Cowboys & Bosses

by Piper Sullivan

  “I’ll see you in the morning,” I growled and hopped on Shadow, urging him across the expanse of land that lead to the stable and ignoring the rumbling laughter behind me.

  After a quick shower and a goodnight kiss for Lily I knocked on Sage’s door. Moments later she pulled her door open looking sexy and sleepy in almost nothing, so much skin on display I didn’t know where to look first. I pushed in and leaned against the closed door.

  “What’s going on Sage?”

  She shrugged, a coy smile on her lips. “Nothing much. Waiting for you.” Gathering the hem of her slinky camisole she pulled it over her head and tossed it on the chair by the window.

  I swallowed the desire bubbling up inside of me and went to her, caressing her soft skin, smooth heavy breasts. This was what I needed right now. Not stolen kisses in the barn and late night make out sessions in front of the fire. This woman. This heat between us. It was indescribable.

  “Good because I can’t stay away.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Her hands slid up my abs, over my chest and around my neck before they gently cupped my face and she brushed a kiss against my lips. “What are you waiting for?”

  Hell if I knew. The only thing I knew in that moment was that I would spend the rest of the night between her thighs, loving her, worshipping her, and seeking my own pleasure deep inside her heat.

  That was exactly what I did, using her throaty cries of ecstasy to fuel my desire, to find different ways to make her moan my name. Finally, sometime before dawn, we fell asleep, bodies still entangled and skin slick with sweat.

  When I woke up the next morning I was certain I was still dreaming, and it was wicked. Sage had me in her mouth, so hot and wet as her tongue slid over my cock. The feel of me deep in her throat had my eyes opening and looking down between my legs where the little minx caressed me with her hands, loved me with her mouth. “Sage,” I growled and reached for her.

  “I thought maybe I was doing it wrong.”

  My mouth kicked up in a lazy grin. “I thought I was dreaming. You’re lucky things didn’t get out of hand.” Hell it had been so long since I’d had a blow job I could have shocked her.

  “How? I want you to show me how a sexy cowboy gets out of hand.”

  I shook my head. She was too innocent, too inexperienced to understand what she was asking. “Darlin’ I can’t.”

  “Please, Mase? I want to know and I want you to show me.”

  Damn when she begged like that I was powerless to deny her. “Get on your knees.” Big blue eyes went wide but she quickly jumped off the bed and on her knees. I had to stifle a groan as I swung my legs to the floor and stood in front of her. The way she obeyed was humbling and intoxicating. “Open your mouth and stick out your tongue.” I grinned when she made the universal noise for ‘open up’. “Very good.”

  Her eyes sparkled with amusement. Arousal. They never left my cock as I stroked and slid into her mouth, not all the way just enough for her to get the idea. Her tongue slid across the bottom of my shaft and I groaned. “More,” she insisted around the length and girth of me in her mouth.

  I slid in deeper and her hands gripped the back of my thighs, not pulling me away but pushing me deeper into her wet heat. “Okay?” She nodded and swallowed around me, making my hips buck and sending me down her throat. She moaned and that about tore me apart, thinking she might be enjoying this as much as I was. Gripping her hair, I held her still and gently stroked in and out of her mouth, alternating deep and shallow thrusts as moisture grew. “Sage,” I groaned as she took me deeper and deeper, blue eyes smiling, teasing me.

  I couldn’t take it. Her mouth felt too good and the sight of her on her knees with no other thoughts than pleasing me, hell it made me hard as hell and I gripped her hair harder, thrust deeper and she took it all, moaning and squeezing my ass.

  “Too much,” I told her and slid from her mouth.

  “I get it,” she said with a smile as she stood, kissing her way up my body. “I liked it.” She stood closer and grabbed my hand, sliding it between her legs and through her damp opening. “Show me how much you liked it Mase.”

  Damn why did her voice have to sound so sweet, so sexy and husky? My control snapped and I leaned back on the bed, pulling her on top of me until her weeping slit was directly over my mouth. “Show me how much you liked sucking me, Sage.”

