What Love Sounds Like Read online

  “So you want sex? Want to screw me like this week’s or month’s special? I’ve seen the women you’ve fooled around with. I know about the weekends away in Dallas or San Antonio. I know all about it. You forget that I’ve been right here.”

  “And you forget that we’re men, older, more seasoned men who have needs and we sought out relief the only way we’re used to. With no commitments, no tangled messes of emotions, but just fulfilling our animalistic needs.”

  “Well, isn’t that just great. Like I would choose to be put into that category.”

  “You’re not in that category. We know what this can cause if it gets screwed up. We know what we’re risking, making a move like this,” he said and stroked her jaw. He stared into her eyes so deeply he lost focus. “We’ve wanted you for so long, but kept trying to ignore the desire, the sensations. The idea of you fucking other men, of letting other men claim this body is becoming too much to bear.”

  “So you’re jealous of other men screwing me, huh? That’s what this is all about? Jake and Crespy showing interest and other men, too? So now you’re jealous and want to be the ones to say they got to fuck me?” She raised her voice.

  He was so serious the way he looked into her eyes. She actually shivered. “You aren’t going to be intimate with Jake and Crespy.”

  “That is my choice, not yours.”

  “The hell it is,” he said to her and pressed his mouth to hers again. It was insane, how he could just control her so and instantly heat up her body, make her want to throw inhibition to the wind, but still his words showed nothing about commitment, only about sex. She pressed her palms against his chest. She couldn’t think straight when he kissed her, or with his body wedged up against hers. He was a pro at seduction. Absolutely pro. She felt his palm smooth along her ass and then she tightened up when he stroked the crack of her ass with one thick, long digit. He moved his mouth from hers to her neck, sucking harder, and then lower as he pressed her against the wall. “You get under my skin like no other. You got me in a whirlwind, darling, and I don’t know how to calm down when I want more and more of you.”

  She tilted her head back and he continued to suckle against her skin then cupped her breast. “Holy fuck,” he whispered, stroked her nipple and she felt her pussy erupt. She gasped and then moaned. “Jesus,” he said and pulled her into his arms and hugged her to him. She hugged him back and panted for breath. What the hell just happened? She just came from his touch alone? Crespy and Jake kissed her, even cupped her breast last night and it was nothing like this. Then it hit her. Bronc’s words, and the true meaning behind him making this move. He and his brothers were jealous and they wanted to screw her before other men got to. She pulled back and moved away from him. She fixed her top and then paced. When she looked at him he looked hungry, wild and she stepped back. He moved toward her and she pointed at him.

  “No. That was a mistake. I get what you want. I can’t do this. I won’t fall for the games, or the control.” She quickly grabbed her bag and headed out of the room as Bronc called her name.

  She headed through the hallway as Angus walked toward her. He saw her expression and she looked down. “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Ivy, wait!” Bronc called to her.

  Angus stopped her. “Ivy, what’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, just leave me alone. Like I told Bronc, I won’t be another notch in your belts and ruin the friendship or the business you share with my brothers. It isn’t any of your business who I spread my legs for. I can screw who I want, when I want.”

  “What?” he asked, his tone hard and fierce. She shoved by him and ran out the door.

  Who she hadn’t expected to see by the front entrance to the medical building was Madison.

  “Ivy,” Bronc said her name and he and Angus were right there.

  She pointed toward the medical office and Madison’s car as she headed inside. “Looks like your brother Johnny is getting in a quickie for lunch. You better hurry along.”

  “Ivy, we aren’t sleeping with her. We want nothing to do with that slut.”

  “You know what? I don’t believe you, and because of that I’m smart enough not to let you and your brothers be my first lovers. I’ll choose who I give that to,” she said in anger and felt her cheeks burn as she revealed her virginity to them and hurried to her car. The tears flowed, but the anger, the embarrassment she felt at exposing such a deep secret to them, had her head spinning. She needed to get out of here and put them and this situation behind her.

  “What the fuck happened?” Angus asked Bronc.

  “Did you hear her? Her first lovers? She’s a virgin?” he said in shock.

  “Well, that answers any questions we had about men she’s been with. What did you do to piss her off?”

  “Kissed her.”

  Angus’s eyes widened.

  “I’ll explain. What a fucking mess, and it’s worse because Ivy thinks we just go fuck women when we disappear for a weekend.”

  “We do.”

  “We haven’t in months, because of our feelings for Ivy,” Bronc added.

  “Well, throw in Madison being at Johnny’s office right now and Ivy won’t believe anything we say.”

