“Alright…alright…steady, girl,” Shane told the horse. He had the reins in a deathgrip while he worked on maintaining his balance. “How do I control this thing?”
“That’s Ruby. She kind of goes wherever she wants. Right now she probably wants to get out into the meadow near the Johnson’s orchard and try to score some free apples.”
“They sure make this look a lot easier in the movies.”
“It’s ok. Riding takes a little getting used to. You’ll get the hang of it.”
To his credit, Shane did. He learned fairly quickly not to try and direct Ruby until she was ready. Within a short time, and about a dozen half-eaten apples later, he was taking the horse all over the field. Sure, he was bouncing all over that saddle, but the look in his eyes had gone from caution to sparkling delight as he went along.
When I started taking Zip in racing laps around the perimeter of the meadow, even old Ruby couldn’t resist joining in. Before long Shane was holding the saddle with one hand and letting out loud whoops while the horse kept up as best she could. Time got away from me and for nearly an hour we rode together, while I guided the stallion into keeping pace with the old mare. Down to the end of the meadow and back we went, then outside the gate and along the dusty trail which led off the main driveway.
Before I realized it was happening, the clouds had gathered and turned into growing thunderheads that seemed to expand and lower in the sky. The few drops fell, a smattering that came in on the wind, and soon turned into a downpour.
“Let’s go back,” I shouted to Shane across the meadow. He pulled on Ruby’s reins and the horse quickly turned in my direction. She didn’t like getting wet any more than I did.
“Oh man,” Shane said as he rode up beside me. Rain dripped off his hat and his plaid shirt clung darkly to his skin. “I don’t know where that came from, but I’m soaked.”
“Yeah. Momma was talkin’ about rain coming today. Guess I should have listened.”
“That’s all right. Ruby here needed the exercise.”
“She must have really been feeling spirited today. I haven’t seen that horse so much as break into a gallop since I came back. Don’t really know when the last time was she ran quite like that.”
“That was seriously fun, Kat. I mean, I had no idea what the heck I was doing, but it was fun.”
“Glad you enjoyed it,” I said, and dismounted once we reached the stable. Zip immediately swung his head around to nuzzle me again before trotting away, out of the rain. “And you’re welcome too, big fella.”
“Ok, now I have to get down. Do I just swing my leg over, like- whoa!” Shane’s foot had slipped right out of the stirrup while he was trying to leave the saddle and down he went, crashing to the slippery grass with a dull thump. By the time I got around to help him, he was lying on the ground and clutching his shoulder in pain.
“Shane! Are you ok?”
“Y-yeah... I think so. Looks like the landing is the hardest part to riding horses, huh?” He sat up with a grunt, still holding onto his shoulder. When he tried to rotate the limb to work out the injury he immediately let out a sharp, “Ow!” and pulled his arm back across his chest. “Ok…that hurt.”
“Do you think you can stand? If you can make it to the barn, it’s dry in there, and there’s plenty of soft hay that you can rest on while I check out your shoulder.”
“Sure. Help me up?” Shane stuck out his good hand and I pulled, bringing him up to a stooping, but upright position. He kept his arm around my waist and I led him across the gravel driveway to the large, open barn. Once inside, I swung the doors shut to keep out the wet. The sound of rain resounded in tinny echoes on the roof.
Shane quickly found a large bundle of loose hay and sat down. With a sigh of relief, he flopped backwards and put his hand back over his shoulder.
“How are you?”
“Completely drenched.”
“Funny. I meant the shoulder.” I said, and knelt down next to him.
“A little better.”
I peeled back the collar of his shirt, and as I did, I uncovered part of the glossy scar that stretched along the upper part of his chest. “I’m going to have to undo some buttons to I can see, ok?”
He nodded and leaned back stiffly. “Go for it, Nurse Atwater.”
My fingers were shaking and hard to control as I went about the business of pushing the top four buttons through each hole. Once the shirt was loose enough, I was able to pull it up and hang part of it out of the way. What I found shocked me. Shane’s scar was much more extensive than I’d thought. Dull red skin had been stretched tight where the flames had burned him and it seemed to wrap all the way around from the top of his shoulder to his elbow.
