Wound Tight
A Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® Crossover
By Lorelei James
1001 Dark Nights
Wound Tight
A Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® Crossover
By Lorelei James
1001 Dark Nights
Copyright 2018 LJLA, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-948050-30-2
Foreword: Copyright 2014 M. J. Rose
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Book Description
Wound Tight
A Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® Crossover
By Lorelei James
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lorelei James comes a new story in her Rough Riders/Blacktop Cowboys® series…
A May-December romance hotter than the 4th of July…
Bull rider Justin Donohue spent his youth hell-bent on winning world championships. After hitting the big 4-0, Justin takes a job at the Grade A Ranch and Rodeo School, where he immediately locks horns (and lips) with the sexy, sassy Callie—a 22-year-old cowgirl set on seducing him. Discovering their age difference doesn’t deter Callie; neither does Justin’s warning that she deserves more than a busted-up former rodeo cowboy.
From the moment Callie Morgan encounters the hot-as-fire new ranch hand, she knows his gruff manner is an attempt to mask his attraction to her. But she’s never backed down from a challenge, especially not when Justin’s actions speak louder than his denials. Callie doesn’t give a damn that he’s older than her or what others might think of their relationship. The uptight cowboy needs to relax and she’ll do whatever it takes to loosen him up, proving there are no age restrictions when it comes to lust…or to falling in love.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
About Lorelei James
Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary erotic romances in the Rough Riders, Blacktop Cowboys, Mastered, Rough Riders Legacy and Need You series. She also writes dark, gritty mysteries under the name Lori Armstrong and her books have won the Shamus Award and the Willa Cather Literary Award. She lives in western South Dakota.
Connect with Lorelei in the following places:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook Reader Discussion Group
Newsletter
Also From Lorelei James
Click to purchase
Rough Riders Series – Erotic Western Romance
LONG HARD RIDE
RODE HARD
COWGIRL UP AND RIDE
TIED UP, TIED DOWN
ROUGH, RAW AND READY
STRONG SILENT TYPE (free novella)
BRANDED AS TROUBLE
SHOULDA BEEN A COWBOY
ALL JACKED UP
RAISING KANE
SLOW RIDE (short story)
COWGIRLS DON’T CRY
CHASIN’ EIGHT
COWBOY CASANOVA
KISSIN’ TELL
GONE COUNTRY
SHORT RIDES (anthology)
REDNECK ROMEO
COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY
LONG TIME GONE (novella)
Rough Riders Legacy Series – Contemporary New Adult Romance
UNBREAK MY HEART
PIECE OF MY HEART (FALL 2018)
Blacktop Cowboys® Series – Western Romance
CORRALLED
SADDLED AND SPURRED
WRANGLED AND TANGLED
ONE NIGHT RODEO
TURN AND BURN
HILLBILLY ROCKSTAR
ROPED IN (novella)
STRIPPED DOWN (novella)
WRAPPED AND STRAPPED
HANG TOUGH
TRIPPED OUT (novella)
RACKED AND STACKED
WOUND TIGHT (novella)
SPUN OUT (AUGUST 2019)
Want You Series – Contemporary Romance
I WANT YOU BACK (APRIL 2019)
Mastered Series – Erotic Romance
BOUND
UNWOUND
SCHOOLED (digital only novella)
UNRAVELED
CAGED
Need You Series – Contemporary Romance
WHAT YOU NEED
JUST WHAT I NEEDED
ALL YOU NEED
WHEN I NEED YOU
Single Title Novels
RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL – Erotic Suspense
DIRTY DEEDS – Contemporary Romance
Wild West Boys Series – Contemporary Romance
MISTRESS CHRISTMAS (novella)
MISS FIRECRACKER (novella)
Single Title Novellas
LOST IN YOU (short novella) – Contemporary Romance
WICKED GARDEN – Erotic Romance
BALLROOM BLITZ – Contemporary Romance
Mystery Novels Written As Lori Armstrong
Julie Collins Series – Private Eye Mystery
BLOOD TIES
HALLOWED GROUND
SHALLOW GRAVE
SNOW BLIND
DEAD FLOWERS (novella)
BAITED (novella)
Mercy Gunderson Series –Mystery/Thriller
NO MERCY
MERCY KILL
MERCILESS
DOUBLE SHOT OF MERCY – Short Stories coming fall 2018
Acknowledgments from the Author
This book is dedicated to my BFF/PA/Cheerleader for team LJ and author whisperer, Kim O’Connor – Happy Birthday!! (and I’m not dedicating this to you just because I haven’t sent your birthday gift yet). There’d be no love story for Callie and Justin if not for your brainstorming help last year when you said…whatever happened to Justin Donohue? Doesn’t he deserve a happily-ever-after? Add in Callie Morgan, a much younger, very feisty character we last saw at age four, and BOOM—this May-December romance was born. Thank you, Kim, not just for helping me with this idea, but for the love and support you give me personally and professionally every single day. I hope I never have to do without it…XOXO
To the always fabulous, amazing, stupendous Liz Berry – thanks for your patience and friendship during what’s been a rough year for me. Your generosity continues to astound me and I’m still blown away that I get to call you a friend and that I’m a beach babe for life!
To the 1001 Dark Nights/Evil Eye team—MJ Rose, Kim G., Jillian Stein—another one in the books! Happy to be part of this amazing project!
