As he pumped her with pleasure, she stretched her body against his, arching her back until her nipples brushed against chest. Her arms were high above her head, pressing nearer as sweat beaded between them. Rivulets of sensation spiraled down her back and parked between her thighs.
She wasn’t quite ready yet.
Boldly, she pushed him onto his back and he obediently followed her demand. She crawled atop him, spread her legs and settled her pussy against his hard cock. Eyes connecting, she held his gaze as she guided him inside of her, savoring his large muscle as he claimed the prize.
“Damn, you feel so good,” he whispered.
Rolling her hips, he moaned and grasped her waist. She knew he was near.
“I…can’t…wait…,” he said on a groan.
“Let’s do this together. Like we used to,” she whispered.
Gliding her hips downward, she squeezed her muscles, circling him like a moist glove. His breath grew heavy and she showed him no mercy as she pumped him faster, finding her own depth of contentment.
In one final thrust, his cock tightened and she knew he had finished—they had finished together.
CHAPTER SIX
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Leslie snuggled deeper into the warmth of the blankets, attempting to ignore the annoying sound that penetrated her sleep.
Then she realized it was her phone. She stretched her arm across the other side of the bed. And I’m alone.
She jumped up, adrenaline pounding through her veins as she glanced around the room. There was no sign of Stryker or his clothes. Disappointment beaded through her and her stomach twirled.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“Damn!” She wasn’t ready to face the world—not after last night and only getting a few hours of sleep.
Grabbing the phone, she saw that it was Lila, and she clicked talk. “Hello?”
“Did I wake you?” Lila asked.
“Yes. Everything okay?” Leslie asked. The bedroom door opened and Leslie popped her head up as Stryker walked in, carrying two mugs, steam rolling from them. An irrefutable satisfaction sprinted through her.
“Did you hear me?” Lila’s voice rattled the other end of the phone.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Lila. Say that again.” Leslie forced her gaze away from Stryker. The man made it impossible to think clearly.
“I was asking if Stryker and Lilly are still there.”
“Yes.” Leslie gripped the cell tighter.
“Good. Why don’t you bring them with you this morning when you come check on the horses. Ava would love the company and it might do Lilly some good too.”
“Well, I don’t…” She caught Stryker’s curious expression. A thought came to her. This would be good for Lilly…and she’d have them with her for a while longer.
“You don’t what?” Lila asked.
“I’m not sure if they will be leaving. Let me ask.” She covered the speaker with her palm. “It’s Lila. She wants me to bring you and Lilly with me to the McAlister Ranch. She thinks it would be good for Lilly to play with Ava. I happen to agree.”
“As far as I see it, you and I have some unfinished business that needs dealt with. Tell her we will be there. You okay with that?”
She was between a rock and hard place—the hard rock being a man that made it difficult to concentrate or breathe. “Okay. All three of us will be there in about an hour. See you then.” She clicked off with Lila.
“I made you tea. I hope it tastes okay. Take a few sips and then let’s have a chat.” He sat down next to her hip. He was a heady combination of power and warmth.
She sat up against the headboard and took the cup from him, their fingers brushing and electricity shooting up her arm. She swallowed a moan. Gathering her senses, she played with a piece of fuzz from the blanket. “What needs to be resolved?” She looked at him and was dazed with memory of them making love. Every muscle awakened with craving, even the sore ones.
“I know when a woman is pregnant she is emotional. Justine certainly was. Yet, I can’t let you use that as an excuse as to why you didn’t tell me about the baby, but I know we can’t change the past or bring back what’s gone. You shouldn’t feel any guilt about losing our baby, or the fact that you don’t want kids. I’d be a prick if I made you feel horrible about either of those things.”
She stared into the dark liquid of her cup, wishing she knew the right words. “Trust me, I’ve felt bad enough for the both of us. I truly am sorry.”
He shrugged. “What’s done is done and now we have to think about Lilly. If you don’t want to be a part of her life, then I’ll walk away and never bother you again. However, if you choose to be here for her then you have to be ready to give her one-hundred percent because she deserves no less.”
“I agree.”
“I know this is a big step—uhh…what did you say?”
“I said, I agree to give her one-hundred percent. I want to be a part of her life.” And yours, if possible.
“Then you need to know, we have a visit scheduled with a child worker next week. Can you be there?”
“Sure. Just let me know the day and time. I may have to do some rescheduling, but I’m willing to do what I need to.”
He smiled and her heart sped up.
“It’s very nice that your friend invited us along today. Lilly really seemed to like Ava.”
“I think so too. Is Lilly up?”
“No, not yet.”
Sliding her fingers through her hair, she couldn’t comb through the tangles and she realized it must be a sight. They’d been all over the bed last night, and the crumpled sheets were proof. “Lila and I haven’t always been friends.” She wanted to tell him everything, but wasn’t sure she should include that only a few weeks ago, Lila had believed Leslie was a man-stealing whore.
“You two seemed pretty close last night at dinner.”
“Lila disliked me out of her loyalty to Carly.” Realizing she’d opened a can of worms, she knew she had to explain. “Carly and Chance went through a rough time in their marriage and had divorced. During that time, Chance and I had become close—”
“Uh-oh.” He took a long drink of his coffee.