  “She should after that kiss. Holy fuck, bro, her body is amazing, but what is more amazing is the depth of the connection I felt. She’s the one, Angus.”

  Angus swallowed hard. “We all need to feel it. Need the opportunity to taste her, to explore a little.”

  “Nothing will prepare you for the effects. You need to make a move, son. We need to bombard her so she doesn’t do something out of anger, like give her body to Crespy and Jake.”

  “I’ll fucking tear them new assholes.”

  “We need to talk to Keller,” Bronc said.

  “He’s going with Kenny and Ivy to Black Jack tomorrow. She accepted them accompanying her.”

  “Good,” Bronc said and they headed inside. “Call Johnny, find out what that slut is doing over there,” Angus said.

  “So I figured you would be able to tell if I need stitches or not, Johnny,” Madison said as she showed him her arm.

  Johnny stared at her with his hands on his hips. “There are plenty of medi centers and even a doctor’s office in Benter. You didn’t need to come here. What do you really want?” he asked her.

  “I did it in Central Valley at the market. I was embarrassed and figured on my way through Cherry Hill I could see you. I trust you, Johnny,” she said to him and reached out and caressed his arm.

  He exhaled in annoyance. “Sit on the table,” he said and she smiled and quickly sat up there in her short blue dress. She crossed her legs. He could smell the scent of her perfume. One he used to like but now hated. It reminded him of her lies, her attempts at manipulating him. He began to put supplies on the examining table and then took her hand and wiped the cut. “I don’t think you need stitches. It isn’t that deep, really. I’ll put some butterfly ones on it and a bandage. In a couple of days it should be okay to take this off,” he said to her and she reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. He pulled back. “Quit it, Madison.”

  “I don’t know why you’re being so harsh, Johnny. I know you don’t hate me. We were good together. The sex was incredible. In fact…”

  She pulled him close, grabbed his hair and head and kissed him. The items fell onto the floor as he tried to push her away but not hurt her. She wound up straddling his waist and wrapped herself tight against him. He pulled his mouth away and she suckled on his neck hard, leaving a mark for sure. “Madison, I don’t want to hurt you. Let the fuck go,” he yelled at her and peeled her off of him. He shoved her and she fell back. He stepped away, used his forearm to wipe his mouth. “Get the fuck out of here and never come back.”

  She slid her dress up to her waist, exposed her bare pussy to him. “I know you like things rough, Doc. Always liked grabbing me by my hair and pounding into me. Do it. Right here. Take me.”

  He had his teeth cle
nched. “Get out or I’ll call the sheriff and have you removed,” he threatened her. She snorted.

  “When did you turn into such a pussy?” she asked as she slid off the table and pushed her dress back in place. She grabbed her bag, wiped her mouth. “You’ll regret this. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “Casey!” he called out and the nurse walked into the room. “Escort Ms. Lane from the building. If she refuses or gives you a hard time, call the sheriff,” he said to her.

  Casey was a strong woman, one who worked out in the MMA gym and could kick serious ass. “My pleasure, Doctor Shelton.”

  Casey reached for her arm. Madison yanked it free. “I’m going. I know you still want me. I would have fucked you right here and made you a happy man. You’ll regret this.”

  “I already regret letting you into the building,” he said.

  “Come on,” Casey said to her and gave her a little shove. Johnny ran his hands over his face and walked to the mirror. Sure enough, he had a hickey on his neck.

  “Fuck.” He panicked. Ivy would see this and make assumptions. She would think he was lying. That he was screwing Madison.

  “What the hell was that all about?” Casey asked, returning.

  “She’s out of control. The woman is insane.”

  “Well, Doc, you kind of have to be careful who you screw around with. Women can turn into stalkers as fast as men.”

  “Casey, I’m not screwing her.”

  “You did a couple of years ago.”

  “Jesus, does everyone know?”

  “Well, word is you and your brothers want Ivy Waters. Can’t exactly land an angel when you keep screwing devils,” Casey said and walked out of the room.

  His jaw dropped and he was speechless. This small town! Nothing was private. Now everyone would be making assumptions about Madison’s office visit and how she left. What the fuck was he going to do? “Fuck.”

  Kenny drove the truck, Ivy sat in the middle and Keller was in the passenger seat. The feel of Ivy’s thigh against his was making him feel antsy. She looked incredible in her short floral dress, cowgirl boots and her long blonde hair flowing in curls around her shoulders and down her back. The blue color in the dress enhanced her eyes and the buttons in the front were low, revealing more of the deep cleavage of her breasts. She smelled incredible. She was shaking though, her leg bouncing. He placed his hand over her knee. She gasped and looked at him. He stared down into her eyes. “Relax. You’re going to do amazing, and your brother and I are right here with you.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “You didn’t need to come.”