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One
Click here to explore
FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black
CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham
CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom
DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake
AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione
NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones
SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair
ROPED IN by Lorelei James
TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
THE FLAME by Ch
ristopher Rice
CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner
Also from 1001 Dark Nights
TAME ME by J. Kenner
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two
Click here to explore
WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham
EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby
MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair
CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner
ADORED by Lexi Blake
HADES by Larissa Ione
RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton
DREAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout
STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James
RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON KING by Donna Grant
PURE WICKED by Shayla Black
HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye
STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian
ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham
KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice
DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster
TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti
THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
Also from 1001 Dark Nights
THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice
SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Three
Click here to explore
HIDDEN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
BLOOD ON THE BAYOU by Heather Graham
SEARCHING FOR MINE by Jennifer Probst
ROUGH RHYTHM by Tessa Bailey
DEVOTED by Lexi Blake
Z by Larissa Ione
FALLING UNDER YOU by Laurelin Paige
EASY FOR KEEPS by Kristen Proby
UNCHAINED by Elisabeth Naughton
HARD TO SERVE by Laura Kaye
DRAGON FEVER by Donna Grant
KAYDEN/SIMON by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
STRUNG UP by Lorelei James
MIDNIGHT UNTAMED by Lara Adrian
TRICKED by Rebecca Zanetti
DIRTY WICKED by Shayla Black
THE ONLY ONE by Lauren Blakely
SWEET SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Four
Click here to explore
ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING by Kristen Ashley
ADORING INK by Carrie Ann Ryan
SWEET RIVALRY by K. Bromberg
SHADE'S LADY by Joanna Wylde
RAZR by Larissa Ione
ARRANGED by Lexi Blake
TANGLED by Rebecca Zanetti
HOLD ME by J. Kenner
SOMEHOW, SOME WAY by Jennifer Probst
TOO CLOSE TO CALL by Tessa Bailey
HUNTED by Elisabeth Naughton
EYES ON YOU by Laura Kaye
BLADE by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright
DRAGON BURN by Donna Grant
TRIPPED OUT by Lorelei James
STUD FINDER by Lauren Blakely
MIDNIGHT UNLEASHED by Lara Adrian
HALLOW BE THE HAUNT by Heather Graham
DIRTY FILTHY FIX by Laurelin Paige
THE BED MATE by Kendall Ryan
PRINCE ROMAN by CD Reiss
NO RESERVATIONS by Kristen Proby
DAWN OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart
Also from 1001 Dark Nights
TEMPT ME by J. Kenner
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Featuring stories by
Sidney Bristol, Darcy Burke, T. Gephart
Stacey Kennedy, Adriana Locke
JB Salsbury, and Erika Wilde
Table of Contents
Book Description
About Lorelei James
Also from Lorelei James
Acknowledgments from the Author
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection One
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Two
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Three
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Four
Foreword
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Discover 1001 Dark Nights Collection Five
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Discover More Lorelei James
An excerpt from Racked and Stacked by Lorelei James
Special Thanks
Once upon a time, in the future…
I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.
I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and
the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast
library at my father’s home and collected thousands
of volumes of fantastic tales.
I learned all about ancient races and bygone
times. About myths and legends and dreams of all
people through the millennium. And the more I read
the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered
that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually
become part of them.
I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher
and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I
would not be telling you this tale now.
But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off
with bravery.
One afternoon, curious about the myth of the
Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to
see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar
(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then
sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written
and I had read, that by the time he met Scheherazade,
the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand
women.
Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived
in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged
places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had
never occurred before and that still to this day, I
cannot explain.
Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have
taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can
protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to
protect herself and stay alive.
Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.
And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a
point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.
And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that
he might hear the rest of my dark tale.
As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new
one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before
you now.
Prologue
From that first deep thrust, Justin Donohue knew he was a goner.
A goner.
Totally gone for this girl.
If he kept going…he’d never want to leave the tight, wet heat of her body.
That’s what she wants. She’ll get her hooks in you and never let go.
The warning too soon, too young got louder and louder, drowning out everything else.
A burning sensation squeezed his lungs, expanding until he feared it’d tear him apart.
I can’t breathe. Why the fuck can’t I breathe?
Then he made the mistake of looking into Callie’s eyes.
Something more than lust shone back at him.
Hope.
He blinked, trying to erase the expression he’d seen on her face, praying he’d misread it.
But at second glance, it hadn’t changed.
It’d intensified.
Not that. Give me any look but that one. I’m not the man you think I am.
“Justin,” she said softly. “Don’t.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Wait—”
But he didn’t. He pulled out of her abruptly and scrambled off the bed.
Immediately the heat and urgency that had driven him to this point morphed into a cold sweat and he started to shake.
He found his clothes and dressed quickly, silently begging her to let him escape without discussing what a spectacular fuck-up this was.
It doesn’t have to be. You can fix it.
Don’t second-guess yourself. Just go.
When he heard her inhale, he braced himself.
“You’re leaving?”
Justin gave her a curt nod and reached for his hat.
“Fucking me was that much of a disappointment?” she demanded.
“One thrust isn’t fucking, Callie.”
“What we were doing before that one non-fucking thrust…doesn’t count?”
Justin lifted his chin. “All of it counts—”
“Don’t say it,” she warned.
“—as one big mistake,” he finished.
“You don’t mean that.”
He didn’t know what the fuck he meant. Or what he wanted…except to get out of here so he could breathe. So he could think. Maybe then he could silence the voices warring inside his head.