TroubleinChaps Read online

  Roxie kept her fingers between them, rubbing herself to his rhythm. The first orgasm had her whole body tightening around him. Her legs wrapped around his waist, stopping his motion until she released. As her legs loosened, he began to move faster and harder in her. She pulled her legs up, giving him deeper access, rocking her hips to meet him. Cliff slipped off the bed and pulled her over to the edge. He went to his knees and buried his face in her. He ran his tongue from her opening to her clit. He lapped at the nub until it hardened. Roxie arched her back, pressing into his tongue. Just as she was tightening to climax, he stood and pushed into her. He rode her climax, letting her push against him as he drove into her. Flesh slapped flesh, an accompaniment to the low gasps and soft groans.

  Feeling the pulsing in his groin, Cliff tightened his hands around her hips and drove one final time into her as he stars exploded behind his closed eyes. He pressed into her, wrapping his arms around her. There he held her until the orgasm receded.

  Moments later, he withdrew and climbed back into bed with her, spooning around her body. Hours later, the ring of the phone pulled her from a sound sleep. Untangling herself from Cliff’s arms she reached for the phone, seeing the lighted display of the clock on the nightstand announcing that it was after ten.

  “Hello? Hey, Sam. Yeah, it’s Roxie. Yeah, tell her I’ll call her in a few minutes.” Hanging up the phone, she sat up and brushed her hair back over her shoulders. “Sorry. I didn’t even think before I answered. Anyway, that was Sam. Lola was looking for me. I need to call her and Emily and fill them in.”

  Cliff groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position. “Are you nervous?

  “Only that their feelings will be hurt that I didn’t tell them before now.”

  “They’re your friends, honey. They’ll be happy for you.”

  “You’re right. I just don’t want them to be hurt.”

  “It’ll be fine, baby. Oh hell, what time is it?”

  “After ten.”

  “God, I’m late,” he grumbled. “Got people coming in to do some work on the club today. I need to call and tell them I’m going to be late.”

  “Okay.” She stood and padded naked to the bathroom. “I’ve got to shower but there’s plenty of room if you want to join me.”

  “As soon as I make this call.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Cliff watched her firm ass as she crossed the room and blew out a breath. Damn if the woman wasn’t too tempting for his own good. And he couldn’t be happier.

  * * * * *

  Roxie waited until they were seated at the table in Cliff’s kitchen with plates of sandwiches and chips before she said anything about her mysterious trip with Cliff. He had offered to stay with her but she wanted to do this alone. She, Lola and Emily were best friends. They deserved to hear this from her.

  He’d promised he’d be back in a couple of hours. Roxie was pretty sure that in two hours life as they knew it would change dramatically.

  It took more than half an hour for her to tell Lola and Emily the whole story. It took two hours of questions before they were ready to move on from the tale of her marriage to Danny.

  “Cliff’s some guy,” Lola commented. “So did you tell Danny you were doing to divorce him?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Do you think he understood?” Emily asked.

  Roxie shook her head. “He didn’t even know who I was.”

  “You okay with that?” Emily asked.

  “Yes. I am. I never thought I’d hear myself say it, but I’m at peace with it now.”

  “Damn, honey, I wish you’d told us all this before. You didn’t have to bear this by yourself.” Lola reached out to cover Roxie’s hand with hers.

  “Yeah, I did,” Roxie said softly. “But I appreciate it. You guys are the greatest. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you before now, but this is something I had to deal with alone.”

  “Until Cliff,” Emily commented.

  “Yeah, until Cliff. Which brings me to the second part of my news bulletin.”

  “Oh god, there’s more?” Lola looked around. “Do we need booze for this?”

  Roxie suddenly grinned. “Actually, I think we do.” She jumped up and hurried to the refrigerator. “Bless you, Beckett,” she said as she pulled a bottle of champagne from the refrigerator.

  “Champagne?” Emily’s eyebrows rose. “In the middle of the day?”

  Roxie found glasses, put them on the table and popped the cork. Once the glasses were filled, she took a seat and lifted a glass. “Ladies, say hello to Mrs. Cliff Beckett.”

  There was total silence. Lola’s mouth rounded in an O and Emily’s eyes grew wide. Roxie looked at her friends and grinned. “We were married in Vegas two days ago.”

  The silence was shattered by a high-pitched squeal from Lola. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!”

  Roxie burst out laughing. “My sentiments exactly when he popped the question.”

  “You’re married?” Emily blurted. “Really married?”

  “That I am.”

  “Well damn!”

  Another moment of silence fell only to be broken by all three of them suddenly squealing. Seconds later they were all on their feet, dancing and bouncing in a group hug.

  “I can’t believe it!” Emily exclaimed. “Roxie Ellis, you surprise me.”

  “Beckett. Roxie Beckett. And sometimes, I surprise even myself.”

  “Oh, honey!” Lola hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Roxie smiled at her friends. “I’m happy, too. Really happy.”

  “He really is the one, isn’t he?” Emily asked.

