Cowboy Blues

by Jamie Craig

  Taking a shuddering breath, Becca slumped to the side, off his body, leaving him cold and aching. She rested her cheek on his stomach, and the heat from her skin nearly scorched him.

  "I swear to God, every time you do that, I feel like I'm going to bust.” Her fingers played along his cock. “Just gimme a sec to catch my breath. I'm not nearly done with you yet."

  Spencer pulled her hair away from her face, running his fingers through the dark strands as he licked his lips. “You better not be done with me yet.” He sat up, his fingers still caressing her temple. “Turn over on your back."

  She gazed up at him, eyes soft and bright. Her mouth was swollen and lush, like fruit ready to burst, but before she obeyed his directive, Becca stretched closer, taking his mouth in a long, sensual kiss. She licked along his lower lip, capturing the taste of her juices, and twisted with his tongue.

  His heart thundered in his chest by the time she did as he told.

  "Just because you got me to come first, don't think this means you win,” she teased. “I've still got all night."

  He rested on his hands and knees above her, lowering his head to lick her bottom lip. “I wasn't aware we were having a contest."

  "Uh huh. Because you're not competitive at all."

  Spencer's mouth twitched. “I am competitive, but only because I never lose."

  Her brows shot up. “On the bull, maybe."

  "Nah, anytime,” Spencer promised, before repositioning himself to straddle her shoulders. She was literally the only woman he knew who not only didn't mind this position, but seemed to enjoy it as much as he did. The tip of his cock brushed against her lips, and his breathing quickened at the thought of guiding his length into her waiting mouth.

  Becca smoothed her hands up his backside, massaging the muscles in his lower back before gripping his waist from behind. Parting her lips, she sucked the head past her teeth, but he stayed there for just a moment. She used her hold on him to prod him forward, deeper into the warm recess, along her hot tongue, hesitating only when he hit the back of her throat.

  Her long lashes lifted. Pure pleasure gleamed in the blue depths of her eyes.

  Spencer took a deep breath, his head spinning before he began to move again. She nudged him forward, and he sank deeper into her throat, sighing as her muscles constricted around the head. He cupped the side of her face, pushing the hair away, his gaze locking with hers.

  He set a gentle tempo, in spite of the roaring desire racing through his veins. Becca might have gone to town sucking him down, but that had been when she was in control. This was different. She might enjoy the feeling of him fucking her pretty mouth like this, and she might lay claim to loving his weight on top of her, but he didn't have to be selfish about it. It meant not savaging forward until she was better prepared, because this angle wasn't nearly as easy for her to check as the other one. He didn't want to hurt her. The time for speeding up would come soon enough.

  He reached behind him with his other hand and skimmed his palm over her nipple. She moaned, and the vibrations were even better than the tight suction around his shaft. He gradually increased the tempo, always waiting for her to adjust before going a bit faster. He wouldn't be able to stay in that position for long. Feeling and tasting her orgasm had made him throb, and now the pressure and heat of her mouth was almost enough to send him into orbit. But he didn't want to rush, either, because this one night would have to last him for three hundred and sixty-four more.

  Becca began to lift to meet his thrusts, her lips tight around his shaft, soft and pink and glistening. Her eyes never left his, even when he caught her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She simply swallowed, her whimpers reverberating through him. Spencer lifted off her body slightly, better to touch her flaming skin, but she took advantage of the new space. She let go of his side and brought her hand down to the lower curve of his ass, caressing the taut muscle. One finger slid between the cheeks, continuing down, down, down to scratch over his sac.

  Spencer jerked forward, fully sheathing himself in her throat. As soon as he eased back, she scratched over his sac, prompting him to slam forward again. “Fuck...Becca...if you do that again..."

  He didn't finish his thought, mainly because he couldn't. She swallowed, muscles constricting around his shaft as she squeezed his balls. His eyes rolled back in his head, and his cock jerked against her tongue. It occurred to him if he pulled free of her mouth, he'd prolong the inevitable, but that wasn't going to happen. She swallowed again, the final trigger he needed. He shouted her name, burying himself in her mouth as he erupted.

  Shudders wracked through him as her throat worked again and again. Becca flattened her hand against his side, and he didn't realize her fingers were shaking until he came down from his high. Small quivers of her skin against his. When he tried to reach down and cover her fingers with his, she pulled it away to use it to hold his cock steady as she licked up the length.

  Her head fell back onto the bed. A fine film of sweat put a shine to her skin, but the smile on her face really got to him. Most girls wanted to be with him because he was a winner, and usually, Spencer was fine with that. Not Becca. He only had to look at her to know she would have liked him whether he won an event or not.

  "I'm thinking we need to do body shots in the nude this time,” she said. “It's going to make licking the salt off you way more fun."

  Spencer shifted from her body and collapsed on the bed, gathering her up in his arms to keep her close. “Nude is really the best way to do body shots."

  Resting her cheek on his shoulder, she traced idle patterns along his damp chest, not quite tickling. “You know what else is good doing naked? Eating chocolate cake. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

  "I could probably eat my hat. I went right to the truck tonight instead of stopping for dinner.” He pressed his lips to her damp forehead. “I need a turn to catch my breath."

