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

  Kanda put her face into her hands, feeling utterly mortified as she simply gave up on shutting Marge up.

  “Well, okay, then. So, since you’ll be staying here at the 3 K… And you are serious about my girl here? You can throw your saddlebags and gear into her room.”

  Kanda’s head shot up, flabbergasted at her mother’s effrontery and utter gall.

  Wade chuckled but didn’t say another word.

  “So, we’ll all have supper together, too. Although, your good-lookin’ brothers done run off the help with their skirt chasin’.”

  Kanda let out a heavy sigh of more embarrassment.

  “Okay, meetin’ adjourned for now.” Marge tossed her pen up onto the desk and nodded at them.

  Kanda stood up glaring daggers at her mother. “Yeah, good meetin’, Ma. You just about done all the damage you could for now.”

  “I swear, Kandy, you turned beautiful overnight, my dear,” her mother commented while ignoring Kanda’s sarcastic observation.

  Her eyes widened. Her mother never complimented her looks before.

  “Yep. Seems, hot lovin’ becomes you.”

  Wade must have been holding in his laughter for a while, because it came gushing out in a huge guffaw.

  Kanda shot her angry gaze over at him as she threw her hands up and released an, “AHHH!” of frustration and stomped out of Marge’s office, although she could still hear them talking.

  “Yer work is cut out for you, young stud,” her mother continued. “Yep, she’s a handful all right.”

  “I know it,” Wade actually had the audacity to answer her. “But it’s the most enjoyable work I’ve ever undertaken.”

  She could hear her mother laughing loudly, like she’d never heard her mother do since her daddy died, and Wade’s deep laughter joined hers. The sounds of hilarity and her humiliation followed poor Kanda all the way down the hall as she strode angrily to her room.

  ~~* * * *~~

  Maggie and Travis froze as their startled gazes swung over to an angry Daisy.

  Rand stood beside her with a raised brow.

  “What? One Plush girl ain’t enough for ya?” Hands on her hips, Daisy looked like she might take him apart limb from limb.

  Travis gaped at her, then swung his gaze up to Maggie’s face as she was raised up above him in his tight grip.

  “What the hell is going…” Bren’s voice faded away as she, too, stepped into the hall and gawked at the couple.

  Trevor stepped up beside her.

  Both Rand and Daisy did double takes back and forth at the identical twin cowboys.

  “Well, I’ll be dammed,” Rand spoke finally. His gaze swung over to Maggie. “All right, little girl. What did you do now?” Out of the group, he did know what messes his daughter could make at times.

  Maggie bit at her lip.

  “What the hell happened to you, Trav?” Trevor asked as he stared at his tousled looking twin.

  “Fuck if I know!” Travis snapped back.

  The couples standing at each end of the hall moved in closer to inspect Travis as he set Maggie down. “We aren’t through yet,” he whispered in a threatening tone to her ear as he let her go.

  She stumbled back and gasped.

  The four people who crowded in seemed to be studying the damage done to Travis’ person.

  Trevor reached a finger out to swipe it through some pink smudged lipstick, that remained on his bare shoulder. “What the hell, Trav? You fall into a vat at Max Factor?”

  Travis didn’t look amused. “I was sent by ma to fetch you and when I…” he halted and slowly gazed over at a scared looking Maggie. “Looked for you, you were busy . Then, little Miss Ideas here, said she wanted to—” He halted yet again, as Daisy reached up close and touched his spiked up hair.

  Trevor stood close too and his gaze dropped to his brother’s prized belt buckle to see the hundred-dollar bill tucked neatly behind it. “Oh, brother of mine, what have you been doing?”

  Bren let out a spontaneous laugh. “You aren’t wearing a shirt and you smell like…like—”

  “A Texas whorehouse on a Saturday night!” Daisy piped in as she also started to laugh.

  Travis looked fit to be tied. “She said it was a tour.” He stared straight at Maggie while the laughter rose around him.

  Maggie gulped.

  “Oh, no, Mags. “ Daisy stopped laughing. “You took him to the parlor at…” She gazed down at her watch. “This time of day?” Shock was apparent on her face.

