Unbranded

by Barbra Campbell

  I spied him in the parking lot talking to his brother, Luke. The tension between them quickly became apparent. Stress wasn’t good for a concussion, perfect excuse to approach him.

  My heart raced while I kept my steps steady, although a little on the fast side. I was going to admit I felt something for him. Not quite a reciprocated ‘I love you’, but something.

  Their voices escalated then Travis got in the passenger side and slammed the door. Luke stormed to the driver’s side and pulled his door shut with the same aggression. Too late.

  I stood in the parking lot watching the tail lights shrink in the distance when Daisy appeared.

  “Hey sis, I told Luke to take Travis home, stay with him overnight. He’ll calm down.”

  I shook my head and pursed my lips. Why were the things I loved about cowboys some of the same things that drove me crazy? “He hates me.”

  “Not your fault. He might pass tomorrow.” My matter of fact little sister reminded me.

  “That’s not the part I’m having trouble dealing with. We hooked up.”

  “Lily told me. Why didn’t you let her treat him?”

  “I told her I could do it. I might have been wrong.”

  Travis

  Rose’s sister had convinced Luke to stay with me overnight, and he’d actually done it. Not a big deal since we each built our own place on the family ranch, but I hated being babied.

  I spent the entire day pacing myself, resting up for the concussion test. I had to ride.

  Money was on the line, and while it mattered, I was worried about appearing strong to Rose. She might have only seen me as a quick romp, but she had me craving more. Once with her wasn’t enough. Groupies weren’t usually doctors, but it wasn’t that.

  We hadn’t talked about how early I could show up before the rodeo so I waited on the steps of her medical unit. After my rude exit the previous night, it wouldn’t hurt to appear eager. And I wasn’t only there to take the test. I had to win her over. Short of saying I wouldn’t ride, I wasn’t sure how to keep her from thinking I was using her.

  I saw her get out of her truck and stared as she approached. She diverted her gaze but I watched each step as she brought herself closer. Excitement ran wild inside of me. Had she gotten more beautiful than the other times I’d seen her? Was I egging myself on?

  Worry became apparent as she drew closer.

  I stood. “Rose. I’m sorry for taking my anger out on you.”

  A flat smile matched the rest of her less than happy expression. “Forgiven. Ready for the test?”

  Damn. I wanted to make her happy more than I wanted anything else, even to ride. “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter.”

  She opened the door and hesitated. “You either pass or you don’t. I’m not going to lie about the results. And our thing in the shed yesterday, it doesn’t have any impact on this. Clear?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  A genuine smile spread across her face as she led me into the trailer and settled herself. “I understand there’s a lot riding on tonight, no pun intended. But don’t get your hopes up. I’m not trying to destroy your dreams. I’m trying to protect—”

  “I get it.” A picture of why I loved her emerged from my damaged brain. She was wild, driven, and free. How many doctors had romps in sheds? She was perfect for me… a woman who wanted it all. My thoughts ceased as I lost my ability to hold back.

  I grabbed her hand, pulled her close, and wrapped my arms around her. My lips dropped onto hers. All of the fear over whether she’d accept me vanished. Passion and desire filled the void.

  My body ached to claim her with more than my cum on her tongue, more than my hand in her pants copping a cheap feel. I was going to make her mine in every way. My cock throbbed. My supposed injured brain was having no trouble flipping through our immediate options: exam table, wall, the shed.

  Her ragged breaths searched for air through our kisses. I rolled her beaded nipple in my fingers.

  “Stop.” She pushed away, slamming my world to a halt while our lips hovered a breath apart.

  I leaned in but she turned to the side.

  “Sit.” She hooked a finger into the top of my pants and shoved me down.

  Her lips were red and swollen, breaths still uneasy. When had I untucked her shirt? I glanced down. Or mine?

  Setting us up the same as when she gave me the previous test, she typed on her laptop, spun it my way, and said, “Take the test.”

  “It doesn’t change anything. I still love you whether my head’s messed up or not.”

  “We’ll see.” The edge to her words revealed her lack of trust. She had no idea how much it hurt.

  Without another word, I took the test then gave the laptop back for her to see how I did.

  She clicked a bunch of keys and her somber expression never changed.

  “I failed, didn’t I. Put it to me straight. I can handle it.”

  Her focus stayed on the screen. “I can’t let you ride tonight, Travis.”

  “Hey, it’s fine, but we have to clear up this thing between us.” I leaned forward and lifted her hand to my lips. Her sweet scent, gentle fingers, and the way she worried about hurting me…Everything about her turned me on.

  Rose squinted at me. “You’re not mad?”

  “Hell yeah, I’m mad. I was born to ride, but what am I supposed to do, fight with you?”

