Ryder Men of Clifton, Montana Book 5

by Susan Fisher-Davis

  ****

  Ryder walked in the back door at five to get a shower but when he entered the living room to find Kelsey on the sofa watching TV, he stopped to stare at her.

  “Aren’t you going to get ready? We leave in half an hour.”

  “All I have to do is get dressed. I’m waiting on you.”

  “Give me a few minutes to shower.” He walked down the hallway to his bedroom, stripped out of his clothes, and entered the bathroom. He couldn’t help but think it was a shame she only had to dress because he would like to have tempted her into taking a shower with him.

  Damn, his dick started to rise just at the thought of her in here with him. He really liked shower sex and frankly, didn’t get the opportunity much since he didn’t tend to hang around at any woman’s place long enough.

  Shit! His damn cock was more than ready for her. Lowering the temperature of the water some, he placed his hands on the wall under the showerhead and watched as the day’s dirt swirled down the drain. After quickly washing his hair, he stepped out of the stall and grabbed a towel. After drying off, he proceeded to the bedroom to dress. His glance going to the bed, the memory of Kelsey there with him was so strong he thought he could smell her in the room as if she was still there. He stared at the bed, and a wave of guilt rushed over him. He knew he’d let things get too out of control. As attracted to Kelsey as he was, things needed to slow down. He needed her to understand how it was.

  Ryder pulled out clean jeans and a black T-shirt, and after dressing, he headed toward the living room. He came to a dead stop when he entered the room. Kelsey stood in the center of the room wearing a short black dress that fit like a glove. She had her hands clasped in front of her. On her feet were black stilettos. She walked to him and stopped in front of him.

  “Do I look all right?” she asked him. In her heels, she was almost as tall as he was.

  He ran his gaze down over her. The dress was a good bit above her knees. He knew she had great legs, but they looked even better in the dress, and even longer. Her hair was in waves over her shoulders and her makeup was perfect. Her lips were full with red lipstick. He closed his eyes and groaned fighting the urge to scoop her into his arms, carry her to the bedroom, strip that dress off and make her scream with delight.

  “Do you look all right?” He swallowed hard. “You look great. Perfect for dinner.” He reached out to touch her hair but then pulled back. “I’ll have to keep the guys from wanting to peel that dress off of you.”

  Kelsey laughed softly. “Oh, don’t worry. You’re the only one I’d like to have peel it off me. You can do that when we come back. In the meantime, you promised me dinner and a movie.”

  When he didn’t say anything, Kelsey looked at him. “You look yummy too.” She lightly kissed his lips.

  Ryder pulled away, and stepped to the chair where she’d laid her coat. He shook his head and held her coat for her. “Let’s get it done with then.”

  Kelsey frowned at him. “I’m sorry. You really do look so good, Kelsey.”

  She nodded and slipped her arms into her coat. He lifted her hair from her coat, and pressed a soft kiss against the back of her neck. He felt her tremble and tense. He wanted her it was true, but what then?

  She turned to face him. “You’re being bad, Ryder.”

  Ryder laughed wishing it were that easy. “Okay, let’s go. It’s about a twenty minute drive.”

  Once they arrived, a hostess showed them to their table and handed them menus. A few moments later, a server came to take their order for drinks while they perused the entrees.

  “Any ideas about what you want?” Kelsey asked him, her eyes roaming the menu. When she glanced up their eyes met and he knew she was thinking about something other than food.

  “It’s been a while since I ate here last but the steak is good,” he answered before taking a sip of water.

  Kelsey quickly glanced around. “Right, steak?”

  The server came back to take their orders and both decided to with the steak.

  Kelsey smiled at him after the server left. She leaned forward. “I’m not wearing panties under this dress.”

  Ryder choked on his beer, almost spitting it out. He glared at her.

  “You’re telling me this now, why?”

  Kelsey nodded her head and laughed. He sat back in his chair and stared at her. She smiled at him and fluttered her eyelashes. He groaned.

  When their dinner arrived, Ryder picked up his knife and fork.

