Free Wicked Pleasures by Rhonda Lee Carver Page B

goes…sometimes ogres can surprise us.” Roark’s jaw
clenched and she bit back a smile. “He’s not the brightest bulb in
the box, but his looks are nice.”
    “So, is this a vacation booty call? Ooh-la-la.”
    Biting back laughter, Bronte loved the wide-eyed
expression she was getting from Roark. “I’m not sure if he’s
relationship material. I’d definitely say he’s worthy of a
fling.”
    “I guess, but anyone is an upgrade from Gage,”
Fallon said. “Oh, I’m sorry. My tongue got away with me.”
    Bronte knew Fallon never did like Gage, so this
wasn’t a surprise. “Has he tried contacting you?”
    “Yes, but I won’t tell him anything. I promise,”
Fallon said.
    “I know you won’t. I’ve got to go. My sugar britches
is eyeing me like a hawk. I swear, I can’t get a minute to myself
because he can’t keep his hands off of me.” She swiveled and Roark
was standing by her. A scream climbed her throat but she managed to
stifle the sound. Giving him the evil eye, she finished saying
goodbye and clicked off. “Do you think it’s necessary for you to
sneak up on me like that?”
    “Sorry, sweetheart. However, you’re right. I can’t
keep my hands off you. You know how empty-headed ogres are. We
don’t have anything to think with except our dicks.”
    Although he mocked her, that knowledge didn’t detour
the tingly awareness that spread through her body like warm honey.
Before she was a goner, she switched gears. “I held my bargain.
Your turn.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want to hang out here and
let me take care of the yearning in the pit of your stomach and the
wetness in your core? The scent is intoxicating.” His rich voice
had the same effect as if he’d licked her from head to toe.
    “Some vivid imagination you have.” She attempted a
casual laugh but it came out as a shrill.
    Her body was out of control and she could no longer
trust it to behave.
    If his verbal foreplay wasn’t enough, he reached out
and smoothed his fingers lightly across her cheek. Sparks ignited
and her heartbeat thumped inside her chest. “Don’t deny the desire
growing between us. The quivering in your loins tells me what I
need to know.”
    Her cheeks heated, telling her exactly what she
feared—she was blushing like a schoolgirl. “Are you hoping I’ll
forget the bargain we made?”
    He dropped his hand to his side and sighed. “Of
course you wouldn’t.” He turned and walked toward the door. “Are
you coming or not?” he asked.
    “At least you can tell me where we’re going, I
hope.”
    “And ruin the surprise?” He laughed. “Come now,
let’s get going before you have another hissy fit.”
    Shooting him with invisible daggers as he led her
into the hall, she followed him out the back door. A young man
wearing jean overalls greeted them. His gaucho hat was lowered over
his eyes, hiding his expression. He didn’t even acknowledge her. He
handed Roark the reigns to the horse and asked, “Is there anything
else I can help you with?”
    “Thank you, Caleb. We’ll return in a few hours.
Before you go, did you take care of the situation?”
    “I’m working on it,” Caleb said. With a curt nod,
the boy excused himself.
    “You should be ashamed of yourself.” Bronte huffed.
She came around and patted the stallion on the neck. It was a
lovely creature. They’d had horses on their land when she was a kid
and she’d grown up riding.
    “What for?” he snapped.
    “Does everyone here greet you and do your bidding as
if they are worshipping a master?”
    His eyes widened. “I’m not asking them to do
anything more than what is expected from them, handed down
generation after generation.”
    Just when she thought she’d heard it all, he went
and blew her mind again with his egotistical notions. “You’re so
full of yourself.” He seemed genuinely shocked. It was a lost
cause. “Where is the other horse?”
    “What other horse?” he asked.
    “The one I’ll be riding? I’m