Hammered: A Western Romance (Red Velvet Series Book 4) Read online

  Bren was still in mid climax as his hard member slid neatly up inside of her and she gasped as all the air left her lungs.

  He plunged her up and down again and again, then he came inside of her as he held her tight against him and sat down with her on the bed.

  “Oh!” she shouted out, as the action caused her to be sitting on his lap while her legs opened wider and her hips tilted a bit. He hit some G spot deep inside of her that she never knew was there and it prolonged her orgasm. “Holy hell!” she yelled out desperately.

  Trevor raised his hands up and grabbed her face. “Your god-damned right! Only it’s not hell…it’s heaven to me. I ain’t ever wanted a woman again and again, like I do you. I love you, Bren Plush. I want you with me, for as long as I draw breath. Will you marry me?”

  Gasping for air, she halted and stared at him as she knew her face must’ve gone white as a sheet. “Wha—what?” her body was still caught in a helpless climax.

  He nodded while looking joy-filled and kissed her hard, drawing out what breath she had left in her mouth.

  For a second time in just a day, Bren thought she might just pass the hell out as he kissed her like she’d never been kissed in all her life.

  FIVE

  The Triple K

  I will just bet his dates WERE supper before they even got to say grace!

  Just ten miles from Flatonia, Texas

  K anda rode in through the big gates underneath the large archway which bore the large gold lettered emblem of the Triple K. Wade rode just behind her. She knew he allowed her to lead the way in when he dropped back about a mile out.

  The ranch hands all stared as she rode up with him to the paddocks.

  Out of nowhere, her stomach got all fluttery. These men had never seen her with a beau. Oh! She sat up straighter on her horse. Kanda Kincade has a beau! The realization just hit her—a boyfriend, a lover! Hot damn! She shook herself, as she swiftly felt stupid again, yeah like a silly girl. With…a…boyfriend! Her mind screamed in victory.

  They both rode up to the horse barn and dismounted.

  Every eye seemed to be glued on them like flies to…crap, she thought with annoyance as she tugged her horse forward toward Slappy.

  The old horse trainer had been on the ranch since her daddy first started it up and his wise old eyes looked like they figured it all out before she even reached him with the horse. “Hey ya, Kandy!” he greeted.

  She halted as she realized she’d forgotten he’d called her that since he’d been around before she was even born. Well, now, she felt glad he did, since she claimed to Wade it was her name, even though very few called her Kandy anymore. “Hey ya, Slappy! Can ya’ll take care of our mounts?”

  He nodded his gray head, his eyes on the big man beside her. “Mister Monroe. How are you these days?”

  Kanda batted her eyes at them both. “You know each other?”

  “Hells yeah,” Slappy replied. “I met him a couple of months back, when he first came here.”

  She swung her eyes over. “You’ve been here that long?”

  Wade looked amused by the question. “Yep,” was all the answer she got.

  She turned her gaze to the old man. “How come I never saw him?”

  Slappy shrugged and took the horse’s reins. “I think you were at a cattle auction or some danged thang when he first arrived.”

  Kanda slowly gazed back over at Wade. “I just can’t believe you were staked out on the Triple K and I never knew you were here.”

  He shrugged his wide shoulders. “It’s a lot of bush out there. What, 50,000 acres? You can’t spot everything, Kandy girl.”

  Slappy had been walking away and he halted, spinning back around to gape at them.

  Oh crap! Kanda panicked. He just heard Wade call her Kandy. Anyone who tried before would get stared down or beat down by her in the past. She’d always taken it as disrespect, except from Slappy.

  Slappy squinted at the pair, then he walked closer to them.

  Kanda bit at her lip and she knew her cheeks just flamed and flamed.

  Slappy looked from her blushing face to Wade’s all too blank of an expression. “Well, I’ll be skinned like a coon and laid out to dry!” he exclaimed.

  Kanda gulped nervously and gazed around. “Slappy!” she admonished.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Well, gall darnit, girl, it’s about time this happened!”

