Buckle Down (Memory Grove) Read online

  When was the last time you were alone with a hot guy? When was the last time someone kissed you? When was the last time you had sex? Her resolve snapped and she grabbed his head and kissed him hard.

  He backed her up to the wall and slid his hands under her shirt, cupping her breasts. Lips slid down her jaw, sucking her neck. He pressed against her and his obvious arousal jutted against her stomach, awakening butterflies she hadn’t felt in forever.

  She held on to his shoulders as he bent lower and pulled her shirt up, his teeth tugged her bra down, exposing a sensitive nipple.

  He looked up at her before he closed his lips on her breast and sucked.

  The pull of his mouth sent a shiver through her body and her clit throbbed. Tess’ fuse was short tonight and all he had to do was slip his hand between her legs and she’d come, maybe even before he touched her. She stepped her legs apart in silent invitation.

  Rolling her nipple between his thumb and finger, Shane’s mouth found her other breast. He touched her leg and trailed his fingers up her thigh, stopping at the hem of her skirt. His teeth scraped over her nipple before kissing down her belly and he dropped onto his knees. He slid both hands up the outside of her legs, under her skirt, and up to her hips.

  She panted, staring down at him, feeling his fingers hook the strings on the sides of her panties.

  Shane pressed his forehead against her stomach for a moment and then pulled at the strings, letting her thong slide down her legs.

  Tess stepped out of it and he pushed her skirt up, over her hips.

  He stared up at her while pushing his finger between her folds.

  Her head lolled to the side as he massaged her clit softly. He shrugged his shoulder under her knee and lifted her leg, opening her pussy to him.

  “Damn. Beautiful.” He held her open with his fingers and probed her entrance with his tongue. “Mmm.”

  A moan escaped her and she tangled her fingers in his still-damp hair, pulling softly.

  His tongue pushed inside her, thrusting a few times before he licked up to her clit, tracing circles around it.

  All thought left Tess’ mind as instinct took over. Her body needed release. An urgency built inside her, increasing with each pass of his tongue. She needed to come.

  Shane rubbed her thigh and slid two fingers inside her. “You’re so hot and wet.” He looked up at her while he wriggled his fingers inside her.

  She nodded, panting.

  Smiling, he returned to the task at hand and covered her with his mouth. He sucked gently, drawing her clit into his mouth, licking it lightly.

  Tess’ thighs tensed and the throbbing increased.

  He sucked a little harder and moved his fingers faster.

  “I’m gonna come,” she whispered, holding Shane’s head with both hands.

  “Mhm” He did not let up, and reached for her breast, pinching her nipple.

  “Oh, God. Yes. Just. Like. That.” Her pussy contracted, squeezing his fingers while her clit pulsed against his tongue. She panted and moaned and bit her lip. Like molten lava bubbling to the top of a volcano, she burned and melted inside until eruption was inevitable and she let it go, nearly sliding down the wall.

  He gripped her hip, holding her in place and moved his fingers in and out slowly, stroking that sensitive spot. “I love how you feel inside. You’re so tight.” He lifted her leg off his shoulder and stood up, planting his knee between her legs, where her pussy still throbbed.

  He moved in closer, touching her lips. “Wanna taste how sweet you are?” He tugged at her bottom lip.

  She opened her mouth and sucked his fingers.

  “Good, huh?” Shane smiled, his face inches from hers. “I could eat your pussy all night long.” Leaning forward, he kissed her neck and trailed his fingers over her collarbone and down her side where he squeezed her waist.

  “I don’t think I can move.” Her breath came in fast puffs and she held fast to his shoulder.

  He leaned his forehead against hers. “No hurry, baby. Take as long as you need.” He straightened her skirt and shirt and backed away. He took her hand, kissed the back, and led her to the couch. Pointing at her coffee cup, he asked, “Warm up?”

  Chapter 3

  Shane opened the door to Tess’ truck and pulled her to him before she could climb inside. He kissed her, reminding her of the feel of his tongue between her legs. If she didn’t leave now, she would drag him back inside his apartment and fuck him on the living room floor.