“Oh my goodness, Shane…I…“ The words trailed away and tears began to sting in my eyes. With a single finger, I lightly traced the edge of where he’d been burned to the top of his back and withdrew my hand. “I had no idea you were hurt this badly…because of me.”
“Don’t go blaming yourself.”
“But I-“
He reached forward and took my hand. “Stop. It doesn’t hurt anymore, Kat. It’s ok. The pain from then is all gone. I don’t blame anyone for it.”
“Ok.” I cupped my hand over his shoulder and felt for anything unusual, such as a fracture or bulge. To my relief, there was nothing amiss.
“It looks alright. I think you just bruised yourself up. How does it feel now?”
“Kind of sore, still. Almost back to normal, though,” Shane said and stretched out his injured arm. “I thought for a minute that I might have dislocated it again.”
“You’ve dislocated your shoulder before?”
“Yeah. That same night.” He looked up at me solemnly and then cracked a halfhearted smile. “Guess I overexerted myself. I felt it when it happened. My shoulder just sort of…gave up. It was agony. The fire was even worse. I had to get you out of there, though. I couldn’t have lived with myself if I didn’t do everything I could.”
“Thank you. Again.” I slid down onto the hay beside him and stared into his soulful eyes. Had a more handsome, charming, sexier man ever existed?
“So you don’t think I’m hideous now or anything do you?” He asked.
“Of course not. I think it’s kind of sexy. Didn’t you know? Chicks dig scars.”
“I guess that makes me a chick magnet, huh?”
“Definitely for this chick,” I whispered and wiggled closer to him. Unable to resist myself, I pursed my lips and gave him a quick peck on one stubbly cheek. He turned towards me and chuckled playfully.
“Ya know, I seem to remember you telling me I would be worn out and all my stress would be gone after you were done with me today.”
The sound of the rain pelting the roof grew more intense.
“Done? Who said I was done?” I purred.
Shane tipped his Stetson, which was still soaked through and bending up around the rim. “Oh…what did you have in mind, ma’am?”
“A little of this,” I whispered, and drew myself into his arms. “And this…” Softly, I brought my lips against his and tasted. Shane’s hands explored my back, grasping firmer as our kiss became more heated and passionate. “Mmm…and this…” I turned my head away and brought my mouth to the nape of his neck. From there, I reveled in the feeling of his flesh against my lips and listened as Shane’s steady breathing became more and more disarrayed.
“Ever since I met you, I knew there was something about you,” he said before pushing me over by my waist and taking control. Whatever pain remained in his shoulder must have been completely forgotten. My hands went into his open shirt and traced over the firm, solid muscles that I had only dreamt about touching before. A reckless longing began to stir deep in my belly.
“I couldn’t put my finger on it until I saw you sitting on the end of that pier, Kat. It was like…” He pressed his body against me and his explorations grew more intense. I felt his hot breath tickle at the thin skin behind my
ear before his lips closed together and kissed me there. “…like I’d lost someone that made me feel something amazing. Something real…and then I found her all over again. And now, here you are. With me.”
Our eyes locked together for a moment and I murmured softly, “And you’re with me. Finally.”
“You kind of make me lose control of myself. I’m not used to that.” Shane nibbled on the side of my neck, pulling open one button of my shirt along the way and revealing the thin silver chain of the locket I’d thought was lost forever. “But I sure do like it.”
“I want you, Shane,” I whispered, begged. “Please. Right now.”
Shane began undoing the buttons of my shirt one by one, a delicious sort of vengeance for all the teasing I’d given him. By the time he reached the last one and flipped my shirt open I was writhing beneath him, grinding achingly against his thigh. He lowered his head and kissed my belly, slowly raising his head with each kiss until he reached my lips. Shane’s strong hands found my waist and gripped there, pinning me in place, and I gave in to him completely.
