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  Pink Petal Books

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  Pink Petal Books would like to thank the author, Jasmine Aherne, for allowing us to distribute this story.

  Additional Titles by the Author

  Good Medicine, Juli’s Choice, The Purrfect Man, Ghost Touch, Ghost Redeemed, Ursa Major, StarMyst: Prodigal Son, StarMyst: Forgiven, Her Hungers, Two In Hand

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  TWO IN HAND

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright © Mary Winter, 2009

  Cover Art ® 2009 by Pink Petal Books

  Electronic Publication Date: June 2009

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

  Winning Riders

  Mary Winter

  A free story from

  PPB

  James stared across the hotel room at Daniel sitting at the small table. A container of food from a local restaurant sat forgotten by his right hand. In that same hand, Daniel clutched a class list, including the listing of calves they’d be roping tomorrow. James strode across the room, his bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. Stray droplets of water slid over James’s neck and shoulders from his still-damp hair. His jeans, the zipper up, but the top button undone, confined his rising cock. Stopping behind the chair, he curled his fingers over the back. The need to touch Daniel, to soothe those worry lines from his forehead, rode James hard. He swallowed and drew a deep breath.

  “You need to give that up.” James bent his head to rumble the words into Daniel’s ear. “You won’t rope the calf sitting there.” He curled his fingers over his lover’s shoulders, massaging his tense muscles. “Just because Katie couldn’t make it doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.”

  Daniel set the paper on the table and with a knowing look at James, shoved the schedule across the table.. Daniel downed the last of his beer and leaned against James’ hands. “I don’t like our draw for tomorrow. The last team went out with a no time on that calf.”

  James nuzzled the top of Daniel’s head. “Don’t think about it. We’ll do what we always do, and we’ll probably win.” He nestled his head in the crook of Daniel’s shoulder. “Come on.” He pulled the chair back.

  Daniel went willingly, though James sensed his reluctance. He stepped in front of Daniel, grabbing his hands and pulling him to his feet. “Katie wouldn’t want you to be working so hard.” Leaning forward, James curled his fingers around the collar of Daniel’s shirt—he’d strip his lover later—and pushed him into the bed.

  “I don’t think Katie would want you to bruise me either.” With a grin, Daniel hooked his thumbs into the belt loops of James’s jeans and tugged him forward. When James moved closer, Daniel slid down the zipper on his pants and shoved them down his lean hips. “Then again, Katie might not want to miss this.” With each word Daniel leaned forward until he blew a hot puff of air across the tip of James’ cock.

  James groaned. He reached for his lover, cupping the back of Daniel’s head and drawing him closer. “Suck me,” he ordered.

  Daniel chuckled low in his throat. Snaking his tongue along James’ hard length, he caught the drop of fluid seeping from the tip. “I don’t think so. Not yet, cowboy.” His fingers curled into James’ thighs, Daniel used only his lips and tongue to torment his lover. “Don’t make me get my rope.”

  A shudder wound through James’ body. One hand curled into Daniel’s shoulder, the other tangling through his collar-length hair, the perfect length for grabbing while Daniel gave him a blow job. After countless rodeos and years together, Daniel still knew how to get him hard as a rock.

  James stiffened, contemplating switching their positions. He enjoyed standing between Daniel’s knees too much. Especially when it meant he could look down and watch his lover’s mouth move on his cock. Feeling Daniel’s heavy lips encircling him was one thing…watching it something else. James’ balls tightened.

  Not yet. Drawing a deep breath, James willed his arousal to hold steady. As if he was a mind reader, Daniel grabbed James’ balls. Daniel tugged gently, staving off James’ impending orgasm.

  James groaned again. He drew a harsh breath, the pressure in his balls building to an unbearable pitch. Imagining Katie in the room with him only ratcheted up his need. And oh how he needed to grab the back of Daniel’s head. One swift thrust would bury his cock deep down Daniel’s throat.

  James stilled. He pulled away, relishing every inch of his cock sliding from between Daniel’s lips. “You done thinking about that damn class list?” A smile twitched the corners of his lips. When it came to distraction, James knew Daniel needed to take his mind off their run tomorrow. Too bad Katie hadn’t been able to come to the rodeo with them this weekend. She’d have helped him ensure that Daniel thought about nothing but them. James pushed Daniel on the bed, following him down and grinning as Daniel rolled over to reveal his denim-clad ass. James tackled Daniel and pinned him to the mattress. Reaching beneath Daniel, James unhooked the buckle and button, then slid the zipper down. Daniel’s cock surged through the opening. A quick wriggle and a lift of Daniel’s hips had his jeans sliding down. Another minor interruption removed Daniel’s boots and socks, leaving him naked.

  “Now that’s more like it.” James grabbed the lube bottle off the night stand and poured a generous amount into the palm of his hand. A few quick strokes readied him, and James poised himself at Daniel’s entrance.

