Sweet and Wild

by Hebert, Cerian

  “Come on, darling, you’re going to have to work a little. Play a little.”

  Oh, he could play. He ducked under the water and swam toward her. He could see her legs in the murky water and as he swam by them, he reached out and stroked her thighs. He felt the shudder of water around her as his fingers encountered the tender juncture of her legs. Yes, that was good. He wasn’t going to be the only one in this torturous turned on state. When he resurfaced, he wiped the water from his eyes and gazed at her. The smile was gone and passion simmered in the blue depths.

  “Enough with the games,” she muttered and swam to him. She wrapped herself around his waist and impaled herself on him. The swiftness of the movement shocked him, and then pure animal instinct took over. There was no ease in the way either of them moved. He gripped her buttocks and drove himself into her as far as he could strain, pulled back and thrust again. Quinn moaned against his shoulder, nipping at his flesh while her fingers dug into his back. She turned pure wildcat in his arms, kissing and scratching lightly, holding herself back in an effort not to hurt him. They rocked against each other, splashing water.

  In the water, he couldn’t see her the way he wanted to. Without withdrawing himself from her hot depths, he carried her to the edge of the pond, sank into the grass with her and lowered his head to take possession of a distended peak, whisking it with his tongue while his fingers gently rolled the other nipple. Her chest rose and fell hard against his mouth as her hips met each of his urgent thrusts.

  There was nothing civilized or held back in their mating. It was pure sex, pure fulfillment of physical needs. Coupling that with the knowledge the woman writhing beneath him loved him made this more than he thought possible, made him want to please her more than he ever thought possible. Even though he longed for his own release, his body raged for it, he held it in check and when he pulled out of her, she groaned. He heard the aggravated tone in the sentiment, but when he trailed kisses down her heaving abdomen, her frustrated whimpers turned into a shuddering gasp of pleasure. He parted her legs again and kissed her inner thighs before finding her slick center.

  With her fingers tangled in his hair, his tongue swirled against her hard bud, feeling the tension in her muscles as her body gathered up for its first orgasm. Quinn cried out, her voice rising in the hot air around them. He rode out the bucking of her hips against his mouth as he drank from her well, not letting up for a moment until she lay spent.

  But he was just starting. Her body, lying there in the grass soft and pliant, waited for him. He gently pulled her to him so they were face to face, her body poised on his lap. Inside, a fever of passion sizzled out of control, working hard to take over once more in animal craze.

  “I love you, Craig. I want more of you.”

  Her husky, low voice matched the sensuality in her hooded gaze.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he replied. He was caught between wanting to take her over, satisfy the wildfire raging through his veins with ferocity, and the desire to take it slow, drag out the pleasure her body promised. Their time together was too fleeting and it seemed wrong to rush.

  He decided to take it slow, whether his body wanted it or not. She tasted too good, felt too good not to be savored. Trailing kisses over her collarbone, Craig moved with torturous patience, each touch bringing her back to life.

  Quinn’s fingers explored the landscape of his torso, dancing over this flesh, not missing an inch. Together their breaths built in urgency. Their mouths touched quickly, featherlike, like a breeze. While the touches of their lips were subtle, their hands became bolder finding those spots they both knew would create the most pleasure. Neither seemed ready to complete the cycle, both wanting to bring the other to the brink.

  Craig knew she waited on him to make that move. Her whole body shuddered in his arms as he brought her closer and closer to ecstasy. She didn’t speak, didn’t plead, just continued to touch her lips to his, her breath coming harsher and harder.

  He couldn’t take it any longer. All he wanted was to feel her tight center engulf him. He lowered her back into the grass and with all the gentleness of their kisses, he guided himself slowly, inch by incredible inch until he was fully within her. It began a sensual rhythm of give and take. She arched herself against his thighs and wrapped her legs around his waist. Her body fit perfectly with his, her small, female frame soft against him. This could last forever. He watched her face transform as another orgasm built within her. He wanted to come with her. He quickened the tempo, thrusting deeper and faster until he felt his own release building hot within his body, until he spilled himself deep within her with ravaging power. He cried her name out and it blended and lifted with her own voice as her entire body tensed and convulsed beneath his.

