Cowboy Come Home

by Sinclair Jayne

  “And then when you’re working on Sundance’s tack or even better your ropes, and I think about you being commando, it makes me want to kneel in front of you while you are working the rosin into your ropes, getting it all warm and sticky. And your leather glove is cupping my breasts, pinching my nipples.”

  “Jesus, Piper.”

  He was going to come and they’d barely started.

  “And I fantasize about licking you when you are strapping on your chaps getting ready to compete. Tasting you right there when your name is called that you’re up next.”

  Holy fuck.

  He wasn’t going to survive.

  But if she could actually do that, he’d die happy. And likely be arrested and put in jail.

  “Not realistic,” he gritted trying to hold on to his sanity.

  He’d seen more than one cowboy caught up in their hold rope and dragged half around the arena, jeans torn off, nothing but chaps and their Fruit of the Looms hiding their rod, reel and ass from Internet sensation. He wasn’t going to go bare-assed in front of a grandstand full of fans.

  “This is my fantasy you’re starring in.” Piper leaned away from him, and he caught her hair.

  She smiled. His heart stuttered in his chest.

  “I’m coming back,” she promised. “Just another idea. Just for you. Only for you, Boone.”

  He let her go while an idea of his own, rolling Piper beneath him and taking her hard and fast until she screamed, burned his brain. Then he’d go slow. Take her all night.

  Then Piper was back. Her small weight nestled between his thighs.

  “Mmmmmm,” she hummed along his cock, her breath warm, and he felt the vibration to his toes. “I love the way you taste,” she whispered. “And I’m so hungry.” She took another swipe. “Are you hungry, Boone?”

  “Killing me, Piper.” He wrapped his arm under hers and pulled her up on top of his body.

  “Why the fuck are you still wearing clothes?”

  “This is my time to play.” She wiggled away from him so her lush mouth was poised above his straining cock.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” she breathed against his length. Then she sucked one of his tight balls into the heat of her mouth and rolled it around, and he squeezed his eyes shut against the white light of bliss that seemed to sear his retinas.

  Like he could remember anything when Piper got him so jacked up. Had she asked him anything?

  “Are you hungry?”

  “I want to be inside you,” he growled, at the end of his rope. “Fucking now.”

  “So savage. Impatient.” She drew out each syllable, and Boone briefly thought if she had any idea what he really wanted to do to her, savage would be an understatement.

  “Let me see if you are ready, mmmmmmm.” Piper mused, her lips a warm murmur.

  Boone was beyond ready. Every nerve in his body shouted, desperate for her next move, but it was killing him, killing him to give up so much control.

  Piper never did what he expected. He nearly came off the bed when something cold touched his dick.

  “You didn’t dare.” He sat up, completely shocked, but also, more than a little turned on.

  She lay between his legs. And before he fully registered that she’d dabbed guacamole on him, Piper’s hot mouth engulfed him. The moist heat of her mouth and the stroking of her tongue through the suction, and the combination of hot and cold nearly blew off the top of his head.

  There had never been anyone like Piper in his life.

  He wanted to touch her so badly. It was a fever, the longing to feel the play of her muscles under his palms and fingers. Her back fascinated him. So narrow, but defined. Straight. Graceful. Like an anatomy text from high school.

  Sometimes he’d pull back the covers when she slept just to watch her breathe.

  Now he watched her take him into her mouth, her focus absolute, and he felt like he was on a precipice. Jump with Piper. Or stand there numb, forever on the edge alone. Lost.

  “Piper.” He sighed her name to anchor himself.

  Her tongue twizzled around his aching shaft while her mouth worked him in and out and it was only a few minutes before he knew he wouldn’t be able to last.

  He caught her body and lifted her. Her face was stamped with passion and he felt like his heart just seized. “You crank me up so fast.” He kissed her hard. His tongue traced the seam of her lips and she let him in instantly. “I want to make it good for you too, baby.”

  “You always do,” she said.

