CHAPTER FIVE

– COSIMA –

"I'm glad you're here and able to enjoy the view, even if it's just a fragment of what you were used to," my sister states from beside me.

I don't take my gaze off of Parker who is riding a buckskin Quarter Horse. The stallion's coat is the color of tanned deer while his manes, tail, and lower legs are black. Parker is leaning his forearm on the horn of his saddle and gives a sharp whistle to draw Rourke's attention.

Parker is pointing out a calf currently straying from the herd when Eastlynne states, "You like him, don't you?"

A deep sigh rips from me, and I confess, "I do."

Eastlynne places a hand on my forearm and gives a gentle squeeze. "I'm happy for you. But please don't spill any details if you guys hook up and do all the things you don't want to do in a bed."

I chuckle at the reminder of how I told her I wanted a dirty, rough, tie me up, spank my ass, choke my neck bad boy instead of a dude who is a gentleman deep down. That last part was in reference to Rourke, who is a total gentleman to my sister and has managed to draw her out of her shell…or crawl in there with her, whatever.

"I'll keep it in mind," I muse and glance around to make sure we're alone when I add, "Though, I don't know if anything will progress that way any time soon."

"Why?" Eastlynne frowns. "You've told me the headaches are less frequent and the bruises have faded which means your body is healed. Well, except for your right eye, but I'm guessing you'll have your eyes closed due to pleasure anyway."

I shoot her a glare and she bumps her shoulder against mine. "Oh, come on, Cosima. You used to be the one who would throw my anxiety issues, and everything else, in my face at any given time. We're still young, wild, and free and that's gotta stay our motto no matter what. You're the one who taught me I could do anything and was right there with me in case I needed to hide behind you to make it happen. I know you can handle anything. I've seen it many times before. Shit that makes me cringe and turn into a ball of stress while you basically walk through fire. You're still the same person, Cosima. Bad times or good, one step in front of the other makes you follow the path life gives you. And right now, you're enjoying the view."

She jerks her chin in the direction of Parker who moves his wrist but keeps his arm still while he swirls the lariat rope above his head. He moves in on his target and lets the rope fly toward the calf that's running off. The whole scene only lasts a few heartbeats as he catches the calf and jumps off his horse.

Yes. My sister is right. I should move forward and have sex. Before the attack I wouldn't think twice about hooking up, and Parker has made it clear he's interested in me.

"That dude can handle a rope," Eastlynne remarks.

I snicker and without thinking I state, "You're right. About all of it, and I should let him tie me up tonight."

"Oh, come on," Eastlynne squeaks. "I told you no sex details."

"Sounds like you two are having an interesting conversation," Kathleen remarks as she steps closer to us.

"You look like crap," my sister states and I wince because she's not lying.

Kathleen places her forearms on the top rung of the fence and releases a bone-deep sigh. "I feel like crap too. There's a hot shower and my bed calling my name."

Her phone starts to ring and I jerk my chin in the direction of her pocket. "Someone else is calling your name first."

She chuckles and grabs her phone. One glance at the screen makes her whole face shift to anger.

Jabbing the screen, she rejects the call and grumbles, "Not today, asshole."

"Boyfriend? An ex? A colleague? Siblings?" I wonder.

"Worse." Kathleen shoves her phone back into her pocket. "Remember the guy that showed up when I called in the help of those Cowboy Bikers MC Lawmen? Dark blond, scruffy jaw, dark eyes?"

"Marvin Wolffield?" my sister quips.

I remember the guy's deep voice. He helped take down Erwin Desmond and his gang of idiots. They were responsible for traumatizing a horse bred and owned by the Iron Hot Blood, killed an ex-member of the club, one of them attacked me, others set fire to the barn, and they were involved in dogfights and so much more.

"Yeah, that one," Kathleen grunts. "He's been calling for the past two days."

I turn to fully face her. "Why?"

"Because that annoying, egocentric a-hole of a man thinks he can tell me how to do my damn job," Kathleen growls.

"Still?" Eastlynne asks. "How is that even possible? I mean, the first time he did it when he came here it made sense. Now? Not so much. Or is there something we don't know?"

Kathleen spins and leans her back against the fence. "He's working on a serial killer case in the next town over and is obsessed over controlling the information flow. Meaning I have to check in every damn day and report if something is out of the ordinary. Hello, it's my damn town, and it's filled with a wide birth of weirdos, so every day is a brand new out of the ordinary. I really don't get the idiot."

"Sounds to me like he's obsessed with you, not so much the case," I murmur and point at Parker who is back on his horse and has the tied calf in front of him. "Parker has the same persistence. I didn't even have a choice when he simply showed up and stayed at my place."

