
Cowboy Games
At Fantasy Ranch, love is a game.
THE PLAYERS:
Gavin Carter
Gavin owns Fantasy Ranch, a resort where guests get a week of cowboy love
with the hottest cowboys in Wyoming.
Rebecca Ryder
Rebecca's husband had promised to deliver her fantasy du jour: A cowboy.
He died before he could keep that promise. She thinks if she plays the
Fantasy Ranch game, just for a second she might have her husband back. And
maybe that will be long enough to say goodbye.
THE RULES:
1) No sex.
2) No contact or attempted contact after the week is up.
Clause number two is accompanied by a clear warning: Any attempt at
contact will be considered 'criminal stalking' and treated as such. A sure
sign the cowboys are very good at making women think they have fallen in
love.
Rebecca doesn't expect to break the rules. Or to fall deeply in love.
Cowboy Games
is a Romance Writers of America's
2008 Linda Howard Award of Excellence WINNER, 2007
Duel on the Delta WINNER, 2007 TARA 3rd Place, and
2007 Beacon 3rd Place.
Sensuality Rating: SIZZLING
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Length: 79,000 words
"Cowboy Games is a survival story, my favorite kind. I love to watch
the characters’ strength emerge as they climb walls they never believed
themselves capable of. And, of course, I want them to be rewarded with love
that’s worth any risk. I hope Gavin and Rebecca’s story touches you as
deeply as it did me." ~Wendi~ |
Larger Cover
Image
Cover Art by Jinger
Heaston
COWBOY GAMES
ISBN: 1-60601-031-X
E-book $5.99

ISBN:
1-60601-084-0
Trade Paperback $13.99


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Cowboy Games Video
REVIEWS for Cowboy Games
Recommended
Read: 5 Angels
"I thoroughly enjoyed Cowboy Games very much. The sexual
tension that developed between Gavin and Rebecca was so hot you would have
thought you were in the Mohave Desert. Cowboy Games was such a well
written book by Wendi Darlin . When you think of a cowboy as well as how he
should be, Gavin is that cowboy. He is sexy, knows how to handle a horse, has
that great charm cowboys have about them and he fills out a pair of jeans in all
the right areas. Rebecca showed that sometimes you can get lucky twice in
finding the man of your dreams. Cowboy Games is filled with romance, fun,
a steamy love scene and scorching cowboys. This is why I gave Cowboy Games
Five Angels and the title of Recommended Read."
—Cheryl, Fallen Angel Reviews
Outstanding
Read: A
"Wendi Darlin’s Cowboy Games is one smokin’ story. From
the first page through the last she takes us on a non-stop ride of sexual
tension, teasing and a whole lot of loving. The setting is Wyoming on the
“Fantasy Ranch” and by the time you finish reading you’ll be looking for some
brochures yourself. The characters are strong and tender, stubborn and loving
and all together realistic.
Cowboy Games is well written, humorous, and
filled with smoldering passion. The sexual tension oozes throughout and the
secondary plot is strong enough to keep you on edge worrying for our hero and
heroine. All things must come to an end and the week at Fantasy Ranch is no
different, but we can hope that Ms. Darlin will invite us back for more
experiences in the future. Squeezing itself onto my keeper shelf, I’ll be
looking for more of Ms. Darlin’s books to read. I highly recommend you pick this
one up and enjoy a little trip to the Fantasy Ranch."
—Lynda, Simply Romance Reviews
5 Flags:
"Wendi
Darlin takes you on a long sexy ride with Cowboy Games. From the first
page I was hooked and drawn into Rebecca’s emotions. Her love for her husband
and the pain of his loss was palpable. Yet she was daring too, a strong feisty
heroine and one who was a joy to meet. Of course once you encounter Gavin, you
can’t help but fall head over heels for the gorgeous hunk of a cowboy—damn
close to every woman’s perfect fantasy!
Cowboy Games is an incredibly steamy story. The
heat between Gavin and Rebecca is scorching and I’m amazed the pages weren't
smokin’. I’d lasso this book right quick and have yourself a good ole’ time,
just make sure you have something cold nearby to cool you off—you’re
gonna need it!"
