Going downstairs, the cooler air made goosebumps scatter across her arms. But she couldn’t just lie in bed and wait. Restless energy spiraled through her.
Cash’s beer sat on the table, half full. She took it and started to dump the contents into the sink when a better thought came to her. She brought the bottle to her lips and took a long drink. Knowing that his lips had been there moments before made sparks of excitement ripple through her. Her lips still tingled from his kisses.
She moaned and set the bottle on the sink. She had it bad—very, very bad, and yet good in the same way.
Once he got inside of her, she would explode.
She went into the living room and switched on the lamp. The light feathered across the walls, and the pictures that lined each inch, a reminder that Cash still loved his wife, even if she was gone.
Dakota swallowed and scanned the space, acid burning her insides. How could she compete? Cash was available maybe physically, but not emotionally.
Turning off the lamp, she left the room and went back upstairs.
****
Cash parked the truck in front of the house, seeing through the windows that it was dark inside. He guessed Dakota had gone to bed and a twinge of disappointment washed through him. He’d taken longer than he’d expected, but at least now the calf was fine and his day was done—he hoped.
Inside the house, he hooked his hat on the coat rack and walked to the laundry room, tugged off his shirt and dropped it into the basket. He scanned the floor of the small room and smiled. He hadn’t seen the floor in a long time. Since Dakota had come to stay, she’d helped out more than she could ever understand, and not just with household chores. He had reason now to be better—to do better. Instead of leaving a load of clothes for her to do, he grabbed the armful in the basket, dropped it into the washer, measured detergent, and stabbed the start button. She’d be proud of him, he hoped. He certainly didn’t want to take advantage of her.
Going up the stairs, taking them two at a time, he had a new bounce in his step. Thanks to his wife. Stopping at the top floor, he glanced from left to right. He could go to the left and end up in his bedroom, alone, again. Right would take him to Dakota’s room where a slice of heaven awaited, if she still wanted him.
He followed instinct and peeked through the open door of Dakota’s bedroom. He sucked in a breath at the lovely sight. The covers were pulled up to her chin, but one, sexy leg hung out, showing off the toned limb all the way up to her inner thigh. His cock jerked and his balls throbbed.
Damn, he shouldn’t have left her earlier. There came a point when a man had to make choices, had to start thinking of his priorities.
He sighed. It was time he also listened to his own preaching about what he needed—what he should do. Happiness dangled before him, a huge neon open sign, tempting him to take what life had to offer. And he stood on the edge of the big game, waiting to make a play of a lifetime. This wasn’t a game though. One wrong step and his future could be destroyed for a second time. He couldn’t deny the feelings he had for Dakota. Hell, truth was, he was falling hard.
How could a woman like Dakota be interested in a redneck like him? She’d lived in the city, liked traveling, and spoke of dreams. Could she be happy here at Havens Ranch? A rancher’s wife could be tough. Being a rancher was tough. Long evenings on the land could put a hurting on a marriage.
Scrubbing his jaw, he took a step inside of the bedroom. He forced his past behind the locked gate and concentrated on the moment.
He wanted Dakota, and she wanted him too. This realization excited him. Tweaked parts of him that needed a woman—but not just any woman. Dakota.
She stirred and Cash stood paralyzed. Her eyes came open, she blinked, and one corner of her mouth lifted into a welcoming grin. And when she sat up, the sheet dropped to her waist, her nipples were outlined under the thin material of the gown. His mouth salivated, his lungs ached. He wanted this—he wanted her. Hell, he wanted to touch and kiss every part of her.
He took a step closer, the wood creaking under his boots as he reached the edge of the bed. “Hi,” he said.
“Hi.” Her sleep husky voice rippled through him like endorphins. “I didn’t think you were coming back.”
“I’m sorry. It took longer than I thought. But the calf is fine.”
“Good. Join me.” She lifted the blanket as an offering.
