8 Second Decision

by H. J. Bellus

  “Fuck,” I growl out.

  Challis pops up from my lap. “What?”

  “The colts are out.”

  “Stop the truck.” I slam it into park.

  “I’ll go get grain from the barn, round them up in the truck, and try to herd them my way.”

  She’s out of the truck before I can object. I watch as my beauty bolts to the barn and is back in the lights of the driveway shaking a bucket of grain. I follow several colts walking up to her as she shakes the bucket of feed and can barely hear her talking to the horses. More and more of them group up as she walks toward the barn. I follow behind in the truck scanning the dimly lit areas for any strays. Once the herd is in front of the barn I jump out and shut the gate.

  “There’s thirteen out here and seventeen corralled out here.” I can’t see Challis over the herd of colts but can hear her clear as day.

  “Let’s start penning them. Don’t worry about their stalls tonight. Just pen them up.”

  “Okay, I got to know them a bit. Bring them to me and I’ll sort them off.”

  I listen for her directions and pick up on them quickly. It’s clear this isn’t her first rodeo as she sorts the colts into pens. I push them when she hollers and back off when I hear her code word. We work through them easily until only three are left and walk behind them, guiding the beauties to their pen and watch as Challis shuts the gate behind them and latches it.

  She doesn’t stop to make small talk, instead she walks up and down the pens, double checking the gates are latched and then goes for the barn to get feed. I watch dumbfounded as she starts feeding each pen and then reality finally sets in and I help her.

  “This is fucking bullshit, Merek. Marvel and I triple checked each stall making a game plan for each colt, betting on which one would make the best horse on the track.”

  I grab her shoulders and pull her in tight. “Look at me, Challis, accidents happen.”

  “This isn’t a fucking accident, Merek.”

  “Slow down, give me a bucket. I’ll start at the other end and we’ll meet in the middle.”

  I don’t give her a chance to say yes or no before I set off to my end and begin to feed the horses. Thoughts of my dad sabotaging this whole plan fill my mind, but then quickly escape since this whole project is to save his damn ass. It had to be a mistake on Marvel and Challis’s end, but by damn if I’ll ever say that thought out loud.

  As I near the middle set of square pens the rain begins pouring down on the brim of my hat. I look through the raindrops and I see Challis’s figure nearing me. I look up to the clouds and laugh out loud at the downpour in Texas.

  “Done. Got this pen, Verde.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and race back to the inside of the barn with her.

  “It’s okay. Shake it off. We have them all penned up.”

  “I hope your windows are rolled up.” Challis stares out into the pouring rain.

  I watch her under the eve of the barn and hurt for her because I know exactly where her thoughts are. Her paycheck. Her ranch.

  I snag her upper arm and drag her out into the downpour, and before she has a chance to protest I seal my lips to hers. I feel her hands grasping for me and they finally land on my shoulder and cheek.

  “Merek, I can’t lose this chance. It’s my last one.”

  My lips seal to hers as I struggle to siphon all the worry from her.

  “You won’t. I’m here.”

  My lips go back to work on hers and get lost in the passion swirling around us. My hands find her ass and urge her to jump into my arms. She follows each of my commands. I back up until I find the fence and gently set her down. My shirt is ripped away from my chest and then I feel her nails dig into my skin. Either blood or rain dribbles down my chest as I continue to kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her.

  A porch light flips on, distracting the both of us. I place my fingers over her lips. “It’s a hired man.” I nod in the direction of the porch, and then we both watch the arrogant asshole scratch his ass and then whip out his pecker and piss off the porch.

  “Did he really just smell his fingers after scratching his ass?”

  I bury Challis’s head in my neck as she battles a fit of laughter. “Shhh. When he goes in, we are making a run for it.”

  I watch the asshole finish off pissing and then head back inside. I wait for the light to flip off before I feel comfortable.

  Whirling around rapidly, I plant my back into Challis’s chest.

  “Jump on, Verde.”