  “Damn, you going for some perfect award?”

  He’d been joking, his palms already on her hips, his fingers easing down the denim. An expression skittered across her face that he didn’t quite understand, but his attention was immediately riveted by the pale pink stretchy lace thong panties she wore.

  “Yup, perfect,” he breathed, wondering how he’d find the control to take them off without ripping them. He’d ripped her clothes in the past. Too eager. Too crazy for her. Piper deserved more care. Slower. More foreplay.

  “You always wanted me to wear one of these snaps shirts,” she prompted when he continued to stare at her like he was viewing a holy relic.

  Boone swallowed hard. He’d always imagined popping the snaps. Flinging off the shirt who knows where, but instead he smoothed his thumb across her bottom lip.

  “You’re beautiful, Piper. Inside and out.”

  He carefully unsnapped one button. Pressed a chaste kiss on the pale flesh he exposed, and then another snap, another kiss until the shirt gaped open.

  Piper’s breathing was as ragged as his own, but he forced himself to go slow. Savor.

  Like it was the last time.

  He stared into her face, stricken by the thought.

  But it had to be, right? If not tonight, then tomorrow?

  “Boone.” She cupped his jaw in her palm. “What is it?”

  Her beautiful eyes searched his, and he felt like he could stay like this forever. If he could stop the world. Shut up the voice in his head demanding he achieve something. Do more.

  Her thumb stroked along his cheekbone even as her fingers feathered along his jaw.

  “You have such beautiful bone structure,” she sighed.

  “You have beautiful everything.”

  Piper smiled and rolled her shoulders and the fabric of her shirt slipped down to the bed revealing her small, bare breasts, nipples a dusky pink.

  “Beautiful and definitely perfect,” he breathed. And he was so very flawed.

  He palmed her breasts. Reverent. Tentative like the first time.

  Then, like always, he lost himself in the feel and scent and heady responses of Piper’s whispered encouragements. She was so sensitive and responsive to his touch that she made him feel like a god.

  He kissed his way down her body and ran his finger suggestively along the waistband of her panties.

  “I thought this was an equal relationship,” he teased. “Why in the hell are you wearing panties?”

  “They’re pretty. I thought you liked lace and a challenge.”

  “I like lace on the floor. And any more challenge from you, and I’ll have a heart attack.”

  He nipped her hip. She yipped, and he smiled as he traced the panty line low across her abdomen and around her hips, his tongue playing as she shivered and begged and started to thrash under him.

  His fingers skimmed the small flesh-toned patch low on her back just below her panty line. It still humbled him that she had gone to a clinic to get birth control to be with him. He’d been in awe and had gotten an exam himself to prove he was clean, to protect her. He’d always worn condoms. Had never had a relationship long enough to think about not wearing them.

  He’d still used condoms with Piper, which she’d questioned, but he’d shrugged it off, still wanting to protect her—double protect her.

  “Action, cowboy.” She angled herself under his body so that he was lodged at her entrance.

  “What is this?”
He kissed his way back up her body, hanging on to his control by one fingernail. “A race?”

  He supported himself above her using his toes and elbows. His hands speared through her hair and cupped her head. He kissed her, over and over, reverent kisses, growing in passion until he felt drugged.

  “Boone, hurry,” Piper moaned.

  She reached up to grab a condom from the box he kept tucked in the side of the bed. He hesitated.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I’ve been using the patch.”

  He smiled. Kissed her, torn. He’d never been bare with a woman before. He wanted his first time to be with Piper. But in the end, he quickly rolled on the condom and entered her slowly, wanting to feel everything and see her expression. Piper’s eyes and expressive face hid little from him.

  He went slow and deep.

  “You good, Piper?”

  She leaned up and kissed his left pec. “Better than.”

  She clenched her inner muscles around him rhythmically and a groan ripped out of him. He felt like his eyes rolled to the back of his head.

  “You like that?”

  “Love it a fuck a lot.”

  “I love how you feel inside me, Boone.”

