He skimmed a hand from the base of her throat, over her breast and down her belly. When he discovered how wet she was, he breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction that shimmered through her entire body. His movements were slow, deliberate, erasing any fear that pain was in charge of this dance.
Rachel relaxed for the first time since she’d seen Nikki in front of the Watering Hole. Despite everything, he was gorgeous. Part of her wanted to turn on every light in the house so she could see the details, but this was perfect, too. Knowing no one was going to disturb them, seeing how much he wanted her.
She ran her hands down his back, his muscles twitching beneath her palm. The soft hiss of breath as she reached the upper curve of his behind was nice, but how he plunged two fingers inside her was even better.
Capturing her mouth again, he moaned as he thrust, mirroring the rhythm with his tongue, letting her know what he wanted to do next. She did her share of moaning, too, so afraid she was close to coming. She wanted to, very much, but not yet. Not until she...
When she squeezed his fingers, his gasp broke their kiss. The reaction made her even more eager to explore. Her hands skimmed his sides as she moved them up, then briefly let him go to grasp his shoulders.
Stilling his hand, he let out a surprised huff when she gently pushed him away. “What are you doing?”
“Everything,” she said. “As soon as you’re on your back.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Everything?”
“You’ll never know if you don’t do as you’re asked.”
“So bossy,” he said, then frowned as he slipped his fingers out of her and lowered himself on the bed, but the stubborn mule pulled her down with him.
She was pressed against his side with his arm around her, and he was kissing her again. They got a little too enthusiastic before they both settled down to a wet, hot and slow tango.
Touching him was a study in self-control. With her thrumming heartbeat and the urgings of her more-than-ready body, she wanted to feel his strength and test those amazing muscles. Instead, she ran her fingertips gently down his body, all the way to his thick and eager erection.
“Oh, God.” He groaned as if she were killing him instead of moving her hand around his shaft. He turned just enough on his side to capture her mouth with his own and run his hand down to her hip.
His hiss made her still her hand, certain he was moving too much, too fast.
“Dammit, Rachel,” he said, his voice so deep and rough it gave her the shivers. “I don’t give a damn about my ribs. I’ve ridden bulls in worse shape than this.”
She looked up into his eyes, seeing the strain in his neck, in his shoulders. “What do you want?”
“You,” he said, “in every way possible.” Then he stole her breath in another overwhelming kiss, using his tongue and teeth and warm moist breath to drive her wild. When he finally pulled back, both of them desperate for air, he murmured, “Help me with the condom.”
With a bit of searching, Rachel found the packets. She tucked one between the mattress and the box spring in case she needed it in a hurry. The other, she opened, and watched his face tense as she slipped it over him.
When she gripped him around the base, then moved her hand up until she could sweep her thumb over the head, his curses made her smile.
“If you care about me at all, you’ll stop that right now,” he said, his muscles tensing from his thighs to his neck.
She released him instantly. “Did I hurt you?”
He let go a long trembling breath. “No. I don’t want to come yet.”
She smiled as she moved back into position beside him, kissing whatever part of him she could on her way there.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” he said, lifting her chin so he could kiss her mouth.
Nothing extravagant this time. Just a sweet, gentle brush of lips and warm breath.
Blushing, she assumed he didn’t want an answer. He’d told her earlier she was beautiful. Of course it was only pillow talk...but coming from Matt, she knew it was sincere.
“You are a stunner,” he murmured, his eyes darkening. “If I could, I’d spend days and days showing you.” He caressed her breast again, then straightened his hand and brushed her aching nipple with his palm.
“That feels good.”
“That’s only one way,” he said, breaking to kiss her cheek, the tip of her nose. “I know more, but for you I want to invent things, brand-new ways to bring you to the brink. Over and over again.”
He rolled farther onto his side, his still-hard erection startling against her thigh. His hand moved down her flank until he cupped her just above the back of her knee, and brought her leg up to rest on his hip. Then he slipped his hand between them, rubbing inside her with his thumb, then circling her swollen clit.