  He nuzzled her neck. “When can I see you again?”

  Heat stirred in her middle and she closed her eyes dreamily. “When are you off?”

  “I get off at five most days.” His hand slipped around and cupped her ass. “Everybody’s gone by six. I can make you dinner.”

  Her breathing increased. “I’ll bring dessert.”

  He laughed. “You are dessert, sweetheart.”

  Why did she feel like they were old lovers? She usually didn’t fall for guys’ bullshit, but he nearly had her wrapped around his finger. Well, half an hour ago he literally had her wrapped around his fingers. “I have dinner plans tomorrow night. How about Thursday?”

  “Perfect.” He kissed her once more and stepped back. “Drive safe.”

  She smiled. “Always.”

  The drive home didn’t take long and she was on cloud nine when she pulled into the driveway and hit the button to open the garage. Nothing happened. She pressed it again. Exhaling loudly, she got out of the truck. She punched in the code on the keypad beside the door, and still nothing. Probably an electrical glitch.

  She turned the truck off, leaving it parked outside, and went in through the front door. She’d call Luke or Cade to come check on the garage opener in the morning. Looking at the clock on the kitchen wall, she realized she had spent over three hours in Shane’s apartment. A low grumble sounded in her belly. The last time she had eaten had been lunch with Luke and Natalie. Shane had helped her work up an appetite, and not just for food.

  She nuked a hot pocket in the microwave and poured some pretzels beside it on the paper plate. She carried it up to her room. Gypsy momentarily looked up from her spot on Tess’ bed and put her head back on her paws.

  Tess rubbed the top of Gypsy’s head and sat down on the bed to eat. The hot ham and cheese concoction filled her stomach, but there was still an emptiness inside her.

  The next morning she woke up to her phone buzzing on the nightstand. There was a text message from Shane. Just a simple good morning with a smiley face. And it put a smile on her face to know he thought of her at six o’clock in the morning while she snored away. She had slept hard. No sleeping pill she knew of could compete with a mind-blowing orgasm. Her mind drifted, wondering what it would be like to climb on his lap and slide his cock inside her and feel that searing friction.

  Despite the central air blasting in the house, familiar heat spread through her body and liquefied between her legs. Her nipples responded and she rubbed her palm over one hard peak. She let her knees fall apart and her hand slid down over her stomach. Tension pooled and the muscles in her thighs tightened. She rubbed her clit through her panties. Her hips moved in time with her hand. She ached. She needed to come. Using her other hand, she pulled her panties to the side and dipped a finger into her pussy. Imagining it was Shane’s finger, she pushed it deeper, wiggling it around, coating it in her juices. She was so wet and her pussy throbbed. Using her slick finger, she rubbed her clit slowly, prolonging the orgasm threatening to erupt any second.

  She stopped long enough to kick her panties off and spread her lips open for better access. She arched her back and lifted her ass off the bed, rubbing harder. The mattress sunk where she dug her heels in to push her pussy against her fingers. She quickened the pace and dipped a finger back inside for more lubrication. Her heart raced and her breathing accelerated. She pressed down on her clit, moving her finger from side to side over it.

  Her eyes rolled back and her thighs clamped together
involuntarily. Her body contracted and her toes curled as all her energy poured into that tiny, pulsing spot. She bit her lip and moaned, as wave after wave of pleasure flooded her. She held her fingers still as her heartbeat pulsed in her pussy.

  “Dear god,” she whispered. “I need to get laid.” She crawled out of bed and stumbled to the shower.

  Tess pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and walked down the stairs, where she stopped short. Her brothers were sitting at the bar in the kitchen.

  “Hey. What are you guys doing here?” she asked, opening the refrigerator to find cream for the coffee she was about to make.

  Neither of them said anything at first. She scooped coffee grounds into the filter and started the machine before turning around. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. “God. Did somebody die? Would one of you say something?”

  Cade exhaled. “What’s going on with you and Shane Wyatt?”

