“N-no.”
Damn, he loved that. He loved how responsive she was. “I can’t wait to put my mouth on these sweet little nipples,” he murmured into her hair as she writhed against him. “I bet they taste so damn good.”
Sage moaned, then her mouth went to his in another fierce kiss. This time, she was the aggressor, licking at his mouth as if his hand on her breast was making her crazy with need. He cupped the other, too, then he was teasing both nipples at once, and he could feel her shudder against him. Her frantic kiss turned into a little cry, and she shifted against him, restless.
“Sit up,” he whispered into her mouth. “Feed one to me. Let me taste you.”
She moaned again but did as she was told. She arched up against him, moving into his lap, and he put one hand on her plump backside, tugging her against him even as she panted, pressing her torso closer to his face.
With his lips, he captured one nipple and brushed his mouth over it in a tease, loving the frantic cry that escaped her. He licked it gently, then circled the peak before sucking lightly on it, trying to figure out the way she liked to be touched best. It all felt amazing to him, but he wanted to make Sage wild with need.
He wanted to see her lose control. To see her come with the force of her pleasure, to feel her cling to him as she lost control. Yeah, he liked the thought of that a lot.
So he coaxed and teased one breast, then moved to the other, lavishing it with attention until she was aching and whimpering against him. He could have stayed there forever, but her movements grew more and more restless, and his cock ached fiercely as it strained against his pants. He needed to slow down if he was going to take his time with her, to do this right. But he wanted to see her come, and come hard, so he claimed her mouth with his again, pulling her down until she straddled his lap. The feel of her pressing against him was exquisite, and he groaned into her soft mouth.
“Please, Jason,” she whispered, digging her fingers into his shirt as if she wanted to tear it from his body. “Please.”
“Please what?” he murmured, nipping at her mouth. God, she was gorgeous like this, all flushed and needy. “Do you need more, sweetheart?” At her eager nod, he touched the waistband of her jeans. “You want me to touch you everywhere?”
She gave a shuddering gasp, clinging to him.
“Do you need to come?”
Sage cried out, her mouth moving desperately to his again.
Oh yeah, she needed to come. With quick hands, he managed to undo the waistband of her jeans and slipped his fingers down the front. He felt the brush of curls between her thighs and then touched her folds.
And damn, she was soaked.
Sage clenched against him, panting. “Jason,” she whispered. “Oh god, Jason.”
“I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he murmured, letting her press her forehead against his as she rocked against his hand. Her movements were jerky, her breathing erratic, and she wouldn’t look at him. That was all right. He knew what she needed. With gentle fingers, he explored her folds, seeking out the button of her clit. And when he found it, she jolted against him. “Right there?” he murmured.
She gave a jerky nod, moaning.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered again and then rubbed her gently, tracing little circles around her clit. She was so damn wet and so aroused that it was making him crazy. He was going to come in his pants if he didn’t do something soon, but Sage’s pleasure was more important. She rode his hand, pressing against his fingers as if she needed more but didn’t know what. He let her lead, his focus entirely on her clit, and when she rocked against his fingers, sobbing out his name, he knew she was close. “I’ve got you,” he told her over and over again. “I’ve got you, Sage.”
Her entire body clenched and her thighs tightened around his hand as she came with a hard shudder, a swallowed moan, and a rush of wetness.
Beautiful. So beautiful. And she was his. He felt a possessive surge as she sagged against him, lost in the wake of her pleasure. He idly stroked her as she rode through the orgasm, and when she pulled away from his touch, he slid his hand out of her panties and kissed her brow. “You’re gorgeous.”
Sage gave him a shy look, kissing his mouth. She still seemed dazed and soft eyed as she gazed at him. “Did you . . .”
Jason shook his head. His needs seemed secondary to hers. His cock ached with need, but he’d ignore it and jerk off to this later as he replayed it in his head. “I’m fine.”
“Oh.” She looked disappointed and then bit her lip. “Can I . . . touch you?”
He bit back a groan. She wanted to explore him? While he was this hard and aching? “It might not be a good idea.” At her crushed look, he explained quickly, “You don’t want me coming all over your hands.”
“Why not?” she whispered, voice husky. “Don’t you want to do that?”
He groaned again, pulling her in for a hot, hard kiss. “You sure about this, sweetheart?” When she nodded, he closed his eyes, trying to get together enough control to make this last. He feared the moment she touched him, he’d start shooting off like a rocket . . . but he was also craving her touch. So he helped her ease off his thighs, and then when she crouched in front of him on the floor, he nearly lost it. “God, you’re so damn pretty, Sage. Not sure how I got so lucky.”
She just smiled at him, looking like a goddess with her tits out and rosy from his ministrations, her hair tousled and falling over her shoulders. His fingers fumbled a little as he tried to get his damn zipper open, and then he eased his cock free and let out a heavy sigh as it strained into the air. Some of the pain of constriction left, but it took everything he had not to grasp it in his hand and start stroking at the sight of her.
Sage’s eyes went wide as she gazed at his cock, and her cheeks flushed again. “It’s so big and thick.”
Well, that was flattering. “You want to touch it?”
