“Fuck me, cowboy.”
Buck stepped toward her and thanked God she was tall enough to ride like this. His urgency was overwhelming. After tearing open the condom with shaking hands, he readied himself, then slipped into her, amazed to find her so ready for him. He hadn’t done a thing to get her ready, but she was anyway. Slick, hot, and tight.
He stopped moving only when deeply buried inside her. She clenched around him and he bit her shoulder. She clenched again, and he had to start moving or risk spilling his load two seconds after entering her.
He reached around and rolled a nipple between his fingers while his other hand started rubbing her clit. He thrust in a slow rhythm, allowing their bodies to move as one. She grew tighter and tighter around him.
“Faster.”
He ignored her command and kept his slow pace. He wanted to savor it.
“Goddammit, faster!”
Marlene thrust against him, and his balls tightened up so fast, he couldn’t stop himself. He grabbed her hips and pumped into her so hard, she almost hit the wall. Instead of squawking at him, she met his force with her own. Together they fucked like bunnies, grunting and moaning until the world shattered around them.
His hoarse shout drowned out Marlene’s cry. He came and came until his ears rang and his teeth vibrated. She squeezed him so hard, it milked him even further.
Panting, he laid his head against hers. She was shaking and breathing as hard as he was. Buck’s mouth ran faster than his brain.
“Hell, baby, I think I just might be falling in love with you.”
* * * * *
Marlene drove like a madwoman. She wasn’t even paying attention to where she was going. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she had gotten her ass out of that motel room.
I think I just might be falling in love with you.
After the best sex of her life, that damn cowboy had to go and say something like that. She panicked and ran like a chickenshit. Marlene was not looking for love in a quick fling. Hell, she wasn’t even looking for a man. Not really anyway.
She didn’t want any declarations of love. They wouldn’t last past Friday when the couples’ competition finished. Marlene did not want her heart broken and kept it locked up for safe keeping. No way Buck was going to break into that secure area.
No damn way.
She arrived home without realizing she was there. She stumbled up the steps and gratefully went inside. Locking the door behind her, Marlene felt the sting of tears.
Why the hell was she crying? Over some cowboy telling her he had feelings for her?
What she needed was some alone time. Thank God she hadn’t given Buck her address. She had a feeling he wouldn’t let this one rest, and she needed time to regain control of herself.
After making some microwave popcorn and getting a Diet Coke, she plopped herself in front of the TV to watch Steel Magnolias for the umpteenth time.
Marlene needed to veg out.
* * * * *
Buck spent the afternoon at the Starlite practicing. He hoped Marlene might show up, but when four o’clock rolled around without seeing her, he gave up hope.
Shit.
He’d scared her away by opening his big mouth. It wasn’t as if he intended on blurting that out, but the look on her face told him volumes. Not to mention the way she took off, practically still wet from the shower. There must have been enough honesty in that comment that she believed him.
Then she ran as if her ass was on fire.
He was cleaning his ball when he sensed someone behind him. Whirling around, he was disappointed to find the owner, Jesse. The man seemed to have an endless supply of Hawaiian shirts and overalls. Every day it was the same outfit only different. His steel gray eyebrows drew together in a frown.
“Well, sit on down a spell and tell me what’s on your mind. Ain’t doing you any good being stuck in your craw.”
Buck figured he might as well.
Jesse came around and sat beside him. Buck continued to polish his ball and tried not to let on exactly what was going on. He didn’t need a lecture from Marlene’s self-appointed guardian.
“Marlene is a good girl. Her mama was a bit flighty, still is, and her daddy run off when she was a little bit of a thing.”
Jesse shifted in the seat and leaned forward to rest his forearms on his knees. “I’ve been sorta like a uncle to her for a while. Back in the day, she called me Uncle Jesse, like that TV show about them boys in Georgia. Cute as a button with her freckled nose and wide smile. I knew Marlene was something special.”
Here it comes.
