Stockton County Cowboys Box Set

Chapter 18: Tempted and Tempest-1

Chapter 18: Tempted and Tempest

Underground Bunker

Arched Q Ranch

1:00 P.M.

Cord brushed against me in the dark and I inhaled his strong scent of sweat and fresh rain. His firm pecs grazed my own, and I shivered at the feel of his erect n*****s. He put his palm on my hip as he whispered, “Are you afraid, Bradley?”

Again I took in his strong and manly scent, thought about kissing him, but didn’t. I said, “I’m not afraid of anything with you at my side.”

As I said it, I forgot the twister. I forgot my fear of the bunker. Instead, my mind raced with the blissful thought of our bodies combining as one. My mind swirled like the tornado, and I found myself focusing on Cord, craving his skin, tempted to lick the sweat and rain off it. But I had to remember to control myself. I was Cord’s guest, and an uninvited one. I’d been on my best behavior so far. Some might even have called me a gentleman. I’d let Cord make the first s****l before, and I was going to wait for him to do it again, at least for a little while, and God Himself knew I’d make the move if I had to. But right now, we were going to wait out the tornado. The roar and whine of the wind were so loud it sounded like the twister cloud was directly overhead, Cord’s ranch helpless before it.

Joel and Francisco suddenly came to mind. I asked Cord whether they’d be safe.

“There’s a storm cellar under the house, too. I’m sure they’re there together. They’ve lived through many tornadoes.” Cord grazed his chin over mine and our lips touched ever so slightly. He pressed the tip of his nose to mine. He said, “Trust me, I won’t let anything or anyone hurt you.”

I believed him. Who wouldn’t believe someone who wanted to protect them—especially in the middle of a tornado? I’d have done anything for him just then. He could have manipulated me into doing anything he wanted. If he told me to howl like a wolf, or scream like the tornado, I would have. If he’d insisted that I unbuckled his jeans with my teeth, pulled them off with my toes, and sucked him off, I would have done it in an instant.

“Let me turn on the light before I seduce you.”

“Seduce me?” I felt him step away from me, heard him move in the dark.

From somewhere off to my right, he said, “Why wouldn’t I seduce a steamy-hot guy like you? I’d be a fool not to, you’re too damn sexy.”

I was loving his compliments and relishing the moment. He didn’t want to take advantage of me, he cared about me, wanted me. He was sweet and charming and I was smitten with him. I was just surprised that another cowboy hadn’t already sniffed him out and taken him. Perhaps queer cowboys were hard to find in Stockton County: endangered animals. No matter. I felt I had Cord exactly where I wanted him: next to my soul, close to my heart, and free of baggage.