  He waited, his hands finding Daniel’s. He tangled their fingers and pulled Daniel’s hands up to the pillow. Beneath him, Daniel spread his legs, lifted his hips and offered his ass. The submissive gesture touched James. Katie should be here to see this. Right now she thought of them as a couple of gay guys looking for a woman, her past relationship with Daniel the only thing that kept her coming back to them, for them. Closing his eyes, James leaned forward.

  A quick thrust joined them. Hot and tight, nothing felt like Daniel’s tunnel surrounding his cock, the perfect counterpoint to Katie’s wet pussy. Yeah, both of them probably needed this. And both of them needed going home after the rodeo and seeing Katie, making love to her, even more.

  If you liked this “cut scene” from TWO IN HAND, then check out the rest of the book.

  Katie Kendall knew about making two beings operate as one—she participated in two-in-hand combined driving competitions. If she could control two horses in the same harness, then surely two cowboys in the same relationship would be a piece of cake. Right?

  Daniel Westin had loved Katie when they were both teenagers and confusion over his changing sexuality made him leave her. When he met team roper and stock contractor, James Stanton, Daniel realized his romantic dreams had been realized. Except for one thing, Katie was missing out of their lives.

  So Daniel invites Katie to a rodeo. Perhaps, if she sees
how good he and James work together, she’ll remember how good things were between them. And maybe, just maybe, Daniel and James can convince Katie that she can handle them.

  Buy at Pink Petal Books: http://www.pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?/Mary-Winter/Two-In-Hand-by-Mary-Winter.html

  Also available in a Kindle edition, at All Romance eBooks, My Bookstore and More, Books on Board, and other fine electronic retailers starting in mid-August 2009.

  erotic cowboy ménage with m/m elements

  novella

  ISBN# 9780982488577

  $4.25

  Chapter One

  Katie curled her fingers around the cool metal bleachers and stared into the arena below. Her drink sat forgotten by her side. She barely noticed the sweat that dripped down the back of her neck, seeping into the collar of her t-shirt. The action in the arena fascinated her far more than it probably should have. Maybe it was because Daniel had invited her here.

  The announcer called out the winner of the steer wrestling and the arena emptied for the team roping, Daniel’s event. Around her, the usual trappings of the rodeo, fans in bleachers cheering and stomping their hands, the prerequisite cowboys, horses, steers, broncs, and bulls waited in the chutes and back lot areas. Livestock milled in pens, cattle bawling, the smell of beer and popcorn, all of it was familiar to her. Yet, parts of it made it seem strange and new.

  Two rows down a couple of men snuggled together. A banner in the arena proclaimed this as an event held by the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association. Katie stared at the sign, listening to the announcer giving some air time to the event’s sponsors. She shook her head, still not believing she’d been invited here.

  By Daniel, her ex-boyfriend.

  Katie barely contained the grin that turned her lips upward. She’d have laughed out loud if she had thought her amusement wouldn’t draw attention to herself. Daniel Westin, high school heartthrob—completely and totally gay. Well, technically bisexual, but she assumed since he’d invited her to a gay rodeo he wasn’t going to ask her to the dance afterwards. That was a leap of reason she’d made on her own, reminding her of the logic puzzles they’d filled out in “gifted” classes back in school. There was no need to even ask; she just knew. But Daniel at a gay event was something she had to see for herself. As teenagers they’d made out nearly every way, in nearly every location possible. Just thinking about it sent a wave of heat through her strong enough to ward off the unseasonable April chill.

  “Next up is the team of Daniel Westin and James Stanton. Last year, this duo narrowly missed the championship. You can bet they’ll be in the hunt this season,” the announcer said.

  Katie tuned out the announcer who would obviously be going on about James’ work as a stock contractor, focusing instead on the two men on horseback at the far end of the arena. She easily recognized Daniel riding a muscled dun horse. He had always sat a horse well and today was no exception. With his hat pulled low, his rope loose in his right hand, he held his horse in the back corner of the starting box. A heartbeat later he nodded and the calf burst from the chute.

  Daniel followed. The thin rope barrier pulled across the front of the starting box, whipping past Daniel’s horse’s chest a moment before the horse would have hit it. Next to him, James surged forward on his big bay horse. One loop, two, Daniel worked the rope above his head, and Katie’s breath caught as she remembered exactly what those talented fingers could do. The rope settled easily against the calf’s head, hooking his horns.

  Daniel tied off the rope, turning his horse to give James a good shot at the calf’s hind legs. A swooping loop ducked beneath the back hooves, and the calf hung suspended between the two men.

  Katie glanced quickly at the scoreboard. The timer read six seconds flat and she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d seen good cowboys work, great ones even, and these two men were the perfect team. Amidst cheers from the crowd they released the calf and trotted their horses back toward the gates. James pulled alongside, their horses nearly perfect in size and muscling. Leaning over he grabbed Daniel by the arm and the two men shared a hot, heated kiss on their way out of the arena.