  Kanda sighed in frustration while rolling her eyes and trying to get him to make eye contact with her, so he would quit with all the carrying on about her love life. Oh! She now had a love life! She almost laughed aloud. So, yeah… The old man is right, I guess to act this way. She never had anything before this wonderful hunk of man came along. With the way he looks, and that dazzling smile? It’s why she made the sudden and extreme decision in the first place to hog-tie the man and lose her virgin—

  “Kanda!”

  She then nearly jumped out of her skin as she heard her mom holler across the yard. Oh, hells bells! Could this arrival get any worse? She took a deep breath and turned around. “Yeah, Ma. I’m coming!”

  “Good!” Marge Kincade yelled back. “And bring that rock huntin’ beau of yours with ya!”

  Kanda knew her face just lost its color as her mother just now went and let the cat out of the bag she’d barely kept tied.

  Slappy turned away with the horses while cackling with laughter. “Well, I feel like a June bug caught in the chicken coop! Gall damnit!” He kept chuckling all the way into the horse barn.

  Kanda swing her mortified gaze over to Wade.

  He still looked amused and actually seemed happy about the whole thing.

  “What are you smiling so smugly about, Aussie man?”

  Grabbing her hand, he tugged her along toward the house. “I’m just happy I finally got you home is all.”

  Kanda rolled her eyes and tried hard as hell not to look at any of the ranch hands while they gaped and gawked.

  They must all be stunned down to their threadbare underwear by the sight they beheld. Kanda Kincade, the big-boned old maid and bitch of a boss, coming home on the arm of one of the biggest, strappin’ men they ever saw.

  Without warning, she abruptly lost her embarrassment. What the hell? This is a day to feel happy. Just the looks on their faces made her whole damned day! She gladly tightened her grip on Wade’s hand as they made their way up to the big house.

  ~~* * * *~~

  Plush Stud Ranch, Victoria, Texas

  Maggie’s disgruntled attitude had altered a whole lot as she just spent twenty snicker-filled minutes making up names for him. Travis the Tomcat, Sheep Stalking Cowboy was the best yet! Then some of those Tex-sayings she’d been writing down in her notebook all of these months finally found a home. He was loose as a bucket full of soot, or he uses his bed sheet as a tablecloth! She let out a chuckle… Like, I will just bet his dates WERE supper before they even get to say grace! Her chuckle turned into a laugh snort.

  “Pssst…”

  Her laughter stopped short. Maggie heard it but didn’t know where it came from. She stacked the last of the rinsed out pots and pans on the rack and turned to look around the large kitchen.

  There he stood, the Chicken Hawk Cowboy, her final name choice for him now. “I found the room, but…um—well.” He looked embarrassed.

  Wiping her hands on a dry cloth, she asked, “Yeah and…?” She fought to look calm and cool, even though her knees knocked nervously together as she tossed the cloth onto the counter.

  “I think Trev is otherwise occupied from the type of noises I heard through the door.”

  Her face flamed a little. “Yeah, they have been busy with— that .” She stepped closer. “Well, can I get you something to eat or drink while you wait?”

  He stilled and tilted his head at her.

  “What?”

  “You sound different than before.”

  Oh crap. She was all drawls and Tex-slang before. “So?” she asked in a flippant t
one.

  He grinned, his eyes remaining locked onto her face. “Just interesting is all.”

  “Well, I would show you around the ranch, but I sure as hell don’t think you’ll be impressed none.”

  “Why do ya say that?”

  She almost laughed aloud. Then she stared closer at him— Oh…he doesn’t know! Oh, my gad, this will be so much fun! “Oh, pardon my bad manners. I’ll show ya around till them two lovebirds come back down.” She chose to keep the accent and to lead the way for a sweet little innocent tour around the Plush Stud Ranch.

  “The name is Travis Kincade.” He stuck his hand out. “We got off to a bad start, but I aim to fix that.” He gave her a warm smile.

  Maggie hesitated a little ’cause that smile made her heart flutter. Well, it made other things flutter too, she just didn’t know what to think about it. She grabbed his hand and shook it. “Well…” She dropped his hand. No, Mags. Don’t go believing he’s just a nice man, like Trevor . He oozes bad boy, woman chaser or hound dog as they called it down here in Texas. He smells of pure nonsense and trouble like the client women did while wearing too much makeup and Chanel No. 3. “So, let me show ya the place,” she offered in a sweet, sugar-coated voice as she headed out through the double doors, wearing a sly smile he couldn’t see.

