by Cat Johnson
He could feel it. Riley was the one. The one he wanted to share everything with. The one that one day he could picture getting down on one knee for, just like Slade had with Jenna tonight.
That idea had him shaking harder as she crawled onto the mattress and moved to the far edge of the narrow bed to make room for him.
Skeeter sat and swung bare feet and legs onto the bed before he rolled onto his side to face Riley. He’d leave the enormity of the future for tomorrow. But tonight he could start building that foundation, and they’d both enjoy doing it.
He leaned low and parted her lips with his tongue. She responded immediately, stroking her tongue against his. This he could do with her for hours. The morning would be here much too soon, but he didn’t care. This time with her was precious. As long as she was willing to spend it with him, he would never give it up. Certainly not in favor of sleep.
Riley slipped her hands beneath his shirt. He felt the touch of her palms soft against his skin as she moved up his back. He sank deeper into Riley, kissing her harder until she moved one hand around to his front and began a path down his stomach.
When she reached beneath the elastic of his shorts and kept going, Skeeter’s breath caught in his throat. His pulse began to pound as she first made contact with him, as hard as he’d ever been. She closed her fist around his length and he might have stopped breathing for a second waiting for that first stroke.
A stronger man might have told her to stop. That she didn’t need to do this for him. He wasn’t that man. More needy than he’d felt in years, he couldn’t have brought himself to stop her even if he’d wanted to. As if they had a mind of their own, his hips began to rock, pumping into her hand. Her hold on him caused a friction that had his balls tightening.
He’d been primed and ready before he’d ever come down those stairs. Thinking about Riley. Imagining this had had him throbbing while he’d been alone on his air mattress. But to have her touching him while he envisioned what it would be like to plunge inside this woman was unbearable. He imagined what it would be like to make love to her. To have her beneath him as she felt it all for the first time right along with him.
The telltale tingling shot through him. Skeeter remembered the box of tissues next to the bed just in time. He reached back and yanked a handful just as he felt himself start to lose control. With his hand covering Riley’s, he bit his lip to hold in the sound and came hard into her fist, saturating the tissue.
When the spasms stopped, it was as if he could think again. He was still breathing heavy when he reached back and got a few more tissues.
“Here.” He handed them to Riley. She’d need them. He sure did. He could feel the hot wetness seeping through to his hand.
“Thanks.” She took them and wiped at her fingers.
Yeah, this was the awkward part. The part nobody thought about in the heat of the moment. Not until that moment had passed did the reality set in. But he wasn’t about to let it take over the night. He was riding a high from having just come, but she wasn’t. He could fix that.
He waited for her to finish and then took the tissues and put them on the nightstand before rolling back to her.
While Skeeter kissed her lips, he wished he could hear her thoughts. He ran his hand over the soft skin of her leg from her knee to her thigh. It didn’t take a mind reader to feel her respond to his touch. She opened her mouth to him and thrust her tongue against his.
Pushing the fabric of her T-shirt higher, Skeeter worked his way up her body, over the cotton of her panties, across her heaving stomach, all the way to expose the peaks of her breasts. He broke the kiss, intent on tasting her soft flesh. She helped him by tugging the shirt over her head.
Riley nearly naked beneath the soft glow of the nightlight was a beautiful sight. He got hard again immediately, but right now wasn’t about him. It was all about her. Making her feel good would be as good as coming himself.
Skeeter leaned low and drew her nipple into his mouth. She sucked in a breath and bowed her spine, lifting her body closer to him.
Oh, yeah. That reaction was well worth the torture he’d endured the past couple of nights while waiting for this moment. He scraped his teeth over her sensitive nub and felt the shudder run through her. He couldn’t wait any longer to touch the rest of her. As he moved to the other breast, he ran his fingers down her body until he reached the juncture of her thighs.
She spread her legs wider and he took that as a yes.
Over her panties, he began to rub the spot he knew would make her feel good. He worked her until his hand tired and the muscles in his forearm began to go numb.
She was close. He could hear it as her breath quickened. Her whole body tensed, ready to release. He just couldn’t get her over the edge.
The barrier that her underwear presented had to be the problem. He couldn’t finish it like this, with the now-damp cotton separating him from her. He slipped his hand beneath the waistband and connected with the heat of her flesh. The moment his finger made contact with her, she jumped. He circled the tight nub fast and hard. She lifted off the bed, pressing closer to his hand.
Skeeter heard the moment the orgasm broke through her. Before everyone else in the house heard it too, he covered her mouth with his to absorb the sound he doubted she realized she was making.
Only after he slowed his touch and then stopped did she open her eyes. She looked up at him. Her stomach rose and fell fast with every breath she took. Skeeter was as breathless as she was. More than that, he was as hard and keyed up as he’d been when he’d first walked in the room. He had a feeling that was going to get worse now that he had the image of her face as she came seared into his brain. Had the sounds of her pleasure still echoing in his ears.
It made him want to do it again. He traced one finger down her slit and then pressed just the tip inside her. Her mouth opened on a breath. He pushed through the tightness and deeper into her wet heat.