  Yep, no doubt about it. Daniel liked men.

  Whoops and whistles erupted all over the arena. Katie’s cheeks burned with heat. From what she’d seen of James, she wouldn’t mind kissing him either. Moisture flooded her pussy and all she could think of was how damn sexy their embrace had been.

  She closed her mouth, suddenly aware she was staring gape-jawed at the men. She fumbled for her soda, sipping it to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. Behind her ribs, her heart hammered, and before she could second guess her intentions, she rose to her feet and hurried down the bleacher steps. She chucked her empty soda cup in the trash can, her gaze fixed on the two men behind the chutes.

  Daniel had kissed another man.

  Somehow wrapping her head around the notion made her ache in places that had been dormant for a while. He’s making me horny again, except this time he’s not going to do anything about it. She bit back a groan. Damn fine time for her hormones to wake up again. After her last relationship had ended with a whimper and a mutual agreement, she’d thought she was done with men for good. She gave too much of herself to her horses and her sport—or so she’d been told. At least she knew Daniel wouldn’t have a problem with hay or manure.

  She blended in with the crowd of people behind the chute and quickly made her way over to the guys. “Hey,” she said when she drew near enough to Daniel, who now led his horse back to the barns. She reached up and patted the dun mare on the neck. “Nice ride.”

  “Katie!” Daniel turned and captured her in a huge bear hug, drawing her against his well-muscled body. She had just a glimpse of his sandy blond hair beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. Excitement twinkled in his deep green eyes. When he pulled back, she saw age had turned his blocky features into mature planes and angles. His shoulders had broadened, giving him that perfect inverted triangle-shaped torso. His flat stomach led to lean hips and muscled thighs and calves. He’d turned out very nicely indeed.

  Her nipples tingled where they pressed against his chest and butterflies hit her stomach hard. “Hope I’m not disturbing anything.”

  The competitors in the arena failed to rope their calf and the announcer called a no time.

  “No. I needed something to take my mind off whether we’re winning or not.” Daniel gestured to James. “Come here, I want you to meet someone. Katie, this is James.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” James held out a gloved hand, his brown eyes open and friendly. He had a scar high on his cheek and a bump that suggested a broken nose. “Danny’s talked a lot about you. I feel like I know you already.”

  “Oh,” she said, momentarily taken aback by the fact that Daniel would mention her at all. “I hope it was all good.”

  “Very good.” James cocked his head toward the arena. “Another pair goes out with no time.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t breed such ornery stock,” Daniel teased.

  Katie thought for a moment, putting that fact along with James’ name together. “You’re the stock contractor on the outside of town, aren’t you? I was on the county rodeo committee a couple of years ago and I think we worked with you then.”

  “Probably. I do most of the local events and ship some of my stock out to the larger ones too. I happened to have a fresh bunch of calves that peaked in time for this event, so I offered them. We used someone else’s stock for our run, just in case you think we had an edge.” He grinned, open and friendly.

  “Nah, Katie knows that I’m naturally good.” Daniel slung his arm around her waist, pulling her against him.

  She melted into him, her body remembering what it felt like to be snuggled against him. She caught James eyeing them speculatively, and she wondered if she shouldn’t push Daniel away or something. She’d just seen him kissing another man!

  James coughed. “There were two of us in the arena.”

  “I’m sure you’re bot
h very talented.” She stared at her boots. Oh God, she’d just spoken aloud. Her mind turned every comment into an innuendo, and with her hip brushing against Daniel’s side, she couldn’t think straight.

  “I’d like to think we are.” James replied casually.

  “James is the best heeler I’ve worked with,” Daniel said. “I think he’s spoiled me for any other partner.” He paused a moment to listen to the announcer. They’d gone first. “Let’s lead the horses back a ways. We probably have ten more pairs to go yet.”

  He released her hand, leaving her with a sense of abandonment, and strode through the tangle of people and livestock to head for a clearing near the low barn on the edge of the fairground. Katie followed, familiar with the layout. She’d stabled her horses here many times for competitions. James walked a bit behind her, leading his horse. Funny to have reunited with him so recently, and yet, feel so connected to him. It was like their time apart faded away.

  They stopped in the clearing, well away from the in-gate, and Katie found herself between the two men. She yearned to ask Daniel about his invitation, about the kiss she’d witnessed in the arena. She didn’t. Instead, she turned to the dun horse, patting its neck as Daniel loosened the cinch on the saddle. His rope hung coiled from the saddle horn.

  “Shouldn’t you stay close so you can go back into the arena for the victory gallop?”

  Daniel offered her a sexy grin. “It’ll be awhile. Let’s get away from the bustle so we can talk.”

  Talk. His words conjured up the memory of his invitation and of their past. She looked at the horse’s dun hide to avoid searching Daniel’s face for any clues. “So did you end up with a place around here?” Katie asked Daniel. The last time she’d talked with Daniel he had moved across the state, but was trying to find a closer farm.