Ride a Rancher: Rancher Only Series

by Christensen, Elle

  When I stood back up and turned around, I was taken aback by the defiant gleam in her eyes. “Fine, I’ll find someone else to help me. Could you at least lend me your cell phone so I can call someone to come get me?”

  With a sweeping motion of my hand, I gestured for her to head over to my horse. “I’ll take you there. James and I have some business anyway.”

  She looked dubious but started toward Pandora. “Really, I can call someone…”

  “Phones don’t work out here, city girl.”

  “I don’t like that any better than ma’am,” she complained tartly.

  Since she was ahead of me, she didn’t see the grin plastered on my face. I had a feeling I was going to enjoy getting Miss Prim and Proper riled up. The smile dropped from my face, and I reminded myself that I wouldn’t be around her enough to do any such thing. She would probably be heading back to her city life soon, anyway.

  Once we reached my horse, I helped her up into the saddle, then swung up behind her. I leaned forward to grab the reins, and it plastered her back to my chest and her ass to my groin. I held in a groan at the feel and the scent of honeysuckle surrounding me.

  I had no doubt she could feel the ridge of my stiff cock cushioned against her round ass. Instead of pulling away like I’d expected, she practically melted back into me. Fuck, fuck, fuck…I chanted silently. I did not need this shit right now.

  However, I allowed myself to enjoy the ride back to the Locke Creek main house. With her bouncing against me, I was about ready to explode by the time we arrived. I brought Pandora to a stop when we reached the back of their large barn. Helena twisted to look back at me in question. Her blue eyes were a little foggy with lust, and this time, I didn’t suppress my groan.

  Gripping her hips, I lifted her up and helped her turn so she was straddling my thighs. “This is the last and only time this will happen, city girl. But I have to taste you.”

  She didn’t protest. She leaned in eagerly as I covered her mouth with mine.

  It was near nirvana, and though I could barely think beyond kissing her, one thought raced repeatedly through my head.

  You are so fucking screwed, Kensington.

  3

  Stone

  My hands dove into Helena’s silky locks, cradling her skull so I could angle her head the way I wanted it. She tasted like peppermint and something spicy that I instinctively knew was unique to her.

  “Fuck, you taste even better than I thought you would,” I growled against her lips.

  My dick was straining toward the heat radiating from between Helena’s thighs, and I barely checked myself before thrusting my hips up to make contact. Her tits were pillowed against my chest, her arms locked around my neck, and she was giving as good as she got. It was hot as fuck, and I wasn’t sure if I had the strength to pull away. I briefly considered dragging her into the barn and finding a secluded corner to fuck her, but a shred of my sanity remained, and it reminded me that getting involved with this woman would be a complete clusterfuck.

  I didn’t do short-term or flings, and there was no way this delicate china doll would be staying out here. Not to mention that it could cause problems in my relationship with James and Lia. I’d heard Lia talk about Helena a few times. They were like sisters, and if shit blew up between us, I knew whose side she would come down on. And since James worshipped the ground she walked on, he’d be right there next to her.

  I expected these thoughts to cool my ardor, but she tasted and felt so fucking good. After indulging for a few more minutes, I sighed and reluctantly retreated from her lips. Helena’s skin was flushed pink, her lips swollen, and her blue eyes were cloudy with passion. But her expression was a mixture of desire and…complete shock. I supposed it was because I’d given in and kissed her after being so gruff, but I wouldn’t have expected the level of her incredulity from just that. When she didn’t speak for a whole minute, I decided it was time to end this…whatever it was.

  Grasping her small waist, I tried to ignore the way my skin heated wherever we touched as I flipped her back around so she was facing forward. With a gentle nudge of my heels, Pandora cantered toward the main house.

