Rough, Raw and Ready(26)

All in all, Chassie West Glanzer was something very special.

And that sucked because she deserved better than the treatment she’d received this morning. When Edgard realized she’d witnessed the encounter between him and Trevor, he experienced guilt on a level he’d never imagined. Upon seeing the horror and pain on her sweet face, Edgard had the overwhelming desire to race to Chassie and wipe her tears, hold her close and murmur platitudes, which was damn stupid, since his damn stupid actions and words caused her distress in the first place.

What a fucked up mess.

How could he make this right? For Chassie? For Trevor? And for himself?



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Rough, Raw, and Ready

Leaving wasn’t an option. Much as he liked Chassie, if the woman was foolish enough to walk away from Trevor for good, so be it. He’d be around to pick up the pieces. Besides, it wasn’t as if Edgard hadn’t warned her of his intentions.

So why did he still feel guilty?

Because he was. He’d done a stupid thing, which wasn’t really new when it came to his dealings with anything or anyone involving Trevor.

The far barn door slid open and Edgard tensed. Chassie’s truck had roared up the driveway not ten minutes ago. Knowing Trevor, he’d fly in, spewing accusations at him, tossing off hurtful remarks, doing his level best to goad Edgard into a physical confrontation.

Isn’t that what you did today? Pushed Trevor to see how far he’d go with you?

Yes.

Fuck, he was a selfish bastard. He and Trevor were used to each other’s antagonistic behavior, poor Chassie wasn’t privy to how they’d normally settled their differences. Nor was she aware that Edgard and Trevor had ended up in dozens of knockdown, drag-out fistfights in their years together.

The last time they’d fought, Trevor’s need to win had been particularly vicious.

Edgard’s surrender consisted of allowing himself to be tied naked to the slats in the horse trailer, standing, his ass level with Trevor’s erect cock. Trevor had fucked him hard; hard enough bruises striped Edgard’s thighs. Trevor fucked him twice like that, not letting Edgard come, making him beg. Then Trevor released the ropes and sucked Edgard off to the most explosive orgasm he’d ever had.

Thinking about Trevor sucking you off isn’t helping you stay neutral about this situation.

Edgard willed his dick to quit pulsing, determined not to give into Trevor’s need to provoke him.

Sex would be off-the-charts fantastic, a little voice prodded him.

70







Lorelei James

No. The aftermath would suck. Not only would Trevor blame him for them fucking like dogs, but the person it’d hurt the most was Chassie. And they’d both hurt her enough already.

But Trevor didn’t swagger in, full of fire. He merely walked to the far side of the stall, several feet away from Edgard and draped his arms over the top of the wooden partition.

Meridian was restless. She ignored her owner and flicked her tail in annoyance at nothing.

They didn’t talk; they didn’t fight. They didn’t fill the void with chatter; they didn’t hurl accusations back and forth. They just stared at the hay-strewn stall and skittish horse in hellish silence.

A solid twenty minutes passed. Edgard timed it in fifteen-second intervals so it stretched out like twenty hours.

When Trevor ran the back of his hand across his cheek where Edgard’s beard had abraded the skin, another punch of guilt tightened Edgard’s gut. “I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

Edgard let the moment linger. “So what now?”

“I dunno. Chassie left for a day or two. Said she needs time. Can’t say as I blame her. This whole thing is majorly fucked up.”

“But she is comin’ back?”

“Says she is.”

“Good.”

Trevor finally looked at him. “Don’t fuck with me, Ed. I ain’t gotta lotta patience left today.”

“I’m not.” Edgard shoved a hand through his hair. “Look, honest to God, Trev, I didn’t plan for that to happen. I just…” This was one of those times when translation was a bitch. He knew what he wanted to say, but couldn’t find the words for it. “Given all the shitty things we used to do to each other, I’m sure you don’t believe me.”



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Rough, Raw, and Ready

Trevor spit tobacco juice on the ground. “Know the strange thing? I do believe you.

Besides, we both knew it was gonna happen sooner or later.”

Edgard was shocked Trevor had admitted that much.

“But see, I don’t know how to handle this stuff between us any better now than I did three and a half years ago.”

“You and me both.”