  And in slow motion, I feel each of her limbs attach to me and it’s as if the Gods above are trying to tell me to relish this moment.

  “You on?”

  “Yeah, Merek.”

  “Then nod your head and let the gate rip open.”

  “Oh, my God, you’re so dumb.”

  “I’m not moving, Verde, until I feel that head nod.”

  The rain continues to pour down on us, drenching every single part of our bodies. I feel Challis nod her head and then a shower of giggles.

  “Let ‘er rip, Verde.” I take off for my house, jumping side to side, and then lurching forward. Challis’s squeals and laughter nearly make me lose focus, but it’s a sound I want to hear forever so I keep her on her toes. Once we make it to my front steps, I’m out of breath, and Challis’s laughter continues to fill the dark night.

  “Let me down or I’m going to piss on your back.”

  “Can’t say I’ve ever heard that before.” I laugh as I lower her down letting her off my back.

  “Oh, my God, Merek, I nearly pissed myself from laughing. What in the hell made you do that?”

  She stands in the pouring rain, soaked clothes and drenched hair framing her face, and I nearly forget my name.

  “Uh?” She pokes my chest.

  “Just testing you to see if you fit in with the cool kids.”

  Her emerald green eyes light up, and I cover my nuts just in case.

  “I just scored a ninety on that piece of shit bucking horse.” She covers her mouth, containing her giggles. “I can’t wait to see you run barrels.”

  “House now.” I’m done fooling around and need her now.

  Chapter 12

  Challis

  As Merek drags me into his living room, I replay locking the colts up and know I locked them up both times, and then vision myself piggy back on him and bust out into giggles.

  “What’s so funny?” Merek pulls me in closer as he drags his tongue up the length of my neck.

  “Nothing.” I lie and then let out another round of giggles.

  This time he backs away in his dripping soaked state, throwing up both of his hands. “Give it up, Verde, what’s so fucking funny?”

  “Just wanting to know what the other judge gives me for riding that nasty bronc?”

  “Nasty?” he questions.

  I would’ve bet a thousand dollars I’d never see this silly, playful side of Merek. Not only does he give me a case of the giggles, but he also lightens all of my worries, and I finally feel like a twenty-one-year-old should.

  “Yeah, I spurred the piss out of that rank bitch.” I try to keep a sober face and then the giggles kick in.

  “Seventy point ride.”

  His comment sobers me up and clearly my competitive side comes out to play.

  “Really?” I plant both of my hands on my hips and may have accidentally unbuttoned my shirt in the process. “What does it take to get a winning ride?”

  I feel myself being whirled around in Merek’s living room and can’t stop my case of the giggles. A stinging sensation lands on my ass as I’m guided into the kitchen, and in the next moment a shot glass is held up to my lips. The smooth whiskey pours down my throat. Another full shot glass is placed in front of me. I pick it up without thinking and raise it to the sweetest lips I’ve ever seen. Merek opens up and I tilt it back.

  Another shot flows down my throat as my head swims in all sorts of emotions, and it hits me that Merek is before me
because he genuinely cares about me.

  “Another shot now,” I say without thinking. I need something to drown out all the emotion before it eats at my core.

  I feel the cold liquid flow down my throat as he tips up the shiny shot glass.

  “Music,” I demand. I need all the background noise from both of our lives drowned out.

  We Are Tonight by Billy Currington begins to play throughout the house.

  “Smooth move, Champ.”

  He raises both eyebrows back at me before chasing me around the kitchen. Merek’s hands finally dig into my hips and drag me off to his room. It’s a room I knew in the light of the day, but it’s a new surrounding in the pitch dark.

  “Merek,” my voice comes out as a whimper.

  “I’m here, Verde.”

  “I’m scared,” I say in all honesty.

  “Why?” His lips press against my neck as I stretch out, protecting myself.

  “I…I’ve never done this.”

  I feel his body freeze just like I knew it would when the nasty secret left my tongue.