  “We need to talk, Kelsey,” he said without looking at her and trying not to imagine what was not under that dress.

  As if she thought he was playing with her, Kelsey cut her steak, gazed at him, put the piece of meat in her mouth slowly, and chewed even more slowly. Closing her eyes, she moaned. “This is so good.” She drew the word so out very long. “I need to savor the flavor.”

  Ryder dropped his fork on the plate. Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at him. He glanced around then back to Kelsey. He closed his eyes a moment then took a long pull on his beer.

  “You’re gonna regret that, darlin’. Trust me.”

  Kelsey laughed. “Can’t wait.” She leaned across the table, showing her cleavage. “Bring it on.”

  Ryder hissed out a breath. “I’m serious, Kelsey. We’ve got to stop playing games.”

  She sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “Is that what we’ve been doing, Ryder, playing games?”

  Shit! He hated confrontation and complications, and right now, he was up to his ass in both. He cut a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. He chewed it, not really tasting it. He’d lost his appetite.

  “So what are we doing, Ryder,” Kelsey asked pushing her food around on her plate.

  “I told you from the start that I wasn’t looking for anything serious and that I didn’t feel right about taking advantage of you when you’re supposed to be under my protection. The last couple of days…well, they’ve been…it shouldn’t have happened.”

  “Is this why you offered to take me out to dinner and a movie? To placate me? Oh, take her to a nice place and lower the boom on her, she won’t make a scene in public,” Kelsey hissed. He knew that look, and that tone. He was screwed now—royally.

  “I hadn’t planned anything of the sort, I simply wanted to take you someplace nice,” he said without looking at her. “But then you told me that you weren’t wearing any…you know.” He waved his knife in her general direction.

  “Oh, so that bothers you, Ryder. Why? Are you worried some other man is going to…what? Smell my desire for a strong man between my legs. Well, I thought that was you, but maybe I was wrong. You’ve turned out to be a pussy after all. I’m not interested in anything long-term, forever or whatever it is, you think I want. I just want your hot hard cock,” she lowered her voice to a sexy hoarse whisper on those last words and that was all it took him to tell his conscience to just fuck it.

  He jumped up and grabbed her wrist. “Damn it, we’re leaving.” He paid the check and pulled her along behind him. She practically ran to keep up with him.

  They didn’t make it to the movie. In fact, if Ryder hadn’t kept his eyes glued to the road in front of the truck he would have pulled over to the side and had her right there. As it was, he drove them home as fast as he could without getting into trouble. Even though he had convinced himself that he wasn’t going to give in to his desire for her again, he had to have her.

  He steered the truck into his driveway and didn’t bother closing the gate behind them. Pulling up alongside the house, he slammed on the brakes, shut off the engine, and climbed from the truck. Kelsey was already out when he got around to her side, but barely. She smiled at him and he wanted to take her right there. He slammed the truck door, grabbed her hand, and nearly dragged her to the back door. He threw the door open, was greeted by the dogs, who he ushered outside, and pulled her into the house. Without taking off their outer clothes, except his hat which he tossed toward the hook on
the wall and made Kelsey squeal with delight when it caught and stayed hanging there, he led her to his bedroom, and then to the bathroom.

  “You need a shower?” she exclaimed with a bold laugh.

  “I’ve been thinking of shower sex with you since I had a shower earlier. I want you, and I want you now and in the shower. Get your clothes off,” he said as threw off his coat, followed by his shirt off over his head. He reached for the snap of his jeans but stopped when he saw her standing there staring at him with a pouty mouth and a woeful expression.

  “What?”

  “Where’s the foreplay? The romance?”

  “Seriously? I’m so fucking hard for you right now that I might not make it out of my clothes.”

  She placed the back of her hand against her forehead and in an exaggerated southern voice said, “Ah do declare, that is the sexiest thing ah have ever heard.”

  Ryder stared at her. “Christ, you’re a smart ass.”

