Epilogue

 

 

 

The birthing season had finally wound down to a slower, more manageable pace. It had been an extremely successful season with an explosion of new foals. Only one mare hadn’t made it through the birth of her foal, and although Charlie had been able to save the baby, she still felt a pang of guilt and regret that she hadn’t been able to save its mama.

She had named the colt Roddy, which meant Strong One, and had taken a personal interest in raising him. He’d shown such strength adapting to life without his mother and a curious wonder of everything around him, yet had a stubborn streak a mile wide and had proven to be quite the little jokester.

Charlie opened the gate to Roddy’s stall. She stepped in and was instantly pulled forward by the harness she held in her hand. And so the daily game of tug of war began. Laughing, Charlie pulled and twisted but made little ground with the spirited whelp.

“Oh, you want to make this tough, do you?”

Roddy responded with tugs and shook the harness until she was forced to let go and watch as he bounded away, head high with a little prance in his step as he showed off the prize he’d won.

“You are totally incorrigible, young man. Getting your own way and then flaunting and strutting around like a peacock.” Charlie couldn’t help but laugh at the unrepentant pride in Roddy, which reminded her of two other incorrigible men she knew. “You, young man”—she put her hands on her hips and gave the colt a mock scowl—“are as bad as your owners.”

“Hey, I take offense to that. I don’t believe I have ever pranced around with that much cockiness a day in my life.”

Charlie turned and gave Kegan the same mock scowl. “You, Mr. Too Damn Cute, with your dimpled smile, are the king of getting your way. What have you been teaching my precious little Roddy?”

Kegan stalked toward her, a sly grin on his full lips and a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Mr. Too Damn Cute, is it?” He continued his way toward her like a predator stalking his prey. “I thought it was Mr. Tall, Cute and Completely in Love?” He moved into the stall, stopped inches from her, then lowered his head until his lips were just a hairsbreadth away from her ear. “But right now, I want to be naughty.”

Warm, moist lips caressed the sensitive skin below her ear and moved downward. Charlie nearly melted from the sensation and a moan moved past her lips as her body responded instantly to the need Kegan always brought out in her with just the simplest of touches. “How naughty?” she whispered as she surrendered to him.

Strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet as she was pulled into a tight embrace and Kegan’s lips descended over hers—nipping and demanding entrance.

Charlie opened wide and he dove in, exploring her mouth with a hunger that left her reeling. He sought her tongue with his, kissing her hard, with one hand on the back of her neck to control the kiss as he massaged her backside with the other.

He broke the kiss and pulled back. He dropped his hand from her neck then moved it to her waist and pressed her tighter against the hard length of his erection. “Gonna show you just how naughty I can be.” He kissed her again as he began walking out of the stall. Oh, she was looking forward to finding out how naughty Kegan could be.

In the last month since she’d returned from her little adventure, she’d given up her apartment, moved to Trev-Ke Ranch and given herself completely to her cowboys.

They in turn had given themselves completely to her. They still had some work to do on Kegan’s doubts and Charlie’s own insecurities, but once again, Trevor had become the bridge between them. They were all learning to keep open and honest communication, the most important tool they had.

Charlie was still a little uncomfortable about how they were perceived in the community, especially since her men had insisted upon renaming the ranch Trev-Char-Ke, letting everyone know she was permanently sandwiched right between them. She wasn’t bothered enough by it to change a single aspect of their relationship, though. What they believed and brought to her life was more important than any sneer or rejection she might receive from anyone in ‘society’.

Charlie was jolted out of her musings and laid across a blanket-covered bale of hay, her wrists wrapped in soft leather reins.

“I’ll show you Trevor’s not the only one who can be naughty. I’m going to bind you so you’re not allowed to touch, only feel.” Kegan flipped her over onto her stomach and his warm hands caressed her hips as he pulled her up onto her knees. “This pretty little ass is just at the right height so I can take my time. Torture you nice and slow.”

Charlie looked back over her shoulder as she heard a zipper being pulled down and the clank of a buckle being pulled free. She watched through lust-filled eyes as Kegan took the cell phone from his hip, laid it next to her on the bale, then began to slowly remove his clothes. He told her in a deep and husky voice exactly what he was going to do to her until she was hoarse from screaming in pleasure.

Rough, callused hands caressed her trembling thighs as he bent to lick his way up her spine from base to nape. “I love doing all kinds of naughty things to this luscious body of yours.” Firm fingers massaged her ass as his wicked tongue continued its assault on her flushed skin, the steady sound of her unrestrained need loud in the quiet of the barn.

“Now, if I just had something to keep these legs spread wide for me,” Kegan whispered.

“Will this work?” Trevor asked as he walked into the barn naked, a predatory grin on his face, a long red rope in one hand.

Kegan chuckled. “Oh, yeah. Let’s get naughty.”