All of the Voices by Bailey Bradford (little red riding hood read aloud txt) 📗

“Oh, nice.” Carlin could make out the pale strip of skin under the man’s hairline at the back of his neck. The short style must be new. “Almost like a gift just for me,” Carlin mused. He had a weak spot for men with buzz cuts, burrs, high and tights, or bald. God, he really loved the feel of a man’s smooth scalp under his palms or between his thighs.

His lovers’ bodies, however, Carlin preferred them to have hair, the more the better. Carlin liked his men furry and rough, and this guy—well. If his front looked anywhere near as good as his back, the guy could have a body as smooth and hairless as Carlin kept his own. It’d be weird, but it also just might be worth it. Like that is ever going to happen here in Hicksville. Quit being an idiot, you’re not here to get laid. Probably get your ass beat if you so much as look at any man here.

Except, as Carlin started to get out of his car, a gorgeous little guy with lovely dark skin stepped out of the building and greeted the bigger guy with the cowboy hat on with a long, definitely had to be tongue involved, kiss.

Well. McKinton just got a whole lot more interesting.

Chapter Three

Matt looked away from Laine and Severo as they kissed. Thinking of Laine as the sheriff when he tried to devour Severo’s lips just wasn’t possible. Matt hissed as he heard footsteps.

“Someone’s coming,” he informed the horny duo, feeling a bit like a teenager on the lookout for adults while his friends made out.

“What was that about?” Laine asked Severo, a question Matt wondered as well. He usually didn’t see the men being so openly affectionate out in public. Seeing them kissing like that had been scary and…and hot.

“I just had to,” was Severo’s answer.

Matt barely kept from rolling his eyes. “Well, you two might want to work on your impulse control issues. I’m not the only one you just put a show on for.” He turned to see who was walking toward them and felt a punch of lust so strong his legs nearly gave out.

“Holy shit,” Matt muttered before he could stop himself. The petite blond man heading their way was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. Sleek lines and blade-sharp cheek bones set off by a firm square jaw, full, sensual lips, wide eyes—Matt couldn’t see what color they were, but he just knew they’d be gorgeous—topped by artfully arched light brown eyebrows. Shit, the guy even has one of those cute little dimples in his chin.

The man drew nearer and Matt thought he could smell wealth. He didn’t know jack about men’s fashion—his one suit came from the discount rack at Sears—but he’d bet a year’s salary the dark blue suit this little guy was wearing cost more than everything on the discount rack combined.

Green, that’s the color of his eyes. Like a…like a cactus! God, he had to do better than that. Maybe learn the actual names of different shades, but really, the guy’s coloring—white-blond hair like the spikes on a cactus, lips the color of a cactus apple, those eyes… Yeah, corny or not, the comparison was apt.

The blond frowned as he stopped. Matt had the thought the guy might be as prickly as a damn cactus as well. Those green eyes narrowed as the man swept Matt with his gaze, lingering on the semi erection Matt had hoped like hell wouldn’t be noticed. Lips twitching, which Matt figured was a good thing, certainly better than getting a knee to the ’nads for offending this stranger, the man finally dragged his gaze up to meet Matt’s.

“It seems McKinton’s changed since I was here years ago.”

Despite the heated look and the sweet tenor, the man’s words obliterated every bit of Matt’s lust. Anger replaced it in a heartbeat as a certainty that he knew who this man was filled him.

“Carlin Douglas,” the blond offered as he put his hand out. “And you are?”

The man who’s going to set you straight on how to treat your family. Somehow Matt doubted that’d go over well with Sheriff Stenley, who was, along with Severo, still standing behind him. He took the proffered hand and shook it once, not bothering with the firm grip he usually used.

“Deputy Matt Nixon.”

Whatever admiration he’d seen in the smaller man’s expression died and Carlin morphed into a prickly pear in Matt’s imagination. Not too far from a human version of it in reality, either.

“I see. So you were the one who got to my aunt’s house too late to help her.”

Carlin could have kicked himself. That hadn’t come out like he’d meant it to, though in a way, it was true. He’d let his mouth spew before he’d thought, still rattled and oddly hurt by the way the other man’s appreciative gaze had turned to icy disdain in the blink of an eye. Now he’d gone and fucked up any chance of getting the truth easily from Matt Nixon.

“Still got there a hell of a lot quicker than you did,” Matt growled.

“That’s enough, Deputy Nixon, Mr. Douglas.” The taller man wearing the cowboy hat stepped around the deputy and somehow managed to glare at them both. Judging from the man’s rough good looks and the star on his shirt, this would be the sheriff…who also seemed to have all his teeth.

“There’ll be no accusations from either of you, understand?” the sheriff continued. The man the sheriff had been kissing, a sexy little guy with broad shoulders who was shorter than Carlin, stepped around Deputy Nixon’s other side and linked his arm through Nixon’s.

“Come on, let’s go get some coffee,” Carlin overheard. He resisted the temptation to watch Deputy Nixon’s ass as the man was led away down the sidewalk. Instead he waited for the lecture he could just feel the sheriff vibrating to toss at him.

“Now, Mr.