—Lynda, Euro-Reviews
5 Divas:
"Wendi Darlin delivers in this page-turning erotic romance. In
turns witty, fun, deep, and romantic, the story is addictive from the first. The
setting is amusing and tangible. The characters are smart, feisty, and
well-written. Gavin walks right out of every cowboy-lovin girl's fantasy. Their
affair is one of the best kind—forbidden—the secrecy adding to the excitement of
an already intriguing plot. Everything an erotic or romance reader could want,
Cowboy Games should be on everyone's Must-Read list!"
—Gus, Dark Diva Reviews
4 Kisses:
"Cowboy Games by Wendi Darlin is an interesting story
about one woman’s journey to love again. Along with Rebecca and Gavin’s love
story, Ms. Darlin weaves a subplot of intrigue into Cowboy Games. I
enjoyed her investigation and subsequent journey toward self-awareness. Ms.
Darlin wrote a heart-touching cowboy story, which now compels me to look for my
own cowboy!"
—Victoria, Two Lips Reviews
4 Stars:
"Cowboy Games by Wendi Darlin has a very good plot. The plot
flows smoothly building up to the pinnacle of passion and love. The characters
worked well together. Gavin was strong yet vulnerable. This book is filled with
romance, passion, and excitement."
—Debra Gaynor, Review Your Book
4 Bookmarks:
"Get ready for this sexually, tensed filled ride between Rebecca
and Gavin. I found myself enjoying Cowboy Games more than I anticipated.
The characters were developed nicely. I understood why they both were hesitant
with one another emotionally. The storyline moved along smoothly. The sexual
chemistry between Gavin and Rebecca was practically oozing off the pages. I was
captivated from the beginning until the end. I found myself falling for Gavin’s
charisma, wit, and sexiness right along with Rebecca. Gavin was sex on a stick.
Rebecca was humorous and bold. The flirtatious banter between the two kept me
turning the pages. The second storyline kept me on my toes cringing and scared
for the danger that Gavin and Rebecca could face if they were caught not
following the rules. There are some definite secondary characters that caught my
eye and I'm hoping we'll get a story about Garret and another cowboy at the
ranch. The bad guy in this story was a complete jerk and I really wish he'd been
punished more...LOL! I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. It
was fun, sexy, and entertaining to read."
—Ing, Wild On Books
The excerpt
or excerpts
below contain
explicit adult language and sexual content.
By
reading any further, you are stating that you are at
least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of
18, it is necessary to exit this site.
___________________________________________
Copyright © 2008
All rights reserved, Siren Publishing, Inc. Cannot be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without expressly permitted to do so in writing from the
publisher.
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STORY EXCERPT
She rested her elbow on the carry-on slung over her
shoulder and glanced at her watch. She’d better go out
front to let the limo driver know she was waiting, or else
she might miss her ride to the ranch.
Just what she needed. A week without all the clothes she’d
packed, and worse, no vibrator. Rebecca swore under her
breath. How hard is it to put a piece of luggage on the
corresponding flight? Isn’t that what all those obnoxious
paper tags are for? She waited for the carousel to make
one more round and tried to convince herself she wasn’t
stalling. She glanced again at the full-color glossy
brochure for Fantasy Ranch gripped in her hand. She was
out of her mind alright. And she was definitely stalling.
Maybe Melinda was right about the cowboys, and the ones on
the website were just models used for advertising the
place. The real ones probably had scraggly beards, three
front teeth and hands so callused they’d tear a girl’s
skin to pieces.
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t have to look up. The pointed toes of his boots
and faded denim that traveled up from there gave the
speaker away. A cowboy.
“Crazy apparently,” Rebecca said without making eye
contact, focusing again on the brochure. What in the hell
had she been thinking spending a small fortune for such a
load of crap? She was on her way to the nuthouse alright,
and getting there fast.
“I’m headed there myself,” Cowboy said in an obvious
attempt at a joke. “I’ll give you a ride.”
He sounded friendly enough, but she didn’t feel like being
hit on. She glanced up to tell him so, but was too
blindsided to remember what smart-alecky comeback she’d
planned to use. Melinda had been right about one thing. If
she had to go crazy, he’d definitely be the one to go
with.
“Are you Rebecca?” His dark blond hair hung to his chin in
silky strands that begged to have fingers dragged through
them, and his eyes could melt a girl.
A flush crept over her. No false advertising there. He was
even more gorgeous in person. Her stomach did a
somersault. What had she been thinking? She couldn’t go
through with this. He was hot enough to sway a nun, and he
was just the driver. How in the hell was she going to keep
her horny hands to herself for a week? Or more to the
point, how would she keep them off herself.