“Yes,” I whispered, and touched his forearms which squeezed in like iron bars on either side. “Now. Oh, Shane.”
Feverish heat raced up my throat and I blew it out like gusts of steam with each eager breath. Shane stripped my belt off and then tossed it carelessly aside onto the dusty floor before quickly undoing the single button at the top of my jeans. When he moved to take off his shirt, I unclasped my bra and unveiled myself to him more fully. Warmth encircled my breasts as he cupped them tenderly and brought his mouth to the rain-damp, slick skin there. He suckled and caressed, steadily driving me to the brink of insanity. The satisfied growl he let out told me he was enjoying himself immensely.
I groaned as I felt his fingers dip into the front of my jeans and slide expertly under the stringy waistband of my panties. He stroked my entrance, carefully spreading the slippery folds apart and sending me into orbit. My legs seemed to open for him on their own accord to give him greater access. At the same time, the thick fabric was stretched tight across his wrist, capturing him in place.
“I got you…mmm…” I said, barely able to speak at all.
For a while he put up with this, simply intent on stirring me into a frenzy, and then finally he removed his hand, lifted my legs up roughly and removed my boots, and then pulled my jeans off in one swift movement.
There was a stirring moment of self-consciousness as his gaze left my breasts and he took all of me in. What would he think of the curving, pink scar along the inside of my leg? I moved to cover it. Shane took hold of my wrists, held them in place above my head, and wagged his finger at me.
“Nuh-uh,” he said. “You’re mine now, Nurse Atwater. Don’t be shy.”
Before I could even form a response, Shane released me and lay down on his stomach with his head situated between my legs. I gasped quietly as I felt him hook one finger in my panties and pull them aside. Totally exposed to him, my pulse hurried into a rapid, pounding strum in my ears.
As I felt the soothing, wet warmth of his mouth against me I thought of the storm outside. What had started as a gentle autumn breeze had grown into a downpour. My hips lurched in time with his affections while I sensually traced the curves of my breasts. Whatever stray thoughts or worries remained were soon replaced by the longing ache for more of him.
He answered the call. The hammering rain above us seemed muted by my own shallow, hastened breaths. Electric tingles raced through my body, firing up from somewhere deep inside my core and racing along every inch of my skin. I reached forward with both hands and grabbed the back of Shane’s head to drive him deeper. My legs folded inwards to hold him there, although I tried my best not to squeeze too hard.
I felt my belly stiffen, followed quickly by the muscles in my neck as I leaned forward and strained to greet the overwhelming pleasure. I shut my eyes tight and bit hard on my lower lip as it rushed in. Shane’s twisting, probing tongue didn’t stop until my legs fell weakly apart and I reclined back onto the hay, my face burning.
“Ready?” He asked and lowered his jeans. My eyes widened and blush filled my cheeks at the sight of his impressive, erect manhood. He dug into one sagging pocket and produced a silver, foil-wrapped package, which he tore open with his teeth. Once he was done preparing himself, I answered by beckoning him closer with my finger.
Shane’s body covered mine like a firm, flexing, hot blanket. He positioned himself and I guided him until a relieved, low moan escaped my lips and I felt him enter me. My hungry need to be filled by him was being met at long last. After this, there was no way Shane would be complaining about stress. I surely knew I wouldn’t. A devilish smile formed across my face as I thought about it.
His lips found mine as the humid body heat between us mingled. He moved against me with a slow steadiness that grew in tempo. My hands alternated between digging into the mattress of hay and touching his beautiful, perfect body. Each muscle stood out prominently as they supported his weight; the taught, furrowed lines of them felt like thousands of thin cords of steel arching down his back beneath my fingertips.
He pressed on, thrusting harder and pushing my body deeper into the soft hay each time he came against me. The feeling was incredible. Never in my life had I experienced such insane pleasure.
“Kat…You’re amazing,” he said between breaths, which only turned me on even more.
I soon found myself watching his eyes, which were no longer casual. Even the soulful depth of them which mesmerized me from the first glance was lost. They became primal, starved…delirious in his carnal pursuit.
