Best in Show

by Lilliana Rose

  She’d walked almost up to the reception, and decided that this was a big mistake. Fling or not, feelings burning under the surface or not, she was going to bail. Why waste time with a guy when there was no future. She’d had a few days of fun.

  A soft touch on her bare arm sent lightning shivers along her skin. She turned around. Max was standing there. Clean, dressed as he normally was, moleskins, a shirt that was buttoned low exposing a touch of dark chest hair which she’d enjoyed running her hands through the last few days. But there was something different. There was a lack of the smell of the earthy animals and hay she was used to and she missed it straight away. Instead, there was just the scent of him, testosterone, strong, powerful. It made her knees weaken. And there was a glint in his eyes, something more which she wasn’t sure how to interpret. A depth, a hurt that went beyond words which he was trying to hide. It was as if she realised she didn’t really know this man. Instead of scaring her, it turned her on.

  He leant forward and kissed her, right there in public, softly, his lips briefly melding with hers before he pulled her away, taking her ability to speak with him.

  “You look stunning.”

  Zoe blushed. She expected him to suggest going to his room not compliment her on her appearance.

  “Have you eaten?”

  She shook her head, unable to find the simple words. It had been enough to get ready for him tonight. Her usual edginess seemed to have softened.

  “Let’s eat, I’ve booked us a table.”

  “Umm… okay.” She couldn’t hide the hesitation in her voice nor the disappointment. She could do with some food, but it wasn’t why she was here. Having a meal together was more of a date, not a fling. Can things be changing so soon? She assumed she’d been picking up on the right behaviours.

  He leaned towards her, his voice deep and low. “There will be plenty of time for us both to get naked and familiar with each other later.”

  “How quick can you eat?” She felt her sassiness stir along with desire.

  He laughed softly. “Not fast enough.” He held his hand out, suggesting she go on ahead of him towards the dining area. “But I don’t want either of us to get indigestion. That would take the fun out of what’s to come.”

  She smiled. “A short dinner then.” She walked ahead into the dining room. The waitress came to her. “Table for two.”

  “Under Max,” he quickly added, trying to position himself just in front of her to indicate he was the one in control.

  The waitress quickly checked her list. “This way.”

  Zoe followed, weaving between the tables to the back corner where there was a row of tables for two. She noticed the dining area was nowhere near as busy as the front bar, and for that she was grateful. And Max’s comment had helped to settle the butterflies in her belly. I had been reading the situation all wrong. She was relieved about that. Sort of. She pushed any doubt away as she sat opposite him at the table. They had agreed to see each other tonight, and that was what she was going to focus on.

  Max forced himself to eat slowly. Dinner was a bad idea. What was I thinking? Sitting opposite the sexiest woman he’d ever met, knowing that as soon as they left the table they were going upstairs to his room—and he knew damn well what was going to happen then—it was getting harder and harder to stop himself from grabbing her arm and taking her up there now. Or worse. Not making it to his room. Fortunately, his room was on the first level. If they were in a bigger hotel and had to be in an elevator, there was no guarantee he would be able to keep his hands off her body, let alone going all the way.

  This time is meant to be slower. The main reason of why he thought of dinner. Plus, he was getting to know her, just a little more. She was pretty tight-lipped, but then so was he. There were just some things in his past he didn’t want to talk about let alone think about, not with Zoe sitting there in her figure-hugging dress. Fuck, he wanted to run his hands over her body. The last two times had been fast, and this time he wanted to taste her slowly, feel her body for longer, and not rush.

  “When do you go back to your farm?”

  “Saturday morning.” He couldn’t wait to get out of the city lights, but then again he wished Zoe could come with him, even though her appearance and mannerism spoke clearly how she was a city girl through and through.

  “Who’s looking after the farm?”

  “I have a manager. Bit risky. But I come here every year. It’s a tradition my father started, and it’s good publicity for the cattle I breed.”

  “Your dad can’t look after the farm?”

  Her question was innocent enough, but he felt the grief that was always there tighten around his chest. “He’s gone.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s fine. It was a while ago. Mum lives in the local town with my sister, it’s just me on the farm… and Bluey.”

  He smiled as she raised her eyebrow. Most people knew Bluey was a common name for a dog, especially a blue heeler. “My dog,” he explained.

  “Oh.”

  Did she just breathe out a sigh of relief? He took a gulp of his light beer. Tonight he wanted to keep his wits about him and enjoy every second on this encounter with Zoe. It could be the last. Fuck, he hoped not. Throughout the meal, he’d only thought she had become more and more desirable. He squirmed in his seat. His body kept responding every time he’d thought about peeling off her clothes. It was getting harder and harder to stop the dirty thoughts in his mind.

  “So, why aren’t you married?”

  Max nearly choked on his beer.

  “Sorry again.”

  He shook his head. Get it over with. He didn’t want to tell her, but he felt the need to want to open up to her. “I was. She was a city girl and didn’t like the country. Well, the isolation of the farm to be exact.” He looked at her, knowing how much his words were probably not helping his own situation. It’s just a fling, this is what we’ve agreed on.

