Chapter 13
I don’t know if I’ve ever had such an immediate, visceral reaction as I did when I walked into this room and saw my girl in my jersey and nothing else, her hair wet, smelling like shampoo and Willow. It was like a punch to the fucking gut and the hottest aphrodisiac, all rolled into one.
“You’ve seen me in your jersey plenty of times,” she reminds me, her voice breathy as she pushes back against me and reaches up to cup my cheek when I kiss her neck.
“It’s been a while.” My hands glide up under the jersey, but I don’t pull it off her.
No, I’m going to fuck her while she has it on.
I cup her breasts and pluck at her nipples, making her gasp, and then I plant my lips near her ear.
“You’re going to lean forward and grab onto the countertop for me. Right now, baby p>
Without needing to be told twice, Willow steps back from the edge of the countertop, leans forward, and braces herself on her hands, and that little move has the jersey pulling up, offering me a spectacular view of her round ass.
Hooking my thumbs into her little blue panties, I tug them over her hips and down her legs and squat behind her, spreading her lips.
“Christ, you’re wet. How did you get so wet so fast, baby p>
She whimpers, but she doesn’t say anything, so I smack one cheek, nice and loud.
“Answer me, Wills p>
“I saw you p>
I lift an eyebrow, intrigued. “Saw me doing what p>
“Running.” She gasps when I brush a finger through that wetness and groans when my digit comes out soaked. “In the gym p>
With a smug grin, I lean in and bite her left ass cheek. “You liked that, did you p>
“I told you you’re hot, you egomaniac p>
I laugh and then reward her by dragging my tongue from her clit to her opening and then back down, and she reaches back to tug on my hair, but I dodge her hand and smack her again.
“I said hold on to the countertop. I won’t tell you again p>
“Christ, you’re bossy during sex p>
And I love her sass.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like what I have planned.” I push my tongue inside her, fucking drunk on the taste of her juices. I add two fingers as I suck on her swollen clit, and just when I feel her start to tremble, when she slaps one hand on that countertop because she’s about to come apart, I stand, push my shorts down, and replace my fingers with my cock, bottoming out and growling in satisfaction. With the jersey clenched in my fist at the small of her back, I fuck her, hard and fast, losing myself in her.
“Ry p>
“That’s my girl.” I bare my teeth, staring at her profile as she tries to look back at me. “You drive me out of my goddamn mind p>
“Sorry p>
I growl again and grip onto her chin and pull her up so I can kiss her delectable lips.
“Never be sorry. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Christ, you’re a wet dream, sweetheart p>
She’s trembling as she cups my face, and her pussy is clamped down on me like a vise, and when she resumes her position, hands on the counter, and I see my name and number on her back again, I know I’m going to blow my load.
“Go over, baby.” Her pussy tightens, and I bite my lip. “Fuck yes. Come on this cock, while you’re wearing my name. Jesus fuck p>
I follow her over, the intensity of my climax surprising the shit out of me, and when I regain the strength in my arms, I pull out of her, then turn her around and tug her to me so I can hug her close, bury my nose in her damp hair and give myself a moment to calm down.
“Ry?” She wraps her arms around me.
“Hmm p>
“I’ve been wearing this jersey every single night for about a decade p>
I fist my hand in the wet hair at her nape and tug her head back so I can nibble her lips.
“You like being wrapped up in my name p>
She smiles against my lips. “Look who’s catching up p>
“Are you trying to get me to fuck you again already? Jesus, you’re insatiable, Trouble p>
She huffs out a laugh and tips her forehead down to rest on my chest. “I’m simply sharing the information p>
My phone rings from somewhere on the floor, and when I see the screen, I sigh.
“That’s Dusty. I have to get that p>
She steps back and then surprises me by boosting up onto her toes and kissing my chin.
“I have to get to work,” she says. “I have a full day in the booth p>
I tug on my shorts and lift the phone, and then turn back to her. “I want you to go in there and record that filthy book while my cum is dripping down your thighs p>
Willow chokes on her coffee and then lets out a surprised laugh. “Holy shit, Ry p>
“Don’t you dare clean yourself up, baby p>
“I’m going to need an ice pack for my vag.” She chuckles and then winces when she stretches side to side. “You might have broken me p>
“Not sorry.” I wink at her, and her cheeks heat, and that’s the image that sticks with me as I saunter out of the kitchen. I need to change into work clothes. There’s no sense in showering now because I’ll need another one when I come back in later.
Once I’m dressed and I’m ready to head out with the guys, I call Dusty back.