  "That works for me. My stomach is ready, but my legs sure aren't."

  His pulse eventually calmed, but even when it felt like he could walk, he didn't want to let her go. She felt good in his arms. He opened his mouth, almost ready to tell her as much—almost ready to tell her more—but he closed his lips again without speaking. He didn't want to stumble over words that could ruin their night.

  "You stay here. I'll go get the food. And the tequila.” He stole another kiss before disentangling himself and standing. He didn't really need to say anything more. There was already enough between them.

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  CHAPTER 9

  Rebecca had lived on her own for two and a half years. She had gotten used to her space. She had a routine, one she liked a lot and hated to disrupt, even when she craved a little more spontaneity in her life. She didn't have to answer to anyone, and if she wanted to sleep in until ten in the morning, the only person who'd complain was her father because she might be late for work, but then she'd just lie and say she'd been working on some pictures or something.

  She loved her independence.

  As much as she'd thought she'd been prepared for Spence's stay with her, she hadn't quite realized the reality of being responsible for anybody but herself. Especially when that someone kept forgetting little things, needed her to get from one room to the other without toppling over, and lost his temper when he got frustrated.

  She liked Spencer. She really did. But by the second morning after he'd arrived at her house, she wanted to put duct tape over his mouth every time he snapped at her.

  He'd only picked at his breakfast, and then spent most of the morning either flipping through the TV channels or petting Jake. Neither activity kept his attention for long. It was to be expected, of course, and Rebecca felt more than a little sorry everything was still so hard for Spence, especially since he was far more accustomed to being outdoors. So when he turned off the TV for the third time before lunch, she closed her laptop and rose from where she worked at the dining room table.

  "How a
bout some fresh air?” she asked with a smile.

  "No. The sun hurts my eyes."

  "Oh.” She'd thought that had been a fluke on his first day there, since he'd been cooped up in the hospital so long. Though it made sense his eyes would be sensitive since they were all part and parcel of the head trauma thing. “Is there anything you feel like doing then? I need a break from work."

  Spencer closed his eyes and dropped his head back to his chair. “Not really. Every time I try to concentrate on something, I forget what I'm doing. Or why I'm doing it.” He cracked one lid open, peering at her. “What are you working on?"

  Rebecca wrinkled her nose. “A filler piece for Sunday's paper. Dad thinks it's time to start putting back to school stuff in already, so I'm stuck researching educational reform."

  "Why? Who cares about that?"

  "Apparently, my dad."

  "Why don't you do something you care about?"

  "I did. I got to write up the rodeo. Now I have to do the crap work he gives me to make up for doing what I want."

  "I never understood why you didn't just leave. I really wouldn't have blamed you if I came to town one year to find out you had moved on."

  Coming into the living room the rest of the way, Rebecca plopped down on the end of the couch, holding her arms wide for Jake to have room to jump up into her lap. “Sometimes, I wonder the same thing.” She shot him a smile, trying to shake her more somber mood. He didn't need her feeling low as well. “But if I'd done that, you'd still be stuck in the hospital, and neither one of us would like that very much, I don't think."

  "I can't say I'd rather be in the hospital.” She noticed the way his fingers tightened around the remote, and for a moment she worried he would throw it right at the television. But then he relaxed, dropping the remote on his lap. “I wish I could at least get through a fucking episode of SpongeBob SquarePants."

  "Well, when you do, you'll be one up on me. His voice annoys the crap out of me.” She meant it as a joke, but the dour cast of his face said he didn't take it as such. “It's only been two days since you got out,” she said, softening her tone. “It'll get better."

  "That's what you keep saying. It's hard to believe it. Especially when I just want to put my fist through a wall, for no good reason.” He turned to rest his cheek against the back of the couch and gave her a small smile. “Don't worry, though. I don't think I'm that big of a dick."

  In moments like these, when he gave her his aw shucks look, Rebecca knew why she was doing this. Regardless of everything else, she cared for Spencer. A lot. She had to be patient about his recovery.

  "We could always get around to that sponge bath you wriggled your way out of yesterday,” she suggested. “It might actually feel good with how hot it is already."

  "I don't see why I can't bathe myself. I'm not going to drown in a few inches of water."

  "It's not about drowning. It's about getting clean. You can't even lift your bad arm yet without it hurting. Admit it."

  "Lift it, hell. I can barely move it. But I guess there are worse things than letting a pretty girl soap me up."

  "So that's what we'll do.” With renewed purpose, Rebecca gently pushed Jake from her lap and rose to her feet. “I'll get everything set up in the bathroom and be right back."

  She didn't wait for him to argue with her. They'd argued about it briefly the previous day before she caved and let him have his way. He didn't like feeling helpless. She didn't blame him. But it had been over forty-eight hours since he'd left the hospital, and seventy-eight since his last sponge bath. Whether he liked it or not, Spencer was getting cleaned up, and if she had to be the one to do it, well...she didn't count it as a hardship.

  With the tub half full and the stool in place, Rebecca went back to fetch him. “You want me to strip you down in here or in the bathroom? There's more room out here, but you might give somebody passing by a cheap thrill."