  “What? You mean you want me to…,” she couldn’t even say it and I knew this would be fun. For both of us.

  Palms flat on her tight round ass, I pushed her forward until she slid across the length of my tongue. “Yes. Now, Sage.” She moved tentatively at first but her hips continued to buck at the sensations it caused and soon she was lost in her own pleasure, grinding and swirling and calling my name like it was the only word she knew.

  Her movements were wild and soon she cried out, bearing down as I sucked her clit while she rode out her orgasm. In the next moment she was sliding over me, impaling herself on my cock and I too was lost. We came together fast and hard and satisfying, moaning mutual pleasure at each other. Sage wore a soft smile that hit me right in the chest.

  “You’re even better than I thought you’d be,” she whispered in my ear and kissed me silly.

  Like she, sweet and sexy Sage Manchester all grown up, couldn’t get enough of me. “You thought about how I’d be?”

  She nodded. “I imaged you pleasuring me the way my pocket rocket did.”

  The image that came, Sage flat on her back with her legs spread open using some battery-operated toy to learn about her pleasure, had me growing hard inside her again. “You’ll have to show me some time,” I told her and flexed my hips.

  “Anytime.”

  A door slammed downstairs and then a familiar voice. “Well don’t everybody come down here and greet me all at once. I’ve only been locked up in an old fogey home for months.”

  We both froze. “Ma?”

  “I guess that means I have to move.”

  I pumped into her again. “Unfortunately.”

  She rose slowly until our bodies parted and collapsed on her back, watching me dress. “Don’t be a stranger, Mase.”

  I kissed her again. Long and sweetly, because she made me feel tender. “Like I could even if I wanted to.”

  That much was damn true. This woman was an addiction I had no desire to get rid of.

  * * *

  “Care to tell me why that good lookin’ fella thinks you and Sage are getting hitched?” Tammy Manning was still a force to be reckoned with as a woman in her sixties. Hair that was more grey than blonde these days was still worn in the same long braid she’d had since I was a boy. Sharp brown eyes she’d passed on to me and Tanner looked deep inside me as though she knew all my secrets.

  Based on past history, she probably did. “Ma,” I groaned in frustration. “I need to go to Mr. Graham.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “Sage and Tanner will show him everything you can. Now I’ve been patient and not asked any questions, particularly why that beautiful girl is now staying in the house. Sleeping next door to you.”

  I felt heat flood my cheeks at her insinuation, but I sucked in a long breath and explained everything, starting with Walt’s visit. I knew I had to, my mother would give me no peace until she knew every detail.

  “Walt made an incorrect assumption that I knew would hurt my chances at joining the TPBA so I let it stand.” An oversimplification of events but still true.

  Steely brown eyes assessed me, lips twisted into a displeased scowl. “And Sage just agreed to this out of the goodness of her heart?”

  “Yes. No. Sort of.” Hell, what did she want me to say?

  Arms crossed she gave me that look, the one that made me confess all my sins as a boy. “Well which is it boy? I know that girl has carried a torch for you since she was a tiny little thang, all big blue eyes and wild brown hair. She followed you around like you were god’s gift made just for her.” She took a sip of tea and grinned. “Not much has change
d I’d say.”

  “What?” I shook my head because I didn’t want to think about that. My own feelings were already twisted up about her. “You’re wrong Ma. She wanted something in exchange but I offered money instead.”

  “Did she accept it?”

  “No. But she will.” I was almost certain of it.

  “If you’re sure. I’d hate to see her get hurt and you lose your friendship with Jack because you were a coward.”

  And that was the reminder I needed that this thing was getting out of control. It had gone beyond a temporary pretense into a real relationship, and with her lack of experience, Sage would have expectations. Despite her insistence that she was okay with our physical relationship she didn’t have all the information when she’d made that promise.