The cowboy held her stare and a slow easy smile spread
across his face. Her head defogged enough to remember he’d
asked her if she was Rebecca, and she hadn’t had the
whereabouts to answer him. He spoke before she could twist
her tongue around an answer.
“I’ll take that as a yes. I’m Gavin. Let me get this,” he
said, reaching for her carry-on and easily hoisting the
bag over his shoulder. “You don’t travel this light do
you?”
“Gavin?” she managed. “Gavin Carter?”
“You did your homework,” he said with a smile. “I did too.
Rebecca Ryder, thirty-two, biotech consultant from South
Carolina.”
He summed her up like a bio off a dating site and his
appearance was enough to shake her to the core, broad
athletic shoulders v-ing down to narrow hips, long
muscular legs and a rugged beauty that took her breath
away. She forced air into her lungs. No man was going to
take her breath away. That’s not what she had flown across
the country for.
“You forgot to mention I like riding bareback at sunset
and hot ass cowboys,” she said.
“I didn’t know that about you. Like your temper, it wasn’t
in your reservation application.”
His smirk nudged her irritation up another notch, but the
light that danced in his eyes sent her animosity
slithering away.
“Having second thoughts, or just hungry enough to bite my
head off?” he asked.
“Both.” She tilted her face to the ceiling and blew a
heavy breath. The man was just doing his job - the job she
had paid for him to do - nothing she needed to get so
miffed about.
“Sorry,” she said, “I’m not usually nasty. Or crazy. I
don’t know what I’m doing here. And it looks like they
lost my suitcase.”
“We’ll get you settled in the truck and I’ll go check on
your luggage. You’ll feel better when we get you to the
ranch. I promise.” He reached for her, his hand barely
resting on her lower back.
A sizzling shiver shot down her spine and tripped over
itself heading back up again. Holy hell, the devil
couldn’t have lit her hotter than Gavin Carter and they’d
barely gotten past a rocky introduction. She had to get it
together if she was going to survive an entire week out
here.
He guided her toward the line of double doors that led out
of the airport in a gait as sure and unhurried as the rest
of his demeanor.
Maybe the cowboy she was assigned to would look good
enough to keep things interesting, but not half as good as
Gavin. That would make things a whole lot easier.
Parked at the curb was a stretched out Dodge truck with
dual tires, a silver ram on the grill and windows tinted
as dark as midnight. He held the door while she climbed in
and slid across the cool leather seat. Ahhh, relief. The
door shut between them, and her breathing resumed on its
own. She wasn’t chilled anymore, nope she was hotter than
Hades, and considerably worried she might break into a
sweat.
And she wasn’t alone either.
“Hi, I’m Marge,” said a middle-aged woman seated with her
back to the front of the truck. Marge’s jeans were new,
and she had paired them with stylish but orthopedic shoes.
Her body was soft and had settled into its current stage
of life. She had to be someone’s mother, maybe even
someone’s grandmother. Good for her. A woman’s never too
old to want a little love or to go after the attention she
needs.
Rebecca smoothed the skirt of her cotton sundress and
introduced herself. “You think they’re all as hot as the
driver?” she added.
“I don’t know if my ticker can take it if they are.” Marge
choked on a nervous laugh and patted her chest. “I guess I
really didn’t know what I was in for out here.”
“He does get your blood flowing, doesn’t he?” Rebecca let
go of her nerves. She wasn’t the only one Gavin affected
that way.
Marge sized up Rebecca’s outfit. “Those are cute boots. I
couldn’t find any comfortable enough.” She pulled a bottle
of champagne from the door. “It’s all just pretend anyway,
probably won’t even need them. You want a glass?”
“Sure,” Rebecca said, “I’m parched.” But she wasn’t paying
attention to Marge.
Gavin had stowed her carry-on in the truck and was headed
back into the airport. He looked as good going as he did
coming. A surge of pleasure overtook her, a sensation she
hadn’t felt since Todd was alive. At least when the man
was that far away she could still breathe.
She was sipping champagne when he opened the door again. A
steady fire fanned out from the pit of her stomach, and it
had nothing to do with the alcohol. Damned traitorous
body.
“Some bags were diverted to another flight, but they’ll be
coming in later tonight. Yours will be delivered to the
ranch when it arrives,” he said. “In the meantime, I’ll be
happy to provide anything you might need.”
She was pretty sure he could provide exactly what she
needed, if there wasn’t that No Sex clause in her
contract.
