The Wanted Virgin (Cowboys & Virgins 3)

1

Trace

The rain beats down, showing no signing of lessening anytime soon. The wind is coming in so hard I can feel the house shake, the windows rattling. There are a million places my mind should be right now—worrying about the already-high lake flooding, the fences that might be knocked down, enabling cattle to escape, or the oil riggings being damaged. But none of that seems to matter. I can’t even be bothered with the idea of it. Which isn’t normal for me. I like everything done and handled. Everything organized. Chaos drives me crazy, and normally a storm would have me pacing, wondering about the mess I’d have to clean in the morning.

All these things are small in comparison to what my mind insists on focusing on. All my attention is solely on the woman lying in my bed. I can’t take my eyes off her. Haven’t been able to since I found her lying in the middle of my fields, completely alone.

Her midnight-black hair was spread out all around her. A thin white dress clung to her curvy little body, her feet bare. She looked like an angel sent to tempt a man. Almost like she’d fallen right out of the sky and onto my ranch. Part of me thought that it makes her mine. This is Texas, after all, and possession is nine-tenths of the law.

How she’d really gotten there, I had no idea. I just knew from the moment I found her she was mine. Something deep inside me told me she was running from something, and I’m the one she ran to. Why else would a young woman be out in the middle of nowhere with no shoes, the nearest road over a mile away?

Maybe the gash on her head had confused her. She’d lost her way somehow, but still that didn’t seem to make sense either. I didn’t know what had brought her here, but that didn’t matter. She’s mine now. If someone’s chasing her, I’ll make sure they never find her.

When I couldn’t get her to wake, I picked her up off the ground. She weighed almost nothing, even with all those curves she had. I’d not only seen them but felt them when I pulled her body to mine, cradling her in my arms. I carefully held on to her as I climbed back onto my horse.

“Don’t let them find me.”

Her soft words ring over and over again in my head. She’d said those words as she nuzzled in closer to me. I could feel her lips on my neck the whole ride back to my home. It wasn’t an easy ride, holding her like that, but I made do. There was no other choice. I sure as hell wasn’t leaving her, even if there wasn’t a storm rolling in on top of us. The rain had already started to pour, and I barely got her into the house and my horse in the barn before all hell broke loose.

I wasn’t sure what to do with her at first. So I did the only thing I could think of. I took care of her. I stripped her of her wet clothes, doing the best I could to not look at her, no matter how much I wanted to. I couldn’t just let her lie in them, and I couldn’t figure how to get the damn dress off. But one good tug and the thing ripped right down the middle. I pulled it from her and tossed it to the floor before covering her with the blanket I keep at the end of my bed.

She didn’t feel like she had a fever when I checked her, and the cut on her head wasn’t deep enough to need stitches, not that we could go anywhere if she needed medical attention. Not with the storm raging like it was. Besides, she didn’t need to go anywhere. I liked her right where she was.

As I look down at her, I don’t know what to do next besides stand here. She looks like a porcelain doll in the middle of my giant bed. I never thought my bed was big until she was in the center of it, hardly taking up any space. God knows how long I’ve been standing here already. My wet clothes are already starting to dry.

She lets out a little sigh, her full lips parting a fraction before her pink tongue darts out, wetting them.

“Fuck,” I mumble, closing my eyes and turning my back to her.

The things I’m thinking about while she lies passed out on my bed would send an angel running. If that’s what she is. I haven’t even seen her eyes yet, and I can’t stop thinking about what color they might be.

Knowing I need some space before I find myself crawling into bed with her, I walk over to my dresser and start digging around for some sleep bottoms, or whatever they’re called. I know someone got me some for Christmas last year. I think. Normally I sleep naked, not having to worry about anyone else being around. I’m always alone here unless my sister Dolly pops in to drop something off.

I’m not like the rest of my brothers, who let Dolly in and allow her to wreak havoc on their homes. Okay, maybe allow is a little strong, but Dolly has taken on the role of our mother with full force since we lost ours years back. If I allowed Dolly, she’d be here most nights dropping off dinner and asking me a million questions about a million different things.

Lucky for me, the storm won’t be letting anyone get close. Everyone thought I kept putting off laying new gravel on the road that leads to my house because I didn’t have time. Truth be told, I like it to be a pain in the ass to get to my house. Maybe then people won’t come around so much.

