by Claire Adams
Whatever I had to do, I couldn’t let Emma leave without kissing her again. Now that I knew how sweet she tasted — like honey straight from the comb — I was going to crave her soft, supple lips whenever I looked at her. Tonight might be my only opportunity. Who knew what Monday would bring.
I sprang from my feet, the need at my core and throbbing between my legs directing me down the hallway after her.
Chapter Fourteen
Emma
Friday
I splashed some cool water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror. I had to calm down. I was trembling from head to foot. That kiss. Goddamn. I wanted to do it again, but I knew I needed to just get the hell out of here as soon as I could. Going to dinner had been a mistake. I knew better. I liked Pete, I really did, but he was my boss. This had to stop right now, before it permanently changed things between us.
I dried my face as I steeled myself. I’d just walk out to my car and leave for the weekend. We could go back to the way things were supposed to be on Monday morning. No more dates, no more alone time. As long as I got out of here right now, it wouldn’t be too late.
I turned away from the sink, determined, and opened the door.
Pete was standing in the hallway, his blue eyes wide and chest heaving with the strength of the desire I saw written all over his face.
I drew in a sharp breath, my plans leaving me in a rush of exhaled air, and went to him.
He took me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine. I opened my mouth to him, tilting my head as his tongue ventured deep into my mouth, toying with my own. I kissed him back, unable to deny the heat that moved through me and how badly I wanted him. My plan to escape this house and run out to my car disappeared in the intensity of that heat.
My entire body tingled as his soft, eager mouth dropped to kiss my neck, sucking lightly as I moaned with the need that was bubbling up from deep inside me. I hadn’t even let myself acknowledge how much I wanted him until this moment. But, now that I had, my entire body had unclenched, going soft in that heat. I wrapped my legs around him as he lifted me with two hands on my ass and carried me down the hallway. He kicked open the door to his bedroom, still kissing my neck, his hot breath igniting every inch of my skin.
He set me down next to the messy, unmade bed and tugged my shirt over my head. Thank God I’d thought to put on one of my better bras this morning. One with actual lace on it — not that he was paying it much attention.
He tore his own shirt off, nearly ripping it in the process. I bit my lip at the sight of his smooth, muscular chest, tanned from so much time in the sun. It was my first time seeing it so close up. He smelled like sunshine and hard work. I loved that musky odor. I pulled him down to me by the back of his neck, kissing hard, my tongue fishing into his mouth as his fingers unfastened my bra.
He brought his hands to my breasts, running his fingers over my nipples, and I moaned into his mouth. His fingers dropped to the waistband of my jeans, pulling them open as we continued to kiss almost desperately, that heat rising, stoked by my furious heartbeat and the pulsing between my legs, a furious itch I wanted him to scratch.
He pulled his lips away so he could focus on pushing my jeans down the curvy length of my legs. I sat down on the bed and lifted my feet so he could tug off my boots, socks, and then my jeans. Now I was just in my dangling bra and panties, breathing heavily, so hot for him I could barely sit still. I unbuckled his belt and tugged his jeans open. It took two hands to work the zipper, but, finally, I was able to pull his jeans down, revealing boxers, the hard shape of his cock at my eye level. I licked my lips, moaning again, and pulled hard onto his hips, lying back on the bed as he tumbled on top of me.
He fit neatly between my legs, his cock rubbing into that wet heat between my legs, only a few layers of cloth separating us. His mouth found one of my nipples, and he sucked hard while I writhed beneath him, moaning and lifting my hips to rub my pulsing hot sex against his cock. He moved to my other nipple, his lips tracing a wet trail on my skin. This time, I could feel his teeth. I whimpered and took hold of him by two handfuls of his soft dark hair. His masculine scent filled my nostrils, so dirty and sweaty from the day’s work. I loved it.
His lips found my neck again, sucking harder than before. My hands traveled down the length of his back until I reached his ass. I squeezed his cheeks hard, relishing the firmness. He was one long, lean, rock-hard slab of muscle. I turned my head and bit his shoulder, just wanting to taste the tanned sweetness of him.