Kathleen pats the gun strapped to her hip. "Let the fucker come. I'll fill his nutsack with bullets. There's no way I'll accept a man taking charge of my life." She winks at me when she adds, "Though, I am on Parker's side when it comes to you. He did good. You standing here and calling me when you caught that twisted fucker. I hope to have the DNA results soon and we'll run checks. Don't worry, we'll have him behind bars in no time."

"Maybe he'll stay gone. You know, because there were lots of men wandering around the stables with the renovations. He could come and go without being noticed. Now there are all cameras and little to no activity." I shrug. "Besides, if he does show up again? We'll have him on the security feed."

"True," Kathleen says. "I'm also fairly sure Parker won't miss this time."

"Another good reason to keep him around." I grin.

"Besides letting him tie you up and have sex," my sister adds.

"Eastlynne," I snap.

Eastlynne shrugs. "What? You deserve some happiness and relaxation. You told me the same thing when I needed to hear it so I'm only returning the favor."

"Oh, so that's what you two were talking about when I got here." Kathleen chuckles. "I do have to agree with your sister, Cosima. You deserve it, and more. Now, I'm going to head home because I deserve a hot shower and a couple of hours of sleep."

We all laugh when Parker and Rourke stop by on the other side of the fence.

"That's a nice sound," Rourke states. "Glad to see all of you are having fun."

"Definitely." Kathleen gives us a wave. "Going home, see you guys tomorrow."

Eastlynne climbs over the fence and leans in to give Rourke a kiss. A longing starts to burn inside my chest and my gaze automatically slides to Parker. He's staring down at me and the heat in his gaze looks similar to the one I feel sliding through my veins.

"Mind giving me a hand with putting Pete back into his stall?" he questions.

"Oh, I can do it for you," Eastlynne quips and takes the reins. "That will give you time to take my sister to our ranch, tie her up and have dirty, rough, and out of the bedroom sex."

"East!" I snap. "What the hell?"

Eastlynne gives me an innocent look. "What? Time is ticking away as we stand here talking. I'm just speeding things up for you. Besides, I like Parker, you two fit perfectly together if you ask me."

I feel my blood pressure rising and would like to release a string of curses followed by each and every insane name I can call my evil sister.

"Thanks, Eastlynne, appreciate it," Parker rumbles. "Prez, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Rourke echoes as Parker jumps over the fence.

Parker laces his fingers with mine and tugs me toward a row of bikes. Without another word he straddles his bike and waits for me to strap on his helmet and get on behind him. My nerves are all over the place. Why? I used to be confident in my sexuality and now all of a sudden, I'm nervous?

The ride home is short and the silence between us isn't uncomfortable, it's more like the awareness of electricity softly crackling through the air. Parker takes the keys from me and opens the door.

"Let me check the house," he states and doesn't wait for a reply.

I hear him make his round and I wait patiently in the center of the living room until I can't stand myself. Why the hell am I nervous as if this would be my first time having sex? I've had lots of sex, it's not a new concept and I'm very capable of having it. Gah, what's this man doing to me?

Stomping into the kitchen, I snag a bottle of water from the refrigerator and take a few sips. Feeling somewhat normal, I place the bottle on the counter and hear Parker's footsteps approach. My gaze instantly finds his when he saunters into the kitchen.

"I don't have any rope or condoms," I blurt.

The corner of his mouth twitches.

"I guess we'll have to improvise then," he murmurs as he steps into my personal space.

My breath freezes inside my lungs when his lips descend on mine. Electricity shoots through my veins and settles a tingling fire in my lower belly. In an effort to relieve some of it, I grind my pelvis against his. His hard length presses against my belly and it's a huge boost to feel how much I affect him.

Gone are my insecurities and in their place is the need to find pleasure any way I can get it. My fingers wrap around his leather cut and I fist the material to shove him slightly back.

The move causes a break in our kiss, enough for me to grunt. "Get naked and fuck me, Parker."

I barely recognize my own voice that's overloaded with lust and longing. To see it mirrored in Parker's gaze is a triumph all on its own and my pussy clenches with anticipation.

Parker steps back and shrugs out of his leather cut. He folds the thing and places it on the counter before he takes the gun from his belt to place it next to his leather cut. The rest of his clothes are simply pulled off as he lets everything drop where he stands. I lick my lips when I see him standing in the kitchen, completely naked and fisting his hard…oh my freaking fireballs.

The man is pierced.

Not just "I got one on a whim" pierced, but a "start with one and not stopping any time soon." He's a walking, talking pierced Valhalla endgame.

"Your cock is perfect," I breathe.

And finally, after weeks I feel good about myself, and life…and the man's cock hasn't even entered me. Having him standing before me, cock in hand, eyes filled with lust and adoration as I start to strip naked, is enough to give me the mental boost I needed to grab life by the balls again.

Figuratively speaking, of course. Though, I sure will get my hands on Parker's pierced balls.