  It took several moments for him to regain his senses. He rolled off her then gathered her against him so her head lay on his chest.

  “I think I’m going to need another swim,” she said, her voice a sigh against his skin.

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to move for another hour.”

  Quinn lifted herself up and looked down at his face. She smiled and her eyes gleamed devilishly. She pushed her fingers through his damp hair. “You think I’d let you lie here untouched for an entire hour?”

  What an intriguing thought. One more time with her so soon and he’d burn up into cinders. What a way to go.

  ***

  She lay back down, her hand on his chest and they looked up into the sky.

  “It’s so huge,” she murmured, stroking his skin. “I love coming out at night and looking up like this. Out here in the dark, there’s nothing to hide all those stars. Sometimes I feel like I’m floating in them.”

  “Such a poetic thought for a no nonsense cowgirl. Who’dve thought.”

  Quinn chuckled. “Am I no nonsense? That translates to cold. I may not be a romantic, but I’m not cold.”

  Craig laid his hand over hers. “Never said you were cold. I think we know that pretty well by now. And Quinn, for the record, you are a romantic.”

  “Not.”

  “Are. The way you think of this prairie, darling, that’s romantic.”

  “Hmm. Maybe. Don’t know if it counts though. I was talking about romantic love. I love you, but I don’t think I’d get all sticky sweet on you and send you sappy Valentine’s Day cards. I might moon over you but I’m not going to get all goofy about it. God, I hope I’m not. That being said, when I was about nine I made one for you, a card, I mean.”

  Craig propped himself up on his elbows and stared down at her, his brows raised in surprise. “You’re kidding.”

  Quinn looked away from him and let her gaze settle on a white wisp of a cloud that eased across the sky. “Nope. I prayed every night that you’d wait for me to grow up. You didn’t. Not that I blame you. I was scrawny and uncouth. You had Elise who was beautiful and refined. When you married her I locked myself in my room for days. My parents were honestly concerned about me. I swore to myself I would never forgive you. That lasted all but a week.” Quinn paused and chuckled. “I still have that damned card.”

  He reached out and pushed a tendril of loose hair that fell across her cheek. “Wow. That I wasn’t expecting.”

  “My romantic notions ended after that.”

  Something entered his eyes, a sadness she never meant to put there. She stroked his cheek and gave him a slight smile. “We’re getting all serious here,” she murmured. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.” She wanted to go back to the carefree moments they just shared. Talking about her past heartbreak magnified a pain she thought she’d outgrown.

  “If things were different. If I hadn’t married Elise and gone off the way we did, I would’ve been honored to wait for you.”

  Tears pricked at her eyes. Oh, no, she didn’t want to get this somber. She didn’t want to wish for what could’ve been in a young girl’s imagination. “No, things were as they should’ve been. I wouldn’t change them for anything in th
e world.”

  His hand pressed against her cheek. She drew it away and kissed it. “I’d give you that old Valentine’s Day card, but I don’t know, not really me anymore. You have to settle for me as I am.”

  Craig laughed. “That’s fine. I promise you I won’t be offended if I don’t get a Valentine’s Day card from you. I’d rather have a kiss, a hug, a back rub.”

  Quinn sat up and leaned over him. Fire flickered in her smile, simmered in her eyes. “A back rub. Honey, I can do better than that. But right now I just want…” she leaned down and touched her lips to his. “To get your gorgeous body…” she brushed his mouth again, the tip of his tongue tracing her bottom lip. “Back into the water.” She finished with a mind-melting kiss meant to start his body raging again.

  Desire darkened Craig’s eyes. He gazed steadily at her and then a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Okay, a swim sounds good. You on one side of the pond, me on the other.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Serious.”