****
The bed lowered under Cash’s weight as he sat next to her hip. Dakota reached up and pushed her fingers through his thick hair, liking the feeling under her fingers. He bent close, kissing her softly, but it quickly turned into a deep yearning, searching, exploring. She opened her mouth, allowing his tongue to slip inside where it explored.
Sliding his hands to the hem of the gown, he slipped it over her head, dropping it to the floor. Her nipples pebbled and the cooler air made goosebumps scatter across her skin.
“My God, you’re so beautiful.” His deep voice penetrated her skin.
He stood, removed his clothes until he was naked, his erection full and rigid. Every coiled muscle, every inch of tanned flesh…he was gorgeous.
He came back to her, sealing her mouth with his. She loved the feel of his body against hers, the warmth radiating from him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and guided him further into the bed until their bodies were pressed together. He deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue in and out, and sliding down the length of hers in a delicious, sexy slide.
She counted the seconds in her head…one, two, three…attempting to control the whirlwind sweeping through her. Controlling her emotions, the forbidden sensations, was futile. She gave in to the sparks flooding her, slipping her fingers into his hair and kissing him with all of her pent up turmoil. He came at her, his actions far from gentle, and yet not hurtful. He was a starving man, hungry, devouring her. Lapping her up like he couldn’t get enough.
He tasted good, felt even better. Intoxicating and mind-boggling.
When he broke for air, she watched him, not removing her hold on his neck. “This feels so right and yet I’m afraid you’ll pull away.”
Cash trailed moist kisses down her chin, her neck, pausing at the dip at the base of her throat. “I couldn’t stop this between us if my life depended on it.” Wrapping her legs around his waist, his erection rubbed her moist seam through her panties. “It has a mind of its own.”
He moved his hand down her arm, sliding along the sensitive skin on the inside of her elbow. She shivered as tingles shot up into her shoulder. Her pulse quickened, snaps of fire shooting through her veins. Her thighs tightened around his hips as she succumbed to the blanket of sensation. His fingers traveled up her side, skimming across her tingling nipple, a whispering touch that left her wanting more. His hard cock pressed the apex of her thighs.
Any hesitancy she had vanished. She couldn’t deny herself the pleasure of lying in his arms, feeling his touch, his kiss. He skimmed her bare breasts. She moaned and arched against his warm palm.
She lifted her mouth, capturing his bottom lip and gently nipping the full curve, then sucking it. His breath came in pants, but she wasn’t having any sympathy. She darted her tongue deep inside his mouth, twirling her tongue along his, then sucking it until a deep moan escaped his chest.
Slipping her hand to his chest, she found one flat nipple and slid the tip of her short nail across the nub. He jerked and pulled back a mere inch. “You, minx. You’re going to be the death of me.”
Kissing his jaw, she slid her tongue to his chest, continuing to flick his hard nipple. “I love your scent,” she said against his flesh.
“Same here, sweetheart. I couldn’t ever get enough.” He palmed her breasts, squeezing and rolling the nipples with his fingers.
She brought her face up, watching him through the veil of her lashes. “I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you—need you.”
He laid his palm against her cheek. “I want to take you places you’ve never been.” He bent and captur
ed her ear lobe between his teeth, gently working the flesh, licking and suckling. She sank her fingers into his shoulders, clinging to him like a life boat, “Yes, baby, we’re heading in the right direction.”
His husky voice vibrated her nerve endings. She needed things to move faster.
He drew back, skimming his gaze over her. She lay there in only her panties, underneath the heat of his stare. Any other time she would be self-conscious, but the way he looked at her, made all thought of her nudity unimportant.
****
Cash stared at the beauty before him. There was only a slip of satin between them and he wanted to rip them from her hips. He wanted to drive into her, hard and demanding, but he had to keep himself under control. Take things slow—give her the pleasure he so wanted her to have. He wanted her to moan his name, be so wet and hot that he branded his name on her body like a tattoo.
He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but he counted himself damn lucky that a woman like Dakota came into his life.