“Thanks.” She was careful to keep her voice as natural as
possible. “I have a change of clothes in my carry-on. I’ll
be fine until tomorrow.”
“Alright then. I’ll take you ladies home.” Gavin’s eyes
lingered on her long enough to singe the hair on the back
of her neck, then he shut the door and walked around the
front of the truck.
“I hope there’s plenty of water in here.” She relaxed into
the seat and took a deep breath. “You might have to hose
me down before we get there.”
Marge laughed. “If a man looked at me the way he just
looked at you, I would have torn his clothes off and
thrown him down on the curb.” She looked down at the hand
curling nervously in her lap. “I would’ve wanted to
anyway.”
“I think I’m going to like you,” Rebecca said.
“No offense, but I hope I’m too busy with some little
cowboy half my age to get to know you.” Marge took a long
pull and winked at Rebecca over the rim of her glass.
The women laughed again and Rebecca settled back to watch
the landscape roll by. She dug her phone from her purse
and dialed her sister’s number.
“Hey, ridden one already?” Melinda answered.
“No.” Rebecca rested her head back on the thick leather
seat, sinking into it like a pillow. “But from what I’ve
seen so far there wasn’t any false advertising.”
“Seriously?” Melinda’s voice was missing its usual spunk.
She was having a rough time dealing with Scott’s latest
affair, although by now she should be used to the
heartache.
“Seriously,” Rebecca said. Her sister needed distraction
more than a lecture. “And the airlines didn’t put my bag
on the right flight. So I’m out here without my little
friend.”
Marge chuckled across from her and lifted her glass in the
air. Usually Melinda would have laughed too, but instead
she sighed, and the sound of a door slamming echoed from
her end of the line.
“I’m sure you’ll manage,” Melinda said, her voice suddenly
deflated.
“Mel, you okay?”
“I’ve got to go. Scott’s home.” Melinda dropped her voice
to a whisper. “Call me when you get a chance.”
Rebecca dropped her phone back into her purse and sipped
her champagne while she watched the back of Gavin’s head
through the clear glass that separated him from them. He
had taken his hat off and for the second time she imagined
running her hands through his silky hair. He caught her
eye in the rearview mirror and smiled. She should have had
the decency to turn away, but she couldn’t bring herself
to stop staring at him.
His thumb tapped out a rhythm on the steering wheel, and
the tendons in his forearm danced along. She hadn’t even
seen as far as his elbow, but the slight strain of the
fabric against his bicep promised it only got better up
there. He was golden, like he spent time in the sun, but
not enough to turn himself to leather, and there was just
the right amount of pale blond hair coating his masculine
arms. The lady at the Chamber of Commerce had nailed it.
Gavin Carter was easy on the eyes. Very easy on the eyes.
The truck eased to a stop, and beyond the windshield two
massive gates swung forward in the standard Wyoming pace.
Slow and steady. Scrollwork across the top of the gates
spelled out the moniker: Fantasy Ranch. Beyond stood a
massive ranch house and several outbuildings flanked by
endless acres of natural countryside and the bluest sky in
the world. Heaven couldn’t be more beautiful. A woman
could definitely lose herself here.
Rebecca raised her glass to Marge. “Let the cowboy games
begin.”
ADULT EXCERPT
“Rebecca?” Gavin’s voice was low.
“Is that who you wanted to call?” She pulled the comforter
down on the bed and plumped her pillows into place.
“It sounds like I got the right number.” His voice was
sexier than ever in the darkness of the room.
“Are you in bed?” she asked, licking the dryness from her
lips, hoping he was calling her from some place private,
that he hadn’t misinterpreted the game.
“Yeah. Are you?”
“Not yet. I need to undress first.” Her stomach tensed.
This was the moment of truth. Was he going to play along?
He was silent, not giving her any indication he was
onboard yet. She swallowed the lump in her throat and
lowered her voice to just more than a whisper. “What do
you sleep in?”
“Nothing.” His laughter was soft, deep in his throat.
“What about you?”
“Usually more than that, but tonight I think I’ll try it
your way.”
“I bet you’d look great in nothing.” His voice spurred her
on, made her want to please him, to let him please her.
“Close your eyes and picture me. I just untied the robe
and now I’m slipping it over my shoulder.” She switched
the phone to her other ear. “And my other shoulder.”
“Where is it now?” The urgency in his voice heated her.
