The Cowboys Ride Again Read online

  It’d been years since the two men had spent time together. Years since Levi had left college and his short-lived movie career behind for a lucrative stint in the NFL and a couple championship rings. Trace went on to make a decent living as a professional rodeo cowboy.

  Now in his mid-thirties and living on his Montana ranch, Levi could afford to be generous and help out an old friend, especially an old friend who understood him like no one else. He’d missed that closeness with another person.

  He should have it with Natalie, and he had for a brief time. Lately, something seemed wrong. Several times he’d found her sitting on the window seat staring out at the rugged landscape with a wistful expression on her face.

  Did she regret her decision to give up everything and live in this remote location with him? Was she getting tired of him? Was the early challenge of starting a business turning to monotony?

  She’d lived with him for a year and become a successful caterer in the area. She catered everything from PTA meetings to exclusive parties at celebrities’ Montana vacation homes. In addition, her writing career seemed to be going well, as far as he knew.

  Yet something was missing. He feared he didn’t measure up to her fantasies. The reality of being isolated with him day in and out, putting up with his faults, might be changing her mind about their future. When they’d lived together a few years ago, they’d been in the city. She’d had tons of friends to visit and places to go.

  Now she had him, some horses, a handful of ranch hands, a laptop, and a small town full of colorful characters. Was it enough? No bright lights, no shopping malls, no society parties?

  He was scared shitless he might be losing her.

  When Trace called, he jumped at the opportunity to insert a little spice into their lives. Trace, with his amusing anecdotes and country-boy humor, might inject just the right amount of excitement back into their lives.

  Who knows? Maybe they’d even attempt a few things Natalie had never tried. Trace would be game, so would Levi. How far the relationship between the three of them developed would be completely up to her. She claimed she wanted more, but did she really?

  * * * *

  Trace flirted with Natalie over dinner, harmless, fun flirting. Levi watched with amusement and did nothing to discourage it. As a possessive alpha male, he should have been pissed, tearing his friend from limb to limb and booting his sorry ass out the door.

  Yet, he didn’t feel any of those feelings. Strange. He would with anyone else, but Trace was different and always had been.

  Actually, Trace’s bantering and sexual innuendoes turned him on. Even more strange. In his mind, he imagined Natalie squirming beneath him as he pumped in and out of her tight, wet pussy. Straddling her face, Trace would feed his cock to her. Little by little, she’d take him in down her throat, until she’d swallowed the entire thing.

  Damn. His dick grew rock hard. What a fantasy come true, sharing the woman he loved with his best friend.

  Trace shot a questioning glance his way. Levi winked. One of Trace’s eyebrows crept upward in acknowledgement. Permission asked. Permission granted.

  They both lusted for the same women, though not actually in competition. They’d played the game before. Now, they played it with Natalie, the one woman he took seriously and considered a part of his future. Maybe she’d find room for Trace in their future, too, as unorthodox as it might seem to the average person off the street. Of course, he’d never been one for normalcy. Nor had Trace.

  They’d shared women before, but never a woman like Natalie. Most of the women they’d shared knew the ropes. They hardly compared to naïve Natalie with her hot body. Her recent willingness to push the limits gave him hope. His heart swelled with love. She continually stretched her comfort zone for him.

  Natalie flounced into the kitchen and tossed a come-hither look over her shoulder. Even though it was meant for Levi, he noticed Trace swallowed hard and cleared his throat. Levi watched her little butt sway from side to side until she disappeared from sight.

  “You’ve got one hot woman, Cowboy.” Trace used his nickname, derived from Cowboy Long Dong all those years ago.

  “That I do. Jealous?” Levi put a beer bottle to his lips and downed half of it. It didn’t do a thing for his dry throat.

  “Jealousy would imply I want her all to myself. I prefer to share. I’m just that type of guy.”

  “And you think I’ll share with you?”

  “A guy has to have his dreams. You game?”