  She reached for her glass of white wine. She looked bloody hot, and so much more at ease with the wine instead of the beer he’d seen her drinking at the Jumbuck the last two days.

  “It’s in the past now, she’s long gone.”

  “So you have a thing for city women?”

  Max’s breath caught in his throat. How did she get under his skin like that? She certainly had a skill in doing so.

  He moved uncomfortably in his seat then looked her in the eyes. It was a long time before dinner was over. “Just the one sitting opposite me, and I’m wanting more than just a few days or a thing.”

  Her eyes widened. The muscles on her neck worked hard to swallow the mouthful of wine.

  His mind caught up with what he’d said. Fuck. He was just trying to make her feel as uncomfortable as he did. “We’ve been here long enough. Let’s go.”

  Max stood up leaving his unfinished meal and beer. He held out his hand to Zoe. Will she take it after the blundering comment I’ve just made? She didn’t move. He kept his hand out. Waiting. She knew how much he hated waiting.

  “If you want, you can go home.” He stepped away from the table, telling the waitress to put it on his tab. Instead of going upstairs to his room, he made his way to the front of the bar. As much as he enjoyed the isolation of the farm, this time at the show was about networking, and he wasn’t doing as much of that because of her. Zoe.

  Why the fuck did I have to go and say that? Then bloody walk away.

  It was because of what had happened in his past. He knew damn well, but he didn’t want to acknowledge it. The hurt was there still, below the surface, near his heart.

  I just wanted to show her that she didn’t mean anything to me. But she did. Even in such a short amount of time.

  He’d wanted to have dinner with her. He needed to know more about her. He wanted more than a fling or a thing, but it was never going to happen. It was becoming more and more obvious as they talked. They were from totally different worlds, and he’d already had a city woman and it didn’t work out. T
here was no reason in his mind why it would work out this time. Not with Zoe.

  He didn’t know much about fashion but he could tell she liked the best. And what she’d worn at the show was way too flashy. There was no need to dress like that on the farm, the cattle didn’t care what you wore, or smelt like, and neither did Bluey. Goddamn it all. It had worked out for one of his neighbours, Smithy and his wife from the city. But she was a special woman, old Gloria, it was as if she was made for the country life. And he just didn’t get that impression from Zoe. His mind seesawed between one side of the argument to the other. Just because it hadn’t worked the first time didn’t mean it wouldn’t work for him in the future. Fuck, I need a beer. It didn’t matter there was no way in hell he would risk it.

  Max pushed on the swinging door that led to the front bar. The noise hit him like a punch in the face. He didn’t want to be there either. Had she gone home? It took all his self-control not to go back and find out. She’s a city girl, she can handle herself.

  He marched up to the bar and ordered a full strength beer. Something brushed against his arm. He turned to see Zoe standing there, a fire in her eyes and her hands on her hips.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  He glared back at her, hoping the fuck that no one around had heard her. It would damage his reputation knowing a woman spoke to him like that in public.

  “What do you care?” He picked up his beer and drained half of it before slamming it down on the counter.

  “Care is the wrong word. I came here expecting sex, and you better deliver.”

  Bloody hell she had an edge. By fuck, it turned him on. He grabbed her and slammed his lips on her. She didn’t cower away. Instead, she grabbed the sides of his shirt and held him in close. She had no fear, was courageous, and he loved it.

  He pushed her back towards the door. Breaking the kiss. “Come on then, let’s go fuck.”

  Zoe led him up the stairs. She couldn’t believe what she’d just done, let alone said in a room full of people. Though, she figured most were half drunk, and there was so much noise she doubted anyone heard. She really didn’t care. She’d come here for one thing. Sex. Hot. Long. Delightful. Orgasmic. And right now Max was so riled up, she was sure she’d tick all of those boxes and end the night bursting with hot pleasure. A fresh wave of moisture dampened her panties.

  This was going to be the last time, she promised herself. No man ever turned her on like this before or caused her to act the way she did. Because of that, there had to be an end soon, but not until after she’d one more night with him.

  Did I really go up and demand to have sex with him? She suppressed a giggle. Yep. Instead of feeling embarrassed, she could feel the heat turning up in her body. He practically dragged her down the hallway on the first level, she struggled to keep up, her heels almost catching in the carpet. The noise from downstairs filtered up.

  He took out a card from his wallet and swiped the door, it clicked, the sound adding further tension to her body. It had been so hard to sit opposite him while they ate and not let her desire take over. Her mind had continuously daydreamed of the things she could do to his body right there and then if she’d been just a little closer.

  Max pushed opened the door, stepped inside, and jerked her in with him. Zoe fell onto his chest with a gasp as the door slammed behind them. He crushed his lips on hers. His heat pushed into her mouth, tainted with malty beer, she met his force with her own. She stepped back to the door, dropping her purse on the floor so she could have two hands free to explore him.

  He shoved her up hard up against the door with a passion that drove her head spinning with anticipation. His kisses were hard, moved down her neck, over her collarbone, before pressing over her breasts, hungry for her softness and pleasure which was hidden under the material. She moaned with pleasure.