  He held her gaze and let her do the slow and deep rhythmic clench that made him feel like his head was going to explode off his spine.

  He breathed her name. “Feels like heaven, Piper. Better than, but I gotta move.”

  She smiled at him so sweetly his heart broke a little, and her hands smoothed over his shoulders and stroked him like he was precious.

  He grabbed her ass and tilted her so that he could slide deeply inside of her over and over again. He tried to keep control. Pull almost all the way out before plunging back in, and was rewarded by Piper’s throaty cry. He could feel the build, the fire raging in his balls burning every nerve in his body.

  “Boone.” Her voice broke. He let her go so that he could slip his hand between their bodies and circle her clit with his thumb. It was like touching a live wire. Her climax exploded with no warning and dragged him with her. Dammit. He didn’t want to stop. He never wanted to stop. He pumped into her again and again until he collapsed over her.

  She held him close, sweaty and panting. “Every time is the best time,” she whispered.

  Boone felt his heart slam against hers. Fear and self-loathing clenched his gut. Every time got better, but he told himself he had to make it the last time. He had to let Piper go. He didn’t deserve her, not now anyway. What did he have to offer her now except the ranch his parents had established for him before he’d been born? He had no big accomplishments of his own, and Piper had so many.

  Before he’d been determined to not disappoint himself. Now the idea of disappointing Piper made him queasy.

  He kissed her. “Shower first or eat?”

  “Just stay like this a moment.” She held him.

  “I’m pancaking you,” he objected.

  “I like all your weight on me. I feel grounded.”

  “I’m supposed to make you feel like you can fly,” he disagreed. “And we’re just taking a breather so you should eat while you have a chance.”

  “In that case let’s eat first. I have more plans for that guacamole.”

  Chapter Six

  Boone and Piper stood toward the end of Main Street and watched the parade in full swing Friday mid-morning. “I have to go.” Boone quickly kissed the top of Piper’s head. “I promised I’d help out with a few loose ends for the reopening ceremony of the grandstands. The committee asked me yesterday.”

  “Oh.” Piper turned away from the parade of children carrying colorful signs and pictures proudly proclaiming their 4-H club. “I’ll head back with you.”

  “No need. You don’t have any appointments until later this afternoon,” Boone said. “Enjoy the parade. Looks like there are a lot of sales at the stores. Have a good time.” Boone hesitated a moment. “You could treat yourself—get one of those nail things women like.”

  Piper stared at him. She hadn’t had a mani-pedi in her life and now Boone was sending her off like a kid going to a birthday party? He even pulled out his wallet like he was going to pay.

  “I’m not your responsibility, Boone,” Piper said. She wanted them to be equals. Partners. Boone already treated her too often. He liked to buy the groceries, but he did let her do most of the cooking although he always jumped in to help clean up the trailer with her.

  “You deserve the best, Piper,” Boone said, his expression so earnest, she softened.

  “So do you.” She smoothed her fingers through his hair. “When do you want to catch up again?” She kept her voice light. He had the right to do what he wanted to do without her playing the role of a clingy girlfriend. “Tonight?”

  “I’ll find you,” Boone said easily, scanning the crowd. Then he turned back toward her. “There’s a picnic tonight in the park—local groups barbequing hamburgers and hotdogs and lots of sides.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I’ll swing by your tent to see how it’s going this afternoon,” Boone said. “I’ve got to get my equipment ready for tomorrow.”

  Usually Piper helped him with that or sat with him and chatted while he worked, so she pressed her lips together to keep from offering.

  “See you then.” She smiled and stood on her tiptoes, to kiss his jaw.

  He surprised her by holding her tightly.

  “Boone?” she asked when the moment stretched out.

  “Later.” He tipped his hat to her and disappeared into the crowd.

  Piper stared after him not sure what to think. He had such a beautiful, rolling gait as he moved through the crowd. She sighed and turned back to the parade. She loved the children and the high school band, and the children’s clubs, but the shine seemed to be off the parade now that Boone was gone.

