Studs, page 20
“Travis, you’ve got to come see this.”
He whirled toward the sound of Billy’s voice. “What? I’m too busy for show and tell, Billy.” He knew his tone was harder than it should be, but he couldn’t help it.
“It’s Adonis. And that lady horse talker you hired.”
Travis cringed. Shit. Everyone in Texas knew he’d hired a horse talker. Would he ever live that mistake down? What now? Anxiety whipped into high mode as he turned and followed Billy out of the barn.
Straight into a living nightmare.
Several men stood around the stud horse watching the gorgeous raven-haired woman rub the horse’s neck as she murmured to him. The men glanced at him, some trying to restrain the mirth he could see in their eyes and twitching at the corners of their mouths, and then looked back at Charissa. Shit again. He’d become a joke to his employees. Employees who had big mouths and would love to spread the word about their nutty boss and the lady horse psychic.
As he glared at the scene, Charissa twisted around and smiled at him. Damn, but the woman could stop a man’s heart with her smile and he wouldn’t mind one bit. If a man’s gotta die, he could think of worse ways to kick the bucket.
“Travis.”
Even the simple way she said his name made him want to climb on the roof of his house and shout his love for her so the whole damn world could hear. Love? Had he just thought the word love? A rush of panic swept through him. He hadn’t said the word out loud, had he? He scoured the faces around and saw no shocked reactions. No, thank God. He hadn’t. But did his keeping silent make the truth behind the word any less real?
Her smiled faded a little as she wondered at his silence. “Travis, I believe I’ve cured Adonis.”
****
What was wrong with him today? Charissa waited a moment longer for Travis to speak. When he didn’t, she tried again. “Did you hear what I said? I think I fixed him.”
Ah, he did hear. At least I think that’s what the grinding of his jaws mean. But you’d think he’d act happier. I don’t get him. She renewed her attention to Adonis, preferring the horse’s thoughts to trying to understand the man.
“How?”
She sensed Travis move closer to her and her stomach tightened as she recognized his scent. “Trust me, I just know.”
Billy’s snicker had her turning toward him, squinting her eyes in the meanest look she could make. His grin swept away as the pink rushed up from his neck and he ducked his head to avoid her gaze.
“Prove it.”
The hard expression fixed on Travis’ features started to make her mad, but she took a deep breath and reassured herself it was nothing personal. After all, she’d worked for him long enough and done nothing to help the horse. Of course, Rici’s possession of the horse hadn’t helped matters. Even after Rici departed from Adonis, the poor horse had had to have some time to recuperate.
She wanted to tell Travis everything, but knew he’d never believe her. Last night, she’d even tried imagining his answer if she told him, “Travis, Adonis doesn’t have anything physically wrong with him. He’s traumatized from my brother’s occupation of his mind and body. Shat, you’d have trouble getting back to normal if you’d had a Matlantian controlling your every move, wouldn’t you? Oh, and by the way, Rici’s my brother and we’re Matlantians who live on an invisible moon and have special powers.” Uh, yeah, right. That one would go over really well. Not.
“Or can’t you prove it?”
The tone in his voice rankled her nerves but, again, she let it slide. “Yes, I can. And I’m doing it right now. Or, at least I was until you interrupted me.”
From the incredulous looks on their faces, you’d think she’d dropped all her clothes on the ground and stood butt-naked as every set of male eyes locked onto her. She checked all their faces and each of them had the exact same expression as the man standing next to him. In fact, if they’d spoken at the same time, she knew she’d have heard a combined, “Yeah, right.”
“Well, then, don’t let me stop you.” Travis crossed his arms and settled his feet apart, ready for the show to begin.
“Fine. Keep quiet. I need to concentrate.” Although the concentration part was a lie, she didn’t want to hear Travis any longer. Let him keep his skepticism to himself. He’d come around as soon as she got the freaked-out horse back to normal.
Taking the horse by the halter, she resumed her talk with him.
I’m sorry for the interruption, Adonis. Now where was I? Oh, yes.
Adonis lifted his head as he gazed at her.
We—my brother and I—have taken advantage of you. But it was for a good cause. For love. See that human over there?
Adonis lifted his head and nickered a low confirmation.
Good. Well, I almost hate to say it right now, but I love him.
The stud shook his head at her and tried to pull away.
No, now. I know you’re not too fond of him, but he’s really nice. For a human, that is.
Adonis settled down and she could sense him listening to her.
And he cares about you.
As the horse started to argue, she cut him off. I’m serious. Sure, he wants you to do the sex thing for him, but I’d think you’d want to. You think Princess is attractive, right?
Adonis nickered again.
Okay, maybe you horses don’t think in those terms. How about this? Do you want to mount her or not?
He jerked his head up and down, pulling on the halter. The hired hands started to come to her aid, but Charissa waved them away.
“So are you doing your thing right now?”
She didn’t bother to look at Travis. She could hear the disbelief in his voice. No matter. He’d be a believer soon enough. “I’m talking to him and would appreciate you staying quiet.”
“Oh, man, I’m working at a damn circus.”
