With This Ring (Denim & Spurs Book 1)

by Aliyah Burke

  The soft cotton fell to the side with the barest of whispers along her skin. It didn’t matter they’d spent the day at a horse expo or visited and watched the rodeo. She still smelt of honeysuckle and jasmine. It wafted from her skin and submerged his senses with its intoxicating scent.

  His gaze fell to her bra. Black lace and a bold satin in a purple hue with a bow at the front. The demi bra pushed any possible remaining vestiges of stopping from his head. Dipping his head, he swiped his tongue over the swells above the lace even as his left hand undid the button on her jeans. Holding her stare, he lowered the zipper before sliding back down her body so he could remove them.

  His own pants tightened as he drew hers off and dropped them to the floor, never taking his gaze from the long toned legs, which were exposed as the denim vanished.

  “Christ!” the word was dragged from deep in his chest as he took in her matching panties.

  “Does that answer your question?” Her voice toned low and sultry stroked every single one of his nerves.

  “Yes.”

  “I love Victoria’s Secret and shop there for everything. These are my limited edition lace Cheekini Panties to match my demi-bra.”

  He wasn’t going to survive this. No way he survived without exploding into a million tiny pieces. She was going to kill him and hell, she wasn’t naked yet and he still had all his clothing on.

  “You’re wearing too many clothes, Dustin.”

  She had the right of it. He was. And he did something about it.

  * * * *

  Samantha licked her lips as she watched Dustin crawl up beside her wearing only a pair of stone gray boxer briefs. Dear Lord, despite what his jeans showcased, they truly hadn’t allowed her to see all he had to offer. Right now, he was hard and his erection pressed blatantly against the material of his sole article of clothing.

  He settled beside her, the heat from his body washing over her with a welcome indication of what was to follow. They’d been dancing around this since she went to work at the Diamond J. All of her plans to not get involved with someone in Branchwater vanished. Besides, this wasn’t just someone, this was Dustin.

  His touch was light as he traced her outline with one hand as he stared down at her. The brown of his hair, still windblown in appearance, turned to melted chocolate in the light. Unable to allow her inhibition any longer, she reached up and sank one hand into the strands. A waterfall of cool silk cascaded around her fingers.

  “I like you touching me,” he admitted directly in her ear as his tongue snaked around the whorl. “Your skin is so soft and smells so damn good. I’ve wanted to take a bite out of you since you tripped over those chairs.”

  Her belly fluttered and flipped as he continued to whisper things in her ear, which skyrocketed her pulse. She gasped when he moved from her ear down to her shoulder, along her neck, and descending her sternum to where her breasts waited—desperately—for his touch. His warm breath fell tantalizingly over her taut nipples, and she cried out when he drew one into his mouth, lace bra and all. Her back arched and he splayed his large hand over her abdomen, holding her in place as he grazed his teeth over the tip.

  She clenched her hand in his hair as emotions swamped her. He turned his attention to the other one and treated it with the same respect. Back and forth until his teeth tugged on the top of her bra and pulled it down, exposing her beaded nipples to his hungry gaze.

  “Perfect,” he rumbled seconds before he recaptured her left one with his mouth.

  Wetness dampened her barely there panties and she shifted against him, desperate to feel more of his touch. The hand on her belly drifted to her hip, and he fingered the thin line of material, holding it up before slipping back toward her core.

  “Dustin,” she whimpered.

  He didn’t respond, just moved his way down her body, his warm lips erotically tormenting her with each inch of flesh he touched. His hair teased her as well, and she squirmed beneath him but couldn’t either wiggle free or tug him up, he was too strong.

  “Lie still,” he ordered. “I’m having my dinner.”

  All her thoughts flew from her mind as with one strong tug, she felt her panties rip under his strength. Dustin settled himself between her legs and brushed his mouth over her exposed mound. Others might have heard the screams he tore from her throat, but she didn’t care. Nothing mattered but him and her.