“Hey, boss,” he says. “We’re out in the farthest north pasture with the new cattle that came in last week p>
“Is everything okay out there?” I ask as I grab a hat and my keys, then head out to the barn to saddle up my horse.
“Everyone seems fine,” he replies. “Aiden noticed one of the cows is limping, so we’re keeping an eye on that one p>
The kid has a good eye.
“I’m on my way out there. ETA is about thirty minutes. Do you need anything from the barn p>
“Nope. We were about to start riding fence. There’s some mending to do out here p>
“I’ll see you soon p>
I end the call and then get busy saddling up my horse, Billy. He’s a big boy, but he’s also gentle, and he nudges my shoulder with his muzzle as I slip his bridle on.
“Hey, buddy.” I kiss his nose and then get to work saddling him up. “We’ll go out with the others for a while. What do you think of that p>
He snorts and nods his head, making me smile.
I’ve missed working out here in the summertime. When I was between seasons with the team, I’d try to get out here for a little while each year, but it was never for long enough. I always had a packed schedule with appearances and pretty much every little thing that Andy could toss at me. If it paid a dollar, he wanted me to do it.
If I’d told him to piss off sooner, I could have spent more time out here with my dad. He’d roll his eyes at me and tell me to stop sitting in regret when I can’t go back and change anything, but I can’t help it.
I should have made more time for him.
I should have made more time for Willow and Gideon too.
“Come on, let’s go do some work.” I hop up into the saddle, and Billy and I head out to the north pasture. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I worked my ass off in the gym this morning. I wanted to wake Wills up with my face between her legs, but she didn’t get much sleep either, and she was so beautiful, resting so peacefully, I didn’t have the heart to wake her. So I went to the gym to work off the sexual energy with weights and some time on the treadmill.
Now I’m glad I let her sleep because it led to that amazing fuck in the kitchen.
It’s only been twelve hours of being intimate with her, and I know I’ll never get my fill of her. It will never be enough.
She’s mine.
If she needs time to come around to that conclusion, that’s fine. I’ll prove to her that we’re meant to be together. Because no one else in this world was made for me the way she was, and I’ll kill any other bastard who tries to touch her.
Mine.
When Billy and I ride over the small hill that leads to the pasture where the others are, I see them gathered in a circle, talking. They’re on their horses, and Aiden is telling a story, his face animated and his arms outstretched, as if he’s discussing the size of a fish or his dick.
The others laugh.
“What did I miss?” I ask when I join them.
“We were just going to pair up and ride fence line,” Dusty says.
“I’ll take Aiden,” I tell him, and the others share a look.
I have men of all ages here. Some have worked summers out here before, and others are younger and new, but Aiden is the youngest at fifteen.
“Problem?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“No, boss p>
They shake their heads, and I notice one guy, Spike, clear his throat.
“Hey, boss,” he says, “Can I go with you today? I need to talk to you p>
“I’ll take Spike.” The man’s head nods in thanks. We pair off, and Spike and I ride for a couple of miles without saying a word.
We find a spot in the barbed wire that needs to be fixed, so we hop off the horses, and I grab the supplies out of my saddlebag.
“How’s it going, Spike?” I finally ask him when he continues to keep quiet.
“I’ve got a situation, boss p>
I nod and pass him a pair of pliers. “Okay, let’s talk about it. What’s up p>
He wiggles an old nail out of the post. “I don’t know what your old man told you about me p>
I frown as I pass him a new nail.
“Dad always had good things to say about you.” He glances at me in surprise. “How long have you been working out here p>
“About ten summers, I guess,” he says.
Spike sighs and stands up, tips his hat back so he can wipe the sweat off his brow. He’s about my age, but the years haven’t been kind to him. He’s overweight, his hair is thinning, and his skin is like leather. But what I said is true; Dad never had a bad thing to say about Spike or his work ethic.
“I’ve been going through a bitch of a divorce,” he says as he looks out at the pasture. “Been dragging on forever because we have a kid, and she doesn’t want me to see him. Thinks it gives her power to keep my boy from me p>
Shit. I shove my hands in my pockets and listen.