  Maggie took a step back. “Well, he—he deserved it!”

  “Well, now…” Trevor interjected. “She may have a point there!” He chuckled and took another amused look at his twin. “What did he do, hit on ya?”

  Maggie stared over at Travis.

  “Is that true?” her dad asked, stepping forward as his face started to get red.

  “What?” Daisy now stopped her laughing amusement and stared over at the disheveled Travis.

  Maggie bit at her lip while Travis stared right into her eyes. “No!” she yelled. “He didn’t!”

  “Well then, why on Earth would you take him into the hyena’s den at feeding time?” Daisy questioned.

  Maggie tossed her gaze down. “Well…he didn’t make a pass at me is why. Said I was a kid and I got mad.” She raised her gaze to Travis. “I apologize for the prank. Honestly, I didn’t know they would jump on you like that! I mean, who would know they would act like they never saw a man before!”

  Travis blinked his eyes as though shocked by her little white lie and the blaze went out of his gaze. “Okay…I accept your apology.”

  Maggie took a deep breath and gazed at the crowd now staring at her.

  “I just wish I had a camera!” Trevor interjected with laughter in his voice. “Holy fuck, could I make money off selling the copies!” His laughter grew louder. “Just add some panty hose and we got a new Miss Texas!”

  More rounds of laughter echoed through the hallway.

  “It’s just—too dang much. Whatever it was you did? We all know you deserved it!” Trevor slapped his jean-clad thigh and laughed as he doubled over.

  “Well, ha fucking ha, brother. But, you’d better be thinking about getting home real quick. Marge is getting wild ideas and heavy opinions while you’ve been gone.” He remained unamused as a few leftover giggles from the women could be heard along with a low male chuckle from Rand.

  “Okay.” Trevor swiped at his eyes as his voice still sounded a bit strangled from the suppressed laughter. “Yeah, we wanted to…” He gazed over at Bren. “…Ask if it might be better to move Maggie over to the Triple K. Seeing as this…?” He motioned toward the ceiling and the hallway in general. “Isn’t really a place for a young lady.” He stared at Daisy. “Meaning no disrespect, Miss Daisy.”

  Daisy’s smile faded.

  Rand placed a hand on her arm.

  “Yes,” Bren added. “She’s my sister and I never knew she even existed. I would like to get to know her now, and I’m the cook over there. I sure could use the help?”

  Rand and Daisy looked at each other.

  “I wanna go, Mama Daisy…Dad?”

  Travis watched Maggie closely the entire time the conversation went on.

  “Okay. It is probably for the best,” Rand answered. “Maybe she’ll get into less trouble over there.” His gaze swung over to Travis. “Although…I doubt it.”

  Maggie felt excited as she clasped her hands together, then she caught Travis gazing intently at her and her wide smile dropped away. She never considered she would be around this Kincade brother when the idea came up before. Oh, my stars! She gulped at the look in his eyes. It was interest all right and something else new, she couldn’t put her finger on. Her heart started that fluttering again . Dare I go head to head with this hot, magnetic cowboy?

  As if he knew she was having doubts, he slowly shook his head at her. You will lose. He mouthed at her.

  Her eyes widened at the challenge. She then squared he
r shoulders as everyone was talking around her about moving her things and when her mom and dad could visit . Blank slates can’t win, she mouthed back.

  His eyes flared with anger.

  “Besides, I think you smell too purty and you wear way too much lipstick to be very dangerous,” the hushed insult slipped out before her brain could stop it.

  Travis looked shocked.

  At his expression, Maggie felt smug once again, as she peeked around to make sure no one saw them staring and talking to each other.

  Travis wasn’t looking anywhere else, so when she gazed back up, he caught her eye. He wore a huge grin now, as if he’d already won this game of Smart girl against Hot cowboy.

  Maggie bit at her lip, like she always did when she got herself into more ‘nonsense and trouble’. Then out of nowhere, one of those sayings just slid into her mind and took the top spot. I think I just dug up more snakes than I can kill!

