Cowboy Outcasts (9 page)

“Oh God, Callum!”

“Come on, now. Let me
feel you squeeze my cock. Claim me like I’m about to claim you.”
 
He drove into her like a finely tuned
machine, his sweat-slick body a beautiful sight with the gentle cast of
twilight from the window highlighting all his flexing muscles.

He seemed to know how
to help her along, grinding against her and tweaking her nipple. His pace was
furious, making her cry out and beg for him to make her come. It was exquisite
torture.

When she finally
detonated, the world stopped for those precious seconds. It felt as if she
soared high above their bodies on a cloud, the wash of satisfaction
incomparable. Then she fell down hard, her body contracting in violent waves as
her pussy milked Callum’s cock. It was an orgasm beyond her wildest
expectations.

He grunted and
groaned, squeezing the air out of her as he held her tight, releasing inside
her body. She’d done it, kissed her virginity good-bye. Hailey had expected her
future to consist of late nights reading research books, a half dozen cats
lounging around her. No longer. She had the chance at a real life, a happily
ever after she never expected to achieve.

When all was said and
done, the lust settled, Callum didn’t disappear as he usually did. He carefully
scooped her up into his strong arms, carrying her up the old staircase to his
bedroom. She’d never been in his room. He always kept the door shut and she
dare not peek and invade his privacy.

It was dark inside,
the heavy curtains pulled shut. He kicked the door closed behind him and then
walked her across the room.

“I’m actually glad
Arden
showed up. If it
weren’t for him, I’d never have had the nerve to talk to you again.” He settled
her down on his bed. The mattress was firm and the bedding smelled like him,
all male.

“I’ve missed you. I’m
not good with the silent treatment.” Her sterile childhood was nothing to
covet. All she wanted from Callum was warmth and acceptance. He climbed in bed
beside her, pulling a heavy comforter over their bodies. Callum spooned her
from behind, tucking her in close. He kissed her shoulder, and she felt utterly
wanted.

“I didn’t mean to
hurt you…well, maybe I did at first. This is all new to me, but I’m going to
try my best not to sabotage things between us.”

“Is there an
us
?” she whispered.

He ran the backs of
his fingers up and down her arm, his breath warm on the back of her neck. “A
farmer doesn’t rush his harvest.”

“What does that
mean?”

“It means we have to
take things a day at a time and see where they lead.”

She’d just given
Callum her virginity, her heart, her everything. The new path her life was
suddenly taking was exciting and she wanted to jump in with both feet. But, of
course, he was right. Rushing a commitment was bound to sour any relationship.

“That’s fair,” she
said.

“You sound
disappointed.”

She shrugged. “I’ve
just been on my own for so long.
 
It will
be nice to finally belong somewhere.”

“Don’t be frettin’.
You’re mine now. I just have to get used to having a woman around.”

They fell asleep in
each other’s arms. By the time she opened her eyes the next morning, a sliver
of light peeking in through the curtain, Callum was gone. She sighed
contentedly, rolling to her back. Her body was deliciously sore. Her cowboy
would be out harvesting one of his fields. She wondered if
Arden
even returned home last night and if
he’d start helping Callum around the farm. God knows he needed the respite. All
she could do was focus on ridding the property of pesky hogs, which would
hopefully make his life easier.

****

When the weekend came
around,
Arden
decided it was time to have a word with Callum’s guest. He could see love in
his brother’s eyes, and he wouldn’t have her break his heart. Just like when
they were kids, his need to look out for Callum was strong.

She was sitting in
the long grass behind the house with a couple of textbooks that looked heavier
than her. The wind gently picked up the ends of her blonde hair, her feminine
scent travelling all the way to where he stood.

He approached her.
“Something interesting?” he asked.

Hailey looked
up at him, the sun reflecting in her blue eyes. “Oh…just some research. I think
I’m finally onto something.”

“That’s good.
I hear it’s been two weeks already. How long you plan on staying?”

“I–I haven’t
thought about it. These things take time.”

He walked
around the area, alternately taking in the views and watching her reactions.
“You know my brother ain’t simple, if that’s what you’re thinking. He’s smarter
than I am. You can’t believe the calculations he can do in his head.”

“I never
thought that.”

“You sure?
Most people do.”
Arden
was skeptical of everyone, especially cute little blondes capable of destroying
his brother.

She closed
her textbook. “Look, I know he has Tourette’s Syndrome.”

“He tell
you?”

“It’s
obvious, and I did a thesis on it in my second year of studies, among other
neurological disorders.”

He rubbed his
chin, trying to figure her out. What was her deal? Surely she didn’t want
Callum for a relationship. She could get any man of her choosing, educated men
who could take proper care of her. “So you know it has no cure?”

“And I also
know it has no impact on intelligence, and the tics are completely
involuntary.”

“Fancy talk.”

“Meaning it’s
not his fault. I would never judge a man for something he was born with. And
the disorder is more common than you think, just not as severe as Callum’s.”

He crouched
down beside her, taking a lock of her hair between his fingers. “And what’s
your story, Ms. Watson?”

She looked at
him shyly, as if uncomfortable with his closeness. “I’ve been trying to make
something of my career for the past two years but so far nothing seems to be
panning out.”

“Before
that?”

“Six years of
university.”

“Just the
thought of that makes my head hurt. What makes a person dedicate that much of
their lives to the almighty dollar?”

