9781631051289TemptedbytheCowboySullivan
TEMPTED BY THE COWBOY
Cowboy Dreamin’ 4
Sandy Sullivan
Erotic Romance
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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A Secret Cravings Publishing Book
Erotic Romance
Tempted by the Cowboy
Copyright © 2014 Sandy Sullivan
E-book ISBN: 978-1-63105-128-9
First E-book Publication: March 2014
Cover design by Dawné Dominique
Edited by Stephanie Balistreri
Proofread by Rene Flowers
All cover art and logo copyright © 2014 by Secret Cravings Publishing
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
Dedication
To all my fans out there, I love you dearly and I hope you enjoy the next installment
of the Cowboy Dreamin’ series.
The Cravings Ebook Club
The Cravings Paranormal Ebook Club
Have you heard about the newest idea in ebooks, the ebook club? Secret Cravings Publishing has two ebook clubs, The Cravings Ebook Club or the Cravings Paranormal Ebook Club, and we invite you to become a member.
As a new member, you will receive Trouble With a Cowboy* by Sandy Sullivan and Blood Kisses** by H.N. Sieverding FREE, just for joining!
You’ll also receive 4 BRAND-NEW EBOOKS, specially selected by our Editorial Director, every month in a variety of genres for a total price of only $9.99 for all 4. This comes out to barely $2.50 per book, much less than the retail price and you’ll be able to enjoy your books even before they are uploaded to the popular sales sites. One of several privileges of club membership.
*Trouble With a Cowboy, a western, erotic romance:
18 wheels had her heart until one hard-up cowboy found her kickin' up her heels and propositions her to take his bull to Vegas.
Jacie Hawkins drives big wheelers for a livin'. Something not a lot of women do. Littleton Oklahoma is just a dry stopover for a few hours of rest and relaxation at the nearest bar. Jacie needs to find a hot cowboy to release some of her pent up frustrations on for the night, but wannabe's aren't her style.
Tucker Marshall needs a big-rig driver to haul his prize bull to National Finals Rodeo and he needs one fast. Who would have thought he'd find one shootin' pool at the local bar dressed to kill and takin' numbers?
Can some slashed tires and an ornery bull bring two hard-headed people together for some fun in the sun and a little more?
**Blood Kisses (Nightwalkers 1), paranormal erotic romance:
Ashleigh Brown, the author of the popular Nightwalkers series, lives a quiet life free of the limelight. She keeps her real identity secret by writing under the pen name, Victoria Allure. She soon finds herself in a bind when she's kidnapped by a group of handsome vampires seeking Victoria. She then agrees to meet their Master, who's a huge fan of her books. But instead of meeting him, she accidentally crosses paths with her rock star crush. He is the sexy muse behind Nightwalkers and the man she based the hero in the series upon. She would do anything to meet him but little does she know her crush has a secret...
We will try to match your books to your preferences, however, if you’re a major paranormal fan, we suggest you join the Cravings Paranormal Club. Everything is the same except that three of your four books will be paranormal. The remaining book will be of a different genre.
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TEMPTED BY THE COWBOY
Sandy Sullivan
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
Peyton Matthews stood at the edge of the crowd watching as the Young brothers did their best to sling mud in every direction. Muddin’. The cowboy way of having fun on a hot early summer evening. A little dirt, a lot of water, some big mud tires on a pickup truck, and you had yourself a grand time in Bandera, Texas.
She wasn’t sure why she let Aaron talk her into coming to this tonight. The cowboy way of life came hard for her. With her multiple tattoos, piercings, and loner mentality, she really didn’t fit in here. Even as a child, she’d been out of place with her tomboyish attitude. She hadn’t grown into her female body until later in high school as she cursed every curve, swell and period from then on. Not that she didn’t like being a woman now, but she sure hadn’t during puberty. And when the boys started noticing she had boobs? Oh boy! The gloves came off. Several of them got bloody noses from a well-placed fist.
Next up, the infuriating Jason Young, who took his turn at the hole. Mud flew in several directions, coating the crowd watching with the sticky substance. His red truck took the brunt of the splash, slinging the dirt over the entire side.
The grin he flashed from the driver’s seat was infectious and she couldn’t help but smile in return. He sure did have a pretty smile. Not that she really noticed or anything.