  Travis followed her out.

  “Let me see…where should we start?” she asked even though she already knew. The parlor! It was just after dinnertime and an hour before the strip show. It would be the perfect time to introduce him to some new and overly exuberant friends. She stepped up to the Plush Parlor swinging wooden doors and swung them open.

  He looked suspicious suddenly…almost as if he felt something was up.

  Maggie stepped in through the doors and motioned him forward. Come on, said the spider to the fly, she thought with humor as he moved closer.

  He took a few steps inside.

  “Ladies?” she called out. “This is Travis Kincade.”

  There were about 20 women of various ages and sizes, sitting around, gossiping and chattering like old hens. Their startled gazes looked up and gasps could be heard echoing so loud, it sounded like a great big gas pipe might be leaking in the room.

  In a flash, they were all around Travis. Their hands on his chest, legs and—he shouted out as one of them squeezed his ass cheeks through his jeans. “What the hell?” he yelled and his body jumped forward on its own accord as they hung all over him, slipping $20 bills into his pockets and deep into the waist of his jeans.

  Maggie gasped at the hilarious sight as she bent forward with a peal of overwhelming laughter. She laughed so hard her sides hurt, tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched them strip his shirt from his back. “Oh, my god!” she exclaimed as her watery eyes rounded. She still laughed breathlessly as she pushed her way forward and put her fingers into her mouth, letting out a huge whistling sound, just like Mama Daisy taught her to do. “Ladies!” she shouted.

  They all halted their groping and pawing as they gazed over at her.

  “Now, ya know Mama Daisy’s rules!” She fought to keep from laughing. “No touching the—studs, before the show!”

  The women all hung around his shoulders while their many hands and greedy fingers roamed along his big body like suntan lotion on a bikini wearing ass. “ Boooo ,” some grumbled as others made sounds of disappointment with, “Aww, damnit!” Some kissed his cheeks or his shoulders, then…they finally…all moved away.

  Travis stood very still, looking like a lipstick truck just overturned on top of him. He was covered in pinks, reds and rose colored glosses. His hair was sticking up straight, like someone just gelled it into a kinky looking emo swoop on top of his head. His shirt had been ripped clean off his most excellent muscled torso.

  There seemed to be money shoved in all kinds of places, some Maggie just never thought of before as she stared at the stunned man in front of her. His prized ‘Champion’ buckle even sported a hundred dollar bill! She slowly raised her hands to her mouth in shock. Oh, shit storms. I think I let it go too far!

  Travis blinked his eyes and slowly peered helplessly down at himself, gazing at the lipstick marks, the cash hanging from various locations and his ripped shirt lying at his feet.

  Maggie let out one of her laugh snorts and then plastered her hands over her mouth. She stood while stifling her laughter and waited for him to raise his gaze. When he did, she gulped while her heart nearly stopped in her chest.

  Those eyes of his, which were just bored-looking or half-lidded before, like he didn’t really care about anything at all—now glared fiercely at—her.

  He looks madder than a—aw, fuck it! Maggie let out a squeak and turned around to hightail it out of there. She dashed through the saloon styled doors and jumped up onto the stairs, going two steps at a time. She could hear him close behind her as she reached the top. His strong hands caught hold of her shoulders and he plucked her up like a piece of paper dancing in the wind.

  Maggie squealed and struggled while he held her tight, stepping up onto the landing, gazing down at her face.

  “Now, you’re going to explain to me, just what the fuck was that?”

  Truly caught now, she swallowed hard and found she couldn’t speak. But she knew right away—it wasn’t out of fear. It came from the feeling of his warm body being up so close against hers. Her breath hitched as she stared into his angry eyes. Her heart started to pound as his lips drew close to hers.

  “Tell me why you did that.”