  “You think I couldn’t keep my hands off you long enough for a swim?”

  Craig sat up with great effort then kissed her. “Darling, I was thinking more that I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

  ***

  Twenty minutes later, after a quick swim, where he did stay on one side of the pond and she on the other, they saddled up the horses and headed back to Emerald.

  “I feel like a run,” Quinn said and threw Craig a wicked grin. “Bet you I can beat you back.”

  Craig looked at Piper. The mare was compact, but small. Still, he’d seen her in action. He had no doubt about the size of her heart and the speed in her muscular legs, but Thunder had a definite height advantage. His long legs ate up the turf when he had free rein.

  “What do I get if you win?”

  “You get to take me to Louie Caprelli’s in Rapid City for dinner.”

  Craig laughed. There was a prize. Louie’s was the best Italian restaurant in this part of the state. Expensive, but worth every penny.

  “And if I win?”

  “Then I give you a full body massage next time we have a little time together.” She held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. “These are magic.”

  Oh, of that he was sure. He’d certainly get the longer end of the stick if he’d let her win, but Louie’s was incentive to win, even if he paid. The idea of taking her out on a real dinner date appealed to him, especially if she had to dress up, which she would. Louie’s had a dress code and she’d have to adhere by it if she wanted to partake of the food.

  “Okay, darlin. Let’s do it.”

  Chapter 13

  She wished Piper were bareback. She always felt like she had an advantage when she rode bareback, but Quinn made do with the saddle, leaning over Piper’s neck and giving the horse her head. She’d never felt so alive than at this moment, having the warm air push through her loose hair and against her face, cooling the summer sun on her skin. She looked down watched the ground speed by, then she glanced over at Craig. He kept Thunder neck and neck with her and Piper. Was this happening? Had they really made love down by the water? Had she really been so brave to give herself so freely? She liked to consider herself fearless, but never where Craig had been concerned.

  She’d thrown caution to the wind and felt freer than she’d been her entire life. A gallop across the prairie was nothing compared to lying under Craig’s body. Close, but his lovemaking edged the run out.

  She was bent on beating him back to Emerald. Not that she needed an excuse to go out on a date with him, but she couldn’t hide her feelings for him from the world for much longer. They needed to come clean. Slowly, she thought as she reined Piper around the last corner, down a dip before the ranch came into sight. First they’d let Marisol get used to the idea. They were friends, after all. She liked the girl and she was fairly sure Marisol liked her. They worked well together and why shouldn’t it spill over into a different kind of relationship?

  Once Marisol accepted her, then she’d work on Jacob. After he got over his big brother snit, he’d realize what a good pair she and Craig made, that they were perfect together, that she’d found the love he said would come along for her one day. Yes, it would have a certain weirdness to it from Jacob’s point of view, but he’d get used to it, right?

  Robby, well, she didn’t worry about him. He was all talk and no action. Maybe he’d even be relieved to be off the hook with her. If not, he’d move on in no time. Give it a week, he’d find someone else to pester.

  Everything she wanted in life was coming together. She could hardly believe it, didn’t dare believe it in case it disappeared like a summer twister leaving her heart in ruins.

  That wasn’t an option.

  They arrived at the Emerald ranch yard neck in neck. She encouraged Piper to move out, a little faster, trusting her mount’s heart and love of speed, but the bigger horse next to her proved too much of a match. Quinn looked over at Craig and was surprised to see he held the horse back. Her mouth dropped open and then she shook her head. He grinned back and they both slowed the horses.

  “What the heck are you doing?” she asked when she maneuvered Piper back to his side. “Did you just throw the race?”

  “What? Me?” His eyes grew with exaggerated surprise. “You think I’d do that? Of course. I wanted both prizes. Dinner at Louie’s followed by a massage by you.”

  Quinn laughed. “Or maybe the tie canceled both prizes out.”

  “Not a chance.” Craig reined Thunder over as close as he could get and leaned in. With one hand, he drew her face to his and gave her a fast, complete kiss.