  “Merek, talk to me.” I die inside as each second ticks by. “Merek.”

  This time it comes out as a scream and I feel my whole body being pushed back onto a mattress as his scent assaults my whole being. My fingers dig into his fucking jaw as the panic sets in. I’m ready to scream out his name again until I hear the tearing of paper and the snapping of a condom.

  “Merek.” This time it’s more of a plea and a cry combined.

  His fingers linger down my stomach and he slowly inserts a finger inside me. His finger dips and dives until I feel my own juices run down my inner thighs. It’s like he was born to play me like a fiddle. Then Merek’s tongue dips between my thighs lapping up my juices, and it’s not until I feel him on me that I explode. I don’t know if it’s his fingers working me over or his tongue entertaining my sensitive skin.

  “You say stop, Verde, but I want you right now.”

  Merek comes nose to nose with me, sinking his tongue in my mouth, and that’s when I fully light on fire, needing more and wanting more from him. My hips instinctively buck up toward him but feel nothing. I repeat the action over and over, needing more of him. Merek Slatter dulls everything for me, and in this moment I need to get drunk on him.

  I buck up one more time and feel nothing. Then I finally feel his sprawling palm on my hip pressing me down into the mattress. His touch is demanding and I obey. Holding still under him, I feel him fumble around for a second and then the pressure of him pushing inside me.

  I’m not sure if I scream, cry, or moan as he inches his way in. I’ve always been tough, but this pain hurts and I can’t take it anymore.

  I clutch his face and force him to look down at me.

  “Help me. This hurts.” By the look of pleasure covering his face, Merek is feeling no pain at all. He pushes his hands up underneath my shoulder blades, cradles the back of my head, and then drops his forehead to mine.

  “Look at me, Challis.”

  His movements still and I find the courage to open my clenched eyes.

  “I can stop.”

  “No.” I shake my head back and forth. “It hurts and feels good. Just go slow.”

  Merek’s lips dip down until he’s kissing the ever-loving hell out of me. His tongue dips into my mouth and mine meets his, and I get lost in the brewing passion between us.

  Moments pass and I’m lost, drowning in an overload of sensations, and before I know it my nails are digging deep into his shoulders as he continues to work in and out of me slowly. I feel the same energy build up low in my belly.

  “Don’t stop,” I pant out.

  The pleasure is almost unbearable as I wrap my legs up and around his torso, wanting more and needing more, then I hear him grunt and look up to see his face. It’s the look of sheer pleasure covering his face that I let go and spiral out of control.

  “Merek.”

  I know I’m being loud but can’t control it. He grunts as he pushes into me three more times and then collapses on me.

  “Holy fuck,” he whispers on the nape of my neck.

  I chuckle and feel him push back in me and then lace my hands through the back of his hair.

  “Was I okay?”

  “No, better than okay. I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about me straying.”

  I slap his back. “Well, that was romantic, asshole.”

  Merek rises up, taking me with him. “Well, it’s the truth, and you told me to be honest.”

  “Real smart move on my part.” I roll my eyes and let him drag me around the room.

  “Best lay ever, and let me tell you, I’ve had my fair share of them.”

  “Enough. Enough. No more honesty when it comes to sex.”

  “So, was I really your first?”

  He sets me down on the bathroom counter, the cold countertop causes me to shiver, and using my arms I cover my bare breasts.

  I look down at my toes and mumble. “Yes.”

  “Fuck, you’re making me hard again.”

  I use my foot to kick at his stomach. “You’re such an ass.”

  “Hey, babe, got to live up to the rep.”

  I watch as he is so not ashamed of walking around the bathroom naked in front of me as he starts the shower.

  “You know I’m halfway kidding. Just trying to relax your wound up ass.”

  “I’m not wound up.”

  “Really?” He mimics me by crossing his arms over his chest and then crossing his legs and looking down.

  “Stop.” I laugh so hard at the sight before me. “You look ridiculous.”

  “Well, so do you, Verde.”

