very much,” she said breathlessly.

Gripping his erection at the base, he fought the rising need to take her hard and fast. Judging by her rumpled looks, she would be up for that, but he wanted their first time—and wedding night—to be a good memory for her.

“We haven’t discussed a family or whether you want one,” he said.

The burning in her eyes cooled a little. “I do.”

“I’m betting it isn’t right away, so I brought condoms.”

She nodded. “But do you want children?”

“Absolutely. Remember me telling you I’d play catch with them?”

“Then come inside and ravage me…” Their gazes locked. Two heartbeats passed, then he dived over the mattress for his jeans and wallet. In seconds he’d torn into the packet and rolled the rubber over his aching length.

With need throbbing in time to his pulse, he trapped her soft, smooth body beneath his. Holding her gaze, he took her hand and placed it on his shaft. As scorching heat burned through the barrier to his skin, he yanked her hand away.

Her eyes flared with surprise.

“I can’t have you touch me yet. Next time around.” He poised at her opening, she clamped her thighs high on his hips, and he thrust deep.

* * *

As Cash stretched her inner walls, Maya’s mind splintered. Still sensitive from her last releases, feeling his invasion stole her control. She curled around him, moving with him, forcing his mouth to hers.

They shared a tongue-dueling kiss flavored with her own spice. Pressure built, and she focused on her husband. She wanted to know what pleased him, and while she’d been disappointed not to have a chance to touch him, it felt amazing to know he wanted her so much.

His five o’clock shadow seared her skin as they kissed. Having his hard body pressing her down thrilled her to the core. He angled upward and gained a fraction of depth. They shared a groan. The cords on his neck strained, and his eyes grew glassy.

She traced her hands over his spine, loving the feel of his muscles working. He pistoned his hips, half-lifting her into a devouring kiss.

When he stiffened, she knew he was on the edge. Somehow, knowing this sent her sailing over too.

Her scream would probably embarrass her later, but she couldn’t harness it. He plunged into her as waves of release pounded her. She clung to him, learning how fast his pulse tripped in his neck and how many thrusts he needed before he collapsed.

Smiling against his hard, damp shoulder, she trailed her fingers lightly up and down his back. He lay as if dead, breathing hard. Once he came to his senses, he lifted his head and stared into her eyes.

“We know we’re compatible in bed. The rest will come.”

“You’re not…sorry you had to marry me?”

His lips thinned. “I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, darlin’.”

She shifted, and he grunted.

“Keep moving like that, and I’ll
want to do something right quick.”

He was already growing hard inside her. When he withdrew and got up to discard the condom, she watched his chiseled backside. Her eyelids drooped. After the whirlwind wedding preparations and the emotion of walking down the aisle with Papa toward a man she hardly knew, she was exhausted.

He kicked aside his discarded clothes before crawling into bed with her. The springs creaked.

“You’re not going to pick up your clothes?”

“Not yet. I want to hold you.” With that, he gathered her tight against his muscled body. Within minutes she got her chance to explore him. Straddling him, she took her time learning the dips and swells of his arms, chest, and abs. Then she found out how much he liked to be rooted deep in her mouth.

“You’re gonna kill me, wife.”

“Mmm,” she vibrated against him. Maybe they could have a happy ending even if their beginnings were peculiar.

* * *

“Got work to do, darlin’. I’ll see you at second breakfast.” Cash leaned over the bed where she was still sprawled half-asleep, and kissed her.

With her eyes barely open, she watched his backside until he closed the door. Then she rolled over, wanting to doze. But Charlotte and Mrs. Dalton would surely be awake and cleaning up the mess from the reception. She couldn’t lounge in bed, even if Cash had kept her up most of the night. Her feet hit the floor—and his discarded wedding clothes. Shirt, jeans, underwear.

With a disgusted sigh, she gathered the items in her arms and folded them neatly to be washed later.

Welcome to married life.

* * *

With eyes like two burning flames, Cash stripped out of his western shirt. The pearl buttons glinted in the low lamplight inside the trailer. The evening hadn’t gone fast enough for Maya. For hours she’d watched him work with the horses, hungry for this very moment.

“You must be exhausted.” She ran her hands over her bare torso, hoping he really wasn’t.

