by Piper Rayne
How had he not known that?
And his work made her like him even more? That was the sexiest thing she could have said.
He hesitated no longer and did exactly as she asked. And as his lips closed over hers, for the first time in his life, it felt as if he’d truly come home.
Chapter Six
Jewel slid both arms around Bobby’s neck and flattened her body to his, and she’d have scaled him like a tree if he hadn’t lifted her up at the same time. Hands cupping her bottom, he pressed her to an impressively large erection. And with a grunt, he backed her into the cabinet.
Something fell over, but the sound slowed neither of them.
“Jewel.” Bobby tugged at one of her knees, and she clamped both legs around him. He finished his thought with a groan.
“Bed,” she uttered. It might be fun to be taken against a wall—or a cabinet—but she didn’t want to risk breaking any of the pieces she’d just laid eyes on. “Hurry,” she added, and he complied. And as she landed on the bed she’d eyed earlier, Bobby’s shirt disappeared over his head.
She was about to have sex with Bobby Brandon, and oh, Lord, what was underneath his clothing seemed as if it was going to be just as delectable as what could be found on the outside.
“Come here.” She held her arms out, wiggling her fingers in desperation to touch him. For him to touch her. But he apparently had other ideas. Because instead of moving to her side, he suddenly slowed.
He unzipped his jeans. He kicked off his boots.
She panted in anticipation.
And then . . . he did nothing.
“What?” she begged. Her breathiness gave away her level of need, and she rose to her knees. Her chest heaved.
“You’re still wearing all your clothes.”
“Oh.” She looked down, and a sly grin rose to her lips. The tip of her tongue touched her lip. “And you’d like me to take them off, I presume?”
She undid the top button of her shirt, her smile as naughty as his, but stopped when Bobby held up a hand. He shook his head. “I changed my mind.”
Pure evil smiled out at her. A clump of hair had fallen forward, swooping down over one of Bobby’s eyes, and he suddenly looked like a pirate, come to ravish her. A shiver racked over her body.
“Tell me what you want,” she offered. She would do anything he asked.
“Over the couch.” He didn’t ask, he told. And her breath caught at the command. She could do over the couch. She could freaking love over the couch.
He nodded toward the only piece of furniture in the living room, his movements slow and his eyes never leaving hers, then he slipped one hand down the front of his jeans.
He stroked himself, and she went instantly wet.
She watched, frozen in place, as he gripped his cock. He slowly stroked, his fist moving up and down, and she licked her lips. She nearly begged to put him in her mouth right then and there, but he seemed intent on other plans. And since she expected she’d get the opportunity to have her way with him later, she obeyed.
“The couch,” she repeated and rose from the bed. Only, as she set one foot on the floor, she intentionally dragged her fingers over the seam of her jeans.
Bobby moaned.
“Clothes on or off?”
His eyes glittered. “Jeans undone. I’ll take care of the rest.”
She bit her lip. Yes, sir!
Her breathing didn’t improve as she hurried to the couch, but as she moved, she also never took her eyes off him. He continued to stroke himself, and she could see that the tip of him now glistened.
“Bobby,” she pleaded when she bent over the back of the furniture, pointed her tush in the air, and he didn’t immediately follow.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “Just stay right where you are. I’m enjoying the view.”
She chuckled. But then she squirmed, wiggling her butt as she unbuckled and unzipped her jeans. She pushed them slightly down over the tops of her hips, and when she peeked back over her shoulder again, she could see that playtime for Bobby was nearing an end.
His eyes had darkened, and his chest now heaved, same as hers.
“Take me, Bobby,” she begged. “I want you inside me. I’ve wanted you for years.”
She didn’t have to wait any longer. Bobby was behind her in an instant, his cock now out of his jeans and pressing between her still-clothed butt cheeks. His arms circled her, his fingers ripping at her shirt, until at least two of the buttons flew free. He was a wild man as he reached inside and palmed one breast. He dragged it from the lace of her bra and pinched her nipple hard.
Her knees went weak.
“Shit,” she whispered. Her head dropped to his chest. “Hurry, Bobby. Please. Or I’m going to freaking come before you ever touch me.”
He chuckled low and deep, the sound vibrating through her body. Then, with arms still surrounding her, he kept one hand at her breasts but slipped the other to the front of her jeans.
He slid inside her panties.
“Bobby!” she cried out at the first touch of his fingers to her clit. Her breasts ached. Her nipples hardened into painful peaks.
“I’ve got you, baby.”
He continued to fondle her, his fingers aware of exactly where to touch and how long to linger, and she squirmed against his dick. She needed this man inside of her.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he whispered as his other hand squeezed at her breasts.
His thumb flicked over a nipple, causing her to jerk, before he pinched down hard once again.
“Fuck.” She reared back, desperately wanting his mouth where his fingers were.
He nipped at the side of her neck and pinched the other nipple at the same time, and the most exquisite pleasure shot through her. Her knees weakened even more.
“I need to come, Bobby,” she pleaded, the sound desperate and weak. She dropped her head to her chest and squeezed her eyes closed tight. “I need it so bad.”