Though her eyes were narrowed beneath heavy lids, her gaze never left his face. That had his heart clenching, and he’d only stroked one finger in her. He couldn’t even imagine what he’d feel like if she looked at him like this while he was buried deep inside. As close and intimate as two people could be. He needed to corral that thought before he did something foolish, like take her now.
The reasons not to were many, but they seemed to pale next to his need. No condoms. Their friends just down the hall. The preacher who’d already assumed that doing exactly this was the only reason Skeeter was here.
She stayed perfectly still. Waiting. Watching. Letting him make the decisions when he’d already made a deal with himself that she’d be the one to do that. There was one decision he’d made without consulting her and he was sticking to it. Their first time was not going to happen tonight.
Regretfully, he slid his finger slowly out of her. Riley lifted her hips, following him, as if chasing his touch.
Damn. He hadn’t anticipated that. It was more than he could resist. Skeeter pressed his finger back inside. Her eyes drifted closed as she let out a small moan. That was a reaction no man would have been able to resist.
Crap. There was no way he could bring himself to leave her now. But if he allowed himself to stay here in bed with Riley, he vowed his shorts would remain on—even if they were becoming stuck to him with pre-come. It wouldn’t be an easy vow to keep, especially after he stripped the last bit of covering off her.
He pulled the panties down her legs and all the way off. Breathing quick and shallow, she let him. Skeeter slid down the bed and spread her legs so he could lie between them. He separated her lips with his thumbs and leaned low as Riley’s eyes widened. He’d bet his next event’s purse he was the first to do this to her. He liked the idea of that. Liked it a lot.
One thought hit him hard as he got his first taste of her—he wouldn’t mind one bit if he were the first and the last man she’d ever do anything with. She could be the one. The one he ended up with for the long haul. His first a
nd his last, as well.
He wouldn’t allow himself to plunge into her the way he wanted to, but this would do for now. Skeeter pushed his tongue as deeply inside her as he could reach and felt her react. He stroked it in and out of her. She let out a shuddering breath and he pulled back and smiled.
If she liked that, she’d really like the next part. He slid one finger inside, followed by a second. He hooked them forward, found her G-spot and pressed against it, making sure he was gentle but firm. He repeated the action, working the sensitive spot. Riley let out a gasp and he knew he was doing a good job.
Thank goodness for the internet and its treasure trove of all the strange and wonderful information a guy could find on there. That’s where he’d learned how to do that little item. But this next trick had been perfected through good old trial and error on his part. Skeeter lowered his head and ran his tongue over Riley’s most sensitive spot. She jumped.
Raising his head just a bit, he blew on her and felt the goose bumps rise on her skin. She was already sensitive from him working her so hard with his fingers. He’d have to use a soft touch to start. He drew the little bundle of nerves into his mouth and sucked while continuing to press up with his fingers inside her.
The second orgasm started to build quicker than the first. She was already primed and he was determined. Riley lifted higher and pressed harder against his mouth. She cried out once, pretty loud, before she threw her forearm across her mouth, her hips bucking against him. He would have really enjoyed those noises he heard muffled behind her arm if they’d been alone in the house.
She was still twitching beneath him when he released her from his mouth and slid his fingers out of her. This time she let him go. He could only guess that the second time had finally worn her out. The all-male part of him loved that idea.
He laid his head next to hers on the pillow and brushed a strand of hair that had escaped from her braid off her cheek. He would love to lie here and look at her for hours, until she fell asleep and until he could no longer keep his own eyes open, but he couldn’t.
“I should get back.”
“But you’re—” Her gaze dropped down to the erection tenting his too-thin shorts.
Hard enough to drive nails was the term he would use for his current condition. “Yeah, I know. It’s okay. I have a feeling that’s going to be the situation whenever I’m with you.”
Hopefully it would only be this way when he and Riley were alone. Skeeter would be mighty embarrassed if it happened while the others were around. Or worse, while he was trying to ride.
Yeah. Not good. He noticed her smile. “What?”
“I know it’s bad, but I like that I do that to you.”
“Sadist.” He couldn’t help smiling back before he leaned over and brushed a chaste kiss across her forehead. “Good night.”
Still looking much too happy with herself and grinning ear to ear, Riley said, “Good night.”
Skeeter shook his head as he swung his legs over the side of the mattress. He allowed himself one parting glance at Riley, satisfied and sleepy in her bed, before he closed the door. He made his way back up the stairs trying to walk as lightly as a sleep-deprived grown man could.
He got to his mattress in the dark without tripping and had just lain down when he heard the sound of one of the guys rolling over.
“Have fun?” Aaron asked.
Shit. He obviously hadn’t been quiet enough. At least it was Aaron, who already knew the full story, and not Chase. Though if they didn’t stop talking, Chase would be awake soon too.
“We didn’t do what you’re thinking,” Skeeter whispered.
“Eh. You’ll get there.” Aaron stretched and groaned. “Go to sleep. Chase’s frigging run is at six.”
Happy Aaron was more concerned with their workout in the morning than with what had happened with Riley tonight, Skeeter closed his eyes and hoped sleep came fast.