“It wasn’t
about money for me. My parents are both doctors and expected me to follow in
their footsteps. When I didn’t specialize in family medicine, they disowned me.
I’ve been on my own ever since.”

“You haven’t
seen them in all these years?”

She shook her
head.

Arden
couldn’t understand some families. His parents were deceased, but
when they were alive he’d do anything for them. Even now, he’d die for his only
sibling, Callum. Blood ties were supposed to stick together through any trial
or tribulation. This girl had healthy parents, apparently well-to-do. It seemed
a sin to stay apart over matters of money and career choices. One day it would
be too late to make amends. Personally, he couldn’t live with that kind of
guilt, which was part of the reason he decided to return home to the O’Shea
Ranch. Even the isolation and fruitless outlook of life on the farm weren’t as
bad as estranging his brother.

“So what
happens to you now?” He dropped down to his side, supporting himself on an
elbow. The sun was strong, set in a clear sky. “You volunteer your time to
different ranches in exchange for room and board?”

“I need more
research before the university will consider giving me another grant.”

“So this
isn’t about helping Callum?”

“It is. I’m
helping him while helping myself. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?”

“There is if
he’s falling in love with you.”

She froze,
her lips parting. “Did he say that?”

“I haven’t spoken
more than two words to him since arriving. I think my little brother is working
hard at avoiding me.”

Hailey began
to stack her books, readying to leave. He reached out and snagged her wrist,
keeping her on the grass with him.

“Maybe you
should be more supportive now that you’re back,” she said boldly.

He smirked.
“So you have a little fire inside you after all.”

“No, I just
care about Callum. It’s not natural for one man to tend all this land on his
own.”

The property
was huge, but their daddy had managed on his own until they were old enough to
do their part. Hard work never killed a man. It was laziness that was the root
to many evils.

He took out
his flask, feeling the urge for a quick drink. Her eyes narrowed as he tilted
the silver flask against his lips. “What is it?” he asked, pausing.

“What’s in
that? Alcohol?”

“Want some?”

She pulled
back slightly. “I don’t drink. And neither should you if all the stories are
true.”

“There’re
lots of stories chasing around. If you were the smart girl you say you are, you
wouldn’t listen to gossip and hearsay.”

“Then what’s
the truth?
Are
you a no-good Irish
drunkard?”

He cocked an
eyebrow. “That’s what they’re saying?”
Arden
nearly choked on his own spit. That must have been the funniest thing he’d
heard in a long while.

“One of many
things.”

“Did you hear
any stories about how I’m such an excellent lover?”

Her cheeks
flushed.

“No? Then how
about I show you? Then you can spread your own firsthand gossip.”

“I have to
go.” She tugged her arm away.

“Wait, wait…”
He tucked his flask out of sight. “Forgive me, darlin’. I’m slow to trust,
especially after being on the road for nearly a year.”

“I’m not
usually one to listen to gossip, but you haven’t exactly made a good case for
yourself so far.”

He got to his
feet, brushing the dry grass from his black Wranglers. “Let me change that
then. How about I take you for a ride?”

“I have
research to finish.”

“It won’t
take long. It’s good to let loose once in a while.”
 
He wanted to see how much effort it took to
get Hailey to smile, and how long it would take for her to agree to bed him.
Arden
’s life was simple.
His few pleasures were a good fight, hot sex, and mind-numbing alcohol.
 
He didn’t expect her to hang around for long
after he proved she didn’t love Callum unconditionally. And he didn’t expect to
have an inkling of interest for her tomorrow. The sooner she was gone, the
better. There was no way she wanted his brother for keeps. Every woman who’d
ever shown interest in him suddenly developed an aversion once they witnessed a
full-blown attack of his Tourette’s. How could this girl be any different?

“Where do you
want to go?”

“Come on.” He
walked towards the equipment barn. Callum better not have touched his Harley.
He’d rebuilt it himself before he left to follow the circuit. When
Arden
entered the dim
interior of the barn, he immediately saw the black tarp in the corner. His
heart leapt. There was nothing quite like hitting the open road, feeling the
wind rushing by his ears, and the power of the engine beneath him. It had
always been his therapy—next to the bottle.

Life wasn’t
simple. Callum’s answer was to isolate himself on the ranch.
Arden
had tried to spread his wings, but
failed. It wasn’t easy to stay focused without a goal. He was drifting through
life, living for instant gratification. But his capricious lifestyle was
catching up with him.

“What is it?”
asked Hailey.

“My bike.” He
whipped off the tarp, frozen in place once he saw the beast.

Her footsteps
sounded on the hay-littered concrete as she came closer. “Nice,” she said.

“You ever
ride one?”
 
He was still spell-bound by
the meager light reflecting off the chrome surfaces.

“No way.”

The
hesitation in her voice piqued his interest. He was squatting down to check
that everything appeared functional but stopped and turned to look at her. “You
want to take on the wild hogs but you’re scared of a little bike?”

He rolled it
out of the barn and into the sunlight of the main yard. It was his baby, the
only thing of value he owned next to his horse and truck. He threw his leg over
the seat and tested the suspension. It felt good, reminding him of old times.

“Does it
work?” she asked.

“Of course it
works.” The key dangled from the ignition where he’d left it. Callum never had
Arden
’s interest of
motorcycles, preferring a horse or his pickup truck.
 
He turned the key and revved the engine. It
fired to life, a beautiful, healthy sound. “Get on,” he said.