  Kelsey laughed, and then squealed when he spun her around, yanked off her coat, and then lowered the zipper on her dress. He pushed it down her arms to her feet. He turned her back around and realized just how near naked she was all this time. She was standing there in nothing but those hot stiletto heels. He allowed his gaze to travel slowly over her flushed body.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered as he lowered his face toward hers. “Kiss me,” he said against her lips.

  She pressed her lips to his and moved her tongue into his mouth. He groaned when he felt her lowering the zipper on his jeans. She pulled back from him and stared up at him.

  “You weren’t kidding. You’re so fuckin’ hard that I can’t get the zipper down.” She smiled up at him.

  “Fuck it,” he said as he reached between them and lowered the zipper. Then he pushed his jeans down. After toeing off his boots, he removed his jeans and boxer briefs. His hard cock sprang forward. When she wrapped her hand around it, he growled low in his throat.

  “In the shower, woman. Now,” he ordered, and then reached down and into the back pocket of his jeans. He retrieved a condom while he watched her step from her shoes. “I’d like to play with those later,” he said pointing at the heels. With a grin, he stepped into the shower and pulled her against him, taking her lips in a deep kiss. “I can’t wait. I have to have you.”

  “I want you too. Please…”

  Ryder pushed her against the tiles of the shower and placed his hands under her butt, lifting her. Her legs wrapped around him. He moved his hand between her legs to her wet, hot folds.

  “Fuck. You’re so wet.” He handed her the condom, which she rolled down over him, making him grit his teeth. Then he moved closer and inched into her. Both of them groaned as he slid into her hot depths. “Hard and fast, darlin’. This time it has to be hard and fast.”

  He gazed into her eyes to see if she agreed. When she nodded her head, he pulled out and slammed back into her making her gasp. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she held on while Ryder pounded into her. He knew he wasn’t going to last so he hoped she came before he did. When she bit his shoulder, he felt her clench around his cock and so moved faster against her. Kelsey screamed out right before he groaned out her name. Coming hard. He leaned his forehead on her shoulder, trying to catch his breath. She was breathing hard too.

  “Damn, that was good.”

  “Yes,” she whispered against his neck.

  Ryder pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Are you all right?”

  She smiled at him. “Wonderful.”

  He chuckled. “More than wonderful, sweetheart.” He let her down slowly. When her knees buckled, he caught her. “Let me wash you off.” He picked up the soap, created a thick, foamy lather, and then washed her. When he moved up her legs to her strip of curls, he felt himself getting hard again. Is that even possible? He looked at Kelsey and saw her looking at his growing cock. She raised her eyes and looked at him with a sly smile on her lips.

  “What?”

  She burst out laughing. “Do you think you should bother washing me, when you’re ready to go again?”

  Ryder grinned. “I suppose I can wash you later,” he told her as he stepped from the shower, and then reached his hand out to her. She took it and stepped out with him. He grabbed a towel and dried them off before leading her to the bedroom. He watched as she climbed onto the bed. He pulled a condom from the drawer beside the bed and sheathed himself.

  “That is so sexy,” she said.

  “What is?”

  “Watching you putting a condom on.”

  Ryder climbed onto the bed beside her and lay out on his back. “I want you to ride me.”

  Kelsey straddled his waist and lowered herself down over him. He placed his hands on her hips and tried to lift her.

  “No. I’m in charge on this one so behave, Ryder.”

  He growled but took his hands from her hips and placed them on her thighs instead. She started to raise and lower herself on him. He clenched his jaw as she moved slowly, wishing he could replace his hands on her hips to guide her.

  “I can’t take this,” he gritted out through his teeth, right before he flipped her to her back and thrust into her. He pulled out, rolled her to her stomach, and lifted her hips. He slowly inched into her from behind. “Get on your hands and knees.”

  “Oh, I’ve never done it like this, Ryder.”

  “Do you want me to stop? I will.”

  “No, please don’t stop,” she groaned out and thrust her hips back at him.

  Ryder slammed in and out of her, and then sat back on his heels pulling her into his lap. She immediately took over. It wasn’t long before he felt her body clenching around his cock, and then she cried out. He pushed her forward and pounded into her. Hard. His orgasm, when it grabbed him, had him seeing stars. He collapsed on top of her sweat-slicked back.