  He lapped at her core, the flat of his tongue spreading fire through her. She whimpered when he flicked her clit while he pushed two fingers deep inside her. He muttered something against her, words she couldn’t understand, but the vibrations it sent through her she did. More passion. In and out he stroked, heating her up as he led her to the precipice she needed to fall over, only to back off and bring her down a bit. Then he began again.

  Finally he allowed her to jump. He speared her with his tongue while his fingers moved to rub her clit. She gripped his hair and ground into his face as she came, hard, a scream leaving her throat without hindrance.

  Still shaking with little tremors, she made her way to kiss him, sharing in their combined tastes. “My turn,” she murmured. “I’ve wanted to explore your body for a long time.” Straddling him she kissed her way down his muscled physique. He smelled like something she knew no company could ever bottle. Dustin, his scent was unique to him.

  His warm skin slid along hers as she continued her way down. At his groin, she reached out and took him in her hand. His groan filtered down to her ears. His heavy weight had her throat drying up. Lord, she wanted him inside her. He was silk over iron. His length and girth had her wanting their joining to be sooner rather than later.

  She swiped her thumb over the broad mushroom head of his shaft, smearing the pearlescent drops there. His hips flexed, shoving him deeper into her hold.

  “Samantha,” he rumbled.

  “Shh, it’s my turn now.”

  “Fuck that.” He clamped a large hand around her ankle and turned her. “Explore all you want but I get to as well.”

  She took him into her mouth as he put his back on her slit.

  Later, as he moved back up her spent—and naked—body and inched his condom-covered length deep within her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he continued to take her on a trip of the stars. In and out, he moved with a simple rhythm. What wasn’t simple, the emotional wave which rode from him to her and back again. It tied them together, wound their souls to one another, and imprinted each other with a branding unlike any other.

  After they finished making love, she had her head resting upon his shoulder, the solid beating of his heart thudding against her own chest. Bringing her even more feeling of comfort. His arms held her tightly—almost possessively—while he ran his fingers up and down her arm. During this time he pressed tender kisses to her forehead while using his other hand to brush her sweat-dampened hair away from her face.

  As they lay there in silence, their breathing fell into rhythm with each other. She splayed her hand out along his skin and connected to him in yet another place.

  He woke her again for another round, and she had no complaints. The clock beside the bed read three forty-seven the last time Samantha noticed it, after which she fell into a much needed sleep. When the alarm went off less than two hours later, she fought off a whimper. Surely it couldn’t be time to rise yet, could it?

  “Sleep.” Dustin’s voice flowed over her even as he shut off the offending noise.

  “No. You had the same amount of sleep I did. If you can get up, so can I.”

  “Oh, I’m up,” he muttered, flexing against her, proving his point.

  Immediately wetness readied her for him. She turned in his embrace and slid her arms around his torso. “Work,” she mumbled, lips against his heated skin.

  “When this weekend is over, Samantha, I want you at my house where I can have others take care of the animals and just be with you.”

  She held him tighter, not wanting to think past this weekend. “We need
to get up and eat. Last night’s dinner wasn’t very healthy.”

  He switched on the light and stared at her with amusement in his gaze. With a lengthy good morning kiss, he brushed some of her hair back. “Speak for yourself. I, for one, can live just fine off chocolate sauce and whipped cream.” He shook one of the empty cans. “Need to pick up some more.”

  Her body flushed at the memories. “Horses. Focus, Dustin.”

  He rolled her over and slid his thickness into her with a single smooth stroke. “Trust me, darlin’, I’m intently focused. On you. Only you. How hot you are around me. How tight. How I never want to leave.”

  Another chill overtook her as his words floated from his mouth to her soul. It wasn’t fair, truly it wasn’t. Closing out any reality, she gave herself over to the man warming her one more time. This was her weekend. Her time to do as she saw fit. Her chance to indulge in the man who’d always been her weakness. She accepted her chance and ran with it.