  SEVEN

  So contrary, she floats upstream…

  Triple K, Near Flatonia, Texas…

  Up at the Big House

  K anda burst through the door of her room and sighed as she tried to calm down. So many things spun through her mind… The geology report about the minerals to be mined on the ranch. The statement by Wade about this thing between them being serious. Yeah , so, I admit my thoughts are not in that order. Did he just tell ma that to satisfy her? Just to ease the tension? She shook her head, remembering when he told her: never lie to me, and I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. No, it didn’t fit his personality. She sat on the bed and tugged her dirt-caked boots off.

  She tore off her grimy blouse. It’d seen better days and so had her dusty looking jeans. She lowered them down over her curvy hips. Shower! Her mind wanted to pursue any activity to push away the anxiety that flooded her.

  This Wade Monroe was something she bit off and he WAS more than she could chew. With the way he talked to Marge? Wade further proved to her that he was indeed the type who would shoot craps with the devil himself! A mountain of a man all right, but could she take the rocky climb all the way to the top? She gave a shiver just thinking about climbing him in general. She let out a nervous titter and dashed to her bathroom to turn on the shower.

  He didn’t know where her room was just yet and she could be done by the time he came in—then again, maybe, he wouldn’t even take ma up on the bold suggestion.

  The thought of all of what her mom said made her flush with anger again, as she put her head under the warm water. The warmth on her skin instantly brought the main object of her thoughts to mind. Oh…the things he made her feel. Things out of this world. She titled her head and grabbed the shampoo. Why is he with me? She’d been wondering that off and on for the past few days.

  Her shower door opened, revealing the living image of her thoughts. I shoulda known he would head straight for me. Got dammed persistent and dammit—I love it!

  “Is there room for a big bear in here, little girl?” he asked as he shut the glass door.

  Kanda didn’t answer, instead gawking at his hard towering build again. He already looked hard and erect while his powerful thighs looked downright lickable. Water spray landed on his tanned skin, the droplets running down along places a girl could only dream of touching.

  “Kandy?” he called to her.

  Her embarrassed gaze shot up to his face. “Unh?”

  Chuckling, he pulled her up against that gloriously hard warm chest. “Are you day dreaming, sweet piece of Kandy?”

  Her smile came slow and firm. “You should ask, you are my dream and it is day…and here you are!”

  Grinning, he reached around to grab her ass cheeks. “Mmm, I can’t get enough of you,” he purred to her ear.

  Kanda’s heart was pounding already and she sucked in her breath as his hands roamed up from her plump ass to her waist.

  “Here, let me wash your hair,” he suggested.

  Kanda blinked her eyes at him. “Wash my hair?” she asked as though it were a foreign thing to suggest.

  “Why, of course; I’ll do you and you can do me.” He grabbed the bottle from her hands.

  Kanda let a giggle slip out at his expression.

  He turned her around and poured some shampoo onto her head then massaged her hair and scalp.

  Her head automatically tilted back feeling pampered…again. “Oooh.” She’d never had a man bathe her, never been in a shower with a guy before. Wow, I decide to get rid of my virginity, then all kinds of firsts keeping happening to me.

  Wade moved her head under the shower stream and rinsed her hair out. Her long black tresses lay on her back in tendrils. His hands reached around and he grabbed each boob.

  She hadn’t expected it after he acted like they were going to just shower and she smiled. Hell, I never expect the things he does.

  He thumbed her nipples and kissed her moist neck.

  Her body nearly slumped from the combined affect; he knew all the spots to hit, without even looking for them. I swear, this man could find a whisper in a whirlwind! She let out a long sigh as he lowered his fingers and stroked her between her folds.

  Kanda was panting like a lizard on a hot rock now while she wondered what he would do next.

  Acting like he had all day long, Wade just kept up with the nipple and clit play while kissing her tender skin along her neck.

  Her body grew hot and moisture pooled between her thighs, mixing with the water in the shower. “Oh, Wade…” she sighed the words out.

  Remaining silent, he built up a rhythm and kept playing her body like a tightly strung harp.