“I’ve wanted you since the day I saw you,” Pete growled, his hot breath tickling my skin. He came after my mouth again, forcing his tongue past my lips as I moaned deep in my throat. His hand slid between my legs, his finger running over the crotch of my cotton panties. My hips lifted on their own. His fingers moved my panties to the side as I silently begged him not to stop. That itch was unbearable. I’d never felt heat like this before. I’d gone more than a year without having sex, but I needed him inside me right now more than I needed air.
His fingers rubbed lightly over my moist lips, and I made a breathless, desperate sound, my teeth closing on his bottom lip and nibbling lightly. The tip of one finger toyed with my clit, sending bolts of pleasure rocketing into the rest of my body. His lips found my neck again, kissing hard, as his thick finger slid inside me.
“Pete,” I whispered, breathless, and lifted my hips, inviting him deeper.
He raised met my gaze, his beautiful eyes so wide in the dark, the intensity in them stealing my already short breaths from me. Without breaking eye contact, our breaths mingling in the air between us, he slid my panties from my hips. I lifted my butt to make it easier for him.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said in a low, husky voice squeezed tight with need. Was he feeling that heat? That itch? If he didn’t start scratching it soon, I was going to scream.
He wiggled out of his boxers, kicking them off his feet. He kissed me again, running his hands from my erect nipples to my heaving chest to my stomach and down between my legs, stoking that heat into an inferno as he ran the tips of his fingers back and forth over my wetness.
“Do you want this?” he asked, his mouth very close to my ear.
I was still so breathless, but I had to let him know that I couldn’t bear the idea of him stopping now. “Yes,” I whispered adamantly.
He slid between my legs, the head of his cock pressing into my throbbing, wet sex. I squeezed his ass cheeks in my hands, pulling him into me. He thrust inside in a single motion, and I cried out, the pleasure tingling over every trembling inch of my skin as I opened completely to him.
My hands slid over his back as he started an even rhythm, plunging himself into me only to back out again, the sensation drawing a series of breathless whimpers from me. I was so close already and he’d only just started.
His lips met my neck, sucking hungrily, his heavy breaths so warm on my skin. I didn’t want him to stop. He stroked harder, the muscles of his back rippling under my hands. I arched my back, and he went deeper. The heat was reaching a pinnacle, every tingling nerve between my legs building up until I was ready to shriek with pleasure. Pete groaned, very close to my ear, as he thrust himself inside me up to the hilt, and I came hard, crying out behind clenched teeth. A second later, he growled low in his throat and a spasm moved through his body, jolting me beneath him so I cried out again, digging my fingernails into the muscly expanse of his back.
He collapsed against me, breathing hard, his weight pressing me into the mattress. The pleasurable sensations were still moving through my body. His heartbeat was beating into my chest, so it felt like I had two hearts. He rolled off of me, exposing my hot, slick body to the air. I lay there, catching my breath, naked and sweaty, our mingled juices dripping from between my legs. Pete reached to rest a warm hand on my flat stomach.
“That was incredible,” he panted.
And, it had been. But it had also been a mistake. Whatever energy had built up over the last few weeks, r
eaching an awful, delicious pinnacle over dinner, had been spent. Now I could think clearly again. I could see how bad I’d just made things for me at the ranch. Because I couldn’t keep doing this.
“I have to go,” I said, sitting up. I dropped from the bed onto my knees, gathering my clothes from the floor.
“You can stay,” he said, sitting up, too. He reached to brush my back with his fingertips, and I shied away. “I’ll cook breakfast in the morning. Or we can go to the Texan.”
I shook my head as I put on my shirt. I wasn’t going to trouble with my underclothes. I just needed to get the hell out of here.
“No, thank you,” I said, my cheeks reddening at how stupid that sounded. “It’s not a good idea.” I stood up and tugged my jeans on, buttoning them as I slid my bare feet back into my boots. I had my underclothes and socks balled in one fist. I didn’t want to look at Pete, not after what we’d done. I might not be able to leave if I met his eyes.
