Snippet from Theirs to Take
Snippet from Theirs to Take by Rory Michaels (pen name of Mandy M Roth)
Chapter One
Rows of shops lined the downtown area. A little bit of everything could be found there even in a small town. With the internet, what couldn’t be purchased locally could be ordered in, though most people still did the online ordering through the general store. They tended to pride themselves on keeping the business local. Ray Thompson couldn’t fathom how anyone would want to do much of anything outside of Hazard County. The area had been his home since birth and he full well planned to be buried there someday.
Ray peeled into a parking space in front of the hardware store. His fence on the west side of his ranch had come down during the last round of storms to hit the area, and he needed supplies to see to the mending of it. He had people do the work for him and to even run the errands, but he preferred staying hands-on.
He opened the door of his black pickup truck, and it was nearly taken clean off as a sporty car darted into the space next to his. Main Street wasn’t exactly known for a run on parking. At least not in Hazard County—population, very, very small.
“Hey there!” he hollered as he hopped out. “You’re gonna kill someone if you’re not careful.”
As a tall, broad shouldered man with sandy blond hair emerged from the vehicle, Ray’s breath caught. He’d not set eyes on Mark Whiteburn in nearly four years and their last parting was far from good. It took longer than Ray would have liked to compose himself before he attempted to appear nonchalant as he groaned and rolled his eyes. “Mark, shocking to see you can’t drive worth a damn.”
Mark lowered his sunglasses, a smirk slinking over his handsome face. “Nice to see you too, Raymond. Miss me?”
Ray’s jaw set as he clutched the handle of his truck door. Miss him? Hell yeah he missed him, but he was still furious at how Mark had split town. “What the hell are you doing back? I figured you’d stay long gone?”
Mark removed his trendy sunglasses and tossed them into his car. He shut his car door and walked towards Ray. The man was decked out head to toe in designer clothing. Mark lowered his voice, “This is how it’s gonna be between us now, Ray?”
Ray exhaled slowly and glanced around, wondering if anyone was watching their interaction. Rumors had already circulated about them at one point, but they’d sort of gone by the wayside since Mark’s departure.
Mark snorted. “Don’t worry.” He put his hands up and backed away. “Promise not to leak my reputation all over the town, good ole boy. Though, there was a time you didn’t mind me leaking anything all over you.”
Ray’s body tightened at Mark’s words. Remembered passion played out in his mind. His cheeks flushed and he had to take a moment to collect himself. Four years had passed since they’d spent a weekend together, shacked up two counties over, doing things to each other that in the eyes of the locals wasn’t right.
The beauty shop door opened and a sexy, leggy redhead exited. She spotted Mark and a large smile slipped over her face. “Hey you.”
Mark straightened his shirt even though it wasn’t out of place. “Woman, how is it you get even more beautiful each and every time I lay eyes on you?”
The redhead laughed and the sound made Ray’s cock harden. She was certainly a vision.
“I’m talented like that,” she said. She went straight to Mark and he drew her against him before kissing her tenderly.
A stab of jealousy raced through Ray, but he wasn’t sure if it stemmed from Mark finding someone to be with that wasn’t him or if Ray wanted the redhead. His tastes ran from women to men, but he kept the men part to himself. He’d seen what the locals did to men who came out about their sexuality and it wasn’t pretty.
Mark and the redhead separated, but Mark kept an arm around her waist, his blue gaze sweeping to Ray. “Nancy, I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine. Ray Thompson.”
“The friend who owns his own cattle ranch,” Nancy supplied. Her green eyes held a certain level of both innocence and mischief and her pale, creamy skin begged to be touched. With a body like hers, Ray could imagine it was easy to get lost in it, finding endless pleasure.
“One in the same,” said Mark.
“We’re headed to lunch together. He should join us,” inserted Nancy. “I know you used to be close and I know how much you miss the area.”
Mark talked about him and missed the area?
As far as Ray knew, Mark ran as far and as fast as he could from Hazard County. He’d not looked back once. They’d spent one amazing weekend together and then Mark split. It had apparently been too much on him. Truth was, Ray wasn’t so sure it would have worked out had he stayed. As amazing as their time together was, something had been missing.
Nancy smiled wide and stepped towards Ray. She put her hand out. “It’s so nice to meet someone from my husband’s past.”
Husband?
Ray felt sick to his stomach as he took her hand. Her sweet scent launched up at him. Instead of curling his stomach as the news Mark was officially off the market did, the smell made his body respond. His nostrils flared and his muscles coiled at the idea of sampling what was before him. He cleared his throat, her hand now in his. “Nice to meet you too, ma’am.”
With a pout, she tipped her head, her long hair falling over one shoulder. “You’ll join us for lunch, right?”
He eyed the hardware store and then nodded. The fence mending would have to wait. “I’d love to.”
She squealed and launched herself at him as they’d known each other forever and a day. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him as his gaze went to Mark. He stared at him over Nancy’s head. A satisfied smile edged its way onto Mark’s face. Mark nodded and blatantly adjusted his cock in the middle of Main Street.
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
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