Chapter 16

sixteen

. . .

River

I 'd never been with a guy who was pierced before. It was possibly my new favorite accessory. I was deliciously sore, and it had nothing to do with the bruises along my shoulder and hip. After the first round, Walker had gone down on me again, forcing me to come on his tongue over and over until my voice was raspy from screaming his name.

I'm not sure what time we fell asleep, but he'd woken me up near dawn as he slowly thrust inside me. And then he made love to me once more, just as slowly and carefully as the first time, but no less intense.

How had I missed him back when we were kids? He was so much better for me than his brother. Walker was everything Cross wasn't. Kind, caring, honest. He didn't use people or play games with their hearts.

I bit my lower lip as I ran my fingers over the beard burn on my inner thighs. Maybe he'd go for one more round before we went back?

Shutting off the water, I was ready to waltz into the bedroom naked to present the idea but stopped with my hand on the doorknob at the sound of raised voices. Not sure what I was about to walk into, I wrapped myself in a towel and cracked open the door.

"I'm pathetic? You're the one throwing a goddamn tantrum ‘cause I fucked your girl."

"She's not my anything." Cross's voice was cold and detached, as usual, but it didn't hurt any less.

"Is that so?"

"If she's anything, she's my sloppy seconds. A stray that needs to be thrown out. We agreed. She cannot stay here. She'll ruin everything. She's already putting her nose where it doesn't belong."

Anger lit a fire in my heart at his coarse words. I tightened the towel, ready to rush out there and show a united front with Walker. But then the man I'd just spent the night with spoke, and my world crashed to the ground.

"She knows about the books."

"I'll deal with it."

"But—"

"I mean it. She's off-limits, Walker."

"You told me to handle her."

"I said distract her, not fuck her."

Any part of my heart that Cross hadn't broken ten years ago shattered.

"You slimy sonofabitch!"

Cross's gaze found me first, and something that couldn't possibly be regret flashed in his eyes before his usual cool mask fell into place. Walker spun toward me, his expression stricken.

"River, I?—"

"Save it. You've said more than enough."

Walker reached for me, but I flinched away.

"Ladybug, I'm so?—"

"You know, I thought Cross was the asshole in the family, but I was wrong. At least he's been honest about what a fucking dick he is. You... you're worse than he ever was." My voice cracked on the last sentence, only fueling my fury. The Cross boys didn't deserve my tears or my heartbreak.

"Enough," Cross barked. "River, get dressed and get your ass on my horse. We'll deal with this at the lodge."

"The fuck I will."

"You do not want to push me right now, sparrow."

"You sure about that? Because pushing you straight off a cliff sounds pretty damn appealing right about now."

His eyes narrowed, challenge banked in their depths. "Try me. Now you either come out of this damn cabin on your own two feet, or so help me, River, I will toss you over my shoulder and carry you, in that goddamned towel, ass hanging out, pussy on display for the entire fucking ranch to see."

A little shiver of heat curled in my belly. I wanted nothing to do with that caveman display, but I'd be lying to myself if I tried to deny the way my body reacted to it.

"You touch me with any part of you, be prepared for me to bite it off, Cross."

"That a promise?"

"It's a goddamn fact."

"At least I'd get those pretty lips of yours wrapped around me one last time."

Walker watched all of this with a hangdog expression. "Let her be," he said, voice low and tight.

I shot him a withering look. "Don't help me."

He lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender, and I stomped past him into the bedroom, slamming the door on both of them while I pulled on my clothes from the day before. If that arrogant ass thought I was going anywhere near him or his horse, he didn't have a damn brain in his head.

I peeked out the window and saw his saddled horse tied to the hitching post, and a wicked grin curled my lips.

But I sure as hell would steal Hades and leave him here to find his own way back. The thought of Cross riding behind Walker, with his arms wrapped around his waist, had me chuckling to myself.

Would serve them right.

I made my way to the window, pushing it open as silently as possible before climbing out.

"Going somewhere?"

Sterling's soft rumble made me tense before the amused curl of his lips told me he wasn't here to stop me. The man was leaning against the tree outside my window, his irises bright silver and filled with mirth as he took me in.

"That depends. Whose side are you on?"

"The boss's."

Lifting my chin, I forced myself to exude confidence I didn't really feel right now. "That's me. Take me back to the lodge? I've had about enough of the Cross brothers."

"Whatever you need."

I hadn't realized how badly I needed an ally—no, a friend—until that moment. "You're a good man, Sterling Bishop."

His eyes turned stormy. "No, siren. I'm not."

Despite his protest, I didn't believe him. Only a good man would try to convince you he was bad. It was the bad ones who pretended to be good. Case in point, the Cross brothers. No, Sterling was more like Bear. A good man who did bad things. I could live with that. At least he was honest about it.

I always had a thing for Robin Hood. Now I understood why.

"You riding with me, or are we stealing his horse?"

"Would you be comfortable having me ride with you? I thought about horse theft, but honestly, I don't want to see Cross again for as long as I live, and if I steal Hades, there's no way he'll leave me alone."

That flicker of indecision in his eyes told me he'd struggle with our proximity, but then he gave a curt nod.

"You sit in front, keep your hands on the horn. I'll do the rest."

I couldn't resist flirting a bit as I fell into position beside him. "So is this how it is with you?"

"How what is?"

"You doing all the work?"

He swallowed, silent for a beat before he answered. "I like to be in control. I need it."

A little shiver ran down my spine at the darkness in his tone. Bishop was so different from the others, and right now, I was damn glad he was here. I was still furious with Cross and Walker, but the fire they'd lit inside me was fading with every second I spent in my giant's presence. There was just something about him. Something that made me feel like he wouldn't let anything hurt me, not even himself.

Maybe the best way to get over a cowboy was to get under another one.

"You need help mounting?" he asked as we approached his horse.

I shook my head, knowing it would be hard for him to put his hands on me, and this ride was already going to cause him discomfort.

"I've got it."

I mounted smoothly from the ground, even though the animal was a very large workhorse. These long legs of mine came in handy every once in a while. I fought the urge to grimace as my bruises reminded me they were still there and protested the position, but I needed to get back, and this was the only way unless I wanted to walk.

Bishop joined me, sitting behind the saddle, hands taking the reins while mine rested on the horn, exactly as he'd told me.

He leaned close, lips at my ear as he whispered, "You're fucking perfect just like that. Don't move."

I should not have been so turned on by his words while Walker's cum was still inside me, but fuck if my pussy got the memo.

"I said don't. The way you're squirming isn't making this any easier."

I hadn't even realized I was moving. But by the way his bulge pressed into my ass, I'd say this was definitely making things harder.

"I hate to break it to you, but the second we take off, I'm going to be moving whether you like it or not."

Moving . . . and bouncing . . . and rubbing . . .

He grunted behind me, his breath fanning over the back of my shoulders.

"I'll survive."

With a gentle command, he set the horse walking away from the cabin, his hips rolling into mine.

We'd only just crested the hill when Cross and Walker ran out of the cabin.

"Get back here, River!"

I gave Cross a single-finger salute and a sassy grin.

"Can this thing go any faster? I really don't want them to catch us."

Bishop's chuckle vibrated through my back. "Hold on tight. Ghost can really fly."