“Emma, don’t go,” he said.
But I was already at the door. “I’ll see you next week,” I said and rushed out into the darkened hallway.
Chapter Fifteen
Pete
Thursday
I brought the tractor around the side of the storage barn just as Lacey pulled into the driveway, several bags of feed loaded onto the back of her truck. She waved at me, signaling for me to get my ass over there to help her. I cut the tractor’s engine off, jumped down, and ran over. I mopped the sweat from my brow on the way. It was hot as all get out and wasn’t even noon.
“Howdy, Lace,” I said, running up.
She gave me a happy enough grin. She’d been nicer this week on account of my low mood. She hadn’t poked at me yet, but I knew I needed to tell her what had been bothering me. She might actually know how to help.
“I picked up enough feed for the next week or so,” she said, squinting up at me. The sun was right behind my head. “That Elroy sure can eat.”
I sighed, not able to hold back for another minute. “I need to ask your opinion on something.”
She lifted her sandy blonde eyebrows, her dark eyes steady on mine.
“I took Emma out on Friday night.”
Her eyes narrowed just a little. “How’d that go?” She dropped a hand on her hip.
“Better than I expected. I could tell she was having a great time, and so was I.” I grinned at the memory of her sitting across from me in the restaurant, both of us smelling like horses and stale sweat. But that had been a turn on. I liked that she didn’t mind getting dirty. “But now she won’t say one word to me without me forcing a conversation on her. She hasn’t met my eyes since that night. I don’t know what to do.”
Lacey watched me for a long moment, her eyebrows drawing together slowly. She pressed her lips into a narrow line. Without warning, her eyes were shooting arrows at me, the look on her face so mean, I damned near stepped back.
“Did you sleep with her after this date last Friday?”
I kicked at the dirt, looking down like some little kid in trouble with his mama. “Yeah, we may have ended up in bed together.”
“Goddamn it, Pete Gains. What the hell is wrong with you?” She stepped close and nailed me hard in the arm with her fist.
I yowled and slid away from her before she could give me another one. “Damn, Lace-”
“It’s no wonder she’s been so fucking uncomfortable around you. What the hell did you think would happen? You’re lucky she didn’t quit outright.” She shook her head, eyes still shooting fire. “I told you to keep your dick in your pants!”
I swallowed instead of answering. I’d really messed this up. Maybe more than I could fix. But I had to try. I wanted Emma in my life, and not just as my employee.
“I really like her, Lacey,” I said in a low voice. “I need to know how to make this right.”
She sighed, the fire going down a bit in her eyes as her face softened. She didn’t look like she was going to hit me anymore, which was good because the girl could punch. “Emma probably doesn’t know how to act around you now. You’re her boss. And, you slept with her. She probably thinks she’ll be fired or you’ll expect sex from her to keep her on at the ranch.”
“I’d never do that!” I said.
“But she doesn’t know that, Pete. You have to talk to her.”
I dropped my shoulders into a deep slump, the way they’d been since Saturday night. I knew Lacey was right. I couldn’t let this fester any longer.
Without another word on the matter, I walked straight to the barn to find Emma. She’d been jumping like hot grease on a skillet all week, anything to keep from sticking around when I turned up. But I caught her scrubbing out water troughs on her knees out back of the barn. Her back stiffened when she heard me walk up, but she didn’t turn, just clenched her jaw and kept scrubbing out a trough that was already sparkling clean.
“Can we talk a minute, Emma?” I asked.
She stiffened some more, but when she turned to look up at me, that serene, unaffected look was back on her face, her tight jaw the only thing telling me she was uncomfortable. I wanted to drop to my knees and kiss her again. I wanted to scoop her up into my arms and carry her back to my bed. I knew how she tasted and felt underneath me. The knowledge was driving me insane. I wanted that warmth again. But the smiley, giggling girl I’d briefly glimpsed through the open door of the safe was gone. She was closed off. We were right back where we started. Except now I knew how badly I needed her.