She hooked her thumbs inside the elastic of her panties and pushed them below the small patch of soft curls on her mound. Desire raked through him as he admired her treasure. He slipped the material lower, dragging them down her thighs and to her ankles, and she gave them a kick. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this hard.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this wet.” Her eyes twinkled.
“Let me be the judge of that.” He slid his fingers along her inner thighs and as he reached her core, her warmth heated his knuckles, enticing him to continue. He glided one finger down the seam and sunk the pad into the moist nest, finding the nub. The pearl swelled against his finger. “I don’t know if I can wait any longer.”
“Then don’t.”
He blew out a long breath, grabbed her hips, and positioned himself above her. He pushed his cock against her slick opening, but paused. She looked at him, question filling her eyes. “Promise me things won’t get crazy between us.”
“Cash…”
“Dakota?”
“Things won’t become crazy. I promise.”
He thrust inside of her, long and deep. Her body was on fire and slick with need. He continued to pump inside of her, feeling her muscles grip him, dragging him deeper. The bed squeaked and the headboard hit the wall as he moved with a faster pace.
He slowed his plunges, lowering his head and licking one breast, then the other. Swirling his tongue around the swollen bead. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to blow before things got out of the park. Sliding his hand between their naked bodies, he slipped his hand to her sex, spreading the folds and finding her pearl. He rubbed his fingers around it, rubbed the clit, coating his fingers in her silken juices.
Her breaths came in ragged pants and every muscle tensed. She was close…so close that he could feel it. “Let it come, baby,” he coaxed.
He continued his attention on her pussy, drawing her orgasm to a head until she jerked and arched her back. He watched as her eyes darkened and her lips slightly parted, a satisfied moan slipping from her mouth. She came unglued and he held her close. Her heels dug into his thighs and her legs tightened around his hips. When some of the spasms left her body, he started to thrust again, moving his hips in a rapid pace. He buried his body deep, plunging and pushing as deep as her body would take him. The tension started at the tip of his cock, spiraling like waves of heat upward, slowly pushing into every part of his body until his fingers and toes tingled. When all of the throbbing left, he collapsed to her side and wrapped his arm around her waist, dragging her close.
Chapter Thirteen
Dakota made her way to the barn, carrying carrots. She’d grabbed some from the flourishing garden while she gathered enough vegetables for the stew she planned to make for dinner. She found it relaxing to dig in the dirt and find stuff she normally found on the local grocery shelves. She’d never lived in an area where she could grow her own produce, but she was starting to believe she had more of a country girl streak than she thought.
It seemed surreal to think of how much her life had changed in the last few weeks. She’d always been a city girl and here she was, smack dab in the middle of the country with dirt under her nails. She laughed.
She couldn’t go back to the life before the here and now. It seemed so lonely back in that other life.
After last night, nothing would be the same. Just as she’d known would happen, Cash had brought her more pleasure she could even imagine. He’d showed her how giving he could be, and how much she’d missed being held. But sometime this morning, he’d gotten up and left her bed. Work never gave him a break.
If he went back to hot and cold, she would go nuts. She wasn’t asking for him to change overnight, but she couldn’t handle him taking one step forward, only to take two steps back. She would find out where he stood later, maybe.
The sun was already warm and sweat beaded between her breasts as she walked through the field. She stopped and listened—nothing but a bird chirping, unlike the honking of horns, engines roaring, and the fast hustle and bustle of people going nowhere. The shop would be renovated soon and she could concentrate on the challenge of running a business, as well as balancing a family.
Grinning, she started walking again, the tips of her boots wet from the dew. She couldn’t get her mind off of the opportunities, and Cash—especially Cash. She still reeled from the post-sex blush. She and Cash had something real, making her all ooey and gooey on the inside.
Maybe it was finally her turn to find happiness.