  “Don’t get me started,” she warned and pulled Piper away. “I’ve got Doc coming over in about half an hour and Tom and Scott are in the barn. I don’t want to have to do any explaining to them.”

  ‘Yes, ma’am.”

  She slipped off Piper’s back and loosened the girth on her saddle. “Why did you come over anyway? You never said.”

  “I was distracted by a gorgeous, sexy water nymph. Anyway, I was in the area. Sort of.”

  Quinn cocked her head and gave him a narrow look. “In the area, huh? That’s the best you could come up with?”

  “Did my best.”

  “You did pretty awesome actually.” She threw him another wicked smile. She felt like doing more, touching him more, but she kept her distance. “So, can I cook you and Marisol dinner tonight?”

  Craig dismounted too and walked Thunder next to her and Piper. “Nope. Busy tonight.”

  Disappointment tugged at her, but she tried not to let it get her down. She couldn’t expect him to be available at any moment. Still, she was eager to help Marisol get comfortable with her presence in her life. See? She told herself cheerfully. It’s not all about Craig.

  “Darn. Thought we’d talk about the overnighter. All three of us. I wouldn’t leave Marisol out.”

  “Can’t do it Quinn.” His tone was firm. There would be no changing his mind.

  Then it began to dig at her. What was he doing? She gave him a sideways glance and swore she saw the touch of a smile on his face. And a twinkle in his eyes. Hard to tell under the hat he wore. She refused to ask. If he wanted to tell her what his plans were, he would. She refused to be that kind of girlfriend, the one who’d demand to know his whereabouts every second of his day. That was one sure fire way to turn a man off and chase him away forever.

  “Well, another night then,” she said, horrified by the cool note in her voice.

  “You don’t want to know what I’m doing tonight?”

  Quinn put a hand on Piper’s shoulder and continued to walk the mare. She had to take the horse’s saddle off and she headed toward the barn, not answering Craig’s question right away. “Hmm?”

  Now he was smiling. Clever man knew exactly what she was doing.

  “I said, don’t you want to know what I’m doing tonight?”

  “Paying bills? Taking Marisol to the movies? I don’t know.
”

  “Got a hot date.”

  Jerk. She kept the sentiment safely in her mind. No, she didn’t think he was a jerk. Because that grin on his face told her he was teasing. Fine, she’d tease right back.

  “Cool. Who you going out with? Nicole Ball? I like her. Good choice.”

  “Stop, darlin’.”

  “Hmm?”

  Craig pulled Thunder to a halt and took Quinn’s arm, stopping her as well.

  “You’re playing with me and you do it very well.”

  “Sorry?” She tilted her head to one side and raised her eyebrows.

  Craig dipped his head and claimed her mouth in a slow but thorough kiss, nipping her bottom lip before pulling back.

  “You and me.”

  Now he was getting somewhere. She wanted to melt back into his arms, but she had to remember where they were, that they had horses that needed to be walked out, and she still wasn’t sure what he was getting at.

  “You and me,” she repeated slowly.

  “Are you always this difficult when a man is trying to ask you out on a date?”

  She laughed. It had been so long since she’d been asked on a date she’d forgotten. “Always,” she lied. “Is that why you came over here? To ask me out on a date?”

  “Hot date. No, it isn’t. Didn’t get that idea until you made that bet with me. Dinner at Louie’s.”

  Quinn nearly choked. “What, tonight?”

  “Say the word and I’ll give my mom a call. She’d be happy to keep Marisol. She’s been wanting to since we came back. A little grandma granddaughter bonding.”

  “But, I…I don’t have anything to wear for Louie’s. Seriously, I was thinking further down the road. Like, much further.”

  Craig shook his head. “Tonight. I’m sure you have one item in your closet suitable for fine dining. You finish up down here, take a long, hot bubble bath with that stuff girls like to soak in and I’ll pick you up at five. You can do it, I know you can.”