“Not enough to stop me from attacking my wife. C’mere.” He threw his shirt on the floor, and she bit off a groan of annoyance that she’d have to pick it up later. Then he lifted her and pinned her against the side of the trailer, legs locked around him and her neediest spot rubbing the bulge in his jeans.

He took her mouth roughly, kissing and biting like the wild beasts he’d spent the afternoon taming while she helped Mrs. Dalton in the garden.

Maya reached inside his open waistband and pulled his hard shaft free. He shoved into her hand. “Damn condoms.” He tossed her on the bed, giving her a once-over that raised all the hairs on her body. “Don’t move. I like you spread open for me just like that.”

She parted her thighs, inviting a growl from him as he stepped out of the rest of his clothes. When he sank into her, she gave herself up to his every whim. When he flipped her onto her stomach and yanked her hips up to receive him, she realized just how good he made her feel—body and soul.

At that moment, she didn’t care that she’d have to pick up his clothes.

* * *

“See you for second breakfast. Don’t wear any panties.” Cash stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the purple hues of dawn, cowboy hat shading his features.

A shiver began deep inside her at the memory of him walking his fingers up her thigh under the breakfast table. She had gripped his wrist until she feared she’d bruise him, but he’d just given her a wink and toe-curling smile.

As much as she ached at the thought of letting him touch her that way, she couldn’t do it under his family’s roof. She looked around the small trailer then returned her gaze to Cash. “When do you think we’ll have our own home?”

The stiffening of his shoulders wasn’t the answer she’d hoped for. “Soon as we get Hank’s house built. I’m sorry, darlin’.”

She sighed and swung her legs off the sofa bed, ignoring the squeaks they’d lived with for the past week. She was used to living in small quarters—her rental home hadn’t been as large as this trailer. Yet she longed for more privacy. She took a step toward her husband to kiss him goodbye—and tripped over his dirty clothes.

With a cry, she scooped up denim and cotton and hurled everything right at his handsome face. She knocked off his hat, and it disappeared out the open door.

Shock passed over his rugged features. “What the—?”

“I’ve asked you every day for a week to pick up your dirty clothes! Every day I step on them and have to do it for you.” She set her hands on her hips, glaring at her husband.

He stared back, face unreadable. Then he reached behind him and slowly closed the door. She backed up a step, and he came forward, stepping over the clothes she’d thrown.

“I see my wife has a pet peeve.”

“Yes.” Was that her voice? She raised her chin.

“Good thing I’m good at reading women.”

“If you were so good at reading me, you would know I hate picking up after you.”

“Maybe it takes a slap in the face by a pant leg to wake me up.” He was on her, fingers closing around her arms. He jerked her against his hard length and kissed her, swiping his scorching tongue through her mouth and practically singeing her panties off.

He turned her back to the bed and caught the hem of his T-shirt she’d worn to sleep in. In a blink he’d thrown it on the floor too. When his fingers clamped around her hard nipples, she no longer gave a damn. He’d pick them up later. And if he didn’t, she’d throw them at him again.

As they fell together in a clash of teeth and nails and muscle, she couldn’t help but think of how her life had changed drastically. From total fear and hardship to feeling cherished and desired.

With a practiced flick, he loosened his belt. In another, he freed his erection. She hooked her heels around his back and pulled him into her.

He sucked in a gasp as flesh met flesh. “You weren’t wearing any panties.”

“You told me not to.” She nipped his lower lip, raising a growl from him.

He twisted his head to the side. “Damn. Condom.”

“Forget it. We’re married.”

His eyes glittered with flecks of gold as he stared down at her. A tendon in the crease of his jaw worked. “You sure?”

In answer, she lifted her hips off the mattress and brushed her wet folds over the tip of his arousal. With a hard thrust and a loud groan, he joined them. As he sank into her bareback, emotion welled inside her. Tenderness and passion boiled along with something else—a bright feeling of peace she’d never known before.

He kissed her gently, and her throat ached at the sweetness. Was he feeling the same connection as she was? When he broke off the kiss, he held her gaze with every…slow…thrust.

Callused hands slid under her ass, raising her to meet him. Sliding her up the bed. Deeper. Gazes clinging. His pulse wild in his throat and her heart a drum in her chest.