  Automatically, her leg lifted over his hip letting him closer to her body, as he continued moving his mouth over her breast. His other hand cupped her other breast, squeezing hard until her breath caught and a perfect mix of pleasure and pain rippled through her body. She closed her eyes, enjoying how he touched her with such passion she’d not experienced before. It caused her body to naturally respond and want more.

  With urgency he pushed the material down, exposing her bra, again he pressed into her softness. Her nipples ached for more, hardening when he sucked at them through the lace. Then he somehow managed to gain control, she felt the change in him as he pulled away a little. He looked at her, locking eyes, the desire there hot and needy, matching her own. She waited. Her breath quick already. He pushed his body teasingly into hers, running his thumb over her nipple.

  “You did say something about going slow,” she whispered, unsure she really wanted a slower pace when the fast and hard was causing her juices to flow.

  He exhaled heavily. “I did.” He stared into his eyes. “So did you?”

  “Hmmm.” She smiled teasingly, gazing into his eyes without any fear whatsoever. “Only if you do.”

  He answered by running his thumb along the edge of the lace on her bra before yanking it down exposing her breast. Her nipples hardened with the cool air in the room. He kept his gaze on her, as his fingers massaged her, she arched her chest forward wanting to feel him more on her. His thumb flicked her nipple enticing sounds to escape from her mouth. He rolled her nipple slowly between his finger and thumb gently, before suddenly giving a sharp pinch. She gasped, closing her eyes, enjoying the fading sensation of pain being replaced with pleasure. She felt a moist warmth on her breast as he kissed her nipple, once, twice, each time pushing her further into his mouth while sucking a little harder each time. Her body began to give way to the pleasure, she could feel the tension of a building orgasm within her body. More sounds came from her, and from him, as he worked the pleasure from her.

  “You’re wearing too much,” he murmured.

  “Oh, and what are you going to do about that?”

  He pushed the dress material away from her other breast, then her bra, running his hands over her ribs, she could tell he was admiring the sight before him. For a fleeting moment she didn’t want her expensive dress to be ruined, but as his hands cupped around her, her mind blurred with desire and she no longer cared. He pressed his hands into her soft skin and squeezed once more as he pressed his groin into hers and ground in tight movements. He was hard, she could feel it, and it sent her pussy crazy with moisture not being about to feel him properly.

  “You feel good.”

  “Hmmm.” It was getting harder to keep her focus. His hands exploring her, delighting her body, sending waves of pleasure through her was taking her closer to the orgasm which was building. She wanted to hold back a little longer, but there was also a need that he drew from her not to want to wait, but to go hard and fast.

  She moved her hands around his waist, tugging playfully at his moleskins, slipping her fingers under the heavy material. She tugged his shirt out, feeling the hotness on his skin. He continued to tease her, focussing on her breasts, while she began her own offensive on him.

  She undid the top button of his pants, pulling them apart to slide the zipper down, the sound setting her closer to a pleasurable edge. She reached down, pushing her hand under the material of his jocks, her fingers brushing his hot cock which was pushing hard against the confinement of clothing. His cock pulsed from her touch and he groaned heavily into her neck as he nibbled at her skin.

  He slipped his hands up to her shoulders and pushed the material away, then began kissing her freshly bared skin. Biting his teeth playfully into her skin, hard, but not so much as to leave a mark. She held her breath as fresh desire surfaced within her. Fuck, she wanted him. The feel of his teeth over her skin, soft, harder, caused her to be unsure of how far he would go, forcing her to have to trust him.

  She pushed down his moleskin jeans and jocks, his cock pressed into her. There was just a little less material between them now stopping them from going all the way.
He knew it too.

  He pulled up her dress, the soft material dragging over her skin as if a promise of the delight to come. His hands ran her thighs, feeling the line of her body before slipping between her legs, easing her panties out of the way. She could feel him, his cock at her entrance, dipping into her juice that was flowing fast and thick. She tilted her hips upwards and his forward, and he slipped inside of her, pushing her intimate muscles apart.

  They both released noises of pleasure and desire as he entered her fully. She realised with a slight horror that they weren’t using protection. She wasn’t on the pill, or anything else, the chemicals caused negative reactions within her. She tensed.

  He tilted his hips, the movement of his cock sent her crazy. All logical thought melted away.

  She groaned. That wasn’t the issue, she wanted him to, even more so as he slipped out, her muscles gripping against him trying to stop him, but then they were rewarded with him entering her once more. She wanted him to come like all the other times. She’d go get tested at the doctor next week, then think about some sort of contraception plan. She was normally so careful, so strict. Hell, she didn’t want any sexually transmitted diseases. She made a promise to herself with the last bit of logical thought that was in her mind before the desire overtook. With a gasp she gave in to the feelings and moved in time with him, enhancing the enjoyment. The orgasm built, she felt him harden, her body jerked as it began to tip over the edge. His fingers slipped over her sweet spot and she knew she couldn’t hold back. His touch firm, distracted her slightly as he pulled out. It was too late for her and she tipped over into a state of bliss as the orgasm thundered through her out of control.