  Tess laughed. “What? You’re both here because of Shane?”

  Luke stood up and paced the kitchen. The top of his head barely cleared the entryway to the living room. He was imposing at six foot five, but he didn’t scare Tess.

  He turned and stopped. “Phoebe called me this morning and said she was worried about you. She said she saw you leave Wyatt’s apartment last night and that y’all were kissing and carrying on.”

  There was no describing the anger that boiled up inside her. Her heart beat so hard that it echoed inside her skull and she had to concentrate to slow her breathing so she did not hyperventilate. Not only was Phoebe a complete bitch, but the nerve of her brothers to come over and question her about her personal life. “My first response to this is that it’s none of either of your business, nor is it Phoebe’s business. How dare you…”

  “Did he tell you about the ride coming up?” Luke asked, tensing his jaw and pressing his palm hard against the countertop. His temper was one of his lesser qualities and had often landed him in hot water while growing up. He was always in trouble for fighting at school, and he and Cade would kick the shit out of each other in the backyard over games of football and tag.

  “What ride? What are you talking about?” Tess poured herself a cup of coffee to busy her hands. She dumped in two spoons of sugar and poured enough cream to make it look like caramel.

  “Wyatt is my leading rival for the championship title. I find it a little disconcerting that he’s managed to get into my little sister’s pants a month before the rodeo. Nothing like needling the competition.”

  She slammed the mug down on the counter, sloshing coffee across the granite. “Get out. Both of you.” Her hand shook and she grabbed the edge of the counter to steady herself. She did not know if she was angrier that they came here to dig into her personal life or if she was pissed that Shane didn’t mention he knew her brother and intended to upend him. Her mind raced, like a horse around the barrels at the rodeo, zigzagging from one scenario to the other.

  “Tess—” Cade started.

  She whipped around and cut him off. “You can just shut up. I half expect this macho bullshit out of Luke. But, you? Jesus Christ. Do Nat and Livie know the two of you are here? Do your wives approve of this bullshit ganging up on me?”

  Luke postured in the middle of the kitchen. “We’re not ganging up on you. You’re our baby sister. We can’t stand by and let some asshole use you just to get to me.”

  “You’re assuming he’s using me. Maybe he didn’t mention this because his interest in me has nothing to do with you. Did that ever cross your mind? Or is it all about you, as usual?” Tess put her hand on her hip and lifted her chin in defiance.

  “That’s not fair.” Luke’s face flushed a deep red and his nostrils flared like an angry bull about to charge.

  “Like hell. You were always the star, big brother. Cade and I lived in your shadow. But we’re not kids anymore and my life is not part of your competition.”

  “Phoebe said you’re not the only one coming and going from his apartment either. Is that what you want? To be some playboy’s toy?” Luke’s voice boomed through the kitchen. “My sister is not some buckle bunny whore.”

  Cade squeezed the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “Just stop it. Both of you. Luke, let’s go. This went all wrong.”

  Tess ignored her other brother and walked up to Luke and poked him hard in the chest. “I’m not a little girl anymore. And having sex with whoever I choose does not make me a whore.” The tears welled up in her eyes both from anger and hurt. She had not had sex with Shane and, in fact, was very selective with who she shared her body with. She was far from a whore.

  Luke rolled his eyes and touched her shoulder. “Tess… I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “Yes. You did. And it’s fine. You can go now. This conversation is over. Just know that it’s none of your business who I fuck.” She turned around and walked back up the stairs. Standing at the top of the landing, she waited to hear the door close downstairs. She sat on the edge of her bed and squeezed the quilt in her fists as the tears fell. She wanted to leave and go back to California. Her brothers had just made her feel like a stranger in her own home. What gave them the right to do that to her?

  Dragging her luggage out of the closet, she grabbed at her clothes, yanking them off the hangers and tossing them into her suitcase. She’d show them. She’d be gone by morning and they could all kiss her ass.

  Gypsy sauntered into the room and made a figure eight around Tess’ ankles. Tess closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

  You’re not a little girl anymore, like you just declared to your brothers. You can’t just pack your shit and bail whenever you’re upset. Grow the fuck up.