“I didn’t think I’d get to see him much this summer. Even though we have a court-ordered parenting plan that says I get him every weekend, she never abides by it p>
I raise an eyebrow. “But p>
“But now she has a boyfriend.” I see where this is going. “And she wants Micah to live with me this summer p>
“How old is Micah p>
“Sixteen.” He blows out a breath. “He’s a good kid, and I’m excited at the prospect of spending the summer with him, but I need this job p>
“Bring him p>
That has Spike blinking, and his eyes cut over to mine. “Just like that p>
“There’s room in the bunkhouse,” I reply. “And I’ll pay him to work for the summer. The two of you can be together. It’s a win-win for all of us p>
Spike swallows hard. “I thought that with Aiden working out here, you might say that, but I was worried p>
“Aiden and Micah just might end up as friends,” I add with a nod. I like the idea of that. I don’t think Aiden has many friends. “I know it’s not any of my business, but how’s the court battle going p>
With a sharp breath, he kicks at the dirt under his boots. “Slow as hell, and I can’t afford the attorney anymore to keep fighting it p>
I narrow my eyes. I don’t like bullies.
“You can now. I’ll make some calls, and we’ll see if this can get wrapped up for you. But if there’s something I should know, something about your past, like you were an abusive fuck, or an asshole to your wife and kid, I want to know now before I put my name on the line for you p>
Spike scowls. “My only sin is that I ain’t rich. I’ve never raised a hand to her or my boy, and I take care of what’s mine p>
I nod, happy with both the reaction and his words. “Good. Bring your boy out here for the summer, Spike. He’s welcome here p>
“Thanks, boss p>
“No need to thank me p>
Spike shakes his head, and we climb back on the horses. “Aiden kicked my ass at poker last night p>
“How much did he take you for p>
“Twenty bucks p>
I laugh. “Good for him p>
“This was good.” Aiden pats his flat belly and leans back in his chair.
“I guess so. You ate a whole pizza by yourself,” Willow says with a laugh.
“Homemade is my favorite p>
“I thought my meatloaf was your favorite?” she counters, and Aiden snorts.
“If it’s food, it’s my favorite p>
Willow stands and walks around the table so she can hug Aiden around the neck, and she plants her lips on his head. She can’t see it, but Aiden’s smile slips, just a bit.
Based on my own childhood trauma, I can see that this boy has food issues, and he doesn’t love to be touched.
But he tolerates it for his aunt because he loves her.
“You’re at that age,” she says as she continues to hug his neck, “where your legs are hollow, and you want to eat everything in sight. I remember when Ryker and Gideon were the same way p>
His eyes shoot over to mine. “Really p>
“I’m still that way,” I confess with a shrug. “We burn a lot of calories, man p>
“Yeah, I guess,” he says. Finally, Willow lets him go, and he sighs in relief. “Why are you all mushy and stuff p>
“Because you’re my kid and I can be.” She makes like she’s going to hug him again, and Aiden holds his hands up.
“No more! Ew. Gross p>
“I will smother you in kisses, you little ungrateful brat.” They’re both laughing when she kisses his hair again. “I love you, buddy p>
“Yeah, yeah, I guess I love you too p>
She freezes. Her face falls, and her eyes mist up, and she immediately scurries into the kitchen.
“I’m going to start cleaning up,” she calls out, as if nothing at all is wrong.
A couple of weeks ago, she said that Aiden hadn’t thanked her for anything in a while. I suspect he also hasn’t told her he loves her in a long while either.
“I’m headed out.” He’s oblivious to the meltdown happening in the kitchen.
“Go take Spike for another twenty at poker p>
He lets out a loud laugh and then heads for the door. “It’s too easy. See you p>
When the door closes, I jog up the stairs to my bathroom and the soaking tub inside. After I get the water hot enough, I pour in some salts and then walk back down to the kitchen to collect my girl.
She’s standing at the sink, looking out the window, wiping tears from her cheeks.
“It’s okay, sweetheart p>
She doesn’t turn to me. She just wipes another tear away.
“I don’t remember the last time he said that to me,” she confesses. “It just hit me out of nowhere p>
I kiss her head and then loop my arm around her shoulders and lead her to the stairs.
“I have to clean the kitchen p>
“No, that’s my job tonight. You need to get in the bath. I know you’re sore, and you’re emotional, and I want you to just relax for a while p>
Once I lead her into the bathroom, I see that the tub is full, so I shut off the faucet and turn to find her staring up at me with those wide eyes.
“You get in and get comfy. I’ll bring you some wine, if you want it p>
“Yeah.” She blows out a breath. “I think I want it p>
After kissing her forehead, I step away, but she catches my hand in hers and links our fingers.
“Ry p>
“Yeah, baby p>
She offers me a watery smile, and I lean in to kiss her on the forehead again. I can’t stop touching this woman. “Thanks p>
“Anytime. Now, get naked and in that water before it goes cold p>
I close the door behind me and head downstairs to fetch her wine.