She knew his type. She’d seen it several times over the last several months as he played each female in The Dusty Boot like a fiddle with the strings too tight. A different one each time he came in.
As one of the bartenders who worked the joint, she saw him a lot. More than she wanted to, most of the time. She couldn’t help but notice the way he carried himself. Nor, could she take her eyes off the cu
t of his shirt over the muscles of his chest, the snug way his jeans molded to his nice ass and those lips. God help her, those lips. Dark, thick hair hung to his collar with a slight wave. Her fingers itched to run through those strands.
A slight shift in her stance relieved some of the pressure on her clit, just not enough to satisfy the ache building. Maybe she’d let Aaron have a go tonight. She glanced toward where he sat reclining against a hay bale with a long-neck beer between his fingers in one hand and a cigarette clutched between his teeth. Okay, maybe not. Why she even went out with the guy, she didn’t know other than she didn’t want to spend another Saturday night off, sitting at home watching reruns of Will and Grace.
She sipped her beer, grimacing at the taste. The malty liquid had the ability to make her stomach lurch. Give her a shot of whiskey and water before the taste of this shit, any day, but it was liquor. Right now she needed the bite of alcohol on her tongue.
Today sucked. The whole thing from morning until now bit the big one. Memories had swamped her most of all, bringing down her mood into the pits of hell.
One year ago today, her mother had passed away from breast cancer. She took another sip from the bottle in her hand. Yuck! She tossed it into the trash can to her left before she stuffed her hands into her back pockets.
Jason took another run at the hole as she shook her head. The man knew what to do to make himself visible. Again, he probably had to being one of the Young triplets, identical triplets at that, although she had always been able to tell them apart when she’d had the privilege of gazing into their gorgeous faces. The other two weren’t quite as broad across the shoulders as Jason. Something lingered in his gaze too. She wasn’t sure what, but it intrigued her. Something wild. Something untamed maybe.
They all had the sweetest dimpled grin, but Jason seemed to have the half crooked tilt to his lips down pat. Boy did it work on the ladies.
She scuffed the toe of her boot in the dirt as she sighed heavily. It wouldn’t do a bit of good to get tangled up with the likes of him even if he might be available. He wasn’t as far as she knew. She didn’t necessarily keep up with his whereabouts or latest fling. Well that’s what she told herself anyway even if she noticed every girl he came in with or went home with. Damn.
“Hey, babe. Why don’t you sit here with me,” Aaron said, patting the hay bale next to him.
“No thanks.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“You came with me, you know.”
“I know I did, Aaron, but don’t pull your macho shit with me. I can find another way home. There are plenty of people from town here I could hitch a ride with.”
“Like one of the Young boys?” He climbed to his feet, swaying slightly. “Don’t think I haven’t seen you watchin’ several of them tonight.”
He grabbed her arm, but she yanked it out of his hold. “Don’t manhandle me, jackass.”
“Aw, come on, babe. I don’t wanna fuss with you. I wanna love on you.”
“Yeah, not happenin’.”
“Problem?” Jason stepped out of the shadows of the tree line.
Her breath stopped in her throat as it closed off. “No problem.” The words came out in a squeak, not at all what she’d hoped to sound like—confident in her ability to take care of herself.
“Back off, Young.”
“Fuck you, Scarborough. You don’t get rough with a woman while I’m around.”
“She ain’t your woman.”
“She isn’t yours either, asshole.” He touched her arm where Aaron had grabbed. “Are you okay, Peyton?”
“I’m fine. Thanks.” She tipped her head back slightly to look down her nose at the idiot she came with. Big mistake, but one she’d own up to. “I can handle him.”
“I’m sure you can, darlin’, but you don’t have to.”
“It’s okay.”
“If you need a ride back to town later, let me know. As for now, have a good time.”
He walked away, taking his scent and the heat of his hand with him. Goose bumps rose on her arms. The urge to calm them with her hands, flittered across her shoulders. She ignored the urge, almost embracing the affect he had on her as desire coiled low in her belly.
Aaron burped loudly. “You aren’t his type, you know.”
“What are you yammering about now?”
“Jason.” He pointed with the bottle in his hand as he took a drag on his cigarette. “You aren’t his type. He wants a downhome country girl, not a tattooed up, rough around the edges chick like you.”