  * * * *

  Finn stifled a yawn and rolled her shoulders in an attempt to alleviate the tension in them. This was the final day, and she was watching the stallion demo. They’d be leaving soon but after this, Dustin had to go demonstrate Dante and Lawless’ abilities as cutting ponies. She couldn’t wait for that.

  “Long weekend, isn’t it?” A man rested beside her along the metal railing overlooking the arena.

  Slanting her gaze, she smiled as recognition poured through her. Mac, Dustin’s friend. “It is but that charged feeling in the air never leaves and makes it all worthwhile.”

  “So you feel it too?”

  She wouldn’t have tried to stop the grin even had she the capability. “Don’t know how anyone can’t. No one who truly loves horses, that is.”

  “What are you doing over here? Thought he had the cutting demo.”

  She glanced at the man beside her. Damn, he’s fine. If I wasn’t with Dustin… Well-worn jeans conformed to his lower body in a way that should have been declared illegal as a gray button-down stretched tight across his impressive chest. His brown hat angled just so that she couldn’t quite make out his eyes yet did nothing to detract from the sexual curve of his lips. The man was a walking ad for sex.

  After a quick peek at her watch, she said, “Fifteen minutes before it starts.”

  “Haven’t seen much of you this weekend. Dustin’s been keeping you to himself.”

  Heat rushed over her skin at those words. They immediately transported her to their nights. Unabashed passion. “Been busy,” she commented, hoping her tone didn’t give her away. “He’s had his thing and I’ve been taking in the workshops and exploring.” Night, however, was totally different. Him. Her. No clothes. And experiences even her fantasies hadn’t been able to create.

  He thumbed back his hat and she got the full weight of those bedroom eyes. Right now they sparkled with laughter. “Right, darlin’. That yer story?” He raked his gaze over her. “I’d be avoidin’ a lot of things at night if I shared a bed with you, too.”

  “Things at night?” she prompted. As far as she knew, they’d attended most things offered here.

  “Previous years he joined us for poker and drinking. This year, it’s like the man vanishes the second he beds down the horses.”

  She hadn’t known about the poker games. “Sorry?” Was she? In all truth, no.

  Mac laughed. “Come on, darlin’, at least allow this old reprobate to escort you to the demo.”

  It was a good thing she’d yet to actually take a drink of her water, for with that statement she surely would have spit it out. As it was, she snorted. “Old reprobate? Really?”

  “Not buyin’ it?”

  “Not on your life. And why do I have the feeling if I said I did you’d offer to change my mind?” She managed to take that drink. “This, of course, is the ‘old’ reference I speak of. I have absolutely no doubt you’re a reprobate.”

  More of that engaging laughter filled the air, and she found herself joining him. “You, Finn, are a breath of fresh air. You’re right, darlin’, I would have offered to show you how old I’m not. And I am definitely depraved, would have shown you that as well.” He winked and waggled thick brows. “Wanna take me up on it?”

  The temptation was there. The man exuded sexuality and knew it. She shook her head. “No thanks. I’ll take you up on your offer of an escort, however.”

  “If that’s the best you can do,” he bemoaned with another wink.

  The man fell into step beside her, and they made their way from one arena to another. They slipped into their seats just as the announcer mentioned Dustin’s name and she leaned forward, breath held with baited excitement. She didn’t even realize she made a sound until Mac put his hand on her arm. Even that couldn’t tear her gaze from Dustin.

  “Easy, he’s just comin’ into the arena.”

  And he was. That inherent swagger some men acquire after years of riding—which many imposters try in their attempt to play a cowboy—had her panties damp. Her breasts were heavy behind her shirt and bra. Dustin rode Lawless. The buckskin gleamed in the sun, every movement from him coiled, rippled, planned. Just like his human partner. Body humming, she watched the amazing display put on by horse and rider. Impressed more and more by his ability in the saddle. Is it wrong that I’m wanting to ride him just as hard as he’s working that horse?