“Soon, baby.” He kissed the back of her neck. “Shhh,” he whispered. “Very soon.”
His fingers slowed then, as if unwilling to give her the joy of an orgasm just yet, and as they transitioned into long, slow strokes, she could hear her juices slicking along her folds. She kept her eyes closed and rode high on the delicious moment, her hips still moving against him, pushing back, seeking more. And somehow, he even managed to slow her movements.
She seemed to float out of her body, and she wondered if she might pass out. But if so, would it be from pleasure or need?
And then Bobby changed things up yet again.
Suddenly, he removed his hands from her body and shoved her jeans and panties to the floor. He stood tall behind her and rolled a condom down over himself. As he did, she glanced back in anticipation, her breaths once again picking up, and she kicked one leg free of her clothes.
“Now?” she asked.
He nodded. His features were drawn tight. “Now.”
Once protected, he bent her back over the couch, spread her legs with a knee, and then he was inside her.
They both gasped. Both arched.
“Oh, God.” She shuddered.
He was big, and he filled her up. Her body stretched to accommodate him, and he began to move. But when she dropped her head to her chest again, focusing on her own movements as she met him thrust for thrust, he fisted a handful of her hair and tugged.
“Watch,” he demanded.
She forced her eyes open as he pulled her head up, and what she hadn’t noticed before now filled her vision. A television sat directly in front of them, no picture on the screen, and their image reflected back. Her breasts, spilling out the front of her shirt, and him like some freaking Viking warrior, pumping into her from behind, was the hottest thing she’d ever seen.
Her breasts jiggled every time he thrust, and she couldn’t have looked away if she’d tried.
He slammed harder into her, and she whimpered with the beauty of it. With the pleasure of it. He kept his one hand on
her hip, holding her where he wanted her and increased his speed. And as he pumped, as she ground back into him, their eyes met and held in their reflection.
“I like you like this,” he told her. He leaned forward and nipped at her ear. “I fucking love you like this,” he growled. Then he released her hair and slipped his fingers down the front of her body until they hovered over her clit. “But before I let you come, you have to promise that we get to do this all over this damned apartment tonight.”
She nodded, the movement jerky. That she could definitely promise.
“Say it,” he grunted.
“I promise,” she whimpered.
And then he sent her soaring.
Chapter Seven
Holy hell.
Jewel gulped as she kept her gaze on Bobby, who was currently making his way through the crowd on the opposite side of the arena, food and drinks held above his head. He smiled at whatever someone said as he passed them, and her heart thudded a little harder. The man remained as hot today as the night he’d first bent her over the couch. And she had as big a crush on him now as ever.
Four weeks.
It has been four sexy, hot, sleep-deprived blissful weeks.
They’d been together every night since that first one, and she still couldn’t look at him without getting turned on. He was insane in bed.
No wonder Bria always came back. Hell, she probably would, too, if he’d let her.
She shook her head, knowing that wouldn’t be the case. They’d agreed that this was a summer fling, and no more. Exclusivity while it lasted, but once his stint in Birch Bay was over, they would go their separate ways. He had his future to focus on, after all. And she would have a new job to find.
She sighed. At least, she assumed she’d have to find a job. Rolls Royce remained unridden and Easup still got the look of a man who’d grabbed hold of a brass ring any time he caught sight of one of her bulls.
However . . . She’d been having thoughts.
Nothing she’d talked to Bobby about yet because she wasn’t sure she could pull it off, or if she wanted to. Or if he and his family would go for it if she did present her idea. But she’d definitely been having thoughts. And thoughts other than about what position they would try each night.
“Still ogling, I see.”
She jerked at the sound of Nick’s voice, then blushed bright as a tomato when she looked up at him.
“Damn,” he murmured. “That good, huh?”
She elbowed him in the chest. “You startled me.”
Nick knew that she and Bobby were together. Everyone knew it. They hadn’t made it a secret. But she also hadn’t talked about him with anyone. After all, they were just having a good time. She didn’t want to start thinking it could be more.
“This is his last night?”
She nodded. Everyone also knew that Bobby would be staying in Missoula tonight. School would start back the following week. The rodeo this weekend was in his own town, so instead of camping out with the rest of the group, he’d driven down separately, and they planned to stay in his apartment tonight. Then tomorrow, she would go home alone.
Her throat grew tight at the thought. It hadn’t just been sex these last four weeks. She’d gotten to know him better, too. They’d talked, they’d laughed. They’d even gone on dates.
Once she’d seen the type of carvings he really did, she’d refused to let him work with her during the week, instead insisting he take whatever time he needed to focus on his art. And in return, he’d occasionally let her watch him in action. Which had then led to even more sex.
The man was hot when he was focused.
Hot, period.
And sweet and kind. And simply a good guy.
Her throat ached with the need to shed tears.
“You going to be okay?” Nick asked, and she realized she’d disappeared into her own thoughts.
“Of course.” She forced a smile. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She was going to miss Bobby like crazy.
“Oh, I don’t know. Because you’re in love with the man?”