She licked her lips, and he nearly came apart all over again. He wasn’t going to last long at this rate, not with how tight his sac was, his need ready to boil over.
Sage leaned forward and ever so delicately put her fingertips on his shaft. “Oh, you’re so warm here. And your skin is so soft.” She gripped him. “But you’re as hard as iron.”
His eyes nearly rolled back in his head when she squeezed him. He clenched a fist at his side, trying to retain control as she explored him, her hand moving up and down his length and tracing the thick veins. Her gaze went to the thick beads of pre-cum dotting the crown of his cock, and then she looked at him. “How do I make you come?”
He covered her hand with his and stroked. Once. Twice. Then he paused, watching her reaction, waiting to see if she wanted him to continue or if she wanted to stop. The look in her eyes was full of fascination, though, and when he released her hand she pumped him again. Jason gripped her hand again, and she looked up at him, her lips parted. It only took a few more pumps before he came with a low growl in his throat, his need exploding out of him and coating both of their hands with his release.
Sage kept her hand on his cock, idly stroking him even as she moved up to kiss his mouth. “I’ll get a towel.”
He watched her as she covered her breasts with her free hand, then studied his seed on the back of her other hand as she left the room. He hoped she wasn’t embarrassed, and when she returned a few moments later with a shirt on and freshly washed hands, he just smiled. He took the warm, damp towel she offered, cleaned himself off, and then pulled her against him for another round of kisses. She went into his arms happily, and he tugged her into his lap, nuzzling at the fall of her messy hair. “How do you feel?”
“Mmm,” she responded, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Languid.”
Him, too. He hadn’t come so hard in a long, long time. “That was amazing. You’re amazing.”
Sage chuckled and snuggled back against him. “You’re not so bad yo
urself. Sure you can’t stay tonight?”
If he did, he’d end up taking her virginity, and he knew that things were moving too fast just yet for that. He wanted her to have time to process things, to go over how she felt before he rushed her into bed. “I wish I could.”
Soon, he told himself. Soon he’d stay overnight. Just not tonight.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Days passed and everything was quiet. Sage didn’t hear from Greg for another three days, and even then, it was just more of the same nonsense. He wanted to see her. He wanted to have lunch with her. She did everything she could to avoid answering his texts. She didn’t see it, she’d lie. Then she’d use work as an excuse. Things were busy. She was helping the mayor finish up some last-minute projects before the office closed for Christmas week. She just didn’t have the time to have lunch with a casual friend.
It wasn’t entirely the truth, but what Greg didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him, she supposed.
The rumor mill kept running around town, though, thanks to Hannah’s efforts. Becca returned to her salon that Monday, only took scheduled appointments, and quickly closed up shop the moment her last client left. Hannah took great delight in telling everyone how sad Becca was, how her heart had been ripped out of her chest.
Sage just mostly felt guilty. Becca deserved better than that. Sage felt guilty because she suspected Greg was fixating on her . . . but mostly she felt guilty because she was so dang happy.
Jason was the one who made her happy. Being with him had brought a lightness to her heart that she hadn’t felt since her father passed. She didn’t feel alone anymore. She didn’t feel sad or left out. Now her days were filled with text messages from her boyfriend—how much did her heart skip with joy at being able to call Jason her boyfriend? And their nights were spent together, making out on her sofa in front of the fireplace or taking Achilles on long walks in the snow.
She was thrilled to see that the dog went everywhere with him, and the more they were together, the more in sync they seemed to be. Achilles remained at Jason’s side as if he were glued, and Jason looked at the dog with affection and constantly touched the yellow, furry head as if to ground himself. His PTSD flare-ups seemed to happen less often when Achilles was around. They didn’t go away entirely, of course. The dog wasn’t a magic cure, and neither was Sage’s affection. But she noticed he was able to pull himself out of a bad spell quicker than he was before, and when the panic hit, it was far less immediate and violent.
He seemed happier, too.
And dating Jason? It was like a dream come true. Sage floated in a cloud of happiness everywhere she went. They kept their dates fairly close to town because Jason had to be back at the Price Ranch early, and they needed to go to places that would turn a blind eye to Achilles, who didn’t wear service dog gear . . . because Jason wasn’t supposed to know that he was an emotional support dog. He thought he was helping Achilles, when really, Achilles had been planted at his side to help him all along.
Sometimes she worried about that, and how Jason would react if he ever found out. But when she was with him, she was so happy, and he was, too, that she thought it wouldn’t matter. At some point, she’d confess. For now, she was content to leave things as they were.
Sage did need a present for Jason for Christmas, though. She’d been racking her brain on small things that would mean something to him. Oatmeal raisin cookies, of course. She’d already bought the ingredients to make an absolutely enormous number of them for him, and the dog-shaped cookie jar to put them in. She wanted something more than just food, though. Something that would make him realize how much he meant to her. So she ran errands into Casper for work, and when she was there, she tried to shop and find things for Jason. She got him a tooled leather belt and an engraved pocketknife, but she didn’t have the perfect gift for him. Not yet.
When she was at the mall, though, she passed a lingerie shop and stared at the bright red-and-white panties and bras.
