by S. J. McCoy
It seemed she still wanted to play, too. She managed to slip her wrists from his grasp and rolled over. He grinned as she tried to crawl away from him. He caught a fistful of her hair and slid his arm under her. “Where do you think you're going, babe?”
She gasped as he pulled her hair, he knew she loved it. She pulled herself up onto her hands and knees and kept trying to get away. The sight of her gorgeous round ass wiggling in front of him had him scrambling up to his own knees behind her.
He grasped her hip and pulled her back against him. “Are you going to lie down and let me love you again?”
He grinned when she shook her head. She loved it when he took her like this—and so did he. This had been one of his favorite fantasies for the last ten years and here it was coming true. He slid his hand between her legs and guided himself to her opening. She was hot and wet and panting for him, he pushed his way just inside then tormented them both as he rested there while he teased her clit between his fingers. He knew he wouldn't last long like this, he wanted her on the edge by the time he buried himself in her.
She was gasping and moaning as he worked her. He bent down and filled his hand with her breast. Nibbling her neck, he took his time to work her into a frenzy, squeezing first her nipple then her clit, harder and harder. She was soaking for him, wriggling around trying to thrust her hips back to take his cock deep. He was enjoying making her desperate. It was killing him too, but hearing her beg would be worth it.
“Please, Mason!”
“What do you want, babe?”
She pushed back against him. “I want you to take me. Take me now.”
“Take you where?” He couldn't help grinning when he heard her desperate sob.
“I need you inside me. I need to feel you. I need you to...”
He couldn't make either of them wait any longer. He took a fistful of hair and a handful of ass and thrust deep. “Oh, God, Mason! Yes!”
He set up a pounding rhythm burying himself deep in her wetness. She felt so damned good! “Like this, baby?”
“Yes. Yes. Yes!”
She tightened around him, shuddering and gasping his name. He let himself go and came hard, thrusting and straining to give her all he had and all he was. Every nerve ending in his body felt like a firework exploding. He saw stars as she carried him away, her inner muscles milking him until he collapsed, his shaking legs unable to support him any longer.
He rolled onto his back and pulled her to him. “How the hell have I lived without you all this time?”
Her answer shocked him in the best possible way. “I don't know, but I don't want to survive without you anymore.”
Chapter Thirteen
Gina shivered. Damn, she was cold. She reached out to pull the blankets closer around her. Her hand touched a hard, warm chest and it all came flooding back. She opened her eyes and saw Mason smiling back at her.
“Good morning. Looks like we recreated our first date to the letter.” He put his arm around her and pecked her lips. “You fell asleep on me and I didn't want to wake you. I hope that was okay.”
Gina's mind raced. Was it okay? What would her dad say?
Mason frowned. “You don't regret it?”
“No! It's not that, it's just that...”
“Just what?” She wasn't sure if he looked hurt or angry.
“Just nothing. I'm not even awake yet and I'm surprised that's all.”
“Sorry, babe.” He smiled, and it melted her heart. He'd never been one to stay angry for long. He reached for his hat and placed it on top of her head with a grin. “Want to go cowgirl before we get up?”
She was tempted, but she shook her head. She'd been planning to head up to town this morning, see if she could stop in and catch Cassidy Lane at her gallery.
Mason pouted and pulled her hips against his. He was hopeful, but it seemed he wasn't fully awake yet either. “You don't want me?”
“I do want you, just not right now. I have a full day I need to get on with, and I'm pretty sure you do, too. I doubt the horses have learned to take care of themselves, and it's not like you to not be out there by eight-thirty.”
His eyes widened. “Eight-thirty?”
She checked her watch and nodded. “Eight-thirty-five now.”
“Shit! We'd better get going then.”
She laughed. “Yes, we had.” She sat up and started to pull her clothes on.
When she was dressed, he lifted her down and wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you for a wonderful first date, Miss Gina. Can I see you again soon?”
She smiled up at him. “Why yes, you can, Mr. Remington. I’d like that.”
He turned around and sat back down on the tailgate, lifting her with him so she sat straddling his lap. He was definitely more awake now. The feel of his hard-on pressing between her legs made her question her hurry to get started with the day.
He smiled a knowing smile. “So how long do you think you can wait before I give my cowgirl a ride?”
She made a face at him, but couldn't resist gyrating her hips, pressing herself down onto him. “Not too long.”
He grasped her waist and thrust hard, then let her go. “Me neither. Tonight?”
She nodded, disappointed now that he wasn't saying right now. “Tonight then.” As she said it, she realized he'd deliberately taken her from being in a panic to leave to wishing they could stay for more.
He smiled, pleased with himself and not worried that she'd seen through him. “Good, come on then. Let's get you home.”
As they pulled into the long driveway back to the ranch, she had to wonder about her dad. “Did he say anything to you last night?” she asked Mason.
From the way he shrugged, she knew he had.
“What?”
“Sorry, G, but that was between him and me, man to man. You know?”
She nodded slowly. She did know and she didn't like it. That was one aspect of living out here that she hadn't missed. There was a gender gap here. The men folk were strong and protective of their women—even when their women didn't want or need protecting.