It is

n’t that I don’t love my two brothers, Ty and Blake, and even my nosy little sister, Dolly. But I like to be alone, or out on the land. It works for me. I’m not a man of many words. I say what needs to be said and that’s it. If I want to visit, I go visit.

But ever since Ty went and got married and started down this marriage road, it’s like everyone is pushing in for the rest of us to do it, too. Marriage isn’t something I’ve ever given much thought to. I have enough to worry about most of the time. I’m not sure I’m fit to be a husband, so I’ve never tried. Never had a desire to.

But now the sound of an empty house doesn’t hold any appeal. In fact, I’m trying to come up with ways to make sure my little baby doll doesn’t try to slip out on me. I have no idea what she’s going to say when she wakes up, or how fast she’ll try to be out of here.

Finally finding the pants, I go to the bathroom. I peel off my wet jeans and T-shirt before tossing them into the hamper and pulling on the dry sleep bottoms. I hear a moan from the other room and I bolt from the bathroom to find my little doll thrashing on the bed.

I rush over to her and try to wake her up. When I bring my hand to her face to calm her, she stops thrashing, and she tilts her cheek into my hand as if seeking my comfort. Her body relaxes into the bed, but when I pull my hand away from her, she starts to stir again until I return it.

“Shit,” I mutter, knowing what I’m going to have to do. This is going to be the sweetest torture I’ve ever felt. Pulling the blankets back, I slide into the bed next to her, pulling her to me. She rolls over, burying her face in my neck, and throws one of her legs over my hip, as if trying to get as close to me as possible. I lie there, willing my erection to go down as the scent of rose petals fills my lungs. I wonder if the fragrance is from her time in the field, or if she naturally smells this sweet.

When her lips touch my neck, I reach down and grab my cock, pinching it at the base as painfully as I can stand it. I’m fighting against my balls as they draw up. Holy shit, I’m going to cum.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispers against my neck.

“Never,” I tell her, knowing those words will always be true.

But what she doesn’t know is, she’s never leaving me either.

2

Addison

I wake to a warm body under mine, panic and fear coursing through me. I thought I got away. Slowly, I open my eyes to find my face nuzzled into the crook of a man’s neck. His skin is too tanned and stubbled to be who I thought it was. As I pull back a little, my breath catches at the sight of the man I’m plastered against.

His brown hair is cut short, almost buzzed, matching the beard that runs along his hard jaw. Dark, long lashes rest against his cheeks as he sleeps peacefully. Even in sleep he looks fierce and strong. A small scar, about two inches long, runs along his chin, and his nose has a small bump in it, like it’s been broken. He looks like a warrior.

I reach up, touching the spot where I’d hit my head, wondering if I will have a scar, too. I wasn't thinking when I ran. Maybe my father didn’t think I would run after he’d slammed my head against the refrigerator. It probably wasn’t smart that I did, because I was still dizzy when I grabbed his keys from the kitchen counter and took off. Likely how I’d gotten myself stuck in the mud, I shouldn’t have been driving. Heck, I’d never driven a day in my life. Only been in a car a handful of times. I didn’t know where I was going. I just drove. I’m not even sure how long I was behind the wheel.

How did I get here? I remember the car getting stuck. My head throbbed as I stumbled out of the car when I realized it wasn’t budging. I was so scared that they’d catch up to me. I couldn't let them find me. I wasn’t going to do what they wanted me to. I’d lived under my father’s control all my life. I thought yesterday was going to be perfect. I was eighteen. I was free to do what I wanted, only to find out my father had other plans. Plans to put me under the control of another man.

Looking at this guy, though, all my fears drain away. It’s clear from how I’m lying on him, my legs tangled with his, that I’m not trying to get away. I’ve got one hand locked around his arm, and it looks like I tried to dig my way inside him.

I lay my head back down, enjoying the moment, feeling the comfort of another person with no fear attached to it. Maybe it’s crazy, or maybe my father was right. I don’t know how to take care of myself. My sense of self-preservation is clearly lacking as I let myself lie on a man, a stranger, but I don’t care. Can’t find the will to. I just want to lie here forever and forget about everything else.