  “Dammit!” I shouldn’t have gotten close to her. I should have backed away and let her find some nice guy looking for love and marriage to give herself to.

  Ma just laughed and shook her head. “Looks like I came back at just the right time.”

  With Maybelle now gone to see after her sister in Memphis, I agreed, but not for the same reasons.

  Not at all.

  Sage

  I felt a pair of strong, familiar arms wrap around my waist and pull me back into his strong chest. “Hey.” Mason’s deep voice washed over me, made me shiver and smile.

  I turned in his arms with a silly love-struck grin on my face. “Hey yourself. What are you doing in here?” He rarely came into the house until dinner. “Is everything okay?”

  He nodded, a sultry smile curving his lips. “It will be.” He cradled my face in his big hands and slanted his mouth over mine in a slow, hungry kiss that had me clinging to him and using the counter to keep myself upright. Mason was all man, potent and intoxicating. He broke the kiss and his eyes smoldered. “That’s better.”

  “I’ll say.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in for another kiss. “Much better.” I closed my eyes when his strong arms tightened around me in a hug. I loved being in his arms. I felt safe and cared for and loved, which was silly because Mason didn’t love me. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop my own heart from leaping out of my chest and jumping for joy that we’d finally fallen in love.

  “What smells so good?”

  I told him all about the barbecue me, Lily and Tanner had planned as an official welcome home for Tammy. “Since she popped up so unexpectedly we figured tonight was the best night. Tanner’s got the grill going, Lily helped with the cookies and I’ve got all the sides covered.”

  He nuzzled my neck and groaned. “I just want to nibble on you.”

  “Yes please,” I moaned like the sex addict he was turning me into. Day or night I wanted him. Needed him. My body constantly hummed with arousal when he was near. I loved that it seemed he couldn’t get enough of me, especially when I never wanted another man other than him.

  “Sage, you’re mine,” he growled, surprising me and him both.

  My mind told me to pull back, that this was just heat-of-the-moment talk, but my heart told her to shut the hell up and take it. “Yours,” I moaned and nibbled his ear. “You plan to shower before dinner?”

  “You going to join me?” I nodded because there was no way I would give up a moment with him. Not ever.

  “I’ll set this stuff on the table out back and be right up.” He kissed me again, hot and sweet until my body shook with need. I watched him go, shaking my head at his long-legged gait. Damn the man filled out a pair of jeans perfectly.

  “Don’t make me wait, Sage.”

  His words spurred me into action, taking potato salad and baked beans, macaroni and cheese and cucumber salad out to the table in two trips. The cookies could wait and the fresh bread needed to cool first. I sat back and looked, feeling every bit like the woman of the house. That thought brought me up short. Was it a mistake for me to get so comfortable here when this was all temporary?

  “No one should wear a scowl like that with all this food on display,” Tammy said as she approached.

  I smiled over at her, hoping she couldn’t see my thoughts. “I was just thinking.”

  “Overthinking is as bad as not thinking at all Sage.”

  I looked over and her warm sympathetic gaze made me feel like an idiot. Of course it was clear to all that I’d forgotten this was all fake and had, once again given my heart to Mason. Only this time it wasn’t a young girl’s love, but a woman’s.

  “Not overthinking, just making sure we have everything for dinner.”

  “Don’t lie to me girl. I know you and Mason are pretending and that you’re both determined to pretend this is all just pretend. Dang, did you follow that?” She shook her head. “I’m not sure I did myself. But you get my drift.”

  I wasn’t sure that I did, but I gave her a small smile anyway. “I’m going to go get a clean shirt on. I’ll be down in a jiff.”

  “Try not to use up all the hot water this time.” Her laugh followed me into the house and I felt my skin heat with embarrassment.

  By the time my feet hit the stairs all I could think about was Mason and his big body covered in suds and water. One of my favorite things to do was soap him up and watch all the suds disappear as water sluiced down deliciously sculpted muscles. Pushing open his bedroom door, I groaned at the sight of him in nothing but a navy-blue towel cinched at the waist.