  “The hell I didn’t,” he snapped at her and then moved his hand.

  Kenny cleared his throat. “So what do you know about Mike and Jacoby, the owners of Black Jack?”

  “Not too much. Mike seemed really nice, and not all business.”

  “I spoke with a friend of mine in Benter. He knows a cousin of theirs, and he vouched for them both. Said that they’re good people. They’ve been running the business for years, and have two other brothers who are in the military,” Keller said but kept his eyes forward.

  Ivy turned slightly and looked up at him. “You called friends to find out information on Mike and Jacoby? What if they find out? What if they think I’m crazy?” she asked with concern.

  “Darlin’, we care about you. Your focus is singing, doing something that makes you happy. Our focus is keeping you safe and sound. He won’t think you’re crazy at all. They’ll know you’re protected,” he said firmly.

  She gulped. Looked so intimidated by him, but he didn’t care. He was going to look out for her whether she accepted that or not. He was also going to ensure he made his interest known, especially if those two dicks, Crespy and Jake, were around.

  As they pulled up to the place a few minutes later, the parking lot was kind of full for Wednesday morning. They got out and headed inside. Keller gave her hand a squeeze and she squeezed it back. As Jacoby and Mike appeared and introduced themselves, Mike gave Ivy a kiss on the cheek hello and Jacoby eyed her over with a huge smile.

  “My God, you are stunning.” He took her hand and spun her around. “Let’s introduce you to everyone,” he said and led her off toward the band and some other people.

  “You two are more than welcome to come along with me. We’ll sit at a table up front,” Mike said and they followed him toward the tables. Black Jack was actually a really nice place and huge compared to most honky-tonk bars. It was a bit upscale with multiple bars around the place, and one in the center of the dance floor. There was a second dance floor near the large stage, and then four bars in total.

  “I’ve never been here, the place is really nice. So many bars, too,” Kenny said to Mike.

  “It used to be half the size. My brother and I put all our savings into the place, and things really went well. We expanded five years ago and we think we just about have things right. We’re truly excited about your sister joining the Black Jack family. I can’t tell you how shocked we were the other night when she got up there and sang. She had everyone’s attention, and not just the cowboys,” he said and winked.

  “Mike, what was that song you were thinking would be good for Ivy to sing?” one of the band members called to him.

  “Excuse me a moment. Help yourselves to some of the drinks and snacks along the table. We always have a spread like this when the band is practicing,” he told them and walked away.

  “What do you think?” Kenny asked Keller.

  “They seem nice, and not putting it on.”

  “Yeah, I got a good feeling. I just can’t believe Ivy will be on stage singing, and to a crowd that will be so huge.”

  “I know. I feel a little fearful for her, but let’s see how she does. If this is what she wants then we’ll support her.”

  “You know, it means a lot, you being here. She appreciates it despite how hurt she seems by Johnny and Madison.”

  “What are you talking about? There is no Johnny and Madison.” Kenny raised his eyebrows up at him.

  “Keller, we’re friends, and business partners, and I want to keep it that way. But if you guys keep hurting our sister we’re going to get pissed, and that partnership and friendship will be affected.”

  “Kenny, there is nothing going on between Madison and Johnny.”

  “Oh yeah, what about her being at his office and giving him a hickey, having sex on the examining table and then him having Casey walk her out?”

  “That’s plain bullshit. She forced herself on him. Wrapped herself around his waist and gave him that hickey. He was fuming mad and couldn’t throw her out himself because he was afraid she would say he struck her so he had Casey do it. That woman is out of control, and she knows we want your sister and she’s jealous as hell.”

  “You’re telling me right now you and your brothers want Ivy as your woman or for sex?” he asked straight out, raising his voice.

  They looked around them and Keller leaned closer and held his gaze. “You and I went through a lot of shit together over the years. We’re more like brothers in that way, but not when it comes to Ivy. We want her as our woman. We’ve all fucked up in so many ways right now and all of it has been out of our control except for the denying part. We’ve denied for too long and we could lose her to two dicks who are really the ones looking to get laid. This is a risk, on all our parts, but the thought of her with any other men than us makes us see red and want to kill. This is legit. We do this, we’re taking guardianship, and staking a committed claim to her forever.”