She didn’t look at him. “Wrong. It’s just lust.”
“Uh-huh.”
He quit talking as the next rider readied to climb into the nearest chute. Both of them watched. James Crawley had drawn one of Easup’s bulls, and as he waited his turn, Jewel found herself seeking out Crawley’s girlfriend. Bria’s sister sat in the crowd, but thankfully Bria hadn’t come with her. That had been a worry for Jewel, especially since Bria lived here. After all, it seemed about time the other woman would decide to reel Bobby back in.
“For the record,” Nick whispered at her side, “I think he’s got it bad for you, too.”
She wiped an escaping tear away, but the lump in her throat remained.
“Are you really just going to let him go?”
“What choice do I have, Nick?” Her voice barely made it to her own ears, so she didn’t know if Nick heard her or not. But when he slipped an arm around her, she leaned into him. Yep. Walking away from Bobby was going to hurt.
Crawley gave a nod once he’d settled onto the bull, and as the gate opened, Nick’s arm fell away. They both leaned forward.
Eight seconds was all it took.
Eight seconds and eighteen-hundred pounds of muscle.
The numbers on the clock ticked off, and with just point three seconds to go, Crawley went down.
Nick blew out a shaky breath. “Dang. The man is too close for comfort.”
She patted him on the arm. “You’ve got this. It’s going to be your year.”
“I sure hope so.”
Circuit finals wouldn’t be until January, when Montana’s top riders would be crowned, but local competitions wrapped in two weeks. On Labor Day.
Which would be the same weekend she found out if she’d lost the Double B or not.
Gray light oozed around the edges of the blinds, letting Bobby know the forecast for the day had been correct. Cloudy and overcast. Just like his heart.
He glanced to the far side of the bed, careful not to disturb Jewel, to see that it was six fifteen. He would have to take her back to get the bulls soon. Only, he didn’t know how he was going to let her go.
He’d just had the best four weeks of his life. Spent those weeks with the only woman he could imagine ever being with again.
Jewel was special. And he would be a shell of himself without her.
But he didn’t know how to give them anything other than this last morning.
She stirred under the arm he’d slung over her, and he remained extra still. He was too raw for the day to begin. They hadn’t gotten back to his place until after midnight, and though they’d come together as if they’d been doing it for years, their time together hadn’t been enough.
Holding her now wasn’t enough.
When her breathing changed from deep to shallow, he lifted his head and looked down. Solemn eyes stared back, making him wonder if she was having any of the same thoughts as he.
“Make love to me again?” he whispered. He refused to say “one last time.” And when she nodded, he moved on top of her.
There were no sexual gymnastics this morning. No rush to reach orgasm.
They simply loved each other’s bodies as if this would be the last time.
Cupping her face in his hands as he rocked in and out of her, he kissed her deep and long. As always, she was hot and wet, her insides clinging to him as if unwilling to let go. And she fit him perfectly. He wanted to keep this moment forever.
With no idea what else to do, he showed her without words what she meant to him, and he got the same in return. But all too soon, it was over. The sun rose. A sliver of brightness crept through the otherwise gloomy morning. And they were finished.
“I’ve got to shower.” She spoke the words softly, rolling out of his arms at the same time.
Fifteen minutes later, she emerged from his bathroom, her hair wet and face impassive, and Bobby rose from the chair wher
e he’d been waiting. He’d pulled his clothes from the night before back on, but hadn’t bothered to comb his hair.
She held up her cell. “I called for a car. You don’t have to take me.”
His heart cracked. “Why?” He was supposed to have fifteen more minutes.
“There’s no need to do this in front of other people, Bobby. We can say goodbye here.”
She stood before him, her features stoic, and he had a moment of uncertainty. Was this as hard on her as it was him? Or had he only imagined it?
He honestly didn’t know any longer.
Nodding, as if in agreement, and unsure what else to do, he took her bag and led her through the apartment. But when they made it the door, he didn’t open it. He just stood there. They couldn’t end like this. She was the only person who’d ever truly understood him. The one who saw that he wasn’t fully alive unless he was working with wood.
She’d encouraged him to spend time in his studio these last four weeks, and that single act meant more than anything. He had to make sure she knew that.
Before he could find the words, she took her bag and reached for the door.
“Don’t.” He pushed his palm to the door, slamming it closed the instant it opened.
She looked up at him.
“Don’t go, Jewel. Not like this. Let’s keep dating.”
“Bobby.” She didn’t say anything more. And she didn’t show any emotion.
His panic rose. “We’re great together. You have to see that.”
“I do see it. This has been a terrific few weeks. But this is what we agreed to.”
“Fuck what we agreed to. We can change our minds.”
She let out a short laugh. “And then what? We live over an hour from each other.”
“It’s just an hour.” He didn’t see what the big deal was. “We see each other on weekends. Whenever we can get away.”
“That won’t work.”
He smacked the door with his palm again, and she jumped. “Why won’t it work, Jewel? Was this honestly just sex for you?”
Her eyes took on an icy chill. “Don’t you dare insult me by asking that question.”