We remained like that for awhile until Shane withdrew and took both of my hands in his own. “Up,” he said, almost a grunt, and led me to a nearby beam and spun me with my backside facing him. I never tried anything standing up like this and threw him a cautious, but excited glance.
“You’ll like it. Trust me,” he countered my expression.
I felt the loose tail of my shirt being lifted and then scrunched up around his thumbs where he held me. One firm hand on my back directed me to bend downwards and then his grip returned to my waist as he filled me again.
I held onto the wooden beam for balance and pressed the side of my face against it. There was no slow and steady to Shane’s pace now. He was getting what he wanted and he was not about to stop. That was just fine by me.
The oversensitive feeling that had arrived when Shane was finished tasting me had vanished. My body began to tingle throughout again, that same delightful sort of buzz that was a thousand times better than any drink. “Ooh, don’t stop,” I mentally pleaded, “Make me come again. Do it.” I began to push back against him, growing ravenous to reach the same height he’d brought me to earlier. He might not be able to read my thoughts, but Shane knew what I wanted.
The feeling mounted, swelling inside my belly like a growing sphere. Shane’s grip tightened. His breaths became short and ragged. Each thrust jarred my entire body and I could only writhe and moan in ecstasy until the sphere of release ruptured. As I neared my peak the entire world seemed to open, expanding outwards, with Shane and I encapsulated in the center of it. Then, with my eyes clenched shut fiercely and every fiber of my being caught in the moment, the sphere ruptured. Deep, saturating pleasure flooded out and across my skin, spreading like raging current up my spine and down to my toes, my fingertips, and into the back of my head.
I cried out blissfully and hugged the beam so I wouldn’t fall down. A boneless feeling began to take over and my legs turned to jelly. I could sense Shane behind me straining harder and his fingertips dug into the supple, forgiving flesh around my waist. He groaned out, pushed forcefully into me once more, and shuddered in release.
He held me there for a moment with his manhood still locked inside before bringing his hands to my breasts and pulling me lovingly towards him. I turned my head and our mouths met. My lips thanked him, and then my hands, and then my entire body as I spun into his arms and felt him s
lip out. Nearly breathless, we crashed back down onto the hay together, Shane on his back and me on my side next to him.
I don’t know if either of us said even a single word just then. The experience was still washing over me in heavy waves and my mind was clunking along in a silly, sex-induced stupor. Tangled up in his arms, I closed my eyes and listened to the melodic rain against the rooftop as it gradually slowed. We remained like that for the longest time, sharing only each other and that moment. If I could have had any wish just then, it would be that it would never end.
When Shane swept the hair out of my eyes and placed a single kiss on my forehead, I was roused back from the edge of sleep.
“Hey,” he whispered softly while rubbing my back. “I think it’s finally stopped raining.”
“Mmm-hmm,” I murmured back, listened for a moment, and then snuggled a little closer.
“I’m sorry, Kat. Did I wake you?”
“No. I was almost snoozing, though. I was supposed to wear you out, not the other way around,” I said.
“You did. Notice how I haven’t moved in like, forever?”
“I figured you were just being sweet.”
“Oh, I was,” Shane said, smiling. “But you definitely came through on your promise. I was paralyzed for a while there.”
I grabbed his wrist and looked at his watch. There was a crack in a straight line across the glass and the hands seemed frozen somewhere near noon. “Still haven’t gotten it fixed, huh?” I asked with a frown and Shane simply shook his head. “Well, anyway, I think it’s getting close to dinner time. You’re going to stay aren’t you? Momma has been asking about you.”
“Yeah. There’s no way I’m missing out on a home-cooked meal this time, Kat. Room service gets kind of depressing after awhile, you know?”
“Just a fair warning, it’s my sister Abby’s turn to cook since we’re taking turns so mother can have a rest. There’s a fifty-fifty chance that we wind up eating frozen pizza.”
Ultimate Alphas: Bad Boys and Good Lovers (The Naughty List Romance Bundles) Page 25