“You’re everything I missed about this town,” he said, thrusting slowly against her as she couldn’t help responding to the insistent pressure exactly where she needed it. “I tried to forget I’d ever lived here, ever heard of Blackfoot Falls, but the memory of you kept pulling me back.”
“We were so young,” she said, her head lolling back as he nibbled a path down her neck.
“Too young,” he whispered.
The pressure between her legs grew more intense, and she could already feel the heat pooling deep inside her. She realized she was squeezing the life out of his biceps, but she couldn’t help it, not when she was gasping and arching and so, so close. “Oh, God,” she said, the spasms stealing her thoughts and her air, but it was perfect. Perfect.
“Rachel,” he whispered, as he lifted her knee and his thick heat slid inside her. The next quake had him moaning low and long.
When he was all the way in, she used her calf to bring him closer still. His open mouth came down between her neck and shoulder, and her body stifled his cry.
She was the one to move first. Not even a heartbeat went by before he took over. Once they’d established a pulsing rhythm, he raised his head, looked at her with his dark dilated eyes and his need, and kissed her until she could barely stand the pleasure.
It didn’t take long. They’d been too keyed up for that, but she didn’t give a damn. She could feel his body getting ready, hear it in his breathing as he released her mouth with a gasp. Even though the aftershocks were still coming in waves, she struggled to keep her eyes open, to see him abandoned and vulnerable. To watch as he came apart.
His head went back with a silent scream and his body stilled and trembled at the same time. If she hadn’t climaxed already, she would have exploded just from this moment. To know this about him. To have the memory stored away.
She buried her face against his neck, and held him as tightly as she dared. There was no way to tell how long it was before his hand moved down her back, those rough hands so gentle it brought tears to her eyes.
For tonight she’d pretend Matt was hers. And she was his. Since it was make-believe, she threw in that it would be forever.
15
MATT DROPPED RACHEL OFF at the Sundance shortly after dawn. They knew by now almost everyone would have heard about what happened outside the Watering Hole so they weren’t trying to be sneaky. Neither of them had slept much, but Rachel had wanted to get home before the guests woke and started asking questions.
On his way to the Lone Wolf, he found a bottle of aspirin in the glove compartment and downed three of the suckers. He’d refused to take anything in front of Rachel. She would’ve blamed herself and made a big deal out of every little twinge. He’d taken a mild beating last night, plain and simple. He’d seen red and fought angry. This was partly his fault. It didn’t mean he wouldn’t make Wallace fire those guys’ asses.
Oh, Matt knew Wallace would argue, but maybe it was time for the old man to see another side of his son. Because those two were leaving even if Matt had to tie them to the bumper of his truck.
Approaching the house he saw the SUV parked in front. The Dodge pickup belonging to one of
the guys sat near the bunkhouse. Part of him had wondered if Tony and Eddie might’ve sneaked off sometime last night. But then why should they? Probably figured Wallace would back them up.
Matt turned off the engine but stayed behind the wheel for a minute, stuffing the anger that had begun to resurface. Thinking about Rachel soft and warm beneath him last night helped calm him. Man, he hadn’t wanted to let her go this morning. He’d have kept her in bed all day with him if he could’ve gotten away with it. The sex had been incredible, but it wasn’t even about that for him. She made him feel like a new man.
She hadn’t changed. Not in all the ways that counted. She was still generous and caring and honest. And the way she defended him...hell, no one took his side like Rachel. He loved his mother, but he hadn’t been blind to her limitations. When he was younger he’d resented that she never stuck up for him.
And Nikki was great. She was a damn fine sister, especially considering they’d known each other only two years. But Rachel? She was one of a kind. He doubted a day had ever passed that she hadn’t believed in him.
The door of the bunkhouse opened and a hand he didn’t recognize strolled toward the stables. Matt waited until no one was in sight before he got out. He wanted to give Wallace the skinny on last night before he saw anyone else.