She loved this man. Stranger turned husband turned lover turned love. Tears prickled her eyes, and she plucked at the hair on his nape, drawing him close for another kiss.

As the planes of his back strained, she knew he was close. Digging her fingers into his ass, she dragged him in. The head of his cock passed over the perfect spot, and suddenly she was there.

Screaming out, she let go. Ecstasy blinded her. Contracting around his length, she felt him harden to steel before hot juices splashed her inner walls. His hips churned, and she met him thrust for thrust as they rode out their release.

When he kissed her this time, she tasted his passion. Love words jumped onto her tongue, and she swallowed them down. She wasn’t ready to say them, and he couldn’t be ready to hear them. They’d only known each other a short time. She didn’t want to sound like a fool, even if a warm fire had been kindled in her soul.

As she watched him clean up and get dressed a second time, her feelings for him swelled.

At the door, he picked up the garments she’d thrown at him and neatly laid them over a wooden crate holding horse tack. “I’ll take care of them later, I promise.”

She smiled. “I know. See you at second breakfast.”

Chapter Seven

“You seem quiet today, Cash.” Manny had joined him and Hank at the construction site. “I hope married life isn’t troubling you.”

Cash eyed the man. Didn’t he know Cash adored his daughter? In a short time, she’d become his whole world. He worked hard and fast to get back to her. He lived to spot her crossing the yard with a basket of chicken feed or sit down beside her at the supper table.

He hammered two nails before speaking. “It’s not Maya. She and I are getting along great.”

“So I hear.”

Hank burst out laughing, and Cash felt the tips of his ears redden. Yeah, his wife was a screamer in bed. He’d tried to kiss her at the right moments, but it didn’t matter. She was loud, and he liked it.

He shook his head. “Guess you know that’s going well.”

Manny chuckled. “None of my business, but it bodes well for the rest of the relationship, yes?”

Cash nodded and buried a few more nails.

“So what’s troubling you?” Manny pressed.

Cash shot a look at his brother. “It’s being in the trailer. She needs more space—deserves it.”

“You know the place she had in Mexico was smaller, don’t you?” Manny asked.

He pushed out a breath. No, and somehow knowing made him feel worse. Like he wanted to give her a damn mansion to make up for it.

“What’s wrong with the trailer? Surely it’s better than a bedroom in the house,” Hank said. He too stood under the guns. With brothers on the opposite side of one wall and their parents behind the other, he and Charlotte couldn’t make a peep let alone scream their hearts out.

They exchanged a look of understanding. Still, Cash wanted more.

“The trailer’s hot, and the fans don’t do much. In the winter, we’ll have space heaters. Then it will be stuffy. And the damn sofa bed squeaks.”

Manny and Hank cracked up laughing, but Cash wasn’t feeling the humor in the situation. The pressure was on to get Hank’s home built so he could begin work on his own. Right now, that dream seemed far off.

“At least you’ll have applied for the green card by the end of the week.” Hank set a few more pieces of lumber out in the configuration they needed.

“True.” Cash and Maya were traveling into the city soon to take care of that business. Also, he wanted to make a trip to the bank and speak with someone about a construction loan. Living on the ranch with no expenses, he’d saved his small wages from sales of hay and beef. He had enough for a down payment—he hoped.

He kicked up the pace.

“Feeling the urge to work faster?” Hank drawled.

“Yes. Where the hell are our brothers?”

“Witt and Kade went to town for more wood for me. They took the flat-bed trailer, and I told them to load it.”

Sweat ran into Cash’s eye, stinging it. He squinted at his brother. “And Beck?”

“He’s in Vixen.”

Another glance of understanding passed between them.

“Another brother on the marriage market?” Manny asked, gathering a handful of nails. “Where on earth will they sleep?”

“Have to clean out a stall in the barn, sounds like,” Cash grumbled, but Hank laughed.

At least one of us is good-natured about the situation.

* * *

“Cash.”

He looked up to where Maya stood in the kitchen doorway, hair loose and shining on her shoulders, eyes sparkling with mischief. His heart gave a lurch—a telltale sign of how smitten he was.

“Supper’s on.”