“I don’t know what your intentions are, young man, but I gotta look out for her. She wouldn’t miss practice for the world, so I’m figuring since you left with her last night, you must be responsible for her not being here.” Jesse turned his hard gaze on Buck. “Did you hurt her?”
Buck outweighed the man by probably seventy pounds and was a good twenty-five years younger. Yet he felt a twinge of fear at the retribution he saw swimming in the other man’s eyes.
“I told her I was falling in love with her,” Buck blurted, damning his wayward tongue.
It was apparently the right thing to say, though, because Jesse broke out in a huge grin. “You don’t say! Don’t that beat all? So where is she, down at the bridal salon?”
The thought of a wedding wasn’t exactly in his plans, and Buck took a mental step backward. “No, not even close, Jesse. She took off like a cat that had her tail stepped on.”
Jesse frowned. “She ran?”
“Oh, yeah, she ran.”
“Well, we’re going to have to change her mind then. Are you sure you didn’t hurt her?” Jesse still looked suspicious.
“I swear, Jesse. All I did was say what was in my heart. She didn’t want to hear it.”
Jesse nodded. “Yeah, she’s always been the kind to bite first, then ask questions later. Sounds like what she’d do.”
He leaned toward Buck conspiratorially, and Buck had no choice, but to listen. “Here’s what we’re going to do ...”
Chapter Six
Monday brought reality back with a slap to Marlene. She was due to work at the snack bar at the Starlite at nine, and it was eight-thirty before she dragged herself out of her self-induced coma. She felt like shit. She was sure she looked like shit. She’d put her hair up in a ponytail and wasn’t wearing any makeup.
It didn’t matter though. Marlene was nothing if not loyal. She’d promised Jesse she’d work the snack bar and the tournament started that day. Babs was working the registration desk, and Veronica was behind the front desk. They were all helping out. Marlene was no exception.
She had also committed herself to throwing a party Friday night after the tournament ended. Whether or not she bowled that perfect score, she was going to have a party, come hell or high water. There was so much she had to do to get ready, and she was busy mooning about Buck.
After a splash of cold water on her face, Marlene stumbled out the door and drove to the alley. She was later than she wanted to be, but put on a happy face and went inside. Babs wasn’t there yet, neither was Veronica, but Jesse was. He was hopping around like oil on a hot skillet.
“There you are! I started the coffee, but I need you to get the biscuits going. Shake a leg, Marlene.” He herded her to the snack bar.
“I’m sorry, Jesse. I don’t have any excuse. Let me go get started.”
Marlene hurried to the snack bar and fired up the small toaster oven. After popping in half a dozen biscuits, she spotted Babs heading for the registration desk and went to say hello. By the time she got back, the first batch of biscuits were ready. She poured herself a huge coffee and started munching on biscuit.
She told herself that she wasn’t searching for Buck, but she was. He was taller than everyone in the bowling alley, so he wouldn’t be hard to spot.
Stop looking for him.
She couldn’t seem to stop. It was as if she could still feel his wavy
brown hair between her fingers.
“Good morning, Lee.”
Buck’s voice washed over her, and Marlene closed her eyes against the rush.
“I missed you yesterday,” he continued.
Marlene took a big gulp of scalding coffee before turning to look at him. Sweet heavens, he looked as good as she remembered. He wore a light green shirt tucked in another pair of nicely stonewashed jeans. He had one hand tucked into his pocket and the other held a large Starbucks coffee.
She shrugged. “I had some things I needed to get done at home yesterday.”
“Liar.”
Marlene felt the word like a poke in the stomach. “Excuse me?”
“You were hiding. From me.”
“I was not hiding from you!”
Oh, she really was lying through her teeth. She cursed her cheeks that flooded with color. Again.
He leaned toward her, and she forced herself not to shrink bank. She was not afraid of him, and she wasn’t going to hide from him. No matter how big he was or how much her body craved him.
“Yes, you were, and that’s okay. That means you were afraid of what I said. If you didn’t care about me, you wouldn’t be scared. So I have a chance.”