Was she brave enough to do that? To wrap herself up as the present?
She hesitated for a moment and then went inside. An hour later, she walked out with a push-up bra in bright red edged with white lace and a pair of matching thong panties. The lady behind the counter had convinced her to get a pair of thigh-high red stockings, so she did and then headed toward the shoe store for a pair of ridiculously tall heels.
If she was going to do this, she’d do it right.
* * *
• • •
Jason scanned the horizon as the horse underneath him twitched and pranced. He held the reins loosely, because he’d learned the hard way that the more he tugged, the more the horse acted up. The weather was cold, the wind blowing hard from the west, and the distant mountains were covered in caps of snow. The sun was out, but the temperature was steadily dropping, which meant more work for him. Normally, that would irk Jason, but today, it was just kind of nice to be out in the fresh air and not feel that hunted sort of panic nipping at his heels. He glanced down at the side of his horse, and Achilles was walking close by, wearing a ridiculous doggy sweater and boots that Cass had made for him since it was damn cold and muddy. Achilles lifted his feet gingerly every time he took a step, which had made Jason snort with laughter all day long, and he’d sent a video to Sage so she could share in the amusement.
Eli rode up next to him, gazing out, too. “Well?” he asked, and Jason knew this was another test.
“Wind changed again,” Jason told him. “So that storm is probably going to hit us. Since it’s just you and me, we should keep the cattle in the pasture they’re in and ride out the storm.”
Eli stared at him with hard eyes under the brim of his cowboy hat. “Waterin’ hole’s kinda chewed up with mud, though.” Not a question, just a statement.
Jason knew that was part of the test. “Yeah, but if it’s cold enough the mud’ll freeze up. I think it’s smarter for us to keep them close instead of moving them out farther because we’ll need to cake ’em with extra feed to keep them warm. Be less work for us if we keep ’em close and manage the mud instead of trying to wade through a snowbank to get to them.”
There was a long pause, and then Eli grunted. “Good call. You ride along the fence one more time to make sure there’s no breaks.”
Jason nodded and flicked the reins, and his horse headed out. Achilles got to his feet and trotted a safe distance away, and Jason held in his grin until he was far enough away that Eli wouldn’t notice.
He felt like he’d just been tested . . . and passed. He might not know a ton about ranching, but he was proving that he could work hard and that he wasn’t an idiot, and Eli gave him less shit as the days went by.
Sage would be proud of him.
And then she’d tell him to get back to work because cattle didn’t wait for daydreams. He grinned to himself and rode forward, whistling for Achilles.
* * *
• • •
By the time the two men rode in that night and tended to the horses, the wind was blowing fiercely and the snow falling hard enough that visibility wasn’t more than a few feet ahead. It wasn’t Jason’s favorite weather because it meant staying inside instead of visiting Sage, but he’d FaceTime her tonight and make sure she didn’t feel neglected. He hated that she was out at that big, lonely ranch by herself. Someone like Sage should have been surrounded by love and celebration at Christmastime, not sitting alone on her couch and FaceTiming him. He wanted to invite her up to the Price Ranch for Christmas Eve, but he didn’t think she’d abandon her cattle, so he’d have to go to her. That would mean staying late and waking up early, but he’d do it for her.
He was starting to realize he’d do just about anything for her. Sage just made him so damn happy, and he felt intensely protective of her at the same time. She was smart and capable about so many things, and so completely innocent about others.
Cass dished out big plates of a m
eaty casserole and put her baby in his seat nearby. The dogs were curled up in the corner, watching them eat—all except Achilles, who remained at Jason’s side, ever clingy. He didn’t mind that, though. He never gave the dog scraps at the table; learned that with Truck. Dinner was pleasant enough, and Jason decided he’d ask a favor.
“You guys know I’ve been dating Sage Cooper for a short time,” he began.
“Very short,” Eli said.
Cass swatted him with her hand and beamed. “I think it’s wonderful. Sage is a lovely girl and deserves to be happy. You should invite her over for dinner sometime.”
“She’d love that,” he told them, and he knew she would. “She’s all alone at that big ranch, and I hate the thought of her spending Christmas by herself. I thought I’d run it past you two, see if I could spend Christmas Eve there with her and come back the next morning. I’d do all the morning chores here before heading out, and I’d be back here in time to do the rest, but I’d be handling things a little past the usual schedule.”
Eli and his wife exchanged a look.
Eli shrugged. “It’ll give me and Cass a chance to have some alone time.”
Cass smiled.
He felt relieved. “I’ll make sure to take care of my normal set of duties before I head out, and if something comes up, you can always call me.”
“Oh, it’d have to be a real emergency for Eli to call you,” Cass said, her mouth twitching with amusement. “You know how he feels about phones.”
Eli just shot his merry wife a look, but Jason could have sworn that one corner of the man’s hard mouth turned up in a smile.
“Did you get Sage something for Christmas?” Cass asked between bites. “Do you need ideas?”
“Babe,” Eli murmured.
“I’m just curious,” Cass said brightly. “It’s just . . . you know Sage. She gets everyone something. She even bakes special cookies for the dogs.”
A Cowboy Under the Mistletoe Page 18