vaguely recollect her saying once we didn’t need his money to get by, that she could take care of me without his help, or maybe it was Mrs. Wilcox she said that to, the elderly woman in the apartment next to ours who stayed with me at night while Mom worked. If she said that, I don’t know if it was in reference to him not paying child support or to having money, but either way, that wouldn’t make any difference. If he didn’t care enough about either of us back then, he wouldn’t now.”
Lisa’s calm voice matched her expressionless face as she nibbled on chips, her blasé attitude indicating she didn’t care about the man one way or another. Shawn understood that well; he’d never given much thought to his absentee mother and couldn’t miss what he’d never had.
Dakota nailed Shawn with a black-eyed glare. “You find the fucker and give me five minutes with him. You’ll have your answers. I’ve got work to do. You two clean up.”
He stalked away, heading to the stables without another word, and Shawn grinned at Lisa’s puzzled expression as she said, “I thought he didn’t want to get involved.”
“Dakota’s all about getting revenge. He usually saves his energy for finding whoever murdered his mother, but once in a while, he’ll remind us he’s not as cold as he comes across,” Shawn replied.
“You wouldn’t seriously let him…”
Clayton laughed and shucked her under the chin. “No, darlin’, we wouldn’t, but that look on your face would tempt a saint into coming to your defense.” He gave her hair a playful tug, asking, “Are you sure you don’t have a sister since Shawn has already laid claim to you?”
“What?” Her startled gaze flew to Shawn.
Shawn liked the idea of claiming her way too much to dispute Clayton, so instead, he changed the subject, noting the time. “Lisa, use the restroom before we go riding.” When her eyes turned frosty, he realized his mistake in making that sound like an order instead of a reminder about removing the plug.
Standing, she snatched her hat off the table and plopped it on her head. “I think I’ll go hang out with Angel while you two take care of the table.”
With that rebuff of his remark, she spun about and trounced across the yard, both men’s eyes drawn to her butt twitching in the short skirt. As they stood, Shawn responded with a primitive urge to stake that claim Clayton mentioned.
“Excuse me, but I have a more pressing matter to see to right now.”
Donning his own hat, he stomped after her as Clayton said in reminder, “Dakota’s in that stable.”
“What’s your point?” he returned without slowing or looking back.
“Perv,” Clayton called out with a snicker.
Maybe I am, he admitted but thought it was more that he wanted what he wanted, and he wanted Lisa. With his blood pumping hot and fast through his veins, Shawn entered the stable and looked toward Dakota, who stood grooming Phantom’s coal-black mane and tail. The darker coloring stood out against the Morgan’s dark-gray coat, the huge stallion a stunning horse that always drew eyes. With a jerk of his thumb toward the rear, Dakota indicated Lisa’s whereabouts.
Shawn lifted his hand and traveled the wide brick aisle between stalls with ground-eating strides, his cock already full and aching to sink into her tight, wet pussy. He remembered the plug, and damn near spewed his seed imagining the extra snugness it would create. Her little snit was working in his favor.
Rounding the corner, he spotted her bending over next to the apple barrel, reaching for a dropped apple. Without pause, he strode forward, grabbed her hips, and nudged her feet apart with one booted foot.
“You know, Lisa, for someone with your experience, you’ve been awful defensive to your Dom lately. Grab your ankles and hold tight.”
“Shawn!” she squealed as he flipped up her skirt and yanked down her panties to reveal her plugged ass and creamy, glistening slit.
Keeping hold of her right hip, he ran a finger through her damp folds. “You were saying?” he asked as she sucked in a breath and groaned.
“What…what if someone comes…in?”
She knew Dakota was already inside, so she was referring to other ranch hands. He remembered her penchant for exhibitionism with a slow smile. Confident Dakota would keep everyone else out, he pumped three fingers inside her pussy, loving the quick grip of her muscles and added tightness, omitting that tidbit from his reply. “Since there’s always that chance,