  I leap from the counter and bound into the shower before he has a chance to catch me.

  “Ha, sucker, and I plan on using all the hot water.”

  “Oh no you don’t.” The shower curtain is ripped back and Merek steps in, and boy he wasn’t lying about getting hard again. He pins me against the wall and attacks me—again.

  Chapter 13

  Merek

  Traveling to rodeos may have not been my best idea to date. I’ve had Challis in my bed every night for the past two weeks and have had to watch her work her ass off on the ranch with the colts, so I thought this weekend rodeo would be a nice getaway for us. It was only a two hour drive from home but took us three and half hours.

  I kept blaming it on Challis and her damn tank top and bouncing tits. I’ve always had an addictive personality, but something has unleashed inside me since falling for my wild cowgirl.

  Sitting on the back of Maverik’s tailgate, I try to zone in on the rodeo and the bucker I’m about to get on. Challis offered Mav to ride with us. Thank the good lord he did or my semi right now would be a full on raging hard-on. I can’t keep my eyes off of Challis as she brushes Teebaby and braids his tail.

  “Turtleneck,” I yell over to her and she just flashes me a devilish grin. I’m only half joking but don’t appreciate the fucking stares she gets from other cowboys.

  Maverik steps in front of me. “Focus, dickweed, or that bronc is going to kick your ass.”

  I know he’s right but by damn if I’ll let him know that. “Let’s roll.”

  I stand and grab my bag, but before heading to the back of the chutes, I walk over to Challis and wrap her up in my free arm.

  “Merek, I think everyone knows I’m yours from your little show earlier.”

  “Just coming to get a kiss.” I quickly peck her lips, knowing if I linger any longer I’ll be in trouble.

  “Can I watch you?”

  I tilt my hat and give her a questioning look.

  “I know some cowboys are very superstitious, so I’m just asking.”

  “Baby, talent has no superstition.”

  She rolls her eyes at my comment, and it may be the one thing I fucking adore about her. She’s so modest and such a hard worker, where I have no problem showboating.

  She gives me a quick peck, slaps my ass, and
whirls me around toward the chutes. “Get out of here, Champ.”

  I grab my belt buckle and send her a wink. “Go get a seat, Verde.”

  Maverik grabs me by the shoulder and hauls my ass to the back of the chutes. One thing about my older brother—he is huge and tough as nails.

  “Get your head in the game, bro.”

  “I’ve never felt better, Mav. I could spurt out a T-Rex right now.”

  “Simmer the fuck down.” He slaps me in the back of the head and is the only man who could do that without getting his front teeth knocked out.

  “You drew a good one. Let’s make some money.” Mav starts taping my hands up.

  “Whatever I win tonight, I want it all given to Challis through a ranch check. I know she’d be pissed, but she’s worked her ass off.”

  “No shit. Never thought I’d meet a harder worker than Marvel. She has two of those colts ready to run already.”

  “She can never know about this.”

  “You know what I think, Merek. Not good.”

  I ignore him like I usually do when he gives me good advice, and I begin stretching out my muscles and jumping around to loosen up. I do up my vest as the horses are loaded into the chutes. Something about the smell and sounds in the air once they’re loaded fuels my addiction.

  There’s no greater high than climbing on the back of a wild animal and hanging on for eight seconds. The buckle and glory is just the icing on top. I make my way over to chute four and watch Mav get my rigging in place while I continue to pull my legs up in a spurring action readying myself. Unlike other times, I have a huge fucking smile plastered across my face as I scan the crowd for Challis, and when I spot her, the smile gets even larger. She’s focused on my chute, and if I’m not mistaken, a bit nervous rocking back and forth. I’ve never seen my tough, little girl nervous. Not even working some rank colts or running full bore on Teebaby on the ranch.

  I’ve been very clear about my feelings toward her, but she seems to always brush it aside or turn it into a joke. However, her rocking back and forth in the stands is probably the closest I’ll ever get to her vocalizing her feelings.