  Chapter Nine

  Dustin sliced his gaze to the woman seated in the passenger seat as he drove down the road. Her head rested against the leather of the seat, a ghost of a smile upturned her lips—lips he’d indulged in this weekend and yet still wanted more of. Much more.

  “Did you enjoy yourself?” he questioned, checking his mirrors and changing lanes.

  “I did. Thank you so much. I actually got to attend a few of the farrier seminars, which turned out to be interesting as well as informative.”

  The sound of jeans sliding on leather reached his ears and he glanced at her again. She’d readjusted to face him a bit more. His breath hitched at the hunger he spied in her gaze. Good to know I’m not the only one who seems to be having a hard time not thinking about how good the sex between us was.

  He longed to ask her about Mac. Dustin had been in the arena and spied the two of them sitting there looking all chatty with one another. It hadn’t taken a genius to recognize the jealousy that speared him. What had shocked him was the amount he’d experienced. It had nearly run roughshod over him, until he’d spied the necklace he’d given her. She was wearing it and the horseshoe rested against her shirt. That helped calm the beast of jealousy a little bit. That one bit of jewelry meant more to him than the rings he’d purchased for Charlotte and he was glad that Samantha still wore it, almost like it was his claim on her for the world to see.

  “That’s it?” he asked in a teasing tone. “You enjoyed the farrier seminars?”

  She unbuckled her belt and slid closer to him, pressing her left thigh tight to his as she straddled the gearshift. Once she secured herself in a second time, she dragged her fingers along the inside of his jeans from groin to knee and back again.

  “I enjoyed watching the stallion demos. The rodeo. And walking around with you to all the stalls and vendors.” Her nails lightly raked him and his cock throbbed, hard and wanting.

  “And?” Christ, his voice sounded like a frog’s croak.

  “The riding. I really enjoyed the riding.” She leaned close to him and flicked the shell of his ear with her tongue. “Be it you riding me, me riding you, or you on one of your horses.” She nipped his lobe and before he could do much more than groan, she’d repositioned herself back in the passenger seat.

  He stared at her as she sat there. Cat who ate the canary. Now he understood the expression for it sat plastered all over her face.

  “You should watch the road,” she admonished. “You’re pulling a trailer.” One finger trailed down the V-neckline of her button-down shirt. “And just so we’re clear, that’s the only reason I’m not blowing you right now.” S
he licked her lips. “The only one.”

  The truck swerved and he gulped, making the necessary corrections. His skin was tight and he almost tugged on his collar.

  “You’re killing me here, Samantha.”

  She propped her feet up on the dash. “I’m staying on my side of the truck. I’m not doing anything.”

  “You think I’m going to forget what you just said?”

  “I would hope not.” She put her feet back down on the floorboard. “But if you do, I could always remind you, again.”

  “I could pull off.”

  A siren’s smile. “What a coincidence, there’s a rest area two miles ahead.” A wink and she turned her attention out the side window.

  Dustin changed lanes again and when the stop arrived, his cock hurt. It pressed so tight against his jeans. Didn’t matter how horny he was however, he wasn’t a fool and took care in parking them. Granted it was a bit off to the side. Samantha jumped out before he could even shut off the engine, but he followed swiftly on her heels meeting her at the door to the LQ.

  He unlocked it and practically pushed her in. She was on him the moment the door closed behind them, lips seeking his. He didn’t disappoint her. Thrusting her against the bathroom door, he lifted her in his arms, even as he sought more. More skin on skin, more kisses. Just more. There were no words of love, this was pure passion. Hot. Needy. Desperate.

  They spent an hour at the rest stop and never left the LQ. Back in the truck as he drove, Dustin watched Samantha slumped against the door, eyes shut. Low country played through the cab and he found himself smiling.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  What do you know, she was awake. “Am I not allowed?”

  “Makes me suspicious.” She moved her head to stare at him more directly. “Should I be suspicious?”

  He flashed a grin which he knew wouldn’t alleviate any of her concern. “Up to you.”

  “You are trouble. You realize that, don’t you, Mr. Kane?”