  She shrugged and fixed on my lips grazing her fingers. “I won’t give you permission.”

  I circled the table and leaned against the wall across from her. The only way I could keep from touching her was to tuck my hands in my pockets. “I know I can’t ride.”

  She studied the wall beside me and I longed for her to understand me. She said, “Seducing me isn’t going to change things.”

  “Let’s get this over with. I’m branded as a player, but I’m different with you. I want more.”

  “More blow jobs? More time in the arena?” The sharpness of her words cut me.

  “I want more out of life than the arena. I want more than sex. Rose, I haven’t been with a woman since I met you. Trust me.”

  “Nice line. I mean, after all, the player brand, isn’t that the ultimate avoidance of being branded, no commitment? Say anything, do anything.”

  “Rose, I’ll tattoo your damn name across my chest.”

  She huffed. “Let’s take it down a notch.”

  Turns out not all of my fear had subsided. Would I be able to prove how much I wanted her? I had to dig deep. No waiting. I also couldn’t stand seeing her sitting in front of me, hurt by my actions. I drew her into my arms. Her head nestled against my chest.

  I’d get called out for not being manly if I admitted that was sexier than her blowing me. “Rose, I’m not riding tonight. Something bigger than a bronc ride is happening. You’re the first person to put Travis the man ahead of Travis the cowboy or Travis the sex object. I love you for that and so much more I can’t even explain.”

  Her silence devastated me, but she continued to lean into me, the length of our bodies pressed against each other. I could stay there for an eternity.

  Would it help if I opened up more? “There were times I rode when I shouldn’t have. It’s in my blood. But you’re the only reason I’ve found not to. I feel something with you I’ve never felt with anyone else. Please tell me you can feel it.”

  “I do.” The hint of her words barely made it to my ears.

  Of all the times I’d experienced the rush of conquering an animal that was fully capable of killing me, none of them compared to the rush of her agreement. “Rose, will you be my girl?”

  “Yes.” She trapped me against the wall and kissed me.

  I cupped her head, tapped a few more kisses as I pulled her away, and asked, “Any chance you can get your sisters to cover the rodeo tonight so I can make love to you?”

  “I can lock the door.” She took a step but I grabbed her.

  “Not here.”

  Rose cracked up. “The shed
?”

  I grabbed her ass, squeezing her firm cheek in my hand, making my erection even harder. “I’m going to take you back to my place. Make love to you in bed, and lay there forever afterward, loving you as many times as you’ll let me.”

  “You’re supposed to be taking it easy while you recover.” She ran a hand over my length, making me strain even more.

  If we didn’t knock it off, my thread of control would break. “Did you not hear the part about laying in bed forever? And in case you missed it, my doctor will be with me.”

  Rose wrapped her leg around mine, and the temptation to tangle with her soared. “In the interest of your mental health, I’m going to accept your offer.”

  A squeal ruined our moment. Daisy caught us.

  Rose jerked away leaving me craving her touch. “He’s not riding tonight.”

  “I might have tried a different approach, but okay,” Daisy said.

  “Will you and Lily be okay without me? I want to make sure he rests.”

  Daisy winked. “Lily’s going to have a fit, but we’ll be fine.”

  Rose

  Travis tackled me onto his bed as soon as we got to his house.

  “Hey, you’re supposed to pamper your brain, not bounce it around.” My legs were drawn up, wrapped around his waist, and my fingers laced through his hair. The caution was sincere but his lips crashed onto mine.

  His kisses trailed along my cheek, down my neck, then dropped to my waist as he quickly regrouped and untucked my shirt.

  I was unfastening my buttons as quickly as I could while his kisses tickled my belly.

  He worked them up to my breasts, over each covered mound then trickled them back down to my waistband. Button, zipper, it all happened so fast, I must have lifted my hips to help him get my pants off but they were gone. Even my underwear.

  Of all the things I’d imagined doing with Travis, nothing equaled the way he ravished me.

  He kissed up and down my thighs. His tongue licked inches from my core. “You lied to Daisy.”

  “A white lie.” Pressure built with each touch and tease. My back arched as he slid a couple fingers into me and licked my clit, taking me to the edge but not over.

  “Why not tell her the truth?”

  I squirmed while he controlled me, finding the edge again then easing off leaving me teetering on the brink. Between heated breaths, I said, “I could just tell everyone I need to fuck you.”

  He pressed his lips against my clit, circling, flicking me with his tongue.

  The ache was almost unbearable but the tighter he wound me, the bigger the release. I was already saying prayers. My hips bucked and he pulled away. I kept them down and he pleasured me.

  He was playing a game and my orgasm was the win.

  Wasn’t it always? Not like this. It had never felt like this.