  “You just couldn’t let me be in charge, could you?” she asked in a breathless voice.

  He chuckled. “Next time. You were killing me.” He rolled off her. “I think we both need to shower and then get some sleep.”

  “I’m taking a shower first,” she said as she climbed out of the bed without even a glance.

  “We can’t shower together?”

  “No, not this time. I’ll be right back.”

  He nodded even though she couldn’t see it. He knew it was better he didn’t join her. “I’ll be right here.” In the meantime, he’d just rest his eyes while he waited.

  ****

  Kelsey sat in the window seat and stared out the front window. It was now the second week of November and more snow would be moving in. Where had October gone? She’d been here a month and since the first time they had sex, she’d slept with Ryder every night. He’d hold her close to him all night but nothing more. No words, not even a clue of how he felt about her other than the occasional bout of silent treatment. Ever since that night at the restaurant, he hadn’t told her again that it was a mistake but then, she’d brought that on by telling him she hadn’t wanted more. That he could be any man. Now, thoughts of him filled her brain even when she tried not to think of him. She was feeling more than she should. She was falling in love with him and if he knew, he’d send her packing.

  She heard the back door open and close. She knew Ryder had just come in from working in the barn. The man never seemed to stop. Just then, the phone rang and she listened as he answered.

  “Wolfe Ranch.” A pause. “Hey Dad, how are you?”

  Kelsey could hear the smile in Ryder’s voice. She stood and walked to the kitchen and leaned against the doorjamb, watching him. As he talked, he shrugged out of his coat, strolled to the mudroom to hang it up, and removed his hat, hanging it on a hook in the hallway as he returned to the kitchen. When he saw her and smiled at her.

  “No. Don’t worry about that. Go ahead and have fun. I wouldn’t be able to anyway.” He poured himself a cup of coffee. “Kelsey’s fine. Probably a little bored, but fine.” He winked at her, and then grinned when sh
e blushed.

  “Can I say hi?” she asked with an eagerness she hadn’t expected. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know if things had settled enough to go home or not.

  “Hold on, Dad.” Ryder handed her the phone and leaned a hip against the counter. He poured a cup of coffee and sipped as he watched her.

  She put the phone to her ear. “Hi, Uncle Frank.”

  “Hi, Kels, hon. How are things going?”

  “Things are going good. Seriously, I am not as bored as Ryder told you,” she told him with a grin.

  “That’s good, hon. I’m sorry to say there’s not much going on here with regard to Dowling either. They haven’t found him yet, so he could still be looking for you. As much as I’d love for you to come home, we can’t take the chance of you coming home yet.”

  “I know. It’s okay, really. I’m doing fine, really I am.”

  “I’m hoping we can get you home in time for Christmas.”

  She was torn about going home. She didn’t even want to think of that right now. “That sounds good.”

  “Ryder’s treating you well, then, is he?” Frank laughed as if surprised by the idea.

  Kelsey glanced at Ryder. “Ryder’s treating me very well. He’s been most hospitable in making me feel comfortable.” She grinned when she saw him raise an eyebrow. “He’s very good at what he does.”

  Ryder grinned and glanced away. She recognized the guilt attacking him.

  “Are you talking about the wood he works with?”

  “Yes. I’m talking about his…wood.” Her eyes traveled down to Ryder’s fly.

  Ryder inhaled quickly then choked on his coffee. He coughed a couple of times and grabbed the phone. “Dad? Don’t worry about Thanksgiving. You and Mom go and have a nice time.”

  Kelsey burst out laughing when he hung the phone up. She started backing up when Ryder strode toward her.

  “You love being bad, don’t you?” he asked as he advanced.

  “I was bad?” she asked widening her eyes in an innocent manner. “I just said you were good with your wood.”

  Ryder growled and reached for her. She spun around and ran from him. He caught her in the living room and pulled her down onto the sofa. He pressed his face in her neck and nibbled. She combed her fingers through his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. When his tongue entered her mouth, she moaned and then pulled back from him.