  “Wait.” Helena’s soft voice had me pressing my thighs to bring Pandora to a stop. I waited, and after a few beats, she angled her torso so she could look back and up at me. “Just drop me over there.” She pointed toward a gate several yards away leading to a gravel road that went all the way to the back of the property. “I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

  I glanced at the path, then the main house before frowning down at her. Why would she want me to let her off over there when she was just going to walk back in this direction? My brow furrowed deeper when I considered that she might not want anyone to see her riding with me. My brain told me that was smart, best to keep this to ourselves so people didn’t gossip or assume. However, my emotions overrode my sense, and I was offended she was averse to being seen with me.

  “What happened is between us and will stay that way. So, there’s no reason for me to leave you so far from the house and let you walk all the way back.”

  Helena’s eyebrows rose, and she stared at me for a moment before a knowing glint entered her blue eyes. “It’s not that,” she assured me softly. “I’m staying at Garrison’s house, so it’ll be a shorter walk from over there.”

  Jealousy whipped through me like a raging inferno, leaving my temper sizzling and a lingering emotion that reminded me of how I felt whenever someone offered to buy my ranch. It was possession.

  “What the fuck are you doing living with Garrison?” I snarled before I could stop myself.

  Helena’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open, tempting me to slide my tongue inside. Son of a bitch. I had to get ahold of myself. I dropped my head back and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and furious emotions. When I felt less frenzied, I met her gaze again and spoke in an even tone. “I just meant, I’m surprised Rose is okay with you living with her fiancé.”

  “Ohhhhh.” She dragged out the vowel then shook her head. “No, Garrison lives with Rose over at Red Hill.” She snorted with amusement before adding, “I wouldn’t matter how much Rose loves me, If Garrison was sleeping alone under the same roof as me, I’d be sleeping with one eye open and a knife under my pillow because eventually, she’d come to kill me.” Relief flooded my veins. “I’m staying at the manager’s house until…well, for a while.”

  Her last words seemed uncertain, and I wondered why she was here and how long she was staying. Not that I really wanted to know, I told myself. It didn’t matter how long she was here if she was leaving in the end. Even if she weren’t, things would never work out between us. I needed a woman who was strong and sturdy. Someone who knew how to handle the hardworking of running a ranch. Someone who wouldn’t break. I barely refrained from smacking myself on the head for the direction of my thoughts. Since when was I considering any woman in my life? Much less one who would probably have a meltdown the first time she broke a nail.

  This war between my head and my body was beginning to give me a headache. I sighed and gently turned Helena back around before settling her back against me once more.

  “No reason for you to make that long walk,” I explained as I urged Pandora forward. It was at least a twenty-minute ride at a steady canter. Clearly, she was used to the crowded city and didn’t realize how long of a walk it would be. “I’ll take you home.”

  Helena started to speak, probably to object, but she remained quiet when I lowered my lips to her ear and whispered, “Let me enjoy having your sexy body pressed into mine for a little longer, baby. I can’t fuck you like I want, so give me this.”

  I waited for her to stiffen or yell at me or display her anger at my dirty words in any way. While they were true, I’d really only said them to rile her up, hoping it would push her away.

  The plan backfired fucking spectacularly. Helena shivered, then scooted back as far as she could, plastering her back to my front before
melting into me.

  Yup. So fucking screwed.

  4

  Helena

  I can’t fuck you like I want.

  First, I was shocked at the things Stone made me feel when he kissed me. I’d never felt anything like it. Now, I was just as surprised to find out that, apparently, dirty talk got me hot. My bones practically turned into jelly as fire raced through my veins. If this was how Lia and James reacted to each other, I understood why they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.

  And Stone was so much sexier than James. When I’d climbed out of that truck and gotten a good look at him, all I could think was, save a horse, ride a rancher. He had to be a few inches over six feet, his black hair was cut short, and it emphasized the sharp angles of his face, the chiseled jaw, and brown eyes like melted chocolate. My eyes had pursued him from head to toe, and from what I could tell through his clothes, his body looked to be ripped. Muscular without too much bulk. Think Matthew McConaughey. Yeah, I was instantly tingling in places I’d never felt any kind of spark at all. When I’d looked up and saw that he’d caught me practically drooling over him, I wanted a hole to open up in the ground and swallow me. Until I realized he’d been giving me the exact same treatment.