  Levi rubbed his chin and regarded his buddy thoughtfully. “That all depends on Nat. We need to take it slow with her, even though she’s been dropping hints about taking things in that direction for a few months. I’ve been holding back because, until you called, I couldn’t see sharing her with another man.”

  “But you can with me?” Trace fingered the edge of the place mat.

  “I trust you.”

  “I’d never hurt her. The chemistry between us is so hot it’d ignite an iceberg. I fell for your feisty little filly the second she pointed her gun at my chest.”

  “You’re lucky you have all your moving parts.” Levi chuckled.

  “Yeah, it was touch and go for a moment there. Damn, she’s a fine one.”

  “She is. She’s not a one-night stand. She’s a woman who needs to have feelings for the man she’s with.”

  “What if that’s two men?”

  “We’ll see. It’s possible, the way she looks at you.” Levi hesitated and studied his friend. “Before we discuss Nat any further, tell me the truth. Why are you really here?”

  “Really? ’Cause I have this craving I can’t shake for shoveling horse shit and chasing cattle across thousands of acres.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I’m just a simple country boy after the simple things in life.”

  “Too busted up? Not winning money on the rodeo circuit anymore?”

  “Bull’s-eye. Plus, this barrel racer I’d been dating seems to think I need to be sleeping in her bed or in a grave. Had to get outta town.”

  “You let a little woman scare you?”

  “Her gangbanger brothers suggested I leave or lose my favorite appendage.”

  “I see. You always did know how to pick ’em.”

  “So do you, buddy. So do you.” Trace looked longingly at the door Natalie disappeared behind.

  * * * *

  Natalie leaned against the counter and gulped down a large glass of water in an attempt to regain a little composure. She’d started the evening with shameless flirting, hoping to get a rise out of Levi. Nothing. It was almost as if he didn’t care enough to be jealous. Yet he didn’t appear to be indifferent. If anything, he enjoyed their banter and paid more attention to her than he had lately. Not to mention he sported a huge hard-on.

  The flirting had moved from harmless to serious as the night wore on and the wine and beer flowed. Trace O’Malley with those espresso-brown eyes and shiny black hair sucked her right into his spell, while Levi watched with interest.

  The testosterone of two gorgeous men bombarded her and took away her common sense. She loved the attention, and her imagination swept her to forbidden places she’d never dared to go. She doubted she’d get any complaints from them if she did dare.

  Inhaling a deep breath for courage, she walked into the den where the boys played a spirited game of pool. Levi caught her around the waist and pulled her close. He nibbled on the back of her neck and slipped his hand under her short T-shirt to stroke the bare skin of her midriff. Trace licked his lips and took a sip of his whiskey, his dark eyes ever watchful.

  Natalie squirmed in a half-hearted attempt to free herself, but Levi held tight. One hand crept higher as his mouth teased her ear lobe. His other hand slid lower, past her belly button to rest on her crotch. Her eyes met Trace’s dark gaze. His pupils dilated. His eyes pulled her in, and she fell, drowning in their black depths. The man propped his fine butt on the corner of the pool table and absently chalked his
cue stick, never taking his eyes off her. He grinned. Embarrassed yet aroused, she arched her back and pressed her butt against Levi’s crotch. Her breasts ached to be touched. She grasped one of his wrists and guided his hand higher. Levi’s hot breath tickled the nape of her neck. He rubbed her crotch through her jeans. She moaned and pressed against his hand.

  Trace’s breath caught. His mouth fell open. His eyes smoldered. Natalie smiled and relished the power she felt from two men lusting over her. Desire radiated through her body.

  “You like it when he watches me turn you on?” Levi whispered, his voice all gravelly.

  “Yes. I think I want more.” She ground her ass against his hard-on.

  “Nat, you’re killing me.” Levi’s voice rasped with need.

  “Oh, fuck. Me, too.” Trace wiped his brow.

  Levi pushed her away from his body.

  She turned to face him. “What did you do that for? I wanted more.”

  Levi shook his head. “In time, darlin’, in time.”

