Propositioning Mr. Raine (Riding the Raines Book 1) Read online

  Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back, swallowing the knot in her throat. “I’m getting past it. At first I was paralyzed. He was my entire world and it was just gone in a blink. Him. Our life together. My life.”

  “What’s the hardest thing to still deal with?”

  She hesitated. “Being alone all the time. I get lonely.”

  “Why did you move away from all your friends? You had to have them.”

  “Some of them felt sorry for me and they stopped treating me like a person. I became something to pity. Half of them avoided me after Ted died. I think seeing what happened made them afraid it could happen to them. I was devastated at first, and withdrew from some of them as well, because I was in my own world of grief. And I gave some of Ted’s friends the wrong impression.” She was still a bit humiliated over that.

  “How?” Navarro tugged her to the couch and made her sit while he sat on the edge of the coffee table. “Tell me about Ted’s friends getting the wrong impression.”

  Trina forced a laugh. “This is kind of embarrassing but I was used to taking care of Ted, and some of his friends through Ted. When his friend Luke got divorced, he mentioned to Ted that he missed home-cooked meals, so sometimes when Ted went to hang out with him, I’d send some food to Luke so he could just reheat it and eat a few good meals a week. Ted’s friend Gene loved my baked goods. I love to bake, so I’d make extra and send them with Ted to work. Gene was his office partner and also single.”

  “And what wrong impression did you give?”

  She hesitated as her smile faded. “I was bored and needed something to do after Ted wasn’t there anymore to take care of. I swear it’s embedded in me after all these years. I started making Luke meals, and I baked Gene some treats. For a few weeks I dropped them off at their houses. Then…” She blushed.

  Navarro rubbed her arms. “Then what?”

  She sighed. “This is so embarrassing.”

  “Tell me anyway.”

  She stared into his beautiful eyes. “Gene showed up one night at my house out of the blue, and he hit on me. I was shocked. He was Ted’s best friend and they worked together. I didn’t react well. Actually, I kind of freaked out. It was just a few months after the funeral and he came on to me pretty aggressively. Gene told me, because of what I was doing with him and Luke, that he felt sorry for me and that’s why he was there, offering to spend the night with me. He said I seemed desperate for a man’s company or he wouldn’t have come over to give me a pity fuck.”

  Navarro’s hands stilled and anger gripped his features. “That guy is an asshole. What you did was nice, and he hit on you because he’d always wanted you. Trust me. He tried to take advantage of you and when you shot him down, he turned the blame for his shitty behavior your way. What an ass.”

  “I probably did seem desperate and it wasn’t appropriate for me to keep cooking for them. I was never comfortable around either man again, so I stopped talking to them.”

  Navarro stood and pulled Trina to her feet. “Let’s go upstairs.” He kept hold of her hand until he closed the door to his room. He locked it and turned. “Strip.”

  “I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to you just telling me to get naked the second we walk in here.” She removed her shoes and slowly started to undress.

  He laughed. “I’m just happy you do it. I don’t want you in your clothes.” He tossed his discarded shirt to the floor. “I’m stripping too.”

  “No-clothes-in-the-bedroom rule?”

  “I like that one. I also want you to follow my orders in here.”

  She nodded. “I can do that.”

  Something in his eyes flickered and he really looked turned-on. “Good. Just do as I say.”

  “I can do that,” she agreed, then paused. “I just don’t want pain or humiliation.”

  A frown tempered his lips. “I wouldn’t do that to you. What made you say that?”

  “I mentioned that I read books. Sometimes I read these master-and-slave type stories. They turn me on right until it gets degrading or painful. I don’t find it sexy or stimulating and I wouldn’t want to be with a guy who wanted to inflict that on me. I also don’t want to feel icky by doing something I’m not comfortable with.”

  He was naked as he moved slowly to Trina. “I won’t ever hurt you and I don’t want to humiliate you. So you get turned-on by light bondage?”

  Nodding, she met his curious gaze. “I enjoyed the ropes.”

  He reached up so his thumb brushed her nipple. “Still tender?”

  “A little.”

  “I was thinking about you today.”

  “Were you dealing with more shit?” She grinned up at him.

  “Nope. I was breaking in a few horses.” His heated gaze ran over her.

  Her body instantly responded to his words. The idea of him on the back of a wild animal made her have some racy thoughts. He’d have to be a tough guy to risk life and limb to climb on the back of a strong, wild animal. She didn’t look away from him as he stared into her eyes. “So what were you thinking?”

  “Do you like toys?”

  “Sex toys?”

  He nodded. “I went into town today to pay off the loan after I cashed your check. The ranch is safe. Thanks, by the way. When I got home, I went online and ordered some toys I thought you’d enjoy. They won’t arrive until next week but I want you to get used to the idea.”

  “What kind of toys?”

  He smiled. “Nothing painful. I got things I think will make you feel really good. It will be a surprise.”

  “I hate surprises.”

  He laughed. “You are unique then.”

  “I’m impatient too.”

  Reaching out, he lifted her onto the bed. “Me too.” His focus went down her body.

  Trina eyed his cock, seeing he was rock hard, and licked her lips. When her attention lifted, there was no missing the passion in his gaze. She moved on the bed. With him standing next to it, he was at the perfect height for what she had in mind. She rolled onto her stomach, reaching for him, hearing him suck in air.

  “What are you doing?”

  Easing closer to him, Trina caressed his cock with her hands. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  He didn’t pull away as she licked the crown of his shaft. His cock jerked in her hold as her fingers wrapped around the base. She took him into her mouth, licking and sucking, coaxing a groan from Navarro as his hand caressed her cheek.

  “You’re too good at this. I won’t last long but I’m not going to say no. I believe in payback so when you’re done, it’s my turn.”

  The memory of his mouth on her made her passion kick into overdrive. She took his cock deeper into her mouth and moved on him faster. Navarro groaned as his hips slowly thrust a little, moving with her.

  “Fuck.” His voice was husky. “Your mouth is so hot and good.”

  She let her teeth lightly scrape his shaft and took him deeper, feeling him in her throat. She swallowed over and over. Navarro cried out as he came hard. She swallowed everything he gave her before easing him out from between her lips. His hand was fisted in her long hair but he hadn’t hurt her. His hold eased as she looked at him while she sat up. His head was thrown back, his eyes were closed and a satisfied smile was firmly planted on his lips. Beautiful eyes opened as he lowered his head.

  “You’re so amazing at that. I’m near embarrassed about how fast I came but I won’t be because you’re just that good.”

  She laughed. “Thank you. To be honest, I’m glad I can get you off fast. After a few minutes my jaw starts to hurt. You’re pretty big.”

  “Then I’m glad you turn me on so much that I can’t last past a few minutes when your mouth is wrapped around me. Lie back and spread wide for me, Trina. It’s my turn to cause devastation in your body.”

  Moving on the bed, Trina stretched out on her back. She hesitated, still not really comfortable with exposing herself to him, but she did it, wanting to feel his mouth on