“I’ll be right—” He cut off as the telephone in the front room rang. Damn, he hoped he wasn’t trapped in a conversation with Aunt Diane. He nodded at his wife and strode to answer the phone.

“Daltons.”

“Thank Christ it’s you, Cash. I need help.”

“Beck, what the hell’re you up to? That’s one long trip to Vixen.”

“I’m not in Vixen.”

Cash shook his head, trying to make sense of a brother who never raised any hell—except recently at the wedding, but they’d all let loose. Beck was one of the quieter Dalton brothers, always weighing consequences before acting.

“Where are you?”

“Sabrina asked me to bring my guitar up to this club in Ashton and play.”

“Ashton?” That was a long way from Paradise Valley. “Who’s Sabrina?”

“Look, I need help. Just come get me. And…bring some clothes.”

“What?” A grin spread over Cash’s face. Was this really Beck? Their voices were all close, and he’d mistaken one for another more than once. But no, Kade and Witt had returned from their lumber run hours ago.

“Just don’t ask questions,” his brother said tightly. “Come get me.”

“Where the hell’s your truck?”

“Sabrina has it. Now, Cash…please, bro. I’ll owe you one.”

“Good. I’ll be cashing in on all my favors to get my house built fast.”

“I’ll work all night. I just can’t be found like this.”

Cash got the location, which was difficult enough. “At the third tree, turn left” wasn’t exactly clear. He poked his head into the kitchen and told his family he was leaving.

Maya glanced up, crestfallen. Warmth bloomed in his chest. She got up and crossed the tile floor to him. “What’s going on?”

“I need to pick up Beck. Truck problems. He was just on the phone,” he said loud enough for all to hear.

“Need some help, bro?” Kade half-stood.

“Nah, I’ve got it covered.” He pinched a long tendril of Maya’s hair between his fingers and rubbed, imprinting the soft feel into his skin. “I’ll be back soon, darlin’. If you’re tired, don’t wait up for me.” He brushed his lips over her earlobe. “I’ll wake you up.”

She shivered and clutched his shirt front as if stabilizing herself. “I—” She stopped as if biting off what she’d wanted to say.

He looked at her in confusion.

“I’ll see you tonight, Cash.”

He kissed her properly. Pa grunted. “Girl’s food’s getting cold.”

“Oh Ted. You remember how we were,” Momma said.

Cash released his wife and sent her back to the table with a pat on her luscious bottom.

The ride to Ashton was a long one, and he had too much time to think about work he hadn’t finished around the ranch as well as the mounting need to build a house. Two houses, actually. Plus, he hadn’t gotten dinner.

At least it didn’t sound as though Beck was marrying anytime soon. If this Sabrina had taken his truck and left him in a compromising position, he probably wasn’t headed down the aisle.

As Cash approached the third tree in a row between dirt road and backwoods Texas, he swung his head left and right. The sun was setting, but he spotted his brother straightaway.

Laughter burbled past his lips as he drank in Beck’s situation. Needed clothes, for sure. The man wore nothing but his guitar. Slung from the strap around his neck, it covered his parts, but his bare legs stuck out the bottom.

He stopped the truck and got out. Beck ran awkwardly toward him.

“What the hell happened to you?”

“What the hell took you so long?” He ducked under his guitar strap, and Cash turned away from the sight, but not so fast that he didn’t see red love bites all over Cash’s thighs.

“Clothes are on the seat. You don’t even have boots? I didn’t bring any of those.”

“It’s okay. I’ll ride barefoot.”

“When you said you needed clothes, I expected to find you covered in manure or paint or something. Not really in
need
of clothes.”

“Hardy-har,” he said dryly, tugging his jeans over his hips.

“You gonna clue me in as to why you’re all the way out here in the sticks, buck naked with a guitar? And why some girl named Sabrina has your truck?”

“I made her mad. So she took all my clothes and stole my truck. Good thing she left my cell phone.”

“Let me guess. You were in a compromising position at the time.”

“I got the ropes off.” He yanked his shirt on and grabbed his guitar to the tune of Cash’s cackles. “Shut up and drive me into Ashton. I need to get my truck.”

“And settle with the girl?”

Beck’s face was hard with anger. “No, I’d say that’s over.”