Inside was quiet, and he’d hoped to smell coffee brewing. He started a pot himself, then checked Wallace’s office. He wasn’t anywhere on the first floor, so Matt took the stairs—too fast, because his bruised ribs burned like a mother. Damn, he hoped confronting Wallace’s guard dogs didn’t get physical. If it came to that, Matt knew he could count on Petey, though he’d hate to put the guy in the middle.
Wallace’s bedroom door was open. Matt ducked his head in to make sure he wasn’t asleep or passed out, or hell, even dead. The last thought jarred Matt more than he would’ve guessed.
The bed was empty, unmade, and the adjoining bathroom door was open. Matt called out but got no answer. When Wallace wasn’t hungover, he tended to be an early riser and drank coffee first thing. Matt crossed the room and confirmed the old man wasn’t passed out on the bathroom floor.
He took the stairs slower this time, pausing for a look out the front windows. There was more activity outside, but he saw neither his father nor the two men, so he filled a mug and went back to Wallace’s office. He’d show up sooner or later, and Matt figured once he’d finished his coffee, he’d stretch out on the couch with his eyes closed while he waited.
Taking a sip, he poked around the room, which was cleaner now, thanks to Lucy. Even the papers on the desk had been stacked in neat piles. Matt noticed a ledger and remembered Wallace hated computers and used spreadsheets instead. The financial condition of the Lone Wolf was none of Matt’s business, but he wanted to know where things stood if Nikki were to eventually take over.
He moved around to the other side of the desk. The middle drawer was partially open, and his gaze caught on a newspaper clipping. It was a picture of Matt from an old Houston Chronicle column. He opened the drawer all the way and found a whole stack of articles from different newspapers, even copies of blogs. Sifting through them, he saw that they went back to the beginning of his career.
Shocked, he set down his mug. Wallace had never said a word to him. Not when Matt had returned to his mother’s sickbed or after she’d passed. Of course Matt knew his father was aware of his success. No getting away from the talk in a place like Blackfoot Falls, but the man had said nothing. Not a word. Would it have killed him to have once told Matt he was proud of him?
A few of the clippings were worn with age, but they’d been preserved by plastic sleeves. He had to laugh when he saw that an earlier article had been torn in half and crumpled, then taped back together. Could’ve been his mother or Lucy who’d rescued the clipping. Though that didn’t change the fact that Wallace had kept it.
The sudden and unwelcome lump in Matt’s throat pissed him off. Too little, too late as far as he was concerned. If he hadn’t been poking around he wouldn’t even have known the old man gave a rat’s ass about him. He stuffed the articles back into the drawer. He’d long passed the point of trying to please the stubborn bastard, damned if he was going to let this make him soft.
What was important now was dealing with the men from last night. Nikki wouldn’t want to set foot on the place until they’d cleared out, and Matt didn’t blame her. He thought he heard the kitchen door slam, and grabbed his mug.
Wallace stood at the sink washing his hands.
“We have to talk,” Matt said, tensing, ready for an argument. For all he knew, Tony and Eddie had already given him their version of events.
Wearing Levi’s and an untucked shirt, his hair uncombed, Wallace turned to him and snorted. “Good morning.”
“Now.” Matt walked past him to the coffeepot.
“Can I dry my hands first?”
He ignored the sarcastic tone, even figured he might’ve deserved it. He wasn’t being smart. No sense heading in with a stick up his ass. “You want a cup?”
“Yeah, I’ll take one.”
Matt could feel his father pausing to eye him, then he heard the refrigerator door open. Wallace set a carton of cream on the counter and got a spoon out of the drawer.
“You used to drink coffee black,” Matt said, and slid the steaming mug toward him.
“My gut can’t take it anymore.” Wallace frowned at him. “What happened to you?”
So he hadn’t heard. Matt let out a breath. “There was an incident last night,” he said, “outside the Watering Hole.”
“You were fighting?”