  She was getting close and she even struggled in his grip.

  “Shhh, I want to give you all kinds of climaxes…”

  She wondered at this and her body began to tighten as an orgasm took over. “Ahh…” she cried out helplessly

  “Grab the wall, Kandy,” he panted out. “I gotta have you.”

  Clumsy, and with her hands shaking, she placed her open palms on the wall. Her body kept jumping like water on a hot skillet.

  Wade lifted her up and plunged his cock straight in.

  Here is the hot skillet now, she thought with elation. “Unh…” the sound was forced from her lips.

  The man just held her up like she weighed nothin’ at all! He pulled her closer and shoved up deeper inside of her, just as her orgasm peaked. I’m just like paper in his hands, just burning pieces of paper.

  “Oh, you are gripping me…” he groaned. “Milking me so wetly, Kandy love.”

  Kanda panted like she couldn’t breathe as she came and felt the entire length of him sliding in and out of her. “Oh-oh—oh!”

  Wade forcefully pulled her toward him and held her there as she squirmed wet and quaking with ecstasy.

  Then, she could feel him come inside of her, hot and jetting. It doubled the feeling of her climax as she lost her breath entirely. Lord Almighty! Her hands slipped away as she became entirely helpless with pure ecstasy, but he hefted her up and held her on his cock as if impaling her while he came. Oh, he’s always ahead of me…just a goddamn three-jump cowboy!

  Her moans were halting while her breath never came back and she felt dizzy with a high like none other ever in her life. Oh, my heroin who is Wade kicking in—yes, hit me, give me more! I’m a gone—a dang goner.

  ~~* * * *~~

  Departing the Plush Stud Ranch…

  They all gathered down at the trucks. Bren jumped into Trevor’s cab and beamed at him. Trevor started his truck up and they both gazed over at the other couple.

  Travis headed over to his truck and opened the passenger door, then walked back over and grabbed Maggie’s two bags that were left on the porch.

  Once Trevor saw that his brother had it handled, he headed on down the drive.

  Maggie’s eyes rounded as she watched what was happening. Bren waved madly at her while wearing that beautiful smile of hers and their truck sailed on by. Uh-oh! I gotta ride with him? It never occurred to her that she wo
uld get stuck in a vehicle with him for a 2-hour drive. She looked around and since she already said good-bye to the staff of the ranch and her parents, she really had no choice but to follow Travis.

  He chucked her bags in behind the seat and held the door open for her.

  She gazed up at the enormous bulky looking vehicle, then over at his smiling face. “Think it’s big enough?”

  His smile dropped as if it was the last thing he expected her to say.

  She felt a momentary bit of guilt, but then pushed it away as she remembered how he’d challenged her. “Are you compensating for something?” she asked firmly, but knowing if he were truly identical to his brother, it was far from true. She’d gotten a glimpse when she first met Trevor in Bren’s room, when he let the sheet slip. Her cheeks grew warm and she took a peek over at Travis.

  The man wore a huge grin, as if the insult never affected him at all.

  Her stomach did a definite flip-flop as her guess at his, well—his size was now confirmed. She quietly stepped up, but the cab still seemed too high.

  Strong hands came up and grabbed her by the waist as Travis easily lifted her onto the seat.

  Maggie gasped when she found herself sitting in HIS truck as she blinked her eyes.

  He went around the front, then swung up through the driver’s side and beamed at her.

  Oh, he’s getting overly confident again and he looks entirely too happy for her security. Panic set in as he swung the hefty Texas truck around and flew down the daisy adorned drive.

  Maggie kept her gaze directed out through the window as the dust flew by.

  “So, tell me why all the acting?” he asked outright.

  Maggie almost flinched. He sure gets to it! she thought with annoyance. “What do you mean?” She played it coy.

  He laughed and shook his head. “All that ya’ll and the drawl like you was born in the Lone Star state.”

  “Well, how do ya’ll know I wasn’t?” she quipped.

  His focus stayed on the road as he answered, “You kept slipping back to East Coast college girl accent.”