  “Yes.” Even Roxie heard the change in her voice at the answer. “God, Em, I never thought I could love someone like this.”

  “So, now I guess we’re not the only ones who think staying in Mesa Blanco is such a horrible idea, huh?” Lola asked.

  Roxie took a seat and sipped her champagne. “That’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Should we sit for this?” Emily asked.

  “Might as well. We’ve got this bottle of bubbly that needs drinking. And I have this idea.”

  “Why did I get a sudden chill up my spine?” Emily teased.

  Roxie laughed. “Cliff and I were talking. I don’t really want to work at the bar and—oh my god, I didn’t tell you. Cliff’s loaded.”

  Both her friends burst out laughing. “What? I’m serious. He…hey, wait, you already knew?”

  “Men can’t keep secrets near as good as they claim,” Lola replied. “Sam told me. Cliff’s loaded.”

  “I nearly fainted when he told me,” Roxie admitted.

  “Was that before or after you said I do?” Emily asked.

  “Oh meow,” Roxie, retorted good naturedly. “After. Hell, I’d have married him if he had nothing.”

  “I believe you,” Lola assured her. But you were talking about not wanting to work at the bar?”

  “Oh, yeah. He asked what I wanted to do and I told him I’d always wanted to have my own shop—sort of a funky boutique. I know this seems like a strange place for something like that—or not. I mean, since we’ve been here I’ve seen Lola being asked for fashion advice a dozen times. So, I thought, how about a boutique that caters to a variety of styles. A little of the glitzy and a little of the homespun?”

  Emily pursed her lips. “Not a bad idea. Maybe even add a little day spa for people who want a little pampering?”

  “Oh I like that!” Roxie grinned.

  “Nails and hair and oh, oh, a masseuse!” Lola added.

  “Yes!”

  Suddenly they were all chattering a thousand miles an hour, tossing out one idea after another. Before they knew it, the champagne was gone.

  “So, I guess this means you like the idea?” Roxie asked.

  “Yes!” Lola squealed, followed by a “Definitely,” from Emily.

  “Then what would you think about being my partners?”

  The split sec
ond of silence preceded another round of squealing and all three of them jumping up to hug and bounce around.

  “Oh my god, no more waiting tables?” Lola heaved a dramatic sigh.

  “No more cooking—except when I want to?” Emily added.

  Roxie grinned. “Cliff said it would be his wedding present to me, but I said he would invest and we’d pay him back. That okay with you?”

  “Absolutely,” Emily agreed.

  “No problem,” Lola added. “We’ll make this thing a smash!”

  “Indeed we will,” Roxie replied. “And I was thinking of a name. What do you think about Sequins, Saddles and Spurs?”

  Emily and Lola looked at each other then back at Roxie. “I think you better see if there’s another bottle of champagne in the fridge,” Emily replied. “’Cause, ladies, it’s time for a toast.”

  Roxie dashed for the refrigerator. Minutes later she stood with her best friends, glasses of champagne rose. “A toast,” she said.

  “To new beginnings,” Lola said.

  “To friendship,” Emily added.

  “To love,” Roxie offered.

  “Amen, sister.” Lola clinked her glass to Roxie’s then Emily’s.

  They all drank then Roxie giggled. “What?” Lola asked.

  “Who would’ve thought it would end like this?”

  “End?” Roxie jumped when she heard Cliff’s voice behind her. “Honey we’re just getting started.”

  About the Author

  Ciana Stone has been reading since the age of three, and wrote her first story at age five. Since then she has enjoyed writing as a solitary form of entertainment, and has just recently come out of the closet to share her stories with others. She holds several post graduate degrees and has often been referred to as a professional student. Her latest fields of interest are quantum mechanics and Taoism. When she is not writing (or studying) she enjoys painting (canvas, not walls), sculpting, running, hiking and yoga. She lives with her long-time lover in several locations in the United States.

  Ciana welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

  Tell Us What You Think

  We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].

  Also by Ciana Stone

  Acid Rayne with Nathalie Gray

  An Unwanted Hunger

  Cougar Challenge: Cam’s Holiday

  Entwined Hearts with Nicole Austin, TJ Michaels & N.J. Walters

  Hot in the Saddle 1: Chase ‘n’ Ana

  Hot in the Saddle 2: Molding Clay

  Hot in the Saddle 3: Scout ‘n’ Cole

  Hot in the Saddle 4: Conn ‘n’ Caleb

  Memory’s Eye

  Riding Ranger

  Saturday Night Fever

  Sexplorations: Finding Her Rhythm

  Sexplorations: The Thing about Cowboys

  Sexplorations: Working Up a Sweat

  The Hussies: A Taste for Jazz

  The Hussies: All in Time

  The Hussies: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer

  The Hussies: Sin in Jeans

  Wyatt’s Chance

  Also see Ciana’s release at Cerridwen Press (www.cerridwenpress.com):

  That Which Survives

  Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

  www.ellorascave.com