“He just loves you and wants to see you happy.”
“Yeah, and he thinks staying here and being with you is what's going to make me happy.”
Mason brought the truck to a stop in front of the house. “And you don't?”
“I don't know yet.” She couldn't lie to him. She did want to be with him. She did still love him. But there were the lingering details of a past that needed addressing. There were also the details of a future that for her, in terms of career, was still very uncertain. She put her hand on his thigh. “I would love to be with you, Mase. But we have a lot to work through first, and I have to figure out how I'm going to make a living, no matter what else I do.”
He nodded. “And are you making any progress with that? Shane said he talked to the owner of the new gallery up in town and she said you should give her a call.”
“Apparently he stopped by to talk to me about that the other day, but I missed him. Did he tell you a name?” She was curious about another possible lead and curious what Shane's connection might be.
Mason frowned while he thought about it. “Hmm. Cassidy maybe?”
Gina grinned, pleased to have two introductions—Shane as well as Ian. She'd made a few calls after talking to Ian. Everyone she'd spoken to thought very highly of Cassidy and also thought that Gina would get along famously with her. She was looking forward to meeting the woman if nothing else. “Great, I'm headed up to see her today.” She went to open the door.
“So, what time can I come pick you up?” asked Mason.
“Say six again? I've got a busy day lined up and I want to fix Dad some dinner before I go out. Where are we going anyway?”
He grinned. “Riding.”
She laughed and jumped down from the cab. “See you later then.”
~ ~ ~
Mason looked up when he heard footsteps in the barn. He wasn't expecting anyone out here this morning. His mom
and dad had gone off to Bozeman to buy decorations for her birthday party this weekend. Chance was gone getting the cows moved up to summer pasture. Shane was busy with his guests. So who was wandering around in the barn? Mason kept an office out here in a stall he'd converted for the purpose. He didn't like to be bothered with people at the best of times. Whenever he had paperwork to do, he preferred to do it out here, surrounded by the familiar sounds and smells of his horses. He went to look out the window and cursed under his breath when he saw the man wandering around checking in the stalls, no doubt looking for him. He needed to keep his calm and run the asshole off.
He stepped out into the breezeway. “What do you want, Preston?”
The man swung around and sneered at him. “Thought I'd come by and let you know I'm planning on buying some property.”
Mason scowled. What the fuck did it matter to him? He didn't want to give Guy Preston the satisfaction of showing any curiosity at all so he said nothing. Just stared and waited. He knew Guy wouldn't be able to resist bragging about whatever shit scheme he was up to now.
“Yeah. A nice little ranch, just off of East River. The house isn't much, but there's some good grazing and I can probably get the cattle thrown in.”
He must mean the Delaney ranch.
Guy seemed a little frustrated that Mason wasn't showing any interest. “I hear old man Delaney doesn't want to leave, but Gina's moving him to New York. Did you know she's back in town? Maybe I'll give her a better price if she'll let me fuck her first. What do you think, Mase? Do you think little Gina will spread her legs for me to help daddy out?”
Mason took two steps toward him then stopped. He could not, would not, rise to this bastard's bait. All he wanted to do was beat the living crap out of him, but he'd already learned the hard way that was only a temporary solution that brought even worse consequences. The one thing he'd vowed he would never do was let Guy know just how much Gina meant to him. If Guy understood that, he would stop at nothing to destroy what they had. Over the years, he'd gone after everything he knew Mason cared about. All their lives, since a bust-up in grade school, Guy had made it his business to outdo Mason, to take away or damage anything that mattered to him. From bicycles and girlfriends in high school to cars, horses, and land later in life, Guy went after what Mason had or wanted. The only thing Mason had managed to keep safe was Gina. No way was he going to let that change now. He shrugged. “You'd have to ask her. She might. She's been away to the city a long time. I hear city girls aren't too picky. She might sleep with your ugly ass if she makes some money on the deal. Just don't screw Al over, or I will come after you, you hear me?”
Guy looked puzzled at his response. Which told Mason that he must have some inkling about him and Gina. He'd been hoping that his well-known friendship with Al was the target of this attack. Unfortunately, it seemed he was honing in on him and Gina, and that was something Mason was not going to allow him to fuck with. Guy had tried once before when Gina was still away at college. Guy had been been accepted to two graduate schools. One in Portland where Gina was studying and one in Seattle where April Runyan went to school. Mason and April had dated in high school. When Mason found out Guy had been asking how serious things were between him and Gina, he'd known immediately that if he went to Portland he'd make a move on Gina and steal her away, or at least turn her against Mason somehow. That wasn't a risk Mason had been willing to take. He felt guilty about it, but he'd deflected Guy's attention away from Gina, by focusing it on April. He'd engineered a conversation with Guy where he just let it slip out that he was thinking about ending it with Gina. He'd said she'd been fun for a while, but that he wanted to get back with April. That he'd missed her since they broke up, and he was hoping that they might have a future together.
Guy had fallen for it. He'd gone to Seattle and made a move on April. What Mason felt bad about was that she'd fallen for it. She'd married him. Mason couldn't help but feel responsible for the miserable life that April had led since then. She had a nine-year-old son, and Mason was fairly sure that he was the reason she didn't pack up and run. Mason knew from experience that Guy was a vindictive bastard. He hated to think what kind of threats he used to make April stay.