“Probably for the best, brother.” He clapped Beck on the back, and they set off to recover his truck.

* * *

Maya sat among the Dalton family, with her father seated across the table from her, sharing one of Mrs. Dalton’s amazing meals. Roast beef with baked potatoes and slabs of home-churned butter.

“Charlotte baked apple fritters for dessert, and Maya whipped the cream and made the baked beans.”

“Delicious,” Ted said around a mouthful from his seat at the head of the table.

Maya smiled. The family had welcomed her with open arms, and even her papa seemed at ease. They shared a smile, and he tucked into her beans with an approving lift of his brows.

She missed Cash’s presence though. Now that she’d admitted her feelings to herself, she was experiencing some pangs at his absence.

“I hope Beck’s truck isn’t in the same shape Charlotte’s car was,” Hank commented.

“He’ll be calling if that’s the case.”

“Why don’t we pack up the fritters and go up to Hank’s house to eat them?” Mrs. Dalton suggested.

He nodded. “Could use the help, for sure. A few hours of daylight left.”

“Sounds good,” Kade said.

“I’m in.” Witt polished off a fat yeast roll.

After plates had been cleaned and the table cleared, Maya and Charlotte packed the fritters and whipped cream into a big basket. Maya’s papa put her onto horseback with him, and they headed up the valley.

“Did Cash show you which plot of land is yours?” he asked.

She jerked in surprise. “No.”

He pointed, and she followed his long brown finger toward a pretty little patch of sunlight, trees and green field.

Her heart tumbled, and those tears she’d felt earlier jumped to the surface. “I wonder why he didn’t show me before.”

“He’s worried about getting the house built.”

She hated to hear Cash was worrying at all. She had a burning need to ease him, but he was far away. “What can be done to hurry the building along?”

Papa sighed. “Nothing as far as I can see. We need to finish Hank’s first. Soon enough you’ll be in your home, daughter.”

“I’m not too fussed about it, but I know it bothers him. Is there no way to build faster? Hire a construction crew?”

“That would be costly, and it’s a long way for a crew to travel daily. Having all the Daltons pitch in is best.”

Spirits dampened, she let her gaze travel over the land she and Cash would someday call home. The place where they’d raise babies and grow old. Suddenly she couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Daughter, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Papa tightened his hold around her, and she rested against his broad chest, taking comfort.

“I love him, Papa.”

The horse rolled under them, trotting along without a care for Maya’s turmoil. Finally her father chuckled. “I’m glad, Maya.”

“I haven’t told him. I just realized it today. It’s too soon to say the words.”

“Maybe not. I fell for your mother in two days. The third day I asked for her hand, and by week’s end, you were growing inside her.” He patted Maya’s stomach, where she and Cash’s baby could right now be taking shape.

She covered her father’s hand, glad to have him near.

* * *

The Daltons were in a rush to get out of the house and up to Hank’s construction site. Forks were flying and napkins being thrown down on empty plates. Maya stared at her husband, who’d seemingly devoured a whole chicken thigh in one bite.

Every night for two weeks, they’d been working on the house. The walls were erected. Kade was running wire while Witt worked on plumbing. Maya had been watching Beck since Cash had told her about his escapade, and he seemed subdued though he’d been working on the roof without complaint.

Maya picked at her food, not feeling very hungry. She and Cash weren’t going to help Hank with his house today. They were going to town to apply for a green card.

“Best stop at the lawyer’s office while you’re there, Cash.” Ted pushed back his plate, and Mrs. Dalton—or Maggie, as Maya now called her—beamed.

Cash looked up. Maya examined his profile—square jaw, full lips. The things those lips could do to her… Heat stirred low in her belly.

“Why’s that?” he asked.

“Gotta sign the deed for your land, boy. Congratulations.”

When he shot a look at Maya, her heart squeezed at the pure joy on his face. She’d helped him get a piece of the ranch he loved, and in turn, he’d given her security and a family. She’d never been around such loving people, or spent so much time with her father. While Cash finished nightly chores, she and her father had been taking walks, and she cherished her newfound relationship with her papa.

“Thank you,” Cash said to his parents, then directed his gaze at Maya. She skimmed her knuckles over his beard-rough cheek and nodded. Together they could make that land into a home.