“On the floor around my feet.” She could tell by the way
he exhaled he had painted a nice image of her in his mind.
“Where’s your hand?” she asked.
“On the phone.”
He was going to make her work every step of the way, but
that was fine, she didn’t want to rush. “Your other hand?”
“Around my cock.”
Oh yes, he was ready to play this game and the abandon of
his words spooled her. She moaned softly, letting him know
how much she liked the image he gave her. “If I was in
your bed, that’s where I’d be. That’s exactly where I’d
be.”
“Around my cock?” He wasn’t finished with her yet, not
ready to let her hurry past this, or get away with
vagueness, and she didn’t have any intention of letting
him down.
“I’d be all around your cock. Warm and wet. My whole body
so soft against the hardness of yours. I love how strong
you are, how safe that makes me feel, like I can fall
apart and you’ll hold me together.” Her voice was husky
full of breath, the same tone that used to melt Todd. “I
want to please you, make you need me as much as I need
you.”
“You’re so sexy, so wild,” he said. “I’ll make you come so
hard. Are you ready for that? Will you let me do that for
you?”
“I’m so ready. I’ll do anything you want me to do.”
“Where’s your hand?” he asked.
“On my stomach. Waiting for you to tell me which way to go
with it.”
“Are you in bed yet?”
She lay back on the mattress, made herself comfortable.
“Now I am.”
“Take your hand to your breast. I love the feel of your
breasts.”
“Umm.” He wanted control and she wanted to give it to him,
to let him take her where she wanted to go. “How would you
touch my breast right now?” she asked.
“I’d cradle it. Feel every curve. The weight of it. The
softness. It’s so soft, so tempting I can’t resist a
taste. I have to taste your nipple. Do you like that?”
“I do like that,” she said, wetting her fingers with her
mouth then circling the hardened peak. She brought her
knees up. “I like that so much. You have me so wet.”
“Slide your hand down your stomach, that soft flat stomach
of yours. Don’t stop until you can tell me just how wet
you are.”
She gasped when she reached her slick heat. He responded
with a groan. “I’m so wet,” she said. “And oh my God, I’m
so swollen. My fingers. They…they slip in before I can
stop them.”
“How many?” His voice was strained. She was having the
exact effect she wanted to have on him. Doing as much for
him as he was for her.
“Two.” She arched her back, pushing her breasts in the
air, wishing he was there to take them, to take her.
“Are they in you now?” His breath was heavier than before.
“Uh hum. I wish it was you. I want you inside me.”
“Make it three,” he demanded.
“It’s three,” she responded, her breath in her throat.
“Go deeper.” His voice was lower, so close to ear.
“Oooh…” she moaned. “Oh my God.”
“I want to be in you,” he said. “To feel how hot and wet
you are.”
“I feel you in me.” She licked her lips, reaching deeper.
“Do you feel how hard I am?”
“You are so hard. So. So. Hard.”
“I’m so far inside of you.” His breath was heavier still.
“Stroking so deep into you.”
“I want more,” she begged. “Please give me more.” The
phone nearly slipped from her hand.
“I’m as far as you want me to be. As deep as you want me
to go.”
“Don’t stop,” she whimpered, moving her hand to a rhythm
that was soon going to take her over the edge.
“I’m not stopping,” he promised. His breath was coming as
fast as hers. “I won’t stop.”
SIREN SEX Rating
| |
SENSUAL:
Traditional romance, suitable for the general
audience (BookStrand) |
| |
STEAMY:
Heavy sexual tension; graphic details; may contain
coarse language (BookStrand) |
| |
SIZZLING:
Erotic, graphic sex; explicit sexual language; may offend delicate
readers (SIREN) |
| |
SCORCHING:
Erotica romance; contains many sexual encounters; may contain unconventional
sex; will offend delicate readers (SIREN) |
| |
SEXTREME:
Excessive or non-exclusive sex; many instances of unconventional sex; may be hardcore; not for the faint-hearted
(SIREN) |
SIREN BOOK LENGTH
| |
NOVELLA:
15,000-25,000
words |
| |
NOVEL:
25,000-55,000
words |
| |
FULL
NOVEL: 55,000-80,000
words |
| |
PLUS
NOVEL:
80,000-100,000
words |
| |
SUPER
PLUS
NOVEL:
100,000-140,000
words |
| |
HUMONGOUS
NOVEL:
140,000+
words |
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