Matt almost smiled at the surprised expression. Yeah, as if the old buzzard hadn’t gotten into his share when he was younger. “It was one of your guys,” Matt said, holding on to his anger when skepticism crossed Wallace’s features.
“Who?”
“Eddie.” Matt watched Wallace lean heavily against the counter and felt a moment’s pity. But then he looked into the flagrant disbelief in his face and the sympathy vanished. “He was bothering Nikki. I stepped in.”
Wallace seemed confused, his gaze wandering out the window. “What did he want with her?”
“I didn’t stop to ask. When I drove up, she was trying to get away from him. Does he know she’s your daughter?” Matt wasn’t sure why he asked. It didn’t matter.
“Nobody knows,” Wallace murmured, still staring off. “Was Tony there?”
“He came out of the bar while Eddie and I were fighting.”
“He jumped you?”
“To be fair, I don’t think he knew Eddie had put his hands on Nikki.” Matt gave a noncommittal shrug. “But the way I see it, he’s gotta go, too.”
Wallace met his gaze. “Is she okay?”
Matt nearly dropped his mug. He hadn’t expected the question, or the concern in his father’s eyes. “She grabbed a two-by-four and was ready to beat the shit out of ’em.”
A faint smile tugged at Wallace’s withered lips.
The pressure in Matt’s chest eased. “You understand you have to fire them.”
For a moment, Wallace looked torn, but then he nodded. His brief indecision was enough to get Matt’s temper sparked. But he talked himself down, remembering that his father had come to depend on the two men. The bastard had never needed anyone before, and God knew he deserved to be humbled, but Matt wouldn’t gloat.
“Well, let’s go, son.” Wallace set down the coffee he’d barely touched. “I suspect it’ll give you some satisfaction to do the deed yourself.”
Shocked, Matt stared. Had he heard right? Son? What the hell was that about? He shoved his questions aside to concentrate on what he was about to do and prepared for trouble.
He followed Wallace out the kitchen door to the bunkhouse. Wallace had one of the wranglers call Eddie and Tony to come outside. The men had been asleep, and Matt was pleased to see the swelling in Eddie’s jaw, the bruising around his right eye. That he looked hungover, too, was icing on
the cake.
“You have an hour to pack and get off the Lone Wolf,” he said without preamble. “Go quietly and no charges will be filed.”
The men were stupid enough to look shocked.
His bloodshot eyes brimming with malice, Eddie glowered at Wallace. “You don’t wanna do this, old man.”
His father had never backed down in his life. But Wallace actually seemed a little cowed. His jaw set, he shook his head. “You shouldn’t have touched her,” he said to Eddie, then looked to Tony. “Nikki’s my daughter.”
Tony cursed, and shot a disgusted look at his friend, who hadn’t stopped glaring. It made the hair on the back of Matt’s neck stand up. The guy didn’t scare him, but Matt had the strange feeling something else was going on he didn’t understand and that bothered him.
“I’ll have your final checks ready.” Wallace spoke only to Tony, who nodded, his expression resigned.
“Come on, Eddie.” He bumped his friend’s shoulder.
Matt touched his dad’s arm, and they both turned to walk back to the house. Nothing left to do but hope Eddie didn’t cause trouble and be prepared if he did. “Thanks,” Matt murmured. “For doing right by Nikki.”
“You think you can get her to come back here?” Wallace asked, his head down, his feet shuffling. “I’d like to talk to her.”
“I can try.” Matt watched Wallace take an unsteady step onto the flagstone walkway leading to the porch, and dammit, another pang of pity undercut him. Not that he was softening. The years of hate and resentment ran too deep. But Wallace had asked to see Nikki. Matt was glad to see him making an effort, that’s all. “Can you stay sober till then?”
He sighed as if the whole world had been dumped on his shoulders. “I can try.”
* * *
FROM THE SECOND FLOOR, Rachel saw Matt’s truck coming down the drive and she raced downstairs. At his second knock she opened the door and almost threw her arms around him before she remembered his ribs.
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