“It’s not how you think,” she said. “We were friends, and I won’t deny that I cared for him, but once Carly came back into his life, it was the end of my feelings. I’m not a home wrecker, and Carly and Lila both realize that…now. It was a misunderstanding that was cleared up and I’m grateful.” She wanted to get up, but she was naked, and although she was certain he’d gotten a good look at every part of her last night, she was a bit shy in the daylight of reality.
“Chance, huh?” he chuckled.
“Not that difficult to understand, is it?” she asked.
“He seems like a nice guy,” he said.
She nodded. “He is and he was also a man who never stopped loving his wife. And looking back, I see that Chance and I only needed our pain validated. We enjoyed having someone to talk to, someone who understood heartbreak.”
“Heartbreak?” One brow curved.
“Don’t push it, Stryke.” She could only open up so fast. “Now close your eyes so I can get up.”
He chuckled. “Are you being serious?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Sweetheart, you do realize we made love last night? Not only did I see you naked, but I explored every inch of you, not only with my hands but with my mouth too.” He slid his words home with a slide of glance across her sheet-covered body.
Her cheeks burned—in a good way. “That’s true, but the point is, I want you to close your eyes.” She wasn’t sure why she felt modest. She’d never been insecure or ashamed of her body, but as much history as they’d shared, this was still new to her.
“If you insist.” He did as she requested and closed his eyes.
Leslie waved her hand in front of his face to check. He didn’t seem to see the movement. Safe, she pushed back the cover and quickly grabbed the robe from the chair in
the corner, pulling it on. “Okay, you can look now.”
He lowered his gaze over the silk robe, then her legs until coming up to settle on her face. “That looks familiar.” He winked. “I couldn’t stop wondering what you wore underneath it the first night I came. I also couldn’t shake the feeling that if I hadn’t shown up you’d been with the tender-faced fellow.”
No matter how much he probed, she wasn’t going to talk about what had almost happened with Dillon. It seemed a lifetime ago. “Ancient history.”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but I bet he sees it another way.”
“Let’s not do this.” She went to the dresser and fumbled through the top drawer.
“And who had broken your heart?”
Finding bra and panties, she moved toward the door. “Shouldn’t you go and wake Lilly? I’m going to shower and then we’ll head to the McAllister.”
“You never were good at skirting the issue,” he said.
“And you were never good at getting the hint that some questions don’t need answers. And this is definitely one of those.”
“You were hurt over me?”
“If you insist, yes I was. It wasn’t easy leaving, especially under the circumstances, but sometimes we have to lose so that we can grow. I learned that lesson from Carly and Chance who have been through a lot but have landed on their feet, more in love than ever.”
“Carly seems like a good woman, but I have a feeling she still carries some pain.”
Leslie knew Stryker had great instincts. “She does and will for the rest of her life I’m sure. They lost their first child to a heart defect and Carly fell into depression. I didn’t know her then, but from what I’ve heard, she had changed—she became bitter and selfish. Then a miracle happened. She fell, got amnesia and had forgotten all of the pain, but remembered loving Chance.”
“That’s horrible, yet wonderful at the same time. Did she get her memory back?” he asked.
“Not all of it, which is probably for the best. Some things should remain in the dark.”
“What brought you and Carly closer?”
“Don’t laugh, but I helped Carly deliver Chasity.”
He blinked and she bit back a laugh. “Some drama you got going on here.” He smiled.
“Actually, no drama. And now I’m taking a shower.”
“Need someone to wash your back?” A spark lit his eye.
Hell yeah…but instead, she said, “No. I’ll manage. We can’t forget we have a wee one in the house.”
“I figured you’d say that. Once upon a time, I’m sure the answer would have been different.”
The temperature rose. “Things have changed. And now you’re a father.”
“And that’s not too much for you?”
“I told you, I’m in this with both feet. I can’t promise I’ll be the best, but I’m ready to give it all I have.”
“For Lilly?”
“Yes, for Lilly.”
He got up and headed to the door. “See you after your shower.”
When he walked away, she wanted him to come back.
Slow down girl!
Could she think with her mind and not her heart? If she wasn’t careful, she’d find herself in a heap of horse manure…and that was never pleasant.
CHAPTER SEVEN
STRYKER WAS TOSSING the ball with Lilly in the front yard when Leslie came out of the house. The ball smacked him in the face as he stared at her, dumbfounded. Although her plain tee and worn jeans weren’t meant to impress, she still looked sexy as hell. From her cowboy hat, to her bright blue eyes, to the tips of her scuffed boots—she was more beautiful than ever. She didn’t have to try being sexy, and that’s what he appreciated most.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lilly waving. He turned to the little girl and took in the bubbly smile on her face. His heart melted. He realized she’d grown fond of Leslie. No surprise. Once a person got to know her, they couldn’t resist her.
He hadn’t been able to fight his need last night.
After hearing about the baby, he’d taken a long walk and was headed to sleep in his truck when an emotion overcame him. One of loss, pain, and more importantly, forgiveness.
He’d gone to her bedroom.
They’d connected like never before, heating the sheets and climbing emotional mountains.