With a quick, hard kiss, he took her biscuit and walked away, sipping his coffee. Marlene stood there and watched, stunned. Her plan to stay away from him was failing miserably. Not only did she turn into a blithering idiot the first time she saw him again, but he blew her out of the water.
Did he have a chance? A chance at what?
* * * * *
It was after five in the afternoon by the time Marlene was able to leave the snack bar. Her feet hurt, her back ached, and she was exhausted. She saw Babs down at the bar having a drink and watching the game. She waved and headed out the door. As she approached her truck, something red caught her eye. There was a red ribbon tied to the door handle.
Dangling from the red ribbon was a small black box. Heart pounding, Marlene approached the box and opened it. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t a charm bracelet with a silver bowling ball and pins.
It was not only sweet, but it was thoughtful and ... it was perfect. Marlene’s heart melted into a puddle. Marlene opened the small card inside the box. In masculine script, it read To my favorite beautiful bowler. Yours, Buck.
He really was a sweet man. She put the bracelet on with shaking hands, cursing the fact that she really, really liked him. She hadn’t expected that. Most gorgeous men treated her like shit, like someone to either fuck and leave, or ignore. Not only did he not ignore her, he treated her like a queen. Buck was a dream come true.
One that Marlene didn’t want to reach for with both hands because she didn’t want her heart broken. Buck was going to leave in five days, but she could enjoy what time they had together, without risking her heart.
If only she could believe it.
“Do you like it?” Buck’s voice from behind her made her jump a country mile.
“Jesus! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Marlene snapped.
“Sorry, Lee. I didn’t mean to scare you.” The setting sun painted his face in oranges, pinks and reds. Like a painting, only this one was real.
“It’s okay. Um, thanks for the bracelet.”
He grinned when he saw she was wearing it. “Think of it as an early birthday present.”
“How do you know when my birthday is?”
Buck leaned toward her and nibbled her earlobe. “I’ve got friends in low places.” With a final suck to her ear, he stepped back. “I’ll be there tomorrow for your individual competition.”
Then he was gone. Marlene’s body thrummed with confusion, arousal, and frustration. Her body reacted to just being near Buck and his tongue on her ear. Holy hell, she was wet! And he was gone.
Damn. Maybe he did have a chance.
* * * * *
Marlene was nervous. Her palms were damp and her stomach felt like it had a million butterflies in it. It was nearly time for the individual ladies’ competition to start, and Buck was nowhere around.
Not that she was looking for him, but still, he said he’d be there. But he wasn’t. Marlene leaned over the air flow on the ball return and tried to cool her overheated face down. Marlene knew she looked flushed. The woman bowling next to her was about as friendly as a cactus. Babs and Veronica were behind the lane, cheering for her, but she still felt alone.
Damn it to hell, she missed Buck. How was that even possible?
Practice had just ended and she’d bowled like shit. Hadn’t even thrown one strike. That three hundred game wasn’t just going to fall in her lap; she needed to get her game face on, wherever it was hiding.
“Pssst.”
Marlene turned to see Buck standing with a big cup in his hand and a wide smile on his gorgeous face.
“I brought you a Diet Coke, baby.”
Her heart did a flip and landed somewhere near her feet. She walked over to him and took the drink. Before she could even register what he was doing, he leaned down and gave her a long, sensual kiss that made her toes curl. Marlene moaned as his lips moved over hers, flipping on her arousal like high beams.
“Looks like Big Mac got herself a man.”
Melissa’s caustic voice sliced through the fog of pleasure surrounding Marlene. She opened her eyes as Buck did. She saw anger in his, but she also saw caring. He cared about her! With one last kiss, he pulled away.
“Knock ’em dead, Lee. I’ll be rooting for ya.”
Buck turned and leveled his gaze at the blonde-headed bitch, and she disappeared like a bunny in the woods. Ha! That’ll teach her.