  She texted Shane and told him she was going to stop by. Half an hour later she pulled up to the ranch. Part of her hoped she would run into Phoebe so she could give that meddling skank a piece of her mind, but the other part didn’t want the confrontation. Phoebe wasn’t worth going to jail over and she just might punch the tramp’s lights out if she saw her.

  She did not bother to put on any makeup or even brush her hair. She stood on his porch in her gray sweats and a UCLA t-shirt.

  He opened the door and smiled for a second before he stepped aside. His grin quickly turned to a frown. “What happened? Have you been crying?”

  As soon as the door shut, she faced him. “I just had it out with my brother. Is there some reason you didn’t tell me you were his main competitor for the championship title?”

  Shane exhaled and scrubbed his hand over his face. “Fuck. I knew this was going to come up. I didn’t want it to.” He reached for her hand.

  She pulled it away. “On top of that, Phoebe told my brother that you’re fucking me.”

  Shane’s face paled and he spoke through gritted teeth. “She did what?”

  “That’s right. She told him you were fucking me. Probably just to get to him before the ride. It’s real nice being called a whore for something I haven’t even done. And you better shut her down or I will. She’s your bitch.”

  Shane raised his hand up. “Wait a second. She’s not my bitch or my anything.”

  “So, you’re going to tell me you’re not fucking her?”

  “No, I’m not fucking her. I mean, I did. Before. But that’s been over for a while.”

  Tess fought off the tears again. She didn’t want to cry but between her brother badgering her and Phoebe being a snake and Shane standing here telling her that he was not using her, she was overwhelmed. She didn’t know who to believe. She buried her face in her hands to regain her composure.

  Taking a deep breath, she looked back at Shane. “I have to go. I need to think about all this.” She started for the door.

  He caught her by the arm gently. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t using you. There just hadn’t been an opportunity to tell you and I was afraid of how that might affect my chances.”

  She stared directly into his eyes. “Your chances of fucking me?”


  He didn’t waver and he did not look away. “No. If I just wanted to fuck you, I could have done that last night.”

  “Oh, you think so?”

  He moved closer until she could smell tobacco on his breath. “I know so.”

  Looking at the floor, she hesitated. He was right. If he’d tried, she would have let him. “I don’t know what to believe. I don’t know what to think. This is all fucked up.”

  “I don’t blame you. This whole thing is a mess.” Shane backed up and spread his hands out in front of him. “At first, Phoebe was fun and showered me with all this attention and I liked it. But it quickly became clear that she was just using me. She started treating me like a pet. She became more demanding and wanted to know where I was when I wasn’t here. Who I’d been with. I tried to pull away from her but she told me, in a roundabout way, that if I wanted to end the affair, she’d have to let me go. Part of why I continued to sleep with Phoebe was because I need this job. I’m not like your brother. I don’t have high-end sponsors who bank roll my rides. I have to save money and manage it on my own. Working here gives me the money I need and I have access to the horses and, well, it all seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  Tess didn’t know what to say to him. She kind of understood the position he was in. “That’s really bad, Shane. You know how that sounds. You sound like a prostitute.”

  “And I’m a guy. As shallow as it sounds, it’s hard to turn down sex with someone like her.”

  Tess raised an eyebrow. Why were men so stupid? First her brothers and now Shane. “Yeah. She’s a real fucking prize. You almost had my sympathy there for a second. Well, you can have the old bitch. I’m out of here.”

  God. Why do I care who he is or was fucking? He’s not my boyfriend. I let him eat me out and get me off. That’s it. Nothing more to this. I don’t want to care but… dammit… I do.

  She pushed him away and walked to the door, pulling it open.

  He came up behind her, pushed the door shut, and spun her around. “I was being honest with you. Would you rather I lie?” He backed her into the corner beside the door. “I’m not a liar and I’m no god damned angel. I suspect you’re not either but I’m not here to pass judgment on anyone.”