Chapter Seventeen
A sound from the front of the house woke Riley as the morning light came through her window. A car door slamming maybe? Probably one of the guys had run out to the store for something. She was still groggy. It was tough to piece things together.
Once again, she’d overslept. Although this time there was a good excuse. She’d been up much too late doing things with Skeeter that were well worth losing sleep over. What he’d done to her body had left certain muscles as sore as if she’d worked out.
All that clenching, she supposed. She blushed at the memory. It was going to be hard to face Skeeter and act normal around everyone after last night. What had seemed so right in the dark felt a little embarrassing in the light of day. He’d had her stripped bare before him. He’d had his mouth places…
And she’d not only let him, she’d lost control so completely they were both lucky she hadn’t woken everyone in the house when she’d…she couldn’t even think the word.
Wow. What had happened to her? She’d never acted like that with another guy, but all she could think about was doing it again. But only with him. Riley had no doubt it was Skeeter himself, more than a change in her. He had a perfect balance—a combination of nice guy and bad boy.
He’d left his own home, given up his free time, to be here to help her with the bulls, with the dishes, with the preacher. It didn’t matter what it was she needed, he was there to help, no matter what.
Then there was that other side of him. The naughty side that was still tinged with sweetness. He was a virgin who knew how to touch her exactly right. Who made her feel things she’d never felt before.
The need within her coiled, tightening her insides, priming her for release.
She couldn’t make tonight come any faster, but she could get her lazy butt out of bed. With any luck, one of those voices she heard as a low murmur was his.
She pulled a clean T-shirt and shorts out of her drawers and dressed for the day.
One look in the mirror told Riley she needed to redo her braid. She remembered Skeeter’s hands in her hair last night, remembered thrashing her head on the pillow as he’d brought her to heights she’d never felt before. She let out a breath and pulled the elastic band from the bottom of the braid.
It was definitely going to be an interesting day. Slade and Jenna were newly engaged. She and Skeeter were out in public as a couple and acting like it in private. The touring pro event was tomorrow when she’d attend with her veteran bulls and a caravan of rookie ranch hands.
Her life sure had gotten a lot more interesting—and complicated. The sheer number and diversity of her houseguests proved that. She kind of loved it, having a house full of people. As long as she could steal a few minutes, or hours, alone with Skeeter every once in a while.
As Riley brushed her hair out quickly so she could rebraid it and get moving before any more of the morning got away from her, one voice stood out from the rest. Was that—no, it couldn’t be. Dang it. It sure sounded like it.
The preacher was here.
She glanced at the clock. Visiting at seven-thirty in the morning? At that hour, the chances were good he was here to check up on them. Unannounced, she noticed. All the better to catch them unawares. Best way to find out if they were doing something they shouldn’t be. Little did the preacher know he should have been here closer to midnight for that.
Torn between feeling insulted the man who’d known her since the day she was born didn’t trust her, and guilty she had been doing things he wouldn’t approve of, Riley abandoned the plan for her braid. There was no time now. She had to get out there. With her hair still hanging loose around her shoulders, she reached for the door. Thank God, she’d cleaned up all the beer bottles and put them out back in the recycling can. At least it wouldn’t look as if they sat around drinking every night, even if they had done that last night.
She stopped just shy of the doorway to the living room and saw Skeeter face-to-face with the preacher and her suspicion was confirmed. He was here to check up.
“Been working hard, have
you?” Pastor Porter asked him, unaware she was spying from the hall.
“Yes, sir.” Skeeter nodded.
“And you do your work dressed like that?” The preacher took in Skeeter’s running shoes and his sweat-soaked shirt.
“No, sir. We just finished a workout. I always put the coffeepot on before I shower and change into work clothes.”
Skeeter made the coffee she woke to every morning? She’d assumed it had been Jenna or one of the other girls. His sweetness ratio rose.
Enough of the third degree. Riley stepped forward into the room from her hiding spot. “Good morning, Pastor. This is a surprise.” She glanced at Skeeter. If only she could kiss him good morning. That was out of the question, so instead she said, “Morning. Thanks for making coffee.”
“No problem.” Skeeter tipped his head toward the hallway. “I need to get changed and help the guys with the morning chores.”
The preacher’s brows rose. “You’re sleeping here in the house?”
“Three of the guys are upstairs in the attic. Garret and his wife are in the den.” Riley hoped she made Garret and Silver sound extra old and responsible by using the word wife. “And the others are crashing in the trailer I’m sure you saw parked outside.”
Riley was certain nothing had escaped the preacher’s notice. Not even her hair. She’d seen how he’d looked at her when she’d first come out of her room. So what that she hardly ever wore her hair down and loose? It was his fault she hadn’t had time to braid it today.
She’d noticed how Skeeter had looked at her too. She’d have to enjoy that later when they were alone. “I put a big stack of clean towels in the bathroom last night before I went to bed so you should be all set.”
“Thanks.” Heading out of the room, Skeeter looked relieved to be making his escape. Riley didn’t blame him one bit. The preacher could be intimidating. Probably why he and her father had always gotten along so well.
“So what brings you here so early on this bright, sunny day?”
“Just checking in to make sure everything was all right around here.”