  Clever man. He’d give her a little more each time until she begged him for the very thing all three of them wanted.

  Frustrated beyond belief, Natalie backed away from both men and looked from one man to the other. Their smug smiles pissed her off. They had her where they wanted her, and they knew it. Fine, at least tonight she’d have the last word.

  “I have a headache. I need to go to bed.” Lame excuse, but she didn’t care. Without a look back, she ran from the room to the relative safety of the big bedroom she shared with Levi.

  If he hadn’t stopped her, how far would she have gone, would they have gone? How far did she want to go? The idea of a ménage tempted her, excited her, made her wet for wanting it. But for now, she’d need to be content with pleasuring herself.

  She slipped her hand between her legs, spread the folds, and inserted a finger. Her other hand played with her breasts and pinched her nipples. Closing her eyes, she imagined two men touching her, a cock in her pussy, and one in her mouth. Her pussy tingled. Her hips jerked back and forth. Her fantasy sent her over the edge. Her body shuddered with its release.

  Despite her momentary satisfaction, she longed for the real thing.

  Chapter 3

  Throughout the next week, Natalie’s good sense declared war on her emotions and left her in turmoil. Her life had been turned upside down and inside out by two men and her deviant imagination. Even stranger, Levi didn’t seem the least bit jealous or insecure.

  She slipped out of bed early this morning and escaped to the barn, hoping for a little peace of mind in the form of horse therapy. She ran the stiff-bristled brush over the big animal’s shiny coat. The gentle gelding stuck out his upper lip and closed his eyes in ecstasy. “If only men were as easy to please as you.” Natalie laughed and scratched his withers. The animal’s knees almost gave out.

  “Are you saying we’re high maintenance, honey?” Trace’s deep voice resonated throughout the barn. Natalie jumped and whirled around. The brush clattered to the floor.

  “You surprised me.”

  Trace grinned, showing perfect white teeth. “Sorry.” His little dog, Gigi, poked her head out of a coat pocket.

  “You don’t look sorry.” She reached up to pat Gigi’s head at the same time he did. Pleasure vibrated through her body at the incidental touch. Their eyes met and locked for a brief moment. She gazed past his good-ol’-boy charm and witnessed his vulnerability, his personal pain, and his good heart.

  A second later, his good ol’ boy persona slipped back into place and that door to his soul slammed shut. He backed away and leaned against a stall door, coffee cup in one hand. His devil-may-care façade clicked into place. His dark eyes sparkled with mischief. Natalie attempted to ignore him, but her double-crossing body jabbed her with a sharp elbow and focused its attention on him. Her unruly brain zipped through various sexy scenarios and carnally, compromising situations. She blinked, attempting to clear her wayward thoughts. Glancing up, she found him staring at her. His knowing expression indicated he read her body language loud and clear.

  “Do you need something?” Irritation laced her voice.

  “Now, darlin’, I’ve been hoping you’d say that.” He rubbed the little dog with long, lazy strokes. If only his hands stroked hers like that.

  “You know what I mean.” Her voice wavered, sounding way too husky. She cleared her throat.

  “I do know what you mean, but do you know what you mean?” He grinned his endearing lopsided grin.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She pursed her lips and brushed the horse more vigorously.

  “Hmm. I think you do.” He pushed away from the stall door and moved close to her. His breath tickled the nape of her neck. She shuddered and heard him draw in a breath. “I like watching you with the horses.” His voice caressed her, all soft and seductive.

  Natalie squirmed, mortified at the dampness between her legs. Wedged between him and the horse, she had nowhere to go. The masculine scent of his aftershave filled her nostrils and stole the oxygen from her lungs.

  Gasping, she scrambled for a distraction. “I get a kick out of seeing you with that dog.”

  Trace looked down at his poodle and scratched her tiny chin. “I can’t leave her alone in the house. Levi’s cat terrorizes Gigi. He’s a ruthless bastard.”

