Her Double Deputies (The Sinful 7 of Delite, Texas 6)

She shook her head as thoughts of Devlon invaded her mind. As much as she wanted what Sally, Susanna, Paula, and Juliet had, she couldn’t take that chance. Her heart wouldn’t handle another loss of love.

“Hey, what is it?”

“That can’t happen again.”

“What?” Vic asked.

She straightened out her dress and looked around for her panties. She couldn’t find them. She looked up at Vic and then at Tommy. Both of them appeared fierce. They were veterans of the war and now law enforcement officers. Both thirty years old and way more experienced at life and sex than she was. As attracted to them as she felt, she couldn’t entertain this. She wasn’t over Devlon or the horrible way he died. She may never be. Besides, it seemed these two men were interested in her now because of one wealthy, sexy cowboy who made a play for her. She stared at them a moment, absorbing the intricate design of the similar Native American choker collar they wore. It made them look untamed and muscular. She swallowed hard as her breasts swelled with need. She had to be strong.

Tommy said her name, and when she looked at him, he was holding her black panties. She walked closer and reached for them when Vic placed a hand on her waist. He stepped behind her. “Lean back and he’ll help you put them back on.”

“That’s okay. Just give them to me, Tommy,” she stated with her hand reaching out toward his.

He stared at her a long moment before bending down and lifting her one heeled foot and placing it into the small opening of the panties. He did the same thing with her other foot and then slowly, to obviously torture her, he slid his large thick hands and the tiny thong panties up her calves, over her knees and thighs, and to her waist. As he reached the top, he squeezed her hips. Slowly he rose up until his lips were inches from her own as he bent down a little to be at eye level with her. He cupped her cheeks between his hands.

“This wasn’t a mistake. So don’t think you’re going to blow us off. Vic and I know you’re scared and unsure, but know this, sweetheart. We want you. We have for quite some time, but have been caught up in life.”

She shook her head.

He raised his eyebrows at her, and now Vic held her hips and squeezed.

“He’s telling the truth.”

“No. Neither of you have paid any attention to me like this. It’s because of Tagart.”

“Fuck that asshole. You’re better than that. He’s a user and a womanizer,” Vic stated.

“So are most men.”

“Not us.” Tommy leaned forward and kissed her lips. He licked across the seam, pushed between her teeth, and made love to her mouth, forcing her to relinquish her fight against what she was feeling for them. It was no use. Both men were lethal.

Slowly Tommy released her lips and kissed her cheeks.

“We’re going to get this thing between us started pronto. We’ll make plans for dinner tomorrow, and you’ll see, you mean more to us than you think.”

Chapter 4

Elise was tossing and turning all night. She ventured downstairs in hope that the old tale that turkey contained something in it that made people feel tired and sleepy was true. She even went as far as looking it up on the computer and finding that the turkey had tryptophan in it and was said to lead to drowsiness. She would need a bunch of the stuff to try and get Vic and Tommy off her mind. She could still feel their touch, the masculine embrace, the large hands and gentle caresses. It was maddening, but the more she tried to forget them, the more she wanted them here with her. Maybe she could just sleep with them and call it a wonderful, invigorating experience? Or, she could deny these feelings she had and the overwhelming urge to lick and kiss every damn inch of both men. My God, they were gorgeous. She drifted off to sleep imagining the feel of their skin and the muscles beneath her fingertips. She got to touch their sexy necklaces and trail her fingers against their chiseled jaws. They were wild, and she imagined each man inside of her until suddenly, in her dream, Vic’s and Tommy’s faces turned to Devlon’s.

She saw him riding that wild, diseased bull. He really thought that he was going to win that illegal bull-riding challenge. But he was wrong. It didn’t matter how good he was because Tysler Cobbs fixed everything. She shuddered as her dream felt so realistic. The way the bull tossed him on his final few seconds to championship. He had won. He raised his hands up as he climbed the rickety fence and smiled wide. He walked to get his prize money, glancing at Elise, giving her a wink. But Elise saw Mr. Cobbs and his thugs waiting on Devlon and appearing angry. Cobbs stared at him and told him that he wasn’t going to give him the money because Devlon wasn’t supposed to win. That was when Elise found out that Devlon had been betting on the bull riding.

Devlon walked away, kicking the dirt. She had asked him what was wrong and he replied with an attitude.

“I’m done with this shit. I’m leaving, Elise. I don’t care that I owe them sixty grand. They’ll find a way to make me pay it anyway. I won that contest fair and square.”

She tried to grab his arm to console him and help him figure out what to do.

That was the last time she saw him alive.

Elise h

eard the gunshots echoing in the night. She had known instantly that something was wrong. Devlon never came to her cabin. She got up, ran to the cabin door, and saw the men gathering around something. They were calling for help and an ambulance. She ran to the crowd of men, pushed through despite their attempts at trying to stop her and there was Devlon. His face unrecognizable, his body beaten as blood oozed from his chest and stomach. One of the older ranch hands pulled her into his arms and carried her away from the scene, but it didn’t matter. She would never forget what he looked like.

She opened her eyes, felt her chest tighten and the panic attack begin. She hadn’t had one of these in over a year. She thought about Devlon. She thought about Vic and Tommy and the panic attack got worse. She had to clear her mind. She just needed to focus on breathing normally and know that everything was okay. She was safe here and no one was going to hurt her. Keeping to herself and ignoring her attraction to the deputies was her only sane option. She started to breathe a little easier and she leaned back against the headboard in a sitting-up position. It was then that she noticed her damp cheeks and wet pillow. She had been crying. Apparently, really badly.

She had to stay away from Vic and Tommy. There was no way she was opening up her heart for pain again.

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