She needed to tread carefully where he was concerned though. The man wore a wedding band, but everything in this house shouted of his past. Dakota wasn’t a psychologist, but she wondered how productive it was for them to live in a shrine set up in Rebecca’s memory. Guilt plagued her. She had no right to feel this way. Just because she married Cash didn’t mean that she could erase his past. She didn’t want to. Dakota had grown to love Becca, cared very much for her, and Dakota believed she was responsible for keeping Rebecca’s memory alive, but she couldn’t feel like second best.
She approached the barn and decided to check on the calf first.
Inside, she found momma cow and calf in the same area where she’d found them before, although the calf was standing on his feet and looked much livelier than when she saw him last. “Hi there.”
The cow lifted her head but barely gave any attention to Dakota until she stepped closer. “I have something you might like.” She waved the carrot.
Momma cow made a clicking sound in her throat and nibbled at the vegetable. Dakota let it drop and the cow continued eating. She decided to play it safe and stay outside of the door. At least she could see that the baby calf was fine.
Outside, she followed the fence and stepped up to the gray mare that stuck her head over the top rail. “Hi there, pretty.” Dakota smiled. “I have something for you.” She held up one of the carrots.
The mare sniffed her offering and finally took it from her, chomping it. When the carrot was gone, the mare nuzzled her nose against Dakotas’s hand.
“I did right by bringing a gift, huh?” The last time she’d been around a horse was when she was little and went to a friend’s birthday party at a farm. What she knew about horses and cows could fit inside a thimble. But she wanted to learn more. She scratched the mare behind the ears, then moved further down the fence.
A black stallion stood proudly, eyeing her inquisitively. Dakota’s stomach popped into her throat. He was a big boy and intimidating. She approached him slowly. “Hi there, fellow.” He wasn’t kicking the ground or snorting loudly so she guessed he didn’t mind her presence. She held up the last carrot and dangled it.
The horse didn’t take her offering as quickly as the mare did. Maybe he didn’t like her. Disappointment washed over her. He blinked and stamped his front hoof. Was he trying to tell her something?
Stepping closer, she held the carrot higher and he looked more eager. Holding it above the rail, he finally too
k it and chomped it. “Are we friends now?”
He stared at her. She wanted to touch him, rub his long, pretty mane, but fear held her steady. “If I’d brought you sugar, I bet you would have liked me more.”
“Sugar is always better,” a deep voice said from behind her.
Dakota whirled and found Cash standing a few feet behind her, his tall, muscular body silouetted by the sun. He tipped his hat in greeting and all memories of last night bombarded her brain cells. Her knees weakened and she grabbed the fence, but when the stallion nuzzled her fingers she jerked away, a squeal barreling up her throat.
A grin spread Cash’s lips, a glint in his eye. “Looks like he wanted a taste of sugar after all.”
She blushed and felt the heat cover her flesh. Taking a step away from the fence, he didn’t bother stepping aside to let her pass. He stayed there, watching her. Wow, he looked good this morning. He hadn’t shaved today and had a thin layer of scruff…and she knew exactly what a five o’clock shadow could do to her pale, sensitive skin. She had the markings to show for his kisses.
Meandering closer, she stopped until her boots met his, looking up at him.
“You uncomfortable around Clover?” he asked.
“Clover? Is that the stallion’s name?”
He nodded. “Becca named him.”
“I didn’t know you were back from dropping her off at school already.” She suddenly felt the need for explanation.
His gaze held hers, his eyes twinkling. He leaned closer and did what she’d wanted. He kissed her. It was hot, passion-filled, and more intense than the morning sun shining down upon them.
She melted against him, clinging to his shoulders, digging her fingers into the cotton material of his shirt. He gathered her up, wrapping his brawny arms around her waist. He smelled so good.
He broke the kiss and she whimpered. He grinned. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m not finished yet.”
There was that endearment again. He lifted her into his arms and she clutched her arm around his neck. “Where are we going? What are you doing?”
Second Sunrise Cowboy (Second Chance Book 8) Page 15