I feel the man shift, and I grab on to him tighter. He stops moving instantly and slides a hand across my jaw and into my hair, slowly stroking back and forth in a comforting motion. I wonder if he thinks I’m asleep. I let my breathing even out, closing my eyes and soaking in his affection.

“What am I going to do with you?” I hear him say under his breath.

I stop breathing at his words. It’s something my father always said when I did something he didn’t like, even something as small as making an unsatisfactory dinner for him. I’m already messing up, not doing things like I’m supposed to.

The man rolls a little, and I slip off of him. I try to grab a hold to burrow myself back into his body, and our eyes lock. Deep blue eyes, the color of storm clouds as they meet the setting sun, come to mine.

“Green.” He whispers so softly I almost don’t hear it. I know he’s talking about my eyes. It's the first thing everyone notices about me. They aren’t a normal dark green. They’re bright, piercing. They stand out against the paleness of my skin and darkness of my hair. There’s no missing them.

“Keep me,” I say, finally finding my words and answering his question. His eyebrows furrow in confusion.

“Keep you?” His eyes go to my lips before coming back to mine.

“That’s what you’ll do with me. Keep me,” I say as I sit up, the blanket dropping away. He stumbles back, falling off the bed like he’s trying to get away from me. I reach out to grab him, but he hits the floor.

He stands up, turning around and giving me his broad back, which is ripped with muscles and hard lines. I’ve never seen a man built like him before.

“I’ll get you a shirt,” he says, his voice gruff and raw as he makes his way over to a dresser.

I look down to see I’m in nothing but my panties. He pulls out a shirt and turns back around, stopping in his tracks as his eyes roam over my body.

“The blanket.” He nods to it, but I make no move to grab it.

I’ve never been naked, or even partially naked, in front of a man before. I’m not dumb. Maybe naïve in some ways, but I know what happens between a man and a woman. It was the reason I ran from my father when he tried to push me onto another man. The thought of it then had made me ill, but right now I’m feeling something completely different.

I shake my head and reach out for the shirt in his hand, wanting him to come back to me. He licks his full lips before he takes the steps to close the distance between us. I take the shirt from him, and his eyes never leave me as I slide it over my head.

“Do you already keep someone here?” I ask him, breaking the silence.

“No one else lives here,” he confirms, and relief floods my body.

“So I can stay?” I move towards him, crawling to the side of the bed, wanting to be close to him again, to feel the comfort of having him next to me. Something about him makes me feel safe, and I don’t want to lose that security.

“Yes.” The single word comes out in a growl and makes goose bumps break out on my skin, sending a delicious thrill up my spine. Then his face goes serious. “Is someone after you?”

I nod, not wanting to give him more.

“You going to tell me who?”

“No,” I tell him, looking up into his eyes. I have no idea if he knows my dad. Heck, I don’t even know where I am, and I like it that way. I don’t want to know. I simply want to stay right here. That seems fine with me. No one would ever

know where to find me.

“Is it the law?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. I know I’m running from my dad, but I’m not sure about the law. I did take his car.

“All right,” he says. “You at least going to tell me your name then?”

“I don’t want to. Maybe I could make one up?”

“Baby doll, you never have to do anything you don’t wanna do here. That clear?” he tells me, making me smile.

“I like that name.”

“Well, that’s good, because it’s what I’ve been calling you since I found you.” That makes me smile even bigger. “I’m Trace.”

“I like that name.” It suits him. “Will you tell anyone I’m here, Trace?”

“No.” The word comes hard and fast, as if he doesn’t like the idea of people knowing I’m here either.

“Will you lie back down with me?” I ask, moving over to give him room. I just want to close my eyes a little longer.

He looks down at the spot, taking a deep breath like he’s debating the idea. I should feel bad that I’m making him uncomfortable, but I don’t care. I want him next to me.

“Please,” I say, knowing I won’t fall back asleep without him next to me. Loud thunder cracks, making me jump, and before I know it I’m pressed up against him as he holds me tight to him.

“Nothing will touch you here. Don’t be scared,” he tells me. I burrow myself back into him, almost climbing on top of him. I tuck my face back into his neck as my legs tangle with his.

“Promise,” I whisper against him.

“I more than promise, baby doll. Nothing will take you from here. Ever.”

3

Trace