Vivian Arend - Rocky Mountain Heat

At fourteen she’d declared they all had to call her Jaxi, and that’s when the trouble started. All of a sudden she wasn’t only a great fishing and riding buddy to the boys, there were hips and breasts and all the interesting parts that went along with being a girl.

Blake pushed a loose strand of hair from her face. Her forehead was burning hot under his fingers, and shivers continued to rack her body. Her slim form fit on the seat with difficulty because of her long legs, even with them curled up tight as she lay in his lap.

And wasn’t that the most damning part of it all. Here she was in his lap, exactly where he’d longed to have her, and exactly where he had no right to want her. Twenty-eight years was old enough to know better.

But young enough, it appeared, to still be a stupid ass.

Even burning with fever she was incredibly beautiful. He fought the attraction he felt, feeling dirty for thinking about her that way. Ten years between them. For heaven’s sake, he’d been the one to hold the reins the first time she rode a horse. He’d carried her home another day when she’d fallen off and gotten the wind knocked out of her. He’d become family to the lonely little girl, and he had no right to admire her changing body, her bright eyes or her quick wit.

And his fool of a brother planned on breaking up with her? At nineteen Travis thought he was God’s gift to women, but at times like this Blake wondered if Travis was one shovel short of a full load.

Why was Jaxi going out with the ass in the first place? Why not one of the twins, even if they were a year younger than her? Hell, why not Daniel? Of the six brothers on the ranch, did she have to pick the one with the biggest ego and the least brains?

Blake took the off-ramp and got onto the secondary highway leading to the town of Rocky Mountain House. The small town near their homes lay nestled in the rolling foothills up against the towering Alberta Rockies. At this time of day the roads were empty—everyone headed to the city already long gone. His was the only vehicle around, and behind him dust rose to the bright blue sky like a trail of gunpowder toward the barrel.

He was in so much trouble when it came to this sweet girl, and from what he knew she still was sweet, in spite of his asshole of a brother’s attempts to change the situation.

He’d overheard them a few weeks ago…

He paused two steps inside the barn doors to give his eyes a chance to adjust from the blinding June sunshine. Moans and other suspicious noises led him back to the tack room. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who it was and what was happening on the other side of the closed door. From the sound of it, things were getting hot and heavy. Blake didn’t deliberately step closer to eavesdrop.

Hell, yes, he did. He didn’t trust Travis as far as he could throw him.

The kissing and the rustling built his curiosity to a peak before Jaxi muttered, “Uh-uh, cool it,” and someone knocked something over.

“Oh, damn, Jaxi, you’re killing me here. I need you. I really need you, baby.”

Blake’s lips twisted into a grin at her unladylike response—a loud snort.

“I’m not stupid, Travis. You won’t die if we don’t have sex. Get over it already. I’m not willing—”

“You don’t love me.”

“Damn right, I don’t. You don’t love me either. We’re friends, that’s all.”

You tell him, girl. Blake snuck to the far end of the hall where he would remain safely hidden even if one of them decided to bust out of the room without warning. He didn’t feel a lick of guilt for listening in. The only self-reproach was over the way his gut tensed, imagining having Jaxi in his own arms to kiss and caress.

He beat down the impulse and listened harder.

“Jaxi, you know you like it when I touch you. I get your motor running. It’s just another thing I can do to make you feel good. Make us both feel real good. Come on, sweetheart, it’ll be special.”

“In a barn? Travis Coleman, you may be considered the hottest thing around by the rest of the girls in town, but you need a little work on your romancing.”

The sound of creaking floorboards warned Blake to fade into the corner more.

“Don’t leave me hurting here, sweetheart. Come on back and help me out. You know I like it when you touch me.”

The door squeaked as she shoved it open. “Travis, I was enjoying myself, but when you push the boundaries every time we fool around, it kills the mood. I’ve told you I’m not having sex. Not with you or anyone until I’m older, no matter what kinky games you like to play. It’s something special and I want to save it.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Then why do you keep trying to convince me to go further than I want?”

“Because I… Oh hell, are you going to help me here or what?”

The door slammed and Jaxi’s strong voice rang out. “Talk to the hand, Travis, talk to the hand.”

Blake had waited in the shadows until Travis, cussing a fair bit, hauled his ass back to the house. While he’d been proud of Jaxi for sticking to her guns, that episode had probably been another step in the beginning of the end for the two of them.

He looked at her again, lying in his lap so innocently. He was such a bastard. Even while he wanted to break his brother’s head for trying to seduce her, he had to stop himself from stroking her cheek to see if her skin was as soft as it looked.

She moaned, and her limbs jerked, arms flailing. She struck the dash with one hand, the wheel with the other.

“Whoa, take it easy.” He laid a restraining touch on her shoulder.

“Travis?”

“No, Slick, it’s Blake. Remember?”

Jaxi rolled over to stare at him. Her eyes were glazed, and she seemed to focus on something beyond him. Only a second later her face flushed and flared to anger.

“Damn it, Travis, I told you I wouldn’t give you head while you drive. Pull over right now.”

Holy shit! What the hell had his brother been doing with this girl? “I’m not Travis… You’ve got to listen, hon—”

“Pull the truck over now, you son of a bitch.” She forced herself to a sitting position, body weaving from side to side. “I swear you’re going to be the death of me. Stop this truck now or I’ll tell him.”

Tell who? Tell what?

She yelled louder, smacking her fists against his arm. The blows weren’t hard enough to cause much pain but with her off-kilter balance and the rough road, she kept knocking herself around. Blake grabbed her with one hand, pinning her arms in place as he steered the truck and trailer off to the side as quickly as possible.

“You’ve got to relax. I’m not Travis, I’m Blake. Ah, damn it, Slick, you are one sick little girl.”

“Yeah, well, you’re pretty sick yourself. You want to break up with me but you want one final farewell, is that it? Fine by me.”

A jolt of panic struck. She must have heard Travis back at the fairgrounds. Now what should he do? Try to calm her or let Travis drown in the hole he’d dug for himself?

She threw her leg across him as if she were jumping a calf in the roping contest.

“This is it. You hear me? As of tomorrow we’re not a couple anymore and you can go fuck whoever you want without me around as a decoy. I’ve had enough of the pretending.” While she spoke, she slipped loose the buckle on his belt in one smooth motion.

Blake jerked. He scrambled for her hands, trying to catch her, trying to stop her as she dragged at his zipper.

It only took a moment before he held her wrists immobile, her strong body protesting his control as she cussed and writhed in his lap. Her hot breath fell across his cheek as she leaned against him. Suddenly, all her tension slipped away and she melted in his arms. One breast nudged his chest as she tilted her body to the side. Their hands remained trapped between their torsos, and yet she attempted to snuggle closer. Her violent shouts gave way to little moans. Her tongue slipped along his sweating neck, a satisfied noise escaping.