“I don’t care what his type is.” She shrugged as she glanced down at the nails on her left hand. “I’m not looking to hook up with any of the Young boys.”
“Good. Come here then.” He jerked her into his arms, effectively caging her in his tight embrace.
The wet slide of his lips along her neck almost made her gag. The inclination doubled as she glanced across the clearing straight into the glittering blue gaze of Jason. The frown pulling down the corners of his mouth made her frown in return. “I don’t want this, Aaron.”
She pushed him back by the shoulders.
“What the fuck, babe? I know you’re horny. I can smell it on you.”
“I’m not horny for you.”
“Bitch!” He slapped her hard across the cheek, tossing her to the ground at his feet. “You fucking cunt. You aren’t good enough for the likes of me. I wouldn’t fuck you if you were the last pussy in Bandera.”
Within seconds, Jason had him by the front of his shirt as he lifted him until his feet dangled. “I told you, you don’t hurt a woman while I’m around.” Jason pulled back his fist and proceeded to punch Aaron in the nose. Hard. He landed two more before two of his brothers hauled him off even though he struggled in their hold. “Let go. I’m gonna make sure he never hits a woman again while I mess up his pretty face.”
“He’s not worth the trouble, bro.” Joel held one arm while Jackson had the other.
Jason shook off their hands.
“Fuckin’ bastard! You’re gonna be sorry you did this,” Aaron threatened as he struggled to his feet.
Jason lunged, but his brothers grabbed him before he could do any further damage. “Get the fuck off our property, Scarborough. Don’t ever come back or there will be nine of us against one of you.”
Aaron held his nose, making his voice come out in a deep nasally sound. “You don’t own the God damn county, Young. I can do what I want.”
“Not on our property.” Jason glanced at her as she struggled to her feet. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
He touched her cheek with his fingertips. “You’ll probably have a bruise tomorrow.”
She winced from the scrape of his calluses. “I’m sure.” She dropped her gaze from connecting with his. She never could handle looking deep into his eyes. The color of a clear lake somewhere in the mountains, she’d always melted into a puddle of goo when they connected. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”
“I’d do it for anyone.”
Ouch. “Thanks anyway. I appreciate it.”
Nina, Jason’s mother, came to her side. “Are you all right, Peyton?” She looked at the boys who’d begun to gather. “Get him off the property. I don’t care how to you do it, but I want him out of here.”
Jeremiah and Jackson grabbed Aaron by the arms none too gently and pushed him toward where his car sat off to the back of the packed group.
“I’m fine, Nina, but thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, honey. I didn’t do anything. You should be more careful who you keep company with.”
“I know. Trust me, I won’t be keeping company with him again. I won’t tolerate a man hitting me. If Jason hadn’t stepped in, I would have decked him myself.”
Nina laughed. “I get the impression you can take care of yourself most of the time.”
Peyton nodded as she touched her fingertips to her cheek. “I can.” She sighed when she dropped her
hand back to her side. “I guess I should find someone to take me home.”
“I will.” Jason took out his keys. “Just say when.”
“You know, I think I’ll stay awhile. I’m not going to let one asshole ruin my afternoon. Let the mud sling, baby!”
Jason laughed. The sound rippled down her back in a slow shiver. He pulled her in for a quick hug.
“I like you, Peyton Matthews. How about you take a run with me through the mud?”
“Run?”
“Yeah. You came to get down and dirty, didn’t you?” he asked, his hands on his hips. One eyebrow cocked over his eye right before a panty-melting grin spread across his lips. He dove for her, pressing his shoulder into her abdomen as he lifted her off the ground before he strolled for the mud pit.
She reached down to smack his taut ass, realizing just how tight his butt was. Holy hell! Her long hair swung back and forth, blocking her vision as the catcalls flew.
“Get her, Jason.”
“Hey, Peyton. Takin’ a bath with Jason?”
She felt her face flush hot. “Put me down.”
“Nope.”
His boots hit the edge of the mud pit, with both feet sliding until they went down into the water. He’d tried to bring her back over his shoulder before they landed, only to hit a dirt mound in the middle. This caused him to lose his grip until she landed directly on top of him, her face to his crotch and her legs cradling his head. The crowd roared. Jason laughed and she couldn’t help but laugh too no matter the precarious place her face brushed against.
The shape of his cock stood proud, outlined by the tight wetness of his jeans.