Strangely enough, instead of feeling frustrated, Marlene felt calmer, more in control. Apparently, Buck was what she needed to get through this competition. For an hour and a half, she bowled as well as she could. Each game when a strike didn’t happen, her three hundred game slipped away. In the third game, she had six frames of strikes before she left a spare. The disappointment was like a bitter pill on her tongue. Marlene finished bowling without pitching a fit or giving up.
After the games were complete, Veronica and Babs congratulated her on her seven hundred series, then they both skedaddled when they saw Buck heading toward her. He opened his arms, and Marlene immediately took the comfort he offered. He felt good, solid, and he smelled wonderful.
“You did great. I know you wanted that three hundred game, but damn, girl, you kicked ass out there,” he murmured against her hair. “I’m proud of you.”
Marlene’s throat closed up and tears threatened. She was not a crier and she refused to start. Buck had found the exact words she needed to accept her disappointment.
“Thanks. I ... I needed that.”
He kissed her forehead and grinned. “Let’s go celebrate that seven hundred series with some Mexican food. What’s that place you like?”
“The Sugar Shack.”
“Yeah, let’s go there and stuff ourselves.” He pulled her over to the seating area. “Now get your stuff packed up so we can go.”
He got her ball, wiped it down and put it in her bowling bag. Then he retrieved all the rest of her gear and put it away neatly. Marlene changed her shoes and within minutes, they were ready to go.
Buck ushered her out the door with a wave to Jesse who waved back with a huge shit-eating grin on his face. What the hell was that all about?
“Why don’t you drive your truck over and I’ll follow you? That way we won’t have to worry about getting you back here.”
Marlene blinked and she was in her truck, watching Buck walk over to his. He hopped in, and she heard the engine turn over. Well, that was interesting. He wanted her to drive her own truck. Humph.
The drive over to the Sugar Shack only took five minutes, and Buck was right behind her the whole way. He pulled in next to her, then hopped out and jogged over to her truck. When he opened her door, he cupped her face in his big hands and kissed her senseless. His tongue licked her lips and teeth, an
d explored every inch of her mouth. Her nipples pebbled and ached beneath her shirt, and her pussy wept with arousal.
He pulled away, and his blue eyes were twinkling. “Marlene’s got a man.”
She was in a daze when he helped her out of the truck and walked into the little restaurant. After a dinner of enchiladas and Coronas, plenty of laughter and stories, Marlene was feeling great, relaxed, and still very horny. She didn’t know what would happen after dinner, but if that kiss was any indication, it was going to be hot.
She could hardly wait.
* * * * *
Buck paid for dinner at the cash register, watching Marlene from the corner of his eye. She stood at the door, looking out at the twilight-covered parking lot. Grabbing two peppermints, Buck saluted the pretty cashier, then walked to the woman he really wanted to flirt with. When he stepped up behind her, he pressed himself to her backside, and the pleasure was enough to make his dick slam up against his zipper.
“Mmmm, hello there,” she whispered.
“Hello there yourself. Let’s go.” He opened the door and was thankful the deepening darkness hid his tight trousers. They headed for Marlene’s truck while Buck wrestled with himself.
His head wanted to follow the plan. His smaller head wanted to say fuck the plan, let’s get laid. It was a fierce battle that waged inside him during the fifty feet they walked. In the end, his larger head triumphed.
When they arrived at her truck, he opened the door, then turned her and tucked her into the V between the door and the frame. His favorite make-out spot apparently. He could smell her arousal, and it made his that much more painful. God, he wanted to get this woman in a bed again, but he wanted her heart engaged before he did that.
Stick to the plan.
It didn’t mean he couldn’t play. He kissed her slowly, teasing her lips open little by little. She chuckled against his lips when he finally made it in her hot mouth. Their tongues danced slowly as he pressed his hardness into her softness and made tiny circles. One hand landed on her breast and tweaked a nipple into amazing hardness. He wanted to bite it.
He rested his forehead against hers and took a deep breath. “Good thing we both had Mexican food.”
The Perfect Score 3 Marlenes Man Page 5