The man’s remark had Travis bristling until Charissa held up her hand, summoning silence.
Answer me, Adonis. Do you want to mount the mare or not? I won’t let them force you after everything we’ve already done to you. But, if you do, today’s your last chance. So, what do you want to do?
For a moment she thought she’d lost the connection with the horse. Until he bumped his nose against her chest and she received his answer loud and clear.
“Okay, Travis. He’s ready. Take him to her.”
When no one moved, she turned to Travis. “Well? Why aren’t you getting busy so Adonis can get busy?” She’d learned the new saying from watching what the humans called a sitcom and liked the sound of it. “Travis?” His hesitation irked her, even though she understood it.
“That’s it?” He stepped to her side to examine the horse better. “He doesn’t seem any different.”
“But he is. Trust me. Take him to Princess and he’ll perform.”
Travis considered her for a moment and then nodded to Billy. “Go ahead. Give it a shot. But make sure Doc’s there to watch. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
Billy took the lead rope from Charissa and, along with most of the other hired hands, headed toward the breeding shed. When they were far enough away not to hear, Travis took her arms and bent his face close to hers.
“Are you here to make a fool out of me?”
When she’d expected gratitude, he’d given her suspicion. “What? What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about how since you arrived, nothing’s happened the way it’s supposed to.”
“Hey, Adonis had problems before I came. I’m the solution, not the cause.”
He blinked as the truth struck him and then let her go. “You’re right. I think the weirdness started when the old guy, Justin, worked here.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “You didn’t happen to know him, did you?”
She forced a laugh. “Me? Nope. Sorry.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over them and Charissa found it difficult to look him straight in the eye. Was it because she’d lied to him again? Or did her nervousness have more to do with her knowing he cared but not in the way she wanted him to?
“Uh, Travis?”
“Yeah?”
She noted the softer tone of his voice even as her gaze caught the bulge in his jeans. At least he’s still attracted to me.
“Don’t you want to go check up on—”
His mouth crushed on hers before she could finish the sentence. Reaching around his broad torso, she clung to him as his tongue broke through her lips and into her mouth. He groaned, spilling the warmth of his breath into her and she relaxed against him.
“Damn, Charissa. Do you know what you do to me? How you twist me up inside?” His hands ran down her back, over the curve of her hips and grabbed her ass to tug her closer. She felt the hardness of his erection against her stomach and wanted nothing more than to jump on him and push her against his crotch.
I shouldn’t. He doesn’t care about me. Not really.
Yet when his grip seemed to push her buttocks higher, she let go of her worries and jumped. He caught her and wrapped her legs around his hips.
“Not. Here.” Although the hired hands were in with Adonis and the mare, she didn’t want to risk anyone seeing them.
He mumbled something incoherent as his tongue slid along her collarbone, but he must’ve understood her as he carried her away from the barn and into the house. He kept her to him, as his mouth covered hers again and she felt him take her up the stairs and into his bedroom. Yet instead of heading to the bed, he positioned his back against the bathroom door and shoved their way through the door. He set her down and reached behind him to open the shower door.
A thrill rushed through her as she realized what he was doing. “Travis.”
“No. Don’t talk. We’ve talked too much.” As his hot gaze scoured her body, he lifted the t-shirt she wore over her head and tossed it away. His mouth found her exposed tit and he bent to it, seizing it, pulling it to him as he worked on getting her jeans dropped to her ankles. She kicked, getting her boots off and followed them with her jeans.
She struggled to unbutton his shirt, tugging it away from his shoulders and onto the floor behind him. Reaching into the shower, he turned the knob and started the water flowing.
As their lips connected, nipping, pulling, licking, he heeled off his boots along with his jeans.
Naked at last, they stepped into the shower together, unable to let their bodies not touch. She eased against the shower wall as the warm water flowed over them, mixing the hard taste of well water with the hot juices of their mouths.
Travis bent to her, taking each breast in a hand and shoved his face between them. She giggled, delighting in the way he licked each breast, circling around the fullness of each several times until his spiral led him to her hard tits. As his thumb caressed one nipple, he bit the other and sucked, the pain being a pleasure she’d never experienced before now.
But she wanted more. Now.
Reaching above her, she removed the spray nozzle from its hook and brought it behind him. Aiming as well as she could, she showered his back with the warm water and watched as the muscles in his back channeled the stream over the rise of his butt and into the cleft of his ass.
He straightened up and took the nozzle from her. “Two can play at that game.” Reaching between her legs, he lifted one and placed it on the built-in shower seat. Running his hand over the small mound of her abdomen, he bent to his knees, taking the nozzle with him. “You’re going to like this. Hold onto my shoulders.”
She did as he ordered, sinking her fingers into his massive shoulders, and gasped as the warm spray struck her, coursing the water around her, inside her. Spreading her folds, he aimed the water at her clit and she gasped again as the spray throbbed against her aching nub.
“Oh, by the Elders, that’s so good.”
“The Elders?”
“Never mind.”
“Okay. I’ll mind this instead.” With a wicked grin, he turned spray control on the shower head and the wide spray intensified into one pulsating stream. His tongue ran over her nub and she cried out and dug her fingers into him. She cried out again, this time in protest, as he took his mouth off of her.