  “He’s a cat. Clarence believes we live to serve him. An interloper wouldn’t be welcome. He doesn’t share his servants.” Natalie relaxed a little, relieved they’d strayed to safer ground, even though he still stood too close.

  “Who’d have guessed Levi would have a cat?” Trace chuckled. “He hated cats. Considered them unmanly.”

  “Who’d have guessed you’d have a frou-frou dog.” She ducked under his arm and crossed to the opposite side of the horse.

  “Yeah, weird, isn’t it? An old girlfriend dumped me and her dog at the same time. I got the dog. We had a love-hate relationship for a while.” He put his hands on the animal’s back and leaned closer. Despite the horse between them, he pulled her in like a magnet.

  “You and the dog?”

  “Yeah, but Gigi wormed her way into my heart. Now we’re inseparable. Give me a chance. We might end up that way, too.”

  “You’re a smooth one.” She smiled at him. She loved a man with a soft spot for animals. He’d be so much easier to resist if he were an asshole. “Where is Levi?”

  “Still in bed, I imagine. He never was much for rising early.” Trace sipped his coffee and regarded her with hooded eyes.

  One lock of his dark hair fell over his forehead, giving him a boyish look. Natalie knew how deceptive it was. This man was not a boy. Yet, it’d be so easy to lean across the horse and taste those tempting lips, just a little sample, nothing serious. She mentally slapped herself. How could she think such things? Why the hell did she want to jump in bed with this man when she loved another?

  “So you and Levi go back to your Texas days.” If she kept talking, maybe he wouldn’t notice her inappropriate attraction to him. She snorted. Like he hadn’t already noticed the attraction between them?

  Whatever was going on, it didn’t put a damper on her and Levi’s sex life. If anything, the sex they’d had for the past week rivaled their best sex ever. Levi still did it for her, yet so did this man. She wanted them both yet fought it every step of the way.

  “Yeah, Levi and me, we banded together. We both had abusive fathers, shitty home lives, that kind of stuff.”

  “I’m sorry. I know it must have been tough.” Natalie’s heart bled for him. She understood the trials of dealing with dysfunctional parents, more than she’d ever admit.

  “Hey, what doesn’t kill you…”

  “Makes you stronger.” Natalie resisted the urge to touch him and run her finger along his jawbone. Trace was a strong man with a sensitive soul. One look at his little dog proved that.

  “Yeah, we both developed some pretty thick skin over the years, but at least we had each other.”
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  Natalie nodded. Her senator father had never touched her physically, but his need for control bordered on pathological, and she’d never been able to please him. “So what brings you here?”

  Trace didn’t answer. Natalie looked up and met his troubled gaze. Her heart went out to him as she read the pain there. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

  “It’s not that. It’s hard to admit you’re washed up. I am. I can’t make a living at what I love to do. I’ve spent my entire life in the rodeo, following the rodeo circuit. Taking on ranch jobs here and there to make ends meet, and then moving on when I had enough money saved up to compete again. I gave up a lot to do it.”

  “Do you regret what you gave up?”

  “Sometimes. No wife. No home. No kids. No one to love me and be there for me at the end of the day. Just a two-bit hotel room on the wrong side of town. Yeah, it hurts. Would I do the same thing over again? Maybe.” He smiled a crooked smile as Gigi licked his hand with her little pink tongue.

  “So you were in some films together?”

  Trace’s face flushed, his jaw clenched, and he looked away. “A part of our lives we’d prefer to forget. We were both young and dumb and needed money. My uncle offered us a chance to be with some really hot, experienced women and make good money doing it. What nineteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance? Still, it’s one thing I wouldn’t do over again. As soon as I made enough money to hit the rodeo circuit, I got out and never looked back.

  “And Levi?”

  “Same thing. You know that. He took a big chance being found out. The college would’ve kicked him out of football and ruined his chances at a career in the pros.”

  Natalie understood the stress Levi must have been under. “He didn’t feel he had a choice. His dad cut him off, and he couldn’t make ends meet with his scholarship.”