  He slid his fingers out. “You’re naughty, but I doubt you’ll tell anyone you need to fuck me.”

  Where was the next lick? I writhed in anticipation then opened my eyes to see him raised on his knees, savoring my juices on his fingers.

  I reached a hand between my legs to relieve some of the pressure because watching him wholeheartedly enjoy me was hot as hell.

  He grabbed my wrist and trapped it on top of my thigh. “Not yet.”

  “Then you better get busy.” I tried to bring my legs together but he shifted both hands onto them and forced them to stay apart.

  “Don’t move.” He paused before retreating and standing. He stripped himself while keeping his gaze fixed on me.

  His broad shoulders, muscular everything, and rock-hard erection loomed over me. The memory of his length filling my mouth, testing how much I could take, and the salty memory of his cum, heightened my arousal. But this time he was going to satisfy me the way I craved.

  “Say it,” he growled.

  “What?” I wanted to defy him, touch myself. The only reason I could resist was that he’d already taken me to new heights. I wanted to follow his plan, see what more he had to offer.

  “Tell me what you want. What you said you’d tell everyone.” He ran a hand over himself while settling his stare on my mouth as if he didn’t just want to hear the words, but see them.

  “I want you to fuck me.” I didn’t normally engage in dirty talk but it was liberating. I sounded sexy. Was it all part of his game? Did he understand me even better than I understood myself?

  He fisted his length, dragging his hand back and forth a couple of times before kneeling on the bed. “You know I do everything hard, right?”

  I bit my lower lip wishing he would get inside of me already. He’d turned me into a wanton mess. And I loved it. I surrendered control to him, something I’d never fully done. Never offered myself with the lights on. And I was asking for sex. I was owning and creating the moment. I loved the give and take he created. I loved everything about him. “Fuck me hard.”

  “That’s my girl.” He crawled over me.

  Travis grabbed my thighs, pressed them apart, and rolled his head to each side.

  I was probably coating the bed with my arousal, but I was going to need it to fit him inside. How tight would he be?

  His chest rose and fell with each breath. “I’ll try to go easy. Tell me if it hurts.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I lied. There was no certainty.

  He smirked and reached for the bedside table. As much as I wanted nothing between us, this time should be extra safe.

  With the condom in place, he sat back and kissed my clit several more times, driving me too far. I didn’t try to stop the orgasm. “Oh my god, yes. Keep doing that.”

  He grabbed my hips and held them down while planting a million torturous kisses on my center. Every tender touch steered me through my biggest release ever.

  I pushed his head away when he’d fully exhausted me.

  He crawled up my body. “Get ready for the big one.”

  “Your cock?”

  “No, your orgasm.” His evil grin ruined me. His tip prodded at my entrance and his finger worked my clit while he kissed my lips.

  In seconds the pressure was building again.

  He eased himself in, stretching my core to euphoric heights while his fingers ensured I had total stimulation. His kisses, our bond, the love and demand, it was all too much.

  “I need you.” My words were more of a beg.

  His thrusts amped up, and he matched the action with his finger. Just enough of his weight pressed me into the bed, flattening my breasts against him, offering stimulation for my nipples.

  I blew into a million pieces as he growled my name and plunged over and over again.

  We drifted, lost in our escape.

  My mind and body meshed at some point and Travis cradled me from behind. “Remember when I said this was my lucky hand?”

  “Ooh, and you got hurt. I’m not very lucky.”

  “Not the way I see it. You made me realize I wanted more out of life. Rose, will you marry me?”

  “Isn’t this a little soon?”

  “A year and three weeks isn’t soon. That’s when we met, the Frisco rodeo when you were tending to a kid’s scraped elbow. Then you went to the concession stand and ordered a footlong hot dog. Instead of making a joke, I thanked you for helping the kid. Right then, my priorities shifted and I was scared to death because I wasn’t sure I could handle you.”

  “For eating a footlong?” My attempt at humor didn’t calm the flutter in my stomach. The moment had been seared in my mind but I’d been so shocked all I’d said was ‘thank you’.

  “That too. I’ve never experienced anything like you. I’m going to cherish you forever.”

  “You do have a reputation for saying what you want.”

  “And I’ve never been more certain. I love you and I want to be your husband more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

  “I love you too, Travis. And yes, you can be my husband.

  THE END

  Want to read about the rest of Rose and T
ravis’ families? Be sure to check out the other stories in the 8 Seconds to My Heart series!

  The first in the series is UNBROKEN.

  UNBRIDLED is next!

  Check out my author page: https://amazon.com/author/barbracampbell

  If you love dirty-sweet short stories, check out my others…

  Tattoos, Firefighters, Magical Coffee, Billionaires, or School Teachers