  His incredible body and filthy mouth had me instinctively scooting back, plastering myself against him. He’d been hard since the moment we’d taken off on his horse, and when I wiggled, he groaned, low and deep.

  I can’t fuck you like I want.

  “Why not?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Pardon?” His voice sounded gravelly and tight, as though he was speaking through a clenched jaw.

  “Why can’t you fuck me?”

  Stone cursed, and a minute later, I found myself once again straddling him, face to face. He put one hand on the back of my head and the other at my waist, then slammed his lips down on mine. While his mouth devoured me, the hand at my waist slid to my ass and jerked me forward so my pussy was pressed against his cock. From what I could feel, his very hard, very big cock.

  After several minutes, he pulled back and rested his forehead against mine while we both panted and waited for our racing hearts to calm down.

  “Because I don’t do flings, city girl.”

  My mouth turned down at the annoying nickname. He said it with a tinge of derision that pissed me off.

  “And, that’s exactly what this would be,” he continued. “Eventually, you’ll get bored with playing rancher and go back to your fast-paced, lavish life. So, I’m ending this before it even begins.”

  I wanted to argue with him, but what could I really say at the moment? Not only was he right about my wanting nothing but a fling, I had no idea where my life would lead me in the next few months. Austin and my old job were definitely out. However, I couldn’t see how there was a place for me around here. I didn’t have any skills that would make me an asset to the ranch. Unless they needed an excellent lawyer, which I was certain wouldn’t justify settling down here at Locke Creek.

  Stone must have taken my silence for agreement because he nodded firmly and then flipped me around as though I was weightless. His tendency to put me where he wanted me was kind of hot. I rolled my eyes. That was definitely the wrong direction for my thoughts to be traveling. He settled me against him, but not like before. There was a physical and metaphorical distance between us.

  The ride back to my place was silent, and as time ticked by, I realized how stupid it had been to consider walking all the way there. It wasn’t that I couldn’t handle it physically; I was in great shape. But it would be getting dark soon, and there was a high probability I would have gotten lost despite the gravel road leading all the way back to my house. And, there were fucking coyotes around here. I shivered at the thought of being their dinner.

  Stone obviously misunderstood my reaction because he wrapped himself tighter around me and dropped his head, his lips a breath away from my ear.

  “Cold?” he asked softly.

  I was so focused on how good it felt to be pressed against him again that all I could do was nod. I didn’t dare tell him I was burning up for fear he might push me away again.

  To my dismay, it wasn’t long before my house came into view. I felt Stone take a deep breath as his chest moved against my back, then he blew it out. I wasn’t sure if it was relief or frustration at the ride being over. I hoped it was the latter.

  Stone dismounted quickly, then grasped my waist and lifted me off of the beautiful black horse we’d been riding on. Once my feet hit the ground, his hands lingered for few heartbeats before he dropped them to his sides and stepped back. His heated brown eyes were glued to my lips, and I could see he was at war with himself. I recognized it because it was the same battle going on in my own head. To my disappointment, he pressed his lips together in a flat line and took another step back. Then he forced the corners up into a tight smile and tipped his cowboy hat at me.

  “Have a good evenin’, ma’am.”

  I rolled my eyes and wrinkled my nose in annoyance, which he seemed to find quite funny because he was chuckling as he turned back to his horse and swung himself up into the saddle. Why was that so freaking sexy?

  “Get your pretty little ass in there, baby,” he instructed, his tone commanding. “I won’t be able to leave until I know you’re safe inside the house.”

  I was sorely tempted to tell him I would stay outside all night if he stayed with me. Instead, I rolled my eyes and gave him an arch look. “You do know I’m a grown-ass woman, right?”