He was at a tug of war between his mind, heart and another part of him that shot up like a rod every time she stepped close—as it did now.
“Lilly, how are you this morning?” Leslie swept by him, leaving a trail of sugar-vanilla in her wake, and tousled Lilly’s hair.
The shine in Lilly’s eyes spoke wonders.
Man, she does the same for me.
Leslie bent down so that she was face to face with Lilly. “Would you like to see Ava again?” Lilly nodded. “I’m sure she’s excited to see you.”
“Shall we go then?” Stryker asked.
What happened next tore through him like a sharp hook. Lilly took Leslie’s hand and led her toward the truck. He could see that Leslie was just as surprised, and he even believed there was a hint of moisture in her eyes.
Damn, where were they heading?
Leslie said she wanted to be a part of Lilly’s life, and he had faith in her ability, but he didn’t have a lot of confidence in himself. Leslie wasn’t a woman a man could sleep with when the need arose and leave it at that. She was a classy, intelligent, beautiful lady and should be treated with the utmost respect.
Truth was, he couldn’t help from acting like a schoolboy around her. Not to mention, he hadn’t been satisfied in years. She did something to him that no one else could, and he wanted more.
He was out of his mind. He knew this could end horribly—again.
He couldn’t pull away, not yet. He had to do what was right. Lilly needed Leslie, and maybe he did too. He’d had plenty of chances to move on, but he’d always hit a hurdle that he couldn’t jump. He’d been looking at his love life like a rotating door, spinning but never stopping…but now it was slowing. What would he find once he took a good look?
“You ready?” Leslie asked.
“I don’t know,” he mumbled.
“Did you forget something?”
“No, I haven’t forgotten anything.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Okay, I’m confused.”
“Me too,” he whispered. “However, I’m ready.” And although she had no clue there was another meaning to his words.
****
Leslie watched Lilly and Ava play on a blanket by the patio. Although there was a difference in age, they played happily together. Lilly was very patient and sharing with the toddler. The two girls got up, Lilly holding Ava’s chubby hand, and together they walked to the slide. Ava slid down first, giggling, followed by Lilly who erupted into laughter.
Stryker was also watching. Leslie saw his smile and happiness gurgled inside of her. She loved to see him happy.
“Sweet iced tea.” Lila came out of the patio glass doors carrying a tray. “Anyone want some?”
“Sounds delicious.” Leslie tore her gaze away from Stryker.
Lila poured each of them a glass and handed the first to Stryker. “So, will you be coming to the wedding?”
Leslie jerked her head around to him, paying attention to the fact that he was also dumbfounded.
“I’m betting Lesi invited Cowboy.” His tone was aloof, but Leslie didn’t go unscathed. She felt the sting all the way to her inner core.
“If you’re referring to Dillon, I invited him.” Lila handed Leslie a glass and their gazes met. “I didn’t know you and Dillon were coming as a couple, Leslie.”
“Dillon and I hadn’t talked about it.” She downed half of her tea in one gulp.
Lila shrugged. “Well, I’m inviting you and Lilly,” Lila said to Stryker. “I’m seeing a friendship building here.” She turned toward the two girls who were now playing in the sand box. Lilly was scooping with a small shovel and pouring into Ava’s bucket.
“We’ll see. I hate to say yes and not be able to make it.” Stryker didn’t even look at Leslie, which infuriated her more. “By the way, Lila, how did you know it would be good for Lilly to play with Ava?”
“I took a several college courses in child therapy. Play therapy is very popular for trauma patients. I also saw how the two girls connected at dinner last night. Lilly is very tender with Ava.”
“Thank you for having us over,” Stryker said.
“There’s my cowboy now,” Lila said. “Oh, no. He doesn’t look too happy.” Duke stomped toward them. His tight jaw and dark eyes warned them something had happened. “What’s wrong?” Lila asked.
“The new mare, Frances, was grazing in the pasture and one of the hands took her back to the stall because she was acting lethargic. She’s resting, but it doesn’t look good.” Duke was out of breath. Leslie wondered if he’d run all the way to the house from the barn.
Leslie stood up, already grabbing her medical bag. “What symptoms is she showing?”
Duke removed his hat and held it against his chest. “She’s having trouble breathing and she’s weak.”
Leslie’s heart skipped a beat. “I’ll go and check on her.”
“We’ll take the utility vehicle. We’ll get there a lot quicker,” Duke said.
“Care if I come along?” Stryker stood.
“Sure,” Duke answered.
“Go on with them Stryker. I’ll look after Lilly,” Lila offered.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I don’t mind at all. After all, they look like they’re having so much fun.”
“She’s right, Stryker. We should let her enjoy herself,” Leslie interjected.
They rode to the stables and Leslie hopped out as soon as the vehicle stopped. She noticed that Dillon was standing by Frances. When he saw her, he gave her a quick nod. “How’s she doing?” Leslie asked.
“She’s gotten worse.” Dillon stepped out of the way as Leslie passed.
“I need you fellows to please step aside for a bit and let me exam her.” Leslie was already pulling things from her bag.
Second Round Cowboy (Second Chance Series) Page 6