“Things have been off this week. I’m sure you noticed.” I paused, but she just stared up at me with those green eyes, her gorgeous mouth sealed shut. “I want to talk…about what happened.”
She blinked. “Everything’s fine. I just want to do my work.”
“I know,” I said. “But I want us to be on good terms, too.” I could see her hardening against me. If I kept on like this, I’d lose her for good. I hadn’t realized until this moment how close she was to just bolting from the farm and never coming back. “I don’t want to talk about it on the ranch. Can I take you to the Texan tomorrow morning?” The change of scenery had worked before. I was hoping it would work for me when I really needed it to. And, there was no danger of anything happening between us in the morning before starting our duties on the ranch.
She shook her head, her eyes flashing in the sun, so green I felt a tingling in my gut. “That’s not a good idea, Pete.”
“It’s just breakfast. I really want us to be able to talk.”
She clenched her jaw again. But she didn’t say no right away.
“Please, Emma.”
Her tense shoulders loosened, sinking down a little. She looked exhausted suddenly. I wanted to tell her to go home for the day, but I knew she never would. Not with the horses out in the pasture and the barn not put back together again for the night.
“Okay,” she said, not seeming pleased about it. “Just breakfast.”
“Just breakfast,” I agreed, unable to keep from grinning as that warmth licked at my body from the strength of her unwavering stare. I turned on my booted heel and left before she could change her mind.
I moved through the rest of the day like a man newly released from death row — a little stunned at the reprieve, but happy as a pig in slop despite how completely off my game I felt. I had another shot, and I didn’t mean to blow it. I aimed to get this figured out. Somehow.
At the end of the day, Lacey was waiting for me on the porch, an ice cold beer in hand. She had another one on the ground next to her chair that she handed to me after I sank into my own seat. We clinked the necks of our bottles together and then took long swigs of the frosty, bubbly liquid that was like heaven after so many hours out in the sun.
I watched Emma leave the barn and walk to her car. She waved, then got in and drove away, leaving nothing but dust behind her. A part of me ached at seeing her leave. Though I knew she was the type who’d never leave a job without putting in notice, I worried just the same.
“Di
d you set things right with her?” Lacey asked. “She still seemed off today.”
I turned to look over at her. “We talked.” I shook my head. “Well, I did. We’re going to breakfast tomorrow. I’m hoping to straighten things out then.”
Lacey looked ready to fly out of her seat and slap me silly. I’d never seen her so deeply pissed at me in all the years we’d known each other. “I really like Emma. She’s good for the farm. Hell, she’d even be good for you if you could get your shit together long enough to convince her of that.” She took another swig of her beer. “Do not fuck this up, Pete. You make her feel comfortable enough to stay, or so help me, I’ll take you out behind the barn and beat the shit out of you.”
I sat back in my seat, blinking. I believed her. “Goddamn, Lace, I’ll do my level best.”
She nodded once the way Emma would and didn’t say another word on the subject as we finished drinking our beers.
Chapter Sixteen
Emma
Friday
I didn’t sleep well and woke earlier than usual, my stomach twisted into painful knots and body sore from so much tossing and turning. I was dreading going to the ranch more today than I had on Monday morning.
My plan then had been just to lie low for a while, let things blow over so Pete and I could get back to the way things had been before we slept together. It was working, too…except for any time we met each other’s gaze or were in the same place. That need I saw in him last Friday night was there all the time now. It pulled at me, flooded me with my own tingling desire for the feel of his body beneath my fingers. But no good would come of that. I obviously had to take charge of setting things straight myself instead of waiting for them to take care of themselves.
I drove to the ranch in the dark, the dread sitting heavy in my belly. I shouldn’t have agreed to leave the ranch with Pete. I could put my foot down, but we’d still be alone on the ranch together. Might as well go to the Texan where it wouldn’t just be the two of us.