  Then I spun around and marched to the front door without a backward glance. I added a little extra swing to my hips, and Stone groaned then muttered something unintelligible. It made me smile as I turned the knob and pushed open the unlocked door. Before I could step inside, I heard a curse and then the crunching sound of boots stomping on the gravel coming toward me. The next thing I knew, big hands were grasping my hips and lifting me off the ground, placing me back down a few feet from the entrance.

  Stone glared at me and growled, “You left your fucking door unlocked?”

  I shrugged and cocked my head to the side. “I figured it wasn’t a big deal out here.”

  His frown turned fierce, and his brows dropped low over his eyes. “You think just because this is the country there aren’t fuckers who would prey on a woman all alone out here?” He stepped into my space, coming toe to toe and bending so his face was a breath away from mine. “This isn’t the city where the cops can be here in minutes, Helena. There’s no one to hear you fucking scream.”

  By the time he finished, he was vibrating with anger. Then he disappeared into the house. I probably should have been focused on the fear he was trying to instill, and if I’d really been paying attention, I would have noticed the panic lurking behind the fury. Instead, my own anger came bubbling to the surface. I hadn’t thought about it that way, and now that he’d pointed it out, I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it. He’d ruined my secluded little getaway.

  When he stepped back outside, he was carrying my small travel bag, but I barely noticed. I shoved my hands onto my hips and glared at him. “You could have just asked me to lock the door from now on,” I snapped. “No, you had to freak me out with a worst-case scenario, and now I won’t be able to stay here by myself!” My voice had quickly escalated to shouting, and when I saw the glint of satisfaction in his eyes, I gasped and shoved my hands into his chest. He didn’t even move an inch. I growled in frustration, and the corners of his eyes crinkled when he couldn’t suppress his smirk. “Wipe that arrogant look off your face, jackass.”

  “I guess you’ll just have to stay with James and Lia,” he drawled as he secured the bag to the back of his horse. His smug tone made me want to smack him, but then I remembered his reaction when he thought I’d been living with Garrison, and it gave me a better idea.

  “I’m not going to inconvenience them like that.” I shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ll just stay in the bunkhouse.” I wouldn’t actually do it, but
my statement succeeded in eliciting the response I’d been going for.

  Stone grabbed my shoulders and dragged me right up against him. His face was hard, his eyes were churning with dark emotions, and I began to wonder if I’d pushed him too far.

  5

  Stone

  My body was rigid with tension as jealousy and possession roared to life again.

  “Over my dead fucking body,” I snarled. The thought of her sleeping in the bunkhouse with all those horny young ranch hands was enough to blow my temper. But when I thought about her doing so in pajamas, it made me feel homicidal. It wouldn’t matter if she were bundled up in flannel from neck to toe. I didn’t like the idea of anyone seeing her like that but me.

  I sighed at the truth I could no longer ignore. The first time my brain told me I was screwed, I managed to ignore it. But every time it floated through my mind, it was harder and harder to brush off. Then I tried to walk away, and I was so close…until I felt the overwhelming fear that something could happen to her. And when the caveman inside me flipped his shit over other men being around her, I had to start accepting it.

  Helena’s sass captivated me. Her outward beauty entranced me. And, I didn’t know how or why, but I something inside me knew that her beauty wasn’t skin deep. My heart knew what my head hadn’t accepted. This woman who seemed all wrong for me—who would likely take a lot of convincing to stay—this gorgeous, smart, sexy creature was mine. I mentally shrugged. I wasn’t going to fight what I felt so deep in my bones. Yes, she was mine. End of story.

  Once I’d settled on that decision, the tension in my gut uncoiled, a weight lifted off of my shoulders, and a rush of blood surged to my cock. Accepting that Helena was mine meant I’d be able to take her like I wanted, and my body was practically throwing a ticker-tape parade.