“No. Don’t stop.” She moaned as he lifted his head to her, his eyes darkened in desire.
Without a word, he answered her as he brought the pulsing water back to her. Her knees buckled as the force of the water struck her clit and she climaxed, the waves of release rolling through her.
Catching her before she slid to the floor, Travis guided her to sit on the seat. He stood then, replacing the shower head and came back to kneel in front of her. “I’m not letting you off so easy. Spread ‘em, baby.”
She obeyed with a smile and slipped her butt toward the end of the seat. Leaning against the wall, she closed her eyes as his mouth fell on her mons. At first, he teased her, licking away the water that streamed over her skin. But she knew he wouldn’t wait much longer, as he moaned and slid his hands under her legs. Lifting them over his shoulders, he let go and used his fingers to open her to him.
She’d had lovers before, but never like this. Travis knew how much pressure to put on her, when to lick, when to suck, when to bite. Just as she was about to explode again, he’d change position and leave her hanging on the edge of climax.
“Travis, please.” She wanted to say so much more, but didn’t have the strength.
Again his answer came in the physical way, as he used his fingers to explore her vagina and renewed his oral attack on her clit. She couldn’t stop moaning now, her voice growing louder with each move of his fingers. Clutching his wet hair, she kept him to her, moving her pelvis up and down in rhythm to his probing fingers and tongue. The climax hit her, tightening her muscles everywhere as it rushed through her. As the smaller climaxes kept coming, she peered down at him so she could watch as he lapped up her juices.
At last he stopped to give her time to rest and breathe again.
When her pulse had returned to a semi-normal pace, she tugged on his hair and pulled his face to hers. Before the cascading water could wash it away, she ran her tongue over his lips and tasted her juices on them. He fondled her breasts and growled his excitement low and deep in his throat.
“Your turn.” She wiggled her eyebrows and motioned for him to stand up. He did so, the corners of his mouth tweaking up, and flattened his hands against the wall behind her. She licked her lips, tilting her head to the side to appreciate how the rivulets of water coursed over his six-pack abs, through his bush of curly hair and dripped off the tip of his penis.
“Hmm, hmm. Good.”
He laughed and caressed the back of her head, running his fingers through her wet hair. “You sound like a television commercial.”
“I do?” She flicked her tongue over the end of his cock and watched it jerk in response. “Then let’s make this a commercial for one of those movies I saw the other night.”
“You mean you watched the porn channel?”
“I guess.” She glanced up at him then, opened her mouth just enough to run her tongue over her lips, and watched the water drip off his nose as he locked his attention on her. “But I think we can do better than those hu-uh, people did.” Taking his shaft in her hand, she brought him to her and sucked him into her mouth.
He inhaled sharply and spread his feet wider. Taking her time, she slipped him in and out of her mouth as the water dripping from his nose splashed on the back of her head.
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”
Charissa nodded even as she began to suck harder, pulling on every inch of his shaft in a slow drag. His moans grew more frequent as she kept going, trying to judge when his release would come.
“Damn it. I can’t. I can’t.”
Abruptly, she let go of him and stood up. Putting her back to the wall, she again lifted a leg to the seat, opening her snatch for him. “Fuck me, Travis. Now.”
He moved into her, knocking her head against the wall as he took her ass in his hands for support and thrust into her. With him holding her up, she cupped one breast and brought his mouth to her nipple. Again she ordered him.
“Harder, Travis. Fuck me harder.”
He grunted with the strain as he pounded into her, making her head bump against the wall behind her and trying to keep his mouth on her tit. Her vaginal muscles clamped around him, trying to hold him inside her even as she reveled in the feel of friction as he quickened his strokes.
“Go deeper, Travis. Hard, fast, and deep.”
At her urging, he lifted her off the floor and slammed her against the wall, crushing her with his body. She cried out as she slipped her hands to his ass, marveling at the tightness there as he strove to drive harder, farther, deeper.
She climaxed again and again, too many to remember. Bringing his mouth to hers to smother her cries, he tensed for a minute and then released. His body quivered over hers—or was it her own body shaking with each thunderous release?—and rested against her.
“Holy shit.”
She kissed him again, the Love emotion she’d tried to ignore breaking free of her control. “I’ll say.”
“You are freakin’ amazing.” As his breathing settled into a normal pattern again, he let her legs slide down his to the floor. Placing his hands on either side of her head, he leaned in and gave her a soft, tender kiss.
And then stopped cold. Stopped cold in the same moment she saw Boggens sitting on the vanity counter. She glared at the faery, but he didn’t appear to care. Instead, he pointed one finger and shook it at her.
What the shat? Does this slimy, little dirt faery have the nerve to admonish me for having sex with Travis?
“Do you hear someone?” Travis interrupted her, losing her chance to telepathically yell at Boggens before he popped out of sight.
She started to shake her head but couldn’t ignore the sound even though she wanted to. “Shh. Listen.”
They stood, still hanging onto each other, and waited.
“Travis. Travis, are you in there?”