  “I’m too late?”

  He flashed a heart stopping grin. “Right on time,” he assured me and let the towel fall to the floor.

  I pushed the door closed and was on him in seconds, kissing and licking every inch of him while he quickly undressed me. “I need you Mase. Now,” I whispered in his hear because I knew he loved it.

  “You got me sweetheart.” He lifted me up and laid me on the bed, spearing me with his cock over and over, it was so hot and fast that all I could do was hold on and enjoy the ride. My body was so ready for him, so greedy to have him that I took him easily.

  “Mason,” I panted because I couldn’t remember any words other than his name. Over and over I moaned his name while he plunged deep, quickly sending me up and over the edge, with him quickly following. He growled my name and took me in a rough, intense kiss as his body vibrated and surged into mine. “Goodness I love that! I love you, Mason.”

  He froze and instantly I felt like a fool. “You do?” His question didn’t seem all that happy and all I wanted him to smile and say the words back and mean them.

  “I do,” I told him and looked away, completely oblivious to the heavy footsteps in the hall until it was too late.

  “Sage”

  “No, don’t say it Mason. Please, don’t.”

  The door flew open and we both looked up, and into the angry blue eyes of my brother Jack. “Just what in the hell is going on here?”

  Sick of overbearing, bossy men I sighed. “Just what does it look like Jack?”

  “It looks like I’m about to kick Mason’s ass.”

  I pushed at his chest, unable to look at him as I sat up. “Do you mind, Jack or do you want to see exactly how I like it?” I gave a satisfied smile at his angry grunt. But at the sound of his retreating footsteps, reality set in. I’d just told Mason I loved him and he’d looked horrified. “I’ll see you down there,” I told him and shimmied into my pants, not bothering to button them since I needed to change anyway.

  “Sage, wait.”

  This time I wasn’t the obedient lover I’d always been, I kept walking the short distance to my room and closed the door behind me. I couldn’t cry now, not with Jack downstairs along with Lily who would worry, Tanner, Tammy and Sierra. I’d chosen the worst night ever to make my unwanted declaration.

  Story of my life.

  * * *

  “So what happened?” Sierra grabbed me as soon as I stepped outside and pulled me along until I could hardly even smell the scent of grilled meat and barbecue sauce.

  “What do you mean?”

  Sierra rolled her eyes. “I mean that your fine
-ass brother came storming back down here like a bat out of hell, so I can only assume he found you and Mason in a position he’d rather not have.”

  I sighed and nodded my confirmation. “We’d just finished when he pretty much kicked the door down. But that’s not the worst part Sierra.” I told her about my ill-timed outburst and the look of horror that crossed his face.

  “No. Way.” Big green eyes held so much shock that tears instantly came to my eyes.

  “Way, Sierra. All the way.”

  She rubbed my back and we kept our backs to the table. “Did you mean it, like for real? Or was this a heat of the moment thing?”

  “I wish I could chalk it up to the sex, which was very hot by the way. But that just intensified what I was already feeling.” And now I still had at least a month left before the TPBA made their decision which meant I was well and truly stuck.

  “Maybe you just surprised him.”

  I cut her a look that told her exactly what I thought of that suggestion. “It’s fine Sierra. I appreciate it but I don’t need you to make me feel better about this. I knew I it was a possibility since I’ve loved him pretty much my entire life. But I thought I was sooo mature that I could have everything, just for a little while, and walk away unscathed.” The hubris of thinking that was laughable now.

  “It’s always hard when you like the guy you’re sleeping with.”

  I looked at my best friend, shocked. “You sleep with guys you don’t like?”

  She nodded. “Most of the time. It’s easier,” she shrugged like it was no big deal. “I get what I want without any risk to my heart.”

  I smacked her arm. “That advice would have been helpful when you were encouraging me to do this!”

  Sierra laughed and wrapped her arms around me. “It wouldn’t have done any good honey. You were half in love with him before you slept with him.”