  She didn't miss the sly glint in his eye. “If there's more room out here, then by all means. Besides, you know how I love to give people in this town a thrill."

  "Maybe.” Rebecca stooped next to him in order to slide her arm behind his back. “But there's never anything cheap about your kind of thrills."

  Even though it had only been two days, it already took less effort to help him to his feet. Rebecca noticed, even though she doubted Spencer did. He was young and strong—she believed he'd be better sooner than anybody expected. “Is there even anybody around here to thrill? I haven't heard a car pass by all day."

  "Not outside, no.” She waited until he felt steady, and then released her hold on him so he could stand on his own. When he didn't sway, she almost smiled. His equilibrium was better, too. A good sign. “But you've always got me to thrill, you know."

  He arched his brow. “You want me to give you a thrill?"

  "Smelling like you do now?” Rebecca eased his shirt over his head, taking care with his shoulder. “Maybe you should have thought about that yesterday when you turned down my last offer for a sponge bath."

  "I guess that just means I'll try my luck when I'm smelling pretty.” He pushed his shorts over his hips and let them fall to the floor, standing in front of her unabashedly. “Are you going to make me smell like a girl?"

  "I should, just for being stubborn.” It was hard not to take a moment and just look at him. She'd seen Spencer naked plenty of times—and had the photographic evidence of it—but never by the light of day. It showed just how sinewy he was, even more so now with his forced bed rest. “You want me to help you into the bathroom, or do you want to try walking there on your own?"

  "I'll do it on my own,” Spencer muttered. His first step was strong enough, and his second. She resisted the urge to rush to his elbow, to be there to catch him in case he stumbled. The third step faltered, and on the fourth step, his hand shot out to catch himself against the wall. “Fuck."

  Rebecca hung back, watching his shoulders heave, his head bowed as he struggled to regain his balance. She knew she couldn't keep babying him. The doctors had warned her. The doctors had said a lot of stuff, but some of it was easier to stick to than others.

  She held her breath when he ventured another step. His tanned hand never left the wall.

  He paused again in the hallway, his shoulders very broad in the narrow corridor. They lifted and fell with each breath, and she tentatively moved closer, itching to reach out and touch his shoulder. He must have sensed her, because he put his hand up without turning his head. “Wait."

  She stopped moving, even though she still harbored the impulse to help. He began shuffling forward again, gaining on the bathroom, inch by inch.

  It was such a little thing. A task she took for granted every single day. The ability to move down her hallway, use the bathroom whenever the whim took her, bathe herself when the need arose. Seeing Spencer struggle told Rebecca she'd never take it for granted again. This was the farthest he'd gone without her help since getting out of the hospital. Though the sweat dampening the hair at his nape urged her to ignore his pride and help him, she held back, muscles tense and ready should he need her.

  Spencer didn't stop again until he reached the bathroom door, and then he leaned against the jamb, his eyes closed. “I'm going to wait for everything to stop spinning."

  Rebecca waited as long as she could, which in real time was probably only a few seconds, and came up behind him. She longed to take him into her arms and carry some of his weight, but she knew he didn't want, or need, that right then. So she settled for curling her arm around his waist and leaning lightly into his back, skimming her mouth across his damp shoulder.

  "I'll bet tomorrow it's not nearly so hard."

  "I wish I could do something about it."

  "Yeah, well, if there was a magic wand I could wave, you can bet I'd be using it, too. But sometimes, it just takes time."

  Spencer pushed the bathroom door open with one hand and then began moving again. He made it as far as the toilet, before sitting down heavil
y. “That's the worst part. The waiting. I'm not...good at patience."

  No, she didn't imagine he would be. In a world where eight seconds felt like an eternity, he'd had no reason to ever be worried about anything more than right now.

  Deliberately not watching as he regained his breath, Rebecca went to the tub and crouched down to test the water. She'd filled it quite high—higher than the nurse had instructed—with the heavy stool she'd gotten for Spence sitting at the far end. She figured the extra buoyancy would be good for Spencer. Aid in getting in and out without making him feel more like an invalid.

  "Feels good.” She hesitated before rising. She didn't want to take away all his control by arbitrarily putting him in the tub. “You ready?"

  "Yeah.” Bracing himself against the sink, he pushed himself to his feet. He hesitated at the edge, and then held his hand out to her. “No sense in slipping and breaking my skull open."

  Rebecca smiled as she took it, putting her arm around his waist. Adjusting their angle, she moved Spencer closer to the tub and eased him in. He winced when his shoulder bent at an awkward angle, but she immediately compensated by crouching with him.

  He skidded a little as he sat down, and her arm shot out to steady him. “You're going to soak me through before this is done, I just know it."

  "There's an easy way to avoid that.” He raked his gaze down her body. “Get naked, too."

  "And encourage you to distract me from washing you even more?” Grabbing the sponge, she dipped it into the water to soak it. “Not on your life."

  "I'm not going to distract you.” He ran a wet finger down her chest, between her breasts. “I'm just looking for something to distract me."

  When he put it like that, it was hard to say no. Especially since her nipples had already perked up at the sight of him naked in her living room.