Mason wasn't sure how to play this.
“You're not after a shot with her yourself?” Guy asked.
Mason laughed. “Me? I get all the ass I want at Chico on the weekends. Why would I complicate my life trying to do some girl I dated years ago?” He hoped he sounded convincing. What he really wanted to do was pound his fist into Guy's face and tell him exactly what he'd do to him if he went within a hundred yards of Gina. But that would give him all the ammunition he needed, and Mason had lost too much to the man over the years to dare risking the woman who meant more than anything in the world to him.
Guy shrugged and redirected his attention. “Maybe I'll see if she wants to get it on. Either way, I'm buying the place.”
Mason had to hope that Gina could afford not to sell. He shook his head. “What about your wife?”
Guy grinned at that. The stupid bastard still believed that he'd stolen April away. Mason wasn't about to disabuse him of that illusion either. “She's exactly that, Remington. My wife. You can't go anywhere near her, and I can fuck whoever the hell I like.”
Mason shook his head in disgust. “Yeah, you're a real winner, aren't you?”
“I am, and I guess that makes you a loser, huh?” Guy laughed and turned on his heel.
Mason wanted nothing more than to go after him and teach him what it felt like to be a loser. He made himself stand still. His fists were balled at his sides, the pulse in his temple was pounding, but he let Guy walk away.
He needed to talk to Gina and her dad and figure out what the deal was. He'd simply assumed that since Gina wasn't getting married and hopefully wasn't going back to New York, there'd be no need for them to sell the ranch. What he didn't know was whether they would be able to afford to keep it.
~ ~ ~
It was late afternoon by the time Gina pushed her way inside the Moonstone Gallery. She'd intended to get up here this morning, but she'd gotten busy with other errands and the day had gotten away from her. As soon as she was through the door, she stopped to look around. She immediately fell in love with several of the paintings hanging on the back wall. Oceanscapes, not something that would normally even catch her eye. But the way the artist captured light and movement was totally captivating. It drew you right into the canvas. As she made her way toward the office at the back, she admired the way the works were displayed. It seemed Cassidy had a similar feel for contrast to Gina's own. Perhaps more in color than in content, but the whole atmosphere of the place made Gina feel at home, at ease.
“Hi, can I help you?”
Gina smiled. As soon as she saw Cassidy, she understood Shane's involvement. With an incredibly pretty face, long, honey-blonde hair, and long tanned legs displayed between a short denim skirt and tall cowboy boots, Cassidy was the kind of woman Shane would be falling all over, trying to get her into bed. Gina decided to lead with Shane's introduction to see if Cassidy might give anything away about the two of them.
“Hi. I hope so. A friend of mine, Shane Remington, gave me your card and said he'd asked you about me stopping for a chat.”
From the look on Cassidy's face, Gina gathered that Shane may not have made the best impression. “Are you the girlfriend?” she asked.
Gina laughed. “I most certainly am not. He's a dear, old friend of mine. We grew up together. And I know him well enough to know that whatever he did or said, probably needs an apology. So I'll apologize on his behalf. He's a bit full of himself, but he's a sweetheart when you get to know him.”
Cassidy pursed her lips. “He's certainly full of himself, I'll give you that.” She shook her head as if remembering something about Shane. Gina wanted to ask what it was, but she was here on important business of her own. She decided to change tack and leave Shane out of it.
She smiled at Cassidy
. “Well, since Shane apparently isn't the best introduction I could have, how about I try again. You see, another friend of mine also gave me your contact information and told me to tell you he'd sent me.”
Cassidy raised an eyebrow. “And who was that?”
“Ian Rawlings. And he said to tell you that the next time he comes out here to visit me, you owe him dinner.”
Cassidy's face lit up. “Ian Rawlings! God, I love that man. And I definitely do owe him dinner. How do you know him? Have you seen him lately? How is he?”
Gina smiled. This was more like it. “I've been working with him and Liam Woodford in New York for the last few years.” She didn't miss the look that crossed the other woman's face at the mention of Liam's name. “Believe it or not, they were both out here last weekend. Of course they didn't know you were here.”
“How in the hell did you get those two to Montana? Ian thinks New Jersey is the boonies, and Liam?” She got that funny look on her face again. “Well, the least said about him, the better. How did you get them out here?”
Gina laughed. “Up until last weekend I was engaged to Liam.”
“Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I mean, I can't take it back or anything, the guy is a prick. But no offense intended.”
Gina laughed. She already liked Cassidy immensely and had a feeling they were going to get along just fine. “Hey, none taken. I said I was engaged to him. There's a reason I'm not anymore. It just took me a while to figure it out.”
Cassidy nodded. “I'll give you that. Why is it that we women can't spot a neon-lit asshole at a hundred paces when our hearts are involved? We've all made mistakes. So I won't ask what in the hell you ever saw in that prick.”
“Sounds fair to me,” Gina replied. “And I won't ask you what kind of mistakes you've made that would make getting engaged to Liam seem excusable!”