  He was shutting her out at the same time he was pulling her close.

  Piper had felt shut out her entire life—no close relationship with her father, few close friends because she’d been constantly uprooted. She’d made a promise to herself that she would build a life where she felt she had a purpose and a place and a supportive group of friends and, most important, a family of her own.

  Strong intentions, she told herself. But she had to follow through. Not get sucked in by Boone’s gorgeous blue eyes, dimpled smile and… She sighed—basically she was sucked in by Boone’s everything.

  And that had to stop.

  She stood, racked with indecision as the parade began to wind down. She knew she had to think of her next move. She wasn’t ready to give up hope, but she had to get Boone to open up and tell her what was bothering him, and also what he thought about their future—a future neither of them had planned on.

  It had been so crazy impulsive to accept his invitation to travel on the rodeo circuit for the summer. But for Piper, it had been a no-brainer opportunity. She was young. No concrete plans. No place to be. No one expecting her. Boone had been handsome and friendly and sexy, and the way he’d looked at her—like she held the sun and moon and had scattered the stars, had lured Piper like nothing else.

  She hadn’t had a lot of admiration in her life.

  And she’d wanted to be one of those young, independent women who could have a hot and exciting fling for a few weeks or a month or two and then walk away with a smile and a lot of pleasant and sexy memories.

  Only it had been clear to her, for a while, that she was not going to walk away heart whole or with a fond farewell smile.

  “Chocolate,” she said to herself. That would nudge her endorphins to the rescue.

  And then she could… Piper gnawed on her lower lip in indecision. Maybe she’d get a blowout for her hair so she’d look her best for the picnic tonight. She’d seen an adorable bright pink house on Church Avenue with a sign announcing The Wright Salon. Anything that pink had to be fun. And cheerful. And if this was the end of her and Boone, at least she’d look good in his rearview mirror.

&nbs
p; “Pull it together,” she ordered. It was unlike her to be so gloomy, and she was pretty certain tears wouldn’t cause a cowboy to stay.

  *

  It didn’t take Boone much time to fix the sound system. He had extra wires in his tool case, cleaned off some corrosion, fixed a few loose connections and then jury-rigged a couple of different speakers with his laptop. He also made a list and priced out the repairs the rodeo committee needed to make and compared it to a new PA system.

  “We sure do miss you, son,” Travis McMahon, one of rodeo committee members instrumental in spearheading the fundraising for the repairs, sighed. “I know your dad keeps hoping each year is your last on the tour, but your stats are the best they’ve ever been. Hard to give up the glory.”

  “Not so sure about the glory, Mr. McMahon,” Boone said testing the system one last time, and then he climbed out of the sound booth. “But I sure do love pitting my wits and strength against the broncs and bulls, and I love competing against the other cowboys.” He especially loved competing against Cody Starr on the bulls. He was catching up to him in the stats this season.

  “I know you young fellas. Adrenaline junkies and think you’re immortal. Well, you’re not.” He held on to Boone’s shoulder. “And I know you got a lot of pretty gals after you, but don’t leave it too long, son. You want to be able to walk away while you still can—while you got something to walk toward. Your dad needs you home, son. You’ve got a legacy to build on to.”

  “Yes, sir,” Boone said automatically.

  It was his father’s legacy. Not his.

  “Now you said something about the stage wasn’t sitting right?”

  And as a distraction, that worked better than most.

  An hour later, Boone was standing at the front of a crowd clapping madly as his sister took the small stage in front of the rodeo grounds. She sang an a cappella version of “America the Beautiful” that was so moving. Boone couldn’t believe that was his little sis.

  Travis McMahon spoke briefly, and then his dad took the stage and didn’t look at the notes he’d made for his speech. He seemed completely natural and in his element. He praised how the town had come together to rebuild the grandstand, and repair and improve the fairground’s outbuildings so that the rodeo facilities were better than ever.