  Maggie was honest to a fault; it’d always been her downfall, her path to trouble, and now wouldn’t be any exception, so she found her voice to give him the reply she felt he deserved. “Well, I figured since you truly believe you are god’s gift to women—”

  “Trevor Kincade!” A voice called out, breaking into her all too honest of an answer. “What the hell are you doing to my daughter?”

  SIX

  “Call the dogs and piss on the fire—let's go!”

  The Triple K Ranch, up at the Big House…

  M arge Kincade was sitting and watched her and Wade come into her large office. She steepled her fingers and nodded her head at the two high-backed leather chairs in front of her overly large oak desk. She waited till they sat down to speak. “Okay, we have business to discuss.” She leveled her sternest expression at them.

  Wade nodded.

  Kanda squinted her eyes at her mom’s tone. “What kind of business?”

  Marge stared at her. “Well, I am awaiting this report from your hunky rock hunter.” She motioned her head at Wade. Then she swiveled her gaze over to her. “Then there is some monkey business we gotta address, too.”

  Kanda widened her eyes. “What?’

  “You heard me, young lady. I saw what was goin’ on up at that cabin. I wasn’t born yesterday, ya know?”

  Wade shifted a little in his chair.

  Kanda gazed over at him. “What the hell’s the matter with you? I’m a grown woman and I can do—”

  “Well, now, baby girl. Now, since you two rode in plain as day as a couple, everyone knows he done stole into the chicken coop and grabbed himself the prized egg.”

  Kanda’s gaze shot over to her. “Stole into the chicken coo—”

  “Yep.”

  “Ma, it was you who yelled the news out when I got here! And what the hell are you trying to say anyway?”

  Marge shook her head. “I don’t wanna address that right directly. We need to start with the geology report, then have Wade here oversee the diggin’, yada-yada.”

  “Now, Ma, I told you how I felt about diggin’ holes in Kincade land!”

  “Yes, I heard it enough times already.” She looked over at Wade.

  He nodded. “I have a complete report in my saddle bags.”

  “Good boy,” she answered. “Then, you and Kanda will be working together on the arrangements for the next phase.”

  “Okay…what?” Kanda snapped.

  “Again, daughter, this i
s not up for discussion. Only the next phase is. If we don’t do this? You may lose your inheritance!”

  Kanda’s mouth popped open.

  “Yes, missy. What do ya’ll think I gone and hired Mister…Hot Gold Miner here?”

  “Ma’am?” Wade spoke up.

  “Yes?” Marge smiled brightly at him.

  Kanda’s mouth dropped open again. Her mother never smiled. Why, she’s flirting with Wade!

  “It seems that maybe a compromise may be had, over the digging part.”

  “Really now?”

  He nodded and glanced over at Kanda. “There are many ways to extract the minerals, besides digging holes.”

  Marge batted her lashes at him. “Yes, and I will just bet, you have the brightest ideas when it comes to extractin’.”

  “Ma!” Kanda exclaimed.

  Wade chuckled.

  Kanda gazed back and forth at them both. “Okay. His idea sounds better to me now. So, what was that part about monkey business you were sayin’ before?” She knew her cheeks were flaming as she spoke.

  “Well, whadda ’bout it?” her mother retorted. “I just wanted to ask Mr. Monroe here, what his intentions were.”

  “Oh, my GAWD, Mother!” Kanda stood up. “What timeframe do you think it is we’re livin’ in? The 1800s?’ She tightened her fists. “It ain’t any of your business!”

  “My intentions are…” Wade cut into the women’s argument. “…Honorable.”

  Kanda’s mouth popped open for a third time in less than ten minutes.

  “As in?” her mother asked.

  “As in, something serious and not to be mistaken for just a passing thing.”

  Kanda’s mouth snapped shut as she sank heavily back into the leather chair while gaping at him.

  “Gosh darnit, Kandy, close yer rap, will ya?” her mother admonished. “You didn’t expect him to say he just wanted to try out the milking cow to get a taste of dairy, did ya?”

  “Ma!” she yelled.

  Marge snickered. “It’s the damndest thing, Kanda, girl. I thought for sure you was gonna die and never know hot lovin’ from a man.”